bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of N-doped TiO2 thin films for
photoelectrochemical hydrogen
generation from water
Authors: Kollbek Kamila , Sikora Marcin , Kapusta Czeslaw , Trenczek-Zajac Anita , Radecka Marta , Zakrzewska Katarzyna 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The present work deals with nitrogen-doped
stoichiometric TiO2:N and non-stoichiometric TiO2−x:N thin
films deposited by means of dc-pulsed reactive sputtering
for application as photoanodes for hydrogen generation
from water, using solar energy. Stoichiometric thin films
of TiO2 crystallize as a mixture of anatase and rutile while
rutile phase predominates in TiO2:N at higher nitrogen flow
rates as shown by X-ray diffraction at grazing incidence,
XRD GID. Lack of bulk nitridation of stoichiometric
TiO2:N is indicated by valence-to-core X-ray emission
spectroscopy, XES, analysis. The energy band gap as
well as flat band potential remain almost unaffected by
increasing nitrogen flow rate in this case. In contrast to
that, non-stoichiometric thin films of TiO2‑x:N demonstrate
systematic evolution of the structural, morphological,
optical and photolectrochemical properties upon
increasing level of nitrogen doping. Pronounced changes
in the growth pattern of non-stoichiometric TiO2-x:N upon
varied nitrogen flow rate, demonstrated by scanning
electron microscopy, SEM, can be easily correlated with
the crystallographic properties studied by XRD GID.
Relative positions of Kβ’’ XES lines of the TiO2-x:N thin
films, which depend strongly on the nature of the ligands
and their local coordination, change with the increasing
nitrogen flow. Doping of nonstoichiometric titanium
dioxide with nitrogen shifts the absorption spectrum
towards the visible range and increases considerably the
flat band potential which is beneficial for water photolysis.
OPTIMAL PID CONTROLLER DESIGN USING ADAPTIVE VURPSO ALGORITHM
Authors: Zirkohi Majid Moradi 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to improve theVelocity Update Relaxation Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (VURPSO). The improved algorithm is called Adaptive VURPSO (AVURPSO) algorithm. Then, an optimal design of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is obtained using the AVURPSO algorithm. An adaptive momentum factor is used to regulate a trade-off between the global and the local exploration abilities in the proposed algorithm. This operation helps the system to reach the optimal solution quickly and saves the computation time. Comparisons on the optimal PID controller design confirm the superiority of AVURPSO algorithm to the optimization algorithms mentioned in this paper namely the VURPSO algorithm, the Ant Colony algorithm, and the conventional approach. Comparisons on the speed of convergence confirm that the proposed algorithm has a faster convergence in a less computation time to yield a global optimum value. The proposed AVURPSO can be used in the diverse areas of optimization problems such as industrial planning, resource allocation, scheduling, decision making, pattern recognition and machine learning. The proposed AVURPSO algorithm is efficiently used to design an optimal PID controller.
Multiplex Conditional Mutagenesis Using Transgenic Expression of Cas9 and sgRNAs
Authors: Yin Linlin , Maddison Lisette A , Li Mingyu , Kara Nergis , LaFave Matthew C , Varshney Gaurav K , Burgess Shawn M , Patton James G , Chen Wenbiao 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDetermining the mechanism of gene function is greatly enhanced using conditional mutagenesis. However, generating engineered conditional alleles is inefficient and has only been widely used in mice. Importantly, multiplex conditional mutagenesis requires extensive breeding. Here we demonstrate a system for one-generation multiplex conditional mutagenesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using transgenic expression of both cas9 and multiple single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). We describe five distinct zebrafish U6 promoters for sgRNA expression and demonstrate efficient multiplex biallelic inactivation of tyrosinase and insulin receptor a and b, resulting in defects in pigmentation and glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, we demonstrate temporal and tissue-specific mutagenesis using transgenic expression of Cas9. Heat-shock-inducible expression of cas9 allows temporal control of tyr mutagenesis. Liver-specific expression of cas9 disrupts insulin receptor a and b, causing fasting hypoglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia. We also show that delivery of sgRNAs targeting ascl1a into the eye leads to impaired damage-induced photoreceptor regeneration. Our findings suggest that CRISPR/Cas9-based conditional mutagenesis in zebrafish is not only feasible but rapid and straightforward.
High-performance concrete reinforced with fibres from waste
Authors: Guemidi Ismahene , Abdelaziz Yazid , Nebbou Abdelkader 
Published: April 2015

An experimental test programme was conducted to study the effectiveness of high-performance concrete (HPC) made with Algerian natural pozzolan (NP) and reinforced with steel fibres derived from electrical waste. For this purpose, Algerian NP was used as a filler and as a partial cement replacement in HPC. Fibres from electrical waste were employed to improve engineering properties such as flexural strength, thermal shock strength, fracture toughness and resistance under fatigue and impact. The laboratory programme was carried out to determine the isolated effect of NP (10, 15 and 20% by weight of cement) and the combined effect of NP/silica fume (SF = 8% and NP = 10, 15 and 20% by weight of cement) on the compressive and flexural strengths of HPC reinforced with 3% fibres derived from electrical waste.
A PROTEÇÃO ÀS RELIGIÕES DE MATRIZ AFRICANA A PARTIR DA INSERÇÃO DE CONTEÚDOS SOBRE EDUCAÇÃO PATRIMONIAL NOS CURSOS JURÍDICOS
Authors: Oliveira Ilzver de Matos , Cardoso Manuella Maria Vergne , De Lima Kellen Josephine Muniz 
Published: April 2015

O presente artigo discutirá a importância da educação
patrimonial na preservação da religiosidade
de matriz africana no Brasil. Diante desse objetivo,
discutimos o conceito de educação patrimonial,
de comunidades tradicionais e de religiões
de matriz africana. Exemplificamos a importância
do tema com o debate sobre a obrigatoriedade do
estudo da história e cultura afro-brasileira e africana
no currículo de escolas e universidades e
com a polêmica decisão judicial que recentemente
definiu que candomblé e umbanda não eram
religiões. Assim concluímos que diante da persistente
intolerância aos cultos afro-brasileiros a
abertura de um espaço para a educação patrimonial
nos cursos jurídicos é um importante passo na
construção de uma educação multicultural e para
a preservação e o respeito das tradições religiosas
de matriz africana no Brasil.
ÜNİVERSİTELERLE SANAYİ KURULUŞLARI ARASINDA İŞBİRLİĞİNDE YENİ YAKLAŞIMLAR
Authors: Demirel Ergün 
Published: April 2015

"21. yüzyıla girerken sanayileşme yolunda ilerleyen ülkelerin sayısında ciddi bir artış olmuş, daha önce sadece gelişmiş ülkelerin tekelinde olan “sanayi malları piyasasında” gelişmekte olan ülkeler de yerlerini almaya başlamıştır. Bu durum günümüzün acımasız rekabet ortamında bu pazara yeni giren ülkeleri daha farklı yöntemler geliştirmek zorunda kalmıştır. Dünyamızın yeni ekonomik sistemi içerisinde “yenilik” üretemeyen milletlerin başarılı olma şansı oldukça düşüktür.

Yaşadığımız yüzyıl muhtemelen ‘innovasyon (yenilik geliştirme)’ çağı olarak anılacaktır.
Yenilik yaratabilmek için sürekli olarak gelişmeleri takip edebilen ve bilimsel araştırmalar yapabilen sistemlere ihtiyaç vardır. Bu fonksiyonu en iyi şekilde yerine getirebilecek organizasyonlar bilimsel kuruluşlar, üniversiteler ve araştırma merkezleridir

Geçmiş yıllarda üniversitelerle sanayi kuruluşları arasındaki ilişkiler, sanayinin belirli bir ihtiyaca yönelik olarak üniversitelerden bu konuda araştırma yapmasını istemeleri şeklinde tek yönlü ve kesintili bir şekilde yürütülmüştür. Ancak yeni şartlar daha kapsamlı, sürekli ve kurumsallaşmış bir ilişkinin kurulmasını gerektirmektedir.

Bu araştırmanın amacı; halen sayıları 190’a yaklaşan üniversiteye ve dünya piyasalarında tanınan markalar üreten sanayi kuruluşlarına sahip ülkemizin, üniversite-sanayi işbirliğinde daha etkin bir sistem geliştirebilmesi için öneriler sunmaktır.

"
Preventing and Treating Peri‐Implantitis: A Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Schwendicke Falk , Tu Yu‐Kang , Stolpe Michael 
Published: April 2015

Background: A large number of treatments for peri‐implantitis are available, but their cost‐effectiveness remains uncertain. This study evaluates the cost‐effectiveness of preventing and treating peri‐implantitis.Methods: A Markov model was constructed that followed each implant over 20 years. Supportive implant therapy (SIT) for managing peri‐implant mucositis and preventing development of peri‐implantitis was either provided or not. Risk of peri‐implantitis was assumed to be affected by SIT and the patient's risk profile. If peri‐implantitis occurred, 11 treatment strategies (non‐surgical or surgical debridement alone or combined with adjunct therapies) were compared. Treatments and risk profiles determined disease progression. Modeling was performed based on systematically collected data. Primary outcomes were costs and proportion of lost implants, as assessed via Monte Carlo microsimulations.Results: Not providing SIT and performing only non‐surgical debridement was both least costly and least effective. The next best (more costly and effective) option was to provide SIT and perform surgical debridement (additional 0.89 euros per 1% fewer implants lost). The most effective option included bone grafts, membranes, and laser treatment (56 euros per 1%). For patients at high risk, the cost‐effectiveness of SIT increased, whereas in low‐risk groups, a cost‐optimized strategy was cost‐effective.Conclusions: Although clinical decision‐making will be guided mainly by clinical condition, cost‐effectiveness analyses might add another perspective. Based on these findings, an unambiguous comparative effectiveness ranking was not established. However, cost‐effectiveness was predominantly determined by provision of SIT and initial treatment costs. Transferability of these findings to other healthcare systems needs further confirmation.
Removal of Heavy Metals by Adsorption onto Activated Carbon Derived from Pine Cones of Pinus roxburghii
Authors: Saif Muhammad Jawwad , Zia Khalid Mahmood , Ur‐Rehman Fazal , Usman Muhammad , Hussain Abdullah Ijaz , Chatha Shahzad Ali Shahid 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT: Activated carbon derived from cones of Pinus roxburghii (Himalayan Pine) was used as an adsorbent for the removal of copper, nickel and chromium ions from waste water. Surface analysis was carried out to determine the specific surface area and pore size distribution of the pine cone derived activated carbon. Optimal parameters, effect of adsorbent quantity, pH, equilibrium time, agitation speed and temperature were studied. Equilibrium data were evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Langmuir isotherm afforded the best fit to the equilibrium data with a maximum adsorption capacity of 14.2, 31.4 and 29.6 mg/g for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Cr(VI) respectively. Maximum adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II) was observed in the pH range 4.0 to 4.5, whereas the best adsorption of Cr(VI) was observed at pH 2.5. It was found that 180 minutes was sufficient to gain adsorption equilibrium. The adsorption process follows a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model.
Effectiveness of Man‐Made Wetland Systems in Filtering Contaminants from Urban Runoff in Milledgeville, Georgia
Authors: Mutiti Samuel , Sadowski Hannah , Melvin Christine , Mutiti Christine 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT: A wetland system made up of linked basins was investigated to determine its role in local flood control and contaminant filtration. The study focused on a wetland basin that is dominated by the Celtis laevigata plant and is underlain by clay, with a small sandy layer approximately 1 m below surface. Field and laboratory data were collected to understand the transport and filtration of phosphate, iron, and nitrate. Field results showed the wetland to effectively reduce iron and phosphates from runoff via groundwater flow. These results also showed an increase in the phosphate concentration of surface water while within the basin, resulting from agitation of wetland sediments. Laboratory column experiments showed more than 90% reduction in phosphorus and iron while nitrate concentrations increased above the input concentration. Phosphate and iron were high in wetland water immediately after a rain event. Nitrate concentrations increased as the water filtered through the sediments due to desorption of previously adsorbed nitrates. This wetland could potentially act as a temporal hot spot and rain events as hot moments for these substances. Therefore, the best flood control measure for this site would be to increase residence time in the wetland. This would help to better manage/control the concentration of phosphate, iron and nitrate pollution in surface waters.
Histoire du château de Châtillon-sur-Indre
Authors: Foucher Jean-Pascal 
Published: April 2015

Le château de Châtillon-sur-Indre s’est développé autour d’une motte et d’une demeure qui, selon les sources du XIIe siècle, auraient existé dès le IXe siècle. Passée au XIe siècle sous le contrôle des Plantagenêt, qui la fortifient, la place intègre le domaine royal en 1205. Elle est cédée en 1274 à Pierre de la Broce, favori et chambellan de Philippe III, qui édifie une importante résidence avant que ses biens soient confisqués en 1278. Le château devient alors, jusqu’au milieu du
XVe siècle, une résidence royale et princière occasionnelle, jusqu’au début du XVIe siècle. Régulièrement engagé à partir de 1473, immeuble de rapport et siège d’administrations, le château est définitivement aliéné au profit de Denis-Jean Amelot de Chaillou en 1745. En 1797, le château est démembré et vendu en une dizaine de lots. D’importantes destructions et transformations se produisent jusqu’aux années 1980, tandis que la commune acquiert peu à peu la quasi-totalité du site.
Stratégie logistique : aller au-delà des pratiques exemplaires
Authors: Roy Jacques , Beaulieu Martin , Véronneau Simon 
Published: April 2015

Le présent article traite d’une série d’études de cas réalisées entre 2010 et 2011 dans le domaine de la logistique. L’objectif est de faire ressortir l’expérience de cinq entreprises installées au Québec quant à leurs « pratiques exemplaires » implantées au cours des dernières années et qui les ont amenées à une performance logistique supérieure. Après une brève présentation de chaque cas, les auteurs soulignent les éléments les plus importants découlant d’une trentaine d’entrevues, à savoir : l’importance de tenir compte des attentes du marché, la pertinence d’avoir une intention stratégique claire, les fruits d’une bonne gestion du talent et, enfin, les gains dus à la collaboration avec les partenaires d’affaires. Les auteurs expliquent que c’est l’assemblage et le maintien de ces pratiques qui génèrent des gains appréciables et procurent une performance supérieure, et non la simple somme de celles-ci. Cet assemblage est crucial, car il oblige les gestionnaires à saisir la complémentarité entre les pratiques et à faire des choix. La création de conditions personnalisées à chaque entreprise est difficile à reproduire, ce qui expliquerait la difficulté et l’inefficacité d’une simple copie et application des « pratiques exemplaires » dans d’autres entreprises, tel que souligné par des études dans la littérature. À la fin, les auteurs mentionnent les limites de la généralisation du travail vers la construction de consignes plus normatives ; toutefois, les auteurs proposent, comme travail futur, de faire un sondage de plus grande envergure auprès d’un échantillon plus représentatif du milieu d’affaires québécois.
An NK Cell Population Lacking FcRγ Is Expanded in Chronically Infected HIV Patients
Authors: Zhou Jingling , Amran Fathiah S. , Kramski Marit , Angelovich Tom A. , Elliott Julian , Hearps Anna C. , Price Patricia , Jaworowski Anthony 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
We previously demonstrated that NK cells from HIV-infected individuals have elevated expression of activation markers, spontaneously degranulate ex vivo, and decrease expression of a signal-transducing protein for NK-activating receptors, FcRγ. Importantly, these changes were maintained in virologically suppressed (VS) individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). In this study, we show that loss of FcRγ is caused by the expansion of a novel subset of FcRγ−CD56dim NK cells with an altered activation receptor repertoire and biological properties. In a cross-sectional study, FcRγ− NK cells as a proportion of total CD56dim NK cells increased in cART-naive viremic HIV-infected individuals (median [interquartile range] = 25.9 [12.6–56.1] compared with 3.80 [1.15–11.5] for HIV− controls, p &lt; 0.0001) and in VS HIV-infected individuals (22.7 [13.1–56.2] compared with 3.80 [1.15–11.5], p = 0.0004), with no difference between cART-naive and VS patients (p = 0.93). FcRγ− NK cells expressed no NKp30 or NKp46. They showed greater Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity against rituximab-opsonized Raji cells and in a whole-blood assay measuring NK responses to overlapping HIV peptides, despite having reduced CD16 expression compared with conventional NK cells. Their prevalence correlated with CMV Ab titers in HIV− subjects but not in HIV+ individuals, and with the inflammatory marker CXCL10 in both groups. The expansion of a subset of NK cells that lacks NKp30 and NKp46 to ∼90% of CD56dim NK cells in some VS HIV+ individuals may influence NK-mediated immunosurveillance in patients receiving cART.
Cutting Edge: Differential Regulation of PTEN by TCR, Akt, and FoxO1 Controls CD4+ T Cell Fate Decisions
Authors: Hawse William F. , Sheehan Robert P. , Miskov-Zivanov Natasa , Menk Ashley V. , Kane Lawrence P. , Faeder James R. , Morel Penelope A. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Signaling via the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway influences CD4+ T cell differentiation; low levels favor regulatory T cell induction and high levels favor Th induction. Although the lipid phosphatase phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) suppresses Akt activity, the control of PTEN activity is poorly studied in T cells. In this study, we identify multiple mechanisms that regulate PTEN expression. During Th induction, PTEN function is suppressed via lower mRNA levels, lower protein levels, and an increase in C-terminal phosphorylation. Conversely, during regulatory T cell induction, PTEN function is maintained through the stabilization of PTEN mRNA transcription and sustained protein levels. We demonstrate that differential Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling regulates PTEN transcription via the FoxO1 transcription factor. A mathematical model that includes multiple modes of PTEN regulation recapitulates our experimental findings and demonstrates how several feedback loops determine differentiation outcomes. Collectively, this work provides novel mechanistic insights into how differential regulation of PTEN controls alternate CD4+ T cell fate outcomes.
CHARACTERIZATION OF RECYCLED RUBBER USING PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES
Authors: Uriarte I. , Zulueta E. , Guraya T. , Arsuaga M. , Garitaonandia I. , Arriaga A. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
A material based on recycled rubber has been developed to use as a protective coating on road barriers with the aim of improving motorcyclists' security against crash impacts. This material is based on grounded rubber from used tires added by extrusion using low-density polyethylene as adhesive. Compression tests have been performed for different densities of the recycled material to fully describe the mechanical characteristics under high strain rates (in the rank 0.057–5.7 s−1), and a constitutive model composed of a hyperelastic Mooney Rivlin part and a viscoelastic part based on the generalized Maxwell model has been taken to characterize this behavior. Hyperelastic parameters have been obtained by means of the least-squares fitting technique, and particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been used to obtain viscoelastic parameters. The PSO algorithm is shown to be a good optimization method, simple, versatile, and consisting of few parameters that accelerate to the optimal solution. Therefore, this article presents a new and efficient approach to obtaining the parameters for the viscoelastic model. The behavior of the experimental material confirms the theoretically obtained results, so the procedure presented in the article is validated successfully.
Investigation of the records of earthquake slip in carbonaceous materials from the Taiwan Chelungpu fault by means of infrared and Raman spectroscopies
Authors: Hirono Tetsuro , Maekawa Yuka , Yabuta Hikaru 
Published: April 2015

AbstractTo understand the mechanism of fault lubrication during the 1999 Taiwan Chi‐Chi earthquake, we developed a new temperature proxy for carbonaceous materials by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies together with heating and friction experiments. We found marked anomalies in the infrared and Raman spectra of carbonaceous materials retrieved from the primary slip zone of the earthquake: the infrared spectra exhibited very weak aliphatic CH2 and CH3 peaks and aromatic C=C absorbance peaks, and the Raman spectra exhibited very weak disordered and graphitic bands and a high ratio of disordered band area to graphitic band area. Those weak peaks and bands and the band area ratio were reproduced by heating carbonaceous materials from the nearby host rock to 700°C. These results suggest that the frictional heat in the slip zone reached approximately 700°C. We characterized the host rock's carbonaceous materials by means of elemental analysis, pyrolysis‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and simultaneous thermogravimetry‐differential scanning calorimetry and found that the H/C and O/C ratios were 1.29 and 0.30, respectively (which are close to the ratios for lignin) and that the volatile fraction was as high as 48 wt %. The pyrolysates obtained by heating from 100 to 400°C were dominated by phenols, fatty alcohols, and n‐alkanes. When the residue from pyrolysis at 100–400°C was rapidly heated to 700°C, the resulting pyrolysate was dominated by phenols, aromatic compounds, heterocyclic compounds, and n‐alkenes. This information suggests that change in the infrared and Raman spectra with increasing temperature may have been due to decomposition and aromatization reactions during pyrolysis. Rapid heating during earthquake slip may promote reactions of carbonaceous materials that are different from the reactions that occur during long‐term geological metamorphism.
Resonant and nonresonant whistlers‐particle interaction in the radiation belts
Authors: Camporeale Enrico 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe study the wave‐particle interactions between lower band chorus whistlers and an anisotropic tenuous population of relativistic electrons. We present the first direct comparison of first‐principle particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulations with a quasi‐linear diffusion code. In the PIC approach, the waves are self‐consistently generated by the temperature anisotropy instability that quickly saturates and relaxes the system toward marginal stability. We show that the quasi‐linear diffusion and PIC results have significant quantitative mismatch in regions of energy/pitch angle where the resonance condition is not satisfied. Moreover, for pitch angles close to the loss cone the diffusion code overestimates the scattering, particularly at low energies. This suggests that higher‐order nonlinear theories should be taken in consideration in order to capture nonresonant interactions, resonance broadening, and to account for scattering at angles close to 90°.