bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Design and Performance of Solid‐Liquid Separators: A Thickener Hydrocyclone
Authors: Silva Danylo O. , Vieira Luiz G. M. , Barrozo Marcos A. S. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractStudies on hydrocyclones have evolved over recent years and various configurations of this device have been proposed in the literature for different purposes. Herein, an innovative geometrical configuration of hydrocyclones was developed by means of the response surface technique, combined with an optimization algorithm and supported by a computational fluid dynamics complementary study. The results obtained with these optimization techniques were validated by experimental data. The optimized hydrocyclone configuration is characterized by low energy consumption, i.e., low Euler number, with a small underflow‐to‐throughput ratio and can be used as a thickener hydrocyclone.
Application of Strong Porous Polymer Sheets for Superior Oil Spill Recovery
Authors: Saleem Junaid , Bazargan Alireza , Barford John , McKay Gordon 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe usage of natural and synthetic sorbents in order to control oil spills is gaining increasing attention due to environmental concerns. In particular, polyolefins including polypropylene and polyethylene are the most commonly used oil sorbent materials because of their low cost but suffer from low oil absorption capacity. Attempts at trying to increase the surface‐to‐thickness ratio for improving uptake capacity makes them vulnerable to breakage and impractical for most oil spill applications. Novel super oil sorbent polymer sheets consisting of porous ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene have been prepared. The presented sorbent exhibits extremely high uptake and retention capacities along with a mechanically strong structure. The combination of these factors as well as the cost effectiveness of the material used makes these sheets viable candidates for widespread production and utilization.
Metal‐halide Nanoparticle Formation: Electrolytic and Chemical Synthesis of Mercury(I) Chloride Nanoparticles
Authors: Bartlett Thomas R. , Batchelor‐McAuley Christopher , Tschulik Kristina , Jurkschat Kerstin , Compton Richard G. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMercury(I) chloride (Hg2Cl2) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesised for the first time by using two different techniques. First, particles are formed by implosion of a calomel nanolayer, induced by partial electrolysis at a mercury hemisphere microelectrode. The resulting NPs are then characterised by the nanoimpact method, demonstrating the first time metal chloride NPs have been sized by this technique and showing the ability to form and study NPs in situ. Second, Hg2Cl2 NPs are synthesised by using the precipitation reaction of Hg2(NO3)2 with KCl. The NPs are characterised on both mercury and carbon microelectrodes and their size is found to agree with TEM results.
Broad Hexagonal Columnar Mesophases Formation in Bioinspired Transition‐Metal Complexes of Simple Fatty Acidmeta‐Octaester Derivatives ofmeso‐Tetraphenyl Porphyrins
Authors: Wu Bin , Chen Keyang , Deng Yuchen , Chen Jian , Liu Chengjie , Cheng Rongshi , Chen Dongzhong 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA series ofmeta‐substituted fatty acid octaester derivatives and their transition‐metal complexes ofmeso‐ tetraphenyl porphyrins (TPP‐8OOCR, with R=Cn−1H2n−1,n=8, 12, or 16) have been prepared through very simple synthesis protocols. The thermotropic phase behavior and the liquid crystalline (LC) organization structures of the synthesized porphyrin derivatives were systematically investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and variable‐temperature small‐angle X‐ray scattering/wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques. The shorter octanoic acid ester substituted porphyrin (C8‐TPP) did not show liquid crystallinity and its metal porphyrins exhibited an uncommon columnar mesophase. The lauric acid octaester (C12‐TPP) and the palmitic acid octaester (C16‐TPP) series porphyrins generated hexagonal columnar mesophase Colh. Moreover, the metal porphyrins C12‐TPPM and C16‐TPPM with M=Zn, Cu, or Ni, exhibited well‐organized Colhmesophases of broad LC temperature ranges increasing in the order of TPPNi<TPPCu≤TPPZn with their increased effective ionic radii in the square‐planar coordination. The simplicity in synthesis, the well intercolumnar organization of Colhmesophase, the broadness of the discotic LC range, and the specific UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence emission behaviors make the symmetrically substituted fatty acid octaester porphyrins and their metal complexes very attractive for variant applications.
Dual Gold‐Catalyzed Head‐to‐Tail Coupling of Iodoalkynes
Authors: Mader Steffen , Molinari Lise , Rudolph Matthias , Rominger Frank , Hashmi A. Stephen K. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractVarious haloalkynes are converted in the presence of a dual activation gold catalyst. Via a dual activation process a completely atom economic head‐to‐tail coupling delivers gem‐dihalogenated conjugated enynes as valuable building blocks for organic synthesis.
Structuring of Reactors and Catalysts on Multiple Scales: Potential and Limitations for Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Güttel Robert 
Published: January 2015

AbstractStructuring of catalysts and reactors increases the number of degrees of freedom and thus allows tailoring the design for each particular application. Thereby, transport processes can be intensified in order to increase the reactor productivity. This contribution illustrates concepts of structuring on different lengths scales for Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis as example. On this basis the approach of multi‐scale structuring is proposed in order to achieve an improved control of transport processes in chemical reactors.
Moniliform deformation of retinal ganglion cells by formaldehyde‐based fixatives
Authors: Stradleigh Tyler W. , Greenberg Kenneth P. , Partida Gloria J. , Pham Aaron , Ishida Andrew T. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTProtocols for characterizing cellular phenotypes commonly use chemical fixatives to preserve anatomical features, mechanically stabilize tissue, and stop physiological responses. Formaldehyde, diluted in either phosphate‐buffered saline or phosphate buffer, has been widely used in studies of neurons, especially in conjunction with dyes and antibodies. However, previous studies have found that these fixatives induce the formation of bead‐like varicosities in the dendrites and axons of brain and spinal cord neurons. We report here that these formaldehyde formulations can induce bead formation in the dendrites and axons of adult rat and rabbit retinal ganglion cells, and that retinal ganglion cells differ from hippocampal, cortical, cerebellar, and spinal cord neurons in that bead formation is not blocked by glutamate receptor antagonists, a voltage‐gated Na+ channel toxin, extracellular Ca2+ ion exclusion, or temperature shifts. Moreover, we describe a modification of formaldehyde‐based fixatives that prevents bead formation in retinal ganglion cells visualized by green fluorescent protein expression and by immunohistochemistry. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:545–564, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Color prediction models for digital Jacquard woven fabrics
Authors: Chae Youngjoo , Xin John H. , Hua Tao 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe current industry practice for producing jacquard fabrics uses computer‐aided design (CAD) systems that provide visual simulations of the final color appearance of actual fabrics prior to production. This digital process is fundamentally based on the prediction of combined weave‐color effects, which can be successfully achieved by accurate color mixing models and the structural details of the fabrics. With the accurate models used in CAD systems, designers would see simulations more closely resembling fabrics to be produced. By checking the previews, the designers can easily modify, that is, recolor, the designs on the display monitor without doing repetitive physical sampling with the adjustment of the weaves and the yarn colors. However, there is no ready applicable accurate color mixing model for woven structures and there has not been sufficient investigation of the color prediction despite its usefulness for the current digital CAD process. Our study investigated the, color prediction of jacquard woven fabrics designed based on the principle of optically subtractive color mixing with the use of CMY colors. The color prediction was firstly done through the application of the six color mixing models previously developed for various other applications including fiber blending and printing. The performance of each model was evaluated by calculating the difference between the predicted and the measured colorimetric data, using ΔECMC(2:1). The average color difference from the models was 11.93 ΔECMC(2:1), which is hardly acceptable in textile industry. In order to increase the accuracy in color prediction, the six models were then optimized. As a result, substantial improvements for all models were obtained with a decrease in color difference to 4.83 ΔECMC(2:1)on average after the optimizations. Among the six optimized color mixing models, the optimized Warburton‐Oliver model, that is, W‐O model, was found to have the lowest average ΔECMC(2:1)value of approximately equaling to 2, which is considered potentially useful to be applied to the current digital fabric color prediction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 64–71, 2016
Conjugated Polymer–Porphyrin Complexes for Organic Electronics
Authors: Andernach Rolf E. , Rossbauer Stephan , Ashraf Raja S. , Faber Hendrik , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , McCulloch Iain , Heeney Martin , Bronstein Hugo A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe present the synthesis of novel conjugated polymer–porphyrin complexes for use in organic electronics. Linear and star‐shaped platinated porphyrins were attached to regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) arms to investigate whether porphyrin stacking and increased dimensionality can be used to control polymer morphology. The novel materials display similar optical properties to P3HT, but give higher mobilities when used in organic field‐effect transistors. Atomic force microscopy measurements show that incorporation of only a small amount of porphyrin into the conjugated polymer backbone leads to increased aggregation. These materials demonstrate that polymer morphology and performance can be tuned and enhanced effectively through the use of conjugatively linked porphyrins.
Pressure in electronically excited warm dense metals
Authors: Stegailov V. , Zhilyaev P. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractNon‐equilibrium two‐temperature warm dense metals consist of the ion subsystem that is subjected to structural transitions and involved in the mass transfer, and the electron subsystem that in various pulsed experiments absorbs energy and then evolves together with ions to equilibrium. Definition of pressure in such non‐equilibrium systems causes certain controversy. In this work we make an attempt to clarify this definition that is vital for proper description of the whole relaxation process. Using the density functional theory we analyze on examples of Al and Au electronic pressure components in warm dense metals. Appealing to the Fermi gas model we elucidate a way to find a number of free delocalized electrons in warm dense metals. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Semiautomated analysis of embryoscope images: Using localized variance of image intensity to detect embryo developmental stages
Authors: Mölder Anna , Drury Sarah , Costen Nicholas , Hartshorne Geraldine M. , Czanner Silvester 
Published: January 2015

AbstractEmbryo selection in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment has traditionally been done manually using microscopy at intermittent time points during embryo development. Novel technique has made it possible to monitor embryos using time lapse for long periods of time and together with the reduced cost of data storage, this has opened the door to long‐term time‐lapse monitoring, and large amounts of image material is now routinely gathered. However, the analysis is still to a large extent performed manually, and images are mostly used as qualitative reference. To make full use of the increased amount of microscopic image material, (semi)automated computer‐aided tools are needed. An additional benefit of automation is the establishment of standardization tools for embryo selection and transfer, making decisions more transparent and less subjective. Another is the possibility to gather and analyze data in a high‐throughput manner, gathering data from multiple clinics and increasing our knowledge of early human embryo development. In this study, the extraction of data to automatically select and track spatio‐temporal events and features from sets of embryo images has been achieved using localized variance based on the distribution of image grey scale levels. A retrospective cohort study was performed using time‐lapse imaging data derived from 39 human embryos from seven couples, covering the time from fertilization up to 6.3 days. The profile of localized variance has been used to characterize syngamy, mitotic division and stages of cleavage, compaction, and blastocoel formation. Prior to analysis, focal plane and embryo location were automatically detected, limiting precomputational user interaction to a calibration step and usable for automatic detection of region of interest (ROI) regardless of the method of analysis. The results were validated against the opinion of clinical experts. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Plant diversity and identity effects on predatory nematodes and their prey
Authors: Kostenko Olga , Duyts Henk , Grootemaat Saskia , De Deyn Gerlinde B. , Bezemer T. Martijn 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThere is considerable evidence that both plant diversity and plant identity can influence the level of predation and predator abundance aboveground. However, how the level of predation in the soil and the abundance of predatory soil fauna are related to plant diversity and identity remains largely unknown. In a biodiversity field experiment, we examined the effects of plant diversity and identity on the infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs, Heterorhabditis and Steinernema spp.), which prey on soil arthropods, and abundance of carnivorous non‐EPNs, which are predators of other nematode groups. To obtain a comprehensive view of the potential prey/food availability, we also quantified the abundance of soil insects and nonpredatory nematodes and the root biomass in the experimental plots. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate possible pathways by which plant diversity and identity may affect EPN infectivity and the abundance of carnivorous non‐EPNs. Heterorhabditis spp. infectivity and the abundance of carnivorous non‐EPNs were not directly related to plant diversity or the proportion of legumes, grasses and forbs in the plant community. However, Steinernema spp. infectivity was higher in monocultures of Festuca rubra and Trifolium pratense than in monocultures of the other six plant species. SEM revealed that legumes positively affected Steinernema infectivity, whereas plant diversity indirectly affected the infectivity of Heterorhabditis EPNs via effects on the abundance of soil insects. The abundance of prey (soil insects and root‐feeding, bacterivorous, and fungivorous nematodes) increased with higher plant diversity. The abundance of prey nematodes was also positively affected by legumes. These plant community effects could not be explained by changes in root biomass. Our results show that plant diversity and identity effects on belowground biota (particularly soil nematode community) can differ between organisms that belong to the same feeding guild and that generalizations about plant diversity effects on soil organisms should be made with great caution.
On the use of stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) measurements for tracking avian movements in North America
Authors: Hobson Keith A. , Koehler Geoff 
Published: January 2015

AbstractTracking migratory animals has benefitted using measurements of naturally occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2H) in keratinous tissues such as hair and feathers to link animal origins to continental patterns or isoscapes of δ2H in precipitation. However, for most taxa, much less information exists on the use of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) despite the fact that δ2H and δ18O are strongly linked in environmental waters through the meteoric relationship and the possibility of using both isotopes to infer greater information on origins and climatic conditions where tissues are grown. A fundamental requirement of using stable isotopes to assign individuals and populations to origins is the development of a rescaling function linking environmental food web signals to the tissue of interest and for birds, this has not been carried out. Here, we derived the relationship between H and O isotopes in known source feathers of 104 individuals representing 11 species of insectivorous passerines sampled across the strong precipitation isoscape of North America. We determined again a strong expected relationship between feather δ2H (δ2Hf) and long‐term amount‐weighted precipitation δ2H (δ2Hp; r2 = 0.77), but the corresponding relationship between δ18Of and δ18Op was poor (r2 = 0.32) for the same samples. This suggests that δ2H measurements are currently more useful for assignment of insectivorous songbirds to precipitation isoscapes but does not preclude other uses of the δ18Of data. Currently, mechanisms responsible for the decoupling of H and O isotopes in food webs is poorly known, and we advocate a much broader sampling of both isotopes in the same keratinous tissues across precipitation isotope gradients and across taxa to resolve this issue and to increase the power of using water isotopes to track migratory animals.
Limited sampling hampers “big data” estimation of species richness in a tropical biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Engemann Kristine , Enquist Brian J. , Sandel Brody , Boyle Brad , Jørgensen Peter M. , Morueta‐Holme Naia , Peet Robert K. , Violle Cyrille , Svenning Jens‐Christian 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMacro‐scale species richness studies often use museum specimens as their main source of information. However, such datasets are often strongly biased due to variation in sampling effort in space and time. These biases may strongly affect diversity estimates and may, thereby, obstruct solid inference on the underlying diversity drivers, as well as mislead conservation prioritization. In recent years, this has resulted in an increased focus on developing methods to correct for sampling bias. In this study, we use sample‐size‐correcting methods to examine patterns of tropical plant diversity in Ecuador, one of the most species‐rich and climatically heterogeneous biodiversity hotspots. Species richness estimates were calculated based on 205,735 georeferenced specimens of 15,788 species using the Margalef diversity index, the Chao estimator, the second‐order Jackknife and Bootstrapping resampling methods, and Hill numbers and rarefaction. Species richness was heavily correlated with sampling effort, and only rarefaction was able to remove this effect, and we recommend this method for estimation of species richness with “big data” collections.
Short‐term resilience of arthropod assemblages after spring flood, with focus on spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) and carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Lafage Denis , Sibelle Charlotte , Secondi Jean , Canard Alain , Pétillon Julien 
Published: January 2015

AbstractDespite the expected increase in extreme flood frequency, the manner in which terrestrial arthropods cope with regular submersion of their habitat remains poorly understood in meadows, especially in temperate floodplains. Here, we studied the recolonization dynamics of arthropods after a severe spring flood in the Loire Valley (France). We carried out analyses at the community (order or family identification level) and species scales, focusing on the assemblages of two dominant and diverse groups: carabids and spiders. Our objectives were the following: (i) to describe the temporal changes in community structure after flooding and (ii) to assess the influence of landscape configuration on recolonization patterns of species and their functional traits. Fieldwork was performed along three sampling transects, by using 75 pitfall traps, in 2012. A total of 14 767 arthropods belonging to 87 families were trapped, including 5538 spiders (55 species) and 3396 carabids (66 species). Multivariate analyses discriminated assemblages from flooded and non‐flooded habitats and revealed changes over time in arthropod families and species after flood withdrawal. In particular, wolf spiders (Lycosidae) were the first to recolonize, whereas other groups clearly avoided flooded sites. Our results also revealed that short distances to hedgerows, and to a lesser extent, distance to woodlands, favoured the recolonization of large and ground‐running spiders. In conclusion, our study shows the short‐term resilience of certain groups or stenotopic species to flooding and also the relevance of multi‐taxon‐based studies. The presence of hedgerows has to be considered carefully in management plans because of their role of refuge during flooding. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
B cells expressing IFN‐γ suppress Treg‐cell differentiation and promote autoimmune experimental arthritis
Authors: Olalekan Susan A. , Cao Yanxia , Hamel Keith M. , Finnegan Alison 
Published: January 2015

Clinical efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with anti‐CD20 (Rituximab)‐mediated B‐cell depletion has garnered interest in the mechanisms by which B cells contribute to autoimmunity. We have reported that B‐cell depletion in a murine model of proteoglycan‐induced arthritis (PGIA) leads to an increase in Treg cells that correlate with decreased autoreactivity. Here, we demonstrate that the increase in Treg cells after B‐cell depletion is due to an increase in the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Treg cells. Since the development of PGIA is dependent on IFN‐γ and B cells are reported to produce IFN‐γ, we hypothesized that B‐cell‐specific IFN‐γ plays a role in the development of PGIA. Accordingly, mice with B‐cell‐specific IFN‐γ deficiency were as resistant to the induction of PGIA as mice that were completely IFN‐γ deficient. Importantly, despite a normal frequency of IFN‐γ‐producing CD4+ T cells, B‐cell‐specific IFN‐γ‐deficient mice exhibited a higher percentage of Treg cells compared with that in WT mice. These data indicate that B‐cell IFN‐γ production inhibits Treg‐cell differentiation and exacerbates arthritis. Thus, we have established that IFN‐γ, specifically derived from B cells, uniquely contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity through prevention of immunoregulatory mechanisms.