Survey study and experimental investigation on the local behavior of pedestrian groups

Current research on pedestrian dynamics mainly focuses on the interactions among isolated individuals, the impact of the presence of groups is not fully considered. In recent 5 years, researchers have started to investigate pedestrian group movement. The aim of this work is to explore the local behavior of pedestrian groups by questionnaires and field observation. Survey study focused on pedestrians' psychology when walking in groups, which included five parts: group size, interpersonal distance, spatial relationship among group members, speed adjustment of group members, information transmission, and acid action among group members. Meantime a field observation was carried out to study group movement characteristics, which contained speed, step frequency, offset angle and interpersonal distance. The survey results show that group members have a closer interpersonal distance, faster information transmission and plenty of acid action. Conversely, group walking has a negative influence on pedestrian's speed, step frequency by comparing with the way isolated pedestrian walks. In addition, it is found that for a certain group, the group members are able to keep movement consistent. Also there exists obvious movement diversity among different group types (male dyads, female dyads, couple groups, and ordinary‐friend groups) because of different gender and social relationship. Ultimately the results will be more promising for helping to model the movement of pedestrian groups. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 20: 87–97, 2015     

Characterization of Cr‐doped Sb2Te3 films and their application to phase‐change memory

Phase‐change memory (PCM) is regarded as one of the most promising candidates for the next‐generation nonvolatile memory. Its storage medium, phase‐change material, has attracted continuous exploration. Along the traditional GeTe–Sb₂Te₃ tie line, the binary compound Sb₂Te₃ is a high‐speed phase‐change material matrix. However, the low crystallization temperature prevents its practical application in PCM. Here, Cr is doped into Sb₂Te₃, called Cr–Sb₂Te₃ (CST), to improve the thermal stability. We find that, with increase of the Cr concentration, grains are obviously refined. However, all the CST films exhibit a single hexagonal phase as Sb₂Te₃ without phase separation. Also, the Cr helps to inhibit oxidation of Sb atoms. For the selected film CST_10.5, the resistance ratio between amorphous and crystalline states is more than two orders of magnitude; the temperature for 10‐year data retention is 120.8 °C, which indicates better thermal stability than GST and pure Sb₂Te₃. PCM cells based on CST_10.5 present small threshold current/voltage (4 μA/0.67 V). In addition, the cell can be operated by a low SET/RESET voltage pulse (1.1 V/2.4 V) with 50 ns width. Thus, Cr–Sb₂Te₃ with suitable composition is a promising novel phase‐change material used for PCM with high speed and good thermal stability performances. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of carbon contents on morphology and electrical properties of Li2MnSiO4/C prepared by a vacuum solid-state method

To improve the electrochemical performance of Li₂MnSiO₄ with low electric conductivity, the Li₂MnSiO₄/C composite are synthesized by a vacuum solid-state reaction of a mixture of SiO₂, LiCH₃COO, Mn(CH₃COO)₂ and designed mass of C₆H₁₂O₆ · H₂O as carbon sources. The crystalline structure and morphology of products are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scattering technology (LS) respectively. The tested results show that carbon doping decrease the crystallite sizes of products, but keep the aggregation of the particles and made the impurity increased instead. The results of constant current charge-discharge prove that the mixed carbon improve Li⁺ transmission performance and decrease inner polatization resistance of Li₂MnSiO₄ materials, but can not prevent the collapse of Li₂MnSiO₄ crystal structure. While the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) results demonstrate that the primary reason for the improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to increased Li-ion diffusion coefficient $(D_{Li^ + } )$ as a result from carbon doping.     

Determination of carbapenems in water samples by UHPLC–MS/MS

A rapid and reliable method for the detection of five carbapenems (biapenem, imipenem, doripenem, meropenem, and faropenem) in water was developed and validated. After acidification of water samples with acetic acid, carbapenems were isolated using a Bond Elut PPL cartridge. The target compounds were separated using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with a chromatographic run time of 5 min and detected on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in positive electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mode. Mean recoveries were in the range of 76.6–106.5%, with satisfactory intraday and interday relative standard deviations lower than 10.0 and 10.8%, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.05–0.2 µg/L and 0.1–0.5 µg/L, respectively, depending on the analyte. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of river samples and wastewater samples from swine farms, and no carbapenems were detected in the collected samples.     

The Exponential Law Between Dwell Time and the Strength of PBX Substitute Material

Polymer-bonded sugars (PBSs) can be used as a substitute material for polymerbonded explosives (PBXs) due to their ability to simulate the mechanical properties...     

Experimental study on the two-phase flow pattern and transformation characteristics of a flow mixing nozzle under a moderate flow rate

Meccanica - A flow mixing nozzle can produce satisfactory atomization for heavy oil. However, the study of the internal flow pattern of this nozzle, along with the spray morphology and its...     

Synergistic Effect of Lithocholic Acid with Gentamicin against Gram-Positive Bacteria but Not against Gram-Negative Bacteria

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is an important Gram-positive food-borne pathogen that severely threatens public health. A checkerboard microdilution method was performed to evaluate the synergistic effect of lithocholic acid (LCA) with Gentamicin (Genta) against L. monocytogenes. BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining, scanning electron microscopy and biofilm inhibition assays were further used to explore the bactericidal effect and antibiofilm effect of this combination on L. monocytogenes. Additionally, the synergistic effects of LCA derivatives with Genta were also evaluated against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis. The results indicated that a synergistic bactericidal effect was observed for the combined therapy of LCA at the concentration without affecting bacteria viability, with Genta. Additionally, LCA in combination with Genta had a synergistic effect against Gram-positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. suis) but not against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, A. baumannii and Salmonella). BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the combination of LCA with Genta caused L. monocytogenes membrane injury, leading to bacteria death. We found that 8 μg/mL LCA treatment effectively improved the ability of Genta to eradicate L. monocytogenes biofilms. In addition, we found that chenodeoxycholic acid, as a cholic acid derivative, also improved the bactericidal effect of Genta against Gram-positive bacteria. Our results indicate that LCA represents a broad-spectrum adjuvant with Genta for infection caused by L. monocytogenes and other Gram-positive pathogens.     

砷的代谢机制、毒性和生物监测

砷化合物是备受关注的一类污染物,特别是饮用水中的砷污染引发了全球性的健康问题.本文综述了近年来人们对砷的代谢机制、毒性和生物监测的研究进展.砷在生物体内的代谢过程十分复杂,在氧化还原酶和甲基转移酶的参与下,产生一系列的代谢产物和中间产物.其中,砷的原始摄入形态、代谢产物及中间产物由于不同的物理化学性质,体现了不同的毒性.人类和不同的动物由于不同的砷代谢机理和甲基化能力,也表现了对砷毒性抵抗能力的差异.在生物体内,一些砷化合物与生物蛋白相互作用,影响它们的存在形式、分布和传输,是砷的生物代谢和毒理研究中不可或缺的内容.生物监测是一种直接有效的污染物健康风险评估方法.在尿液、血液、唾液、头发和指甲中砷化合物直接反映了暴露主体的砷暴露程度,这5种生物介质作为砷暴露的生物标志物各有优缺点.在砷的研究中,代谢机制和毒性的研究可以帮助选择合适的生物监测方法,做出合理准确的健康风险评估.生物监测也可促进对砷的代谢机制和毒性的理解,推断可能的代谢途径,定量毒性剂量效应,两者相互依赖相互促进.