Transgenerational Effects of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Anogenital Distance,Sperm Functions and DNA Methylation in Rat Offspring

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of polyvinylchloride plastics and has been associated with concerns regarding male reproductive toxicity. In this study, we hypothesized that maternal exposure to DEHP induces transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset adverse reproductive outcomes through the male germline in the F1, F2, and F3 generations of male offspring. Pregnant rats were treated with 5 or 500 mg of DEHP/kg/day through gavage from gestation day 0 to birth. The offspring body weight, anogenital distance (AGD), anogenital index (AGI), sperm count, motility, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were measured for all generations. Methyl-CpG binding domain sequencing was performed to analyze sperm DNA methylation status in the F3. DEHP exposure at 500 mg/kg affected AGD, AGI, sperm count, mean DFI, and %DFI in the F1; AGD, sperm count, and mean DFI in the F2; and AGD, AGI, mean DFI, and %DFI in the F3. DEHP exposure at 5 mg/kg affected AGD, AGI, sperm count, and %DFI in the F1; sperm count in the F2; and AGD and AGI in F3. Compared with the control group, 15 and 45 differentially hypermethylated genes were identified in the groups administered 5 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg DEHP, respectively. Moreover, 130 and 6 differentially hypomethylated genes were observed in the groups administered 5 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg DEHP. Overall, these results demonstrated that prenatal exposure to DEHP caused transgenerational epigenetic effects, which may explain the observed phenotypic changes in the male reproductive system.     

Manufacturing catalyst-coated membranes by ultrasonic spray deposition for PEMFC: Identification of key parameters and their impact on PEMFC performance

This study deals with the manufacturing of catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) for newcomers in the field of coating. Although there are many studies on electrode ink composition for improving the performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), there are few papers dealing with electrode coating itself. Usually, it is a know-how that often remains secret and constitutes the added value of scientific teams or the business of industrialists. In this paper, we identify and clarify the role of key parameters to improve coating quality and also to correlate coating quality with fuel cell performance via polarization curves and electrochemical active surface area measurements. We found that the coating configurations can affect the performance of lab-made CCMs in PEMFCs. After the repeatability of the performance obtained by our coating method has been proved, we show that: (i) edge effects, due to mask shadowing - cannot be neglected when the active surface area is low, (ii) a heterogeneous thickness electrode produces performance lower than a homogeneous thickness electrode, and (iii) the origin and storage of platinum on carbon powders are a very important source of variability in the obtained results.     

New exact solutions of the Tzitzéica-type equations in non-linear optics using the expa function method

One specific class of non-linear evolution equations, known as the Tzitzéica-type equations, has received great attention from a group of researchers involved in non-linear science. In this article, new exact solutions of the Tzitzéica-type equations arising in non-linear optics, including the Tzitzéica, Dodd–Bullough–Mikhailov and Tzitzéica–Dodd–Bullough equations, are obtained using the exp_a function method. The integration technique actually suggests a useful and reliable method to extract new exact solutions of a wide range of non-linear evolution equations.     

A model- and simulation-based approach for tolerancing and verifying the functional capability of micro/nano-structured workpieces

The evaluation of functional features of manufactured workpieces is based on GO- and NO-GO-test results, which are obtained by comparing measured geometric characteristics with nominal dimensions and tolerances specified by the designer. These geometrical specifications are based on a tolerancing system, which was originally defined for the function mating capability. Against the background of upcoming lots of other new functions (like reduction of flow resistance, light absorption, reduction of friction, diffraction of light, self-cleaning or mass transmission) are to be realized with our products – particularly by micro- and nano scaled features. If the verification process will deliver the prediction of the achievable degree of functionality, the usability of a part can be assessed more accurately and in consequence quality and economics can be improved. So, a new principle for tolerancing and verifying turns out to be necessary. In this paper the fundamental deficit of the actual tolerancing and specification systems GPS and ASME Y14.5 is derived and the path for enlarging the system by preposing a functional model is shown. To verify the functional capability of the workpieces an approach based on simulations done with the parameterized mathematical–physical model of the function is suggested. Advantages of this approach will be discussed and demonstrated by examples with microstructured inking rolls, crankshafts and injection valves.     

Simultaneous enhancement of the efficiency and stability of organic solar cells using PEDOT:PSS grafted with a PEGME buffer layer

We report a simple processing method to simultaneously improve the efficiency and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). Poly(4-styrene sulfonate)-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene (PEDOT:PSS), widely used as hole transport layer (HTL) in OSCs, tends to accelerate the degradation of devices because of its hygroscopic and acidic properties. In this regard, we have modified PEDOT:PSS to reduce its hygroscopic and acidic properties through a condensation reaction between PEDOT:PSS and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME) in order to improve the efficiency and stability of OSCs. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased by 21%, from 2.57% up to 3.11%. A better energy level alignment by the reduced work function of the modified PEDOT:PSS with a highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) is considered the origin of the improved the efficiency. The half-life of OSCs with PEDOT:PSS modified with PEGME buffer layer also increased up to 3.5 times compared to that of devices with pristine PEDOT:PSS buffer layer.     

A Student's t-based density peaks clustering with superpixel segmentation (tDPCSS) method for image color clustering

Image color clustering is a basic technique in image processing and computer vision, which is often applied in image segmentation, color transfer, contrast enhancement, object detection, skin color capture, and so forth. Various clustering algorithms have been employed for image color clustering in recent years. However, most of the algorithms require a large amount of memory or a predetermined number of clusters. In addition, some of the existing algorithms are sensitive to the parameter configurations. In order to tackle the above problems, we propose an image color clustering method named Student's t-based density peaks clustering with superpixel segmentation (tDPCSS), which can automatically obtain clustering results, without requiring a large amount of memory, and is not dependent on the parameters of the algorithm or the number of clusters. In tDPCSS, superpixels are obtained based on automatic and constrained simple non-iterative clustering, to automatically decrease the image data volume. A Student's t kernel function and a cluster center selection method are adopted to eliminate the dependence of the density peak clustering on parameters and the number of clusters, respectively. The experiments undertaken in this study confirmed that the proposed approach outperforms k-means, fuzzy c-means, mean-shift clustering, and density peak clustering with superpixel segmentation in the accuracy of the cluster centers and the validity of the clustering results.     

基于分形插值的改进趋势面拟合法在地面沉降中的应用

针对区域地面沉降监测点数量有限、分布不均的情况,一般采用空间插值的手段建立表面拟合模型来解决。基于分形插值,采用随机选择迭代函数的思想对传统的趋势面拟合法作出改进,改进后拟合优度系数提高0.03,达到0.995,且改进前后的拟合结果符合显著性检验的要求。实验结果表明:改进前后趋势面拟合法拟合结果满足地面沉降监测的精度要求,改进后方法的拟合优度更高,对现实地面沉降量变化的描绘更加真实,可为沉降灾害评价工作提供更准确的依据。     

Crystal violet dye sorption and transport in/through biobased PVA cryogel membranes

Cryogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] and three types of bioinsertions such as scleroglucan, cellulose microfibers, and zein, respectively, have been prepared using capacity of PVA to crosslink by repeated freezing–thawing cycles. The effect of the incorporation of biopolymers on the properties of PVA cryogel has been studied by using several techniques such as: scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared studies. The obtained biobased cryogel membranes were subjected to sorption and to diffusion experiments using Crystal Violet (CV), a dye commonly used in the textile industry and in medicine. Image analysis with CIELAB system was used both to monitor the cryogels loading with CV and to gain insight in the dye state into the gel, in correlation with the bioinsertion type and gels morphology. Dye diffusion but also sorption capacity of the cryogels was found to be closely related to the type of biopolymer. In this article the equilibrium (sorption isotherms) and transport properties (diffusion and permeability coefficients) of CV, in/through physical cross‐linked PVA hydrogel membranes with bioinsertions has been reported. The highest efficiency for the CV removal from aqueous solutions was obtained for the PVA/Scl cryogels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41838.     

In2O3:Ga and In2O3:P-based one-electrode gas sensors: Comparative study

Gas sensing characteristics of one-electrode sensors based on the In₂O₃ ceramics doped by gallium and phosphorus have been discussed. In₂O₃-based ceramic was prepared by sol–gel technology. Ozone, CO, CH₄ and H₂ were used as tested gases. The doping concentration effect on the sensor parameters such as magnitude of response, operating temperature, response and recovery times, sensitivity to the air humidity, and selectivity have been analyzed. It was shown that In₂O₃ doping by Ga and P could be used for the sensor performance optimization. It was assumed that the appearance of the second phase (InPO₄ and Ga₂O₃) and the change of structural parameters, taking place during doping process, were the main factors controlling the change of operating characteristics in In₂O₃:P and In₂O₃:Ga-based sensors.