Smelling our appetite? The influence of food odors on congruent appetite,food preferences and intake

We are surrounded by sensory food cues, such as odors, that may trigger (un)conscious decisions and even lead to (over)eating, it is therefore crucial to better understand the effect of food odors on behavioral responses. Food odor exposure has been shown to enhance appetite for food products with similar properties: sensory-specific appetite. This suggests that based on previous encounters with foods, we have learned to detect the nutritional content of foods, through our sense of smell. We investigated the influence of aware exposure of macronutrient-related odors on various measures of eating behavior, in a cross-over intervention study. Thirty two normal-weight healthy and unrestrained Dutch females took part in five test sessions. On each test session, they were exposed to one of five conditions (active smelling of clearly noticeable odors representing food high in carbohydrates, protein, and fat, low in calories, and a no-odor condition for 3-min) and assessed on specific appetite, food preferences and intake. Odor exposure increased congruent appetite after protein-related odor exposure. Similarly, protein-related odor exposure influenced the liking for protein foods and the preference ranking for savory products. However, food intake was not affected by smelling congruent food odors. Together this indicates that exposure to (aware) food odors may mostly influence appetite, but does not impact subsequent food intake. Moreover, appetite seems to be triggered by taste qualities rather than macronutrient information of the food, as signaled by olfactory cues. Future studies should investigate the role of awareness in more detail, to fully understand how odors might be used to steer people towards healthier food choices.     

Analysis and optimisation of particle mixing performance in fluid phase resonance mixers based on Euler/Lagrange calculations

A novel mixing principle utilising oscillating liquid columns was analysed numerically with regard to particle dispersion characteristics. For producing fluid oscillations a pipe (diameter 100 mm) was immersed centrally into a vessel (diameter 450 mm) filled with liquid (filling height 700 mm) and periodically pressurised (frequency 1.2 Hz). The outlet geometry of the central pipe, just ending near the vessel bottom, has a strong effect on mixing and was optimised in this study. The principle of a FPR-mixer does not require rotating stirrers and in the turbulent regime it has power numbers comparable to propellers. The numerical calculations were conducted by a Euler/Lagrange approach neglecting two-way coupling as well as inter-particle collisions for clarity in order to only focus on the effect of interfacial forces on particle dispersion. The continuous phase was calculated in an unsteady way based on the Reynolds-averaged equations combined with the k-ω-SST (shear stress transport) turbulence model. Lagrangian tracking was conducted considering all relevant forces; drag, gravity/buoyancy, fluid inertia, added mass, Basset force and transverse lift forces due to shear and particle rotation. The importance of these forces was analysed with respect to the turbulent particle Stokes number (considered range 0.004 < St < 10.0) and particle/liquid density ratio (i.e. 1.05, 1.5 and 2.5). Finally, the significance of Basset force and shear-rotation lift force (i.e. Magnus effect) on the dispersion process was quantified by mixing parameters.     

Encapsulation of MnS Nanocrystals into N,S-Co-doped Carbon as Anode Material for Full Cell Sodium-Ion Capacitors

Sodium-ion capacitors(SICs)have received increasing interest for grid stationary energy storage application due to their affordability,high power,and energy densities.The major challenge for SICs is to overcome the kinetics imbalance between faradaic anode and nonfaradaic cathode.To boost the Na+reaction kinetics,the present work demonstrated a high-rate MnS-based anode by embedding the MnS nanocrystals into the N,S-co-doped carbon matrix(MnS@NSC).Benefiting from the fast pseudocapacitive Na+storage behavior,the resulting composite exhibits extraordinary rate capability(205.6 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1)and outstanding cycling stability without notable degradation after 2000 cycles.A prototype SIC was demonstrated using MnS@NSC anode and N-doped porous carbon(NC)cathode;the obtained hybrid SIC device can display a high energy density of 139.8 Wh kg−1 and high power density of 11,500 W kg−1,as well as excellent cyclability with 84.5%capacitance retention after 3000 cycles.The superior electrochemical performance is contributed to downsizing of MnS and encapsulation of conductive N,S-co-doped carbon matrix,which not only promote the Na+and electrons transport,but also buffer the volume variations and maintain the structure integrity during Na+insertion/extraction,enabling its comparable fast reaction kinetics and cyclability with NC cathode.     

云南省澜沧老厂—孟连茶场地区成矿规律及找矿方向探讨

澜沧老厂—孟连茶场地区位于昌宁—孟连多金属成矿带，研究区域成矿规律对找矿突破有着重要指导意义。在综合分析研究地质背景、化探异常、矿产分布等特征的基础上，将该地区划分为老厂、拉巴、孟连矿（化）集区。老厂铅锌矿床是区域上的典型矿床，其在化探异常、矿床空间分布具有明显的低中高温成矿分带的特征。以该矿床分带特征入手，指出老厂矿（化）集区在地表以低温成矿元素为主，而拉巴、孟连矿（化）集区在化探异常、矿化特征均以低中温成矿元素为主，空间上分带特征不明显。该地区化探异常、矿（化）体分布特征，均表明区域上成矿温度、成矿标高由北至南均具从高到低的降低趋势，认为其可能与燕山期岩浆活动的差异性有关，指出老厂外围、拉巴深部是找矿的有利靶区。     

Modeling managerial behavior in real options valuation for project-based environments

Project valuation, as a decision-making tool for initiating investments in projects, should be able to value project flexibilities and incorporate reasonable risk preferences of relevant decision makers. Real options valuation methods are the available approaches for valuing project flexibilities, whereas they have shortcomings in considering managers’ reasonable risk preferences in project decisions. Therefore, researchers have suggested approximating the perspective on risk of real options methods and practitioners in project management. This study proposes a fair real options valuation for project-based environments by a behavioral economic approach, which adopts binomial lattice method, Monte-Carlo simulation, and cumulative prospect theory. The results show that behavioral factors such as ‘risk attitude’ and ‘loss aversion’ should be accepted in project investment decisions while limited to an acceptable amount depending on the project conditions (e.g. uniqueness of decision-making scenarios). This research contributes to the project management domain by enhancing project investment decisions that include project flexibilities.     

王坡煤矿煤层顶板稳定性主控因素分析

煤炭开采过程中极易发生顶板事故。基于王坡煤矿的地质条件，利用钻孔、井下钻探、物探、生产揭露资料，分别对该矿煤层顶板沉积特征、煤层顶板岩石结构特征进行系统分析研究，通过实验室室内测试，获取了煤层顶板岩石抗压强度、泊松比、坚固性系数、黏聚力等物理力学性质指标，最终确定了影响煤层顶板稳定性相关因素；运用层次分析法确定影响因素的权重值，得出岩石力学性质是影响煤层顶板稳定性的主控因素。研究可为类似煤矿顶板稳定性因素分析提供借鉴。     

Dual pH‐ and thermal‐responsive nanocomposite hydrogels for controllable delivery of hydrophobic drug baicalein

Hydrogels have been widely used as mild biomaterials due to their bio‐affinity, high drug loading capability and controllable release profiles. However, hydrogel‐based carriers are greatly limited for the delivery of hydrophobic payloads due to the lack of hydrophobic binding sites. Herein, nano‐liposome micelles were embedded in semi‐interpenetrating poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐chitosan] (PNIPAAm‐co‐CS) and poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐(sodium alginate)] (PNIPAAm‐co‐SA) hydrogels which were responsive to both temperature and pH, thereby establishing tunable nanocomposite hydrogel delivery systems. Nano‐micelles formed via the self‐assembly of phospholipid could serve as the link between hydrophobic drug and hydrophilic hydrogel due to their special amphiphilic structure. The results of transmission and scanning electron microscopies and infrared spectroscopy showed that the porous hydrogels were successfully fabricated and the liposomes encapsulated with baicalein could be well contained in the network. In addition, the experimental results of response release in vitro revealed that the smart hydrogels showed different degree of sensitiveness under different pH and temperature stimuli. The results of the study demonstrate that combining PNIPAAm‐co‐SA and PNIPAAm‐co‐CS hydrogels with liposomes encapsulated with hydrophobic drugs is a feasible method for hydrophobic drug delivery and have potential application prospects in the medical field. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reaction synthesis of spark plasma sintered MoSi2-B4C coatings for oxidation protection of Nb alloy

MoSi₂-B₄C coatings with different B₄C contents were prepared on Nb alloy by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Powder mixtures of Mo, Si and B₄C were used as the coating starting materials. Besides MoSi₂ and B₄C phases, small amounts of SiC and MoB are also found in the coatings because of the reactions of Mo, Si and B₄C powders during sintering. Compared with single MoSi₂ coating, the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings show better oxidation resistance at 1450?℃, and dense B₂O₃-SiO₂ oxide scales form after 100?h oxidation. The B₄C or MoB in the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings can serve as the B donor for the formation of B₂O₃. A slight degradation in the microstructure of the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings after oxidation is observed, which can be attributed to the presence of an NbB layer in the inter-diffusion zone of the coatings that retards the inward diffusion of Si from the coating into the substrate alloy. The microstructure development and oxidation behavior of the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings have been discussed.     

On the Barzilai-Borwein basic scheme in FFT-based computational homogenization

Building upon the equivalence of the basic scheme in the work of Moulinec and Suquet with gradient descent methods, we investigate the effect of using the celebrated Barzilai-Borwein step size selection technique in this context. We provide an overview of recent convergence theory and present efficient implementations in the context of computational micromechanics, with and without globalization. In contrast to polarization schemes and fast gradient methods, no lower bound on the eigenvalues of the material tangent is necessary for the Barzilai-Borwein scheme. We demonstrate the power of the proposed method for linear elastic and inelastic large scale problems with finite and infinite material contrast.     

渤海湾盆地沙垒田地区新近纪走滑断裂发育特征及其对油气富集的控制作用

沙垒田凸起地区是渤海海域西部新近系油气最为富集的区域，为了明确新近系走滑断裂发育特征及对油气富集的控制作用，依托连片高精度三维地震、钻井取心等资料，对走滑断裂类型及发育特征进行了详细刻画，并对走滑断裂与成藏要素之间的关系进行了探讨。综合研究表明：研究区发育断穿基底走滑断裂、盖层走滑断裂及伸展-走滑断裂三种不同类型走滑断裂；走滑断裂对圈闭的控制作用表现为在不同类型走滑断裂控制下，断裂带内及断裂带间形成了多种类型圈闭，其中大型披覆背斜圈闭、断鼻、断背斜圈闭为有利圈闭，小型断块圈闭为不利圈闭；走滑断裂对输导体系的控制作用体现在断裂活动控制了骨架砂体输导体系及断裂输导体系的形成发育，有利于周边凹陷成熟烃源岩排烃及运移输导；走滑断裂对储层的控制作用表现为走滑作用形成的高角度裂缝提高了储层渗透率，改善了储层物性。新近纪普遍发育的走滑断裂是研究区油气富集的主控因素。