Influence of the weight ratio of polydimethylsiloxane modified gelatin to silicone rubber on the potential performance of asymmetric bilayer membranes as wound dressings

Asymmetric bilayer membranes have been regarded as ideal wound dressings for skin regeneration. Our previous work reported the potential advantages of polydimethylsiloxane modified gelatin/silicone rubber (PGE/SR) asymmetric bilayer membrane as a wound dressing. However, it is still unknown whether the proportion of the two components of the bilayer membrane has a prominent influence on its relevant performance. Herein, various PGE/SR membranes with different PGE:SR weight ratios (100:25, 100:50 and 100:100) were fabricated through a self‐stratification method driven by surface tension gradients. Subsequently, the effects of the PGE:SR ratios on the relevant performance (i.e. porous structure, mechanical properties, degradability and biocompatibility) of PGE/SR membranes were systematically investigated. The current results demonstrate that the separating force between the PGE and SR components was reduced significantly on increasing the content of SR, and in particular the PGE/SR1 membrane (100:25) exhibited a well‐defined asymmetric bilayer structure with high porosity, appropriate toughness, water uptake, swelling ratio and water permeability. Concomitantly, the maximum weight loss for the PGE/SR1 membrane was ca 70.65% after 9 days of enzymatic degradation, which met the typical healing period of a normal skin wound. In addition, both the original and degraded PGE/SR1 membrane possessed favorable cytocompatibility in vitro, suggesting its potential application as a wound dressing. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Distribution-free double-sampling precedence monitoring scheme to detect unknown shifts in the location parameter

In most applications, parametric monitoring schemes are used to monitor the majority of industrial and nonindustrial processes in order to improve the quality of the outputs or services. However, parametric monitoring schemes are known to underperform when the normality assumption is not met or when there is not enough information about the symmetry or asymmetry nature of the process underlying distribution. Hence, in this paper, a new nonparametric Phase II Shewhart-type double-sampling (DS) monitoring scheme based on the precedence statistic is proposed in order to efficiently monitor quality processes when the underlying process distribution departs from normality. The performance is investigated using the average run length (ARL), standard deviation of the run length (SDRL), expected ARL (EARL) and expected average number of observations to signal (EANOS), and the average sample sizes (ASS) metrics. The latter metrics are computed using Monte Carlo simulation and exact formulae. In general, it is shown that the new DS precedence scheme outperforms the existing basic Shewhart precedence scheme with and without supplementary runs rules in many situations. A real-life illustrative example based on a filling process of milk bottles is provided to demonstrate the application and implementation of the new DS precedence monitoring scheme.     

The role of sour and bitter perception in liking,familiarity and choice for phenol-rich plant-based foods

Among factors influencing food preferences and choices, individual differences in taste perception play a key role in defining eating behaviour. In particular, sour and bitter responsiveness could be associated with the acceptance and the consumption of phenol-rich plant-based foods recommended for a healthy diet. The aim of this study was to investigate, in a large population sample, the associations among sour and bitter responsiveness and liking, familiarity and choice for plant-based foods characterized by these target tastes. Adults aged 18 to 60 years (n = 1198; 58% women) were tested for their sour and bitter responsiveness both in water solutions and in food models (pear juice-based beverages modified in citric acid content to induce different levels of sourness: 0.5, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 g/kg; chocolate pudding samples modified in sucrose content to induce different levels of bitterness: 38, 83, 119, 233 g/kg). Familiarity, stated liking and choice for fruit juices and vegetables varying for sour/bitter taste (high in bitter/sour taste: e.g. grapefruit juice and cauliflower; low in bitter/sour taste: e.g. zucchini and pineapple juice) were measured. Results showed a significant positive correlation between bitter and sour taste perception in water solutions and model foods, as well as a positive correlation between the perceived intensity of the two taste stimuli. Subjects characterized by high responsiveness to the two target stimuli were found to give lower liking scores to foods characterized by sour/bitter tastes and tended to choose less sour/bitter foods compared to less responsive subjects.Thus, food choice for phenol rich plant-based products could be associated with a reduced responsiveness to bitter and sour tastes and a consequent higher acceptance of food products characterized by these taste qualities.     

Generally weighted moving average monitoring schemes: Overview and perspectives

An overview of monitoring schemes from a class called generally weighted moving average (GWMA) is provided. A GWMA scheme is an extended version of the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) scheme with an additional adjustment parameter that introduces more flexibility in the GWMA model as it adjusts the kurtosis of the weighting function so that the GWMA scheme can be designed such that it has an advantage over the corresponding EWMA scheme in the detection of certain shift values efficiently. The parametric and distribution-free GWMA schemes to monitor various quality characteristics and its existing enhanced versions (ie, double GWMA, composite Shewhart-GWMA, mixed GWMA-CUSUM, and mixed CUSUM-GWMA) have better performance than their corresponding EWMA counterparts in many situations; hence, all such existing research works discussing GWMA-related schemes (ie, 66 publications in total) are documented and categorized in such a manner that it is easy to identify research gaps. Finally, a number of possible future research ideas are provided.     

Progressive mean control chart is not a special case of an exponentially weighted moving average control chart

The progressive mean (PM) statistic is based on a simple idea of accumulating information of each subgroup by calculating the average progressively. Its weighting structure is based on a subgroup number that changes arithmetically, which makes the PM chart unique and efficient compared with the existing classical memory control charts. In a recent article (see reference 1), it was claimed that the PM chart is a special case of the exponentially weighted moving average (EMWA) chart. In this article, it is shown that even though the PM statistic can be written in the form of an EWMA statistic, the variance of the PM statistic is different from that of the EWMA statistic. Consequently, the limits of the PM chart are different from that of the EWMA chart. Therefore, it is found that the PM chart is not a special case of the EWMA chart; hence, the claim in reference 1 is incorrect. Furthermore, it is pointed out in this paper that no adaptive property in the weighting parameter of the PM statistic exists, further contradicting the claim in reference 1.     

Single‐step synthesis of a radically polymerizable 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol derivative for asymmetric catalysis

A new polymerizable 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol derivative for polymer‐supported catalytic asymmetric synthesis is presented. The synthesis is conducted within a single reaction step, which is a major advantage over other approaches presented in the literature. The ligand‐bearing polymer is prepared through copolymerization with N‐isopropylacrylamide. Preliminary experiments on the utility in catalytic asymmetric alkylation reactions reveal the accessibility and activity of the polymer‐attached catalysts. The stereoselectivity of the reaction is found to be somewhat lower than for reactions performed in the presence of free 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol, and thus requires further optimization. The enantiomeric excess of the reaction products was determined via ¹H NMR spectroscopy after chiral derivatization with (R)‐α‐methylbenzyl isocyanate. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

一种基于证据推理的视频运动目标融合检测算法

为了解决复杂场景下传统的运动目标检测问题, 利用证据推理—–谨慎有序加权平均方法(COWA-ER), 提出一种综合使用混合高斯、均值滤波和码本的多方法融合的检测方法. 该融合检测算法以上述3 种检测方法为准则建立一个多准则决策框架, 通过双阈值检测法来表征检测过程中的不确定性, 最终利用COWA-ER 方法进行决策级融合, 实现多种方法的优势互补. 实验表明, 所提出的融合检测算法具有更理想的目标检测效果, 能有效应对诸如阴影及光照突变等问题对检测性能的影响.

     

液晶材料中间体-4-(反式,反式-4-丙基双环己基)苯乙酮的合成

液晶材料目前的制备方法复杂,市场上成熟的原料合成路线基本没有。要制备性能优异的、使用广泛的液晶材料需要多步反应。以市场中常见的4-(反式,反式-4-丙基双环己基)苯为原料,经傅克酰基化反应得到目标产物。主要考察了4-(反式,反式-4-丙基双环己基)苯乙酮的合成条件,如酰基化反应溶剂、酰基化反应温度、酰基化反应时间及水解反应溶剂四个条件的影响,确定了合成反应的最佳条件。并采用红外光谱和核磁共振方法确证了目标产物。     

互叶白千层花、果与叶挥发油成分的对比分析

以水蒸气蒸馏法提取互叶白千层花、果、叶三个不同部位的挥发油,采用气相色谱法、气相色谱-质谱联用法分别鉴定了花、果和叶中挥发油的化学成分,并比较互叶白千层不同部位挥发油的主要化学成分及含量差异。分析结果可为互叶白千层花、果研究提供试验依据。