Improving hydrophobicity on polyurethane-based synthetic leather through plasma polymerization for easy care effect

This study reports on the deposition of a hydrophobic coating on polyurethane (PU)-based synthetic leather through a plasma polymerization method and investigates the hydrophobic behavior of the plasma-coated substrate. The silicon compound of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), inactive gas argon (Ar), and toluene were used to impart surface hydrophobicity to a PU-based substrate. Surface hydrophobicity was analyzed by water contact angle measurements. Surface hydrophobicity was increased by deposition of compositions of 100% HMDSO, 3:1 HMDSO/toluene, and 1:1 HMDSO/toluene. Optimum conditions of 40 W, 30 s plasma treatment resulted in essentially the same initial contact angle results of approximately 100 for all three treatment compositions. The initial water contact angle for untreated material was about 73. A water droplet took 1800 s to spread out on the plasma-treated sample after it had been placed on the sample surface. An increase in plasma power also led to a decrease in contact angle, which may be attributed to oxidization of HMDSO during plasma deposition. XPS analysis showed that plasma polymerization of HMDSO/toluene compositions led to a significant increase in atomic percentage of Si compound responsible for the hydrophobic surface. The easy clean results for the treated and untreated PU-based synthetic leather samples clearly showed that the remaining stain on the plasma-polymerized sample was less than that of untreated sample. The plasma-formed coating was both hydrophobic and formed a physical barrier against water and stain. © 2013 American Coatings Association & Oil and Colour Chemists' Association

The Effect of Undercutting on Growth and Morphology of 1+0 Bareroot Sessile Oak Seedlings in Relation to Acorn Size

Abstract: Effects of root undercutting in the seedbed and seed size grading on a variety of seedling morphological traits of sessile oak (seedling height, seedling diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, number of large lateral roots > 1 mm and number of fine lateral roots < 1 mm) were studied at Ardanuc Forest Nursery, Artvin, Turkey. The growth and dry weight of 1+0 bareroot sessile oak seedlings were observed higher for the seedlings raised from acorns of medium and large sizes. Time of undercutting affected seedling morphological attributes, and undercutting in July produced greater seedlings from acorns of medium and large size class (for both height and diameter) that had greater numbers of large lateral roots compared to the other undercutting treatments. W hen averaged over three acorn sizes, undercutting increased shoot dry weight, number of large lateral roots and fine lateral roots. This study suggests that undercutting treatment and acorn sizing appear to be tools to the nursery manager to produce larger sessile oak seedlings in the nursery

Importance of the logistics performance index in international trade

This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published in: “Applied Economics"; Volume 46, Issue 24, 2014; copyright Taylor & Francis; available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2014.916394Logistics and transport increasingly play a pivotal role in international trade relations. The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) analyses differences between countries in terms of customs procedures, logistics costs and the quality of the infrastructure for overland and maritime transport. The aim of this article is to analyse the impact that each of these components has on trade in emerging economies using a gravity model. Furthermore, the study also attempts to detect possible advances in logistics in developing countries, which are grouped into five regions (Africa, South America, Far East, Middle East and Eastern Europe) by comparing the first LPI data published in 2007 with the most recent data, released in 2012. The results obtained reveal that improvements in any of the components of the LPI can lead to significant growth in a country’s trade flows. Specifically, LPI components are becoming increasingly important for international trade in many countries in Africa, South America and Eastern Europe.Martí Selva, ML.; Puertas Medina, RM.; García, L. (2014). Importance of the logistics performance index in international trade. Applied Economics. 46(24):2982-2992. doi:10.1080/00036846.2014.916394S298229924624Anderson, J. E., & van Wincoop, E. (2003). Gravity with Gravitas: A Solution to the Border Puzzle. American Economic Review, 93(1), 170-192. doi:10.1257/000282803321455214Bergstrand, J. H. (1985). The Gravity Equation in International Trade: Some Microeconomic Foundations and Empirical Evidence. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 67(3), 474. doi:10.2307/1925976Bergstrand, J. H. (1989). The Generalized Gravity Equation, Monopolistic Competition, and the Factor-Proportions Theory in International Trade. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 71(1), 143. doi:10.2307/1928061De Souza, R., Goh, M., Gupta, S.et al.(2007) An investigation into the measures affecting the integration of ASEAN’s priority sectors: phase 2: the case of logistics.REPSF ProjectNo. 06/001d Regional Economic Policy Support Facility, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Manila.Heckman, J. J. (1979). Sample Selection Bias as a Specification Error. Econometrica, 47(1), 153. doi:10.2307/1912352Hoekman, B., & Nicita, A. (2010). Assessing the Doha Round: Market access, transactions costs and aid for trade facilitation. The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 19(1), 65-79. doi:10.1080/09638190903327476Iwanow, T., & Kirkpatrick, C. (2009). Trade Facilitation and Manufactured Exports: Is Africa Different? World Development, 37(6), 1039-1050. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.09.014Marti, L., Puertas, R., & García, L. (2012). Relevance of trade facilitation in emerging countries’ exports. The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 23(2), 202-222. doi:10.1080/09638199.2012.698639Martínez-Zarzoso, I., & Suárez-Burguet, C. (2000). The determinants of trade performance: influence of R&D on export flows. Applied Economics, 32(15), 1939-1946. doi:10.1080/00036840050155869Mustra, M. A. (2011) Logistic Performance Index, connecting to compete 2010, inUNESCAP Regional Forum and Chief Executives Meeting, The World Bank, Cairo

One-Dimensional “Ghost Imaging” in Electron Microscopy of Inelastically Scattered Electrons

Entanglement and correlation are at the basis of quantum mechanics and have been used in optics to create a framework for “ghost imaging”. We propose that a similar scheme can be used in an electron microscope to exploit the correlation of electrons with the coincident detection of collective mode excitations in a sample. In this way, an image of the sample can be formed on an electron camera even if electrons never illuminated the region of interest directly. This concept, which can be regarded as the inverse of photon-induced near-field electron microscopy, can be used to probe delicate molecules with a resolution that is beyond the wavelength of the collective mode

Bias associated with delayed verification in test accuracy studies: accuracy of tests for endometrial hyperplasia may be much higher than we think!

BACKGROUND: To empirically evaluate bias in estimation of accuracy associated with delay in verification of diagnosis among studies evaluating tests for predicting endometrial hyperplasia. METHODS: Systematic reviews of all published research on accuracy of miniature endometrial biopsy and endometr ial ultrasonography for diagnosing endometrial hyperplasia identified 27 test accuracy studies (2,982 subjects). Of these, 16 had immediate histological verification of diagnosis while 11 had verification delayed > 24 hrs after testing. The effect of delay in verification of diagnosis on estimates of accuracy was evaluated using meta-regression with diagnostic odds ratio (dOR) as the accuracy measure. This analysis was adjusted for study quality and type of test (miniature endometrial biopsy or endometrial ultrasound). RESULTS: Compared to studies with immediate verification of diagnosis (dOR 67.2, 95% CI 21.7–208.8), those with delayed verification (dOR 16.2, 95% CI 8.6–30.5) underestimated the diagnostic accuracy by 74% (95% CI 7%–99%; P value = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Among studies of miniature endometrial biopsy and endometrial ultrasound, diagnostic accuracy is considerably underestimated if there is a delay in histological verification of diagnosis

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London