bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interval Estimation of Value-at-Risk Based on Nonparametric Models
Authors: Khraibani Hussein , Nehme Bilal , Strauss Olivier
Published: December 2018

Value-at-Risk (VaR) has become the most important benchmark for measuring risk in portfolios of different types of financial instruments. However, as reported by many authors, estimating VaR is subject to a high level of uncertainty. One of the sources of uncertainty stems from the dependence of the VaR estimation on the choice of the computation method. As we show in our experiment, the lower the number of samples, the higher this dependence. In this paper, we propose a new nonparametric approach called maxitive kernel estimation of the VaR. This estimation is based on a coherent extension of the kernel-based estimation of the cumulative distribution function to convex sets of kernel. We thus obtain a convex set of VaR estimates gathering all the conventional estimates based on a kernel belonging to the above considered convex set. We illustrate this method in an empirical application to daily stock returns. We compare the approach we propose to other parametric and nonparametric approaches. In our experiment, we show that the interval-valued estimate of the VaR we obtain is likely to lead to more careful decision, i.e., decisions that cannot be biased by an arbitrary choice of the computation method. In fact, the imprecision of the obtained interval-valued estimate is likely to be representative of the uncertainty in VaR estimate.
Development of Final Projects in Engineering Degrees around an Industry 4.0-Oriented Flexible Manufacturing System: Preliminary Outcomes and Some Initial Considerations
Authors: González Isaías , Calderón Antonio José
Published: December 2018

New paradigms such as the Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), or industrial cyber-physical systems (ICPSs) have been impacting the manufacturing environment in recent years. Nevertheless, these challenging concepts are also being faced from the educational field: Engineering students must acquire knowledge and skills under the view of these frameworks. This paper describes the utilization of an Industry 4.0-oriented flexible manufacturing system (FMS) as an educational tool to develop final projects (FPs) of engineering degrees. A number of scopes are covered by an FMS, such as automation, supervision, instrumentation, communications, and robotics. The utilization of an FMS with educational purposes started in the academic year 2011–2012 and still remains active. Here, the most illustrative FPs are expounded, and successful academic outcomes are reported. In addition, a set of initial considerations based on the experience acquired by the FP tutors is provided.
Open-Source Electronics Platforms as Enabling Technologies for Smart Cities: Recent Developments and Perspectives
Authors: Costa Daniel G. , Duran-Faundez Cristian
Published: December 2018

With the increasing availability of affordable open-source embedded hardware platforms, the development of low-cost programmable devices for uncountable tasks has accelerated in recent years. In this sense, the large development community that is being created around popular platforms is also contributing to the construction of Internet of Things applications, which can ultimately support the maturation of the smart-cities era. Popular platforms such as Raspberry Pi, BeagleBoard and Arduino come as single-board open-source platforms that have enough computational power for different types of smart-city applications, while keeping affordable prices and encompassing many programming libraries and useful hardware extensions. As a result, smart-city solutions based on such platforms are becoming common and the surveying of recent research in this area can support a better understanding of this scenario, as presented in this article. Moreover, discussions about the continuous developments in these platforms can also indicate promising perspectives when using these boards as key elements to build smart cities.
Towards The Internet of Smart Clothing: A Review on IoT Wearables and Garments for Creating Intelligent Connected E-Textiles
Authors: Fernández-Caramés Tiago , Fraga-Lamas Paula
Published: December 2018

Technology has become ubiquitous, it is all around us and is becoming part of us. Togetherwith the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm and enabling technologies (e.g., Augmented Reality (AR), Cyber-Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain or edge computing), smart wearables and IoT-based garments can potentially have a lot of influence by harmonizing functionality and the delight created by fashion. Thus, smart clothes look for a balance among fashion, engineering, interaction, user experience, cybersecurity, design and science to reinvent technologies that can anticipate needs and desires. Nowadays, the rapid convergence of textile and electronics is enabling the seamless and massive integration of sensors into textiles and the development of conductive yarn. The potential of smart fabrics, which can communicate with smartphones to process biometric information such as heart rate, temperature, breathing, stress, movement, acceleration, or even hormone levels, promises a new era for retail. This article reviews the main requirements for developing smart IoT-enabled garments and shows smart clothing potential impact on business models in the medium-term. Specifically, a global IoT architecture is proposed, the main types and components of smart IoT wearables and garments are presented, their main requirements are analyzed and some of the most recent smart clothing applications are studied. In this way, this article reviews the past and present of smart garments in order to provide guidelines for the future developers of a network where garments will be connected like other IoT objects: the Internet of Smart Clothing.
A Novel Detection Technique for a Chipless RFID System Using Quantile Regression
Authors: Manekiya Mohammedhusen , Donelli Massimo , Kumar Abhinav , Menon Sreedevi K.
Published: December 2018

This work presents a novel approach for improving the detection capabilities of a chipless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system based on quantile regression. The main drawback of chipless RFID systems is the limited response of the tags due to the low-quality factor of the resonators, used to encode the information in the tag. The detection becomes very challenging especially for real-time data when noise is present. This work proposes the use of quantile regression to enhance the system performance. A chipless RFID system prototype has been fabricated (as a proof of concept) and experimentally assessed. The obtained results are quite satisfactory in the potentialities of the proposed methodology.
Modeling of 2DEG characteristics of InxAl1−xN/AlN/GaN-Based HEMT Considering Polarization and Quantum Mechanical Effect
Authors: Qin Jian , Zhou Quanbin , Liao Biyan , Wang Hong
Published: December 2018

A comprehensive model for 2DEG characteristics of InxAl1−xN/AlN/GaN heterostructure has been presented, taking both polarization and bulk ionized charge into account. Investigations on the 2DEG density and electron distribution across the heterostructure have been carried out using solutions of coupled 1-D Schrödinger-Poisson equations solved by an improved iterative scheme. The proposed model extends a previous approach allowing for estimating the quantum mechanical effect for a generic InAlN/GaN-based HEMT within the range of the Hartree approximation. A critical AlN thickness (~2.28 nm) is predicted when considering the 2DEG density in dependence on a lattice matched In0.17Al0.83N thickness. The obtained results present in this work provide a guideline for the experimental observation of the subband structure of InAlN/GaN heterostructure and may be used as a design tool for the optimization of that epilayer structure.
Reliability of Boost PFC Converters with Improved EMI Filters
Authors: Zhu Haoqi , Liu Dongliang , Zhang Xu , Qu Feng
Published: December 2018

The switching device in a power converter can produce very serious electromagnetic interference (EMI). In order to solve this problem and the associated reliability and stability issues, this article aimed to analyze and model the boost power factor correction (PFC) converter according to the EMI conduction path. The sources of common-mode (CM) and differential-mode (DM) noise of the boost PFC converter were analyzed, and the DM and CM equivalent circuits were deduced. Furthermore, high-frequency modeling of the common-mode inductor was developed using a precise model, and the EMI filter was designed. According to the Class B standard for EMI testing, it is better to restrain the EMI noise in the frequency range (150 kHz to 30 MHz) of the EMI conducted disturbance test. Using this method, a 2.4-kW PFC motor driving supply was designed, and the experimental results validate the analysis.
Functionality Study on Light-Weight Ecological Substrate
Authors: Ma Qiang , Huang Chaogang , Xiao Henglin
Published: December 2018

Dry-sprayed ecological slope protection technology is an effective mean to restore the ecological environment of rock slope, which has been continuously studied and improved by scholars since its advent. Based on the existing research, a new type of dry-sprayed ecological substrate with carbon fiber and expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles was proposed to achieve lightweight and conductive heating. The ingredients of the ecological substrate are EPS, cement, carbon fiber, graphite powder, soil, water-retaining agent, and pH adjusting agent, respectively. In order to investigate the ecological performance and the physical properties of the substrate, the growth rule of Zoysiagrass was investigated by pot experiment and orthogonal range analysis, and the density and conductivity of the substrate were tested. The result shows that proper EPS particles in the substrate can improve soil structure and promote plant growth, and they play a similar role as soil conditioner. However, when the content of EPS particles exceeds 4%, the substrate is difficult to solidify by cement, which will lead to disintegration. EPS is the main factor affecting the germination and growth of plants, followed by cement, while carbon fiber and graphite powder content effect less. The optimum proportion for plant growth is EPS particle 4%, cement 2.5%, carbon fiber 1%, graphite powder 10%, pH adjusting agent 2.5%, and water retaining agent 0.1%. EPS particles can effectively reduce the density of the substrate and thus reduce weight. The average conductivity of the substrate specimens is 384 Ω·cm, which has great conductivity.
Experimental and Theoretical Research on Bending Behavior of Photovoltaic Panels with a Special Boundary Condition
Authors: Zhang Tengyuan , Xie Lingzhi , Li Yongxue , Mallick Tapas , Wei Qingzhu , Hao Xia , He Bo
Published: December 2018

Currently, the photovoltaic (PV) panels widely manufactured on market are composed of stiff front and back layers and the solar cells embedded in a soft polymeric interlayer. The wind and snow pressure are the usual loads to which working PV panels need to face, and it needs the panels keep undamaged under those pressure when they generate electricity. Therefore, an accurate and systematic research on bending behavior of PV panels is important and necessary. In this paper, classical lamination theory (CLT) considering soft interlayer is applied to build governing equations of the solar panel. A Rayleigh–Rita method is modified to solve the governing equations and calculate the static deformation of the PV panel. Different from many previous researches only analyzing simply supported boundary condition for four edges, a special boundary condition which consists of two opposite edges simply supported and the others two free is studied in this paper. A closed form solution is derived out and used to do the numerical calculation. The corresponding bending experiments of PV panels are completed. Comparing the numerical results with experiment results, the accuracy of the analytical solutions are verified.
Rapid Prediction of the Open-Circuit-Voltage of Lithium Ion Batteries Based on an Effective Voltage Relaxation Model
Authors: Yang Jie , Du Chunyu , Wang Ting , Gao Yunzhi , Cheng Xinqun , Zuo Pengjian , Ma Yulin , Wang Jiajun , Yin Geping , Xie Jingying , Lei Bo
Published: December 2018

The open circuit voltage of lithium ion batteries in equilibrium state, as a vital thermodynamic characteristic parameter, is extensively studied for battery state estimation and management. However, the time-consuming relaxation process, usually for several hours or more, seriously hinders the widespread application of open circuit voltage. In this paper, a novel voltage relaxation model is proposed to predict the final open circuit voltage when the lithium ion batteries are in equilibrium state with a small amount of sample data in the first few minutes, based on the concentration polarization theory. The Nernst equation is introduced to describe the evolution of relaxation voltage. The accuracy and effectiveness of the model are verified using experimental data on lithium ion batteries with different kinds of electrodes (LiCoO2/mesocarbon-microbead and LiFePO4/graphite) under different working conditions. The validation results show that the presented model can fit the experimental results very well and the predicted values are quite accurate by taking only 5 min or less. The satisfying results suggest that the introduction of concentration polarization theory might provide researchers an alternative model form to establish voltage relaxation models.
A Group Approach of Smart Hybrid Poles with Renewable Energy, Street Lighting and EV Charging Based on DC Micro-Grid
Authors: Yao Jiawei , Zhang Yongming , Yan Zhe , Li Li
Published: December 2018

Energy crisis and environmental pollution have become global problems, and the increasing use of energy has caused climate change. Electric vehicle (EV) is regarded as the future of the automotive industry, because of the lesser impact on the environment than traditional vehicles. In recent years, electric vehicles have developed rapidly. However, the development of charging points and service cannot adapt to the development trend of EV. In urban areas, the distribution characteristics of street lighting and charging points are similar. Therefore, the street lighting pole with EV charging is proposed. However, due to the capacity limit of public grid, the single hybrid pole is only suitable for slow charging. This paper proposes hybrid poles group based on renewable energy, street lighting, and EV charging, which can realize fast charging and slow charging based on DC micro-grid with help of energy storage device. For studying the suitable number in a group of smart hybrid pole, the efficiency model of smart hybrid poles group is proposed. The efficiency model indicates that the group approach has better performance than the single pole, which provides a theoretical basis for practical construction.
What Makes Coopetition Successful? An Inter-Organizational Side Analysis on Coopetition Critical Success Factors in Oil and Gas Distribution Networks
Authors: Ceptureanu Eduard Gabriel , Ceptureanu Sebastian Ion , Radulescu Violeta , Ionescu Stefan Alexandru
Published: December 2018

This paper investigates the inter-organizational Critical Success Factors for coopetition in oil and gas distribution networks. Based on an extensive review of literature, 17 Critical Success Factors were identified and analyzed in the context of oil and gas distribution industry. We concluded that Trust, Outcomes, Outcomes distribution and Tension have the greatest impact on coopetition success within business networks, while Congruence, Governance, Inter-dependence and Equity, even though significant, have the lowest impact. The study contributes to the development of literature concerning Critical Success Factors in business networks by presenting an inter-organizational perspective, by providing a ranking of them, and by discussing the implications for oil and gas distribution companies.
Are Nano-Composite Coatings the Key for Photovoltaic Panel Self-Maintenance: An Experimental Evaluation
Authors: Pedrazzi Simone , Allesina Giulio , Muscio Alberto
Published: December 2018

This article shows the influence of an anti-fouling nano-coating on the electrical energy produced by a string of photovoltaic modules. The coating effect was evaluated comparing the energy produced by two strings of the same PV power plant: one of them was cleaned and the other was cleaned and treated with the coating before the monitoring campaign. The PV plant is located in Modena, north of Italy. A first monitoring campaign of nine days after the treatment shows that the treatment increases the energy production on the PV arrays by about 1.82%. Results indicate that the increase is higher during sunny days with respect to cloudy days. A second monitoring campaign of the same length, but five months later, shows that the energy gain decreases from 1.82% to 0.69% due to the aging of the coating, which is guaranteed for one year by the manufacturer. A technical-economical analysis demonstrates that at the moment the yearly economic gain is 0.43 € per square meter of panel and the cost of the treatment is about 1 € per square meter. However, large scale diffusion can reduce the production cost and thus increase the affordability of the coating.
A Machine Learning Approach to Correlation Development Applied to Fin-Tube Bundle Heat Exchangers
Authors: Lindqvist Karl , Wilson Zachary T. , Næss Erling , Sahinidis Nikolaos V.
Published: December 2018

Heat exchanger designers need reliable thermal-hydraulic correlations to optimize heat exchanger designs. This work combines an adaptive sampling method with a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulator to obtain increased accuracy and validity range of heat transfer and pressure drop predictions using a limited number of data points. Correlation efficacy was evaluated based on a steam generator case study. The sensitivity to the design parameters was analyzed in detail. The RMSE (root mean square error) of the developed correlations were reduced, through CFD sampling, from 28% to 15% for pressure drop, and from 33% to 25% heat transfer, compared to regression on experimental data only. The best reference correlations have RMSE values of 43% and 33% on pressure drop and heat transfer, respectively, on an independent validation set. Indeed, a radically different fin-tube geometry was suggested for the case study, compared to results using the Escoa correlations.The developed correlations show good to excellent agreement with trends in the CFD model. The quantitative error of predicted heat transfer and pressure drop coefficients at the case study optimum, however, was as large as those of the Escoa correlations. More data are likely needed to improve accuracy for compact heat exchanger designs further.
Life Cycle Assessment of the New Generation GT-MHR Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Koltun Paul , Tsykalo Alfred , Novozhilov Vasily
Published: December 2018

This study describes a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a fourth generation (4G) nuclear power plant. A high temperature helium cooled reactor and gas turbine technology with modular helium reactor (GT-MHR) is used in this study as an example. This is currently one the safest design of a nuclear power plant. The study also takes into account impact of accidents and incidents (AI) which happened around the world at nuclear power generation facilities. The adopted method for the study is a hybrid LCA analysis. The analysis of each phase of the life cycle was done on the basis of process chain analysis (PCA). Where detailed data were not available, the Input/Output (I/O) databases was employed. The obtained results show that greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and energy intensity per unit of electricity production are relatively low. In fact, these are even lower than emissions from a number of renewable energy sources. The results show considerably different greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and energy intensity per unit of electricity production when effects of AI are taken into account.
A Novel Multilevel Bidirectional Topology for On-Board EV Battery Chargers in Smart Grids
Authors: Leite Rafael S. , Afonso João L. , Monteiro Vítor
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes a novel on-board electric vehicle (EV) battery charger (EVBC) based on a bidirectional multilevel topology. The proposed topology is formed by an AC-DC converter for the grid-side interface and by a DC-DC converter for the battery-side interface. Both converters are interfaced by a split DC-link used to achieve distinct voltage levels in both converters. Characteristically, the proposed EVBC operates with sinusoidal grid-side current, unitary power factor, controlled battery-side current or voltage, and controlled DC-link voltages. The grid-side converter operates with five voltage levels, while the battery-side operates with three voltage levels. An assessment, for comparison with classical multilevel converters for EVBCs is considered along the paper, illustrating the key benefits of the proposed topology. As the proposed EVBC is controlled in bidirectional mode, targeting the EV incorporation into smart grids, the grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation modes are discussed and evaluated. Both converters of the proposed EVBC use discrete-time predictive control algorithms, which are described in the paper. An experimental validation was performed under real operating conditions, employing a developed laboratory prototype.
Critical Velocity of High-Performance Yarn Transversely Impacted by Razor Blade
Authors: Lim Boon Him , Chu Jou-Mei , Claus Benjamin , Nie Yizhou , Chen Wayne
Published: December 2018

A ballistic parameter that influences the ballistic performances of a high-performance yarn is the critical velocity. The critical velocity is defined as the projectile striking velocity that causes instantaneous rupture of the yarn upon impact. In this study, we performed ballistic experiments to determine the critical velocity of a Twaron® yarn transversely impacted by a razor blade. A high-speed camera was integrated into the experimental apparatus to capture the in-situ deformation of the yarn. The experimental critical velocity demonstrated a reduction compared to the critical velocity predicted by the classical theory. The high-speed images revealed the yarn specimen failed from the projectile side toward the free end when impacted by the razor blade. To improve the prediction capability, the Euler–Bernoulli beam and Hertzian contact models were used to predict the critical velocity. For the Euler–Bernoulli beam model, the critical velocity was obtained by assuming the specimen ruptured instantaneously when the maximum flexural strain reached the ultimate tensile strain of the yarn upon impact. On the other hand, for the Hertzian contact model, the yarn was assumed to fail when the indentation depth was equivalent to the diameter of the yarn. The errors between the average critical velocities determined from experiments and the predicted critical velocities were around 19% and 48% for the Euler–Bernoulli beam model and Hertzian contact model, respectively.
Impact of Radiative Losses on Flame Acceleration and Deflagration to Detonation Transition of Lean Hydrogen-Air Mixtures in a Macro-Channel with Obstacles
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Gautham , Mulenga Lucky Nteke
Published: December 2018

While there has been some recognition regarding the impact of thermal boundary conditions (adiabatic versus isothermal) on premixed flame propagation mechanisms in micro-channels (hydraulic diameters <10 mm), their impact in macro-channels has often been overlooked due to small surface-area-to-volume ratios of the propagating combustion wave. Further, the impact of radiative losses has also been neglected due to its anticipated insignificance based on scaling analysis and the high computational cost associated with resolving it’s spatial, temporal, directional, and wavelength dependencies. However, when channel conditions promote flame acceleration and deflagration-to-detonation transitions (DDT), large pressures are encountered in the vicinity of the combustion wave, thereby increasing the magnitude of radiative losses which in turn can impact the strength and velocity of the combustion wave. This is demonstrated for the first time through simulations of lean (equivalence ratio: 0.5) hydrogen-air mixtures in a macro-channel (hydraulic diameter: 174 mm) with obstacles (Blockage ratio: 0.51). By employing Planck mean absorption coefficients in conjunction with the P-1 radiation model, radiative losses are shown to affect the run-up distances to DDT in a long channel (length: 11.878 m). As anticipated, the differences in run-up distances resulting from radiative losses only increased with system pressure.
Numerical Study of Noise Barriers’ Side Edge Effects on Pollutant Dispersion near Roadside under Various Thermal Stability Conditions
Authors: Gong Liyuan , Wang Xiuling
Published: December 2018

Roadside noise barrier helps to reduce downwind pollutant concentrations from vehicle emission. This positive characteristic of the construction feature can be explained by its interaction with flow distribution and species dispersion. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical model has been developed to simulate highway pollutant dispersion—a realizable k-ε model was employed to model turbulent flow, and a non-reaction species dispersion model was applied to simulate species transport. First, numerical models were validated with experimental data, and good agreement was observed. Then, detailed simulations were conducted to study double barriers’ effects on highway pollutant dispersion under different settings: noise barriers with different heights, noise barriers with and without edge effects, and different atmospheric thermal boundary conditions. Results show that: (1) Noise barriers without edge effects cause bigger downwind velocity and turbulence intensity than noise barriers with edge effects. (2) At ground level, lower downwind pollutant concentration and higher pollutant concentration, near upwind barrier and between barriers, are observed for noise barriers without edge effect cases; higher on-road pollutant concentration can be seen near barrier side edges for cases with edge effect. (3) Downwind velocity and turbulence intensity increase as barrier height increases, which causes reduced downwind pollutant concentration. (4) With the same barrier height, under unstable atmospheric boundary condition, the lowest pollutant concentration can be found for both downwind and between barriers. Overall, these findings will provide valuable inputs to noise barrier design, so as to improve roadside neighborhood air quality.
A Microethnographic and Ethnobotanical Approach to Llayta Consumption among Andes Feeding Practices
Authors: Rivera Mailing , Galetović Alexandra , Licuime Romina , Gómez-Silva Benito
Published: December 2018

Llayta is a dietary supplement that has been used by rural communities in Perú and northern Chile since pre-Columbian days. Llayta is the biomass of colonies of a Nostoc cyanobacterium grown in wetlands of the Andean highlands, harvested, sun-dried and sold as an ingredient for human consumption. The biomass has a substantial content of essential amino acids (58% of total amino acids) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (33% total fatty acids). This ancestral practice is being lost and the causes were investigated by an ethnographic approach to register the social representations of Llayta, to document how this Andean feeding practice is perceived and how much the community knows about Llayta. Only 37% of the participants (mostly adults) have had a direct experience with Llayta; other participants (mostly children) did not have any knowledge about it. These social responses reflect anthropological and cultural tensions associated with a lack of knowledge on Andean algae, sites where to find Llayta, where it is commercialized, how it is cooked and on its nutritional benefits. The loss of this ancestral feeding practice, mostly in northern Chile, is probably associated with cultural changes, migration of the rural communities, and very limited access to the available information. We propose that Llayta consumption can be revitalized by developing appropriate educational strategies and investigating potential new food derivatives based on the biomass from the isolated Llayta cyanobacterium.
RNA Modification Level Estimation with pulseR
Authors: Boileau Etienne , Dieterich Christoph
Published: December 2018

RNA modifications regulate the complex life of transcripts. An experimental approach called LAIC-seq was developed to characterize modification levels on a transcriptome-wide scale. In this method, the modified and unmodified molecules are separated using antibodies specific for a given RNA modification (e.g., m6A). In essence, the procedure of biochemical separation yields three fractions: Input, eluate, and supernatent, which are subjected to RNA-seq. In this work, we present a bioinformatics workflow, which starts from RNA-seq data to infer gene-specific modification levels by a statistical model on a transcriptome-wide scale. Our workflow centers around the pulseR package, which was originally developed for the analysis of metabolic labeling experiments. We demonstrate how to analyze data without external normalization (i.e., in the absence of spike-ins), given high efficiency of separation, and how, alternatively, scaling factors can be derived from unmodified spike-ins. Importantly, our workflow provides an estimate of uncertainty of modification levels in terms of confidence intervals for model parameters, such as gene expression and RNA modification levels. We also compare alternative model parametrizations, log-odds, or the proportion of the modified molecules and discuss the pros and cons of each representation. In summary, our workflow is a versatile approach to RNA modification level estimation, which is open to any read-count-based experimental approach.
Modeling Dry-Snow Densification without Abrupt Transition
Authors: Morris Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

An empirical model for the densification of dry snow has been calibrated using strain-rate data from Pine Island Glacier basin, Antarctica. The model provides for a smooth transition between Stage 1 and Stage 2 densification, and leads to an analytical expression for density as a function of depth. It introduces two new parameters with a simple physical basis: transition density ρ T and a scaling factor, M, which controls the extent of the transition zone. The standard (Herron and Langway) parameterization is used for strain rates away from the transition zone. Calibration, though tentative, produces best parameter values of ρ T = 580 kg m − 3 and M = 7 for the region. Using these values, the transition model produces better simulations of snow profiles from Pine Island Glacier basin than the well-established Herron and Langway and Ligtenberg models, both of which postulate abrupt transition. Simulation of density profiles from other sites using M = 7 produces the best values of ρ T = 550 kg m − 3 for a high accumulation site and 530 kg m − 3 for a low accumulation site, suggesting that transition density may vary with climatic conditions. The variation of bubble close-off depth and depth-integrated porosity with mean annual accumulation predicted by the transition model is similar to that predicted by the Simonsen model tuned for Greenland.
Detectability of Repeated Airborne Laser Scanning for Mountain Landslide Monitoring
Authors: Xiong Lin , Wang Guoquan , Bao Yan , Zhou Xin , Sun Xiaohan , Zhao Ruibin
Published: December 2018

Multi-temporal airborne laser scanning (ALS) surveys have become a prime consideration for detecting landslide movements and evaluating landslide risk in mountain areas. The minimum elevation change (or detectability) that can be detected by repeated ALS surveys has become a critical threshold for landslide researchers and engineers to decide if ALS is a capable tool for detecting targeted landslides and arranging the minimum time span between two scans if ALS is a choice. The National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) at the University of Houston conducted three repeated ALS surveys at the Slumgullion landslide site in Colorado, U.S. over one week in July of 2015. These repeated ALS surveys provide valuable datasets for evaluating the vertical detectability of multi-temporal ALS surveys in a typical mountain area. According to this study, the difference of digital elevation models (DDEM) derived from ALS has the ability of detecting a minimum elevation change of 5 cm over flatter and moderately rugged terrain areas (slope < 20 degrees) and a minimum of a 10-cm elevation change over rugged terrain areas (20 degrees < slope < 40 degrees). However, the DDEM values over highly rugged terrain areas (slope > 40 degrees), such as cliff and landslide scarps, should be interpolated with caution. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) surveys were also performed at the middle portion of the landslide area for assessing the accuracy of ALS datasets. The accuracy of ALS varies from approximately one decimeter (~10 cm) to one foot (~30 cm) depending on the roughness of terrain surface and vegetation coverage (point density). The detectability and accuracy estimates of ALS measurements obtained from the case study could be used as a reference for estimating the performance of modern ALS in mountain areas with similar topography and vegetation coverage.
Age-Tastic! An Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Intervention for Older Adults
Authors: Pardasani Manoj , Berman Jackie , Powell Mebane
Published: December 2018

Background: Raising awareness of holistic health and safety among older adults is critical to enhancing their wellbeing in many cases, improving health outcomes and motivating positive behavioral changes. Age-Tastic! is a comprehensive health and safety promotion intervention that uses the concept of a competitive board game to entice older adults to participate and stay engaged. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Age-Tastic! on the level of awareness, health literacy, self-efficacy and positive behavioral change among the participants. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted with 98 older adults assigned to an experimental and control group. Interviews were conducted at baseline, right after the eight-week intervention ended and again eight weeks after the end of the intervention. Results: The results showed significant increases among experimental group participants in knowledge about health, self-efficacy and behavioral change in the areas of nutrition, financial exploitation, health literacy and emotional well-being. Discussion: Implications for replication and engagement are discussed.
The Case Study of the Medieval Town Walls of Gubbio in Italy: First Results on the Characterization of Mortars and Binders
Authors: Carvalho Fernanda , Lopes Andreia , Curulli Antonella , Da Silva Teresa Pereira , Lima Maria Margarida R. A. , Montesperelli Giampiero , Ronca Sara , Padeletti Giuseppina , Veiga João Pedro
Published: December 2018

Good conservation and restoration practices of cultural heritage assets rely on the knowledge of original materials. In the framework of the HERACLES Project (HERACLES—HEritage Resilience Against CLimate Events on Site, H2020 Grant Agreement 700395), dealing with the effects of climatic actions and natural hazards on built heritage, a set of important heritage sites are currently under study to improve their resilience against climate events. Among these are the medieval Gubbio Town Walls in Italy. The present work focuses on the mortars and binders of this monument and collected samples related to different parts of the Walls, corresponding to various historical periods of construction and interventions. They were characterized to determine their minerochemical composition, thermal behavior, and morphology. For that purpose, ex-situ laboratory techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), optical microscopy (OM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry (TG-DTA) were used to discern trends in different sampling areas due to construction/reconstruction periods and building techniques.
Mechanism of the Alternaria alternata Pathogenicity in ‘Fortune’ Mandarin
Authors: Díaz Licinio , Del Río José Antonio , Ortuño Ana
Published: December 2018

Alternaria brown spot, caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl, is an important disease in tangerines and their hybrids, affecting leaves, twigs, and immature fruit. Differences in susceptibility to this pathogenic fungus have been described for different Citrus species. In this paper, the expression of the mycotoxins alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether in different A. alternata isolates was analyzed by HPLC-MS. A correlation was observed between the mycotoxins content and the pathogenicity of each isolated of A. alternata used, suggesting that the mycotoxins may be involved in the evolution of brown spot in ‘Fortune’ fruits caused by this fungus. The increased expression of the above mycotoxins was associated with the end of mycelia growth, high sporulation, and an increase in hyphal melanization in the fungus. On the other hand, the presence of laccase activity in the xylem of ‘Fortune’ fruits inoculated with A. alternata suggests that this is the way the fungus propagates in the plant. These results add to our knowledge of the pathogenesis of A. alternata in Citrus.
Recruitment of Healthcare Staff to Social Network Studies: A Case Study Exploring Experiences, Challenges, and Considerations
Authors: De Brún Aoife , McAuliffe Eilish
Published: December 2018

Social network analysis (SNA) is a term that describes a set of methodologies to understand and depict social relations or ties. SNA is different from other research methods in several ways that have important ethical implications, as well as specific considerations for study design. Recruitment of participants and attrition during the study, where there are several data collection time points, pose significant challenges. Furthermore, there are implications of non-participation in studies, whereby gaps in network maps may result in an inaccurate representation of how a network is working and this, in turn, means the results may be of lesser value in terms of informing policy and practice. Given the widely noted challenge of recruiting healthcare staff to research, this paper adopts a case study approach to discussing considerations for researchers, as well as offering recommendations and insights from our own research and from the published literature about how to tackle these issues. This paper examines data sourcing, decision-making about defining the network for data collection, and ethical considerations and their implications for the recruitment of healthcare staff to social network studies. We use a case study example exploring leadership in a hospital group network to illustrate techniques and challenges in the recruitment of healthcare staff.
Spirituality but not Religiosity Is Associated with Better Health and Higher Life Satisfaction among Adolescents
Authors: Dankulincova Veselska Zuzana , Jirasek Ivo , Veselsky Pavel , Jiraskova Miroslava , Plevova Irena , Tavel Peter , Madarasova Geckova Andrea
Published: December 2018

Careful conceptualization and differentiation of both spirituality and religiosity is a necessary precondition for understanding the potential role they play in health, whether physical or mental. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of spirituality with self-rated health, health complaints, and life satisfaction of adolescents with the moderating role of religiosity. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study conducted in 2014 in Slovakia were used. The final sample consisted of 658 adolescents (mean age = 15.37; 50.6% boys). Data regarding spirituality, religiosity, self-rated health, health complaints, and life satisfaction were obtained. Binary logistic models revealed spirituality to be associated with self-rated health, health complaints, and life satisfaction. A moderating role of religiosity was not confirmed. The presented findings indicate the need to distinguish between the concepts of religiosity and spirituality in connection with subjective health and life satisfaction.
Current Status of the Degradation of Aliphatic and Aromatic Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Thermophilic Microbes and Future Perspectives
Authors: Nzila Alexis
Published: December 2018

Contamination of the environment by petroleum products is a growing concern worldwide, and strategies to remove these contaminants have been evaluated. One of these strategies is biodegradation, which consists of the use of microorganisms. Biodegradation is significantly improved by increasing the temperature of the medium, thus, the use of thermophiles, microbes that thrive in high-temperature environments, will render this process more efficient. For instance, various thermophilic enzymes have been used in industrial biotechnology because of their unique catalytic properties. Biodegradation has been extensively studied in the context of mesophilic microbes, and the mechanisms of biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons have been elucidated. However, in comparison, little work has been carried out on the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by thermophiles. In this paper, a detailed review of the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (both aliphatic and aromatic) by thermophiles was carried out. This work has identified the characteristics of thermophiles, and unraveled specific catabolic pathways of petroleum products that are only found with thermophiles. Gaps that limit our understanding of the activity of these microbes have also been highlighted, and, finally, different strategies that can be used to improve the efficiency of degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by thermophiles were proposed.
Impact of a Local Vision Care Center on Glasses Ownership and Wearing Behavior in Northwestern Rural China: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ma Yue , Gao Yujuan , Wang Yue , Li Haoyang , Ma Lina , Jing Jiangchao , Shi Yaojiang , Guan Hongyu , Congdon Nathan
Published: December 2018

Visual impairment is common among rural Chinese children, but fewer than a quarter of children who need glasses actually own and use them. To study the effect of rural county hospital vision centers (VC) on self-reported glasses ownership and wearing behavior (primary outcome) among rural children in China, we conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial at a VC in the government hospital of Qinan County, a nationally-designated poor county. All rural primary schools (n = 164) in the county were invited to participate. Schools were randomly assigned to either the treatment group to receive free vision care and eyeglasses, if needed, or control group, who received glasses only at the end of the study. Among 2806 eligible children with visiual impairment (visual acuity ≤ 6/12 in either eye), 93 (3.31%) were lost to follow-up, leaving 2713 students (45.0% boys). Among these, glasses ownership at the end of the school year was 68.6% among 1252 treatment group students (82 schools), and 26.4% (p < 0.01) among 1461 controls (82 schools). The rate of wearing glasses was 55.2% in the treatment group and 23.4% (p < 0.01) among the control group. In logistic regression models, treatment group membership was significantly associated with spectacle ownership (Odds Ratio [OR] = 11.9, p < 0.001) and wearing behavior (OR = 7.2, p < 0.001). County hospital-based vision centers appear effective in delivering childrens’ glasses in rural China.
A Quantitative Assessment of Sustainable Development Based on Relative Resource Carrying Capacity in Jiangsu Province of China
Authors: Yang Jinbi , Ding Hao
Published: December 2018

Unbalanced development is an urgent issue that needs to be resolved in the sustainable development strategy of Jiangsu Province, which inhibits Jiangsu’s industrial transformation and upgrading. A relative resource carrying capacity model is extended based on resource carrying capacity to analyze the resource carrying capacity of the different regions of Jiangsu Province. Three indicators of water resources, land resources, and energy resources are included in the natural resources. In social resources, factors of population quality are included in the analysis scope. Based on the improved model, this paper analyzes the relative resource carrying capacity of Jiangsu Province. The results show that: (1) under both traditional resource carrying capacity model and the improved model, Jiangsu Province has a surplus population; however, there is a certain difference between the result from two modules; (2) contributions of environmental resources, economic resources, and social resources to the comprehensive carrying capacity of resources is obviously higher than the contributions of natural resources; and (3) significant regional differences exist in relative resource carrying capacity within Jiangsu Province between the southern region and the middle region, in which the capacity is surplus to the population demand, and the northern region, in which the capacity is overloaded.
Measuring Relevant Information in Health Social Network Conversations and Clinical Diagnosis Cases
Authors: Moreira Albert , Alonso-Calvo Raul , Muñoz Alberto , Crespo José
Published: December 2018

The Internet and social media is an enormous source of information. Health social networks and online collaborative environments enable users to create shared content that afterwards can be discussed. The aim of this paper is to present a novel methodology designed for quantifying relevant information provided by different participants in clinical online discussions. The main goal of the methodology is to facilitate the comparison of participant interactions in clinical conversations. A set of key indicators for different aspects of clinical conversations and specific clinical contributions within a discussion have been defined. Particularly, three new indicators have been proposed to make use of biomedical knowledge extraction based on standard terminologies and ontologies. These indicators allow measuring the relevance of information of each participant of the clinical conversation. Proposed indicators have been applied to one discussion extracted from PatientsLikeMe, as well as to two real clinical cases from the Sanar collaborative discussion system. Results obtained from indicators in the tested cases have been compared with clinical expert opinions to check indicators validity. The methodology has been successfully used for describing participant interactions in real clinical cases belonging to a collaborative clinical case discussion tool and from a conversation from a health social network. This work can be applied to assess collaborative diagnoses, discussions among patients, and the participation of students in clinical case discussions. It permits moderators and educators to obtain a quantitatively measure of the contribution of each participant.