bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward Iranian senior high school textbook series
Authors: Alani Amin , Jahangard Ali
Published: November 2015

The English Book series are the EFL textbooks that have been prescribed by the Ministry of Education for the public senior high schools. The researchers of the current study embarked on the evaluation of the series through examining teachers’ and students’ perspectives in this regard. Employing Litz’s questionnaires, attitudes of both Iranian learners and teachers from both genders were obtained; the two questionnaires used in the study incorporated seven categories including Practical Consideration, Layout and Design, Activities, Skills, Language type, Subject and Content, and Summary. Some 1128 participants from the Senior high school learners and 74 teachers took part in the study. A detailed analysis of the textbooks of the series was made using descriptive statistics, namely median and mode accompanied with standardized skewness value. The findings of the study revealed that there were positive attitudes toward the textbooks price and accessibility; however, other criterial parameters, i.e., the resources, vocabulary lists, the series language type, and the treatment of cultural issues were viewed as partially appropriate or, in the majority of the cases, in need of improvement.
Keywords: Textbook evaluation, English language teaching, English book series, curriculum study
Building	English vocabulary through roots, prefixes and suffixes
Authors: Yurtbasi Metin
Published: November 2015

Semantics, the study of the meaning of words, is the sum of the basic elements of four skills, namely, reading, writing, speaking and listening effectively. The knowledge of vocabulary words in lexicosemantics, on the other hand, is essential in every grade level, subject area and assessment for every student. In order to improve students’ efficiency in the realm of learning and utilizing them in appropriate instances, we must give them means to decode unfamiliar words through such elements called “affixes” and “roots”. Based on theories of Constructivism and Bloom's Taxonomy, and in the context of teaching all components of a language and arts curriculum, teaching such common roots and affixes is an effective strategy that would secure them a rich vocabulary. This presentation will call attention to an alternative dimension to traditional vocabulary teaching based on giving definitions of words or eliciting or deducing meaning from context. According to this methodology, first an awareness is given to students that the English words are essentially borrowings from other languages mostly with Latin or Greek origins (roots) formed by additions to them by parts (affixes) attached to their front and end. So by guessing the meaning of unknown words by such elements, learners are assumed to grasp the idea of the whole word. This presentation will serve as an introduction to the issue of the nature and functions of word etymology with semantics and lexico-semantics in learning English vocabulary items both for learners and teachers alike.
Keywords: semantics, lexico-semantics, affix, prefix, suffix, root
Teaching lexical chunks on retention and production of referential and collocational meaning of lexis among the Iranian EFL learners
Authors: Jaafarigohar Manochehr , Nazari Mohsen
Published: November 2015

This study focuses on the role of collocations in language teaching. Due to vagueness in definition and categorization, the collocations are being divided into two types: referential collocations meaning being recognizable by just referring to single word companies, and inferential collocations being the types that the meaning cannot be easily discerned by non-native speakers of English. This study compares these two types of collocations and found that learners had more difficulty in producing the collocations while contrary to some studies they also do not recognize the inferential or referential collocations and face difficulty recognizing or producing them.
 
Keywords: collocation, inferential, referential.
Comparison of corncob and corn using as fungal culture medium
Authors: Chutrtong Jaruwan
Published: November 2015

Corn or maize is the most widely grown grain crop. It is very practical. It is used as staple food, major source of cooking oil and grown to feed for livestock. Starch from maize can be made into syrups plastics, fabrics, adhesives, and many other chemical products and also fermented and distilled to produce alcohol. This research aims to compare pigment synthetic of Neurospora sp., widely used as a model organism in genetics research, when use corn, dry corncob and potato dextrose agar as culture medium.Â  After fully grow up, extracted mycelium pigment with 95% ethyl alcohol. Then measure the absorbance of the pigment by spectrophotometer at wavelength 450.5 nanometer. The results showed that the best growth of Neurospora cultured on dry corncob was sample which added water (for moisture) 90 % w/w. While the best growth of Neurospora cultured on corn was sample which added water only 15 % w/w. When compare the intensity of mycelium pigment, it was found that corncob is the best medium for pigment synthetic of Neurospora.Â  Absorbance of pigment extract from mycelium culture on corncob was 0.64(diluted 5X). As the absorbance of pigment extract from mycelium culture on corn and PDA were only 0.34(diluted 5X) and 0.35(diluted 2X).Keywords: corn, corncob, fungal, medium.
Fabrication and characterization of bamboo fiber- reinforced polyethylene-polystyrene composites using glycerol as plasticizer
Authors: Labasan Kristin B. , Espinosa Aldrine Jay G. , Espana Rebecca C. Nueva
Published: November 2015

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are composed of a polymer matrix (PE-PS) combined with a fiber (bamboo fibers) to provide conspicuous reinforcement. In light of recycling plastic and natural fibers, the research aim to fabricate and characterize bamboo fiber-reinforced polyethylene-polystyrene composites using glycerol as plasticizer. Specifically, the study investigated the effect on the physical and mechanical properties and water absorption of the composites by varying the following parameters: substitution of glycerol instead of the usual cooking oil in fabrication of DRM, and bamboo fiber loading. Using 1:3 PE-PS ratio, glycerol incorporation was done in DRM by melting together plastic and styrofoam wastes using a densifying machine at 150˚C. DRM samples with 70% (w/w) glycerol incorporation were then compared to the original DRM samples with 70% (w/w) cooking oil. The modified DRM were then loaded with 1, 2 and 3% bamboo fiber-reinforcement using a two-roll mill at 200˚C and compression molding machine at 200˚C and 50 kg/cm2 for 5 mins in the aluminium mold. The composites were characterized by Universal Testing Machine (tensile strength) following the ASTM standard D638. In addition, water absorption of the fabricated composites was tested using the standard method specified by ASTM D570.The bamboo fiber-reinforced polyethylene-polystyrene composites at 1:3 PE: PS ratio rendered better tensile strength and less water absorbed using 70% (w/w) glycerol as plasticizer and at 1% bamboo fiber loading. For future studies, it is recommended to study the impact of different parameters (glycerol percentage, time, temperature, pressure, fiber type and dimensions, fiber extraction, etc.) in the fabrication of the fiber-reinforced recycled plastic composites. Other characterizations of the fabricated plastic composite including thermal properties, leaching and biodegradation experiments and compressive and flexural strengths can also be done.

Keywords: Fiber-reinforced polymer, plasticizer, composites.
Probabilistic Assessment of the Temperature-Induced Effective Fracture Pressures
Authors: Kinik K.. , Wojtanowicz A. K. , Gumus F..
Published: November 2015

The constant-bottomhole-pressure (CBHP) method of managed-pressure drilling (MPD) maintains wellbore pressure above the wellbore stability or pore pressure and below the fracture pressure (FP). It is common practice to perform frequent dynamic formation-integrity/leakoff tests (FIT/LOTs) to measure the FP. Several authors addressed the uncertainty in the measured value of the FP caused by mud compressibility and thixotropy. Moreover, field evidence indicates considerable variations in the effective FPs resulting from varying wellbore temperatures.

This paper presents a mathematical model, validated with field data, to estimate the true FP from the leakoff-test data. The model accounts for the effect of mud compressibility and thixotropy, and considers the effect of transient wellbore temperatures on the geomechanical rock stresses. The study also presents application of quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to represent the probability-density distribution of FP associated with the uncertainties in the input parameters. The method was demonstrated with two examples from the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The study shows that the operational parameter “pumps-off” time and two formation properties—Young's modulus of elasticity (E) and thermal-expansion coefficient (αT)—contribute most to the uncertainty in FP. Moreover, a log-normal distribution of the FP indicated a strong effect of temperature variation. It is also concluded that the uncertainty resulting from the temperature effect could be minimized by conducting the test after a characteristic 60-minute pumps-off period.
Alternating Magnetic Field Prior to Cutting Reduces Wound Responses
and Maintains Fruit Quality of Cut cucumis melo L. cv Hetao
Authors: Jia Jin , Wang Xiujuan , Lv Junli , Gao Shan , Wang Guoze
Published: November 2015

The quality of fruit targeted for human consumption is affected greatly by the methods used in processing. The
objective of this study was to assess a method of treating cantaloupe melons to reduce the wound responses incurred by
cutting while maintaining fruit quality. After being treated with an alternating magnetic field (AMF) at the strength of
2mT for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 min, Cucumis melo fruits were cut longitudinally into five pieces and stored at 5°C until
analysis. The rates of decomposition, electrolyte leakage and respiration, were determined along with fruit firmness,
soluble solids and titratable acids. Cutting the melons damaged the quality of fruits, as indicated by lower firmness soluble
solids, higher electrolyte leakage, decomposition, respiration and titratable acids in cut slices compared to intact melons.
Treatment with AMF before cutting influenced all parameters above, compared to untreated samples, and treatment with
2mT for 15 min resulted in reduced respiration rates, lower electrolyte leakage, delayed softening and decomposition, and
reduced flows of soluble solids and titratable acid. Therefore, application of AMF treatment prior to cutting is beneficial
for reducing wound responses and maintaining quality and flavor of cut Cucumis melo L. cv, which could provide a useful
means to increase the market share of this popular fruit crop species.
Experimental Study of Primary Compression Settlement of Bioreactor Landfills
Authors: Hong-jun Sun , Bin Cao , Li-hong Zhao
Published: November 2015

A set of primary compression settlement apparatus was designed in order to evaluate the compression characteristic
of bioreactor landfill and forecasting primary compression settlement of garbage body under load. The primary
compression settlement test of landfill was conducted by this apparatus in laboratory. Three groups of parallel tests were
carried out. When daily average settlement is less than 0.1 cm, the test is over. At the end of the test, the primary compression
settlement reached 68%, 63% and 60% of a total settlement respectively. Test showed that domestic garbage is a
highly compressibility material. There exists the direct relation between primary compression settlement and initial dry
density. Simultaneously, the compression settlement rate decreases with load increasing.
Research on Decorative Effect of Architectural Decoration Materials
Authors: Sun Yafeng
Published: November 2015

In modern architecture, architectural decoration occupies an important role; it is no exaggeration to say, if a
construction project is seen as a long-distance running, building decoration is part of the race last one hundred meters. Its
success or failure is related to the success or failure of the whole building. In the process of building decoration, building
decoration materials selection is one of the important part, directly affects the effect and quality of architectural decoration,
affects the expression of prospective designers to embodied in the construction of humanism theme. Building materials
and the practical and beautiful nature of the good matching, whether from the livable or aesthetic or economic environment,
etc., have a very important role. This paper mainly from the decorative effect presents the matching relation between
elements, decorative materials and decorative effect to explore the architectural decoration materials in architectural
decoration in use: strive to in decoration to choose the right materials and excavated materials of potential use, building
decoration materials and light, color combined to achieve the most economic applicable to the decorative effect.
Buzano inequality in inner product C*-modules via the operator geometric mean
Authors: Fujii Jun , Fujii Masatoshi , Seo Yuki
Published: November 2015

In this paper, by means of the operator geometric mean, we show a Buzano type inequality in an inner product C*-module, which is an extension of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in an inner product C*-module.
A general rational sum identity
Authors: Xu Aimin
Published: November 2015

In this paper, by means of divided differences and an inverse pair formula we
present a general rational sum identity which generalizes some identities of
Chu-Yan, Prodinger, Mansour-Shattuck-Song and Ismail-Stanton.
Coefficient bounds for a certain class of analytic and bi-univalent functions
Authors: Srivastava H.M. , Eker Sevtap , Alic Rosihan
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we introduce and investigate a subclass of analytic and
bi-univalent functions in the open unit disk U. By using the Faber polynomial
expansions, we obtain upper bounds for the coefficients of functions
belonging to this analytic and bi-univalent function class. Some interesting
recent developments involving other subclasses of analytic and bi-univalent
functions are also briefly mentioned.
Properties of certain subclasses of multivalent analytic functions
Authors: Xu Yi-Hui , Liu Jin-Lin
Published: November 2015

In the present paper the authors introduce two new subclasses Rp,k(?,A,B) and
Tp,k(?,A,B) of multivalent analytic functions. Some properties such as
distortion inequalities, inclusion relation and partial sums are given.
Test Run -- Stop and Go
Authors: Hieslmair Michael , Zinganel Michael , Pikner Tarmo
Published: November 2015

When increasing numbers of people are obliged to spend increasing amounts of time in transit then nodes and hubs alongside major traffic corridors – where traffic comes to halt and exchange between actors en route happens – represent new forms of urbanity and public space, sites where both individuals' routes, routines, and rituals and political transitions and urban transformations can be explored. If we follow Henri Lefebvre's thesis that urbanity is no longer defined by density but by the degree of difference performed at specific places, then these nodes paradigmatically represent new forms of urbanity and public space. What remained largely unexplored in the investigations so far was emphasising these nodes as polyrhythmic ensembles, linked to their temporal adaptability – reacting on daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms of traffic flows – and their interdependence on one another.
A modified mesh refinement procedure for 2D magnetic field analysis using surface current method (SCM)
Authors: Arehpanahi Mehdi , Namdar Reza
Published: November 2015

In this paper, a new method for mesh refinement in Surface Current Method (SCM) based on combination of uniform and automated mesh refinement is proposed. This method is a fast and accurate method related to the usual SCM mesh refinement method. In this refinement method the ferromagnetic boundaries are divided in to the two sub-boundaries which are called outside and inside boundaries. The outside and inside boundaries are refined by uniform and automated mesh refinement respectively. Therefore the total number of meshes which obtained in this method will be lower than classical SCM refinement. Verification of simulation results is done using Finite Element Method (FEM).
Acceleration techniques in a bi-iterative model for EM scattering from a 3-D object above a 2-D rough surface
Authors: Yang Wei , Qi Cong-Hui , Zhao Zhi-Qin
Published: November 2015

A novel bi-iterative model is proposed to solve the extra large-scale composite electromagnetic (EM) scattering from an object above a rough surface. For the rough surface scattering, the forward-backward methodology and its modification with under-relaxation iteration method are developed to accelerate the convergence of the iterative physical optics (IPO) and improve its robustness. Meanwhile, the local iteration methodology and the fast far field approximation (FaFFA) in the matrix-vector product are proposed to reduce effectively the computational complexity and further improve the efficiency of the whole iteration process. Hence, this model can greatly reduce the computational costs, including both RAM memory and CPU time.
An Assessment of Direct on-Farm Energy Use for High Value Grain Crops Grown under Different Farming Practices in Australia
Authors: Maraseni Tek , Chen Guangnan , Banhazi Thomas , Bundschuh Jochen , Yusaf Talal
Published: November 2015

Several studies have quantified the energy consumption associated with crop production in various countries. However, these studies have not compared the energy consumption from a broad range of farming practices currently in practice, such as zero tillage, conventional tillage and irrigated farming systems. This study examines direct on-farm energy use for high value grain crops grown under different farming practices in Australia. Grain farming processes are identified and “typical” farming operation data are collected from several sources, including published and unpublished literature, as well as expert interviews. The direct on-farm energy uses are assessed for 27 scenarios, including three high value grain crops―wheat, barley and sorghum―for three regions (Northern, Southern and Western Australia) under three farming conditions with both dryland (both for conventional and zero-tillage) and irrigated conditions. It is found that energy requirement for farming operations is directly related to the intensity and frequency of farming operations, which in turn is related to tillage practices, soil types, irrigation systems, local climate, and crop types. Among the three studied regions, Western Australia requires less direct on-farm energy for each crop, mainly due to the easily workable sandy soils and adoption of zero tillage systems. In irrigated crops, irrigation energy remains a major contributor to the total on-farm energy demand, accounting for up to 85% of total energy use.
Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems as a Strategy for Predicting and Controling the Energy Produced from Renewable Sources
Authors: Elena Dragomir Otilia , Dragomir Florin , Stefan Veronica , Minca Eugenia
Published: November 2015

The challenge for our paper consists in controlling the performance of the future state of a microgrid with energy produced from renewable energy sources. The added value of this proposal consists in identifying the most used criteria, related to each modeling step, able to lead us to an optimal neural network forecasting tool. In order to underline the effects of users’ decision making on the forecasting performance, in the second part of the article, two Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) models are tested and evaluated. Several scenarios are built by changing: the prediction time horizon (Scenario 1) and the shape of membership functions (Scenario 2).
Effects of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals on N-Containing Species Release during Rice Straw Pyrolysis
Authors: Gao Pan , Xue Lu , Lu Qiang , Dong Changqing
Published: November 2015

To study the effects of inherent and external alkali and alkaline earth metallic species (AAEMs, i.e., K, Ca and Mg) on the behavior of N-containing species release during rice straw (RS) pyrolysis, different pretreatments were applied in numerous experiments. Results indicate that ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are the major N-containing species and that the yields of isocyanic acid (HNCO) and nitric oxide (NO) are relatively low. The removal of inhert AAEMs shifts N-containing species release to a high-temperature zone according to volatile release behavior because of the increase in activation energy. The formation selectivity of NH3, HNCO, and NO increases by demineralized pretreatment, whereas HCN selectivity decreases. The formation of HNCO is mainly affected by alkaline earth metal. N-containing species release occurs in low temperatures with the addition of external AAEMs. The activation energy of samples impregnated with CaCl2 and MgCl2 sharply decreases compared to the original RS. The total yields of N-containing species are reduced significantly in the presence of KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 as additives. The inhibition ability of AAEMs follows the sequence MgCl2 > CaCl2 > KCl. The inhibition effect of MgCl2 can be improved by solution immersion compared with solid powder mixing. The clean biomass pyrolysis and gasification technology with low N-containing species content may be developed according to the results.
The Effects of Weight Perception on Adolescents’ Weight-Loss Intentions and Behaviors: Evidence from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey
Authors: Fan Maoyong , Jin Yanhong
Published: November 2015

The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between self-perception of being overweight and weight loss intentions, eating and exercise behaviors, as well as extreme weight-loss strategies for U.S. adolescents. This study uses 50,241 observations from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) 2001–2009, which were nationally representative sample of 9th- through 12th-grade students in both public and private schools in the US. This study finds that, irrespective of the weight status base on self-reported weight and height, adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight have a stronger intention to lose weight, but do not develop better eating and exercise habits, compared with their counterparts of same gender and reported weight status. Normal-weight adolescents, if they perceive themselves as overweight, are more likely to engage in health-compromising weight-loss methods. This study shows that it is critical to transform weight-loss intentions into actual behaviors among overweight/obese adolescents and improve the efficacy of behavioral interventions against childhood obesity. It also highlights the need of establishing a correct perception of body weight among normal weight adolescents to curb extreme weight-loss methods.
Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: Research Advances
Authors: Jaworska Dagmara , Król Wojciech , Szliszka Ewelina
Published: November 2015

Cancer stem cells have been defined as cells within a tumor that possesses the capacity to self-renew and to cause the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. Experimental evidence showed that these highly tumorigenic cells might be responsible for initiation and progression of cancer into invasive and metastatic disease. Eradicating prostate cancer stem cells, the root of the problem, has been considered as a promising target in prostate cancer treatment to improve the prognosis for patients with advanced stages of the disease.
A Quantitative Real-Time PCR-Based Strategy for Molecular Evaluation of Nicotine Conversion in Burley Tobacco
Authors: Sun Bo , Xue Sheng-Ling , Zhang Fen , Luo Zhao-Peng , Wu Ming-Zhu , Chen Qing , Tang Hao-Ru , Lin Fu-Cheng , Yang Jun
Published: November 2015

Nornicotine production in Nicotiana tabacum is undesirable because it is the precursor of the carcinogen N′-nitrosonornicotine. In some individual burley tobacco plants, a large proportion of the nicotine can be converted to nornicotine, and this process of nicotine conversion is mediated primarily by enzymatic N-demethylation of nicotine which is controlled mainly by CYP82E4. Here we report a novel strategy based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method, which analyzed the ratio of nicotine conversion through examining the transcript level of CYP82E4 in burley leaves and do not need ethylene induction before detected. The assay was linear in a range from 1 × 101 to 1 × 105 copies/mL of serially diluted standards, and also showed high specificity and reproducibility (93%–99%). To assess its applicability, 55 plants of burley cultivar Ky8959 at leaf maturing stage were analyzed, and the results were in accordance with those from gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Moreover, a linear correlation existed between conversion level and CYP82E4 transcript abundance. Taken together, the quantitative real-time PCR assay is standardized, rapid and reproducible for estimation of nicotine conversion level in vivo, which is expected to shed new light on monitoring of burley tobacco converter.
Andrographolide Inhibits Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss via the Suppression of RANKL Signaling Pathways
Authors: Wang Tao , Liu Qian , Zhou Lin , Yuan Jin , Lin Xixi , Zeng Rong , Liang Xiaonan , Zhao Jinmin , Xu Jiake
Published: November 2015

Osteoporosis is a debilitating skeletal disorder with an increased risk of low-energy fracture, which commonly occurs among postmenopausal women. Andrographolide (AP), a natural product isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-asthmatic, and neuro-protective properties. However, its therapeutic effect on osteoporosis is unknown. In this study, an ovariectomy (OVX) mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of AP on post-menopausal osteoporosis by using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Bone marrow-derived osteoclast culture was used to examine the inhibitory effect of AP on osteoclastogenesis. Real time PCR was employed to examine the effect of AP on the expression of osteoclast marker genes. The activities of transcriptional factors NF-κB and NFATc1 were evaluated using a luciferase reporter assay, and the IκBα protein level was analyzed by Western blot. We found that OVX mice treated with AP have greater bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular number (Tb.N) compared to vehicle-treated OVX mice. AP inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, the expression of osteoclast marker genes including cathepsin K (Ctsk), TRACP (Acp5), and NFATc1, as well as the transcriptional activities of NF-κB and NFATc1. In conclusion, our results suggest that AP inhibits estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in mice via the suppression of RANKL-induced osteoclastogensis and NF-κB and NFATc1 activities and, thus, might have therapeutic potential for osteoporosis.
Modeling of Hysteresis in Piezoelectric Actuator Based on Segment Similarity
Authors: Xiong Rui , Liu Xiangdong , Lai Zhilin
Published: November 2015

To successfully exploit the full potential of piezoelectric actuators in micro/nano positioning systems, it is essential to model their hysteresis behavior accurately. A novel hysteresis model for piezoelectric actuator is proposed in this paper. Firstly, segment-similarity, which describes the similarity relationship between hysteresis curve segments with different turning points, is proposed. Time-scale similarity, which describes the similarity relationship between hysteresis curves with different rates, is used to solve the problem of dynamic effect. The proposed model is formulated using these similarities. Finally, the experiments are performed with respect to a micro/nano-meter movement platform system. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified as compared with the Preisach model. The experimental results show that the proposed model is able to precisely predict the hysteresis trajectories of piezoelectric actuators and performs better than the Preisach model.
Capacity Model and Constraints Analysis for Integrated Remote Wireless Sensor and Satellite Network in Emergency Scenarios
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Gengxin , Dong Feihong , Xie Zhidong , Bian Dongming
Published: November 2015

This article investigates the capacity problem of an integrated remote wireless sensor and satellite network (IWSSN) in emergency scenarios. We formulate a general model to evaluate the remote sensor and satellite network capacity. Compared to most existing works for ground networks, the proposed model is time varying and space oriented. To capture the characteristics of a practical network, we sift through major capacity-impacting constraints and analyze the influence of these constraints. Specifically, we combine the geometric satellite orbit model and satellite tool kit (STK) engineering software to quantify the trends of the capacity constraints. Our objective in analyzing these trends is to provide insights and design guidelines for optimizing the integrated remote wireless sensor and satellite network schedules. Simulation results validate the theoretical analysis of capacity trends and show the optimization opportunities of the IWSSN.
Self-Learning Embedded System for Object Identification in Intelligent Infrastructure Sensors
Authors: Villaverde Monica , Perez David , Moreno Felix
Published: November 2015

The emergence of new horizons in the field of travel assistant management leads to the development of cutting-edge systems focused on improving the existing ones. Moreover, new opportunities are being also presented since systems trend to be more reliable and autonomous. In this paper, a self-learning embedded system for object identification based on adaptive-cooperative dynamic approaches is presented for intelligent sensor’s infrastructures. The proposed system is able to detect and identify moving objects using a dynamic decision tree. Consequently, it combines machine learning algorithms and cooperative strategies in order to make the system more adaptive to changing environments. Therefore, the proposed system may be very useful for many applications like shadow tolls since several types of vehicles may be distinguished, parking optimization systems, improved traffic conditions systems, etc.
Feasibility Study of EO SARs as Opportunity Illuminators in Passive Radars: PAZ-Based Case Study
Authors: Bárcena-Humanes Jose-Luis , Gómez-Hoyo Pedro-José , Jarabo-Amores Maria-Pilar , Mata-Moya David , Del-Rey-Maestre Nerea
Published: November 2015

Passive radars exploit the signal transmitted by other systems, known as opportunity illuminators (OIs), instead of using their own transmitter. Due to its almost total invulnerability to natural disasters or physical attacks, satellite OIs are of special interest. In this line, a feasibility study of Earth Observation Synthetic Aperture Radar (EO SAR) systems as OIs is carried out taking into consideration signal waveform, availability, bistatic geometry, instrumented coverage area and incident power density. A case study based on the use of PAZ, the first Spanish EO SAR, is presented. PAZ transmitted waveform, operation modes, orbit characteristics and antenna and transmitter parameters are analyzed to estimate potential coverages and resolutions. The study concludes that, due to its working in on-demand operating mode, passive radars based on PAZ-type illuminators can be proposed as complementing tools during the sensor commissioning phase, for system maintenance and for improving its performance by providing additional information about the area of interest and/or increasing the data updating speed, exploiting other sensors during the time PAZ is not available.
An Efficient Data-Gathering Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Javaid Nadeem , Ilyas Naveed , Ahmad Ashfaq , Alrajeh Nabil , Qasim Umar , Khan Zahoor , Liaqat Tayyaba , Khan Majid
Published: November 2015

Most applications of underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) demand reliable data delivery over a longer period in an efficient and timely manner. However, the harsh and unpredictable underwater environment makes routing more challenging as compared to terrestrial WSNs. Most of the existing schemes deploy mobile sensors or a mobile sink (MS) to maximize data gathering. However, the relatively high deployment cost prevents their usage in most applications. Thus, this paper presents an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-aided efficient data-gathering (AEDG) routing protocol for reliable data delivery in UWSNs. To prolong the network lifetime, AEDG employs an AUV for data collection from gateways and uses a shortest path tree (SPT) algorithm while associating sensor nodes with the gateways. The AEDG protocol also limits the number of associated nodes with the gateway nodes to minimize the network energy consumption and to prevent the gateways from overloading. Moreover, gateways are rotated with the passage of time to balance the energy consumption of the network. To prevent data loss, AEDG allows dynamic data collection at the AUV depending on the limited number of member nodes that are associated with each gateway. We also develop a sub-optimal elliptical trajectory of AUV by using a connected dominating set (CDS) to further facilitate network throughput maximization. The performance of the AEDG is validated via simulations, which demonstrate the effectiveness of AEDG in comparison to two existing UWSN routing protocols in terms of the selected performance metrics.
Repetitive Model Refinement for Questionnaire Design Improvement in the Evaluation of Working Characteristics in Construction Enterprises
Authors: Lin Jeng-Wen , Shen Pu , Lee Bing-Jean
Published: November 2015

This paper presents an iterative confidence interval based parametric refinement approach for questionnaire design improvement in the evaluation of working characteristics in construction enterprises. This refinement approach utilizes the 95% confidence interval of the estimated parameters of the model to determine their statistical significance in a least-squares regression setting. If this confidence interval of particular parameters covers the zero value, it is statistically valid to remove such parameters from the model and their corresponding questions from the designed questionnaire. The remaining parameters repetitively undergo this sifting process until their statistical significance cannot be improved. This repetitive model refinement approach is implemented in efficient questionnaire design by using both linear series and Taylor series models to remove non-contributing questions while keeping significant questions that are contributive to the issues studied, i.e., employees’ work performance being explained by their work values and cadres’ organizational commitment being explained by their organizational management. Reducing the number of questions alleviates the respondent burden and reduces costs. The results show that the statistical significance of the sifted contributing questions is decreased with a total mean relative change of 49%, while the Taylor series model increases the R-squared value by 17% compared with the linear series model.
Prognostic significance of volume-based 18F-FDG PET/CT parameter in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Lee J. Y. , Heo J. H. , Han J. , Jang S. J. , Kim K. , Kim J. , Shim Y. M. , Kim B.-T. , Choi J. Y.
Published: November 2015

Aim: We investigated the prognostic value of volume-based 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) parameters compared with other factors including several immunohistochemical biomarkers in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients, methods: Study participants: 290 patients with surgically resected and histopathologically confirmed NSCLC. The maxmum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic tumour volume (MTV) of the primary tumour were obtained on 18F-FDG PET/ computed tomography (CT) for initial staging and Ki-67 labeling index (LI), p16, CD31 and cyclin E were evaluated in the primary tumours by immunohistochemical staining. Survival analyses for variables including PET parameters, immunohistochemical biomarker and other clinical factors were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: In univariate analyses, tumour stage, tumour size, and MTV were significant prognostic factors for decreased overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analyses showed MTV and tumour stage were significant predictors of poor OS (MTV, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.135, p = 0.015; stage, HR = 0.644, p = 0.025) and DFS (MTV, HR = 1.128, p = 0.043; stage, HR = 0.541, p = 0.009). Conclusion: The MTV of primary tumours is a significant prognostic factor for survival along with tumour stage in patients with surgically resected NSCLC. The MTV can predict OS and DFS better than immuno histochemical biomarkers.
Realização social da natureza pelo turismo na Chapada dos Veadeiros
Authors: Costa Everaldo Batista da , Almeida Maria Geralda de , Oliveira Rafael Fabrício de , Rúbio Rúbia de Paula
Published: November 2015

Localizado no estado de Goiás do Brasil, o Parque Nacional Chapada dos Veadeiros foi singularizado do ponto de vista paisagístico, por seus valores fisiográfico e cultural. Tal singularidade forjada atrai, anualmente, milhares de turistas em busca dos atrativos consagrados. A atratividade deste reduto dos mais preservados do bioma cerrado nacional ganha fôlego com sua inclusão na Lista do Patrimônio Mundial da UNESCO, o que faz do turismo enquanto atividade produtiva moderna uma das mais importantes fontes de renda aos diferentes grupos residentes na Chapada. Assim, por meio de trabalhos de campo para constituição de dados primários, fontes documentais e bibliográficas, este artigo apresenta um panorama amplo e atual sobre a lógica do turismo e as principais relações socioespaciais que promove o Parque Nacional Chapada dos Veadeiros, o qual integra Alto Paraíso de Goiás e a Vila de São Jorge.
O novo mapa da população rural brasileira
Authors: Maia Alexandre Gori , Buainain Antonio Marcio
Published: November 2015

Este trabalho analisa as principais transformações demográficas no meio rural entre os anos de 1991 e 2010. Os resultados destacam que, embora com um tênue arrefecimento nos anos 2000, o êxodo rural persiste em todo o território, mesmo nas áreas rurais mais tradicionais, sejam aquelas dinâmicas ou as mais pobres. A escolaridade das pessoas é um importante determinante do êxodo rural, que também reforça a propensão dos mais jovens e das mulheres a deixarem o campo, em busca de melhores oportunidades de emprego, renda e estabilidade social. Há uma nova configuração da família rural, agora caracterizada por um casal com apenas um filho em idade escolar e uma maior dependência de idosos com rendimentos de aposentadorias. O trabalho finalmente discute as implicações dessas mudanças sobre a sustentabilidade da atividade agrícola em médio e longo prazo, sobretudo para as unidades produtivas familiares pequenas e mais vulneráveis.
Suboptimal Antigen Presentation Contributes to Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis In Vivo
Authors: Grace Patricia S. , Ernst Joel D.
Published: November 2015

Mycobacterium tuberculosis commonly causes persistent or chronic infection, despite the development of Ag-specific CD4 T cell responses. We hypothesized that M. tuberculosis evades elimination by CD4 T cell responses by manipulating MHC class II Ag presentation and CD4 T cell activation and tested this hypothesis by comparing activation of Ag85B-specific CD4 T cell responses to M. tuberculosis and M. bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) Pasteur in vivo and in vitro. We found that, although M. tuberculosis persists in lungs of immunocompetent mice, M. bovis BCG is cleared, and clearance is T cell dependent. We further discovered that M. tuberculosis–infected macrophages and dendritic cells activate Ag85B-specific CD4 T cells less efficiently and less effectively than do BCG-infected cells, in vivo and in vitro, despite higher production and secretion of Ag85B by M. tuberculosis. During BCG infection, activation of Ag85B-specific CD4 T cells requires fewer infected dendritic cells and fewer Ag-producing bacteria than during M. tuberculosis infection. When dendritic cells containing equivalent numbers of M. tuberculosis or BCG were transferred to mice, BCG-infected cells activated proliferation of more Ag85B-specific CD4 T cells than did M. tuberculosis–infected cells. Differences in Ag85B-specific CD4 T cell activation were attributable to differential Ag presentation rather than differential expression of costimulatory or inhibitory molecules. These data indicate that suboptimal Ag presentation contributes to persistent infection and that limiting Ag presentation is a virulence property of M. tuberculosis.
Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor by 10-Cl-BBQ Prevents Insulitis and Effector T Cell Development Independently of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Ehrlich Allison K. , Pennington Jamie M. , Wang Xisheng , Rohlman Diana , Punj Sumit , Löhr Christiane V. , Newman Matthew T. , Kolluri Siva K. , Kerkvliet Nancy I.
Published: November 2015

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation by high-affinity ligands mediates immunosuppression in association with increased regulatory T cells (Tregs), making this transcription factor an attractive therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. We recently discovered 10-chloro-7H-benzimidazo[2,1-a]benzo[de]iso-quinolin-7-one (10-Cl-BBQ), a nanomolar affinity AhR ligand with immunosuppressive activity and favorable pharmacologic properties. In this study, we tested the consequences of AhR activation in the NOD model. Oral 10-Cl-BBQ treatment prevented islet infiltration without clinical toxicity, whereas AhR-deficient NOD mice were not protected. Suppression of insulitis was associated with an increased frequency, but not total number, of Foxp3+ Tregs in the pancreas and pancreatic lymph nodes. The requirement for Foxp3+ cells in AhR-induced suppression of insulitis was tested using NOD.Foxp3DTR mice, which show extensive islet infiltration upon treatment with diphtheria toxin. AhR activation prevented the development of insulitis caused by the depletion of Foxp3+ cells, demonstrating that Foxp3+ cells are not required for AhR-mediated suppression and furthermore that the AhR pathway is able to compensate for the absence of Foxp3+ Tregs, countering current dogma. Concurrently, the development of disease-associated CD4+Nrp1+Foxp3−RORγt+ cells was inhibited by AhR activation. Taken together, 10-Cl-BBQ is an effective, nontoxic AhR ligand for the intervention of immune-mediated diseases that functions independently of Foxp3+ Tregs to suppress pathogenic T cell development.
Influence of Indoor Hygrothermal Conditions on Human Quality of Life in Social Housing
Authors: Soares Sara , Fraga Silvia , Delgado Joao M.P.Q. , Ramos Nuno M.M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Modern societies spend most of their time indoors, namely at home, and the indoor environment quality turns out to be a crucial factor to health, quality of life and well-being of the residents. The present study aims to understand how indoor environment relates with quality of life and how improving housing conditions impacts on individuals’ health.

Design and Methods

This study case will rely on the following assessments in both rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated social housing: i) field measurements, in social dwellings (namely temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, air velocity, air change rate, level of mould spores and energy consumption); ii) residents’ questionnaires on social, demogaphic, behavioural, health characteristics and quality of life. Also, iii) qualitative interviews performed with social housing residents from the rehabilitated houses, addressing the self-perception of living conditions and their influence in health status and quality of life. All the collected information will be combined and analysed in order to achieve the main objective.

Expected impact

It is expected to define a Predicted Human Life Quality (PHLQ) index, that combines physical parameters describing the indoor environment measured through engineering techniques with residents’ and neighbourhood quality of life characteristics assessed by health questionnaires. Improvement in social housing should be related with better health indicators and the new index might be an important tool contributing to enhance quality of life of the residents.
On logarithmic nonabelian Hodge theory of higher level in characteristic $p$
Authors: Ohkawa Sachio
Published: November 2015

Given a natural number

m

and a log smooth integral morphism

X\to S

of fine log schemes of characteristic

p>0

with a lifting of its Frobenius pull-back

X'\to S

modulo

p^{2}

, we use indexed algebras

{\mathcal A}_{X}^{gp}

,

{\mathcal B}_{X/S}^{(m+1)}

of Lorenzon-Montagnon and the sheaf

{\cal D}_{X/S}^{(m)}

of log differential operators of level

m

of Berthelot-Montagnon to construct an equivalence between the category of certain indexed

{\mathcal A}^{gp}_{X}

-modules with

{\mathcal D}_{X/S}^{(m)}

-action and the category of certain indexed

{\mathcal B}_{X/S}^{(m+1)}

-modules with Higgs field. Our result is regarded as a level

m

version of some results of Ogus-Vologodsky and Schepler.
The local Laplace transform of an elementary irregular meromorphic connection
Authors: Hien Marco , Sabbah Claude
Published: November 2015

We give a definition of the topological local Laplace transformation for a Stokes-filtered local system on the complex affine line and we compute in a topological way the Stokes data of the Laplace transform of a differential system of elementary type.
The cyclic and epicyclic sites
Authors: Connes Alain , Consani Caterina
Published: November 2015

We determine the points of the epicyclic topos which plays a key role in the geometric encoding of cyclic homology and the lambda operations. We show that the category of points of the epicyclic topos is equivalent to projective geometry in characteristic one over algebraic extensions of the infinite semifield of "max-plus integers"

{\mathbb F}_{\rm max}

. An object of this category is a pair

(E,K)

of a semimodules

E

over an algebraic extension

K

of

{\mathbb Z}_{\rm max}

. The morphisms are projective classes of semilinear maps between semimodules. The epicyclic topos sits over the arithmetic topos

\widehat{{\mathbb N}^\times}

of [6] and the fibers of the associated geometric morphism correspond to the cyclic site. In two appendices we review the role of the cyclic and epicyclic toposes as the geometric structures supporting cyclic homology and the lambda operations.
On the continuity of the finite Bloch–Kato cohomology
Authors: Iovita Adrian , Marmora Adriano
Published: November 2015

Let

K_{0}

be an unramified, complete discrete valuation field of mixed characteristics

(0,p)

with perfect residue field. We consider two finite, free

{\mathbb{Z}_p}

-representations of

G_{K_0}

,

T_1

and

T_2

, such that

T_i\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}_p} {\mathbb{Q}_p}

, for

i=1,2

, are crystalline representations with Hodge-Tate weights between

0

and

r\le p-2.

Let

K

be a totally ramified extension of degree

e

of

K_0

. Supposing that

p\geq 3

and

e(r-1)\leq p-1

, we prove that for every integer

n\geq 1

and

i=1,2

, the inclusion

H_f^1(K,T_i)/p^nH_f^1(K,T_i) \hookrightarrow H^1(K, T_i/p^n T_i)

of the finite Bloch-Kato cohomology into the Galois cohomology is functorial with respect to morphisms as

\mathbb{Z}/p^n\mathbb{Z}[G_{K_0}]

-modules from

T_1/p^nT_1

to

T_2/p^nT_2

. In the appendix we give a related result for

p=2

.