bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shear and normal stresses measured on the Weissfluhjoch Snow Chute
Authors: Schaefer Marius
Published: September 2015

Shear stresses on the running surface are believed to crucially determine the flow of snow avalanches. Measurements of shear and normal stresses on the running surface are presented as well as measurements of flow depth of snow flows down the Weissfluhjoch Snow Chute before and after a reduction of the chute’s inclination. In the measurements before the inclination change, maxima of measured normal stresses agreed with the maxima of the normal component of the column weight calculated using pre-release snow density. After the reduction of inclination, stresses increased considerably and the magnitude of the increase depended on the density of the flow. Using the measurements of normal stress and flow depth before the inclination change, a depth-averaged flow density was computed. The flow density was lower in the front and the tail of the avalanches and approached the pre-release density in the avalanche body. The ratio of measured shear to normal stresses, the coefficient of friction, was higher in wet snow flows than in dry snow flows. Upon analysis of the dependence of the coefficient of friction on parameters varying between the experiments, higher coefficients of friction for higher densities, snow and air temperatures, and average avalanche velocities were found. The total avalanche volume correlated negatively with the coefficient of friction. Measured coefficients of friction were generally lower as expected for flows of constant velocity, which might indicate the importance of other frictional processes such as friction at the snow–air interface, which is supported by the evolution of small dilute snow clouds on top of the flows that consisted of dry snow.
Antimicrobial and antimycobacterial activities of aliphatic amines derived from vanillin
Authors: Patterson Alyssa E. , Flewelling Andrew J. , Clark Trevor N. , Geier Stephen J. , Vogels Christopher M. , Masuda Jason D. , Gray Christopher A. , Westcott Stephen A.
Published: September 2015

Ten lipophilic amines were prepared from the reductive amination of vanillin and the corresponding primary amines using sodium borohydride in methanol. All compounds have been obtained elementally pure and an X-ray diffraction study on the 4-n-butylaniline derivative has confirmed the molecular structure. Whilst the overall antibiotic activity of the derivatives was low, some of these compounds, particularly the boronate ester 2-methoxy-4-((2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenylamino)methyl)phenol (7), showed a promising degree of antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, where activity seemed to vary by the position of the boron substitution on the aniline ring.
Missing the safety net: evidence for inconsistent and insufficient management of at-risk marine fishes in Canada
Authors: McDevitt-Irwin Jamie Marie , Fuller Susanna Drake , Grant Catharine , Baum Julia Kathleen
Published: September 2015

Marine conservation is often perceived as being in conflict with fisheries management. In Canada, at-risk marine fishes denied listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) are meant to receive comparable measures under the Fisheries Act. We assess the effectiveness of these Acts by examining (i) how long it takes a marine fish assessed as being at risk to move through the process and receive conservation measures, (ii) whether there are biases against marine fishes in the SARA process additional to the known listing bias, and (iii) when denied listing, to what extent these species are protected by the Fisheries Act. Overall, at-risk marine fishes typically spend 3.25 years under consideration for SARA, during which time they receive no additional protection. Endangered and Threatened marine fishes (i.e., those most at risk) face the greatest bias and receive the least protection; their SARA decisions are typically delayed, with almost 5 years usually passing between their COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) assessment and listing decision; most (70.6%) are then denied listing, after which the Fisheries Act provides few of the SARA-required measures. For SARA-listed marine fishes, recovery strategies are usually late and to date no action plans have been produced. Marine fish conservation is hindered by SARA’s slow pace, incomplete recovery measures, and inadequate implementation of the Fisheries Act. We provide recommendations for improving conservation of at-risk marine fishes in Canada.
Compensation potential in six depleted groundfish stocks from the Northwest Atlantic
Authors: Morgan M. Joanne , Shelton Peter A. , González-Costas Fernando , González-Troncoso Diana
Published: September 2015

Compensatory responses are important because they increase spawning stock biomass (SSB) growth rates in depleted fish populations. We analyze recruits per spawner (R/SSB) and spawners per recruit (SSB/R) data from six well-studied depleted, or depleted and recovering, Northwest Atlantic groundfish stocks for evidence of compensatory responses. All stocks had periods of high R/SSB at low SSB; however, R/SSB showed considerable variability, and significant compensatory responses were only found in two stocks. For compensation in SSB/R, relationships were significant for three of the stocks. We examined the potential impact of compensation in R/SSB and SSB/R on SSB growth rate and concluded that SSB/R could have a greater potential impact on enhancing SSB growth rate in depleted stocks. Overall, cod (Gadus morhua) populations showed greater compensation than flatfish, mainly due to the lower potential in flatfish to increase SSB/R. This suggests that cod are more resilient to overfishing than are flatfish. Estimates of population growth rate at low stock size, which ignore compensation in SSB/R, will underestimate maximum SSB growth rates. Compensation in both R/SSB and SSB/R should both be considered when evaluating stock productivity, sustainable harvest levels, and biological reference points.
Monitoring changes in forest resource advisory groups’ composition and evaluations of perceptions of public participation effectiveness: a case of Ontario’s Local Citizens Committees
Authors: Hunt Len M.
Published: September 2015

Effective public participation is a key part of sustainable forest management on publicly owned lands. However, long-term monitoring data that seek to measure effectiveness of public participation in forest management planning is lacking. Here, measures based on attitudes and satisfaction ratings associated with suspected criteria of public participation effectiveness were developed and applied to forest resource advisory group members from Ontario, Canada. Using data from four social surveys (2001, 2004, 2010, and 2014), advisory group members were, on average, satisfied and held positive attitudes towards the advisory group, their participation in the group, and forest management planning. In many instances, these positive evaluations increased from 2001 to 2014, especially for statements related to fairness. One concern about Local Citizens Committees (LCCs) related to their composition. Advisory group members were male dominated (about 88%) and were increasingly overrepresented by individuals between 50 and 69 years old in 2014 (67%). Given that male and female LCC members held different perceptions of the effectiveness of some public participation criteria, these concerns suggest that composition of LCCs might impair the ability of the groups to consider all viewpoints related to forest management planning. Finally, the research illustrates the importance of designing and collecting long-term monitoring data to understand how evaluations of public participation and composition of participants changes over time.
Genomic affinities revealed by GISH suggests intergenomic restructuring between parental genomes of the paleopolyploid genusZea
Authors: González Graciela Esther , Poggio Lidia
Published: September 2015

The present work compares the molecular affinities, revealed by GISH, with the analysis of meiotic pairing in intra- and interspecific hybrids between species of Zea obtained in previous works. The joint analysis of these data provided evidence about the evolutionary relationships among the species from the paleopolyploid genus Zea (maize and teosintes). GISH and meiotic pairing of intraspecific hybrids revealed high genomic affinity between maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) and both Zea mays subsp. parviglumis and Zea mays subsp. mexicana. On the other hand, when Zea mays subsp. huehuetenanguensis DNA was probed on maize chromosomes, a lower affinity was detected, and the pattern of hybridization suggested intergenomical restructuring between the parental genomes of maize. When DNA from Zea luxurians was used as probe, homogeneous hybridization signals were observed through all maize chromosomes. Lower genomic affinity was observed when DNA from Zea diploperennis was probed on maize chromosomes, especially at knob regions. Maize chromosomes hybridized with Zea perennis DNA showed hybridization signals on four chromosome pairs: two chromosome pairs presented hybridization signal in only one chromosomal arm, whereas four chromosome pairs did not show any hybridization. These results are in agreement with previous GISH studies, which have identified the genomic source of the chromosomes involved in the meiotic configurations of Z. perennis × maize hybrids. These findings allow postulating that maize has a parental genome not shared with Z. perennis, and the existence of intergenomic restructuring between the parental genomes of maize. Moreover, the absence of hybridization signals in all maize knobs indicate that these heterochromatic regions were lost during the Z. perennis genome evolution.
The aging problem of twins in the ellipsoidal coordinates
Authors: Kumar Himanshu , Singh J. K.
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we have tried to explore the twin paradox in the ellipsoidal coordinate system. We have investigated that the traveling twin travels away from the gravitational source in the first case while in the other it moves towards the source. We then tried to compare it with the special relativistic case where the static twin ages faster as compared to his traveling counterpart.
Area product and mass formula for Kerr–Newman–Taub–NUT spacetime
Authors: Pradhan Parthapratim
Published: September 2015

We derive area product, entropy product, area sum and entropy sum of the event horizon and Cauchy horizons for Kerr–Newman–Taub–NUT (Newman–Unti–Tamburino) black hole in four-dimensional Lorentzian geometry. We observe that these thermodynamic products are not universal (mass-independence) for this black hole (BH), whereas for Kerr–Newman (KN) BH such products are universal (mass-independence). We also examine the entropy sum and area sum. It is shown that they all depend on mass, charge and NUT parameter of the background spacetime. Thus, we can conclude that the universal (mass-independence) behavior of area product and entropy product, area sum and entropy sum for Kerr–Newman–Taub–NUT (KNTN) BH fails and which is also quite different from KN BH. We further show that the KNTN BH do not possess first law of BH thermodynamics and Smarr–Gibbs–Duhem relations, and that such relations are unlikely in the KN case. The failure of these aforementioned features are due to presence of the nontrivial NUT charge which makes the spacetime to be asymptotically non-flat, in contrast with KN BH. The other reason of the failure is that Lorentzian KNTN geometry contains Dirac–Misner type singularity, which is a manifestation of a nontrivial topological twist of the manifold. The BH mass formula and Christodoulou–Ruffini mass formula for KNTN BHs are also derived. Finally, we compute the area bound which is just Penrose like inequality for event horizon. From area bound we derive entropy bound. These thermodynamic products on the multi-horizon play a crucial role in BH thermodynamics to understand the microscopic nature of BH entropy.
System design and new applications for atomic force microscope based on tunneling
Authors: Wang X. , Liu A. P. , Yang X. H.
Published: September 2015

The design of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with high resolution is introduced in this paper. Mainly, we have developed the system design of the apparatus based on tunneling. AFM.IPC-208B, this kind of apparatus combines scanning tunnel microscopy (STM) and AFM availability, and its lens body with original frame enhances the capability of the machine. In order to analyze the performance of AFM.IPC-208B, as a new tool in the field of Life Science, we make use of the system to study natural mica and molecular protein structures of Cattle-insulin and human antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG) coupled with staphylococcus protein A (SPA). As the results of new applications, the resolution of AFM.IPC-208B is proved to be 0.1 nm, and these nanometer measurement results provide much valuable information for the study of small molecular proteins and HIV experiments.
THE TIME-DEPENDENT FX-SABR MODEL: EFFICIENT CALIBRATION BASED ON EFFECTIVE PARAMETERS
Authors: VAN DER STOEP ANTHONIE W. , GRZELAK LECH A. , OOSTERLEE CORNELIS W.
Published: September 2015

We present a framework for efficient calibration of the time-dependent SABR model (Fernández et al. (2013) Mathematics and Computers in Simulation94, 55–75; Hagan et al. (2002) Wilmott Magazine 84–108; Osajima (2007) Available at SSRN 965265.) in an foreign exchange (FX) context. In a similar fashion as in (Piterbarg (2005) Risk18 (5), 71–75) we derive effective parameters, which yield an accurate and efficient calibration. On top of the calibrated FX-SABR model, we add a non-parametric local volatility component, which naturally compensates for possible calibration errors. By means of Monte Carlo pricing experiments, we show that the time-dependent FX-SABR model enables an accurate and consistent pricing of barrier options and outperforms the constant-parameter SABR model and the traditional local volatility model (Derman & Kani (1998) International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance1 (1), 61–110; Dupire (1994) Risk7 (1), 18–20). We also discuss the role of the local volatility component in pricing barrier options.
PROJECTION OF A HETEROGENOUS AGENT-BASED PRODUCTION ECONOMY MODEL TO A CLOSED DYNAMICS OF AGGREGATE VARIABLES
Authors: LINDGREN KRISTIAN , JONSON EMMA , LUNDBERG LIV
Published: September 2015

A model framework that describes a simple production economy is presented, in which the micro-dynamics can be projected to a closed dynamics of aggregate variables. The construction is based on an agent-based model with heterogeneity both regarding production characteristics and the strategies agents use to predict future prices as a basis for choosing what to produce. The world is divided into a number of regional markets that collect the locally produced goods and via inter-market trade supply regional demands with goods. We discuss the model features that make it possible to project the agent-based micro-dynamics to a closed form dynamics on the level of regionally aggregate quantities. One advantage of such a projection from a high dimensional agent-based dynamics to a low dimensional dynamical system is that the stability characteristics can be analytically approached, and this is illustrated by a derived condition for when a mix of naive and rational agents can stabilize the system. Some illustrations of the general framework in a model of global agricultural land-use are also given.
Chapter 12 Eruptive frequency and volcanic hazards zonation in São Miguel Island, Azores
Authors: Gaspar J. L. , Guest J. E. , Queiroz G. , Pacheco J. , Pimentel A. , Gomes A. , Marques R. , Felpeto A. , Ferreira T. , Wallenstein N.
Published: September 2015

São Miguel Island comprises five active volcanic systems, including three central volcanoes with calderas and two basaltic fissure systems. Volcanic eruptions in São Miguel are of basaltic and trachytic nature (
s.l.
), including Hawaiian, Strombolian, sub-Plinian, Plinian and Vulcanian events, the more explosive ones frequently including hydromagmatic phases. Large Plinian eruptions are related to caldera-forming events that occurred in the past. With reference to the Fogo A stratigraphic marker, a total of 73 individual volcanic eruptions have been identified in the last 5 ka, giving a recurrence interval of 68.5 years. Taking into account that only six events have occurred in historical times, the recurrence interval increases to 95 years and, clearly, a future event is overdue because the most recent eruption occurred in 1652. It should be noted, however, that some volcanic eruptions in the past have occurred in clusters.

The eruptive frequencies of the last 5 ka of activity have been determined for all types of eruptions and related hazards, including lava flows, pyroclastic falls, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and lahars. The areas susceptible to volcanic products have been mapped and modelled under different eruptive conditions.
Chapter 13 Landslides on São Miguel Island (Azores): susceptibility analysis and validation of rupture zones using a bivariate GIS-based statistical approach
Authors: Marques R. , Amaral P. , Araújo I. , Gaspar J. L. , Zêzere J. L.
Published: September 2015

Since settlement of São Miguel Island in the middle of the fifteenth century, several destructive landslides have occurred. These have been triggered by various factors, of which rainfall is the most common. Between 1900 and 2008, based on extensive documentary evidence, 193 landslide events with socio-economic impact have been identified. These events have been responsible for 67 deaths, about 20 people have been seriously injured, and dozens of houses destroyed and people rendered homeless. In this chapter, the Information Value Method is used to produce a landslide rupture susceptibility map for São Miguel. Success and prediction rate curves (SRC and PRC) are computed and areas under the curve (AUC) calculated in order to not only support the results of modelling, but also assess the robustness of the suggested susceptibility algorithm. Twelve predisposing factors are used as independent variables and a total of 9890 landslide depletion areas are used as the dependent variable. The AUC for both the SRC and the PRC was 0.90. The methodology used for the construction of the susceptibility map was shown to be both accurate and reliable. The map is an important tool for land-use/emergency planning and for landslide risk mitigation.
Chapter 15 Diffuse soil emanations of radon and hazard implications at Furnas Volcano, São Miguel Island (Azores)
Authors: Silva C. , Viveiros F. , Ferreira T. , Gaspar J. L. , Allard P.
Published: September 2015

Furnas Caldera Volcanic Complex, São Miguel Island (Azores), last erupted in 1630 and is famous for its intense hydrothermal activity (i.e. fumarolic fields, thermal springs, cold CO
2
-rich mineral waters and diffuse CO
2
soil emanations), which directly affect the villages of Furnas and Ribeira Quente. Here we report the first systematic investigations and mapping of soil radon (
222
Rn) emanations in the Furnas Volcanic Complex, and we examine their potential health risks for local inhabitants.
222
Rn in volcanic soils (60 cm depth) was repeatedly measured between 2005 and 2010 using a portable solid-state alpha detector (RAD7, Durridge Company Inc.). Results reveal a local background of 8000 Bq m
−3
and several areas with anomalously high
222
Rn activity (up to
c.
400 000 Bq m
−3
), which coincide with advective or convective gas transport through volcanic structures and active fault zones. High
222
Rn radioactivity in Furnas and Ribeira Quente villages represents a risk to the population. Continuous monitoring performed during November and December 2005 in a house in Furnas shows indoor
222
Rn reaching 13 273 Bq m
−3
, two orders of magnitude greater than the reference level (150 Bq m
−3
), when the ventilation efficiency is reduced.
Chapter 18 Tectonic and volcanic deformation at São Miguel Island, Azores, observed by continuous GPS analysis 2008–13
Authors: Okada Jun , Sigmundsson Freysteinn , Ófeigsson Benedikt G. , Ferreira Teresa J. L. , Rodrigues Rita M. M. T. C.
Published: September 2015

We use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to unravel the complex geodynamics of the Azores Triple Junction where tectonic and volcanic activities coexist. The temporal analysis of densely distributed continuous GPS data on São Miguel for the period 2008–13 provides an improved understanding of interactions between present-day plate boundary kinematics and volcanic deformation. We find a high-strain-rate (0.28 ppm a
–1
) zone between Congro and Furnas, which accommodates about 50% of the Eurasian–Nubian plate spreading as predicted by the MORVEL plate angular velocity model. The seismic unrest of Fogo–Congro (2011–12) shows a strong similarity with the Matsushiro (Japan) earthquake swarm (1965–66) and the Campi Flegrei (Italy) volcanic unrest (1969–72 and 1982–85), in that an edifice-scale inflation associated with intense high-frequency earthquakes and inflation–deflation reversals coincided with a sharp drop in seismicity. We propose the following hypothesis for the Fogo unrest: (1) the primary inflation source beneath Fogo promotes lateral diffusion of fluids that is selectively guided by existing cracks/fissures formed from regional extension; (2) an influx of fluids increases pressure in cracks/fissures and generates lower-frequency earthquakes; and (3) discharge of fluids causes pressure decrease and dilatancy recovery (i.e. seismic quiescence).
Chapter 19 Hydrogeochemical characterization of mineral waters in São Miguel Island, Azores
Authors: Cruz J. V. , Freire P. , Costa A. , Fontiela J. , Cabral L. , Coutinho R. M.
Published: September 2015

A dataset on the chemical composition of mineral water discharges from São Miguel, 76 samples, depicts a large variability of chemical types and dissolved solids content. The distribution of the discharges shows an association with the three active Quaternary central volcanoes that dominate the geology of São Miguel, namely Furnas, Fogo and Sete Cidades, 74% of which are springs, 13% fumaroles, 12% wells and 1% hand-dug wells. Total dissolved solids (TDS) values are in the range of 159–20 957 mg l
−1
, discharge temperature varies from 15 to 99.5°C and waters are mainly strongly acid to slightly alkaline (pH ranging between 2.2 and 7.71). Springs discharge mainly from perched-water bodies, corresponding to Na-HCO
3
and Na-HCO
3
-Cl-type waters, with a composition influenced by absorption of CO
2
and mixing between meteoric water and boiling waters with a hydrothermal component. Instead the majority of the wells are distributed along the coast and depict chloride enrichment owing to mixture with seawater. The lower pH values are associated with boiling pools at Fogo Volcano with a SO
4
-dominated chemistry, resulting from steam-heating of shallow perched-water bodies.
Chapter 2 The structure of the Azores Triple Junction: implications for São Miguel Island
Authors: Miranda J. M. , Luis J. F. , Lourenço N. , Fernandes R. M. S.
Published: September 2015

To date, a lack of reliable morphological and geophysical data has been a major limitation to understanding the tectonic and magmatic processes that shape the Azores Triple Junction and the Terceira Rift. This situation has changed recently: for the first time both areas are covered by high-quality swath bathymetry surveys and marine magnetic data with GPS quality positioning. This provides a good description of the surface morphology, and also of magnetic chrons that give fundamental information for the timing of spreading processes in a geological time frame. There is also a large amount of data from GPS stations that provide accurate estimations of present-day velocities for most of the islands. It is shown that only two main rift systems can be found on the plateau, the older one matching the Princess Alice Basin, and the newer one matching Terceira Rift; the shift between the two probably occurs close to
c.
3 Ma. It is shown that extension is currently concentrated on the Terceira Rift, progressively attaching Graciosa and Terceira islands to Eurasia, while São Miguel is being strained by rifting. It is also shown that no right lateral strike-slip fault connects the Terceira Rift to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Chapter 20 Permanent monitoring of soil CO
2
degassing at Furnas and Fogo volcanoes (São Miguel Island, Azores)
Authors: Viveiros F. , Ferreira T. , Silva C. , Vieira J. C. , Gaspar J. L. , Virgili G. , Amaral P.
Published: September 2015

Eight years of permanent soil CO
2
diffuse degassing monitoring at Furnas and Fogo volcanoes shows that several environmental variables may influence soil CO
2
flux to a different extent depending on the location. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis applied to the data acquired by the permanent flux stations installed on São Miguel showed that the monitored environmental variables may influence the gas flux in a proportion between 18 and 51%. The external variables that most significantly correlate with the soil CO
2
flux values for Fogo and Furnas volcanoes monitoring sites are the rainfall/soil water content with its effect on permeability; the barometric pressure pumping effect; the wind speed owing to the atmospheric air intrusion and the air temperature through the action of atmospheric tides. These variables are responsible not only for spike-like oscillations in CO
2
emission, but also for the long-term oscillations with higher and lower values registered usually during winter and summer months, respectively. Residual time-series, calculated using regression models, are compared with other geophysical and geochemical monitoring data in order to recognize changes that may be correlated with the volcanic/hydrothermal systems.
Chapter 21 Hydrogeology of São Miguel Island, Azores: a review
Authors: Coutinho R. , Fontiela J. , Freire P. , Cruz J. V.
Published: September 2015

Groundwater is the main source of water supply on São Miguel. Groundwater abstraction (25 hm
3
a
−1
) relies almost exclusively on springs discharging from perched aquifers. A total of 1100 springs (1.5 springs/km
2
) are located on São Miguel, mainly in the Água de Pau and the Furnas–Povoação groundwater bodies. Only 26 wells have been drilled, distributed principally in the west-central zone. Specific capacity ranges between 0.49 and 100 l (s m)
−1
(median=1.11 l (s m)
−1
), while transmissivity ranges between 5.98×10
−4
and 1.22×10
−1
m
2
s
−1
(median=1.35×10
−3
m
2
s
−1
). Groundwater is predominantly of the Na-Cl and Na-HCO
3
types and electrical conductivity in springs ranges from 36 to 440 μS cm
−1
(median=152 μS cm
−1
), which is lower than in wells (211–9670 μS cm
−1
; median=515 μS cm
−1
). These values result from seawater spray, a CO
2
soil contribution and limited dissolution of primary silicate minerals from volcanic rocks. In the case of wells, seawater intrusion may also influence electrical conductivity. One of the main problems in groundwater quality is total and faecal coliform microbial contamination. A pollution risk map constructed for São Miguel as a whole showed that risk in the majority of the groundwater bodies is only very low to moderate.
Chapter 3 Active tectonics in the central and eastern Azores islands along the Eurasia–Nubia boundary: a review
Authors: Madeira J. , Brum da Silveira A. , Hipólito A. , Carmo R.
Published: September 2015

The geodynamic setting of the Azores archipelago, straddling the triple junction between the North America, Eurasia and Nubia plates, is reflected in frequent volcanic and tectonic activity. A review of neotectonics is presented for the islands forming the central and eastern groups of the Azores (Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, Terceira, São Miguel and Santa Maria). The geometry and kinematics of active faults displacing stratigraphic and geomorphological markers of Pleistocene and Holocene age are presented. Slip-rates were determined using the available ages for the displaced markers. Maximum expected moment magnitudes were estimated using empirical correlations between magnitude and fault length, fault area and maximum observed surface displacement during surface-rupturing palaeoearthquakes. Neotectonic parameters show that the faults are in most cases very to moderately active, with slip-rates usually ranging from a few tenths of millimetres to a few millimetres per year, while maximum expected magnitudes vary from M
w
6 to 7. These magnitudes are in agreement with the instrumental and historical seismic record in the region. Neotectonic data define a dextral transtensive stress regime acting on the region and contribute to characterizing the complexity of the geodynamic processes that dominate the western-most segment of the Eurasia–Nubia plate boundary.
Chapter 6 Volcano-tectonic structures of São Miguel Island, Azores
Authors: Carmo R. , Madeira J. , Ferreira T. , Queiroz G. , Hipólito A.
Published: September 2015

The Azores archipelago is located at the triple junction between the Eurasia, Nubia and North America lithospheric plates. São Miguel Island, situated at the southeastern part of the western segment of the Azores–Gibraltar Fracture Zone, presents an east–west elongated shape, comprising three quiescent central volcanoes with summit calderas linked by zones of fissure volcanism. The eastern part of the island is older and inactive. Active faulting is represented by prominent fault scarps that constitute important extensional structures, or by linear volcanic structures in fissural volcanic zones, with a dominant NW–SE to WNW–ESE trend. Although less frequent, there are also NNW–SSE to north–south, NE–SW and east–west faults, reflected by some volcanic alignments and linear segments of the drainage system and sea cliffs. The geometric and kinematic data are in agreement with that observed in the rest of the archipelago. However, at eastern São Miguel Island data indicate two distinct groups of conjugated faults characterized by three-dimensional strain: NW–SE to WNW–ESE normal dextral structures are conjugated with NNW–SSE normal left-lateral faults and NW–SE to WNW–ESE normal left-lateral faults are conjugated with NE–SW normal dextral structures, showing the presence of two different stress fields separated in time.
Chapter 7 Eruptive history and evolution of Sete Cidades Volcano, São Miguel Island, Azores
Authors: Queiroz G. , Gaspar J. L. , Guest J. E. , Gomes A. , Almeida M. H.
Published: September 2015

Sete Cidades is an active central volcano on the western part of São Miguel. The geological record reveals that subaerial activity started more than 250 ka ago. Stratigraphic units defined for Sete Cidades deposits reflect major events in the history of the volcano and are organized into two main groups: the Inferior Group and the Superior Group. Caldera formation resulted from three major paroxysmal events that occurred at about 36, 29 and 16 ka ago. Analysis of the eruptive history of Sete Cidades shows that effusive or moderately explosive eruptions, of Hawaiian and/or Strombolian styles, were located on the slopes of the central volcano. Conversely, trachytic explosive activity is mostly centred inside the caldera involving, in a first stage, predominantly Plinian and sub-Plinian phenomena, changing about 5 ka ago to a dominant hydromagmatic style. Trachytic effusive eruptions are represented by domes and associated lava flows that crop out in the inner caldera walls and on the western slopes of the volcano. Offshore submarine activity is represented by the historic Surtseyan eruptions of 1638 and 1811. In the last 5 ka Sete Cidades was the most active central volcano in the Azores with 17 explosive eruptions predominantly with hydromagmatic character.
Chapter 9 The volcanic history of Furnas Volcano, São Miguel, Azores
Authors: Guest J. E. , Pacheco J. M. , Cole P. D. , Duncan A. M. , Wallenstein N. , Queiroz G. , Gaspar J. L. , Ferreira T.
Published: September 2015

Furnas is the easternmost of the trachytic active central volcanoes of São Miguel. Unlike the other central volcanoes, Sete Cidades and Fogo, Furnas does not have a substantial edifice built up above sea-level. Although not as dominant as the other two volcanoes, Furnas does, however, have an edifice rising from the basal basaltic lavas exposed on the north coast to around 600 m asl on the northern rim of the main caldera. In common with Sete Cidades and Fogo, Furnas had major trachytic explosive eruptions in its volcanic history that emplaced welded ignimbrites. In the last 5 ka Furnas has had 10 moderately explosive trachytic eruptions of sub-Plinian character; two of these have taken place since the island was settled in the mid-fifteenth century. A future eruption of sub-Plinian magnitude is a major hazard posed by Furnas Volcano. Even when not in eruption, Furnas is a hazardous environment. Its fumarolic fields discharge high levels of CO
2
and concentrations in some area of Furnas village present a risk to health; the steep slopes and poorly consolidated volcanic materials are prone to landslides, in particular when triggered by earthquakes or following heavy rain, as was the case in 1997, when landslides caused severe damage and casualties in Ribeira Quente.
Diagnosis of Intermittent Faults in IGBTs Using the Latent Nestling Method with Hybrid Coloured Petri Nets
Authors: Rodriguez-Urrego Leonardo , García Emilio , Quiles Eduardo , Correcher Antonio , Morant Francisco , Pizá Ricardo
Published: September 2015

This paper presents a fault diagnosis application of the Latent Nestling Method to IGBTs. The paper extends the Latent Nestling Method based in Coloured Petri Nets (CPNs) to hybrid systems in such a manner that IGBTs performance can be modeled. CPNs allow for an enhanced capability for synthesis and modeling in contrast to the classical phenomena of combinational state explosion when Finite State Machine methods are applied. We present an IGBT model with different fault modes including those of intermittent nature that can be used advantageously as predictive symptoms within a predictive maintenance strategy. Ageing stress tests have been experimentally applied to the IGBTs modules and intermittent faults are diagnosed as precursors of permanent failures. In addition, ageing is validated with morphological analysis (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and semiqualitative analysis (Energy Dispersive Spectrometry).
Improving the Performance of Metaheuristics: An Approach Combining Response Surface Methodology and Racing Algorithms
Authors: Barbosa Eduardo Batista de Moraes , Senne Edson Luiz França , Silva Messias Borges
Published: September 2015

The setup of heuristics and metaheuristics, that is, the fine-tuning of their parameters, exercises a great influence in both the solution process, and in the quality of results of optimization problems. The search for the best fit of these algorithms is an important task and a major research challenge in the field of metaheuristics. The fine-tuning process requires a robust statistical approach, in order to aid in the process understanding and also in the effective settings, as well as an efficient algorithm which can summarize the search process. This paper aims to present an approach combining design of experiments (DOE) techniques and racing algorithms to improve the performance of different algorithms to solve classical optimization problems. The results comparison considering the default metaheuristics and ones using the settings suggested by the fine-tuning procedure will be presented. Broadly, the statistical results suggest that the fine-tuning process improves the quality of solutions for different instances of the studied problems. Therefore, by means of this study it can be concluded that the use of DOE techniques combined with racing algorithms may be a promising and powerful tool to assist in the investigation, and in the fine-tuning of different algorithms. However, additional studies must be conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Limited Feedback for 3D Massive MIMO under 3D-UMa and 3D-UMi Scenarios
Authors: Hu Zheng , Kang Shaoli , Su Xin
Published: September 2015

For three-dimensional (3D) massive MIMO utilizing the uniform rectangular array (URA) in the base station (BS), we propose a limited feedback transmission scheme in which the channel state information (CSI) feedback operations for horizontal domain and vertical domain are separate. Compared to the traditional feedback scheme, the scheme can reduce the feedback overhead, code word index search complexity, and storage requirement. Also, based on the zenith of departure angle (ZoD) distribution in 3D-Urban Macro Cell (3D-UMa) and 3D-Urban Micro Cell (3D-UMi) scenarios, we propose the angle quantization codebook for vertical domain, while the codebook of long term evolution-advanced (LTE-Advanced) is still adopted in horizontal domain to preserve compatibility with the LTE-Advanced. Based on the angle quantization codebook, the subsampled 3-bit DFT codebook is designed for vertical domain. The system-level simulation results reveal that, to compromise the feedback overhead and system performance, 2-bit codebook for 3D-UMa scenario and 3-bit codebook for 3D-UMi scenario can meet requirements in vertical domain. The feedback period for vertical domain can also be extended appropriately to reduce the feedback overhead.
Construction and Application Research of Isomap-RVM Credit Assessment Model
Authors: Tong Guangrong , Li Siwei
Published: September 2015

Credit assessment is the basis and premise of credit risk management systems. Accurate and scientific credit assessment is of great significance to the operational decisions of shareholders, corporate creditors, and management. Building a good and reliable credit assessment model is key to credit assessment. Traditional credit assessment models are constructed using the support vector machine (SVM) combined with certain traditional dimensionality reduction algorithms. When constructing such a model, the dimensionality reduction algorithms are first applied to reduce the dimensions of the samples, so as to prevent the correlation of the samples’ characteristic index from being too high. Then, machine learning of the samples will be conducted using the SVM, in order to carry out classification assessment. To further improve the accuracy of credit assessment methods, this paper has introduced more cutting-edge algorithms, applied isometric feature mapping (Isomap) for dimensionality reduction, and used the relevance vector machine (RVM) for credit classification. It has constructed an Isomap-RVM model and used it to conduct financial analysis of China's listed companies. The empirical analysis shows that the credit assessment accuracy of the Isomap-RVM model is significantly higher than that of the Isomap-SVM model and slightly higher than that of the PCA-RVM model. It can correctly identify the credit risks of listed companies.
Analytical Model of Fluid Flow through Closed Structures for Vacuum Tube Systems
Authors: Park Chan-Hee , Cheon Dae-Sung , Park Joonam
Published: September 2015

An analytical model is developed to evaluate airtightness, which is one of the most important requirements of vacuum tube transportation systems. The main objective of the model is to anticipate the pressure inside a closed structure, which initially decreases and then rises with time owing to the inflow of the air outside. The model is formulated by using Darcy’s law and by solving the differential equations that consider the air permeability of the material and physical configuration of the tube. Equations are derived for a tube section in two cases: one with constant thickness and another with variable thickness. Although the developed model must be verified experimentally, results simulated by using the model with several assumed sections were consistent with the findings of a previous study. The mathematical model developed here to predict the behavior of the pressure inside a vacuum tube structure could be effectively used to evaluate the airtightness of vacuum tube transportation systems. Such data could provide background technical information for the practical design of the system.
Virtual Clutch Controller for Clutch-to-Clutch Shifts in Planetary-Type Automatic Transmission
Authors: Cheng Yunjiang , Dong Peng , Yang Shuai , Xu Xiangyang
Published: September 2015

It is known that the shift processes of the four types of clutch-to-clutch shifts can theoretically be divided into two phases which are torque phase and inertia phase, but the execution orders are different. Two virtual clutch controllers are designed with the same eight states which include all control processes for these shifts. An equivalent method is proposed so that AT can be controlled just like DCT by adopting the torque ratios of oncoming clutch and offgoing clutch of each gear. The powertrain system model and the shift controller are established on Matlab/Simulink platform. The clutch-to-clutch shift processes have been studied based on the virtual clutch controller by software-in-the-loop simulations. Some typical problems in the clutch-to-clutch shift control are discussed and several control methods are compared to solve these problems.
Recovery of Cerium Dioxide from Spent Glass-Polishing Slurry and Its Utilization as a Reactive Sorbent for Fast Degradation of Toxic Organophosphates
Authors: Janoš Pavel , Kuráň Pavel , Ederer Jakub , Šťastný Martin , Vrtoch Luboš , Pšenička Martin , Henych Jiří , Mazanec Karel , Skoumal Miroslav
Published: September 2015

The recovery of cerium (and possibly other rare earth elements) from the spent glass-polishing slurries is rather difficult because of a high resistance of polishing-grade cerium oxide toward common digestion agents. It was shown that cerium may be extracted from the spent polishing slurries by leaching with strong mineral acids in the presence of reducing agents; the solution may be used directly for the preparation of a ceria-based reactive sorbent. A mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was effective in the digestion of partially dewatered glass-polishing slurry. After the removal of undissolved particles, cerous carbonate was precipitated by gaseous NH3and CO2. Cerium oxide was prepared by a thermal decomposition of the carbonate precursor in an open crucible and tested as reactive sorbent for the degradation of highly toxic organophosphate compounds. The samples annealed at the optimal temperature of approximately 400°C exhibited a good degradation efficiency toward the organophosphate pesticide fenchlorphos and the nerve agents soman and VX. The extraction/precipitation procedure recovers approximately 70% of cerium oxide from the spent polishing slurry. The presence of minor amounts of lanthanum does not disturb the degradation efficiency.
H∞Control of Four-Wheel-Independent-Drive Electric Vehicles with Random Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Qin Gang , Zou Jianxiao
Published: September 2015

The random time-varying delays would reduce control performance and even deteriorate the EV system. To deal with random time-varying delays and achieve a real-time steady-state response, considering randomness of delay and a rapid response, anH∞-based delay-tolerant linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control method based on Taylor series expansion is proposed in this paper. The results of cosimulations with Simulink and CarSim demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller through the control performance of yaw rate, sideslip angle, and the running track. Moreover, the results of comparison with the other controller illustrate the strength of explicitly.
Transcrestal Sinus Lift Procedure Approaching Atrophic Maxillary Ridge: A 60-Month Clinical and Radiological Follow-Up Evaluation
Authors: Lo Giudice G. , Iannello G. , Terranova A. , Lo Giudice R. , Pantaleo G. , Cicciù M.
Published: September 2015

Aim.The aim of this study was to assess the success and the survival rate of dental implants placed in augmented bone after sinus lifting procedures.Material and Methods.31 patients were mainly enrolled for a residual upper jaw crest thickness of 3 mm. CBCT scans were performed before and after the augmentation technique and at the follow-up appointments, at 3, 6, 12, 24, and up to 60 months. The follow-up examination included cumulative survival rate of implants, peri-implant marginal bone loss, and the height of sinus floor augmentation.Results.This retrospective study on 31 patients and 45 implants later inserted in a less than 3 mm crest showed excellent survival rates (99.5%), one implant was lost before loading due to an acute infection after 24 days, and two implants did not osteointegrate and were removed after 3 months. The radiological evaluation showed an average bone loss of 0.25 mm (±0.78 mm) at the first follow-up appointment (3 months) up to 0.30 mm (±1.28 mm) after 60-month follow-up.Conclusion.In this study it was reported how even in less than 3 mm thick crest a transcrestal technique can predictably be used with a long-term clinical and radiological outcome, giving patients excellent stability of the grafted material and healthy clinical results.
A Structural SVM Based Approach for Binary Classification under Class Imbalance
Authors: Cheng Fan , Yang Kang , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2015

Class imbalance situations, where one class is rare compared to the other, arise frequently in machine learning applications. It is well known that the usual misclassification error is not suitable in such settings. A wide range of performance measures such as AM and QM have been proposed for this problem. However, due to computational difficulties, few learning techniques have been developed to directly optimize for AM or QM metric. To fill the gap, in this paper, we present a general structural SVM framework for directly optimizing AM and QM. We define the loss functions oriented to AM and QM, respectively, and adopt the cutting plane algorithm to solve the outer optimization. For the inner problem of finding the most violated constraint, we propose two efficient algorithms for the AM and QM problem. Empirical studies on the various imbalanced datasets justify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A New Wavelet Threshold Determination Method Considering Interscale Correlation in Signal Denoising
Authors: He Can , Xing Jianchun , Li Juelong , Yang Qiliang , Wang Ronghao
Published: September 2015

Due to simple calculation and good denoising effect, wavelet threshold denoising method has been widely used in signal denoising. In this method, the threshold is an important parameter that affects the denoising effect. In order to improve the denoising effect of the existing methods, a new threshold considering interscale correlation is presented. Firstly, a new correlation index is proposed based on the propagation characteristics of the wavelet coefficients. Then, a threshold determination strategy is obtained using the new index. At the end of the paper, a simulation experiment is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. In the experiment, four benchmark signals are used as test signals. Simulation results show that the proposed method can achieve a good denoising effect under various signal types, noise intensities, and thresholding functions.