bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Episkeletozoans and bioerosional ichnotaxa on isolated bones of Late Cretaceous mosasaurs and cheloniid turtles from the Maastricht area, the Netherlands
Authors: Jagt John W.M. , Deckers Mart J.M. , De Leebeeck Magda , Donovan Stephen K. , Nieuwenhuis Eric
Published: May 2020

Isolated bones of three taxa of marine reptiles (Mosasaurus hoffmanniiMantell,Plioplatecarpus marshiDollo andAllopleuron hofmanni(Gray)) from various levels within the Maastricht Formation (upper Maastrichtian) at the former ENCI-HeidelbergCement Group quarry (Maastricht, the Netherlands) exhibit bioerosional traces and encrustation. Episkeletozoans include dimyid, ostreid and monopleurid bivalves, at least three species of cheilostome and cyclostome bryozoans and two adnate calcareous foraminifera. The bones show biting traces (Gnathichnus pentaxBromley,Linichnuscf.serratusJacobsen & Bromley andMachichnusisp.), as well as borings. The latter may be referred toKarethraichnus lakkosZonneveld, Bartels, Gunnell & McHugh, which is here considered to be a junior synonym ofGastrochaenolitesisp.
3-Way Lunar Radio Ranging Experiment on RT-32 Radio Telescopes
Authors: Marshalov D. , Ping J. , Li W. , Wang M. , Sun J. , Bondarenko Yu. , Vasilyev M. , Yagudina E.
Published: May 2020

Since 2017, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been conducting observations of the Chang’E-3 lander carrier wave signal. The paper presents the features of observation scheduling and results of data processing. High-precision phase radar measurements have been obtained with an instrumental error of 1–2 mm. The deviation of residuals in model calculations does not exceed ± 1 cm. The estimates of CE-3 lander position have been obtained with an accuracy of 0.5’’, 7.4 m and 3.2 m in celenocentric cylindrical longitude, Px and Py coordinates, respectively.
The Joint SLR (Optical Range) and Radar-VLBI Satellite Observations using VIRAC Radio Telescope RT32, RT16 and SLR Station Riga
Authors: Skirmante K. , Jekabsons N. , Salmins K. , Bezrukovs V. , Nechaeva M.
Published: May 2020

Joint VLBI and SLR satellite tracking is a novel tracking approach to explore potential applications and to work out common procedures to coordinate observations between astronomical observatories in Latvia. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites equipped with laser retroreflectors have been chosen as test targets because they are accessible by both measuring techniques – satellite laser ranging (SLR) and Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI).

The first Joint SLR and VLBI observations of selected GNSS satellites using three of Latvian large-scale astronomical utilities – VIRAC radio telescopes RT32 and RT16 (Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences) with L band receivers and SLR station Riga (Institute of Astronomy of University of Latvia) were obtained in 2016 (NKA16) and 2017 (NKA41 and NKA42).
Land Cover Classification using Very High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Data and Deep Learning
Authors: Ķēniņš R.
Published: May 2020

The paper describes the process of training a convolutional neural network to segment land into its labelled land cover types such as grass, water, forest and buildings. This segmentation can promote automated updating of topographical maps since doing this manually is a time-consuming process, which is prone to human error. The aim of the study is to evaluate the application of U-net convolutional neural network for land cover classification using countrywide aerial data. U-net neural network architecture has initially been developed for use in biomedical image segmentation and it is one of the most widely used CNN architectures for image segmentation. Training data have been prepared using colour infrared images of Ventspils town and its digital surface model (DSM). Forest, buildings, water, roads and other land plots have been selected as classes, into which the image has been segmented. As a result, images have been segmented with an overall accuracy of 82.9 % with especially high average accuracy for the forest and water classes.
GNSS RTK Performance Improvements using Galileo Satellite Signal
Authors: Zvirgzds J. , Celms A.
Published: May 2020

Two factors of the existing GNSS Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning are as follows: distance-dependence and unreliable ambiguity resolution under bad observation conditions in cities or forests. Use of multi-frequency GNSS signals and systems could possibly redefine RTK services in LatPos, regionally and globally, and more redundant measurements from multiple satellite systems, such as NAVSTAR, Galileo, Glonass and BeiDou, can improve the performance of RTK measurement results in terms of accuracy, availability, reliability and time to fix. The benefits of multiple systems of GNSS services are as follows: 1) savings in the reference station infrastructure costs, and 2) improvement on RTK preciseness and reliability for the professional users. The paper aims at studying how the RTK system, using multiple satellite constellations, performs, adding Galileo signal measurements. Galileo measurements are observed using a field receiver and corrections received from LatPos base station network. Numerical analysis is performed using real-time corrections in field receivers, and results from collected RINEX data are compared by various computing schemes, such as L1/L2 and wide lane signals, NAVSTAR and NAVSTAR with Galileo measurements. The results have preliminary demonstrated the significant improvement using both GNSS satellite signals. Further improvements on the LatPos system have been introduced and the planned improvements shown.
Natural Gas and Biomethane in the European Road Transport: The Latvian Perspective
Authors: Savickis J. , Zemite L. , Zeltins N. , Bode I. , Jansons L.
Published: May 2020

The European Union (hereafter – the EU) takes a strong position in the global fight against climate changes by setting ambitious targets on reduction of greenhouse gas (hereafter – GHG) emissions. A binding target is to reduce those emissions by at least 40 % below 1990 levels till 2030, which would help make Europe the first climate neutral continent by the mid-21st century. Consequently, the expected 2050 emission reduction target for the EU is 80 %–90 % below 1990 levels. The EU’s new economy decarbonisation framework – The European Green Deal – outlines and summarises Europe’s ambition to become a world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050. This supposedly can be achieved by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas and making the energy transition just and inclusive for all.

The transport, and particularly road transport, is one of the most significant fossil fuel dependent segments of national economies across the EU. Oil dependency of all segments of the transport sector makes it the single biggest source of GHG emissions in the united Europe as well. Road transport is responsible for about 73 % of total transport GHG emissions, as Europe’s more than 308.3 million road vehicles are over 90 % reliant on conventional types of oil-based fuels (diesel, gasoline etc.).

However, there is a wide range of low-emission alternative fuels for all kinds of transport that can reduce overall oil dependence of the EU’s transport sector and significantly lower GHG in road transport. Among these alternatives a tandem of the natural gas and biomethane could be named as one of the most promising for short and mid-term transport decarbonisation solutions both in the EU and Latvia.
A Simple and Rapid LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Dexamethasone in Bovine Milk
Authors: Ural Mehmet Nihat , Kotan Arzu
Published: May 2020

This study provides insight into the development and validation of the simple, rapid and sensitive method of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for determining the residues of dexamethasone in bovine milk. The maximum residue limit for dexamethasone in bovine milk is 0.3 ng/ml−1. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent Proshell 120 SB:C18 (2.7µm 100x3.0 mm) column. The bovine milk was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the evaporated elution was dissolved with hexane, water and methanol, and analyzed by the LC-MS/MS method. The mobile phase A was a solution of 5 Mm ammonium formate in water, while the mobile phase B was 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. The calibration graphics were prepared within the range of 0.15–0.6 ng/ml−1, and a successful linearity was achieved (r ≥0.999). The limit of detection was 0.016 ng/ml−1. The decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were 0.34 and 0.38 ng/ml−1, respectively.
Poland in international migrations: the perspective of world systems theory
Authors: Żołędowski Cezary
Published: May 2020

This article presents the special status of Poland, namely as a country that both sends out and takes in large numbers of migrant workers. Drawing on the world systems theory, the role attributed to Poland is that of semi-periphery, which means a specific kind of suspension between the status of an immigration centre, resembling western Europe, and the status of a migration periphery, such as the one constituted by the eastern part of the continent. Poland continues to be viewed as peripheral by its own citizens who decide to emigrate and, at the same time, becomes an immigration sub-centre for migrants coming from less-developed countries. In this article, the distinctive features of the special position of Poland are discussed. The conclusions drawn are supported by empirical evidence, including data on migration flows and interviews both with Poles working abroad and foreigners employed in Poland.
Thin films of copper phthalocyanine deposited by solution processing methods
Authors: Gojzewski Hubert , Ghani Fatemeh , Szybowicz Mirosław
Published: May 2020

In this work, we show and discuss the surface structure picture of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films deposited from trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solvent onto silicon substrates at ambient conditions by four solution processing methods, namely drop-casting, dip-coating, spin-casting and spray-coating. The CuPc films were studied by AFM, as the main technique, and complemented by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Essentially, such thin films consist of CuPc molecular nanoribbons of a fixed ~1 nm thickness. CuPc molecules are arranged in an in-plane direction and formed in stacks under a defined tilt angle with respect to the substrate surface (monolayer) or underlying CuPc layer (multilayer). The film morphology takes various forms depending on the solution concentration, number of layers, and the deposition method. For instance, the morphology varies from very wide (~600 nm) but flat (~1 nm) ribbons for films prepared by dip-coating to crystallized rod-like features (multi-layered ribbons) when obtained by spray-coating. The factors studied in this paper should be taken into consideration in designing and controlling the criteria for rigorous CuPc film architecture.
Enhancement of electrical performance of ZnSe thin films via Au nanosandwiching
Authors: Qasrawi A.F. , Taleb Maram F.
Published: May 2020

In this work, we report the effect of sandwiching of Au nanosheets on the structural and electrical properties of ZnSe thin films. The ZnSe films which are grown by the thermal evaporation technique onto glass and yttrium thin film substrates exhibit lattice deformation accompanied with lattice constant extension, grain size reduction and increased defect density upon Au nanosandwiching. The temperature dependent direct current conductivity analysis has shown that the 70 nm thick Au layers successfully increased the electrical conductivity by three orders of magnitude without causing degeneracy. On the other hand, the alternating current conductivity studies in the frequency domain of 10 MHz to 1800 MHz have shown that the alternating current conduction in ZnSe is dominated by both of quantum mechanical tunneling and correlated barrier hopping of electrons over the energy barriers formed at the grain boundaries. The Au nanosheets are observed to increase the density of localized states near Fermi level and reduce the average hopping energy by ~5 times. The conductivity, capacitance, impedance and reflection coefficient spectral analyses have shown that the nanosandwiching of Au between two layers of ZnSe makes the zinc selenide more appropriate for electronic applications and for applications which need microwave cavities.
Impact of firing temperature on insulating properties of Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics
Authors: Dabrowski Arkadiusz P.
Published: May 2020

In this paper, results of investigation on the impact of firing temperature on insulating properties of Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics are presented. Dissipation factor, volume resistivity and breakdown electric field intensity were determined for firing peak temperature in the range from 800 °C to 900 °C. The tests were performed for two commercial LTCC materials: 951 Green Tape (DuPont, USA) and SK47 (Keko, Slovenia). The results showed that the firing temperature had a significant effect on the dielectric loss factor, volume resistivity and lifetime at applied high voltage. No clear tendency was observed for dielectric strength in the analyzed firing temperature range.
Ca4−xLa2+xTi5−xBxO17 (B = Al, Ga) dielectric ceramics for microwave applications
Authors: Muhammad Raz , Khesro Amir
Published: May 2020

In this study, Ca4−xLa2+xTi5−xBxO17 (B = Al, Ga; x = 0, 1) ceramics were processed via a mixed oxide solid state sintering route and characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS and Vector Network Analyzer. Phase analysis of the samples showed single phase formation for the sample x = 0 while secondary phases formed for Ca4−xLa2+xTi5−xBxO17 (B = Al, Ga; x = 1) ceramics. Ca4La2Ti5O17 exhibited ∈r = 74, Q×fo = 14,116 GHz and τf = 157 ppm/°C. The substitution of Ga or Al for Ti at the B-site of Ca4La2Ti5O17 ceramics significantly improved the microwave dielectric properties i.e. Ca3La3Ti4GaO17 and Ca3La3Ti4AlO17 have ∈r = 44, Q×fo = 16,128 GHz and τf = 7.3 ppm/°C and ∈r = 46, Q×fo = 13,754 GHz and τf = −2 ppm/°C, respectively. The microwave dielectric properties of these materials are suitable for high frequency microwave applications.
Bismuth and lead based metal organic frameworks: morphological, luminescence and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies
Authors: Iram Shamaila , Imran Muhammad , Kanwal Farah , Latif Shoomaila , Iqbal Zafar
Published: May 2020

Biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (H2BDA) was used as an organic linker to synthesize bismuth and lead based organic frameworks (1 and 2). The structural/morphological studies of these metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were done using UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H NMR, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and powder X-ray diffraction method. Surface area as determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies revealed better N2 gas adsorption for MOF (1) compared to MOF (2). Both these MOFs exhibited good luminescence activity which was attributed to ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions (LMCT).
Synthesis, growth and studies of pristine and nickel doped L-valinium picrate crystals for organic light emitting diodes applications
Authors: Ragunathan A. S. , Selvapandiyan M.
Published: May 2020

Single crystals of L-Valinium Picrate (LVP), 0.1 mol% Ni2+ doped L-Valinium Picrate, and 0.2 mol% Ni 2+ doped L-Valinium Picrate were grown by low temperature solution growth method, especially by solvent evaporation technique at ambient temperature. Function groups and modes of vibration were identified by FT-IR studies. The grown crystals belong to monoclinic system which has been revealed by powder XRD. The estimated band gaps were found to be 3.86 eV for LVP, 3.72 eV for 0.1 mol% Ni2+ doped LVP, and 3.70 eV for 0.2 mol% Ni2+ doped LVP crystals, respectively. The PL excitation wavelength of the grown materials is 370 nm. All the elements (C, N, O, Ni, and Cl) as per molecular formula were present in the EDAX spectrum of the grown materials. The 0.2 mol% Ni2+ ion doped LVP materials had higher thermal stability (208 °C) than LVP and 0.1 mol% Ni2+ doped LVP.
The Low-Flying Communicator: Understanding public relations in a regional context
Authors: Hoffmann Jochen , Lingwall James A.
Published: May 2020

Most research on public relations (PR) roles takes the starting point of PR as an indispensable boundary-spanning function. Context may explain how PR is performed and which skills are important, but not the degree to which PR is necessary. In this article, we tackle the latter question by identifying and discussing the role of the low-flying communicator in the Danish region of North Jutland. The study is based on individual and focus group interviews with communication practitioners and students. The results show that many regional companies have established a communicative comfort zone “under the radar” of public attention. This leads to recruitment problems. Companies are less visible in the labour market and depend on graduates who stay in the region for personal reasons. A certain unwillingness to cross boundaries of social and public spaces feeds into sense-making but also contestable role understandings of PR practice and education in regional contexts.
Crystalline structures of Rb2UBr6 ionic conductor determined by neutron diffraction
Authors: Małetka Krzysztof , Ressouche Eric , Rundlof Hakan , Tellgren Rolland , Szczepaniak Włodzimierz , Zabłocka-Malicka Monika
Published: May 2020

The neutron powder diffraction technique has been used for structural studies of Rb2UBr6 solid electrolyte as a function of temperature. The low-, room-, and high-temperature structures have been determined. At the temperature range of 4.2–80 K, the compound crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell in the P21/c space group. At 80 K and 853 K, the compound crystallizes in a tetragonal unit cell in the P4/mnc space group. At 300 K, the lattice constants are a = b = 7.745(1) and c = 11.064(1) Å. At the temperature range of 853–960 K, a trigonal phase is observed in the Pʒ̄ml space group.
Evolution of treatment planning and dose delivery methods during radiotherapy for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: a review
Authors: Litoborska Joanna , Piotrowski Tomasz , Jodda Agata , Malicki Julian
Published: May 2020

Background and objectives: This study describes the treatment planning and dose delivery methods of radiotherapy for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The analysis was carried out in the context of the evolution of these methods over the last 60 years.

Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was carried out using the PubMed search engine. Overall, 90 relevant studies were included: 24 general studies, 10 describing isotopes usage, 24 related to conventional and 32 to advanced methods.

Results: The analysis of the evolution of radiotherapy methods shows how significantly the precision of dose planning methods and its delivery have changed. The atypical positioning caused by geometrical requirements for applications of isotopes or conventional techniques has been replaced by positioning on a therapeutic couch, which allows a more precise setup of the patient that is necessary for an exact delivery of the planned dose. The dose can be fully optimized and calculated on tomographic images by algorithms implemented in planning systems. Optimization process allows to reduce doses in organs at risk. The accuracy between planned and delivered doses can be checked by pretreatment verification methods, and the patient positioning can be checked by image guidance procedures.

Interpretation and conclusions: Current radiotherapy solutions allow a precise delivery of doses to the planning target volume while reducing doses to organs at risk. Nevertheless, it should be kept in mind that establishing radiotherapy as an important element of the whole therapeutic regimen resulted from the follow-up of patients treated by conventional techniques. To confirm the clinical value of new advanced techniques, clinical trials are required.
Cleavages in the Post-Communist Countries of Europe: A Review
Authors: Redžić Ena , Everett Judas
Published: May 2020

This review of the historical studies of cleavages and seeks to bridge the gap between the historical study of cleavages and frozen cleavage theory and the post-communist states of Europe which have transitioned to democracy. The study identifies the literature on frozen cleavages and new divides which have arisen transition, as well as the primary actors in their political representation and issue positioning. The key literature in the development of studies on cleavages was provided by Lipset and Rok-kan, but their work focused mostly on Western democracies and did not include any of the countries which were behind the iron curtain at the time. However, the transition of the post-communist nations of Europe are now several decades old. Since the demise of communist regimes in Europe, much literature has been produced on the newly democratic regimes developing there. This article provides a broad overview of general trends in cleavage literature and more specific developments for Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The main findings were that there are frozen cleavages present in the post-communist countries of Europe, but that much of the developments since the fall of communism seem to be unpredictable and change-able — a fact reflected by the instability and constant change in the party systems.
Application of natural language processing to the electoral manifestos of social democratic parties in Central Eastern European countries
Authors: Bielik Ivan
Published: May 2020

The paper examines electoral manifestos of social democratic parties in Visegrad countries through a computer-driven method of content analysis. The analysis focuses on a sentence sentiment (how parties talk about their priorities) and a keyword examination (what parties mostly talk about). Such analysis is not widespread in the academic literature related to Visegrad countries, where a human-based approach to content analysis of electoral manifestos prevails. The paper, however, does not aim to nullify the findings of the previous research, but aims to improve the understanding of the content of manifestos through a different research method. The paper’s findings have confirmed the pro-European support of social democratic parties as well as the focus on predominantly socio-economic issues in manifestos. Additionally, the paper explores the effect of incumbency on the manifesto’s content. The incumbency seems to have an impact on the manifesto sentiment, but not on keywords.
Deliberation level of constitutional debates in Georgian Parliament
Authors: Napetvaridze Vladimeri , Tskhovrebadze Tina , Niparishvili Tamila , Niparishvili Kristina
Published: May 2020

In the given paper a discourse quality index (DQI) tool, rooted to criteria elaborated by Jurgen Habermas’s in his discourse ethics, will be modified and used to assess the deliberation level of the 1995 Georgian Parliament. The methodology will accurately represent important principles of deliberation. Due to its focus on observable behavior and its detailed coding instructions, a discourse quality index can be a reliable measurement of the quality of political debates. The DQI for a parliamentary debate in the example of the 1995 parliament of Georgia will be illustrated in the given article. The parliamentarian debates concerning the adoption of the 1995 constitution of Georgia, according to its importance, will be taken as the specific case to be analysed. In the framework of the research, scholars will study and analyse over 200 pages of stenographic recordings of the parliamentary debates connected to the mentioned topic. The DQI score will be evaluated based on the analyses of the stenographic records.
Selected magnesium compounds as possible inhibitors of ammonium nitrate decomposition
Authors: Hoffmann Józef , Kaniewski Maciej , Nieweś Dominik , Hoffmann Krystyna
Published: May 2020

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is considered to be a very hazardous and difficult to handle component of mineral fertilizers. Differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry was used to determine the possible inhibiting effect of selected magnesium compounds on thermal decomposition of AN. Each additive was mixed with AN to create samples with AN:magnesium compound mass ratios of 4:1, 9:1 and 49:1. Most of analyzed compounds enhanced thermal stability of ammonium nitrate, increasing the temperature of the beginning of exothermic decomposition and decreasing the amount of generated heat. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate was determined to accelerate the decomposition of AN while magnesium sulphate, sulphate heptahydrate, nitrate hexahydrate together with magnesite and dolomite minerals were defined as inhibiting agents.
Thermodynamics and kinetics of thermal deactivation of catalase Aspergillus niger
Authors: Miłek Justyna
Published: May 2020

The thermal stability of enzyme-based biosensors is crucial in economic feasibility. In this study, thermal deactivation profiles of catalase Aspergillus niger were obtained at different temperatures in the range of 35°C to 70°C. It has been shown that the thermal deactivation of catalase Aspergillus niger follows the first-order model. The half-life time t
1/2 of catalase Aspergillus niger at pH 7.0 and the temperature of 35°C and 70°C were 197 h and 1.3 h respectively. Additionally, t
1/2 of catalase Aspergillus niger at the temperature of 5°C was calculated 58 months. Thermodynamic parameters the change in enthalpy ΔH*, the change in entropy ΔS* and the change Gibbs free energy ΔG* for the deactivation of catalase at different temperatures in the range of 35°C to 70°C were estimated. Catalase Aspergillus niger is predisposed to be used in biosensors by thermodynamics parameters obtained.
Investigation of imaging properties of novel contrast agents based on gold, silver and bismuth nanoparticles in spectral computed tomography using Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Sadeghian Maryam , Akhlaghi Parisa , Mesbahi Asghar
Published: May 2020

In the present paper, some imaging properties of nanoparticles-based contrast agents including gold, bismuth, and silver were assessed and compared with conventional (iodinated) contrast agent in spectral computed tomography (CT). A spectral CT scanner with photon-counting detectors (PCD) and 6 energy bins was simulated using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method. The nanoparticles were designed with a diameter of 50 nm at concentrations of 2, 4, and 8 mg/ml. Water-filled cylindrical phantom was modeled with a diameter of 10 cm containing a hole with a diameter of 5 cm in its center, where was filled with contrast agents. The MC results were used to reconstruct images. Image reconstruction was accomplished with the filtered back-projection (FBP) method with hamming filter and linear interpolation method. CT number and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of all studied contrast materials were calculated in spectral images. The simulations indicated that nanoparticle-based contrast agents have a higher CT number and CNR than the iodinated contrast agent at the same concentration and for all energy bins. In general, gold nanoparticles produced the highest CT number and CNR compared to silver and bismuth nanoparticles at the same concentration. However, at low energies (below 80 keV), silver nanoparticles performed similarly to gold nanoparticles and at high energies (120 keV), bismuth nanoparticles can be a good substitute for gold nanoparticles.
Prediction of Ship Motions Via a Three-Dimensional Time-Domain Method Following a Quad-Tree Adaptive Mesh Technique
Authors: Zhang Teng , Ren Junsheng , Liu Lu
Published: May 2020

A three-dimensional (3D) time-domain method is developed to predict ship motions in waves. To evaluate the Froude-Krylov (F-K) forces and hydrostatic forces under the instantaneous incident wave profile, an adaptive mesh technique based on a quad-tree subdivision is adopted to generate instantaneous wet meshes for ship. For quadrilateral panels under both mean free surface and instantaneous incident wave profiles, Froude-Krylov forces and hydrostatic forces are computed by analytical exact pressure integration expressions, allowing for considerably coarse meshes without loss of accuracy. And for quadrilateral panels interacting with the wave profile, F-K and hydrostatic forces are evaluated following a quad-tree subdivision. The transient free surface Green function (TFSGF) is essential to evaluate radiation and diffraction forces based on linear theory. To reduce the numerical error due to unclear partition, a precise integration method is applied to solve the TFSGF in the partition computation time domain. Computations are carried out for a Wigley hull form and S175 container ship, and the results show good agreement with both experimental results and published results.
Neural Network Ensemble Approach to Pushed Convoys Dispatching Problems
Authors: Radonjić Aleksandar , Pjevčević Danijela , Maraš Vladislav
Published: May 2020

This paper investigates the use of neural networks (NNs) for the problem of assigning push boats to barge convoys in inland waterway transportation (IWT). Push boat–barge convoy assignmentsare part of the daily decision-making process done by dispatchers in IWT companiesforwhich a decision support tool does not exist. The aim of this paper is to develop a Neural Network Ensemble (NNE) model that will be able to assist in push boat–barge convoy assignments based on the push boat power.The primary objective of this paper is to derive an NNE model for calculation of push boat Shaft Powers (SHPs) by using less than 100% of the experimental data available. The NNE model is applied to a real-world case of more than one shipping company from the Republic of Serbia, which is encountered on the Danube River. The solution obtained from the NNE model is compared toreal-world full-scale speed/power measurements carried out on Serbian push boats, as well as with the results obtained from the previous NNE model. It is found that the model is highly accurate, with scope for further improvements.
Application of Stirling Engine Type Alpha Powered by the Recovery Energy on Vessels
Authors: Kropiwnicki Jacek
Published: May 2020

The Stirling engine is a device in which thermal energy is transformed into mechanical energy without any contact between the heat carrier and the working gas enclosed in the engine. The mentioned feature makes this type of engine very attractive for the use of the recovery energy taken from other heat devices. One of the potential applications of Stirling engines is the use of thermal energy generated in the ship’s engine room for producing electricity. The work presents the concept of the Stirling engine type alpha powered by the recovery energy. The model of Stirling engine developed in this work allows a quantitative assessment of the impact of the design features of the engine, primarily the heat exchange surfaces and the volume of control spaces, on the achieved efficiency and power of the engine. Using an iterative procedure, Stirling engine simulation tests were carried out taking into account the variable structural features of the system. The influence of the size of the heater and the cooler, as well as the effectiveness of the regenerator and the temperature of the heat source on the efficiency and power produced by the Stirling engine have been presented.
Cabin Placement Layout Optimisation Based on Systematic Layout Planning and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Su Shaojuan , Zheng Yasai , Xu Jinan , Wang Tianlin
Published: May 2020

Cabin placement layout is an important part of ship cabin layout design. A good cabin placement layout can improve the efficiency of the ship’s cabin arrangement. However, optimisation of the layout of cabin placement is not widely studied and more often relies on the experience of the staff. Thus, a novel methodology combining systematic layout planning and a genetic algorithm to optimise the cabin placement is presented in this paper. First key elements are converted by a systematic planning method that is often applied in factory layout, and a preliminary cabin placement layout model is established according to these key elements. Then the circulation strength and adjacency strength are taken as sub-objectives to establish a mathematical model, and an improved genetic algorithm is used to optimise the model. The result of the optimisation is compared with the initial schemes to verify the validity of the algorithm. Finally, the human factors are introduced according to the actual situation. The AHP method is used to select the layout scheme of the cabin that is most likely to be applied in the actual cabin layout.
SPy: Car Steering Reveals Your Trip Route!
Authors: Pesé Mert D. , Pu Xiaoying , Shin Kang G.
Published: May 2020

Vehicular data-collection platforms as part of Original Equipment Manufacturers’ (OEMs’) connected telematics services are on the rise in order to provide diverse connected services to the users. They also allow the collected data to be shared with third-parties upon users’ permission. Under the current suggested permission model, we find these platforms leaking users’ location information without explicitly obtaining users’ permission. We analyze the accuracy of inferring a vehicle’s location from seemingly benign steering wheel angle (SWA) traces, and show its impact on the driver’s location privacy. By collecting and processing real-life SWA traces, we can infer the users’ exact traveled routes with up to 71% accuracy, which is much higher than the state-of-the-art.
Impact of Frequency of Location Reports on the Privacy Level of Geo-indistinguishability
Authors: Mendes Ricardo , Cunha Mariana , Vilela João P.
Published: May 2020

Location privacy has became an emerging topic due to the pervasiveness of Location-Based Services (LBSs). When sharing location, a certain degree of privacy can be achieved through the use of Location Privacy-Preserving Mechanisms (LPPMs), in where an obfuscated version of the exact user location is reported instead. However, even obfuscated location reports disclose information which poses a risk to privacy. Based on the formal notion of differential privacy, Geo-indistinguishability has been proposed to design LPPMs that limit the amount of information that is disclosed to a potential adversary observing the reports. While promising, this notion considers reports to be independent from each other, thus discarding the potential threat that arises from exploring the correlation between reports. This assumption might hold for the sporadic release of data, however, there is still no formal nor quantitative boundary between sporadic and continuous reports and thus we argue that the consideration of independence is valid depending on the frequency of reports made by the user. This work intends to fill this research gap through a quantitative evaluation of the impact on the privacy level of Geo-indistinguishability under different frequency of reports. Towards this end, state-of-the-art localization attacks and a tracking attack are implemented against a Geo-indistinguishable LPPM under several values of privacy budget and the privacy level is measured along different frequencies of updates using real mobility data.
Smart Devices in Airbnbs: Considering Privacy and Security for both Guests and Hosts
Authors: Mare Shrirang , Roesner Franziska , Kohno Tadayoshi
Published: May 2020

Consumer smart home devices are becoming increasingly pervasive. As Airbnb hosts deploy smart devices in spaces shared with guests, we seek to understand the security and privacy implications of these devices for both hosts and guests. We conducted a large-scale survey of 82 hosts and 554 guests to explore their current technology practices, their preferences for smart devices and data collection/sharing, and their privacy and security concerns in the context of Airbnbs. We found that guests preferred smart devices, even viewed them as a luxury, but some guests were concerned that smart devices enable excessive monitoring and control, which could lead to repercussions from hosts (e.g., locked thermostat). On average, the views of guests and hosts on data collection in Airbnb were aligned, but for the data types where differences occur, serious privacy violations might happen. For example, 90% of our guest participants did not want to share their Internet history with hosts, but one in five hosts wanted access to that information. Overall, our findings surface tensions between hosts and guests around the use of smart devices and in-home data collection. We synthesize recommendations to address the surfaced tensions and identify broader research challenges.
Missed by Filter Lists: Detecting Unknown Third-Party Trackers with Invisible Pixels
Authors: fouad Imane , Bielova Nataliia , Legout Arnaud , Sarafijanovic-Djukic Natasa
Published: May 2020

Web tracking has been extensively studied over the last decade. To detect tracking, previous studies and user tools rely on filter lists. However, it has been shown that filter lists miss trackers. In this paper, we propose an alternative method to detect trackers inspired by analyzing behavior of invisible pixels. By crawling 84,658 webpages from 8,744 domains, we detect that third-party invisible pixels are widely deployed: they are present on more than 94.51% of domains and constitute 35.66% of all third-party images. We propose a fine-grained behavioral classification of tracking based on the analysis of invisible pixels. We use this classification to detect new categories of tracking and uncover new collaborations between domains on the full dataset of 4, 216, 454 third-party requests. We demonstrate that two popular methods to detect tracking, based on EasyList&EasyPrivacy and on Disconnect lists respectively miss 25.22% and 30.34% of the trackers that we detect. Moreover, we find that if we combine all three lists, 379, 245 requests originated from 8,744 domains still track users on 68.70% of websites.
Microbial Community of Kefir and its Impact on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Health and Disease
Authors: Lazda Ilva , Krūmiņa Angelika , Zeltiņa Indra , Krūmiņa Nikola , ķibilds Juris , Siksna Inese , Vīksna Ludmila , Derovs Aleksejs
Published: May 2020

Kefir is a fermented dairy product, created by fermentation of milk by bacteria and yeasts. Kefir is the most common traditional non-sweetened fermented dairy beverage in the Baltic countries. Whole kefir and specific fractions and individual organisms isolated from kefir provide a multitude of health benefits, including regulation of composition of the gut microbiome. This review aims to summarise the available data about influence of kefir consumption on the gut microbiome in healthy individuals and to highlight the effects that kefir consumption as well as separated fractions of kefir can have in disease states via modulation of the host microbiome.
Incidence and Prevalence of Crohn’s Disease and Ulerative Colitis (2013–2017) Based on the Latvian Nationwide Medicines Reimbursement Database
Authors: Mirzajanova Irēna , Purviņa Santa , Pokrotnieks Juris
Published: May 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing–remitting, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract which consists of Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and undifferentiated IBD. Epidemiology of IBD is changing worldwide, but a significant gap remains in the description of the IBD population in Latvia. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and prevalence rates of IBD in Latvia in the period between 2013 and 2017. Retrospective analysis of reimbursed medicines claims for IBD diagnoses from the Latvian National Health Service database (NHS) was conducted for the period of 2012 to 2017. From CD patients, 53.7% were female and the area of residency strongly favoured urban areas vs rural districts of Latvia, 59.1% vs 40.9%, respectively. A similar demographic pattern was observed in UC patients, where 56.2% were female and 55.1% of the total UC population lived in urban areas. The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates for CD and UC were 16.45 (CI95% [14.68, 18.21]) and 70.53 (CI95% [66.88, 74.19]) per 100 000 population, respectively, for the entire 2013–2017 period. The prevalence of CD and UC in 2012 was 12.4 and 54.8 cases per 100 000 persons, respectively, compared to 15.5 and 79.5 cases per 100 000 persons in CD and UC in 2017, resulting in a 25% increase in prevalence of CD and 41% increase in UC over the 5-year period. For the first time temporal trends in IBD incidence and prevalence as well as differences across age groups and gender over a five-year period are reported for Latvia.
The Urban Geoheritage of Clermont-Ferrand: From Inventory to Management
Authors: Vereb Viktor , van Wyk de Vries Benjamin , Guilbaud Marie-Noëlle , Karátson Dávid
Published: May 2020

In sprawling urban areas, geoheritage is suppressed into limited niches. Potential geosites are highly vulnerable and could disappear completely during construction, or their integrity could be irreversibly modified. Here, we create an inventory of urban geoheritage for Clermont-Ferrand in France, recording more than 50 sites using the French national workflow. The results of the quantitative assessment have been used to differentiate between geosites (high scientific value) and geodiversity sites (limited scientific significance, important additional values). Finally, we discuss some important considerations on urban geoconservation, such as geotouristic itineraries or customized management strategies for each site and the whole city.
10. Comparative Interpretative Analysis of David Mancini’s Work Suite for Solo Drumset and Percussion Ensemble
Authors: Stavrat Constantin
Published: May 2020

The endless possibilities of expression that jazz has developed over the last hundreds of years could not only influence the composers, but also the performers who dedicated themselves to the fascinating and complex field of percussion. One of the percussion players who has been influenced by this genre is David Mancini, whose conposition I chose for comparative analysis -
Suite for solo drum and percussion ensemble
in the interpretation of two percussion ensembles Vibraslap and Guiro, whose activity was perpetuated due to enthusiasm and the professionalism of the two mentors of the respective groups, professors Marian Vaida and Bedo Gabor, both perfected within the percussion class of the Conservatory of Music “George Enescu” in Iasi Romania, founded and led for more than half a century by the renowned professor Florian Simion. Two totally different interpretations of David Mancini’s work -
Suite for solo drums and percussion ensemble
, each with a few moments of success, but also with the need to perfect many elements of technique and interpretive design.
14. Nicolette Choral Piece by Maurice Ravel. Analysis and Interpretative Concept
Authors: Burduloi Marta Otilia
Published: May 2020

In order to place the piece in the context of the impressionist current, we will try to emphasize its characteristics and tendencies on several occasions. The unit of romantic art, governed by academic laws, begins to be shaken, realism as a fundamental direction, based on a direct connection with life, gradually imposing itself, bringing a new aesthetic, with its own, particular ideas, with specific methods and means of expression. The decline of Romanticism started with the first signs of crisis manifested by the repetition of the clichés and by the insistence with which one struggles to maintain all the arts within the narrow frame of the canons, is accentuated and, especially after the Paris Commune, will lead to the outline of new directions, of national specificity, to which a large number of artists from all generations joined, considering their action as a mission and a patriotic duty of honor, of an exceptional significance in finding a path conducive to the further development of French art.
4. The Place of Visual Art in the Development of Critical Dimensions of Thinking
Authors: Assante Gabriela Monica
Published: May 2020

The present study aims to describe the ways in which art education impacts community life through art products. The sample consists of 32 teachers/creators in various fields of work such as fine arts, composition, literature, musical interpretation, choreography and acting. Categorical content analysis is used for data analysis. The highest-ranking emerging theme is related to the means of educational intervention in the community through art. Artistic education leads to empowerment and emancipation by provoking people to think differently while the exposure to artistic creations has a therapeutic effect and contributes to identifying new ways of action. Artists in the role of teachers feel a responsibility both for the educational process and also for the emotional message that their creative product transmits to the audience.
5. Quality Aspects of Product Design in Artistic Education
Authors: Bajçinovci Bard , Bajçinovci Uliks , Rexha Elena , Bajçinovci Bujar
Published: May 2020

The University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” is the biggest higher education institution in Kosovo, which ever since its foundation has held the main burden of education and the development of the Kosovar society. If in the past the University of Prishtina was not only a hearth of knowledge, but also an icon of Kosova’s high education, now its mission is to offer stable and qualitative education to the new generation, functioning as an asset for the development and the strengthening of the Kosovar society. Currently, the UP is the biggest higher education institution in the Kosovo, with 42.006 students, above 1.000 academic staff members and around 350 administrative staff members, accommodated in 14 Academic Units. The research conducted in this paper reflects quality aspects in artistic education for sustainable product design, especially in art, architecture, creativity and innovation in academia curricula. The research methods consist of empirical observation in academia, direct observation of teaching methods, and promoting contemporary interactive teaching methods. To perceive a clearer research data, exploring was made within: The department of Architecture, Department of Anthropology-Archeology, The faculty of Arts in the University of Prishtina, also with UBT - Higher Education Institution in Kosovo, in the context of the possibilities for the improvement of the curricula’s, within actual and accredited academic frameworks. Research concludes that new teaching strategies must involve a new closeness, a brand new and more refining holistic system, as a response to less functional academic curriculums.