bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dionne Brand’s Environmental Poetics
Authors: Lousley Cheryl
Published: April 2018

The language of nature that permeates Dionne Brand’s poetry is often read as a metaphor for place, a site from which the politics of identity, home and belonging are negotiated. But the places through which the politics of inclusion and exclusion are enacted are alive in Brand’s poetry. This essay reads her attention to the living world of nature as an ethical and political engagement with the complex intersections of social injustice and environmental degradation, as traced through the motifs of landscape, territory, cartography, and planetarity in four poetry collections: No Language Is Neutral (1990), Land To Light On (1997), thirsty (2002), and Inventory (2006). In these poems, nature becomes the lived world when experienced through bodily movement not totalized cartography, when voiced in sound rather than pinned down by the gaze, and when recognized as a multitude of both friends and strangers. The expression of love for nature makes the disjuncture between place, belonging, and justice so painful in Brand’s poetry. In marking so carefully the relations of love and power that bind and rupture identity and place, Brand shows how necessary but difficult is the task of making the places we live in actually liveable.
Resistance is Futile: On the Under-Representation of Unions in Science Fiction
Authors: McCutcheon Mark A. , Barnetson Bob
Published: April 2018

This article surveys science fiction (SF) since 1980, and queries the conspicuous under-representation of recognizable images of unions in popular SF, which includes, in contrast, numerous images and narratives of corporate business. According to theories of unionism, science fiction studies and Mark Fisher’s theory of “capitalist realism,” the co-authors theorize this pattern of under-representation, and, in the process, identify and analyze a very small but diverse body of SF works from this period that do include images of unions, in ways that range from the symptomatic to the radically suggestive.
Quantitative Bewertung von PPS-Konfigurationen in der Triebwerksüberholung der zivilen Luftfahrt
Authors: Dombrowski Uwe , Sendler Markus , Schröer Nicole , Schulte Philipp
Published: April 2018

Kurzfassung

Um kurze Durchlaufzeiten und eine hohe Termintreue in der Instandhaltung hochwertiger Investitionsgüter sicherzustellen, bedarf es effektiver Konfigurationen der Produktionsplanung und -steuerung (PPS), die instandhaltungsspezifischen Komplexitätstreibern wie der Informationsunschärfe Rechnung tragen. In dem vorliegenden zweiten Teil des Beitrags werden auf Basis des im ersten Teils entwickelten Prozessmodells Kombinationen aus Auftragsfreigabeverfahren und Reihenfolgeregeln hinsichtlich ihrer Wirkung auf die logistischen Zielgrößen an einem Praxisbeispiel aus der zivilen Triebwerksüberholung getestet. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, allgemeine Erkenntnisse für die Gestaltung der PPS in der Instandhaltung hochwertiger Investitionsgüter abzuleiten.
Effizienzsteigerung in der Logistikplanung durch selbstkonfigurierende Logistiksysteme
Authors: Meißner Sebastian , Bäuml Stephanie
Published: April 2018

Kurzfassung

Der digitale Wandel ermöglicht beachtliche Entwicklungsschritte im Bereich des Internets der Dinge und der Prozessautomatisierung. Vorteile, die sich aus dem Einsatz von Technologien des Internets der Dinge ergeben, sind in der Produktionslogistik mittelständischer Unternehmen noch größtenteils ungenutzt. Auf intelligenten Materialbereitstellungshilfsmitteln basierende selbstkonfigurierende Logistiksysteme können die operativen Produktionsplanungs- und Steuerungsprozesse in mittelständischen Unternehmen deutlich verbessern. Die resultierende Erhöhung von Transparenz sowie die Verringerung von Verschwendung in den operativen Prozessen können signifikante Wettbewerbsvorteile für mittelständische Unternehmen schaffen.
Microstructural Characterization of Ultra-High Strength Martensitic Steels
Authors: Esterl R. , Sonnleitner M. , Stadler M. , Wölger G. , Schnitzer R.
Published: April 2018

In the development of steels with increasing strength and toughness, ultra-high strength steel grades with a martensitic microstructure are gaining more importance. From the martensitic transformation product, however, strength-specific quantities derived from the former austenite grain cannot be accessed conveniently. A profound analysis of the prior austenite microstructure, its size distribution and aspect ratio is essential in order to allow conclusions on the mechanical properties. This paper presents an etchant to reveal the prior austenite grains of thermomechanical processed and press hardened martensitic steels. Furthermore, alternative detecting methods such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and high-temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy were evaluated. It was found that a picric-acid etchant in combination with a prior tempering treatment of the steel enables the visualization of prior austenite grains and their elongation in a micrometer-scale.
The Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo
Authors: Keil Soeren
Published: April 2018

When Yugoslavia dissolved in the 1990s, many Serbs found themselves in new states in which they were not the majority population. They often rejected their inclusion in these states, first through political boycotts and then through violence and secession. This paper will look at the integration of the Serb community in the new states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo. The aim is to achieve a clearer picture of the different strategies of state-building and group integration in the post-Yugoslav states. The integration of Serbs in these states took place in a number of ways: in Bosnia and Herzegovina they were recognised as one of three constituent peoples (in 1995), while Croatia awarded Serbs the status of a national minority. In Kosovo (after 2008), Serbs have also been recognised as a constituent element of the state and protected by legal equality. Applying the framework of the “quadratic nexus”, this paper will look at the interplay of new states, the Serb community, Serbia, and international actors in order to assess the current state of Serb integration in these states.
Characterization of Two Novel Bacteriophages Infecting Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Evaluation of Their Therapeutic Efficacy in Vivo
Authors: Cha Kyoungeun , Oh Hynu K. , Jang Jae Y. , Jo Yunyeol , Kim Won K. , Ha Geon U. , Ko Kwan S. , Myung Heejoon
Published: April 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is emerging as a challenging nosocomial pathogen due to its rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance. We report characterization of two novel bacteriophages, PBAB08 and PBAB25, infecting clinically isolated, multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii strains. Both phages belonged to Myoviridae of Caudovirales as their morphology observed under an electron microscope. Their genomes were double stranded linear DNAs of 42,312 base pairs and 40,260 base pairs, respectively. The two phages were distinct from known Acinetobacter phages when whole genome sequences were compared. PBAB08 showed a 99% similarity with 57% sequence coverage to phage AB1 and PBAB25 showed a 97% similarity with 78% sequence coverage to phage IME_AB3. BLASTN significant alignment coverage of all other known phages were <30%. Seventy six and seventy genes encoding putative phage proteins were found in the genomes of PBAB08 and PBAB25, respectively. Their genomic organizations and sequence similarities were consistent with the modular theory of phage evolution. Therapeutic efficacy of a phage cocktail containing the two and other phages were evaluated in a mice model with nasal infection of MDR A. baumannii. Mice treated with the phage cocktail showed a 2.3-fold higher survival rate than those untreated in 7 days post infection. In addition, 1/100 reduction of the number of A. baumannii in the lung of the mice treated with the phage cocktail was observed. Also, inflammatory responses of mice which were injected with the phage cocktail by intraperitoneal, intranasal, or oral route was investigated. Increase in serum cytokine was minimal regardless of the injection route. A 20% increase in IgE production was seen in intraperitoneal injection route, but not in other routes. Thus, the cocktail containing the two newly isolated phages could serve as a potential candidate for therapeutic interventions to treat A. baummannii infections.
Contextualizing Corruption: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to Studying Corruption in Organizations
Authors: Pertiwi Kanti
Published: April 2018

This paper aims to establish how organization and management research, an extensive field that has contributed a great deal to research on corruption, could apply insights from other disciplines in order to advance the understanding of corruption, often considered as a form of unethical behavior in organizations. It offers an analysis of important contributions of corruption research, taking a ‘rationalist perspective’, and highlights the central tensions and debates within this vast body of literatures. It then shows how these debates can be addressed by applying insights from corruption studies, adopting anthropological lens. The paper thus proposes a cross-disciplinary approach, which focuses on studying corruption by looking at what it means to individuals implicated by the phenomenon while engaging in social relations and situated in different contexts. It also offers an alternative approach to the study of corruption amidst claims that anti-corruption efforts have failed to achieve desirable results.
Damage Detection in a Composite T-Joint Using Guided Lamb Waves
Authors: Philibert Marilyne , Soutis Constantinos , Gresil Matthieu , Yao Kui
Published: April 2018

Low velocity impact induces barely visible damage in the form of matrix cracking or delamination that can grow under hydro-thermo-mechanical loading and possibly lead to catastrophic failure if not detected at an early stage. A network of piezoelectric transducers can be used to monitor a structure over time for life prognosis through generation and sensing of guided ultrasonic waves. The aim of this study is to design and develop such a sensing method for damage assessment in a composite T-joint subjected to mechanical impacts. In this context, monitoring of Lamb waves in a carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) T-joint has been completed where dispersion and tuning curves have been obtained. Guided waves are transmitted into the structure through different specified pairs of surface-bonded lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) transducers in a pitch–catch active structural health monitoring (SHM) approach. With these experiments, Lamb wave fundamental modes (A0 and S0) are identified for monitoring impact damage by signal comparison with a prior obtained baseline. Detecting 4J and 10J inner impacts within the central region of the specimen is challenging when using conventional non-destructive techniques (NDT) because of the complex geometry and interference with the web. Signals are compared for the same selected sensing path; and amplitude differences have been observed in tuning curves after the 10J impact, which implies the occurrence of a structural change related to the impact.
Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Propolis and Bee Pollen on Liver Pathology in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Klaric Ivana , Pavic Mirela , Miskulin Ivan , Blazicevic Valerija , Dumic Albina , Miskulin Maja
Published: April 2018

One of the major problems in intensive breeding of chickens is liver damage. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of dietary supplementation with propolis and bee pollen on liver pathology in broiler chickens. The study was conducted on 200 Ross 308 chickens equally distributed by sex that were divided into five groups. Throughout the whole study, the control group of chickens was fed with a basal diet, while the experimental groups of chickens were fed with the same diet further supplemented with propolis and bee pollen, each supplement given separately or in combination in a certain proportion. The study showed that the clusters of lymphocytes in the hepatocytes, the vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of the liver parenchyma, the bile ductule hyperplasia, and the various forms of pathological changes in the liver arteries and veins were more frequent in liver tissue samples of the control group compared to liver tissue samples of all the experimental groups (p < 0.001). The study further showed that all the previously mentioned histopathological lesions of liver tissue were always more extensive in the liver tissue samples of the control group than in the liver tissue samples of all the experimental groups (p < 0.001). The supplementation of broiler chickens with propolis and/or bee pollen has a strong protective effect on liver pathology in broiler chickens.
A Review of Data Mining with Big Data towards Its Applications in the Electronics Industry
Authors: Lv Shengping , Kim Hoyeol , Zheng Binbin , Jin Hong
Published: April 2018

Data mining (DM) with Big Data has been widely used in the lifecycle of electronic products that range from the design and production stages to the service stage. A comprehensive analysis of DM with Big Data and a review of its application in the stages of its lifecycle will not only benefit researchers to develop strong research themes and identify gaps in the field but also help practitioners for DM application system development. In this paper, a brief clarification of DM-related topics is presented first. A flowchart of DM and the main content of the flowchart steps are given in which commonly used data preparation and preprocessing approaches, DM functions and techniques, and performances indicators are summarized. Then, a comprehensive review covering 105 articles from 2007 to 2017 on DM or Big Data applications in the electronics industry is provided according to the flowchart from various points of view such as data handling, applications of DM, or Big Data at different lifecycle stages, and the software used in the applications. On this basis, a diagram of data content for different knowledge areas and a framework for DM and Big Data applications in the electronics industry are established. Finally, conclusions and future research directions are given.
Dynamic Supply Chain Design and Operations Plan for Connected Smart Factories with Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Chung Byung Do , Kim Sung Il , Lee Jun Seop
Published: April 2018

Interest in smart factories and smart supply chains has been increasing, and researchers have emphasized the importance and the effects of advanced technologies such as 3D printers, the Internet of Things, and cloud services. This paper considers an innovation in dynamic supply-chain design and operations: connected smart factories that share interchangeable processes through a cloud-based system for personalized production. In the system, customers are able to upload a product design file, an optimal supply chain design and operations plan are then determined based on the available resources in the network of smart factories. The concept of smart supply chains is discussed and six types of flexibilities are identified, namely: design flexibility, product flexibility, process flexibility, supply chain flexibility, collaboration flexibility, and strategic flexibility. Focusing on supply chain flexibility, a general planning framework and various optimization models for dynamic supply chain design and operations plan are proposed. Further, numerical experiments are conducted to analyze fixed, production, and transportation costs for various scenarios. The results demonstrate the extent of the dynamic supply chain design and operations problem, and the large variation in transportation cost.
Energy Sharing for Interconnected Microgrids with a Battery Storage System and Renewable Energy Sources Based on the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers
Authors: Liu Nian , Wang Jie
Published: April 2018

In order to facilitate the local sharing of renewable energy, an energy sharing management method of multiple microgrids (MGs) with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and renewable energy sources (RESs) is developed. First, a virtual entity named the energy sharing provider (ESP), which acts as an agent for MGs, is introduced to minimize the power loss cost. Second, a distributed optimal model and a two-level iterative algorithm for the MGs and ESP are proposed, which minimize the total operation cost including purchasing electricity cost, energy storage cost and power loss cost. Based on the energy sharing framework, considering the local objectives of MGs and the objective of ESP, the optimal scheduling can be achieved through the bidirectional interaction between MGs and ESP. During the optimization, the shared information between MGs and ESP is limited to expected exchange power, which protects the privacy of MGs and ESP. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm in different scenarios is verified through a case study.
Real-Time Implementation of an Extended Kalman Filter and a PI Observer for State Estimation of Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Applications—A Case Study
Authors: Tudoroiu Roxana-Elena , Zaheeruddin Mohammed , Radu Sorin-Mihai , Tudoroiu Nicolae
Published: April 2018

The Li-Ion battery state-of-charge estimation is an essential task in a continuous dynamic automotive industry for large-scale and successful marketing of hybrid electric vehicles. Also, the state-of-charge of any rechargeable battery, regardless of its chemistry, is an essential condition parameter for battery management systems of hybrid electric vehicles. In this study, we share from our accumulated experience in the control system applications field some preliminary results, especially in modeling, control and state estimation techniques. We investigate the design and effectiveness of two state-of-charge estimators, namely an extended Kalman filter and a proportional integral observer, implemented in a real-time MATLAB environment for a particular Li-Ion battery. Definitely, the aim of this work is to find the most suitable estimator in terms of estimation accuracy and robustness to changes in initial conditions (i.e., the initial guess value of battery state-of-charge) and changes in process and measurement noise levels. By a rigorous performance analysis of MATLAB simulation results, the potential estimator choice is revealed. The performance comparison can be done visually on similar graphs if the information gathered provides a good insight, otherwise, it can be done statistically based on the calculus of statistic errors, in terms of root mean square error, mean absolute error and mean square error.
Semaphorin 3C and Its Receptors in Cancer and Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Authors: Hao Jing , Yu Jennifer
Published: April 2018

Neurodevelopmental programs are frequently dysregulated in cancer. Semaphorins are a large family of guidance cues that direct neuronal network formation and are also implicated in cancer. Semaphorins have two kinds of receptors, neuropilins and plexins. Besides their role in development, semaphorin signaling may promote or suppress tumors depending on their context. Sema3C is a secreted semaphorin that plays an important role in the maintenance of cancer stem-like cells, promotes migration and invasion, and may facilitate angiogenesis. Therapeutic strategies that inhibit Sema3C signaling may improve cancer control. This review will summarize the current research on the Sema3C pathway and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Boehm Titration Revisited (Part I): Practical Aspects for Achieving a High Precision in Quantifying Oxygen-Containing Surface Groups on Carbon Materials
Authors: Schönherr Jan , Buchheim Johannes , Scholz Peter , Adelhelm Philipp
Published: April 2018

Practical aspects of the Boehm titration method are evaluated for obtaining reliable results in the quantification of oxygen-containing surface groups in a short time. Analytical criteria such as accuracy, repeatability, precision, and robustness are applied. Oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used as the model substance. Different reaction bases (NaHCO3(aq), Na2CO3(aq), NaOH(aq)) are applied and treatment times are studied. We also show that smaller amounts of carbon material can be reliably analyzed by using an autotitrator combined with a pH electrode. We find that indirect titration with Na2CO3 results in the highest titration precision and accuracy despite the lower base strength compared with NaOH. Therefore, CO2 impurities do not have to be removed and only 7 min is necessary for one titration. The titration error with respect to the proposed method is 0.15% of the aliquot volume. The mixing method during the carbon treatment with bases (stirring, shaking, ultrasound treatment) has no influence on the result as long as one allows a few hours for the reaction to complete. Finally, we provide a standard operating procedure for obtaining results with high precision during Boehm titration.
Immune Response against ALK in Children with ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Stadler Serena , Singh Vijay , Knörr Fabian , Damm-Welk Christine , Woessmann Wilhelm
Published: April 2018

Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) mount a humoral and cellular immune response against ALK. More than 90% of children and adolescents with ALK-positive ALCL have detectable anti-ALK antibodies in serum or plasma, and the antibody titer inversely correlates with the risk of relapse. ALK-specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses have been described in patients with ALK-positive ALCL. Vaccination with ALK DNA led to protection against lymphoma growth in a murine model. Collectively, these data suggest that the ALK-specific immune response is involved in the control of the disease. The characteristics of the humoral and cellular immune response against ALK as well as tumor immune escape mechanisms have been increasingly investigated. However, tumor and host factors contributing to the individual immune response against ALK are still largely unknown. Depending on the individual strength of the immune response and its determinants, individualized immunological approaches might be appropriate for the consolidation of ALCL patients. Strategies such as ALK vaccination could be effective for those with a pre-existing anti-tumor immunity, while an allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation or check-point inhibition could be effective for others.
Statistical Evaluation of Monophyly in the ‘Broad-Nosed Weevils’ through Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis Combining Mitochondrial Genome and Single-Locus Sequences (Curculionidae: Entiminae, Cyclominae, and Hyperinae)
Authors: Gillett Conrad , Lyal Christopher , Vogler Alfried , Emerson Brent
Published: April 2018

Establishing well-supported monophyletic groups is a key requirement for producing a natural classification that reflects evolutionary descent. In a phylogenetic framework this is best achieved through dense taxon sampling and the analysis of a robust character dataset, combined with statistical testing of topological hypotheses. This study assesses the monophyly of tribes and subfamilies within the diverse ‘broad-nosed weevils’ (Curculionidae: Entiminae, Cyclominae and Hyperinae) through analysis of single-locus sequence data for mitochondrial cox1 and rrnL genes, in combination with a ‘backbone’ of complete and near-complete mitochondrial genome sequences. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses incorporating topological constraints for various higher-taxa were statistically tested using the AU, SH, and KH tests, which indicated that three tribes within Entiminae, as presently classified, are not monophyletic. Moderate and high bootstrap support was also consistent with two entimine tribes (Peritelini and Cylydrorhinini) being each recovered as monophyletic in an unconstrained analysis. Furthermore, one genus of cyclomine weevils (Aphela) is recovered outside the clade of ‘broad-nosed weevils’, although its taxonomic placement remains uncertain. It is apparent that the present approach may be hampered by limited taxon sampling in the ‘backbone’ dataset, rendering it difficult for divergent taxa to robustly match to their closest lineages. However, with improved taxon sampling of the mitogenome tree, the general approach can be a useful taxonomic tool for weevils.
ERBB1- and ERBB2-Positive Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report
Authors: Minuto Michele , Varaldo Emanuela , Marcocci Gianluca , De Santanna Amleto , Ciccone Ermanno , Cortese Katia
Published: April 2018

Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) are rare thyroid tumors occurring in both sporadic and hereditary forms, whose pathogenesis is related to RET proto-oncogene alterations. MTCs originate from parafollicular cells, which produce calcitonin that represents the biochemical activity of MTC. Total thyroidectomy is the main treatment for MTC and often cures patients with confined diseases. In the presence of metastasis, the therapeutic approach depends on the rate of disease progression. We report a case of a 54-year-old female with a single, incidentally discovered, thyroid nodule of 1 cm, classified as suspicious MTC after a stimulation test with intravenous (iv) calcium. After surgery, we examined the nodule using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. In addition to calcitonin, we found that it expressed intracellular positivity for the tyrosine kinase RTK receptors ERBB1 and ERBB2. Consistently with MTC features, the ultrastructural examination of the tumor displayed heterogeneous spindle-shaped cells containing two groups of secretory granules. Because of the significant correlation found between high ERBB1/ERBB2 levels in MTCs and extrathyroidal growth, the detection of ERBB1 and ERBB2 expression suggests that the two oncoproteins may be involved in the tumor proliferative responses and/or in the differentiation of parafollicular C-cells. The biological, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of these patterns would merit further investigations.
Laboratory Investigation Comparing Plaque Removal Efficacy of Two Novel-Design Toothbrushes with Different Brushing Techniques
Authors: Jansiriwattana Wansiri , Teparat-Burana Thitiwan
Published: April 2018

Manufacturers of manual toothbrushes have improved novel brush head designs aimed at achieving good plaque removal even with inadequate brushing technique. This study tested the plaque removal efficacy of two novel designs compared with a flat trimmed toothbrush with different brushing techniques. Two novel-design toothbrushes (Colgate® 360° Surround and Oral-B® Pro-Health™ Clinical Pro-Flex) were tested. The control toothbrush was Butler® GUM 311. Artificial plaque was applied on artificial teeth. Brushing with the modified Bass and horizontal scrub technique was then performed independently. After brushing, the remaining plaque index and Proximal Marginal Index (PMI) were evaluated. With the same brushing technique, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean of the whole mouth plaque scores or PMI among the three different toothbrush designs with neither brushing techniques (p > 0.05). When a comparison was made between the mean PMI of the two brushing techniques in each toothbrush design, Colgate® showed no statistically significant difference with either brushing technique (p > 0.05), but Butler® and Oral-B® showed statistically significantly less PMI with modified Bass technique than with horizontal scrub technique (p < 0.05). No difference in the whole mouth plaque removal efficacy was found among the three different toothbrush designs with either brushing technique.
Sparse Power-Law Network Model for Reliable Statistical Predictions Based on Sampled Data
Authors: Kartun-Giles Alexander , Krioukov Dmitri , Gleeson James , Moreno Yamir , Bianconi Ginestra
Published: April 2018

A projective network model is a model that enables predictions to be made based on a subsample of the network data, with the predictions remaining unchanged if a larger sample is taken into consideration. An exchangeable model is a model that does not depend on the order in which nodes are sampled. Despite a large variety of non-equilibrium (growing) and equilibrium (static) sparse complex network models that are widely used in network science, how to reconcile sparseness (constant average degree) with the desired statistical properties of projectivity and exchangeability is currently an outstanding scientific problem. Here we propose a network process with hidden variables which is projective and can generate sparse power-law networks. Despite the model not being exchangeable, it can be closely related to exchangeable uncorrelated networks as indicated by its information theory characterization and its network entropy. The use of the proposed network process as a null model is here tested on real data, indicating that the model offers a promising avenue for statistical network modelling.
Information Geometry for Covariance Estimation in Heterogeneous Clutter with Total Bregman Divergence
Authors: Hua Xiaoqiang , Cheng Yongqiang , Wang Hongqiang , Qin Yuliang
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a covariance matrix estimation method based on information geometry in a heterogeneous clutter. In particular, the problem of covariance estimation is reformulated as the computation of geometric median for covariance matrices estimated by the secondary data set. A new class of total Bregman divergence is presented on the Riemanian manifold of Hermitian positive-definite (HPD) matrix, which is the foundation of information geometry. On the basis of this divergence, total Bregman divergence medians are derived instead of the sample covariance matrix (SCM) of the secondary data. Unlike the SCM, resorting to the knowledge of statistical characteristics of the sample data, the geometric structure of matrix space is considered in our proposed estimators, and then the performance can be improved in a heterogeneous clutter. At the analysis stage, numerical results are given to validate the detection performance of an adaptive normalized matched filter with our estimator compared with existing alternatives.
TSLS and LIML Estimators in Panels with Unobserved Shocks
Authors: Forchini Giovanni , Jiang Bin , Peng Bin
Published: April 2018

The properties of the two stage least squares (TSLS) and limited information maximum likelihood (LIML) estimators in panel data models where the observables are affected by common shocks, modelled through unobservable factors, are studied for the case where the time series dimension is fixed. We show that the key assumption in determining the consistency of the panel TSLS and LIML estimators, as the cross section dimension tends to infinity, is the lack of correlation between the factor loadings in the errors and in the exogenous variables—including the instruments—conditional on the common shocks. If this condition fails, both estimators have degenerate distributions. When the panel TSLS and LIML estimators are consistent, they have covariance-matrix mixed-normal distributions asymptotically. Tests on the coefficients can be constructed in the usual way and have standard distributions under the null hypothesis.
Internet Shop Users: Computer Practices and Its Relationship to E-Learning Readiness
Authors: Alontaga Jasper
Published: April 2018

Access to computer technology is essential in developing 21st century skills. One venue that serves to bridge the gap in terms of access is internet shops (also known cybercafés or internet cafés). As such, it is important to examine the type of activities internet shop users engage in and how they develop and relate to their e-learning readiness. This study examined the profile, computer practices and e-learning readiness of seventy one (71) internet shop users. A researcher-made internet shop computer practice questionnaire and an e-learning readiness questionnaire adapted from Watkins, Leigh and Triner (2004) were utilized. Results revealed that most internet shop users are adolescents and also have access to technology at home. Computer practices of users in internet shops involve primarily browsing and communicating activities more than playing activities. Internet shop users also rated themselves as ready for e-learning, with females having significantly higher e-learning readiness than males. Browsing activities had positive correlation with communicating and playing activities. Playing activities had negative correlation with e-learning readiness. These results indicate the viability of internet shops as avenues for learning. It is recommended that teachers optimize this by engaging students in e-learning activities involving online research and collaboration, and referring students to online educational game-based resources.
M Is Not Just for STEM: How Myths about the Purposes of Mathematics Education Have Narrowed Mathematics Curricula in the United States
Authors: Raymond Kate
Published: April 2018

When public schooling was first introduced in the United States, early proponents emphasized the need for mathematics as critical for an informed citizenry in a democracy. Half a century later, this purpose of mathematics has been almost entirely overshadowed by the push for mathematics to maintain technological and economic advantages. The belief that preparation for technological careers is, and has historically been, the only purpose for school mathematics in the US has become a myth widely believed by the public and policymakers alike. As this myth took hold, mathematics curricula were narrowed, incorporating only the mathematics, and applications of mathematics, that supported this specific purpose. Not only does this narrowing of school mathematics negatively impact the development of informed citizens, but it limits the extent to which mathematics can be studied in ways that engage all learners. The emergence of mathematics for social justice is thus—in part—an attempt to recapture the broader purposes of school mathematics.
“People around Me Here, They Know the Struggle”: Students’ Experiences with Faculty Member’s Mentorship at Three Hispanic Serving Institutions
Authors: Castro Samayoa Andrés
Published: April 2018

Current attempts to further diversify the professoriate signal the critical need to cultivate pathways for students to enter academia by encouraging undergraduates to pursue further graduate education. Previous research has already noted the critical importance of positive graduate education experiences in preparing future faculty. Other researchers point to the role that faculty mentors offer in cultivating students’ future aspirations to become academics themselves. Drawing on interviews from a longitudinal study with 30 undergraduates at three Hispanic Serving Institutions, this qualitative project explores how students of various racial and ethnic backgrounds make sense of the support they receive within a program (titled HSI Pathways to the Professoriate) specifically aimed at supporting students from Hispanic Serving Institutions interested in becoming faculty members. In what ways does the program’s (HSI Pathways to the Professoriate) focus on racial and ethnic identities cultivate students’ perceptions of what it means to enter academia with the goal of diversifying the professoriate? Framed by Museus’ CECE (Culturally Engagement Campus Environments) model, this paper contributes to the importance of faculty mentors working alongside students and students’ interactions with each another as critical to the meaningful engagement of culturally responsive principles. The paper concludes with suggestions for institutions interested in cultivating these principles within their faculty.
Real-Time Detection of Important Sounds with a Wearable Vibration Based Device for Hearing-Impaired People
Authors: Yağanoğlu Mete , Köse Cemal
Published: April 2018

Hearing-impaired people do not hear indoor and outdoor environment sounds, which are important for them both at home and outside. By means of a wearable device that we have developed, a hearing-impaired person will be informed of important sounds through vibrations, thereby understanding what kind of sound it is. Our system, which operates in real time, can achieve a success rate of 98% when estimating a door bell ringing sound, 99% success identifying an alarm sound, 99% success identifying a phone ringing, 91% success identifying honking, 93% success identifying brake sounds, 96% success identifying dog sounds, 97% success identifying human voice, and 96% success identifying other sounds using the audio fingerprint method. Audio fingerprint is a brief summary of an audio file, perceptively summarizing a piece of audio content. In this study, our wearable device is tested 100 times a day for 100 days on five deaf persons and 50 persons with normal hearing whose ears were covered by earphones that provided wind sounds. This study aims to improve the quality of life of deaf persons, and provide them a more prosperous life. In the questionnaire performed, deaf people rate the clarity of the system at 90%, usefulness at 97%, and the likelihood of using this device again at 100%.
Stimulating Investments in Energy Efficiency Through Supply Chain Integration
Authors: Marchi Beatrice , Zanoni Simone , Ferretti Ivan , Zavanella Lucio
Published: April 2018

Attention to energy efficiency is recently experiencing substantial growth. To overcome the several barriers currently existing that represent an obstacle to the successful implementation of the wide set of energy efficiency measures available, the cooperation among members of a supply chain offers a huge potential. In supply chains, in addition to the traditional coordination of the operations, the members may also share financial resources or act jointly on the capital market. This study presents a two-stage supply chain model considering the opportunity to invest in new energy efficient technologies which are affected by learning effects: the member of the supply chain with better energy performance and/or better financial conditions may find it more profitable to invest in the development of the energy efficiency of its partner. The objective of the model is to determine the optimal investment for each supply chain member so as to maximize the Net Present Value of the supply chain. The impacts of the proposed joint decision-making are investigated through some numerical analysis and managerial insights are proposed: the joint decision-making process on the financial flows for the energy efficiency investments results are especially advantageous (up to a 20% increase of the supply chain Net Present Value) when members have different access to capital, which could be the result of different economic conditions in companies’ countries, as well as different credit policies or different credit ratings.
Robust Building Energy Load Forecasting Using Physically-Based Kernel Models
Authors: Prakash Anand , Xu Susu , Rajagopal Ram , Noh Hae
Published: April 2018

Robust and accurate building energy load forecasting is important for helping building managers and utilities to plan, budget, and strategize energy resources in advance. With recent prevalent adoption of smart-meters in buildings, a significant amount of building energy consumption data became available. Many studies have developed physics-based white box models and data-driven black box models to predict building energy consumption; however, they require extensive prior knowledge about building system, need a large set of training data, or lack robustness to different forecasting scenarios. In this paper, we introduce a new building energy forecasting method based on Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) that incorporates physical insights about load data characteristics to improve accuracy while reducing training requirements. The GPR is a non-parametric regression method that models the data as a joint Gaussian distribution with mean and covariance functions and forecast using the Bayesian updating. We model the covariance function of the GPR to reflect the data patterns in different forecasting horizon scenarios, as prior knowledge. Our method takes advantage of the modeling flexibility and computational efficiency of the GPR while benefiting from the physical insights to further improve the training efficiency and accuracy. We evaluate our method with three field datasets from two university campuses (Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University) for both short- and long-term load forecasting. The results show that our method performs more accurately, especially when the training dataset is small, compared to other state-of-the-art forecasting models (up to 2.95 times smaller prediction error).
Development of a Computational Tool for Measuring Organizational Competitiveness in the Photovoltaic Power Plants
Authors: Rosa Carmen , Rediske Graciele , Rigo Paula , M. Wendt João , Michels Leandro , M. Siluk Julio
Published: April 2018

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is embedded in a globally competitive environment. This characteristic forces PV power plants to perform most processes relevant for their competitiveness with maximum efficiency. From managers’ point of view, the evaluation of solar energy performance from installed plants is justified to indicate their level of organizational competitiveness, which supports the decision-making process. This manuscript purposes a computational tool that graphically presents the level of competitiveness of PV power plants units based on performance indicators. This tool was developed by using the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) concept, which represents a set of measures focusing on the most critical aspects for the success of the organizations. The KPIs encompass four Fundamental Viewpoints (FV): Strategic Alliances, Solar Energy Monitoring, Management and Strategic Processes, and Power Generation Innovations. These four FVs were deployed on 26 Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and 39 KPIs. Sequentially, the tool was applied in four solar generation plants, where three presented an organizational competitiveness global level “potentially competitive”. The proposed computational tool allows managers to assess the degree of organization competitiveness as well as aid in prospecting of future scenarios and decision-making.
Short-Term Optimal Operation of a Wind-PV-Hydro Complementary Installation: Yalong River, Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Zhang Xinshuo , Ma Guangwen , Huang Weibin , Chen Shijun , Zhang Shuai
Published: April 2018

How to effectively use clean renewable energy to improve the capacity of the power grid to absorb new energy and optimize the power grid structure has become one of China’s current issues. The Yalong River Wind-PV-Hydro complementary clean energy base was chosen as the research object from which to analyze the output complementarity principle and characteristics of wind farms, photovoltaic power plants, and hydropower stations. Then, an optimization scheduling model was established with the objective of minimizing the amount of abandoned wind and photovoltaic power and maximizing the stored energy in cascade hydropower stations. A Progress Optimality Algorithm (POA) was used for the short-term optimal operation of Wind-PV-Hydro combinations. The results show that use of cascaded hydropower storage capacity can compensate for large-scale wind power and photovoltaic power, provide a relatively sustained and stable power supply for the grid. Wind-PV-Hydro complementary operation not only promotes wind power and photovoltaic power consumption but also improves the efficiency of using the original transmission channel of hydropower. This is of great significance to many developing countries in formatting a new green approach, realizing low-carbon power dispatch and trade and promoting regional economic development.
Causal Dynamic Relationships between Political–Economic Factors and Export Performance in the Renewable Energy Technologies Market
Authors: Sung Bongsuk , Wen Cui
Published: April 2018

This study explores how political–economic forces could affect export performance in the renewable energy technologies market. We conduct panel framework analyses to verify the characteristics of panel data for 19 countries before establishing the panel estimator meant to test the effects of political–economic forces on export specialization. We consider the results of the panel framework analyses and develop an empirical model to test casual dynamic relationships between political–economic forces and export performance. The results from the least squares dummy variable-corrected estimation indicate that the major factors promoting the export specialization of renewable energy technologies are, in order of decreasing importance, public pressure, market size, and government demand-pull policy. However, the traditional energy industry has no significant effect on export performance. Finally, this study finds that dynamic effects exist in all estimations.
Measurement and Modelling of Leakage Current Behaviour in ZnO Surge Arresters under Various Applied Voltage Amplitudes and Pollution Conditions
Authors: Latiff Nurul A. A. , Illias Hazlee A. , Bakar Ab H. A. , Dabbak Sameh Z. A.
Published: April 2018

In zinc oxide (ZnO) surge arresters, leakage current usually flows across the arrester under normal operating condition. Leakage current is one of the factors which contribute towards degradation of surge arresters and therefore, it is very important to monitor the condition of surge arrester. In this work, the behaviour of leakage current in a ZnO surge arrester during normal operation, under different voltage amplitudes, wetness and pollution conditions was analysed. An 11 kV surge arrester model in three-dimensional space was subjected to finite element analysis (FEA) to determine the leakage current under different conditions. The results from the FEA model were compared with the measurement results to validate the model that has been developed. From comparison between the measurement and simulation results, physical parameters of a surge arrester that influence the leakage current under different conditions of the surge arrester were identified from the model. Through this work, a better understanding of leakage current behaviour can be attained, which may help in condition monitoring analysis on surge arrester in electrical utilities.
Correction: Zhu, Y.; Cheng, M.; Zang, H. Sensorless Control for the EVT-Based New Dual Power Flow Wind Energy Conversion System. Energies 2017, 10, 888
Authors: Zhu Ying , Cheng Ming , Zang Haixiang
Published: April 2018

The authors wish to make the following corrections to their paper [1]:[...]
Analysis of Energy Saving Potential in High-Performance Building Technologies under Korean Climatic Conditions
Authors: Kim Chul-Ho , Lee Seung-Eon , Kim Kang-Soo
Published: April 2018

This study aims to suggest a basis for the selection of technologies for developing high-performance buildings to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy-saving technologies comprising 15 cases were categorized into passive, active, and renewable energy systems. EnergyPlus v8.8.0 was used to analyze the contribution of each technology in reducing the primary energy consumptions and CO2 emissions in the Korean climate. The primary energy consumptions of the base model were 464.1 and 485.1 kWh/m²a in the Incheon and Jeju region, respectively, and the CO2 emissions were 83.4 and 87.4 kgCO2/m²a, respectively. Each technology (cases 1–15) provided different energy-saving contributions in the Korean climate depending on their characteristics. The heating, cooling, and other energy-saving contributions of each technology indicate that their saving rates can be used when selecting suitable technologies during the cooling and heating seasons. Case 15 (active chilled beam with dedicated outdoor air system + ground source heat pump) showed the highest energy saving rate. In case 15, the Incheon and Jeju models were reduced by 189.4 (59.2%) and 206.2 kWh/m²a (57.4%) compared to the base case, respectively, and the CO2 emissions were reduced by up to 32.7 (60.8%) and 35.6 kgCO2/m²a (59.3%), respectively.