bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salinomycin Treatment Specifically Inhibits Cell Proliferation of Cancer Stem Cells Revealed by Longitudinal Single Cell Tracking in Combination with Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Kamlund Sofia , Janicke Birgit , Alm Kersti , Oredsson Stina
Published: July 2020

A cell line derived from a tumor is a heterogeneous mixture of phenotypically different cells. Such cancer cell lines are used extensively in the search for new anticancer drugs and for investigating their mechanisms of action. Most studies today are population-based, implying that small subpopulations of cells, reacting differently to the potential drug go undetected. This is a problem specifically related to the most aggressive single cancer cells in a tumor as they appear to be insensitive to the drugs used today. These cells are not detected in population-based studies when developing new anticancer drugs. Thus, to get a deeper understanding of how all individual cancer cells react to chemotherapeutic drugs, longitudinal tracking of individual cells is needed. Here we have used digital holography for long time imaging and longitudinal tracking of individual JIMT-1 breast cancer cells. To gain further knowledge about the tracked cells, we combined digital holography with fluorescence microscopy. We grouped the JIMT-1 cells into different subpopulations based on expression of CD24 and E-cadherin and analyzed cell proliferation and cell migration for 72 h. We investigated how the cancer stem cell (CSC) targeting drug salinomycin affected the different subpopulations. By uniquely combining digital holography with fluorescence microscopy we show that salinomycin specifically targeted the CD24− subpopulation, i.e., the CSCs, by inhibiting cell proliferation, which was evident already after 24 h of drug treatment. We further found that after salinomycin treatment, the surviving cells were more epithelial-like due to the selection of the CD24+ cells.
Finite Element Study on Calculation of Nonlinear Soil Consolidation Using Compression and Recompression Indexes
Authors: Xu Chao , Pan Suli
Published: July 2020

The coefficient of consolidation is traditionally considered as a constant value in soil consolidation calculations. This paper uses compression and recompression indexes to calculate the solution-dependent nonlinear compressibility, thus overconsolidation and normal consolidation are separated during the calculations. Moreover, the complex nonlinear consolidation can be described using the nonlinear compressibility and a nonlinear permeability. Then, the finite element discrete equation with consideration of the time-dependent load is derived, and a corresponding program is developed. Subsequently, a case history is conducted for verifying the proposed method and the program. The results show that the method is sufficiently accurate, indicating the necessity of considering nonlinearity for consolidation calculations. Finally, three cases are compared to reveal the importance of separating the overconsolidation and normal consolidation. Overall, this study concluded that it is inadequate to consider just one consolidation status in calculations, and that the proposed method is more reasonable for guiding construction.
Design of a Metal 3D Printing Patient-Specific Repairing Thin Implant for Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Bone Fracture Based on Buttress Theory Using Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Wang Yu-Tzu , Chen Chih-Hao , Wang Po-Fang , Chen Chien-Tzung , Lin Chun-Li
Published: July 2020

This study developed a zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) patient-specific repairing thin (PSRT) implant based on the buttress theory by integrating topology optimization and finite element (FE) analysis. An intact facial skeletal (IFS) model was constructed to perform topology optimization to obtain a hollow skeleton (HS) model with the structure and volume optimized. The PSRT implant was designed based on the HS contour which represented similar trends as vertical buttress pillars. A biomechanical analysis was performed on a ZMC fracture fixation with the PSRT implant and two traditional mini-plates under uniform axial loads applied on posterior teeth with 250 N. Results indicated that the variation in maximum bone stress and model volume between the IFS and HS models was 15.4% and 75.1%, respectively. Small stress variations between the IFS model and repairing with a PSRT implant (2.75–26.78%) were found for compressive stress at frontal process and tensile stress at the zygomatic process. Comparatively, large stress variations (30.67–96.26%) with different distributions between the IFS model and mini-plate models were found at the corresponding areas. This study concluded that the main structure/contour design of the ZMC repair implant according to the buttress position and orientation can obtain a favorable mechanical behavior.
Cross-Site Scripting Guardian: A Static XSS Detector Based on Data Stream Input-Output Association Mining
Authors: Li Chenghao , Wang Yiding , Miao Changwei , Huang Cheng
Published: July 2020

The largest number of cybersecurity attacks is on web applications, in which Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is the most popular way. The code audit is the main method to avoid the damage of XSS at the source code level. However, there are numerous limits implementing manual audits and rule-based audit tools. In the age of big data, it is a new research field to assist the manual auditing through machine learning. In this paper, we propose a new way to audit the XSS vulnerability in PHP source code snippets based on a PHP code parsing tool and the machine learning algorithm. We analyzed the operation sequence of source code and built a model to acquire the information that is most closely related to the XSS attack in the data stream. The method proposed can significantly improve the recall rate of vulnerability samples. Compared with related audit methods, our method has high reusability and excellent performance. Our classification model achieved an F1 score of 0.92, a recall rate of 0.98 (vulnerable sample), and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.97 on the test dataset.
A MILP Optimization Method for Building Seasonal Energy Storage: A Case Study for a Reversible Solid Oxide Cell and Hydrogen Storage System
Authors: Lindholm Oscar , Weiss Robert , Hasan Ala , Pettersson Frank , Shemeikka Jari
Published: July 2020

A new method for the optimization of seasonal energy storage is presented and applied in a case study. The optimization method uses an interval halving approach to solve computationally demanding mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problems with both integer and non-integer operation variables (variables that vary from time step to time step in during energy storage system operation). The seasonal energy storage in the case study uses a reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) to convert electricity generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels into hydrogen gas and to convert hydrogen gas back to electricity while also generating some heat. Both the case study results and the optimization method accuracy are examined and discussed in the paper. In the case study, the operation of the RSOC and hydrogen storage system is compared with the operation of a reference system without energy storage. The results of the study show that installing an RSOC and hydrogen storage system could increase the utilization of onsite renewable energy generation significantly. Overall, the optimization method presents a relatively accurate solution to the case study optimization problem and a sensibility analysis shows a clear and logical pattern.
Mitigation Strategies for Overheating and High Carbon Dioxide Concentration within Institutional Buildings: A Case Study in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Tam Claire , Zhao Yuqing , Liao Zaiyi , Zhao Lian
Published: July 2020

Indoor air quality and thermal conditions are important considerations when designing indoor spaces to ensure occupant health, satisfaction, and productivity. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and indoor air temperature are two measurable parameters to assess air quality and thermal conditions within a space. Occupants are progressively affected by the indoor environment as the time spent indoors prolongs. Specifically, there is an interest in carrying out investigations on the indoor environment through surveying existing Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system operations in classrooms. Indoor air temperature and CO2 concentration in multiple lecture halls in Toronto, Canada were monitored; observations consistently show high indoor air temperature (overheating) and high CO2 concentration. One classroom is chosen as a representative case study for this paper. The results verify a strong correlation between the number of occupants and the increase in air temperature and CO2 concentration. Building Energy Simulation (BES) is used to investigate the causes of discomfort in the classroom, and to identify methods for regulating the temperature and CO2 concentration. This paper proposes retro-commissioning strategies that could be implemented in institutional buildings; specifically, the increase of outdoor airflow rate and the addition of occupancy-based pre-active HVAC system control. The proposed retrofit cases reduce the measured overheating in the classrooms by 2-3 °C (indoor temperature should be below 23 °C) and maintain CO2 concentration under 900 ppm (the CO2 threshold is 1000 ppm), showing promising improvements to a classroom’s thermal condition and indoor air quality.
Recent Advances of First d-Block Metal-Based Perovskite Oxide Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Water Splitting
Authors: Wang Jian , Choi Subin , Kim Juwon , Cha Suk Won , Lim Jongwoo
Published: July 2020

First d-block metal-based perovskite oxides (FDMPOs) have garnered significant attention in research for their utilization in the water oxidation reaction due to their low cost, earth abundance, and promising activities. Recently, FDMPOs are being applied in electrocatalysis for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and overall water splitting reaction. Numerous promising FDMPO-based water splitting electrocatalysts have been reported, along with new catalytic mechanisms. Therefore, an in-time summary of the current progress of FDMPO-based water splitting electrocatalysts is now considered imperative. However, few reviews have focused on this particular subject thus far. In this contribution, we review the most recent advances (mainly within the years 2014–2020) of FDMPO electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting, which is widely considered to be the most promising next-generation technology for future large-scale hydrogen production. This review begins with an introduction describing the fundamentals of alkaline water electrolysis and perovskite oxides. We then carefully elaborate on the various design strategies used for the preparation of FDMPO electrocatalysts applied in the alkaline water splitting reaction, including defecting engineering, strain tuning, nanostructuring, and hybridization. Finally, we discuss the current advances of various FDMPO-based water splitting electrocatalysts, including those based on Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, and other first d-block metal-based catalysts. By conveying various methods, developments, perspectives, and challenges, this review will contribute toward the understanding and development of FDMPO electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting.
Prognosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy via Decomposed Digital Volume Pulse from the Fingertip
Authors: Wei Hai-Cheng , Hu Wen-Rui , Ta Na , Xiao Ming-Xia , Tang Xiao-Jing , Wu Hsien-Tsai
Published: July 2020

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a very common neurological disorder in diabetic patients. This study presents a new percussion-based index for predicting DPN by decomposing digital volume pulse (DVP) signals from the fingertip. In this study, 130 subjects (50 individuals 44 to 89 years of age without diabetes and 80 patients 37 to 86 years of age with type 2 diabetes) were enrolled. After baseline measurement and blood tests, 25 diabetic patients developed DPN within the following five years. After removing high-frequency noise in the original DVP signals, the decomposed DVP signals were used for percussion entropy index (PEIDVP) computation. Effects of risk factors on the incidence of DPN in diabetic patients within five years of follow-up were tested using binary logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, waist circumference, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the new index. Multivariate analysis showed that patients who did not develop DPN in the five-year period had higher PEIDVP values than those with DPN, as determined by logistic regression model (PEIDVP: odds ratio 0.913, 95% CI 0.850 to 0.980). This study shows that PEIDVP can be a major protective factor in relation to the studied binary outcome (i.e., DPN or not in diabetic patients five years after baseline measurement).
PCA-Based Matrix CFAR Detection for Radar Target
Authors: Yang Zheng , Cheng Yongqiang , Wu Hao
Published: July 2020

In radar target detection, constant false alarm rate (CFAR), which stands for the adaptive threshold adjustment with variation of clutter to maintain the constant probability of false alarm during the detection, plays an important role. Matrix CFAR detection performed on the manifold of Hermitian positive-definite (HPD) covariance matrices is an efficient detection method that is based on information geometry. However, the HPD covariance matrix, which is constructed by a small bunch of pulses, describes the correlations among received data and suffers from severe information redundancy that limits the improvement of detection performance. This paper proposes a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based matrix CFAR detection method for dealing with the point target detection problems in clutter. The proposed method can not only reduce dimensionality of HPD covariance matrix, but also reduce the redundant information and enhance the distinguishability between target and clutter. We first apply PCA to the cell under test, and construct a transformation matrix to map higher-dimensional matrix space to a lower-dimensional matrix space. Subsequently, the corresponding detection statistics and detection decision on matrix manifold are derived. Meanwhile, the corresponding signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) is improved. Finally, the simulation experiment and real sea clutter data experiment show that the proposed method can achieve a better detection performance.
COVID-19 and the Digital Transformation of Education: What Are We Learning on 4IR in South Africa?
Authors: Mhlanga David , Moloi Tankiso
Published: July 2020

The study sought to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in motivating digital transformation in the education sector in South Africa. The study was premised on the fact that learning in South Africa and the rest of the world came to a standstill due to the lockdown necessitated by COVID-19. To assess the impact, the study tracked the rate at which the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) tools were used by various institutions during the COVID-19 lockdown. Data were obtained from secondary sources. The findings are that, in South Africa, during the lockdown, a variety of 4IR tools were unleashed from primary education to higher and tertiary education where educational activities switched to remote (online) learning. These observations reflect that South Africa generally has some pockets of excellence to drive the education sector into the 4IR, which has the potential to increase access. Access to education, particularly at a higher education level, has always been a challenge due to a limited number of spaces available. Much as this pandemic has brought with it massive human suffering across the globe, it has presented an opportunity to assess successes and failures of deployed technologies, costs associated with them, and scaling these technologies to improve access.
Ka-Band Marchand Balun with Edge- and Broadside-Coupled Hybrid Configuration
Authors: Yan Jinna , Liu Hang , Zhu Xi , Men Kai , Yeo Kiat Seng
Published: July 2020

This article presents a novel Ka-band Marchand balun implemented in 0.13-μm SiGe bipolar complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (BiCMOS) process. By combining both edge- and broadside-coupled structures, the new hybrid balun is able to increase the coupling and minimize the balun insertion loss. As compared with conventional edge-coupled or broadside-coupled structures, the proposed balun achieves the lowest insertion loss of 1.02 dB across a wide 1-dB bandwidth from 29.0 GHz to 46.0 GHz, with a core size of 270 μm × 280 μm.
Machine Learning: A Useful Tool in Geomechanical Studies, a Case Study from an Offshore Gas Field
Authors: Khatibi Seyedalireza , Aghajanpour Azadeh
Published: July 2020

For a safe drilling operation with the of minimum borehole instability challenges, building a mechanical earth model (MEM) has proven to be extremely valuable. However, the natural complexity of reservoirs along with the lack of reliable information leads to a poor prediction of geomechanical parameters. Shear wave velocity has many applications, such as in petrophysical and geophysical as well as geomechanical studies. However, occasionally, wells lack shear wave velocity (especially in old wells), and estimating this parameter using other well logs is the optimum solution. Generally, available empirical relationships are being used, while they can only describe similar formations and their validation needs calibration. In this study, machine learning approaches for shear sonic log prediction were used. The results were then compared with each other and the empirical Greenberg–Castagna method. Results showed that the artificial neural network has the highest accuracy of the predictions over the single and multiple linear regression models. This improvement is more highlighted in hydrocarbon-bearing intervals, which is considered as a limitation of the empirical or any linear method. In the next step, rock elastic properties and in-situ stresses were calculated. Afterwards, in-situ stresses were predicted and coupled with a failure criterion to yield safe mud weight windows for wells in the field. Predicted drilling events matched quite well with the observed drilling reports.
Inorganic Chromium Speciation in Geothermal Water of the Podhale Trough (Southern Poland) Used for Recreational Purposes
Authors: Rusiniak Piotr , Wątor Katarzyna , Kmiecik Ewa
Published: July 2020

The results of total chromium determination (by ICP-OES method) in samples collected from nine working wells named GW1–GW9, exploiting geothermal water from the Podhale Trough (southern part of Poland, near the Tatra Mountains), which is used for recreational purposes, were implemented for hydrogeochemical modeling to indicate dominating chromium speciation. The reliability of the results was determined by the application of a quality assurance/quality control program, both in the laboratory and during field work. Based on chromium speciation, the risk associated with the utilization of geothermal water was calculated. The outcome showed that the concentration of Cr(III) is almost equal to the total chromium concentration (1–2 µg·L−1). Crtot concentrations were also used in a health risk assessment in the case of epidermal absorption (EDIderm) during bathing in thermal pools and four assumed scenarios in relation to the handling of geothermal water. The effect of the very low Crtot concentration in the analyzed water on health risk calculation was estimated as low (hazard quotient value <10−7). In the case of risk matrix analysis, the environmental risks were estimated as moderate, major and very severe, dependent on the assumed scenario.
Definition of LCA Guidelines in the Geothermal Sector to Enhance Result Comparability
Authors: Parisi Maria Laura , Douziech Melanie , Tosti Lorenzo , Pérez-López Paula , Mendecka Barbara , Ulgiati Sergio , Fiaschi Daniele , Manfrida Giampaolo , Blanc Isabelle
Published: July 2020

Geothermal energy could play a crucial role in the European energy market and future scenarios focused on sustainable development. Thanks to its constant supply of concentrated energy, it can support the transition towards a low-carbon economy. In the energy sector, the decision-making process should always be supported by a holistic science-based approach to allow a comprehensive environmental assessment of the technological system, such as the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In the geothermal sector, the decision-making is particularly difficult due to the large variability of reported results on environmental performance across studies. This calls for harmonized guidelines on how to conduct LCAs of geothermal systems to enhance transparency and results comparability, by ensuring consistent methodological choices and providing indications for harmonized results reporting. This work identifies the main critical aspects of performing an LCA of geothermal systems and provides solutions and technical guidance to harmonize its application. The proposed methodological approach is based on experts’ knowledge from both the geothermal and LCA sectors. The recommendations cover all the life cycle phases of geothermal energy production (i.e., construction, operation, maintenance and end of life) as well as a selection of LCA key elements thus providing a thorough base for concerted LCA guidelines for the geothermal sector. The application of such harmonized LCA framework can ensure comparability among LCA results from different geothermal systems and other renewable energy technologies.
Exploring the “Energy-Saving Personality Traits” in the Office and Household Situation: An Empirical Study
Authors: Wang Qian-Cheng , Wang Yi-Xuan , Jian Izzy Yi , Wei Hsi-Hsien , Liu Xuan , Ma Yao-Tian
Published: July 2020

Behavior-driven energy conservation has been a promising strategy for reducing building energy consumption as well as carbon emissions. With the intention of revealing the impacts of an individual’s personality basis on energy conservation behavioral attitudes and intentions in households and offices, the present study proposes and conducts an experiment in Xi’an, China with two groups for the investigation of such attitudes towards household energy-saving behavior (HESB) and office energy-saving behavior (OESB), respectively. The research adopts structural equation modeling for experiment data analysis. The analysis results suggest that the two personality traits, Agreeableness and Neuroticism, are significantly related to both HESB and OESB attitudes. Especially, agreeable people tend to present stronger energy-saving attitudes, while individuals with higher Neuroticism are less likely to do so. The results indicate that the impacts of these two traits on energy-saving attitude are found to be less influenced by different environment settings. Further, the results find that Extraversion positively influences energy-saving attitude in the office environment, while Openness only significantly works in the household environment. It is hoped that the findings of the present study can provide informative references to energy-saving intervention design as well as further studies on the spillover of pro-environmental behaviors.
A Calibration Procedure for an Analytical Wake Model Using Wind Farm Operational Data
Authors: Teng Jian , Markfort Corey D.
Published: July 2020

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources in the U.S. Wind turbine wakes change the flow field within wind farms and reduce power generation. Prior research has used experimental and computational methods to investigate and model wind farm wake effects. However, these methods are costly and time-consuming to use commercially. In contrast, a simple analytical approach can provide reasonably accurate estimates of wake effects on flow and power. To reducing errors in wake modeling, one must calibrate the model based on a specific wind farm setting. The purpose of this research is to develop a calibration procedure for wind farm wake modeling using a simple analytical approach and wind turbine operational data obtained from the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The proposed procedure uses a Gaussian-based analytical wake model and wake superposition model. The wake growth rate varies across the wind farm based on the local streamwise turbulence intensity. The wake model was calibrated by implementing the proposed procedure with turbine pairs within the wind farm. The performance of the model was validated at an onshore wind farm in Iowa, USA. The results were compared with the industry standard wind farm wake model and shown to result in an approximate 1% improvement in sitewide total power prediction. This new SCADA-based calibration procedure is useful for real-time wind farm operational optimization.
Investigations on the Performance of Grounding Device with Spike Rods (GDSR) with the Effects of Soil Resistivity and Configurations
Authors: Abdul Ali Abdul Wali , Ahmad Nurul Nadia , Mohamad Nor Normiza , Idris Nur Farahi , Hanaffi Farhan
Published: July 2020

In a recently published work, the characteristics of a new grounding device with spike rods (GDSR) with various arrangements of ground electrodes under high magnitude impulse currents (up to 16 kA), was investigated. In an earlier study, the ground electrodes were installed in low resistivity test media, with resistance at steady state (Rdc) values ranging from 11 Ω to 75 Ω. In practice, various soil resistivity, ranging from a few Ohm-metres to several kiloOhm-metres, have been reported in the standards. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate the characteristics of GDSR with different arrangements of ground electrodes in various soil resistivities under high impulse currents. In this present paper, six configurations of ground electrodes are used, installed at three different sites and subjected to high impulse conditions. Impulse test data of all the grounding systems are analyzed. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to compute the electric field values of the ground electrodes achieved. It is found that the highest electric field occurs in the presence of electrodes with the highest Rdc, soil resistivity and current magnitudes. This new data would be useful in bolstering the performance of GDSR in various types of soil resistivities, electrode arrangements and current magnitudes, which may allow for optimum design of grounding systems.
AC “Back to Back” Switching Device in Industrial Application
Authors: Faranda Roberto , Hafezi Hossein , Akkala Kishore , Lazzaroni Massimo
Published: July 2020

In industrial applications, among several varieties of semiconductor devices available, a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) is often used in managing and protecting various systems with different applications. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to design a control system which can operate over a range of electrical loads without any modifications in its hardware and/or software. This paper analyzes and investigates in detail the power circuit effects on conduction delay and SCR functioning. Moreover, two different commonly used driving systems for SCR application have been introduced, discussed, and evaluated. Concerning driving systems, here, three aspects have paramount importance and are consequently taken into consideration, namely the driver system losses, the conduction delay, and in particular, some power quality indices. The conduction delay is a parameter of great importance, as being able to control and reduce it to the minimum allowed by the application can bring significant practical advantages (both in terms of application and economic terms, as better summarized in the article). Theoretical analysis has been performed, followed and verified by simulation studies and, for some cases, laboratory experimental test results are presented which provide credibility to the study.
Model of R134a Liquid–Vapor Two-Phase Heat Transfer Coefficient for Pulsating Flow Boiling in an Evaporator Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Yang Peng , Zhang Ting , Zhang Yuheng , Wang Sophie , Liu Yingwen
Published: July 2020

The present study proposes a model to predict the heat transfer coefficient in R134a liquid–vapor two-phase pulsating flow boiling in an evaporator using the experimental data and response surface methodology (RSM). The model is based on the current existing empirical correlation for R134a liquid–vapor two-phase continuous flow with an imposed modification factor. The model for the imposed modification factor is the function of the pulsating period and inlet/outlet vapor quality, which is obtained using the limited experimental data. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) is carried out to test the significance of the model and normal probability of residuals is analyzed as well. Results show that the regression model produces a mean error of −4.3% and a standard deviation of 15.4%, compared to experimental results. Of the data 95.1% is contained inside a ±50% error window, which indicates that the proposed model could predict the heat transfer coefficient of R134a liquid–vapor two-phase pulsating flow boiling well.
Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: The Onshore Fields with the Greatest Potential
Authors: Watson Sean , Falcone Gioia , Westaway Rob
Published: July 2020

One potential opportunity for the decarbonisation of heat supply in the UK is the repurposing of onshore hydrocarbon wells for the production and/or storage of geothermal heat. This paper reports an investigation into the most favourable candidate sites for such repurposing, taking into consideration the available thermal energy outputs and technological options for heat use. A GIS mapping model was generated, combining public domain data on onshore wells and production data from onshore fields, provided by the UK Oil and Gas Authority, with available subsurface temperature data. This model has thus integrated information on location, depth, operational status, and bottom-hole temperature for onshore hydrocarbon wells with production rates from onshore fields in the UK. Of the 2242 onshore hydrocarbon wells thus reported, 560 have the potential to be repurposed, 292 of which are currently operating. Using aggregated water production data for all operating wells in each field, the fields with the greatest potential for geothermal repurposing are ranked. Two of these, the Wytch Farm and Wareham fields, are selected for more detailed analysis. Wytch Farm, the largest onshore oilfield in western Europe, produces water at ~65 °C that might yield a feasible thermal power output of ~90 MW. If an end use could be found where it might substitute for burning of natural gas, the value of this output would be ~£90,000 per day or ~£30 million per year. However, this field is located in a protected landscape where local development would be restricted by planning regulations. The Wareham field is not in a protected landscape, but the low temperature, ~44 °C, and low flow rate limit the scope of potential end uses. Nonetheless, these and the other highly ranked fields have potential heat outputs that are significant compared with other geothermal heat projects, thus offering the possibility of making useful contributions to the decarbonisation of UK energy use.
Lessons Learned from an Experimental Campaign on Promoting Energy Content of Renewable Biogas by Injecting H2 during Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Sarker Shiplu , Wijnsma Sander N. , Lien Kristian M.
Published: July 2020

Direct injection of H2 to an anaerobic reactor enables biological fixation of CO2 into CH4 (biomethanation) and consequently boosts methane content in the produced biogas. However, there has been only a small amount of literature reporting results on this technique in a continuous reactor framework to date. To fill this gap, the present study devoted an experimental work to direct H2 addition to a fed-batch semi-continuous reactor, where the injected H2 concentration increased gradually (~3–30 mmol), spanning a moderate operational period of about 70 days. As the results revealed, the reactor continued anaerobic operation for each level of H2 dosing and produced an average methane content in the biogas ranging between 65% and 72%. The exhibited biogas upgrading trend appeared to be under-developed, and thereby suggests the need for further research.
Synthesising Residential Electricity Load Profiles at the City Level Using a Weighted Proportion (Wepro) Model
Authors: Kewo Angreine , Manembu Pinrolinvic D. K. , Nielsen Per Sieverts
Published: July 2020

It is important to understand residential energy use as it is a large energy consumption sector and the potential for change is of great importance for global energy sustainability. A large energy-saving potential and emission reduction potential can be achieved, among others, by understanding energy consumption patterns in more detail. However, existing studies show that it requires many input parameters or disaggregated individual end-uses input data to generate the load profiles. Therefore, we have developed a simplified approach, called weighted proportion (Wepro) model, to synthesise the residential electricity load profile by proportionally matching the city’s main characteristics: Age group, labour force and gender structure with the representative households profiles provided in the load profile generator. The findings indicate that the synthetic load profiles can represent the local electricity consumption characteristics in the case city of Amsterdam based on time variation analyses. The approach is in particular advantageous to tackle the drawbacks of the existing studies and the standard load model used by the utilities. Furthermore, the model is found to be more efficient in the computational process of the residential sector’s load profiles, given the number of households in the city that is represented in the local profile.
Norway Spruce Survival Rate in Two Forested Landscapes, 1975–2016
Authors: Bāders Endijs , Krišāns Oskars , Donis Jānis , Elferts Didzis , Jaunslaviete Ieva , Jansons Āris
Published: July 2020

The increasing frequency and severity of natural disturbances (e.g., storms and insect outbreaks) due to climate change are expected to reduce the abundance of Norway spruce stands in the European forests. Under such conditions, the assessment of status quo on focusing on survival of Norway spruce stands are essential for the agility of forest management strategies. The dynamics (mortality rate) of Norway spruce stands in hemiboreal forests based on forest inventories for the period from 1975 to 2016 (inventories of 1975, 1985, 1999, 2011 and 2016) were analyzed in two forest landscapes in the western and eastern parts of Latvia (Vane and Dviete, respectively). The spatiotemporal changes in age-dependent mortality differing by abundance of Norway spruce and disturbance regime were assessed, focusing on the transitions of stands between age groups (inventories). The age-related changes in probability of stands transitioning into the next age group contrasted (p < 0.001) between sites. In Vane, the survival of stands between inventories was constant (ca. 90%), while in Dviete, it decreased sharply from 85.7% during 1985–1999 inventories to 49.3% in 2011–2016. Age-related decreases in stand survival showed local dependencies between both landscapes, namely, in Vane, notable decreases started from 61 years, while in Dviete, the downward trends started already from 31 years, probably due to different disturbance regimes. This suggests that, in forest management planning, the different outcomes for mortality patterns between both landscapes must be considered and should not be generalized for a whole country.
Dis/Possessing the Polish Past in Marcin Wrona’s Demon
Authors: Kotwasińska Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

The article examines how Marcin Wrona’s Demon (2015) reworks the Jewish myth of a dybbuk in order to discuss how and to what extent a spectral haunting may disrupt acts of collective forgetting, which are in turn fueled by repression, repudiation, and ritualized violence. A part of a revisionist trend in Polish cinema, Demon upsets the contours of national affiliations, and in doing so comments on the problematic nature of memory work concerning pre- and postwar Polish–Jewish relations. Because the body possessed by a female dybbuk is foreign and male, the film also underlines gendered aspects of possession, silencing, and story-telling. The article draws on Gothic Studies and horror cinema studies as well as Polish–Jewish studies in order to show how by deploying typical possession horror tropes Wrona is able to reveal the true horror—an effective erasure of the Jewish community, an act that needs to be repeated in order for the state of historical oblivion to be maintained.
Between Postdramatic Text and Dramatic Drama: Recent German-Language Playwriting by Lukas Bärfuss and Katja Brunner
Authors: McClelland Richard
Published: July 2020

Since 2000 there has been a boom in playwriting in the German-speaking world. This is shaped by a creative tension between two forms of theatre-texts. On the one hand the postdramatic text that exists in a theatre marked by a parataxis of all theatrical elements, as outlined by Hans-Thies Lehmann and Gerda Poschmann; on the other, the ‘dramatic drama’ as identified by Birgit Haas that engages with dramatic representation whilst still questioning the reality being represented on the stage. In this contribution I explore these strands of contemporary playwriting in two texts written since 2000: Lukas Bärfuss’ Die sexuellen Neurosen unserer Eltern (2003) and Katja Brunner’s von den beinen zu kurz (2012). My analysis examines how both playwrights question dramatic conventions of form and character and the implications this has for audience efforts to discern meaning in the plays.
How Medical Studies in Poland Prepare Future Healthcare Managers for Crises and Disasters: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Misztal-Okońska Patrycja , Goniewicz Krzysztof , Hertelendy Attila J. , Khorram-Manesh Amir , Al-Wathinani Ahmed , Alhazmi Riyadh A. , Goniewicz Mariusz
Published: July 2020

In the event of a crisis, rapid and effective assistance for victims is essential, and in many cases, medical assistance is required. To manage the situation efficiently, it is necessary to have a proactive management system in place that ensures professional assistance to victims and the safety of medical personnel. We evaluated the perceptions of students and graduates in public health studies at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland, concerning their preparation and management skills for crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot study was conducted in March 2020; we employed an online survey with an anonymous questionnaire that was addressed to students and graduates with an educational focus in healthcare organization and management. The study involved 55 people, including 14 men and 41 women. Among the respondents, 41.8% currently worked in a healthcare facility and only 21.7% of them had participated in training related to preparation for emergencies and disasters in their current workplace. The respondents rated their workplaces’ preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic at four points. A significant number of respondents stated that if they had to manage a public health emergency, they would not be able to manage the situation correctly and not be able to predict its development. Managers of healthcare organizations should have the knowledge and skills to manage crises. It would be advisable for them to have been formally educated in public health or healthcare administration. In every healthcare facility, it is essential that training and practice of performing medical procedures in full personal protective equipment (PPE) be provided. Healthcare facilities must implement regular training combined with practical live scenario exercises to prepare for future crises.
Double Jeopardy in Contemporary China: Intersecting the Socioeconomic Gradient and Geographic Context on Early Childhood Development
Authors: Li Wangyang , Li Minyi , Jin Yongai , Wang Shiqi , Zhang Yi
Published: July 2020

Family socioeconomic status (SES) differences in early childhood development (ECD) are well documented, as are the neighborhood effects in early development outcomes. However, little is known about whether the SES gradient in ECD outcomes varies across geographic contexts by county-level variables in contemporary China. This study examines the effects of county-level socioeconomic background on inequalities in the developmental outcomes of young Chinese children. Individual-level child development data based on four early development milestones—taking a first step, first sentences, counting 10 objects, fully independent toileting—were combined with family- and county-level socioeconomic data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Using a hierarchical linear model (HLM) to examine how the broader socioeconomic context plays a role in the attainment of developmental milestones at expected times as young children grow and develop, we have found significant cross-level interaction effects between family SES and county-level variables in relation to developmental milestone attainment. The family SES gradient in the achievement of children’s developmental milestones is steeper for those in the under-developed regions than their counterparts in the more developed regions. Our findings suggest that low-SES children who are living in socioeconomically deprived regions suffer from a double disadvantage in terms of early development outcomes. Further research would be needed to contextualize the observed interactions and better explain the underlying mechanisms.
Impulsivity and the Experience of Desire in the Choice of Erotic Stimuli
Authors: Salguero Lucas Lara , Pérez Nieto Miguel Ángel , Sáez Sesma Silberio , Gordillo León Fernando
Published: July 2020

(1) Background: the relationship between erotic desire and personality factors is still relatively understudied. (2) Objective: to study the influence of the experience of desire, as well as impulsivity in the choice of videos, as the behavioral variable in the experimental trial. (2) Method: the sample consisted of 48 adult subjects, who took part in an experimental study that involved watching videos. (3) Results: the linear regression analysis revealed that the behavior involved in choosing videos is predicted by the sexual desire felt at the time of the trial, and not by stable personality factors, such as impulsivity or general self-report levels of sexual desire. (4) Conclusion: it is observed that the specific moment or situation and the behavior have a bigger impact on the erotic desire experienced at the time of the test than certain personality traits, as well as the previous and habitual levels of erotic desire of which an individual reports.
Study of Acute and Sub-Acute Effects of Auditory Training on the Central Auditory Processing in Older Adults with Hearing Loss—A Pilot Study
Authors: Matos Silva Carla , Fernandes Carolina , Rocha Clara , Pereira Telmo
Published: July 2020

Background: Impairment in speech perception is a common feature of older adults. This study aimed at evaluating the acute and sub-acute (after three months) effects of auditory training on central auditory processing in older people with hearing loss. Methods: A nonrandomized study was conducted enrolling 15 older adults with hearing loss and an average age of 78.6 ± 10.9 years. All participants underwent a baseline otoscopy, tympanogram, audiogram and speech-in-noise test with a signal-noise ratio (SNR) of 10 and 15 dB. Afterwards, auditory training intervention was implemented consisting of 10 training sessions over 5 weeks. Participants were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1) underwent auditory training based on a speech-in-noise test; group 2 (G2) underwent a filtered-speech test. Auditory processing was evaluated at baseline (T0) immediately after the intervention (T1) and 3 months after the intervention (T2). Results: Group 1 were quite efficient regardless of the SNR in the right ear with statistically significant differences from T0 to T1 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.006 for 10 dB and 15 dB, respectively) and T0 to T2 (p = 0.011 and 0.015 for 10 dB and 15 dB, respectively). As for the left ear, the increase of success was statistically significant for the SNR of 10 dB and 15 dB from T0 to T1 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively) and from T0 to T2 (p = 0.016 and p = 0.003). In G2, there was a significant variation only from T0 for T1 in the left ear for an SNR of 10 dB (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Speech perception in noise significantly improved after auditory training in old adults.
Adductor Muscles Strength and Strength Asymmetry as Risk Factors for Groin Injuries among Professional Soccer Players: A Prospective Study
Authors: Markovic Goran , Šarabon Nejc , Pausic Jelena , Hadžić Vedran
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the association between isometric hip adductor strength and between-limb strength asymmetry to groin injuries in male professional soccer players. Isometric hip adductor strength and between-limb strength asymmetry of 45 professional outfield soccer players from three First Division teams were tested during the 2017/2018 preseason. Players were then monitored throughout the 2017/2018 season for groin injuries. Ten groin injuries were recorded. When compared with uninjured players, players who sustained groin injury had significantly lower strength of respective muscle groups and significantly higher between-limb strength asymmetries (all p < 0.05; ES = 1.16 and 0.88; mean % difference = 26% and 51%). Isometric hip adductor strength had a significant inverse relationship with the incidence of occurring groin injuries (p = 0.016). No significant relationship between hip adductor strength asymmetry and the incidence of future groin injury was observed (p = 0.09). Finally, players’ age and previous groin injury were not significantly associated with the incidence of future groin injuries (all p > 0.05). These results generally suggest that isometric adductor strength is a significant predictor of future groin injuries in men’s professional football; however, due to the relatively low sample size, further studies are required.
Factors Affecting Preventive Dental Treatment of Adolescents in Korea
Authors: Kwak Seon-Hui , Bae Soo-Myoung , Shin Sun-Jung , Shin Bo-Mi
Published: July 2020

We conducted a multilevel analysis to identify factors affecting adolescents’ preventive dental treatment experience in South Korea. We sampled 72,435 students who participated in the 9th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The individual-level variables were divided into demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, oral health behavioral factors, and oral symptom experience factors. The regional-level variables included oral health resources, rate of students receiving oral health education at school by region, social deprivation index, and the number of private educational institutions. A higher rate of receiving oral health education in school by region was associated with increased fluoride application (1.04 times, p = 0.003). However, the number of private educational institutes per 1000 people was negatively associated with fluoride application experienced by students (0.64 times, p = 0.039). Students underwent more scaling when there were more dentists per 10,000 individuals (1.14 times, p = 0.008) and less scaling in areas with a higher social deprivation index (0.88 times, p = 0.024). To increase the access to preventive care for oral diseases among adolescents, a preventive system should be established in schools, and a primary dental care system should be established through the cooperation of the government, private dental clinics, and schools.