bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Web-Based BIM–AR Quality Management System for Structural Elements
Authors: Mirshokraei Mehrdad , De Gaetani Carlo Iapige , Migliaccio Federica
Published: September 2019

This paper investigates quality management (QM) during the execution phase of structural elements by proposing, developing, and testing a complete framework by integrating building information modeling (BIM) and augmented reality (AR) technology. QM during execution is boosted by BIM–AR integration through a dedicated web-based system aimed at reducing the occurrence of omissions and negligence. With such a system, efficiency is improved by allowing the entering of inspection data directly in a shared digital environment, where people involved in QM have permanent access to updated information and inspection results, clearly organized, and entered in real time. The system has been developed in the asp.net framework using C# language where, by generating a web-based checklist and establishing its link to AR, it can enhance the process of information extraction from industry foundation class (IFC) 4D BIM models and the recording of inspection data. A test has been performed on a real case study in Budapest, to assess the effectiveness of the system in the field. Results demonstrate the following benefits brought by such a type of QM system: improved understanding of the design, access to information, and overview of the quality status of the project, leading to reductions in defects and reworking, as well as improved and quicker response and decision-making.
New Gap-Filling Strategies for Long-Period Flux Data Gaps Using a Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Kang Minseok , Ichii Kazuhito , Kim Joon , Indrawati Yohana M. , Park Juhan , Moon Minkyu , Lim Jong-Hwan , Chun Jung-Hwa
Published: September 2019

In the Korea Flux Monitoring Network, Haenam Farmland has the longest record of carbon/water/energy flux measurements produced using the eddy covariance (EC) technique. Unfortunately, there are long gaps (i.e., gaps longer than 30 days), particularly in 2007 and 2014, which hinder attempts to analyze these decade-long time-series data. The open source and standardized gap-filling methods are impractical for such long gaps. The data-driven approach using machine learning and remote-sensing or reanalysis data (i.e., interpolating/extrapolating EC measurements via available networks temporally/spatially) for estimating terrestrial CO2/H2O fluxes at the regional/global scale is applicable after appropriate modifications. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of the data-driven approach for filling long gaps in flux data (i.e., gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, net ecosystem exchange, and evapotranspiration). We found that using a longer training dataset in the machine learning generally produced better model performance, although there was a greater possibility of missing interannual variations caused by ecosystem state changes (e.g., changes in crop variety). Based on the results, we proposed gap-filling strategies for long-period flux data gaps and used them to quantify the annual sums with uncertainties in 2007 and 2014. The results from this study have broad implications for long-period gap-filling at other sites, and for the estimation of regional/global CO2/H2O fluxes using a data-driven approach.
Unraveling Binding Mechanism of Alzheimer’s Drug Rivastigmine Tartrate with Human Transferrin: Molecular Docking and Multi-Spectroscopic Approach towards Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Shamsi Anas , Mohammad Taj , Khan Mohd Shahnawaz , Shahwan Moyad , Husain Fohad Mabood , Rehman Md. Tabish , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz , Ahmad Faizan , Islam Asimul
Published: September 2019

Studying drug–protein interactions has gained significant attention lately, and this is because the majority of drugs interact with proteins, thereby altering their structure and, moreover, their functionality. Rivastigmine tartrate (RT) is a drug that is in use for mild to moderate Alzheimer therapy. This study was targeted to characterize the interaction between human transferrin (hTf) and RT by employing spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and molecular docking studies. Experimental results of fluorescence quenching of hTf induced by RT implied the formation of a static complex between hTf and RT. Further elucidation of the observed fluorescence data retorting Stern–Volmer and modified Stern–Volmer resulted in binding constants for hTf–RT complex of the order 104 M−1 over the studied temperatures. Thermodynamic parameters of hTf–RT interaction were elucidated further by employing these obtained binding constant values. It was quite evident from obtained thermodynamic attributes that RT spontaneously binds to hTf with a postulated existence of hydrogen bonding or Van der Waals forces. Further, Circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) also confirmed RT–hTf complex formation owing to upward movement of CD spectra in the presence of RT. ITC profiles advocated the existence of reaction to be spontaneous. Moreover, molecular docking further revealed that the important residues play a pivotal role in RT–hTf interaction. The findings of this study can be of a significant benefit to the drug-designing industry in this disease-prone era.
Protein Engineering of Multi-Modular Transcription Factor Alcohol Dehydrogenase Repressor 1 (Adr1p), a Tool for Dissecting In Vitro Transcription Activation
Authors: Buttinelli Memmo , Panetta Gianna , Bucci Ambra , Frascaria Daniele , Morea Veronica , Miele Adriana Erica
Published: September 2019

Studying transcription machinery assembly in vitro is challenging because of long intrinsically disordered regions present within the multi-modular transcription factors. One example is alcohol dehydrogenase repressor 1 (Adr1p) from fermenting yeast, responsible for the metabolic switch from glucose to ethanol. The role of each individual transcription activation domain (TAD) has been previously studied, but their interplay and their roles in enhancing the stability of the protein is not known. In this work, we designed five unique miniAdr1 constructs containing either TADs I-II-III or TAD I and III, connected by linkers of different sizes and compositions. We demonstrated that miniAdr1-BL, containing only PAR-TAD I+III with a basic linker (BL), binds the cognate DNA sequence, located in the promoter of the ADH2 (alcohol dehydrogenase 2) gene, and is necessary to stabilize the heterologous expression. In fact, we found that the sequence of the linker between TAD I and III affected the solubility of free miniAdr1 proteins, as well as the stability of their complexes with DNA. miniAdr1-BL is the stable unit able to recognize ADH2 in vitro, and hence it is a promising tool for future studies on nucleosomal DNA binding and transcription machinery assembly in vitro.
The Prevalence, Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus in Bulk Ready-To-Eat Foods
Authors: Lin Qi , Sun Honghu , Yao Kai , Cai Jiong , Ren Yao , Chi Yuanlong
Published: September 2019

The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in 2160 bulk ready-to-eat foods from the Sichuan province of China during 2013–2016 was investigated. The antibiotic resistance and the associated genes, as well as biofilm formation capacity of the S. aureus isolates were measured. Furthermore, the relationship between the antibiotic resistance and the resistant genes was discussed. It was found that 54 S. aureus isolates were recovered, and their prevalence in meat products, dairy, fruit and vegetables, and desserts were 31 (2.6%), six (3.0%), nine (2.2%) and eight (2.3%), respectively. Most strains (52/54) were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics, and 21 isolates were identified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus. Three isolates were found to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and inducible clindamycin resistance were determined as the predominant antibiotics, and the isolates with the phenotypic resistance on these five antibiotics were all determined positive for the resistant gene associated. In total, 33 of 54 S. aureus isolates showed biofilm formation capacity, including two strong biofilm producers, one moderate and 30 weak ones. Two S. aureus isolates with strong biofilm formation abilities showed multi-drug resistance, and one moderate biofilm producer was resistant to two categories of antibiotics.
Programmed Death–Ligand 1 and Vimentin: A Tandem Marker as Prognostic Factor in NSCLC
Authors: Ancel Julien , Birembaut Philippe , Dewolf Maxime , Durlach Anne , Nawrocki-Raby Béatrice , Dalstein Véronique , Delepine Gonzague , Blacher Silvia , Deslée Gaëtan , Gilles Christine , Polette Myriam
Published: September 2019

In non-metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), outcomes remain poor. Adjuvant chemotherapies provide a limited improvement in disease-free survival. Recent exploratory studies on early-stage NSCLC show that immunotherapy given according to Programmed Death–Ligand 1 expression generates variable results, emphasizing a need to improve tumor characterization. We aimed to conjointly assess NSCLC, the expression of PD–L1, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, frequently involved in tumor aggressiveness. 188 resected NSCLCs were analyzed. Among 188 patients with curatively resected NSCLC, 127 adenocarcinomas and 61 squamous cell carcinomas were stained for PD–L1 and vimentin expression. Overall survival has been compared regarding PD–L1 and vimentin statuses both separately and conjointly in Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas databases. PD–L1 and vimentin higher expressions were strongly associated (OR = 4.682, p < 0.0001). This co-expression occurred preferentially in tumors with lymph node invasion (p = 0.033). PD–L1 was significantly associated with high EMT features. NSCLC harboring both PD–L1high/vimentinhigh expressions were significantly associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.019). A higher co-expression of vimentin and PD–L1 was able to identify patients with worse outcomes. Similar to an important prognostic marker in NSCLC, this tandem marker needs to be further presented to anti-PD–L1 immunotherapies to improve outcome.
Proton Beam Therapy Combined with Intra-Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy for Stage IV Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Base of the Tongue
Authors: Takayama Kanako , Kato Takahiro , Nakamura Tatsuya , Azami Yusuke , Ono Takashi , Suzuki Motohisa , Takada Akinori , Yamaguchi Hisashi , Seto Ichiro , Nakasato Tatsuhiko , Wada Hitoshi , Kikuchi Yasuhiro , Mitsudo Kenji , Fuwa Nobukazu , Murakami Masao
Published: September 2019

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare epithelial tumor of the salivary glands. Surgical resection is considered to be a standard therapy. However, the optimal treatment strategy for managing advanced cases has not yet been established. This study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of proton beam therapy (PBT) combined with selective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (IAIC) using weekly cisplatin for locally advanced ACC of the base of the tongue. Between March 2009 and February 2018, 15 patients were treated. The median follow-up duration was 56 (range: 15–116) months. The 5-year local control and overall survival rates were 89% and 76%, respectively. With regard to late toxicities, grade 2 osteoradionecrosis was found in one patient and grade 5 pharyngeal necrosis was observed in one patient. Considering most cases were significantly advanced and inoperable, this therapy was effective in controlling the primary tumor, preserving function and maintaining the quality of life. Although improvements are needed to reduce adverse events, PBT in combination with IAIC can be a treatment option for locally advanced ACC of the base of the tongue.
Quality of Response in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: The Role of Minimal Residual Disease
Authors: Maurillo Luca , Bassan Renato , Cascavilla Nicola , Ciceri Fabio
Published: September 2019

In the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) setting, research has extensively investigated the existence and relevance of molecular biomarkers, in order to better tailor therapy with newly developed agents and hence improve outcomes and/or save the patient from poorly effective therapies. In particular, in patients with AML, residual disease after therapy does reflect the sum of the contributions of all factors associated with diagnosis and post-diagnosis resistance. The evaluation of minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) can be considered as a key tool to guide patient’s management and a promising endpoint for clinical trials. In this narrative review, we discuss MRD evaluation as biomarker for tailored therapy in AML patients; we briefly report current evidence on the use of MRD in clinical practice, and comment on the potential ability of MRD in the assessment of the efficacy of new molecules.
Estrogen Receptors in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Di Zazzo Erika , Galasso Giovanni , Giovannelli Pia , Di Donato Marzia , Bilancio Antonio , Perillo Bruno , Sinisi Antonio A. , Migliaccio Antimo , Castoria Gabriella
Published: September 2019

Prostate cancer (PC) remains a widespread malignancy in men. Since the androgen/androgen receptor (AR) axis is associated with the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, suppression of AR-dependent signaling by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) still represents the primary intervention for this disease. Despite the initial response, prostate cancer frequently develops resistance to ADT and progresses. As such, the disease becomes metastatic and few therapeutic options are available at this stage. Although the majority of studies are focused on the role of AR signaling, compelling evidence has shown that estrogens and their receptors control prostate cancer initiation and progression through a still debated mechanism. Epithelial versus mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in metastatic spread as well as drug-resistance of human cancers, and many studies on the role of this process in prostate cancer progression have been reported. We discuss here the findings on the role of estrogen/estrogen receptor (ER) axis in epithelial versus mesenchymal transition of prostate cancer cells. The pending questions concerning this issue are presented, together with the impact of the available data in clinical management of prostate cancer patients.
Reappraisal of Human HOG and MO3.13 Cell Lines as a Model to Study Oligodendrocyte Functioning
Authors: De Kleijn Kim M. A. , Zuure Wieteke A. , Peijnenborg Jolien , Heuvelmans Josje M. , Martens Gerard J. M.
Published: September 2019

Myelination of neuronal axons is essential for proper brain functioning and requires mature myelinating oligodendrocytes (myOLs). The human OL cell lines HOG and MO3.13 have been widely used as in vitro models to study OL (dys) functioning. Here we applied a number of protocols aimed at differentiating HOG and MO3.13 cells into myOLs. However, none of the differentiation protocols led to increased expression of terminal OL differentiation or myelin-sheath formation markers. Surprisingly, the applied protocols did cause changes in the expression of markers for early OLs, neurons, astrocytes and Schwann cells. Furthermore, we noticed that mRNA expression levels in HOG and MO3.13 cells may be affected by the density of the cultured cells. Finally, HOG and MO3.13 co-cultured with human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells did not show myelin formation under several pro-OL-differentiation and pro-myelinating conditions. Together, our results illustrate the difficulty of inducing maturation of HOG and MO3.13 cells into myOLs, implying that these oligodendrocytic cell lines may not represent an appropriate model to study the (dys)functioning of human (my)OLs and OL-linked disease mechanisms.
Upregulation of Lysyl Oxidase Expression in Vitreous of Diabetic Subjects: Implications for Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Subramanian Manju L. , Stein Thor D. , Siegel Nicole , Ness Steven , Fiorello Marissa G. , Kim Dongjoon , Roy Sayon
Published: September 2019

Animal studies have shown diabetes-induced lysyl oxidase (LOX) upregulation promotes blood-retinal-barrier breakdown and retinal vascular cell loss associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, it is unclear whether changes in LOX expression contribute to the development and progression of DR. To determine if vitreous LOX levels are altered in patients with DR, 31 vitreous specimens from subjects with advanced proliferative DR (PDR), and 27 from non-diabetics were examined. The two groups were age- and gender-matched (57 ± 12 yrs vs. 53 ± 18 yrs; 19 males and 12 females vs. 17 males and 10 females). Vitreous samples obtained during vitrectomy were assessed for LOX levels using ELISA. LOX was detected in a larger number of PDR subjects (58%) than in non-diabetic subjects (15%). Additionally, ELISA measurements showed a significant increase in LOX levels in the diabetic subjects with PDR, compared to those of non-diabetic subjects (68.3 ± 112 ng/mL vs. 2.1 ± 8.2 ng/mL; p < 0.01). No gender difference in vitreous LOX levels was observed in either the diabetic or non-diabetic groups. Findings support previous reports of increased LOX levels in retinas of diabetic animals and in retinal vascular cells in high glucose condition, raising the prospect of targeting LOX overexpression as a potential target for PDR treatment.
Siglecs in Brain Function and Neurological Disorders
Authors: Siddiqui Shoib Sarwar , Matar Rachel , Merheb Maxime , Hodeify Rawad , Vazhappilly Cijo George , Marton John , Shamsuddin Syed Azharuddin , Al Zouabi Hussain
Published: September 2019

Siglecs (Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins) are a I-type lectin that typically binds sialic acid. Siglecs are predominantly expressed in immune cells and generate activating or inhibitory signals. They are also shown to be expressed on the surface of cells in the nervous system and have been shown to play central roles in neuroinflammation. There has been a plethora of reviews outlining the studies pertaining to Siglecs in immune cells. However, this review aims to compile the articles on the role of Siglecs in brain function and neurological disorders. In humans, the most abundant Siglecs are CD33 (Siglec-3), Siglec-4 (myelin-associated glycoprotein/MAG), and Siglec-11, Whereas in mice the most abundant are Siglec-1 (sialoadhesin), Siglec-2 (CD22), Siglec-E, Siglec-F, and Siglec-H. This review is divided into three parts. Firstly, we discuss the general biological aspects of Siglecs that are expressed in nervous tissue. Secondly, we discuss about the role of Siglecs in brain function and molecular mechanism for their function. Finally, we collate the available information on Siglecs and neurological disorders. It is intriguing to study this family of proteins in neurological disorders because they carry immunoinhibitory and immunoactivating motifs that can be vital in neuroinflammation.
A 2-Min Transient Ischemia Confers Cerebral Ischemic Tolerance in Non-Obese Gerbils, but Results in Neuronal Death in Obese Gerbils by Increasing Abnormal mTOR Activation-Mediated Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Park Joon Ha , Ahn Ji Hyeon , Song Minah , Kim Hyunjung , Park Cheol Woo , Park Young Eun , Lee Tae-Kyeong , Lee Jae-Chul , Kim Dae Won , Lee Choong-Hyun , Hwang In Koo , Yan Bing Chun , Ryoo Sungwoo , Kim Young-Myeong , Kang Il Jun , Won Moo-Ho , Choi Soo Young
Published: September 2019

A brief episode of transient ischemia (TI) can confer cerebral ischemic tolerance against a subsequent severer TI under standard condition. The brain under obesity’s conditions is more sensitive to ischemic injury. However, the impact of a brief episode of TI under obesity’s conditions has not been fully addressed yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of a brief TI in the hippocampus of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese gerbils and related mechanisms. Gerbils were maintained on HFD or normal diet (ND) for 12 weeks and subjected to 2 min TI. HFD gerbils were heavier, with higher blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and leptin levels. Massive loss of pyramidal neurons occurred in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) field of HFD animals at 5 days after 2 min of TI, but 2 min of TI did not elicit death of pyramidal neurons in ND gerbils. The HFD group showed significantly increased levels of oxidative stress indicators (dihydroethidium and 4-hydroxynonenal) and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) and microglial activation in pre- and/or post-ischemic phases compared to the ND group. Levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylated-mTOR in the CA1 field of the HFD group were also significantly higher than the ND group. On the other hand, inhibition of mTOR activation by rapamycin (an allosteric mTOR inhibitor) significantly attenuated neuronal death induced by HFD, showing reduction of HFD-induced increases of oxidative stress indicators and proinflammatory cytokines, and microglia activation. Taken together, a brief episode of TI can evoke neuronal death under obesity’s conditions. It might be closely associated with an abnormal increase of mTOR activation-mediated, severe oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in pre- and/or post-ischemic phases.
Pneumomediastinum Mimicking Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation
Authors: Kylat Ranjit I
Published: September 2019

Pneumomediastinum is the collection of free air in the mediastinum. Its incidence is higher in preterm infants and those on positive airway pressure support or on mechanical ventilation. But it has decreased dramatically after the introduction of surfactant and synchronized, non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Underlying cystic lesions could also increase the risk of pneumomediastinum and other air leak syndromes. Most cases resolve spontaneously but rare hemodynamic compromise may require ultrasound-guided intervention.
Role of Reef-Building, Ecosystem Engineering Polychaetes in Shallow Water Ecosystems
Authors: Bruschetti Martín
Published: September 2019

Although the effect of ecosystem engineers in structuring communities is common in several systems, it is seldom as evident as in shallow marine soft-bottoms. These systems lack abiotic three-dimensional structures but host biogenic structures that play critical roles in controlling abiotic conditions and resources. Here I review how reef-building polychaetes (RBP) engineer their environment and affect habitat quality, thus regulating community structure, ecosystem functioning, and the provision of ecosystem services in shallow waters. The analysis focuses on different engineering mechanisms, such as hard substrate production, effects on hydrodynamics, and sediment transport, and impacts mediated by filter feeding and biodeposition. Finally, I deal with landscape-level topographic alteration by RBP. In conclusion, RBP have positive impacts on diversity and abundance of many species mediated by the structure of the reef. Additionally, by feeding on phytoplankton and decreasing water turbidity, RBP can control primary production, increase light penetration, and might alleviate the effects of eutrophication affecting supporting ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling. They can also modulate cultural ecosystem services by affecting recreational activities (e.g., negative impacts on boating and angling, increased value of sites as birdwatching sites). Acknowledging the multiplicity of synergistic and antagonistic effects of RBP on ecosystems and linking changes in habitat structure, filter-feeding activities, and biodeposition to ecosystem services are essential for effective decision-making regarding their management and restoration.
Coronary Artery Microcalcification: Imaging and Clinical Implications
Authors: Vancheri Federico , Longo Giovanni , Vancheri Sergio , Danial John , Henein Michael
Published: September 2019

Strategies to prevent acute coronary and cerebrovascular events are based on accurate identification of patients at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk who may benefit from intensive preventive measures. The majority of acute CV events are precipitated by the rupture of the thin cap overlying the necrotic core of an atherosclerotic plaque. Hence, identification of vulnerable coronary lesions is essential for CV prevention. Atherosclerosis is a highly dynamic process involving cell migration, apoptosis, inflammation, osteogenesis, and intimal calcification, progressing from early lesions to advanced plaques. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of coronary atherosclerosis, correlates with clinically significant coronary artery disease (CAD), predicts future CV events and improves the risk prediction of conventional risk factors. The relative importance of coronary calcification, whether it has a protective effect as a stabilizing force of high-risk atherosclerotic plaque has been debated until recently. The extent of calcium in coronary arteries has different clinical implications. Extensive plaque calcification is often a feature of advanced and stable atherosclerosis, which only rarely results in rupture. These macroscopic vascular calcifications can be detected by computed tomography (CT). The resulting CAC scoring, although a good marker of overall coronary plaque burden, is not useful to identify vulnerable lesions prone to rupture. Unlike macrocalcifications, spotty microcalcifications assessed by intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography strongly correlate with plaque instability. However, they are below the resolution of CT due to limited spatial resolution. Microcalcifications develop in the earliest stages of coronary intimal calcification and directly contribute to plaque rupture producing local mechanical stress on the plaque surface. They result from a healing response to intense local macrophage inflammatory activity. Most of them show a progressive calcification transforming the early stage high-risk microcalcification into the stable end-stage macroscopic calcification. In recent years, new developments in noninvasive cardiovascular imaging technology have shifted the study of vulnerable plaques from morphology to the assessment of disease activity of the atherosclerotic lesions. Increased disease activity, detected by positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR), has been shown to be associated with more microcalcification, larger necrotic core and greater rates of events. In this context, the paradox of increased coronary artery calcification observed in statin trials, despite reduced CV events, can be explained by the reduction of coronary inflammation induced by statin which results in more stable macrocalcification.
Ergodic Rate for Fading Interference Channels with Proper and Improper Gaussian Signaling
Authors: Soleymani Mohammad , Santamaria Ignacio , Lameiro Christian , Schreier Peter J.
Published: September 2019

This paper studies the performance of improper Gaussian signaling (IGS) over a 2-user Rayleigh single-input single-output (SISO) interference channel, treating interference as noise. We assume that the receivers have perfect channel state information (CSI), while the transmitters have access to only statistical CSI. Under these assumptions, we consider a signaling scheme, which we refer to as proper/improper Gaussian signaling or PGS/IGS, where at most one user may employ IGS. For the Rayleigh fading channel model, we characterize the statistical distribution of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at each receiver and derive closed-form expressions for the ergodic rates. By adapting the powers, we characterize the Pareto boundary of the ergodic rate region for the 2-user fading IC. The ergodic transmission rates can be attained using fixed-rate codebooks and no optimization is involved. Our results show that, in the moderate and strong interference regimes, the proposed PGS/IGS scheme improves the performance with respect to the PGS scheme. Additionally, we numerically compute the ergodic rate region of the full IGS scheme when both users can employ IGS and their transmission parameters are optimized by an exhaustive search. Our results suggest that most of the Pareto optimal points for the 2-user fading IC channel are attained when either both users transmit PGS or when one transmits PGS and the other transmits maximally improper Gaussian signals and time sharing is allowed.
Transmission Channels of Central Bank Asset Purchases in the Irish Economy
Authors: Cawley Cormac , Finnegan Marie
Published: September 2019

The European Central Bank (ECB) engaged in an expanded asset purchase programme (APP) from 2014 to 2018 to help achieve their primary objective of price stability. Total assets purchased over this period was over €2.5 trillion and new net purchases ended in December 2018. This paper identifies whether the ECB’s APP in Ireland operated through the portfolio rebalancing channel, the signalling channel or the lending channel. It presents a quantitative descriptive analysis of some key Irish data sets in the 2014–2018 period and uses time-series visualisation and trend analysis to identify trends and correlations. There are a number of preliminary findings. First, much downward pressure on sovereign debt yields and spreads had occurred before the APP began due to previous accommodative monetary policy and the signalling channel. Second, the corporate-sector purchase programme (CSPP) did impact on targeted bonds and may have had spill overs to non-targeted bonds. Third, the APP did not lead to much increased lending to the SME sector. Fourth, while households did engage in traditional portfolio rebalancing, Irish banks did not and were perhaps more motivated to meet their capital requirements and manage their level of reserves. This is a first step towards understanding the transmission channels of ECB policy in Ireland and more work needs to be done to detangle the transmission of the most recent APP from other factors and consider these findings in the context of theoretical models. Such work is important to help inform policy makers on enhancing the transmission mechanism to the Irish economy of the recently launched new ECB asset purchase programme from November 2019.
WS-AM: Weakly Supervised Attention Map for Scene Recognition
Authors: Xia Shifeng , Zeng Jiexian , Leng Lu , Fu Xiang
Published: September 2019

Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved great success in scene recognition. Compared with traditional hand-crafted features, CNN can be used to extract more robust and generalized features for scene recognition. However, the existing scene recognition methods based on CNN do not sufficiently take into account the relationship between image regions and categories when choosing local regions, which results in many redundant local regions and degrades recognition accuracy. In this paper, we propose an effective method for exploring discriminative regions of the scene image. Our method utilizes the gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) technique and weakly supervised information to generate the attention map (AM) of scene images, dubbed WS-AM—weakly supervised attention map. The regions, where the local mean and the local center value are both large in the AM, correspond to the discriminative regions helpful for scene recognition. We sampled discriminative regions on multiple scales and extracted the features of large-scale and small-scale regions with two different pre-trained CNNs, respectively. The features from two different scales were aggregated by the improved vector of locally aggregated descriptor (VLAD) coding and max pooling, respectively. Finally, the pre-trained CNN was used to extract the global feature of the image in the fully- connected (fc) layer, and the local features were combined with the global feature to obtain the image representation. We validated the effectiveness of our method on three benchmark datasets: MIT Indoor 67, Scene 15, and UIUC Sports, and obtained 85.67%, 94.80%, and 95.12% accuracy, respectively. Compared with some state-of-the-art methods, the WS-AM method requires fewer local regions, so it has a better real-time performance.
Bias Correction to Antenna Frequency Response for Wideband Polarimetric Phased Array Radar
Authors: Wang Zhanling , Pang Chen , Li Yongzhen , Wang Xuesong
Published: September 2019

The frequency response of wideband polarimetric phased array radar antenna biases polarization measurement. A bias correction method named the iterative frequency division (IFD) algorithm is proposed in this paper to eliminate the effect of frequency response of the antenna system. The method is built on a new measurement bias model in which the effects of frequency response on the backscattering covariance matrix are analyzed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a wideband microstrip patch array element is designed. Simulation results show that the biases of differential reflectivity ( Z D R ) and linear depolarization ratio ( L D R ) can be decreased to less than 0.1 dB and − 40 dB even for wide beam direction. The proposed method maintains a favorable polarization measurement accuracy for wideband polarimetric phased array radar.
LED Arrays of Laser Printers as Valuable Sources of Electromagnetic Waves for Acquisition of Graphic Data
Authors: Kubiak Ireneusz , Loughry Joe
Published: September 2019

Classified information may be derivable from unintended electromagnetic signals. This article presents a technical analysis of LED arrays used in monochrome computer printers and their contribution to unintentional electromagnetic emanations. Analyses were based on realistic type sizes and distribution of glyphs. Usable pictures were reconstructed from intercepted radio frequency (RF) emanations. We observed differences in the legibility of information receivable at a distance that we attribute to different ways used by printer designers to control the LED arrays, particularly the difference between relatively high voltage single-ended waveforms and lower-voltage differential signals. To decode the compromising emanations required knowledge of—or guessing—printer operating parameters including resolution, printing speed, and paper size. Measurements were carried out across differences in construction and control of the LED arrays in tested printers.
Applying the Haar-cascade Algorithm for Detecting Safety Equipment in Safety Management Systems for Multiple Working Environments
Authors: Phuc Le Tran Huu , Jeon HyeJun , Truong Nguyen Tam Nguyen , Hak Jung Jae
Published: September 2019

There are many ways to maintain the safety of workers on a working site, such as using a human supervisor, computer supervisor, and smoke–flame detecting system. In order to create a safety warning system for the working site, the machine-learning algorithm—Haar-cascade classifier—was used to build four different classes for safety equipment recognition. Then a proposed algorithm was applied to calculate a score to determine the dangerousness of the current working environment based on the safety equipment and working environment. With this data, the system decides whether it is necessary to give a warning signal. For checking the efficiency of this project, three different situations were installed with this system. Generally, with the promising outcome, this application can be used in maintaining, supervising, and controlling the safety of a worker.
A Methodological Analysis Approach to Assess Solar Energy Potential at the Neighborhood Scale
Authors: Lobaccaro Gabriele , Lisowska Malgorzata Maria , Saretta Erika , Bonomo Pierluigi , Frontini Francesco
Published: September 2019

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization is continuously increasing buildings’ energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In this scenario, solar energy integrated into the built environment can play an important role in optimizing the use of renewable energy sources on urban surfaces. Preliminary solar analyses to map the solar accessibility and solar potential of building surfaces (roofs and façades) should become a common practice among urban planners, architects, and public authorities. This paper presents an approach to support urban actors to assess solar energy potential at the neighborhood scale and to address the use of solar energy by considering overshadowing effects and solar inter-building reflections in accordance with urban morphology and building characteristics. The approach starts with urban analysis and solar irradiation analysis to elaborate solar mapping of façades and roofs. Data processing allows assessment of the solar potential of the whole case study neighborhood of Sluppen in Trondheim (Norway) by localizing the most radiated parts of buildings’ surfaces. Reduction factors defined by a new method are used to estimate the final solar potential considering shadowing caused by the presence of buildings’ architectural elements (e.g., glazed surfaces, balconies, external staircases, projections) and self-shading. Finally, rough estimation of solar energy generation is assessed by providing preliminary recommendations for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems suited to local conditions. Results show that depending on urban morphology and buildings’ shapes, PV systems can cover more than 40% of the total buildings’ energy needs in Trondheim.
Online Current Loop Tuning for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Servo Motor Drives with Deadbeat Current Control
Authors: You Zih-Cing , Huang Cheng-Hong , Yang Sheng-Ming
Published: September 2019

High bandwidths and accurate current controls are essential in high-performance permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) servo drives. Compared with conventional proportional–integral control, deadbeat current control can considerably enhance the current control loop bandwidth. However, because the deadbeat current control performance is strongly affected by the variations in the electrical parameters, tuning the controller gains to achieve a satisfactory current response is crucial. Because of the prompt current response provided by the deadbeat controller, the gains must be tuned within a few control periods. Therefore, a fast online current loop tuning scheme is proposed in this paper. This scheme can accurately identify the controller gain in one current control period because the scheme is directly derived from the discrete-time motor model. Subsequently, the current loop is tuned by updating the deadbeat controller with the identified gains within eight current control periods or a speed control period. The experimental results prove that in the proposed scheme, the motor current can simultaneously have a critical-damped response equal to its reference in two current control periods. Furthermore, satisfactory current response is persistently guaranteed because of an accurate and short time delay required for the current loop tuning.
Impact of Heterogeneity on the Transient Gas Flow Process in Tight Rock
Authors: Jia Bao , Tsau Jyun-Syung , Barati Reza , Zhang Fan
Published: September 2019

There exits a great challenge to evaluate the flow properties of tight porous media even at the core scale. A pulse-decay experiment is routinely used to measure the petrophysical properties of tight cores including permeability and porosity. In this study, 5 sets of pulse-decay experiments are performed on a tight heterogeneous core by flowing nitrogen in the forward and backward directions under different pressures under pore pressures approximately from 100 psi to 300 psi. Permeability values from history matching are from about 300 nD to 600 nD which shows a good linear relationship with the inverse of pore pressure. A preferential flow path is found even when the microcrack is absent. The preferential path causes different porosity values using differential initial upstream and downstream pressure. In addition, the porosity values calculated based on the forward and backward flow directions are also different, and the values are about 1.0% and 2.3%, respectively, which is the primary novelty of this study. The core heterogeneity effect significantly affects the very early stage of pressure responses in both the upstream and downstream but the permeability values are very close in the late-stage experiment. We proposed that that there are two reasons for the preferential flow path: the Joule–Thomson effect for non-ideal gas and the core heterogeneity effect. Based on the finding of this study, we suggest that very early pressure response in a pulse-decay experiment should be closely examined to identify the preferential flow path, and failure to identify the preferential flow path leads to significant porosity and permeability underestimation.
Energy Performance Certificates—The Role of the Energy Price
Authors: Olaussen Jon Olaf , Oust Are , Solstad Jan Tore , Kristiansen Lena
Published: September 2019

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) were introduced to give property buyers better information about the energy efficiency of dwellings and provide incentives to make energy-efficient investments. Previous studies on the effect of EPCs on property value have yielded divergent results, with some studies finding that energy labels affect property values, but others finding that energy labels have little or no effect. The present paper takes the analysis one step further. Using data on energy prices in combination with transaction data from Oslo, we conclude that not only the energy label, but also the energy performance of dwellings in general, has little to no effect on transaction prices. This result is in line with the inferences of several survey studies, which indicate that when people buy a dwelling, they pay considerably less attention to its energy performance compared with other factors, such as the location, neighborhood, size, garden, and the number of bedrooms.
Evaluating the Potential of Hosting Capacity Enhancement Using Integrated Grid Planning modeling Methods
Authors: Md Saad Syahrul Nizam , van der Weijde Adriaan Hendrik
Published: September 2019

Connection of a significant amount of distributed generation, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, may lead to problems in distribution networks due to violations of distribution network hosting capacity (HC) limits. HC enhancement techniques, such as energy storage, could increase the allowable PV penetration level in the distribution network, reducing the need for transmission and large-scale generation expansion. However, current approaches for transmission and generation expansion planning do not account for distribution network HC limits. As a consequence, it is hard to quantify the impact and benefits of HC enhancement in the context of long-term grid expansion planning. This paper presents a novel integrated planning approach, combining a two-stage transmission and generation expansion planning model with a distribution network hosting capacity assessment, which allows for inclusion of detailed distribution network constraints We test this method on a stylized representation of the Malaysian grid. Our results show that distribution constraints have a significant impact on optimal transmission expansion plans and significantly increase overall system costs. HC enhancement in the form of battery storage does not significantly mitigate this but does lead to a cost decrease regardless of distribution network constraints. We also show how our approach can identify the key interactions between transmission and distribution networks in systems with high levels of renewable and storage technologies. In particular, HC enhancement with battery storage can act as a substitute or complement to line investment, depending on the renewable energy penetration, the storage location and the level of coordination in the network.
Development and Application of a 10 kV Mechanical DC Circuit Breaker
Authors: Qu Lu , Yu Zhanqing , Xiao Xiang , Zhao Wei , Huang Yulong , Zeng Rong
Published: September 2019

A DC circuit breaker is piece of core equipment for DC grid construction and can achieve fast isolation of DC faults in the grid. In this paper, based on the fault characteristics and protection requirements of an AC/DC hybrid distribution network, the technical parameters and topology structure of an inductance and capacitance (LC) resonant commutation-type mechanical DC breaker are proposed. Furthermore, an engineering prototype of the mechanical DC circuit breaker is developed, then a small current breaking test and a large current breaking test are carried out. The test results show that a 10 kA fault current can be interrupted within 10 ms by the engineering prototype. Finally, the engineering prototype of the mechanical DC circuit breaker is installed in the AC/DC hybrid distribution network project, and a current breaking test is carried out. The test results show that the mechanical DC circuit breaker has good running conditions, and the function and performance meet the engineering design and operation requirements.
Improvement of Bioethanol Production from Sweet Sorghum Juice under Very High Gravity Fermentation: Effect of Nitrogen, Osmoprotectant, and Aeration
Authors: Phukoetphim Niphaphat , Chan-u-tit Pachaya , Laopaiboon Pattana , Laopaiboon Lakkana
Published: September 2019

To improve ethanol production fermentation efficiency from sweet sorghum juice under a very high gravity (VHG, 280 g/L of total sugar) condition by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NP01, dried spent yeast (DSY), yeast extract, and glycine concentrations were optimized using an L9 (34) orthogonal array design. The results showed that the order of influence on the ethanol concentration (PE) was yeast extract > glycine > DSY. The optimal nutrient concentrations for ethanol production were determined as follows: yeast extract, 3; DSY, 4; and glycine, 5 g/L. When a verification experiment under the projected optimal conditions was done, the P, ethanol yield (Yp/s), and ethanol productivity (Qp) values were 120.1 g/L, 0.47, and 2.50 g/L·h, respectively. These values were similar to those of the positive control experiment with yeast extract supplementation at 9 g/L. The yeast viability under the optimal condition was higher than that of the control experiment. To improve sugar utilization and ethanol production, aeration at 2.5 vvm for 4 h was applied under the optimal nutrient supplementation. The P, Yp/s, and Qp values were significantly increased to 134.3 g/L, 0.50, and 2.80 g/L·h, respectively.
Application of Shallow-Hole Blasting in Improving the Stability of Gob-Side Retaining Entry in Deep Mines: A Case Study
Authors: Chen Yong , Ma Shuqi , Yang Yugui , Meng Ningkang , Bai Jianbiao
Published: September 2019

The hanging of hard roof strata in the gob-side retaining entry in deep mines could lead to dynamic disasters. The pressure relief mechanism for the hard roof strata using shallow-hole blasting was investigated by a combined method of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field test in the Sanhejian coal mine. The shallow-hole blasting model was established using LS-DYNA3D (Livemore software of explicit dynamics analysis code). The evolution and propagation law of effective stress induced by shallow-hole blasting was analyzed. The parameters related to shallow-hole blasting were determined via a combined method of numerical analysis and theoretical calculations. These were applied to the field tests. The effect of shallow-hole blasting on the strata control of deep gob-side retaining entry was studied by comparing two scenarios in the field: a deep gob-side retaining entry with and without shallow-hole blasting. It was found that the convergences of the entry decreased due to the shallow-hole blasting. This indicates that shallow-hole blasting is a good technique to maintain the stability of the gob-side retaining entry with a hard roof in deep mines.