bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling Nutritional Requirements of Growing Pigs from Local Breeds Using InraPorc
Authors: Brossard Ludovic , Nieto Rosa , Charneca Rui , Araujo José Pedro , Pugliese Carolina , Radović Čedomir , Čandek-Potokar Marjeta
Published: April 2019

Models such as InraPorc enable the growth of pigs to be simulated and their nutrient requirements to be determined. However, so far, these models have not been applied to local breeds. We used InraPorc to determine the nutrient requirements of growing pigs from local breeds (H2020 European Union project TREASURE). Data on feed composition, allowance and intake, and body weight (BW) were obtained from literature reports or experiments conducted within the project. Data were used in InraPorc to calibrate 16 growth and intake profiles from nine breeds (Alentejana, Basque, Bísara, Apulo Calabrese, Cinta Senese, Iberian, Krškopolje pig, Mangalitsa, and Moravka), with one to three profiles per breed depending on the experimental conditions or data source. On the 40–100 kg BW range, mean protein deposition (PDm) was low for all breeds (below 116 g/d vs. over 130 g/d in conventional breeds). The age of pigs at 40 kg BW (110 to 206 days) denoted different types of feeding management in addition to genetic differences. The PDm and the lysine requirements were the highest in breeds with the highest average daily gain. In all breeds, a small proportion of total body energy retention was dedicated to protein, with the greatest proportion of energy retention in the form of lipids. Despite some methodological limitations, this study provides initial insights into the nutrient requirements of some local breeds.
Partition of Cu and Pb in a Two-Stage Fluidized-Bed Waste Gasification System
Authors: Lin Chiou-Liang , Chou Jing-Dong , Weng Wang-Chang
Published: April 2019

In this study, a two-stage fluidized-bed gasification system was used to determine the distribution of heavy metal contaminants in simulative waste and evaluate the effect of the bed operating temperature, Equivalence ratio (ER), and Steam/Biomass ratio (S/B) in stage 1. The heavy metal concentrations in bed materials and fly ash were measured in two stages. The results show that as the operating temperature of stage 1 increased, the quantity of heavy metals entrapped by stage 1 bed material decreased, while that captured by stage 2 bed material increased. The less volatile Cu was mostly entrapped in stage 1 bed material. The ER and S/B results show that increasing the ER and S/B caused a slight increase in the concentrations of heavy metals entrapped in stage 1 and stage 2 bed materials. However, the influences of ER and S/B were less than that of temperature. The major factors affecting the heavy metal distribution were the operating temperature and the heavy metal volatility. Stage 2 bed material was able to entrap gaseous heavy metals or particles containing heavy metals by particle filtration and chemical adsorption. Thus, the heavy metals (Cu and Pb) had a downward trend after passing through stage 2.
Dual-View Three-Dimensional Display Based on Direct-Projection Integral Imaging with Convex Mirror Arrays
Authors: Choi Hee-Min , Choi Jae-Gwan , Kim Eun-Soo
Published: April 2019

Dual three-dimensional (3-D) view displays have been attracting much attention in many practical application fields since they can provide two kinds of realistic 3-D images with different perspectives to the viewer. Thus, in this paper, a new type of the dual-view 3-D display system based on direct-projection integral imaging using a convex-mirror-array (CMA) is proposed. Two elemental image arrays (EIAs) captured from each of the two 3-D objects are synthesized into a single dual-view EIA (DV-EIA) with a selective sub-image mapping scheme. The divergent beam of the projector containing the information of the DV-EIA is projected onto the CMA. On each convex mirror of the CMA, left and right-view components of the DV-EIA are separated and reflected back into their viewing directions. Two different 3-D scene images are then integrated and displayed on their respective viewing zones. Ray-optical analysis with the parallel-ray-approximation method and experiments with the test 3-D objects on the implemented 22″ DV 3-D display prototype confirm the feasibility of the proposed system in the practical application
A Novel Approach for the Definition of an Integrated Visual Quality Index for Residential Buildings
Authors: Zanon Stefano , Callegaro Nicola , Albatici Rossano
Published: April 2019

Visual quality is an important component of indoor environment quality and greatly affects inhabitants’ perception of the living space. Nevertheless, the lighting design of residential buildings is usually underestimated by both designers and standards. This paper presents an integrated index for evaluating the visual quality of an indoor environment in residential buildings. The main parameters considered are daylight access, probability of glare from daylight and electric illumination, maintained illuminance, and color temperature. These aspects are evaluated throughout a whole year using a fixed set of metrics and are combined using relative weights. It was decided to also consider qualitative parameters in order to give more importance to some psychological aspects of visual comfort. Finally, the building visual quality index is obtained by a weighted average of the results of each room with the addition of the qualitative parameters. The applicability of the index was tested through the simulation of a dwelling that will be built and monitored in the context of the Comfort for Sustainable Buildings in the Alps (CASA) research project. The building visual quality index proved to be useful during the design process, allowing for improvements in both electric illumination and daylight access through a comparison of different solutions. This study could represent a step towards the holistic evaluation of indoor environment quality.
Application of Polymer Curing Agent in Ecological Protection Engineering of Weak Rock Slopes
Authors: Yao Ding , Qian Guoping , Liu Jiawu , Yao Jialiang
Published: April 2019

Under the action of water, weak rock slopes easily expand and the strength and stiffness decrease, which results in slope instability. The styrene–acrylic emulsion cement-matrix composite, a new type of polymer curing agent, was developed for the curing and treatment of weak rock slopes. The strength-reduction factor method and ANSYS finite element software were used to calculate and analyze the stability of slopes before and after protection. The stability safety factor of weak rock after protection increased by 30% from 2.0 to 2.6. In order to evaluate the performance of the polymer curing agent, the mixture test was carried out in the laboratory. It was found that the waterproofness, hydrophobicity, and microstructure of weak rock slopes with the polymer curing agent can be significantly improved. Finally, the polymer curing agent was adopted and the external-soil spray-seeding technique was used in physical engineering. From test results, it was indicated that the polymer curing agent for weak slopes is beneficial in improving the water-damage resistance of a slope surface and prevent or reduce the softening of weak rock so that plants can grow for a long time. The treatment for weak rock slopes was successfully combined with plant protection, achieving the dual effect of weak rock slope protection and ecological protection.
InP-Based Foundry PICs for Optical Interconnects
Authors: Soares Francisco , Baier Moritz , Gaertner Tom , Grote Norbert , Moehrle Martin , Beckerwerth Tobias , Runge Patrick , Schell Martin
Published: April 2019

This paper describes a fabrication process for realizing Indium-Phosphide-based photonic-integrated circuits (PICs) with a high level of integration to target a wide variety of optical applications. To show the diversity in PICs achievable with our open-access foundry process, we illustrate two examples: a fully-integrated 20 Gb/s dual-polarization electro-absorption-modulated laser, and a balanced detector composed of avalanche photodiodes for detection of 28 Gb/s optical signals. On another note, datacenters are increasingly relying on hybrid integration of PICs from different technology platforms to increase transmission capacity, while simultaneously lowering cost, size, and power consumption. Several technology platforms require surface coupling rather than the traditional edge coupling to couple the light from one PIC to another. To accommodate the surface-coupling approach in our integration platform, we have developed a strategy to transfer the following optical Input/Output devices into our fabrication process: grating couplers, and vertical mirrors. In addition, we introduced etched facets into the process to improve the usability of our edge-coupling elements. We believe that the additional flexibility in Input/Output interfacing combined with the integration of multiple devices onto one PIC to reduce the number of PIC-to-PIC alignments can contribute significantly to the development of compact, low-cost, and high-performance datacenter modules.
Wind Loads on a Solar Panel at High Tilt Angles
Authors: Chou Chin-Cheng , Chung Ping-Han , Yang Ray-Yeng
Published: April 2019

A solar photovoltaic system consists of tilted panels and is prone to extreme wind loads during hurricanes or typhoons. To ensure the proper functioning of the system, it is important to determine its aerodynamic characteristics. Offshore photovoltaic (PV) systems have been developed in recent years. Wind loads are associated with wind, wave climates, and tidal regimes. In this study, the orientation of a single panel is adjusted to different angles of tilt (10°–80°) and angles of incidence for wind (0°–180°) that are pertinent to offshore PV panels. The critical wind loads on a tilted panel are observed at lower angles of incidence for the wind, when the angle of tilt for the panel is greater than 30°.
A Measurement Method of Microsphere with Dual Scanning Probes
Authors: Fang Chuanzhi , Huang Qiangxian , Xu Jian , Cheng Rongjun , Chen Lijuan , Li Ruijun , Wang Chaoqun , Zhang Liansheng
Published: April 2019

The probe tip of a micro-coordinate Measuring Machine (micro-CMM) is a microsphere with a diameter of hundreds of microns, and its sphericity is generally controlled within tens to hundreds of nanometers. However, the accurate measurement of the microsphere morphology is difficult because of the small size and high precision requirement. In this study, a measurement method with two scanning probes is proposed to obtain dimensions including the diameter and sphericity of microsphere. A series of maximum cross-sectional profiles of the microsphere in different angular directions are scanned simultaneously and differently by the scanning probes. By integrating the data of these maximum profiles, the dimensions of the microsphere can be calculated. The scanning probe is fabricated by combining a quartz tuning fork and a tungsten tip, which have a fine vertical resolution at a sub-nano scale. A commercial ruby microsphere is measured with the proposed method. Experiments that involve the scanning of six section profiles are carried out to estimate the dimensions of the ruby microsphere. The repeatability error of one section profile is 15.1 nm, which indicates that the measurement system has favorable repeatability. The mainly errors in the measurement are eliminated. The measured diameter and roundness are all consistent with the size standard of the commercial microsphere. The measurement uncertainty is evaluated, and the measurement results show that the method can be used to measure the dimensions of microspheres effectively.
A Comparative Study of Deep CNN in Forecasting and Classifying the Macronutrient Deficiencies on Development of Tomato Plant
Authors: Tran Trung-Tin , Choi Jae-Won , Le Thien-Tu , Kim Jong-Wook
Published: April 2019

During the process of plant growth, such as during the flowering stages and fruit development, the plants need to be provided with the various minerals and nutrients to grow. Nutrient deficiency is the cause of serious diseases in plant growth, affecting crop yield. In this article, we employed artificial neural network models to recognize, classify, and predict the nutritional deficiencies occurring in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). To classify and predict the different macronutrient deficiencies in the cropping process, this paper handles the captured images of the macronutrient deficiency. This deficiency during the fruiting and leafing phases of tomato plant are based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). A total of 571 images were captured with tomato leaves and fruits containing the crop species at the growth stage. Among all images, 80% (461 captured images) were used for the training dataset and 20% (110 captured images) were applied for the validation dataset. In this study, we provide an analysis of two different model architectures based on convolutional neural network for classifying and predicting the nutrient deficiency symptoms. For instance, Inception-ResNet v2 and Autoencoder with the captured images of tomato plant growth under the greenhouse conditions. Moreover, a major type of statistical structure, namely Ensemble Averaging, was applied with two aforementioned predictive models to increase the accuracy of predictive validation. Three mineral nutrients, i.e., Calcium/Ca2+, Potassium/K+, and Nitrogen/N, are considered for use in evaluating the nutrient status in the development of tomato plant with these models. The aim of this study is to predict the nutrient deficiency accurately in order to increase crop production and prevent the emergence of tomato pathology caused by lack of nutrients. The predictive performance of the three models in this paper are validated, with the accuracy rates of 87.273% and 79.091% for Inception-ResNet v2 and Autoencoder, respectively, and with 91% validity using Ensemble Averaging.
Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Fractal Dimension of Pore Structure of Basalt–Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Niu Ditao , Huang Daguan , Zheng Hao , Su Li , Fu Qiang , Luo Daming
Published: April 2019

This study investigates the effects of basalt–polypropylene fibers on the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete and calculates the fractal dimension of the pore structure of concrete by using a fractal model based on the optical method. Test results reveal that hybrid fibers can improve the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete, and the synergistic effect of the hybrid fibers is strongest when the contents of basalt fiber (BF) and polypropylene fiber (PF) are 0.05% each, and that the maximum increments in compressive strength and splitting tensile strength are 5.06% and 9.56%, respectively. The effect of hybrid fibers on splitting tensile strength is greater than on compressive strength. However, hybrid fibers have adverse effects on mechanical properties when the fiber content is too high. The pore structure of basalt–polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (BPFRC) exhibits obvious fractal characteristics, and the fractal dimension is calculated to be in the range of 2.297–2.482. The fractal dimension has a strong correlation with the air content and spacing factor: the air content decreases significantly whereas the spacing factor increases with increasing fractal dimension. In addition, the fractal dimension also has a strong positive correlation with compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. Therefore, the fractal dimension of the pore structure can be used to evaluate the microscopic pore structure of concrete and can also reflect the influence of the complexity of the pore structure on the macroscopic mechanical properties of concrete.
Membrane Localization of HspA1A, a Stress Inducible 70-kDa Heat-Shock Protein, Depends on Its Interaction with Intracellular Phosphatidylserine
Authors: Bilog Andrei D. , Smulders Larissa , Oliverio Ryan , Labanieh Cedra , Zapanta Julianne , Stahelin Robert V. , Nikolaidis Nikolas
Published: April 2019

HspA1A is a cytosolic molecular chaperone essential for cellular homeostasis. HspA1A also localizes at the plasma membrane (PM) of tumor and stressed cells. However, it is currently unknown how this cytosolic protein translocates to the PM. Taking into account that HspA1A interacts with lipids, including phosphatidylserine (PS), and that lipids recruit proteins to the PM, we hypothesized that the interaction of HspA1A with PS allows the chaperone to localize at the PM. To test this hypothesis, we subjected cells to mild heat-shock and the PM-localized HspA1A was quantified using confocal microscopy and cell surface biotinylation. These experiments revealed that HspA1A’s membrane localization increased during recovery from non-apoptotic heat-shock. Next, we selectively reduced PS targets by overexpressing the C2 domain of lactadherin (Lact-C2), a known PS-biosensor, and determined that HspA1A’s membrane localization was greatly reduced. In contrast, the reduction of PI(4,5)P2 availability by overexpression of the PLCδ-PH biosensor had minimal effects on HspA1A’s PM-localization. Implementation of a fluorescent PS analog, TopFluor-PS, established that PS co-localizes with HspA1A. Collectively, these results reveal that HspA1A’s PM localization and anchorage depend on its selective interaction with intracellular PS. This discovery institutes PS as a new and dynamic partner in the cellular stress response.
Real-Time Measurement of Melanoma Cell-Mediated Human Brain Endothelial Barrier Disruption Using Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing Technology
Authors: Anchan Akshata , Kalogirou-Baldwin Panagiota , Johnson Rebecca , Kho Dan T , Joseph Wayne , Hucklesby James , Finlay Graeme J , O’Carroll Simon J , Angel Catherine E , Graham E Scott
Published: April 2019

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is an impedance-based method for monitoring changes in cell behaviour in real-time. In this paper, we highlight the importance of ECIS in measuring the kinetics of human melanoma cell invasion across human brain endothelium. ECIS data can be mathematically modelled to assess which component of the endothelial paracellular and basolateral barriers is being affected and when. Our results reveal that a range of human melanoma cells can mediate disruption of human brain endothelium, primarily involving the paracellular route, as demonstrated by ECIS. The sensitivity of ECIS also reveals that the paracellular barrier weakens within 30–60 min of the melanoma cells being added to the apical face of the endothelial cells. Imaging reveals pronounced localisation of the melanoma cells at the paracellular junctions consistent with paracellular migration. Time-lapse imaging further reveals junctional opening and disruption of the endothelial monolayer by the invasive melanoma cells all within several hours. We suggest that the ability of ECIS to resolve changes to barrier integrity in real time, and to determine the route of migration, provides a powerful tool for future studies investigating the key molecules involved in the invasive process of cancer cells.
A Review on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Pilot Roberto , Signorini Raffaella , Durante Christian , Orian Laura , Bhamidipati Manjari , Fabris Laura
Published: April 2019

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has become a powerful tool in chemical, material and life sciences, owing to its intrinsic features (i.e., fingerprint recognition capabilities and high sensitivity) and to the technological advancements that have lowered the cost of the instruments and improved their sensitivity and user-friendliness. We provide an overview of the most significant aspects of SERS. First, the phenomena at the basis of the SERS amplification are described. Then, the measurement of the enhancement and the key factors that determine it (the materials, the hot spots, and the analyte-surface distance) are discussed. A section is dedicated to the analysis of the relevant factors for the choice of the excitation wavelength in a SERS experiment. Several types of substrates and fabrication methods are illustrated, along with some examples of the coupling of SERS with separation and capturing techniques. Finally, a representative selection of applications in the biomedical field, with direct and indirect protocols, is provided. We intentionally avoided using a highly technical language and, whenever possible, intuitive explanations of the involved phenomena are provided, in order to make this review suitable to scientists with different degrees of specialization in this field.
H-ZSM-5 Materials Embedded in an Amorphous Silica Matrix: Highly Selective Catalysts for Propylene in Methanol-to-Olefin Process
Authors: Kamaluddin Huda Sharbini , Basahel Sulaiman Nassir , Narasimharao Katabathini , Mokhtar Mohamed
Published: April 2019

H-ZSM-5 materials embedded in an amorphous silica were successfully synthesized with three different Si/Al ratios (i.e., 40, 45, and 50). The presence of the MFI structure in the synthesized samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), and solid state-nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) techniques. The morphology and textural properties of the samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM, and N2-physisorption measurements. Furthermore, acidic properties of the synthesized catalysts have been studied by NH3-TPD and FT-IR spectroscopy of CO adsorption studies. Variation of the Si/Al ratio affected the crystal morphology, porosity, and particle size, as well as the strength and distribution of acid sites. The synthesized zeolite materials possessed low acid-site density and exhibited high catalytic activity in the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) reaction. To study the intermediate species responsible for catalyst deactivation, the MTO reaction was carried out at high temperature (500 °C) to accelerate catalyst deactivation. Interestingly, the synthesized catalysts offered high selectivity towards the formation of propylene (C3=), in comparison to a commercial microporous crystalline H-ZSM-5 with Si/Al = 40, under the same reaction conditions. The synthesized H-ZSM-5 materials offered a selectivity ratio of C3=/C2= 12, while it is around 2 for the commercial H-ZSM-5 sample. The formation of hydrocarbon species during MTO reaction over zeolite samples has been systematically studied with operando UV-vis spectroscopy and online gas chromatography. It is proposed that the strength and type of acid sites of catalyst play a role in propylene selectivity as well as the fast growing of active intermediate species. The effective conversion of methanol into propylene in the case of synthesized H-ZSM-5 materials was observed due to possession of weak acid sites. This effect is more pronounced in H-ZSM-5 sample with a Si/Al ratio of 45.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Study of Waterborne Epoxy Coating Film Formation
Authors: Končan Volmajer Natalija , Steinbücher Miha , Berce Peter , Venturini Peter , Gaberšček Miran
Published: April 2019

The film formation process in waterborne (WB) epoxy coatings is studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Ten epoxy coatings with different pigment volume concentration were prepared on standard steel substrates and carefully monitored over four weeks (30 days). It is shown that impedance spectroscopy can serve as a very sensitive tool for accurate experimental detection of the critical pigment volume concentration. We also show that the optimal film formation process and corrosion stability of coatings are greatly affected by the coating pigment volume concentration (PVC) value. As a whole, the study confirms that the optimization of coating protection ability needs to take into account both maximization of the barrier effect as well as maximization of the degree of epoxy-amino cross-linking.
Kinetically Deposited Copper Antimicrobial Surfaces
Authors: Champagne Victor , Sundberg Kristin , Helfritch Dennis
Published: April 2019

Bacterial and viral contamination of contact surfaces increases the risk of infection. A great deal of work has been done on the capabilities of copper and its alloys to protect against a variety of microorganisms endangering public health, particularly in healthcare and food processing applications. This work has conclusively shown the effectiveness of copper for touch surface disinfection; however, the optimum microstructural characteristics of the copper surface have not been established. The sterilization effectiveness of three kinetically sprayed copper surfaces and two copper feedstocks were examined. The surfaces were inoculated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and influenza A virus. After a two-hour exposure to the surfaces, the surviving microorganisms were assayed, and the results contrasted. These tests showed substantial antimicrobial differences between the coatings generated by the spray techniques and those obtained by different feedstock powders. The significance of the copper spray application was demonstrated, and the application-dependent mechanism for antimicrobial effectiveness was explained.
Local Complexity Estimation Based Filtering Method in Wavelet Domain for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Denoising
Authors: Orea-Flores Izlian Y. , Gallegos-Funes Francisco J. , Arellano-Reynoso Alfonso
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we propose the local complexity estimation based filtering method in wavelet domain for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) denoising. A threshold selection methodology is proposed in which the edge and detail preservation properties for each pixel are determined by the local complexity of the input image. In the proposed filtering method, the current wavelet kernel is compared with a threshold to identify the signal- or noise-dominant pixels in a scale providing a good visual quality avoiding blurred and over smoothened processed images. We present a comparative performance analysis with different wavelets to find the optimal wavelet for MRI denoising. Numerical experiments and visual results in simulated MR images degraded with Rician noise demonstrate that the proposed algorithm consistently outperforms other denoising methods by balancing the tradeoff between noise suppression and fine detail preservation. The proposed algorithm can enhance the contrast between regions allowing the delineation of the regions of interest between different textures or tissues in the processed images. The proposed approach produces a satisfactory result in the case of real MRI denoising by balancing the detail preservation and noise removal, by enhancing the contrast between the regions of the image. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is compared with other approaches in the case of Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) using standard images to demonstrate that the proposed approach does not need to be adapted specifically to Rician or AWGN noise; it is an advantage of the proposed approach in comparison with other methods. Finally, the proposed scheme is simple, efficient and feasible for MRI denoising.
Exclusion and Underdetermined Qualia
Authors: Moon Kyumin
Published: April 2019

Integrated information theory (IIT) asserts that both the level and the quality of consciousness can be explained by the ability of physical systems to integrate information. Although the scientific content and empirical prospects of IIT have attracted interest, this paper focuses on another aspect of IIT, its unique theoretical structure, which relates the phenomenological axioms with the ontological postulates. In particular, the relationship between the exclusion axiom and the exclusion postulate is unclear. Moreover, the exclusion postulate leads to a serious problem in IIT: the quale underdetermination problem. Therefore, in this paper, I will explore answers to the following three questions: (1) how does the exclusion axiom lead to the exclusion postulate? (2) How does the exclusion postulate cause the qualia underdetermination problem? (3) Is there a solution to this problem? I will provide proposals and arguments for each question. If successful, IIT can be confirmed with respect to, not only its theoretical foundation, but also its practical application.
Computer Model of Synapse Loss During an Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Pathology in Hippocampal Subregions DG, CA3 and CA1—The Way to Chaos and Information Transfer
Authors: Świetlik Dariusz , Białowąs Jacek , Moryś Janusz , Kusiak Aida
Published: April 2019

The aim of the study was to compare the computer model of synaptic breakdown in an Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus with a control model using neuronal parameters and methods describing the complexity of the system, such as the correlative dimension, Shannon entropy and positive maximal Lyapunov exponent. The model of synaptic breakdown (from 13% to 50%) in the hippocampus modeling the dynamics of an Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology was simulated. Modeling consisted in turning off one after the other EC2 connections and connections from the dentate gyrus on the CA3 pyramidal neurons. The pathological model of synaptic disintegration was compared to a control. The larger synaptic breakdown was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the number of spikes (R = −0.79, P < 0.001), spikes per burst (R = −0.76, P < 0.001) and burst duration (R = −0.83, P < 0.001) and an increase in the inter-burst interval (R = 0.85, P < 0.001) in DG-CA3-CA1. The positive maximal Lyapunov exponent in the control model was negative, but in the pathological model had a positive value of DG-CA3-CA1. A statistically significant decrease of Shannon entropy with the direction of information flow DG->CA3->CA1 (R = −0.79, P < 0.001) in the pathological model and a statistically significant increase with greater synaptic breakdown (R = 0.24, P < 0.05) of the CA3-CA1 region was obtained. The reduction of entropy transfer for DG->CA3 at the level of synaptic breakdown of 35% was 35%, compared with the control. Entropy transfer for CA3->CA1 at the level of synaptic breakdown of 35% increased to 95% relative to the control. The synaptic breakdown model in an Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in DG-CA3-CA1 exhibits chaotic features as opposed to the control. Synaptic breakdown in which an increase of Shannon entropy is observed indicates an irreversible process of Alzheimer’s disease. The increase in synapse loss resulted in decreased information flow and entropy transfer in DG->CA3, and at the same time a strong increase in CA3->CA1.
Aging Modulates the Resting Brain after a Memory Task: A Validation Study from Multivariate Models
Authors: Artola Garazi , Isusquiza Erik , Errarte Ane , Barrenechea Maitane , Alberdi Ane , Hernández-Lorca María , Solesio-Jofre Elena
Published: April 2019

Recent work has demonstrated that aging modulates the resting brain. However, the study of these modulations after cognitive practice, resulting from a memory task, has been scarce. This work aims at examining age-related changes in the functional reorganization of the resting brain after cognitive training, namely, neuroplasticity, by means of the most innovative tools for data analysis. To this end, electroencephalographic activity was recorded in 34 young and 38 older participants. Different methods for data analyses, including frequency, time-frequency and machine learning-based prediction models were conducted. Results showed reductions in Alpha power in old compared to young adults in electrodes placed over posterior and anterior areas of the brain. Moreover, young participants showed Alpha power increases after task performance, while their older counterparts exhibited a more invariant pattern of results. These results were significant in the 140–160 s time window in electrodes placed over anterior regions of the brain. Machine learning analyses were able to accurately classify participants by age, but failed to predict whether resting state scans took place before or after the memory task. These findings greatly contribute to the development of multivariate tools for electroencephalogram (EEG) data analysis and improve our understanding of age-related changes in the functional reorganization of the resting brain.
School Development in Culturally Diverse U.S. Schools: Balancing Evidence-Based Policies and Education Values
Authors: Ylimaki Rose , Brunderman Lynnette
Published: April 2019

This article problematizes evidence-based policies in the USA, using Dewey’s (1916) education theory and findings from a school development project in 71 culturally diverse Arizona schools. The study asked three questions: (1) How do formal and informal school leaders work in teams to mediate between evidence-based policy requirements at federal, state, and district levels and the needs of culturally diverse students? (2) What leadership team practices contribute to school development as measured by improved student outcomes in school letter grades? (3) What values from evidence-based policies and democratic education are evident in effective school development? Evaluation methods featured qualitative interviews with leadership team members in 71 schools as well as a descriptive analysis of school letter grades based primarily upon student outcomes. Results indicated improved student outcomes in letter grades and enhanced leadership capacity and democratic values as well as evidence-based values that contributed to school development. The article concludes with next steps to expand the project to another region of the USA and a call for a balanced use of evidence (including standardized test scores) constructed through Dewey’s notion of democratic values of education.
Multi-User Linear Equalizer and Precoder Scheme for Hybrid Sub-Connected Wideband Systems
Authors: Castanheira Daniel , Teodoro Sara , Simões Ricardo , Silva Adão , Gameiro Atilio
Published: April 2019

Millimeter waves and massive multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) are two promising key technologies to achieve the high demands of data rate for the future mobile communication generation. Due to hardware limitations, these systems employ hybrid analog–digital architectures. Nonetheless, most of the works developed for hybrid architectures focus on narrowband channels, and it is expected that millimeter waves be wideband. Moreover, it is more feasible to have a sub-connected architecture than a fully connected one, due to the hardware constraints. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to design a sub-connected hybrid analog–digital multi-user linear equalizer combined with an analog precoder to efficiently remove the multi-user interference. We consider low complexity user terminals employing pure analog precoders, computed with the knowledge of a quantized version of the average angles of departure of each cluster. At the base station, the hybrid multi-user linear equalizer is optimized by using the bit-error-rate (BER) as a metric over all the subcarriers. The analog domain hardware constraints, together with the assumption of a flat analog equalizer over the subcarriers, considerably increase the complexity of the corresponding optimization problem. To simplify the problem at hand, the merit function is first upper bounded, and by leveraging the specific properties of the resulting problem, we show that the analog equalizer may be computed iteratively over the radio frequency (RF) chains by assigning the users in an interleaved fashion to the RF chains. The proposed hybrid sub-connected scheme is compared with a fully connected counterpart.
A Highly Linear Low-Noise Transimpedance Amplifier for Indoor Fiber-Wireless Remote Antenna Units
Authors: Royo Guillermo , Martinez-Perez Antonio D. , Sanchez-Azqueta Carlos , Aldea Concepcion , Celma Santiago
Published: April 2019

This article presents an optimized design of a low-noise transimpedance amplifier (TIA) with high linearity for use in the downlink receiver of a remote antenna unit (RAU). The aim of this design is to be used in a cost-effective indoor distributed antenna system (DAS) for WLAN transmission using a mixed fiber-wireless system. The circuit topology consists of a fully differential shunt–shunt feedback TIA with digitally programmable transimpedance. An open-loop gain compensation technique is used to maintain stability and constant bandwidth (BW). The TIA has been fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology with a 1.2 V voltage supply. The total power consumption of the TIA is 6 mW. A complete electrical and optical characterization with a 1550 nm PIN photodiode has been performed to demonstrate the reliable 54 Mb/s 802.11a WLAN transmission achieved with an error vector magnitude (EVM) lower than 3% for a 20 dB optical input range.
A Novel Approach towards Resource Auto-Registration and Discovery of Embedded Systems Based on DNS
Authors: Khudoyberdiev Azimbek , Jin Wenquan , Kim DoHyeun
Published: April 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to deliver a whole range of new services to all parts of our society, and improve the way we work and live. The challenges within the Internet of Things are often related to interoperability, device resource constraints, a device to device connection and security. One of the essential elements of identification for each Internet of Things devices is the naming system and addresses. With this naming system, Internet of Things devices can be able to be discoverable by users. In this paper, we propose the IoT resource auto-registration and accessing indoor services based on Domain Name System (DNS) in the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) environment. We have used the Internet of Things Platform and DNS server for IoT Resource auto-registration and discovery in the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). An existing system called Domain Name Auto-Registration in Internet Protocol version 6 can be used for Internet of Things devices for auto-registration and resource discovery. However, this system is not acceptable in the existing internet networks, because the highest percentage of the networks on the Internet are configured in Internet Protocol version 4. Through the proposed auto-registration system, clients can be able to discover the resources and access the services in the OCF network. Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) is utilized for the IoT device auto-registration and accessing the services in the OCF network.
Impacts of Non-Uniform Border Temperature Variations on Time-Dependent Nanofluid Free Convection within a Trapezium: Buongiorno’s Nanofluid Model
Authors: Revnic Cornelia , Ghalambaz Mohammad , Groşan Teodor , Sheremet Mikhail , Pop Ioan
Published: April 2019

The present study develops the influence of inclined border temperature variations on the isotherms, streamlines, and isoconcentrations for unsteady free convection in a trapezoidal region filled with the water-based nanofluid. The considered mathematical nanofluid approach was formulated based on the Buongiorno’s model. The set of governing partial differential equations formulated using non-dimensional primitive variables such as velocity, pressure, temperature, and nanoparticles concentration volume fraction was solved numerically using the finite element method for various magnitudes of control characteristics. It was revealed that control characteristics affected the liquid circulation and energy transport coefficients. The Nusselt number is a growing function of wave number, amplitude, and the Rayleigh number.
Interraciality in Early Twentieth Century Britain: Challenging Traditional Conceptualisations through Accounts of ‘Ordinariness’
Authors: Caballero Chamion
Published: April 2019

The popular conception of interraciality in Britain is one that frequently casts mixed racial relationships, people and families as being a modern phenomenon. Yet, as scholars are increasingly discussing, interraciality in Britain has much deeper and diverse roots, with racial mixing and mixedness now a substantively documented presence at least as far back as the Tudor era. While much of this history has been told through the perspectives of outsiders and frequently in the negative terms of the assumed ‘orthodoxy of the interracial experience’—marginality, conflict, rejection and confusion—first-hand accounts challenging these perceptions allow a contrasting picture to emerge. This article contributes to the foregrounding of this more complex history through focusing on accounts of interracial ‘ordinariness’—both presence and experiences—throughout the early decades of the twentieth century, a time when official concern about racial mixing featured prominently in public debate. In doing so, a more multidimensional picture of interracial family life than has frequently been assumed is depicted, one which challenges mainstream attitudes about conceptualisations of racial mixing both then and now.
Archaeometric Characterisation of Decorated Pottery from the Archaeological Site of Villa dei Quintili (Rome, Italy): Preliminary Study
Authors: Ricca Michela , Paladini Giuseppe , Rovella Natalia , Ruffolo Silvestro Antonio , Randazzo Luciana , Crupi Vincenza , Fazio Barbara , Majolino Domenico , Venuti Valentina , Galli Giuliana , La Russa Mauro Francesco
Published: April 2019

This work focused on the study of decorated pottery dated back to the 16th century from the Roman archaeological site of Villa dei Quintili, a monumental complex located in the south-eastern part of Rome (Italy). A minero-petrographic and geochemical study was undertaken to analyse five archaeological samples in order to define textural features and raw materials used for their production, along with the chemical and physical composition of the superficial decorative glazed coatings. For this purpose, different analytical methods were used, such as polarising optical microscope (POM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), and electron microprobe analysis coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (EMPA-EDS). The results of such a multidisciplinary approach allowed us to achieve important results crucial to recognise the shards as majolica of the Renaissance period, improving knowledge about manufacturing processes of these renowned painted ceramic artefacts.
Post-Wildfire Landslide Hazard Assessment: The Case of The 2017 Montagna Del Morrone Fire (Central Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Carabella Cristiano , Miccadei Enrico , Paglia Giorgio , Sciarra Nicola
Published: April 2019

This work focused on a post-wildfire landslide hazard assessment, applied to the 2017 Montagna del Morrone fire. This wildfire increased the possibility of landslides triggering, as confirmed by the occurrence of a debris flow, triggered by an intense, short duration rainfall event in August 2018. The study area was investigated through a detailed analysis incorporating morphometric analysis of the topography and hydrography and geomorphological field mapping, followed by the landslide hazard assessment. In detail, the analysis was performed following a heuristic or expert-based approach, integrated using GIS technology. This approach led to the identification of five instability factors. These factors were analyzed for the construction of thematic maps. Hence, each factor was evaluated by assigning appropriate expert-based ranks and weights and combined in a geomorphology-based matrix, that defines four landslide hazard classes (low, moderate, high, and very high). Moreover, the morphometric analysis allowed us to recognize basins prone to debris flows, which, in relevant literature, are those that show a Melton ratio of >0.6 and a watershed length of <2.7 km. Finally, all the collected data were mapped through a cartographic and weighted overlay process in order to realize a new zonation of landslide hazard for the study area, which can be used in civil protection warning systems for the occurrence of landslides in mountainous forested environments.
The Impact of Sea Shore Protection on Aeolian Processes Using the Example of the Beach in Rowy, N Poland
Authors: Hojan Marcin , Rurek Mirosław , Krupa Adam
Published: April 2019

The Polish Baltic Sea coast is subject to constant changes as a result of sea erosion on sandy and clayey sections. Sand accumulates only on a few sandy sections of the shore. There are various methods of protection limiting the negative impact of sea waves on the shore. In the city of Rowy, the coast was secured with the use of a comprehensive method (artificial reef, textile tube, spurs, and beach nourishment), which has mitigated the sea’s negative impact. The beach has been widened. The upper part of the beach has been built up to the level of the foredune. Biotechnical protection has not been applied at the border between the beach and the foredune (fascine hurdles from brushwood, sand fences, and branches). This has caused wind blowing of sand from the beach to the forest growing on the foredune. The sand also covered the access road to holiday resorts. This was favored by the strong wind from the sea. Several morphological surveys were carried out, including topographic surveys and sedimentological samplings. The range of sand coverage and types of forms (aeolian shadows and drifts) were determined. Fifty eight samples of sand from various sources were collected for sedimentological analysis. Speed and directions of winds that occurred in 2001–2018 were also analyzed. Three wind speed criteria were distinguished: ≥4 m·s−1, ≥10 m·s−1, and ≥15 m·s−1, responsible for blowing away and transporting material. Results indicate that reconstruction of the beach to the height of the foredune, lack of biotechnical protection, and strong, coastal directions of the wind were the main factors responsible for increased aeolian transport of sand inland. Effects of aeolian processes such as those observed on the beach in Rowy were not observed elsewhere on the Polish coast of the South Baltic Sea, where beach nourishment was also performed.
Painting a Bibliography: Excerpts from SPEECH
Authors: Magi Jill
Published: April 2019

The following excerpts—rearranged especially for this condensed reading space—are from a project entitled SPEECH (Nightboat Books 2019): a book of poetry, prose, and images from an archive of paintings that were made by the author during the time of the book’s writing [...]
Effects of Bucket Type and Angle on Downstream Nappe Wind Caused by a Turbulent Jet
Authors: Lian Jijian , He Junling , Gou Wenjuan , Ran Danjie
Published: April 2019

The downstream nappe wind caused by flood discharge has a great influence on the rainfall distribution, the operational safety of dams, and their surrounding ecological environments. A physical experiment was conducted to measure the spatial distribution of the downstream nappe wind and the splash for a continuous bucket (CB) and a tongue-shaped bucket (TB) for five bucket angles (40°, 45°, 50°, 55°, and 60°). The experimental results demonstrate that the trajectory width and height of the nappe increase as the angles increase, but the effect on the length is converse. The wind velocity and splash weight of the two buckets decrease along the flowing direction. In the lateral direction, the wind velocity and splash weight for the CB decrease as y increases, but the wind velocity of the TB trends to humplike; its splash weight decreases near the axis of the bucket, and is stable in the other region. In the vertical direction, the velocity for the CB increases and then decreases as z increases, but that for the TB decreases monotonously. The velocity of the wind and weight of the splash for the CB decreases with the increasing angles, but those of the TB peak at 45°. The findings are useful for the more accurate prediction of rainfall.