bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tıbbi Metin Dokümanlarının Sınıflandırılmasında Terim Ağırlıklandırma Yöntemlerinin Başarımlarının Kıyaslanması
Authors: Doğan Turgut , Uysal Alper K.
Published: March 2019

Günümüzde metin sınıflandırma çalışmalarında elde edilen başarılar, araştırmacıların belirli bir alana yönelik metin dokümanlarının sınıflandırılması konusundaki motivasyonlarını da arttırmaktadır. Tıbbi dokümanların sınıflandırılması problemi bu kapsamdaki araştırma çalışmalarına örnek olarak verilebilir. Tıbbi metin dokümanları denince akla literatürde yaygın olarak kullanılan, tıbbi dergilere ait, çok sınıflı ve çok etiketli dokümanları içeren bibliyografik bir veri tabanı olan MEDLINE gelmektedir. Bu çalışmada oldukça dengesiz bir yapıya sahip olan MEDLINE veri tabanında yer alan en fazla dokümana sahip ilk 10 sınıf derlenerek oluşturulan veri kümesi kullanılmıştır. Literatürde Türkçe dokümanların sınıflandırılmasına yönelik çalışmaların az olması sebebiyle; deneyler bu veri kümesine ait hem İngilizce hem de Türkçe dokümanlar ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Öğrenme algoritması olarak SVM ve KNN olmak üzere 2 farklı sınıflandırıcının kullanıldığı deneylerde, ağırlıklandırma aşamasında ise 7 farklı terim ağırlıklandırma şeması kullanılmış ve sınıflandırma başarımları hem düşük hem de yüksek boyutlarda kıyaslanmıştır. TF-IDF, TF-PB, TF-RF, TF-RR, TF-IGM, TF-IDF-ICF ve TF-IDF-ICSDF terim ağırlıklandırma yöntemleri ile elde edilen sonuçlar, TF-IGM terim ağırlıklandırma yönteminin genel olarak diğerlerine nazaran daha iyi performans sergilediğini göstermektedir. İki-sınıflı sınıflandırmaya uygun olarak ağırlıklandırma yapan TF-PB ve TF-RF gibi yöntemlerin sınıflandırma başarımları ise çok-sınıflı sınıflandırmaya uygun olarak ağırlıklandırma yapan IDF tabanlı yöntemlerin oldukça gerisinde kalmıştır.
Seyhan havzasında Palmer kuraklık indeksleri ile kuraklık analizi
Authors: Dikici Mehmet , İpek Cengiz , Topçu İsmail
Published: March 2019

Kuraklık, geniş alanlarda ve belirli bir zaman aralığında su kullanımının önemli derecede azalmasını tarif eden doğal bir olaydır. Dünyanın değişik bölgelerinde meydana gelen kuraklık, ekonomik faaliyetlere, insan yaşamına ve ekosistem ile alakalı çeşitli faktörlere etki eder. Küresel hidrolojik çevrimin karmaşık olması nedeni ile kuraklığın kökenini belirlemek gerçek anlamda mümkün olamamaktadır. Ancak küresel ısınmanın yanında şehirleşmenin etkisi yadsınamaz bir gerçektir. Bu çalışmada, Seyhan havzasında ölçülmüş olan aylık ortalama yağış, sıcaklık ve su tutma kapasiteleri kullanılarak Palmer kuraklık şiddeti indisi (PDSI) metoduna göre kuraklığın saptanması hedeflenmiştir. Seyhan Havzası kuraklık analizi çalışması kapsamında kullanılacak meteorolojik, hidrolojik ve hidrojeolojik veriler için veri boşluk analizi yapılarak veri varlığı değerlendirilmiş, en uzun ve uygun ortak periyot olarak meteorolojik verilerin analizinde 1970-2016, hidrolojik ve hidrojeolojik verilerin analizinde 1970-2015 yılları esasa alınmıştır.Yavaş ilerleyen bir kuraklık gözlemlenmiştir.
Dört Tarafından Ankastre Mesnetli ve Üç Kenarı Mafsallı Mesnetli· Di·ğer Kenarı Boşta Berkitmesiz Dikdörtgen Narin Levhaların Taşıma Davranışlarının Belirlenmesi
Authors: Yelgin Ahmet Necati , Yelgin Hüseyin
Published: March 2019

Çelik yapının birçok mühendislik uygulamalarında, berkitilmemiş Dört Kenarından Ankastre Mesnetlenmiş ve bir kenarı boşta diğer üç kenarından mafsallı mesrıetlenmiş berkitmesiz dikdörtgen levhalar, taşıyıcı konstrüksiyonun önemli elemanları olarak çalışmaktadır. Bu tür levhalar genellikle kutu kesitli yapma kolonlarda, yapma I kirişlerinin gövdelerinde, gemi ve uçak sanayiinde gemi ve uçakların dış yüzeyini örtmek için kullanılırlar. Birçok çelik konstrüksiyonlarda, dörtkenarı ankastre, mafsallı mesnetlenmiş berkitmesiz dikdörtgen çelik levhalar çok sıklıkla kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada önce Dört Kenarı Ankastre Levhalar hazırlanmıştır. Bu levhaların b / t levha narinliği ve ? = a / b levha kenar oranının değişik durumları incelenecektir. Araştırma için, t = 3 mm ve t = 4 mm olmak üzere iki tür levha kullanılmıştır. Söz konusu deney epruvetleri, farklı kalınlıklı, aynı malzeme özellikli (St 37) ve tek parça olarak 375x375, 375x325, 375x275, 375x225 ve 375x175 ebatlarında kesilerek elde edilmiştir. Her bir tür kesitten 2 adet olmak üzere t = 3 mm kalınlıklı levhadan 10 adet ve t = 4 mm kalınlıklı levhadan 10 adet olmak üzere toplam 20 adet deney epruveti hazırlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada ayrıca, düzgün yayılı basınç yükü ile yüklenmiş, üç tarafından mafsallı mesnetli diğer kenarı boşta olan berkitmesiz dikdörtgen levhaların taşıma yüklerinin araştırılmasıdır. Şu ana kadar levha buruşması konusunda gayet az sayıda deneysel araştırma yapılmış bulunduğundan, uygun deneylerin gerçekleştirilerek, bu konuda araştırmaların yapılması büyük bir anlam ifade etmektedir.
Ön Dökümlü Betonarme Döşemenin Epoksi Reçinesi Yardımıyla Çelik Plakalarla Güçlendirilmesinden Elde Edilen Kompozit Kirişlerde Epoksi Reçinesinin Davranışının İncelenmesi
Authors: Yelgin Ahmet Necati , Çetin Özgür
Published: March 2019

Betonarme taşıyıcı sistem elemanlarındaki güçlendirme ve onarım uygulamalarında epoksi reçinesi gibi yapıştırıcı malzemeler kullanılmaktadır. Yapıştırdıkları iki malzemenin ara yüzeyinde yüksek mukavemet ve aderans sağlayan bu uygulama ile sistemin kısa sürede, gerekli mukavemete ulaşması mümkündür. Ancak bu tip birleşimlerin mukavemet seviyesinin çoğunlukla hesap dışı girdilere bağlı olması ve Uygulama sonrası mukavemet tespitinin normal koşullarda mümkün olmaması temel problemler olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, literatürde bu konuda yapılan deneysel içerikli çeşitli araştırmalar değerlendirilmiş ve bu tip uygulamaların her koşulda yeterli ve standart sonuç verebilmesi bağlamında, bu çalışmayı kapsayan Master Tezi çalışmasına dayanılarak bir takım işlem kriterleri ortaya konmuştur.
Büyük Veri Setlerinde Varlık Tanıma: En Sık Geçen E-Posta, Web Adreslerinin ve Emojilerin Tespit Edilmesi
Authors: Arslan Ahmet , Alkılınç Ahmet , Dinçer Bekir Taner
Published: March 2019

İnternetin ve sosyal web sitelerinin ortaya çıkmasıyla birlikte, dijital verilerin hacmi her geçen gün artmaktadır. Bu büyük miktardaki verilerden anlamlı bilgi elde etmek ve işlemek o kadar kolay değildir. Geleneksel yöntemleri ve araçları kullanarak bu büyük veriyi işlemek oldukça külfetli ve zaman alıcıdır. Bu gibi durumlarda, büyük veri işleme araçları bir çözüm olarak devreye girmektedir. Bu çalışmada büyük veri indeksleme ve arama yazılımı olan Apache Lucene kullanılarak, yarım milyar Web sayfası içinde en sık geçen e-posta, Web adresleri ve emojilerin nasıl tespit edildiği anlatılmaktadır.
Recovering Data Using MFT Records in NTFS File System
Authors: Taskin Suleyman Gokhan , Kucuksille Ecir Ugur
Published: March 2019

Data storage devices use a specific structure when storing or accessing the stored data. This is called file system. Before beginning to store data in the data storage device, it must be formatted absolutely. While this data storage device is being formatted, the file system should be selected.NTFS, the most commonly used file system, keeps the files in the disk as a list in the MFT (Master File Table) file. Even if the file is deleted, the file record in this table will not be deleted. The physical location of the file can be found by looking at these MFT records.In this study, computer software was created on the basis of restoring the disk using a MFT file of the NTFS file system, and the result was examined.When national studies are examined, data recovery programs on the market are compared with each other. When international studies are examined, it is seen that NTFS and MFT concepts are explained but data recovery method using MFT records is not examined in detail.
Endüstriyel Mutfaklarda Atık Yağ Geri Kazanımı İle Metil Esteri Üretimi
Authors: Kahraman Zafer , Hacı Murat , Soyhan Hakan Serhad
Published: March 2019

Özet Biyodizel maliyetini düşürmek için üretiminde kullanılan konvansiyonel sistemlere alternatif yeni teknolojilerin kullanımı son yıllarda üzerinde durulan başlıca konulardandır. Bu çalışmada, ön fizibilite amaçlı tasarlanan laboratuvar ölçekli küçük bir reaktörde ayçiçek yağı 6:1 molar metanol, %1.0 KOH ve 60°C reaksiyon koşullarında metil esterlerine dönüştürülmüştür. Deneylerde transesterifikasyon reaksiyonu devam ettirilirken reaktörden belirli zaman aralıklarında numuneler alınmış, bu numunelerin sulu yıkama prosesi ile saflaştırılmalarından sonra yakıt analizleri yapılmıştır. Belirtilen koşullarda gerçekleştirilen 5 dakikalık reaksiyon ve saflaştırma işleminden sonra; yaklaşık %97 ester içeriğine, 0.8 g/cm3 yoğunluğa ve 4.5 mm2/s kinematik viskozite değerine sahip metil ester (AYME) %98 verimle üretilebilmiştir. Bu çalışma ile üniversitede tasarlanan küçük reaktörün endüstriyel ölçeğe dönüştürülmesiyle büyük hacimli mikrodalga destekli biyodizel reaktörlerin geliştirilmesi hedeflenmektedir.
PROTECT-STIMULATED COMPOSITION — A WAY TO IMPROVE PHYTO-SANITARY STATE IN LUPIN CROPS
Authors: PIMOKHOVA Lyudmila , TSARAPNEVA Zhanna
Published: March 2019

Complex dressers with growth stimulated components should be used to protect lupin seedlings against a number of diseases. The most efficient way to use growth regulators is their use with seed dressers as protect-stimulated compositions. High effectiveness of protect-and-stimulated mixture of the dresser Vitaros (tyram 198 g/l + carboxin 198 g/l) 2.0 l/t and the growth regulator Artaphyt (polydiallyldimethylammonia chlorid 100 g/l) 0.4 l/t for seeds’ disinfection against anthracnose and other diseases has shown. Its effectiveness against anthracnose made 95%. This mixture is effective against risoctonia and fusaria too. Use of this tank mixture for pre-sowing seed treatment of white and narrow-leafed lupin allows significantly decrease harmfulness of anthracnose and the main other diseases and increase productivity of this high protein crop.
Date Palm Status and Perspective in Mexico
Authors: Ortiz-Uribe Noé , Salomón-Torres Ricardo , Krueger Robert
Published: March 2019

The Date palm (Phoenix dactilifera L.) was introduced to Mexico during the Spanish colonization, but its commercial production did not develop until the second half of the past century. A literature and field research, including a trip to the oases missions and main commercial production areas, allowed us to identify the actual status for this crop in Mexico. While the date culture in the old oases is fading, in the commercial production zones it is in active development. San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali Valley region, comprise 97% of the commercial crop production area of the country. The main cultivar is Medjool with 94% of the growing area; actual yields are around 7.9 ton/ha. Ongoing government support and motivated growers training will lead to the application of better crop practices. It is expected to increase yields around 10 ton/ha in the next 5 years. Commercial date production is focused on exports, the internal market is growing, as well as the transformation of the product. Knowledge of the actual trends of the crop will allow to understand their historic importance and its future potential as a commodity and food. Production practices, competitive advantages and research results are presented.
Motion Control System of Unmanned Railcars Based on Image Recognition
Authors: Tseng Yuan-Wei , Hung Tsung-Wui , Pan Chung-Long , Wu Rong-Ching
Published: March 2019

The main purpose of this paper is to construct an autopilot system for unmanned railcars based on computer vision technology in a fixed luminous environment. Four graphic predefined signs of different colors and shapes serve as motion commands of acceleration, deceleration, reverse and stop for the motion control system of railcars based on image recognition. The predefined signs’ strong classifiers were trained based on Haar-like feature training and AdaBoosting from Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV). Comprehensive system integrations such as hardware, device drives, protocols, an application program in Python and man machine interface have been properly done. The objectives of this research include: (1) Verifying the feasibility of graphic predefined signs serving as commands of a motion control system of railcars with computer vision through experiments; (2) Providing reliable solutions for motion control of unmanned railcars, based on image recognition at affordable cost. The experiment results successfully verify the proposed methodology and integrated system. In the main program, every predefined sign must be detected at least three times in consecutive images within 0.2 s before the system confirms the detection. This digital filter like feature can filter out false detections and make the correct rate of detections close to 100%. After detecting a predefined sign, it was observed that the system could generate new motion commands to drive the railcars within 0.3 s. Therefore, both real time performance and the precision of the system are good. Since the sensing and control devices of the proposed system consist of computer, camera and predefined signs only, both the implementation and maintenance costs are very low. In addition, the proposed system is immune to electromagnetic interference, so it is ideal to merge into popular radio Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) systems in railways to improve the safety of operations.
DHCP Hierarchical Failover (DHCP-HF) Servers over a VPN Interconnected Campus
Authors: Trombeta Lucas , Torrisi Nunzio Marco
Published: March 2019

This work presents a strategy to scale out the fault-tolerant dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) algorithm over multiple interconnected local networks. The proposed model is open and used as an alternative to commercial solutions for a multi-campus institution with facilities in different regions that are interconnected point-to-point using a dedicated link. When the DHCP scope has to be managed and structured over multiple geographic locations that are VPN connected, it requires physical redundancy, which can be provided by a failover server. The proposed solution overcomes the limitation placed on the number of failover servers as defined in the DHCP failover (DHCP-F) protocol, which specifies the use of one primary and one secondary server. Moreover, the presented work also contributes to improving the DHCP-F specification relative to a number of practical workarounds, such as the use of a virtualized DHCP server. Therefore, this research assumes a recovery strategy that is based on physical servers distributed among different locations and not centralized as clustered virtual machines. The proposed method was evaluated by simulations to investigate the impact of this solution in terms of network traffic generated over the VPN links in order to keep the failover service running using the proposed approach.
Spatial Arrangements of Connexin43 in Cancer Related Cells and Re-Arrangements under Treatment Conditions: Investigations on the Nano-Scale by Super-Resolution Localization Light Microscopy
Authors: Pilarczyk Götz , Papenfuß Franziska , Bestvater Felix , Hausmann Michael
Published: March 2019

Cancer studies suggest that the spatial localization of connexin43 (Cx43) could play an important role during tumor genesis and the formation of metastasis. Cx43 has been shown to be upregulated in cancer cells; thereby a shift from Cx43 normal localization in gap junctions in the cell membrane towards a primarily cytoplasmic localization was observed in many studies. So far neither the spatial arrangements of Cx43 in breast cancer cells nor the effects of treatment outcome (ionizing radiation and antibody therapy) on the spatial arrangements of Cx43, have been microscopically studied on the nanoscale. This has brought up the idea to study the micro- and nanoscaled spatial Cx43 arrangements in a model of breast cancer-related cell types, i.e., SkBr3 breast cancer cells, BJ fibroblasts, and primary human internal mammary artery endothelial cells (HIMAECs). The cells were treated with neuregulin1 (NRG1), trastuzumab (Herceptin), or 6MeV-photon irradiation at a dose of 4 Gy. NRG1 stimulates further NRG1 release in the tumor endothelium that may lead to an enhanced tumor protective effect whereas Herceptin, used in antibody treatment, works in an antagonistic fashion to NRG1. After fluorescent labelling with specific antibodies, the molecular positions of Cx43 in the perinuclear cytosol and in the cell periphery at the membrane were determined for the three treatment related applications (NRG1, trastuzumab, 4 Gy irradiation) using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). These techniques enable investigations of Cx43 enrichment and topological arrangements of Cx43 molecules from the micro-scale of a whole cell to the nano-scale of single molecules. In SkBr3 cells with and without radiation treatment high density accumulations were detected which seem to be diluted after NRG1 and trastuzumab treatment although the SMLM distance frequency distributions did not significantly vary. In BJ fibroblasts and HIMAECs differences between periphery and perinuclear cytosol were observed after the different treatment processes. HIMAECs showed significant Cx43 accumulation after NRG1, trastuzumab, and radiation treatment in the perinuclear region whereas in the periphery radiation has less influence as compared to the control. BJ cells were reacting to the treatments by Cx43 accumulations in the perinuclear region but also in the periphery. In conclusion, it was shown that by using CLSM and super-resolution SMLM, treatment effects on the spatial and thus functional arrangements of Cx43 became detectable for investigations of tumor response mechanisms.
The Role of M3 Muscarinic Receptor Ligand-Induced Kinase Signaling in Colon Cancer Progression
Authors: Tolaymat Mazen , Larabee Shannon M. , Hu Shien , Xie Guofeng , Raufman Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2019

Despite a reduction in incidence over the past decade, colon cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States; recent demographics suggest this disease is now afflicting younger persons. M3 muscarinic receptor (M3R) mRNA and protein are over-expressed in colon cancer, and M3R can be activated by both traditional (e.g., acetylcholine) and non-traditional (e.g., bile acids) muscarinic ligands. In this review, we weigh the data supporting a prominent role for key protein kinases downstream of M3R activation in promoting colon cancer progression and dissemination. Specifically, we explore the roles that downstream activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase (MAPK/ERK), protein kinase C, p38 MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathways play in mediating colon cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion. We assess the impact of M3R-stimulated induction of selected matrix metalloproteinases germane to these hallmarks of colon cancer progression. In this context, we also critically review the reproducibility of findings derived from a variety of in vivo and in vitro colon cancer models, and their fidelity to human disease. Finally, we summarize the therapeutic potential of targeting various steps from ligand-M3R interaction to the activation of key downstream molecules.
Recent Advances in Cancer Stem Cell-Targeted Immunotherapy
Authors: Badrinath Narayanasamy , Yoo So Young
Published: March 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are one of the reasons for the relapse of cancer cells and metastasis. They have drug resistance against most chemotherapeutic agents. CSCs are also responsible for tumor cell heterogeneity and cause minimal residual disease. In order to achieve complete regression of tumors, CSCs have to be targeted. Recent advances in immunotherapies have shown promising outcomes in curing cancer, which are also applicable to target CSCs. CSCs express immune markers and exhibit specific immune characteristics in various cancers, which can be used in immunotherapies to target CSCs in the tumor microenvironment. Recently, various strategies have been used to target CSCs. Adaptive T-cells, dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines, oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and combination therapies are now being used to target CSCs. Here, we discuss the feasibility of these immunological approaches and the recent trends in immunotherapies to target CSCs.
Oncogenic Deregulation of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Leukemia
Authors: Windisch Roland , Pirschtat Nina , Kellner Christian , Chen-Wichmann Linping , Lausen Jörn , Humpe Andreas , Krause Daniela S. , Wichmann Christian
Published: March 2019

Numerous cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment enable the controlled lifelong self-renewal and progeny of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). On the cellular level, this highly mutual interaction is granted by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) integrating differentiation, proliferation, and pro-survival signals from the surrounding microenvironment to the inner cell. However, cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions are also critically involved during malignant transformation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. It has become increasingly apparent that leukemia-associated gene products, such as activated tyrosine kinases and fusion proteins resulting from chromosomal translocations, directly regulate the activation status of adhesion molecules, thereby directing the leukemic phenotype. These observations imply that interference with adhesion molecule function represents a promising treatment strategy to target pre-leukemic and leukemic lesions within the bone marrow niche. Focusing on myeloid leukemia, we provide a current overview of the mechanisms by which leukemogenic gene products hijack control of cellular adhesion to subsequently disturb normal hematopoiesis and promote leukemia development.
Alkaline Modification of a Metal–Enzyme–Surfactant Nanocomposite to Enhance the Production of L-α-glycerylphosphorylcholine
Authors: Li Hui , Cao Xun , Lu Yuanyuan , Ni Yan , Wang Xin , Lu Qiuhao , Li Ganlu , Chen Kequan , Ouyang Pingkai , Tan Weimin
Published: March 2019

Microenvironment modification within nanoconfinement can maximize the catalytic activity of enzymes. Phospholipase A1 (PLA1) has been used as the biocatalyst to produce high value L-α-glycerylphosphorylcholine (L-α-GPC) through hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC). We successfully developed a simple co-precipitation method to encapsulate PLA1 in a metal–surfactant nanocomposite (MSNC), then modified it using alkalescent 2-Methylimidazole (2-Melm) to promote catalytic efficiency in biphasic systems. The generated 2-Melm@PLA1/MSNC showed higher catalytic activity than PLA1/MSNC and free PLA1. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed a typical spherical structure of 2-Melm@PLA1/MSNC at about 50 nm, which was smaller than that of 2-Melm@MSNC. Energy disperse spectroscopy, N2 adsorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved that 2-Melm successfully modified PLA1/MSNC. The generated 2-Melm@PLA1/MSNC showed a high catalytic rate per unit enzyme mass of 1.58 μmol mg-1 min-1 for the formation of L-α-GPC. The 2-Melm@PLA1/MSNC also showed high thermal stability, pH stability, and reusability in a water–hexane biphasic system. The integration of alkaline and amphiphilic properties of a nanocomposite encapsulating PLA1 resulted in highly efficient sequenced reactions of acyl migration and enzymatic hydrolysis at the interface of a biphasic system, which cannot be achieved by free enzyme.
Overview of Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors in Organic Synthesis, Energy Storage and Environmental Applications
Authors: Molinari Raffaele , Lavorato Cristina , Argurio Pietro , Szymański Kacper , Darowna Dominika , Mozia Sylwia
Published: March 2019

This paper presents an overview of recent reports on photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) in organic synthesis as well as water and wastewater treatment. A brief introduction to slurry PMRs and the systems equipped with photocatalytic membranes (PMs) is given. The methods of PM production are also presented. Moreover, the process parameters affecting the performance of PMRs are characterized. The applications of PMRs in organic synthesis are discussed, including photocatalytic conversion of CO2, synthesis of KA oil by photocatalytic oxidation, conversion of acetophenone to phenylethanol, synthesis of vanillin and phenol, as well as hydrogen production. Furthermore, the configurations and applications of PMRs for removal of organic contaminants from model solutions, natural water and municipal or industrial wastewater are described. It was concluded that PMRs represent a promising green technology; however, before the application in industry, additional studies are still required. These should be aimed at improvement of process efficiency, mainly by development and application of visible light active photocatalysts and novel membranes resistant to the harsh conditions prevailing in these systems.
Sleep Modelling across Physiological Levels
Authors: Postnova Svetlana
Published: March 2019

Sleep and circadian rhythms are regulated across multiple functional, spatial and temporal levels: from genes to networks of coupled neurons and glial cells, to large scale brain dynamics and behaviour. The dynamics at each of these levels are complex and the interaction between the levels is even more so, so research have mostly focused on interactions within the levels to understand the underlying mechanisms—the so-called reductionist approach. Mathematical models were developed to test theories of sleep regulation and guide new experiments at each of these levels and have become an integral part of the field. The advantage of modelling, however, is that it allows us to simulate and test the dynamics of complex biological systems and thus provides a tool to investigate the connections between the different levels and study the system as a whole. In this paper I review key models of sleep developed at different physiological levels and discuss the potential for an integrated systems biology approach for sleep regulation across these levels. I also highlight the necessity of building mechanistic connections between models of sleep and circadian rhythms across these levels.
The Impact of on-Call Work for Partners’ Sleep, Relationship Quality and Daytime Functioning
Authors: Karan Simone , Vincent Grace , Ferguson Sally , Jay Sarah
Published: March 2019

The on-call schedule is a common work arrangement that allows for the continuance of services during periods of low demand or emergencies. Even though 17%–25% of the world’s population participate in on-call work, the human impacts of on-call are generally poorly described in the literature. Of the studies available on the effects of on-call work on workers, disturbances to sleep duration and sleep quality are the most commonly reported, along with negative sleep-related consequences on sleepiness, fatigue, stress and mood. Research has shown that for couples sharing a bed, disturbances to sleep can impair relationship conflict resolution and reduce relationship quality. In the ‘off-site’ on-call scenario where workers are sleeping at home, their co-sleeping partner may be at risk of sleep disturbances and the subsequent detrimental consequences of this disturbed sleep for themselves and their relationship. To date, few studies have investigated the impact of on-call work for partners’ sleep and the potential sleep-related consequences. Therefore, further studies are needed to specifically address whether on-call work impacts the sleep of partners and whether these sleep disturbances also impact the partner’s daily performance and relationship quality. Our aim was to provide a narrative around the existing, relevant literature that both investigate and inform the potential impact of on-call for workers’ partners’ sleep and related consequences.
A Facile Approach to Deposit Graphenaceous Composite Coatings by Suspension Plasma Spraying
Authors: Ganvir Ashish , Björklund Stefan , Yao Yiming , V. S. S. Vadali Srikanth , Klement Uta , Joshi Shrikant
Published: March 2019

This paper demonstrates, for the first time ever, the deposition of graphenaceous composite coatings using an easy, yet robust, suspension plasma spraying (SPS) process. As a case study, a composite coating comprising 8 wt.% of yttria-stabilized-zirconia (8YSZ) and reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) was deposited on a steel substrate. The coatings were sprayed using an 8YSZ-GO mixed suspension with varied plasma spray parameters. Establishing the possibility of retaining the graphene in a ceramic matrix using SPS was of specific interest. Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of graphenaceous material distributed throughout the coating in the 8YSZ matrix. The experimental results discussed in this work confirm that SPS is an immensely attractive pathway to incorporate a graphenaceous material into virtually any matrix material and can potentially have major implications in enabling the deposition of large-area graphene-containing coatings for diverse functional applications.
Impact of Surface Roughness on Ion-Surface Interactions Studied with Energetic Carbon Ions 13C+ on Tungsten Surfaces
Authors: Hellwig Maren , Köppen Martin , Hiller Albert , Koslowski Hans Rudolf , Litnovsky Andrey , Schmid Klaus , Schwab Christian , De Souza Roger A.
Published: March 2019

The effect of surface roughness on angular distributions of reflected and physically sputtered particles is investigated by ultra-high vacuum (UHV) ion-surface interaction experiments. For this purpose, a smooth (Ra = 5.9 nm) and a rough (Ra = 20.5 nm) tungsten (W) surface were bombarded with carbon ions 13C+ under incidence angles of 30° and 80°. Reflected and sputtered particles were collected on foils to measure the resulting angular distribution as a function of surface morphology. For the qualitative and quantitative analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) were performed. Simulations of ion-surface interactions were carried out with the SDTrimSP (Static Dynamic Transport of Ions in Matter Sputtering) code. For rough surfaces, a special routine was derived and implemented. Experimental as well as calculated results prove a significant impact of surface roughness on the angular distribution of reflected and sputtered particles. It is demonstrated that the effective sticking of C on W is a function of the angle of incidence and surface morphology. It is found that the predominant ion-surface interaction process changes with fluence.
Detection and Classification of Recessive Weakness in Superbuck Converter Based on WPD-PCA and Probabilistic Neural Network
Authors: Wu Chenhao , Yue Jiguang , Wang Li , Lyu Feng
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes a detection and classification method of recessive weakness in Superbuck converter through wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) and principal component analysis (PCA) combined with probabilistic neural network (PNN). The Superbuck converter presents excellent performance in many applications and is also faced with today’s demands, such as higher reliability and steadier operation. In this paper, the detection and classification issue to recessive weakness is settled. Firstly, the performance of recessive weakness both in the time and frequency domain are demonstrated to clearly show the actual deterioration of the circuit system. The WPD and Parseval’s theorem are utilized in this paper to feature the extraction of recessive weakness. The energy discrepancy of the fault signals at different wavelet decomposition levels are then chosen as the feature vectors. PCA is also employed to the dimensionality reduction of feature vectors. Then, a probabilistic neural network is applied to automatically detect and classify the recessive weakness from different components on the basis of the extracted features. Finally, the classification accuracy of the proposed classification algorithm is verified and tested with experiments, which present satisfying classification accuracy.
Correction: Casula, G.A. A Design Rule to Reduce the Human Body Effect on Wearable PIFA Antennas. Electronics 2019, 8, 244
Authors: Casula Giovanni , Montisci Giorgio
Published: March 2019

In the original version of this article [...]
Models and Indicators to Assess Thermal Sensation Under Steady-State and Transient Conditions
Authors: Enescu Diana
Published: March 2019

The assessment of thermal sensation is the first stage of many studies aimed at addressing thermal comfort and at establishing the related criteria used in indoor and outdoor environments. The study of thermal sensation requires suitable modelling of the human body, taking into account the factors that affect the physiological and psychological reactions that occur under different environmental conditions. These aspects are becoming more and more relevant in the present context in which thermal sensation and thermal comfort are represented as objectives or constraints in a wider range of problems referring to the living environment. This paper first considers the models of the human body used in steady-state and transient conditions. Starting from the conceptual formulations of the heat balance equations, this paper follows the evolution occurred during the years to refine the models. This evolution is also marked by the availability of increasingly higher computational capability that enabled the researchers developing transient models with a growing level of detail and accuracy, and by the validation of the models through experimental studies that exploit advanced technologies. The paper then provides an overview of the indicators used to characterise the local and overall thermal sensation, indicating the relations with local and overall thermal comfort.
Optimal Scheduling of an Isolated Wind-Diesel-Energy Storage System Considering Fast Frequency Response and Forecast Error
Authors: Nguyen Hong Nhung , Nakanishi Yosuke
Published: March 2019

Nowadays, the hybrid wind–diesel system is widely used on small islands. However, the operation of these systems faces a major challenge in frequency control due to their small inertia. Furthermore, it is also difficult to maintain the power balance when both wind power and load are uncertain. To solve these problems, energy storage systems (ESS) are usually installed. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using ESS to provide Fast Frequency Response (FFR) to ensure that the frequency criteria are met after the sudden loss of a generator. An optimal day-ahead scheduling problem is implemented to simultaneously minimize the operating cost of the system, take full advantage of the available wind power, and ensure that the ESS has enough energy to provide FFR when the wind power and demand are uncertain. The optimization problem is formulated in terms of two-stage chance-constrained programming, and solved using a Modified Sample Average Approximation (MSAA) algorithm—a combination of the traditional Sample Average Approximation (SAA) algorithm and the k-means approach. The proposed method is tested with a realistic islanded power system, and the effects of the ESS size and its response time is analyzed. Results indicate that the proposed model should perform well under real-world conditions.
A Novel Filter Extracted Equivalent Control Based Fixed Frequency Sliding Mode Approach for Power Electronic Converters
Authors: Yasin Abdul Rehman , Ashraf Muhammad , Bhatti Aamer Iqbal
Published: March 2019

The key issue in the implementation of the Sliding Mode Control (SMC) in analogue circuits and power electronic converters is its variable switching frequency. The drifting frequency causes electromagnetic compatibility issues and also adversely affect the efficiency of the converter, because the proper size of the inductor and the capacitor depends upon the switching frequency. Pulse Width Modulation based SMC (PWM-SMC) offers the solution, however, it uses either boundary layer approach or employs pulse width modulation of the ideal equivalent control signal. The first technique compromises the performance within the boundary layer, while the latter may not possess properties like robustness and order reduction due to the absence of the discontinuous function. In this research, a novel approach to fix the switching frequency in SMC is proposed, that employs a low pass filter to extract the equivalent control from the discontinuous function, such that the performance and robustness remains intact. To benchmark the experimental observations, a comparison with existing double integral type PWM-SMC is also presented. The results confirm that an improvement of 20% in the rise time and 25.3% in the settling time is obtained. The voltage sag during step change in load is reduced to 42.86%, indicating the increase in the robustness. The experiments prove the hypothesis that a discontinuous function based fixed frequency SMC performs better in terms of disturbances rejection as compared to its counterpart based solely on ideal equivalent control.
Gas Diffusion Layers in Fuel Cells and Electrolysers: A Novel Semi-Empirical Model to Predict Electrical Conductivity of Sintered Metal Fibres
Authors: Omrani Reza , Shabani Bahman
Published: March 2019

This paper introduces novel empirical as well as modified models to predict the electrical conductivity of sintered metal fibres and closed-cell foams. These models provide a significant improvement over the existing models and reduce the maximum relative error from as high as just over 30% down to about 10%. Also, it is shown that these models provide a noticeable improvement for closed-cell metal foams. However, the estimation of electrical conductivity of open-cell metal foams was improved marginally over previous models. Sintered porous metals are widely used in electrochemical devices such as water electrolysers, unitised regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) as gas diffusion layers (GDLs), and batteries. Having a more accurate prediction of electrical conductivity based on variation by porosity helps in better modelling of such devices and hence achieving improved designs. The models presented in this paper are fitted to the experimental results in order to highlight the difference between the conductivity of sintered metal fibres and metal foams. It is shown that the critical porosity (maximum achievable porosity) can play an important role in sintered metal fibres to predict the electrical conductivity whereas its effect is not significant in open-cell metal foams. Based on the models, the electrical conductivity reaches zero value at 95% porosity rather than 100% for sintered metal fibres.
Hydrothermal Carbonization of Various Paper Mill Sludges: An Observation of Solid Fuel Properties
Authors: Saha Nepu , Saba Akbar , Saha Pretom , McGaughy Kyle , Franqui-Villanueva Diana , Orts William J. , Hart-Cooper William M. , Reza M. Toufiq
Published: March 2019

Each year the pulp and paper industries generate enormous amounts of effluent treatment sludge. The sludge is made up of various fractions including primary, secondary, deinked, fiber rejects sludge, etc. The goal of this study was to evaluate the fuel properties of the hydrochars produced from various types of paper mill sludges (PMS) at 180 °C, 220 °C, and 260 °C. The hydrochars, as well as the raw feedstocks, were characterized by means of ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, moisture, ash, lignin, sugar, and higher heating value (HHVdaf) measurements. Finally, combustion indices of selected hydrochars were evaluated and compared with bituminous coal. The results showed that HHVdaf of hydrochar produced at 260 °C varied between 11.4 MJ/kg and 31.5 MJ/kg depending on the feedstock. This implies that the fuel application of hydrochar produced from PMS depends on the quality of feedstocks rather than the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) temperature. The combustion indices also showed that when hydrochars are co-combusted with coal, they have similar combustion indices to that of coal alone. However, based on the energy and ash contents in the produced hydrochars, Primary and Secondary Sludge (PPS2) could be a viable option for co-combustion with coal in an existing coal-fired power plant.
Perspectives on Consumer Habits with Domestic Refrigerators and Its Consequences for Energy Consumption: Case of Study in Guanajuato, Mexico
Authors: Belman-Flores Juan M. , Pardo-Cely Diana , Elizalde-Blancas Francisco , Gallegos-Muñoz Armando , Pérez-García Vicente , Gómez-Martínez Miguel A.
Published: March 2019

This work presents the main behaviors shown in the habits of consumers of domestic refrigerators, which influences the energy consumption of this appliance. This study is based on a series of surveys answered by 200 consumers from four cities in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. The questions were arranged with the aim of evaluating the general characteristics and usage habits such as refrigerator age, door opening frequency, damper position, load of food supplies, external and internal cleaning habits, and nearby heat sources, among other things. The randomly interviewed consumers were individuals between 20 and 60 years of age, who were interviewed using handmade surveys by experts in the field of refrigeration. In some cases, photographic evidence was gathered from the consumers’ refrigerators to represent the typical usage habits. In general, the results show that better usage habits are necessary from an energy point of view. Most consumers agree with adopting best practices for using their refrigerator.
Flight Time Estimation for Continuous Surveillance Missions Using a Multirotor UAV
Authors: Jung Sunghun , Jo Yonghyeon , Kim Young-Joon
Published: March 2019

To achieve the continuous surveillance capable multirotor type solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), we develop the photovoltaic power management system (PPMS) which manages power from photovoltaic (PV) modules and a battery pack to support the power of the UAV. To estimate the possible flight time of the UAV, we use the concept of state of charge (SOC) estimation based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and complementary filter (CF) and then calculate the possible flight time by using the slope of the SOC graph during hovering flight mode. According to the results, estimated flight time increases up to 54.14 min at 11:00 a.m. and decreases down to 6.70 min at 18:00 p.m.
Improvement of the Steel-Plate Temperature during Preheating by Using Guide Vanes to Focus the Flame at the Outlet of a Gas Torch
Authors: Ngo Tu Thien , Zhou Tianjun , Go Junho , Nguyen Hap Van , Lee Geun Sik
Published: March 2019

The temperature distribution on a steel plate during a preheating process was compared using gas torch models with and without guide vanes. Numerical simulations were done using ANSYS FLUENT software, and experiments were done using thermal images obtained by a TVS-200EX infrared thermal camera. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was used as fuel for the gas torch in the simulation and experiment. The temperature distribution on the steel plate and the flame region were first compared. The temperature increase caused by the flame concentration with the guide vanes was 65 °C. The transient and steady-state temperature distribution on the back side of the steel plate were then examined. The results showed good agreement between the simulation and experimental results. At steady state, the back-side temperature deviation of the steel plate between the numerical simulation and experimental results was approximately 4.9%. The effects of the equivalence ratio (Φ), Reynolds number (Re), and the downstream distance ratio of the combustion gas from the torch outlet to the steel plate (H/d) on the temperature distribution were also investigated. The highest temperature distribution was found in stoichiometric combustion. The temperature of the plate increased as the Reynolds number increased from 2368 to 4876 but decreased as the distance ratio (H/d) increased from 25 to 75. The guide vane angles at the gas torch outlet were from 30 to 60 degrees, and the angle of 40 degrees resulted in the highest temperature of the steel plate.
How Diverse is Tree Planting in the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso? Comparing Small-Scale Restoration with Other Planting Initiatives
Authors: Valette Michel , Vinceti Barbara , Traoré Daouda , Traoré Alain Touta , Yago-Ouattara Emma Lucie , Kaguembèga-Müller Franziska
Published: March 2019

In the Sahelian region, different approaches are being used to halt environmental degradation and restore tree cover, with varying degrees of success. Initiatives vary according to projects’ objectives, type of land to restore, and technical practices used (natural regeneration, farmer-managed assisted regeneration, enrichment planting, etc.). This study investigates tree planting choices and selection of tree seed sources in some villages of the Central region of Burkina Faso. The study targeted 96 farmers and compared planting practices adopted by farmers involved in small-scale forest restoration using fences, with those not involved in this initiative. The objective was to understand what portfolio of tree species were planted, what factors influenced tree species selection, what tree seed sources were used, what collection practices were generally adopted, and whether there were significant differences between types of farmers. The results showed that the use of fencing to promote forest restoration support the planting of a more diverse portfolio of tree species than other small scale efforts and includes a greater representation of indigenous trees. Fenced plots have therefore a conservation value in landscapes where the diversity of tree species is progressively declining. In addition to the use of fences, some other key factors affect tree planting, mainly land tenure, availability of diverse tree seed sources, and availability of land. Farmers tend to collect directly most of the planting material they need, but in the majority of cases they do not follow recommended best practices. In light of the ambitious forest restoration targets of Burkina Faso and the need to provide diverse options to rural communities to enhance their resilience vis-à-vis increasing environmental challenges, strengthening the capacity of farmers in tree planting and establishing a robust tree seed systems are crucial targets.
Transformation of Multi-Antibiotic Resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with GFP Gene to Enable Tracking its Survival on Pine Trees
Authors: Li Yu-Long , Zheng Cui-Yun , Liu Kan-Cheng , Wu Yang , Fan Ben , Han Zheng-Min
Published: March 2019

Pinus massoniana Lamb., commonly known as Masson Pine, is one of the most important tree species for planted forests in China. This species is, however, threatened by pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Palleroni & Bradbury 1993) Smal-007, a bacterium isolated from the body surface of native B. xylophilus, was evidenced to possess the ability to prevent and control this disease. In this study, we focus on exploring effective transformation and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeling of Smal-007, in order to facilitate its later investigation. The results indicated that the recombination of antibiotic Tp (trimethoprim), and the uncoupling reagent, CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine), was effective for the transformation of the multidrug-resistant bacterium. An optimal transformation procedure, including electroporation, was established. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where such a method was used for S. maltophilia transformation. Furthermore, Smal-007 was labeled by GFP, allowing the monitoring of its survival ability in pine trees. The labeling was robust and recognizable in isolates recovered from pine needles and bark. In summary, our study indicated that combining uncoupling reagents could be a useful approach to finding operative antibiotic markers for the transformation of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In addition, our successful labeling of Smal-007 with GFP could improve the understanding of its ecological impact, when used as a biocontrol agent.