bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building Energy Opportunity with a Supply Chain Based on the Local Fuel-Producing Capacity
Authors: Andreoli Bonazzi Flavio , Cividino Sirio R.S. , Zambon Ilaria , Mosconi Enrico Maria , Poponi Stefano
Published: June 2018

Studying and modeling plants for producing electric power obtained from vegetal wood cellulose biomass can become an opportunity for building a supply chain based on the local fuel-producing capacity. Focusing on energy-producing technologies, such as pyrolysis or gasification, the present work assessed the amount of vegetal biomass that may be used as fuel, both in terms of actual availability and supply price, in the Province of Rieti (Italy). The aim is to draw up a supply plan that has an intrinsic relationship with the local area. The results confirmed a production of 24 MW of project thermal power and 4 MW of project electric power. The ensuing plant was then studied following current norms about renewable energy, environmental consistency, and atmospheric emissions. An economic analysis of the cost investment was also carried out, where the total return is approximately of 19%. The results exposed that plant costs are acceptable only if short-supply chain fuel is purchased. The costs of generating energy from agroforestry biomass are certainly higher; however, the plant represents a significant territorial opportunity, especially for the economic sectors of agriculture and forestry. The employment effect plays a central role in the concession process, which is relevant for the interaction among renewable energy production and agriculture. The environmental impact of a biomass plant from agroforestry residues can be measured exclusively on atmospheric emissions: the plant must be placed in industrial areas without any landscape or naturalistic value.
An Efficient Object Detection Algorithm Based on Compressed Networks
Authors: Li Jianjun , Peng Kangjian , Chang Chin-Chen
Published: June 2018

For a long time, object detection has been a popular but difficult research problem in the field of pattern recognition. In recent years, object detection algorithms based on convolutional neural networks have achieved excellent results. However, neural networks are computationally intensive and parameter redundant, so they are difficult to deploy on resource-limited embedded devices. Especially for two-stage detectors, operations and parameters are mainly clustered on feature fusion of proposals after the region of interest (ROI) pooling layer, and they are enormous. In order to deal with these problems, we propose a subnetwork—efficient feature fusion module (EFFM) to reduce the number of operations and parameters for a two-stage detector. In addition, we propose a multi-scale dilation region proposal network (RPN) to further improve detection accuracy. Finally, our accuracy is higher than Faster RCNN based on VGG16, the number of operations is only half of the latter, and the number of parameters is only one third.
Growth and Toxin Production of Gambierdiscus spp. Can Be Regulated by Quorum-Sensing Bacteria
Authors: Wang Bo , Yao Mimi , Zhou Jin , Tan Shangjin , Jin Hui , Zhang Feng , Mak Yim Ling , Wu Jiajun , Lai Chan Leo , Cai Zhonghua
Published: June 2018

Gambierdiscus spp. are the major culprit responsible for global ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). At present, the effects of microbiological factors on algal proliferation and toxin production are poorly understood. To evaluate the regulatory roles of quorum-sensing (QS) bacteria in the physiology of Gambierdiscus, co-culture experiments with screened QS strains were conducted in this study. Except for the growth-inhibiting effect from the strain Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, the algal host generally displayed much higher growth potential and toxin production ability with the existence of QS strains. In addition, Bacillus anthracis particularly exhibited a broad-spectrum growth enhancement effect on various Gambierdiscus types, as well as a remarkable influence on algal toxicity. The variations of algal physiological status, including growth rate, chlorophyll content, and responsive behaviors, are potential reasons for the observed positive or negative affection. This study suggests that QS bacteria regulate the algal growth and toxin production. Based on the evidence, we further speculate that QS bacteria may contribute to the site-specific distribution of CFP risk through regulating the algal host biomass and toxicity.
Efficient Low-Cost Anaerobic Treatment of Wastewater Using Biochar and Woodchip Filters
Authors: Kaetzl Korbinian , Lübken Manfred , Gehring Tito , Wichern Marc
Published: June 2018

Access to improved sanitation is often lacking in many low-income countries, and approximately 90% of the sewage is discharged without treatment into receiving water bodies. The aim of this study was the development and evaluation of an efficient low-cost wastewater treatment system for developing countries. Biochar and woodchips, potential locally available and inexpensive materials, were used for anaerobic wastewater filtration and their suitability evaluated in comparison to gravel as a common reference material. Filters were fed with raw sewage from a municipal full-scale wastewater treatment plant in Germany at 22 °C room temperature with a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 0.05 m∙h−1. This resulted in a mean organic loading rate (OLR) of 252 gCOD∙m−3∙d−1 and a mean organic surface load of 456 gCOD∙m−2∙d−1. To determine the influence of different filter materials, the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), turbidity, and faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) E. coli and enterococci were tested. It was found that COD (up to 90%), TOC (up to 80%), FIB (up to 1.7 log10-units), and turbidity (effluent turbidity below 35 NTU) could be significantly reduced. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of anaerobic filters (AFs) for wastewater treatment in low-income countries to reduce water pollution and comprehensively improve water quality. The performance of biochar filters was significantly better over the entire experiment compared to woodchip and gravel filters with respect to COD, TOC, turbidity, and FIB removal, indicating the superior properties of biochar for wastewater treatment.
Probabilistic Analysis of Extreme Discharges and Precipitations with a Nonparametric Copula Model
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Youcun , Hao Yonghong , Wang Tongke , Yeh Tian-Chyi Jim , Fan Yonghui , Zhang Qiaozhen
Published: June 2018

Urumqi River is an important river in the Xinjiang autonomous region, China, where floods or droughts are the major concerns of the local communities. This river’s discharge is mainly influenced by the natural factors such as precipitation and climates, rather than human activities. This paper quantifies the interdependent structure between Urumqi River’s discharge and precipitation using a nonparametric Copula method. It then analyzes the relationship between the extreme discharges of this river and extreme precipitation of the region. Comparison between simulation result and real data is conducted to verify the rationality of the model. Furthermore, the conditional probabilities of maximum and minimum discharge at different precipitation levels are also investigated using the Copula distribution functions. The results show a strong relationship between large discharge and heavy precipitation in this region. The upper dependence coefficient is nearly 0.6 and the probability of large discharge reaches 0.64 when the rainfall is greater than 159.56 mm. The relationship between small discharge and rainfall is insignificant. The lower dependence coefficient is zero, suggesting that the base flow and snowmelt from Tianshan likely contribute to Urumqi River’s discharge during the dry season.
Functional Relationship between Soil Slurry Transfer and Deposition in Urban Sewer Conduits
Authors: Song Yang Ho , Lee Eui Hoon , Lee Jung Ho
Published: June 2018

Soil slurry deposited on the surface of the Earth during rainfall mixes with fluids and flows into urban sewer conduits. Turbulent energy and energy dissipation in the conduits lead to separation, and sedimentation at the bottom lowers the discharge capacity of conduits. This study proposes a functional relationship between shear stress in urban sewer conduits and the physical properties of particles in a conduit bed containing less than 20 mm of soil. Several conditions were implemented for analyzing two-phase flow (soil slurry and fluid in urban sewer conduits) in terms of turbulent flow by considering soil slurry flowing into urban sewer conduits. The internal flows of fluid and soil slurry in urban sewer conduits were numerically analyzed and modeled by applying the Navier–Stokes equation and the k-ε turbulence model. The transfer deposition of the soil slurry in the conduits was reviewed and, based on the results, a limiting tractive force was calculated and used to propose criteria for transfer deposition occurring in urban sewer conduits.
Transformation, Rupture and Continuity: Issues and Options in Contemporary Shugendō
Authors: Bouchy Anne
Published: June 2018

L'avancée et les ramifications des travaux portant sur le shugendō depuis sa « découverte » en tant qu'objet d'étude au XXe siècle font que ce courant du fait religieux japonais offre aux chercheurs en sciences humaines et sociales du XXIe siècle un vaste champ de recherche aux facettes paradoxales. Sa légitimité socioreligieuse s'appuyant à la fois sur une institutionnalisation forte, liée aux pouvoirs centraux, et sur une instrumentalisation des marges que sont les montagnes et leur univers, le shugendō se révèle en effet traversé de dynamiques contrastées qui, à chaque époque, font de son présent le creuset où tendances à l'extériorisation et à l'intériorisation participent conjointement à sa construction identitaire. De telles dynamiques montrent que ce que l'on nomme shugendō est un processus d'élaboration continue, dans lequel interfèrent constamment héritage et créativité.

Abordé ici dans sa contemporanéité, le shugendō est envisagé, selon cette vision dynamique, sous l'angle de trois problématiques doubles : le shugendō, expérience intime et référence culturelle médiatique ; la « spectacularisation » du shugendō et son usage du secret ; la remise en cause de l'interdit frappant les femmes et la question de la survie du shugendō.

Pour mettre en lumière les articulations de ces paires d'éléments apparemment antithétiques, les données de terrain actuelles sont replacées dans la double perspective de l'histoire et des débats, des conflits qui sont aujourd'hui au cœur de ces diverses facettes du shugendō. Dans cette optique, sont présentés les divers champs de tension dans lesquels se développent quelques éléments marquants de la culture shugen : dimension corporelle des pratiques d'ascèse, expérience intime et usage médiatique des parcours rituels (nyūbu ou mineiri) ; saitō goma et contribution à la vie des communautés locales ; renouveau du regard sur les ritualités du shugendō et défense de l'environnement ; rite religieux d'intronisation du grand supérieur de Honzan et spectacle ludique ; ondoiement de Jinzen (Jinzen kanjō) élaboré entre secret et parade ; usage public du rituel secret du hashiramoto jinpihō associé au rite du feu hashiramoto goma ; interdit portant sur les femmes et promotion féminine dans le shugendō actuel.

L'examen des composantes et des discours en cours aujourd'hui à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur des organisations shugen montre que ces bipolarités, au premier abord antinomiques, forment un tissu de tensions qui, loin d'être un moteur de désintégration du shugendō, sont en réalité au nombre des forces qui, parce qu'elles imposent la recherche de solutions et de prises de position adaptées aux divers problèmes du moment, alimentent sa vitalité.
Japanese Mountain Religion: Shrines, Temples and the Development of Shugendō
Authors: Miyake Hitoshi
Published: June 2018

Cet article retrace le développement historique du shugendō, depuis ce qu'on pourrait appeler sa « préhistoire » — avec les croyances et pratiques de la période Jōmon relatives à certaines montagnes sacrées — jusqu'aux pratiques ascétiques qui prennent le nom de shugendō (le terme shugen lui-même apparaît dans un document daté de 868, mais le shugendō proprement dit date de l'époque médiévale) ; et jusqu'à l'époque moderne enfin, avec la mise au ban du shugendō par le gouvernement de Meiji en 1872 et sa réhabilitation par les forces d'occupation américaines en 1945. L'auteur souligne la continuité entre les premiers cultes « préhistoriques » et l'ascèse médiévale, mais il insiste aussi sur la rupture provoquée par la « Restauration » de Meiji.

Une étape importante vers la constitution « officielle » du shugendō est sans doute l'émergence au début du IXe siècle de nouveaux centres bouddhiques, le mont Hiei et le mont Kōya, le premier relevant de l'école du Tendai, le second de celle du Shingon. Le développement ultérieur du bouddhisme ésotérique conduit à la « mandalisation » de la géographie sacrée du Japon, avec notamment la mise en correspondance des lieux saints de Kumano et de Yoshino avec les deux grands mandalas de l'ésotérisme Shingon, dits du Plan de Matrice (Taizōkai) et du Plan de Diamant (Kongōkai). Vers la même époque se développe la légende de l'ancêtre fondateur du shugendō, En no Gyōja (« En l'Ascète »). À l'époque d'Edo, le shugendō s'instutionnalise sous la pression du bakufu. À l'époque de Meiji, il est prohibé comme « superstition » et les deux branches du Tōzan et du Honzan, qui fédéraient jusque-là les groupes locaux de shugenja, passent respectivement sous la tutelle du Tendai et du Shingon. Elles ne retrouveront leur autonomie qu'à la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Dans ce tableau chronologique, l'auteur aborde des questions diverses comme l'identité des fondateurs du shugendō, l'histoire locale de ses principaux centres, le développement de sa littérature, ou encore l'évolution de ses théories religieuses et de ses pratiques rituelles. Il insiste également sur son histoire institutionnelle, à travers l'exemple des grands monastères bouddhiques comme le Todaiji, le Kōfukuji, l'Enryakuji, l'Onjōji (ou Miidera), le Kongōbuji (au Mont Kōya), le Negoroji et le Daigoji, ou des grands sanctuaires comme ceux d'Ise, de Miwa, de Kasuga et d'Usa.

En dépit de son histoire « hybride », fortement marquée par le bouddhisme sur le plan institutionnel (et à un moindre degré par le taoïsme sur le plan des pratiques), l'auteur estime que le shugendō relève avant tout des croyances populaires autochtones, et qu'il faut par conséquent l'étudier dans ce contexte si l'on veut saisir sa dynamique propre. Tel qu'il s'est répandu d'un bout à l'autre de l'archipel japonais, le shugendō doit se comprendre dans ses rapports tant avec le pouvoir central qu'avec les notables régionaux, et dans ses structures organisationnelles influencées à la fois par des traditions locales et étrangères.
The Lotus Repentance Liturgy of Shugendō: Identification from Vocal Arts
Authors: Ōuchi Fumi
Published: June 2018

La pratique des shugenja comporte une importante dimension sonore, comme en témoignent des instruments rituels tels que la conche et le bâton à étain, ainsi que le recours aux mantra et dhāraṇī, ou encore à la récitation de passages scripturaires, prières, waka, etc. L'article aborde cette dimension à travers la pratique dite de l'« entrée automnale en montagne » (Akinomine), un élément central du shugendō du mont Haguro. En dépit du grand nombre d'études concernant la signification symbolique de l'Akinomine à Haguro, celles-ci n'ont jusqu'ici pas suffisamment prêté attention à l'aspect proprement musical de cette pratique. Une approche musicologique fournit pourtant un point d'entrée particulièrement efficace pour comprendre la nature du shugendō et sa place dans la culture religieuse du Japon.

La pratique de l'Akinomine symbolise la renaissance spirituelle du pratiquant, son parcours à travers les dix plans de la cosmologie bouddhique — des Enfers aux Paradis, puis au-delà, jusqu'au terme final de l'Illumination. Durant cette épreuve, les pratiquants ont recours à diverses techniques de stimulation physique et mentale, comme le jeûne et la privation de sommeil. La musique et le chant — notamment la récitation du rituel dit du Repentir du Lotus (Hokke senbō) — figurent en bonne place parmi ces techniques. Ce rituel est censé remonter au patriarche de la secte du Tendai, le moine chinois Zhiyi (538-597). Au Japon, il se développe en une liturgie spécifique, non seulement dans le Tendai, mais également dans le shugendō du Haguro, dont il devient au XVIIe siècle un des éléments principaux.

L'article retrace l'adoption et l'adaptation de la liturgie Tendai au sein de ce courant du Haguro. L'originalité de la pratique liturgique de ce dernier tient essentiellement à son côté populaire, notamment au fait que les pratiquants y prennent une part active à la récitation du rituel. Une analyse de la structure musicale de la liturgie (ses lignes mélodiques, son tétracorde de base et les hymnes qui lui ont été rajoutés) permet à l'auteur d'affirmer que le Haguro a su la populariser en simplifiant ses structures musicales. Cette simplification a eu un impact important sur la performance et la réception du rituel, en amplifiant sa dimension émotionnelle et en facilitant la participation laïque.

L'auteur s'efforce de situer son analyse musicologique dans un contexte socio-politique. Il en ressort que, pour la communauté du Haguro, qui n'était affiliée à aucune des branches officielles du shugendō (le Tōzan et le Honzan), l'adoption de cette liturgie constitua un moyen de se prévaloir de l'autorité et de l'orthodoxie de la tradition Tendai à un moment critique de l'histoire de la communauté du Haguro. Toutefois, grâce aux changements qu'elle introduisait dans cette liturgie, cette communauté parvint à se démarquer des autres courants du shugendō, conservant ainsi son indépendance et son identité.
Quantitative comparison of wideband low-latency phase-locked loop circuit designs for high-speed frequency modulation atomic force microscopy
Authors: Miyata Kazuki , Fukuma Takeshi
Published: June 2018

A phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit is the central component of frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). However, its response speed is often insufficient, and limits the FM-AFM imaging speed. To overcome this issue, we propose a PLL design that enables high-speed FM-AFM. We discuss the main problems with the conventional PLL design and their possible solutions. In the conventional design, a low-pass filter with relatively high latency is used in the phase feedback loop, leading to a slow response of the PLL. In the proposed design, a phase detector with a low-latency high-pass filter is located outside the phase feedback loop, while a subtraction-based phase comparator with negligible latency is located inside the loop. This design minimizes the latency within the phase feedback loop and significantly improves the PLL response speed. In addition, we implemented PLLs with the conventional and proposed designs in the same field programmable gate array chip and quantitatively compared their performances. The results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed PLL is superior to that of the conventional PLL: 165 kHz bandwidth and 3.2 μs latency in water. Using this setup, we performed FM-AFM imaging of calcite dissolution in water at 0.5 s/frame with true atomic resolution. The high-speed and high-resolution imaging capabilities of the proposed design will enable a wide range of studies to be conducted on various atomic-scale dynamic phenomena at solid–liquid interfaces.
Mild and selective reduction of aldehydes utilising sodium dithionite under flow conditions
Authors: Neyt Nicole C , Riley Darren L
Published: June 2018

We recently reported a novel hybrid batch–flow synthesis of the antipsychotic drug clozapine in which the reduction of a nitroaryl group is described under flow conditions using sodium dithionite. We now report the expansion of this method to include the reduction of aldehydes. The method developed affords yields which are comparable to those under batch conditions, has a reduced reaction time and improved space-time productivity. Furthermore, the approach allows the selective reduction of aldehydes in the presence of ketones and has been demonstrated as a continuous process.
THE EFFECT OF WAGES AND WORK EXPERIENCES ON THE COMMITMENT OF HUNGARIAN EMPLOYEES
Authors: Kozák Anita , Krajcsák Zoltán
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this study is to find out whether there is a verifiable correlation between the individuals’ employee commitment dimensions (affective, continuance, normative, professional and deliberate) and the personal characteristics of these employees. Our research was carried out among the employees of 56 organizations based in Hungary. Organizations were selected by snowball method. A total of 1731 questionnaires were processed, besides descriptive statistical methods we have used variance analysis. We have found significant correlations between the ages of employees and the level of affective, continuance, normative and professional commitment as well, by age-grouping and wage-grouping too. The results show that the first communication mode also has a significant impact on these four commitment dimensions, and all of the commitment dimensions had a higher level among employees who was enquired by the organization (the direction of the first communication is from the organization to the employee).
ŽEMĖS PAVIRŠIAUS 3D MODELIO SUDARYTO PAGAL FOTONUOTRAUKAS IŠ DRONO IR GEODEZINIAIS METODAIS ANALIZĖ
Authors: Jatkauskas Aismantas , Sužiedelytė-Visockienė Jūratė
Published: June 2018

Nagrinėjamas georeferencinio pagrindo technikos naudojimas fotogrametrijos srityje. Šiandienos nepilotuojamos oro transporto priemonės (UAV) turi integruotas didelės skiriamosios gebos skaitmenines fotokameras, Pasaulinės navigacijos palydovų sistemos (GNSS) imtuvus, kurių tikslumas – iki 1 cm. Straipsnyje aprašytas žemės paviršiaus modelio generavimas naudojant topografinio plano medžiagą ir fotonuotraukas, gautas iš drono skrydžių. Medžiaga apdorota ir transformuota į taškų debesį ir geodezinę koordinačių sistemą. Atlikta žemės paviršiaus modelių skersinių objekto pjūvių analizė ir geodeziniais metodais parengta topografinė nuotrauka. Apdorojant medžiagą buvo pasitelkta „Bentley“ kompanijos „Context Capture“, „Descartes“ ir Autodesk – „ReCap“, „AutoCAD Civil 3D“ ir GeoMap programiniais paketais.
A taxonomic revision of Curarea Barneby & Krukoff (Menispermaceae)
Authors: Ortiz Rosa del C.
Published: June 2018

A monograph of Curarea, a neotropical genus in the plant family Menispermaceae, is presented. Curarea is distinguished from related genera by the combination of staminate flowers with sepals in two whorls and pistillate flowers with three petals, three carpels and usually elongated carpophores bearing three sessile drupelets. Nine species are recognised, amongst them two new to science, C.gentryana from Ecuador and C.barnebyana, from Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, two new combinations, C.iquitana and C.tomentocarpa, are proposed for distinct taxa recovered in a multivariate analysis of quantitative characters of the broadly distributed and morphologically variable C.toxicofera. The anatomy and morphology of species in the genus is documented, identification key, species descriptions, distribution maps and a preliminary conservation assessment for all accepted species are also provided. Of the nine species recognised here, C.barnebyana is assigned a preliminary status of Vulnerable, C.crassa (known only from the coastal Atlantic Forest in Brazil) and C.gentryana (endemic to western Ecuador) are both assigned a preliminary status of Endangered.
A new species of deep-water spider crab of the genus Paramaya De Haan, 1837 from the Bay of Bengal, India (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majidae)
Authors: Ng Peter K. L. , Prema M. , Ravichandran S.
Published: June 2018

The identity of the majid species of Paramaya De Haan, 1837, in the Indian Ocean is clarified with the collection of fresh specimens from the Bay of Bengal. Previously identified as P.spinigera (De Haan, 1837) which is known only from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, the material from eastern India is here referred to a new species, P.mulli sp. n. The new species can easily be distinguished from all congeners by its relatively shorter pseudorostral and carapace spines, more swollen branchial regions, distinctly granulated male thoracic sternum, and the G1 is not prominently curved with the dorsal projection on the sub distal part short and the tip rounded.
Reproducibility of Macular Thickness Measurements in Eyes Affected by Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Two Different SD-OCT Instruments
Authors: Tepelus Tudor C. , Hariri Amir H. , Balasubramanian Siva , Sadda SriniVas R.
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To compare macular thickness measurement algorithms of two different spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) devices in eyes affected by dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Patients with dry AMD and healthy volunteers from the retina clinic of the Doheny Eye Center – UCLA were imaged using two different SD-OCT devices: the RS-3000 Advance (Nidek, Padova, Italy) and the Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). All patients had been previously diagnosed with drusen or geographic atrophy due to AMD. The commercial instrument software was used to generate the macular retinal thickness measurements, and measurements were compared between devices.

RESULTS:

Eighty-five diseased eyes from 49 patients and 16 healthy control eyes from eight normal volunteers were included in this study. The macular thickness measurements generated by the two instruments in eyes with AMD differed significantly in mean retinal thickness in the foveal center subfield (257.34 μm ± 51.72 μm using the Nidek OCT vs. 238.20 μm ± 51.89 μm using the Cirrus OCT;
P
< .001). The mean difference in macular thickness between the two devices was 19.14 μm ± 5.84 μm for diseased eyes and 17.06 μm ± 5.28 μm in normal control eyes, and this was not statistically different between the two groups (
P
> .05). The macular thickness measurements in diseased eyes, as evaluated by the two different instruments, however, showed excellent correlation (r = 0.99;
P
< .001), with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.98–0.99). Post hoc evaluation of cases with larger differences also showed differences in foveal center selection and variabilities in boundary selection with specific pathology.

CONCLUSION:

Macular thickness measurements provided by the Nidek and Cirrus OCT instruments in eyes with dry AMD are highly correlated but show a consistent difference, which may allow the use of a standard correction factor to be applied to better interrelate measurements between the devices.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:410–415.]
A Case of a Ruptured Eyeball Caused by High-Pressure Water Jets
Authors: Oosuka Shou , Sato Takaki , Tajiri Kensuke , Kimura Daisaku , Takai Akiko , Kohmoto Ryohsuke , Fukumoto Masanori , Kobayashi Takatoshi , Kida Teruyo , Ikeda Tsunehiko
Published: June 2018

To report the case of a ruptured eyeball caused by high-pressure water jets. In this study, the right eye of a 49-year-old male was injured by high-pressure water jets while he was engaged in demolition work. Upon examination, remarkable hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage were observed in the injured eye. After treating the patient's right eye with vitrectomy, in addition to lens subluxation and iridodialysis, retinal detachment was observed at the nasal inferior. The edge of the retinal break was found to be incarcerated into the nasal sclera rupture wounds. The findings of this study indicate that direct exposure to high-pressure water jets can cause a rupture of the eyeball.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:451–455.]
Wireless Sensor Network Coverage Optimization Based on Fruit Fly Algorithm
Authors: Song Ren , Xu Zhichao , Liu Yang
Published: June 2018

To solve the defect of traditional node deployment strategy, the improved fruit fly algorithm was combined with wireless sensor network. The optimization of network coverage was implemented. Based on a new type of intelligent algorithm, the change step of fruit fly optimization algorithm (CSFOA)was proposed. At the same time, the mathematical modeling of two network models was carried out respectively. The grid coverage model was used. The network coverage and redundancy were transformed into corresponding mathematical variables by means of grid partition.Among them, the maximum effective radius of sensor nodes was fixed in mobile node wireless sensor network. The location of nodes was randomly cast. The location of sensor nodes was placed in fixed position nodes. The effective radius of nodes can be changed dynamically.Finally, combined with the corresponding network model, the improved algorithm was applied to wireless sensor network.The combination of the optimal solution of the node position and the perceptual radius was found through the algorithm. The maximum network coverage was achieved.The two models were simulated and verified. The results showed that the improved algorithm was effective and superior to the coverage optimization of wireless sensor networks.
Mechanical Vibration Monitoring System Based on Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Li Hongjuan , Xu Gening , Xu Gelin
Published: June 2018

In order to solve the problem of mechanical vibration monitoring, a mechanical vibration monitoring system based on wireless sensor network was designed.First, the requirements of the hardware of the wireless rotating mechanical vibration monitoring system were analyzed. The monitoring node and base station node were designed.Then, based on the VisualBasic6.0 development tool, a software for monitoring the vibration of rotating machinery was designed. It had the functions of command control, data waveform display, and network topology display.In the mode of wireless mechanical vibration monitoring, the organization mode of the network, the transmission mode of data and the corresponding packet transmission format were improved.Finally, the reliable transmission of the data was verified. Compared with the traditional cable vibration sensor, the performance of the monitoring system was verified.The results showed that the wireless vibration monitoring system designed in this paper met the requirements for the monitoring of the vibration state of the rotating machinery.
Fibrotic lung toxicity induced by cytotoxic drugs, radiation and immunotherapy in patients treated for lung cancer
Authors: Bargagli Elena , Bonti Viola , Bindi Alessandra , Scotti Vieri , Pistolesi Massimo , Voltolini Luca , Ferrari Katia
Published: June 2018

Patients treated for lung cancer may develop lung toxicity induced by chemotherapy (DILD), radiation or combined radiation recall pneumonitis. In the literature, some cases of immune-mediated pneumonitis have been reported associated with immunotherapy. The clinical and radiologic features of interstitial lung toxicity are unspecific, dyspnoea and dry cough are the most common symptoms while the most frequent radiological pattern is the cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP). Why only some individuals treated with these drugs develop interstitial lung toxicity is unclear.In the last few years some studies have reported the utility of KL 6 for the evaluation of DILD. The treatment is based on high doses of systemic steroids or immune suppressor. In this study we report severe interstitial lung damage in patients treated with different anti-blastic, immune and radiation therapies. Treated with surgery, chemotherapy, immuno and radiotherapy for lung cancer, they unfortunately died of severe DILD.
Ibrido di Gallinella d’acqua (Gallinula chloropus, Linnaeus 1758) × Folaga (Fulica atra, Linnaeus 1758) in una zona umida urbana del Friuli Venezia Giulia
Authors: Florit Fabrizio , Parodi Roberto , Taiariol Pier Luigi
Published: June 2018

Nel 2012 e nel 2015 un ibrido di Gallinella d’acqua Gallinula chloropus e Folaga Fulica atra è stato osservato nel Rio Bujon nel capoluogo del comune di Porcia (Pordenone, Italia nord-orientale). L’ibrido presentava dimensioni e alcune caratteristiche del piumaggio tipiche di G. chloropus (mantello e parti superiori delle ali bruno-oliva; linea bianca dal profilo spezzato sui fianchi; sottocoda bianco con linea centrale scura), mentre il becco e lo scudo frontale apparivano di colore bianco candido, con sfumature rosate in corrispondenza delle narici, come tipicamente viene osservato in F. atra.
Association of Pica magpies with grazing ungulates: a clue to the genus’ origins
Authors: Londei Tiziano
Published: June 2018

The habits of Pica in the less man-modified of its various habitats and its similarities with the closely related Ptilostomus suggest that association with wild ungulates has been crucial in the evolution of the genus. The shape and colours of (sub-)tropical forest ancestors may have served as pre-adaptations for the association with steppe ungulates in periods of colder and drier climate in south-eastern Asia, within the present-day range of the basal form of sericea. Subsequently, through symbiosis with several ungulate species, Pica may have reached a Holarctic distribution. Retention of the ancestral traits may have permitted Pica to re-adapt to milder climates at the margins of its range, and thus produce ecologically different, though morphologically still similar, populations. Its flexible association with large mammals, mainly used as indirect food sources, may finally have led Pica to adapt to life with humans, even in largely artificial environments, provided that they still offered some short grass to forage in.
Considerazioni sulla presenza dello zigolo muciatto orientale Emberiza cioides in Italia
Authors: Fraticelli Fulvio , Marangoni Carla
Published: June 2018

Nella collezione ornitologica di Arrigoni degli Oddi, presso il Museo Civico di Zoologia di Roma, sono custoditi due esemplari di zigolo muciatto orientale Emberiza cioides. Questa specie è diffusa, come nidificante, dal Kazakistan orientale alle isole Curili. Gli scarsi report per l’Europa (Gran Bretagna, Finlandia, Spagna, Germania e Bulgaria) sono da considerarsi incerti e la presenza della specie in Italia è stata messa in discussione, per svariati motivi, nelle precedenti pubblicazioni. La catalogazione di entrambi gli esemplari, supportata dalle note autografe di Arrigoni degli Oddi conservate presso la biblioteca del Museo, rafforza la presenza in Italia dello zigolo muciatto orientale. D’altro canto, l’attribuzione dei due esemplari ad una determinata sottospecie, basandosi sulla misura dell’ala, resta dubbia. Al contrario, la colorazione del dorso, permette di assegnare entrambi gli esemplari alla forma nominale. Di conseguenza, il presente studio consentirebbe di inserire la specie nella check-list degli uccelli italiana, inserendola nella categoria AERC B4, dopo la valutazione da parte della Commissione Ornitologica Italiana (COI).
Why high tech needs high touch: Supporting continuity of community primary health care
Authors: Meyer Ellenore D. , Hugo Johannes F.M. , Marcus Tessa S. , Molebatsi Rebaone , Komana Kabelo
Published: June 2018

Background: Integrated care through community-oriented primary care (COPC) deployed through municipal teams of community health workers (CHWs) has been part of health reform in South Africa since 2011. The role of COPC and integration of information and communication technology (ICT) information to improve patient health and access to care, require a better understanding of patient social behaviour. Aim: The study sought to understand how COPC with CHWs visiting households offering health education can support antenatal follow-up and what the barriers for access to care would be. Method: A mixed methodological approach was followed. Quantitative patient data were recorded on an electronic health record-keeping system. Qualitative data collection was performed through interviews of the COPC teams at seven health posts in Mamelodi and telephonic patient interviews. Interviews were analysed according to themes and summarised as barriers to access care from a social and community perspective. Results: An integrated COPC approach increased the number of traceable pregnant women followed up at home from 2016 – 2017. Wrong addresses or personal identification were given at the clinic because of fear of being denied care. Allocating patients correctly to a ward-based outreach team (WBOT) proved to be a challenge as many patients did not know their street address. Conclusion: Patient health data available to a health worker on a smartphone as part of COPC improve patient traceability and follow-up at home making timely referral possible. Health system developments that support patient care on community level could strengthen patient health access and overall health.
Multipurpose computed tomography window for fusion display with functional imaging
Authors: Nguyen Nghi , Vejdani Kaveh
Published: June 2018

Current positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT displays have major drawbacks, in that the CT only shows one tissue type at a time, which leads to a suboptimal fusion display. We developed a multipurpose CT level/window aiming at enhancing fusion display. A total of thirty CT examinations as part of fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT examinations (15 were open source from the OsiriX website and 15 from our PET facility) and the open-source software MIPAV were used. During the development phase, a nuclear medicine physician manually modified the lookup table in a way that preserved the soft tissue contrast as well as enhanced the lung and bone tissue as much as possible. The developed multipurpose CT window was used in the subsequent validation phase and scored by two nuclear medicine physicians, who scored the image quality based on a 3-point score. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the visual scores. The multipurpose CT window is a composite of several segments of linear CT levels/windows and contains an inverted linear level/window in the low range of Hounsfield unit designed to enhance lung/soft tissue contrast. In doing so, the multipurpose CT window preserves the high soft tissue contrast; the visualization of the lung parenchyma is satisfactory; the contrast for the bone tissue is improved but remains suboptimal when compared with conventional bone window. The multipurpose CT window was found to be “very useful” (median score 3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0–3.0) for the purpose of fusion with functional imaging, with a prevalence asymmetry index 0.97 (95% CI 0.83–1.0). The multipurpose CT window was developed for image fusion and is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It shows favorable similarities to conventional CT windows with only minor artifacts and allows for enhanced visualization of fused PET/CT and SPECT/CT images. The multipurpose CT window is particularly valuable for case review/demonstrations on standard personal computers and handheld devices (smartphones, tablets).
Massive pericardial effusion: A rare and easily missed finding in myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
Authors: Wu Kwan , Kung Boom , Au Yong Ting
Published: June 2018

A 72-year-old gentleman underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) for sinus tachycardia of unknown cause. Baseline electrocardiography (ECG) showed sinus tachycardia and electrical alternans. Thallium-201 stress-redistribution MPS was performed with dipyridamole stress. On the raw projection images, a photopenic “halo” was noted surrounding the heart. Reconstructed slices showed small left ventricle with no obvious perfusion defect. Review of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images showed suspected large pericardial effusion. The patient was admitted and Echocardiography showed significant circumferential pericardial effusion with early tamponade effect. Subsequent bedside pericardiocentesis aspirated 800 ml blood-stained fluid and the cytology yielded metastatic adenocarcinoma with features suggestive of pulmonary primary. Pericardial effusion is a rare finding in MPS. Finding of a “halo” around the heart should raise suspicion on the presence of pericardial effusion and confirmatory investigation such as ECG may be warranted.
Use of radioguided surgery in abdominal wall endometriosis: An innovative approach
Authors: Vitral Geraldo , Salgado Hakayna , Rangel João
Published: June 2018

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. The occurrence of endometriosis in the anterior abdominal wall is often associated with previous cesarean section, once the spread of endometrial cells during the surgical procedure is a biologically fact possible. A 43-year-old patient, with cesarean section history and pelvic endometriosis diagnosed for over 10 years, presented with progressive abdominal pain. Tests showed cystic image with 1.6 cm of diameter and debris, located in mid-lower portion of the rectus abdominis left, suggesting abdominal wall endometriosis. This abdominal wall lesion was not identifiable in the clinical examination (impalpable), which is why we opted for the use of preoperative marking technique with radioisotope called Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization (ROLL™). The use of ROLL™ in this case allowed rapid surgical identification of endometriotic lesion and its complete excision.
Summer ozone variation in North China based on satellite and site observations
Authors: Zhou Lihua , Zhang Jing , Wang Hui , Xue Wenhao , Zheng Xiaohui , Zhu Siguang
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Compared with other regions, air pollution in North China is very serious, especially its levels of fine particulate matter, which are closely associated with the concentrations of polluting gases, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, organic gases, and ozone. Fine particle pollution has been studied in-depth, but there is less known about ozone. This paper focuses on the interannual variability of tropospheric ozone in North China and identifies its influential factors. Our analysis relies on satellite observations (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde concentrations) and near-surface data (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate concentrations, temperature, and humidity). Studies have shown that the tropospheric ozone column in North China has been at a high level for the past 3 years, with the similar time series for temperature and formaldehyde. However, trends in ozone are opposite to those of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide over this 3-year period. This indicates that the increase in ozone in North China was mainly caused by the increase in temperature and an increase in organic gas content, rather than by nitrogen oxides. Over both temporal and spatial scales, the production rate of ozone appears to be most sensitive to temperature change, as ground observations in Beijing have suggested.
A case study of mesospheric planetary waves observed over a three-radar network using empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Kishore Pangaluru , Velicogna Isabella , Sutterley Tyler C. , Mohajerani Yara , Ciracì Enrico , Madhavi Gummadipudi Nagasai
Published: June 2018

Abstract. In this paper an attempt is made to study equatorial Kelvin waves using a
network of three radars: Kototabang
(0.204∘ S, 100.320∘ E)
meteor radar, Pameungpeuk (7.646∘ S, 107.688∘ E)
medium-frequency radar, and Pontianak
(0.003∘ S, 109.367∘ E) medium-frequency radar. We have used
the continuous data gathered from the three radars during April–May 2010.
Empirical mode decomposition (EMD), Lomb–Scargle periodogram (LSP) analysis,
and wavelet techniques are used to study the temporal and altitude structures
of planetary waves. Here, we used a novel technique called EMD to extract the
planetary waves from wind data. The planetary waves of ∼ 6.5 and
∼ 3.6 days periodicity are observed in all three radar stations with
peak amplitudes of about 12 and 11 m s−1, respectively. The 3.6-day
wave has an average vertical wavelength from the three radars of about
42 km. The 3.6- and 6.5-day planetary waves are particularly strong in the
zonal wind component. We find that the two waves are present at the
84–94 km height region. The observed features of the 3.6- and 6.5-day waves
at the three tropical-latitude stations show some correspondence with the
results reported for the equatorial-latitude stations. Keywords. Electromagnetics (wave propagation) – history of geophysics (atmospheric sciences) – meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (middle atmosphere dynamics)
Estimating aboveground carbon density and its uncertainty in Borneo's structurally complex tropical forests using airborne laser scanning
Authors: Jucker Tommaso , Asner Gregory P. , Dalponte Michele , Brodrick Philip G. , Philipson Christopher D. , Vaughn Nicholas R. , Teh Yit Arn , Brelsford Craig , Burslem David F. R. P. , Deere Nicolas J. , Ewers Robert M. , Kvasnica Jakub , Lewis Simon L. , Malhi Yadvinder , Milne Sol , Nilus Reuben , Pfeifer Marion , Phillips Oliver L. , Qie Lan , Renneboog Nathan , Reynolds Glen , Riutta Terhi , Struebig Matthew J. , Svátek Martin , Turner Edgar C. , Coomes David A.
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Borneo contains some of the world's most biodiverse and carbon-dense tropical
forest, but this 750 000 km2 island has lost 62 % of its
old-growth forests within the last 40 years. Efforts to protect and restore
the remaining forests of Borneo hinge on recognizing the ecosystem services
they provide, including their ability to store and sequester carbon. Airborne
laser scanning (ALS) is a remote sensing technology that allows forest
structural properties to be captured in great detail across vast geographic
areas. In recent years ALS has been integrated into statewide assessments of
forest carbon in Neotropical and African regions, but not yet in Asia. For
this to happen new regional models need to be developed for estimating carbon
stocks from ALS in tropical Asia, as the forests of this region are
structurally and compositionally distinct from those found elsewhere in the
tropics. By combining ALS imagery with data from 173 permanent forest plots
spanning the lowland rainforests of Sabah on the island of Borneo, we
develop a simple yet general model for estimating forest carbon stocks using
ALS-derived canopy height and canopy cover as input metrics. An advanced
feature of this new model is the propagation of uncertainty in both ALS- and
ground-based data, allowing uncertainty in hectare-scale estimates of carbon
stocks to be quantified robustly. We show that the model effectively captures
variation in aboveground carbon stocks across extreme disturbance gradients
spanning tall dipterocarp forests and heavily logged regions and clearly
outperforms existing ALS-based models calibrated for the tropics, as well as
currently available satellite-derived products. Our model provides a simple,
generalized and effective approach for mapping forest carbon stocks in
Borneo and underpins ongoing efforts to safeguard and facilitate the
restoration of its unique tropical forests.