bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences in Using a Smartphone as a Virtual Reality Interaction Device
Authors: Chuah Joon Hao , Lok Benjamin
Published: October 2019

Input devices such as Nintendo Wiimotes are often used to select and manipulate virtual objects. While simple to use and easily available, these devices have some limitations. When used with common large displays such as televisions, they support only indirect manipulation. These devices also require the user to learn and remember which buttons map to which functions. We propose overcoming these limitations by using a smartphone as an interaction device. Smartphones, like Wiimotes, are readily available and easy to operate. Unlike the Wiimote, the smartphone has a touchscreen that can display the selected object, allowing the user to directly manipulate the object. Further, the touchscreen can customize the interface and provide buttons with clearly labeled functions specific to the object. We report on the lessons learned in integrating and using a smartphone as the interaction device for two applications. The first is a mixed reality game focused on general object selection and pose manipulation. We used this game in a pilot study evaluating usability. The second is an adaptation of an existing virtual reality application. This application demonstrated the ease of adaptation as well as improvements from using a smartphone.
Analysis of a Scalable Multi-Projector System for Virtual Reality Environments
Authors: Teubl Fernando , Cabral Marcio , Zuffo Marcelo , Kurashima Celso
Published: October 2019

Virtual reality environments with multi-projector systems provide better visual quality, higher resolution and more brightness than traditional single-projector systems. Moreover, using multiple low-cost projectors is economically advantageous in comparison to an expensive high-end projector for equivalent visual performance. This article presents the research and development of a scalable multiprojection system that enables the construction of virtual reality systems with a large number of projectors and graphics computers, and that is capable of achieving a high resolution display. We demonstrate the viability of such system with the development of a camera-based multiprojector system library called FastFusion, which automatically calibrates casually aligned projectors to properly blend different projections. Our system software improves known algorithms in the literature for projector calibration and image blending. As a result, FastFusion improves system scalability and calibration reliability. In a detailed analysis of the visual performance of FastFusion in a CAVE system with three walls, eighteen projectors and nine computers, we achieved a satisfactory result for variance in geometric calibration and for graphics performance. Thus, our library is suitable for building complex projector systems and with retina resolution.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Circulation Behaviors Using Path And Residing Time displaY (PARTY)
Authors: Sookhanaphibarn Kingkarn , Thawonmas Ruck , Rinaldo Frank , Chen Kuan-Ta
Published: October 2019

Spatiotemporal data displayed in a spatial layout are not the best visualization for finding similarities of visitor paths and extracting patterns of visitor interest to placed items. A challenging problem is the visual analytics of circulation patterns in varying layouts commonly found in a museum with many exhibition rooms. This paper proposes a layout-independent visualization approach to represent a visitor path and his/her time spent residing near the closest item. In this approach, we encode a time interval residing in an item boundary into a color-shaded line segment. Color shade is used as an indicator to the proximity distance to the nearest item. The length of a segment is in proportion to the total time spent in the layout. The time segment is placed in the row corresponding to its item boundary. A path of visited items is illustrated by connecting the time segments with vertical lines. The resulting visualization technique, called Path And Residing Time displaY (PARTY), enables users to find trends of circulation behaviors in a consistent fashion regardless of the targeted layout. We demonstrate the effectiveness of PARTY on two datasets: one showing circulation behaviors of visiting styles in a 3D virtual museum and the other showing a flow of people escaped from an explosion in a building. PARTY is applicable for analyzing data in real and virtual spaces. While the focus of this paper is to apply PARTY to discovering circulation patterns in museums or art galleries, the utilization of this approach covers also visual analytics of customer circulation in a number of environments (e.g. convenient store, department store, World's Fair, etc.). PARTY provides useful information about the number of visitors to items, flow patterns, crowded areas, items not visited, and other aspects of visitor behaviors.
Wide Area Motion Tracking Using Consumer Hardware
Authors: Schönauer Christian , Kaufmann Hannes
Published: October 2019

In this paper we present a wide area tracking system based on consumer hardware and available motion capture modules and middleware. We are using multiple depth cameras for human pose tracking in order to increase the captured space. Commercially available cameras can capture human movements in a non-intrusive way, while associated software-modules produce pose information of a simplified skeleton model. We calibrate the cameras relatively to each other to seamlessly combine their tracking data. Our design allows an arbitrary number of sensors to be integrated and used in parallel over a local area network. This enables us to capture human movements in a large arbitrarily shaped area. In addition we can improve motion capture data in regions, where the field of view of multiple cameras overlaps, by mutually completing partly occluded poses. In various examples we demonstrate, how human pose data is being merged in order to cover a wide area and how this data can easily be used for character animation in a virtual environment.
EDITORIAL The International Journal of Virtual Reality (2015)
Authors: Buche Cédric
Published: October 2019

Editorial IJVR 15-1
Virtual Slicer: Visualizer for Tomographic Medical Images Corresponding Handheld Device to Patient
Authors: Shimamura Sho , Kanegae Motoko , Morita Jun , Uema Yuji , Takahashi Maiko , Inami Masahiko , Hayashida Tetsu , Saito Hideo , Sugimoto Maki
Published: October 2019

This paper introduces an interface that helps understand the correspondence between the patient and medical images. Surgeons determine the extent of resection by using tomographic images such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data. However, understanding the relationship between the patient and tomographic images is difficult. This study aims to visualize the correspondence more intuitively. In this paper, we propose an interactive visualizer for medical images based on the relative position and orientation of the handheld device and the patient. We conducted an experiment to verify the performances of the proposed method and several other methods. In the experiment, the proposed method with a line laser showed the minimum error.
Markerless 3D Interaction in an Unconstrained Handheld Mixed Reality Setup
Authors: Fritz Daniel , Mossel Annette , Kaufmann Hannes
Published: October 2019

In mobile applications, it is crucial to provide intuitive means for 2D and 3D interaction. A large number of techniques exist to support a natural user interface (NUI) by detecting the user's hand posture in RGB+D (depth) data. Depending on the given interaction scenario and its environmental properties, each technique has its advantages and disadvantages regarding accuracy and the robustness of posture detection. While the interaction environment in a desktop setup can be constrained to meet certain requirements, a handheld scenario has to deal with varying environmental conditions. To evaluate the performance of techniques on a mobile device, a powerful software framework was developed that is capable of processing and fusing RGB and depth data directly on a handheld device. Using this framework, five existing hand posture recognition techniques were integrated and systematically evaluated by comparing their accuracy under varying illumination and background. Overall results reveal best recognition rate of posture detection for combined RGB+D data at the expense of update rate. To support users in choosing the appropriate technique for their specific mobile interaction task, we derived guidelines based on our study. In the last step, an experimental study was conducted using the detected hand postures to perform the canonical 3D interaction tasks selection and positioning in a mixed reality handheld setup.
Development of Walking in Place System based on Zero Crossing Algorithm
Authors: Yang Hongbiao , Sawhney Rapinder , Ji Shuguang , Wade Eric R.
Published: October 2019

Walking in Place (WIP) is a way to facilitate locomotion tasks in the virtual environment while keeping the subject relatively static in the physical environment. This technique enables subjects to walk in a virtual space with limited physical space requirements. This paper introduces a burden-free and error-tolerant system to track the subjects' walking and turning motions, and to translate these motions to the virtual environment using the Microsoft Kinect. In addition, we introduce a zero crossing based algorithm that analyzes joint position data, detects the knee coordinates exchange pattern, and produces locomotion with low latency and jerkiness.
Artificial Neural Network in Virtual Reality : A Survey
Authors: Sharma G. , Chandra Sushil , Venkatraman Saraynya , Mittal Alok , Singh Vijander
Published: October 2019

Virtual reality (VR) is defined as a 3-dimensional (3D), artificially simulated environment which allows the user to immerse himself/herself in it. From rehabilitation to data visualization, VR has been found to have many profound applications over the past decade or so. The addition of a suitable interface (e.g: haptics) is necessary in order to improve the quality of interaction with VR. Artificial Neural Network (ANN), a learning algorithm [i.e., a mathematical representation of any form of biological activity], which is one of the most widely adopted algorithms, is used for maintaining the properties of virtual reality (i.e., Immersivity and Interactivity). The primary objective of this review is to explore the limitless possibilities through the integration of ANN and VR. In addition to this, it also highlights the fact that an incumbent association of VR and ANN can lead to the construction of a highly interactive and immersive module in virtual reality.
EDITORIAL The International Journal of Virtual Reality Vol.16 n°1
Authors: Richir Simon
Published: October 2019

Special Issue - Best Papers of Virtual Reality International Conference (VRIC'16)
A methodology for the design of pedagogically adaptable learning environments.
Authors: Saunier Julien , Barange Mukesh , Blandin Bernard , Querrec Ronan
Published: October 2019

In the last decades, the industry has profoundly integrated the use of digital resources in their production process. However, these assets are rarely re-used for the training of the users, operators and technicians that have to interact with these objects. Furthermore, although training and learning environments are classical applications of virtual reality, the design of these environments is generally ad hoc, i.e. dedicated to specific operations on specific objects, hence requiring the intervention of programmers whenever a modification of the pedagogical scenario is required. In this article, we propose a methodology to design adaptable virtual environments, by separating the role of the different protagonists that play a part in the creation of learning environments. In particular, its goal is to allow the teachers to implement different scenarios according to the level of the trainees and to the pedagogical objectives without the intervention of computer scientists. An example of adaptable wind turbine environment is shown, with three different learning situations: simulator, safety training and preventive maintenance training.
Proposition and Validation of a Questionnaire to Measure the User Experience in Immersive Virtual Environments
Authors: Tcha-Tokey Katy , Christmann Olivier , Loup-Escande Emilie , Richir Simon
Published: October 2019

There are increasing new advances in virtual reality technologies as well as a rise in immersive virtual environments research and user experience research. Within this framework, we decided to address the overall user experience in immersive virtual environments. Indeed, in our point of view, this topic is not fully dealt with in the scientific literature, neither in terms of user experience components nor in terms of user experience measurement methods. It is in this context that we conducted a study aiming at proposing and validating a unified questionnaire on user experience in immersive virtual environment(IVEQ). Our questionnaire contains 10 subscales measuring presence, engagement, immersion, flow, usability, skill, emotion, experience consequence, judgement and technology adoption. The construction of our questionnaire was based on existing ones. It was tested on 116 participants after they use the edutainment virtual environment "Think and Shoot". Results show that 9 out of 10 subscales and 68 out of 87 items are reliable as demonstrated by an internal consistency analysis with Cronbach's alpha and an item analysis. Findings also indicate that the scale scores from 6 subscales are considered normal distributed (e.g. presence) whereas the scale scores from 3 subscales are considered negatively skewed (e.g. skill). This study provides important new insight into UX in IVEs assessment.
An immersive paradigm to study emotional perception in co-presence through avatars.
Authors: Garnier François , Vuarnesson Loup , Berthoz Alain
Published: October 2019

How to design new forms of on line behavioural and emotional interactions in digital spaces, shared virtual environments? What are the perceptual, behavioural and cognitive processes involved when actions, emotions or information are shared between several co-present users? What are the aesthetic and sociological implications of these new forms of spatial mediations? What is the influence of spatial location and emotional valence of pictures on the capacity to memorize the pictures? For this study of perceptual and cognitive processes involved when sharing and memorizing emotions online in digital spaces" we have brought together a multidisciplinary team of researchers in Art and New Media, Cognitive Sciences and Psychiatry. Our goal is to assess the relevance and limitations of new forms of mediation in online- shared spaces (also commonly referred to as "virtual worlds"). This paper presents a preliminary account of the paradigm. Here we focus on the influence of copresence on the emotional perception of fine arts in a digital environment. This experience was developed by the "Spatial Media" group of EnsadLab in partnership with the Collège de France, supported and funded by PSL* Research University.
EDITORIAL - IJVR 18(1)
Authors: Buche Cédric
Published: October 2019

Editorial IJVR 18-1
A Pilot Study of the Impact of Repeated Sessions of Virtual Reality on Chronic Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Jones Ted , Skadberg Rebecca , Moore Todd
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVE: The use of virtual reality (VR) for pain has numerous studies showing effectiveness. However, there has been limited study of its use for chronic pain. METHODOLGY: This pilot study (N=10) investigated the impact of repeated sessions of a VR application for chronic pain on ten subjects. Impact on pain as well as on psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, and sense of control over pain was assessed. Subjects underwent three twenty minute sessions of the VR application Cool! on a weekly basis using an Oculus Rift or Vive. The impact of the sessions on pain was assessed at four intervals and psychological data captured at two intervals. RESULTS: Results indicate that the VR sessions provided significant pain relief in all treatment sessions with an average of a 66% reduction in pain during the VR session and a 45% reduction in pain immediately after the session. A decrease in pain was reported to last an average of 30 hours after the session. There appeared to be limited if any impact of the VR intervention on chronic pain levels across time. There was no significant impact found for the VR intervention on depression, anxiety, catastrophizing and sense of control over pain. CONCLUSION: Implications for the use of VR on chronic pain conditions are discussed. More frequent VR interventions for chronic pain may be needed to impact pain across time. In addition, VR applications might not be used as an interventional-type in-office treatment as done here but perhaps need to have a skill teaching component or be an application available for in-home and more frequent use.
Towards a SLAM-based augmented reality application for the 3D annotation of rock art
Authors: Abergel Violette , Jacquot Kévin , De Luca Livio , Veron Philippe
Published: October 2019

The digital technologies developed in recent decades have considerably enriched the survey and documentation practices in the field of cultural heritage. They now raise new issues and challenges, particularly in the management of multidimensional datasets, which require the development of new methods for the analysis, interpretation and sharing of heterogeneous data. In the case of rock art sites, additional challenges are added to this context, due to their nature and fragility. In many cases, digital data alone is not sufficient to meet contextualization, analysis or traceability needs.
In this context, we propose to develop an application dedicated to rock art survey, allowing 3D annotation in augmented reality. This work is a part of an ongoing project about an information system dedicated to cultural heritage documentation. For this purpose, we propose a registration method based on a spatial resection calculation. We will also raise the perspectives that this opens up for heritage survey and documentation, in particular in terms of visualization enhancement.
3D Objects based Security in Virtual and Augmented Reality Systems
Authors: Djaghloul Haroun , Jessel Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a new method for public and blind watermarking of 3D objects and hiding information of various types in virtual reality and augmented reality environments. In particular, the virtual scene is transformed to a tree-based model using constructive solid geometry (CSG). The tree of the virtual 3D objects is composed of nodes and leafs. Each tree node contains a set operator (union, intersection or difference) whereas the tree leafs consist of geometric primitives such as spheres, cylinders and cubes. The proposed method allows embedding invisible watermarks that can hide different security information types. The proposed method ensures unlimited capacity and absolute invisibility of the hidden information with robustness to affine transformations. Thanks to these unique properties, it is possible to implement all the security infrastructures needed for a virtual and augmented reality system. Finally, the performances of the proposed method are shown using 3D models of different types and scenes.
EDITORIAL – IJVR 19(2)
Authors: Richir Simon
Published: October 2019

Special Issue - Best Papers of Virtual Reality International Conference (VRIC'19)
EDITORIAL – IJVR 19(3)
Authors: Christmann Olivier , Richir Simon
Published: October 2019

Editorial of the third issue of IJVR Volume 19 – October 2019
Historijskomaterijalistička kritika postmarksizma
Authors: Jurak Karlo
Published: October 2019

Marksistička teorija, kao i sve druge teorije, podliježe posljedicama podjele rada na materijalni i duhovni, koju Marx u Njemačkoj ideologiji označava kao prvu pravu podjelu rada u klasnim društvima. U fenomenu tzv. zapadnog marksizma, ali ponajviše u postmarksističkim transformacijama najbolje se vide te posljedice za sâm marksizam. Stoga je cilj ovoga rada primijeniti upravo historijskomaterijalističku metodu na postmarksizam te opisati i objasniti transformacije revolucionarnih subjektivnosti koje prate tu mutaciju u marksističkoj teoriji. Prije toga treba ugrubo napraviti periodizaciju marksizma služeći se nekim terminima Perryja Andersona te, na tom tragu, postmarksizam predstaviti kao drugu fazu zapadnog marksizma. U središnjem dijelu rada tako su predmet interesa glavne karakteristike postmarksizma koje uključuju zamjenu klasnih politika identitetskima, partikularizaciju i fragmentaciju društvenih borbi te kooptaciju borbi u dominantni društveno-politički okvir. Sve je to popraćeno obraćanjem pažnje na neke promjene u proizvodnim odnosima te na prateći neoliberalni zaokret na ekonomskom, političkom i kulturnom planu. Radi lakšeg razumijevanja tih transformacija izlaže se kratki pregled nekih preteča postmarksizma i teorijskih koncepata koji su znatno utjecali na postmarksističke teorije, a nakon toga objašnjavaju se najistaknutiji primjeri konstitucije različitih revolucionarnih subjektivnosti u nekim postmarksističkim teorijama. Na samom se kraju naglašava važnost nadilaženja tih partikularnih pozicija te teorijski afirmira univerzalizam i ističe njegova praktičko-politička važnost i potencijalnost. Time je dan bitan ulog povratku na historijska izvorišta marksizma koja su i omogućila njegovu autorefleksiju.
Ideologija, klasa i pitanje političke subjektivizacije u Bosni i Hercegovini
Authors: Mujkić Asim
Published: October 2019

Autor propituje ulogu ideologije, mita i klase u razumijevanju kompleksnih procesa savremene političke subjektivizacije u BiH. Polazeći od revolucionarnog konteksta s početka devedesetih godina dvadesetog stoljeća koji razumijeva kao paralelni proces nacionalne i kapitalističke reaproprijacije, autor na pitanje pod kojim uslovima, diskurzivnim i institucionalnim, određene etničke razlike postaju politički relevantnima, postaju izvorom političke moći i mobilizacije, razvija odgovor u vidu antireprezentacionalističke hipoteze po kojoj su to s jedne strane diskurzivni i institucionalni uslovi “nacionalne države” shvaćene kao države homogenog etnonacionalnog domaćina i zanemarive etnonacionalne manjine, a s druge strane njima komplementarni diskurzivni i institucionalni uslovi kapitalističkog poretka iz kojega se nacionalni poredak historijski izdiže, a koji podrazumijeva klasnu strukturiranost. Subjekt proizvodnje nacionalno-kapitalističkog poretka je vladajuća klasa, u slučaju BiH klasa etnopolitičkih poduzetnika koja je u posjedu sredstava za proizvodnju društvenog života uopće: i materijalnog i onog simboličkog.
Super-Multi-Junction Solar Cell, Device Configuration with the Potential of More Than 50 % of the Annual Energy Conversion Efficiency (Non-Concentration)
Authors: Araki Kenji , Ota Yasuyuki , Saiki Hiromu , Tawa Hiroki , Nishioka Kensuke , Yamaguchi Masafumi
Published: October 2019

The highest efficiency solar cell won in the efficiency race does not always give the most excellent annual energy yield in the real world solar condition that the spectrum is ever-changing. The study of the radiative coupling of the concentrator solar cells implied that the efficiency could increase by the recycle of the radiative recombination generated by the surplus current in upper junction. Such configuration is called by a super-multi-junction cell. We expanded the model in the concentrator solar cell to non-concentrating installation. It was shown that this super-multi-junction cell configuration was found robust and can keep the maximum potential efficiency (50 % in realistic spectrum fluctuation) up to 10 junctions. The super-multi-junction cell is also robust in the bandgap engineering of each junction. Therefore, the future multi-junction may not be needed to tune the bandgap for matching the standard solar spectrum, as well as relying upon artificial technologies like ELO (Epitaxial lift-off), wafer-bonding, mechanical-stacking, and reverse-growth, but merely uses up-right and lattice-matching growth technologies. We have two challenging techniques; one is the optical cap layer that may be the directional photon coupling layer in the application of the photonics technologies, and another is the high-quality epitaxial growth with almost 100 % of the radiative efficiency.
Antivenin Plants Used for Treatment of Snakebites in Uganda: Ethnobotanical Reports and Pharmacological Evidences
Authors: Omara Timothy , Kagoya Sarah , Openy Abraham , Omute Tom , Ssebulime Stephen , Kiplagat Kibet Mohamed , Bongomin Ocident
Published: October 2019

Snakebite envenomation, cognized as a neglected tropical disease, is a dread public health concern with the most susceptible groups being herdsmen, the elderly, active farmers, hunters, fishers, firewood collectors, 10 to 14-year old working children and individuals with limited access to education and health care. Snakebites are fragmentarily documented in Uganda primarily because most occur in rural settings where traditional therapists end up being the first line defence for treatment. Ethnobotanical surveys in Uganda have unveiled that some plants are used to antagonize the activity of various snake venoms. This review was sought to compile the sporadic information on the vegetal species reported as antivenins in Uganda. Electronic data indicate that no study entirely reported on antivenin plants in Uganda. A total of 77 plant species belonging to 65 genera, distributed among 42 botanical families claimed as antiophidic in Uganda are used for treatment of snakebites. Majority of these species belong to family Fabaceae (30.9%), Euphorbiaceae (14.3%), Asteraceae (11.9%), Amaryllidaceae (9.5%) and Solanaceae (9.5%). The antiophidic species listed are shrubs (40.5%), trees (32.9%) and herbs (17.7%), usually found in the wild and uncultivated. Antivenin extracts are primarily prepared from roots and leaves, through decoctions, infusions, powders and juices and administered orally or topically. The most frequently encountered therapeutically important species are Allium cepa L., Carica papaya L., Securidaca longipedunculata Fres., Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. and Nicotiana tabacum L. Baseline epidemiological data on snake envenomation and antivenin plants in Uganda remain incomplete due to inadequate research and diverse ethnic groups in the country. There is a dire need to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds in the claimed plants to enable their adroit utilization in handling the plague of snake envenomation. More baseline data should be collected on snake ecology and human behaviour as well as antivenin plants in Uganda. Indigenous knowledge on the use of plant preparations in traditional medicine in Uganda is humongous, but if this is not quickly researched and appropriately documented, indications as to the usefulness of this vegetal treasure house will be lost in the not so distant future.
Innovative Strategies for Bearing Lubrication Simulations
Authors: Concli Franco , Schaefer Christian Thomas , Bohnert Christof
Published: October 2019

Efficiency improvement is the new challenge in all fields of design. In this scenario the reduction of power losses is becoming more and more a main concern also in the design of power transmissions. Appropriate models to predict power losses are therefore from the earliest stages of the design phase. The aim of the project is to carry on lubrication simulations of several variants of a cylindrical-roller-bearing to understand the lubricant distribution and the related churning power losses. Several strategies to reduce the computational effort have been used. Among them the sectorial symmetry and three innovative meshing strategies (purely analytical with and without interfaces and analytical/subtractive) that have been implemented in the OpenFOAM® environment. The results of the different approaches were compared among them and with experimental observations showing good agreement and reasonable savings in terms of computational effort.
Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of Copolymer Structure with Gradient Foam Using Additive Manufacturing and CO2 Foaming
Authors: Park Byung Kyu , Kim Charn-Jung , Kwon Dong Eui , Lee Youn-Woo
Published: October 2019

Synthetic polymer-based gradient foams have considered as promising category of functionally graded materials with unique properties. In this study, the carbon dioxide (CO2) foaming technology has used for PET-PEN (Polyethylene Terephthalate - Polyethylene Naphthalate) copolymer towards porous functional materials with thermal insulation with reasonable mechanical strength. Through scanning electron microscope based morphological characterization, a potential to fabricate gradient foam structures with micro-pores has identified. It has shown that variation of post-foaming temperature can tune the pore size distribution although the very high post-foaming temperature tends to cause structural instability. Thermal measurement data set the limits of operation, confirmed by simultaneous differential scanning calorimeter and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Mechanical stress and thermal conductivity also has measured to find rationale of thermal insulation with reasonable mechanical strength and to elucidate the actual 3D grid foam of copolymer.
Lagrangian Drifter to Identify Ocean Eddy Characteristics
Authors: Chu Peter C. , Fan Chenwu
Published: October 2019

Deterministic-stochastic empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used to obtain low-frequency (non-diffusive, i.e., background velocity) and high-frequency (diffusive, i.e., eddies) components from a Lagrangian drifter‘s trajectory. Eddy characteristics are determined from the time series of eddy trajectories from individual Lagrangian drifter such as the eddy radial scale, eddy velocity scale, eddy Rossby number, and eddy-background kinetic energy ratio. A long-term dataset of the SOund Fixing And Ranging float time series obtained near the California coast by the Naval Postgraduate School from 1992 to 2004 at depth between 150 and 600 m (http://www.oc.nps.edu/npsRAFOS/) is used as an example to demonstrate the capability of the deterministic-stochastic EMD.
Identification of Cancer Stem Cell Subpopulations in Head and Neck Metastatic Malignant Melanoma
Authors: Yoganandarajah Vithushiya , Patel Josie , van Schaijik Bede , Bockett Nicholas , Brasch Helen D. , Paterson Erin , Sim Dalice , Davis Paul F. , Roth Imogen , Itinteang Tinte , Tan Swee T.
Published: October 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in many cancer types. This study identified and characterized CSCs in head and neck metastatic malignant melanoma (HNmMM) to regional lymph nodes using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) markers. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining performed on 20 HNmMM tissue samples demonstrated expression of iPSC markers OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC in all samples while NANOG was expressed at low levels in two samples. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining demonstrated an OCT4+/SOX2+/KLF4+/c-MYC+ CSC subpopulation within the tumor nests (TNs) and another within the peritumoral stroma (PTS) of HNmMM tissues. IF also showed expression of NANOG by some OCT4+/SOX2+/KLF4+/c-MYC+ cells within the TNs in an HNmMM tissue sample that expressed NANOG on IHC staining. In situ hybridization (n=6) and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n=5) on the HNmMM samples confirmed expression of all five iPSC markers. Western blotting of four primary cell lines derived from four of the 20 HNmMM tissue samples showed expression of SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC but not OCT4 and NANOG, and three of these cell lines formed tumorspheres in vitro. We demonstrate the presence of two putative CSC subpopulations within HNmMM, which may be a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of this aggressive cancer.
Satellite Retrieval of Downwelling Shortwave Surface Flux and Diffuse Fraction under All Sky Conditions in the Framework of the LSA SAF Program (Part 1: Methodology)
Authors: Carrer Dominique , Ceamanos Xavier , Moparthy Suman , Vincent Chloe , C. Freitas Sandra , Trigo Isabel
Published: October 2019

Several studies have shown that changes in incoming solar radiation and variations of the diffuse fraction can significantly modify the vegetation carbon uptake. Hence, monitoring the incoming solar radiation at large scale and with high temporal frequency is crucial for this reason along with many others. The EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility for Land Surface Analysis (LSA SAF) operationally disseminates in near real time estimates of the downwelling shortwave radiation at the surface since 2005. This product is derived from observations provided by the SEVIRI instrument onboard the Meteosat Second Generation series of geostationary satellites, which covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and part of South America. However, near real time generation of the diffuse fraction at the surface level has only recently been initiated. The main difficulty towards achieving this goal was the general lack of accurate information on the aerosol particles in the atmosphere. This limitation is nowadays less important thanks to the improvements in atmospheric numerical models. This study presents an upgrade of the LSA-SAF operational retrieval method, which provides the simultaneous estimation of the incoming solar radiation and its diffuse fraction from satellite every 15 minutes. The upgrade includes a comprehensive representation of the influence of aerosols based on physical approximations of the radiative transfer within an atmosphere-surface associated medium. This article explains the retrieval method, discusses its limitations and differences with the previous method, and details the characteristics of the output products. A companion article will focus on the evaluation of the products against independent measurements of solar radiation. Finally, the access to the source code is provided through an open access platform in order to share with the community the expertise on the satellite retrieval of this variable.
Coupled Stratospheric Chemistry-Meteorology Data Assimilation. Part I: Modeling Chemistry-Dynamics Interactions
Authors: Ménard Richard , Chabrillat Simon , Robichaud Alain , de Grandpré Jean , Charron Martin , Rochon Yves , Batchelor Rebecca , Kallaur Alexander , Reszka Mateusz , Kaminski Jacek W.
Published: October 2019

A coupled stratospheric chemistry-meteorology model was developed by combining the Canadian operational weather prediction model Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) with a comprehensive stratospheric photochemistry model from the Belgian Assimilation System for Chemical ObsErvations (BASCOE). The coupled model was called GEM-BACH for GEM-Belgian Atmospheric CHemistry. The coupling was made across a chemical interface that preserves time splitting while being modular, allowing GEM to run with or without chemistry. An evaluation of the coupling was performed by comparing the coupled model, refreshed by meteorological analyses every 6 hours, against the standard offline chemical transport model (CTM) approach. Results show that the dynamical meteorological consistency between meteorological analysis times far outweighs the error created by the jump resulting from the meteorological analysis increments at regular time intervals, irrespective whether a 3D-Var or 4D-Var meteorological analysis is used. GEM-BACH forecast refreshed by meteorological analyses every 6 hours were compared against independent measurements of temperature, long-lived species, ozone and water vapor. The comparison showed a relatively good agreement throughout the stratosphere except for an upper-level warm temperature bias and an ozone deficit of nearly 15%. Arguments in favor of using the same horizontal resolution for chemistry, meteorology, and meteorological analysis increments are also presented. In particular, the coupled model simulation during an ozone hole event gives better ozone concentrations than a 4D-Var chemical assimilation at a lower resolution.
Prostate-Derived ETS Factor (PDEF) Regulates Yes Associated Protein 1 (YAP1) in Prostate Cancer Cells: A Potential Cross-Talk between PDEF and Hippo Signaling
Authors: Jaiswal Praveen Kumar , Mohajan Suman , Koul Sweaty , Wang Fengtian , Shi Runhua , Koul Hari K.
Published: October 2019

PDEF is expressed in luminal epithelial cells of the prostate gland and associates with luminal phenotype. Hippo pathway regulates cell growth/proliferation, cellular homeostasis, and organ development by modulating phosphorylation of its downstream effectors. In previous studies, we observed decreased levels of PDEF during prostate cancer progression. In the present studies, we evaluated the effects of PDEF on total and phospho (Ser-127)YAP1 protein(a downstream effector of the Hippo pathway) levels in PC3 cells, a line of castrate resistant prostate cancer. We observed that the expression of PDEF in PC3 cells resulted in increased increased phospho(Ser127) -YAP1 protein levels. Our immunofluorescence analysis for YAP1 revealed an increased cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio of YAP1 in PDEF-PC3 cells as compared to VC-PC3 cells, suggesting PDEF may play a critical role in modulating YAP1 phosphorylation, and by extension in the regulation of the Hippo pathway. We also observed a decrease in YAP1 protein levels in prostate cancer tissues as compared to normal prostate tissues. Our analysis of multiple publicly available clinical cohorts revealed a gradual decrease in YAP1 mRNA expression during prostate cancer progression and metastasis. This decrease was similar to the decrease in PDEF levels which we reported earlier. In addition we observed further decreased in PDEF and YAP1 expression in Neuro-Endocrine Prostate Cancer (NEPC), and a direct correlation between PDEF and YAP1 expression. To the best of our knowledge, these results provide the first demonstration of modulation of YAP1 by PDEF in any system and suggest a cross-talk between PDEF and the Hippo pathway.
Hybrid Machine Learning Model of Support Vector Machine and Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm for Prediction of Remaining Service Life of Flexible Pavement
Authors: Karballaeezadeh Nader , Dineva Adrienn , Mosavi Amir , Nabipour Narjes , Shamshirband Shahaboddin , Mohammadzadeh Danial
Published: October 2019

Remaining service life (RSL) of pavement, as a sign of future pavement performance, has always received growing attention from pavement engineers. The RSL describes the time from the moment of pavement inspection until such a time when a major repair or reconstruction is required. The conventional approach to determining RSL involves using non-destructive tests. These tests, in addition to being costly, interfere with traffic flow and compromise users' safety. In this paper, surface distresses of pavement have been used to estimate the pavement’s RSL in order to eliminate the aforementioned problems and challenges. To implement the proposed theory, 105 flexible pavement segments were taken from Shahrood-Damghan Highway (Highway 44) in Iran. For each pavement segment, the type, severity, and extent of surface damage and pavement condition index (PCI) were determined. The pavement RSL was then estimated using non-destructive tests include Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). After completing the dataset, the modeling was conducted to predict RSL using three techniques include Support Vector Regression (SVR), Support Vector Regression Optimized by Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (SVR-FOA), and Gene Expression Programming (GEP). All three techniques estimated the RSL of the pavement by selecting the PCI as input. The Correlation Coefficient (CC), Nash-Sutcliffe efﬁciency (NSE), Scattered Index (SI), and Willmott’s Index of agreement (WI) criteria were used to examine the performance of the three techniques adopted in this study. In the end, it was found that GEP with values of 0.874, 0.598, 0.601, and 0.807 for CC, SI, NSE, and WI criteria, respectively, had the highest accuracy in predicting the RSL of pavement.
Coupled Stratospheric Chemistry-Meteorology Data Assimilation. Part II: Weak and Strong Coupling
Authors: Ménard Richard , Gauthier Pierre , Rochon Yves , Robichaud Alain , de Grandpré Jean , Yang Yan , Charette Cécilien , Chabrillat Simon
Published: October 2019

We examine data assimilation coupling between meteorology and chemistry in the stratosphere from both weak and strong coupling strategies. The study was performed with the Canadian operational weather prediction Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model coupled online with the photochemical stratospheric chemistry developed at the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, described in Part I. Here, the Canadian Meteorological Centre’s operational variational assimilation system was extended to include errors of chemical variables and cross-covariances between meteorological and chemical variables in a 3D-Var configuration, and we added the adjoint of tracer advection in the 4D-Var configuration. Our results show that the assimilation of limb sounding observations from the MIPAS instrument on board Envisat can be used to anchor the AMSU-A radiance bias correction scheme. Also, the added value of limb sounding temperature observations on meteorology and transport is shown to be significant. Weak coupling data assimilation with ozone-radiation interaction is shown to give comparable on meteorology whether a simplified linearized or comprehensive ozone chemistry scheme is used. Strong coupling data assimilation, using static error cross-covariances between ozone and temperature in a 3D-Var context, produced inconclusive results with the approximations we used. We have also conducted the assimilation of long-lived species observations using 4D-Var to infer winds. Our results showed the added value of assimilating several long-lived species, and an improvement in the zonal wind in the Tropics within the troposphere and lower stratosphere. 4D-Var assimilation also induced a correction of zonal wind in the surf zone and a temperature bias in the lower tropical stratosphere
TOOLS TO RETAIN ADDED VALUE IN DAIRY FARMS: THE SOUTH KOREA CASE
Authors: Corazzin Mirco , Schermer Markus , Park Seung-Yong
Published: October 2019

South Korea witnessed an increase in the average size of dairy farms over the past decade, probably because of high production costs especially relevant for farms with less than 40 heads. Korean dairy farms have production costs that are 63.9% higher than the international milk price, and the producer support by the Korean government is 2.5 times higher than the average of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Considering a possible reduction of public support, and the increasing market openings, one of the objectives for farmers would be to try retaining on farm a higher added value for their dairy products such as cheese and fermented milk. Out of this perspective, and on the basis of a questionnaire that involved the great part of the farmers that produce cheese, this paper describes three possible tools for the valorization of dairy products: short supply chains and direct marketing, dedicated supply chains with certification and labels and the approach values based supply chains.
PATORANI: OCCULTNESS, RELIGIOSITY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY OF THE FLYING FISH HUNTERS
Authors: Demmallino Eymal B. , Ali M. Saleh S.
Published: October 2019

The term “Patorani” refers to a person who works to catch flying fish. This activity is still mostly done by fishermen in South Sulawesi. In the activity of catching flying fish, there are a number of things that work outside of human rationality wrapped with religious understanding by using simple technology that is environmentally friendly. Departing from that premise, this paper intends to reveal various occult and religiosity in catching flying fish. The method used to reveal patorani activity is ethnography through in-depth discussion with patorani fishermen. This research was conducted in Galesong sub district of Takalar regency. The results show that the world of fly fishing is full of mysticism and is influenced by the religious ideology of patorani. It is argued that it would be anachronistic if patorani fishermen practicing centuries old methods were seen as an act of "environmental destruction". The heart of the problem is not in catching the flying fish, but in its patorani culture (magic, religiosity, and technology) that keeps their activities in a controlled environment, a culture that is proven to be sustainable even though the blue revolution and world markets demand shakes it.
Polymer-Based Sealing Materials as Cement Alternative to Restore Wellbore Isolation
Authors: Ziashahabi Pouya , Ravi Kris , Prohaska Michael
Published: October 2019

Well integrity is one of the main issues during all life cycles of the well and if any barrier element fails and compromise the integrity of well, remedial strategy may have to be performed to restore the safety and economics of the well. Cement is conventionally used as the isolation material in remedial and primary jobs. However, due to several inherent limitations in cement characteristics, such as cement shrinkage or poor cement slurry compatibility with downhole fluids, it is not always the best solution. Besides, cement slurry is a particle laden fluid which prevents it penetrating in to tight cracks/pathways to ensure isolation during remedial treatments.

This project illustrates the effort to develop a customized polymer system as cement alternative addressing several challenges posed by conventional materials and experimental studies are designed to evaluate its characteristics such as rheology, injectivity and mechanical properties. Furthermore, the compatibility of these systems with drilling fluids contamination and shrinkage behaviour upon cure are evaluated. Afterward, based on the results of measurements, the limitations of each system are determined and the best formulation is optimized.

The results of experiments prove that beside the appropriate rheological properties, the system provides excellent mechanical properties and much lower shrinkage rate upon cure compared to cement. The system withstands and maintains its properties after being contaminated with considerable volume of downhole fluids such as drilling fluids and hydrocarbons and mechanical properties such as compressive strength is not much affected by contamination.

The unique characteristics of customized sealing system as cement alternative could provide benefits to industry by solving several current challenges in achieving secure isolation. Particularly due its ability to penetrate in to tight cracks, this system affords an effective method to mitigate sustained casing pressure or as a remedial solution for casing leakages which cannot be achieved easily by conventional methods.