bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Video Recordings of Male Face and Neck Movements for Facial Recognition and Other Purposes
Authors: Gros Collin , Straub Jeremy
Published: September 2019

Facial recognition is made more difficult by unusual facial positions and movement. However, for many applications, the ability to accurately recognize moving subjects with movement-distorted facial features is required. This dataset includes videos of multiple subjects, taken under multiple lighting brightness and temperature conditions, which can be used to train and evaluate the performance of facial recognition systems.
Permutation Entropy and Irreversibility in Gait Kinematic Time Series from Patients with Mild Cognitive Decline and Early Alzheimer’s Dementia
Authors: Martín-Gonzalo Juan-Andrés , Pulido-Valdeolivas Irene , Wang Yu , Wang Ting , Chiclana-Actis Guadalupe , Algarra-Lucas Maria del Carmen , Palmí-Cortés Itziar , Fernández Travieso Jorge , Torrecillas-Narváez Maria Dolores , Miralles-Martinez Ambrosio A. , Rausell Estrella , Gómez-Andrés David , Zanin Massimiliano
Published: September 2019

Gait is a basic cognitive purposeful action that has been shown to be altered in late stages of neurodegenerative dementias. Nevertheless, alterations are less clear in mild forms of dementia, and the potential use of gait analysis as a biomarker of initial cognitive decline has hitherto mostly been neglected. Herein, we report the results of a study of gait kinematic time series for two groups of patients (mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease) and a group of matched control subjects. Two metrics based on permutation patterns are considered, respectively measuring the complexity and irreversibility of the time series. Results indicate that kinematic disorganisation is present in early phases of cognitive impairment; in addition, they depict a rich scenario, in which some joint movements display an increased complexity and irreversibility, while others a marked decrease. Beyond their potential use as biomarkers, complexity and irreversibility metrics can open a new door to the understanding of the role of the nervous system in gait, as well as its adaptation and compensatory mechanisms.
Topological Information Data Analysis
Authors: Baudot Pierre , Tapia Monica , Bennequin Daniel , Goaillard Jean-Marc
Published: September 2019

This paper presents methods that quantify the structure of statistical interactions within a given data set, and were applied in a previous article. It establishes new results on the k-multivariate mutual-information ( I k ) inspired by the topological formulation of Information introduced in a serie of studies. In particular, we show that the vanishing of all I k for 2 ≤ k ≤ n of n random variables is equivalent to their statistical independence. Pursuing the work of Hu Kuo Ting and Te Sun Han, we show that information functions provide co-ordinates for binary variables, and that they are analytically independent from the probability simplex for any set of finite variables. The maximal positive I k identifies the variables that co-vary the most in the population, whereas the minimal negative I k identifies synergistic clusters and the variables that differentiate–segregate the most in the population. Finite data size effects and estimation biases severely constrain the effective computation of the information topology on data, and we provide simple statistical tests for the undersampling bias and the k-dependences. We give an example of application of these methods to genetic expression and unsupervised cell-type classification. The methods unravel biologically relevant subtypes, with a sample size of 41 genes and with few errors. It establishes generic basic methods to quantify the epigenetic information storage and a unified epigenetic unsupervised learning formalism. We propose that higher-order statistical interactions and non-identically distributed variables are constitutive characteristics of biological systems that should be estimated in order to unravel their significant statistical structure and diversity. The topological information data analysis presented here allows for precisely estimating this higher-order structure characteristic of biological systems.
Malevich’s Suprematist Composition Picture for Spin States
Authors: Man’ko Vladimir I. , Markovich Liubov A.
Published: September 2019

This paper proposes an alternative geometric representation of single qudit states based on probability simplexes to describe the quantum properties of noncomposite systems. In contrast to the known high dimension pictures, we present the planar picture of quantum states, using the elementary geometry. The approach is based on, so called, Malevich square representation of the single qubit state. It is shown that the quantum statistics of the single qudit with some spin j and observables are formally equivalent to statistics of the classical system with N 2 − 1 random vector variables and N 2 − 1 classical probability distributions, obeying special constrains, found in this study. We present a universal inequality, that describes the single qudits state quantumness. The inequality provides a possibility to experimentally check up entanglement of the system in terms of the classical probabilities. The simulation study for the single qutrit and ququad systems, using the Metropolis Monte-Carlo method, is obtained. The geometrical representation of the single qudit states, presented in the paper, is useful in providing a visualization of quantum states and illustrating their difference from the classical ones.
Model Order Reduction: A Comparison between Integer and Non-Integer Order Systems Approaches
Authors: Caponetto Riccardo , Machado José Tenreiro , Murgano Emanuele , Xibilia Maria Gabriella
Published: September 2019

In this paper, classical and non-integer model order reduction methodologies are compared. Non integer order calculus has been used to generalize many classical control strategies. The property of compressing information in modelling systems, distributed in time and space, and the capability of describing long-term memory effects in dynamical systems are two features suggesting also the application of fractional calculus in model order reduction. In the paper, an open loop balanced realization is compared with three approaches based on a non-integer representation of the reduced system. Several case studies are considered and compared. The results confirm the capability of fractional order systems to capture and compress the dynamics of high order systems.
Two Tests for Dependence (of Unknown Form) between Time Series
Authors: Caballero-Pintado M. Victoria , Matilla-García Mariano , Rodríguez Jose M. , Ruiz Marín Manuel
Published: September 2019

This paper proposes two new nonparametric tests for independence between time series. Both tests are based on symbolic analysis, specifically on symbolic correlation integral, in order to be robust to potential unknown nonlinearities. The first test is developed for a scenario in which each considered time series is independent and therefore the interest is to ascertain if two internally independent time series share a relationship of an unknown form. This is especially relevant as the test is nuisance parameter free, as proved in the paper. The second proposed statistic tests for independence among variables, allowing these time series to exhibit within-dependence. Monte Carlo experiments are conducted to show the empirical properties of the tests.
Assessing the Impact of DFIG Synthetic Inertia Provision on Power System Small-Signal Stability
Authors: Lucas Edgar , Campos-Gaona David , Anaya-Lara Olimpo
Published: September 2019

Synthetic inertia provision through the control of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines is an effective means of providing frequency support to the wider electrical network. There are numerous control topologies to achieve this, many of which work by making modifications to the DFIG power controller and introducing additional loops to relate active power to electrical frequency. How these many controller designs compare to one-another in terms of their contribution to frequency response is a much studied topic, but perhaps less studied is their effect on the small-signal stability of the system. The concept of small-signal stability in the context of a power system is the ability to maintain synchronism when subjected to small disturbances, such as those associated with a change in load or a loss of generation. Amendments made to the control system of a large-scale wind farm will inevitably have an effect on the system as a whole, and by making a DFIG wind turbine behave more like a synchronous generator, which synthetic inertia provision does, may incur consequences relating to electromechanical oscillations between generating units. This work compares the implications of two prominent synthetic inertia controllers of varying complexity and their effect on small-signal stability. Eigenvalue analysis is conducted to highlight the key information relating to electromechanical modes between generators for the two control strategies, with a focus on how these affect the damping ratios. It is shown that as the synthetic inertia controller becomes both more complex and more effective, the damping ratio of the electromechanical modes is reduced, signifying a decreased system stability.
RSSI-Power-Based Direction of Arrival Estimation of Partial Discharges in Substations
Authors: Wu Fan , Luo Lingen , Jia Tingbo , Sun Anqing , Sheng Gehao , Jiang Xiuchen
Published: September 2019

The localization of partial discharges in air-insulated substations using ultra-high frequency technology is widely studied for power equipment early warning purposes. Ultra-high frequency partial discharge localization systems are usually based on the time-difference of electromagnetic wave signals. However, the large size of test equipment and the need for a high sampling rate and time synchronization accuracy limit their practical application. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a power-based partial discharge direction of arrival method using a received signal strength indicator from an ultra-high frequency wireless sensor array. Furthermore, the Gaussian mixture model is used for noise suppression, and the Gaussian process classifier is used for line of sight received signal strength indicator data identification. Laboratory tests are performed and the results show the average error of direction of arrival is less than 5°. The results verify the effectiveness of the proposed partial discharge localization system.
Study on the Electromagnetic Design and Analysis of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Zhao Jianfei , Han Qingjiang , Dai Ying , Hua Minqi
Published: September 2019

In order to provide a complete solution for designing and analyzing the axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AFPMSM) for electric vehicles, this paper covers the electromagnetic design and multi-physics analysis technology of AFPMSM in depth. Firstly, an electromagnetic evaluation method based on an analytical algorithm for efficient evaluation of AFPMSM was studied. The simulation results were compared with the 3D electromagnetic field simulation results to verify the correctness of the analytical algorithm. Secondly, the stator core was used to open the auxiliary slot to optimize the torque ripple of the AFPMSM, which reduced the torque ripple peak-to-peak value by 2%. From the perspective of ensuring the reliability, safety, and driving comfort of the traction motor in-vehicle working conditions, multi-physics analysis software was used to analyze and check the vibration and noise characteristics and temperature rise of several key operating conditions of the automotive AFPMSM. The analysis results showed that the motor designed in this paper can operate reliably.
Knowledge Embedded Semi-Supervised Deep Learning for Detecting Non-Technical Losses in the Smart Grid
Authors: Lu Xiaoquan , Zhou Yu , Wang Zhongdong , Yi Yongxian , Feng Longji , Wang Fei
Published: September 2019

Non-technical losses (NTL) caused by fault or electricity theft is greatly harmful to the power grid. Industrial customers consume most of the power energy, and it is important to reduce this part of NTL. Currently, most work concentrates on analyzing characteristic of electricity consumption to detect NTL among residential customers. However, the related feature models cannot be adapted to industrial customers because they do not have a fixed electricity consumption pattern. Therefore, this paper starts from the principle of electricity measurement, and proposes a deep learning-based method to extract advanced features from massive smart meter data rather than artificial features. Firstly, we organize electricity magnitudes as one-dimensional sample data and embed the knowledge of electricity measurement in channels. Then, this paper proposes a semi-supervised deep learning model which uses a large number of unlabeled data and adversarial module to avoid overfitting. The experiment results show that our approach can achieve satisfactory performance even when trained by very small samples. Compared with the state-of-the-art methods, our method has achieved obvious improvement in all metrics.
Wind Power Pricing Game Strategy under the China’s Market Trading Mechanism
Authors: Dong Fugui , Ding Xiaohui , Shi Lei
Published: September 2019

Wind power has become the main power generation method in China’s clean energy power generation because of its clean and high efficiency, as well as its high power utilization rate. The research on its pricing mechanism has also become the main research focus of the wind power industry. However, wind power pricing is still at the stage of price benchmarking and no market mechanism has been introduced in China. There are still much research on the pricing mechanism of wind power for us to study. In this paper, the Kernel method is used to distribute wind power income. On the basis of the distribution result, considering the contract execution risk of wind power, cooperative game theory and the Shapley value method are used to redistribute the revenue of wind power connected to power grid. Based on the characteristics of alliance members, ANP (Analytic Network Process) was used to modify the apportioned benefits to obtain the benefit distribution method that was more in line with the interest demands of members, and an example was analyzed. The wind power pricing model based on the cooperative game established in this paper can guarantee the smooth operation of the alliance, reach the pareto optimum, and improve the activity of the wind power market. It will effectively shorten the negotiation time, and reduce the transaction cost and the uncertainty of the wind power transaction.
Fault-Tolerant Control Strategy for 12-Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Authors: Gao Hanying , Zhang Wen , Wang Yu , Chen Zhuo
Published: September 2019

Multi-phase motors have attracted increasing attention in fields seeking high reliability, such as electric vehicles, ships, and rail transit, as they exhibit advantages, such as high reliability and fault tolerance. In this study, we consider a 12-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). First, a mathematical model of the 12-phase PMSM in the static coordinate system is established and the model is simplified according to the constraint condition of neutral point isolation. Second, according to the principle of invariant magnetomotive force under normal and fault conditions, two optimal control strategies of winding current, i.e. maximum torque output (MTO) and minimum copper consumption (MCC), are proposed. For a single-phase open-circuit fault, two optimization methods are used to reconstruct the residual phase current, such that the motor can maintain normal torque output and exhibit lower torque ripple under the fault state. Finally, system simulation and experimental research are conducted; the results verify the accuracy and feasibility of the fault-tolerant control strategy of the 12-phase PMSM proposed in this paper.
An Improved Denoising Method for Partial Discharge Signals Contaminated by White Noise Based on Adaptive Short-Time Singular Value Decomposition
Authors: Zhou Kai , Li Mingzhi , Li Yuan , Xie Min , Huang Yonglu
Published: September 2019

To extract partial discharge (PD) signals from white noise efficiently, this paper proposes a denoising method for PD signals, named adaptive short-time singular value decomposition (ASTSVD). First, a sliding window was moved along the time axis of a PD signal to cut a whole signal into segments with overlaps. The singular value decomposition (SVD) method was then applied to each segment to obtain its singular value sequence. The minimum description length (MDL) criterion was used to determine the number of effective singular values automatically. Then, the selected singular values of each signal segment were used to reconstruct the noise-free signal segment, from which the denoised PD signal was obtained. To evaluate ASTSVD, we applied ASTSVD and two other methods on simulated, laboratory-measured, and field-detected noisy PD signals, respectively. Compared to the other two methods, the denoised PD signals of ASTSVD contain less residual noise and exhibit smaller waveform distortion.
Nonlinear Viscoelastic–Plastic Creep Model Based on Coal Multistage Creep Tests and Experimental Validation
Authors: Zhang Junxiang , Li Bo , Zhang Conghui , Li Peng
Published: September 2019

The development of fractures, which determine the complexity of coal creep characteristics, is the main physical property of coal relative to other rocks. This study conducted a series of multistage creep tests to investigate the creep behavior of coal under different stress levels. A negative elastic modulus and a non-Newtonian component were introduced into the classical Nishihara model based on the theoretical analysis of the experimental results to propose a nonlinear viscoelastic–plastic creep model for describing the non-decay creep behavior of coal. The validity of the model was verified by experimental data. The results show that this improved model can preferably exhibit decelerating, steady state, and accelerating creep behavior during the non-decay creep process. The fitting accuracy of the improved model was significantly higher than that of the classical Nishihara model. Given that acceleration creep is a critical stage in predicting the instability and failure of coal, its successful description using this improved model is crucial for the prevention and control of coal dynamic disasters.
The Effect of Collector Shading and Masking on Optimized PV Field Designs
Authors: Aronescu Avi , Appelbaum Joseph
Published: September 2019

Photovoltaic (PV) solar fields are deployed with multiple rows. The second and subsequent rows are subject to shading and masking by the rows in front. The direct beam incident radiation on the second row is affected by shading and the diffuse incident radiation is affected by masking, expressed by sky view factor. Hence, all rows, besides the first one, receive lower incident radiation. The design of PV fields must take into account the decrease in the incident radiation caused by these two effects. The paper investigates by simulation the annual incident diffuse, direct beam and global radiation on the first and on the second row for optimized PV fields at two sites: Tel Aviv, Israel, with low diffuse component, and Lindenberg–Germany monitoring station, with a high diffuse component. The study emphasizes the importance of the diffuse incident radiation on the energy loss of the PV field. The percentage annual global energy loss due to shading and masking on the second row amounts to 1.49% in Tel Aviv and 0.46% in Lindenberg. Isotropic and anisotropic diffuse models were considered. The calculated diffuse incident energy for the isotropic model is lower than the values for anisotropic model by about 8% in Tel Aviv and 3.75% in Lindenberg.
Solidification of Graphene-Assisted Phase Change Nanocomposites inside a Sphere for Cold Storage Applications
Authors: Prabakaran Rajendran , Sidney Shaji , Lal Dhasan Mohan , Selvam C. , Harish Sivasankaran
Published: September 2019

In this work, we experimentally investigated the solidification behavior of functionalized graphene-based phase change nanocomposites inside a sphere. The influence of graphene nanoplatelets on thermal transport and rheological characteristics of the such nanocomposites were also discussed. We adopted the covalent functionalization method to prepare highly stable phase change nanocomposites using commercially available phase change material (PCM) OM08 as the host matrix and graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) with 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 volume percentage as the nano inclusions. We report a maximum thermal conductivity enhancement of ~102 and ~46% with 0.5 vol% in the solid and liquid states, respectively. Rheological measurements show that the pure PCM shows Newtonian behavior, whereas the inclusion of GnPs leads to the transition to non-Newtonian behavior, especially at lower shear rates. Viscosity of the nanocomposite increases with an increase in the volume fraction of GnP. For 0.5 vol% of GnPs, maximum increase in viscosity was found to be ~37% at a shear rate of 1000 s−1. Time required for complete solidification decreases with the loading of GnPs. Maximum reduction in solidification time with 0.5 vol% of GnPs was ~40% for bath temperature of −10°C.
Hydro-Pyrolysis and Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass and Its Hydroxy Residue Fast Pyrolysis Vapors
Authors: Liu Yichen , Leahy James J. , Grams Jacek , Kwapinski Witold
Published: September 2019

Fast pyrolysis of Miscanthus, its hydrolysis residue and lignin were carried with a pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) followed by online vapor catalytic upgrading with sulfated ZrO2, sulfated TiO2 and sulfated 60 wt.% ZrO2-TiO2. The most evident influence of the catalyst on the vapor phase composition was observed for aromatic hydrocarbons, light phenols and heavy phenols. A larger amount of light phenols was detected, especially when 60 wt.% ZrO2-TiO2 was present. Thus, a lower average molecular weight and lower viscosity of bio-oil could be obtained with this catalyst. Pyrolysis was also performed at different pressures of hydrogen. The pressure of H2 has a great effect on the overall yield and the composition of biomass vapors. The peak area percentages of both aromatic hydrocarbons and cyclo-alkanes are enhanced with the increasing of H2 pressure. The overall yields are higher with the addition of either H2 or sulfated catalysts. This is beneficial as phenols are valuable chemicals, thus, increasing the value of bio-oil. The results show that the hydrolysis residue has the potential to become a resource for phenol production.
Open-Source Dynamic Matlab/Simulink 1D Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Model
Authors: Lazar Arne L. , Konradt Swantje C. , Rottengruber Hermann
Published: September 2019

This work presents an open-source, dynamic, 1D, proton exchange membrane fuel cell model suitable for real-time applications. It estimates the cell voltage based on activation, ohmic and concentration overpotentials and considers water transport through the membrane by means of osmosis, diffusion and hydraulic permeation. Simplified equations reduce the computational load to make it viable for real-time analysis, quick parameter studies and usage in complex systems like complete vehicle models. Two modes of operation for use with or without reference polarization curves allow for a flexible application even without information about cell parameters. The program code is written in MATLAB and provided under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). It is designed to be used inside of a Simulink model, which allows this fuel cell model to be used in a wide variety of 1D simulation platforms by exporting the code as C/C++.
Resonant Converter with Soft Switching and Wide Voltage Operation
Authors: Lin Bor-Ren
Published: September 2019

A new DC/DC resonant converter with wide output voltage range operation is presented and studied to have the benefits of low switching losses on active devices and low voltage stresses on power diodes. To overcome serious reverse recovery losses of power diodes on a conventional full-bridge pulse-width modulation converter, the resonant converter is adopted to reduce the switching loss and increase the circuit efficiency. To extend the output voltage range in conventional half-bridge or full-bridge resonant converters, the secondary sides of two diode rectifiers are connected in series to have wide output voltage operation. The proposed converter can be either operated at one-resonant-converter mode for low voltage range or two-resonant-converter mode for high voltage range. Thus, the voltage rating of power diodes is decreased. Experiments with the design example are given to show the circuit performance and validate the theoretical discussion and analysis.
The Influences of Disturbance Histories and Soil Properties on Aboveground Biomass through Plant Functional Traits in a Tropical Rainforest
Authors: Bu Wensheng , Zhang Cancan , Huang Jihong , Zang Runguo , Ding Yi , Xu Han , Lin Mingxian , Wang Jinsong
Published: September 2019

Research Highlights: We try to evaluate the relative contribution of environmental factors and functional traits on aboveground biomass in a species rich tropical forest ecosystem after a 40-years natural recovery. Background and Objectives: Functional traits have a potential to incorporate community dynamics into the impacts of disturbance histories or environmental conditions on ecosystem functioning, but few studies have been conducted to understand these processes. Materials and Methods: We measured plant functional traits and soil properties in the tropical montane rainforests on Hainan Island, China, which had experienced different disturbance histories (clear cutting, selective logging, and old-growth) 40 years ago. A structural equation model was used to elucidate how disturbance histories and soil factors influence aboveground biomass (AGB) across different size classes (saplings, treelets, and adult trees) through plant functional traits. Results: The results demonstrated logging stimulated seedling establishment but decreased AGB of adult trees and wood density at community-level (CWM_WD) of sapling and adult tree. Generally, CWM_WD of sapling, treelet, and adult tree decreased linearly with the increasing of specific leaf area at community-level (CWM_SLA) in old-growth forest and these two disturbed forests. Moreover, CWM_SLA explained more variation of CWM_WD with increasing intensity of logging within sapling, treelet, and adult tree. CWM_SLA and CWM_WD not only responded to environmental conditions and disturbance intensity but also affected AGB in all size classes; meanwhile, CWM_SLA was a major driver of AGB. CWM_SLA had a stronger effect on AGB in sapling and treelet classes than on the adult tree class. Conclusions: Our results suggested that disturbance history and environmental factors could directly or indirectly affect ecosystem functioning through plant functional traits. Functional traits always had a stronger effect on AGB than environmental conditions. Moreover, CWM_SLA is a key trait that can be used to link the relationship between environmental conditions and AGB.
Quantifying the Relationship among Impact Factors of Shrub Layer Diversity in Chinese Pine Plantation Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Wang Boheng , Bu Yuankun , Li Yanjie , Li Weizhong , Zhao Pengxiang , Yang Yanzheng , Qi Ning , Gou Ruikun
Published: September 2019

Shrub layer diversity is an essential component of the forest ecosystem diversity, that contributes significantly to structuring the community and maintaining diversity, especially in plantation forests. In previous studies, researchers have reported the strong relationship among various factors (i.e., soil composition, mean annual temperature, etc.) and shrub diversity. However, how these factors jointly influence shrub diversity and which factors could be considered the key factors is still unknown. In this study, we attempted to quantify the effect among environmental factors, soil factors and forest stand factors on shrub diversity. Twenty-seven variables were selected from 57 Chinese pine plantation plots in Huanglong Mountain, Yanan City, Shaanxi Province, China. The path models showed that latent variable of soil properties is the main effective factor of latent variable of shrub diversity (directly effect, path coefficient = 0.344) and the latent variable of site conditions is another effective factor of latent variable of shrub diversity (indirectly effect, path coefficient = 0.177); Besides, the latent variable of site conditions and forest properties directly affect the latent variable of soil properties (path coefficient = 0.514 and 0.326, respectively). Among the latent variable of soil properties, soil water content (SWC) has the biggest weight of 0.666, which indicated the most significant contribution of SWC to latent variables of shrub diversity. Total nitrogen, weighted 0.375, and total phosphorus, weighted 0.308, are also important factors and make a similar contribution to latent variable of shrub diversity. Soil organic matter (SOM) has a minimal impact (lowest weight, 0.059); among the objective variables of site condition, altitude contributes the most and is followed by litter thickness, weighted at 0.722 and 0.448, respectively. Furthermore, among all the variables affecting the latent variable of forest properties, forest age is recognized as the maximum impactor of soil property change, which weighted −0.941; and is followed by forest stock volume and diameter at breast height (DBH), weighted 0.795 and 0.788, respectively. The crowding index (C) has the lowest weight (−0.235) and demonstrated that spatial distribution and crowding of trees have minimal impact on the latent variable of Soil properties. diversity Overall, our study provides new insights into quantifying the relationships among different driving factors that potentially play a significant role in determining shrub layer diversity within the plantation forest.
25 Years of Bluetooth Technology
Authors: Zeadally Sherali , Siddiqui Farhan , Baig Zubair
Published: September 2019

Bluetooth technology started off as a wireless, short-range cable replacement technology but it has undergone significant developments over the last two decades. Bluetooth radios are currently embedded in almost all computing devices including personal computers, smart phones, smart watches, and even micro-controllers. For many of us, Bluetooth is an essential technology that we use every day. We provide an insight into the history of Bluetooth and its significant design developments over the last 25 years. We also discuss related issues (including security) and Bluetooth as a driving technology for the Internet of Things (IoT). Finally, we also present recent research results obtained with Bluetooth technology in various application areas.
The Influence of Bubbles on Foamed Cement Viscosity Using an Extended Stokesian Dynamics Approach
Authors: Rosenbaum Eilis , Massoudi Mehrdad , Dayal Kaushik
Published: September 2019

We want to study the influence of bubbles on the viscosity of suspensions with a computational approach that also accounts for the arrangement of the bubbles due to shearing flow. This requires a large number of bubbles to properly simulate and requires a large amount of computational resources. Here we develop a set of equations to define the viscosity ratio from the simulation results to show the influence of the bubbles on the viscosity as a function of the volume fraction. One application of this work has been used to study a specific type of cement that has bubbles injected into the slurry while it is still fluid. The bubbles are added to reduce the density but they also improve the properties of the cement with the increase in viscosity. We show that the computed results match the few experimental results that have been reported.
High-Throughput RNA Sequencing Reveals NDUFC2-AS lncRNA Promotes Adipogenic Differentiation in Chinese Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.)
Authors: Huang Jieping , Zheng Qiuzhi , Wang Shuzhe , Wei Xuefeng , Li Fen , Ma Yun
Published: September 2019

The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.) is prevalent in China and the increasing demand for meat production has changed its role from being a beast of burden to a meat source. The low fat deposition level has become one of the main barriers for its use in meat production. It is urgent to reveal factors involved in fat deposition in buffalo. This study performed RNA sequencing to investigate both long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs of adipose tissues in young and adult buffalos. A total of 124 lncRNAs and 2008 mRNAs showed differential expression patterns between young and adult samples. Coexpression analysis and functional enrichment revealed 585 mRNA–lncRNA pairs with potential function in fat deposition. After validation by qRT-PCR, we focused on a lncRNA transcribed from the ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit C2 (NDUFC2) antisense (AS) strand which showed high correlation with thyroid hormone responsive protein (THRSP). NDUFC2-AS lncRNA is highly expressed in adipose tissue and maturation adipocytes and mainly exists in the nucleus. Functional assays demonstrated that NDUFC2-AS lncRNA promotes adipogenic differentiation by upregulating the expression levels of THRSP and CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) in buffalo. These results indicate that NDUFC2-AS lncRNA promotes fat deposition in buffalo.
Limitations of Boulder Detection in Shallow Water Habitats Using High-Resolution Sidescan Sonar Images
Authors: von Rönn Gitta , Schwarzer Klaus , Reimers Hans-Christian , Winter Christian
Published: September 2019

Stones and boulders in shallow waters (0–10 m water depth) form complex geo-habitats, serving as a hardground for many benthic species, and are important contributors to coastal biodiversity and high benthic production. This study focuses on limitations in stone and boulder detection using high-resolution sidescan sonar images in shallow water environments of the southwestern Baltic Sea. Observations were carried out using sidescan sonars operating with frequencies from 450 kHz up to 1 MHz to identify individual stones and boulders within different levels of resolution. In addition, sidescan sonar images were generated using varying survey directions for an assessment of range effects. The comparison of images of different resolutions reveals considerable discrepancies in the numbers of detectable stones and boulders, and in their distribution patterns. Results on the detection of individual stones and boulders at approximately 0.04 m/pixel resolution were compared to common discretizations: it was shown that image resolutions of 0.2 m/pixel may underestimate available hard-ground settlement space by up to 42%. If methodological constraints are known and considered, detailed information about individual stones and boulders, and potential settlement space for marine organisms, can be derived.
Assessment of Five Monazite Reference Materials for U-Th/Pb Dating Using Laser-Ablation ICP-MS
Authors: Richter Marianne , Nebel-Jacobsen Yona , Nebel Oliver , Zack Thomas , Mertz-Kraus Regina , Raveggi Massimo , Rösel Delia
Published: September 2019

Monazite is a common accessory phosphate mineral that occurs under a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. Monazite contains high amounts of Th and U, rendering single monazite grains suitable for in-situ U-Th/Pb dating using laser ablation inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Two key aspects of monazite dating that are critical for accurate age data with maximum precision are (i) optimized instrumental conditions to minimize analytical scatter and (ii) a well characterized reference material to ensure the accuracy of the obtained aged. Here, we analyzed five monazite reference materials (USGS 44069, 94-222, MAdel, Moacir and Thompson Mine Monazite) for their U-Th/Pb ages using LA-ICP-MS technique and applied a variety of laser spot diameters and repetition rates to find the best operational conditions to achieve accurate age data while maintaining maximum precision. We find that a spot diameter of 10 µm and a repetition rate of 10 Hz yield the most precise ages with a deviation of ±2.0% from their respective high-precision U/Pb literature age data. Ages were reproduced in three different LA-ICP-MS laboratories using these parameters. Each reference material was tested for its suitability as a matrix-matched age reference material. For this, a rotating, iterative approach was adopted in which one reference monazite was used as calibration reference material against all others, which were treated as unknowns. The results reveal that USGS 44069, 94-222, Thompson Mine Monazite and MAdel all agree with their respective calculated ages and ID-TIMS reference ages and thus are suggested as suitable calibration reference materials. Moacir, however, appears slightly older than previously suggested (up to 4%), thus, caution is advised here when using Moacir as reference material for U-Th/Pb LA-ICP-MS dating in the absence of further absolute age calibration.
Study on Early Warning Method for Water Inrush in Tunnel Based on Fine Risk Evaluation and Hierarchical Advance Forecast
Authors: Wang Sheng , Li Shucai , Li Liping , Shi Shaoshuai , Zhou Zongqing , Cheng Shuai , Hu Huijiang
Published: September 2019

Water inrush is one of the most frequent and harmful geological disasters in tunnel construction. In order to effectively prevent and control the occurrence of water inrush, an early warning method based on fine risk evaluation and hierarchical advanced forecast is proposed. Water inrush is a complex dynamic coupling factors system, the relationship between influencing factors and water inrush is strongly nonlinear. Therefore, the efficacy coefficient model, which has the advantages of standardization, conciseness, and freedom from subjective factors, is improved nonlinearly. The fine risk evaluation theory and method based on the improved efficacy coefficient model consisted of two parts: one is static evaluation used in design stage, and the other is dynamic evaluation applied in the construction stage. The index weights are determined scientifically and reasonably by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy method. According to the fine risk evaluation results, combined with the advantages and disadvantages of various forecasting methods, a multistep hierarchical detection method of disaster resources for water inrush is proposed to identify the occurrence characteristics and failure level of disaster sources. The theory has been successfully applied to the #3 inclined well of Yuelongmen Tunnel in Cheng-Lan Railway. The evaluation results had good agreement with the actual excavation data, which indicates that the model is of high credibility and feasibility. The method could improve the prediction accuracy of water inrush and explore geometric characteristics and filling of disaster-causing structures. It is of great significance for avoiding water inrush and guiding the rapid and safe tunnel construction.
Financial Fraud, Mental Health, and Quality of Life: A Study on the Population of the City of Madrid, Spain
Authors: Sarriá Encarnación , Recio Patricia , Rico Ana , Díaz-Olalla Manuel , Sanz-Barbero Belén , Ayala Alba , Zunzunegui María Victoria
Published: September 2019

Over the past few decades, the financial system has engaged in abusive practices that meet the definition of fraud. Our objective is to compare the prevalence of psychological distress and levels of health-related quality of life according to having been exposed to financial fraud and its economic impact on family finances. The City of Madrid Health Survey 2017 included specific questions on exposure to financial fraud—this section was administered to half of the participants (n = 4425). Mental health need or caseness was defined by a score greater than two on the 12-item version of the Goldberg health questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the Darmouth Coop Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA (COOP/WONCA). The prevalence of financial fraud was 10.8%. The prevalence rate ratio for caseness of those who experienced severe economic impact due to fraud was 1.62 (95%, CI 1.17–2.25; reference: no fraud), after adjustment by age, sex, social class, and immigrant status. Women experienced a decreased quality of life, even with a moderate impact of fraud, while men experienced a decreased quality of life related to fraud with severe economic impact. The current study contributes to a growing body of literature showing the effects of economic shocks on health as a result of financial fraud.
Assessment of Occupational Safety and Hygiene Perception among Afro-Caribbean Hair Salon Operators in Manchester, United Kingdom
Authors: Moda Haruna Musa , King Debrah
Published: September 2019

Because of exposure to a number of potential health hazards within the work environment, hairstylists experience occupational diseases that include occupational asthma, skin conditions and musculoskeletal diseases. The paucity of studies assessing occupational safety and hygiene management among Afro-Caribbean hair salon operators in the UK promoted the study. QualtricsTM was used to assess the participants’ perception of exposure to hair products and their personal safety and hygiene knowledge, attitudes, awareness, and risk perceptions at work. In five salons, indoor air quality was monitored over one working week for selected environmental pollutants: temperature, humidity, CO, CO2 and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) using a GrayWolf Direct Sense Indoor Air Quality-IAQ (IQ-610). The use of unflued gas heating to raise the indoor temperature was common among the salons’ operators which explains the high carbon monoxide readings recorded. Itchy eyes and nose (44.4%) shoulder, neck and back pain (39.2%) were frequently reported. Age-stratified analysis of reported occupational ailments showed participants within an age bracket of 31–35 reported allergies (24%) and itchy eyes and nose (19.1%) as the most common of occupational ailments. Respiratory, skin and musculoskeletal symptoms ranked as major occupational ill-health experiences among the study population. The study outcome demonstrated that the type of activity and the hair products used play an important role in the level of pollutants in the working environment. The substitution of the more harmful hair products with safer alternatives is needed, as is the encouragement of health surveillance.
Editorial for “Long-Term Health Effects of the 9/11 Disaster” in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
Authors: Brackbill Robert M. , Graber Judith M. , Robison William A. (Allen)
Published: September 2019

The call for articles on the long term health effects of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks (9/11) has resulted in twenty-three papers that add a significant amount of information to the growing body of research on the effects of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster almost two decades later [...]
Health Inequalities amongst People of African Descent in the Americas, 2005–2017: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: del Pino Sandra , Sánchez-Montoya Sol Beatriz , Guzmán José Milton , Mújica Oscar J. , Gómez-Salgado Juan , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: September 2019

Ethnic inequalities are often associated with social determinants of health. This study seeks to identify the latest scientific evidence on inequalities in the health of people of African descent in the Americas. For this, a systematic review of the literature on health and people of African descent in the Americas was carried out in the LILACS, PubMed, MEDLINE, and IBECS databases. Institutional and academic repositories were also consulted. Evidence was obtained on the presence and persistence of health inequalities in the population of African descent in the Americas from the identification of five types of quantitative and qualitative evidence: (1) ethnic/racial concept and variables; (2) relations with other social determinants; (3) health risks; (4) barriers and inequalities in health services; and, (5) morbi-mortality from chronic diseases. Studies with qualitative methods revealed invisibility, stereotypes, and rejection or exclusion as main factors of inequality. This review evidenced the existence of health inequalities, its interconnection with other adverse social determinants and risk factors, and its generation and perpetuation by discrimination, marginalization, and social disadvantage. These conditions make people of African descent a priority population group for action on equity, as demanded by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Maternal Exposure to Bisphenol A Combined with High-Fat Diet-Induced Programmed Hypertension in Adult Male Rat Offspring: Effects of Resveratrol
Authors: Hsu Chien-Ning , Lin Yu-Ju , Tain You-Lin
Published: September 2019

Maternal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and a high-fat intake may induce the developmental programming of hypertension in adult offspring. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most commonly environmental EDCs. As the nitric oxide (NO) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathways both contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension, we evaluated whether resveratrol, an antioxidant and an AHR antagonist, can prevent hypertension programmed by a maternal BPA and HF diet. Sixteen-week-old male rat offspring were assigned to six groups (n = 8 per group): Control, HF (D12331, Research Diets), BPA (50 μg/kg/day), HF + BPA, BPA + R (resveratrol 50mg/L in drinking water throughout pregnancy and lactation), and HF + BPA + R. Maternal BPA exposure exacerbated hypertension programmed by HF consumption in adult male offspring, which was protected by maternal resveratrol therapy. The BPA and HF diet synergistically induced oxidative stress in offspring kidneys, which resveratrol treatment prevented. We observed that HF + BPA-induced programmed hypertension was associated with a decreased NO bioavailability, increased oxidative stress, and an activated AHR signaling pathway. The beneficial effects of resveratrol are relevant to restoring NO bioavailability, reducing oxidative stress, and antagonizing the AHR signaling pathway. Our results cast a new light on resveratrol as a reprogramming strategy to protect against hypertension programmed by combined BPA and HF exposure, but this strategy has yet to be translated into clinical applications.
An Overview of Circular RNAs and Their Implications in Myotonic Dystrophy
Authors: Czubak Karol , Sedehizadeh Saam , Kozlowski Piotr , Wojciechowska Marzena
Published: September 2019

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded covalently closed RNA rings. Biogenesis of circRNAs, which may occur co-transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally via a back-splicing mechanism, requires the presence of complementary and/or inverted repeat sequences in introns flanking back-spliced exons and is facilitated by RNA-binding proteins. CircRNAs are abundant across eukaryotes; however, their biological functions remain largely speculative. Recently, they have been emerging as new members of a gene regulatory network and contributing factors in various human diseases including cancer, neurological, muscular and cardiovascular disorders. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge about circRNAs biogenesis and their aberrant expression in various human disorders. In particular, we focus on the latest discovery of circRNAs global upregulation in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) skeletal muscles and the role these prospective biomarkers might have for prognosis and therapeutic response in DM1.