bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Spatial-Temporal Data Fusion by Choosing Optimal Input Image Pairs
Authors: Xie Donghui , Gao Feng , Sun Liang , Anderson Martha
Published: July 2018

Spatial and temporal data fusion approaches have been developed to fuse reflectance imagery from Landsat and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which have complementary spatial and temporal sampling characteristics. The approach relies on using Landsat and MODIS image pairs that are acquired on the same day to estimate Landsat-scale reflectance on other MODIS dates. Previous studies have revealed that the accuracy of data fusion results partially depends on the input image pair used. The selection of the optimal image pair to achieve better prediction of surface reflectance has not been fully evaluated. This paper assesses the impacts of Landsat-MODIS image pair selection on the accuracy of the predicted land surface reflectance using the Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM) over different landscapes. MODIS images from the Aqua and Terra platforms were paired with images from the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) to make different pair image combinations. The accuracy of the predicted surface reflectance at 30 m resolution was evaluated using the observed Landsat data in terms of mean absolute difference, root mean square error and correlation coefficient. Results show that the MODIS pair images with smaller view zenith angles produce better predictions. As expected, the image pair closer to the prediction date during a short prediction period produce better prediction results. For prediction dates distant from the pair date, the predictability depends on the temporal and spatial variability of land cover type and phenology. The prediction accuracy for forests is higher than for crops in our study areas. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for crops is overestimated during the non-growing season when using an input image pair from the growing season, while NDVI is slightly underestimated during the growing season when using an image pair from the non-growing season. Two automatic pair selection strategies are evaluated. Results show that the strategy of selecting the MODIS pair date image that most highly correlates with the MODIS image on the prediction date produces more accurate predictions than the nearest date strategy. This study demonstrates that data fusion results can be improved if appropriate image pairs are used.
Calibration and Noise Identification of a Rolling Shutter Camera and a Low-Cost Inertial Measurement Unit
Authors: Lee Chang-Ryeol , Yoon Ju Hong , Yoon Kuk-Jin
Published: July 2018

A low-cost inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a rolling shutter camera form a conventional device configuration for localization of a mobile platform due to their complementary properties and low costs. This paper proposes a new calibration method that jointly estimates calibration and noise parameters of the low-cost IMU and the rolling shutter camera for effective sensor fusion in which accurate sensor calibration is very critical. Based on the graybox system identification, the proposed method estimates unknown noise density so that we can minimize calibration error and its covariance by using the unscented Kalman filter. Then, we refine the estimated calibration parameters with the estimated noise density in batch manner. Experimental results on synthetic and real data demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the proposed method and show that the proposed method provides consistent results even with unknown noise density of the IMU. Furthermore, a real experiment using a commercial smartphone validates the performance of the proposed calibration method in off-the-shelf devices.
Software Sensor for Activity-Time Monitoring and Fault Detection in Production Lines
Authors: Ruppert Tamas , Abonyi Janos
Published: July 2018

Industry 4.0-based human-in-the-loop cyber-physical production systems are transforming the industrial workforce to accommodate the ever-increasing variability of production. Real-time operator support and performance monitoring require accurate information on the activities of operators. The problem with tracing hundreds of activity times is critical due to the enormous variability and complexity of products. To handle this problem a software-sensor-based activity-time and performance measurement system is proposed. To ensure a real-time connection between operator performance and varying product complexity, fixture sensors and an indoor positioning system (IPS) were designed and this multi sensor data merged with product-relevant information. The proposed model-based performance monitoring system tracks the recursively estimated parameters of the activity-time estimation model. As the estimation problem can be ill-conditioned and poor raw sensor data can result in unrealistic parameter estimates, constraints were introduced into the parameter-estimation algorithm to increase the robustness of the software sensor. The applicability of the proposed methodology is demonstrated on a well-documented benchmark problem of a wire harness manufacturing process. The fully reproducible and realistic simulation study confirms that the indoor positioning system-based integration of primary sensor signals and product-relevant information can be efficiently utilized in terms of the constrained recursive estimation of the operator activity.
Accurate Indoor Sound Level Measurement on a Low-Power and Low-Cost Wireless Sensor Node
Authors: Risojević Vladimir , Rozman Robert , Pilipović Ratko , Češnovar Rok , Bulić Patricio
Published: July 2018

Wireless sensor networks can provide a cheap and flexible infrastructure to support the measurement of noise pollution. However, the processing of the gathered data is challenging to implement on resource-constrained nodes, because each node has its own limited power supply, low-performance and low-power micro-controller unit and other limited processing resources, as well as limited amount of memory. We propose a sensor node for monitoring of indoor ambient noise. The sensor node is based on a hardware platform with limited computational resources and utilizes several simplifications to approximate more complex and costly signal processing stage. Furthermore, to reduce the communication between the sensor node and a sink node, as well as the power consumed by the IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) transceiver, we perform digital A-weighting filtering and non-calibrated calculation of the sound pressure level on the node. According to experimental results, the proposed sound level meter can accurately measure the noise levels of up to 100 dB, with the mean difference of less than 2 dB compared to Class 1 sound level meter. The proposed device can continuously monitor indoor noise for several days. Despite the limitations of the used hardware platform, the presented node is a promising low-cost and low-power solution for indoor ambient noise monitoring.
Robust Adaptive Cubature Kalman Filter and Its Application to Ultra-Tightly Coupled SINS/GPS Navigation System
Authors: Zhao Xin , Li Jianli , Yan Xunliang , Ji Shaowen
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we propose a robust adaptive cubature Kalman filter (CKF) to deal with the problem of an inaccurately known system model and noise statistics. In order to overcome the kinematic model error, we introduce an adaptive factor to adjust the covariance matrix of state prediction, and process the influence introduced by dynamic disturbance error. Aiming at overcoming the abnormality error, we propose the robust estimation theory to adjust the CKF algorithm online. The proposed adaptive CKF can detect the degree of gross error and subsequently process it, so the influence produced by the abnormality error can be solved. The paper also studies a typical application system for the proposed method, which is the ultra-tightly coupled navigation system of a hypersonic vehicle. Highly dynamical scene experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively process errors aroused by the abnormality data and inaccurate model, and has better tracking performance than UKF and CKF tracking methods. Simultaneously, the proposed method is superior to the tracing method based on a single-modulating loop in the tracking performance. Thus, the stable and high-precision tracking for GPS satellite signals are preferably achieved and the applicability of the system is promoted under the circumstance of high dynamics and weak signals. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by a highly dynamical scene experiment.
An Empirical-Mathematical Approach for Calibration and Fitting Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bioimpedance Tests
Authors: Serrano Juan A. , Huertas Gloria , Maldonado-Jacobi Andrés , Olmo Alberto , Pérez Pablo , Martín María E. , Daza Paula , Yúfera Alberto
Published: July 2018

This paper proposes a new yet efficient method allowing a significant improvement in the on-line analysis of biological cell growing and evolution. The procedure is based on an empirical-mathematical approach for calibration and fitting of any cell-electrode electrical model. It is valid and can be extrapolated for any type of cellular line used in electrical cell-substrate impedance spectroscopy (ECIS) tests. Parameters of the bioimpedance model, acquired from ECIS experiments, vary for each cell line, which makes obtaining results difficult and—to some extent-renders them inaccurate. We propose a fitting method based on the cell line initial characterization, and carry out subsequent experiments with the same line to approach the percentage of well filling and the cell density (or cell number in the well). To perform our calibration technique, the so-called oscillation-based test (OBT) approach is employed for each cell density. Calibration results are validated by performing other experiments with different concentrations on the same cell line with the same measurement technique. Accordingly, a bioimpedance electrical model of each cell line is determined, which is valid for any further experiment and leading to a more precise electrical model of the electrode-cell system. Furthermore, the model parameters calculated can be also used by any other measurement techniques. Promising experimental outcomes for three different cell-lines have been achieved, supporting the usefulness of this technique.
Is the Right to Access to the Services and Supports Ensured for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children? An Ethnographic Study Based on the Experience of Hearing Parents
Authors: Puyaltó Carolina , Gaucher Charles , Beaton Ann M.
Published: July 2018

The right of people with disabilities to access services and supports they need is internationally recognized by the United Nations’ Convention (CRPD) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, deaf and hard-of-hearing children face obstacles to access services requested by their parents. As part of a broader ethnographic research project focused on the experience of Francophone hearing parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, this study explores the obstacles encountered by parents in their struggle to ensure that the needs of their children are met. 117 parents from Canada (n = 52), Belgium (n = 15), France (n = 23), and Switzerland (n = 27) participated in an in-depth interview. The main findings show that parents face important difficulties to access the available services due to their rural location, situated far from the main health services and due to the long wait times. Also, the unavailability of some of the rehabilitation and educational services represent another important obstacle that leads parents to become the main advocates for their children rights. Finally, some lines of action to implement the CRPD provisions are drawn to contribute to the right of deaf and hard-of-hearing children to access to the services they need.
Policy Instruments to Promote Electro-Mobility in the EU28: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Cansino José M. , Sánchez-Braza Antonio , Sanz-Díaz Teresa
Published: July 2018

Despite its environmental benefits, the amount of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in use within the European Union 28 is still very limited. Poor penetration might be explained by certain factors that dissuade potential buyers. To balance these factors and promote electro-mobility, Member States have established incentives to increase demand. However, the various measures are scattered. This paper contributes to fill the gap in the literature by offering an overall view of the main measures. The authors will focus on measures to promote electro-mobility within the EU28 until 2014. After an in-depth and comprehensive review of the relevant measures, the authors conclude that the most important policy instruments to promote EVs are tax and infrastructure measures in addition to financial incentives for purchasing and supporting R&D projects. Regardless of the scarcity of EV registration data, the available information allows us to conclude that higher EV penetration levels appear in countries where the registration tax, the ownership tax, or both taxes have developed a partial green tax by including CO2 emissions in the calculation of the final invoice.
Regionalized Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Assessment of Copper-Based Fungicides Applied in Viticulture
Authors: Viveros Santos Ivan , Bulle Cécile , Levasseur Annie , Deschênes Louise
Published: July 2018

Life cycle assessment has been recognized as an important decision-making tool to improve the environmental performance of agricultural systems. Still, there are certain modelling issues related to the assessment of their impacts. The first is linked to the assessment of the metal terrestrial ecotoxicity impact, for which metal speciation in soil is disregarded. In fact, emissions of metals in agricultural systems contribute significantly to the ecotoxic impact, as do copper-based fungicides applied in viticulture to combat downy mildew. Another issue is linked to the ways in which the intrinsic geographical variability of agriculture resulting from the variation of management practices, soil properties, and climate is addressed. The aim of this study is to assess the spatial variability of the terrestrial ecotoxicity impact of copper-based fungicides applied in European vineyards, accounting for both geographical variability in terms of agricultural practice and copper speciation in soil. This first entails the development of regionalized characterization factors (CFs) for the copper used in viticulture and then the application of these CFs to a regionalized life-cycle inventory that considers different management practices, soil properties, and climates in different regions, namely Languedoc-Roussillon (France), Minho (Portugal), Tuscany (Italy), and Galicia (Spain). There are two modelling alternatives to determine metal speciation in terrestrial ecotoxicity: (a) empirical regression models; and (b) WHAM 6.0, the geochemical speciation model applied according to the soil properties of the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). Both approaches were used to compute and compare regionalized CFs with each other and with current IMPACT 2002+ CF. The CFs were then aggregated at different spatial resolutions—global, Europe, country, and wine-growing region—to assess the uncertainty related to spatial variability at the different scales and applied in the regionalized case study. The global CF computed for copper terrestrial ecotoxicity is around 3.5 orders of magnitude lower than the one from IMPACT 2002+, demonstrating the impact of including metal speciation. For both methods, an increase in the spatial resolution of the CFs translated into a decrease in the spatial variability of the CFs. With the exception of the aggregated CF for Portugal (Minho) at the country level, all the aggregated CFs derived from empirical regression models are greater than the ones derived from the method based on WHAM 6.0 within a range of 0.2 to 1.2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, CFs calculated with empirical regression models exhibited a greater spatial variability with respect to the CFs derived from WHAM 6.0. The ranking of the impact scores of the analyzed scenarios was mainly determined by the amount of copper applied in each wine-growing region. However, finer spatial resolutions led to an impact score with lower uncertainty.
Livelihood Assets and Strategies among Rural Households: Comparative Analysis of Rice and Dryland Terrace Systems in China
Authors: Yang Lun , Liu Moucheng , Lun Fei , Min Qingwen , Zhang Canqiang , Li Heyao
Published: July 2018

The livelihood of peasant households is one of the selection criteria of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and a critical factor that affects agricultural heritage system conservation and inheritance. Taking the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System (HHRTS) and Shexian Dryland Terraces System (SDTS) as examples, we investigated 304 households through a participatory rural appraisal method to discuss the livelihood assets and strategies of households in agricultural heritage systems. From the viewpoint of livelihood strategies, household strategies can be divided into pure agricultural, nonagricultural, and part-time agricultural strategies. The livelihood strategies of households in the HHRTS feature a higher proportion of nonagricultural, while those in the SDTS have a diverse distribution. With respect to livelihood assets, we constructed a livelihood assets accounting framework to highlight the important role of traditional culture and information technology in agricultural activities. The average livelihood assets value in the HHRTS and SDTS was 2.249 and 1.832, respectively. Then, applying the multinomial logit model, we quantitatively analyzed the relationship between livelihood assets and strategies. The results show that in both terrace systems, the understanding of traditional agricultural knowledge is important to suppress the shift of pure agricultural households to nonagricultural or part-time agricultural households. Therefore, in order to achieve dynamic conservation of terrace systems, it is necessary to effectively increase the cultural assets level of households, especially farmers’ understanding of traditional agricultural knowledge.
Planning of Electric Public Transport System under Battery Swap Mode
Authors: Li Wenxiang , Li Ye , Deng Haopeng , Bao Lei
Published: July 2018

Applying battery electric buses (BEBs) in the city is a good means to reduce the increasing greenhouse gas emissions and crude oil dependence. Limited by the driving range and charging time, battery swap station seems to be the best option for battery electric buses to replenish energy currently. This paper presents a novel method to plan and design an electric public transport system under battery swap mode, which comprised of battery electric buses, routes, scheduling, battery swap station, etc. Thus, new routing and scheduling strategies are proposed for the battery electric bus fleets. Based on swapping and charging demand analysis, this paper establishes an algorithm to calculate the optimal scales of battery swap station, including scales of battery swapping system, battery charging system and battery packs, and power capacity of output. Regarding the case of Xuejiadao battery swap station serving 6 BEB routes in Qingdao, China, a numerical simulation program is established to evaluate the validity of our methods. The results reflect that our methods can optimize the system scales meeting an equivalent state of operation demand. In addition, sensitivity analyses are made to the scales under different values of battery capacity and charging current. It suggests that the scales and cost of battery swap station can be effectively reduced with the development of power battery manufacture and charging technology in future.
Access to the Internet and Access to Finance: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Chen Yinghui , Gong Xiaolin , Chu Chien-Chi , Cao Yang
Published: July 2018

This paper aims at investigating the relationship between the use of the Internet and access to external finance of small and micro businesses, both theoretically and empirically. We first develop a theoretical model to explore how access to the Internet affects the credit availability of firms. The model suggests that access to the Internet can effectively mitigate financing difficulty of firms by alleviating information asymmetry and reducing agency cost, and thus can promote the sustainable development of those firms. The model also shows that access to the Internet can improve social welfare based on aforementioned mechanism. Using China household finance data from China Household Finance Survey, we tested the impact of access to the Internet on access to finance of small and micro businesses. Our empirical results confirm the positive role played by access to the Internet in alleviating financing difficulty of those firms. Moreover, we also found evidence that access to the Internet can reduce borrowers’ dependence on physical branches of banks when making bank choice decision for loan applications. Our evidence also implies that access to the Internet is conducive to the sustainable development of small and micro businesses via mitigating their financing difficulty.
How to Avoid Pigeonholing the Environmental Manager?
Authors: Boucher Julien , Jenny Clotilde , Plummer Zara , Schneider Gerhard
Published: July 2018

The research investigates the role the environmental manager plays to ensure a successful (or not) implementation of environmental performance within an organization. It is based on interviews of 5–7 actors per company within a sample of 7 companies (42 interviews). We build upon bias of perception of the various actors interviewed within each company to define 4 paradoxes related to the roles and mission of the environmental manager that hinder proper efficiency of environmental management at company level. Paradox 1 is that no one takes ownership of environmental performance within the organization. Paradox 2 is that the environmental manager is in an awkward situation vis-à-vis his boss. Paradox 3 is that the role of the environmental manager in relation to employees is ambiguous. Paradox 4 is that corporate and product approaches are decoupled. We suggest that these paradoxes interact and form a vicious cycle that may, in part, be responsible for the environmental decoupling phenomenon—companies often adopt a sustainability policy symbolically without implementing it substantively. Our research suggests that, by leveraging the leadership of the environmental manager through organizational and motivational measures, the vicious cycle can be transformed into a virtuous cycle and the human motivation can become a driver for green change within corporations. We proposed the SEA (Shaping Environmental Action) model based of 4 pillars: information, motivation, organization, and strategy.
Impact of Altered Intestinal Microbiota on Chronic Kidney Disease Progression
Authors: Castillo-Rodriguez Esmeralda , Fernandez-Prado Raul , Esteras Raquel , Perez-Gomez Maria Vanessa , Gracia-Iguacel Carolina , Fernandez-Fernandez Beatriz , Kanbay Mehmet , Tejedor Alberto , Lazaro Alberto , Ruiz-Ortega Marta , Gonzalez-Parra Emilio , Sanz Ana B. , Ortiz Alberto , Sanchez-Niño Maria Dolores
Published: July 2018

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), accumulation of uremic toxins is associated with an increased risk of CKD progression. Some uremic toxins result from nutrient processing by gut microbiota, yielding precursors of uremic toxins or uremic toxins themselves, such as trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO), p-cresyl sulphate, indoxyl sulphate and indole-3 acetic acid. Increased intake of some nutrients may modify the gut microbiota, increasing the number of bacteria that process them to yield uremic toxins. Circulating levels of nutrient-derived uremic toxins are associated to increased risk of CKD progression. This offers the opportunity for therapeutic intervention by either modifying the diet, modifying the microbiota, decreasing uremic toxin production by microbiota, increasing toxin excretion or targeting specific uremic toxins. We now review the link between nutrients, microbiota and uremic toxin with CKD progression. Specific focus will be placed on the generation specific uremic toxins with nephrotoxic potential, the decreased availability of bacteria-derived metabolites with nephroprotective potential, such as vitamin K and butyrate and the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking these toxins and protective factors to kidney diseases. This information provides a conceptual framework that allows the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
Identification of Felis catus Gammaherpesvirus 1 in Tsushima Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) on Tsushima Island, Japan
Authors: Makundi Isaac , Koshida Yushi , Endo Yasuyuki , Nishigaki Kazuo
Published: July 2018

Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) is a widely endemic infection of domestic cats. Current epidemiological data identify domestic cats as the sole natural host for FcaGHV1. The Tsushima leopard cat (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a critically endangered species that lives only on Tsushima Island, Nagasaki, Japan. Nested PCR was used to test the blood or spleen of 89 TLCs for FcaGHV1 DNA; three (3.37%; 95% CI, 0.70–9.54) were positive. For TLC management purposes, we also screened domestic cats and the virus was detected in 13.02% (95% CI, 8.83–18.27) of 215 cats. Regarding phylogeny, the partial sequences of FcaGHV1 from domestic cats and TLCs formed one cluster, indicating that similar strains circulate in both populations. In domestic cats, we found no significant difference in FcaGHV1 detection in feline immunodeficiency virus-infected (p = 0.080) or feline leukemia virus-infected (p = 0.163) cats, but males were significantly more likely to be FcaGHV1 positive (odds ratio, 5.86; 95% CI, 2.27–15.14) than females. The higher frequency of FcaGHV1 detection in domestic cats than TLCs, and the location of the viral DNA sequences from both cats within the same genetic cluster suggests that virus transmission from domestic cats to TLCs is likely.
Activity of the Chimeric Lysin ClyR against Common Gram-Positive Oral Microbes and Its Anticaries Efficacy in Rat Models
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Yang Hang , Bi Yongli , Li Wuyou , Wei Hongping , Li Yuhong
Published: July 2018

Dental caries is a common disease caused by oral bacteria. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the primary cariogenic microbes that often survive as biofilms on teeth. In this study, we evaluated the activity of ClyR, a well-known chimeric lysin with extended streptococcal host range, against common Gram-positive oral microbes and its anticaries efficacy in rat models. ClyR demonstrated high lytic activity against S. mutans MT8148 and S. sobrinus ATCC6715, with minor activity against Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus salivarius, which are considered as harmless commensal oral bacteria. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the number of viable cells in 72-h aged S. mutans and S. sobrinus biofilms are significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after treatment with 50 µg/mL ClyR for 5 min. Furthermore, continuous administration of ClyR for 40 days (5 µg/day) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the severity of caries in rat models infected with a single or a mixed bacteria of S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Therefore, ClyR could be a promising agent or additive for the prevention and treatment of dental caries.
Dynamic Simulation of a Metamaterial Beam Consisting of Tunable Shape Memory Material Absorbers
Authors: Hu Hua-Liang , Peng Ji-Wei , Lee Chun-Ying
Published: July 2018

Metamaterials are materials with an artificially tailored internal structure and unusual physical and mechanical properties such as a negative refraction coefficient, negative mass inertia, and negative modulus of elasticity, etc. Due to their unique characteristics, metamaterials possess great potential in engineering applications. This study aims to develop new acoustic metamaterials for applications in semi-active vibration isolation. For the proposed state-of-the-art structural configurations in metamaterials, the geometry and mass distribution of the crafted internal structure is employed to induce the local resonance inside the material. Therefore, a stopband in the dispersion curve can be created because of the energy gap. For conventional metamaterials, the stopband is fixed and unable to be adjusted in real-time once the design is completed. Although the metamaterial with distributed resonance characteristics has been proposed in the literature to extend its working stopband, the efficacy is usually compromised. In order to increase its adaptability to time-varying disturbance, several semi-active metamaterials have been proposed. In this study, the incorporation of a tunable shape memory alloy (SMA) into the configuration of metamaterial is proposed. The repeated resonance unit consisting of SMA beams is designed and its theoretical formulation for determining the dynamic characteristics is established. For more general application, the finite element model of this smart metamaterial is also derived and simulated. The stopband of this metamaterial beam with different configurations in the arrangement of the SMA absorbers was investigated. The result shows that the proposed model is able to predict the unique dynamic characteristics of this smart metamaterial beam. Moreover, the tunable stopband of the metamaterial beam with controlling the state of SMA absorbers was also demonstrated.
Sustainability Assessment of Second Use Applications of Automotive Batteries: Ageing of Li-Ion Battery Cells in Automotive and Grid-Scale Applications
Authors: Podias Andreas , Pfrang Andreas , Di Persio Franco , Kriston Akos , Bobba Silvia , Mathieux Fabrice , Messagie Maarten , Boon-Brett Lois
Published: July 2018

The Sustainability Assessment of Second Life Applications of Automotive Batteries (SASLAB) exploratory research project of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) aims at developing and applying a methodology to analyse the sustainability of deploying electrified vehicles (xEV) batteries in second use applications. A mapping of industrial demonstration and publicly-funded research projects in the area is presented, followed by an experimental assessment of the capacity and impedance change of lithium-ion cells during calendar and cycle ageing. Fresh cells and cells aged in the laboratory, as well as under real-world driving conditions, have been characterised to understand their application-specific remaining lifetime, beyond the 70% to 80% end-of-first-use criterion. For this purpose, pre-aged cells were examined under duty-cycles that resemble those of second use grid-scale applications.
Photon Flux and Bunching Noise from Measurement of the Shot Noise Variance
Authors: Lieu Richard , Stefszky Michael , Shi Chun-Hui
Published: July 2018

We report the experimental observation of photon-bunching noise through shot noise measurements made on a pseudo-thermal state of light using balanced detection. A full theory describing the measurement is developed, and, in agreement with the theory, it is found that the shot noise variance in the balanced signal reproduces the time series of the flux of the primary incoherent beam. Moreover, when the average power of the pseudo-thermal light is varied, the balanced detection is seen to track this change. A comparison of direct detection and balanced detection of the thermal field shows that the balanced detection performs at least as well as the direct detection and under some conditions appears to outperform the direct detection. There is not necessarily a contradiction with quantum field theory, which predicts that at best the performance of the balanced detection should be equal to the direct detection because the direct detection process is subject to nonlinearity that has not been excluded by measurements (even though any tests we performed suggest that such effects are small). This is the first time that the bunching noise effect of high occupation number chaotic light via the shot noise of the field has successfully been measured, to the point of using it to infer the flux of the field. The findings may be relevant to radio receiver design, specifically from the viewpoint of sensitivity improvement.
Dust–Gas Scaling Relations and OH Abundance in the Galactic ISM
Authors: Nguyen Hiep , Dawson J. R. , Miville-Deschênes M.-A. , Tang Ningyu , Li Di , Heiles Carl , Murray Claire E. , Stanimirović Snežana , Gibson Steven J. , McClure-Griffiths N. M. , Troland Thomas , Bronfman L. , Finger R.
Published: July 2018

Observations of interstellar dust are often used as a proxy for total gas column density N
H. By comparing Planck thermal dust data (Release 1.2) and new dust reddening maps from Pan-STARRS 1 and 2MASS, with accurate (opacity-corrected) H i column densities and newly published OH data from the Arecibo Millennium survey and 21-SPONGE, we confirm linear correlations between dust optical depth τ
353, reddening E(B − V), and the total proton column density N
H in the range (1–30) × 1020 cm−2, along sightlines with no molecular gas detections in emission. We derive an N
H/E(B − V) ratio of (9.4 ± 1.6) × 1021 cm−2 mag−1 for purely atomic sightlines at

∣
b
∣
>
5
°

, which is 60% higher than the canonical value of Bohlin et al. We report a ∼40% increase in opacity σ
353 = τ
353/N
H, when moving from the low column density (N
H < 5 × 1020 cm−2) to the moderate column density (N
H > 5 × 1020 cm−2) regime, and suggest that this rise is due to the evolution of dust grains in the atomic interstellar medium. Failure to account for H i opacity can cause an additional apparent rise in σ
353 of the order of a further ∼20%. We estimate molecular hydrogen column densities

N

H

2

from our derived linear relations, and hence derive the OH/H2 abundance ratio of X
OH ∼ 1 × 10−7 for all molecular sightlines. Our results show no evidence of systematic trends in OH abundance with

N

H

2

in the range

N

H

2

 ∼ (0.1−10) × 1021 cm−2. This suggests that OH may be used as a reliable proxy for H2 in this range, which includes sightlines with both CO-dark and CO-bright gas.
A Universal Entropy Profile for the Hot Atmospheres of Galaxies and Clusters within R2500
Authors: Babyk Iu. V. , McNamara B. R. , Nulsen P. E. J. , Russell H. R. , Vantyghem A. N. , Hogan M. T. , Pulido F. A.
Published: July 2018

We present atmospheric gas entropy profiles for 40 early-type galaxies and 110 clusters spanning several decades of halo mass, atmospheric gas mass, radio jet power, and galaxy type. We show that within ∼0.1R
2500 the entropy profiles of low-mass systems, including ellipticals, brightest cluster galaxies, and spiral galaxies, scale approximately as K ∝ R
2/3. Beyond ∼0.1R
2500 entropy profiles are slightly shallower than the K ∝ R
1.1 profile expected from gravitational collapse alone, indicating that heating by active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback extends well beyond the central galaxy. We show that the K ∝ R
2/3 entropy profile shape indicates that thermally unstable cooling is balanced by heating where the inner cooling and free-fall timescales approach a constant ratio. Hot atmospheres of elliptical galaxies have a higher rate of heating per gas particle compared to those of central cluster galaxies. This excess heating may explain why some central cluster galaxies are forming stars while most early-type galaxies have experienced no significant star formation for billions of years. We show that the entropy profiles of six lenticular and spiral galaxies follow the R
2/3 form. The continuity between central galaxies in clusters, giant ellipticals, and spirals suggests perhaps that processes heating the atmospheres of elliptical and brightest cluster galaxies are also active in spiral galaxies.
Turbulent Transport by Diffusive Stratified Shear Flows: From Local to Global Models. II. Limitations of Local Models
Authors: Gagnier Damien , Garaud Pascale
Published: July 2018

This paper continues the systematic investigation of diffusive shear instabilities initiated in Part I of this series. In this work, we primarily focus on quantifying the impact of nonlocal mixing, which is not taken into account in Zahn’s mixing model. We present the results of direct numerical simulations in a new model setup designed to contain coexisting laminar and turbulent shear layers. As in Part I, we use the low Péclet number approximation of Lignières to model the evolution of the perturbations. Our main findings are twofold. First, turbulence is not necessarily generated whenever Zahn’s nonlinear criterion JPr < (JPr)
c
is satisfied, where J = N
2/S
2 is the local gradient Richardson number, Pr = ν/κ

T
is the Prandtl number, and (JPr)
c
 ≃ 0.007. We have demonstrated that the presence or absence of turbulent mixing in this limit hysteretically depends on the history of the shear layer. Second, Zahn’s nonlinear instability criterion only approximately locates the edge of the turbulent layer, and mixing beyond the region where JPr < (JPr)
c
can also take place in a manner analogous to convective overshoot. We found that the turbulent kinetic energy decays roughly exponentially beyond the edge of the shear-unstable region, on a lengthscale δ that is directly proportional to the scale of the turbulent eddies, which are themselves of the order of the Zahn scale (see Part I). Our results suggest that mixing by diffusive shear instabilities should be modeled with more care than is currently standard in stellar evolution codes.
Assessment of pharmacological activity and bioavailability of the new derivative 1,3,4-thiadiazole
Authors: Popov Nikita S. , Demidova Marina A. , Malygin Alexandr S.
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Acexazolamide is a new derivative of 1,3,4-thiadiazole and acexamic acid.

Materials and methods: In animal experiments, acute toxicity, pharmacological activity and bioavailability of acexazolamide were evaluated. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed on the model of formalin edema of paw and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. Assessment of analgesic activity was carried out in a hot plate test in mice, chemical pain stimulation of the peritoneum and inflammatory hyperalgesia in rats. The antipyretic activity of acexazolamide was evaluated in a model of yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats. The anti-burn activity of acexazolamide was evaluated in a thermal skin burn model in rats. Bioavailability of acexazolamide with intragastric administration was determined in rabbits. The content of acetaxazolamide in blood plasma was determined by HPLC-MS/MS method.

Results and discussion: DL50 of acexazolamide after intragastric administration to mice was 860.99 (95% CIs, 462.2 to 1259.8) mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory activity of acexazolamide (21.5 mg/kg) with formalin-induced paw edema and fetal granuloma in rats was higher than that of ketoprofen (23.0 mg/kg). ED50 value for analgesic activity with acetic acid induced cortex was 24.99 (95% CIs: 15.31–34.68) mg/kg. With thermal stimulation of the paw in mice, the ED50 value was 25.56 (95% CIs: 15.13 to 35.98) mg/kg. ED50 value for antipyretic activity was 31.85 (95% CIs: 19.22–44.47) mg/kg. Acexazolamide (21.5 mg/kg) had a stimulating effect on the regeneration of damaged tissues in case of thermal skin burns. Bioavailability of acexazolamide (1 mg/kg) with intragastric administration was 37%.

Conclusion: Acexazolamide has the properties of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent.
Sub-20 ps high energy pulses from 1 kHz neodymium-based CPA
Authors: Michailovas Kirilas , Zaukevičius Audrius , Petrauskienė Virginija , Smilgevičius Valerijus , Balickas Stanislovas , Michailovas Andrejus
Published: July 2018

Chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technique was realized in Nd:YVO4 and Nd:YAG amplifiers. The front-end of the system consists of an Yb-doped fiber-optic master oscillator and a chirped fiber Bragg grating stretcher with a chain of Nd-based solid-state amplifiers followed by a grating compressor with custom high-dispersion multilayer dielectric gratings. This allowed us to implement a relatively compact and moderately complex master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) layout. 85 mJ of sub-20 ps pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate was obtained at the output. The amplifier features favourable parameters for OPCPA pumping.
Optical spectroscopic methods for diagnostics of intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Vaitkus Juozas Vidmantis , Varanius Darius , Čiplys Ignas , Gėgžna Vilmantas , Terbetas Gunaras , Ušinskienė Jurgita , Vaitkuvienė Aurelija
Published: July 2018

The level of degeneration (LOD) in the human intervertebral disc (IVD) could determine the choice of patient treatment strategy, thus there is a need for methods applicable at a point of care that enable quick medical decisions. In this paper, infrared light absorption, FT-Raman scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to analyse the same specimens from different groups of IVD samples.
Samples from the lumbar part of spine of 37 patients (mean age 48.2 years old) were included in the study. The gender distribution was 27 women and 10 men. The distribution by LOD in the Pfirrmann scale was as follows: grade 3 (40.5%), grade 4 (48.6%) and grade 5 (10.8%) were evaluated in our samples. Spectroscopic signals were measured and analysed. Features such as medical condition (LOD), patient’s age and gender were taken into account. All three methods of spectroscopy revealed age-dependent spectroscopic features related to LOD. For the first time a promissing possibility was found to recognize the LOD by fluorescence spectra in human IVD material taking gender and age into account. The findings create a background for the design of equipment and the design of experiment of more advanced clinical trials. FT-IR absorption and FT-Raman scattering spectra demonstrated the age dependences of a few components. The Raman peak at 2707 cm–1 seems promising for recognition of lumbar IVD LOD, but a higher number of specimens is necessary.
Bedeutung und Funktion von crowdsourcing im Projekt verbaalpina/Pomen in vloga množičnega zunanjega izvajanja v projektu VerbaAlpina
Authors: Wiatr Aleksander
Published: July 2018

Prispevek daje pregled projekta VerbaAlpina. Ta si prizadeva za sistematično analizo alpskega besedja, ki prehaja jezikovne meje, v zvezi z realnostjo, ki se tiče Alp. Prvi del je posvečen metodološkim osnovam. Pri tem so nakazani izzivi, ki so nastopili pri obdelavi zgodovinskih podatkov. Pojasnjeno je, kako so ti podatki preslikani v strukturirano in primerljivo obliko v podatkovni zbirki. Zadnji del se ukvarja z metodo množičnega zunanjega izvajanja (crowdsourcing), s katero se odpravijo obstoječe vrzeli in nekonsistentnosti in pridobi novo jezikovno gradivo.
Evaluation Method of Public Transportation System Based on Fuzzy Cloud Model
Authors: Tu Min , Xu Shiyang , Xu Jianfeng
Published: July 2018

This article describes how the public traffic system evaluation is an important measure to strengthen the management of urban transportation. Many scholars have evaluated the public transportation system, but lack research on different index weights of it. In past models, although the fuzzy assessment method was integrated into an evaluation methodology, its randomness was reflected unclearly. To solve the problems, a fuzzy evaluation of a cloud model is researched. Firstly, the corresponding weights of all indexes are calculated by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and a clustering method. Then, the principal component of the indexes is extracted by the principal component analysis. According to the distribution of a principal component and processed with the cloud model, a subordinate degree function was established. Finally, scoring cities by combining the principal component weight and membership cloud matrix and evaluating the public transportation system. Comparing the matter-element analysis and the AHP gray model method, this proposed model in this article can evaluate the performance of different urban traffic systems more practically.
An Experimental Insulation Testing Investigation of 210 MW Generator
Authors: Kumar Mahendar , Memon Z.A. , Uqaili M.A. , Baloch Mazhar H.
Published: July 2018

This article describes how a drastic failure of a machine is caused by insulation collapse which results heavy interruption as well as losses. The stable operation of a generator mainly depends upon the stator winding insulation. In past, various testing and repairing techniques have been applied in order to analyze the insulation life. However, in this context, a complete stator windings insulation analysis have been carried out by testing and monitoring techniques such as insulation resistance, di-electric absorption ratio, polarization index before repair and after rehabilitation work, ac & dc high voltage, dc resistance test of winding coils, as well as surface potential test, no-load test and short circuit test. It basically reflected the insulation life of stator winding and helped to take remedial measures. This research techniques will pave the way to overcome such failure in machine and recommended the interval based tests for safety purpose.
A Predictive Map Task Scheduler for Optimizing Data Locality in MapReduce Clusters
Authors: Merabet Mohamed , Benslimane Sidi mohamed , Barhamgi Mahmoud , Bonnet Christine
Published: July 2018

This article describes how data locality is becoming one of the most critical factors to affect performance of MapReduce clusters because of network bisection bandwidth becomes a bottleneck. Task scheduler assigns the most appropriate map tasks to nodes. If map tasks are scheduled to nodes without input data, these tasks will issue remote I/O operations to copy the data to local nodes that decrease execution time of map tasks. In that case, prefetching mechanism can be useful to preload the needed input data before tasks is launching. Therefore, the key challenge is how this article can accurately predict the execution time of map tasks to be able to use data prefetching effectively without any data access delay. In this article, it is proposed that a Predictive Map Task Scheduler assigns the most suitable map tasks to nodes ahead of time. Following this, a linear regression model is used for prediction and data locality based algorithm for tasks scheduling. The experimental results show that the method can greatly improve both data locality and execution time of map tasks.
Deriving a Gamified Learning-Design Framework Towards Sustainable Community Engagement and Mashable Innovations in Smart Cities
Authors: Lee Chien-Sing , Wong Kuok-Shoong Daniel
Published: July 2018

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the inclusion of art and design into STEM (STEAM) as a mediator are increasingly emphasized in innovation and entrepreneurial blueprints across countries due to smart cities. Knowledge creation/construction towards a thriving ecosystem however, is not a given. This exploratory study aims to derive design factors for community engagement and possible mashable opportunities/innovations in smart city communities. We present a meta-analysis of two gamified media-model maker opportunities carried out among Malaysian high school students. These are designed based on computational thinking and different design theories which take into account: a) deriving design factors/requirements (success factors) and barriers to gamified learning; b) mapping and intertwining of different models as genetic blueprint for gamified learning; c) refinement of the authors' socio-cognitive-HCI framework; d) possibilities for personalized inclusive design.