bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MDMA – hopes and fears associated with therapeutic use in mental disorders
Authors: Kozera Kamil , Cichoń Lena , Wilczyński Krzysztof M. , Janas-Kozik Małgorzata
Published: November 2020

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a psychoactive substance classified as a hallucinogen.

MDMA acts in the brain through a variety of neurochemical mechanisms, reducing anxiety, giving a sense of oneness with other people, expanding empathy, sharpening the senses and intensifying the experience of emotions. Therefore, the use of the MDMA assisted psychotherapy is being considered in selected disorders, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and in treatment of alcoholic addition. Although the recreational use of ecstasy may lead to numerous life-threatening side effects, data available in the literature suggest that psychoactive substances may be safely administered in clinical settings.

This article aims to review current research on the MDMA assisted psychotherapy. The first part of the article concludes data on MDMA assisted psychotherapy from available clinical trials. The second one sums up hopes and fears associated with the administration of MDMA in clinical settings that were discussed in the current clinical discourse.

It seems that further studies are needed to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of MDMA assisted psychotherapy.
Syntactic L1-Attrition and Re-Exposure
Authors: Cairncross Alexander , Vogelzang Magreet , Tsimpli Ianthi
Published: November 2020

Previous work on relative clause attachment ambiguity has observed both that speakers of different languages resolve this ambiguity with different biases and that one’s native bias is susceptible to attrition. Recently it has also been suggested that crosslinguistic differences in biases may be reduced to a syntactic difference, namely the availability of pseudo relatives. Integrating this with the multilingual data, the present poster explores whether attrition in attachment biases may be related to a change in pseudo-relative parsing. To that end, a sentence interpretation task was conducted. In that task, the availability of pseudo-relatives was manipulated. Participants consisted of native Italian speakers living either in Italy or an English-speaking country. Results indicated a clear effect of condition, but do not replicate previous findings of attrition. This latter finding is discussed with regard to re-exposure.
Word Prosody in Khorchin Mongolian
Authors: Gao Chenming
Published: November 2020

There is no consensus in the location and the acoustic cue of word-level stress in Mongolian. That Mongolian has a word-initial stress-accent system (Cinggeltei 1991), a word-final pitch-accent system (Bobrovnikov 1849: 33), or a quantity-sensitive stress-accent system (Poppe 1970: 47) have been proposed in previous literature. Recently, the very existence of word-level stress in Mongolian is doubted (Karlsson 2006, 2014). This study aims to examine the word prosody of an understudied dialect, Khorchin Mongolian (KM). Three speakers were involved in the experiment. Target words, compounds, and phrases were filled into three types of carrier sentences, in order to elicit words in pre-focus, in-focus, and post-focus positions. The result shows that in KM, head prominence is probably manifested through pitch accent. The H tone is obligatorily assigned to word-final syllable across all types of focus conditions, and the metrical head is culminatively enhanced in higher-level phrasal prosody.
Neural infrastructure for incremental interpretation: Interfacing sound, meaning and constraint
Authors: Fang Yuxing , Lyu Bingjiang , Vassileiou Benedict , Tsvetanov Kamen , Tyler Lorraine , Marslen-Wilson William
Published: November 2020

The remarkable speed and immediacy of human speech comprehension depends on the dynamic integration of acoustic-phonetic cues from the speech input with multi-dimensional contextual constraints. To understand the neurocomputational infrastructure that supports these processes, we tested where the critical brain regions are, when these different inputs are integrated, how different cues and constraints are neurally represented and what is the content of connectivity processes across the network. To do these, we combine EMEG measures of real-time brain activity with advanced NLP models, imaging methods (GCA, RSA) and network approaches (ICA and lasso). We uniquely identify a LH fronto-temporal network that integrates acoustic-phonetic cues and contextual constraints to support the identification of lexical form and meaning in the first 200. This integration process is not visible at word-onset, which suggested that bottom-up constraints are necessary to set the representational geometry of an analysis space with which semantic constraints can interact.
IceSat–2 Uydu Verilerinden Elde Edilen Nokta Bulutu Verilerinden Kar Kalınlığı Belirleme Potansiyelinin Analizi
Authors: Şahin Büşra , Çetinkaya Sinem , Özcan A. Kürşat , Ok Ali Özgün , Kocaman Sultan , Gökçeoğlu Candan
Published: November 2020

Önemli doğal tehlikelerden biri olan çığ, bitki örtüsünün seyrek olduğu veya bulunmadığı, kar yağışının fazla olduğu dağlık bölgelerde iç veya dış kuvvetlerin etkisiyle kar kütlesinin eğim yönünde hareketiyle gerçekleşmektedir. Çığ düşmesi sonucunda ise yerleşim alanları, ekonomik faaliyetler ve ulaşım etkilenebilmekte, ayrıca can ve mal kaybı yaşanabilmektedir. Türkiye’nin özellikle kuzey ve doğu bölgelerinde, jeomorfolojik ve iklimsel özellikleri sebebiyle çığ düşmesine oldukça yatkın dağlık alanlar bulunmaktadır. Örneğin 2020 yılının başlarında Van ilinin Başkale ilçesinde arka arkaya çığ afeti yaşanmıştır. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalarda çığ tehlikesi tahmini için ilk adım olan kar kalınlığının belirlenmesinde aktif ve pasif sensörlerden yararlanılmıştır. Yapılacak tahminlerle çığ tehlikesine karşı önlemler alınması sağlanarak, neden olduğu zararları en aza indirmek veya ortadan kaldırmak mümkün olabilir. IceSat–2 (The Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite – 2) buzul ve buz tabakalarındaki kütle ve yükseklik değişikliğinin ölçülmesi, eriyen buz kütlelerin deniz seviyesindeki değişikliğe etkisinin araştırılmasına olanak sağlayan yeni bir uydu platformudur. 
Dönel Kavşakların Kavşak Güvenliği Üzerine Etkisinin Analizi
Authors: Bozkurt Hasan , Yılmaz Havanur
Published: November 2020

Ulaşım sisteminde trafik akışının güvenli ve etkin çalışmasında büyük rol oynayan kavşaklar, sınıf düzeylerine, geometrik özelliklerine ve kontrol tiplerine göre sınıflandırılmaktadır. Dönel kavşaklar, ada çevresindeki araçların geçişlerde dairesel yol ve adanın etrafındaki trafiğe öncelik verdiği kavşak türüdür. Dönel kavşakların yapısında ki geometrik elemanlar, dönel kavşağın çalışması, kapasitesi ve güvenliğinde rol oynamaktadır. İyi tasarlanmış bir dönel kavşak, araçların hızlarının dolaşım yolu boyunca sabit kalmasını sağlayarak kavşak güvenliğinin optimize edilmesine yardımcı olmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, dönel kavşakların geometrik elemanlarının kavşak güvenliği üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Bu derleme çalışmasının amacı daha önce yapılan çalışmalar doğrultusunda kavşakların geometrik eleman tasarımlarının kavşak güvenliği açısından çok önemli olduğunu göstermektir. Çalışma sonucunda, dönel kavşaklarda güvenliği sağlamak için geometrik elemanların birbirleriyle kavşaklarda ve uygun fiziksel boyutlarda tasarlanması gerektiği belirtilmiştir. 
A participatory approach for identification of micro flood zones in poorly developed urban areas
Authors: Dawoud Osama , Mansour Mustafa
Published: November 2020

The lack of observation technologies and the information records in developing countries restrict the applicability of advanced approaches for identification of flood zones and setting-up flood risk mitigation plans. Greater challenge is encountered in urban and areas where the natural hydrological conditions are altered. The current paper proposes an approach that utilizes the globally available data for the essential hydrological analysis. The approach integrates the spatial-analysis and hydrological modeling approaches with a set of sequential iterative field/desk activities that confine and filter the flood zones and identify the associated risks. The proposed approach involves a systematic system for classification of the zones prone to flood according to the present status and the foreseen flood-risks. The proposed approach is sufficient to identify the micro-flood zones which might not be captured by the traditional analysis methods. The case study of Gaza Strip in Palestine is considered for validation of the approach and identification of the approach potential and limitations.
Yüksek Katlı Düzensiz Geometrili Diagrid Yapıların Deprem Performansının Deneysel ve Nümerik Analizi
Authors: Çimen İlker , Hanbay Serap , Erdem Savaş
Published: November 2020

Deprem, yıkıcı özelliği en fazla olan doğal afetlerin başında gelmektedir. Bu nedenle depremde oluşacak can ve mal kayıplarını en aza indirmek amacıyla inşaat mühendisliğinde depreme dayanıklı yapı tasarımı kavramı ortaya çıkmıştır ve yapıların deprem performansları analizi önem kazanmıştır. Özellikle düzensiz geometriye sahip ve/veya çok katlı yapılar için dinamik analiz yapılması gereklidir. Bu çalışmada düzensiz geometriye sahip bir yüksek katlı yapının nümerik olarak zaman tanım alanında deprem analizi gerçekleştirilmiş ve balsa çıtalarından yapılmış yapı modeline deneysel olarak sarsma masası testi uygulanmıştır. Balsa malzemesi hafif olmasının yanı sıra uygun dayanım ve enerji sönümleme özelliğine sahiptir. Bu özellikler ise malzemenin mikro yapısında bulunan trakeler ve bu trakeleri eşit aralıklarla kesen doğrusal olarak sıralanmış parankimalardan türemektedir. Ayrıca yapı modelinde çok katlı yapılar için hem estetik hem de strüktürel yeterliliği sağlayan diagrid sistem tercih edilmiştir. Çalışmada deneysel ve nümerik analiz sonuçları ivme ve çatı deplasman parametreleriyle kıyaslanmıştır. Birinci deprem kaydı kullanıldığında deneysel sonuçlar nümerik sonuçlardan daha yüksek bulunmuştur; ancak, karakteristik özeliği birinci depremden farklı olan ikinci deprem kaydı deneysel modele uygulandığında elde edilen ivme değerinin nümerik modelden daha az olduğu görülmüştür. Diğer taraftan, ikinci deprem kaydı kullanıldığında elde edilen çatı deplasmanının deneysel ve nümerik sonuçları ise büyük bir uyum içindedir.
Yumuşak Kat Düzensizliği Olan Betonarme Binalarin Doğrusal Olmayan Davranişlarinin İncelenmesi
Authors: KURU Sema , ÇAĞLAR Naci
Published: November 2020

Geçmişten bugüne yaşanan depremlerde verdiğimiz kayıplar deprem gerçeğini gözler önüne sermiştir. Özellikle 1999 Marmara depremi sonrasında mevcut yapıların güvenilirliği ciddi şekilde sorgulanmaya başlanmıştır. Yapıların genellikle zemin kat yükseklikleri ticari bir takım amaçlardan dolayı diğer katlara göre daha yüksek inşa edilmektedir. Bu da binada yumuşak kat oluşumuna sebebiyet vermektedir. Bu çalışmada zemin kat yüksekliğinin yapının deprem performansına etkileri incelenmiştir. Bu amaçla 1998 yılı öncesi inşa edilmiş ve halen mevcut durumda bulunan yapıları temsil etmek üzere zemin kat yüksekliği 2.8m, 3.5m ve 4.5m olan 3 yapı modeli oluşturulmuştur. 2019 TBDY kapsamında, yumuşak kat düzensizliği dikkate alınarak SAP2000 sonlu elemanlar programı yardımıyla oluşturulan modellerin zaman tanım alanında doğrusal olmayan dinamik analizleri yapılarak, her model için analiz sonucunda  taşıyıcı elemanların hasar durumları ayrı ayrı değerlendirilmiş, deprem performansı belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır.
ANALISA BENTUK PERMUKAAN PELAT PENYERAP SPONGE TERHADAP KINERJA SOLAR STILL DOUBLE SLOPE TIPE V
Authors: Alfin amanda Alfin Amanda , Ismail Nova R. , Sahbana M. Agus
Published: November 2020

This study aims to determine the surface shape of the sponge absorbent plate to the performance of the solar still double slope type V. The surface shape of the sponge absorbent plate uses sponge models of triangles, fins, waves and flat with a thickness of 5 cm. experimental Tests methods use direct solar radiation and using sea water is used as raw material. The experiment produced 4,527 liters of condensate water with highest solar still efficiency of 50.14% using a sponge wave absorber plate with an area of 13,940.76 cm2. The Sea water disability to flow capillary to the surface of the absorbent plate affecting the performance of solar still.
Delayed Radiographic Presentation of IgG4 Vasculitis
Authors: Osman Naureen , Schwartzman-Morris Julie
Published: November 2020

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related disease is a systemic inflammatory
process that affects multiple organs and can commonly present with
large vessel vasculitis. We present an interesting case of a patient with
delayed manifestation of IgG4 related vasculitis on radiographic
imaging.
Authors: Batu Reminta Lumban , Audina Nova , Azzahra Nursyifa
Published: November 2020

Screenplays Film is one of the production houses that produce a lot of films, one of which is Gundala. This study discusses how much influence the testimonials and cultural value creation have on the decision to purchase a gundala movie ticket on a gundalaofficial follower diagram. The reason the writer raised this title is because the gundala film successfully penetrated the 44th Toronto International Film Festival. The methodology used in this study is a descriptive and verification method with a quantitative approach. The purpose of this study was to determine the description and measure how much influence the testimonials and the creation of cultural values ​​on the decision to purchase Gundala movie tickets.
αCGRP-Induced Changes in Cerebral and Systemic Circulation; A TCD Study
Authors: Visočnik Darja , Žvan Bojana , Zaletel Marjan , Zupan Matija
Published: November 2020

It is known that perivascular application of CGRP induces cerebral vasodilatation. However, it is unclear whether intravenous alfa CGRP (αCGRP) induces changes in cerebral and systemic hemodynamics. Therefore, we studied the influence of an αCGRP intravenous infusion at a rate of 1.5 mcg/min in 20 min on mean arterial velocity in the middle cerebral artery (vm MCA) and in the posterior cerebral artery (vm PCA) in twenty healthy subjects using transcranial Doppler (TCD). We found out that αCGRP decreased vm MCA (p < 0.001), vm PCA (p < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p < 0.001) and end-tidal CO2 (Et-CO2) (p = 0.030). The heart rate (HR) increased during αCGRP infusion (p < 0.001). In addition, we found a positive relationship between Et-CO2 and vm MCA (p = 0.001) as well as vm PCA (p = 0.043). In our view, αCGRP induces changes in cerebral and systemic circulation in healthy volunteers. It might cause vasodilatation of MCA and PCA and a compensatory decrease of Et-CO2 to αCGRP related hemodynamic changes.
An Acoustic Survey of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris before and after the Fire of 2019
Authors: Katz Brian , Weber Antoine
Published: November 2020

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is amongst the most well-known worship spaces in the world. Its large volume, in combination with a relatively bare stone construction and marble floor, leads to rather long reverberation times. The cathedral suffered from a significant fire in 2019, resulting in damage primarily to the roof and vaulted ceiling. Despite the notoriety of this space, there are few examples of published data on the acoustical parameters of this space, and these data do not agree. Archived measurement recordings from 1987 were recovered and found to include several balloon bursts. In 2015, a measurement session was carried out for a virtual reality project. Comparisons between results from these two sessions show a slight but significant decrease in reverberation time (8%) in the pre-fire state. Measurements were recently carried out on the construction site, 1 year since the fire. Compared to 2015 data, the reverberation time significantly decreased (20%). This paper presents the preliminary results of these measurements, providing a documentation of the acoustics of this historic worship space both prior to and since the 2019 fire.
Influence of Storage on the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of a Nisin-biogel with Potential to be Applied to Diabetic Foot Infections Treatment
Authors: Soares Rui Silva , Santos Raquel , Cunha Eva , Tavares Luís , Trindade Alexandre , Oliveira Manuela
Published: November 2020

Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent pathogen in diabetic foot infections (DFIs). In addition to its ability to express several virulence factors, including the formation of recalcitrant biofilms, S. aureus is also becoming increasingly resistant to most antibiotics used in clinical practice. The search for alternative treatment strategies for DFI is urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), namely, nisin, are emerging as potential new therapeutics for managing DFIs. Our team has developed a nisin-guar gum biogel to be applied to DFIs. In this study, to confirm its future in vivo applicability, we evaluated the influence of four storage temperatures (−20 °C, 4 °C, 22 °C, and 37 °C) during a 24 months storage period on its antimicrobial activity towards DFI S. aureus, and its cytotoxicity, to a human keratinocyte cell line. When stored at temperatures below 22 °C, the biogel antimicrobial activity was not significantly influenced by storage duration or temperature. Moreover, nisin incorporated within the guar gum biogel exhibited no significant levels of cytotoxicity on human keratinocyte cells, confirming its potential for DFIs therapeutics. In conclusion, results confirm that the nisin-biogel is a potential candidate to be used as an alternative or complement compound for conventional DFI therapeutics.
Data Preparation and Training Methodology for Modeling Lithium-Ion Batteries Using a Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network for Mild-Hybrid Vehicle Applications
Authors: Jerouschek Daniel , Tan Ömer , Kennel Ralph , Taskiran Ahmet
Published: November 2020

Voltage models of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are used to estimate their future voltages, based on the assumption of a specific current profile, in order to ensure that the LIB remains in a safe operation mode. Data of measurable physical features—current, voltage and temperature—are processed using both over- and undersampling methods, in order to obtain evenly distributed and, therefore, appropriate data to train the model. The trained recurrent neural network (RNN) consists of two long short-term memory (LSTM) layers and one dense layer. Validation measurements over a wide power and temperature range are carried out on a test bench, resulting in a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.43 V and a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.40 V2. The raw data and modeling process can be carried out without any prior knowledge of LIBs or the tested battery. Due to the challenges involved in modeling the state-of-charge (SOC), measurements are used directly to model the behavior without taking the SOC estimation as an input feature or calculating it in an intermediate step.
Scattering and Its Applications to Various Atomic Processes: Elastic Scattering, Resonances, Photoabsorption, Rydberg States, and Opacity of the Atmosphere of the Sun and Stellar Objects
Authors: Bhatia Anand K.
Published: November 2020

A scattering process can be a natural process or a process carried out in a laboratory. The scattering of particles from targets has resulted in important discoveries in physics. We discuss various scattering theories of electrons and positrons and their applications to elastic scattering, resonances, photoabsorption, excitation, and solar and stellar atmospheres. Among the most commonly employed approaches are the Kohn variational principle, close-coupling approximation, method of polarized orbitals, R-matrix formulation, and hybrid theory. In every formulation, an attempt is made to include exchange, long-range and short-range correlations, and to make the approach variationally correct. The present formulation, namely, hybrid theory, which is discussed in greater detail compared to other approximations, includes exchange, long-range correlations, and short-range correlations at the same time, and is variationally correct. It was applied to calculate the phase shifts for elastic scattering, the resonance parameters of two-electron systems, photoabsorption in two-electron systems, excitation of atomic hydrogen by an electron and positron impact, and to study the opacity of the Sun’s atmosphere. Calculations of polarizabilities, Rydberg states, and bound states of atoms are also discussed.
Water Cycle Algorithm for Probabilistic Planning of Renewable Energy Resource, Considering Different Load Models
Authors: Saleh Ayat Ali , Senjyu Tomonobu , Alkhalaf Salem , Alotaibi Majed A. , Hemeida Ashraf M.
Published: November 2020

This work introduces multi-objective water cycle algorithm (MOWCA) to find the accurate location and size of distributed energy resource (DERs) considering different load models for two seasons (winter, and summer). The impact of uncertainties produced from load and renewable energy resource (RES) such as wind turbine (WT) and photovoltaic (PV) on the performance of the radial distribution system (RDS) are covered as this is closer to the real operation condition. The point estimate method (PEM) is applied for modeling the RES uncertainties. An optimization technique is implemented to find the multi-objective optimal allocation of RESs in RDSs considering uncertainty effect. The main objectives of the work are to maximize the technical, economic and environmental benefits by minimizing different objective functions such as the dissipated power, the voltage deviation, DG cost and total emissions. The proposed multi-objective model is solved by using multi-objective water cycle algorithm (MOWCA), considering the Pareto criterion with nonlinear sorting based on fuzzy mechanism. The proposed algorithm is carried out on different IEEE power systems with various cases.
Potential for Building Façade-Integrated Solar Thermal Collectors in a Highly Urbanized Context
Authors: Frattolillo Andrea , Canale Laura , Ficco Giorgio , Mastino Costantino C. , Dell’Isola Marco
Published: November 2020

Development of technologies, materials, support systems, and coatings has made the integration of solar thermal systems into the building envelope increasingly possible. Solar thermal collectors can either be directly integrated, substituting conventional roof or façade covering materials, or constitute independent devices added to a roof or façade structure. Aimed at estimating the real effectiveness of building-integrated solar systems for domestic heat water (DHW) production or for heating integration, when horizontal or inclined pitches on buildings are not applicable, the authors analyze a case study with different scenarios, taking into account the issues connected to a highly urbanized context in the Mediterranean climate. A GIS model was used for estimating the energy balance, while the real producibility of the simulated systems was calculated by a dynamic hourly simulation model, realized according to ISO 52016. The savings in terms of primary energy needs obtained by installing solar thermal systems on the facade are presented, and the differences between the cases in which the system is used for DHW production only and for space heating too are distinguished and discussed. The evaluated potential is quantified in the absence of roof collectors, despite their high potential in the Mediterranean region, in order to better appreciate the effects induced by integrated facade systems.
Study of the Radar Cross-Section of Turbofan Engine with Biaxial Multirotor Based on Dynamic Scattering Method
Authors: Zhou Zeyang , Huang Jun
Published: November 2020

With the continuous advancement of rotor dynamic electromagnetic scattering research, the radar cross-section (RCS) of turbofan engines has attracted more and more attention. In order to solve the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of a biaxial multirotor turbofan engine, a dynamic scattering method (DSM) based on dynamic simulation and grid transformation is presented, where the static RCS of the engine and its components is calculated by physical optics and physical theory of diffraction. The results show that the electromagnetic scattering of the engine is periodic when the engine is working stably, while the rotors such as fans and turbines are the main factors affecting the dynamic electromagnetic scattering and the ducts greatly increase the overall RCS level of the engine. The proposed DSM is effective and efficient for studying the dynamic electromagnetic scattering characteristic of the turbofan engine.
A Holistic Approach to Electric Shared Mobility Systems Development—Modelling and Optimization Aspects
Authors: Turoń Katarzyna , Kubik Andrzej , Chen Feng , Wang Hualan , Łazarz Bogusław
Published: November 2020

Due to the development of the shared economy, increasingly more shared mobility providers have launched services based on the use of electric vehicles. The increasing growth of electric shared mobility services has produced various types of problems that do not occur (or occur with a limited effect) under conventional shared mobility systems. This increase in electric shared mobility problems has led to many effects, including limitations of the system zones or going out of business. To avoid difficulties in the functioning of electric shared mobility systems, various scientific studies have been undertaken to model and optimize the operation of these systems. Modeling and optimization mainly relate to one category of the system—for example, only to bike sharing. However, to understand the system of electric shared mobility holistically, there is a need to define the criteria generally as stimulants or destimulants. Based on these assumptions, we conducted research on the identification of factors influencing the development of electric shared mobility services. We conducted our own expert research based on the Social Network Analysis method. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence the development or recession of services in the entire electric shared mobility market in reference to selected stakeholders. The obtained results indicate a non-standard approach to the modeling and optimization of electric shared mobility services. This study could be used as support for creating electric shared mobility models and could also be helpful for service providers or local mobility managers through the developed recommendations.
Integrating Bidirectionally Chargeable Electric Vehicles into the Electricity Markets
Authors: Kern Timo , Dossow Patrick , von Roon Serafin
Published: November 2020

Replacing traditional internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs) proves to be challenging for the transport sector, particularly due to the higher initial investment. As EVs could be more profitable by participating in the electricity markets, the aim of this paper is to investigate revenue potentials when marketing bidirectionally chargeable electric vehicles in the spot market. To simulate a realistic marketing behavior of electric vehicles, a mixed integer linear, rolling horizon optimization model is formulated considering real trading times in the day-ahead and intraday market. Results suggest that revenue potentials are strongly dependent on the EV pool, the user behavior and the regulatory framework. Modeled potential revenues of EVs of current average size marketed with 2019 German day-ahead prices are found to be at around 200 €/EV/a, which is comparable to other findings in literature, and go up to 500 €/EV/a for consecutive trading in German day-ahead and intraday markets. For future EVs with larger batteries and higher efficiencies, potential revenues for current market prices can reach up to 1300 €/EV/a. This study finds that revenues differ widely for different European countries and future perspectives. The identified revenues give EV owners a clear incentive to participate in vehicle-to-grid use cases, thereby increasing much needed flexibility for the energy system of the future.
Effect of Biowastes on Soil Remediation, Plant Productivity and Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration: A Review
Authors: Kowalska Aneta , Grobelak Anna , Almås Åsgeir R. , Singh Bal Ram
Published: November 2020

High anthropogenic activities are constantly causing increased soil degradation and thus soil health and safety are becoming an important issue. The soil quality is deteriorating at an alarming rate in the neighborhood of smelters as a result of heavy metal deposition. Organic biowastes, also produced through anthropogenic activities, provide some solutions for remediation and management of degraded soils through their use as a substrate. Biowastes, due to their high content of organic compounds, have the potential to improve soil quality, plant productivity, and microbial activity contributing to higher humus production. Biowaste use also leads to the immobilization and stabilization of heavy metals, carbon sequestration, and release of macro and micronutrients. Increased carbon sequestration through biowaste use helps us in mitigating climate change and global warming. Soil amendment by biowaste increases soil activity and plant productivity caused by stimulation in shoot and root length, biomass production, grain yield, chlorophyll content, and decrease in oxidative stress. However, biowaste application to soils is a debatable issue due to their possible negative effect of high heavy metal concentration and risks of their accumulation in soils. Therefore, regulations for the use of biowastes as fertilizer or soil amendment must be improved and strictly employed to avoid environmental risks and the entry of potentially toxic elements into the food chain. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the effects of biowastes on soil remediation, plant productivity, and soil organic carbon sequestration.
Analysis of the Accelerometer Input–Output Energy Distribution Based on the Upper Bound of Absolute Dynamic Error
Authors: Tomczyk Krzysztof , Sieja Marek
Published: November 2020

This paper presents an analysis of the accelerometer input–output energy distribution based on the upper bound of the absolute dynamic error (UBADE). This analysis corresponds to the input and output accelerometer signals, determined previously by mathematical modeling. Obtained results may provide the basis for verifying the correctness of the algorithms intended for the determination of the UBADE.
An Odorant Binding Protein (SaveOBP9) Involved in Chemoreception of the Wheat Aphid Sitobion avenae
Authors: Ullah Rana Muhammad Kaleem , Quershi Sundas Rana , Adeel Muhammad Muzammal , Abdelnabby Hazem , Waris Muhammad Irfan , Duan Shuang-Gang , Wang Man-Qun
Published: November 2020

Odorant binding proteins play a key role in the olfactory system and are involved in the odor perception and discrimination of insects. To investigate the potential physiological functions of SaveOBP9 in Sitobion avenae, fluorescence ligand binding experiments, molecular docking, RNA interference, and behavioral tests were performed. Fluorescence binding assay results showed that SaveOBP9 had broad and high (Ki < 10 μM) binding abilities with most of the wheat volatiles, but was more obvious at pH 7.4 than pH 5.0. The binding sites of SaveOBP9 to the volatiles were predicted well by three-dimensional docking structure modeling and molecular docking. Moreover, S. avenae showed a strong behavioral response with the four compounds of wheat. The reduction in mRNA transcript levels after the RNA interference significantly reduced the expression level of SaveOBP9 and induced the non-significant response of S. avenae to the tetradecane, octanal, decanal, and hexadecane. This study provides evidence that SaveOBP9 might be involved in the chemoreception of wheat volatile organic compounds and can successfully contribute in the integrated management programs of S. avenae.
Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Brewers’ Spent Grain Composites—The Impact of Filler Treatment on the Mechanical Performance
Authors: Hejna Aleksander
Published: November 2020

Waste lignocellulose materials, such as brewers’ spent grain, can be considered very promising sources of fillers for the manufacturing of natural fiber composites. Nevertheless, due to the chemical structure differences between polymer matrices and brewers’ spent grain, filler treatment should be included. The presented work aimed to investigate the impact of fillers’ reactive extrusion on the chemical structure and the poly(ε-caprolactone)/brewers’ spent grain composites’ mechanical performance. The chemical structure was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, while the mechanical performance of composites was assessed by static tensile tests and dynamic mechanical analysis. Depending on the filler pretreatment, composites with different mechanical properties were obtained. Nevertheless, the increase in pretreatment temperature resulted in the increased interface surface area of filler, which enhanced composites’ toughness. As a result, composites were able to withstand a higher amount of stress before failure. The mechanical tests also indicated a drop in the adhesion factor, pointing to enhanced interfacial interactions for higher pretreatment temperatures. The presented work showed that reactive extrusion could be considered an auspicious method for lignocellulose filler modification, which could be tailored to obtain composites with desired properties.
Sound Field Properties of Non-Cavitating Marine Propellers
Authors: Wang Youjiang , Göttsche Ulf , Abdel-Maksoud Moustafa
Published: November 2020

The sound field properties of non-cavitating marine propellers are investigated using a hybrid method, in which the FWH (Ffowcs William-Hawkings) analogy is coupled with the BEM (Boundary Element Method) approach. The investigations include both the uniform and non-uniform inflow conditions. For both conditions, the dominant sound source terms and the decay rate of the noise with regard to the distance to propeller centre are investigated. The influence of the permeable surface dimensions in the permeable FWH approach on the hydroacoustic result is also investigated. To carry out the investigations, the formulation to calculate acoustic pressure generated by the propeller wake sheet is proposed for the first time. The issues associated to coupling permeable FWH approach and BEM are also discussed, including the fictitious volume flux problem and the consideration of the ship wake field. It was found that the influence of the permeable surface dimension is little for the 1st BPF (Blade Passage Frequency), but cannot be ignored for the 3rd BPF. In the uniform inflow situation the thickness terms are found to be dominant, while in the non-uniform inflow situation the loading terms are dominant.
Does Short-Termism Influence the Market Value of Companies? Evidence from EU Countries
Authors: Janicka Małgorzata , Pieloch-Babiarz Aleksandra , Sajnóg Artur
Published: November 2020

This paper fits into the stream of current research on the concept of short-termism and its importance for economic sustainability, especially sustainable finance. Short-termism focuses on short time horizons by both corporate managers and the financial markets, and prioritizes short-time shareholder return over the long-term growth of the company’s value. This study engages the short-termism discussion by examining the effect of quarterly reporting on the long-term market value of listed companies. The aim of the article is to determine whether European companies experience the negative effects of short-termism, precisely, whether public companies that prepare quarterly reports, and which focus mainly on achieving the short-term goals of stock exchange investors, are seeing a decline in their market value in the long-term. We have not proven the existence of such a dependence, the increase in reporting frequency of public companies does not contribute to a decline in their long-term market value. In the case of the EU-15 the results of regression model estimation indicate a positive and statistically significant impact of the time of regular quarterly reporting on the buy-and-hold rates of return, in the “new” EU member states this relationship is not observed.
Optimal Replenishment Policy for Deteriorating Products in a Newsboy Problem with Multiple Just-in-Time Deliveries
Authors: Mashud Abu Hashan Md , Wee Hui-Ming , Huang Chiao-Ven , Wu Jei-Zheng
Published: November 2020

Product deterioration is a common phenomenon and is overlooked in most contemporary research on the newsboy problem. In this study, we have considered product deterioration in a production–inventory newsboy model based on multiple just-in-time (JIT) deliveries. This model is solved by a classical optimization technique for the manufacturer production size, wholesale price, replenishment plan, and retailer order policy using a distribution-free approach. Moreover, in order to improve business and entice more customers, a return policy and a post-sale warranty policy is adopted in the model. Theoretical development and numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the validity of this approach.
A Review of the Complex Relationship between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Infertility
Authors: Anton Carmen , Ciobica Alin , Doroftei Bogdan , Maftei Radu , Ilea Ciprian , Darii Plopa Natalia , Bolota Maria , Anton Emil
Published: November 2020

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disease that negatively affects up to 20% of the population. Infertility is defined as a disorder of the reproductive system described by lack of success in achieving pregnancy after more than a year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The main purpose of our review was to analyze the available literature regarding the IBS-infertility connection. Another secondary purpose of the present paper was to find out if oxidative stress may be the missing puzzle that may explain this possible correlation. After analyzing the available literature we concluded that oxidative stress is a plausible mediator of the connection between both female and male fertility and IBS. However, the data lacks in direct evidence to confirm this hypothesis. Nevertheless, it is recommended that certain levels of oxidative stress should not be exceeded in order to decrease IBS symptoms and increase the odds of conception given that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an aftermath of metabolically active cells. Therefore, reducing the oxidative stress by living a healthier lifestyle with a balanced diet, rich in micronutrients, limited in caffeine and alcohol, avoiding smoking and maintaining a normal body mass index with regular physical exercise may promote fertility and help diminishing IBS symptomatology. Studies with measurements of biological samples are needed in order to assess the complex relationship between oxidative stress, IBS and infertility.
A Host-Vector System for the Expression of a Thermostable Bacterial Lipase in a Locally Isolated Meyerozyma guilliermondii SMB
Authors: Salleh Abu Bakar , Baharuddin Siti Marha , Rahman Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abd , Leow Thean Chor , Basri Mahiran , Oslan Siti Nurbaya
Published: November 2020

Screening for a new yeast as an alternative host is expected to solve the limitations in the present yeast expression system. A yeast sample which was isolated from the traditional food starter ‘ragi’ from Malaysia was identified to contain Meyerozyma guilliermondii strain SMB. This yeast-like fungus strain SMB was characterized to assess its suitability as an expression host. Lipase activity was absent in this host (when assayed at 30 °C and 70 °C) and Hygromycin B (50 μg/mL) was found to be its best selection marker. Then, the hyg gene (Hygromycin B) was used to replace the sh ble gene (Zeocin) expression cassette in a Komagataella phaffii expression vector (designated as pFLDhα). A gene encoding the mature thermostable lipase from Bacillus sp. L2 was cloned into pFLDhα, followed by transformation into strain SMB. The optimal expression of L2 lipase was achieved using YPTM (Yeast Extract-Peptone-Tryptic-Methanol) medium after 48 h with 0.5% (v/v) methanol induction, which was 3 times faster than another K. phaffii expression system. In conclusion, a new host-vector system was established as a platform to express L2 lipase under the regulation of PFLD1. It could also be promising to express other recombinant proteins without inducers.
Sustainable Management of Organic Wastes in Sharjah, UAE through Co-Composting
Authors: Mortula Md Maruf , Ahmed Aqeel , Fattah Kazi Parvez , Zannerni Ghina , Shah Syed A. , Sharaby Ahmed M.
Published: November 2020

Daily human activities and vast green areas produce substantial amounts of organic wastes that end up in landfills with minimal treatment. In addition to the problems associated with landfills, disposal through this method is unsustainable in the long run and does not allow recovering materials from the waste. This paper focuses on the co-composting of different organic wastes produced in The Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to optimize mixing proportions of three different kinds of wastes—sewage sludge (SS), green waste (GW), and food waste (FW). All three organic wastes were analyzed to determine their chemical composition and the mixing proportions. Ten different mixing proportions as a function of carbon:nitrogen (C:N ratios) were determined and mixed in a NatureMill composter. Compost samples were tested for pH, salinity, conductivity, moisture content, organic matter, organic carbon, phosphorus, total nitrogen, and final C:N ratio after 6 weeks. Results indicate that a period of 5–6 weeks is sufficient for the compost to stabilize. The varying mixing proportions produced a good-quality compost (C:N up to 20:1) with high nutrient content. The study reaffirms that co-composting can be a potential sustainable organic waste management option for the United Arab Emirates.
Negotiating Purity and Impurity of Religion and Economy: An Empirical Contribution to Kathryn Tanner’s Christianity and the New Spirit of Capitalism
Authors: Ledstam Maria , Afdal Geir
Published: November 2020

Kathryn Tanner’s book Christianity and the new Spirit of Capitalism generated an interesting debate about the relationship between Christianity and capitalism, as exemplified by the four review essays—by David Cloutier, Nicole M. Flores, Philip Goodchild, and John E. Thiel, respectively—published in Modern Theology in 2019. While the responses contain many interesting critical points, this article focuses on two particular trajectories in the debate that indirectly demand an empirical engagement with Tanner’s work. One strand of criticism charges that Tanner offers too generic examples of the economic reality that she examines, while her description of Christianity is too specific without being contextualized. The second strand argues that Tanner makes a dichotomy between a religious project and an economic project, which leads to the construction of a “pure” Christian conduct. This article continues this debate by fleshing out the issues of purity and impurity through an empirical study of two Christian networks, the Economy of Communion and Business as Mission. Using Bruno Latour’s account of modernization, the main finding is that the two logics, purity and impurity, continually configure the relationship between religion and economy. We further discuss these findings in relation to Tanner and her critics, and argue that theological ethical studies of the relationship between Christianity and economy would benefit from starting with empirical studies of the actual intertwining of religion and economy. Tanner convincingly argues that in order to challenge capitalism one has to work for structural, political changes and not only improve conditions within the economic system. However, this does not necessarily imply the use of pure and abstract normative principles. Normative ethical insights that are developed through analyses of everyday religious–economic practices may turn out to be as convincing.
Development of a Remote-Controlled Electrical Interference Vehicle with a Magnetron
Authors: Popela Miroslav , Leuchter Jan , Olivová Jana , Richterová Marie
Published: November 2020

This paper describes the design and construction of a remotely controlled mobile interference device designed primarily for interference (jamming) and immunity testing of wireless sensors operating in the 2.4 GHz band (Wi-Fi). The main idea was to build a remotely controlled test device to test the immunity of wireless sensors operating in the 2.4 GHz band directly in field conditions. The remotely controlled mobile interference device is equipped with a special interference apparatus, using a special magnetron tube as a source of interference. Magnetron was selected due to its high performance, allowing interference with wireless sensors over long distances. As magnetron is powered by high voltage (3 kVDC) and is being used in a remotely controlled device, it was important to solve the issue of its power supply using an accumulator. The remotely controlled device was further equipped with the option of detecting and analysing signals in the frequency band of 1 GHz to 18 GHz, adding an extra operational mode that can be used in civil (commercial), industrial, and military applications. Detection and analysis of extraneous signals that may affect our various electronic devices, operating in the 1 GHz to 18 GHz frequency band, is very important. By detecting and analyzing the detected signal, it is possible to recognize what kind of foreign device is transmitting on the detected frequency and how much it can affect the proper functioning of our electronic devices. All the individual parts of the remotely controlled mobile interference device are described in this article in detail, including their optimization for maximum use of the accumulator capacity by which the remotely controlled mobile interference device is powered. A substantial part of this article is devoted to optimizing the interference apparatus power supply with a resonant converter and internal intelligence, where the accumulators’ capacity is measured to gain needed predictions for maximum use of Li-Po batteries and thus extending its time of use.
LiDAR-Camera Calibration Using Line Correspondences
Authors: Bai Zixuan , Jiang Guang , Xu Ailing
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to estimate the extrinsic parameters between a LiDAR and a camera. Our method is based on line correspondences between the LiDAR point clouds and camera images. We solve the rotation matrix with 3D–2D infinity point pairs extracted from parallel lines. Then, the translation vector can be solved based on the point-on-line constraint. Different from other target-based methods, this method can be performed simply without preparing specific calibration objects because parallel lines are commonly presented in the environment. We validate our algorithm on both simulated and real data. Error analysis shows that our method can perform well in terms of robustness and accuracy.