bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Image Representation of Network Traffic Data and Transfer Learning in Botnet Detection
Authors: Taheri Shayan , Salem Milad , Yuan Jiann-Shiun
Published: November 2018

The advancements in the Internet has enabled connecting more devices into this technology every day. The emergence of the Internet of Things has aggregated this growth. Lack of security in an IoT world makes these devices hot targets for cyber criminals to perform their malicious actions. One of these actions is the Botnet attack, which is one of the main destructive threats that has been evolving since 2003 into different forms. This attack is a serious threat to the security and privacy of information. Its scalability, structure, strength, and strategy are also under successive development, and that it has survived for decades. A bot is defined as a software application that executes a number of automated tasks (simple but structurally repetitive) over the Internet. Several bots make a botnet that infects a number of devices and communicates with their controller called the botmaster to get their instructions. A botnet executes tasks with a rate that would be impossible to be done by a human being. Nowadays, the activities of bots are concealed in between the normal web flows and occupy more than half of all web traffic. The largest use of bots is in web spidering (web crawler), in which an automated script fetches, analyzes, and files information from web servers. They also contribute to other attacks, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS), SPAM, identity theft, phishing, and espionage. A number of botnet detection techniques have been proposed, such as honeynet-based and Intrusion Detection System (IDS)-based. These techniques are not effective anymore due to the constant update of the bots and their evasion mechanisms. Recently, botnet detection techniques based upon machine/deep learning have been proposed that are more capable in comparison to their previously mentioned counterparts. In this work, we propose a deep learning-based engine for botnet detection to be utilized in the IoT and the wearable devices. In this system, the normal and botnet network traffic data are transformed into image before being given into a deep convolutional neural network, named DenseNet with and without considering transfer learning. The system is implemented using Python programming language and the CTU-13 Dataset is used for evaluation in one study. According to our simulation results, using transfer learning can improve the accuracy from 33.41% up to 99.98%. In addition, two other classifiers of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and logistic regression have been used. They showed an accuracy of 83.15% and 78.56%, respectively. In another study, we evaluate our system by an in-house live normal dataset and a solely botnet dataset. Similarly, the system performed very well in data classification in these studies. To examine the capability of our system for real-time applications, we measure the system training and testing times. According to our examination, it takes 0.004868 milliseconds to process each packet from the network traffic data during testing.
Effect of Nickel Oxide Doping to Ceria-Supported Gold Catalyst for CO Oxidation and Water-Gas Shift Reactions
Authors: Shu Miao , Wei Shuai , Jia Chun-Jiang , Wang Dao-Lei , Si Rui
Published: November 2018

Ceria-supported gold catalyst has drew much research interest owing to its high reactivity on CO oxidation and water-gas shift (WGS) reactions. However, till now, there were relatively limited studies on the effect of secondary metal/metal oxide component into gold-ceria system to enhance its catalytic performance. In this work, we synthetized the ceria supported gold-nickel samples via a deposition-precipitation method with the base of NaHCO3 to adjust final pH value of 8~9. We found that the addition of nickel oxide drove off the gold species from the stock solution during synthesis, and thus resulted in a dramatical decrease on doped Au concentration. No crystallized phases of gold and nickel were observed on the surface of ceria nanorods in both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The valence of nickel was maintained as Ni2+ for all the measured samples by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while gold was oxidized with the increased nickel amount after analysis of X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). The corresponding catalytic tests showed that with the introduction of nickel oxide, the activity of gold-ceria catalyst was promoted for the WGS reaction, but inhibited for the CO oxidation reaction.
The Use of Copper Oxide Thin Films in Gas-Sensing Applications
Authors: Rydosz Artur
Published: November 2018

In this work, the latest achievements in the field of copper oxide thin film gas sensors are presented and discussed. Several methods and deposition techniques are shown with their advantages and disadvantages for commercial applications. Recently, CuO thin film gas sensors have been studied to detect various compounds, such as: nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, as well as several volatile organic compounds in many different applications, e.g., agriculture. The CuO thin film gas sensors exhibited high 3-S parameters (sensitivity, selectivity, and stability). Furthermore, the possibility to function at room temperature with long-term stability was proven as well, which makes this material very attractive in gas-sensing applications, including exhaled breath analysis.
Environmentally Friendly Plasma Activation of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene and Polydimethylsiloxane Surfaces to Improve Paint Adhesion
Authors: Martinez Miguel Angel , Abenojar Juana , Lopez de Armentia Sara
Published: November 2018

Generally, polymeric materials present an issue related to their low surface energy: low painting ability. The main aim of this work is to improve the adhesion between polymeric surfaces (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)) and paints (epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU)-based). In order to increase adhesion, hydrophilic modification of surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma torch treatment (APPT) was proposed. Furthermore, it can permit dissimilar joints, i.e., ABS with a metal joined by a silicone (based PDMS), to be painted. The surface modifications were characterized by measurements of surface energy and roughness. In addition, the effectiveness of the pre-treatment on improving paint adhesion was confirmed by scratch, cross-cut, and adhesion tests. Results showed the possibility of coating both ABS and PDMS with a PU-based paint when treated with plasma. As a novel result, polymer and metal panels joined by silicone were able to be painted with the PU paint.
Growth without Postannealing of Monoclinic VO2 Thin Film by Atomic Layer Deposition Using VCl4 as Precursor
Authors: Lee Wen-Jen , Chang Yong-Han
Published: November 2018

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a multifunctional material with semiconductor-to-metal transition (SMT) property. Organic vanadium compounds are usually employed as ALD precursors to grow VO2 films. However, the as-deposited films are reported to have amorphous structure with no significant SMT property, therefore a postannealing process is necessary for converting the amorphous VO2 to crystalline VO2. In this study, an inorganic vanadium tetrachloride (VCl4) is used as an ALD precursor for the first time to grow VO2 films. The VO2 film is directly crystallized and grown on the substrate without any postannealing process. The VO2 film displays significant SMT behavior, which is verified by temperature-dependent Raman spectrometer and four-point-probing system. The results demonstrate that the VCl4 is suitably employed as a new ALD precursor to grow crystallized VO2 films. It can be reasonably imagined that the VCl4 can also be used to grow various directly crystallized vanadium oxides by controlling the ALD-process parameters.
Curve-Correction Factor for Characterization of the Output of a Three-Dimensional Curved Photovoltaic Module on a Car Roof
Authors: Ota Yasuyuki , Masuda Taizo , Araki Kenji , Yamaguchi Masafumi
Published: November 2018

For modeling the energy generation of three-dimensional car roof photovoltaic (PV) panels, it is essential to define a scientifically accurate method to model the amount of solar irradiance received by the panel. Additionally, the average annual irradiance incident on car roofs must be evaluated, because the PV module is often shaded during driving and when parked. The curve-correction factor, which is a unique value depending on the three-dimensional curved shape of the PV module, is defined in this paper. The curve-correction factor was calculated using a ray-trace simulator. It was found that the shape of the curved surface affected the curve-correction factor. The ratio of the projection area to the curved surface area of most car roofs is 0.85–0.95, and the annual curve-correction factor lies between 0.70 and 0.90. The annual irradiance incident on car roofs was evaluated using a mobile multipyranometer array system for one year (September 2017–August 2018). It is estimated that the effective annual solar radiation for curved PV modules is 2.53–3.52 kWh m−2/day.
E-Learning for Deaf Adults from a User-Centered Perspective
Authors: Pappas Marios A. , Demertzi Eleftheria , Papagerasimou Yannis , Koukianakis Lefteris , Kouremenos Dimitris , Loukidis Ioannis , Drigas Athanasios S.
Published: November 2018

Deaf individuals present differences compared to their hearing peers in terms of their learning profile. In addition, deaf adults seem to still be socially excluded nowadays, given that the transition from school to work is more difficult for people with hearing loss. This study aims to analyze the cognitive characteristics of deaf adults, as well as the way they learn better, for the development of an innovative and user-friendly e-learning platform, which will be adapted to the educational needs of the target group. Fifty-three deaf or hard-of-hearing adults participated in the field research for the needs of this study. According to the results, participants prefer e-learning modules with continuity in terms of the content, which offer comprehension questions during the sessions, as well as practice exercises after their completion. Furthermore, participants had positive attitudes towards the use of special graphics and explanatory videos.
High-Order Sliding Mode-Based Fixed-Time Active Disturbance Rejection Control for Quadrotor Attitude System
Authors: Song Chunlin , Wei Changzhu , Yang Feng , Cui Naigang
Published: November 2018

This article presents a fixed-time active disturbance rejection control approach for the attitude control problem of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle in the presence of dynamic wind, mass eccentricity and an actuator fault. The control scheme applies the feedback linearization technique and enhances the performance of the traditional active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based on the fixed-time high-order sliding mode method. A switching-type uniformly convergent differentiator is used to improve the extended state observer for estimating and attenuating the lumped disturbance more accurately. A multivariable high-order sliding mode feedback law is derived to achieve fixed time convergence. The timely convergence of the designed extended state observer and the feedback law is proved theoretically. Mathematical simulations with detailed actuator models and real time experiments are performed to demonstrate the robustness and practicability of the proposed control scheme.
Magnetohydrodynamics Flow Past a Moving Vertical Thin Needle in a Nanofluid with Stability Analysis
Authors: Salleh Siti Nur Alwani , Bachok Norfifah , Arifin Norihan Md , Ali Fadzilah Md , Pop Ioan
Published: November 2018

In this study, we intend to present the dynamics of a system based on the model of convective heat and mass transfer in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flow past a moving vertical thin needle in nanofluid. The problem is formulated in mathematical form by using Buongiorno’s model with the modified boundary condition. The transformed boundary layer ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using the bvp4c function in MATLAB software. The effects of the involved parameters, including, Brownian motion, thermophoresis, magnetic field, mixed convection, needle size and velocity ratio parameter on the flow, heat and mass transfer coefficients are analyzed. The numerical results obtained for the skin friction coefficients, local Nusselt number and local Sherwood number, as well as the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are graphically presented and have been discussed in detail. The study reveals that the dual solutions appear when the needle and the buoyancy forces oppose the direction of the fluid motion, and the range of the dual solutions existing depends largely on the needle size and magnetic parameter. The presence of the magnetic field in this model reduces the coefficient of the skin friction and heat transfer, while it increases the coefficient of the mass transfer on the needle surface. A stability analysis has been performed to identify which of the solutions obtained are linearly stable and physically relevant. It is noticed that the upper branch solutions are stable, while the lower branch solutions are not.
Adaptive-Observer-Based Data Driven Voltage Control in Islanded-Mode of Distributed Energy Resource Systems
Authors: Xia Yan , Dai Yuchen , Yan Wenxu , Xu Dezhi , Yang Chengshun
Published: November 2018

In this paper, an adaptive observer based data driven control scheme is proposed for the voltage control of dispatchable distributed energy resource (DER) systems which work in islanded operation. In the design procedure of the proposed control scheme, we utilize the novel transformation and linearization technique for the islanded DER system dynamics, which is proper for the proposed data driven control algorithm. Moreover, the pseudo partial derivative (PPD) parameter matrix can be estimated online by multiple adaptive observers. Then, the adaptive constrained controller is designed only based on the online identification results derived from the input/output (I/O) data of the controlled DER system. It is theoretically proven that all the signals in the closed-loop control system are uniformly ultimately bounded based on the Lyapunov stability analysis approach. In addition, the results of the simulation comparison are given to verify the voltage control effect of the proposed control scheme.
Evaluating Harmonic Distortions on Grid Voltages Due to Multiple Nonlinear Loads Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Manito Allan , Bezerra Ubiratan , Tostes Maria , Matos Edson , Carvalho Carminda , Soares Thiago
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a procedure to estimate the impacts on voltage harmonic distortion at a point of interest due to multiple nonlinear loads in the electrical network. Despite artificial neural networks (ANN) being a widely used technique for the solution of a large amount and variety of issues in electric power systems, including harmonics modeling, its utilization to establish relationships among the harmonic voltage at a point of interest in the electric grid and the corresponding harmonic currents generated by nonlinear loads was not found in the literature, thus this innovative procedure is considered in this article. A simultaneous measurement campaign must be carried out in all nonlinear loads and at the point of interest for data acquisition to train and test the ANN model. A sensitivity analysis is proposed to establish the percent contribution of load currents on the observed voltage distortion, which constitutes an original definition presented in this paper. Initially, alternative transient program (ATP) simulations are used to calculate harmonic voltages at points of interest in an industrial test system due to nonlinear loads whose harmonic currents are known. The resulting impacts on voltage harmonic distortions obtained by the ATP simulations are taken as reference values to compare with those obtained by using the proposed procedure based on ANN. By comparing ATP results with those obtained by the ANN model, it is observed that the proposed methodology is able to classify correctly the impact degree of nonlinear load currents on voltage harmonic distortions at points of interest, as proposed in this paper.
Approaches to Methods of Risk Analysis and Assessment Regarding the Gas Supply to a City
Authors: Tchórzewska-Cieślak Barbara , Pietrucha-Urbanik Katarzyna
Published: November 2018

Analysis and assessment of the reliability and safety of a gas-supply system is a key issue, given its status as critical infrastructure. A gas-supply system is characterised by continuous operation and a consequent need to achieve a high level of operating reliability and safety. Such a system has its unique aspects, with particular elements having their different functions while also simultaneously interacting in the context of the integral whole. In such circumstances, risk analysis can prove useful in planning activity to prevent damage, and also in the devising of rescue scenarios. Thus, the purpose of the analysis presented here has been to supply the information that is necessary in decision-making relating to risk reduction. One of the most comprehensive assessment methods is based on the expected value of gas shortage. Basic formulae with which to determine a generalised indicator of system reliability are also presented, with risk viewed as synonymous with the unreliability of gas supply. This paper then proposes a method by which an indicator of the expected efficiency of operation may also be determined as the quotient of chance and absolute risk. The thinking in this article has been developed on the basis of data from a real gas-supply system, while the computational methods deployed allowed applications to draw conclusions regarding possible modification of the expected gas shortages method.
Comparative Thermodynamic Analysis of Kalina and Kalina Flash Cycles for Utilizing Low-Grade Heat Sources
Authors: Kim Kyoung , Han Chul , Ko Hyung
Published: November 2018

The Kalina flash cycle (KFC) is a novel, recently proposed modification of the Kalina cycle (KC) equipped with a flash vessel. This study performs a comparative analysis of the thermodynamic performance of KC and KFC utilizing low-grade heat sources. How separator pressure, flash pressure, and ammonia mass fraction affect the system performance is systematically and parametrically investigated. Dependences of net power and cycle efficiencies on these parameters as well as the mass flow rate, heat transfer rate and power production at the cycle components are analyzed. For a given set of separator pressure and ammonia mass fraction, there exists an optimum flash pressure making exergy efficiency locally maximal. For these pressures, which are higher for higher separator pressure and lower ammonia mass fraction, KFC shows better performance than KC both in net power and cycle efficiencies. At higher ammonia mass fraction, however, the difference is smaller. While the maximum power production increases with separator pressure, the dependence is quite weak for the maximum values of both efficiencies.
A Gas Path Fault Contribution Matrix for Marine Gas Turbine Diagnosis Based on a Multiple Model Fault Detection and Isolation Approach
Authors: Yang Qingcai , Li Shuying , Cao Yunpeng , Gu Fengshou , Smith Ann
Published: November 2018

To ensure reliable and efficient operation of gas turbines, multiple model (MM) approaches have been extensively studied for online fault detection and isolation (FDI). However, current MM-FDI approaches are difficult to directly apply to gas path FDI, which is one of the common faults in gas turbines and is understood to mainly be due to the high complexity and computation in updating hypothetical gas path faults for online applications. In this paper, a fault contribution matrix (FCM) based MM-FDI approach is proposed to implement gas path FDI over a wide operating range. As the FCM is realized via an additive term of the healthy model set, the hypothetical models for various gas path faults can be easily established and updated online. In addition, a gap metric analysis method for operating points selection is also proposed, which yields the healthy model set from the equal intervals linearized models to approximate the nonlinearity of the gas turbine over a wide range of operating conditions with specified accuracy and computational efficiency. Simulation case studies conducted on a two-shaft marine gas turbine demonstrated the proposed approach is capable of adaptively updating hypothetical model sets to accurately differentiate both single and multiple faults of various gas path faults.
Seedling Production and the Field Performance of Seedlings
Authors: Riikonen Johanna , Luoranen Jaana
Published: November 2018

The rapid establishment of seedlings in forest regeneration or afforestation sites after planting is a prerequisite for successful reforestation. The relationship between the quality of the seedling material and their growth and survival after outplanting has been recognized for decades. Despite the existence of a substantial amount of information on how to produce high-quality seedlings, there is still a need to develop practices that can be used in nurseries and at planting sites to be able to produce well-growing forest stands in ever-changing environments. This Special Issue of Forests is focused on seedling quality and how it can be manipulated in a nursery as well as how the quality of the seedlings affects their field performance after planting.
A New Geospatial Model Integrating a Fuzzy Rule-Based System in a GIS Platform to Partition a Complex Urban System in Homogeneous Urban Contexts
Authors: Cardone Barbara , Di Martino Ferdinando
Published: November 2018

Here, we present a new unsupervised method aimed at obtaining a partition of a complex urban system in homogenous urban areas, called urban contexts. Our model integrates spatial analysis processes and a fuzzy rule-based system applied to manage the knowledge of domain experts; it is implemented using a GIS platform. The area of study is initially partitioned in microzones, homogeneous portions of the urban system, which are the atomic reference elements for the census data. With the contribution of domain experts, we identify the physical, morphological, environmental, and socio-economic indicators needed to identify synthetic characteristics of urban contexts and create the fuzzy rule set necessary for determining the type of urban context. We implement the set of spatial analysis processes required to calculate the indicators for the microzones and apply a Mamdani fuzzy rule system to classify the microzones. Finally, the partition of the area of study in urban contexts is obtained by dissolving continuous microzones belonging to the same type of urban context. Tests are performed on the Municipality of Pozzuoli (Naples, Italy); the reliability of the out model is measured by comparing the results with the ones obtained through a detailed analysis.
Histopathology of Barrett’s Esophagus and Early-Stage Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: An Updated Review
Authors: Yin Feng , Hernandez Gonzalo David , Lai Jinping , Liu Xiuli
Published: November 2018

Esophageal adenocarcinoma carries a very poor prognosis. For this reason, it is critical to have cost-effective surveillance and prevention strategies and early and accurate diagnosis, as well as evidence-based treatment guidelines. Barrett’s esophagus is the most important precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma, which follows a defined metaplasia–dysplasia–carcinoma sequence. Accurate recognition of dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus is crucial due to its pivotal prognostic value. For early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma, depth of submucosal invasion is a key prognostic factor. Our systematic review of all published data demonstrates a “rule of doubling” for the frequency of lymph node metastases: tumor invasion into each progressively deeper third of submucosal layer corresponds with a twofold increase in the risk of nodal metastases (9.9% in the superficial third of submucosa (sm1) group, 22.0% in the middle third of submucosa (sm2) group, and 40.7% in deep third of submucosa (sm3) group). Other important risk factors include lymphovascular invasion, tumor differentiation, and the recently reported tumor budding. In this review, we provide a concise update on the histopathological features, ancillary studies, molecular signatures, and surveillance/management guidelines along the natural history from Barrett’s esophagus to early stage invasive adenocarcinoma for practicing pathologists.
Correction: Boschman, Robert, and Bill Bunn. 2018. Nuclear Avenue: “Cyclonic Development”, Abandonment, and Relations in Uranium City, Canada. Humanities 7: 5
Authors: Boschman Robert , Bunn Bill
Published: November 2018

The authors wish to make the following correction to the paper published in Humanities (Boschman and Bunn 2018). [...]
The Association between Migraine and Types of Sleep Disorder
Authors: Kim Seung , Han Kyu-Tae , Jang Suk-Yong , Yoo Ki-Bong , Kim Sun
Published: November 2018

Background: Migraines gradually increase year by year, as does its burden. Management and prevention are needed to reduce such burdens. Previous studies have suggested that daily health behaviors can cause migraines. Sleep is a substantial part of daily life, and in South Korea, the average sleep duration is shorter than in other countries. Thus, this study focused on the increase of both diseases, and analyzed sleep disorders as a risk factor for migraines. Methods: The data used in this study was that of the national health insurance service (NHIS) national sample cohort. We used a matched cohort study design that matched non-patients based on patients with sleep disorders, and included 133,262 patients during 2012–2015. We carried out a survival analysis using a Cox proportional hazard model with time-dependent covariates to identify the association between migraines and sleep disorders. Results: Approximately 11.72% of patients were diagnosed with migraines. Sleep disorders were positively correlated with the diagnosis of migraine (Hazard Ratio, 1.591; p < 0.0001). By the types of sleep disorder, patients who were diagnosed as having insomnia, rather than other types of sleep disorder, had the greatest associations with migraine. The associations were greater for males, people with lower income, the elderly population, and patients with mild comorbid conditions. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that migraine is associated with sleep disorders, especially insomnia. Based on these findings, healthcare professionals and policy makers have to reconsider the present level of insurance coverage for sleep medicine, recognize the risk of sleep-related diseases and educate patients about the need for appropriate care.
Lung Function of Children at Three Sites of Varying Ambient Air Pollution Levels in Uganda: A Cross Sectional Comparative Study
Authors: Kirenga Bruce J. , Nantanda Rebecca , De Jong Corina , Mugenyi Levicatus , Meng Qingyu , Aniku Gilbert , Williams Sian , Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa Hellen , Kamya Moses , Schwander Stephan , Van der Molen Thys , Mohsenin Vahid
Published: November 2018

Air pollution is a major cause of sub-optimal lung function and lung diseases in childhood and adulthood. In this study we compared the lung function (measured by spirometry) of 537 Ugandan children, mean age 11.1 years in sites with high (Kampala and Jinja) and low (Buwenge) ambient air pollution levels, based on the concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5). Factors associated with lung function were explored in a multiple linear regression model. PM2.5 level in Kampala, Jinja and Buwenge were 177.5 µg/m3, 96.3 µg/m3 and 31.4 µg/m3 respectively (p = 0.0000). Respectively mean forced vital capacity as % of predicted (FVC%), forced expiratory volume in one second as % of predicted (FEV1%) and forced expiratory flow 25–75% as % of predicted (FEF25–75%) of children in high ambient air pollution sites (Kampala and Jinja) vs. those in the low ambient air pollution site (Buwenge subcounty) were: FVC% (101.4%, vs. 104.0%, p = 0.043), FEV1% (93.9% vs. 98.0, p = 0.001) and FEF25–75% (87.8 vs. 94.0, p = 0.002). The proportions of children whose %predicted parameters were less than 80% predicted (abnormal) were higher among children living in high ambient air pollution than those living in lower low ambient air pollutions areas with the exception of FVC%; high vs. low: FEV1 < 80%, %predicted (12.0% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.021) and FEF25–75 < 80%, %predicted (37.7% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.052) Factors associated with lung function were (coefficient, p-value): FVC% urban residence (−3.87, p = 0.004), current cough (−2.65, p = 0.048), underweight (−6.62, p = 0.000), and overweight (11.15, p = 0.000); FEV1% underweight (−6.54, p = 0.000) and FEF25–75% urban residence (−8.67, p = 0.030) and exposure to biomass smoke (−7.48, p = 0.027). Children in study sites with high ambient air pollution had lower lung function than those in sites with low ambient air pollution. Urban residence, underweight, exposure to biomass smoke and cough were associated with lower lung function.
A Global Perspective for Sustainable Highway Tunnel Lighting Regulations: Greater Road Safety with a Lower Environmental Impact
Authors: Peña-García Antonio , Nguyen Thi Phuoc Lai
Published: November 2018

Tunnel lighting installations function 24 h a day, 365 days a year. These infrastructures have increased exponentially and now connect quite distant locations, even on different continents. This has led European administrations and international regulatory bodies to establish regulations for tunnel safety with the lowest environmental impact. However, until now, these regulations have almost exclusively focused on traffic safety, and relegated sustainability to the background. Even though they recognize the need to reduce energy consumption, they do not propose any tools for doing so. Given the impact of these installations and the lack of a specific regulatory framework, Asian countries will soon be forced either to update previous standards for tunnel lighting or elaborate new ones. A better understanding of the weaknesses of European regulations combined with a willingness to embrace innovation could position Asia as a world leader in the regulation of more sustainable road tunnels. The objective of this research was to improve the sustainability of tunnel lighting installations through new regulations or amendments to existing ones, without impairing the mental well-being of users, who could potentially be affected by energy-saving measures. Accordingly, this paper presents and analyzes a broad proposal for formulating tunnel lighting regulations. The originality of this proposal lies in the fact that it integrates road safety, lower environmental impact, and user well-being. Furthermore, it is expected to broaden the perspective of regulatory bodies and public administrations with regard to tunnel installations, which would ultimately enhance their sustainability.
Parenting Practices as Risk or Preventive Factors for Adolescent Involvement in Cyberbullying: Contribution of Children and Parent Gender
Authors: Gómez-Ortiz Olga , Romera Eva M. , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario , Del Rey Rosario
Published: November 2018

Literature points out the role of parenting on adolescent cyberbullying involvement. However, it is necessary to clarify how gender affects this relationship. The aim of this study has been to examine the relation between the adolescents’ perception about parenting practices, and their involvement in cyberbullying, bearing in mind both girls’ and boys’ gender and progenitors’ gender. The sample comprised 2060 Spanish secondary school students (47.9% girls; Mage = 14.34). Two-way ANOVA and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out. An effect of the interaction between sex and cyberbullying roles in maternal affection and communication, inductive discipline, and psychological control, as well as paternal promotion of autonomy and psychological control, was found. In general, it can be observed that the more negative results were found in cyber-aggressors, especially when this role is assumed by girls. The results of logistic regression analysis suggest that parenting practices explain better cyberbullying involvement in girls compared to boys, finding some important differences between both sexes regarding protective and risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of parenting practices to explain cyberbullying involvement, which supports the necessity of including family among the addresses of intervention programs.
Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Therapy Pools and Surrounding Surfaces
Authors: Koeck Daniela E. , Huber Stefanie , Hanifi Nadera , Köster Manfred , Schierling Martina B. , Höller Christiane
Published: November 2018

The number of patients colonized with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is increasing in health care facilities. Because transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is feared, there exist reports that the affected patients are frequently excluded from hydrotherapy, which is a non-invasive and beneficial treatment used for patients with different diseases. Data from the literature suggest that deficient water disinfection measures exist, which are not always sufficient to kill all released bacteria. If the pool water is not disinfected properly, it may also infect the bathers. Immunocompromised patients are particularly susceptible to be infected with (antibiotic-resistant) bacteria. In order to determine the distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the pool water treatment system and the pool environment and to estimate the associated transmission risk we analyzed samples from eleven health care facilities. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found in the water and surface samples collected. One hundred and two antibiotic-resistant isolates from water samples and 307 isolates from surrounding surfaces were obtained, respectively. The majority of the isolates belonged to non-fermenting Gram-negative rods, like Pseudomonas spp. Some isolates were resistant to a wide range of the tested antibiotics. The results indicate a relation between the number of isolates in water samples and the number of patients using the pools in combination with deficiencies in water treatment. In the pool environment the highest number of isolates was obtained from barefoot areas and floor cleaning equipment.
Psychological Mechanisms Linking County-Level Income Inequality to Happiness in China
Authors: Cai Jiaoli , Zhang Li , Zhao Yulin , Coyte Peter C.
Published: November 2018

Background In China, income levels and living standards have improved significantly, but many Chinese citizens still do not feel any happier. This phenomenon may be attributed to increased income inequality. Methods Using data from the 2013 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), we employed multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to investigate the impact of county-level income inequality on individual-level happiness in China and multilevel mediation analysis with structural equation modeling (MMSEM) to explore the mechanisms through which income inequality impacted happiness. Results A negative relationship between income inequality and happiness was found. The negative association between them was explained by two psychological mechanisms, i.e., fairness and trust. The findings explained a “Chinese puzzle,” i.e., why people do not feel happier despite improved income and living standards. Conclusions Our findings may provide a reference for policy makers to implement policies designed to improve individual happiness. What is important now is to reduce income inequality, and to potentially improve perceptions of fairness and trust in China.
Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vanaken Gert-Jan , Danckaerts Marina
Published: November 2018

In recent years, the interest in the relationship between exposure to green spaces and children’s and adolescents’ mental health has risen. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of observational studies assessing the association between empirical green space exposure with standardized outcome measures of mental health problems, mental well-being and developmental problems in children, adolescents and young adults. The PRISMA statement guidelines for reporting systematic reviews were followed. A PubMed and Scopus search resulted in the inclusion of 21 studies. The evidence consistently suggests a beneficial association between green space exposure and children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties, particularly with hyperactivity and inattention problems. Limited evidence suggests a beneficial association with mental well-being in children and depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults. These beneficial associations are resistant to adjustment for demographic and socio-economic confounders, which thus may represent independent links. Mediating factors and the variability of this association between different age groups are discussed. From a precautionary principle, evidence up to now demands the attention of policy makers, urban planners and mental healthcare workers in order to protect children’s and adolescents’ mental health in light of rapid global urbanization by providing sufficient exposure to green spaces.
Children’s Improvement of a Motor Response during Backward Falls through the Implementation of a Safe Fall Program
Authors: DelCastillo-Andrés Óscar , Toronjo-Hornillo Luis , Rodríguez-López Manuel , Castañeda-Vázquez Carolina , Campos-Mesa María del Carmen
Published: November 2018

The World Health Organization has warned that, in children, the second cause of death from unintentional injuries are falls. The objective of this study was to analyze the motor response of primary schoolchildren when a backwards fall occurs. These analyses occurred before and after interventions of the Safe Fall program, which aims to teach safe and protected ways of backward falling. A quasi-experimental research design was used, with a sample of 122 Spanish (Sevillian) schoolchildren in the 10–12 age bracket. The INFOSECA ad-hoc observation scale was used for data collection: this scale registers 5 essential physical reactions throughout the process of a safe and protected backwards fall. After that, a number of descriptive, correlational and contrast statistics were applied. The value used in the McNemar test to establish statistical significance was p < 0.05. Results showed that over 85% of students had developed the competence to correctly perform all five physical motions that allow for a safer backward fall. The teaching of safe and protected techniques for falling backwards in child population in Primary Education is possible through the implementation of the Safe Fall program in Physical Education classes, which can help making falls safer, diminishing the risk and severity of the injuries they cause.
Towards HD Maps from Aerial Imagery: Robust Lane Marking Segmentation Using Country-Scale Imagery
Authors: Fischer Peter , Azimi Seyed Majid , Roschlaub Robert , Krauß Thomas
Published: November 2018

The upraise of autonomous driving technologies asks for maps characterized bya broad range of features and quality parameters, in contrast to traditional navigation maps which in most cases are enriched graph-based models. This paper tackles several uncertainties within the domain of HD Maps. The authors give an overview about the current state in extracting road features from aerial imagery for creating HD maps, before shifting the focus of the paper towards remote sensing technology. Possible data sources and their relevant parameters are listed. A random forest classifier is used, showing how these data can deliver HD Maps on a country-scale, meeting specific quality parameters.
Identifying Urban Functional Zones Using Public Bicycle Rental Records and Point-of-Interest Data
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyi , Li Wenwen , Zhang Feng , Liu Renyi , Du Zhenhong
Published: November 2018

Human mobility data have become an essential means to study travel behavior and trip purpose to identify urban functional zones, which portray land use at a finer granularity and offer insights for problems such as business site selection, urban design, and planning. However, very few works have leveraged public bicycle-sharing data, which provides a useful feature in depicting people’s short-trip transportation within a city, in the studies of urban functions and structure. Because of its convenience, bicycle usage tends to be close to point-of-interest (POI) features, the combination of which will no doubt enhance the understanding of the trip purpose for characterizing different functional zones. In our study, we propose a data-driven approach that uses station-based public bicycle rental records together with POI data in Hangzhou, China to identify urban functional zones. Topic modelling, unsupervised clustering, and visual analytics are employed to delineate the function matrix, aggregate functional zones, and present mixed land uses. Our result shows that business areas, industrial areas, and residential areas can be well detected, which validates the effectiveness of data generated from this new transportation mode. The word cloud of function labels reveals the mixed land use of different types of urban functions and improves the understanding of city structures.
Combining the Stock Unearthing Method and Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry for a Gapless Estimation of Soil Mobilisation in Vineyards
Authors: Remke Alexander , Rodrigo-Comino Jesús , Gyasi-Agyei Yeboah , Cerdà Artemi , Ries Johannes B.
Published: November 2018

In vineyards, especially on steep slopes like the Ruwer-Mosel Valley, Germany, soil erosion is a well-known environmental problem. Unfortunately, some enterprises and farmers are not aware of how much soil is being lost and the long-term negative impacts of soil erosion. The non-invasive technique of the stock unearthing method (SUM) can be used for a quick assessment of soil erosion in vineyards. SUM uses the graft union as a reference elevation for soil surface changes since the time of plantation commencement, which is modelled with the help of a geographic information system. A shortcoming of SUM is that the areas between the pair-vine cross sections are not surveyed, hence it is not accurate enough to identify erosion hot-spots. A structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetric technique is adopted to complement SUM to fill this data gap. Combining SUM (only measuring the graft unions) and SfM techniques could lead to an improved, easy and low-cost method with a higher accuracy for estimation of soil erosion based on interpolation by projection, and contact and gapless measuring. Thus, the main aim of this paper was to map the current soil surface level and to improve the accuracy of estimation of long-term soil mobilisation rates in vineyards. To achieve this goal, the TEPHOS (TErrestrial PHOtogrammetric Scanner), a static five camera array, was developed on a 20 m2 plot located in a steeply sloping vineyard of the Ruwer-Mosel Valley, Trier, Germany. A total soil mobilisation of 0.52 m3 (9.14 Mg ha yr−1) with soil surface level differences in excess of 30 cm in the 40 years since plantation commencement were recorded. Further research is, however, needed to reduce the number of photos used for the point cloud without loss of accuracy. This method can be useful for the observation of the impacts of other factors in vineyards, such as tillage erosion, runoff pathway detection or the trampling effect on soil erosion in vineyards.
Small Noncoding Regulatory RNAs from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia Complex
Authors: Pita Tiago , Feliciano Joana R. , Leitão Jorge H.
Published: November 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most life-limiting autosomal recessive disorder in Caucasians. CF is characterized by abnormal viscous secretions that impair the function of several tissues, with chronic bacterial airway infections representing the major cause of early decease of these patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bacteria from the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are the leading pathogens of CF patients’ airways. A wide array of virulence factors is responsible for the success of infections caused by these bacteria, which have tightly regulated responses to the host environment. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are major regulatory molecules in these bacteria. Several approaches have been developed to study P. aeruginosa sRNAs, many of which were characterized as being involved in the virulence. On the other hand, the knowledge on Bcc sRNAs remains far behind. The purpose of this review is to update the knowledge on characterized sRNAs involved in P. aeruginosa virulence, as well as to compile data so far achieved on sRNAs from the Bcc and their possible roles on bacteria virulence.
Potential Biomarkers for Predicting Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Tanimura Kenji , Yamada Hideto
Published: November 2018

Early diagnosis and treatment of infants with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may improve neurological outcomes. For this reason, prenatal detection of newborns at high risk for congenital CMV infection is important. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for CMV DNA in the amniotic fluid is the gold standard for the diagnosis of intrauterine CMV infection; however, amniocentesis is an invasive procedure. Recently, we have found that the presence of CMV DNA in the maternal uterine cervical secretion is predictive of the occurrence of congenital CMV infection in CMV immunoglobulin M (IgM)-positive pregnant women. In contrast, we have suggested that maternal serological screening for primary CMV infection using CMV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), the IgG avidity index, or CMV-specific IgM overlooks a number of newborns with congenital CMV infection. We will review current knowledge of the potential biomarkers for predicting congenital CMV infection.
Expression, Localization, and Activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Human Placenta
Authors: Wakx Anaïs , Nedder Margaux , Tomkiewicz-Raulet Céline , Dalmasso Jessica , Chissey Audrey , Boland Sonja , Vibert Françoise , Degrelle Séverine A. , Fournier Thierry , Coumoul Xavier , Gil Sophie , Ferecatu Ioana
Published: November 2018

The human placenta is an organ between the blood of the mother and the fetus, which is essential for fetal development. It also plays a role as a selective barrier against environmental pollutants that may bypass epithelial barriers and reach the placenta, with implications for the outcome of pregnancy. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is one of the most important environmental-sensor transcription factors and mediates the metabolism of a wide variety of xenobiotics. Nevertheless, the identification of dietary and endogenous ligands of AhR suggest that it may also fulfil physiological functions with which pollutants may interfere. Placental AhR expression and activity is largely unknown. We established the cartography of AhR expression at transcript and protein levels, its cellular distribution, and its transcriptional activity toward the expression of its main target genes. We studied the profile of AhR expression and activity during different pregnancy periods, during trophoblasts differentiation in vitro, and in a trophoblast cell line. Using diverse methods, such as cell fractionation and immunofluorescence microscopy, we found a constitutive nuclear localization of AhR in every placental model, in the absence of any voluntarily-added exogenous activator. Our data suggest an intrinsic activation of AhR due to the presence of endogenous placental ligands.