bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconsidering Rag-i Bibi: Authority and audience in the Sasanian East
Authors: Levine Evan I. , Plekhov Daniel
Published: September 2019

The Sasanian rock-cut relief of Rag-i Bibi, located in northern Afghanistan, offers a unique opportunity to reconsider issues of audience, memory, and power in rupestral art. Found over 1,000 kilometers east of the nearest attested Sasanian rupestral relief, Rag-i Bibi is geographically and iconographically distinct, displaying elements of local subject matter, artistic style, and political symbolism. Through comparison to reliefs in the Sasanian west and local artistic traditions, the stylistics and location of Rag-i Bibi are mobilized to offer a perspective that characterizes this relief as the product of Sasanian Persia and the local artistic traditions of Bactria, actively designed to appeal to a diverse audience. This perspective builds upon previous readings of Rag-i Bibi as a conventional marker of political power, arguing instead for its role as mediating between local, regional, and international audiences.
Design of a Reduced SpaceFibre Interface: An Enabling Technology for Low-Cost Spacecraft High-Speed Data-Handling
Authors: Dinelli Gianmarco , Nannipieri Pietro , Davalle Daniele , Fanucci Luca
Published: September 2019

SpaceFibre is an upcoming on-board high-speed communication protocol for space applications. It has been developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency to answer the growing data-rate requirement of satellite payloads such as Synthetic Aperture Radars or hyper-spectral imagers. SpaceFibre offers a complete set of features (i.e., Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery, and Quality of Service) that guarantees robust communication at the price of higher complexity. This article proposes an innovative modified implementation of the SpaceFibre standard: R-SpaceFibre. It has been designed to reduce hardware resources while keeping high data-rate capability and flow control. Attention is given to the trade-off between Data link layer complexity reduction and protocol features. The proposed protocol is particularly suitable in scenarios where very low bit error rate is foreseen and data integrity is not critical, for example in imaging instruments. The main advantage is a reduction of more than 40% of logical resources required per single interface. R-SpaceFibre may be a suitable solution for several applications, such as low earth orbit CubeSats, which have strict requirements in terms of available logic resources, mass, volume and cost, and more relaxed constraints in terms of upset immunity.
Impact of Biochar on Physicochemical Properties of Haplic Luvisol Soil under Different Land Use: A Plot Experiment
Authors: Cybulak Marta , Sokołowska Zofia , Boguta Patrycja
Published: September 2019

There is limited information regarding the effect of biochar (BioC) on improving the fertility of degraded soils (fallow and grassland), particularly with respect to changes with time. The objective of the study was to evaluate, in a three-year field experiment, the influence of BioC on the physicochemical properties of Haplic Luvisol. BioC, obtained via wood waste pyrolysis at 650 °C, was applied to the soil of subplots under fallow and grassland at rates of 0, 1, 2, and 3 kg·m−2. Soil samples were collected eight times, from 2013 to 2015. Physicochemical characterization was performed for soil and BioC by analyzing density, pH, surface charge, as well as ash and organic carbon content. BioC’s influence on the physicochemical properties of degraded soils was determined by analyzing the changes in pH, specific surface area, radius, and volume of the micropore. The addition of BioC affected analyzed soils to varying degrees. In the case of the fallow, a positive effect on changes in these parameters was observed, particularly at the highest biochar dose and for the last year of the experiment. However, for the grassland, in most cases we observed the opposite trend—for example, pH and specific surface area values decreased with increasing biochar dose. We believe that it is necessary to examine how BioC affects sorption properties of organic matter of fallow and grassland soils, as well as the BioC’s influence on humic acids of these soils as a function on BioC dose and function of time.
Does Harvesting Affect the Spatio-Temporal Signature of Pests and Natural Enemies in Alfalfa Fields?
Authors: Ghahramani Mahsa , Karimzadeh Roghaiyeh , Iranipour Shahzad , Sciarretta Andrea
Published: September 2019

Determining the spatio-temporal distribution and association of pests and natural enemies would be useful for implementing biological control of pests and could also be used in site-specific pest management. In this study, the spatio-temporal distribution and association of aphids, plant bugs, and natural enemies were assessed in alfalfa fields using geo-statistics and spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE). Additionally, the effect of alfalfa hay-harvesting on the spatial and temporal distribution of these insects was investigated for the first time. Geostatistical analysis indicated that the degree of dependence (DD) was ≥75% for 11 out of 39, 9 out of 35, 3 out of 12, 10 out of 29, and 2 out of 20 datasets for pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis maculata, cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora, alfalfa plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus, and tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis, respectively. The results also indicated that DD was ≥75% in 7 out of 45, 18 out of 45, and 3 out of 20 datasets for Coccinella septempunctata, Hippodamia variegata, and Pterostichus melanarius, respectively. Harvesting decreased the aggregation of the ladybirds, which resulted in a decrease in the index of aggregation. The geo-statistics results were confirmed by SADIE in 75% of datasets. These results can be used in biological control and site-specific management of aphids and plant bugs in alfalfa fields.
Effects of Light, Temperature, and Soil Depth on the Germination and Emergence of Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.
Authors: Ottavini Daniele , Pannacci Euro , Onofri Andrea , Tei Francesco , Kryger Jensen Peter
Published: September 2019

Understanding the dynamics of invasive species under global climate change requires knowledge about the effects of environmental factors on germination and emergence. We considered Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., an invasive species that is quickly invading Southern European agricultural systems, and performed germination assays in growth chambers at eight constant temperatures with alternating light (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 °C, with 12 h/12 h—light/dark), three alternating temperatures in alternating light (12/18, 17/23, and 22/28 °C, with 12 h/12 h—light/dark) and three fixed temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) in complete darkness. Furthermore, emergence assays were performed in pots considering four depths (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mm), three temperatures with alternating light (15, 20, and 25 °C) and un-treated or pre-treated seeds (water imbibition and light for two days). C. canadensis was able to germinate in a wide range of temperatures (from 5–10 °C to 30 °C). The highest germination capacity was observed at 15 °C (light/dark); no differences were observed at 17/23 and 22/28 °C with respect to 20 and 25 °C (light/dark), while germinations were significantly reduced at 12/18 °C. The lowest germination time was observed at 25 °C (light/dark) and it was significantly increased at 12/18 °C and in darkness. The highest emergence was from 0 mm depth; pre-treatment significantly increased the emergence from 2.5 mm and 5 mm depth, but not from 10 mm depth. Modeling germination rates as a function of temperature allowed us to determine Tb = 6.8 °C (base temperature) and Tc = 35.8 °C (ceiling temperature). In light of these results, the potential for C. canadensis to spread into new environments and possible new management methods are discussed.
Relationships between Rootstock-Scion Combinations and Growing Regions on Watermelon Fruit Quality
Authors: Fallik Elazar , Alkalai-Tuvia Sharon , Chalupowicz Daniel , Popovsky-Sarid Sigal , Zaaroor-Presman Merav
Published: September 2019

Grafting of vegetable plants is done primarily to reduce the potential for damage caused by soil-borne diseases. Most of the watermelons (Citrullus) grown in the Mediterranean Basin, including in Israel, are grafted, mainly on interspecific hybrid pumpkin (Cucurbita) rootstocks. Biblical law (Leviticus 19:19) does not allow intergeneric grafting, so in recent years, great efforts have been made in Israel to find or breed watermelon rootstocks. Both interspecific and intergeneric grafting can have negative or positive effects on fruit yield and quality after harvest. The inconsistencies in fruit quality and shelf-life parameters can be attributed to differences in production environments. However, many farmers are grafting and planting the same rootstock-scion combination all over the country, regardless of local soil, water, and climactic conditions. We studied the effect of similar rootstock-scion combinations on watermelon yield and fruit quality in three regions of Israel differing in soil type and altitude. Fruit-quality parameters were evaluated after 4 days at 21 °C (local marketing simulation). Fruit quality was significantly affected, mainly by the growing region, based on factorial analysis, but also by rootstock-scion combination, regardless of rootstock vigor. Therefore, the best rootstock-scion combination needs to be found and adopted for each growing region. Grafting was essential for watermelon crop survival in contaminated soils and improved both plant performance and postharvest fruit quality, but was not a factor in non-contaminated soils.
The Therapeutic Effect of Curcumin in Quinolinic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats is Associated with BDNF, ERK1/2, Nrf2, and Antioxidant Enzymes
Authors: Santana-Martínez Ricardo A. , Silva-Islas Carlos A. , Fernández-Orihuela Yessica Y. , Barrera-Oviedo Diana , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , Maldonado Perla D.
Published: September 2019

In the present study we investigated the participation of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) on the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) as a mechanism of curcumin (CUR) to provide an antioxidant defense system mediated by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the neurotoxic model induced by quinolinic acid (QUIN). Wistar rats received CUR (400 mg/kg, intragastrically) for 6 days after intrastriatal injection with QUIN (240 nmol). CUR improved the motor deficit and morphological alterations induced by QUIN and restored BDNF, ERK1/2, and Nrf2 levels. CUR treatment avoided the decrease in the protein levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), γ-glutamylcysteine ligase (γ-GCL), and glutathione (GSH) levels. Only, the QUIN-induced decrease in the GR activity was prevented by CUR treatment. Finally, QUIN increased superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) levels, and the γGCL and CAT activities; however, this increase was major in the QUIN+CUR group for γ-GCL, CAT, and SOD activities. These data suggest that the therapeutic effect of CUR could involve BDNF action on the activation of ERK1/2 to induce increased levels of protein and enzyme activity of antioxidant proteins regulated by Nrf2 and GSH levels.
Influence of Sampling Conditions, Salivary Flow, and Total Protein Content in Uric Acid Measurements in Saliva
Authors: González-Hernández Jorge M. , Franco Lorena , Colomer-Poveda David , Martinez-Subiela Silvia , Cugat Ramón , Cerón José J. , Márquez Gonzalo , Martínez-Aranda Luis M. , Jimenez-Reyes Pedro , Tvarijonaviciute Asta
Published: September 2019

Uric acid (UA) is the most abundant antioxidant compound in saliva and one of the most sensitive biomarkers for detecting changes in the oxidative status of the organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of: (i) different methods of saliva sampling and (ii) the correction by salivary flow or total protein on UA concentrations in saliva. Paired saliva (collected by two different methods, passive drooling and using Salivette cotton rolls) and serum samples were obtained from 12 healthy men after the performance of two resistance training exercises of different level of effort that can produce different concentrations in UA in saliva. There were no significant differences between values of uric acid in saliva using Salivette and passive drool. Correlations between UA in serum and saliva and increases in UA in saliva after exercise were detected when saliva samples were obtained by passive drool and Salivette and were not corrected by salivary flow or total protein concentration. Therefore for UA measurements in saliva it would not be recommended to normalize the results by salivary flow or protein concentration. This study highlights the importance of choosing an adequate sampling method selection as well as the expression of results when analytes are measured in saliva.
Zeaxanthin: Metabolism, Properties, and Antioxidant Protection of Eyes, Heart, Liver, and Skin
Authors: Murillo Ana , Hu Siqi , Fernandez Maria
Published: September 2019

Zeaxanthin, a non-provitamin A carotenoid that belongs to the xanthophyll family, has been less studied than its isomer lutein. However, zeaxanthin has also been shown to have a number of beneficial effects for human health due to its ability to quench free radicals, exert antioxidant effects, as well as decrease inflammation. It is the purpose of this review to discuss the metabolism of zeaxanthin, including digestion, absorption, transport, and uptake by tissues, as well as the dietary or other factors which affect zeaxanthin bioavailability. In addition, this review also focuses on specific effects of this carotenoid on eye, skin, liver, and cardiovascular health. Data derived from human interventions, animal models of research, and in vitro and cell studies are discussed in this review.
Carbone Monoxide (CO) Detection Device Based on the Nickel Antimonate Oxide and a DC Electronic Circuit
Authors: Guillen Bonilla José Trinidad , Guillén Bonilla Héctor , Rodríguez Betancourtt Verónica María , Casillas Zamora Antonio , Ramírez Ortega Jorge Alberto , Gildo Ortiz Lorenzo , Sánchez Morales María Eugenia , Blanco Alonso Oscar , Guillén Bonilla Alex
Published: September 2019

Carbon monoxide (CO) is very toxic to health. CO gas can cause intoxication and even death when the concentration is high or there are long exposure times. To detect atmospheres with CO gas concentration detectors are placed. In this work, a novel CO detection device was proposed and applied for CO detection. For its implementation, four stages were developed: Synthesis of nickel antimonite (NiSb2O6) oxide powders, physical characterization of NiSb2O6 powders, Pellet fabrication and sensitivity test in CO atmospheres and electronic circuit implementation where signal adaptation and signal amplification were considered. Experimentally, a chemical sensor was built and characterized, its signal adaptation circuit was implemented and also it was proved using CO concentrations from 1 to 300 ppm with the operating temperatures of 100, 200, and 300 °C. Its optimal operation was at 300 °C. From the experimental results, the CO detection device had excellent functionality because the chemical sensor based on the nickel antimonite oxide had high sensitivity and good electrical response, whereas the DC electronic circuit had good performance.
Mitigation of Nonlinear Impairments by Using Support Vector Machine and Nonlinear Volterra Equalizer
Authors: Weixer Rebekka , Koch Jonas , Plany Patrick , Ohlendorf Simon , Pachnicke Stephan
Published: September 2019

A support vector machine (SVM) based detection is applied to different equalization schemes for a data center interconnect link using coherent 64 GBd 64-QAM over 100 km standard single mode fiber (SSMF). Without any prior knowledge or heuristic assumptions, the SVM is able to learn and capture the transmission characteristics from only a short training data set. We show that, with the use of suitable kernel functions, the SVM can create nonlinear decision thresholds and reduce the errors caused by nonlinear phase noise (NLPN), laser phase noise, I/Q imbalances and so forth. In order to apply the SVM to 64-QAM we introduce a binary coding SVM, which provides a binary multiclass classification with reduced complexity. We investigate the performance of this SVM and show how it can improve the bit-error rate (BER) of the entire system. After 100 km the fiber-induced nonlinear penalty is reduced by 2 dB at a BER of 3.7 × 10 − 3 . Furthermore, we apply a nonlinear Volterra equalizer (NLVE), which is based on the nonlinear Volterra theory, as another method for mitigating nonlinear effects. The combination of SVM and NLVE reduces the large computational complexity of the NLVE and allows more accurate compensation of nonlinear transmission impairments.
Constructing a Lightweight Key-Value Store Based on the Windows Native Features
Authors: Kwon Hyuk-Yoon
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we propose a method to construct a lightweight key-value store based on the Windows native features. The main idea is providing a thin wrapper for the key-value store on top of a built-in storage in Windows, called Windows registry. First, we define a mapping of the components in the key-value store onto the components in the Windows registry. Then, we present a hash-based multi-level registry index so as to distribute the key-value data balanced and to efficiently access them. Third, we implement basic operations of the key-value store (i.e., Get, Put, and Delete) by manipulating the Windows registry using the Windows native APIs. We call the proposed key-value store WR-Store. Finally, we propose an efficient ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) method to migrate data stored in WR-Store into any other environments that support existing key-value stores. Because the performance of the Windows registry has not been studied much, we perform the empirical study to understand the characteristics of WR-Store, and then, tune the performance of WR-Store to find the best parameter setting. Through extensive experiments using synthetic and real data sets, we show that the performance of WR-Store is comparable to or even better than the state-of-the-art systems (i.e., RocksDB, BerkeleyDB, and LevelDB). Especially, we show the scalability of WR-Store. That is, WR-Store becomes much more efficient than the other key-value stores as the size of data set increases. In addition, we show that the performance of WR-Store is maintained even in the case of intensive registry workloads where 1000 processes accessing to the registry actively are concurrently running.
A Novel Genetic Algorithm for the Synthetical Sensor-Weapon-Target Assignment Problem
Authors: Li Xiaoyang , Zhou Deyun , Yang Zhen , Pan Qian , Huang Jichuan
Published: September 2019

The sensor-weapon–target assignment (S-WTA) problem is a crucial decision issue in C4ISR. The cooperative engagement capability (CEC) of sensors and weapons depends on the S-WTA schemes, which can greatly affect the operational effectiveness. In this paper, a mathematical model based on the synthetical framework of the S-WTA problem is established, combining the dependent and independent cooperative engagement modes of sensors and weapons. As this problem is a complex combinatorial optimization problem, a novel genetic algorithm is proposed to improve the solution of this formulated S-WTA model. Based on the prior knowledge of this problem, a problem-specific population initialization method and two novel repair operators are introduced. The performances of the proposed algorithm have been validated on the known benchmarks. Extensive experimental studies compared with three state-of-the-art approaches demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can generate better assignment schemes for the most of the benchmarks.
Experimental and CFD Simulation Studies on Bell-Type Air Nozzles of CFB Boilers
Authors: Huang Zhong , Deng Lei , Che Defu
Published: September 2019

In this paper, a new bell-type air nozzle, which overcomes the structural defects of traditional bell-type air nozzles, is proposed and validated by cold test and numerical simulation. The pressure drop characteristic of the new bell-type air nozzle is measured. Furthermore, the causes of cover outlet abrasion and blockage, inner tube fracture, and irregular resistance change in traditional bell-type air nozzles applied in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers are analyzed. Then, the performance of the new bell-type air nozzle is evaluated in a real CFB boiler, which is operated under regular working conditions. The results show that the new bell-type air nozzle has stronger anti-wear ability, excellent resistance characteristics, longer service life, and easier maintenance.
Unidirectional Invisibility Induced by Complex Anti-Parity–Time Symmetric Periodic Lattices
Authors: Cao Hui , Zhao Dong , Fang Ming , Guo Huang , Hu Yonghong , Liu Fangmei , Zhong Dong , Xiong Houhua
Published: September 2019

Complex anti-parity-time symmetric periodic lattices, in a wide frequency band, can act as unidirectional invisible media. The reflection from one end is suppressed while it is enhanced from the other. Furthermore, unidirectional laser points (ULPs) which correspond to the poles of reflection from one end, arise in the parameter space composed of the permittivity and angular frequency. The phase of the reflection coefficient changes sharply near the ULPs. Subsequently, large lateral shift which is proportional to the slope of phase could be induced for the reflected beam. The study may find great applications in unidirectional invisibility, unidirectional lasers and highly sensitive sensors.
Reliable Design for a Network of Networks with Inspiration from Brain Functional Networks
Authors: Murakami Masaya , Kominami Daichi , Leibnitz Kenji , Murata Masayuki
Published: September 2019

In realizing the network environment assumed by the Internet-of-Things, network slicing has drawn considerable attention as a way to enhance the utilization of physical networks (PNs). Meanwhile, slicing has been shown to cause interdependence among sliced virtual networks (VNs) by propagating traffic fluctuations from one network to others. However, for interconnected networks with mutual dependencies, known as a network of networks (NoN), finding a reliable design method that can cope with environmental changes is an important issue that is yet to be addressed. Some NoN models exist that describe the behavior of interdependent networks in complex systems, and previous studies have shown that an NoN model based on the functional networks of the brain can achieve high robustness, but its application to dynamic and practical systems is yet to be considered. Consequently, this paper proposes the Physical–Virtual NoN (PV-NoN) model assuming a network-slicing environment. This model defines an NoN availability state to deal with traffic fluctuations and interdependence among a PN and VNs. Further, we assume three basic types of interdependence among VNs for this model. Simulation experiments confirm that the one applying complementary interdependence inspired by brain functional networks achieves high availability and communication performance while preventing interference among the VNs. Also investigated is a method for designing a reliable network structure for the PV-NoN model. To this end, the deployment of network influencers (i.e., the most influential elements over the entire network) is configured from the perspective of intra/internetwork assortativity. Simulation experiments confirm that availability or communication performance is improved when each VN is formed assortatively or disassortatively, respectively. Regarding internetwork assortativity, both the availability and communication performance are improved when the influencers are deployed disassortatively among the VNs.
A New Mobility Model for Multi-UAVs Reconnaissance Based on Partitioned Zone
Authors: Jo Yong-Il , Fathoni Muhammad Faris , Kim KyongHoon
Published: September 2019

Activities on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) have increased over the last years and there are many fields in which UAVs can be used. One of the basic applications is reconnaissance of a given area using multiple UAVs. To perform reconnaissance mission, there are two methods: (i) path planning to navigate the pre-determined route; and (ii) random mobility method to explore without prior knowledge. In this paper, we indicate the imbalance problem of existing random mobility models for reconnaissance and propose a new model considering reconnaissance balance based on the number of visits. We divide the scanning area into N zones and then select a zone stochastically in which the search is insufficient. We evaluated the performance of the model by focusing on the coverage rate and average inter-visiting time. The proposed model shows that the 90%-coverage reaching time is improved by about 25% and the average inter-visiting time is improved by up to 15% compared to the previous approach.
A Novel Fabrication Method for Compliant Silicone Phantoms of Arterial Geometry for Use in Particle Image Velocimetry of Haemodynamics
Authors: Yazdi Sina G. , Huetter Larissa , Docherty Paul D. , Williamson Petra N. , Clucas Don , Jermy Mark , Geoghegan Patrick H.
Published: September 2019

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death globally. In-vitro measurement of blood flow in compliant arterial phantoms can provide better insight into haemodynamic states and therapeutic procedures. However, current fabrication techniques are not capable of producing thin-walled compliant phantoms of complex shapes. This study presents a new approach for the fabrication of compliant phantoms suitable for optical measurement. Two 1.5× scaled models of the ascending aorta, including the brachiocephalic artery (BCA), were fabricated from silicone elastomer Sylgard-184. The initial phantom used the existing state of the art lost core manufacturing technique with simple end supports, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) additive manufactured male mould and Ebalta-milled female mould. The second phantom was produced with the same method but used more rigid end supports and ABS male and female moulds. The wall thickness consistency and quality of resulting stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) were used to verify the fidelity of the phantom for optical measurement and investigation of physiological flow fields. However, the initial phantom had a rough surface that obscured SPIV analysis and had a variable wall thickness (range = 0.815 mm). The second phantom provided clear particle images and had a less variable wall thickness (range = 0.317 mm). The manufacturing method developed is suitable for fast and cost-effective fabrication of different compliant arterial phantom geometries.
2D Dielectric Nanoimprinted PMMA Pillars on Metallo-Dielectric Films
Authors: Stomeo Tiziana , Casolino Armando , Guido Francesco , Qualtieri Antonio , Scalora Michael , D’Orazio Antonella , Vittorio Massimo De , Grande Marco
Published: September 2019

In this work, we propose an optimized nanoimprint protocol for the fabrication of a two-dimensional (2D) array of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) nano-pillars deposited on different sputtered configurations (bilayer and multi-layer) of copper (Cu) and aluminum nitride (AlN) slabs supported by a silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrate. Both the Cu/AlN bilayer and multilayer thin films were deposited by a sputtering technique. The sub-micron PMMA pillars were realized by using nanoimprint lithography (NIL). In order to optimize the NIL process, several tests were performed by varying temperature and pressure, allowing us to achieve uniform and high-resolution pillars. The fabricated periodic array enabled the phase-matching of the incident plane wave exciting optical resonances. All the fabricated devices were then optically characterized by means of an ad hoc setup, where the reflected light from the sample was analyzed. The fabricated nano-pillars are mechanically stable, and they could be fully exploited for the realization of novel metallo-dielectric core/shell structures for sensing, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and light–matter interactions.
An Identity Model for Providing Inclusive Services and Applications
Authors: Marco Lourdes , Alonso Álvaro , Quemada Juan
Published: September 2019

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) need to be accessible for every single person in the globe. Governments and companies are starting to regulate products and services to ensure digital accessibility as a mandatory requirement. A recent example is the European standard EN 301 549, where the functional accessibility requirements for ICT products and services are defined. Especially on the Web, these standards must be integrated throughout the development processes, where the selected architecture models play an essential role. Starting from a model that is based on the OAuth 2.0 protocol, and that allows the complete delegation of authorization (so that an as a service access control mechanism is provided), this paper propose an identity model for providing inclusive services and applications. The model takes advantage of the users’ profiles and their functional attributes to determine how to serve web interfaces to them in a specific service. Those attributes are entirely flexible, and can be defined linked to users’ functional capabilities, or even a particular skill. We have implemented the proposed model as an extension of an existing open source Identity Manager and tested it with a real use case deployment. We conclude that the proposed solution enables a new identity paradigm that allows service providers to design their interfaces satisfying the diversity requirements in terms of design and development.
Method for Mid-Long-Term Prediction of Landslides Movements Based on Optimized Apriori Algorithm
Authors: Guo Wenhao , Zuo Xiaoqing , Yu Jianwei , Zhou Baoding
Published: September 2019

In the study of the mid-long-term early warning of landslide, the computational efficiency of the prediction model is critical to the timeliness of landslide prevention and control. Accordingly, enhancing the computational efficiency of the prediction model is of practical implication to the mid-long-term prevention and control of landslides. When the Apriori algorithm is adopted to analyze landslide data based on the MapReduce framework, numerous frequent item-sets will be generated, adversely affecting the computational efficiency. To enhance the computational efficiency of the prediction model, the IAprioriMR algorithm is proposed in this paper to enhance the efficiency of the Apriori algorithm based on the MapReduce framework by simplifying operations of the frequent item-sets. The computational efficiencies of the IAprioriMR algorithm and the original AprioriMR algorithm were compared and analyzed in the case of different data quantities and nodes, and then the efficiency of IAprioriMR algorithm was verified to be enhanced to some extent in processing large-scale data. To verify the feasibility of the proposed algorithm, the algorithm was employed in the mid-long-term early warning study of landslides in the Three Parallel Rivers. Under the same conditions, IAprioriMR algorithm of the same rule exhibited higher confidence than FP-Growth algorithm, which implied that IAprioriMR can achieve more accurate landslide prediction. This method is capable of technically supporting the prevention and control of landslides.
Experimental Study on the Efficacy of Water Infusion for Underground Mining of a Coal Seam
Authors: Nguyen Dung Van , Nguyen Hung Phi , Do Tan Manh
Published: September 2019

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the water infusion method for various coalfaces of a coal seam by an experimental study. First, laboratory tests were performed on several coal samples taken from actual coalfaces to determine the general characteristics, especially the strength properties, with respect to the moisture content and time. The results obtained from the laboratory were employed to evaluate the appropriate parameters (e.g., water injection time and the optimum moisture content) for water infusion works in the field. A field test was then performed in order to assess the efficacy of water infusion for underground mining. The spalling depth (i.e., longwall face failure of coal wall, involving the stability of underground mining coalfaces) and mining velocity (i.e., involving the cost-effectiveness of mining constructions) were monitored at various coalfaces for both case studies (i.e., with and without water infusion). Expectedly, the field test results revealed that the spalling depth decreased significantly, whereas the mining velocity sped up considerably, at coalfaces using water infusion compared to at those without using the water infusion method. In conclusion, the promising findings obtained from the field test reinforced the efficacy of water infusion for underground mining coalfaces.
Carbonaceous Particulate Matter Emitted from a Pellet-Fired Biomass Boiler
Authors: Hays Michael , Kinsey John , George Ingrid , Preston William , Singer Carl , Patel Bakul
Published: September 2019

Biomass pellets are a source of renewable energy; although, the air pollution and exposure risks posed by the emissions from burning pellets in biomass boilers (BBs) are uncertain. The present study examines the organic species in fine particle matter (PM) emissions from an BB firing switchgrass (SwG) and hardwood (HW) biomass pellets using different test cycles. The organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) content and select semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in filter-collected PM were identified and quantified using thermal-optical analysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), respectively. Fine PM emissions from the BB ranged from 0.4 g/kg to 2.91 g/kg of pellets burned of which 40% ± 17% w/w was carbon. The sum of GC–MS quantified SVOCs in the PM emissions varied from 0.13 to 0.41 g/g OC. Relatively high levels of oxygenated compounds were observed in the PM emissions, and the most predominant individual SVOC constituent was levoglucosan (12.5–320 mg/g OC). The effect of boiler test cycle on emissions was generally greater than the effect due to pellet fuel type. Organic matter emissions increased at lower loads, owing to less than optimal combustion performance. Compared with other types of residential wood combustion studies, pellet burning in the current BB lowered PM emissions by nearly an order of magnitude. PM emitted from burning pellets in boilers tested across multiple studies also contains comparatively less carbon; however, the toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the PM tested across these pellet-burning studies varied substantially, and produced 2–10 times more benzo[k]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene on average. These results suggest that further toxicological evaluation of biomass pellet burning emissions is required to properly understand the risks posed.
Air/Surface Exchange of Gaseous Elemental Mercury at Different Landscapes in Mississippi, USA
Authors: Cizdziel James , Jiang Yi , Nallamothu Divya , Brewer J. , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: September 2019

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with human health and ecological impacts. Gas exchange between terrestrial surfaces and the atmosphere is an important route for Hg to enter and exit ecosystems. Here, we used a dynamic flux chamber to measure gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) exchange over different landscapes in Mississippi, including in situ measurements for a wetland (soil and water), forest floor, pond, mowed field and grass-covered lawn, as well as mesocosm experiments for three different agricultural soils. Fluxes were measured during both the summer and winter. Mean ambient levels of GEM ranged between 0.93–1.57 ng m−3. GEM emission fluxes varied diurnally with higher daytime fluxes, driven primarily by solar radiation, and lower and more stable nighttime fluxes, dependent mostly on temperature. GEM fluxes (ng m−2 h−1) were seasonally dependent with net emission during the summer (mean 2.15, range 0.32 to 4.92) and net deposition during the winter (−0.12, range −0.32 to 0.12). Total Hg concentrations in the soil ranged from 17.1 ng g−1 to 127 ng g−1 but were not a good predictor of GEM emissions. GEM flux and soil temperature were correlated over the forest floor, and the corresponding activation energy for Hg emission was ~31 kcal mol−1 using the Arrhenius equation. There were significant differences in GEM fluxes between the habitats with emissions for grass > wetland soil > mowed field > pond > wetland water ≈ forest ≈ agriculture soils. Overall, we demonstrate that these diverse landscapes serve as both sources and sinks for airborne Hg depending on the season and meteorological factors.
Use of Low-Cost Ambient Particulate Sensors in Nablus, Palestine with Application to the Assessment of Regional Dust Storms
Authors: Khader Abdelhaleem , Martin Randal S.
Published: September 2019

Few air pollutant studies within the Palestinian territories have been reported in the literature. In March–April and May–June of 2018, three low-cost, locally calibrated particulate monitors (AirU’s) were deployed at different elevations and source areas throughout the city of Nablus in Northern West Bank, Palestine. During each of the three-week periods, high but site-to-site similar particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and less than 10 µm (PM10) concentrations were observed. The PM2.5 concentrations at the three sampling locations and during both sampling periods averaged 38.2 ± 3.6 µg/m3, well above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 24 h guidelines. Likewise, the PM10 concentrations exceeded or were just below the WHO’s 24 h guidelines, averaging 48.5 ± 4.3 µg/m3. During both periods, short episodes were identified in which the particulate levels at all three sites increased substantially (≈2×) above the regional baseline. Air mass back trajectory analyses using U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model suggested that, during these peak episodes, the arriving air masses spent recent days over desert areas (e.g., the Saharan Desert in North Africa). On days with regionally low PM2.5 concentrations (≈20 µg/m3), back trajectory analysis showed that air masses were directed in from the Mediterranean Sea area. Further, the lower elevation (downtown) site often recorded markedly higher particulate levels than the valley wall sites. This would suggest locally derived particulate sources are significant and may be beneficial in the identification of potential remediation options.
Optical Energy Variability Induced by Speckle: The Cases of MERLIN and CHARM-F IPDA Lidar
Authors: Cassé Vincent , Gibert Fabien , Edouart Dimitri , Chomette Olivier , Crevoisier Cyril
Published: September 2019

In the context of the FrenchGerman space lidar mission MERLIN (MEthane Remote LIdar missioN) dedicated to the determination of the atmospheric methane content, an end-to-end mission simulator is being developed. In order to check whether the instrument design meets the performance requirements, simulations have to count all the sources of noise on the measurements like the optical energy variability induced by speckle. Speckle is due to interference as the lidar beam is quasi monochromatic. Speckle contribution to the error budget has to be estimated but also simulated. In this paper, the speckle theory is revisited and applied to MERLIN lidar and also to the DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt) demonstrator lidar CHARM-F. Results show: on the signal path, speckle noise depends mainly on the size of the illuminated area on ground; on the solar flux, speckle is fully negligible both because of the pixel size and the optical filter spectral width; on the energy monitoring path a decorrelation mechanism is needed to reduce speckle noise on averaged data. Speckle noises for MERLIN and CHARM-F can be simulated by Gaussian noises with only one random draw by shot separately for energy monitoring and signal paths.
Improvement of the NIFS Atom and Molecular Database
Authors: Emoto Masahiko , Murakami Izumi , Kato Daiji , Yoshida Masanobu , Kato Masatoshi , Imazu Setsuo
Published: September 2019

The NIFS (National Institute for Fusion Science) Atom and Molecular Database, which has been available online since 1997, is a numerical atomic and molecular database of collision processes that is important for fusion research. This database provides the following: (1) the cross-sections and rate coefficients for ionization, excitation, and recombination caused by electron impact; (2) the charge transfer caused by heavy particle collision and collision processes of molecules; and (3) the sputtering yields of solids and backscattering coefficients from solids. It also offers a bibliographic database. We recently reconstructed the database system. The main purpose of the reconstruction was to migrate the database into an open-source architecture to make the system more flexible and extensible. The previous system used proprietary software and was difficult to customize. The new system consists of open-source software, including PostgreSQL database and Ruby on Rails. New features were also added to the system. The most important improvement is the interface with the Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Center (VAMDC) portal. Using this interface, researchers can search for data in the NIFS database as well as in various other online databases simultaneously.
The Molecular Mechanism of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition for Breast Carcinogenesis
Authors: Li Chia-Jung , Chu Pei-Yi , Yiang Giou-Teng , Wu Meng-Yu
Published: September 2019

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays multiple regulatory roles in the tumorigenesis and development of cancer. TGF-β can inhibit the growth and proliferation of epithelial cells and induce apoptosis, thereby playing a role in inhibiting breast cancer. Therefore, the loss of response in epithelial cells that leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation due to TGF-β is a landmark event in tumorigenesis. As tumors progress, TGF-β can promote tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. At present, the above-mentioned role of TGF-β is related to the interaction of multiple signaling pathways in the cell, which can attenuate or abolish the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis-promoting effects of TGF-β and enhance its promotion of tumor progression. This article focuses on the molecular mechanisms through which TGF-β interacts with multiple intracellular signaling pathways in tumor progression and the effects of these interactions on tumorigenesis.
Effects of High Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HF-rTMS) on Delay Discounting in Major Depressive Disorder: An Open-Label Uncontrolled Pilot Study
Authors: Teti Mayer Juliana , Nicolier Magali , Tio Grégory , Mouchabac Stephane , Haffen Emmanuel , Bennabi Djamila
Published: September 2019

Background: Delay discounting (DD) refers to the decrease of a present subjective value of a future reward as the delay of its delivery increases. Major depressive disorder (MDD), besides core emotional and physical symptoms, involves difficulties in reward processing. Depressed patients often display greater temporal discounting rates than healthy subjects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique applied in several countries to adult patients with treatment resistant depression. Studies suggest that this technique can be used to modulate DD, but no trial has assessed its effects on depressed patients. Methods: In this open-label uncontrolled trial, 20 patients diagnosed with MDD and at least stage II treatment resistance criteria underwent 20 HF-rTMS sessions over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC; 10 Hz, 110% MT, 20 min). Pre-post treatment DD rates were compared. Effects on impulsivity, personality factors, and depressive symptoms were also evaluated. Results: No significant effect of HF-rTMS over the left dlPFC on DD of depressed individuals was observed, although rates seemed to increase after sessions. However, treatment resulted in significant improvement on cognitive impulsivity and depressive symptoms, and was well-tolerated. Conclusion: Despite the limitations involved, this pilot study allows preliminary evaluation of HF-rTMS effects on DD in MDD, providing substrate for further research.
Psychological Barriers to Digital Living in Older Adults: Computer Anxiety as Predictive Mechanism for Technophobia
Authors: Di Giacomo Dina , Ranieri Jessica , D’Amico Meny , Guerra Federica , Passafiume Domenico
Published: September 2019

This study aimed to investigate the emotional impact of technology use in an Italian adult population and to detect technophobia. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 117 Italian participants (age range of 50–67 years). Measured variables were computer anxiety and technology use ability. The results revealed technophobia features in the Italian adult population related to inadequate management of technology. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s post-hoc analysis showed that non-autonomous (p < 0.01), low-frequency (p < 0.01), and feeling-a-need-for-help users (p < 0.01) had higher levels of computer anxiety. Based on our data, although lifelong learning is a powerful digital need, a considerable proportion of the adult population is not digitally skilled, enlarging the gap between young (native digital) and adult (digital and non-digital adults and seniors) populations. Adult inclusivity in digital living is inadequate and likely affects their quality of life. Thus, our findings highlight technophobia as a possible new risk factor for Italian adults because it can affect their daily life through low adherence to digital living; rather than aging successfully, they could develop fragile aging.
About the Possible Limitations in the Usage of the Non-Destructive Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method for Assessment of Cracks in Reinforced Concrete Structures, Subjected to Direct Environmental Exposure
Authors: Ivanchev Ivan , Slavchev Veselin
Published: September 2019

Failures occur in the structures of reinforced concrete buildings and facilities during their continuous exploitation, without being overloaded or exposed to extreme impacts, the most common being cracks. Their detection and change in time are related to the assessment of the state of the structures, their safety, and reliability during their construction and especially for their safety exploitation. This paper describes the results of the experimental studies conducted by authors aiming to verify the possibility of using the non-destructive ultrasonic pulse velocity method (NDUPVM) for detection and evaluation of cracks. Results of an experimental study of 12 reinforced concrete beams are presented. In previous experiments, some of them were subjected to bending until the maximum crack width of 0.3 mm was reached and others until yielding of the longitudinal reinforcement. The results obtained from the measurements of the depths of the normal cracks with different widths with NDUPVM were compared with the visually measured ones. In the present research cracks with the same width and with a similar depth were chosen. The influence of extreme external conditions to the accuracy of the measured crack depths by the NDUPVM was investigated. Non-destructive ultrasonic research was done by a portable device Proceq TICO.