bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetation Extraction Using Visible-Bands from Openly Licensed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery
Authors: Agapiou Athos
Published: June 2020

Red–green–blue (RGB) cameras which are attached in commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can support remote-observation small-scale campaigns, by mapping, within a few centimeter’s accuracy, an area of interest. Vegetated areas need to be identified either for masking purposes (e.g., to exclude vegetated areas for the production of a digital elevation model (DEM) or for monitoring vegetation anomalies, especially for precision agriculture applications. However, while detection of vegetated areas is of great importance for several UAV remote sensing applications, this type of processing can be quite challenging. Usually, healthy vegetation can be extracted at the near-infrared part of the spectrum (approximately between 760–900 nm), which is not captured by the visible (RGB) cameras. In this study, we explore several visible (RGB) vegetation indices in different environments using various UAV sensors and cameras to validate their performance. For this purposes, openly licensed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery has been downloaded “as is” and analyzed. The overall results are presented in the study. As it was found, the green leaf index (GLI) was able to provide the optimum results for all case studies.
Some Useful Integral Representations for Information-Theoretic Analyses
Authors: Merhav Neri , Sason Igal
Published: June 2020

This work is an extension of our earlier article, where a well-known integral representation of the logarithmic function was explored and was accompanied with demonstrations of its usefulness in obtaining compact, easily-calculable, exact formulas for quantities that involve expectations of the logarithm of a positive random variable. Here, in the same spirit, we derive an exact integral representation (in one or two dimensions) of the moment of a nonnegative random variable, or the sum of such independent random variables, where the moment order is a general positive non-integer real (also known as fractional moments). The proposed formula is applied to a variety of examples with an information-theoretic motivation, and it is shown how it facilitates their numerical evaluations. In particular, when applied to the calculation of a moment of the sum of a large number, n, of nonnegative random variables, it is clear that integration over one or two dimensions, as suggested by our proposed integral representation, is significantly easier than the alternative of integrating over n dimensions, as needed in the direct calculation of the desired moment.
On Voronoi Diagrams on the Information-Geometric Cauchy Manifolds
Authors: Nielsen Frank
Published: June 2020

We study the Voronoi diagrams of a finite set of Cauchy distributions and their dual complexes from the viewpoint of information geometry by considering the Fisher-Rao distance, the Kullback-Leibler divergence, the chi square divergence, and a flat divergence derived from Tsallis entropy related to the conformal flattening of the Fisher-Rao geometry. We prove that the Voronoi diagrams of the Fisher-Rao distance, the chi square divergence, and the Kullback-Leibler divergences all coincide with a hyperbolic Voronoi diagram on the corresponding Cauchy location-scale parameters, and that the dual Cauchy hyperbolic Delaunay complexes are Fisher orthogonal to the Cauchy hyperbolic Voronoi diagrams. The dual Voronoi diagrams with respect to the dual flat divergences amount to dual Bregman Voronoi diagrams, and their dual complexes are regular triangulations. The primal Bregman Voronoi diagram is the Euclidean Voronoi diagram and the dual Bregman Voronoi diagram coincides with the Cauchy hyperbolic Voronoi diagram. In addition, we prove that the square root of the Kullback-Leibler divergence between Cauchy distributions yields a metric distance which is Hilbertian for the Cauchy scale families.
Clinical Evaluation of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Severity Using Ultrasound Small-Window Entropy Imaging
Authors: Yan Dong , Li Qiang , Lin Chia-Wei , Shieh Jeng-Yi , Weng Wen-Chin , Tsui Po-Hsiang
Published: June 2020

Information entropy of ultrasound imaging recently receives much attention in the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is the most common muscular disorder; patients lose their ambulation in the later stages of the disease. Ultrasound imaging enables routine examinations and the follow-up of patients with DMD. Conventionally, the probability distribution of the received backscattered echo signals can be described using statistical models for ultrasound parametric imaging to characterize muscle tissue. Small-window entropy imaging is an efficient nonmodel-based approach to analyzing the backscattered statistical properties. This study explored the feasibility of using ultrasound small-window entropy imaging in evaluating the severity of DMD. A total of 85 participants were recruited. For each patient, ultrasound scans of the gastrocnemius were performed to acquire raw image data for B-mode and small-window entropy imaging, which were compared with clinical diagnoses of DMD by using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The results indicated that entropy imaging can visualize changes in the information uncertainty of ultrasound backscattered signals. The median with interquartile range (IQR) of the entropy value was 4.99 (IQR: 4.98–5.00) for the control group, 5.04 (IQR: 5.01–5.05) for stage 1 patients, 5.07 (IQR: 5.06–5.07) for stage 2 patients, and 5.07 (IQR: 5.06–5.07) for stage 3 patients. The diagnostic accuracies were 89.41%, 87.06%, and 72.94% for ≥stage 1, ≥stage 2, and ≥stage 3, respectively. Comparisons with previous studies revealed that the small-window entropy imaging technique exhibits higher diagnostic performance than conventional methods. Its further development is recommended for potential use in clinical evaluations and the follow-up of patients with DMD.
Testing the Steady-State Fluctuation Relation in the Solar Photospheric Convection
Authors: Viavattene Giorgio , Consolini Giuseppe , Giovannelli Luca , Berrilli Francesco , Del Moro Dario , Giannattasio Fabio , Penza Valentina , Calchetti Daniele
Published: June 2020

The turbulent thermal convection on the Sun is an example of an irreversible non-equilibrium phenomenon in a quasi-steady state characterized by a continuous entropy production rate. Here, the statistical features of a proxy of the local entropy production rate, in solar quiet regions at different timescales, are investigated and compared with the symmetry conjecture of the steady-state fluctuation theorem by Gallavotti and Cohen. Our results show that solar turbulent convection satisfies the symmetries predicted by the fluctuation relation of the Gallavotti and Cohen theorem at a local level.
Evolving Dynamic S-Boxes Using Fractional-Order Hopfield Neural Network Based Scheme
Authors: Ahmad Musheer , Al-Solami Eesa
Published: June 2020

Static substitution-boxes in fixed structured block ciphers may make the system vulnerable to cryptanalysis. However, key-dependent dynamic substitution-boxes (S-boxes) assume to improve the security and robustness of the whole cryptosystem. This paper proposes to present the construction of key-dependent dynamic S-boxes having high nonlinearity. The proposed scheme involves the evolution of initially generated S-box for improved nonlinearity based on the fractional-order time-delayed Hopfield neural network. The cryptographic performance of the evolved S-box is assessed by using standard security parameters, including nonlinearity, strict avalanche criterion, bits independence criterion, differential uniformity, linear approximation probability, etc. The proposed scheme is able to evolve an S-box having mean nonlinearity of 111.25, strict avalanche criteria value of 0.5007, and differential uniformity of 10. The performance assessments demonstrate that the proposed scheme and S-box have excellent features, and are thus capable of offering high nonlinearity in the cryptosystem. The comparison analysis further confirms the improved security features of anticipated scheme and S-box, as compared to many existing chaos-based and other S-boxes.
Carbide Formation in Refractory Mo15Nb20Re15Ta30W20 Alloy under a Combined High-Pressure and High-Temperature Condition
Authors: Zhang Congyan , Bhandari Uttam , Zeng Congyuan , Ding Huan , Guo Shengmin , Yan Jinyuan , Yang Shizhong
Published: June 2020

In this work, the formation of carbide with the concertation of carbon at 0.1 at.% in refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) Mo15Nb20Re15Ta30W20 was studied under both ambient and high-pressure high-temperature conditions. The x-ray diffraction of dilute carbon (C)-doped RHEA under ambient pressure showed that the phases and lattice constant of RHEA were not influenced by the addition of 0.1 at.% C. In contrast, C-doped RHEA showed unexpected phase formation and transformation under combined high-pressure and high-temperature conditions by resistively employing the heated diamond anvil cell (DAC) technique. The new FCC_L12 phase appeared at 6 GPa and 809 °C and preserved the ambient temperature and pressure. High-pressure and high-temperature promoted the formation of carbides Ta3C and Nb3C, which are stable and may further improve the mechanical performance of the dilute C-doped alloy Mo15Nb20Re15Ta30W20.
Re-Optimization of Expansion Work of a Heated Working Fluid with Generalized Radiative Heat Transfer Law
Authors: Chen Lingen , Ma Kang , Ge Yanlin , Feng Huijun
Published: June 2020

Based on the theoretical model of a heated ideal working fluid in the cylinder, the optimal motion path of the piston in this system, for the maximum work output, is re-studied by establishing the changed Lagrangian function and applying the elimination method when the initial internal energy, initial volume, finial volume and the process time are given and generalized radiative heat transfer law between the working fluid and heat bath is considered. The analytical solutions of the intermediate Euler-Lagrange arc with square, cubic and radiative heat transfer laws are taken as examples and obtained. The optimal motion path of the piston with cubic heat transfer law, which is obtained by applying the elimination method, is compared with that obtained by applying the Taylor formula expansion method through numerical example. The comparing result shows that the accuracy of the result which is obtained by applying the elimination method is not affected by the length of time of the expansion process of the working fluid, so this result is more universal.
Herbal-Based Cosmeceuticals and Economic Sustainability among Women in South African Rural Communities
Authors: Ndhlovu Peter Tshepiso , Omotayo Abiodun Olusola , Aremu Adeyemi Oladapo , Otang-Mbeng Wilfred
Published: June 2020

Access to natural resources in the immediate environment is an essential factor that contributes to livelihood in many rural areas. In the current study, we explored the economic potential(s) of the natural herbal-based cosmetic and cosmeceutical enterprise for the welfare of the Vhavenda women. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 79 Vhavenda women and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics (Tobit regression) as well as budgeting analysis. The majority (61%) of the participants were married with an average household size of five members. Additionally, 39% of the participants were already ageing with an average age-group of 56–70 years. The majority (44%) of the participants were not formally employed while the monthly average total income of R1841.01 (107.37 USD) was recorded with an average per capital expenditure of R1438.42 (83.89 USD). A budgeting cost ratio of 1.28 was recorded, which indicates that for every R1.00 (0.057 USD) invested in the herbal-based cosmetic and cosmeceutical production, an expected return of R1.28 (0.073 USD) was forecasted. Tobit regression results indicated that the determinants of the income of participants were experience level (p < 0.01), religion affiliation (p < 0.05) and consumption expenditure (p < 0.01) among others. Thus, a conscious, introspective and intentional look into this marginalised herbal-based cosmetic and cosmeceutical enterprise as a panacea for improved income and welfare of rural South Africans should be considered.
The Design of Applying Gamification in an Immersive Virtual Reality Virtual Laboratory for Powder-Bed Binder Jetting 3DP Training
Authors: Chen Pai-Hsun
Published: June 2020

The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and gamification techniques can be used to produce a fun virtual laboratory, including virtual spaces and educational content. This study developed a prototype for a virtual laboratory for powder-bed binder jetting three-dimensional printing (3DP) training in universities. The 3DP virtual laboratory is expected to address problems encountered in teaching, training, and practicing with powder-bed binder jetting 3DP. The 3DP Training Virtual Laboratory was developed by using immersive VR technology to simulate two-handed operations. The user evaluation of the first version prototype revealed that the students lacked learning interest and motivation when using the prototype. Thus, gamification technology was integrated into the 3DP virtual laboratory prototype in the mid-implementation development phase. After refining and systematically developing the model to meet the modified requirements, user evaluations on the game elements showed positive feedback. This study concluded that elements of gamification design should be considered at the beginning of the educational or training system development in order to enhance students’ motivation or engagement.
Indoor Localization System Based on Bluetooth Low Energy for Museum Applications
Authors: Giuliano Romeo , Cardarilli Gian Carlo , Cesarini Carlo , Di Nunzio Luca , Fallucchi Francesca , Fazzolari Rocco , Mazzenga Franco , Re Marco , Vizzarri Alessandro
Published: June 2020

In the last few years, indoor localization has attracted researchers and commercial developers. Indeed, the availability of systems, techniques and algorithms for localization allows the improvement of existing communication applications and services by adding position information. Some examples can be found in the managing of people and/or robots for internal logistics in very large warehouses (e.g., Amazon warehouses, etc.). In this paper, we study and develop a system allowing the accurate indoor localization of people visiting a museum or any other cultural institution. We assume visitors are equipped with a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device (commonly found in modern smartphones or in a small chipset), periodically transmitting packets, which are received by geolocalized BLE receivers inside the museum area. Collected packets are provided to the locator server to estimate the positions of the visitors inside the museum. The position estimation is based on a feed-forward neural network trained by a measurement campaign in the considered environment and on a non-linear least square algorithm. We also provide a strategy for deploying the BLE receivers in a given area. The performance results obtained from measurements show an achievable position estimate accuracy below 1 m.
Photostimulation of Extravasation of Beta-Amyloid through the Model of Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Zinchenko Ekaterina , Klimova Maria , Mamedova Aysel , Agranovich Ilana , Blokhina Inna , Antonova Tatiana , Terskov Andrey , Shirokov Alexander , Navolokin Nikita , Morgun Andrey , Osipova Elena , Boytsova Elizaveta , Yu Tingting , Zhu Dan , Kurths Juergen , Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya Oxana
Published: June 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable pathology associated with progressive decline in memory and cognition. Phototherapy might be a new promising and alternative strategy for the effective treatment of AD, and has been actively discussed over two decades. However, the mechanisms of therapeutic photostimulation (PS) effects on subjects with AD remain poorly understood. The goal of this study was to determine the mechanisms of therapeutic PS effects in beta-amyloid (Aβ)-injected mice. The neurological severity score and the new object recognition tests demonstrate that PS 9 J/cm2 attenuates the memory and neurological deficit in mice with AD. The immunohistochemical assay revealed a decrease in the level of Aβ in the brain and an increase of Aβ in the deep cervical lymph nodes obtained from mice with AD after PS. Using the in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we show a PS-mediated decrease in transendothelial resistance and in the expression of tight junction proteins as well an increase in the BBB permeability to Aβ. These findings suggest that a PS-mediated BBB opening and the activation of the lymphatic clearance of Aβ from the brain might be a crucial mechanism underlying therapeutic effects of PS in mice with AD. These pioneering data open new strategies in the development of non-pharmacological methods for therapy of AD and contribute to a better understanding of the PS effects on the central nervous system.
SimBench—A Benchmark Dataset of Electric Power Systems to Compare Innovative Solutions Based on Power Flow Analysis
Authors: Meinecke Steffen , Sarajlić Džanan , Drauz Simon Ruben , Klettke Annika , Lauven Lars-Peter , Rehtanz Christian , Moser Albert , Braun Martin
Published: June 2020

Publicly accessible, elaborated grid datasets, i.e., benchmark grids, are well suited to publish and compare methods or study results. Similarly, developing innovative tools and algorithms in the fields of grid planning and grid operation is based on grid datasets. Therefore, a general methodology to generate benchmark datasets and its voltage level dependent implementation is described in this paper. As a result, SimBench, a comprehensive dataset for the low, medium, high and extra-high voltage level, is presented. Besides grids that can be combined across several voltage levels, the dataset offers an added value by providing time series for a whole year as well as future scenarios. In this way, SimBench is applicable for many use cases and simplifies reproducing study results. As proof, different automated algorithms for grid planning are compared to show how to apply SimBench and make use of it as a simulation benchmark.
Simulations and Tests of a KRET Aerospace Penetrator
Authors: Bieńkowski Krzysztof , Kolimas Łukasz , Łapczyński Sebastian , Drogosz Michał , Szulborski Michał , Wiśniewski Łukasz , Kędziora Bartosz , Kozarek Łukasz
Published: June 2020

This manuscript presents the simulation tests of an aerospace penetrator conducted to check the device’s validity and functionality. For this work, the numerical model was created on the basis of engineering data, the laboratory model of the tube reluctance actuator was created on the basis of the numerical model, and a set of simulations were executed on the basis of both presented. Moreover, the mathematical model was supplemented by precise boundary conditions. The main goal was the analysis of the introduced device’s properties by comparing them to experimental values. Three different variants were taken into account to check the construction functionality and to study the most important parameters, e.g., the hammer displacement, hammer velocity, eddy currents and overall electromagnetic properties of the penetrator’s hammer displacement. The high-end values of the applied components were derived on the basis of the results and are presented in the summary of the concluded work. An overall method for checking the validity of the penetrator was proposed, which is cost and time effective. The model used was not limited in the representation of physical phenomena.
Inertial Optimization Based Two-Step Methods for Solving Equilibrium Problems with Applications in Variational Inequality Problems and Growth Control Equilibrium Models
Authors: Rehman Habib ur , Kumam Poom , Shutaywi Meshal , Alreshidi  Nasser Aedh , Kumam Wiyada
Published: June 2020

This manuscript aims to incorporate an inertial scheme with Popov’s subgradient extragradient method to solve equilibrium problems that involve two different classes of bifunction. The novelty of our paper is that methods can also be used to solve problems in many fields, such as economics, mathematical finance, image reconstruction, transport, elasticity, networking, and optimization. We have established a weak convergence result based on the assumption of the pseudomonotone property and a certain Lipschitz-type cost bifunctional condition. The stepsize, in this case, depends upon on the Lipschitz-type constants and the extrapolation factor. The bifunction is strongly pseudomonotone in the second method, but stepsize does not depend on the strongly pseudomonotone and Lipschitz-type constants. In contrast, the first convergence result, we set up strong convergence with the use of a variable stepsize sequence, which is decreasing and non-summable. As the application, the variational inequality problems that involve pseudomonotone and strongly pseudomonotone operator are considered. Finally, two well-known Nash–Cournot equilibrium models for the numerical experiment are reviewed to examine our convergence results and show the competitive advantage of our suggested methods.
Methodology for Energy Efficiency on Lighting and Air Conditioning Systems in Buildings Using a Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm
Authors: A. Monteiro Suzane , Monteiro Flávia , Tostes Maria E. , Carvalho Carminda
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this article is to develop a methodology to apply to multi-objective optimization algorithms aimed at energy efficiency in buildings, considering aspects such as incremental cost, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency levels of lighting and air conditioning system, according to the mandatory technical regulation in public buildings in Brazil. Presenting a solution to assist in the decision making of engineers, architects or building managers for the optimal arrangements’ choice for lighting and air conditioning equipment, considering each built environment and project profile. For the validation process, a basic building was created with 15 rooms spread over three floors, according to the most common construction parameters in the North of Brazil. First, different combinations of objective-function candidates were investigated to compose the multi-objective algorithm fitness function, analyzing its performance in two central scenarios: (1) adding some “baits” in air conditioning equipment files, and (2) without this inclusion. Thus, it was found that considering only three objective functions—incremental cost, energy consumption and the air conditioning energy efficiency coefficient—it is possible to get optimal non-dominated solutions in both scenarios, thus highlighting the robustness of the proposed methodology.
Development of Enhancing Battery Management for Reusing Automotive Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Yuan Wen-Poo , Jeong Se-Min , Sean Wu-Yang , Chiang Yi-Hsien
Published: June 2020

In this study, a battery management system (BMS) is developed for reused lithium-ion battery (RLIB). Additional enhancing functions of battery management are established, i.e., estimation of life-sensitized parameters and life extension. Life-sensitizing parameters mainly include open-circuit voltage (OCV) and internal resistances (IRs). They are sensitized parameters individually relative to state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH). For estimating these two parameters, an adaptive control scheme is implemented in BMS. This online adaptive control approach has been extensively applied to nonlinear systems with uncertainties. In two experiments, OCV and IRs of reused battery packs are accurately extracted from working voltage and discharge current. An offline numerical model using a schematic method is applied to verify the applicability and efficiency of this proposed online scheme. Furthermore, a solution of actively extending life by using an ultracapacitor to share peak power of RLIB through adjusting duty ratio is also proposed. It is shown that this enhancing battery management for RLIB can properly estimate OCV and IRs, and actively extend the life of the RLIB in two experiments.
Iterative Online Fault Identification Scheme for High-Voltage Circuit Breaker Utilizing a Lost Data Repair Technique
Authors: Zhou Gang , Han Zhongjie , Fu Jin , Xu Guan Hua , Ye Chengjin
Published: June 2020

Most of the prior-art electrical noninvasive monitoring systems adopt Zigbee, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication infrastructure. These low-cost channels are often interrupted by strong electromagnetic interference and result in monitoring anomalies, particularly packet loss, which severely affects the precision of equipment fault identification. In this paper, an iterative online fault identification framework for a high-voltage circuit breaker utilizing a novel lost data repair technique is developed to adapt to low-data quality conditions. Specifically, the improved efficient k-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm enabled by a k-dimensional (K-D) tree is utilized to select the reference templates for the unintegrated samples. An extreme learning machine (ELM) is utilized to estimate the missing data based on the selected nearest neighbors. The Softmax classifier is exploited to calculate the probability of the repaired sample being classified to each of the preset status classes. Loop iterations are implemented where the nearest neighbors are updated until their labels are consistent with the estimated labels of the repaired sample based on them. Numerical results obtained from a realistic high-voltage circuit breaker (HVCB) condition monitoring dataset illustrate that the proposed scheme can efficiently identify the operation status of HVCBs by considering measurement anomalies.
Novel Dynamic Resistance Equalizer for Parallel-Connected Battery Configurations
Authors: La Phuong-Ha , Choi Sung-Jin
Published: June 2020

As the number of parallel battery connections in an energy storage system is increased to extend the energy capacity and second-life batteries are actively adopted, the battery is more prone to cell inconsistency issues. The difference in the internal impedance and the mismatched state-of-charge accelerates the self-balancing effect between the parallel branches to reduce cell utilization and eventually results in harmful effects, both to the lifetime and to the safety of the batteries. However, conventional methods only partially mitigate the parallel inconsistency issue. This paper proposes a dynamic resistance equalizer for parallel-connected battery configurations to improve equalization performance. The optimal design procedure is also presented to minimize the power loss and equalization time. The overall performance is experimentally verified by a sequence of tests for a Li-ion battery in a 2S-4P configuration. The experimental results show that the proposed method dissipates less external power loss than the fixed resistor equalizer and less internal loss than the conventional sequencing method. When both total loss and balancing performance are considered together, as the number of series connections increases, the merits of the proposed method stand out. This is verified by additional hardware-in-the-loop tests, presenting a fascinating feature for most practical battery applications.
Utilization of Excess Production of Waste-Fired CHP Plants for District Cooling Supply, an Effective Solution for a Serious Challenge
Authors: Fabricius Mika , Øland Tarp Daniel , Wehl Rasmussen Thomas , Arabkoohsar Ahmad
Published: June 2020

District heating-connected waste incineration plants face a serious operating challenge during the warmer months of the year when the heating load is quite low. The challenge is the difficulty of managing the extra municipal solid waste to be disposed of, exposing great pressure and cost on the plant. Conventionally, the solution is either burning the surplus waste and providing the extra cooling required for the condenser with a summer chiller and paying the tax of the total heat generation of the plant, or paying other industries to burn the waste for their specific applications. Both of these solutions are, however, costly. In this study, to address this challenge the utilization of the extra available resources of waste incineration plants for district cooling supply is proposed. Then, the proposed solution is analyzed from the thermodynamic and economic points of view. The feasibility of the proposal is investigated for a real waste incineration plant in Denmark and its 50 neighboring office/service buildings as the case study. The simulations are done based on real hourly data of the plant and economic parameters. The results show that for the case study for a plant with a thermal capacity of 73 MW, a district cooling with a peak load of over 20 MW could be perfectly supplied. The payback period of the proposed solution, including the cost of piping, absorption chiller, etc., can be as short as five years.
A Study on the Plasma Plume Expansion Dynamics of Nanosecond Laser Ablating Al/PTFE
Authors: Tan Sheng , Wang Moge , Wu Jianjun , Zhang Yu , Li Jian
Published: June 2020

To study the plasma plume expansion dynamics of nanosecond laser ablating Al/PTFE, the Al/PTFE propellant was prepared by a molding sintering method and the rapid expansion process of the plasma plume was photographed using fast photography technology. The effects of the proportion of Al, laser energy and ambient pressure on plasma plume expansion dynamics are analyzed. The results show that the plume expansion process of laser ablating Al/PTFE plasma can be divided into three stages and this phenomenon has not been reported in the literature. The Al powder doped in PTFE will block part of the laser transmission into the propellant, thus reducing the laser absorption depth of the propellant. In the case of short pulse laser ablation, the reaction rate between Al and PTFE is optimal when the reductant is slightly higher than the oxidant. As the laser energy increases, the light intensity of the plasma becomes stronger, the plasma size becomes larger and the existence time of plasma becomes longer. In the first stage plume, the plume expands freely at the ambient pressure of 0.005 Pa and the plume expansion distance is linearly related to time, while the shock wave formed at the interface between the plume front and the ambient gas at the ambient pressure of 5 Pa and the expansion can be described by S-T theory.
Non-Cooperative Game in Block Bidding Markets Considering Demand Response
Authors: Guo Ningxuan , Wang Yinan , Yan Gangfeng , Hou Jian
Published: June 2020

With the reform of electricity markets, demand response (DR) plays an important role in providing flexibility to the markets. Block bidding market is a new market mode, which is based on the concept of “the same quality, the same price”. The mechanism has great effects in reducing start-stop related costs. In this paper, we propose a double-sided non-cooperative game model in block bidding markets with a DR program. The model combines the advantages of block bidding and the simplicity of hourly bidding. In the model, one side is the non-cooperative game of supply-side power firms, and we propose a novel supply function bidding model based on block duration and load capacity to maximize each firm’s profit. The other side is the demand-side different types of customers, and we propose a DR model that combines hourly-various prices with the block bidding mechanism to maximize each customer’s payoff. The overall market optimization problem is solved by a distributed iterative algorithm, which has great convergence performance. We verify the proposed model on real data, and the results show that the demand load curve becomes flattened with DR, and the total generation costs decrease while the social welfare is significantly improved.
Erratum: Vivien, R.; Casado-Martínez, C.; Lafont, M.; Ferrari, B.J. Effect Thresholds of Metals in Stream Sediments Based on In Situ Oligochaete Communities. Environments 2020, 7, 31
Authors: Vivien Régis , Casado-Martínez Carmen , Lafont Michel , Ferrari Benoit J.D.
Published: June 2020

The authors would like to correct the published article [...]
NARMAX Identification Based Closed-Loop Control of Flow Separation over NACA 0015 Airfoil
Authors: Obeid Sohaib , Ahmadi Goodarz , Jha Ratneshwar
Published: June 2020

A closed-loop control algorithm for the reduction of turbulent flow separation over NACA 0015 airfoil equipped with leading-edge synthetic jet actuators (SJAs) is presented. A system identification approach based on Nonlinear Auto-Regressive Moving Average with eXogenous inputs (NARMAX) technique was used to predict nonlinear dynamics of the fluid flow and for the design of the controller system. Numerical simulations based on URANS equations are performed at Reynolds number of 106 for various airfoil incidences with and without closed-loop control. The NARMAX model for flow over an airfoil is based on the static pressure data, and the synthetic jet actuator is developed using an incompressible flow model. The corresponding NARMAX identification model developed for the pressure data is nonlinear; therefore, the describing function technique is used to linearize the system within its frequency range. Low-pass filtering is used to obtain quasi-linear state values, which assist in the application of linear control techniques. The reference signal signifies the condition of a fully re-attached flow, and it is determined based on the linearization of the original signal during open-loop control. The controller design follows the standard proportional-integral (PI) technique for the single-input single-output system. The resulting closed-loop response tracks the reference value and leads to significant improvements in the transient response over the open-loop system. The NARMAX controller enhances the lift coefficient from 0.787 for the uncontrolled case to 1.315 for the controlled case with an increase of 67.1%.
Validation of AIAD Sub-Models for Advanced Numerical Modelling of Horizontal Two-Phase Flows
Authors: Höhne Thomas , Porombka Paul , Moya Sáez Senen
Published: June 2020

In this work, the modelling of horizontal two-phase flows within the two-fluid Euler–Euler approach is investigated. A modified formulation of the morphology detection functions within the Algebraic Interfacial Area Density (AIAD) model is presented in combination with different models for the drag force acting on a sheared gas–liquid interface. In the case of free surface flows, those closure laws are often based on experimental correlations whose applicability is limited to certain flow regimes. It is investigated here whether the implementation of the modified blending functions in ANSYS CFX avoids this limitation. The influence of the new functions on the prediction of turbulence parameters in free surface flows is also examined quantitatively for the k-ω and k-ε two-equation turbulence models. Transient simulations of the WENKA counter-current stratified two-phase flow experiment were performed for validation. A prediction of the correct flow pattern as observed in the experiment improved dramatically when a turbulence damping term was included in the standard two-equation models. Using the k-ω and a modified k-ε turbulence model with damping terms close to the interface, better agreement with the experimental data was achieved. The morphology detection mechanism of the unified blending functions within the AIAD is seen as an improvement with respect to the detection of sharp interfaces. Satisfactory quantitative agreement is achieved for the modified free surface drag. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that turbulence dampening has to be accounted for in both turbulence models to qualitatively reproduce the mean flow and turbulence quantities from the experiment.
A Probabilistic Assessment of Soil Erosion Susceptibility in a Head Catchment of the Jemma Basin, Ethiopian Highlands
Authors: Cama Mariaelena , Schillaci Calogero , Kropáček Jan , Hochschild Volker , Bosino Alberto , Märker Michael
Published: June 2020

Soil erosion represents one of the most important global issues with serious effects on agriculture and water quality, especially in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, where rapid population growth and climatic changes affect widely mountainous areas. The Meskay catchment is a head catchment of the Jemma Basin draining into the Blue Nile (Central Ethiopia) and is characterized by high relief energy. Thus, it is exposed to high degradation dynamics, especially in the lower parts of the catchment. In this study, we aim at the geomorphological assessment of soil erosion susceptibilities. First, a geomorphological map was generated based on remote sensing observations. In particular, we mapped three categories of landforms related to (i) sheet erosion, (ii) gully erosion, and (iii) badlands using a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM). The map was validated by a detailed field survey. Subsequently, we used the three categories as dependent variables in a probabilistic modelling approach to derive the spatial distribution of the specific process susceptibilities. In this study we applied the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The independent variables were derived from a set of spatial attributes describing the lithology, terrain, and land cover based on remote sensing data and DEMs. As a result, we produced three separate susceptibility maps for sheet and gully erosion as well as badlands. The resulting susceptibility maps showed good to excellent prediction performance. Moreover, to explore the mutual overlap of the three susceptibility maps, we generated a combined map as a color composite where each color represents one component of water erosion. The latter map yields useful information for land-use managers and planning purposes.
Impacts of Anthropometric, Biochemical, Socio-Demographic, and Dietary Habits Factors on the Health Status of Urban Corporate People in a Developing Country
Authors: Sampa Masuda Begum , Hoque Md. Rakibul , Hossain Md. Nazmul
Published: June 2020

This study focused on urban corporate people and applied multinomial logistic regression (MLR) to identify the impact of anthropometric, biochemical, socio-demographic and dietary habit factors on health status. Health status is categorized into four levels: healthy, caution, affected, and emergent. A cross-sectional study, based on convenience sampling method, was conducted to select 271 employees from 18 institutions under the Grameen Bank Complex, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Biochemical measurements such as blood uric acid are highly significant variables in the MLR model. When holding other factors as constants, with a one-unit increase in blood uric acid, a person is 11.02 times more likely to be “emergent” compared to “caution”. The odds are also higher, at 1.82, for the blood uric acid to be “affected” compared “caution”. The results of this study can help to prevent a large proportion of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by reducing the most significant risk factor: blood uric acid. This study can contribute to the establishment of combined actions to improve disease management.
Toward an Integrative Nursing Curriculum: Combining Team-Based and Problem-Based Learning with Emergency-Care Scenario Simulation
Authors: Huang Cheng-Yi , Wang Ya-huei
Published: June 2020

Objective: The study intended to combine team-oriented, problem-based learning (PBL) with emergency-care simulation to investigate whether an integrative intervention could positively impact the core nursing competencies and teacher performance of nursing students. Methods: The study belonged to the domain of action research, which aimed to address the weaknesses of traditional teacher-led, lecture-based learning. An 18-week, single-case experimental design, in which 58 senior nursing students at a medical university in central Taiwan participated, was conducted to test the possible benefits of the intervention. The measures included the Scale of Core Nursing Competencies and the Teacher Performance Evaluation Scale. Results: The research results showed that nursing students who received integrative training that combined team-based PBL with emergency-care scenario simulation had stronger mastery over core nursing competencies. At the same time, they also evaluated both the “Emergency Care” course for which the curriculum was used and the teachers’ performance in that course more highly. Conclusions: The findings suggest that an integrative curriculum combining team-based PBL with scenario simulation is worth pursuing. Compared with traditional teacher-led, lecture-based teaching, this curriculum may be more effective in helping nursing students develop core competencies in their field.
Exploring the Roles of Green Food Consumption and Social Trust in the Relationship between Perceived Consumer Effectiveness and Psychological Wellbeing
Authors: Wang Jianming , Nguyen Ninh , Bu Xiangzhi
Published: June 2020

Green food consumption is a core issue that contributes to solving environmental pollution and achieving sustainable development. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of green food consumption and social trust in the relationship between perceived consumer effectiveness and psychological wellbeing to provide new insights into green food consumption, based on social ideal theory and social trust theory. Using a sample data of 514 consumers in China, the results of structural equation modeling showed that perceived consumer effectiveness was positively related to psychological wellbeing. Furthermore, green food consumption mediated the relationship between perceived consumer effectiveness and psychological wellbeing. In addition, social trust moderated the relationship between perceived consumer effectiveness and green food consumption. Social trust also moderated the indirect effect of perceived consumer effectiveness on psychological wellbeing through green food consumption. The findings of this study enrich the extant literature relating to green food consumption and have practical implications for business managers and policymakers.
A Symbiotic Relationship Based Leader Approach for Privacy Protection in Location Based Services
Authors: Alrahhal Hosam , Alrahhal Mohamad Shady , Jamous Razan , Jambi Kamal
Published: June 2020

Location-based services (LBS) form the main part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and have received a significant amount of attention from the research community as well as application users due to the popularity of wireless devices and the daily growth in users. However, there are several risks associated with the use of LBS-enabled applications, as users are forced to send their queries based on their real-time and actual location. Attacks could be applied by the LBS server itself or by its maintainer, which consequently may lead to more serious issues such as the theft of sensitive and personal information about LBS users. Due to this fact, complete privacy protection (location and query privacy protection) is a critical problem. Collaborative (cache-based) approaches are used to prevent the LBS application users from connecting to the LBS server (malicious parties). However, no robust trust approaches have been provided to design a trusted third party (TTP), which prevents LBS users from acting as an attacker. This paper proposed a symbiotic relationship-based leader approach to guarantee complete privacy protection for users of LBS-enabled applications. Specifically, it introduced the mutual benefit underlying the symbiotic relationship, dummies, and caching concepts to avoid dealing with untrusted LBS servers and achieve complete privacy protection. In addition, the paper proposed a new privacy metric to predict the closeness of the attacker to the moment of her actual attack launch. Compared to three well-known approaches, namely enhanced dummy location selection (enhanced-DLS), hiding in a mobile crowd, and caching-aware dummy selection algorithm (enhanced-CaDSA), our experimental results showed better performance in terms of communication cost, resistance against inferences attacks, and cache hit ratio.
A Generalized Linear Mixed Model Approach to Assess Emerald Ash Borer Diffusion
Authors: Zhong Yuan , Hu Baoxin , Hall G. Brent , Hoque Farah , Xu Wei , Gao Xin
Published: June 2020

The Asian Emerald Ash Borer beetle (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) can cause damage to all species of Ash trees (Fraxinus), and rampant, unchecked infestations of this insect can cause significant damage to forests. It is thus critical to assess and model the spread of the EAB in a manner that allows authorities to anticipate likely areas of future tree infestation. In this study, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), combining the features of the commonly used generalized linear model (GLM) and a random effects model, was developed to predict future EAB spread patterns in Southern Ontario, Canada. The GLMM was designed to deal with autocorrelation in the data. Two random effects were established based on the geographic information provided with the EAB data, and a method based on statistical inference was proposed to identify the most significant factors associated with the distribution of the EAB. The results of the model showed that 95% of the testing data were correctly classified. The predictive performance of the GLMM was substantially enhanced in comparison with that obtained by the GLM. The influence of climatic factors, such as wind speed and anthropogenic activities, had the most significant influence on the spread of the EAB.
Maternal Tryptophan Supplementation Protects Adult Rat Offspring against Hypertension Programmed by Maternal Chronic Kidney Disease: Implication of Tryptophan-Metabolizing Microbiome and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor
Authors: Hsu Chien-Ning , Lin I-Chun , Yu Hong-Ren , Huang Li-Tung , Tiao Mao-Meng , Tain You-Lin
Published: June 2020

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) can originate during early-life. Tryptophan metabolites generated by different pathways have both detrimental and beneficial effects. In CKD, uremic toxins from the tryptophan-generating metabolites are endogenous ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The interplay between AHR, nitric oxide (NO), the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), and gut microbiota is involved in the development of hypertension. We examined whether tryptophan supplementation in pregnancy can prevent hypertension and kidney disease programmed by maternal CKD in adult offspring via the aforementioned mechanisms. Sprague–Dawley (SD) female rats received regular chow or chow supplemented with 0.5% adenine for 3 weeks to induce CKD before pregnancy. Pregnant controls or CKD rats received vehicle or tryptophan 200 mg/kg per day via oral gavage during pregnancy. Male offspring were divided into four groups (n = 8/group): control, CKD, tryptophan supplementation (Trp), and CKD plus tryptophan supplementation (CKDTrp). All rats were sacrificed at the age of 12 weeks. We found maternal CKD induced hypertension in adult offspring, which tryptophan supplementation prevented. Maternal CKD-induced hypertension is related to impaired NO bioavailability and non-classical RAS axis. Maternal CKD and tryptophan supplementation differentially shaped distinct gut microbiota profile in adult offspring. The protective effect of tryptophan supplementation against maternal CKD-induced programmed hypertension is relevant to alterations to several tryptophan-metabolizing microbes and AHR signaling pathway. Our findings support interplay among tryptophan-metabolizing microbiome, AHR, NO, and the RAS in hypertension of developmental origins. Furthermore, tryptophan supplementation in pregnancy could be a potential approach to prevent hypertension programmed by maternal CKD.