bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Politically Motivated Hungarian Migration to the Netherlands in (the Second Half of) the 20th Century: Data, Concepts, and Consequences
Authors: Tomor Zsuzsanna
Published: February 2018

This paper draws on an empirical research on the acculturation of Hungarian refugees in the Netherlands. After the bloody repression of the Hungarian uprising against the Soviet rule in 1956, approximately 200,000 people escaped Hungary. Out of them, 5,000 people started a new life in the Netherlands. Despite extensive documentation and memoirs, no systematic research exists on the fate of these Hungarians. With this research, we attempt to fill this knowledge gap by gaining insight into their integration path. By applying a qualitative–interpretative research method, we gathered personal narratives from Hungarian (‘ex-’) refugees in the Netherlands. We analyse their incorporation into the Dutch society according to various acculturation theories and discuss the (contextual) circumstances influencing these dynamics. The findings show that these Hungarians have successfully acculturated into the host society. They got entirely embedded in the institutional, sociocultural, and economic fabric of their new home country (assimilation) while also maintaining their original culture and identity (integration). Determining factors are the reception and opportunity structure in the host country, the refugees’ young age and willing attitudes to integrate, their grown hybrid identities as well as cultural compatibility.
Trilingual Internet Use, Identity, and Acculturation among Young Minority Language Speakers: Some Data from Transylvania and Finland
Authors: Vincze László , Moring Tom
Published: February 2018

The purpose of the present paper is to explore the dynamics of trilingual Internet use and its relation to minority language identity and acculturation among young Swedish speakers in Finland (N = 201) and Hungarian speakers in Transylvania (N = 388). Typically, a feature of linguistic minorities, trilingualism, provides speakers with the competence to move outside their original cultural realm, a feature that is rewarding at an individual level but may form a threat to the minority language culture. The results indicate in both contexts an extensive use of English alongside the minority language and a restricted amount of use of the majority language on the Internet. Majority language and English-language Internet use are strongly related to acculturation towards majority language speakers and English speakers in both contexts. Majority-language Internet use is significantly and negatively associated with minority language identity among participants in Transylvania but not among participants in Finland. Most interestingly, however, English-language Internet use is significantly and negatively related to minority language identity in both contexts. The findings and their theoretical implications are discussed.
Between the Word of the Law and Practice: a Case of the Hungarian Speakers in Serbia
Authors: Mandić Marija , Simonović Sandra Buljanović
Published: February 2018

The paper initially presents the Serbian legislative framework relevant to the use of minority languages. The ethnolinguistic vitality of the Hungarian-speaking population in Serbia is then analysed, particularly in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. The paper then focuses upon the sociolinguistic survey of Hungarian language use in Belgrade. The emphasis is placed upon the survey responses related to the awareness of language rights among the Hungarian speakers.
Comparison of GA-Optimized Viscoelastic Models for the Characterization of Compression Behavior of Warp-Knitted Spacer Fabrics
Authors: Yousefpour Masih , Ahmadi Mohammad Saleh , Payvandy Pedram
Published: February 2018

Nowadays, Warp-Knitted Spacer Fabrics (WKSF) have been widely used for many technical applications. Compressional behavior of WKSF is one of their important properties. Physical modeling is one of the solutions to predict these properties for engineered designing of WKSF. In this study, four common physical models are introduced and compared in order to simulate compressional behavior of polyester WKSF. Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied to optimize each model parameter. The results showed that the Burger model has the highest adoption with 0.2 percent Mean Absolut Error (MAE). The effect of thickness, outer fabric structure and spacer monofilament density on viscoelastic properties of the samples were also studied.
3-D Simulation of Double-Bar Plush Fabrics with Jacquard Patterns
Authors: Zhang Aijun , Li Xinxin , Jiang Gaoming , Dong Zhijia , Cong Honglian
Published: February 2018

A realistic computerized simulation of double-bar plush fabrics can result in a time-saving development process with high quality. Based on basic analysis of jacquard principles, a fast 3-D simulation method of warp-knitted plush fabrics is proposed by using a geometry shader on GPU. Firstly, pile areas and non-pile areas are identified according to the jacquard design graphs and chain notations. According to the directions of observation and raised pile, two layered chips are formed in the geometry shader with an approach of multi-layered textures. To ensure that the simulated piles resemble the real ones, the directions of the piles are randomized with the Perlin noise method. One pile is generated along its length with numerous layers in the plush fabric model. Simulation results of piles on both the technical face and technical back are obtained via the model built above, which is confirmed with practicability and efficiency. This 3D simulation approach improves the visualization appearance of piles just as they are actually raised.
Impact of Vertical and Horizontal Forces on the Seam in the Technological Process of Sewing Knit Fabrics
Authors: Šajatović Blaženka Brlobašić , Bolić Bajro , Petrak Slavenka
Published: February 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the increase in vertical and horizontal forces of the presser foot on the seam during the technological process of sewing knit fabrics. The research was performed on three types of knit fabrics: double jersey (rib one plus one), interlock knit fabric, and bleached interlock knit fabric. In order to meet the criterion of seam quality, it is necessary to adjust the above-mentioned parameters optimally. Depending on the type of the knit fabric, the values of the investigated forces change, and by increasing the number of layers and the sewing speed, the force values increase.
Infrastructure-based digital maps for connected autonomous vehicles
Authors: Quack Tobias , Bösinger Michael , Heßeler Frank-Josef , Abel Dirk
Published: February 2018

One major key to autonomous driving is reliable knowledge about the vehicle's surroundings. In complex situations like
urban intersections, the vehicle's on-board sensors are often unable to detect and classify all features of the
environment. Therefore, high-precision digital maps are widely used to provide the vehicle with additional information. In
this article, we introduce a system which makes use of a mobile edge computing architecture (MEC) for computing digital
maps on infrastructure-based, distributed computers. In cooperation with the mobile network operator Vodafone an LTE test
field is implemented at the Aldenhoven Testing Center (ATC). The proving ground thus combines an urban crossing with the
MEC capabilities of the LTE test field so that the developed methods can be tested in a realistic scenario. In the near
future the LTE test field will be equipped with the new 5G mobile standard allowing for fast and reliable exchange of map
and sensor data between vehicles and infrastructure.
Driver observation and shared vehicle control: supporting the driver on the way back into the control loop
Authors: Ludwig Julian , Martin Manuel , Horne Matthias , Flad Michael , Voit Michael , Stiefelhagen Rainer , Hohmann Sören
Published: February 2018

In the near future, drivers of automated cars will still have to take over from time to time at short notice. Current control systems implement a hard switch, disabling the automation all at once. However, studies show that the driver’s ability to take over depends on his last activity. We therefore propose a system that uses camera based observation of the driver to assess the situation and to predict transition times. We combine this with a control system that uses a cooperative shared control method to support the driver in takeover situations and allows him to adjust safely to the current situation. We present our first steps towards this goal and show both how the behavior of the driver in the interior can be assessed and how a cooperative control transfer can be implemented. We further point out the necessary steps to implement the proposed system and give a first impression of the performance via simulation.
Environment representations for automated on-road vehicles
Authors: Schreier Matthias
Published: February 2018

One of the key challenges of any Automated Driving (AD) system lies in the perception and representation of the driving environment. Data from a multitude of different information sources such as various vehicle environment sensors, external communication interfaces, and digital maps must be adequately combined to one consistent Comprehensive Environment Model (CEM) that acts as a generic abstraction layer for the driving functions. This overview article summarizes and discusses different approaches in this area with a focus on metric representations of static and dynamic driving environments for on-road AD systems. Feature maps, parametric free space maps, interval maps, occupancy grid maps, elevation maps, the stixel world, multi-level surface maps, voxel grids, meshes, and raw sensor data models are presented and compared in this regard.
Overview of HAD validation and passive HAD as a concept for validating highly automated cars
Authors: Koenig Alexander , Witzlsperger Kathrin , Leutwiler Florin , Hohmann Sören
Published: February 2018

Highly automated driving (HAD) is under rapid development and will be available for customers within the next years. However, the evidence that HAD is at least as safe as human driving has still not been produced. The first part of this paper gives an overview over current approaches of validation and elaborates on the main challenges associated with them. In the second part, the Passive HAD approach is presented, which proposes a statistical validation of HAD by utilizing a fraction of the billions of kilometers driven every year by common drivers. To guarantee safety, the HAD function has access to sensors but its output is not executed, which results in an open loop problem. The loop is closed by a simulation which is based on the real life scenario and driver models individually matched to the surrounding traffic participants.
Risk estimation for driving support and behavior planning in intelligent vehicles
Authors: Eggert Julian
Published: February 2018

Vehicles will be equipped with sensors and functions for highly automated driving in the foreseeable future. A big topic of research on the way to this goal is how to convey to these vehicles an understanding of the driving situations that is comparable to that of humans. For safe driving, this requires predicting how a scene will evolve and anticipating how dangerous it will potentially be. Risk estimation is a central ingredient in this process. In this paper, we describe how risk modeling frameworks help in managing the complexity of the driving task. We approach risk from the perspective of rare probabilistic events in environments where predictions might be inherently uncertain, and explain how this leads to a survival-based formulation which allows to model different types of risks encountered in driving situations within a single unified concept. In addition, we show how the framework can be used for driving behavior evaluation and risk-avoiding trajectory planning.
Multicenter validation study for the certification of a CFTR gene scanning method using next generation sequencing technology
Authors: Bergougnoux Anne , D’Argenio Valeria , Sollfrank Stefanie , Verneau Fanny , Telese Antonella , Postiglione Irene , Lackner Karl J. , Claustres Mireille , Castaldo Giuseppe , Rossmann Heidi , Salvatore Francesco , Raynal Caroline
Published: February 2018

Background:

Many European laboratories offer molecular genetic analysis of theCFTRgene using a wide range of methods to identify mutations causative of cystic fibrosis (CF) and CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) strategies are widely used in diagnostic practice, and CE marking is now required for most in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests in Europe. The aim of this multicenter study, which involved three European laboratories specialized in CF molecular analysis, was to evaluate the performance of Multiplicom’s CFTR MASTR Dx kit to obtain CE-IVD certification.

Methods:

A total of 164 samples, previously analyzed with well-established “reference” methods for the molecular diagnosis of theCFTRgene, were selected and re-sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq benchtop NGS platform. Sequencing data were analyzed using two different bioinformatic pipelines. Annotated variants were then compared to the previously obtained reference data.

Results and conclusions:

The analytical sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rates of the Multiplicom CFTR MASTR assay exceeded 99%. Because different types ofCFTRmutations can be detected in a single workflow, the CFTR MASTR assay simplifies the overall process and is consequently well suited for routine diagnostics.
Calculation of temperature distribution and rheological properties of the lithosphere along geotransect in the Red Sea region
Authors: Dérerová Jana , Kohút Igor , Radwan Anwar H. , Bielik Miroslav
Published: February 2018

The temperature model of the lithosphere along profile passing through the Red Sea region has been derived using 2D integrated geophysical modelling method. Using the extrapolation of failure criteria, lithology and calculated temperature distribution, we have constructed the rheological model of the lithosphere in the area. We have calculated the strength distribution in the lithosphere and constructed the strength envelopes for both compressional and extensional regimes. The obtained results indicate that the strength steadily decreases from the Western desert through the Eastern desert towards the Red Sea where it reaches its minimum for both compressional and extensional regime. Maximum strength can be observed in the Western desert where the largest strength reaches values of about 250–300 MPa within the upper crust on the boundary between upper and lower crust. In the Eastern desert we observe slightly decreased strength with max values about 200–250 MPa within upper crust within 15 km with compression being dominant. These results suggest mostly rigid deformation in the region or Western and Eastern desert. In the Red Sea, the strength rapidly decreases to its minimum suggesting ductile processes as a result of higher temperatures.
Effect of snow cover on soil frost penetration
Authors: Rožnovský Jaroslav , Brzezina Jáchym
Published: February 2018

Snow cover occurrence affects wintering and lives of organisms because it has a significant effect on soil frost penetration. An analysis of the dependence of soil frost penetration and snow depth between November and March was performed using data from 12 automated climatological stations located in Southern Moravia, with a minimum period of measurement of 5 years since 2001, which belong to the Czech Hydrometeorological institute. The soil temperatures at 5 cm depth fluctuate much less in the presence of snow cover. In contrast, the effect of snow cover on the air temperature at 2 m height is only very small. During clear sky conditions and no snow cover, soil can warm up substantially and the soil temperature range can be even higher than the range of air temperature at 2 m height. The actual height of snow is also important – increased snow depth means lower soil temperature range. However, even just 1 cm snow depth substantially lowers the soil temperature range and it can therefore be clearly seen that snow acts as an insulator and has a major effect on soil frost penetration and soil temperature range.
Carboxylesterase 1 genes: systematic review and evaluation of existing genotyping procedures
Authors: Rasmussen Henrik Berg , Madsen Majbritt Busk
Published: February 2018

The carboxylesterase 1 gene (CES1) encodes a hydrolase that metabolizes commonly used drugs. TheCES1-related pseudogene, carboxylesterase 1 pseudogene 1 (CES1P1), has been implicated in gene exchange withCES1and in the formation of hybrid genes including the carboxylesterase 1A2 gene (CES1A2). Hence, theCES1region is complex. Usingin silicoPCR and alignment, we assessed the specificity of PCR-assisted procedures for genotypingCES1,CES1A2andCES1P1in studies identified in PubMed. We identified 33 such studies and excluded those that were not the first to use a procedure or lacked sequence information. After this 17 studies remained. Ten of these used haplotype-specific amplification, restriction enzyme treatment or amplicon sequencing, and included five that were predicted to lack specificity. All procedures for genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms in eight studies lacked specificity. One of these studies also used amplicon sequencing, thus being present in the group above. Some primers and their intended targets were mismatched. We provide experimental evidence that one of the procedures lacked specificity. Additionally, a complex pattern of segmental duplications in theCES1region was revealed. In conclusion, many procedures forCES1,CES1A2andCES1P1genotyping appear to lack specificity. Knowledge about the segmental duplications may improve the typing of these genes.
Foreword
Authors: Nagy Erica , Timár Judit
Published: February 2018

The idea of this special issue was inspired by two powerful processes that encompassed academic studies focused on socio-spatial inequalities within Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and beyond.
Crisis and the Reproduction of Core-Periphery Relations on the Hungarian Housing Market
Authors: Pósfai Zsuzsanna , Nagy Gábor
Published: February 2018

Housing markets can be understood as indicators of the spatial pattern of capital investment under contemporary financial capitalism. We take this point of entry in order to analyze core-periphery relations around the turning point of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 on the Hungarian housing market. The instance of crisis sheds light on patterns of homogenization and differentiation; the effects of which can be understood by exploring housing market activity on various scales from the European to the local/regional. We argue that these two patterns of uneven development are inextricably linked and result in deepening sociospatial polarization.
Peripherialisation as a Result and Driving Force of Territorial Mobility in Post-Socialist Romania
Authors: Moldovan Aura
Published: February 2018

Over the past two and a half decades, the transition from a centralised to a market economy has affected Romania’s spatial configuration by re-widening the gap between cores and peripheries at a regional scale. Through a statistical analysis carried out for the North-West Region (NUTS 2), my contribution focuses on one of the mechanisms interrelated with peripheralisation, namely territorial mobility. The aim is twofold. First, to show how increasing core-periphery disparities impact mobility flows by offering different levels of structural (dis)advantages. Second, to exemplify how various social groups can influence these (dis)advantages by choosing their place of residence and work.
The Question of Responsibility: (De-)Peripheralising Rural Spaces in Post-Socialist Estonia
Authors: Plüschke-Altof Bianka
Published: February 2018

Recent studies on socio-spatial polarization and post-socialist spaces increasingly propose the use of postcolonial theory. Following this proposal, the paper attempts to make the decolonial approach fruitful for studying the crucial role that discourses play for rural peripheralisation processes in post-socialist Estonia. It shows that the Estonian discourses on peripheries manifest in a struggle between neoliberalism and interventionism as two competing regional development models that promote either self- or state responsibility for dealing with peripheralisation. Despite their differences, both models build on the same notion of modernity, as the colonial history associated with socialist modernity renders alternative models obsolete.
The Discursive Construction of Innovation Policy in Peripheralising Estonia
Authors: Schulz Sebastian
Published: February 2018

An innovation-driven agenda in regional development policy has emerged in the European Union against the backdrop of peripheralisation, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Using a discursive analytical framework, the article investigates the ways in which peripheralisation is manifested through language, practices and power-rationalities in Estonian innovation policy discourse. The analysis is footed on key strategic policy documents and semistructured expert interviews. Findings suggest that Estonian innovation policy’s main narrative of the ‘knowledge-based economy’ accepts growing disparities on sub-national level in order to overcome peripherality at European scale and narrows the range of policy solutions perceived as suitable.
Borderland of Nations, Religions and Cultures – the Case of Podlasie
Authors: Barwiński Marek
Published: February 2018

Podlasie, a historical and geographical region in north-eastern Poland, serves as both an external (interstate, European Union) and internal (ethnic, religious, linguistic, cultural) borderland. The primary aim of the article is to present historical and political conditions, national and cultural diversification of the Podlasie region, an analysis of current changes in ethnic and religious structure of the inhabitants as well as analysis of the consequences of changes of geopolitical circumstances in mutual relationships between different communities. Borderlands, especially those highly diverse in terms of nationality, religion, language and culture, are often identified with unstable, conflict-prone areas with past and present antagonism between nations sharing them. This belief has intensified over the last few decades when nationalisms, separatist tendencies and historical conflicts got sparked again in numerous regions of Central and Eastern Europe. However, not all European borderlands have to be stereotypically identified with areas of conflict, resentment and even hatred among the peoples inhabiting them. This is the case, among others, in Podlasie, where there are centuries-old traditions of cohabitation of diverse communities.
Public Spaces and Cultural Heritage in Community Projects – the Example of Warsaw
Authors: Hołuj Dominika
Published: February 2018

Public space in cities is widely seen as a developmental resource.It thus becomes a kind of urban product, and a lure for a range of groups of current and potential users. Cities compete for prestige and standing by creating new spaces or altering existing ones. The author attempts to assess the extent to which filling such a space with historical content is a significant contributing factor to the pursuit of such goals and the fulfilment of these tasks. The background for the analysis are projects submitted for the citizens’ participatory budget for the Polish capital, Warsaw.
Post-Socialist Gentrification Processes in Polish Cities
Authors: Jakóbczyk-Gryszkiewicz Jolanta , Sztybel-Boberek Martyna , Wolaniuk Anita
Published: February 2018

This paper discusses the specific character of gentrification processes in Polish cities, with a particular focus on Warsaw, Łódź and Gdańsk. It explains the forces and factors behind gentrification, and highlights its types and effects as well as the gentrifiers. It also addresses the problem of the absence of reprivatisation law in Poland. The paper concludes that gentrification processes in Polish cities occur in a different way and less intensively than in Western cities. They often have a localized character, mostly in the form of new-build gentrification carried out by developers and state-led gentrification with significant participation of the public sector.
Efficiency of the Slovak forestry in comparison to other European countries: An application of Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Kovalčík Miroslav
Published: February 2018

Efficiency improvement is important for increasing the competitiveness of any sector and the same is essential for the forestry sector. A non-parametric approach – Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used for the assessment of forestry efficiency. The paper presents the results of the efficiency evaluation of forestry in European countries using DEA. One basic and two modified models (labourandwood sale) were proposed, based on available input and output data from Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts for Forests and specific conditions of forestry also. The sample size was 22 countries and the data for 2005–2008 was processed. Obtained results show average efficiency in the range of 69 – 90% (depending on the model). Based on the results of the analysis following can be concluded: Slovak forestry achieved under average efficiency in comparison to other European countries, there were great differences in efficiency among individual countries; state of economy (advanced countries and countries with economy in transition) and region did not influence the efficiency statistically significant.
Weight parameters of body parts in sika deer (Cervus nippon nippon) from the Konstantinolázeňsko microregion, the Czech Republic
Authors: Hanzal Vladimír , Košinová Klára , Pokorný Radek , Janiszewski Pawel , Hart Vlastimil
Published: February 2018

Sika deer is widely spread species, in Czech Republic mostly occurred in West Bohemia. This species is defined as one of the most harmful ungulate game in the forests. For the wildlife population of sika deer in the microregion Konstantinolázeňsko in West Bohemia, total weight after the hunt, weight after expelling organs, weight of the head and distal parts of the limbs, and weight of the internal organs (heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney) were determined. Correlations between the weights of specific body parts (organs) were evaluated. Ratio between the weight after expelling organs (after gralloch) and the weight after hunt (total weight) was determined. The weight after expelling organs was 74% of the total weight. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the age and weight of individuals, and between the male age and the weight of the head. Without taking into account age differences, we show that males have a higher body weight than females, a form of sexual dimorphism.
Hollow tree fire is a useless forest fire category
Authors: Chromek Ivan , Lukášová Karolina , Berčák Roman , Vaněk Jan , Holuša Jaroslav
Published: February 2018

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the term “hollow tree fire“ was first used in a publication in 1956 without being well defined and was then uncritically used in other publications. The term refers to fires occurring in the rotted, inner trunks of trees. The main aim of the current study was to determine whether the term should be considered a useful category for the statistical analysis of forest fires. The nature and causes of fires from 2006–2015 were assessed by performing a detailed analysis of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic (FRS CR) database. The database included a total of 7,256 fires in the natural environment, but only 18 of these were hollow tree fires. Most hollow tree fires were initiated by human carelessness, and only three were initiated by lightning. Based on our critical consideration of fire attributes, hollow tree fires should not be considered a category of forest fire. The presence of rotten trees is, however, a serious problem because such trees represent long-lasting sources of fire in forest stands and because they complicate firefighting. The numbers of rotten trees in forests is increasing, and firefighters should be made aware of the complications of extinguishing fires involving rotten trees in forests.
Inalienable Possession in Swedish and Danish – A Diachronic Perspective
Authors: Piotrowska Alicja , Skrzypek Dominika
Published: February 2018

In this paper we discuss the alienability splits in two Mainland Scandinavian languages, Swedish and Danish, in a diachronic context. Although it is not universally acknowledged that such splits exist in modern Scandinavian languages, many nouns typically included in inalienable structures such as kinship terms, body part nouns and nouns describing culturally important items show different behaviour from those considered alienable. The differences involve the use of (reflexive) possessive pronouns vs. the definite article, which differentiates the Scandinavian languages from e.g. English. As the definite article is a relatively new arrival in the Scandinavian languages, we look at when the modern pattern could have evolved by a close examination of possessive structures with potential inalienables in Old Swedish and Old Danish. Our results reveal that to begin with, inalienables are usually bare nouns and come to be marked with the definite article in the course of its grammaticalization.
Henrik Hajdus (1890–1969) Rolle I Udbredelsen Af Det 19. Og 20. Århundredes Danske Litteratur I Ungarn
Authors: Csúr Gábor Attila
Published: February 2018

The Hungarian literary translator Henrik Hajdu (1890–1969) was one of the most extraordinary persons in the history of translating Scandinavian literature into Hungarian. Aside his activity as a translator from Norwegian and Swedish, Hajdu was also an important promoter of Danish authors of the 19th and 20th century. He held lectures on Nordic culture and literature, wrote reviews in prominent Hungarian journals and maintained regular contact to many of the Scandinavian publishers, writers, dramatists and poets. He translated novels by Henrik Pontoppidan, Martin Andersen Nexø and Sigrid Undset, made an edition of Ibsen's complete works and a great amount of short stories and poems. His oeuvre numbers about a hundred separate publications. This paper focuses on how he contributed to the general acceptance and reception of Danish literary works written between 1850 and 1930 among the Hungarian readers.
“Hver Gang Jeg Skriver En Roman” – Metafiktive Former Og Indstillinger I Inger Christensens Azorno
Authors: Gregersen Sune
Published: February 2018

The paper presents an analysis and discussion of the Danish writer Inger Christensen’s experimental novel Azorno from 1967. It is argued that the novel, which is partly in epistolary form, can be read as a literary objet trouvé, a found manuscript consisting of a struggling writer’s unfinished notes and documents. I then attempt to characterise the novel using the typology of metafictional forms and attitudes proposed by Gemzøe (2001), and point out a number of potential problems with this typology.
Synthesis of 2,3-dicyanopyrazine and ethyl 5-amino-4,6-dicyanobiphenyl-3-carboxylate derivatives from ethyl aroylpyruvates
Authors: Moloudi Maryam , Kabirifard Hassan , Piri Sohila , Naghizadeh Elham
Published: February 2018

Reactions of ethyl 4-aryl-2,4-dioxobutanoates 1a–c at ambient temperature with diaminomaleonitrile in glacial acetic acid and with malononitrile in ethanol/H2O (1:1) led to the formation of 5-(2-aryl-2-oxoethyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbontrile 2a–c and ethyl 5-amino-4,6-dicyanobiphenyl-3-carboxylate derivatives 3a–c, respectively.
Shear moduli in the longitudinal-radial and radial-tangential planes of Sitka spruce measured by torsional vibration tests
Authors: Yoshihara Hiroshi , Maruta Makoto
Published: February 2018

The shear moduli (SM) of solid wood in the longitudinal-radial (LR) and radial-tangential (RT) planes of Sitka spruce are extremely different from each other and were obtained via a torsional vibration (TV) test by varying the aspect ratios and conducting subsequent numerical analyses. The SM in both planes were accurate, when the aspect ratios of the specimens were appropriately selected, even though the SM around the torsional axis were extremely different from each other.
Combined Frequency Equivalent Model for Power Transmission Network Dynamic Behavior Analysis
Authors: Lakrih S. , Diouri J.
Published: February 2018

This paper presents a dynamic equivalent model for transmission network dynamic behavior analysis in MATLAB SIMULINK. The electromagnetic frequency response and electromechanical response are combined in the model. The dynamic behavior of distributed parameters line modeled by the EMTP equivalent model is compared with that corresponding to lumped parameter line represented by π model. The aim is to define the frequency band in which the lumped model can accurately represent the distributed parameters model on no load conditions but also when the network is loaded. The proposed equivalent model is explored to investigate the impact of topology on the network dynamics. Besides, the influence of load nature and compensation rate on the driving point frequency response are analyzed analytically and simulated via the proposed model.
Computational Studies of Voltage Regulation Provided by Wind Farms Through Reactive Power Control
Authors: Reis Alex , Moura Leandro Pains , Oliveira José Carlos de
Published: February 2018

The ever-growing demand for energy sources of low environmental impact has given a greater importance to wind farms in many countries. However, due to operational characteristics of these complexes, which are reflected into a variability of the energy produced and in the use of power electronic converters, the interaction between wind power plants and electrical networks shows itself to be an area of high investigative interest. In fact, among the various phenomena that exist, steady state voltage variations constitute a theme that is under the constant attention of electrical system operators. In this context, the present article is directed toward the analysis of a voltage regulation strategy aimed at wind power generation systems composed by synchronous machines and full converters. Once established the methodology that lead to an ancillary operation of the wind farm, the authors present results of computational simulations on ATP/EMTP platform that attest to the efficiency of the strategy.
Implementing complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer – mission completed?
Authors: Croner Roland S. , Ptok Henry , Merkel Susanne , Hohenberger Werner
Published: February 2018

The definition of complete mesocolic excision (CME) for colon carcinomas revolutionized the way of colon surgery. This technique conquered the world starting from Erlangen. Nevertheless, currently new developments especially in minimally invasive surgery challenge CME to become settled as a standard of care. To understand the evolution of CME, anatomical details occurring during embryogenesis and their variations have to be considered. This knowledge is indispensable to transfer CME from an open to a minimally invasive setting. Conventional surgery for colon cancer (non-CME) has a morbidity of 12.1–28.5% and a 3.7% mortality risk vs. 12–36.4% morbidity and 2.1–3% mortality for open CME. The morbidity of laparoscopic CME is between 4 and 31% with a mortality of 0.5–0.9%. In robotic assisted surgery, morbidity between 10 and 25% with a mortality of 1% was published. The cancer-related survival after 3 and 5 years for open CME is respectively 91.3–95% and 90% vs. 87% and 74% for non-CME. For laparoscopic CME the 3- and 5-year cancer-related survival is 87.8–97% and 79.5–80.2%. In stage UICC III the 3- and 5-year cancer-related survival is 83.9% and 80.8% in the Erlangen data of open technique vs. 75.4% and 65.5–71.7% for laparoscopic surgery. For stage UICC III the 3- and 5-year local tumor recurrence is 3.8%. The published data and the results from Erlangen demonstrate that CME is safe in experienced hands with no increased morbidity. It offers an obvious survival benefit for the patients which can be achieved solely by surgery. Teaching programs are needed for minimally invasive CME to facilitate this technique in the same quality compared to open surgery. Passing these challenges CME will become the standard of care for patients with colon carcinomas offering all benefits of minimally invasive surgery and oncological outcome.
One-Match-Ahead Forecasting in Two-Team Sports with Stacked Bayesian Regressions
Authors: Lam Max W. Y.
Published: February 2018

There is a growing interest in applying machine learning algorithms to real-world examples by explicitly deriving models based on probabilistic reasoning. Sports analytics, being favoured mostly by the statistics community and less discussed in the machine learning community, becomes our focus in this paper. Specifically, we model two-team sports for the sake of one-match-ahead forecasting. We present a pioneering modeling approach based on stacked Bayesian regressions, in a way that winning probability can be calculated analytically. Benefiting from regression flexibility and high standard of performance, Sparse Spectrum Gaussian Process Regression (SSGPR) – an improved algorithm for the standard Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), was used to solve Bayesian regression tasks, resulting in a novel predictive model called TLGProb. For evaluation, TLGProb was applied to a popular sports event – National Basketball Association (NBA). Finally, 85.28% of the matches in NBA 2014/2015 regular season were correctly predicted by TLGProb, surpassing the existing predictive models for NBA.
Soft Computing Tools for Virtual Drug Discovery
Authors: Hagan Daniel , Hagan Martin
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we describe how several soft computing tools can be used to assist in high throughput screening of potential drug candidates. Individual small molecules (ligands) are assessed for their potential to bind to specific proteins (receptors). Committees of multilayer networks are used to classify protein-ligand complexes as good binders or bad binders, based on selected chemical descriptors. The novel aspects of this paper include the use of statistical analyses on the weights of single layer networks to select the appropriate descriptors, the use of Monte Carlo cross-validation to provide confidence measures of network performance (and also to identify problems in the data), the addition of new chemical descriptors to improve network accuracy, and the use of Self Organizing Maps to analyze the performance of the trained network and identify anomalies. We demonstrate the procedures on a large practical data set, and use them to discover a promising characteristic of the data. We also perform virtual screenings with the trained networks on a number of benchmark sets and analyze the results.
An Environment for Collective Perception based on Fuzzy and Semantic Approaches
Authors: D’Aniello Giuseppe , Gaeta Matteo , Loia Francesca , Reformat Marek , Toti Daniele
Published: February 2018

This work proposes a software environment implementing a methodology for acquiring and exploiting the collective perception (CP) of Points of Interests (POIs) in a Smart City, which is meant to support decision makers in urban planning and management. This environment relies upon semantic knowledge discovery techniques and fuzzy computational approaches, including natural language processing, sentiment analysis, POI signatures and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, turning them into a cohesive architectural blend in order to effectively gather the realistic perception of a user community towards given areas and attractions of a Smart City. The environment has been put to the test via a thorough experimentation against a massive user base of an online community with respect to a large metropolitan city (the City of Naples). Such an experimentation yielded consistent results, useful for providing decision makers with a clear awareness of the positive as well as critical aspects of urban areas, and thus helping them shape the measures to be taken for an improved city management and development.
Effect of Strategy Adaptation on Differential Evolution in Presence and Absence of Parameter Adaptation: An Investigation
Authors: Dawar Deepak , Ludwig Simone A.
Published: February 2018

Differential Evolution (DE) is a simple, yet highly competitive real parameter optimizer in the family of evolutionary algorithms. A significant contribution of its robust performance is attributed to its control parameters, and mutation strategy employed, proper settings of which, generally lead to good solutions. Finding the best parameters for a given problem through the trial and error method is time consuming, and sometimes impractical. This calls for the development of adaptive parameter control mechanisms. In this work, we investigate the impact and efficacy of adapting mutation strategies with or without adapting the control parameters, and report the plausibility of this scheme. Backed with empirical evidence from this and previous works, we first build a case for strategy adaptation in the presence as well as in the absence of parameter adaptation. Afterwards, we propose a new mutation strategy, and an adaptive variant SA-SHADE which is based on a recently proposed self-adaptive memory based variant of Differential evolution, SHADE. We report the performance of SA-SHADE on 28 benchmark functions of varying complexity, and compare it with the classic DE algorithm (DE/Rand/1/bin), and other state-of-the-art adaptive DE variants including CoDE, EPSDE, JADE, and SHADE itself. Our results show that adaptation of mutation strategy improves the performance of DE in both presence, and absence of control parameter adaptation, and should thus be employed frequently.
Complex-Valued Associative Memories with Projection and Iterative Learning Rules
Authors: Isokawa Teijiro , Yamamoto Hiroki , Nishimura Haruhiko , Yumoto Takayuki , Kamiura Naotake , Matsui Nobuyuki
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we investigate the stability of patterns embedded as the associative memory distributed on the complex-valued Hopfield neural network, in which the neuron states are encoded by the phase values on a unit circle of complex plane. As learning schemes for embedding patterns onto the network, projection rule and iterative learning rule are formally expanded to the complex-valued case. The retrieval of patterns embedded by iterative learning rule is demonstrated and the stability for embedded patterns is quantitatively investigated.
Severe Austrian Syndrome in an Immunocompromised Adult Patient – A Case Report
Authors: Chirteș Ioana Raluca , Florea Dragos , Chiriac Carmen , Mărginean Oana Maria , Mănășturean Cristina , Vitin Alexander A , Georgescu Anca Meda
Published: February 2018

Background: Known also as Osler’s triad, Austrian syndrome is a complex pathology which consists of pneumonia, meningitis and endocarditis, all caused by the haematogenous dissemination of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The multivalvular lesions are responsible for a severe and potential lethal outcome.

Case report: The case of a 51-year-old female patient, with a past medical history of splenectomy, is presented. She developed bronchopneumonia, acute meningitis and infective endocarditis as a result of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and subsequently developed multiple organ dysfunction syndromes which led to a fatal outcome. Bacteriological tests did not reveal the etiological agent. The histopathological examination showed a severe multivalvular endocarditis, while a PCR based molecular analysis from formalin fixed valvular tissue identified Streptococcus pneumoniae as the etiologic agent.

Conclusions: The presented case shows a rare syndrome with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Following the broad-spectrum treatment and intensive therapeutic support, the patient made unfavourable progress which raised differential diagnosis problems. In this case, the post-mortem diagnosis demonstrated multiple valvular lesions occurred as a result of endocarditis.
Testing for a Functional Form of Mean Regression in a Fully Parametric Environment
Authors: Anatolyev Stanislav
Published: February 2018

We develop a test for a restricted functional form of a mean regression when a complex distributional model for all variables is estimated. The test statistic is an average squared deviation from the estimated hypothesized function of the form implied by the estimated parametric model, and is asymptotically distributed as a mixture of χ
2 distributions. The test is easy to implement using numerical derivatives, and it performs well in samples of typical size. We illustrate the test using data on labor market characteristics of US young men.
Catastrophes and their Classifications: Revising New York City’s Hurricane Evacuation Maps after Irene and Sandy
Authors: Wilson Michael T.
Published: February 2018

Hurricanes are low-probability, high-consequence events that pose a challenge for disaster planning and management. In the United States, one of the primary ways of ensuring safety from these storms is evacuation. Changing population demographics, risk evaluations, and sociopolitical priorities necessitate occasional updates and revisions to evacuation maps. What are the political and ethical considerations of these map revisions for municipal officials and emergency management professionals? This paper develops an in-depth policy case study of the June 2013 revision of the NYC Emergency Management (formerly Office of Emergency Management or OEM) hurricane evacuation map after Irene and Sandy. By using interviews, document review, geospatial analysis, and process tracing, the research clarified the political narratives advanced upon the release of the new map. This paper finds the mayoral desire for evacuation flexibility, ethical obligation to vulnerable constituencies, and professionalism of the emergency management community drove this recent innovation in coastal storm emergency management. As the result of a long-term process initiated before the hurricanes, OEM’s incorporation of its historical flood experience and adaptation of federal modeling data to suit local social vulnerability planning could serve as a precedent for other municipalities facing similar, complex hazards at the urban scale.
Double taxation conventions in Romania Case: DSSs Râşnov vs. ANAf braşov
Authors: Dumiter Florin , Jimon Ștefania , Boiță Marius
Published: February 2018

Conventions to avoid double taxation are thepanaceaof tax law,lato sensu, and direct taxation,stricto sensu. Although the current network of double taxation conventions has over 2500 tax treaties concluded by the world’s states, there are still issues that need to be addressed in their application: the anti-abuse provisions to be found in conventions, the practices of the type treaty shopping, LOB clauses, use of arbitration in the application of double taxation avoidance conventions. The case of Romania is analyzed in this article, through the DSSs Râşnov cause vs. ANAF Brasov, in order to highlight the way in which the framework of the double taxation avoidance convention is applied in Romania, if there are differences and divergences between thede jureprovisions of the double taxation avoidance conventions and thede factoapplication, in practice, a state like Romania, which is in the process of catching up with economies in developed countries. The case presented in this article suggests that there is stillroom for maneuverto improve the framework for double taxation avoidance conventions in Romania and how they are applied in practice, which their provisions are interpreted and respected.