bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hubungan Karakteristik Morfologi Palpable Mass Payudara Menggunakan Ultrasonografi Grayscale dengan Histopatologi di Rumah Sakit Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung
Authors: Soekersi Hari , Kurniasih Nine Devina
Published: March 2019

Background: Grayscale ultrasound is important radiology modality in detecting the morphological characteristics of a palpable breast mass, because it has advantages in distinguishing solid and cystic mass of benign and malignant origin, small lesions with dense fbroglanduler network, especially young women aged < 35 years old. To detect the morphological characteristics of a palpable breast mass, grayscale ultrasound refers to BIRADS 2013. The gold standard diagnosis using core biopsy is superior than FNAB, but until now FNAB is still performed a lot, because in addition to being minimally invasive methods of quickly diagnosing with minimal complications, it is also widely available at health facilities.Objectives: To fnd relationship between the morphological characteristics of a palpable breast mass using grayscale ultrasound and FNAB results in Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital.Material and Method: this is an analytic observational study with cross-sectional approach. The subjects were women with palpable breast mass who had grayscale ultrasound with reference to BIRADS and undergone FNAB in 2013 and met the inclusion criteria. Sampling was conducted prospectively and performed in the Department of Radiology / Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung from May 2016 to August 2016. The data analysis was done using univariable and bivariable chi-square test.Results: Study subjects were 30 female patients, the youngest aged 35 years old and the oldest aged 60 years. A total of eight suspicious palpable breast mass malignancies (BIRADS 4), consisting of six (75.0%) benign and two (25.0%) malignant masses. A total of 22 palpable breast mass suggestive of malignancy (BIRADS 5), consisting of 21 (95.5%) malignant and 1 (4.5%) benign lesion.Conclusion: There is a signifcant relationship between the morphological characteristics of a palpable breast mass using grayscale ultrasound with FNAB in Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital with p <0.001 (?0,05).
Korelasi antara Ankle-Brachial Index, Pulse Oximetry, dan Ankle Peak Systolic Velocity Penderita Diabetes Melitus tanpa Obesitas Abdominal
Authors: Andreas Andreas , Choridah Lina , Sudarmanta Sudarmanta
Published: March 2019

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is the most common complication of vascular complications, one of which is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which can increase morbidity and mortality in diabetic patient.Early screening parameter and diagnosis of PAD that currently still largely accepted are Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and pulse oximetry. ABI and pulse oximetry each has advantages and disadvantages. Patients with diabetes, especially if accompanied by abdominal obesity often have arterial sti?ness so that the value of ABI actually increased, in this case pulse oximetry has a higher sensitivity. Ankle Peak Systolic Velocity (APSV) which is the average of Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) of anterior and posterior tibial artery at ankle joint level is a new parameter for assessing ischemia of the lower limb and is not in?uenced by arterial sti?ness. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the correlation between ankle-brachial index, pulse oximetry and ankle peak systolic velocity in DM patients without abdominal obesity.Materials and methods: This study was observational analytic with cross-sectional design study in subjects with DM without abdominal obesity who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: The subjects consisted of 38 limbs from 19 people, 11 (57.9%) males and 8 (42.1%) women aged 47-68 years. Spearman test showed a positive correlation was signifcant between ABI with APSV (r = 0.549, p <0.001). Correlation between ABI and pulse oximetry; pulse oximetry and APSV showed weak signifcant negative correlation (r = -0.347, p <0.05 and r = -0.369, p <0.05). Only APSV which has a strong positive correlation with clinical PAD signifcantly (r = 0.743, p <0.001).Conclusions: There is no strong correlation between ABI, pulse oximetry and APSV in DM patients without abdominal obesity. APSV can replace ABI and pulse oximetry as a non-invasive examination of diabetic patients for screening and follow-up PAD
Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil and Vegetation Characteristics in Fereydan, Iran
Authors: Eghdami Hanieh , Azhdari Ghanimat , Lebailly Philippe , Azadi Hossein
Published: March 2019

To understand and manage ecosystem complexity, it is important to determine the relationships between soil characteristics, human activities, and biodiversity. This study analyzes the relationships between vegetation, soil, and man-made damage with regards to land use change in the Fereydan region, Iran. Soil physical properties such as sand and silt content, clay, saturated soil’s moisture content, and gravel percentage as well as chemical properties such as lime content, pH, electro conductivity (EC), and organic matter content were measured. In order to trace these variables, the principle component analysis (PCA) was applied. The study area was divided into three states of conditions; i.e., good condition rangelands, poor condition rangelands, and abandoned rain-fed area. Based on the results there was a significant difference between species diversity in good condition rangelands compared with two other sites. The results further revealed that among soil chemical and physical characteristics, only soil organic matter had a significant difference between different rangeland sites. According to the results, the rangelands with good conditions had the highest amount of organic matter (1.43–1.50%) compared with two other studied rangelands (poor conditions: 1.02–1.09%; abandoned rain-fed: 1.2–1.46%). The most influential factor on the species diversity index was the distance to village parameter that revealed the important role of humans in degrading rangelands and reducing species diversity.
Deep Learning Techniques for Agronomy Applications
Authors: Chen Chi-Hua , Kung Hsu-Yang , Hwang Feng-Jang
Published: March 2019

This editorial introduces the Special Issue, entitled “Deep Learning (DL) Techniques for Agronomy Applications”, of Agronomy. Topics covered in this issue include three main parts: (I) DL-based image recognition techniques for agronomy applications, (II) DL-based time series data analysis techniques for agronomy applications, and (III) behavior and strategy analysis for agronomy applications. Three papers on DL-based image recognition techniques for agronomy applications are as follows: (1) “Automatic segmentation and counting of aphid nymphs on leaves using convolutional neural networks,” by Chen et al.; (2) “Estimating body condition score in dairy cows from depth images using convolutional neural networks, transfer learning, and model ensembling techniques,” by Alvarez et al.; and (3) “Development of a mushroom growth measurement system applying deep learning for image recognition,” by Lu et al. One paper on DL-based time series data analysis techniques for agronomy applications is as follows: “LSTM neural network based forecasting model for wheat production in Pakistan,” by Haider et al. One paper on behavior and strategy analysis for agronomy applications is as follows: “Research into the E-learning model of agriculture technology companies: analysis by deep learning,” by Lin et al.
Isolation and Characterization of the High Silicate and Phosphate Solubilizing Novel Strain Enterobacter ludwigii GAK2 that Promotes Growth in Rice Plants
Authors: Lee Ko-Eun , Adhikari Arjun , Kang Sang-Mo , You Young-Hyun , Joo Gil-Jae , Kim Jin-Ho , Kim Sang-Jun , Lee In-Jung
Published: March 2019

Silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P) are beneficial nutrient elements for plant growth. These elements are widely used in chemical fertilizers despite their abundance in the earth’s crust. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers is a threat to sustainable agriculture. Here, we screened different Si and P solubilizing bacterial strains from the diverse rice fields of Daegu, Korea. The strain with high Si and P solubilizing ability was selected and identified as Enterobacter ludwigii GAK2 through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The isolate GAK2 produced organic acids (citric acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid), indole-3-acetic acid, and gibberellic acid (GA1, GA3) in Luria-Bertani media. In addition, GAK2 inoculation promoted seed germination in a gibberellin deficient rice mutant Waito-C and rice cultivar ‘Hwayoungbyeo’. Overall, the isolate GAK2 increased root length, shoot length, fresh biomass, and chlorophyll content of rice plants. These findings reveal that E. ludwigii GAK2 is a potential silicon and phosphate bio-fertilizer.
Using Flaming as an Alternative Method to Vine Suckering
Authors: Martelloni Luisa , Raffaelli Michele , Frasconi Christian , Fontanelli Marco , Peruzzi Andrea , D’Onofrio Claudio
Published: March 2019

Suckering is the process of removing the suckers that grapevine trunks put out in the spring. Suckering by hand is costly and time consuming and requires constant bending down, getting up and making repetitive motions. The mechanical removal of suckers with rotating scourges can damage the vine plants. Chemical suckering is a limiting factor for wine grape growers interested in sustainable and/or organic agriculture. The aim of this research was to test flaming as an alternative method to vine suckering. A three-year experiment was conducted on a 10-year-old Sangiovese vine (775 Paulsen rootstock). The treatments consisted of flame suckering at different phenological stages, hand-suckering and a no-suckered control. Data on the number of suckers, grape yield components, and grape composition were collected and analysed. The results showed that flaming significantly reduced the initial number of suckers. This effect on the suckers was highest when the main productive shoots of the vines were at the 18-19 BBCH growth stage. Flame-suckering did not affect grape yield components and grape composition. Future studies could investigate the simultaneous use of flaming for both suckering and weed control.
The Effect of Strain and Rearing Medium on the Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile and Carotenoid Content in Silkworm (Bombyx mori) Pupae
Authors: Chieco Camilla , Morrone Lucia , Bertazza Giampaolo , Cappellozza Silvia , Saviane Alessio , Gai Francesco , Di Virgilio Nicola , Rossi Federica
Published: March 2019

The overexploitation of fishmeal and soy for the feedstuff industry has provided an opportunity to employ insects as an unconventional and more environmental friendly protein source. The evaluation of the nutritive properties of different insect species has consequently become a priority. The present study compares the pupal nutritive composition of two silkworm strains (White Cocoon Polyhybrid and Golden Yellow Cocoon Nistari) fed on two different rearing media (fresh mulberry leaves and a commercial artificial diet). Our results provide evidence that the composition of the feeding substrate strongly influences the fat and protein content of silkworm pupae. The two tested strains had higher fat and lower protein contents when fed with silkworm natural food (mulberry leaves) with respect to the commercial artificial diet. The analysis also showed that the n3/n6 ratio was affected almost exclusively by the feed substrate factor. On the contrary, the carotenoid content in pupae was specifically determined by the strain. The study identifies the interesting opportunity offered by silkworm pupae, which are usually a waste product of the silk-reeling process, to be used as alternative animal protein sources in a fully-closed circular production.
Stress-Induced Immunomodulation in Low and High Reactive Sheep
Authors: Sutherland Mhairi , Dowling Suzanne , Shaw Richard , Hickey Jackie , Fraser Diane , Cameron Catherine , Sutherland Ian
Published: March 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress and temperament on the humoral immune response of ewes. Eighty ewes were allocated to one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design (n = 20 ewes/treatment): low (LR) and high (HR) reactive ewes were either exposed to no stress (CON) or were visually isolated (STRESS). Ewes remained in treatment pens for 23 h: heart rate was measured continuously, and saliva samples were collected prior to testing and at 0.5 h and 23 h for measurement of cortisol, CarLA IgA and total IgA concentrations. After the first 0.5 h, heart rate was elevated, and cortisol concentrations tended to be higher, whereas CarLa IgA concentrations were lower in STRESS than CON ewes. Similarly, after 23 h, cortisol concentrations remained elevated and CarLA IgA concentrations remained lower in STRESS than CON ewes. Interestingly, total IgA concentrations were not influenced by a 0.5 h or 23 h stressor. Overall, CarLA IgA concentrations were lower in HR than LR ewes at 0.5 h, but there was no significant stress × temperament interaction. Therefore, stress appears to have an immunosuppressive effect on CarLA IgA but not total IgA concentrations in ewes.
An Ultrasonic Guided Wave Mode Selection and Excitation Method in Rail Defect Detection
Authors: Shi Hongmei , Zhuang Lu , Xu Xining , Yu Zujun , Zhu Liqiang
Published: March 2019

Different guided wave mode has different sensitivity to the defects of rail head, rail web and rail base in the detection of rail defects using ultrasonic guided wave. A novel guided wave mode selection and excitation method is proposed, which is effective for detection and positioning of the three parts of rail defects. Firstly, the mode shape data in a CHN60 rail is obtained at the frequency of 35 kHz based on SAFE method. The guided wave modes are selected, combining the strain energy distribution diagrams with the phase velocity dispersion curves of modes, which are sensitive to the defects of the rail head, rail web and rail base. Then, the optimal excitation direction and excitation node of the modes are calculated with the mode shape matrix. Phase control and time delay technology are employed to achieve the expected modes enhancement and interferential modes suppression. Finally, ANSYS is used to excite the specific modes and detect defects in different rail parts to validate the proposed methods. The results show that the expected modes are well acquired. The selected specific modes are sensitive to the defects of different positions and the positioning error is small enough for the maintenance staff to accept.
On the Coherence Relationship between Measurement Matrices and Equivalent Radiation Sources in Microwave Computational Imaging Applications
Authors: Guan Jian , Chen Weidong
Published: March 2019

In recent years, computational imaging, which encodes scene information into a set of measurements, has become a research focus in the field of microwave imaging. As with other typical inverse problems, the key challenge is to reduce the mutual coherences in the measurement matrix which is composed of measurement modes. Since the modes are synthesized by antennas, there is a great deal of interest in the antenna optimization for the reduction. The mechanism underlying the generation of the coherences is critical for the optimization; however, relevant research is still inadequate. In this paper, we try to address the research gap by relating the coherences to the antennas’ equivalent radiation sources via spectral Green’s dyad. We demonstrate that the coherences in the measurement matrix are dependent on the spatial spectral coherences of the sources, while in this relationship the imaging scenario acts as a spectral low-pass filter. Increasing the imaging range narrows the spectral constraint, which eventually increases the coherences in the measurement matrix. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations are performed for validation. We hope that our work provides a possible direction for the antenna optimization in microwave computational imaging (MCI) applications and motivates further research in this field.
Hyperpolarised 1H–13C Benchtop NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Robinson Alastair D. , Richardson Peter M. , Halse Meghan E.
Published: March 2019

Benchtop NMR spectrometers with sub-ppm spectral resolution have opened up new opportunities for performing NMR outside of the standard laboratory environment. However, the relatively weak magnetic fields of these devices (1–2 T) results in low sensitivity and significant peak overlap in 1H NMR spectra. Here, we use hyperpolarised 13C{1H} NMR to overcome these challenges. Specifically, we demonstrate the use of the signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) parahydrogen-based hyperpolarisation technique to enhance the sensitivity of natural abundance 1D and 2D 13C{1H} benchtop NMR spectra. We compare two detection methods for SABRE-enhanced 13C NMR and observe an optimal 13C{1H} signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a refocused INEPT approach, where hyperpolarisation is transferred from 1H to 13C. In addition, we exemplify SABRE-enhanced 2D 13C benchtop NMR through the acquisition of a 2D HETCOR spectrum of 260 mM of 4-methylpyridine at natural isotopic abundance in a total experiment time of 69 min. In theory, signal averaging for over 300 days would be required to achieve a comparable SNR for a thermally polarised benchtop NMR spectrum acquired of a sample of the same concentration at natural abundance.
A Novel Adaptive State Detector-Based Post-Filtering Active Control Algorithm for Gaussian Noise Environment with Impulsive Interference
Authors: Zhu Wenzhao , Shi Shengguo , Luo Lei , Sun Jinwei
Published: March 2019

For Gaussian noise with random or periodic impulsive interference, the conventional active noise control (ANC) methods with finite second-order moments may fail to converge. Furthermore, the intensity of impulsive noise typically varies over time in the actual application, which also decreases the performance of conventional active impulsive noise control methods. To address these problems, a novel adaptive state detector based post-filtering active control algorithm is proposed. In this work, information entropy with adaptive kernel size is first introduced into the cost function of a post-filtering algorithm to improve its tracking. To enhance the robust performance of adaptive filters when impulsive interference happens, a recursive optimal threshold selecting method is also developed and analyzed by statistical theories. Simulations show that the new method has fast tracking ability in non-impulsive noise environment and keeps robust when impulsive interference happens. It also works well for the impulsive noise of different degrees. Experiment results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Recent Advances in DSP Techniques for Mode Division Multiplexing Optical Networks with MIMO Equalization: A Review
Authors: Weng Yi , Wang Junyi , Pan Zhongqi
Published: March 2019

This paper provides a technical review regarding the latest progress on multi-input multi-output (MIMO) digital signal processing (DSP) equalization techniques for high-capacity fiber-optic communication networks. Space division multiplexing (SDM) technology was initially developed to improve the demanding capacity of optic-interconnect links through mode-division multiplexing (MDM) using few-mode fibers (FMF), or core-multiplexing exploiting multicore fibers (MCF). Primarily, adaptive MIMO filtering techniques were proposed to de-multiplex the signals upon different modes or cores, and to dynamically compensate for the differential mode group delays (DMGD) plus mode-dependent loss (MDL) via DSP. Particularly, the frequency-domain equalization (FDE) techniques suggestively lessen the algorithmic complexity, compared with time-domain equalization (TDE), while holding comparable performance, amongst which the least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms are most ubiquitous and, hence, extensively premeditated. In this paper, we not only enclose the state of the art of MIMO equalizers, predominantly focusing on the advantage of implementing the space–time block-coding (STBC)-assisted MIMO technique, but we also cover the performance evaluation for different MIMO-FDE schemes of DMGD and MDL for adaptive coherent receivers. Moreover, the hardware complexity optimization for MIMO-DSP is discussed, and a joint-compensation scheme is deliberated for chromatic dispersion (CD) and DMGD, along with a number of recent experimental demonstrations using MIMO-DSP.
JIT Production Strategy and Maintenance for Quality Deteriorating Systems
Authors: Rivera-Gómez Héctor , Montaño-Arango Oscar , Corona-Armenta José Ramón , Garnica-González Jaime , Ortega-Reyes Antonio Oswaldo , Anaya-Fuentes Gustavo Erick
Published: March 2019

We study the optimal production planning and major maintenance scheduling for an unreliable manufacturing system. We assume that the production unit experiences progressive deterioration that negatively influences product quality. For the production policy, we extend improve traditional threshold policies with a superior alternative, based on a just-in-time (JIT) strategy. The paper brings a new vision on the importance of implementing more effective production strategies based on JIT methods, instead of traditional threshold policies. When a failure occurs, the production unit is minimally repaired, and when the major maintenance is selected, the machine is restored to brand-new conditions. The objective of the model is to determine the simultaneous JIT production and major maintenance strategy that minimizes the total cost. Due to the stochastic features of the system, a simulation-based optimization approach is proposed, which combines the descriptive capabilities of simulation modeling with analytical models, statistical analysis, and optimization techniques. The results verify that the proposed simulation–optimization approach provides new and coherent results that highlight the strong influence of quality deterioration on the determination of the control parameters. A sensitivity analysis and a comparative study are conducted to illustrate that significant cost savings could be obtained with the proposed approach.
The Scope of Reclamation Works for Areas after the Exploitation of Rock Raw Materials
Authors: Strzałkowski Paweł , Kaźmierczak Urszula
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes a framework to systematize the scope of reclamation works that optimize the agricultural, forest, aquatic, natural, economic, and cultural values of areas after the exploitation of mineral raw materials by mining. The framework describes characteristic reclamation works, which may become the basis for estimating the financial value of reclamation projects and for securing financial means for the implementation of reclamation tasks. Three phases of reclamation are represented in characteristic reclamation works. The preliminary phase includes works related to the development of design-estimate documentation. The scope of these works is the same regardless of the direction and type of post-mining facility. The technical (basic) phase is the completion of earthworks that prepare for the biological (detailed) phase, which includes introduction of biological systems into areas transformed by mining activities. The scopes of works of the technical and biological phases are different, depending on the planned function of the post-mining area and the type of material extracted.
Investigation of Bottlenecks in Supply Chain System for Minimizing Total Cost by Integrating Manufacturing Modelling Based on MINLP Approach
Authors: Hajmirfattahtabrizi Mahboobehalsadat , Song Huaming
Published: March 2019

In recent years, due to high pressure of expenses on supply chain systems and members, the decision makers in these situations are seeking to create policy and strategies to minimize the total cost for their supply chain process with low target price and future demands. Regarding this crucial issue, their studies on the implementation of supply chain issues and bottlenecks have observed the enormous and direct impact on company’s financial performance and improve it systemically. In this paper, a well-known mixed integer nonlinear programming by multi-objective function is proposed to decide on reliable results for supply, production, and distribution system problems. The proposed mixed integer nonlinear programming model for multi-objective supply, production, and distribution problems is used to minimize the total cost for incurred sections and terms by decision makers. The obtained optimum solution and result are fulfilled by investigators and producers for planning how to adjust the investment and gain more accurate performances and implementations. Numerical results in plots and throughputs from MATLAB, using MINLP, showed that integrating the supply chain and mitigating the bottlenecks led to improve the system and decrease the total cost approximately (19.73%), while running without negative effects of supply chain disturbances on total cost.
Multiphysics Field Distribution Characteristics within the One-Cell Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack with Typical Interdigitated Flow Channels
Authors: Xu Yu , Kukolin Anton , Chen Daifen , Yang Wei
Published: March 2019

Generally, the manufacturing technology of fuel cell units is considered to satisfy the current commercialization requirements. However, achieving a high-performance and durable stack design is still an obstacle in its commercialization. The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack is considered to have performance characteristics that are distinct from the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks. Within the SOFC stack, vapor is produced on the anode side instead of the cathode side and high flow resistance within the fuel flow path is recommended. In this paper, a 3D multiphysics model for a one-cell SOFC stack with the interdigitated channels for fuel flow path and conventional paralleled line-type rib channels for air flow path is firstly developed to predict the multiphysics distribution details. The model consists of all the stack components and couples well the momentum, species, and energy conservation and the quasi-electrochemical equations. Through the developed model, we can get the working details within those SOFC stacks with the above interdigitated flow channel features, such as the fuel and air flow feeding qualities over the electrode surface, hydrogen and oxygen concentration distributions within the porous electrodes, temperature gradient distribution characteristics, and so on. The simulated result shows that the multiphysics field distribution characteristics within the SOFC and PEMFC stacks with interdigitated flow channels feature could be very different. The SOFC stack using the paralleled line-type rib channels for air flow path and adopting the interdigitated flow channels for the fuel flow path can be expected to have good collaborative performances in the multiphysics field. This design would have good potential application after being experimentally confirmed.
Material Characterization for Sustainable Concrete Paving Blocks
Authors: Wang Xinyi , Chin Chee Seong , Xia Jun
Published: March 2019

Recycled aggregates have been widely studied and used in concrete products nowadays. There are still many waste materials that can be used as recycled aggregates other than crushed concrete particles. This paper aims to study the property variations of sustainable concrete paving block incorporating different contents of construction wastes. Five different types of waste materials were used in this project, including: recycled concrete coarse aggregate (RCCA), recycled concrete fine aggregate (RCFA), crushed glass (CG), crumb rubber (CB), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). According to the test results of the properties of blocks mixed with different levels of wastes materials, it is concluded that adding both RCCA and RCFA in the block can decrease its strength and increase the water absorption. The suggested replacement levels for RCCA and RCFA are 60% and 20%, respectively. Mixing crushed glass in the concrete paving blocks as a type of coarse aggregates can improve the blocks’ strength and decrease the blocks’ water absorption. Addition of crumb rubber causes a significant deterioration of blocks’ properties except for its slip resistance.
The Effect of the Precursor Solution’s Pretreatment on the Properties and Microstructure of the SCS Final Nanomaterials
Authors: Thoda Olga , Xanthopoulou Galina , Vekinis George , Chroneos Alexander
Published: March 2019

Nanostructured nickel-based catalysts were produced by solution combustion synthesis and it was found that their properties and structure depended on the pretreatment of the precursor solution. X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, and an infrared high-speed camera were used to follow the various synthesis steps and to characterize the obtained catalysts, while their catalytic activity was determined in the hydrogenation of maleic acid. It was determined that the amount of water used and the heating of the precursor solution under mild stirring up to 70 °C influenced the nickel nitrate–glycine–water complexes that were formed in the precursor solution in the form of dendrites. These play a key role in the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) reaction mechanism and in particular in the formation of nickel-based catalysts. Understanding the interrelationships between the processing parameters and the ensuing powder properties allowed an efficient optimization of the catalytic performance.
Preventive Maintenance Topic Models for LNG Containment Systems of LNG Marine Carriers Using Dock Specifications
Authors: Youn Ik-Hyun , Kim Sung-Cheol
Published: March 2019

The high demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) requires more LNG carriers (LNGCs) to be in operation. During transportation, there is a high risk due to the required extremely low temperatures and the explosive nature of LNG cargo. Moreover, when there is a lack of experience in operating old LNGCs, there is a serious concern regarding operational accidents. A systematic maintenance strategy, especially for LNG cargo containment systems, is crucial for maintaining safe LNG transportation at sea. The purpose of this study is to develop preventive LNG cargo containment system maintenance models by using LNGC dock specifications from LNGCs of various ages. The dock specifications from a conventional LNGC repairing dock were analyzed using natural language processing techniques in order to develop preventive maintenance models of the LNG cargo containment system. From these results, and by considering the ship’s age, it was found that for young LNGCs, the priority for repair should focus on checking routine consumable spare parts by tank inspections, whereas for older LNGCs, the focus should be on tank condition maintenance rather than on other facilities. These results are expected to be useful in the development of a maintenance strategy of preventive LNG cargo containment systems in maritime LNG transportation.
The Sensitivity of Urban Heat Island to Urban Green Space—A Model-Based Study of City of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Authors: Maheng Dikman , Ducton Ishara , Lauwaet Dirk , Zevenbergen Chris , Pathirana Assela
Published: March 2019

Urbanization continues to trigger massive land-use land-cover change that transforms natural green environments to impermeable paved surfaces. Fast-growing cities in Asia experience increased urban temperature indicating the development of urban heat islands (UHIs) because of decreased urban green space, particularly in recent decades. This paper investigates the existence of UHIs and the impact of green areas to mitigate the impacts of UHIs in Colombo, Sri Lanka, using UrbClim, a boundary climate model that runs two classes of simulations, namely urbanization impact simulations, and greening simulations. The urbanization impact simulation results show that UHIs spread spatially with the reduction of vegetation cover, and increases the average UHI intensity. The greening simulations show that increasing green space up to 30% in urban areas can decrease the average air temperature by 0.1 °C. On the other hand, converting entire green areas into urban areas in suburban areas increases the average temperature from 27.75 °C to 27.78 °C in Colombo. This demonstrates the sensitivity of UHI to vegetation cover in both urban and suburban areas. These seemingly small changes are average grid values and may indicate much higher impacts at sub-grid levels.
Combining a Fatigue Model and an Incremental Capacity Analysis on a Commercial NMC/Graphite Cell under Constant Current Cycling with and without Calendar Aging
Authors: Plattard Tiphaine , Barnel Nathalie , Assaud Loïc , Franger Sylvain , Duffault Jean-Marc
Published: March 2019

Reliable development of LIBs requires that they be correlated with accurate aging studies. The present project focuses on the implementation of a weighted ampere-hour throughput model, taking into account the operating parameters, and modulating the impact of an exchanged ampere-hour by the well-established three major stress factors: temperature, current intensity (rated), and state of charge (SoC). This model can drift with time due to repeated solicitation, so its parameters need to be updated by on-field measurements, in order to remain accurate. These on-field measurements are submitted to the so-called Incremental Capacity Analysis method (ICA), consisting in the analysis of dQ/dV as a function of V. It is a direct indicator of the state of health of the cell, as the experimental peaks are related to the active material chemical/structural evolution, such as phase transitions and recorded potential plateaus during charging/discharging. It is here applied to NMC/graphite based commercial cells. These peaks’ evolution can be correlated with the here-defined Ah-kinetic and t -kinetic aging, which are chemistry-dependent, and therefore, has to be adjusted to the different types of cells.
Telling the Time with a Broken Clock: Quantifying Circadian Disruption in Animal Models
Authors: Brown Laurence A. , Fisk Angus S. , Pothecary Carina A. , Peirson Stuart N.
Published: March 2019

Circadian rhythms are approximately 24 h cycles in physiology and behaviour that enable organisms to anticipate predictable rhythmic changes in their environment. These rhythms are a hallmark of normal healthy physiology, and disruption of circadian rhythms has implications for cognitive, metabolic, cardiovascular and immune function. Circadian disruption is of increasing concern, and may occur as a result of the pressures of our modern 24/7 society—including artificial light exposure, shift-work and jet-lag. In addition, circadian disruption is a common comorbidity in many different conditions, ranging from aging to neurological disorders. A key feature of circadian disruption is the breakdown of robust, reproducible rhythms with increasing fragmentation between activity and rest. Circadian researchers have developed a range of methods for estimating the period of time series, typically based upon periodogram analysis. However, the methods used to quantify circadian disruption across the literature are not consistent. Here we describe a range of different measures that have been used to measure circadian disruption, with a particular focus on laboratory rodent data. These methods include periodogram power, variability in activity onset, light phase activity, activity bouts, interdaily stability, intradaily variability and relative amplitude. The strengths and limitations of these methods are described, as well as their normal ranges and interrelationships. Whilst there is an increasing appreciation of circadian disruption as both a risk to health and a potential therapeutic target, greater consistency in the quantification of disrupted rhythms is needed.
Sketching the Power of Machine Learning to Decrypt a Neural Systems Model of Behavior
Authors: Ernst Monique , Gowin Joshua L. , Gaillard Claudie , Philips Ryan T. , Grillon Christian
Published: March 2019

Uncovering brain-behavior mechanisms is the ultimate goal of neuroscience. A formidable amount of discoveries has been made in the past 50 years, but the very essence of brain-behavior mechanisms still escapes us. The recent exploitation of machine learning (ML) tools in neuroscience opens new avenues for illuminating these mechanisms. A key advantage of ML is to enable the treatment of large data, combing highly complex processes. This essay provides a glimpse of how ML tools could test a heuristic neural systems model of motivated behavior, the triadic neural systems model, which was designed to understand behavioral transitions in adolescence. This essay previews analytic strategies, using fictitious examples, to demonstrate the potential power of ML to decrypt the neural networks of motivated behavior, generically and across development. Of note, our intent is not to provide a tutorial for these analyses nor a pipeline. The ultimate objective is to relate, as simply as possible, how complex neuroscience constructs can benefit from ML methods for validation and further discovery. By extension, the present work provides a guide that can serve to query the mechanisms underlying the contributions of prefrontal circuits to emotion regulation. The target audience concerns mainly clinical neuroscientists. As a caveat, this broad approach leaves gaps, for which references to comprehensive publications are provided.
Active Transport, Not Device Use, Associates with Self-Reported School Week Physical Activity in Adolescents
Authors: Burns Ryan D. , Pfledderer Christopher D. , Brusseau Timothy A.
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among active transport, electronic device-use, and self-reported school week moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a sample of adolescents. The sample consisted of 1445 adolescents enrolled in the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study. A panel research organization invited panel members balanced to the US population on sex, census division, household income and size, and race/ethnicity. Web-based surveys were administered to each selected adolescent. Adolescents answered questions pertaining to out-of-school electronic device-use and active transport to and from school. Predicted weekly minutes of MVPA were calculated from the Youth Activity Profile. The outcome variable was predicted school week MVPA (in minutes). The predictive utility of device-use and active transport variables on self-reported school week MVPA were examined using weighted multiple linear regression models. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, active transport to school (b = 12.32, 95% CI [9.72–14.93], p < 0.001) and from school (b = 7.18, 95% CI [4.79–5.57], p < 0.001) were significantly associated with self-reported school week MVPA. No device-use variables were significantly associated with school week MVPA. Active transport to and from school may have an impact on school week MVPA in adolescents.
Automated Progress Controlling and Monitoring Using Daily Site Images and Building Information Modelling
Authors: Mahami Hadi , Nasirzadeh Farnad , Hosseininaveh Ahmadabadian Ali , Nahavandi Saeid
Published: March 2019

This research presents a novel method for automated construction progress monitoring. Using the proposed method, an accurate and complete 3D point cloud is generated for automatic outdoor and indoor progress monitoring throughout the project duration. In this method, Structured-from-Motion (SFM) and Multi-View-Stereo (MVS) algorithms coupled with photogrammetric principles for the coded targets’ detection are exploited to generate as-built 3D point clouds. The coded targets are utilized to automatically resolve the scale and increase the accuracy of the point cloud generated using SFM and MVS methods. Having generated the point cloud, the CAD model is generated from the as-built point cloud and compared with the as-planned model. Finally, the quantity of the performed work is determined in two real case study projects. The proposed method is compared to the Structured-from-Motion (SFM)/Clustering Multi-Views Stereo (CMVS)/Patch-based Multi-View Stereo (PMVS) algorithm, as a common method for generating 3D point cloud models. The proposed photogrammetric Multi-View Stereo method reveals an accuracy of around 99 percent and the generated noises are less compared to the SFM/CMVS/PMVS algorithm. It is observed that the proposed method has extensively improved the accuracy of generated points cloud compared to the SFM/CMVS/PMVS algorithm. It is believed that the proposed method may present a novel and robust tool for automated progress monitoring in construction projects.
Personalized Radiation Therapy in Cancer Pain Management
Authors: Sierko Ewa , Hempel Dominika , Zuzda Konrad , Wojtukiewicz Marek Z.
Published: March 2019

The majority of advanced cancer patients suffer from pain, which severely deteriorates their quality of life. Apart from analgesics, bisphosphonates, and invasive methods of analgesic treatment (e.g., intraspinal and epidural analgesics or neurolytic blockades), radiation therapy plays an important role in pain alleviation. It is delivered to a growing primary tumour, lymph nodes, or distant metastatic sites, producing pain of various intensity. Currently, different regiments of radiation therapy methods and techniques and various radiation dose fractionations are incorporated into the clinical practice. These include palliative radiation therapy, conventional external beam radiation therapy, as well as modern techniques of intensity modulated radiation therapy, volumetrically modulated arch therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic body radiation therapy, and brachytherapy or radionuclide treatment (e.g., radium-223, strontium-89 for multiple painful osseous metastases). The review describes the possibilities and effectiveness of individual patient-tailored conventional and innovative radiation therapy approaches aiming at pain relief in cancer patients.
Fecal Immunochemical Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Is Fecal Sampling from Multiple Sites Necessary?
Authors: Amitay Efrat L. , Gies Anton , Weigl Korbinian , Brenner Hermann
Published: March 2019

Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for hemoglobin (Hb) are increasingly used for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Most FIT manufacturers instruct that fecal samples from multiple parts of one bowel movement should be obtained. Our aim was to compare the FIT diagnostic performance based on fecal samples from just one versus two different sites of one bowel movement. A total of 1141 participants of screening colonoscopy provided two fecal samples from two different sites of a single bowel movement for FIT analyses. There was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic performance of the FIT when either one or both fecal samples were used for analysis, with area under the curve (AUC) for detecting CRC ranging from 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–0.99) for one FIT to 0.95 (95%CI 0.86–0.99) for a geometric mean of two FITs. The manufacturers’ recommendation of sampling multiple sites of the stool aims to reduce intra-individual Hb variability and improve diagnostic performance. If no such improvement can be achieved, the recommendation for multiple-site sampling might have potential adverse effects on population adherence to FIT-based CRC screening. Our results point to a potential of increasing adherence to FIT screening by simplifying instructions for fecal sampling at no loss of the diagnostic performance.
RETRACTED: Transient Operation: A Catalytic Chemoselective Hydrogenation of 2-Methyl-3-Butyn-2-ol via a Cooperative Pd and Radiofrequency Heating Directed Kinetic Resolution
Authors: Raja Duaa , Gardy Jabbar , Hassanpour Ali , Ho Chun-Yu , Fernandez Garcia Javier
Published: March 2019

The effect of periodic temperature oscillations has been studied for the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol over a Pd-based catalyst in a micro-trickle bed reactor. This hydrogenation was investigated using a radiofrequency heated reactor under transient conditions using temperature cycling. The dynamic operation using this configuration was found to increase both conversion and selectivity towards 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol compared to the steady-state operation with an improvement of up to 24% for the selectivity being observed. The developments made here also result in a lower activation energy in comparison to previous data, providing a starting point for radiofrequency heating to enhance reaction rate through the exploitation of thermal cycling at production scale.
Cyanosilylation of Aldehydes Catalyzed by Ag(I)- and Cu(II)-Arylhydrazone Coordination Polymers in Conventional and in Ionic Liquid Media
Authors: Tiago Gonçalo A. O. , Mahmudov Kamran T. , Guedes da Silva M. Fátima C. , Ribeiro Ana P. C. , Branco Luís C. , Zubkov Fedor I. , Pombeiro Armando J. L.
Published: March 2019

The novel Ag(I) and Cu(II) coordination polymers [Ag(μ3-1κO;2:3κO′;4κN-HL)]n∙n/2H2O (1) and [Cu(en)2(μ-1κO;2κN-L)]n∙nH2O (2) [HL− = 2-(2-(1-cyano-2-oxopropylidene)hydrazinyl)benzene sulfonate] were synthesized and characterized by IR and ESI-MS spectroscopies, elemental and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 as well as the already known complex salt [Cu(H2O)2(en)2](HL)2 (3) have been tested as homogenous catalysts for the cyanosilylation reaction of different aldehydes with trimethylsilyl cyanide, to provide cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers. Coordination polymer 2 was found to be the most efficient one, with yields ranging from 76 to 88% in methanol, which increases up to 99% by addition of the ionic liquid [DHTMG][L-Lactate].
Aqueous Dehydration, Hydrogenation, and Hydrodeoxygenation Reactions of Bio-Based Mucic Acid over Ni, NiMo, Pt, Rh, and Ru on Neutral or Acidic Catalyst Supports
Authors: Hočevar Brigita , Grilc Miha , Likozar Blaž
Published: March 2019

Hydrotreatment of mucic acid (also known as galactaric acid, an glucaric acid enantiomer), one of the most promising bio-based platform chemicals, was systematically investigated in aqueous media over alumina, silica, or carbon-supported transition (nickel and nickel-molybdenum) or noble (platinum, ruthenium and rhodium) metals. Mucic acid was only converted into mucic-1,4-lactone under non-catalytic reaction conditions in N2 atmosphere, while the 5 MPa gaseous H2 addition triggers hydrogenation in the bulk phase, resulting in formation of galacturonic and galactonic acid. However, dehydroxylation, hydrogenation, decarbonylation, decarboxylation, and cyclization occurred during catalytic hydrotreatment, forming various partially and completely deoxygenated products with a chain length of 3–6 C atoms. Characterization results of tested catalysts were correlated with their activity and selectivity. Insufficient pore diameter of microporous supports completely hindered the mass transfer of reactants to the active sites, resulting in negligible conversion of mucic acid. A comprehensive reaction pathway network was proposed and several industrially interesting compounds were formed, including levulinic acid, furoic acid, and adipic acid. However, selectivity towards adipic acid, a bio-based nylon 6,6 precursor, was low (up to 5 mol%) in aqueous media and elevated temperatures.