bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specificity of Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Trier Nicole H. , Holm Bettina E. , Hansen Paul R. , Slot Ole , Locht Henning , Houen Gunnar
Published: June 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. The majority of individuals with RA are positive for the disease-specific anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). These antibodies are primarily of cross-reactive nature, hence, the true autoantigen to ACPA remains unidentified. In this study, we analyzed the reactivity of RA sera to several post-translationally modified epitopes, in order to further characterize the specific nature of ACPAs by immunoassays. Substituting citrulline with other amino acids, e.g., D-citrulline, homo-citrulline and methyl-arginine illustrated that ACPAs are utmost specific for citrullinated targets. Collectively, these findings support that ACPAs and citrullinated targets are specific for RA, making citrulline-containing peptide targets the most effective assays for detection of ACPAs.
Functional Activity of Four Autochthonous Strains L. paraplantarum AB362736.1, L. plantarum MF369875.1, W. paramesenteroides CP023501.1, and E. faecalis HQ802261.1 in a Probiotic Grape Marmalade during Storage
Authors: Samedi Lesly , Charles Albert Linton
Published: June 2019

Grape foods with probiotics are sources of beneficial bacteria for the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and also have a high antioxidant capacity. The addition of probiotics to dairy food is a traditional process; therefore, probiotic non-dairy products might contribute to a daily antioxidant diet to improve consumer life quality and health. This research was undertaken to develop a grape marmalade with a probiotic base to investigate the potential antioxidant activity in the probiotic non-dairy product. Thus, changes in active culture numbers, pH level, glucose concentration, and antioxidant properties were evaluated. Most of the isolates demonstrated higher growth in the grape marmalade than the synthetic grape marmalade, which was greater than 7 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g within 90 days of storage at 4 °C. In addition, most of the wild isolates grew beyond the critical count of 106 CFU/g in sampling between 60 and 90 days of storage. Moreover, probiotic grape marmalade with probiotics showed a strong antioxidant capacity that failed to differ significantly with the synthetic medium. The study confirmed Lactobacillus paraplantarum AB362736.1, Lactobacillus plantarum MF369875.1, Weissella paramesenteroides CP023501.1, and Enterococcus faecalis HQ802261.1 were ideal bacteria for the probiotic process of grape marmalade.
Detecting and Learning Unknown Fault States by Automatically Finding the Optimal Number of Clusters for Online Bearing Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Islam Md Rashedul , Kim Young-Hun , Kim Jae-Young , Kim Jong-Myon
Published: June 2019

This paper proposes an online fault diagnosis system for bearings that detect emerging fault modes and then updates the diagnostic system knowledge (DSK) to incorporate information about the newly detected fault modes. New fault modes are detected using k-means clustering along with a new cluster evaluation method, i.e., multivariate probability density function’s cluster distribution factor (MPDFCDF). In this proposed model, a heterogeneous pool of features is constructed from the signal. A hybrid feature selection model is adopted for selecting optimal feature for learning the model with existing fault mode. The proposed online fault diagnosis system detects new fault modes from unknown signals using k-means clustering with the help of proposed MPDFCDF cluster evaluation method. The DSK is updated whenever new fault modes are detected and updated DSK is used to classify faults using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classifier. The proposed model is evaluated using acoustic emission signals acquired from low-speed rolling element bearings with different fault modes and severities under different rotational speeds. Experimental results present that the MPDFCDF cluster evaluation method can detect the optimal number of fault clusters, and the proposed online diagnosis model can detect newly emerged faults and update the DSK effectively, which improves the diagnosis performance in terms of the average classification performance.
Reconstruction of PC Display from Common-Mode Noise Emitting on Electrical Power Line
Authors: Nguyen-Van Triet , Senda Masakatsu
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a method for reconstruction of a personal computer (PC) display image from common-mode noises coupling with monitor signals on a PC power cable. While the signal cable, which connects the PC and the monitor, is usually near the user, the power cable is connected to the outside electrical network of the office or the building. Thus, the power cables may become dominant gateways and/or antennas for emission and conduction of the common-mode noise, which may lead to a serious security issue. The measured common-mode was found to include both the monitor signal and undesired beats, which were caused by step responses of the signal and conceal the meaningful information. The original monitor signal was then calculated by excluding the beats, which could be measured by using standard up-step and down-step responses, from the measured common-mode noise and using an inverse function of the noise current level. The experimental results show that the beats were removed almost completely from the noise waveform for a monochromatic image. Alphabetic character strings, each of which were composed of, at most, 9 × 9 dots, were confirmed to be reconstructed clearly both in the monitor resolutions of 800 × 600 pixels and 1280 × 1024 pixels from the common-mode noise.
Analysis of Internal Gas Leaks in an MCFC System Package for an LNG-Fueled Ship
Authors: Roh Gilltae , Na Youngseung , Park Jun-Young , Kim Hansung
Published: June 2019

The airflow inside the housing of a 300-kW molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system is designed to ensure safety in case of a gas leak by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. In particular, gas accumulating zones are identified to prevent damage to vulnerable components from high temperature and pressure. Furthermore, the location of the alarm unit with the gas-leak detector is recommended for construction of safe MCFC ships. In order to achieve this, a flow-tracking and contour field (for gas, temperature, and pressure) including a fuel-cell stack module, balance-of-plant, and various pipes is developed. With the simulated flow field, temperature flow is interpreted for the heating conditions of each component or pipe in order to find out where the temperature is concentrated inside the fuel cell system, as well as the increase in temperature at the exit. In addition, the gas leakage from the valves is investigated by using a flow simulation to analyze the gas and pressure distribution inside the fuel cell system.
Study of System Integral Energy Efficiency of a Hybrid Pneumatic Power System
Authors: Chen Po-Tuan , Nghia Duong Dinh , Yang Cheng-Jung , Huang K. David
Published: June 2019

Currently, in the field of vehicle engineering, researchers are focused on finding a new type of high-efficiency vehicle. Based on the conventional powertrain system, the hybrid pneumatic power system (HPPS) is a type of hybrid system that focuses on compressed air power instead of the electrochemical energy conversion of a battery. This study concentrates on the integral efficiency of the HPPS. The HPPS was operated under different conditions of internal combustion engine speed, fuel consumption, compressor speed, pressure in air tank, cross-sectional area, and air motor efficiency. Based on this, the best operating condition of the HPPS was defined, and the integral efficiency of the HPPS was measured under this condition. The experimental results show that the system integral efficiency can reach up to 45.3%. It is higher than 28% when using individual internal combustion engines. In addition, the HPPS could reduce fuel consumption by 38% during its best performance.
A Novel Shape-Adjustable Surface and Its Applications in Car Design
Authors: Liu Fan , Ji Xiaomin , Hu Gang , Gao Jing
Published: June 2019

In this paper, a new parameterized surface, termed SQ-Coons surface, is proposed according to the build mode of Coons patch. The surface is always interpolated to the boundary curves, and its shape details could be controlled by the shape parameters in CE-Bézier basis functions, which makes it suitable for styling design in computer aided design (CAD). In order to exert its geometric advantages in car design, a simplified body CAD template based on characteristic lines is built according to common vehicle features. The template is built entirely from SQ-Coons surfaces, so that the overall style and detail shapes could all be modified by the control points and shape parameters of each surface. By analyzing the curvature of fifty commercial car types generated through the template and various parameters, a set of methods for constraining the range of shape parameters is proposed. On this basis, as an example, the four shape parameters of the hood surface in one model are used as variables to optimize the body shape to achieve the lowest possible aerodynamic drag coefficient in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results show that the design method, combining the new surface and the model template, could reflect the modeling characteristics of different cars, and improve the design and scheme adjustment efficiency in the conceptual design stage.
Recent Advances in Equalization Technologies for Short-Reach Optical Links Based on PAM4 Modulation: A Review
Authors: Zhou Honghang , Li Yan , Liu Yuyang , Yue Lei , Gao Chao , Li Wei , Qiu Jifang , Guo Hongxiang , Hong Xiaobin , Zuo Yong , Wu Jian
Published: June 2019

In recent years, short-reach optical links have attracted much more attention and have come to constitute a key market segment due to the rapid development of data-center applications and cloud services. Four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) is a promising modulation format to provide both a high data rate and relatively low cost for short-reach optical links. However, the direct detector and low-cost components also pose immense challenges, which are unforeseen in coherent transmission. To compensate for the impairments and to truly meet data rate requirements in a cost-effective manner, various digital signal processing (DSP) technologies have been proposed and investigated for short-reach PAM4 optical links. In this paper, an overview of the latest progress on DSP equalization technologies is provided for short-reach optical links based on PAM4 modulation. We not only introduce the configuration and challenges of the transmission system, but also cover the principles and performance of different equalizers and some improved methods. Moreover, machine learning algorithms are discussed as well to mitigate the nonlinear distortion for next-generation short-reach PAM4 links. Finally, a summary of various equalization technologies is illustrated and our perspective for the future trend is given.
Simulation Analysis of a Ventilation System in a Smart Broiler Chamber Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Shikai , Ding Anlan , Zou Xiuguo , Feng Bo , Qiu Xinfa , Wang Siyu , Zhang Shixiu , Qian Yan , Yao Heyang , Wei Yuning
Published: June 2019

In this paper, a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) numerical calculation was employed to examine whether the ventilation system of the self-designed smart broiler house meets the requirements of cooling and ventilation for the welfare in poultry breeding. The broiler chamber is powered by two negative pressure fans. The fans are designed with different frequencies for the ventilation system according to the specific air temperature in the broiler chamber. The simulation of ventilation in the empty chamber involved five working conditions in this research. The simulation of ventilation in the broiler chamber and the simulation of the age of air were carried out under three working conditions. According to the measured dimensions of the broiler chamber, a three-dimensional model of the broiler chamber was constructed, and then the model was simplified and meshed in ICEM CFD (integrated computer engineering and manufacturing code for computational fluid dynamics). Two models, i.e., the empty chamber mesh model and the chamber mesh model with block model, were imported in the Fluent software for calculation. In the experiment, 15 measurement points were selected to obtain the simulated and measured values of wind velocity. For the acquired data on wind velocity, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 19.1% and the maximum absolute error was 0.27 m/s, which verified the accuracy of the CFD model in simulating the ventilation system of the broiler chamber. The boundary conditions were further applied to the broiler chamber model to simulate the wind velocity and the age of air. The simulation results show that, when the temperature was between 32 and 34 °C, the average wind velocity on the plane of the corresponding broiler chamber (Y = 0.2 m) was higher than 0.8 m/s, which meets the requirement of comfortable breeding. At the lowest frequency of the fan, the oldest age of air was less than 150 s, which meets the basic requirement for broiler chamber design. An optimization idea is proposed for the age of air analysis under three working conditions to improve the structure of this smart broiler chamber.
AXL Is a Novel Predictive Factor and Therapeutic Target for Radioactive Iodine Refractory Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Collina Francesca , La Sala Lucia , Liotti Federica , Prevete Nella , La Mantia Elvira , Chiofalo Maria Grazia , Aquino Gabriella , Arenare Laura , Cantile Monica , Liguori Giuseppina , Di Gennaro Francesca , Pezzullo Luciano , Losito Nunzia Simona , Vecchio Giancarlo , Botti Gerardo , Melillo Rosa Marina , Franco Renato
Published: June 2019

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) have an excellent prognosis, but a fraction of them show aggressive behavior, becoming radioiodine (RAI)-resistant and/or metastatic. AXL (Anexelekto) is a tyrosine kinase receptor regulating viability, invasiveness and chemoresistance in various human cancers, including PTCs. Here, we analyze the role of AXL in PTC prognosis and as a marker of RAI refractoriness. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess AXL positivity in a cohort of human PTC samples. Normal and cancerous thyroid cell lines were used in vitro for signaling, survival and RAI uptake evaluations. 38.2% of human PTCs displayed high expression of AXL that positively correlated with RAI-refractoriness and disease persistence or recurrence, especially when combined with v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B(BRAF) V600E mutation. In human PTC samples, AXL expression correlated with V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1) and p65 nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) activation levels. Consistently, AXL stimulation with its ligand growth arrest-specific gene 6 (GAS6) increased AKT1- and p65 NF-kB-phosphorylation and promoted survival of thyroid cancer cell lines in culture. Enforced expression or activation of AXL in normal rat thyroid cells significantly reduced the expression of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and the radioiodine uptake. These data indicate that AXL expression levels could be used as predictor of RAI refractoriness and as a possible novel therapeutic target of RAI resistant PTCs.
Activation of LXR Receptors and Inhibition of TRAP1 Causes Synthetic Lethality in Solid Tumors
Authors: Nguyen Trang Thi Thu , Ishida Chiaki Tsuge , Shang Enyuan , Shu Chang , Bianchetti Elena , Karpel-Massler Georg , Siegelin Markus D.
Published: June 2019

Cholesterol is a pivotal factor for cancer cells to entertain their relentless growth. In this case, we provide a novel strategy to inhibit tumor growth by simultaneous activation of liver-X-receptors and interference with Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Protein 1 (TRAP1). Informed by a transcriptomic and subsequent gene set enrichment analysis, we demonstrate that inhibition of TRAP1 results in suppression of the cholesterol synthesis pathway in stem-like and established glioblastoma (GBM) cells by destabilizing the transcription factor SREBP2. Notably, TRAP1 inhibition induced cell death, which was rescued by cholesterol and mevalonate. Activation of liver X receptor (LXR) by a clinically validated LXR agonist, LXR623, along with the TRAP1 inhibitor, gamitrinib (GTPP), results in synergistic reduction of tumor growth and cell death induction in a broad range of solid tumors, which is rescued by exogenous cholesterol. The LXR agonist and TRAP1 inhibitor mediated cell death is regulated at the level of Bcl-2 family proteins with an elevation of pro-apoptotic Noxa. Silencing of Noxa and its effector BAK attenuates cell death mediated by the combination treatment of LXR agonists and TRAP1 inhibition. Combined inhibition of TRAP1 and LXR agonists elicits a synergistic activation of the integrated stress response with an increase in activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) driven by protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). Silencing of ATF4 attenuates the increase of Noxa by using the combination treatment. Lastly, we demonstrate in patient-derived xenografts that the combination treatment of LXR623 and gamitrinib reduces tumor growth more potent than each compound. Taken together, these results suggest that TRAP1 inhibition and simultaneous activation of LXR might be a potent novel treatment strategy for solid malignancies.
An Fc-Optimized CD133 Antibody for Induction of Natural Killer Cell Reactivity Against Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Schmied Bastian J. , Riegg Fabian , Zekri Latifa , Grosse-Hovest Ludger , Bühring Hans-Jörg , Jung Gundram , Salih Helmut R.
Published: June 2019

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has largely improved treatment options for cancer patients. The ability of antitumor mAbs to elicit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) contributes to a large extent to their therapeutic efficacy. Many efforts accordingly aim to improve this important function by engineering mAbs with Fc parts that display enhanced affinity to the Fc receptor CD16 expressed, e.g., on natural killer (NK) cells. Here we characterized the CD133 mAb 293C3-SDIE that contains an engineered Fc part modified by the amino acid exchanges S239D/I332E—that reportedly increase the affinity to CD16—with regard to its ability to induce NK reactivity against colorectal cancer (CRC). 293C3-SDIE was found to be a stable protein with favorable binding characteristics achieving saturating binding to CRC cells at concentrations of approximately 1 µg/mL. While not directly affecting CRC cell growth and viability, 293C3-SDIE potently induced NK cell activation, degranulation, secretion of Interferon-γ, as well as ADCC resulting in potent lysis of CRC cell lines. Based on the preclinical characterization presented in this study and the available data indicating that CD133 is broadly expressed in CRC and represents a negative prognostic marker, we conclude that 293C3-SDIE constitutes a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of CRC and thus warrants clinical evaluation.
Methylglyoxal Acts as a Tumor-Promoting Factor in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Antognelli Cinzia , Moretti Sonia , Frosini Roberta , Puxeddu Efisio , Sidoni Angelo , Talesa Vincenzo N.
Published: June 2019

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a potent inducer of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). MG, long considered a highly cytotoxic molecule with potential anticancer value, is now being re-evaluated to a protumorigenic agent in some malignancies. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an extremely aggressive and highly lethal cancer for which conventional therapies have proved ineffective. Successful therapeutic intervention in ATC is undermined by our poor understanding of its molecular etiology. In the attempt to understand the role of MG in ATC aggressiveness, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the level of MG protein adducts in ATC and slow-growing papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We detected a high level of MG adducts in ATC compared to PTC ones, suggesting a protumor role for MG-mediated dicarbonyl stress in ATC. Accordingly, MG adduct accumulation in ATC cells in vitro was associated with a marked mesenchymal phenotype and increased migration/invasion, which were both reversed by aminoguanidine (AG)—a scavenger of MG—and resveratrol—an activator of Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), the key metabolizing enzyme of MG. Our study represents the first demonstration that MG, via AGEs, acts as a tumor-promoting factor in ATC and suggests that MG scavengers and/or Glo1 activators merit investigations as potential therapeutic strategies for this malignancy.
Recent Developments of Dual-Band Doherty Power Amplifiers for Upcoming Mobile Communications Systems
Authors: Abdulkhaleq Ahmed M. , Yahya Maan A. , McEwan Neil , Rayit Ashwain , Abd-Alhameed Raed A. , Ojaroudi Parchin Naser , Al-Yasir Yasir I. A. , Noras James
Published: June 2019

Power amplifiers in modern and future communications should be able to handle different modulation standards at different frequency bands, and in addition, to be compatible with the previous generations. This paper reviews the recent design techniques that have been used to operate dual-band amplifiers and in particular the Doherty amplifiers. Special attention is focused on the design methodologies used for power splitters, phase compensation networks, impedance inverter networks and impedance transformer networks of such power amplifier. The most important materials of the dual-band Doherty amplifier are highlighted and surveyed. The main problems and challenges covering dual-band design concepts are presented and discussed. In addition, improvement techniques to enhance such operations are also exploited. The study shows that the transistor parasitic has a great impact in the design of a dual-band amplifier, and reduction of the transforming ratio of the inverter simplifies the dual-band design. The offset line can be functionally replaced by a Π-network in dual-band design rather than T-network.
A Cache Fill and Migration Policy for STT-RAM-Based Multi-Level Hybrid Cache in 3D CMPs
Authors: Ge Fen , Wang Lei , Wu Ning , Zhou Fang
Published: June 2019

Recently, in 3D Chip-Multiprocessors (CMPs), a hybrid cache architecture of SRAM and Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) is generally used to exploit high density and low leakage power of NVM and a low write overhead of SRAM. The conventional access policy does not consider the hybrid cache and cannot make good use of the characteristics of both NVM and SRAM technology. This paper proposes a Cache Fill and Migration policy (CFM) for multi-level hybrid cache. In CFM, data access was optimized in three aspects: Cache fill, cache eviction, and dirty data migration. The CFM reduces unnecessary cache fill, write operations to NVM, and optimizes the victim cache line selection in cache eviction. The results of experiments show that the CFM can improve performance by 24.1% and reduce power consumption by 18% when compared to conventional writeback access policy.
Development of a Compatible, Low Cost and High Accurate Conservation Remote Sensing Technology for the Hygrothermal Assessment of Historic Walls
Authors: Lucchi Elena , Dias Pereira Luisa , Andreotti Mirco , Malaguti Roberto , Cennamo David , Calzolari Marta , Frighi Valentina
Published: June 2019

This article aims to properly assess the hygrothermal properties of walls located in historic buildings, this study discloses the development of a remote sensing technology compatible with an in-situ measurement implemented in Palazzo Tassoni (Italy). As required by the international recommendations adapted to cultural heritage (CH), this monitoring system balances CH conservation, performance aspects and economic costs using an integrated multidisciplinary approach. Electronics for measurement of environmental parameters is composed of sensor measurements, data acquisition system and data storage and communication system. Data acquisition system, equipped with standard modbus-rtu interface, is designed to run standalone and it is based on two cloned single board PCs to reduce the possibility of data loss. In order to reduce the costs, RaspberryPI single board PCs were chosen. These run a C/C++ software based on standard modbus library and designed to implement multi-client server TCP/IP to allow communication with other devices. Storage and communication systems are based on an industrial PC; it communicates with sensor measurements’ system through a modbus-TCPIP bridge. PC runs a Labview software to provide data storage on a local database and graphical user interface to properly see all acquired data. Herein, some sensing options and approaches of measurement are described, unveiling different possible ways of enhancing the retrofit of CH with adapted technology.
A Terminal-Oriented Distributed Traffic Flow Splitting Strategy for Multi-Service of V2X Networks
Authors: Ding Fei , Ma Zitong , Li Zhiliang , Su Ruoyu , Zhang Dengyin , Zhu Hongbo
Published: June 2019

With the development and the characteristics of terminal services of the 5G (5th-Generation network) Internet of Vehicles (IoVs), this paper proposes a distributed splitting strategy for multi-type services of 5G V2X (Vehicle to X) networks. Based on a service-oriented adaptive splitting strategy in heterogeneous networks, combined with various service types such as communications between the networks, terminal, and base stations, and the value-added services of 5G IoVs, the proposed strategy jointly considers delay and cost as optimization goals. By analyzing the characteristics of the different services, the proposed traffic flow splitting strategy is modeled as an optimization problem to efficiently split services in 5G V2X networks. The simulation results show that by setting the traffic distribution policy for each service, the distributed traffic flow splitting strategy can significantly improve network transmission efficiency and reduce the service costs in a vehicle V2X network.
Electric Double Layer Field-Effect Transistors Using Two-Dimensional (2D) Layers of Copper Indium Selenide (CuIn7Se11)
Authors: Patil Prasanna D. , Ghosh Sujoy , Wasala Milinda , Lei Sidong , Vajtai Robert , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Talapatra Saikat
Published: June 2019

Innovations in the design of field-effect transistor (FET) devices will be the key to future application development related to ultrathin and low-power device technologies. In order to boost the current semiconductor device industry, new device architectures based on novel materials and system need to be envisioned. Here we report the fabrication of electric double layer field-effect transistors (EDL-FET) with two-dimensional (2D) layers of copper indium selenide (CuIn7Se11) as the channel material and an ionic liquid electrolyte (1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM-PF6)) as the gate terminal. We found one order of magnitude improvement in the on-off ratio, a five- to six-times increase in the field-effect mobility, and two orders of magnitude in the improvement in the subthreshold swing for ionic liquid gated devices as compared to silicon dioxide (SiO2) back gates. We also show that the performance of EDL-FETs can be enhanced by operating them under dual (top and back) gate conditions. Our investigations suggest that the performance of CuIn7Se11 FETs can be significantly improved when BMIM-PF6 is used as a top gate material (in both single and dual gate geometry) instead of the conventional dielectric layer of the SiO2 gate. These investigations show the potential of 2D material-based EDL-FETs in developing active components of future electronics needed for low-power applications.
An Evolutionary Computational Approach for the Problem of Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch in Microgrids under Several Operation Modes
Authors: Alvarado-Barrios L. , Rodríguez del Nozal A. , Tapia A. , Martínez-Ramos J. L. , Reina D. G.
Published: June 2019

In the last decades, new types of generation technologies have emerged and have been gradually integrated into the existing power systems, moving their classical architectures to distributed systems. Despite the positive features associated to this paradigm, new problems arise such as coordination and uncertainty. In this framework, microgrids constitute an effective solution to deal with the coordination and operation of these distributed energy resources. This paper proposes a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to address the combined problem of Unit Commitment (UC) and Economic Dispatch (ED). With this end, a model of a microgrid is introduced together with all the control variables and physical constraints. To optimally operate the microgrid, three operation modes are introduced. The first two attend to optimize economical and environmental factors, while the last operation mode considers the errors induced by the uncertainties in the demand forecasting. Therefore, it achieves a robust design that guarantees the power supply for different confidence levels. Finally, the algorithm was applied to an example scenario to illustrate its performance. The achieved simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Decomposition Analysis of CO2 Emissions from Transportation in the Pearl River Delta
Authors: Cao Xiaoshu , OuYang Shishu , Liu Dan , Yang Wenyue
Published: June 2019

Controlling and mitigating CO2 emissions is a challenge for the global environment. Furthermore, transportation is one of the major sources of energy consumption and air pollution emissions. For this reason, this paper estimated CO2 emissions by the bottom-up method, and presented spatiotemporal patterns by spatial autocorrelation methods from transportation during the period 2006 to 2016. It further analyzed the impact factors of CO2 emissions in the Pearl River Delta by the Logarithmic Mean Divisa Index (LMDI)decomposition method. The results indicated that from 2006 to 2016, total CO2 emissions increased year by year. Guangzhou and Shenzhen were the major contributors to regional transportation CO2 emissions. From the perspective of different transport modes, intercity passenger transport and freight transport have always been dominant in the past 11 years. The results indicated that aviation transport was the largest contributor, and that travel by road was the second one. The CO2 emissions generated by rail and water transport were much lower than those from aviation. Private cars became the main source of urban passenger transport CO2 emissions, and their advantages kept increasing. The results indicated that the spatial agglomeration trend feature was negatively correlated, and the further the distance, the more similar the attributes. The cumulative contribution values of population, economic development, transport intensity, energy intensity and energy structure were all positive values, while the cumulative contribution values of transport structure and emission factor were negative. The findings of this study offer help for the scientific understanding of those CO2 emissions from transportation, and for adopting effective measures to reduce CO2 emissions and for the development of green transportation.
HVAC Optimization Genetic Algorithm for Industrial Near-Zero-Energy Building Demand Response
Authors: Kampelis Nikolaos , Sifakis Nikolaos , Kolokotsa Dionysia , Gobakis Konstantinos , Kalaitzakis Konstantinos , Isidori Daniela , Cristalli Cristina
Published: June 2019

Demand response offers the possibility of altering the profile of power consumption of individual buildings or building districts, i.e., microgrids, for economic return. There is significant potential of demand response in enabling flexibility via advanced grid management options, allowing higher renewable energy penetration and efficient exploitation of resources. Demand response and distributed energy resource dynamic management are gradually gaining importance as valuable assets for managing peak loads, grid balance, renewable energy source intermittency, and energy losses. In this paper, the potential for operational optimization of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a smart near-zero-energy industrial building is investigated with the aid of a genetic algorithm. The analysis involves a validated building energy model, a model of energy cost, and an optimization model for establishing HVAC optimum temperature set points. Optimization aims at establishing the trade-off between the minimum daily cost of energy and thermal comfort. Predicted mean vote is integrated in the objective function to ensure thermal comfort requirements are met.
Plant Pathogenic Fungi Associated with Coraebus florentinus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Attacks in Declining Oak Forests
Authors: Pinna Claudia , Linaldeddu Benedetto T. , Deiana Vitale , Maddau Lucia , Montecchio Lucio , Lentini Andrea
Published: June 2019

The black-banded oak borer, Coraebus florentinus, is an emerging pest of oak trees in the western Mediterranean region. Larvae of the insect are xylophagous and progressively excavate an annular gallery that interrupts sap flow, resulting in the death of the attacked branches. Until now, limited information has been available regarding the ecological interactions between C. florentinus and the main plant pathogenic fungi involved in the etiology of oak decline. Knowledge of these interactions is important in understanding their impact in natural ecosystems and developing appropriate management strategies. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the fungal communities occurring in the exoskeleton of adults and larvae of C. florentinus and associated with the necrotic wood tissues surrounding the branch galleries of declining oak trees. A total of 29 fungal species were identified based on DNA sequence data and morphological features, of which 14 were from symptomatic woody tissues, six from insect exoskeleton, and nine from both insects and symptomatic wood tissues. The most frequent fungal species, Cryphonectria naterciae (15.9% of isolates), Dothiorella iberica (11.3%), and Diplodia corticola (9.9%), were isolated from both insect and gallery systems. All three species are well-known oak pathogens and are reported here, for the first time, to be associated with C. florentinus. At the same time, 89.6% of the fungal taxa were isolated from one or two sites, highlighting the site-dependence of fungal community assemblages.
Radial Growth Patterns Associated with Tree Mortality in Nothofagus pumilio Forest
Authors: Rodríguez-Catón Milagros , Villalba Ricardo , Srur Ana , Williams A. Park
Published: June 2019

Tree mortality is a key process in forest dynamics. Despite decades of effort to understand this process, many uncertainties remain. South American broadleaf species are particularly under-represented in global studies on mortality and forest dynamics. We sampled monospecific broadleaf Nothofagus pumilio forests in northern Patagonia to predict tree mortality based on stem growth. Live or dead conditions in N. pumilio trees can be predicted with high accuracy using growth rate as an explanatory variable in logistic models. In Paso Córdova (CO), Argentina, where the models were calibrated, the probability of death was a strong negative function of radial growth, particularly during the six years prior to death. In addition, negative growth trends during 30 to 45 years prior to death increased the accuracy of the models. The CO site was affected by an extreme drought during the summer 1978–1979, triggering negative trends in radial growth of many trees. Individuals showing below-average and persistent negative trends in radial growth are more likely to die than those showing high growth rates and positive growth trends in recent decades, indicating the key role of droughts in inducing mortality. The models calibrated at the CO site showed high verification skill by accurately predicting tree mortality at two independent sites 76 and 141 km away. Models based on relative growth rates showed the highest and most balanced accuracy for both live and dead individuals. Thus, the death of individuals across different N. pumilio sites was largely determined by the growth rate relative to the total size of the individuals. Our findings highlight episodic severe drought as a triggering mechanism for growth decline and eventual death for N. pumilio, similar to results found previously for several other species around the globe. In the coming decades, many forests globally will be exposed to more frequent and/or severe episodes of reduced warm-season soil moisture. Tree-ring studies such as this one can aid prediction of future changes in forest productivity, mortality, and composition.
Current and Future Distribution of Ricania shantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) in Korea: Application of Spatial Analysis to Select Relevant Environmental Variables for MaxEnt and CLIMEX Modeling
Authors: Baek Sunghoon , Kim Min-Jung , Lee Joon-Ho
Published: June 2019

Since the first report on its occurrence in 2010, Ricania shantungensis Chou & Lu in Korea has quickly spread. This pest population in agricultural areas has increased by over 100% each year and has caused serious economic damage in the last few years. This study was conducted to predict the potential habitat and the current and future distribution of R. shantungensis in Korea using CLIMEX and the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt), and to suggest a new parameter selection method for both modeling programs. Weights of variables used in CLIMEX and those used in MaxEnt were determined using spatial association indices of spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE). Weather data of Zhejiang province in China and those of all Korean territories were compared with Climate Matching in CLIMEX. MaxEnt was applied and evaluated with 295 data points on the presence and absence of R. shantungensis and eight environmental variables that were preselected by spatial and correlation tests. In MaxEnt, maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual mean temperature, mean temperature of the coldest month, and precipitation of the driest month were determined to be the most important variables affecting the distribution of R. shantungensis in Korea. The results of this study indicated that R. shantungensis had a higher probability of occurrence in western areas than in eastern areas of Korea, and showed great potential to spread eastward. These results are expected to be helpful for managing R. shantungensis in Korea and selecting relevant environmental variables for species distribution modeling.
External Strengthening of Corrosion-Defected Beam–Column Members Using a CFRP Sheet
Authors: Alwash Nameer A. , Kadhum Mohammed M. , Mahdi Ahmed M.
Published: June 2019

The efficiency of external strengthening using CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) sheets to rehabilitate corrosion-defected RC (Reinforced Concrete) beam–column members is experimentally studied. ALL specimens were tested under a combined axial force and transverse load until failure. The axial forces were applied with two levels either 25% or 50% of the ultimate design load of control specimen. The accelerated corrosion process was used to get steel reinforcement corrosion inside the concrete at three levels, 0% and approximately 5% and 20%, according to Faraday’s law. External strengthening with a CFRP sheet was used in this study to overcome the effect of deterioration in the mechanical properties of the corroded steel bars. A significant deterioration in the load carrying capacity, stiffness, and serviceability was recorded for corrosion-defected specimens. The increase of the axial force was recorded as a positive effect on the ultimate strength, stiffness, and serviceability of the testing specimens. This effect was clearly evident for the defected specimens, with an increasing corrosion level, by decreasing the adverse effects of corrosion. The external strengthening with a CFRP sheet restored the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and serviceability to an undamaged state.
A Multipollutant Smoke Emissions Sensing and Sampling Instrument Package for Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Development and Testing
Authors: Nelson Kellen , Boehmler Jayne , Khlystov Andrey , Moosmüller Hans , Samburova Vera , Bhattarai Chiranjivi , Wilcox Eric , Watts Adam
Published: June 2019

Poor air quality arising from prescribed and wildfire smoke emissions poses threats to human health and therefore must be taken into account for the planning and implementation of prescribed burns for reducing contemporary fuel loading and other management goals. To better understand how smoke properties vary as a function of fuel beds and environmental conditions, we developed and tested a compact portable instrument package that integrates direct air sampling with air quality and meteorology sensing, suitable for in situ data collection within burn units and as a payload on multi-rotor small unmanned aircraft systems (sUASs). Co-located sensors collect carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter data at a sampling rate of ~0.5 Hz with a microcontroller-based system that includes independent data logging, power systems, radio telemetry, and global positioning system data. Sensor data facilitates precise remote canister collection of air samples suitable for laboratory analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other major and trace gases. Instrument package specifications are compatible with common protocols for ground-based and airborne measurements. We present and discuss design specifications for the system and preliminary data collected in controlled burns at Tall Timbers Research Station, FL, USA and Sycan Marsh Preserve, OR, USA.
The Diversity, Multiplicity of Infection and Population Structure of P. falciparum Parasites Circulating in Asymptomatic Carriers Living in High and Low Malaria Transmission Settings of Ghana
Authors: Abukari Zakaria , Okonu Ruth , Nyarko Samuel B. , Lo Aminata C. , Dieng Cheikh C. , Salifu Samson P. , Gyan Ben A. , Lo Eugenia , Amoah Linda E.
Published: June 2019

Background: Diversity in Plasmodium falciparum poses a major threat to malaria control and elimination interventions. This study utilized 12 polymorphic microsatellite (MS) markers and the Msp2 marker to examine diversity, multiplicity of infection (MOI) as well as the population structure of parasites circulating in two sites separated by about 92 km and with varying malaria transmission intensities within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods: The diversity and MOI of P. falciparum parasites in 160 non-symptomatic volunteers living in Obom (high malaria transmission intensity) and Asutsuare (low malaria transmission intensity) aged between 8 and 60 years was determined using Msp2 genotyping and microsatellite analysis. Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers as well as the parasite density of infections was significantly higher in Obom than in Asutsuare. Samples from Asutsuare and Obom were 100% and 65% clonal, respectively, by Msp2 genotyping but decreased to 50% and 5%, respectively, when determined by MS analysis. The genetic composition of parasites from Obom and Asutsuare were highly distinct, with parasites from Obom being more diverse than those from Asutsuare. Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum parasites circulating in Obom are genetically more diverse and distinct from those circulating in Asutsuare. The MOI in samples from both Obom and Asutsuare increased when assessed by MS analysis relative to MSP2 genotyping. The TA40 and TA87 loci are useful markers for estimating MOI in high and low parasite prevalence settings.
The Potential for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention of a Harmonized Approach to Data Collection about Alcohol Use in Pregnancy Cohort Studies
Authors: Poole Nancy , Schmidt Rose A. , Bocking Alan , Bergeron Julie , Fortier Isabel
Published: June 2019

Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of disability, and a major public health concern in Canada. There are well-documented barriers for women and for service providers related to asking about alcohol use in pregnancy. Confidential research is important for learning about alcohol use before, during and after pregnancy, in order to inform fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevention strategies. The Research Advancement through Cohort Cataloguing and Harmonization (ReACH) initiative provides a unique opportunity to leverage the integration of the Canadian pregnancy and birth cohort information regarding women’s drinking during pregnancy. In this paper, we identify: The data that can be collected using formal validated alcohol screening tools; the data currently collected through Canadian provincial/territorial perinatal surveillance efforts; and the data currently collected in the research context from 12 pregnancy cohorts in the ReACH Catalogue. We use these findings to make recommendations for data collection about women’s alcohol use by future pregnancy cohorts, related to the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed, the number of drinks consumed on an occasion, any alcohol consumption before pregnancy, changes in use since pregnancy recognition, and the quit date. Leveraging the development of a Canadian standard to measure alcohol consumption is essential to facilitate harmonization and co-analysis of data across cohorts, to obtain more accurate data on women’s alcohol use and also to inform FASD prevention strategies.
Maternal Residential Proximity to Major Roadways and the Risk of Childhood Acute Leukemia: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Texas, 1995–2011
Authors: Peckham-Gregory Erin C. , Ton Minh , Rabin Karen R. , Danysh Heather E. , Scheurer Michael E. , Lupo Philip J.
Published: June 2019

Acute leukemia is the most common pediatric malignancy. Some studies suggest early-life exposures to air pollution increase risk of childhood leukemia. Therefore, we explored the association between maternal residential proximity to major roadways and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Information on cases with acute leukemia (n = 2030) was obtained for the period 1995–2011 from the Texas Cancer Registry. Birth certificate controls were frequency matched (10:1) on birth year (n = 20,300). Three residential proximity measures were assessed: (1) distance to nearest major roadway, (2) residence within 500 meters of a major roadway, and (3) roadway density. Multivariate logistic regression was used to generate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Mothers who lived ≤500 meters to a major roadway were not more likely to have a child who developed ALL (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.91–1.16) or AML (OR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.64–1.11). Mothers who lived in areas characterized by high roadway density were not more likely to have children who developed ALL (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.93–1.20) or AML (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.61–1.13). Our results do not support the hypothesis that maternal proximity to major roadways is strongly associated with childhood acute leukemia. Future assessments evaluating the role of early-life exposure to environmental factors on acute leukemia risk should explore novel methods for directly measuring exposures during relevant periods of development.