bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Calcium Stannate from Lead Refining Dross by Roast–Leach–Precipitation Process
Authors: Wu Dixiu , Han Junwei , Liu Wei , Jiao Fen , Qin Wenqing
Published: May 2019

Lead refining dross containing plenty of tin and other heavy metals, such as lead and antimony, is considered a hazardous waste generated in large quantities in lead smelter plants. In this study, calcium stannate was synthesized from lead refining dross using sodium carbonate roasting and alkaline leaching followed by precipitation with CaO. The effect of roasting and leaching parameters on the extraction efficiency of tin was investigated. The leaching efficiency of tin reached 94% under the optimized conditions: roasting with 60% Na2CO3 at 1000 °C for 45 min, and leaching using 2 mol/L NaOH solution for 90 min at 85 °C and 8 cm3/g liquid/solid ratio. Furthermore, more than 99% of tin in the leaching solution was precipitated using CaO. Finally, XRD, SEM, and ICP-OES analyses indicated that the final CaSnO3 product had a purity of 95.75% and its average grain size was smaller than 5 μm. The results indicated that the developed method is feasible to produce calcium stannate from lead refining dross.
Iron-Rich Nanoparticles in Natural Aquatic Environments
Authors: von der Heyden Bjorn , Roychoudhury Alakendra , Myneni Satish
Published: May 2019

Naturally-occurring iron nanoparticles constitute a quantitatively-important and biogeochemically-active component of the broader Earth ecosystem. Yet detailed insights into their chemical speciation is sparse compared to the body of work conducted on engineered Fe nanoparticles. The present contribution briefly reviews the analytical approaches that can be used to characterize natural Fe nanoparticles, before detailing a dedicated synchrotron-based X-ray spectro-microscopic investigation into the speciation of suspended Fe nanoparticles collected from fluvial, marine, and lacustrine surface waters. Ferrous, ferric and magnetite classes of Fe nanoparticles (10–100 nm) were identified, and all three classes exhibited a high degree of heterogeneity in the local bonding environment around the Fe center. The heterogeneity is attributed to the possible presence of nanoparticle aggregates, and to the low degrees of crystallinity and ubiquitous presence of impurities (Al and organic moieties) in natural samples. This heterogeneity further precludes a spectroscopic distinction between the Fe nanoparticles and the larger sized Fe-rich particles that were evaluated. The presented results provide an important baseline for natural nanoparticle speciation in pristine aquatic systems, highlight the degree of inter-particle variability, which should be parameterized in future accurate biogeochemical models, and may inform predictions of the fate of released engineered Fe nanoparticles as they evolve and transform in natural systems.
Leaching of Manganese from Marine Nodules at Room Temperature with the Use of Sulfuric Acid and the Addition of Tailings
Authors: Toro Norman , Saldaña Manuel , Castillo Jonathan , Higuera Freddy , Acosta Roxana
Published: May 2019

Based on the results obtained from a previous study investigating the dissolution of Mn from marine nodules with the use of sulfuric acid and foundry slag, a second series of experiments was carried out using tailings produced from slag flotation. The proposed approach takes advantage of the Fe present in magnetite contained in these tailings and is believed to be cost-efficient. The surface optimization methodology was used to evaluate the independent variables of time, particle size, and sulfuric acid concentration in the Mn solution. Other tests evaluated the effect of agitation speed and the MnO2/Fe2O3 ratio in an acid medium. The highest Mn extraction rate of 77% was obtained with an MnO2/Fe2O3 ratio of 1/2 concentration of 1 mol/L of H2SO4, particle size of −47 + 38 μm, and 40 min of leaching. It is concluded that higher rates of Mn extraction were obtained when tailings instead of slag were used, while future research needs to focus on determination of the optimum Fe2O3/MnO2 ratio to improve dissolution of Mn from marine nodules.
Zero-Field and Field-Induced Interactions between Multicore Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Kuznetsov Andrey A.
Published: May 2019

In this paper, the Langevin dynamics simulation method is used to study magnetic interactions between a pair of multicore magnetic nanoparticles subjected to a uniform magnetic field. Multicore nanoparticles are modelled as spherical rigid clusters of single-domain superparamagnetic cores coupled via dipole-dipole interactions. It is shown that the magnetic force between two well-separated clusters in a strong applied field can be accurately described within the induced point-dipole approximation. However, this approximation also assumes that there are no interactions between clusters in the zero-field limit. On the contrary, simulations indicate the existence of a relatively small attractive magnetic force between clusters, even in the absence of an applied field. It is shown that this force is a direct superparamagnetic analog of the van der Waals interaction between a pair of dielectric spheres.
Microstructural Study of Two-Dimensional Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Nanosheet Degradation under Illumination
Authors: Nie Lingfang , Ke Xiaoxing , Sui Manling
Published: May 2019

Two-dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite materials have received substantial attention because of their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Although the applications of 2D perovskite nanosheets are promising in various optoelectronic devices, which all face harsh working conditions of light exposure, little is known about the photo-stability and degradation mechanisms of these 2D perovskite nanosheets. In this work, degradation of (C4H9NH3)2PbBr4 (BA2PbBr4) nanosheets when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and white light is explored. The morphology, optical properties, and microstructure of the nanosheets, under different conditions of light exposure, was studied in detail. UV light is more destructive compared to white light, which both led to a nanosheet breakdown. A combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and electron diffraction revealed that the organic moieties are most sensitive to light exposure and partial disorder toward complete disorder takes place during light exposure. Moreover, excessive light exposure further causes a [PbBr6]4− octahedron tilt and re-ordering within the perovskite structure. This study could enrich the understanding of 2D perovskite nanosheets and their photostability, offer a new perspective in interpreting the light–perovskite interaction, and further help the design of robust and light-tunable 2D perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.
Study of a Broadband Difference Interferometer Based on Low-Cost Polymer Slab Waveguides
Authors: Gut Kazimierz
Published: May 2019

A model and the waveguide parameters of a broadband, polymer-based slab waveguide difference interferometer is presented in this paper. The parameters were determined based on knowledge of the dispersion in the structure materials used to fabricate the waveguide. The impact of the waveguide layer thickness, propagation path length, and change in the waveguide cover refractive index on the output signal from the system was determined. It has been shown that the direction of the maximum shifting is determined by the thickness of the waveguide layer. A relationship describing the shift in the signal extrema for a change in the waveguide cover refractive index was derived. The results show that the use of a propagation constant simplifies the description of the interferometer. Polymer waveguides, although they have a small contrast in refractive indices, allow for large shifts in the maxima of the signal. The determined shifts in the output signal extrema for polymer waveguides are comparable, and these shifts are larger for some waveguide thicknesses compared to waveguides based on Si3N4.
Effects of Different TiO2 Particle Sizes on the Microstructure and Optical Limiting Properties of TiO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites
Authors: Ren Yuyu , Zhao Lili , Zou Yang , Song Lixin , Dong Ningning , Wang Jun
Published: May 2019

TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites with two different TiO2 particle sizes were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using two different source materials of Ti: tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) and commercial TiO2 powder (P25). For respective series with the same source materials, we investigated additions that optimized the nonlinear optical properties (NLO) and optical limiting (OL) performances, and we explored the relationships between structural diversity and performance. Several characterization techniques, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) were conducted to confirm the microstructures and chemical states of as-prepared materials. This indicated the existence of the Ti–O–C bond between rGO sheets and TiO2 particles and the reduction from precursor graphene oxide (GO) to rGO. The results of UV-Vis spectra revealed that the TiO2/rGO nanocomposites showed smaller band gaps than bare TiO2. A nanosecond open-aperture Z-scan technique at 1064 nm was applied to investigate NLO and OL properties. TiO2/rGO nanocomposites exhibited enhanced NLO and OL performances, arising from synergistic effects, compared to individual components. The TBT series samples performed better than the P25 series, presumably relevant to dimensional effects.
Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity of Magnetic BiOBr/SrFe12O19 Nanosheets
Authors: Xie Taiping , Hu Jiao , Yang Jun , Liu Chenglun , Xu Longjun , Wang Jiankang , Peng Yuan , Liu Songli , Yin Xiuyu , Lu Yuanzhen
Published: May 2019

Magnetic BiOBr/SrFe12O19 nanosheets were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectra (UV-DRS), and the magnetic properties were tested using a vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). The as-produced composite with an irregular flaky-shaped aggregate possesses a good anti-demagnetization ability (Hc = 861.04 G) and a high photocatalytic efficiency. Under visible light (λ > 420 nm) and UV light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation, the photodegradation rates of Rhodamine B (RhB) using BiOBr/SrFe12O19 (5 wt %) (BOB/SFO-5) after 30 min of reaction were 97% and 98%, respectively, which were higher than that using BiOBr (87%). The degradation rate of RhB using the recovered BiOBr/5 wt % SrFe12O19 (marked as BOB/SFO-5) was still more than 85% in the fifth cycle, indicating the high stability of the composite catalyst. Meanwhile, after five cycles, the magnetic properties were still as stable as before. The radical-capture experiments proved that superoxide radicals and holes were main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB.
Impact of Supplementary Amino Acids, Micronutrients, and Overall Diet on Glutathione Homeostasis
Authors: Gould Rebecca L. , Pazdro Robert
Published: May 2019

Glutathione (GSH) is a critical endogenous antioxidant found in all eukaryotic cells. Higher GSH concentrations protect against cellular damage, tissue degeneration, and disease progression in various models, so there is considerable interest in developing interventions that augment GSH biosynthesis. Oral GSH supplementation is not the most efficient option due to the enzymatic degradation of ingested GSH within the intestine by γ-glutamyltransferase, but supplementation of its component amino acids—cysteine, glycine, and glutamate—enhances tissue GSH synthesis. Furthermore, supplementation with some non-precursor amino acids and micronutrients appears to influence the redox status of GSH and related antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, lowering systemic oxidative stress and slowing the rate of tissue deterioration. In this review, the effects of oral supplementation of amino acids and micronutrients on GSH metabolism are evaluated. And since specific dietary patterns and diets are being prescribed as first-line therapeutics for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, the impact of overall diets on GSH homeostasis is also assessed.
The Mechanism of Action of Ursolic Acid as a Potential Anti-Toxoplasmosis Agent, and Its Immunomodulatory Effects
Authors: Choi Won Hyung , Lee In Ah
Published: May 2019

This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of action of ursolic acid in terms of anti-Toxoplasma gondii effects, including immunomodulatory effects. We evaluated the anti-T. gondii effects of ursolic acid, and analyzed the production of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokines through co-cultured immune cells, as well as the expression of intracellular organelles of T. gondii. The subcellular organelles and granules of T. gondii, particularly rhoptry protein 18, microneme protein 8, and inner membrane complex sub-compartment protein 3, were markedly decreased when T. gondii was treated with ursolic acid, and their expressions were effectively inhibited. Furthermore, ursolic acid effectively increased the production of NO, ROS, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interferon-β, while reducing the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in T. gondii-infected immune cells. These results demonstrate that ursolic acid not only causes anti-T. gondii activity/action by effectively inhibiting the survival of T. gondii and the subcellular organelles of T. gondii, but also induces specific immunomodulatory effects in T. gondii-infected immune cells. Therefore, this study indicates that ursolic acid can be effectively utilized as a potential candidate agent for developing novel anti-toxoplasmosis drugs, and has immunomodulatory activity.
Evernia Goes to School: Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals and Photosynthetic Performance in Lichen Transplants Exposed Indoors and Outdoors in Public and Private Environments
Authors: Paoli Luca , Fačkovcová Zuzana , Guttová Anna , Maccelli Caterina , Kresáňová Katarína , Loppi Stefano
Published: May 2019

Recently indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a key issue, especially in schools, where children spend most of the day. Only in a few cases IAQ was investigated using lichens as biomonitors. During autumn 2017, lichens (Evernia prunastri) were exposed for two months indoors and outdoors in public (schools) and private (dwellings) environments, in both rural and urban areas of Slovakia. The bioaccumulation of selected elements and the physiological status of the samples were considered. The content of heavy metals increased in samples exposed outdoors for 11 out of 12 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, S, Sb, V and Zn, but not Ca) in the urban area and for 5 (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb) in the rural area. Indoor concentrations were overall similar, both in rural and urban buildings, independently of the outdoor conditions. An indoor accumulation occurred only for Cd, Cu and Pb. An indoor origin was suggested for Cd, while for Cu and Pb, outdoor penetration (car traffic) is the likely cause of indoor values. Indoor exposed lichens maintained their vitality (as reflected by chlorophyll a fluorescence emission). This latter result further supports the use of lichen biomonitoring as a suitable method for assessing IAQ.
Development of Diallylimidazolium Methoxyacetate/DMSO (DMF/DMA) Solvents for Improving Cellulose Dissolution and Fabricating Porous Material
Authors: Xu Airong , Chen Lin , Wang Yongxin , Liu Rukuan , Niu Wentian
Published: May 2019

Cellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer, with unique properties such as biodegradability, biocompability, nontoxicity, and so on. However, its extensive application has actually been hindered, because of its insolubility in water and most solvents. Herein, highly efficient cellulose solvents were developed by coupling diallylimidazolium methoxyacetate ([A2im][CH3OCH2COO]) with polar aprotic solvents dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA). Attractively, these solvents showed extraordinarily powerful dissolution performance for cellulose (e.g., 26.1 g·100g−1) in [A2im][CH3OCH2COO]/DMSO(RDMSO = 1.01 solvent even at 25 °C), which is much more advantageous over previously reported solvents. To our knowledge, such powerful cellulose solvents have not been reported before. The cellulose dissolution mechanism is proposed to be of three combined factors: (1) The hydrogen bond interactions of the H2, H4 and H6 in [A2im]+ and the carboxyl O atom in [CH3OCH2COO]−, along with the hydroxyl H atom and O atom in cellulose, are main driving force for cellulose dissolution; (2) the dissociation of [A2im][CH3OCH2COO] by DMF increases the anion and cation concentrations and thus promotes cellulose dissolution; (3) at the same time, DMF also stabilizes the dissolved cellulose chains. Meanwhile, the porous cellulose material with a varying morphologic structure could be facially fabricated by modulating the cellulose solution concentration. Additionally, the dissolution of cellulose in the solvents is only a physical process, and the regenerated cellulose from the solvents retains sufficient thermostability and a chemical structure similar to the original cellulose. Thus, this work will provide great possibility for developing cellulose-based products at ambient temperatures or under no extra heating/freezing conditions.
Effect of Conducting Polyaniline/Graphene Nanosheet Content on the Corrosion Behavior of Zinc-Rich Epoxy Primers in 3.5% NaCl Solution
Authors: Lei Yanhua , Qiu Zhichao , Liu Jiurong , Li Dongdong , Tan Ning , Liu Tao , Zhang Yuliang , Chang Xueting , Gu Yanhong , Yin Yansheng
Published: May 2019

The corrosion behavior of zinc-rich epoxy primers or paints (ZRPs) with different conducting polyaniline-grafted graphene (PANI/Gr) contents was investigated. Conductivity of the formed PANI/Gr nanosheets was significantly improved by employing the Gr as the inner template to synthesize the PANI. The protective properties and electrochemical behavior of coatings with artificial defects were investigated by monitoring the free corrosion potential versus time and by using localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (LEIS). A synergetic enhancement of the physical barrier role of the coating and the zinc sacrificial cathodic protection was achieved in the case of ZRP including PANI/Gr nanosheets. In addition, the ZRP mixed with the PANI/Gr at a content of 0.6% exhibited the best anticorrosion performance across the range of investigated PANI/Gr contents.
Calibration of Discrete-Element-Method Parameters for Cohesive Materials Using Dynamic-Yield-Strength and Shear-Cell Experiments
Authors: Karkala Subhodh , Davis Nathan , Wassgren Carl , Shi Yanxiang , Liu Xue , Riemann Christian , Yacobian Gary , Ramachandran Rohit
Published: May 2019

This study tested the effectiveness of using dynamic yield strength (DYS) and shear-cell experiments to calibrate the following discrete-element-method (DEM) parameters: surface energy, and the coefficients of sliding and rolling friction. These experiments were carried out on cohesive granules, and DEM models were developed for these experiment setups using the JKR cohesion contact model. Parameter-sensitivity analysis on the DYS model showed that the DYS results in the simulations were highly sensitive to surface energy and were also impacted by the values of the two friction coefficients. These results indicated that the DYS model could be used to calibrate the surface energy parameter once the friction coefficients were fixed. Shear-cell sensitivity analysis study found that the influence of surface energy on the critical-state shear value cannot be neglected. It was inferred that the shear-cell model has to be used together with the DYS model to identify the right set of friction parameters. Next, surface energy was calibrated using DYS simulations for a chosen set of friction parameters. Calibrations were successfully conducted for simulations involving experimentally sized particles, scaled-up particles, a different shear modulus, and a different set of friction parameters. In all these cases, the simulation DYS results were found to be linearly correlated with surface energy and were within 5% of the experimental DYS result. Shear-cell simulations were then used to compare calibrated surface-energy values for the scaled-up particles with the experimentally sized particles. Both the simulations resulted in similar critical-state shear values. Finally, it was demonstrated that a combination of DYS and shear-cell simulations could be used to compare two sets of friction parameters and their corresponding calibrated surface energy values to identify the set of parameters that better represent the flow behavior demonstrated by the experimental system.
Design and Performance Test of Transformer Winding Optical Fibre Composite Wire Based on Raman Scattering
Authors: Liu Yunpeng , Yin Junyi , Tian Yuan , Fan Xiaozhou
Published: May 2019

Winding overheating is a common fault in a transformer. To detect the temperature, the most widely used method is a point-type measurement, but traditional measurement methods cannot obtain the whole temperature distribution in a transformer. Taking this into consideration, a new method with which to measure the temperature of transformer windings was proposed. Based on Raman scattering, a new fibre-optic composite winding model was developed. The feasibility of the model was verified by electrical as well as temperature, field simulation and power frequency resistance testing. To assess the practicality and accuracy of the new model, a distributed optical fibre temperature measurement platform was built, and a series of experiments were designed. According to the data collected, the temperature measurement error based on the method could be limited to 1 °C while the positioning accuracy error was within 1 m, which meant that the new approach can satisfy the requirements of transformer winding temperature measurement and locate hot spots in the winding.
Optimized Non-Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Algorithm in Cognitive Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Yangyi , Su Shaojing , Yin Huiwen , Guo Xiaojun , Zuo Zhen , Wei Junyu , Zhang Liyin
Published: May 2019

The cognitive wireless sensor network (CWSN) is an important development direction of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and spectrum sensing technology is an essential prerequisite for CWSN to achieve spectrum sharing. However, the existing non-cooperative narrowband spectrum sensing technology has difficulty meeting the application requirements of CWSN at present. In this paper, we present a non-cooperative spectrum sensing algorithm for CWSN, which combines the multi-resolution technique, phase space reconstruction method, and singular spectrum entropy method to sense the spectrum of narrowband wireless signals. Simulation results validate that this algorithm can greatly improve the detection probability at a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (from −19dB to −12dB), and the detector can quickly achieve the best detection performance as the SNR increases. This algorithm could promote the development of CWSN and the application of WSNs.
The Validity of a Mixed Reality-Based Automated Functional Mobility Assessment
Authors: Sun Ruopeng , Aldunate Roberto G. , Sosnoff Jacob J.
Published: May 2019

Functional mobility assessments (i.e., Timed Up and Go) are commonly used clinical tools for mobility and fall risk screening in older adults. In this work, we proposed a new Mixed Reality (MR)-based assessment that utilized a Microsoft HoloLensTM headset to automatically lead and track the performance of functional mobility tests, and subsequently evaluated its validity in comparison with reference inertial sensors. Twenty-two healthy adults (10 older and 12 young adults) participated in this study. An automated functional mobility assessment app was developed, based on the HoloLens platform. The mobility performance was recorded with the headset built-in sensor and reference inertial sensor (Opal, APDM) taped on the headset and lower back. The results indicate that the vertical kinematic measurements by HoloLens were in good agreement with the reference sensor (Normalized RMSE ~ 10%, except for cases where the inertial sensor drift correction was not viable). Additionally, the HoloLens-based test completion time was in perfect agreement with the clinical standard stopwatch measure. Overall, our preliminary investigation indicates that it is possible to use an MR headset to automatically guide users (without severe mobility deficit) to complete common mobility tests, and this approach has the potential to provide an objective and efficient sensor-based mobility assessment that does not require any direct research/clinical oversight.
Multi-Phase Flow Metering in Offshore Oil and Gas Transportation Pipelines: Trends and Perspectives
Authors: Hansen Lærke Skov , Pedersen Simon , Durdevic Petar
Published: May 2019

Multi-phase flow meters are of huge importance to the offshore oil and gas industry. Unreliable measurements can lead to many disadvantages and even wrong decision-making. It is especially important for mature reservoirs as the gas volume fraction and water cut is increasing during the lifetime of a well. Hence, it is essential to accurately monitor the multi-phase flow of oil, water and gas inside the transportation pipelines. The objective of this review paper is to present the current trends and technologies within multi-phase flow measurements and to introduce the most promising methods based on parameters such as accuracy, footprint, safety, maintenance and calibration. Typical meters, such as tomography, gamma densitometry and virtual flow meters are described and compared based on their performance with respect to multi-phase flow measurements. Both experimental prototypes and commercial solutions are presented and evaluated. For a non-intrusive, non-invasive and inexpensive meter solution, this review paper predicts a progress for virtual flow meters in the near future. The application of multi-phase flows meters are expected to further expand in the future as fields are maturing, thus, efficient utilization of existing fields are in focus, to decide if a field is still financially profitable.
A Novel Method to Enable the Awareness Ability of Non-V2V-Equipped Vehicles in Vehicular Networks
Authors: Wang Jian , Zheng Qiang , Mei Fang , Deng Weiwen , Ge Yuming
Published: May 2019

Autonomous vehicles need to have sufficient perception of the surrounding environment to produce appropriate driving behavior. The Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology can exchange the speed, position, direction, and other information between autonomous vehicles to improve the sensing ability of the traditional on-board sensors. For example, V2V communication technology does not have a blind spot like a conventional on-board sensor, and V2V communication is not easily affected by weather conditions. However, it is almost impossible to make every vehicle a V2V-equipped vehicle in the real environment due to reasons such as policy and user choice. Low penetration of V2V-equipped vehicles greatly reduces the performance of the traditional V2V system. In this paper, however, we propose a novel method that can extend the awareness ability of the traditional V2V system without adding much extra investment. In the traditional V2V system, only a V2V-equipped vehicle can broadcast its own location information. However, the situation is somewhat different in our V2V system. Although non-V2V-equipped vehicles cannot broadcast their own location information, we can let V2V-equipped vehicle with radar and other sensors detect the location information of the surrounding non-V2V-equipped vehicles and then broadcast it out. Therefore, we think that a non-V2V-equipped vehicle can also broadcast its own location information. In this way, we greatly extend the awareness ability of the traditional V2V system. The proposed method is validated by real experiments and simulation experiments.
ANTspin: Efficient Absolute Localization Method of RFID Tags via Spinning Antenna
Authors: Shen Leixian , Zhang Qingyun , Pang Jiayi , Xu He , Li Peng , Xue Donghui
Published: May 2019

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has been widely applied in outdoor positioning, but it cannot meet the accuracy requirements of indoor positioning. Comprising an important part of the Internet of Things perception layer, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) plays an important role in indoor positioning. We propose a novel localization scheme aiming at the defects of existing RFID localization technology in localization accuracy and deployment cost, called ANTspin: Efficient Absolute Localization Method of RFID Tags via Spinning Antenna, which introduces a rotary table in the experiment. The reader antenna is fixed on the rotary table to continuously collect dynamic data. When compared with static acquisition, there is more information for localization. After that, the relative incident angle and distance between tags and the antenna can be analyzed for localization with characteristics of Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data. We implement ANTspin using COTS RFID devices and the experimental results show that it achieves a mean accuracy of 9.34 cm in 2D and mean accuracy of 13.01 cm in three-dimensions (3D) with high efficiency and low deployment cost.
Correction: Lee, T. R., et al. On the Use of Rotary-Wing Aircraft to Sample Near-Surface Thermodynamic Fields: Results from Recent Field Campaigns. Sensors 2019, 19(1), 10
Authors: Lee Temple R. , Buban Michael , Dumas Edward , Baker C. Bruce
Published: May 2019

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...]
Research on Cognitive Marine Radar Based on LFM Waveform Control
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhang Shufang , Suo Jidong , Yao Tingting , Zhang Jingbo
Published: May 2019

In this paper, the method of applying cognitive radar technology to marine radar is studied, and the cognitive marine radar structure and transmitted signal model with three control parameters are constructed. The selection method of waveform control parameters, which is based on the target spatial distribution and the reference target detection effect with the minimum emission energy as the criterion, is given. The transmission signal control selection method given in this paper can flexibly realize different emission signal groups of m × n × p groups by independently setting the values m, n and p of three control parameters. It does not require radar hardware circuit reconstruction to meet the radar waveform changes. This is more convenient for the technical realization of cognitive marine radar. According to the method of this paper, a cognitive marine radar test system was constructed. The experimental results show that the proposed radar could reduce the emission energy by 15.9 dB compared with the traditional fixed-parameter pulse compression marine radar under the experimental conditions.
Smarter Traffic Prediction Using Big Data, In-Memory Computing, Deep Learning and GPUs
Authors: Aqib Muhammad , Mehmood Rashid , Alzahrani Ahmed , Katib Iyad , Albeshri Aiiad , Altowaijri Saleh M.
Published: May 2019

Road transportation is the backbone of modern economies, albeit it annually costs 1.25 million deaths and trillions of dollars to the global economy, and damages public health and the environment. Deep learning is among the leading-edge methods used for transportation-related predictions, however, the existing works are in their infancy, and fall short in multiple respects, including the use of datasets with limited sizes and scopes, and insufficient depth of the deep learning studies. This paper provides a novel and comprehensive approach toward large-scale, faster, and real-time traffic prediction by bringing four complementary cutting-edge technologies together: big data, deep learning, in-memory computing, and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). We trained deep networks using over 11 years of data provided by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the largest dataset that has been used in deep learning studies. Several combinations of the input attributes of the data along with various network configurations of the deep learning models were investigated for training and prediction purposes. The use of the pre-trained model for real-time prediction was explored. The paper contributes novel deep learning models, algorithms, implementation, analytics methodology, and software tool for smart cities, big data, high performance computing, and their convergence.
The Politics of Young Children through the ‘Epistemologies of the South’
Authors: Aruldoss Vinnarasan
Published: May 2019

Drawing data from an ethnographic study conducted in an early-years setting in Chennai, India, where everyday politics is couched in material and relational practices, the paper ruminates on the idea of ‘children as subjects’ in relation to politics and public life. By using the framework of ‘epistemologies of the south’, the analysis illustrates how a focus on ‘global cognitive justice’ might enable us to understand the politics of life in the global south differently from Western critical theory. The paper further deliberates on how such a ‘decolonial imagination’ would help us to reframe Eurocentric liberalist thinking and its conceptualisations of childhood and the political, practiced in a zone of messy social reality. In so doing, the paper tries to unpack ‘the political’ through paying particular attention to different ways of being, knowing, and doing children’s politics, and the subaltern practices of generational relations in subject making.
Fuzzy Logic Analysis of the Build, Capacity Build and Transfer (B-CB-T) Modality for Urban Water Supply Service Delivery in Ethiopia
Authors: Godfrey Samuel , Asmare Getachew , Gossa Tamene , Paba Michele
Published: May 2019

Rapid urbanization in Ethiopia is resulting in the need for alternative sustainable service models for urban water supply. Contractual arrangements to improve the functionality of urban water services in Ethiopia have included build, operate and transfer (BOT), design, build and operate (DBO), performance-based contracts (PBC) and utility development. UNICEF undertook a review of these modalities and concluded that a modified version of the BOT modality was required to both incentivize private sector engagement in urban water supply and to enhance public sector utilities. This paper describes the contractual modality developed to achieve this aim, namely an Ethiopian build, capacity build and transfer (B-CB-T) modality. This paper tests the applicability of the B-CB-T model using fuzzy logic statistical analysis and concludes that of the four tested variables (internal accountability, external accountability, operation and maintenance and financial management), the most statistically significant was the clear mandate to address complaints and maintain a positive relationship with the clients (users). This paper concludes that the B-CB-T is an effective contracting modality that should be accompanied by appropriate behavior change and social mobilization outreach to maximize tariff, billing, extension and performance of the infrastructure that is administered within the B-CB-T arrangement.
Evaluation and Optimization of Agricultural Water Resources Carrying Capacity in Haihe River Basin, China
Authors: Kang Jian , Zi Xin , Wang Sufen , He Liuyue
Published: May 2019

The shortage and uneven spatial and distribution of agricultural water resources has greatly restricted the sustainable development of regional society and economy. In this study, an improved five-element connection number set pair analysis model, which subdivides the same–different–opposite connection number in the set pair analysis theory to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the original ternary connection numbers is constructed to evaluate the agricultural water resources carrying capacity (AWRCC) in the Haihe River Basin. Based on this evaluation result, an optimization model (AROL model) is proposed to optimize the effective irrigation area and groundwater exploitation to achieve a “better level” of AWRCC. The evaluation result shows that the current AWRCC of the Haihe River Basin is relatively low. The AWRCC in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning is Level III and the current agricultural water resources are not overloaded but have little carrying potential. The AWRCC of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong are rated IV and overloaded, among which Shandong has the lowest comprehensive score and the most serious overload. The optimization result shows that the extraction and conservation of groundwater in most areas of the Haihe River Basin is unbalanced and the effective irrigation area needs to be increased. With different current conditions in different areas, the groundwater exploitation and the effective irrigation area is adjusted correspondingly. Among the areas, the adjustment of groundwater exploitation and the effective irrigation area in Hebei are the most significant.
THE CONCEPT OF STANDARDIZATION OF FORENSIC AND EXPERT ACTIVITIES
Authors: Nestor Nataliia
Published: May 2019

The article distinguishes three concepts: «standardization», «accreditation» and «certification». All three aspects are tools for ensuring control over the quality, reliability and scientific authenticity of expert studies. Standards of forensic activities are fixed in the methods of conducting expert research; it has been considered the possibility of unifying the methodological support of expert research and related activities.

Foremost, the standards of forensic activities are fixed in the methods of conducting expert research, which are, relatively, programs for solving expert problems and a list of sequential operations. It is the methodological aspect of the quality of forensic examinations that is the focus of this article.

Standardization of individual areas of expert research is often considered as the next step after accreditation of forensic institutions to implement international standards in expert justice.

Most expert institutions both in Ukraine and internationally are accredited. However, the accreditation procedure is reduced to the issues of documentation and management and to a large extent leaves aside the scientific and methodological aspects of the implementation of expert activities.

Standardization of forensic activity should be understood as an activity to achieve optimal orderliness of forensic expert activity by unifying the methodological support of expert research and related activities. It is important to understand that standardization is a continuous process, and involves the development of new standard techniques with the advent of new types of examinations.

Key words: forensic expert activity, standardization, unification, accreditation, attestation, judicial practice, methodology.
CONCEPT OF CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME, THEIR PROPERTIES AND CRIMINALISTIC VALUES FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITY IN THE FIELD OF TAXATION
Authors: Padalka M.
Published: May 2019

The article deals with theoretical approaches to the definition of the concept of traces of a crime, their forensic meaning and properties. It is determined that one of the most important elements of revealing the mechanism of criminal activity is a forensic description of crimes. It reflects the features of the method, as well as the signs of other elements of the structure of criminal activity.

In view of this, in the structure of forensic characterization of tax crimes committed by an organized criminal group, we have formulated the features of this class of crime, its traces at certain stages of organized crime, which allows you to establish the basic element of forensic characteristics – the way of committing a crime, as well as place, time it committing and direct participants in organized crime activities. Key words: traces of crimes, forensic characteristic, organized criminal activity, taxation.
LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES OF PROVIDING NATIONAL POLICE BY MODERN SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL MEANS
Authors:   B. Lukianchykov; O. Usenko
Published: May 2019

The article analyzes the current state of providing the forensic units of the National Police of Ukraine with technical and forensic means of protecting places of investigation. First of all, we are talking about the inspection of the scene of the incident and the use of mobile screens and tents. Their use allows to protect the scene of the incident and the objects located there both from the negative effects of a natural character (sun, rain, snow), and from free access by outsiders, as well as the curious eyes of interested people. Attention is drawn to the regulatory framework governing the use of data of forensic means of protection. The author analyzes the opinions of well-known domestic and foreign forensic scientists and proposes his own vision of resolving this issue, based on the regulatory framework in Ukraine.

The author reasonably comes to the conclusion that the main condition for the use of mobile protective equipment (tents and screens) of the places of investigation is strict observance of the rules and norms of international and domestic legislation that regulates activities in the field of criminal procedure.

Also the article speaks about the possibility of using improvised means and objects for protection against various influences of physical evidence at the scene, but it is stated that it is much more convenient to have such means prepared in advance in a patrol car.

It is analyzed the domestic and foreign market of such portable means of protection of accident sites (protective screens and tents), special attention is paid to the study of the materials, from which they are made and design features. It is noted that these devices should be light and allow one person to control them. On the basis of research, the author came to the conclusion that all sets of mobile protective structures (tent, screen) should be made of durable, non-transparent, impermeable, but easily breathable material. The design should allow easy connection of individual elements in order to increase the area of protection, both around the perimeter and in height.

All of the above allows us to conclude that the improvement and updating of the arsenal of special technical tools used by police officers to preserve the situation at the scene of incident are the necessary realities of today.

Key words: scientific and technical means, event protection, technical and forensic equipment.
THEORY OF GAMES IN THE CRIMINAL PROCESS OF UKRAINE
Authors: Plakhotnik O. V.
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this article is to reveal the possibility of using game theory in the criminal process of Ukraine. The article deals with the adversarial principle of the criminal proceedings. The presence of conflicting interests of both sides gives rise to the procedural interests of each of them. Defending legal positions with due regard for procedural interests leads to rational behavior of the both sides. Such activities can be called strategic, and the process of achieving the interests of the both sides in criminal proceedings is the strategy of the sides to criminal proceedings. Both sides in criminal proceedings will develop optimal strategies for achieving the appropriate procedural goal. The choice of the optimal strategy of the prosecution or the defense allows you to use game theory, as the theory of mathematical models for making optimal decisions in the context of a divergence of interests of the both sides in criminal proceedings. The article provides a definition of strategy and a definition of Game Theory. Conflicts that are considered in game theory are compared by analogy with a dispute in a criminal proceeding. The work of B.D. Leonov “The role of the theory of strategic behavior (game theory) in the regulation of the fight against terrorism” about the fact that game theory helps to choose the best strategies, taking into account ideas about other participants, their resources and possible actions. The work of A.A. Shiyan “Game Theory: Basics and Applications in Economics and Management” about the need to master the skills and abilities to apply game theory. The work of O.Y. Baev “Selected Works on the Problems of Criminalistics and Criminal Procedure” about the fact that, from the standpoint of the categorical apparatus of game theory, the adversarial principle completely fits into the so-called antagonistic game of two players. It was analyzed the work of O.G. Yanovskaja “Effective implementation of the functions of the prosecution and defense as a condition of adversary criminal proceedings” about the strategy and tactics of advocacy from the perspective of using the concept of solving game theory. It was analyzed the work of Y.A. Tsvetkov “The game of justice: How to increase the gain?” which examines the practical application of game theory in criminal proceedings using the Nash matrix and algorithms for making optimal decisions. It is concluded that the adversarial principle can be applied using ready-made mathematical models to make optimal decisions in criminal proceedings in order to achieve Nash equilibrium and, in general, increase the predictability of the outcome of criminal proceedings.

Key words: game theory, criminal proceedings.