bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bending Response of Composite Material Plates with Specific Properties, Case of a Typical FGM "Ceramic/Metal" in Thermal Environments
Authors: Benyamina Abdelrahmane Bekaddour , Bouderba Bachir , Saoula Abdelkader
Published: June 2018

The rapid development of composite materials and structures in recent years has attracted the increased attention of many engineers and researchers. These materials are widely used in aerospace, military, mechanical, nuclear, marine, optical, electronic, chemical, biomedical, energy sources, automotive fields, ship building and structural engineering industries. In conventional laminate composite structures, homogeneous elastic plate are bonded together to obtain improved mechanical and thermal properties. However, the abrupt change in material properties across the interface between the different materials can cause strong inter-laminar stresses leading to delamination, cracking, and other damage mechanisms at the interface between the layers. To remedy these defects, functionally graded materials (FGM) are used, in which the properties of materials vary constantly. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the thermomechanical bending behavior of functionally graded thick plates (FGM) made in ceramic/metal. This work presents a model that employed a new transverse shear function. The numerical results obtained by the present analysis are presented and compared with those available in the literature (classical, first-order, and other higher-order theories). It can be concluded that this theory is effective and simple for the static analysis of composite material plates with specific properties "Case of a typical FGM (ceramic/metal)" in thermal environments.
Effect of garlic powder (Allium sativum) on growth, dressing parameters, serum biochemical contents and profitability of broiler
Authors: Karim MB , Hossain ME , Ali MS , Hossain A
Published: June 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of garlic an alternative feed additive in broiler diet.  The experiment was carried out for a period of 32 days with a number of 340 day-old straight run broiler chicks. Birds were divided into five dietary treatment groups with 4 replications each having 17 birds. The dietary groups were; control (basal diet; no additives), antibiotic (basal diet + antibiotic), garlic 0.25% (basal diet + 0.25% garlic powder), garlic 0.50% (basal diet + 0.50% garlic powder) and garlic 0.75% (basal diet + 0.75% garlic powder). Results showed that the body weight, body weight gain and total FCR were not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. Total feed intake in different dietary levels showed significant (P<0.05) difference. Control group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake than the other dietary groups. The results also showed thatthe serum glucose concentration was reduced (P<0.05) in all garlic supplemented groups compared to the control and antibiotic groups. Total cholesterol level was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the 0.75% garlic group compared to the control and antibiotic groups. In case of dressing parameter, 0.75% garlic group showed lowest (P<0.05) abdominal fat compared to the other groups. Cost of production per kg live broiler was lower in antibiotic and control groups compared to the garlic group. With regards to profit, antibiotic groups showed higher profitability than the other groups. It can be concluded that the addition of garlic powder to broiler diet had positive effect on cholesterol and glucose levels and had no effect on feed intake, body weight gain, meat yield, bone development, carcass parameters. It can be suggested that the garlic could be a potential feed additive in broiler diet.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (4): 215-224
Efficient Approximation for Restricted Biclique Cover Problems
Authors: Epasto Alessandro , Upfal Eli
Published: June 2018

Covering the edges of a bipartite graph by a minimum set of bipartite complete graphs (bicliques) is a basic graph theoretic problem, with numerous applications. In particular, it is used to characterize parsimonious models of a set of observations (each biclique corresponds to a factor or feature that relates the observations in the two sets of nodes connected by the biclique). The decision version of the minimum biclique cover problem is NP-Complete, and unless P=NP, the cover size cannot be approximated in general within less than a sub-linear factor of the number of nodes (or edges) in the graph. In this work, we consider two natural restrictions to the problem, motivated by practical applications. In the first case, we restrict the number of bicliques a node can belong to. We show that when this number is at least 5, the problem is still NP-hard. In contrast, we show that when nodes belong to no more than two bicliques, the problem has efficient approximations. The second model we consider corresponds to observing a set of independent samples from an unknown model, governed by a possibly large number of factors. The model is defined by a bipartite graph G=(L,R,E), where each node in L is assigned to an arbitrary subset of up to a constant f factors, while the nodes in R (the independent observations) are assigned to random subsets of the set of k factors where k can grow with size of the graph. We show that this practical version of the biclique cover problem is amenable to efficient approximations.
Evolutionary-Based BEL Controller Applied to a Magneto-Rheological Structural System
Authors: Braz César Manuel , Paulo Coelho João , Gonçalves José
Published: June 2018

This work addresses the problem of finding the best controller parameters in order to improve the response of a single degree-of-freedom structural system under earthquake excitation. The control paradigm considered is based on brain emotional learning (BEL) and the actuation over the building dynamics is carried out by changing the stiffness of a magneto-rheological damper. A typical BEL-based controller requires the definition of several parameters which can prove difficult and non-intuitive to obtain. For this reason, an evolutionary-based search technique has been added to the current problem framework in order to automate the controller design. In particular, the particle swarm optimization method is chosen as the evolutionary based technique to be integrated within the current control paradigm. The obtained results suggest that, indeed, it is possible to parametrize a BEL controller using an evolutionary-based algorithm. Moreover, a simulation shows that the obtained results can outperform the ones obtained by manual tuning each controller parameter individually.
Antimicrobial Effect of Titanium Hydroxyapatite in Denture Base Resin
Authors: Sato Wataru , Yoshida Yasuo , Komasa Satoshi , Hasegawa Yoshiaki , Okazaki Joji
Published: June 2018

In the current study, we investigated the antimicrobial effect of titanium hydroxyapatite (TiHA), a photo-oxidizing organic material, in denture base resin on single-species biofilms formed by laboratory bacteria and on multispecies biofilms formed by bacteria from the human saliva. Although TiHA reportedly restricts the growth of planktonic bacteria upon ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation, the antimicrobial effect of TiHA on bacterial biofilms remains to be elucidated. Resin specimens were prepared by adding TiHA to polymethyl methacrylate-based, denture base resin. The specimens were incubated with biofilm-forming Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or bacteria from the human saliva obtained from volunteers. After UVA irradiation, the colony-forming units (CFUs) from the biofilms formed on the specimens were determined. CFU numbers for S. sanguinis, A. naeslundii, and S. aureus that formed biofilms on TiHA-containing specimens were significantly lower than those formed on specimens without TiHA. TiHA did not reduce the CFUs of biofilm-forming E. coli. In all cases, CFU numbers in the biofilms formed on TiHA-containing specimens by the salivary bacteria were significantly reduced. In addition, neither a 56 h UVA irradiation nor a 28 d soaking in water diminished the antibacterial effect of TiHA. TiHA in denture base resin exerts an antimicrobial effect on single-species bacterial biofilms and biofilms formed by a wide variety of bacteria from human saliva.
The Design and Implementation of a Novel Open Source Massive Deployment System
Authors: Shiau Steven J. H. , Sun Chen-Kai , Tsai Yu-Chin , Juang Jer-Nan , Huang Chi-Yo
Published: June 2018

The hypervisor and container are emerging cloud computing and fog computing technologies, which enable rapid system deployment. However, both of the technologies depend on the operating system (OS) and applications that are installed on the host machines. System deployment is the activity to deliver and install OSs and applications onto computers. Such deployment activities are widely required in the infrastructure of cloud computing, fog computing, high-performance computing clusters, and classrooms of computer education. Albeit the concept of system deployment is not new, traditional solutions cannot support the rapid evolution of open source file systems. Furthermore, existing solutions cannot support the massive deployment of disks in a computer as well as the massive deployment in large-scale computers. To resolve the issue, the authors proposed novel system architecture as well as software that is openly available. The experiments are undertaken by deploying a Linux system to 1 to 30 Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives in a single machine and to 1 to 32 machines in a network using the software that is being developed in this work. The results have demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed work. The relationships between the bus bandwidth, the writing rate of the USB flash drive, and the number of flash drives were also formulated as a govern equation. Performance evaluation and cost savings in comparing to the deployment cases adopting commercial software were also provided for demonstrating the performance enhancement and cost reduction by using the novel deployment system. In general, the proposed architecture and the developed software are highly effective from the aspects of both performance and cost.
Statistical Analysis of Tropical Cyclones in the Solomon Islands
Authors: Maru Edward , Shibata Taiga , Ito Kosuke
Published: June 2018

This study examines tropical cyclone (TC) activity around the Solomon Islands (SIs) using best track data from the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Brisbane, and the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, Nadi. Analysis of long-term trends showed that the frequency of TCs has decreased in this region, while the average TC intensity has increased. Datasets were classified according to the phase of Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the index of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), provided by Bureau of Meteorology. The MJO significantly influenced TC activity in the SIs, with TC genesis occurring most frequently in phases 6–8. In contrast, TC genesis occurred less frequently in phase 5. ENSO also influenced TC genesis; more TCs were generated in El Niño periods. The TC genesis locations during El Niño (La Niña) periods were significantly displaced to the north (south) over the SIs. TCs generated during El Niño conditions tended to be strong. This study also explores the modulation of TCs in terms of the seasonal climatic variability of large-scale environmental variables such as sea surface temperature (SST), low-level relative vorticity, vertical wind shear, and upper level divergence.
A Closure Study of Total Scattering Using Airborne In Situ Measurements from the Winter Phase of TCAP
Authors: Kassianov Evgueni , Berg Larry K. , Pekour Mikhail , Barnard James , Chand Duli , Comstock Jennifer , Flynn Connor , Sedlacek Arthur , Shilling John , Telg Hagen , Tomlinson Jason , Zelenyuk Alla , Fast Jerome
Published: June 2018

We examine the performance of our approach for calculating the total scattering coefficient of both non-absorbing and absorbing aerosol at ambient conditions from aircraft data. Our extended examination involves airborne in situ data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Gulf Stream 1 aircraft during winter over Cape Cod and the western North Atlantic Ocean as part of the Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP). The particle population represented by the winter dataset, in contrast with its summer counterpart, contains more hygroscopic particles and particles with an enhanced ability to absorb sunlight due to the larger fraction of black carbon. Moreover, the winter observations are characterized by more frequent clouds and a larger fraction of super-micron particles. We calculate model total scattering coefficient at ambient conditions using size spectra measured by optical particle counters (OPCs) and ambient complex refractive index (RI) estimated from measured chemical composition and relative humidity (RH). We demonstrate that reasonable agreement (~20% on average) between the observed and calculated scattering can be obtained under subsaturated ambient conditions (RH < 80%) by applying both screening for clouds and chemical composition data for the RI-based correction of the OPC-derived size spectra.
3D Cell Migration Studies for Chemotaxis on Microfluidic-Based Chips: A Comparison between Cardiac and Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Sandra , Tomás-González Esther , García-Aznar José Manuel
Published: June 2018

Fibroblast migration to damaged zones in different tissues is crucial to regenerate and recuperate their functional activity. However, fibroblast migration patterns have hardly been studied in disease terms. Here, we study this fundamental process in dermal and cardiac fibroblasts by means of microfluidic-based experiments, which simulate a three-dimensional matrix in which fibroblasts are found in physiological conditions. Cardiac fibroblasts show a higher mean and effective speed, as well as greater contractile force, in comparison to dermal fibroblasts. In addition, we generate chemical gradients to study fibroblast response to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) gradients. Dermal fibroblasts were attracted to PDGF, whereas cardiac fibroblasts are not. Notwithstanding, cardiac fibroblasts increased their mean and effective velocity in the presence of TGF-β. Therefore, given that we observe that the application of these growth factors does not modify fibroblasts’ morphology, these alterations in the migration patterns may be due to an intracellular regulation.
Sources and Fates of Carbamyl Phosphate: A Labile Energy-Rich Molecule with Multiple Facets
Authors: Shi Dashuang , Caldovic Ljubica , Tuchman Mendel
Published: June 2018

Carbamyl phosphate (CP) is well-known as an essential intermediate of pyrimidine and arginine/urea biosynthesis. Chemically, CP can be easily synthesized from dihydrogen phosphate and cyanate. Enzymatically, CP can be synthesized using three different classes of enzymes: (1) ATP-grasp fold protein based carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS); (2) Amino-acid kinase fold carbamate kinase (CK)-like CPS (anabolic CK or aCK); and (3) Catabolic transcarbamylase. The first class of CPS can be further divided into three different types of CPS as CPS I, CPS II, and CPS III depending on the usage of ammonium or glutamine as its nitrogen source, and whether N-acetyl-glutamate is its essential co-factor. CP can donate its carbamyl group to the amino nitrogen of many important molecules including the most well-known ornithine and aspartate in the arginine/urea and pyrimidine biosynthetic pathways. CP can also donate its carbamyl group to the hydroxyl oxygen of a variety of molecules, particularly in many antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. Transfer of the carbamyl group to the nitrogen group is catalyzed by the anabolic transcarbamylase using a direct attack mechanism, while transfer of the carbamyl group to the oxygen group is catalyzed by a different class of enzymes, CmcH/NodU CTase, using a different mechanism involving a three-step reaction, decomposition of CP to carbamate and phosphate, transfer of the carbamyl group from carbamate to ATP to form carbamyladenylate and pyrophosphate, and transfer of the carbamyl group from carbamyladenylate to the oxygen group of the substrate. CP is also involved in transferring its phosphate group to ADP to generate ATP in the fermentation of many microorganisms. The reaction is catalyzed by carbamate kinase, which may be termed as catabolic CK (cCK) in order to distinguish it from CP generating CK. CP is a thermally labile molecule, easily decomposed into phosphate and cyanate, or phosphate and carbamate depending on the pH of the solution, or the presence of enzyme. Biological systems have developed several mechanisms including channeling between enzymes, increased affinity of CP to enzymes, and keeping CP in a specific conformation to protect CP from decomposition. CP is highly important for our health as both a lack of, or decreased, CP production and CP accumulation results in many disease conditions.
Brain Connectivity Networks and the Aesthetic Experience of Music
Authors: Reybrouck Mark , Vuust Peter , Brattico Elvira
Published: June 2018

Listening to music is above all a human experience, which becomes an aesthetic experience when an individual immerses himself/herself in the music, dedicating attention to perceptual-cognitive-affective interpretation and evaluation. The study of these processes where the individual perceives, understands, enjoys and evaluates a set of auditory stimuli has mainly been focused on the effect of music on specific brain structures, as measured with neurophysiology and neuroimaging techniques. The very recent application of network science algorithms to brain research allows an insight into the functional connectivity between brain regions. These studies in network neuroscience have identified distinct circuits that function during goal-directed tasks and resting states. We review recent neuroimaging findings which indicate that music listening is traceable in terms of network connectivity and activations of target regions in the brain, in particular between the auditory cortex, the reward brain system and brain regions active during mind wandering.
Depression among Black Youth; Interaction of Class and Place
Authors: Assari Shervin , Gibbons Frederick , Simons Ronald
Published: June 2018

Although high socioeconomic status (SES) is traditionally conceptualized as a health protective factor, recent literature has documented positive associations between SES (e.g., income) and depression among Blacks, including Black youth. To extend the results of this recent literature, the current study used the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS) data to examine the multiplicative effects of gender, place, and SES on average depressive symptoms of Black youth over a long period of time. FACHS, 1997–2017, followed 889 Black children aged 10–12 years old for up to 18 years. Depressive symptoms were measured in seven waves. The main predictors of interest were two SES indicators, parent education and family income measured at baseline (1997). Main outcome of interest was average depressive symptoms over the 18 year follow up period. Place of residence and gender were the focal moderators. Linear regression models were used for data analysis. In the pooled sample, living in a predominantly White area was associated with higher average depressive symptoms over time, however, this association was fully explained by higher perceived racial discrimination in the predominantly White areas. We found an interaction between income and place of residence on average depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher income is associated with more depressive symptoms in predominantly White compared to predominantly Black areas. Place did not interact with parent education on average depressive symptoms. Gender also did not interact with education or income on depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that place and SES may interact on depressive symptoms of Black youth, with high income becoming a risk factor for depressive symptoms in predominantly White areas. How SES indicators, such as income, protect or become a risk factor depend on other contextual factors, such as place of residence. There is a need to reduce discrimination experienced by Blacks, especially in predominantly White areas. Meanwhile, Black youth who live in predominantly White areas may require additional help that enhances their coping.
An Investigation on Virtual Information Modeling Acceptance Based on Project Management Knowledge Areas
Authors: Didehvar Nasim , Teymourifard Mohammadnabi , Mojtahedi Mohammad , Sepasgozar Samad
Published: June 2018

In the contemporary construction management, poor project performance, cost overrun, and low-quality construction have become a central point of attention for improving project performance including information, interaction and communication management. Virtual design and building information modeling play indispensable role in improving the project performance. The aim of this study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of Virtual Information Modeling as a novel information and communication technology method on project management knowledge areas in the construction industry. Using one-sample T test with Kolmogorov-Smirnov approach, we analyzed data collected from structured questionnaire survey involving project managers working at architecture, engineering and construction industries in Tehran, Iran. The results with 64% response rate suggest that the most important benefits and challenges of using Virtual Information Modeling are related to the area of integration, and implementation of Virtual Information Modeling has significant impact on project integration management knowledge in compare with other project management knowledge areas. Thus, integration should be considered a top priority for construction companies implementing Virtual Information Modeling in their projects. Policymakers should understand that careful management of virtual information is essential for improving the performance of projects and enhancing the process efficiency.
Pediatric Headache Clinic Model: Implementation of Integrative Therapies in Practice
Authors: Esparham Anna , Herbert Anne , Pierzchalski Emily , Tran Catherine , Dilts Jennifer , Boorigie Madeline , Wingert Tammie , Connelly Mark , Bickel Jennifer
Published: June 2018

The demand for integrative medicine has risen in recent years as research has demonstrated the efficacy of such treatments. The public has also become more conscientious of the potential limitations of conventional treatment alone. Because primary headache syndromes are often the culmination of genetics, lifestyle, stress, trauma, and environmental factors, they are best treated with therapies that are equally multifaceted. The Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri Headache Clinic has successfully incorporated integrative therapies including nutraceuticals, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, relaxation training, hypnosis, psychology services, and lifestyle recommendations for headache management. This paper provides a detailed review of the implementation of integrative therapies for headache treatment and discusses examples through case studies. It can serve as a model for other specialty settings intending to incorporate all evidenced-based practices, whether complementary or conventional.
Thermo-Mechanical Finite Element Modeling of the Laser Treatment of Titanium Cold-Sprayed Coatings
Authors: Rubino Felice , Astarita Antonello , Carlone Pierpaolo
Published: June 2018

This paper implements a thermo-mechanical model to simulate the laser treatment effects on a cold-sprayed titanium coating and aluminum substrate. The thermo-mechanical finite element model considers the transient temperature field due to the laser source and applied boundary conditions, using them as input loads for the subsequent stress-strain analysis. Numerical outcomes highlighted the relevance of thermal gradients and the presence of thermally-induced stress-strain fields responsible for promoting damage in the coating.
Waterflooding of Surfactant and Polymer Solutions in a Porous Media Micromodel
Authors: Yeh Hsiang-Lan , Juárez Jaime J.
Published: June 2018

In this study, we examine microscale waterflooding in a randomly close-packed porous medium. Three different porosities were prepared in a microfluidic platform and saturated with silicone oil. Optical video fluorescence microscopy was used to track the water front as it flowed through the porous packed bed. The degree of water saturation was compared to water containing two different types of chemical modifiers, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), with water in the absence of a surfactant used as a control. Image analysis of our video data yielded saturation curves and calculated fractal dimension, which we used to identify how morphology changed the way in which an invading water phase moved through the porous media. An inverse analysis based on the implicit pressure explicit saturation (IMPES) simulation technique used mobility ratio as an adjustable parameter to fit our experimental saturation curves. The results from our inverse analysis combined with our image analysis show that this platform can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of surfactants or polymers as additives for enhancing the transport of water through an oil-saturated porous medium.
Development of a Butterfly Wind Turbine with Mechanical Over-Speed Control System
Authors: Hara Yutaka , Tagawa Kotaro , Saito Shigenori , Shioya Keisuke , Ono Takeshi , Makino Kenji , Toba Kazutoshi , Hirobayashi Takakazu , Tanaka Yousuke , Takashima Kazuo , Sasaki Susumu , Nojima Kengo , Yoshida Shigeo
Published: June 2018

Based on a concept of “cost reduction by large rotor and small generator”, a kind of small vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) called a butterfly wind turbine (BWT) has been developed with rotor diameter of 7 m and five looped blades. One of the features is a mechanical system which can twist each blade of a VAWT by using the centrifugal force acting on the blades in order to prevent over-speeding of the rotor. An electric power generation system that combines the BWT utilizing the over-speed control system (OCS) with a coreless generator connected to a three-time increasing gear unit is constructed in this study. The performance of the BWT power-generation system is predicted by the blade element momentum (BEM) theory. The final goal of this research is to show the feasibility of the low-cost VAWT power generation system with the proposed OCS. From the results of a series of forcible rotation experiments of the BWT rotor that is driven by an induction motor in very low wind speed condition, it is shown that the twist movement of the blades is improved by the design of the OCS that considers the observed radial force deprived of the centrifugal force and the pre-compression of springs. In the generation experiments with the final design of the OCS, the expected twists of the blades are observed for the first time in strong natural wind speed over 18 m/s.
Autonomous Exploration and Mapping with RFS Occupancy-Grid SLAM
Authors: Ristic Branko , Palmer Jennifer L.
Published: June 2018

This short note addresses the problem of autonomous on-line path-panning for exploration and occupancy-grid mapping using a mobile robot. The underlying algorithm for simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) is based on random-finite set (RFS) modelling of ranging sensor measurements, implemented as a Rao-Blackwellised particle filter. Path-planning in general must trade-off between exploration (which reduces the uncertainty in the map) and exploitation (which reduces the uncertainty in the robot pose). In this note we propose a reward function based on the Rényi divergence between the prior and the posterior densities, with RFS modelling of sensor measurements. This approach results in a joint map-pose uncertainty measure without a need to scale and tune their weights.
Comparative Performance of Semi-Transparent PV Modules and Electrochromic Windows for Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Authors: Martín-Chivelet Nuria , Guillén Cecilia , Trigo Juan Francisco , Herrero José , Pérez Juan José , Chenlo Faustino
Published: June 2018

Advanced constructive materials, such as electrochromic smart windows (ECSWs) and building integrated photovoltaics modules (BIPV), can improve the energy efficiency in buildings. A good optical and thermal characterization of these elements is necessary to assess and compare their performance. The existing testing procedures for glass in buildings are applied to both types of elements, and it is considered that while the optical procedures are suitable and allow good comparison of the two technologies, the indoor thermal testing procedures are not valid for BIPV nor ECSWs, because temperature of these absorbing elements strongly depend on the irradiance, something not considered in the current standards. To show and characterize this dependence, simultaneously monitoring of different photovoltaics (PV) modules and electrochromic windows has been performed outdoors under solar irradiance. A relationship between the surface temperature, the irradiance, and the ambient temperature has been obtained for each sample to compare both technologies.
China’s Contributions to Global Green Energy and Low-Carbon Development: Empirical Evidence under the Belt and Road Framework
Authors: Li Hongze , Li FengYun , Yu Xinhua
Published: June 2018

This paper aims to explore China’s contributions to global green energy and low-carbon (GELC) development based on the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative. Basic situations of B&R countries reveal an urgent requirement for developing green energy. Carbon intensity is an efficient indicator reflecting the degree of GELC development, which is affected by many factors. By analyzing the spatial distribution of carbon intensities in 29 B&R countries excluding China, the spatial agglomeration and positive radiation effects are discovered, while the negative radiation effects are disappearing, indicating that the studied B&R countries lack an effective driving mechanism to promote GELC development. Besides, the spatial convergence results support significant absolute and conditional convergences in the 29 B&R countries, and a faster convergence speed when considering control variables. Therefore, B&R countries trend to converge to a steady stable carbon intensity to achieve the GELC development. Furthermore, the investment rate and openness play a driving role in pushing the decrease of carbon intensity growth rate, revealing that the B&R Initiative can promote reducing the global carbon emissions and developing global green energy. Moreover, the carbon intensity of the country will be positively affected by those of the surrounding areas, indicating that reducing carbon emission is a global governance issue requiring the participation of all countries. Finally, several policy suggestions are proposed to promote the global GELC development under B&R framework, according to the empirical findings.
Potential of Russian Regions to Implement CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Cherepovitsyn Alexey , Fedoseev Sergey , Tcvetkov Pavel , Sidorova Ksenia , Kraslawski Andrzej
Published: June 2018

The paper assesses the techno-economic potential of Russia to implement carbon capture and storage technologies that imply the capture of anthropogenic CO2 and its injection into geologic reservoirs for long-term storage. The focus is on CO2 enhanced oil recovery projects that seem to be the most economically promising option of carbon capture and storage. The novelty of the work lies in the formulation of a potential assessment method of CO2 enhanced oil recovery, which allows for establishing a connection between energy production and oil extraction from the viewpoint of CO2 supply and demand. Using linear optimization, the most promising combinations of CO2 sources and sinks are identified and an economic evaluation of these projects is carried out. Based on this information, regions of Russia are ranked according to their prospects in regards to CO2 capture and enhanced oil recovery storage. The results indicate that Russia has a significant potential to utilize its power plants as CO2 sources for enhanced oil recovery projects. It has been estimated that 71 coal-fired power plants, and 185 of the gas-fired power plants of Russia annually produce 297.1 and 309.6 Mt of CO2 that can cover 553.4 Mt of the demand of 322 Russian oil fields. At the same time, the total CO2 storage capacity of the Russian fields is estimated at 7382.6 Mt, however, due to geological and technical factors, only 22.6% can be used for CO2-EOR projects. Of the 183 potential projects identified in the regional analysis phase, 99 were found to be cost-effective, with an average unit cost of € 19.07 per ton of CO2 and a payback period of 8.71 years. The most promising of the estimated regions is characterized by a well-developed energy industry, relatively low transportation costs, numerous large and medium-sized oil fields at the final stages of development, and favorable geological conditions that minimize the cost of injection. Geographically, they are located in the North-Western, Volga, and Ural Federal districts.
Novel Method for Identifying Fault Location of Mixed Lines
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Hui , Dai Le Van , Liu Yuwei
Published: June 2018

The identification and localization of a fault are a basic requirement for optimal operation of a modern power system. An effective fault identification method significantly reduces outage time, improves the electrical supply reliability, and enhances the speed of protection control. This paper proposes a novel method based on the theory of the two-terminal traveling wave range to identify the fault location in a voltage source converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) system containing mixed cable and overhead line segments. It uses variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the Teager energy operator (TEO) as a new method to detect the traveling wave fault through a fault signal. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified via time domain simulation of the hybrid VSC-HVDC transmission system using PSCAD/EMTDC and MATLAB software. Simulation results show that the proposed method demonstrates high fault location accuracy and excellent robustness with a slight effect on transient resistance and fault types, and that it performs better than the existing transient detection techniques, such as wavelet transform and ensemble empirical mode decomposition.
LES Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain and Economic Effects of Wind Turbine Control
Authors: Uchida Takanori
Published: June 2018

In the present study, numerical wind simulation was conducted by reproducing the realistic topography near wind turbine sites with high spatial resolutions and using the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) technique. The topography near wind turbine sites serves as the origin of the terrain-induced turbulence. The obtained numerical simulation results showed that the terrain-induced turbulence is generated at a small terrain feature located upstream of the wind turbine. The generated terrain-induced turbulence affects the wind turbine directly. The wind speed and wind direction at the wind turbine site are significantly changed with time. In the present study, a combination of the series of wind simulation results and on-site operation experience led to a decision to adopt an “automatic shutdown program”. Here, an “automatic shutdown program” means the automatic suspension of wind turbine operation based on the wind speed and wind direction meeting the conditions associated with significant effects of terrain-induced turbulence at a wind turbine site. The adoption of the “automatic shutdown program” has successfully led to a large reduction in the number of occurrences of wind turbine damage, thus, creating major positive economic effects.
Energy Management Strategy for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Based on Driving Condition Identification Using KGA-Means
Authors: Li Shuxian , Hu Minghui , Gong Changchao , Zhan Sen , Qin Datong
Published: June 2018

In order to solve the problem related to adaptive energy management strategies based on driving condition identification being difficult to be applied to a real hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) controller, this paper proposes an energy management strategy by combining the driving condition identification algorithm based on genetic optimized K-means clustering algorithm (KGA-means), and the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS). The simulation results show that compared with ECMS, the energy management strategy proposed in this article drives the engine working point closer to the best efficiency curve, and smooths out the state of charge (SOC) change and better maintains the SOC in a highly efficient area. As a result, the vehicle fuel consumption reduces by 6.84%.
Static and Dynamic Networking of Smart Meters Based on the Characteristics of the Electricity Usage Information
Authors: Huang Yaxin , Sun Yunlian , Yi Shimin
Published: June 2018

The normal communication between smart meter and concentrator is a key factor influencing the normal function of users’ power consumption systems. To solve the communication failure of the smart meter caused by the signal conflict as well as the collected consecutive information abnormality from the same smart meter, according to the chain optimization index, the networking method of static and dynamic combination proposed in this paper is first used to picked out the optimal relay for a smart meter belonging to multiple relay communication ranges. Meanwhile, the communication with other secondary relays is closed to avoid signal conflict. Then the paper forms different combinations of collected data and these combinations are trained in the extreme learning machine (ELM) to find the characteristics value of power consumption information. Finally, in MATLAB simulation, if ELM detects the abnormal information, new communication path could be promptly found through dynamic adjustment of chain optimization weighted coefficient and the weighted coefficient of the number of the relayed smart meters. It solves the problem of consecutive information abnormality from the same smart meter and raises the reliability of smart meter’s communication, having a significantly meaning to guarantee the normal function of users’ power consumption system.
Physico-Mechanical Properties of Thermally Treated Poplar OSB
Authors: Cetera Paola , Negro Francesco , Cremonini Corrado , Todaro Luigi , Zanuttini Roberto
Published: June 2018

Oriented strand board (OSB) are widely marketed for several applications, from building to packaging. The manufacturing of poplar OSB has recently started in Northern Italy, representing a relevant innovation in the sector, given that this product is usually made of coniferous wood. Thermal treatment is nowadays widely used for increasing the dimensional stability and the durability of wood. The drawback is, however, that the mechanical performance of the treated wood product is reduced. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of thermo-vacuum treatment on the characteristics of poplar OSB. To this purpose, boards 15 mm thick and with a density of 590 kg/m3 were drawn from the standard production of the manufacturer and thermally treated under vacuum conditions at 190 °C for 2 h. Their mass loss, bending strength, modulus of elasticity, internal bond and swelling were determined. In addition, color change and wettability were studied before and after a weathering test. The thermal treatment significantly changed the properties of poplar OSB. The mass, the bending strength, the modulus of elasticity and the internal bond decreased with different intensities. The swelling after immersion in water decreased. The color switched toward a darker tone and the wettability decreased. After an accelerated weathering test (AWT), the color lightened, and the wettability increased. Overall, this study broadened the knowledge about the thermal treatment of this wood-based panel, which could enable new applications with particular attention to non-structural uses in humid conditions.
Characterization of the Weimberg Pathway in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Almqvist Henrik , Jonsdottir Glaser Sara , Tufvegren Celina , Wasserstrom Lisa , Lidén Gunnar
Published: June 2018

Caulobacter crescentus is a gram-negative bacterium that can utilize xylose as a substrate using the Weimberg pathway, which converts xylose to α-ketoglutarate in five steps without carbon loss. This is an interesting pathway for heterologous expression in other organisms in order to enable xylose utilization in biorefinery processes. C. crescentus was grown on xylose, arabinose and glucose, and maximum specific growth rates determined for the three substrates were 0.11 h−1, 0.05 h−1, and 0.15 h−1 respectively. Growth was found to be significantly inhibited at sugar concentration of 20 g L−1, shown primarily by an increased lag phase. Enzyme activity assays showed that the Weimberg pathway was active in cells grown, not only on xylose but also on arabinose. No activity was found for growth on glucose. Furthermore, substantial amounts of α-ketoglutarate—up to a yield of 0.4 g g−1—was excreted during growth on xylose, but no other extracellular intermediates in the Weimberg pathway were detected during growth on xylose. Apparently, C. crescentus is not well adapted for efficient growth on high xylose levels, and responds by an extended lag phase and secretion of α-ketoglutarate.
LTBSG1, a New Allele of BRD2, Regulates Panicle and Grain Development in Rice by Brassinosteroid Biosynthetic Pathway
Authors: Qin Ran , Zeng Dongdong , Yang Chengcong , Akhter Delara , Alamin Md. , Jin Xiaoli , Shi Chunhai
Published: June 2018

Panicle architecture and grain size are two important agronomic traits which determine grain yield directly in rice. In the present study, a mutant named ltbsg1 (longer top branch and shorter grain 1) was isolated from the cultivar “Zhenong 34” (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. The target gene was studied through phenotype observation, genetic analysis, map-based cloning and functional analysis. The histocytological analysis indicated that the elongated top branch and shorter grain of mutant ltbsg1 were caused from the defects of cell elongation. The ltbsg1 gene in mutant revealed a single nucleotide substitution (G-A) in the exon 2 of LOC_Os10g25780, causing an amino acid variation (Glycine-Arginine) in the FAD (Flavin-adenine dinucleotide)-binding domain of delta (24)-sterol reductase, which was involved in the brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis. LTBSG1 was constitutively expressed and the protein was widely localized in chloroplast, nucleus and cytomembrane. The ltbsg1 seedlings had a lower endogenous BR level and could be restored to the phenotype of wild type by exogenous BR. The LTBSG1 knock-out lines showed similar phenotype defects as mutant ltbsg1, which confirmed that LTBSG1 was responsible for top branch elongation and grain size reduction. Furthermore, LTBSG1 along with other BR-related genes were feedback-regulated due to their obvious altered expression in mutant ltbsg1. This study demonstrated that LTBSG1 could play a new role in regulating panicle and grain development by BR biosynthetic pathway.
Tissue Specificity and Dynamics of Sex-Biased Gene Expression in a Common Frog Population with Differentiated, Yet Homomorphic, Sex Chromosomes
Authors: Ma Wen-Juan , Veltsos Paris , Toups Melissa A. , Rodrigues Nicolas , Sermier Roberto , Jeffries Daniel L. , Perrin Nicolas
Published: June 2018

Sex-biased genes are central to the study of sexual selection, sexual antagonism, and sex chromosome evolution. We describe a comprehensive de novo assembled transcriptome in the common frog Rana temporaria based on five developmental stages and three adult tissues from both sexes, obtained from a population with karyotypically homomorphic but genetically differentiated sex chromosomes. This allows the study of sex-biased gene expression throughout development, and its effect on the rate of gene evolution while accounting for pleiotropic expression, which is known to negatively correlate with the evolutionary rate. Overall, sex-biased genes had little overlap among developmental stages and adult tissues. Late developmental stages and gonad tissues had the highest numbers of stage- or tissue-specific genes. We find that pleiotropic gene expression is a better predictor than sex bias for the evolutionary rate of genes, though it often interacts with sex bias. Although genetically differentiated, the sex chromosomes were not enriched in sex-biased genes, possibly due to a very recent arrest of XY recombination. These results extend our understanding of the developmental dynamics, tissue specificity, and genomic localization of sex-biased genes.
Neither Sensible, Nor Moderate: Revisiting the Antigone
Authors: Koulouris Theodore
Published: June 2018

In this essay, I try to conceptualise meaningful forms of resistance in the present by revisiting Sophocles’ Antigone, one of the most important texts of western literary tradition. I focus on Antigone’s compulsion to act against Creon’s decree, which turns Sophocles’ heroine into a metonymical expression of (civil) disobedience, sacrifice, and mourning—to my mind, the constitutive elements of effective resistant subjectivity. In my analysis, Antigone’s resistance is transformed from a deeply private, filial duty, essentially seen as heroic, into a rich, public expression of collectivity and solidarity. To illustrate this, I capilatise on Judith Butler’s designation of Antigone firmly in the political, and then proceed to make use of Bonnie Honig’s recalibration of her disobedience as one which transcends solitary action to express the collective, democratic feeling of a whole polis. I then mobilise a three-pronged theoretical framework. Firstly, I analyse the clash of Antigone with Creon through the prism of Jacques Derrida’s work on law and violence. Secondly, I explore the possibility of a biopolitical framing as developed by Giorgio Agamben since, at its core, the clash in the play is enacted within the parameters of a vitiated habeas corpus: from the moment Antigone confesses her misdeed she is treated by Creon, the sovereign, as a non-human—as an animal or, indeed, a miasma. In the last section of this essay, I mobilise the work of Howard Caygill with a view to analysing what I perceive as three discernible yet concatenated stages (or aspects) in the formation of Antigone’s resistant subjectivity: her full awareness of what it means to disobey (hence to resist), her acceptance of sacrifice, and, finally, her commitment to the political potentialities of mourning.