bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fifty years of progress in understanding sea ice
Authors: Lewis E. Lyn
Published: February 2018

The practical motivations for research on sea ice are discussed and an historical outline given of work carried out in the interval 1936-86. Advances in understanding the physical properties of sea ice and atmosphere–ice–ocean energy exchanges are listed. It is shown how these factors, together with an increasing ability to formulate changing ice-thickness distributions, have led to the eventual production of sophisticated models of ice movement having a useful predictive capability.
Efficacy of fungicides in controlling fusarium wilt of gladiolus
Authors: Yasmin L , Ali MA , Khan FN
Published: February 2018

The efficacy of fungicides in controlling Fusarium wilt of gladiolus was studied at Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur during 2010-2012 following RCB design with four replications. Six fungicides such as Bavistin (0.1%), Provax (0.2%), Mancozeb (0.2%), Rovral (0.2%), Chlorax (10%) and Cupravit (0.7%) were evaluated against the Fusarium wilt disease of gladiolus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli) under naturally infested field condition. Bavistin was very effective in reducing the disease incidence and thereby resulting maximum corm germination (99.98%), spike length (73.90 cm), rachis length (43.70 cm), florets spike-1 (12.63), flower sticks plot-1 (38.75) and corm plot-1 (60.23) and cormel yield ha-1 (2.51 t) of gladiolus. Provax and Cupravit were also effective in inhibiting the disease incidence as well as better spike length, rachis length, florets spike-1, no of flower sticks, corm and cormel yield.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(4): 599-607, December 2017
Effect of brackish water irrigation on soil degradation and performance of salt tolerant wheat and maize genotypes
Authors: Farooq MR , Akhtar J , Shahid MI , Safdar M
Published: February 2018

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of brackish water on soil physical and chemical conditions and yield of wheat and maize genotypes at the farmers’ field. Two salt tolerant genotypes for each crop were selected from previous hydroponic and lysimeters studies. Wheat-maize cropping system was followed using tubewell brackish water alone and with chemical (gypsum) and organic (FYM) amendments. The results revealed that treatments have significant effect on all growth and yield parameters and followed the trend of T1>T3 >T4 > T2. Highest grain yield of wheat genotypes (SARC-1 & V-8670) was observed in control (4050 & 3800 kg/ha) and lowest was in T2 (2862 & 2200 kg/ha). Similar trend was observed in maize fodder yield that was 9625 & 8875 kg/ha in control and 4350 & 2253 kg/ha in T2 for Sahiwal-02 and Akbar, respectively. Maximum reduction in wheat grain and maize fodder yield observed in T2 (tubewell water alone) where high EC, SAR and RSC water was applied that was 39 & 57% for 1st year (wheat crop) and 89 & 74% for 2nd year (maize crop) respectively. Data revealed that use of gypsum and FYM along with brackish water improved the wheat grain yield and maize fodder as compared to T2. More adverse effect of brackish water was observed in high EC, SAR and RSC treatment (tubewell water alone) as compared to other treatments. Application of amendments (gypsum and FYM) along with brackish tubewell water reduced adverse effect of brackish water. Among genotypes SARC-1 and Sahiwal-2002 performed better in all treatments and textures especially under brackish water treatments.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(4): 693-705, December 2017
Developing an Ethically Acceptable Virtual Fencing System for Sheep
Authors: Marini Danila , Meuleman M. , Belson Sue , Rodenburg T. , Llewellyn Rick , Lee Caroline
Published: February 2018

To ensure animal welfare isn’t compromised when using virtual fencing, animals must be able to associate a benign conditioned stimulus with an aversive stimulus. This study used an associative learning test to train 30, four-year-old, Merino x Suffolk ewes, to associate an audio cue with an electric stimulus. Collars manually controlled by a GPS hand-held unit were used to deliver the audio and electric stimuli cues. For the associative learning, when sheep approached an attractant at a distance of three m from the trough, an audio cue was applied for one s. If the sheep stopped or changed direction, the audio cue ceased immediately and no electrical stimulus was applied. If the sheep did not respond to the audio cue it was followed by a low-level electrical stimulus. Approaches to the attractant significantly decreased from day one to day two. It took a mean of three pairings of the audio cue and electrical stimulus for a change in behaviour to occur, after which sheep that approached the attractant had a 52% probability of avoiding the electrical stimulus and responding to the audio cue alone. Further research is required to determine whether sheep can be trained to associate an audio cue with a negative stimulus for use in group grazing situations.
Forecast for Artificial Muscle Tremor Behavior Based on Dynamic Additional Grey Catastrophe Prediction
Authors: Fu Yu , Yao Jianjun , Zhao Honghao , Zhao Gang , Wan Zhenshuai
Published: February 2018

Recently, bio-inspired artificial muscles based on ionic polymers have shown a bright perspective in engineering and medical research, but the inherent tremor behavior can cause instability of output response. In this paper, dynamic additional grey catastrophe prediction (DAGCP) is proposed to forecast the occurrence time of tremor behavior, providing adequate preparation time for the suppression of the chitosan-based artificial muscles. DAGCP constructs various dimensions of time subsequence models under different starting points based on the threshold of tremor occurrence times and peak-to-peak values in unit time. Next, the appropriate subsequence is selected according to grey correlation degree and prediction accuracy, then it is updated with the newly generated values to achieve a real-time forecast of forthcoming tremor time. Compared with conventional grey catastrophe prediction (GCP), the proposed method has the following advantages: (1) the degradation of prediction accuracy caused by the immobilization of original parameters is prevented; (2) the dynamic input, real-time update and gradual forecast of time sequence are incorporated into the model. The experiment results show that the novel DAGCP can predict forthcoming tremor time earlier and more accurately than the conventional GCP. The generation mechanism of tremor behavior is illustrated as well.
A Multi-Usable Cloud Service Platform: A Case Study on Improved Development Pace and Efficiency
Authors: Lindström John , Hermanson Anders , Blomstedt Fredrik , Kyösti Petter
Published: February 2018

The case study, spanning three contexts, concerns a multi-usable cloud service platform for big data collection and analytics and how the development pace and efficiency of it has been improved by 50–75% by using the Arrowhead framework and changing development processes/practices. Furthermore, additional results captured during the case study are related to technology, competencies and skills, organization, management, infrastructure, and service and support. A conclusion is that when offering a complex offer such as an Industrial Product-Service System, comprising sensors, hardware, communications, software, cloud service platform, etc., it is necessary that the technology, business model, business setup, and organization all go hand in hand during the development and later operation, as all ‘components’ are required for a successful result.
Characteristic Analysis of Compact Spectrometer Based on Off-Axis Meta-Lens
Authors: Zhou Yi , Chen Rui , Ma Yungui
Published: February 2018

Ultra-compact spectrometers with high-resolution and/or broadband features have long been pursued for their wide application prospects. The off-axis meta-lens, a new species of planar optical instruments, provides a unique and feasible way to realize these goals. Here we give a detailed investigation of the influences of structural parameters of meta-lens-based spectrometers on the effective spectral range and the spectral resolution using both wave optics and geometrical optics methods. Aimed for different usages, two types of meta-lens based spectrometers are numerically proposed: one is a wideband spectrometer working at 800–1800 nm wavelengths with the spectral resolution of 2–5 nm and the other is a narrowband one working at the 780–920 nm band but with a much higher spectral resolution of 0.15–0.6 nm. The tolerance for fabrication errors is also discussed in the end. These provides a prominent way to design and integrate planar film-based spectrometers for various instrumental applications.
Minkowski Island and Crossbar Fractal Microstrip Antennas for Broadband Applications
Authors: Kubacki Roman , Czyżewski Mirosław , Laskowski Dariusz
Published: February 2018

The paper presents microstrip patch antennas, which are based on the fractal antenna concept, and use planar periodic geometries, providing improved characteristics. The properties of the fractal structure were used in a single-fractal layer design as well as in a design, which employs fractals on both the upper and bottom layers of the antenna. The final structure, i.e., a double-fractal layer antenna has been optimized to enhance bandwidth and gain of the microstrip antenna. The proposed geometry significantly improved antenna performance. The antenna could support an ultra-wide bandwidth ranging from 4.1 to 19.4 GHz, demonstrating higher gain with an average value of 6 dBi over the frequency range, and a radiation capability directed in the horizontal plane of the antenna.
Metaheuristic Algorithm for Photovoltaic Parameters: Comparative Study and Prediction with a Firefly Algorithm
Authors: Louzazni Mohamed , Khouya Ahmed , Amechnoue Khalid , Gandelli Alessandro , Mussetta Marco , Crăciunescu Aurelian
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a Firefly algorithm is proposed for identification and comparative study of five, seven and eight parameters of a single and double diode solar cell and photovoltaic module under different solar irradiation and temperature. Further, a metaheuristic algorithm is proposed in order to predict the electrical parameters of three different solar cell technologies. The first is a commercial RTC mono-crystalline silicon solar cell with single and double diodes at 33 °C and 1000 W/m2. The second, is a flexible hydrogenated amorphous silicon a-Si:H solar cell single diode. The third is a commercial photovoltaic module (Photowatt-PWP 201) in which 36 polycrystalline silicon cells are connected in series, single diode, at 25 °C and 1000 W/m2 from experimental current-voltage. The proposed constrained objective function is adapted to minimize the absolute errors between experimental and predicted values of voltage and current in two zones. Finally, for performance validation, the parameters obtained through the Firefly algorithm are compared with recent research papers reporting metaheuristic optimization algorithms and analytical methods. The presented results confirm the validity and reliability of the Firefly algorithm in extracting the optimal parameters of the photovoltaic solar cell.
Moist Orographic Convection: Physical Mechanisms and Links to Surface-Exchange Processes
Authors: Kirshbaum Daniel , Adler Bianca , Kalthoff Norbert , Barthlott Christian , Serafin Stefano
Published: February 2018

This paper reviews the current understanding of moist orographic convection and its regulation by surface-exchange processes. Such convection tends to develop when and where moist instability coincides with sufficient terrain-induced ascent to locally overcome convective inhibition. The terrain-induced ascent can be owing to mechanical (airflow over or around an obstacle) and/or thermal (differential heating over sloping terrain) forcing. For the former, the location of convective initiation depends on the dynamical flow regime. In “unblocked” flows that ascend the barrier, the convection tends to initiate over the windward slopes, while in “blocked” flows that detour around the barrier, the convection tends to initiate upstream and/or downstream of the high terrain where impinging flows split and rejoin, respectively. Processes that destabilize the upstream flow for mechanically forced moist convection include large-scale moistening and ascent, positive surface sensible and latent heat fluxes, and differential advection in baroclinic zones. For thermally forced flows, convective initiation is driven by thermally direct circulations with sharp updrafts over or downwind of the mountain crest (daytime) or foot (nighttime). Along with the larger-scale background flow, local evapotranspiration and transport of moisture, as well as thermodynamic heterogeneities over the complex terrain, regulate moist instability in such events. Longstanding limitations in the quantitative understanding of related processes, including both convective preconditioning and initiation, must be overcome to improve the prediction of this convection, and its collective effects, in weather and climate models.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Brunelin Jérôme , Mondino Marine , Bation Rémy , Palm Ulrich , Saoud Mohamed , Poulet Emmanuel
Published: February 2018

Despite the advances in psychopharmacology and established psychotherapeutic interventions, more than 40% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not respond to conventional treatment approaches. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been recently proposed as a therapeutic tool to alleviate treatment-resistant symptoms in patients with OCD. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art and future clinical applications of tDCS in patients with OCD. A literature search conducted on the PubMed database following PRISMA guidelines and completed by a manual search yielded 12 results: eight case reports, three open-label studies (with 5, 8, and 42 participants), and one randomized trial with two active conditions (12 patients). There was no sham-controlled study. A total of 77 patients received active tDCS with a large diversity of electrode montages mainly targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex or the (pre-) supplementary motor area. Despite methodological limitations and the heterogeneity of stimulation parameters, tDCS appears to be a promising tool to decrease obsessive-compulsive symptoms as well as comorbid depression and anxiety in patients with treatment-resistant OCD. Further sham-controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
Authors: Fastame Maria , Hitchcott Paul , Mulas Ilaria , Ruiu Marilena , Penna Maria
Published: February 2018

Background: older adults from the Sardinian Blue Zone self-report low depressive symptoms and high psychological well-being. However, the role of dispositional resilience as a determinant of these characteristics is unknown. Objectives: the current study had three aims. First, to investigate associations among several putative predictors, including dispositional resilience and three established markers of positive and negative mental health. Second, to determine if gender differences in dispositional resilience, independent of age and cognitive impairment, are present in this population. Third, to examine the relative importance of the predictors of self-reported mental health and well-being. Methods: 160 elders were recruited in the Sardinian Blue Zone. The participants completed self-report measures of dispositional resilience, satisfaction with social ties, physical health, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being. Results: trait resilience was significantly associated with predictors and markers of mental health. Males had significantly greater trait resilience. In regression analyses, dispositional resilience and satisfaction with social ties were significant predictors of all markers of mental health. Other factors were significantly associated only with certain markers. Conclusions: trait resilience and strong social ties appear to be key determinants of the high mental health of Sardinian Blue Zone older adults.
Composites of Laminar Nanostructured ZnO and VOx-Nanotubes Hybrid as Visible Light Active Photocatalysts
Authors: Benavente Eglantina , Navas Daniel , Devis Sindy , Segovia Marjorie , Sotomayor-Torres Clivia , González Guillermo
Published: February 2018

A series of hybrid heterostructured nanocomposites of ZnO with V2O5 nanotubes (VOx-NTs) in different mixing ratios were synthesized, with the aim of reducing the recombination of photoinduced charge carriers and to optimize the absorption of visible light. The study was focused on the use of heterostructured semiconductors that can extend light absorption to the visible range and enhance the photocatalytic performance of ZnO in the degradation of methylene blue as a model pollutant. The addition of VOx-NTs in the synthesis mixture led to a remarkable performance in the degradation of the model dye, with hybrid ZnO (stearic acid)/VOx-NTs at a ratio of 1:0.06 possessing the highest photocatalytic activity, about seven times faster than pristine zinc oxide. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopic measurements and experiments in the presence of different trapping elements allowed us to draw conclusions regarding the band positions and photocatalytic degradation mechanism. The photocatalytic activity measured in three subsequent cycles showed good reusability as no significant loss in efficiency of dye degradation was observed.
The Role of Yeast-Surface-Display Techniques in Creating Biocatalysts for Consolidated BioProcessing
Authors: Tabañag Ian Dominic Flormata , Chu I-Ming , Wei Yu-Hong , Tsai Shen-Long
Published: February 2018

Climate change is directly linked to the rapid depletion of our non-renewable fossil resources and has posed concerns on sustainability. Thus, imploring the need for us to shift from our fossil based economy to a sustainable bioeconomy centered on biomass utilization. The efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass (an ideal feedstock) to a platform chemical, such as bioethanol, can be achieved via the consolidated bioprocessing technology, termed yeast surface engineering, to produce yeasts that are capable of this feat. This approach has various strategies that involve the display of enzymes on the surface of yeast to degrade the lignocellulosic biomass, then metabolically convert the degraded sugars directly into ethanol, thus elevating the status of yeast from an immobilization material to a whole-cell biocatalyst. The performance of the engineered strains developed from these strategies are presented, visualized, and compared in this article to highlight the role of this technology in moving forward to our quest against climate change. Furthermore, the qualitative assessment synthesized in this work can serve as a reference material on addressing the areas of improvement of the field and on assessing the capability and potential of the different yeast surface display strategies on the efficient degradation, utilization, and ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass.
Tungsten-Based Mesoporous Silicates W-MMM-E as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Oxidations with Aqueous H2O2
Authors: Maksimchuk Nataliya , Ivanchikova Irina , Zalomaeva Olga , Chesalov Yurii , Shmakov Alexandr , Zaikovskii Vladimir , Kholdeeva Oxana
Published: February 2018

Mesoporous tungsten-silicates, W-MMM-E, have been prepared following evaporation-induced self-assembly methodology and characterized by elemental analysis, XRD, N2 adsorption, STEM-HAADF (high angle annular dark field in scanning-TEM mode), DRS UV-vis, and Raman techniques. DRS UV-vis showed the presence of two types of tungsten oxo-species in W-MMM-E samples: isolated tetrahedrally and oligomeric octahedrally coordinated ones, with the ratio depending on the content of tungsten in the catalyst. Materials with lower W loading have a higher contribution from isolated species, regardless of the preparation method. W-MMM-E catalyzes selectively oxidize of a range of alkenes and organic sulfides, including bulky terpene or thianthrene molecules, using green aqueous H2O2. The selectivity of corresponding epoxides reached 85–99% in up to 80% alkene conversions, while sulfoxides formed with 84–90% selectivity in almost complete sulfide conversions and a 90–100% H2O2 utilization efficiency. The true heterogeneity of catalysis over W-MMM-E was proved by hot filtration tests. Leaching of inactive W species depended on the reaction conditions and initial W loading in the catalyst. After optimization of the catalyst system, it did not exceed 20 ppm and 3 ppm for epoxidation and sulfoxidation reactions, respectively. Elaborated catalysts could be easily retrieved by filtration and reused several times with maintenance of the catalytic behavior.
Modelling of Bubbly Flow Using CFD-PBM Solver in OpenFOAM: Study of Local Population Balance Models and Extended Quadrature Method of Moments Applications
Authors: Askari Ehsan , Proulx Pierre , Passalacqua Alberto
Published: February 2018

In order to optimize and design new bubbly flow reactors, it is necessary to predict the bubble behavior and properties with respect to the time and location. In gas-liquid flows, it is easily observed that the bubble sizes may vary widely. The bubble size distribution is relatively sharply defined, and bubble rises are uniform in homogeneous flow; however bubbles aggregate, and large bubbles are formed rapidly in heterogeneous flow. To assist in the analysis of these systems, the volume, size and other properties of dispersed bubbles can be described mathematically by distribution functions. Therefore, a mathematical modeling tool called the Population Balance Model (PBM) is required to predict the distribution functions of the bubble motion and the variation of their properties. In the present paper, two rectangular bubble columns and a water electrolysis reactor are modeled using the open-source Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) package OpenFOAM. Furthermore, the Method of Classes (CM) and Quadrature-based Moments Method (QBMM) are described, implemented and compared using the developed CFD-PBM solver. These PBM tools are applied in two bubbly flow cases: bubble columns (using a Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase approach to predict the flow) and a water electrolysis reactor (using a single-phase approach to predict the flow). The numerical results are compared with measured data available in the scientific literature. It is observed that the Extended Quadrature Method of Moments (EQMOM) leads to a slight improvement in the prediction of experimental measurements and provides a continuous reconstruction of the Number Density Function (NDF), which is helpful in the modeling of gas evolution electrodes in the water electrolysis reactor.
Error Analysis and Correction for Quantitative Phase Analysis Based on Rietveld-Internal Standard Method: Whether the Minor Phases Can Be Ignored?
Authors: Zhao Piqi , Lu Lingchao , Liu Xianping , De la Torre Angeles , Cheng Xin
Published: February 2018

The Rietveld-internal standard method for Bragg-Brentano reflection geometry (θ/2θ) X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns is implemented to determine the amorphous phase content. The effect of some minor phases on quantitative accuracy is assessed. The numerical simulation analysis of errors and the related corrections are discussed. The results reveal that high purity of crystalline phases in the standard must be strictly ensured. The minor amorphous or non-quantified crystalline phases exert significant effect on the quantitative accuracy, even with less than 2 wt% if ignored. The error levels are evaluated by numerical simulation analysis and the corresponding error-accepted zone is suggested. To eliminate such error, a corrected equation is proposed. When the adding standard happens to be present in sample, it should be also carefully dealt with even in low amounts. Based on that ignorance, the absolute and relative error equations (ΔAE, ΔRE) are derived, as proposed. The conditions for high quantitative accuracy of original equation is strictly satisfied with a lower amount of standard phase present in sample, less than 2 wt%, and a higher dosage of internal standard, larger than 20 wt%. The corrected equation to eliminate such quantitative error is suggested.
Big Data Blind Separation
Authors: Syed Mujahid
Published: February 2018

Data or signal separation is one of the critical areas of data analysis. In this work, the problem of non-negative data separation is considered. The problem can be briefly described as follows: given X ∈ R m × N , find A ∈ R m × n and S ∈ R + n × N such that X = A S . Specifically, the problem with sparse locally dominant sources is addressed in this work. Although the problem is well studied in the literature, a test to validate the locally dominant assumption is not yet available. In addition to that, the typical approaches available in the literature sequentially extract the elements of the mixing matrix. In this work, a mathematical modeling-based approach is presented that can simultaneously validate the assumption, and separate the given mixture data. In addition to that, a correntropy-based measure is proposed to reduce the model size. The approach presented in this paper is suitable for big data separation. Numerical experiments are conducted to illustrate the performance and validity of the proposed approach.
Design of Peak Efficiency of 85.3% WPC/PMA Wireless Power Receiver Using Synchronous Active Rectifier and Multi Feedback Low-Dropout Regulator
Authors: Khan Zaffar , Park Young-Jun , Oh Seong , Jang Byeong , Park Seong-Mun , Abbasizadeh Hamed , Pu Young , Hwang Keum , Yang Youngoo , Lee Minjae , Lee Kang-Yoon
Published: February 2018

An efficient synchronous active rectifier and Multi Feedback low drop out (LDO) Regulator coupled with a wireless power receiver (WPR) is proposed in this study. An active rectifier with maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 94.2% is proposed to mitigate the reverse leakage current using zero current sensing. Output voltage and current are regulated by multi-feedback LDO regulator, sharing the single path transistor. The proposed chip is fabricated in the 0.18 μm BCD technology having die area of 16.0 mm2. A 94.2% power conversion efficiency with the load current of 800 mA is measured for the proposed active rectifier.
An Improved Interval Fuzzy Modeling Method: Applications to the Estimation of Photovoltaic/Wind/Battery Power in Renewable Energy Systems
Authors: Thao Nguyen , Uchida Kenko
Published: February 2018

This paper proposes an improved interval fuzzy modeling (imIFML) technique based on modified linear programming and actual boundary points of data. The imIFML technique comprises four design stages. The first stage is based on conventional interval fuzzy modeling (coIFML) with first-order model and linear programming. The second stage defines reference lower and upper bounds of data using MATLAB. The third stage initially adjusts scaling parameters in the modified linear programming. The last stage automatically fine-tunes parameters in the modified linear programming to realize the best possible model. Lower and upper bounds approximated by the imIFML technique are closely fitted to the reference lower and upper bounds, respectively. The proposed imIFML is thus significantly less conservative in cases of large variation in data, while robustness is inherited from the coIFML. Design flowcharts, equations, and sample MATLAB code are presented for reference in future experiments. Performance and efficacy of the introduced imIFML are evaluated to estimate solar photovoltaic, wind and battery power in a demonstrative renewable energy system under large data changes. The effectiveness of the proposed imIFML technique is also compared with the coIFML technique.
Robust Condition Assessment of Electrical Equipment with One Class Support Vector Machines Based on the Measurement of Partial Discharges
Authors: Parrado-Hernández Emilio , Robles Guillermo , Ardila-Rey Jorge , Martínez-Tarifa Juan
Published: February 2018

This paper presents a system for the detection of partial discharges (PD) in industrial applications based on One Class Support Vector Machines (OCSVM). The study stresses the detection of Partial Discharges (PD) as they represent a major source of information related to degradation in the equipment. PD measurement is a widely extended technique for condition monitoring of electrical machines and power cables to avoid catastrophic failures and the consequent blackouts. One of the most important keystones in the interpretation of partial discharges is their separation from other signals considered as not-PD especially in low SNR measurements. In this sense, the OCSVM is an interesting alternative to binary SVMs since it does not need a training set with examples of all the output classes correctly labelled. On the contrary, the OCSVM learns a model of the signals acquired when the equipment is in PD-free mode, defined as a state where no degradation mechanism is active, so one only needs to make sure that the training signals were recorded under this setting. These default mode signals are easier to characterize and acquire in industrial environments than PD and lead to more robust detectors that practically do not need domain adaptation to perform in scenarios prone to different types of PD. In fact, the experimental results show that the performance of the OCSVM is comparable to that achieved by a binary SVM trained using both noise and PD pulses. Finally, the method is successfully applied to a more realistic scenario involving the detection of PD in a damaged distribution power cable.
Identification and Quantification of Volatile Compounds Found in Vinasses from Two Different Processes of Tequila Production
Authors: Rodríguez-Félix Elizabeth , Contreras-Ramos Silvia , Davila-Vazquez Gustavo , Rodríguez-Campos Jacobo , Marino-Marmolejo Erika
Published: February 2018

Vinasses are the main byproducts of ethanol distillation and distilled beverages worldwide and are generated in substantial volumes. Tequila vinasses (TVs) could be used as a feedstock for biohydrogen production through a dark fermentative (DF) process due to their high content of organic matter. However, TV components have not been previously assayed in order to evaluate if they may dark ferment. This work aimed to identify and quantify volatile compounds (VC) in TV and determine if the VC profile depends upon the type of production process (whether the stems were initially cooked or not). TVs were sampled from 3 agave stems with a not-cooking (NC) process, and 3 agave stems with a cooking (C) process, and volatile compounds were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 111 volatile compounds were identified, the TV from the cooking process (C) showed the higher presence of furanic compounds (furfural and 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural) and organic acids (acetic acid and butyric acid), which have been reported as potential inhibitors for DF. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the VC composition from TVs. This study could serve as a base for further investigations related to vinasses from diverse sources.
Thermodynamic Performance of Heat Exchangers in a Free Piston Stirling Engine
Authors: Sowale Ayodeji , Kolios Athanasios
Published: February 2018

There is an increasing request in energy recovery systems that are more efficient, environmentally friendly and economical. The free piston Stirling engine has been investigated due to its structural simplicity and high efficiency, coupled with its cogeneration ability. This study presents the numerical investigation of quasi-steady model of a gamma type free piston Stirling engine (FPSE), including the thermodynamic analysis of the heat exchangers. Advanced thermodynamic models are employed to derive the initial set of operational parameters of the FPSE due to the coupling of the piston’s (displacer and piston) dynamics and the working process. The proximity effect of the heater and cooler on the regenerator effectiveness in relation to the heat losses, output power, net work and thermal efficiency of the FPSE are also observed and presented in this study. It can be observed that at temperatures of 541.3 °C and 49.8 °C of the heater and cooler, respectively, with heater volume of 0.004 m3, regenerator volume of 0.003 m3 and cooler volume of 0.005 m3, the FPSE produced an output performance of 996.7 W with a thermal efficiency of 23% at a frequency of 30 Hz. This approach can be employed to design effective high performance FPSE due to their complexity and also predict a satisfactory performance.
A Novel Partial Discharge Ultra-High Frequency Signal De-Noising Method Based on a Single-Channel Blind Source Separation Algorithm
Authors: Wei Liangliang , Liu Yushun , Cheng Dengfeng , Li Pengfei , Shi Zhifeng , Huang Nan , Ai Hongtao , Zhu Tianan
Published: February 2018

To effectively de-noise the Gaussian white noise and periodic narrow-band interference in the background noise of partial discharge ultra-high frequency (PD UHF) signals in field tests, a novel de-noising method, based on a single-channel blind source separation algorithm, is proposed. Compared with traditional methods, the proposed method can effectively de-noise the noise interference, and the distortion of the de-noising PD signal is smaller. Firstly, the PD UHF signal is time-frequency analyzed by S-transform to obtain the number of source signals. Then, the single-channel detected PD signal is converted into multi-channel signals by singular value decomposition (SVD), and background noise is separated from multi-channel PD UHF signals by the joint approximate diagonalization of eigen-matrix method. At last, the source PD signal is estimated and recovered by the l1-norm minimization method. The proposed de-noising method was applied on the simulation test and field test detected signals, and the de-noising performance of the different methods was compared. The simulation and field test results demonstrate the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed method.
Recent Trends in the Production, Combustion and Modeling of Furan-Based Fuels
Authors: Eldeeb Mazen A. , Akih-Kumgeh Benjamin
Published: February 2018

There is growing interest in the use of furans, a class of alternative fuels derived from biomass, as transportation fuels. This paper reviews recent progress in the characterization of its combustion properties. It reviews their production processes, theoretical kinetic explorations and fundamental combustion properties. The theoretical efforts are focused on the mechanistic pathways for furan decomposition and oxidation, as well as the development of detailed chemical kinetic models. The experiments reviewed are mostly concerned with the temporal evolutions of homogeneous reactors and the propagation of laminar flames. The main thrust in homogeneous reactors is to determine global chemical time scales such as ignition delay times. Some studies have adopted a comparative approach to bring out reactivity differences. Chemical kinetic models with varying degrees of predictive success have been established. Experiments have revealed the relative behavior of their combustion. The growing body of literature in this area of combustion chemistry of alternative fuels shows a great potential for these fuels in terms of sustainable production and engine performance. However, these studies raise further questions regarding the chemical interactions of furans with other hydrocarbons. There are also open questions about the toxicity of the byproducts of combustion.
Diversity and Enzyme Activity of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities Following Nitrogen Fertilization in an Urban-Adjacent Pine Plantation
Authors: Ning Chen , Mueller Gregory , Egerton-Warburton Louise , Wilson Andrew , Yan Wende , Xiang Wenhua
Published: February 2018

Rapid economic development and accelerated urbanization in China has resulted in widespread atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. One consequence of N deposition is the alteration of mycorrhizal symbioses that are critical for plant resource acquisition (nitrogen, N, phosphorus, P, water). In this study, we characterized the diversity, composition, and functioning of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities in an urban-adjacent Pinus elliottii plantation under ambient N deposition (~24 kg N ha−1 year−1), and following N fertilization (low N, 50 kg N ha−1 year−1; high N, 300 kg N ha−1 year−1). ECM functioning was expressed as the potential activities of extracellular enzymes required for organic N (protease), P (phosphomonoesterase), and recalcitrant polymers (phenol oxidase). Despite high ambient N deposition, ECM community composition shifted under experimental N fertilization, and those changes were linked to disparate levels of soil minerals (P, K) and organic matter (but not N), a decline in acid phosphatase (AP), and an increase in phenol oxidase (PO) potential activities. Based on enzyme stoichiometry, medium-smooth exploration type ECM species invested more in C acquisition (PO) relative to P (AP) following high N fertilization than other exploration types. ECM species with hydrophilic mantles also showed higher enzymatic PO:AP ratios than taxa with hydrophobic mantles. Our findings add to the accumulating evidence that shifts in ECM community composition and taxa specialized in organic C, N, and P degradation could modulate the soil nutrient cycling in forests exposed to chronic elevated N input.
Genome-Wide Identification of circRNAs in Pathogenic Basidiomycetous Yeast Cryptococcus neoformans Suggests Conserved circRNA Host Genes over Kingdoms
Authors: Huo Liang , Zhang Ping , Li Chenxi , Rahim Kashif , Hao Xiaoran , Xiang Biyun , Zhu Xudong
Published: February 2018

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of ubiquitous and intriguing noncoding RNA, have been found in a number of eukaryotes but not yet basidiomycetes. In this study, we identified 73 circRNAs from 39.28 million filtered RNA reads from the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans JEC21 using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the bioinformatics tool circular RNA identification (CIRI). Furthermore, mapping of newly found circRNAs to the genome showed that 73.97% of the circRNAs originated from exonic regions, whereas 20.55% were from intergenic regions and 5.48% were from intronic regions. Enrichment analysis of circRNA host genes was conducted based on the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway databases. The results reveal that host genes are mainly responsible for primary metabolism and, interestingly, ribosomal protein production. Furthermore, we uncovered a high-level circRNA that was a transcript from the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)ase gene CNM01190 (gene ID: 3255052) in our yeast. Coincidentally, YPT5, CNM01190′s ortholog of the GTPase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, protists, and humans, has already been proven to generate circRNAs. Additionally, overexpression of RNA debranching enzyme DBR1 had varied influence on the expression of circRNAs, indicating that multiple circRNA biosynthesis pathways exist in C. neoformans. Our study provides evidence for the existence of stable circRNAs in the opportunistic human pathogen C. neoformans and raises a question regarding their role related to pathogenesis in this yeast.
Ultrahigh-Density Linkage Map Construction Using Low-Coverage Whole-Genome Sequencing of a Doubled Haploid Population: Case Study of Torafugu (Takifugu rubripes)
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Mizukoshi Misaki , Zhang Hong , Tan Engkong , Igarashi Yoji , Suzuki Yutaka , Mitsuyama Susumu , Kinoshita Shigeharu , Saito Kazuyoshi , Watabe Shugo , Asakawa Shuichi
Published: February 2018

Next-generation sequencing enables genome-wide genotyping of a large population and further facilitates the construction of a genetic linkage map. Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing has been employed for genetic linkage map construction in several species. However, this strategy generally requires available high-quality reference genomes and/or designed inbred pedigree lines, which restrict the scope of application for non-model and unsequenced species. Here, using torafugu (Takifugu rubripes) as a test model, we propose a new strategy for ultrahigh-density genetic linkage map construction using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of a haploid/doubled haploid (H/DH) population without above requirements. Low-coverage (≈1×) whole-genome sequencing data of 165 DH individuals were used for de novo assembly and further performed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) calling, resulting in the identification of 1,070,601 SNPs. Based on SNP genotypes and de novo assembly, genotypes were associated with short DNA segments and an ultrahigh-density linkage map was constructed containing information of 802,277 SNPs in 3090 unique positions. Comparative analyses showed near-perfect concordance between the present linkage map and the latest published torafugu genome (FUGU5). This strategy would facilitate ultrahigh-density linkage map construction in various sexually reproducing organisms for which H/DH populations can be generated.
Deep-Coverage MPS Analysis of Heteroplasmic Variants within the mtGenome Allows for Frequent Differentiation of Maternal Relatives
Authors: Holland Mitchell , Makova Kateryna , McElhoe Jennifer
Published: February 2018

Distinguishing between maternal relatives through mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence analysis has been a longstanding desire of the forensic community. Using a deep-coverage, massively parallel sequencing (DCMPS) approach, we studied the pattern of mtDNA heteroplasmy across the mtgenomes of 39 mother-child pairs of European decent; haplogroups H, J, K, R, T, U, and X. Both shared and differentiating heteroplasmy were observed on a frequent basis in these closely related maternal relatives, with the minor variant often presented as 2–10% of the sequencing reads. A total of 17 pairs exhibited differentiating heteroplasmy (44%), with the majority of sites (76%, 16 of 21) occurring in the coding region, further illustrating the value of conducting sequence analysis on the entire mtgenome. A number of the sites of differentiating heteroplasmy resulted in non-synonymous changes in protein sequence (5 of 21), and to changes in transfer or ribosomal RNA sequences (5 of 21), highlighting the potentially deleterious nature of these heteroplasmic states. Shared heteroplasmy was observed in 12 of the 39 mother-child pairs (31%), with no duplicate sites of either differentiating or shared heteroplasmy observed; a single nucleotide position (16093) was duplicated between the data sets. Finally, rates of heteroplasmy in blood and buccal cells were compared, as it is known that rates can vary across tissue types, with similar observations in the current study. Our data support the view that differentiating heteroplasmy across the mtgenome can be used to frequently distinguish maternal relatives, and could be of interest to both the medical genetics and forensic communities.
Regional Scale Sea Cliff Hazard Assessment at Sintra and Cascais Counties, Western Coast of Portugal
Authors: Marques Fernando
Published: February 2018

Mass movements of different types and sizes are the main processes of sea cliff evolution, being a considerable natural hazard, the assessment of which is a relevant issue in terms of human loss prevention and land use regulations. To predict the occurrence of future failures affecting the cliff top in slow retreating cliffs, a study was made using the logistic regression statistical method, a set of predisposing factors mainly related with geology (lithology, structure, faults), geomorphology (maximum, mean and standard variation of slope angle, height, aspect, curvatures, toe protection) and near offshore mean annual wave power, which were correlated with an aerial photo interpretation based inventory of cliff failures occurred in a 63 years period (1947–2010). The susceptibility model was validated against the inventory data using standard Receiver Operator Curves, which provided area under the curve (AUC) values higher than 0.8. In spite of the room for improvement of cliff failure inventories and predisposing factors to be used in these types of studies, namely those related to the rock mass strength and wave power nearshore, the results obtained indicate that the proposed approach is an effective contribution for objective and quantitative hazard assessment.
Optimum Design of Curved Surface Sliders Based on Site-Specific Seismic Input and Its Sensitivity
Authors: Weber Felix , Meier Leopold , Distl Johann , Braun Christian
Published: February 2018

The design of curved surface sliders (CSS) based on the elastic response spectrum method with site-specific seismic input is commonly made by trial and error, whereby the design does not necessarily minimize structural acceleration. This paper therefore describes the optimum CSS design for minimum structural acceleration for given site-specific seismic input. All valid CSS designs and the optimum CSS design are represented by their associated trajectory in the elastic response spectrum plane that visualizes the optimization problem. The results demonstrate that the optimum CSS design is not obtained at maximum tolerated effective damping ratio. The subsequent sensitivity analysis describes how much the structural acceleration increases if the actual friction coefficient of the real CSS deviates from its optimum design value. The analysis points out that the increase in structural acceleration is approximately one order of magnitude smaller than the deviation in friction. The sensitivity data may be used by structural engineers to determine tolerable deviations in friction coefficient ensuring acceptable structural accelerations.
Children and Trauma: Unexpected Resistance and Justice in Film and Drawings
Authors: Robinson Cheri
Published: February 2018

This transnational study examines representations of and by children—whether literal wounds, psychological ones, or wounds transmitted through drawings—that manifest their capacity for unexpected resistance and justice. It considers the Mexican-American director Guillermo del Toro’s use of hauntings and wounds to explore violence during the 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War in the film El espinazo del diablo [The Devil’s Backbone] (2001) and its intersections on strategic and theoretical levels with the traumatic in archival children’s drawings produced during the 1976–1983 Argentine military dictatorship. The drawings illustrate the violence perpetrated against the child artists’ families and were produced in exile for the human rights organization COSOFAM. Utilizing diverse theories from film and trauma studies, among others, this article analyzes key scenes in El espinazo exhibiting commonalities with representations of traumatic violence in the children’s drawings, revealing that, in fiction and in fact, a strategic “showing” of the traumatic wound is designed to remind others of the imperative to intervene in situations of extreme violence, to appeal to/for justice, and to effectively testify from the inside.
Preparing Physical and Occupational Therapists to Be Health Promotion Practitioners: A Call for Action
Authors: Morris David , Jenkins Gavin
Published: February 2018

Experts around the world support the integration of health promotion and wellness (HPW) services into traditional health care services. If successfully executed, the addition of HPW services would reduce rates of death and disability and significantly reduce health care costs. While all health care providers should be engaged in providing HPW services, many believe that physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) are uniquely positioned to provide these services. However, research suggests that clinicians in both fields may fall short in doing so. Likewise, research indicates that entry-level educational programs inadequately prepare PT and OT students to be HPW practitioners. The overall purpose of this paper is to provide recommendations to educators for preparing PT and OT students and clinicians to better meet the HPW needs of the clients and patients they serve.