bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetoelectric Force Microscopy on Antiferromagnetic 180∘ Domains in Cr2O3
Authors: Schoenherr Peggy , Giraldo L. , Lilienblum Martin , Trassin Morgan , Meier Dennis , Fiebig Manfred
Published: September 2017

Magnetoelectric force microscopy (MeFM) is characterized as methodical tool for the investigation of antiferromagnetic domain states, in particular of the 180 ∘ variety. As reference compound for this investigation we use Cr 2 O 3 . Access to the antiferromagnetic order is provided by the linear magnetoelectric effect. We resolve the opposite antiferromagnetic 180 ∘ domain states of Cr 2 O 3 and estimate the sensitivity of the MeFM approach, its inherent advantages in comparison to alternative techniques and its general feasibility for probing antiferromagnetic order.
Influence of Skeletal Muscle Carnosine Content on Fatigue during Repeated Resistance Exercise in Recreationally Active Women
Authors: Varanoske Alyssa , Hoffman Jay , Church David , Wang Ran , Baker Kayla , Dodd Sarah , Coker Nicholas , Oliveira Leonardo , Dawson Virgil , Fukuda David , Stout Jeffrey
Published: September 2017

Carnosine is a naturally occurring intramuscular dipeptide that is thought to attenuate fatigue during high-intensity exercise. Carnosine content is influenced by various factors, including gender and diet. Despite research reporting that carnosine content is lower in women compared to men and lower in vegetarians compared to omnivores, no investigations have examined carnosine content in women based on dietary protein intake and its effect on muscle fatigue. Twenty recreationally active women were assigned to either a high (HI; n = 5), moderate (MOD; n = 10), or low (LO; n = 5) group based upon intramuscular carnosine content of the vastus lateralis. Each participant underwent two unilateral maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) of the knee extensors separated by an isokinetic exercise protocol consisting of five sets of 50 repeated maximal unilateral contractions. Magnitude-based inferences were used to analyze group differences. Percent decline in rate of force development and peak torque (PT) during the MVICs and changes in PT and mean torque during the muscle-fatiguing protocol were lower in HI compared to both MOD and LO. Additionally, absolute and relative dietary protein intake were greater in HI compared to MOD or LO. Results indicated that greater intramuscular carnosine content was reflective of greater dietary protein intake and that individuals with higher carnosine content displayed a greater attenuation of fatigue compared to those with lower carnosine.
Temperature Dependence of Faraday Effect-Induced Bias Error in a Fiber Optic Gyroscope
Authors: Li Xuyou , Liu Pan , Guang Xingxing , Xu Zhenlong , Guan Lianwu , Li Guangchun
Published: September 2017

Improving the performance of interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (IFOG) in harsh environments, such as magnetic field and temperature field variation, is necessary for its practical applications. This paper presents an investigation of Faraday effect-induced bias error of IFOG under varying temperature. Jones matrix method is utilized to formulize the temperature dependence of Faraday effect-induced bias error. Theoretical results show that the Faraday effect-induced bias error changes with the temperature in the non-skeleton polarization maintaining (PM) fiber coil. This phenomenon is caused by the temperature dependence of linear birefringence and Verdet constant of PM fiber. Particularly, Faraday effect-induced bias errors of two polarizations always have opposite signs that can be compensated optically regardless of the changes of the temperature. Two experiments with a 1000 m non-skeleton PM fiber coil are performed, and the experimental results support these theoretical predictions. This study is promising for improving the bias stability of IFOG.
Studying Electrotaxis in Microfluidic Devices
Authors: Sun Yung-Shin
Published: September 2017

Collective cell migration is important in various physiological processes such as morphogenesis, cancer metastasis and cell regeneration. Such migration can be induced and guided by different chemical and physical cues. Electrotaxis, referring to the directional migration of adherent cells under stimulus of electric fields, is believed to be highly involved in the wound-healing process. Electrotactic experiments are conventionally conducted in Petri dishes or cover glasses wherein cells are cultured and electric fields are applied. However, these devices suffer from evaporation of the culture medium, non-uniformity of electric fields and low throughput. To overcome these drawbacks, micro-fabricated devices composed of micro-channels and fluidic components have lately been applied to electrotactic studies. Microfluidic devices are capable of providing cells with a precise micro-environment including pH, nutrition, temperature and various stimuli. Therefore, with the advantages of reduced cell/reagent consumption, reduced Joule heating and uniform and precise electric fields, microfluidic chips are perfect platforms for observing cell migration under applied electric fields. In this paper, I review recent developments in designing and fabricating microfluidic devices for studying electrotaxis, aiming to provide critical updates in this rapidly-growing, interdisciplinary field.
A Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Approach for Atrial Hypertrophy Disease Diagnosis Based on Characterized Support Vector Hyperspheres
Authors: Zhu Yungang , Liu Dayou , Grosu Radu , Wang Xinhua , Duan Hongying , Wang Guodong
Published: September 2017

Disease diagnosis can be performed based on fusing the data acquired by multiple medical sensors from patients, and it is a crucial task in sensor-based e-healthcare systems. However, it is a challenging problem that there are few effective diagnosis methods based on sensor data fusion for atrial hypertrophy disease. In this article, we propose a novel multi-sensor data fusion method for atrial hypertrophy diagnosis, namely, characterized support vector hyperspheres (CSVH). Instead of constructing a hyperplane, as a traditional support vector machine does, the proposed method generates “hyperspheres” to collect the discriminative medical information, since a hypersphere is more powerful for data description than a hyperplane. In detail, CSVH constructs two characterized hyperspheres for the classes of patient and healthy subject, respectively. The hypersphere for the patient class is developed in a weighted version so as to take the diversity of patient instances into consideration. The hypersphere for the class of healthy people keeps furthest away from the patient class in order to achieve maximum separation from the patient class. A query is labelled by membership functions defined based on the two hyperspheres. If the query is rejected by the two classes, the angle information of the query to outliers and overlapping-region data is investigated to provide the final decision. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed method achieves the highest diagnosis accuracy among the state-of-the-art methods.
Concrete Crack Identification Using a UAV Incorporating Hybrid Image Processing
Authors: Kim Hyunjun , Lee Junhwa , Ahn Eunjong , Cho Soojin , Shin Myoungsu , Sim Sung-Han
Published: September 2017

Crack assessment is an essential process in the maintenance of concrete structures. In general, concrete cracks are inspected by manual visual observation of the surface, which is intrinsically subjective as it depends on the experience of inspectors. Further, it is time-consuming, expensive, and often unsafe when inaccessible structural members are to be assessed. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies combined with digital image processing have recently been applied to crack assessment to overcome the drawbacks of manual visual inspection. However, identification of crack information in terms of width and length has not been fully explored in the UAV-based applications, because of the absence of distance measurement and tailored image processing. This paper presents a crack identification strategy that combines hybrid image processing with UAV technology. Equipped with a camera, an ultrasonic displacement sensor, and a WiFi module, the system provides the image of cracks and the associated working distance from a target structure on demand. The obtained information is subsequently processed by hybrid image binarization to estimate the crack width accurately while minimizing the loss of the crack length information. The proposed system has shown to successfully measure cracks thicker than 0.1 mm with the maximum length estimation error of 7.3%.
Uncertainties of Two Methods in Selecting Priority Areas for Protecting Soil Conservation Service at Regional Scale
Authors: Zhang Liwei , Lü Yihe , Fu Bojie , Zeng Yuan
Published: September 2017

Soil conservation (SC) is an important ecosystem regulating service. At present, methods for SC mapping to identify priority areas are primarily based on empirical soil erosion models, such as the RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) based model. However, the parameters of the empirical soil conservation model are based on long-term observations of field experiments at small spatial scales, which are very difficult to obtain and must be simplified when implementing these models at large spatial scales. Such simplification of model parameters may lead to uncertainty in quantifying SC at regional scale. In this study, we have analyzed a new method to map SC in Jiangxi Province of China based on the multiplication of multiple biophysical data. After comparing the spatial-temporal changes of SC from the RUSLE based model and those from the surrogate indicator based method in the study area, the similarities and differences of these methods for identifying SC priority areas were revealed. The result showed that the two methods similarly represented the effects of vegetation coverage and land use types on SC, however, they were significantly different in representing the spatial pattern of SC priority areas and its temporal change. Based on the comparisons, the advantages and drawbacks for both methods were made clear and suggestions were made for the suitable use of the two methods, which may benefit for the research and application of concerning the planning and assessment with SC as key criteria.
Assessing Tourists’ Preferences for Recreational Trips in National and Natural Parks as a Premise for Long-Term Sustainable Management Plans
Authors: Dumitras Diana , Muresan Iulia , Jitea Ionel , Mihai Valentin , Balazs Simona , Iancu Tiberiu
Published: September 2017

Sustainable tourism management plans rely on relevant and consistent information about factors that can influence the decision to visit a protected area. This paper uses the choice experiment method to investigate tourists’ preferences with regard to recreational trip characteristics in national and natural parks in Romania. An on-site survey questionnaire was administered to visitors. The multinomial logit model was employed to investigate the preference orderings of the identified groups of recreational users. Overall, results indicate that tourists gain benefits after visiting the parks. Main preference differences were found for information sources and location of campsites. Visitors who stated that the park was the main trip destination were willing to have access to more information sources, the marks on trails being insufficient. Camping is preferred only in organized places, expressing the concern for environmental protection. The results of this study have management implications, highlighting the importance of assessing tourists’ preferences as a foundation for developing sustainable tourism strategies.
Numerical Simulation of a Dual-Chamber Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Ning Dezhi , Wang Rongquan , Zhang Chongwei
Published: September 2017

The performance of a dual-chamber Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC) is considered in the present study. The device has two sub-chambers with a shared orifice. A two-dimensional (2D) fully nonlinear numerical wave flume based on the potential-flow theory and the time-domain higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) is applied for the simulation. The incident waves are generated by using the immerged sources and the air-fluid coupling influence is considered with a simplified pneumatic model. In the present study, the variation of the surface elevation and the water column volume in the two sub-chambers are investigated. The effects of the chamber geometry (i.e., the draft and breadth of two chambers) on the surface elevation and the air pressure in the chamber are investigated, respectively. It is demonstrated that the surface elevations in the two sub-chambers are strongly dependent on the wave conditions. The larger the wavelength, the more synchronous motion of the two water columns in the two sub-chambers, thus, the lager the variation of the water column volume.
Supply Chain Configurations in the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Masi Donato , Day Steven , Godsell Janet
Published: September 2017

As the circular economy (CE) gains traction in literature and practice, several academic communities are opening up spaces that move away from the CE as a pure engineering concept. This systematic literature review (n = 77) analyses and discusses the fragmented body of knowledge on the meso-level of supply chains (SCs): (a) to find common ground that underpins the current implementation of the CE on this level; and (b) to identify drivers, inhibitors, and enablers from which CE SC configurations emerge. The review finds that there remain differences in CE definitions that result from claimed antecedents and scopes, resulting in distinct research streams. On the meso-level, eco-industrial parks, environmental SCs, and closed-loop SCs each face significant challenges. The latter potentially offers the largest environmental benefits but engenders radical changes for business models and exposes SCs to more risk. We firstly argue for moving away from using a prescriptive set of practices as definitions for the CE towards a set of overarching goals to allow for the inclusion of future practices and techniques. Secondly, we highlight that research going beyond the meso-level to consider the wider social and institutional environment is needed to solve current challenges.
An Internet of Things Approach for Extracting Featured Data Using AIS Database: An Application Based on the Viewpoint of Connected Ships
Authors: He Wei , Li Zhixiong , Malekian Reza , Liu Xinglong , Duan Zhihe
Published: September 2017

Automatic Identification System (AIS), as a major data source of navigational data, is widely used in the application of connected ships for the purpose of implementing maritime situation awareness and evaluating maritime transportation. Efficiently extracting featured data from AIS database is always a challenge and time-consuming work for maritime administrators and researchers. In this paper, a novel approach was proposed to extract massive featured data from the AIS database. An Evidential Reasoning rule based methodology was proposed to simulate the procedure of extracting routes from AIS database artificially. First, the frequency distributions of ship dynamic attributes, such as the mean and variance of Speed over Ground, Course over Ground, are obtained, respectively, according to the verified AIS data samples. Subsequently, the correlations between the attributes and belief degrees of the categories are established based on likelihood modeling. In this case, the attributes were characterized into several pieces of evidence, and the evidence can be combined with the Evidential Reasoning rule. In addition, the weight coefficients were trained in a nonlinear optimization model to extract the AIS data more accurately. A real life case study was conducted at an intersection waterway, Yangtze River, Wuhan, China. The results show that the proposed methodology is able to extract data very precisely.
Influence of the milling parameters on the nucleophilic substitution reaction of activated β-cyclodextrins
Authors: Jicsinszky László , Tuza Kata , Cravotto Giancarlo , Porcheddu Andrea , Delogu Francesco , Colacino Evelina
Published: September 2017

The present work focuses on the mechanochemical preparation of industrially important β-cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives. Activated CDs have been reacted with nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles using a planetary mill equipped with stainless steel, zirconia and glass milling tools of different sizes. It is shown that the milling frequency and the number as well as the size of the milling balls have an effect on the nucleophilic reaction.
The Viscoelastic Characteristics of the Asphalt Concrete Modified with Different Synthetic Waxes Using a Modified Huet- Sayegh Model
Authors: Mazurek Grzegorz
Published: September 2017

The article presents the results of dynamic modulus tests carried on the asphalt concrete (AC16W). The sinusoidal load was applied to the samples in accordance with DTC-CY method. The neat bituminous binder (penetration grade 35/50) was modified by means two synthetic waxes, coming from the Fischer-Tropsch raction, with various molecular weights and softening point temperature results (hard and softer). The relaxation phenomenon in terms of changes in complex modulus and phase angle was evaluated using the modified Huet-Sayegh (2S2P1D). Estimated model parameters pointed out that the addition of the synthetic wax with the high (hard wax) and the low (softer wax) molecular weight raised the stiffness of the bituminous binder in relation to the reference bitumen 35/50. The application of the modified Huet-Sayegh model showed that the presence of the synthetic wax in the bitumen significantly affected the stiffness modulus of considered asphalt concretes. Basing analysis on Cole-Cole diagram it was found significant differences in the viscoelastic behaviour between the reference asphalt concrete and the asphalt concretes with synthetic waxes. In contrast, there were no significant differences between viscoelastic properties of tested asphalt concretes modified, used in the experiment, synthetic waxes. Furthermore, the sensitivity to the loading time of asphalt concretes containing both synthetic waxes was marginal.
The Unusual Apparition of Comet 252P/2000 G1 (LINEAR) and Comparison with Comet P/2016 BA14 (PanSTARRS)
Authors: Li 李荐 Jian-Yang 扬 , Kelley Michael S. P. , Samarasinha Nalin H. , Farnocchia Davide , Mutchler Max J. , Ren 任彦 Yanqiong 瓊 , Lu 盧曉 Xiaoping 平 , Tholen David J. , Lister Tim , Micheli Marco
Published: September 2017

We imaged Comet 252P/2000 G1 (LINEAR; hereafter 252P) with the Hubble Space Telescope and both 252P and P/2016 BA14 (PanSTARRS; hereafter BA14) with the Discovery Channel Telescope in 2016 March and April, surrounding its close encounter to Earth. The r′-band Afρ of 252P in a 0.″2-radius aperture were 16.8 ± 0.3 and 57 ± 1 cm on March 14 and April 4, respectively, and its gas production rates were Q(OH) = (5.8 ± 0.1) × 1027 s−1, and Q(CN) = (1.25 ± 0.01) × 1025 s−1 on April 17. The r′-band upper limit Afρ of BA14 was 0.19 ± 0.01 cm in a 19.″2-radius aperture, and Q(CN) = (1.4 ± 0.1) × 1022 s−1 on 2017 April 17. 252P shows a bright and narrow jet of a few hundred kilometers long in the sunward direction, changing its projected position angle in the sky with a periodicity consistent with 7.24 hr. However, its photometric light curve is consistent with a periodicity of 5.41 hr. We suggest that the nucleus of 252P is likely in a non-principal axis rotation. The nucleus radius of 252P is estimated to be about 0.3 ± 0.03 km, indicating an active fraction of 40% to >100% in its 2016 apparition. Evidence implies a possible cloud of slow-moving grains surrounding the nucleus. The activity level of 252P in the 2016 apparition increased by two orders of magnitude from its previous apparitions, making this apparition unusual. On the other hand, the activity level of BA14 appears to be at least three orders of magnitude lower than that of 252P, despite its 10 times or larger surface area.
Photometric Determination of the Mass Accretion Rates of Pre-main-sequence Stars. V. Recent Star Formation in the 30 Dor Nebula*
Authors: Marchi Guido De , Panagia Nino , Beccari Giacomo
Published: September 2017

We report on the properties of the low-mass stars that recently formed in the central

of 30 Dor, including the R136 cluster. Using the photometric catalog of De Marchi et al., based on observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, and the most recent extinction law for this field, we identify

bona fide pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars showing

excess emission at the

level with an

equivalent width of 20 Å or more. We find a wide spread in age spanning the range

. We also find that the older PMS objects are placed in front of the R136 cluster and are separated from it by a conspicuous amount of absorbing material, indicating that star formation has proceeded from the periphery into the interior of the region. We derive physical parameters for all PMS stars, including masses m, ages t, and mass accretion rates

. To identify reliable correlations between these parameters, which are intertwined, we use a multivariate linear regression fit of the type

. The values of a and b for 30 Dor are compatible with those found in NGC 346 and NGC 602. We extend the fit to a uniform sample of

PMS stars with

/

 < 1.5 and

in six star-forming regions in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and Milky Way with metallicities in the range of 0.1–1.0

. We find

and

. The residuals are systematically different between the six regions and reveal a strong correlation with metallicity Z, of the type

. A possible interpretation of this trend is that when the metallicity is higher so is the radiation pressure, and this limits the accretion process, in both its rate and duration.
Precipitation and Release of Solar Energetic Particles from the Solar Coronal Magnetic Field
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhao Lulu
Published: September 2017

Most solar energetic particles (SEPs) are produced in the corona. They propagate through complex coronal magnetic fields subject to scattering and diffusion across the averaged field lines by turbulence. We examine the behaviors of particle transport using a stochastic 3D focused transport simulation in a potential field source surface model of coronal magnetic field. The model is applied to an SEP event on 2010 February 7. We study three scenarios of particle injection at (i) the compact solar flare site, (ii) the coronal mass ejection (CME) shock, and (iii) the EUV wave near the surface. The majority of particles injected on open field lines are able to escape the corona. We found that none of our models can explain the observations of wide longitudinal SEP spread without perpendicular diffusion. If the perpendicular diffusion is about 10% of what is derived from the random walk of field lines at the rate of supergranular diffusion, particles injected at the compact solar flare site can spread to a wide range of longitude and latitude, very similar to the behavior of particles injected at a large CME shock. Stronger pitch-angle scattering results in a little more lateral spread by holding the particles in the corona for longer periods of time. Some injected particles eventually end up precipitating onto the solar surface. Even with a very small perpendicular diffusion, the pattern of the particle precipitation can be quite complicated depending on the detailed small-scale coronal magnetic field structures, which could be seen with future sensitive gamma-ray telescopes.
L’évolution historique de la notion de « patrimoine » en Chine
Authors: Zhang Chaozhi
Published: September 2017

Le mot « patrimoine » est dans l’air du temps en Chine, mais c’est un vocable moderne venant de la société occidentale. Le concept traduisant l’idée de «  patrimoine  » chinois est en réalité ancien. Des termes ont émergé à différents moments de l’histoire chinoise, reflétant les idées et les actions associées à la protection du « patrimoine ». Ainsi, fondé principalement sur des matériaux issus de documents historiques, de recherches académiques, de documents législatifs et de documents associés aux régulations gouvernementales, cet article tente d’étudier l’évolution historique de la notion de « patrimoine   » et de protection en Chine avant 1840, durant la Chine « moderne » (1840-1949), puis contemporaine (après 1949).
Obamacare : genèse, bilan, futur
Authors: Rapp Thomas
Published: September 2017

L’ Affordable Care Act (ACA), plus connu sous le nom d’Obamacare, est une réforme ambitieuse du système de santé américain. Entrée en vigueur en 2010, elle vise d’une part à élargir l’accès à l’assurance santé et d’autre part à réorganiser la distribution des soins. 25 millions d’Américains ont ainsi pu obtenir une assurance santé. Le bilan de cette réforme est néanmoins mitigé. Donald Trump a engagé un processus de retrait de l’ACA. Il n’est toutefois pas certain qu’il parvienne à ses fins.
Predicting Refractive Surgery Outcome: Machine Learning Approach With Big Data
Authors: Achiron Asaf , Gur Zvi , Aviv Uri , Hilely Assaf , Mimouni Michael , Karmona Lily , Rokach Lior , Kaiserman Igor
Published: September 2017

PURPOSE:

To develop a decision forest for prediction of laser refractive surgery outcome.

METHODS:

Data from consecutive cases of patients who underwent LASIK or photorefractive surgeries during a 12-year period in a single center were assembled into a single dataset. Training of machine-learning classifiers and testing were performed with a statistical classifier algorithm. The decision forest was created by feature vectors extracted from 17,592 cases and 38 clinical parameters for each patient. A 10-fold cross-validation procedure was applied to estimate the predictive value of the decision forest when applied to new patients.

RESULTS:

Analysis included patients younger than 40 years who were not treated for monovision. Efficacy of 0.7 or greater and 0.8 or greater was achieved in 16,198 (92.0%) and 14,945 (84.9%) eyes, respectively. Efficacy of less than 0.4 and less than 0.5 was achieved in 322 (1.8%) and 506 (2.9%) eyes, respectively. Patients in the low efficacy group (< 0.4) had statistically significant differences compared with the high efficacy group (≥ 0.8), yet were clinically similar (mean differences between groups of 0.7 years, of 0.43 mm in pupil size, of 0.11 D in cylinder, of 0.22 logMAR in preoperative CDVA, of 0.11 mm in optical zone size, of 1.03 D in actual sphere treatment, and of 0.64 D in actual cylinder treatment). The preoperative subjective CDVA had the highest gain (most important to the model). Correlations analysis revealed significantly decreased efficacy with increased age (
r
= −0.67,
P
< .001), central corneal thickness (
r
= −0.40,
P
< .001), mean keratometry (
r
= −0.33,
P
< .001), and preoperative CDVA (
r
= −0.47,
P
< .001). Efficacy increased with pupil size (
r
= 0.20,
P
< .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

This model could support clinical decision making and may lead to better individual risk assessment. Expanding the role of machine learning in analyzing big data from refractive surgeries may be of interest.

[
J Refract Surg.
2017;33(9):592–597.]
Host specialisation and the disparate fate ofCeropales bipunctata(Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) in New Brunswick and Ontario, Canada
Authors: Klymko John , Buck Matthias , Robinson Sarah L.
Published: September 2017

Ceropales bipunctataSay (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) is a cleptoparasitic spider wasp that has declined significantly in parts of its range. New survey work has revealed that the species is common and widespread in dune habitat along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in New Brunswick, Canada. Its host was determined asAnoplius cleora(Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), withArctosa littoralis(Hentz) (Araneae: Lycosidae) as prey, the first host record for this species. The relative abundance ofC. bipunctatain coastal New Brunswick sharply contrasts with a decline in Ontario, Canada, where it was thought to be extirpated. Based on body size, habitat, and locality overlap we postulate that the primary host ofC. bipunctatain Ontario and western Québec, Canada, is a different species,Anoplius aethiops(Cresson), withA. atrox(Dahlbom) as a likely secondary host in southwestern Ontario. Both species are closely related toA. cleoraand have undergone a decline in eastern Canada. Based on these new findings, we reassess the conservation status ofC. bipunctatain Canada.
Numerical Solution of the Time-Fractional Sub-Diffusion Equation on an Unbounded Domain in Two-Dimensional Space
Authors: Li Hongwei , Wu Xiaonan , Zhang Jiwei
Published: September 2017

The numerical solution of the time-fractional sub-diffusion equation on an unbounded domain in two-dimensional space is considered, where a circular artificial boundary is introduced to divide the unbounded domain into a bounded computational domain and an unbounded exterior domain. The local artificial boundary conditions for the fractional sub-diffusion equation are designed on the circular artificial boundary by a joint Laplace transform and Fourier series expansion, and some auxiliary variables are introduced to circumvent high-order derivatives in the artificial boundary conditions. The original problem defined on the unbounded domain is thus reduced to an initial boundary value problem on a bounded computational domain. A finite difference and L1 approximation are applied for the space variables and the Caputo time-fractional derivative, respectively. Two numerical examples demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Simulation of a Soap Film Möbius Strip Transformation
Authors: Kim Yongsam , Lai Ming-Chih , Seol Yunchang
Published: September 2017

If the closed wire frame of a soap film having the shape of a Möbius strip is pulled apart and gradually deformed into a planar circle, the soap film transforms into a two-sided orientable surface. In the presence of a finite-time twist singularity, which changes the linking number of the film's Plateau border and the centreline of the wire, the topological transformation involves the collapse of the film toward the wire. In contrast to experimental studies of this process reported elsewhere, we use a numerical approach based on the immersed boundary method, which treats the soap film as a massless membrane in a Navier-Stokes fluid. In addition to known effects, we discover vibrating motions of the film arising after the topological change is completed, similar to the vibration of a circular membrane.
Dynamics of an Innovation Diffusion Model with Time Delay
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Sharma Anuj K. , Agnihotri Kulbhushan
Published: September 2017

A nonlinear mathematical model for innovation diffusion is proposed. The system of ordinary differential equations incorporates variable external influences (the cumulative density of marketing efforts), variable internal influences (the cumulative density of word of mouth) and a logistically growing human population (the variable potential consumers). The change in population density is due to various demographic processes such as intrinsic growth rate, emigration, death rate etc. Thus the problem involves two dynamic variables viz. a non-adopter population density and an adopter population density. The model is analysed qualitatively using the stability theory of differential equations, with the help of the corresponding characteristic equation of the system. The interior equilibrium point can be stable for all time delays to a critical value, beyond which the system becomes unstable and a Hopf bifurcation occurs at a second critical value. Employing normal form theory and a centre manifold theorem applicable to functional differential equations, we derive some explicit formulas determining the stability, the direction and other properties of the bifurcating periodic solutions. Our numerical simulations show that the system behaviour can become extremely complicated as the time delay increases, with a stable interior equilibrium point leading to a limit cycle with one local maximum and minimum per cycle (Hopf bifurcation), then limit cycles with more local maxima and minima per cycle, and finally chaotic solutions.
Low-frequency variability in North Sea and Baltic Sea identified through simulations with the 3-D coupled physical–biogeochemical model ECOSMO
Authors: Daewel Ute , Schrum Corinna
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Here we present results from a long-term model simulation of the 3-D coupled ecosystem model ECOSMO II for a North Sea and Baltic Sea set-up. The model allows both multi-decadal hindcast simulation of the marine system and specific process studies under controlled environmental conditions. Model results have been analysed with respect to long-term multi-decadal variability in both physical and biological parameters with the help of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The analysis of a 61-year (1948–2008) hindcast reveals a quasi-decadal variation in salinity, temperature and current fields in the North Sea in addition to singular events of major changes during restricted time frames. These changes in hydrodynamic variables were found to be associated with changes in ecosystem productivity that are temporally aligned with the timing of reported regime shifts in the areas. Our results clearly indicate that for analysing ecosystem productivity, spatially explicit methods are indispensable. Especially in the North Sea, a correlation analysis between atmospheric forcing and primary production (PP) reveals significant correlations between PP and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and wind forcing for the central part of the region, while the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) and air temperature are correlated to long-term changes in PP in the southern North Sea frontal areas. Since correlations cannot serve to identify causal relationship, we performed scenario model runs perturbing the temporal variability in forcing condition to emphasize specifically the role of solar radiation, wind and eutrophication. The results revealed that, although all parameters are relevant for the magnitude of PP in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the dominant impact on long-term variability and major shifts in ecosystem productivity was introduced by modulations of the wind fields.
Censored rainfall modelling for estimation of fine–scale extremes
Authors: Cross David , Onof Christian , Winter Hugo , Bernardara Pietro
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Reliable estimation of rainfall extremes is essential for drainage system design, flood mitigation and risk quantification. However, traditional techniques lack physical realism and extrapolation can be highly uncertain. In a warming climate, the moisture holding capacity of the atmosphere is greater which increases the potential for short duration high intensity storm events. In this study, we improve the physical basis for short duration extreme rainfall estimation by simulating the heavy portion of the rainfall record mechanistically using the Bartlett-Lewis rectangular pulse model. Mechanistic rainfall models have had a tendency to underestimate rainfall extremes at fine temporal scales. Despite this, the simple process representation of rectangular pulse models is appealing in the context of extreme rainfall estimation because it is emulates the known phenomenology of rainfall generation. A censored approach to Bartlett-Lewis model calibration is proposed and performed for single site rainfall from two gauges in the UK and Germany. Extreme rainfall estimation is performed for each gauge at the 5, 15 and 60 minute resolutions, and considerations for censor selection discussed.
PEROXIDE CROSS-LINKING OF EPDM USING MOVING DIE RHEOMETER MEASUREMENTS. II: EFFECTS OF THE PROCESS OILS
Authors: Wang He , Zhuang Tao , Shi Xinyan , Van Duin Martin , Zhao Shugao
Published: September 2017

A series of compounds based on peroxide-cured ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM) was prepared with varying amounts of paraffinic process oil, such as Sunpar 2280, squalane, and dodecane. The cross-linked network composition of EPDM vulcanizates, which correlated directly with the structure and the concentration of process oils, was successfully carried out by either an exponential or a linear fitting procedure. It was found that an increase in process oil concentration caused a decrease in total cross-link density, which could be quantitatively divided into the effect of dilution and chemical effect of oil, represented as a linear and an exponential function of process oil concentration, respectively. Experimental results indicated that whether dilution effect or chemical effect, the addition of Sunpar 2280 affected the decrease of cross-link densities of EPDM vulcanizates most obviously, followed by squalane, and then dodecane, which was the weakest. On the other hand, at lower squalane loading, the chemical effect of squalane dominated the decrease of cross-link density of peroxide-cured EPDMs compared with the dilution effect of oils. Gel permeation chromatography spectra confirmed squalane could consume the free radicals derived from peroxide, forming dimers and trimers, and the variation of squalane content did not affect the activation energy of the cross-linking reaction calculated based on the Kissinger method. The cross-linking efficiency of peroxide and physical entanglement density both linearly decreased with the increase of squalane content.
DEPENDENCE OF THE ONSET OF STRAIN-INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION OF NATURAL RUBBER AND ITS SYNTHETIC ANALOGUE ON CROSSLINK AND ENTANGLEMENT BY USING SYNCHROTRON X-RAY
Authors: Sainumsai Watcharin , Toki Shigeyuki , Amnuaypornsri Sureerut , Nimpaiboon Adun , Sakdapipanich Jitladda , Rong Lixia , Hsiao Benjamin S. , Suchiva Krisda
Published: September 2017

Strain-induced crystallization (SIC) and stress–strain relations of varied crosslink structures and varied crosslink densities of vulcanized natural rubber (NR), vulcanized synthetic polyisoprene rubber (IR), and un-vulcanized natural rubber are compared using a synchrotron X-ray. The onset strain of SIC does not depend on crosslink density and crosslink structures. Un-vulcanized NR shows a smaller onset strain of SIC than that of vulcanized NR. Therefore, entanglements in NR are pivot points to induce SIC, just as entanglements in semi-crystalline plastics induce flow-induced crystallization (FIC). During deformation, complicated phenomena occur simultaneously such as cavitation, crosslink breakdown, SIC with temperature upturn, and limited extensibility of chains between crosslinks, because rubber is a significantly inhomogeneous material. It is still difficult to evaluate the contribution of SIC to stress-upturn of the stress–strain relation of rubber.
De nominalistische theorie van de rechtssubjecten
Authors: Witpaard Robert Jan
Published: September 2017

De nominalistische theorie van de rechtssubjecten

In dit artikel presenteer ik een nieuwe ‘nominalistische’ theorie van de rechtssubjecten en laat ik zien waarom geen van de tot nu gepresenteerde theorieën de toets der kritiek kan doorstaan. Het artikel valt uiteen in een constructief en een kritisch deel. In het constructieve deel presenteer ik eerst de nominalistische theorie van de rechtssubjecten. Deze theorie richt zich op de persoonlijke elementen van het rechtssysteem en begrijpt rechtspersonen en organen als namen die uitsluitend bestaan binnen het rechtssysteem. In het kritische deel presenteer ik vervolgens een overzicht van de tot nu toe verdedigde theorieën van de rechtspersoon. Het gaat daarbij respectievelijk om de sociaal-biologische of organische leer, de sociologische leer, de sociologisch-juridische leer, de fictieleer en de leer van het (gepersonifieerde) normencomplex. Aan de hand van enkele algemeen geaccepteerde kenmerken van de rechtspersoon laat ik ten slotte zien waarom geen van deze alternatieve theorieën de toets der kritiek kan doorstaan.
Phytotoxic effects of Cerbera manghas L. leaf extracts on seedling elongation of four monocot and four dicot test species
Authors: Bari Ichsan Nurul , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: September 2017

Exploration of allelochemicals with phytotoxic effects is intended to minimize a current dependency on synthetic herbicides in weed management. Several allelochemicals from the tropical tree Cerbera manghas (sea mango) have been reported as termiticides and bactericides. The present study investigated possible phytotoxic effects of C. manghas leaf extracts under laboratory conditions. Four monocots: barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), foxtail fescue (Vulpia myuros), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and timothy (Phleum pratense) and four dicots: alfalfa (Medicago sativa), garden cress (Lepidium sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and rapeseed (Brassica napus) were used as test species. Elongation of both shoots and roots of seedlings was measured to assess any phytotoxic effects. The results showed that the sensitivities of shoots and roots were different between the test species, and the inhibition of seedling elongation significantly increased with increasing concentration of leaf extracts of C. manghas for all the test species. The IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values showed that 8.50–32.30 and 4.26–34.67 mg dry weight equivalent extract mL−1 of C. manghas inhibited seedling elongation by 50%, for shoots and roots respectively. Isolation and identification of the phytotoxic substances from C. manghas are suggested for future investigation.
Pregnancy and Pelvic Girdle Pain
Authors: Kerbourc'h Floriane , Bertuit Jeanne , Feipel Véronique , Rooze Marcel
Published: September 2017

Background:

A woman's body undergoes many changes during pregnancy, and it adapts by developing compensatory strategies, which can be sources of pain. We sought to analyze the effects of pregnancy and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) on center of pressure (COP) parameters during gait at different speeds.

Methods:

Sixty-one healthy pregnant women, 66 women with PGP between 18 and 27 weeks of pregnancy, and 22 healthy nonpregnant women walked at different velocities (slow, preferential, and fast) on a walkway with built-in pressure sensors. An analysis of variance was performed to determine the effects of gait speed and group on COP parameters.

Results:

In healthy pregnant women and women with PGP, COP parameters were significantly modified compared with those in nonpregnant women (P < .01). Support time was increased regardless of gait speed, and anteroposterior COP displacement was significantly decreased for women with PGP compared with healthy pregnant women. In addition, mediolateral COP displacement was significantly decreased in pregnant women compared with nongravid women.

Conclusions:

Gait speed influenced COP displacement and velocity parameters, and gait velocity potentiated the effect of pregnancy on the different parameters. Pelvic girdle pain had an influence on COP anteroposterior length only. With COP parameters being only slightly modified by PGP, the gait of pregnant women with PGP was similar to that of healthy pregnant women but differed from that of nonpregnant women.
Particle bombardment and subcellular protein localization analysis in the aquatic plant Egeria densa
Authors: Osaki Yasuhide , Kodama Yutaka
Published: September 2017

Particle bombardment is a powerful and relatively easy method for transient expression of genes of interest in plant cells, especially those that are recalcitrant to other transformation methods. This method has facilitated numerous analyses of subcellular localization of fluorescent fusion protein constructs. Particle bombardment delivers genes to the first layer of plant tissue. In leaves of higher plants, epidermal cells are the first cell layer. Many studies have used the epidermal cell layer of onion bulb (Allium cepa) as the experimental tissue, because these cells are relatively large. However, onion epidermal cells lack developed plastids (i.e., chloroplasts), thereby precluding subcellular localization analysis of chloroplastic proteins. In this study, we developed a protocol for particle bombardment of the aquatic plant Egeria densa, and showed that it is a useful system for subcellular localization analysis of higher plant proteins. E. densa leaflets contain only two cell layers, and cells in the adaxial layer are sufficiently large for observation. The cells in both layers contain well-developed chloroplasts. We fused fluorescent proteins to conventional plant localization signals for the nucleus, cytosol, mitochondria, peroxisome, and chloroplast, and used particle bombardment to transiently express these fusion constructs in E. densa leaves. The plant subcellular localization signals functioned normally and displayed the expected distributions in transiently transformed E. densa cells, and even chloroplastic structures could be clearly visualized.
Mechanical Stability Analysis via Neutral Mechanical Plane for High‐Performance Flexible Si Nanomembrane FDSOI Device
Authors: Kim Seung‐Yoon , Bong Jae Hoon , Kim Cheolgyu , Hwang Wan Sik , Kim Taek‐Soo , Cho Byung Jin
Published: September 2017

High‐performance mechanically flexible Si nanomembrane (NM) fully depleted silicon‐on‐insulator field‐effect transistors are realized via neutral mechanical plane (NMP) optimization. This NMP‐optimized Si NM flexible device, using both the analytical and numerical modeling, shows excellent mechanical and electrical stability even at a bending condition with a 1 mm radius. The strain at this point is less than 0.01% that is much smaller than the strain tolerance of 0.1%. This work reveals that mechanical reliability is heavily associated with the location of the NMP and the NMP optimization is essential to realize the Si NM flexible electronics.
Hijacking Adat Recognition Through the Establishment of New Customary Community Council in Papua, Indonesia
Authors: Dewi Rosita
Published: September 2017

Papuan supporters of the Special Autonomy Law hoped that it would become an instrument to ensure their right to equality through the respect and recognition of their unique identity. This recognition facilitated the blossoming of an adat institution called the Papua Customary Council (Dewan Adat Papua). This institution is an important representative of Papuan. However, it was opposed to the Special Autonomy Law, and several of its members have closed relations with the Council of Papua Presidium (Presidium Dewan Papua), which supports the pro‐independence movement. Eight years after the implementation of this law, a new adat institution was formed called the Customary Community Council (Lembaga Masyarakat Adat (LMA)). The LMA is supported by the central government to vis a vis with the Dewan Adat Papua. This article analyses the reasons why the LMA was established as a form of government recognition in Papua. Interestingly, the LMA's strategy is similar to that employed under Suharto by the Customary Deliberative Council (LMA) prior to the Special Autonomy Period when adat institutions were formed and recognized, although with the new goal of achieving governmental policies of interest.