bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KEEFEKTIFAN STRATEGI MENULIS TERBIMBING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN MENGARANG NARASI DI KELAS IV SD NEGERI 003 TASIK JUANG
Authors: Yunismar Yunismar
Published: November 2019

This research is motivated by the low learning outcomes of students' narrative writing skills at SDN 003 Tasik Juang. This research was conducted in class IV with a total of 25 students. The purpose of this study is to improve students' narrative writing skills by implementing guided writing strategies. This research is a class action research consisting of two cycles with stages of planning, action, observation and reflection. The results showed in learning 1 the number of students who completed as many as 19 people with a percentage of 76% and as many as 6 people who did not complete with a percentage of 24%. In learning 2 the number of students who completed as many as 21 people with a percentage of 84% and as many as 4 people who did not complete with a percentage of 16%. In learning 3 the number of students who completed as many as 22 people with a percentage of 88% and as many as 3 people who did not complete with a percentage of 12%. In the last study, the number of students who completed as many as 23 people with a percentage of 92% and as many as 2 people who did not complete with a percentage of 8%. Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that the implementation of the guided writing strategy has proven to be effective in improving the learning outcomes of narrative writing skills of the fourth grade students of SDN 003 Tasik Juang.
MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS CAI (COMPUTER ASSITED INSTRUCTION) PADA MATA PELAJARAN PPKn SEKOLAH DASAR
Authors: Widoyoningrum Sri
Published: November 2019

Research Objectives This development develops CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction) -based learning products on Pancasila and Citizenship Education (PPKn) classes 1 and 2 of Primary Schools. The subject of discussion of the symbolic subject matter of the Republic of Indonesia and the values contained in the symbol of the state of the Republic of Indonesia. The research method used in the development of interactive multimedia is ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, Evalution). The method includes 5 stages, namely: needs analysis; model design; model development; implementation; and evaluation. The product instruments used were the validation sheets of material experts, media experts, field experts and questionnaires. The results of the development research produced a product supporting PPKn learning with interactive multimedia in the classroom. The feasibility test results showed very decent results from media experts with a percentage of 83.33% and very feasible from material experts with a percentage of 86.67%, and from field experts it was considered very feasible to obtain a percentage of 87.50%. For the results of the testing of interactive multimedia development products, the results were very feasible and interesting for students from small group trials with a percentage of 88% and large group trials 92.44%. Based on the results of the feasibility test and trial of interactive multimedia products for PPKn subjects for grade 1 and grade 2 elementary school students are feasible to be used as learning media in the activities of teaching and learning in schools.
AMINOMETHANSULFONIC AND ALKYLAMINOMETHANSULFONIC BUFFER SYSTEMS
Authors: Khoma Ruslan , Ennan Alim , Chebotarev Aleksandr , Vodzinskii Sergey
Published: November 2019

The investigations of acid-base interactions in aminomethanesulfonic acid (AMSA)–potassium aminomethanesulfonate–water and alkylaminomethanesulfonic acid–potassium alkylaminomethane-sulfonate–water systems, where alkyl are methyl (MeAMSA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl) (HEAMSA), n-propyl (n-PrAMSA), n-butyl (n-BuAMSA), tert-butyl (t-BuAMSA), n-heptyl (n-HpAMSA) and benzyl (BzAMSA) were performed in temperature range 293–313 К. Buffer action pH limits were determined and the buffer capacity of these systems was estimated.Based on the evaluation of buffer action pH limits of aminomethansulfonic acids, it has been found that with the help of n-PrAMSA and n-BuAMSA, it was possible to maintain the medium acidity in the range of physiological pH values throughout the range of investigated temperatures.As the temperature rises, the pH of the lower buffer limit increases for AMSA and n-BuAMSA systems, while for HEAMSA, t-BuAMSA, n-HpA-MSA and BzAMSA decreases. The value of the pH of the upper buffer threshold for all tested systems decreases during their heating. With the increase of the electron-donor properties of the N-substituent in the AMSA–MeAMSA–HEAMSA–t-BuAMSA series, the value of their electronegativity decreases to result in lowering of the pH values of the lower buf-fering action limit of these systems. For the more lipophilic N-substituents (n-C4H9, n-C7H15 and C6H5CH2), this regularity is not typical.It has been established that with increasing the CYAMSK/CYAMSA concentration ratio, the buffer capacity of YNHCH2SO3H–YNHCH2SO3K–H2O systems with hydrophilic aminomethansulfonic acids (Y = H, CH3 and HOCH2CH2) increases. For systems with lipophilic n-PrAMSA and t-BuAMSA, their buffer capacity doesn’t change at 0.4 ≤ QKOH/QYAMSA ≤ 1.0.The obtained data on the buffer capacity of the investigated systems is recommended for use in chemical analysis, microbiological and biochemical studies.
Occurrence of the rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758) in the deep seas of Northern Cyprus, Mediterranean Sea
Authors: ÇİFTÇİ Nuray , AKBORA Hasan Deniz , AYAS Deniz , BAKAN Mısra
Published: November 2019

Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa, Linnaeus 1758),
which is a deep-sea holocephalan mostly seen between 200-1000 m in depth. The
specimen of C. monstrosa was caught
in the deep-seas of Northern Cyprus by a commercial bottom trawler from Turkey.
The depth of sampling area is between 456 and 690 m. Species description
fulfilled with the help of morphological features and metric measurements. The
specimen was preserved in 4% formaldehyde and deposited in the Museum of the
Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (Catalogue number:
MEUFC-19-11-103).
Categorization of Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalizations Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Kouzoupis Spyros , Neocleous Andreas , Athanassakis Irene
Published: November 2019

A study of the ultrasonic vocalizations of several adult male BALB/c mice in the presence of a female, is undertaken in this study. A total of 179 distinct ultrasonic syllables referred to as “phonemes” are isolated, and in the resulting dataset, k-means and agglomerative clustering algorithms are implemented to group the ultrasonic vocalizations into clusters based on features extracted from their pitch contours. In order to find the optimal number of clusters, the elbow method was used, and nine distinct categories were obtained. Results when the k-means method was applied are presented through a matching matrix, while clustering results when the agglomerative technique was applied are presented as a dendrogram. The results of both methods are in line with the manual annotations made by the authors, as well as with the ones presented in the literature. The two methods of unsupervised analysis applied on 14 element feature vectors provide evidence that vocalizations can be grouped into nine clusters, which translates into the claim that there is a distinct repertoire of “syllables” or “phonemes”.
DLR TAU-Code uRANS Turbofan Modeling for Aircraft Aerodynamics Investigations
Authors: Stuermer Arne
Published: November 2019

In the context of an increased focus on fuel efficiency and environmental impact, turbofan engine developments continue towards larger bypass ratio engine designs, with Ultra-High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) engines becoming a likely power plant option for future commercial transport aircraft. These engines promise low specific fuel consumption at the engine level, but the resulting size of the nacelle poses challenges in terms of the installation on the airframe. Thus, their integration on an aircraft requires careful consideration of complex engine–airframe interactions impacting performance, aeroelastics and aeroacoustics on both the airframe and the engine sides. As a partner in the EU funded Clean Sky 2 project ASPIRE, the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology is contributing to an investigation of numerical analysis approaches, which draws on a generic representative UHBR engine configuration specifically designed in the frame of the project. In the present paper, project results are discussed, which aimed at demonstrating the suitability and accuracy of an unsteady RANS-based engine modeling approach in the context of external aerodynamics focused CFD simulations with the DLR TAU-Code. For this high-fidelity approach with a geometrically fully modeled fan stage, an in-depth study on spatial and temporal resolution requirements was performed, and the results were compared with simpler methods using classical engine boundary conditions. The primary aim is to identify the capabilities and shortcomings of these modeling approaches, and to develop a best-practice for the uRANS simulations as well as determine the best application scenarios.
Pre-Harvest Foliar Application of Mineral Nutrients to Retard Chlorophyll Degradation and Preserve Bio-Active Compounds in Broccoli
Authors: El-Mogy Mohamed M. , Mahmoud Abdel Wahab M. , El-Sawy Mohamed B. I. , Parmar Aditya
Published: November 2019

Foliar application of micronutrients has become a common farm management practice to increase the overall yield of various crops. However, the effects of foliar fertilization on shelf life and postharvest quality of the crops are rather under-researched. The aim of this field experiment was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of individual mineral nutrients (calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) on pre and postharvest quality of broccoli. The broccoli plants were subjected to single foliar sprays of either Ca, Fe, Zn, or Mn, which was repeated four times during plant growth at a 1 g/kg concentration. Once harvested, the broccoli heads were refrigerated at 4 °C for 28 days. Our results indicated that foliar application of Ca, Zn, Mn, and Fe did not have a significant effect on plant growth parameters, apart from enhancing Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter values. However, during postharvest, foliar application treatment showed a positive response on weight loss during storage and reduction in yellowing of the broccoli heads. Foliar treatments increased the concentration of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Ca, Zn, Mn and Fe significantly in the broccoli head tissue. Total chlorophyll content, total phenolic compound, ascorbic acid, peroxidase activity, glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin and flavonoids were significantly increased by all foliar treatments. Crude protein content and sulforaphane were enhanced by Ca and Mn treatments. Overall, foliar application of the investigated mineral nutrients may prove beneficial in improving the shelf-life and nutrient content of broccoli during postharvest handling and storage.
Study on Hematological and Biochemical Characters of Cloned Duroc Pigs and Their Progeny
Authors: Gu Ting , Shi Junsong , Luo Lvhua , Li Zicong , Yang Jie , Cai Gengyuan , Zheng Enqin , Hong Linjun , Wu Zhenfang
Published: November 2019

To increase public understanding in cloned animals produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer technology, our previous study investigated the carcass trait and meat quality of the clones (paper accepted), and this study we further evaluate differences by investigating the blood parameters in cloned pigs and their progeny. We collected blood samples from the clones and conventionally bred non-clones and their progeny, and investigated their hematological and blood biochemical characters. Our results supported the hypothesis that there was no significant difference between clones and non-clones, or their progeny. Taken together, the data demonstrated that the clones or their progeny were similar with their controls in terms of blood parameters, although there were still other kinds of disorders, such as abnormal DNA methylation or histone modifications that needs further investigation. The data in this study agreed that cloning technique could be used to preserve and enlarge the genetics of the superior boars in pig breeding industry, especially in facing of the deadly threat of African Swine fever happened in China.
Dietary EPA Increases Rat Mortality in Diabetes Mellitus, a Phenomenon Which Is Compensated by Green Tea Extract
Authors: Leger Thibault , He Beibei , Azarnoush Kasra , Jouve Chrystèle , Rigaudiere Jean-Paul , Joffre Florent , Bouvier Damien , Sapin Vincent , Pereira Bruno , Demaison Luc
Published: November 2019

Diabetes is characterized by a high mortality rate which is often associated with heart failure. Green tea and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to lessen some of the harmful impacts of diabetes and to exert cardio-protection. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of EPA, green tea extract (GTE), and a combination of both on the cardiac consequences of diabetes mellitus, induced in Wistar rats by injection of a low dose of streptozotocin (33 mg/kg) combined with a high fat diet. Cardiac mechanical function, coronary reactivity, and parameters of oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy metabolism were evaluated. In the context of diabetes, GTE alone limited several diabetes-related symptoms such as inflammation. It also slightly improved coronary reactivity and considerably enhanced lipid metabolism. EPA alone caused the rapid death of the animals, but this effect was negated by the addition of GTE in the diet. EPA and GTE combined enhanced coronary reactivity considerably more than GTE alone. In a context of significant oxidative stress such as during diabetes mellitus, EPA enrichment constitutes a risk factor for animal survival. It is essential to associate it with the antioxidants contained in GTE in order to decrease mortality rate and preserve cardiac function.
Investigation on Roof Segmentation for 3D Building Reconstruction from Aerial LIDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Albano Raffaele
Published: November 2019

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques are increasingly used to obtain 3D representations of buildings due to the broad range of applications for 3D city models related to sustainability, efficiency and resilience (i.e., energy demand estimation, estimation of the propagation of noise in an urban environment, routing and accessibility, flood or seismic damage assessment). With advancements in airborne laser scanning (ALS), 3D modeling of urban topography has increased its potential to automatize extraction of the characteristics of individual buildings. In 3D building modeling from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) point clouds, one major challenging issue is how to efficiently and accurately segment building regions and extract rooftop features. This study aims to present an investigation and critical comparison of two different fully automatic roof segmentation approaches for 3D building reconstruction. In particular, the paper presents and compares a cluster-based roof segmentation approach that uses (a) a fuzzy c-means clustering method refined through a density clustering and connectivity analysis, and (b) a region growing segmentation approach combined with random sample consensus (RANSAC) method. In addition, a robust 2.5D dual contouring method is utilized to deliver watertight 3D building modeling from the results of each proposed segmentation approach. The benchmark LIDAR point clouds and related reference data (generated by stereo plotting) of 58 buildings over downtown Toronto (Canada), made available to the scientific community by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), have been used to evaluate the quality of the two proposed segmentation approaches by analysing the geometrical accuracy of the roof polygons. Moreover, the results of both approaches have been evaluated under different operating conditions against the real measurements (based on archive documentation and celerimetric surveys realized by a total station system) of a complex building located in the historical center of Matera (UNESCO world heritage site in southern Italy) that has been manually reconstructed in 3D via traditional Building Information Modeling (BIM) technique. The results demonstrate that both methods reach good performance metrics in terms of geometry accuracy. However, approach (b), based on region growing segmentation, exhibited slightly better performance but required greater computational time than the clustering-based approach.
Special Issue on Machine Learning for Biomedical Data Analysis
Authors: Divina Federico , Gómez-Vela Francisco
Published: November 2019

In our world, increasing amounts of data are produced everyday [...]
The Influence of Waste Composition on Landfill Gas Generation in a Pilot-Scale Lysimeter
Authors: Chung Woojin , Jung Sukyoung , Chang Soonwoong
Published: November 2019

The Sudokwon landfill site in Korea, is one of the largest landfill sites in the world, and consists of a first landfill site and second landfill site. The second landfill site generates 3–30 times more H2S than that of the first landfill site. However, the cause of the increase in H2S has not been identified. In this study, the main causes of H2S concentration increase were investigated in the second landfill site in the Sudokwon landfill site. We classified wastes at the Sudokwon landfill site into seven types including Construction and demolition (C&D) debris waste. A lysimeter reactor was designed as a similar environment to the Sudokwon landfill site for simulation. In addition, the experiment was conducted under the same conditions. Three components and elements were analyzed to identify the composition of waste in the landfill site. Leachate was analyzed through a chemical oxygen demand and SO42− standard method. For landfill gas, a gas analyzer was used. The trend in the generation of leachate and landfill gas depending on waste composition at the landfill site was observed and the cause of the increase in H2S was examined. As a result, landfilling of C&D debris waste is recommended as a single landfill.
Facial Expression Recognition Using Computer Vision: A Systematic Review
Authors: Canedo Daniel , Neves António J. R.
Published: November 2019

Emotion recognition has attracted major attention in numerous fields because of its relevant applications in the contemporary world: marketing, psychology, surveillance, and entertainment are some examples. It is possible to recognize an emotion through several ways; however, this paper focuses on facial expressions, presenting a systematic review on the matter. In addition, 112 papers published in ACM, IEEE, BASE and Springer between January 2006 and April 2019 regarding this topic were extensively reviewed. Their most used methods and algorithms will be firstly introduced and summarized for a better understanding, such as face detection, smoothing, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Local Binary Patterns (LBP), Optical Flow (OF), Gabor filters, among others. This review identified a clear difficulty in translating the high facial expression recognition (FER) accuracy in controlled environments to uncontrolled and pose-variant environments. The future efforts in the FER field should be put into multimodal systems that are robust enough to face the adversities of real world scenarios. A thorough analysis on the research done on FER in Computer Vision based on the selected papers is presented. This review aims to not only become a reference for future research on emotion recognition, but also to provide an overview of the work done in this topic for potential readers.
Glycerin-Grafted Starch as Corrosion Inhibitor of C-Mn Steel in 1 M HCl solution
Authors: Lahrour Sihem , Benmoussat Abderrahim , Bouras Brahim , Mansri Asma , Tannouga Lahcene , Marzorati Stefania
Published: November 2019

C-Mn steels, commonly employed in structural applications, are often exposed to near-neutral aerated environments and hence subjected to general corrosion. In broader contexts, for example during pickling, acidizing treatments, or acid-releasing processes, where steel comes in contact with more aggressive solutions, the use of corrosion inhibitors is a supplementary strategy to cathodic protection and/or coating. This work focuses on the C-Mn steel corrosion protection in the presence of HCl, either as process fluid or by product. In order to avoid the toxicological issues related to conventional synthetic products, a bio-copolymer containing glycerin-grafted starch, synthesized by modification of maize starch, was studied as a “green” corrosion inhibitor by the weight loss method and electrochemical techniques (open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). Corrosion-related parameters, such as inhibitor concentration and temperature, were varied and optimized to characterize the corrosion process. Results showed that inhibition efficiency increases with increasing bio-copolymer concentration, reaching a maximum of 94%at the concentration of 300 mg L−1. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were determined and discussed. The obtained values of corrosion potential and corrosion current density, Ecorr and icorr, obtained by potentiodynamic polarization, are in agreement with the weight loss method. The corrosion current densities decrease when the concentration of the inhibitor increases.
Use of Neural Networks to Identify Safety Prevention Priorities in Agro-Manufacturing Operations within Commercial Grain Elevators
Authors: Davoudi Kakhki Fatemeh , Freeman Steven A. , Mosher Gretchen A.
Published: November 2019

The grain handling industry plays a significant role in U.S. agriculture by storing, distributing, and processing a variety of agricultural commodities. Commercial grain elevators are hazardous agro-manufacturing work environments where workers are prone to severe injuries, due to the nature of the activities and workplace. Safety incidents in agro-manufacturing operations generally arise from a combination of factors, rather than a single cause, therefore, research on occupational incidents must look deeper into identifying the underlying causes, through the application of advanced analyses methods. In occupational safety, it is possible to estimate and predict probability of safety risks through developing artificial neural network predictive models. Due to the significance of safety risk assessment in the design and prioritization of effective prevention measures, this study aimed at classifying and predicting causes of occupational incidents in grain elevator agro-manufacturing operations in the Midwest region of the United States. Workers’ compensation claims data, from 2008 to 2016, were utilized for training multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF) neural networks. Both MLP and RBF models could predict the probability of safety risks with a high overall accuracy of 60%, 61%. Based on values of AUC (area under the curve) from the ROC (receiving operating charts), both models predicted the probability of individual safety risks with a high accuracy rate of between 71.5% and 99.2%. In addition, sensitivity analysis showed that nature of injury is the most significant determinant of safety risks probability, along with type of injury. The novelty of this study is the use of the artificial neural network methodology to analyze multi-level causes of occupational incidents as the sources of safety risks in bulk storage facilities. The results confirm that artificial neural networks are useful in safety risk estimation, and identifying the incidents’ risk factors. The implementation of safety measures in grain elevators can help in preventing occupational injuries, saving lives, and reducing the occurrence and severity of such incidents in industrial work environments.
Modelling and Stability Analysis of Wind Power Plants Connected to Weak Grids
Authors: Ebrahimzadeh Esmaeil , Blaabjerg Frede , Lund Torsten , Godsk Nielsen John , Carne Kjær Philip
Published: November 2019

It is important to develop modelling tools to predict unstable situations resulting from the interactions between the wind power plant and the weak power system. This paper presents a unified methodology to model and analyse a wind power plant connected to weak grids in the frequency-domain by considering the dynamics of the phase lock loop (PLL) and controller delays, which have been neglected in most of the previous research into modelling of wind power plants to simplify modelling. The presented approach combines both dq and positive/negative sequence domain modelling, where a single wind turbine is modelled in the dq domain but the whole wind power plant connected to the weak grid is analysed in the positive/negative sequence domain. As the proposed modelling of the wind power plant is systematic and modular and based on the decoupled positive/negative sequence impedances, the application of the proposed methodology is relevant for transmission system operators (TSOs) to assess stability easily with a very low compactional burden. In addition, as the analytical dq impedance models of the single wind turbine are provided, the proposed methodology is an optimization design tool permitting wind turbine manufacturers to tune their converter control. As a case study, a 108 MW wind power plant connected to a weak grid was used to study its sensitivity to variations in network short-circuit level, X/R ratio and line series capacitor compensation (Xc/Xg).
Notch Signaling in Kidney Development, Maintenance, and Disease
Authors: Mukherjee Malini , Fogarty Eric , Janga Madhusudhana , Surendran Kameswaran
Published: November 2019

Kidney development involves formation of nephrons intricately aligned with the vasculature and connected to a branched network of collecting ducts. Notch signaling plays multiple roles during kidney development involving the formation of nephrons composed of diverse epithelial cell types arranged into tubular segments, all the while maintaining a nephron progenitor niche. Here, we review the roles of Notch signaling identified from rodent kidney development and injury studies, while discussing human kidney diseases associated with aberrant Notch signaling. We also review Notch signaling requirement in maintenance of mature kidney epithelial cell states and speculate that Notch activity regulation mediates certain renal physiologic adaptations.
A Short Overview on the Hydrogen Production Via Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of Cellulose, C6-C5 Sugars and Polyols
Authors: Fasolini Andrea , Cucciniello Raffaele , Paone Emilia , Mauriello Francesco , Tabanelli Tommaso
Published: November 2019

The use of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of renewable hydrogen is surely among the hot-topic research tasks. In this review, we report on the recent advances in the catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derived C6-C5 sugars (glucose, fructose, and xylose) and polyols (sorbitol and xylitol) into hydrogen via aqueous phase reforming (APR) reactions. The APR processes are considered to be new sustainable catalytic routes for converting the carbohydrate fraction of biomasses into hydrogen at milder reaction conditions if compared with the traditional reforming reactions. Particular emphasis is given to the development of new and active catalysts and to the optimization of reaction conditions that aimed to maximize hydrogen production with a low concentration of CO avoiding, at the same time, the formation of alkanes.
A Psychosocial Intervention’s Impact on Quality of Life in AYAs with Cancer: A Post Hoc Analysis from the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Steineck Angela , Bradford Miranda C. , Lau Nancy , Scott Samantha , Yi-Frazier Joyce P. , Rosenberg Abby R.
Published: November 2019

Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM), a psychosocial intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with serious illness, enhances resilience resources via four skills-based training sessions. A recent randomized controlled trial showed PRISM improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) compared to usual care (UC). This post hoc exploratory analysis aimed to better understand the effect of PRISM on HRQOL by describing changes in HRQOL subdomain scores. English-speaking AYAs (12–25 years) with cancer were randomized to PRISM or UC. At enrollment and six months later, HRQOL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Short Form (SF-15) and Cancer Module. Scores at each time point were summarized descriptively and individual HRQOL trajectories were categorized (<70 vs. ≥70). “Positive” trajectories indicate participants maintained scores ≥70 or improved from <70 to ≥70 during the study period. Baseline assessments were completed by 92 participants (48 PRISM, 44 UC); six-month assessments were completed by 74 participants (36 PRISM, 38 UC). For the SF-15, positive trajectories in psychosocial domains were more common with PRISM; trajectories in the physical subdomain were similar across groups. For the Cancer Module, positive trajectories were more common with PRISM in the following subdomains: nausea, treatment anxiety, worry, cognitive, physical appearance, and communication. From this, we conclude PRISM may improve HRQOL, especially in psychosocial domains of wellbeing.
Identification and Characterization of Nasal Polyposis and Mycoplasma Superinfection by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Nasal Cytology with Optical Microscopy: A Case Report
Authors: Caruso Arturo Armone , Viola Veronica , Del Prete Salvatore , Leo Sabato , Marasco Daniela , Fulgione Andrea , Naviglio Daniele , Gallo Monica
Published: November 2019

Nasal polyposis is characterized by benign, non-cancerous and painless growths originating in the tissue of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. Polyps arise from chronic inflammation due to asthma, recurrent infections, allergies, drug sensitivity or immune disorders. They can obstruct the nasal cavities and thus cause respiratory problems, a reduction in the sense of smell and susceptibility to infections. Furthermore, nasal polyps can recur. Hence the importance of using valid diagnostic methods. In this work, the diagnostic investigation carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nasal cytology led, for the first time, to the identification of a mycoplasma superinfection on nasal polyposis.
Multiscale Entropy Analysis of Postural Stability for Estimating Fall Risk via Domain Knowledge of Timed-Up-And-Go Accelerometer Data for Elderly People Living in a Community
Authors: Wu Chi-Han , Lee Chia-Hsuan , Jiang Bernard C. , Sun Tien-Lung
Published: November 2019

As people in developed countries live longer, assessing the fall risk becomes more important. A major contributor to the risk of elderly people falling is postural instability. This study aimed to use the multiscale entropy (MSE) analysis to evaluate postural stability during a timed-up-and-go (TUG) test. This test was deemed a promising method for evaluating fall risk among the elderly in a community. The MSE analysis of postural instability can identify the elderly prone to falling, whereupon early medical rehabilitation can prevent falls. Herein, an objective approach is developed for assessing the postural stability of 85 community-dwelling elderly people (aged 76.12 ± 6.99 years) using the short-form Berg balance scale. Signals were collected from the TUG test using a triaxial accelerometer. A segment-based TUG (sTUG) test was designed, which can be obtained according to domain knowledge, including “Sit-to-Walk (STW),” “Walk,” “Turning,” and “Walk-to-Sit (WTS)” segments. Employing the complexity index (CI) of sTUG can reveal information about the physiological dynamics’ signal for postural stability assessment. Logistic regression was used to assess the fall risk based on significant features of CI related to sTUG. MSE curves for subjects at risk of falling (n = 19) exhibited different trends from those not at risk of falling (n = 66). Additionally, the CI values were lower for subjects at risk of falling than those not at risk of falling. Results show that the area under the curve for predicting fall risk among the elderly subjects with complexity index features from the overall TUG test is 0.797, which improves to 0.853 with the sTUG test. For the elderly living in a community, early assessment of the CI for sTUG using MSE can help predict the fall risk.
Modeling and Analysis of Self-Organizing UAV-Assisted Mobile Networks with Dynamic On-Demand Deployment
Authors: Horvath Denis , Gazda Juraj , Slapak Eugen , Maksymyuk Taras
Published: November 2019

Attempts to develop flexible on-demand drone-assisted mobile network deployment are increasingly driven by cost-effective and energy-efficient innovations. The current stage opens up a wide range of theoretical discussions on the management of swarm processes, networks and other integrated projects. However, dealing with these complex issues remains a challenging task, although heuristic approaches are usually utilized. This article introduces a model of autonomous and adaptive drones that provide the function of aerial mobile base stations. Its particular goal is to analyze post-disaster recovery if the network failure takes place. We assume that a well-structured swarm of drones can re-establish the connection by spanning the residual functional, fixed infrastructure, and providing coverage of the target area. Our technique uses stochastic Langevin dynamics with virtual and adaptive forces that bind drones during deployment. The system characteristics of the swarms are a priority of our focus. The assessment of parametric sensitivity with the insistence on the manifestation of adaptability points to the possibility of improving the characteristics of the swarms in different dynamic situations.
The Output Gap and Youth Unemployment: An Analysis Based on Okun’s Law
Authors: Butkus Mindaugas , Seputiene Janina
Published: November 2019

The impact of economic fluctuations on the total unemployment rate is widely studied, however, with respect to age- and gender-specific unemployment, this relationship is not so well examined. We apply the gap version of Okun’s law, aiming to estimate youth unemployment rate sensitivity to output deviations from its potential level. Additionally, we aim to compare whether men or women have a higher equilibrium unemployment rate when output is at the potential level. Contrary to most studies on age- and gender-specific Okun’s coefficients, which assume that the effect of output on unemployment is homogenous, we allow a different effect to occur, depending on the output gap’s sign (positive/negative). The focus of the analysis is on 28 EU countries over the period of 2000–2018. The model is estimated by least squares dummy variable estimator (LSDV), using Prais–Winsten standard errors. We did not find evidence that higher equilibrium unemployment rates are more typical for men or for women. The estimates clearly show the equilibrium level of youth unemployment to be well above that of total unemployment, and this conclusion holds for both genders. We assess greater youth unemployment sensitivity to negative output shock, rather than to positive output shock, but when we take confidence intervals into consideration, this conclusion becomes less obvious.
Sharing the Economy in Tourism and Sustainable City Development in the Light of Agenda 2030
Authors: Jaremen Daria Elżbieta , Nawrocka Elżbieta , Żemła Michał
Published: November 2019

The dynamic development of the sharing economy is clearly seen in particular, in the area of tourism in large cities. There is, therefore, an increasingly urgent need to study its impact on the functioning of cities, especially when they implement a sustainable development policy. Therefore, the need to study its impact on cities’ performances is more and more urgent, particularly, when they implement a sustainable development policy. This study discussed the influence of a sharing economy in tourism on city sustainability from the perspective of the Agenda 2030 goals. The main objective of the paper was achieved, thanks to in-depth analysis of the content of secondary sources. Results of the analysis were subjected to the synthesis process, using the tabular method. In Agenda 2030, when diagnosing the importance of this issue, one of 17 goals, i.e., goal 11, and 10 tasks within it, were devoted to the sustainable development of cities. The results of this study showed that sharing economy in tourism has an impact on the implementation of seven of them, but the direction of the impact is diversified. The domination of positive sharing economy (SE) effects was observed in the following areas: providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all (Target 11.2) and upgrading slums (Target 11.1), while the negative effects were noticed particularly clearly in implementing Targets 11.6 (reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities) and 11.7 (providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces).
Mesh-Grounded Monopolar Hexagonal Microstrip Antenna for Artillery-Launched Observation Round
Authors: Lee Dongho , Kim Kichul , Pyo Seongmin
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a novel low-profile microstrip antenna with an omnidirectional radiation pattern for an artillery-launched observation round. The proposed antenna consists of one centered hexagonal patch for a feeding network and six periodic arrays of a trapezoid patch for a radiator. The trapezoid patch is equal to a half-sized hexagonal patch based on geometrical symmetry. A gap-coupled one-hexagonal patch and six trapezoid patches are supported on a nonfundamental TM02 mode for vertically polarized omnidirectional radiation patterns. In addition, a meshed ground structure for the proposed antenna is employed to improve the impedance bandwidth. The thin metal wires that are formed by the meshed ground structure yield six trapezoid slot arrays for the feeding network and three triangular slot arrays for the radiator on the ground plane. To verify the feasibility of the meshed ground structure, the mesh width, denoted by w, was investigated theoretically and optimized carefully to enlarge the impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna. Finally, the proposed antenna, with a mesh width of 0.2 mm, successfully demonstrated excellent monopolar radiation at a resonant frequency of 5.84 GHz, a realized gain of 5.27 dBi, and an impedance bandwidth of 452 MHz from 5.583 GHz to 6.035 GHz with respect to 7.78% at a center frequency of 5.809 GHz.
Analysis of Propagation Characteristics along an Array of Silver Nanorods Using Dielectric Constants from Experimental Data and the Drude-Lorentz Model
Authors: Zong Chujing , Zhang Dan
Published: November 2019

In this study, the Fourier series expansion method (FSEM) was employed to calculate the complex propagation constants of plasma structures consisting of infinitely long, silver nanorod arrays in the range of 180–1900 nm, and the characteristics of the complex propagation constant were analyzed in depth. According to the results of FSEM using dielectric constants from Johnson experimental data, a multi-mode frequency band appears in the propagation stage, which can be adopted to achieve a multi-mode communication, multi-mode transceiver, integrated filter with single multi-mode combination. In the meantime, the comparison between the three sets of results with only single mode transmission of the generalized multipole technique (GMT) using dielectric constants from Johnson experimental data, FSEM using dielectric constants from Palik experimental data, and FSEM using dielectric function from Drude–Lorentz model suggested that the results of the four sets of complex propagation constants were well consistent with each other. Furthermore, a finite array of only 40 silver nanorods was studied, and the ability of guided waves when a finite array is excited by a plane wave at a specific wavelength was explored. According to different guiding abilities—propagation, attenuation, and cut off, it can be applied to waveguides, sensor, filters, etc.
Evaluation of M-Payment Technology and Sectoral System Innovation—A Comparative Study of UK and Indian Models
Authors: Webb Heather , Liu Shubo , Yan Min-Ren
Published: November 2019

The paper constructs a sectoral system of innovation model specifically for the mobile payments (m-payments) sector. Both the UK and Indian sectoral system of innovation were studied in regards of the actors involved in providing the m-payment service with an emphasis on emergent business models. We integrated open innovation and Ogle’s ideas into our model and demonstrated the importance of active agency in shaping innovation systems, for example in leveraging existing social networks. The research draws upon original interviews with companies and regulators in both India and the UK. Our overall conclusion is that the m-payments sectoral system of innovation in India is more customer-oriented and far-reaching as compared to the practices in UK. It concludes that no matter the context, the importance of integrating firms’ activity into integrated service systems in demand-driven innovation is key for success.
Ride-Through Control Method for the Continuous Commutation Failures of HVDC Systems Based on DC Emergency Power Control
Authors: Xiao Chao , Han Wei , Ouyang Jinxin , Xiong Xiaofu , Wang Wei
Published: November 2019

Continuous commutation failures (CFs) are serious malfunctions in line-commutated converter high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems that cause the continuous and rapid sag of transmitted power and may threaten the stability of AC systems. The conventional emergency control strategies of AC systems exhibit difficulty in responding quickly and accurately. After suffering from continuous CFs, the forced blocking of direct current (DC) converter to prevent AC system instability might also cause other adverse effects. This study proposes a ride-through control method to improve the endurance capability of AC systems against continuous CFs. An active power output model of inverter station under continuous CFs is built, while considering the process and mechanism of CFs. The impact of continuous DC power sag on the stability of sending-end system is analyzed through a four-area AC/DC equivalent model. A rolling calculation model for the power angle and acceleration area variations of the sending-end system during continuous CFs is established on the basis of model predictive control theory. A calculation method for the emergency power control reference is obtained by using the aforementioned models. Lastly, a ride-through control method for continuous CFs is developed by utilizing the emergency control of adjacent HVDC link. Simulation results show that the proposed control method can improve the endurance capability of an AC system to continuous CFs and reduce blocking risk in an HVDC link.
Design of a New Compressed Air Energy Storage System with Constant Gas Pressure and Temperature for Application in Coal Mine Roadways
Authors: Deng Kangyu , Zhang Kai , Xue Xinran , Zhou Hui
Published: November 2019

Renewable energy (wind and solar power, etc.) are developing rapidly around the world. However, compared to traditional power (coal or hydro), renewable energy has the drawbacks of intermittence and instability. Energy storage is the key to solving the above problems. The present study focuses on the compressed air energy storage (CAES) system, which is one of the large-scale energy storage methods. As a lot of underground coal mines are going to be closed in China in the coming years, a novel CAES system is proposed for application in roadways of the closing coal mines. The new system combines pumped-hydro and compressed-air methods, and features constant air pressure and temperature. Another specific character of the system is the usage of flexible bags to store the compressed air, which can effectively reduce air leakage. The governing equations of the system are derived, and the response of the system is analyzed. According to the equations, for a roadway with depth of 500 m and volume of 10,000 cubic meters, the power generation capacity of the CAES system is approximately 18 MW and the generating time is 1.76 h. The results show that the new CAES system proposed is reasonable, and provides a suitable way to utilize the underground space of coal mines.
Mathematical Modeling of the Mojave Solar Plants
Authors: Gallego Antonio J. , Macías Manuel , de Castilla Fernando , Camacho Eduardo F.
Published: November 2019

Competitiveness of solar energy is one of current main research topics. Overall efficiency of solar plants can be improved by using advanced control strategies. To design and tuning properly advanced control strategies, a mathematical model of the plant is needed. The model has to fulfill two important points: (1) It has to reproduce accurately the dynamics of the real system; and (2) since the model is used to test advanced control strategies, its computational burden has to be as low as possible. This trade-off is essential to optimize the tuning process of the controller and minimize the commissioning time. In this paper, the modeling of the large-scale commercial solar trough plants Mojave Beta and Mojave Alpha is presented. These two models were used to test advanced control strategies to operate the plants.
Development of a Control Platform for a Building-Scale Hybrid Solar PV-Natural Gas Microgrid
Authors: Delgoshaei Parhum , Freihaut James D.
Published: November 2019

Building-scale microgrids are a type of behind-the-meter microgrids where the building operator has control of the distributed energy resources, including, in this case, a natural gas-fired microturbine in addition to solar PV and battery energy storage systems. There is a growing trend in deploying behind-the-meter microgrids due to their benefits including the resiliency of serving critical loads, especially in regions with abundant natural gas. In order to ensure distributed energy resources are dispatched optimally for the desired mode of operation, a hierarchical control platform including a centralized controller was developed and installed. The platform includes communication and control infrastructure that interface with controllers for distributed energy resources and the building automation system of a recently built energy efficient commercial building. Based on desirable outcomes under different grid and building conditions, operational modes were defined for the microgrid controller. The controller is programmed to map each mode to respective operational modes for distributed energy resources controllers. Experimental data for test runs corresponding to two operational modes confirm the communication and control infrastructure can execute hierarchical control commands. Finally, dispatch optimization for a year-long simulation of system operation is presented and the benefits of the hybrid solar PV-natural gas setup are evaluated.