bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socio-spatial scales as social boundaries? Or: How do migration studies profit from including ‘space’ in the sociology of social boundaries
Authors: Amelina Anna
Published: December 2018

Starting from the critique of methodological nationalism the article questions the conventional limitation of migration studies on social inequalities imposed by the nation state context. First, it highlights the conceptual shortcomings of assimilation approaches which mainly analyse hierarchies of social positions within the settings of the immigration countries. Second, it reviews migration research which addresses inequality patterns at the global and the transnational scale. It analyses both bodies of literature which have in common their inability to explicitly address the interaction between particular socio-spatial scales. This is the reason for the necessity to include the scale approach in migration studies. Moreover, to adopt the scale theory into inequality research, spatial scales, such as the global and local, the national and transnational must be re-conceptualized in terms of the social boundaries approach. In sum, the article exemplifies how migration studies on social hierarchies profit from understanding ‘space’ as a distinct set of categorical distinctions powerful in social practice.
Role of Financial Sector in the Remittances-Growth Nexus in Fiji
Authors: Chen Hong , Jayaraman Tiru
Published: December 2018

Amongst the three kinds of non-debt creating capital transfers, welcomed by capital-short Pacific island countries (PICs) for supplementing their limited domestic savings, remittances presently top the list, the other two being foreign aid and foreign direct investment. Remittances help poor families, reducing poverty. In the long run, however, the contribution of remittances to growth in output and economic development is contingent upon financial sector development (FSD). PICs are now fostering financial sector development by promoting greater financial inclusion. This paper seeks to assess the role of FSD in the nexus between remittances and output by undertaking an empirical study of Fiji.
Do remittances differ depending on migration pathway and length of stay?
Authors: Pugliese Anita , Ray Julie , Esipova Neli
Published: December 2018

This paper reports the results from Gallup’s global analysis of the likelihood of first-generation migrants, second-generation migrants and the native-born to send financial help in the form of money or goods to others inside or outside their respective country of residence. The findings in this paper are based on more than 450,000 interviews conducted through Gallup’s World Poll in 157 countries in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The sample includes more than 26,000 first-generation migrants and more than 20,000 second-generation migrants. The large sample enables Gallup to analyze first-generation migrants by the duration of their stay in their adopted country and compare their remittance behaviors with second-generation migrants and the native-born.
Socially Embedded Character of Informal Channels of Remittances: ‘Omalayisha’ in the South Africa/Zimbabwe Remittance Corridor
Authors: Thebe Vusilizwe , Mutyatyu Sara
Published: December 2018

In this article, we cast some doubts on contemporary initiatives to formalise remittance channels by focusing on particular dynamics of the informal ‘malayisha’ system on the South Africa/Zimbabwe remittance corridor. We stress the socially embedded character of ‘omalayisha’ in some rural societies by demonstrating that the system is built on strong social and community relations of friendship, neighbourhood, kinship and referrals, and the development of strategic networks of state officials. We also seek to draw parallels between the historical movement of remittances from the cities to rural societies and the contemporary system of ‘omalayisha’. Our argument suggest that ‘omalayisha’ are inherently part of the contemporary worker-peasant economy after the relocation and expansion of urban livelihoods to South African cities, and that their position in these societies extends beyond mere labour reproduction to accumulation and survival questions.
Development Impacts of Remittances in Agricultural Households: Fiji Experience
Authors: Xing Zhongwei
Published: December 2018

This paper provides the contribution of remittance income for agriculture and rural development in Fiji at the micro-level analysis using the most recent household survey data available. On the contrary to general belief that remittances are mostly used for food consumption amongst households in the Pacific islands, the empirical results show that remittances have alternative uses by the households in Fiji. In particular, it sheds light on remittances as a driver for pro-poor agricultural production and diversification.
Nation Branding in A Transnational Marketing Context: Serbia’s Brand Positioning Through Food and Wine
Authors: Dogan Evinc , Petkovic Goran
Published: December 2018

Food and gastronomic values of a country are distinguished assets in marketing places. The aim of this article is exploring the ways in which Serbia rebrands itself through promoting the local food and culture and positions the nation brand in a transnational marketing context. The key concepts for this research originate from the literature in place marketing and branding. The gastronomic offer is an instrument shaping people’s perceptions about Serbia that is represented and communicated through values, narratives and manifestations. Accordingly, semiotics is adopted for analysing the data, which builds on three levels: axiological, narrative and discursive. Content analysis is used as a supportive method to infer meanings from codes and to determine emerging themes overarching the units of meaning.  The tourism marketing strategy of The National Tourism Organization of Serbia (TOS) is closely examined through the touristic promotion materials (i.e. catalogues, posters, Soul Food video). In sum, the analysis results reveal how the country branding strategy of Serbia is handled in terms of the impact on the perceptions with a focus on food as a tourist attraction. The research is valuable for place-marketers, strategists, governments, and scholars from different fields of academia.
Lyon – UNESCO’s Creative City of Gastronomy?
Authors: Barbosa Cecilia Avelino
Published: December 2018

The fast urbanization in many regions of the world has generated a high competition between cities. In the race for investments and for international presence, some cities have increasingly resorting to the territorial marketing techniques like city branding. One of the strategies of recent years has been to use of creativity and / or labeling of creative city for the promotion of its destination. This phenomenon raises a question whether the city branding programs have worked in accordance with the cultural industries of the territory or if such labels influence the thought of tourists and locals. This paper begins by placing a consideration of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and the strategies of the Territorial Marketing Program of the city of Lyon in France, Only Lyon. It also raises the question the perception of the target public to each of the current actions through semi-structured interviews which were applied between May and August 2015. Finally, I will try to open a discussion the brand positioning adopted by the city of Lyon
Kedi Enjeksiyon İlişkili Sarkomalar: 18 Kedide Cerrahi Sonuçlar
Authors: ÇALIŞKAN Murat , YÜCEL TENEKECİ Gözde
Published: December 2018

Bu
çalışmanın amacı kedilerde enjeksiyon sonrası şekillenen aşı ilişkili
sarkomalarının tanısını ve cerrahi sonuçlarını bildirmektir. Çalışma kapsamında
enjeksiyon sonrası kitle şekillenmesi şikayetiyle getirilen farklı cinsiyet,
yaş ve kilolardaki 18 kedi değerlendirildi. Kitlelerin çoğunlukla interscapular
(n:7), lumbal (n:5) gibi deri altı enjeksiyon uygulamalarında sıklıkla tercih
edilen bölgelerde şekillendiği tespit edildi. Cerrahi olarak mümkün olduğunca
geniş ensizyon ile kitleler uzaklaştırıldı. Histopatolojik incelemelerde
fibrosarkom (n:12), fibroosteokondrosarkom (n:4), fibromikzosarkom (n:2) tanısı
konuldu. İntraopetif olarak 13 olguda derin kas dokusu ve çevre dokulara
infiltrasyon tespit edildi.  Cerrahi
sonrası 14 olguda 3 ay-1 yıl arası değişen sürelerde nüks şekillendi. Nüks
şekillenen olguların tamamında kitle bir önceki operasyon hattında şekillendiği
ve uzak doku metastazı yapmadığı görüldü
Approximation Properties of Kantorovich Type Modifications of $(p, q)-$Meyer-König-Zeller Operators
Authors: Maurya Ramapati , Sharma Honey , Gupta Cheeena
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we introduce Kantorovich type modification of $(p, q)$-Meyer-König-Zeller operators. We estimate rate of convergence of proposed operators using modulus of continuity and Lipschitz class functions. Further, we obtain the statistical convergence and local approximation results for these operators. In the last section, we estimate the rate of convergence of $(p, q)$-Meyer-König-Zeller Kantorovich operators by means of Matlab programming.
Approximation Results for Urysohn Type Two Dimensional Nonlinear Bernstein Operators
Authors: Karslı Harun
Published: December 2018

In the present work, our aim of this study is generalization and extension of the theory of interpolation of two dimensional functions to functionals or operators by means of Urysohn type nonlinear operators. In accordance with this purpose, we introduce and study a new type of Urysohn type nonlinear operators. In particular, we investigate the convergence problem for nonlinear operators that approximate the Urysohn type operator in two dimensional case. The starting point of this study is motivated by the important applications that approximation properties of certain families of nonlinear operators have in signal-image reconstruction and in other related fields. We construct our nonlinear operators by using a nonlinear form of the kernels together with the Urysohn type operator values instead of the sampling values of the function.
Notes on Some Recent Papers Concerning $F$-Contractions in $b$-Metric Spaces
Authors: Kadelburg Zoran , Radenovıć Stojan
Published: December 2018

In several recent papers, attempts have been made to apply Wardowski's method of $F$-contractions in order to obtain fixed point results for single and multivalued mappings in $b$-metric spaces. In this article, it is shown that in most cases the conditions imposed on respective mappings are too strong and that the results can be obtained directly, i.e., without using most of the properties of auxiliary function $F$.
Let's Talk about Sex: Period Drama Histories for the Twenty-first Century
Authors: Taddeo Julie Anne
Published: December 2018

Downton Abbey's international success has inspired a resurgence of interest in the period drama genre. This article examines how Downton, like other period dramas which target largely female audiences, historicises sex, and how, in engaging with contemporary topics from reproductive freedom to rape, Downton and other popular costume dramas which have followed in its wake, in particular Call the Midwife and Poldark, allow viewers to interact with these small-screen histories on an emotional level. Furthermore, the period dramas discussed in this article do in fact challenge the perceived conservative impulses of the genre as a whole and open up progressive possibilities.
Evaluating Algorithm Efficiency for Optimizing Experimental Designs with Correlated Data
Authors: Mramba Lazarus K. , Gezan Salvador A.
Published: December 2018

The search for efficient methods and procedures to optimize experimental designs is a vital process in field trials that is often challenged by computational bottlenecks. Most existing methods ignore the presence of some form of correlations in the data to simplify the optimization process at the design stage. This study explores several algorithms for improving field experimental designs using a linear mixed models statistical framework adjusting for both spatial and genetic correlations based on A- and D-optimality criteria. Relative design efficiencies are estimated for an array of algorithms including pairwise swap, genetic neighborhood, and simulated annealing and evaluated with varying levels of heritabilities, spatial and genetic correlations. Initial randomized complete block designs were generated using a stochastic procedure and can also be imported directly from other design software. Results showed that at a spatial correlation of 0.6 and a heritability of 0.3, under the A-optimality criterion, both simulated annealing and simple pairwise algorithms achieved the highest design efficiencies of 7.4 % among genetically unrelated individuals, implying a reduction in average variance of the random treatment effects by 7.4 % when the algorithm was iterated 5000 times. In contrast, results under D-optimality criterion indicated that simulated annealing had the lowest design efficiency. The simple pairwise algorithm consistently maintained highest design efficiencies in all evaluated conditions. Design efficiencies for experiments with full-sib families decreased with increasing heritability. The number of successful swaps appeared to decrease with increasing heritability and were highest for both simulated annealing and simple pairwise algorithms, and lowest for genetic neighborhood algorithm.
Identifying Key Potential Source Areas for Ambient Methyl Mercaptan Pollution Based on Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Data in an Industrial Park
Authors: Liu Yujie , Yu Qi , Huang Zihan , Ma Weichun , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2018

Precise source identification for ambient pollution incidents in industrial parks were often difficult due to limited measurements. Source area analysis method was one of the applicable source identification methods, which could provide potential source areas under these circumstances. However, a source area usually covered several sources and the method was unable to identify the real one. This article introduces a case study on the statistical source identification of methyl mercaptan based on the long-term measurements, in 2014, in an industrial park. A procedure for statistical source area analysis was established, which contains independent pollution episode extraction, source area calculation scenario definition, meteorological data selection, and source area statistical analysis. A total of 414 violation records were detected by five monitors inside the park. Three kinds of calculation scenarios were found and, finally, three key source areas were revealed. The typical scenarios of source area calculations were described in detail. The characteristics of the statistical source areas for all pollution episodes were examined. Finally, the applicability of the method, as well as the source of uncertainties, was discussed. This study shows that more concentrated source areas can be identified through the statistical source area method if several excessive emission sources exist in an industrial park.
Increasing the Sustainability of the Coffee Agro-Industry: Spent Coffee Grounds as a Source of New Beverages
Authors: Machado Ercília , Mussatto Solange , Teixeira José , Vilanova Mar , Oliveira José
Published: December 2018

This work describes a new process for the production of beverages from spent coffee grounds (SCG), as well as the chemical and sensory profiles. The process consisted of the extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds of SCG, followed by the fermentation of this extract supplemented with sucrose and fermented broth distillation. Thus, two fermented (10.4% and 10.0% of ethanol, by volume) and two distillated (38.1% and 40.2% of ethanol, by volume) beverages were obtained. A total of 45 and 59 volatile compounds (alcohols, esters, aldehydes, terpenes, lactones, pyrazines, norisoprenoids, volatile phenols and acids) identified and quantified by GC-MS characterized the aroma and flavor of the fermented and distilled beverages, respectively. Twenty sensory descriptors define the sensory profile of the two beverages which corroborated the pleasant smell and taste of coffee in the distillate beverage. Therefore, this work demonstrates that the fermented and distilled beverages obtained from spent coffee grounds have acceptable organoleptic qualities that make them suitable for human consumption.
Bioprocess Engineering Aspects of Sustainable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production in Cyanobacteria
Authors: Kamravamanesh Donya , Lackner Maximilian , Herwig Christoph
Published: December 2018

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a group of biopolymers produced in various microorganisms as carbon and energy reserve when the main nutrient, necessary for growth, is limited. PHAs are attractive substitutes for conventional petrochemical plastics, as they possess similar material properties, along with biocompatibility and complete biodegradability. The use of PHAs is restricted, mainly due to the high production costs associated with the carbon source used for bacterial fermentation. Cyanobacteria can accumulate PHAs under photoautotrophic growth conditions using CO2 and sunlight. However, the productivity of photoautotrophic PHA production from cyanobacteria is much lower than in the case of heterotrophic bacteria. Great effort has been focused to reduce the cost of PHA production, mainly by the development of optimized strains and more efficient cultivation and recovery processes. Minimization of the PHA production cost can only be achieved by considering the design and a complete analysis of the whole process. With the aim on commercializing PHA, this review will discuss the advances and the challenges associated with the upstream processing of cyanobacterial PHA production, in order to help the design of the most efficient method on the industrial scale.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 Oncoprotein Regulates CD40 Expression via the AT-Hook Transcription Factor AKNA
Authors: Manzo-Merino Joaquin , Lagunas-Martínez Alfredo , Contreras-Ochoa Carla O. , Lizano Marcela , Castro-Muñoz Leonardo J. , Calderón-Corona Crysele , Torres-Poveda Kirvis , Román-Gonzalez Alicia , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , Bahena-Román Margarita , Madrid-Marina Vicente
Published: December 2018

Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the main requisite for cervical cancer development. Normally, HPV is limited to the site of infection and regulates a plethora of cellular elements to avoid the immune surveillance by inducing an anti-inflammatory state, allowing the progress through the viral cycle and the carcinogenic process. Recent findings suggest that the AT-hook transcriptional factor AKNA could play a role in the development of cervical cancer. AKNA is strongly related to the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such CD40/CD40L to achieve an anti-tumoral immune response. To date, there is no evidence demonstrating the effect of the HPV E6 oncoprotein on the AT-hook factor AKNA. In this work, minimal expression of AKNA in cervical carcinoma compared to normal tissue was found. We show the ability of E6 from high-risk HPVs 16 and 18 to interact with and down-regulate AKNA as well as its co-stimulatory molecule CD40 in a proteasome dependent manner. We also found that p53 interacts with AKNA and promotes AKNA expression. Our results indicate that the de-regulation of CD40 and AKNA is induced by the HPV E6 oncoprotein, and this event involves the action of p53 suggesting that the axis E6/p53A/AKNA might play an important role in the de-regulation of the immune system during the carcinogenic process induced by HR-HPV.
Calcium Phosphate Powder Synthesized from Calcium Acetate and Ammonium Hydrophosphate for Bioceramics Application
Authors: Safronova Tatiana , Putlayev Valery , Filippov Yaroslav , Shatalova Tatiana , Karpushkin Evgeny , Larionov Dmitrii , Kazakova Gilyana , Shakhtarin Yury
Published: December 2018

Calcium phosphate powder was synthesized at room temperature from aqueous solutions of ammonium hydrophosphate and calcium acetate without pH adjusting at constant Ca/P molar ratio 1.5. Phase composition of the as-synthesized powder depended on the precursors concentration: At 2.0 M of calcium acetate in the starting solution, poorly crystallized hydroxyapatite was formed, 0.125 M solution of calcium acetate afforded brushite, and the powders synthesized from 0.25–1.0 M calcium acetate solutions were mixtures of the mentioned phases. Firing at 1100 °C led to complete elimination of the reaction by-products, yet the phase composition of the annealed compacted samples was the following: When 2.0 M solution of calcium acetate was used, the obtained ceramics consisted of β-Ca3(PO4)2, whereas at 0.125 to 1.0 M of calcium acetate, the ceramics was a mixture of β-Ca3(PO4)2 and β-Ca2P2O7. Synthesized calcium phosphate powders can be used as the powdered precursors for biocompatible bioresorbable composite ceramics production.
Welcome to Chemistry—An International Open Access Journal
Authors: Constable Edwin
Published: December 2018

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Chemistry—An International Journal. [...]
Revealing the Work Cost of Generalized Thermal Baths
Authors: Roulet Alexandre
Published: December 2018

We derive the work cost of using generalized thermal baths from the physical equivalence of quantum mechanics under unitary transformations. We demonstrate our method by considering a qubit extracting work from a single bath to amplify a cavity field. There, we find that only half of the work investment is converted into useful output, the rest being wasted as heat. These findings establish the method as a promising tool for studying quantum resources within the framework of classical thermodynamics.
Heat Transfer Performance of a Novel Multi-Baffle-Type Heat Sink
Authors: Cao Xin , Liu Huan-ling , Shao Xiao-dong
Published: December 2018

A new type of multi-baffle-type heat sink is proposed in this paper. The heat-transfer coefficient and pressure drop penalty of the employed six heat sink models are numerically investigated under five different inlet velocities. It is shown that Model 6 (M6) has excellent heat transfer performance as its heat-transfer coefficient reaches a value of 1758.59 W/m2K with a pressure drop of 2.96 × 104 Pa, and the temperature difference between the maximum and the minimum temperature of the heating surface is 51.7 K. The results showed that the coolant for M6 is distributed evenly to each channel at the maximal degree. The phenomena of the maldistribution of temperature is effectively improved. Moreover, the thermal resistance and thermal enhancement factor for the six models is also examined. M6 possesses the lowest total thermal resistance and largest thermal enhancement factor compared to the other five models. Furthermore, an experimental platform is set up to verify the simulation results obtained for M6. The simulated heat-transfer coefficient and pressure drop values agree well with the experimental results.
AD or Non-AD: A Deep Learning Approach to Detect Advertisements from Magazines
Authors: Almgren Khaled , Krishnan Murali , Aljanobi Fatima , Lee Jeongkyu
Published: December 2018

The processing and analyzing of multimedia data has become a popular research topic due to the evolution of deep learning. Deep learning has played an important role in addressing many challenging problems, such as computer vision, image recognition, and image detection, which can be useful in many real-world applications. In this study, we analyzed visual features of images to detect advertising images from scanned images of various magazines. The aim is to identify key features of advertising images and to apply them to real-world application. The proposed work will eventually help improve marketing strategies, which requires the classification of advertising images from magazines. We employed convolutional neural networks to classify scanned images as either advertisements or non-advertisements (i.e., articles). The results show that the proposed approach outperforms other classifiers and the related work in terms of accuracy.
Approximation to Hadamard Derivative via the Finite Part Integral
Authors: Yin Chuntao , Li Changpin , Bi Qinsheng
Published: December 2018

In 1923, Hadamard encountered a class of integrals with strong singularities when using a particular Green’s function to solve the cylindrical wave equation. He ignored the infinite parts of such integrals after integrating by parts. Such an idea is very practical and useful in many physical models, e.g., the crack problems of both planar and three-dimensional elasticities. In this paper, we present the rectangular and trapezoidal formulas to approximate the Hadamard derivative by the idea of the finite part integral. Then, we apply the proposed numerical methods to the differential equation with the Hadamard derivative. Finally, several numerical examples are displayed to show the effectiveness of the basic idea and technique.
An Improved Stochastic Response Surface Method Based Probabilistic Load Flow for Studies on Correlated Wind Speeds in the AC/DC Grid
Authors: Zhu Ziwei , Lu Shifan , Peng Sui
Published: December 2018

This paper proposed a probabilistic load flow technique of AC/VSC-MTDC (Alternate Current/Voltage Source Control-Multiple Terminal Direct Current) hybrid grids based on an improved stochastic response surface method. The applied traditional stochastic response surface method is inherent with the capability to tackle correlated normal variables; however, the accuracy is poor in the case of correlated diverse distributions. To address this issue, NATAF transformation was adopted to transform the correlated wind speeds and loads following arbitrary distributions into the variables that are subject to standard normal distributions. The collection points could be selected to establish the polynomial relationship among the independent standard normal variables and the output responses. Then, the probability distributions and statistics of the responses could be accurately and efficiently estimated. The modified IEEE 14-bus system, involving an additional VSC-MTDC system, wind speeds following various distributions, and diverse consumer behaviors, was used to demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed method.
A Real-Life Application of a Smart User Network
Authors: Barone Giuseppe , Brusco Giovanni , Burgio Alessandro , Menniti Daniele , Pinnarelli Anna , Motta Michele , Sorrentino Nicola , Vizza Pasquale
Published: December 2018

Smart Community microgrids could help to improve overall energy efficiency reducing transmission and distribution losses and allowing the implementation of optimal load control and resource dispatching. In this context, the authors have proposed the realization of DC smart microgrids. They are considered as a future prospective according to the increase of DC loads and DC output type distribution energy sources such as Photovoltaic and energy storage systems. In this paper, a DC smart microgrid, called Smart User Network, realized in a real-life application as a part of pilot site under the national research project PON04_00146 Smart cities and Communities and Social innovation named “Reti, Edifici, Strade Nuovi Obiettivi Virtuosi per l’Ambiente e l’Energia” (RES NOVAE), is illustrated. The Smart User Network, is managed by a distributed and decentralized control logic, the DC Bus Signaling, which allows the converters to operate independently of each other according to a decentralized logic. It guarantees the reliability, the continuity and the quality of supply, optimizing the use of energy produced by renewable energy sources, also in stand-alone configuration. The most significant experimental results obtained both in grid-connected and stand-alone configuration are presented and discussed.
An Experimental Study of Combustion of a Methane Hydrate Layer Using Thermal Imaging and Particle Tracking Velocimetry Methods
Authors: Y. Misyura S. , S. Voytkov I. , S. Morozov V. , Y. Manakov A. , S. Yashutina O. , V. Ildyakov A.
Published: December 2018

In this paper, the combustion of methane hydrate over a powder layer is experimentally studied using thermal imaging and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) methods. The experiments are carried out at different velocities of the external laminar air-flow from zero to 0.6 m/s. Usually, simulation of methane hydrate combustion is carried out without taking into account free convection. A standard laminar boundary layer is often considered for simplification, and the temperature measurements are carried out only on the axis of the powder tank. Measurements of the powder temperature field have shown that there is a highly uneven temperature field on the layer surface, and inside the layer the transverse temperature profiles are nonlinear. The maximum temperature always corresponds to the powder near the side-walls, which is more than 10 °C higher than the average volumetric temperature in the layer. Thermal imager measurements have shown the inhomogeneous nature of combustion over the powder surface and the highly variable velocity of methane above the surface layer. The novelty of the research follows from the measurement of the velocity field using the PTV method and the measurement of methane velocity, which show that the nature of velocity at combustion is determined by the gas buoyancy rather than by the forced convection. The maximum gas velocity in the combustion region exceeds 3 m/s, and the excess of the oxidizer over the fuel leads to more than tenfold violation of the stoichiometric ratio. Despite that, the velocity profile in the combustion region is formed mainly due to free convection, it is also necessary to take into account the external flow of the forced gas U0. Even at low velocities U0, the velocity direction lines significantly deviate under the forced air-flow.
A Highly Efficient Single-Phase Three-Level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) Converter Based on Predictive Control with Reduced Number of Commutations
Authors: Jun Eun-Su , Kwak Sangshin
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes a highly efficient single-phase three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) converter operated by a model predictive control (MPC) method with reduced commutations of switches. The proposed method only allows switching states with none or a single commutation at the next step as candidates for future switching states for the MPC method. Because the proposed method preselects switching states with reduced commutations when selecting an optimal state at a future step, the proposed method can reduce the number of switchings and the corresponding switching losses. Although the proposed method slightly increases the peak-to-peak variations of the two dc capacitor voltages, the developed method does not deteriorate the input current quality and input power factor despite the reduced number of switching numbers and losses. Thus, the proposed method can reduce the number of switching losses and lead to high efficiency, in comparison with the conventional MPC method.
Two-Stage Stochastic Optimization for the Strategic Bidding of a Generation Company Considering Wind Power Uncertainty
Authors: De Gejirifu , Tan Zhongfu , Li Menglu , Huang Liling , Song Xueying
Published: December 2018

With the deregulation of electricity market, generation companies must take part in strategic bidding by offering its bidding quantity and bidding price in a day-ahead electricity wholesale market to sell their electricity. This paper studies the strategic bidding of a generation company with thermal power units and wind farms. This company is assumed to be a price-maker, which indicates that its installed capacity is high enough to affect the market-clearing price in the electricity wholesale market. The relationship between the bidding quantity of the generation company and market-clearing price is then studied. The uncertainty of wind power is considered and modeled through a set of discrete scenarios. A scenario-based two-stage stochastic bidding model is then provided. In the first stage, the decision-maker determines the bidding quantity in each time period. In the second stage, the decision-maker optimizes the unit commitment in each wind power scenario based on the bidding quantity in the first stage. The proposed two-stage stochastic optimization model is an NP-hard problem with high dimensions. To tackle the problem of “curses-of-dimensionality” caused by the coupling scenarios and improve the computation efficiency, a modified Benders decomposition algorithm is used to solve the model. The computational results show the following: (1) When wind power uncertainty is considered, generation companies prefer higher bidding quantities since the loss of wind power curtailment is much higher than the cost of additional power purchases in the current policy environment. (2) The wind power volatility has a strong negative effect on generation companies. The higher the power volatility is, the lower the profits, the bidding quantities, and the wind power curtailment of generation companies are. (3) The thermal power units play an important role in dealing with the wind power uncertainty in the strategic bidding problem, by shaving peak and filling valley probabilistic scheduling.
Trade-Offs Underwater: Physiological Plasticity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Confronted by Multiple Stressors
Authors: Wernicke von Siebenthal Elena , Rehberger Kristina , Bailey Christyn , Ros Albert , Herzog Elio , Segner Helmut
Published: December 2018

Organisms have evolved mechanisms to partition the available resources between fitness-relevant physiological functions. Organisms possess phenotypic plasticity to acclimate to changing environmental conditions. However, this comes at a cost that can cause negative correlations or “trade-offs”, whereby increasing investments in one function lead to decreased investments in another function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prioritization of resource allocation between growth, pathogen defense, and contaminant response in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to changes of resource income or expenditure. We performed a multifactorial experiment with three resource-impacting stressors—limited food availability, a parasitic infection, exposure to a vitellogenesis-inducing contaminant—and combinations thereof. Treatment with the individual stressors evoked the expected responses in the respective physiological target systems—body growth, immune system, and hepatic vitellogenin transcription—but we found little evidence for significant negative relations (trade-offs) between the three systems. This also applied to fish exposed to combinations of the stressors. This high phenotypic flexibility of trout in their resource allocation suggests that linear resource allocations as mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity may be too simplistic, but it also may point to a greater capacity of ectothermic than endothermic vertebrates to maintain key physiological processes under competing resource needs due to lower maintenance costs.
Exploring the Variable Phenotypes of RPGR Carrier Females in Assessing Their Potential for Retinal Gene Therapy
Authors: Nanda Anika , Salvetti Anna P. , Clouston Penny , Downes Susan M. , MacLaren Robert E.
Published: December 2018

Inherited retinal degenerations are the leading cause of blindness in the working population. X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), caused by mutations in the Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene is one of the more severe forms, and female carriers of RPGR mutations have a variable presentation. A retrospective review of twenty-three female RPGR carriers aged between 8 and 76 years old was carried out using fundoscopy, autofluorescence imaging (AF), blue reflectance (BR) imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Confirmation of the genetic mutation was obtained from male relatives or Sanger genetic sequencing. Fundus examination and AF demonstrate phenotypic variability in RPGR carriers. The genetic mutation appears indeterminate of the degree of change. We found four distinct classifications based on AF images to describe RPGR carriers; normal (N) representing normal or near-normal AF appearance (n = 1, 4%); radial (R) pattern reflex without pigmentary retinopathy (n = 14, 61%); focal (F) pigmentary retinopathy (n = 5, 22%) and; male (M) phenotype (n = 3, 13%). The phenotypes were precisely correlated in both eyes (rs = 1.0, p < 0.0001). Skewed X-inactivation can result in severely affected carrier females—in some cases indistinguishable from the male pattern and these patients should be considered for RPGR gene therapy. In the cases of the male (M) phenotype where the X-inactivation was skewed, the pattern was similar in both eyes, suggesting that the mechanism is not truly random but may have an underlying genetic basis.
Trajectories of Hospitalization Cost Among Patients of End-Stage Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study in China
Authors: Li Zhong , Jiang Shan , He Ruibo , Dong Yihan , Pan Zijin , Xu Chengzhong , Lu Fangfang , Zhang Pei , Zhang Liang
Published: December 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the trajectory of hospitalization costs, and to assess the determinants related to the membership of the identified trajectories, with the view of recommending future research directions. A retrospective study was performed in urban Yichang, China, where a total of 134 end-stage lung cancer patients were selected. The latent class analysis (LCA) model was used to investigate the heterogeneity in the trajectory of hospitalization cost amongst the different groups that were identified. A multi-nominal logit model was applied to explore the attributes of different classes. Three classes were defined as follows: Class 1 represented the trajectory with minimal cost, which had increased over the last two months. Classes 2 and 3 consisted of patients that incurred high costs, which had declined with the impending death of the patient. Patients in class 3 had a higher average cost than those in Class 2. The level of education, hospitalization, and place of death, were the attributes of membership to the different classes. LCA was useful in quantifying heterogeneity amongst the patients. The results showed the attributes were embedded in hospitalization cost trajectories. These findings are applicable to early identification and intervention in palliative care. Future studies should focus on the validation of the proposed model in clinical settings, as well as to identify the determinants of early discharge or aggressive care.
The VidaSana Study: Recruitment Strategies for Longitudinal Assessment of Egocentric Hispanic Immigrant Networks
Authors: Lopez-Owens Mariana , Starkey Kristen , Gil Cindy , Armenta Karla , Maupomé Gerardo
Published: December 2018

We disseminate the recruitment strategies used in the five-year VidaSana study (started in 2017) in the Midwest region of the United States, targeting recently arrived Hispanic immigrants. VidaSana aims to follow immigrants within six months of arrival for 24 months to (1) characterize features of networks (personal and community) that improve or undermine dental health; and (2) further refine methods to quantify the evolution of egocentric networks, using social network methodology. We implemented several strategies to promote and recruit potential participants into the study. We collaborate with agents serving Indiana’s Hispanic communities using three levels of visibility. The broad level includes radio advertisements, TV interviews, newspaper advertisements, and targeted Facebook advertisements. Intermediate level visibility includes posting flyers in schools, employment agencies, immigrant welcome centers, and Hispanic businesses; making announcements at church/temple and school events; tabling at community, church and school events; and a pervasive adaptation of our strategies to the requirements of our partners. Lastly, the individualized level includes direct referrals by partners through word of mouth. From the initial 13 months of recruitment (494 screened contacts and 202 recruited participants), the most successful recruitment strategies appear to be a combination of intermediate- and individual-level strategies; specifically, face-to-face recruitment at school events, direct referrals from our community partners, and tabling at community/school/church events. The current interim findings and future final findings will help guide recruitment and retention strategies for studies focused on immigrants in the current climate of heightened immigration regulations and enforcement.
Malignant Versus Benign Tumors of the Sinonasal Cavity: A Case-Control Study on Occupational Etiology
Authors: Emanuelli Enzo , Comiati Vera , Cazzador Diego , Schiavo Gloria , Alexandre Enrico , Fedeli Ugo , Frasson Giuliana , Zanon Alessia , Martini Alessandro , Scapellato Maria Luisa , Mastrangelo Giuseppe
Published: December 2018

Case-control studies on malignant sinonasal tumors and occupational risk factors are generally weakened by non-occupational confounders and the selection of suitable controls. This study aimed to confirm the association between sinonasal malignant tumors and patients’ occupations with consideration for sinonasal inverted papillomas (SNIPs) as a control group. Thirty-two patients affected by adenocarcinoma (ADC) and 21 non-adenocarcinoma epithelial tumors (NAETs) were compared to 65 patients diagnosed with SNIPs. All patients were recruited in the same clinical setting between 2004 and 2016. A questionnaire was used to collect information on non-occupational factors (age, sex, smoking, allergies, and chronic sinusitis) and occupations (wood- and leather-related occupations, textile industry, metal working). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with selected occupations were obtained by a multinomial and exact logistic regression. Between the three groups of patients, SNIP patients were significantly younger than ADC patients (p = 0.026). The risk of NAET increased in woodworkers (OR = 9.42; CI = 1.94–45.6) and metal workers (OR = 5.65; CI = 1.12–28.6). The risk of ADC increased in wood (OR = 86.3; CI = 15.2–488) and leather workers (OR = 119.4; CI = 11.3–1258). On the exact logistic regression, the OR associated to the textile industry was 9.32 (95%CI = 1.10–Inf) for ADC, and 7.21 (95%CI = 0.55–Inf) for NAET. Comparing sinonasal malignant tumors with controls recruited from the same clinical setting allowed demonstrating an increased risk associated with multiple occupations. Well-matched samples of cases and controls reduced the confounding bias and increased the strength of the association.
Unfavorable Mortality-To-Incidence Ratio of Lung Cancer Is Associated with Health Care Disparity
Authors: Huang Cheng-Yu , Au Kwong-Kwok , Chen Sung-Lang , Wang Shao-Chuan , Liao Chi-Yu , Hsu Hui-Hsiang , Sung Wen-Wei , Wang Yao-Chen
Published: December 2018

The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) is associated with the clinical outcome of cancer treatment. For several cancers, countries with relatively good health care systems have favorable MIRs. However, the association between lung cancer MIR and health care expenditures or rankings has not been evaluated. We used linear regression to analyze the correlation between lung cancer MIRs and the total expenditures on health/gross domestic product (e/GDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) rankings. We included 57 countries, for which data of adequate quality were available, and we found high rates of incidence and mortality but low MIRs in more developed regions. Among the continents, North America had the highest rates of incidence and mortality, whereas the highest MIRs were in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Globally, favorable MIRs correlated with high e/GDP and good WHO ranking (regression coefficient, −0.014 and 0.001; p = 0.004, and p = 0.014, respectively). In conclusion, the MIR for lung cancer in different countries varies with the expenditure on health care and health system rankings.
Trends in Life Expectancy and Its Association with Economic Factors in the Belt and Road Countries—Evidence from 2000–2014
Authors: Bai Ruhai , Wei Junxiang , An Ruopeng , Li Yan , Collett Laura , Dang Shaonong , Dong Wanyue , Wang Duolao , Fang Zeping , Zhao Yaling , Wang Youfa
Published: December 2018

In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative in an effort to promote trade and economic collaboration. This study examined the change in life expectancy (LE) among countries along B&R and studied the impact of economic development on LE. Data from 65 B&R countries from 2000 to 2014 were compiled and analyzed. Trend of LE was examined by sex and country. Linear quantile mixed model was used to study the associations between LE and economic factors. In 2014, the average LE in all B&R countries was 69.7 years for men and 73.7 years for women. Across countries in 2014, LE for men ranged from 58.6 years in Afghanistan to 80.2 years in Israel. LE for women ranged from 61.3 years in Afghanistan to 85.9 in Singapore. GDP per capita was positively associated with longevity across B&R countries. The unemployment rate was positively associated with LE only for countries in the top LE quantiles. GDP growth rate and Inflation were negatively associated with LE for the countries in the bottom LE quantiles for men, not for women. LE increased substantially among B&R countries during 2000–2014. The influence of macroeconomic factors on LE was related to the distribution of LE.
Household Air Pollution, Levels of Micronutrients and Heavy Metals in Cord and Maternal Blood, and Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Arinola Ganiyu Olatunbosun , Dutta Anindita , Oluwole Oluwafemi , Olopade Christopher O.
Published: December 2018

Cooking with kerosene emits toxic pollutants that may impact pregnancy outcomes. Sixty-eight women in their first trimester of pregnancy, kerosene users (n = 42) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) users (n = 26), were followed until birth. Maternal and cord blood were collected immediately after birth. Levels of micronutrients and heavy metals were quantified. Pregnancy outcomes (gestation age (GA), birth weight (BW), and chest and head circumference) were also measured. Mean (± standard deviation (SD)) age of mothers in kerosene and LNG groups were similar (p = 0.734). Mean (±SD) BW of newborns of LNG users was significantly higher compared to newborns of kerosene users (3.43 ± 0.32 vs. 3.02 ± 0.43, p < 0.001). Mean GA (in weeks) was similar between the two groups (p = 0.532). Women in the kerosene group had significantly higher cord blood levels of zinc, lead, mercury, iodine and vitamin B6 and lower levels of folic acid compared to LNG users (p < 0.05). Newborns of kerosene users had reduced levels of zinc, lead, mercury, iodine, vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid, and homocysteine compared with LNG users (p < 0.05). Also, cooking with kerosene was significantly associated with reduced birth weight after adjusting for potential confounders (β ± standard error (SE) = −0.326 ± 0.155; p = 0.040). Smoke from kerosene stove was associated with reduced birth weight and micronutrients imbalance in mothers and newborns.