bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation of leaf water content with real evapotranspiration and biomass in Caatinga biome, using remote sensing data
Authors: Galvíncio Josiclêda Domiciano
Published: November 2017

R E S U M OA Caatinga é um biome que sofre com grande variabilidade climática anual e intraanual. Essa variabilidade climática faz com que o bioma em grande parte do ano sofra com grande estresse hídrico. Estudar as relações existentes entre o conteúdo de água na planta e outras variáveis do ecossistemas, tais como: biomassa e evapotranspiração pode auxiliar e prever impactos da escassez hídrica e seca climatológica sobre a produção de biomassa do bioma Caatinga. Assim, este estudo pretende analisar as relações existentes entre o conteúdo de água na folha com a biomassa e evapotranspiração em área do bioma caatinga localizado em São José do Sabugi, Paraiba, Brasil. Foi utilizado o algoritmo SEBAL-Surface Energy Balance para estimar a evapotranspiração e o foram calculados os índices de vegetação NDVI- Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, SAVI- Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index e o índice de conteúdo de água na folha LWCI- Leaf Water Content Index. Os resultados mostraram uma boa relação existente entre os índices de vegetação e o conteúdo de água na folha, sendo r=0.76 para o SAVI e 0.64 para o NDVI. Para a evapotranspiração a correlação foi de r =0.386. Conclui-se que a quantidade de água na folha está altamente correlacionada com a biomassa.Palavra chave: bioma, sazonalidade, seca, semiárido. A B S T R A C TThe Caatinga is a biome that suffers from high annual and intra-annual climatic variability. This climatic variability makes the biome in great part of the year suffer with high great water stress. To study the relationships between water content in the plant and other ecosystem variables, such as: biomass and evapotranspiration can help and predict impacts of water scarcity and climatological drought on the biomass production of the Caatinga biome. Thus, this study intends to analyze the relationship between water content in the leaf with biomass and evapotranspiration in the area of the caatinga biome located in São José do Sabugi, Paraiba, Brazil. The SEBAL-Surface Energy Balance algorithm was used to estimate the evapotranspiration and NDVI-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, SAVI-Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index and the water content index in the LWCI- Leaf Water Content Index. were calculated. The results showed a good relationship between vegetation index and leaf water content, with r = 0.76 for SAVI and 0.64 for NDVI. For evapotranspiration the correlation was r = 0.386. It is concluded that the amount of water in the leaf is highly correlated with the biomass.Keywords: biome, seasonality, dry, semiarid
Aplicación móvil con Realidad Aumentada para localización de válvulas de agua potable
Authors: Quevedo Sebastian , Zhindon Martin , Mata Paul
Published: November 2017

La Empresa Pública de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Azogues (EMAPAL E.P.), registra pérdidas debido a fugas en la infraestructura del 58,46% de su producción anual, esto en términos monetarios significa una pérdida de $ 740,076.48 por año. A pesar de que se han desarrollado técnicas y procedimientos para minimizar las pérdidas y detectar fugas, este es un problema común en países en desarrollo. El propósito de este trabajo es implementar una aplicación móvil que utilice la Realidad Aumentada (RA) como técnica para capturar información primaria en la navegación, que permita localizar oportunamente las válvulas de aislamiento de la red de distribución para la reparación de daños que provocan las fugas. La aplicación se desarrolló con el framework libre y de código abierto Apache Cordova que combina el uso de tecnología web HTML, CSS, Javascript y nativas de la plataforma del dispositivo móvil. Como resultado se obtuvo una aplicación que captura datos del entorno de manera constante aumentando la información de la realidad con etiquetas georeferenciadas en la pantalla del dispositivo recuperadas desde la base de datos geográfica Spatialite-Android embebida en el dispositivo. El uso del Sistema Basado en Localización (SBL) con RA para la ubicación de válvulas evidenció una mejora en este procesos en un 32 %
Clasificador de imágenes de frutas basado en inteligencia artificial
Authors: Heras Diego
Published: November 2017

Las aplicaciones de visión artificial y el análisis de imágenes son capaces de resolver varios problemas del sector industrial, científico o de seguridad en la actualidad. La clasificación de imágenes es muy útil en la automatización de procesos en una empresa. Para realizar una tarea de clasificación de imágenes se requiere hacer la extracción de características que identifiquen a cada tipo de imagen como por ejemplo: color, forma, textura. En el presente trabajo se requiere implementan los algoritmos para la construcción de un clasificador de imágenes de frutas basado en la extracción de las características del color de las imágenes en determinadas regiones de interés. Para el desarrollo del clasificador de imágenes de frutas se utiliza la técnica de extracción del histograma a color en tres dimensiones y con la implementación de algoritmos de inteligencia artificial se efectúa la clasificación automática de imágenes. El conjunto de datos utilizado consiste en: cuatro clases de frutas con el número variable de imágenes por cada clase, luego se preparan las imágenes seleccionando las regiones de interés mediante técnicas de enmascaramiento y se las divide en dos grupos de datos: Los datos de entrenamiento y los datos de prueba. Luego de entrenado el clasificador, se realizan pruebas de clasificación para evaluar la eficacia del clasificador de imágenes de frutas. Esta metodología de construcción e implementación del clasificador se puede usar en varias aplicaciones según las clases de imágenes de objetos a analizar en casos similares y automatizar procesos de clasificación y reconocimiento de objetos.
VISIÓN DEL NUEVO ORDEN INTERNACIONAL EN EL SIGLO XXI
Authors: García Osorio Nelson , García Moreta Carla , Guayasamín Segovia Celio
Published: November 2017

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo desentrañar el cambio en el liderazgo mundial basado en la expansión financiera y petrolera. La sucesión de ciclos de acumulación económica dirigidos por Gran Bretaña en el siglo XIX y Estados Unidos de Norte América en el Siglo XX, estas situaciones hegemónicas no suspenden los procesos de competencia, centralización del capital y del poder,  responsables de la repetición periódica de grandes crisis y largos períodos de transición,  reorganización de la base productiva  así como de cambio en el liderazgo mundial del sistema, por el resurgimiento económico de China que ha llevado a un nuevo nivel,  la discusión entre el proceso de formación de una economía de mercado, el desarrollo capitalista y la reemergencia geopolítica de Rusia la cual es considerada por Estados Unidos una amenaza dada su capacidad nuclear y energética.
Jerry and Jewry: Ethnicity and Humanity in G.A. Cohen
Authors: Glouberman Mark
Published: November 2017

If You're an Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich? presents Gerald A. (“Jerry”) Cohen's musings on his ethnic identity. The interplay between the personal reflections, central to which is Cohen's “communist Jewish” upbringing in Montreal, and the philosophical position that Cohen holds, sheds Canadian light on the foundations of Western culture. Although he identified as Jewish throughout his life, Judaism Cohen rejected. Too, as a Marxist early, a luck egalitarian later, he was critical of the liberalism that Jewish people (certainly those of his native Montreal) embrace. Most Jewish Canadians self-classify as secular Jews. Cohen is right to waver, but not because, as he incorrectly avers, being a Jew is in tension with irreligiosity. Cohen does not qualify as a secular Jew because he does not qualify as a Jew at all. His philosophy disqualifies him. What is it to be a Jew? The Hebrew Bible contains the answer. Against the then-regnant, pagan, belief system, the Bible advances a conception of a person as an effective locus of action within the system that is nature. This conception is the essence of humanism. In effect, being a Jew is an ethnically inflected form of being, in the dominant Western sense, a person. As distinct from adhering to Judaism, or being Jewish, being a Jew associates more than just voluntarily with liberalism. The religion-friendly irreligiosity of the secular Jews of Montreal turns out, then, to link with a value embedded deep in Canadian political life. Cohen's philosophical anthropology, enmeshing men and women in a wider whole, socio-economic (Marxism) or natural (luck egalitarianism), marks him as a neo-pagan. As to Cohen's Jewishness, even a pagan can eat bagels and speak Yiddish.
Older adults may not consider life expectancy an important factor in cancer screening
Authors: Chung Clement
Published: November 2017

Key Points

Although many elderly individuals considered their age and health status to be relevant in making decisions regarding cancer screening, they often did not understand the role of life expectancy.

It is important for providers to incorporate patient preference into communication strategies regarding cancer screening.

In the context of good physician‐patient relationships, discussions regarding discontinuing cancer screening generally do not negatively affect older adults' views of their physicians.
High Fidelity Multi-Objective Design Optimization of a Downscaled Cusped Field Thruster
Authors: Fahey Thomas , Muffatti Angus , Ogawa Hideaki
Published: November 2017

The Cusped Field Thruster (CFT) concept has demonstrated significantly improved performance over the Hall Effect Thruster and the Gridded Ion Thruster; however, little is understood about the complexities of the interactions and interdependencies of the geometrical, magnetic and ion beam properties of the thruster. This study applies an advanced design methodology combining a modified power distribution calculation and evolutionary algorithms assisted by surrogate modeling to a multi-objective design optimization for the performance optimization and characterization of the CFT. Optimization is performed for maximization of performance defined by five design parameters (i.e., anode voltage, anode current, mass flow rate, and magnet radii), simultaneously aiming to maximize three objectives; that is, thrust, efficiency and specific impulse. Statistical methods based on global sensitivity analysis are employed to assess the optimization results in conjunction with surrogate models to identify key design factors with respect to the three design objectives and additional performance measures. The research indicates that the anode current and the Outer Magnet Radius have the greatest effect on the performance parameters. An optimal value for the anode current is determined, and a trend towards maximizing anode potential and mass flow rate is observed.
Utilizing Downdraft Fixed Bed Reactor for Thermal Upgrading of Sewage Sludge as Fuel by Torrefaction
Authors: Karki Sujeeta , Poudel Jeeban , Oh Sea Cheon
Published: November 2017

A lab-scale downdraft fixed bed reactor was used for the study of sewage sludge, a non-lignocellulosic biomass, torrefaction to enhance the thermochemical properties of sewage sludge. The torrefaction was carried out for a temperature range of 200–350 °C and a residence time of 0–50 min. Degree of torrefaction, torrefaction index, chemical exergy, gas analysis, and molar ratios were taken into account to analyze the torrefied product with respect to torrefaction temperature. The effect of torrefaction temperature was very pronounced and the temperature range of 250–300 °C was considered to be the optimum torrefaction temperature range for sewage sludge. Chemical exergy, calorific value and torrefaction index were significantly influenced by the change in the relative carbon content resulting in decrease of the O/C and H/C molar ratios.
Performance Evaluation of a Novel Propulsion System for the Spherical Underwater Robot (SURIII)
Authors: Gu Shuoxin , Guo Shuxiang
Published: November 2017

This paper considers a novel propulsion system for the third-generation Spherical Underwater Robot (SURIII), the improved propulsion system is designed and analyzed to verify its increased stability compared to the second-generation Spherical Underwater Robot (SURII). With the new propulsion system, the robot is not only symmetric on the X axis but also on the Y axis, which increases the flexibility of its movement. The new arrangement also reduces the space constraints of servomotors and vectored water-jet thrusters. This paper also aims to the hydrodynamic characteristic of the whole robot. According to the different situations of the surge and heave motion, two kinds of methods are used to calculate the drag coefficient for the SURIII. For surge motion, the drag coefficient can be determined by the Reynolds number. For heave motion, considering about the influences of edges and gaps of the SURIII, the drag coefficient needs to be calculated by the dynamic equation. In addition, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation is carried out to estimate some parameters which cannot be measured. The pressure contours, velocity vectors and velocity streamlines for different motions are extracted from the post-processor in the CFD simulation. The drag coefficients of surge and heave motion are both calculated by the simulation results and compared with the chosen one by Reynolds number. Finally, an experiment is also conducted for measure the propulsive force of the multi-vectored water-jet thrusters by using a 6-DoF load cell. The experimental results demonstrate the propulsive force is better than a previous version. Thus, the propulsive performance is better than before.
A Dynamic Ticket Pricing Approach for Soccer Games
Authors: Şahin Mehmet , Erol Rızvan
Published: November 2017

This study proposes a mathematical model of dynamic pricing for soccer game tickets. The logic behind the dynamic ticket pricing model is price change based on multipliers which reflect the effects of time and inventory. Functions are formed for the time and inventory multipliers. The optimization algorithm attempts to find optimal values of these multipliers in order to maximize revenue. By multiplying the mean season ticket price (used as the reference price) by the multipliers, dynamic ticket prices are obtained. Demand rates at different prices are needed for the model, and they are provided by a unique fuzzy logic model. The results of this model are compared with real data to test the model’s effectiveness. According to the results of the dynamic pricing model, the total revenue generated is increased by 8.95% and 0.76% compared with the static pricing strategy in the first and second cases, respectively. The results of the fuzzy logic model are also found to be competitive and effective. This is the first time a fuzzy logic model has been designed to forecast the attendance of soccer games. It is also the first time this type of mathematical model of dynamic pricing for soccer game tickets has been designed.
Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Characterization, Clonal Evolution and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Pelosi Elvira , Castelli Germana , Testa Ugo
Published: November 2017

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death and is the most lethal of common malignancies with a five-year survival rate of <10%. PDAC arises from different types of non-invasive precursor lesions: intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. The genetic landscape of PDAC is characterized by the presence of four frequently-mutated genes: KRAS, CDKN2A, TP53 and SMAD4. The development of mouse models of PDAC has greatly contributed to the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which driver genes contribute to pancreatic cancer development. Particularly, oncogenic KRAS-driven genetically-engineered mouse models that phenotypically and genetically recapitulate human pancreatic cancer have clarified the mechanisms through which various mutated genes act in neoplasia induction and progression and have led to identifying the possible cellular origin of these neoplasias. Patient-derived xenografts are increasingly used for preclinical studies and for the development of personalized medicine strategies. The studies of the purification and characterization of pancreatic cancer stem cells have suggested that a minority cell population is responsible for initiation and maintenance of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The study of these cells could contribute to the identification and clinical development of more efficacious drug treatments.
An Introduction to a Novel and Rapid nZEB Skill-Mapping and Qualification Framework Methodology
Authors: Cromwijk Jan , Mateo-Cecilia Carolina , Jareño-Escudero Cristina , Schröpfer Veronika , Op’t Veld Peter
Published: November 2017

Successful design and construction processes aiming towards nearly zero energy building (nZEB) standards are a challenge for the whole construction industry in Europe. Realizing nZEB buildings requires innovative design processes, and technologies based on an integrated design approach facilitated by multidisciplinary work teams. The collaboration between architects, engineers, technical experts and building managers, is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the specific involvement of each profession in order to develop mutual understanding of each others’ disciplines. Additionally, it is vital to provide professionals with the skills needed to achieve optimal nZEB construction and retrofitting in terms of quality, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. However, this approach is not yet common, as the building sector is still very fragmented. The EU-funded H2020 project PROF/TRAC aims to tackle this issue by developing an Open Training Platform and a methodology for fast and valid co-creation of interdisciplinary qualification schemes for task-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all professions involved. A common methodology for the mapping of skills and qualifications in the form of an Excel tool was developed as a basis, together with a guidance document. This paper presents the skill-mapping methodology, the use of its results to develop national roadmaps, and the BUILD UP Skills advisor app.
The Role of Carbon on Copper–Carbon Composites for the Electrooxidation of Alcohols in an Alkaline Medium
Authors: García-Cruz Leticia , Ania Conchi , Carvalho Ana , Bandosz Teresa , Montiel Vicente , Iniesta Jesús
Published: November 2017

Copper–carbon composites were prepared following various different synthetic routes and using various carbon precursors (i.e., lignocellulose and graphite oxide), and were used as electrocatalysts for the oxidation of propargyl alcohol (PGA) in an alkaline medium. The electrochemical response of the copper-based catalysts was analyzed in terms of the influence of the metallic species, the carbon matrix incorporated in the composites, and the chemical structure of the ionomers—Nafion and poly (4-vinylpyridine) cross-linked methyl chloride quaternary salt resin (4VP)—used in the fabrication of the electrodes. Data has shown that the incorporation of reduced graphene oxide sheets between the copper metallic particles increased the performance due to the increased conductivity provided by the carbonaceous phase. Catalytic inks with ca. 40 wt.% Nafion and 12 wt.% 4VP as ionomers provided the best electrochemical response and cohesion of the catalysts, minimizing the losses in the electroactivity of the copper species.
Alcohol and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Xu Mei , Luo Jia
Published: November 2017

Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with increased risk of several cancers, including cancer of the colon, rectum, female breast, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, liver, and esophagus. It appears that alcohol exposure not only promotes carcinogenesis but also enhances the progression and aggressiveness of existing cancers. The molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol tumor promotion, however, remain unclear. Cancer stem cells (CSC), a subpopulation of cancer cells with self-renewal and differentiation capacity, play an important role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance. The recent research evidence suggests that alcohol increases the CSC population in cancers, which may underlie alcohol-induced tumor promotion. This review discusses the recent progress in the research of alcohol promotion of CSC and underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms. The review will further explore the therapeutic potential of CSC inhibition in treating alcohol-induced tumor promotion.
Synergistic Enhancement in Catalytic Performance of Superparamagnetic Fe3O4@Bacilus subtilis as Recyclable Fenton-Like Catalyst
Authors: Zheng Pei , Pan Zhe , Zhang Jun
Published: November 2017

Novel well-defined superparamagnetic Fe3O4@Bacilus subtilis composite (Fe3O4@B. subtilis SPMC) was synthesized through a facile electrostatic attraction method and used as a recyclable heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst. With the presence of H2O2, Fe3O4@B. subtilis SPMC can remove nearly 87% of the doxycycline at the initial concentration of 50 mg L−1, exhibiting enhanced Fenton-like catalytic performance than pristine Fe3O4. The mechanism study demonstrates the synergistic effect between Bacilus subtilis adsorption and Fenton-like ability of Fe3O4 dominates the enhancement for Fenton-like catalytic efficiency of Fe3O4@B. subtilis SPMC. The obtained composite shows excellent recycling ability, reusability, and stability, which pave a new way for future design on highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst for degradation of organic pollutants.
Diagnostics for Targeted NSCLC Therapy
Authors: Schildgen Verena , Nenadic Ilija , Brockmann Michael , Schildgen Oliver
Published: November 2017

Despite an increasing number of molecular biomarkers identified in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the number of approved therapy options targeting these biomarkers remains limited. Although some biomarkers may influence the therapy outcome of a distinct drug and have been shown to be useful in phase 2 or 3 clinical studies, diagnostics of biomarkers without an approved drug available or a possible off-label use is currently too expensive for routine diagnostics in non-academic institutions. For this reason, the present review is intended to summarize the current state of the art of molecular diagnostics that is both available and could lead to therapy guidance in NSCLC courses. Thereby, economic aspects are taken into account in order to take up the cudgels for a more comprehensive, even if more expensive, diagnostic scheme that in turn may save enormous costs by reducing therapy costs.
Microdevices for Non-Invasive Detection of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Tzouanas Constantine , Lim Joey , Wen Ya , Thiery Jean , Khoo Bee
Published: November 2017

Bladder cancer holds the record for the highest lifetime cost on a per-patient basis. This is due to high recurrence rates, which necessitate invasive and costly long-term evaluation methods such as cystoscopy and imaging. Microfluidics is emerging as an important approach to contribute to initial diagnosis and follow-up, by enabling the precise manipulation of biological samples. Specifically, microdevices have been used for the isolation of cells or genetic material from blood samples, sparking significant interest as a versatile platform for non-invasive bladder cancer detection with voided urine. In this review, we revisit the methods of bladder cancer detection and describe various types of markers currently used for evaluation. We detail cutting-edge technologies and evaluate their merits in the detection, screening, and diagnosis of bladder cancer. Advantages of microscale devices over standard methods of detection, as well as their limitations, are provided. We conclude with a discussion of criteria for guiding microdevice development that could deepen our understanding of prognoses at the level of individual patients and the underlying biology of bladder cancer development. Collectively, the development and widespread application of improved microfluidic devices for bladder cancer could drive treatment breakthroughs and establish widespread, tangible outcomes on patients’ long-term survival.
Inactivation of Listeria in Foods Packed in Films Activated with Enterocin AS-48 plus Thymol Singly or in Combination with High-Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment
Authors: Ortega Blázquez Irene , Grande Burgos María , Pérez-Pulido Rubén , Gálvez Antonio , Lucas Rosario
Published: November 2017

The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of films activated with enterocin AS-48 plus thymol singly, or in combination with high-hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the inactivation of Listeria innocua in sea bream fillets and in fruit puree stored under refrigeration for 10 days. L. innocua proliferated in control fish fillets during storage. The activated film reduced viable Listeria counts in fillets by 1.76 log cycles and prevented growth of survivors until mid-storage. Application of HHP treatment to fillets packed in films without antimicrobials reduced Listeria counts by 1.83 log cycles, but did not prevent the growth of survivors during storage. The combined treatment reduced viable counts by 1.88 log cycles and delayed growth of survivors during the whole storage period. L. innocua survived in puree during storage. The activated film reduced Listeria counts by 1.80 and 2.0 log cycles at days 0 and 3. After that point, Listeria were below the detection limit. No viable Listeria were detected in the purees after application of HHP treatment singly, or in combination with the activated film. Results from the study indicate that the efficacy of activated films against Listeria is markedly influenced by the food type.
Suppression of Graphene Nucleation by Turning Off Hydrogen Supply Just before Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth
Authors: Suzuki Seiya , Terada Yoshifumi , Yoshimura Masamichi
Published: November 2017

To exploit the extraordinary property of graphene in practical electrical and optical devices, it is necessary to produce large-sized, single-crystal graphene. Atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) on polycrystalline Cu surface is a promising scalable route of graphene synthesis but the unavoidable multiple nucleation limits their reachable domain size. Here, we report that effective suppression of nucleation was achieved by only turning off hydrogen supply before introduction of the carbon source for graphene growth. The density of graphene decreased from 72.0 to 2.2 domains/cm2 by turning off hydrogen for 15 min. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy studies show that the Cu surface was covered with 3–4 nm thick highly crystalline Cu2O, which would be caused by oxidation by residual oxidative gasses in the chamber during the turning off period. It was also revealed that elevating the temperature in Ar followed by annealing in H2/Ar before turning off hydrogen led to the enlargement of the Cu domain, resulting in the further suppression of nucleation. By optimizing such growth parameters in the CVD process, a single-crystal graphene with ~2.6 mm in diameter was successfully obtained.
Development of Evidence-Based Disease Education Literature for Pakistani Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Naqvi Atta , Hassali Mohamed , Aftab Muhammad , Naqvi Syed , Zehra Fatima , Ahmad Rizwan , Ahmad Niyaz
Published: November 2017

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 0.5% to 1% of the population globally and is one of the most common causes of disability. Patient education plays a key role in improving treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to discuss the process involved in designing an evidence-based disease education literature for rheumatoid arthritis patients of Pakistan in Urdu language with culturally relevant illustrations. A study was conducted to develop disease education literature using Delphi consensus, content validity, and patient feedback. A panel of experts comprised of university professors and health care experts, including health practitioners and pharmacists as well as a social scientist, was set up to assess the need. Eight patients were randomly selected and were asked to give their feedback. Their feedback was incorporated in the development process. The entire process was carried out in eight steps. A disease education literature for patients of rheumatoid arthritis was developed and edited in the form of a booklet. The booklet contained evidence-based information that must be provided to patients in both Urdu and English languages with culturally relevant illustrations. The availability of such literature is significant, as it enables the patients to seek knowledge at home at their convenience. This home-based knowledge support is as helpful as any other means of medical care. The developed literature is planned to be used in further studies which will evaluate its impact in improving knowledge of RA patients.
Surface Interaction of Nanoscale Water Film with SDS from Computational Simulation and Film Thermodynamics
Authors: Peng Tiefeng , Li Qibin , Xu Longhua , He Chao , Luo Liqun
Published: November 2017

Foam systems have been attracting extensive attention due to their importance in a variety of applications, e.g., in the cleaning industry, and in bubble flotation. In the context of flotation chemistry, flotation performance is strongly affected by bubble coalescence, which in turn relies significantly on the surface forces upon the liquid film between bubbles. Conventionally, unusual short-range strongly repulsive surface interactions for Newton black films (NBF) between two interfaces with thickness of less than 5 nm were not able to be incorporated into the available classical Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The non-DLVO interaction would increase exponentially with the decrease of film thickness, as it plays a crucial role in determining liquid film stability. However, its mechanism and origin are still unclear. In the present work, we investigate the surface interaction of free-standing sodium dodecyl-sulfate (SDS) nanoscale black films in terms of disjoining pressure using the molecular simulation method. The aqueous nanoscale film, consisting of a water coating with SDS surfactants, and with disjoining pressure and film tension of SDS-NBF as a function of film thickness, were quantitatively determined by a post-processing technique derived from film thermodynamics.
Robust-BD Estimation and Inference for General Partially Linear Models
Authors: Zhang Chunming , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: November 2017

The classical quadratic loss for the partially linear model (PLM) and the likelihood function for the generalized PLM are not resistant to outliers. This inspires us to propose a class of “robust-Bregman divergence (BD)” estimators of both the parametric and nonparametric components in the general partially linear model (GPLM), which allows the distribution of the response variable to be partially specified, without being fully known. Using the local-polynomial function estimation method, we propose a computationally-efficient procedure for obtaining “robust-BD” estimators and establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the “robust-BD” estimator of the parametric component

β
o

. For inference procedures of

β
o

in the GPLM, we show that the Wald-type test statistic

W
n

constructed from the “robust-BD” estimators is asymptotically distribution free under the null, whereas the likelihood ratio-type test statistic

Λ
n

is not. This provides an insight into the distinction from the asymptotic equivalence (Fan and Huang 2005) between

W
n

and

Λ
n

in the PLM constructed from profile least-squares estimators using the non-robust quadratic loss. Numerical examples illustrate the computational effectiveness of the proposed “robust-BD” estimators and robust Wald-type test in the appearance of outlying observations.
Variational Characterization of Free Energy: Theory and Algorithms
Authors: Hartmann Carsten , Richter Lorenz , Schütte Christof , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2017

The article surveys and extends variational formulations of the thermodynamic free energy and discusses their information-theoretic content from the perspective of mathematical statistics. We revisit the well-known Jarzynski equality for nonequilibrium free energy sampling within the framework of importance sampling and Girsanov change-of-measure transformations. The implications of the different variational formulations for designing efficient stochastic optimization and nonequilibrium simulation algorithms for computing free energies are discussed and illustrated.
Reliable Biomass Supply Chain Design under Feedstock Seasonality and Probabilistic Facility Disruptions
Authors: Liu Zhixue , Wang Shukun , Ouyang Yanfeng
Published: November 2017

While biomass has been recognized as an important renewable energy source which has a range of positive impacts on the economy, environment, and society, the existence of feedstock seasonality and risk of service disruptions at collection facilities potentially compromises the efficiency and reliability of the energy supply system. In this paper, we consider reliable supply chain design for biomass collection against feedstock seasonality and time-varying disruption risks. We optimize facility location, inventory, biomass quantity, and shipment decisions in a multi-period planning horizon setting. A real-world case in Hubei, China is studied to offer managerial insights. Our computational results show that: (1) the disruption risk significantly affects both the optimal facility locations and the supply chain cost; (2) no matter how the failure probability changes, setting backup facilities can significantly decrease the total cost; and (3) the feedstock seasonality does not affect locations of the collection facilities, but it affects the allocations of collection facilities and brings higher inventory cost for the biomass supply chain.
Visualizing National Electrification Scenarios for Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Bertheau Paul , Oyewo Ayobami , Cader Catherina , Breyer Christian , Blechinger Philipp
Published: November 2017

Some 630 million people representing two-thirds of all Africans have no access to electricity, which is identified as a key barrier towards further development. Three main electrification options are considered within our work: grid extensions, mini-grids and solar home systems (SHS). A methodology is applied to all sub-Saharan African countries to identify in high geospatial resolution which electrification option is appropriate taking into account datasets for night light imagery, population distribution and grid infrastructure. Four different scenarios are considered reflecting grid development and electrification constraints due to low population density. The results clearly indicate a dominating role of SHS for achieving a fast electrification of the not supplied people. The share of supplied people by mini-grids is found to be rather low while grid extension serves a large share of the population. The decisive factors for these distinctions are population density and distance to grid. We applied several scenarios and sensitivities to understand the influence of these key parameters. The highest trade-off happens between SHS and grid extension depending on the selected thresholds. Mini-grid deployments remain in the range of 8 to 21%.
Modeling of Supersonic Combustion Systems for Sustained Hypersonic Flight
Authors: Neill Stephen , Pesyridis Apostolos
Published: November 2017

Through Computational Fluid Dynamics and validation, an optimal scramjet combustor has been designed based on twin-strut Hydrogen injection to sustain flight at a desired speed of Mach 8. An investigation undertaken into the efficacy of supersonic combustion through various means of injection saw promising results for Hydrogen-based systems, whereby strut-style injectors were selected over transverse injectors based on their pressure recovery performance and combustive efficiency. The final configuration of twin-strut injectors provided robust combustion and a stable region of net thrust (1873 kN) in the nozzle. Using fixed combustor inlet parameters and injection equivalence ratio, the finalized injection method advanced to the early stages of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) scramjet engine integration. The overall investigation provided a feasible supersonic combustion system, such that Mach 8 sustained cruise could be achieved by the aircraft concept in a computational design domain.
Performance and Reliability of Wind Turbines: A Review
Authors: Pfaffel Sebastian , Faulstich Stefan , Rohrig Kurt
Published: November 2017

Performance (availability and yield) and reliability of wind turbines can make the difference between success and failure of wind farm projects and these factors are vital to decrease the cost of energy. During the last years, several initiatives started to gather data on the performance and reliability of wind turbines on- and offshore and published findings in different journals and conferences. Even though the scopes of the different initiatives are similar, every initiative follows a different approach and results are therefore difficult to compare. The present paper faces this issue, collects results of different initiatives and harmonizes the results. A short description and assessment of every considered data source is provided. To enable this comparison, the existing reliability characteristics are mapped to a system structure according to the Reference Designation System for Power Plants (RDS-PP®). The review shows a wide variation in the performance and reliability metrics of the individual initiatives. Especially the comparison on onshore wind turbines reveals significant differences between the results. Only a few publications are available on offshore wind turbines and the results show an increasing performance and reliability of offshore wind turbines since the first offshore wind farms were erected and monitored.
Modeling and Control of Fluid Flow Networks with Application to a Nuclear-Solar Hybrid Plant
Authors: Dong Zhe , Pan Yifei , Zhang Zuoyi , Dong Yujie , Huang Xiaojin
Published: November 2017

Fluid flow networks (FFNs) can be utilized to integrate multiple once-through heat supply system (OTHSS) modules based on either the same or different energy resources such as the renewable, nuclear and fossil for multi-modular and hybrid energy systems. Modeling and control is very important for the safe, stable and efficient operation of the FFNs, whose objective is to maintain both the flowrates and pressure-drops of the network branches within specific bounds. In this paper, a differential-algebraic nonlinear dynamic model for general FFNs with multiple pump branches is proposed based on both the branch hydraulics and network graph properties. Then, an adaptive decentralized FFN flowrate-pressure control law, which takes a proportional-integral (PI) form with saturation on the integral terms, is established. This newly-built control not only guarantees satisfactory closed-loop global stability but also has no need for the values of network hydraulic parameters. This adaptive control is then applied to the flowrate-pressure regulation of the secondary FFN of a two-modular nuclear-solar hybrid energy system and numerical simulation results show the feasibility and high performance of this network control strategy. Due to its concise form, this new flowrate-pressure FFN controller can be easily implemented practically.
Sustainable Forest Management and Social-Ecological Systems: An Institutional Analysis of Caatinga, Brazil
Authors: Mattei Faggin Joana , Hendrik Behagel Jelle , Arts Bas
Published: November 2017

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) has globally gained support as a strategy to use and manage forest resources while maintaining forest ecosystem services. However, type, relevance, and utilisation of forest ecosystem services vary across eco-regions, countries, and policy implementation pathways. As such, the concept of SFM is subject to a series of translations within the social-ecological context in which it is implemented. This article discusses translations of SFM in Caatinga biome—a tropical dry forest in the north-eastern semi-arid region of Brazil. Our analysis is based on a qualitative analysis of 24 semi-structured interviews and 30 documents. We discuss SFM and the interplay of resources, governance, and actors. Results for Caatinga show that (1) a technical approach to SFM that focuses on firewood and charcoal production is dominant; that (2) SFM implementation practices hardly address the needs and interests of local populations; and that (3) local actors show little support for the implementation of SFM. We conclude that the social-ecological context of Caatinga shapes translations of SFM mostly in a techno-bureaucratic rather than a socially embedded way. As a result, local practices of forest use are excluded from the regional SFM approach, which negatively affects its implementation.
Allometry of Sapwood Depth in Five Boreal Trees
Authors: Quiñonez-Piñón M. , Valeo Caterina
Published: November 2017

This paper analyzes sapwood variability and allometry within individuals of Populus tremuloides, Pinus contorta, Pinus banksiana, Picea mariana, and Picea glauca. Outside bark diameter at breast height (DBH) and sapwood depth (sd) in four cardinal directions were measured in individuals in stands in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The microscopical analysis of wood anatomy was used to measure sd, and the error associated with the measures was observed. Sapwood allometry analyses examined the influence of DBH on sd and on sapwood area (SA). All species were observed to have varying sapwood depths around the trunk with statistical analyses showing that Pinus banksiana has a well defined preference to grow thicker in the North-East side. The largest sd values were observed for the Populus tremuloides set. Unlike Populus tremuloides and Picea glauca, for the species Pinus contorta, Pinus banksiana, and Picea mariana, incremental growth in DBH does not directly drive sapwood growth in any direction. For these three species, SA increases only because of increases in DBH as sd remains nearly constant. These results show that sapwood depth and sapwood area seem to behave differently in each studied species and are not always proportional to the tree size as is normally assumed.
Cytosolic Redox Status of Wine Yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) under Hyperosmotic Stress during Icewine Fermentation
Authors: Yang Fei , Heit Caitlin , Inglis Debra L.
Published: November 2017

Acetic acid is undesired in Icewine. It is unclear whether its production by fermenting yeast is linked to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) system or the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+/NADPH) system. To answer this question, the redox status of yeast cytosolic NAD(H) and NADP(H) were analyzed along with yeast metabolites to determine how redox status differs under Icewine versus table wine fermentation. Icewine juice and dilute Icewine juice were inoculated with commercial wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae K1-V1116. Acetic acid was 14.3-fold higher in Icewine fermentation than the dilute juice condition. The ratio of NAD+ to total NAD(H) was 24-fold higher in cells in Icewine fermentation than the ratio from the dilute juice condition. Conversely, the ratio of NADP+ to total NADP(H) from the dilute fermentation was 2.9-fold higher than that in the Icewine condition. These results support the hypothesis that in Icewine, increased NAD+ triggered the catalysis of NAD+-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase(s) (Aldp(s)), which led to the elevated level of acetic acid in Icewine, whereas, in the dilute condition, NADP+ triggered NADP+-dependent Aldp(s), resulting in a lower level of acetic acid. This work, for the first time, analyzed the yeast cytosolic redox status and its correlation to acetic acid production, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of acetic acid production in Icewine.
Behavioural Verification: Preventing Report Fraud in Decentralized Advert Distribution Systems
Authors: Mamais Stylianos , Theodorakopoulos George
Published: November 2017

Service commissions, which are claimed by Ad-Networks and Publishers, are susceptible to forgery as non-human operators are able to artificially create fictitious traffic on digital platforms for the purpose of committing financial fraud. This places a significant strain on Advertisers who have no effective means of differentiating fabricated Ad-Reports from those which correspond to real consumer activity. To address this problem, we contribute an advert reporting system which utilizes opportunistic networking and a blockchain-inspired construction in order to identify authentic Ad-Reports by determining whether they were composed by honest or dishonest users. What constitutes a user’s honesty for our system is the manner in which they access adverts on their mobile device. Dishonest users submit multiple reports over a short period of time while honest users behave as consumers who view adverts at a balanced pace while engaging in typical social activities such as purchasing goods online, moving through space and interacting with other users. We argue that it is hard for dishonest users to fake honest behaviour and we exploit the behavioural patterns of users in order to classify Ad-Reports as real or fabricated. By determining the honesty of the user who submitted a particular report, our system offers a more secure reward-claiming model which protects against fraud while still preserving the user’s anonymity.
Immunodetection of Porcine Red Blood Cell Containing Food Ingredients Using a Porcine-Hemoglobin-Specific Monoclonal Antibody
Authors: Ofori Jack , Hsieh Yun-Hwa
Published: November 2017

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 24C12-E7 has been found to bind to a 12 kDa antigenic protein in the red blood cell (RBC) of porcine blood. The purpose of this study was to determine the identity of this 12 kDa protein and consequently examine its potential as a marker for monitoring porcine RBC-containing ingredients (PRBCIs) in foods. Proteomic techniques identified the 12 kDa antigenic protein to be a monomer of the tetrameric hemoglobin molecule. Further heat-processing of spray-dried PRBCIs diminishes its detectability. Whereas mAb 24C12-E7-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) could detect 1% (v/v) or less of PRBCIs in raw and cooked ground meats (beef, pork and chicken), the detection limits were 3 to 30 times higher for spiked cooked beef and pork. The assay is effective for monitoring the presence of PRBCIs in foods to protect the billions of people that avoid consuming blood. In situations where these PRBCIs are present as ingredients in foods that have undergone further heat processing, the assay, however, may not be as sensitive depending on the types of sample matrix, types of PRBCIs and the level of inclusion.
Full-Stokes, Multi-Frequency Radio Polarimetry of Fermi Blazars; Monitoring and Modelling
Authors: Angelakis Emmanouil , Myserlis Ioannis , Zensus J. Anton
Published: November 2017

The polarised emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets carries information about the physical conditions at the emitting plasma elements, while its temporal evolution probes the physical processes that introduce variability and dynamically modify the local conditions. Here we present the analysis of multi-frequency radio linear and circular polarisation datasets with the aim of exactly quantifying the conditions in blazar jets. Our analysis includes both the careful treatment of observational datasets and numerical modelling for the reproduction of synthetic polarisation curves that can be compared to the observed ones. In our approach, the variability is attributed to traveling shocks. The emission from the cells of our jet model is computed with radiative transfer of all Stokes parameters. The model also accounts for Faraday effects which map the low-energy particle populations. We present two extreme cases in terms of the significance of Faraday conversion in the production of circular polarisation. As we show, in both regimes the model gives a realistic reproduction of the observed emission.