bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Constructivist Integrative Model: A New Proposal
Authors: Moggia Danilo
Published: March 2019

This work presents the epistemological and theoretical foundations of a recently developed model of psychotherapy: the constructivist integrative model (CIM). Rather than being another integrative model among the variety of available proposals, CIM is aimed at offering a methodology that allows constructivist therapists to integrate different elements of work, derived from constructivist and social constructionist diverse models, insuring epistemological, theoretical, and technical coherence. From explaining the foundations of the model, their clinical applications are derived: case formulation and general guidelines for psychotherapeutic practice. Finally, new potential developments and future applications are discussed.
Culpa y perdón en psicoterapia
Authors: Villegas Manuel
Published: March 2019

Este artículo representa la trasposición a formato texto de los conceptos expuestos en el taller sobre “culpa y perdón”, desarrollado en el Congreso nacional de la Asociación Española de Psicoterapias Cognitivas (ASEPCO) de 2016. Más allá de la carga religiosa o filosófica que pueda atribuirse a estos vocablos, se consideran los aspectos psicológicos implicados en estos conceptos, considerados desde el punto de vista del desarrollo y la regulación moral, en relación especialmente a su dimensión prosocial.
Cuando se deja de hacer pie. Notas sobre cultura moderna, crisis de sentido vital y psicopatología
Authors: García-Haro Juan , García-Pascual Henar , González González Marta
Published: March 2019

Tras la desvalorización de los sistemas tradicionales de significado en el mundo occidental, ¿qué sentido dan las personas a sus vidas cotidianas y al sufrimiento que sienten en respuesta a situaciones límite? El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la crisis de sentido en la cultura moderna y sus implicaciones psicopatológicas. Para ello se divide el trabajo en cuatro partes. En la primera parte se presentan algunos de los factores culturales que más han influido en la situación actual de crisis de sentido. En la segunda parte se describe esta crisis en términos de tránsito de vivir en una cultura de la culpa a vivir en una cultura de la ansiedad y la incertidumbre. En la tercera parte se analizan las consecuencias clínicas que tiene dicho tránsito en la subjetividad y en la conducta. Por último, en la cuarta parte de este artículo, se discuten diferentes mecanismos para soslayar la ansiedad frente al sufrimiento inevitable y la falta de sentido vital. Se concluye que la falta de sentido vital puede estar en la base clínica común de numerosas modalidades de disfunción psíquica.
Logoterapia, fundamentos y líneas de intervención
Authors: Noblejas de la Flor Mª Ángeles
Published: March 2019

Este trabajo presenta qué es la logoterapia, la aportación original del psiquiatra y neurólogo vienés Viktor Emil Frankl (1905-1997). Para ella, la motivación fundamental de toda persona es la voluntad de sentido o búsqueda y realización de sentido en cada momento concreto y situación particular y única de la vida; cuando esta necesidad humana no se satisface, se genera un vacío existencial que puede llegar a producir o incrementar situaciones psicopatológicas. La logoterapia explicita su visión antropológica y del mundo a través del análisis existencial. Su concepción del ser humano integra y armoniza diferentes dimensiones (biológica, psicológica y noética) en una unidad (unidad en la multiplicidad o multidimensionalidad). La dimensión noética (que se expresa en libertad, responsabilidad, conciencia, voluntad de sentido…) es la específicamente humana, no es susceptible de enfermar y posibilita el cambio. Esta visión implica una ampliación de la mirada y previene sobre visiones reduccionistas del ser humano. Asume que la vida tiene sentido bajo cualquier circunstancia, por extrema que sea. La forma de proceder de la logoterapia estriba en el encuentro existencial entre la persona que necesita ayuda y la que se la presta. También se han realizado importantes contribuciones de técnicas concretas de intervención. La elección de un procedimiento o una técnica depende tanto de las características únicas e irrepetibles del paciente como de las del terapeuta. La acción terapéutica se dirige, fundamentalmente, a una autocomprensión y autodeterminación, centrándose en ampliar las posibilidades, lo sano, la capacidad de libertad y reducir el ámbito de la restricción, de lo enfermo. En definitiva se orienta a la autoeducación, pues el proceso terapéutico es una educación en la responsabilidad.
The Therapeutic Collaboration in Dropout Cases of Narrative Therapy: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Pinto Dulce , Sousa Inês , Pinheiro Ana , Freitas Ana Cláudia , Ribeiro Eugénia
Published: March 2019

With this study, we aimed to describe the interaction within the therapeutic dyads involved in dropout cases of narrative therapy, once the quality of interaction in therapy appears to constitute a critical factor in clients’ decisions regarding its discontinuation. Seven dropout cases of narrative therapy, which were conducted by the same therapist, were analyzed using the Therapeutic Collaboration Coding System. The coding procedure required two trained and independent judges along with an auditing process. Overall, the findings demonstrated that independent of the clients’ responses, the therapist tended to increase the challenging interventions and decrease the supporting interventions over time. In turn, the clients oscillated between having experiences of safety and experiences of intolerable risk. The results will be discussed in terms of their theoretical and empirical relevance in relation to clinical implications.
Non-Linear Dynamic Inversion Control Design for Rotorcraft
Authors: Horn Joseph F.
Published: March 2019

Flight control design for rotorcraft is challenging due to high-order dynamics, cross-coupling effects, and inherent instability of the flight dynamics. Dynamic inversion design offers a desirable solution to rotorcraft flight control as it effectively decouples the plant model and effectively handles non-linearity. However, the method has limitations for rotorcraft due to the requirement for full-state feedback and issues with non-minimum phase zeros. A control design study is performed using dynamic inversion with reduced order models of the rotorcraft dynamics, which alleviates the full-state feedback requirement. The design is analyzed using full order linear analysis and non-linear simulations of a utility helicopter. Simulation results show desired command tracking when the controller is applied to the full-order system. Classical stability margin analysis is used to achieve desired tradeoffs in robust stability and disturbance rejection. Results indicate the feasibility of applying dynamic inversion to rotorcraft control design, as long as full order linear analysis is applied to ensure stability and adequate modelling of low-frequency dynamics.
Diagnostic of Failure in Transmission System of Agriculture Tractors Using Predictive Maintenance Based Software
Authors: da Silva Carlos Alexandre Gouvea , Rodrigues de Sá José Luiz , Menegatti Rafael
Published: March 2019

The expansion of services and technological equipment applied to the agribusiness sector grows year after year, e.g., tractors and agricultural machinery, which use systems shipped with sophisticated software that collaborate to aid, and optimize activities in the field. Maintenance of agricultural machinery, including tractors, is routine in the life of any farmer, especially the preventive and corrective maintenance. In this paper, the objective was to evaluate an alternative for the use of diagnostic software in the prediction of failures that may occur in the tractor clutch system. In this study, the PicoScope6 software was used to identify the failures in this system, and then, using the predictive maintenance phase, was compared with classic maintenance methods, allowed for estimating the necessary repair time. Results showed that software identified more precisely the mechanical components that presented failures. From the identification of failure components, a list of repairs and exchanges was estimated, and, when compared to the list of components generated by inspection without diagnostic software, the repair time was reduced by 88%, and the cost of repair in up to 93%. The availability of the equipment also increased as a result of the shorter repair time, thus maximizing the machine time in the field.
Increased Grain Amino Acid Content in Rice with Earthworm Castings
Authors: Huang Min , Zhao Chunrong , Zou Yingbin
Published: March 2019

Enhancing the nutritional value of rice can improve the health of rice consumers. Grain amino acid content is an important nutritional component. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the application of earthworm castings could increase the grain amino acid content in rice. Results showed that total amino acid content in the grain of rice was significantly elevated by applying earthworm castings (17 kg m−2), with an average increase of 8% across four tested rice cultivars. Application of earthworm castings had no significant effect on total nitrogen (N) content but significantly increased the ratio of amino acid to N (total amino acid content/total N content) in rice grains. The results of the present study suggest that application of earthworm castings can increase grain amino acid content in rice by improving the efficiency of the N to amino acid conversion, and highlight that further studies are required to assess the effects of earthworm castings on the amino acid metabolism in rice grains.
Relationship between Winter Precipitation in Barents–Kara Seas and September–October Eastern Siberian Sea Ice Anomalies
Authors: Feng Jiajun , Zhang Yuanzhi , Ke Changqing
Published: March 2019

In this study, we applied the 1988–2017 monthly average sea ice concentration data from the Met Office Hadley Centre and the 1988–2017 monthly average reanalysis data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/Department of Energy (NCEP/DOE) Reanalysis II to analyze the relationship between the winter precipitation in the Barents and Kara Seas (BKS) and the previous autumn eastern Siberian Sea ice anomalies. Through the correlation analysis, we found that the correlation between eastern Siberian Sea ice and the BKS winter precipitation was strongest in September and weakest in November. The results indicated that, when the eastern Siberian Sea ice extent decreased in September–October, a significant positive geopotential height anomaly would occur in the coming winter (December–February) in the Norwegian–Barents region. This result in turn caused anomalies in the northward meridional wind. Consequently, the anomalous water vapor from the mid-latitude Atlantic to the Arctic passed through the Greenland Sea before finally reaching the BKS. The meridional wind also caused the temperature in said seas to increase and the BKS ice to melt, leading to an increase of winter precipitation. We also found that the increase of the Siberian high (SH) in winter was related to the decrease of autumn East Siberian Sea ice extent and the increase of the winter BKS precipitation anomaly. Further research still needs to be refined for this issue in future studies.
Micro-Brazing of Stainless Steel Using Ni-P Alloy Plating
Authors: Liu Shubin , Shohji Ikuo , Iioka Makoto , Hashimoto Anna , Hirohashi Junichiro , Wake Tsunehito , Arai Susumu
Published: March 2019

A Ni-P plated layer of 20 μm thickness containing 11 wt.% P was formed on the surface of a stainless steel (SUS304) plate by electroplating. The microstructure and joint strength of the brazed joint with the electroplated Ni-11P layer were investigated. The results indicated that the filler metal was homogeneously distributed between the SUS304 plates and no voids or flaws formed in the brazed filler zone. Fe-Ni-Cr solid solutions were formed at the brazed interface. Moreover, P was mainly concentrated in such brazed filler zone to form P-containing phases. The average shear strength of the brazed joints was determined to be 47.3 MPa. The results demonstrated that the brazing of SUS304 plates using the electroplated Ni-11P layer as the filler metal was successfully realized.
Study of the Relationship between Urban Expansion and PM10 Concentration Using Multi-Temporal Spatial Datasets and the Machine Learning Technique: Case Study for Daegu, South Korea
Authors: Choung Yun-Jae , Kim Jin-Man
Published: March 2019

To protect the population from respiratory diseases and to prevent the damages due to air pollution, the main cause of air pollution should be identified. This research assessed the relationship between the airborne particulate concentrations (PM10) and the urban expansion in Daegu City in South Korea from 2007 to 2017 using multi-temporal spatial datasets (Landsat images, measured PM10 data) and the machine learning technique in the following steps. First, the expanded urban areas were detected from the multiple Landsat images using support vector machine (SVM), a widely used machine learning technique. Next, the annual PM10 concentrations were calculated using the long-term measured PM10 data. Finally, the degrees of increase of the expanded urban areas and of the PM10 concentrations in Daegu from 2007 to 2017 were calculated by counting the pixels representing the expanded urban areas and computing variation of the annual PM10 concentrations, respectively. The experiment results showed that there is a minimal or even no relationship at all between the urban expansion and the PM10 concentrations because the urban areas expanded by 55.27 km2 but the annual PM10 concentrations decreased by 17.37 μg/m³ in Daegu from 2007 to 2017.
Application of Airborne Microorganism Indexes in Offices, Gyms, and Libraries
Authors: Grisoli Pietro , Albertoni Marco , Rodolfi Marinella
Published: March 2019

The determination of microbiological air quality in sporting and working environments requires the quantification of airborne microbial contamination. The number and types of microorganisms, detected in a specific site, offer a useful index for air quality valuation. An assessment of contamination levels was carried out using three evaluation indices for microbiological pollution: the global index of microbiological contamination per cubic meter (GIMC/m3), the index of mesophilic bacterial contamination (IMC), and the amplification index (AI). These indices have the advantage of considering several concomitant factors in the formation of a microbial aerosol. They may also detect the malfunction of an air treatment system due to the increase of microbes in aeraulic ducts, or inside a building compared to the outdoor environment. In addition, they highlight the low efficiency of a ventilation system due to the excessive number of people inside a building or to insufficient air renewal. This study quantified the levels of microorganisms present in the air in different places such as offices, gyms, and libraries. The air contamination was always higher in gyms that in the other places. All examined environments are in Northern Italy.
A Joint Production and Maintenance Optimization of Closed-Loop Production System under Carbon Emission with a Switching Subcontractor Consideration
Authors: Hajej Zied , Rezg Nidhal , Bouslikhane Salim
Published: March 2019

This study outlines a new forecasting problem of closed-loop production system under environmental aspect by proposing a new solution based on subcontracting. By studying the impact of the carbon tax on decision-making of production optimization, we propose an original economic production and maintenance strategies to minimize the total cost. Additionally, to reduce the total quantity of carbon and its tax, the subcontractor has a role to help either manufacturing or remanufacturing unit during the process of production. Indeed, the principle objectives are to determine the economic production plans for manufacturing, remanufacturing and subcontracting units as well as the optimal maintenance planning characterized by the optimal number of preventive maintenance actions for manufacturing unit, minimizing the total cost of production, inventory, carbon penalty and maintenance.
Coordination of Power-System Stabilizers and Battery Energy-Storage System Controllers to Improve Probabilistic Small-Signal Stability Considering Integration of Renewable-Energy Resources
Authors: Gurung Samundra , Naetiladdanon Sumate , Sangswang Anawach
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes a probabilistic method to obtain optimized parameter values for different power-system controllers, such as power-system stabilizers (PSSs) and battery energy-storage systems (BESSs) to improve probabilistic small-signal stability (PSSS) considering stochastic output power due to wind- and solar-power integration. The proposed tuning method is based on a combination of an analytical method that assesses the small-signal-stability margin, and an optimization technique that utilizes this statistical information to optimally tune power-system controllers. The optimization problem is solved using a metaheuristic technique known as the firefly algorithm. Power-system stabilizers, as well as sodium–sulfur (NaS)-based BESS controllers with power-oscillation dampers (termed as BESS controllers) are modeled in detail for this purpose in DIGSILENT. The results show that the sole use of PSSs and BESS controllers is insufficient to improve dynamic stability under fluctuating input power due to the integration of renewable-energy resources. However, the proposed strategy of using BESS and PSS controllers in a coordinated manner is highly successful in enhancing PSSS under renewable-energy-resource integration and under different critical conditions.
Deep Fusion Feature Based Object Detection Method for High Resolution Optical Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Wang Eric Ke , Li Yueping , Nie Zhe , Yu Juntao , Liang Zuodong , Zhang Xun , Yiu Siu Ming
Published: March 2019

With the rapid growth of high-resolution remote sensing image-based applications, one of the fundamental problems in managing the increasing number of remote sensing images is automatic object detection. In this paper, we present a fusion feature-based deep learning approach to detect objects in high-resolution remote sensing images. It employs fine-tuning from ImageNet as a pre-training model to address the challenge of it lacking a large amount of training datasets in remote sensing. Besides, we improve the binarized normed gradients algorithm by multiple weak feature scoring models for candidate window selection and design a deep fusion feature extraction method with the context feature and object feature. Experiments are performed on different sizes of high-resolution optical remote sensing images. The results show that our model is better than regular models, and the average detection accuracy is 8.86% higher than objNet.
Bayesian Survival Analysis Model for Girth Weld Failure Prediction
Authors: Feng Qingshan , Sha Shengyi , Dai Lianshuang
Published: March 2019

The formation and development of a dataset for pipeline systems have affected the management and decision-making of pipeline operators. The dataset, combined with a proposed theoretical analysis method, can provide significant improvement for the safe and economic operation of pipelines. On the basis of the pipeline data and its essential impact on pipeline risk assessment, the authors propose for the first time the Staged Bayesian failure model for girth welds of a pipeline, using the “tree-type” accident theory and Bayesian survival analysis method. This model of girth welds is consistent with the distribution of Kaplan–Meier functions and can predict the influence of different factors on the survival probability of girth welds. These new research results can lay the technical foundation for the failure analysis of pipeline girth welds.
Recent Advances in Urban Ventilation Assessment and Flow Modelling
Authors: Buccolieri Riccardo , Hang Jian
Published: March 2019

The Atmosphere Special Issue “Recent Advances in Urban Ventilation Assessment and Flow Modelling” collects twenty-one original papers and one review paper published in 2017, 2018 and 2019 dealing with several aspects of ventilation in urban areas (https://www [...]
Present and Future Climate—Tourism Conditions in Milos Island, Greece
Authors: Nastos Panagiotis T. , Matzarakis Andreas
Published: March 2019

The objective of this study is to analyze the present and future climate-tourism conditions in Milos Island, Cyclades, Greece, by means of the assessment of the three climate components (physical, thermal, and aesthetic), which interprets the so-called climatic tourism potential. Milos Island is chosen as a representative island of the Cyclades complex in the Aegean Sea. Future climate change conditions are analyzed using the high-resolution simulations (grid size 0.11° × 0.11°) of the Regional Climate Model ALADIN 5.2 from Centre National de Recherche Meteorologiques, Meteo France (CNRM). The climate simulations concern the future periods 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 against the reference period 1961–1990, under two Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Based on regional climate simulations, the tourism potential can be described in a meaningful and simple way by applying the Climate-Tourism-Information-Scheme (CTIS), which depicts detailed climate information that could be used by tourists to foresee the thermal comfort, aesthetic, and physical conditions for planning their vacations. More specifically, the thermal climate component is interpreted by the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), which is one of the most popular physiological thermal indices based on the human energy balance. The findings of the analysis could be used by stakeholders and the tourism industry in decision-making regarding the destination of Milos for tourism planning and touristic infrastructure development.
Modeling Dust Direct Radiative Feedbacks in East Asia During the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Cheng Xugeng , Xie Xiaoning , Shi Zhengguo , Li Xinzhou , Zhao Tianliang , Liu Xiaodong
Published: March 2019

In this study, using the fourth version of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM4) with a bulk aerosol model parameterization (BAM) for dust size distribution (CAM4-BAM), East Asian dust and its direct radiative feedbacks (DRF) during the Last Glacial Maximum are analyzed by intercomparing results between the experiments with (Active) and without (Passive) the DRF. This CAM4-BAM captures the expected characteristics that the dust aerosol optical depth and loading over East Asia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) were significantly greater compared to the current climate. A comparative analysis of the Active and Passive experiments reveals that consideration of the dust–radiation interaction can significantly reduce dust emissions and then weaken the whole dust cycle, including loading, transport, and dry and wet depositions over East Asia. Further analysis of the dust–radiation feedback shows that the DRF decreases surface sensible heat, mainly owing to the negative surface forcing induced by dust with a value of −11.8 W m−2. The decreased surface sensible heat weakens the turbulent energy within the planetary boundary layer and the surface wind speed, and then reduces the regional dust emissions. This process creates a negative DRF–emission feedback loop to affect the dust cycle during the LGM. Further analysis reveals that the dust emissions in the LGM over East Asia were more reduced, with amounts of −77.2 Tg season−1 by the negative DRF–emission feedback, compared to the current climate with −6.8 Tg season−1. The two ratios of this reduction to their emissions are close to −10.7% for the LGM and −7.5% for the current climate.
Monsoons
Authors: Ha Kyung-Ja
Published: March 2019

Monsoon climates affect the daily lives of two-thirds of the world population [...]
Methods for Durability Testing and Lifetime Estimation of Thermal Interface Materials in Batteries
Authors: Stadler Ralf , Maurer Arno
Published: March 2019

To ensure sufficient thermal performance within electric vehicle (EV) batteries, thermal interface materials (TIMs), such as pastes or adhesives, are widely used to fill thermally insulating voids between cells and cooling components. However, TIMs are composite materials that are subject to degradation over the battery’s lifetime. Using TIMs for battery applications is a new and emerging topic, creating the need to rapidly acquire knowledge about appropriate lifetime testing and evaluation methods, in close collaboration with the battery manufacturers. This paper reviews suitable methods for durability testing as well as basic modeling approaches which allow for the transfer of laboratory results to the longtime behavior of interface materials during a vehicle’s lifetime.
Local and Relayed Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Pedunculopontine Nucleus
Authors: Garcia-Rill Edgar , Tackett Alan J. , Byrum Stephanie D. , Lan Renny S. , Mackintosh Samuel G. , Hyde James R. , Bisagno Veronica , Urbano Francisco J.
Published: March 2019

Our discovery of low-threshold stimulation-induced locomotion in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) led to the clinical use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) that manifest gait and postural disorders. Three additional major discoveries on the properties of PPN neurons have opened new areas of research for the treatment of motor and arousal disorders. The description of (a) electrical coupling, (b) intrinsic gamma oscillations, and (c) gene regulation in the PPN has identified a number of novel therapeutic targets and methods for the treatment of a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. We first delve into the circuit, cellular, intracellular, and molecular organization of the PPN, and then consider the clinical results to date on PPN DBS. This comprehensive review will provide valuable information to explain the network effects of PPN DBS, point to new directions for treatment, and highlight a number of issues related to PPN DBS.
Clinical Characteristics of Osimertinib Responder in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with EGFR-T790M Mutation
Authors: Yoshimura Akihiro , Yamada Tadaaki , Okura Naoko , Takeda Takayuki , Hirose Kazuki , Kubota Yutaka , Shiotsu Shinsuke , Hiranuma Osamu , Chihara Yusuke , Tamiya Nobuyo , Kaneko Yoshiko , Uchino Junji , Takayama Koichi
Published: March 2019

Osimertinib is a mutant-selective EGFR inhibitor that is effective against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with the EGFR-T790M mutation, who are resistant to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). However, the factors affecting response to osimertinib treatment are unknown. In this retrospective study, 27 NSCLC patients with the EGFR-T790M mutation were enrolled at five institutions in Japan. Among several parameters tested, the progression-free survival (PFS) associated with the initial EGFR-TKIs was positively correlated with the PFS after osimertinib treatment (p = 0.021). The median PFS following osimertinib treatment and the overall survival (OS) were longer in patients who responded to osimertinib than in those who did not (17.7 months versus 3.5 months, p = 0.009 and 24.2 months versus 13.5 months, p = 0.021, respectively). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the PFS with initial EGFR-TKIs was significantly related to the PFS with osimertinib treatment (p = 0.035), whereas osimertinib response was significantly related to the PFS and OS with osimertinib treatment (p = 0.016 and p = 0.006, respectively). Our retrospective observations indicate that PFS following the initial EGFR-TKI treatment and the response rate to osimertinib might be promising predictors for effective osimertinib treatment in NSCLC patients with the EGFR-T790M mutation.
Newer-Generation EGFR Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: How Are They Best Used?
Authors: Le Tri , Gerber David
Published: March 2019

The FLAURA trial established osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), as a viable first-line therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with sensitizing EGFR mutations, namely exon 19 deletion and L858R. In this phase 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of treatment-naïve patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC, osimertinib was compared to standard-of-care EGFR TKIs (i.e., erlotinib or gefinitib) in the first-line setting. Osimertinib demonstrated improvement in median progression-free survival (18.9 months vs. 10.2 months; hazard ratio 0.46; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.57; p < 0.001) and a more favorable toxicity profile due to its lower affinity for wild-type EGFR. Furthermore, similar to later-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors, osimertinib has improved efficacy against brain metastases. Despite this impressive effect, the optimal sequencing of osimertinib, whether in the first line or as subsequent therapy after the failure of earlier-generation EGFR TKIs, is not clear. Because up-front use of later-generation TKIs may result in the inability to use earlier-generation TKIs, this treatment paradigm must be evaluated carefully. For EGFR mutant NSCLC, considerations include the incidence of T790M resistance mutations, quality of life, whether there is a potential role for earlier-generation TKIs after osimertinib failure, and overall survival. This review explores these issues for EGFR inhibitors and other molecularly targeted therapies.
Circulating Tumour Cells (CTC), Head and Neck Cancer and Radiotherapy; Future Perspectives
Authors: Perumal Vanathi , Corica Tammy , Dharmarajan Arun M. , Sun Zhonghua , Dhaliwal Satvinder S. , Dass Crispin R. , Dass Joshua
Published: March 2019

Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer in Australia and globally. Despite the current improved treatment modalities, there is still up to 50–60% local regional recurrence and or distant metastasis. High-resolution medical imaging technologies such as PET/CT and MRI do not currently detect the early spread of tumour cells, thus limiting the potential for effective minimal residual detection and early diagnosis. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are a rare subset of cells that escape from the primary tumour and enter into the bloodstream to form metastatic deposits or even re-establish themselves in the primary site of the cancer. These cells are more aggressive and accumulate gene alterations by somatic mutations that are the same or even greater than the primary tumour because of additional features acquired in the circulation. The potential application of CTC in clinical use is to acquire a liquid biopsy, by taking a reliable minimally invasive venous blood sample, for cell genotyping during radiotherapy treatment to monitor the decline in CTC detectability, and mutational changes in response to radiation resistance and radiation sensitivity. Currently, very little has been published on radiation therapy, CTC, and circulating cancer stem cells (CCSCs). The prognostic value of CTC in cancer management and personalised medicine for head and neck cancer radiotherapy patients requires a deeper understanding at the cellular level, along with other advanced technologies. With this goal, this review summarises the current research of head and neck cancer CTC, CCSC and the molecular targets for personalised radiotherapy response.
Analysis of the Zn-Binding Domains of TRIM32, the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Mutated in Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2H
Authors: Lazzari Elisa , El-Halawany Medhat S. , De March Matteo , Valentino Floriana , Cantatore Francesco , Migliore Chiara , Onesti Silvia , Meroni Germana
Published: March 2019

Members of the tripartite motif family of E3 ubiquitin ligases are characterized by the presence of a conserved N-terminal module composed of a RING domain followed by one or two B-box domains, a coiled-coil and a variable C-terminal region. The RING and B-box are both Zn-binding domains but, while the RING is found in a large number of proteins, the B-box is exclusive to the tripartite motif (TRIM) family members in metazoans. Whereas the RING has been extensively characterized and shown to possess intrinsic E3 ligase catalytic activity, much less is known about the role of the B-box domains. In this study, we adopted an in vitro approach using recombinant point- and deletion-mutants to characterize the contribution of the TRIM32 Zn-binding domains to the activity of this E3 ligase that is altered in a genetic form of muscular dystrophy. We found that the RING domain is crucial for E3 ligase activity and E2 specificity, whereas a complete B-box domain is involved in chain assembly rate modulation. Further, in vitro, the RING domain is necessary to modulate TRIM32 oligomerization, whereas, in cells, both the RING and B-box cooperate to specify TRIM32 subcellular localization, which if altered may impact the pathogenesis of diseases.
Correlation Between Stoichiometry of NbxNy Coatings Produced by DC Magnetron Sputtering with Electrical Conductivity and the Hall Coefficient
Authors: Garzon-Fontecha Angélica , Castillo Harvi A. , Escobar-Rincón Daniel , Restrepo-Parra Elisabeth , de la Cruz Wencel
Published: March 2019

Non-stoichiometric NbxNy coatings, produced in a reactive sputtering process, were analyzed on the basis of their chemical composition (specifically, nitrogen concentration) and its relationship with electrical conductivity. The chemical composition and bonding configuration were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), revealing Nb–N bonds. The stoichiometry variation dependence on the N2 flow was also analyzed, using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Without exposing the samples to air, a normal behavior was observed; meaning that the nitrogen concentration in the coatings increased, with an increase in N2 flow. The electrical properties were evaluated and their relationship with nitrogen content in the films was analyzed. The highest conductivity value for all studied samples was observed for the sub-stoichiometric film, NbN0.32, which also exhibited a positive Hall coefficient. It indicated that the conduction was mainly dominated by hole-type carriers. High conductivity at lower nitrogen content was attributed to the fact that, at a low concentration of nitrogen, the effect of impurities, acting as dispersion points for electrons, was lower, increasing the relaxation time. As the main conclusion, the Ar/N2 flow ratio strongly influenced the coatings of stoichiometry and then, this stoichiometry affected, to a great extent, the electrical conduction and the Hall coefficient of the coatings.
Growth of Ga2O3 Nanowires via Cu-As-Ga Ternary Phase Diagram
Authors: Wang Hang , Wang Ying , Gong Shuyan , Zhou Xinyuan , Yang Zaixing , Yang Jun , Han Ning , Chen Yunfa
Published: March 2019

Currently, it is challenging to develop new catalysts for semiconductor nanowires (NWs) growth in a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatible manner via a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism. In this study, chemically synthesized Cu2O nano cubes are adopted as the catalyst for single crystalline β-Ga2O3 NWs growth in chemical vapor deposition. The growth temperature is optimized to be 750 to 800 °C. The NW diameter is controlled by tuning the sizes of Cu2O cubes in the 20 to 100 nm range with a bandgap of ~4.85 eV as measured by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. More importantly, the catalyst tip is found to be Cu5As2, which is distinguished from those Au-catalyzed Au-Ga alloys. After a comprehensive phase diagram investigation, the β-Ga2O3 NWs are proposed to be grown by the ternary phase of Cu-As-Ga diffusing Ga into the growth frontier of the NW, where Ga react with residual oxygen to form the NWs. Afterward, Ga diminishes after growth since Ga would be the smallest component in the ternary alloy. All these results show the importance of the catalyst choice for CMOS compatible NW growth and also the potency of the ternary phase catalyst growth mode in other semiconductor NWs synthesis.
Diffusion Equation-Assisted Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for the Inverse Radiative Transfer Equation
Authors: Li Qin , Newton Kit
Published: March 2019

Optical tomography is the process of reconstructing the optical properties of biological tissue using measurements of incoming and outgoing light intensity at the tissue boundary. Mathematically, light propagation is modeled by the radiative transfer equation (RTE), and optical tomography amounts to reconstructing the scattering coefficient in the RTE using the boundary measurements. In the strong scattering regime, the RTE is asymptotically equivalent to the diffusion equation (DE), and the inverse problem becomes reconstructing the diffusion coefficient using Dirichlet and Neumann data on the boundary. We study this problem in the Bayesian framework, meaning that we examine the posterior distribution of the scattering coefficient after the measurements have been taken. However, sampling from this distribution is computationally expensive, since to evaluate each Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sample, one needs to run the RTE solvers multiple times. We therefore propose the DE-assisted two-level MCMC technique, in which bad samples are filtered out using DE solvers that are significantly cheaper than RTE solvers. This allows us to make sampling from the RTE posterior distribution computationally feasible.
Hybrid Indoor Localization Using WiFi and UWB Technologies
Authors: Monica Stefania , Bergenti Federico
Published: March 2019

The interest in indoor localization has been increasing in the last few years because of the numerous important applications related to the pervasive diffusion of mobile smart devices that could benefit from localization. Various wireless technologies are in use to perform indoor localization, and, among them, WiFi and UWB technologies are appreciated when robust and accurate localization is required. The major advantage of WiFi technology is that it is ubiquitous, and therefore it can be used to support localization without the introduction of a specific infrastructure. The major drawback of WiFi technology is that it does not often ensure sufficient accuracy. On the contrary, indoor localization based on UWB technology guarantees higher accuracy with increased robustness, but it requires the use of UWB-enabled devices and the deployment of specific infrastructures made of UWB beacons. Experimental results on the synergic use of WiFi and UWB technologies for localization are presented in this paper to show that hybrid approaches can be used to effectively to increase the accuracy of WiFi-based localization. Actually, presented experimental results show that the use of a small number of UWB beacons together with an ordinary WiFi infrastructure is sufficient to significantly increase the accuracy of localization and to make WiFi-based localization adequate to implement relevant location-based services and applications.
Multistage Expansion Co-Planning of Integrated Natural Gas and Electricity Distribution Systems
Authors: Jooshaki Mohammad , Abbaspour Ali , Fotuhi-Firuzabad Mahmud , Moeini-Aghtaie Moein , Lehtonen Matti
Published: March 2019

This paper focuses on expansion co-planning studies of natural gas and electricity distribution systems. The aim is to develop a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for such problems to guarantee the finite convergence to optimality. To this end, at first the interconnection of electricity and natural gas networks at demand nodes is modelled by the concept of energy hub (EH). Then, mathematical model of expansion studies associated with the natural gas, electricity and EHs are extracted. The optimization models of these three expansion studies incorporate investment and operation costs. Based on these separate planning problems, which are all in the form of mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), joint expansion model of multi-carrier energy distribution system is attained and linearized to form a MILP optimization formulation. The presented optimization framework is illustratively applied to an energy distribution network and the results are discussed.
Improved Frequency Locked Loop Based Synchronization Method for Three-Phase Grid-Connected Inverter under Unbalanced and Distorted Grid Conditions
Authors: Ma Wenjie , Ouyang Sen , Xu Weidong
Published: March 2019

To quickly and accurately estimate the parameters of the fundamental positive- and negative-sequence under the unbalanced and distorted grid voltage, a synchronization method is presented in this paper. The proposed method is based on both a harmonic decoupling network consisting of multiple dual second-order generalized integrators (MDSOGIs) and an improved frequency locked loop (IFLL), so it is called the MDSOGI-IFLL. Due to the IFLL, the system has the feature that the dynamic performance of estimating the fundamental frequency is independent of the variation of both the fundamental positive- and negative-sequence voltage. In this paper, a first-order linear frequency adaption model is established for the design of the IFLL. Finally, the good performance of the proposed MDSOGI-IFLL is validated by the simulation and experiment.
GA-BP Neural Network-Based Strain Prediction in Full-Scale Static Testing of Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Liu Zheng , Liu Xin , Wang Kan , Liang Zhongwei , Correia José A.F.O. , De Jesus Abílio M.P.
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes a strain prediction method for wind turbine blades using genetic algorithm back propagation neural networks (GA-BPNNs) with applied loads, loading positions, and displacement as inputs, and the study can be used to provide more data for the wind turbine blades’ health assessment and life prediction. Among all parameters to be tested in full-scale static testing of wind turbine blades, strain is very important. The correlation between the blade strain and the applied loads, loading position, displacement, etc., is non-linear, and the number of input variables is too much, thus the calculation and prediction of the blade strain are very complex and difficult. Moreover, the number of measuring points on the blade is limited, so the full-scale blade static test cannot usually provide enough data and information for the improvement of the blade design. As a result of these concerns, this paper studies strain prediction methods for full-scale blade static testing by introducing GA-BPNN. The accuracy and usability of the GA-BPNN prediction model was verified by the comparison with BPNN model and the FEA results. The results show that BPNN can be effectively used to predict the strain of unmeasured points of wind turbine blades.
Is the Fischer-Tropsch Conversion of Biogas-Derived Syngas to Liquid Fuels Feasible at Atmospheric Pressure?
Authors: Hakawati Rawan , Smyth Beatrice , Daly Helen , McCullough Geoffrey , Rooney David
Published: March 2019

Biogas resulting from anaerobic digestion can be utilized for the production of liquid fuels via reforming to syngas followed by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Renewable liquid fuels are highly desirable due to their potential for use in existing infrastructure, but current Fischer-Tropsch processes, which require operating pressures of 2–4 MPa (20–40 bar), are unsuitable for the relatively small scale of typical biogas production facilities in the EU, which are agriculture-based. This paper investigates the feasibility of producing liquid fuels from biogas-derived syngas at atmospheric pressure, with a focus on the system’s response to various interruption factors, such as total loss of feed gas, variations to feed ratio, and technical problems in the furnace. Results of laboratory testing showed that the liquid fuel selectivity could reach 60% under the studied conditions of 488 K (215 °C), H2/CO = 2 and 0.1 MPa (1 bar) over a commercial Fischer–Tropsch catalyst. Analysis indicated that the catalyst had two active sites for propagation, one site for the generation of methane and another for the production of liquid fuels and wax products. However, although the production of liquid fuels was verified at atmospheric pressure with high liquid fuel selectivity, the control of such a system to maintain activity is crucial. From an economic perspective, the system would require subsidies to achieve financial viability.
Community-Led Micro-Hydropower Development and Landcare: A Case Study of Networking Activities of Local Residents and Farmers in the Gokase Township (Japan)
Authors: Fujimoto Tokihiko , Kagohashi Kazuki
Published: March 2019

This paper aims at clarifying the determinants that promote the community-based renewable energy development in Japan, with a special focus on micro and small hydropower. This paper analyzes a case study of the social enterprise that was established by the local residents and farmers in the Gokase Township, the purpose of which is to install and develop community-based renewable energy. To analyze the case study, we adopt the framework of the Landcare approach. The Landcare approach can be characterized by the following guiding principles: (1) a strong community initiative guided by local residents and primary producers; (2) a focus on local problems; (3) a holistic and integrated approach to tackling problems; (4) stress on community well-being; and (5) partnership and networking. There are similarities between the Gokase Research Institute of Renewable Energy (GRIRE) and Landcare in that they both focus on local issues that can be tackled by local citizens and take a holistic approach that includes not only hydropower development but also improvement in community well-being. This paper examines the fitness of each principle and reveals that all of them fit fairly well with the case of micro-hydropower development in Gokase. This implies that micro-hydropower development in Gokase can be qualitatively evaluated as sustainable from the perspective of Sustainable Development theory.
Feasibility Study of Biogas Production from Hardly Degradable Material in Co-Inoculated Bioreactor
Authors: Achinas Spyridon , Euverink Gerrit Jan Willem
Published: March 2019

Anaerobic technology is a well-established technique to wean the fossil fuel-based energy off with various positive environmental inferences. Biowaste treatment is favorable due to its low emissions. Biogas is merely regarded as the main product of anaerobic digestion with high energy value. One of the key concerns of the waste water treatment plants is the vast amount of cellulosic residuals produced after the treatment of waste waters. The fine sieve fraction, collected after the primary sludge removal, has great energy value. In this study, the economic performance of a biogas plant has been analyzed based on net present value and pay-back period concepts. The plant in the base scenario produced 309,571 m3 biogas per year. The annual electricity production has been 390,059 kWh. The producible heat energy has been 487,574 kWh or 1755 GJ per year. The plant depicts a positive economic situation with 11 years pay-back time, earning low profits and showing a positive net present value of 11,240 €.