bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast and Facile Synthesis of Pt Nanoparticles Supported on Ketjen Black by Solution Plasma Sputtering as Bifunctional HER/ORR Catalysts
Authors: Mani-Lata Chitlada , Hussakan Chadapat , Panomsuwan Gasidit
Published: August 2020

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are two core electrochemical processes involved in hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology. ORR is a cathodic reaction occurring in HFC, whereas HER can convert the H2O byproduct from HFCs into H2 gas via water splitting. Platinum (Pt)-based catalysts are the most effective catalysts for both reactions. In this work, we used a fast, facile, and chemical-free method, called solution plasma sputtering (SPS), to synthesize Pt nanoparticles supported on Ketjen Black (KB). The discharge time was varied (5, 10, and 20 min) to alter the Pt loading. Characterization results revealed that the plasma did not affect the morphology of KB, and the Pt loading on KB increased with increasing discharge time (5.5–17.9 wt%). Well-crystallized Pt nanoparticles, ~2–5 nm in diameter, were obtained. Electrochemical measurements revealed that Pt/KB exhibited bifunctional catalytic activity toward HER and ORR in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Both HER and ORR activities enhanced as the loading of Pt nanoparticles increased with a longer discharge time. Moreover, Pt/KB exhibited better HER and ORR stability than a commercial Pt-based catalyst, which was attributed to the stronger adhesion between Pt nanoparticles and KB support. Thus, SPS can be applied as an alternative synthesis method for preparing Pt/KB catalysts for HER and ORR.
Biodegradable Polymeric Micro/Nano-Structures with Intrinsic Antifouling/Antimicrobial Properties: Relevance in Damaged Skin and Other Biomedical Applications
Authors: Milazzo Mario , Gallone Giuseppe , Marcello Elena , Mariniello Maria Donatella , Bruschini Luca , Roy Ipsita , Danti Serena
Published: August 2020

Bacterial colonization of implanted biomedical devices is the main cause of healthcare-associated infections, estimated to be 8.8 million per year in Europe. Many infections originate from damaged skin, which lets microorganisms exploit injuries and surgical accesses as passageways to reach the implant site and inner organs. Therefore, an effective treatment of skin damage is highly desirable for the success of many biomaterial-related surgical procedures. Due to gained resistance to antibiotics, new antibacterial treatments are becoming vital to control nosocomial infections arising as surgical and post-surgical complications. Surface coatings can avoid biofouling and bacterial colonization thanks to biomaterial inherent properties (e.g., super hydrophobicity), specifically without using drugs, which may cause bacterial resistance. The focus of this review is to highlight the emerging role of degradable polymeric micro- and nano-structures that show intrinsic antifouling and antimicrobial properties, with a special outlook towards biomedical applications dealing with skin and skin damage. The intrinsic properties owned by the biomaterials encompass three main categories: (1) physical–mechanical, (2) chemical, and (3) electrostatic. Clinical relevance in ear prostheses and breast implants is reported. Collecting and discussing the updated outcomes in this field would help the development of better performing biomaterial-based antimicrobial strategies, which are useful to prevent infections.
A Novel Double Layered Hybrid Multi-Robot Framework for Guidance and Navigation of Unmanned Surface Vehicles in a Practical Maritime Environment
Authors: Singh Yogang , Bibuli Marco , Zereik Enrica , Sharma Sanjay , Khan Asiya , Sutton Robert
Published: August 2020

Formation control and cooperative motion planning are two major research areas currently being used in multi robot motion planning and coordination. The current study proposes a hybrid framework for guidance and navigation of swarm of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) by combining the key characteristics of formation control and cooperative motion planning. In this framework, two layers of offline planning and online planning are integrated and applied on a practical marine environment. In offline planning, an optimal path is generated from a constrained A* path planning approach, which is later smoothed using a spline. This optimal trajectory is fed as an input for the online planning where virtual target (VT) based multi-agent guidance framework is used to navigate the swarm of USVs. This VT approach combined with a potential theory based swarm aggregation technique provides a robust methodology of global and local collision avoidance based on known positions of the USVs. The combined approach is evaluated with the different number of USVs to understand the effectiveness of the approach from the perspective of practicality, safety and robustness.
True versus Spurious Long Memory in Cryptocurrencies
Authors: Rambaccussing Dooruj , Mazibas Murat
Published: August 2020

We test whether the selected cryptocurrencies exhibit long memory behavior in returns and volatility. We use data on five most traded cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and XRP. Using recent tests of long memory developed against persistent and nonlinear alternatives, this paper finds that long memory is mostly rejected in returns. The tests fail to reject the null hypothesis of long memory in most cases across different volatility proxies and cryptocurrencies. The estimated memory parameters show that volatility is persistent, and when volatility is measured by log range, it is borderline nonstationary.
Sound Radiation of Orthogonal Antisymmetric Composite Laminates Embedded with Pre-Strained SMA Wires in Thermal Environment
Authors: Huang Yizhe , Zhang Zhifu , Li Chaopeng , Wang Jiaxuan , Li Zhuang , Mao Kuanmin
Published: August 2020

The interest of this article lies in the sound radiation of shape memory alloy (SMA) composite laminates. Different from the traditional method of avoiding resonance sound radiation of composite laminates by means of structural parameter design, this paper explores the potential of adjusting the modal peak of the resonant acoustic radiation by using material characteristics of shape memory alloys (SMA), and provides a new idea for avoiding resonance sound radiation of composite laminates. For composite laminates embedded with pre-strained SMA, an innovation of vibration-acoustic modeling of SMA composite laminates considering pre-stain of SMA and thermal expansion force of graphite-epoxy resin is proposed. Based on the classical thin plate theory and Hamilton principle, the structural dynamic governing equation and the frequency equation of the laminates subjected to thermal environment are derived. The vibration sound radiation of composite laminates is calculated with Rayleigh integral. Effects of ambient temperature, pre-strain, SMA volume fraction, substrate ratio, and geometrical parameters on the sound radiation were analyzed. New laws of SMA material and pre-strain characteristics on sound radiation of composite laminates under temperature environment are revealed, which have theoretical and engineering functional significance for vibration and sound radiation control of SMA composite laminates.
Effects of High Temperature on Creep Behaviour of Glazed Hollow Bead Insulation Concrete
Authors: Liu Yu-shan , Pang Jian-yong , Yao Wei-jing
Published: August 2020

Glazed hollow bead insulation concrete (GHBC) presents a promising application prospect in terms of its light weight and superior fire resistance. However, only a few studies have focused on the creep behaviour of GHBC exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, in this study, the mechanism of high temperature on GHBC is analysed through a series of tests on uniaxial compression and multistage creep of GHBC, exposed from room temperature up to 800 °C. The results show a decrease in the weight and compressive strength of GHBC as the temperature rises. After 800 °C, the loss of weight and strength reach to 9.67% and 69.84%, respectively. The creep strain and creep rate increase, with a higher target temperature and higher stress level, while the transient deformation modulus, the creep failure threshold stress, and creep duration are reduced significantly. Furthermore, the creep of GHBC exhibits a considerable increase above 600 °C and the creep under the same loading ratio at 600 °C increases by 74.19% compared to the creep at room temperature. Indeed, the higher the temperature, the more sensitive the stress is to the creep. Based on our findings, the Burgers model agrees well with the creep test data at the primary creep and steady-state creep stages, providing a useful reference for the fire resistance design calculation of the GHBC structures.
VOC Emission Analysis of Bitumen Using Proton-Transfer Reaction Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Borinelli Jaffer , Blom Johan , Portillo-Estrada Miguel , Kara De Maeijer Patricia , Van den bergh Wim , Vuye Cedric
Published: August 2020

Bitumen is one of the most important materials used in roads. During asphalt pavement construction, workers can be affected by emissions, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), when bitumen is heated. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly identify and measure VOCs. This paper presents a novel, promising method to determine VOC emissions. The proposed method offers a way to standardize routine measurements on a lab scale, enabling reliable comparison across bitumen types and their modifications or additives. A proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) was used to monitor VOC emissions from commercial unmodified bitumen and crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) with heating of up to 180 °C. Results confirmed that the temperature range of 160–180 °C is a highly influential factor for VOC emissions from heated commercial bitumen and particularly CRMB. A significant increase in alkane and aromatic emission was detected when the binders were heated to 180 °C. Sulfur-containing VOCs were almost nonexistent for the base bitumen fumes, while a significant increase was detected in the fumes when two different types of CR were added to the bitumen, even at 120 °C. The additional CR in the bituminous binder contributed to the potentially harmful VOC emission of benzothiazole, which belongs to the class of sulfur-containing compounds. The concentration of benzothiazole was 65%, 38%, and 35% higher for CR1 in comparison to CR2 at 140, 160, and 180 °C, respectively. It is clear from the results that this method allows different bitumen sources or modifications to be quickly analyzed and their VOC emissions cross-compared. If adopted and confirmed further, the method could offer the asphalt industry a viable solution to monitor VOC emissions by analyzing samples in real time at different steps of the production process.
On the Use of Strain Path Independent Metrics and Critical Distance Rule for Predicting Failure of AA7075-O Stretch-Bend Sheets
Authors: Martínez-Donaire Andrés Jesús , Morales-Palma Domingo , Vallellano Carpóforo
Published: August 2020

The strain-based forming limit curve is the traditional tool to assess the formability of metal sheets. However, its application should be restricted to proportional loading processes under uniform strain conditions. Several works have focused on overcoming this limitation to characterize the safe process windows in industrial stretch-bend forming processes. In this paper, the use of critical distance rule and two path-independent stress-based metrics are explored to numerically predict failure of AA7075-O stretch-bend sheets with 1.6 mm thickness. Formability limits of the material were experimentally obtained by means of a series of Nakazima and stretch-bending tests at different thickness-over-radius ratios for inducing controlled non-uniform strain distributions across the sheet thickness. By using a 3D calibrated finite element model, the strain-based forming limit curve was numerically transformed into the path-independent stress and equivalent plastic strain polar spaces. The numerical predictions of necking strains in the stretch-bending simulations using the above approaches were successfully compared and critically discussed with the experimental results for different values of the critical distance. It was found that failure was triggered by a critical material volume of around the half thickness, measured from the inner surface, for the both path-independent metrics analyzed.
Beneficial Use of MIBC in Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers to Improve Flowability and Compressive Strength
Authors: Lee Sujeong , Kim Byoungkwan , Seo Joobeom , Cho Shinhu
Published: August 2020

Superplasticizers (cement concrete water reducers) are applied to improve the flowability of calcium-rich, alkali-activated materials, with inconsistent results. However, superplasticizer applications are limited in metakaolin-based geopolymers. The possibility of using polycarboxylate superplasticizers and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) to ameliorate the flowability of metakaolin-based geopolymers was investigated. The ratio of metakaolin, fumed silica, NaOH or KOH, and water in geopolymers at a Na2O or K2O:Al2O3:SiO2:H2O ratio = 1:1:4:10 or 1:1:4:11 was maintained in the formulations. In this study, ether- or ester-based polycarboxylate superplasticizers did not improve the workability of fresh metakaolin-based Na-geopolymers. A low MIBC dose (0.5 wt.% of metakaolin) improved the flowability by 19% and additionally increased the 7-day compressive strength by 22% from 68 to 83 MPa for plain Na-geopolymers. The entrained fine froths produced by adding MIBC during mixing likely reduced friction between metakaolin particles, and the slurry became more workable. Hence, the geopolymer mixture with an improved flowability became more homogenous, which ensured more extensive metakaolin dissolution and hydrolysis. A low MIBC dose could be effective for Na-geopolymers with dual benefits of improved workability and enhanced compressive strength.
Trends in Degradable Mesoporous Organosilica-Based Nanomaterials for Controlling Drug Delivery: A Mini Review
Authors: Poscher Vanessa , Salinas Yolanda
Published: August 2020

The last few years of enhancing the design of hybrid mesoporous organosilica nanoparticleshas allowed their degradation under specific pathologic conditions, which finally is showing a lightin their potential use as drug delivery systems towards clinical trials. Nevertheless, the issueof controlling the degradation on-demand at cellular level still remains a major challenge, even if ithas lately been addressed through the incorporation of degradable organo-bridged alkoxysilanesinto the silica framework. On this basis, this mini review covers some of the most recent examplesof dierent degradable organosilica nanomaterials with potential application in nanomedicine,from degradable non-porous to mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs), functionalized withresponsive molecular gates, and also the very promising degradable periodic mesoporous organosilicamaterials (PMOs) only consisting of organosilica bridges.
Development and Testing of a Methodology for the Assessment of Acceptability of LKA Systems
Authors: Salvati Luca , d’Amore Matteo , Fiorentino Anita , Pellegrino Arcangelo , Sena Pasquale , Villecco Francesco
Published: August 2020

In recent years, driving simulators have been widely used by automotive manufacturers and researchers in human-in-the-loop experiments, because they can reduce time and prototyping costs, and provide unlimited parametrization, more safety, and higher repeatability. Simulators play an important role in studies about driver behavior in operating conditions or with unstable vehicles. The aim of the research is to study the effects that the force feedback (f.f.b.), provided to steering wheel by a lane-keeping-assist (LKA) system, has on a driver’s response in simulators. The steering’s force feedback system is tested by reproducing the conditions of criticality of the LKA system in order to minimize the distance required to recover the driving stability as a function of set f.f.b. intensity and speed. The results, obtained in three specific criticality conditions, show that the behaviour of the LKA system, reproduced in the simulator, is not immediately understood by the driver and, sometimes, it is in opposition with the interventions performed by the driver to ensure driving safety. The results also compare the performance of the subjects, either overall and classified into subgroups, with reference to the perception of the LKA system, evaluated by means of a questionnaire. The proposed experimental methodology is to be regarded as a contribution for the integration of acceptance tests in the evaluation of automation systems.
Redox Modulation of Field-Induced Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Single-Molecule Magnets of Dysprosium
Authors: Tiaouinine Siham , Flores Gonzalez Jessica , Montigaud Vincent , Mattei Carlo Andrea , Dorcet Vincent , Kaboub Lakhmici , Cherkasov Vladimir , Cador Olivier , Le Guennic Boris , Ouahab Lahcène , Kuropatov Viacheslav , Pointillart Fabrice
Published: August 2020

The complexes [Dy2(tta)6(H2SQ)] (Dy-H2SQ) and [Dy2(tta)6(Q)]·2CH2Cl2 (Dy-Q) (tta− = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) were obtained from the coordination reaction of the Dy(tta)3·2H2O units with the 2,2′-benzene-1,4-diylbis(6-hydroxy-4,7-di-tert-butyl-1,3-benzodithiol-2-ylium-5-olate ligand (H2SQ) and its oxidized form 2,2′-cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-diylidenebis(4,7-di-tert-butyl-1,3-benzodithiole-5,6-dione (Q). The chemical oxidation of H2SQ in Q induced an increase in the coordination number from 7 to 8 around the DyIII ions and by consequence a modulation of the field-induced Single-Molecule Magnet behavior. Computational results rationalized the magnetic properties of each of the dinuclear complexes.
A Proposal of an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System for Modeling Experimental Data in Manufacturing Engineering
Authors: Luis Pérez C. J.
Published: August 2020

In Manufacturing Engineering there is a need to be able to model the behavior of technological variables versus input parameters in order to predict their behavior in advance, so that it is possible to determine the levels of variation that lead to optimal values of the response variables to be obtained. In recent years, it has been a common practice to rely on regression techniques to carry out the above-mentioned task. However, such models are sometimes not accurate enough to predict the behavior of these response variables, especially when they have significant non-linearities. In this present study a comparative analysis between the precision of different techniques based on conventional regression and soft computing is initially carried out. Specifically, regression techniques, based on the response surface model, as well as the use of artificial neural networks and fuzzy inference systems along with adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems will be employed to predict the behavior of the aforementioned technological variables. It will be shown that when there are difficulties in predicting the response parameters by using regression models, soft computing models are highly effective, being much more efficient than conventional regression models. In addition, a new method is proposed in this study that consists of using an iterative process to obtain a fuzzy inference system from a design of experiments and then using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for tuning the constants of the membership functions. As will be shown, with this method it is possible to obtain improved results in the validation metrics. The means of selecting the membership functions to develop this model from the design of experiments is discussed in this present study in order to obtain an initial solution, which will be then tuned by using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, to predict the behavior of the response variables. Moreover, the obtained results will also be compared.
An Update on Venous Thromboembolism Rates and Prophylaxis in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in 2020
Authors: Santana Daniel C. , Emara Ahmed K. , Orr Melissa N. , Klika Alison K. , Higuera Carlos A. , Krebs Viktor E. , Molloy Robert M. , Piuzzi Nicolas S.
Published: August 2020

Patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty are at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) with an incidence of approximately 0.6–1.5%. Given the high volume of these operations, with approximately one million performed annually in the U.S., the rate of VTE represents a large absolute number of patients. The rate of VTE after total hip arthroplasty has been stable over the past decade, although there has been a slight reduction in the rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but not pulmonary embolism (PE), after total knee arthroplasty. Over this time, there has been significant research into the optimal choice of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis for individual patients, with the objective to reduce the rate of VTE while minimizing adverse side effects such as bleeding. Recently, aspirin has emerged as a promising prophylactic agent for patients undergoing arthroplasty due to its similar efficacy and good safety profile compared to other pharmacologic agents. However, there is no evidence to date that clearly demonstrates the superiority of any given prophylactic agent. Therefore, this review discusses (1) the current prevalence and trends in VTE after total hip and knee arthroplasty and (2) provides an update on pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in regard to aspirin usage.
Capacity of Chlorate to Oxidize Ferrous Iron: Implications for Iron Oxide Formation on Mars
Authors: Mitra Kaushik , Moreland Eleanor , Catalano Jeffrey
Published: August 2020

Chlorate is an important Cl-bearing species and a strong potential Fe(II) oxidant on Mars. Since the amount of oxychlorine species (perchlorate and chlorate) detected on Mars is limited (<~1 wt.%), the effectiveness of chlorate to produce iron oxides depends heavily on its oxidizing capacity. Decomposition of chlorate or intermediates produced during its reduction, before reaction with Fe(II) would decrease its effective capacity as an oxidant. We thus evaluated the capacity of chlorate to produce Fe(III) minerals in Mars-relevant fluids, via oxidation of dissolved Fe(II). Each chlorate ion can oxidize 6 Fe(II) ions under all conditions investigated. Mass balance demonstrated that 1 wt.% chlorate (as ClO3−) could produce approximately 6 to 12 wt.% Fe(III) or mixed valent mineral products, with the amount varying with the formula of the precipitating phase. The mineral products are primarily determined by the fluid type (chloride- or sulfate-rich), the solution pH, and the rate of Fe(II) oxidation. The pH at the time of initial mineral nucleation and the amount of residual dissolved Fe(II) in the system exert important additional controls on the final mineralogy. Subsequent diagenetic transformation of these phases would yield 5.7 wt.% hematite per wt.% of chlorate reacted, providing a quantitative constraint on the capacity of chlorate to generate iron oxides on Mars.
Exploring Offshore Sediment Evidence of the 1755 CE Tsunami (Faro, Portugal): Implications for the Study of Outer Shelf Tsunami Deposits
Authors: Kümmerer Vincent , Drago Teresa , Veiga-Pires Cristina , Silva Pedro F. , Magalhães Vitor , Mena Anxo , Lopes Ana , Rodrigues Ana Isabel , Schmidt Sabine , Terrinha Pedro , Baptista Maria Ana
Published: August 2020

Outer shelf sedimentary records are promising for determining the recurrence intervals of tsunamis. However, compared to onshore deposits, offshore deposits are more difficult to access, and so far, studies of outer shelf tsunami deposits are scarce. Here, an example of studying these deposits is presented to infer implications for tsunami-related signatures in similar environments and potentially contribute to pre-historic tsunami event detections. A multidisciplinary approach was performed to detect the sedimentary imprints left by the 1755 CE tsunami in two cores, located in the southern Portuguese continental shelf at water depths of 58 and 91 m. Age models based on 14C and 210Pbxs allowed a probable correspondence with the 1755 CE tsunami event. A multi-proxy approach, including sand composition, grain-size, inorganic geochemistry, magnetic susceptibility, and microtextural features on quartz grain surfaces, yielded evidence for a tsunami depositional signature, although only a subtle terrestrial signal is present. A low contribution of terrestrial material to outer shelf tsunami deposits calls for methodologies that reveal sedimentary structures linked to tsunami event hydrodynamics. Finally, a change in general sedimentation after the tsunami event might have influenced the signature of the 1755 CE tsunami in the outer shelf environment.
Nitrogen Supplying Capacity of Animal Manures to the Soil in Relation to the Length of Their Storage
Authors: Dalias Panagiotis , Christou Anastasis
Published: August 2020

The study estimated the relationship between the amount of nitrogen (N) that will become available to plants after incorporation of soil of sheep/goat, cattle, swine, and poultry manure and the duration of manure storage prior to soil addition. Manures were periodically sampled from 12 storage piles that were kept for 12 months each and mixed with soil before laboratory incubation for 83 days. The percentage of organic N mineralized after soil incorporation was clearly greater for poultry, ranging between 41 and 85%, in relation to the other three manure types, for which maximum mineralization ranged between 4.5 and 66%. For sheep/goat, cattle, and swine, the interaction between mineralization and immobilization processes showed a distinct pattern with two phases of net N release during the twelve months of storage. The first was separated from the second by a period where mineralization was zeroed and appeared at about six months after storage initiation. It was recommended that farmers should preferably use well-digested manures that have been aerobically stored more than six months to avoid materials that provoke intense immobilization, unless problems associated with the use of fresh manure are managed.
Serological and Molecular Investigation of Brucellosis in Breeding Equids in Pakistani Punjab
Authors: Hussain Amjad , Jamil Tariq , Tareen Abdul Malik , Melzer Falk , Hussain Muhammad Hammad , Khan Iahtasham , Saqib Muhammad , Zohaib Ali , Hussain Riaz , Ahmad Waqas , Iqbal Mudassar , Neubauer Heinrich
Published: August 2020

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide. Equines are susceptible to the infection when in close contact with infected animals. The objective of our study was to update the existing knowledge and detect and differentiate the causative agent of brucellosis in breeding equines in Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the occurrence and etiology of the infection in the equine population in three districts. A total of 448 equine sera were collected from three prefectures viz. Sahiwal, Khanewal, and Okara of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Ninety-six (21.4%) samples were found positive by RBPT, 3.56% (16/448) by iELISA, and 4.24% (19/448) by CFT. Real-time PCR demonstrated the presence of Brucella abortus-DNA in sero-positive samples. Age and location were found as risk factors. The study concludes equine brucellosis seroprevalence in the country where Brucella abortus as the main etiology. Fistulous withers and poll evil cases should be treated with care as they could be hazardous and a source of zoonotic transmission. Routine screening at an early age, vaccination in ruminants, and consumption of pasteurized dairy milk in humans is recommended for prevention of the infection. Specific tests need to be standardized and validated.
Unraveling the Global Phylodynamic and Phylogeographic Expansion of Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Understanding the Origin and Expansion of This Pathogen in Ecuador
Authors: De la Cruz Laura , Barrera Maritza , Rios Liliam , Corona-González Belkis , Bulnes Carlos A. , Díaz-Sánchez Adrian A. , A. Agüero Jose , Lobo-Rivero Evelyn , Pérez Lester J.
Published: August 2020

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is among the most significant problems in the poultry industry worldwide, representing a serious threat to international trade. Despite the fact that the mgc2 gene has been widely used for diagnostic and molecular characterization purposes, there is a lack of evidence supporting the reliability of this gene as a marker for molecular epidemiology approaches. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the accuracy of the mgc2 gene for phylogenetic, phylodynamic, and phylogeographic evaluations. Furthermore, the global phylodynamic expansion of MG is described, and the origin and extension of the outbreak caused by MG in Ecuador were tracked and characterized. The results obtained strongly supported the use of the mgc2 gene as a reliable phylogenetic marker and accurate estimator for the temporal and phylogeographic structure reconstruction of MG. The phylodynamic analysis denoted the failures in the current policies to control MG and highlighted the imperative need to implement more sensitive methodologies of diagnosis and more efficient vaccines. Framed in Ecuador, the present study provides the first piece of evidence of the circulation of virulent field MG strains in Ecuadorian commercial poultry. The findings derived from the current study provide novel and significant insights into the origin, diversification, and evolutionary process of MG globally.
Exploring Biogas and Biofertilizer Production from Abattoir Wastes in Nigeria Using a Multi-Criteria Assessment Approach
Authors: Audu Idi Guga , Barde Abraham , Yila Othniel Mintang , Onwualu Peter Azikiwe , Lawal Buga Mohammed
Published: August 2020

Management of waste streams from abattoirs is a major challenge in developing countries. Harnessing these wastes as resources for the production of biogas and biofertilizer could contribute to curbing the environmental menace and to addressing the problems of energy and food deficits in Nigeria. However, large scale uptake of the technology is faced with techno-socio-economic and the lack of data required for effective investment decisions. In this study, the potential use of waste generated in the north central region of Nigerian abattoirs, representing approximately 12% of the land and 6% of the population, were evaluated for suitability for biogas and biofertilizer production. Data acquired from the study sites were used for computational estimation and integrated into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to give a detailed overview of the prospects and the limiting factors. The study revealed that high investment costs and public subsidies for fossil fuels are the key limiting factors while the prospects of tapping into the unexploited carbon markets and multiple socio-economic and environmental benefits favors investment. Public supports in the form of national policy reforms leading to intervention programs are required for progress.
5G SLAM Using the Clustering and Assignment Approach with Diffuse Multipath
Authors: Ge Yu , Wen Fuxi , Kim Hyowon , Zhu Meifang , Jiang Fan , Kim Sunwoo , Svensson Lennart , Wymeersch Henk
Published: August 2020

5G communication systems operating above 24 GHz have promising properties for user localization and environment mapping. Existing studies have either relied on simplified abstract models of the signal propagation and the measurements, or are based on direct positioning approaches, which directly map the received waveform to a position. In this study, we consider an intermediate approach, which consists of four phases—downlink data transmission, multi-dimensional channel estimation, channel parameter clustering, and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) based on a novel likelihood function. This approach can decompose the problem into simpler steps, thus leading to lower complexity. At the same time, by considering an end-to-end processing chain, we are accounting for a wide variety of practical impairments. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Time-Frequency Spectral Signature of Limb Movements and Height Estimation Using Micro-Doppler Millimeter-Wave Radar
Authors: Balal Yael , Balal Nezah , Richter Yair , Pinhasi Yosef
Published: August 2020

We present a technique for the identification of human and animal movement and height using a low power millimeter-wave radar. The detection was based on the transmission of a continuous wave and heterodyning the received signal reflected from the target to obtain micro-Doppler shifts associated with the target structure and motion. The algorithm enabled the extraction of target signatures from typical gestures and differentiated between humans, animals, and other ‘still’ objects. Analytical expressions were derived using a pendulum model to characterize the micro-Doppler frequency shifts due to the periodic motion of the human and animal limbs. The algorithm was demonstrated using millimeter-wave radar operating in the W-band. We employed a time–frequency distribution to analyze the detected signal and classify the type of targets.
Operators’ Load Monitoring and Management
Authors: Kale Utku , Rohács József , Rohács Dániel
Published: August 2020

Due to the introduction of highly automated vehicles and systems, the tasks of operators (drivers, pilots, air traffic controllers, production process managers) are in transition from “active control” to “passive monitoring” and “supervising”. As a result of this transition, the roles of task load and workload are decreasing while the role of the mental load is increasing, thereby the new type of loads might be defined as information load and communication load. This paper deals with operators’ load monitoring and management in highly automated systems. This research (i) introduces the changes in the role of operators and requirements in load management, (ii) defines the operators’ models, (iii) describes the possible application of sensors and their integration into the working environment of operators, and (iv) develops the load observation and management concept. There are some examples of analyses of measurements and the concept of validation is discussed. This paper mainly deals with operators, particularly pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCOs).
An Automatic Sleep Stage Classification Algorithm Using Improved Model Based Essence Features
Authors: Shen Huaming , Ran Feng , Xu Meihua , Guez Allon , Li Ang , Guo Aiying
Published: August 2020

The automatic sleep stage classification technique can facilitate the diagnosis of sleep disorders and release the medical expert from labor-consumption work. In this paper, novel improved model based essence features (IMBEFs) were proposed combining locality energy (LE) and dual state space models (DSSMs) for automatic sleep stage detection on single-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) signals. Firstly, each EEG epoch is decomposed into low-level sub-bands (LSBs) and high-level sub-bands (HSBs) by wavelet packet decomposition (WPD), separately. Then, the DSSMs are estimated by the LSBs and the LE calculation is carried out on HSBs. Thirdly, the IMBEFs extracted from the DSSM and LE are fed into the appropriate classifier for sleep stage classification. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on three public sleep databases. The experimental results show that under the Rechtschaffen’s and Kale’s (R&K) standard, the sleep stage classification accuracies of six classes on the Sleep EDF database and the Dreams Subjects database are 92.04% and 78.92%, respectively. Under the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) standard, the classification accuracies of five classes in the Dreams Subjects database and the ISRUC database reached 79.90% and 81.65%. The proposed method can be used for reliable sleep stage classification with high accuracy compared with state-of-the-art methods.
Fusion of Environmental Sensing on PM2.5 and Deep Learning on Vehicle Detecting for Acquiring Roadside PM2.5 Concentration Increments
Authors: Wang Wen-Cheng Vincent , Lin Tai-Hung , Liu Chun-Hu , Su Chih-Wen , Lung Shih-Chun Candice
Published: August 2020

Traffic emission is one of the major contributors to urban PM2.5, an important environmental health hazard. Estimating roadside PM2.5 concentration increments (above background levels) due to vehicles would assist in understanding pedestrians’ actual exposures. This work combines PM2.5 sensing and vehicle detecting to acquire roadside PM2.5 concentration increments due to vehicles. An automatic traffic analysis system (YOLOv3-tiny-3l) was applied to simultaneously detect and track vehicles with deep learning and traditional optical flow techniques, respectively, from governmental cameras that have low resolutions of only 352 × 240 pixels. Evaluation with 20% of the 2439 manually labeled images from 23 cameras showed that this system has 87% and 84% of the precision and recall rates, respectively, for five types of vehicles, namely, sedan, motorcycle, bus, truck, and trailer. By fusing the research-grade observations from PM2.5 sensors installed at two roadside locations with vehicle counts from the nearby governmental cameras analyzed by YOLOv3-tiny-3l, roadside PM2.5 concentration increments due to on-road sedans were estimated to be 0.0027–0.0050 µg/m3. This practical and low-cost method can be further applied in other countries to assess the impacts of vehicles on roadside PM2.5 concentrations.
Compressed Nonlinear Equalizers for 112-Gbps Optical Interconnects: Efficiency and Stability
Authors: Zhang Wenjia , Ge Ling , Zhang Yanci , Liang Chenyu , He Zuyuan
Published: August 2020

Low-complexity nonlinear equalization is critical for reliable high-speed short-reach optical interconnects. In this paper, we compare the complexity, efficiency and stability performance of pruned Volterra series-based equalization (VE) and neural network-based equalization (NNE) for 112 Gbps vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) enabled optical interconnects. The design space of nonlinear equalizers and their pruning algorithms are carefully investigated to reveal fundamental reasons of powerful nonlinear compensation capability and restriction factors of efficiency and stability. The experimental results show that NNE has more than one order of magnitude bit error rate (BER) advantage over VE at the same computation complexity and pruned NNE has around 50% lower computation complexity compared to VE at the same BER level. Moreover, VE shows serious performance instability due to its intricate structure when communication channel conditions become tough. Moreover, pruned VE presents more consistent equalization performance within varying bias values than NNE.
Using Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) to Identify Valued Landscapes Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise
Authors: Morse Wayde C. , Cox Cody , Anderson Christopher J.
Published: August 2020

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast has a long history of intense and varied development, from energy infrastructure and seaports to vacation homes and tourism. Coastal populations and development are growing. Concurrently, global climate change will influence sea level rise, resulting in increased flooding, storm surge, and coastal erosion. Regional planners must prepare for sea level rise and develop adaptive solutions to maximize resiliency. Comprehensive coastal vulnerability mapping assessments (CVMA) can integrate social, economic, and physical vulnerability with spatial analysis of natural hazards for local place-based investigations. Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) are a potentially important tool for the spatial collection of stakeholder knowledge for CVMA. The objective of this study was to assess the locations of a range of landscape values, ecosystem services, and development preferences held and identified by the general public using PPGIS to determine if those valued locations are vulnerable to sea level rise. We found that PPGIS can be used to map a wide variety of landscape values and that they can be used to assess vulnerability to sea level rise. We conclude with a discussion on how to integrate PPGIS into participatory CVMA for sea level rise planning.
Hydrogen Adsorption on Ru-Encapsulated, -Doped and -Supported Surfaces of C60
Authors: Kuganathan Navaratnarajah , Chroneos Alexander
Published: August 2020

Hydrogen is considered as one of the promising clean energy sources for future applications including transportation. Nevertheless, the development of materials for its storage is challenging particularly as a fuel in vehicular transport. In the present study, density functional theory simulations for hydrogen adsorption on the surfaces of pristine, Ru-encapsulated, -doped and -supported C60 are reported. The results show that adsorption on the pristine C60 is exoergic and there is an enhancement in the adsorption upon encapsulation of a single Ru atom. The Ru-doped surface also adsorbs H2 more strongly than the pristine surface, but its efficacy is slightly less than the Ru-encapsulated surface. The strongest adsorption is calculated for the C60 surface supported with Ru.
A Case of Japanese Encephalitis with a Fatal Outcome in an Australian Who Traveled from Bali in 2019
Authors: Pyke Alyssa T. , Choong Keat , Moore Frederick , Schlebusch Sanmarié , Taylor Carmel , Hewitson Glen , McMahon Jamie , Nair Neelima , Moore Peter , Finger Mitchell , Burtonclay Peter , Wheatley Sarah
Published: August 2020

A severe case of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection, resulting in fatality, occurred in an unvaccinated Australian male traveler from Bali, Indonesia, in 2019. During hospitalisation in Australia, patient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yielded JEV-specific IgM antibodies and RNA, and an isolate of the virus. Ongoing transmission of JEV in Bali underscores this pathogen as a public health risk and the importance of appropriate health, vaccination and mosquito avoidance advice to prospective travelers to the region.
Is the Copenhagen Interpretation Inapplicable to Quantum Cosmology?
Authors: Shestakova Tatyana P.
Published: August 2020

It is generally accepted that the Copenhagen interpretation is inapplicable to quantum cosmology, by contrast with the many worlds interpretation. I shall demonstrate that the two basic principles of the Copenhagen interpretation, the principle of wholeness and the principle of complementarity, do make sense in quantum gravity, since we can judge about quantum gravitational processes in the very early Universe by their vestiges in our macroscopic Universe. I shall present the extended phase space approach to quantum gravity and show that it can be interpreted in the spirit of the Everett’s “relative states” formulation, while there is no contradiction between the “relative states” formulation and the mentioned basic principles of the Copenhagen interpretation.
Rola tajnych służb w rozpoznaniu zagrożenia bezpieczeństwa Polski. O efektach działalności wywiadowczej berlińskiej placówki „In 3”
Authors: Ćwięk Henryk
Published: August 2020

W 1918 r. Polska odzyskała niepodległość. Bezpieczeństwo Drugiej Rzeczypospolitej było jednak oparte na kruchych podstawach. Wynikało to z dużego zagrożenia ze strony wschodniego i zachodniego sąsiada. Niemcy i Rosja nie pogodziły się z ustaleniami traktatu wersalskiego, dążyły do jego rewizji i wojny z Polską. Współpraca wojskowa obu groźnych sąsiadów była wymierzona przeciwko Polsce. Rozpoznanie wywiadowcze dotyczące rozbudowy potencjału militarnego oraz zamiarów obu przeciwników miało wyjątkowe znaczenie. Rotmistrz, a później major Jerzy Sosnowski w latach 1926–1934 kierował berlińską placówką wywiadowczą oznaczoną kryptonimem „In 3”. Przekazywał on do centrali Oddziału II SG wiele cennych informacji dotyczących rozwoju niemieckich sił zbrojnych, współpracy Reichswehry z Armią Czerwoną oraz przygotowań do wojny. Kierownictwo polskiego wywiadu otrzymywało podobne wiadomości z innych źródeł. Wiele z nich przyjmowano z niedowierzaniem i nie wykorzystano we właściwy sposób.
Planowanie obronne i cywilne w Polsce – uwarunkowania prawne a proces realizacji
Authors: Kęsoń Tadeusz Józef
Published: August 2020

Uregulowane prawnie procesy planowania obronnego i cywilnego powinny w skuteczny sposób przygotowywać struktury państwa do funkcjonowania zarówno w czasie pokoju i zagrożeń zewnętrznych, jak i w maksymalnie skuteczny sposób umożliwiać reagowanie w sytuacjach kryzysowych. Wskazanie podmiotów uczestniczących w tych procesach i zawartości poszczególnych planów i programów niewątpliwie wyeliminowało wiele problemów organizacyjnych i decyzyjnych. Analiza procesów mających wpływ na przebieg planowania obronnego wykazała, że bezpieczeństwo państwa nie zawsze jest zasadniczą kwestią dla polityków, a troska o niezakłócone funkcjonowanie procesu planowania staje się nieistotna. Nieprzestrzegane są przez podmioty odgrywające zasadniczą rolę w procesie planowania obronnego terminy i postanowienia aktów prawnych wpływających na cykl planowania strategicznego w państwie.
Z problematyki ochrony ludności. Istota ewakuacji w ujęciu powszechnym
Authors: Kolmann Piotr
Published: August 2020

Pojęcie ewakuacji jest od wieków w powszechnym użytku, zarówno w mowie potocznej, jak i w ramach ustaleń czy regulacji odnoszących się do zapewniania szeroko rozumianej ochrony ludności. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki dokonanego przeglądu źródeł bibliograficznych pod kątem identyfikacji natury i istoty zjawiska ewakuacji. Wobec zidentyfikowania różnorodnych ujęć (w tym ogólnego i specjalistycznego), po dokonaniu ich usystematyzowania i analizy w ramach studium komparatystycznego, przedstawionego na gruncie dwóch powiązanych ze sobą artykułów, zaproponowano autorską definicję ewakuacji.
Geokulturowe uwarunkowania polsko-izraelskich relacji dyplomatycznych
Authors: Tarasiuk Renata
Published: August 2020

Artykuł dotyczy geokulturowych uwarunkowań dyplomatycznych relacji polsko-izraelskich ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem dynamiki wydarzeń z ostatnich lat. Autor zwraca uwagę, że dyplomacja kulturalna i historyczna stanowi fundamentalny wektor polsko-izraelskich działań dyplomatycznych, co wynika z tych szczególnych uwarunkowań. Zarazem ten obszar dyplomacji jest niezwykle niestabilny, podatny na różne wahania, zależny od wydarzeń i okoliczności zewnętrznych.
Sytuacja bezpieczeństwa państw Sahelu oraz perspektywy jej rozwoju
Authors: Danielewicz Krzysztof
Published: August 2020

Od wybuchu kolejnego powstania Tuaregów w 2012 r. w Mali, pomimo ogromnego wysiłku tego kraju i zaangażowania środowiska międzynarodowego, sytuacja bezpieczeństwa w rejonie Sahelu ulega dramatycznemu pogorszeniu. Stopniowo konflikt obejmuje inne państwa, jak Burkina Faso czy Niger. Dochodzi także do pojedynczych incydentów w krajach sąsiednich (Ghana, Benin). Grupy zbrojne związane z Al-Kaidą czy Państwem Islamskim pomimo pozornej rywalizacji potrafią ze sobą współpracować. Doskonale wykorzystują minione problemy społeczne do realizacji swoich celów i werbunku nowych rekrutów. Środowisko międzynarodowe nie ma spójnego planu rozwiązania konfliktu na Sahelu, skupiając się głównie na zabezpieczeniu swoich własnych granic przed napływem terrorystów czy uchodźców.