bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Temperature Distribution and Microstructure Evolution in the Molten Pool of GTAW Ti-6Al-4V Alloy
Authors: Zhang Min , Zhou Yulan , Huang Chao , Chu Qiaoling , Zhang Wenhui , Li Jihong
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model was established by ABAQUS software to simulate the welding temperature field of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy under different welding currents based on a Gaussian heat source model. The model uses thermo-mechanical coupling analysis and takes into account the effects of convection and radiation on all weld surfaces. The microstructure evolution of the molten pool was calculated using the macro-micro coupling cellular automaton-finite different (CA-FD) method. It was found that with the increase of the welding current, the temperature in the central region of the moving heat source was improved and the weld bead became wider. Then, the dendritic morphology and solute concentration of the columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) in the weld molten pool was investigated. It is shown that fine equiaxed crystals formed around the columnar crystals tips during solidification. The coarse columnar crystals are produced with priority in the molten pool and their growth direction is in line with the direction of the negative temperature gradient. The effectiveness of the model was verified by gas tungsten arc welding experiments.
Correction: Kuniya, T. Stability Analysis of an Age-Structured SIR Epidemic Model with a Reduction Method to ODEs. Mathematics 2018, 6, 147
Authors: Kuniya Toshikazu
Published: November 2018

I have found an error in Equation (17) in my paper [1] [...]
A Tutorial for the Analysis of the Piecewise-Smooth Dynamics of a Constrained Multibody Model of Vertical Hopping
Authors: Zana Roland Reginald , Bodor Bálint , Bencsik László , Zelei Ambrus
Published: November 2018

Contradictory demands are present in the dynamic modeling and analysis of legged locomotion: on the one hand, the high degrees-of-freedom (DoF) descriptive models are geometrically accurate, but the analysis of self-stability and motion pattern generation is extremely challenging; on the other hand, low DoF models of locomotion are thoroughly analyzed in the literature; however, these models do not describe the geometry accurately. We contribute by narrowing the gap between the two modeling approaches. Our goal is to develop a dynamic analysis methodology for the study of self-stable controlled multibody models of legged locomotion. An efficient way of modeling multibody systems is to use geometric constraints among the rigid bodies. It is especially effective when closed kinematic loops are present, such as in the case of walking models, when both legs are in contact with the ground. The mathematical representation of such constrained systems is the differential algebraic equation (DAE). We focus on the mathematical analysis methods of piecewise-smooth dynamic systems and we present their application for constrained multibody models of self-stable locomotion represented by DAE. Our numerical approach is demonstrated on a linear model of hopping and compared with analytically obtained reference results.
Chitosan Oleate Salt as an Amphiphilic Polymer for the Surface Modification of Poly-Lactic-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Nanoparticles. Preliminary Studies of Mucoadhesion and Cell Interaction Properties
Authors: Miele Dalila , Rossi Silvia , Sandri Giuseppina , Vigani Barbara , Sorrenti Milena , Giunchedi Paolo , Ferrari Franca , Bonferoni Maria Cristina
Published: November 2018

Most of the methods of poly-lactic-glycolic acid (PLGA) preparation involve the passage through the emulsification of a PLGA organic solution in water followed by solvent evaporation or extraction. The choice of the droplet stabilizer during the emulsion step is critical for the dimensions and the surface characteristics of the nanoparticles (NPs). In the present work, a recently described ionic amphiphilic chitosan derivative, chitosan oleate salt (CS-OA), was proposed for the first time to prepare PLGA NPs. A full factorial design was used to understand the effect of some formulation and preparation parameters on the NP dimensions and on encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of Nile red, used as a tracer. On the basis of the DoE study, curcumin loaded NPs were prepared, having 329 ± 42 nm dimensions and 68.75% EE%. The presence of a chitosan coating at the surface was confirmed by positive zeta potential and resulted in mucoadhesion behavior. The expected improvement of the interaction of the chitosan surface modified nanoparticles with cell membrane surface was confirmed in Caco-2 cell culture by the internalization of the loaded curcumin.
Unstable Tetramic Acid Derivatives from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum EIODSF 008
Authors: Liang Xiao , Huang Zhong-Hui , Ma Xuan , Qi Shu-Hua
Published: November 2018

Seven new unstable tetramic acid derivatives, cladosporiumins I-O (1–7), together with the known analogue cladodionen (8) were isolated from the extract of the deep-sea-derived fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum EIODSF 008. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations and ECD spectra. Compound 4 was a Mg complex of tetramic acid derivative. In acidic solvent, 4 could change to 1 and 6, and 7 could change to 5. In addition, 1, 5 and 8 existed as two exchangeable isomers, respectively. The structures of cladosporiumins E-H were reassigned as their Na complexes. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of 1–8 were also evaluated. However, because of their instability, all of the isolated compounds did not show significant antibacterial activity as the preliminary EtOAc extracts of the fungal strain.
Pharmaceutical Standardization and Physicochemical Characterization of Traditional Ayurvedic Marine Drug: Incinerated Conch Shell (Shankha Bhasma)
Authors: Chavan Sandeep , Tayade Sonali , Gupta Vidya , Deshmukh Vineeta , Sardeshmukh Sadanand
Published: November 2018

Natural resources such as plants, animals and minerals have always been used by mankind to develop drugs and marine world is no exception. Marine by-products like conches, pearls, mother of pearl shells, corals and so forth have been used by traditional Ayurvedic practitioners for centuries. The unique methods of these preparations are scientifically designed to eliminate unwanted impurities and convert them into bioavailable form. In this study, Conch (Xanchus pyrum) was used as a marine resource of calcium carbonate and was converted pharmaceutically from its aragonite form to calcite. All the steps of preparations and changes in the properties therein were documented and validated. Further, traditional as well as modern analytical tools were used to study its physical and chemical characters to develop a monograph. The physical characterization included particle size, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR). Metal composition and heavy metal limits were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICPOES). This study revealed the rearrangement of aragonite crystals into calcite form by grinding, trituration with aloe vera juice and incineration under controlled conditions. Moreover, the finished product was found to be devoid of organic matrix that is nacre. This study creates a foundation for the development of a master formula for commonly used Shankha Bhasma in Ayurvedic medicines.
Application of Physical and Chemical Enhanced Backwashing to Reduce Membrane Fouling in the Water Treatment Process Using Ceramic Membranes
Authors: Park Seogyeong , Kang Joon-Seok , Lee Jeong Jun , Vo Thi-Kim-Quyen , Kim Han-Seung
Published: November 2018

This study investigated the improvement of operating efficiency through physical cleaning and chemical enhanced backwashing (CEB) using ceramic membranes with high permeability and chemical safety compared to organic membranes. The turbidity and DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) concentrations were selected to ensure that the degree of contamination was always constant. The operating pressures were fixed at 100, 200, and 300 kPa, and the filtration was terminated when the effluent flow rate decreased to 30% or less from the initial value. After filtration, backwashing was performed at a pressure of 500 kPa using 500 mL backwash water. The membrane was cleaned by dipping in NaOCl, and a new washing technique was proposed for steam washing. In this study, we investigated the recovery rate of membranes by selectively performing physical cleaning and CEB by changing the influent water quality and operating pressure conditions.
QSAR and Molecular Docking Studies of the Inhibitory Activity of Novel Heterocyclic GABA Analogues over GABA-AT
Authors: Rodríguez-Lozada Josué , Tovar-Gudiño Erika , Guevara-Salazar Juan Alberto , Razo-Hernández Rodrigo Said , Santiago Ángel , Pastor Nina , Fernández-Zertuche Mario
Published: November 2018

We have previously reported the synthesis, in vitro and in silico activities of new GABA analogues as inhibitors of the GABA-AT enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens, where the nitrogen atom at the γ-position is embedded in heterocyclic scaffolds. With the goal of finding more potent inhibitors, we now report the synthesis of a new set of GABA analogues with a broader variation of heterocyclic scaffolds at the γ-position such as thiazolidines, methyl-substituted piperidines, morpholine and thiomorpholine and determined their inhibitory potential over the GABA-AT enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens. These structural modifications led to compound 9b which showed a 73% inhibition against this enzyme. In vivo studies with PTZ-induced seizures on male CD1 mice show that compound 9b has a neuroprotective effect at a 0.50 mmole/kg dose. A QSAR study was carried out to find the molecular descriptors associated with the structural changes in the GABA scaffold to explain their inhibitory activity against GABA-AT. Employing 3D molecular descriptors allowed us to propose the GABA analogues enantiomeric active form. To evaluate the interaction with Pseudomonas fluorescens and human GABA-AT by molecular docking, the constructions of homology models was carried out. From these calculations, 9b showed a strong interaction with both GABA-AT enzymes in agreement with experimental results and the QSAR model, which indicates that bulky ligands tend to be the better inhibitors especially those with a sulfur atom on their structure.
Modelling a Silent Epidemic: A Review of the In Vitro Models of Latent Tuberculosis
Authors: Gibson Savannah , Harrison James , Cox Jonathan
Published: November 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) is the primary cause of death by a single infectious agent; responsible for around two million deaths in 2016. A major virulence factor of TB is the ability to enter a latent or Non-Replicating Persistent (NRP) state which is presumed untreatable. Approximately 1.7 billion people are latently infected with TB and on reactivation many of these infections are drug resistant. As the current treatment is ineffective and diagnosis remains poor, millions of people have the potential to reactivate into active TB disease. The immune system seeks to control the TB infection by containing the bacteria in a granuloma, where it is exposed to stressful anaerobic and nutrient deprived conditions. It is thought to be these environmental conditions that trigger the NRP state. A number of in vitro models have been developed that mimic conditions within the granuloma to a lesser or greater extent. These different models have all been utilised for the research of different characteristics of NRP Mycobacterium tuberculosis, however their disparity in approach and physiological relevance often results in inconsistencies and a lack of consensus between studies. This review provides a summation of the different NRP models and a critical analysis of their respective advantages and disadvantages relating to their physiological relevance.
Evaluation of β-Sitosterol Loaded PLGA and PEG-PLA Nanoparticles for Effective Treatment of Breast Cancer: Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Antitumor Activity
Authors: Andima Moses , Costabile Gabriella , Isert Lorenz , Ndakala Albert J. , Derese Solomon , Merkel Olivia M.
Published: November 2018

β-Sitosterol (β-Sit) is a dietary phytosterol with demonstrated anticancer activity against a panel of cancers, but its poor solubility in water limits its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. In this study, poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) were used to encapsulate β-Sit into nanoparticles with the aim of enhancing its in vitro anticancer activity. β-Sitosterol-loaded PLGA and PEG-PLA nanoparticles (β-Sit-PLGA and β-Sit-PEG-PLA) were prepared by using a simple emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The nanoparticles were characterized for size, particle size distribution, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Their cellular uptake and antiproliferative activity was evaluated against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells using flow cytometry and MTT assays, respectively. β-Sit-PLGA and β-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles were spherical in shape with average particle sizes of 215.0 ± 29.7 and 240.6 ± 23.3 nm, a zeta potential of −13.8 ± 1.61 and −23.5 ± 0.27 mV, respectively, and with narrow size distribution. The encapsulation efficiency of β-Sit was 62.89 ± 4.66 and 51.83 ± 19.72 % in PLGA and PEG-PLA nanoparticles, respectively. In vitro release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and PBS/with 0.2% Tween 20 showed an initial burst release, followed by a sustained release for 408 h. β-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were generally stable in a protein-rich medium, whereas β-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles showed a tendency to aggregate. Flow cytometry analysis (FACS) indicated that β-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were efficiently taken up by the cells in contrast to β-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles. β-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were therefore selected to evaluate antiproliferative activity. Cell viability was inhibited by up to 80% in a concentration range of 6.64–53.08 μg/mL compared to the untreated cells. Taken together, encapsulation of β-Sitosterol in PLGA nanoparticles is a promising strategy to enhance its anticancer activity against breast cancer cells.
Atypical Presentation of a Maxillary Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma and Complex Management
Authors: George Jayan , Abdulla Mohamed , Farboud Amir , Leopold Gareth , Marnane Conor
Published: November 2018

We report a rare case of a 23-year-old male who presented with a four-week history of unilateral recurrent epistaxis and nasal obstruction. This was subsequently diagnosed as high-grade chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the maxillary antrum. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was commenced following a multidisciplinary team discussion. The disease progressed through first-line treatment. A radical surgical resection was not possible, and a palliative debulking procedure was performed. The literature comprehensively points towards an early surgical resection with suitable margins at the earliest possible stage. This case highlights that osteosarcoma of the maxilla can be challenging to diagnose and manage. Thus, a high index of suspicion and an early referral to a head and neck specialist is imperative to improve the long-term prognosis in such patients.
Absolute Calibration of the European Sentinel-3A Surface Topography Mission over the Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration in west Crete, Greece
Authors: Mertikas Stelios , Donlon Craig , Féménias Pierre , Mavrocordatos Constantin , Galanakis Demitris , Tripolitsiotis Achilles , Frantzis Xenophon , Kokolakis Costas , Tziavos Ilias N. , Vergos George , Guinle Thierry
Published: November 2018

This work presents calibration results for the altimeter of Sentinel-3A Surface Topography Mission as determined at the Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration in west Crete, Greece. The facility has been providing calibration services for more than 15 years for all past (i.e., Envisat, Jason-1, Jason-2, SARAL/AltiKa, HY-2A) and current (i.e., Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, Jason-3) satellite altimeters. The groundtrack of the Pass No.14 of Sentinel-3A ascends west of the Gavdos island and continues north to the transponder site on the mountains of west Crete. This pass has been calibrated using three independent techniques activated at various sites in the region: (1) the transponder approach for its range bias, (2) the sea-surface method for the estimation of altimeter bias for its sea-surface heights, and (c) the cross-over analysis for inspecting height observations with respect to Jason-3. The other Pass No.335 of Sentinel-3A descends from southwest of Crete to south and intersects the Gavdos calibration site. Additionally, calibration values for this descending pass are presented, applying sea-surface calibration and crossover analysis. An uncertainty analysis for the altimeter biases derived by the transponder and by sea-surface calibrations is also introduced following the new standard of Fiducial Reference Measurements.
Multi-Scale Object Histogram Distance for LCCD Using Bi-Temporal Very-High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Lv ZhiYong , Liu TongFei , Atli Benediktsson Jón , Lei Tao , Wan YiLiang
Published: November 2018

To improve the performance of land-cover change detection (LCCD) using remote sensing images, this study utilises spatial information in an adaptive and multi-scale manner. It proposes a novel multi-scale object histogram distance (MOHD) to measure the change magnitude between bi-temporal remote sensing images. Three major steps are related to the proposed MOHD. Firstly, multi-scale objects for the post-event image are extracted through a widely used algorithm called the fractional net evaluation approach. The pixels within a segmental object are taken to construct the pairwise frequency distribution histograms. An arithmetic frequency-mean feature is then defined from the red, green and blue band histogram. Secondly, bin-to-bin distance is adapted to measure the change magnitude between the pairwise objects of bi-temporal images. The change magnitude image (CMI) of the bi-temporal images can be generated through object-by-object. Finally, the classical binary method Otsu is used to divide the CMI to a binary change detection map. Experimental results based on two real datasets with different land-cover change scenes demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MOHD approach in detecting land-cover change compared with three widely used existing approaches.
Measuring Landscape Albedo Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Cao Chang , Lee Xuhui , Muhlhausen Joseph , Bonneau Laurent , Xu Jiaping
Published: November 2018

Surface albedo is a critical parameter in surface energy balance, and albedo change is an important driver of changes in local climate. In this study, we developed a workflow for landscape albedo estimation using images acquired with a consumer-grade camera on board unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Flight experiments were conducted at two sites in Connecticut, USA and the UAV-derived albedo was compared with the albedo obtained from a Landsat image acquired at about the same time as the UAV experiments. We find that the UAV estimate of the visibleband albedo of an urban playground (0.037 ± 0.063, mean ± standard deviation of pixel values) under clear sky conditions agrees reasonably well with the estimates based on the Landsat image (0.047 ± 0.012). However, because the cameras could only measure reflectance in three visible bands (blue, green, and red), the agreement is poor for shortwave albedo. We suggest that the deployment of a camera that is capable of detecting reflectance at a near-infrared waveband should improve the accuracy of the shortwave albedo estimation.
Multiscale Optimized Segmentation of Urban Green Cover in High Resolution Remote Sensing Image
Authors: Xiao Pengfeng , Zhang Xueliang , Zhang Hongmin , Hu Rui , Feng Xuezhi
Published: November 2018

The urban green cover in high-spatial resolution (HR) remote sensing images have obvious multiscale characteristics, it is thus not possible to properly segment all features using a single segmentation scale because over-segmentation or under-segmentation often occurs. In this study, an unsupervised cross-scale optimization method specifically for urban green cover segmentation is proposed. A global optimal segmentation is first selected from multiscale segmentation results by using an optimization indicator. The regions in the global optimal segmentation are then isolated into under- and fine-segmentation parts. The under-segmentation regions are further locally refined by using the same indicator as that in global optimization. Finally, the fine-segmentation part and the refined under-segmentation part are combined to obtain the final cross-scale optimized result. The green cover objects can be segmented at their specific optimal segmentation scales in the optimized segmentation result to reduce both under- and over-segmentation errors. Experimental results on two test HR datasets verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Space Subdivision of Indoor Mobile Laser Scanning Data Based on the Scanner Trajectory
Authors: Elseicy Ahmed , Nikoohemat Shayan , Peter Michael , Elberink Sander Oude
Published: November 2018

State-of-the-art indoor mobile laser scanners are now lightweight and portable enough to be carried by humans. They allow the user to map challenging environments such as multi-story buildings and staircases while continuously walking through the building. The trajectory of the laser scanner is usually discarded in the analysis, although it gives insight about indoor spaces and the topological relations between them. In this research, the trajectory is used in conjunction with the point cloud to subdivide the indoor space into stories, staircases, doorways, and rooms. Analyzing the scanner trajectory as a standalone dataset is used to identify the staircases and to separate the stories. Also, the doors that are traversed by the operator during the scanning are identified by processing only the interesting spots of the point cloud with the help of the trajectory. Semantic information like different space labels is assigned to the trajectory based on the detected doors. Finally, the point cloud is semantically enriched by transferring the labels from the annotated trajectory to the full point cloud. Four real-world datasets with a total of seven stories are used to evaluate the proposed methods. The evaluation items are the total number of correctly detected rooms, doors, and staircases.
Retrieving the Diurnal FPAR of a Maize Canopy from the Jointing Stage to the Tasseling Stage with Vegetation Indices under Different Water Stresses and Light Conditions
Authors: Zhao Liang , Liu Zhigang , Xu Shan , He Xue , Ni Zhuoya , Zhao Huarong , Ren Sanxue
Published: November 2018

The fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) is a key variable in the model of vegetation productivity. Vegetation indices (VIs) that were derived from instantaneous remote-sensing data have been successfully used to estimate the FPAR of a day or a longer period. However, it has not yet been verified whether continuous VIs can be used to accurately estimate the diurnal dynamics of a vegetation canopy FPAR, which may fluctuate dramatically within a day. In this study, we measured the high temporal resolution spectral data (480 to 850 nm) and FPAR data of a maize canopy from the jointing stage to the tasseling stage under different irrigation and illumination conditions using two automatic observation systems. To estimate the FPAR, we developed regression models based on a quadratic function using 13 kinds of VIs. The results show the following: (1) Under nondrought conditions, although the illumination condition (sunny or cloudy) influenced the trend of the canopy diurnal FPAR, it had only a slight effect on the model accuracies of the FPAR-VIs. The maximum coefficients of determination (R2) of the FPAR-VIs models generated for the sunny nondrought data, the cloudy nondrought data, and all of the nondrought data were 0.895, 0.88, and 0.828, respectively. The VIs—including normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green NDVI (GNDVI), red-edge simple ratio (SR705), modified simple ratio 2 (mSR2), red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI705), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI)—that were related to the canopy structure had higher estimation accuracies (R2 > 0.8) than the other VIs that were related to the soil adjustment, chlorophyll, and physiology. The estimation accuracies of the GNDVI and some red-edge VIs (including NDVI705, SR705, and mSR2) were higher than the estimation accuracy of the NDVI. (2) Under drought stress, the FPAR decreased significantly because of leaf wilting and the effective leaf area index decrease around noon. When we included drought data in the model, accuracies were reduced dramatically and the R2 value of the best model was only 0.59. When we built the regression models based only on drought data, the EVI, which can weaken the influence of soil, had the best estimate accuracy (R2 = 0.68).
A NiFe Alloy Reduced on Graphene Oxide for Electrochemical Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensing
Authors: Deng Zhe-Peng , Sun Yu , Wang Yong-Cheng , Gao Jian-De
Published: November 2018

A NiFe alloy nanoparticle/graphene oxide hybrid (NiFe/GO) was prepared for electrochemical glucose sensing. The as-prepared NiFe/GO hybrid was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that NiFe alloy nanoparticles can be successfully deposited on GO. The electrochemical glucose sensing performance of the as-prepared NiFe/GO hybrid was studied by cyclic voltammetry and amperometric measurement. Results showed that the NiFe/GO-modified glassy carbon electrode had sensitivity of 173 μA mM−1 cm−2 for glucose sensing with a linear range up to 5 mM, which is superior to that of commonly used Ni nanoparticles. Furthermore, high selectivity for glucose detection could be achieved by the NiFe/GO hybrid. All the results demonstrated that the NiFe/GO hybrid has promise for application in electrochemical glucose sensing.
How to Improve Sensitivity of Sandwich Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Corpuscular Antigens on the Example of Potato Virus Y?
Authors: Razo Shyatesa C. , Panferov Vasily G. , Safenkova Irina V. , Varitsev Yuri A. , Zherdev Anatoly V. , Pakina Elena N. , Dzantiev Boris B.
Published: November 2018

A simple approach was proposed to decrease the detection limit of sandwich lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) by changing the conditions for binding between a polyvalent antigen and a conjugate of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with antibodies. In this study, the potato virus Y (PVY) was used as the polyvalent antigen, which affects economically important plants in the Solanaceae family. The obtained polyclonal antibodies that are specific to PVY were characterized using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). For LFIA, the antibodies were conjugated with GNPs with a diameter of 17.4 ± 1.0 nm. We conducted LFIAs using GNP conjugates in a dried state on the test strip and after pre-incubation with a sample. Pre-incubating the GNP conjugates and sample for 30 s was found to decrease the detection limit by 60-fold from 330 ng∙mL−1 to 5.4 ng∙mL−1 in comparison with conventional LFIA. The developed method was successfully tested for its ability to detect PVY in infected and uninfected potato leaves. The quantitative results of the proposed LFIA with pre-incubation were confirmed by ELISA, and resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.891. The proposed approach is rapid, simple, and preserves the main advantages of LFIA as a non-laboratory diagnostic method.
A Novel Device-Free Counting Method Based on Channel Status Information
Authors: Li Junhuai , Tu Pengjia , Wang Huaijun , Wang Kan , Yu Lei
Published: November 2018

Crowd counting is of significant importance for numerous applications, e.g., urban security, intelligent surveillance and crowd management. Existing crowd counting methods typically require specialized hardware deployment and strict operating conditions, thereby hindering their widespread application. To acquire a more effective crowd counting approach, a device-free counting method based on Channel Status Information (CSI) is proposed. The wavelet domain denoising is introduced to mitigate environment noise. Furthermore, the amplitude or phase covariance matrix is extracted as the eigenmatrix. Moreover, both the spatial diversity and frequency diversity are leveraged to improve detection robustness. At the same experimental environment, the accuracy of the proposed CSI-based method is compared with a renowned crowd counting one, i.e., Electronic Frog Eye: Counting Crowd Using WiFi (FCC). The experimental results reveal an accuracy improvement of 30% over FCC.
Indonesian Traditional Market Flexibility Amidst State Promoted Market Competition
Authors: Purnomo Mangku , Otten Fenna , Faust Heiko
Published: November 2018

The penetration of modern supermarkets is believed to be the cause of the declining role of traditional markets and street vendors in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the competition between state-promoted markets and traditional markets is rarely discussed, both adaptation of market institution and strategy of market actors. This research outlined a theoretical understanding of the dynamics of traditional markets, along the concepts of market flexibility as an adaptation strategy and coordination problems as market actor strategies. The researchers empirically reflect the strategies of four traditional vegetable markets that still survive from tight competition—both the market itself as a social institution, and the strategies of actors involved in market transactions. The traditional market builds flexibility by: (1) Specifying commodities, (2) segmenting customers, (3) changing market operating hour, (4) modifying transportation to operate more efficiently, and (5) low cost market management. At the actor level, competition problems are resolved by utilizing an emotional sentiment of friendship social relations; the formation of prices is determined by developing effective networks of information; and the cooperation problem is dealt with by building a system of punishment and reward based on informal mechanisms. This finding verifies the thesis stating that market competitiveness is determined by institutional flexibility against competition and the ability of market actors to build effective social interactions to maintain market sustainability. Based on the above explanation, further research needs to be focused on calculating how much efficiency is built due to market flexibility, both the transaction cost and the production cost in a quantitative manner. At the actor level, it is necessary to delineate the strategies being built, whether based on pure rational or economic and moral or non-economic considerations in solving coordination problems in the market.
Nitrogen Fertilization Reduces the Capacity of Soils to Take up Atmospheric Carbonyl Sulphide
Authors: Kaisermann Aurore , Jones Sam P. , Wohl Steven , Ogée Jérôme , Wingate Lisa
Published: November 2018

Soils are an important carbonyl sulphide (COS) sink. However, they can also act as sources of COS to the atmosphere. Here we demonstrate that variability in the soil COS sink and source strength is strongly linked to the available soil inorganic nitrogen (N) content across a diverse range of biomes in Europe. We revealed in controlled laboratory experiments that a one-off addition of ammonium nitrate systematically decreased the COS uptake rate whilst simultaneously increasing the COS production rate of soils from boreal and temperate sites in Europe. Furthermore, we found strong links between variations in the two gross COS fluxes, microbial biomass, and nitrate and ammonium contents, providing new insights into the mechanisms involved. Our findings provide evidence for how the soil–atmosphere exchange of COS is likely to vary spatially and temporally, a necessary step for constraining the role of soils and land use in the COS mass budget.
An Asymmetric Nash Bargaining Model for Carbon Emission Quota Allocation among Industries: Evidence from Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Ye Fei , Li Lixu , Wang Zhiqiang , Li Yina
Published: November 2018

As the most cost-effective mechanism, an emissions trading scheme (ETS) plays an important role in mitigating global warming, whilst any such scheme requires the initial allocation of quotas. Current allocation methods, however, pay little attention to the interests of abatement entities, which will hinder the long-term sustainable goals. To mobilize the enthusiasm of different abatement entities, this study proposes a multiplayer asymmetric Nash bargaining model, ensuring that all entities can obtain more quotas after negotiation. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method, this study selects Guangdong where the principal allocation method is the grandfathering approach as an illustrative case and develops three preference cases including balanced weighting, economic-oriented weighting, and emission-oriented weighting. The empirical results show that the proposed method not only reflects the “polluter pays principle”, but also helps to save emission reduction costs. In further analysis, this study considers both free allocation ratio and ETS coverage, providing inspirations for policy makers to develop new ETS regulations. In general, the proposed method not only assists policy makers of Guangdong in improving the current ETS deficiencies but also can be generalized into other regions.
Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Façade Concepts Based on Transparent Insulation Materials
Authors: Struhala Karel , Čekon Miroslav , Slávik Richard
Published: November 2018

Contemporary architecture and construction industry are trying to cope with increasing requirements concerning energy efficiency and environmental impacts. One of the available options is the active utilization of energy gains from the environment, specifically solar energy gains. These gains can be utilized by, for example, solar walls and facades. The solar façade concept has been under development for more than a century. However, it has not achieved widespread use for various reasons. Rather recently the concept was enhanced by the application of transparent insulation materials that have the potential to increase the efficiency of such façades. The presented study evaluates the environmental efficiency of 10 solar façade assemblies in the mild climate of the Czech Republic, Central Europe. The evaluated façade assemblies combine the principles of a solar wall with transparent insulation based on honeycomb and polycarbonate panels. The study applies Life-Cycle Assessment methodology to the calculation of environmental impacts related to the life cycle of the evaluated assemblies. The results indicate that even though there are several limiting factors, façade assemblies with transparent insulation have lower environmental impacts compared to a reference assembly with standard thermal insulation. The highest achieved difference is approx. 84% (in favor of the assembly with transparent insulation) during a modelled 50-year façade assembly service life.
Are Seat and Aisle Interferences Affecting the Overall Airplane Boarding Time? An Agent-Based Approach
Authors: Delcea Camelia , Cotfas Liviu-Adrian , Crăciun Liliana , Molanescu Anca Gabriela
Published: November 2018

Seat and aisle interferences are assumed to be linked with a prolonged boarding time along with several other aspects related to airplane boarding such as: luggage handling, luggage distribution inside the cabin, number of passengers, passengers’ physique characteristics, group behavior, seat selection, aircraft occupancy, aircraft design, etc. Based on these assumptions, a series of proposed boarding methods, underlying their efficiency starting from the absence or limited presence of these types of interferences, are proposed. The present paper aims to analyze whether the different types of seat or aisle interferences do matter for the overall boarding time by considering 24 boarding methods proposed in the literature. A series of specific elements related to interferences, such as: the average waiting time, the average number of interferences based on their types, and the average number of interference-affected passengers, have been considered. Also, the presence of multiple interferences in different parts of the aircraft has been analyzed in order to offer a complete picture of the considered situation. An agent-based model in NetLogo 6.0.4, fed with values form field trials within the literature is created and used for simulations, which enables the agents to act like real passengers involved in an airplane boarding process.
Simplified Neutrosophic Sets Based on Interval Dependent Degree for Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making Problems
Authors: Xu Libo , Li Xingsen , Pang Chaoyi , Guo Yan
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a new approach and framework based on the interval dependent degree for multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problems with simplified neutrosophic sets (SNSs) is proposed. Firstly, the simplified dependent function and distribution function are defined. Then, they are integrated into the interval dependent function which contains interval computing and distribution information of the intervals. Subsequently, the interval transformation operator is defined to convert simplified neutrosophic numbers (SNNs) into intervals, and then the interval dependent function for SNNs is deduced. Finally, an example is provided to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, together with its comparative analysis. In addition, uncertainty analysis, which can reflect the dynamic change of the final result caused by changes in the decision makers’ preferences, is performed in different distribution function situations. That increases the reliability and accuracy of the result.
Effective 5G Wireless Downlink Scheduling and Resource Allocation in Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Vora Ankur , Kang Kyoung-Don
Published: November 2018

In emerging Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the demand for higher communication performance and enhanced wireless connectivity is increasing fast. To address the issue, in our recent work, we proposed a dynamic programming algorithm with polynomial time complexity for effective cross-layer downlink Scheduling and Resource Allocation (SRA) considering the channel and queue state, while supporting fairness. In this paper, we extend the SRA algorithm to consider 5G use-cases, namely enhanced Machine Type Communication (eMTC), Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) and enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB). In a simulation study, we evaluate the performance of our SRA algorithm in comparison to an advanced greedy cross-layer algorithm for eMTC, URLLC and LTE (long-term evolution). For eMTC and URLLC, our SRA method outperforms the greedy approach by up to 17.24%, 18.1%, 2.5% and 1.5% in terms of average goodput, correlation impact, goodput fairness and delay fairness, respectively. In the case of LTE, our approach outperforms the greedy method by 60%, 2.6% and 1.6% in terms of goodput, goodput fairness and delay fairness compared with tested baseline.
Premature Puberty and Thimerosal-Containing Hepatitis B Vaccination: A Case-Control Study in the Vaccine Safety Datalink
Authors: Geier David A. , Kern Janet K. , Geier Mark R.
Published: November 2018

Studies suggest a relationship between exposure to endocrine disrupters, such as mercury (Hg), and premature puberty. Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine, administered at specific intervals within the first six months of life, and the child’s long-term risk of being diagnosed with premature puberty (ICD-9 code: 259.1), was retrospectively examined, using a hypothesis-testing, longitudinal case-control design on prospectively collected data, in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Cases diagnosed with premature puberty were significantly more likely to have received increased exposure to Hg from hepatitis B vaccines preserved with Thimerosal given in the first month after birth (odds ratio (OR) = 1.803), first two months after birth (OR = 1.768), and first six months after birth (OR = 2.0955), compared to control subjects. When the data were separated by gender, the effects remained among females but not males. Female cases, as compared to female controls, were significantly more likely in a dose-dependent manner to have received a greater exposure to Hg from hepatitis B vaccines preserved with Thimerosal, given in the first six months after birth (OR = 1.0281 per µg Hg). The results of this study show a dose-dependent association between increasing organic Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines administered within the first six months of life and the long-term risk of the child being diagnosed with premature puberty.
Glycans Controlling Virus Infections: Meeting Report on the 1st International Symposium on Glycovirology Schöntal, Germany, 02–04 May 2018
Authors: Stehle Thilo , Peters Thomas , Hartmann Laura , Schelhaas Mario
Published: November 2018

Glycans are, with nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, one of the four founding structures of cellular life. Due to their non-template synthesis, they are inherently heterogeneous and difficult to study with regards to their structure and function. Since 2016, the research group ViroCarb, funded by the German Research Foundation, has investigated the role of glycans in non-enveloped virus infections with a highly interdisciplinary approach. The core idea was to bring together scientists and students from various disciplines such as structural biology, cell biology, virology and chemistry to advance research by an interdisciplinary means. In 2018, ViroCarb hosted the 1st International Symposium on Glycovirology in Schöntal, Germany, with a similar aim. Scientists from various disciplines gathered to discuss their area of study, present recent findings, establish or strengthen collaborations, and mentor the next generation of glycovirologists through formal presentations and informal discussions. The secluded meeting at the monastery of Schöntal gave ample time for in-depth discussions. On behalf of ViroCarb, this report summarizes the reports and highlights advances in the field.
Object-Based Convolutional Neural Networks for Cloud and Snow Detection in High-Resolution Multispectral Imagers
Authors: Wang Lei , Chen Yang , Tang Luliang , Fan Rongshuang , Yao Yunlong
Published: November 2018

Cloud and snow detection is one of the most significant tasks for remote sensing image processing. However, it is a challenging task to distinguish between clouds and snow in high-resolution multispectral images due to their similar spectral distributions. The shortwave infrared band (SWIR, e.g., Sentinel-2A 1.55–1.75 µm band) is widely applied to the detection of snow and clouds. However, high-resolution multispectral images have a lack of SWIR, and such traditional methods are no longer practical. To solve this problem, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify cloud and snow on an object level is proposed in this paper. Specifically, a novel CNN structure capable of learning cloud and snow multiscale semantic features from high-resolution multispectral imagery is presented. In order to solve the shortcoming of “salt-and-pepper” in pixel level predictions, we extend a simple linear iterative clustering algorithm for segmenting high-resolution multispectral images and generating superpixels. Results demonstrated that the new proposed method can with better precision separate the cloud and snow in the high-resolution image, and results are more accurate and robust compared to the other methods.
Recherches sur la glauconie
Authors: Sabatier Germain
Published: November 2018

On rencontre la glauconie en France dans de nombreuses assises sédimentaires sous la forme de grains verts cryptocristallins. Quelques échantillons ont ainsi été recueillis en vue d'une étude d'ensemble de ce minéral. Une attention particulière a été donnée au rôle de l'eau dans la glauconie qu'on a étudié par déshydratation à la thermo-balance, par l'analyse thermique différentielle et par l'examen des isothermes d'adsorbtion. Ces données combinées aux résultats de l'analyse chimique et de l'étude aux rayons X conduisent à considérer la glauconie comme une phyllite, à feuillets du type muscovite, associée à une quantité variable d'eau hygroscopique. Parmi les propriétés physiques la densité, l'indice moyen de réfraction et la susceptibilité magnétique ont été mesurés. On a montré en fin que vis-à-vis des solutions électrolytiques la glauconie se comporte d'une façon tout à fait analogue aux minéraux argileux. En conclusion, les échantillons étudiés présentent un ensemble de propriétés communes bien nettes qui permettent de considérer la glauconie, contrairement à une opinion généralement répandue, comme un minéral parfaitement défini.
Sensibilité des macles mécaniques aux défauts primaires de structure
Authors: Deicha Georges
Published: November 2018

Les propriétés mécaniques des cristaux se montrent souvent très sensibles aux différences des conditions de genèse : Prenant comme exemple le chlorure de baryum (Cl₂Ba, 2H₂O), l'auteur montre que les macles mécaniques sont influencées par les défauts de structure qui se sont produits lors de la cristallisation.
Sur une nouvelle variété d'idocrase de l'Oued el Achek (Maroc)
Authors: Sandréa André Philippe
Published: November 2018

Il s'agit d'un minéral rose vif, abondant dans un banc de calcaire cipolin, situé au NE du Djebel Izougerz, le long de l'Oued el Achek (Feuille topographique 1/50. 000e. Agelmous, Maroc). Recueilli en juin 1949.

Le minéral est polychroïque en rose et jaune, n moyen = 1.74, peu biréfringent, uniaxe négatif, et présente des zones marginales biaxes positives, très dispersives. (d = 3.45.)

L'analyse chimique donne une composition d'alumino-silicate de calcium de contact calcaire : SiO₂ = 40 % ; CaO = 31 % ; Al₃O₂ = 11 % ; Fe₂O₃ = 5 % ; MgO =4% ; TiO₂, K₂O, Na₂O, H₂O = 8 %.

Les diagrammes de rayons X indiquent une structure étroitement apparentée à l'idocrase.

Il s'agit donc d'une nouvelle variété d'idocrase rose, titanée, non manganésifère, sans bore ni fluor, présentant des aberrations optiques analogues à celles du groupe des Wiluites.
Nouvel essai d'identification du minéral de la Table près Allevard, l'allevardite
Authors: Caillère Simonne , Mathieu-Sicaud A. , Hénin Stéphane
Published: November 2018

Le minéral trouvé par Legh Powell doit être considéré comme une espèce nouvelle pour laquelle nous proposons le nom d'allevardite. C'est un minéral phylliteux, voisin de la montmorillonite dans lequel les feuillets mica, généralement groupés par deux, sont séparés par une couche de molécules d'eau.
Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo IV. La threadgoldite, Al (UO2)2 (PO4)2 (OH) • 8H2O, nouveau minéral
Authors: Deliens Michel , Piret Paul
Published: November 2018

La threadgoldite se présente en tablettes micacées jaune verdâtre. Optiquement, elle est biaxe négative, 2 V = 70° ; ng = 1,588, nm = 1,583 et np (calculé) = 1,573. Système monoclinique avec a = 20,25 Å, b = 9,85 Å, c = 19,75 Å et β = 111,4°. Groupe spatial Cc ou C2/c. Densité calculée pour Z = 8 : 3,32 g/cm3. Densité mesurée : 3,4 g/cm3. Les raies principales du diagramme de poudre sont [d (Å), hkl, (I)] : 9,43, 200 (100), 3,474, 224 (80), 3,366, 024 (60), 2,197, 228 et 428 (60), 5,35, 312 (50). Analyse chimique à la microsonde électronique : Al2O3 5,4 %, UO3 63,5 %, P2O5 13,7 %, H2O par différence 17,4 % et par thermogravimétrie 17,0 %. Formule : Al (UO2)2 (PO4)2 (OH) -8H2O. Le minéral provient de la pegmatite de Kobokobo (Kivu, Zaïre). Le nom est en l'honneur de Ian M. Threadgold, géologue australien et auteur de la description sommaire d'un minéral analogue.