bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Internship Assessment in Medical Colleges of Bangladesh
Authors: Noman Farhana , Asaduzzaman AKM , Talukder Humayun Kabir , Arefin ASM Shamsul , Rahman Shamima
Published: April 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the current status of the internship assessment in medical colleges of Bangladesh. Internship acts as the pathway from being a medical student to becoming a registered doctor. Hence, a rigorous and robust internship leads to producing better doctor and in turn better healthcare. Thus, proper assessment is necessary to ensure the quality of the future medical practitioners. Unfortunately, no study has been done in Bangladesh related to this context. A cross-sectional descriptive study with pre-tested self-administered questionnaires covering study place and population and factors relevant to intern assessment (assessment after each major discipline completion, assessment techniques, and feedback) was performed. The study was carried out in 8 medical colleges (4 public and 4 non-government; 4 inside Dhaka and 4 outside). 300 completed questionnaires (250 interns, 50 supervisors) were analyzed. All the collected data were analyzed and presented with SPSS v 19.0 software. Results revealed that there was no assessment present after completion of major placement rotation (about 54% interns and 24% teachers). Furthermore, only logbook was signed as the prevailing assessment technique (more than 66% interns and 72% doctors). Moreover, assessment feedback system was not fully functional (48.7% respondent views). Hence, the overall scenario is shabby and poses questions on our future doctors' skill set.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.8(1) 2017: 14-17
Cervical Spine Status of Pilots and Air-Controllers of Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft
Authors: Shin Young Ho , Yun Chul , Han Andrew Hogyu
Published: April 2017

INTRODUCTION: Many countries have developed their own airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems for use in surveying their territorial sky in real time. However, a review of the literature suggests that no studies have been conducted to analyze the cervical spine
of pilots and air-controllers of AEW&C aircraft.METHODS: The study subjects were 80 pilots and air-controllers of AEW&C aircraft with a period of service of > 1 yr and had data on physical examinations, simple radiographs and functional scores of the axial skeleton, and
questionnaires about lifestyle and working conditions. Information about physical characteristics and experience of neck pain were collected. Functional scores including the neck disability index and short-form 36-item health survey were obtained. Radiological measurements were performed for
the C2-7 Cobb angle and degree of forward head posture.RESULTS: Of the 80 subjects, 33 (41.3%) had experienced neck pain and 63 (78.8%) had impaired cervical lordosis. The results of functional and radiological evaluations were not significantly different between pilots and air-controllers.
In multivariate analysis, only the age was significantly related to the occurrence of impaired cervical lordosis. However, there were no significant factors related to the occurrence of neck pain.DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that the working environment of pilots
and air-controllers of AEW&C aircraft has a negative effect on their cervical spine. Age seemed to be the most significant factor affecting the occurrence of impaired cervical lordosis in these subjects.Shin YH, Yun C, Han AH. Cervical spine status of pilots and air-controllers
of airborne early warning and control aircraft. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(5):476–480.
Transferring Aviation Practices into Clinical Medicine for the Promotion of High Reliability
Authors: Powell-Dunford Nicole , McPherson Mark K. , Pina Joseph S. , Gaydos Steven J.
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND: Aviation is a classic example of a high reliability organization (HRO)—an organization in which catastrophic events are expected to occur without control measures. As health care systems transition toward high reliability, aviation practices are increasingly
transferred for clinical implementation.METHODS: A PubMed search using the terms aviation, crew resource management, and patient safety was undertaken. Manuscripts authored by physician pilots and accident investigation regulations were analyzed. Subject matter experts involved
in adoption of aviation practices into the medical field were interviewed.RESULTS: A PubMed search yielded 621 results with 22 relevant for inclusion. Improved clinical outcomes were noted in five research trials in which aviation practices were adopted, particularly with regard
to checklist usage and crew resource-management training. Effectiveness of interventions was influenced by intensity of application, leadership involvement, and provision of staff training. The usefulness of incorporating mishap investigation techniques has not been established. Whereas aviation
accident investigation is highly standardized, the investigation of medical error is characterized by variation.DISCUSSION: The adoption of aviation practices into clinical medicine facilitates an evolution toward high reliability. Evidence for the efficacy of the checklist and
crew resource-management training is robust. Transference of aviation accident investigation practices is preliminary. A standardized, independent investigation process could facilitate the development of a safety culture commensurate with that achieved in the aviation industry.Powell-Dunford
N, McPherson MK, Pina JS, Gaydos SJ. Transferring aviation practices into clinical medicine for the promotion of high reliability. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(5):487–491.
Reliable Portfolio Selection Problem in Fuzzy Environment: An mλ Measure Based Approach
Authors: Feng Yuan , Wang Li , Liu Xinhong
Published: April 2017

This paper investigates a fuzzy portfolio selection problem with guaranteed reliability, in which the fuzzy variables are used to capture the uncertain returns of different securities. To effectively handle the fuzziness in a mathematical way, a new expected value operator and variance of fuzzy variables are defined based on the m λ measure that is a linear combination of the possibility measure and necessity measure to balance the pessimism and optimism in the decision-making process. To formulate the reliable portfolio selection problem, we particularly adopt the expected total return and standard variance of the total return to evaluate the reliability of the investment strategies, producing three risk-guaranteed reliable portfolio selection models. To solve the proposed models, an effective genetic algorithm is designed to generate the approximate optimal solution to the considered problem. Finally, the numerical examples are given to show the performance of the proposed models and algorithm.
Direct Entry Minimal Path UAV Loitering Path Planning
Authors: Wilhelm Jay , Clem Garrett , Eberhart Gina
Published: April 2017

Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) performing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) typically fly over Areas of Interest (AOIs) to collect sensor data of the ground from the air. If needed, the traditional method of extending sensor collection time is to loiter or turn circularly around the center of an AOI. Current Autopilot systems on small UAVs can be limited in their feature set and typically follow a waypoint chain system that allows for loitering, but requires that the center of the AOI to be traversed which may produce unwanted turns outside of the AOI before entering the loiter. An investigation was performed to compare the current loitering techniques against two novel smart loitering methods. The first method investigated, Tangential Loitering Path Planner (TLPP), utilized paths tangential to the AOIs to enter and exit efficiently, eliminating unnecessary turns outside of the AOI. The second method, Least Distance Loitering Path Planner (LDLPP), utilized four unique flight maneuvers that reduce transit distances while eliminating unnecessary turns outside of the AOI present in the TLPP method. Simulation results concluded that the Smart Loitering Methods provide better AOI coverage during six mission scenarios. It was also determined that the LDLPP method spends less time in transit between AOIs. The reduction in required transit time could be used for surveying additional AOIs.
Natural Phenol Polymers: Recent Advances in Food and Health Applications
Authors: Panzella Lucia , Napolitano Alessandra
Published: April 2017

Natural phenol polymers are widely represented in nature and include a variety of classes including tannins and lignins as the most prominent. Largely consumed foods are rich sources of phenol polymers, notably black foods traditionally used in East Asia, but other non-edible, easily accessible sources, e.g., seaweeds and wood, have been considered with increasing interest together with waste materials from agro-based industries, primarily grape pomace and other byproducts of fruit and coffee processing. Not in all cases were the main structural components of these materials identified because of their highly heterogeneous nature. The great beneficial effects of natural phenol-based polymers on human health and their potential in improving the quality of food were largely explored, and this review critically addresses the most interesting and innovative reports in the field of nutrition and biomedicine that have appeared in the last five years. Several in vivo human and animal trials supported the proposed use of these materials as food supplements and for amelioration of the health and production of livestock. Biocompatible and stable functional polymers prepared by peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of natural phenols, as well as natural phenol polymers were exploited as conventional and green plastic additives in smart packaging and food-spoilage prevention applications. The potential of natural phenol polymers in regenerative biomedicine as additives of biomaterials to promote growth and differentiation of osteoblasts is also discussed.
Hierarchical Wavelet-Aided Neural Intelligent Identification of Structural Damage in Noisy Conditions
Authors: Cao Mao-Sen , Ding Yu-Juan , Ren Wei-Xin , Wang Quan , Ragulskis Minvydas , Ding Zhi-Chun
Published: April 2017

A sophisticated hierarchical neural network model for intelligent assessment of structural damage is constructed by the synergetic action of auto-associative neural networks (AANNs) and Levenberg-Marquardt neural networks (LMNNs). With the model, AANNs aided by the wavelet packet transform are firstly employed to extract damage features from measured dynamic responses and LMNNs are then utilized to undertake damage pattern recognition. The synergetic functions endow the model with a unique mechanism of intelligent damage identification in structures. The model is applied for the identification of damage in a three-span continuous bridge, with particular emphasis on noise interference. The results show that the AANNs can produce a low-dimensional space of damage features, from which LMNNs can recognize both the location and the severity of structural damage with great accuracy and strong robustness against noise. The proposed model holds promise for developing viable intelligent damage identification technology for actual engineering structures.
Modeling and Dynamics of a MDOF Isolation System
Authors: Song Youshuo , Sun Xiuting
Published: April 2017

This study analyzes the modeling and dynamics of a novel passive multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) vibration isolation platform which can achieve a significant isolation effect. Symmetrical scissor-like structures (SLSs) are utilized in the proposed MDOF isolation platform as the supporting and isolation elastic components. Based on the mathematical modeling and theoretical analysis of the MDOF vibration isolation system with SLSs, the effects of structural parameters and joint friction on the stiffness and damping properties are investigated. It is shown that due to geometric relations within the SLSs, the natural frequencies can be reduced via adjusting structural parameters of the SLS for different direction vibration isolation. Theoretical and experimental results show that the SLS isolation platform can achieve much better loading capacity and vibration isolation performance simultaneously by only using linear passive components because of the MDOF adjustable stiffness property. Therefore, with low cost and energy consumption, the proposed novel isolation platform can improve the vibration suppression in various engineering practices.
Parametric Sensitivity Analysis on the Buffeting Control of a Long-Span Triple-Tower Suspension Bridge with MTMD
Authors: Tao Tianyou , Wang Hao , Yao Chengyuan , He Xuhui
Published: April 2017

The long-span triple-tower suspension bridge is a brand-new type of structural form with typical wind-sensitive features. Inevitable wind-induced vibrations will heavily influence the driving comfort during strong winds and shorten the fatigue life of the bridge structure, which highlights the demand for the mitigation of wind-induced vibrations of long-span bridges. In this study, a parametric analysis is performed to investigate the control effect of multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMD) on the buffeting responses of a long-span triple-tower suspension bridge. Taking Taizhou Bridge as an example, the buffeting analysis is conducted via the finite-element-based approach. A step-updating framework is presented to guide the parametric analysis and determine the preferred values of the mechanical parameters of the MTMD. Specifically, four parameters—including the number of TMDs, the mass ratio, the damping ratio, and the frequency bandwidth ratio—are included in the parametric analysis. The robustness of the MTMD is also evaluated by changing another parameter called the frequency ratio. It is found that the performance of the MTMD is sensitive to the variation of the four parameters and the robustness can be adjusted by increasing the frequency bandwidth ratio. Utilizing the MTMD with reasonable mechanical parameters, the buffeting responses of the long-span triple-tower suspension bridge under strong winds can be effectively mitigated.
Viscosity Prediction of Different Ethylene Glycol/Water Based Nanofluids Using a RBF Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Ningbo , Li Zhiming
Published: April 2017

In this study, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network with three-layer feed forward architecture was developed to effectively predict the viscosity ratio of different ethylene glycol/water based nanofluids. A total of 216 experimental data involving CuO, TiO2, SiO2, and SiC nanoparticles were collected from the published literature to train and test the RBF neural network. The parameters including temperature, nanoparticle properties (size, volume fraction, and density), and viscosity of the base fluid were selected as the input variables of the RBF neural network. The investigations demonstrated that the viscosity ratio predicted by the RBF neural network agreed well with the experimental data. The root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), sum of squared error (SSE), and statistical coefficient of multiple determination (R2) were respectively 0.04615, 2.12738%, 0.46007, and 0.99925 for the total samples when the Spread was 0.3. In addition, the RBF neural network had a better ability for predicting the viscosity ratio of nanofluids than the typical Batchelor model and Chen model, and the prediction performance of RBF neural networks were affected by the size of the data set.
P-Wave Positron-Hydrogen Scattering, Annihilation, and Positronium Formation
Authors: Bhatia Anand
Published: April 2017

In a previous paper (Bhatia A.K. 2016), a hybrid theory for the scattering of positrons from hydrogen atoms was applied to calculate S-wave phase shifts, annihilation, and positronium formation cross sections. This approach is now being applied to calculate P-wave positron-hydrogen scattering. The present results, obtained using short-range correlation functions along with long-range correlations in the Schrödinger equation at the same time, agree very well with the results obtained in an earlier calculation by Bhatia et al. (1974), using the Feshbach projection operator formalism. In these earlier calculations, the correction due to the long-range correlations was applied to the variational results. In spite of the fact that this ad hoc correction destroyed the variational bound, the final results have been considered accurate. Annihilation cross-sections, positronium formation cross-sections, calculated in the distorted-wave approximation, are also presented.
How Hyperarousal and Sleep Reactivity Are Represented in Different Adult Age Groups: Results from a Large Cohort Study on Insomnia
Authors: Altena Ellemarije , Chen Ivy , Daviaux Yannick , Ivers Hans , Philip Pierre , Morin Charles
Published: April 2017

Hyperarousal is a 24-h state of elevated cognitive and physiological activation, and is a core feature of insomnia. The extent to which sleep quality is affected by stressful events—so-called sleep reactivity—is a vulnerability factor for developing insomnia. Given the increasing prevalence of insomnia with age, we aimed to investigate how hyperarousal and sleep reactivity were related to insomnia severity in different adult age groups. Data were derived from a large cohort study investigating the natural history of insomnia in a population-based sample (n = 1693). Baseline data of the Arousal Predisposition Scale (APS) and Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST) were examined across age and sleep/insomnia subgroups: 25–35 (n = 448), 35–45 (n = 528), and 45–55 year olds (n = 717); good sleepers (n = 931), individuals with insomnia symptoms (n = 450), and individuals with an insomnia syndrome (n = 312). Results from factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed that APS scores decreased with increasing age, but increased with more severe sleep problems. FIRST scores were not significantly different across age groups, but showed the same strong increase as a function of sleep problem severity. The findings indicate that though arousal predisposition and sleep reactivity increase with more severe sleep problems, only arousal decreases with age. How arousing events affect an individual during daytime thus decreases with age, but how this arousal disrupts sleep is equivalent across different adult age groups. The main implication of these findings is that treatment of insomnia could be adapted for different age groups and take into consideration vulnerability factors such as hyperarousal and stress reactivity.
Application of the Fuzzy Oil Drop Model Describes Amyloid as a Ribbonlike Micelle
Authors: Roterman Irena , Banach Mateusz , Konieczny Leszek
Published: April 2017

We propose a mathematical model describing the formation of micellar forms—whether spherical, globular, cylindrical, or ribbonlike—as well as its adaptation to protein structure. Our model, based on the fuzzy oil drop paradigm, assumes that in a spherical micelle the distribution of hydrophobicity produced by the alignment of polar molecules with the external water environment can be modeled by a 3D Gaussian function. Perturbing this function by changing the values of its sigma parameters leads to a variety of conformations—the model is therefore applicable to globular, cylindrical, and ribbonlike micelles. In the context of protein structures ranging from globular to ribbonlike, our model can explain the emergence of fibrillar forms; particularly amyloids.
Impact of Silicon Carbide Devices on the Powertrain Systems in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ding Xiaofeng , Cheng Jiawei , Chen Feida
Published: April 2017

The DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters based on silicon carbide (SiC) devices as battery interfaces, motor drives, etc., in electric vehicles (EVs) benefit from their low resistances, fast switching speed, high temperature tolerance, etc. Such advantages could improve the power density and efficiency of the converter and inverter systems in EVs. Furthermore, the total powertrain system in EVs is also affected by the converter and inverter system based on SiC, especially the capacity of the battery and the overall system efficiency. Therefore, this paper investigates the impact of SiC on the powertrain systems in EVs. First, the characteristics of SiC are evaluated by a double pulse test (DPT). Then, the power losses of the DC/DC converter, DC/AC inverter, and motor are measured. The measured results are assigned into a powertrain model built in the Advanced Vehicle Simulator (ADVISOR) software in order to explore a direct correlation between the SiC and the performance of the powertrain system in EVs, which are then compared with the conventional powertrain system based on silicon (Si). The test and simulation results demonstrate that the efficiency of the overall powertrain is significantly improved and the capacity of the battery can be remarkably reduced if the Si is replaced by SiC in the powertrain system.
Strategic Choices of China’s New Energy Vehicle Industry: An Analysis Based on ANP and SWOT
Authors: Wang Xiaojia , Li Chenggong , Shang Jennifer , Yang Changhui , Zhang Bingli , Ke Xinsheng
Published: April 2017

This goal of this paper is to provide a framework by which China should accelerate the development and production of new energy vehicles, which should effectively address current energy and environmental pressures, while promoting the sustainable development of the automotive industry, which is an urgent task. In addition, this paper provides guidelines that seek to transform China’s auto industry while developing a new economic growth point to gain an international competitive advantage with strategic initiatives. This study aims to provide an ANP-SWOT (Analytic Network Process and Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat analysis) approach for an interdependency analysis and to prioritize the new energy automobile industry in China. Firstly, a SWOT model is used to analyze the internal and external factors surrounding the development of the new energy automobile industry in China. Secondly, four types of development strategies are proposed by means of the SWOT matrix according to the conclusions of the factor analysis. Finally, the ANP network structure is designed to measure the effects of influential sub-factors, and then to define a strategic plan for China’s new energy automobile industry. The results of this study show that the optimal short-term development strategy for China’s new energy automotive industry is to increase the construction of new energy vehicle-related facilities, while the best long-term development strategy is to use local advantages and resources, through cost control measures which increase competition within the local new energy automotive industry.
Dependence of the Microporosity of Activated Carbons on the Lignocellulosic Composition of the Precursors
Authors: Román Silvia , Ledesma Beatriz , Álvarez-Murillo Andrés , Al-Kassir Awf , Yusaf Talal
Published: April 2017

A series of activated carbons were prepared by physical steam gasification under identical experimental conditions to compare the pore development from almond tree pruning chars and walnut shell activated carbons. The results obtained showed that steam gasification yields microporous carbons in both cases, and the rise in temperature causes an increase of the pore volumes of the activated carbons, up to a certain degree of burn-off. This effect was more marked for walnut shell, which gave rise to activated carbons with apparent surface values of up to 1434 m2 g−1. Also, a slight widening of porosity was found at low burn-off degrees. This pore widening was more marked in the case of activated carbons from almond tree pruning, which also have a high macropore volume. It was found that the lignocellulosic and porosity properties of the raw materials can cause this different behavior towards activation processes.
Surrogate Measures for the Robust Scheduling of Stochastic Job Shop Scheduling Problems
Authors: Xiao Shichang , Sun Shudong , Jin Jionghua (Judy)
Published: April 2017

This study focuses on surrogate measures (SMs) of robustness for the stochastic job shop scheduling problems (SJSSP) with uncertain processing times. The objective is to provide the robust predictive schedule to the decision makers. The mathematical model of SJSSP is formulated by considering the railway execution strategy, which defined that the starting time of each operation cannot be earlier than its predictive starting time. Robustness is defined as the expected relative deviation between the realized makespan and the predictive makespan. In view of the time-consuming characteristic of simulation-based robustness measure (RMsim), this paper puts forward new SMs and investigates their performance through simulations. By utilizing the structure of schedule and the available information of stochastic processing times, two SMs on the basis of minimizing the robustness degradation on the critical path and the non-critical path are suggested. For this purpose, a hybrid estimation of distribution algorithm (HEDA) is adopted to conduct the simulations. To analyze the performance of the presented SMs, two computational experiments are carried out. Specifically, the correlation analysis is firstly conducted by comparing the coefficient of determination between the presented SMs and the corresponding simulation-based robustness values with those of the existing SMs. Secondly, the effectiveness and the performance of the presented SMs are further validated by comparing with the simulation-based robustness measure under different uncertainty levels. The experimental results demonstrate that the presented SMs are not only effective for assessing the robustness of SJSSP no matter the uncertainty levels, but also require a tremendously lower computational burden than the simulation-based robustness measure.
Development of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Thermo-Chemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass
Authors: Grams Jacek , Ruppert Agnieszka
Published: April 2017

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most attractive renewable resources that can be used for the production of biofuels and valuable chemicals. However, problems associated with the low efficiency of its conversion and poor selectivity to desired products remain. Therefore, in recent years researchers have focused on the design of highly active and stable catalysts, enabling an increase in the effectiveness of lignocellulosic biomass processing. This work is devoted to the presentation of the latest trends in the studies of the heterogeneous catalysts used in thermo-chemical conversion of such feedstock. The systems applied for the production of both bio-oil and hydrogen-rich gas are discussed. Zeolites, mesoporous materials, metal oxides, supported metal catalysts, and modifications of their structure are described. Moreover, the impact of the physicochemical properties of the presented catalyst on their catalytic performance in the mentioned processes is demonstrated.
Comparison of Biodiesel Obtained from Virgin Cooking Oil and Waste Cooking Oil Using Supercritical and Catalytic Transesterification
Authors: Poudel Jeeban , Karki Sujeeta , Sanjel Nawaraj , Shah Malesh , Oh Sea
Published: April 2017

Comparative analysis of transesterification of virgin cooking oil (VCO) and waste cooking oil (WCO) in catalyzed and supercritical transesterification process using methanol and ethanol as solvents has been conducted in this study. The luminous point of this research was the direct comparison of catalytic and supercritical process using the ester composition obtained from virgin cooking oil and waste cooking oil transesterification. Oil to alcohol molar ratio of 1:6 and reaction condition of 65 °C and 1 bar pressure were considered for the catalytic process, while 260 °C and high pressure (65 and 75 bar for methanol and ethanol, respectively) were accounted for the supercritical process. Distinct layer separation was observed for both processes. Ester, fatty acid and glycerol composition was studied for both the upper and lower layers separately, from which 100% ester composition in the upper layer and a mixture of ester and other composition in the lower layer was obtained for the catalytic process owing to succeeding filtration and washing. However, mixture of ester (>75%) and other composition was obtained in both layers for the supercritical process where purification process was not implemented. The similarity in the result obtained demonstrates the superiority of waste cooking oil compared to virgin cooking oil, taking cost into consideration.
An Optimized Home Energy Management System with Integrated Renewable Energy and Storage Resources
Authors: Ahmad Adnan , Khan Asif , Javaid Nadeem , Hussain Hafiz Majid , Abdul Wadood , Almogren Ahmad , Alamri Atif , Azim Niaz Iftikhar
Published: April 2017

Traditional power grid and its demand-side management (DSM) techniques are centralized and mainly focus on industrial consumers. The ignorance of residential and commercial sectors in DSM activities degrades the overall performance of a conventional grid. Therefore, the concept of DSM and demand response (DR) via residential sector makes the smart grid (SG) superior over the traditional grid. In this context, this paper proposes an optimized home energy management system (OHEMS) that not only facilitates the integration of renewable energy source (RES) and energy storage system (ESS) but also incorporates the residential sector into DSM activities. The proposed OHEMS minimizes the electricity bill by scheduling the household appliances and ESS in response to the dynamic pricing of electricity market. First, the constrained optimization problem is mathematically formulated by using multiple knapsack problems, and then solved by using the heuristic algorithms; genetic algorithm (GA), binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO), wind driven optimization (WDO), bacterial foraging optimization (BFO) and hybrid GA-PSO (HGPO) algorithms. The performance of the proposed scheme and heuristic algorithms is evaluated via MATLAB simulations. Results illustrate that the integration of RES and ESS reduces the electricity bill and peak-to-average ratio (PAR) by 19.94% and 21.55% respectively. Moreover, the HGPO algorithm based home energy management system outperforms the other heuristic algorithms, and further reduces the bill by 25.12% and PAR by 24.88%.
Optimal Charging and Discharging Scheduling for Electric Vehicles in a Parking Station with Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage System
Authors: Yao Leehter , Damiran Zolboo , Lim Wei Hong
Published: April 2017

The economic and environmental benefits brought by electric vehicles (EVs) cannot be fully delivered unless these vehicles are fully or partially charged by renewable energy sources (RES) such as photovoltaic system (PVS). Nevertheless, the EV charging management problem of a parking station integrated with RES is challenging due to the uncertain nature of local RES generation. This paper aims to address these difficulties by deploying an energy storage system (ESS) in parking stations and exploiting the charging and discharging scheduling of EVs to achieve better utilization of intermittent PVS for EV charging. A real-time charging optimization scheme is also formulated, using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to coordinate the charging or discharging power of EVs along with the power dispatches of power grid and ESS based on the vehicles’ charging or discharging priorities and electricity price preferences. Extensive simulations show that the proposed approach not only maximizes the satisfaction of EV owners in terms of fulfilling all charging and discharging requests, but also minimizes the overall operational cost of the parking station by prioritizing the utilization of energy from PVS, ESS, and scheduling of every EV’s charging and discharging.
Volume and Carbon Estimates for the Forest Area of the Amhara Region in Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Sisay Kibruyesfa , Thurnher Christopher , Belay Beyene , Lindner Gerald , Hasenauer Hubert
Published: April 2017

Sustainable forest management requires a continuous assessment of the forest conditions covering the species distribution, standing tree volume as well as volume increment rates. Forest inventories are designed to record this information. They, in combination with ecosystem models, are the conceptual framework for sustainable forest management. While such management systems are common in many countries, no forest inventory system and/or modeling tools for deriving forest growth information are available in Ethiopia. This study assesses, for the first time, timber volume, carbon, and Net Primary Production (NPP) of forested areas in the Amhara region of northwestern Ethiopia by combining (i) terrestrial inventory data, and (ii) land cover classification information. The inventory data were collected from five sites across the Amhara region (Ambober, Gelawdiwos, Katassi, Mahiberesilasse and Taragedam) covering three forest types: (i) forests, (ii) shrublands (exclosures) and (ii) woodlands. The data were recorded on 198 sample plots and cover diameter at breast height, tree height, and increment information. In order to extrapolate the local terrestrial inventory data to the whole Amhara region, a digital land cover map from the Amhara’s Bureau of Agriculture was simplified into (i) forest, (ii) shrubland, and (iii) woodland. In addition, the forest area is further stratified in five elevation classes. Our results suggest that the forest area in the Amhara region covers 2% of the total land area with an average volume stock of 65.7 m3·ha−1; the shrubland covers 27% and a volume stock of 3.7 m3·ha−1; and the woodland covers 6% and an average volume stock of 27.6 m3·ha−1. The corresponding annual volume increment rates are 3.0 m3·ha−1, for the forest area; 1.0 m3·ha−1, for the shrubland; and 1.2 m3·ha−1, for the woodland. The estimated current total volume stock in the Amhara region is 59 million m3.
Look Down to See What’s Up: A Systematic Overview of Treefall Dynamics in Forests
Authors: Buettel Jessie C. , Ondei Stefania , Brook Barry W.
Published: April 2017

The study of treefall and its after-effects is a common theme in studies of forest structure and local dynamics, yet its value as descriptor of broader-scale ecological dynamics is rarely explored. Here we synthesize the most highly cited literature on treefalls, from 1985 to 2016 (in three-year blocks), highlighting the importance of the causes, characteristics and consequences of such events. We then ask how this knowledge might contribute to the broader conceptual model of forest dynamics, and develop two conceptual models, which we use to illustrate both the classic and alternative views of how forests ‘work’. Treefalls are one of the few ‘integrating’ attributes of forests, because of their ubiquity and longevity, and therefore can inform a variety of processes (e.g., tree mortality, turnover rates, structural impacts, recruitment, and fire frequency) due to their impacts occurring simultaneously over space (patterns), and time (legacy effects). The substantial knowledge that already exists on localized treefall dynamics should be combined with more integrative approaches to studying forest ecosystems, to investigate landscape-scale patterns of treefall and reconstruct past disturbance events.
Effect of Wall Flexibility on the Deformation during Flow in a Stenosed Coronary Artery
Authors: Kallekar Laxman , Viswanath Chinthapenta , Anand Mohan
Published: April 2017

The effect of varying wall flexibility on the deformation of an artery during steady and pulsatile flow of blood is investigated. The artery geometry is recreated from patient-derived data for a stenosed left coronary artery. Blood flow in the artery is modeled using power-law fluid. The fluid-structure interaction of blood flow on artery wall is simulated using ANSYS 16.2, and the resulting wall deformation is documented. A comparison of wall deformation using flexibility models like Rigid, Linear Elastic, Neo-hookean, Mooney-Rivlin and Holzapfel are obtained for teady flow in the artery. The maximum wall deformation in coronary flow onditions predicted by the Holzapfel model is only around 50% that predicted by the Neo-Hookean model. The flow-induced deformations reported here for patient-derived stenosed coronary artery with physiologically accurate model are the first of its kind. These results help immensely in the planning of angioplasty.
Ultrasound- and Temperature-Induced Gelation of Gluconosemicarbazide Gelator in DMSO and Water Mixtures
Authors: Himabindu Mothukunta , Palanisamy Aruna
Published: April 2017

We have developed amphiphilic supramolecular gelators carrying glucose moiety that could gel a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water upon heating as well as ultrasound treatment. When the suspension of gluconosemicarbazide was subjected to ultrasound treatment, gelation took place at much lower concentrations compared to thermal treatment, and the gels transformed into a solution state at higher temperatures compared to temperature-induced gels. The morphology was found to be influenced by the nature of the stimulus and presence of salts such as KCl, NaCl, CaCl2 and surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate) at a concentration of 0.05 M. The gel exhibited impressive tolerance to these additives, revealing the stability and strength of the gels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological studies supported better mechanical strength of ultrasound-induced (UI) gels over thermally-induced (TI) gels.
MYC, Cell Competition, and Cell Death in Cancer: The Inseparable Triad
Authors: Di Giacomo Simone , Sollazzo Manuela , Paglia Simona , Grifoni Daniela
Published: April 2017

Deregulation of MYC family proteins in cancer is associated with a global reprogramming of gene expression, ultimately promoting glycolytic pathways, cell growth, and proliferation. It is well known that MYC upregulation triggers cell-autonomous apoptosis in normal tissues, while frankly malignant cells develop resistance to apoptotic stimuli, partly resulting from MYC addiction. As well as inducing cell-autonomous apoptosis, MYC upregulation is able to trigger non cell-autonomous apoptotic death through an evolutionarily conserved mechanism known as “cell competition”. With regard to this intimate and dual relationship between MYC and cell death, recent evidence obtained in Drosophila models of cancer has revealed that, in early tumourigenesis, MYC upregulation guides the clonal expansion of mutant cells, while the surrounding tissue undergoes non-cell autonomous death. Apoptosis inhibition in this context was shown to restrain tumour growth and to restore a wild-type phenotype. This suggests that cell-autonomous and non cell-autonomous apoptosis dependent on MYC upregulation may shape tumour growth in different ways, soliciting the need to reconsider the role of cell death in cancer in the light of this new level of complexity. Here we review recent literature about MYC and cell competition obtained in Drosophila, with a particular emphasis on the relevance of cell death to cell competition and, more generally, to cancer. Possible implications of these findings for the understanding of mammalian cancers are also discussed.
Changes of High Altitude Glaciers in the Trans-Himalaya of Ladakh over the Past Five Decades (1969–2016)
Authors: Schmidt Susanne , Nüsser Marcus
Published: April 2017

Climatic differences between monsoonal and cold-arid parts of the South Asian mountain arc account for the uncertainty regarding regional variations in glacier retreat. In this context, the upper Indus Basin of Ladakh, sandwiched between the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, is of particular interest. The aims of the present study are threefold: to map the glaciers of central and eastern Ladakh, to describe their regional distribution and characteristics in relation to size and topography, and to analyze glacier changes in the selected ranges over the past five decades. The study is based on multi-temporal remote sensing data (Corona and Landsat), supported and validated by several field campaigns carried out between 2007 and 2016. A glacier inventory was carried out for the complete study area, which was subdivided into nine sub-regions for comparison. In general, the glaciers of Ladakh are characterized by their high altitude, as 91% terminate above 5200 m, and by their relatively small size, as 79% of them are smaller than 0.75 km2 and only 4% are larger than 2 km2. The glaciated area of central Ladakh totaled 997 km2 with more than 1800 glaciers in 2002.
Comparison of Biogenic Amines and Mycotoxins in Alfalfa and Red Clover Fodder Depending on Additives
Authors: Skladanka Jiri , Adam Vojtech , Zitka Ondrej , Mlejnkova Veronika , Kalhotka Libor , Horky Pavel , Konecna Klara , Hodulikova Lucia , Knotova Daniela , Balabanova Marie , Slama Petr , Skarpa Petr
Published: April 2017

In the production of fermented feed, each crop can be contaminated with a variety of microorganisms that may produce natural pollutants. Biogenic amines, mycotoxins, and undesirable organic acids can decrease health feed safety. The aim of this study was to compare the counts of microorganisms, levels of biogenic amines, and the mycotoxins in forage legumes, and also to compare the occurrence of microorganisms and levels of mycotoxins in green fodder and subsequently produced silage and the influence of additives on the content of natural harmful substances in silage. The experimental plot was located in Troubsko and Vatín, in the Czech Republic. Two varieties of Medicago sativa and one variety of Trifolium pratense were compared. Green fodder and subsequently produced silage reaching up to 23% of dry matter were evaluated and prepared using a bio-enzymatic additive and a chemical additive. Green fodder of Medicago sativa was more contaminated by Enterococci than Trifolium pratense fodder. The obvious difference was determined by the quality of silage leachate. The silage prepared from Medicago sativa fodder was more contaminated with butyric acid. Fungi were present in higher counts in the anaerobic environment of green fodder and contaminated it with zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. Lower counts of fungi were found in silage, although the zearalenone content did not change. Lower content of deoxynivalenol was detected in silage, compared with green fodder. Silages treated with a chemical additive were found not to contain butyric acid. Lower ethanol content was determined, and the tendency to reduce the risk of biogenic amines occurrence was evident. The additives proved to have no influence on the content of mycotoxins.
Assessment of the Occupational Health and Food Safety Risks Associated with the Traditional Slaughter and Consumption of Goats in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Qekwana Daniel , McCrindle Cheryl , Oguttu James , Grace Delia
Published: April 2017

Background: This study assessed the occupational health and food safety risks associated with the traditional slaughter of goats and the consumption of such meat in Tshwane, South Africa. Methods: A convenience sample of 105 respondents agreed to be interviewed using structured questionnaires. Results: A high proportion (62.64%) of practitioners admitted to not wearing protective clothing during slaughter. Slaughtering was mainly carried out by males (99%) with experience (62.2%). Forty-four percent of practitioners only changed the clothes they wore while slaughtering when they got home. During the actual slaughter, up to seven people may be involved. The majority (58.9%) of slaughters occurred early in the morning and none of the goats were stunned first. In 77.5% of cases, the health status of the persons who performed the slaughtering was not known. The majority (57.3%) of the slaughters were performed on a corrugated iron roof sheet (zinc plate). In 83.3% of the cases, the carcass was hung up to facilitate bleeding, flaying, and evisceration. Meat inspection was not practiced by any of the respondents. Throughout the slaughter process, the majority used the same knife (84.3) and 84.7% only cleaned the knife when it became soiled. A total of 52.0% of the respondents processed the carcass and cooked the meat immediately. The majority (80.0%) consumed the meat within 30 min of cooking. Conclusions: Men are at a higher risk of occupational health hazards associated with traditional slaughter, which can be transferred to their households. Unhygienic methods of processing and the lack of any form of post-mortem examination increase the risk of food-borne illness following the consumption of such meat.
Using Moss to Assess Airborne Heavy Metal Pollution in Taizhou, China
Authors: Zhou Xiaoli , Chen Qin , Liu Chang , Fang Yanming
Published: April 2017

Bryophytes act as bioindicators and bioaccumulators of metal deposition in the environment. To understand the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) in Taizhou, East China, samples of moss (Haplocladium microphyllum) were collected from 60 sites selected by a systematic sampling method during the summer of 2012, and the concentrations of these heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results suggested that the concentrations of these metals varied moderately among different sites, indicating a similar contamination level for each element throughout the monitoring region. The mean values under investigation were higher than those from neighboring cities, such as Wuxi, Xuzhou, and Nanjing, and much higher than those in Europe based on a 2010 survey. Significant (p < 0.01) correlations were identified among some of the heavy metals, suggesting that these originated from identical sources. There was no statistically significant correlation between Hg and all the other elements. Spatial distribution maps of the elements over the sampled territory were created using Arc-GIS 9.0. The potential ecological risk index indicated that the air was heavily polluted by Cd and Hg, and that there was a considerable potential ecological risk from all the heavy metals studied.
How Sensors Might Help Define the External Exposome
Authors: Loh Miranda , Sarigiannis Dimosthenis , Gotti Alberto , Karakitsios Spyros , Pronk Anjoeka , Kuijpers Eelco , Annesi-Maesano Isabella , Baiz Nour , Madureira Joana , Oliveira Fernandes Eduardo , Jerrett Michael , Cherrie John
Published: April 2017

The advent of the exposome concept, the advancement of mobile technology, sensors, and the “internet of things” bring exciting opportunities to exposure science. Smartphone apps, wireless devices, the downsizing of monitoring technologies, along with lower costs for such equipment makes it possible for various aspects of exposure to be measured more easily and frequently. We discuss possibilities and lay out several criteria for using smart technologies for external exposome studies. Smart technologies are evolving quickly, and while they provide great promise for advancing exposure science, many are still in developmental stages and their use in epidemiology and risk studies must be carefully considered. The most useable technologies for exposure studies at this time relate to gathering exposure-factor data, such as location and activities. Development of some environmental sensors (e.g., for some air pollutants, noise, UV) is moving towards making the use of these more reliable and accessible to research studies. The possibility of accessing such an unprecedented amount of personal data also comes with various limitations and challenges, which are discussed. The advantage of improving the collection of long term exposure factor data is that this can be combined with more “traditional” measurement data to model exposures to numerous environmental factors.