bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of a Practical Underwater Sensor Network for Offshore Fish Farm Cages
Authors: Santana Sosa Graciela , Santana Abril Judith , Sosa Javier , Montiel-Nelson Juan-Antonio , Bautista Tomas
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we present the design of a practical underwater sensor network for offshore fish farm cages. An overview of the current structure of an offshore fish farm, applied sensor network solutions, and their weaknesses are given. A mixed wireless–wired approach is proposed to mitigate the problem of wire breakage in underwater wired sensor networks. The approach is based on the serial arrangement of identical sections with wired and wireless interconnections areas. Wireless section alleviates underwater maintenance operations when cages are damaged. The analytical model of the proposed solution is studied in terms of maximum power transfer efficiency and the general formulas of the current in their transmitting antennas and sensor nodes are provided. Subsequently, based on simulations, the effects of parasitic resistance across the network are evaluated. A practical underwater sensor network to reach the 30 m depth with sensor nodes distanced 6 m is used to determine the proposal compliance with the ISO 11784/11785 HDX standard in its normal operation. Taking into account the cable breakage scenario, the results from experiments demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach to keep running the sensor nodes that are located before the short circuit. Sensor node run time is reduced only 4.07% at most using standard values when a cable breakage occurs at the second deepest section.
Towards Distributed Measurements of Electric Fields Using Optical Fibers: Proposal and Proof-Of-Concept Experiment
Authors: Magalhães Regina , Pereira João , Tarasenko Oleksandr , Martin-Lopez Sonia , González-Herráez Miguel , Margulis Walter , Fidalgo Martins Hugo
Published: August 2020

Nowadays there is an increasing demand for the cost-effective monitoring of potential threats to the integrity of high-voltage networks and electric power infrastructures. Optical fiber sensors are a particularly interesting solution for applications in these environments, due to their low cost and positive intrinsic features, including small size and weight, dielectric properties, and invulnerability to electromagnetic interference (EMI). However, due precisely to their intrinsic EMI-immune nature, the development of a distributed optical fiber sensing solution for the detection of partial discharges and external electrical fields is in principle very challenging. Here, we propose a method to exploit the third-order and second-order nonlinear effects in silica fibers, as a means to achieve highly sensitive distributed measurements of external electrical fields in real time. By monitoring the electric-field-induced variations in the refractive index using a highly sensitive Rayleigh-based CP-φOTDR scheme, we demonstrate the distributed detection of Kerr and Pockels electro-optic effects, and how those can assign a new sensing dimension to optical fibers, transducing external electric fields into visible minute disturbances in the guided light. The proposed sensing configuration, electro-optical time domain reflectometry, is validated both theoretically and experimentally, showing experimental second-order and third-order nonlinear coefficients, respectively, of χ(2) ~ 0.27 × 10−12 m/V and χ(3) ~ 2.5 × 10−22 m2/V2 for silica fibers.
Deep Learning with Loss Ensembles for Solar Power Prediction in Smart Cities
Authors: Hajiabadi Moein , Farhadi Mahdi , Babaiyan Vahide , Estebsari Abouzar
Published: August 2020

The demand for renewable energy generation, especially photovoltaic (PV) power generation, has been growing over the past few years. However, the amount of generated energy by PV systems is highly dependent on weather conditions. Therefore, accurate forecasting of generated PV power is of importance for large-scale deployment of PV systems. Recently, machine learning (ML) methods have been widely used for PV power generation forecasting. A variety of these techniques, including artificial neural networks (ANNs), ridge regression, K-nearest neighbour (kNN) regression, decision trees, support vector regressions (SVRs) have been applied for this purpose and achieved good performance. In this paper, we briefly review the most recent ML techniques for PV energy generation forecasting and propose a new regression technique to automatically predict a PV system’s output based on historical input parameters. More specifically, the proposed loss function is a combination of three well-known loss functions: Correntropy, Absolute and Square Loss which encourages robustness and generalization jointly. We then integrate the proposed objective function into a Deep Learning model to predict a PV system’s output. By doing so, both the coefficients of loss functions and weight parameters of the ANN are learned jointly via back propagation. We investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method through comprehensive experiments on real data recorded by a real PV system. The experimental results confirm that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art ML methods for PV energy generation forecasting.
Blockchain as a Driver for Smart City Development: Application Fields and a Comprehensive Research Agenda
Authors: Treiblmaier Horst , Rejeb Abderahman , Strebinger Andreas
Published: August 2020

The term “Smart City” denotes a comprehensive concept to alleviate pending problems of modern urban areas which have developed into an important work field for practitioners and scholars alike. However, the question remains as to how cities can become “smart”. The application of information technology is generally considered a key driver in the “smartization” of cities. Detailed frameworks and procedures are therefore needed to guide, operationalize, and measure the implementation process as well as the impact of the respective technologies. In this paper, we discuss blockchain technology, a novel driver of technological transformation that comprises a multitude of underlying technologies and protocols, and its potential impact on smart cities. We specifically address the question of how blockchain technology may benefit the development of urban areas. Based on a comprehensive literature review, we present a framework and research propositions. We identify nine application fields of blockchain technology in the smartization of cities: (1) healthcare, (2) logistics and supply chains, (3) mobility, (4) energy, (5) administration and services, (6) e-voting, (7) factory, (8) home and (9) education. We discuss current developments in these fields, illustrate how they are affected by blockchain technology and derive propositions to guide future research endeavors.
Towards a de facto Nonlinear Periodization: Extending Nonlinearity from Programming to Periodizing
Authors: Afonso José , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Ribeiro João , Ferreira Miguel , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: August 2020

Planning is paramount in sport. Among different philosophical approaches to planning, periodization is a highly popular concept that refers to structured training periods with ensuing programs encompassing moments of progressively-loaded training, followed by recovery; it is normally deemed paramount to optimize adaptations and performance. While planning provides generic guidelines, periodization refers to the sequencing/ordering of training periods to enforce a given plan, therefore referring to longer temporal scales, and programming refers to more micro-scale aspects. In fact, similar periodization schemes may implement distinct programming strategies. Literature on the topic has used the linear and nonlinear terms to describe the content of periodized programs. However, these concepts have not been clearly defined in the literature, which may lead to inaccurate and misleading interpretations. Moreover, nonlinear periodization is usually using nonlinear programming, but with pre-stipulated sequencing of the training periods. Finally, it can be argued that nonlinearity has been an integral part of periodization since its inception, at least theoretically. In this essay, the literature was critically reviewed to better understand the validity of the linearity and nonlinearity concepts as applied in currently proposed periodization models. In addition, a novel approach for a de facto nonlinear periodization is presented.
Anthropometric and Functional Profile of Selected vs. Non-Selected 13-to-17-Year-Old Soccer Players
Authors: Nughes Erik , Rago Vincenzo , Aquino Rodrigo , Ermidis Georgios , Randers Morten B. , Ardigò Luca Paolo
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and functional profiles of 13-to-17-year-old soccer players according to their competitive level. Height, body mass, percentage of body fat, countermovement jump height, change of direction ability, 5- and 15-m sprint times, repeated sprint ability (RSA), intermittent recovery performance, and dribbling skills were collected in 115 young Italian soccer players. Players were divided into selected (i.e., competing at national level, n = 17 U15 and 47 U17) and non-selected (i.e., competing at regional level, n = 43 U15 and 8 U17) groups. U17 selected players were taller, quicker over 5 and 15 m, more agile, and had better RSA, prolonged intermittent recovery ability, and dribbling skills than their non-selected counterparts (d = 0.28–0.55, p < 0.05). In particular, selected players showed lower times on the first three and the last shuttle of the RSA test (d = 0.28–0.34, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in U15 players (p > 0.05). Discriminant analysis revealed that dribbling skills, 15-m sprint time, and height best discriminate U17 players by competitive level (p < 0.001). Anthropometric characteristics and functional abilities can discriminate across competitive standards between male U17 but not U15 soccer players. In particular, these findings suggest the importance of dribbling skills, 15-m sprint, and height in U17 players.
Analyzing Barriers for Developing a Sustainable Circular Economy in Agriculture in China Using Grey-DEMATEL Approach
Authors: Xia Xiqiang , Ruan Junhu
Published: August 2020

The agricultural economy, as an integral branch of the global economy, covering the whole supply chain of agricultural production including cultivation, processing, distribution and consumption, is of great importance to realizing a sustainable circular economy and ecological development. As a traditional agricultural country, China has experienced a series of problems such as a serious waste of resources and a fragile ecological environment during its agricultural economic development. With the background of “the Belt and Road Initiative”, major progress has been witnessed in both ecological development and agricultural circular economy in China. However, the development of circular agriculture in China has to deal with barriers from different stakeholders. This research identifies critical barriers for the government, farmers, and the enterprises to develop circular agriculture. The causal factors, effect factors, and the center of factors are identified and the correlation between the barriers is described using the Gray-DEMATEL method. Based on the analysis results, several policy suggestions are proposed for the government. This paper provides a feasible framework for decision-making to support the development of a sustainable circular economy in agriculture in China.
Influence of Basic Psychological Needs over Burnout in the Sport Context
Authors: Vílchez Conesa María Del Pilar , Parra Plaza Francisco , Arce Constantino , De Francisco Cristina
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among basic psychological needs and burnout in a sample of athletes (N = 639). It was hypothesized that psychological needs satisfaction was negatively associated with burnout syndrome and the frustration of these needs related positively. Burnout was measured with the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), satisfaction of basic psychological needs with the Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS), and frustration with the Psychological Needs Thwarting Scale (PNTS). Data analysis was conducted under the approach of structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that satisfaction of basic psychological needs had a negative direct effect on burnout of −0.67 (p < 0.001) while the frustration of these needs had a direct effect of 0.18 (p < 0.001). In addition, the total model explained 59% of the total variance of burnout. All individual parameters of the model were statistically significant and the overall fit of the model was satisfactory. It can be concluded that satisfying the basic psychological needs of the athletes can protect them against burnout.
Comparative Study of Service Quality on VIP Customer Satisfaction in Internet Banking: South Korea Case
Authors: Lee Sangjae , Lee Kun Chang
Published: August 2020

For Internet banking to compete effectively with traditional brick-and-mortar banking, managers must identify the key determinants of customer satisfaction. While many studies exist on Internet banking, and there is a large base of marketing literature on customers’ perceptions of luxury products, research on the service quality of luxury brands in Internet banking is scarce. Our study investigates service quality that exert influence on customer satisfaction with Internet banking most, along with the moderating role of customer type on the relation between service quality and customer satisfaction. The moderation analysis in our study is the test of difference between general customers and VIP customers which are created according to customer type. Using a web survey of 645 general and VIP (very important person) customers who use Internet banking systems, we examined the effects of fix factors that have an influence on service quality: usefulness, ease of use, and system security, reliability, responsiveness, and empathy. In the full sample, all factors that affect Internet banking quality also affected customer satisfaction significantly. Usefulness, ease of use, and system trust, responsiveness, and empathy are more important in VIP customer satisfaction than in that of general customers, while system security is a more important factor for general than for VIP customers. Our study results indicate that general and VIP customers differently perceive service quality that are relevant to customer satisfaction.
Optimized Energy Cost and Carbon Emission-Aware Virtual Machine Allocation in Sustainable Data Centers
Authors: Renugadevi T. , Geetha K. , Muthukumar K. , Geem Zong Woo
Published: August 2020

Cloud data center’s total operating cost is conquered by electricity cost and carbon tax incurred due to energy consumption from the grid and its associated carbon emission. In this work, we consider geo-distributed sustainable datacenter’s with varying on-site green energy generation, electricity prices, carbon intensity and carbon tax. The objective function is devised to reduce the operating cost including electricity cost and carbon cost incurred on the power consumption of servers and cooling devices. We propose renewable-aware algorithms to schedule the workload to the data centers with an aim to maximize the green energy usage. Due to the uncertainty and time variant nature of renewable energy availability, an investigation is performed to identify the impact of carbon footprint, carbon tax and electricity cost in data center selection on total operating cost reduction. In addition, on-demand dynamic optimal frequency-based load distribution within the cluster nodes is performed to eliminate hot spots due to high processor utilization. The work suggests optimal virtual machine placement decision to maximize green energy usage with reduced operating cost and carbon emission.
Innovative Co-Creative Participatory Methodologies for a Dreamt-of Quality Education in Europe
Authors: Fonseca Peso Janire , Caro González Antonia , Milosevic Nemanja
Published: August 2020

The aim of this paper is to collect evidence-based experience on a co-creation multi-stakeholder participatory process in a non-formal academic environment. We use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the “6i model,” and a participatory approach as background methodologies. Within the long-lasting process of collaboration with Eurochild (Eurochild advocates for children’s rights and well-being to be at the heart of policymaking. A network of almost 200 organizations internationally recognized for its work to promote children’s rights and well-being. It influences policies, builds internal capacities, and facilitates mutual learning and exchanges of practice and research), the event started with an open session followed by a World Café dynamic with 50 participants from different age groups (13–81), cultures (Spain, United Kingdom, Finland), professions, academic fields, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Several types of data were collected: participant observation during four months (20 h), informal communication with participants, and three in-depth interviews. Based on overall analysis, the application of both the 6i model and the child participation approach had an impact on three different levels: (1) in the functioning of the core group; (2) in the experience of the participants in the event; and (3) in the final outcome of the whole process.
A Fuzzy Demand-Profit Model for the Sustainable Development of Electric Vehicles in China from the Perspective of Three-Level Service Chain
Authors: Chen Weiwei , Xu Maozeng , Xing Qingsong , Cui Ligang , Jiao Liudan
Published: August 2020

Electric vehicles have great potential in dramatically reducing environmental pollution, which has become an important strategic direction for future sustainable development. With the influence of policy support and market, the construction of new energy supply infrastructure in China has achieved remarkable outcomes. However, according to the actual use of the new energy supply facilities, there is still a severe imbalance between long queues and unattended charging stations in some areas. Therefore, this paper aims to establish a fuzzy demand-profit model to accurately optimize new energy supply from the perspective of the three-level service chain. Then, based on authoritative historical sales data of electric vehicles in China in 2011–2018, the model is used to analyze the fuzzy demand for electric vehicle charging capacity. The research results indicate that the fuzzy demand-profit model is an effective tool to promote the coordination of new energy supply, which will provide support for the sustainable development of electric vehicles in China.
Landscape Evaluation as a Complementary Tool in Environmental Assessment. Study Case in Urban Areas: Salamanca (Spain)
Authors: Criado Marco , Martínez-Graña Antonio , Santos-Francés Fernando , Merchán Leticia
Published: August 2020

In recent years, the landscape has become another environmental resource, so it is important to incorporate it into planning actions. However, its broad sense of study has made it difficult to develop methodologies that precisely diagnose the state of the landscape and its management requirements, especially in dynamic spaces like urban areas. In order to develop a method capable of providing information that can be incorporated into environmental assessment and territorial planning tasks so that the needs of the landscape are taken into account in the decision-making stages, an objective methodology is presented based on the study of different parameters (biotic, abiotic and socioeconomic) analyzed in the field and subsequently geoprocessed through Geographic Information Systems according to their influence on the landscape. Through the proposed methodology it is possible to determine the quality, fragility and need of protection of the landscape, as well as to identify the diverse landscape units that form the landscape of a territory. Based on these results, a landscape diagnosis can be drawn up to quantify its overall and partial state, carry out monitoring analyses and make comparisons between different landscape units, so that management measures can be adopted according to the obtained scenarios.
Robo-Advisors: Machine Learning in Trend-Following ETF Investments
Authors: Baek Seungho , Lee Kwan Yong , Uctum Merih , Oh Seok Hee
Published: August 2020

We examine an application of machine learning to exchange traded fund investments in the U.S. market. To find how the changes in exchange traded fund prices are associated with expected market fundamentals, we propose three parsimonious risk factors extracted from various U.S. economic and market indicators. Based on the information set including these three factors, we build a predictive support vector machine model that can detect long or short investment signals. We find that the high probability of an upward momentum from our forecasting model suggests a long exchange traded fund signal, whereas the low probability of a downward momentum indicates a short exchange traded fund signal. We further design an algorithmic trading system with the support vector machine factor model. We find that the trading system shows practically desirable and robust performances over in-sample and out-of-sample trading periods
Development of a New Business Model to Measure Organizational and Project-Level SDG Impact—Case Study of a Water Utility Company
Authors: Mansell Paul , Philbin Simon P. , Broyd Tim
Published: August 2020

Achievement of the United Nations’ 2030 Global Goals for Sustainability is of paramount importance. However, for engineers and project managers to take meaningful action, they need the practical tools, processes and leadership to turn grand rhetoric into viable engineering solutions. Linking infrastructure project sustainability performance to sustainable development goals (SDG) targets is problematic. This article builds on the previous development of an innovative infrastructure business model, called the “Infrastructure SDG Impact-Value Chain” (IVC) to link local-level project delivery with global-level SDG impacts. It uses a case study of a water utility company to demonstrate how the IVC business model can integrate the “triple bottom line” to ensure the balanced definition of success across economic, environmental and social thematic areas. The results led to a proposed methodology for business leaders to align stakeholders on a common definition of project success during the design phase. The study includes the selection of longer-term outcomes and strategic SDG impacts, which, it is suggested, are improved definitions of project success. Although the findings that are from a single case study cannot automatically be extended to the entire water industry, the study’s methodology has potential to be used to evaluate multiple projects across different sectors. The practical application is significant since it offers the flexibility to be used at both project and portfolio levels, thereby linking tactical delivery to organisational SDG impacts and leading to improved investment decisions with increased likelihood of success in achieving the SDG 2030 targets.
Relative Importance of Land Use and Climate Change on Hydrology in Agricultural Watershed of Southern China
Authors: Luo Lanhua , Zhou Qing , He Hong S. , Duan Liangxia , Zhang Gaoling , Xie Hongxia
Published: August 2020

Quantitative assessment of the impact of land use and climate change on hydrological processes is of great importance to water resources planning and management. The main objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the response of runoff to land use and climate change in the Zhengshui River Basin of Southern China, a heavily used agricultural basin. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate the river runoff for the Zhengshui River Basin. Specifically, a soil database was constructed based on field work and laboratory experiments as input data for the SWAT model. Following SWAT calibration, simulated results were compared with observed runoff data for the period 2006 to 2013. The Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) and the correlation coefficient (R2) for the comparisons were greater than 0.80, indicating close agreement. The calibrated models were applied to simulate monthly runoff in 1990 and 2010 for four scenarios with different land use and climate conditions. Climate change played a dominant role affecting runoff of this basin, with climate change decreasing simulated runoff by −100.22% in 2010 compared to that of 1990, land use change increasing runoff in this basin by 0.20% and the combination of climate change and land use change decreasing runoff by 60.8m3/s. The decrease of forestland area and the corresponding increase of developed land and cultivated land area led to the small increase in runoff associated with land use change. The influence of precipitation on runoff was greater than temperature. The soil database used to model runoff with the SWAT model for the basin was constructed using a combination of field investigation and laboratory experiments, and simulations of runoff based on that new soil database more closely matched observations of runoff than simulations based on the generic Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). This study may provide an important reference to guide management decisions for this and similar watersheds.
Regional Development in Russia: An Ecosystem Approach to Territorial Sustainability Assessment
Authors: Tolstykh Tatyana , Gamidullaeva Leyla , Shmeleva Nadezhda , Lapygin Yuri
Published: August 2020

The current crisis has indicated the need to review the policy of economic growth and globalization towards the search for new sustainable models of the internal territory development able to resist external shocks and threats. To achieve this goal, it is required both to implement sustainability strategies, and to assess the obtained results towards sustainable development. Despite an abundance of literature on sustainability assessment, there is a lack of understanding of the application of sustainability assessment in regional/local contexts. The purpose of the article is to improve theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of territorial (regional) ecosystems by developing a new approach to assessing its sustainability. We believe that territorial ecosystem sustainability assessment is possible through the entropy of a complex system composed of the entropies of its constituent ecosystems or the entropies of different types of territorial capital (human, production, natural). An application of the entropy approach allows to understand specific features of a particular ecosystem characteristics. We demonstrate our methodology with two empirical case studies of territorial ecosystems of Penza and Vladimir regions. As a result of the analysis, it was found that ecosystem’s sustainability is achieved, primarily, due to the natural capital of the territory. The methodology proposed in our study aims at ensuring comprehensiveness and robustness of the evaluation supporting the decision-making process.
Regulation of Microclimatic Conditions inside Native Beehives and Its Relationship with Climate in Southern Spain
Authors: Gil-Lebrero Sergio , Navas González Francisco Javier , Gámiz López Victoria , Quiles Latorre Francisco Javier , Flores Serrano José Manuel
Published: August 2020

In this study, the Wbee Sensor System was used to record data from 10 Iberian beehives for two years in southern Spain. These data were used to identify potential conditioning climatic factors of the internal regulatory behavior of the hive and its weight. Categorical principal components analysis (CATPCA) was used to determine the minimum number of those factors able to capture the maximum percentage of variability in the data recorded. Then, categorical regression (CATREG) was used to select the factors that were linearly related to hive internal humidity, temperature and weight to issue predictive regression equations in Iberian bees. Average relative humidity values of 51.7% ± 10.4 and 54.2% ± 11.7 were reported for humidity in the brood nest and in the food area, while average temperatures were 34.3 °C ± 1.5 in the brood nest and 29.9 °C ± 5.8 in the food area. Average beehive weight was 38.2 kg ± 13.6. Some of our data, especially those related to humidity, contrast with previously published results for other studies about bees from Central and northern Europe. Conclusively, certain combinations of climatic factors may condition within hive humidity, temperature and hive weight. Southern Iberian honeybees’ brood nest humidity regulatory capacity could be lower than brood nest thermoregulatory capacity, maintaining values close to 34 °C, even in dry conditions.
Variations in the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microalgae in Aquatic Environments Associated with an Artificial Weir
Authors: Yun Suk Min , Lee Sang Deuk , Cho Pyo Yun , Nam Seung Won , Kwon Dae Ryul , Choi Chung Hyun , Kim Jin-Young , Lee Jong-Suk
Published: August 2020

The construction of weirs causes changes in the aquatic environment and affects several aquatic organisms. To understand the ecosystem in the Sangju Weir, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, variations in the spatiotemporal distribution and composition of microalgae communities were analyzed. Microalgae were collected fortnightly from April to November 2018 from six sites in the Nakdonggang River. There was significant variation in environmental factors, microalgal community structure, and flora. Microalgae communities were dominated by diatoms (e.g., Fragilariacrotonensis, Ulnariaacus, and Aulacoseiraambigua), green algae (e.g., genera Eudorina and Desmodesmus), cyanobacteria (e.g., genera Anabaena and Microcystis). Multidimensional scaling indicated that species composition and diversity were generally similar among sites but varied between the bottom and the surface and middle water layers. Vertical migration of microalgae was difficult to investigate because of the thermocline in the study area and high turbidity in the lower layer. The distribution of microalgae was little affected by the construction of the weir, but the formation of thermocline changed microalgae communities in the water layer.
Pt-Promoted Tungsten Carbide Nanostructures on Mesoporous Pinewood-Derived Activated Carbon for Catalytic Oxidation of Formaldehyde at Low Temperatures
Authors: Yan Qiangu , Cai Zhiyong
Published: August 2020

Tungsten carbide (WC) nanostructures were prepared by carbothermal reduction (CR) of tungsten-impregnated pinewood-derived activated carbon (AC) at 1000 °C under an inert atmosphere. Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, pore structures of the AC, and catalyst samples were evaluated by N2 adsorption-desorption experiments. The structures of the catalysts were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The morphologies and particle structures of the synthesized WC nanoparticles were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The WC/AC material was used as support of the platinum catalysts for catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde (HCHO) from interior sources. Pt-WC/AC catalysts with different platinum loadings were assessed for the catalytic oxidation of HCHO at low temperature. The catalytic performance was found to be significantly influenced by reaction temperature, initial formaldehyde concentration, relative humidity, and space velocity. The testing results demonstrated that HCHO can be totally oxidized by the 1 wt% Pt-WC/AC catalyst in the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) = 50,000 h−1 at 30 °C with a relative humidity (RH) of 40%.
Symmetries and Their Breaking in the Fundamental Laws of Physics
Authors: Bernabeu Jose
Published: August 2020

Symmetries in the Physical Laws of Nature lead to observable effects. Beyond the regularities and conserved magnitudes, the last few decades in particle physics have seen the identification of symmetries, and their well-defined breaking, as the guiding principle for the elementary constituents of matter and their interactions. Flavour SU(3) symmetry of hadrons led to the Quark Model and the antisymmetric requirement under exchange of identical fermions led to the colour degree of freedom. Colour became the generating charge for flavour-independent strong interactions of quarks and gluons in the exact colour SU(3) local gauge symmetry. Parity Violation in weak interactions led us to consider the chiral fields of fermions as the objects with definite transformation properties under the weak isospin SU(2) gauge group of the Unifying Electro-Weak SU(2) × U(1) symmetry, which predicted novel weak neutral current interactions. CP-Violation led to three families of quarks opening the field of Flavour Physics. Time-reversal violation has recently been observed with entangled neutral mesons, compatible with CPT-invariance. The cancellation of gauge anomalies, which would invalidate the gauge symmetry of the quantum field theory, led to Quark–Lepton Symmetry. Neutrinos were postulated in order to save the conservation laws of energy and angular momentum in nuclear beta decay. After the ups and downs of their mass, neutrino oscillations were discovered in 1998, opening a new era about their origin of mass, mixing, discrete symmetries and the possibility of global lepton-number violation through Majorana mass terms and Leptogenesis as the source of the matter–antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The experimental discovery of quarks and leptons and the mediators of their interactions, with physical observables in spectacular agreement with this Standard Theory, is the triumph of Symmetries. The gauge symmetry is exact only when the particles are massless. One needs a subtle breaking of the symmetry, providing the origin of mass without affecting the excellent description of the interactions. This is the Brout–Englert–Higgs Mechanism, which produces the Higgs Boson as a remnant, discovered at CERN in 2012. Open present problems are addressed with by searching the New Physics Beyond-the-Standard-Model.
Computing Analysis of Connection-Based Indices and Coindices for Product of Molecular Networks
Authors: Ali Usman , Javaid Muhammad , Alanazi Abdulaziz Mohammed
Published: August 2020

Gutman and Trinajstić (1972) defined the connection-number based Zagreb indices, where connection number is degree of a vertex at distance two, in order to find the electron energy of alternant hydrocarbons. These indices remain symmetric for the isomorphic (molecular) networks. For the prediction of physicochemical and symmetrical properties of octane isomers, these indices are restudied in 2018. In this paper, first and second Zagreb connection coindices are defined and obtained in the form of upper bounds for the resultant networks in the terms of different indices of their factor networks, where resultant networks are obtained from two networks by the product-related operations, such as cartesian, corona, and lexicographic. For the molecular networks linear polynomial chain, carbon nanotube, alkane, cycloalkane, fence, and closed fence, first and second Zagreb connection coindices are computed in the consequence of the obtained results. An analysis of Zagreb connection indices and coindices on the aforesaid molecular networks is also included with the help of their numerical values and graphical presentations that shows the symmetric behaviour of these indices and coindices with in certain intervals of order and size of the under study (molecular) networks.
Symmetry and Asymmetry in Quasicrystals or Amorphous Materials
Authors: Barber Enrique Maciá
Published: August 2020

Quasicrystals (QCs) are long-range ordered materials with a symmetry incompatible with translation invariance. Accordingly, QCs exhibit high-quality diffraction patterns containing a collection of discrete Bragg reflections. Notwithstanding this, it is still common to read in the recent literature that these materials occupy an intermediate position between amorphous materials and periodic crystals. This misleading terminology can be understood as probably arising from the use of models and notions borrowed from the amorphous solid’s conceptual framework (such us tunneling states, weak interference effects, variable range hopping, or spin glass) in order to explain certain physical properties observed in QCs. On the other hand, the absence of a general, full-fledged theory of quasiperiodic systems certainly makes it difficult to clearly distinguish the features related to short-range order atomic arrangements from those stemming from long-range order correlations.
Research on Accurate House Price Analysis by Using GIS Technology and Transport Accessibility: A Case Study of Xi’an, China
Authors: Xue Chao , Ju Yongfeng , Li Shuguang , Zhou Qilong , Liu Qingqing
Published: August 2020

Based on the symmetrical public transportation network data of Xi’an, China obtained by geographic information system (GIS) technology in 2019, three urban public transportation indexes of walking accessibility, bus accessibility, and metro accessibility were established, and a real estate price prediction model was built by using several machine learning algorithms to predict and analysis the housing price in Xi’an, China. Firstly, the symmetrical road network data and real estate property data of Xi’an were collected and preprocessed, secondly, the spatial syntax theory and distance calculation method were applied to establish three indexes of traffic accessibility; finally, taking the house property data and the calculated traffic accessibility indexes as the characteristic index, the real estate price prediction model of Xi’an was constructed by using the random forest algorithm (RF), lightweight gradient lift algorithm (LGBM), and gradient lifting regression tree algorithm (GBDT). The prediction accuracy of the final model is 89.2% and the root-mean-square error is 1761.84. The results show that the accessibility of bus and metro to some extent represent the convenience of public transportation in different areas of urban space. The higher the accessibility index is, the more convenient the traffic is. The real estate price model has high prediction accuracy and can reflect the real situation of urban real estate price. The importance of the three accessibility features to the real estate price prediction model are nearly more than 20%, which indicates that the accessibility of urban public transportation has an important impact on the change of urban real estate price, and the development of urban public transportation plays an important role in the real estate economy.
The ⊥-Illusion Is Not a T-Illusion
Authors: Landwehr Klaus
Published: August 2020

Variants of the capital Latin letter T were prepared with the straight strokes replaced by J-, C-, or S-curves, mimicking handwritten Ts. These were used to test the hypothesis that the overestimation of the length of the T’s undivided line, relative to the length of its divided line may be understood as an adaptation to a corresponding letter schema. The illusion was greater for S-curve Ts than for C- and J-curve Ts, suggesting that approximate bilateral mirror symmetry is more important for the illusion to occur than letterness. Despite the illusion, observers were quite sensitive to the different lengths of the Ts’ curves.
Developing a Strategy to Improve Handling Behaviors of a Medium-Size Electric Bus Using Active Anti-Roll Bar
Authors: Hwang Hsiu-Ying , Lan Tian-Syung , Chen Jia-Shiun
Published: August 2020

Electric vehicles are a major trend in research and development in the automobile industry. A vehicle’s handling ability is changed when the structure of the power system is altered, which is more obvious in medium-sized buses with higher load and a longer body whose body stiffness is relatively less stiff. In this context, flexible multi-body dynamic modeling, instead of rigid body modeling, is used to reflect the stiffness effects of the vehicle body and chassis systems. A control strategy is developed with an active variable stiffness anti-roll bar to improve vehicle handling characteristics by using the flexible body dynamic simulation with consideration of the step and single sinusoidal steering input tests. Through simulation, it was learned that the proposed control strategy could reduce the time of stabilization by 54.08% and suppress undesired handling behaviors in the step steering input test. Moreover, at high speed, the original unsteady condition became stabilized with little sacrifice in yaw velocity. In the single sinusoidal steering input test, the time of stabilization could be reduced by 8.43% and with 14.6% less yaw angle changes in the improved design. The overall handling was improved.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Time Reversal Symmetry in Presence of Magnetic Fields
Authors: Carbone Davide , Rondoni Lamberto
Published: August 2020

Time reversal invariance (TRI) of particles systems has many consequences, among which the celebrated Onsager reciprocal relations, a milestone in Statistical Mechanics dating back to 1931. Because for a long time it was believed that (TRI) dos not hold in presence of a magnetic field, a modification of such relations was proposed by Casimir in 1945. Only in the last decade, the strict traditional notion of reversibility that led to Casimir’s work has been questioned. It was then found that other symmetries can be used, which allow the Onsager reciprocal relations to hold without modification. In this paper we advance this investigation for classical Hamiltonian systems, substantially increasing the number of symmetries that yield TRI in presence of a magnetic field. We first deduce the most general form of a generalized time reversal operation on the phase space of such a system; secondly, we express sufficient conditions on the magnetic field which ensure TRI. Finally, we examine common examples from statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics. Our main result is that TRI holds in a much wider generality than previously believed, partially explaining why no experimental violation of Onsager relations has so far been reported.
Orally Administered 6:2 Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonate (F-53B) Causes Thyroid Dysfunction in Rats
Authors: Hong So-Hye , Lee Seung Hee , Yang Jun-Young , Lee Jin Hee , Jung Ki Kyung , Seok Ji Hyun , Kim Sung-Hee , Nam Ki Taek , Jeong Jayoung , Lee Jong Kwon , Oh Jae-Ho
Published: August 2020

The compound 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in the electroplating industry, has been widely detected in numerous environmental matrices, human sera, and organisms. Due to regulations that limit PFOS use, F-53B use is expected to increase. Therefore, in this study, we performed a subchronic oral toxicity study of F-53B in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. F-53B was administered orally once daily to male and female rats for 28 days at doses of 5, 20, and 100 mg/kg/day. There were no toxicologically significant changes in F-53B-treated rats, except in the thyroid gland. However, F-53B slightly reduced the serum concentrations of thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine and thyroxine, compared with their concentrations in the vehicle group. F-53B also induced follicular hyperplasia and was associated with increased thyroid hormone biosynthesis-associated protein expression. These results demonstrate that F-53B is a strong regulator of thyroid hormones in SD rats as it disrupts thyroid function. Thus, caution should be exercised in the industrial application of F-53B as an alternative for PFOS.
α-Conotoxin Peptidomimetics: Probing the Minimal Binding Motif for Effective Analgesia
Authors: Kennedy Adam C. , Belgi Alessia , Husselbee Benjamin W. , Spanswick David , Norton Raymond S. , Robinson Andrea J.
Published: August 2020

Several analgesic α-conotoxins have been isolated from marine cone snails. Structural modification of native peptides has provided potent and selective analogues for two of its known biological targets—nicotinic acetylcholine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) G protein-coupled (GABAB) receptors. Both of these molecular targets are implicated in pain pathways. Despite their small size, an incomplete understanding of the structure-activity relationship of α-conotoxins at each of these targets has hampered the development of therapeutic leads. This review scrutinises the N-terminal domain of the α-conotoxin family of peptides, a region defined by an invariant disulfide bridge, a turn-inducing proline residue and multiple polar sidechain residues, and focusses on structural features that provide analgesia through inhibition of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. Elucidating the bioactive conformation of this region of these peptides may hold the key to discovering potent drugs for the unmet management of debilitating chronic pain associated with a wide range of medical conditions.
Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule 1 Promotes Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Renal Fibrosis
Authors: Hung Tung-Wei , Chu Chao-Yang , Yu Chen-Lin , Lee Chu-Che , Hsu Li-Sung , Chen Yong-Syuan , Hsieh Yi-Hsien , Tsai Jen-Pi
Published: August 2020

The endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is involved in the complex pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. The soluble proteoglycan endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is significantly upregulated in many tumor cells and cirrhosis-related disease. The role of ESM1 in renal fibrosis is unknown. This study investigates the role of ESM1 in renal fibrosis, using an in vivo unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model of renal fibrosis and in vitro mouse kidney MES 13 cells overexpressing ESM1. We observed that ESM1 overexpression significantly increased the motility and migration of MES 13 cells, independent of cell viability. In ESM1-overexpressing MES 13 cells, we also observed elevated expression of mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9)) and the fibrosis marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and decreased expression of the endothelial marker vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and CD31. In a mouse model of fibrosis induced by unilateral ureter obstruction, we observed time-dependent increases in ESM1, α-SMA, and vimentin expression and renal interstitial collagen fibers in kidney tissue samples. These results suggest that ESM1 may serve as an EndoMT marker of renal fibrosis progression.
Foodborne Botulism: Clinical Diagnosis and Medical Treatment
Authors: Lonati Davide , Schicchi Azzurra , Crevani Marta , Buscaglia Eleonora , Scaravaggi Giulia , Maida Francesca , Cirronis Marco , Petrolini Valeria Margherita , Locatelli Carlo Alessandro
Published: August 2020

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by Clostridia species are the most potent identified natural toxins. Classically, the toxic neurological syndrome is characterized by an (afebrile) acute symmetric descending flaccid paralysis. The most know typical clinical syndrome of botulism refers to the foodborne form. All different forms are characterized by the same symptoms, caused by toxin-induced neuromuscular paralysis. The diagnosis of botulism is essentially clinical, as well as the decision to apply the specific antidotal treatment. The role of the laboratory is mandatory to confirm the clinical suspicion in relation to regulatory agencies, to identify the BoNTs involved and the source of intoxication. The laboratory diagnosis of foodborne botulism is based on the detection of BoNTs in clinical specimens/food samples and the isolation of BoNT from stools. Foodborne botulism intoxication is often underdiagnosed; the initial symptoms can be confused with more common clinical conditions (i.e., stroke, myasthenia gravis, Guillain–Barré syndrome—Miller–Fisher variant, Eaton–Lambert syndrome, tick paralysis and shellfish or tetrodotoxin poisoning). The treatment includes procedures for decontamination, antidote administration and, when required, support of respiratory function; few differences are related to the different way of exposure.