bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Un outil à visée pédagogique pour discuter de méthodologie
Authors: Mediell Maud , Dionne Eric
Published: June 2018

Abstract: In this article, we discuss the importance of communicating the evaluation approach (process, methodology, results, and limits) to promote the use of results and the implementation of recommendations. We present an education-focused, meta-evaluative training tool based on the methodological aspects of the evaluation process, and designed to support evaluators, particularly novice evaluators, in the rigorous planning, implementation and communication of methodology. We are focusing on communicating the program evaluation approach though evaluation reports (technical and final) that are usually the means offering the most information on both results and the evaluation process. We realize that there are other means of communication (i.e., journal-published articles), but their format doesn’t always allow the provision of all the information relevant to results and the approach chosen by evaluators, since they usually only present highlights and not methodological aspects. Since we zeroed in on methodological considerations, it seemed to us that it would be more relevant to base ourselves on the information included in reports. This is not an innocuous choice, as an evaluation’s quality depends, in part, on a recognized methodology that is able to provide the solid evidence needed to exercise judgment. Also, we discuss the role of meta-evaluation (MEV) in enriching evaluation practice and promoting program evaluation’s quality. Furthermore, we present a meta-evaluative tool we designed to encourage the operationalization of quality evaluative methodologies and the implementation of effective evaluative practices.
Cold War Entanglements, Third World Solidarities: Vietnam and Palestine, 1967–75
Authors: Lê Espiritu Evyn
Published: June 2018

This is the first study to focus on Vietnam-Palestine relations from 1967 to 1975. In American foreign policy, Vietnam and Palestine became entangled via their allegedly shared susceptibility to Soviet influence. Such Cold War entanglements, however, had to contend with an emerging Third World movement of decolonial, anti-racist, pro-Indigenous solidarities, critical of the imperialist nature of both the US and the USSR. Using these two frames—Cold War entanglements and Third World solidarities—I trace the usage of “Vietnam” and “Palestine” as grounded, rhetorical signifiers, demonstrating how different actors co-constituted their own political positions in relation to these two capacious terms. The article ends with an interview with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Vietnam, Saadi Salama, theorizing how the past's Cold War, Third World Liberation period continues to haunt the present. Invoking Neferti Tadiar's concept of “divine sorrow,” I suggest that an entanglement of temporalities has the potential to re-chart the political possibilities of those nation-states that have seemingly concluded their own national revolutions, such as Vietnam.
Değerler Eğitimi ve Ahîlik İlkeleri
Authors: ÇOBAN Mustafa
Published: June 2018

Fütüvvet geleneğinin
etkisiyle tesis edilmiş ve XIII-XX. yüzyıllar arası mevcudiyetini devam ettirmiş
olan Ahîlik, ferdî, iktisadî, sosyal ve kültürel hayatımızda önemli
etkileri olmuş bir esnaf teşkilatıdır. Esnafın belirli ilkeler etrafında
eğitilerek sosyalleşmesinin sağlanması, ticarî hayatta oluşturulan güvenle
sosyal sermayeye katkıda bulunması Ahîlik kurumunun önemini bir kat daha
arttırmıştır. Günümüzde toplumun sıkça şikayet ettiği konulardan birisi de
ticarî hayatı dizayn eden  ilkelerden sapılması sonucunda güven kaybı ve
insanımızın ticarî faaliyetlerde aldanma, kaybetme endişesi taşımasıdır.
Sosyal bir problemin özünü teşkil eden bu konu aslında  ekonomi-ahlâk dengesi
şeklinde ele alınabilir. Literatür taraması yoluyla yapılan bu araştırma
sonucunda geçmişte yaşanan önemli bir tecrübenin günümüz problemlerinin
çözümüne katkı sağlayarak sosyal sermayenin artışında, sosyal huzurun
sağlanması ve  değer kaybının önlenmesinde önemli etki yapabileceği
   değerlendirilmektedir.
Velilerin Sınıf Öğretmenlerine Bakış Açısının İncelenmesi
Authors: Babayıgıt Ozgur
Published: June 2018

Bu araştırmanın amacı velilerin sınıf
öğretmenlerine olan bakış açılarının incelenmesidir. Araştırma 2017 yılı mart
ayında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden
fenomenoloji kullanılmıştır. Araştırma Yozgat’ta gerçekleştirilmiştir. 20
ilkokul öğrenci velisi ile görüşme yapılmıştır. Velilerle yapılan görüşmeler
ses kayıt cihazına kaydedilmiştir. Veriler tematik analiz yoluyla
çözümlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda memnuniyet, özveri, saygınlık olmak üzere
üç temaya ulaşılmıştır. Veli görüşleri sonucunda, velilerin sınıf
öğretmenlerinden büyük oranda memnun oldukları belirlenmiştir. Sınıf
öğretmenlerinin büyük bir özveri ile çalıştıkları tespit edilmiştir. Saygınlık
konusunda ise farklı görüşler mevcuttur. Araştırma sonucunda önerilerde
bulunulmuştur.
DESCOBRINDO O EGITO ANTIGO NA MODERNIDADE: A CONTRIBUIÇÃO DO ANTIQUARISTA GIOVANNI BELZONI (1816-1819)
Authors: Eggers Natascha de Andrade
Published: June 2018

O principal objetivo do presente artigo é compreender a relação entre o Império Britânico e o Antigo Egito, a fim de demonstrar como os europeus, em especial os britânicos, utilizaram a imagem da civilização egípcia para a construção de uma identidade e memória nacional. Dessa forma, destaca-se o relevante papel que os viajantes antiquaristas tiveram neste processo, pois ao realizarem suas viagens deixavam registradas todas as suas impressões a respeito das culturas dos locais por onde passavam e, também, da cultura material que encontravam. Tais relatos eram constantemente lidos na Europa e utilizados como fonte de conhecimento, pois traduziam para o europeu o “outro” e relatavam suas interpretações a respeito do passado e presente de determinado local. Dessa forma, analiso o diário de viagem do antiquarista Giovanni Belzoni com a intenção de compreender como seu discurso pode ter contribuído para tal afirmação nacional, uma vez que este ajudou a construir uma grande coleção de peças egípcias do Museu Britânico, na Inglaterra.
LATE ANTIQUITY: IMAGE AND DOCUMENT
Authors: Carlan Cláudio Umpierre
Published: June 2018

The article begins with a description of iconography as historical document. Image in Antiquity had a specific function: to present to a particular social group, mostly illiterate, something that represented the edge of power. It not only legitimized an emperor or king, but was also a type of advertising.
O Egito como limiar e o heroi em xeque em Helena de Eurípedes
Authors: Da Costa Lorena Lopes
Published: June 2018

O presente artigo tem como objeto a peça Helena de Eurípides, datada de 412 a. C., e busca apreender de que forma o Egito, terra onde se desenvolve a versão do mito narrada pelo poeta, atualiza a Esquéria, ilha em que Odisseu redefine seu retorno ao narrar suas aventuras na Odisseia. Para estabelecer as afinidades com a terra dos feácios, o poeta trágico apropria-se da visão grega do Egito, em que a admiração e o mistério são os aspectos principais, e incorpora elementos odisseicos ao enredo, o que lhe permite recriar uma história em que o herói e a guerra são postos em xeque.
Entrevista com Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari: a trajetória de um classicista brasileiro
Authors: Da Silva Glaydson José , Garraffoni Renata Senna
Published: June 2018

Entrevista com Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari: a trajetória de um classicista brasileiro
Pedro Paulo Abreu funari: um arqueólogo do mundo
Authors: Fabião Carlos
Published: June 2018

Homenagem ao Professor Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari
Note in homage to professor Pedro Paulo A. Funari
Authors: Oliveira Julio Cesar Magalhaes de
Published: June 2018

Homenagem a Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari
Arqueologia histórica na Magna Grécia: de uma perspectiva americana à colonização grega no sul da Itália
Authors: Pollini Airton
Published: June 2018

A abordagem da Arqueologia histórica foi forjada para o estudo da sociedade americana após a conquista europeia das terras coloniais no novo mundo. Interessada na comparação entre cultura material e registros escritos, opôs-se à Prehistória e à Antropologia e aos métodos de pesquisa dessas disciplinas. Sua principal proposta é usar todos os dados disponíveis, materiais e escritos, independentemente, sem qualquer hierarquia, mas em estreita comparação. Como tal, esta perspectiva estuda a arqueologia dos indivíduos “sem história”, como indígenas, escravos, mulheres, ou mesmo as diásporas africanas na América, em antagonismo com o colonizador masculino e branco. Proposta a partir de um contexto pós-colonial explícito, esta abordagem pode dar um importante contributo para o estudo de outras sociedades antigas para as quais as interpretações se baseiam em discussões entre restos arqueológicos e textos, como as comunidades coloniais gregas na Magna Grécia.
Cross and Roman legion: popular imaginary in the first century
Authors: Rossi Luiz Alexandre Solano
Published: June 2018

From the year 63 BCE the new imperial order arrives in Palestine. An empire desired by the gods and considered eternal as the gods themselves are. Nevertheless, the eternity of the Empire passes through instruments of violence against the peoples subjugated in the present. Thus, the cross and the Roman legion will become symbols in the social imaginary of the Palestine’s peasants. Imaginary that is constructed from images present in the daily routine. Crosses and soldiers were present in the Palestinian scenario to remind any peasants of their vulnerability and at the same time to reaffirm the perennity of an empire deified by force.
El saturnismo y la caída del Imperio Romano
Authors: Martín Antonio Aguilera
Published: June 2018

Durante muchos años, y de forma recurrente, algunos estudiosos de la historia de Roma han considerado que el saturnismo (envenenamiento por plomo) provocado por la ingesta de vino conteniendo arrope, fue una de las causas principales de la locura de algunos emperadores romanos, de la falta de natalidad de su aristocracia o incluso de la caída del imperio romano. En este trabajo se demuestra lo contrario, pues el arrope fue utilizado por los romanos sólo en la fabricación de vinos de mala calidad. Por tanto, precisamente el saturnismo actuó sobre todo entre las capas más desfavorecidas de la población, nunca sobre las clases altas.
Pelloutier e o agenciamento das origens
Authors: Martins Adilton Luis
Published: June 2018

Esta pesquisa se comprometeu inicialmente em discutir o processo de representação dos celtas na historiografia anti-absolutista de Simon Pelloutier. Entretanto, as fontes, abordadas metodologicamente pela genealogia, permitiram uma associação epistemológica. Em todas circundavam o tema das origens, ou melhor, todas produziam seu determinado conhecimento histórico com base nas origens. Os conhecimentos históricos e seus comprometimentos sócio-políticos e culturais eram forjados a partir da importância dada às origens nas fontes modernas - numa prática de agenciamento das origens. Este conceito consiste em uma relação epistemológica cultural com o tema das origens presente na historiografia moderna. Ele é pensado, neste estudo, como a identificação de um substrato religioso na noção profunda do sentido de historicidade, que o investe, de modo quase genealógico, com todo o processo de racionalidade erudita.
Pelloutier and the agencying of origins
Authors: Martins Adilton Luis
Published: June 2018

This initial aim of this research was to study the process of representation of the Celts in the anti-absolutist historiography of Simon Pelloutier. However, as its sources were approached by the genealogical method, they made way for a new epistemological association. These sources were surrounded by the issue of human origins; or, better yet, each of them produced its own historical knowledge based on a view of human origins. This means that their historical knowledge and socio-political and cultural allegiances were based on the importance ascribed to the origins – as an agencying of origins practice. The agencying of origins concept consists in an epistemological and cultural relation with the theme of human origins in modern historiography. In this study, it is the identification of a religious substance in the deep notion of the meaning of historicity, and its virtually genealogical empowerment by the entire process of erudite rationality
Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari: a world archaeologist
Authors: Fabião Carlos
Published: June 2018

Special Issue in honour to Professor Pedro Paulo Funari
Interview with Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari: the life path of a Brazilian classicist
Authors: Da Silva Glaydson José , Garraffoni Renata Senna
Published: June 2018

Interview with Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari: the life path of a brazilian classicist
Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari e eu
Authors: Bakos Margaret Marchiori
Published: June 2018

Homenagem a Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari
Archaeology of generosity
Authors: De Azevedo Katia Teonia Costa
Published: June 2018

Special issue in honour to Professor Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari
Poder no Egito ptolomaico: uma abordagem mágico-religiosa da legitimidade Julio Gralha
Authors: Gralha Julio
Published: June 2018

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar estratégias que permitiram a dinastia ptolomaica estabelecer sua legitimidade por quase três séculos. De fato, defendo que um projeto político-religioso, que tinha por foco a adoção de práticas mágico-religiosas egípcias e da monarquia divina foi levado a efeito pela realeza ptolomaica. Nesta pesquisa cito como exemplo quatro estratégias: A legitimidade ptolomaica pela deificação, pela fundação de cidade, pela titulação e pela construção de templos. Defendo também que o desenvolvimento de um programa de construção de templos no Alto Egito, principalmente após a Rebelião Tebana, foi capaz de estabelecer a cooperação e a cooptação da elite e segmentos sociais locais consolidando a legitimidade dinástica. Além disso, defendo que a egipcianização da realeza ptolomaica é mais profunda do que a historiografia ressalta se comparada a helenização.
Life and death in the ancient world: the tetrarchy and the last persecution of Christians (303 – 311)
Authors: Carlan Cláudio Umpierre
Published: June 2018

The present paper begins with a description of the Roman world after the Tetrarchy, with the fight for power between Constantine and, later, Licinius. We analyzed the political matters concerning the Roman world during this period. The numismatic collection stored at the Museu Histórico Nacional (National Historical Museum – MHN) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, served as an iconographic source to show how images were used at that time as propaganda, supporting and legitimizing the imperial rule.
Teaching National Identity and Alterity
Authors: Gürsel Bahar
Published: June 2018

The swift and profound transformations in technology and industry that
the United States began to experience in the late 1800s manifested themselves in
school textbooks, which presented different patterns of race, ethnicity, and otherness.
They also displayed concepts like national identity, exceptionalism, and the
superiority of Euro-American civilization. This article aims to demonstrate, via an
analysis of two textbooks, how world geography was taught to children in primary
schools in nineteenth century America. It shows that the development of American
identity coincided with the emergence of the realm of the “other,” that is, with the
intensification of racial attitudes and prejudices, some of which were to persist well
into the twentieth century.
Floral polymorphism in Polygonum bistorta L.
Authors: Chen Ming-Lin , Wang Xiao-Yu , Funke Aubrey L
Published: June 2018

In the present study, new type of floral polymorphism (tristylous-like flowers) in Polygonum bistorta L., i.e., L-, M-, and S-styles (long, medium and short, respectively) is reported. This tristylous was not only present in different populations but also in a single inflorescence. Although the heights of styles and anthers in the three morphs of flowers differed, their ancillary tepal size, pollen polymorphism, and stigma polymorphism were found similar. The ratio of M-flowers was far lower than those of L- and S-flowers. Unlike the solid nectar of other Polygonum species, fluid nectar was present in Polygonum bistorta, which reflects its specialized state. Different from most of other hetereostylous species with tubular flowers and Polygonum jucundum with open distylous flowers, Polygonum bistorta contains semi-open flowers. Our findings suggest that P. bistorta represents special floral polymorphism in Polygonum and is an ideal plant species for studying the evolution of floral breeding system in Polygonum.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 25(1): 1-11, 2018 (June)
Taxonomic revision of Saudi Arabian Tetraena Maxim. and Zygophyllum L. (Zygophyllaceae) with one new variety and four new combinations
Authors: Alzahrani Dhafer Ahmed , Albokhari Enas Jameel
Published: June 2018

The genera Tetraena Maxim. and Zygophyllum L. (Zygophyllaceae) present different morphological characters, viz. growth habit, leaf features, flower traits and fruit shape, and have a high diversity of species in Africa, Australia and Asia. Six species of Tetraena [T. alba (L.f.) Beier & Thulin, T. coccinea (L) Beier & Thulin, T. decumbens (Delile) Beier & Thulin, T. hamiensis (Schwein f.) Beier & Thulin, T. propinqua (Decne.) Ghaz. & Osborne and T. simplex (L.) Beier & Thulin], and one species of Zygophyllum (Z. fabago L.) have been identified in Saudi Arabia, most of which grow in sandy soils and saline habitats as shrubs and herbs. One new endemic variety (T. alba var. arabica Alzahrani & Albokhari) along with four new combinations [T. alba var. amblyocarpa (Baker) Alzahrani & Albokhari, T. hamiensis var. qatarensis (Hadidi ex Beier & Thulin) Alzahrani & Albokhari, T. hamiensis var. mandavillei (Hadidi ex Beier & Thulin) Alzahrnai & Albokhari, and T. propinqua subsp. migahidii (Hadidi ex Beier & Thulin) Alzahrani & Albokhari] are proposed. Descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps and a key for identification of the taxa are presented. Conservation status has been proposed for the new variety and combinations.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 25(1): 19-43, 2018 (June)
Colocasia hassanii (Araceae), A new species of aroid from Bangladesh
Authors: Ara Hosne
Published: June 2018

Colocasia hassanii, a new species of Araceae from Bangladesh, is described and illustrated. C. hassanii is closely related to C. esculenta (L.) Schott but differs from the later by the number of constriction (two) in spathe,presence of a sterile male zone in spadix, and bitter in taste. A morphologicalcomparison between C. hassanii and C. esculenta is provided.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 25(1): 101-106, 2018 (June)
Modeling and Solving Method for Supporting ‘Vehicle-to-Anything’ EV Charging Mode
Authors: Mao Tian , Zhang Xin , Zhou Baorong
Published: June 2018

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an attractive solution to make traditional transportation energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. EVs are also considered an important element to bring new opportunities for power grids. In addition to the role of a pure load, along with the development of discharging technology for batteries, EVs can deliver energy back to power grids or another power consumption entity or community, performing various discharging activities such as vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-grid (V2G), etc. These charging scenarios can be uniformly named the ‘Vehicle-to-anything’ (V2A) charging mode. The paradigm of this charging mode has already been given; however, the modeling and solving approaches are still insufficient. Therefore, the analysis and modeling of V2A are investigated herein. The aim is to propose a generic model suitable for different applications of V2A in different places. The characteristics of the V2A charging mode are given and analyzed first. Then a model that can adapt to the V2A scenario is illustrated. The optimization problem is transformed and solved as an INLP (integer nonlinear programming) problem. The effectiveness of the approach is verified with simulation results. The outcome also indicates that V2A applications have great potential for lowering power consumption costs; for instance, a reduction of 4.37% in energy expense can be achieved in a case study with EV discharging enabled for a household.
Effects of Moringa oleifera Leaves Extract on High Glucose-Induced Metabolic Changes in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Sosa-Gutiérrez Jorge A. , Valdéz-Solana Mónica A. , Forbes-Hernández Tamara Y. , Avitia-Domínguez Claudia I. , Garcia-Vargas Gonzalo G. , Salas-Pacheco José M. , Flores-Herrera Oscar , Téllez-Valencia Alfredo , Battino Maurizio , Sierra-Campos Erick
Published: June 2018

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of diabetes, but the metabolic alterations during early stages of the disease remain unknown. The ability of liver cells to rearrange their metabolism plays an important role in compensating the energy shortage and may provide cell survival. Moringa oleifera leaves have been studied for its health properties against diabetes, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic liver disease. We postulated that M. oleifera executes a protective function on mitochondrial functionality in HepG2 treated with high glucose. We evaluated the effect of high glucose treatment on the mitochondrial function of HepG2 cells using a Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA), blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), and western blot analysis. For assessment of mitochondrial abnormalities, we measured the activity of mitochondrial Complex I and IV as well as uncoupling protein 2, and sirtuin 3 protein contents. Our results demonstrate that, under conditions mimicking the hyperglycemia, Complex I activity, UCP2, Complex III and IV subunits content, supercomplex formation, and acetylation levels are modified with respect to the control condition. However, basal oxygen consumption rate was not affected and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production remained unchanged in all groups. Treatment of HepG2 cells with M. oleifera extract significantly increased both protein content and mitochondrial complexes activities. Nonetheless, control cells’ respiratory control ratio (RCR) was 4.37 compared to high glucose treated cells’ RCR of 15.3, and glucose plus M. oleifera treated cells’ RCR of 5.2, this indicates high-quality mitochondria and efficient oxidative phosphorylation coupling. Additionally, the state app was not altered between different treatments, suggesting no alteration in respiratory fluxes. These findings enhance understanding of the actions of M. oleifera and suggest that the known antidiabetic property of this plant, at least in part, is mediated through modulating the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
Effects of Parental Migration on Life Satisfaction and Academic Achievement of Left-Behind Children in Rural China—A Case Study in Hubei Province
Authors: Song Shujuan , Chen Chunfeng , Zhang Aiguo
Published: June 2018

In the rural areas of China, there is a high occurrence of parental migration, wherein adults are flushed into urban areas to search for employment opportunities, leading to millions of left-behind children (LBC) in rural China. LBC attracts more attention from the social community and Chinese government. Here, we compared the life satisfaction and academic achievement of left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC) in rural regions that send out migrant labor in Hubei province, central China. We investigated 1031 LBC and 992 NLBC students in grades 4 to 9 in ten elementary and four middle schools, using a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, life satisfaction, and academic achievement scores. The results showed that LBC have a lower life satisfaction and lower academic achievement than NLBC (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, as the child’s age at separation from parents decreased, their life satisfaction decreased. Additionally, correlations were observed between life satisfaction and academic achievement scores in LBC (p = 0.004) as well as in NLBC (p = 0.064). Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into a comprehensive understanding of LBC and suggest that the life satisfaction levels of LBC should be improved in rural China.
Understanding Fibre-Matrix Degradation of FRP Composites for Advanced Civil Engineering Applications: An Overview
Authors: Raman R. , Guo Faye , Al-Saadi Saad , Zhao Xiao-Ling , Jones Rhys
Published: June 2018

Common concretes use considerable amounts of fresh water and river sand, and their excessive use is already seriously implicating the environment. In this respect, seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC) is a very attractive alternative, since it addresses the increasing shortage of fresh water and dredging of river sand. A major concern with reinforced SWSSC is the severe corrosion of the steel reinforcements by seawater (that has a very high content of chloride which is very corrosive), thereby seriously impairing the strength of such concrete. Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) can be a suitable alternative to replace steels as reinforcement. However, there has been little systematic work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP in the chloride-containing alkaline SWSSC environment. This review first provides an overview of the degradation of FRP composites in normal concrete and chloride-containing alkaline SWSSC environments, and then presents an example of a recent study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that may provide a pathway to systematic experimental approach to understanding such degradation. The review also makes a comprehensive assessment of the influence of environment-assisted degradation on mechanical properties of FRPs.
Role of Handheld In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Fabry Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Cinotti Elisa , Provvidenziale Luca , Fimiani Michele , Perrot Jean Luc , Cambazard Frederic , Rubegni Pietro
Published: June 2018

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase that leads to a systemic accumulation of globotriaosylceramide. Handheld in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (HH-RCM) is a useful modern technique in diagnosis and follow-ups of many skin diseases. This noninvasive device provides high-resolution and high-contrast real-time images to study both the skin and the ocular surface structures that can help clinicians to confirm the diagnosis of FD. HH-RCM could be helpful even for the follow-ups of these patients, enabling us to monitor the effect of enzyme replacement therapy on corneal cells and keratinocytes.
Combination of R-R Interval and Crest Time in Assessing Complexity Using Multiscale Cross-Approximate Entropy in Normal and Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Xiao Ming-Xia , Wei Hai-Cheng , Xu Ya-Jie , Wu Hsien-Tsai , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: June 2018

The present study aimed at testing the hypothesis that application of multiscale cross-approximate entropy (MCAE) analysis in the study of nonlinear coupling behavior of two synchronized time series of different natures [i.e., R-R interval (RRI) and crest time (CT, the time interval from foot to peakof a pulse wave)] could yield information on complexity related to diabetes-associated vascular changes. Signals of a single waveform parameter (i.e., CT) from photoplethysmography and RRI from electrocardiogram were simultaneously acquired within a period of one thousand cardiac cycles for the computation of different multiscale entropy indices from healthy young adults (n = 22) (Group 1), upper-middle aged non-diabetic subjects (n = 34) (Group 2) and diabetic patients (n = 34) (Group 3). The demographic (i.e., age), anthropometric (i.e., body height, body weight, waist circumference, body-mass index), hemodynamic (i.e., systolic and diastolic blood pressures), and serum biochemical (i.e., high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride) parameters were compared with different multiscale entropy indices including small- and large-scale multiscale entropy indices for CT and RRI [MEISS(CT), MEILS(CT), MEISS(RRI), MEILS(RRI), respectively] as well as small- and large-scale multiscale cross-approximate entropy indices [MCEISS, MCEILS, respectively]. The results demonstrated that both MEILS(RRI) and MCEILS significantly differentiated between Group 2 and Group 3 (all p < 0.017). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significant associations of MEILS(RRI) and MCEILS(RRI,CT) with age and glycated hemoglobin level (all p < 0.017). The findings highlight the successful application of a novel multiscale cross-approximate entropy index in non-invasively identifying diabetes-associated subtle changes in vascular functional integrity, which is of clinical importance in preventive medicine.
Assessing Information Transmission in Data Transformations with the Channel Multivariate Entropy Triangle
Authors: Valverde-Albacete Francisco , Peláez-Moreno Carmen
Published: June 2018

Data transformation, e.g., feature transformation and selection, is an integral part of any machine learning procedure. In this paper, we introduce an information-theoretic model and tools to assess the quality of data transformations in machine learning tasks. In an unsupervised fashion, we analyze the transformation of a discrete, multivariate source of information X¯ into a discrete, multivariate sink of information Y¯ related by a distribution PX¯Y¯. The first contribution is a decomposition of the maximal potential entropy of (X¯,Y¯), which we call a balance equation, into its (a) non-transferable, (b) transferable, but not transferred, and (c) transferred parts. Such balance equations can be represented in (de Finetti) entropy diagrams, our second set of contributions. The most important of these, the aggregate channel multivariate entropy triangle, is a visual exploratory tool to assess the effectiveness of multivariate data transformations in transferring information from input to output variables. We also show how these decomposition and balance equations also apply to the entropies of X¯ and Y¯, respectively, and generate entropy triangles for them. As an example, we present the application of these tools to the assessment of information transfer efficiency for Principal Component Analysis and Independent Component Analysis as unsupervised feature transformation and selection procedures in supervised classification tasks.
Instructional Support for Intuitive Knowledge Acquisition When Learning with an Ecological Computer Simulation
Authors: Eckhardt Marc , Urhahne Detlef , Harms Ute
Published: June 2018

Intuitive knowledge seems to influence human decision-making outside of consciousness and differs from deliberate cognitive and metacognitive processes. Intuitive knowledge can play an essential role in problem solving and may offer the initiation of subsequent learning processes. Scientific discovery learning with computer simulations leads to the acquisition of intuitive knowledge. To improve knowledge acquisition, particular instructional support is needed as pure discovery learning often does not lead to successful learning outcomes. Hence, the goal of this study was to determine whether two different instructional interventions for scientific discovery effectively produced intuitive knowledge acquisition when learning with computer simulations. Instructional interventions for learning with computer simulations on the topic ‘ecosystem water’ were developed and tested in the two well-known categories data interpretation and self-regulation using a sample of 117 eighth graders during science class. The results demonstrated the efficacy of these instructional interventions on learners’ intuitive knowledge acquisition. A predetermined combination of instructional support for data interpretation and for self-regulation proved to be successful for learners’ intuitive knowledge acquisition after a learning session involving the computer simulation. Furthermore, the instructional intervention describing and interpreting own simulation outcomes for data interpretation seems to be an effective method for acquiring intuitive knowledge.
Optimal Control of a Compact Converter in an AC Microgrid
Authors: Smadi Issam A. , Albatran Saher , Alsyouf Mohammad A.
Published: June 2018

This paper presents an optimal control method for a compact reduced switch count AC/AC converter in an AC microgrid. The AC/AC converter is adopted to interconnect dual three-phase renewable energy sources (RESs) and a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) to the grid to form an example of a mixed grid-feeding-drive system. For the adopted converter, a generalized pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme employing the third harmonic injection and a control method are proposed. Moreover, to achieve reduced dc link voltage ripple, good reference tracking and disturbance rejection, the gains of the controllers are optimized by minimizing a weighted sum of different objective functions. Each objective function represents a specific aspect to be minimized and the optimization problem is solved employing particle swarm optimization (PSO) method, while ensuring that the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the current at the points of common coupling (PCC) are less than 5%. For this mixed grid-feeding-drive system, simulation results under fast transient are provided to demonstrate the applicability of the adopted converter in the AC microgrid, the effectiveness of the proposed PWM, and the proposed optimal control method.
Detection Method for Soft Internal Short Circuit in Lithium-Ion Battery Pack by Extracting Open Circuit Voltage of Faulted Cell
Authors: Seo Minhwan , Goh Taedong , Park Minjun , Kim Sang Woo
Published: June 2018

Early detection of internal short circuit which is main cause of thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery is necessary to ensure battery safety for users. As a promising fault index, internal short circuit resistance can directly represent degree of the fault because it describes self-discharge phenomenon caused by the internal short circuit clearly. However, when voltages of individual cells in a lithium-ion battery pack are not provided, the effect of internal short circuit in the battery pack is not readily observed in whole terminal voltage of the pack, leading to difficulty in estimating accurate internal short circuit resistance. In this paper, estimating the resistance with the whole terminal voltages and the load currents of the pack, a detection method for the soft internal short circuit in the pack is proposed. Open circuit voltage of a faulted cell in the pack is extracted to reflect the self-discharge phenomenon obviously; this process yields accurate estimates of the resistance. The proposed method is verified with various soft short conditions in both simulations and experiments. The error of estimated resistance does not exceed 31.2% in the experiment, thereby enabling the battery management system to detect the internal short circuit early.
3-D EHD Enhanced Natural Convection over a Horizontal Plate Flow with Optimal Design of a Needle Electrode System
Authors: Jang Jiin-Yuh , Chen Chun-Chung
Published: June 2018

The present study is intended to investigate the effect of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) enhanced heat transfer on natural convection flow. The flow is assumed to be three-dimensional, turbulent and steady. An experiment was carried out to verify the accuracy of the numerical results and to provide electric properties such as induced current and power consumption to be used as the criteria for the numerical solution procedures. An optimal analysis was carried out along with the simplified conjugate-gradient method, where the objective function was defined as the heat transfer enhancement per input power, which is maximized by searching for the optimum electrode pitch (SL) and height (H) combination. A search for the optimum electrode pitch (SL) and electrode height (H), ranging from 50 mm < SL < 200 mm and 15 mm < H < 55 mm, respectively, with V0 (12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 kV) and ΔT (33, 53 and 73 K), was performed, respectively. The results showed that the maximum heat transfer enhancement per power consumption reached 4.42–9.72.
Experimental Investigation of Characteristics of Sand Production in Wellbore during Hydrate Exploitation by the Depressurization Method
Authors: Lu Jingsheng , Xiong Youming , Li Dongliang , Shen Xiaodong , Wu Qi , Liang Deqing
Published: June 2018

Sand production is the process in which formation sand and gravel would migrate into the wellbore by the flow of reservoir fluids. This is a significant problem that endangers the safety of hydrate exploitation. The aim of this study is to understand sand production during hydrate exploitation. A novel experimental apparatus was constructed to examine sand production in the hydrate layer by using the depressurization method. Hydrate production was divided into three periods: water, gas with water drops, and gas. We detected sand production in the first two periods: fine sand in the first period and sand grains in the second. The temperature related characteristics of the hydrate layers and the rates of sand production differed during different stages of hydrate production. The unique sputtering occurring owing to the decomposition of the hydrate might have provided the driving force for sand migration, and water gas bubbles or gaseous water drops from the decomposed hydrate might have enhanced sand carrying capacity. The subsidence of hydrate-bearing sediments was influenced by sand production, whereas the maintenance of crustal stress possibly influenced the rate and magnitude of subsidence. Future experimental and numerical research into the dynamical thermal properties and material balance of the hydrate layer production must consider its dynamic subsidence.
Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Recovery Using Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors (AnMBRs): Strategies and Achievements
Authors: Musa Mohammed , Idrus Syazwani , Che Man Hasfalina , Nik Daud Nik
Published: June 2018

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most essential treatment technologies applied to industrial and municipal wastewater treatment. Membrane-coupled anaerobic bioreactors have been used as one alternative to the conventional anaerobic digestion process. They are presumed to offer the advantage of completely reducing or minimizing the volume of sludge and increasing biogas production. However, researchers have consistently reported different kinds of fouling that resulted in the reduction of membrane life span. Depending on the strength of the effluent, factors such as high suspended and dissolved solids, fats, oil and grease, transmembrane pressure (TMP) and flux were reported as major contributors to the membrane fouling. Moreover, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are an important biological substance that defines the properties of sludge flocs, including adhesion, hydrophobicity and settling and have been found to accelerate membrane fouling as well. Extensive studies of AnMBR have been done at laboratory while little is reported at the pilot scale. The significance of factors such as organic loading rates (OLRs), hydraulic retention time (HRT), pH and temperature on the operations of AnMBRs have been discussed. Microbial environmental conditions also played the most important role in the production of biogas and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, but adverse effects of volatile fatty acids formation were reported as the main inhibitory effect. Generally, evaluating the potential parameters and most cost effective technology involved in the production of biogas and its inhibitory effects as well as the effluent quality after treatment is technically challenging, thus future research perspectives relating to food to microorganism F/M ratio interaction, sufficient biofilm within the reactor for microbial attachment was recommended. For the purpose of energy savings and meeting water quality discharge limit, the use of micro filtration was also proposed.
Optimal Scheduling of Integrated Energy Systems with Combined Heat and Power Generation, Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Considering Battery Lifetime Loss
Authors: Wang Yongli , Yu Haiyang , Yong Mingyue , Huang Yujing , Zhang Fuli , Wang Xiaohai
Published: June 2018

Integrated energy systems (IESs) are considered a trending solution for the energy crisis and environmental problems. However, the diversity of energy sources and the complexity of the IES have brought challenges to the economic operation of IESs. Aiming at achieving optimal scheduling of components, an IES operation optimization model including photovoltaic, combined heat and power generation system (CHP) and battery energy storage is developed in this paper. The goal of the optimization model is to minimize the operation cost under the system constraints. For the optimization process, an optimization principle is conducted, which achieves maximized utilization of photovoltaic by adjusting the controllable units such as energy storage and gas turbine, as well as taking into account the battery lifetime loss. In addition, an integrated energy system project is taken as a research case to validate the effectiveness of the model via the improved differential evolution algorithm (IDEA). The comparison between IDEA and a traditional differential evolution algorithm shows that IDEA could find the optimal solution faster, owing to the double variation differential strategy. The simulation results in three different battery states which show that the battery lifetime loss is an inevitable factor in the optimization model, and the optimized operation cost in 2016 drastically decreased compared with actual operation data.
Electrical Energy Producing Greenhouse Shading System with a Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Blind Based on Micro-Spherical Solar Cells
Authors: Li Zhi , Yano Akira , Cossu Marco , Yoshioka Hidekazu , Kita Ichiro , Ibaraki Yasuomi
Published: June 2018

An increasing population and limited arable land area endanger sufficient and variegated food supplies worldwide. Greenhouse cultivation enables highly intensive plant production and thereby enables the production of abundant fresh vegetables and fruits. The salient benefits of greenhouse cultivation are supported by ingenious management of crop environments, assisted by fossil fuel and grid electricity supplies. To reduce dependence on traditional energy resources, various studies have investigated exploitation of renewable energies for greenhouse environment management. Among them, solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies are anticipated to feed electrical energy to greenhouse appliances for microclimate control. This study proposes a venetian-blind-type shading system consisting of semi-transparent PV modules as blind blades based on micro-spherical solar cell technology to achieve greenhouse shading and electricity production concurrently. In response to the solar irradiance level, the PV blind inclination was altered automatically using a direct current (DC) motor driven by electrical energy generated by the PV blind itself. The PV blind was operated continuously during a five-month test period without outage. Moreover, the PV blind generated surplus electrical energy of 2125 kJ for blind system operations during the test period. The annual surplus energy calculated under the present experimental condition was 7.8 kWh m−2 year−1, suggesting that application of the PV blind to a greenhouse roof enables sunlight level control and electrical appliance operations in the greenhouse with a diminished fuel and grid electricity supply, particularly in high-insolation regions.
Designing a Reliable and Congested Multi-Modal Facility Location Problem for Biofuel Supply Chain Network
Authors: Poudel Sushil , Marufuzzaman Mohammad , Quddus Md Abdul , Chowdhury Sudipta , Bian Linkan , Smith Brian
Published: June 2018

This study presents a mathematical model that designs a reliable multi-modal transportation network for a biofuel supply chain system while site-dependent facility failure and congestion are taken into consideration. The proposed model locates the multi-modal facilities and biorefineries and determines the optimal production, storage, and routing plans in such a way that the overall system cost is minimized. We propose a hybrid Constraint generation-based Rolling horizon algorithm to solve this challenging NP-hard problem. The performance of this algorithm is tested in a example case study with numerical analysis showing that the hybrid algorithm can find near-optimal solutions to large-scale problem instances in a reasonable amount of time. Results indicate that the effect of congestion reduces the usage of multi-modal facilities in the biofuel supply chain network while bio-refineries and multi-modal facilities tend to move away from coastal areas when disruption probabilities are taken into consideration.
A New Hybrid Method for China’s Energy Supply Security Forecasting Based on ARIMA and XGBoost
Authors: Li Pin , Zhang Jin-Suo
Published: June 2018

Energy supply security is a significant part of China’s security, directly influencing national security and economic and social sustainability. To ensure both China’s present and the future energy supply, it is essential to evaluate and forecast the energy supply level. However, forecasting the energy supply security level is difficult because energy supply security is dynamic, many factors affect it and there is a lack of accurate and comprehensive data. Therefore, based on previous studies and according to the characteristics of energy supply and the social development of China, first, the authors apply a comprehensive evaluation method to quantify the energy supply security. Second, based on the ARIMA-XGBoost hybrid model, the authors create two novel approaches for forecasting the energy supply security level of China. The authors find that: (1) energy supply security is dynamic, and green development has become the theme of China’s energy development. The energy industry urgently needs to provide more high-quality ecological energy products to meet the people’s desire for a beautiful ecological environment; (2) since the mean absolute percentage errors are below 4.5% when forecasting the energy supply security indicators, the ARIMA-XGBoost hybrid model is more accurate for forecasting China’s energy supply security level and (3) the security level of China’s energy supply has developed periodic features; the ESSI can improve by about 0.2 every five years, but, due to the low starting point and multiple types of constraints, it is difficult to reach the safety level in a short time.
Micro-Malting for the Quality Evaluation of Rye (Secale cereale) Genotypes
Authors: Wang Yujuan , Jin Zhao , Barr John , Gillespie James , Simsek Senay , Horsley Richard D. , Schwarz Paul B.
Published: June 2018

Malting of rye and the use of rye malts presents several challenges to maltsters and brewers, like the lack of a hull, dense packing in steep, and high wort viscosity. While empirical evidence shows that rye genotypes differ in malting and brewing performance and flavor, there is little published information on the malting of rye or the malt quality attributes of rye genotypes. The objective was to evaluate laboratory micro-malting conditions that could be used in quality screening. Parameters included germination time, moisture and kernel size. Wort arabinoxylan and phenolic acid contents were determined in addition to standard malt quality parameters. In general, high extract and lower viscosity were achieved by malting for at least 4 days at 45%–48% moisture under the temperature of 16 °C. However, as some commercial maltsters indicated the difficulty of handling of germinating rye at the highest moisture levels, we recommend 5 days of germination at 45% moisture for the future evaluation of rye cultivars.