bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Integrated Design and Optimization Approach for Radial Inflow Turbines—Part II: Multidisciplinary Optimization Design
Authors: Deng Qinghua , Shao Shuai , Fu Lei , Luan Haifeng , Feng Zhenping
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes an integrated design and optimization approach for radial inflow turbines consisting of an automated preliminary design module and a flexible three-dimensional multidisciplinary optimization module. The latter was constructed by an evolution algorithm, a genetic algorithm-assisted self-learning artificial neural network and a dynamic sampling database. The 3-D multidisciplinary optimization approach was validated by the original T-100 turbine and the T-100re turbine obtained from the automated preliminary design approach, for maximizing the total-to-static efficiency and minimizing the rotor weight while keeping the mass flow rate constant and stress limitation satisfied. The validation results indicate that the total-to-static efficiency is 89.6%, increased by 1.3%, and the rotor weight is reduced by 0.14 kg (14.6%) based on the T-100re turbine, while the efficiency is 88.2%, increased by 2.2% and the weight is reduced by 0.49 kg (37.4%) based on the original T-100 turbine. Moreover, the T-100re turbine shows better performance at the preliminary design stage and conserves this advantage to the end, though both the aerodynamic performance of the T-100 and the T-100re turbine are improved after 3-D optimization. At the same time, it is implied that the preliminary design plays an essential role in the radial inflow turbine design process, and it is hard for only 3-D optimization to get a further performance improvement.
An Integrated Design and Optimization Approach for Radial Inflow Turbines—Part I: Automated Preliminary Design
Authors: Deng Qinghua , Shao Shuai , Fu Lei , Luan Haifeng , Feng Zhenping
Published: October 2018

An integrated design and optimization approach was developed for radial inflow turbines, which consists of two modules, an automated preliminary design module, and a flexible three-dimensional multidisciplinary optimization module. In this paper, the first module about the automated preliminary design approach was presented in detail and validated by the experimental data. The approach employs a genetic algorithm to explore the design space defined by the loading coefficient, flow coefficient, and rotational speed. The aim is to obtain the best design scheme with high aerodynamic performance under specified constraints and to reduce the dependency on human experiences when designing a radial inflow turbine. The validation results show that the present approach is able to get the optimal design and alleviate the dependence on the designer’s expertise under specified constraints at the preliminary design stage. Furthermore, the optimization results indicate that using the present optimization approach the total-to-static efficiency of the optimized T-100 radial inflow turbine can be increased by 1.0% under design condition and the rotor weight can be decreased by 0.35 kg (26.7%) as compared with that of the original case.
Vertical Spectra of Temperature in the Free Troposphere at Meso-and-Small Scales According to the Flow Regime: Observations and Interpretation
Authors: Wilson Richard , Hashiguchi Hiroyuki , Yabuki Masanori
Published: October 2018

This article addresses the properties of stably-stratified and unstable layers in the free troposphere. Thorpe’s method of analysis has been applied to potential temperature (PT) profiles obtained from the raw measurements of operational radiosondes. In principle, this method distinguishes stably stratified and unstable regions. The background static stability, quantified by the square Brunt-Väisälä frequency estimated on the sorted PT profiles (stable everywhere), is observed to be significantly smaller in the unstable regions, likely due to turbulent mixing. The vertical power spectral densities (PSDs) of temperature fluctuations are shown to be proportional to m − p , where p is in the average 2.8 ± 0.2 in the stably stratified regions, and is 1.7 ± 0.3 in the unstable regions, for wavenumbers m in the range [ 10 − 2 , 10 − 1 ] m − 1 . Such findings validate the Thorpe analysis when applied to radiosondes. Also, the distribution of thicknesses h of unstable layers is observed to approximately follow a power law, varying as h − r with r ≈ 2.1 ± 0.1 . PT profiles for the entire troposphere have also been analyzed as the sum of a sorted profile and an anomaly profile. The PSDs of the sorted PT profiles are scaled as m − 3 down to a few meters on the vertical scale. Simple stochastic models based on random walks with increments having the property of flicker noise are shown to reproduce the spectral properties of the sorted PT profiles, i.e., of the vertical stratification of the free atmosphere.
Pre-Ribosomal RNA Processing in Human Cells: From Mechanisms to Congenital Diseases
Authors: Aubert Maxime , O’Donohue Marie-Françoise , Lebaron Simon , Gleizes Pierre-Emmanuel
Published: October 2018

Ribosomal RNAs, the most abundant cellular RNA species, have evolved as the structural scaffold and the catalytic center of protein synthesis in every living organism. In eukaryotes, they are produced from a long primary transcript through an intricate sequence of processing steps that include RNA cleavage and folding and nucleotide modification. The mechanisms underlying this process in human cells have long been investigated, but technological advances have accelerated their study in the past decade. In addition, the association of congenital diseases to defects in ribosome synthesis has highlighted the central place of ribosomal RNA maturation in cell physiology regulation and broadened the interest in these mechanisms. Here, we give an overview of the current knowledge of pre-ribosomal RNA processing in human cells in light of recent progress and discuss how dysfunction of this pathway may contribute to the physiopathology of congenital diseases.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Carbon Emissions for the Development of High-Rise Residential Building
Authors: Yim Stephen Y. C. , Ng S. Thomas , Hossain M. U. , Wong James M. W.
Published: October 2018

Despite the fact that many novel initiatives have been put forward to reduce the carbon emissions of buildings, there is still a lack of comprehensive investigation in analyzing a buildings’ life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially in high-density cities. In addition, no studies have made attempt to evaluate GHG emissions by considering the whole life cycle of buildings in Hong Kong. Knowledge of localized emission at different stages is critical, as the emission varies greatly in different regions. Without a reliable emission level of buildings, it is difficult to determine which aspects can reduce the life cycle GHG emissions. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the life cycle GHG emissions of buildings by considering “cradle-to-grave” system boundary, with a case-specific high-rise residential housing block as a representative public housing development in Hong Kong. The results demonstrated that the life cycle GHG emission of the case residential building was 4980 kg CO2e/m2. The analysis showed that the majority (over 86%) of the emission resulted from the use phase of the building including renovation. The results and analysis presented in this study can help the relevant parties in designing low carbon and sustainable residential development in the future.
DNA Methylation Predicts the Response of Triple-Negative Breast Cancers to All-Trans Retinoic Acid
Authors: Coyle Krysta Mila , Dean Cheryl A. , Thomas Margaret Lois , Vidovic Dejan , Giacomantonio Carman A. , Helyer Lucy , Marcato Paola
Published: October 2018

All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) regulates gene expression and is used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia. Attempts to use atRA in breast cancer without a stratification strategy have resulted in limited overall effectiveness. To identify biomarkers for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with atRA, we characterized the effects of atRA on the tumor growth of 13 TNBC cell lines. This resulted in a range of effects that was not predictable based on previously hypothesized predictors of response, such as the levels of atRA nuclear shuttling proteins fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) and cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2). Transcriptional profiling revealed that atRA induced distinct gene expression changes in the sensitive versus resistant cell lines that were mostly independent of the presence of retinoic acid response elements (RAREs) or peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs). Given the importance of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression, we hypothesized that differential DNA methylation could predict the response of TNBCs to atRA. We identified over 1400 sites that were differentially methylated between atRA resistant and sensitive cell lines. These CpG sites predicted the response of four TNBC patient-derived xenografts to atRA, and we utilized these xenografts to refine the profile and identified that as many as 17% of TNBC patients could benefit from atRA treatment. These data illustrate that differential methylation of specific CpGs may be useful biomarkers for predicting the response of patient tumors to atRA treatment.
The Intrinsic and Extrinsic Implications of RANKL/RANK Signaling in Osteosarcoma: From Tumor Initiation to Lung Metastases
Authors: Navet Benjamin , Ando Kosei , Vargas-Franco Jorge William , Brion Régis , Amiaud Jérome , Mori Kanji , Yagita Hideo , Mueller Christopher G. , Verrecchia Franck , Dumars Clotilde , Heymann Marie-Françoise , Heymann Dominique , Lézot Frédéric
Published: October 2018

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most frequent form of malignant pediatric bone tumor. Despite the current therapeutic arsenal, patient life-expectancy remains low if metastases are detected at the time of diagnosis, justifying research into better knowledge at all stages of osteosarcoma ontogenesis and identification of new therapeutic targets. Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor κB (RANK)expression has been reported in osteosarcoma cells, raising the question of Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor κB Ligand (RANKL)/RANK signaling implications in these tumor cells (intrinsic), in addition to previously reported implications through osteoclast activation in the tumor microenvironment (extrinsic). Methods: Based on in vitro and in vivo experimentations using human and mouse osteosarcoma cell lines, the consequences on the main cellular processes of RANK expression in osteosarcoma cells were analyzed. Results: The results revealed that RANK expression had no impact on cell proliferation and tumor growth, but stimulated cellular differentiation and, in an immune-compromised environment, increased the number of lung metastases. The analysis of RANKL, RANK and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expressions in biopsies of a cohort of patients revealed that while RANK expression in osteosarcoma cells was not significantly different between patients with or without metastases at the time of diagnosis, the OPG/RANK ratio decreased significantly. Conclusion: Altogether, these results are in favor of RANKL-RANK signaling inhibition as an adjuvant for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Mass Transfer Performance of a String Film Reactor: A Bioreactor Design for Aerobic Methane Bioconversion
Authors: Mariyana Rina , Kim Min-Sik , Lim Chae Il , Kim Tae Wan , Park Si Jae , Oh Byung-Keun , Lee Jinwon , Na Jeong-Geol
Published: October 2018

The mass transfer performance of a string film reactor (SFR)—a bioreactor design for the aerobic bioconversion of methane—was investigated. The results showed that the SFR could achieve high mass transfer performance of gases, and the highest values of the mass transfer coefficients for oxygen and methane were 877.1 h−1 and 408.0 h−1, respectively. There were similar mass transfer coefficients for oxygen and methane in absorption experiments using air, methane, and air–methane mixed gas under the same liquid flow rate conditions, implying that each gas is delivered into the liquid without mutual interaction. The mass transfer performance of the SFR was significantly influenced by the liquid flow rate and the hydrophilicity of the string material, whereas the magnitude of the gas flow rate effect on the mass transfer performance depended on both the tested liquid flow rate and the gas flow rate. Furthermore, the mass transfer performance of the SFR was compared with those of other types of bioreactors.
Titanium Dioxide/Graphene and Titanium Dioxide/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Applications for Water Decontamination
Authors: Tayel Amr , Ramadan Adham R. , El Seoud Omar A.
Published: October 2018

The use of titanium dioxide, TiO2 as a photocatalyst in water decontamination has witnessed continuous interest due to its efficiency, stability, low toxicity and cost-effectiveness. TiO2 use is limited by its large band gap energy leading to light absorbance in the UV region of the spectrum, and by the relatively fast rate of recombination of photogenerated electrons and positive holes. Both limitations can be mitigated by using carbon-TiO2 nanocomposites, such as those based on graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO). Relative to bare TiO2, these nanocomposites have improved photocatalytic activity and stability under the UV–visible light, constituting a promising way forward for improved TiO2 photocatalytic performance. This review focuses on the recent developments in the chemistry of TiO2/G and TiO2/GO nanocomposites. It addresses the mechanistic fundamentals, briefly, of TiO2 and TiO2/G and TiO2/GO photocatalysts, the various synthesis strategies for preparing TiO2/G and TiO2/GO nanocomposites, and the different characterization techniques used to study TiO2/G and TiO2/GO nanocomposites. Some applications of the use of TiO2/G and TiO2/GO nanocomposites in water decontamination are included.
Cellular Automaton Modeling of Silicon Facet Formation during Directional Solidification
Authors: Wang Jia , Li Ri , Li Ning , Yan Wenbo , Ma Wang , Chen Hongjian
Published: October 2018

Silicon facet formation during directional solidification is simulated by cellular automaton (CA) modeling in which anisotropic interfacial energy and kinetics are considered. Numerical simulations were performed with different anisotropy strengths of interfacial energy and they show good agreement with analytical equilibrium shapes obtained by the Gibbs-Thomson equation. We also compare our results of anisotropic kinetics with in situ observation experiments and the results of the phase model to verify the accuracy of our model. Simulation results of facet formation show that perturbation is promoted to the corner by the negative temperature gradient of the interface and the heat accumulation location leads to the disappearance of small corners.
Determination of the Nucleation and Growth Kinetics for Aqueous L-glycine Solutions from the Turbidity Induction Time Data
Authors: Shiau Lie-Ding
Published: October 2018

As the turbidity induction time measurements are influenced by the size distribution of the nuclei at the detection point, these data should provide important information on both nucleation and growth. A model is developed in this work to determine the nucleation and growth kinetics of aqueous L-glycine solutions using the turbidity induction time data for various supersaturations from 293.15 K to 313.15 K. The photomicroscopic growth experiments of aqueous L-glycine solutions are also conducted to determine the growth kinetics of nuclei under the same conditions for comparison. The results indicate that the interfacial energy obtained from this model is consistent with that obtained based on the traditional method by assuming t i − 1 ∝ J . The growth kinetics, including the growth activation energy and the kinetic growth parameter, obtained from this model using the induction time data are close to those obtained from the photomicroscopic growth experiments performed in this work.
Entropy and Entransy Dissipation Analysis of a Basic Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) to Recover Low-Grade Waste Heat Using Mixture Working Fluids
Authors: Feng Yong-qiang , Luo Qian-hao , Wang Qian , Wang Shuang , He Zhi-xia , Zhang Wei , Wang Xin , An Qing-song
Published: October 2018

Mixture working fluids can reduce effectively energy loss at heat sources and heat sinks, and therefore enhance the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) performance. The entropy and entransy dissipation analyses of a basic ORC system to recover low-grade waste heat using three mixture working fluids (R245fa/R227ea, R245fa/R152a and R245fa/pentane) have been investigated in this study. The basic ORC includes four components: an expander, a condenser, a pump and an evaporator. The heat source temperature is 120 °C while the condenser temperature is 20 °C. The effects of four operating parameters (evaporator outlet temperature, condenser temperature, pinch point temperature difference, degree of superheat), as well as the mass fraction, on entransy dissipation and entropy generation were examined. Results demonstrated that the entransy dissipation is insensitive to the mass fraction of R245fa. The entropy generation distributions at the evaporator for R245/pentane, R245fa/R152a and R245fa/R227ea are in ranges of 66–74%, 68–80% and 66–75%, respectively, with the corresponding entropy generation at the condenser ranges of 13–21%, 4–17% and 11–21%, respectively, while those at the expander for R245/pentane, R245fa/R152a and R245fa/R227ea are approaching 13%, 15% and 14%, respectively. The optimal mass fraction of R245fa for the minimum entropy generation is 0.6 using R245fa/R152a.
Decoding Performance Analysis of GNSS Messages with Land Mobile Satellite Channel in Urban Environment
Authors: Ke Jing , Lu Xiaochun , Wang Xue , Chen Xiaofei , Tang Sheng
Published: October 2018

Demand for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications in the urban environment has experienced a remarkable growth in recent years. However, the received signals are subjected to various urban channel impairments, like shadowing and multipath fading. Therefore, the decoding performance is different from that in open-sky conditions. In this paper, a two-state Land Mobile Satellite (LMS) channel based on the Markov process is used to model the urban channel properties, and then, the analysis of decoding performance in terms of frame error rate (FER) in the LMS channel is performed by evaluating the effect of three major influencing factors, specifically, coding and interleaving in the GNSS message, terminal speed, and satellite elevation angle. Extensive simulations are conducted on BDS-3 B1C B-CNAV1 message and GALILEO E5a F/NAV message. The results validate the excellent error correcting performance of the nonbinary low density parity check (NB-LDPC) code of the B-CNAV1 message and the effectiveness of interleaving in both of the messages in urban condition. Furthermore, it also shows that decoding performance improvement can be achieved with higher terminal speed and higher elevation angle in urban scenarios.
Optimization of Line-Tunneling Type L-Shaped Tunnel Field-Effect-Transistor for Steep Subthreshold Slope
Authors: Najam Faraz , Yu Yun Seop
Published: October 2018

The L-shaped tunneling field-effect-transistor (LTFET) has been recently introduced to overcome the thermal subthreshold limit of conventional metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOSFET). In this work, the shortcomings of the LTFET was investigated. It was found that the corner effect present in the LTFET effectively degrades its subthreshold slope. To avoid the corner effect, a new type of device with dual material gates is presented. The new device, termed the dual-gate (DG) LTEFT (DG-LTFET), avoids the corner effect and results in a significantly improved subthreshold slope of less than 10 mV/dec, and an improved ON/OFF current ratio over the LTFET. The DG-LTFET was evaluated for different device parameters and bench-marked against the LTFET. This work presents the optimum configuration of the DG-LTFET in terms of device dimensions and doping levels to determine the best subthreshold, ON current, and ambipolar performance.
The Impact of Climate Change and Strong Anthropopressure on the Annual Growth of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Wood Growing in Eastern Poland
Authors: Kalbarczyk Robert , Ziemiańska Monika , Nieróbca Anna , Dobrzańska Joanna
Published: October 2018

Changes in annual tree ring width (TRW) and its size depends not only on the changing climate and natural stress factors such as extreme air temperatures, shortages in rainfall and excess rainfall during the growing season, but also on anthropogenic stress, including chemical compounds emitted to the atmosphere or lowering of the groundwater table caused by the operations of plants with high environmental impact. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic factors on the size of annual growth of Scots pine tree-stands in the conditions of the climate of central-eastern Poland. On the basis of five created site chronologies in the vicinity of Zakłady Azotowe Puławy (nitrogen factories in Puławy) and using the moving correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis, a significant influence of temperature and precipitation conditions on the TRW size is proved. A significant, positive influence of air temperature on TRW was proved for the majority of chronologies created in the period of January–March, as well as in June, while it remained negative in May. The wide rings of Scots pines were formed when the precipitation of October and January (prior to the resumption of cambium activity) was lower than the average, and higher in April and in June–August. After including the anthropopressure factors in the regression equations, the description of the variability of the annual tree ring width was corrected. The coefficient of determination ranged from approx. 29% to even above 45% and was higher, on average by 10%, for all studied chronologies of Scots pine compared to the one calculated for constructed equations considering only meteorological conditions. The strength and direction of the impact of the independent variables (SO2, NH3, NOx) analysed on TRW mainly depended on the distance from the plants, as well as on the direction of inflow of industrial pollution to the stands examined. In light of the proven climate changes in central and eastern Poland, the growth conditions of pine stands will most likely deteriorate.
Initial Coin Offerings and Agile Practices
Authors: Ibba Simona , Pinna Andrea , Lunesu Maria Ilaria , Marchesi Michele , Tonelli Roberto
Published: October 2018

An ICO (Initial Coin Offering) is an innovative way to fund projects based on blockchain. The funding is based on the selling of tokens by means of decentralized applications called smart contracts written in Solidity, a programming language specific for Ethereum blockchain. The ICOs work in a volatile context and it is crucial that the team is capable of handling constant changes. The Agile methods, proven practices enabling to develop software in presence of changing requirements, could be a means for managing uncertainty. The main goals of this work are to understand software engineering activities related to ICOs, recognize the ICOs developed using Agile methods, and make a comparison between ICOs and Agile ICOs. In addition, we perform a deeper analysis of Agile ICOs concerning project planning, software development, and code features. Our work shows that the roles of the people involved in an ICO can be compared to the typical roles of the SCRUM methodology. The majority of Agile ICOs use tool of testing before storing smart contract on blockchain. Finally, the application of volumetric and complexity software metrics shows that the files of Agile ICOs is on average shorter and less complex than in other smart contracts.
CFD Analysis of Twin Turbulent Impinging Round Jets at Different Impingement Angles
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Raj Narayan , Disimile Peter J.
Published: October 2018

Round jets impinging at multiple impingement angles were considered for this study to gain better understanding of the parameters affecting resultant jet growth and velocity distribution. Work done by the authors previously on single jet has helped to establish that the SST (Shear Stress Transport) k-ω model is the ideal turbulence model for predicting flow characteristics of jets exiting a fully developed pipe at low Reynolds number. Hence, for the study of impinging jets, SST k-ω turbulence model was used to study the velocity and jet growth characteristics. Based on the mesh obtained from the grid sensitivity study, jets impinging at 30, 45 and 60 degrees at Reynolds number of 7500 were numerically analyzed. It was observed that the profile of the resultant jet closely matched with the prediction of elliptical profile predicted by past researchers. In addition, it was seen that higher jet growth was predicted in the case of jets impinging at a higher impingement angle.
Mathematical Modeling of Solutes Migration under the Conditions of Groundwater Filtration by the Model with the k-Caputo Fractional Derivative
Authors: Bohaienko Vsevolod , Bulavatsky Volodymyr
Published: October 2018

Within the framework of a new mathematical model of convective diffusion with the k-Caputo derivative, we simulate the dynamics of anomalous soluble substances migration under the conditions of two-dimensional steady-state plane-vertical filtration with a free surface. As a corresponding filtration scheme, we consider the scheme for the spread of pollution from rivers, canals, or storages of industrial wastes. On the base of a locally one-dimensional finite-difference scheme, we develop a numerical method for obtaining solutions of boundary value problem for fractional differential equation with k-Caputo derivative with respect to the time variable that describes the convective diffusion of salt solution. The results of numerical experiments on modeling the dynamics of the considered process are presented. The results that show an existence of a time lag in the process of diffusion field formation are presented.
Unfolded Protein Response Suppression in Yeast by Loss of tRNA Modifications
Authors: Bruch Alexander , Klassen Roland , Schaffrath Raffael
Published: October 2018

Modifications in the anticodon loop of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) have been shown to ensure optimal codon translation rates and prevent protein homeostasis defects that arise in response to translational pausing. Consequently, several yeast mutants lacking important anticodon loop modifications were shown to accumulate protein aggregates. Here we analyze whether this includes the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is commonly triggered by protein aggregation within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We demonstrate that two different aggregation prone tRNA modification mutants (elp6 ncs2; elp3 deg1) lacking combinations of 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine (mcm5s2U: elp3; elp6; ncs2) and pseudouridine (Ψ: deg1) reduce, rather than increase, splicing of HAC1 mRNA, an event normally occurring as a precondition of UPR induction. In addition, tunicamycin (TM) induced HAC1 splicing is strongly impaired in the elp3 deg1 mutant. Strikingly, this mutant displays UPR independent resistance against TM, a phenotype we found to be rescued by overexpression of tRNAGln(UUG), the tRNA species usually carrying the mcm5s2U34 and Ψ38 modifications. Our data indicate that proper tRNA anticodon loop modifications promote rather than impair UPR activation and reveal that protein synthesis and homeostasis defects in their absence do not routinely result in UPR induction but may relieve endogenous ER stress.
Terpenoid Metabolic Engineering in Photosynthetic Microorganisms
Authors: Vavitsas Konstantinos , Fabris Michele , Vickers Claudia
Published: October 2018

Terpenoids are a group of natural products that have a variety of roles, both essential and non-essential, in metabolism and in biotic and abiotic interactions, as well as commercial applications such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, and chemical feedstocks. Economic viability for commercial applications is commonly not achievable by using natural source organisms or chemical synthesis. Engineered bio-production in suitable heterologous hosts is often required to achieve commercial viability. However, our poor understanding of regulatory mechanisms and other biochemical processes makes obtaining efficient conversion yields from feedstocks challenging. Moreover, production from carbon dioxide via photosynthesis would significantly increase the environmental and potentially the economic credentials of these processes by disintermediating biomass feedstocks. In this paper, we briefly review terpenoid metabolism, outline some recent advances in terpenoid metabolic engineering, and discuss why photosynthetic unicellular organisms—such as algae and cyanobacteria—might be preferred production platforms for the expression of some of the more challenging terpenoid pathways
Challenges and Opportunities of Named Data Networking in Vehicle-To-Everything Communication: A Review
Authors: Rainer Benjamin , Petscharnig Stefan
Published: October 2018

Many car manufacturers have recently proposed to release autonomous self-driving cars within the next few years. Information gathered by sensors (e.g., cameras, GPS, lidar, radar, ultrasonic) enable cars to drive autonomously on roads. However, in urban or high-speed traffic scenarios the information gathered by mounted sensors may not be sufficient to guarantee a smooth and safe traffic flow. Thus, information received from infrastructure and other cars or vehicles on the road is vital. Key aspects in Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) communication are security, authenticity, and integrity which are inherently provided by Information Centric Networking (ICN). In this paper, we identify advantages and drawbacks of ICN for V2X communication. We specifically review forwarding, caching, as well as simulation aspects for V2X communication with a focus on ICN. Furthermore, we investigate existing solutions for V2X and discuss their applicability. Based on these investigations, we suggest directions for further work in context of ICN (in particular Named Data Networking) to enable V2X communication providing a secure and efficient transport platform.
On the Single-Parity Locally Repairable Codes with Multiple Repairable Groups
Authors: Lu Yanbo , Liu Xinji , Xia Shutao
Published: October 2018

Locally repairable codes (LRCs) are a new family of erasure codes used in distributed storage systems which have attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. For an [ n , k , d ] linear code, if a code symbol can be repaired by t disjoint groups of other code symbols, where each group contains at most r code symbols, it is said to have availability- ( r , t ) . Single-parity LRCs are LRCs with a constraint that each repairable group contains exactly one parity symbol. For an [ n , k , d ] single-parity LRC with availability- ( r , t ) for the information symbols (single-parity LRCs), the minimum distance satisfies d ≤ n − k − ⌈ k t / r ⌉ + t + 1 . In this paper, we focus on the study of single-parity LRCs with availability- ( r , t ) for information symbols. Based on the standard form of generator matrices, we present a novel characterization of single-parity LRCs with availability t ≥ 1 . Then, a simple and straightforward proof for the Singleton-type bound is given based on the new characterization. Some necessary conditions for optimal single-parity LRCs with availability t ≥ 1 are obtained, which might provide some guidelines for optimal coding constructions.
Insecticidal Activity of Photorhabdus luminescens against Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Shawer Rady , Donati Irene , Cellini Antonio , Spinelli Francesco , Mori Nicola
Published: October 2018

Drosophila suzukii causes considerable economic damage to small and thin-skinned fruits including cherry, blueberry, raspberry, grape and strawberry. Since it attacks fruits at the ripening stage, the use of chemical pesticides is limited due to the high risk of residues on fruit. Biological control is thus expected to play an essential role in managing this pest. The Gram-negative bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens and its symbiotic Heterorhabditis spp. nematode have been shown to be highly pathogenic to insects, with a potential for replacing pesticides to suppress several pests. Insecticidal activity of P. luminescens at different bacterial cell concentrations and its cell-free supernatant were assessed against third-instar larvae and pupae of D. suzukii under laboratory conditions. P. luminescens suspensions had a significant oral and contact toxicity on D. suzukii larvae and pupae, with mortalities up to of 70–100% 10 days after treatment. Cell-free supernatant in the diet also doubled mortality rates of feeding larvae. Our results suggest that P. luminescens may be a promising candidate for biological control of D. suzukii, and its use in integrated pest management (IPM) programs is discussed.
The Timing System of the TOTEM Experiment
Authors: Bossini Edoardo
Published: October 2018

The new proton timing stations of the Totem experiment are based on UltraFast Silicon Detectors installed in Roman Pots at 220 m from the interaction point 5 at LHC. The sensors have shown in beam test a timing resolution in the range 30–100 ps, depending on the pixel size. The readout is performed through a fast sampler chip: the SAMPIC. The best timing resolution can indeed be obtained only by recording the full waveform of the detector signal. The challenges to integrate the chip and the detector in the Totem-CMS DAQ and control systems will be discussed, together with the solutions adopted. The system has been successfully operated in LHC during some commissioning runs and during the special run in July 2018.
Association of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease with Risk of Endometriosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study Involving 141,460 Individuals
Authors: Tai Fei-Wu , Chang Cherry Yin-Yi , Chiang Jen-Huai , Lin Wu-Chou , Wan Lei
Published: October 2018

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue exists outside the uterine cavity. The presence of ectopic endometrial tissue and resultant inflammation cause serious symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by the ascension of pathogenic bacteria from the vagina to the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The factors involved in the pathogenesis of the two conditions are not clearly understood, but recent studies have suggested that disturbances of the female reproductive tract microbiota and inflammatory processes influence the development of both diseases. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we conducted a study to assess the association of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with endometriosis. An age-matched control group including patients without PID was selected. Patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of endometriosis were excluded. This nationwide retrospective cohort study, involving a total of 141,460 patients, demonstrated that patients with PID had a three-fold increase in the risk of developing endometriosis (HR = 3.02, 95% CI = 2.85–3.2).
Short-Term Effects of Suspension Training on Strength and Power Performances
Authors: Giancotti Giuseppe Francesco , Fusco Andrea , Iannaccone Alice , Cortis Cristina
Published: October 2018

Suspension Training (ST) workouts include a variety of movements requiring the individual to maintain balance while performing various resistance exercises in an interval fashion. Although ST is thought to elicit higher muscle activations than traditional exercises, only limited information is available on its acute effects on strength and power performances, especially in relation to gender. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the strength and power acute responses after ST, also in relation to gender. Eighty-eight (46 males, 42 females) participants were administered countermovement jumps (CMJ), squat jumps (SJ), lower limb Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) at 90° angle knee extension, and grip strength (handgrip) before (PRE) and after (POST) a 50 min ST session involving upper, lower body and core exercises. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to evaluate the differences (p < 0.05) in relation to gender and experimental session. After ST session, significantly higher values emerged in males, whereas no significant changes were found in females. Findings indicate that ST as a form of exercise is useful to maintain and improve acute strength and power performances, especially in male participants. Future studies should be carried out to explore the gender-related differences in response to acute bout of ST exercises.
Between ℙ and ℚ: The ℙℚ Measure for Pricing in Asset Liability Management
Authors: Van Dijk Marcel T. P. , De Graaf Cornelis S. L. , Oosterlee Cornelis W.
Published: October 2018

Insurance companies issue guarantees that need to be valued according to the market expectations. By calibrating option pricing models to the available implied volatility surfaces, one deals with the so-called risk-neutral measure Q , which can be used to generate market consistent values for these guarantees. For asset liability management, insurers also need future values of these guarantees. Next to that, new regulations require insurance companies to value their positions on a one-year horizon. As the option prices at t = 1 are unknown, it is common practice to assume that the parameters of these option pricing models are constant, i.e., the calibrated parameters from time t = 0 are also used to value the guarantees at t = 1 . However, it is well-known that the parameters are not constant and may depend on the state of the market which evolves under the real-world measure P . In this paper, we propose improved regression models that, given a set of market variables such as the VIX index and risk-free interest rates, estimate the calibrated parameters. When the market variables are included in a real-world simulation, one is able to assess the calibrated parameters (and consequently the implied volatility surface) in line with the simulated state of the market. By performing a regression, we are able to predict out-of-sample implied volatility surfaces accurately. Moreover, the impact on the Solvency Capital Requirement has been evaluated for different points in time. The impact depends on the initial state of the market and may vary between −46% and +52%.
Centroid Transformations of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Values Based on Aggregation Operators
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Kim Hee Sik , Feng Feng , Alcantud José Carlos R.
Published: October 2018

Atanassov’s intuitionistic fuzzy sets extend the notion of fuzzy sets. In addition to Zadeh’s membership function, a non-membership function is also considered. Intuitionistic fuzzy values play a crucial role in both theoretical and practical progress of intuitionistic fuzzy sets. This study introduces and explores various types of centroid transformations of intuitionistic fuzzy values. First, we present some new concepts for intuitionistic fuzzy values, including upper determinations, lower determinations, spectrum triangles, simple intuitionistic fuzzy averaging operators and simply weighted intuitionistic fuzzy averaging operators. With the aid of these notions, we construct centroid transformations, weighted centroid transformations, simple centroid transformations and simply weighted centroid transformations. We provide some basic characterizations regarding various types of centroid transformations, and show their difference using an illustrating example. Finally, we focus on simple centroid transformations and investigate the limit properties of simple centroid transformation sequences. Among other facts, we show that a simple centroid transformation sequence converges to the simple intuitionistic fuzzy average of the lower and upper determinations of the first intuitionistic fuzzy value in the sequence.
The Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Paravertebral Block in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Aydin Gülçin , Aydin Oktay
Published: October 2018

Background and objectives: Despite its wide use in thoracic procedures, to date, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of paravertebral block (PVB) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in an adult population. In these studies, PVB was performed bilaterally using nerve stimulator guidance. To the best of our knowledge, the effectiveness of unilateral preoperative and postoperative ultrasound-guided PVB has not been evaluated in patients undergoing elective LC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of single-dose unilateral paravertebral block (PVB) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing LC were randomly separated into control, preoperative block, and postoperative block groups. PVB was performed unilaterally using bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance. Postoperative pain within the first 24 h, side effects, intraoperative opioid and postoperative analgesic requirements were noted. Evaluation was made of a total of 90 patients (25 males, 65 females) with a mean age of 45.78 ± 14.0 years (range, 19–74 years). Results: Opioid and additional analgesic needs and nausea/vomiting rates were significantly reduced in the preoperative block group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were significantly lower in the preoperative and postoperative block groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05 for all). When the VAS scores were compared between the preoperative and postoperative block groups, a significant difference in favor of the preoperative group was observed in terms of the zero minute-, 1st and 2nd h assessments (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided PVB is a useful and safe approach for pain management during and after LC. Preoperative block can also reduce the rate of requirement for intraoperative opioid and postoperative analgesia.
Characterisation of Intermetallic Phases in Fusion Welded Commercially Pure Titanium and Stainless Steel 304
Authors: Pasang Timotius , Pramana Stevin Snellius , Kracum Michael , Misiolek Wojciech Zbigniew , Aziziderouei Mona , Mizutani Masami , Kamiya Osamu
Published: October 2018

A series of trials to fusion weld commercially pure titanium (CPTi) to stainless steel 304 (SS304) have been conducted using laser beam welding (LBW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Neither technique produced adequate weld joints with LBW showing a more promising result, while GTAW yielded separation of the workpieces immediately after welding. Cracking and fracturing took place mainly on the SS304 side, which was explained by the differences in the materials’ thermal properties. Various intermetallic phases formed during welding that were identified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique and were compared with an isothermal ternary phase diagram of Fe-Cr-Ti. Their corresponding hardness values are reported and correlated with alloy compositions.
Effect of Ti(C, N) Particle on the Impact Toughness of B-Microalloyed Steel
Authors: Huang Yu , Cheng Guo-Guang , Li Shi-Jian , Dai Wei-Xing , Xie You
Published: October 2018

Simultaneously improving the toughness and strength of B-microalloyed steel by adding microalloying elements (Nb, V, Ti) has been an extensively usedmethod for researchers. However, coarse Ti(C, N) particle will precipitate during solidification with inappropriate Ti content addition, resulting in poor impact toughness. The effect of the size, number density, and location of Ti(C, N) particle on the impact toughness of B-microalloyed steel with various Ti/N ratios was investigated. Coarse Ti(C, N) particles were investigated to act as the cleavage fracture initiation sites, by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. When more coarse Ti(C, N) inclusions were located in ferrite instead of pearlite, the impact toughness of steel with ferrite–pearlite microstructure was lower. Meanwhile, when the size or the number density of Ti(C, N) inclusions was larger, the impact toughness was adversely affected. Normalizing treatment helps to improve the impact property of B-microalloyed steel, owing to the location of Ti(C, N) particles being partly changed from ferrite to pearlite. The formation mechanism of coarse Ti(C, N) particles was calculated by the thermodynamic software Factsage 7.1 and Thermo-Calc. The Ti(C, N) particles formed during the solidification of molten steel, and the N-rich Ti(C, N) phase precipitated first and, then, followed by the C-rich Ti(C, N) phase. Decreasing the Ti and N content is an effective way to inhibit the formation of coarse Ti(C, N) inclusions.
A 5 g Inertial Micro-Switch with Enhanced Threshold Accuracy Using Squeeze-Film Damping
Authors: Peng Yingchun , Wu Guoguo , Pan Chunpeng , Lv Cheng , Luo Tianhong
Published: October 2018

Our previous report based on a 10 g (gravity) silicon-based inertial micro-switch showed that the contact effect between the two electrodes can be improved by squeeze-film damping. As an extended study toward its potential applications, the switch with a large proof mass suspended by four flexible serpentine springs was redesigned to achieve 5 g threshold value and enhanced threshold accuracy. The impact of the squeeze-film damping on the threshold value was theoretically studied. The theoretical results show that the threshold variation from the designed value due to fabrication errors can be reduced by optimizing the device thickness (the thickness of the proof mass and springs) and then establishing a tradeoff between the damping and elastic forces, thus improving the threshold accuracy. The design strategy was verified by FEM (finite-element-method) simulation and an experimental test. The simulation results show that the maximum threshold deviation was only 0.15 g, when the device thickness variation range was 16–24 μm, which is an adequately wide latitude for the current bulk silicon micromachining technology. The measured threshold values were 4.9–5.8 g and the device thicknesses were 18.2–22.5 μm, agreeing well with the simulation results. The measured contact time was 50 μs which is also in good agreement with our previous work.
Micro-/Nanorobots Propelled by Oscillating Magnetic Fields
Authors: Yu Hao , Tang Wentian , Mu Guanyu , Wang Haocheng , Chang Xiaocong , Dong Huijuan , Qi Liqun , Zhang Guangyu , Li Tianlong
Published: October 2018

Recent strides in micro- and nanomanufacturing technologies have sparked the development of micro-/nanorobots with enhanced power and functionality. Due to the advantages of on-demand motion control, long lifetime, and great biocompatibility, magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobots have exhibited considerable promise in the fields of drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and environmental remediation. The magnetic fields which provide energy for propulsion can be categorized into rotating and oscillating magnetic fields. In this review, recent developments in oscillating magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobot fabrication techniques (such as electrodeposition, self-assembly, electron beam evaporation, and three-dimensional (3D) direct laser writing) are summarized. The motion mechanism of oscillating magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobots are also discussed, including wagging propulsion, surface walker propulsion, and scallop propulsion. With continuous innovation, micro-/nanorobots can become a promising candidate for future applications in the biomedical field. As a step toward designing and building such micro-/nanorobots, several types of common fabrication techniques are briefly introduced. Then, we focus on three propulsion mechanisms of micro-/nanorobots in oscillation magnetic fields: (1) wagging propulsion; (2) surface walker; and (3) scallop propulsion. Finally, a summary table is provided to compare the abilities of different micro-/nanorobots driven by oscillating magnetic fields.