bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Broken Eagles: The Iron Age of Imperial Roman Warfare in Post-9/11 Film
Authors: McAuley Alex
Published: September 2019

In the second of three chapters that address Rome’s complicated legacy as an imperial state, McAuley contrasts the mid-twentieth century “golden old days” of ancient-world epics, which represented Roman soldiers as consummate professionals and warfare as neatly executed, with recent representations of the Roman army for post-9/11 audiences: a new “iron age” of betrayal, despair, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These films reflect a fundamental shift in the psychology of warfare and killing since Vietnam, which has created a vastly different and more ambiguous kind of conflict than the Cold-War binary of Spartacus (1960).McAuley examines the impact of this paradigm shift on contemporary depictions of the Roman army and its soldiers: first, by considering the “golden age” of Roman warfare in films from the 1950s and 1960s, in contrast with the dystopic view of Centurion(2010) and The Eagle (2011). He then traces the depiction of the individual Roman soldier in each era. Finally, he examines the broader contemporary context for post-9/11 depictions of antiquity: the growing body of films about the War on Terror, with which films like Centurion and The Eagle have far more in common than with their golden-age predecessors.
‘Cure or Confinement’? Law, Medicine and the Treatment of Homosexual Offenders in Scotland, 1950–801
Authors: Davidson Roger
Published: September 2019

Chapter 7 investigates the medical perception and treatment of homosexual offenders in Scotland in the period 1950−80, and, in particular, the role that medical evidence played in the prosecution and sentencing of such offenders in the Scottish High Court. Two main sources of evidence are explored. First, the verbal and written evidence of Scottish witnesses before the Wolfenden Committee (1954−57) is examined in order to identify how homosexual offenders were medically treated within the legal process in the 1950s. Secondly, with the benefit of privileged access granted by the Lord Justice General, a systematic analysis is undertaken of the medical reports on homosexual offenders submitted by psychiatrists and other doctors to Scottish High Court trials and appeals during the period 1950−80, and of their role in court proceedings. This throws important light on the degree to which medical views and practices pertaining to homosexual offenders in Scotland changed over the quarter century following Wolfenden and how far and in what ways they influenced the legal process.
‘Liable or Likely to Deprave and Corrupt the Morals of the Lieges’: Sex Shops and Moral Panic in Late Twentieth-century Scotland
Authors: Davidson Roger
Published: September 2019

An account of the prosecution and closure of Scotland’s first sex shop in 1971 forms a prelude to a review of the subsequent crusade of purity activists and moral vigilantes in Scotland’s cities against the spread of pornography and sexual display. While the Scottish Office initially was content to rely on obscenity clauses in local Acts to counter the proliferation of sex shops, it was increasingly forced to contemplate the need for new statutory powers. The study explores the various policy options advanced by Whitehall and Scottish departments of State, and the growing tension between advocates in Westminster of a new system of licensing of sex shops and the preference of Scottish officials and law officers for a more modest extension of existing planning controls that would not appear to legitimise the activities of retailers. The outcome of this debate, culminating in the creation of a modified licensing scheme under the 1982 Civic Government (Scotland) Act is charted. Finally, the chapter reviews the extent to which sex shops were licensed over the following decade and the findings of a Scottish Executive Task Force sub-group set up to review the workings of the scheme and its viability in the new millennium.
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‘Culpable and Reckless Conduct’: Criminalising the Transmission of HIV in Scotland, 1983–2014
Authors: Davidson Roger
Published: September 2019

The chapter examines the criminalisation of HIV transmission in Scotland after 1983. First, as historical perspective, it reviews the series of largely abortive attempts by Scottish lawmakers to criminalise the transmission of VD since 1900. Secondly, it addresses the response of Scottish governance to the rising demand for additional public order and public health powers to contain the spread of HIV between 1983 and 2001, fuelled after 1997 by media coverage of cases in which it was alleged that innocent victims had been carelessly or knowingly infected. There follows a detailed narrative of the trial and sentencing of Stephen Kelly at the High Court in Glasgow in February 2001 for knowingly infecting his partner with HIV. A further section reviews the protracted medical, ethical and legal debate arising out of the case. Finally, the main strands of policy-making on the issue of amending the law during the period up to 2015 are outlined. This is set against the backdrop of three additional High Court cases between 2005 and 2010 and the publication of guidelines by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1912 for the prosecution of ‘intentional or reckless’ transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
Conclusion
Authors: Davidson Roger
Published: September 2019

The conclusion explores the implications of this volume for an understanding of the interplay between the law, sex and society in Scotland since 1900. An outstanding feature is the degree to which the legal process reflected and reinforced contemporary moral concerns that occupied public and professional debate. Secondly, rather than a monolithic, neutral dispenser of justice, in dealing with sexual offences the law involved the interaction of numerous individuals within the political, legal, and forensic communities with differing social and professional agendas. Furthermore, the law in practice is seen to sustain important norms of sexual behaviour and masculinity. While identifying areas of illicit sexual practice that reflected women’s agency, the volume reveals the degree to which the legal process continued to embrace a double moral standard. Another leitmotiv is the enduring struggle to balance the right of the law to intrude into the domain of private morality in the interests of public order, public decency and public health against the preservation of civil liberties. From a comparative perspective, conclusions are drawn with respect to the impact of the peculiarities of Scots Law and legal procedures on the policing, prosecution and punishment of offenders
Ruler Visibility and Popular Belonging in the Ottoman Empire, 1808-1908
Authors: Stephanov Darin
Published: September 2019

‘What do we really speak of when we speak of the modern ethno-national mindset and where shall we search for its roots?’
This is the central question of a book arguing that the periodic ceremonial intrusion into the everyday lives of people across the Ottoman Empire, which the annual royal birthday and accession-day celebrations constituted, had multiple, far-reaching, and largely unexplored consequences. On the one hand, it brought ordinary subjects into symbolic contact with the monarch and forged lasting vertical ties of loyalty to him, irrespective of language, location, creed or class. On the other hand, the rounds of royal celebration played a key role in the creation of new types of horizontal ties and ethnic group consciousness that crystallized into national movements, and, after the empire’s demise, national monarchies.
The book discusses the themes of public space/sphere, the Tanzimat reforms, millet, modernity, nationalism, governmentality, and the modern state, among others. It offers a new, thirteen-point model of modern belonging based on the concept of ruler visibility.
Ethnic Autonomy
Authors: Sasaki Yu
Published: September 2019

This article explores the impact of the postal system on the consolidation of state authority in pre-modern Europe. Previous research indicates that geographical scale limits the state's ability to rule directly in this period. I argue that European states used the post to mitigate this constraint. Posts substantially reduced communications cost so that they became a crucial infrastructure of delivering information. I investigate the effect of postal service on the state's authority with a new data set on France. Using the persistence of non-French speakers as my outcome variable, I show that geographical distance from the capital reinforces the persistence, but postal expansion mitigates this challenge. I address the endogeneity concern that postal development is determined by resistance from minority people through two additional analyses: the first focuses on the impact of the post interacted with certain distances from Paris and the second incorporates factors outside France.
Research on Optimal Dispatching Strategy for Micro-Energy-Grid of Protected Agriculture
Authors: Ju Yuntao , Jin Mingxin , Wang Jiankai , Yang Jianhua , Dong Mingyu , Li Dezhi , Shi Kun , Zhang Haibo
Published: September 2019

With the growth in demand for energy and the boom in energy internet (EI) technologies, comes the multi-energy complementary system. In this paper, we first model the components of the micro-energy-grid for a greenhouse, and then analyzed two types of protected agriculture load: time-shifting load and non-time-shifting load. Next, multi-scenario technology is directed against the uncertainty of photovoltaic (PV). Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) and the backward reduction algorithm are the two main methods we use to generate the representative scenarios and their probabilities, which are the basis for PV prediction in day-ahead scheduling. Third, besides the time of day (TOD) tariff, we present a model using real-time pricing of consumers’ electricity load, which is proposed to compare consumers’ demand response (DR). Finally, we establish a new optimization model of micro-energy-grid for greenhouses. By calculating the dispatch of electricity, heat, energy storage and time-shifting load under different conditions, the local consumption of PV and the comprehensive operational cost of micro-energy-grid can be analyzed. The results show that a storage device, time-shifting load and real-time pricing can bring more possibilities to the micro-energy-grid. By optimizing the time schedule of time-shifting load, the cost of the greenhouse is reduced.
Mechanical Properties and Crack Classification of Basalt Fiber RPC Based on Acoustic Emission Parameters
Authors: Liu Hanbing , Liu Shiqi , Zhou Peilei , Zhang Yuwei , Jiao Yubo
Published: September 2019

The workability and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete (BFRPC) were investigated by univariate analysis. The acoustic emission (AE) was used as a non-destructive technique to reveal the damage characterization of concrete samples of varying basalt fiber content. The fracture stages and modes of specimens during flexural test were determined by AE parameters. The content of silica fume, quartz sand and basalt fiber of 0.4, 1.3 and 10 kg/m3, respectively, was found related to optimal improvements in mechanical strength. As for the characteristics of fracture, it was found that the fiber content was a significant determinant, and the key AE parameters, namely, hits, energy and amplitude, were found related to the damage stage of specimens. Furthermore, rise time (RA) and average frequency (AF) were found to have opposite trends during loading while their variation related to the fracture modes of BFRPC.
Implementation of Lean Manufacturing to Reduce the Delivery Time of a Replacement Part to Dealers: A Case Study
Authors: Pérez-Pucheta Carlos Eleazar , Olivares-Benitez Elias , Minor-Popocatl Hertwin , Pacheco-García Prudencio Fidel , Pérez-Pucheta Marcos Fernando
Published: September 2019

In today’s automotive industry, Lean production systems are used successfully to reduce delivery times. The current case study addresses a problem that affects an automotive company, which is the excessive delivery time of a spare part to its both national and international authorized dealers. In order to reduce the delivery time of this replacement part, the Lean Manufacturing methodology was used. For this purpose, the value stream mapping and the proposed A3 report are the tools used. With the use of these tools, activities that did not add any value are eliminated or modified; in addition, the logistical flow of the modules of the door-side trim panel delivery process is improved. As a result, added value is increased, the delivery time is reduced (for Mexico) and the number of product variants is reduced. Now, the painting process is done by the authorized dealers, and the number of pieces used for every spare part was estimated. The study demonstrates that the integration of value stream mapping administrative/productive in conjunction with the A3 report proposal allows to identify and eliminate waste in the delivery process.
Effects of the Projectile Geometries on Normal and Oblique Penetration Using the Finite Cavity Pressure Method
Authors: YOO Yo-Han , KIM Jong-Bong , LEE Chang-Whan
Published: September 2019

In this work, the penetration depth of a projectile with various geometries was analyzed using the cavity pressure method. The finite cavity method combines an analytical method and the finite element method and considers the deformation of the projectile only. This simulation method was implemented to ABAQUS/Explicit using user subroutine VDLOAD. The target material was 6061-T6511 aluminum material, and the projectile material was vacuum-arc-remelted (VAR) 4340 steel. In the analysis, the normal impact and the oblique impact with the angle of 30° were studied. First, the developed simulation model was verified using the previous experiments. With the developed finite element analysis with the cavity pressure method, the effect of projectile shape on penetration was investigated. The target geometry maximizes penetration depth was discussed. The angle of the nose affects mainly on the penetration characteristics. The projectile having an ogive nose with high caliber-radius-head (CRH) value shows the best penetration depth and the least plastic deformation in both the normal impact and the oblique impact.
The Dynamic Display of Art Holography
Authors: Crenshaw M. Melissa
Published: September 2019

Holograms have been displayed in single-artist and group exhibitions, since the late 1960’s. The content within a holographic image can be greatly compromised if the hologram is not displayed correctly. Holography exhibitions can either enhance or diminish the impact of the images depending on how the exhibit layout and lighting are designed. This paper looks at art holography from the exhibition installation perspective and offers methods for assuring dynamic displays.
Proteolytic Activity in Meadow Soil after the Application of Phytohormones
Authors: Holik Ladislav , Vranová Valerie
Published: September 2019

Phytohormones, similar to soil enzymes, are synthesized and secreted into the soil environment by fungi and microorganisms. Phytohormones are involved in regulating microbial community activity in the rhizosphere. This paper examines how auxins, cytokinins, ethephon and chlorocholine chloride affect the activity of native soil proteases in the organo-mineral horizon of an alpine meadow. In the meadow habitat, native soil proteases were inhibited by auxins whereas the effect of cytokinins on these enzymes was not statistically significant. A similar inhibitory effect on the activity of proteases was shown for ethephon and chlorocholine chloride, both of which also inhibited the activity of native soil proteases in the alpine meadow soil. Overall, the inhibitory effect of phytohormones on the activity of native protease activity may affect plant nutrition by retarding the nitrogen cycle in the soil. This work contributes to our understanding of the influence of substances produced by the rhizosphere that can actively participate in the activity of soil microorganisms and consequently influence the soil nitrogen cycle.
Reply to Comment on “Osteopontin, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Anti-Interleukin-8 Autoantibodies Complement CA125 for Detection of Early Stage Ovarian Cancer” Cancers 2019, 11, 596: Markers for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Guo Jing , Lu Zhen , Bast Robert C.
Published: September 2019

We appreciate Mor et al [...]
CD8+ and Regulatory T cells Differentiate Tumor Immune Phenotypes and Predict Survival in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Echarti Alessia , Hecht Markus , Büttner-Herold Maike , Haderlein Marlen , Hartmann Arndt , Fietkau Rainer , Distel Luitpold
Published: September 2019

Background: The tumor immune status “inflamed”, “immune excluded”, and “desert” might serve as a predictive parameter. We studied these three cancer immune phenotypes while using a simple immunohistochemical algorithm. Methods: Pre-treatment tissue samples of 280 patients with locally advanced HNSCC treated with radiochemotherapy were analyzed. A double staining of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and FoxP3+ (Treg) was performed and the cell density was evaluated in the intraepithelial and stromal compartment of the tumor. Results: The classification of tumors as “immune desert” when stromal CTL were ≤ 50 cells/mm2, “inflamed” when intraepithelial CTL were > 500 cells/mm2, and as “excluded” when neither of these definitions met these cut off values allowed the best discrimination regarding overall survival. These groups had median OS periods of 37, 61, and 85 months, respectively. In “immune desert” and “immune excluded” tumors high Treg tended to worsen OS, but in “inflamed” tumors high Treg clearly improved OS. Conclusions: We propose that, in locally advanced HNSCC, the tumor immune state “inflamed”, “immune excluded”, and “immune desert” can be defined by intraepithelial and stromal CTL. Tregs can further subdivide these groups. The opposing effects of Tregs in the different groups might be the reason for the inconsistency of Tregs prognostic values published earlier.
Blockade of PD-L1 Enhances Cancer Immunotherapy by Regulating Dendritic Cell Maturation and Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Sun Nai-Yun , Chen Yu-Li , Wu Wen-Yih , Lin Han-Wei , Chiang Ying-Cheng , Chang Chi-Fang , Tai Yi-Jou , Hsu Heng-Cheng , Chen Chi-An , Sun Wei-Zen , Cheng Wen-Fang
Published: September 2019

The immuno-inhibitory checkpoint PD-L1, regulated by tumor cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), dampened the activation of T cells from the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. PD-L1-expressing APCs rather than tumor cells demonstrated the essential anti-tumor effects of anti-PD-L1 monotherapy in preclinical tumor models. Using the murine tumor model, we investigated whether anti-PD-L1 antibody increased the antigen-specific immune response and anti-tumor effects induced by the antigen-specific protein vaccine, as well as the possible mechanisms regarding activation of APCs. Anti-PD-L1 antibody combined with the PEK protein vaccine generated more potent E7-specific immunity (including the number and cytotoxic activity of E7-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes) and anti-tumor effects than protein vaccine alone. Anti-PD-L1 antibody enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells and the proportion of M1-like macrophages in tumor-draining lymph nodes and tumors in tumor-bearing mice treated with combinatorial therapy. PD-L1 blockade overturned the immunosuppressive status of the tumor microenvironment and then enhanced the E7 tumor-specific antigen-specific immunity and anti-tumor effects generated by an E7-specific protein vaccine through modulation of APCs in an E7-expressing small tumor model. Tumor-specific antigen (like HPV E7 antigen)-specific immunotherapy combined with APC-targeting modality by PD-L1 blockade has a high translational potential in E7-specific cancer therapy.
Hyperglycemia Associated Metabolic and Molecular Alterations in Cancer Risk, Progression, Treatment, and Mortality
Authors: Ramteke Pranay , Deb Ankita , Shepal Varsha , Bhat Manoj Kumar
Published: September 2019

Cancer and diabetes are amongst the leading causes of deaths worldwide. There is an alarming rise in cancer incidences and mortality, with approximately 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. A major contributory but neglected factor for risk of neoplastic transformation is hyperglycemia. Epidemiologically too, lifestyle patterns resulting in high blood glucose level, with or without the role of insulin, are more often correlated with cancer risk, progression, and mortality. The two conditions recurrently exist in comorbidity, and their interplay has rendered treatment regimens more challenging by restricting the choice of drugs, affecting surgical consequences, and having associated fatal complications. Limited comprehensive literature is available on their correlation, and a lack of clarity in understanding in such comorbid conditions contributes to higher mortality rates. Hence, a critical analysis of the elements responsible for enhanced mortality due to hyperglycemia-cancer concomitance is warranted. Given the lifestyle changes in the human population, increasing metabolic disorders, and glucose addiction of cancer cells, hyperglycemia related complications in cancer underline the necessity for further in-depth investigations. This review, therefore, attempts to shed light upon hyperglycemia associated factors in the risk, progression, mortality, and treatment of cancer to highlight important mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Pseudokinases: From Allosteric Regulation of Catalytic Domains and the Formation of Macromolecular Assemblies to Emerging Drug Targets
Authors: Tomoni Andrada , Lees Jonathan , Santana Andrés G. , Bolanos-Garcia Victor M. , Bastida Agatha
Published: September 2019

Pseudokinases are a member of the kinase superfamily that lack one or more of the canonical residues required for catalysis. Protein pseudokinases are widely distributed across species and are present in proteins that perform a great diversity of roles in the cell. They represent approximately 10% to 40% of the kinome of a multicellular organism. In the human, the pseudokinase subfamily consists of approximately 60 unique proteins. Despite their lack of one or more of the amino acid residues typically required for the productive interaction with ATP and metal ions, which is essential for the phosphorylation of specific substrates, pseudokinases are important functional molecules that can act as dynamic scaffolds, competitors, or modulators of protein–protein interactions. Indeed, pseudokinase misfunctions occur in diverse diseases and represent a new therapeutic window for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. In this contribution, we describe the structural features of pseudokinases that are used as the basis of their classification; analyse the interactome space of human pseudokinases and discuss their potential as suitable drug targets for the treatment of various diseases, including metabolic, neurological, autoimmune, and cell proliferation disorders.
Elimination of Coke in an Aged Hydrotreating Catalyst via a Non-Thermal Plasma Process: Comparison with a Coked Zeolite
Authors: Srour Hawraa , Alnaboulsi Ammar , Astafan Amir , Devers Elodie , Toufaily Joumana , Hamieh Tayssir , Pinard Ludovic , Batiot-Dupeyrat Catherine
Published: September 2019

The removal of coke from an aged industrial hydrodesulfurization catalyst, using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) non-thermal plasma with a pin to plate geometry, was investigated. The aged catalyst was introduced into the plasma reactor as a thin wafer. After 130 minutes of plasma treatment, with P = 30 W, 70% of the coke was removed while more than 40% of the sulfur was still present. Characterization of catalyst at different locations of the wafer showed that the coke was more easily removed at the center, close to the pin electrode where the electric field was more intense. The formation of an unexpected phase, under the plasma discharge, was highlighted, it corresponded to the family of Keggin HPA PMo12O403−, which could be an interesting precursor of catalyst for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process. Compared with a coked zeolite, the rate of regeneration is lower for the HDS catalyst under plasma discharge, while a lower temperature is required under conventional thermal oxidation. This is explained by the presence of metal particles, which could be responsible for the limitation in O-atom formation under plasma.
Environmentally-Induced Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: Implication of PIWI Interacting RNAs
Authors: Casier Karine , Boivin Antoine , Carré Clément , Teysset Laure
Published: September 2019

Environmentally-induced transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is an emerging field. The understanding of associated epigenetic mechanisms is currently in progress with open questions still remaining. In this review, we present an overview of the knowledge of environmentally-induced transgenerational inheritance and associated epigenetic mechanisms, mainly in animals. The second part focuses on the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of small RNAs involved in the maintenance of the germline genome, in epigenetic memory to put into perspective cases of environmentally-induced transgenerational inheritance involving piRNA production. Finally, the last part addresses how genomes are facing production of new piRNAs, and from a broader perspective, how this process might have consequences on evolution and on sporadic disease development.
The Fate of Endangered Rock Sedge (Carex rupestris) in the Western Carpathians—The Future Perspective of an Arctic-Alpine Species under Climate Change
Authors: Svitková Ivana , Svitok Marek , Petrík Anton , Bernátová Dana , Senko Dušan , Šibík Jozef
Published: September 2019

Carex rupestris is an endangered and rare arctic-alpine element of the Western Carpathian flora. Given the geographically isolated and spatially restricted peripheral ranges of arctic-alpine species, there is a good chance that many species of conservation concern irreversibly disappear from the regional flora under the ongoing climate change. In this study, we gathered all existing data on the presence of C. rupestris and focused on its current and future distribution in the Western Carpathians. We found that although the distribution of the species is fragmented and scarce, C. rupestris occurs in several mountain ranges, in four distinct plant community types, which differ considerably in altitude, geological bedrock, and other habitat characteristics. In contrast to the relatively broad range of occupied habitats, C. rupestris shows a narrow temperature niche (mean annual temperature range 0.4–4.0 °C). Ensembles of small models based on climatic characteristics and local topography show that regardless of the climate change scenario (rcp2.6, rcp8.5), many current occurrence sites, mainly in the peripheral zones of the range, will face the excessive loss of suitable environmental conditions. It is expected that the Tatra Mountains will be the only mountain range retaining potentially suitable habitats and providing possible refugia for this cold-adapted species in the future. Such severe shrinkage of distribution ranges and associated geographic isolation raises serious concerns for the fate of the arctic-alpine species in the Western Carpathians.
Impact of IT Devices Production Quality on the Level of Protection of Processed Information against the Electromagnetic Infiltration Process
Authors: Kubiak Ireneusz
Published: September 2019

Due to the variety and multiplicity of electronic devices, the issue of electromagnetic environment protection is becoming more and more important. We often hear about how necessary it is for electronic devices to meet appropriate requirements. Meeting these requirements determines whether a device can be marketed. Unfortunately, the electrical parameters of electronic components have a very wide range of tolerances. For this reason, measured values of electromagnetic disturbances generated by devices of the same type are not always identical. Differences between those values may reach up to several dB. This problem also concerns electromagnetic emissions correlated with the processed information, which are very sensitive to electromagnetic infiltration process. Issues related to the problem of protection of electromagnetic environment are shown on the basis of research results obtained for several devices of the same type. Mentioned level differences of electromagnetic emissions can decide about a classification of device from viewpoint of protection of information against electromagnetic penetration process. These differences may be a treat to information security. Higher levels of valuable emissions force an application of additional methods limiting an effectiveness of electromagnetic penetration process. This particularly applies to IT devices with a wide range of applications, e.g., laptops and desktop computers. In this paper, this phenomenon was presented on the basis of tests of several devices of the same type. Also, there were carried out analyses of influence of increase levels of valuable emissions on a security zone radius.
A Novel Left-Turn Signal Control Method for Improving Intersection Capacity in a Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Ren Chuanxiang , Wang Jinbo , Qin Lingqiao , Li Shen , Cheng Yang
Published: September 2019

Setting up an exclusive left-turn lane and corresponding signal phase for intersection traffic safety and efficiency will decrease the capacity of the intersection when there are less or no left-turn movements. This is especially true during rush hours because of the ineffective use of left-turn lane space and signal phase duration. With the advantages of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, a novel intersection signal control model is proposed which sets up variable lane direction arrow marking and turns the left-turn lane into a controllable shared lane for left-turn and through movements. The new intersection signal control model and its control strategy are presented and simulated using field data. After comparison with two other intersection control models and control strategies, the new model is validated to improve the intersection capacity in rush hours. Besides, variable lane lines and the corresponding control method are designed and combined with the left-turn waiting area to overcome the shortcomings of the proposed intersection signal control model and control strategy.
Reliability Evaluation of PV Systems with Integrated Battery Energy Storage Systems: DC-Coupled and AC-Coupled Configurations
Authors: Sandelic Monika , Sangwongwanich Ariya , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: September 2019

Deployment of a battery energy storage system for the photovoltaic (PV) application has been increasing at a fast rate. Depending on the number of power conversion units and their type of connection, the PV-battery system can be classified into DC- and AC-coupled configurations. The number of the components and their electrical loading directly affects the reliability of each of the configurations. Hence, in order to assure high efficiency and lifetime of the PV-battery system, reliability assessment of power conversion units (representing the most reliability-critical system components) is necessary. With respect to that, in this paper, a reliability assessment of the PV-battery system is performed and a comparison of the DC- and AC-coupled configuration reliability is conducted. In the analysis, all parts of the power conversion system, i.e., DC/DC and DC/AC converter units, are taken into consideration and component-, converter- and system-level reliability is assessed. A case study of 6 kW PV system with integrated 3 kW/7.5 kWh battery system has shown that higher reliability is achieved for DC-coupled configuration. The obtained results indicate that the probability of failure for the 15% of the population for DC-coupled configuration occurs 7 years later than that is a case for AC-coupled configuration. Finally, the presented analysis can serve as a benchmark for lifetime and reliability assessment of power conversion units in PV-battery systems for both configuration types. It provides information about differences in electrical and thermal loading of the power conversion units and resulting reliability of the two configurations.
Regional and Local Moisture Gradients Drive the Resistance to and Recovery from Drought of Picea crassifolia Kom. in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Lingnan , Li Hui , Ran Yilin , Wang Keyi , Zeng Xiaomin , Liu Xiaohong
Published: September 2019

Increasing evidence suggests that extreme droughts cause more frequent tree growth reduction. To understand the consequences of these droughts better, this study used tree-ring cores from nine sites to investigate how moisture and altitudinal gradients affect the radial growth of Picea crassifolia Kom., a common species in the Qilian Mountains in northwest China. The total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature in the eastern region were higher than those in the western region of the Qilian Mountains. The trees in the eastern region showed stronger resistance to drought than those in the west, as they had a smaller difference in radial growth between drought disturbance and pre-drought disturbance. At the same time, the trees in the east showed weaker ability to recover from drought, as they had a subtle difference in radial growth between post-drought disturbance and drought disturbance. Furthermore, the trees in the east also showed weaker relative resilience to drought, as they had a small difference in radial growth between post-drought and drought disturbance weighted by growth in pre-drought disturbance. For trees below 3000 m a.s.l., trees with high resistance capacity usually had low recovery capacity and low relative resilience capacity. Trees at higher altitudes also showed stronger resistance to drought and weaker ability to recover from drought after a drought event than those at lower altitudes in the middle of the Qilian Mountains. Trees at lower altitudes in the middle of the Qilian Mountains had more difficulties recovering from more severe and longer drought events. In the context of global warming, trees in the western region and at lower altitudes should be given special attention and protection in forest management to enhance their resistance to extreme droughts.
Hedonic Analysis of Forest Pest Invasion: the Case of Emerald Ash Borer
Authors: Li Xiaoshu , Holmes Thomas P. , Boyle Kevin J. , Crocker Ellen V. , Nelson C. Dana
Published: September 2019

The emerald ash borer (EAB) was first detected in North America in 2002, and since its introduction, this invasive pest has killed millions of ash trees. While EAB kills native North American ash trees in all settings, its impacts have been especially large in urban areas where ash has been a dominant street tree, especially in residential areas. While some management costs, such as insecticide treatment, tree removal, or tree replacement, are relatively straightforward to compute, the impact that EAB has had on residential property values is less clear. To better understand the economic cost of EAB in urban settings, we conducted a hedonic property value analysis to evaluate the impact of ash tree damages due to EAB infestation on housing sales prices. This study was conducted in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which had high stocking levels of ash trees prior to EAB’s arrival. The objectives of the study are to investigate: (1) how EAB-infested ash trees affect property values; (2) whether the benefits from healthy ash trees to property value change after arrival of EAB; and (3) whether healthy ash trees located within infested neighborhoods provide the same benefits as the healthy ash trees located outside of infested neighborhoods. In general, our results show that the EAB outbreak has had a negative impact on home values for properties located in close proximity to the ash tree component of the urban forest. This result holds true for neighborhoods where EAB does not yet pose an imminent threat, and is amplified for neighborhoods where EAB has been detected. Our results highlight the early stages of a dynamic economic process that impacts urban residential property owners subject to the risk of EAB or other tree pests and diseases. In general, we find that forward-looking behavior of residential property owners is capitalized into property values during the process of forest pest infestation.
Role-Mining Optimization with Separation-of-Duty Constraints and Security Detections for Authorizations
Authors: Sun Wei , Wei Shiwei , Guo Huaping , Liu Hongbing
Published: September 2019

Role-based access control (RBAC), which has been regarded as one of the most popular access-control mechanisms, is featured by the separation-of-duty constraints, mutually exclusive constraints, and the least-privileges principle. Role mining, a bottom-up role-engineering technology, is an effective method to migrate from a non-RBAC system to an RBAC system. However, conventional role-mining approaches not only do not consider the separation of duty constraints, but also cannot ensure the security of a constructed RBAC system when the corresponding mined results violate the separation of a duty constraint and/or the least-privileges principle. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a novel method called role-mining optimization with separation-of-duty constraints and security detections for authorizations (RMO_SODSDA), which mainly includes two aspects. First, we present a role-mining-optimization approach for satisfying the separation of duty constraints, and we constructed different variants of mutually exclusive constraints to correctly implement the given separation of duty constraints based on unconstrained role mining. Second, to ensure the security of the constructed system and evaluate authorization performance, we reduced the authorization-query problem to a maximal-satisfiability problem. The experiments validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
Heterologous Expression of GbTCP4, a Class II TCP Transcription Factor, Regulates Trichome Formation and Root Hair Development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Yi , Yu Yuehua , Chen Quanjia , Bai Guanghong , Gao Wenwei , Qu Yanying , Ni Zhiyong
Published: September 2019

Two class I family teosinte branched1/cycloidea/proliferating cell factor1 (TCP) proteins from allotetraploid cotton are involved in cotton fiber cell differentiation and elongation and root hair development. However, the biological function of most class II TCP proteins is unclear. This study sought to reveal the characteristics and functions of the sea-island cotton class II TCP gene GbTCP4 by biochemical, genetic, and molecular biology methods. GbTCP4 protein localizes to nuclei, binding two types of TCP-binding cis-acting elements, including the one in its promoter. Expression pattern analysis revealed that GbTCP4 is widely expressed in tissues, with the highest level in flowers. GbTCP4 is expressed at different fiber development stages and has high transcription in fibers beginning at 5 days post anthesis (DPA). GbTCP4 overexpression increases primary root hair length and density and leaf and stem trichomes in transgenic Arabidopsis relative to wild-type plants (WT). GbTCP4 binds directly to the CAPRICE (CPC) promoter, increasing CPC transcript levels in roots and reducing them in leaves. Compared with WT plants, lignin content in the stems of transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GbTCP4 increased, and AtCAD5 gene transcript levels increased. These results suggest that GbTCP4 regulates trichome formation and root hair development in Arabidopsis and may be a candidate gene for regulating cotton fiber elongation.
The Role of Built Environment on Health of Older Adults in Korea: Obesity and Gender Differences
Authors: Namgung Mi , Gonzalez B. Elizabeth Mercado , Park Seungwoo
Published: September 2019

This study examines the effect of the built environment on obesity in older adults, taking into consideration gender difference. In this regard, we ask two questions: (1) How does the built environment affect obesity in older adults? (2) Is there a gender difference in the effect of the built environment? To examine the research questions, this study uses the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey and geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis. The empirical analyses show that environmental factors have stronger effects on local obesity rates for older men than for older women, which indicates a gender difference in obesity. Based on these findings, we suggest that public health policies for obesity should consider the built environment as well as gender difference.
Perspectives on Disability and Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, with a Focus on Stroke and Dementia
Authors: Prynn Josephine E. , Kuper Hannah
Published: September 2019

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) and disability are both common, and increasing in magnitude, as a result of population ageing and a shift in disease burden towards chronic conditions. Moreover, disability and NCDs are strongly linked in a two-way association. People living with NCDs may develop impairments, which can cause activity limitations and participation restriction in the absence of supportive personal and environmental factors. In other words, NCDs may lead to disabilities. At the same time, people with disabilities are more vulnerable to NCDs, because of their underlying health condition, and vulnerability to poverty and exclusion from healthcare services. NCD programmes must expand their focus beyond prevention and treatment to incorporate rehabilitation for people living with NCDs, in order to maximize their functioning and well-being. Additionally, access to healthcare needs to be improved for people with disabilities so that they can secure their right to preventive, curative and rehabilitation services. These changes may require new innovations to overcome existing gaps in healthcare capacity, such as an increasing role for mobile technology and task-sharing. This perspective paper discusses these issues, using a particular focus on stroke and dementia in order to clarify these relationships.
Comprehensive Evaluation and Spatial Difference Analysis of Regional Ecological Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Peng Benhong , Wei Guo , Elahi Ehsan
Published: September 2019

Ecological carrying capacity is an important factor of sustainable development for cities, and a critical part of achieving the coordinated development of the social economic and ecological environment for urban agglomerations. In order to evaluate the regional ecological carrying capacity and provide a basis for decision-making for regional sustainable development, this paper constructs an ecological carrying capacity model for the urban agglomeration from two dimensions: ecological carrying elastic force and ecological carrying pressure. The analytic hierarchy process is utilized to determine the weights of nine indices in these two dimensions. For the Yangtze River urban agglomeration, the comprehensive index of its ecological carrying capacity is investigated quantitatively, and the spatial distribution map of its comprehensive index measuring ecological carrying capacity is computed. The results show that Nanjing, Yangzhou, Taizhou, and Changzhou are in the stage of high load carrying; Suzhou, Wuxi, Nantong, and Zhenjiang are in the stage of low load carrying. In addition, the environmental protection investment has the greatest impact on ecological carrying elastic force, followed by the proportion of the tertiary industry; wastewater discharge has the greatest impact on ecological carrying pressure. The level of ecological carrying capacity varies within the region. It is necessary to take measures to increase the ecological carrying elastic force and reduce the ecological carrying pressure according to the actual conditions in each region. Meanwhile, exchanges and cooperation between different regions should be strengthened to stimulate the coordinated and sustainable development.
One-Dimensional Annular Diffuser Model for Preliminary Turbomachinery Design
Authors: Agromayor Roberto , Müller Bernhard , Nord Lars O.
Published: September 2019

Annular diffusers are frequently used in turbomachinery applications to recover the discharge kinetic energy and increase the total-to-static isentropic efficiency. Despite its strong influence on turbomachinery performance, the diffuser is often neglected during the preliminary design. In this context, a one-dimensional flow model for annular diffusers that accounts for the impact of this component on turbomachinery performance was developed. The model allows use of arbitrary equations of state and to account for the effects of area change, heat transfer, and friction. The mathematical problem is formulated as an implicit system of ordinary differential equations that can be solved when the Mach number in the meridional direction is different than one. The model was verified against a reference case to assess that: (1) the stagnation enthalpy is conserved and (2) the entropy computation is consistent and it was found that the error of the numerical solution was always smaller than the prescribed integration tolerance. In addition, the model was validated against experimental data from the literature, finding that deviation between the predicted and measured pressure recovery coefficients was less than 2% when the best-fit skin friction coefficient is used. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the influence of several input parameters on diffuser performance, concluding that: (1) the area ratio is not a suitable optimization variable because the pressure recovery coefficient increases asymptotically when this variable tends to infinity, (2) the diffuser should be designed with a positive mean wall cant angle to recover the tangential fraction of kinetic energy, (3) the mean wall cant angle is a critical design variable when the maximum axial length of the diffuser is constrained, and (4) the performance of the diffuser declines when the outlet hub-to-tip ratio of axial turbomachines is increased because the channel height is reduced.
Management of Schneiderian Membrane Perforations during Sinus Augmentation Procedures: A Preliminary Comparison of Two Different Approaches
Authors: Barbu Horia Mihail , Iancu Stefania Andrada , Jarjour Mirea Iasmin , Mignogna Michele Davide , Samet Nachum , Calvo-Guirado José Luis
Published: September 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze two different sealing techniques for sinus membrane perforations produced during sinus floor augmentation by a lateral approach. Methods: A total of 172 lateral-approach sinus floor augmentation surgeries were performed on 130 patients. Sixty-one membrane perforations (35%) were reported. Most of the perforations were caused by accidental membrane tearing and 16 (26%) were caused by deliberate incision for mucocele removal. In 31 perforation cases (51%), the Schneiderian membrane was sealed by suturing, while the remaining 30 cases (49%) were sealed using a low-resorption collagen membrane coverage. Results: Out of the 31 cases treated with a suture-sealing techniques, 26 (84%) were successful, presenting graft integration. Failure occurred in the other five (16%) cases. Out of the 30 perforations sealed with low-resorption collagen membranes, 28 (93%) presented successful graft integration, while two (7%) failed. Conclusions: Both surgical techniques yielded therapeutic success.