bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance-Based Fibre Design for Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)
Authors: Lanwer Jan-Paul , Empelmann Martin
Published: August 2022

The paper presents a method to establish a performance-based fibre design of high-strength micro steel fibres for ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). The performance-based fibre design considers effects of fibre layout, fibre orientation, and type of loading (quasi-static and cyclic) and expands the current approach using experiences and suitability testing results. The performance-based fibre design is based on a so-called utilization rate, which is determined via pullout tests of high-strength micro steel fibres in UHPC under quasi-static as well as high cyclic loading with varying orientations and embedment depths. The utilization rate for a straight fibre pullout is 0.27 on average considering the measured tensile strength of the fibre and 0.50 considering the manufacturers specifications. For inclined fibres, additional bending stresses occur at the exit point of the fibre channels, leading to a significant increase in local tensile stress. Therefore, the utilization rate of inclined fibres under quasi-static loading is approximately 60–70% higher than in the case of straight embedded fibres (comparing it to the measured tensile strength). Comparing the utilization rate to the manufacturer’s specification, it increases to approximately 1.00. Under cyclic loading, the additional bending stresses in inclined fibres result in a local increase of the load amplitude, leading to a reduced fatigue resistance and premature fibre rupture, underlining the feasibility of a performance-based fibre design.
Special Issue on “Selected Papers from GPVC Conferences”
Authors: Jee Hongsub , Lee Jaehyeong
Published: August 2022

At the core of the climate crisis lies excessive carbon emissions from the continued use of fossil fuels [...]
Quantification of Salivary Nitric Oxide in Patients with Fixed Orthodontic Treatment
Authors: Raducanu Ana-Madalina , Mihai Sebastian , Sandu Ion , Anghel Andreea , Furnica Cristina , Chistol Raluca Ozana , Dinu Ciprian Adrian , Tutunaru Dana , Earar Kamel
Published: August 2022

Nitric oxide (NO) is considered a regulator of bone response to mechanical stress that mediates adaptive bone formation, the pathological effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and other cytokines; regulates leukocytes and epithelial cell adhesion; inhibits T cell proliferation; and enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity, as well as other immune-related processes. The aim of the current study was to test the potential use of salivary NO as a biomarker of bone response that is specific and sensitive to local changes, following the application of different types of dental appliances. Material and methods: Salivary NO was determined in 30 patients divided into three groups with 10 participants each: control (C), fixed metal braces group (M), and aligners group (A). Salivary NO was determined four times in each group (before the procedure, at 2 weeks, 30 days, and 60 days after the procedure) using ELISA and rapid semi-quantitative assay with Nitric Oxide Saliva Test Strips (Berkeley, CA, USA). The mean results were compared with the ANOVA test, and the Pearson correlation index was calculated. The results show a significant increase in salivary NO levels by both methods only in the metal braces group, which is suggestive of oxidative damage, increased invasiveness, and bone response to metal braces. In conclusion, our study showed that metal brackets lead to a significant temporary increase in oral oxidative stress as an adaptive reaction to the presence of foreign bodies in the oral cavity. The subsequent concentration decrease at 60 days suggests a normalization of the body’s response to foreign bodies.
Cytokine Response of the Biomimetic Porcine Urothelial Model to Different Escherichia coli Strains
Authors: Predojević Luka , Keše Darja , Žgur Bertok Darja , Korva Miša , Erdani Kreft Mateja , Starčič Erjavec Marjanca
Published: August 2022

Escherichia coli is known to be an important uropathogenic agent. Several models were developed for investigating the uropathogensis of E. coli, including the recent biomimetic porcine urothelial in vitro model. The aim of this study was to assess the cytokine response of the cells of the biomimetic porcine urothelial model to different E. coli strains. The production of nine different cytokines in response to E. coli infection was evaluated using the commercial pre-configured immunoassay multiplex Cytokine & Chemokine 9-Plex Porcine ProcartaPlex™ Panel 1 kit. Our results showed that cells of the biomimetic porcine urothelial model reacted to the presence of all the employed different E. coli strains, albeit with some differences in levels and types of cytokines produced. Increased production of IL-10, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-12p40 was observed. Statistical analysis (Fisher’s exact test) revealed a correlation between the high fold change in the immune response and the presence of the cnf1 gene that encodes the cytotoxic necrotizing factor. Our results shed light on the cytokine response of normal urothelial cells to different E. coli strains and have the potential to fuel the search for understanding the mechanisms behind the different cytokine responses to different E. coli strains.
Progress of the Computer-Generated Holography Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Zhang Mingkun , Liu Kexuan , He Zehao , Cao Liangcai
Published: August 2022

With the explosive developments of deep learning, learning–based computer–generated holography (CGH) has become an effective way to achieve real–time and high–quality holographic displays. Plentiful learning–based methods with various deep neural networks (DNNs) have been proposed. In this paper, we focus on the rapid progress of learning–based CGH in recent years. The generation principles and algorithms of CGH are introduced. The DNN structures frequently used in CGH are compared, including U–Net, ResNet, and GAN. We review the developments and discuss the outlook of the learning–based CGH.
The Bearing Capacity of Dam Body Structure with Cemented and Weathered Materials: A Constitutive Model
Authors: Zhao Lei , Jia Jinsheng , Zheng Cuiying , Wu Yangfeng
Published: August 2022

The Cemented Sand, Gravel, and Rock (CSGR) dam of Xijiang is the world’s first dam to use weathered material. As mechanical tests have shown significant low-strength and nonlinear characteristics in the constitutive curve of CSGR with weathered materials, a more rigorous approach is required in calculation and analysis. Based on the project, a constitutive model of CSGR with weathered material is constructed in the research. Then, the bearing capacity of the dam is studied by using the strength-reduction method and the overload method on the basis of the constitutive model. In order to further obtain the real bearing capacity of the dam, this paper also considers the hydraulic fracturing factor and analyzes its influence at the same time. Conclusions drawn are then applied to the Xijiang project, where the effect is promising.
Knowledge Management in Construction Health and Safety Based on Ontology Modeling
Authors: Gao Shang , Ren Guoqian , Li Haijiang
Published: August 2022

Knowledge management in construction health and safety is an intensive process involving different stakeholders. However, this domain’s information is still fragmented and stored in various disordered formats that require systematic structure for reusing and sharing. This study aims to develop a domain ontology, HSM-Onto (Health and Safety Management-Ontology), to construct health and safety knowledge and improve health and safety management decision making. The HSM-Onto could implement the organization, storage and reuse of construction health and safety knowledge. It comprises two primary domain knowledge contexts, including construction project context and risk context. Based on the conducted analyses, the findings show that the HSM-Onto’s health and safety knowledge sharing is effective and equips health and safety employees with sound recommendations for decision making.
Research on 3D Digital Technological Process of Construction Products with Model-Based Definition
Authors: Liu Yang , Jia Lu , Wu Han , Huang Xing
Published: August 2022

To guide the site staff to produce complex construction products with high quality, this paper proposes a three-dimensional digital technological process method for construction products. Firstly, the process information of construction products is processed from the perspective of quality control and quality management. Then, the geometric entities in the product construction process are modeled based on the building information model (BIM). Then, the process information is expressed and integrated into geometric entities by the model-based definition (MBD) technology, and the interactive files guiding product construction are output. Finally, the technological process expression example of the infill wall masonry project shows that the proposed digital technological process method can fully utilize the advantages of three-dimensional space and desktop virtual reality, help to deepen process understanding, improve product construction quality, reduce project cost, and provide new ideas for digital research in the construction industry.
CoMP-Aware BBU Placements for 5G Radio Access Networks over Optical Aggregation Networks
Authors: Awad Ahmed M. , Shehata Mohamed , Gasser Safa M. , EL-Badawy Hesham
Published: August 2022

The huge traffic demand envisioned in 5G requires radical changes in mobile network architecture. A Centralized Radio Access Network (C-RAN) was introduced as a novel mobile network architecture, designed to effectively support the challenging requirements of future 5G networks. Coordinated Multi-point (CoMP) is one of the technologies aiming to increase user traffic by transforming inter-cell interference into useful signals to maximize cell-edge users throughput. Intra-CoMP means that cooperating RRHs are assigned to the same Base Band Unit (BBU). On the other hand, in inter-CoMP, the cooperating RRHs are assigned to different BBUs, which introduce overhead signalling over an X2 interface. This paper proposes a model for BBU placement in C-RAN deployment over a 5G optical aggregation network. The model aims to minimize the number of users undergoing inter-CoMP, therefore reducing X2 signalling overhead. First, we solve the BBU placement problem using Integer Linear Programming (ILP), which minimizes the number of BBUs and the number of used links. Second, given the output of the ILP model (i.e., BBU locations and routes), we propose a heuristic algorithm to reconfigure the BBUs (i.e., the assignment of the RRHs to their corresponding BBUs), which aims at minimizing the number of users undergoing inter-CoMP. The proposed heuristic algorithm considers minimizing end-to-end delay, the number of used wavelengths, and maximizing multiplexing gain. The results show that up to 97% of inter-CoMP users migrated to intra-CoMP users. This results in a decrease in the X2 traffic, which is mainly used for the coordination between the BBUs.
Inverse Determination of Acoustic Properties of Acoustic Ventilation Cloth (Woven and Non-Woven) by Particle Swarm Optimization and Estimation of Its Effect on the Frequency Response of the Microspeaker
Authors: Liu Yu-Cheng , Pawar Suryappa Jayappa , Huang Jin-Huang
Published: August 2022

In this work, microspeaker frequency response was determined based on measurement and simulation. The vents after the rear chamber of the microspeaker were covered with ventilation cloths. Two types of ventilation cloths (acoustic cloths) are commonly used in electroacoustic products, non-woven and woven. Non-woven cloths (5 nos.) consist of irregular meshes and woven cloths (5 nos.) consist of regular meshes. The equivalent circuit model of the microspeaker was formulated by considering five types each of non-woven and woven ventilation cloths. The acoustic properties of the ventilation cloths were estimated from the measured frequency response of the microspeaker and by subsequent use of particle swarm optimization algorithm. Estimated value of the acoustic impedances of the ventilation cloths were used in an equivalent circuit model of the microspeaker for the simulated frequency responses and subsequently compared with the anechoic chamber measurements. Based on the results, the equivalent circuit adequately simulated the measured frequency response of the microspeaker and the estimations of the acoustic impedances of the ventilation cloths were in good agreement with the measured frequency responses of the microspeaker.
Application of Formononetin for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Induced by Medial Meniscectomy in a Rodent Model
Authors: Barreto Ronald B. , Santana Bruna H. de , Martins Beatriz M. , Porto Erick S. , Severino Patricia , Cardoso Juliana C. , Souto Eliana B. , Albuquerque-Júnior Ricardo L. C. de
Published: August 2022

Formononetin suppresses catabolic effects in primary rat chondrocytes induced by IL-1β, which makes it a promising candidate for in vivo studies on the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis (OA). The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of the oral administration of formononetin in a rodent model of OA. OA was induced by medial meniscectomy in the right knee joint of rats. The animals were assigned into four groups (n = 6): Vehicle (treated with saline), FNT10 (formononetin, 10 mg/kg), Ibuprofen (10 mg/kg), and Sham (simulated surgery, treated with saline). The treatment of the animals was performed daily by the oral route. After six weeks, the knee joints were removed and histologically processed. Histological sections stained in Safranin-O were used to assess the histological grading of the articular cartilage damage. An analysis of the immunohistochemical expression of type II collagen and IL-1β was also performed. The oral administration of formononetin significantly reduced cartilage-matrix-loss width (p < 0.01), degeneration scores (p < 0.05), and the total articular cartilage-wear depth (p < 0.01) in comparison with Group Vehicle. Type II collagen immunoexpression was intense and homogeneous in FNT10, comparable to that of Sham, scarce and irregularly distributed in Vehicle, and homogeneous but less intense in Ibuprofen. Furthermore, formononetin significantly reduced the immunohistochemical expression of IL-1β in joint chondrocytes (p < 0.01), but ibuprofen did not (p > 0.05). From this study, the oral administration of formononetin was found to attenuate OA-associated pathological damage in rodents, likely because of IL-1β expression downregulation in chondrocytes. These findings suggest that formononetin is a potential therapeutic for treatment.
Using CMOS Image Sensors to Determine the Intensity of Electrical Discharges for Aircraft Applications
Authors: Riba Jordi-Roger , Bas-Calopa Pau , Qolla Yassin Aziz , Pourraz Marc , Ozsahin Burak
Published: August 2022

The development of more electric aircrafts (MEA) and all electric aircrafts (AEA) inevitably implies an increase in electric power and a consequent increase in distribution voltage levels. Increased operating voltages coupled with low pressure in some areas of the aircraft greatly increase the chances of premature insulation failure. Insulation failure manifests itself as surface discharges, arc tracking, arcing, and disruptive or breakdown discharges, in order of increasing severity. Unfortunately, on-board electrical protections cannot detect discharges at an early stage, so other strategies must be explored. In their early stage, insulation faults manifest as surface and corona discharges. They generate optical radiation, mainly in the near-ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectral regions. This paper focuses on a method to detect the discharges, locate the discharge sites, and determine their intensity to facilitate predictive maintenance tasks. It is shown that by using small size and low-cost image sensors, it is possible to detect, locate, and quantify the intensity of the discharges. This paper also proposes and evaluates the behavior of a discharge severity indicator, which is based on determining the intensity of digital images of the discharges, so it can be useful to apply predictive maintenance tasks. The behavior and accuracy of this indicator has been tested in the laboratory using a low-pressure chamber operating in the pressure range of 10–100 kPa, which is characteristic of aircraft applications, analyzing a needle-plane air gap geometry and using an image sensor. The proposed method can be extended to other applications where electrical discharges are an issue.
An Experimental Study for Swelling Effect on Repairing of Cracks in Fine-Grained Clayey Soils
Authors: Nikbakht Mahdi , Sarand Fariba Behrooz , Esmatkhah Irani Arash , Hajialilue Bonab Masoud , Azarafza Mohammad , Derakhshani Reza
Published: August 2022

Earth-dam failure starts with cracking in the clay core, and this cracking is not easy to detect and prevent. Therefore, swellable clay is a feasible solution, which helps to close the cracks automatically based on the self-healing process. The presented study utilizes experimental procedures to analyze the swelling behavior of fine-grained clayey soils to prevent structural failure regarding crack generations. In this regard, the clayey materials were modified using Kaolin and Bentonite mixed with various weight percentages (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5%) and extracted the geotechnical characteristics of the studied soils, which included 90 specimens and 85 tests, such as physical properties, consolidation, particle-size analysis, hydrometry, Atterberg limits, compaction, odometer, and pinhole. The experimental results revealed that the swelling of the Bentonite is more than Kaolin satisfied for self-healing features in clayey soils. Regarding the numerous swelling tests, Bentonite provides optimum results (attained 10%) compared to Kaolin. As a verification procedure, the pinhole test was performed on samples, which revealed that Bentonite was dominant in controlling the water flow through the samples.
Controlling Electronic Energy Transfer: A Systematic Framework of Theory
Authors: Andrews David L. , Bradshaw David S.
Published: August 2022

The transport of electronic excitation energy (EET) between ions, atoms, molecules or chromophores is an important process that occurs in a wide range of physical systems. The tantalising prospect of effective experimental control over such transfer is, in principle, amenable to a variety of different kinds of approach. Several of the most promising, which are analysed and compared in this paper, involve the influence of externally applied static electric or electromagnetic fields, or the exploitation of local media effects. A quantum electrodynamical framework is used as a common basis to describe the corresponding mechanisms, illustrated by specially adapted Feynman diagrams. It becomes evident that energy transfer between polar species engages an additional pairwise interaction beyond the EET coupling. Such an effect may also play an important role in interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD), a process that has recently attracted fresh interest. The control of ICD, in which the photoionisation of two nearby atoms via energy transfer, is determined to have analogous characteristics to conventional forms of EET.
Simulation, Fabrication and Testing of UAV Composite Landing Gear
Authors: Lancea Camil , Chicos Lucia-Antoneta , Zaharia Sebastian-Marian , Pop Mihai-Alin , Pascariu Ionut Stelian , Buican George-Razvan , Stamate Valentin-Marian
Published: August 2022

This study concerns the use of the fused filament fabrication technique to create models of the landing gear of an unmanned aircraft. These components are made of filament with short fibers (chopped fibers) of carbon fiber and fiberglass. In order to identify the material with the high mechanical strength, the designed models were subjected to a finite element analysis and to a three-point bending test, followed by a microscopic examination of the tested components. Following a comparative study, both the finite element analysis results and the three-point bending test results provided similar results, with a relative error of 2%, which is acceptable in the aviation field. After analyzing all the results, it was found that the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer material has the highest mechanical performance, with a bending strength of 1455 MPa. Among the fused filament fabricated landing gears, the one with the best mechanical performance was polyethylene terephthalate with short carbon fiber, which had a bending strength of 118 MPa. Microscopic analysis of the landing gear models, manufactured by the fused filament fabrication process, indicated the typical defects of composite filaments: voids and interlayer voids.
Adaptive Multi-Modal Ensemble Network for Video Memorability Prediction
Authors: Li Jing , Guo Xin , Yue Fumei , Xue Fanfu , Sun Jiande
Published: August 2022

Video memorability prediction aims to quantify the credibility of being remembered according to the video content, which provides significant value in advertising design, social media recommendation, and other applications. However, the main attributes that affect the memorability prediction have not been determined so that making the design of the prediction model more challenging. Therefore, in this study, we analyze and experimentally verify how to select the most impact factors to predict video memorability. Furthermore, we design a new framework, Adaptive Multi-modal Ensemble Network, based on the chosen vital impact factors to predict video memorability efficiently. Specifically, we first conduct three main impact factors that affect video memorability, i.e., temporal 3D information, spatial information and semantics derived from video, image and caption, respectively. Then, the Adaptive Multi-modal Ensemble Network integrates the three individual base learners (i.e., ResNet3D, Deep Random Forest and Multi-Layer Perception) into a weighted ensemble framework to score the video memorability. In addition, we also design an adaptive learning strategy to update the weights based on the importance of memorability, which is predicted by the base learners rather than assigning weights manually. Finally, the experiments on the public VideoMem dataset demonstrate that the proposed method provides competitive results and high efficiency for video memorability prediction.
Microstructural Characteristics, Modeling of Mechanical Strength and Thermal Performance of Industrial Waste Glass Blended Concrete
Authors: Yusuf Moruf Olalekan , Al-Sodani Khaled A. Alawi , Adewumi Adeshina A. , Alateah Ali H. , Al-Tholaia Mohammed M. H. , Shamsah Sami M. Ibn , Qazi Umair Yaqub , Alanazi Ghazi Dibas S.
Published: August 2022

The need to get rid of solid waste in the environment necessitates the incorporation of waste glass powder (WGP) in mortar and concrete. The blending of WGP (G) with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is a valorization technique that is not only cost efficient but also environmentally friendly. The replacement level is denoted as CxG10−x, where x is 0–20 wt.% at an interval of 5 wt.% in mortar (w/b = 0.4) and 0, 10, 20 and 30 in concrete (w/b = 0.42). The study investigates the effects of glass on the setting, workability, thermal resistance, microstructure, mineral phases and bond characteristics of silicon and hydroxyl-based compounds and C-O vibrations. It also provides the model equations for strength characteristics in terms of OPC, G and ages in mortar and concrete on one hand and investigates the residual strength and density of glass blended concrete at elevated temperature (550 °C) on the other. It is found that glass enhances the workability, reduces the setting time and density and enhances the residual strength and density of concrete. The presence of glass leads to the formation of coesite and microstructural distortion and decreases the Ca/Si ratio. Besides, the bond characteristics of the binder are significantly affected, while the thermal residual strength capacity in glass blended concrete (C80G20) is 40.4% and 75.14% lower than that in OPC concrete (C100G0) because of the low thermal conduction of glass particles. The optimum glass content in mortar and concrete to produce 33 MPa (28 days) and 47 MPa (90 days) is found to be 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%, respectively.
Special Issue on Applied Engineering to Lean Manufacturing Production Systems
Authors: García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Sánchez Ramírez Cuauhtémoc
Published: August 2022

In industrial production processes, different techniques, tools, philosophies, and methodologies are applied to facilitate their management and control [...]
Enhancing Microbial Lipids Synthesis for Biodiesel Production by Y. lipolytica W29 from Volatile Fatty Acids: Two-Stage Batch Strategies
Authors: Pereira Ana S. , Belo Isabel , Lopes Marlene
Published: August 2022

Microbial lipids produced by Y. lipolytica have the potential to be used as feedstock for the biodiesel industry, but the high costs of pure substrates used for its production are limiting the potential of this application. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs), obtained in anaerobic fermentation of organic wastes, are inexpensive carbon sources for the cost-effective production of microbial lipids. In this work, two-stage batch cultures were tested as a strategy to improve lipids production by Y. lipolytica W29. The process consists of a first growth phase in glucose or glycerol, followed by a lipogenic phase in VFAs medium composed of a mixture of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The addition of three pulses of 6 g·L−1 VFAs mixture, or a single pulse of 18 g·L−1 VFAs mixture, in the lipogenic phase boosted microbial lipids production (23–25%, w/w) and prevented lipids mobilization. Microbial lipids synthesized in such conditions are mainly composed of oleic acid (54%) with an unsaturated/saturated fraction above 78%. The main properties of biodiesel produced from Y. lipolytica W29 lipids are within the ranges of the EU biodiesel standard EN 14214.
Prediction of Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture Risk Using Non-Invasive Radiomics Analysis Based on Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Angiography Images: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Yamanouchi Masayuki , Arimura Hidetaka , Kodama Takumi , Urakami Akimasa
Published: August 2022

This is the first preliminary study to develop prediction models for aneurysm rupture risk using radiomics analysis based on follow-up magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images. We selected 103 follow-up images from 18 unruptured aneurysm (UA) cases and 10 follow-up images from 10 ruptured aneurysm (RA) cases to build the prediction models. A total of 486 image features were calculated, including 54 original features and 432 wavelet-based features, within each aneurysm region in the MRA images for the texture patterns. We randomly divided the 103 UA data into 50 training and 53 testing data and separated the 10 RA data into 1 test and 9 training data to be increased to 54 using a synthetic minority oversampling technique. We selected 11 image features associated with UAs and RAs from 486 image features using the least absolute shrinkage and the selection operator logistic regression and input them into a support vector machine to build the rupture prediction models. An imbalanced adjustment training and test strategy was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.971, 0.948, 0.700, and 0.953, respectively. This prediction model with non-invasive MRA images could predict aneurysm rupture risk for SAH prevention.
Using Mechanical Metamaterials in Guitar Top Plates: A Numerical Study
Authors: Lercari Mattia , Gonzalez Sebastian , Espinoza Carolina , Longo Giacomo , Antonacci Fabio , Sarti Augusto
Published: August 2022

It has recently been shown that the mechanical properties of thin, rectangular wooden plates can be tuned by carving them with specific patterns of perforations, effectively realising a 2D wooden mechanical metamaterial. Such a material is of great interest for the construction of musical instruments, as it could allow a new degree of creative control for makers. Furthermore, issues with the shrinking supplies of tone-woods could be alleviated as wood samples that don not meet the desired requirements could simply be altered, instead of being discarded. In this work, we study the effect of the use of these metamaterials in the soundboards of classical guitars. By way of simulations, we evaluate their impact on the modal behaviour and on the sound pressure level of the instrument, as well as on its ability to sustain the load exerted by the strings. Our results show that the metamaterials can tune the instrument’s response without compromising its structural integrity. We thus conclude that the use of wooden mechanical metamaterials in the soundboards of classical guitars is feasible and, in many ways, beneficial, not the least since it opens the door to using non-traditional woods with bespoke density and stiffness.
Usability Evaluations Employing Online Panels Are Not Bias-Free
Authors: Maggi Piero , Mastrangelo Simon , Scelsi Marco , Manara Luca , Tempestini Giorgia , Di Nocera Francesco
Published: August 2022

A growing trend in UX research is the use of Online Panels (OPs), namely people enrolled in a web platform who have agreed to participate regularly in online studies and/or in the execution of simple and repetitive operations. The effect of the participation of such “professional respondents” on data quality has been questioned in a variety of fields (e.g., Psychology and Marketing). Notwithstanding the increasing use of OPs in UX research, there is a lack of studies investigating the bias affecting usability assessments provided by this type of respondents. In this paper we have addressed this issue by comparing the usability evaluations provided by professional respondents commonly involved in debugging activities, non-professional respondents, and naive people not belonging to any OP. In a set of three studies, we have addressed both the effect of expertise and type of task (debugging vs. browsing) on the usability assessments. A total of 138 individuals participated in these studies. Results showed that individuals who performed the debugging test provided more positive usability ratings regardless of their skills, conversely, professional respondents provided more severe and critical ratings of perceived usability than non-professionals. Finally, the comparison between the online panelists and naive users allowed us to better understand whether professional respondents can be involved in usability evaluations without jeopardizing them.
Mathematical Models for Population Growth with Variable Carrying Capacity: Analytical Solutions
Authors: Rodrigo M. , Zulkarnaen D.
Published: August 2022

A general population model with variable carrying capacity consisting of a coupled system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations is proposed, and a procedure for obtaining analytical solutions for three broad classes of models is provided. A particular case is when the population and carrying capacity per capita growth rates are proportional. As an example, a generalised Thornley–France model is given. Further examples are given when the growth rates are not proportional. A criterion when inflexion may occur is also provided, and results of numerical simulations are presented.
Trauma and Autotheory in an Expanded Practice of Life Drawing
Authors: Amodeo Gabrielle
Published: August 2022

This article examines autotheory and clinical trauma theory in relation to the author’s studio-based visual arts practice. This is addressed through surveying the development of the drawing series An open love letter. This ongoing series stems from an expanded practice of life drawing and explores experiences of love in relation to PTSD. Trauma is an event that fractures the sense of self, sometimes culminating in PTSD. As someone who experiences PTSD, physical symptoms (sweating, vertigo, emotional flooding) have pulsed against researching trauma. Memory, symptoms, and theory tangle together, challenging expectations of objectivity. The article addresses how autotheory supports the validity of establishing visual arts research engaged with trauma and trauma theory from the embodied experiences of a trauma survivor. The article additionally traces how readings of clinical trauma theory and autotheory inflected across each other in this research. First, through a clinical-trauma-theory reading of autotheory, it examines how autotheory positions itself as restorative of ideological dissociations. Specifically, autotheory intervenes in trends in art practices by privileging conceptual modes over the embodied and emotional. Following, this research establishes the significance of an autotheoretical reading of trauma theory to articulate the embodied experience of the theory. This demonstrates the capacity of autotheory to embrace the associations between research, practice, and lived experiences.
Controlled Laboratory Generation of Atmospheric Black Carbon Using Laser Excitation-Based Soot Generator: From Basic Principles to Application Perspectives: A Review
Authors: Ajtai Tibor , Kohut Attila , Raffai Péter , Szabó Gábor , Bozóki Zoltán
Published: August 2022

The mimicking of atmospheric soot with versatile chemophysical properties is a critical issue in many applications, starting from instrument calibration, through producing aerosol standards for academic research, and ending with the reduction of uncertainties associated to carbonaceous particulate matter in the atmosphere, just to name a few. The present study deals with laser ablation as a novel and interesting technique for the generation of soot with high elementary carbon (EC) content with microphysical features similar to diesel or atmospheric soot and for modelling biomass emission under well-controlled laboratory conditions. The operation of the laser-excitation-based soot generator and the characteristics of the produced particles are compared to the most widely used techniques like flame, spark discharge generators, and real combustion soot originating from diesel- and aircraft engines or from field measurement. The comparison shows that significant differences in the physicochemical features exist between the real combustion soot and the soot originating from different excitation mechanisms. Moreover, the soot produced by different techniques shown also significant differences. However, due to some inherent and favorable attributes of the laser ablation technique—such as the possibility of the independent variation of physical characteristics of the generated soot particles—the potential for modelling biomass burning or to produce soot particles even in the accumulation mode makes it a useful tool in many cases.
Automatic Homogenization of Time Series: How to Use Metadata?
Authors: Domonkos Peter
Published: August 2022

Long time series of observed climate data are often affected by changes in the technical conditions of the observations, which cause non-climatic biases, so-called inhomogeneities. Such inhomogeneities can be removed, at least partly, by the spatial comparison and statistical analysis of the data, and by the use of documented information about the historical changes in technical conditions, so-called metadata. Large datasets need the use of automatic or semiautomatic homogenization methods, but the effective use of non-quantitative metadata information within automatic procedures is not straightforward. The traditional approach suggests that a piece of metadata can be considered in statistical homogenizations only when the statistical analysis indicates a higher than threshold probability of inhomogeneity occurrence at or around the date of the metadata information. In this study, a new approach is presented, which suggests that the final inhomogeneity corrections should be done by the ANOVA correction model, and all the metadata dates likely indicating inhomogeneities according to the content of the metadata should be included in that correction step. A large synthetic temperature benchmark dataset has been created and used to test the performance of the ACMANT homogenization method both with traditional metadata use and with the suggested new method. The results show that while the traditional metadata use provides only 1–4% error reduction in comparison with the residual errors obtained by the homogenization without metadata, this ratio reaches 8–15% in the new, permissive use of metadata. The usefulness of metadata depends on the test dataset properties and homogenization method, these aspects are examined and discussed.
A Combined Linear–Nonlinear Short-Term Rainfall Forecast Method Using GNSS-Derived PWV
Authors: Ma Zengqi , Guo Guohe , Cai Min , Chen Xuewen , Li Wenjie , Zhang Liang
Published: August 2022

Short-term rainfall forecast using GNSS-derived tropospheric parameters has gradually become a research hotspot in GNSS meteorology. Nevertheless, the occurrence of rainfall can be attributed to the impact of various weather factors. With only using tropospheric parameters retrieved from GNSS (such as ZTD or PWV) for linear forecast, it could be challenging to describe the process of rainfall occurrence accurately. Unlike traditional linear algorithms, machine learning can construct better the relationship between various meteorological parameters and rainfall. Therefore, a combined linear–nonlinear short-term rainfall forecast method is proposed in this paper. In this method, the PWV time series is first linearly fitted using least squares, and rainfall events are determined based on the PWV value, PWV variation, and PWV variation rate. Then, a support vector machine (SVM) is used to establish a nonlinear rainfall forecasting model using the PWV value, air temperature, air pressure, and rainfall. Finally, the previous two rainfall forecast methods are combined to obtain the final rainfall event. To evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method, experiments were conducted utilizing the temperature, pressure, and rainfall data from ERA5. The experimental results show that, compared to existing short-term rainfall forecast models, the proposed method could significantly lower the false alarm rate (FAR) of rainfall forecasts without compromising the true detection rate (TDR), which were 26.33% and 98.66%, respectively. In addition, the proposed method was verified using measured GNSS and meteorological data from Yunmao City, Guangdong, and the TDR and FAR of the verified results were 100% and 20.2%, respectively, which were proven to apply to actual rainfall forecasts.
Sensitivity of Land Surface Processes and Its Variation during Contrasting Seasons over India
Authors: Nayak Hara Prasad , Nayak Sridhara , Maity Suman , Patra Nibedita , Singh Kuvar Satya , Dutta Soma
Published: August 2022

The study investigates the influence of near-surface atmospheric parameters on land surface processes at the land–atmosphere interface through the offline simulation of the 2D Noah Land Surface Model-based High-Resolution Land Data Assimilation System (HRLDAS). The HRLDAS is used to conduct sensitive experiments by introducing perturbation in the atmospheric parameters, and the experiments were conducted for the period 2011–2013 in India. In each sensitive experiment, a single parameter is perturbed at a time, keeping the rest of the forcing parameters unchanged, and the procedure is followed for all the forcing parameters. The results revealed that the downward longwave radiation and T2 are highly sensitive to land surface processes, while wind speed is the least sensitive. The land surface process sensitivity varies with soil moisture content. The annual mean soil moisture at the surface layer is increased (decreased) by 8% when long wave radiation is decreased (increased) by 20%. Similarly, the annual mean soil temperature increased (decreased) by 2.2 °C when T2 increased (decreased) by 1%. The latent heat flux is highly sensitive to longwave radiation over the wetter soil, while its sensitivity to rainfall is higher over the drier soil. This is attributed to evapotranspiration’s sensitivity to the preferred soil moisture state. Further, the land surface sensitivity varies with contrasting seasons. The sensitivity of soil moisture and latent heat flux is high in OND and JJA seasons, respectively, and are least sensitive in the MAM season. In contrast, the sensible heat flux is highly sensitive to solar radiation in the MAM season and comparatively less sensitive in the JJA season. The study suggests that the antecedent soil moisture state plays a critical role in modulating land surface process sensitivity, and, therefore, a realistic soil moisture state is important for land surface feedback processes.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of PM2.5 Concentrations on the Incidence of Childhood Asthma in Developing Countries: Case Study of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Authors: Aldegunde José Antonio Álvarez , Sánchez Adrián Fernández , Saba Manuel , Bolaños Edgar Quiñones , Caraballo Luis R.
Published: August 2022

The increase in airborne pollution in large cities since the mid-20th century has had a physiologically proven impact on respiratory health, resulting in the irritation and corrosion of the alveolar wall. One of the demographics of the population most affected by this problem is children. This study focuses on the relationship between particulate matter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and childhood asthma, which is one of the main respiratory diseases identified in developing countries. The city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, is taken as a case study. A relevant correlation between childhood asthma and PM2.5 is found. Incidence series of paediatric asthma on a monthly scale and PM2.5 records in the city of Cartagena are considered. As is common in developing countries, the series was incomplete due to a lack of experts and insufficient economical resources. Therefore, several statistical and analytical processes were applied to provide sufficient quality to the series. An improvement of the time scale of the records was carried out, as well as the completion (statistical imputation) of missing data due to low statistical significance, by applying Rstudio®, PAST® and SPSS®. The last phases consisted of the determination of the main factors that cause childhood asthma incidence, the estimation of the correlation between asthma incidence and PM2.5, as well as the estimation of health impact. A reduction in PM2.5 concentration was simulated using BenMap-CE software to reach safe levels according to the WHO guidelines on air quality to identify preventable cases of childhood asthma, as air pollution has been found to be related to this disease. In addition, a log-linear model was applied to determine the number of hospital visits avoided after reducing the levels of PM2.5 concentration to the maximum levels recommended by WHO. The results showed a good agreement between childhood asthma incidence and PM2.5 pollutants in the spectral analysis (75% coincidence) and Chi2 (85.5% of coincidence) assessments, while visual correlation, mean and linear regression showed lower relations (61.0%, 55.5% and 0.48%, respectively). A reduction to a safe level of 5 µg/m3 would lead to a reduction of 240 annual cases of childhood asthma (95% CI: 137–330).
The Effect of Pluronic-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Hearing Preservation Following Cochlear Implantation-Pilot Study
Authors: Blebea Cristina Maria , Necula Violeta , Potara Monica , Dindelegan Maximilian George , Ujvary Laszlo Peter , Botan Emil Claudiu , Maniu Alma Aurelia , Cosgarea Marcel
Published: August 2022

Introduction: During cochlear implantation, electrode insertion can cause cochlear damage, inflammation, and apoptosis, which can affect the residual hearing. Nanoparticles are increasingly studied as a way to increase the availability of inner ear protective factors. We studied the effect on rats of Pluronic-coated gold nanoparticles (Plu-AuNPs) containing dexamethasone, which were applied locally in the rat’s middle ear following the implant procedure. Methods: Seven rats were used in the study. The right ear served as a model for the Dex-Plu-AuNP group. Following the intracochlear dummy electrode insertion through the round window, Dex-Plu-AuNPs were placed in the round window niche. In the right ear, following the same insertion procedure, free dexamethasone (Dex) was placed in the same manner. Auditory brainstem response thresholds (click stimulus, pure tones at 8 kHz, 16 kHz, 24 kHz, and 32 kHz) were measured before and one week after the procedure. A two-tailed T-test was used for the variables. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: In the Dex-Plu-AuNP group, the threshold shift was less than that in the free dexamethasone group, but no statistical significance was noted between the groups. When compared individually, only the 8 kHz frequency showed statistically significant, better results after one week, in favor of the Dex-Plu-AuNP group. The mean postoperative 8 kHz threshold in the Dex-Plu-AuNPs was significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.048, t-test). For the other frequencies, statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the mean threshold shifts of the two cohorts. Conclusions: The local application of Plu-AuNPs containing dexamethasone following cochlear implantation may better protect the residual hearing than dexamethasone alone, but a larger sample size is needed to reach a possible statistical significance. Dex-Plu-AuNPs do not seem to cause ototoxicity and may be used as a carrier for other agents. In a clinical setting, Dex-Plu-AuNPs may have the effect of protecting lower frequencies in patients with partial deafness who are candidates for electric acoustic stimulation (EAS). If we consider this tendency, Dex-Plu-AuNPs may also be beneficial for patients with Ménière’s disease.
Existence and Uniqueness of Solution to a Terminal Value Problem of First-Order Differential Equation
Authors: Feng Yuqiang , Pan Qian , Jiang Jun
Published: August 2022

The terminal value problem of differential equations has an important application background. In this paper, we are concerned with the terminal value problem of a first-order differential equation. Some sufficient conditions are given to obtain the existence and uniqueness results of solutions to the problem. Firstly, some comparison lemmas are established; secondly, an iterative technique and fixed point method are used to set up the main results; Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the application of the main results.
PRIVAFRAME: A Frame-Based Knowledge Graph for Sensitive Personal Data
Authors: Gambarelli Gaia , Gangemi Aldo
Published: August 2022

The pervasiveness of dialogue systems and virtual conversation applications raises an important theme: the potential of sharing sensitive information, and the consequent need for protection. To guarantee the subject’s right to privacy, and avoid the leakage of private content, it is important to treat sensitive information. However, any treatment requires firstly to identify sensitive text, and appropriate techniques to do it automatically. The Sensitive Information Detection (SID) task has been explored in the literature in different domains and languages, but there is no common benchmark. Current approaches are mostly based on artificial neural networks (ANN) or transformers based on them. Our research focuses on identifying categories of personal data in informal English sentences, by adopting a new logical-symbolic approach, and eventually hybridising it with ANN models. We present a frame-based knowledge graph built for personal data categories defined in the Data Privacy Vocabulary (DPV). The knowledge graph is designed through the logical composition of already existing frames, and has been evaluated as background knowledge for a SID system against a labeled sensitive information dataset. The accuracy of PRIVAFRAME reached 78%. By comparison, a transformer-based model achieved 12% lower performance on the same dataset. The top-down logical-symbolic frame-based model allows a granular analysis, and does not require a training dataset. These advantages lead us to use it as a layer in a hybrid model, where the logical SID is combined with an ANNs SID tested in a previous study by the authors.