bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hsp70 Gene Family in Boleophthalmus pectinirostris: Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis under High Ammonia Stress
Authors: Deng Zhaochao , Sun Shanxiao , Gao Tianxiang , Han Zhiqiang
Published: January 2019

Heat shock proteins 70 have triggered a remarkable large body of research in various fishes; however, no genome-wide identification and expression analysis has been performed on the Hsp70 gene family of Boleophthalmus pectinirostris. In this study, we identified 20 Hsp70 genes within the genome of B. pectinirostris and provided insights into their response to high environmental ammonia (HEA) stress. Positive selection on stress response genes and expansion of hspa1a and hspa1a-like genes might be related to terrestrial adaptations in this species. The expression patterns of the Hsp70 gene family in the gill and liver of B. pectinirostris under HEA stress were studied by examining transcriptome data. The results showed that most Hsp70 genes were downregulated after high concentration ammonia exposure. The downregulation may be related to the hypoxic condition of the tissues.
Surface Tracking of MgO/Epoxy Nanocomposites: Effect of Surface Hydrophobicity
Authors: Xing Zhaoliang , Zhang Chong , Hu Xiangnan , Guo Panhui , Zhang Jingyuan , Wang Ziyue , Wu Kangning , Li Jianying
Published: January 2019

Surface tracking has been one of the challenges for outdoor organic insulations, in electronic and electrical devices. In this paper, surface tracking behavior of nano-MgO/epoxy composite samples were measured according to the standard IEC 60112. Improved tracking resistance was obtained in nanocomposites with an 18.75% uplift in the comparative tracking index, and a decrease of 58.20% in the surface ablation area at a fixed 425 V. It was observed that the tracking resistance and surface hydrophobicity shared the same tendency—both, the comparative tracking index and surface contact angle increased with an increase of the nanofiller content. Samples with better hydrophobicity exhibited a higher tracking resistance. It could be the case that the conductive pathway of contamination was harder to form, as a result there were fewer discharging processes. With the development of surface tracking, the surface contact angle abruptly decreased, at first, and tended to be constant, which was also accomplished with the failure of samples. In addition, reduced surface resistivity was also found in the nanocomposites, which was beneficial for releasing surface charges and inhibiting distortions in the electric fields.
Laser-Scribed Lossy Microstrip Lines for Radio Frequency Applications
Authors: Li Ruozhou , Yan Jing , Fang Yuming , Fan Xingye , Sheng Linkun , Ding Daye , Yin Xiaoxing , Yu Ying
Published: January 2019

Laser-direct writing has become an alternative method to fabricate flexible electronics, whereas the resistive nature of laser-scribed conductors may distort the radio-frequency characteristics of circuits for high-frequency applications. We demonstrate that the transmission characteristics of microstrip lines are insensitive to the resistance of laser-scripted conductors when the sheet resistance is not above 0.32 Ω/□. On the other hand, the transmission and reflection characteristics of the MS lines can be simply modified through the accommodation of the resistance of the conductors, because a laser can trigger the sintering and melting of laser produced silver nanostructures. This could provide an alternative way to fabricate radio frequency (RF) resistors and promote their applications to flexible radio-frequency devices and systems.
Fiber Optic Sensing for Geomechanical Monitoring: (2)- Distributed Strain Measurements at a Pumping Test and Geomechanical Modeling of Deformation of Reservoir Rocks
Authors: Lei Xinglin , Xue Ziqiu , Hashimoto Tsutomu
Published: January 2019

In this study distributed fiber optic sensing has been used to measure strain along a vertical well of a depth of 300 m during a pumping test. The observed strain data has been used in geomechanical simulation, in which a combined analytical and numerical approach was applied in providing scaled-up formation properties. The outcomes of the field test have demonstrated the practical use of distributed fiber optic strain sensing for monitoring reservoir formation responses at different regions of sandstone–mudstone alternations along a continuous trajectory. It also demonstrated that sensitive and scaled rock properties, including the equivalent permeability and pore compressibility, can be well constrained by the combined use of water head and distributed strain data. In comparison with the conventional methods, fiber optic strain monitoring enables a lower number of short-term tests to be designed to calibrate the parameters used to model the rock properties. The obtained parameters can be directly used in long-term geomechanical simulation of deformation of reservoir rocks due to fluid injection or production at the CO2 storage and oil and gas fields.
Research on Combined Model Based on Multi-Objective Optimization and Application in Wind Speed Forecast
Authors: Zhang Shenghui , Liu Yuewei , Wang Jianzhou , Wang Chen
Published: January 2019

Wind power is an important part of a power system, and its use has been rapidly increasing as compared with fossil energy. However, due to the intermittence and randomness of wind speed, system operators and researchers urgently need to find more reliable wind-speed prediction methods. It was found that the time series of wind speed not only has linear characteristics, but also nonlinear. In addition, most methods only consider one criterion or rule (stability or accuracy), or one objective function, which can lead to poor forecasting results. So, wind-speed forecasting is still a difficult and challenging problem. The existing forecasting models based on combination-model theory can adapt to some time-series data and overcome the shortcomings of the single model, which achieves poor accuracy and instability. In this paper, a combined forecasting model based on data preprocessing, a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-III) with three objective functions and four models (two hybrid nonlinear models and two linear models) is proposed and was successfully applied to forecasting wind speed, which not only overcomes the issue of forecasting accuracy, but also solves the difficulties of forecasting stability. The experimental results show that the stability and accuracy of the proposed combined model are better than the single models, improving the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) range from 0.007% to 2.31%, and the standard deviation mean absolute percentage error (STDMAPE) range from 0.0044 to 0.3497.
An Investigation on the Forced Convection of Al2O3-water Nanofluid Laminar Flow in a Microchannel Under Interval Uncertainties
Authors: Zheng Zhaoli , Jing Qi , Xie Yonghui , Zhang Di
Published: January 2019

Nanofluids are regarded as an effective cooling medium with tremendous potential in heat transfer enhancement. In reality, nanofluids in microchannels are at the mercy of uncertainties unavoidably due to manufacturing error, dispersion of physical properties, and inconstant operating conditions. To obtain a deeper understanding of forced convection of nanofluids in microchannels, uncertainties are suggested to be considered. This paper studies numerically the uncertain forced convection of Al2O3-water nanofluid laminar flow in a grooved microchannel. Uncertainties in material properties and geometrical parameter are considered. The uncertainties are represented by interval variables. By employing Chebyshev polynomial approximation, interval method (IM) is presented to estimate the uncertain thermal performance and flow behavior of the forced convection problem. The validation of the accuracy and effectiveness of IM are demonstrated by a comparison with the scanning method (SM). The variation of temperature, velocity, and Nusselt number are obtained under different interval uncertainties. The results show that the uncertainties have remarkable influences on the simulated thermal performance and flow behavior.
Automatic Segmentation of Ethnomusicological Field Recordings
Authors: Marolt Matija , Bohak Ciril , Kavčič Alenka , Pesek Matevž
Published: January 2019

The article presents a method for segmentation of ethnomusicological field recordings. Field recordings are integral documents of folk music performances captured in the field, and typically contain performances, intertwined with interviews and commentaries. As these are live recordings, captured in non-ideal conditions, they usually contain significant background noise. We present a segmentation method that segments field recordings into individual units labelled as speech, solo singing, choir singing, and instrumentals. Classification is based on convolutional deep networks, and is augmented with a probabilistic approach for segmentation. We describe the dataset gathered for the task and the tools developed for gathering the reference annotations. We outline a deep network architecture based on residual modules for labelling short audio segments and compare it to the more standard feature based approaches, where an improvement in classification accuracy of over 10% was obtained. We also present the SeFiRe segmentation tool that incorporates the presented segmentation method.
A Thiazolothiazole-Based Semiconducting Polymer with Well-Balanced Hole and Electron Mobilities
Authors: Saito Masahiko , Osaka Itaru
Published: January 2019

We report the synthesis and properties of a new thiazolothiazole (TzTz)-based semiconducting polymer incorporating the dithienothienothiophenebisimide (TBI) unit, named PTzTBI. PTzTBI showed relatively deep HOMO and LUMO energy levels of −5.48 and −3.20 eV, respectively. Although PTzTBI mainly formed face-on backbone orientation unfavorable for transistors, PTzTBI functioned as an ambipolar semiconductor for the first time with TzTz-based polymers, with reasonably high and well-balanced hole (0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1) and electron (0.01 cm2 V−1 s−1) mobilities.
Numerical Study of the Effect of Inclusions on the Residual Stress Distribution in High-Strength Martensitic Steels During Cooling
Authors: Gu Chao , Lian Junhe , Bao Yanping , Xiao Wei , Münstermann Sebastian
Published: January 2019

In high-strength martensitic steels, the inclusions significantly affect the material performance especially in terms of fatigue properties. In this study, a numerical procedure to investigate the effect of the inclusions types and shapes on the residual stresses during the cooling process of the martensitic steels is applied systematically based on the scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) results of different types of inclusions. The results show that the maximum residual stress around the interface between Mg-Al-O inclusion and the matrix is the largest, followed by TiN, Al-Ca-O-S, and MnS when the inclusions are assumed as perfect spheres for simplicity. However, these results are proved to be 28.0 to 48.0% inaccurate compared to the results considering actual shapes of inclusions. Furthermore, the convex shape of inclusion will lead to stress concentration in the matrix while the concave shape of inclusion will lead to stress concentration in the inclusion. The residual stress increases with the increase of inclusion edge angle. The increase rate is the largest for TiN inclusions on the concave angle, which leads to extreme stress concentration inside TiN inclusion.
Low Reversible Capacity of Nitridated Titanium Electrical Terminals
Authors: Klein David , Xu Yaolin , Schlögl Robert , Cap Sébastien
Published: January 2019

The currently preferred manufacturing method for Lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes is via the slurry route. While such an approach is appealing, the complexity of the electrode layers containing the active materials, conductivity helpers, and binders, has hampered detailed investigations of the active materials. As an alternative, an active material can be deposited as a thin film on a planar substrate, which enables a more robust and detailed analysis. However, due to the small areal capacity of nanometric thin films, the electrochemical activity of the cell casing must be negligible or at least well determined. We reported on the capacity and the differential capacity metrics of several materials used in the construction of the electrical terminals in LIBs. Among these materials, Ti was revealed to have the minimum reversible capacity for lithium-ion storage. The mechanical and electrochemical properties of the Ti–based materials were further improved through surface nitridation with thermal treatment in an ammonia-rich atmosphere. The nitridated Ti electrical terminal achieved a reversible capacity that was at least fifteen times lower than that of stainless steel, with a featureless differential capacity representation creating quasi-ideal experimental conditions for a detailed investigation of electroactive thin films.
Discharge by Short Circuit Currents of Parallel-Connected Lithium-Ion Cells in Thermal Propagation
Authors: Koch Sascha , Fill Alexander , Kelesiadou Katerina , Birke Kai Peter
Published: January 2019

The increasing need for high capacity batteries in plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles gives rise to the question of whether these batteries should be equipped with a few large capacity cells or rather many low capacity cells in parallel. This article demonstrates the possible benefits of smaller cells connected in parallel because of discharge effects. Measurements have been conducted proving the beneficial influence of a lower SoC on the thermal runaway behaviour of lithium-ion cells. A second test series examines the short circuit currents during an ongoing thermal propagation in parallel-connected cells. With the help of a developed equivalent circuit model and the results of the test series two major system parameters, the ohmic resistance of a cell during thermal runaway R tr and the resistance post thermal runaway R ptr are extracted for the test set-up. A further developed equivalent circuit model and its analytical description are presented and illustrate the great impact of R ptr on the overall discharged capacity. According to the model, cells with a capacity of no more than C cell = 10–15 Ah and a parallel-connection of 24 cells show the most potential to discharge a significant amount.
Rho-Family Small GTPases: From Highly Polarized Sensory Neurons to Cancer Cells
Authors: Ueyama Takehiko
Published: January 2019

The small GTPases of the Rho-family (Rho-family GTPases) have various physiological functions, including cytoskeletal regulation, cell polarity establishment, cell proliferation and motility, transcription, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and tumorigenesis. A relatively large number of downstream targets of Rho-family GTPases have been reported for in vitro studies. However, only a small number of signal pathways have been established at the in vivo level. Cumulative evidence for the functions of Rho-family GTPases has been reported for in vivo studies using genetically engineered mouse models. It was based on different cell- and tissue-specific conditional genes targeting mice. In this review, we introduce recent advances in in vivo studies, including human patient trials on Rho-family GTPases, focusing on highly polarized sensory organs, such as the cochlea, which is the primary hearing organ, host defenses involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and tumorigenesis (especially associated with RAC, novel RAC1-GSPT1 signaling, RHOA, and RHOBTB2).
Expression of Translocator Protein and [18F]-GE180 Ligand Uptake in Multiple Sclerosis Animal Models
Authors: Nack Anne , Brendel Matthias , Nedelcu Julia , Daerr Markus , Nyamoya Stella , Beyer Cordian , Focke Carola , Deussing Maximilian , Hoornaert Chloé , Ponsaerts Peter , Schmitz Christoph , Bartenstein Peter , Rominger Axel , Kipp Markus
Published: January 2019

Positron emission tomography (PET) ligands targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) represent promising tools to visualize neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although it is known that TSPO is expressed in the outer mitochondria membrane, its cellular localization in the central nervous system under physiological and pathological conditions is not entirely clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of utilizing PET imaging with the TSPO tracer, [18F]-GE180, to detect histopathological changes during experimental demyelination, and to determine which cell types express TSPO. C57BL/6 mice were fed with cuprizone for up to 5 weeks to induce demyelination. Groups of mice were investigated by [18F]-GE180 PET imaging at week 5. Recruitment of peripheral immune cells was triggered by combining cuprizone intoxication with MOG35–55 immunization (i.e., Cup/EAE). Immunofluorescence double-labelling and transgene mice were used to determine which cell types express TSPO. [18F]-GE180-PET reliably detected the cuprizone-induced pathology in various white and grey matter regions, including the corpus callosum, cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and caudoputamen. Cuprizone-induced demyelination was paralleled by an increase in TSPO expression, glia activation and axonal injury. Most of the microglia and around one-third of the astrocytes expressed TSPO. TSPO expression induction was more severe in the white matter corpus callosum compared to the grey matter cortex. Although mitochondria accumulate at sites of focal axonal injury, these mitochondria do not express TSPO. In Cup/EAE mice, both microglia and recruited monocytes contribute to the TSPO expressing cell populations. These findings support the notion that TSPO is a valuable marker for the in vivo visualization and quantification of neuropathological changes in the MS brain. The pathological substrate of an increase in TSPO-ligand binding might be diverse including microglia activation, peripheral monocyte recruitment, or astrocytosis, but not axonal injury.
Low Molecular Mass Myocardial Hyaluronan in Human Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lorén Christina E. , Dahl Christen P. , Do Lan , Almaas Vibeke M. , Geiran Odd R. , Mörner Stellan , Hellman Urban
Published: January 2019

During the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart returns to fetal energy metabolism where cells utilize more glucose instead of fatty acids as a source of energy. Metabolism of glucose can increase synthesis of the extracellular glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, which has been shown to be involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate hyaluronan metabolism in cardiac tissue from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in relation to cardiac growth. NMR and qRT-PCR analysis of human cardiac tissue from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients and healthy control hearts showed dysregulated glucose and hyaluronan metabolism in the patients. Gas phase electrophoresis revealed a higher amount of low molecular mass hyaluronan and larger cardiomyocytes in cardiac tissue from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Histochemistry showed high concentrations of hyaluronan around individual cardiomyocytes in hearts from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients. Experimentally, we could also observe accumulation of low molecular mass hyaluronan in cardiac hypertrophy in a rat model. In conclusion, the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with increased glucose metabolism affected both hyaluronan molecular mass and amount. The process of regulating cardiomyocyte size seems to involve fragmentation of hyaluronan.
Inkjet Printing of Sc-Doped TiO2 with Enhanced Photoactivity
Authors: Keller Kirill , Khramenkova Elena V. , Slabov Vladislav , Musin Albina , Kalashnikov Alexander , Vinogradov Alexandr V. , Pidko Evgeny A.
Published: January 2019

Here we report the methodology for nanocomposite fabrication based on the inkjet printing technique. Doped TiO2 nanoparticles with Sc contents up to 10 wt.% were synthesized and adapted towards a facile fabrication of microscale structures and thin film printing. Implementation of the state-of-the-art low-temperature synthesis allowed to us successfully incorporate high concentrations of Sc3+ ions into the TiO2 lattice and improve the light absorption characteristics of the resulting materials. Without affecting the anatase structure substantially, Sc doping gave rise to an intensified absorbance capacity and provided the means for the efficient fabrication of Sc-TiO2 microarchitectures via the inkjet printing technique. The changes in the spectral and structural characteristics of the Sc-TiO2 composites were observed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-vis methods. The rheological parameters of the colloidal suspension based on the synthesized Sc-TiO2 nanoparticles were adapted for inkjet printing in terms of the optimal viscosity, morphology, and surface tension. The developed individual ink characteristics allowed us to produce a close coherence between the enhanced optical properties of the Sc-TiO2 prepared the sol–gel method and the inkjet-printed films. The introduced methodology features the possibility to inkjet-print doped and pure TiO2 robust films for potential large-scale fabrication.
Surface Deposition on Titania in a Physiological Solution with Ultraviolet Irradiation In Situ and Effect of Heat Treatment
Authors: Su Chun-Yang , Zhou Qing , Zou Cheng-Hong
Published: January 2019

Photocatalysis-enhanced surface deposition on titanium surfaces for biomedical applications is investigated in this work. Immersion tests of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) pieces in a simulated body fluid adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in situ are carried out. The morphologies of deposition are characterized by SEM and stereo imaging microscopy, and the quantity and composition of the deposition is examined by SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show a deposition layer with thickness 89 μm is produced on 600 °C heat-treated specimens. An irradiation pattern of lighting/dark repeated results in more deposition on heat-treated CP-Ti. It is confirmed that a mixture of anatase and rutile phases generated on 600 °C heat-treated specimens has enhanced photocatalysis. The decomposition of BSA by photocatalysis, a possible product of nitrite also results in enhanced deposition on Ti. EDS analysis shows large reduction of carbon in the deposition on UV-light exposed surfaces compared to no UV-light-exposed surfaces. Furthermore, C–H bond decreases and C–C, Ca–O, and P–O bond increases are found on photoactivated surfaces. The deposition produced by this method is expected to be useful for applications to biomaterials with high bioactivity.
Influence of the Synthesis Method on the Structural Characteristics of Novel Hybrid Adsorbents Based on Bentonite
Authors: Sternik Dariusz , Galaburda Mariia , Bogatyrov Viktor M. , Gun’ko Volodymyr M.
Published: January 2019

New hybrid composite materials were prepared by polymerization of resorcinol–formaldehyde resins in the presence of bentonite with various contents of polymer and water, and then exposed to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere at 800 °C. The influence of the filler and synthesis method on the morphological, textural and structural characteristics has been described. The materials were characterized using low temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption, small angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The maximal values of the specific surface area of organo-bentonite and carbonized samples were 254 and 200 m2/g, respectively, which is much larger than that of the initial bentonite. The TGA and DSC experiments showed changes in the thermal stability of samples depending on their composition. The obtained data could provide a better understanding of the principles of preparing hybrid bentonite-containing composites that may provide an additional incentive to develop advanced technologies.
The MOSAICS Model of Educational Approaches for Teaching the Practice of Software Project Management
Authors: Boiangiu Costin-Anton , Stănică Iulia-Cristina
Published: January 2019

Maybe you heard the line “managing programmers is like herding cats”, and if you consider there is some truth behind this, then you should, perhaps, think how it is to teach people to perform this job. As we know from the research literature, there is no such thing as a consensus about the most suitable teaching method of a software project management course targeted to information technology students. Moreover, the majority of publications focus on the theoretical aspects of the course, thus leaving little details about the application of the theory, or how to experience the practical side. The paper at hand proposes an abstract model of educational approaches, suggestively named MOSAICS, which may be used in teaching the practical side of a software project management course.
Strong Religion in a Secular Society: The Case of Orthodox Reformed Schools in The Netherlands
Authors: Exalto John , Bertram-Troost Gerdien
Published: January 2019

In the Netherlands, state and religious schools are equally financed by the government. Parents are free to choose a school that optimally fits their moral values as well as their idea of a good education. As a result, there is a huge variety of schools, which include those orthodox Reformed schools that form part of the so-called Bible Belt culture. We elaborate on the complex relation between this religious culture and liberal, secular society by focusing on education. Occasionally, there is severe criticism of schools based on a strong religious identity (so-called strong religious schools), especially when it comes to their allegedly inadequate contribution to citizenship education. In order to add a historical perspective and a reflection on the arguments to the debate, our central research question is: ‘How can the founding and existence of orthodox Reformed schools in the Dutch liberal and secular society be explained and justified?’ Starting with a historical explanation of why the orthodox Reformed founded their own schools in the 1920s, we elaborate on philosophical arguments that can justify the existence of orthodox Reformed schools in a liberal, secular society.
Secondary Science Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Engineering: A Learner Analysis
Authors: Kilty Trina J. , Burrows Andrea C.
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study was to describe how US secondary science preservice teachers, or those preparing to teach middle and high school science, at one university, perceive engineering and teaching engineering within an epistemological framework of required domain components pre- and post-instruction (intervention) as well as over three cohort years. Their perceptions reveal relevant prior beliefs helpful for designing instruction to address an external need to prepare secondary science teachers to teach disciplinary content ideas, cross-cutting concepts, and science and engineering practices to meet the Next Generation Science Standards. Questionnaires administered pre- and post-instruction (intervention), as well as over three years, asked participants to decide whether various scenarios qualified as engineering and then to provide reasoning. Intervention instruction included whole-class discussions of engineering design practices. The responses to the questionnaire were analyzed for thematic content. The results indicate that the secondary science preservice teachers (n = 43) have a novice understanding of engineering and teaching engineering. They gain an emerging understanding during the secondary science methods courses, consistent in all three years with expanding perspectives from narrow discipline views. As their perceptions are refined, however, there are risks of oversimplification, which may lead to forming misconceptions. The recommendations for designing instruction such as secondary science methods courses and early career professional development include creating opportunities for preservice and early career teachers to explore and challenge their perceptions of engineering design practices integrated within science and engineering practices.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Fog Computing Assisted Wireless Powered Networks: Joint Energy and Time Minimization
Authors: Liu Yuan , Xiong Ke , Zhang Yu , Zhou Li , Lin Fuhong , Liu Tong
Published: January 2019

This paper studies the optimal design of the fog computing assisted wireless powered network, where an access point (AP) transmits information and charges an energy-limited sensor device with Radio Frequency (RF) energy transfer. The sensor device then uses the harvested energy to decode information and execute computing. Two candidate computing modes, i.e., local computing and fog computing modes, are considered. Two multi-objective optimization problems are formulated to minimize the required energy and time for the two modes, where the time assignments and the transmit power are jointly optimized. For the local computing mode, we obtain the closed-form expression of the optimal time assignment for energy harvesting by solving a convex optimization problem, and then analyze the effects of scaling factor between the minimal required energy and time on the optimal time assignment. For the fog computing mode, we derive closed-form and semi-closed-form expressions of the optimal transmit power and time assignment for offloading by adopting the Lagrangian dual method, the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions and Lambert W Function. Simulation results show that, when the sensor device has poor computing capacity or when it is far away from the AP, the fog computing mode is the better choice; otherwise, the local computing is preferred to achieve a better performance.
Performance Analysis of a Modernized Z-Source Inverter for Robust Boost Control in Photovoltaic Power Conditioning Systems
Authors: Subhani Nafis , Kannan Ramani , Mahmud Md Apel , Romlie Mohd Fakhizan
Published: January 2019

In this paper, the performance of a new Z-source inverter (ZSI)-based single-stage power conditioning system (PCS) is analyzed for a standalone photovoltaic (PV) power generation system. The proposed ZSI-based PCS includes two main parts: one is the input from PV units and the other is the ZSI. In this work, a new topology, termed the switched inductor-assisted strong boost ZSI (SL-SBZSI), is introduced for improving the performance of the PCS. The proposed topology shows high boosting capability during the voltage sag in PV units due to variations in solar irradiation and temperature. Another key advantage is the reduced capacitor voltage stress and semiconductor switch voltage stress of the inverter bridge, which ultimately minimizes the size and cost of the single-stage PCS. The proposed ZSI topology falls under the doubly grounded category of inverter by sharing the common ground between the input and output. This is an additional feature that can minimize the leakage current of PV units at the ac output end. The operational principles, detailed mathematical modeling, and characteristics of the proposed SL-SBZSI for a standalone photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is presented in this paper for analyzing performance. The simulation results, which are performed in MATLAB/Simulink, demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed SL-SBZSI for the standalone PV system. The performance of the proposed topology is also evaluated through an experimental validation on a laboratory-based PV system.
Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa
Authors: Akrofi Mark M. , Antwi Sarpong H. , Gumbo Jabulani R.
Published: January 2019

This study examined how the regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in various climate-related clubs and activities influenced their knowledge and awareness of climate change. Key knowledge gaps and their implications for climate action were also examined. A cross-sectional survey was adopted for the study whilst a snowball sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A total of 300 students from 26 African countries participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics, relative importance index (RII) method and the chi-square test of independence were used to analyze the data. Results showed that regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in climate change-related workshops and campaigns significantly influenced their knowledge levels whilst their membership of climate-related student clubs had no significant influence. Key knowledge gaps with regards to how factors such as meat consumption and waste generation could lead to climate change were also identified. Students were also less knowledgeable about how climate change affects key issues such as conflicts, gender inequalities and job insecurity. Intensification of climate change education beyond the most common causes and effects is highly recommended among the youth. Various environment-related student clubs are also encouraged to tailor their activities in this direction.
Microwave-Assisted Extraction Applied to Merlot Grapes with Contrasting Maturity Levels: Effects on Phenolic Chemistry and Wine Color
Authors: Casassa L. Federico , Sari Santiago E. , Bolcato Esteban A. , Fanzone Martin L.
Published: January 2019

Merlot grapes were harvested with three maturity levels (21.1, 23.1, and 25.1 Brix), and processed with or without the application of microwave-assisted extraction (MW). The detailed phenolic composition and color were followed during winemaking. The MW treatment did not affect the basic chemical composition of the wines. Upon crushing, MW caused a 211% improvement in anthocyanins in the wines of the first harvest and an 89% improvement in the wines of the third harvest. At bottling, MW favored the formation of pyranoanthocyanins and tannin-anthocyanin dimers. Tannin extraction was not affected by MW just after application of this process, but improvements of 30, 20, and 10% on MW-treated wines of the first, second, and third harvest, respectively, were recorded at pressing. The formation of polymeric pigments during aging generally increased along with harvest date and was only favored in MW-treated wines of the first and third harvest, with preferential formation of small polymeric pigments, in accordance with enhanced anthocyanin extraction in these wines. Initial improvements of wine color upon application of MW in the wines of the first, second, and third harvest were of 275, 300, and 175%, respectively. Although these differences subsided or disappeared for the wines of the second and third harvest during aging, the wines of the first harvest treated with MW retained 52% more color than Control wines at day 150 post-crushing. Results suggest the MW treatment was more efficient in extracting and retaining phenolics and color when applied to unripe fruit.
Characteristics of the First Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase with Phytase Activity from a Soil Metagenome
Authors: Castillo Villamizar Genis Andrés , Nacke Heiko , Griese Laura , Tabernero Lydia , Funkner Katrina , Daniel Rolf
Published: January 2019

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) fulfil multiple key regulatory functions. Within the group of PTPs, the atypical lipid phosphatases (ALPs) are known for their role as virulence factors associated with human pathogens. Another group of PTPs, which is capable of using inositol-hexakisphosphate (InsP6) as substrate, are known as phytases. Phytases play major roles in the environmental phosphorus cycle, biotechnology, and pathogenesis. So far, all functionally characterized PTPs, including ALPs and PTP-phytases, have been derived exclusively from isolated microorganisms. In this study, screening of a soil-derived metagenomic library resulted in identification of a gene (pho16B), encoding a PTP, which shares structural characteristics with the ALPs. In addition, the characterization of the gene product (Pho16B) revealed the capability of the protein to use InsP6 as substrate, and the potential of soil as a source of phytases with so far unknown characteristics. Thus, Pho16B represents the first functional environmentally derived PTP-phytase. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 38 kDa. The enzyme is promiscuous, showing highest activity and affinity toward naphthyl phosphate (Km 0.966 mM). Pho16B contains the HCXXGKDR[TA]G submotif of PTP-ALPs, and it is structurally related to PtpB of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study demonstrates the presence and functionality of an environmental gene codifying a PTP-phytase homologous to enzymes closely associated to bacterial pathogenicity.
An Experimental Investigation on the Progressive Failure of Unsaturated Granular Slopes
Authors: Darban Reza , Damiano Emilia , Minardo Aldo , Olivares Lucio , Picarelli Luciano , Zeni Luigi
Published: January 2019

Slope failure is a complex process which depends on several factors concerning nature and properties of soil, slope morphology and structure, past stress history, groundwater regime, boundary conditions, and their changes. As a consequence, the mechanism of slope failure is typically characterized by the development of a highly non-uniform strain field, which does not allow an easy prediction of the failure conditions. Usually, the process which will bring the slope to final collapse starts with local soil failure, which then leads to formation and propagation of a shear zone, and finally to general slope failure. This mechanical process is called progressive failure. However, in spite of the progresses in the knowledge of the slope behavior, a complete framework about the progressive failure is still missing; in particular, information about the response of granular unsaturated sloping soils is very poor. This paper reports the results of a couple of small-scale experiments on slopes reconstituted with unsaturated pyroclastic soils and subjected to continuous rainfall. The use of miniaturized sensors and optical fibers provided useful data to read some aspects of the mechanics of failure.
Tele-Follow-Up of Older Adult Patients from the Geriatric Emergency Department Innovation (GEDI) Program
Authors: Morse Lucy , Xiong Linda , Ramirez-Zohfeld Vanessa , Dresden Scott , Lindquist Lee A.
Published: January 2019

The objective of this study was to characterize the content and interventions performed during follow-up phone calls made to patients discharged from the Geriatrics Emergency Department Innovation (GEDI) Program and to demonstrate the benefit of these calls in the care of older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED). This study utilizes retrospective chart review with qualitative analysis. It was set in a large, urban, academic hospital emergency department utilizing the Geriatric Emergency Department Innovations (GEDI) Program. The subjects were adults aged 65 and over who visited the emergency department for acute care. Follow-up telephone calls were made by geriatric nurse liaisons (GNLs) at 24–72 h and 10–14 days post-discharge from the ED. The GNLs documented the content of the phone calls, and these notes were analyzed through a constant comparative method to identify emergent themes. The results showed that the most commonly arising themes in the patients’ questions and nurses’ responses across time-points included symptom management, medications, and care coordination (physician appointments, social services, therapy, and medical equipment). Early follow-up presented the opportunity for nurses to address needs in symptom management and care coordination that directly related to the ED admission; later follow-up presented a unique opportunity to resolve sub-acute issues that were not addressed by the initial discharge plan and to manage newly arising symptoms and patient needs. Thus, telephone follow-up after emergency department discharge presents an opportunity to better connect older adults with appropriate outpatient care and to address needs arising shortly after discharge that may not have otherwise been detected. By following up at two discrete time-points, this intervention identifies and addresses distinct patient needs.
Use and Protection of Archaeological Sites in Greece: Policies and Practices 1975–2018
Authors: Hartzoulaki Katerina
Published: January 2019

The use of archaeological sites in Greece today is a controversial subject, often stirring public discussion and dispute. This paper, which presents some results of the author’s PhD research, focuses on the use of archaeological sites for artistic and creative purposes. More specifically, it examines the use of ancient theaters and the use of archaeological sites for filming through the study of the relevant legislation, the policies and practices adopted by the Greek state administration, as well as relevant examples. Furthermore, it aims to identify shifts in ideological perceptions and policies, which have possibly taken place within the time scope of the research, covering the period from 1975 to 2018.
Incineration Kinetic Analysis of Upstream Oily Sludge and Sectionalized Modeling in Differential/Integral Method
Authors: Zhang Yanqing , Wang Xiaohui , Qi Yuanfeng , Xi Fei
Published: January 2019

As the most significant solid residue generated in the oil production industry, upstream oily sludge was regarded as hazardous waste in China due to its toxicity and ignitability, and to date, the incineration process has been considered the most efficient method in practice. Due to the complicated components of oily sludge, a kinetic model of the incineration process was difficult to build, and is still absent in engineering use. In this study, multiple non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were applied for the kinetic analysis of upstream oily sludge in air conditions. A viewpoint regarding the rules to sectionalize the reaction stages was raised, and a differential integral method to obtain the incineration kinetic model was provided. The results showed that four stages that were divided based on the weight-loss regions in the TGA curves and the endothermic/exothermic sections in the DSC curves were suitable to obtain an incineration kinetic model of oily sludge. The integral method was beneficial for obtaining the average activation energy of each stage, and the differential method was suitable for gaining the nth-order reaction rate equation and the pre-exponential factor before the operating temperature became lower than 635.968 °C. The average activation energies of stages one, two, three, and four were 60.87 KJ/mol, 78.11 KJ/mol, 98.82 KJ/mol, and 15.96 KJ/mol, respectively. The nth-order reaction rate equations and pre-exponential factors of stages one, two, and three were 0.82, 3.50, and 2.50, and e 13.32 min − 1 , e 19.69 min − 1 , and e 21.00 min − 1 , respectively.
Correction: Kim, H.; et al. Geospatial Assessment of the Post-Earthquake Hazard of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake Considering Seismic Site Effects. ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2018, 7, 375
Authors: Kim Han-Saem , Sun Chang-Guk , Cho Hyung-Ik
Published: January 2019

We have recently been made aware of errata and omissions in the introduction section for describing the seismological characteristics of the 2017 Pohang earthquake as stated in the title of this article, which was recently published in ISPRS [...]
Oxidative Assets Toward Biomolecules and Cytotoxicity of New Oxindolimine-Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes
Authors: Cavicchioli Maurício , Zaballa Aline Monteiro Lino , Paula Queite Antonia de , Prieto Marcela Bach , Oliveira Carla Columbano , Civitareale Patrizia , Ciriolo Maria Rosa , Da Costa Ferreira Ana Maria
Published: January 2019

A new oxindolimine ligand derived from isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) and 2-aminomethylbenzimidazole was synthesized, leading to two novel complexes after metalation with copper(II) perchlorate or zinc(II) chloride, [Cu(isambz)2](ClO4)2 (complex 1) and [Zn(isambz)Cl2] (complex 2). This new ligand was designed as a more lipophilic compound, in a series of oxindolimine–metal complexes with antitumor properties, having DNA, mitochondria, and some proteins, such as CDK1 kinase and topoisomerase IB, as key targets. The new complexes had their reactivity to human serum albumin (HSA) and DNA, and their cytotoxicity toward tumor cells investigated. The binding to CT-DNA was monitored by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements using ethidium bromide in a competitive assay. Consequent DNA cleavage was verified by gel electrophoresis with complex 1, in nmolar concentrations, with formation of linear DNA (form III) after 60 min incubation at 37 °C, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, which acts as a reducing agent. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed, monitored by spin trapping EPR. Interaction with HSA lead to α-helix structure disturbance, and formation of a stable radical species (HSA–Tyr·) and carbonyl groups in the protein. Despite showing oxidative ability to damage vital biomolecules such as HSA and DNA, these new complexes showed moderate cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells, similarly to previous compounds in this series. These results confirm DNA as an important target for these compounds, and additionally indicate that oxidative damage is not the leading mechanism responsible for their cytotoxicity. Additionally, this work emphasizes the importance of ligand characteristics and of speciation in activity of metal complexes.
Cytotoxic Gold(I) Complexes with Amidophosphine Ligands Containing Thiophene Moieties
Authors: Goitia Helen , Villacampa M. Dolores , Laguna Antonio , Gimeno M. Concepción
Published: January 2019

A new phosphine ligand bearing a thiophene moiety, C4H3SNHCOCH2CH2PPh2 (L), has been prepared by reaction of the aminophosphine Ph2PCH2CH2NH2 with thiophenecarbonylchloride in the presence of triethylamine. The coordination behavior towards gold(I), gold(III) and silver(I) species has been studied and several metal compounds of different stoichiometry have been achieved, such as [AuL2]OTf, [AuXL] (X = Cl, C6F5), [Au(C6F5)3L], [AgL2]OTf or [Ag(OTf)L]. Additionally, the reactivity of the chloride gold(I) species with biologically relevant thiolates was explored, thus obtaining the neutral thiolate compounds [AuL(SR)] (SR = 2-thiocitosine, 2-thiolpyridine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thionicotinic acid, 2,3,4,6-tetra-6-acetyl-1-thiol-β-d-glucopyranosato or thiopurine). The antitumor activity of the compounds was measured by the MTT method in several cancer cells and the complexes exhibit excellent cytotoxic activity.
Boron Nitride Nanotube Cyclotron Targets for Recoil Escape Production of Carbon-11
Authors: Peeples Johanna , Chu Sang-Hyon , O’Neil James P. , Janabi Mustafa , Wieland Bruce , Stokely Matthew
Published: January 2019

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were investigated as a target media for cyclotron production of 11C for incident beam energy at or below 11 MeV. Both the 11B(p,n)11C and 14N(p,α)11C nuclear reactions were utilized. A sweep gas of nitrogen or helium was used to collect recoil escape atoms with a desired form of 11CO2. Three prototype targets were tested using an RDS-111 cyclotron. Target geometry and density were shown to impact the saturation yield of 11C and percent of yield recovered as carbon dioxide. Physical damage to the BNNT target media was observed at beam currents above 5 μA. Additional studies are needed to identify operating conditions suitable for commercial application of the method.