bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cartilage Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Three-Dimensional Silica Nonwoven Fabrics
Authors: Ishikawa Shohei , Iijima Kazutoshi , Sasaki Kohei , Hashizume Mineo , Kawabe Masaaki , Otsuka Hidenori
Published: August 2018

In cartilage tissue engineering, three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds provide native extracellular matrix (ECM) environments that induce tissue ingrowth and ECM deposition for in vitro and in vivo tissue regeneration. In this report, we investigated 3D silica nonwoven fabrics (Cellbed®) as a scaffold for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in cartilage tissue engineering applications. The unique, highly porous microstructure of 3D silica fabrics allows for immediate cell infiltration for tissue repair and orientation of cell–cell interaction. It is expected that the morphological similarity of silica fibers to that of fibrillar ECM contributes to the functionalization of cells. Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were cultured in 3D silica fabrics, and chondrogenic differentiation was induced by culture in chondrogenic differentiation medium. The characteristics of chondrogenic differentiation including cellular growth, ECM deposition of glycosaminoglycan and collagen, and gene expression were evaluated. Because of the highly interconnected network structure, stiffness, and permeability of the 3D silica fabrics, the level of chondrogenesis observed in MSCs seeded within was comparable to that observed in MSCs maintained on atelocollagen gels, which are widely used to study the chondrogenesis of MSCs in vitro and in vivo. These results indicated that 3D silica nonwoven fabrics are a promising scaffold for the regeneration of articular cartilage defects using MSCs, showing the particular importance of high elasticity.
Calibration Method of Orthogonally Splitting Imaging Pose Sensor Based on General Imaging Model
Authors: Zhao Na , Sun Changku , Wang Peng
Published: August 2018

Orthogonally splitting imaging pose sensor is a new sensor with two orthogonal line array charge coupled devices (CCDs). Owing to its special structure, there are distortion correction and imaging model problems during the calibration procedure. This paper proposes a calibration method based on the general imaging model to solve these problems. The method introduces Plücker Coordinate to describe the mapping relation between the image coordinate system and the world coordinate system. This paper solves the mapping relation with radial basis function interpolation and adaptively selecting control points with Kmeans clustering method to improve the fitting accuracy. This paper determines the appropriate radial basis function and its shape parameter by experiments. And these parameters are used to calibrate the orthogonally splitting imaging pose sensor. According to the calibration result, the root mean square (RMS)of calibration dataset and the RMS of test dataset are 0.048 mm and 0.049 mm. A comparative experiment is conducted between the pinhole imaging model and the general imaging model. Experimental results show that the calibration method based on general imaging model applies to the orthogonally splitting imaging pose sensor. The calibration method requires only one image corresponding to the target in the world coordinates and distortion correction is not required to be taken into account. Compared with the calibration method based on the pinhole imaging model, the calibration procedure based on the general imaging model is easier and accuracy is greater.
Simulation of Motion Interactions of a 2-DOF Linear Piezoelectric Impact Drive Mechanism with a Single Friction Interface
Authors: Xia Haojie , Han Liling , Pan Chengliang , Jia Huakun , Yu Liandong
Published: August 2018

A two-degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) linear piezoelectric impact drive mechanism (PIDM) is actuated by two independent piezoelectric actuators (PAs). The coupled motion interactions of a two orthogonal DOF linear PIDM with a single friction interface are introduced and analyzed. A complete dynamic model of the 2-DOF PIDM is established with the Karnopp friction model considering the distribution of friction in the x-axis and y-axis. The output displacements of the 2-DOF PIDM and two corresponding independent 1-DOF PIDMs are investigated numerically. When the two input exciting signals of a 2-DOF PIDM have the same driving voltage of 100 V with a duty ratio of 98% at 10 Hz and two 1-DOF PIDMs are driving under the same conditions, the step displacements in the two axes of 2-DOF PIDM are improved compared to the corresponding 1-DOF PIDM. When the two input exciting signals of a 2-DOF PIDM have the same driving voltages of 100 V with a duty ratio of 98% but the driving frequency is 10 Hz in the x-axis and 20 Hz in the y-axis, the results show that the displacement of high frequency achieves a slight decrease and displacement of low frequency shows a large increase compared to the two corresponding 1-DOF PIDMs.
Silica Pillared Montmorillonites as Possible Adsorbents of Antibiotics from Water Media
Authors: Roca Jalil Maria Eugenia , Toschi Florencia , Baschini Miria , Sapag Karim
Published: August 2018

In this work, three silica pillared clays (Si-PILC) were synthetized, characterized, and evaluated as possible adsorbents of ciprofloxacin (CPX) and tetracycline (TC) form alkaline aqueous media. The pillared clays obtained showed significant increases in their specific surface areas (SBET) and micropore volumes (Vμp) regarding the raw material, resulting in microporosity percentages higher than 57% in all materials. The studies of CPX and TC removal using pillared clays were compared with the natural clay and showed that the Si-PILC adsorption capacities have a strong relationship with their porous structures. The highest adsorption capacities were obtained for CPX on Si-PILC due to the lower molecular size of CPX respect to the TC molecule, favoring the interaction between the CPX− and the pillars adsorption sites. Tetracycline adsorption on silica pillared clays evidenced that for this molecule the porous structure limits the interaction between the TCH− and the pillars, decreasing their adsorption capacities. However, the results obtained for both antibiotics suggested that their negative species interact with adsorption sites on the pillared structure by adsorption mechanisms that involve inner-sphere complex formation as well as van der Waals interactions. The adsorption mechanism proposed for the anionic species on Si-PILC could be considered mainly as negative cooperative phenomena where firstly there is a hydrophobic effect followed by other interactions, such as der Waals or inner-sphere complex formation.
An Experimental Study of the Leakage Mechanism in Static Seals
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Chen Xiaoqian , Huang Yiyong , Zhang Xiang
Published: August 2018

This paper investigates the fluidic leak rate through sealing contact surfaces by comparison between model calculation and experiment measurement. The focus is on an experimental device designed to measure the leak rate of the static seals with a simpler structure, smaller errors, stronger stability, and more functions. Using the device, experiments were carried out to four test pieces with different surface characteristics, whose leak rates were measured separately. Compared with the calculation results obtained from the fractal surface leak rate prediction model, the correctness and the application range of the model were verified, and the effects of different surface topographies and material properties of the four test pieces on the leak rate were analyzed as well. The experimental device was also used to perform single-factor comparison experiments, which were then combined with the theoretical prediction model to analyze the effects of the sealing surface contact load, fluid pressure, and surface apparent size on the leak rate, so that theoretical support and experimental evidence for selecting the parameters of sealing device was provided.
Effects of Natural Antioxidant Agents on the Bitumen Aging Process: An EPR and Rheological Investigation
Authors: Oliviero Rossi Cesare , Caputo Paolino , Ashimova Saltanat , Fabozzi Antonio , D’Errico Gerardino , Angelico Ruggero
Published: August 2018

Bitumen aging is the major factor contributing to the deterioration of the road pavement. Oxidation and volatilization are generally considered as the most important phenomena affecting aging in asphalt paving mixtures. The present study was carried out to investigate whether various antioxidants provided by natural resources such as phospholipids, ascorbic acid as well as lignin from rice husk, could be used to reduce age hardening in asphalt binders. A selected bituminous material was modified by adding 2% w/w of the anti-aging natural additives and subjected to accelerated oxidative aging regimes according to the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) method. The effects of aging were evaluated based on changes in sol-gel transition temperature of modified bitumens measured through Dynamic Shear Rheology (DSR). Moreover, changes of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectra were monitored on the bituminous fractions asphaltene and maltene separated by solvent extraction upon oxidative aging. The phospholipids-treated binder exhibited the highest resistance to oxidation and the lowest age-hardening effect compared to the other tested anti-oxidants. The combination of EPR and DSR techniques represents a promising method for elucidating the changes in associated complex properties of bitumen fractions promoted by addition of free radical scavengers borrowed by green resources.
Improving the Gate-Induced Drain Leakage and On-State Current of Fin-Like Thin Film Transistors with a Wide Drain
Authors: Hu Hsin-Hui , Zeng Yan-Wei , Chen Kun-Ming
Published: August 2018

Polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin film transistors (TFT) with a tri-gate fin-like structure and wide drain were designed and simulated to improve gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL), ON-state current, and breakdown voltage. The GIDL of fin-like TFTs (FinTFTs) examined in this study was dominated by longitudinal band-to-band tunneling (L-BTBT). Extending the wide drain can effectively suppress the longitudinal electric field near the drain and improve L-BTBT GIDL and breakdown. In addition, a wider drain can lead to a large cross section in the current path and improve the ON-state current. FinTFTs with wide drain exhibit a low GIDL, a high ON-state current, and high breakdown voltage, while maintaining favorable gate controllability.
Optimal Operation Method for Distribution Systems Considering Distributed Generators Imparted with Reactive Power Incentive
Authors: Shigenobu Ryuto , Kinjo Mitsunaga , Mandal Paras , Howlader Abdul , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: August 2018

In order to solve urgent energy and environmental problems, it is essential to carry out high installation of distributed generation using renewable energy sources (RESs) and environmentally-friendly storage technologies. However, a high penetration of RESs usually leads to a conventional power system unreliability, instability and low power quality. Therefore, this paper proposes a reactive power control method based on the demand response (DR) program to achieve a safe, reliable and stable power system. This program does not enforce a change in the active power usage of the customer, but provides a reactive power incentive to customers who participate in the cooperative control of the distribution company (DisCo). Customers can achieve a reduction in their total energy purchase by gaining a reactive power incentive, whilst the DisCo can achieve a reduction of its total procurement of equipment and distribution losses. An optimal control schedule is calculated using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method, and also in order to avoid over-control, a modified scheduling method that is a dual scheduling method has been adopted in this paper. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by numerical simulation. Then, simulation results have been analyzed by case studies.
Plasma Expansion Dynamics in Hydrogen Gas
Authors: Gautam Ghaneshwar , Parigger Christian G.
Published: August 2018

Micro-plasma is generated in ultra-high-pure hydrogen gas, which fills the inside of a cell at a pressure of (1.08 ± 0.033) × 105 Pa by using a Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser device operated at a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 14 ns. The micro-plasma emission spectra of the hydrogen Balmer alpha line, Hα, are recorded with a Czerny–Turner type spectrometer and an intensified charge-coupled device. The spectra are calibrated for wavelength and corrected for detector sensitivity. During the first few tens of nanoseconds after the initiation of optical breakdown, the significant Stark-broadened and Stark-shifted Hα lines mark the well-above hypersonic outward expansion. The vertical diameters of the spectrally resolved plasma images are measured for the determination of expansion speeds, which were found to decrease from 100 to 10 km/s for time delays of 10 to 35 ns. For time delays of 0.5 µs to 1 µs, the expansion speed of the plasma decreases to the speed of sound of 1.3 km/s in the near ambient temperature and pressure of the hydrogen gas.
On a Class of Hermite-Obreshkov One-Step Methods with Continuous Spline Extension
Authors: Mazzia Francesca , Sestini Alessandra
Published: August 2018

The class of A-stable symmetric one-step Hermite–Obreshkov (HO) methods introduced by F. Loscalzo in 1968 for dealing with initial value problems is analyzed. Such schemes have the peculiarity of admitting a multiple knot spline extension collocating the differential equation at the mesh points. As a new result, it is shown that these maximal order schemes are conjugate symplectic, which is a benefit when the methods have to be applied to Hamiltonian problems. Furthermore, a new efficient approach for the computation of the spline extension is introduced, adopting the same strategy developed for the BS linear multistep methods. The performances of the schemes are tested in particular on some Hamiltonian benchmarks and compared with those of the Gauss–Runge–Kutta schemes and Euler–Maclaurin formulas of the same order.
Membrane Permeabilities of Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbate
Authors: Hannesschlaeger Christof , Pohl Peter
Published: August 2018

Vitamin C (VC)—a collective term for the different oxidation and protonation forms of ascorbic acid (AscH)—is an essential micronutrient that serves as (i) a potent antioxidant and (ii) a cofactor of a manifold of enzymatic processes. Its role in health is related to redox balance maintenance, which is altered in diseases such as obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases. Despite its importance, VC uptake has been poorly investigated. Available literature values for the passive membrane permeability P of lipid bilayers for AscH scatter by about 10 orders of magnitude. Here, we show by voltage clamp that P − of AscH’s anionic form (ascorbate Asc − ) is negligible. To cross the membrane, Asc − picks up a proton in the membrane vicinity and releases it on the other side of the membrane. This leads to a near-membrane pH drop that was visualized by scanning pH microelectrodes. The AscH concentration dependent pH profiles indicated P   =   1.1   ±   0.1   ×   10 − 8   cm / s . Thus, AscH’s P is comparable to that of sorbitol and much lower than that of other weak acids like acetic acid or salicylic acid. The observation suggests that the capacity of the passive transcellular transport pathway across the lipid matrix does not suffice to ensure the required VC intake from the gastrointestinal tract.
Novel DNA Methylation Sites Influence GPR15 Expression in Relation to Smoking
Authors: Haase Tina , Müller Christian , Krause Julia , Röthemeier Caroline , Stenzig Justus , Kunze Sonja , Waldenberger Melanie , Münzel Thomas , Pfeiffer Norbert , Wild Philipp S. , Michal Matthias , Marini Federico , Karakas Mahir , Lackner Karl J. , Blankenberg Stefan , Zeller Tanja
Published: August 2018

Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and has been implicated in the regulation of the G protein-coupled receptor 15 (GPR15) by affecting CpG methylation. The G protein-coupled receptor 15 is involved in angiogenesis and inflammation. An effect on GPR15 gene regulation has been shown for the CpG site CpG3.98251294. We aimed to analyze the effect of smoking on GPR15 expression and methylation sites spanning the GPR15 locus. DNA methylation of nine GPR15 CpG sites was measured in leukocytes from 1291 population-based individuals using the EpiTYPER. Monocytic GPR15 expression was measured by qPCR at baseline and five-years follow up. GPR15 gene expression was upregulated in smokers (beta (ß) = −2.699, p-value (p) = 1.02 × 10−77) and strongly correlated with smoking exposure (ß = −0.063, p = 2.95 × 10−34). Smoking cessation within five years reduced GPR15 expression about 19% (p = 9.65 × 10−5) with decreasing GPR15 expression over time (ß = 0.031, p = 3.81 × 10−6). Additionally, three novel CpG sites within GPR15 affected by smoking were identified. For CpG3.98251047, DNA methylation increased steadily after smoking cessation (ß = 0.123, p = 1.67 × 10−3) and strongly correlated with changes in GPR15 expression (ß = 0.036, p = 4.86 × 10−5). Three novel GPR15 CpG sites were identified in relation to smoking and GPR15 expression. Our results provide novel insights in the regulation of GPR15, which possibly linked smoking to inflammation and disease progression.
Bach Goes to Town
Authors: Christensen Jørn Bolstad
Published: August 2018

Donald A. Tomalia is one of the pioneers in the field of dendrimers, who is still active at the age of 80 years-old. The present contribution is a journey through his scientific contributions from the early beginning until his discovery of the poly(amidoamine), (PAMAM)-dendrimers.
Testosterone Levels and Type 2 Diabetes—No Correlation with Age, Differential Predictive Value in Men and Women
Authors: Karakas Mahir , Schäfer Sarina , Appelbaum Sebastian , Ojeda Francisco , Kuulasmaa Kari , Brückmann Burkhard , Berisha Filip , Schulte-Steinberg Benedikt , Jousilahti Pekka , Blankenberg Stefan , Palosaari Tarja , Salomaa Veikko , Zeller Tanja
Published: August 2018

Most studies reporting on the association of circulating testosterone levels with type 2 diabetes in men are of cross-sectional design. Reports on the relevance of altered testosterone levels in women are scarce. Here, we evaluate the role of low serum testosterone levels for incident diabetes in men and women in a population setting of 7706 subjects (3896 females). During a mean follow up time of 13.8 years, 7.8% developed type 2 diabetes. Significant correlations of testosterone with high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (R = 0.21, p < 0.001), body-mass-index (R = −0.23, p < 0.001), and waist-to-hip-ratio (R = −0.21, p < 0.001) were found in men. No correlation was found with age in men; in women, the correlation was negligible (R = 0.04, p = 0.012). In men, low testosterone levels predicted high risk of type 2 diabetes, while in women this relationship was opposite. Men with low testosterone levels showed increased risk of future diabetes (hazard ratio (HR) 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.91–3.72, p < 0.001 in basic model; HR 1.56 95%, CI 1.10–2.21, p = 0.003). In women, low testosterone levels indicated lower risk with (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.77, p = 0.003), while the association lost significance in the fully adjusted model (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.49–1.05, p = 0.09). Low levels of testosterone predicted future diabetes in men. A borderline opposite association was found in women.
Updating the Path to a Carbon-Neutral Built Environment—What Should a Single Builder Do
Authors: Vinokurov Mihail , Grönman Kaisa , Kosonen Antti , Luoranen Mika , Soukka Risto
Published: August 2018

This paper proposes an extension for feasibility assessment of residential energy (heat and electricity) supply solutions in an operational environment undergoing major changes. In order to improve the life cycle economy of the energy supply, the design has to accommodate technological, economic, and regulatory changes in operational environment over the long time. New elements must be included in feasibility assessments of energy supply to ensure consideration of future economic opportunities and risks. The extended feasibility assessment brings up the profitability of “future proofed” more sustainable solutions with lower risks related to utilization costs and with improved resale value preservation. The findings of systematic literature study were structured and clarified into a decision support matrix to guide the assessment process. The procedure was verified by identifying the optimal energy supply solution for a net-zero energy single-family house in Southern Finland. The verification demonstrated that the procedure provides new insights on the economy and the climate implications of the energy solutions.
Using Network Analysis and BIM to Quantify the Impact of Design for Disassembly
Authors: Denis François , Vandervaeren Camille , De Temmerman Niels
Published: August 2018

Design for Disassembly (DfD) is a promising design strategy to improve resource efficiency in buildings. To facilitate its application in design and construction practice, specific assessment tools are currently being developed. By reviewing the literature on DfD, including criteria and assessment methods, and with an explorative research approach on simple examples, we have developed a new method called Disassembly Network Analysis (DNA) to quantify the impact of DfD and link it to specific design improvements. The impact of DfD is measured in material flows generated during the disassembly of a building element. The DNA method uses network analysis and Building Information Modeling to deliver information about flows of recovered and lost materials and disassembly time. This paper presents the DNA method and two illustrative examples. Although DNA is still at a preliminary stage of development, it already shows the potential to compare assemblies and supports better-informed decisions during the design process by detecting potential points of improvements regarding waste generation and time needed to disassemble an element.
Total Oxidation of Dichloromethane over Silica Modified Alumina Catalysts Washcoated on Ceramic Monoliths
Authors: El Assal Zouhair , Ojala Satu , Drif Asmaa , Zbair Mohamed , Bensitel Mohammed , Pirault-Roy Laurence , Nevanperä Tuomas , Pitkäaho Satu , L. Keiski Riitta , Brahmi Rachid
Published: August 2018

Silica modified alumina was used in this study for coating of a cordierite monolith substrate with two different channel densities. The performance of the prepared monolith catalysts was evaluated in catalytic total oxidation of dichloromethane before and after Pt impregnation. The characteristics similar to the powder form catalysts were kept rather successfully after washcoating the monolith as evidenced by electron microscopy (FESEM) and N2 physisorption. A dichloromethane (DCM) conversion of higher than 80% at 500 °C was reached over all the catalysts with 200 cpsi. The maximum conversion was obtained with the catalyst containing 10 mol % of silica. The total amount of major byproducts (CO, CH3Cl and CH2O) were slightly decreased by increasing the silica loading, and remarkably after Pt impregnation. After impregnation of Pt, the HCl yields were increased for two samples with the higher loading of silica (10 and 15 mol %) and reached the maximum when silica loading was 10%. Even though Pt impregnation did not significantly affect the DCM conversion, it improved the selectivity. Comparison between the two substrates (200 and 600 cpsi) evidenced that the key parameters of the monolith influencing the DCM oxidation are low value of open fraction area, hydraulic diameter, thermal integrity factor and high value of mechanical integrity factor and geometric surface area.
Pediatric Integrative Medicine: Vision for the Future
Authors: Esparham Anna , Misra Sanghamitra , Sibinga Erica , Culbert Timothy , Kemper Kathi , McClafferty Hilary , Vohra Sunita , Rosen Lawrence
Published: August 2018

Pediatric integrative medicine (PIM) is of significant interest to patients, with 12% of the general pediatric population and up to 80% of children with chronic conditions using PIM approaches. The field of PIM has evolved over the past 25 years, approaching child health with a number of guiding principles: preventive, context-centered, relationship-based, personalized, participatory, and ecologically sustainable. This manuscript reviews important time points for the field of PIM and reports on a series of meetings of PIM leaders, aimed at assessing the state of the field and planning for its future. Efforts in the first decade of the 2000s led to increased visibility in academic and professional pediatric organizations and through international listservs, designed to link those interested in and practicing PIM, all of which continue to flourish. The PIM leadership summits in recent years resulted in specific goals to advance PIM further in the following key areas: research, clinical practice, professional education, patient and family education, and advocacy and partnerships. Additionally, goals were developed for greater expansion of PIM professional education, broader support for pediatric PIM research, and an expanded role for PIM approaches in the provision of pediatric care.
Interconnections between Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Multilayer Nanolaminate TiAlN/Ag and Al2O3/Ag Coatings
Authors: Wainstein Dmitry , Kovalev Anatoly , Vakhrushev Vladimir , Gago Raul , Endrino Jose L.
Published: August 2018

Multilayer nanolaminate TiAlN/Ag and Al2O3/Ag metal-insulator-metal (MIM) coatings with thicknesses of individual layers from a few to several hundreds of nanometers were fabricated by direct current magnetron sputtering. Their optical transmittance and reflectance spectra were measured for photon energies 1–5 eV (1240–248 nm). The spectra were non-monotonous as their transmission and reflection bands were strongly dependent on the coating architecture. A set of advanced electron spectroscopy methods was used to analyse the electronic structure of the coatings controlling optical properties. Energies of plasmons peaks and the distribution of their intensities are functions of the Ag layers thickness as well as the composition and thickness of the dielectric nanolayers in the MIM nanocomposite. Statistical analysis established the cross-correlations between geometrical parameters of the coatings, transmissions and reflection bands on the optical spectra and parameters of the electronic structure. Particularly, the blue side of the transmittance band is controlled by plasmons while the dielectric band gap determines the transmittance of the red side. The obtained experimental results allowed us to fulfil the computed architectural design of a multilayer Al2O3/Ag coating with a narrow bandwidth in the visible light region and strong reflection in the infrared and ultraviolet regions.
Parallel Computation of Rough Set Approximations in Information Systems with Missing Decision Data
Authors: Cao Thinh , Yamada Koichi , Unehara Muneyuki , Suzuki Izumi , Nguyen Do Van
Published: August 2018

The paper discusses the use of parallel computation to obtain rough set approximations from large-scale information systems where missing data exist in both condition and decision attributes. To date, many studies have focused on missing condition data, but very few have accounted for missing decision data, especially in enlarging datasets. One of the approaches for dealing with missing data in condition attributes is named twofold rough approximations. The paper aims to extend the approach to deal with missing data in the decision attribute. In addition, computing twofold rough approximations is very intensive, thus the approach is not suitable when input datasets are large. We propose parallel algorithms to compute twofold rough approximations in large-scale datasets. Our method is based on MapReduce, a distributed programming model for processing large-scale data. We introduce the original sequential algorithm first and then the parallel version is introduced. Comparison between the two approaches through experiments shows that our proposed parallel algorithms are suitable for and perform efficiently on large-scale datasets that have missing data in condition and decision attributes.
Study of Geo-Electric Data Collected by the Joint EMSEV-Bishkek RS-RAS Cooperation: Possible Earthquake Precursors
Authors: Papadopoulou Konstantina , Skordas Efthimios , Zlotnicki Jacques , Nagao Toshiyasu , Rybin Anatoly
Published: August 2018

By employing the cross-correlogram method, in geo-electric data from the area of Kyrgyzstan for the period 30 June 2014–10 June 2015, we identified Anomalous Telluric Currents (ATC). From a total of 32 ATC after taking into consideration the electric current source properties, we found that three of them are possible Seismic Electric Signal (SES) activities. These three SES activities are likely to be linked with three local seismic events. Finally, by studying the corresponding recordings when a DC alternating source injects current into the Earth, we found that the subsurface resistivity seems to be reduced before one of these three earthquakes, but a similar analysis for the other two cannot be done due to their large epicentral distance and the lack of data.
Entropy in Cell Biology: Information Thermodynamics of a Binary Code and Szilard Engine Chain Model of Signal Transduction
Authors: Tsuruyama Tatsuaki
Published: August 2018

A model of signal transduction from the perspective of informational thermodynamics has been reported in recent studies, and several important achievements have been obtained. The first achievement is that signal transduction can be modelled as a binary code system, in which two forms of signalling molecules are utilised in individual steps. The second is that the average entropy production rate is consistent during the signal transduction cascade when the signal event number is maximised in the model. The third is that a Szilard engine can be a single-step model in the signal transduction. This article reviews these achievements and further introduces a new chain of Szilard engines as a biological reaction cascade (BRC) model. In conclusion, the presented model provides a way of computing the channel capacity of a BRC.
A Classical Interpretation of the Scrooge Distribution
Authors: Wootters William K.
Published: August 2018

The Scrooge distribution is a probability distribution over the set of pure states of a quantum system. Specifically, it is the distribution that, upon measurement, gives up the least information about the identity of the pure state compared with all other distributions that have the same density matrix. The Scrooge distribution has normally been regarded as a purely quantum mechanical concept with no natural classical interpretation. In this paper, we offer a classical interpretation of the Scrooge distribution viewed as a probability distribution over the probability simplex. We begin by considering a real-amplitude version of the Scrooge distribution for which we find that there is a non-trivial but natural classical interpretation. The transition to the complex-amplitude case requires a step that is not particularly natural but that may shed light on the relation between quantum mechanics and classical probability theory.
Effect of Participation in School Sports Teams on Middle School Students’ Engagement in School
Authors: Yanık Mehmet
Published: August 2018

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of participation in school sports teams of students studying in middle school on their levels of school engagement. The relational screening model was used in the study. The study group of the research consisted of a total of 610 students selected by the random sampling method and studying at middle school level (fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades). For analysis of the data obtained from the participants by means of the ‘School Engagement Scale’, descriptive statistics were calculated and interpreted with independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the research findings, the mean level of school engagement of the participants was found to be 3.62 ± 0.51. In terms of the gender variable, a significant difference in favour of female participants was found. With respect to another variable, that of state of participation in school teams, it was determined that as length of participation in school teams increased, mean level of school engagement of the participants also increased. In conclusion, it was determined that participation in school teams made a positive contribution to students’ engagement in school, and it is recommended that in order to further increase students’ level of school engagement, measures should be taken to ensure students’ participation in school teams.
An Effective Switching Algorithm for Single Phase Matrix Converter in Induction Heating Applications
Authors: Kumar Anand , Kumar Sadhu Pradip , Kumar Mohanta Dusmanta , Bharata Reddy Maddikara Jaya
Published: August 2018

Prevalent converters for induction heating (IH) applications employ two-stage conversion for generating high-frequency magnetic field, namely, AC to DC and then DC to high-frequency AC (HFAC). This research embarks upon a direct conversion of utility AC to high frequency AC with the design of a single-phase matrix converter (SPMC) as a resonant converter using a modified switching technique for IH application. The efficacy of the proposed approach is validated through different attributes such as unity power factor, sinusoidal input current and low total harmonic distortion (THD). The developed prototype-embedded system has high pragmatic deployment potential owing to its cost effectiveness using Arduino mega 2560 and high voltage/current as well as low switching time IXRH40N120 insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). Different results of the prototype-embedded system for IH application have been verified using Matlab Simulink environment to corroborate its efficacy.
An Improved Frequency Measurement Method from the Digital PLL Structure for Single-Phase Grid-Connected PV Applications
Authors: Yu Byunggyu
Published: August 2018

The Phase Locked Loop (PLL) technique has been studied to obtain the phase and frequency information in grid-connected distributed generations for the sake of synchronizing the grid voltage and the inverter output current. In particular, the line frequency information, such as the anti-islanding function, is very important for the grid connection requirement. This paper presents a novel frequency measurement method from the digital PLL control structure for single-phase grid-connected PV applications. The conventional PLL controller uses the phase information to calculate the frequency of PV inverter output voltage after every line cycle and has shown a relatively low accuracy. This paper uses the angular frequency to directly measure the frequency after every line cycle. To verify the validity of the proposed method compared with the conventional method, a simulation was conducted. According to the simulation results, the measurement error of the proposed method is 80 times lower than the conventional one.
Migration and Transformation of Vanadium and Nickel in High Sulfur Petroleum Coke during Gasification Processes
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Ben , Nie Jun , Yang Wu , Xu Linlin , Sun Lushi
Published: August 2018

The volatilization characteristics and occurrence forms of V and Ni in petroleum coke (petcoke) were investigated during steam (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gasification on a fixed bed reactor at 800–1100 °C. The Tessier sequential chemical extraction procedure was employed to determine the different forms of V and Ni. The results showed their volatilities were not dependent on the gasification atmosphere, but rather relied mainly on the reaction temperature. The CO2 atmosphere accelerated the conversion of organic-bound nickel to residual form at low temperature and promoted Fe-Mn oxides formation at high temperature. However, the H2O atmosphere was conducive to form vanadium bound to Fe-Mn oxides and promoted the decomposition of residual forms. In addition, the thermodynamic equilibrium calculations showed the volatilization of Ni mainly released Ni3S2 between 800–1100 °C. The H2O atmosphere was favorable to generate the more stable NixSy compound, thereby suppressing the volatilization of Ni, while the presence of CO2 led to an increase in residual V and decrease of Fe-Mn oxides. The V and Ni mainly caused erosion problems under the CO2 atmosphere while the fouling and slagging obviously increased under the H2O atmosphere with impacts gradually weakened with the increase of temperature.
Real-World Fuel Consumption, Fuel Cost and Exhaust Emissions of Different Bus Powertrain Technologies
Authors: Rodman Oprešnik Samuel , Seljak Tine , Vihar Rok , Gerbec Marko , Katrašnik Tomaž
Published: August 2018

Air quality in urban areas is strongly influenced by exhaust emitted by the public transport fleet. The aim of this study was to analyze benefits in the fuel consumption, fuel costs and exhaust emissions when replacing baseline diesel fueled EURO III city buses by the compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled EURO V buses and by hydraulic series hybrid diesel-fueled EURO V buses. Real-world measurements were performed on the regular bus route to access realistic energy consumption and exhaust emissions. Instantaneous gaseous emission (CO2, CO, NOx and THC) were measured together with the instantaneous PM10 mass emission. Innovativeness of the presented approach thus arises from the systematic comparison of different powertrain technologies under real-world drive cycles and measuring time traces of not only gaseous but also of PM10 mass emissions. Furthermore, lumped cycle averaged emissions are interpreted and explained by typical powertrain performance parameters and exhaust emission time traces. Cumulative results indicate that application of the CNG fueled buses does not necessary reduce CO2 emissions compared to diesel-fueled buses whereas reduction in fuel costs is evident. Additionally, it is shown that hybrid operation of the hydraulic series hybrid diesel-fueled bus resulted in higher fuel consumption due to poorly optimized hybrid topology and control strategy. Furthermore, analyses of the time traces point out inadequate lambda control of CNG-fueled buses and nucleation mode-based particle number emissions during deceleration.
The Impact of Pulse Charging Parameters on the Life Cycle of Lithium-Ion Polymer Batteries
Authors: Amanor-Boadu J. M. , Guiseppi-Elie A. , Sánchez-Sinencio E.
Published: August 2018

The pulse charging algorithm is seen as a promising battery charging technique to satisfy the needs of electronic device consumers to have fast charging and increased battery charge and energy efficiencies. However, to get the benefits of pulse charging, the pulse charge current parameters have to be chosen carefully to ensure optimal battery performance and also extend the life cycle of the battery. The impact of pulse charge current factors on the life cycle and battery characteristics are seldom investigated. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of pulse charge current factors, such as frequency and duty cycle, on the life cycle and impedance parameters of lithium-ion polymer batteries (LiPo) while using a design of experiments approach, Taguchi orthogonal arrays. The results are compared with the benchmark constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) charging algorithm and it is observed that by using a pulse charger at optimal parameters, the cycle life of a LiPo battery can be increased by as much as 100 cycles. It is also determined that the duty cycle of the pulse charge current has the most impact on the cycle life of the battery. The battery impedance characteristics were also examined by using non-destructive techniques, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and it was determined that the ambient temperature at which the battery was charged had the most effect on the battery impedance parameters.
Lighting Control Including Daylight and Energy Efficiency Improvements Analysis
Authors: Kaminska Aniela , Ożadowicz Andrzej
Published: August 2018

Energy used for lighting is one of the major components of total energy consumption in buildings. Nowadays, buildings have a great potential to reduce their energy consumption, but to achieve this purpose additional efforts are indispensable. In this study, the need for energy savings evaluation before the implementation of lighting control algorithms for a specified building is highlighted. Therefore, experimental tests have been carried out in a university building with laboratories and other rooms, equipped with KNX building automation system. A dimmable control strategy has been investigated, dependent on daylight illuminance. Moreover, a relationship between external and internal daylight illuminance levels has been evaluated as well. Based on the experimental results, the authors proposed a method for the rough estimation of electrical energy savings. Since, according to the EN 15232 standard, Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) play an important role in buildings’ energy efficiency improvements, the BACS efficiency factors from this standard have been used to verify the experimental results presented in the paper. The potential to reduce energy consumption from lighting in non-residential buildings by 28% for offices and 24% for educational buildings has been confirmed, but its dependence on specific building parameters has been discussed as well.
Comparison of the Stator Step Skewed Structures for Cogging Force Reduction of Linear Flux Switching Permanent Magnet Machines
Authors: Hao Wenjuan , Wang Yu
Published: August 2018

Linear flux switching permanent magnetic (LFSPM) machines, with the armature windings and magnets both on the mover in addition to a robust stator, are a good choice for long stoke applications, however, a large cogging force is also inevitable due to the double salient structure, and will worsen the system performance. Skewing methods are always employed for the rotary machines to reduce the cogging torque, and the rotor step-skewed method is a low-cost approximation of regular skewing. The step skewed method can also be applied to the linear machines, namely, the stator step skewed. In this paper, three stator step skewed structures, which are a three-step skewed stator, a two-step skewed stator and an improved two-step skewed stator, are employed for the cogging force reduction of two types of LFSPM machines. The three structures are analyzed and compared with emphasize on the influence of the skewed displacement on the cogging force and the average thrust force. Based on finite element analysis (FEA), proper skewed displacements are selected according to maximum difference between the reduction ratio of the cogging force and the decrease ratio of the average thrust force, then, the corresponding results are compared, and finally, valuable conclusions are drawn according to the comparison. The comparison presented in this paper will be useful to the cogging force reduction of LFSPM machines in general.
Influence of Furfuryl Alcohol Fiber Pre-Treatment on the Moisture Absorption and Mechanical Properties of Flax Fiber Composites
Authors: Jia Yunlong , Fiedler Bodo
Published: August 2018

Poor moisture resistance of natural fiber reinforced bio-composites is a major concern in structural applications. Many efforts have been devoted to alleviate degradation of bio-composites caused by moisture absorption. Among them, fiber pre-treatment has been proven to be effective. This paper proposes an alternative “green” fiber pretreatment with furfuryl alcohol. Pre-treatments with different parameters were performed and the influence on the mechanical properties of fiber bundles and composites was investigated. Moisture resistance of composites was evaluated by water absorption tests. Mechanical properties of composites with different water contents were analyzed in tensile tests. The results show that furfuryl alcohol pretreatment is a promising method to improve moisture resistance and mechanical properties (e.g., Young’s modulus increases up to 18%) of flax fiber composites.
Changes in Physicochemical, Microbiological, and Sensory Properties of Sun-Dried Mystus vittatus During Storage at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Majumdar Bhaskar Chandra , Afrin Faria , Rasul Md. Golam , Shaha Dinesh Chandra , Shah A.K.M. Azad
Published: August 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of sun-dried Mystus vittatus during storage at ambient temperature. The fish was dried under sun exposure on bamboo mats for 5–6 days until the moisture content reduced to approximately 10–15%. The dried fish was then packed into airtight polyethylene bags and stored at ambient temperature (24 to 29 °C) for 90 days. The physical and sensory properties revealed that the dried fish was acceptable for human consumption for up to 60 days. The pH value slightly decreased from 6.42 to 5.95 during the storage period. The moisture content increased significantly (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed for the protein, lipid, and ash contents (on a dry matter basis) with the increase in the storage time. The peroxide value, acid value, and conjugated dienes of the lipids increased significantly during the storage period. The microbial load also increased with the increase in the storage period. The results of this study suggest that the product was slightly oxidized during the storage period and could be stored for up to two months.
Acceptability of Pulse-Fortified Foods by Two Groups: Participants in a Clinical Trial and Participants in a Consumer Acceptability Panel
Authors: Ryland Donna , Zahradka Peter , Taylor Carla G. , Bell Rhonda C. , Aliani Michel
Published: August 2018

Pulses are nutrient-rich ingredients used as interventions in clinical trials to determine their effect on lowering blood lipids, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Acceptability of these foods is critical for compliance by participants in clinical trials as well as regular consumption by those eating them for their health benefit. Commercialisation of foods that prove positive for health is required to make them available to the general population. Since the target for commercialisation would be products that will be procured by as many people as possible, the research question becomes whether or not testing is required by the clinical trial participants, by consumer acceptability testing in a sensory unit, or by both to ensure acceptability. The objective of this study was to determine the acceptability of pulse-based soups and casseroles destined for a clinical trial by both the participants in the clinical trial and by consumer participants not in the clinical trial. Neither group received any training regarding sensory analysis. Acceptability of aroma, appearance, flavor, texture, overall acceptability, and the frequency of eating the samples of five formulations fortified with either peas or beans was measured. Groups differed in their acceptability of foods for different attributes with the clinical trial participants providing less discrimination among the sensory attributes for their acceptability. Influential factors could include motivation for healthy eating, age, number of times the product was consumed, amount of the product consumed, and where it was consumed. In conclusion, acceptance measures from both groups are required in order to gain as much information as possible regarding acceptability of attributes for commercialisation of pulse-fortified foods that provide a health benefit.