bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Safety Analysis of Accelerator Driven Subcritical Systems and Critical Nuclear Energy Systems
Authors: Luo Run , Revankar Shripad T. , Zhao Fuyu
Published: September 2021

The accelerator driven subcritical system (ADS) has been chosen as one of the best candidates for Generation IV nuclear energy systems which could not only produce clean energy but also incinerate nuclear waste. The transient characteristics and operation principles of ADS are significantly different from those of the critical nuclear energy system (CNES). In this work, the safety characteristics of ADS are analyzed and compared with CNES by a developed neutronics and thermal-hydraulics coupled code named ARTAP. Three typical accidents are carried out in both ADS and CNES, including reactivity insertion, loss of flow, and loss of heat sink. The comparison results show that the power and the temperatures of fuel, cladding, and coolant of the CNES reactor are much higher than those of the ADS reactor during the reactivity insertion accident, which means ADS has a better safety advantage than CNES. However, due to the subcriticality of the ADS core and its low sensitivity to negative reactivity feedback, the simulation results indicate that the inherent safety characteristics of CNES are better than those of ADS under loss of flow accident, and the protection system of ADS would be quickly activated to achieve an emergency shutdown after the accident occurs. For the loss of heat sink, it is found that the peak temperatures of the cladding in the ADS and CNES reactors are lower than the safety limit, which imply these two reactors have good safety performance against loss of heat sink accidents.
Design Hybrid Iterative Learning Controller for Directly Driving the Wheels of Mobile Platform against Uncertain Parameters and Initial Errors
Authors: Qiao Lijun , Xiao Luo , Luo Qingsheng , Li Minghao , Jiang Jianfeng
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we develop a hybrid iterative learning controller (HILC) for a non-holonomic wheeled mobile platform to achieve trajectory tracking with actual complex constraints, such as physical constraints, uncertain parameters, and initial errors. Unlike the traditional iterative learning controller (ILC), the control variable selects the rotation speed of two driving wheels instead of the forward speed and the rotation speed. The hybrid controller considers the physical constraints of the robot’s motors and can effectively handle the uncertain parameters and initial errors of the system. Without the initial errors, the hybrid controller can improve the convergence speed for trajectory tracking by adding other types of error signals; otherwise, the hybrid controller achieves trajectory tracking by designing a signal compensation for the initial errors. Then, the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid controller is proven by the relationship between the input, output, and status signals. Finally, the simulations demonstrate that the proposed hybrid iterative learning controller effectively tracked various trajectories by directly controlling the two driving wheels under various constraints. Furthermore, the results show that the controller did not significantly depend on the system’s structural parameters.
Enhancement of Growth and Paramylon Production of Euglena gracilis by Upcycling of Spent Tomato Byproduct as an Alternative Medium
Authors: Kim Sunah , Wirasnita Riry , Lee Donghyun , Yu Jaecheul , Lee Taeho
Published: September 2021

Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) accumulates paramylon, an immune-functional beta-glucan that can be used as a functional food. Paramylon production is strongly affected by the organic carbon source and the initial pH conditions. Food processing byproducts have attracted attention for microalgal cultivation because of their low cost and abundance of nutrients, including carbon and nitrogen. We investigated the optimal carbon source and its concentration for efficient paramylon production. A spent tomato byproduct (STB) generated from a tomato processing plant was applied for biomass and paramylon production from E. gracilis with respect to the initial pH condition. The highest paramylon concentration (1.2 g L−1) and content (58.2%) were observed with 15 g L−1 glucose. The biomass production increased when STB was used as compared with that when a synthetic medium was used (1.6-fold higher at pH 3 and 2-fold higher at pH 8). The optimal initial pH was determined according to the maximum production of biomass and paramylon. Upcycling the food processing byproduct, STB, can contribute not only to cost reduction of the biorefinery process using E. gracilis but also to environmental remediation by removing organic carbon and nitrogen from the byproducts.
Dynamic Correction of the Influence of Long Measuring Path Irregularity in Antenna Tests
Authors: Dobychina Elena , Snastin Mikhail
Published: September 2021

This article investigates the influence of random microwave discontinuities on the characteristics of long transmission paths. This is most important for dynamic measuring stands, accompanied by multiple space movement of long transmission paths with their bending or twisting during the measurement process. In modern active electronically scanned arrays this issue also becomes relevant, due to increased requirements for the accuracy of beam shaping. The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical background and perform experimental verification for taking into account the effect of random microwave discontinuities on the transmission path characteristics. A method for correcting the effect of such irregularities is considered based on electrical length control by measuring the input reflection coefficient. Relations for the magnitude and phase of the path’s input reflection coefficient depending on the S-parameters of a long four-terminal network terminated with mismatched load are obtained and plotted. Using theory of sensitivity, the mathematical expressions of conditions were obtained to achieve maximum accuracy of measuring the electrical length of a long microwave path. The possibility of dynamic error correction in antenna measurements with a long test path caused by random microwave irregularities along it has been experimentally proved.
Mild Cognitive Impairment Detection Using Machine Learning Models Trained on Data Collected from Serious Games
Authors: Karapapas Christos , Goumopoulos Christos
Published: September 2021

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an indicative precursor of Alzheimer’s disease and its early detection is critical to restrain further cognitive deterioration through preventive measures. In this context, the capacity of serious games combined with machine learning for MCI detection is examined. In particular, a custom methodology is proposed, which consists of a series of steps to train and evaluate classification models that could discriminate healthy from cognitive impaired individuals on the basis of game performance and other subjective data. Such data were collected during a pilot evaluation study of a gaming platform, called COGNIPLAT, with 10 seniors. An exploratory analysis of the data is performed to assess feature selection, model overfitting, optimization techniques and classification performance using several machine learning algorithms and standard evaluation metrics. A production level model is also trained to deal with the issue of data leakage while delivering a high detection performance (92.14% accuracy, 93.4% sensitivity and 90% specificity) based on the Gaussian Naive Bayes classifier. This preliminary study provides initial evidence that serious games combined with machine learning methods could potentially serve as a complementary or an alternative tool to the traditional cognitive screening processes.
Defining Whole Grain Sorghum Flour and Water Levels to Improve Sensory and Nutritional Quality of Gluten-Free Bread—A Factorial Design Approach
Authors: Centeno Ana Carolina L. , Aguiar Etiene , Santos Fernanda , Queiroz Valéria , Conti-Silva Ana , Krupa-Kozak Urszula , Capriles Vanessa
Published: September 2021

This study aims to investigate the potential of white and bronze whole-grain sorghum flour to develop gluten-free bread (GFB) with acceptable sensory properties. Two 22 factorial designs, with two central point repetitions each, were used to study the effects of white (WS) or bronze sorghum (BS) flours and water (W) levels on the physical properties, acceptability scores, and proximate composition of GFB. The WS or BS levels ranged from 50 to 100% when blended with potato starch, and the W levels ranged from 100 to 140% (flour weight basis). Independent of the amount applied, GFB formulations containing BS were well accepted (acceptability scores for appearance, color, odor, texture, flavor and overall liking ≥ 6.29 on a 10 cm hybrid hedonic scale). No significant differences were observed between the acceptability scores of single and composite formulations for all of the evaluated sensory attributes. Moreover, the W levels had no effect on the acceptability of GFB made with BS. Composite formulations prepared with 50 and 75% WS were also well accepted (acceptability scores for appearance, color, odor, texture, flavor, and overall liking ≥ 7.43 on a 10 cm hybrid hedonic scale). However, increased W levels are required in single formulations to increase the scores for texture and overall acceptability. GFB made with 50% and 75% WS/BS can be classified as a source of fiber since the fiber content is higher than 3 g per 100 g, while GFB made with 100% WS/BS can be classified as high in fiber, as the content of this component is higher than 6 g per 100 g. This research highlights the great potential of whole-grain sorghum flours for producing nutrient-dense and acceptable GFB, which is important for consumers who choose or must adhere to a GF diet.
Effects of Process Parameters on Surface Straightness of Variable-Section Conical Parts during Hot Power Spinning
Authors: Liu Yanli , Shu Xuedao , Cen Zewei , Li Zixuan , Ye Bohai
Published: September 2021

How to form high-quality variable-section thin-walled conical parts through power spinning is a key issue for superalloy spinning manufacturing. A study into the hot power spinning deformation law of variable-section thin-walled conical parts and the effects of process parameters on surface straightness of forming quality are delineated in this paper. Through the establishment of finite element (FE) models using the single-factor and orthogonal design of experiments, the effects of four key process parameters on the surface straightness have been investigated and the optimal combination of process parameters have been yielded. These key factors include spinning temperature, roller nose radius, mandrel rotation rate and roller feed ratio. The results of FE simulation have been validated through the comparison of the surface straightness of modeled parts with those measured during a spinning experiment. The results reveal that, among the studied process parameters, the spinning temperature has the greatest influence on the surface straightness, followed by the roller nose radius and mandrel rotation rate, and the roller feed ratio has the least influence on the straightness. Larger mandrel rotation rate, smaller feed ratio and suitable spinning temperature can enhance the surface straightness.
Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Optical Signal Processing: Review and Survey
Authors: Fernández-Ruiz María R. , Carballar Alejandro
Published: September 2021

This paper reviews the state of the art of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) as analog all-optical signal processing units. Besides the intrinsic advantages of FBGs, such as relatively low cost, low losses, polarization insensitivity and full compatibility with fiber-optic systems, they have proven to deliver an exceptional flexibility to perform any complex band-limited spectral response by means of the variation of their physical parameters. These features have made FBGs an ideal platform for the development of all-optical broadband filters and pulse processors. In this review, we resume the main design algorithms of signal processors based on FBGs, and we revisit the most common processing units based on FBGs and the applications that have been presented in the literature.
Studying the Impact of Initialization for Population-Based Algorithms with Low-Discrepancy Sequences
Authors: Ashraf Adnan , Pervaiz Sobia , Haider Bangyal Waqas , Nisar Kashif , Ag. Ibrahim Ag. Asri , Rodrigues Joel j. P. C. , Rawat Danda B.
Published: September 2021

To solve different kinds of optimization challenges, meta-heuristic algorithms have been extensively used. Population initialization plays a prominent role in meta-heuristic algorithms for the problem of optimization. These algorithms can affect convergence to identify a robust optimum solution. To investigate the effectiveness of diversity, many scholars have a focus on the reliability and quality of meta-heuristic algorithms for enhancement. To initialize the population in the search space, this dissertation proposes three new low discrepancy sequences for population initialization instead of uniform distribution called the WELL sequence, Knuth sequence, and Torus sequence. This paper also introduces a detailed survey of the different initialization methods of PSO and DE based on quasi-random sequence families such as the Sobol sequence, Halton sequence, and uniform random distribution. For well-known benchmark test problems and learning of artificial neural network, the proposed methods for PSO (TO-PSO, KN-PSO, and WE-PSO), BA (BA-TO, BA-WE, and BA-KN), and DE (DE-TO, DE-WE, and DE-KN) have been evaluated. The synthesis of our strategies demonstrates promising success over uniform random numbers using low discrepancy sequences. The experimental findings indicate that the initialization based on low discrepancy sequences is exceptionally stronger than the uniform random number. Furthermore, our work outlines the profound effects on convergence and heterogeneity of the proposed methodology. It is expected that a comparative simulation survey of the low discrepancy sequence would be beneficial for the investigator to analyze the meta-heuristic algorithms in detail.
Probabilistic Analysis as a Method for Ground Freezing Depth Estimation
Authors: Godlewski Tomasz , Wodzyński Łukasz , Wszędyrówny-Nast Małgorzata
Published: September 2021

Accurate frost depth prediction is an important aspect in different engineering designs such as for pavements, buildings, bridge foundations, and utility lines. This paper presents a probabilistic method of assessment of the depth of soil freezing. Annual (winter) maxima of the position of the zero centigrade temperature measured in the soil were approximated by Gumbel probability distribution. Its parameters were estimated using maximum likelihood method. The results received on the basis of data from 36 meteorological stations in Poland and 50 years of observations, as characteristic values with 50-year return period, reflect the influence of the climatic conditions on the freezing depth. On the other hand, the soil structure and its conditions also play an important role in freezing. Nowadays they may be taken into account using correction coefficients. It is concluded that this method is more precise than a method using the air freezing index because through the use of direct measurements it takes into account additional factors affecting the actual depth of freezing. The obtained results are not the same as those given in the older Polish Standard which was based on the simplified and limited data. The results confirm the impact of climate change on ground freezing depth.
Polyacrylamide Injection vs. Polylactic Acid in HIV Related Lipodystrophy: A RCT Systematic Review
Authors: Tartaro Gianpaolo , Pinto Ludovico , Lo Giudice Giorgio , Fragola Romolo , Bove Pierfrancesco , Rauso Giuseppe Mario , Zerbinati Nicola , Colella Giuseppe
Published: September 2021

Lipodystrophy is an alteration of fat metabolism that commonly affects HIV-1 positive patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The facial area is most commonly affected by peripheral lipoatrophy, thus becoming a social stigma related to chronic HIV. Several treatments have been proposed, such as modification of diet, lifestyle and both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. The goal of our systematic review is to examine published clinical studies involving the use of polyacrylamide filler for the treatment of HIV FLA, and to provide evidence-based recommendations based on published efficacy and safety data. Our research was performed on published literature until April 2021. Polyacrylamide gel is a volumetric gel that has been proven stable, nontoxic, nonallergenic, nonembryotoxic and nonabsorbable. Poly-l-lactic acid (PLA) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, synthetic polymer derived from lactic acid. We believe it is essential to draft a pre- and post-injection and operative protocol to define an even setting for the clinical condition. It is desirable that such specifications are included in a large randomized controlled trial and the follow up is longer than the studies that we found, because as we have seen in the literature there are reported adverse events even 3 or 5 years after the injections.
Chloride Ion Diffusion and Durability Characteristics of Rural-Road Concrete Pavement of South Korea Using Air-Cooled Slag Aggregates
Authors: Ahn Byung-Hwan , Lee Su-Jin , Park Chan-Gi
Published: September 2021

In the construction industry, the lack of supply and demand for high-quality natural aggregates is a problem. In the case of South Korea, according to data from the Ministry of Environment, it is predicted that the depletion of aggregate resources will occur in 20 years, considering the amount of aggregate used in construction every year and the amount of natural aggregate. Therefore, it is necessary to develop recycled aggregates that can replace natural aggregates for construction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of recyclable air-cooled slag (ACS) aggregates as a substitute material for natural aggregates applied to rural-road pavement concrete. That is, the applicability of rural-road pavement concrete is evaluated by evaluating the strength and durability of rural-road pavement concrete to which an ACS aggregate is applied. Durability was assessed in terms of the chloride ion diffusion, repeated wetting-drying, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, and repeated freezing-thawing tests. The test result showed that the diffusion coefficient of the mixture to which the ACS aggregate was applied was slightly larger. In addition, the diffusion coefficient was slightly larger in the case of applying the air-cooled slag coarse aggregate (GG) than in the case of applying the air-cooled slag fine aggregate (GS). The results of abrasion and impact resistance tests of ACS-aggregate-incorporated rural-road concrete indicated that abrasion and impact resistance decreased as the aggregate content increased. The ACS retained some of the properties of the blast furnace slag. Thus, in repetitive wetting-drying tests, which can cause changes in chemical properties, the ACS aggregate increased the concrete’s long-term residual strength. In addition, the results showed that the relative dynamic elastic modulus targeting repeated freezing-thawing resistance satisfied the 80% target. The freeze-thaw resistance improved as the ACS aggregate content increased. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the durability of rural-road pavement concrete can be improved experimentally by applying both GG and GS at the same time. Therefore, it is shown that ACS aggregates can be applied to rural-road pavement concrete as a substitute for natural aggregates.
The Biocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes Using Laccase Immobilized Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Alsaiari Norah Salem , Amari Abdelfattah , Katubi Khadijah Mohammedsaleh , Alzahrani Fatimah Mohammed , Harharah Hamed N. , Rebah Faouzi Ben , Tahoon Mohamed A.
Published: September 2021

Free laccase has limitations for its use in industrial applications that require laccase immobilization on proper support, to improve its catalytic activity. Herein, the nanoparticles of magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) and copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) were successfully used as support for the immobilization of free laccase, using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. The immobilization conditions of laccase on the surface of nanoparticles were optimized to reach the maximum activity of the immobilized enzyme. The synthesized free nanoparticles and the nanoparticle-immobilized laccase were characterized using different techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). CuFe2O4 nanoparticles, as support, enhanced laccase activity compared to free laccase and Fe3O4 nanoparticle-immobilized laccase that appeared during the study of pH, temperature, and storage stability on free and immobilized laccase. The CuFe2O4 and Fe3O4 nanoparticle-immobilized laccase showed superior activity in a wide pH range, temperature range, and storage period, up to 20 days at 4.0 °C, when compared to free laccase. Additionally, the synthesized nanobiocatalysts were examined and optimized for the biodegradation of the anionic dye Direct Red 23 (DR23). HPLC analysis was used to confirm the dye degradation. The reusability of immobilized laccases for the biodegradation of DR23 dye was investigated for up to six successive cycles, with a decolorization efficiency over 70.0%, which indicated good reusability and excellent stability.
An In Vitro Study of Antibacterial Properties of Electrospun Hypericum perforatum Oil-Loaded Poly(lactic Acid) Nonwovens for Potential Biomedical Applications
Authors: Pakolpakçıl Ayben , Draczyński Zbigniew , Szulc Justyna , Stawski Dawid , Tarzyńska Nina , Bednarowicz Anna , Sikorski Dominik , Hernandez Cesar , Sztajnowski Sławomir , Krucińska Izabella , Gutarowska Beata
Published: September 2021

The growth of population and increase in diseases that cause an enormous demand for biomedical material consumption is a pointer to the pressing need to develop new sustainable biomaterials. Electrospun materials derived from green polymers have gained popularity in recent years for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, wound dressings, and drug delivery. Among the various bioengineering materials used in the synthesis of a biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has received the most attention from researchers. Hypericum perforatum oil (HPO) has antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the development of an antibacterial sustainable material based on PLA by incorporating HPO via a simple, low-cost electrospinning method. Chemical, morphological, thermal, thickness and, air permeability properties, and in vitro antibacterial activity of the electrospun nonwoven fabric were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the electrospun nonwoven fabric, which had bead-free morphology ultrafine fibers. Antibacterial tests revealed that the Hypericum perforatum oil-loaded poly(lactic acid) nonwoven fabrics obtained had high antibacterial efficiency against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating a strong potential for use in biomedical applications.
Force Sensation Induced by Electrical Stimulation of the Tendon of Biceps Muscle
Authors: Takahashi Akifumi , Kajimoto Hiroyuki
Published: September 2021

Many wearable interfaces have been proposed to present force to the upper limb and elbow joint. One way to achieve a compact wearable haptic interface is to use electrical stimulation, and we have suggested that transcutaneous electrical stimulation above the wrist tendon can produce force a sensation in the direction of the muscle stretching; however, it has not been investigated in detail whether the force sensation presented by the electrical stimulation of the tendon occurs in the upper limb joints. In this study, to investigate whether the force sensation is generated when applying electrical stimulation of the skin at the tendon or at the muscle belly of the biceps brachii muscle, we quantitatively evaluated the direction and amount of the force sensation under the aforementioned conditions. The results showed that the electrical stimulation of the tendon produced significant force sensation in the direction of elbow extension. On the other hand, in some participants, the electrical stimulation of the muscle belly worked as a supporting force, resulting in the sensation of weakened force perception. In general, we concluded that the sensation produced by muscle stimulation was different from that produced by stimulation of the tendon.
Evolutionary Methods in House Floor Plan Design
Authors: Grzesiak-Kopeć Katarzyna , Strug Barbara , Ślusarczyk Grażyna
Published: September 2021

In this paper, an evolutionary technique is proposed as a method for generating new design solutions for the floor layout problem. The genotypes are represented by the vectors of numerical values of points representing endpoints of room walls. Equivalents of genetic operators for such a representation are proposed. A case study of the design problem of one-story houses is presented from the initial requirements to the best solutions. An evaluation method using requirement-weighted fitness function for evolved plans is also proposed. The obtained results as well as the advantages and issues related to such an approach are also discussed.
Modal-Based Ground Motion Selection Method for the Nonlinear Response Time History Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall Structures
Authors: Liu Yang
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a modification of the modal-based ground motion selection (MGMS) method for improving the reliability of the nonlinear response time history analysis (NLRHA) of reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall structures. The original MGMS procedure quantified the impact of frequency content combinations in the time domain (FCCTD) of input ground motions (IGMs) on the seismic response of building structures using the level of interaction of the first three modes induced by IGMs. However, previous research found that the first two modes have far larger modal mass coefficients than those of higher modes and dominate the vibration of the RC shear wall structures with a symmetric plan. Therefore, the MGMS procedure should be modified by employing the interaction of the first two modes induced by IGMs to properly account for the effect of the FCCTD of IGMs on the seismic response of structures. In the MGMS procedure for RC shear wall structures, seven IGMs that caused the most significant interactions of the first two modes were selected from a suite of twenty seed IGMs, which were chosen with a conventional spectra-matching-based IGMs selection procedure for the NLRHA of the structure. A comprehensive case study involving three RC shear walls with different heights was conducted to investigate the capability of the MGMS in selecting suitable IGMs for the NLRHA of RC shear wall structures. Sets of seed IGMs were selected, adopting conditional mean spectra and design spectra as the target spectra. It was found that the seismic demands computed using MGMS selected IGMs can ensure a more reliable and reasonable computation of seismic demands compared with conventional spectra-matching-based IGMs selection methods.
Assessing Ecosystem and Urban Services for Landscape Suitability Mapping
Authors: Antognelli Sara , Vizzari Marco
Published: September 2021

Ecosystem services (ES) and urban services (US) can comparably improve human well-being. Models for integrating ES and US with unexpressed and objective needs of defined groups of stakeholders may prove helpful for supporting decisions in landscape planning and management. In fact, they could be applied for highlighting landscape areas with different characteristics in terms of services provided. From this base, a suitability spatial assessment model (SUSAM) was developed and applied in a study area considering different verisimilar scenarios that policy makers could analyse. Each scenario is based on the prioritization of a set of services considering a defined group of stakeholders. Consistent and comparable ES and US indices of spatial benefiting areas (SBA) of services were calculated using GIS spatialization techniques. These indices were aggregated hierarchically with the relevance of services according to a spatial multicriteria decision analysis (S-MCDA). Results include maps for each scenario showing detailed spatial indices of suitability that integrate the local availability of SBA of ES and US, along with their relevance. The results were compared with known landscape classes identified in previous studies, which made it possible to interpret the spatial variation of suitability in the light of known landscape features. A complete sensitivity analysis was performed to test the sensitiveness of the model’s outputs to variations of judgements and their resistance to the indicators’ variation. The application of the model demonstrated its effectiveness in a landscape suitability assessment. At the same time, the sensitivity analysis and helping to understand the model behaviour in the different landscape classes also suggested possible solutions for simplifying the whole methodology.
WebGIS Implementation for Dynamic Mapping and Visualization of Coastal Geospatial Data: A Case Study of BESS Project
Authors: Randazzo Giovanni , Italiano Franco , Micallef Anton , Tomasello Agostino , Cassetti Federica Paola , Zammit Anthony , D’Amico Sebastiano , Saliba Oliver , Cascio Maria , Cavallaro Franco , Crupi Antonio , Fontana Marco , Gregorio Francesco , Lanza Stefania , Colica Emanuele , Muzirafuti Anselme
Published: September 2021

Within an E.U.-funded project, BESS (Pocket Beach Management and Remote Surveillance System), the notion of a geographic information system is an indispensable tool for managing the dynamics of georeferenced data and information for any form of territorial planning. This notion was further explored with the creation of a WebGIS portal that will allow local and regional stakeholders/authorities obtain an easy remote access tool to monitor the status of pocket beaches (PB) in the Maltese Archipelago and Sicily. In this paper, we provide a methodological approach for the implementation of a WebGIS necessary for very detailed dynamic mapping and visualization of geospatial coastal data; the description of the dataset necessary for the monitoring of coastal areas, especially the PBs; and a demonstration of a case study for the PBs of Sicily and Malta by using the methodology and the dataset used during the BESS project. Detailed steps involved in the creation of the WebGIS are presented. These include data preparation, data storage, and data publication and transformation into geo-services. With the help of different Open Geospatial Consortium protocols, the WebGIS displays different layers of information for 134 PBs including orthophotos, sedimentological/geomorphological beach characteristics, shoreline evolution, geometric and morphological parameters, shallow water bathymetry, and photographs of pocket beaches. The WebGIS allows not only for identifying, evaluating, and directing potential solutions to present and arising issues, but also enables public access and involvement. It reflects a platform for future local and regional coastal zone monitoring and management, by promoting public/private involvement in addressing coastal issues and providing local public administrations with an improved technology to monitor coastal changes and help better plan suitable interventions.
Intelligent System for Railway Wheelset Press-Fit Inspection Using Deep Learning
Authors: Jwo Jung-Sing , Lin Ching-Sheng , Lee Cheng-Hsiung , Zhang Li , Huang Sin-Ming
Published: September 2021

Railway wheelsets are the key to ensuring the safe operation of trains. To achieve zero-defect production, railway equipment manufacturers must strictly control every link in the wheelset production process. The press-fit curve output by the wheelset assembly machine is an essential indicator of the wheelset’s assembly quality. The operators will still need to manually and individually recheck press-fit curves in our practical case. However, there are many uncertainties in the manual inspection. For example, subjective judgment can easily cause inconsistent judgment results between different inspectors, or the probability of human misinterpretation can increase as the working hours increase. Therefore, this study proposes an intelligent railway wheelset inspection system based on deep learning, which improves the reliability and efficiency of manual inspection of wheelset assembly quality. To solve the severe imbalance in the number of collected images, this study establishes a predicted model of press-fit quality based on a deep Siamese network. Our experimental results show that the precision measurement is outstanding for the testing dataset contained 3863 qualified images and 28 unqualified images of press-fit curves. The proposed system will serve as a successful case of a paradigm shift from traditional manufacturing to digital manufacturing.
Fragility Curves and Probabilistic Seismic Demand Models on the Seismic Assessment of RC Frames Subjected to Structural Pounding
Authors: Flenga Maria G. , Favvata Maria J.
Published: September 2021

This study aims to evaluate five different methodologies reported in the literature for developing fragility curves to assess the seismic performance of RC structures subjected to structural pounding. In this context, displacement-based and curvature-based fragility curves are developed. The use of probabilistic seismic demand models (PSDMs) on the fragility assessment of the pounding risk is further estimated. Linear and bilinear PSDMs are developed, while the validity of the assumptions commonly used to produce a PSDM is examined. Finally, the influence of the PSDMs’ assumptions on the derivation of fragilities for the structural pounding effect is identified. The examined pounding cases involve the interaction between adjacent RC structures that have equal story heights (floor-to-floor interaction). Results indicate that the fragility assessment of the RC structure that suffers the pounding effect is not affected by the examined methodologies when the performance level that controls the seismic behavior is exceeded at low levels of IM. Thus, the more vulnerable the structure is due to the pounding effect, the more likely that disparities among the fragility curves of the examined methods are eliminated. The use of a linear PSDM fails to properly describe the local inelastic demands of the structural RC member that suffers the impact effect. The PSDM’s assumptions are not always satisfied for the examined engineering demand parameters of this study, and thus may induce errors when fragility curves are developed. Nevertheless, errors induced due to the power law model and the homoscedasticity assumptions of the PSDM can be reduced by using the bilinear regression model.
Real-Time Cloth Simulation Using Compute Shader in Unity3D for AR/VR Contents
Authors: Va Hongly , Choi Min-Hyung , Hong Min
Published: September 2021

While the cloth component in Unity engine has been used to represent the 3D cloth object for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), it has several limitations in term of resolution and performance. The purpose of our research is to develop a stable cloth simulation based on a parallel algorithm. The method of a mass–spring system is applied to real-time cloth simulation with three types of springs. However, cloth simulation using the mass–spring system requires a small integration time-step to use a large stiffness coefficient. Furthermore, constraint enforcement is applied to obtain the stable behavior of the cloth model. To reduce the computational burden of constraint enforcement, the adaptive constraint activation and deactivation (ACAD) technique that includes the mass–spring system and constraint enforcement method is applied to prevent excessive elongation of the cloth. The proposed algorithm utilizes the graphics processing unit (GPU) parallel processing, and implements it in Compute Shader that executes in different pipelines to the rendering pipeline. In this paper, we investigate the performance and compare the behavior of the mass–spring system, constraint enforcement, and ACAD techniques using a GPU-based parallel method.
Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Nitrogen Concentrations in Mosses in the Vicinity of an Integrated Iron and Steel Plant: Case Study in Czechia
Authors: Pavlíková Irena , Motyka Oldřich , Plášek Vítězslav , Bitta Jan
Published: September 2021

A biomonitoring study using terrestrial mosses was performed in the vicinity of an Integrated Iron and Steel plant near the Czech–Polish border. Moss samples were collected in two seasons (June, October) in order to embrace the effect of the heating season on the pollution levels. The contents of metals (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Sb and Hg) were determined using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and contents of N, C, H via elemental analysis. The influence of the proximity of the factory, the heating season and modelled concentrations of particulate matter <10 µm (PM10) on determined concentrations of elements were studied via multivariate statistical methods using clr-transformed data. This approach led to the first-time demonstration that not only the distance from the industrial source but also the sampling season and PM10 concentrations significantly affect the elemental content in mosses; the association of the emissions from the source and the determined concentrations of elements in moss samples were more evident outside the heating season (October). The analyses of transformed data revealed the association of Fe, Cr, V, As and Al with the coarse particles and their dominant spatial distribution depending on the prevailing wind directions. The spatial distribution of Mn, Zn and Cd, which are carried by fine particles, appears to depend more on atmospheric dispersion and long-range transport, and, thus, these metals should be considered weak markers of the pollution load in the close surroundings of an industrial source.
A Hybrid Data-Fusion System by Integrating CFD and PNN for Structural Damage Identification
Authors: Fu Chun , Jiang Shaofei
Published: September 2021

Recently, a variety of intelligent structural damage identification algorithms have been developed and have obtained considerable attention worldwide due to the advantages of reliable analysis and high efficiency. However, the performances of existing intelligent damage identification methods are heavily dependent on the extracted signatures from raw signals. This will lead to the intelligent damage identification method becoming the optimal solution for actual application. Furthermore, the feature extraction and neural network training are time-consuming tasks, which affect the real-time performance in identification results directly. To address these problems, this paper proposes a new intelligent data fusion system for damage detection, combining the probabilistic neural network (PNN), data fusion technology with correlation fractal dimension (CFD). The intelligent system consists of three modules (models): the eigen-level fusion model, the decision-level fusion model and a PNN classifier model. The highlight points of this system are these three intelligent models specialized in certain situations. The eigen-level model is specialized in the case of measured data with enormous samples and uncertainties, and for the case of confidence level of each sensor is determined ahead, the decision-level model is the best choice. The single PNN model is considered only when the data collected is somehow limited, or few sensors have been installed. Numerical simulations of a two-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge in service and a seven-storey steel frame in laboratory were used to validate the hybrid system by identifying both single- and multi-damage patterns. The results show that the hybrid data-fusion system has excellent performance of damage identification, and also has superior capability of anti-noise and robustness.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Pentoxifylline: Profiling Data Based on RAW 264.7 Cellular Signaling
Authors: Seo Mi Hyun , Eo Mi Young , Nguyen Truc Thi Hoang , Yang Hoon Joo , Kim Soung Min
Published: September 2021

Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine derivative that has been developed as an immunomodulatory agent and an improvement of microcirculation. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a serious complication of radiation therapy due to hypovascularity. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally. Symptoms for this disease include self-limiting respiratory tract illness to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. In this study, the effects of PTX on RAW 264.7 cells were investigated to reveal the possibility of PTX as a therapeutic agent for ORN and COVID-19. To reveal PTX effects at the cellular level, protein expression profiles were analyzed in the PTX-treated RAW 264.7 cells by using immunoprecipitation high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). PTX-treated RAW 264.7 cells showed increases in immunity- and osteogenesis-related proteins and concurrent decreases in proliferation-, matrix inflammation-, and cellular apoptosis-related proteins expressions. The IP-HPLC results indicate that PTX plays immunomodulatory roles in RAW 264.7 cells by regulating anti-inflammation-, proliferation-, immunity-, apoptosis-, and osteogenesis-related proteins. These results suggest that PTX may be used as supplement medications for ORN as well as for COVID-19.
Transport Systems and Mobility for Smart Cities
Authors: Ribeiro Paulo , Dias Gabriel , Pereira Paulo
Published: September 2021

Nowadays, cities appear to be the best place to live, attracting more and more people and activities. However, not only does this movement represent a threat to the environment but also provides challenges and opportunities for everyone, e.g., people, companies, organizations, and governments. To provide a good urban quality of life, the efficiency of all assets, buildings, infrastructures, and all systems, as well as taking care of the natural environment, must be addressed and achieved. This paper will, therefore, present the available literature on the subject to discuss the present context, the main challenges, as well as the concept of smart cities, with future cities relying on the mobility and evolution of transport systems for smart, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive mobility. As a result of the research, it is possible to infer that an integrated smart mobility approach can support the efficiency of all transport networks for everyone, today and tomorrow, while faced with the threat of climate change and the challenges of citizens.
Elevation-Dependent Changes to Plant Phenology in Canada’s Arctic Detected Using Long-Term Satellite Observations
Authors: Chen Wenjun , White Lori , Leblanc Sylvain G. , Latifovic Rasim , Olthof Ian
Published: September 2021

Arctic temperatures have increased at almost twice the global average rate since the industrial revolution. Some studies also reported a further amplified rate of climate warming at high elevations; namely, the elevation dependency of climate change. This elevation-dependent climate change could have important implications for the fate of glaciers and ecosystems at high elevations under climate change. However, the lack of long-term climate data at high elevations, especially in the Arctic, has hindered the investigation of this question. Because of the linkage between climate warming and plant phenology changes and remote sensing’s ability to detect the latter, remote sensing provides an alternative way for investigating the elevation dependency of climate change over Arctic mountains. This study investigated the elevation-dependent changes to plant phenology using AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) time series from 1985 to 2013 over five study areas in Canada’s Arctic. We found that the start of the growing season (SOS) became earlier faster with an increasing elevation over mountainous study areas (i.e., Sirmilik, the Torngat Mountains, and Ivvavik National Parks). Similarly, the changes rates in the end of growing season (EOS) and the growing season length (GSL) were also higher at high elevations. One exception was SOS in the Ivvavik National Park: “no warming trend” with the May-June temperature at a nearby climate station decreased slightly during 1985–2013, and so no elevation-dependent amplification.
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Variability in Extreme Climate and Potential Driving Factors on the Yunnan Plateau (Southwest China) during 1960–2019
Authors: Yan Wenbo , He Yunling , Cai Ya , Cui Xilin , Qu Xinxing
Published: September 2021

Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events around the world. The extreme climate in plateau and mountainous areas is sensitive and fragile. Based on the software Rclimdex 1.0, the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of 27 extreme climate indices at 120 meteorological stations were calculated in Yunnan from 1960 to 2019. The results show that the extreme temperature is rising, and the warming rate at night is higher than that in the daytime. It showed a trend of warming and drying, and precipitation was concentrated into more intense bursts. Extreme temperature cold indices (TX10p, TN10p, FD0, ID0, and CSDI) were negatively correlated with extreme precipitation indices (R × 5 day, PRCPTOT, R10 mm, R20 mm, and R25 mm). Extreme temperature warmth indices (TX90p and TN90p) were positively correlated with extreme precipitation indices (R × 5 day, CWD, PRCPTOT, R10 mm, R20 mm, and R25 mm). The change rate of extreme temperature does not increase linearly with altitude. The increase in middle-altitude and high-altitude areas is higher than that in low-altitude areas. Compared with ENSO and AO, NAO is a vital circulation pattern affecting the extreme climate in Yunnan. The influence of NAO on Yunnan’s extreme climate indices is most significant in the current month and the second month that follows. NAO was negatively correlated with extreme temperature warm indices (TN90p, TX90p, SU25, and TR20). NAO positively correlates with the extreme cold temperature indices (TN10p and TX10p). Except that ENSO has a significant effect on CDD, the effect of the general circulation patterns on the extreme temperature indices was more significant than that on the extreme precipitation indices in Yunnan. The results of this study are helpful to further understand and predict the characteristics of extreme climatic events and the factors affecting their geographical locations and atmospheric circulation patterns in Yunnan.