bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximising Economic Recovery - A Review of Well Test Procedures in the North Sea
Authors: Marshall Craig , Thomas Alun
Published: August 2015

One of the primary recommendations of the Wood Review is for Government and Industry to develop and commit to a new strategy for Maximising Economic Recovery from the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS). To achieve this recommendation several strategies are proposed. These cover the key UKCS areas which require enhanced development to ensure that the UK maximises the production of its assets.

As part of the Technology Strategy, there is push to apply better reservoir management techniques on a cost effective basis. In order to manage a reservoir appropriately, the produced fluids have to be measured accurately. Typically in the UK, this is accomplished through the use of Well Tests and associated equipment – namely test separators supported by single-phase flow measurement technologies.

Well test data is critical to operations in the offshore industry and covers a wide variety of applications. The data can be used to allocate produced fluids to particular wells either directly, or through verification of multiphase flowmeters. The data can also be used in the determination of reservoir size and in the positioning of new wells and installations. Another key use of well test data is in the optimisation of well production where well stream parameters can be altered to maximise hydrocarbon production levels.

However, recent first-hand audit experience by DECC suggests that well test measurement systems may not be operating at their optimal levels. For instance, primary measurement elements (flowmeters) are often not removed and recalibrated on a routine basis. There is also evidence of flowmeters being exposed to two phase flows resulting in meter degradation. In addition, the interval between the testing of individual wells may extend to several weeks, with the flow rates between tests inferred by interpolation. The risk is therefore that these measurements may result in a measurement bias.

This paper will present work completed on behalf of DECC into the current state of the art for well testing in the UKCS. North Sea operators have been questioned and their responses used to calculate typical uncertainties achieved during well testing. The significance of the uncertainty in measurement is highlighted through case studies into the impact on the applications that use well test data. Finally, alternative methods to current well testing practice are discussed with their expected impact on the UK offshore oil & gas industry.

The submitted paper provides evidence and recommendations in line with the ethos of the Wood Review, as well as assisting industry to achieve the goals and step-wise improvement in performance, which the Review demands.
Meaningful and Leading Structural Integrity KPIs
Authors: Sharp John , Ersdal Gerhard , Galbraith David
Published: August 2015

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have become well established for assessing the performance of equipment, in both terms of production capability and safety performance. Regulators are particularly interested in ensuring that KPIs for safety critical equipment are in place and are routinely measured and reviewed. KPIs do, however, have limitations when they are applied to complex passive equipment such as the structure, and because of this the importance of the primary structure as being safety critical can be diminished. Most KPIs applied to structure relate to maintenance aspects such as frequency and timeliness of inspections and efficacy of defect assessment.

A series of KPIs for structures, both in terms of components and of systems has been developed to enable both the Structural Integrity Management team and more particularly the management or operators and offshore personnel on installations to have an appreciation of the performance and capabilities of the installations and such that regulators can have an appreciation of the relative performance of different installations.

Experience from the auditors while undertaking structural integrity audits have shown that although operators recognize the importance of the structure they can have difficulty in quantifying its criticality, limitation and in particular of possible causes of damage and failure. This understanding will enable operators to concentrate resources to the optimum maintenance and repair of structures.

The paper describes the derivation and functionality of the structural KPIs which provide a way to improve the understanding of structural limitations and hence the possibilities for life extension and factors relevant to decommissioning.
Maintaining Response Readiness For Subsea Well Control Incidents
Authors: Munro Neil , Burroughs James , Lund Chris
Published: August 2015

Following the Macondo incident in 2010, industry has taken steps to improve response readiness in case of a subsea well control incident. This led to Oil Spill Response Limited's (OSRL) Subsea Well Intervention Service (SWIS) being formed. SWIS allows industry the capability to better respond to a subsea well-control incident by providing state of the art subsea well intervention equipment.

This paper will provide an overview of SWIS and demonstrate how the equipment is stored and maintained in a response ready state, including information on periodic maintenance performed and logistics philosophy for mobilisation. In addition, it will provide an update on the Containment Toolkit, allowing for cap and flow operations.

The equipment available includes 10K and 15K psi Capping Stack Systems (CSS) and Subsea Incident Response Toolkit (SIRT); comprised of Site survey, Debris Clearance, Subsea Dispersant and Blowout Preventer (BOP) Intervention System. The equipment is stored at strategic global locations, covering the main areas of oil exploration and production worldwide. It is transportable by land, air and sea and can be called upon by any OSRL SWIS Capping member. Further to this, the OSPRAG Capping Device will be discussed, which provides cover for the UK Continental Shelf.

To enhance the capability of SWIS the Containment Toolkit will be delivered to OSRL during 2015. The equipment in the containment toolkit is designed to supplement standard industry well test hardware to create a containment system. It comprises long-lead equipment not readily available in the current industry and minimises response times by allowing a responding well operator to draw on existing resources.
Existence of nonoscillatory solutions for system of neutral difference equations
Authors: Migda Małgorzata , Schmeidel Ewa , Zdanowicz Małgorzata
Published: August 2015

The system of neutral type difference equations with delays {?(x(n) + p(n)
x(n - ?))= a(n) f(y(n - l)) ?y(n) = b(n) g(z(n - m)) ?z(n) = c(n) h(x(n - k))
is considered. The aim of this paper is to present sufficient conditions for
the existence of nonoscillatory bounded positive solutions of the considered
system with various (p(n)).
Effect of High-Fluoride Dentifrice on Enamel Erosion Adjacent to Restorations In Vitro
Authors: Rolim FG , Sá AF , Silva-Filho GWL , Brandim A de S , Vale GC
Published: August 2015

Aim: This in vitro study analyzed the antierosive potential of a high-fluoride dentifrice on enamel adjacent to restorations.

Methods and Materials: Enamel blocks (6 × 6 × 3 mm) from bovine incisor teeth were restored with three different restorative materials (resin, conventional glass ionomer cement, and resin-modified glass ionomer cement) and treated with dentifrices containing 0, 1100, or 5000 ppm F. After restorative procedures, initial surface Vickers hardness of the blocks were obtained. The specimens were submitted to pH cycles (4 × 90 seconds in soft drink) and treatments for five days. Between the challenges and overnight, the blocks remained in artificial saliva. At the end of the experiment, the final hardness was assessed and the percentage of surface mineral loss (%SML) was calculated. A 3 × 3 factorial design was used to conduct statistical analysis. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and t-test, with significance level fixed at 5%.

Results: High-fluoride dentifrice decreased demineralization caused by erosive challenge regardless of the restorative material used (p<0.001). Likewise, the blocks restored with conventional glass ionomer cement showed lower values of SML irrespective of dentifrice used (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Use of a high-fluoride dentifrice on teeth restored with conventional glass ionomer cement offers additional protection against enamel erosion.
Effect of Restorative System and Thermal Cycling on the Tooth-Restoration Interface – OCT Evaluation
Authors: Sampaio CS , Rodrigues RV , Souza-Junior EJ , Freitas AZ , Ambrosano GMB , Pascon FM , Puppin-Rontani RM
Published: August 2015

The present study evaluated the tooth/noncarious cervical lesion restoration interface when using different adhesive systems and resin composites, submitted to thermal cycling (TC), using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Noncarious cervical lesion (NCCL) preparations (0.7 mm depth × 2 mm diameter) were performed on 60 human third molars and randomly divided into six groups, according to the adhesive system and resin composite used: group 1 = Adper Single Bond 2 (SB2) + Aelite LS Posterior (AP); group 2 = SB2 + Venus Diamond (VD); group = SB2 + Filtek Z250XT (Z250); group 4 = Clearfil SE Bond (CSE) + AP; group 5 = CSE + VD; group 6 = CSE + Z250. Selective enamel etching was performed for 30 seconds on groups 4, 5, and 6, while groups 1, 2, and 3 were etched for 30 seconds in enamel and 15 seconds in dentin. All groups were evaluated using OCT before and after TC (n=10). Images were analyzed using Image J software; enamel and dentin margins were separately evaluated. Data from OCT were submitted to PROC MIXED for repeated measurements and Tukey Kramer test (α = 0.05). No marginal gaps were observed in etched enamel, either before or after TC, for all adhesive and resin composite systems. A significant interaction was found between adhesive system and TC for the dentin groups; after TC, restorations with CSE showed smaller gaps at the dentin/restoration interface compared with SB2 for all resin composites. Increased gap percentages were noticed after TC compared with the gaps before TC for all groups. In conclusion, TC affected marginal integrity only in dentin margins, whereas etched enamel margins remained stable even after TC. Dentin margins restored with CSE adhesive system showed better marginal adaptation than those restored with SB2. Resin composites did not influence marginal integrity of NCCL restorations.
The Inconclusive Text: On Paul Celan’s “Blume”
Authors: Rasmussen Kim Su
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a close reading of the poem “Blume,” which emphasizes the intertextual relations between the final and the preliminary drafts. More specifically, the paper proposes to read the textual history of the poem as a singular expression of a past that remains active in the present. The poem, while remaining mindful of the past and its impact on the present, is ultimately about releasing potentialities that remain and will continue to remain yet-to-be-realized. The poem, on this view, is not an autonomous aesthetic totality, but a singular expression of inconclusive textuality.
‘I refuse to respond to this obvious troll’: an overview of responses to (perceived) trolling
Authors: Hardaker Claire
Published: August 2015

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) provides many benefits, including quick, efficient communication over time and space. At the same time, however, the anonymity it offers can give a sense of impunity, an illusion that behaviour is less hurtful than it really is, and a suppression of empathy. In short, CMC can be a fertile ground for conflict, and one particular manifestation of this is trolling. Trolling involves deliberately attacking others online, typically for amusement's sake. In some cases, it can be taken to such an extreme that it clearly violates UK legislation on hate-speech, abuse and menace. Whilst forensic linguistic research into threatening and abusive language is, however, gradually growing ( Carney, 2014 ; Chakraborti, 2010 : 99–123; and Fraser, 1998 ), there is a shortage of research into linguistic aggression online, and particularly research into trolling (see, however, Binns, 2011 ; Herring et al., 2002 ; and Shin, 2008 ). In endeavouring to contribute to this under-researched area, this paper seeks to address the question, ‘How do users respond to (perceived) trolling?’ The answer to this is elaborated through the creation of a working taxonomy of response types, drawn from 3,727 examples of user discussions and accusations of trolling which were extracted from an eighty-six million word Usenet corpus. I conclude this paper by discussing the limitations and applications of this research.
Public appeals, news interviews and crocodile tears: an argument for multi-channel analysis
Authors: Archer Dawn , Lansley Cliff
Published: August 2015

In this paper, we propose a Six Channel Analysis System (SCAnS) for the (semi-)automatic investigation of potential deception across all communication channels. SCAnS builds on our current system: Six Channel Analysis in Realtime (SCAnR). SCAnR users are trained to code – as Points of Interest (PIns) – relevant occurrences of twenty-seven criteria relating to the six channels, when they appear to point to inconsistencies with respect to the speaker's account (the story they are trying to convey), their apparent baseline and the context. Our experiences to date confirm the view that multi-channel approaches have the potential to lead to higher accuracy rates of deception detection than is possible when using individual methods of detection and/or when focussing on one communication channel independently ( Vrij et al., 2000 : 257), especially when combined with cognitive elicitation strategies. However, we recognise the importance of (in)validating the relevance of the twenty-seven criteria through ongoing research. SCAnS will provide a (semi-)automated means of achieving this. Given our audience, we focus on the usefulness of content-analysis tools like Wmatrix ( Rayson, 2008 ) for this purpose. More broadly, our research has implications for the analysis of data in forensic contexts, across all available channels of communication, and for the coding of (para)linguistic features.
Ultracompact Planar Positioner Driven by Unbalanced Frictional Forces
Authors: Muraoka Mikio , Zhao Xu , Liu Shun
Published: August 2015

This paper proposes a new ultracompact planar positioner driven by unbalanced frictional forces. The prototype of the designed positioner is 17 mm × 17 mm × 9 mm in size, and is simply constructed using lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric elements, neodymium magnetic feet, and junction pieces. Alternating static and kinetic frictional forces are utilized to control the motion of the positioner. The working principle is illustrated, and the performance of the positioner is evaluated under atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Under atmospheric conditions, the positioner had a minimum step size of approximately 17 nm at 55 V, a maximum step size of approximately 1.6 μm, and a moving speed of approximately 4 μm/s at 138 V. However, the step size significantly decreased in vacuum. The step size can be controlled by adjusting the frictional forces on the magnetic feet. In addition, the positioner showed instability caused by the wear of the stainless plate. This problem was resolved by using a borosilicate glass that was fixed on the stainless plate, and the position accuracy was obviously improved.
Complementary LC-MS/MS-Based N-Glycan, N-Glycopeptide, and Intact N-Glycoprotein Profiling Reveals Unconventional Asn71-Glycosylation of Human Neutrophil Cathepsin G
Authors: Loke Ian , Packer Nicolle , Thaysen-Andersen Morten
Published: August 2015

Neutrophil cathepsin G (nCG) is a central serine protease in the human innate immune system, but the importance of its N-glycosylation remains largely undescribed. To facilitate such investigations, we here use complementary LC-MS/MS-based N-glycan, N-glycopeptide, and intact glycoprotein profiling to accurately establish the micro- and macro-heterogeneity of nCG from healthy individuals. The fully occupied Asn71 carried unconventional N-glycosylation consisting of truncated chitobiose core (GlcNAcβ: 55.2%; Fucα1,6GlcNAcβ: 22.7%), paucimannosidic N-glycans (Manβ1,4GlcNAcβ1,4GlcNAcβ: 10.6%; Manβ1,4GlcNAcβ1,4(Fucα1,6)GlcNAcβ: 7.9%; Manα1,6Manβ1,4GlcNAcβ1,4GlcNAcβ: 3.7%, trace level of Manα1,6Manβ1,4GlcNAcβ1,4(Fucα1,6)GlcNAcβ), and trace levels of monoantennary α2,6- and α2,3-sialylated complex N-glycans. High-resolution/mass accuracy LC-MS profiling of intact nCG confirmed the Asn71-glycoprofile and identified two C-terminal truncation variants at Arg243 (57.8%) and Ser244 (42.2%), both displaying oxidation of solvent-accessible Met152. Asn71 appeared proximal (~19 Å) to the active site of nCG, but due to the truncated nature of Asn71-glycans (~5–17 Å) we questioned their direct modulation of the proteolytic activity of the protein. This work highlights the continued requirement of using complementary technologies to accurately profile even relatively simple glycoproteins and illustrates important challenges associated with the analysis of unconventional protein N-glycosylation. Importantly, this study now facilitates investigation of the functional role of nCG Asn71-glycosylation.
Entropy Bounds and Field Equations
Authors: Pesci Alessandro
Published: August 2015

For general metric theories of gravity, we compare the approach that describes/derives the field equations of gravity as a thermodynamic identity with the one which looks at them from entropy bounds. The comparison is made through the consideration of the matter entropy flux across (Rindler) horizons, studied by making use of the notion of a limiting thermodynamic scale l* of matter, previously introduced in the context of entropy bounds. In doing this: (i) a bound for the entropy of any lump of matter with a given energy-momentum tensor Tab is considered, in terms of a quantity, which is independent of the theory of gravity that we use; this quantity is the variation of the Clausius entropy of a suitable horizon when the element of matter crosses it; (ii) by making use of the equations of motion of the theory, the same quantity is then expressed as the variation of Wald’s entropy of that horizon (and this leads to a generalized form of the generalized covariant entropy bound, applicable to general diffeomorphism-invariant theories of gravity); and (iii) a notion of l* for horizons, as well as an expression for it, is given.
Torque Distribution Algorithm for an Independently Driven Electric Vehicle Using a Fuzzy Control Method
Authors: Park Jinhyun , Jeong Houn , Jang In , Hwang Sung-Ho
Published: August 2015

The in-wheel electric vehicle is expected to be a popular next-generation vehicle because an in-wheel system can simplify the powertrain and improve driving performance. In addition, it also has an advantage in that it maximizes driving efficiency through independent torque control considering the motor efficiency. However, there is an instability problem if only the driving torque is controlled in consideration of only the motor efficiency. In this paper, integrated torque distribution strategies are proposed to overcome these problems. The control algorithm consists of various strategies for optimizing driving efficiency, satisfying driver demands, and considering tire slip and vehicle cornering. Fuzzy logic is used to determine the appropriate timing of intervention for each distribution strategy. A performance simulator for in-wheel electric vehicles was developed by using MATLAB/Simulink and CarSim to validate the control strategies. From simulation results under complex driving conditions, the proposed algorithm was verified to improve both the driving stability and fuel economy of the in-wheel vehicle.
A Real-Time Joint Estimator for Model Parameters and State of Charge of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Gao Jianping , Zhang Yongzhi , He Hongwen
Published: August 2015

Accurate state of charge (SoC) estimation of batteries plays an important role in promoting the commercialization of electric vehicles. The main work to be done in accurately determining battery SoC can be summarized in three parts. (1) In view of the model-based SoC estimation flow diagram, the n-order resistance-capacitance (RC) battery model is proposed and expected to accurately simulate the battery’s major time-variable, nonlinear characteristics. Then, the mathematical equations for model parameter identification and SoC estimation of this model are constructed. (2) The Akaike information criterion is used to determine an optimal tradeoff between battery model complexity and prediction precision for the n-order RC battery model. Results from a comparative analysis show that the first-order RC battery model is thought to be the best based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC) values. (3) The real-time joint estimator for the model parameter and SoC is constructed, and the application based on two battery types indicates that the proposed SoC estimator is a closed-loop identification system where the model parameter identification and SoC estimation are corrected mutually, adaptively and simultaneously according to the observer values. The maximum SoC estimation error is less than 1% for both battery types, even against the inaccurate initial SoC.
The Level of Self-Esteem and Sexual Functioning in Women with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Durmała Jacek , Blicharska Irmina , Drosdzol-Cop Agnieszka , Skrzypulec-Plinta Violetta
Published: August 2015

A person’s image, which is determined through physical appearance, considerably affects self-esteem developed from early childhood. Scoliosis causes multiple trunk deformations that can affect a person’s perception of the body. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of scoliosis dimension and the degree of trunk deformation on the level of self-esteem and sexual functioning in women with idiopathic scoliosis. Thirty-six women diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis were recruited to a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on the value of the Cobb angle. The level of self-esteem was determined by means of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), whereas the sexual functioning was assessed via the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The trunk deformations were specified with the Posterior Trunk Symmetry Index (POTSI). A statistically significant correlation was proved between the amount of points received in the Rosenberg scale evaluation and the POTSI index in Group A (R = −0.56, p = 0.04). Subjects with smaller deformations within the coronal plane had a higher level of self-confidence. The trunk asymmetries in the coronal plane may have a negative effect on women with scoliosis and their self-appraisal.
Residents’ Waste Separation Behaviors at the Source: Using SEM with the Theory of Planned Behavior in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Zhang Dongliang , Huang Guangqing , Yin Xiaoling , Gong Qinghua
Published: August 2015

Understanding the factors that affect residents’ waste separation behaviors helps in constructing effective environmental campaigns for a community. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study examines factors associated with waste separation behaviors by analyzing responses to questionnaires distributed in Guangzhou, China. Data drawn from 208 of 1000-field questionnaires were used to assess socio-demographic factors and the TPB constructs (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and situational factors). The questionnaire data revealed that attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and situational factors significantly predicted household waste behaviors in Guangzhou, China. Through a structural equation modeling analysis, we concluded that campaigns targeting moral obligations may be particularly effective for increasing the participation rate in waste separation behaviors.
Seasonal-Spatial Distribution and Long-Term Variation of Transparency in Xin’anjiang Reservoir: Implications for Reservoir Management
Authors: Wu Zhixu , Zhang Yunlin , Zhou Yongqiang , Liu Mingliang , Shi Kun , Yu Zuoming
Published: August 2015

Water transparency is a useful indicator of water quality or productivity and is widely used to detect long-term changes in the water quality and eutrophication of lake ecosystems. Based on short-term spatial observations in the spring, summer, and winter and on long-term site-specific observation from 1988 to 2013, the spatial, seasonal, long-term variations, and the factors affecting transparency are presented for Xin’anjiang Reservoir (China). Spatially, transparency was high in the open water but low in the bays and the inflowing river mouths, reflecting the effect of river runoff. The seasonal effects were distinct, with lower values in the summer than in the winter, most likely due to river runoff and phytoplankton biomass increases. The transparency decreased significantly with a linear slope of 0.079 m/year, indicating a 2.05 m decrease and a marked decrease in water quality. A marked increase occurred in chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration, and a significant correlation was found between the transparency and Chla concentration, indicating that phytoplankton biomass can partially explain the long-term trend of transparency in Xin’anjiang Reservoir. The river input and phytoplankton biomass increase were associated with soil erosion and nutrient loss in the catchment. Our study will support future management of water quality in Xin’anjiang Reservoir.
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships Study on the Rate Constants of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins with OH Radical
Authors: Qi Chuansong , Zhang Chenxi , Sun Xiaomin
Published: August 2015

The OH-initiated reaction rate constants (kOH) are of great importance to measure atmospheric behaviors of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in the environment. The rate constants of 75 PCDDs with the OH radical at 298.15 K have been calculated using high level molecular orbital theory, and the rate constants (kα, kβ, kγ and kOH) were further analyzed by the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) study. According to the QSAR models, the relations between rate constants and the numbers and positions of Cl atoms, the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (EHOMO), the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (ELUMO), the difference ΔEHOMO-LUMO between EHOMO and ELUMO, and the dipole of oxidizing agents (D) were discussed. It was found that EHOMO is the main factor in the kOH. The number of Cl atoms is more effective than the number of relative position of these Cl atoms in the kOH. The kOH decreases with the increase of the substitute number of Cl atoms.
From Genome to Structure and Back Again: A Family Portrait of the Transcarbamylases
Authors: Shi Dashuang , Allewell Norma , Tuchman Mendel
Published: August 2015

Enzymes in the transcarbamylase family catalyze the transfer of a carbamyl group from carbamyl phosphate (CP) to an amino group of a second substrate. The two best-characterized members, aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTCase), are present in most organisms from bacteria to humans. Recently, structures of four new transcarbamylase members, N-acetyl-l-ornithine transcarbamylase (AOTCase), N-succinyl-l-ornithine transcarbamylase (SOTCase), ygeW encoded transcarbamylase (YTCase) and putrescine transcarbamylase (PTCase) have also been determined. Crystal structures of these enzymes have shown that they have a common overall fold with a trimer as their basic biological unit. The monomer structures share a common CP binding site in their N-terminal domain, but have different second substrate binding sites in their C-terminal domain. The discovery of three new transcarbamylases, l-2,3-diaminopropionate transcarbamylase (DPTCase), l-2,4-diaminobutyrate transcarbamylase (DBTCase) and ureidoglycine transcarbamylase (UGTCase), demonstrates that our knowledge and understanding of the spectrum of the transcarbamylase family is still incomplete. In this review, we summarize studies on the structures and function of transcarbamylases demonstrating how structural information helps to define biological function and how small structural differences govern enzyme specificity. Such information is important for correctly annotating transcarbamylase sequences in the genome databases and for identifying new members of the transcarbamylase family.
Cardiovascular Disease Modeling Using Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Tanaka Atsushi , Yuasa Shinsuke , Node Koichi , Fukuda Keiichi
Published: August 2015

The generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has opened up a new scientific frontier in medicine. This technology has made it possible to obtain pluripotent stem cells from individuals with genetic disorders. Because iPSCs carry the identical genetic anomalies related to those disorders, iPSCs are an ideal platform for medical research. The pathophysiological cellular phenotypes of genetically heritable heart diseases such as arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies, have been modeled on cell culture dishes using disease-specific iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. These model systems can potentially provide new insights into disease mechanisms and drug discoveries. This review focuses on recent progress in cardiovascular disease modeling using iPSCs, and discusses problems and future perspectives concerning their use.
A Natural Triterpene Derivative from Euphorbia kansui Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis against Rat Intestinal Epithelioid Cell Line in Vitro
Authors: Cheng Fangfang , Yang Yanjing , Zhang Li , Cao Yudan , Yao Weifeng , Tang Yuping , Ding Anwei
Published: August 2015

Kansenone is a triterpene from the root of the traditional Chinese medicine, Euphorbia kansui. However, kansenone exerts serious toxicity, but the exact mechanism was not clear. In this work, the effects of kansenone on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell damage, and cell apoptosis were investigated. The suppression of cell proliferation was assessed via the colorimetric MTT assay, and cell morphology was visualized via inverted microscopy after IEC-6 cells were incubated with different concentrations of kansenone. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected for evaluating cell damage. RNase/propidium iodide (PI) labeling for evaluation of cell cycle distribution was performed by flow cytometry analysis. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/PI and Hoechst 33342/Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assay for cell apoptosis detection were performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and high content screening. Moreover, apoptosis induction was further confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential, western blot and RT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated that kansenone exerted high cytotoxicity, induced cell arrest at G0/G1 phase, and caused mitochondria damage. In addition, kansenone could up-regulate the apoptotic proteins Bax, AIF, Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, FasR, FasL, NF-κB, and TNFR1 mRNA expression levels, and down-regulate the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, revealing that kansenone induces apoptosis through both the death receptor and mitochondrial pathways.
Bubble Clouds in Coastal Waters and Their Role in Air-Water Gas Exchange of CO2
Authors: Crosswell Joseph
Published: August 2015

Bubbles generated by breaking waves can drive significant gas exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, but the role of bubble-mediated gas transfer in estuaries is unknown. Here, backscatter data from 41 acoustic Doppler current profiler stations was analyzed to assess subsurface bubble distributions in nine estuaries along the U.S. East and Gulf Coast. Wind speed, wind direction, and current velocity were the dominant controls on bubble entrainment, but the relative importance of these physical drivers depended on local geomorphology. Bubble entrainment in high-current or shallow, long-fetch estuaries began at wind speeds <5 m s−1. In deep or fetch-limited estuaries, bubble entrainment was less frequent and generally began at higher wind speeds. Data observed during several storms suggests that episodic bubble-driven gas exchange may be an important component of annual CO2 fluxes in large, shallow estuaries but would be less significant in other coastal systems.
Towards the Development of a Low Cost Airborne Sensing System to Monitor Dust Particles after Blasting at Open-Pit Mine Sites
Authors: Alvarado Miguel , Gonzalez Felipe , Fletcher Andrew , Doshi Ashray
Published: August 2015

Blasting is an integral part of large-scale open cut mining that often occurs in close proximity to population centers and often results in the emission of particulate material and gases potentially hazardous to health. Current air quality monitoring methods rely on limited numbers of fixed sampling locations to validate a complex fluid environment and collect sufficient data to confirm model effectiveness. This paper describes the development of a methodology to address the need of a more precise approach that is capable of characterizing blasting plumes in near-real time. The integration of the system required the modification and integration of an opto-electrical dust sensor, SHARP GP2Y10, into a small fixed-wing and multi-rotor copter, resulting in the collection of data streamed during flight. The paper also describes the calibration of the optical sensor with an industry grade dust-monitoring device, Dusttrak 8520, demonstrating a high correlation between them, with correlation coefficients (R2) greater than 0.9. The laboratory and field tests demonstrate the feasibility of coupling the sensor with the UAVs. However, further work must be done in the areas of sensor selection and calibration as well as flight planning.
High Frequency Sampling of TTL Pulses on a Raspberry Pi for Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy Applications
Authors: Tivnan Matthew , Gurjar Rajan , Wolf David , Vishwanath Karthik
Published: August 2015

Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS) is a well-established optical technique that has been used for non-invasive measurement of blood flow in tissues. Instrumentation for DCS includes a correlation device that computes the temporal intensity autocorrelation of a coherent laser source after it has undergone diffuse scattering through a turbid medium. Typically, the signal acquisition and its autocorrelation are performed by a correlation board. These boards have dedicated hardware to acquire and compute intensity autocorrelations of rapidly varying input signal and usually are quite expensive. Here we show that a Raspberry Pi minicomputer can acquire and store a rapidly varying time-signal with high fidelity. We show that this signal collected by a Raspberry Pi device can be processed numerically to yield intensity autocorrelations well suited for DCS applications. DCS measurements made using the Raspberry Pi device were compared to those acquired using a commercial hardware autocorrelation board to investigate the stability, performance, and accuracy of the data acquired in controlled experiments. This paper represents a first step toward lowering the instrumentation cost of a DCS system and may offer the potential to make DCS become more widely used in biomedical applications.
An Auto-Tuning PI Control System for an Open-Circuit Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Designed for Greenhouse Technology
Authors: Espinoza Karlos , Valera Diego , Torres José , López Alejandro , Molina-Aiz Francisco
Published: August 2015

Wind tunnels are a key experimental tool for the analysis of airflow parameters in many fields of application. Despite their great potential impact on agricultural research, few contributions have dealt with the development of automatic control systems for wind tunnels in the field of greenhouse technology. The objective of this paper is to present an automatic control system that provides precision and speed of measurement, as well as efficient data processing in low-speed wind tunnel experiments for greenhouse engineering applications. The system is based on an algorithm that identifies the system model and calculates the optimum PI controller. The validation of the system was performed on a cellulose evaporative cooling pad and on insect-proof screens to assess its response to perturbations. The control system provided an accuracy of <0.06 m·s‾1 for airflow speed and <0.50 Pa for pressure drop, thus permitting the reproducibility and standardization of the tests. The proposed control system also incorporates a fully-integrated software unit that manages the tests in terms of airflow speed and pressure drop set points.
UWB Wind Turbine Blade Deflection Sensing for Wind Energy Cost Reduction
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Jensen Tobias , Franek Ondrej , Eggers Patrick , Olesen Kim , Byskov Claus , Pedersen Gert
Published: August 2015

A new application of utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to sense wind turbine blade deflections is introduced in this paper for wind energy cost reduction. The lower UWB band of 3.1–5.3 GHz is applied. On each blade, there will be one UWB blade deflection sensing system, which consists of two UWB antennas at the blade root and one UWB antenna at the blade tip. The detailed topology and challenges of this deflection sensing system are addressed. Due to the complexity of the problem, this paper will first realize the on-blade UWB radio link in the simplest case, where the tip antenna is situated outside (and on the surface of) a blade tip. To investigate this case, full-blade time-domain measurements are designed and conducted under different deflections. The detailed measurement setups and results are provided. If the root and tip antenna locations are properly selected, the first pulse is always of sufficient quality for accurate estimations under different deflections. The measured results reveal that the blade tip-root distance and blade deflection can be accurately estimated in the complicated and lossy wireless channels around a wind turbine blade. Some future research topics on this application are listed finally.
Does Environmental Sustainability Play a Role in the Adoption of Smart Card Technology at Universities in Taiwan: An Integration of TAM and TRA
Authors: Ho Ching-Wei , Wang Yu-Bing , Yen Neil
Published: August 2015

Smart cards are able to store and protect relatively large amounts of data. When applied in universities, they can act as multi-purpose, multi-function and smart ID cards. This would avoid the waste of resources and maintain environmental sustainability. This study proposes a model that integrates Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Reasoned Action into a framework incorporating the notion of environmental concern in order to explore the factors that affect students’ behavioral intention to use University Smart Cards. This study employs a quantitative method for primary data collection via a structured questionnaire for university students. The findings indicated that the perceived usefulness and subjective norm of university smart card systems have the most significant predictive power on potential users’ attitudes and intentions of adopting the card.
The Metabolic Fate of Deoxynivalenol and Its Acetylated Derivatives in a Wheat Suspension Culture: Identification and Detection of DON-15-O-Glucoside, 15-Acetyl-DON-3-O-Glucoside and 15-Acetyl-DON-3-Sulfate
Authors: Schmeitzl Clemens , Warth Benedikt , Fruhmann Philipp , Michlmayr Herbert , Malachová Alexandra , Berthiller Franz , Schuhmacher Rainer , Krska Rudolf , Adam Gerhard
Published: August 2015

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a protein synthesis inhibitor produced by the Fusarium species, which frequently contaminates grains used for human or animal consumption. We treated a wheat suspension culture with DON or one of its acetylated derivatives, 3-acetyl-DON (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-DON (15-ADON) and 3,15-diacetyl-DON (3,15-diADON), and monitored the metabolization over a course of 96 h. Supernatant and cell extract samples were analyzed using a tailored LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of DON metabolites. We report the formation of tentatively identified DON-15-O-β-D-glucoside (D15G) and of 15-acetyl-DON-3-sulfate (15-ADON3S) as novel deoxynivalenol metabolites in wheat. Furthermore, we found that the recently identified 15-acetyl-DON-3-O-β-D-glucoside (15-ADON3G) is the major metabolite produced after 15-ADON challenge. 3-ADON treatment led to a higher intracellular content of toxic metabolites after six hours compared to all other treatments. 3-ADON was exclusively metabolized into DON before phase II reactions occurred. In contrast, we found that 15-ADON was directly converted into 15-ADON3G and 15-ADON3S in addition to metabolization into deoxynivalenol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (D3G). This study highlights significant differences in the metabolization of DON and its acetylated derivatives.
Imaging of carbon nanomembranes with helium ion microscopy
Authors: Beyer André , Vieker Henning , Klett Robin , Meyer zu Theenhausen Hanno , Angelova Polina , Gölzhäuser Armin
Published: August 2015

Carbon nanomembranes (CNMs) prepared from aromatic self-assembled monolayers constitute a recently developed class of 2D materials. They are made by a combination of self-assembly, radiation-induced cross-linking and the detachment of the cross-linked SAM from its substrate. CNMs can be deposited on arbitrary substrates, including holey and perforated ones, as well as on metallic (transmission electron microscopy) grids. Therewith, freestanding membranes with a thickness of 1 nm and macroscopic lateral dimensions can be prepared. Although free-standing CNMs cannot be imaged by light microscopy, charged particle techniques can visualize them. However, CNMs are electrically insulating, which makes them sensitive to charging. We demonstrate that the helium ion microscope (HIM) is a good candidate for imaging freestanding CNMs due to its efficient charge compensation tool. Scanning with a beam of helium ions while recording the emitted secondary electrons generates the HIM images. The advantages of HIM are high resolution, high surface sensitivity and large depth of field. The effects of sample charging, imaging of multilayer CNMs as well as imaging artefacts are discussed.
Optimization of Service Development Strategy in a Global Environment
Authors: Zhou Nianjun , Gifford Wesley M.
Published: August 2015

A well-managed project utilizing global resources helps companies create distinct competitive and operational advantages over centrally managed counterparts. Such advantages come from increased profitability through outsourcing. In this chapter, we present a technique used to assess risk in globally distributed industrial software projects – with a specific focus on custom application development projects. Our objective is to show how to maximize the benefits of globalization and how effective management and resource choices can avoid potential risks by more deeply understanding the effects of external global factors. Specifically, we provide mathematical models for the following global factors: 1) time zone differences, 2) language difference, 3) working time alignment, and 4) turnover rates among skilled workers in expanding economies. We also consider the utility functions of the developer and client and demonstrate that by allowing adjustments to the time to deliver the project one can achieve better profitability with global resources.
Tuning up IT Services using Monitoring Configuration Analytics
Authors: Tang Liang , Zeng Chunqiu i , Li Tao , Shwartz Larisa (Laura) , Graharnik Genady Ya.
Published: August 2015

Monitoring has a goal of early identification of an issue through assessment of system vital signs against acceptable thresholds. Symptoms of system degradation constitute an event and are flagged for sending to supporting personnel as an incident ticket. Event management is based on a hypothesis that a violation of specific threshold identifies a problem. This hypothesis arises two types of errors - False positives corresponding to ticketing harmless condition, and False negatives corresponding to not flagging degradation of a vital sign for ticketing. This chapter describes the methodology and analytics for minimizing errors of both types. Furthermore, many IT Service Providers rely on partial automation for diagnosis and resolution of incident created by monitoring. This chapter proposes the methodology that allows moving from partially to fully automated problem resolution by eliminating the ambiguity of service incident description and classification in a highly variable service delivery environment.
Using Visual Analytics to Diagnose Productivity and Quality Issues on IT Service Pools
Authors: Cavalcante Victor , Candello Heloisa , Pinhanez Claudio , Braz Alan , Amorin Franklin , Nauata Nelson
Published: August 2015

This chapter describes and validates the applicability of a visual analytics tool, named Workload Profile Analytics (WPA), in the context of incident management (IM) inside a large IT services provider. The WPA tool implements a method to evaluate the performance and quality of IM systems that uses temporal information from incident records (tickets). The method is based on a graphical representation, called Workload Profile Chart (WPC), which consists of a log-log chart obtained by computing and plotting the spreading of ticket data. Then, using the chart, a visual inspection is done to examine the concentration of tickets over the various areas of interest of the WPC and a diagnosis of potential issues is suggested. To illustrate how powerful WPA can be, two real world scenarios are depicted and used to validate the use of WPA in a large service delivery organization. Finally, some discussions about further improvements on the tool and research directions are done.
A Mashup-Based Approach to Optimize Human Performance in IT Service Management
Authors: Paula dos Santos Carlos Raniery , Granville Lisandro Zambenedetti , Loewenstern David , Shwartz Larisa (Laura) , Anerousis Nikos
Published: August 2015

Modern IT service provider organizations are under a continuous pressure to increase their competitiveness. Ways to reduce costs while improving performance of services are a key focus area for companies in the IT industry. However, despite all the solutions that have been proposed, modeling and optimizing human-centered processes remains a challenging task. The human operator may be influenced by multiple factors and execute the process in a different way each time, thus introducing a significant variability in the final process outcome. Therefore, the goal of this chapter is to introduce the concept of mashups as an effective approach to improve performance in terms of productivity and reliability of human-centered IT Service Management (ITSM) activities. In particular, this chapter aims to define management solutions required to deliver and demonstrate improvements in performance of human-centered ITSM processes. The introduced management solutions are examined through a real case study, related to the Request Fulfillment process.