bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introducing the Ko Corpus of Korean Mother–Child Interaction
Authors: Ko Eon-Suk , Jo Jinyoung , On Kyung-Woon , Zhang Byoung-Tak
Published: December 2020

We describe a corpus of speech taking place between 30 Korean mother–child pairs, divided in three groups of Prelexical (M= 0;08), Early-Lexical (M= 1;02), and Advanced-Lexical (M= 2;03). In addition to the child-directed speech (CDS), this corpus includes two different formalities of adult-directed speech (ADS), i.e., family-directed ADS (ADS_Fam) and experimenter-directed ADS (ADS_Exp). Our analysis of the MLU in CDS, family-, and experimenter-directed ADS found significant differences between CDS and ADS_Fam, and between ADS_Fam and ADS_Exp, but not between CDS and ADS_Exp. Our finding suggests that researchers should pay more attention to controlling the level of formality in CDS and ADS when comparing the two registers for their speech characteristics. The corpus was transcribed in the CHAT format of the CHILDES system, so users can easily extract data related to verbal behavior in the mother–child interaction using the CLAN program of CHILDES.
A Soft 3D-Printed Robotic Hand Actuated by Coiled SMA
Authors: Deng Eric , Tadesse Yonas
Published: December 2020

Robotic hands with unique designs, capabilities and applications have been presented in the literature focusing on sensing, actuation, control, powering and manufacturing, most of which are created by manual assembly process. However, due to advancements in additive manufacturing, new capabilities have replaced traditional methods of manufacturing. In this paper, we present a soft 3D-printed robotic hand actuated by custom-made coiled shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. The hand uses additive manufacturing of flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, which allows flexing at the joint and hence eliminates the need for additional assembly. Here, we present the full characteristics of the robotic hand such as object grasping categorized by size and weight from the ARAT kit and others. The robotic hand is 425 mm in length, weighs 235 g and is able to operate at a frequency of 0.125 Hz without active cooling. It can grasp an object of 55–81 mm widths, weighing up to 133 g, while consuming an average power of 7.82 W. We also show the time domain response of our custom-made coiled SMA to different current inputs, and its corresponding force and displacement. The current design yields a lightweight and low cost artificial hand with significantly simplified manufacturing for applications in robotics and prosthetics.
Correction: Tanaka, T., et al. Dual-Satellite Lunar Global Navigation System Using Multi-Epoch Double-Differenced Pseudorange Observations. Aerospace 2020, 7, 122
Authors: Tanaka Toshiki , Ebinuma Takuji , Nakasuka Shinichi
Published: December 2020

The authors regret that this paper [1] contains typographical errors in the sentence between Equation (16) and Equation (17), as well as in Equations (18), (20), (21), (34), (36) and (37), with respect to the point that they use the wrong notations t1 − tN, while the correct notations are tk − tk+N−1 [...]
Growth, Carcass and Meat Characteristics of Grass-Fed Lambs Weaned from Extensive Rangeland and Grazed on Permanent Pastures or Alfalfa
Authors: Elizalde Felipe , Hepp Christian , Reyes Camila , Tapia Marilyn , Lira Raúl , Morales Rodrigo , Sales Francisco , Catrileo Adrián , Silva Magdalena
Published: December 2020

Western Patagonia lamb production systems are based on extensive rangeland. The harsh climate limits the adoption of more intensive systems. Therefore, producers must focus on developing differentiated products. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth patterns, carcasses and nutritive value of meat from 45 lambs. Lambs were divided into three groups: 15 lambs were slaughtered at weaning (W), with the remaining 30 weaned lambs being allocated to grazing either alfalfa (AG) or permanent pasture (PPG). AG lambs were significantly heavier and had higher condition scores than PPG lambs. Further, AG lambs showed higher carcass weight and larger tissue depth and commercial cuts. Moreover, W lambs had lower shear force and more tender meat than either AG or PPG lambs. The three systems showed a low shear force and acceptable sensory traits. Low levels of cholesterol, with low levels of saturated fat, classified these cuts of meat as extra lean. W lambs had higher omega-3 fatty acid content than AG or PPG lambs. Overall, results showed that meat from the three lamb production systems showed health claimable levels of omega-3 fatty acids and were low in fat and thereby, can be classified as lean meat.
Angucycline-like Aromatic Polyketide from a Novel Streptomyces Species Reveals Freshwater Snail Physa acuta as Underexplored Reservoir for Antibiotic-Producing Actinomycetes
Authors: Safaei Nasim , Mast Yvonne , Steinert Michael , Huber Katharina , Bunk Boyke , Wink Joachim
Published: December 2020

Antibiotic producers have mainly been isolated from soil, which often has led to the rediscovery of known compounds. In this study, we identified the freshwater snail Physa acuta as an unexplored source for new antibiotic producers. The bacterial diversity associated with the snail was characterized by a metagenomic approach using cultivation-independent high-throughput sequencing. Although Actinobacteria represented only 2% of the bacterial community, the focus was laid on the isolation of the genus Streptomyces due to its potential to produce antibiotics. Three Streptomyces strains (7NS1, 7NS2 and 7NS3) were isolated from P. acuta, and the antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts were tested against a selection of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. 7NS3 showed the strongest activity against Gram-positive bacteria and, thus, was selected for genome sequencing and a phylogenomic analysis. 7NS3 represents a novel Streptomyces species, which was deposited as Streptomyces sp. DSM 110735 at the Leibniz Institute-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ). Bioassay-guided high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) analyses of crude extract fractions resulted in the detection of four compounds, one of which matched the compound characteristics of emycin A, an angucycline-like aromatic polyketide. Genome mining studies based on the whole-genome sequence of 7NS3 resulted in the identification of a gene cluster potentially coding for emycin A biosynthesis. Our study demonstrates that freshwater snails like P. acuta can represent promising reservoirs for the isolation of new antibiotic-producing actinobacterial species.
Thymol Nanoemulsion: A New Therapeutic Option for Extensively Drug Resistant Foodborne Pathogens
Authors: Bendary Mahmoud M. , Ibrahim Doaa , Mosbah Rasha A. , Mosallam Farag , Hegazy Wael A. H. , Awad Naglaa F. S. , Alshareef Walaa A. , Alomar Suliman Y. , Zaitone Sawsan A. , Abd El-Hamid Marwa I.
Published: December 2020

Foodborne pathogens have been associated with severe and complicated diseases. Therefore, these types of infections are a concern for public health officials and food and dairy industries. Regarding the wide-spread multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis), new and alternative therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Therefore, we investigated the antimicrobial, anti-virulence, and immunostimulant activities of a stable formulation of thymol as thymol nanoemulsion in an in vivo approach. Notably, treatment with 2.25% thymol nanoemulsion led to a pronounced improvement in the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in addition to decreases in the severity of clinical findings and mortality percentages of challenged chickens with XDR S. Enteritidis confirming its pronounced antimicrobial activities. Moreover, thymol nanoemulsion, at this dose, had protective effects through up-regulation of the protective cytokines and down-regulation of XDR S. Enteritidis sopB virulence gene and interleukins (IL)-4 and IL-10 cytokines as those hinder the host defenses. Furthermore, it enhanced the growth of gut Bifidobacteria species, which increases the strength of the immune system. For that, we suggested the therapeutic use of thymol nanoemulsion against resistant foodborne pathogens. Finally, we recommended the use of 2.25% thymol nanoemulsion as a feed additive for immunocompromised individuals as well as in the veterinary fields.
Auranofin Has Advantages over First-Line Drugs in the Treatment of Severe Streptococcus suis Infections
Authors: Lu Hao , Lu Wenjia , Zhu Yongwei , Wang Chenchen , Shi Liming , Li Xiaodan , Wu Zhaoyuan , Wang Gaoyan , Dong Wenqi , Tan Chen , Liu Manli
Published: December 2020

Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (STSLS) likely occurs when an individual is infected with the Streptococcus suis (S. suis) epidemic strain and is characterized by a cytokine storm, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and a high incidence of mortality despite adequate treatment. A number of antibiotics exhibit excellent bactericidal effects in vivo, such as fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides (gentamicin) and β-lactams (penicillin G, ceftiofur, or amoxicillin), but are less effective for treating STSLS. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new compounds that can reduce the damage caused by STSLS. In the present study, we identified auranofin, an orally bioavailable FDA-approved anti-rheumatic drug as a candidate repurposed drug to treat severe S. suis infections. Our results showed that auranofin can bind to the functional domain of bacterial thioredoxin reductase, decreasing the reducing redox-responsive capacity of target bacteria and allowing for the killing of S. suis cells. We also observed that auranofin has antibacterial activity against other gram-positive bacteria, such as multidrug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MDRSP), Streptococcus agalactiae, and vancomycin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, auranofin is capable of eradicating intracellular S.suis present inside infected macrophage cells. Mouse model experimental results showed that auranofin could effectively reduce the mortality of mice infected with S. suis. Compared to the ampicillin treatment group, the survival rate of mice in the auranofin treatment group in severely infected model mice was significantly improved. These results suggest that auranofin has the potential for use as an effective antibiotic against S. suis.
A Big Data Approach to Customer Relationship Management Strategy in Hospitality Using Multiple Correspondence Domain Description
Authors: González-Serrano Lydia , Talón-Ballestero Pilar , Muñoz-Romero Sergio , Soguero-Ruiz Cristina , Rojo-Álvarez José Luis
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 has hit the hotel sector in a hitherto unknown way. This situation is producing a fundamental change in client behavior that makes crucial an adequate knowledge of their profile to overcome an uncertain environment. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can provide key strategies in hospitality industry by generating a great amount of valuable information about clients, whereas Big Data tools are providing with unprecedented facilities to conduct massive analysis and to focus the client-to-business relationship. However, few instruments have been proposed to handle categorical features, which are the most usual in CRMs, aiming to adapt the statistical robustness with the best interpretability for the managers. Therefore, our aim was to identify the profiles of clients from an international hotel chain using the overall data in its CRM system. An analysis method was created involving three elements: First, Multiple Correspondence Analysis provides us with a statistical description of the interactions among categories and features. Second, bootstrap resampling techniques give us information about the statistical variability of the feature maps. Third, kernel methods provide easy-to-visualize domain descriptions based on confidence areas in the maps. The proposed methodology can provide an operative and statistically principled way to scrutinize the CRM profiles in hospitality.
Prioritization of Factors Affecting Sustainability Property Improvement by Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Important-Satisfaction Model: The Case of TAIPEI 101 Tower
Authors: Lin Tse-Hsiung , Shih Shen-Guan
Published: December 2020

Almost without exceptions office buildings in the world investigate the approaches of optimizing the building operation and property facilities in order to maintain the best conditions of the building from the first day of opening. For sustainable buildings, how to make continuous profit must rely on the maintenance and improvement of facilities to satisfy users. However, building managers often have trouble prioritizing improvement projects toward their sustainable objectives due to the large number of facilities that have different durability years and the importance and satisfaction of these facilities to users are also different. In the past, financial consideration was usually the only one that matters when improvement of facilities was brought up. Users feedback of satisfaction was not taken into consideration, resulting in huge expenditures did not bring in high user satisfaction. This research, by scientific analysis of the data from user feedback, applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using TAIPEI 101 Tower as a case study to explore the key factors affecting tenants’ willingness to lease office buildings by distributing questionnaires to real estate experts. By filtering out key indicators related to property facilities that users care about, this study used Importance and Satisfaction Analysis (IS Analysis) to identify items that need urgent improvement. This innovative analysis methodology can systematically and logically find out the priority of improvement projects, assisting building managers effectively invest limited resources in projects with substantial benefit, which is helpful for sustainable property management.
Effect of Fuel Mass Flow at the End of Injection on Cavitation and Gas Ingestion in the Nozzle
Authors: Wen Hua , Jiang Yulong , Ma Jinglong
Published: December 2020

The fuel flow in the diesel engine nozzle has a vital impact on the fuel atomization and spray, and the fuel mass flux affects the internal flow of the nozzle. The visual experimental platform for a transparent nozzle was built to obtain the image of fuel flow in a nozzle with a small sac combining the back-light imaging technology and a high-speed framing camera. A two-phase three-component numerical model, based on the OpenFOAM solver, was calculated to quantitatively analyze gas ingestion and cavitation in the nozzle. The results indicate that at the end of injection (EOI), fuel cavitation and external air backflow (gas ingestion) occur successively in the nozzle, and both phenomena first appear in the orifice and then transition to the sac. Cavitation collapse is the major factor of gas ingestion, and the total amount of gas ingestion and cavitation mainly depends on the sac. The outflow of fuel largely depends on the total amount of cavitation and the inertial outflow of fuel at the EOI. The type of cavitation in the nozzle mainly presents annular and bulk cavitation, the former primarily exists in the sac, while the latter is established within the orifice. Therefore, larger mass flows will contribute to stronger cavitation and gas ingestion.
Robust Control of Electric Tail Reduction System: Uncertainty and Performance Index
Authors: Huang Kang , Ma Chao , Zhao Han , Zhu Zicheng
Published: December 2020

The electric tail reduction system of the unmanned helicopter contains uncertainty. To solve this problem, a constraint-following approach was applied to design a novel robust control for uncertain mechanical systems. The dynamic model of the uncertain electric tail reduction system was established by combining the load of the electric tail rotor and the flight state of the helicopter. Based on the Udwadia–Kalaba theory, a robust constraint following the control method was proposed to deal with the uncertainty of the system. In addition, to balance the steady-state performance and control cost of the system, a control parameter optimization design method was proposed to minimize the performance index. Furthermore, the unique solution of the optimal parameter can be obtained. Compared with the LQR control method, the effectiveness of the optimization method of robust constraint following control was verified.
Utilization of Optimization of Internal Topology in Manufacturing of Injection Moulds by the DMLS Technology
Authors: Coranic Tomas , Gaspar Stefan , Pasko Jan
Published: December 2020

The present paper is focused on the issue of creating residual stresses in the manufacturing of the moulded parts for injection moulding machines using DMLS technology. Thus, fractures and cracks can cause deformations and geometric inaccuracies in the final part. Moreover, they pose a potential damage risk to the machine itself. The simulation tools for the analysis of the Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) process were used to expose the critical points of the original monolithic shaped insert in which the highest stresses during the manufacture occur. Subsequently, an alternative solution was created via the optimization of the internal topology. This solution was analysed, and in terms of strength characteristics, compared to the original model in order to ensure the proper function and durability of the manufactured part. The present study was created in cooperation with a company engaged in the production of injection moulds. The internal topology optimization of the part itself is used in combination with the appropriate orientation of the model in the workspace, unlike other research in the given field, where either the model orientation optimization or the support structure is used in this design. However, except for the mentioned reduction of residual stresses, it has a positive effect on mechanical properties, reducing material consumption and savings in time; thus, the obtained results can be applied to other methods of additive manufacturing.
A Novel Wearable Foot and Ankle Monitoring System for the Assessment of Gait Biomechanics
Authors: Faragó Paul , Grama Lăcrimioara , Farago Monica-Adriana , Hintea Sorin
Published: December 2020

Walking is the most basic form of human activity for achieving mobility. As an essential function of the human body, the examination of walking is directed towards the assessment of body mechanics in posture and during movement. This work proposes a wearable smart system for the monitoring and objective evaluation of foot biomechanics during gait. The proposed solution assumes the cross-correlation of the plantar pressure with lower-limb muscular activity, throughout the stance phase of walking. Plantar pressure is acquired with an array of resistive pressure sensors deployed onto a shoe insole along the center of gravity progression line. Lower-limb muscular activity is determined from the electromyogram of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lower limb muscles respectively. Under this scenario, physiological gait assumes the interdependency of plantar pressure on the heel area with activation of the tibialis anterior, as well as plantar pressure on the metatarsal arch/toe area with activation of the gastrocnemius. As such, assessment of gait physiology is performed by comparison of a gait map, formulated based on the footprint–lower-limb muscle cross-correlation results, to a reference gait template. A laboratory proof of concept validates the proposed solution in a test scenario which assumes a normal walking and two pathological walking patterns.
Special Issue on Advances and Technologies in High Voltage Power Systems Operation, Control, Protection, and Security
Authors: Haes Alhelou Hassan , Siano Pierluigi
Published: December 2020

The electrical demands in several countries around the world are increasing due to the huge energy requirements of prosperous economies and the human activities of modern life [...]
Electrical Coupling of Monolithic 3D Inverters (M3INVs): MOSFET and Junctionless FET
Authors: Ahn Tae Jun , Yu Yun Seop
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we investigated the electrical coupling between the top and bottom transistors in a monolithic 3-dimensional (3D) inverter (M3INV) stacked vertically with junctionless field-effect transistor (JLFET), which is one of candidates to replace metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET). Currents, transconductances, and gate capacitances of the top N-type transistor at the different gate voltages of the bottom P-type transistor as a function of thickness of inter-layer dielectric (TILD) and gate channel length (Lg) are simulated using technology computer-aided-design (TCAD). In M3INV stacked vertically with MOSFET (M3INV-MOS) and JLFET (M3INV-JL), the variations of threshold voltage, transconductance, and capacitance increase as TILD decreases and they increase as Lg increases, and thus there is a strong coupling in M3INV at the range of TILD ≤ 30 nm. In M3INV, the coupling between stacked JLFETs in M3INV-JL is larger than that between MOSFETs in M3INV-MOS at the same TILD and Lg. The switching threshold voltage (Vm) and noise margins (NMs) of M3INV are calculated from the voltage transfer characteristics (VTC) simulated with TCAD mixed-mode. As the gate lengths of M3INV-MOS and M3INV-JL increase, the Vm variations increase and decrease, respectively. The smaller the gate lengths of M3INV-NOS and M3INV-JL, the larger and smaller the variation of Vm, respectively. The noise margin of M3INV-MOS is larger and better for inverter characteristics than one of M3INV-JL. M3INV-MOS has less electrical coupling than M3INV-JL.
Hydrogen Inter-Cage Hopping and Cage Occupancies inside Hydrogen Hydrate: Molecular-Dynamics Analysis
Authors: Krishnan Yogeshwaran , Ghaani Mohammad Reza , Desmedt Arnaud , English Niall J.
Published: December 2020

The inter-cage hopping in a type II clathrate hydrate with different numbers of H2 and D2 molecules, from 1 to 4 molecules per large cage, was studied using a classical molecular dynamics simulation at temperatures of 80 to 240 K. We present the results for the diffusion of these guest molecules (H2 or D2) at all of the different occupations and temperatures, and we also calculated the activation energy as the energy barrier for the diffusion using the Arrhenius equation. The average occupancy number over the simulation time showed that the structures with double and triple large-cage H2 occupancy appeared to be the most stable, while the small cages remained with only one guest molecule. A Markov model was also calculated based on the number of transitions between the different cage types.
Wear Characteristics of Different Groove-Shaped Friction Pairs of a Friction Clutch
Authors: Bao Heyun , Zhang Chao , Hou Xiaonan , Lu Fengxia
Published: December 2020

To investigate the influence of the groove shape of friction disks on the wear of a friction clutch friction pair, a wear calculation model that considers the actual sliding distance between the friction clutch friction pair is presented based on the Archard adhesive wear model. The wear of three different groove-shaped friction pairs was calculated and analyzed. The wear test was carried out on the SAE#2 testing rig to obtain the actual wear amount and verify the accuracy and validity of the mathematical model. The results show that, among the three types of grooves, the friction disks with waffle grooves were the most prone to wear, followed by three-way parallel grooves. The wear performance of the two-way parallel grooves was the best, and the wear from one-time engagement can better reflect the change in the dynamic engagement of the friction pair. With the increase in the engagement time, the increase of the wear amount decreases.
Network Attack Path Selection and Evaluation Based on Q-Learning
Authors: Wu Runze , Gong Jinxin , Tong Weiyue , Fan Bing
Published: December 2020

As the coupling relationship between information systems and physical power grids is getting closer, various types of cyber attacks have increased the operational risks of a power cyber-physical System (CPS). In order to effectively evaluate this risk, this paper proposed a method of cross-domain propagation analysis of a power CPS risk based on reinforcement learning. First, the Fuzzy Petri Net (FPN) was used to establish an attack model, and Q-Learning was improved through FPN. The attack gain was defined from the attacker’s point of view to obtain the best attack path. On this basis, a quantitative indicator of information-physical cross-domain spreading risk was put forward to analyze the impact of cyber attacks on the real-time operation of the power grid. Finally, the simulation based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 14 power distribution system verifies the effectiveness of the proposed risk assessment method.
Portable Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Analysis of Asbestos and Fibrous Minerals
Authors: Petriglieri Jasmine Rita , Bersani Danilo , Laporte-Magoni Christine , Tribaudino Mario , Cavallo Alessandro , Salvioli-Mariani Emma , Turci Francesco
Published: December 2020

Asbestos inhalation is associated with fatal respiratory diseases and raises concerns from the perspective of workplace safety and environmental impacts. Asbestos and asbestos-like minerals naturally occur in rocks and may become airborne when outcrops or soils are disturbed by anthropic activities. In situ detection of these minerals is a crucial step for the risk evaluation of natural sites. We assess here whether a portable Raman spectrometer (pRS) may be used in the identification of asbestos and asbestos-like minerals at the mining front during exploitation. pRS performance was tested at three geologically different mining sites in Italy and New Caledonia and compared with a high-resolution micro-Raman spectrometer (HRS). About 80% of the overall in situ analyses at the mining front were successfully identified by pRS, even when intermixed phases or strongly disaggregated and altered samples were analyzed. Chrysotile and tremolite asbestos, asbestos-like antigorite, and balangeroite were correctly detected during surveys. The major difficulties faced during in situ pRS measurements were fluorescence emission and focussing the laser beam on non-cohesive bundles of fibers. pRS is adequate for discriminating asbestos and asbestos-like minerals in situ. pRS may support risk assessment of mining sites to better protect workers and environment.
Optimized Design of OTA-Based Gyrator Realizing Fractional-Order Inductance Simulator: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Kubanek David , Koton Jaroslav , Dvorak Jan , Herencsar Norbert , Sotner Roman
Published: December 2020

A detailed analysis of an operational transconductance amplifier based gyrator implementing a fractional-order inductance simulator is presented. The influence of active element non-ideal properties on the gyrator operation is investigated and demonstrated by admittance characteristics and formulas for important values and cut-off frequencies in these characteristics. Recommendations to optimize the performance of the gyrator in terms of operation bandwidth, the range of obtainable admittance magnitude, and signal dynamic range are proposed. The theoretical observations are verified by PSpice simulations of the gyrator with LT1228 integrated circuit.
Semi-Automatic Adaptation of Diagnostic Rules in the Case-Based Reasoning Process
Authors: Pusztová Ľudmila , Babič František , Paralič Ján
Published: December 2020

The paper presents a new approach to effectively support the adaptation phases in the case-based reasoning (CBR) process. The use of the CBR approach in DSS (Decision Support Systems) can help the doctors better understand existing knowledge and make personalized decisions. CBR simulates human thinking by reusing previous solutions applied to past similar cases to solve new ones. The proposed method improves the most challenging part of the CBR process, the adaptation phase. It provides diagnostic suggestions together with explanations in the form of decision rules so that the physician can more easily decide on a new patient’s diagnosis. We experimentally tested and verified our semi-automatic adaptation method through medical data representing patients with cardiovascular disease. At first, the most appropriate diagnostics is presented to the doctor as the most relevant diagnostic paths, i.e., rules—extracted from a decision tree model. The generated rules are based on existing patient records available for the analysis. Next, the doctor can consider these results in two ways. If the selected diagnostic path entirely covers the actual new case, she can apply the proposed diagnostic path to diagnose the new case. Otherwise, our system automatically suggests the minimal rules’ modification alternatives to cover the new case. The doctor decides if the suggested modifications can be accepted or not.
Perspective on Some Recent and Future Developments in Casimir Interactions
Authors: Woods Lilia M. , Krüger Matthias , Dodonov Victor V.
Published: December 2020

Here, we present a critical review of recent developments in Casimir physics motivated by discoveries of novel materials. Specifically, topologically nontrivial properties of the graphene family, Chern and topological insulators, and Weyl semimetals have diverse manifestations in the distance dependence, presence of fundamental constants, magnitude, and sign of the Casimir interaction. Limited studies of the role of nonlinear optical properties in the interaction are also reviewed. We show that, since many new materials have greatly enhanced the nonlinear optical response, new efficient pathways for investigation of the characteristic regimes of the Casimir force need to be explored, which are expected to lead to new discoveries. Recent progress in the dynamical Casimir effect is also reviewed and we argue that nonlinear media can open up new directions in this field as well.
Industrial Design of Electric Machines Supported with Knowledge-Based Engineering Systems
Authors: Rivera Christian A. , Poza Javier , Ugalde Gaizka , Almandoz Gaizka
Published: December 2020

The demand for electric machines has increased in the last decade, mainly due to applications that try to make a full transition from fuel to electricity. These applications encounter the need for tailor-made electric machines that must meet demanding requirements. Therefore, it is necessary for small-medium companies to adopt new technologies offering customized products fulfilling the customers’ requirements according to their investment capacity, simplify their development process, and reduce computational time to achieve a feasible design in shorter periods. Furthermore, they must find ways to retain know-how that is typically kept within each designer to retrieve it or transfer it to new designers. This paper presents a framework with an implementation example of a knowledge-based engineering (KBE) system to design industrial electric machines to support this issue. The devised KBE system groups the main functionalities that provide the best outcome for an electric machine designer as development-process traceability, knowledge accessibility, automation of tasks, and intelligent support. The results show that if the company effectively applies these functionalities, they can leverage the attributes of KBE systems to shorten time-to-market. They can also ensure not losing all knowledge, information, and data through the whole development process.
Effect of Soccer Ball Panels on Aerodynamic Characteristics and Flow in Drag Crisis
Authors: Sakamoto Yuki , Hiratsuka Masaki , Ito Shinichiro
Published: December 2020

The panel patterns of soccer balls that change with each World Cup have a significant impact on the balls’ aerodynamic and flight characteristics. In this study, the aerodynamic forces of eleven types of soccer ball with different panel patterns were measured in a wind tunnel experiment. We characterized the panel shapes of soccer balls by the length, cross-sectional area, and the panel grooves’ volume. The results confirmed that the drag and drag crisis characteristics are dependent on the groove length and volumes. Flow separation points were visualized by an oil film experiment and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement to understand the drag crisis of the soccer balls. The results showed that the panel shape of the ball significantly changes the position of the separation point near the critical region, where the drags crisis occurs. In the critical region, laminar and turbulent flows coexist on the ball. On the other hand, the effect of panel shape on the separation point position is small in subcritical and supercritical states.
Influence of Age on the Technical Wear of Tenement Houses
Authors: Konior Jarosław , Sawicki Marek , Szóstak Mariusz
Published: December 2020

The research presented in the article, which includes methods, models, and conclusions, contains synthetic and analytical model solutions concerning the problems of the technical maintenance and wear of residential buildings with a traditional construction. The cause and effect relationships between the occurrence of damage in the elements of tenement houses (treated as proof of their maintenance conditions), and the size of the technical wear of these elements were determined using a representative and purposefully selected sample of 102 residential buildings erected during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Wroclaw’s “Downtown” district. Quantitative damage analysis, which was carried out using empirical (visual) methods of assessing the technical condition of a building, indicates the type and size of damage to the building’s elements that are characteristic for the relevant maintenance conditions. Research concerning the cause–effect relationships (“damage–technical wear”) in observed states allows for a numerical approach to the impact of building maintenance conditions on the degree of the technical wear of its components. The maintenance and exploitation conditions determine the degree of the technical wear of the elements of an old residential building. The exploitation condition of these buildings is manifested by damage to elements caused by water and moisture penetration, which is especially important for poorly maintained buildings. The article shows that the age of the elements of an old residential building with a traditional construction is of secondary importance in the process of the intensity of losing its serviceability value. It was calculated that no more than 30% of the damage of building components is explained by the passage of time, and it is therefore not age that determines the course of the technical wear of the elements of the analyzed tenement houses.
Georeferencing of Multi-Sheet Maps Based on Least Squares with Constraints—First Military Mapping Survey Maps in the Area of Czechia
Authors: Janata Tomáš , Cajthaml Jiří
Published: December 2020

The article deals with the possibility of georeferencing old multi-sheet map works. Various approaches to problem solving and a workable method for using the least squares method with the conditions of the adjacency of map sheets are discussed. To increase reliability, the IRLS robust statistical method is used, which uses iterative weighting of individual measurements based on Huber’s M-estimate. The method is applied to the First Military Mapping of the Habsburg monarchy as a typical representative of old topographic maps, which are not easy to georeference due to unknown parameters of the used cartographic projection. A georeferenced layer of the above mentioned mapping is available on the Mapire.eu portal as well. A basic analysis of the comparison of georeferencing results using our method and the mentioned portal is performed.
Investigation of the Impact of Cold Plasma Treatment on the Chemical Composition and Wettability of Medical Grade Polyvinylchloride
Authors: Bormashenko Edward , Legchenkova Irina , Navon-Venezia Shiri , Frenkel Mark , Bormashenko Yelena
Published: December 2020

The impact of the Corona, dielectric barrier discharge, and low pressure radiofrequency air plasmas on the chemical composition and wettability of medical grade polyvinylchloride was investigated. Corona plasma treatment exerted the most pronounced increase in the hydrophilization of polyvinylchloride. The specific energy of adhesion of the pristine and plasma-treated Polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubing is reported. Plasma treatment increased markedly the specific free surface energy of PVC. The kinetics of hydrophobic recovery following plasma treatment was explored. The time evolution of the apparent contact angle under the hydrophobic recovery is satisfactorily described by the exponential fitting. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of the chemical composition of the near-surface layers of the plasma-treated catheters revealed their oxidation. The effect of the hydrophobic recovery hardly correlated with oxidation of the polymer surface, which is irreversible and it is reasonably attributed to the bulk mobility of polymer chains.
Combining 3D Structured Light Imaging and Spine X-ray Data Improves Visualization of the Spinous Lines in the Scoliotic Spine
Authors: Paśko Sławomir , Glinkowski Wojciech
Published: December 2020

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional trunk and spinal deformity. Patient evaluation is essential for the decision-making process and determines the selection of specific and adequate treatment. The diagnosis requires a radiological evaluation that exposes patients to radiation. This exposure reaches hazardous levels when numerous, repetitive radiographic studies are required for diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment. Technological improvements in radiographic devices have significantly reduced radiation exposure, but the risk for patients remains. Optical three-dimensional surface topography (3D ST) measurement systems that use surface topography (ST) to screen, diagnose, and monitor scoliosis are safer alternatives to radiography. The study aimed to show that the combination of plain X-ray and 3D ST scans allows for an approximate presentation of the vertebral column spinous processes line in space to determine the shape of the spine’s deformity in scoliosis patients. Twelve patients diagnosed with scoliosis, aged 13.1 ± 4.5 years (range: 9 to 20 years) (mean: Cobb angle 17.8°, SD: ±9.5°) were enrolled in the study. Patients were diagnosed using full-spine X-ray and whole torso 3D ST. The novel three-dimensional assessment of the spinous process lines by merging 3D ST and X-ray data in patients with scoliosis was implemented. The method’s expected uncertainty is less than 5 mm, which is better than the norm for a standard measurement tool. The presented accuracy level is considered adequate; the proposed solution is accurate enough to monitor the changes in the shape of scoliosis’s spinous processes line. The proposed method allows for a relatively precise calculation of the spinous process lines based on a three-dimensional point cloud obtained with a four-directional, three-dimensional structured light diagnostic system and a single X-ray image. The method may help reduce patients’ total radiation exposure and avoid one X-ray in the sagittal projection if biplanar radiograms are required for reconstructing the three-dimensional line of the spinous processes line.
Incremental Formula-Based Fix Localization
Authors: Phung Quang-Ngoc , Lee Eunseok
Published: December 2020

Automatically fixing bugs in software programs can significantly reduce the cost and improve the productivity of the software. Toward this goal, a critical and challenging problem is automatic fix localization, which identifies program locations where a bug fix can be synthesized. In this paper, we present AgxFaults, a technique that automatically identifies minimal subsets of program statements at which a suitable modification can remove the error. AgxFaults works based on dynamically encoding semantic of program parts that are relevant to an observed error into an unsatisfiable logical formula and then manipulating this formula in an increasingly on-demand manner. We perform various experiments on faulty versions of the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) program in the Siemens Suite, programs in Bekkouche’s benchmark, and server real bugs in the Defects4J benchmark. The experimental results show that AgxFaults outperforms single-path-formula approaches in terms of effectiveness in finding fix localization and fault localization. AgxFaults is better than program-formula-based approaches in terms of efficiency and scalability, while providing similar effectiveness. Specifically, the solving time of AgxFaults is 28% faster, and the running time is 45% faster, than the program-formula-based approach, while providing similar fault localization results.
Fascial or Muscle Stretching? A Narrative Review
Authors: Stecco Carla , Pirri Carmelo , Fede Caterina , Yucesoy Can A. , De Caro Raffaele , Stecco Antonio
Published: December 2020

Stretching exercises are integral part of the rehabilitation and sport. Despite this, the mechanism behind its proposed effect remains ambiguous. It is assumed that flexibility increases, e.g., action on muscle and tendon, respectively, but this is not always present in the stretching protocol of the exercises used. Recently, the fasciae have increased popularity and seems that they can have a role to define the flexibility and the perception of the limitation of the maximal range of motion (ROM). Deep fascia is also considered a key element to transmit load in parallel bypassing the joints, transmitting around 30% of the force generated during a muscular contraction. So, it seems impossible dividing the action of the muscles from the fasciae, but they have to be considered as a “myofascial unit”. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate the mechanical behavior of muscles, tendons, and fasciae to better understand how they can interact during passive stretching. Stress-strain values of muscle, tendon and fascia demonstrate that during passive stretching, the fascia is the first tissue that limit the elongation, suggesting that fascial tissue is probably the major target of static stretching. A better understanding of myofascial force transmission, and the study of the biomechanical behavior of fasciae, with also the thixotropic effect, can help to design a correct plan of stretching.
Benefit Analysis of the 1st Spanish Air Pollution Control Programme on Health Impacts and Associated Externalities
Authors: Gamarra Ana , Lechón Yolanda , Vivanco Marta , Garrido Juan , Martín Fernando , Sánchez Eugenio , Theobald Mark , Gil Victoria , Santiago José
Published: December 2020

This paper aims to provide scientific support for decision-making in the field of improving air quality by evaluating pollution reduction measures included in the current Spanish policy framework of the 1st National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP). First, the health impacts of air quality are estimated by using the concentrations estimated by multiscale air quality modeling and the recommended concentration–response functions (CRF), specifically as a result of exposure to particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3). Second, the associated external costs are calculated by monetization techniques. Two scenarios are analyzed: a package including existing measures (WM2030) and a package with additional measures (WAM2030). Compared with the baseline scenario, an improvement was found in the health effects of NO2, PM10, and PM2.5, while for O3 there was a slight worsening, mainly due to the increase in the O3 metric used (SOMO35), which increases over some urban areas. Despite this, the monetary valuation of the total effects on health as a whole shows external benefits due to the adoption of measures (WM2030), compared with the reference scenario (no measures) of more than € 17.5 billion and, when considering the additional measures (WAM2030), benefits of about € 58.1 billion.
Oxygen Isotopes in Tree Rings from Greenland: A New Proxy of NAO
Authors: Xu Chenxi , Buckley Brendan M. , Wang Shih-Yu Simon , An Wenling , Li Zhen , Nakatsuka Takeshi , Guo Zhengtang
Published: December 2020

We present the first Greenlandic tree ring oxygen isotope record (δ18OGTR), derived from four birch trees collected from the Qinguadalen Valley in southwestern Greenland in 1999. Our δ18O record spans from 1950–1999 and is significantly and positively correlated with winter ice core δ18O from southern Greenland. δ18OGTR records are positively correlated with southwestern Greenland January–August mean temperatures. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) reconstructions have been developed from a variety of proxies, but never with Greenlandic tree rings, and our δ18OGTR record is significantly correlated with NAO (r = −0.64), and spatial correlations with sea-level pressure indicate a classic NAO pressure seesaw pattern. These results may facilitate a longer NAO reconstruction based on long time series of tree ring δ18O records from Greenland, provided that subfossil wood can be found in areas vacated by melting glaciers.
Carbon, Nitrogen, and Sulfur Elemental Fluxes in the Soil and Exchanges with the Atmosphere in Australian Tropical, Temperate, and Arid Wetlands
Authors: Pasut Chiara , Tang Fiona H. M. , Hamilton David P. , Maggi Federico
Published: December 2020

Australian ecosystems, particularly wetlands, are facing new and extreme threats due to climate change, land use, and other human interventions. However, more fundamental knowledge is required to understand how nutrient turnover in wetlands is affected. In this study, we deployed a mechanistic biogeochemical model of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) cycles at 0.25∘× 0.25∘ spatial resolution across wetlands in Australia. Our modeling was used to assess nutrient inputs to soil, elemental nutrient fluxes across the soil organic and mineral pools, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in different climatic areas. In the decade 2008–2017, we estimated an average annual emission of 5.12 Tg-CH4, 90.89 Tg-CO2, and 2.34 × 10−2 Tg-N2O. Temperate wetlands in Australia have three times more N2O emissions than tropical wetlands as a result of fertilization, despite similar total area extension. Tasmania wetlands have the highest areal GHG emission rates. C fluxes in soil depend strongly on hydroclimatic factors; they are mainly controlled by anaerobic respiration in temperate and tropical regions and by aerobic respiration in arid regions. In contrast, N and S fluxes are mostly governed by plant uptake regardless of the region and season. The new knowledge from this study may help design conservation and adaptation plans to climate change and better protect the Australian wetland ecosystem.
e-Distance in Menger PGM Spaces with an Application
Authors: Lotfali Ghasab Ehsan , Majani Hamid , De la Sen Manuel , Soleimani Rad Ghasem
Published: December 2020

The main purpose of the present paper is to define the concept of an e-distance (as a generalization of r-distance) on a Menger PGM space and to introduce some of its properties. Moreover, some coupled fixed point results, in terms of this distance on a complete PGM space, are proved. To support our definitions and main results, several examples and an application are considered.