bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling County-Level Spatio-Temporal Mortality Rates Using Dynamic Linear Models
Authors: Gibbs Zoe , Groendyke Chris , Hartman Brian , Richardson Robert
Published: November 2020

The lifestyles and backgrounds of individuals across the United States differ widely. Some of these differences are easily measurable (ethnicity, age, income, etc.) while others are not (stress levels, empathy, diet, exercise, etc.). Though every person is unique, individuals living closer together likely have more similar lifestyles than individuals living hundreds of miles apart. Because lifestyle and environmental factors contribute to mortality, spatial correlation may be an important feature in mortality modeling. However, many of the current mortality models fail to account for spatial relationships. This paper introduces spatio-temporal trends into traditional mortality modeling using Bayesian hierarchical models with conditional auto-regressive (CAR) priors. We show that these priors, commonly used for areal data, are appropriate for modeling county-level spatial trends in mortality data covering the contiguous United States. We find that mortality rates of neighboring counties are highly correlated. Additionally, we find that mortality improvement or deterioration trends between neighboring counties are also highly correlated.
Correction: Shupeng, W., et al. Carbon Dioxide Retrieval from TanSat Observations and Validation with TCCON Measurements. Remote Sensing 2020, 12(14), 2204
Authors: Wang Shupeng , van der A Ronald J. , Stammes Piet , Wang Weihe , Zhang Peng , Lu Naimeng , Zhang Xingying , Bi Yanmeng , Wang Ping , Fang Li
Published: November 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Assessment of Wind Direction Estimation Methods from SAR Images
Authors: Corazza Alexandre , Khenchaf Ali , Comblet Fabrice
Published: November 2020

Wind information on SAR images are essential to characterize a marine environment in offshore or coastal area. More and more applications require high resolution wind field estimation. In this article, classical wind wave direction estimation methods are reviewed as the spectral or gradient approaches. In addition, a way to enhance the spectral method with the Radon transform is proposed. The aim of this document is to determine which method provides greatest results when the resolution grid is finer. Therefore, the methods accuracy, fidelity and uncertainty are compared through a simulation study, a section with RadarSAT2 data in coastal area and another one with Sentinel-1 measurements in offshore area.
An Intelligent Data Uploading Selection Mechanism for Offloading Uplink Traffic of Cellular Networks
Authors: Wang Qian , Fang Juan , Gong Bei , Du Xiaojiang , Guizani Mohsen
Published: November 2020

Wi-Fi uploading is considered an effective method for offloading the traffic of cellular networks generated by the data uploading process of mobile crowd sensing applications. However, previously proposed Wi-Fi uploading schemes mainly focus on optimizing one performance objective: the offloaded cellular traffic or the reduced uploading cost. In this paper, we propose an Intelligent Data Uploading Selection Mechanism (IDUSM) to realize a trade-off between the offloaded traffic of cellular networks and participants’ uploading cost considering the differences among participants’ data plans and direct and indirect opportunistic transmissions. The mechanism first helps the source participant choose an appropriate data uploading manner based on the proposed probability prediction model, and then optimizes its performance objective for the chosen data uploading manner. In IDUSM, our proposed probability prediction model precisely predicts a participant’s mobility from spatial and temporal aspects, and we decrease data redundancy produced in the Wi-Fi offloading process to reduce waste of participants’ limited resources (e.g., storage, battery). Simulation results show that the offloading efficiency of our proposed IDUSM is (56.54×10−7), and the value is the highest among the other three Wi-Fi offloading mechanisms. Meanwhile, the offloading ratio and uploading cost of IDUSM are respectively 52.1% and (6.79×103). Compared with other three Wi-Fi offloading mechanisms, it realized a trade-off between the offloading ratio and the uploading cost.
Attitude Trajectory Optimization to Ensure Balance Hexapod Locomotion
Authors: Chen Chen , Guo Wei , Wang Pengfei , Sun Lining , Zha Fusheng , Shi Junyi , Li Mantian
Published: November 2020

This paper proposes a simple attitude trajectory optimization method to enhance the walking balance of a large-size hexapod robot. To achieve balance motion control of a large-size hexapod robot on different outdoor terrains, we planned the balance attitude trajectories of the robot during walking and introduced how leg trajectories are generated based on the planned attitude trajectories. While planning the attitude trajectories, high order polynomial interpolation was employed with attitude fluctuation counteraction considered. Constraints that the planned attitude trajectories must satisfy during walking were well-considered. The trajectory of the swing leg was well designed with the terrain attitude considered to improve the environmental adaptability of the robot during the attitude adjustment process, and the trajectory of the support leg was automatically generated to satisfy the demand of the balance attitude trajectories planned. Comparative experiments of the real large-size hexapod robot walking on different terrains were carried out to validate the effectiveness and applicability of the attitude trajectory optimization method proposed, which demonstrated that, compared with the currently developed balance motion controllers, the attitude trajectory optimization method proposed can simplify the control system design and improve the walking balance of a hexapod robot.
Optical-Amplifier-Compatible Long-Distance Secure Key Generation Based on Random Phase Fluctuations for WDM Systems
Authors: Wu Ben , Huang Yue-Kai
Published: November 2020

We proposed and experimentally demonstrated a secure key generation and distribution system that is compatible with optical amplifiers and standard wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission systems. The key is generated from the phase fluctuations induced by environmental instabilities. The key generation system is tested in a 240 km bidirectional fiber-pair link with multiple optical amplifiers. To demonstrate the compatibility with WDM systems, 38 WDM channels are transmitted together with the key distribution channel. The secret key is protected against eavesdropping and coherence detection attack by the wide-band property of the signal carrier and the fast-changing rate of the phase fluctuations.
Dual-Frequency Doppler LiDAR Based on External Optical Feedback Effect in a Laser
Authors: Chen Zhuqiu , Yu Yanguang , Ruan Yuxi , Nie Bairun , Xi Jiangtao , Guo Qinghua , Tong Jun
Published: November 2020

A novel Dual-frequency Doppler LiDAR (DFDL) is presented where the dual-frequency light source is generated by using external optical feedback (EOF) effect in a laser diode (LD). By operating a LD at period-one (P1) state and choosing suitable LD related parameters, a dual-frequency light source can be achieved. Such a dual-frequency source has advantages of the minimum part-count scheme, low cost in implementation, and ease in optical alignment. Theory and system design are presented for the proposed DFDL for velocity measurement with high measurement resolution. The proposed design has a potential contribution to the Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) in practical engineering applications.
Continuous Hue-Based Self-Calibration of a Smartphone Spectrometer Applied to Optical Fiber Fabry-Perot Sensor Interrogation
Authors: Markvart Aleksandr , Liokumovich Leonid , Medvedev Iurii , Ushakov Nikolai
Published: November 2020

Smartphone-based optical spectrometers allow the development of a new generation of portable and cost-effective optical sensing solutions that can be easily integrated into sensor networks. However, most commonly the spectral calibration relies on the external reference light sources which have known narrow spectral lines. Such calibration must be repeated each time the fiber and diffraction grating holders are removed from the smartphone and reattached. Moreover, the spectrometer wavelength scale can drift during the measurement because of the smartphone temperature fluctuations. The present work reports on a novel spectral self-calibration approach, based on the correspondence between the light wavelength and the hue features of the spectrum measured using a color RGB camera. These features are caused by the nonuniformity of camera RGB filters’ responses and their finite overlap, which is a typical situation for RGB cameras. Thus, the wavelength scale should be externally calibrated only once for each smartphone spectrometer and can further be continuously verified and corrected using the proposed self-calibration approach. An ability of the plug-and play operation and the temperature drift elimination of the smartphone spectrometer was experimentally demonstrated. Conducted experiments involved interrogation of optical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometric sensor and demonstrated a nanometer-level optical path difference resolution.
Application of Instrumented Paddles in Measuring On-Water Kinetics of Front and Back Paddlers in K2 Sprint Kayaking Crews of Various Ability Levels
Authors: Kong Pui Wah , Tay Cheryl Sihui , Pan Jing Wen
Published: November 2020

This study used instrumented paddles to obtain on-water kinetic variables of two-seater (K2) crews during sprint kayaking. A total of 74 male kayakers of various ability levels (national team: 9, recreational club: 38, school team: 27) comprising 39 K2 crews were recruited. Both the front and back paddlers were provided with an instrumented paddle to perform 200-m maximal effort paddling in a reservoir. Force, power, and temporal variables were extracted from the paddle data. Difference among groups were compared using a factorial Analysis of Variance. Results showed that the force, power, and temporal characteristics of the front and back paddlers were similar during maximal effort sprint kayaking. Proficient kayakers produced greater kinetic outputs than less proficient kayakers, while the coordination strategy based on timing differences at key events between the two crew members in a K2 boat was similar across ability levels. These data can be useful for coaches, sport scientists, and athletes in planning and monitoring the training.
Design Thinking for Urban Water Sustainability in Huelva’s Households: Needfinding and Synthesis through Statistic Clustering
Authors: Bermejo-Martín Gustavo , Rodríguez-Monroy Carlos , Núñez-Guerrero Yilsy M.
Published: November 2020

This article shows the numerical results and the analysis of households’ degree of knowledge about the urban water cycle, needs, and values regarding water in an intermediary city with low water stress, such as Huelva (Andalusia, Spain). Results are also presented regarding how households maintain the acceptance of reclaimed water and new technologies to achieve more efficient and sustainable consumption. Surveys were sent to households, and different statistical analysis techniques were applied. The use of clustering as a mathematical tool has served to obtain three clusters of households with similar characteristics with respect to the previous factors. The first cluster corresponded to households with high knowledge of the integral water cycle and positive attitude to smart devices at home. The second cluster showed low knowledge of the integral water cycle and high sensitivity to price. The third one had average knowledge and predisposition to have a closer relationship with the water company. This classification allows implementing different water demand management strategies tailored to each cluster. Applying a Design Thinking methodology, a web-based prototype has been designed as an ICT tool concerning households. The goal is to achieve greater engagement of households concerning water and align citizens with their city’s sustainability.
Robotic Restaurant Marketing Strategies in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Focusing on Perceived Innovativeness
Authors: Hwang Jinsoo , Lee Kwang-Woo , Kim Dohyung , Kim Insin
Published: November 2020

Although innovative robotic technology plays an important role in the restaurant industry, there is not much research on it. Thus, this study tried to identify how to form behavioral intentions using the concept of perceived innovativeness in the context of robotic restaurants for the first time. A research model comprising 12 hypotheses is evaluated using structural equation modeling based on a sample of 418 subjects in South Korea. The data analysis results show that perceived innovativeness is an important predictor of the customers’ attitude, which in turn has a significant effect on desire. In addition, desire exerts a positive influence on intentions to use and willingness to pay more. Lastly, perceived risk moderates the relationships between (1) desire and intentions to use and (2) desire and willingness to pay more. Based on the above statistical results, important theoretical and managerial implications are presented.
Strategies to Assure the Sustainability of Groundwater Resources
Authors: Kim Heejung , Lim Chungwan
Published: November 2020

Climate-related changes that have occurred over the last few decades are particularly induced by changes in large-scale hydrological cycle processes [...]
Psychological Well-Being and Its Relations to School Trajectory and Family Educational Capital in High Intellectual Ability Adolescents
Authors: Castellanos-Simons Doris , Pérez-Pacheco Katia María , Hernández-Padilla Eduardo
Published: November 2020

The psychological well-being of adolescents depends on diverse contextual factors, in particular those relating to the educational and cultural capital of families. The study examined the relationships between psychological well-being of high-ability adolescents, family educational capital, and their school trajectory. The participants were 101 students from 1st year of a public high school in Morelos, Mexico, previously identify by their high intellectual ability. They completed an ad hoc form with information about cultural and academic aspects, and the Spanish version of the Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale. Results shown that the School trajectory factor only had significant effects on Control environment and Purpose in life’s dimensions. Meanwhile the analysis of variances yielded that Cultural capital showed significant differences with the following well-being scales: General, Self-acceptance, Positive relations, and Purpose in life. Furthermore, the interaction between Sex and Cultural capital had only significant effects on Positive Relations and Environmental control favoring men over women, while the interaction of Cultural capital and School trajectory had significant effects only on Purpose in Life dimension. The results emphasize the need for studies that clarify the role of sociocultural context factors in understanding the comprehensive development of highly able adolescents and their psychological well-being.
How Climate Variables Influence the Spread of SARS-CoV-19 in the United States
Authors: Melo André de Souza , Sobral Ana Iza Gomes da Penha , Marinho Marcelo Luiz Monteiro , Duarte Gisleia Benini , Gomes Thiago Henrique Ferreira , Sobral Marcos Felipe Falcão
Published: November 2020

During the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, several scientific types of research investigated the causes of high transmissibility and deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2. Among the spreading factors of the disease, it is known that there is an association between temperature and infected people. However, the studies that identified this phenomenon explored an association relationship, which is weaker and does not allow the identification of which variable would be the cause. This study aimed to analyze the impact of temperature variations and other climatic variables on the infection rate of COVID-19. Data were extracted from weather stations in the United States, which were segregated by county and day. Daily COVID-19 infections and deaths per county were also collected. Two models were used: the first model to analyze the temperature and the number of infected cases and the second model to evaluate the variables of temperature, precipitation, and snow in relation to COVID-19 infection. Model 1 shows that an increase in temperature at time zero caused a decrease in the number of infected cases. Meanwhile, a decrease in temperature after the temperature shock was associated with an increase in the number of cases, which tended to zero overall. A 1% increase in temperature caused a 0.002% decrease in the number of cases. The results suggested a causal relationship between the average temperature and number of CODIV-19 cases. Model 2, which includes temperature, precipitation, and snow shows that an increase in temperature resulted in a 0.00154% decrease response. There was no significant effect of increased precipitation and snow on the infection rate with COVID-19.
A Study of the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility Report and the Stock Market
Authors: Chiu An-An , Chen Ling-Na , Hu Jiun-Chen
Published: November 2020

This study mainly investigates the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and the reaction in the stock market. Specifically, we utilize the data from Taiwanese stock market from 2012 to 2017 to examine whether the CSR report disclosed by the listed companies on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taipei Exchange will cause abnormal returns on the short-, mid- or long-term horizon. The empirical results demonstrate that companies which disclose their CSR reports generate higher and more positive mid- to long-term abnormal returns than undisclosed companies. In addition to filling the gap of previous studies, this study also examines whether CSR reports mitigate the information asymmetry between management and stakeholders. Companies disclosing their CSR reports will boost the confidence of investors and lead to higher stock return valuations.
Efficiency Analysis of Public Library Services Based on Establishing Entity and Outsourcing
Authors: Kim Changhee , Kim Hyunjung , Choi Kanghwa
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the difference in service efficiency based on establishing entity and outsourcing in 847 public libraries in Korea. The public libraries were categorized into three types based on establishing entity and outsourcing, where Type 1 libraries are those established and directly managed by the Office of Education under the central government, Type 2 libraries are established and directly managed by local governments, and Type 3 libraries are established by local governments and their operations are outsourced. Each library type was analyzed and compared using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and results found that public libraries established by local governments are more efficient than those established by the central government, while outsourcing operations improved the efficiency of public libraries. Further analysis of the projection point and excess quantity of input showed that the main cause of inefficiency for Type 1 libraries is the library area, and for Types 2 and 3, the number of periodicals. This study provides guidelines for the sustainable performance of public library services based on the factors of foundation and operational patterns.
Low-Temperature Synthesis Strategy for MoS2 Slabs Supported on TiO2(110)
Authors: Prabhu Mahesh K. , Groot Irene M. N.
Published: November 2020

MoS2 supported on oxides like TiO2 has a broad range of applications. The atomic structure of this system is therefore very useful to study. Previous research work in this area has made use of high-temperature synthesis methods, while the preparation of an MoS2/TiO2 in very important applications, such as catalysis, makes use of a low-temperature synthesis method. In this work, we investigate a low-temperature synthesis strategy for MoS2 slabs supported on rutile TiO2(110). Using scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we demonstrate that not only flat MoS2 slabs with irregular shapes but also MoSx stripes with a large number of coordinatively unsaturated Mo atoms are formed. In particular, it becomes evident that, for atomic structural characterization of MoS2/TiO2 and similar oxide-supported systems grown by low-temperature synthesis methods, the surface structure of the support becomes highly relevant.
In-Ear Electrode EEG for Practical SSVEP BCI
Authors: Mouli Surej , Palaniappan Ramaswamy , Molefi Emmanuel , McLoughlin Ian
Published: November 2020

Steady State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) methods for brain–computer interfaces (BCI) are popular due to higher information transfer rate and easier setup with minimal training, compared to alternative methods. With precisely generated visual stimulus frequency, it is possible to translate brain signals into external actions or signals. Traditionally, SSVEP data is collected from the occipital region using electrodes with or without gel, normally mounted on a head cap. In this experimental study, we develop an in-ear electrode to collect SSVEP data for four different flicker frequencies and compare against occipital scalp electrode data. Data from five participants demonstrates the feasibility of in-ear electrode based SSVEP, significantly enhancing the practicability of wearable BCI applications.
Serologically-Based Evaluation of Cross-Protection Antibody Responses among Different A(H1N1) Influenza Strains
Authors: Marchi Serena , Manini Ilaria , Kistner Otfried , Piu Pietro , Remarque Edmond J. , Manenti Alessandro , Biuso Fabrizio , Carli Tommaso , Lazzeri Giacomo , Montomoli Emanuele , Trombetta Claudia Maria
Published: November 2020

After the influenza H1N1 pandemic of 2009, the seasonal A/Brisbane/59/2007 strain was replaced by the A/California/07/2009 strain for the influenza virus vaccine composition. After several seasons with no indications on the occurrence of antigenic drift, A/Michigan/45/2015 was chosen as the H1N1 vaccine strain for the 2017/2018 season. Since the immune response to influenza is shaped by the history of exposure to antigenically similar strains, the potential cross-protection between seasonal human influenza vaccine strains and the emerging pandemic strains was investigated. Human serum samples were tested by hemagglutination inhibition and single radial hemolysis assays against A/Brisbane/59/2007, A/California/07/2009, and A/Michigan/45/2015 strains. Strong cross-reactions between A/California/07/2009 and A/Michigan/45/2015 strains were observed in 2009/2010, most likely induced by the start of the 2009 pandemic, and the subsequent post-pandemic seasons from 2010/2011 onward when A/California/07/2009 became the predominant strain. In the 2014/2015 season, population immunity against A/California/07/2009 and A/Michigan/45/2015 strains increased again, associated with strong cross-reactions. Whereas hemagglutination inhibition assay has a higher sensitivity for detection of new seasonal drift, the single radial hemolysis assay is an excellent tool for determining the presence of pre-existing immunity, allowing a potential prediction on the booster potential of influenza vaccines against newly emerging drifted strains.
Development of Therapeutic Vaccines for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Chow Stephanie , Berek Jonathan S. , Dorigo Oliver
Published: November 2020

Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest of all gynecologic malignancies. Our expanding knowledge of ovarian cancer immunology has allowed the development of therapies that generate systemic anti-tumor immune responses. Current immunotherapeutic strategies include immune checkpoint blockade, cellular therapies, and cancer vaccines. Vaccine-based therapies are designed to induce both adaptive and innate immune responses directed against ovarian cancer associated antigens. Tumor-specific effector cells, in particular cytotoxic T cells, are activated to recognize and eliminate ovarian cancer cells. Vaccines for ovarian cancer have been studied in various clinical trials over the last three decades. Despite evidence of vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses, the majority of vaccines have not shown significant anti-tumor efficacy. Recently, improved vaccine development using dendritic cells or synthetic platforms for antigen presentation have shown promising clinical benefits in patients with ovarian cancer. In this review, we provide an overview of therapeutic vaccine development in ovarian cancer, discuss proposed mechanisms of action, and summarize the current clinical experience.
Colorectal Cancer in Octogenarian and Nonagenarian Patients: Clinicopathological Features and Survivals
Authors: Lee Soo Min , Shin Jun Sang
Published: November 2020

Purpose: Elderly population will comprise a substantial proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We examined patients older than 80 years according to their clinical and pathological characteristics to fully understand the elderly patients.Methods: CRC patients, 60 years or older at diagnosis, admitted between 2009 and 2014 at our hospital were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: elderly (aged > 80 years, n = 133), and controls (aged 60 to 79 years, n = 596). Patient’s demographics, risk factors for prognosis of CRC, Clinicopathological parameters, treatment, and survival rates were compared.Results: The mean ages were 83.9 and 64.8 years, respectively. Male-to-female ratio and tumor sidedness were comparable in both groups. Prognostic factors found in univariate analysis; differentiation, stage, lymphovascular invasion, and carcinoembryonic antigen showed no statistical difference. The microsatellite instability status and number of retrieved lymph nodes were also similar (17.2 vs 21.6, P = 0.505). A significant difference was found in the treatment approach for chemotherapy as the elderly patients with stage III and IV tend to have omitted adjuvant (43.6% vs. 92.8%, P < 0.001) or palliative (35.8% vs. 89.4%, P = 0.016) chemotherapy. Except in stage I, elderly patients showed significantly lower overall survival rates.Conclusion: Current study shows far-elderly patients with CRC were less likely to receive standard treatments, which might have resulted in an inferior outcome. As the number of elderly patients with CRC increase, our results provide a basis for further clinical and molecular investigations of elderly CRC patients.
Early Postoperative Anastomotic Obstruction Due to an Intraluminal Blood Clot After Laparoscopic Anterior Resection: A Case Report
Authors: Kwon Soon Keun , Han Jin Soo , Seo Jihyun , Yoon Yong Sik
Published: November 2020

Early postoperative anastomotic obstruction after colorectal surgery rarely develops. Herein, we present a case of a 50-year-old healthy woman who had an early postoperative anastomotic obstruction which was revealed caused by a blood clot and successfully managed by endoscopic approach. The patient was discharged after laparoscopic anterior resection and visited the emergency department one day after because of abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed that the anastomosis site was obstructed with low-density material. Intraoperative endoscopy was performed under general anesthesia and blood clot filling the lumen were identified. As the scope was advanced to the blood clot with air inflation, the blood clot was evacuated. The anastomosis site could be obstructed by blot clot with mucous debris albeit it is a rare condition. An endoscopic approach seems to be the first option in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative obstruction at the anastomosis site and it could prevent unnecessary laparotomy.
The Relationship between APOL1 Structure and Function: Clinical Implications
Authors: Madhavan Sethu M. , Buck Matthias
Published: November 2020

Common variants in the APOL1 gene are associated with an increased risk of nondiabetic kidney disease in individuals of African ancestry. Mechanisms by which APOL1 variants mediate kidney disease pathogenesis are not well understood. Amino acid changes resulting from the kidney disease–associated APOL1 variants alter the three-dimensional structure and conformational dynamics of the C-terminal α-helical domain of the protein, which can rationalize the functional consequences. Understanding the three-dimensional structure of the protein, with and without the risk variants, can provide insights into the pathogenesis of kidney diseases mediated by APOL1 variants.
EKPHRASTIC REPRESENTATION OF EUGÈNE DELACROIX’S PAINTING “LIBERTY LEADING THE PEOPLE” IN YU.P. ANNENKOV’S SHORT STORY “A SMALL HOUSE IN THE 5TH CHRISTMAS ST.”
Authors: Radchenko Maria M.
Published: November 2020

The present article examines and proves the theory, according to which the short story “A Small House in the 5th Christmas St.” by Yu.P. Annenkov implicitly contains the elements of Eugène Delacroix’s painting “Liberty Leading the People”. The incorporation of painting’s elements into the story’s texture has become possible due to ekphrasis – an instrument Annenkov used quite often in his works. Taking into consideration the fact that there is no single approach in analyzing this “intermedial device”, two concepts of ekphrasis has been chosen as the theoretical basis for the present research – one presented by the work of V.V. Feshchenko and O.V. Koval, another one – by the article of V.V. Lepakhin. After the detailed examination of Annenkov’s short story and Delacroix’s painting it may be concluded that by two characters – Tekla Balchus and her son Stasik – the writer not only ekphrastically represented the key figures and the plot of “Liberty Leading the People”, but also intentionally distorted the initial visual image in order to demonstrate in the verbal form of the story his own disillusionment with the ideas of the revolution.
A New Family of Expectiles and its Properties
Authors: Kuzmenko Viktor
Published: November 2020

Introduction. This paper considers a risk measure called expectile. Expectile is a characteristic of a random variable calculated using the asymmetric least square method. The level of asymmetry is defined by a parameter in the interval (0, 1). Expectile is used in financial applications, portfolio optimization problems, and other applications as well as Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). But expectile has a set of advantageous properties. Expectile is both a coherent and elicitable risk measure that takes into account the whole distribution and assigns greater weight to the right tail.

The purpose of the paper. As a rule, expectile is compared with quantile (VaR). Our goal is to compare expectile with CVaR by introducing the same parameter – confidence level. To do this we first give a new representation of expectile using the weighted sum of mean and CVaR. Then we consider a new family of expectiles defined by two parameters. Such expectiles are compared with quantile and CVaR for different continuous and finite discrete distributions. Our next goal is to build a regular risk quadrangle where expectile is a risk function.

Results. We propose and substantiate two new expressions that define expectile. The first expression uses maximization by varying confidence level of CVaR and varying coefficient before CVaR. It is specified for continuous and finite discrete distributions. The second expression uses minimization of the new error function of the new expectile-based risk quadrangle. The use of two parameters in expectile definition changes the dependence of expectile on its confidence level and generates a new family of expectiles. Comparison of new expectiles with quantile and CVaR for a set of distributions shows that the proposed expectiles can be closer to the quantile than the standard expectile. We propose two variants for expectile linearization and show how to use them with a linear loss function.

Keywords: Expectile, EVaR, Quantile, Conditional Value-at-Risk, CVaR, Kusuoka representation, Fundamental Risk Quadrangle, Portfolio Safeguard package.
Optimization of Shape, Size and Material of Plasmonic Nano Particles in Thin Film Solar Cell
Authors:   University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan, U.S Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E), Pakistan, ullah Asad , Hilal Fazal E ,   University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan, U.S Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E), Pakistan
Published: November 2020

In this study we present optimized shape, size and material of plasmonic nanoparticles in thin film solar cell. For this purpose, we chose silicon active layer solar cell, on the top of active layer another layer of silicon dioxide was used as antireflection coating. Thickness of ARC layer was kept 71nm. On the top of ARC layer metallic nanoparticles were placed. Parameters of NP’s such as shape, size and material were varied. Respective variations in the absorption of light in the active silicon layer were observed respectively. Absorption patterns were plotted against wavelength range of 400nm to 1400nm of incident light radiation using Finite Element Method (FEM). Results revealed the most optimized size and shape of nanoparticles that can contribute to the absorption of light in the active layer of the solar cell. Results also distinguished the best material for nanoparticle.
RESEARCH OF STEEL CEMENTATION TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF ENDOTHERMAL ATMOSPHERES
Authors: Teldekov V. A. , Gurevich L. M.
Published: November 2020

Changes in the microstructure and effective thickness of diffusion coatings were studied at different values of the carbon potential. The carbon potential was varied by lowering the process temperature and additional feeding into the furnace at different stages of carburizing of carbon dioxide or atmospheric air as an "oxidizer" of methane.
Effects of Dietary Olive Pomace Oil on Growth Performance, Some Immune Parameters and Disease Resistance (Lactococcus garvieae) of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: YILMAZ Ebru , ÇELİK Ekrem Şanver , ERGÜN Sebahattin , YILMAZ Sevdan
Published: November 2020

The present study investigated the effects of supplementation pomace oil on growth performance, some immune parameters and disease resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In trial, 360 rainbow trout, which had average weight of 12.10 ± 0.13, was used. In the experiment, totally 4 group were formed including control group, pomace group 1 (12% fish oil + 4% olive pomace oil), pomace group 2 (8% fish oil + 8% olive pomace oil) and pomace group 3 (4% fish oil + 12% olive pomace oil). Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days. It was observed that centaury oil in different ratios added to the diet did not cause any difference in the amount of growth parameters in fish. Olive pomace oil did not have a negative effect on serum biochemistry and immunological parameters. These results indicate that olive pomace oil supplementation significantly increased the immune responses and makes O. mykiss more resistant to infection by L. garvieae.
A Multi-Model Fusion-Based Indoor Positioning System Using Smartphone Inertial Measurement Unit Sensor Data
Authors: Priscilla Adong , Steven Eyobu Odongo , Oyana Tonny J. , Seog Han Dong
Published: November 2020

We propose novel multi-model fusion-based step detection and step length estimation approaches that use the Kalman filter. The proposed step detection approach combines results from three conventional step detection algorithms, namely, findpeaks, localmax, and advanced zero crossing to obtain a single and more accurate step count estimate. The proposed step length estimation approach combines

results from two popular step length estimation algorithms namely Weinberg’s and Kim’s methods. In our experiment, we consider five different smartphone placements, that is, when the smartphone is handheld, handheld with an arm swing, placed in the backpack, placed in a trousers’ back pocket and placed in a handbag. The system relies on inertia measurement unit sensors embedded in smartphones to generate accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer values from the human subject’s motion. Results from our experiments show that our proposed fusion based step detection and step length estimation

approaches outperform the convectional step detection and step length estimation algorithms, respectively. Our Kalman fusion approach achieves a better step detection, step length estimation for all the five smart phone placements hence providing a better positioning accuracy. The performance of the proposed multi-model fusion-based positioning system was measured using the root mean square error (RMSE) of the displacement errors and step count errors exhibited by all the the step length and step count algorithms. The results show that the proposed Kalman fusion approach for step count estimation and step length estimation provides the least RMSE for all the smartphone placements. The proposed approach provides an average RMSE of 0.26 m in terms of the final position estimate for all the smartphone placements.
Sensitivity of Bordetella pertussis biofilms to polyvalent pertussis serum Eugene M. Zaytsev
Authors: Zaуtsev Eugene M. , Вritsina Marina V. , Ozeretskovskaya Maria N. , Mertsalova Natalia U. , Bazhanova Irina G.
Published: November 2020

Aim. Study of the sensitivity of Bordetella pertussis biofilms to polyvalent pertussis serum.Materials and methods. The intensity of biofilm formation by strains of B. pertussis in round-bottomed polystyrene 96-well plates in the presence of polyvalent pertussis serum was estimated by staining with 0.1% gentian-violet solution. The serum titer was estimated as a highest dilution, which suppressed the growth of biofilm cultures.Results. Serum titers that completely suppressed the formation of biofilms by the studied strains ranged from  : 1,000 to 1 : 20,000. Vaccine strain No. 475a (serotype 1.2.3) was characterized by the highest sensitivity to serum, the titer of which was 1 : 20,000. Vaccine strain No. 305 (serotype 1.2.0) and strains isolated from whooping cough patients in the period from 2001 to 2010: No. 287 (serotype 1.0.3), No. 178 (serotype 1.2.0), No. 317 (serotype 1.2.3) were sensitive to serum in the titers 1 : 1,000-1 : 2,000. Vaccine strain No. 703 (serotype 1.0.3) was resistant to all serum dilutions studied. When sowing supernatants from wells with biofilms on a dense nutrient medium, the growth of colonies typical for B. pertussis was observed. Similar results were obtained when seeding the supernatants of the cultures from the wells with no biofilm.Conclusion. These data indicate that B. pertussis strains are heterogeneous in sensitivity to pertussis serum. The growth of colonies typical for B. pertussis when culture supernatants are sown on a dense nutrient medium, in the absence of biofilms in the wells, indicates that the biofilm formation is suppressed by inhibiting the adhesion of microbial cells on the substrate, and not due to the bactericidal action of the serum.
The status of herd immunity to measles in Russia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Authors: Nozdracheva Anna V. , Semenenko Tatiana A.
Published: November 2020

Introduction. The comprehensive assessment of the herd immunity to measles in Russia can be challenging, as Russian subject-related studies tend to focus on seroprevalence in various cohorts of different sizes. The systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of different research findings increase the total number of observations and statistical significance of the studies, thus enhancing the reliability of conclusions.The purpose of the study is to assess the status of herd immunity to measles in Russia by analyzing the findings of studies published by Russian researchers. Materials and methods. The conducted systematic review and meta-analysis covered 13 Russian studies (the total number of the examined was 15,353, from birth to 79 years of age) published in 2011-2020 and addressing the assessment of herd immunity to measles in population of different regions in Russia.Results. It was found that the principal approach in all the studies was assessment of herd immunity through examination of adult people, including healthcare workers, with no regard for their vaccination history. The proportion of seronegative cases among young people (18-30 years) — 27.3% (95% CI 25.7-27.3%) and among children under 17 — 38.3% (95% CI 35.8-40.8%), who were born after the two-time vaccination had been included in the National Immunization Calendar, was larger than in older age groups — 19.8% (95% CI 17.8¬21.8%). The level of herd immunity among healthcare workers representing a decreed group — 84.5% (95% CI 83.7-85.3%) was higher than that of relatively healthy population — 75.4% (95% CI 74.1-76.6%), which can be explained by stricter vaccination requirements.Conclusion. The high proportion of seronegative cases among children and young adults of under 30 years of age is a risk factor associated with measles spread among the population and can be seen as the result of insufficient vaccination coverage.
Study on the Degradation Effect of Plant-Derived Active Ingredients on Organophosphorus Pesticides
Authors: Sun Jun , Zhang Tongxin
Published: November 2020

In order to explore new ways and methods for the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides, the degradation effects of plant-derived active ingredients on three organophosphorus pesticides were studied. Rhubarb, Pittosporum bark, Hibiscus bark, and Chinese gall in 9:4:3:2 parts were mixed by mass, ground and soaked in water, and the concentration changes of organic phosphorus pesticide before and after the test were compared through GC-MS quantitative detection method and rapid pesticide residue measurement method to clarify its degradation effect on organophosphorus pesticides. The results showed that the degradation rates of chlorpyrifos and parathion were 93.2% and 92.9% respectively in the extract within 2 minutes; the degradation rate of dichlorvos was 66.67% in the extract within 17 hours, and the degradation rate of chlorpyrifos was 48.69% within 11 hours. This study shows that the extracts of rhubarb, sea tongs bark, hibiscus bark, and gallnut have significant degradation effects on chlorpyrifos, parathion, dichlorvos and other organophosphorus pesticides.
Keberkesanan pendekatan model bar dalam penyelesaian masalah berayat Matematik Operasi Tolak Tahun Empat
Authors: Yap Ji Lin , Ali Siti Rahaimah
Published: November 2020

Kajian tindakan ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meninjau pelaksanaan pendekatan kaedah model bar dalam penyelesaian masalah berayat operasi tolak dalam kalangan murid Tahun Empat di daerah Seremban, Negeri Sembilan dalam menyelesaikan masalah operasi tolak. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti pelaksanaan kaedah model bar dalam meningkatkan pencapaian murid dalam penyelesaian masalah berayat Matematik operasi tolak dan sejauh mana kaedah bar model menaik minat murid dalam menjawab soalan penyelesaian masalah berayat Matematik operasi tolak. Metodologi kajian ini menggunakan kajian tindakan yang mengaplikasikan model Kemmis & Mctaggart (1988). Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam kajian ini ialah Ujian Pra, Ujian Pasca 1 dan Ujian Pasca 2 digunakan untuk membandingkan pencapaian murid sebelum dan selepas diajar pendekatan model bar. Borang soal selidik juga digunakan untuk mengetahui perasaan dan tahap minat murid terhadap penggunaan kaedah model bar. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan 100% berjaya mencapai tahap minimum dalam Ujian Pasca 2. Tahap minat murid terhadap kaedah model bar meningkat lebih daripada 50% dari segi kefahaman dan pengaplikasian kaedah model bar.
Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoids Content and Antioxidant Activity of Mangifera sp. Leaf Extracts
Authors: Athilah Farhanah Ahmad Fuad  , Afnani Alwi@Ali  , Nurul Asma Hasliza Zulkifly  , Noor Asidah Mohamed
Published: November 2020

Mangifera sp. is a versatile plant that was reported to have various bioactivities, however only the fruits have gain popularity due to it sweet flesh and been known worldwide. It has a potential source of flavonoids and carotenoids, which makes them a nutritious functional food to consume.  This study focused on determination of the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity of the Mangifera sp. leaves extract in different water extraction methods. The TPC and TFC was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminium chloride method respectively while antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Soxhlet extraction (SXE) produced the highest extraction yield compared to microwave extraction (MWE).  MWE at 8 minutes extract showed the highest TPC (262.13±0.05 mg GAE/g). SXE showed the highest TFC (413.46±0.77 mg rutin/g). The highest antioxidant activity was recorded in MWE 8 minutes extract through DPPH and FRAP assays compared to other two MWE extract and SXE extract.
Reflections on Rural Gifted Education in Texas
Authors: Lewis Katie D. , Boswell Cecelia
Published: November 2020

Rural gifted education historically has struggled with its own identity. Limited research exists on rural gifted programming, effective ways to implement gifted pedagogy and curriculum, and how to maximize limited time, resources, and funding. Rural communities are complex, dynamic entities, full of nuances and guided by a sense of place and rural culture. Faced with limited funding, resources, and time, rural gifted programs struggle to provide consistent quality enrichment to gifted learners. This study reflects on how rural gifted education policies and procedures in Texas have evolved over the last 30 years and the realities of providing gifted programs in rural school districts. Findings highlight a need for written policies and procedures for gifted programing, challenges gifted teachers face in rural districts, and the positives of being educated in a rural gifted program.
Take Care When Cutting
Authors: Thier Michael , Beach Paul , Martinez Jr. Charles R. , Hollenbeck Keith
Published: November 2020

Education research that omits or insufficiently defines geographic locale can impair policy formulation, enactment, and evaluation. Such impairments might be especially detrimental for communities in rural and/or remote areas, particularly when they pertain to gifted education programs that struggle to operate at large scale (e.g., Advanced Placement). To enhance researchers’ precision when analyzing school-level data, we developed five statistical approaches to operationalize rurality and remoteness using the Urban-Centric codes from the National Center of Education Statistics. With national data, we found important variations across these statistical approaches in (a) percentage of schools identified as rural and/or remote, (b) effect sizes, and (c) characterizations of schools’ relative disadvantage in the breadth of opportunity to learn Advanced Placement content that they provide. These findings challenge prevailing practices of classifying communities dichotomously as nonrural or rural. The authors demonstrate several ways to address policy makers’ and practitioners’ needs by incorporating geographic locale into analyses of school data, operationalizing geographic locale precisely in theoretically sound ways, and avoiding dichotomies that can obscure meaningful variation.
(Köz)érdek a magánbiztonságban?
Authors: Bartha Ildikó
Published: November 2020

The author provides an overview of a recently held workshop on law enforcement challenges, organized jointly by the Public Law Subcommittee and the Law Enforcement Subcommittee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Az eljárási jogok és a gyermekbarát igazságszolgáltatás érvényesülése Magyarországon, büntetőeljárás alá vont külföldi fiatalkorúak esetén
Authors: Gyurkó Szilvia , Németh Barbara , Balázs Réka
Published: November 2020

The author provides an overview of the procedural rights of juveniles in Hungary and based on a qualitative research examining the situation of foreign children suspected or accused in criminal proceedings.