bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Underwater 2D Image Acquisition Using Sequential Striping Illumination
Authors: Gong Benxing , Wang Guoyu
Published: May 2019

Structured lighting techniques have increasingly been employed in underwater imaging, where scattering effects cannot be ignored. This paper presents an approach to underwater image recovery using structured light as a scanning mode. The method tackles both the forward scattering and back scattering problems. By integrating each of the sequentially striping illuminated frame images, we generate a synthesized image that can be modeled on the convolution of the surface albedo and the illumination function. Thus, image acquisition is issued as a problem of image recovery by deconvolution. The convolutional model has the advantage of integrating the forward scattering light into a recovered image so as to eliminate image blur. Notably, the removal of the back scattered light from each frame image can be easily realized by a virtual aperture to limit the field of view; the same principle as of the synchronous scanning systems in underwater imaging. Herein, the implementation of the proposed approach is described, and the results of the underwater experiments are presented.
Comparative Performance of Catalytic Fenton Oxidation with Zero-Valent Iron (Fe(0)) in Comparison with Ferrous Sulphate for the Removal of Micropollutants
Authors: Goswami Anuradha , Jiang Jia-Qian
Published: May 2019

This research aims to depict the comparative performance of micropollutants’ removal by FeSO4- and zero-valent iron (Fe(0))-catalytic Fenton oxidation and to explore the possibilities of minimising the sludge production from the process. The emerging micropollutants used for the study were gabapentin, sulfamethoxazole, diuron, terbutryn and terbuthylazine. The Taguchi method, which evaluates the signal-to-noise ratio instead of the standard deviation, was used to develop robust experimental conditions. Though both FeSO4- and Fe(0)-catalytic Fenton oxidation were able to completely degrade the stated micropollutants, the Fe(0)-catalytic Fenton process delivered better removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC; 70%) than FeSO4 catalytic Fenton oxidation (45%). Fe(0)-catalytic Fenton oxidation facilitated heterogeneous treatment functions, which eliminated toxicity from contaminated solution and there was no recognisable sludge production.
Multi-UAV Mission Allocation under Constraint
Authors: Xie Songyan , Zhang An , Bi Wenhao , Tang Yongchuan
Published: May 2019

This paper is devoted to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission allocation problem. To solve this problem in a more realistic battlefield environment, an improved mathematical model for UAV mission allocation is proposed. Being different from previous formulations, this model not only considers the difference in the importance of the target but also the constraints of the time window. In addition, an indicator of reconnaissance reward is added to this model. Each target area has a different importance, just as the strategic value of each region is different in combat. In this paper, we randomly generate the value factor for each reconnaissance area. To solve the mathematical model with different operational intentions, a dimensionality reduction process for which the reconnaissance reward is the optimization objective is presented. Finally, based on the improved model, the simulation result with Lingo is compared with that of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm with elite strategy (NSGA-II) and genetic algorithm (GA) to verify the reliability and the effectiveness of the improved method.
Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Fatigue Crack Growth in Mooring Chains
Authors: Angulo Ángela , Tang Jialin , Khadimallah Ali , Soua Slim , Mares Cristinel , Gan Tat-Hean
Published: May 2019

Offshore installations are subject to perpetual fatigue loading and are usually very hard to inspect. Close visual inspection from the turret is usually too hazardous for divers and is not possible with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) because of the limited access. Conventional nondestructive techniques (NDTs) have been used in the past to carry out inspections of mooring chains, floating production storage and offloading systems (FPSOs), and other platforms. Although these have been successful at detecting and assessing fatigue cracks, the hazardous nature of the operations calls for remote techniques that could be applied continuously to identify damage initiation and progress. The aim of the present work is to study the capabilities of acoustic emission (AE) as a monitoring tool to detect fatigue crack initiation and propagation in mooring chains. A 72-day large-scale experiment was designed for this purpose. A detailed analysis of the different AE signal time domain features was not conclusive, possibly due to the high level of noise. However, the frequency content of the AE signals offers a promising indication of fatigue crack growth.
Effects of the Natural Peptide Crotamine from a South American Rattlesnake on Candida auris, an Emergent Multidrug Antifungal Resistant Human Pathogen
Authors: Dal Mas Caroline , Rossato Luana , Shimizu Thaís , Oliveira Eduardo B. , da Silva Junior Pedro I. , Meis Jacques F. , Colombo Arnaldo Lopes , Hayashi Mirian A. F.
Published: May 2019

Invasive Candida infections are an important growing medical concern and treatment options are limited to a few antifungal drug classes, with limited efficacies depending on the infecting organism. In this scenario, invasive infections caused by multiresistant Candida auris are emerging in several places around the world as important healthcare-associated infections. As antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exert their activities primarily through mechanisms involving membrane disruption, they have a lower chance of inducing drug resistance than general chemical antimicrobials. Interestingly, we previously described the potent candicidal effect of a rattlesnake AMP, crotamine, against standard and treatment-resistant clinical isolates, with no hemolytic activity. We evaluated the antifungal susceptibility of several Candida spp. strains cultured from different patients by using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) microdilution assay, and the antifungal activity of native crotamine was evaluated by a microbial growth inhibition microdilution assay. Although all Candida isolates evaluated here showed resistance to amphotericin B and fluconazole, crotamine (40–80 µM) exhibited in vitro activity against most isolates tested. We suggest that this native polypeptide from the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus has potential as a structural model for the generation of a new class of antimicrobial compounds with the power to fight against multiresistant Candida spp.
Differential Plasma Expression Profiles of Long Non-Coding RNAs Reveal Potential Biomarkers for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Wu Guo-Cui , Hu Yan , Guan Shi-Yang , Ye Dong-Qing , Pan Hai-Feng
Published: May 2019

Identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that might serve as biomarkers for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore the biological functions of the identified lncRNAs. In the screening phase, we examined the lncRNA expression profile of plasma samples from 24 patients with SLE and 12 healthy controls (HCs) using lncRNA microarray with pooled samples. The candidate lncRNAs were verified in individual samples by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. In the independent validation stage, the identified lncRNAs were evaluated in 240 patients with SLE and 120 HCs. The identified lncRNAs were assessed further in an external validation stage including patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). In addition, we constructed correlated expression networks including coding–non-coding co-expression and competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Plasma levels of linc0597, lnc0640, and lnc5150 were elevated in SLE patients compared with those of HCs, whereas levels of GAS5 and lnc7074 were decreased. Five lncRNAs were identified as potential SLE biomarkers with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) ranging from 0.604 to 0.833 in the independent validation phase. This panel of five lncRNAs had high diagnostic accuracy for SLE (AUC = 0.966) and distinguished SLE from RA and pSS (AUC = 0.683 and 0.910, respectively). Co-expression analysis showed that GAS5, lnc0640, and lnc5150 may participate in the SLE pathogenesis through the MAPK pathway. The ceRNA network indicated that GAS5, lnc0640, lnc3643, lnc6655, and lnc7074 bind competitively with microRNAs regulating the expression of target genes. Aberrant expression and related pathways suggest the important role of lncRNAs in SLE pathogenesis. In addition, the panel of five lncRNAs (GAS5, lnc7074, linc0597, lnc0640, and lnc5150) in plasma could be used as SLE biomarkers.
Effect of Protein Denaturation and Enzyme Inhibitors on Proteasomal-Mediated Production of Peptides in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells
Authors: Dasgupta Sayani , Fishman Michael A. , Castro Leandro M. , Tashima Alexandre K. , Ferro Emer S. , Fricker Lloyd D.
Published: May 2019

Peptides produced by the proteasome have been proposed to function as signaling molecules that regulate a number of biological processes. In the current study, we used quantitative peptidomics to test whether conditions that affect protein stability, synthesis, or turnover cause changes in the levels of peptides in Human Embryonic Kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells. Mild heat shock (42 °C for 1 h) or treatment with the deubiquitinase inhibitor b-AP15 led to higher levels of ubiquitinated proteins but did not significantly increase the levels of intracellular peptides. Treatment with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein translation, did not substantially alter the levels of intracellular peptides identified herein. Cells treated with a combination of epoxomicin and bortezomib showed large increases in the levels of most peptides, relative to the levels in cells treated with either compound alone. Taken together with previous studies, these results support a mechanism in which the proteasome cleaves proteins into peptides that are readily detected in our assays (i.e., 6–37 amino acids) and then further degrades many of these peptides into smaller fragments.
Improving Post-Filtering of Artificial Speech Using Pre-Trained LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Coto-Jiménez Marvin
Published: May 2019

Several researchers have contemplated deep learning-based post-filters to increase the quality of statistical parametric speech synthesis, which perform a mapping of the synthetic speech to the natural speech, considering the different parameters separately and trying to reduce the gap between them. The Long Short-term Memory (LSTM) Neural Networks have been applied successfully in this purpose, but there are still many aspects to improve in the results and in the process itself. In this paper, we introduce a new pre-training approach for the LSTM, with the objective of enhancing the quality of the synthesized speech, particularly in the spectrum, in a more efficient manner. Our approach begins with an auto-associative training of one LSTM network, which is used as an initialization for the post-filters. We show the advantages of this initialization for the enhancing of the Mel-Frequency Cepstral parameters of synthetic speech. Results show that the initialization succeeds in achieving better results in enhancing the statistical parametric speech spectrum in most cases when compared to the common random initialization approach of the networks.
Modeling and Simulations of NOx and SO2 Seawater Scrubbing in Packed-Bed Columns for Marine Applications
Authors: Iliuta Ion , Larachi Faïçal
Published: May 2019

Seawater scrubbing of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxide from marine emissions was simulated in packed-bed columns exposed to static inclination and heaving/oscillating motions. Fourth generation random packings (Raschig super-Rings) while providing much smaller pressure drop than traditional Pall-Rings ensure comparable absorption efficiency for the pollutants. Complete removal of SO2 was predicted over the tested pressure range with absorption efficiency indifferent to scrubber inclination or heaving/oscillating motions. In contrast, NOx and CO2 absorptions are negatively impacted for inclined seawater scrubbers. Removal efficiency is not lowered significantly owing to larger scrubber pressure and because diffusion of N2O4 into the liquid phase is associated with a rapid pseudo first-order reaction. The asymmetrical oscillating motion of the scrubber degrades the removal performance which exhibits wavy patterns close to the steady-state solution of the average inclination angle. NO and CO2 absorption performance waves are moving toward a steady-state solution of vertical scrubber when the asymmetry of the two inclined positions of the scrubber downgrades. Symmetric oscillation and heaving motion led to performance disturbance waves around a steady-state solution of the vertical scrubber which are determined by the parameters of angular/heaving motion.
Fabrication and Optimization of a Lipase Immobilized Enzymatic Membrane Bioreactor based on Polysulfone Gradient-Pore Hollow Fiber Membrane
Authors: Chen Peng-Cheng , Ma Zhen , Zhu Xue-Yan , Chen Da-Jing , Huang Xiao-Jun
Published: May 2019

Enzymatic membrane bioreactors (EMBRs) possess the characteristic of combining catalysis with separation, and therefore have promising application potentials. In order to achieve a high-performance EMBR, membrane property, as well as operating parameters, should give special cause for concerns. In this work, an EMBR based on hollow fiber polysulfone microfiltration membranes with radial gradient pore structure was fabricated and enzyme immobilization was achieved through pressure-driven filtration. Lipase from Candida rugosa was used for immobilization and EMBR performance was studied with the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycerol triacetate as a model reaction. The influences of membrane pore diameter, substrate feed direction as well as operational parameters of operation pressure, substrate concentration, and temperature on the EMBR activity were investigated with the production of hydrolysates kinetically fitted. The complete EMBR system showed the highest activity of 1.07 × 104 U⋅g−1. The results in this work indicate future efforts for improvement in EMBR.
Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Potentially Resectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Ancillary Study to the Unicancer Prodige-14 Trial
Authors: Bidard François-Clément , Kiavue Nicolas , Ychou Marc , Cabel Luc , Stern Marc-Henri , Madic Jordan , Saliou Adrien , Rampanou Aurore , Decraene Charles , Bouché Olivier , Rivoire Michel , Ghiringhelli François , Francois Eric , Guimbaud Rosine , Mineur Laurent , Khemissa-Akouz Faiza , Mazard Thibault , Moussata Driffa , Proudhon Charlotte , Pierga Jean-Yves , Stanbury Trevor , Thézenas Simon , Mariani Pascale
Published: May 2019

The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and potentially resectable liver metastases (LM) requires quick assessment of mutational status and of response to pre-operative systemic therapy. In a prospective phase II trial (NCT01442935), we investigated the clinical validity of circulating tumor cell (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection. CRC patients with potentially resectable LM were treated with first-line triplet or doublet chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy. CTC (Cellsearch®) and Kirsten RAt Sarcoma (KRAS) ctDNA (droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) levels were assessed at inclusion, after 4 weeks of therapy and before LM surgery. 153 patients were enrolled. The proportion of patients with high CTC counts (≥3 CTC/7.5mL) decreased during therapy: 19% (25/132) at baseline, 3% (3/108) at week 4 and 0/57 before surgery. ctDNA detection sensitivity at baseline was 91% (N=42/46) and also decreased during treatment. Interestingly, persistently detectable KRAS ctDNA (p = 0.01) at 4 weeks was associated with a lower R0/R1 LM resection rate. Among patients who had a R0/R1 LM resection, those with detectable ctDNA levels before liver surgery had a shorter overall survival (p < 0.001). In CRC patients with limited metastatic spread, ctDNA could be used as liquid biopsy tool. Therefore, ctDNA detection could help to select patients eligible for LM resection.
Digital Attention-Related Augmented-Reality Game: Significant Correlation between Student Game Performance and Validated Clinical Measures of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Authors: Keshav Neha U. , Vogt-Lowell Kevin , Vahabzadeh Arshya , Sahin Ned T.
Published: May 2019

As many as half of school children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), resulting in marked negative academic, social, and behavioral outcomes. The focus of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on real-world data from novel digital sources, and the emergence of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes to reimburse for digital monitoring and neurobehavioral testing suggest an increasing acceptance of the role of technology in augmenting clinical care and research. Empowered Brain is an augmented reality and artificial intelligence-based social-emotional communication aid for students with ASD. In this study, student performance on Empowered Brain is correlated to validated clinical measures of ADHD. Seven high school students with a diagnosis of ASD were recruited from a public high school. All students were assessed for severity of ADHD-related symptoms via three clinical gold-standard assessments, namely the Aberrant Behavioral Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS-2), and Teacher Report Form (TRF). Students used Empowered Brain over a one-week period. We measured the correlation of student in-game performance (as measured by point- and star-based rewards) relative to the hyperactivity subscale of the ABC (ABC-H), and the ADHD-subscale of the TRF. All seven students completed the study and managed to successfully use Empowered Brain. Students received a culminative total of 32 sessions, an average of 4.6 sessions per student (range 2–8). Student in-game performance demonstrated highly significant correlation relative to ABC-H (points: p = 0.0013; stars: p = 0.0013), and significant correlation to TRF ADHD scores (points: p = 0.012; stars: p = 0.012). No adverse effects were noted among students who used Empowered Brain. New technologies may herald novel ways of identifying and characterizing symptoms of ADHD in student populations. This study provides evidence that Empowered Brain in-game performance correlates with ADHD symptom severity in students with ASD. Larger samples are required to validate these findings, with more diverse participants that can also widen the generalizability of these findings to a broader range of brain conditions that manifest with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Through further research, we may find that such technologies can help us to identify and longitudinally monitor such symptoms, and potentially aid in severity stratification and digital phenotyping.
Surface Treatment for Improving Durability of Aluminum-Lithium Adhesive-Bonded Joints under Hot-Humid Exposure
Authors: Li Jian , Li Yibo , Huang Minghui , Xiang Yanhong , Bi Rengui , Tu Chuiqian , Wang Bisheng
Published: May 2019

The performance of adhesive-bonded joints, which are being increasingly used in the aerospace and automotive industries, under hot-humid conditions remains largely unknown. The effect of surface treatments on the strength durability of aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloy adhesive-bonded joints under hot-humid exposure was investigated. Varied surface characteristics were achieved by different mechanical and chemical treatments; combined mechanical and phosphoric acid anodization (PAA) treatments were also used. The adhesive-bonded joints were then exposed to a hot-humid environment. The surface morphology, strength degradation, failure modes, and corrosion resistance of the substrates were analyzed. The results indicated that the combined PAA/mechanical method improved the joint durability under hot-humid exposure. The treated surface, with a roughness of 2.85 μm, exhibited the best durability, losing only 6% of strength after exposure; the failure mode remained cohesive-failure dominant. The durability enhancement was attributed to the porous and moderate rough surface characteristics, which protected the substrate from corrosion and decreased the rate of moisture diffusion from the bonding interface, thereby reducing the degradation of the bonding interface and improving the durability of the joint.
Optical Characterization of Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskites
Authors: De Matteis Fabio , Vitale Francesco , Privitera Simone , Ciotta Erica , Pizzoferrato Roberto , Generosi Amanda , Paci Barbara , Di Mario Lorenzo , Pelli Cresi Jacopo Stefano , Martelli Faustino , Prosposito Paolo
Published: May 2019

CsPbBr3 and Cs4PbBr6 perovskite powders have been synthesized through a relatively simple low-temperature and low-cost method. Nanocrystalline films have also been deposited from solutions with four different molar compositions of binary salt precursors. Optical absorption, emission and excitation spectra have been performed in the UV-visible spectral range while X-ray diffraction (XRD) has been recorded to characterize the nanocrystal morphology for the different molar compositions. A preferential orientation of crystallites along the (024) crystalline plane has been observed as a function of the different deposition conditions in films growth. All the crystals show an absorption edge around 530 nm; Tauc plots of the absorption returned bandgaps ranging from 2.29 to 2.35 eV characteristic of CsPbBr3 phase. We attribute the UV absorption band peaked at 324 nm to the fundamental band-to-band transition for Cs4PbBr6. It was observed that the samples with the most ordered Cs4PbBr6 crystals exhibited the most intense emission of light, with a bright green emission at 520 nm, which are however due to the luminescence of the inclusion of CsPbBr3 nanoclusters into the Cs4PbBr6. The latter shows instead an intense UV emission. Differently, the pure CsPbBr3 powder did not show any intense fluorescent emission. The excitation spectra of the green fluorescent emission in all samples closely resemble the CsPbBr3 absorption with the peculiar dip around 324 nm as expected from density of state calculations reported in the literature.
Mesoscopic Simulation of the Two-Component System of Coupled Sine-Gordon Equations with Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Li Demei , Lai Huilin , Lin Chuandong
Published: May 2019

In this paper, a new lattice Boltzmann model for the two-component system of coupled sine-Gordon equations is presented by using the coupled mesoscopic Boltzmann equations. Via the Chapman-Enskog multiscale expansion, the macroscopical governing evolution system can be recovered correctly by selecting suitable discrete equilibrium distribution functions and the amending functions. The mesoscopic model has been validated by several related issues where analytic solutions are available. The experimental results show that the numerical results are consistent with the analytic solutions. From the mesoscopic point of view, the present approach provides a new way for studying the complex nonlinear partial differential equations arising in natural nonlinear phenomena of engineering and science.
Online Learned Siamese Network with Auto-Encoding Constraints for Robust Multi-Object Tracking
Authors: Liu Peixin , Li Xiaofeng , Liu Han , Fu Zhizhong
Published: May 2019

Multi-object tracking aims to estimate the complete trajectories of objects in a scene. Distinguishing among objects efficiently and correctly in complex environments is a challenging problem. In this paper, a Siamese network with an auto-encoding constraint is proposed to extract discriminative features from detection responses in a tracking-by-detection framework. Different from recent deep learning methods, the simple two layers stacked auto-encoder structure enables the Siamese network to operate efficiently only with small-scale online sample data. The auto-encoding constraint reduces the possibility of overfitting during small-scale sample training. Then, the proposed Siamese network is improved to extract the previous-appearance-next vector from tracklet for better association. The new feature integrates the appearance, previous, and next stage motions of an element in a tracklet. With the new features, an online incremental learned tracking framework is established. It contains reliable tracklet generation, data association to generate complete object trajectories, and tracklet growth to deal with missing detections and to enhance the new feature for tracklet. Benefiting from discriminative features, the final trajectories of objects can be achieved by an efficient iterative greedy algorithm. Feature experiments show that the proposed Siamese network has advantages in terms of both discrimination and correctness. The system experiments show the improved tracking performance of the proposed method.
Impedance Aggregation Method of Multiple Wind Turbines and Accuracy Analysis
Authors: Chen Liang , Nian Heng , Xu Yunyang
Published: May 2019

The sequence domain impedance modeling of wind turbines (WTs) has been widely used in the stability analysis between WTs and weak grids with high line impedance. An aggregated impedance model of the wind farm is required in the system-level analysis. However, directly aggregating WT small-signal impedance models will lead to an inaccurate aggregated impedance model due to the mismatch of reference frame definitions among different WT subsystems, which may lead to inaccuracy in the stability analysis. In this paper, we analyze the impacts of the reference frame mismatch between a local small-signal impedance model and a global one on the accuracy of aggregated impedance and the accuracy of impedance-based stability analysis. The results revealed that the impact is related to the power distribution of the studied network. It was found that that the influence of mismatch on stability analysis became subtle when subsystems were balanced loaded. Considering that balanced loading is a common configuration of the practical application, direct impedance aggregation by local small-signal models can be applied due to its acceptable accuracy.
Implementation and Comparison of Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm Techniques in Combined Economic Emission Dispatch of an Independent Power Plant
Authors: Hussain Shahbaz , Al-Hitmi Mohammed , Khaliq Salman , Hussain Asif , Asghar Saqib Muhammad
Published: May 2019

This paper presents the optimization of fuel cost, emission of NOX, COX, and SOX gases caused by the generators in a thermal power plant using penalty factor approach. Practical constraints such as generator limits and power balance were considered. Two contemporary metaheuristic techniques, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA), have were simultaneously implemented for combined economic emission dispatch (CEED) of an independent power plant (IPP) situated in Pakistan for different load demands. The results are of great significance as the real data of an IPP is used and imply that the performance of PSO is better than that of GA in case of CEED for finding the optimal solution concerning fuel cost, emission, convergence characteristics, and computational time. The novelty of this work is the parallel implementation of PSO and GA techniques in MATLAB environment employed for the same systems. They were then compared in terms of convergence characteristics using 3D plots corresponding to fuel cost and gas emissions. These results are further validated by comparing the performance of both algorithms for CEED on IEEE 30 bus test bed.
Estimating Air Density Using Observations and Re-Analysis Outputs for Wind Energy Purposes
Authors: Floors Rogier , Nielsen Morten
Published: May 2019

A method to estimate air density as a function of elevation for wind energy resource assessments is presented. The current practice of using nearby measurements of pressure and temperature is compared with a method that uses re-analysis data. It is found that using re-analysis data to estimate air density gives similar or smaller mean absolute errors compared to using measurements that were on average located 40 km away. A method to interpolate power curves that are valid for different air densities is presented. The new model is implemented in the industry-standard model for wind resource assessment and compared with the current version of that model and shown to lead to more accurate assessment of the air density at different elevations.
Reliability Based Genetic Algorithm Applied to Allocation of Fiber Optics Links for Power Grid Automation
Authors: Pires Corrêa Henrique , Ribeiro de Carvalho Vaz Rafael , Henrique Teles Vieira Flávio , Granato de Araújo Sérgio
Published: May 2019

In this work, we address the problem of allocating optical links for connecting automatic circuit breakers in a utility power grid. We consider the application of multi-objective optimization for improving costs and power network reliability. To this end, we propose a novel heuristic for attributing reliability values to the optical links, which makes the optimization converge to network topologies in which nodes with higher power outage indexes receive greater communication resources. We combine our heuristic with a genetic algorithm in order to solve the optimization problem. In order to validate the proposed method, simulations are carried out with real data from the local utility. The obtained results validate the allocation heuristic and show that the proposed algorithm outperforms gradient descent optimization in terms of the provided Pareto front.
State Rules Mining and Probabilistic Fault Analysis for 5 MW Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Qian Xiaoyi , Zhang Yuxian , Gendeel Mohammed
Published: May 2019

Research on fault identification for wind turbines (WTs) is a widespread concern. However, the identification accuracy in existing research is vulnerable to uncertainty in the operation data, and the identification results lack interpretability. In this paper, a data-driven method for fault identification of offshore WTs is presented. The main idea is to improve fault identification accuracy and facilitate the probabilistic sorting of possible faults with critical variables so as to provide abundant and reliable reference information for maintenance personnel. In the stage of state rule mining, representative initial rules are generated via the combination of a clustering algorithm and heuristic learning. Then, a multi-population quantum evolutionary algorithm is utilized to optimize the rule base. In the stage of fault identification, abnormal states are identified via a fuzzy rule-based classification system, and probabilistic fault sorting with critical variables is realized according to the fuzzy reasoning of state rules. Ten common sensor and actuator faults in 5 MW offshore WTs are taken to verify the feasibility and superiority of the proposed scheme. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has higher identification accuracy than other identification methods and thus prove the feasibility of the proposed probabilistic fault analysis scheme.
Upgrading the Nutritional Value of Rice Bran by Solid-State Fermentation with Pleurotus sapidus
Authors: Omarini Alejandra B. , Labuckas Diana , Zunino María P. , Pizzolitto Romina , Fernández-Lahore Marcelo , Barrionuevo Damián , Zygadlo Julio A.
Published: May 2019

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) of rice bran (RB) employing the edible fungus Pleurotus sapidus was investigated as a process strategy to improve the nutritional quality of this low-cost and abundant substrate. During fermentation, samples were withdrawn at different time intervals (4, 6, and 10 days) and further analyzed. Established methods were deployed to monitor the changes in nutritional composition (carbohydrates, proteins, ash, and lipids). Additionally, changes in fatty acid composition was studied as a function of culture progress. Results showed that the SSF of rice bran increased total carbohydrates from 36.6% to 50.2%, total proteins from 7.4% to 12.8%, and ash from 7.6% to 11.5%. However, the total lipid content was reduced from 48.5% to 27.8%. The fatty acid (FA) composition of RB included mainly oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids. Upon fermentation with P. sapidus, small differences were found: linoleic acid and oleic acid content were increased by 0.4% and 1.1%, respectively, while palmitic acid content was reduced by 0.8%. This study demonstrated an improvement in the nutritional quality of RB after fermentation with P. sapidus, since protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and specific FA components were increased. As a whole, our results indicate that fermented rice bran could be used as a high-quality animal feed supplement.
Dynamic Task Scheduling Algorithm with Deadline Constraint in Heterogeneous Volunteer Computing Platforms
Authors: Xu Ling , Qiao Jianzhong , Lin Shukuan , Zhang Wanting
Published: May 2019

Volunteer computing (VC) is a distributed computing paradigm, which provides unlimited computing resources in the form of donated idle resources for many large-scale scientific computing applications. Task scheduling is one of the most challenging problems in VC. Although, dynamic scheduling problem with deadline constraint has been extensively studied in prior studies in the heterogeneous system, such as cloud computing and clusters, these algorithms can’t be fully applied to VC. This is because volunteer nodes can get offline whenever they want without taking any responsibility, which is different from other distributed computing. For this situation, this paper proposes a dynamic task scheduling algorithm for heterogeneous VC with deadline constraint, called deadline preference dispatch scheduling (DPDS). The DPDS algorithm selects tasks with the nearest deadline each time and assigns them to volunteer nodes (VN), which solves the dynamic task scheduling problem with deadline constraint. To make full use of resources and maximize the number of completed tasks before the deadline constraint, on the basis of the DPDS algorithm, improved dispatch constraint scheduling (IDCS) is further proposed. To verify our algorithms, we conducted experiments, and the results show that the proposed algorithms can effectively solve the dynamic task assignment problem with deadline constraint in VC.
Lubrication Approximation for Fluids with Shear-Dependent Viscosity
Authors: Pereira Bruno M.M. , Dias Gonçalo A.S. , Cal Filipe S. , Rajagopal Kumbakonam R. , Videman Juha H.
Published: May 2019

We present dimensionally reduced Reynolds type equations for steady lubricating flows of incompressible non-Newtonian fluids with shear-dependent viscosity by employing a rigorous perturbation analysis on the governing equations of motion. Our analysis shows that, depending on the strength of the power-law character of the fluid, the novel equation can either present itself as a higher-order correction to the classical Reynolds equation or as a completely new nonlinear Reynolds type equation. Both equations are applied to two classic problems: the flow between a rolling rigid cylinder and a rigid plane and the flow in an eccentric journal bearing.
Untargeted Metabolomics to Evaluate the Stability of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil with Added Lycium barbarum Carotenoids during Storage
Authors: Montesano Domenico , Rocchetti Gabriele , Cossignani Lina , Senizza Biancamaria , Pollini Luna , Lucini Luigi , Blasi Francesca
Published: May 2019

A carotenoid-rich extract from Lycium barbarum L. was added to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), obtaining a carotenoid-enriched oil (EVOOCar). The oxidative stability of EVOO and EVOOCar was evaluated during long-term storage of 28 weeks at room temperature, by measuring some classical parameters (acidity and peroxide values, spectrophotometric coefficients, fatty acid composition) and the content of minor compounds (i.e., α-tocopherol and lutein). At the end of the storage, higher content (p < 0.01) of α-tocopherol in EVOOCar in respect to EVOO were observed. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate, the most abundant carotenoid compound of Goji berries, decreased slightly (p < 0.05) in EVOOCar until the end of the storage. In regard to polyphenols, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS) using untargeted metabolomics was carried out. This latter approach discriminated the two oil samples during long-term storage, allowing to identify also the phenolic classes most exposed to significant variations during storage (i.e., mainly lignans and flavones). Besides, the addition of Goji carotenoids preserved the stability of tyrosol equivalents in EVOOCar during long-term storage. These results highlighted that the enrichment of EVOO with a carotenoid-rich extract can improve the shelf-life and nutritional value of added-oil, protecting EVOO natural antioxidants during long-term storage.
Impact of Milk Fortification on the Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Set-Type Skimmed Yoghurt Using Three Commercial Soluble Prebiotics
Authors: Li Rui , Ding Qi , Zhao Xin-Huai
Published: May 2019

The impact of milk fortification on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of a set-type skimmed yoghurt using three commercial soluble prebiotics (inulin, iso-malto-oligosaccharides, and xylo-oligosaccharides) at either 3 or 5 g/kg was assessed. The three prebiotics had an insignificant impact on yoghurt fermentation because all yoghurt samples had similar titratable acidity and similar pH values after their lactic acid fermentation. Regarding the control yoghurt samples without prebiotics usage, the prebiotics-fortified yoghurt samples showed no difference in their main chemical compositions, hardness, syneresis extent, and apparent viscosity (p > 0.05), but had a slightly higher lactic acid content and a viable quantity of starter strains. All yoghurt samples had the same acetic acid content, while propionic and butyric acids were not produced. Yoghurt storage at 4 °C for 21 day gave these yoghurt samples decreased pH values and a viable quantity of starter strains (especially Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) and unchanged acetic acid; however, it increased lactic acid contents. Overall, prebiotics fortification up to 5 g/kg had a completely insignificant impact on the fermentation and quality attributes of yoghurt samples but could possibly improve the health of consumers due to higher dietary fibers and starter strain populations.
Becoming Nonhuman: The Case Study of the Gulag
Authors: Ataria Yochai
Published: May 2019

Based on the experience of innocent individuals who were arrested and sent to the Gulag, this paper examines the transformation from being human to being nonhuman. It suggests that during this process, one shifts from belonging to nonbelonging. As a result, similarly to Winston Smith–Orwell’s hero in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the prisoner is rebooted and reborn as an object belonging to the Gulag. In this situation, the prisoner internalizes the Gulag’s rules in the deepest possible manner.
The Red Fox Y-Chromosome in Comparative Context
Authors: Rando Halie M. , Wadlington William H. , Johnson Jennifer L. , Stutchman Jeremy T. , Trut Lyudmila N. , Farré Marta , Kukekova Anna V.
Published: May 2019

While the number of mammalian genome assemblies has proliferated, Y-chromosome assemblies have lagged behind. This discrepancy is caused by biological features of the Y-chromosome, such as its high repeat content, that present challenges to assembly with short-read, next-generation sequencing technologies. Partial Y-chromosome assemblies have been developed for the cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and grey wolf (Canis lupus lupus), providing the opportunity to examine the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Y-chromosome in the context of closely related species. Here we present a data-driven approach to identifying Y-chromosome sequence among the scaffolds that comprise the short-read assembled red fox genome. First, scaffolds containing genes found on the Y-chromosomes of cats, dogs, and wolves were identified. Next, analysis of the resequenced genomes of 15 male and 15 female foxes revealed scaffolds containing male-specific k-mers and patterns of inter-sex copy number variation consistent with the heterogametic chromosome. Analyzing variation across these two metrics revealed 171 scaffolds containing 3.37 Mbp of putative Y-chromosome sequence. The gene content of these scaffolds is consistent overall with that of the Y-chromosome in other carnivore species, though the red fox Y-chromosome carries more copies of BCORY2 and UBE1Y than has been reported in related species and fewer copies of SRY than in other canids. The assignment of these scaffolds to the Y-chromosome serves to further characterize the content of the red fox draft genome while providing resources for future analyses of canid Y-chromosome evolution.
Light and Microbial Lifestyle: The Impact of Light Quality on Plant–Microbe Interactions in Horticultural Production Systems—A Review
Authors: Alsanius Beatrix , Karlsson Maria , Rosberg Anna , Dorais Martine , Naznin Most , Khalil Sammar , Bergstrand Karl-Johan
Published: May 2019

Horticultural greenhouse production in circumpolar regions (>60° N latitude), but also at lower latitudes, is dependent on artificial assimilation lighting to improve plant performance and the profitability of ornamental crops, and to secure production of greenhouse vegetables and berries all year round. In order to reduce energy consumption and energy costs, alternative technologies for lighting have been introduced, including light-emitting diodes (LED). This technology is also well-established within urban farming, especially plant factories. Different light technologies influence biotic and abiotic conditions in the plant environment. This review focuses on the impact of light quality on plant–microbe interactions, especially non-phototrophic organisms. Bacterial and fungal pathogens, biocontrol agents, and the phyllobiome are considered. Relevant molecular mechanisms regulating light-quality-related processes in bacteria are described and knowledge gaps are discussed with reference to ecological theories.
Evaluation Design of EFFICHRONIC: The Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) Intervention for Citizens with a Low Socioeconomic Position
Authors: Tan Siok Swan , Pisano Marta M , Boone An LD , Baker Graham , Pers Yves-Marie , Pilotto Alberto , Valsecchi Verushka , Zora Sabrina , Zhang Xuxi , Fierloos Irene , Raat Hein
Published: May 2019

Background/rationale: The Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) intervention is an evidence-based program that aims to encourage citizens with a chronic condition, as well as their caregivers, to better manage and maintain their own health. CDSMP intervention is expected to achieve greater health gains in citizens with a low socioeconomic position (SEP), because citizens with a low SEP have fewer opportunities to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, more adverse chronic conditions and a poorer overall health compared to citizens with a higher SEP. In the EFFICHRONIC project, CDSMP intervention is offered specifically to adults with a chronic condition and a low SEP, as well as to their caregivers (target population). Study objective: The objective of our study is to evaluate the benefits of offering CDSMP intervention to the target population. Methods: A total of 2500 participants (500 in each study site) are recruited to receive the CDSMP intervention. The evaluation study has a pre-post design. Data will be collected from participants before the start of the intervention (baseline) and six months later (follow up). Benefits of the intervention include self-management in healthy lifestyle, depression, sleep and fatigue, medication adherence and health-related quality of life, health literacy, communication with healthcare professionals, prevalence of perceived medical errors and satisfaction with the intervention. The study further includes a preliminary cost-effectiveness analysis with a time horizon of six months. Conclusion: The EFFICHRONIC project will measure the effects of the CDSMP intervention on the target population and the societal cost savings in five European settings.
Reply to Comment on Chen, J., Su, Y., Si, H., Chen, J. Managerial Areas of Construction and Demolition Waste: A Scientometric Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15 (11), 2350, doi:10.3390/ijerph15112350
Authors: Chen Jianguo , Su Yangyue , Si Hongyun , Chen Jindao
Published: May 2019

Thank you for the comments made by Ho; it is a great honor that our article has attracted attention [...]
The Evaluation of Indicators Used to Assess the Suitability of Agricultural Waste for Fermentation
Authors: Suchowska-Kisielewicz Monika , Jędrczak Andrzej
Published: May 2019

To ensure high fermentation efficiency, it is necessary to assess the biodegradability of a substrate. These parameters are most often determined on the basis of the amount of loss on ignition and total organic carbon. We are more and more often using chemical indices. However, these indices do not provide information on how much an organic substance is susceptible to biodegradation. The actual assessment of the content of easily biodegradable matter in substrates that are used for fermentation should be performed on the basis of aerobic (AT4) and anaerobic tests (BMP), which require specialised equipment and are time consuming. The AT4 index is being more and more frequently adopted for the analysis of substrates that are used in the fermentation process, because AT4 takes a much shorter time than BMP and provides information on the biodegradability of substrates. The aim of the article is to answer the question of whether the AT4 parameter can be used to assess the suitability of the substrate from the agricultural sector for the fermentation process. The results show that the AT4 index could be used instead of the BMP parameter.
Inhibitory Effects of a Novel Chrysin-Derivative, CPD 6, on Acute and Chronic Skin Inflammation
Authors: Yu Chan-Hee , Suh Beomseon , Shin Iljin , Kim Eun-Hye , Kim Donghyun , Shin Young-Jun , Chang Sun-Young , Baek Seung-Hoon , Kim Hyoungsu , Bae Ok-Nam
Published: May 2019

The skin is an important physiological barrier against external stimuli, such as ultraviolet radiation (UV), xenobiotics, and bacteria. Dermal inflammatory reactions are associated with various skin disorders, including chemical-induced irritation and atopic dermatitis. Modulation of skin inflammatory response is a therapeutic strategy for skin diseases. Here, we synthesized chrysin-derivatives and identified the most potent derivative of Compound 6 (CPD 6). We evaluated its anti-inflammatory effects in vitro cells of macrophages and keratinocytes, and in vivo dermatitis mouse models. In murine macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), CPD 6 significantly attenuated the release of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) (IC50 for NO inhibition: 3.613 μM) and other cytokines. In cultured human keratinocytes, CPD 6 significantly attenuated the release of inflammatory cytokines induced by the combination of IFN-γ and TNF-α, UV irradiation, or chemical irritant stimulation. CPD 6 inhibited NFκB and JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathways, and activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. In vivo relevancy of anti-inflammatory effects of CPD 6 was observed in acute and chronic skin inflammation models in mice. CPD 6 showed significant anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro cells and in vivo dermatitis animal models, mediated by the inhibition of the NFκB and JAK2-STAT1 pathways and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. We propose that the novel chrysin-derivative CPD 6 may be a potential therapeutic agent for skin inflammation.