bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malware Detection on Byte Streams of Hangul Word Processor Files
Authors: Jeong Young-Seob , Woo Jiyoung , Kang Ah Reum
Published: November 2019

While the exchange of data files or programs on the Internet grows exponentially, most users are vulnerable to infected files, especially to malicious non-executables. Due to the circumstances between South and North Korea, many malicious actions have recently been found in Hangul Word Processor (HWP) non-executable files because the HWP is widely used in schools, military facilities, and government institutions of South Korea. The HWP file usually has one or more byte streams that are often used for the malicious actions. Based on an assumption that infected byte streams have particular patterns, we design a convolutional neural network (CNN) to grasp such patterns. We conduct experiments on our prepared 534 HWP files, and demonstrate that the proposed CNN achieves the best performance compared to other machine learning models. As new malicious attacks keep emerging, we will keep collecting such HWP files and investigate better model structures.
Effect of Rotating Cylinder on Mixing Performance in a Cylindrical Double-Ribbon Mixer
Authors: Harish V.V.N. , Cho Migyung , Shim Jaesool
Published: November 2019

Uniform mixing is highly essential in the food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, and cement industries. However, based on the various process requirements, these industries use different mixers to achieve their commercial outputs. Most of these industries rely on sample-based verification of the mixing index, which may not produce accurate results. Adopting a non-sampling mixing index method is more accurate. In this study, we used the discrete element method (DEM) to simulate the mixing of multiple components contained in a typical commercial whey protein mixture. An effective non-sampling mixing index, the subdomain-based mixing index (SMI), was incorporated to assess the mixing levels. The main motivation for this study was to acquire a high mixing index in the least possible mixing time to boost the manufacturing rate. For this purpose, a half-filled cylindrical double ribbon mixer was simulated, and the SMI outputs are presented for the following four cases: (1) rotating ribbon, (2) rotating cylinder, (3) rotating cylinder with a static ribbon, and (4) rotating cylinder and ribbon. For the given simulation conditions, the SMI values ranged from 0 (segregation condition) to 0.91–0.94 (fully randomly mixed condition) within a time range of 0–60 s.
Estimating Eddy Dissipation Rate with QAR Flight Big Data
Authors: Huang Rongshun , Sun Huabo , Wu Chen , Wang Chun , Lu Binbin
Published: November 2019

Air turbulence (AT) is a typical risk that seriously threatens civil aviation safety. It is typically measured via vertical overload, derived equivalent vertical gust velocity (DEVG), and eddy dissipation rate (EDR), while the last one is the most ideal index. In this study, we combined two traditional methods of EDR estimation and proposed a new procedure to estimated EDR with quick access recorder (QAR) data. It enables us to use the parameters only from QAR data for EDR estimation, which fully reflects the great value of QAR data. We estimated EDR values with QAR data collected by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), to present the intensities of air turbulences happened within China from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018. This study could also be helpful in evaluating and analyzing causes and early warning of AT risks.
Solution Processed Polymer-ABX4 Perovskite-Like Microcavities
Authors: Lova Paola , Cortecchia Daniele , Soci Cesare , Comoretto Davide
Published: November 2019

Thanks to solution processability and broad emission in the visible spectral range, 2D hybrid perovskite-like materials are interesting for the realization of large area and flexible lighting devices. However, the deposition of these materials requires broad-spectrum solvents that can easily dissolve most of the commercial polymers and make perovskites incompatible with flexible photonics. Here, we demonstrated the integration of broadband-emitting (EDBE)PbCl4 (where EDBE = 2,2-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylammonium)) thin films with a solution-processed polymer planar microcavities, employing a sacrificial polymer multilayer. This approach allowed for spectral and angular redistribution of the perovskite-like material, photoluminescence, that can pave the way to all-solution-processed and flexible lightning devices that do not require complex and costly fabrication techniques.
Potential Activity of Recycled Clay Brick in Cement Stabilized Subbase
Authors: Liang Chunyu , Wang Ying , Song Wenzhu , Tan Guojin , Li Yanling , Guo Youmeng
Published: November 2019

Construction waste is one of the products in the process of urbanization. From the perspective of economy and environmental protection, this study used crushed construction waste clay brick to replace the fine aggregate of cement stabilized macadam subbase in certain proportions, and the optimum proportion was obtained according to the unconfined compressive strength of 7 days (d), 28 d, and 90 d. The “modified EDTA titration experiment" was also used to explain how the potential activity of construction waste clay brick works in cement stabilized macadam. The result obtained is that an optimal replacement ratio of 50% exists when using construction waste clay brick to replace the fine aggregate of cement stabilized macadam, and its unconfined compressive strength is higher than that of the 0% replacement ratio specimens; that is, the potential activity of the construction waste clay brick contributes the most to the unconfined compressive strength of the specimens at this proportion. According to the blending method and proportion obtained in this study, the application of construction waste clay bricks in a practical project can maximize environmental protection in road engineering and economic benefits simultaneously.
Multidecadal Changes in the Influence of the Arctic Oscillation on the East Asian Surface Air Temperature in Boreal Winter
Authors: Gong Hainan , Wang Lin , Chen Wen
Published: November 2019

The time-varying influences of the wintertime Arctic Oscillation (AO) on the concurrent East Asian surface air temperature (EAT) are investigated based on JRA-55 reanalysis data. Results reveal that there are multidecadal variations in the influences of wintertime AO on the EAT during 1958–2018. Before the mid-1980s, the impact of winter AO on the simultaneous EAT is weak and confined northward of 40° N over East Asia. After the mid-1980s, by contrast, the winter AO’s influence is stronger and can extend southward of 25° N over East Asia. The multidecadal variations of the winter AO–EAT relationship are mainly modulated by the magnitudes of the North Pacific center of the winter AO. During the periods with strong North Pacific center of the winter AO, in association with the positive phase of the winter AO, the low-level southeasterly anomalies on the west side of the anticyclone over North Pacific bring warm air from the ocean to East Asia and lead to a significant winter AO–EAT relationship. In contrast, the southerly anomalies are weak and even reversed to northerly over the coast of East Asia during the periods with weak North Pacific center of winter AO, which confines the influence of winter AO on northern East Asia and lead to an insignificant winter AO–EAT relationship. Our finding provides new insight into the understanding of the decadal changes of AO’s impacts on the regional climate.
Synthetic Tableaux with Unrestricted Cut for First-Order Theories
Authors: Leszczyńska-Jasion Dorota , Chlebowski Szymon
Published: November 2019

The method of synthetic tableaux is a cut-based tableau system with synthesizing rules introducing complex formulas. In this paper, we present the method of synthetic tableaux for Classical First-Order Logic, and we propose a strategy of extending the system to first-order theories axiomatized by universal axioms. The strategy was inspired by the works of Negri and von Plato. We illustrate the strategy with two examples: synthetic tableaux systems for identity and for partial order.
Intracellular Localization in Zebrafish Muscle and Conserved Sequence Features Suggest Roles for Gelatinase A Moonlighting in Sarcomere Maintenance
Authors: Fallata Amina M. , Wyatt Rachael A. , Levesque Julie M. , Dufour Antoine , Overall Christopher M. , Crawford Bryan D.
Published: November 2019

Gelatinase A (Mmp2 in zebrafish) is a well-characterized effector of extracellular matrix remodeling, extracellular signaling, and along with other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular proteases, it plays important roles in the establishment and maintenance of tissue architecture. Gelatinase A is also found moonlighting inside mammalian striated muscle cells, where it has been implicated in the pathology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Gelatinase A has no known physiological function in muscle cells, and its localization within mammalian cells appears to be due to inefficient recognition of its N-terminal secretory signal. Here we show that Mmp2 is abundant within the skeletal muscle cells of zebrafish, where it localizes to the M-line of sarcomeres and degrades muscle myosin. The N-terminal secretory signal of zebrafish Mmp2 is also challenging to identify, and this is a conserved characteristic of gelatinase A orthologues, suggesting a selective pressure acting to prevent the efficient secretion of this protease. Furthermore, there are several strongly conserved phosphorylation sites within the catalytic domain of gelatinase A orthologues, some of which are phosphorylated in vivo, and which are known to regulate the activity of this protease. We conclude that gelatinase A likely participates in uncharacterized physiological functions within the striated muscle, possibly in the maintenance of sarcomere proteostasis, that are likely regulated by kinases and phosphatases present in the sarcomere.
Advanced Seismic Retrofit of a Mixed R/C-Steel Structure
Authors: Terenzi Gloria , Bazzani Caterina , Costoli Iacopo , Sorace Stefano , Spinelli Paolo
Published: November 2019

A study concerning the performance assessment and enhanced retrofit of public buildings originally designed without any anti-seismic provisions is presented herein. A representative structure belonging to this class was demonstratively examined, i.e., a school built in Italy in the early 1970s, before a coordinate national Seismic Standard was issued. The building is characterized by a mixed reinforced concrete (ground storey)–steel (first and second storey) frame skeleton. An extensive on-site experimental investigation was developed in the first step of the study, which helped identify the mechanical characteristics of the constituting materials, and re-draw the main structural details. Based on these data, and relevant updates of the finite element model of the structure, the seismic assessment analyses carried out in current conditions highlighted several performance deficiencies, in both the reinforced concrete and steel members. An advanced seismic retrofit hypothesis of the building was then designed, consisting of the installation of a set of dissipative braces incorporating fluid viscous dampers as protective devices. This solution makes it possible to attain an elastic structural response up to the maximum considered normative earthquake level, while at the same time causing more limited architectural intrusion and lower costs as compared to conventional rehabilitation strategies.
Investigating the Possible Origin of Raman Bands in Defective sp2/sp3 Carbons below 900 cm−1: Phonon Density of States or Double Resonance Mechanism at Play?
Authors: Pardanaud Cedric , Cartry Gilles , Lajaunie Luc , Arenal Raul , Buijnsters Josephus Gerardus
Published: November 2019

Multiwavelength Raman spectroscopy (325, 514, 633 nm) was used to analyze three different kinds of samples containing sp2 and sp3 carbons: chemical vapor deposited diamond films of varying microstructure, a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited hydrogenated amorphous carbon film heated at 500 °C and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite exposed to a radio-frequent deuterium plasma. We found evidence that the lower part of the phonon density of states (PDOS) spectral region (300–900 cm−1) that rises when defects are introduced in crystals can give more information on the structure than expected. For example, the height of the PDOS, taken at 400 cm−1 and compared to the height of the G band, depends on the sp2 content, estimated by electron energy-loss spectroscopy. This ratio measured with 633 nm laser is more intense than with 514 nm laser. It is also correlated for diamond to the relative intensity ratio between the diamond band at 1332 cm−1 and the G band at ≈1500–1600 cm−1 when using 325 nm laser. Moreover, it is found that the shape of the PDOS of the exposed graphite samples is different when changing the wavelength of the laser used, giving evidence of a double resonance mechanism origin with the rise of the associated D3, D4 and D5 bands, which is not the case for a-C:H samples.
Analysis of the Whole-Exome Sequencing of Tumor and Circulating Tumor DNA in Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Diefenbach Russell J. , Lee Jenny H. , Strbenac Dario , Yang Jean Y. H. , Menzies Alexander M. , Carlino Matteo S. , Long Georgina V. , Spillane Andrew J. , Stretch Jonathan R. , Saw Robyn P. M. , Thompson John F. , Ch’ng Sydney , Scolyer Richard A. , Kefford Richard F. , Rizos Helen
Published: November 2019

The use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to monitor cancer progression and response to therapy has significant potential but there is only limited data on whether this technique can detect the presence of low frequency subclones that may ultimately confer therapy resistance. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether whole-exome sequencing (WES) of ctDNA could accurately profile the mutation landscape of metastatic melanoma. We used WES to identify variants in matched, tumor-derived genomic DNA (gDNA) and plasma-derived ctDNA isolated from a cohort of 10 metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients. WES parameters such as sequencing coverage and total sequencing reads were comparable between gDNA and ctDNA. The mutant allele frequency of common single nucleotide variants was lower in ctDNA, reflecting the lower read depth and minor fraction of ctDNA within the total circulating free DNA pool. There was also variable concordance between gDNA and ctDNA based on the total number and identity of detected variants and this was independent of the tumor biopsy site. Nevertheless, established melanoma driver mutations and several other melanoma-associated mutations were concordant between matched gDNA and ctDNA. This study highlights that WES of ctDNA could capture clinically relevant mutations present in melanoma metastases and that enhanced sequencing sensitivity will be required to identify low frequency mutations.
Afatinib Overcomes Pemetrexed-Acquired Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Harboring an EML4-ALK Rearrangement
Authors: Kwon Ji-Hyun , Kim Kui-Jin , Sung Ji Hea , Suh Koung Jin , Lee Ji Yun , Kim Ji-Won , Kim Se Hyun , Lee Jeong-Ok , Kim Jin Won , Kim Yu Jung , Lee Keun-Wook , Kim Jee Hyun , Bang Soo-Mee , Kim Soyeon , Yoon Sung-Soo , Lee Jong Seok
Published: November 2019

Background: The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanisms of acquired resistance to pemetrexed in echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: We analyzed the sensitivity to pemetrexed and the expression patterns of various proteins after pemetrexed treatment in the cell lines, A549, NCI-H460, NCI-H2228 harboring EML4-ALK variant 3, and NCI-H3122 harboring EML4-ALK variant 1. Pemetrexed-resistant cell lines were also generated through long-term exposure to pemetrexed. Results: The EML4-ALK variant 1 rearranged NCI-H3122 was found to be more sensitive than the other cell lines. Cell cycle analysis after pemetrexed treatment showed that the fraction of cells in the S phase increased in A549, NCI-H460, and NCI-H2228, whereas the fraction in the apoptotic sub-G1 phase increased in NCI-H3122. The pemetrexed-resistant NCI-H3122 cell line showed increased expression of EGFR and HER2 compared to the parent cell line, whereas A549 and NCI-H460 did not show this change. The pan-HER inhibitor afatinib inhibited this alternative signaling pathway, resulting in a superior cytotoxic effect in pemetrexed-resistant NCI-H3122 cell lines compared to that in the parental cells line. Conclusion: The activation of EGFR-HER2 contributes to the acquisition of resistance to pemetrexed in EML4-ALK rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. However, the inhibition of this alternative survival signaling pathway with RNAi against EGFR-HER2 and with afatinib overcomes this resistance.
Relevance of Translation Initiation in Diffuse Glioma Biology and its Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Marina Digregorio , Arnaud Lombard , Paul Noel Lumapat , Felix Scholtes , Bernard Rogister , Natacha Coppieters
Published: November 2019

Cancer cells are continually exposed to environmental stressors forcing them to adapt their protein production to survive. The translational machinery can be recruited by malignant cells to synthesize proteins required to promote their survival, even in times of high physiological and pathological stress. This phenomenon has been described in several cancers including in gliomas. Abnormal regulation of translation has encouraged the development of new therapeutics targeting the protein synthesis pathway. This approach could be meaningful for glioma given the fact that the median survival following diagnosis of the highest grade of glioma remains short despite current therapy. The identification of new targets for the development of novel therapeutics is therefore needed in order to improve this devastating overall survival rate. This review discusses current literature on translation in gliomas with a focus on the initiation step covering both the cap-dependent and cap-independent modes of initiation. The different translation initiation protagonists will be described in normal conditions and then in gliomas. In addition, their gene expression in gliomas will systematically be examined using two freely available datasets. Finally, we will discuss different pathways regulating translation initiation and current drugs targeting the translational machinery and their potential for the treatment of gliomas.
The Epac1 Protein: Pharmacological Modulators, Cardiac Signalosome and Pathophysiology
Authors: Bouvet Marion , Blondeau Jean-Paul , Lezoualc’h Frank
Published: November 2019

The second messenger 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is one of the most important signalling molecules in the heart as it regulates many physiological and pathophysiological processes. In addition to the classical protein kinase A (PKA) signalling route, the exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) mediate the intracellular functions of cAMP and are now emerging as a new key cAMP effector in cardiac pathophysiology. In this review, we provide a perspective on recent advances in the discovery of new chemical entities targeting the Epac1 isoform and illustrate their use to study the Epac1 signalosome and functional characterisation in cardiac cells. We summarize the role of Epac1 in different subcompartments of the cardiomyocyte and discuss how cAMP–Epac1 specific signalling networks may contribute to the development of cardiac diseases. We also highlight ongoing work on the therapeutic potential of Epac1-selective small molecules for the treatment of cardiac disorders.
Platyconic Acid A, Platycodi Radix-Derived Saponin, Suppresses TGF-β1-Induced Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells via Blocking SMAD and Activating the PPARγ Signaling Pathway
Authors: Choi Jae Ho , Kim Seul Mi , Lee Gi Ho , Jin Sun Woo , Lee Hyun Sun , Chung Young Chul , Jeong Hye Gwang
Published: November 2019

Platycodi radix is a widely sold health food worldwide, which contains numerous phytochemicals that are beneficial to health. Previously, we reported that saponin from the roots of Platycodi radix-derived saponin inhibited toxicant-induced liver diseases. Nevertheless, the inhibitory effect of platyconic acid A (PA), the active component of Platycodi radix-derived saponin, on the anti-fibrotic activity involving the SMAD pathway remains unclear. We investigated the inhibitory effects of PA on TGF-β1-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). PA inhibited TGF-β1-enhanced cell proliferation, as well as expression of α-SMA and collagen Iα1 in HSC-T6 cells. PA suppressed TGF-β1-induced smad2/3 phosphorylation and smad binding elements 4 (SBE4) luciferase activity. Reversely, PA restored TGF-β1-reduced expression of smad7 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ. PA also repressed TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Akt and MAPKs. In summary, the results suggest that the inhibitory effect of PA on HSCs occurs through the blocking of SMAD-dependent and SMAD-independent pathways, leading to the suppression of α-SMA and collagen Iα1 expression.
Large Population Analysis of Secondary Cancers in Pediatric Leukemia Survivors
Authors: Yavvari Siddhartha , Makena Yasaswi , Sukhavasi Sahithi , Makena Monish Ram
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk of developing a subsequent secondary malignant neoplasm (SMN). Among five-year survivors of primary cancer, SMNs account for nearly half of non-relapse deaths, which make them the most frequent cause of non-relapse mortality. Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer and the five-year survival rate of leukemia has drastically improved over the past two decades. Therefore, the chances of developing SMNs are higher in pediatric (0–19 years) leukemia survivors. Methods: The US based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER-18) database (1973–2014) was probed for SMNs in the pediatric population (age ≤ 19). Variables Sequence-number central, primary site and ICCC3WHO were used to identify the first and second cancers among patients who developed SMN. Results: Our SEER database analysis found 99,380 cases of pediatric primary malignancies (0–19 years), of which 1803 (1.81%) patients developed SMN. The breakdown of SMNs in pediatric leukemia survivors (n = 251) showed thyroid carcinoma (18.33% of cases) as the most common second cancer, followed by sarcoma (15.14%), astrocytoma (10.36%), lymphoma (9.56%), salivary gland carcinoma (7.17%), melanoma (4.38%), and breast cancer (3.98%). Interestingly, we found that over 76% of SMNs that were developed by leukemia patients occurred within 20 years after initial leukemia diagnosis. However, some SMNs occur during later age, for example, the mean age for breast cancer occurrence in leukemia survivors is 26.20 ± 8.53 years after initial leukemia diagnosis. Conclusions: Our study presented comprehensive rates of SMNs among pediatric cancers survivors, and the potential SMNs for pediatric leukemia survivors. This information could we used by oncologists, patients, patient families, and cancer researchers to understand the long-term risks that are associated with the development of SMNs in pediatric leukemia survivors.
Improving the Performance of 2-To-4 Optical Decoders Based on Photonic Crystal Structures
Authors: Maleki Mohammad Javad , Soroosh Mohammad , Mir Ali
Published: November 2019

In this study, a novel, two-dimensional photonic crystal-based structure for the 2-to-4 optical decoder is presented. The structure consists of 23 rows and 14 columns of chalcogenide rods that are arranged in a square lattice with a spatial periodicity of 530 nm. The bias and the optical signals are guided toward the main waveguide through the three waveguides. Two unequal powers are applied to the input ports to approach the different intensities proportional to four working states into the main waveguide. Four cavities including the nonlinear rods are in response to drop the optical waves toward the output ports. To calculate the band diagram and the spatial distribution of the electric and magnetic fields, the plane wave expansion and the finite difference time domain methods have been used. The delay time of the designed structure is obtained around 220 fs, which is less than one for the previous structures. Furthermore, the gap between the margins for logic 0 and 1 is equal to 83%, which is higher than one for other works. Besides, the area of the structure is reduced to 90 µm2 in comparison to all reported structures. Based on the mentioned results, it seems that an improvement of the performance for 2-to-4 optical decoders has been obtained in this research.
The Performance of Deep Learning Algorithms on Automatic Pulmonary Nodule Detection and Classification Tested on Different Datasets That Are Not Derived from LIDC-IDRI: A Systematic Review
Authors: Li Dana , Mikela Vilmun Bolette , Frederik Carlsen Jonathan , Albrecht-Beste Elisabeth , Ammitzbøl Lauridsen Carsten , Bachmann Nielsen Michael , Lindskov Hansen Kristoffer
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to systematically review the performance of deep learning technology in detecting and classifying pulmonary nodules on computed tomography (CT) scans that were not from the Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC-IDRI) database. Furthermore, we explored the difference in performance when the deep learning technology was applied to test datasets different from the training datasets. Only peer-reviewed, original research articles utilizing deep learning technology were included in this study, and only results from testing on datasets other than the LIDC-IDRI were included. We searched a total of six databases: EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), Scopus, and Web of Science. This resulted in 1782 studies after duplicates were removed, and a total of 26 studies were included in this systematic review. Three studies explored the performance of pulmonary nodule detection only, 16 studies explored the performance of pulmonary nodule classification only, and 7 studies had reports of both pulmonary nodule detection and classification. Three different deep learning architectures were mentioned amongst the included studies: convolutional neural network (CNN), massive training artificial neural network (MTANN), and deep stacked denoising autoencoder extreme learning machine (SDAE-ELM). The studies reached a classification accuracy between 68–99.6% and a detection accuracy between 80.6–94%. Performance of deep learning technology in studies using different test and training datasets was comparable to studies using same type of test and training datasets. In conclusion, deep learning was able to achieve high levels of accuracy, sensitivity, and/or specificity in detecting and/or classifying nodules when applied to pulmonary CT scans not from the LIDC-IDRI database.
Empirical Mode Decomposition as a Novel Approach to Study Heart Rate Variability in Congestive Heart Failure Assessment
Authors: Chen Mingjing , He Aodi , Feng Kaicheng , Liu Guanzheng , Wang Qian
Published: November 2019

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a cardiovascular disease related to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and fragmented patterns. There is a growing demand for assessing CHF accurately. In this work, 24-h RR interval signals (the time elapsed between two successive R waves of the QRS signal on the electrocardiogram) of 98 subjects (54 healthy and 44 CHF subjects) were analyzed. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) was chosen to decompose RR interval signals into four intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Then transfer entropy (TE) was employed to study the information transaction among four IMFs. Compared with the normal group, significant decrease in TE (*→1; information transferring from other IMFs to IMF1, p < 0.001) and TE (3→*; information transferring from IMF3 to other IMFs, p < 0.05) was observed. Moreover, the combination of TE (*→1), TE (3→*) and LF/HF reached the highest CHF screening accuracy (85.7%) in IBM SPSS Statistics discriminant analysis, while LF/HF only achieved 79.6%. This novel method and indices could serve as a new way to assessing CHF and studying the interaction of the physiological phenomena. Simulation examples and transfer entropy applications are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed EMD decomposition method in assessing CHF.
New Computation of Resolving Connected Dominating Sets in Weighted Networks
Authors: Dapena Adriana , Iglesia Daniel , Vazquez-Araujo Francisco J. , Castro Paula M.
Published: November 2019

In this paper we focus on the issue related to finding the resolving connected dominating sets (RCDSs) of a graph, denoted by G. The connected dominating set (CDS) is a connected subset of vertices of G selected to guarantee that all vertices in the graph are connected to vertices in the CDS. The connected dominating set with minimum cardinality, or minimum CDS (MCDS), is an adequate virtual backbone for information interchange in a network. When distinct vertices of G have also distinct representations with respect to a subset of vertices in the MCDS, it is said that the MCDS includes a resolving set (RS) of G. With this work, we explore different strategies to find the RCDS with minimum cardinality in complex networks where the vertices have different importances.
CASMI—An Entropic Feature Selection Method in Turing’s Perspective
Authors: Shi Jingyi , Zhang Jialin , Ge Yaorong
Published: November 2019

Health data are generally complex in type and small in sample size. Such domain-specific challenges make it difficult to capture information reliably and contribute further to the issue of generalization. To assist the analytics of healthcare datasets, we develop a feature selection method based on the concept of coverage adjusted standardized mutual information (CASMI). The main advantages of the proposed method are: (1) it selects features more efficiently with the help of an improved entropy estimator, particularly when the sample size is small; and (2) it automatically learns the number of features to be selected based on the information from sample data. Additionally, the proposed method handles feature redundancy from the perspective of joint-distribution. The proposed method focuses on non-ordinal data, while it works with numerical data with an appropriate binning method. A simulation study comparing the proposed method to six widely cited feature selection methods shows that the proposed method performs better when measured by the Information Recovery Ratio, particularly when the sample size is small.
Performance Profiling of Embedded ConvNets under Thermal-Aware DVFS
Authors: Peluso Valentino , Rizzo Roberto Giorgio , Calimera Andrea
Published: November 2019

Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) can be shrunk to fit embedded CPUs adopted on mobile end-nodes, like smartphones or drones. The deployment onto such devices encompasses several algorithmic level optimizations, e.g., topology restructuring, pruning, and quantization, that reduce the complexity of the network, ensuring less resource usage and hence higher speed. Several studies revealed remarkable performance, paving the way towards real-time inference on low power cores. However, continuous execution at maximum speed is quite unrealistic due to a fast increase of the on-chip temperature. Indeed, proper thermal management is paramount to guarantee silicon reliability and a safe user experience. Power management schemes, like voltage lowering and frequency scaling, are common knobs to control the thermal stability. Obviously, this implies a performance degradation, often not considered during the training and optimization stages. The objective of this work is to present the performance assessment of embedded ConvNets under thermal management. Our study covers the behavior of two control policies, namely reactive and proactive, implemented through the Dynamic Voltage-Frequency Scaling (DVFS) mechanism available on commercial embedded CPUs. As benchmarks, we used four state-of-the-art ConvNets for computer vision flashed into the ARM Cortex-A15 CPU. With the collected results, we aim to show the existing temperature-performance trade-off and give a more realistic analysis of the maximum performance achievable. Moreover, we empirically demonstrate the strict relationship between the on-chip thermal behavior and the hyper-parameters of the ConvNet, revealing optimization margins for a thermal-aware design of neural network layers.
A Novel High-Efficiency Double-Input Bidirectional DC/DC Converter for Battery Cell-Voltage Equalizer with Flyback Transformer
Authors: Shi Fengdong , Song Dawei
Published: November 2019

Large-scale battery cells are connected in series, which inevitably leads to a phenomenon that the cell voltage is unbalanced. With a conventional equalizer, it is challenging to maintain excellent characteristics in terms of its size, design cost, and equalization efficiency. In order to improve the defects in the above equalization circuit, a novel voltage equalization circuit is designed, which can work in two modes. A bidirectional direct current–direct current (DC–DC) equalization structure is adopted, which can quickly equalize two high or low-power batteries without using an external energy buffer. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed circuit, a 12-cell battery 2800-MAh battery string was applied for experimental verification. Computer monitoring (LabVIEW) was adopted in the whole system to intelligently adjust the energy imbalance of the battery pack. The experimental results showed excellent overall performance in terms of equalization was achieved through the newly proposed method. That is, the circuit equalization speed, design cost, and volume have a good balance performance.
From Thermal to Electroactive Graphene Nanofluids
Authors: Rueda-García Daniel , Rodríguez-Laguna María del Rocío , Chávez-Angel Emigdio , P. Dubal Deepak , Cabán-Huertas Zahilia , Benages-Vilau Raúl , Gómez-Romero Pedro
Published: November 2019

Here, we describe selected work on the development and study of nanofluids based on graphene and reduced graphene oxide both in aqueous and organic electrolytes. A thorough study of thermal properties of graphene in amide organic solvents (N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) showed a substantial increase of thermal conductivity and specific heat upon graphene integration in those solvents. In addition to these thermal studies, our group has also pioneered a distinct line of work on electroactive nanofluids for energy storage. In this case, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanofluids in aqueous electrolytes were studied and characterized by cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge cycles (i.e., in new flow cells). In addition, hybrid configurations (both hybrid nanofluid materials and hybrid cells combining faradaic and capacitive activities) were studied and are summarized here.
Study on Dust Deposition Mechanics on Solar Mirrors in a Solar Power Plant
Authors: Liu Xueqing , Yue Song , Lu Luyi , Li Jianlan
Published: November 2019

Solar energy is considered to be one of most promising renewable energy sources because of its availability and cleanliness. The phenomenon of dust deposition on solar mirrors greatly reduces the power generation of solar power plants. In this work, the motion behaviors and deposition mechanics of dust particles are analyzed by the discrete element method (DEM). The effects of environmental and solar mirror conditions and particle self-factors on dust deposition weight are systematically studied here. The research results show that dust particles, after particle collision, immediately adhere to the mirror or rebound and finally flow away from the mirror, or they otherwise may remain stationary after making some relative motion. Alternatively, they may glide for some distance and finally come to rest on the mirror or leave from the system. Different motion behaviors after particle collision depend on different leading forces. Here, the leading forces are the liquid bridge force (Fc) and the contact force (Fb). When the leading forces are Fc, or Fc, and Fb, the dust particles will be deposited on the solar mirror. Besides, the force Fc cannot be negligible when studying the motion processes of dust particles. The dust deposition weight on solar mirrors can be controlled by altering the environmental and solar mirror conditions, and particle self-factors. In essence, dust deposition weight on solar mirrors decreases when decreasing the leading force Fc or increasing the leading force Fb. The research results give theoretical guidance for the prevention and removal of dust deposition on solar mirrors.
Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Mechanical Draft Wet-Cooling Towers on the Cooling Performance of Air-Cooled Condenser with Complex Building Environment
Authors: Fan Jun , Dong Haotian , Xu Xiangyang , Teng De , Yan Bo , Zhao Yuanbin
Published: November 2019

In air-cooled power units, an air-cooled condenser (ACC) is usually accompanied by mechanical draft wet-cooling towers (MCTs) so as to meet the severe cooling requirements of air-cooling auxiliary apparatuses, such as water ring vacuum pumps. When running, both the ACC and MCTs affected each other through their aerodynamic fields. To make the effect of MCTs on the cooling performance of the ACC more prominent, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model was established for one 2 × 660 MW air-cooling power plant, with full consideration the ACC, MCTs and adjacent main workshops, which was validated by design data and published test results. By numerical simulation, we obtained the effect of hot air recirculation (HAR) on the cooling performance of the ACC under different working conditions and the effect of MCTs on the cooling performance of the ACC. The results showed that as the ambient wind speed increases, the hot recirculation rate (HRR) of the ACC increased and changed significantly with the change of wind directions. An increase in ambient temperature can cause a significant rise in back pressure of the ACC. The exhaust of the MCTs partially entered the ACC under the influence of ambient wind, and the HRR in the affected cooling units was higher than that of the nearby unaffected cooling units. When the MCTs were turned off, the overall HRR of the ACC decreased. The presence of MCTs had a local influence on the cooling performance of only two cooling units, and then slightly impacted the overall cooling performance of the ACC, which provides a good insight into the arrangement optimization of the ACC and the MCTs.
An Orderly Power Utilization Scheme Based on an Intelligent Multi-Agent Apanage Management System
Authors: Jin Ruijiu , Zuo Dongsheng , Zhang Xiangfeng , Sun Wengang
Published: November 2019

Orderly power utilization (OPU) is an important measure to alleviate contradiction between supply and demand in a power system peak load period. As a load management system becomes smarter, it is necessary to fully explore the interactive ability among users and make schemes for OPU more applicable. Therefore, an intelligent multi-agent apanage management system that includes a mutual aid mechanism (MAM) is proposed. In the decision-making scheme, users’ participation patterns and the potential of peak shifting and willingness are considered, as well as the interests of both power consumers and power grid are comprehensively considered. For residential users, the charging time for their electric vehicles (EVs) is managed to consume the locally distributed power generation. To fully exploit user response potential, the algorithm for improved clustering by fast search and find of density peaks (I-CFSFDP), i.e., clusters the power load curve, is proposed. To conduct electrical mutual aid among users and adjust the schemes reasonably, a multi-objective optimization model (M2OM) is established based on the cluster load curves. The objectives include the OPU control cost, the user’s electricity cost, and the consumption of distributed photovoltaic (PV). Our results of a case study show that the above method is effective and economical for improving interactive ability among users. Agents can coordinate their apanage power resources optimally. Experiments and examples verify the practicability and effectiveness of the improved algorithm proposed in this study.
10 kV Silicon Carbide PiN Diodes—From Design to Packaged Component Characterization
Authors: Asllani Besar , Morel Hervé , Phung Luong Viêt , Planson Dominique
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the design, fabrication and characterization results obtained on the last generation (third run) of SiC 10 kV PiN diodes from SuperGrid Institute. In forward bias, the 59 mm2 diodes were tested up to 100 A. These devices withstand voltages up to 12 kV on wafer (before dicing, packaging) and show a low forward voltage drop at 80 A. The influence of the temperature from 25 °C to 125 °C has been assessed and shows that resistivity modulation occurs in the whole temperature range. Leakage current at 3 kV increases with temperature, while being three orders of magnitude lower than those of equivalent Si diodes. Double-pulse switching tests reveal the 10 kV SiC PiN diode’s outstanding performance. Turn-on dV/dt and di/dt are −32 V/ns and 311 A/µs, respectively, whereas turn-off dV/dt and di/dt are 474 V/ns and −4.2 A/ns.
The Role of Previous Fires in the Management and Expenditures of Subsequent Large Wildfires
Authors: Belval Erin J , O’Connor Christopher D , Thompson Matthew P , Hand Michael S
Published: November 2019

Previously burned areas can influence the occurrence, extent, and severity of subsequent wildfires, which may influence expenditures on large fires. We develop a conceptual model of how interactions of fires with previously burned areas may influence fire management, fire behavior, expenditures, and test hypotheses using regression models of wildfire size and suppression expenditures. Using a sample of 722 large fires from the western United States, we observe whether a fire interacted with a previous fire, the percent area of fires burned by previous fires, and the percent perimeter overlap with previous fires. Fires that interact with previous fires are likely to be larger and have lower total expenditures on average. Conditional on a fire encountering a previous fire, a greater extent of interaction with previous fires is associated with reduced fire size but higher expenditures, although the expenditure effect is small and imprecisely estimated. Subsequent analysis suggests that fires that interact with previous fires may be systematically different from other fires along several dimensions. We do not find evidence that interactions with previous fires reduce suppression expenditures for subsequent fires. Results suggest that previous fires may allow suppression opportunities that otherwise might not exist, possibly reducing fire size but increasing total expenditures.
Dynamics of an Ellipse-Shaped Meniscus on a Substrate-Supported Drop under an Electric Field
Authors: Zaleski Philip , Afkhami Shahriar
Published: November 2019

The behavior of a conducting droplet and a dielectric droplet placed under an electric potential is analyzed. Expressions for drop height based on electrode separation and the applied voltage are found, and problem parameters associated with breakup and droplet ejection are classified. Similar to previous theoretical work, the droplet interface is restricted to an ellipse shape. However, contrary to previous work, the added complexity of the boundary condition at the electrode is taken into account. To gain insight into this problem, a two-dimensional droplet is addressed. This allows for conformal maps to be used to solve for the potential surrounding the drop, which gives the total upward electrical force on the drop that is then balanced by surface tension and gravitational forces. For the conducting case, the maximum droplet height is attained when the distance between the electrode and the drop becomes sufficiently large, in which case, the droplet can stably grow to about 2.31 times its initial height before instabilities occur. In the dielectric case, hysteresis can occur for certain values of electrode separation and relative permittivity.
Changes in the Composition of Atlantic Salmon upon the Brown Seaweed (Saccharina latissima) Treatment
Authors: Kirkholt Even Moen , Dikiy Alexander , Shumilina Elena
Published: November 2019

This study shows the potential of improving the taste and shelf life of salmon by storing it in conjunction with sugar kelp. The influence of the addition of wet sugar kelp to Atlantic salmon fillet was assessed using a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) metabolomics approach. Seaweed treatment caused significant changes in the polar and non-polar metabolic composition of salmon muscle upon its storage. The mutual diffusion of sugar kelp and salmon metabolites caused a significant decrease of the formation of the off-smelling compound trimethylamine and the biogenic amines, along with an increase of umami-related compounds (aspartate and succinic acid). Carotenoid composition of the seaweed-treated samples significantly differs from the reference samples. The amount of wet seaweeds used for the treatment and the time passed after the fish slaughter influence salmon quality parameters.
The Origin of Large-Scale Magnetic Fields in Low-Mass Galaxies
Authors: Bera Prasanta , Shukurov Anvar , Subramanian Kandaswamy
Published: November 2019

The origin of large-scale magnetic fields, detected in some low-mass (dwarf and irregular) galaxies via polarised synchrotron emission and Faraday rotation, has remained unexplained for a long time. We suggest that mean-field dynamos can be active in galaxies of this class despite their slow rotation because their discs are relatively thick. Earlier assessments of the possibility of the mean-field dynamo action in low-mass galaxies relied on estimates applicable to thin discs, such as those in massive spiral galaxies. Using both order-of-magnitude estimates and numerical solutions, we show that the strength of differential rotation required to amplify magnetic field reduces as the aspect ratio of the galactic gas layer increases. As in a thin disc, quadrupolar magnetic fields dominate in thick discs. Thus, the origin of large-scale magnetic fields in low-mass galaxies has been clarified. This class of galaxies provides a new ground for testing our understanding of galactic magnetism.
Vox España and Alternative für Deutschland: Propagating the Crisis of National Identity
Authors: Gould Robert
Published: November 2019

This paper contains a comparative analysis of the presentation of the national identity of Spain and Germany by the far-right populist parties Vox España and Alternative für Deutschland. It shows how each party views national identity as being in a serious crisis arising from the betrayal by old-line parties which has led to the increased influence of the EU, the consequent reduction of national sovereignty, a deleterious impact on their own and on European culture, and a harmful influence on the family. The parties repudiate many of the provisions of the EU treaties. They are equally opposed to the presence of Islam in Christian Europe, viewing it as a menace to values shared by all European nations. These analyses lead to an examination of the performance of crisis by means of deliberate provocation and the use of electronic media. It shows how these parties from very different parts of Europe share remarkably close positions and use the technological achievements of the twenty-first century to attack the late-twentieth-century political and social achievements of the European Union in order to replace them with the nineteenth-century idea of the distinct ethno-cultural nation fully sovereign in its own nation-state.