bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic Drugs for Cancer and microRNAs: A Focus on Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Authors: Autin Pierre , Blanquart Christophe , Fradin Delphine
Published: October 2019

Over recent decades, it has become clear that epigenetic abnormalities are involved in the hallmarks of cancer. Histone modifications, such as acetylation, play a crucial role in cancer development and progression, by regulating gene expression, such as for oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have recently shown efficacy against both hematological and solid cancers. Designed to target histone deacetylases (HDAC), these drugs can modify the expression pattern of numerous genes including those coding for micro-RNAs (miRNA). miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNA. Current research has found that miRNAs from a tumor can be investigated in the tumor itself, as well as in patient body fluids. In this review, we summarized current knowledge about HDAC and HDACi in several cancers, and described their impact on miRNA expression. We discuss briefly how circulating miRNAs may be used as biomarkers of HDACi response and used to investigate response to treatment.
Virotherapy as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Aggressive Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Malfitano Anna Maria , Di Somma Sarah , Prevete Nella , Portella Giuseppe
Published: October 2019

Virotherapy is a novel cancer treatment based on oncolytic viruses (OVs), which selectively infect and lyse cancer cells, without harming normal cells or tissues. Several viruses, either naturally occurring or developed through genetic engineering, are currently under investigation in clinical studies. Emerging reports suggesting the immune-stimulatory property of OVs against tumor cells further support the clinical use of OVs for the treatment of lesions lacking effective therapies. Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Therefore, several groups investigated the therapeutic potential of OVs in PDTC/ATC models producing experimental data sustaining the potential clinical efficacy of OVs in these cancer models. Moreover, the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment further supports the potential use of OVs in ATC. In this review, we present the results of the studies evaluating the efficacy of OVs alone or in combination with other treatment options. In particular, their potential therapeutic combination with multiple kinases inhibitors (MKIs) or immune checkpoint inhibitors are discussed.
PATZ1 Is Overexpressed in Pediatric Glial Tumors and Correlates with Worse Event-Free Survival in High-grade Gliomas
Authors: Passariello Annalisa , Errico Maria Elena , Donofrio Vittoria , Maestrini Manuela , Zerbato Alia , Cerchia Laura , Capasso Maria , Capasso Mario , Fedele Monica
Published: October 2019

Glial tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death and morbidity in children. Their diagnosis, mainly based on clinical and histopathological factors, is particularly challenging because of their high molecular heterogeneity. Thus, tumors with identical histotypes could result in variable biological behaviors and prognoses. The PATZ1 gene has been recently shown to be expressed in adult gliomas, including glioblastomas, where it correlates with the proneural subtype and with a better prognosis. Here, we analyzed the expression of PATZ1 in pediatric gliomas, first at mRNA level in a public database, and then at protein level, by immunohistochemistry, in a cohort of 52 glial brain tumors from young patients aged from 6 months to 16 years. As for adult tumors, we show that PATZ1 is enriched in glial tumors compared to the normal brain, where it correlates positively and negatively with a proneural and mesenchymal signature, respectively. Moreover, we show that PATZ1 is expressed at variable levels in our cohort of tumors. Higher expression was detected in high-grade than low-grade gliomas, suggesting a correlation with the malignancy. Among high-grade gliomas, higher levels of PATZ1 have consistently been found to correlate with worse event-free survival. Therefore, our study may imply new diagnostic opportunities for pediatric gliomas.
Tumor Expression of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 (Cdk5) Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Predicts Outcome of Oxaliplatin-Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Ruiz de Porras Vicenç , Bystrup Sara , Cabrero-de las Heras Sara , Musulén Eva , Palomero Luis , Alonso Maria Henar , Nieto Rocio , Arango Diego , Moreno Víctor , Queralt Cristina , Manzano José Luis , Layos Laura , Bugés Cristina , Martinez-Balibrea Eva
Published: October 2019

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that elevated expression of cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk5) contributes to the oncogenic initiation and progression of many types of cancers. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of Cdk5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and in a large number of tumor samples in order to evaluate its relevance in this pathogenesis and possible use as a prognostic marker. We found that Cdk5 is highly expressed and activated in CRC cell lines and that silencing of the kinase decreases their migration ability. In tumor tissues, Cdk5 is overexpressed compared to normal tissues due to a copy number gain. In patients with localized disease, we found that high Cdk5 levels correlate with poor prognosis, while in the metastatic setting, this was only the case for patients receiving an oxaliplatin-based treatment. When exploring the Cdk5 levels in the consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), we found the lowest levels in subtype 1, where high Cdk5 again was associated with a poorer prognosis. In conclusion, we confirm that Cdk5 is involved in CRC and disease progression and that it could serve as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in this disease.
Improvement of Methane Combustion Activity for Pd/ZrO2 Catalyst by Simple Reduction/Reoxidation Treatment
Authors: Kim Chansong , Hong Eunpyo , Shin Chae-Ho
Published: October 2019

The improvement of methane combustion activity was observed in cyclic temperature-programed and isothermal reactions over Pd/ZrO2 catalysts by simple reduction/reoxidation treatment. The catalytic activity increased during the initial stages of isothermal reaction, and the light-off temperature was lowered as the number of cycles increased in the cyclic temperature-programed reaction. To reveal the origin of activation, variations in the reduction properties after the activation period were carefully investigated through CH4 temperature-programed reduction (TPR) measurements. From the CH4-TPR results, it was confirmed that the reduction temperature decreased significantly after activation. The observation of the CH4-TPR peak at relatively low temperatures is directly proportional to the catalytic activity of CH4 combustion. It was therefore concluded that repeated reduction/reoxidation occurred in the reactant stream, and this phenomenon allowed the combustion reaction to proceed more easily at lower temperatures.
Magnetic Chitosan-Supported Silver Nanoparticles: A Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol
Authors: Hasan Kamrul , Shehadi Ihsan Ahmed , Al-Bab Nemat Dek , Elgamouz Abdelaziz
Published: October 2019

Developing heterogeneous catalyst using chitosan (CS) and magnetic Fe3O4 as support has been remarkably attractive due to their availability, low cost and non-toxicity. In this work, a heterogeneous catalyst (denoted as Fe3O4@CS@MS@Ag) was fabricated by the deposition of silver nanoparticles on magnetic chitosan via an easy and facile modification of its surface with methyl salicylate (MS). The catalyst was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, CS decorated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@CS) has shown the catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in presence of NaBH4. Surface modified magnetic chitosan (Fe3O4@CS@MS) also acts as active catalyst towards the reduction of 4-NP. However, catalytic efficiency has increased fourfold when silver-nanoparticles-deposited magnetic chitosan (Fe3O4@CS@MS@Ag) used as our target catalyst. The catalyst was separated with external magnet after each cycle of catalytic reaction and reused effectively five times with almost 90% efficiency.
Enthalpy Relaxation of Polyamide 11 of Different Morphology Far Below the Glass Transition Temperature
Authors: Androsch René , Jariyavidyanont Katalee , Schick Christoph
Published: October 2019

Polyamide 11 (PA 11) samples of different supermolecular structure, including the crystal-free glass and semi-crystalline PA 11 of largely different semi-crystalline morphology, were prepared by fast scanning chip calorimetry (FSC). These samples were then annealed at different temperatures well below the glass transition temperature Tg. The main purpose of the low-temperature annealing experiments was the calorimetric detection of mobility of chain segments at temperatures as low as −40 °C (≈Tg − 80 K) where still excellent impact resistance is predicted. It was found that annealing PA 11 at such low temperature, regardless the thermal history and supermolecular structure including crystallinity as well as crystal shape and size, permits distinct enthalpy relaxation at rather short time scale with the structural changes reverting on subsequent heating as detected with pronounced sub-Tg-enthalpy-recovery peaks. The main glass transition, associated to large-amplitude segmental mobility, as well as relaxations at temperatures only slightly below Tg are even more distinctly sensitive to the crystal morphology. In contrast to spherulitically grown lamellar crystals, presence of high-specific-surface area nanometer-sized ordered domains causes a shift of the glass transition temperature of the amorphous phase to higher temperature, proving stronger coupling of ordered and amorphous phases than in case of lamellae. In addition, the increased coupling of the crystalline and amorphous phases slows down the cooperative rearrangements on annealing the glass slightly below Tg. The performed study contributes to further understanding of the spectrum of structural relaxations in PA 11 including the effect of presence of crystals. Enthalpy relaxation and consequently the reduction of entropy at temperatures slightly below Tg strongly depends on the semi-crystalline morphology, while an only minor effect is seen on low-temperature annealing at Tg − 80 K, possibly indicating different molecular mechanisms for the processes occurring in both temperature ranges. The low-temperature process even seems proceeding in the crystalline fraction of the material.
A New Belief Entropy Based on Deng Entropy
Authors: Wang Dan , Gao Jiale , Wei Daijun
Published: October 2019

For Dempster–Shafer evidence theory, how to measure the uncertainty of basic probability assignment (BPA) is still an open question. Deng entropy is one of the methods for measuring the uncertainty of Dempster–Shafer evidence. Recently, some limitations of Deng entropy theory are found. For overcoming these limitations, some modified theories are given based on Deng entropy. However, only one special situation is considered in each theory method. In this paper, a unified form of the belief entropy is proposed on the basis of Deng entropy. In the new proposed method, the scale of the frame of discernment (FOD) and the relative scale of a focal element with reference to FOD are considered. Meanwhile, for an example, some properties of the belief entropy are obtained based on a special situation of a unified form. Some numerical examples are illustrated to show the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed belief entropy.
On Achievable Distortion in Sending Gaussian Sources over a Bandwidth-Matched Gaussian MAC with No Transmitter CSI
Authors: Illangakoon Chathura , Yahampath Pradeepa
Published: October 2019

This paper investigates the minimum mean square error (MMSE) of communicating a pair of Gaussian sources over a a bandwidth-matched Gaussian multiple-access channel with block Rayleigh fading in the absence of channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters. The achievable MMSE is not known. To this end, we derive several upper-bounds to the minimum achievable average MMSE as a function of the transmitter powers, the average channel fading power-to-noise ratio, and the correlation coefficient of the two sources. To derive nontrivial upper bounds which improve on those of separate source-channel coding and uncoded transmission, we incorporate ideas from joint source-channel coding and hybrid digital–analog coding to construct specific coding schemes for which the achievable MMSE can be determined.
Likelihood Inference for Generalized Integer Autoregressive Time Series Models
Authors: Joe Harry
Published: October 2019

For modeling count time series data, one class of models is generalized integer autoregressive of order p based on thinning operators. It is shown how numerical maximum likelihood estimation is possible by inverting the probability generating function of the conditional distribution of an observation given the past p observations. Two data examples are included and show that thinning operators based on compounding can substantially improve the model fit compared with the commonly used binomial thinning operator.
PLATON: Developing a Graphical Lesson Planning System for Prospective Teachers
Authors: Strickroth Sven
Published: October 2019

Lesson planning is both an important and demanding task—especially as part of teacher training. This paper presents the requirements for a lesson planning system and evaluates existing systems regarding these requirements. One major drawback of existing software tools is that most are limited to a text- or form-based representation of the lesson designs. In this article, a new approach with a graphical, time-based representation with (automatic) analyses methods is proposed and the system architecture and domain model are described in detail. The approach is implemented in an interactive, web-based prototype called PLATON, which additionally supports the management of lessons in units as well as the modelling of teacher and student-generated resources. The prototype was evaluated in a study with 61 prospective teachers (bachelor’s and master’s preservice teachers as well as teacher trainees in post-university teacher training) in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on usability. The results show that this approach proofed usable for lesson planning and offers positive effects for the perception of time and self-reflection.
A Two-Module Linear Regulator with 3.9–10 V Input, 2.5 V Output, and 500 mA Load
Authors: Duan Quanzhen , Li Weidong , Huang Shengming , Ding Yuemin , Meng Zhen , Shi Kai
Published: October 2019

A linear regulator with an input range of 3.9–10 V, 2.5 V output, and a maximal 500 mA load for use with battery systems was developed and presented here. The linear regulator featured two modules of a preregulator and a linear regulator core circuit, offering minimized power dissipation and high-level stability. The preregulator delivered an internal power voltage of 3 V and supplied internal circuits including the second module (the linear regulator core). The preregulator fitted with an active, low-pass filter provided a low-noise reference voltage to the linear regulator core circuit. To ensure operational stability for the linear regulator, error amplifiers incorporating the Miller compensation technique and featuring a large slewing rate were employed in the two modules. The circuit was successfully implemented in a 0.25 µm, 5 V complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process featuring 20 V drain-extended MOS (DMOS)/bipolar high-voltage devices. The total silicon area, including all pads, was approximately 1.67 mm2. To reduce chip area, bipolar rather than DMOS transistors served as the power transistors. Measured results demonstrated that the designed linear regulator was able to operate at an input voltage ranging from 3.9 to 10 V and offer a maximum 500 mA load current with fixed 2.5 V output voltage.
Multi-Backup Beams for Instantaneous Link Recovery in mmWave Communications
Authors: Aldalbahi Adel
Published: October 2019

In this paper, a novel link recover scheme is proposed for standalone (SA) millimeter wave communications. Once the main beam between the base station (BS) and the mobile station (MS) is blocked, then a bundle-beam is radiated that covers the spatial direction of the blocked beam. These beams are generated from an analog beamformer design that is composed of parallel adjacent antenna arrays to radiate multiple simultaneous beams, thus creating an analog beamformer of multiple beams. The proposed recovery scheme features instantaneous recovery times, without the need for beam scanning to search for alternative beam directions. Hence, the scheme features reduced recovery times and latencies, as opposed to existing methods.
A 6-Bit Ku Band Digital Step Attenuator with Low Phase Variation in 0.13-μm SiGe BiCMOS
Authors: Luo Lei , Li Zhiqun , Yao Yan , Cheng Guoxiao
Published: October 2019

A 6-bit Ku band digital step attenuator with low phase variation is presented in this paper. The attenuator is designed with 0.13-μm SiGe BiCMOS process technology using triple well isolation N-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (TWNMOS) and through-silicon-via (TSV). TWNMOS is mainly used to improve the performance of switches and reduce the insertion loss (IL). TSV is utilized to provide approximately ideal global current ground plane with low impedance for the attenuator. In addition, substrate floating technique and new capacitance compensation technique are adopted in the attenuator to improve the linearity and decrease the phase variation. The measured results show that the attenuator IL is 6.99–9.33 dB; the maximum relative attenuation is 31.87–30.31 dB with 0.5-dB step (64 states), the root mean square (RMS) for the amplitude error is 0.58–0.36 dB and the phase error RMS is 2.06–3.46° in the 12–17 GHz frequency range. The total chip area is 1 × 0.9 mm2.
A Power Control Mean Field Game Framework for Battery Lifetime Enhancement of Coexisting Machine-Type Communications
Authors: Mehmood Kashif , Niaz Muhammad Tabish , Kim Hyung Seok
Published: October 2019

Machine-type communications (MTC) enable the connectivity and control of a vast category of devices without human intervention. This study considers a hybrid coexisting wireless cellular network for traditional and MTC devices along with the need for an energy efficient power allocation mechanism for MTC devices. A model is presented for the interference and battery lifetime of MTC devices and a battery lifetime maximization problem is formulated. Conventional game designs are unable to address the demands of a densified user environment because of the dimensional difficulty presented when attempting to achieve a converged solution that would lead to a stable equilibrium. The MTC power control problem is modeled as a differential game and a mean field game (MFG) for massive number of MTC nodes estimates the power allocation policy with system utility defined in terms of the experienced interference and reliability. The formulated power control MFG is solved using a finite difference method and analyzed using extensive simulations. The solution provides an optimal power control strategy for MTC devices, enabling them to prolong their battery lives with the implemented energy efficient power allocation scheme.
A Weekend Load Forecasting Model Based on Semi-Parametric Regression Analysis Considering Weather and Load Interaction
Authors: Li Bin , Lu Mingzhen , Zhang Yiyi , Huang Jia
Published: October 2019

Compared to the load characteristics of normal working days, weekend load characteristics have a low level of load and are sensitive to meteorological conditions, which influences the accuracy of short-term weekend-load forecasting. To solve this problem and to improve the accuracy of short-term weekend-load forecasting, a Semi-parametric weekend-load forecasting method based on the interaction between meteorological and load is proposed in this paper. The main work is shown as follows: (1) through separating weekend-load from normal-load and analyzing the correlation between meteorological factors and daily maximum load, the meteorological factors with parameter characteristics and non-parameter characteristics can be screened out; (2) a short-term weekend-load forecasting model is built according to Semi-parametric regression theory which can express the coupling relation between meteorology and load more realistically; (3) the effect of temperature accumulation is also considered to correct the forecasting model. The proposed method is proved by implementing short-term weekend-load forecasting on the real historical data of the Southern Power Grid in China. The result shows that the 96-point mean load forecasting accuracy obtained by this model can meet the requirement of power network operation.
Countrywide Mobile Spectrum Sharing with Small Indoor Cells for Massive Spectral and Energy Efficiencies in 5G and Beyond Mobile Networks
Authors: Saha Rony Kumer
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we propose a technique to share the licensed spectrums of all mobile network operators (MNOs) of a country with in-building small cells per MNO by exploiting the external wall penetration loss of a building and introducing the time-domain eICIC technique. The proposed technique considers allocating the dedicated spectrum Bop per MNO only its to outdoor macro UEs, whereas the total spectrum of all MNOs of the country Bco to its small cells indoor per building such that technically any small indoor cell of an MNO can have access to Bco instead of merely Bop assigned only to the MNO itself. We develop an interference management strategy as well as an algorithm for the proposed technique. System-level capacity, spectral efficiency, and energy efficiency performance metrics are derived, and a generic model for energy efficiency is presented. An optimal amount of small indoor cell density in terms of the number of buildings L carrying these small cells per MNO to trade-off the spectral efficiency and the energy efficiency is derived. With the system-level numerical and simulation results, we define an optimal value of L for a dense deployment of small indoor cells of an MNO and show that the proposed spectrum sharing technique can achieve massive indoor capacity, spectral efficiency, and energy efficiency for the MNO. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed spectrum sharing technique could meet both the spectral efficiency and the energy efficiency requirements for 5G mobile networks for numerous traffic arrival rates to small indoor cells per building of an MNO.
Performance Analysis of a Small-Scale Biogas-Based Trigeneration Plant: An Absorption Refrigeration System Integrated to an Externally Fired Microturbine
Authors: Villarroel-Schneider J. , Malmquist Anders , Araoz Joseph A. , Martí-Herrero J. , Martin Andrew
Published: October 2019

Trigeneration or combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) systems fueled by raw biogas can be an interesting alternative for supplying electricity and thermal services in remote rural areas where biogas can be produced without requiring sophisticated equipment. In this sense, this study considers a performance analysis of a novel small-scale CCHP system where a biogas-fired, 5 kWel externally fired microturbine (EFMT), an absorption refrigeration system (ARS) and heat exchangers are integrated for supplying electricity, refrigeration and hot water demanded by Bolivian small dairy farms. The CCHP solution presents two cases, current and nominal states, in which experimental and design data of the EFMT performance were considered, respectively. The primary energy/exergy rate was used as a performance indicator. The proposed cases show better energy performances than those of reference fossil fuel-based energy solutions (where energy services are produced separately) allowing savings in primary energy utilization of up to 31%. Furthermore, improvements in electric efficiency of the EFMT and coefficient of performance (COP) of the ARS, identified as key variables of the system, allow primary energy savings of up to 37%. However, to achieve these values in real conditions, more research and development of the technologies involved is required, especially for the EFMT.
Day-Ahead Robust Economic Dispatch Considering Renewable Energy and Concentrated Solar Power Plants
Authors: Bai Jiawen , Ding Tao , Wang Zhe , Chen Jianhua
Published: October 2019

A concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with energy storage systems has excellent scheduling flexibility and superiority to traditional thermal power generation systems. In this paper, the operation mechanism and operational constraints of the CSP plant are specified. Furthermore, the uncertainty of the solar energy received by the solar field is considered and a robust economic dispatch model with CSP plants and renewable energy resources is proposed, where uncertainty is adjusted by the automatic generation control (AGC) regulation in the day-ahead ancillary market, so that the system security is guaranteed under any realization of the uncertainty. Finally, the proposed robust economic dispatch has been studied on an improved IEEE 30-bus test system, and the results verify the proposed model.
10-Year Wind and Wave Energy Assessment in the North Indian Ocean
Authors: Yang Shaobo , Duan Shanhua , Fan Linlin , Zheng Chongwei , Li Xingfei , Li Hongyu , Xu Jianjun , Wang Qiang , Feng Ming
Published: October 2019

With increasing energy shortages and global warming, clean and renewable energy sources, such as wind and wave energy, have gained widespread attention. In this study, the third-generation wave model WAVEWATCH-III (WW3) is used to simulate wave height in the North Indian Ocean (NIO), from 2008 to 2017, using the wind data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Renalysis datasets. The simulated results show good correlation with data obtained from altimetry. Analysis of wind and wave energy resources in the NIO is carried out considering energy density, the exploitable energy, the energy density stability, and monthly and seasonal variability indices. The results show that most areas of the NIO have abundant wind energy and at the Somali Waters are rich in wave energy resources, with wind energy densities above 200 W/m2 and wave energy densities above 15 KW/m. The most energy-rich areas are the Somali Waters, the Arabian Sea, and the southern part of the NIO (wind energy density 350–650 W/m2, wave energy density 9–24 KW/m), followed by the Laccadive sea (wind energy density 150–350 W/m2, wave energy density 6–9 KW/m), while the central part of the NIO is relatively poor (wind energy density less than 150 W/m2, wave energy density below 6 KW/m).
A Multisensory, Green, and Energy Efficient Housing Neuromarketing Method
Authors: Kaklauskas Arturas , Ubarte Ieva , Kalibatas Darius , Lill Irene , Velykorusova Anastasiia , Volginas Pavelas , Vinogradova Irina , Milevicius Virgis , Vetloviene Ingrida , Grubliauskas Raimondas , Bublienė Raimonda , Naumcik Andrej
Published: October 2019

Green products, clean energy, energy union, green buildings, eco-innovations, environment-related, and similar initiatives and policies have become very popular and widely applied all over the world. A pleasant built environment (parks, flowerbeds, beautiful buildings) and a repulsive environment (noise, polluted surroundings) influence a buyer’s outlook on an advertisement differently. An aesthetic, comfortable, and clean built environment evokes positive emotional states, not only at the time of housing selection and purchase but during the building’s life cycle as well. Potential housing buyers always feel comfortable in certain built environments, and they are inclined to spend more time there. The issues needing answers are how to measure the segmentation/physiological indicators (crowd composition by gender and age groups), as well as the emotional (happy, sad, angry, valence) and physiological (heart rate) states of potential homebuyers realistically, to produce an integrated evaluation of such data and offer buyers rational, green, and energy efficient housing alternatives. To achieve this purpose, the Multisensory, green and energy efficient housing neuromarketing method was developed to generate the necessary conditions. Here, around 200 million multisensory data recordings (emotional and physiological states) were accumulated, and the environmental air pollution (CO, NO2, PM10, volatile organic compounds) and noise pollution were investigated. Specific green and energy efficient building case studies appear in this article to demonstrate the developed method clearly. The obtained research results are in line with those from previous and current studies, which state that the interrelation of environmental responsiveness and age forms an inverse U and that an interest in green and energy efficient housing depends on age.
Influence of Fuel Injection Pressure on the Emissions Characteristics and Engine Performance in a CRDI Diesel Engine Fueled with Palm Biodiesel Blends
Authors: Yoon Sam Ki , Ge Jun Cong , Choi Nag Jung
Published: October 2019

This experiment investigates the combustion and emissions characteristics of a common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine using various blends of pure diesel fuel and palm biodiesel. Fuel injection pressures of 45 and 65 MPa were investigated under engine loads of 50 and 100 Nm. The fuels studied herein were pure diesel fuel 100 vol.% with 0 vol.% of palm biodiesel (PBD0), pure diesel fuel 80 vol.% blended with 20 vol.% of palm biodiesel (PBD20), and pure diesel fuel 50 vol.% blended with 50 vol.% of palm biodiesel (PBD50). As the fuel injection pressure increased from 45 to 65 MPa under all engine loads, the combustion pressure and heat release rate also increased. The indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) increased with an increase of the fuel injection pressure. In addition, for 50 Nm of the engine load, an increase to the fuel injection pressure resulted in a reduction of the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by an average of 2.43%. In comparison, for an engine load of 100 Nm, an increase in the fuel injection pressure decreased BSFC by an average of 0.8%. Hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) decreased as fuel pressure increased, independent of the engine load. Increasing fuel injection pressure for 50 Nm engine load using PBD0, PBD20 and PBD50 decreased carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. When the fuel injection pressure was increased from 45 MPa to 65 MPa, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions were increased for both engine loads. For a given fuel injection pressure, NOx emissions increased slightly as the biodiesel content in the fuel blend increased.
Numerical Study on Humidification Performance of Fuel Cell Test Platform Humidifier
Authors: Ma Tiancai , Wang Kai , Zhou Qiongqiong , Lin Weikang , Cong Ming , Jia Wenya
Published: October 2019

Temperature and humidity are important parameters in the operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which have an important impact on the performance of fuel cell. Fuel cell test platform is an important tool to study the performance of fuel cells, and its temperature and humidity control module is also the key in the research process of the test platform, so that it can provide the gas with precise temperature and humidity control during the test process of the fuel cell. In this paper, a humidifier combined with bubbling and spraying is adopted for the application of test platform, and the numerical simulation model of the humidifier is established. According to the model, the influence of operating conditions of humidifier on humidification performance is verified, such as inlet air velocity and the humidifying water temperature. The results indicate that the inlet air velocity and the humidifying water temperature have great influence on the humidifying performance of the humidifier. The humidifying performance decreases with the increase of the inlet air velocity and increases with the increase of the humidifying water temperature respectively. In addition, the humidification performance of the humidifier is verified.
Product Characteristics of Torrefied Wood Sawdust in Normal and Vacuum Environments
Authors: Chih Yi-Kai , Chen Wei-Hsin , Ong Hwai Chyuan , Show Pau Loke
Published: October 2019

To investigate the efficacy of torrefaction in a vacuum environment, wood sawdust was torrefied at various temperatures (200–300 °C) in different atmospheres (nitrogen and vacuum) with different residence times (30 and 60 min). It was found that the amount of biochar reduced at the same rate—regardless of atmosphere type—throughout the torrefaction process. In terms of energy density, the vacuum system produced biochar with better higher heating value (HHV, MJ/kg) than the nitrogen system below 250 °C. This was the case because the moisture and the high volatility compounds such as aldehydes diffused more easily in a vacuum. Over 250 °C, however, a greater amount of low volatility compounds evaded from the vacuum system, resulting in lower higher heating value in the biochar. Despite the mixed results with the solid products, the vacuum system increased the higher heating value of its liquid products more significantly than did the nitrogen system regardless of torrefaction temperature. It was found that 23% of the total energy output came from the liquid products in the vacuum system; the corresponding ratio was 19% in the nitrogen system. With liquid products contributing to a larger share of the total energy output, the vacuum system outperformed the nitrogen system in terms of energy density.
Metallic Organic Framework-Derived Fe, N, S co-doped Carbon as a Robust Catalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Luo Xiao , Han Wuli , Ren Han , Zhuang Qingzuo
Published: October 2019

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides a vital role for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) due to its slow reaction kinetics compared with the anodic oxidation reaction. How to develop new materials with low cost, high efficacy, and eco-friendliness which could replace platinum-based electrocatalysis is a challenge that we have to resolve. In this work, we accomplished this successfully by means of a facile strategy to synthesize a metallic organic framework-derived Fe, N, S co-doped carbon with FeS as the main phase. The Fe/S@N/C-0.5 catalyst demonstrated outstandingly enhanced ORR activity in neutral PBS and alkaline media, compared to that of commercial 20% Pt-C catalyst. Here, we started-up and operated two parallel single-chamber microbial fuel cells of an air cathode, and those cathode catalysts were Fe/S@N/C-0.5 and commercial Pt-C (20% Pt), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) elaborated that the Fe/S@N/C-0.5 composite did not change the polyhedron morphology of ZIF-8. According to X-ray diffractometry(XRD) curves, the main crystal phase of the resulted Fe/S@N/C-0.5 was FeS. The chemical environment of N, S, and Fe which are anticipated to be the high-efficiency active sites of ORR for MFCs were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic(XPS). Nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques were used to calculate the pore diameter distribution. In brief, the obtained Fe/S@N/C-0.5 material exhibited a pronounced reduction potential at 0.861 V (versus Reversible Hydrogen Electrode(RHE)) in 0.1M KOH solution and –0.03 V (vs. SCE) in the PBS solution, which both outperform the benchmark platinum-based catalysts. Fe/S@N/C-0.5-MFC had a higher Open Circuit Voltage(OCV) (0.71 V), stronger maximum power density (1196 mW/m2), and larger output voltage (0.47 V) than the Pt/C-MFC under the same conditions.
Semi-Automated Sample-Based Forest Degradation Monitoring with Photointerpretation of High-Resolution Imagery
Authors: Lister Andrew , Lister Tonya , Weber Thomas
Published: October 2019

Forest fragmentation and degradation are a problem in many areas of the world and are a cause for concern to land managers. Similarly, countries interested in curtailing climate change have a keen interest in monitoring forest degradation. Traditional methods for measuring forested landscape pattern dynamics with maps made from classified satellite imagery fall short with respect to the compatibility of their forest definitions with information needs. In addition, they are not easily amenable to interpretation using tools like confidence intervals derived from survey sampling theory. In this paper, we described a novel landscape monitoring approach that helps fill these gaps. In it, a grid of photo plots is efficiently created and overlaid on high-resolution imagery, points are labeled with respect to their land-use by a human interpreter, and mean values and their variance are calculated for a suite of point-based fragmentation metrics related to forest degradation. We presented three case studies employing this approach from the US states of Maryland and Pennsylvania, highlighted different survey sampling paradigms, and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the method relative to traditional, satellite imagery-based approaches. Results indicate that the scale of forest fragmentation in Maryland is between 250 and 1000 m, and this agrees with compatible estimates derived from raster analytical methods. There is a positive relationship between an index of housing construction and change in forest aggregation as measured by our metrics, and strong agreement between metric values collected by human interpretation of imagery and those obtained from a land cover map from the same period. We showed how the metrics respond to simulated degradation, and offered suggestions for practitioners interested in leveraging rapid photointerpretation for forest degradation monitoring.
Wood Protection through Plasma Powder Deposition—An Alternative Coating Process
Authors: Köhler Robert , Sauerbier Philipp , Ohms Gisela , Viöl Wolfgang , Militz Holger
Published: October 2019

In contrast to conventional coating processes such as varnishing, plasma powder deposition by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet on wood is not yet widely used. A key advantage of this process is that volatile organic compounds and organic solvents are avoided. In the present work, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) were coated with polymer (polyester), metal (aluminum coated silver) or metal oxide (bismuth oxide) particles. Furthermore, a layer system consisting of polyester and metal or metal oxide was investigated. The layer thickness and topography were analyzed with a laser scanning microscope and scanning electron microscope, revealing thicknesses of 2–22 µm depending on the coating material. In general, the chemical composition of the layers was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. The coatings consisting of metal and metal oxide showed a band gap and plasmon resonance in the range of 540 and 450 nm. Through this absorption, the wood may be protected against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In the water uptake and release tests, the polyester layers exhibited a reduction of water vapor absorption after 24 h in 100% relative humidity (RH) by 53%–66%, whereas the pure metal oxide layers indicated the best desorption performance. The combination of metal oxide and polyester in the one-layer system combines the protection properties of the single coatings against water vapor and UV radiation.
ANN-Based Shear Capacity of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beams without Stirrups
Authors: Abambres Miguel , Lantsoght Eva O.L.
Published: October 2019

Comparing experimental results of the shear capacity of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams without stirrups to the capacity predicted using current design equations and other available formulations shows that predicting the shear capacity of SFRC beams without mild steel shear reinforcement is still difficult. The reason for this difficulty is the complex mechanics of the problem, where the steel fibers affect the different shear-carrying mechanisms. Since this problem is still not fully understood, we propose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to derive an expression based on the available experimental data. We used a database of 430 datapoints obtained from the literature. The outcome is an artificial neural network-based expression to predict the shear capacity of SFRC beams without shear reinforcement. For this purpose, many thousands of artificial neural network (ANN) models were generated, based on 475 distinct combinations of 15 typical ANN features. The proposed “optimal” model results in maximum and mean relative errors of 0.0% for the 430 datapoints. The proposed model results in a better prediction (mean Vtest/VANN = 1.00 with a coefficient of variation 1 × 10−15) as compared to the existing code expressions and other available empirical expressions, with the model by Kwak et al. giving a mean value of Vtest/Vpred = 1.01 and a coefficient of variation of 27%. Until mechanics-based models are available for predicting the shear capacity of SFRC beams without shear reinforcement, the proposed model thus offers an attractive solution for estimating the shear capacity of SFRC beams without shear reinforcement. With this approach, designers who may be reluctant to use SFRC because of the large uncertainties and poor predictions of experiments, may feel more confident using the material for structural design.
Food Purchasing Behaviors of a Remote and Rural Adult Solomon Islander Population
Authors: Bottcher Charis , Underhill Steven J. R. , Aliakbari Judith , Burkhart Sarah J.
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the food purchasing behaviors of an adult Solomon Islander population within a transitioning food system in Auki, Malaita. Food purchasing behavior measures included; venue type and transportation for purchasing food, previous day expenditure on food purchases, number of weekly shopping experiences for store foods (generally long-life shelf and frozen items) and fresh foods (such as fruits and vegetables and fresh fish) and the importance of factors (i.e., price) on purchasing decisions. One hundred and thirty-three adults (aged 18 to 74 years; female: 63%, males: 37%) completed an interviewer administered questionnaire during December 2018. Food items were primarily sourced from Auki markets (n = 70) and stores (n = 40). Food purchasing differed between fresh and semi-perishable foods (store food). Participants reported similar shopping experiences for store food and fresh food (M = 3.87 and M = 3.25 times a week, respectively) and spending between $1 and $200 (M = $56.12) Solomon Island dollars on food in the previous day. The most reported purchased item was white rice (n = 117, 88%), with taste, freshness and family preference the most important factors reported as influencing food purchasing choices. While our findings are from a small sample in Auki, further research could build upon this work by investigating food purchasing behaviors at other times of the year, and more widely in the Solomon Islands and greater Pacific region.
Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction as an Alternative Method to Conventional Maceration for the Extraction of the Polyphenolic Fraction of Ribes nigrum Buds: A New Category of Food Supplements Proposed by The FINNOVER Project
Authors: Turrini Federica , Donno Dario , Beccaro Gabriele Loris , Zunin Paola , Pittaluga Anna , Boggia Raffaella
Published: October 2019

In this research, for the first time, an alternative method to produce Ribes nigrum bud derivatives is presented. Pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE), using a food-grade solvent according to green chemistry principles, has been employed and compared to the conventional extraction method. Traditionally, bud derivatives, a category of botanicals marketed as plant food supplements in the European Community, are produced by macerating meristematic tissues of trees and plants mainly spontaneously collected. Buds are a challenging raw material for the UAE, since meristematic tissues are much softer and fragile than their corresponding adult phenological stage. It is therefore important to assess whether the polyphenolic fraction, very susceptible to degradation, is conserved after UAE. Untargeted polyphenolic fingerprints (UV-Visible and fluorescence) coupled with chemometrics are employed to quickly screen the best extraction conditions, evaluated by the design of experiment (DoE) method. The polyphenolic fraction of the optimized PUAE extract was quantified by targeted HPLC fingerprint and its antiradical activity was determined. PUAE on a lab pilot reactor was proven to be the most practical approach for a rapid (20 min vs. 21 days maceration) and efficient extraction of bioactive polyphenolics from Ribes nigrum buds, encouraging the scale up to an industrial plan.
Consumer Awareness of the Regional Food Market: The Case of Eastern European Border Regions
Authors: Soroka Andrzej , Wojciechowska-Solis Julia
Published: October 2019

The aim of this paper is to determine the awareness measures of consumers from Eastern Poland and Western Ukraine towards regional food products, including consumer knowledge on regional products available in the media and their availability on the food market. The effort was made to compare consumers’ opinions on the reasons for purchasing regional food and ways of distinguishing it from conventional products, as well as on the availability of regional products. Consumer awareness—that is, making informed choices based on the knowledge we have—is a measure of attitudes and cognition, and sometimes can be directed towards the brand, which is the product’s regional designation. Therefore, it is necessary to comment that attitudes towards regionality can generate a behavioral intent. A diagnostic survey with an author’s questionnaire was used in the study, which helped to survey 1128 respondents from Eastern Poland—that is, from the Podlaskie, Lublin, and Subcarpathia regions—and 1072 from Western Ukraine, including the Volyn, Lviv, and Transcarpathia regions. Discriminant function analysis was used in statistical analysis. Both residents of Eastern Poland and Western Ukraine obtained information on regional food products from their friends or family and from television (TV), internet, and regional fairs. Consumers from both countries pointed at too many possibilities of purchasing regional products; at the same time, they paid attention to a limited number of points of sale. TV and Internet have a great promotional potential to educate young consumers focused on the purchase of regional food products.