bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Behavior in TiS3 Nanoribbon
Authors: Lai Shengqiang , Du Yongping
Published: October 2019

The electronic structure, magnetic properties and strain response of N-a-TiS3 nanoribbons are investigated by first-principles calculations. We find that the magnetic ground state is strongly dependent on width of a-TiS3. When N equals an odd number the ground state is a ferromagnetic (FM) metal, meanwhile, when N equals an even number the ground state is an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) metal. More interestingly, a tensile strain as large as 6% can tune the 9-a-TiS3 nanoribbon from a FM metal to a half metal. A 4% tensile strain also causes a phase transition from AFM to FM ground state for 10-a-TiS3 nanoribbon. Our findings show that N-a-TiS3 is a promising candidate for spintronic and electronic applications.
Applications of Sustainable Polymer-Based Phase Change Materials in Mortars Composed by Different Binders
Authors: Frigione Mariaenrica , Lettieri Mariateresa , Sarcinella Antonella , Barroso de Aguiar José Luìs
Published: October 2019

Eco-sustainable, low toxic and low flammable poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) was forced into flakes of the porous Lecce stone (LS), collected as stone cutting wastes, employing a very simple cheap method, to produce a “form-stable” phase change material (PCM). The experimental PCM was included in mortars based on different binders (hydraulic lime, gypsum and cement) in two compositions. The main thermal and mechanical characteristics of the produced mortars were evaluated in order to assess the effects due to the incorporation of the PEG-based PCM. The mortars containing the PEG-based PCM were found to be suitable as thermal energy storage systems, still displaying the characteristics melting and crystallization peaks of PEG polymer, even if the related enthalpies measured on the mortars were appreciably reduced respect to pure PEG. The general reduction in mechanical properties (in flexural and compressive mode) measured on all the mortars, brought about by the presence of PEG-based PCM, was overcome by producing mortars possessing a greater amount of binder. The proposed LS/PEG composite can be considered, therefore, as a promising PCM system for the different mortars analyzed, provided that an optimal composition is identified for each binder.
Optical-Based (Bio) Sensing Systems Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Üzek Recep , Sari Esma , Merkoçi Arben
Published: October 2019

In recent years, various reports related to sensing application research have suggested that combining the synergistic impacts of optical, electrical or magnetic properties in a single technique can lead to a new multitasking platform. Owing to their unique features of the magnetic moment, biocompatibility, ease of surface modification, chemical stability, high surface area, high mass transference, magnetic nanoparticles have found a wide range of applications in various fields, especially in sensing systems. The present review is comprehensive information about magnetic nanoparticles utilized in the optical sensing platform, broadly categorized into four types: surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), fluorescence spectroscopy and near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging (NIRS) that are commonly used in various (bio) analytical applications. The review also includes some conclusions on the state of the art in this field and future aspects.
A Versatile Queuing System For Sharing Economy Platform Operations
Authors: Kim Song-Kyoo , Yeun Chan Yeob
Published: October 2019

The paper deals with a sharing economy system with various management factors by using a bulk input G/M/1 type queuing model. The effective management of operating costs is vital for controlling the sharing economy platform and this research builds the theoretical background to understand the sharing economy business model. Analytically, the techniques include a classical Markov process of the single channel queueing system, semi-Markov process and semi-regenerative process. It uses the stochastic congruent properties to find the probability distribution of the number of contractors in the sharing economy platform. The obtained explicit formulas demonstrate the usage of functional for the main stochastic characteristics including sharing expenses due to over contracted resources and optimization of their objective function.
The Truncation Regularization Method for Identifying the Initial Value on Non-Homogeneous Time-Fractional Diffusion-Wave Equations
Authors: Yang Fan , Pu Qu , Li Xiao-Xiao , Li Dun-Gang
Published: October 2019

In the essay, we consider an initial value question for a mixed initial-boundary value of time-fractional diffusion-wave equations. This matter is an ill-posed problem; the solution relies discontinuously on the measured information. The truncation regularization technique is used for restoring the initial value functions. The convergence estimations are given in a priori regularization parameter choice regulations and a posteriori regularization parameter choice regulations. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate this is effective and practicable.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Rapidly Solidified β-Type Ti–Fe–Sn–Mo Alloys with High Specific Strength and Low Elastic Modulus
Authors: Li Peiyou , Ma Xindi , Jia Yuefei , Meng Fanying , Tang Ling , He and Zhirong
Published: October 2019

The microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified β-type Ti–Fe–Sn–Mo alloys with high specific strength and low elastic modulus were investigated. The results show that the phases of Ti–Fe–Sn–Mo alloys are composed of the β-Ti, α-Ti, and TiFe phases; the volume fraction of TiFe phase decreases with the increase of Mo content. The high Fe content results in the deposition of TiFe phase along the grain boundary of the Ti phase. The Ti75Fe19Sn5Mo1 alloy exhibits the high yield strength, maximum compressive strength, large plastic deformation, high specific strength, high Vickers hardness, and large toughness value, which is a superior new engineering material. The elastic modulus (42.1 GPa) of Ti75Fe15Sn5Mo5 alloy is very close to the elastic modulus of human bone (10–30 GPa), which indicating that the alloy can be used as a good biomedical alloy. In addition, the large H/Er and H3/Er2 values of Ti75Fe19Sn5Mo1 alloy indicate the good wear resistance and long service life as biomedical materials.
Design and Verification of a Dry Sensor-Based Multi-Channel Digital Active Circuit for Human Brain Electroencephalography Signal Acquisition Systems
Authors: Lin Chin-Teng , Liu Chi-Hsien , Wang Po-Sheng , King Jung-Tai , Liao Lun-De
Published: October 2019

A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a type of interface/communication system that can help users interact with their environments. Electroencephalography (EEG) has become the most common application of BCIs and provides a way for disabled individuals to communicate. While wet sensors are the most commonly used sensors for traditional EEG measurements, they require considerable preparation time, including the time needed to prepare the skin and to use the conductive gel. Additionally, the conductive gel dries over time, leading to degraded performance. Furthermore, requiring patients to wear wet sensors to record EEG signals is considered highly inconvenient. Here, we report a wireless 8-channel digital active-circuit EEG signal acquisition system that uses dry sensors. Active-circuit systems for EEG measurement allow people to engage in daily life while using these systems, and the advantages of these systems can be further improved by utilizing dry sensors. Moreover, the use of dry sensors can help both disabled and healthy people enjoy the convenience of BCIs in daily life. To verify the reliability of the proposed system, we designed three experiments in which we evaluated eye blinking and teeth gritting, measured alpha waves, and recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) to compare our developed system with a standard Neuroscan EEG system.
Introducing Murine Microbiome Database (MMDB): A Curated Database with Taxonomic Profiling of the Healthy Mouse Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Authors: Yang Junwon , Park Jonghyun , Park Sein , Baek Inwoo , Chun Jongsik
Published: October 2019

The gut microbiota modulates overall metabolism, the immune system and brain development of the host. The majority of mammalian gut microbiota consists of bacteria. Among various model animals, the mouse has been most widely used in pre-clinical biological experiments. The significant compositional differences in taxonomic profiles among different mouse strains due to gastrointestinal locations, genotypes and vendors have been well documented. However, details of such variations are yet to be elucidated. This study compiled and analyzed 16S rRNA gene-based taxonomic profiles of 554 healthy mouse samples from 14 different projects to construct a comprehensive database of the microbiome of a healthy mouse gastrointestinal tract. The database, named Murine Microbiome Database, should provide researchers with useful taxonomic information and better biological insight about how each taxon, such as genus and species, is associated with locations in the gastrointestinal tract, genotypes and vendors. The database is freely accessible over the Internet.
The Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Cancer Risk in Korea: A Prospective Cohort Study within the KoGES-HEXA Study
Authors: Ryu Injeong , Kwon Minji , Sohn Cheongmin , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Na Woori , Kim Mi Kyung
Published: October 2019

Several epidemiological studies have shown that there are consistently positive associations between dietary inflammatory index (DII®) scores and cancer incidence in Western populations. However, few DII-cancer studies have been conducted in East Asian populations. In a large cohort representative of the general Korean population, we investigated whether the DII is associated with overall cancer risk. A total of 163,660 participants (56,781 males and 106,879 females) had evaluable data for analyses. This follow-up study was carried out over the course of 7.9 years. DII scores were calculated based on Semi-Quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) data for 106 food items. Cancers were self-reported based on notification by the participants’ medical doctors. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). After the follow-up, 1643 incident cases of cancer (520 males and 1123 females) had developed. In a fully adjusted model, women in the highest DII quintile showed a 44% increased risk of getting cancer (HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.14–1.82; p-trend = 0.0006), while men showed no apparent association (HRQ5vsQ1 = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.58–1.10). These results indicate that in Korean women, a more pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher risk of incident cancer.
Dietary Supplementation with Silicon-Enriched Spirulina Improves Arterial Remodeling and Function in Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Arthur-Ataam Joanna , Bideaux Patrice , Charrabi Azzouz , Sicard Pierre , Fromy Bérengère , Liu Kiaoling , Eddahibi Saadia , Pasqualin Côme , Jouy Nicolas , Richard Sylvain , Virsolvy Anne
Published: October 2019

Vascular aging is characterized by increase in arterial stiffness and remodeling of the arterial wall with a loss of elastic properties. Silicon is an essential trace element highly present in arteries. It is involved in the constitution and stabilization of elastin fibers. The nutritional supply and bioavailability of silicon are often inadequate. Spirulina (Sp), micro algae have recognized nutritional properties and are able to incorporate minerals in a bioavailable form. We evaluated the effects of nutritional supplementation with silicon-enriched spirulina (SpSi) on arterial system structure and function in hypertension. Experiments were performed on hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats supplemented with SpSi or Sp over a period of three months. Arterial pressure, vascular function and morphometric parameters of thoracic aorta were analyzed. SpSi supplementation lowered arterial pressure in SHR and minimized morphometric alterations induced by hypertension. Aortic wall thickness and elastic fibers fragmentation were partially reversed. Collagen and elastin levels were increased in association with extracellular matrix degradation decrease. Vascular reactivity was improved with better contractile and vasorelaxant responses to various agonists. No changes were observed in SHR supplemented with Sp. The beneficial effects of SpSi supplementation evidenced here, may be attributable to Si enrichment and offer interesting opportunities to prevent cardiovascular risks.
Anticholinergic Burden, Sleep Quality and Health Outcomes in Malaysian Aged Care Home Residents
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Hasan Syed Shahzad , Wong Pei Se , Chong David Weng Kwai , Kairuz Therese
Published: October 2019

The use of anticholinergic medications by residents in aged care homes is associated with increased risk of adverse effects. These include cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and falls, and necessitate increased healthcare visits and the associated burden on healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between anticholinergic burden and health outcomes such as independence in activities for daily living, frailty, quality of life, and sleep quality. The study was conducted among residents in Malaysian aged care homes, aged 60 years and above. Anticholinergic burden was calculated using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale. Health outcome measures included independence, assessed using the Katz Activities for Daily Living scale (Katz ADL); quality of life, assessed using the Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL); frailty, assessed using the Groningen Frailty Index (GFI); and sleep quality, measured using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Just over one-third (36%) of the study population was exposed to at least one medication with anticholinergic effect. An increased anticholinergic cognitive burden was associated with frailty (p = 0.031), sleep latency (p = 0.007), and sleep disturbances (p = 0.015). Further studies are required to assess the effect of prolonged exposure to anticholinergic medications on health outcomes.
A Refractive Index Sensor Based on a Fabry–Perot Interferometer Manufactured by NIR Laser Microdrilling and Electric Arc Fusion
Authors: Nespereira Marta , Coelho João M. P. , Rebordão José M.
Published: October 2019

In-line Fabry–Perot cavities manufactured by a new technique using electric arc fusion of NIR laser microdrilled optical fiber flat tips were studied herein for refractive index sensing. Sensors were produced by creating an initial hole on the tip of a standard single-mode telecommunication optical fiber using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Laser ablation and plasma formation processes created 5 to 10 micron cavities. Then, a standard splicing machine was used to fuse the microdrilled fiber with another one, thus creating cavities with lengths around 100 micrometers. This length has been proven to be necessary to obtain an interferometric signal with good fringe visibility when illuminating it in the C-band. Then, the sensing tip of the fiber, with the resulting air cavity, was submitted to several cleaves to enhance the signal and, therefore, its response as a sensor, with final lengths between tens of centimeters for the longest and hundreds of microns for the shortest. The experimental results were analyzed via two signal analysis techniques, fringe visibility and fast Fourier transform, for comparison purposes. In absolute values, the obtained sensitivities varied between 0.31 nm−1/RIU and about 8 nm−1/RIU using the latter method and between about 34 dB/RIU and 54 dB/RIU when analyzing the fringe visibility.
Photostable Anisometric Lanthanide Complexes as Promising Materials for Optical Applications
Authors: Knyazev Andrey , Karyakin Maxim , Galyametdinov Yuriy
Published: October 2019

Uniform luminescent films with high optical quality are promising materials for modern molecular photonics. Such film materials based on β-diketonate complexes of lanthanides have the following application problem: rapid luminescence degradation under UV radiation, low thermostability, poor mechanical properties, and aggregation propensity. An alternative approach to solving these problems is the use of anisometric analogues of β-diketonate compounds of lanthanides (III). The main advantage of such compounds is that they do not crystallize because of long hydrocarbon substituents in the structure of complexes, so they can be used to fabricate thin nano-, micro-, and macroscale uniform film materials by a melt-processing technique at relatively low temperatures, as well as by spin-coating. The method of fabrication of microscale luminescent film materials with controlled optical properties from anisometric analogues of Ln(DBM)3Phen and Ln(bzac)3Phen complexes (Ln = Eu, Tb) is proposed in this paper. Within the framework of this research, we developed original films which are highly uniform and transparent. An important advantage of these films is their high photostability and potential for applications as reusable luminescent sensors and light converters.
Monitoring of OSNR Using an Improved Binary Particle Swarm Optimization and Deep Neural Network in Coherent Optical Systems
Authors: Sun Xiaoyong , Su Shaojing , Wei Junyu , Guo Xiaojun , Tan Xiaopeng
Published: October 2019

A novel technique is proposed to implement optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) estimation by using an improved binary particle swarm optimization (IBPSO) and deep neural network (DNN) based on amplitude histograms (AHs) of signals obtained after constant modulus algorithm (CMA) equalization in an optical coherent system. For existing OSNR estimation models of DNN and AHs, sparse AHs with valid features of original data are selected by IBPSO algorithm to replace the original, and the sparse sets are used as input vector to train and test the particle swarm optimization (PSO) optimized DNN (PSO-DNN) network structure. Numerical simulations have been carried out in the OSNR ranges from 10 dB to 30 dB for 112 Gbps PM-RZ-QPSK and 112 Gbps PM-NRZ-16QAM signals, and results show that the proposed algorithm achieves a high OSNR estimation accuracy with the maximum estimation error is less than 0.5 dB. In addition, the simulation results with different data input into the deep neural network structure show that the mean OSNR estimation error is 0.29 dB and 0.39 dB under original data and 0.29 dB and 0.37 dB under sparse data for the two signals, respectively. In the future dynamic optical network, it is of more practical significance to reconstruct the original signal and analyze the data using sparse observation information in the face of multiple impairment and serious interference. The proposed technique has the potential to be applied for optical performance monitoring (OPM) and is helpful for better management of optical networks.
Facile Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots with Chitosan for Fluorescent Detection of Fe3+
Authors: Zhao Li , Wang Yesheng , Zhao Xihui , Deng Yujia , Xia Yanzhi
Published: October 2019

A facile, economical, and one-step hydrothermal method was used to prepare highly luminescent nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) with chitosan as both carbon and nitrogen sources. The as-prepared N-CQDs have an average size of 2 nm and exhibit excitation wavelength-dependent fluorescence with a maximum excitation and emission at 330 and 410 nm, respectively. Furthermore, due to the effective quenching effect of Fe3+ ions, the prepared N-CQDs can be used as a fluorescent sensor for Fe3+ ion-sensitive detection with a detection limit of 0.15 μM. The selectivity experiments revealed that the fluorescent sensor is specific to Fe3+ even with interference by high concentrations of other metal ions. Most importantly, the N-CQD-based Fe3+ ion sensor can be successfully applied to the determination of Fe3+ in real water samples. With excellent sensitivity and selectivity, such stable and cheap carbon materials are potentially suitable for the monitoring of Fe3+ in environmental application.
Novel Dicyano-Phenylenevinylene Fluorophores for Low-Doped Layers: A Highly Emissive Material for Red OLEDs
Authors: Diana Rosita , Panunzi Barbara , Marrafino Francesco , Piotto Stefano , Caruso Ugo
Published: October 2019

Two efficient deep red (DR)-emitting organic dicyano-phenylenevinylene derivatives with terminal withdrawing or donor groups were synthesized. The spectroscopic properties of the neat solids and the low-doped layers in polystyrene or polyvinylcarbazole host matrixes were analyzed, and the luminescence performance was explained using density functional theory (DFT) analysis. A noteworthy 89% fluorescence quantum yield was observed for the brightest red-emissive polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) blend. This result pushed us to successfully produce an emissive red organic light-emitting device (OLED) as a preliminary feasibility test.
Simulation of Batch Slow Pyrolysis of Biomass Materials Using the Process-Flow-Diagram COCO Simulator
Authors: Tangsathitkulchai Chaiyot , Punsuwan Natthaya , Weerachanchai Piyarat
Published: October 2019

The commercial COCO simulation program was used to mimic the experimental slow pyrolysis process of five different biomasses based on thermodynamic consideration. The program generated the optimum set of reaction kinetic parameters and reaction stoichiometric numbers that best described the experimental yields of solid, liquid and gas products. It was found that the simulation scheme could predict the product yields over the temperature range from 300 to 800 °C with reasonable accuracy of less than 10% average error. An attempt was made to generalize the biomass pyrolysis behavior by dividing the five biomasses into two groups based on the single-peak and two-peak characteristics of the DTG (derivative thermogravimetry) curves. It was found that this approximate approach was able to predict the product yields reasonably well. The proposed simulation method was extended to the analysis of slow pyrolysis results derived from previous investigations. The results obtained showed that the prediction errors of product yields were relatively large, being 12.3%, 10.6%, and 27.5% for the solid, liquid, and gas products, respectively, possibly caused by differing pyrolysis conditions from those used in the simulation. The prediction of gas product compositions by the simulation program was reasonably satisfactory, but was less accurate for predicting the compositions of liquid products analyzed in forms of hydrocarbons, aromatics and oxygenated fractions. In addition, information on the kinetics of thermal decomposition of biomass in terms of the variation of fractional conversion with time was also derived as a function of temperature and biomass type.
Lock-in Amplifier-Based Impedance Detection of Tissue Type Using a Monopolar Injection Needle
Authors: Kim Junsub , Abbasi Muhammad Aitzaz , Kim Taehee , Park Ki Deok , Cho Sungbo
Published: October 2019

For successful intra-articular injection therapy, it is essential to accurately position the tip of the injection needle into the target joint area while administering the drug into the affected tissue. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of a monopolar injection needle and lock-in amplifier (LIA)-based impedance measurement system for detecting the tissue type where the needle tip is located. After positioning the monopolar injection needle tip into the dermis, hypodermis, or muscle layer of pork tissue, the electrical impedance was measured in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 10 kHz. We observed a difference in the results based on the tissue type where the needle was positioned (p-value < 0.01). Therefore, the monopolar injection needle with electrical impedance measurement can be used to improve intra-articular injection therapy through non-destructive and real-time monitoring of the needle position in the tissues.
Phaseless Terahertz Coded-Aperture Imaging for Sparse Target Based on Phase Retrieval Algorithm
Authors: Peng Long , Luo Chenggao , Deng Bin , Wang Hongqiang , Chen Shuo , Dong Jun
Published: October 2019

Phaseless terahertz coded-aperture imaging (PL-TCAI) is a novel radar computational imaging method that utilizes the coded aperture and the incoherent detector array to achieve forward-looking and high-resolution imaging without relying on relative motion. In this paper, we propose a more reasonable and compact architecture for the PL-TCAI system and derive the imaging model of PL-TCAI based on the random frequency-hopping signal. Since most phase retrieval algorithms for PL-TCAI utilize only the intensity of echo signals to accurately reconstruct the target, excessive measurement samples are usually required. In order to reduce the number of measurement samples required for imaging, this paper proposes a sparse Wirtinger flow algorithm with optimal stepsize (SWFOS) by using the sparse prior of the target. The specific procedures of the SWFOS algorithm include the support recovery, initialization by truncated spectral method, iteration via gradient descent scheme, hard threshold operation, and stepsize optimization of iteration. Numerical simulations are performed, and the results show that the SWFOS algorithm not only has good performance for the PR problem, but can also sharply reduce the number of measurement samples required for imaging in the PL-TCAI system.
Smart Buildings IoT Networks Accuracy Evolution Prediction to Improve Their Reliability Using a Lotka–Volterra Ecosystem Model
Authors: Casado-Vara Roberto , Canal-Alonso Angel , Martin-del Rey Angel , De la Prieta Fernando , Prieto Javier
Published: October 2019

Internet of Things (IoT) is the paradigm that has largely contributed to the development of smart buildings in our society. This technology makes it possible to monitor all aspects of the smart building and to improve its operation. One of the main challenges encountered by IoT networks is that the the data they collect may be unreliable since IoT devices can lose accuracy for several reasons (sensor wear, sensor aging, poorly constructed buildings, etc.). The aim of our work is to study the evolution of IoT networks over time in smart buildings. The hypothesis we have tested is that, by amplifying the Lotka–Volterra equations as a community of living organisms (an ecosystem model), the reliability of the system and its components can be predicted. This model comprises a set of differential equations that describe the relationship between an IoT network and multiple IoT devices. Based on the Lotka–Volterra model, in this article, we propose a model in which the predators are the non-precision IoT devices and the prey are the precision IoT devices. Furthermore, a third species is introduced, the maintenance staff, which will impact the interaction between both species, helping the prey to survive within the ecosystem. This is the first Lotka–Volterra model that is applied in the field of IoT. Our work establishes a proof of concept in the field and opens a wide spectrum of applications for biology models to be applied in IoT.
Assessment of the Accuracy of Determining the Angular Position of the Unmanned Bathymetric Surveying Vehicle Based on the Sea Horizon Image
Authors: Naus Krzysztof , Marchel Łukasz , Szymak Piotr , Nowak Aleksander
Published: October 2019

The paper presents the results of research on assessing the accuracy of angular position measurement relative to the sea horizon using a camera mounted on an unmanned bathymetric surveying vehicle of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) type. The first part of the article presents the essence of the problem. The rules of taking the angular position of the vehicle into account in bathymetric surveys and the general concept of the two-camera tilt compensator were described. The second part presents a mathematical description of the meters characterizing a resolution and a mean error of measurements, made on the base of the horizon line image, recorded with an optical system with a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) matrix. The phenomenon of the horizon line curvature in the image projected onto the matrix that appears with the increase of the camera height has been characterized. The third part contains an example of a detailed analysis of selected cameras mounted on UAVs manufactured by DJI, carried out using the proposed meters. The obtained results including measurement resolutions of a single-pixel and mean errors of the horizon line slope measurement were presented in the form of many tables and charts with extensive comments. The final part presents the general conclusions from the performed research and a proposal of directions for their further development.
A Low-Cost, Multi-Sensor System to Monitor Temporary Stream Dynamics in Mountainous Headwater Catchments
Authors: Assendelft Rick , van Meerveld H. J.
Published: October 2019

While temporary streams account for more than half of the global discharge, high spatiotemporal resolution data on the three main hydrological states (dry streambed, standing water, and flowing water) of temporary stream remains sparse. This study presents a low-cost, multi-sensor system to monitor the hydrological state of temporary streams in mountainous headwaters. The monitoring system consists of an Arduino microcontroller board combined with an SD-card data logger shield, and four sensors: an electrical resistance (ER) sensor, temperature sensor, float switch sensor, and flow sensor. The monitoring system was tested in a small mountainous headwater catchment, where it was installed on multiple locations in the stream network, during two field seasons (2016 and 2017). Time-lapse cameras were installed at all monitoring system locations to evaluate the sensor performance. The field tests showed that the monitoring system was power efficient (running for nine months on four AA batteries at a five-minute logging interval) and able to reliably log data (<1% failed data logs). Of the sensors, the ER sensor (99.9% correct state data and 90.9% correctly timed state changes) and flow sensor (99.9% correct state data and 90.5% correctly timed state changes) performed best (2017 performance results). A setup of the monitoring system with these sensors can provide long-term, high spatiotemporal resolution data on the hydrological state of temporary streams, which will help to improve our understanding of the hydrological functioning of these important systems.
Performance and Long Distance Data Acquisition via LoRa Technology of a Tubular Plant Microbial Fuel Cell Located in a Paddy Field in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Sudirjo Emilius , de Jager Pim , Buisman Cees J.N. , Strik David P.B.T.B.
Published: October 2019

A Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (Plant-MFCs) has been studied both in the lab and in a field. So far, field studies were limited to a more conventional Plant-MFC design, which submerges the anode in the soil and places the cathode above the soil surface. However, for a large scale application a tubular Plant-MFC is considered more practical since it needs no topsoil excavation. In this study, 1 m length tubular design Plant-MFC was installed in triplicate in a paddy field located in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Plant-MFC reactors were operated for four growing seasons. The rice paddy was grown in a standard cultivation process without any additional treatment due to the reactor instalation. An online data acquisition using LoRa technology was developed to investigate the performance of the tubular Plant-MFC over the final whole rice paddy growing season. Overall, the four crop seasons, the Plant-MFC installation did not show a complete detrimental negative effect on rice paddy growth. Based on continuous data analysis during the fourth crop season, a continuous electricity generation was achieved during a wet period in the crop season. Electricity generation dynamics were observed before, during and after the wet periods that were explained by paddy field management. A maximum daily average density from the triplicate Plant-MFCs reached 9.6 mW/m2 plant growth area. In one crop season, 9.5–15 Wh/m2 electricity can be continuously generated at an average of 0.4 ± 0.1 mW per meter tube. The Plant-MFC also shows a potential to be used as a bio sensor, e.g., rain event indicator, during a dry period between the crop seasons.
A Review on Measuring Affect with Practical Sensors to Monitor Driver Behavior
Authors: Welch Karla Conn , Harnett Cindy , Lee Yi-Ching
Published: October 2019

Using sensors to monitor signals produced by drivers is a way to help better understand how emotions contribute to unsafe driving habits. The need for intuitive machines that can interpret intentional and unintentional signals is imperative for our modern world. However, in complex human–machine work environments, many sensors will not work due to compatibility issues, noise, or practical constraints. This review focuses on practical sensors that have the potential to provide reliable monitoring and meaningful feedback to vehicle operators—such as drivers, train operators, pilots, astronauts—as well as being feasible for implementation and integration with existing work infrastructure. Such an affect-sensitive intelligent vehicle might sound an alarm if signals indicate the driver has become angry or stressed, take control of the vehicle if needed, and collaborate with other vehicles to build a stress map that improves roadway safety. Toward such vehicles, this paper provides a review of emerging sensor technologies for driver monitoring. In our research, we look at sensors used in affect detection. This insight is especially helpful for anyone challenged with accurately understanding affective information, like the autistic population. This paper also includes material on sensors and feedback for drivers from populations that may have special needs.
What Is Injury in Ice Hockey: An Integrative Literature Review on Injury Rates, Injury Definition, and Athlete Exposure in Men’s Elite Ice Hockey
Authors: Donskov Anthony S. , Humphreys David , Dickey James P.
Published: October 2019

Injuries in men’s elite ice hockey have been studied over the past 40 years, however, there is a lack of consensus on definitions of both injury and athlete exposure. These inconsistencies compromise the reliability and comparability of the research. While many individual studies report injury rates in ice hockey, we are not aware of any literature reviews that have evaluated the definitions of injury and athlete exposure in men’s elite ice hockey. The purpose of this integrative review was to investigate the literature on hockey musculoskeletal injury to determine injury rates and synthesize information about the definitions of injury and athlete exposure. Injury rates varied from 13.8/1000 game athlete exposures to 121/1000 athlete exposures as measured by player-game hours. The majority of variability between studies is explained by differences in the definitions of both injury and athlete exposure. We were unable to find a consensus injury definition in elite ice hockey. In addition, we were unable to observe a consistent athlete exposure metric. We recommend that a consistent injury definition be adopted to evaluate injury risk in elite ice hockey. We recommend that injuries should be defined by a strict list that includes facial lacerations, dental injuries, and fractures. We also recommend that athlete exposure should be quantified using player-game hours.
Regional Heterogeneity of Migrant Rent Affordability Stress in Urban China: A Comparison between Skilled and Unskilled Migrants at Prefecture Level and Above
Authors: Li Tingzhu , Liu Ran , Qi Wei
Published: October 2019

Rental housing unaffordability has been widely used to assess the housing poverty problem among immigrants in the developed and developing countries. China is experiencing an unprecedented urbanization process, with two-thirds of its 250 million migrants now being sheltered in private rental housing in the host cities. In this paper, we aimed to examine the rental housing unaffordability problems faced by migrant workers in urban China and provide policy recommendations for a more accessible and affordable migrant housing provision system. We used the household data on China’s Migrant Dynamics Monitoring Survey (MDMS), released in 2016, across China’s 329 prefecture-level cities and above to look into the sociality and spatiality of migrant rent expenses and rent-income ratio at the prefecture-level cities and above. The statistical tests were conducted to examine the socio- and spatial-variance of these rent stress indexes, and it was found that educational level is a significant and quite powerful indicator in predicting who will or will not assume the heavier rental housing pressure. We then continued to reveal the different spatiality of high-rent-stress migrants across the high- and low-skilled categories. An agglomeration of the high-skilled high-rent-stress migrants was witnessed in the coastal growth engines of urban clusters, while a more spillover-like pattern among the low-skilled high-rent-stress migrants was reported in our study. An ordinary least square and spatial regression analysis was conducted to explain their respective mechanisms.
A Random Forest Model for Travel Mode Identification Based on Mobile Phone Signaling Data
Authors: Lu Zhenbo , Long Zhen , Xia Jingxin , An Chengchuan
Published: October 2019

Identifying and detecting the travel mode and pattern of individual travelers is an important problem in transportation planning and policy making. Mobile-phone Signaling Data (MSD) have numerous advantages, including wide coverage and low acquisition cost, data stability and reliability, and strong real-time performance. However, due to their noisy and temporally irregular nature, extracting mobility information such as transport modes from these data is particularly challenging. This paper establishes a travel mode identification model based on the MSD combined with residents’ travel survey data, Geographic Information System (GIS) data, and navigation data. Using the data obtained from Kunshan, China in 2017, enriched with variables on the travel mode identification, the model achieved a high accuracy of 90%. The accuracy is satisfactory for all of the transport modes other than buses. Furthermore, among the explanatory variables such as the built environment factors (e.g., the coverage rate of a bus stop) are in general more significant, in contrast with other attributes. This indicates that the land use functions are more influential on the travel mode selection as well as the level of travel demand.
Viral Metagenomics Revealed Sendai Virus and Coronavirus Infection of Malayan Pangolins (Manis javanica)
Authors: Liu Ping , Chen Wu , Chen Jin-Ping
Published: October 2019

Pangolins are endangered animals in urgent need of protection. Identifying and cataloguing the viruses carried by pangolins is a logical approach to evaluate the range of potential pathogens and help with conservation. This study provides insight into viral communities of Malayan Pangolins (Manis javanica) as well as the molecular epidemiology of dominant pathogenic viruses between Malayan Pangolin and other hosts. A total of 62,508 de novo assembled contigs were constructed, and a BLAST search revealed 3600 ones (≥300 nt) were related to viral sequences, of which 68 contigs had a high level of sequence similarity to known viruses, while dominant viruses were the Sendai virus and Coronavirus. This is the first report on the viral diversity of pangolins, expanding our understanding of the virome in endangered species, and providing insight into the overall diversity of viruses that may be capable of directly or indirectly crossing over into other mammals.
Correction: Alvarez, I., et al. Detection of Bovine Leukemia Virus RNA in Blood Samples of Naturally Infected Dairy Cattle. Vet. Sci. 2019, 6, 66
Authors: Alvarez Irene , Porta Natalia Gabriela , Trono Karina
Published: October 2019

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Towards a Transferable Antecedent Rainfall—Susceptibility Threshold Approach for Landsliding
Authors: Monsieurs Elise , Dewitte Olivier , Depicker Arthur , Demoulin Alain
Published: October 2019

Determining rainfall thresholds for landsliding is crucial in landslide hazard evaluation and early warning system development, yet challenging in data-scarce regions. Using freely available satellite rainfall data in a reproducible automated procedure, the bootstrap-based frequentist threshold approach, coupling antecedent rainfall (AR) and landslide susceptibility data as proposed by Monsieurs et al., has proved to provide a physically meaningful regional AR threshold equation in the western branch of the East African Rift. However, previous studies could only rely on global- and continental-scale rainfall and susceptibility data. Here, we use newly available regional-scale susceptibility data to test the robustness of the method to different data configurations. This leads us to improve the threshold method through using stratified data selection to better exploit the data distribution over the whole range of susceptibility. In addition, we discuss the effect of outliers in small data sets on the estimation of parameter uncertainties and the interest of not using the bootstrap technique in such cases. Thus improved, the method effectiveness shows strongly reduced sensitivity to the used susceptibility data and is satisfyingly validated by new landslide occurrences in the East African Rift, therefore successfully passing first transferability tests.
A Rainwater Harvesting Accounting Tool for Water Supply Availability in Colorado
Authors: Gilliom Ryan , Bell Colin , Hogue Terri , McCray John
Published: October 2019

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a renewable water supply option for nonpotable use, most commonly used for landscaping irrigation. Water rights in Colorado prohibit all RWH except residential rain barrels and a pilot project program that allows centralized rainwater harvesting for new development. Development of a natural catchment creates impervious surfaces, thereby increasing runoff, with a subsequent decrease in infiltration and losses to evapotranspiration; pilot projects are allowed to harvest a volume equal to the predevelopment runoff losses that would have occurred on new impervious areas at the site. To support this administrative policy, a tool was developed for the efficient calculation of daily allowable harvest at nearly any project site in Colorado. A reliable and useful policy tool requires the incorporation of hydrologic science with widely applicable, user-friendly design, a challenging balance of rigor and accessibility that is welcomed by engineers and policymakers alike. The daily allowable harvest is determined for each soil group as a percentage of infiltrated rainfall less the groundwater return. Horton’s infiltration method is used to model rainfall‒runoff for a range of soil parameters (NRCS hydrologic soil groups) and precipitation events (0.25- to 25-year return periods and 15-min to 24-h durations). For most events, the percent infiltration is 90% of the precipitation depth; this ratio decreases when precipitation exceeds the infiltration rate. Results are simplified in a spreadsheet tool for policy application, with allowable harvest rules binned by event duration and frequency. Simulations using the tool for a 2010‒2017 precipitation record from Colorado’s Front Range showed that RWH can supply up to 50% of the annual demand for traditional landscaping and over 100% of the water-smart landscaping demand.
Relationships between Wind Effect, Hydrodynamics and Water Level in the World’s Largest Coastal Lagoonal System
Authors: Oliveira Heline , Fernandes Elisa , Möller Osmar , García-Rodríguez Felipe
Published: October 2019

The Patos-Mirim is the largest coastal limnological system of the world, located in southern Brazil and eastern Uruguay, which encompass over 500 km of coastline. The economical demand for the development of an international waterway brings the need for understanding the Mirim lagoon dynamics and ulterior discharge into Patos lagoon in view of establishing navigation conditions and sustainable development. In this sense, circulation and freshwater discharge dynamics were assessed by running the numerical model TELEMAC-3D for a one-year-long simulation. The model identified the wind direction and intensity as the main combined forcing modulating water circulation and transport between the northern and southern portions and conditioning the recirculation cell orientation. Predominant winds from the S-SW directions could generate adverse conditions for navigation because they would yield low water levels under northwards water transport, thus creating shallow regions for navigation. Under such conditions, the high freshwater discharge coming from the Mirim lagoon would be restricted, and the communication to the Patos lagoon would be sufficiently weakened to prevent navigation activities. Therefore, we recommend that the viability of planning and implementing an international waterway, involving the two countries (Brazil and Uruguay), must take into account wind conditions prior to setting navigation traffic and avoid economic losses.
Estimating Environmental Preferences of Freshwater Pelagic Fish Using Hydroacoustics and Satellite Remote Sensing
Authors: Perivolioti Triantafyllia-Maria , Tušer Michal , Frouzova Jaroslava , Znachor Petr , Rychtecký Pavel , Mouratidis Antonios , Terzopoulos Dimitrios , Bobori Dimitra
Published: October 2019

In this study, a remote sensing-based method of mapping and predicting fish spatial distribution in inland waters is developed. A combination of Earth Observation data, in-situ measurements, and hydroacoustics is used to relate fish biomass distribution and water-quality parameters along the longitudinal transect of the Římov Reservoir (Czech Republic) using statistical and machine learning techniques. Parameter variations and biomass distribution are estimated and validated, and apparent trends are explored and discussed, together with potential limitations and weaknesses. Water-quality parameters exhibit longitudinal gradients along the reservoir, while calculations reveal a distinct fish assemblage pattern observed as a patchy overall biomass distribution. Although the proposed methodology has a great potential for sustainable water management, careful planning is needed to ensure the simultaneous acquisition of remote sensing and in-situ data to maximize calibration accuracy.
PECULIARITIES OF KINETICS OF THE COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY DEPENDING ON THE HUMIDITY RATE OF WALL BLOCKS MADE OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES
Authors: Должонок А. , Dolzhonok A. , Бакатович А. , Bakatovich A.
Published: October 2019

The article considers the prospect of plant wastes usage as aggregates while constructing new building materials in the form of wall blocks. The results of the research on water absorption of the wall blocks at the relative air humidity of 97 % are presented. The kinetics of change in humidity and the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the blocks with the rye and buckwheat straw coarse aggregate, and also the blocks with fine coarse aggregate of flax boon and atomized buckwheat are analyzed. Empirical dependences of the coefficient of thermal conductivity on the rate of humidity of wall blocks are obtained from experimental observations. After the maximum rate of hygroscopic moisture absorption, the best indexes are recorded on the blocks made of flax and straw. The humidity rate of the composite does not exceed 10,9 % with the increase of thermal conductivity up to 0.104 W/(m•°С).

In the result of the research, the solution to the sustainable use of agricultural wastes to get environmental responsible building materials is proposed. Blocks can be are used in the erection of supporting and filler walls in one-story buildings and multistoried frame housing construction when filling exterior wall openings.