bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Storage Applications for Distribution Grid Support: Composition of Controlling Strategies and a Standardized Model
Authors: Istvan Taczi  , Istvan Vokony
Published: May 2017

Distribution grids will basically change in the near future: the increasing penetration of renewable energy causes high percentage of intermittent and decentralized generation. This procedure will lead to problems which are unknown for a conventionally planned and operated grid. Bidirectional power flows, power quality issues and voltage sags can occur. Energy storage systems (ESSs) are able to play a key role in the solutions. With a well-developed controlling strategy, these applications could support the low voltage grids locally: virtual islanding operations and load following, or improved reliability with reserves are both feasible. ESSs can even be used for trading on the liberalized electricity market. The focus of this work is to build up a modelling method and an analysing script, to test some self-composed controlling algorithms. The simulation considerate the main parameters of an ESS: efficiency, capacity, response time, cycle lifetime in optional time steps through load flow simulations. If a grid model meets a few requirements, it can be used as an input for the simulation script. With further standardizing, this program could be a useful tool for the distribution system operators (DSOs) and network developers. The results which contain all the relevant electrical power system parameters on an optional timescale could be exported for further evaluation.
Net zero emissions for a seminar room in the University of Balearic Islands
Authors: A. Moià-Pol  , Beatriz Rosselló-Batle  , C. Carmona  , B. Alorda
Published: May 2017

In this study the energy retrofit of a seminar room in the University of Balearic Islands was evaluated. This room was built in the late 80s and it was equipped with halogen lights and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). The climate system consisted of an air to air heat pump system. Development of modern net zero-energy buildings (NZEB) became possible with the combination of solar thermal, photovoltaic and geothermal energy systems. This kind of combination was used to improve the energy efficiency of the room evaluated in this paper, together with the installation of an innovative radiant heating and cooling ceiling system. Although renewable energy can cover all the annual energy consumption, a small fraction of auxiliary energy is provided by heat pump systems (HP).. Solar heating combined with geothermal systems for buildings have been designed to achieve different values of the fraction of a primary energy saving using Flat Plate Collectors (FPC) for Solar Thermal (ST) and other supply energies like solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind technology, and having the higher efficiency of the system with net zero energy.
Impact of climate change in urban meteorology and energy demand
Authors: San José R.  , Pérez J.L.  , González, R.M.  , Pecci J.  , Garzón A.  , Palacios M.  , Pérez L.
Published: May 2017

Climate change large impacts on urban scales. Local meteorology, air pollution and energy demand of the buildings are areas affected directly by the climate change. To quantify the future impacts, this research make a dynamical downscaling from global climate data to urban high spatial resolution to produce weather data and this information can be used in the energy demand models as EnergyPlus. Dynamical downscaling process has been implemented with the mesoscale model WRF-Chem (NOAA, US) up to 1 km and MICROSYS CFD (UPM, ES) model from very high spatial resolution. A medium office building was simulated using meteorological downscaled datasets for Madrid. In this contribution we have used global climate models RCP scenarios to produce climate scenarios at urban scale with 10 m spatial resolution. We will show the results and the impacts for future (2030, 2050 and 2100) RCP IPCC 4.5 and 8.5 climate scenarios compare with the 2011 control year information for climate and buildings energy demand over Madrid, Milan and London (Kensington Chelsea area).
Impact of Green Power Distributed Generation to Voltage Profile and Protection Issues by Different Penetration Levels - A Study Developed on ATP Draw
Authors: T. S. Menezes  , Y. Tresso  , M. V. B. Mendonça  , P. H. O. Rezende  , F. A. M. Moura  , M. R. M. Castillo
Published: May 2017

The connection of distributed generators in distribution systems of medium voltage or low voltage has been encouraged widely. Thus, it is necessary to assess the impacts and contributions to the voltage profile, as well as possible changes in the magnitudes of the short-circuit current and the consequent correlation with the adjustment of protection. This article investigates a feeder voltage profile through three different system load levels and evaluates the influence of the penetration level of a distributed generator. The results are compared in tables providing the reader a better insight into the issue discussed here.
New Urban Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Design
Authors: F. Frunzulica  , A. Dumitrache  , A. M. Cismilianu
Published: May 2017

A different approach for enhancing the performance of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) for the use in the urban or rural environment and remote isolated residential areas is developed in this study. Recently the small VAWT became more attractive due to the major advantages of this type of turbines in comparison to the horizontal axis wind turbines. By adding a second set of blades (3 x 2=6 blades) that following the rules of biplane airplanes we aim to enhance the overall performance of the VAWT. The model has been made to operate at a maximum power in the range of the TSR between 2 to 2.5. The performances of the VAWT were investigated numerically and experimentally to justify the new proposed design.
Harvesting the wind energy through an actively controlled pitch-plunge flapping wing
Authors: F. Frunzulica  , A. Dumitrache  , M. Stoia  , I. Predoiu  , B. Suatean
Published: May 2017

A different approach for harvesting the wind energy with an actively controlled pitch-plunge aeroelastic system is investigated. The paper present some theoretical considerations and results regarding an oscillating wing. The performances of the flapping wing system were investigated numerically and experimentally for the power extraction process.
Comparações e contrastes entre o grego e o latim como estratégia explicativa no De constructione, de Prisciano(Séc. VI D.C)
Authors: Fortes Fábio da Silva
Published: May 2017

A aposição de elementos gregos e latinos engendra, no De constructione, frequentes comparações e contrastes entre os dois sistemas linguísticos, procedimento que representa um artifício de explicação gramatical amplamente utilizado pelo gramático latino. Neste artigo, examinamos dois tipos de comparações que podemos observar nessa obra: aquelas do tipo “inventário”, que se verificam pela mera justaposição de vocábulos, expressões ou sentenças de ambas as línguas, com o objetivo de ilustrar semelhanças entre aspectos gramaticais do grego e do latim, e aquelas que compreendem “análises translinguísticas”, que pretendem explicar diferenças gramaticais entre o latim e o grego. Pretendemos mostrar que, através dessas comparações e contrastes, Prisciano elabora um discurso teórico que resulta da síntese entre as duas línguas, cujo propósito – a ser melhor investigado –, parece ser o de produzir uma aproximação simbólica do oriente (grego) ao ocidente (latino).
Reflexões sobre tradução no De finibus de Cícero e a refutação do pensamento estoico
Authors: De Lima Sidney Calheiros
Published: May 2017

Ambientado em uma vasta biblioteca, situada numa   uilla recentemente herdada por um jovem aristocrata romano,   o segundo diálogo do De finibus de Cícero (livros III e IV)   comporta a tarefa de discutir em latim o pensamento moral   dos antigos estoicos. No início da discussão, Cícero e Catão,   o jovem, as personagens em cena, refletem sobre as estratégias   que podem empregar para traduzir para o latim os conceitos   forjados em grego por Zenão e Crisipo. Nosso objetivo é   investigar o modo como a defesa de certo tipo de tradução   filosófica, apresentada no início do livro III, pode servir à   refutação da moral estoica empreendida pela personagem Cícero   ao longo do livro IV, uma vez que se ajusta ao projeto filosófico   do autor, que tem como meta a formação dos homens públicos   romanos.
Revisitando a tese do letramento: história e contrapontos
Authors: Salvador Evando Luis
Published: May 2017

A proposta deste artigo é trazer à tona os aspectos centrais da tese do letramento na Grécia antiga e fazer um contraponto a partir de dois artigos de Halverson. Para isso, fazemos um breve percurso histórico-literário com o intuito de configurar a condição que permitiu o surgimento de uma teoria sobre o letramento na Grécia antiga. Trazemos, então, os principais teóricos dessa tese, mostrando seus argumentos, para depois confrontá-la com um ferrenho adversário (Halverson), que não tem tido muito espaço de discussão nos mais recentes artigos e livros sobre as atividades de leitura e escrita na Grécia antiga.
Monges sob o manto de generais: aristocracia imperial galo-romana e monasticismo nas obras de Sidônio Apolinário
Authors: Figuinha Matheus Coutinho
Published: May 2017

As cartas e os poemas do nobre Sidônio Apolinário tendem a ser ignorados pelos estudiosos do monasticismo tardo-antigo. O presente texto é uma tentativa de preencher esta lacuna historiográfica. Meu objetivo é analisar as notícias de Sidônio acerca dos monges e monastérios de sua época, focando na relação da aristocracia imperial galo-romana com o monasticismo. As obras de Sidônio sugerem que, até o início da década de 480, a aristocracia imperial galo-romana, de modo geral, pouco se envolveu com monges e assuntos monásticos. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, elas revelam o interesse que monges eruditos e taumaturgos podiam despertar em grandes aristocratas e o papel que estes podiam ter no governo e no cotidiano de determinados monastérios.
A maiêutica socrática com ‘união’ de teorias no Teeteto
Authors: Gabioneta Robson
Published: May 2017

A maiêutica socrática normalmente é descrita como a arte de conduzir alguém a produzir o próprio conhecimento por meio de perguntas, sem que Sócrates acrescente nada a este conhecimento. Porém, pensamos que ela é mais complexa que isso. Sócrates, para explicar sua arte a Teeteto, compara-se às parteiras. Elas julgam que sua principal função é unir os casais. Do mesmo modo, pensamos que a principal função de Sócrates é unir diferentes teorias, compondo novos saberes complexos. Assim, tentaremos acompanhar esse procedimento que, no nosso entender, pode ser desmembrado em 6 etapas: 1) sintetiza-se as formulações recebidas, adaptando-as gradativamente; 2) com isso, gera-se pontos de contatos ou elementos em comum; 3) permitindo, assim, uma fusão dessas teorias, cujo resultado é uma teoria mais complexa; 4) investiga-se as novas teorias geradas; 5) que, por sua vez, são unidas às ‘velhas’ teorias; 6) volta-se à etapa 1 para repetir o processo. Assim, é nosso objetivo neste artigo apresentar este aspecto da maiêutica socrática: a geração de teses a partir da articulação ou do ‘casamento’ das teorias de Protágoras, Teeteto e Heráclito.
Lotófagos (Odisseia IX, 82-104): comida floral fácil e risco de desistência
Authors: Assunção Teodoro Rennó
Published: May 2017

Este artigo propõe uma tradução e um comentário do episódio dos Lotófagos na Odisseia (IX, 82-104), atentando tanto para sua organização interna enquanto episódio de viagem com uma cena típica de hospitalidade (resumida apenas à oferta de comida), quanto para sua posição e especificidade no conjunto das viagens maravilhosas de Odisseu (cantos IX a XII) e no conjunto da Odisseia. Ele tenta definir os significados possíveis de lōtós (“lótus”), tais como apresentados por Heródoto e Teofrasto, em confronto com os poucos dados presentes na Odisseia (convergindo em ser ele uma planta não cultivada e colhida), e – o que é mais importante – tenta definir também os efeitos do consumo do lótus, que são como os de uma droga perigosa (como o haxixe, o ópio ou a mescalina) que suprime a vontade de agir, ameaçando retrospectivamente o retorno de Odisseu e a própria narrativa da Odisseia.
Narcolepsia: o despertar para uma realidade subestimada
Authors: Tavares Júnior Almir Ribeiro , Cremaschi Renata Maria de Carvalho , Coelho Fernando Morgadinho Santos
Published: May 2017

A narcolepsia é uma doença subestimada, e o tempo para o seu diagnóstico é de cerca de 10 anos. O objetivo do presente trabalho é trazer, para os médicos – particularmente os psiquiatras – e para todos os profissionais da área da saúde, a necessária conscientização acerca da importância de se levar em conta a narcolepsia em seus pacientes na prática clínica diária. O impacto negativo da narcolepsia na qualidade de vida é significativo e comparável àquele da epilepsia ou da esquizofrenia. O diagnóstico se caracteriza pela presença de cinco sintomas cardiais: sonolência excessiva diurna; cataplexia; paralisia do sono; alucinações; e fragmentação do sono noturno. O teste de latências múltiplas do sono, após uma polissonografia basal, se presta para confirmar o diagnóstico. A associação com transtornos depressivos, bipolares e ansiosos é muito prevalente em pacientes com narcolepsia. O tratamento desses pacientes se dá com estimulantes e doses baixas de antidepressivos. Interessantemente, a retirada abrupta de antidepressivos pode gerar uma síndrome transitória assemelhada à cataplexia. Outro achado comum em pacientes com narcolepsia é o transtorno comportamental do sono REM após o uso de antidepressivos. O emprego de psicoestimulantes, usados na narcolepsia para controle da sonolência excessiva diurna, pode acompanhar-se de uma psicose paranoide, assemelhada à esquizofrenia. O diagnóstico, o tratamento e o manejo da narcolepsia associada com comorbidades representam um desafio a ser valorizado.
Effectiveness of Inclusion of Dry Needling in a Multimodal Therapy Program for Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Parallel-Group Trial
Authors: Espí-López Gemma V. , Serra-Añó Pilar , Vicent-Ferrando Juan , Sánchez-Moreno-Giner Miguel , Arias-Buría Jose L. , Cleland Joshua , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César
Published: May 2017

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Background

Evidence suggests that multimodal interventions that include exercise therapy may be effective for patellofemoral pain (PFP); however, no study has investigated the effects of trigger point (TrP) dry needling (DN) in people with PFP.

Objectives

To compare the effects of adding TrP DN to a manual therapy and exercise program on pain, function, and disability in individuals with PFP.

Methods

Individuals with PFP (n = 60) recruited from a public hospital in Valencia, Spain were randomly allocated to manual therapy and exercises (n = 30) or manual therapy and exercise plus TrP DN (n = 30). Both groups received the same manual therapy and strengthening exercise program for 3 sessions (once a week for 3 weeks), and 1 group also received TrP DN to active TrPs within the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles. The pain subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS; 0–100 scale) was used as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included other subscales of the KOOS, the Knee Society Score, the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC), and the numeric pain-rating scale. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 15-day (posttreatment) and 3-month follow-ups. Analysis was conducted with mixed analyses of covariance, adjusted for baseline scores.

Results

At 3 months, 58 subjects (97%) completed the follow-up. No significant between-group differences (all, P>.391) were observed for any outcome: KOOS pain subscale mean difference, −2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −4.6, 0.4); IKDC mean difference, 2.3 (95% CI: −0.1, 4.7); knee pain intensity mean difference, 0.3 (95% CI: −0.2, 0.8). Both groups experienced similar moderate-to-large within-group improvements in all outcomes (standardized mean differences of 0.6 to 1.1); however, only the KOOS function in sport and recreation subscale surpassed the prespecified minimum important change.

Conclusion

The current clinical trial suggests that the inclusion of 3 sessions of TrP DN in a manual therapy and exercise program did not result in improved outcomes for pain and disability in individuals with PFP at 3-month follow-up.

Level of Evidence

Therapy, level 1b. Prospectively registered July 27, 2015 at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02514005). J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(6):392–401. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7389
Antibiotic Sensitivity of Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Parveen Rezina , Yusuf Md. Abdullah , Sharmin Ishrat , Islam Md. Saiful , Rahim Ina
Published: May 2017

Background: Urinary tract infection is very common in both male and female.Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to see the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolated from urinary tract infected patients.Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka for a period of 12 months. Clinically diagnosed cases of urinary tract infection irrespective of age and sex having pus cells ?5/HPF in the deposits of centrifuged urine were selected as study population. Data regarding organisms causing UTI and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns were collected. For urine culture the urine samples were inoculated on HiCrome UTI agar, CLED agar, 5% sheep blood agar and MacConkeys agar media with a calibrated loop having diameter of 1.45 mm which contains 0.001 ml of urine. The inoculation at 37o C for 24 hours and CFU count of 105/ml of urine were considered positive for UTI. Identification of bacteria was done by standard biochemical techniques and their distinct colony characteristics. All the isolated organisms were tested for antimicrobial sensitivity against different antimicrobial agents by disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar plates.Result: Diagnosis of bacteria causing UTI with their sensitivity to different antibiotics was performed with a total of 300 samples from both male (38.66%) and female (61.33%) of different age groups. Among 300 samples 107 strains were isolated. Out of 107 identified strains, 95(31.67%) samples showed single growth and 6(2%) samples showed mixed growth. Escherichia coli (64.49%) was found to be the predominant organism. Regarding antimicrobial sensitivity pattern Esch. coli showed 98.55 to 63.77% sensitivity to imipenem, amikacin, ceftazidime and nitrofurantoin. Other isolated organisms showed 50 to 100% sensitivity to ceftazidime, amikacin, imipenem except Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and enterococci spp. which showed 40% and less sensitivity.Conclusion: In conclusion Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated bacteria which is highly sensitive to imipenem.Bangladesh J Infect Dis 2015;2(1):13-18
Melioidosis Mimicking Tuberculosis in an Endemic Zone: A Case Report
Authors: Adhikary Prabhasish , Selim Shahjada , Uddin Nazim , Biswas Sajalendu , Basher Ariful , Mahmoud Hassan , Yusuf Md. Abdullah , Ahsan Hafez Mohammad Nazmul , Mowla Syed Ghulam Mogni , Rahman Md. Ridwanur
Published: May 2017

Melioidosis is not widely recognized in Bangladesh which is evident from the paucity of published reports on melioidosis from this region. Here, we summarize the clinical presentation, laboratory results, prevention and control policies and make important recommendations for patient management. A 35- years-old diabetic male forest officer from Gazipur Sadar located north-west of Dhaka city got admitted to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka with history of recurrent fever for last 1 year. Initially the fever was high grade (upto 105°F), intermittent nature and lasted for a few days to week. About five months back, the patient developed a parietal abscess over the left lumber region and was treated surgically accordingly. The patient then gradually recovered and remained afebrile for about one month. Fever again recurred, high grade, quotidian in nature and has been persistent for the last 3 months. The patient had also developed marked loss of appetite, altered bowel habit with occasional vomiting and lost about 15kg of his body weight. The patient noticed profuse watery diarrhea for last 2 days and got himself admitted. On examination, the patient was found wasted, conscious but slow mentation, dehydrated and moderately anaemic. His pulse was 116/min, blood pressure 80/60 mm Hg, respiration 24/min and oral temperature was 103°F but no palpable lymph nodes. The patient had moderate hepato-splenomegaly with left sided pleural effusion and bilateral depressed ankle jerks. Burkholderia pseudomallei was isolated and identified by blood and urine culture as well as with serological test. We should be more alert among the diabetic patients who are presented with fever with high ESR and neutrophilic leucocytosis, even if radiography or cytopathology is indicative of tuberculosis.Bangladesh J Infect Dis 2015;2(1):23-26
Acute Pancreatitis in Children : A Review Article
Authors: Musabbir Nadira , Karim ASM Bazlul , Sultana Kaniz , Anwar Syeda Afria
Published: May 2017

The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children has significantly increased in the past two decades. However, it can be associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Therefore it should be considered in every child presented with unexplained severe abdominal pain. The etiology, clinical manifestation, and course of acute pancreatitis in children are often different than in adults. Therefore the early and effective diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in children is challenging. In this review, we will discuss the etiology, clinical features and laboratory testing for the disease and also the management outlines of acute pancreatitis in children.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.8(2) January 2017: 235-238
A Fast Motion Parameters Estimation Method Based on Cross-Correlation of Adjacent Echoes for Wideband LFM Radars
Authors: Zhang Yi-Xiong , Hong Ru-Jia , Yang Cheng-Fu , Zhang Yun-Jian , Deng Zhen-Miao , Jin Sheng
Published: May 2017

In wideband radar systems, the performance of motion parameters estimation can significantly affect the performance of object detection and the quality of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging. Although the traditional motion parameters estimation methods can reduce the range migration (RM) and Doppler frequency migration (DFM) effects in ISAR imaging, the computational complexity is high. In this paper, we propose a new fast non-parameter-searching method for motion parameters estimation based on the cross-correlation of adjacent echoes (CCAE) for wideband LFM signals. A cross-correlation operation is carried out for two adjacent echo signals, then the motion parameters can be calculated by estimating the frequency of the correlation result. The proposed CCAE method can be applied directly to the stretching system, which is commonly adopted in wideband radar systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the new method can achieve better estimation performances, with much lower computational cost, compared with existing methods. The experimental results on real radar datasets are also evaluated to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method compared to the state-of-the-art existing methods.
In Vitro Growth of Human Keratinocytes and Oral Cancer Cells into Microtissues: An Aerosol-Based Microencapsulation Technique
Authors: Leong Wai , Soon Chin , Wong Soon , Tee Kian , Cheong Sok , Gan Siew , Youseffi Mansour
Published: May 2017

Cells encapsulation is a micro-technology widely applied in cell and tissue research, tissue transplantation, and regenerative medicine. In this paper, we proposed a growth of microtissue model for the human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell line and an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line (ORL-48) based on a simple aerosol microencapsulation technique. At an extrusion rate of 20 μL/min and air flow rate of 0.3 L/min programmed in the aerosol system, HaCaT and ORL-48 cells in alginate microcapsules were encapsulated in microcapsules with a diameter ranging from 200 to 300 μm. Both cell lines were successfully grown into microtissues in the microcapsules of alginate within 16 days of culture. The microtissues were characterized by using a live/dead cell viability assay, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), fluorescence staining, and cell re-plating experiments. The microtissues of both cell types were viable after being extracted from the alginate membrane using alginate lyase. However, the microtissues of HaCaT and ORL-48 demonstrated differences in both nucleus size and morphology. The microtissues with re-associated cells in spheroids are potentially useful as a cell model for pharmacological studies.
Neuronal Migration and AUTS2 Syndrome
Authors: Hori Kei , Hoshino Mikio
Published: May 2017

Neuronal migration is one of the pivotal steps to form a functional brain, and disorganization of this process is believed to underlie the pathology of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy. However, it is not clear how abnormal neuronal migration causes mental dysfunction. Recently, a key gene for various psychiatric diseases, the Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2), has been shown to regulate neuronal migration, which gives new insight into understanding this question. Interestingly, the AUTS2 protein has dual functions: Cytoplasmic AUTS2 regulates actin cytoskeleton to control neuronal migration and neurite extension, while nuclear AUTS2 controls transcription of various genes as a component of the polycomb complex 1 (PRC1). In this review, we discuss AUTS2 from the viewpoint of human genetics, molecular function, brain development, and behavior in animal models, focusing on its role in neuronal migration.
A Review of Daylighting Strategies in Schools: State of the Art and Expected Future Trends
Authors: Costanzo Vincenzo , Evola Gianpiero , Marletta Luigi
Published: May 2017

The study of daylight conditions within educational buildings has been a topic of interest since the nineteenth century in western countries, and European ones in particular. Although it has been argued that providing a view outside—or even using daylight instead of more stable and manageable artificial light—could reduce students’ performance without providing a pleasant and healthy environment, nowadays it seems that a large consensus upon the need to design well daylit spaces is being reached. This paper reviews how the research community has tackled the task of understanding and solving the complex relationships amongst local climate, users’ needs and design constraints in school buildings by showing the different approaches used and technological solutions suggested. The reported case studies, based either on experimental measurements or on simulations, highlight the need of a comprehensive approach to the topic to fully understand the non-trivial requirements of a daylit educational environment.
Meta Analysis of Skin Microbiome: New Link between Skin Microbiota Diversity and Skin Health with Proposal to Use This as a Future Mechanism to Determine Whether Cosmetic Products Damage the Skin
Authors: Wallen-Russell Christopher , Wallen-Russell Sam
Published: May 2017

There is a skin allergy epidemic in the western world, and the rate of deterioration has increased significantly in the past 5–10 years. It is probable that there are many environmental contributing factors, yet some studies have linked it primarily to the rise in the use of synthetic chemical ingredients in modern cosmetics. Our challenge, therefore, was to find a mechanism to determine the effect these substances have on skin health, and whether they really are a primary cause of long term damage to the skin. The first problem is the lack of any definitive way to measure skin health. Motivated by the overwhelming evidence for a link between deficient gut flora and ill health, we decided to look at whether our skin microbiota could similarly be used as an indicator of skin health. Our research illustrates how microbiota diversity alone can predict whether skin is healthy or not, after we revealed a complete lack of conclusive findings linking the presence or abundance of particular species of microbe to skin problems. This phenomenon is replicated throughout nature, where high biodiversity always leads to healthy ecosystems. ‘Caveman’ skin, untouched by modern civilisation, was far different to “western” skin and displayed unprecedented levels of bacterial diversity. The less exposed communities were to western practices, the higher the skin diversity, which is clear evidence of an environmental factor in the developed world damaging skin. For the first time we propose benchmark values of diversity against which we can measure skin to determine how healthy it is. This gives us the ability to be able to predict which people are more likely to be prone to skin ailments, and start to test whether cosmetic ingredients and products are a main cause of the skin allergy epidemic.
Interest Manager for Networked Driving Simulation Based on High-Level Architecture
Authors: Abdelgawad Kareem , Gausemeier Jürgen , Grafe Michael , Berssenbrügge Jan
Published: May 2017

In networked driving simulation, two or more human drivers participate interactively within a shared virtual environment. Thereby, typical applications of driving simulation can be extended to consider multi-driver scenarios, where a much closer approximation of reality with its unpredictability is achieved. However, the utilized network is typically prone to a considerable amount of message traffic. In addition to restricted system scalability, the resulting degradation of network performance leads to invalid simulation outcomes or unacceptable system behavior. High-Level Architecture (HLA) is the IEEE standard 1516 that provides specific guidelines for networked simulation. Data distribution management (DDM) is one of the service groups provided by the HLA standard. The aim of the DDM service is to reduce network traffic and to save effort required to process unnecessary received data. However, existing approaches for current DDM implementations show major drawbacks in terms of utilization complexity, inefficiency, and yet added network overhead. This paper presents a new concept of an interest manager that takes over the DDM functionality and avoids these drawbacks. Simulation data is exchanged between the participating driving simulators only when it is necessary according to the driving situations. The interest manager was implemented and its efficient functionality was validated by analyzing the network load of two driving maneuvers with and without the interest manager.
Entropy Information of Cardiorespiratory Dynamics in Neonates during Sleep
Authors: Lucchini Maristella , Pini Nicolò , Fifer William , Burtchen Nina , Signorini Maria
Published: May 2017

Sleep is a central activity in human adults and characterizes most of the newborn infant life. During sleep, autonomic control acts to modulate heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration. Mechanisms underlying cardiorespiratory interactions in different sleep states have been studied but are not yet fully understood. Signal processing approaches have focused on cardiorespiratory analysis to elucidate this co-regulation. This manuscript proposes to analyze heart rate (HR), respiratory variability and their interrelationship in newborn infants to characterize cardiorespiratory interactions in different sleep states (active vs. quiet). We are searching for indices that could detect regulation alteration or malfunction, potentially leading to infant distress. We have analyzed inter-beat (RR) interval series and respiration in a population of 151 newborns, and followed up with 33 at 1 month of age. RR interval series were obtained by recognizing peaks of the QRS complex in the electrocardiogram (ECG), corresponding to the ventricles depolarization. Univariate time domain, frequency domain and entropy measures were applied. In addition, Transfer Entropy was considered as a bivariate approach able to quantify the bidirectional information flow from one signal (respiration) to another (RR series). Results confirm the validity of the proposed approach. Overall, HRV is higher in active sleep, while high frequency (HF) power characterizes more quiet sleep. Entropy analysis provides higher indices for SampEn and Quadratic Sample entropy (QSE) in quiet sleep. Transfer Entropy values were higher in quiet sleep and point to a major influence of respiration on the RR series. At 1 month of age, time domain parameters show an increase in HR and a decrease in variability. No entropy differences were found across ages. The parameters employed in this study help to quantify the potential for infants to adapt their cardiorespiratory responses as they mature. Thus, they could be useful as early markers of risk for infant cardiorespiratory vulnerabilities.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the I(2) Model under Linear Restrictions
Authors: Doornik Jurgen
Published: May 2017

Estimation of the I(2) cointegrated vector autoregressive (CVAR) model is considered. Without further restrictions, estimation of the I(1) model is by reduced-rank regression (Anderson (1951)). Maximum likelihood estimation of I(2) models, on the other hand, always requires iteration. This paper presents a new triangular representation of the I(2) model. This is the basis for a new estimation procedure of the unrestricted I(2) model, as well as the I(2) model with linear restrictions imposed.
Design of Nonlinear Robust Damping Controller for Power Oscillations Suppressing Based on Backstepping-Fractional Order Sliding Mode
Authors: Liu Cheng , Cai Guowei , Gao Jiwei , Yang Deyou
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a novel nonlinear robust damping controller is proposed to suppress power oscillation in interconnected power systems. The proposed power oscillation damping controller exhibits good nonlinearity and robustness. It can consider the strong nonlinearity of power oscillation and uncertainty of its model. First, through differential homeomorphic mapping, a mathematical model of the system can be transformed into the Brunovsky standard. Next, an extended state observer (ESO) estimated and compensated for model errors and external disturbances as well as uncertain factors to achieve dynamic linearization of the nonlinear model. A power oscillation damping controller for interconnected power systems was designed on a backstepping-fractional order sliding mode variable structure control theory (BFSMC). Compared with traditional methods, the controller exhibits good dynamic performance and strong robustness. Simulations involving a four-generator two-area and partial test system of Northeast China were conducted under various disturbances to prove the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed damping control method.
Mutational and Kinetic Analysis of Lesion Recognition by Escherichia coli Endonuclease VIII
Authors: Kladova Olga , Kuznetsova Alexandra , Fedorova Olga , Kuznetsov Nikita
Published: May 2017

Escherichia coli endonuclease VIII (Endo VIII) is a DNA glycosylase with substrate specificity for a wide range of oxidatively damaged pyrimidine bases. Endo VIII catalyzes hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond and β, δ-elimination of 3′- and 5′-phosphate groups of an apurinic/apyrimidinic site. Single mutants of Endo VIII L70S, L70W, Y71W, F121W, F230W, and P253W were analyzed here with the aim to elucidate the kinetic mechanism of protein conformational adjustment during damaged-nucleotide recognition and catalytic-complex formation. F121W substitution leads to a slight reduction of DNA binding and catalytic activity. F230W substitution slows the rate of the δ-elimination reaction indicating that interaction of Phe230 with a 5′-phosphate group proceeds in the latest catalytic step. P253W Endo VIII has the same activity as the wild type (WT) enzyme. Y71W substitution slightly reduces the catalytic activity due to the effect on the later steps of catalytic-complex formation. Both L70S and L70W substitutions significantly decrease the catalytic activity, indicating that Leu70 plays an important role in the course of enzyme-DNA catalytic complex formation. Our data suggest that Leu70 forms contacts with DNA earlier than Tyr71 does. Therefore, most likely, Leu70 plays the role of a DNA lesion “sensor”, which is used by Endo VIII for recognition of a DNA damage site.
A Question of Life and Death: The Aesopic Animal Fables on Why Not to Kill
Authors: Korhonen Tua
Published: May 2017

This article deals with Greek animal fables, traditionally attributed to a former slave, Aesop, who lived during the sixth century BCE. As a genre, the Aesopic fables, or the Aesopica, has had a significant impact on the Western fable tradition and modern Western children’s literature. The Aesopica owes much to the Mesopotamian fables and has parallels in other Near Eastern cultures. Modern research has concentrated on tracing the oriental roots of the fable tradition and the dating of the different parts of the Aesopica, as well as defining the fable as a genre. The traditional reading of fables has, however, excluded animals qua animals, supposing that fables are mainly allegories of the human condition. The moral of the story (included in the epimythia or promythia) certainly guides one to read the stories anthropocentrically, but the original fables did not necessarily include this positioning element. Many fables address the situation when a prey animal, like a lamb, negotiates with a predator animal, like a wolf, by giving reasons why she should not be killed. In this article, I will concentrate on these fables and analyse them from the point of view of their structure and content. Comparing these fables with some animal similes in Homer’s Iliad, I suggest that these fables deal not only with the ethical problem of ‘might makes right’ as a human condition, but also the broader philosophical question of killing other living creatures and the problem of cruelty.
‘In The Empire of the Senses’ and the Narrative Horizons of Comics
Authors: Alaniz José
Published: May 2017

With their 1980s independent comics series The Puma Blues, writer Stephen Murphy and artist Michael Zulli presented a foreboding scifi vision of ecological catastrophe in a near-future USA, where mutated manta rays fly the skies, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse roam the desert sands of the southwest and imminent nuclear devastation looms. Yet for all its pessimism, the series (in 2015 expanded, completed and reissued through Dover Press) has rightly earned critical accolades for Zulli’s extraordinary nature drawing, in particular of animals. The chapter “In the Empire of the Senses” puts Zulli’s stunning nature work most fully on display, utilizing comics techniques such as line work, framing, panel progression and sound effects to create the illusion of a puma’s nighttime hunt, often from its perception-rich point of view. Throughout the series, animal and non-human experience/umwelt receives a degree of attention rarely seen in comics, a genre more popularly known for superheroes and anthropomorphized “funny animal” stories. Through a close reading of “In the Empire of the Senses,” the paper explores Murphy and Zulli’s bid to depict animal ontology through comics’ unique capacities, contrasting their approach with that of cinema, viz. Bill Viola’s avant garde ethnographic documentary I Do Not What It Is I Am Like (1986). My analysis has implications for narratology, the potential of comics’ representational strategies and for the depiction of non-human experience more generally.
Risk Assessment of Florists Exposed to Pesticide Residues through Handling of Flowers and Preparing Bouquets
Authors: Toumi Khaoula , Joly Laure , Vleminckx Christiane , Schiffers Bruno
Published: May 2017

Flowers are frequently treated with pesticides and, as a result, florists handling daily a large number of flowers can be exposed to pesticide residues. A study was conducted among twenty volunteer florists located in Namur Province and in the Brussels Capital Region of Belgium in order to assess their potential dermal exposure to dislodgeable pesticide residues transferred from flowers to hands. Two pairs of cotton gloves were worn during two consecutive half days while handling flowers and preparing bouquets (from min 2 h to max 3 h/day). The residual pesticide deposits on the glove samples were extracted with a multi-residue Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuEChERS) method and analyzed by a combination of gas and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS) by an accredited laboratory. A total of 111 active substances (mainly insecticides and fungicides) were detected, with an average of 37 active substances per sample and a total concentration per glove sample of 22.22 mg/kg. Several predictive levels of contamination were considered to assess the risk. The potential dermal exposures (PDE) of florists were estimated at the average, for different percentiles, and at the maximum concentration of residues in samples. At the PDE P90 and at the PDEMAX (or worst case) values, three and five active substances respectively exceed the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL), indicating risk situations. For the systemic exposure (SE), one active substance (clofentezine) exceeds the AOEL at the P90 predictive level. In the worst case, SEMAX (at the maximum concentrations), four active substances (clofentezine, famoxadone, methiocarb, and pyridaben) exceed their respective AOEL values. Among the 14 most frequently detected active substances, two have SEMAX values exceeding the AOEL. Exposure could be particularly critical for clofentezine with an SEMAX value four times higher than the AOEL (393%). The exposure of florists appeared to be an example of a unique professional situation in which workers are exposed regularly to both a very high number of toxic chemicals and rather high concentration levels. Therefore the priority should be to raise the level of awareness among the florists who must change their habits and practices if they want to minimize their exposure.
Mental Health Problems and Related Factors in Ecuadorian College Students
Authors: Torres Claudia , Otero Patricia , Bustamante Byron , Blanco Vanessa , Díaz Olga , Vázquez Fernando
Published: May 2017

Although the mental health problems of college students have been the subject of increasing research, there are no studies about its prevalence in Ecuadorian college students. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health problems and their associated factors in Ecuadorian freshmen university students. A sample of 1092 students (53.7% women; mean age = 18.3 years) were recruited from the Technical Particular University of Loja (Ecuador). Socio-demographic, academic, and clinical characteristics were gathered, as well as information on the participants’ mental health through a number of mental health screens. Prevalence of positive screens was 6.2% for prevalence of major depressive episodes, 0.02% for generalized anxiety disorders, 2.2% for panic disorders, 32.0% for eating disorders, 13.1% for suicidal risk. Mental health problems were significantly associated with sex, area of study, self-esteem, social support, personality and histories of mental health problems. The findings offer a starting point for identifying useful factors to target prevention and intervention strategies aimed at university students.
Effects of Wastes from the Brewing Industry in Lightweight Aggregates Manufactured with Clay for Green Roofs
Authors: Farías Romina , Martínez García Carmen , Cotes Palomino Teresa , Martínez Arellano Myriam
Published: May 2017

This study investigates the effects of sieved wastes generated from the brewing industry on lightweight aggregates manufactured with clay. Sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, bagasse and diatomaceous earth were used to obtain the samples. These wastes are usually dumped in landfills, but the current increase in restrictions on dumping and interest in improving the environment make our proposal for gaining value from these wastes a significant contribution. Laboratory tests show that the new aggregate has low bulk density and increased water absorption and porosity. The thermographic camera results provide evidence that new aggregates have significant insulating properties and are suitable for use on green roofs.
An All Oxide-Based Imperceptible Thin-Film Transistor with Humidity Sensing Properties
Authors: Kim Kyung Su , Ahn Cheol Hyoun , Kang Won Jun , Cho Sung Woon , Jung Sung Hyeon , Yoon Dae Ho , Cho Hyung Koun
Published: May 2017

We have examined the effects of oxygen content and thickness in sputtered InSnO (ITO) electrodes, especially for the application of imperceptible amorphous-InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) in humidity sensors. The imperceptible a-IGZO TFT with 50-nm ITO electrodes deposited at Ar:O2 = 29:0.3 exhibited good electrical performances with Vth of −0.23 V, SS of 0.34 V/dec, µFE of 7.86 cm2/V∙s, on/off ratio of 8.8 × 107, and has no degradation for bending stress up to a 3.5-mm curvature. The imperceptible oxide TFT sensors showed the highest sensitivity for the low and wide gate bias of −1~2 V under a wide range of relative humidity (40–90%) at drain voltage 1 V, resulting in low power consumption by the sensors. Exposure to water vapor led to a negative shift in the threshold voltage (or current enhancement), and an increase in relative humidity induced continuous threshold voltage shift. In particular, compared to conventional resistor-type sensors, the imperceptible oxide TFT sensors exhibited extremely high sensitivity from a current amplification of >103.
Development of a Skewed Pipe Shear Connector for Precast Concrete Structures
Authors: Kim Sang-Hyo , Choi Jae-Gu , Park Sejun , Lee Hyunmin , Heo and Won-Ho
Published: May 2017

Joint connection methods, such as shear key and loop bar, improve the structural performance of precast concrete structures; consequently, there is usually decreased workability or constructional efficiency. This paper proposes a high-efficiency skewed pipe shear connector. To resist shear and pull-out forces, the proposed connectors are placed diagonally between precast concrete segments and a cast-in-place concrete joint part on a girder. Design variables (such as the pipe diameter, length, and insertion angle) have been examined to investigate the connection performance of the proposed connector. The results of our testing indicate that the skewed pipe shear connectors have 50% higher ductility and a 15% higher ratio of maximum load to yield strength as compared to the corresponding parameters of the loop bar. Finite element analysis was used for validation. The resulting validation indicates that, compared to the loop bar, the skewed pipe shear connector has a higher ultimate shear and pull-out resistance. These results indicate that the skewed pipe shear connector demonstrates more idealized behavior than the loop bar in precast concrete structures.