bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Direct Injected Liquefied Petroleum Gas-Diesel Blends for Ultra-Low Soot Combustion Engine Application
Authors: Ianniello Roberto , Di Blasio Gabriele , Marialto Renato , Beatrice Carlo , Cardone Massimo
Published: July 2020

Technological and economic concerns correlated to fulfilling future emissions and CO2 standards require great research efforts to define an alternative solution for low emissions and highly efficient propulsion systems. Alternative fuel formulation could contribute to this aim. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with lower carbon content than other fossil fuels and which is easily vaporized at ambient conditions has the advantage of lowering CO2 emissions and optimizing the combustion process. Liquefied petroleum gas characteristics and availability makes the fuel a promising alternative for internal combustion engines. The possible combination of using it in high-efficiency compression ignition engines makes it worth analyzing the innovative method of using LPG as a blend component in diesel. Few relevant studies are detectable in literature in this regard. In this study, two blends containing diesel and LPG, in volume ratios 20/80 and 35/65, respectively, were formulated and utilized. Their effects on combustion and emissions performance were assessed by performing proper experimental tests on a modern light-duty single-cylinder engine test rig. Reference operating points at conventional engine calibration settings were examined. A specific exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) parametrization was performed evaluating the LPG blends’ potential in reducing the smoke emissions at standard engine-out NOx levels. The results confirm excellent NOx-smoke trade-off improvements with smoke reductions up to 95% at similar NOx and efficiency. Unburnt emissions slightly increase, and to acceptable levels. Improvements, in terms of indicated specific fuel consumption (ISFC), are detected in the range of 1–3%, as well as the CO2 decrease proportionally to the mixing ratio.
An Agent-Based Decision Support Platform for Additive Manufacturing Applications
Authors: Papakostas Nikolaos , Newell Anthony , George Abraham
Published: July 2020

The effective estimation and consideration of process cost, time, and quality for additive manufacturing operations, when a series of suitable technologies and resources are available, is very important for making informed product design and development decisions. The main objective of this paper is to propose the design, deployment, and use of an agent-based decision support platform, which is capable of proposing alternative additive manufacturing resources and process configurations to design engineers while reducing the number of communication steps among engineering teams and organizations. Different computer-aided systems are utilised and interfaced for automating the information exchange as well as for accelerating the overall product development process.
Development of Energy-Based Impact Formula—Part I: Penetration Depth
Authors: Kim Sanghee , Kang Thomas H.-K.
Published: July 2020

Predicting the damage to a concrete panel under impact loading is difficult due to the complexity of the impact mechanism of concrete. Based on the experimental results obtained by various researchers, the energies involved in the impact mechanism are classified into seven categories: Kinetic energy, deformed energy of a projectile, elastic penetration resistance energy of the panel, overall deformed energy of the panel, spalling-resistant energy, tunneling-resistant energy, and scabbing-resistant energy. Using these impact mechanisms and the energy conservation law, a new energy-based penetration depth formula is proposed to predict the penetration depth. This is validated using 402 impact test results, which include those with high-strength concrete, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), or steel fiber-reinforced concrete, those under very high-velocity impact, and those with a very low ratio of target panel thickness to projectile diameter. It is found that the new impact formula predicts the penetration depth quite well.
Study on Volatile Organic Compounds from Diesel Engine Fueled with Palm Oil Biodiesel Blends at Low Idle Speed
Authors: Kim Ho Young , Choi Nag Jung
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the combustion and emissions characteristics including volatile organic compound (VOC) of a common rail direct injection diesel engine fueled with palm oil biodiesel blends contained 0%, 10%, 30%, and 100% (by volume) biodiesel at low idle speed, i.e., 750 rpm. The nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of biodiesel blends were lower than that of pure diesel and NOx tended to decrease as the blending ratio increased. Soot opacity and hydrocarbon (HC) were reduced with an increasing blend ratio. Carbon monoxide (CO) varied with the engine load conditions. Under low load, CO emissions tended to decrease with increasing blending ratio and increased under high load. Alkane and aromatic VOCs were mostly emitted. Benzene and tetrahydrofuran accounted for the largest percentage of total detected VOCs in all test conditions. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX, toxic aromatic VOCs) were detected for all tests. Among BTEX, benzene has the highest emission ratio, followed by xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene. Benzene increased for all tests. At low engine load, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene decreased with increasing blend ratio. However, these increased at high engine load. When pure palm oil biodiesel was applied at high engine load, benzene decreased.
Investigation on Tunneling-based Ternary CMOS with Ferroelectric-Gate Field Effect Transistor Using TCAD Simulation
Authors: Lee Kitae , Kim Sihyun , Kwon Daewoong , Park Byung-Gook
Published: July 2020

Ternary complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology has been spotlighted as a promising system to replace conventional binary complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) with supply voltage (VDD) and power scaling limitations. Recently, wafer-level integrated tunneling-based ternary CMOS (TCMOS) has been successfully reported. However, the TCMOS requires large VDD (> 1 V), because a wide leakage region before on-current should be necessary to make the stable third voltage state. In this study, TCMOS consisting of ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors (FE-TCMOS) is proposed and its performance evaluated through 2-D technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations. As a result, it is revealed that the larger subthreshold swing and the steeper subthreshold swing are achievable by polarization switching in the ferroelectric layer, compared to conventional MOSFETs with high-k gate oxide, and thus the FE-TCMOS can have the more stable (larger static noise margin) ternary inverter operations at the lower VDD.
Spring-Back Prediction of the Bi-Layered Metallic Tube under CNC Bending Considering Neutral Layer Shifting Extraction
Authors: Zhang Shuyou , Fu Mengyu , Wang Zili , Lin Yaochen , He Ci
Published: July 2020

Bi-layered metallic bending tubes are widely used in extreme environments. The spring-back prediction theory for precise forming of such tube configuration is lacking. The layered coupling causes complex section internal force and new boundary conditions. This work proposed a theoretical prediction model of bimetallic tubes’ spring-back under computer numerically controlled (CNC) bending. This model calculated the spring-back angle by importing two new parameters—the composite elastic modulus (Ec) and the composite strain neutral layer (Dε). To investigate Dε, the neutral layer shifting extraction method was proposed to get the shifting value from finite element simulations. Simulations and full-scale bending experiments were carried out to verify the reliability of this prediction model. The theoretical results are closer to the experimental results than the finite element (FE) results and the theoretical results neglecting neutral layer shifting. The change of spring-back angle with the interlaminar friction coefficient was investigated. The results indicated that the normal mechanical bonding bimetallic tube with an interlaminar friction coefficient below 0.3 can reduce spring-back.
A Gap Waveguide-Based Compact Rectangular Waveguide to a Packaged Microstrip Inline Transition
Authors: Pérez-Escudero José M. , Torres-García Alicia E. , Gonzalo Ramón , Ederra Iñigo
Published: July 2020

In this paper two different simple to design and easy to manufacturing transitions from a microstrip to rectangular waveguide based on ridge and groove gap waveguides are studied. The first one is based on a combination of a groove and ridge gap waveguide. In this case, the microstrip substrate occupies the whole bottom metallic housing block, namely, the transition and the gap between the bed of nails and the lid; therefore, it does not require any substrate shaping. Nevertheless, the transition needs to replace groove waveguide by ridge gap waveguide sections to avoid higher-order mode excitation. In the second approach, based on only a groove gap waveguide, the substrate is shaped to be only in the microstrip section, that is, outside the bed of nails area. This leads to a simplification of the design procedure. Prototypes of both transitions have been characterized, showing good agreement with the simulations taking into account the manufacturing tolerances. Performance comparable to the state-of-the-art in this frequency band has been achieved.
Optimization of Motion Planning and Control for Automatic Machines, Robots and Multibody Systems
Authors: Boscariol Paolo , Richiedei Dario
Published: July 2020

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A Nonlinear Distortion Removal Based on Deep Neural Network for Underwater Acoustic OFDM Communication with the Mitigation of Peak to Average Power Ratio
Authors: Ma Xuefei , Raza Waleed , Wu Zhiqiang , Bilal Muhammad , Zhou Ziqi , Ali Amir
Published: July 2020

Machine learning and deep learning algorithms have proved to be a powerful tool for developing data-driven signal processing algorithms for challenging engineering problems. This paper studies the modern machine learning algorithm for modeling nonlinear devices like power amplifiers (PAs) for underwater acoustic (UWA) orthogonal frequency divisional multiplexing (OFDM) communication. The OFDM system has a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) in the time domain because the subcarriers are added coherently via inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). This causes a higher bit error rate (BER) and degrades the performance of the PAs; hence, it reduces the power efficiency. For long-range underwater acoustic applications such as the long-term monitoring of the sea, the PA works in full consumption mode. Thus, it becomes a challenging task to minimize power consumption and unnecessary distortion. To mitigate this problem, a receiver-based nonlinearity distortion mitigation method is proposed, assuming that the transmitting side has enough computation power. We propose a novel approach to identify the nonlinear power model using a modern deep learning algorithm named frequentative decision feedback (FFB); PAPR performance is verified by the clipping method. The simulation results prove the better performance of the PA model with a BER with the shortest learning time.
Solving a Quadratic Riccati Differential Equation, Multi-Pantograph Delay Differential Equations, and Optimal Control Systems with Pantograph Delays
Authors: Ghomanjani Fateme , Shateyi Stanford
Published: July 2020

An effective algorithm for solving quadratic Riccati differential equation (QRDE), multipantograph delay differential equations (MPDDEs), and optimal control systems (OCSs) with pantograph delays is presented in this paper. This technique is based on Genocchi polynomials (GPs). The properties of Genocchi polynomials are stated, and operational matrices of derivative are constructed. A collocation method based on this operational matrix is used. The findings show that the technique is accurate and simple to use.
Untargeted Profiling of Bile Acids and Lysophospholipids Identifies the Lipid Signature Associated with Glycemic Outcome in an Obese Non-Diabetic Clinical Cohort
Authors: Christinat Nicolas , Valsesia Armand , Masoodi Mojgan
Published: July 2020

The development of high throughput assays for assessing lipid metabolism in metabolic disorders, especially in diabetes research, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), provides a reliable tool for identifying and characterizing potential biomarkers in human plasma for early diagnosis or prognosis of the disease and/or responses to a specific treatment. Predicting the outcome of weight loss or weight management programs is a challenging yet important aspect of such a program’s success. The characterization of potential biomarkers of metabolic disorders, such as lysophospholipids and bile acids, in large human clinical cohorts could provide a useful tool for successful predictions. In this study, we validated an LC-MS method combining the targeted and untargeted detection of these lipid species. Its potential for biomarker discovery was demonstrated in a well-characterized overweight/obese cohort subjected to a low-caloric diet intervention, followed by a weight maintenance phase. Relevant markers predicting successful responses to the low-caloric diet intervention for both weight loss and glycemic control improvements were identified. The response to a controlled weight loss intervention could be best predicted using the baseline concentration of three lysophospholipids (PC(22:4/0:0), PE(17:1/0:0), and PC(22:5/0:0)). Insulin resistance on the other hand could be best predicted using clinical parameters and levels of circulating lysophospholipids and bile acids. Our approach provides a robust tool not only for research purposes, but also for clinical practice, as well as designing new clinical interventions or assessing responses to specific treatment. Considering this, it presents a step toward personalized medicine.
Coumarin Ameliorates Impaired Bone Turnover by Inhibiting the Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products in Diabetic Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts
Authors: Lee Eun-Jung , Kang Min-Kyung , Kim Yun-Ho , Kim Dong Yeon , Oh Hyeongjoo , Kim Soo-Il , Oh Su Yeon , Na Woojin , Kang Young-Hee
Published: July 2020

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the risk of osteoporotic fractures increases in patients with diabetes mellitus. Thus, diabetes-induced bone fragility has recently been recognized as a diabetic complication. As the fracture risk is independent of the reduction in bone mineral density, deterioration in bone quality may be the main cause of bone fragility. Coumarin exists naturally in many plants as phenylpropanoids and is present in tonka beans in significantly high concentrations. This study investigated whether coumarin ameliorated the impaired bone turnover and remodeling under diabetic condition. The in vitro study employed murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells differentiated to multinucleated osteoclasts with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κΒ ligand (RANKL) in the presence of 33 mM glucose and 1–20 μM coumarin for five days. In addition, osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to 33 mM glucose for up to 21 days in the presence of 1–20 μM coumarin. High glucose diminished tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and bone resorption in RANKL-differentiated osteoclasts, accompanying a reduction of cathepsin K induction and actin ring formation. In contrast, coumarin reversed the defective osteoclastogenesis in diabetic osteoclasts. Furthermore, high glucose diminished alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen type 1 induction of osteoblasts, which was strongly enhanced by submicromolar levels of coumarin to diabetic cells. Furthermore, coumarin restored the induction of RANK and osteoprotegerin in osteoclasts and osteoblasts under glucotoxic condition, indicating a tight coupling of osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis. Coumarin ameliorated the impaired bone turnover and remodeling in diabetic osteoblasts and osteoclasts by suppressing the interaction between advanced glycation end product (AGE) and its receptor (RAGE). Therefore, coumarin may restore optimal bone turnover of osteoclasts and osteoblasts by disrupting the hyperglycemia-mediated AGE–RAGE interaction.
Nickel and GTP Modulate Helicobacter pylori UreG Structural Flexibility
Authors: Pierro Annalisa , Etienne Emilien , Gerbaud Guillaume , Guigliarelli Bruno , Ciurli Stefano , Belle Valérie , Zambelli Barbara , Mileo Elisabetta
Published: July 2020

UreG is a P-loop GTP hydrolase involved in the maturation of nickel-containing urease, an essential enzyme found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and archaea. This protein couples the hydrolysis of GTP to the delivery of Ni(II) into the active site of apo-urease, interacting with other urease chaperones in a multi-protein complex necessary for enzyme activation. Whereas the conformation of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) UreG was solved by crystallography when it is in complex with two other chaperones, in solution the protein was found in a disordered and flexible form, defining it as an intrinsically disordered enzyme and indicating that the well-folded structure found in the crystal state does not fully reflect the behavior of the protein in solution. Here, isothermal titration calorimetry and site-directed spin labeling coupled to electron paramagnetic spectroscopy were successfully combined to investigate HpUreG structural dynamics in solution and the effect of Ni(II) and GTP on protein mobility. The results demonstrate that, although the protein maintains a flexible behavior in the metal and nucleotide bound forms, concomitant addition of Ni(II) and GTP exerts a structural change through the crosstalk of different protein regions.
The Role of Cardiac N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Heart Conditioning—Effects on Heart Function and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Govoruskina Natalia , Jakovljevic Vladimir , Zivkovic Vladimir , Milosavljevic Isidora , Jeremic Jovana , Bradic Jovana , Bolevich Sergey , Omarov Israpil Alisultanovich , Djuric Dragan , Radonjic Katarina , Andjic Marijana , Draginic Nevena , Stojanovic Aleksandra , Srejovic Ivan
Published: July 2020

As well as the most known role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the nervous system, there is a plethora of evidence that NMDARs are also present in the cardiovascular system where they participate in various physiological processes, as well as pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of preconditioning and postconditioning of isolated rat heart with NMDAR agonists and antagonists on heart function and release of oxidative stress biomarkers. The hearts of male Wistar albino rats were subjected to global ischemia for 20 min, followed by 30 min of reperfusion, using the Langendorff technique, and cardiodynamic parameters were determined during the subsequent preconditioning with the NMDAR agonists glutamate (100 µmol/L) and (RS)-(Tetrazol-5-yl)glycine (5 μmol/L) and the NMDAR antagonists memantine (100 μmol/L) and MK-801 (30 μmol/L). In the postconditioning group, the hearts were perfused with the same dose of drugs during the first 3 min of reperfusion. The oxidative stress biomarkers were determined spectrophotometrically in samples of coronary venous effluent. The NMDAR antagonists, especially MK-801, applied in postconditioning had a marked antioxidative effect with a most pronounced protective effect. The results from this study suggest that NMDARs could be a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of ischemic and reperfusion injury of the heart.
Identification of a Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Responsible for the Production of a New Pyrrolopyrimidine Natural Product—Huimycin
Authors: Shuai Hui , Myronovskyi Maksym , Nadmid Suvd , Luzhetskyy Andriy
Published: July 2020

Pyrrolopyrimidines are an important class of natural products with a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer or anti-inflammatory. Here, we present the identification of a biosynthetic gene cluster from the rare actinomycete strain Kutzneria albida DSM 43870, which leads to the production of huimycin, a new member of the pyrrolopyrimidine family of compounds. The huimycin gene cluster was successfully expressed in the heterologous host strain Streptomyces albus Del14. The compound was purified, and its structure was elucidated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The minimal huimycin gene cluster was identified through sequence analysis and a series of gene deletion experiments. A model for huimycin biosynthesis is also proposed in this paper.
Dual-Functioning Antibacterial Eugenol-Derived Plasticizers for Polylactide
Authors: Xuan Wenxiang , Odelius Karin , Hakkarainen Minna
Published: July 2020

Dual-functioning additives with plasticizing and antibacterial functions were designed by exploiting the natural aromatic compound eugenol and green platform chemical levulinic acid or valeric acid that can be produced from biobased resources. One-pot synthesis methodology was utilized to create three ester-rich plasticizers. The plasticizers were thoroughly characterized by several nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, HSQC, COSY, HMBC) and by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and their performances, as plasticizers for polylactide (PLA), were evaluated. The eugenyl valerate was equipped with a strong capability to depress the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PLA. Incorporating 30 wt% plasticizer led to a reduction of the Tg by 43 °C. This was also reflected by a remarkable change in mechanical properties, illustrated by a strain at break of 560%, almost 110 times the strain for the breaking of neat PLA. The two eugenyl levulinates also led to PLA with significantly increased strain at breaking. The eugenyl levulinates portrayed higher thermal stabilities than eugenyl valerate, both neat and in PLA blends. The different concentrations of phenol, carboxyl and alcohol functional groups in the three plasticizers caused different bactericidal activities. The eugenyl levulinate with the highest phenol-, carboxyl- and alcohol group content significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while the other two plasticizers could only inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the utilization of eugenol as a building block in plasticizer design for PLA illustrated an interesting potential for production of additives with dual functions, being both plasticizers and antibacterial agents.
Is All Dating Violence Equal? Gender and Severity Differences in Predictors of Perpetration
Authors: Ontiveros Gabriela , Cantos Arthur , Chen Po-Yi , Charak Ruby , O’Leary K. Daniel
Published: July 2020

The present study assesses the extent of perpetration of physical violence in predominately Hispanic high school students in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, exposure to interparental violence, attachment, emotion regulation, and impulsivity on two distinct, mutually exclusive, categories of severity of physical teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration is further explored. Participants completed self-report measures as part of a larger, anonymous web-based questionnaire. Two categories (i.e., minor/moderate and severe) were created to discern the contextual variables associated with different levels of severity of physical violence perpetration by males and females. Eight-hundred and twenty-nine 14- to 18-year-old adolescents from four different high schools participated in the study, of whom 407 reported having been in a dating relationship in the last 12 months. The results demonstrate that when only the most severe item of TDV is taken into consideration, the rates of violence perpetration by males and females are almost equal and remarkably lower than those reported in the literature. However, when the assessment includes minor/moderate levels of violence, such as pushing, the rates of violence perpetration by females are twice those of males and are consistent with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, different variables are associated with different levels of severity of violence perpetration. The results support approaches that emphasize the need to take the context of the violence into consideration, since all levels are not equal. The need to take the severity of violence into account in studies assessing dating violence is highlighted.
Humanized Mice Are Precious Tools for Preclinical Evaluation of CAR T and CAR NK Cell Therapies
Authors: Mhaidly Rana , Verhoeyen Els
Published: July 2020

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a revolutionary treatment for hematological malignancies. However, improvements in CAR T-cell therapies are urgently needed since CAR T cell application is associated with toxicities, exhaustion, immune suppression, lack of long-term persistence, and low CAR T-cell tumor infiltration. Major efforts to overcome these hurdles are currently on the way. Incrementally improved xenograft mouse models, supporting the engraftment and development of a human hemato-lymphoid system and tumor tissue, represent an important fundamental and preclinical research tool. We will focus here on several CAR T and CAR NK therapies that have benefited from evaluation in humanized mice. These models are of great value for the cancer therapy field as they provide a more reliable understanding of sometimes complicated therapeutic interventions. Additionally, they are considered the gold standard with regard to assessment of new CAR technologies in vivo for safety, efficacy, immune response, design, combination therapies, exhaustion, persistence, and mechanism of action prior to starting a clinical trial. They help to expedite the critical translation from proof-of-concept to clinical CAR T-cell application. In this review, we discuss innovative developments in the CAR T-cell therapy field that benefited from evaluation in humanized mice, illustrated by multiple examples.
Investigation of the Applicability of Raman Spectroscopy as Online Process Control during Consumer Milk Production
Authors: Reiner Jasmin , Protte Kristin , Hinrichs Jörg
Published: July 2020

Online detection of product defects using fast spectroscopic measurements is beneficial for producers in the dairy industry since it allows readjustment of product characteristics or redirection of product streams during production. Raman spectroscopy has great potential for such application due to the fast and simple measurement. Its suitability as online sensor for process control was investigated at typical control points in consumer milk production being raw milk storage, standardization, and heat treatment. Additionally, the appropriateness of Raman spectroscopy to act as indicator for product application parameters was investigated using the example of barista foam. To assess the suitability of a pure online system, the merit of Raman spectra was evaluated by a principal component analysis (PCA). Thereby, proteolytic spoilage due to the presence of extracellular enzymes of Pseudomonas sp. was detected and samples based on the applied heat treatment (extended shelf life (ESL) and ultra-high temperature (UHT)) could be separated. A correlation of the content of free fatty acids and foam stability with spectra of the respective milk samples was found, allowing a prediction of the technofunctional quality criterion “Barista” suitability of a UHT milk. The results underlined the suitability of Raman spectroscopy for the detection of deviations from a defined product standard of consumer milk.
Torrefied Biomass as an Alternative in Coal-Fueled Power Plants: A Case Study on Grindability of Agroforestry Waste Forms
Authors: Nunes Leonel J. R.
Published: July 2020

The use of biomass as a renewable energy source is currently a reality, mainly due to the role it can play in replacing fossil energy sources. Within this possibility, coal substitution in the production of electric energy presents itself as a strong alternative with high potential, mostly due to the possibility of contributing to the decarbonization of energy production while, at the same time, contributing to the circularization of energy generation processes. This can be achieved through the use of biomass waste forms, which have undergone a process of improving their properties, such as torrefaction. However, for this to be viable, it is necessary that the biomass has a set of characteristics similar to those of coal, such that its use may occur in previously installed systems. In particular, with respect to grindability, which is associated with one of the core equipment technologies of coal-fired power plants—the coal mill. The objective of the present study is to determine the potential of certain residues with agroforestry origins as a replacement for coal in power generation by using empirical methods. Selected materials—namely, almond shells, kiwifruit pruning, vine pruning, olive pomace, pine woodchips, and eucalyptus woodchips—are characterized in this regard. The materials were characterized in the laboratory and submitted to a torrefaction process at 300 °C. Then, the Statistical Grindability Index and the Hardgrove Grindability Index were determined, using empirical methods derived from coal analysis. The results obtained indicate the good potential of the studied biomasses for use in large-scale torrefaction processes and as replacements for coal in the generation of electrical energy. However, further tests are still needed, particularly relating to the definition of the ideal parameters of the torrefaction process, in order to optimize the grindability of the materials.
An Adversarial Approach for Intrusion Detection Systems Using Jacobian Saliency Map Attacks (JSMA) Algorithm
Authors: Qureshi Ayyaz Ul Haq , Larijani Hadi , Yousefi Mehdi , Adeel Ahsan , Mtetwa Nhamoinesu
Published: July 2020

In today’s digital world, the information systems are revolutionizing the way we connect. As the people are trying to adopt and integrate intelligent systems into daily lives, the risks around cyberattacks on user-specific information have significantly grown. To ensure safe communication, the Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) were developed often by using machine learning (ML) algorithms that have the unique ability to detect malware against network security violations. Recently, it was reported that the IDS are prone to carefully crafted perturbations known as adversaries. With the aim to understand the impact of such attacks, in this paper, we have proposed a novel random neural network-based adversarial intrusion detection system (RNN-ADV). The NSL-KDD dataset is utilized for training. For adversarial attack crafting, the Jacobian Saliency Map Attack (JSMA) algorithm is used, which identifies the feature which can cause maximum change to the benign samples with minimum added perturbation. To check the effectiveness of the proposed adversarial scheme, the results are compared with a deep neural network which indicates that RNN-ADV performs better in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score and training epochs.
Multidisciplinary Approach to Interstitial Lung Diseases: Nothing Is Better than All of Us Together
Authors: Vancheri Carlo , Basile Antonio
Published: July 2020

Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs) are a large family of disorders characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis of areas of the lung dedicated to gas exchange. In this Special Issue entitled “Clinical and Radiological Features of Interstitial Lung Diseases”, we collected a series of contributions in which a multidisciplinary approach was crucial for the correct diagnostic assessment of ILD. Sharing knowledge between different specialties can significantly improve diagnostic approaches and the management of ILD patients.
Estimation of Cadaveric Age by Ultrasonography
Authors: Ichioka Hiroaki , Miyamori Daisuke , Ishikawa Noboru , Bandou Risa , Idota Nozomi , Kondou Hiroki , Ikegaya Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

(1) Background: While decreasing bone mineral density (BMD) with age in living people has been well documented, a correlation between age and bone mineral density in deceased people has only been reported in a few studies. A correlation between age and BMD in deceased people was investigated as an objective tool for age estimation of unidentified remains. (2) Methods: The Bone Area Ratio (BAR) was measured in 402 autopsy cases (143 females and 259 males over the age of 20). (3) Results: The correlation coefficient in the females was r = −0.5476, and the correlation coefficient in the males was r = −0.2166, indicating a stronger correlation in females than in males. A comparison of the BAR values in the deceased females for each age group with that in live females found no significant differences in the BAR values. BAR values in the deceased were similar to in live individuals, and this did not change with duration of the postmortem interval. (4) Conclusions: Measuring the BAR value based on bone mass using ultrasonic waves is rapid and easy, even for those lacking forensic training, and may be used to estimate the age of an individual and the likelihood of fracture due to trauma.
Junctionless Transistors: State-of-the-Art
Authors: Nowbahari Arian , Roy Avisek , Marchetti Luca
Published: July 2020

Recent advances in semiconductor technology provide us with the resources to explore alternative methods for fabricating transistors with the goal of further reducing their sizes to increase transistor density and enhance performance. Conventional transistors use semiconductor junctions; they are formed by doping atoms on the silicon substrate that makes p-type and n-type regions. Decreasing the size of such transistors means that the junctions will get closer, which becomes very challenging when the size is reduced to the lower end of the nanometer scale due to the requirement of extremely high gradients in doping concentration. One of the most promising solutions to overcome this issue is realizing junctionless transistors. The first junctionless device was fabricated in 2010 and, since then, many other transistors of this kind (such as FinFET, Gate-All-Around, Thin Film) have been proposed and investigated. All of these semiconductor devices are characterized by junctionless structures, but they differ from each other when considering the influence of technological parameters on their performance. The aim of this review paper is to provide a simple but complete analysis of junctionless transistors, which have been proposed in the last decade. In this work, junctionless transistors are classified based on their geometrical structures, analytical model, and electrical characteristics. Finally, we used figure of merits, such as I o n / I o f f , D I B L , and S S , to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each junctionless transistor category.
Which Institutional Conditions Lead to a Successful Local Energy Transition? Applying Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to Solar PV Cases in South Korea
Authors: Lee Youhyun , Kim Bomi , Hwang Heeju
Published: July 2020

To explore the most desirable pathway for a successful local energy transition, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was conducted on 16 regional cases in South Korea. We developed four propositions based on previous studies and theories as a causal set. Based on the South Korean context, we selected the solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and solar PV expansion rate as barometers for measuring the success of a local energy transition. Our analysis highlights the importance of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) membership (network), local legislation, and the environmental surveillance of locally-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The implications of this study will provide insights for developing or newly industrialized countries where an energy transition is underway.
The Influence of Groove Structure Parameters on the Maximum Flow Resistance of a Rectangular Narrow Channel
Authors: Li Guodong , Cai Dandan , Li Shanshan , Li Xiaogang , Li Pengfeng , Zuo Juanli
Published: July 2020

In the hydraulically suspended passive shutdown assembly, in order to prevent the liquid suspension rod falling too fast and the outer tube from violent impact, it is necessary to study the way to increase flow resistance. This study added grooves to the wall of the narrow channel to increase its flow resistance. Using the RNG k-ε turbulence model in Fluent, the influence of the groove structure parameters and the Reynolds number on the flow resistance of the narrow channel was discussed to find the optimal groove structure parameters. The results showed that the flow resistance of the narrow channel increased with the increase in the concave–convex ratio, and when the concave–convex ratio was small, the flow resistance decreased with increased groove thickness, while when the concave–convex ratio exceeded a certain critical value, the flow resistance increased with increased groove thickness. Additionally, the growth rate slowed down when the concave–convex ratio was greater than 3:1. As the unit length decreased, the flow resistance first increased and then decreased. When the unit length was 6 mm, the flow resistance reached the maximum. With the increase in the Reynolds number, the intensity of the local high-turbulence kinetic energy clearly increased.
Development and Calibration of a Semianalytic Model for Shale Wells with Nonuniform Distribution of Induced Fractures Based on ES-MDA Method
Authors: Zhang Qi , Jiang Shu , Wu Xinyue , Wang Yan , Meng Qingbang
Published: July 2020

Given reliable parameters, a newly developed semianalytic model could offer an efficient option to predict the performance of the multi-fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs) in unconventional gas reservoirs. However, two major challenges come from the accurate description and significant parameters uncertainty of stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The objective of this work is to develop and calibrate a semianalytic model using the ensemble smoother with multiple data assimilation (ES-MDA) method for the uncertainty reduction in the description and forecasting of MFHWs with nonuniform distribution of induced fractures. The fractal dimensions of induced-fracture spacing (dfs) and aperture (dfa) and tortuosity index of induced-fracture system (θ) are included based on fractal theory to describe the properties of SRV region. Additionally, for shale gas reservoirs, gas transport mechanisms, e.g., viscous flow with slippage, Knudsen diffusion, and surface diffusion, among multi-media including porous kerogen, inorganic matter, and fracture system are taken into account and the model is verified. Then, the effects of the fractal dimensions and tortuosity index of induced fractures on MFHWs performances are analyzed. What follows is employing the ES-MDA method with the presented model to reduce uncertainty in the forecasting of gas production rate for MFHWs in unconventional gas reservoirs using a synthetic case for the tight gas reservoir and a real field case for the shale gas reservoir. The results show that when the fractal dimensions of induced-fracture spacing and aperture is smaller than 2.0 or the tortuosity index of induced-fracture system is larger than 0, the permeability of induced-fracture system decreases with the increase of the distance from hydraulic fractures (HFs) in SRV region. The large dfs or small θ causes the small average permeability of the induced-fracture system, which results in large dimensionless pseudo-pressure and small dimensionless production rate. The matching results indicate that the proposed method could enrich the application of the semianalytic model in the practical field.
An Optimal Solution for Smooth and Non-Smooth Cost Functions-Based Economic Dispatch Problem
Authors: Lee Chun-Yao , Tuegeh Maickel
Published: July 2020

A modified particle swarm optimization and incorporated chaotic search to solve economic dispatch problems for smooth and non-smooth cost functions, considering prohibited operating zones and valve-point effects is proposed in this paper. An inertia weight modification of particle swarm optimization is introduced to enhance algorithm performance and generate optimal solutions with stable solution accuracy and offers faster convergence characteristic. Moreover, an incorporation of chaotic search, called logistic map, is used to increase the global searching capability. To demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm compared to the several existing methods in the literature, five systems with different criteria are verified. The results show the excellent performance of the proposed method to solve economic dispatch problems.
Forecasting Hierarchical Time Series in Power Generation
Authors: Silveira Gontijo Tiago , Azevedo Costa Marcelo
Published: July 2020

Academic attention is being paid to the study of hierarchical time series. Especially in the electrical sector, there are several applications in which information can be organized into a hierarchical structure. The present study analyzed hourly power generation in Brazil (2018–2020), grouped according to each of the electrical subsystems and their respective sources of generating energy. The objective was to calculate the accuracy of the main measures of aggregating and disaggregating the forecasts of the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Error, Trend, Seasonal (ETS) models. Specifically, the following hierarchical approaches were analyzed: (i) bottom-up (BU), (ii) top-down (TD), and (iii) optimal reconciliation. The optimal reconciliation models showed the best mean performance, considering the primary predictive windows. It was also found that energy forecasts in the South subsystem presented greater inaccuracy compared to the others, which signals the need for individualized models for this subsystem.
Sustainability of Steel Office Buildings
Authors: Broniewicz Filip , Broniewicz Miroslaw
Published: July 2020

Sustainable construction is an important part of sustainable development because of its contribution to the economy as well as the environmental and social impact of buildings on our lives. Steel is one of the most basic materials, both in the structures and for the finishes. It enables efficiency, durability, and recyclability, especially for office buildings. All these features of steel show its sustainable potential. Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment. They need to be able to make informed decisions about the impact of their actions. This publication is aimed at setting out key themes for the design and construction of sustainable buildings. Examples of office building environmental analyses are presented to illustrate how this is being achieved in steel construction.
Analysis and Multi-Parametric Optimisation of the Performance and Exhaust Gas Emissions of a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Operating on Miller Cycle
Authors: Georgiou Charalampos , Azimov Ulugbek
Published: July 2020

A major issue nowadays that concerns the pollution of the environment is the emissions emerging from heavy-duty internal combustion engines. Such concern is dictated by the fact that the electrification of heavy-duty transport still remains quite challenging due to limitations associated with mileage, charging speed and payload. Further improvements in the performance and emission characteristics of conventional heavy-duty diesel engines are required. One of a few feasible approaches to simultaneously improve the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine is to convert it to operate on Miller cycle. Therefore, this study was divided into two stages, the first stage was the simulation of a heavy-duty turbocharged diesel engine (4-stroke, 6-cylinder and 390 kW) to generate data that will represent the reference model. The second stage was the application of Miller cycle to the conventional diesel engine by changing the degrees of intake valve closure and compressor pressure ratio. Both stages have been implemented through the specialist software which was able to simulate and represent a diesel engine based on performance and emissions data. An objective of this extensive investigation was to develop several models in order to compare their emissions and performances and design a Miller cycle engine with an ultimate goal to optimize diesel engine for improved performance and reduced emissions. This study demonstrates that Miller cycle diesel engines could overtake conventional diesel engines for the reduced exhaust gas emissions at the same or even better level of performance. This study shows that, due to the dependence of engine performance on complex multi-parametric operation, only one model achieved the objectives of the study, more specifically, engine power and torque were increased by 5.5%, whilst nitrogen oxides and particulate matter were decreased by 30.2% and 5.5%, respectively, with negligible change in specific fuel consumption and CO2, as average values over the whole range of engine operating regimes.
Dehydration Leads to Hydrocarbon Gas Formation in Thermal Degradation of Gas-Phase Polyalcohols
Authors: Fukutome Asuka , Kawamoto Haruo
Published: July 2020

To understand the molecular mechanisms of hydrocarbon gas formation in biomass gasification, gasification of simple polyalcohols (glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol) were studied at 400, 600, and 800 °C (residence times: 0.9–1.4 s) from the viewpoint of dehydration reactions that form aldehydes with various substituents as intermediates to produce hydrocarbon gases. The results were also compared with those of glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone, which are reported to produce syngas (H2 and CO) selectively. All polyalcohols became reactive at 600 °C to form condensable products in 15.7–24.7% yields (C-based), corresponding to 33.9–38.4% based on the amounts of reacted polyalcohols. These condensable products, mostly aldehydes, act as gas-forming intermediates, because the polyalcohols were completely gasified at 800 °C (hydrocarbon gas contents: 20.3–35.3%, C-based). Yields of the intermediates bearing alkyl groups at 600 °C were proportionally correlated to the yields of hydrocarbon gases at 800 °C, suggesting that the alkyl groups are further converted into hydrocarbon gases via the fragmentation of acyl radicals. Dehydration reactions were suggested to occur in both heterolytic and radical mechanisms by theoretical calculations. Glyceraldehyde tended to fragment directly into CO and H2, instead of forming a dehydration intermediate. These results are informative for controlling the product gas composition in biomass gasification.
Effects of Injector Spray Angle on Performance of an Opposed-Piston Free-Piston Engine
Authors: Zhang Qinglin , Xu Zhaoping , Liu Shuangshuang , Liu Liang
Published: July 2020

A free-piston engine is a novel internal combustion engine which has the advantages of a variable compression ratio and multi-fuel adaptability. This paper focuses on numerical simulation for combustion process and spray angle optimization of an opposed-piston free-piston engine. The working principle and spray-guided central combustor structure of the engine are discussed. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model with moving mesh is presented based on the tested piston motion of the prototype. Calculation conditions, spray models, and combustion models were set-up according to the same prototype. The effects of spray angle on fuel evaporation rate, mixture distribution, heat release rate, in-cylinder pressure, in-cylinder temperature, and emissions were simulated and analyzed in detail. The research results indicate that the performance of the engine was very sensitive to the spray angle. The combustion efficiency and the indicated thermal efficiencies of 97.5% and 39.7% were obtained as the spray angle reached 40°.