bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic Response of a Structure Equipped with an External Viscous Damping System
Authors: Sabino Antonio , Mannella Antonio , de Leo Andrea Matteo
Published: January 2020

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a seismic retrofit technique that involves the introduction of energy dissipation devices properly connected to an existing structure through a system of cables and levers, which are employed to amplify total or inter-story drift at device end. One of the main topics related to the introduction of energy dissipation devices, lies in the choice of their optimal setting within the structure to maximize the effectiveness without producing functionality limitations. The achievement of these objectives is, therefore, linked, regardless of the type adopted, to the amount of energy dissipated in each cycle, directly proportional to the displacement magnitude to which the device is subject. Many configurations proposed in the literature and currently adopted in professional practice provide additional dissipation systems variously connected to braces installed inside the structural frame and, therefore, able to exploit the inter-story drift produced by seismic input. The proposed system exploits top displacements of the structure with respect to the foundation level, transferred to the device through a system of cables properly configured and amplified with leverage. This paper represents the first step of the research, in which simple single degree of freedom (SDOF) or two degrees of freedom (2-DOF) models are taken into account to evaluate the effects of the introduction of the proposed system in terms of reducing the seismic demand on the structure, proceeding to a parametric analysis to obtain initial indications for the design of the system in relation to the geometric and inertial characteristics of the original structure.
Effect of Molybdenum on the Activity Temperature Enlarging of Mn-Based Catalyst for Mercury Oxidation
Authors: Zhao Bo , Zhao Xiaojiong , Liang Yangshuo , Wang Yu , Qin Linbo , Chen Wangsheng
Published: January 2020

The MnO2/TiO2 (TM5) catalyst modified by molybdenum was used for mercury oxidation at different temperatures in a fixed-bed reactor. The addition of molybdenum into TM5 was identified as significantly enlarging the optimal temperature range for mercury oxidation. The optimal mercury oxidation temperature of TM5 was only 200 °C, with an oxidation efficiency of 95%. However, the mercury oxidation efficiency of TM5 was lower than 60% at other temperatures. As for MnO2–MoO3/TiO2 (TM5Mo5), the mercury oxidation efficiency was above 80% at 200–350 °C. In particular at 250 °C, the mercury oxidation efficiency of TM5Mo5 was over 93%. Otherwise, the gaseous O2, which could supplement the lattice oxygen in the catalytic reaction, played an important role in the process of mercury oxidation over TM5Mo5. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggested that mercury oxidized by O2 over TM5Mo5 followed the Mars–Maessen mechanism.
Effects of Climate Change on Precipitation and the Maximum Daily Temperature (Tmax) at Two US Military Bases with Different Present-Day Climates
Authors: Tadić Jovan , Biraud Sébastien
Published: January 2020

In this study, the effects of climate change on precipitation and the maximum daily temperature (Tmax) at two USA locations that have different climates—the Travis Airforce Base (AFB) in California [38.27° N, 121.93° W] and Fort Bragg (FBR) in North Carolina [35.14 N, 79.00 W]—are analyzed. The effects of climate change on central tendency, tail distributions, and both auto- and cross-covariance structures in precipitation and Tmax fields for three time periods in the 21st century centered on the years 2020, 2050, and 2100 were analyzed. It was found that, on average, Tmax under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 emission scenario is projected to increase for the years 2020, 2050, and 2100 by 1.1, 2.0, and 2.2 °C, respectively, for AFB, and 0.9, 1.2, and 1.6 °C, respectively, for FBR, while under the RCP8.5 emission scenario Tmax will increase by 1.1, 1.9, and 2.7 °C, respectively, for AFB, and 0.1, 1.5, and 2.2 °C, respectively, for FBR. The climate change signal in precipitation is weak. The results show that, under different emission scenarios, events considered to be within 1% of the most extreme events in the past will become ~13–30 times more frequent for Tmax, ~and 0.05–3 times more frequent for precipitation in both locations. Several analytical methods were deployed in a sequence, creating an easily scalable framework for similar analyses in the future.
Influence of Complex SiF62− Ions on the PEO Coatings Formed on Mg–Al6–Zn1 Alloy for Enhanced Wear and Corrosion Protection
Authors: Ur Rehman Zeeshan , Heun Koo Bon , Choi Dongjin
Published: January 2020

The present study was carried out to explore the effect of SiF62− incorporation and concentration on the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings formed on AZ61 Mg alloy. The coatings were prepared using electrolyte solution with various concentration of Na2SiF6 (0.0–0.7 g/L). Highly compact coatings with minimum porosity were obtained for an optimum concentration of Na2SiF6 ~0.3 g/L added into the electrolyte. The highest corrosion resistance, ~2.04 × 105 Ω·cm2, was obtained for 0.3 g/L of Na2SiF6, in addition to its superior anti-wear properties. However, it was found from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) image analysis that increasing concentration above 0.3 g/L, could cause severe breakdown in the inner layers, and thus the said coatings could not withstand effectively against wear and corrosion.
Adsorption Kinetics of a Cationic Surfactant Bearing a Two-Charged Head at the Air-Water Interface
Authors: Fernández Leyes Marcos , Gimenez Reyes Santiago , Cuenca Ezequiel , Sánchez Morales Jhon F. , Ritacco Hernán
Published: January 2020

We studied the dynamics of adsorption at the air-water interface of a cationic surfactant bearing two charges, Gemini 12-2-12, at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). We used maximum bubble pressure and Wilhelmy plate techniques in order to access all time scales in the adsorption process. We found that the adsorption dynamics are controlled by diffusion at the initial stage of the adsorption process (milliseconds) and it is kinetically controlled by an electrostatic barrier (minute) approaching the equilibrium surfactant surface concentration. Between these two extremes, we found several relaxation phenomena, all following exponential decays with characteristic times spanning from one to hundreds of seconds. By means of time-resolved surface potential measurements, we show that these processes involve charge redistribution within the interfacial region. The surface tension data are analyzed and interpreted in the framework of the free energy approach.
Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Value of Non-Coding RNA Expression Profiles in Renal Transplantation
Authors: Franco-Acevedo Adriana , Melo Zesergio , Echavarria Raquel
Published: January 2020

End-stage renal disease is a public health problem responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year. Although transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients in need of renal replacement therapy, long-term allograft survival remains challenging. Advances in high-throughput methods for large-scale molecular data generation and computational analysis are promising to overcome the current limitations posed by conventional diagnostic and disease classifications post-transplantation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that, despite lacking protein-coding potential, are essential in the regulation of epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms involved in both health and disease. A large body of evidence suggests that ncRNAs can act as biomarkers of renal injury and graft loss after transplantation. Hence, the focus of this review is to discuss the existing molecular signatures of non-coding transcripts and their value to improve diagnosis, predict the risk of rejection, and guide therapeutic choices post-transplantation.
Teaching Minority Languages in Multiethnic and Multilingual Environments: Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ Attitudes toward the Teaching of Basque in Compulsory Education
Authors: Roman Etxebarrieta Gorka , Pérez-Izaguirre Elizabeth , Langarika-Rocafort Argia
Published: January 2020

The literature reveals the difficulty of teaching minority languages in multiethnic and multilingual regions. Studies about teachers’ perceptions when instructing a minority language might help stakeholders to design interventions to overcome this problem. The first aim of this study was to describe teachers’ perceptions of type of issues, student complaints, and behaviors when teaching in Basque. The second aim was to state whether there is any relation between the origin of the students, the teachers’ working experience, and working region with the occurrence of issues, type of complaints in class, and the role of students’ parents. The data for this study were collected using an online questionnaire answered by 197 teachers. A descriptive analysis of the answers was performed using SPSS® (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Chi-square analyses were conducted to study the relation between variables. Results indicate that teachers believe Basque is sometimes undermined in their teaching practice, but no difference is perceived between local and migrant students. Conversely, regarding teachers’ views, negative attitudes toward Basque are mostly influenced by students’ families. This provides evidence to encourage education stakeholders to design better lessons involving the teaching of Basque.
Matrix Extraction of Parasitic Parameters and Suppression of Common-Mode Conducted Interference in a PMSG-IDOS Rectifier Module
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , Xia Chunjian , Liu Lantian , Wang Xudong
Published: January 2020

The rectifier module is the key part of a permanent magnet synchronous generator integrated DC output system (PMSG-IDOS) with low-voltage and high-current. The high-speed switching device of the rectifier module is the main source of electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this paper, the matrix extraction method is proposed to establish an accurate conducted interference model, and a 3D crimped SiC MOSFET model is established via Ansoft Q3D simulation software. The matrix of the parasitic parameters between poles of the MOSFET is simulated to extract the accurate parasitic parameters. Furthermore, a high-precision conducted interference simulation model of the pulse width modulation (PWM) rectifier system is established. Then, the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) jump-backward control strategy based on the three-phase four-leg structure is proposed to suppress the common-mode interference, and the comparison with other two methods is carried out based on this model. Finally, the experimental platform of a 5 V/1000 A synchronous generator with rectifier is constructed, and conducted interference is tested in accordance with the simulated results. It demonstrates the accuracy of the model with parasitic parameters based on the matrix extraction method. This paper provides a more simple and effective reference method for the prediction study of conducted interference in power converter systems. After comparing the simulation results with the experimental results, it is proven that the SVPWM jump-backward control strategy based on the three-phase four-leg structure can ensure the output balance of the bridge leg and allow the common-mode (CM) interference to reach the ideal state.
The Mechanical Effects Influencing on the Design of RF MEMS Switches
Authors: Lysenko Igor , Tkachenko Alexey , Ezhova Olga , Konoplev Boris , Ryndin Eugeny , Sherova Elena
Published: January 2020

Radio-frequency switches manufactured by microelectromechanical systems technology are now widely used in aerospace systems and other mobile installations for various purposes. In these operating conditions, these devices are often exposed to intense mechanical environmental influences that have a strong impact on their operation. These negative effects can lead to unwanted short-circuit or open-circuit in the radio-frequency transmission line or to irreversible damage to structural elements. Such a violation in the operation of radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches leads to errors and improper functioning of the electronic equipment in which they are integrated. Thus, this review is devoted to the analysis of the origin of these negative intense mechanical effects of the environment, their classification, and analysis, as well as a review of methods to reduce or prevent their negative impact on the design of radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches.
An Area-Efficient 10-Bit Buffer-Reused DAC for AMOLED Column Driver ICs
Authors: Xia Ming , Huang Zunkai , Tian Li , Wang Ning , Zhu Yongxin , Wang Hui , Feng Songlin
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we proposed an area-efficient 10-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with buffer-reusing method to dramatically relief the severe area exploding issue in high-definition active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) driver integrated circuits (ICs). In our design, we implement the functionalities of a large number of switches and capacitors in conventional DAC by a compact internal buffer. Furthermore, we minimize the buffer capacity requirement by elaborately reusing the indispensable output buffer in the typical column driver. In this way, we can cut down nearly a half of the decoder-switches and simultaneously reduce the capacitor size from 8 C to 3 C without designing an intricate and power-consuming amplifier separately. A prototype 6-channel column driver employing the proposed buffer-reused DAC was fabricated by 0.35 μm 2P3M BCD (Bipolar, CMOS, DMOS) process and its effective layout area per channel is 0.0429 mm2, which is 42.8% smaller than that of the conventional 10-bit R-C DAC. Besides, the measured differential nonlinearity (DNL) and integral nonlinearity (INL) are 0.514 LSB/0.631 LSB, respectively and the maximum value of inter-channel deviation voltage output (DVO) is 3.25 mV. The settling time within 5.6 μs is readily achieved under 1.5 kΩ-resistance and 100 pF-capacitance load. Measurement results indicate that the proposed buffer-reused DAC can successfully minimize the die area while maintaining other required performances.
Compact Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filters Achieved by Using a Stub-Loaded Stepped Impedance Resonator
Authors: Weng Min-Hang , Zheng Fu-Zhong , Lai Hong-Zheng , Liu Shih-Kun
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we develop a bandpass filter using a stub-loaded stepped impedance resonator (SLSIR) and calculate the even and odd resonant modes of this type of resonator using the input impedance/admittance analysis. In this study, two impedance ratios and two length ratios are operated as the design parameters for controlling the resonant modes of the SLSIR. Several resonant mode variation curves operating three resonant modes with different impedance ratios and two length ratios are developed. By tuning the desired impedance ratios and length ratios of the SLSIRs, compact ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filters (BPFs) can be achieved. Two examples of the UWB BPFs are designed in this study. The first example is UWB filter with a wide stopband and the second one is dual UWB BPF, namely, with UWB performance and a notch band. The first filter is designed for a UWB response from 3.1 to 5.26 GHz having a stopband from 5.3 to 11 GHz, with an attenuation level better than 18 dB. The second filter example is a dual UWB BPF with the frequency range from 3.1 to 5 GHz and 6 to 10.1 GHz using two sets of the proposed SLSIR. The measured results have insertion loss of less than 1 dB, and return loss greater than 10 dB. Furthermore, the coupling structures and open stub of the SLSIR also provide several transmission zeros at the skirt of the passbands for improving the passband selectivity.
Thermal Comfort Evaluation Using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)
Authors: Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk Katarzyna , Sulewska Maria Jolanta
Published: January 2020

The thermal sensations of people differ from each other, even if they are in the same thermal conditions. The research was carried out in a didactic teaching room located in the building of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Poland. Tests on the temperature were carried out simultaneously with questionnaire surveys. The purpose of the survey was to define sensations regarding the thermal comfort of people in the same room, in different conditions of internal and external temperatures. In total 333 questionnaires were analyzed. After the discriminant and neural analyses it was found that it is not possible to forecast the thermal comfort assessment in the room based on the analyzed variables: gender, indoor air temperature, external wall radiant temperature, and outdoor air temperature. The thermal comfort assessments of men and women were similar and overlapped. The results of this study confirm that under the same thermal conditions about 85% of respondents assess thermal comfort as good, and about 15% of respondents assess thermal comfort as bad. The test results presented in this article are similar to the results of tests carried out by other authors in other climatic conditions.
Demand Response Model Development for Smart Households Using Time of Use Tariffs and Optimal Control—The Isle of Wight Energy Autonomous Community Case Study
Authors: Khanna Sourav , Becerra Victor , Allahham Adib , Giaouris Damian , Foster Jamie M. , Roberts Keiron , Hutchinson David , Fawcett Jim
Published: January 2020

Residential variable energy price schemes can be made more effective with the use of a demand response (DR) strategy along with smart appliances. Using DR, the electricity bill of participating customers/households can be minimised, while pursuing other aims such as demand-shifting and maximising consumption of locally generated renewable-electricity. In this article, a two-stage optimization method is used to implement a price-based implicit DR scheme. The model considers a range of novel smart devices/technologies/schemes, connected to smart-meters and a local DR-Controller. A case study with various decarbonisation scenarios is used to analyse the effects of deploying the proposed DR-scheme in households located in the west area of the Isle of Wight (Southern United Kingdom). There are approximately 15,000 households, of which 3000 are not connected to the gas-network. Using a distribution network model along with a load flow software-tool, the secondary voltages and apparent-power through transformers at the relevant substations are computed. The results show that in summer, participating households could export up to 6.4 MW of power, which is 10% of installed large-scale photovoltaics (PV) capacity on the island. Average carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) reductions of 7.1 ktons/annum and a reduction in combined energy/transport fuel-bills of 60%/annum could be achieved by participating households.
Energy Management Systems for Microgrids: Main Existing Trends in Centralized Control Architectures
Authors: Espín-Sarzosa Danny , Palma-Behnke Rodrigo , Núñez-Mata Oscar
Published: January 2020

This paper presents both an extensive literature review and a qualitative and quantitative study conducted on nearly 200 publications from the last six years (based on international experience and a top-down analysis framework with five classification levels) to establish the main trends in the field of centralized energy management systems (EMS) for microgrids. No systematic trend analyses have been observed in this field in previous literature reviews. EMS attributes for several features such as objective functions, resolution techniques, operating models, integration of uncertainties, optimization horizons, and modeling detail levels are considered for main trend identification. The main contribution of this study is the identification of four specific existing research trends: (i) dealing with uncertainties (comprises 33% of the references), (ii) multi-objective strategy (29%), (iii) traditional paradigm (21%), and (iv) P-Q challenge (17%). Each trend is described and analyzed based on the main drive of these separate research fields. The key challenges and the way to cope with them are described based on the rationality of each trend, the results of previous reviews, and the previous experience of the authors. Overall, finding these main trends, together with a complete paper database and their features, serve as a useful outcome for a better understanding of the current research-specific challenges, opportunities, potential barriers, and open questions regarding the creation of future centralized EMS developments. The traditional numerical analysis is insufficient to identify research trends. Therefore, the need of further analyses based on the clustering approach is emphasized.
Bastardy in Butleigh: Illegitimacy, Genealogies and the Old Poor Law in Somerset, 1762–1834
Authors: French Henry
Published: January 2020

Early academic histories of non-marital motherhood often focused on the minority of mothers who had several illegitimate children. Peter Laslett coined the phrase ‘the bastardy prone sub-society’ to describe them. More recent qualitative research has questioned the gendered perspectives underlying this label, and emphasised the complex, highly personal processes behind illegitimacy. By locating the social experience of illegitimacy, particularly multiple illegitimacy, within a broader genealogical and parochial context, this study tries to set the behaviour of particular individuals within a ‘community’ context in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It places illegitimacy alongside pre-nuptial pregnancy within the sample parish, but also focuses on the majority of illegitimate births that fell under the administration of the parish and became ‘bastardy’ cases. It examines the parish’s administrative responses, particularly its vigour in identifying and recovering money from putative fathers, and discusses the social circumstances of these fathers and mothers. It then goes on to reconstruct the inter-generational genealogy of a dense family network that linked several mothers and fathers of multiple illegitimate children. It highlights some significant and recurrent disparities of age and status within these family concentrations which lay beyond the limits of the courtship-centred model of illegitimacy.
A Simple Semantic-Based Data Storage Layout for Querying Point Clouds
Authors: El-Mahgary Sami , Virtanen Juho-Pekka , Hyyppä Hannu
Published: January 2020

The importance of being able to separate the semantics from the actual (X,Y,Z) coordinates in a point cloud has been actively brought up in recent research. However, there is still no widely used or accepted data layout paradigm on how to efficiently store and manage such semantic point cloud data. In this paper, we present a simple data layout that makes use the semantics and that allows for quick queries. The underlying idea is especially suited for a programming approach (e.g., queries programmed via Python) but we also present an even simpler implementation of the underlying technique on a well known relational database management system (RDBMS), namely, PostgreSQL. The obtained query results suggest that the presented approach can be successfully used to handle point and range queries on large points clouds.
DUX4 Signalling in the Pathogenesis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Lim Kenji Rowel Q. , Nguyen Quynh , Yokota Toshifumi
Published: January 2020

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a disabling inherited muscular disorder characterized by asymmetric, progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Patients display widely variable disease onset and severity, and sometimes present with extra-muscular symptoms. There is a consensus that FSHD is caused by the aberrant production of the double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) transcription factor in skeletal muscle. DUX4 is normally expressed during early embryonic development, and is then effectively silenced in all tissues except the testis and thymus. Its reactivation in skeletal muscle disrupts numerous signalling pathways that mostly converge on cell death. Here, we review studies on DUX4-affected pathways in skeletal muscle and provide insights into how understanding these could help explain the unique pathogenesis of FSHD.
Advances in HDL: Much More than Lipid Transporters
Authors: Ben-Aicha Soumaya , Badimon Lina , Vilahur Gemma
Published: January 2020

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) particles, beyond serving as lipid transporters and playing a key role in reverse cholesterol transport, carry a highly variable number of proteins, micro-RNAs, vitamins, and hormones, which endow them with the ability to mediate a plethora of cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote cardiovascular health. It is becoming increasingly evident, however, that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidities alters HDLs cargo and protective functions. This concept has led to the notion that metrics other than HDL-cholesterol levels, such as HDL functionality and composition, may better capture HDL cardiovascular protection. On the other hand, the potential of HDL as natural delivery carriers has also fostered the design of engineered HDL-mimetics aiming to improve HDL efficacy or as drug-delivery agents with therapeutic potential. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the molecules known to be transported by HDL particles and mainly discuss their functions in the cardiovascular system. Second, we describe the impact of cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidities on HDL remodeling. Finally, we review the currently developed HDL-based approaches.
Assessment of High-Speed Rail Service Coverage in Municipalities of Peninsular Spain
Authors: Naranjo Gómez José Manuel , Castanho Rui Alexandre , Cabezas Fernández José , Loures Luís Carlos
Published: January 2020

The Spanish transportation and housing infrastructure plan has planned that in 2024 all provincial capitals in peninsular Spain are to be connected by high-speed rail lines. Nowadays, 35 stations are already operational. These stations and the roads to access them are very important, as these are the only access points for travelers to benefit from the high railway speed. The goal of this study is to evaluate the railway coverage of high-speed services in Spanish peninsular municipalities in 2018 and planned for 2024. A methodology and research tools related to accessibility from municipalities to stations have been used, based on Geographic information Systems. An interaction model was used based on the floating catchment area in three steps. The resulting thematic maps and the analysis of the number of municipalities and the resident population is based on the degree of coverage in 2018. Likewise, in 2024 almost all of the municipalities are planned to have high high-speed railway coverage, these being the most densely populated. The analysis allowed us to present a detailed view of the problem; a methodology and a specific application framework are offered to make the high-speed rail services in Spain more equitable.
Influence of Tidal Current, Wind, and Wave in Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Modeling
Authors: Lee Kwang-Ho , Kim Tag-Gyeom , Cho Yong-Hwan
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of three external forces (tidal current, wind, and waves) on the movement of oil spilled during the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident. The diffusion of the spilled oil was simulated by using a random walk (RW) model that tracks the movement caused by advection-diffusion assuming oil as particles. For oil simulation, the wind drift current generated by wind and tidal current fields were computed by using the environmental fluid dynamics code (EFDC) model. Next, the wave fields were simulated by using the simulating waves nearshore (SWAN) model, and the Stokes drift current fields were calculated by applying the equation proposed by Stokes. The computed tidal currents, wind drift currents, and Stokes drift currents were applied as input data to the RW model. Then, oil diffusion distribution for each external force component was investigated and compared with that obtained from satellite images. When the wind drift currents and Stokes drift currents caused by waves were considered, the diffusion distribution of the spilled oil showed good agreement with that obtained from the observation.
Socially-Tolerated Practices in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Reporting: Discourses, Displacement, and Impoverishment
Authors: Ijabadeniyi Abosede , Vanclay Frank
Published: January 2020

Normative guidelines for addressing project-induced displacement and resettlement have been successful in coercing companies and practitioners to comply with international standards and local requirements. However, good practice has not always been effectively implemented, leading to reduced social wellbeing of people in local communities. We assess how the reciprocal relationships between institutional norms and practitioners’ situated perspectives about company-community interactions can improve social management practice. Drawing on Hajer and Versteeg’s method of environmental discourse analysis, discussions and storylines about a mining project in Mpumalanga in South Africa were assessed against contextualised discursive conventions in the mining industry. It was found that practitioners learn to manipulate legislative requirements, which ultimately perpetuates the impoverishment of project affected communities. The question is not whether or not practitioners understand the requirements of environmental and social management, but the extent to which such understandings are manipulated for corporate gain as opposed to social good. We consider practitioner rationalities about the purpose and function of environmental and social management, and how it is implemented. We suggest that practitioners and companies should construct positive aspirational identity perspectives about social management that would transcend from their current limited view (that achieving minimum compliance is sufficient) to aspiring to achieve better social development outcomes for all, especially the most disadvantaged. This requires a genuine commitment to obtaining and maintaining a social licence to operate, perspective transformation, a commitment to inclusiveness, and increased capacity for critical reflection.
Added-Mass Based Efficient Fluid–Structure Interaction Model for Dynamics of Axially Moving Panels with Thermal Expansion
Authors: Banichuk Nikolay , Ivanova Svetlana , Makeev Evgeny , Jeronen Juha , Tuovinen Tero
Published: January 2020

The paper considers the analysis of a traveling panel, submerged in axially flowing fluid. In order to accurately model the dynamics and stability of a lightweight moving material, the interaction between the material and the surrounding air must be taken into account. The lightweight material leads to the inertial contribution of the surrounding air to the acceleration of the panel becoming significant. This formulation is novel and the case complements our previous studies on the field. The approach described in this paper allows for an efficient semi-analytical solution, where the reaction pressure of the fluid flow is analytically represented by an added-mass model in terms of the panel displacement. Then, the panel displacement, accounting also for the fluid–structure interaction, is analyzed with the help of the weak form of the governing partial differential equation, using a Galerkin method. In the first part of this paper, we represent the traveling panel by a single partial differential equation in weak form, using an added-mass approximation of the exact fluid reaction. In the second part, we apply a Galerkin method for dynamic stability analysis of the panel, and present an analytical investigation of static stability loss (divergence, buckling) based on the added-mass model.
Effects of Chitosan on Clostridium perfringens and Application in the Preservation of Pork Sausage
Authors: Chang Shun-Hsien , Chen Ching-Hung , Tsai Guo-Jane
Published: January 2020

The effects of chitosan with 95% deacetylation degree (DD95) on the spore germination, cell proliferation, and heat resistance of Clostridium perfringens CCRC 10,648 and CCRC 13,019 were investigated, and its application on pork sausage with sodium nitrite reduction was also evaluated. DD95 chitosan can strongly reduce the heat resistance of both strains. The D80 and D100 values for strain CCRC 13,019 decreased from 40.98 and 4.64 min to 39.21 and 3.26 min, respectively, as a result of adding 250 ppm DD95; meanwhile, addition of chitosan decreased the D80 and D100 values for CCRC 10,648 from 41.15 and 6.46 min to 39.52 and 3.78 min, respectively. In pork sausage, addition of 3000 ppm DD95 chitosan considerably slowed down the bacterial proliferation and volatile basic nitrogen production. There were no significant differences in color (L* and b* values), shearing force, and hardness in the pork sausages with or without DD95 chitosan during storage at 4 and 25 °C. However, the addition of DD95 chitosan in pork sausage significantly retarded the decrease of the a* value. Therefore, DD95 chitosan could reduce the concentration of sodium nitrite required in pork sausages for color retention.
Quantifying Mechanical Properties of Automotive Steels with Deep Learning Based Computer Vision Algorithms
Authors: Javaheri Ehsan , Kumala Verdiana , Javaheri Alireza , Rawassizadeh Reza , Lubritz Janot , Graf Benjamin , Rethmeier Michael
Published: January 2020

This paper demonstrates that the instrumented indentation test (IIT), together with a trained artificial neural network (ANN), has the capability to characterize the mechanical properties of the local parts of a welded steel structure such as a weld nugget or heat affected zone. Aside from force-indentation depth curves generated from the IIT, the profile of the indented surface deformed after the indentation test also has a strong correlation with the materials’ plastic behavior. The profile of the indented surface was used as the training dataset to design an ANN to determine the material parameters of the welded zones. The deformation of the indented surface in three dimensions shown in images were analyzed with the computer vision algorithms and the obtained data were employed to train the ANN for the characterization of the mechanical properties. Moreover, this method was applied to the images taken with a simple light microscope from the surface of a specimen. Therefore, it is possible to quantify the mechanical properties of the automotive steels with the four independent methods: (1) force-indentation depth curve; (2) profile of the indented surface; (3) analyzing of the 3D-measurement image; and (4) evaluation of the images taken by a simple light microscope. The results show that there is a very good agreement between the material parameters obtained from the trained ANN and the experimental uniaxial tensile test. The results present that the mechanical properties of an unknown steel can be determined by only analyzing the images taken from its surface after pushing a simple indenter into its surface.
Effect of High Ti Contents on Austenite Microstructural Evolution During Hot Deformation in Low Carbon Nb Microalloyed Steels
Authors: García-Sesma Leire , López Beatriz , Pereda Beatriz
Published: January 2020

This work has focused on the study of hot working behavior of Ti-Nb microalloyed steels with high Ti contents (> 0.05%). The role of Nb during the hot deformation of low carbon steels is well known: it mainly retards austenite recrystallization, leading to pancaked austenite microstructures before phase transformation and to refined room temperature microstructures. However, to design rolling schedules that result in properly conditioned austenite microstructures, it is necessary to develop models that take into account the effect of high Ti concentrations on the microstructural evolution of austenite. To that end, in this work torsion tests were performed to investigate the microstructural evolution during hot deformation of steels microalloyed with 0.03% Nb and different high Ti concentrations (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%). It was observed that the 0.1% and 0.15% Ti additions resulted in retarded softening kinetics at all the temperatures. This retardation can be mainly attributed to the solute drag effect exerted by Ti in solid solution. The precipitation state of the steels after reheating and after deformation was characterized and the applicability of existing microstructural evolution models was also evaluated. Determined recrystallization kinetics and recrystallized grain sizes reasonably agree with those predicted by equations previously developed for Nb-Ti microalloyed steels with lower Ti concentrations (<0.05%).
Overlapping Limitations for ps-Pulsed LIFT Printing of High Viscosity Metallic Pastes
Authors: Munoz-Martin David , Chen Yu , Morales Miguel , Molpeceres Carlos
Published: January 2020

Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technique has been used for printing a high viscosity (250 Pa·s) commercial silver paste with micron-size particles (1–4 µm). Volumetric pixels (voxels) transferred using single ps laser pulses are overlapped in order to obtain continuous metallic lines. However, interference problems between successive voxels is a major issue that must be solved before obtaining lines with good morphologies. The effects of the laser pulse energy, thickness of the donor paste film, and distance between successive voxels on the morphology of single voxels and lines are discussed. Due to the high viscosity of the paste, the void in the donor film after a printing event remains, and it negatively affects the physical transfer mechanism of the next laser pulses. When two laser pulses are fired at a short distance, there is no transfer at all. Only when the pulses are separated by a distance long enough to avoid interference but short enough to allow overlapping (≈100 µm), is it possible to print continuous lines in a single step. Finally, the knowledge obtained has allowed the printing of silver lines at high speeds (up to 60 m/s).
A Fast Identification Method of Yield Strength of Materials Based on Bending Experimental Data
Authors: Duan Yongchuan , Tian Le , Zhang Fangfang , Qiao Haidi , Li Muyu , Yang Liu , Guan Yingping
Published: January 2020

Identifying the yield strength of materials quickly and accurately is the key to realizing defect prediction and digital process control on the production line. This paper focuses on identifying the material yield strength based on bending deformation, analyzing the influence of different die fillets, punch fillets, and die spans on the curve shapes, determining the reasonable dimensions of the device, and developing them. Two methods for rapidly extracting the yield load are proposed—the window vector method (WV) and the fitting residual method (FR)—and compared with the double secant line method (CWA) and the one tenth thickness method (t/10). Because there is no direct correspondence between the yield load and the material performance parameters, the relevant equations were fitted using the experimental data. The linear correlation between load and yield strength determined by these four methods was close to 0.99. Finally, four kinds of sheets with high, medium and low yield strength were tested and compared with the observed results. The result shows that when the yield strength is small, the average error and the relevant model dispersion will increase. As the yield strength increases, the biases increase gradually. The prediction errors based on the t/10, WV, and FR methods were all below 4%.
Wire Electrochemical Micromachining of Aluminum Rings for the Fabrication of Short-Millimeter Corrugated Horns
Authors: Fang Xiaolong , Wang Xiangyang , Zhu Jiacheng , Zeng Yongbin , Qu Ningsong
Published: January 2020

With the increase of working frequency, the feature size of a corrugated horn will be greatly reduced, causing challenges for fabrication. This paper investigated wire electrochemical micromachining (WECMM) of aluminum rings for assembly of a mandrel for electroforming, which has been a primary method for producing corrugated horns. By utilizing a rotary helical electrode and green additives, the removal efficiency of electrolytic products in WECMM was improved. It was found that the machined slits had good unilateral consistency on the left side of the electrode feeding direction when the electrode rotated clockwise. Complexing agent glutamic diacetic acid (GLDA) can compete with OH− for Al3+ and has an obvious effect in reducing insoluble electrolytic products. From experimental investigations on typical parameters, an optimal parameter combination considering slit homogeneity and machining efficiency was obtained. In an electrolyte solution containing 15 g/L sodium nitrate solution and 15 g/L GLDA, 100 μm-thick aluminum rings with good edge and surface qualities were fabricated at a rate of 1.2 μm/s using a helical electrode with a diameter of 0.3 mm. Finally, these aluminum rings were successfully applied to make an internal corrugated sample with a rib width of 100 μm and a groove depth of 500 μm.
Distribution of Phototrophic Purple Nonsulfur Bacteria in Massive Blooms in Coastal and Wastewater Ditch Environments
Authors: Hiraishi Akira , Nagao Nobuyoshi , Yonekawa Chinatsu , Umekage So , Kikuchi Yo , Eki Toshihiko , Hirose Yuu
Published: January 2020

The biodiversity of phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) in comparison with purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) in colored blooms and microbial mats that developed in coastal mudflats and pools and wastewater ditches was investigated. For this, a combination of photopigment and quinone profiling, pufM gene-targeted quantitative PCR, and pufM gene clone library analysis was used in addition to conventional microscopic and cultivation methods. Red and pink blooms in the coastal environments contained PSB as the major populations, and smaller but significant densities of PNSB, with members of Rhodovulum predominating. On the other hand, red-pink blooms and mats in the wastewater ditches exclusively yielded PNSB, with Rhodobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, and/or Pararhodospirillum as the major constituents. The important environmental factors affecting PNSB populations were organic matter and sulfide concentrations and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP). Namely, light-exposed, sulfide-deficient water bodies with high-strength organic matter and in a limited range of ORP provide favorable conditions for the massive growth of PNSB over co-existing PSB. We also report high-quality genome sequences of Rhodovulum sp. strain MB263, previously isolated from a pink mudflat, and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum DSM 1374T, which would enhance our understanding of how PNSB respond to various environmental factors in the natural ecosystem.
SYN-007, an Orally Administered Beta-Lactamase Enzyme, Protects the Gut Microbiome from Oral Amoxicillin/Clavulanate without Adversely Affecting Antibiotic Systemic Absorption in Dogs
Authors: Connelly Sheila , Fanelli Brian , Hasan Nur A. , Colwell Rita R. , Kaleko Michael
Published: January 2020

Beta-lactamases, enzymes produced by bacteria to degrade beta-lactam antibiotics, have been harnessed as therapeutics to protect the gut microbiome from damage caused by antibiotics. Proof-of-concept of this approach using SYN-004 (ribaxamase), a beta-lactamase formulated for oral delivery with intravenous (IV) penicillins and cephalosporins, was demonstrated with animal models and in humans. Ribaxamase degraded ceftriaxone in the gastrointestinal tract, protected the gut microbiome, significantly reduced the incidence of Clostridioides difficile disease and attenuated emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms. SYN-007 is a delayed release formulation of ribaxamase intended for use with oral beta-lactams. In dogs treated with oral amoxicillin, SYN-007 diminished antibiotic-mediated microbiome disruption and reduced the emergence of antibiotic resistance without altering amoxicillin systemic absorption. Here, SYN-007 function in the presence of clavulanate, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, was investigated. Dogs received amoxicillin (40 mg/kg, orally (PO), three times a day (TID)) or the combined antibiotic/beta-lactamase inhibitor, amoxicillin/clavulanate (40 mg/kg amoxicillin, 5.7 mg/kg clavulanate, PO, TID) +/™ SYN-007 (10 mg, PO, TID) for five days. Serum amoxicillin levels were not significantly different +/™ SYN-007 compared to amoxicillin alone or amoxicillin/clavulanate alone as controls for both first and last doses, indicating SYN-007 did not interfere with systemic absorption of the antibiotic. Whole genome shotgun metagenomics analyses of the fecal microbiomes demonstrated both amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate significantly reduced diversity and increased the frequency of antibiotic resistance genes. Microbiome damage appeared more severe with amoxicillin/clavulanate. In contrast, with SYN-007, microbiome diversity was not significantly altered, and frequency of antibiotic resistance genes did not increase. Importantly, SYN-007 functioned in the presence of clavulanate to protect the gut microbiome indicating that SYN-007 activity was not inhibited by clavulanate in the dog gastrointestinal tract. SYN-007 has the potential to expand microbiome protection to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations delivered orally or systemically.
An Experimental Investigation of Interaction between Andesite and Hyperacidic Volcanic Lake Water
Authors: van Hinsberg Vincent , Berlo Kim , Lowenstern Jacob
Published: January 2020

Alteration in magmatic-hydrothermal systems leads to distinct changes in rock texture and mineralogy, and a strong redistribution of elements between fluid and rock. Here, we experimentally interacted andesite scoria with hyperacidic, high-sulfidation style fluids from Kawah Ijen volcano (Indonesia) at 25 and 100 °C, seeking to reproduce the textures observed in natural samples from this volcano, and to understand the element fluxes that accompany alteration. The susceptibility to alteration in the experiments is Cu–Fe-sulphide > calcic plagioclase > pyroxene > titano-magnetite > sodic plagioclase, with complete preservation of glass. Silicate minerals alter to opaline silica, and gypsum, barite and a Zr-phase precipitate. The selective alteration of the phenocryst minerals results in a preferential release of compatible elements, as the glass is the main incompatible element host. The experiments reproduce the alteration textures of the natural samples, including the preservation of glass, but the predicted compatible over incompatible element enrichment in the alteration element flux is not observed in the natural setting. This suggests that alteration at Kawah Ijen is dominated by lithologies that lack abundant glass, in particular lava flows where the glass has devitrified, despite these lava flows having a lower surface area compared to scoria.