bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of experimental results for graphene oxide‐epoxy polymer nanocomposite through computational analysis
Authors: Pathak Abhishek K. , Dhakate Sanjay R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe change in interfacial interaction behavior of epoxy resin nanocomposites with the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) was explored experimentally and computationally. GO with different weight (wt) loading was incorporated in epoxy resin by a three‐way dispersion method. GO formed mechanical interlocking with epoxy resin, thereby resulting in a remarkable enhancement in mechanical and thermo‐mechanical properties of GO‐epoxy nanocomposite. In 0.3 wt% GO‐epoxy nanocomposites, improvement of 26.7% in flexural strength and 39.2% in flexural modulus was reported. Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), glass transition temperature (Tg) of 182.7°C and maximum thermal stability was reported for 0.3% GO‐epoxy nanocomposite. The effect of GO on cross‐linking in GO‐epoxy nanocomposite was analyzed by DSC and Raman spectroscopy. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study was utilized to determine the interfacial interaction, and further was verified by density functional theory (DFT). By experimental and computational study, H‐bonding was observed to improve interfacial interaction in GO‐epoxy nanocomposite.
A modified human reliability analysis method for the estimation of human error probability in the offloading operations at oil terminals
Authors: Zhang Renyou , Tan Henry , Afzal Waheed 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHuman error is a significant factor contributing to accidents during oil offloading at oil terminals. Fuzzy cognitive reliability and error analysis method (CREAM) is one of the applicable methods to estimate human error probability (HEP). However, the currently used fuzzy CREAM models have issues which weaken the quality of HEP results. Both the max‐min fuzzy CREAM and the weighted fuzzy CREAM neglect the compatibility degree of each activated fuzzy if‐then rule; besides, the max‐min fuzzy CREAM focuses only on the maximum and minimum input data and ignores their weights. Therefore, this paper presents a modified fuzzy CREAM to address all these issues to strengthen the quality of HEP estimation. The proposed approach employs fuzzy degree of each common performance condition (CPC), the weight of each CPC, and the compatibility degree of each activated fuzzy if‐then rule together to calculate HEP. The proposed approach is applied for HEP estimation in an oil offloading operation at the selected oil terminal. The final HEP value is estimated at 8.929 × 10−3. It is concluded that the proposed fuzzy CREAM model can provide more reliable results.
State feedback control for stochastic regular linear quadratic tracking problem with input time delay
Authors: Jin Nana , Liu Shuai 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this article, a linear quadratic tracking controller is designed for continuous‐time delay systems involving multiplicative noises. This problem is challenging since the separation principle is ineffective for Itô stochastic systems and it is not assumed that the control weighting matrix in the cost function is positive definite. In this work, both finite time horizon and infinite time horizon cases are considered. The optimal controller is designed such that quadratic cost function in terms of the tracking error of the states and the control input is minimized. It is noted that comparing with regular problem, that is, the weighting matrix of control input in cost function is positive semidefinite, there exists an extra term in the optimal controller which can be free to choose. The explicit analytical expressions for the optimal controller are provided through solving a couple of Riccati‐like equations. For the infinite horizon case, the stabilization problem for an Itô stochastic system containing the input time delay is also studied. The effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results is illustrated by a numerical example.
Nephroblastoma in a Sprague Dawley rat unrelated to titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposure in utero
Authors: Glaspell Samantha J. , Knapek Katie J. , Washington Ida M. , Fitzgerald Scott D. , Fortin Jessica S. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractNephroblastoma is an embryonal tumour that has rarely been reported in laboratory rats. In this case report, a large nephroblastoma with peritoneal seeding was found during necropsy in an 11‐month‐old, female, Sprague Dawley rat. The rat had a history of indirect exposure to nano‐TiO2 (titanium dioxide nanoparticles) during maternal gestation. A firm mass in the upper right abdominal quadrant was palpated. Four weeks later, the animal quickly declined. Nephroblastoma was confirmed by histopathology. Only one rat developed nephroblastoma among the ten littermates. Nephroblastomas in Sprague Dawley rats are typically spontaneous tumours with non‐malignant mesenchymal elements. The capability to induce a nephroblastoma with nano‐TiO2 is less likely in this case.
Farmers’ Adoption of Climate Smart Practices for Increased Productivity in Nigeria
Authors: Fawole B. E. , Aderinoye-Abdulwahab S. A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn a bid to reinforce the efforts of agricultural professionals within the domain of climate change studies and with particular emphasis on rural farmers in Nigeria, this article explores the mechanics for adoption of climate smart agricultural practices among rural farmers for an increased agricultural productivity. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is paramount to the success of farming activities today in the face of the menace of the impact of climate change. Climate Smart Agricultural Practice (CSAP) is one of the major keys that agricultural development approaches aimed at; to sustainably increase productivity and resilience, while also reducing the effects; as well as removing emissions of greenhouse gases. It is pertinent to note that most of the CSAPs adopted by the rural farmers in this study are conservation agriculture, use of organic manure, crop diversification, use of wetland (Fadama), planting of drought tolerant crops, relocation from climate risk zones, prayers for God’s intervention, and improvement on farmers’ management skills. This study divulged and showcased the import of CSAP in boosting agricultural yield and also highlights the bottlenecks inhibiting agricultural farming practices such as lack of practical understanding of the approach, inadequate data and information, lack of suitable tools at local and national levels, supportive and enabling policy frameworks, and socioeconomic constraints at the farm level. The study concluded by recommending an aggressive awareness and mobilization campaign to boost the adoption of CSAPs in Nigeria.
Terahertz rectangular waveguides with inserted graphene films biased by light and their quasi-linear electromagnetic modeling
Authors: Kouzaev Guennadi A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractNovel rectangular waveguides with graphene inserts biased by light are proposed herein. The graphene films short the conductor plates of waveguides and support the localized transverse-electric modes. Their electric fields are parallel to the wide walls of these waveguides, and the eigenmodes have decreased conductor loss. The designs do not involve the conductor and graphene strips with their sharp edges, and the loss associated with the current crowding effect is excluded. The waveguides are treated in the quasi-linear regime using a rigorous field matching method, and the complex dispersion eigenmodal equation is solved using a validated iteration algorithm. At the terahertz frequencies of amplification, where the real part of graphene conductivity is negative, a gain increase is found with the eigenmodal number. This gain can be tuned by the waveguide geometry, dielectric filling, and the level of quasi-Fermi energy. The ideal waveguide theory is corrected using a perturbation approach and the Drude model of surface resistance of waveguide plates.
Evaluating Rank-Coherence of Crowd Rating in Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Tomaselli Venera , Cantone Giulio Giacomo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCrowd rating is a continuous and public process of data gathering that allows the display of general quantitative opinions on a topic from online anonymous networks as they are crowds. Online platforms leveraged these technologies to improve predictive tasks in marketing. However, we argue for a different employment of crowd rating as a tool of public utility to support social contexts suffering to adverse selection, like tourism. This aim needs to deal with issues in both method of measurement and analysis of data, and with common biases associated to public disclosure of rating information. We propose an evaluative method to investigate fairness of common measures of rating procedures with the peculiar perspective of assessing linearity of the ranked outcomes. This is tested on a longitudinal observational case of 7 years of customer satisfaction ratings, for a total amount of 26.888 reviews. According to the results obtained from the sampled dataset, analysed with the proposed evaluative method, there is a trade-off between loss of (potentially) biased information on ratings and fairness of the resulting rankings. However, computing an ad hoc unbiased ranking case, the ranking outcome through the time-weighted measure is not significantly different from the ad hoc unbiased case.
Possessing reasons: why the awareness-first approach is better than the knowledge-first approach
Authors: Silva Paul 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn order for a reason to justify an action or attitude it must be one that is possessed by an agent. Knowledge-centric views of possession ground our possession of reasons, at least partially, either in our knowledge of them or in our being in a position to know them. On virtually all accounts, knowing P is some kind of non-accidental true belief that P. This entails that knowing P is a kind of non-accidental true representation that P. I outline a novel theory of the epistemic requirement on possession in terms of this more general state of non-accidental true representation. It is just as well placed to explain the motivations behind knowledge-centric views of possession, and it is also better placed to explain the extent of the reasons we possess in certain cases of deductive belief-updates and cases involving environmental luck. I conclude with three reflections. First, I indicate how my arguments generate a dilemma for Errol Lord’s (2018a) view that possessing reasons is just a matter of being in a position to manifest one’s knowledge how to use them. Second, I explain how my view can simultaneously manage cases of environmental luck without falling prey to lottery cases. Finally, I sketch the direction for a further range of counterexamples to knowledge-centric theories of possession.
250-year records of mercury and trace element deposition in two lakes from Cajas National Park, SW Ecuadorian Andes
Authors: Schneider Tobias , Musa Bandowe Benjamin A. , Bigalke Moritz , Mestrot Adrien , Hampel Henrietta , Mosquera Pablo V. , Fränkl Lea , Wienhues Giulia , Vogel Hendrik , Tylmann Wojciech , Grosjean Martin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHistorical records of trace elements in lake sediments provide source-to-sink information about potentially toxic pollutants across space and time. We investigated two lakes located at different elevations in the Ecuadorian Andes to understand how trace element fluxes are related to (i) geology, (ii) erosion in the watersheds, and (iii) local point sources and atmospheric loads. In remote Lake Fondococha (4150 m a.s.l.), total Hg fluxes stay constant between ca. 1760 and 1950 and show an approximately 4.4-fold increase between pre-1950 and post-1950 values. The post-1950 increase in fluxes of other trace elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) is lower (2.1–3.0-fold) than for Hg. Mostly lithogenic sources and enhanced soil erosion contribute to their post-1950 increase (lithogenic contribution: > 85%, Hg: ~ 58%). Average post-1950 Hg fluxes are approximately 4.3 times higher in peri-urban Lake Llaviucu (3150 m a.s.l.) than in the remote Lake Fondococha. Post-1950 fluxes of the other trace elements showed larger differences between Lakes Fondococha and Llaviucu (5.2 < 25–29.5-fold increase; Ni < Pb–Cd). The comparison of the post-1950 average trace element fluxes that are derived from point and airborne sources revealed 5–687 (Hg–Pb) times higher values in Lake Llaviucu than in Lake Fondococha suggesting that Lake Llaviucu’s proximity to the city of Cuenca strongly influences its deposition record (industrial emissions, traffic, caged fishery). Both lakes responded with temporary drops in trace element accumulations to park regulations in the 1970s and 1990s, but show again increasing trends in recent times, most likely caused by increase in vehicular traffic and openings of copper and gold mines around Cajas National Park.
On Holomorphic Curves Tangent to Real Hypersurfaces of Infinite Type
Authors: Kamimoto Joe 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the geometric properties of real hypersurfaces of D’Angelo infinite type in $${{\mathbb {C}}}^n$$

C

n

. In order to understand the situation of flatness of these hypersurfaces, it is natural to ask whether there exists a nonconstant holomorphic curve tangent to a given hypersurface to infinite order. A sufficient condition for this existence is given by using Newton polyhedra, which is an important concept in singularity theory. More precisely, equivalence conditions are given in the case of some model hypersurfaces.
Experimental Acceptance Procedure for Using Cullet in the Gas Collection Layer of MSW Landfill
Authors: Cortellazzo Giampaolo , Bellò Eugenio , Busana Stefano , Favaretti Marco 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe multilayer system of a non-hazardous solid wastes landfill cover, required by most international regulations, includes a granular layer of adequate permeability and thickness for the collection and drainage of biogas. The choice of the most suitable material generally falls on granular soils, containing very low percentages of fines. The paper presents the possibility of replacing natural soils with cullet, obtained by the glass shredding, and widely available on the market. Its hydraulic conductivity with regard to biogas and its granulometric compatibility with the adjacent layers may be initially assessed by means of the usual filter design criteria. Then, its crushing strength, under static and cyclical loads, must be evaluated, since the capping systems are crossed by heavy earthmoving trucks, and consequently, there is the possibility of a change of the cullet granulometric distribution. As cullet is not a conventional material, the usual geotechnical laboratory tests cannot be directly applied to it. The paper suggests an innovative laboratory procedure, defined as a static and cyclical punching test, which allows to evaluate the crushing resistance of cullet by using the traditional apparatus for soil compaction.
Real-time monitoring as a supplementary security component of vigilantism in modern network environments
Authors: Kebande Victor R. , Karie Nickson M. , Ikuesan Richard A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe phenomenon of network vigilantism is autonomously attributed to how anomalies and obscure activities from adversaries can be tracked in real-time. Needless to say, in today’s dynamic, virtualized, and complex network environments, it has become undeniably necessary for network administrators, analysts as well as engineers to practice network vigilantism, on traffic as well as other network events in real-time. The reason is to understand the exact security posture of an organization’s network environment at any given time. This is driven by the fact that modern network environments do, not only present new opportunities to organizations but also a different set of new and complex cybersecurity challenges that need to be resolved daily. The growing size, scope, complexity, and volume of networked devices in our modern network environments also makes it hard even for the most experienced network administrators to independently provide the breadth and depth of knowledge needed to oversee or diagnose complex network problems. Besides, with the growing number of Cyber Security Threats (CSTs) in the world today, many organisations have been forced to change the way they plan, develop and implement cybersecurity strategies as a way to reinforce their ability to respond to cybersecurity incidents. This paper, therefore, examines the relevance of Real-Time Monitoring (RTM) as a supplementary security component of vigilantism in modern network environments, more especially for proper planning, preparedness, and mitigation in case of a cybersecurity incident. Additionally, this paper also investigates some of the key issues and challenges surrounding the implementation of RTM for security vigilantism in our modern network environments.
Survival following relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes in the contemporary era
Authors: Hong Sanghee , Rybicki Lisa , Corrigan Donna , Hamilton Betty K. , Sobecks Ronald , Kalaycio Matt , Gerds Aaron T. , Dean Rob M. , Hill Brian T. , Pohlman Brad , Jagadeesh Deepa , Anwer Faiz , Majhail Navneet S. 
Published: December 2020

Objective/Background:
Relapse is the most common cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). No standard of care exists, and a wide range of treatments are used for post-alloHCT relapse. In the recent era, several novel therapies including targeted agents are available for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Methods:
We reviewed outcomes after alloHCT relapse, with or without use of these newer agents for ALL, AML, and MDS. In total, 115 adults with relapsed or refractory ALL (n = 17), AML (n = 67), and MDS (n = 31) at median 5 (range, 1–64) months after their first alloHCT in 2010–2018 were included.

Results:
Median follow-up was 19 (range, 6–80) months after relapse from alloHCT. Targeted agents were given to 29 (25%) patients. In multivariable analysis, use of targeted agent at any time point after relapse was not associated with survival. Matched unrelated (vs. matched sibling; hazard ratio [HR] 1.70; p = .027) or haploidentical donor grafts (vs. matched sibling; HR 2.69; p = .003), presence of grade II–IV acute graft-versus-host disease before relapse (HR 2.46; p < .001), and less than 12 months from HCT to relapse (<6 vs. > 12 months; HR 6.34; p < .001; 6–12 vs. > 12 months; HR 3.16; p = .005) were adverse prognostic factors for post-relapse survival.

Conclusion:
Outcomes after alloHCT relapse remain poor regardless of the novel agent use. Innovative treatment strategies are needed to improve outcomes after relapse post-alloHCT.
Process‐Based Climate Model Development Harnessing Machine Learning: II. Model Calibration From Single Column to Global
Authors: Hourdin Frédéric , Williamson Daniel , Rio Catherine , Couvreux Fleur , Roehrig Romain , Villefranque Najda , Musat Ionela , Fairhead Laurent , Diallo F. Binta , Volodina Victoria 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe demonstrate a new approach for climate model tuning in a realistic situation. Our approach, the mathematical foundations and technical details of which are given in Part I, systematically uses a single‐column configuration of a global atmospheric model on test cases for which reference large‐eddy‐simulations are available. The space of free parameters is sampled running the single‐column model from which metrics are estimated in the full parameter space using emulators. The parameter space is then reduced by retaining only the values for which the emulated metrics match large eddy simulations within a given tolerance to error. The approach is applied to the 6A version of the LMDZ model which results from a long investment in the development of physics parameterizations and by‐hand tuning. The boundary layer is revisited by increasing the vertical resolution and varying parameters that were kept fixed so far, which improves the representation of clouds at process scale. The approach allows us to automatically reach a tuning of this modified configuration as good as that of the 6A version. We show how this approach helps accelerate the introduction of new parameterizations. It allows us to maintain the physical foundations of the model and to ensure that the improvement of global metrics is obtained for a reasonable behavior at process level, reducing the risk of error compensations that may arise from over‐fitting some climate metrics. That is, we get things right for the right reasons.
Floodplains in the Anthropocene: A Global Analysis of the Interplay Between Human Population, Built Environment, and Flood Severity
Authors: Mazzoleni M. , Mård J. , Rusca M. , Odongo V. , Lindersson S. , Di Baldassarre G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study presents a global explanatory analysis of the interplay between the severity of flood losses and human presence in floodplain areas. In particular, we relate economic losses and fatalities caused by floods during 1990–2000, with changes in human population and built‐up areas in floodplains during 2000–2015 by exploiting global archives. We found that population and built‐up areas in floodplains increased in the period 2000–2015 for the majority of the analyzed countries, albeit frequent flood losses in the previous period 1990–2000. In some countries, however, population in floodplains decreased in the period 2000–2015, following more severe floods losses that occurred in the period 1975–2000. Our analysis shows that (i) in low‐income countries, population in floodplains increased after a period of high flood fatalities; while (ii) in upper‐middle and high‐income countries, built‐up areas increased after a period of frequent economic losses. In this study, we also provide a general framework to advance knowledge of human‐flood interactions and support the development of sustainable policies and measures for flood risk management and disaster risk reduction.