bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical properties and water absorption of kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites
Authors: Feng Ng Lin , Malingam Sivakumar Dhar , Ping Chen Wei , Razali Nadlene 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHybrid composites have shown innumerable benefits to the research communities in terms of environmental friendliness and mechanical properties. This research study presents the mechanical characterization and moisture uptake of kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites with several relative fiber ratios. A comparison was also made between nonhybrid and hybrid kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced composites to investigate the hybridization effect. In this work, the composite materials were fabricated via the hot compression technique. Mechanical tests were performed to obtain the tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact properties of nonhybrid and hybrid kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐based composites. The water absorption characteristics were then obtained by immersing the composite materials in the water until the saturation point was reached. The findings concluded that the mechanical properties and moisture uptake behaviors of the composites were improved through the hybridization. The hybrid composites with a relative fiber ratio of 25:75 were particularly promising with the improvement of 10.90% in tensile strength; 16.13% in flexural strength; and 6.80% in impact strength in both flatwise and edgewise orientations compared to nonhybrid kenaf‐based composites. Meanwhile, the diffusion coefficient of hybrid composites (25:75) was 56.12% lower than nonhybrid pineapple leaf fiber‐based composites. Thus, the results indeed demonstrated that the balance between mechanical properties and moisture sensitivity can be obtained through the hybridization of kenaf and pineapple leaf fiber in the composite materials.
Remaining useful life prediction of crude oil pipeline by means of deterioration curves
Authors: Shaik Nagoor Basha , Pedapati Srinivasa Rao , Abd Dzubir Faizul Azly 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPipelines sometimes generate different kinds of environmental damages which are irreparable and hazardous due to various reasons such as natural hazards, external loads, and corrosion. Many soft computational methods have been introduced to assess the failure rates of pipelines since decades. However, the majority of studies were limited to specific conditions. The aim of this paper is to predict the remaining useful life of the crude oil pipeline by generating the deteriorating curves. The historical inspection data have been used to calculate the metal loss (ML) growth rates. ML anomalies were found to be a major effect on the deterioration rate of a crude oil pipeline. Deterioration curves were developed using ML growth rates on a timely basis. The results may help pipeline technicians in decision making for overhaul planning and to take essential arrangements or to repair when needed, so that produce losses of oil and gas industries can be reduced and hence the lifespan of a pipeline can be increased.
Assessing the impact of observations in a multi‐year reanalysis
Authors: Diniz Fábio L. R. , Todling Ricardo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractOperational and quasi‐operational weather prediction centres have been routinely assessing the contribution from various observing systems to reducing errors in short‐range forecasts for a number of years now. The original technique, Forecast Sensitivity‐based Observation Impact (FSOI), involves definition of a forecast error measure and evaluation of sensitivities with respect to changes in the observations that require adjoint operators of both the underlying tangent linear model and corresponding analysis technique. The present work applies FSOI to reanalysis and aims at providing an expanded view of the contribution of various observing systems over nearly 40 years of assimilation. Specifically, this study uses MERRA‐2, given that its supporting software includes all ingredients necessary to calculate FSOI. Part of this work shows how the quality of forecasts improves over the course of the reanalysis, and examines forecast sensitivities relevant to FSOI. The assessment here finds that, for example, conventional observations are a major player in reducing forecast error throughout the 40 years of reanalysis, even when their volume reduces from 45% in the earlier periods to about 5% in the modern era; satellite radiances, especially microwave instruments are major contributors to error reduction from the early single platform TIROS‐N days to the current multi‐platform scenario, though their fractional contribution reduces slightly from the early 2000's onward after the increased availability of wind observation from aircraft and atmospheric motion vectors, and the introduction of GPSRO; infrared instruments play a secondary role to microwave but are significant still, with the peculiar result of fractional impacts contribution from modern hyperspectral instruments being roughly similar to those from early infrared instruments. The dependence of results on the chosen error measure is emphasized throughout.
Theoretical studies on the BC2N monolayers with promising photoelectronic characteristics and remarkable environmental stabilities
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Huang Xinyue , Xu Xin , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Haijun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this study, density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the geometric structures, thermodynamic and mechanical stabilities, electronic, and optical properties of two BC2N monolayers with honeycomb structure. The computational results demonstrate that the BC2N monolayers have not only visible‐light absorption, but also high reducing capacity of photo‐induced electrons and excellent carrier mobility. Also, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with considering the O2 and H2O molecule were carried out, which suggest that the crystal structures of both BC2N monolayers can be well maintained in the moisture‐laden air filled with O2 molecules at 800 K. Accordingly, these BC2N monolayers with promising photoelectronic characteristics and environmental stability could be utilized as metal‐free visible‐light‐driven photocatalysts in high‐temperature environment with moisture and oxygen, which is worthy of being further investigated in experimental and theoretical studies.
Ti‐Based Oxide Anode Materials for Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage: Lithium/Sodium Ion Batteries and Hybrid Pseudocapacitors
Authors: Lou Shuaifeng , Zhao Yang , Wang Jiajun , Yin Geping , Du Chunyu , Sun Xueliang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTitanium‐based oxides including TiO2 and M‐Ti‐O compounds (M = Li, Nb, Na, etc.) family, exhibit advantageous structural dynamics (2D ion diffusion path, open and stable structure for ion accommodations) for practical applications in energy storage systems, such as lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, and hybrid pseudocapacitors. Further, Ti‐based oxides show high operating voltage relative to the deposition of alkali metal, ensuring full safety by avoiding the formation of lithium and sodium dendrites. On the other hand, high working potential prevents the decomposition of electrolyte, delivering excellent rate capability through the unique pseudocapacitive kinetics. Nevertheless, the intrinsic poor electrical conductivity and reaction dynamics limit further applications in energy storage devices. Recently, various work and in‐depth understanding on the morphologies control, surface engineering, bulk‐phase doping of Ti‐based oxides, have been promoted to overcome these issues. Inspired by that, in this review, the authors summarize the fundamental issues, challenges and advances of Ti‐based oxides in the applications of advanced electrochemical energy storage. Particularly, the authors focus on the progresses on the working mechanism and device applications from lithium‐ion batteries to sodium‐ion batteries, and then the hybrid pseudocapacitors. In addition, future perspectives for fundamental research and practical applications are discussed.
A deep recurrent Q network towards self‐adapting distributed microservice architecture
Authors: Magableh Basel , Almiani Muder 
Published: November 2019

SummaryOne desired aspect of microservice architecture is the ability to self‐adapt its own architecture and behavior in response to changes in the operational environment. To achieve the desired high levels of self‐adaptability, this research implements distributed microservice architecture model running a swarm cluster, as informed by the Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute over a shared Knowledge (MAPE‐K) model. The proposed architecture employs multiadaptation agents supported by a centralized controller, which can observe the environment and execute a suitable adaptation action. The adaptation planning is managed by a deep recurrent Q‐learning network (DRQN). It is argued that such integration between DRQN and Markov decision process (MDP) agents in a MAPE‐K model offers distributed microservice architecture with self‐adaptability and high levels of availability and scalability. Integrating DRQN into the adaptation process improves the effectiveness of the adaptation and reduces any adaptation risks, including resource overprovisioning and thrashing. The performance of DRQN is evaluated against deep Q‐learning and policy gradient algorithms, including (1) a deep Q‐learning network (DQN), (2) a dueling DQN (DDQN), (3) a policy gradient neural network, and (4) deep deterministic policy gradient. The DRQN implementation in this paper manages to outperform the aforementioned algorithms in terms of total reward, less adaptation time, lower error rates, plus faster convergence and training time. We strongly believe that DRQN is more suitable for driving the adaptation in distributed services‐oriented architecture and offers better performance than other dynamic decision‐making algorithms.
Recent trends in applying TPM to cloud computing
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Shohreh , Sequeiros Bernardo , Inácio Pedro R. M. , Leppänen Ville 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTrusted platform modules (TPM) have become important safe‐guards against variety of software‐based attacks. By providing a limited set of cryptographic services through a well‐defined interface, separated from the software itself, TPM can serve as a root of trust and as a building block for higher‐level security measures. This article surveys the literature for applications of TPM in the cloud‐computing environment, with publication dates comprised between 2013 and 2018. It identifies the current trends and objectives of this technology in the cloud, and the type of threats that it mitigates. Toward the end, the main research gaps are pinpointed and discussed. Since integrity measurement is one of the main usages of TPM, special attention is paid to the assessment of run time phases and software layers it is applied to.
Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 4 regulates osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of progenitor cells via inactivation of RhoA/ROCK1/β-catenin signaling
Authors: Xie Yan , Wang Xiaochen , Wu Xiaowen , Tian Lijie , Zhou Jie , Li Xiaoxia , Wang Baoli 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRecent evidence revealed that lysophosphatidic acid receptor 4 (LPAR4) plays a role in osteogenesis and bone remodeling in mice. However, the molecular mechanism by which LPAR4 controls osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells remains pending. In the current study, our data showed that Lpar4 was expressed in bone and adipose tissue and the expression increased during osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. Lpar4 overexpression in stromal ST2 and preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells inhibited osteogenic differentiation. By contrast, Lpar4 overexpression in ST2 and mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells enhanced adipogenic differentiation. Conversely, depletion of endogenous Lpar4 in the progenitor cells induced osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation. Furthermore, enhanced osteoblast differentiation and alleviated fat accumulation were observed in marrow of mice after in vivo transfection of Lpar4 siRNA. Mechanism investigations revealed that LPAR4 inhibited the activation of ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated kinases 1 (ROCK1) and canonical Wnt signal pathways. ROCK1 was shown to be able to activate Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We further demonstrated that the overexpression of ROCK1 stimulated osteogenic differentiation and restrained adipogenic differentiation from stromal progenitor cells. Moreover, overexpression of ROCK1 attenuated the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation by LPAR4. The current study has provided evidences demonstrating that RhoA/ROCK1 activates β-catenin signaling to promote osteogenic differentiation and conversely restrain adipogenic differentiation. The inactivation of RhoA/ROCK1/β-catenin signaling is involved in LPAR4 regulation of the directional differentiation of marrow stromal progenitor cells.
Linc1557 is critical for the initiation of embryonic stem cell differentiation by directly targeting the LIF/STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: Lan Yuanyuan , Lu Chenqi , Yang Yiwei , Liu Xiaoqin , Guo Xudong , Xi Jiajie , Kang Jiuhong , Wang Guiying 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation potential and perform critical functions in development and biomedicine. Several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported as key regulators of stem cell pluripotency and differentiation. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of lncRNAs during the initiation of ESC differentiation remains unclear. Here, we found that linc1557 was highly expressed in mouse ESCs and required for the initiation of ESC differentiation. Knockdown of linc1557 increased the expression and phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a key factor in the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, we found that linc1557 directly bound to Stat3 mRNA and affected its stability. The differentially expressed transcriptome after linc1557 knockdown in ESCs was involved primarily in multicellular organism development and cell differentiation as similar to that after Stat3 knockdown. Moreover, either knockdown of Stat3 or addition of a LIF/STAT3 signaling inhibitor rescued the suppressive effects of linc1557 knockdown on the initiation of mouse ESC differentiation. These findings not only elucidated the critical function of linc1557 in the initiation of mouse ESC differentiation but also clarified that its specific mechanism as directly affecting Stat3 mRNA stability, which enhanced the understanding of the lncRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism for mRNA stability and key signaling pathways in ESC pluripotency and differentiation.
Recapitulating human tissue damage, repair, and fibrosis with human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids
Authors: Sobral-Reyes Maria F. , Lemos Dario R. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
As new applications for human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids in drug screenings and tissue replacement therapies emerge, there is a need to examine the mechanisms of tissue injury and repair recently reported for various organoid models. In most cases, organoids contain the main cell types and tissues present in human organs, spatially arranged in a manner that largely resembles the architecture of the organ. Depending on the differentiation protocol used, variations may exist in cell type ratios relative to the organ of reference, and certain tissues, including some parenchymal components and the endothelium, might be poorly represented, or lacking altogether. Despite those caveats, recent studies have shown that organoid tissue injury recapitulates major events and histopathological features of damaged human tissues. In particular, major mechanisms of parenchyma cell damage and interstitial fibrosis can be reproduced with remarkable faithfulness. Although further validation remains to be done in order to establish the relevance of using organoid for either mechanistic studies or drug assays, this technology is becoming a promising tool for the study of human tissue homeostasis, injury, and repair.
Qualitative assessment on premature human mortality due to the emission of fine particulate matter from the Matarbari coal power plant
Authors: Ahmed Sheikh Imran Uddin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis study reports the probability of increased mortality of people within the political border of Bangladesh due to the emission of fine particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) from the Matarbari coal power plant (MCPP). A Gaussian plume dispersion model has been used for this estimation. The PM2.5 emission rate data are unavailable as the construction of MCPP is still in its initial stage; therefore, the anticipated PM2.5 emission rate has been estimated based on data from a number of coal‐fired power plants in India and China. To make this study more meaningful, two different emission rates have been considered representing the best‐case and worst‐case scenarios. In both cases, the intake fraction has been found to be 0.12×10−2, and the value of relative risk varies between 1.134 and 1.374, respectively. Finally, it is estimated that approximately 11.5 million people inside Bangladesh will be exposed to the PM2.5 emission from MCPP, and between 7,667 and 17,675 people will experience premature death every year.
Recent developments in symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory
Authors: Patkowski Konrad 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSymmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) is a well‐established method to compute accurate intermolecular interaction energies in terms of physical effects such as electrostatics, induction (polarization), dispersion, and exchange. With many theory levels and variants, and several computer implementations available, closed‐shell SAPT has been applied to produce numerous intermolecular potential energy surfaces for complexes of experimental interest, and to elucidate the interactions in various complexes relevant to catalysis, organic synthesis, and biochemistry. In contrast, the development of SAPT for general open‐shell complexes is still a work in progress. In the last decade, new developments from several research groups, including the author's, have greatly enhanced the capabilities of SAPT. The new and emerging approaches are designed to make SAPT more widely applicable (including interactions involving multireference systems, complexes in arbitrary spin states, and intramolecular noncovalent interactions), more accurate (enhanced description of intramolecular correlation, a better account of exchange effects, relativistic SAPT, and explicitly correlated SAPT), and more efficient (enhanced density‐fitted implementations, linear‐scaling variants, empirical dispersion, and an implementation on graphics processing units). The new developments open up avenues for SAPT applications to an unprecedented variety of weakly interacting complexes.This article is categorized under:
Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods
Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Interactions
Prosody indexes both competence and performance
Authors: Watson Duane G. , Jacobs Cassandra L. , Buxó‐Lugo Andrés 
Published: November 2019

AbstractProsody is an important feature of language that conveys a wide range of information. However, prosody is widely considered to be a difficult domain of study within the language sciences. One consequence of this is that existing grammatical theories of prosody fail to explain prosodic choices that seem to arise from nonlinguistic cognitive demands, such as communicative context, top‐down expectations, and recent articulatory and acoustic experience. We provide an account of some of these phenomena and argue that linguistic theories that do not incorporate these factors into models of prosody are likely to mischaracterize its role in language.This article is categorized under:Linguistics > Language in Mind and BrainPsychology > LanguageLinguistics > Linguistic Theory
Laws, Rights, and Norms
Authors: Pineda Victor Santiago 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLegal systems reflect the cultural norms that shape laws with respect to disability and access. By taking a theoretical and empirical approach to disability rights, it is possible to assess how basic functionings and freedoms are affected by laws, rights, and norms. This chapter examines how the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Federal Law No. 29 differ significantly in their approach to social inclusion (i.e., social protectionism vs. human rights) and assesses what levels of progress were achieved in the implementation and enforcement of the national laws at local levels. In many instances, Federal Law No. 29 can be seen to have fallen short of the guidelines outlined by the CRPD. At a fundamental level, the federal law characterizes disability as a failure in the capacities of the individual regardless of their environment. A clear example can be seen in the federal law which emphasizes a protectionist approach to independent living and community involvement, in stark contrast to the CRPD’s Article 19 that outlines a rights-based model. Dubai’s local-level law on disability passed in 2014 presents a strong alternative by shifting the focus to rights, equity, and access.
Laws Are Not Enough: Unlocking Capabilities Through Innovations in Governance
Authors: Pineda Victor Santiago 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMany factors beyond the legal system determine the ultimate success or failure of implementing comprehensive accessibility policies and programs. There are two main drivers for inclusive urban development: political commitment to inclusive practices, and the mechanisms and institutions needed to administer and facilitate them. This chapter explores how the narrative and conditions that determine equity and access in cities are shaped. There is a clear need globally to strengthen administrative and coordinating capacities and improve connections between cities and their citizens. This chapter highlights the importance of creating and disseminating information regarding accommodations, assistive technologies, and training throughout schools, community centers, advocacy organizations, and other social institutions. It defines leadership (executive and budgetary support), institutions (administrative and coordinating capacities), attitudes (beliefs), and participation (representation) as central evaluative criteria for evaluating progress at the local level. It also highlights how attitudes and cultural beliefs may produce negative associations of people with disabilities by assuming high dependency and individual fault, rather than pursuing policies aimed at equity, access, and inclusion.
Some New q-Congruences for Truncated Basic Hypergeometric Series: Even Powers
Authors: Guo Victor J. W. , Schlosser Michael J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe provide several new q-congruences for truncated basic hypergeometric series with the base being an even power of q. Our results mainly concern congruences modulo the square or the cube of a cyclotomic polynomial and complement corresponding ones of an earlier paper containing q-congruences for truncated basic hypergeometric series with the base being an odd power of q. We also give a number of related conjectures including q-congruences modulo the fifth power of a cyclotomic polynomial and a congruence for a truncated ordinary hypergeometric series modulo the seventh power of a prime greater than 3.