bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monitoring ecosystem restoration of multiple surface coal mine sites in China via LANDSAT images using the Google Earth Engine
Authors: Wang Huihui , Xie Miaomiao , Li Hanting , Feng Qianqian , Zhang Cui , Bai Zhongke 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe restoration of surface mining (open‐cast) sites is key to meeting global ecosystem restoration targets. With the improving of data availabilities and technologies, it has become possible to expand restoration monitoring from single to multiple mine sites on a large scale. Based on the MODIS global disturbance index (MGDI), this study proposes a mine landscape restoration index (MLRI), by coupling the LST and EVI to simultaneously monitor the restoration of multiple mine sites. Restoration areas were identified by MLRI time‐series analysis and classified into significant consistent increase (SCI) and significant anti‐consistent increase (SAI) areas. The restoration effects of 46 surface coal mine sites located in the ecologically fragile northwestern region of China from 2000 to 2019 were assessed based on 3,675 LANDSAT images from the Google Earth Engine. Results show that the MLRI was effective at identifying restoration areas and processes, and this effectiveness was validated by high‐resolution images and field investigations of mine samples. The overall percentage of restored area for mines that started mining before 2000 was 55.01% ; for mines that starting mining after 2000, 33.68%. According to the differences of SCI and SAI area percentages, 46 mine sites were classified into three clusters, with 13, 11, and 22 mine sites, respectively. The mine sites with high restoration percentage are located mainly in Hailar and Shanbeimengnan regions. This study provides a new approach for monitoring the restoration effects of multiple mine sites and informs government managers about developing mine restoration programs and sustainable mining development plans.
Potential of mean force and umbrella sampling simulation for the transport of 5‐oxazolidinone in heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidase
Authors: Yoneda Shigetaka , Saito Takami , Nakajima Daisuke , Watanabe Go 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe structure of heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidase (HSO) contains a highly complex system composed of a large cavity and tunnels, which are essential for the reaction and migration of the reactants, products, and intermediates. Previous geometrical analysis using the CAVER program has predicted that there are three possible tunnels, T1, T2, and T3, for the exit pathway of the iminium intermediate, 5‐oxazolidinone (5‐OXA), of the enzyme reaction. Previous molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of HSO has identified the regions containing the water channels from the density distribution of water. The simulation indicated that tunnel T3 is the most probable exit pathway of 5‐OXA. In the present study, the potential of mean force (PMF) for the transport of 5‐OXA through tunnels T1, T2, and T3 was calculated using umbrella sampling (US) MD simulations and the weighted histogram analysis method. The PMF profiles for the three tunnels support the notion that tunnel T3 is the exit pathway of 5‐OXA, and that 5‐OXA tends to stay at the middle of the tunnel. The maximum errors of the calculated PMF for the predicted exit pathway, tunnel T3, were estimated by repeating the US simulations using different sets of initial positions. The PMF profile was also calculated for the transport of glycine within T3. The PMF profiles from the US simulations were in good agreement with the previous predictions that 5‐OXA escape through tunnel T3 and how glycine is released to the outside of HSO was discussed.
Predicting Delaminations and Residual Strength of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) After One-Sided Thermal Loading by Means of Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Vetter Tanja Marina , Eibl Sebastian , Gudladt Hans-Joachim 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study investigates the change of chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) after one-sided thermal loading. Therefore, CFRP samples (HexPly® 8552/IM7) with varying thickness (4 and 8 mm) are irradiated at different heat fluxes (15, 30, and 50 kW/m2). For a depth-resolved view on matrix degradation inside the CFRP, infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is applied along a ground incline plane. A change of structural properties in the form of developing delaminations is investigated with microfocused computed X-ray tomography (µCT). The loss of residual strength is determined by means of interlaminar shear strength testing (ILSS). The evaluation of the data shows that delaminations occur predominantly dependent on temperature and only beyond a certain level of matrix degradation traceable by IR spectroscopy. It is also shown that delaminations are mainly responsible for the loss of strength. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is performed to predict the presence of delaminations. This information provides a basis for a reliable prediction of the residual strength by IR spectroscopy after one-sided thermal loading.
Impact of valve fenestrations and structural changes in homografts on the long-term outcome in the recipient
Authors: Axelsson Ida , Malm Torsten , Nilsson Johan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHomografts have long been used for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. Tissue banks struggle to meet the clinical demand of tissue, with insufficient donor availability and strict recommendations on tissue quality with high proportions of discards. This study analyzes the long-term outcome of patients receiving a homograft with small fenestrations of the cusps or other structural changes, to evaluate if minor impairment of the homograft affects the durability. Homograft characteristics and patient outcome were described. Follow-up was maximum 24 years. Structural changes of the homografts were analyzed in relation to patient outcome, using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression. Between 1995 and 2018, 468 patients received 535 homografts in the RVOT in Lund. Median recipient age was 13 years. There were 137 (26.9%) reinterventions. Freedom from reintervention was 75.8% (95% CI 71.3–79.7%) at 10 years and 57.4% (95% CI 50.0–64.0%) at 20 years. Small fenestrations of the cusps, fibrosis of the cusps and minor atheromatosis of the vessel did not show any statistically significant impact on long-term outcome, hazard ratio = 0.46 (95% CI 0.11–1.87, p = 0.276) and hazard ratio = 0.80 (95% CI 0.25–2.56, p = 0.704). Minor structural changes of the homografts seem to be acceptable without affecting the long-term durability.
Synergistic effect of In doping on electrical and thermal properties of Cu2SnSe3 thermoelectric system
Authors: Thomas Riya , Rao Ashok , Jiang Zhao-Ze , Kuo Yung-Kang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCu2SnSe3 has been considered as a potential thermoelectric material owing to its tunable transport properties and its phonon-glass-electron-crystal (PGEC) characteristics. Here, p-type pure and In-doped Cu2SnSe3 samples are synthesized by the solid-state sintering technique. Cubic structure with $$F\overline{4}3m$$

F

4
¯

3
m

space group is maintained for all the samples, and a linear increase in lattice parameter with increasing In concentration has been observed. The nature of electrical resistivity changes from semiconducting to metallic behavior for samples with x > 0.10. The decrease in both electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient with an increase in x is attributed to the increased hole concentration. Such a scenario is confirmed from the room-temperature Hall effect measurements. Indium doping also reduces the thermal conductivity of the Cu2SnSe3 system as a result of increased phonon scattering due to the mass fluctuation. Concurrently, enhancement of thermoelectric power factor (PF) and figure of merit (ZT) is achieved with In doping at Sn site of Cu2SnSe3. The maximum ZT of 0.04 has been exhibited by the sample with x = 0.25 at 400 K, which is six times higher than that of the undoped Cu2SnSe3.
The BCS energy gap at low density
Authors: Lauritsen Asbjørn Bækgaard 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe show that the energy gap for the BCS gap equation is $$\begin{aligned} \varXi = \mu \left( 8 {\mathrm{e}}^{-2} + o(1)\right) \exp \left( \frac{\pi }{2\sqrt{\mu } a}\right) \end{aligned}$$

Ξ
=
μ

8

e

-
2

+
o

(
1
)

exp

π

2

μ

a

in the low density limit $$\mu \rightarrow 0$$

μ
→
0

. Together with the similar result for the critical temperature by Hainzl and Seiringer (Lett Math Phys 84: 99–107, 2008), this shows that, in the low density limit, the ratio of the energy gap and critical temperature is a universal constant independent of the interaction potential V. The results hold for a class of potentials with negative scattering length a and no bound states.
Seismic activity reduction with the use of blasting and passive seismic tomography control, a case study from copper ore mine, Poland
Authors: Gogolewska A. B. , Smolak D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDeep copper ore mines in Poland have been struggling with seismic hazard since almost fifty years ago when the first rock burst occurred. Increasing exploitation depth and mined-out space make the mining conditions constrained and severe causing the seismic activity to grow substantially. Consequently, rock burst preventive activities have to be incorporated into mining technology to provide work safety. To date, the group winning blasting has posed the most commonly used preventive measure, so its efficiency in seismic energy reduction is of significant importance for the rock burst hazard mitigation. The more energy blasting works provoke to release the safer the work environment gets. The article aimed to assess the efficiency of such an energy reduction, which was approached in two ways. Firstly, the drop of energy and in turn its reduction efficiency was assessed simply using a percentage of provoked tremors’ energy and number. Next, the analysis employed passive seismic tomography results to find if provoked tremors took place in high-velocity zones. The analysis made it possible to verify the assumption that the more provoked energy occurs in such zones the more successful preventive blasting is.
Valorization of Native Soluble and Insoluble Oat Side Streams for Stable Suspensions and Emulsions
Authors: Valoppi Fabio , Wang Yu-Jie , Alt Giulia , Peltonen Leena J. , Mikkonen Kirsi S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAmong different cereals, oat is becoming more popular due to its unique composition and health benefits. The increase in oat production is associated with an increase in related side streams, comprising unutilized biomass that is rich in valuable components, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and antioxidants. To valorize such biomass, it is fundamental that side streams enter back into the food production chain, in respect of the circular economy model. Here, we propose the use of soluble and insoluble oat-production side-stream in suspensions and emulsions, avoiding any further extraction, fractionation, and/or chemical derivatization. Our approach further increases the value of these side streams. To this aim, we first studied the effect of thermal and mechanical processes on the behavior and properties of both soluble and insoluble oat side-stream fractions in water and at air/water interface. Then, we characterized the emulsifying and stabilizing abilities of these materials in oil-in-water emulsions. Interestingly, we found that the insoluble fraction was able to form stable suspensions and emulsions after mechanical treatment. The oil droplets in the emulsions were stabilized by anchoring at the surface of the insoluble particles. On the other hand, the soluble fraction formed only stable viscous solutions. Finally, we demonstrated that the two fractions can be combined to increase the storage stability of the resulting emulsion.Our results highlight that oat production side streams can be used as novel bio-based emulsifiers, showing the great potential behind the underutilized cereal-side-stream biomass.
Graphical Abstract
Formal modelling and verification of a multi-agent negotiation approach for airline operations control
Authors: Bouarfa Soufiane , Aydoğan Reyhan , Sharpanskykh Alexei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis paper proposes and evaluates a new airline disruption management strategy using multi-agent system modelling, simulation, and verification. This new strategy is based on a multi-agent negotiation protocol and is compared with three airline strategies based on established industry practices. The application concerns Airline Operations Control whose core functionality is disruption management. To evaluate the new strategy, a rule-based multi-agent system model of the AOC and crew processes has been developed. This model is used to assess the effects of multi-agent negotiation on airline performance in the context of a challenging disruption scenario. For the specific scenario considered, the multi-agent negotiation strategy outperforms the established strategies when the agents involved in the negotiation are experts. Another important contribution is that the paper presents a logic-based ontology used for formal modelling and analysis of AOC workflows.
AI Applications to the Law Domain in Japan
Authors: NITTA Katsumi , SATOH Ken 
Published: February 2021

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) and law is an AI research area that has a history spanning more than 50 years. In the early stages, several legal-expert systems were developed. Legal-expert systems are tools designed to realize fair judgments in court. In addition to this research, as information and communication technologies and AI technologies have progressed, AI and law has broadened its view from legal-expert systems to legal analytics and, recently, a lot of machine-learning and text-processing techniques have been employed to analyze legal information. The research trends are the same in Japan as well and not only people involved with legal-expert systems, but also those involved with natural language processing as well as lawyers have become interested in AI and law. This report introduces the history of and the research activities on applying AI to the legal domain in Japan.
Molecular, morphometric and digital automated identification of three Diaphorina species (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: Lashkari Mohammadreza , Burckhardt Daniel , Kashef Shima 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDiaphorina is a species-rich genus, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, particularly of more arid regions. One of the species, Diaphorina citri, is the economically most important pest of citrus. Diaphorina species are morphologically similar which makes their identification difficult. In this study, the accuracy of DNA barcoding, using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), geometric morphometrics of the forewing and digital image processing methods were tested for identification of the three Diaphorina species: D. chobauti, D. citri and D. zygophylli. Moreover, the published COI sequences of D. citri, D. communis and D. lycii obtained from Genbank were used for cluster analyses. DNA barcodes for D. chobauti and D. zygophylli are deposited in Genbank for the first time. The results of the molecular and geometric morphometric analyses are congruent and place D. chobauti as the sister taxon of the other Diaphorina species. The geometric morphometric analysis shows that in D. zygophylli the fore margin is slightly curved proximally and sharply bent distally, while in D. chobauti and D. citri it is straight proximally and weakly bent distally. The results of digital image processing show that the distribution of the dark pattern differs consistently in the three studied species.
Financial constraint, trust, and export performances: firm-level evidence from Africa
Authors: Konte Maty , Ndubuisi Gideon 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSeveral existing studies have documented a negative relationship between firm financial constraint and export activities but do not attempt to examine factors that could attenuate this relationship in Africa. In this paper, we examine the effect of financial constraint on exports in Africa and explore how the level of trust in countries where firms are located shapes this relationship. We combine the World Bank Enterprise Surveys with different measures of country-level personal and interpersonal trust computed from the Afrobarometer surveys of 19 African countries. Our results show that financial constraints negatively affect export activities. However, this negative effect is attenuated for firms that are located in trust-intensive societies. These findings are robust to different specifications. Interestingly, we find that small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa are more likely to be affected by financial constraints but also more likely to benefit from a higher level of both personal and interpersonal trust, while for larger firms only interpersonal trust matters.
Little Ice Age Revealed in Tree‐Ring‐Based Precipitation Record From the Northwest Himalaya, India
Authors: Singh Vikram , Misra Krishna G. , Singh Arun D. , Yadav Ram R. , Yadava Akhilesh K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe spatial and temporal span of hydrological impact of the “Little Ice Age” (LIA) in the north‐western Himalaya is not well constrained due to data limitation. We evaluated a network of tree‐ring chronologies from moisture‐stressed ecological settings in Jammu and Kashmir to identify the impact of LIA over the western Himalaya. Our study reflects three centennial scale phases; the middle phase (1650s–1850s CE) with stable precipitation and in accordance with other hydrological records clearly demarcates the LIA impact over the Himalaya. However, high‐magnitude droughts recorded in early (1383–1650s CE) and late phases (1850s–2017) underpin that the north‐western Himalaya did not witness any LIA influence before 1650s.
Trapped Electron Energy Inferred From Cosmic Noise Absorption Signals Through Drift‐Time Analysis in Empirical Electric and Semi‐Empirical Magnetic Fields
Authors: Kellerman Adam C. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRiometers are ground‐based passive radio receivers that detect cosmic noise emanating from distant stars and galaxies. Some of the radiowave energy from these galactic sources is absorbed in the lower ionosphere by free electrons, precipitated from magnetospheric sources. The eastward motion of magnetospheric electrons, due to the combined effects of convection and gradient and curvature drift, results in a delay in signal between ground stations separated by 100s and 1,000s of kilometers. In this study, the signal delay is used to infer the energy of trapped electrons by employing a full bounce‐averaged drift velocity computation using two semi‐empirical magnetic field models, an empirical electric field, and 13 Riometer stations in the NORSTAR ground observation network. It is shown statistically, that riometers respond to 20–80 keV electrons, and that the inferred energy rises with an increase in absorption. The inferred energy is also shown to depend on magnetic local time, and the choice of the magnetic field model. This study quantifies the capability to infer magnetically trapped electron energies from riometer signals. This important population of 10s of keV electrons acts as a source of electromagnetic wave energy, necessary for acceleration of trapped electrons to higher energies where they may be hazardous to space hardware.
Calcium Stable Isotopes of Tonga and Mariana Arc Lavas: Implications for Slab Fluid‐Mediated Carbonate Transfer in Cold Subduction Zones
Authors: Wang Xia , Wang Zaicong , Liu Yongsheng , Park Jung‐Woo , Kim Jonguk , Li Ming , Zou Zongqi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCarbonation of oceanic lithosphere occurs widely during seawater alteration, and subducted carbonated oceanic lithosphere may play a key role in carbon recycling in subduction zones. Here we investigate the Ca isotopic composition of arc lavas from the Tonga rear arc and Mariana arc, western Pacific, to explore the effect of fluid‐mediated carbonate transfer in subduction zones. Fresh basalts (0.84 ± 0.01‰, 2sd, n = 3) and dacites (0.84 ± 0.10‰, 2sd, n = 9) from the Tonga rear arc show indistinguishable δ44/40Ca, reflecting negligible Ca isotopic fractionation during differentiation of hydrous arc magmas. More importantly, arc lavas from both the Tonga rear arc (0.84 ± 0.09‰, 2sd, n = 12) and Mariana arc (0.79 ± 0.12‰, 2sd, n = 9) display MORB‐like δ44/40Ca values. The MORB‐like δ44/40Ca of arc lavas indicates that the carbonates released from altered oceanic lithosphere (AOL) do not significantly modify the Ca isotopic composition of the mantle wedge, although extensive volcanic CO2 degassing at both arcs suggests that slab fluids might introduce abundant carbonate into the depleted mantle wedge. These results could be attributed to a limited Ca budget in the slab fluids added to the mantle wedge and/or homogenization effect of variable δ44/40Ca for the slab fluids. At cold subduction zones, a fraction of carbonates from the AOL may survive during slab dehydration and recycle into the deep mantle.
Hydrodynamic Drivers of the 2013 Marine Heatwave on the North West Shelf of Australia
Authors: Maggiorano Anna , Feng Ming , Wang Xiao Hua , Ritchie Liz , Stark Clair , Colberg Frank , Greenwood Jim 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe 2012/2013 Ningaloo Niño induced a strong marine heatwave (MHW) event on Australia's North West Shelf (NWS) during the austral summer, starting in December 2012 and peaking in January and February 2013. A high‐resolution regional numerical model based on the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) was implemented to simulate the variability of the upper ocean temperature and ocean circulation and understand the mechanisms that drive the evolution of the MHW. An upper ocean heat budget was used to quantify the roles of air‐sea heat flux and ocean circulation in the development of extreme temperature anomalies over the continental shelf. Results indicate that during December 2012 an increase of net air‐sea heat flux combined with positive horizontal advective heat flux anomaly led to development of the MHW. During the peak in January‐February 2013 high‐temperature anomalies were maintained by a combination of a decrease in negative heat advection and vertical mixing cooling and a decrease in net air‐sea flux warming. The delayed onset of the 2012–2013 Australian monsoon resulted in alongshore wind anomalies on the NWS which in turn caused the advection and mixing anomalies.
Evolution of Discharge Characteristics Along the Positive Cloud‐To‐Ground Lightning Channel
Authors: An Tingting , Yuan Ping , Chen Rongrong , Zhang Nan , Wan Ruibin , Zhang Meng , Liu Guorong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTwo positive cloud‐to‐ground lightning spectra have been captured by a slit‐less spectrograph. In combination with the synchronous electric field change waveshape, the discharge characteristics along the channel have been investigated. The results show that the total intensity of ionic lines in spectra and the electrical conductivity increase with the increase of channel height. According to the positive correlation between the total intensity of ionic lines and the discharge current, it is found that the current intensity of downward positive cloud‐to‐ground lightning increases with the increase of channel height. Comparing it with the reported current attenuation along the channel of downward negative lightning, it is deduced that the increasing or decreasing of the current along the discharge channel is likely to be related to the current direction.