bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Labile C dynamics reflect soil organic carbon sequestration capacity: Understory plants drive topsoil C process in subtropical forests
Authors: Chen Yuanqi , Cao Jianbo , Zhao Jie , Wu Jianping , Zou Xiaoming , Fu Shenglei , Zhang Weixin 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe huge background pool of soil organic carbon (SOC) is likely to impede the ready detection of SOC changes. We propose to explore SOC changes by monitoring the dynamics of soil labile organic carbon (LOC); namely if LOC could be largely retained in soils rather than respired rapidly, the SOC would be ready to be sequestered. The effects of the two major functional groups of plants, that is, canopy trees and understory plants, on SOC accumulation were then illustrated with this LOC‐based approach. The characteristics of LOC and SOC of topsoils (0–20 cm) in a field manipulation experiment with 5‐yr treatments of understory removal and tree girdling in both a young and a mature Eucalyptus plantations were examined. The concentration and potential turnover time of soil LOC were used to indicate the state of vegetation‐induced C accumulation in soils, which were estimated by a sequential fumigation‐incubation procedure. Soil natural abundances of 13C and 15N were measured to reflect the proportion of newly retained LOC in soils. We found that, in the young plantation, understory removal did not significantly affect both soil LOC and SOC concentrations, but significantly increased the potential turnover time of soil LOC. In contrast, in the mature plantation, understory removal significantly decreased soil LOC and SOC concentrations, but did not significantly alter the potential turnover time of soil LOC. However, tree girdling did not significantly affect SOC concentration, soil LOC concentration, or potential turnover time in either the young plantation or the mature plantation. These results demonstrated that understory plant‐derived C was one of the major components of LOC pool in topsoils, and it may be readily mineralized in the young plantation but accumulated as an important fraction of SOC in the mature plantation. This study suggests that the LOC‐based approach is potentially useful in monitoring SOC changes and improves our understanding of how plant functional groups and soil fertility status could jointly affect LOC and SOC dynamics. In considering the great contribution of understory plants to SOC processes, we propose that understory plants should be maintained in subtropical plantation ecosystems.
Predictors of cardiac function in acute heart failure patients with mid‐range ejection fraction: AURORA study
Authors: Yanagawa Kyosuke , Nakamura Hitoshi , Matsuhiro Yutaka , Yasumoto Koji , Yasumura Keisuke , Tanaka Akihiro , Matsunaga‐Lee Yasuharu , Nakamura Daisuke , Yano Masamichi , Yamato Masaki , Egami Yasuyuki , Shutta Ryu , Sakata Yasushi , Nishino Masami , Tanouchi Jun 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAimThe factors correlated with prognosis in heart failure with mid‐range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) is unclear, especially for acute heart failure (AHF) with HFmrEF. Thus, we investigated the factors correlated with the improvement in the ejection fraction (EF) over 1 year in AHF patients with HFmrEF.Methods and resultsIn Acute Heart Failure Registry in the Osaka Rosai Hospital, we examined 159 consecutive HFmrEF patients out of 1051 HF patients who were admitted to our hospital for AHF from January 2015 to December 2017. We divided them into improved EF (IM) group whose EF improved (≧10%) and non‐IM group who had no improvement. We compared the baseline characteristics, echocardiographic data, medications, examinations for ischaemia, invasive treatments, and clinical outcomes between IM group and non‐IM group. IM group consisted of 21 patients (20%). IM group had a significantly more de novo heart failure, higher serum albumin (Alb), lower EF, smaller left ventricular dimension during diastole, more frequent coronary angiogram during hospitalization, and coronary intervention. Multivariate analysis revealed that Alb, left ventricular dimension during diastole, and coronary angiogram performed during hospitalization were independently associated with the improvement in the EF. In addition, IM group had less rehospitalizations over 1 year and a greater reduction in the B‐type natriuretic peptide level during the follow‐up than non‐IM group.ConclusionsIn AHF patients with HFmrEF, we should evaluate for any ischaemic heart disease during hospitalization, especially in patients with non‐enlarged left ventricular and non‐reduced serum Alb. AHF patients with HFmrEF who showed improvement in the EF tended to have better prognosis than those without improvement.
On the wind blade's surface roughness due to dust accumulation and its impact on the wind turbine's performance: A heuristic QBlade‐based modeling assessment
Authors: Papadopoulou Kalliopi , Alasis Christos , Xydis George A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe development of wind projects requires good knowledge of energy production that depends on the rotor aerodynamics and its potential of making optimal use of wind power. It has been noted that dust accumulation across the rotor's blade surfaces can seriously affect the overall wind farm (WF) performance and lead to severe energy losses. In the present work, surface roughness that occurs on the wind blade surfaces due to dust accumulation and its possible effect on wind turbine's performance, are the subjects studied. For this purpose, a heuristic modeling assessment was conducted by means of the widely used open source tool QBlade. All available data, pertain to dust accumulation in four different areas, at which, the evolution of the phenomenon and its effect on the aerodynamic performance regarding energy production were studied. It was revealed that for low wind speeds (<10 m/s) no significant effect on the aerodynamic power was observed. This has led all manufacturers, decision makers, and wind farm operators to comprehend phenomena influencing the wind turbine's performance, which were neglected so far.
A new approach to advanced exergoeconomic analysis: The unit cost of entropy generation
Authors: Uysal Cuneyt 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAdvanced exergoeconomic analysis is based on costing of avoidable/unavoidable and endogenous/exogenous exergy destruction rates obtained with advanced exergy analysis. For this purpose, the unit cost of fuel of any system (cF) is used. In this study, a unit cost term, which is called as unit cost of entropy generation (cS), is assigned for exergy destruction rate and is used on costing of exergy destruction terms. Modified Productive Structure Analysis (MOPSA) thermoeconomic method is used to determine the unit cost of entropy generation value. Approach proposed in this study is applied to an electricity‐generating facility that operates with natural gas. As a result, the unit cost of entropy generation value for the considered system is calculated to be −1.5748 $/GJ. In addition, it is found that the exergy destruction cost rates obtained with approach proposed in this study are lower compared to that of advanced exergoeconomic analysis.
Co‐combustion of lignite with sewage sludge and refuse‐derived fuel
Authors: Ozfidan Merve , Haykiri‐Acma Hanzade , Yaman Serdar 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBurning behavior of fuel blends consisted of lignite samples and waste biomass species such as sewage sludge (SS) and refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) was studied. The blends where the wastes account for 5, 10, and 15 wt% were burned in a thermal analyzer up to 900°C. The nonisothermal burning kinetics were established using Borchardt and Daniels method that bases on the data obtained from differential scanning calorimetry. The maximum rate of combustion (Rmax), the peak temperature (TR‐max), the ignition temperature (Tign), and the burnout temperature (Tb) that predicts the thermal reactivity were considered to evaluate the effects of RDF and SS on the burning characteristics of the lignite samples. It was determined that the combinations of the additive behavior and the synergistic interactions govern the burning characteristics of the fuel blends. The thermal reactivity of the samples can be arranged in the order of RDF > lignite > SS. On the other hand, blending of RDF or SS with the lignite samples did not led to any significant segregation in the heat flow characteristics, and can be concluded that these wastes can be safely burned with lignite.
The sorption of cationic and anionic heavy metal species on the biosorbent of Aspergillus terreus: Isotherm, kinetics studies
Authors: Shokoohi Reza , Salari Mehdi , Molla Mahmoudi Mohammad , Azizi Salah , Ghiasian Seyed A. , Faradmal Javad , Faraji Hossein 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn this study, the capacity of Aspergillus terreus fungus biomass to remove Cr (VI) and Cd from aqueous solution was investigated. The present experimental study employed the shake flask method to cultivate fungal biomass. For the preparation of adsorbent, after inoculation of Aspergillus terreus in PDA medium, it was placed on a shaker at 150 rpm, at 25°C for 4 days. After separation of living biomass, it was boiled in a 0.5% NaOH solution. The ability of the biomass to remove of Cr (VI) and Cd from aqueous solution was examined under conditions including initial concentrations of (20–120 mg/L); pH of 3, 5, 7, and 9; contact times of 15–120 min; and the adsorbent doses of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 g. The concentration of the heavy metals was determined by an atomic absorption device. The results showed that in the optimum conditions of the input variables; contact time of 90 min, pH of 7, the initial metal concentration of 20 mg/L, and the adsorbent dose of 1 g, the removal efficiency of Cd and Cr (VI) was 94 and 89%, respectively. The processes of Cd and Cr (VI) adsorption were successfully described by Freundlich isotherm with R2 = 0.9463 and R2 = 0.9949, respectively, and well‐followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetic with R2 = 0.9935 and R2 = 0.9718, respectively. Due to the high adsorption capacity of this biomass in removing metals in comparison to other adsorbents, it can be proposed as a suitable adsorbent in treatment processes.
Bayesian network approach to fault diagnosis of a hydroelectric generation system
Authors: Xu Beibei , Li Huanhuan , Pang Wentai , Chen Diyi , Tian Yu , Lei Xiaohui , Gao Xiang , Wu Changzhi , Patelli Edoardo 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis study focuses on the fault diagnosis of a hydroelectric generation system with hydraulic‐mechanical‐electric structures. To achieve this analysis, a methodology combining Bayesian network approach and fault diagnosis expert system is presented, which enables the time‐based maintenance to transform to the condition‐based maintenance. First, fault types and the associated fault characteristics of the generation system are extensively analyzed to establish a precise Bayesian network. Then, the Noisy‐Or modeling approach is used to implement the fault diagnosis expert system, which not only reduces node computations without severe information loss but also eliminates the data dependency. Some typical applications are proposed to fully show the methodology capability of the fault diagnosis of the hydroelectric generation system.
Investigation on heat extraction characteristics in randomly fractured geothermal reservoirs considering thermo‐poroelastic effects
Authors: Han Songcai , Cheng Yuanfang , Gao Qi , Yan Chuanliang , Han Zhongying , Zhang Jincheng 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA fully coupled thermal‐hydraulic‐mechanical (THM) model was developed to investigate the underlying response mechanisms during heat extraction in fractured geothermal reservoirs. The random fracture network in the stimulated zone was reproduced based on the fractal theory. The coupled model accounts for the dominant physical phenomena including (a) fluid flow, heat transport, and solid deformation in porous media and fractures; (b) local thermal nonequilibrium (LTNE) between rock matrix and flowing fluid; and (c) temperature‐dependent fluid thermodynamic properties and stress‐dependent pore and fracture permeability. The proposed model was validated by several analytic solutions. Sequentially, the evolution of pore pressure, equivalent temperature, effective stress, and reservoir permeability was analyzed. The sensitivity of the heat extraction performance to fracture network morphology was discussed. Results show that interconnected large‐scale fractures dominate mass and heat transport. Widely distributed small‐scale fractures contribute to the cooling of the heat rock mass along many flow paths in parallel. The change in effective stress associated with fully coupled thermo‐poroelastic effects may induce fracture shear dilation and pore expansion, resulting in an enhancement of the overall reservoir permeability. There is a significant temperature difference between the solid phase and the fluid phase in fractures, but not in porous media. It is more reasonable to use the LTNE theory to analyze the heat extraction of fractured geothermal reservoirs. The fracture network morphology has a profound effect on heat extraction efficiency and injectivity. Undeveloped fracture networks will result in a higher injection pressure, earlier thermal breakthrough, and shorter lifetime, but higher heat extraction ratio. Properly increasing the fracture density can delay the thermal breakthrough time, prolong the service life, and improve the injectivity. Fully connected fracture networks may result in thermal short‐circuiting and earlier thermal breakthrough. Generating a complex and scattered fracture network but without preferential channels is conducive to extracting more heat from geothermal reservoirs.
Mitigation of annular pressure buildup for deepwater wells using a recovery relief method
Authors: Ma Tianshou , Tang Yijia , Chen Ping , He Yufa 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAnnular pressure buildup (APB) is induced by high‐temperature tubing fluid heating the trapped annular fluid, which leads to liquid thermal expansion at the production stage in deepwater wells. Casing would be burst or collapsed without APB mitigation. A novel recovery relief method was adopted to mitigate APB through the principle of differential pressure. To assess the application effect of the method, APB prediction model and pressure relief threshold determination method were proposed, where the transient heat transfer and volume and pressure coupling were involved. The laboratory test of the principle prototype was conducted so that the feasibility of the recovery relief method was validated. The numerical APB mitigation effect was simulated by the field example. The production simulation results indicated that the high‐temperature‐induced APB caused casing failure. The simulation of APB mitigation with both inward and outward directions demonstrated that the casings using outward mitigation method were safer with lower safe factor. Besides, comparing the mitigating effect to the rupture disk, the recovery relief method had more maximum allowable APB of annulus A. Additionally, compared to other 11 ordinary mitigation methods with the qualities of engineering reliability, technology feasibility, and economy, the recovery relief method had best mitigation performance. Therefore, the recovery relief method was recommended for APB mitigating practice.
An efficient Deep reinforcement learning with extended Kalman filter for device‐to‐device communication underlaying cellular network
Authors: Khuntia Pratap , Hazra Ranjay 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn this paper, a novel Deep Q‐learning in addition with an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is proposed to solve the channel and power allocation issue for a device‐to‐device enabled cellular network, when the prior traffic information is not known to the base station. Furthermore, this paper work explores an optimal policy for resource and power allocation between users with the aim of maximizing the sum‐rate of the overall system. The proposed work comprises of four phases, ie, cell splitting, clustering, queuing model, channel allocation, and power allocation, simultaneously. The implementation of cell splitting with novel K‐means++ clustering technique increases the network coverage, reduces co‐channel cell interference, and minimizes the transmission power of nodes, whereas the M/M/C:N queuing model solves the issue of waiting time for users in a priority based data transmission. The difficulty with the Q‐learning and Deep Q‐learning environment is to achieve an optimal policy. This is because of the uncertainty of various parameters associated with the system, especially when the state space is extremely big. In order to improve the robustness of the learner, EKF together with the Deep Q‐network is presented in this paper, which incorporates weight uncertainty of the Q‐function as well as the state uncertainty during the transition. Furthermore, the use of EKF provides an improved version of the loss function that helps the learner in achieving an optimal policy. Through numerical simulation, the advantage of our resource sharing scheme over the other existing schemes is also verified.
Performance analysis of full‐duplex cellular two‐way relay networks with the Nth worst relay selection under channel estimation error and cochannel interference
Authors: Shukla Mahendra K. , Yadav Suneel , Purohit Neetesh 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis paper considers a full‐duplex (FD) cellular multiuser two‐way multirelay network, wherein one Na‐antenna base station communicates bidirectionally with M single‐antenna users via L single‐antenna amplify‐and‐forward relays. A practical scenario where cochannel interference (CCI) and channel estimation error (CEE) present in the network is considered for the investigation. Considering the CEE and interferers at the relays, we formulate the Nth worst relay selection scheme, which consists the best relay selection as a special case. With such relay selection strategy, we derive the tight lower bound (LB) expressions for the overall outage probability, average bit error rate, and ergodic sum rate with CEE and CCI under Rayleigh fading. Furthermore, we deduce the asymptotic expressions for the overall outage probability and average bit error rate at high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Based on the asymptotic outage expression, we present some practical cases of interest, from which the impacts of CCI, CEE, and residual self‐interference (RSI) (imposed on the FD nodes) on system diversity order are presented. It is shown via the numerical results that CEE, CCI, and RSI have detrimental impact on the system performance. Our results also reveal that the impacts of CEE, CCI, and RSI can be alleviated by increasing the number of relays. We also obtain some insights on the self‐interference cancelation requirements for the FD mode. The numerical and simulation results verify our theoretical analysis.
Hand selection for role‐differentiated bimanual manipulation in a beading task: An assessment of typically developing children
Authors: Scharoun Benson Sara M. , Bryden Pamela J. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractRole‐differentiated bimanual manipulation (RDBM) is observed in many daily tasks. The preferred hand manipulates the object, whereas the nonpreferred hand stabilizes it. In this study, RDBM was assessed in 3‐ to 12‐year‐olds and young adults with a beading task. The number of trials where participants selected the preferred hand to grasp the thread and the number of hand switches (from thread to bead, or vice versa) in each trial (two beads/trial, six trials total) were recorded. No differences in the number of trials where the preferred hand was selected to grasp the thread emerged; however, 5‐ to 6‐ and 7‐ to 9‐year‐olds displayed fewer hand switches than all other participants. Findings are attributed to differences in beading strategies between 3‐ to 4‐, 5‐ to 9‐, and 10‐ to 12‐year‐olds that likely reflect changes in the development of handedness and control strategies. Future work with kinematic measures is recommended to discern developmental changes in bimanual control.Highlights

Hand selection patterns of typically developing 3‐ to 12‐year‐olds and young adults were assessed in beading.
No differences in hand selection emerged; however, differences in the number of hand switches were found in 5‐ to 6‐ and 7‐ to 9‐year‐olds.
Findings are attributed to differences in beading strategies between 3‐ to 4‐, 5‐ to 9‐, and 10‐ to 12‐year‐olds that likely reflect changes in the development of handedness, and control strategies.
Challenges and opportunities of using DHIS2 to strengthen health information systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A regional approach
Authors: Sahay Sundeep , Rashidian Arash , Doctor Henry V. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractGlobally, there is acceptance of the role of strengthened health information system (HIS) to inform evidence‐based decision‐making and improve health services delivery. Within the context of increasing demands to generate data of high quality for monitoring progress towards SDGs, we review challenges and approaches in adopting a regional‐based approach to strengthen HIS within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and its 22 member states. The HIS situation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is mixed: While some countries have developed robust HIS, others lag behind on both technological and institutional dimensions. Technically, most countries have not capitalized on the benefits of ICT advancements such as the internet, cloud, and mobile computing. As a result, systems remain manual or standalone; and data are not shareable. Institutionally, systems are broadly fragmented, with non‐standardized data, weak human resources capacity, and limited evidence of data being used to inform action. In order to consolidate efforts to enhance HISs, we recommend leveraging upon innovative information and communication technology (ICT) solutions for data capturing, processing, analysis, and reporting at either the individual or aggregate levels. Countries need to develop similar such processes in their contexts, while ensuring that they learn and build upon from their neighbors—building network of networks.
MicroRNA‐33b regulates sensitivity to daunorubicin in acute myelocytic leukemia by regulating eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A‐2
Authors: Liu Yanhui , Lei Pingchong , Qiao Hong , Sun Kai , Lu Xiling , Bao Fengchang , Yu Runhong , Lian Cheng , Li Yao , Chen Wei , Xue Fei 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to study the effect of miR‐33b in regulating sensitivity to daunorubicin (DNR) in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). We used quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay to detect the level of miR‐33b and cell viability. Cell apoptosis and the expression of eIF5A‐2 and MCL‐1 protein were detected by flow cytometry analysis and Western Blot analysis, respectively. MiR‐33b mimic increased sensitivity of AML cells against DNR, while miR‐33b inhibitor had the opposite effect. Furthermore, the results showed that the eIF5A‐2 gene was a direct target of miR‐33b, and miR‐33b regulated eIF5A‐2 mRNA and protein expression. Silencing of eIF5A‐2 by RNA interference increased the sensitivity of AML cells against DNR. We also found that MCL‐1 contributed to the regulation of DNR sensitivity, which was dependent on downregulation of eIF5A‐2. Finally, knockdown of eIF5A‐2 eliminated the effects of miRNA‐33b mimic or inhibitor on DNR sensitivity. These findings indicate that miR‐33b maybe as a new therapeutic target in AML cells.