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Variable cycle engine (VCE) is one of the most promising technologies for the next-generation aircraft, the matching of different components in the compression system is a key difficulty VCE faced. To investigate the component matching mechanisms in the VCE compression system, an advanced throughflow program is employed to calculate the characteristic lines of each component, and a zero-dimensional method is developed to capture the component performance deviation during the coupling working process. By setting the compressor stall and choke conditions as the boundary, the operation range of the compression system is first clarified, and the aerodynamic performance in the operation zone is discussed, thus providing a theoretical basis for optimization of the engine operating control scheme. Results show that the efficiency of the core flow is optimum at the left-bottom corner of the operation region, while the total pressure ratio peaks at the right-top area, hence a balance is needed when deciding the matching point. Regulations of component control parameters will change the position of the operation zone, as well as the corresponding aerodynamic performance. Decreasing the core driven fan stage rotating speed can improve the total bypass ratio, yet the total pressure ratio of the core flow will be decreased. Closing the core driven fan stage inlet guide vane can increase the total bypass ratio without changing the core flow aerodynamic performance significantly. The bypass ratio of the compression system can also be increased by increasing the fan stall margin or decreasing its rotating speed, both ways will decrease the total pressure ratio of the core flow. Results of the study will benefit the variable cycle engine design process in operation point evaluation and thermodynamic cycle optimization.

This paper analyses effects of subsidised, predominantly non‐standard, employment within the German labour market programme ‘participation in the labour market’ for long‐term welfare recipients on their health satisfaction, health‐based quality of life, satisfaction with standard of living and households' actual ownership of important goods (e.g., car or new clothes) or the lack thereof due to financial reasons. We differentiated subgroups by health, age and working hours. Data for participants and non‐participants (but entitled to welfare benefits) stem from the first two waves (2020/2021) of the panel survey ‘Quality of Life and Social Participation’. To identify causal effects, we employed matching methods based on administrative and survey data. Our findings show that 1 and 2 years after programme start, participation had significant positive effects on all indicators of health and standard of living. Thus, for the programme's focus group, subsidised employment, even if non‐standard, can contribute to improving health and material well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-carbon production is currently the development direction of enterprises. The government provides low-carbon subsidies to low-carbon manufacturing enterprises to promote the formation of a green supply chain. To better encourage the development of the green supply chain by determining government subsidies and platform authentication fees, this paper constructs a Stackelberg game model that consists of a supplier and a manufacturer, and solves the optimal decisions of each entity using the backward induction method. This study uses the matching method to analyze the payoff matrix for supply chain members when choosing between low-carbon and traditional production. After introducing the online trading platform, the impact of the platform on the profit of supply chain members is studied, considering whether the authentication service provided by the platform is completely accurate. The results show that (1) in the green supply chain, there is a relationship between the enterprises' profit and the level of emissions reduction, which increases first and then decreases. (2) The online trading platform is conducive to achieving green supply chain coordination. The government can pay fewer subsidies to prompt the formation of a green supply chain and the optimal emissions reduction level of the enterprise is higher. (3) When the authentication mechanism of the platform is imperfect, the authentication fee of the platform and the subsidy coefficient of the government need to be set within a reasonable range to avoid the enterprise adopting traditional production pretending to be the low-carbon type. This study contributes to research on the green supply chain and provides insights into pricing strategies for governments and platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matching analysis is a key step in the process of verifying the adaptation of carbon-ceramic brake discs to high-speed trains' braking system. Relevant research on matching analysis tends to be carried out only on a single parameter of the brake disc. Due to this lack of comprehensive analysis, a data-driven, parametric method is proposed to address the problem. We have summarised the matching parameters of carbon-ceramic brake discs in three dimensions: assembly interface, physical characteristics, and braking performance. The method is based on the feasibility of modelling the parameters, completing the analysis of non-modelled parameters through a comparative conformity check, and modelling parameters through a statistical analysis of the experimental data. Conformity comparison results show that the example carbon-ceramic brake disc is well suited to high-speed trains and is better matching than the example cast-steel brake discs in terms of mass and average frictional coefficient. Analysis of the simulated experimental data shows that under high-speed braking conditions, the maximum disc surface temperature and wear of the example carbon-ceramic disc is higher than that of the cast-steel disc, trains equipped with carbon-ceramic discs have shorter emergency braking distances and higher average braking deceleration, and the carbon-ceramic discs exhibit better matching performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas can prevent forest loss, but their effects on forest fragmentation and forest regrowth are poorly understood. Furthermore, the importance of protected areas in shaping these forest spatial changes may depend on different socioeconomic drivers (e.g. population size, distance to cities, proportion of local people working in non-farm occupation), but the empirical evidence on such dependence is very scarce. Here, we used contra factual technics to assess whether biosphere reserves (n = 19) in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot can reduce forest loss and fragmentation and promote forest regrowth during the period 2000–2020. We used satellite imagery and governmental data to assess the socioeconomic factors driving these changes. Particularly, using multimodel inference analysis, we tested whether higher non-farm occupation, combined with low demographic pressures, reduces forest loss and fragmentation and promotes forest regrowth. We found that reserves reduce forest loss and preserve less-fragmented configurations, however, they neither reduce fragmentation rate nor promote forest regrowth. Forest loss rate inside the reserves decreased as non-farm occupation enhanced and the density of rural settlements decreased. Therefore, promoting higher opportunities in non-farm economic activities and planning rural settlements distribution around reserves could help to increase the effectiveness of reserves for forest conservation.

In this paper we examine existing analyses for (restrictive) relative clauses and propose an analysis for Spanish relatives from the perspective of a lexicalised Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG). We will provide a summary of the main proposals in the literature and examine the questions that any analysis of relative clauses should address. Our TAG approach synthesises the descriptive and theoretical advantages of existing models (the head external analysis, the raising analysis, and the matching analysis) and offers a solution to some of the main problems that have been observed in the literature. We will focus on the internal configuration of relative clauses, their structural position, and the category of the expression que in Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En este trabajo examinaremos análisis existentes de las oraciones de relativo (principalmente restrictivas), y propondremos un análisis para las relativas españolas desde la perspectiva de una gramática de adjunción (TAG) lexicalizada. Presentaremos un panorama de las principales propuestas existentes y examinaremos las preguntas a las que todo análisis de las oraciones de relativo debe responder. La propuesta que desarrollamos aquí sintetiza las ventajas descriptivas y teóricas de los modelos existentes (el análisis de núcleo externo, el análisis de ascenso, y el análisis de correspondencia), y ofrece una solución a algunos de los principales problemas que han sido observados anteriormente en la bibliografía. Nos ocuparemos de la configuración interna de las oraciones de relativo, de su posición estructural, y de la categoría de la expresión que en español.

Matching analysis is a key step in the process of verifying the adaptation of carbon-ceramic brake discs to high-speed trains’ braking system. Relevant research on matching analysis tends to be carried out only on a single parameter of the brake disc. Due to this lack of comprehensive analysis, a data-driven, parametric method is proposed to address the problem. We have summarised the matching parameters of carbon-ceramic brake discs in three dimensions: assembly interface, physical characteristics, and braking performance. The method is based on the feasibility of modelling the parameters, completing the analysis of non-modelled parameters through a comparative conformity check, and modelling parameters through a statistical analysis of the experimental data. Conformity comparison results show that the example carbon-ceramic brake disc is well suited to high-speed trains and is better matching than the example cast-steel brake discs in terms of mass and average frictional coefficient. Analysis of the simulated experimental data shows that under high-speed braking conditions, the maximum disc surface temperature and wear of the example carbon-ceramic disc is higher than that of the cast-steel disc, trains equipped with carbon-ceramic discs have shorter emergency braking distances and higher average braking deceleration, and the carbon-ceramic discs exhibit better matching performance.

Protected Areas (PAs) represent a broad spectrum of outcomes and governance systems. Among PAs, Community Managed PAs have emerged from communities that are not exclusively indigenous and have developed social organizations to acquire land rights, participate in forest governance, and in some cases, engage in REDD+. However, regardless of the scale or counterfactual, there is no clear consensus about Community Managed PAs’ effectiveness in forest conservation and climate change mitigation. Furthermore, previous studies have been devoted to estimating PAs’ effects on deforestation before REDD+ projects began to operate. Based on Community Concessions in Petén (Guatemala) and Extractive Reserves in Acre (Brazil), we analyzed Community Managed PAs’ temporal and spatial effects on carbon stocks and avoided emissions relative to unprotected lands, other Sustainable Use PAs (IUCN V-VI), and Strict PAs (I-IV). We used carbon density maps, matching methods, geographic discontinuity designs, and sensitivity analysis between 2003 and 2015. After controlling for the influence of market access and agriculture suitability, our analysis shows that Community Managed PAs were more effective than Other Lands (i.e., unprotected) and Sustainable Use PAs, and at least as effective as Strict PAs, in preserving carbon stocks and avoiding emissions. For instance, relative to Other Lands between 2011 and 2015, Community Managed PAs resulted in net avoided emissions of 4.6 tCO2-eq/ha in Petén (Guatemala) and 2.15 tCO2-eq/ha in Acre (Brazil). While these net avoided emissions were lower than in previous years, they seem to be driven by a reduction in carbon emissions outside Community Managed PAs. Spatially, the boundaries of Community Managed PAs varied across jurisdictions. For example, the boundaries of Acre’s Community Managed PAs’ have become less effective in avoiding emissions, which translates into reduced effects on conserving carbon stocks. Our results highlight the need to assess temporal effects to exhibit jurisdiction-wide land-use dynamics and spatial effects to identify local land-use pressures emerging inside or around the boundaries of PAs. Our analysis also shows that decentralized governance in Community Managed PAs may contribute to climate change mitigation through REDD+ and forest conservation targets.

The conversion of natural environments to artificial surfaces has significant irreversible impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The European Union (EU) has set ambitious goals to combat land artificialisation, including achieving "no net land take" by 2050. It also plans to expand its network of protected areas, including the Natura 2000 (N2K) sites, to 30 % of its area by 2030. However, studies have shown that land artificialisation continues to occur even within N2K sites. It has not yet been examined, though, which habitats are most affected. To address this gap, we used a high-resolution spatial layer of the EU's habitats and layers showing impervious surfaces across the EU to quantify and compare the current levels of artificial surfaces within each habitat inside and outside N2K sites. We also compared the changes in impervious surfaces between 2012 and 2015 and 2015–2018. We found that the total extent of impervious surfaces, and their rates of change, were lower within the N2K sites for all habitats examined. However, patterns varied: coastal habitats, grasslands, and agricultural habitats had higher levels of artificial surfaces than others, even within N2K sites. Our findings indicate that although the planned expansion of the N2K network can help mitigate the artificialisation of threatened habitats, N2K sites do not entirely halt land conversion. Member States should further improve the management effectiveness of NK2 sites and promote financial and policy instruments addressing land artificialisation, e.g., through land recycling, to safeguard vulnerable habitats and achieve the EU's conservation objectives. • Artificial surfaces were less prevalent in N2K sites across all examined habitats. • However, certain habitats had higher levels of artificial surfaces than others. • N2K sites do not entirely prevent land artificialisation. • Member States should use additional instruments to safeguard important habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the creation of protected areas (PAs) to avoid deforestation using Matching methods, focusing on the north of the Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Using GIS (Geographic Information System) techniques, we randomly distributed several 3 ha plots across the study region. The deforestation rates in plots inside and outside PAs were compared using Matching analysis. Our results indicate that the PAs created in the north of Minas Gerais in the 1990s were effective in reducing deforestation, though avoided deforestation rates have been relatively low (1.62% from 1996 to 2009). Geographical location was a key factor for PAs effectiveness and plots inside PAs in flat regions or close to large cities and roads had a greater impact on avoided deforestation. The results of this study corroborate a global trend of establishment of PAs in remote areas under low deforestation pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using several longitudinal datasets describing putative factors affecting influenza incidence and clinical data on the disease and health status of over 150 million human subjects observed over a decade, we investigated the source and the mechanistic triggers of influenza epidemics. We conclude that the initiation of a pan-continental influenza wave emerges from the simultaneous realization of a complex set of conditions. The strongest predictor groups are as follows, ranked by importance: (1) the host population’s socio- and ethno-demographic properties; (2) weather variables pertaining to specific humidity, temperature, and solar radiation; (3) the virus’ antigenic drift over time; (4) the host population’€™s land-based travel habits, and; (5) recent spatio-temporal dynamics, as reflected in the influenza wave auto-correlation. The models we infer are demonstrably predictive (area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve 80%) when tested with out-of-sample data, opening the door to the potential formulation of new population-level intervention and mitigation policies.

This paper provides a novel argument for the Matching Analysis of relative clauses. The argument is based on antipronominal contexts in German. Antipronominal contexts are syntactic environments that require lexical DPs and therefore bar pronouns. It is argued that the behavior of relative clauses in antipronominal contexts in German points to two conclusions. First, relative pronouns contain a phonologically invisible NP that is identical to the NP contained in the head noun. Second, the two NPs are not connected via movement. Since only the Matching Analysis takes the two NPs to be base-generated, it is concluded that the Matching Analysis represents the correct structure for relative clauses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article applies to an example of the process of quantitatively evaluate the fit of combined polysurface (NURBS class) to a surface mesh. The fitting process of the polysurface and the evaluation of obtained results have been realized in the environment of the CATIA v5 system. Obtained quantitative evaluation are shown graphically in the form of three-dimensional graphs and histograms. As the base surface mesh was used a pelvic bone stl model (the model was created by digitizing didactic physical model).

• MPCM slurry viscosity and thermal conductivity affect its heat transfer. • Spraying MPCM slurry weakens the above-mentioned adverse effects. • The working and phase change temperature ranges of the used MPCM slurry are matched. • Faster cooling yields more supercooling and a wider phase change temperature range. • Heat–mass transfer is better for MPCM slurry than for sprayed pure water. A spraying system was constructed with a microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) slurry as the working medium to weaken the adverse effects of the slurry's high viscosity and low thermal conductivity on heat transfer in a wall tube heat exchanger. The temperature distributions of pure water and MPCM slurry were first obtained through infrared thermal imaging in spraying. Furthermore, the latent heat use of MPCM slurry was investigated through a new method based on the temperature properties of the phase change fluid, in which the working and phase change temperature ranges are matched. The heat-mass transfer characteristics are compared and discussed with those of the base fluid, and the latent heat use of 10wt% MPCM slurry containing the core material n-docosane (C 22 H 46). The experimental results indicate that the phase change enables the MPCM slurry droplets to maintain a higher temperature than a fluid with no phase change or base fluid. Different application modes (static and spraying) have correspondingly different phase change temperature ranges owing to supercooling, and the degree of matching between the working and phase change temperature ranges has a critical impact on the latent heat use of the MPCM slurry. Finally, comparing the heat transfer coefficients and Lewis numbers between the base liquid and MPCM slurry reveals that the phase change not only enhances the heat transfer but also slightly reduces water evaporation compared with pure water spraying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhuankou Yangtze Highway Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge of longitudinal half-floating system with 5 spans and double-pylon double-plane. In addition to the beam segments over the pylon pier tops using the bracket installation, the remaining beams are taking cantilever erection. To realize the bridge geometric control target, we used the finite element software to modeling erection process safety and the bridge geometric control measures on asymmetric construction load, the unstressed manufacturing geometric shapes, structural parameter sensitivity, wide box girder hoisting matching. The results indicate that the bridge and girder unstressed manufacturing geometric shapes symmetry and the construction safety can be realized through the control of unstressed length of cables. By the structural parameter sensitivity identify of main beam weight and cable unstressed length, can effectively realize the bridge geometric control target. Using the mask in the web plate, can realize the section line matching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boundary extension of a zero-energy building to integrate a new energy vehicle will facilitate the realization of the target set by the EU 2050 roadmap. In this study, either a hydrogen vehicle (HV) or an electric vehicle (EV) is integrated into a renewable-supported building system with appropriate control strategies. The focused variables in this study are renewable energy capacities, vehicle system options, extents to utilize vehicle storages for domestic purposes, and the Excess REe-HW recharging strategies. The analysing aspects include the energy and environmental impact as well as the energy matching and the grid interactions. The results show that the annual net-zero energy/emission balance can be met by a 16, 12, and 12 kW rated wind turbine, or by a 195.8, 160.2, and 142.4 m 2 PV, for the building with the HV, the EV and no vehicle (NV), respectively. The building with the HV will be more demanding in meeting the balance due to the less efficient HV system than that with the EV. Moreover, better matching for the zero-energy system can be achieved by relieving the condition to discharge the vehicle storages for domestic usages and by using the Excess REe-HW recharging strategy. However, their negative effect will be a slight increase in the annual net-energy consumption, due to an increased loss from both the HV/EV integrated system and the thermal storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Obesity has been found to be protective in heart failure (HF), a finding leading to the concept of an obesity paradox. We hypothesized that a preserved cardiorespiratory fitness in obese HF patients may affect the relationship between survival and body mass index (BMI) and explain the obesity paradox in HF.Methods and Results: A total of 4623 systolic HF patients (LVEF 31.5 ± 9.5%, BMI 26.2 ± 3.6 kg/m(2) ) were recruited and prospectively followed in 24 Italian HF centres belonging to the MECKI Score Research Group. Besides full clinical examination, patients underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test at study enrolment. Median follow-up was 1113 (553-1803) days. The study population was divided according to BMI (<25, 25-30, >30 to ≤35 kg/m(2) ) and predicted peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2 , <50%, 50-80%, >80%). Study endpoints were all-cause and cardiovascular deaths including urgent cardiac transplant. All-cause and cardiovascular deaths occurred in 951 (28.6%, 57.4 per person-years) and 802 cases (17.4%, 48.4 per 1000 person-years), respectively. In the high BMI groups, several prognostic parameters presented better values [LVEF, peak VO2 , ventilation/carbon dioxide slope, renal function, and haemoglobin (P < 0.01)] compared with the lower BMI groups. Both BMI and peak VO2 were significant positive predictors of longer survival: both higher BMI and peak VO2 groups showed lower mortality (P < 0.001). At multivariable analysis and using a matching procedure (age, gender, LVEF, and peak VO2 ), the protective role of BMI disappeared.Conclusion: Exercise tolerance affects the relationship between BMI and survival. Cardiorespiratory fitness mitigates the obesity paradox observed in HF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exergo-economic analysis of the pinch point temperature difference (PPTD) in both evaporator and condenser of sub-critical organic Rankine cycle system (ORCs) are performed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Taking mixture R13I1/R601a as a working fluid and the annual total cost per net output powerZas exergo-economic performance evaluation criterion, the effects of PPTD in evaporator ΔTe, and the PPTD ratio of condenser to evaporatory, on the exergo-economic performance of ORCs are analyzed. Moreover, how some other parameters influence the optimal PPTD in evaporator ΔTe,optand the optimal PPTD ratio of condenser to evaporatoryoptare also discussed. It has been found that the exergo-economic performance of ORCs is remarkably influenced by ΔTeandy, and there exists ΔTe,optandyopt. In addition, ΔTe,optandyoptare affected by heat transfer coefficient ratio of condenser to evaporatorß, the temperature of working fluid at dew point in condenserT1a, and composition of R13I1/R601a: largerßandT1alead to lower ΔTe,optandyopt; by contraries, larger mass fraction of R13I1 makes ΔTe,optandyoptincrease, andyoptincreases linearly. The effects of the temperature of working fluid at bubble point in evaporatorT3a, mass flow rate of exhaust flue gasmg, and inlet temperature of exhaust flue gasTgion ΔTe,optandyoptare very slight. For comparison, three additional working fluids, namely R601a, R245fa, and 0.32R245fa/0.68R601a, are also taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in heart failure (HF). It is unclear whether AF has an independent prognostic role in HF. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic role of AF in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Methods HF patients were followed in 17 centers for 3.15 years (1.51–5.24). Study endpoints were the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death and heart transplant (HTX) and all-cause death. Data analysis was performed considering the entire population and a 1 to 1 match between sinus rhythm (SR) and AF patients. Match process was done for age ± 5, gender, left ventricle EF ± 5, peakVO 2 ± 3 (ml/min/kg) and recruiting center. Results A total of 3447 patients (SR = 2882, AF = 565) were included in the study. Considering the entire population, CV death and HTX occurred in 114 (20%) AF vs. 471 (16%) SR (p = 0.026) and all-cause death in 130 (23%) AF vs. 554 (19.2%) SR patients (p = 0.039). At univariable Cox analysis, AF was significantly related to prognosis. Applying a multivariable model based on all variables significant at univariable analysis (EF, peakVO 2 , ventilation/carbon dioxide relationship slope, sodium, kidney function, hemoglobin, beta-blockers and digoxin) AF was no longer associated with adverse outcomes. Matching procedure resulted in 338 couples. CV death and HTX occurred in 63 (18.6%) AF vs. 74 (21.9%) SR (p = 0.293) and all-cause death in 71 (21%) AF vs. 80 (23.6%) SR (p = 0.406), with no survival differences between groups. Conclusion In systolic HF AF is a marker of disease severity but not an independent prognostic indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of residential mobility on educational outcomes. By considering a large Dutch city with substantial internal residential mobility, we examine how residential mobility influences the decision of students to drop out of school. The paper exploits a rich administrative dataset with extensive information on educational, individual, family, housing and moving characteristics of students. It combines a matching design with a multivariate regression analysis, such that the evaluation draws on a well-comparable control group for the treated students. Accounting for individual, family, educational, neighborhood and housing characteristics, as well as for school and year fixed effects, we observe that residential mobility increases the probability of school dropout in the first few years after moving. The estimated effect changes, however, to a lower risk of early school leaving after an initial period, and then changes again to a higher risk after 6 years. This effect remains, regardless the level of education the students attended, or whether the student moves to a better or a worse neighborhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines if ‘naming and shaming’ is an effective tool to increase accountability in school dropout for cities with disadvantaged student populations. It argues that a comparison with other cities might be unfair if regional and population characteristics differ. It discusses the example of two Dutch new towns. The new town policy deliberately attracted low- and medium-income households in the past, such that today the population of those cities differs from other cities. We use a matching analysis to account for observed differences in population and regional characteristics. The results point out that ‘naming and shaming’ may be a dangerous policy to increase accountability: early school leaving differences are driven, to a large extent, by observed differences in population and regional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Six indices are defined to aid the matching analysis of the on-site energy system. [•] These indices cover electrical, heating, and cooling energy forms. [•] The conversions between different energy forms can be illustrated and evaluated. [•] Impact of single or hybrid storages on matching can be analysed by these indices. [•] On-site energy system with bi-directionally connected hybrid grids can be analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In case of regional discretionary on the implementation of policy measures, central governments often consider differences in outcomes as an indication that one policy was more effective than another policy. If uniform incentives are provided to motivate regional policy makers, these incentives can be discouraging when the underlying populations differ. Empirically, this study compares early school leaving between the four largest Dutch cities. It shows that considering regional differences as performance measures can be dangerous if differences in population characteristics are not properly taken into account. Methodologically, this study contrasts the use of a traditional probit model with a more advanced iterative matching procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One important category of non-ideal conditions for iris recognition is off-angle iris images. Practically it is very difficult for images to be captured with no offset. It then becomes necessary to account for off angle information in order to maintain robust performance. A biorthogonal wavelet based iris recognition system, previously designed at our lab, is modified and demonstrated to perform off-angle iris recognition. Biorthogonal wavelet network (BWN) are developed and trained for each class. The non-ideal factors are adjusted by repositioning the BWN. To test, along with the real data, synthetic iris images are generated by using affine and geometric transforms of 0°, 10° and experimentally collected images. The tests were carried out on the experimentally collected off-angle data and synthetically generated data for angles from 0° to with a resolution of . This approach is shown to have less constraints than a transformation based iris recognition approach. Iris images off-angle by up to for synthetic data and up to for experimental data are successfully recognized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The operation and performances of an innovative small scale polygeneration system (BIO_MGT), which combines biomass and natural gas in a micro gas turbine, has been simulated in the present work by means of a thermodynamic matching analysis. The BIO_MGT unit matches an externally fired cycle with a commercial Micro Gas Turbine (MGT, 100kWe). A significant share of the total energy input (∼70%) is supplied by solid biomass: the remaining is provided by natural gas. The system is therefore characterised by a dual combustion system. The configuration of the plant has been conceived so to require only minor modifications to conventional MGTs and biomass furnaces available on the market. This paper describes the design of the proposed bioenergy plant as well as the structure and the application of the in-house developed simulation model AMOS which has been used as computer-aid design tool. The design activity compared various plant schemes available from literature or past research works. The thermodynamic matching analysis of the selected configuration was then carried out, with the aim to verify compressor and turbine working points and to compare these with those typical of the MGT working under standard natural gas conditions. The steady-state matching analysis was based on the performance maps (i.e. characteristic lines) of each component. The design specifications and operating range for main and sub-components were defined, and the BIO_MGT performance maps were computed. Results showed that both the turbine as well as the compressor will work within the acceptable limits, and plant performances have also been calculated at part load conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) slurries are energy-carrier fluids. Their latent heat utilization has been investigated by a new method based on the temperature properties of the phase-change fluid, in which match of the working and phase-change temperature ranges is considered. Based on the working-temperature range (3–15 °C) in heat-exchange circulation, the dynamic heat-transfer characteristics and utilization of the MPCM slurry with the core material n -docosane (C 22 H 46) are discussed. The experimental results indicate that the effects of the stirring rate and flow rate on the dynamic heat-transfer characteristics are similar to those of water, and they have little influence on utilization of the 10% MPCM slurry, whereas the corresponding effect of the concentration is relatively large. When investigating the effect of the concentration, it was found that a low phase-change ratio suppressed movement of the phase-change-temperature range owing to the residual solid core material acting as a crystal nucleus, while the heat-transfer performance and latent heat utilization of the MPCM slurry suppressed each other. The 10% MPCM slurry is the most suitable energy carrier fluid, but supercooling still needs to be resolved. The experimental results provide a reference for practical efficient application of MPCM slurries as energy carrier fluids. • Matching analysis of the working and phase-change temperature ranges used to evaluate MPCM slurry utilization. • Apparent specific heat capacity of the MPCM slurry measured in static and dynamic tests. • Heat-exchange circulation used to obtain the dynamic heat-transfer characteristics. • MPCM slurry's latent-heat utilization and heat-transfer coefficient are mutually restricted. • Residual solid core material is conducive to eliminating supercooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most regional differences in ESL are attributed to population composition. • However, the analysis reveals that three regions behave better in tackling ESL. • Equity-based policies and better funding could explain the differential performance. • Matching analysis permit to better account differences in ESL across regions. As early school leaving has been shown to have a substantial impact on later life outcomes, it has received considerable attention in policy debates. However, national and regional differences in early school leaving are not necessarily due to differences in policymaking but might be the consequence of underlying differences in the economic and social structure of a region. This paper develops a procedure to account for regional differences in assessing performance in regard to early school leaving. The application focusses on Spain, which has a high rate of early school leaving and significant differences between regions. The results show that most regional differences can be attributed to population composition. However, three regions perform better once population characteristics are accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using several longitudinal datasets describing putative factors affecting influenza incidence and clinical data on the disease and health status of over 150 million human subjects observed over a decade, we investigated the source and the mechanistic triggers of influenza epidemics. We conclude that the initiation of a pan-continental influenza wave emerges from the simultaneous realization of a complex set of conditions. The strongest predictor groups are as follows, ranked by importance: (1) the host population's socio- and ethno-demographic properties; (2) weather variables pertaining to specific humidity, temperature, and solar radiation; (3) the virus' antigenic drift over time; (4) the host population'€™s land-based travel habits, and; (5) recent spatio-temporal dynamics, as reflected in the influenza wave auto-correlation. The models we infer are demonstrably predictive (area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve 80%) when tested with out-of-sample data, opening the door to the potential formulation of new population-level intervention and mitigation policies., Competing Interests: IC, EK, JE, JS, AR No competing interests declared, (© 2018, Chattopadhyay et al.)