bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Automatic Accurate High-Resolution Satellite Image Retrieval Method
Authors: Fan Zhiwei , Zhang Wen , Zhang Dongying , Meng Lingkui
Published: October 2017

With the growing number of high-resolution satellite images, the traditional image retrieval method has become a bottleneck in the massive application of high-resolution satellite images because of the low degree of automation. However, there are few studies on the automation of satellite image retrieval. This paper presents an automatic high-resolution satellite image accurate retrieval method based on effective coverage (EC) information, which is used to replace the artificial screening stage in traditional satellite image retrieval tasks. In this method, first, we use a convolutional neural network to extract the EC of each satellite image; then, we use an effective coverage grid set (ECGS) to represent the ECs of all satellite images in the library; finally, the satellite image accurate retrieval algorithm is proposed to complete the process of screening images. The performance evaluation of the method is implemented in three regions: Wuhan, Yanling, and Tangjiashan Lake. The large number of experiments shows that our proposed method can automatically retrieve high-resolution satellite images and significantly improve efficiency.
A GIS-Based Procedure for Landslide Intensity Evaluation and Specific risk Analysis Supported by Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI)
Authors: Bianchini Silvia , Solari Lorenzo , Casagli Nicola
Published: October 2017

The evaluation of landslide specific risk, defined as the expected degree of loss due to landslides, requires the parameterization and the combination of a number of socio-economic and geological factors, which often needs the interaction of different skills and expertise (geologists, engineers, planners, administrators, etc.). The specific risk sub-components, i.e., hazard and vulnerability of elements at risk, can be determined with different levels of detail depending on the available auxiliary data and knowledge of the territory. These risk factors are subject to short-term variations and nowadays turn out to be easily mappable and evaluable through remotely sensed data and GIS (Geographic Information System) tools. In this work, we propose a qualitative approach at municipal scale for producing a “specific risk” map, supported by recent satellite PSI (Persistent Scatterer Interferometry) data derived from SENTINEL-1 C-band images in the spanning time 2014–2017, implemented in a GIS environment. In particular, PSI measurements are useful for the updating of a landslide inventory map of the area of interest and are exploited for the zonation map of the intensity of ground movements, needed for evaluating the vulnerability over the study area. Our procedure is presented throughout the application to the Volterra basin and the output map could be useful to support the local authorities with updated basic information required for environmental knowledge and planning at municipal level. Moreover, the proposed procedure is easily managed and repeatable in other case studies, as well as exploiting different SAR sensors in L- or X-band.
Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)-Enhanced Chemical Functionalization of Gold Films
Authors: Greco Gina , Agostini Matteo , Shilton Richie , Travagliati Marco , Signore Giovanni , Cecchini Marco
Published: October 2017

Surface chemical and biochemical functionalization is a fundamental process that is widely applied in many fields to add new functions, features, or capabilities to a material’s surface. Here, we demonstrate that surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can enhance the chemical functionalization of gold films. This is shown by using an integrated biochip composed by a microfluidic channel coupled to a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) readout system and by monitoring the adhesion of biotin-thiol on the gold SPR areas in different conditions. In the case of SAW-induced streaming, the functionalization efficiency is improved ≈ 5 times with respect to the case without SAWs. The technology here proposed can be easily applied to a wide variety of biological systems (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids) and devices (e.g., sensors, devices for cell cultures).
Inferring Interaction Force from Visual Information without Using Physical Force Sensors
Authors: Hwang Wonjun , Lim Soo-Chul
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we present an interaction force estimation method that uses visual information rather than that of a force sensor. Specifically, we propose a novel deep learning-based method utilizing only sequential images for estimating the interaction force against a target object, where the shape of the object is changed by an external force. The force applied to the target can be estimated by means of the visual shape changes. However, the shape differences in the images are not very clear. To address this problem, we formulate a recurrent neural network-based deep model with fully-connected layers, which models complex temporal dynamics from the visual representations. Extensive evaluations show that the proposed learning models successfully estimate the interaction forces using only the corresponding sequential images, in particular in the case of three objects made of different materials, a sponge, a PET bottle, a human arm, and a tube. The forces predicted by the proposed method are very similar to those measured by force sensors.
Modeling of Thermal Phase Noise in a Solid Core Photonic Crystal Fiber-Optic Gyroscope
Authors: Song Ningfang , Ma Kun , Jin Jing , Teng Fei , Cai Wei
Published: October 2017

A theoretical model of the thermal phase noise in a square-wave modulated solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope has been established, and then verified by measurements. The results demonstrate a good agreement between theory and experiment. The contribution of the thermal phase noise to the random walk coefficient of the gyroscope is derived. A fiber coil with 2.8 km length is used in the experimental solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope, showing a random walk coefficient of 9.25 × 10−5 deg/√h.
Waveguide Bragg Gratings in Ormocer®s for Temperature Sensing
Authors: Girschikofsky Maiko , Rosenberger Manuel , Förthner Michael , Rommel Mathias , Frey Lothar , Hellmann Ralf
Published: October 2017

Embedded channel waveguide Bragg gratings are fabricated in the Ormocer® hybrid polymers OrmoComp®, OrmoCore, and OrmoClad by employing a single writing step technique based on phase mask technology and KrF excimer laser irradiation. All waveguide Bragg gratings exhibit well-defined reflection peaks within the telecom wavelengths range with peak heights of up to 35 dB and −3 dB-bandwidths of down to 95 pm. Furthermore, the dependency of the fabricated embedded channel waveguide Bragg gratings on changes of the temperature and relative humidity are investigated. Here, we found that the Bragg grating in OrmoComp® is significantly influenced by humidity variations, while the Bragg gratings in OrmoCore and OrmoClad exhibit linear and considerably high temperature sensitivities of up to −250 pm/ ∘ C and a linear dependency on the relative humidity in the range of −9 pm/%.
Visions of Illness, Disease, and Sickness in Mobile Health Applications
Authors: Sommervold Margaret , Van der Velden Maja
Published: October 2017

Popular media and public health care discourses describe an increasing number of mobile health technologies. These applications tend to be presented as a means of achieving patient empowerment, patient-centered care, and cost-reduction in public health care. Few of these accounts examine the health perspectives informing these technologies or the practices of the users of mobile health applications and the kind of data they collect. This article proposes a critical approach to analyzing digital health technologies based on different visions of disease, namely disease, illness, and sickness. The proposed analytical classification system is applied to a set of “mobile health solutions” presented by the Norwegian Technology Council and juxtaposed with the reported use and non-use of several mobile health applications among young patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The discussion shows how visions on health and disease can affect a patient’s embodied experiences of a physical condition, and, secondly, illustrates how the particular vision inscribed in a mobile health technology can be negotiated to include the patient’s vision.
Why Promote Improved Fallows as a Climate-Smart Agroforestry Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Authors: Partey Samuel , Zougmoré Robert , Ouédraogo Mathieu , Thevathasan Naresh
Published: October 2017

In the literature, a lot is discussed about how agroforestry can achieve the mitigation, adaptation and productivity goals of climate-smart agriculture (CSA). However, this may be relatively too broad to assess the trade-offs and synergies of how specific agroforestry technologies or practices achieve the three pillars of CSA. Here, we provide an overview of how improved fallows (an agroforestry technology consisting of planting mainly legume tree/shrub species in rotation with cultivated crops) may achieve the goals of climate-smart agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Our review showed that improved fallow systems have real potential to contribute to food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation in SSA. Under proper management, improved fallows can increase maize yields to about 6 t ha−1, which is comparable to conventional maize yields under fertilization. This is attributed to improved soil fertility and nutrient use efficiency. Although data was generally limited, the growing literature showed that improved fallows increased soil carbon sequestration and reduced greenhouse emissions. Further, as a multiple output land use system, improved fallows may increase fodder availability during dry periods and provide substantial biomass for charcoal production. These livelihood options may become important financial safety nets during off seasons or in the event of crop failures. This notwithstanding, the adoption of improved fallows is mainly in Southern and Eastern Africa, where over 20,000 farmers are now using Sesbania sesban, Tephrosia vogelii, and Cajanus cajan in two-year fallows followed by maize rotations. Land tenure issues, lack of social capital, and improved germplasm and accessions of fallow species have been cited as constraints to scaling up. However, development of seed orchards, nursery development, and the willingness of policy makers to create a policy environment that addresses market failures and alleviates disincentives should improve adoption and future scaling up.
A Multi-Objective Trade-Off Model in Sustainable Construction Projects
Authors: Wu Guangdong
Published: October 2017

Based on the consideration of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives and the inherent nature of sustainable construction projects, this study proposes that the contractor can balance the levels of efforts and resources used to improve the overall project sustainability. A multi-objective trade-off model using game theory was established and verified through simulation and numerical example under a moral hazard situation. Results indicate that effort levels of the contractor on sustainability-related objectives are positively related to the outcome coefficient while negatively to the coefficients of effort cost of the relevant objectives. High levels of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives contribute to high levels of effort of the contractor. With the variation in effort levels and the coefficient of benefit allocation, the project net benefit increases before declining. The function of project benefit has a marked peak value, with an inverted “U” shape. An equilibrium always exists as for the given relative importance and coefficients of the effort costs of sustainability-related objectives. Under this condition, the owner may offer the contractor a less intense incentive and motivate the contractor reasonably arranging input resources. The coefficient of benefit allocation is affected by the contractor characteristic factors and the project characteristic factors. The owner should balance these two types of factors and select the most appropriate incentive mechanism to improve the project benefit. Meanwhile, the contractor can balance the relative importance of the objectives and arrange the appropriate levels of effort and resources to achieve a sustainability-related objective. Very few studies have emphasized the effects of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives on the benefits of sustainable construction projects. This study therefore builds a multi-objective trade-off model to bridge this research gap. This study sheds significant theoretical and practical insights regarding the objective management of sustainability-related objectives, as well as insights into the improvement of performance in sustainable construction projects.
How Have Political Incentives for Local Officials Reduced Environmental Pollution in Resource-Depleted Cities?
Authors: Zhang Huiming , Xiong Lifang , Qiu Yueming , Zhou Dequn
Published: October 2017

Chinese resource-exhausted cities face more severe environmental pollution problems than other cities. In addressing these problems, the way local officials (usually senior party and government leaders) operate is very important, as their focus on political achievements may complicate how they manage environmental pollution in these cities. On the one hand, the traditional Gross Domestic Product-based quest for political achievement may lead top leaders to de-emphasize environmental pollution. On the other hand, changes made in 2003 to the way the performance of Chinese officials is evaluated have encouraged some local senior party and government leaders to pay more attention to environmental problems. Based on this, we analyze the relationship between political incentives and environmental pollution by applying the 2004–2014 panel data from 37 resource-exhausted cities. The findings reveal that firstly, among the factors which impact the environmental pollution of resource-exhausted cities, investment in fixed assets, foreign direct investment, industrial structure, per-capita education expenditure, and population density do not have a significant impact, thus indicating that local openness levels, the degree of industrial upgrading, and local investment in fixed assets are not the key variables in environmental pollution control. Secondly, the extent to which officials vie for political achievement affects environmental pollution in resource-exhausted cities. This depends upon whether the officials are municipal party secretaries or mayors; the former play a greater dynamic role in environmental pollution and have stronger robustness than the latter. The conclusion verifies both the existing authority structure of China and its effectiveness in the control of environmental pollution of resource-exhausted cities. That is to say, in contrast to the principles of the party committees, the mayors are in a subordinate position and often fail to fully and effectively exercise their functions. Accordingly, we point out that the selection of municipal party secretaries, rather than mayors, is particularly important in coming to terms with local environmental pollution.
Developing Sustainable Workplaces with Leadership: Feedback about Organizational Working Conditions to Support Leaders in Health-Promoting Behavior
Authors: Jiménez Paul , Winkler Bianca , Bregenzer Anita
Published: October 2017

Organizations should support leaders in promoting their employees’ health in every possible way to achieve a sustainable workplace. A good way to support leaders could include getting feedback about their health-promoting behavior from their employees. The present study introduces an instrument (Health-Promoting Leadership Conditions; HPLC) that enables the provision of feedback about the leaders’ efforts to create health-promoting working conditions in seven key aspects: health awareness, workload, control, reward, community, fairness and value-fit. The instrument was used in employee surveys and in an online study, obtaining a sample of 430 participants. The results showed that all seven key aspects of health-promoting leadership can be assigned to a main factor of health-promoting leadership. In addition, the HPLC shows high construct validity with dimensions of stress, resources and burnout (Recovery-Stress- Questionnaire for Work [RESTQ-Work] and Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey [MBI-GS]). The results indicate that the HPLC can be used as a basis on which to assess health-promoting leadership behavior with a focus on changing working conditions. By getting feedback about their leadership behavior from their employees, leaders can identify their potential and fields for improvement for supporting their employees’ health and developing a sustainable workplace.
Jatropha Suppliers as Contributors to the Sustainability of the Production of Bioelectricity in Ecuador
Authors: Muñoz Mayorga Marilyn , Iglesias Martínez Eva , Caldés Gómez Natalia
Published: October 2017

The “Jatropha for Galápagos” (JFG) project in Ecuador aims to progressively replace diesel with jatropha oil in the generation of electricity in The Galápagos Islands. Thus, understanding and motivating the participation of jatropha suppliers is a priority for the sustainability of JFG. For this reason, the factors influencing their decision-making to participate in the project have been identified and analyzed using a binomial logit model. The results show that factors found to positively influence the likelihood of participation include, amongst others, the supplier’s experience within the project, their participation in local organizations, and the degree of satisfaction with the price of jatropha oil. In addition, children from producer families’ collaboration in the harvest of jatropha increases the overall likelihood of participation within the project. Similarly, the distance to the collection center positively influences the chances of participation. Conversely, those suppliers with higher wages and those who declared that jatropha harvest starts in April have a reduced likelihood of participating in the project. The findings obtained from this project can help decision-makers develop new measures to improve the sustainability of the project through initiatives to motivate the participation of jatropha suppliers in the program.
Impact Analysis of Economic Contributors on Knowledge Creation Activity by Using the Symmetric Decomposition Method
Authors: Kim Kyunam , Shin Jungwoo , Choi Jae
Published: October 2017

Recently, several studies using various methods for analysis have tried to evaluate factors affecting knowledge creation activity, but few analyses quantitatively account for the impact that economic determinants have on them. This paper introduces a non-parametric method to structurally analyze changes in information and communication technology (ICT) patenting trends as representative outcomes of knowledge creation activity with economic indicators. For this, the authors established a symmetric model that enables several economic contributors to be decomposed through the perspective of ICTs’ research and development (R&D) performance, industrial change, and overall manufacturing growth. Additionally, an empirical analysis of some countries from 2001 to 2009 was conducted through this model. This paper found that all countries except the United States experienced an increase of 10.5–267.4% in ICT patent applications, despite fluctuations in the time series. It is interesting that the changes in ICT patenting of each country generally have a negative relationship with the intensity of each country’s patent protection system. Positive determinants include ICT R&D productivity and overall manufacturing growth, while ICT industrial change is a negative determinant in almost all countries. This paper emphasizes that each country needs to design strategic plans for effective ICT innovation. In particular, ICT innovation activities need to be promoted by increasing ICT R&D investment and developing the ICT industry, since ICT R&D intensity and ICT industrial change generally have a low contribution to ICT patenting.
Dewatering and Treatment of Septage Using Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Tan Yee , Tang Fu , Ho Carrie , Jong Valerie
Published: October 2017

The vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) has become an attractive decentralised technology for septage treatment. One of the main purposes of the septage treatment is to reduce the volume of raw septage through dewatering, where the solids content is retained in the wetland bed and the water content is released. The retention of solids forms a layer of sludge deposit at the wetland surface, and the drained water, the so-called leachate, typically contains a lower solids content. This article reports the performance of dewatering and filtration of a pilot-scale VFCW designed for septage treatment. A comparison between two feeding strategies, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and solids loading rate (SLR), is presented. The dewatering efficiency through drainage was found to be dependent on the solids load. The removal of total solids (TS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were excellent as the quality of leachate showed that more than 90% of TS and COD were retained in the system. This study reveals that the feeding based on SLR delivered a more sustainable performance for dewatering and solids removal. The build-up of sludge deposit significantly deteriorated the dewatering efficiency through drainage, but it tended to improve the filtration capacity.
An Archaeosome-Adjuvanted Vaccine and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Combination Significantly Enhances Protection from Murine Melanoma
Authors: Stark Felicity , Weeratna Risini , Deschatelets Lise , Gurnani Komal , Dudani Renu , McCluskie Michael , Krishnan Lakshmi
Published: October 2017

Archaeosomes constitute archaeal lipid vesicle vaccine adjuvants that evoke a strong CD8+ T cell response to antigenic cargo. Therapeutic treatment of murine B16-ovalbumin (B16-OVA) melanoma with archaeosome-OVA eliminates small subcutaneous solid tumors; however, they eventually resurge despite an increased frequency of circulating and tumor infiltrating OVA-CD8+ T cells. Herein, a number of different approaches were evaluated to improve responses, including dose number, interval, and the combination of vaccine with checkpoint inhibitors. Firstly, we found that tumor protection could not be enhanced by repetitive and/or delayed boosting to maximize the CD8+ T cell number and/or phenotype. The in vivo cytotoxicity of vaccine-induced OVA-CD8+ T cells was impaired in tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, tumor-infiltrating OVA-CD8+ T cells had an increased expression of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) compared to other organ compartments, suggesting impaired function. Combination therapy of tumor-bearing mice with the vaccine archaeosome-OVA, and α-CTLA-4 administered concurrently as well as α-PD-1 and an α-PD-L1 antibody administered starting 9 days after tumor challenge given on a Q3Dx4 schedule (days 9, 12, 15 and 18), significantly enhanced survival. Following multi-combination therapy ~70% of mice had rapid tumor recession, with no detectable tumor mass after >80 days in comparison to a median survival of 17–22 days for untreated or experimental groups receiving single therapies. Overall, archaeosomes offer a powerful platform for delivering cancer antigens when used in combination with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.
Robust Meter Network for Water Distribution Pipe Burst Detection
Authors: Jung Donghwi , Kim Joong
Published: October 2017

A meter network is a set of meters installed throughout a water distribution system to measure system variables, such as the pipe flow rate and pressure. In the current hyper-connected world, meter networks are being exposed to meter failure conditions, such as malfunction of the meter’s physical system and communication system failure. Therefore, a meter network’s robustness should be secured for reliable provision of informative meter data. This paper introduces a multi-objective optimal meter placement model that maximizes the detection probability, minimizes false alarms, and maximizes the robustness of a meter network given a predefined number of meters. A meter network’s robustness is defined as its ability to consistently provide quality data in the event of meter failure. Based on a single-meter failure simulation, a robustness indicator for the meter network is introduced and maximized as the third objective of the proposed model. The proposed model was applied to the Austin network to determine the independent placement of pipe flow and pressure meters with three or five available meters. The results showed that the proposed model is a useful tool for determining meter locations to secure high detectability and robustness.
Development and characterization of genomic SSR markers for Anneslea fragrans (Pentaphylacaceae)1
Authors: Sun Lijing , Meng Kaikai , Liao Boyong , Li Chunmei , Zhang Yue , Liao Wenbo , Chen Sufang
Published: October 2017

Premise of the study:

The genus Anneslea (Pentaphylacaceae) contains four species and six varieties, most of which are locally endemic. Here, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed for the conservation of these species.

Methods and Results:

The genome of A. fragrans was sequenced and de novo assembled into 445,162 contigs, of which 30,409 SSR loci were detected. Primers for 100 SSR loci were validated with PCR amplification in three populations of A. fragrans. Seventy‐nine loci successfully amplified, and 30 were polymorphic. The mean number of alleles, observed heterozygosity, and expected heterozygosity were 7.01 ± 1.60, 0.817 ± 0.241, and 0.796 ± 0.145, respectively. Most primers could be amplified in Ternstroemia gymnanthera, T. kwangtungensis, and Cleyera pachyphylla.

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrated that shotgun genome sequencing is an efficient way to develop genomic SSR markers for nonmodel species. These genomic SSR loci will be valuable in population genetic studies in Anneslea and its relatives.
On the Effects of Pickup Ion-driven Waves on the Diffusion Tensor of Low-energy Electrons in the Heliosphere
Authors: Engelbrecht N. Eugene
Published: October 2017

The effects of Alfvén cyclotron waves generated due to the formation in the outer heliosphere of pickup ions on the transport coefficients of low-energy electrons is investigated here. To this end, parallel mean free path (MFP) expressions are derived from quasilinear theory, employing the damping model of dynamical turbulence. These are then used as inputs for existing expressions for the perpendicular MFP and turbulence-reduced drift coefficient. Using outputs generated by a two-component turbulence transport model, the resulting diffusion coefficients are compared with those derived using a more typically assumed turbulence spectral form, which neglects the effects of pickup ion-generated waves. It is found that the inclusion of pickup ion effects greatly leads to considerable reductions in the parallel and perpendicular MFPs of 1–10 MeV electrons beyond ∼10 au, which are argued to have significant consequences for studies of the transport of these particles.
Optimization of territories and transport routes for hazardous products in a distribution network
Authors: Velarde Cantú José Manuel , Bueno Solano Alfredo , Lagarda Leyva Ernesto Alonso , Lopez Acosta Mauricio
Published: October 2017

In a system of distribution of products are involved in different factors that determine their efficiency, profitability or optimal state, among these factors is the type of goods to be collected or delivered, it must also be considered the physical-chemical composition, hazard index to transport etc., in this sense, exist different standards for collection, delivery and transportation of such material causing with it an increase in operating costs associated with territory design and planning of distribution routes, the current paper present a general model based in mixed integer programming which integrates both problems, seeking to minimize the total distance traveled by the vehicle in each territory. It should be noted that one of the main features of this model is that it only considers the collection of goods in the distribution network which gives us the opportunity to offer low-cost solutions in terms of time and quality, addressing the specific and general characteristics of the emerging markets in Mexico
The role of knowledge management in supply chain management: A literature review
Authors: Pérez-Salazar María del Rosario , Aguilar Lasserre Alberto Alfonso , Cedillo-Campos Miguel Gastón , Hernández González José Carlos
Published: October 2017

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to examine the state of knowledge management research in supply chain management from three standpoints, methodological approach, supply chain management area, and knowledge management processes.Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this, a systematic review is conducted over the period 2000-2014 on the basis of a qualitative content analysis.Findings: Major results showed that knowledge management can be viewed as a leverage mechanism for: (i) supply chain integration; (ii) the enhancement of intra and inter-relations across the supply chain; (iii) supply chain strategy alignment; and (iv) the reinforcement of knowledge transfer in product development. Some supply chain management areas such as reverse logistics, inventory management, forecasting/demand planning, outsourcing, and risk management have been explored only to some extent. Furthermore, knowledge transfer is being studied in the majority of the articles, mainly by both case study and survey approach; mathematical models and simulation techniques are used in very limited articles. Findings concerning theoretical perspectives and managerial issues are also described.Research limitations/implications: The limitation of our study encompasses the aspects of search period (2000-2014), selection of search databases (Web of Science and SCOPUS and language selection (English).Practical implications: The exhibition of the KM processes within the SC context may help practitioners and managers interested in implementing KM initiatives to replicate the methodologies in order to increase the possibilities of a successful KM adoption.Originality/value: The systematic review will contribute to the understanding of the present state of research in the knowledge management theory, with focus on the supply chain, as there are no state-of-knowledge studies that report a systematic literature review approach.
Dynamic impact of the structure of the supply chain of perishable foods on logistics performance and food security
Authors: Orjuela Castro Javier Arturo , Adarme Jaimes Wilson
Published: October 2017

Purpose: Understanding how the structure affects logistical performance and food security is critical in the supply chains of perishable foods (PFSC). This research proposes a system dynamics model to analyze the effects of structures: lean, agile, flexible, responsive and resilient, in the overall performance and of each agent of the PFSC.Design/methodology/approach: Using a system dynamics model and design of experiments it is studied how the different structures and their combination, affect the behavior of inventory, transportation, responsiveness, efficiency, availability and quality-safety of the fresh fruits supply chain and each echelon.Findings: The studies of supply chains have been done for each structure in an independent way; investigations are scarce in supply chains of perishable foods. The structures modeled in this research do not show the better performance in all the metrics of the chain, neither in all agents for each structure. The above implies the presence of trade-offs.Research limitations/implications: The results show the need to investigate mixed structures with the FPSC´s own characteristics; the model can be applied in other supply chains of perishable foods.Practical implications: Management by combining structures in the FFSC, improves logistics performance and contributes to food security.Social implications: The agents of the FFSC can apply the structures found in this study, to improve their logistics performance and the food security.Originality/value: The dynamics of individual and combined structures were identified, which constitutes a contribution to the discussion in the literature of such problems for FFSC. The model includes six echelons: farmers, wholesalers, agro-industry, third-party logistics operators and retailers. The dynamic contemplates deterioration rate to model perishability and others losses.
A multi-criteria vertical coordination framework for a reliable aid distribution
Authors: Regis-Hernández Fabiola , Mora-Vargas Jaime , Ruíz Angel
Published: October 2017

Purpose: This study proposes a methodology that translates multiple humanitarian supply chain stakeholders’ preferences from qualitative to quantitative values, enabling these preferences to be integrated into optimization models to ensure their balanced and simultaneous implementation during the decision-making process.Design/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review is used to justify the importance of developing a strategy that minimizes the impact of a lack of coordination on humanitarian logistics decisions. A methodology for a multi-criteria framework is presented that allows humanitarian stakeholders’ interests to be integrated into the humanitarian decision-making process.Findings: The findings suggest that integrating stakeholders’ interests into the humanitarian decision-making process will improve its reliability.Research limitations/implications: To further validate the weights of each stakeholder’s interests obtained from the literature review requires interviews with the corresponding organizations. However, the literature review supports the statements in this paper.Practical implications: The cost of a lack of coordination between stakeholders in humanitarian logistics has been increasing during the last decade. These coordination costs can be minimized if humanitarian logistics’ decision-makers measure and simultaneously consider multiple stakeholders’ preferences.Social implications: When stakeholders’ goals are aligned, the humanitarian logistics response becomes more efficient, increasing the quality of delivered aid and providing timely assistance to the affected population in order to minimize their suffering.Originality/value: This study provides a methodology that translates humanitarian supply chain stakeholders’ interests into quantitative values, enabling them to be integrated into mathematical models to ensure relief distribution based on the stakeholders’ preferences.
The Dispersion Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Viscoelastic Properties of Epoxy by Perez Model
Authors: Montazeri Arash , Chitsazzadeh Majid , Azad Roksana , Madah Dorsa
Published: October 2017

This article describes the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into the epoxy as well as dispersing media during fabrication were used as factors to investigate the viscoelastic properties of epoxy/MWCNT nanocomposite. The quality of the dispersion was evaluated through studying the rheological and viscoelastic properties. The Perez model was then applied to analyze the viscoelastic behavior. Also, activation energy of the glass transition relaxation was calculated. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the dispersion state of MWCNT. The results showed that the best rheological and viscoelastic properties were obtained for 1 wt.% MWCNT dispersed in epoxy in the presence of solvent.
Renewable Energy Consumption and its Impact on Economic Growth of OPEC Members
Authors: Tafti Mohamad Ali Dehghan , Mottaghitalab Ahad
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this article is evaluating the effect of renewable energy on economy growth. Therefore, the production function has been examined in OPEC members in 2012-2016 using the dynamic board data based on energy consumption. The results reveal that among variables, the existence of capital, economical active forces, and unrenewable energy consumption have had a positive and decent meaning on the real gross national product in OPEC members. In addition, the coefficient of renewable energy consumption logarithm has not had sense statistically. On the other hand, a one-percent raise in the consumption of renewable energies in OPEC members has increased the gross national product up to 0.05 percent meaningfully. Energy has been considered as one the crucial keys in production process as long as work force and capital. Thus, the rise in energy consumption can lead to growth in production and economic level. So, by increasing renewable energy consumption in OPEC members, dramatic economic growth has occurred.
Applications of Chemoinformatics in Predictive Toxicology for Regulatory Purposes, Especially in the Context of the EU REACH Legislation
Authors: Gozalbes Rafael , Vicente de Julián-Ortiz Jesús
Published: October 2017

Chemoinformatics methodologies such as QSAR/QSPR have been used for decades in drug discovery projects, especially for the finding of new compounds with therapeutic properties and the optimization of ADME properties on chemical series. The application of computational techniques in predictive toxicology is much more recent, and they are experiencing an increasingly interest because of the new legal requirements imposed by national and international regulations. In the pharmaceutical field, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) support the use of predictive models for regulatory decision-making when assessing the genotoxic and carcinogenic potential of drug impurities. In Europe, the REACH legislation promotes the use of QSAR in order to reduce the huge amount of animal testing needed to demonstrate the safety of new chemical entities subjected to registration, provided they meet specific conditions to ensure their quality and predictive power. In this review, the authors summarize the state of art of in silico methods for regulatory purposes, with especial emphasis on QSAR models.
Strategies of Virtual Screening in Medicinal Chemistry
Authors: Passeri Giovanna Ilaria , Trisciuzzi Daniela , Alberga Domenico , Siragusa Lydia , Leonetti Francesco , Mangiatordi Giuseppe F. , Nicolotti Orazio
Published: October 2017

Virtual screening represents an effective computational strategy to rise-up the chances of finding new bioactive compounds by accelerating the time needed to move from an initial intuition to market. Classically, the most pursued approaches rely on ligand- and structure-based studies, the former employed when structural data information about the target is missing while the latter employed when X-ray/NMR solved or homology models are instead available for the target. The authors will focus on the most advanced techniques applied in this area. In particular, they will survey the key concepts of virtual screening by discussing how to properly select chemical libraries, how to make database curation, how to applying and- and structure-based techniques, how to wisely use post-processing methods. Emphasis will be also given to the most meaningful databases used in VS protocols. For the ease of discussion several examples will be presented.
Critical Evaluation of Hazards Operability Versus Safety Integrity Risk Analysis Techniques
Authors: Malik Mohammed
Published: October 2017

Many companies follow very systematic methodology for carrying out execution of Mega projects. Project risks are identified, analyzed and proposed mitigation actions are identified and agreed upon. This activity is carried out in Project Risk Workshop. While SIL and HAZOP workshops are broadly related to the process design. HAZOP technique is a highly disciplined and systematic in nature; it attempts to identify how a process may deviate from the design intent. The emphasis in the HAZOP study is on identifying potential problems, not necessarily solving them. SIL studies is a specialized area of Instrumentation and Control systems. The requirement for the safety instrumented system (SIS) is defined by SIL Levels. It identifies and analyzes layers of protection of major process upsets and emergencies. The SIL requirement tells how reliable a safety instrumented function needs to be. SIL determination and verification are part of inherent plant design for a chemical plant. This short article discusses these key concepts one by one and addresses their correlation with one another.
Reflexive Tourism Supply Chain Management
Authors: Li Chiung-Li , Lin Yun-Hui , Chen Yi-Hsuan , Lo Wei-Shuo
Published: October 2017

This article is on the practical framework of reflexive tourism supply chain management as it is proposed for enhancing students' understanding of sustainability. The practical framework consists of three phases through a case study examination of a local community. The three phases are (1) including program design in the upstream tourism industry, (2) travel to a local community in the downstream tourism industry, and (3) reflexive learning of understanding of sustainability. The study contributions propose that a practical framework can enhance students' green consciousness with critical thinking, make sustainability learning more interesting for students, and allow students to gain personal understanding from cognition, experience, and reflexive contexts in Asia-Pacific higher education.
Effectiveness of WhatsApp
Authors: Khatun Asma , Al-Dhlan Kawther A.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this article is to propose a method which is to use the WhatsApp social media tool, as one of the teaching and learning strategies for the purpose of active, engaging and interaction among students and teachers in a course in the Hail University (UoH), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The scope of this article is not only limited to enhance interaction with students in a classroom, but also to discover the effectiveness of this new technique outside the classroom as an additional guide. This article also finds that the method has two types of direct impacts both in classroom engagement and utilization outside the classroom, among students and instructor. The proposed method is initially implemented with 13 closed end survey questionnaires among 75 Computer Science & Engineering students based on the view of students use and availability of social media usage. T-test sample-based methods are used to measure the performance of the proposed hypothesis and the result indicates that WhatsApp is one the best possible effective tools for enhancing interaction among students and teachers.
FOETAL HAEMOGLOBIN AND DISEASE SEVERITY IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA.
Authors: Adeodu Oluwagbemiga , Akinlosotu Morenike , Adegoke Samuel , Oseni Saheed
Published: October 2017

Background: Foetal haemoglobin (HbF) is a major modifying factor influencing sickle cell disease (SCD) severity. Despite this, HbF estimation is not routinely done in Nigeria. Relationship between HbF and SCD severity among affected children is also poorly studied.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we determined the relationship between steady state HbF levels and disease severity of Nigerian children aged 1 – 15 years with homozygous SCD. For each child, the socio-demographic characteristics and SCD clinical severity were determined. The latter was assessed based on the frequency of significant painful episodes, blood transfusion, and hospitalization in the preceding 12 months; lifetime cummulative incidence of SCD-related complications; degree of splenic and hepatic enlargement; current haematocrit and leucocyte count, as previously described. Foetal haemoglobin levels were quantified with high performance liquid chromatography.Results: The mean HbF level of the 105 children with SCA was 9.9 ± 6.0%. Male had significantly lower mean HbF levels than females, 8.0 ± 5.6% vs. 12.2 ± 5.8% (p < 0.001). None of the children had severe disease. However, those with moderate disease had significantly lower mean foetal haemoglobin levels than those with mild disease (7.7 ± 5.6% vs. 10.8 ± 6.0% respectively). The mean HbF level was also significantly lower in children who had history of acute chest syndrome and stroke compared to those without these complications,   p = 0.002 and 0.010 respectively.Conclusion: Children with SCA who had moderate disease and those with history of life threatening complications such as stroke and acute chest syndrome had significantly low HbF. Therefore it is recommended that facilities for early quantification of foetal haemoglobin and HbF inducement be made available in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality among these children.
Myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q: a yet to be defined entity
Authors: Lamprianidou Eleftheria , Kordella Chryssoula , Papoutselis Menelaos , Bezyrgiannidou Zoi , Nakou Evangelia , Papamichos Spyros , Spanoudakis Emmanouil , Giannopoulos Andreas , Zoi Katerina , Kotsianidis Ioannis
Published: October 2017

It has been suggested that myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q[MN i(17q)] comprise a distinct entity with poor prognosis. However, literature reports show a considerable clinical and molecular heterogeneity. We describe a 58-year-old male patient who was diagnosed as refractory anemia with multilineage dysplasia and ringed sideroblasts with isolated i(17q). Though he initially responded well to erythropoietin, he gradually progressed to an aggressive form of MDS/MPN refractory to azacytidine and died 29 months after first diagnosis. Notably, in contrast to disease advancement, his karyotype reverted to normal, whereas his mutational profile remained unchanged. To our knowledge this is the first report of karyotype normalization during disease progression in patients with MN i(17q), suggesting that the i(17q) anomaly is dispensable for the leukemic transformation and highlighting the underlying clinical and molecular complexity which both have to be resolved before the establishment of MN with isolated i(17q) as a distinct entity.
Influence of Thermistor Probe Depth from the Anterior Nares on Measurement of Nasopharyngeal Temperature
Authors: Sato Hiroaki , Yamakage Michiaki , Okuyama Katsumi , Imai Yusuke , Iwashita Hironobu , Masamune Taishi , Ishimaya Tadahiko , Matsukawa Takashi
Published: October 2017

Nasopharyngeal temperature is allegedly accurate and is generally used during cardiopulmonary bypass for open-heart surgery. However, adequate depth from the anterior nares to measure nasopharyngeal temperature has not been evaluated. To test whether nasopharyngeal temperature is sufficiently accurate and precise for clinical use and to clarify the suitable depth of insertion, we compared nasopharyngeal temperature measurements to simultaneous tympanic temperature measurements during open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Subjects comprised 4 women and 6 men undergoing cardiac surgery with a target core temperature of 32 °C. Nasopharyngeal temperature was measured at 4 sites by placing thermocouples in the nasal cavity in 1-cm increments starting at 2 cm from the anterior nares. The reference temperature (tympanic temperature) was measured at the right tympanic membrane using a thermocouple. Both temperatures were measured every 5 min and compared using correlation coefficients of linear regression (r2) and bias (mean difference between the two methods). Compared to tympanic temperature, nasopharyngeal temperature showed regression slopes of 0.91–1.03 and correlation coefficients of 0.55–0.65 at all 4 depths. Accuracy (offset or bias) was 0.9–2.1 °C compared to tympanic temperature. Precision (standard deviation) of measurements was 0.8–1.2 °C. Nasopharyngeal temperature collected at 2 cm varied the most from tympanic temperature. In conclusion, the reliability of TNaso is low for monitoring core body temperature during open-heart surgery with CPB, particularly if the probe is placed at a shallow depth from the anterior nares. Nasopharyngeal temperature obtained closest to the anterior nares (2 cm) were the least accurate.