bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyperspectral Unmixing with Bandwise Generalized Bilinear Model
Authors: Li Chang , Liu Yu , Cheng Juan , Song Rencheng , Peng Hu , Chen Qiang , Chen Xun
Published: October 2018

Generalized bilinear model (GBM) has received extensive attention in the field of hyperspectral nonlinear unmixing. Traditional GBM unmixing methods are usually assumed to be degraded only by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), and the intensity of AWGN in each band of hyperspectral image (HSI) is assumed to be the same. However, the real HSIs are usually degraded by mixture of various kinds of noise, which include Gaussian noise, impulse noise, dead pixels or lines, stripes, and so on. Besides, the intensity of AWGN is usually different for each band of HSI. To address the above mentioned issues, we propose a novel nonlinear unmixing method based on the bandwise generalized bilinear model (NU-BGBM), which can be adapted to the presence of complex mixed noise in real HSI. Besides, the alternative direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is adopted to solve the proposed NU-BGBM. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed NU-BGBM compared with some other state-of-the-art unmixing methods.
Sensitivity of Evapotranspiration Components in Remote Sensing-Based Models
Authors: Talsma Carl J. , Good Stephen P. , Miralles Diego G. , Fisher Joshua B. , Martens Brecht , Jimenez Carlos , Purdy Adam J.
Published: October 2018

Accurately estimating evapotranspiration (ET) at large spatial scales is essential to our understanding of land-atmosphere coupling and the surface balance of water and energy. Comparisons between remote sensing-based ET models are difficult due to diversity in model formulation, parametrization and data requirements. The constituent components of ET have been shown to deviate substantially among models as well as between models and field estimates. This study analyses the sensitivity of three global ET remote sensing models in an attempt to isolate the error associated with forcing uncertainty and reveal the underlying variables driving the model components. We examine the transpiration, soil evaporation, interception and total ET estimates of the Penman-Monteith model from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (PM-MOD), the Priestley-Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory model (PT-JPL) and the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM) at 42 sites where ET components have been measured using field techniques. We analyse the sensitivity of the models based on the uncertainty of the input variables and as a function of the raw value of the variables themselves. We find that, at 10% added uncertainty levels, the total ET estimates from PT-JPL, PM-MOD and GLEAM are most sensitive to Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (%RMSD = 100.0), relative humidity (%RMSD = 122.3) and net radiation (%RMSD = 7.49), respectively. Consistently, systemic bias introduced by forcing uncertainty in the component estimates is mitigated when components are aggregated to a total ET estimate. These results suggest that slight changes to forcing may result in outsized variation in ET partitioning and relatively smaller changes to the total ET estimates. Our results help to explain why model estimates of total ET perform relatively well despite large inter-model divergence in the individual ET component estimates.
Direct Depth SLAM: Sparse Geometric Feature Enhanced Direct Depth SLAM System for Low-Texture Environments
Authors: Zhao Shibo , Fang Zheng
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a real-time, robust and low-drift depth-only SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) method for depth cameras by utilizing both dense range flow and sparse geometry features from sequential depth images. The proposed method is mainly composed of three optimization layers, namely Direct Depth layer, ICP (Iterative closest point) Refined layer and Graph Optimization layer. The Direct Depth layer uses a range flow constraint equation to solve the fast 6-DOF (six degrees of freedom) frame-to-frame pose estimation problem. Then, the ICP Refined layer is used to reduce the local drift by applying local map based motion estimation strategy. After that, we propose a loop closure detection algorithm by extracting and matching sparse geometric features and construct a pose graph for the purpose of global pose optimization. We evaluate the performance of our method using benchmark datasets and real scene data. Experiment results show that our front-end algorithm clearly over performs the classic methods and our back-end algorithm is robust to find loop closures and reduce the global drift.
The Effects of Regional Characteristics and Policies on Individual Pro-Environmental Behavior in China
Authors: Hong Zhe , Park In Kwon
Published: October 2018

As the Chinese economy grows, Chinese people’s environmental behavior enormously affects the environment of neighboring countries as well as China. Many studies have related environmental behavior to personal characteristics such as environmental knowledge and attitude or to national policies such as environmental taxes and regulations. Few studies have looked at how regional factors affect residents’ environmental behaviors, particularly for China. This is a substantive gap in the literature regarding the effects of regional governments on resident behavior at a closer distance via different mechanisms than the national government. This paper examines determinants of individual pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in terms of regional attributes as well as personal characteristics in China. For this purpose, we applied a multi-level regression model that regresses the degree of PEB on both individual and regional level factors, using Chinese General Social Survey data and the China Environment Yearbook data for the year 2010. The analysis shows that environmental attitude, willingness to pay for the environment, objective and subjective environmental knowledge, and environmental risk perception all promote PEB at the individual level. These results are in line with the existing literature on environmental behavior. In addition, at the regional level, environmental budgets, administrative enforcement, and economic development have positive impacts on resident PEB, while environmental pollution has a negative effect. Specifically, the levels of regional economic development and administrative enforcement not only directly affect behavior, but also indirectly affect behavior by controlling the influence of individual level variables. This means that the relationships between individual level variables and environmental behavior can be changed by regional contextual factors. These results suggest that regional government efforts for the environment can effectively promote PEB.
Ebola Virus Maintenance: If Not (Only) Bats, What Else?
Authors: Caron Alexandre , Bourgarel Mathieu , Cappelle Julien , Liégeois Florian , De Nys Hélène M. , Roger François
Published: October 2018

The maintenance mechanisms of ebolaviruses in African forest ecosystems are still unknown, but indirect evidences point at the involvement of some bat species. Despite intense research, the main bat-maintenance hypothesis has not been confirmed yet. The alternative hypotheses of a non-bat maintenance host or a maintenance community including, or not, several bat and other species, deserves more investigation. However, African forest ecosystems host a large biodiversity and abound in potential maintenance hosts. How does one puzzle out? Since recent studies have revealed that several bat species have been exposed to ebolaviruses, the common denominator to these hypotheses is that within the epidemiological cycle, some bats species must be exposed to the viruses and infected by these potential alternative hosts. Under this constraint, and given the peculiar ecology of bats (roosting behaviour, habitat utilisation, and flight mode), we review the hosts and transmission pathways that can lead to bat exposure and infection to ebolaviruses. In contrast to the capacity of bats to transmit ebolaviruses and other pathogens to many hosts, our results indicate that only a limited number of hosts and pathways can lead to the transmission of ebolaviruses to bats, and that the alternative maintenance host, if it exists, must be amongst them. A list of these pathways is provided, along with protocols to prioritise and investigate these alternative hypotheses. In conclusion, taking into account the ecology of bats and their known involvement in ebolaviruses ecology drastically reduces the list of potential alternative maintenance hosts for ebolaviruses. Understanding the natural history of ebolaviruses is a health priority, and investigating these alternative hypotheses could complete the current effort focused on the role of bats.
Outstanding Videogames on Water: A Quality Assessment Review Based on Evidence of Narrative, Gameplay and Educational Criteria
Authors: Galván-Pérez Laura , Ouariachi Tania , Pozo-Llorente M.ª Teresa , Gutiérrez-Pérez José
Published: October 2018

Videogames have become educational, communicative and social tools among the young, favouring the acquisition of skills, abilities and values, encompassing an endless number of themes, and helping them to experience and to face, in the first person, a great diversity of environmental situations and ecology problems. Thus, the present article aims: (a) to evaluate a sample of 20 educational videogames about water, making use of some empirical criteria of quality; and (b) to design, validate and apply an integrated quality indicator of educational videogames on water, based on the aspects of narrative, gameplay and education, which allows us to obtain a ranking. The findings reflect a ranking of games allowing us to suggest that the nature of the game (simulation, adventures, platforms or questions) does not determine the quality of the game, although generally simulations and adventure games are placed in a range of medium- or high-quality, as well as those games that pursue objectives related to the design and management of a territory in a sustainable way. The paper provides teachers with quality criteria based on narrative and gameplay that complement and enrich the pedagogical dimension.
The High Cadence Transit Survey (HiTS): Compilation and Characterization of Light-curve Catalogs
Authors: Martínez-Palomera Jorge , Förster Francisco , Protopapas Pavlos , Maureira Juan Carlos , Lira Paulina , Cabrera-Vives Guillermo , Huijse Pablo , Galbany Lluis , Jaeger Thomas de , González-Gaitán Santiago , Medina Gustavo , Pignata Giuliano , Martín Jaime San , Hamuy Mario , Muñoz Ricardo R.
Published: October 2018

The High Cadence Transient Survey (HiTS) aims to discover and study transient objects with characteristic timescales between hours and days, such as pulsating, eclipsing, and exploding stars. This survey represents a unique laboratory to explore large etendue observations from cadences of about 0.1 days and test new computational tools for the analysis of large data. This work follows a fully data science approach, from the raw data to the analysis and classification of variable sources. We compile a catalog of ∼15 million object detections and a catalog of ∼2.5 million light curves classified by variability. The typical depth of the survey is 24.2, 24.3, 24.1, and 23.8 in the u, g, r, and i bands, respectively. We classified all point-like nonmoving sources by first extracting features from their light curves and then applying a random forest classifier. For the classification, we used a training set constructed using a combination of cross-matched catalogs, visual inspection, transfer/active learning, and data augmentation. The classification model consists of several random forest classifiers organized in a hierarchical scheme. The classifier accuracy estimated on a test set is approximately 97%. In the unlabeled data, 3485 sources were classified as variables, of which 1321 were classified as periodic. Among the periodic classes, we discovered with high confidence one δ Scuti, 39 eclipsing binaries, 48 rotational variables, and 90 RR Lyrae, and for the nonperiodic classes, we discovered one cataclysmic variable, 630 QSOs, and one supernova candidate. The first data release can be accessed in the project archive of HiTS (http://astro.cmm.uchile.cl/HiTS/).
Gaia and the Galactic Center Origin of Hypervelocity Stars
Authors: Brown Warren R. , Lattanzi Mario G. , Kenyon Scott J. , Geller Margaret J.
Published: October 2018

We use new Gaia measurements to explore the origin of the highest velocity stars in the hypervelocity star (HVS) survey. The measurements reveal a clear pattern in B-type stars. Halo stars dominate the sample at speeds of ≃100 km s−1 below Galactic escape velocity. Disk runaway stars have speeds up to ≃100 km s−1 above Galactic escape velocity, but most disk runaways are bound. Stars with speeds ≳100 km s−1 above Galactic escape velocity originate from the Galactic center. Two bound stars may also originate from the Galactic center. Future Gaia measurements will enable a large, clean sample of Galactic center ejections for measuring the massive black hole ejection rate of HVSs, and for constraining the mass distribution of the Milky Way dark matter halo.
Polar Coronal Plumes as Tornado-like Jets
Authors: Tavabi E. , Koutchmy S. , Golub L.
Published: October 2018

We examine the dynamical behavior of white-light polar-plume structures in the inner corona that are observed from the ground during total solar eclipses, based on their extreme ultraviolet (EUV) hot and cool emission line counterparts observed from space. EUV observations from Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) of a sequence of rapidly varying coronal hole structures are analyzed. Evidence of events showing acceleration in the 1.25 Mk line of Fe xii at 193 Å is given. The structures along the plume show an outward velocity of about 140 km s−1 that can be interpreted as an upward propagating wave in the 304 Å and 171 Å lines; higher speeds are seen in 193 Å (up to 1000 km s−1). The ejection of the cold He ii plasma is delayed by about 4 minutes in the lowest layer and is delayed more than 12 minutes in the highest level compared to the hot 193 Å behavior. A study of the dynamics using time-slice diagrams reveals that a large amount of fast ejected material originates from below the plume, at the footpoints. The release of plasma material appears to come from a cylinder with quasi-parallel edge-enhanced walls. After the initial phase of a longitudinal acceleration, the speed substantially reduces, and the ejecta disperse into the environment. Finally, the detailed temporal and spatial relationships between the cool and hot components were studied with simultaneous multiwavelength observations, using more AIA data. The outward-propagating perturbation of the presumably magnetic walls of polar plumes supports the suggestion that Alfvén waves propagate outwardly along these radially extended walls.
Evidence for Ultra-diffuse Galaxy “Formation” through Galaxy Interactions
Authors: Bennet P. , Sand D. J. , Zaritsky D. , Crnojević D. , Spekkens K. , Karunakaran A.
Published: October 2018

We report the discovery of two ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) that show clear evidence of an association with tidal material and an interaction with a larger galaxy halo, found during a search of the Wide portion of the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey. The two new UDGs, NGC 2708-Dw1 and NGC 5631-Dw1, are faint (M

g
 = −13.7 and −11.8 mag), extended (r

h
 = 2.60 and 2.15 kpc), and have low central surface brightness (μ(g, 0) = 24.9 and 27.3 mag arcsec−2), while the stellar stream associated with each has a surface brightness μ(g) ≳ 28.2 mag arcsec−2. These observations provide evidence that the origin of some UDGs may connect to galaxy interactions, either by transforming normal dwarf galaxies by expanding them, or because UDGs can collapse out of tidal material (i.e., they are tidal dwarf galaxies). Further work is needed to understand the fraction of the UDG population “formed” through galaxy interactions, and wide field searches for diffuse dwarf galaxies will provide further clues to the origin of these enigmatic stellar systems.
Comparison of eDNA and traditional troglofauna sampling methods
Authors: Curran Michael , White Nicole , Bunce Michael , Carroll Tanya , Barnett Belinda , Halse Stuart
Published: October 2018

Environmental DNA (eDNA) and metabarcoding have recently been combined with the aim of detecting species through the small amounts of DNA animals shed into the environment. The technique has successfully been applied in the biomonitoring of vertebrates and decapods and, in a collaborative project with the Trace and Environmental DNA laboratory, Curtin University, we tested its utility in troglofauna sampling. Traditional troglofauna surveys have low yields and consequently, provide limited information about species’ ranges. The ability to detect more occurrences of a species and better define the species’ range by combining traditional troglofauna sampling and eDNA is very exciting. The study area we used is in the central Pilbara and prior survey of the area had documented a moderate troglofauna community. We collected 147 samples from 74 drill holes that comprised 58 scrapes samples, 75 litter trap samples and 14 water samples. Pairs of scrape and water samples were collected from each drill hole, with one set sent for morphological identification and the second set frozen for metabarcoding. A pair of water samples comprised lowering a bailer down the drill hole, retrieving 1 L of water from the top of the water column (for eDNA) after which stygofauna net haul sampling was undertaken. Trap samples collected 124 troglofauna specimens, scrapes 37 troglofauna and net hauls two species of stygofauna and no troglofauna; troglofaunal groups collected include cockroaches, diptera, bugs, schizomids, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, palpigrads, isopods, beetles, silverfish, pauropods and symphylans. Surface species were abundant in the traps (7,760 specimens) and present in most scrapes (81 specimens); they mostly comprised mites and collembola, with lower numbers of flies and ants. The high diversity of animals collected and inevitable human contamination could be expected to pose significant hurdles to use of eDNA. The preliminary eDNA results are compared with the results of traditional sampling.
Description of three new species of Apatelodidae from the southern neotropical region (Lepidoptera, Bombycoidea)
Authors: Herbin Daniel , Beccacece Hernán Mario
Published: October 2018

Three new species of Apatelodidae are described from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay: Apatelodesnavarroisp. n., Apatelodeschalupaesp. n., and Apatelodesulfisp. n., and are figured with their genitalia. Detailed examination of primary types leads to the establishment of a new synonymy: A.florisa Schaus, 1929 = A.schreiteri Schaus, 1924, syn. n., and a revised status for another Apatelodidae species previously misplaced in the Bombycidae: Apatelodesbrunnea (Dognin, 1916), comb. n.
Évolution de la diversité consommée sur le marché de la musique enregistrée, 2007-2016
Authors: Donnat Olivier
Published: October 2018

Comment les consommations culturelles évoluent-elles sous l’angle de la diversité à l’ère de l’abondance de l’offre ? Dans quelle mesure les données de marché confirment-elles les promesses qui ont accompagné l’essor des technologies numériques ? Valident-elles notamment l’hypothèse de la longue traîne formulée par Chris Anderson au début des années 2000 selon laquelle les marchés de niche sont appelés à se développer et à réduire le niveau global de concentration des ventes ? Ces questions, qui étaient au cœur des travaux publiés par le deps au tournant des années 2010 1 , demeurent plus que jamais d’actualité car les consommations en ligne de contenus dématérialisés mais aussi de biens physiques ont considérablement progressé au cours de la dernière décennie, et la proportion d’acheteurs en ligne dans la population française est passée de 33 % à 60 % entre 2007 et 2016 2 . Aussi a-t-il paru nécessaire de réexaminer la question de l’évolution de la diversité des consommations culturelles en ayant recours à la même source de données (le panel de la société GfK qui recense l’ensemble des achats des consommateurs à partir d’un échantillon représentatif des points de vente) et en mobilisant à nouveau l’approche tridimensionnelle de la diversité développée dans le modèle de Stirling 3 autour des notions de variété, d’équilibre et de disparité. Les principaux résultats du travail mené pour la période 2007-2016 sont réunis dans la présente publication pour le marché de la musique enregistrée, et dans un autre numéro de la collection « Culture études » 4 pour celui du livre.
Aftershocks of the First World War in the Nile Valley
Authors: de Gayffier-Bonneville Anne-Claire
Published: October 2018

Because imperial metropoles displayed a sense of weakness and needed the help of the countries they ruled, the First World War brought about a temporary reversal in the relations between imperial metropoles and colonial possessions. As a result, colonial subjection was shaken. The case of the Nile Valley is very interesting from this point of view: there is successively a growing British request, an Egyptian reaction at the end of the war, and soon after a counter reaction of British authorities southwards.We will study the impact of WWI on Egypt that determined the claim for independence as soon as the military conflict ended. In order to curb the spreading of nationalist ideas through Sudan, the British General Governor of Sudan worked out a scheme for separating Egypt and Sudan. This study stresses the link between the developments in Egypt and in Sudan after WWI. The Sudanese crisis of 1924, and particularly the British firmness, is closely connected to the Egyptian political changes that occurred at the end of the war. French diplomatic archives give a very interesting and not yet explored point of view on these events.
Writing WWI with African Gazes. The Great War Through the Writing of Tigrinya Speaking Expatriates
Authors: Dirar Uoldelul Chelati
Published: October 2018

The aim of this paper is to shed some light on the way WWI was experienced by colonial subjects living in Eritrea or abroad. The attempt is to offer a glimpse of the gaze of colonial subjects on this global and dramatic turmoil, resorting to novels, poetry, and correspondence written in Tigrinya by colonial subjects living in Eritrea or abroad. These materials provide a rare opportunity to check alternative narratives that go beyond the conventional colonial representations of the conflict. This is even more significant as the literature dealing with original African voices talking about the First World War remains scanty. The material I will discuss is composed of correspondence among Eritreans living abroad and their relatives and friends at home as well as abroad. They are mainly original archival materials which I have collected during research in Italian and Swedish archives.
Feeding the War: Canned Meat Production in the Horn of Africa and the Italian Front
Authors: Zaccaria Massimo
Published: October 2018

The Horn of Africa was deeply affected by WWI. Thousands of askaris were sent to the Libyan front while on the Red Sea trade and traffics were disrupted by the confrontation between the Allied and the Ottomans forces. The impact of war was felt by the population that had to confront a steep increase in prices and food shortages. Eritrea was asked to provide to the Italian army some twelve million cans of meat, an exorbitant request that was met only through the use of quotas, the introduction of controlled prices and requisitions. Once the Eritrean livestock was exhausted, the Italians turned to the Ethiopian and Yemeni markets, from where cattle started to be imported and processed in the “Torrigiani Cannery” based in Asmara. The story of canned meat production during the WWI is an interesting example of how the maelstrom of WWI was felt across the Horn of Africa. Eritrea, although largely untouched by combats, was deeply affected by the war, which had a profound impact on the country’s productive and social system.
Chapitre premier. Pratiques agro-pastorales anciennes et évolution des paysages de Haute-Normandie : l'exemple des pelouses calcicoles
Authors: Dutoit Thierry
Published: October 2018

Les pelouses calcicoles de Haute-Normandie sont généralement considérées comme des formations herbacées semi-naturelles de grande valeur biologique. Consécutivement à leur abandon agricole depuis le début du XXe siècle, la biodiversité de ces milieux est menacée par une colonisation arborée spontanée. Une étude diachronique montre que cette dynamique est hétérogène. Les sites péri-urbains présentent différentes successions végétales marquées par une ancienne utilisation culturale. A l'inverse, les sites ruraux au passé plus pastoral, ont une évolution paysagère beaucoup plus homogène.
Chapitre second. Mécanisme d'une succession végétale secondaire en pelouse calcicole : Une approche historique
Authors: Dutoit Thierry
Published: October 2018

Les mécanismes des successions végétales sur une pelouse calcicole sont étudiés par les méthodes d'analyse diachronique de l'écologie historique. Les transformations observées sont (1) des variations dans la colonisation des parcelles et (2) la différenciation de deux types de pelouse, rase ou haute. Le déterminisme de ces contrastes est à rechercher dans les pratiques anciennes (effet rémanent du labour) et les stratégies compétitives ou disséminatrices des espèces végétales.
Resisting the Deprofessionalization of Instructional Design
Authors: Acevedo Matthew M. , Roque Gustavo
Published: October 2018

In this chapter, the authors present the argument that instructional design as a professional field in higher education spaces is at risk of deprofessionalization, resulting from their common utilization as technical or production personnel, coupled with the fact that development of and within online and technology-enabled learning environments is increasingly accessible to faculty members and non-experts. As learning management systems and multimedia production platforms continue to become increasingly easy to use and normalized, the technical expertise of technically oriented, development-focused instructional designers risks becoming obsolete, irrelevant, or redundant. This chapter charts the trajectory of this deprofessionalization and presents strategies for how instructional designers—and the field as a whole—should assert its value through a scholar-practitioner approach that privileges the specialized faculties of instructional design (e.g., learning theory, design process models, pedagogy, design thinking) over production or development skills.
Instructional Design in Human Resource Development Academic Programs in the USA
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Lim Doo Hun , Kim Minkyoung
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this chapter is to identify the current status of instructional design courses in human resource development (HRD) graduate programs. The authors examined the curricular content of HRD academic programs in the USA and suggested critical considerations to improve instructional design practices in higher education settings. By reviewing information about 124 institutions with graduate HRD programs, they found that 27 of the institutions (21.8%) offer required and/or elective instructional design courses. In addition, the authors conducted an in-depth review of those 27 institutions to identify the affiliations and features of their HRD programs (college, school, department, program names, degrees, and the existence of online programs). To better understand the instructional design practices in higher education settings, they also discuss three instructional approaches for instructional design, consideration for using technology-mediated instructional design, and instructional design models for learning transfer. Finally, the authors present conclusions and recommendations for future research.
Instructional Design for Adult and Continuing Higher Education
Authors: Lim Doo Hun , You Jieun , Kim Junghwan , Hwang Jihee
Published: October 2018

The field of adult and continuing higher education has lagged behind in the development of new theories and approaches of instructional design and curriculum development, creating an urgent need for new perspectives and practices among practitioners and instructional faculty. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of instructional design and curriculum development trends, approaches and theoretical/conceptual perspectives and approaches that could be useful in adult and continuing higher education. Based on the review, the chapter proposes contemporary views and implications for practice and research.
Mapping Mindset and Academic Success Among Black Men at a Predominantly White Institution
Authors: Travers Christopher S.
Published: October 2018

Based on a larger research project, this chapter highlights findings from an exploratory study investigating the link between mindset and academic success among Black college men. Drawing on a self-reported survey instrument designed by the researcher, a regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between academic mindset (i.e., growth, fixed) and college grade point average (GPA), controlling for high school GPA and parents' education level. While the final model from a hierarchical linear regression (N = 34) indicates that high school GPA, parents' education level, and mindset accounted for 31% of the variance in Black males' college GPA, mindset did not significantly predict college GPA above and beyond Black males' precollege academic ability and parents' education level. Practical considerations for research and practice are discussed.
Identification of Technology Assessment Indicators
Authors: Ebrahimi Mahshid
Published: October 2018

This chapter aims to describe technology assessment (TA) indicators in Iranian small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the renewable energy sector based on the available literature and expert viewpoints. For this purpose, data were collected from 234 participants by simple random sampling method. This study also determines the difference in viewpoints of technology manufacturers and technology suppliers in case of TA factors and sub-factors, sustainability, and technological capability and attractiveness. Data is analyzed through Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive methods, and non-parametric two independent sample tests. The results are comprehensive TA indicators that comply with the conditions under study that can be applied to the rational and structured analysis of potential and existing technologies and provide decision makers with information on technology strategy planning.
A Conceptual Framework Illustrating the Effects of E-CRM on Customer Loyalty
Authors: Saifi Maysam
Published: October 2018

Customer relationship management (CRM) is recognized as a business strategy to identify the most profitable customers in the banking industry and to devote time and attention to gain their loyalty. The purpose of this chapter is to propose a conceptual framework representing sub-factors of electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) and customer loyalty as a base model to examine the effect of e-CRM on customer loyalty. E-CRM is a well-structured and systematized process of CRM that automatizes processes of marketing, sales, and customer service. This study helps us to have a better understanding of the role of e-CRM in customer loyalty in Tejarat Bank. The main focus is on e-CRM including factors such as e-banking, customer support, security, and additional services.
Practical Guidance in Achieving Successful Change Management in Information System Environments
Authors: Zanzig Jeffrey S. , Francia III Guillermo A. , Francia Xavier P.
Published: October 2018

Situations such as improvements in business transaction processing and various security issues keep today's information systems in a constant state of change. Serious disruption of company operations can occur when changes are improperly planned and/or carried out. In addition to technological issues, an equally important consideration is in regard to how information system changes will affect organizational personnel. The Institute of Internal Auditors has identified seven steps that can be used to effectively implement change in an information system environment. This along with a discussion of significant issues in managing system patches provides an appropriate background to consider a model for evaluating the maturity of an organization's change management process in an information system environment. The highly respected COBIT guidance from the ISACA is included throughout much of the discussion to provide support for many of the suggested change management practices.
Incorporating a Global Perspective Into Future-Oriented Forest Management Scenarios
Authors: Koulelis Panagiotis P. , McDermott Constance L.
Published: October 2018

This research serves to integrate the concept of an “ecological footprint” into future-oriented forest management scenarios. Scenarios are commonly used to explore stakeholder perceptions of possible forest futures, and are typically focused on the local impacts of different management choices. This article illustrates how global footprint analysis can be incorporated into scenarios to enable local forest stakeholders in the EU to consider the impacts of their local decisions at national and global levels. This illustration could be helpful to the construction of a forest decision support system that includes wood trade information and social processes (simulation of management decisions under changing political/economic conditions). It finds that different future forest management scenarios involving a potential increase or decrease of the harvested timber, or potential increase or decrease of subsidies for forest protection, combined with various possible changes in local consumption patterns, might have impact on both “internal” (local) and “external” (non-local) forest footprints.
Security Aware Routing Protocol for Hybrid Wireless Network (SARP-HWNs) via Trust Enhanced Mechanism
Authors: Kumar A. Vinodh , Mohideen S. Kaja
Published: October 2018

A hybrid wireless network handles both ad hoc networks and infrastructure networks, these networks are affected by malicious attacks which affect the routing by packet drops, modifications and selective forwarding. These attacks lead to the link failure in a network. Link failures are the main reason for packet loss and network unreliability in these kinds of networks. Due to link failures, the life time of the network and the performance of routing path is affected. The previous security mechanisms for protecting wireless networks are not sufficient for hybrid networks. In this article, the authors propose a trust-based security model to enhance security factors in hybrid networks. The proposed routing protocols implemented in hybrid network platforms consist of different networks such as a fixed node for WLANs (wireless televisions, personal computers, printers, cellular, etc.) with zero mobility, a sensor node for WSNs with zero mobility, mobile nodes with movements considered MANETs, and nodes with high movements (vehicles) considered as VANETs. This article proposes routing protocols to avoid link failure in the current routing path and provide quick recovery, improve the throughput, reduce end to end delay, maximize the life time of routing path without affecting energy consumption and QoS/QoE while compared with other existing techniques.
Identity, Hard Sums and Butterflies
Authors: Byrne Catherine , Bowe Brian , Carr Michael
Published: October 2018

This article examines mathematics education in the Irish prison system, and the impact that learning mathematics and receiving certification has on the identity of those studying so-called ‘hard sums.' It describes the lived experiences of people who have taken classes in prison, reflects on why they came to these classes to begin with, charts their emotions, and how they express their new identities as students. This article draws from earlier studies into the experiences of former prisoners who are currently engaged in higher level education, and who reflected on the effects that learning had on their identities: as parents, as sons or daughters, as citizens, as students. The article looks at how their experiences contrast with the experiences of other mature students returning to education in other higher and further education settings. National certification is available to everyone attending education in prison in Ireland, and this article reflects on the impact that certification has on the identity of the prisoner. It will show that in prison, a small step in the right direction at the right time can lead to identity change, akin to a transformation from cocoon to butterfly. The author has taught for many years in prison education centres, and is currently researching mathematics education in prisons, from different perspectives including mathematical self-efficacy, grit and resilience and the impact of mathematics education on the identity of the individual.
Stochastic Source Model for Strong Motion Prediction
Authors: Sangeetha S. , Raghukanth S.T.G.
Published: October 2018

The article aims at developing a stochastic model which simulates spatial distribution of slip on the fault plane. This is achieved by analysing a large dataset of 303 finite-fault rupture models from 152 past earthquakes with varying fault mechanisms and in the magnitude range of 4.11-9.12. New scaling relations to predict the seismic source parameters such as fault length, fault width, rupture area, mean and standard deviation of slip have been derived for distinct fault mechanisms. The developed methodology models the spatial variability of slip as a two-dimensional von Karman power spectral density function (PSD) and correlation lengths are estimated. The proposed stochastic slip model is validated by comparing the simulated near-field ground response with the recorded data available for the 20th September 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan.
Critical better management practices and critical bio-security measures for prevention of entry and spread of white spot virus and pathogenic Vibrio in grow-out farms of cultured Penaeus monodon in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kumara K.R.P.S. , Hettiarachchi Mangalika
Published: October 2018

Since the first record of white spot disease (WSD) in 1996, PCR tested, white spot virus (WSV) free post larvae of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius 1798) are stocked in grow-out farms as the major bio-security measure. However, significantly high mortality in young shrimp and total rejection of harvest have been recorded in North Western Province, Sri Lanka due to WSD and/or vibriosis. Present study was planned to identify critical better management practices (CBMPs) and critical bio-security measures (CBSMs) that should be strictly adopted to prevent the entry and spread of WSV and pathogenic Vibrio in grow-out farms of P. monodon. A questionnaire survey, carried out at randomly selected 100 grow-out farms located in the North Western Province, revealed that there was a relationship between the occurrence of WSD and /or vibriosis and levels of practicing better management practices (BMPs) and/or bio-security measures (BSMs). Proper pre-stocking pond preparation, adoption of zero water exchange, monitoring and controlling water quality parameters including pathogenic Vibrio in culture water and use of a suitable bioaugmenter and a probiotic were identified as the CBMPs while proper disinfection of culture water, stocking of WSV and MBV free post larvae and prevention of WSV contamination through other routes over the rearing period were the identified CBSMs. Entry and spread of WSV and pathogenic Vibrio in P. monodon grow-out farms in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka could be prevented by strict adoption of CBMPs and CBSMs identified during the present study.
Acquired factor VII deficiency causing severe bleeding disorder secondary to AL amyloidosis of the liver
Authors: Nguyen Anthony L. , Kamal Muhammad , Raghavan Ravi , Nagaraj Gayathri
Published: October 2018

A 52 year-old male presented with neck pain after undergoing thyroidectomy for a goiter three weeks prior which was complicated by a neck hematoma requiring evacuation. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a neck hematoma requiring evacuation and he received desmopressin with cessation of bleeding. Coagulation studies were normal. He returned eighteen months later with severe oral mucosal bleeding after a dental procedure and required transfusions with red blood cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in addition to desmopressin, Humate-P, aminocaproic acid, and surgical packing. A comprehensive bleeding diathesis workup was normal. He was readmitted six months later due to abdominal pain and distention and found to have massive hepatosplenomegaly on CT. A new coagulopathy workup revealed prolonged INR to 1.5, corrected prothrombin time mixing study, and a low factor VII level (29%), suggesting acquired factor VII deficiency. A transjugular liver biopsy revealed extensive involvement by ALamyloidosis- Kappa type. He then developed a large right retroperitoneal hematoma which required multiple transfusions with FFP, cryoprecipitate, aminocaproic acid, and vitamin K with slight success. Hemorrhage was subsequently stabilized with recombinant factor VIIa administered every four hours which corresponded with correction of factor VII levels and PT and eventual cessation hemorrhage. Acquired factor VII deficiency causing severe coagulopathy was attributed to hepatic amyloidosis ALkappa subtype. We started treatment with bortezomib, dexamethasone, and cyclophosphamide, however, the patient succumbed to uncontrolled hemorrhage. Acquired factor VII deficiency is extremely rare and to our knowledge, this is the only known case of factor VII deficiency secondary to amyloidosis involving the liver.
NOTCH activation promotes glycosyltransferase expression in human myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Wang Shichun , Itoh Mai , Shiratori Erika , Ohtaka Mika , Tohda Shuji
Published: October 2018

NOTCH signaling diversely regulates the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. It is known that glycosylation of NOTCH receptors modulates NOTCH activation. However, little is known about glycosylation of NOTCH in AML cells. We examined the effects of ligand-induced NOTCH activation on the expression of NOTCHmodifying glycosyltransferases in two AML cell lines, THP-1 and TMD7. The cells were stimulated with recombinant NOTCH ligands JAGGED1 and DELTA1, and subjected to immunoblot analysis to evaluate the expression levels of glycosyltransferases. Ligand stimulation promoted the expression of POFUT1, LFNG, MFNG, RFNG, GXYLT1, GXYLT2, and XXYLT1 in THP-1 cells, and that of RFNG and GXYLT1 in TMD7 cells. We found that NOTCH activation promoted the expression of several glycosyltransferases in AML cells. This suggests that NOTCH activation modulates its sensitivity to NOTCH ligands by increased glycosylation of NOTCH receptors in AML cells. Further investigation is needed to elucidate its biological significance.
Aspergillus Aortitis in an Immunocompetent Patient Presenting with Acute Endophthalmitis
Authors: Rocco Joseph M. , Benson Maggie K.
Published: October 2018

Aspergillus is a common environmental mold most often recognized as an infectious agent in patients with severe immune compromise. We present a case of an immunocompetent patient presenting with endogenous endophthalmitis in the absence of other infectious symptoms. The search for a systemic source revealed an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm. Surgical resection and pathology revealed angioinvasive aspergillus aortitis. Recent cardiac surgery has been noted to be a risk factor for angioinvasive aspergillosis. Diagnosis is difficult as symptoms are mild and laboratory studies are often normal. To our knowledge this is the first case of aspergillus aortitis presenting as endogenous endophthalmitis without systemic signs of inflammation. These patients have a high mortality rate therefore early recognition is essential. It is important to consider angioinvasive aspergillus infections in patients with prior cardiac surgery presenting with occult embolic phenomena. Only with early diagnosis and prompt treatment can we improve outcomes of this disease process.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ULTRASONOGRAPHY
Authors: Masotti Leonardo
Published: October 2018

Developments in high resolution probes, data processing techniques and contrast means are providing a new generation of ultrasound technologies for diagnostic purposes. In this paper new results are presented derived from research performed at the Ultrasound Laboratory of the University of Florence. A new hardware and software platform called Fast Ecographic Multi Image Novel Apparatus (FEMMINA) has been developed based on innovative features. The radiofrequency signals, directly provided by the US transducers, contains fundamental information on the linear and non linear interaction of US with biological tissues. New suitable algorithms have been therefore developed to process on line such radiofrequency signals in order to identify and present information of clinical value. The main concept is the quantification of suitable parameters characterizing the morphology of the local frequency spectrum derived from a little volume of the biological tissue under investigation. Such parameters could be correlated to the microstructure tissue properties and are presented on the traditional tomographic map which are normally present in ultrasound instrumentation. The clinical validation of these techniques are illustrated pointing out the new perspectives for a more efficient and detailed analysis for selected pathologies.
Frontespizio e indice del volume
Authors: Indice del volume Frontespizio e
Published: October 2018

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SALUTO DEL PRESIDENTE DELLâ€™ISTITUTO LOMBARDO
Authors: Sironi Gianpiero
Published: October 2018

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PRESENTAZIONE
Authors: Bearzot Cinzia
Published: October 2018

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I CEREALI NELLâ€™ANTICA GRECIA E Lâ€™APPROVVIGIONAMENTO GRANARIO DELLâ€™ATENE CLASSICA
Authors: Fantasia Ugo
Published: October 2018

Cereals, chiefly barley, covered roughly three-quarters of the food requirements of ancient Greeks. The agrarian practices were modelled on this basic need. However, although recent studies have stressed their efforts to maximize production, climatic conditions and the scarcity of animal manure doomed the ancient Greek world to a low productivity. So the more populous poleis had to import large quantities of grain. This was the case of classical Athens, which particularly after the loss of empire in 404 BC was forced to set up a new policy. Its most important aspects were the good relations with Bosporan Kingdom in Crimea (the main producer of Triticum compactum, the most suitable grain for bread-making) and the legislation about the maritime and retail trade. This policy was relatively successful, but dependence on grain imports was for Athens a major factor of political and military weakness.
Saluto del Presidente dellâ€™Istituto Lombardo
Authors: Beretta Silvio
Published: October 2018

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Introduzione
Authors: De Bernardi Fiorenza , De Carli Luigi , Pellicciari Carlo
Published: October 2018

Not available