bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration in a Semiarid Region Based on GRACE Gravity Satellite Data—A Case Study in Loess Plateau
Authors: Sun Miao , Dong Qin’ge , Jiao Mengyan , Zhao Xining , Gao Xuerui , Wu Pute , Wang Ai
Published: December 2018

Jointly influenced by natural factors and artificial protection measures in recent years, the vegetation coverage of the Loess Plateau has significantly increased. However, extensive vegetation recovery can result in massive water consumption and a severe soil water deficit, which poses a great threat to the sustainable development of the regional ecological system. Maintaining the balance between precipitation and water consumption is an important foundation of ecological security in the Loess Plateau. Based on this, the present study used the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) gravity satellite data to simulate the annual actual water consumption from 2003 to 2014 and to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of the regional precipitation and the actual evapotranspiration (AET). This study also applied the newly developed rainwater utilization potential index (IRUP) to quantify the sustainability of the water balance in the Loess Plateau. The spatial-temporal patterns of precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and AET from 2003 to 2014 in the Loess Plateau were all analyzed in this study. Based on the results, the annual average precipitation (AAP) and AET in the entire Loess Plateau had significant increasing trends. The analysis of the spatial distribution reveals that the AET was decreasing from the southeast to the northwest in the Loess Plateau. However, the average values of potential evapotranspiration did not obviously change. Based on the estimated AET result, it was determined that the average IRUP had an increasing trend. The increase in the IRUP is due to an increased rate of precipitation that is statistically higher than that of the AET. Consequently, the Loess Plateau experienced a wetting trend during the period of 2003–2014, especially after the Grain for Green project was implemented. The results in this paper were proven by using three different depths of ERA-Interim (a global atmospheric reanalysis product created by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) soil water content data from the same period and the observed runoff data from 18 different hydrological sites. Consequently, it seems that the vegetation could maintain a sustainable growth with the implementation of the Grain for Green Project.
Deep Kernel Extreme-Learning Machine for the Spectral–Spatial Classification of Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Li Jiaojiao , Xi Bobo , Du Qian , Song Rui , Li Yunsong , Ren Guangbo
Published: December 2018

Extreme-learning machines (ELM) have attracted significant attention in hyperspectral image classification due to their extremely fast and simple training structure. However, their shallow architecture may not be capable of further improving classification accuracy. Recently, deep-learning-based algorithms have focused on deep feature extraction. In this paper, a deep neural network-based kernel extreme-learning machine (KELM) is proposed. Furthermore, an excellent spatial guided filter with first-principal component (GFFPC) is also proposed for spatial feature enhancement. Consequently, a new classification framework derived from the deep KELM network and GFFPC is presented to generate deep spectral and spatial features. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms some state-of-the-art algorithms with very low cost, which can be used for real-time processes.
Use of Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Obtained by OCO-2 and GOME-2 for GPP Estimates of the Heihe River Basin, China
Authors: Wei Xiaoxu , Wang Xufeng , Wei Wei , Wan Wei
Published: December 2018

Sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) provides a new method for monitoring vegetation photosynthesis from space and has been widely used to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP). However, the ability of SIF obtained from the Orbital Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2 SIF) and Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) to estimate GPP in the cold and arid region of Heihe River Basin remains unclear because previous comparisons were insufficient. Here, we choose maize and alpine meadow to evaluate the performance of SIF obtained by OCO-2 and GOME-2 in GPP estimations. The results of this study show that daily SIF757 had stronger correlations with daily tower GPP than daily SIF771, and the correlation between daily SIF757 and daily tower GPP was stronger than the correlation between 16-d averaged SIF740 and 16-d averaged tower GPP. The 16-d averaged absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and reconstructed sun-induced fluorescence (RSIF) had the strongest linear correlations with 16-d averaged tower GPP. GPP_VPM and GPP_RSIF exhibited the best performance in GPP estimation, closely followed by GPP_SIF757, then GPP_SIF771 and GPP_ SIF740. We also found that the robustness of the correlation coefficients of OCO-2 SIF with GOME-2 SIF was highly dependent on the size of their spatial footprint overlaps, indicating that the spatial differences between OCO-2 and GOME-2 footprints contribute to the differences in GPP estimates between OCO-2 and GOME-2. In addition, the differences of viewing zenith angle (VZA), cloud contamination, scale effects, and environmental scalars (Tscalar × Wscalar) can result in differences between OCO-2 SIF and GOME-2 SIF.
Efficient Path Planning and Truthful Incentive Mechanism Design for Mobile Crowdsensing
Authors: Tao Xi , Song Wei
Published: December 2018

Mobile crowdsensing (MCS) is a promising paradigm for large-scale sensing. A group of users are recruited as workers to accomplish various sensing tasks and provide data to the platform and requesters. A key problem in MCS is to design the incentive mechanism, which can attract enough workers to participate in sensing activities and maintain the truthfulness. As the main advantage of MCS, user mobility is a factor that must be considered. We make an attempt to build a technical framework for MCS, which is associated with a truthful incentive mechanism taking the movements of numerous workers into account. Our proposed framework contains two challenging problems: path planning and incentive mechanism design. In the path planning problem, every worker independently plans a tour to carry out the posted tasks according to its own strategy. A heuristic algorithm is proposed for the path planning problem, which is compared with two baseline algorithms and the optimal solution. In the incentive mechanism design, the platform develops a truthful mechanism to select the winners and determine their payments. The proposed mechanism is proved to be computationally efficient, individually rational, and truthful. In order to evaluate the performance of our proposed mechanism, the well-known Vickrey–Clarke–Groves (VCG) mechanism is considered as a baseline. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of our proposed framework. The results show that the proposed heuristic algorithm for the path planning problem outperforms the baseline algorithms and approaches the optimal solution. Meanwhile, the proposed mechanism holds a smaller total payment compared with the VCG mechanism when both mechanisms achieve the same performance. Finally, the utility of a selected winner shows the truthfulness of proposed mechanism by changing its bid.
Comparing RGB-D Sensors for Close Range Outdoor Agricultural Phenotyping
Authors: Vit Adar , Shani Guy
Published: December 2018

Phenotyping is the task of measuring plant attributes for analyzing the current state of the plant. In agriculture, phenotyping can be used to make decisions concerning the management of crops, such as the watering policy, or whether to spray for a certain pest. Currently, large scale phenotyping in fields is typically done using manual labor, which is a costly, low throughput process. Researchers often advocate the use of automated systems for phenotyping, relying on the use of sensors for making measurements. The recent rise of low cost, yet reasonably accurate, RGB-D sensors has opened the way for using these sensors in field phenotyping applications. In this paper, we investigate the applicability of four different RGB-D sensors for this task. We conduct an outdoor experiment, measuring plant attribute in various distances and light conditions. Our results show that modern RGB-D sensors, in particular, the Intel D435 sensor, provides a viable tool for close range phenotyping tasks in fields.
Research on RSS Data Optimization and DFL Localization for Non-Empty Environments
Authors: Mao Wenyu , Shen Rongxuan , Wang Ke , Gong Guoliang , Xiao Yi , Lu Huaxiang
Published: December 2018

Device-free localization (DFL) is a new technique which can estimate the target location through analyzing the shadowing effect on surrounding radio frequency (RF) links. In a relatively complex environment, the influences of random disturbance and the multipath effect are more serious. There are kinds of noises and disturbances in the received signal strength (RSS) data of RF links and the data itself can even be distorted, which will seriously affect the DFL accuracy. Most of the common filtering methods adopted in DFL field are not targeted and the filtering effects are unstable. This paper researches the characteristics of RSS data with random disturbances and proposes two-dimensional double correlation (TDDC) distributed wavelet filtering. It can filter out the random disturbances and noise while preserving the RSS fluctuations which are helpful for the DFL, thus improving the quality of RSS data and localization accuracy. Furthermore, RSS variation rules for the links are different in complex environments and hence, it is difficult for the collected training samples to cover all possible patterns. Therefore, a single machine learning model with poor generalization ability finds it difficult to achieve ideal localization results. In this paper, the Adaboost.M2 ensemble learning model based on the Gini decision tree (GDTE) is proposed to improve the generalization ability for unknown patterns. Extensive experiments performed in two different drawing rooms demonstrate that the TDDC distributed wavelet filtering and the GDTE localization model have obvious advantages compared with other methods. The localization accuracy rates of 87% and 95% can be achieved respectively in the two environments.
Tensductor—Amorphous Alloy Based Magnetoelastic Tensile Force Sensor
Authors: Nowicki Michał
Published: December 2018

In this paper new, tensile force sensor is presented, based on Pressductor topology and single layer of ferromagnetic amorphous ribbon. Simplified operating principle of the magnetic core with orthogonal coils is described. Straight and diagonal cut sensors are compared. The load vs. induced voltage characteristics are presented, as well as possibility of higher harmonics utilization. The effect of supply current on signal amplitude and measurement hysteresis is given. The developed ‘Tensductor’ sensor has near-linear characteristics and is relatively easy to manufacture. The measurement range is scalable, the experimental unit had 0–12 N measurement range with 1% accuracy, mostly due to magnetoelastic hysteresis.
Magnesium Alloy Matching Layer for High-Performance Transducer Applications
Authors: Wang Yulei , Tao Jingya , Guo Feifei , Li Shiyang , Huang Xingyi , Dong Jie , Cao Wenwu
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we report the use of magnesium alloy (AZ31B) as the matching material for PZT-5H ultrasonic transducers. The AZ31B has an acoustic impedance of 10.3 MRayl, which provides a good acoustic impedance match for PZT-5H ultrasonic transducers in water medium based on the double matching layer theory. Two PZT-5H transducers with different center frequencies were designed and fabricated using the AZ31B. The respective center frequencies of the two fabricated transducers were 4.6 MHz and 9.25 MHz. The 4.6 MHz transducer exhibits a −6 dB bandwidth of 79% and two-way insertion loss of −11.11 dB. The 9.25 MHz transducer also shows good performance: −6 dB bandwidth of 71% and two-way insertion loss of −14.43 dB. The properties of the two transducers are superior to those of transducers using a composite matching layer, indicating that the magnesium alloy may be a promising alternative for high-performance transducers.
Educational Leadership Training, the Construction of Learning Communities. A Systematic Review
Authors: García-Martínez Inmaculada , Díaz-Delgado Miguel Á. , Ubago-Jiménez José Luis
Published: December 2018

Instructional leadership notions and practices allow educators to engage in relevant roles within schools. Instead of implementing these concepts in professional programs, Mexican and Spanish education systems still preserve a “technically oriented” training model that separates educational and professional aims. Diverse studies have identified the benefits of implementing instructional leadership orientations within “Educational cooperation”, “Cooperative education”, “Team teaching” and “Teacher leadership” at schools. This systematic review conducted using Web of Science—contributes by organizing the produced knowledge and identifies the main findings reported by the academic literature on this topic. It seeks to answer the following questions: (1) What are the contributions of this research to the education systems examined? (2) What kind of knowledge about educational leadership and professional learning communities can be inferred from them? Results from the majority of studies found that instructional leadership offers a useful tool to promote shared responsibility between teachers and head teachers and supports professional learning communities. A main conclusions of the present study is that it highlights the importance of bypassing existing bureaucratic practices within schools in order to replace the traditional “technical orientation” of training programs. Instructional leadership may facilitate some of the required transformations in the context of global educational reform.
Changes in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen at a Small Watershed Scale as the Result of Land Use Conversion on the Loess Plateau
Authors: Xue Zhijing , An Shaoshan
Published: December 2018

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (total N) are important soil components for agricultural production. Soil quality is related to the total amount of SOC and total N sequestered in the soil. Land use plays a major role in the distribution and amount of SOC and total N. This study analyses the amount of SOC and total N under various land cover types in 1987, 2005 and 2010, and evaluated their storage in land use conversions in a comprehensively managed watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. Results show that concentrations of SOC and total N in shrub land and natural grassland areas were significantly higher than for other land uses (farmland, orchard, abandoned farmland, manmade grassland) while cropland had the lowest concentration. Storage of SOC and total N increased along the revegetation chronosequence. As the storage of SOC in 2005 and 2010, they were 3461.86 × 108 and 4504.04 × 108 g respectively. Soil organic carbon storage were enhanced one third just during 5 years. The effects of land use on SOC and total N were the most significant in the upper soil layers. The correlation between SOC, total N, and the C/N ratio indicated that the best combination of land uses were natural grassland and shrub land. They efficiently influenced the distribution and storage of SOC and total N, and benefited vegetation restoration.
Collaboration between Heterogeneous Practitioners in Sustainability Research: A Comparative Analysis of Three Transdisciplinary Programmes
Authors: Hessels Laurens K. , De Jong Stefan P.L. , Brouwer Stijn
Published: December 2018

There is wide agreement about the importance of transdisciplinary research to address complex sustainability issues. Although there is a growing body of literature about the management of transdisciplinary research programmes as well as the challenges relating to the collaboration between academic researchers and practitioners, empirical research has to date paid little attention to the challenges related to the variation of practitioners involved in these programmes. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three transdisciplinary programmes addressing climate change and sustainability and identifies factors that contribute to fruitful collaboration between heterogeneous practitioners. Contrary to what could be expected from the literature, differences between the practitioners involved have only created significant issues in one of the programmes, and this programme has developed a way to cope with this difficulty. Effective strategies to avoid and limit tensions among practitioners include a focus on bilateral collaborations, the careful selection of programme participants, and the appointment of dedicated project monitors who are responsible for social learning processes.
Identification of Vehicle-Pedestrian Collision Hotspots at the Micro-Level Using Network Kernel Density Estimation and Random Forests: A Case Study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yao Shenjun , Wang Jinzi , Fang Lei , Wu Jianping
Published: December 2018

The improvement of pedestrian safety plays a crucial role in developing a safe and friendly walking environments, which can contribute to urban sustainability. A preliminary step in improving pedestrian safety is to identify hazardous road locations for pedestrians. This study proposes a framework for the identification of vehicle-pedestrian collision hot spots by integrating the information about both the likelihood of the occurrence of vehicle-pedestrian collisions and the potential for the reduction in vehicle-pedestrian crashes. First, a vehicle-pedestrian collision density surface was produced via network kernel density estimation. By assigning a threshold value, possible vehicle-pedestrian hot spots were identified. To obtain the potential for vehicle-pedestrian collision reduction, random forests was employed to model the density with a set of variables describing vehicle and pedestrian flows. The potential for crash reduction was then measured as the difference between the observed vehicle-pedestrian crash density and the prediction produced by the random forests models. The final hotspots were determined by excluding those with a crash reduction value of no more than zero. The method was applied to the identification of hazardous road locations for pedestrians in a district in Shanghai, China. The result indicates that the method is useful for decision-making support.
Smart Technology Impact on Neighborhood Form for a Sustainable Doha
Authors: Al-Thani Soud K. , Skelhorn Cynthia P. , Amato Alexandre , Koc Muammer , Al-Ghamdi Sami G.
Published: December 2018

This study focuses on the significance of neighborhoods in a city as the smallest self-sufficient urban units akin to nuclear families in the larger society. Thus, improvements to the neighborhood form can improve livability, maximize walkability, and better the overall life quality of city inhabitants, which, in turn, advance a city’s overall environmental and social sustainability profile. The physical form (arrangement) and density of neighborhoods are primarily shaped by land ownership regulations, transportation, and communication means. The development of smart technology, especially in the fields of transportation and communication, has led to the reconsideration of some of sustainable urban form concepts such as neighborhoods. Low-density cities like Doha, Qatar can become both sustainable and livable, creating the basis for a sustainable city. First, this paper presents a critical review of Doha’s neighborhoods and advanced transport and communication technologies, in addition to the integration of these technologies with the physical form of neighborhoods. Then, the paper discusses the influences of such technologies on the future sustainability of the city of Doha and its neighborhoods. This investigation is based on a Delphi study to address the characteristics of a neighborhood and to identify two paradigms of ‘good’ design practice.
Towards Sustainable Urban Communities: A Composite Spatial Accessibility Assessment for Residential Suitability Based on Network Big Data
Authors: Zhao Yu , Zhang Guoqin , Lin Tao , Liu Xiaofang , Liu Jiakun , Lin Meixia , Ye Hong , Kong Lingjie
Published: December 2018

Suitable allocation of residential public services is vital to realizing sustainable communities and cities. By combining network big data and spatial analysis, we developed a composite spatial accessibility assessment method for residential suitability of urban public services covering healthcare, leisure, commerce, transportation, and education services. Xiamen City, China is the test site. We found that although most facilities were concentrated on Xiamen Island, there were shortages in the per capita transportation and education service supplements compared with the average performance of Xiamen City because of the high local population. Meanwhile, Tong’an had advantages in the amount of public facilities due to its long history of regional development. However, high-quality facilities were deficient there as well as in other off-island districts. The residential communities surrounding transportation, commerce, and healthcare facilities had a similar allocation pattern in Xiamen City, whereas the residential accessibility of education and leisure services showed regional differences. Due to unbalanced regional development, evident inequality could be witnessed by comparing the composite assessment results of residential suitability between the communities on Xiamen Island and those in the off-island Areas. Our study hopes to provide dedicated support for designing sustainable communities and cities, especially for those in developing countries.
Drivers of Vegetable Consumption in Urban Nigeria: Food Choice Motives, Knowledge, and Self-Efficacy
Authors: Raaijmakers Ireen , Snoek Harriette , Maziya-Dixon Busie , Achterbosch Thom
Published: December 2018

Objective: This study aimed to provide insights into vegetable consumption behavior of urban Nigerian consumers across different Socio-Economic Classes (SEC), their main food choice motives, and the associations of these motives and other drivers with vegetable consumption. Methods: An online survey was conducted in which 1220 women from Lagos (N = 808) and Ibadan (N = 412) metropolis from different SEC participated. Results: On average, respondents reported to consume 2.6 portions of vegetables per day. Most vegetables were bought at open and traditional markets, were bought fresh rather than processed, and were consumed cooked. Respondents from the second richest and upper middle SEC consumed most vegetables () and higher SEC consumed a larger variety of vegetables compared to those from lower classes. Respondents who reported to have a higher knowledge of vegetable consumption, had a higher belief in one’s own ability to prepare vegetables (self-efficacy), and those that valued the food motive Mood and Health more, reported a higher vegetable intake. Conclusions: Vegetable consumption in the studied cities in Nigeria was below recommendations. Increasing knowledge and self-efficacy might be a way to increase consumption, especially in combination with interventions in the food environment and product design focused on the motives Health and Mood, and considering the importance of differences between SEC.
Different Uses of Ozone: Environmental and Corporate Sustainability. Literature Review and Case Study
Authors: Remondino Marco , Valdenassi Luigi
Published: December 2018

An extensive and interdisciplinary literature review was carried out to evaluate the uses of synthetically produced ozone in many different application areas. The objective of the study was to investigate the disinfectant and purifying effectiveness of this natural compound and evaluate its use as an economically and environmentally sustainable alternative to treatments that often involve the adoption of pharmaceutical agents. Being a natural substance, the potential environmental sustainability of the use of ozone in areas such as water disinfectant; pesticide action in agriculture; and antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions in animal husbandry and fish farming are of interest. In addition to environmental sustainability, economic sustainability is also important for companies employing ozone in their processes. Thus, a case study was proposed that represents the use of ozone in a pilot swine farm located in Northern Italy, both as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for the animals and as an air and water purifier. The case study demonstrates the economic sustainability of ozone use, especially in the medium run, along with its ability to reduce animal mortality (by about 2%), as well as decrease use of pharmaceutical antibiotics.
Empirical Research on the Evaluation Model and Method of Sustainability of the Open Source Ecosystem
Authors: Liao Zhifang , Deng Libing , Fan Xiaoping , Zhang Yan , Liu Hui , Qi Xiaofei , Zhou Yun
Published: December 2018

The development of open source brings new thinking and production modes to software engineering and computer science, and establishes a software development method and ecological environment in which groups participate. Regardless of investors, developers, participants, and managers, they are most concerned about whether the Open Source Ecosystem can be sustainable to ensure that the ecosystem they choose will serve users for a long time. Moreover, the most important quality of the software ecosystem is sustainability, and it is also a research area in Symmetry. Therefore, it is significant to assess the sustainability of the Open Source Ecosystem. However, the current measurement of the sustainability of the Open Source Ecosystem lacks universal measurement indicators, as well as a method and a model. Therefore, this paper constructs an Evaluation Indicators System, which consists of three levels: The target level, the guideline level and the evaluation level, and takes openness, stability, activity, and extensibility as measurement indicators. On this basis, a weight calculation method, based on information contribution values and a Sustainability Assessment Model, is proposed. The models and methods are used to analyze the factors affecting the sustainability of Stack Overflow (SO) ecosystem. Through the analysis, we find that every indicator in the SO ecosystem is partaking in different development trends. The development trend of a single indicator does not represent the sustainable development trend of the whole ecosystem. It is necessary to consider all of the indicators to judge that ecosystem’s sustainability. The research on the sustainability of the Open Source Ecosystem is helpful for judging software health, measuring development efficiency and adjusting organizational structure. It also provides a reference for researchers who study the sustainability of software engineering.
Probabilistic Modeling of Speech in Spectral Domain using Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Authors: Usman Mohammed , Zubair Mohammed , Shiblee Mohammad , Rodrigues Paul , Jaffar Syed
Published: December 2018

The performance of many speech processing algorithms depends on modeling speech signals using appropriate probability distributions. Various distributions such as the Gamma distribution, Gaussian distribution, Generalized Gaussian distribution, Laplace distribution as well as multivariate Gaussian and Laplace distributions have been proposed in the literature to model different segment lengths of speech, typically below 200 ms in different domains. In this paper, we attempted to fit Laplace and Gaussian distributions to obtain a statistical model of speech short-time Fourier transform coefficients with high spectral resolution (segment length >500 ms) and low spectral resolution (segment length <10 ms). Distribution fitting of Laplace and Gaussian distributions was performed using maximum-likelihood estimation. It was found that speech short-time Fourier transform coefficients with high spectral resolution can be modeled using Laplace distribution. For low spectral resolution, neither the Laplace nor Gaussian distribution provided a good fit. Spectral domain modeling of speech with different depths of spectral resolution is useful in understanding the perceptual stability of hearing which is necessary for the design of digital hearing aids.
Cubic Intuitionistic q-Ideals of BCI-Algebras
Authors: Senapati Tapan , Jana Chiranjibe , Pal Madhumangal , Jun Young Bae
Published: December 2018

In this paper, the notion of cubic intuitionistic q-ideals in B C I -algebras is introduced. A relationship between a cubic intuitionistic subalgebra, a cubic intuitionistic ideal, and a cubic intuitionistic q-ideal is discussed. Conditions for a cubic intuitionistic ideal to be a cubic intuitionistic q-ideal are provided. Characterizations of a cubic intuitionistic q-ideal are considered. The cubic intuitionistic extension property for a cubic intuitionistic q-ideal is established. Furthermore, the product of cubic intuitionistic subalgebras, ideals, and q-ideals are investigated.
Architectural Framework for Exploring Adaptive Human-Machine Teaming Options in Simulated Dynamic Environments
Authors: Madni Azad , Madni Carla
Published: December 2018

With the growing complexity of environments in which systems are expected to operate, adaptive human-machine teaming (HMT) has emerged as a key area of research. While human teams have been extensively studied in the psychological and training literature, and agent teams have been investigated in the artificial intelligence research community, the commitment to research in HMT is relatively new and fueled by several technological advances such as electrophysiological sensors, cognitive modeling, machine learning, and adaptive/adaptable human-machine systems. This paper presents an architectural framework for investigating HMT options in various simulated operational contexts including responding to systemic failures and external disruptions. The paper specifically discusses new and novel roles for machines made possible by new technology and offers key insights into adaptive human-machine teams. Landed aircraft perimeter security is used as an illustrative example of an adaptive cyber-physical-human system (CPHS). This example is used to illuminate the use of the HMT framework in identifying the different human and machine roles involved in this scenario. The framework is domain-independent and can be applied to both defense and civilian adaptive HMT. The paper concludes with recommendations for advancing the state-of-the-art in HMT.
Biosynthetic Oligoclonal Antivenom (BOA) for Snakebite and Next-Generation Treatments for Snakebite Victims
Authors: Kini R. Manjunatha , Sidhu Sachdev S. , Laustsen Andreas Hougaard
Published: December 2018

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that each year claims the lives of 80,000–140,000 victims worldwide. The only effective treatment against envenoming involves intravenous administration of antivenoms that comprise antibodies that have been isolated from the plasma of immunized animals, typically horses. The drawbacks of such conventional horse-derived antivenoms include their propensity for causing allergenic adverse reactions due to their heterologous and foreign nature, an inability to effectively neutralize toxins in distal tissue, a low content of toxin-neutralizing antibodies, and a complex manufacturing process that is dependent on husbandry and procurement of snake venoms. In recent years, an opportunity to develop a fundamentally novel type of antivenom has presented itself. By using modern antibody discovery strategies, such as phage display selection, and repurposing small molecule enzyme inhibitors, next-generation antivenoms that obviate the drawbacks of existing plasma-derived antivenoms could be developed. This article describes the conceptualization of a novel therapeutic development strategy for biosynthetic oligoclonal antivenom (BOA) for snakebites based on recombinantly expressed oligoclonal mixtures of human monoclonal antibodies, possibly combined with repurposed small molecule enzyme inhibitors.
Complexes of the Mycotoxins Citrinin and Ochratoxin A with Aluminum Ions and their Spectroscopic Properties
Authors: Keller Julia , Moldenhauer Daniel , Byrne Liam , Haase Hajo , Resch-Genger Ute , Koch Matthias
Published: December 2018

The sensitive detection of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) utilizing its fluorescence requires approaches to enhance the emission. In this respect, we studied the complexation of CIT and ochratoxin A (OTA) with Al3+ in methanol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this context, an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a polymer column and a fluorescence detector was also developed that enables the separation of the metal ion complexes from the free ligands and non-complexed Al3+. CIT and OTA showed distinct changes in their absorption and fluorescence properties upon Al3+-coordination, and the fluorescence of CIT was considerably enhanced. Analysis of the photometrically assessed titration of CIT and OTA with Al3+ using the Job plot method revealed 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometries for the Al3+ complexes of CIT (Al:CIT) and OTA (Al:OTA), respectively. In the case of CIT, only one β-diketone moiety participates in Al3+ coordination. These findings can be elegantly exploited for signal amplification and provide the base to reduce the limit of detection for CIT quantification by about an order of magnitude, as revealed by HPLC measurements using a fluorescence detector.
Urban Projects and Residential Segregation: A Case Study of the Cabanyal Neighborhood in Valencia (Spain)
Authors: Ilisei Roxana-Diana , Salom-Carrasco Julia
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we study the consequences of neoliberal urban policy, in terms of the segregation and social changes experienced in the Cabanyal neighborhood located in Valencia, Spain. In doing so, we analyze the process of residential mobility that has affected the neighborhood during the last decade, resulting in a segregation of space. This neighborhood had been affected, since 1988, by an urban project that was to bring about its partial destruction. Despite having been stopped, the project has caused a dynamic of physical and social degradation of the neighborhood against which the local government has only very recently started to intervene. Using microdata from the Residential Variation Statistics provided by the Statistical Office of the City of Valencia, we analyze the demographic profile of the mobility inside the Cabanyal neighborhood and also the origin of the arrivals and the destination of the departures from 2004–2016. The aim is to identify the territorial pattern of the socio-demographic changes that have affected the neighborhood. The results indicate that during the period under analysis, in which the area was affected by the urban project, a progressive loss in the Spanish population was occurring, as well as a substitution of non-EU immigrants, who were predominant at the beginning of the period, with EU immigrants. This process has produced a high level of residential segregation, since immigrants from the European Union are viewed more negatively than immigrants from outside of the European Union, which, along with their lower level of education and employment in low-skilled and poorly paid jobs, makes their social integration and interaction more difficult.
Transcriptional and Small RNA Responses of the White Mold Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to Infection by a Virulence-Attenuating Hypovirus
Authors: Lee Marzano Shin-Yi , Neupane Achal , Domier Leslie
Published: December 2018

Mycoviruses belonging to the family Hypoviridae cause persistent infection of many different host fungi. We previously determined that the white mold fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirus 2-L (SsHV2-L) exhibits reduced virulence, delayed/reduced sclerotial formation, and enhanced production of aerial mycelia. To gain better insight into the cellular basis for these changes, we characterized changes in mRNA and small RNA (sRNA) accumulation in S. sclerotiorum to infection by SsHV2-L. A total of 958 mRNAs and 835 sRNA-producing loci were altered after infection by SsHV2-L, among which >100 mRNAs were predicted to encode proteins involved in the metabolism and trafficking of carbohydrates and lipids. Both S. sclerotiorum endogenous and virus-derived sRNAs were predominantly 22 nt in length suggesting one dicer-like enzyme cleaves both. Novel classes of endogenous small RNAs were predicted, including phasiRNAs and tRNA-derived small RNAs. Moreover, S. sclerotiorum phasiRNAs, which were derived from noncoding RNAs and have the potential to regulate mRNA abundance in trans, showed differential accumulation due to virus infection. tRNA fragments did not accumulate differentially after hypovirus infection. Hence, in-depth analysis showed that infection of S. sclerotiorum by a hypovirulence-inducing hypovirus produced selective, large-scale reprogramming of mRNA and sRNA production.
Analysing the Role of Visions, Agency, and Niches in Historical Transitions in Watershed Management in the Lower Mississippi River
Authors: Van der Voorn Tom , Quist Jaco
Published: December 2018

This paper analyses five major transitions in watershed management in the Lower Mississippi River from the early 19th century to the present. A conceptual framework is developed for analysing the role of visions, agency, and niches in water management transitions and applied to a historical case on water management in the Lower Mississippi River. It is shown that water management regimes change over time and that major transitions were preceded by niches, in which new visions were developed and empowered. The case shows that: (i) emerging visions play an important role in guiding transitions; (ii) agency enables the further diffusion of visions and niches; (iii) vision champions play an important role in transitions, but are not decisive; (iv) each transition has led to an extension of the number of societal functions provided, which has led to more complex water management regimes in which functions are combined and integrated; and (v) external landscape factors are important, as they can lead to awareness and urgency in important decision making processes.
A Data-Driven Surrogate Modelling Approach for Acceleration of Short-Term Simulations of a Dynamic Urban Drainage Simulator
Authors: Mahmoodian Mahmood , Torres-Matallana Jairo Arturo , Leopold Ulrich , Schutz Georges , Clemens Francois H. L. R.
Published: December 2018

In this study, applicability of a data-driven Gaussian Process Emulator (GPE) technique to develop a dynamic surrogate model for a computationally expensive urban drainage simulator is investigated. Considering rainfall time series as the main driving force is a challenge in this regard due to the high dimensionality problem. However, this problem can be less relevant when the focus is only on short-term simulations. The novelty of this research is the consideration of short-term rainfall time series as training parameters for the GPE. Rainfall intensity at each time step is counted as a separate parameter. A method to generate synthetic rainfall events for GPE training purposes is introduced as well. Here, an emulator is developed to predict the upcoming daily time series of the total wastewater volume in a storage tank and the corresponding Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) volume. Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Volumetric Efficiency (VE) are calculated as emulation error indicators. For the case study herein, the emulator is able to speed up the simulations up to 380 times with a low accuracy cost for prediction of the total storage tank volume (medians of NSE = 0.96 and VE = 0.87). CSO events occurrence is detected in 82% of the cases, although with some considerable accuracy cost (medians of NSE = 0.76 and VE = 0.5). Applicability of the emulator for consecutive short-term simulations, based on real observed rainfall time series is also validated with a high accuracy (NSE = 0.97, VE = 0.89).
Qualifying Coordination Mechanism for Cascade-Reservoir Operation with a New Game-Theoretical Methodology
Authors: Xu Yuni , Fu Xiang , Qin Jianan
Published: December 2018

The coordinated operation for hydropower generation in cascade reservoirs is critical to resolve the conflicts in hydropower needs between upstream and downstream reservoirs. Due to the individual rationality and collective rationality highlighted by game theory, we propose an integrated game-theoretical model to simulate the coordination behaviors among cascade reservoirs for hydropower generation. In the case study of a cascade-reservoir system in the Yangtze River of China, three operation models are compared and analyzed: the non-cooperative model, centralized model, and integrated game-theoretical model. The factors influencing the coordination efficiency of the integrated game-theoretical model are also explored in this study. The results indicate that the system’s hydropower generation obtained by the integrated game-theoretical model is closer to the ideal solution obtained by the centralized model compared to that obtained by the non-cooperative model. Moreover, individual hydropower generation in non-cooperation (rational individual gains) is guaranteed by the integrated game-theoretical model, which is neglected by the centralized model. Furthermore, the coordination efficiency of the integrated game-theoretical model is influenced by the water availability variation and regulation capacities of cascade reservoirs.
Spatial and Seasonal Distribution and Transportation of Different Forms of Phosphorus in the Middle Reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River
Authors: Cheng Xiaolong , Huang Yanan , Pu Xunchi , An Ruidong , Huang Wendian , Li Jia , Wang Wei , Li Ran
Published: December 2018

The Yarlung Zangbo River basin ecosystem is fragile. The distribution and transportation of phosphorus is of great significance for aquatic environmental protection and ecological security. The sequential extraction method and molybdenum antimony anti-spectrophotometry were used to measure the concentrations of different forms of phosphorus in the surface sediments from 15 sampling sites along the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributaries. The results show that the total phosphorus concentration in the surface sediments is 194.0~540.7 mg/kg, which is mainly composed of inorganic phosphorus. The concentrations of various phosphorus forms ranked as calcium-bound phosphorus (355.6 ± 86.0 mg/kg) > soluble phosphorus (15.9 ± 10.0 mg/kg) > iron-bound phosphorus (12.4 ± 12.3 mg/kg) > organic phosphorus (9.6 ± 6.1 mg/kg) > occluded phosphorus (9.2 ± 3.8 mg/kg) > aluminum-bound phosphorus (5.4 ± 2.3 mg/kg). On the whole, phosphorus concentration is greater in wet season than dry season. Regarding the spatial distribution characteristics, there are great disparities in the different forms of phosphorus in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Comprehensive analysis shows that phosphorus of this area is mainly self-generated, and concentration of bioavailable phosphorus is small, demonstrating there will not be a large release. We also drew a “specific triangle” of the different forms of phosphorus concentrations in the research area and defined the “α” angle to determine the nutrient status of the overlying water quickly and effectively. Finally, phosphorus flux of the mainstream was estimated. This research may provide information on the phosphorus of Plateau Rivers.
CLIENT INFLUENCE ON VALUATION: PERCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE DRIVING FACTORS
Authors: Amidu Abdul Rasheed , Aluko Bioye Tajudeen
Published: December 2018

Recent behavioural real estate research effort on valuation bias judgement suggests that client influence is an important source of such bias. This paper, therefore, considers the theoretical potentials for client influence to bias valuations, and empirically analyse the factors impacting on the extent of influence client may exert on estate surveyors and valuers. To accomplish this aim, questionnaires were randomly administered to samples of estate surveyors and valuers in Lagos Metropolis. Using mean rating point, the survey ranked three factors; integrity of valuer or valuation firm, importance of the valuation outcome to the client and client size, as the most significant clients’ influencing factors. The results of the Chi‐square test did not, however, provide any statistical relationship between the size of firm, amount of experience and education of estate surveyors and valuers and their perception on the comparative importance of the identified clients’ influencing factors.

Klientų įtaka vertinimui: pagrindinių veiksnių suvokimo analizė

Santrauka

Neseniai atlikti nekilnojamojo turto vertinimo šališkumo elgsenos tyrimai rodo, kad kliento įtaka ‐ svarbus tokio šališkumo šaltinis. Todėl šiame darbe svarstomas klientu įtakos vertinimo šališkumui teorinis potencialas ir empiriškai analizuojami veiksniai, lemiantys kliento įtakosnekilnojamojo turto vertintojams mastą. Rengiant ši darbą, buvo apklausti respondentai ‐ atsitiktine tvarka parinkti nekilnojamojo turto vertintojai iš Lagoso miesto. Apskaičiuojant vidurki, apklausos metu balais įvertinti trys veiksniai yra svarbiausi, kuriems klientas gali daryti įtaka ‐ tai vertintojo arba vertinimo firmos sąžiningumas, vertinimo rezultatu svarba klientui ir kliento dydis. Tačiau chi kvadrato testo rezultatai neparodė jokio statistinio ryšio tarp įmones dydžio, turto vertintoju patirties bei išsilavinimo ir to, kaip jie supranta nustatytųjų klientu įtakos veiksniu lyginamąja svarba.
NLTE Stellar Population Synthesis of Globular Clusters Using Synthetic Integrated Light Spectra. II. Expanded Photometry and Sensitivity of Near-IR Spectral Features to Cluster Age and Metallicity
Authors: Young Mitchell. E. , Short C. Ian
Published: December 2018

We present an expanded investigation of the library of globular cluster (GC) synthetic integrated light (IL) spectra of Young & Short, focusing on the impact of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) modeling effects on cluster parameters derived from photometric colors and sensitivity of near-IR spectral features to cluster age and metallicity. Johnson–Cousins–Bessel UBVIJK photometric colors are produced for 910 synthetic IL spectra with two degrees of α enhancement, in both NLTE and local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). These color values are used to investigate the GC age–metallicity degeneracy and compare NLTE and LTE derived [M/H] values for NGC 104, NGC 5139, and NGC 6205. For a given age, derived [M/H] values are shown to increase by up to 0.05 dex when modeled in NLTE. A total of 86 spectral lines in the range λ = 12000–22000 Å, representing 14 different atomic species, were identified as sensitive to either cluster age or metallicity, 12 of which were identified as sensitive to both. Equivalent widths of the lines are measured in NLTE and LTE spectra, with NLTE effects changing the widths by up to

Å depending on the atomic species.