bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GNSS/IMU/ODO/LiDAR-SLAM Integrated Navigation System Using IMU/ODO Pre-Integration
Authors: Chang Le , Niu Xiaoji , Liu Tianyi
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we proposed a multi-sensor integrated navigation system composed of GNSS (global navigation satellite system), IMU (inertial measurement unit), odometer (ODO), and LiDAR (light detection and ranging)-SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping). The dead reckoning results were obtained using IMU/ODO in the front-end. The graph optimization was used to fuse the GNSS position, IMU/ODO pre-integration results, and the relative position and relative attitude from LiDAR-SLAM to obtain the final navigation results in the back-end. The odometer information is introduced in the pre-integration algorithm to mitigate the large drift rate of the IMU. The sliding window method was also adopted to avoid the increasing parameter numbers of the graph optimization. Land vehicle tests were conducted in both open-sky areas and tunnel cases. The tests showed that the proposed navigation system can effectually improve accuracy and robustness of navigation. During the navigation drift evaluation of the mimic two-minute GNSS outages, compared to the conventional GNSS/INS (inertial navigation system)/ODO integration, the root mean square (RMS) of the maximum position drift errors during outages in the proposed navigation system were reduced by 62.8%, 72.3%, and 52.1%, along the north, east, and height, respectively. Moreover, the yaw error was reduced by 62.1%. Furthermore, compared to the GNSS/IMU/LiDAR-SLAM integration navigation system, the assistance of the odometer and non-holonomic constraint reduced vertical error by 72.3%. The test in the real tunnel case shows that in weak environmental feature areas where the LiDAR-SLAM can barely work, the assistance of the odometer in the pre-integration is critical and can effectually reduce the positioning drift along the forward direction and maintain the SLAM in the short-term. Therefore, the proposed GNSS/IMU/ODO/LiDAR-SLAM integrated navigation system can effectually fuse the information from multiple sources to maintain the SLAM process and significantly mitigate navigation error, especially in harsh areas where the GNSS signal is severely degraded and environmental features are insufficient for LiDAR-SLAM.
An Integrated IoT Architecture for Smart Metering Using Next Generation Sensor for Water Management Based on LoRaWAN Technology: A Pilot Study
Authors: Slaný Vlastimil , Lučanský Adam , Koudelka Petr , Mareček Jan , Krčálová Eva , Martínek Radek
Published: August 2020

This pilot study focuses on the design, implementation, optimization and verification of a novel solution of smart measuring of water consumption and crisis detection leading to a smart water management platform. The system implemented consists of a modular IoT platform based on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design using the M2.COM standard, a LoraWAN modem and a LoraWAN gateway based on the Raspberry Pi platform. The prototype is modular, low-cost, low-power, low-complex and it fully reflects the requirements of strategic technological concepts of Smart City and Industry 4.0, i.e., data integration, interoperability, (I)IoT, etc. The study was produced in cooperation with M.I.S Protivanov and VODARENSKA AKCIOVA SPOLECNOST, a.s. (industry partners distributing drinking water in the Olomouc and South-Moravian regions) to depict the current situation in the Czech Republic, characterized by extreme weather fluctuations and increasingly frequent periods of drought. These drinking water distributors are also constantly placing new demands on these smart solutions. These requirements include, above all, reliability of data transmission, modularity and, last but not least, low cost. However, smart water management (water consumption, distribution, system identification, equipment maintenance, etc.) is becoming an important topic worldwide. The functionality of the system was first verified in laboratory conditions and, then, in real operation. The study also includes checking signal propagation in the municipal area of the village of Zdarna, where the radius of the proposed measuring system was tested. A laboratory test with simulation of water leakage is also part of this work. Subsequently, the system was tested in a residential unit by means of water leakage detection using the MNF method (minimum night flow); the detection success rate was 95%.
Co-Processing of [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 and UHMWPE into Materials Combining (Spin Crossover and High Mechanical Strength
Authors: Baumgartner Manuel , Schaller Raphael , Smith Paul , Weymuth Irene , Caseri Walter
Published: August 2020

The coordination polymer [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 exhibits the rare phenomenon of spin crossover in an attractive temperature range, i.e., somewhat above room temperature. Spin crossover in [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 is manifest by thermochromism, which is accompanied by a magnetic transition from diamagnetism to paramagnetism. However, [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 is brittle and difficult to process, which limits its use. In this study, we show that [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 can be co-processed with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which possesses outstanding mechanical properties, particularly when tensile drawn. Therefore, [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2–UHMWPE blends were gel-processed by extrusion, employing a relatively poor solvent, which has recently been shown to offer advantages compared to good solvents. Uniform and flexible films, ribbons and fibers with [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2 fractions as high as 33.3% m/m were obtained that could be readily drawn. Spin crossover in the coordination polymer is retained in these materials, as evident from their thermochromism. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the blends exceed those of typical commodity polymers. Thus, the films, ribbons and fibers constitute a special class of multifunctional materials that combine the flexibility and excellent mechanical properties of drawn UHMWPE with the spin crossover behavior of [Fe(NH2trz)3](2ns)2.
Concept of Mobile Application for Mobility as a Service Based on Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: He Yinying , Csiszár Csaba
Published: August 2020

Mobility as a service (MaaS) is proposed to encourage travelers to choose sustainable mobility options and reduce use of individual car. In the future, mobility services based on autonomous vehicles (AVs) are also incorporated into MaaS. The objective of our work is to elaborate the concept of mobile application, aiding the MaaS based on AVs. We applied a system engineering process-oriented approach to determine the information system components, the functions as well as input and output data. Functions of back-end information system operation and front-end interface of application have been identified, as well as the information flows have been modeled. We highlighted the main differences between MaaS and MaaS based on AVs. We found that recording of event-based points and feedback management are regarded as pivot functions in this self-travel service. Our results facilitate the development of smartphone application for the MaaS based on AVs.
Evaluation of Parallel-Series Configurations of Two-Phase Partitioning Biotrickling Filtration and Biotrickling Filtration for Treating Styrene Gas-Phase Emissions
Authors: San-Valero Pau , Álvarez-Hornos Javier , Ferrero Pablo , Penya-Roja Josep M. , Marzal Paula , Gabaldón Carmen
Published: August 2020

The removal of styrene from industrial representative gaseous emissions was studied using two reactors connected in series: a two-phase partitioning biotrickling filter (TPPB-BTF) and a conventional biotrickling filter (BTF). The system was operated under industrial conditions, which included steady and transient conditions and intermittent spraying. Silicone oil was used in the TPPB-BTF with a quantity as low as 25 mL L−1, promoting a faster start-up compared to the BTF. By working at a styrene loading of 30 g m−3 h−1, nearly complete removal efficiency (RE) was obtained. In addition, the removal was not adversely impacted by using non-steady emission patterns such as overnight shutdowns (97% RE) and oscillating concentrations (95% RE), demonstrating its viability for industrial applications. After 2 months from inoculation, two additional configurations (reverse series BTF + TPPB-BTF and parallel) were tested, showing the series configuration as the best approach to consistently achieve RE > 95%. After 51 days of operation, high throughput sequencing revealed a sharp decrease in the bacterial diversity. In both reactors, the microorganisms belonging to the Comamonadaceae family were predominant and other styrene degraders such as Pseudomonadaceae proliferated preferably in the first reactor.
Establishment and Practice of the Statistical Indicator System for All-Area-Advancing Tourism in China
Authors: Ding Ye , Sun Jie , Wang Chunlei
Published: August 2020

As a new concept and mode in China to promote the coordinated development of the regional economy and society driven by the tourism industry, All-area-advancing tourism refers to the unified planning and layout, optimization of public services, comprehensive overall management, and marketing of a certain region as a complete destination with tourism as the dominant industry. This research established the All-area-advancing tourism statistical indicator system which is committed to calculate the contribution of All-area-advancing tourism to the national economy from both the supply and demand sides within the framework of the system of national account (SNA). Meanwhile, the established indicator system of All-area-advancing tourism has been applied to calculate the output of the tourism industry in Songjiang district, Shanghai, China. The results indicate that the All-area-advancing tourism indicator system can better fit the current system of national account and reflect the contribution of the tourism industry to the national economy in a more comprehensive way.
A Systematic Literature Review. Relationships between the Sharing Economy, Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Boar Andrei , Bastida Ramon , Marimon Frederic
Published: August 2020

The sharing economy is an umbrella term for different business models that seem to have a positive impact on sustainability. To achieve sustainable development, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an instrument and guide for countries and individuals. This paper sheds light on the relationships between the sharing economy, sustainability and SDGs through the content analysis of 74 papers from the database Web of Science that consider these factors through the topics of the environment, consumer values, business characteristics and urban impact regarding sectors such as mobility and accommodation. Results express that the sharing economy helps to achieve all SDGs. However, further research is needed because of the novelty of the topic and the existence of many gaps. The sharing economy has a positive effect on the dimensions of sustainability from the economic, social and environmental points of view.
Interdisciplinarity in Teacher Education: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Educational Innovation Project
Authors: Santaolalla Elsa , Urosa Belén , Martín Olga , Verde Ana , Díaz Tamara
Published: August 2020

Interdisciplinary projects play an important role in the development of a student profile based on the 21st century skills. Nevertheless, the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach is a challenge for both teachers and teacher educators. The aim of this study is to create an interdisciplinary model for teacher education, and to provide an empirical study which analyses its impact on learning. An educational innovation project was carried out with preservice teachers who experienced and subsequently designed a Problem Based Learning with interdisciplinary activities including Mathematics and Social Sciences, using the National Archaeological Museum as an educational resource. The proposals were implemented amongst children to evaluate the project’s effectiveness, considering two aspects: (a) improved teaching skills for preservice teachers (N = 26) and (b) improved learning for Mathematics and Social Sciences content amongst primary school children (N = 58). In the case of the student teachers, the variance analysis implemented showed sufficient empirical evidence of the improvement between the pre and post treatment, in different dimensions of the teaching skills and competences. On the primary school students, some significantly statistic progresses were found concerning the learning of both subjects, as well as their perception of museums as place for learning.
Towards Characterization of Indoor Environment in Smart Buildings: Modelling PMV Index Using Neural Network with One Hidden Layer
Authors: Dudzik Marek
Published: August 2020

Modelling of comfort with the use of neural networks in modern times has become extremely popular. In recent years, scientists have been using these methods because of their satisfactory accuracy. The article proposes a method of modelling feedforward neural networks, thanks to which it is possible to obtain the most efficient network with one hidden layer in terms of a given quality criterion. The article also presents the methodology for modelling a PMV index, on the basis of which it can be demonstrated whether the network will work properly not only on paper but in reality as well. The objective of this work is to develop a performance model allowing the effective improvement of all electrical and mechanical devices affecting the energy efficiency and indoor environment in smart buildings. To achieve this, several attributes of indoor environment are included, namely: air leakage as a connection to the outdoor environment, but also as uncontrolled component of energy, ventilation as delivery and distribution of fresh air in the building space, individual ventilation on demand indoor air quality (IAQ) in the dwelling or as a personal IAQ control, source control of pollutants in the building, thermal comfort, temperature, air movement and humidity control (humidity modifiers, i.e., buffers different from the air conditioning radiation from cold and hot surfaces bringing forward a question about the strategy of the process control. One may either develop a series of control models to be synthesized later or one can use one over-arching characteristic and use its components for operating the control system. The paper addresses the second strategy and uses the concept of PMV for a criterion of broadly defined thermal comfort (including ventilation and air quality).
Exploring the Interactions of Factory Workers in China: A Model Development Using the Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Ye Ye , Omar Rosmini , Ning Binyao , Ting Hiram
Published: August 2020

This study uses the grounded theory approach to explore factory workers to factory worker interaction (FWI) in the context of Chinese factories and proposes a model of FWI in the workplace. Human interaction in the workplace is indispensable in most sectors. Compared with large-scale factories, China’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) factories lack capital resources and technological advancement, and sustainably managing factory workers is essential for the development of Chinese SME factories. However, previous studies have ignored FWI in Chinese factories. The model developed in this study considers the types, driving factors, and influential outcomes of FWI. The main factors affecting FWI are the individual characteristics of the workplace and external environmental factors and, among types of FWI, information sharing is the most dominant and prevailing. The managers’ management style and the emotional state of factory workers are playing moderating roles in FWI. Results show that factory managers can take advantage of the positive impacts of FWI to improve the efficiency of factory workers and avoid its negative effects to achieve sustainable development of the factory. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided.
Inter-Relations among Motivation, Self-Perceived Use of Strategies and Academic Achievement in Science: A Study with Spanish Secondary School Students
Authors: Ortega-Torres Enric , Solaz-Portoles Joan-Josep , Sanjosé-López Vicente
Published: August 2020

The relationship between motivation and the use of learning strategies is a focus of research in order to improve students’ learning. Meaningful learning requires a learner’s personal commitment to put forth the required effort needed to acquire new knowledge. This commitment involves emotional as well as cognitive and metacognitive factors, and requires the ability to manage different resources at hand, in order to achieve the proposed learning goals. The main objectives in the present study were to analyse: (a) Spanish secondary school students’ motivation and self-perception of using strategies when learning science; (b) the nature of the relationship between motivation and perceived use of learning strategies; (c) the influence of different motivational, cognitive, metacognitive and management strategies on students’ science achievement. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was administered to 364 middle and high-school students in grades 7–11. For each participant, the academic achievement was provided by the respective science teacher. The results obtained from the Pearson product-moment correlations between the study variables and a stepwise regression analysis suggested that: (1) motivation, cognitive and metacognitive, and resource management strategies, have a significant influence on students’ science achievement; (2) students’ motivation acts as a kind of enabling factor for the intellectual effort, which is assessed by the self-perceived use of learning strategies in science; and, (3) motivational components have a greater impact on students’ performance in science than cognitive and metacognitive strategies, with self-efficacy being the variable with the strongest influence. These results suggest a reflexion about the limited impact on science achievement of the self-perceived use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies, and highlight the importance of students’ self-efficacy in science, in line with previous studies.
The Effects of Mobile Advertising Alerts and Perceived Value on Continuance Intention for Branded Mobile Apps
Authors: Murillo-Zegarra Miluska , Ruiz-Mafe Carla , Sanz-Blas Silvia
Published: August 2020

This paper examines consumers’ behaviours towards mobile advertising alerts offered by branded mobile apps in the fashion industry. While consumer-driven factors have attracted much attention, little research has examined the impact of data-driven mobile advertising alerts on consumer continuance intention for branded mobile apps. This paper analyses the combined influence of consumer beliefs, data-driven mobile advertising alerts, and perceived value on mobile advertising acceptance, intention to repurchase, and recommendation behaviour towards branded mobile apps on social media. In total, 340 valid responses from Spanish customers of an online fashion outlet, all social media users, who make their purchases from the company exclusively through its branded mobile application, were analysed to test the hypotheses, using structural equation modelling. The results showed that mobile advertising acceptance, intention to repurchase, and recommendation behaviour are driven by the perceived value of the branded mobile app. Perceived value is determined by the usefulness of the branded mobile app, attitudes towards mobile advertising alerts, and irritation. Mobile advertising content (informativeness and credibility) improves attitudes towards mobile advertising alerts. Ease of use increases perceived usefulness, while perceived control decreases irritation. Managerial implications are provided.
Job Satisfaction as a Driver for Sustainable Development in the Hospitality Industry? Evidence from the Alpine Region
Authors: Heimerl Peter , Haid Marco , Perkmann Urban , Rabensteiner Martin
Published: August 2020

This study investigated the drivers of job satisfaction in the Alpine tourism industry. Intention to work in the profession in the future and training satisfaction were also examined. A total of 316 employees in two Alpine tourism regions were interviewed by means of a questionnaire and asked about the factors influencing their job satisfaction, their intention to remain in the sector, and their satisfaction with training. The results reveal significant differences between the two regions in the dimensions of appreciation, international job opportunities, compatibility of family life and career, workplace climate, working hours, and remuneration. The findings also highlight differences in training satisfaction and intention to remain in the job. These regional differences provide important insights into job satisfaction and the influences upon it, from which various approaches to pursuing sustainable development potential can be derived, including personnel management, reduction of employee turnover, and appreciative corporate culture towards guests and employees as well as image cultivation among the general public.
A Practical Overview of Methodologies for Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in Riverine Environments
Authors: Campanale Claudia , Savino Ilaria , Pojar Iulian , Massarelli Carmine , Uricchio Vito Felice
Published: August 2020

Microplastics have recently been stated as being remarkable contaminants of all environmental matrices. The lack of consistent and standardised methods and protocols used to evaluate and quantify microplastics present in riverine systems made a comparison among different studies a critical issue. Based on literature research and the practical expertise of the authors, this work presents a complete collection and analysis of procedures concerning the monitoring of microplastics in riverine environments, focusing on their sampling and analytical protocols to identify, quantify, and characterise them. Further details regarding the advantages and disadvantages of each analytical technique described, such as general recommendations and suggestions, are provided to give practical support for analytical procedures. In particular, microplastics studies consist firstly of their sampling from the aquatic compartment (aqueous and solid phase). Based on the goal of the research, specific devices can be used to collect particles from different matrices. It follows their quantification after extraction from the environmental matrix, adopting different protocols to isolate microplastics from a large amount of organic matter present in a riverine system. In the end, additional qualitative analyses (e.g., RAMAN and FTIR spectroscopy, GC-MS) are required to identify the chemical composition of particles for a better image regarding the abundance of polymer types, their origin, or other information related to manufacturing processes.
New Ways of Working and the Physical Environment to Improve Employee Engagement
Authors: Duque Luis , Costa Renato , Dias Álvaro , Pereira Leandro , Santos José , António Nelson
Published: August 2020

Employee engagement is becoming an increasingly essential factor in organizational competitiveness. Although employee engagement is an extensively researched topic, the roles of new ways of working and physical environment factors are still under exploited. As such, this study examines the relationship between physical environment factors, the dimensions that integrate new ways of working, and employee engagement. Survey data with 126 respondents are analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate a positive significant relationship between the physical environment factors and work engagement. Furthermore, this relation is mediated by four facets regarding new ways of working. The results also indicate that, for the group where facilities were not modified, the new ways of working are a stronger predictor of work engagement when compared with the group where facilities were modified. These findings extend existing knowledge on the antecedents of employee engagement, namely physical environment factors and new ways of working. Another important contribution is related to the mediating role of several facets of new ways of working in the relationship between physical environmental factors and employee engagement.
A Review of Smart Design Based on Interactive Experience in Building Systems
Authors: Li Zhen , Zhang Jiao , Li Mengwan , Huang Jizhuo , Wang Xiangyu
Published: August 2020

Smart building is the result of the penetration of information technology and control technology into traditional buildings, and is the future development direction of buildings. User-centric building smart design can achieve a sustainable life, and smart technology integration based on smart design can support sustainable development and improve user satisfaction, happiness, and overall quality of life. In intelligent design, researchers focus on the “people-oriented” approach, designed to bring users the ultimate interactive experience. Based on the interactive experience principle of smart design in the smart building system, this article classifies and summarizes intelligent design from the “five senses” interaction, including visual interaction, voice interaction, tactile interaction, cognitive interaction, and emotional interaction. We analyze the application of smart design in architecture and discuss how to embody the principles of user-centered interactive experience design in the process of smart design. This article provides a comprehensive and systematic literature review, clarifies the importance of the “people-oriented” approach in the smart design of buildings, and summarizes how to improve the sustainability of intelligent buildings from the perspective of a “people-oriented” approach. This paper proposes future research suggestions and directions and promotes the sustainable development of the smart building.
Models of Community-Friendly Recreational Public Space in Warsaw Suburbs. Methodological Approach
Authors: Mantey Dorota , Kępkowicz Agnieszka
Published: August 2020

In recent years, after the rapid and chaotic suburbanization in the 1990s, public spaces were gradually appearing in the new suburbs of postsocialist Poland. It is worth verifying to what extent these spaces are used on a daily basis. This paper aims to present a method of measuring the utility value of recreational public spaces and to determine the relationship between the utility value of space and its publicness. It suggests models of publicness of the most community-friendly recreational public spaces in Warsaw suburbs. As the research shows, intended diversity has the greatest influence on the prosocial character of space. Proximity, on the other hand, does not influence utility value so much. Location at some distance from the main nodes of activity and the highest concentration of houses, but with safe pedestrian access, is of more importance and should be promoted as a condition of successful suburban recreational space. The main conclusion from the research is that the most community-friendly recreational spaces do not have to be fully public. The measurement tools used in analyzing socio-spatial relations contributes to the development of the academic methods of studying the quality of public space.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Hydrodeoxygenation to 2,5-Dimethylfuran in Continuous-Flow System over Ni on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon
Authors: Brandi Francesco , Bäumel Marius , Shekova Irina , Molinari Valerio , Al-Naji Majd
Published: August 2020

Waste lignocellulosic biomass is sustainable and an alternative feedstock to fossil resources. Among the lignocellulosic derived compounds, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is a promising building block for chemicals, e.g., p-xylene, and a valuable biofuel. DMF can be obtained from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) via catalytic deoxygenation using non-noble metals such as Ni in the presence of H2. Herein, we present the synthesis of DMF from HMF using 35 wt.% Ni on nitrogen-doped carbon pellets (35Ni/NDC) as a catalyst in a continuous flow system. The conversion of HMF to DMF was studied at different hydrogen pressures, reaction temperatures, and space times. At the best reaction conditions, i.e., 423 K, 8.0 MPa, and space time 6.4 kgNi h kgHMF−1, the 35Ni/NDC catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity with HMF conversion of 99 mol% and 80 mol% of DMF. These findings can potentially contribute to the transition toward the production of sustainable fine chemicals and liquid transportation fuels.
Enhancement in Quality Estimation of Resistance Spot Welding Using Vision System and Fuzzy Support Vector Machine
Authors: Younes Dima , Alghannam Essa , Tan Yuegang , Lu Hong
Published: August 2020

The current nondestructive testing methods such as ultrasonic, magnetic, or eddy current signals, and even the existing image processing methods, present certain challenges and show a lack of flexibility in building an effective and real-time quality estimation system of the resistance spot welding (RSW). This paper provides a significant improvement in the theory and practices for designing a robotized inspection station for RSW at the car manufacturing plants using image processing and fuzzy support vector machine (FSVM). The weld nuggets’ positions on each of the used car underbody models are detected mathematically. Then, to collect perfect pictures of the weld nuggets on each of these models, the required end-effector path is planned in real-time by establishing the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) model and solving the forward and inverse kinematics models of the used six-degrees of freedom (6-DOF) robotic arm. After that, the most frequent resistance spot-welding failure modes are reviewed. Improved image processing methods are employed to extract new features from the elliptical-shaped weld nugget’s surface and obtain a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction model of the weld’s surface. The extracted artificial data of thousands of samples of the weld nuggets are divided into three groups. Then, the FSVM learning algorithm is formed by applying the fuzzy membership functions to each group. The improved image processing with the proposed FSVM method shows good performance in classifying the failure modes and dealing with the image noise. The experimental results show that the improvement of comprehensive automatic real-time quality evaluation of RSW surfaces is meaningful: the quality estimation could be processed within 0.5 s in very high accuracy.
Predicting Business Innovation Intention Based on Perceived Barriers: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Rojas-Córdova Carolina , Heredia-Rojas Boris , Ramírez-Correa Patricio
Published: August 2020

In the Industry 4.0 scenario, innovation emerges as a clear driver for the economic development of societies. This effect is particularly true for the least developed countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies that analyze this phenomenon in these nations. In this context, this study aims to examine the impact of perceived barriers to innovation to predict companies′ innovative intentions in an emerging economy. This study is a preliminary effort to use data mining and symmetry-based learning concepts, especially classification, to assist the identification of strategies to incentivize intention to innovate in companies. Using the decision tree classification technique, we analyzed a sample of Chilean companies (N = 5876). The sample was divided into large enterprises (LEs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In the group of large companies, the barriers that most impact the intention to innovate are innovation cost, lack of demand innovations, and lack of qualified personnel. Alternatively, in the group of small-medium companies, the barriers that most impact the intention to innovate are lack of own funds, lack of demand innovations, and lack of information about technology. These results show how the perceptions of barriers are significant to predict the intentions of innovation in Chilean companies. Furthermore, the perceptions of these barriers are contingent on the organizational sizes. These findings contribute to understanding the effect of contingencies on innovative intention in an emerging economy.
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets in Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making Problems Using the Characteristic Objects Method
Authors: Faizi Shahzad , Sałabun Wojciech , Rashid Tabasam , Zafar Sohail , Wątróbski Jarosław
Published: August 2020

Over the past few decades, several researchers and professionals have focused on the development and application of multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) methods under a fuzzy environment in different areas and disciplines. This complex research area has become one of the more popular topics, and it seems that this trend will be increasing. In this paper, we propose a new MCGDM approach combining intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and the Characteristic Object Method (COMET) for solving the group decision making (GDM) problems. The COMET method is resistant to the rank reversal phenomenon, and at the same time it remains relatively simple and intuitive in practical problems. This method can be used for both symmetric and asymmetric information. The Triangular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Numbers (TIFNs) have been used to handle uncertain data. This concept can ensure the preference information about an alternative under specific criteria more comprehensively and allows for easy modelling of symmetrical or asymmetrical linguistic values. Each expert provides the membership and non-membership degree values of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs). So this approach deals with a different kind of uncertainty than with hesitant fuzzy sets (HFSs). The proposed combination of COMET and IFSs required an adaptation of the matrix of expert judgment (MEJ) and allowed to capture the behaviour aspects of the decision makers (DMs). Therefore, we get more reliable solutions while solving MCGDM problems. Finally, the proposed method is presented in a simple academic example.
Fibonacci Graphs
Authors: Yurttas Gunes Aysun , Delen Sadik , Demirci Musa , Cevik Ahmet Sinan , Cangul Ismail Naci
Published: August 2020

Apart from its applications in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Social Sciences, Anthropology, etc., there are close relations between graph theory and other areas of Mathematics. Fibonacci numbers are of utmost interest due to their relation with the golden ratio and also due to many applications in different areas from Biology, Architecture, Anatomy to Finance. In this paper, we define Fibonacci graphs as graphs having degree sequence consisting of n consecutive Fibonacci numbers and use the invariant Ω to obtain some more information on these graphs. We give the necessary and sufficient conditions for the realizability of a set D of n successive Fibonacci numbers for every n and also list all possible realizations called Fibonacci graphs for 1≤n≤4.
Structure of Neutron Stars in Massive Scalar-Tensor Gravity
Authors: Rosca-Mead Roxana , Moore Christopher J. , Sperhake Ulrich , Agathos Michalis , Gerosa Davide
Published: August 2020

We compute families of spherically symmetric neutron-star models in two-derivative scalar-tensor theories of gravity with a massive scalar field. The numerical approach we present allows us to compute the resulting spacetimes out to infinite radius using a relaxation algorithm on a compactified grid. We discuss the structure of the weakly and strongly scalarized branches of neutron-star models thus obtained and their dependence on the linear and quadratic coupling parameters α0, β0 between the scalar and tensor sectors of the theory, as well as the scalar mass μ. For highly negative values of β0, we encounter configurations resembling a “gravitational atom”, consisting of a highly compact baryon star surrounded by a scalar cloud. A stability analysis based on binding-energy calculations suggests that these configurations are unstable and we expect them to migrate to models with radially decreasing baryon density and scalar field strength.
Formation of Thermal Lesions in Tissue and Its Optimal Control during HIFU Scanning Therapy
Authors: Zou Xiao , Qian Shengyou , Tan Qiaolai , Dong Hu
Published: August 2020

A high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) scanning approach is needed to obtain multiple treatment spots for the ablation of large volume tumors, but it will bring some problems such as longer treatment times, the inhomogeneity of temperature and thermal lesions in tissues. Although some optimal control methods have been proposed, it is difficult to take into account the uniformity, efficiency and entirety of thermal lesions. In this study, based on the Helmholtz equation and Pennes’ bio-heat transfer equation, a coupled acoustic-thermal field model is proposed to investigate the relationship between temperature elevation, thermal lesions and neighboring treatment spots, and to analyze the effects of the heating time and acoustic intensity on thermal lesions by the finite element method (FEM). Consequently, optimal control schemes for the heating time and acoustic intensity based on the contribution from neighboring treatment spots to thermal lesions are put forward to reduce treatment times and improve the uniformity of temperature and thermal lesions. The simulation results show that the peak historical temperature elevation on one treatment spot is related to the number, distance and time interval of its neighboring treated spots, and the thermal diffusion from the neighboring untreated spots can slow down the drop of temperature elevation after irradiation, thus both of them affect the final shape of the thermal lesions. In addition, increasing the heating time or acoustic intensity of each treatment spot can expand the overall area of thermal lesions, but it would aggravate the elevation and nonuniformity of the temperature of the treatment region. Through optimizing the heating time, the total treatment time can be reduced from 249 s by 17.4%, and the mean and variance of the peak historical temperature elevation can decrease from 44.64 °C by 13.3% and decrease from 24.6317 by 45%, respectively. While optimizing the acoustic intensity, the total treatment time remains unchanged, and the mean of the peak historical temperature elevation is reduced by 4.3 °C. Under the condition of the same thermal lesions, the optimized schemes can reduce the treatment time, lower the peak of the temperature on treatment spots, and homogenize the temperature distributions. This work is of practical significance for the optimization of a HIFU scanning therapy regimen and the evaluation of its treatment effect.
Functional Study of Haemophilus ducreyi Cytolethal Distending Toxin Subunit B
Authors: Pons Benoît J. , Loiseau Nicolas , Hashim Saleha , Tadrist Soraya , Mirey Gladys , Vignard Julien
Published: August 2020

The Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) is produced by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria responsible for major foodborne diseases worldwide. CDT induces DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in host-cells, eventually leading to senescence or apoptosis. According to structural and sequence comparison, the catalytic subunit CdtB is suggested to possess both nuclease and phosphatase activities, carried by a single catalytic site. However, the impact of each activity on cell-host toxicity is yet to be characterized. Here, we analyze the consequences of cell exposure to different CDT mutated on key CdtB residues, focusing on cell viability, cell cycle defects, and DNA damage induction. A first class of mutant, devoid of any activity, targets putative catalytic (H160A), metal binding (D273R), and DNA binding residues (R117A-R144A-N201A). The second class of mutants (A163R, F156-T158, and the newly identified G114T), which gathers mutations on residues potentially involved in lipid substrate binding, has only partially lost its toxic effects. However, their defects are alleviated when CdtB is artificially introduced inside cells, except for the F156-T158 double mutant that is defective in nuclear addressing. Therefore, our data reveal that CDT toxicity is mainly correlated to CdtB nuclease activity, whereas phosphatase activity may probably be involved in CdtB intracellular trafficking.
Interaction of Macrophages and Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysins: The Impact on Immune Response and Cellular Survival
Authors: Thapa Roshan , Ray Sucharit , Keyel Peter A.
Published: August 2020

Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are key virulence factors involved in many lethal bacterial infections, including pneumonia, necrotizing soft tissue infections, bacterial meningitis, and miscarriage. Host responses to these diseases involve myeloid cells, especially macrophages. Macrophages use several systems to detect and respond to cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, including membrane repair, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling, phagocytosis, cytokine production, and activation of the adaptive immune system. However, CDCs also promote immune evasion by silencing and/or destroying myeloid cells. While there are many common themes between the various CDCs, each CDC also possesses specific features to optimally benefit the pathogen producing it. This review highlights host responses to CDC pathogenesis with a focus on macrophages. Due to their robust plasticity, macrophages play key roles in the outcome of bacterial infections. Understanding the unique features and differences within the common theme of CDCs bolsters new tools for research and therapy.
The Astrobiology of Alien Worlds: Known and Unknown Forms of Life
Authors: Irwin Louis N. , Schulze-Makuch Dirk
Published: August 2020

Most definitions of life assume that, at a minimum, life is a physical form of matter distinct from its environment at a lower state of entropy than its surroundings, using energy from the environment for internal maintenance and activity, and capable of autonomous reproduction. These assumptions cover all of life as we know it, though more exotic entities can be envisioned, including organic forms with novel biochemistries, dynamic inorganic matter, and self-replicating machines. The probability that any particular form of life will be found on another planetary body depends on the nature and history of that alien world. So the biospheres would likely be very different on a rocky planet with an ice-covered global ocean, a barren planet devoid of surface liquid, a frigid world with abundant liquid hydrocarbons, on a rogue planet independent of a host star, on a tidally locked planet, on super-Earths, or in long-lived clouds in dense atmospheres. While life at least in microbial form is probably pervasive if rare throughout the Universe, and technologically advanced life is likely much rarer, the chance that an alternative form of life, though not intelligent life, could exist and be detected within our Solar System is a distinct possibility.
Can Winged Aphid Abundance Be a Predictor of Cucurbit Aphid-Borne Yellows Virus Epidemics in Melon Crop?
Authors: Schoeny Alexandra , Rimbaud Loup , Gognalons Patrick , Girardot Grégory , Millot Pauline , Nozeran Karine , Wipf-Scheibel Catherine , Lecoq Hervé
Published: August 2020

Aphid-borne viruses are frequent yield-limiting pathogens in open field vegetable crops. In the absence of curative methods, virus control relies exclusively on measures limiting virus introduction and spread. The efficiency of control measures may greatly benefit from an accurate knowledge of epidemic drivers, in particular those linked with aphid vectors. Field experiments were conducted in southeastern France between 2010 and 2019 to investigate the relationship between the epidemics of cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and aphid vector abundance. Winged aphids visiting melon crops were sampled daily to assess the abundance of CABYV vectors (Aphis gossypii, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae) and CABYV was monitored weekly by DAS-ELISA. Epidemic temporal progress curves were successfully described by logistic models. A systematic search for correlations was undertaken between virus variables including parameters µ (inflection point of the logistic curve) and γ (maximum incidence) and aphid variables computed by aggregating abundances on periods relative either to the planting date, or to the epidemic peak. The abundance of A. gossypii during the first two weeks after planting was found to be a good predictor of CABYV dynamics, suggesting that an early control of this aphid species could mitigate the onset and progress of CABYV epidemics in melon crops.
Development of a Dual Fluorescent Microsphere Immunological Assay for Detection of Pseudorabies Virus gE and gB IgG Antibodies
Authors: Ji Chihai , Wei Yingfang , Wang Jingyu , Zeng Yuchen , Pan Haoming , Liang Guan , Ma Jun , Gong Lang , Zhang Wei , Zhang Guihong , Wang Heng
Published: August 2020

Pseudorabies, also known as Aujezsky’s disease, is an acute viral infection caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV). Swine are one of the natural hosts of pseudorabies and the disease causes huge economic losses in the pig industry. The establishment of a differential diagnosis technique that can distinguish between wild-type infection and vaccinated responses and monitor vaccine-induced immunoglobulin G(IgG) is crucial for the eventual eradication of pseudorabies. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid dual detection method for PRV gE and gB protein IgG antibodies with high specificity and sensitivity. PRV gE codons at amino acid residues (aa) 52–238 and gB codons at aa 539–741 were expressed to obtain recombinant PRV gE and gB proteins via a pMAL-c5x vector. After purification with Qiagen Ni–nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) agarose affinity chromatography, the two proteins were analyzed via SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting assays. Two single fluorescent-microsphere immunoassays (FMIAs) were established by coupling two recombinant proteins (gE and gB) to magnetic microbeads, and an effective dual FMIA was developed by integrating the two single assays. Optimal serum dilution for each assay, correlation with other common swine virus-positive sera, and comparison with ELISA for two PRV antigens were tested for validation. Compared with ELISA, the specificity and sensitivity were 99.26% and 92.3% for gE IgG antibody detection, and 95.74% and 96.3% for the gB IgG antibody detection via dual FMIA. We provide a new method for monitoring PRV protective antibodies in vaccinated pigs and differentiating wild-type PRV infection from vaccinated responses simultaneously.
Dengue Virus Serotype 4 Is Responsible for the Outbreak of Dengue in East Java City of Jember, Indonesia
Authors: Aryati Aryati , Wrahatnala Billy J. , Yohan Benediktus , Fanny May , Hakim Faradila K. N. , Sunari Eka Putri , Zuroidah Nelly , Wardhani Puspa , Santoso Marsha S. , Husada Dominicus , Rohman Ali , Tarmizi Siti Nadia , Sievers Justus T. O. , Sasmono R. Tedjo
Published: August 2020

Outbreaks of dengue virus (DENV) in Indonesia have been mainly caused by the DENV serotype-1; -2; or -3. The DENV-4 was the least-reported serotype in Indonesia during the last five decades. We recently conducted a molecular epidemiology study of dengue in the Jember regency, East Java province, Indonesia. Dengue is endemic in the region and outbreaks occur annually. We investigated the clinical characteristics and etiology of dengue-like febrile illness in this regency to understand the disease dynamics. A total of 191 patients with clinical symptoms similar to dengue were recruited during an 11-month study in 2019–2020. Children accounted for the majority of cases and dengue burden was estimated in 41.4% of the cases based on NS1 antigen, viral RNA, and IgG/IgM antibody detection with the majority (73.4%) being primary infections. Secondary infection was significantly associated with a higher risk of severe dengue manifestation. All four DENV serotypes were detected in Jember. Strikingly, we observed the predominance of DENV-4, followed by DENV-3, DENV-1, and DENV-2. Genotype determination using Envelope gene sequence revealed the classification into Genotype I, Cosmopolitan Genotype, Genotype I, and Genotype II for DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4, respectively. The predominance of DENV-4 in Jember may be associated with a new wave of DENV infections and spread in a non-immune population lacking a herd-immunity to this particular serotype.