bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Real-Time Service from Remote Sensing: Compression of Earth Observatory Video Data via Long-Term Background Referencing
Authors: Xiao Jing , Zhu Rong , Hu Ruimin , Wang Mi , Zhu Ying , Chen Dan , Li Deren
Published: June 2018

City surveillance enables many innovative applications of smart cities. However, the real-time utilization of remotely sensed surveillance data via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or video satellites is hindered by the considerable gap between the high data collection rate and the limited transmission bandwidth. High efficiency compression of the data is in high demand. Long-term background redundancy (LBR) (in contrast to local spatial/temporal redundancies in a single video clip) is a new form of redundancy common in Earth observatory video data (EOVD). LBR is induced by the repetition of static landscapes across multiple video clips and becomes significant as the number of video clips shot of the same area increases. Eliminating LBR improves EOVD coding efficiency considerably. First, this study proposes eliminating LBR by creating a long-term background referencing library (LBRL) containing high-definition geographically registered images of an entire area. Then, it analyzes the factors affecting the variations in the image representations of the background. Next, it proposes a method of generating references for encoding current video and develops the encoding and decoding framework for EOVD compression. Experimental results show that encoding UAV video clips with the proposed method saved an average of more than 54% bits using references generated under the same conditions. Bitrate savings reached 25–35% when applied to satellite video data with arbitrarily collected reference images. Applying the proposed coding method to EOVD will facilitate remote surveillance, which can foster the development of online smart city applications.
A Cloud Detection Method for Landsat 8 Images Based on PCANet
Authors: Zi Yue , Xie Fengying , Jiang Zhiguo
Published: June 2018

Cloud detection for remote sensing images is often a necessary process, because cloud is widespread in optical remote sensing images and causes a lot of difficulty to many remote sensing activities, such as land cover monitoring, environmental monitoring and target recognizing. In this paper, a novel cloud detection method is proposed for multispectral remote sensing images from Landsat 8. Firstly, the color composite image of Bands 6, 3 and 2 is divided into superpixel sub-regions through Simple Linear Iterative Cluster (SLIC) method. Then, a two-step superpixel classification strategy is used to predict each superpixel as cloud or non-cloud. Thirdly, a fully connected Conditional Random Field (CRF) model is used to refine the cloud detection result, and accurate cloud borders are obtained. In the two-step superpixel classification strategy, the bright and thick cloud superpixels, as well as the obvious non-cloud superpixels, are firstly separated from potential cloud superpixels through a threshold function, which greatly speeds up the detection. The designed double-branch PCA Network (PCANet) architecture can extract the high-level information of cloud, then combined with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, the potential superpixels are correctly classified. Visual and quantitative comparison experiments are conducted on the Landsat 8 Cloud Cover Assessment (L8 CCA) dataset; the results indicate that our proposed method can accurately detect clouds under different conditions, which is more effective and robust than the compared state-of-the-art methods.
An Enhanced Linear Spatio-Temporal Fusion Method for Blending Landsat and MODIS Data to Synthesize Landsat-Like Imagery
Authors: Ping Bo , Meng Yunshan , Su Fenzhen
Published: June 2018

Landsat and MODIS data have been widely utilized in many remote sensing applications, however, the trade-off between the spatial resolution and temporal frequency has limited their capacities in monitoring detailed spatio-temporal dynamics. Spatio-temporal fusion methods based on a linear model that considers the differences between fine- and coarse-spatial-resolution images as linear can effectively solve this trade-off problem, yet the existing linear fusion methods either regard the coefficients of the linear model as constants or have adopted regression methods to calculate the coefficients, both of which may introduce some errors in the fusion process. In this paper, we proposed an enhanced linear spatio-temporal fusion method (ELSTFM) to improve the data fusion accuracy. In the ELSTFM, it is not necessary to calculate the slope of the linear model, and the intercept, which can be deemed as the residual caused by systematic biases, is calculated based on spectral unmixing theory. Additionally, spectrally similar pixels in a given fine-spatial-resolution pixel’s neighborhood and their corresponding weights were used in the proposed method to mitigate block effects. Landsat-7/ETM+ and 8-day composite MODIS reflectance data covering two study sites with heterogeneous and homogenous landscapes were selected to validate the proposed method. Compared to three other typical spatio-temporal fusion methods visually and quantitatively, the predicted images obtained from ELSTFM could acquire better results for the two selected study sites. Furthermore, the resampling methods used to resample MODIS to the same spatial resolution of Landsat could slightly, but did not significantly influence the fusion accuracy, and the distributions of slopes of different bands for the two study sites could all be deemed as normal distributions with a mean value close to 1. The performance of ELSTFM depends on the accuracy of residual calculation at fine-resolution and large landscape changes may influence the fusion accuracy.
Humanoid Identification of Fabric Material Properties by Vibration Spectrum Analysis
Authors: Ding Shuyang , Pan Yunlu , Zhao Xuezeng
Published: June 2018

In daily contexts, fabrics embodied in garments are in contact with human body all the time. Since fabric material properties—such as softness or fineness—can be easily sensed by human fingertips, fabric materials can be roughly identified by fingertip sliding. Identification by simply touching and sliding is convenient and fast, although the room for error is always very large. In this study, a highly discernible fabric humanoid identification method with a fingertip structure inspired tactile sensor is designed to investigate the fabric material properties by characterizing the power spectrum integral of vibration signal basing on fast Fourier transform integral S(FFT), which is generated from a steel ball probe rubbing against a fabric surface at an increasing sliding velocity and normal load, respectively. kv and kw are defined as the slope values to identify the fabric surface roughness and hardness. A sample of 21 pieces of fabric categorized by yarn weight, weave pattern, and material were tested by this method. It was proved that the proposed humanoid sensing method has more efficient compared with fingertip sliding while it is also much more accurate for fabric material identification. Our study would be discussed in light of textile design and has a great number of potential applications in humanoid tactile perception technology.
Molecular Assembly of a Durable HRP-AuNPs/PEDOT:BSA/Pt Biosensor with Detailed Characterizations
Authors: Xu Fangcheng , Ren Shuaibin , Li Jiansin , Bi Xiang , Gu Yesong
Published: June 2018

In this study, we provided the detailed characterizations of our recent HRP-AuNPs/PEDOT:BSA/Pt biosensor, constructed through a simple fabrication procedure with improved stability and good sensitivity. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy not only confirmed the synthesis of conductive PEDOT where BSA was the template for the polymerization, but also provided further insights into the stable immobilization of AuNP on the PEDOT:BSA film. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the attachment of AuNPs were stable under a high salt environment. The current technology demonstrates a feasible procedure to form a functional AuNPs/PEDOT:BSA film that has potential applications in the fabrication of various biosensors and electric devices.
Design and Fabrication of Full Wheatstone-Bridge-Based Angular GMR Sensors
Authors: Yan Shaohua , Cao Zhiqiang , Guo Zongxia , Zheng Zhenyi , Cao Anni , Qi Yue , Leng Qunwen , Zhao Weisheng
Published: June 2018

Since the discovery of the giant magnetoresistive (GMR) effect, GMR sensors have gained much attention in last decades due to their high sensitivity, small size, and low cost. The full Wheatstone-bridge-based GMR sensor is most useful in terms of the application point of view. However, its manufacturing process is usually complex. In this paper, we present an efficient and concise approach to fabricate a full Wheatstone-bridge-based angular GMR sensor by depositing one GMR film stack, utilizing simple patterned processes, and a concise post-annealing procedure based on a special layout. The angular GMR sensor is of good linear performance and achieves a sensitivity of 0.112 mV/V/Oe at the annealing temperature of 260 °C in the magnetic field range from −50 to +50 Oe. This work provides a design and method for GMR-sensor manufacturing that is easy for implementation and suitable for mass production.
Research on Strain Measurements of Core Positions for the Chinese Space Station
Authors: Shen Jingshi , Zeng Xiaodong , Luo Yuxiang , Cao Changqing , Wang Ting
Published: June 2018

The Chinese space station is designed to carry out manned spaceflight, space science research, and so on. In serious applications, it is a common operation to inject gas into the hull, which can produce strain of the bulkhead. Accurate measurement of strain for the bulkhead is one of the key tasks in evaluating the health condition of the space station. This is the first work to perform strain detection for the Chinese space station bulkhead by using optical fiber Bragg grating. In the period of measurements, the resistance strain gauge is used as the strain standard. The measurement error of the fiber optical sensor in the circumferential direction is very small, being less than 4.52 με. However, the error in the axial direction is very large with the highest value of 28.93 με. Because the measurement error of bare fiber in the axial direction is very small, the transverse effect of the substrate of the fiber optical sensor likely plays a role. The comparison of the theoretical and experimental results of the transverse effect coefficients shows that they are fairly consistent, with values of 0.0271 and 0.0287, respectively. After the transverse effect is compensated, the strain deviation in the axial detection is smaller than 2.04 με. It is of great significance to carry out real-time health assessment for the bulkhead of the space station.
Modular AUV System with Integrated Real-Time Water Quality Analysis
Authors: Eichhorn Mike , Ament Christoph , Jacobi Marco , Pfuetzenreuter Torsten , Karimanzira Divas , Bley Kornelia , Boer Michael , Wehde Henning
Published: June 2018

This paper describes the concept, the technical implementation and the practical application of a miniaturized sensor system integrated into an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for real-time acquisition of water quality parameters. The main application field of the presented system is the analysis of the discharge of nitrates into Norwegian fjords near aqua farms. The presented system was developed within the research project SALMON (Sea Water Quality Monitoring and Management) over a three-year period. The development of the sensor system for water quality parameters represented a significant challenge for the research group, as it was to be integrated in the payload unit of the autonomous underwater vehicle in compliance with the underwater environmental conditions. The German company -4H- JENA engineering GmbH (4HJE), with experience in optical in situ-detection of nutrients, designed and built the measurement system. As a carrier platform, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) “CWolf” from Fraunhofer-Institut für Optronik, Systemtechnik und Bildauswertung - Institutsteil Angewandte Systemtechnik (IOSB-AST) modified to an AUV was deployed. The concept presented illustrates how the measurement system can be integrated easily into the vehicle with a minimum of hard- and software technical interfaces.
Wideband Spectrum Sensing: A Bayesian Compressive Sensing Approach
Authors: Arjoune Youness , Kaabouch Naima
Published: June 2018

Sensing the wideband spectrum is an important process for next-generation wireless communication systems. Spectrum sensing primarily aims at detecting unused spectrum holes over wide frequency bands so that secondary users can use them to meet their requirements in terms of quality-of-service. However, this sensing process requires a great deal of time, which is not acceptable for timely communications. In addition, the sensing measurements are often affected by uncertainty. In this paper, we propose an approach based on Bayesian compressive sensing to speed up the process of sensing and to handle uncertainty. This approach takes only a few measurements using a Toeplitz matrix, recovers the wideband signal from a few measurements using Bayesian compressive sensing via fast Laplace prior, and detects either the presence or absence of the primary user using an autocorrelation-based detection method. The proposed approach was implemented using GNU Radio software and Universal Software Radio Peripheral units and was tested on real-world signals. The results show that the proposed approach speeds up the sensing process by minimizing the number of samples while achieving the same performance as Nyquist-based sensing techniques regarding both the probabilities of detection and false alarm.
An Image Focusing Method for Sparsity-Driven Radar Imaging of Rotating Targets
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Hung , Doğançay Kutluyıl , Tran Hai-Tan , Berry Paul
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a new image focusing algorithm for sparsity-driven radar imaging of rotating targets. In the general formulation of off-grid scatterers, the sparse reconstruction algorithms may result in blurred and low-contrast images due to dictionary mismatch. Motivated by the natural clustering of atoms in the sparsity-based reconstructed images, the proposed algorithm first partitions the atoms into separate clusters, and then the true off-grid scatterers associated with each cluster are estimated. Being a post-processing technique, the proposed algorithm is computationally simple, while at the same time being capable of producing a sharp and correct-contrast image, and attaining a scatterer parameter estimation performance close to the Cramér–Rao lower bound. Numerical simulations are presented to corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Elastic MCF Rubber with Photovoltaics and Sensing for Use as Artificial or Hybrid Skin (H-Skin): 1st Report on Dry-Type Solar Cell Rubber with Piezoelectricity for Compressive Sensing
Authors: Shimada Kunio
Published: June 2018

Ordinary solar cells are very difficult to bend, squash by compression, or extend by tensile strength. However, if they were to possess elastic, flexible, and extensible properties, in addition to piezo-electricity and resistivity, they could be put to effective use as artificial skin installed over human-like robots or humanoids. Further, it could serve as a husk that generates electric power from solar energy and perceives any force or temperature changes. Therefore, we propose a new type of artificial skin, called hybrid skin (H-Skin), for a humanoid robot having hybrid functions. In this study, a novel elastic solar cell is developed from natural rubber that is electrolytically polymerized with a configuration of magnetic clusters of metal particles incorporated into the rubber, by applying a magnetic field. The material thus produced is named magnetic compound fluid rubber (MCF rubber) that is elastic, flexible, and extensible. The present report deals with a dry-type MCF rubber solar cell that uses photosensitized dye molecules. First, the photovoltaic mechanism in the material is investigated. Next, the changes in the photovoltaic properties of its molecules due to irradiation by visible light are measured under compression. The effect of the compression on its piezoelectric properties is investigated.
Gas Flow to Enhance the Detection of Alpha-Induced Air Radioluminescence Based on a UVTron Flame Sensor
Authors: Crompton Anita J. , Gamage Kelum A. A. , Bell Steven , Wilson Andrew P. , Jenkins Alex W. , Trivedi Divyesh
Published: June 2018

In many field applications where alpha-induced radioluminescence (or so-called UV fluorescence) could potentially be used for stand-off detection of alpha-emitting materials, it may not be possible to create a fully purged gas atmosphere. Hence, an alternative gas delivery method to utilise the radioluminescence enhancing properties of gases has been investigated, with the novel results from this presented herewithin. A solar blind ultraviolet C (UVC) sensor (UVTron R9533, Hamamatsu, Japan) has been used to detect changes in the signal in the UVC wavelength range (180–280 nm), where gases of Ar, Xe, Ne, N2, Kr, and P-10 were flowed over a 6.95 MBq 210Po source using a narrow diameter pipe close to the source. In comparison with an air atmosphere, there was an increase in signal in all instances, the greatest being the flow of Xe, which in one instance greater than doubled the average counts per second. This increase in signal could prove beneficial in the design of a stand-off alpha detector to detect the very small UVC radioluminescence signals from alpha-emitting materials found in nuclear decommissioning environments.
Performance Evaluation of Relay Selection Schemes in Beacon-Assisted Dual-Hop Cognitive Radio Wireless Sensor Networks under Impact of Hardware Noises
Authors: Hieu Tran Dinh , Duy Tran Trung , Dung Le The , Choi Seong Gon
Published: June 2018

To solve the problem of energy constraints and spectrum scarcity for cognitive radio wireless sensor networks (CR-WSNs), an underlay decode-and-forward relaying scheme is considered, where the energy constrained secondary source and relay nodes are capable of harvesting energy from a multi-antenna power beacon (PB) and using that harvested energy to forward the source information to the destination. Based on the time switching receiver architecture, three relaying protocols, namely, hybrid partial relay selection (H-PRS), conventional opportunistic relay selection (C-ORS), and best opportunistic relay selection (B-ORS) protocols are considered to enhance the end-to-end performance under the joint impact of maximal interference constraint and transceiver hardware impairments. For performance evaluation and comparison, we derive the exact and asymptotic closed-form expressions of outage probability (OP) and throughput (TP) to provide significant insights into the impact of our proposed protocols on the system performance over Rayleigh fading channel. Finally, simulation results validate the theoretical results.
Directional Paging for 5G Communications Based on Partitioned User ID
Authors: Agiwal Mamta , Jin Hu
Published: June 2018

The millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum is one of the important propositions of 5G mobile networks due to its ability to accommodate massive traffic demands and an ever-increasing number of wireless devices. The beam-formed directional technique overcomes the propagation and path loss challenges of mmWave high frequencies. Though the directional convergence is expected to unleash new possibilities, it cannot be implemented with conventional power-saving solutions optimized over omnidirectional communications. Paging broadcast, for users in Idle Discontinuous Reception (IDRX) mode for energy saving, is one such necessary function in a wireless communication that needs modification in highly directional beam-based transmissions. Due to the limited spatial coverage of directional beams, the paging transmission takes place over multiple beams, which increases the paging resource overheads of the network substantially. In this article, we present a novel paging mechanism for the directional air interface in mmWave-enabled 5G communications. Numerical analysis of the proposed Partitioned UE ID-based Directional Paging (PIDP) mechanism reduces the paging resource overheads of the network, resulting in a 15 % gain in power savings compared to directional paging transmission without the UE ID partition.
Managing the Planet: The Anthropocene, Good Stewardship, and the Empty Promise of a Solution to Ecological Crisis
Authors: Stubblefield Charles
Published: June 2018

The Anthropocene has emerged as the dominant conceptualization of the current geological epoch and, more significantly, of Humanity’s relation to nature. By its proponents the Anthropocene is espoused as a “solution formulation”, an analytical tool that clarifies Humanity’s multifarious impacts on nature and nature’s subsequent crises, and further as a conceptual apparatus from which to launch mitigation and adaption strategies, promising deliverance from or at least engagement with ecological crises. However, the Anthropocene is not a neutral concept, merely illuminating transition within ecological conditions and connections between human activities and nature; rather, it is a particular prism from which to understand humanity’s relation to nature. And, as the Anthropocene becomes ascendant both analytically and politically, it becomes vital to question its imaginary, how it constructs nature and Humanity, how it influences and constrains responses to ecological crises, and what the long-term implications of operating within this imaginary are. I argue that the Anthropocene as a political/analytical prism rests upon flawed conceptions of nature, history, and humanity, rending it an impotent construct from which to respond to ecological crises; offering only partial and presumptive “solutions” in the form of intensified governmental regulation and the application of manifold technological “fixes” through the geoengineering of Earth’s systems in an attempt to address isolated aspects of ecological destruction.
Leveraging Healthcare Opportunities for Improved Access among Ghanaian Retirees: The Case of Active Aging
Authors: Dovie Delali A.
Published: June 2018

This paper is a policy brief with targeted interviews of older adults in urban Ghana with recommendations for future healthcare policy. Using qualitative explorative approach, the scope of the research is to examine opportunities that focus on healthy aging in order to enhance healthcare infrastructure in Ghana in preparation for an increased number of older adults. The paper mainly finds that improved healthcare solicitation and the social world of older adults are intricately linked. The healthcare needs of older adults are met through diverse mechanisms—the Pensioners’ Medical Scheme and ceragim concept. These depict a transformation in healthcare access and delivery with implications for wider healthcare, solidarity and efficiency. Active ageing strategies therefore facilitate the provision of supplementary healthcare access by seeking health solutions independently, including the creation of awareness about the challenges and the concomitant health resource opportunities for older adults. These have the tendency for the development of an acumen for healthcare-related resilience. I argue that health-related challenges depict opportunities for smarter solutions and mutual growth, further showing that aging is gain and a human development issue that fosters the emergence of an integrated healthcare system. Crucially, the paper reveals that health-related challenges are used to leverage entry and participation in the healthcare products’ market and by extension access to quality and holistic healthcare services. This encompasses innovative healthcare infrastructural resources that Ghanaian older adults patronize. These health resources are worth pursuing and may need to be incorporated into the National Policy on Ageing, with envisaged universal coverage in focus.
Differences of Corporate Environmental Responsibility in Small and Medium Enterprises: Spain and Norway
Authors: Aguado Elisabet , Holl Adelheid
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that are related to Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs’) environmental attitude. We focus on Spain and Norway—two contrasting countries in this regard. Drawing on evidence from the Flash Eurobarometer 381 Survey: SMEs, Resource Efficiency and Green Markets, the results show that there is a significant difference on environmental commitment in favor of Norway. Our estimation results show that firms’ structural characteristics are strong factors influencing attitudes towards environmental responsibility, but even after controlling for such firm-specific differences, Norwegian firms still show a higher probability for a pro-environmental attitude. Moreover, our estimation results also show that the drivers for firms to go beyond environmental legislation are not the same in the two countries. Norwegian firms are more market-driven than Spanish firms in their pro-environmental attitude.
Project-Based Governance Framework for an Agri-Food Cooperative
Authors: Herrera-Reyes Ana , Carmenado Ignacio , Martínez-Almela Jesús
Published: June 2018

In a context that approaches the limits of environmental and social problems, and in view of the challenges that the agri-food sector faces today, the need to produce more food, linking environmental sustainability and human health, constitutes a means for sector organizations to turn these new conditions into opportunities to achieve their strategic objectives in project governance. The objective of this study is to analyze the governance of an agri-food cooperative comprised of farmers with more than 40 years of experience. In addition, we propose, based on the findings obtained, a plan for the organization to integrate the culture of the projects and project management in its governance system. This paper is based on a conceptual framework that takes into account the systemic nature and dynamics of social and organizational interactions, with the aim of moving towards sustainability within the agri-food system, through the analysis of an empiric study in the agriculture cooperative sector in the southeast of Spain. The findings show that working by projects offers a novel and effective governance model for the sector, and that integrating expert and experienced knowledge, working with people, is a fundamental condition for moving towards sustainability.
E-Government Maturity Model for Sustainable E-Government Services from the Perspective of Developing Countries
Authors: Joshi Pusp Raj , Islam Shareeful
Published: June 2018

Electric government (e-government) projects in developing countries are facing many challenges to deliver sustainable e-government services. From the existing literature, we found that most of the studies considered lack of technology, and limitations in budgets and human resources as the main hurdles in effective implementation of e-government services. Along with these limitations, we found that the e-government maturity models adopted by developing countries are failing to provide an appropriate strategic plan to deploy sustainable e-government services. While assessing the existing e-government maturity model, we made several observations on the lack of detail, the technology-centric nature, the emphasis on implementation, and the lack of an adoption strategy. This work contributes toward the proposition of a new e-government maturity model that would address the limitations of exiting e-government maturity models, and would support governments in developing countries to achieve sustainable e-government services. To achieve this goal, we considered five determinants—a detailed process, streamlined services, agile accessibility, use of state-of-the-art technology, and trust and awareness. The proposed model was validated by employing an empirical investigation through case-study and survey methods. We found that both the implementers (government) and adopters (users) of the e-government services benefited from the proposed model, resulting in an increased sustainability of e-government services.
Comparing the International Knowledge Flow of China’s Wind and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industries: Patent Analysis and Implications for Sustainable Development
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Pan Meijuan , Urban Frauke
Published: June 2018

Climate-relevant technologies, like wind and solar energy, are crucial for mitigating climate change and for achieving sustainable development. Recent literature argues that Chinese solar firms play more active roles in international knowledge flows, which may better explain their success in international markets when compared to those of Chinese wind firms; however, empirical evidence remains sparse. This study aims to explore to what extent and how do the international knowledge flows differ between China’s wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries? From a network perspective, this paper develops a three-dimensional framework to compare the knowledge flows in both explicit and tacit dimensions: (i) inter-country explicit knowledge clusters (by topological clustering of patent citation network); (ii) inter-firm explicit knowledge flow (patent citation network of key firms); and, (iii) inter-firm tacit knowledge flow (by desktop research and interviews). The results show that China’s PV industry has stronger international knowledge linkages in terms of knowledge clustering and explicit knowledge flow, but the wind power industry has a stronger tacit knowledge flow. Further, this study argues that the differences of global knowledge links between China’s wind and solar PV industries may be caused by technology characteristics, market orientation, and policy implementation. This suggests that these industries both have strong connections to global knowledge networks, but they may involve disparate catch-up pathways that concern follower-modes and leader-modes. These findings are important to help us understand how China can follow sustainable development pathways in the light of climate change.
Environmental Literacy on Ecotourism: A Study on Student Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavioral Intentions in China and Taiwan
Authors: Fang Wei-Ta , Lien Ching-Yu , Huang Yueh-Wen , Han Guosheng , Shyu Guey-Shin , Chou Jui-Yu , Ng Eric
Published: June 2018

This study aims to gain further insights to Chinese and Taiwanese university students’ environmental literacy on ecotourism. A structural equation model is developed and validated in an effort to explore the differences between Chinese and Taiwanese university students in terms of their environmental knowledge, environmental attitude, and behavioral intentions. The results showed that the ecotourism perception of Chinese and Taiwanese university students affect their behavioral intentions. Chinese university students exhibited a higher correlation between ecotourism knowledge and behavioral intentions than their Taiwanese counterparts. The findings also revealed differences between the Chinese and Taiwanese students in their perception of ecotourism, and this disparity was particularly evident with regards to how ecotourism should be governed. A moderate difference in ecotourism behavioral intentions was also identified, in which Taiwanese university students were less likely to engage in self-empowerment or private empowerment, to be more educated in the field of ecotourism than their Chinese counterparts.
Workplace Spirituality: Sustainable Work Experience from a Human Factors Perspective
Authors: Fernandes Bella Ricardo Luiz , Gonçalves Quelhas Osvaldo Luiz , Toledo Ferraz Fernando , Soares Bezerra Marlene Jesus
Published: June 2018

It is important to note that spiritual matter here is not about a religious, but a human centered view based on self-awareness, life purpose and community engagement. These three aspects of spirituality are the predominant perspective in the literature of organizational changes. These organizational changes are defining new paradigms for work relationships and impacting work environments. Some of these new paradigms are related to work motivation and job satisfaction, which are highly connected to organizational sustainability. Therefore, we choose to investigate workplace spirituality in order to move towards sustainability. In fact, there are already some reviews about workplace spirituality, and the most cited one organizes the topic in three dimensions: first, the inner life dimension that remains in self-centered matters such as identity and values; second, the sense of purpose dimension that refers to work significance perception; and lastly, the sense of community dimension that remains in connection and engagement. Okay, if we already have reviews about that, what is the point? In this review, we choose the predominant perspective on workplace spirituality to turn theoretical discussions into manageable human factors that are expressed by relationship needs at three levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional. With this new organization of the theme, we expect to support managers to perform actions focused on the type of relationship that is desired to be strengthened. From the review, we identify a total of twelve human factors organized by these three relationship levels, each one with four human factors. The main contribution of this study is a systematic review of workplace spirituality based on a human factor perspective.
Does Poverty Matter in Payment for Ecosystem Services Program? Participation in the New Stage Sloping Land Conversion Program
Authors: Ren Linjing , Li Jie , Li Cong , Li Shuzhuo , Daily Gretchen C.
Published: June 2018

Poverty is increasingly stressed in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, from targeting to outcomes. As the world’s largest PES scheme of its kind, the Sloping Land Conversion Program in China started its new stage (NSLCP), aiming to convert another 2.9 million ha sloping croplands into forest or grasslands. This paper examines whether and to what extent different dimensions of poverty impact households’ participation in the NSLCP. By using the data collected from a key demonstration area, Wuqi County in 2015, based on Sen’s capability theory, we measure the multidimensional poverty of the households, like poverty in education, physical health, food security, rights, assets and living standards. Then, we evaluate the effects of different poverty dimensions on households’ participation in the NSLCP and their efforts to comply with the policy. We find that different dimensions of poverty had very different impacts, as revealed in the participating rate and the intensity of efforts to manage the enrolled lands through different methods. The households with poverty in education, food security, or rights were less likely to be enrolled in the NSLCP. Dimensions like income, health and assets were significant contributions to fulfill the practices required by the NSLCP. Besides, the degree of multidimensional poverty further weakened households’ efforts to manage and protect the trees on enrolled lands.
How Do the Industrial Structure Optimization and Urbanization Development Affect Energy Consumption in Zhejiang Province of China?
Authors: Jiang Huiqin , Zhang Xiao , Shao Xinxiao , Bao Jianqiang
Published: June 2018

In response to global climate change, China has voluntarily assumed responsibility and has pledged to reach its peak in carbon emissions by 2030. Industrial structure and urbanization have important impacts on energy consumption. This paper empirically analyzes the dynamic influence of industrial structure and urbanization on energy consumption in the Zhejiang Province of China by constructing a structural vector auto regressive model using impulse response function and variance decomposition. The results show a positive impact of urbanization on energy consumption, which increases and then gradually decreases, and an impact of industrial structure on energy consumption. The results also indicate that it will take a certain period of time for an increase in the proportion of tertiary industry to curb the growth of energy consumption. Urbanization has a greater impact on energy consumption than does industrial structure.
Some Results on Neutrosophic Triplet Group and Their Applications
Authors: Jaíyéolá Tèmítópé , Smarandache Florentin
Published: June 2018

This article is based on new developments on a neutrosophic triplet group (NTG) and applications earlier introduced in 2016 by Smarandache and Ali. NTG sprang up from neutrosophic triplet set X: a collection of triplets ( b , n e u t ( b ) , a n t i ( b ) ) for an b ∈ X that obeys certain axioms (existence of neutral(s) and opposite(s)). Some results that are true in classical groups were investigated in NTG and were shown to be either universally true in NTG or true in some peculiar types of NTG. Distinguishing features between an NTG and some other algebraic structures such as: generalized group (GG), quasigroup, loop and group were investigated. Some neutrosophic triplet subgroups (NTSGs) of a neutrosophic triplet group were studied. In particular, for any arbitrarily fixed a ∈ X , the subsets X a = { b ∈ X : n e u t ( b ) = n e u t ( a ) } and ker f a = { b ∈ X | f ( b ) = n e u t ( f ( a ) ) } of X, where f : X → Y is a neutrosophic triplet group homomorphism, were shown to be NTSG and normal NTSG, respectively. Both X a and ker f a were shown to be a-normal NTSGs and found to partition X. Consequently, a Lagrange-like formula was found for a finite NTG X ; | X | = ∑ a ∈ X [ X a : ker f a ] | ker f a | based on the fact that | ker f a | | | X a | . The first isomorphism theorem X / ker f ≅ Im f was established for NTGs. Using an arbitrary non-abelian NTG X and its NTSG X a , a Bol structure was constructed. Applications of the neutrosophic triplet set, and our results on NTG in relation to management and sports, are highlighted and discussed.
A Study on Neutrosophic Cubic Graphs with Real Life Applications in Industries
Authors: Gulistan Muhammad , Yaqoob Naveed , Rashid Zunaira , Smarandache Florentin , Wahab Hafiz Abdul
Published: June 2018

Neutrosophic cubic sets are the more generalized tool by which one can handle imprecise information in a more effective way as compared to fuzzy sets and all other versions of fuzzy sets. Neutrosophic cubic sets have the more flexibility, precision and compatibility to the system as compared to previous existing fuzzy models. On the other hand the graphs represent a problem physically in the form of diagrams, matrices etc. which is very easy to understand and handle. So the authors applied the Neutrosophic cubic sets to graph theory in order to develop a more general approach where they can model imprecise information through graphs. We develop this model by introducing the idea of neutrosophic cubic graphs and introduce many fundamental binary operations like cartesian product, composition, union, join of neutrosophic cubic graphs, degree and order of neutrosophic cubic graphs and some results related with neutrosophic cubic graphs. One of very important futures of two neutrosophic cubic sets is the R-union that R-union of two neutrosophic cubic sets is again a neutrosophic cubic set, but here in our case we observe that R-union of two neutrosophic cubic graphs need not be a neutrosophic cubic graph. Since the purpose of this new model is to capture the uncertainty, so we provide applications in industries to test the applicability of our defined model based on present time and future prediction which is the main advantage of neutrosophic cubic sets.
Optimization of Machine Process Parameters in EDM for EN 31 Using Evolutionary Optimization Techniques
Authors: Faisal Nadeem , Kumar Kaushik
Published: June 2018

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a non-conventional machining process that is used for machining of hard-to-machine materials, components in which length to diameter ratio is very high or products with a very complicated shape. The process is commonly used in automobile, chemical, aerospace, biomedical, and tool and die industries. It is very important to select optimum values of input process parameters to maximize the machining performance. In this paper, an attempt has been made to carry out multi-objective optimization of the material removal rate (MRR) and roughness parameter (Ra) for the EDM process of EN31 on a CNC EDM machine using copper electrode through evolutionary optimization techniques like particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique and biogeography based optimization (BBO) technique. The input parameter considered for the optimization are Pulse Current (A), Pulse on time (µs), Pulse off time (µs), and Gap Voltage (V). PSO and BBO techniques were used to obtain maximum MRR and minimize the Ra. It was found that MRR and SR increased linearly when discharge current was in mid-range however non-linear increment of MRR and Ra was found when current was too small or too large. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images also indicated a decreased Ra. In addition, obtained optimized values were validated for testing the significance of the PSO and BBO technique and a very small error value of MRR and Ra was found. BBO outperformed PSO in every aspect like computational time, less percentage error, and better optimized values.
1-Benzyl-3-cetyl-2-methylimidazolium Iodide (NH125) Is a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor of Virus Entry with Lysosomotropic Features
Authors: Moeschler Sarah , Locher Samira , Zimmer Gert
Published: June 2018

Cellular kinases are crucial for the transcription/replication of many negative-strand RNA viruses and might serve as targets for antiviral therapy. In this study, a library comprising 80 kinase inhibitors was screened for antiviral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a prototype member of the family Rhabdoviridae. 1-Benzyl-3-cetyl-2-methylimidazolium iodide (NH125), an inhibitor of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) kinase, significantly inhibited entry of single-cycle VSV encoding a luciferase reporter. Treatment of virus particles had only minimal effect on virus entry, indicating that the compound primarily acts on the host cell rather than on the virus. Accordingly, resistant mutant viruses were not detected when the virus was passaged in the presence of the drug. Unexpectedly, NH125 led to enhanced, rather than reduced, phosphorylation of eEF2, however, it did not significantly affect cellular protein synthesis. In contrast, NH125 revealed lysosomotropic features and showed structural similarity with N-dodecylimidazole, a known lysosomotropic agent. Related alkylated imidazolium compounds also exhibited antiviral activity, which was critically dependent on the length of the alkyl group. Apart from VSV, NH125 inhibited infection by VSV pseudotypes containing the envelope glycoproteins of viruses that are known to enter cells in a pH-dependent manner, i.e. avian influenza virus (H5N1), Ebola virus, and Lassa virus. In conclusion, we identified an alkylated imidazolium compound which inhibited entry of several viruses not because of the previously postulated inhibition of eEF2 kinase but most likely because of its lysosomotropic properties.
Simulation of Urban Water Resources in Xiamen Based on a WEAP Model
Authors: Kou Limin , Li Xiangyang , Lin Jianyi , Kang Jiefeng
Published: June 2018

A water evaluation and planning model (WEAP) for Xiamen City was used to analyze trends in water use and demand between 2015 and 2050. This study was unique in that it considered the water resources of each of the city’s five districts’ separately, rather than the city as a whole. The water saving potential, water shortages, and water supply alternatives were analyzed under different simulated scenarios. The results show that future water consumption will greatly increase in Xiamen City, and that there will be a water shortage after 2030 without new water supplies. Water shortages will first occur in the Tongan and Xiangan districts, due to established water supply priorities and capacity. Industry restructuring (structural water-saving scenario, SWS) and advanced water-saving technology (technical water-saving scenario, TWS) can result in water saving potentials of 6.97% and 9.82% by 2050, respectively, while adopting both strategies (double water-saving scenario, DWS) can save 16.44%. The prevention of future water shortages requires the implementation of water-saving measures and the use of new water supplies.
Acyl-group specificity of AHL synthases involved in quorum-sensing in Roseobacter group bacteria
Authors: Ziesche Lisa , Rinkel Jan , Dickschat Jeroen S , Schulz Stefan
Published: June 2018

N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are important bacterial messengers, mediating different bacterial traits by quorum sensing in a cell-density dependent manner. AHLs are also produced by many bacteria of the marine Roseobacter group, which constitutes a large group within the marine microbiome. Often, specific mixtures of AHLs differing in chain length and oxidation status are produced by bacteria, but how the biosynthetic enzymes, LuxI homologs, are selecting the correct acyl precursors is largely unknown. We have analyzed the AHL production in Dinoroseobacter shibae and three Phaeobacter inhibens strains, revealing strain-specific mixtures. Although large differences were present between the species, the fatty acid profiles, the pool for the acyl precursors for AHL biosynthesis, were very similar. To test the acyl-chain selectivity, the three enzymes LuxI1 and LuxI2 from D. shibae DFL-12 as well as PgaI2 from P. inhibens DSM 17395 were heterologously expressed in E. coli and the enzymes isolated for in vitro incubation experiments. The enzymes readily accepted shortened acyl coenzyme A analogs, N-pantothenoylcysteamine thioesters of fatty acids (PCEs). Fifteen PCEs were synthesized, varying in chain length from C4 to C20, the degree of unsaturation and also including unusual acid esters, e.g., 2E,11Z-C18:2-PCE. The latter served as a precursor of the major AHL of D. shibae DFL-12 LuxI1, 2E,11Z-C18:2-homoserine lactone (HSL). Incubation experiments revealed that PgaI2 accepts all substrates except C4 and C20-PCE. Competition experiments demonstrated a preference of this enzyme for C10 and C12 PCEs. In contrast, the LuxI enzymes of D. shibae are more selective. While 2E,11Z-C18:2-PCE is preferentially accepted by LuxI1, all other PCEs were not, except for the shorter, saturated C10–C14-PCEs. The AHL synthase LuxI2 accepted only C14 PCE and 3-hydroxydecanoyl-PCE. In summary, chain-length selectivity in AHLs can vary between different AHL enzymes. Both, a broad substrate acceptance and tuned specificity occur in the investigated enzymes.
A Method for Locating a High-energy Dissipation Region in a Blazar
Authors: Yan Dahai , Wu Qingwen , Fan Xuliang , Wang Jiancheng , Zhang Li
Published: June 2018

The production site of gamma-rays in a blazar jet is an unresolved problem. We present a method to locate a gamma-ray emission region in the framework of a one-zone emission model. From measurements of the core-shift effect, the relation between the magnetic field strengths (B′) in the radio cores of the jet and the distances (R) of these radio cores from the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) can be inferred. Therefore, once the magnetic field strength in the gamma-ray emission region (

) is obtained, one can use the relation of B′–R to derive the distance (R
diss) of the gamma-ray emission region from the SMBH. Here, we evaluate the lower limit of

by using the criteria that the optical variability timescale t
var should be longer than or equal to the synchrotron radiation cooling timescale of the electrons that emit optical photons. We test the method with the observations of PSK 1510-089 and BL Lacertae, and derive

pc for PSK 1510-089 with t
var ∼ a few hours and

pc for BL Lacertae with t
var ∼ a few minutes. Here, δ
D is the Doppler factor and A is the Compton dominance (i.e., the ratio of the Compton to the synchrotron peak luminosities).