bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint Inversion of Atmospheric Refractivity Profile Based on Ground-Based GPS Phase Delay and Propagation Loss
Authors: Liao Qixiang , Sheng Zheng , Shi Hanqing
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we present a new estimation of the atmospheric refractivity profile combining the scattering signal (electromagnetic wave propagation loss) and the direct signal (phase delay). The refractivity profile is modeled using four parameters, i.e., the gradient of the refractivity profile (c1, c2) and the vertical altitude (h1, h2). We apply the NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II), a multiobjective optimization algorithm, to achieve the goals of joint optimization inversion in the inverting process, and compare this method with traditional individual inversion methods. The anti-noise ability of joint inversion is investigated under the noiseless condition and adding noise condition, respectively. The numerical experiments demonstrate that joint inversion is superior to individual inversion. The adding noise test further suggests that this method can estimate synthesized parameters more efficiently and accurately in different conditions. Finally, a set of measured data is tested in the new way and the consequence of inversion shows the joint optimization inversion algorithm has feasibility, effectiveness and superiority in the retrieval of the refractivity profile.
Optimized Estimation of Surface Layer Characteristics from Profiling Measurements
Authors: Kang Doreene , Wang Qing
Published: January 2016

New sampling techniques such as tethered-balloon-based measurements or small unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of providing multiple profiles of the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer (MASL) in a short time period. It is desirable to obtain surface fluxes from these measurements, especially when direct flux measurements are difficult to obtain. The profiling data is different from the traditional mean profiles obtained at two or more fixed levels in the surface layer from which surface fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, and latent heat are derived based on Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST). This research develops an improved method to derive surface fluxes and the corresponding MASL mean profiles of wind, temperature, and humidity with a least-squares optimization method using the profiling measurements. This approach allows the use of all available independent data. We use a weighted cost function based on the framework of MOST with the cost being optimized using a quasi-Newton method. This approach was applied to seven sets of data collected from the Monterey Bay. The derived fluxes and mean profiles show reasonable results. An empirical bias analysis is conducted using 1000 synthetic datasets to evaluate the robustness of the method.
High Selectively Catalytic Conversion of Lignin-Based Phenols into para-/m-Xylene over Pt/HZSM-5
Authors: Liu Guozhu , Zhao Yunxia , Guo Jinhua
Published: January 2016

High selectively catalytic conversion of lignin-based phenols (m-cresol, p-cresol, and guaiacol) into para-/m-xylene was performed over Pt/HZSM-5 through hydrodeoxygenation and in situ methylation with methanol. It is found that the p-/m-xylene selectivity is uniformly higher than 21%, and even increase up to 33.5% for m-cresol (with phenols/methanol molar ratio of 1/8). The improved p-/m-xylene selectivity in presence of methanol is attributed to the combined reaction pathways: methylation of m-cresol into xylenols followed by HDO into p-/m-xylene, and HDO of m-cresol into toluene followed by methylation into p-/m-xylene. Comparison of the product distribution over a series of catalysts indicates that both metals and supporters have distinct effect on the p-/m-xylene selectivity.
Effects of Changes in ENSO on Seasonal Mean Temperature and Rainfall in Nigeria
Authors: Salau Opeyemi , Fasuba Ayodele , Aduloju Kelvin , Adesakin Gbenga , Fatigun Adetona
Published: January 2016

This study investigates the effects of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on temperature and rainfall in Nigeria. The persistent rise in population with more demands for rainfall and water supply in Nigeria requires a better understanding of the impacts of ENSO (La Niña, El Niño) induced changes on the precipitation patterns under future climate conditions. Thus, we compared the sea surface temperature (SST) from the ENSO regions of the Tropical Pacific Ocean (Niño 3 (150°W–90°W, 5°S–5°N) and Niño 4 (160°E–150°W, 5°S–5°N)) with the observed temperature from Nigeria and the temperature is further compared with the associated rainfall. The results show that an increase or decrease in the Niño 3 and Niño 4 SST is accompanied by a corresponding change in the temperature over Nigeria; however, there is better agreement with the Niño 3 SST compared to the Niño 4 SST. The investigation suggests that a slight northward (southward) shift in the mean position of Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during a La Niña (El Niño) event is followed by a reduction (increase) in the average temperature within Nigeria while the mean precipitation rises (reduces) over the country. These results could aid weather prediction which might improve the economy as well as save lives and property during climate-related hazards like drought, forest fires and floods.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Crystals in 2015
Authors:   Crystals Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Crystals would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Correction: Jiménez, F., et al. System for Road Vehicle Energy Optimization Using Real Time Road and Traffic Information. Energies 2014, 7, 3576-3598
Authors: Jiménez Felipe , Cabrera-Montiel Wilmar , Tapia-Fernández Santiago
Published: January 2016

In the original version of the article [1], insufficient acknowledgement was given for the original Dynamic Programming optimization tool. We apologize for this error. To correct this fact, Santiago Tapia-Fernández has been added as an author, and the acknowledgements and authors contributions have been corrected.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Galaxies in 2015
Authors:   Galaxies Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Galaxies would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Gels in 2015
Authors:   Gels Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Gels would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
The Painting on the Wall
Authors: Alfano Barbara
Published: January 2016

This personal essay describes what influenced my development as a creative writer, in my childhood and adolescence. It delineates the effect on my imagination of family story-telling and of images—paintings and prints. I grew up in Italy, where I spent the first thirty years of my life.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Healthcare in 2015
Authors:   Healthcare Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Healthcare would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Reliability and Construct Validity of Two Versions of Chalder Fatigue Scale among the General Population in Mainland China
Authors: Jing Meng-Juan , Lin Wei-Quan , Wang Qiang , Wang Jia-Ji , Tang Jie , Jiang En-She , Lei Yi-Xiong , Wang Pei-Xi
Published: January 2016

The 14-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) is widely used, while the 11-item version is seldom to be found in current research in mainland China. The objectives of the present study is to compare the reliability and construct validity between these two versions and to confirm which may be better for the mainland Chinese setting. Based on a cross-sectional health survey with a constructive questionnaire, 1887 individuals aged 18 years or above were selected. Socio-demographic, health-related, gynecological data were collected, and 11-item and 14-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) were used to assess fatigue. Confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were performed to test the fit of models of the two versions. Confirmatory factor analysis of the two versions of CFS did not support the two-factor theorized models. In addition, a three-factor ESEM model of the 11-item version, but not the 14-item version, showed better factor structure and fitness than the other models examined. Both the versions had good internal consistency reliability and a satisfactory internal consistency (Ω = 0.78–0.96, omega coefficient indicates the internal consistency reliability) was obtained from the optimal model. This study provided evidence for satisfactory reliability and structural validity for the three-factor model of the 11-item version, which was proven to be superior to the 14-item version for this data.
Occupational Disparities in the Association between Self-Reported Salt-Eating Habit and Hypertension in Older Adults in Xiamen, China
Authors: Yuan Manqiong , Chen Wei , Teng Bogang , Fang Ya
Published: January 2016

Blood pressure responses to sodium intake are heterogeneous among populations. Few studies have assessed occupational disparities in the association between sodium intake and hypertension in older people. We used cross-sectional data from 14,292 participants aged 60 years or older in Xiamen, China, in 2013. Self-reported salt-eating habit was examined with three levels: low, medium, and high. The main lifetime occupation was classified into indoor laborer and outdoor laborer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations of hypertension with self-reported salt-eating habit, main lifetime occupation, and their interactions by adjusting for some covariates, with further stratification by sex. Overall, 13,738 participants had complete data, of whom 30.22% had hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was 31.57%, 28.63%, and 31.97% in participants who reported to have low, medium, and high salt-eating habit, respectively. Outdoor laborers presented significantly lower prevalence of hypertension than indoor laborers (26.04% vs. 34.26%, p < 0.001). Indoor laborers with high salt-eating habit had the greatest odds of hypertension (OR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.09–1.59]). An increased trend of odds in eating habit as salt-heavier was presented in indoor laborers (p-trend = 0.048), especially for women (p-trend = 0.001). No clear trend presented in men. Conclusively, sex-specific occupational disparities exist in the association between self-reported salt-eating habit and hypertension in older individuals. Overlooking the potential moderating role of sex and occupation might affect the relationship between sodium intake and hypertension.
Rainfall–Runoff Simulations to Assess the Potential of SuDS for Mitigating Flooding in Highly Urbanized Catchments
Authors: Jato-Espino Daniel , Charlesworth Susanne , Bayon Joseba , Warwick Frank
Published: January 2016

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) constitute an alternative to conventional drainage when managing stormwater in cities, reducing the impact of urbanization by decreasing the amount of runoff generated by a rainfall event. This paper shows the potential benefits of installing different types of SuDS in preventing flooding in comparison with the common urban drainage strategies consisting of sewer networks of manholes and pipes. The impact of these systems on urban water was studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are useful tools when both delineating catchments and parameterizing the elements that define a stormwater drainage system. Taking these GIS-based data as inputs, a series of rainfall–runoff simulations were run in a real catchment located in the city of Donostia (Northern Spain) using stormwater computer models, in order to compare the flow rates and depths produced by a design storm before and after installing SuDS. The proposed methodology overcomes the lack of precision found in former GIS-based stormwater approaches when dealing with the modeling of highly urbanized catchments, while the results demonstrated the usefulness of these systems in reducing the volume of water generated after a rainfall event and their ability to prevent localized flooding and surcharges along the sewer network.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of IJERPH in 2015
Authors:   IJERPH Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of IJERPH would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Fat Mass Centile Charts for Brazilian Children and Adolescents and the Identification of the Roles of Socioeconomic Status and Physical Fitness on Fat Mass Development
Authors: Silva Simonete , Baxter-Jones Adam , Maia José
Published: January 2016

This paper presents fat mass centile charts for Brazilian youth and investigates the roles of socioeconomic status and physical fitness (PF) on fat mass (FM) development. Two northeast Brazilian samples were used: a cross-sectional sample of 3659 (1921 girls) aged 8 to 16 years and a mixed-longitudinal series of cohorts (8–10, 10–12, 12–14, 14–16 years) with 250 boys and 250 girls. A measure of somatic maturity was used as a marker of biological maturation; PF comprised agility, explosive and static strength, and aerobic capacity. Socioeconomic status was based on school attended; public or private. Slaughter’s anthropometric equations were used to estimate FM. Percentile charts was constructed using the LMS method. HLM (Hierarchical Linear Model) 7 software modeled FM changes, identifying inter-individual differences and their covariates. Girls and boys had different FM percentile values at each age; FM increased nonlinearly in both girls and boys. Higher PF levels reduced FM changes across time in both sexes. Sex-specific non-linear FM references were provided representing important tools for nutritionists, pediatriciann and educators. Physical fitness levels were found to act as a protective factor in FM increases. As such, we emphasize PF importance as a putative health marker and highlight the need for its systematic development across the school years.
Diversity of Bacterial Communities on Four Frequently Used Surfaces in a Large Brazilian Teaching Hospital
Authors: Pereira da Fonseca Tairacan , Pessôa Rodrigo , Felix Alvina , Sanabani Sabri
Published: January 2016

Frequently used hand-touch surfaces in hospital settings have been implicated as a vehicle of microbial transmission. In this study, we aimed to investigate the overall bacterial population on four frequently used surfaces using a culture-independent Illumina massively parallel sequencing approach of the 16S rRNA genes. Surface samples were collected from four sites, namely elevator buttons (EB), bank machine keyboard buttons (BMKB), restroom surfaces, and the employee biometric time clock system (EBTCS), in a large public and teaching hospital in São Paulo. Taxonomical composition revealed the abundance of Firmicutes phyla, followed by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, with a total of 926 bacterial families and 2832 bacterial genera. Moreover, our analysis revealed the presence of some potential pathogenic bacterial genera, including Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of these pathogens in frequently used surfaces enhances the risk of exposure to any susceptible individuals. Some of the factors that may contribute to the richness of bacterial diversity on these surfaces are poor personal hygiene and ineffective routine schedules of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Strict standards of infection control in hospitals and increased public education about hand hygiene are recommended to decrease the risk of transmission in hospitals among patients.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering in 2015
Authors:   JMSE Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015.
Assessing and Governing Ecosystem Services Trade-Offs in Agrarian Landscapes: The Case of Biogas
Authors: Albert Christian , Hermes Johannes , Neuendorf Felix , Von Haaren Christina , Rode Michael
Published: January 2016

This paper develops a method to explore how alternative scenarios of the expansion of maize production for biogas generation affect biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES). Our approach consists of four steps: (i) defining scenario targets and implementation of assumptions; (ii) simulating crop distributions across the landscape; (iii) assessing the ES impacts; and (iv) quantifying the impacts for a comparative trade-off analysis. The case study is the region of Hannover, Germany. One scenario assumes an increase of maize production in a little regulated governance system; two others reflect an increase of biogas production with either strict or flexible environmental regulation. We consider biodiversity and three ES: biogas generation, food production and the visual landscape. Our results show that the expansion of maize production results in predominantly negative impacts for other ES. However, positive effects can also be identified, i.e., when the introduction of maize leads to higher local crop diversity and, thus, a more attractive visual landscape. The scenario of little regulation portrays more negative impacts than the other scenarios. Targeted spatial planning, implementation and appropriate governance for steering maize production into less sensitive areas is crucial for minimizing trade-offs and exploiting synergies between bioenergy and other ES.
Tris(3,7-dihydroxyflavonolate-κO3,O4)chromium(III) Complex
Authors: Alexiou Anamaria , Silva Denny , Romoff Paulete , Ferreira Marcelo
Published: January 2016

The complex [Cr(3,7diHF)3]·3H2O (3,7diHF is the monoanion of flavonoid 3,7-dihydroxyflavone) was synthetized and characterized by mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopies. The data indicated that the coordination of the chromium(III) ion to the flavonoid increased its thermal stability.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Medical Sciences in 2015
Authors:   Medical Science Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Medical Sciences would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Metals in 2015
Authors:   Metals Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Metals would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
CMOS MEMS Fabrication Technologies and Devices
Authors: Qu Hongwei
Published: January 2016

This paper reviews CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) fabrication technologies and enabled micro devices of various sensors and actuators. The technologies are classified based on the sequence of the fabrication of CMOS circuitry and MEMS elements, while SOI (silicon-on-insulator) CMOS MEMS are introduced separately. Introduction of associated devices follows the description of the respective CMOS MEMS technologies. Due to the vast array of CMOS MEMS devices, this review focuses only on the most typical MEMS sensors and actuators including pressure sensors, inertial sensors, frequency reference devices and actuators utilizing different physics effects and the fabrication processes introduced. Moreover, the incorporation of MEMS and CMOS is limited to monolithic integration, meaning wafer-bonding-based stacking and other integration approaches, despite their advantages, are excluded from the discussion. Both competitive industrial products and state-of-the-art research results on CMOS MEMS are covered.
Love-Mode MEMS Devices for Sensing Applications in Liquids
Authors: Caliendo Cinzia , Sait Smail , Boubenider Fouad
Published: January 2016

Love-wave-based MEMS devices are theoretically investigated in their potential role as a promising technological platform for the development of acoustic-wave-based sensors for liquid environments. Both single- and bi-layered structures have been investigated and the velocity dispersion curves were calculated for different layer thicknesses, crystallographic orientations, material types and electrical boundary conditions. High velocity materials have been investigated too, enabling device miniaturization, power consumption reduction and integration with the conditioning electronic circuits. The electroacoustic coupling coefficient dispersion curves of the first four Love modes are calculated for four dispersive coupling configurations based on a c-axis tilted ZnO layer on wz-BN substrate. The gravimetric sensitivity of four Love modes travelling at a common velocity of 9318 m/s along different layer thicknesses, and of three Love modes travelling at different velocity along a fixed ZnO layer thickness, are calculated in order to design enhanced-performance sensors. The phase velocity shift and attenuation due to the presence of a viscous liquid contacting the device surface are calculated for different thicknesses of a c-axis inclined ZnO layer onto BN half-space.
Correction: Hasan, I., et al. A Galactose-Binding Lectin Isolated from Aplysia kurodai (Sea Hare) Eggs Inhibits Streptolysin-Induced Hemolysis. Molecules 2014, 19, 13990–14003
Authors: Hasan Imtiaj , Watanabe Miharu , Ishizaki Naoto , Sugita-Konishi Yoshiko , Kawakami Yasushi , Suzuki Jun , Dogasaki Chikaku , Rajia Sultana , Kawsar Sarkar , Koide Yasuhiro , Kanaly Robert , Sugawara Shigeki , Hosono Masahiro , Ogawa Yukiko , Fujii Yuki , Iriko Hideyuki , Hamako Jiharu , Matsui Taei , Ozeki Yasuhiro
Published: January 2016

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [1]. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Pharmaceuticals in 2015
Authors:   Pharmaceuticals Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Pharmaceuticals would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Pharmaceutics in 2015
Authors:   Pharmaceutics Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Pharmaceutics would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Coordination Chemistry inside Polymeric Nanoreactors: Metal Migration and Cross-Exchange in Amphiphilic Core-Shell Polymer Latexes
Authors: Chen Si , Manoury Eric , Gayet Florence , Poli Rinaldo
Published: January 2016

A well-defined amphiphilic core-shell polymer functionalized with bis(p-methoxy-phenylphosphino)phenylphosphine (BMOPPP) in the nanogel (NG) core has been obtained by a convergent RAFT polymerization in emulsion. This BMOPPP@NG and the previously-reported TPP@NG (TPP = triphenylphosphine) and core cross-linked micelles (L@CCM; L = TPP, BMOPPP) having a slightly different architecture were loaded with [Rh(acac)(CO)2] or [RhCl(COD)]2 to yield [Rh(acac)(CO)(L@Pol)] or [RhCl(COD)(L@Pol)] (Pol = CCM, NG). The interparticle metal migration from [Rh(acac)(CO)(TPP@NG)] to TPP@NG is fast at natural pH and much slower at high pH, the rate not depending significantly on the polymer architecture (CCM vs. NG). The cross-exchange using [Rh(acac)(CO)(BMOPPP@Pol)] and [RhCl(COD)(TPP@Pol)] (Pol = CCM or NG) as reagents at natural pH is also rapid (ca. 1 h), although slower than the equivalent homogeneous reaction on the molecular species (<5 min). On the other hand, the subsequent rearrangement of [Rh(acac)(CO)(TPP@Pol)] and [RhCl(COD)(TPP@Pol)] within the TPP@Pol core and of [Rh(acac)(CO)(BMOPPP@Pol)] and [RhCl(COD)(BMOPPP@Pol)] within the BMOPPP@Pol core, leading respectively to [RhCl(CO)(TPP@Pol)2] and [RhCl(CO)(BMOPPP@Pol)2], is much more rapid (<30 min) than on the corresponding homogeneous process with the molecular species (>24 h).
The Intersectionality of Religion and Social Welfare: Historical Development of Richmond’s Nonprofit Health and Human Services
Authors: Netting F. , O’Connor Mary
Published: January 2016

Studying the intersectionality of religion and social welfare in Richmond, Virginia requires going back to the beginning of the Virginia colony. In the crucible of the colony, the religious and social welfare functions of a parish community were one and the same. However, after the Revolutionary War it was just a matter of time before the entire system was disassembled. The process of disentanglement of church and state created an identity crisis in Virginia. In the late 1700s, the emergence of charitable efforts began with leading men of Richmond who tried to address the temporary needs of travelers, followed by groups of women who discovered new roles they could play through charitable works. The new “system” became a potpourri of societies, congregations, associations, and county units attempting to provide for the social welfare of the populous. The intersectionality of religion and social welfare continued as a diverse landscape of small and large organizations and congregations performing the social welfare functions in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth emerged. Today, to attempt to separate the church from the state in this conglomerate of agencies is neither possible nor desirable. However, understanding its’ historical complexity is essential if one is to engage in contemporary practice within Richmond’s health and human service system.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Risks in 2015
Authors:   Risks Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Risks would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Improved VIIRS and MODIS SST Imagery
Authors: Gladkova Irina , Ignatov Alexander , Shahriar Fazlul , Kihai Yury , Hillger Don , Petrenko Boris
Published: January 2016

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) radiometers, flown onboard Terra/Aqua and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP)/Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites, are capable of providing superior sea surface temperature (SST) imagery. However, the swath data of these multi-detector sensors are subject to several artifacts including bow-tie distortions and striping, and require special pre-processing steps. VIIRS additionally does two irreversible data reduction steps onboard: pixel aggregation (to reduce resolution changes across the swath) and pixel deletion, which complicate both bow-tie correction and destriping. While destriping was addressed elsewhere, this paper describes an algorithm, adopted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Clear-Sky Processor for Oceans (ACSPO) SST system, to minimize the bow-tie artifacts in the SST imagery and facilitate application of the pattern recognition algorithms for improved separation of ocean from cloud and mapping fine SST structure, especially in the dynamic, coastal and high-latitude regions of the ocean. The algorithm is based on a computationally fast re-sampling procedure that ensures a continuity of corresponding latitude and longitude arrays. Potentially, Level 1.5 products may be generated to benefit a wide range of MODIS and VIIRS users in land, ocean, cryosphere, and atmosphere remote sensing.
Multispectral Radiometric Analysis of Façades to Detect Pathologies from Active and Passive Remote Sensing
Authors: Del Pozo Susana , Herrero-Pascual Jesús , Felipe-García Beatriz , Hernández-López David , Rodríguez-Gonzálvez Pablo , González-Aguilera Diego
Published: January 2016

This paper presents a radiometric study to recognize pathologies in façades of historical buildings by using two different remote sensing technologies covering part of the visible and very near infrared spectrum (530–905 nm). Building materials deteriorate over the years due to different extrinsic and intrinsic agents, so assessing these affections in a non-invasive way is crucial to help preserve them since in many cases they are valuable and some have been declared monuments of cultural interest. For the investigation, passive and active remote acquisition systems were applied operating at different wavelengths. A 6-band Mini-MCA multispectral camera (530–801 nm) and a FARO Focus3D terrestrial laser scanner (905 nm) were used with the dual purpose of detecting different materials and damages on building façades as well as determining which acquisition system and spectral range is more suitable for this kind of studies. The laser scan points were used as base to create orthoimages, the input of the two different classification processes performed. The set of all orthoimages from both sensors was classified under supervision. Furthermore, orthoimages from each individual sensor were automatically classified to compare results from each sensor with the reference supervised classification. Higher overall accuracy with the FARO Focus3D, 74.39%, was obtained with respect to the Mini MCA6, 66.04%. Finally, after applying the radiometric calibration, a minimum improvement of 24% in the image classification results was obtained in terms of overall accuracy.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Remote Sensing in 2015
Authors:   Remote Sensing Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Remote Sensing would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Improved Pansharpening with Un-Mixing of Mixed MS Sub-Pixels near Boundaries between Vegetation and Non-Vegetation Objects
Authors: Li Hui , Jing Linhai , Wang Liming , Cheng Qiuming
Published: January 2016

Pansharpening is an important technique that produces high spatial resolution multispectral (MS) images by fusing low spatial resolution MS images and high spatial resolution panchromatic (PAN) images of the same area. Although numerous successful image fusion algorithms have been proposed in the last few decades to reduce the spectral distortions in fused images, few of these take into account the spectral distortions caused by mixed MS sub-pixels (MSPs). Typically, the fused versions of MSPs remain mixed, although some of the MSPs correspond to pure PAN pixels. Due to the significant spectral differences between vegetation and non-vegetation (VNV) objects, the fused versions of MSPs near VNV boundaries cause blurred VNV boundaries and significant spectral distortions in the fused images. In order to reduce the spectral distortions, an improved version of the haze- and ratio-based fusion method is proposed to realize the spectral un-mixing of MSPs near VNV boundaries. In this method, the MSPs near VNV boundaries are identified first. The identified MSPs are then defined as either pure vegetation or non-vegetation pixels according to the categories of the corresponding PAN pixels. Experiments on WorldView-2 and IKONOS images of urban areas using the proposed method yielded fused images with significantly clearer VNV boundaries and smaller spectral distortions than several other currently-used image fusion methods.
Radiometric Resolution Analysis and a Simulation Model
Authors: Kaisti Matti , Altti Miikka , Poutanen Torsti
Published: January 2016

Total power radiometer has a simple configuration and the best theoretical resolution. Gain fluctuations and calibration errors, however, can induce severe errors in the solved scene brightness temperature. To estimate the overall radiometer performance we present a numerical simulation tool that can be used to determine the radiometric resolution. Our model considers three main components that degrade the radiometric resolution: thermal noise, 1/f noise and calibration errors. These error sources have long been known to exist, but comprehensive models able to account all these effects quantitatively and accurately in a practical manner have been missing. We have developed a radiometer simulation model that is able to produce radiometer signals that incorporate realistic radiometer effects that show up as noise and other errors in the radiometer video signal. Our simulation tool integrates the fundamental radiometer theories numerically and allows the investigation of different calibration schemes and receiver topologies. The model can be used as a guide for design and optimization as well as for verification of the radiometer performance. Moreover, it can be extended to a much larger and more complex radiometer systems allowing better system level performance estimation and optimization with minimal bread-board implementations. The model mimics real radiometer video data and thus the complete data analysis pipeline can be developed and verified before the real video data is available. In this paper, the model has been applied to a total power radiometer operating in the 52 GHz frequency range.
Intravehicular, Short- and Long-Range Communication Information Fusion for Providing Safe Speed Warnings
Authors: Jiménez Felipe , Naranjo Jose , Serradilla Francisco , Pérez Elisa , Hernández María , Ruiz Trinidad , Anaya José , Díaz Alberto
Published: January 2016

Inappropriate speed is a relevant concurrent factor in many traffic accidents. Moreover, in recent years, traffic accidents numbers in Spain have fallen sharply, but this reduction has not been so significant on single carriageway roads. These infrastructures have less equipment than high-capacity roads, therefore measures to reduce accidents on them should be implemented in vehicles. This article describes the development and analysis of the impact on the driver of a warning system for the safe speed on each road section in terms of geometry, the presence of traffic jams, weather conditions, type of vehicle and actual driving conditions. This system is based on an application for smartphones and includes knowledge of the vehicle position via Ground Positioning System (GPS), access to intravehicular information from onboard sensors through the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, vehicle data entry by the driver, access to roadside information (short-range communications) and access to a centralized server with information about the road in the current and following sections of the route (long-range communications). Using this information, the system calculates the safe speed, recommends the appropriate speed in advance in the following sections and provides warnings to the driver. Finally, data are sent from vehicles to a server to generate new information to disseminate to other users or to supervise drivers’ behaviour. Tests in a driving simulator have been used to define the system warnings and Human Machine Interface (HMI) and final tests have been performed on real roads in order to analyze the effect of the system on driver behavior.
A Novel Photoelectrochemical Biosensor for Tyrosinase and Thrombin Detection
Authors: Chen Jiexia , Liu Yifan , Zhao Guang-Chao
Published: January 2016

A novel photoelectrochemical biosensor for step-by-step assay of tyrosinase and thrombin was fabricated based on the specific interactions between the designed peptide and the target enzymes. A peptide chain with a special sequence which contains a positively charged lysine-labeled terminal, tyrosine at the other end and a cleavage site recognized by thrombin between them was designed. The designed peptide can be fixed on surface of the CdTe quantum dots (QDs)-modified indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode through electrostatic attraction to construct the photoelectrochemical biosensor. The tyrosinase target can catalyze the oxidization of tyrosine by oxygen into ortho-benzoquinone residues, which results in a decrease in the sensor photocurrent. Subsequently, the cleavage site could be recognized and cut off by another thrombin target, restoring the sensor photocurrent. The decrease or increase of photocurrent in the sensor enables us to assay tyrosinase and thrombin. Thus, the detection of tyrosinase and thrombin can be achieved in the linear range from 2.6 to 32 μg/mL and from 4.5 to 100 μg/mL with detection limits of 1.5 μg/mL and 1.9 μg/mL, respectively. Most importantly, this strategy shall allow us to detect different classes of enzymes simultaneously by designing various enzyme-specific peptide substrates.
Graphene: The Missing Piece for Cancer Diagnosis?
Authors: Cruz Sandra , Girão André , Gonçalves Gil , Marques Paula
Published: January 2016

This paper reviews recent advances in graphene-based biosensors development in order to obtain smaller and more portable devices with better performance for earlier cancer detection. In fact, the potential of Graphene for sensitive detection and chemical/biological free-label applications results from its exceptional physicochemical properties such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, aspect-ratio, optical transparency and remarkable mechanical and chemical stability. Herein we start by providing a general overview of the types of graphene and its derivatives, briefly describing the synthesis procedure and main properties. It follows the reference to different routes to engineer the graphene surface for sensing applications with organic biomolecules and nanoparticles for the development of advanced biosensing platforms able to detect/quantify the characteristic cancer biomolecules in biological fluids or overexpressed on cancerous cells surface with elevated sensitivity, selectivity and stability. We then describe the application of graphene in optical imaging methods such as photoluminescence and Raman imaging, electrochemical sensors for enzymatic biosensing, DNA sensing, and immunosensing. The bioquantification of cancer biomarkers and cells is finally discussed, particularly electrochemical methods such as voltammetry and amperometry which are generally adopted transducing techniques for the development of graphene based sensors for biosensing due to their simplicity, high sensitivity and low-cost. To close, we discuss the major challenges that graphene based biosensors must overcome in order to reach the necessary standards for the early detection of cancer biomarkers by providing reliable information about the patient disease stage.
Segmentation of Planar Surfaces from Laser Scanning Data Using the Magnitude of Normal Position Vector for Adaptive Neighborhoods
Authors: Kim Changjae , Habib Ayman , Pyeon Muwook , Kwon Goo-rak , Jung Jaehoon , Heo Joon
Published: January 2016

Diverse approaches to laser point segmentation have been proposed since the emergence of the laser scanning system. Most of these segmentation techniques, however, suffer from limitations such as sensitivity to the choice of seed points, lack of consideration of the spatial relationships among points, and inefficient performance. In an effort to overcome these drawbacks, this paper proposes a segmentation methodology that: (1) reduces the dimensions of the attribute space; (2) considers the attribute similarity and the proximity of the laser point simultaneously; and (3) works well with both airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data. A neighborhood definition based on the shape of the surface increases the homogeneity of the laser point attributes. The magnitude of the normal position vector is used as an attribute for reducing the dimension of the accumulator array. The experimental results demonstrate, through both qualitative and quantitative evaluations, the outcomes’ high level of reliability. The proposed segmentation algorithm provided 96.89% overall correctness, 95.84% completeness, a 0.25 m overall mean value of centroid difference, and less than 1° of angle difference. The performance of the proposed approach was also verified with a large dataset and compared with other approaches. Additionally, the evaluation of the sensitivity of the thresholds was carried out. In summary, this paper proposes a robust and efficient segmentation methodology for abstraction of an enormous number of laser points into plane information.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Societies in 2015
Authors:   Societies Editorial Office
Published: January 2016

The editors of Societies would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2015. [...]
Overcoming Food Security Challenges within an Energy/Water/Food Nexus (EWFN) Approach
Authors: De Laurentiis Valeria , Hunt Dexter , Rogers Christopher
Published: January 2016

The challenge of feeding nine billion people by 2050, in a context of constrained resources and growing environmental pressures posed by current food production methods on one side, and changing lifestyles and consequent shifts in dietary patterns on the other, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, has been defined as one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. The first step to achieve food security is to find a balance between the growing demand for food, and the limited production capacity. In order to do this three main pathways have been identified: employing sustainable production methods in agriculture, changing diets, and reducing waste in all stages of the food chain. The application of an energy, water and food nexus (EWFN) approach, which takes into account the interactions and connections between these three resources, and the synergies and trade-offs that arise from the way they are managed, is a prerequisite for the correct application of these pathways. This work discusses how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) might be applicable for creating the evidence-base to foster such desired shifts in food production and consumption patterns.
Corporate Social Responsibility Applied for Rural Development: An Empirical Analysis of Firms from the American Continent
Authors: Arato Miguel , Speelman Stijn , Van Huylenbroeck Guido
Published: January 2016

Corporate Social Responsibility has been recognized by policymakers and development specialists as a feasible driver for rural development. The present paper explores both theoretically and empirically how firms involved in CSR provide development opportunities to rural communities. The research first evaluates the applied literature on the implementation of CSR by private firms and policymakers as means to foster sustainable rural development. The empirical research analyses the CSR activities of 100 firms from a variety of industries, sizes, and countries to determine the type of companies who are involved in rural development and the kind of activities they deployed. Results from the empirical research show that although rural development initiatives are not relevant for all types of companies, a significant number of firms from a variety of industries have engaged in CSR programs supporting rural communities. Firms appear to be interested in stimulating rural development and seem to benefit from it. This paper also includes an exploration of the main challenges and constraints that firms encounter when encouraging rural development initiatives.
Green Component Procurement Collaboration for Improving Supply Chain Management in the High Technology Industries: A Case Study from the Systems Perspective
Authors: Yan Min-Ren , Chien Kuo-Ming , Yang Tai-Ning
Published: January 2016

The impacts of high technology industries have been growing increasingly to technological innovations and global economic developments, while the concerns in sustainability are calling for facilitating green materials and cleaner production in the industrial value chains. Today’s manufacturing companies are not striving for individual capacities but for the effective working with green supply chains. However, in addition to environmental and social objectives, cost and economic feasibility has become one of the most critical success factors for improving supply chain management with green component procurement collaboration, especially for the electronics OEM (original equipment manufacturing) companies whose procurement costs often make up a very high proportion of final product prices. This paper presents a case study from the systems perspective by using System Dynamics simulation analysis and statistical validations with empirical data. Empirical data were collected from Taiwanese manufacturing chains—among the world’s largest manufacturing clusters of high technology components and products—and their global green suppliers to examine the benefits of green component procurement collaborations in terms of shared costs and improved shipping time performance. Two different supply chain collaboration models, from multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) and universal serial bus 3.0 (USB 3.0) cable procurements, were benchmarked and statistically validated. The results suggest that the practices of collaborative planning for procurement quantity and accurate fulfillment by suppliers are significantly related to cost effectiveness and shipping time efficiency. Although the price negotiation of upstream raw materials for the collaborative suppliers has no statistically significant benefit to the shipping time efficiency, the shared cost reduction of component procurement is significantly positive for supply chain collaboration among green manufacturers. Managerial implications toward sustainable supply chain management were also discussed.
Symmetry in Sphere-Based Assembly Configuration Spaces
Authors: Sitharam Meera , Vince Andrew , Wang Menghan , Bóna Miklós
Published: January 2016

Many remarkably robust, rapid and spontaneous self-assembly phenomena occurring in nature can be modeled geometrically, starting from a collection of rigid bunches of spheres. This paper highlights the role of symmetry in sphere-based assembly processes. Since spheres within bunches could be identical and bunches could be identical, as well, the underlying symmetry groups could be of large order that grows with the number of participating spheres and bunches. Thus, understanding symmetries and associated isomorphism classes of microstates that correspond to various types of macrostates can significantly increase efficiency and accuracy, i.e., reduce the notorious complexity of computing entropy and free energy, as well as paths and kinetics, in high dimensional configuration spaces. In addition, a precise understanding of symmetries is crucial for giving provable guarantees of algorithmic accuracy and efficiency, as well as accuracy vs. efficiency trade-offs in such computations. In particular, this may aid in predicting crucial assembly-driving interactions. This is a primarily expository paper that develops a novel, original framework for dealing with symmetries in configuration spaces of assembling spheres, with the following goals. (1) We give new, formal definitions of various concepts relevant to the sphere-based assembly setting that occur in previous work and, in turn, formal definitions of their relevant symmetry groups leading to the main theorem concerning their symmetries. These previously-developed concepts include, for example: (i) assembly configuration spaces; (ii) stratification of assembly configuration space into configurational regions defined by active constraint graphs; (iii) paths through the configurational regions; and (iv) coarse assembly pathways. (2) We then demonstrate the new symmetry concepts to compute the sizes and numbers of orbits in two example settings appearing in previous work. (3) Finally, we give formal statements of a variety of open problems and challenges using the new conceptual definitions.