bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Framework for Automatic Airports Extraction from SAR Images Using Multi-Level Dual Attention Mechanism
Authors: Chen Lifu , Tan Siyu , Pan Zhouhao , Xing Jin , Yuan Zhihui , Xing Xuemin , Zhang Peng
Published: February 2020

The detection of airports from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images is of great significance in various research fields. However, it is challenging to distinguish the airport from surrounding objects in SAR images. In this paper, a new framework, multi-level and densely dual attention (MDDA) network is proposed to extract airport runway areas (runways, taxiways, and parking lots) in SAR images to achieve automatic airport detection. The framework consists of three parts: down-sampling of original SAR images, MDDA network for feature extraction and classification, and up-sampling of airports extraction results. First, down-sampling is employed to obtain a medium-resolution SAR image from the high-resolution SAR images to ensure the samples (500 × 500) can contain adequate information about airports. The dataset is then input to the MDDA network, which contains an encoder and a decoder. The encoder uses ResNet_101 to extract four-level features with different resolutions, and the decoder performs fusion and further feature extraction on these features. The decoder integrates the chained residual pooling network (CRP_Net) and the dual attention fusion and extraction (DAFE) module. The CRP_Net module mainly uses chained residual pooling and multi-feature fusion to extract advanced semantic features. In the DAFE module, position attention module (PAM) and channel attention mechanism (CAM) are combined with weighted filtering. The entire decoding network is constructed in a densely connected manner to enhance the gradient transmission among features and take full advantage of them. Finally, the airport results extracted by the decoding network were up-sampled by bilinear interpolation to accomplish airport extraction from high-resolution SAR images. To verify the proposed framework, experiments were performed using Gaofen-3 SAR images with 1 m resolution, and three different airports were selected for accuracy evaluation. The results showed that the mean pixels accuracy (MPA) and mean intersection over union (MIoU) of the MDDA network was 0.98 and 0.97, respectively, which is much higher than RefineNet and DeepLabV3. Therefore, MDDA can achieve automatic airport extraction from high-resolution SAR images with satisfying accuracy.
Streamflow Reconstruction and Variation Characteristic Analysis of the Ganjiang River in China for the Past 515 Years
Authors: Wan Zhiwei , Chen Xi , Ju Min , Ling Chaohao , Liu Guangxu , Lin Siping , Liu Huihua , Jia Yulian , Jiang Meixin , Liao Fuqiang
Published: February 2020

River flow reconstruction under the background of long-term climate change is of great significance for understanding the regional response to future drought and flood disasters, and the sustainable development of water resources. Investigating the basic characteristics and changing trends of the streamflow of the Ganjiang River is scientifically important to mitigate drought and flood disasters in the future. This study reconstructed drought and flood grade series of five regional stations of the Ganjiang River based on spatially explicit and well-dated local chronicle materials and used a linear regression model of modern drought/flood grades and precipitation to reconstruct historical precipitation for the past 515 years. The relationships between the modern precipitation of five regional stations and streamflow of Waizhou Station, which is the last hydrological station of the Ganjiang River were analyzed through principal component regression. The adjusted R2 is 0.909, with a low relative bias of −1.82%. The variation of streamflow from AD 1500 to AD 2014 was reconstructed using the proposed model. Result shows that high flows occur in nine periods and low flows occur in 11 periods. Extremely low stream flow in 515 years appears during the middle and late 17th century. Cumulative anomaly and Mann-Kendall mutation test results reveal that a transition point from predominantly low to high flows occur in AD 1720. Redfit power spectrum analysis result shows that the variation periods of streamflow are 2–5, 7–8 years, and approximately 32 years, where the most significant period is 2–3 years. Continuous wavelet transform indicates that the corresponding relation occurs between streamflow and El Niño/Southern Oscillation for eight years. Streamflow is affected by temperature and East Asian monsoon that is controlled by solar activities. The flood may be related to strong solar activity, monsoon failure, and vice versa. Hydrological frequency curve analysis shows that the streamflow of the Ganjiang River once in a hundred years may reach up to 1031 × 108 m3 for flood or 485 × 108 m3 for drought and the standard of once in a millennium runoff may reach up to 1188 × 108 m3 for flood or 450 × 108 m3 for drought. These results may provide basic hydrological data for the sustainable development of society and serve as a reference for mitigating the impact of drought and flood disasters in the future.
Analysis of the Impact of Land Use on Spatiotemporal Patterns of Surface Urban Heat Island in Rapid Urbanization, a Case Study of Shanghai, China
Authors: Du Hongyu , Zhou Fengqi , Li Chunlan , Cai Wenbo , Jiang Hong , Cai Yongli
Published: February 2020

In the trend of global warming and urbanization, frequent extreme weather influences the life of citizens seriously. Shanghai, as a typical mega-city in China that has been successful in urbanization, suffers seriously from the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The research concentrates on the spatial and temporal pattern of surface UHI and land use. Then, the relation between them are further discussed. The results show that for the last 15 years, the UHI effect of Shanghai has been increasing continuously in both intensity and area. The UHI extends from the city center toward the suburban area. Along with the year, the ratio in area of Agricultural Land (AL), Wetland (WL), and Bare Land (BL) has decreased. On the contrary, Construction Land (CL) and Green Land (GL) have increased. The average land surface temperature (LST) rankings for each research year from high to low were all CL, BL, GL, AL, and WL. CL contributed the most to the UHI effect, while WL and GL contributed the most to mitigate the UHI. The conclusion provides practical advice aimed to mitigate the UHI effect for urban planning authorities.
Vulnerability Visualization to Support Adaptation to Heat and Floods: Towards the EXTRA Interactive Tool in Norrköping, Sweden
Authors: Opach Tomasz , Glaas Erik , Hjerpe Mattias , Navarra Carlo
Published: February 2020

Municipal actors are increasingly expected to consider climate adaptation in operative and strategic work. Here, digital environments can support strategic decisions and planning through visual representations of local climate risks and vulnerabilities. This study targets visualization of vulnerability to heat and floods as a means of supporting adaptation action in preschools, primary schools, caring units, and municipal residential buildings in Norrköping, Sweden. Workshops with sector leaders identified vulnerability indicators used as a basis for collecting, calculating and representing self-assessed vulnerability of individual units and buildings. Informed by user inputs, a map-based interactive visual tool representing resulting vulnerability scores and risk maps was developed to support (1) planners and sector leaders in strategic prioritization and investments, and (2) unit heads in identifying adaptation measures to reduce local flood and heat risks. The tool was tested with adaptation coordinators from targeted sectors. The study finds that the tool made it possible to overview climate risks and adaptation measures, which arguably increases general governance capacity Allowing yearly updates of set scores, the tool was also found to be useful for monitoring how vulnerability in the municipality evolves over time, and for evaluating how adaptive efforts influence calculated risks.
The Nexus between Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis on Groups of Countries
Authors: Stoica Ovidiu , Roman Angela , Rusu Valentina Diana
Published: February 2020

Our paper examines the potential effect of different types of entrepreneurship (in particular, early-stage entrepreneurship, opportunity-driven entrepreneurship, and necessity-driven entrepreneurship) on economic growth at a national level and aims to identify whether the contribution of entrepreneurship to economic growth differs according to the stage of economic development of a country. Our empirical analysis is based on the panel data, which covers 17 years (2002–2018) and 22 European countries, classified into two groups. The results suggest that all three types of entrepreneurship have a greater impact on economic growth for the entire sample of European countries, and some types of entrepreneurship are more important than others. We find that opportunity-driven entrepreneurship and early-stage entrepreneurship would be key factors in stimulating economic growth across the sample of European countries. Our estimations also show that opportunity-driven entrepreneurship would have a greater impact in transition countries, while necessity-driven entrepreneurship would have a stronger influence in the innovation-driven countries. The results of our research could be of interest to policymakers, as it can help in identifying and implementing the most appropriate measures to eliminate the obstacles in the macroeconomic environment that entrepreneurs face, and measures to support innovative entrepreneurial activities.
Evaluation of Podalic Support and Monitoring of Balance Control in Children with and without Dyslexia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Patti Antonino , Bianco Antonino , Messina Giuseppe , Iovane Angelo , Alesi Marianna , Pepi Annamaria , Palma Antonio
Published: February 2020

Background: The American Psychiatric Association has identified dyslexia as a neurobiological disorder. The aim of the study was to evaluate podalic support, balance control, and dyslexia’s effects on interpersonal relationships. Methods: Fifty-seven subjects were enrolled for this study. The subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group was composed of children with diagnosis of dyslexia. The control group was composed of healthy subjects. Each subject underwent baropodometry and posturographic analysis. In addition, the Multidimensional Self-esteem Assessment test by Bracken was used for a precise measurement of self-esteem in both groups (TMA). Results: The static baropodometry and posturographic results of the experimental group were significantly higher compared to the control group. The analysis showed significant differences: Surface left and right, Surface forefoot left, Surface forefoot right, Retro foot surface left, Retro foot surface right, and the Ellipse surface area. The test for multidimensional self-esteem assessment (TMA) analysis showed a significant difference. The Pearson correlation index showed a high correlation between the following parameters: Surface ellipse vs. TMA; Length of sway path vs. average speed of movement. Conclusion: The dyslexic children showed a flat-footed trend and an unstable balance compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, the Multidimensional Self-Esteem test showed significantly lower self-assessments in the experimental group compared to control group.
The Function of A Set-Aside Railway Bridge in Connecting Urban Habitats for Animals: A Case Study
Authors: Braschler Brigitte , Dolt Claudine , Baur Bruno
Published: February 2020

As elements of green infrastructure, railway embankments are important corridors in urban environments connecting otherwise isolated habitat fragments. They are interrupted when railways cross major roads. It is not known whether dispersing animals use railway bridges to cross roads. We examined the function of a set-aside iron-steel railway bridge crossing a 12 m wide road with high traffic density in Basel (Switzerland) for dispersing animals. We installed drift fences with traps on a single-track, 32 m long and 6 m wide railway bridge with a simple gravel bed, and collected animals daily for 9 months. We captured more than 1200 animals crossing the bridge: small mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as numerous invertebrates including snails, woodlice, spiders, harvestmen, millipedes, carabids, rove beetles and ants. For some animals it is likely that the gravel bed, at least temporarily, serves as a habitat. Many animals, however, were apparently dispersing, using the bridge to cross the busy road. We found season- and daytime-dependent differences in the frequency the bridge was used. Our findings indicate an important function of a set-aside railway bridges for connecting urban habitats. As most animal dispersal was recorded during the night, railway bridges with no (or little) traffic during the night may also contribute to animal dispersal. As important elements of green infrastructure, set-aside railway bridges should be considered in future urban planning.
What Motivates Scientists in Emerging Economies to Become Entrepreneurs? Evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thang , Nguyen Lan , Bryant Scott , Nguyen Hieu
Published: February 2020

Studies of scientist entrepreneurship have recognized a diverse range of proself motivations but have largely ignored the role of prosocial motivation. As technology inventions often bring in high positive externality, we argue that prosocial motivation is important for scientist entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Drawing from motivated information processing theory we develop a model linking proself and prosocial motivation with scientist entrepreneurship. The hypotheses were tested based on survey data from a sample of Vietnamese scientists. The results show that both proself and prosocial motivation are positively associated with scientist entrepreneurship. However, the positive association between prosocial motivation and scientist entrepreneurship is lessened by proself motivation. This study calls for more attention to prosocial motivation in theory and policy development on scientist entrepreneurship.
Gob-Side Entry Retained with Soft Roof, Floor, and Seam in Thin Coal Seams: A Case Study
Authors: Tian Zhijun , Zhang Zizheng , Deng Min , Yan Shuai , Bai Jianbiao
Published: February 2020

Gob-side entry retained technology is of great significance to develop coal mining industry sustainably, which can improve the coal recovery rate by mining without the coal pillar. However, scholars and researchers pay little attention to the gob-side entry retained with soft roof, floor, and seam in thin coal seams. In this study, the difficulties and key points of surrounding rock control for gob-side entry retained with soft roof, floor, and seam in thin coal seams were firstly proposed. Secondly, the mechanical model of the interaction between the roadside backfill body and the roof for gob-side entry retained with soft roof, floor, and seam in thin coal seams was established, and the relevant parameters were designed. Finally, the above results were verified by the engineering practice of gob-side entry retained technology and the monitoring of mine pressure on the 1103 working face of the Heilong Coal Mine. Moreover, the effect factors of surrounding rock stability for gob-side entry retained with soft roof, floor, and seam in thin coal seams were discussed using the discrete element method. The results could provide guidance for gob-side entry retained with soft roof, floor, and seam in thin coal seams under similar geological conditions.
The Relationship between Slack Resources, Resource Bricolage, and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Identification—Based on Resource Opportunity Perspective
Authors: Sun Yongbo , Du Shuang , Ding Yixin
Published: February 2020

There are a lot of slack resources in a company. It is vitally important for an enterprise to use slack resources to identify entrepreneurial opportunities to establish company sustainable development. On the basis of the resource orchestration theory and from resource-opportunity perspective, this paper constructs a framework of slack resources and entrepreneurial opportunity identification, exploring the mediating of resource bricolage, the moderating of network ties, and the moderated mediation of network ties. In our analyses, we used data from companies in eastern China, and statistical hypotheses were validated through a structural equation model with data using the statistical software Amos version 20, SPSS version 22. The research results show that: (1) Absorbed slack resources and unabsorbed slack resources have a positive impact on entrepreneurial opportunity identification. (2) Slack resources indirectly affect the opportunity identification through the mediating role of resource bricolage. Among them, resource bricolage has a fully mediating role between absorbed slack resources and entrepreneurial opportunity identification, and it has a partial mediating role between unabsorbed slack resources and entrepreneurial opportunity identification. (3) Business ties positively moderate the relationship between two types of slack resources and entrepreneurial opportunity identification, and business ties moderate the mediation effect of resource bricolage. The resource-opportunity perspective answers how decisions are made, and the entire model process answers how to create sustainable value (entrepreneurship opportunities). The study guides managers on how to integrate and use external and internal resources, coordinate resource elements, and identify profitable business opportunities.
Detecting Possible Reduction of the Housing Bubble in Korea for Different Residential Types and Regions
Authors: Kim Kyungwon , Song Jae Wook
Published: February 2020

The objective of this paper is to detect the arbitrage opportunity and to manage the bubbles in the Korean real estate market based on a binomial American option pricing model with heteroscedasticity. The limitation of previous research where the real options framework was first introduced is its macro-economic implication based on the utilization of the general housing indices. Therefore, in this paper, we extensively apply the model to different residential types and regions. The results suggest that the model can detect the realistic and reasonable trend of housing bubbles and the arbitrage opportunities for different times, residential types, and regions. We also simulate two scenarios to encourage the trades of real estate assets: promotion of early exercise, and the shortened Contract period. Performing arbitrage trading based on these two methods, we discover that both approaches effectively reduce the housing bubbles in all residential types and regions. Specifically, the promotion of early exercise reduces the housing bubble more effectively than the shortened Contract period. Hence, we advocate the utilization of the information obtained from the model to boost the transactions in the Korean real estate market in order to reduce the bubble-related risks and to support sustainable economic growth.
Asymmetric Impact of Institutional Quality on Tourism Inflows Among Selected Asian Pacific Countries
Authors: Khan Muhammad Asif , Popp József , Talib Mirza Nouman Ali , Lakner Zoltán , Khan Muhammad Atif , Oláh Judit
Published: February 2020

From an idealistic viewpoint, the existence of the tourism industry in a country/region is a blessing because of its anticipated sustainable economic benefits. To turn this idealistic state into a realistic one, institutions need to play a pivotal role in optimizing the desired incentives. The present study examines the asymmetric role of institutional quality in stimulating tourism inflows (receipts and arrivals) in selected Asia Pacific countries involved in tourism. The previous literature has established that improving institutional quality attracts tourism inflows to a destination. However, the literature fails to identify the specific point (threshold level) above (below) which the relationship turns positive (negative). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that estimates the asymmetries in the nexus of institutions and tourism inflows, using robust nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach. Our results show that the tourism inflow in Asian Pacific countries responds asymmetrically to any changes in institutional quality, and there is a single threshold of 7.52 points, where the impact of institutional quality reverses. We conclude that our findings are robust to the alternative measures of tourism inflows. The study offers useful policy inputs for devising short and long-run policies for the betterment of the institutional framework in the region by understanding the asymmetric impact of institutional quality on tourism inflow.
Numerical Solution of the Navier–Stokes Equations Using Multigrid Methods with HSS-Based and STS-Based Smoothers
Authors: Muratova Galina , Martynova Tatiana , Andreeva Evgeniya , Bavin Vadim , Wang Zeng-Qi
Published: February 2020

Multigrid methods (MGMs) are used for discretized systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) which arise from finite difference approximation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. After discretization and linearization of the equations, systems of linear algebraic equations (SLAEs) with a strongly non-Hermitian matrix appear. Hermitian/skew-Hermitian splitting (HSS) and skew-Hermitian triangular splitting (STS) methods are considered as smoothers in the MGM for solving the SLAE. Numerical results for an algebraic multigrid (AMG) method with HSS-based smoothers are presented.
The Gray-Box Based Modeling Approach Integrating Both Mechanism-Model and Data-Model: The Case of Atmospheric Contaminant Dispersion
Authors: Chen Bin , Wang Yiduo , Wang Rongxiao , Zhu Zhengqiu , Ma Liang , Qiu Xiaogang , Dai Weihui
Published: February 2020

With the profound understanding of the world, modeling and simulation has been used to solve the problems of complex systems. Generally, mechanism-models are often used to model the engineering systems following the Newton laws, and this kind of modeling approach is called white-box modeling; however, when the internal structure and characteristics of some systems are hard to understand, the black-box modeling based on statistic and data-modeling is often used. For most complex real systems, a single modeling approach can hardly describe the target system accurately. In this paper, we firstly discuss and compare the white-box and black-box modeling approaches. Then, to mitigate the limitations of these two modeling methods in mechanism-partially-observed systems, the gray-box based modeling approach integrating both a mechanism model and data model is proposed. In order to explain the idea of gray-box based modeling, the atmosphere dispersion modeling is studied in practical cases from two symmetric aspects. Specifically, the framework of data assimilation is used to illustrate the modeling from white-box to gray-box, while the Gauss features based Support Vector Regression (SVR) models are used to illustrate the modeling from black-box to gray-box. To verify the feasibility of the gray-box modeling method, we conducted both simulation experiments and real dataset symmetry experiments. The experiment results show the enhanced performance of the gray-box based modeling approach. In the end, we expect that this gray-box based modeling approach will be an alternative modeling approach for different existing systems.
Erratum: Zejun Li 1,*, Jianchen Wang 2, Kaihang Han 3. Analytical Solution of Ground Stress Induced by Shallow Tunneling with Arbitrary Distributed Loads on Ground Surface. Symmetry 2019, 11(6), 823, Page: 1 to 12
Authors: Li Zejun , Wang Jianchen , Han Kaihang
Published: February 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Bacteriocins of Listeria monocytogenes and Their Potential as a Virulence Factor
Authors: Lee Sangmi
Published: February 2020

Intestinal microbiota exerts protective effects against the infection of various bacterial pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, a major foodborne pathogen whose infection can lead to a disease (listeriosis) with a high fatality rate. As a strategy to mitigate the action of the intestinal microbiota, pathogens often produce antimicrobial proteinaceous compounds such as bacteriocins. In this review, we summarize the information currently available for the well-characterized L. monocytogenes bacteriocin listeriolysin S, with the emphasis on its intriguing mode of action as a virulence factor, which promotes the infection of L. monocytogenes by changing the composition of the intestinal microbiota. We then discuss another intriguing L. monocytogenes bacteriocin Lmo2776 that specifically inhibits the inflammogenic species, Prevotella copri, in the intestinal microbiota, reducing superfluous inflammation while weakening virulence. In addition, we describe relatively less studied phage tail-like Listeria bacteriocins (monocins) and elaborate on the possibility that these monocins could be involved in enhancing pathogenicity. In spite of the burgeoning interest in the roles played by the intestinal microbiota against the L. monocytogenes infection, our understanding on the virulence factors affecting the intestinal microbiota is still lacking, calling for further studies on bacteriocins that could function as novel virulence factors.
Host–Receptor Post-Translational Modifications Refine Staphylococcal Leukocidin Cytotoxicity
Authors: Tromp Angelino T. , Van Gent Michiel , Jansen Joris P. , Scheepmaker Lisette M. , Velthuizen Anneroos , De Haas Carla J.C. , Van Kessel Kok P.M. , Bardoel Bart W. , Boettcher Michael , McManus Michael T. , Van Strijp Jos A.G. , Lebbink Robert Jan , Haas Pieter-Jan A. , Spaan András N.
Published: February 2020

Staphylococcal bi-component pore-forming toxins, also known as leukocidins, target and lyse human phagocytes in a receptor-dependent manner. S-components of the leukocidins Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), γ-haemolysin AB (HlgAB) and CB (HlgCB), and leukocidin ED (LukED) specifically employ receptors that belong to the class of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Although these receptors share a common structural architecture, little is known about the conserved characteristics of the interaction between leukocidins and GPCRs. In this study, we investigated host cellular pathways contributing to susceptibility towards S. aureus leukocidin cytotoxicity. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screen for toxin-resistance in U937 cells sensitized to leukocidins by ectopic expression of different GPCRs. Our screen identifies post-translational modification (PTM) pathways involved in the sulfation and sialylation of the leukocidin-receptors. Subsequent validation experiments show differences in the impact of PTM moieties on leukocidin toxicity, highlighting an additional layer of refinement and divergence in the staphylococcal host-pathogen interface. Leukocidin receptors may serve as targets for anti-staphylococcal interventions and understanding toxin-receptor interactions will facilitate the development of innovative therapeutics. Variations in the genes encoding PTM pathways could provide insight into observed differences in susceptibility of humans to infections with S. aureus.
Advantages and Prospects of Tag/Catcher Mediated Antigen Display on Capsid-Like Particle-Based Vaccines
Authors: Aves Kara-Lee , Goksøyr Louise , Sander Adam F.
Published: February 2020

Capsid-like particles (CLPs) are multimeric, repetitive assemblies of recombinant viral capsid proteins, which are highly immunogenic due to their structural similarity to wild-type viruses. CLPs can be used as molecular scaffolds to enable the presentation of soluble vaccine antigens in a similar structural format, which can significantly increase the immunogenicity of the antigen. CLP-based antigen display can be obtained by various genetic and modular conjugation methods. However, these vary in their versatility as well as efficiency in achieving an immunogenic antigen display. Here, we make a comparative review of the major CLP-based antigen display technologies. The Tag/Catcher-AP205 platform is highlighted as a particularly versatile and efficient technology that offers new qualitative and practical advantages in designing modular CLP vaccines. Finally, we discuss how split-protein Tag/Catcher conjugation systems can help to further propagate and enhance modular CLP vaccine designs.
Transverse Right Ventricle Strain and Strain Rate Assessed by 2-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Dogs with Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Caivano Domenico , Rishniw Mark , Birettoni Francesco , Petrescu Vasilica-Flory , Porciello Francesco
Published: February 2020

Right ventricular (RV) strain analysis using 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) permits practitioners to assess regional and global deformation of the myocardium. Recently, assessment of the longitudinal right ventricle (RV) strain and strain rate using 2D STE has been reported in dogs. Although longitudinal deformation is the dominant component of the RV systole, RV myocardial fibers of the superficial layer are oriented circumferentially and these contribute to the RV pump function (radial deformation). Because this strain component has not been investigated in dogs, we have assessed radial RV strain and strain rate using 2D STE in healthy dogs and dogs with pulmonary hypertension (PH). We have recruited 74 dogs (40 healthy dogs and 34 dogs with PH) in which we have analyzed radial RV free wall strain and strain rate using XstrainTM software. We have used the left apical 4-chamber view optimized for the RV for analysis of the radial strain and strain rate variables (XstrainTM software denoted radial strain as “transverse”). Seven dogs were excluded during the analysis for low quality images. Transverse strain and strain rate obtained in healthy dogs showed no relationship with heart rate, body weight or age (r2 < 0.09 and p > 0.05 for all variables). Moreover, no relationship between transverse strain/strain rate variables and left atrial-to-aortic ratios was observed (r2 < 0.06 and p = 0.2, for both). Transverse strain and strain rate obtained in dogs with PH, showed weak negative relationships with tricuspid regurgitation velocity (r2 < 0.25 and p = 0.006, for both). Transverse RV strain and strain rate using 2D STE is feasible in most dogs and decrease with worsening of the PH, but these advanced echocardiographic indices do not help in identifying dogs with PH.
Drought Risk Assessment in Central Asia Using a Probabilistic Copula Function Approach
Authors: Zhang Leyuan , Wang Yi , Chen Yaning , Bai Yifei , Zhang Qifei
Published: February 2020

The aim of this research is to adopt the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) with three-month timescale (SPEI-3) to analyze drought risk in Central Asia. Based on SPEI-3, a drought event is defined through Run Theory. The multidimensional Copula function based on drought risk is then comprehensively assessed through the multivariable joint probability of drought duration, drought severity, and drought peak. Results indicate as follows: (1) the climate conditions were relatively stable from 1961–1974 and 1979–1995, while they varied from 1974 to 1979 and from 1995 to 2017, during which the study areas experienced recurrent drought. (2) The drought characteristics show noticeable spatial variability, and the severity of drought is larger in the west than in the east in Central Asia; the duration of drought contrasts with the severity of drought spatially. (3) The drought risk in the three-dimensional joint distribution is similar to the analysis using the two-dimensional distributions, and the study area has gone through the process from moderate to slight and then to severe drought risk from 1961 to 2017; the return period studied in this paper was calculated to be 80% probability in about two years.
Flooding of Piazza San Marco (Venice): Physical Model Tests to Evaluate the Overtopping Discharge
Authors: Ruol Piero , Favaretto Chiara , Volpato Matteo , Martinelli Luca
Published: February 2020

This paper aims at evaluating the wave overtopping discharge over the pavement of “Piazza S. Marco” (Venice) in order to select the best option to mitigate the risk of flooding of the Piazza and to protect the monuments and historic buildings, e.g., the “Basilica S. Marco”. In fact, the MO.S.E. (MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) system is designed to keep the water level below a certain value, for the safety of the lagoon, but it does not guarantee the defence of the Piazza, where flooding is still possible, being its pavement locally much lower than the maximum expected water level. To completely defend the Piazza, specific additional works are planned to prevent the back-flow through the natural drainage system (now the primary pathway) or by filtration or by overtopping. This paper investigates on the overtopping mechanism, under conditions compatible with a fully operational MO.S.E. system, through 2-D experiments. The pavement of the Piazza is gently sloping towards the masonry quay which, in some parts is formed by 5 descending steps, and in some other parts, is just a vertical wall. Close to the “Marciana” Library, a critical part is present, with a slightly lower crest freeboard. In total, three cross-sections were examined in the 36 m long wave flume of the Padova University. The test programme includes 10 irregular wave attacks and three different water levels. The test results differ considerably from the results of the available formulas, since the investigated cross-sections by far exceed their range of applicability. The presence of the steps affects only the reflection coefficient rather than the overtopping discharges. In general, if the waves incident to the Piazza are higher than 40 cm, which is a possible scenario, some other adaptation works must be considered, such as the pavement rise, temporary barriers or the reduction of the waves impacting the quay through, for instance, floating breakwaters.
Heavy Metals Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment in Huixian Wetland, South China
Authors: Huang Liangliang , Rad Saeed , Xu Li , Gui Liangying , Song Xiaohong , Li Yanhong , Wu Zhiqiang , Chen Zhongbing
Published: February 2020

This research has focused on the source identification, concentration, and ecological risk assessment of eight heavy metals in the largest karst wetland (Huixian) of south China. Numerous samples from superficial soil and sediment within ten representative landuse types were collected and examined, and the results were analyzed using multiple methods. Single pollution index (Pi) results were underpinned by the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) method, in which Cd was observed as the priority pollutant with the highest contamination degree in this area. As for the most polluted landuse type, via applying Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index (PN) and Potential ecological risk index (RI), the river and rape field posed the highest ecological risks, while moderate for the rest. To quantify the drivers of the contaminants, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out and weathering of the watershed’s parent carbonate rocks was found to be the main possible origin, followed by anthropogenic sources induced by agricultural fertilizer. Considering the impacts of these potentially toxic elements on public health, the results of this study are essential to take preventive actions for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.
Forcing for a Cascaded Lattice Boltzmann Shallow Water Model
Authors: Venturi Sara , Di Francesco Silvia , Geier Martin , Manciola Piergiorgio
Published: February 2020

This work compares three forcing schemes for a recently introduced cascaded lattice Boltzmann shallow water model: a basic scheme, a second-order scheme, and a centred scheme. Although the force is applied in the streaming step of the lattice Boltzmann model, the acceleration is also considered in the transformation to central moments. The model performance is tested for one and two dimensional benchmarks.
O Turista Aprendiz, de Mário de Andrade, como fonte para a História Ambiental
Authors: De Almeida Bianca Letícia
Published: February 2020

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o livro O Turista Aprendiz, de Mário de Andrade, como possibilidade de fonte para a História Ambiental. A obra contém escritos sobre duas viagens realizadas pelo modernista, que tinha intenções de descobrir as diferentes realidades do Brasil. Embora com configurações distintas, as duas partes do livro – que foi editado e publicado postumamente por Telê Lopez – trazem as observações do autor que nos permitem pensar as diversas interações entre o homem e a natureza. Rios, matas, trajetos, climas, transportes, fronteiras, deslocamentos são algumas das possibilidades de reflexão que o livro nos oferece.
Bilinçaltı Reklamcılık ve Tüketicilerin Satın Alma Niyetine Etkisi
Authors: Marangoz Mehmet , İşli Ayşe Gülgün
Published: February 2020

Bu çalışma bilinçaltı
reklamcılığın duyguları tetikleyerek tüketicilerin satın alma niyetine bir etki
yaratıp yaratmadığını ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Bir kopyasında gülen yüz
görseli, bir kopyasında kızgın yüz görseli gizlenen iki bilinçaltı reklam afişi
oluşturulmuş; afişe uygun 4 demografik, 30 duygular üzerine ve 4 satın alma
niyeti olmak üzere toplam 38 sorudan oluşan anket formu 300 katılımcıya
yapılmış ve değerlendirilmiştir. Gülen yüz görselinin bulunduğu reklam afişine
maruz kalan katılımcıların; yaş ve eğitim düzeyinin tüketicilerin satın alma
niyetine etki ettikleri görülmüş, ayrıca görselin sıcak duyguları tetikleyerek,
tüketicilerin satın alma niyetini olumlu yönde etkilediği ortaya çıkmıştır.
Kızgın yüz görselinin bulunduğu reklam afişi için çıkan sonuçta; demografik
unsurların tüketicilerin satın alma niyetine etkisi görülmemiş, bununla beraber
görselin negatif duyguları tetikleyerek, tüketicilerin satın alma niyetine
olumsuz yönde etki ettiği ortaya çıkmıştır.
Çoklu Karar Verme Yöntemleri ile Alternatif Finansman Kararları ve Bir KOBİ’de Uygulama
Authors: Ertuğrul İrfan , Vanlıoğlu Sibel
Published: February 2020

Bütün ülkelerin ortak amaçları ekonomik anlamda kalkınmak ve gelişmektir. Ülkeler bireylerin refah seviyesini ve istihdamını artırmak istemektedirler. Her geçen gün artan rekabet ortamında işletmeler devamlılıklarını sürdürebilmek için uygun finansman kaynaklarına ulaşmak durumundadır. Özellikle yeni kurulan ve büyümekte olan işletmeler açısından alternatif finansman araçları büyük önem taşımaktadır. İşletmelerin alternatiflerinin artmasıyla karar vermeleri de zorlaşmaktadır. İşletmeler karar verebilmek için çeşitli yöntemlerden faydalanmaktadırlar. Birden fazla kriterin bulunduğu durumlarda çoklu karar verme yöntemleri ile çok sayıda alternatif arasından seçim yapabilmektedir. Çalışmanın uygulama bölümünde orta ölçekli bir işletmenin iş makinası almak için tercih ettiği alternatif finansman aracı leasing firmasının seçiminde AHP ve TOPSIS yöntemleri ile çözüm aranmıştır.
Assessment of the Pamukkale Destination Image According to Attraction Factors
Authors: Haşıloğlu Selçuk Burak , Alkibay Sanem
Published: February 2020

The
attraction image of a tourism center is an important factor in the formation of
the destination image. The present study is designed to determine the
attraction factors and superiorities of the Pamukkale destination image from
the perspective of foreign tourists and to assess destination alternatives.
Both because the issue of image assessment is relative and because the issue of
determining the alternatives require making a multi-variable decision, the theory
of fuzzy sets has been used as the research method. The image of Pamukkale and
its vicinity according to the attraction factors is divided into four areas:
Pamukkale travertine, ancient monuments, health/spa tourism and shopping
opportunities. Because the attraction factor image of Pamukkale travertine is
dominant, the levels of the other factors have remained low. Therefore, the
region is perceived not as a place in which to spend several days on the basis
of tourism but as a sightseeing place to spend a few hours. To mediate this
perception, the {B-E} points where there are opportunities for Pamukkale
travertine, ancient monuments and health/spa tourism should be evaluated as an
entire destination marketing scheme.
Ekonomik Büyüme ve Dış Borçlanma Arasındaki İlişki: Türkiye Açısından Ekonometrik Bir Analiz
Authors: MERCAN Nedim , ERGEN Eren
Published: February 2020

Devletler çeşitli
makroekonomik hedeflerini karşılamak için belli bir kaynağa ihtiyaç
duymaktadır. Bu kaynakların yeterli olmayışı devletleri borçlanmaya
sürüklemektedir. Devletler kendi iç kaynaklarından borçlanmanın zorlaştığı durumlarda
borçlanmayı dış kaynaklardan sağlanmaya çalışmaktadır. Dış borçlanmanın ekonomi
üzerinde çeşitli etkileri olabilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, ekonomik büyüme
ile dış borçlar arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını Türkiye örneği üzerinde
incelemektir. Çalışmada 1990-2017 dönemini kapsayan yıllık veriler
kullanılmaktadır. Çalışmada VAR modeli ve Granger Nedensellik testi
kullanılmaktadır. VAR modelinden elde edilen etki – tepki fonksiyonlarına göre,
ele alınan dönemde Türkiye’de büyüme de meydana gelen bir şoka karşılık dış
borç ikinci dönemde negatif tepki vermektedir. Yapılan Granger Nedensellik
testine göre ise büyümeden dış borca doğru bir nedensellik olduğu
görülmektedir.
BARRIERS TO THE INNOVATION OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER COUNTRIES
Authors: Łukiewska Katarzyna
Published: February 2020

In conditions of increased competition, development of biotechnology and the ever growing demands of the consumers, innovations are becoming an important factor of competitiveness in the food industry. The aim of the conducted research was to evaluate the barriers of innovativeness in the food industry based on chosen European Union countries during 2014-2016. Based on research of CIS-2016 carried out in accordance with the Oslo methodology developed by OECD, the barriers of innovativeness within the food industry enterprises which were active and non-active were analyzed. As for the evaluation of the analyzed factors within the countries of the EU, descriptive statistics and Ward’s method, which is an agglomeration form of grouping method, were used. From the conducted research, it followed, that the representations of innovative active enterprises more often reported on the barriers which were impeding the introduction of innovations. The most common which were reported included big competition, lack of internal funding and high costs. Representatives of inactive innovative enterprises were reporting low demand on the market, lack of internal funding and high costs.
THE ROLE OF DATA IN THE VALUATION OF AN ENTERPRISE - THE COST OF EQUITY
Authors: Piątek Edyta
Published: February 2020

The valuation of a company is a complex process and requires comprehensive knowledge. The decisions made at each stage have consequences for the next step. The first fundamental stage is to choose the standard of value that the valuer wants to determine. Only then is the appropriate valuation method selected. One of the further factors influencing the outcome of the valuation process is the cost of equity, which takes into account important parameters of the company's operation. It is the cost of equity that causes the most controversy and dilemmas. The research problem analyzed in the article is a way of calculating the cost of equity in  enterprise valuation. The example of a specific valuation indicates that the cost of capital cannot be a parameter (data item) covering all risks, but only those that cannot be programmed in cash flows. In the course of research works, the valuation of enterprise B organized in the form of a general partnership as of 29.08.2014 in connection with its contribution by the shareholders to the joint-stock company A as an in-kind contribution increasing the capital was performed. Due to the fact that there is a minority shareholder in joint-stock company A, there is a dilemma of choosing the right value and valuation method and the method of calculating the cost of equity. Neither the literature on the subject in this respect, nor the parties to the transaction, indicate a clear solution, especially as regards the value of the cost of equity.
COMPORTAMIENTO VEGETATIVO Y REPRODUCTIVO DEL CACAO (Theobroma cacao L.) POR EFECTO DE LA PODA
Authors: Leiva-Rojas Edna I. , Gutiérrez-Brito Eduardo E. , Pardo-Macea Camilo J. , Ramírez-Pisco Ramiro
Published: February 2020

La poda es una práctica común en los sistemas productivos de cacao; sin embargo, existe incertidumbre del momento y la forma de efectuarla para asegurar el mayor beneficio para el agricultor. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estudiar los cambios que genera la poda en el comportamiento vegetativo y reproductivo del cacao. La fase experimental se realizó en fincas de productores del municipio de Chigorodó, departamento de Antioquia, Colombia, durante 2016. Se eligieron los clones CCN 51 e ICS 95, de ocho años, los cuales recibieron los tratamientos de poda de altura (-h), poda base (b), poda base menos 25 % de área foliar (AF) (b - 25 %), base menos 50 % de AF (b - 50 %) y base menos 75 % de AF (b - 75 %) del dosel; estos fueron dispuestos en un diseño completamente al azar con cinco tratamientos de poda y cuatro repeticiones; cada árbol fue considerado como unidad experimental. Se midió el índice de área foliar (IAF), número de flores y frutos, peso fresco de cáscara, placenta, grano fermentado y seco; además, se determinó el índice de mazorca (IM) y de grano (IG). Se realizó un análisis de varianza y una prueba de medias de Tukey (P ≤ 0.05). En CCN 51 el IAF presentó diferencias significativas entre tratamientos a los 65 y 245 días después de la poda (ddp), y en ICS 95 a los 169 ddp, el IAF en el tratamiento (-h) fue de 3.8 para CCN 51 a los 245 ddp y de 3.7 para ICS 95 a los 169 ddp. El número de frutos y la producción fueron mayores en los tratamientos (-h) y (b-25 %) en CCN 51, mientras que en el clon ICS 95 sobresalieron los tratamientos (-h) y (b). La cantidad de grano seco por árbol con el tratamiento (-h) en el clon CCN 51 fue de 4.7 kg y en ICS 95 fue de 1.6 kg. El IM y el IG no presentaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos en ambos clones.
pacchia è finita”. Discurso de la Seguridad Ciudadana:
Authors: Polizzi Mariana Fátima
Published: February 2020

A partir de la crisis económica de 2008, el actual escenario internacional ha cambiado su configuración hacia un mundo multipolar de competencia y de cierta desconfianza entre las naciones, dando cuenta de un orden internacional en disputa. En el caso de Italia, siendo uno de los países más afectados de la zona euro, se dio el ascenso al gobierno de una coalición de centro derecha que, desde su matriz discursiva, hace foco en la inmigración como principal causa de “los males italianos”.El presente artículo pretende contribuir al debate sobre la articulación entre discurso y poder que se da en la actualidad, poniendo foco en un caso específico de la Unión Europea. El mismo se centrará en analizar el discurso de Matteo Salvini (Vicepremier y Ministro del Interior de la República Italiana) en el que se da una articulación entre la seguridad ciudadana y la llegada de refugiados y emigrantes no regulares a la Península Itálica.El análisis se basará en el racconto de diversos discursos y material de prensa, más el estudio de dos medidas gubernamentales adoptadas por el Ministro: a) el “Decreto de Seguridad e Inmigración” (2018), que dificulta la llegada de refugiados y facilita expulsiones; y b) la aprobación de la nueva “Ley de Legítima Defensa” (2019).Por último, nuestra conclusión pretende dar cuenta del uso político que el neo-gobierno italiano hace respecto de los sectores más cuestionados dentro de la compleja sociedad italiana, a fin de lograr consenso y gobernabilidad en el país europeo.