bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocol for the Process Evaluation of a Complex, Statewide Intervention to Reduce Salt Intake in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Trieu Kathy , Jan Stephen , Woodward Mark , Grimes Carley , Bolam Bruce , Nowson Caryl , Reimers Jenny , Davidson Chelsea , Webster Jacqui
Published: July 2018

Systematic reviews of trials consistently demonstrate that reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure. However, there is limited evidence on how interventions function in the real world to achieve sustained population-wide salt reduction. Process evaluations are crucial for understanding how and why an intervention resulted in its observed effect in that setting, particularly for complex interventions. This project presents the detailed protocol for a process evaluation of a statewide strategy to lower salt intake in Victoria, Australia. We describe the pragmatic methods used to collect and analyse data on six process evaluation dimensions: reach, dose or adoption, fidelity, effectiveness, context and cost, informed by Linnan and Steckler’s framework and RE-AIM. Data collection methods include routinely collected administrative data; surveys of processed foods, the population, food industry and organizations; targeted campaign evaluation and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data will be triangulated to provide validation or context for one another. This process evaluation will contribute new knowledge about what components of the intervention are important to salt reduction strategies and how the interventions cause reduced salt intake, to inform the transferability of the program to other Australian states and territories. This protocol can be adapted for other population-based, complex, disease prevention interventions.
Reactions with Wood Carbohydrates and Lignin of Citric Acid as a Bond Promoter of Wood Veneer Panels
Authors: Del Menezzi Claudio , Amirou Siham , Pizzi Antonio , Xi Xuedong , Delmotte Luc
Published: July 2018

The reaction of citric acid with wood veneers was studied by Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP MAS 13C NMR) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI ToF) mass spectrometry. The analysis showed that reactions of citric acid occurred with both lignin and carbohydrate constituents of wood. The reactions occurring are esterifications between the carboxylic acid functions of citric acid and the numerous aromatic and aliphatic hydroxyl groups of the main wood constituents. Reaction of citric acid with glucose as a simple model compound of carbohydrates hydroxyl groups also yielded reactions leading to linear and branched oligomers by esterification. The result indicate that the reactions of esterification are accompanied in parallel by some internal rearrangements of lignin. The applied results on bonding wide flat wood surfaces such as veneers to obtain LVL panels yielded excellent strength results even if the conditions of pressing were more drastic than what is usual for this application. The applied bonding results have shown that citric acid has great potential to be used as a bio-binder for wood veneers.
Application of Multi-Sensor Satellite Data for Exploration of Zn–Pb Sulfide Mineralization in the Franklinian Basin, North Greenland
Authors: Beiranvand Pour Amin , Park Tae-Yoon S. , Park Yongcheol , Hong Jong Kuk , Zoheir Basem , Pradhan Biswajeet , Ayoobi Iman , Hashim Mazlan
Published: July 2018

Geological mapping and mineral exploration programs in the High Arctic have been naturally hindered by its remoteness and hostile climate conditions. The Franklinian Basin in North Greenland has a unique potential for exploration of world-class zinc deposits. In this research, multi-sensor remote sensing satellite data (e.g., Landsat-8, Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)) were used for exploring zinc in the trough sequences and shelf-platform carbonate of the Franklinian Basin. A series of robust image processing algorithms was implemented for detecting spatial distribution of pixels/sub-pixels related to key alteration mineral assemblages and structural features that may represent potential undiscovered Zn–Pb deposits. Fusion of Directed Principal Component Analysis (DPCA) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) was applied to some selected Landsat-8 mineral indices for mapping gossan, clay-rich zones and dolomitization. Major lineaments, intersections, curvilinear structures and sedimentary formations were traced by the application of Feature-oriented Principal Components Selection (FPCS) to cross-polarized backscatter PALSAR ratio images. Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) algorithm was applied to ASTER VNIR/SWIR bands for sub-pixel detection and classification of hematite, goethite, jarosite, alunite, gypsum, chalcedony, kaolinite, muscovite, chlorite, epidote, calcite and dolomite in the prospective targets. Using the remote sensing data and approaches, several high potential zones characterized by distinct alteration mineral assemblages and structural fabrics were identified that could represent undiscovered Zn–Pb sulfide deposits in the study area. This research establishes a straightforward/cost-effective multi-sensor satellite-based remote sensing approach for reconnaissance stages of mineral exploration in hardly accessible parts of the High Arctic environments.
The Retrieval of 30-m Resolution LAI from Landsat Data by Combining MODIS Products
Authors: Zhou Jianmin , Zhang Shan , Yang Hua , Xiao Zhiqiang , Gao Feng
Published: July 2018

Leaf area index (LAI) is a critical vegetation structural parameter in biogeochemical and biophysical ecosystems. High-resolution LAI products play an essential role in regional studies. Empirical methods, which normally use field measurements as their training samples and have been identified as the most commonly used approaches to retrieve structural parameters of vegetation from high-resolution remote-sensing data, are limited by the quality of training samples. Few efforts have been made to generate training samples from existing global LAI products. In this study, two methods (a homogeneous and pure pixel filter method (method A) and a pixel unmixing method (method B)) were developed to extract training samples from moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance and LAI products, and a support vector regression (SVR) algorithm trained by the samples was used to retrieve the high-resolution LAI from Landsat data at Baoding, situated in the Hebei Province in China, and Des Moines, situated in Iowa, United States. For the homogeneous and pure pixel filter method, two different sets of training samples were designed. One was composed of upscaled Landsat reflectance at the 500-m resolution and MODIS LAI products (dataset A1); the other was composed of MODIS reflectance and LAI products (dataset A2). With them, two inversion models were developed using SVR. For the pixel unmixing method, the training samples (dataset B) were extracted from unmixed MODIS surface reflectance and LAI products at 30-m resolution, and the third inversion model was obtained with them. LAI inversion results showed that good agreement with field measurements was achieved using these three inversion models. The R2 (coefficient of determination) value and the root mean square error (RMSE) value were computed to assess the results. For all tests, the R2 values are higher than 0.74 and RMSE values are less than 0.73. These tests showed that three models for the two methods combined with MODIS products can retrieve 30-m resolution LAI from Landsat data. The results of the pixel unmixing method was slightly better than that of the homogeneous and pure pixel filter method.
Land Subsidence in Coastal Environments: Knowledge Advance in the Venice Coastland by TerraSAR-X PSI
Authors: Tosi Luigi , Lio Cristina Da , Teatini Pietro , Strozzi Tazio
Published: July 2018

The use of satellite SAR interferometric methods has significantly improved the monitoring of ground movements over the last decades, thus opening new possibilities for a more accurate interpretation of land subsidence and its driving mechanisms. TerraSAR-X has been extensively used to study land subsidence in the Venice Lagoon, Italy, with the aim of quantifying the natural and anthropogenic causes. In this paper, we review and update the main results achieved by three research projects supported by DLR AOs (German Aerospace Center Announcement of Opportunity) and conducted to test the capability of TerraSAR-X PSI (Persistent Scatterer Interferometry) to detect ground movements in the complex physiographic setting of the Venice transitional coastal environment. The investigations have been focused on the historical center of Venice, the lagoon inlets where the MoSE is under construction, salt marshes, and newly built-up areas in the littoral. PSI on stacks of stripmap TerraSAR-X images covering short- to long-time periods (i.e., the years 2008–2009, 2008–2011 and 2008–2013) has proven particularly effective to measure land subsidence in the Venice coastland. The very high spatial resolution (3 m) and the short repeat time interval (11 days) of the TerraSAR-X acquisitions make it possible to investigate ground movements with a detail unavailable in the past. The interferometric products, properly calibrated, allowed for a millimetric vertical accuracy of the land movements at both the regional and local scales, even for short-term analyses, i.e., spanning one year only. The new picture of the land movement resulted from processing TerraSAR-X images has significantly contributed to update the knowledge on the subsidence process at the Venice coast.
Alignment Method for Linear-Scale Projection Lithography Based on CCD Image Analysis
Authors: Ren Dongxu , Zhao Zexiang , Xi Jianpu , Li Bin , Li Zhengfeng , Zhao Huiying , Cui Lujun , Xu Hang
Published: July 2018

This paper presents a method to improve the alignment accuracy of a mask in linear scale projection lithography, in which the adjacent pixel gray square variance method is applied to a charge-coupled device (CCD) image to obtain the best position of the focal length of the motherboard and then realize the alignment of the focal plane. Two image positions in the focal plane of the CCD are compared with the traits overlap according to the image splicing principle, and four typical errors are corrected on the basis of the total grating errors. Simultaneously, the rotation error of the mask is used to summarize the grayscale variation function of the CCD image. Threshold functions are employed to express the factors including the wave crests of the amplitude, period error, and phase error, which govern the rotation accuracy and weight alignment accuracy expression of the established four error factors. Finally, in the experiment, the slope of the mask is corrected and adjusted to the same direction as the slide plate with the assistance of a dual-frequency laser interferometer. The effect of the alignment error on the lithography accuracy is discussed and verified in the static case, and it is found that the CCD maximum resolution pixel is 0.1 μm and accuracy of the scale is 0.79 μm in only a 200-mm-measurement range.
Accurate Collaborative Globally-Referenced Digital Mapping with Standard GNSS
Authors: Narula Lakshay , Wooten J. , Murrian Matthew , LaChapelle Daniel , Humphreys Todd
Published: July 2018

Exchange of location and sensor data among connected and automated vehicles will demand accurate global referencing of the digital maps currently being developed to aid positioning for automated driving. This paper explores the limit of such maps’ globally-referenced position accuracy when the mapping agents are equipped with low-cost Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers performing standard code-phase-based navigation, and presents a globally-referenced electro-optical simultaneous localization and mapping pipeline, called GEOSLAM, designed to achieve this limit. The key accuracy-limiting factor is shown to be the asymptotic average of the error sources that impair standard GNSS positioning. Asymptotic statistics of each GNSS error source are analyzed through both simulation and empirical data to show that sub-50-cm accurate digital mapping is feasible in the horizontal plane after multiple mapping sessions with standard GNSS, but larger biases persist in the vertical direction. GEOSLAM achieves this accuracy by (i) incorporating standard GNSS position estimates in the visual SLAM framework, (ii) merging digital maps from multiple mapping sessions, and (iii) jointly optimizing structure and motion with respect to time-separated GNSS measurements.
Bioenergetic Health Assessment of a Single Caenorhabditis elegans from Postembryonic Development to Aging Stages via Monitoring Changes in the Oxygen Consumption Rate within a Microfluidic Device
Authors: Huang Shih-Hao , Lin Yu-Wei
Published: July 2018

Monitoring dynamic changes in oxygen consumption rates (OCR) of a living organism in real time provide an indirect method of monitoring changes in mitochondrial function during development, aging, or malfunctioning processes. In this study, we developed a microfluidic device integrated with an optical detection system to measure the OCR of a single developing Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) from postembryonic development to aging stages in real time via phase-based phosphorescence lifetime measurement. The device consists of two components: an acrylic microwell deposited with an oxygen-sensitive luminescent layer for oxygen (O2) measurement and a microfluidic module with a pneumatically driven acrylic lid to controllably seal the microwell. We successfully measured the basal respiration (basal OCR, in pmol O2/min/worm) of a single C. elegans inside a microwell from the stages of postembryonic development (larval stages) through adulthood to aged adult. Sequentially adding metabolic inhibitors to block bioenergetic pathways allowed us to measure the metabolic profiles of a single C. elegans at key growth and aging stages, determining the following fundamental parameters: basal OCR, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-linked OCR, maximal OCR, reserve respiratory capacity, OCR due to proton leak, and non-mitochondrial OCR. The bioenergetic health index (BHI) was calculated from these fundamental parameters to assess the bioenergetic health of a single developing C. elegans from the postembryonic development to aging stages. The changes in BHI are correlated to C. elegans development stage, with the highest BHI = 27.5 for 4-day-old adults, which possess well-developed bioenergetic functionality. Our proposed platform demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of assessing the BHI of a single C. elegans from postembryonic development to aging stages inside a microfluidic device and provides the potential for a wide variety of biomedical applications that relate mitochondrial malfunction and diseases.
An Egg Volume Measurement System Based on the Microsoft Kinect
Authors: Chan Ting On , Lichti Derek D. , Jahraus Adam , Esfandiari Hooman , Lahamy Herve , Steward Jeremy , Glanzer Matthew
Published: July 2018

Measuring the volume of bird eggs is a very important task for the poultry industry and ornithological research due to the high revenue generated by the industry. In this paper, we describe a prototype of a new metrological system comprising a 3D range camera, Microsoft Kinect (Version 2) and a point cloud post-processing algorithm for the estimation of the egg volume. The system calculates the egg volume directly from the egg shape parameters estimated from the least-squares method in which the point clouds of eggs captured by the Kinect are fitted to novel geometric models of an egg in a 3D space. Using the models, the shape parameters of an egg are estimated along with the egg’s position and orientation simultaneously under the least-squares criterion. Four sets of experiments were performed to verify the functionality and the performance of the system, while volumes estimated from the conventional water displacement method and the point cloud captured by a survey-grade laser scanner serve as references. The results suggest that the method is straightforward, feasible and reliable with an average egg volume estimation accuracy 93.3% when compared to the reference volumes. As a prototype, the software part of the system was implemented in a post-processing mode. However, as the proposed processing techniques is computationally efficient, the prototype can be readily transformed into a real-time egg volume system.
Research on Transmission Line Voltage Measurement Method of D-Dot Sensor Based on Gaussian Integral
Authors: Wang Jingang , Zhao Yanhang , Li Wenjiang , Zeng Xianglong , Tang Juan , Wang Yao , Deng Xudong
Published: July 2018

D-dot sensors meet the development trend towards the downsizing, automation and digitalization of voltage sensors and is one of research hotspots for new voltage sensors at present. The traditional voltage measurement system of D-dot sensors makes possible the reverse solving of wire potentials according to the computational principles of the electric field inverse problem by measuring electric field values beneath the transmission line. Nevertheless, as it is limited by the solving method of the electric field inverse problem, the D-dot sensor voltage measurement system is struggling with solving difficulties and poor accuracy. To solve these problems, this paper suggests introducing a Gaussian integral into the D-dot sensor voltage measurement system to accurately measure the voltage of transmission lines. Based on studies of D-dot sensors, a transmission line voltage measurement method based on Gaussian integrals is proposed and used for the simulation of the electric field of a 220 kV and a 20 kV transmission line. The feasibility of the introduction of the Gaussian integral to solve transmission line voltage was verified by the simulation results. Finally, the performance of the Gaussian integral was verified by an experiment using the transmission line voltage measurement platform. The experimental results demonstrated that the D-dot sensor measurement system based on a Gaussian integral achieves high accuracy and the relative error is lower than 0.5%.
Advanced Smartphone-Based Sensing with Open-Source Task Automation
Authors: Ueberham Maximilian , Schmidt Florian , Schlink Uwe
Published: July 2018

Smartphone-based sensing is becoming a convenient way to collect data in science, especially in environmental research. Recent studies that use smartphone sensing methods focus predominantly on single sensors that provide quantitative measurements. However, interdisciplinary projects call for study designs that connect both, quantitative and qualitative data gathered by smartphone sensors. Therefore, we present a novel open-source task automation solution and its evaluation in a personal exposure study with cyclists. We designed an automation script that advances the sensing process with regard to data collection, management and storage of acoustic noise, geolocation, light level, timestamp, and qualitative user perception. The benefits of this approach are highlighted based on data visualization and user handling evaluation. Even though the automation script is limited by the technical features of the smartphone and the quality of the sensor data, we conclude that task automation is a reliable and smart solution to integrate passive and active smartphone sensing methods that involve data processing and transfer. Such an application is a smart tool gathering data in population studies.
DOA Estimation for Underwater Target by Active Detection on Virtual Time Reversal Using a Uniform Linear Array
Authors: Jing Haixia , Wang Haiyan , Liu Zhengguo , Shen Xiaohong
Published: July 2018

Aiming at addressing the problem caused by multipath effects in direction of arrival (DOA) estimation for underwater targets, a method based on the active detection on virtual time reversal (ADVTR) Capon algorithm is proposed. Unlike the conventional passive target estimation method ignoring the multipath effects but only considering the direct wave, the proposed method is closer to the actual situation in that the multipath signal propagation model is fully taken into account; in addition, active detection (AD) and virtual time reversal (VTR) processes are added, which use active detection to estimate channels, and virtual time reversal to realize focusing in a computer after the source-receive array (SRA) receives the reflected signal of the target. The combination of the two methods can greatly improve the energy of SRA and the precision of target direction estimation. With the popular acoustic field simulation tool Bellhop, the model proposed in this paper is verified. Compared with the conventional Capon method without time reversal, the simulation results show that the ADVTR Capon estimation method is far better, in terms of resolution and suppressing the sidelobes. It is suitable for the target DOA estimation under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. Further, we also show the ADVTR Capon estimation method works well in a real tank experiment.
0.6 V, 116 nW Neural Spike Acquisition IC with Self-Biased Instrumentation Amplifier and Analog Spike Extraction
Authors: Kim Jong Pal , Lee Hankyu , Ko Hyoungho
Published: July 2018

This paper presents an ultralow power 0.6 V 116 nW neural spike acquisition integrated circuit with analog spike extraction. To reduce power consumption, an ultralow power self-biased current-balanced instrumentation amplifier (IA) is proposed. The passive RC lowpass filter in the amplifier acts as both DC servo loop and self-bias circuit. The spike detector, based on an analog nonlinear energy operator consisting of a low-voltage open-loop differentiator and an open-loop gate-bulk input multiplier, is designed to emphasize the high frequency spike components nonlinearly. To reduce the spike detection error, the adjacent spike merger is also proposed. The proposed circuit achieves a low IA current consumption of 46.4 nA at 0.6 V, noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 1.81, the bandwidth from 102 Hz to 1.94 kHz, the input referred noise of 9.37 μVrms, and overall power consumption of 116 nW at 0.6 V. The proposed circuit can be used in the ultralow power spike pulses acquisition applications, including the neurofeedback systems on peripheral nerves with low neuron density.
The Effect of Economic Vulnerability on the Participation in Development Programs and the Socio-Economic Well-Being of Low-Income Households
Authors: Mustapa Wan Nurulasiah binti Wan , Al Mamun Abdullah , Ibrahim Mohamed Dahlan
Published: July 2018

This study intends to examine the effect of economic vulnerability on participation in development initiatives, household income, micro-enterprise income and net worth of micro-enterprise asset among low-income households in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. Adopting a cross-sectional design, this study collected data from randomly selected 450 micro-entrepreneurs who were being served by three major development organizations in Kelantan, Malaysia. The findings revealed that the level of economic vulnerability among the respondents had a significantly negative effect on the participation of development initiatives, household income, micro-enterprise income and the net worth of microenterprise asset among the low-income Kelantanese households. This study provided insights for a comprehensive policy formulation for rural development as it identified program participation issues and gaps faced by the targeted cohort, which if effectively addressed can lead to an increase in participation in development programs, together with household and micro-enterprise income and assets, among the low-income economically vulnerable households in Kelantan, Malaysia.
The Effect of a 6-Month Coach Educational Program on Strengthening Coach-Athlete Interpersonal Relationships in Individual Youth Sport
Authors: Lisinskiene Ausra
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this intervention study was to develop an educational program for coaches to strengthen the coach–athlete interpersonal relationship in individual youth sport. To obtain data in the qualitative interpretative phenomenology phase, 10 youth sports coaches took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The educational program was developed by integrating psychological, educational and social skills into the educational coaching sessions. The program involved a detailed video analysis, theoretical classes, and individual consultations. The qualitative interpretative phenomenology research design was used and enabled to evaluate the program. The study results revealed that the program had a positive impact on the transformation of the coach–athlete interpersonal relationship in sport. Behavioural, emotional, cognitive, and social strategies changes occured. The quality of the coach–athlete relationship changed: trust, communication, cooperation, encouragement, and a connection between athletes and the coaches appeared. The study’s results showed that the educational program for coaches had a positive effect on the quality of interpersonal relationships between athletes and the coaches and increased positive coaching strategies in youth sport.
Comparative Analysis of Urban Heat Island Intensities in Chinese, Russian, and DPRK Regions across the Transnational Urban Agglomeration of the Tumen River in Northeast Asia
Authors: Li Bing , Liu Zhifeng , Nan Ying , Li Shengnan , Yang Yanmin
Published: July 2018

Quantification of the spatial pattern of urban heat island intensities across the transnational urban agglomeration of the Tumen River is important for the promotion of sustainable regional development. This study employed Landsat images and MODIS LST data obtained in 2016 to determine the intensity of urban heat islands in this region, enabling direct comparison of data from the sub-regions of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Russia. The average urban heat island intensity for the region was found to be 1.0 °C, with the highest intensity of 3.0 °C occurring during the summer time. The intensity of urban heat islands on the Chinese side was higher than on the other two sides, with city size, socio-economic development levels and vegetation coverage significantly affect their intensity. Urban heat island effects in Chinese cities in the region contribute increases in maximum summer temperatures and the number of high-temperature days that pose a threat to the health of their residents. The factors that influence urban heat island intensities in these cities and the impacts of urban heat island effects on the quality of life and health of residents are discussed. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the impact of urban heat island effects on cities in the region by increasing the area of green spaces they contain, as well as controlling their size and population.
Biomass-Based Innovations in Demand Driven Research and Development Projects in Africa
Authors: Raymond Jatta , Afranaa Kwapong Nana , Festus Nero Bertrand , Oluwole Fatunbi
Published: July 2018

The case for demand-driven research and development has received important considerations among governments, donors and programme implementing partners in development planning and implementation. Addressing demand is believed to be a bottom-top approach for designing and responding to development priorities and is good for achieving development outcomes. In this paper, we discuss the concept and application of demand-driven research and development (DDRD) in Africa. We use evidence of six projects implemented under the BiomassWeb Project in Africa. We focus on parameters on level of engagement of stakeholders—whose demand is being articulated, the processes for demand articulation, capacity building and implementation processes, innovativeness of the project, reporting and sustainability of the project. We find that the nature of the institutions involved in articulation and implementation of demand-driven research and development projects and their partnerships influence the impact and reporting of demand-driven projects.
Urban Green Space Suitability Evaluation Based on the AHP-CV Combined Weight Method: A Case Study of Fuping County, China
Authors: Li Zhiming , Fan Zhengxi , Shen Shiguang
Published: July 2018

Urban green space (UGS) provides critical ecosystem services and alleviates environmental problems caused by rapid urbanization. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is recognized as a traditional technique to identify the weight of the UGS suitability evaluation. We reveal the limitations of the AHP method for its subjectivity and uncertainty. Then, we introduce the AHP and coefficient of variation (AHP-CV) combined weight method to better evaluate the suitability of UGS. Based on the principle of minimum information entropy, the AHP-CV combined weight method takes advantage of both the AHP and CV methods, thus keeping a good balance between subjectivity and objectivity. We used the green space system planning of Fuping County in China as a case study. A new evaluation index system was established using 4 aspects. Our results show that high-suitability areas are mainly distributed around the northern mountainous regions, 2 important rivers and the outer areas of the central city. By comparing the UGS suitability evaluation results obtained by the AHP, CV, and AHP-CV combined weight methods, we found that the AHP-CV method was optimal. Therefore, the AHP-CV combined weight method will not only enrich spatial Multi-Criteria Decision-Making techniques but also have a wide application in the related fields of land-use planning.
Toward Inclusive Higher Education in a Global Context
Authors: Ortiz Colón Ana María , Agreda Montoro Miriam , Colmenero Ruiz María Jesús
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to analyse the perception of teaching staff at the University of Jaen regarding the integration of students with a disability, and to describe the interventions they use to respond to the specific needs of these students, to examine the differences that exist in teachers’ interventions for students with a disability based on their faculty. To this end, a descriptive methodology was used (n =300 teachers), and the data were gathered using a Tutoring and Attention to Special Needs in the Classroom Questionnaire (TASN-Q). The results were organised in terms of the tool’s different dimensions and, in general, revealed that the teaching staff do not consider themselves sufficiently prepared to provide an educational response to students with a disability. The best-prepared teaching staff belonged to the Faculties of Social and Legal Sciences and Health Sciences. This study confirms the need for training in special needs processes to enable university teaching staff to participate in an inclusive model.
Smart, Digitally Enhanced Learning Ecosystems: Bottlenecks to Sustainability in Georgia
Authors: Jeladze Eka , Pata Kai
Published: July 2018

This paper stems from the need to identify the sustainability bottlenecks in schools’ digital transformation. We developed the conceptual model of the smart, digitally enhanced learning ecosystem to map transformation processes. We posit that the notion of sustainability is central to conceptualize learning ecosystems’ smartness. The paper presents the mapping results of Georgian public schools’ data using the interviews from 62 schoolteachers, ICT managers, and school principles. The qualitative content analysis revealed that even the schools with comparative digital maturity level could not be considered as smart learning ecosystems that are transforming sustainably. The findings call for the design of technology integration in the school as a dynamic transformation that balances two sustainability intentions—to stabilize the current learning ecosystem with its present needs, while not compromising its pursuit to test out possible future states and development towards them. We suggest schools build on the inclusion of different stakeholders in digital transformation; nourishing their resilience to ruptured situations; widening the development, testing, and uptake of digitally enhanced learning activities; weaving internal networks for sharing new practices; conducting outreach to change the socio-technical landscape; and developing feedback loops from learning, data, and information flows to manage the changes.
Enzymes and Mechanisms Employed by Tailed Bacteriophages to Breach the Bacterial Cell Barriers
Authors: Fernandes Sofia , São-José Carlos
Published: July 2018

Monoderm bacteria possess a cell envelope made of a cytoplasmic membrane and a cell wall, whereas diderm bacteria have and extra lipid layer, the outer membrane, covering the cell wall. Both cell types can also produce extracellular protective coats composed of polymeric substances like, for example, polysaccharidic capsules. Many of these structures form a tight physical barrier impenetrable by phage virus particles. Tailed phages evolved strategies/functions to overcome the different layers of the bacterial cell envelope, first to deliver the genetic material to the host cell cytoplasm for virus multiplication, and then to release the virion offspring at the end of the reproductive cycle. There is however a major difference between these two crucial steps of the phage infection cycle: virus entry cannot compromise cell viability, whereas effective virion progeny release requires host cell lysis. Here we present an overview of the viral structures, key protein players and mechanisms underlying phage DNA entry to bacteria, and then escape of the newly-formed virus particles from infected hosts. Understanding the biological context and mode of action of the phage-derived enzymes that compromise the bacterial cell envelope may provide valuable information for their application as antimicrobials.
Contribution of Host Defence Proteins and Peptides to Host-Microbiota Interactions in Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases
Authors: Van der Does Anne M. , Amatngalim Gimano D. , Keijser Bart , Hiemstra Pieter S. , Villenave Remi
Published: July 2018

The respiratory tract harbours a variety of microorganisms, collectively called the respiratory microbiota. Over the past few years, alterations in respiratory and gut microbiota composition have been associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs. How these changes influence disease development and progression is an active field of investigation. Identifying and understanding host-microbiota interactions and factors contributing to these interactions could promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring host-microbiota homeostasis. In this review, we discuss recent literature on host-microbiota interactions in the respiratory tract, with a specific focus on the influence of endogenous host defence peptides and proteins (HDPs) on the composition of microbiota populations in vivo and explore possible HDPs-related therapeutic approaches targeting microbiota dysbiosis in chronic inflammatory lung diseases.
Spectroscopic Determination of Water Salinity in Brackish Surface Water in Nandoni Dam, at Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Nthunya Lebea N. , Maifadi Sebabatso , Mamba Bhekie B. , Verliefde Arne R. , Mhlanga Sabelo D.
Published: July 2018

The problem of limited water supply in the Vhembe District (Limpopo Province, South Africa) is exacerbated by a preponderance of dissolved salts, which cause disagreeable taste and odour in the water as reported by the communities using this water for drinking. The water treatment plant that supplies the treated water to the communities in the District sources this raw water from the Nandoni Dam at the Luvuvhu river catchment. There are no scientific studies that have been reported in the literature that focused on determining the levels of water salinity from various water sources in the municipalities of the District. Water samples from various sites across the Nandoni Dam, a primary source of domestic water supply in the region, were collected through each season over a period of twelve months in order to ascertain the concentrations of dissolved salts in the dam. Onsite analyses of the water samples were conducted using the YSI ProDSS multimeter, while the laboratory water analyses were conducted using the spectroquant and atomic absorption spectrometers. Although salinity tests seem to indicate that the water sampled across most of the Nandoni Dam is brackish during all seasons of the year with the highest being 750 mg/L, water samples from the dam mid-outlet and the treatment plant are slightly below the World Health Organization (WHO) brackish water bracket of 500 mg/L with unfavourable taste for drinking. Results from this study indicate that the water sourced from the Nandoni Dam is not suitable for human consumption and therefore requires integrated water resource management, as well as robust and cost-effective water desalination treatment.
Cumulative Effects of Low Impact Development on Watershed Hydrology in a Mixed Land-Cover System
Authors: Hoghooghi Nahal , Golden Heather E. , Bledsoe Brian P. , Barnhart Bradley L. , Brookes Allen F. , Djang Kevin S. , Halama Jonathan J. , McKane Robert B. , Nietch Christopher T. , Pettus Paul P.
Published: July 2018

Low Impact Development (LID) is an alternative to conventional urban stormwater management practices, which aims at mitigating the impacts of urbanization on water quantity and quality. Plot and local scale studies provide evidence of LID effectiveness; however, little is known about the overall watershed scale influence of LID practices. This is particularly true in watersheds with a land cover that is more diverse than that of urban or suburban classifications alone. We address this watershed-scale gap by assessing the effects of three common LID practices (rain gardens, permeable pavement, and riparian buffers) on the hydrology of a 0.94 km2 mixed land cover watershed. We used a spatially-explicit ecohydrological model, called Visualizing Ecosystems for Land Management Assessments (VELMA), to compare changes in watershed hydrologic responses before and after the implementation of LID practices. For the LID scenarios, we examined different spatial configurations, using 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% implementation extents, to convert sidewalks into rain gardens, and parking lots and driveways into permeable pavement. We further applied 20 m and 40 m riparian buffers along streams that were adjacent to agricultural land cover. The results showed overall increases in shallow subsurface runoff and infiltration, as well as evapotranspiration, and decreases in peak flows and surface runoff across all types and configurations of LID. Among individual LID practices, rain gardens had the greatest influence on each component of the overall watershed water balance. As anticipated, the combination of LID practices at the highest implementation level resulted in the most substantial changes to the overall watershed hydrology. It is notable that all hydrological changes from the LID implementation, ranging from 0.01 to 0.06 km2 across the study watershed, were modest, which suggests a potentially limited efficacy of LID practices in mixed land cover watersheds.
Predicting Lake Eutrophication Responses to Multiple Scenarios of Lake Restoration: A Three-Dimensional Modeling Approach
Authors: Wang Yanping , Hu Weiping , Peng Zhaoliang , Zeng Ye , Rinke Karsten
Published: July 2018

To improve the water quality and alleviate the eutrophication of Lake Yangchenghu, the third largest freshwater body within the Lake Taihu basin in China and an important source of drinking water, nutrient reduction strategies should be urgently addressed by decision makers, since virtually no improvement of water quality has taken place since the mid-1990s. Due to the lack of sufficient observation data and simulation results, a vertically compressed three-dimensional numerical model, the EcoTaihu model, was used to study the impact of three restoration measures on the water quality—namely, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and biomass of phytoplankton (BP)—of Lake Yangchenghu: (i) total nutrient reduction, (ii) intensification of flushing by water transfer, and (iii) spatial adjustment of inflow channels. In particular, the spatial effects of the three restoration measures on the water quality were investigated. The results showed that the EcoTaihu model is applicable to other shallow lakes in China. The water quality responses to the different restoration scenarios showed significant spatio-temporal differences. The reduction of nutrient loads from inflows appeared to be the most effective measure for controlling the eutrophication and algal blooms in Lake Yangchenghu. The effectiveness of water transfer on the improvement of water quality for TN and TP was more influenced by the differences of nutrient concentrations between the transferred water and lake water, rather than flow rate, since no proportionate increase of improvement was observable in the case of larger transferred rates (60 m3 s−1). The spatial narrowing of inflowing rivers in the southwestern lake could preferentially improve the water quality in the southern bay of the western lake, but would also result in a deterioration trend of water quality in the total lake and drinking water abstraction areas.
Wavelet-ANN versus ANN-Based Model for Hydrometeorological Drought Forecasting
Authors: Khan Md , Muhammad Nur , El-Shafie Ahmed
Published: July 2018

Malaysia is one of the countries that has been experiencing droughts caused by a warming climate. This study considered the Standard Index of Annual Precipitation (SIAP) and Standardized Water Storage Index (SWSI) to represent meteorological and hydrological drought, respectively. The study area is the Langat River Basin, located in the central part of peninsular Malaysia. The analysis was done using rainfall and water level data over 30 years, from 1986 to 2016. Both of the indices were calculated in monthly scale, and two neural network-based models and two wavelet-based artificial neural network (W-ANN) models were developed for monthly droughts. The performance of the SIAP and SWSI models, in terms of the correlation coefficient (R), was 0.899 and 0.968, respectively. The application of a wavelet for preprocessing the raw data in the developed W-ANN models achieved higher correlation coefficients for most of the scenarios. This proves that the created model can predict meteorological and hydrological droughts very close to the observed values. Overall, this study helps us to understand the history of drought conditions over the past 30 years in the Langat River Basin. It further helps us to forecast drought and to assist in water resource management.
Spinning Dust Emission from Circumstellar Disks and Its Role In Excess Microwave Emission
Authors: Hoang Thiem , Lan Nguyen-Quynh , Vinh Nguyen-Anh , Kim Yun-Jeong
Published: July 2018

Electric dipole emission from rapidly spinning polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is widely believed to be an origin of anomalous microwave emission (AME), but recently it has encountered a setback owing to the noncorrelation of AME with PAH abundance seen in a full-sky analysis. Microwave observations for specific regions with well-constrained PAH features would be crucial to test the spinning dust hypothesis. In this paper, we present physical modeling of microwave emission from spinning PAHs from protoplanetary disks (PPDs) around Herbig Ae/Be stars and T Tauri stars where PAH features are well observed. Guided by the presence of 10 μm silicate features in some PPDs, we also model microwave emission from spinning nanosilicates. Thermal emission from big dust grains is computed using the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code (radmc-3d). Our numerical results demonstrate that microwave emission from either spinning PAHs or spinning nanosilicates dominates over thermal dust at frequencies ν < 60 GHz, even in the presence of significant grain growth. Finally, we attempt to fit millimeter–centimeter observational data with both thermal dust and spinning dust for several disks around Herbig Ae/Be stars that exhibit PAH features and find that spinning dust can successfully reproduce the observed excess microwave emission (EME). Future radio observations with ngVLA, SKA, and ALMA Band 1 would be valuable for elucidating the origin of EME and potentially open a new window for probing nanoparticles in circumstellar disks.
Probing Magnetic Fields of GRB X-Ray Flares with Polarization Observations
Authors: Geng Jin-Jun , Huang Yong-Feng , Wu Xue-Feng , Song Li-Ming , Zong Hong-Shi
Published: July 2018

X-ray flares, lasting for ∼100–1000 s in the X-ray band, are often observed following gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The physical origin of X-ray flares is still unknown merely with the temporal/spectral information. On the other hand, some polarimeters are expected to be launched within several years, thanks to the increasing interest on astronomical X-ray polarimetry. Here, by assuming that X-ray flares are synchrotron radiation from relativistic spherical shells, we show that the linear polarization degree during the rising phase of an X-ray flare is much higher for the emitting region with toroidal magnetic fields than for that with random magnetic fields. In the decay phase of the flare, the evolution of the polarization degree is determined by the curvature effect of the emitting shell, which is a natural feature of jet scenarios for flares. Therefore, the measurement of the polarization of X-ray flares would provide a useful tool to probe the configuration of magnetic fields in the emission region, and may even help to test the curvature effect. The information on the magnetic configuration can further help us to understand the properties of GRB jets.
Low-frequency Radio Transients on the Active M-dwarf EQ Peg and the Search for Coronal Mass Ejections
Authors: Crosley M. K. , Osten R. A.
Published: July 2018

Stellar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) remain observationally elusive, but could have important implications for exoplanet habitability. Low-frequency radio bursts, known as Type IIs in the solar context, offer the best means to identify stellar CMEs, determine their occurrence rates, and characterize their properties. We report on 44 hr of observation of the nearby, magnetically active, and well-characterized M-dwarf star binary EQ Peg. The observations are taken with the Jansky Very Large Array’s P-band (230–470 MHz) receiver in both its B and C configurations. Two radio transient events were detected, one in each configuration. Both bursts lasted on the order of 20 minutes between 275 and 350 MHz, had a median polarization of ∼30%, and have a frequency drift rate of ∼10 kHz. These two events are likely not type II bursts as their properties do not match expected parameters based on coronal models for each star. This work and the work of Crosley & Osten represent a combined 64 hr for the longest timescale search of a single star for radio transients at low frequencies to date, and casts serious doubt on the assumption that a high flaring rate corresponds to a high rate of CMEs.