bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Climate on Spatiotemporal Variations in Vegetation NDVI from 1982–2015 in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Liu Xinxia , Tian Zhixiu , Zhang Anbing , Zhao Anzhou , Liu Haixin
Published: February 2019

By using the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) third-generation normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI3g) data, this paper explores the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation and their relationship with temperature and precipitation between 1982 and 2015 in the Inner Mongolia region of China. Based on yearly scale data, the vegetation changes in Inner Mongolia have experienced three stages from 1982 to 2015: the vegetation activity kept a continuous improvement from 1982–1999, then downward between 1999–2009, and upward from 2009 to 2015. On the whole, the general trend is increasing. Several areas even witnessed significant vegetation increases: in the east and south of Tongliao and Chifeng, north of Xing’anmeng, north and west of Hulunbir, and in the west of Inner Mongolia. Based on monthly scale data, one-year and half-year cycles exist in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and temperature but only a one-year cycle in precipitation. Finally, based on the one-year cycle, the relationship between NDVI and climatic were studied; NDVI has a significant positive correlation with temperature and precipitation, and temperature has a greater effect in promoting vegetation growth than precipitation. Moreover, based on a half-year changing period, NDVI is only affected by temperature in the study region. Those findings can serve as a critical reference for grassland managers or policy makers to make informed decisions on grassland management.
Face Recognition with Symmetrical Face Training Samples Based on Local Binary Patterns and the Gabor Filter
Authors: Allagwail Saad , Gedik Osman Serdar , Rahebi Javad
Published: February 2019

In the practical reality of face recognition applications, the human face can have only a limited number of training images. However, it is known that, in general, increasing the number of training images also increases the performance of face recognition systems. In this case, a new set of training samples can be generated from the original samples, using the symmetry property of the face. Although many face recognition methods have been proposed in the literature, a robust face recognition system is still a challenging task. In this paper, recognition performance was improved by using the property of face symmetry. Moreover, the effects of illumination and pose variations were reduced. A Two-Dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform, based on the Local Binary Pattern, which is a new approach for face recognition using symmetry, has been presented. The method has three main stages, preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. A Two-Dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform with Single-Level and Gaussian Low-Pass Filter were used, separately, for preprocessing. The Local Binary Pattern, Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix, and the Gabor filter were used for feature extraction, and the Euclidean Distance was used for classification. The proposed method was implemented and evaluated using the Olivetti Research Laboratory (ORL) and Yale datasets. This study also examined the importance of the preprocessing stage in a face recognition system. The experimental results showed that the proposed method had a recognition accuracy of 100%, for both the ORL and Yale datasets, and these recognition rates were higher than the methods in the literature.
Minimal Energy Configurations of Finite Molecular Arrays
Authors: Negrón-Marrero Pablo V. , López-Serrano Melissa
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we consider the problem of characterizing the minimum energy configurations of a finite system of particles interacting between them due to attractive or repulsive forces given by a certain intermolecular potential. We limit ourselves to the cases of three particles arranged in a triangular array and that of four particles in a tetrahedral array. The minimization is constrained to a fixed area in the case of the triangular array, and to a fixed volume in the tetrahedral case. For a general class of intermolecular potentials we give conditions for the homogeneous configuration (either an equilateral triangle or a regular tetrahedron) of the array to be stable that is, a minimizer of the potential energy of the system. To determine whether or not there exist other stable states, the system of first-order necessary conditions for a minimum is treated as a bifurcation problem with the area or volume variable as the bifurcation parameter. Because of the symmetries present in our problem, we can apply the techniques of equivariant bifurcation theory to show that there exist branches of non-homogeneous solutions bifurcating from the trivial branch of homogeneous solutions at precisely the values of the parameter of area or volume for which the homogeneous configuration changes stability. For the triangular array, we construct numerically the bifurcation diagrams for both a Lennard–Jones and Buckingham potentials. The numerics show that there exist non-homogeneous stable states, multiple stable states for intervals of values of the area parameter, and secondary bifurcations as well.
Clustering Mixed Data Based on Density Peaks and Stacked Denoising Autoencoders
Authors: Duan Baobin , Han Lixin , Gou Zhinan , Yang Yi , Chen Shuangshuang
Published: February 2019

With the universal existence of mixed data with numerical and categorical attributes in real world, a variety of clustering algorithms have been developed to discover the potential information hidden in mixed data. Most existing clustering algorithms often compute the distances or similarities between data objects based on original data, which may cause the instability of clustering results because of noise. In this paper, a clustering framework is proposed to explore the grouping structure of the mixed data. First, the transformed categorical attributes by one-hot encoding technique and normalized numerical attributes are input to a stacked denoising autoencoders to learn the internal feature representations. Secondly, based on these feature representations, all the distances between data objects in feature space can be calculated and the local density and relative distance of each data object can be also computed. Thirdly, the density peaks clustering algorithm is improved and employed to allocate all the data objects into different clusters. Finally, experiments conducted on some UCI datasets have demonstrated that our proposed algorithm for clustering mixed data outperforms three baseline algorithms in terms of the clustering accuracy and the rand index.
A New Design for Alignment-Free Chaffed Cancelable Iris Key Binding Scheme
Authors: Chai Tong-Yuen , Goi Bok-Min , Tay Yong-Haur , Jin Zhe
Published: February 2019

Iris has been found to be unique and consistent over time despite its random nature. Unprotected biometric (iris) template raises concerns in security and privacy, as numerous large-scale iris recognition projects have been deployed worldwide—for instance, susceptibility to attacks, cumbersome renewability, and cross-matching. Template protection schemes from biometric cryptosystems and cancelable biometrics are expected to restore the confidence in biometrics regarding data privacy, given the great advancement in recent years. However, a majority of the biometric template protection schemes have uncertainties in guaranteeing criteria such as unlinkability, irreversibility, and revocability, while maintaining significant performance. Fuzzy commitment, a theoretically secure biometric key binding scheme, is vulnerable due to the inherent dependency of the biometric features and its reliance on error correction code (ECC). In this paper, an alignment-free and cancelable iris key binding scheme without ECC is proposed. The proposed system protects the binary biometric data, i.e., IrisCodes, from security and privacy attacks through a strong and size varying non-invertible cancelable transform. The proposed scheme provides flexibility in system storage and authentication speed via controllable hashed code length. We also proposed a fast key regeneration without either re-enrollment or constant storage of seeds. The experimental results and security analysis show the validity of the proposed scheme.
A New Meta-Heuristic Algorithm for Solving the Flexible Dynamic Job-Shop Problem with Parallel Machines
Authors: Sangaiah Arun Kumar , Suraki Mohsen Yaghoubi , Sadeghilalimi Mehdi , Bozorgi Seyed Mostafa , Hosseinabadi Ali Asghar Rahmani , Wang Jin
Published: February 2019

In a real manufacturing environment, the set of tasks that should be scheduled is changing over the time, which means that scheduling problems are dynamic. Also, in order to adapt the manufacturing systems with fluctuations, such as machine failure and create bottleneck machines, various flexibilities are considered in this system. For the first time, in this research, we consider the operational flexibility and flexibility due to Parallel Machines (PM) with non-uniform speed in Dynamic Job Shop (DJS) and in the field of Flexible Dynamic Job-Shop with Parallel Machines (FDJSPM) model. After modeling the problem, an algorithm based on the principles of Genetic Algorithm (GA) with dynamic two-dimensional chromosomes is proposed. The results of proposed algorithm and comparison with meta-heuristic data in the literature indicate the improvement of solutions by 1.34 percent for different dimensions of the problem.
Hermite-Type Collocation Methods to Solve Volterra Integral Equations with Highly Oscillatory Bessel Kernels
Authors: Fang Chunhua , He Guo , Xiang Shuhuang
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we present two kinds of Hermite-type collocation methods for linear Volterra integral equations of the second kind with highly oscillatory Bessel kernels. One method is direct Hermite collocation method, which used direct two-points Hermite interpolation in the whole interval. The other one is piecewise Hermite collocation method, which used a two-points Hermite interpolation in each subinterval. These two methods can calculate the approximate value of function value and derivative value simultaneously. Both methods are constructed easily and implemented well by the fast computation of highly oscillatory integrals involving Bessel functions. Under some conditions, the asymptotic convergence order with respect to oscillatory factor of these two methods are established, which are higher than the existing results. Some numerical experiments are included to show efficiency of these two methods.
Package Network Model: A Way to Capture Holistic Structural Features of Open-Source Operating Systems
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhang Kedi , Sun Xiaoli , Tan Yusong , Wu Qingbo , Wu Quanyuan
Published: February 2019

Open-source software has become a powerful engine for the development of the software industry. Its production mode, which is based on large-scale group collaboration, allows for the rapid and continuous evolution of open-source software on demand. As an important branch of open-source software, open-source operating systems are commonly used in modern service industries such as finance, logistics, education, medical care, e-commerce and tourism, etc. The reliability of these systems is increasingly valued. However, a self-organizing and loosely coupled development approach complicates the structural analysis of open-source operating system software. Traditional methods focus on analysis at the local level. There is a lack of research on the relationship between internal attributes and external overall characteristics. Consequently, conventional methods are difficult to adapt to complex software systems, especially the structural analysis of open-source operating system software. It is therefore of great significance to capture the holistic structure and behavior of the software system. Complex network theory, which is adequate for this task, can make up for the deficiency of traditional software structure evaluation methods that focus only on local structure. In this paper, we propose a package network model, which is a directed graph structure, to describe the dependency of open-source operating system software packages. Based on the Ubuntu Kylin Linux Operating system, we construct a software package dependency network of each distributed version and analyze the structural evolution through the dimensions of scale, density, connectivity, cohesion, and heterogeneity of each network.
Internal Doses of Glycidol in Children and Estimation of Associated Cancer Risk
Authors: Aasa Jenny , Vryonidis Efstathios , Abramsson-Zetterberg Lilianne , Törnqvist Margareta
Published: February 2019

The general population is exposed to the genotoxic carcinogen glycidol via food containing refined edible oils where glycidol is present in the form of fatty acid esters. In this study, internal (in vivo) doses of glycidol were determined in a cohort of 50 children and in a reference group of 12 adults (non-smokers and smokers). The lifetime in vivo doses and intakes of glycidol were calculated from the levels of the hemoglobin (Hb) adduct N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)valine in blood samples from the subjects, demonstrating a fivefold variation between the children. The estimated mean intake (1.4 μg/kg/day) was about two times higher, compared to the estimated intake for children by the European Food Safety Authority. The data from adults indicate that the non-smoking and smoking subjects are exposed to about the same or higher levels compared to the children, respectively. The estimated lifetime cancer risk (200/105) was calculated by a multiplicative risk model from the lifetime in vivo doses of glycidol in the children, and exceeds what is considered to be an acceptable cancer risk. The results emphasize the importance to further clarify exposure to glycidol and other possible precursors that could give a contribution to the observed adduct levels.
Investigation of the Metabolic Profile and Toxigenic Variability of Fungal Species Occurring in Fermented Foods and Beverage from Nigeria and South Africa Using UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Adekoya Ifeoluwa , Njobeh Patrick , Obadina Adewale , Landschoot Sofie , Audenaert Kris , Okoth Sheila , De Boevre Marthe , De Saeger Sarah
Published: February 2019

Fungal species recovered from fermented foods and beverage from Nigeria and South Africa were studied to establish their toxigenic potential in producing an array of secondary metabolites including mycotoxins (n = 49) that could compromise human and animal safety. In total, 385 fungal isolates were grown on solidified yeast extract sucrose agar. Their metabolites were extracted and analyzed via ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. To examine the grouping of isolates and co-occurrence of metabolites, hierarchal clustering and pairwise association analysis was performed. Of the 385 fungal strains tested, over 41% were toxigenic producing different mycotoxins. A. flavus and A. parasiticus strains were the principal producers of aflatoxin B1 (27–7406 µg/kg). Aflatoxin B1 and cyclopiazonic acid had a positive association. Ochratoxin A was produced by 67% of the A. niger strains in the range of 28–1302 µg/kg. The sterigmatocystin producers found were A. versicolor (n = 12), A. amstelodami (n = 4), and A. sydowii (n = 6). Apart from P. chrysogenum, none of the Penicillium spp. produced roquefortine C. Amongst the Fusarium strains tested, F. verticillioides produced fumonisin B1 (range: 77–218 µg/kg) meanwhile low levels of deoxynivalenol were observed. The production of multiple metabolites by single fungal species was also evident.
A Novel Phospholipase A2 Isolated from Palythoa caribaeorum Possesses Neurotoxic Activity
Authors: Cuevas-Cruz Miguel , Lazcano-Pérez Fernando , Hernández-Guzmán Ulises , Díaz de la Vega-Castañeda Karen Helena , Román-González Sergio A. , Valdez-Cruz Norma A. , Velasco-Bejarano Benjamín , Colín-González Ana Laura , Santamaría Abel , Gómez-Manzo Saúl , Marcial-Quino Jaime , Arreguín-Espinosa Roberto
Published: February 2019

Zoanthids of the genus Palythoa are distributed worldwide in shallow waters around coral reefs. Like all cnidarians, they possess nematocysts that contain a large diversity of toxins that paralyze their prey. This work was aimed at isolating and functionally characterizing a cnidarian neurotoxic phospholipase named A2-PLTX-Pcb1a for the first time. This phospholipase was isolated from the venomous extract of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum. This enzyme, which is Ca2+-dependent, is a 149 amino acid residue protein. The analysis of the A2-PLTX-Pcb1a sequence showed neurotoxic domain similitude with other neurotoxic sPLA2´s, but a different catalytic histidine domain. This is remarkable, since A2-PLTX-Pcb1a displays properties like those of other known PLA2 enzymes.
An Accelerating Universe without Lambda: Delta Gravity Using Monte Carlo
Authors: Alfaro Jorge , San Martín Marco , Sureda Joaquín
Published: February 2019

A gravitational field model based on two symmetric tensors, g μ ν and g ˜ μ ν , is studied, using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis with the most updated catalog of SN-Ia. In this model, new matter fields are added to the original matter fields, motivated by an additional symmetry ( δ ˜ symmetry). We call them δ ˜ matter fields. This theory predicts an accelerating Universe without the need to introduce a cosmological constant Λ by hand in the equations. We obtained a very good fit to the SN-Ia Data, and with this, we found the two free parameters of the theory called C and L 2 . With these values, we have fixed all the degrees of freedom in the model. The last H 0 local value measurement is in tension with the CMB Data from Planck. Based on an absolute magnitude M V = − 19.23 for the SN, Delta Gravity finds H 0 to be 74.47 ± 1.63 km/(s Mpc). This value is in concordance with the last measurement of the H 0 local value, 73.83 ± 1.48 km/(s Mpc).
Angiomotin-Like 1 Links Paramyxovirus M Proteins to NEDD4 Family Ubiquitin Ligases
Authors: Ray Greeshma , Schmitt Phuong Tieu , Schmitt Anthony P.
Published: February 2019

To define the links between paramyxovirus budding and cellular ESCRT machinery, we previously identified angiomotin-like 1 (AMOTL1) in a screen for host factors that bind to the matrix (M) protein of parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5). This protein harbors three L/PPXY sequences, allowing it to interact with WW domain containing proteins including NEDD4 family members. We hypothesize that paramyxoviruses use AMOTL1 as a linker to indirectly recruit the same NEDD4 ubiquitin ligases for budding that other enveloped viruses recruit directly through their PPXY late domains. In support of this hypothesis, we found that AMOTL1 could link together M proteins and NEDD4 family proteins in three-way co-IP experiments. Both PIV5 and mumps virus M proteins could be linked to the NEDD4 family proteins NEDD4-1, NEDD4L, and NEDL1, provided that AMOTL1 was co-expressed as a bridging protein. AMOT and AMOTL2 could not substitute for AMOTL1, as they lacked the ability to bind with paramyxovirus M proteins. Attachment of a PPXY late domain sequence to PIV5 M protein obviated the need for AMOTL1 as a linker between M and NEDD4 proteins. Together, these results suggest a novel host factor recruitment strategy for paramyxoviruses to achieve particle release.
Non-Structural Protein 2B of Human Rhinovirus 16 Activates Both PERK and ATF6 Rather Than IRE1 to Trigger ER Stress
Authors: Song Juan , Chi Miaomiao , Luo Xiaonuan , Song Qinqin , Xia Dong , Shi Bingtian , Han Jun
Published: February 2019

To understand the underlying mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress caused by human rhinovirus (HRV) 16 and non-structural transmembrane protein 2B, the expressions of ER chaperone glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and three signal transduction pathways, including protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), were evaluated after HRV16 infection and 2B gene transfection. Our results showed that both HRV16 infection and 2B gene transfection increased the expression of ER chaperone GRP78, and induced phosphorylation of PERK and cleavage of ATF6 in a time-dependent manner. Our data also revealed that the HRV16 2B protein was localized to the ER membrane. However, both HRV16 infection and HRV16 2B gene transfection did not induce ER stress through the IRE1 pathway. Moreover, our results showed that apoptosis occurred in H1-HeLa cells infected with HRV16 or transfected with 2B gene accompanied with increased expression of CHOP and cleaved caspase-3. Taken together, non-structural protein 2B of HRV16 induced an ER stress response through the PERK and ATF6 pathways rather than the IRE1 pathway.
Development of Luciferase Immunoprecipitation Systems (LIPS) Assay to Detect IgG Antibodies against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus G-Glycoprotein
Authors: Crim Roberta Lynne , Kumari Sangeeta , Jayanti Priyanka , Audet Susette , Kulkarni Ashwin , Beeler Judy
Published: February 2019

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and the elderly. Although there is no licensed vaccine, RSV-F and -G glycoproteins are targets for vaccine development and therapeutics. We developed an assay that can detect anti-RSV-G IgG antibodies, either as a biomarker of natural exposure or immunization. RSV genes encoding native and mutated G (mG) proteins from subgroups A and B strains were cloned, expressed as luciferase-tagged proteins, and tested individually to detect anti-RSV-G specific IgG antibodies using a high-throughput luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS-G). RSV monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antisera specifically bound in the LIPS-GA and/or -GB assays; whereas anti-RSV-F and -N, and antisera against measles virus or human metapneumovirus did not bind. Anti-RSV-GA and -GB IgG responses detected in mice infected intranasally with RSV-A or -B strains were subtype specific. Subtype specific anti-RSV-GA or -GB IgG responses were also detected using paired serum samples from infants while human adolescent serum samples reacted in both LIPS-GA and -GB assays, reflecting a broader experience.
Assessment of the Exposure of Turkey Farmers to Antimicrobial Resistance Associated with Working Practices
Authors: Franceschini Giorgio , Bottino Marta , Millet Ilary , Martello Elisa , Zaltron Francesca , Favretto Anna Rosa , Vonesch Nicoletta , Tomao Paola , Mannelli Alessandro
Published: February 2019

The objective of the present study was the identification of farming practices in the production of turkeys for human consumption, and their ranking in terms of the occupational probability of exposure to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria, for farm workers. We gathered evidence and data from scientific literature, on risk factors for AMR in farmers, and on the prevalence of those hazards across farming phases. We administered semi-structured interviews to public and private veterinarians in Northern Italy, to obtain detailed information on turkey farming phases, and on working practices. Data were then integrated into a semi-quantitative Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA). Those working practices, which are characterized by direct contact with numerous animals, and which are carried out frequently, with rare use of personal protection devices resulted as associated with the greatest probability of exposure to AMR. For methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), these included vaccination and administration of any individual therapy, and removal and milling of litter, given the exposure of farmers to high dust level. Indeed, levels of occupational exposure to MRSA are enhanced by its transmission routes, which include direct contact with animal, as well as airborne transmission. Level of exposure to extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) is more strictly associated with direct contact and the oral-fecal route. Consequently, exposure to ESBL resulted and associated with the routinely tipping over of poults turned on their back, and with the individual administration of therapies.
Numerical Simulation and Engineering Application of a Dovetail-Shaped Bucket
Authors: Li Guodong , Li Xingnan , Ning Jian , Deng Yabing
Published: February 2019

Flip trajectory buckets are widely used in hydraulic engineering. With the rapid development of water conservation projects, an increasing number of these projects are located in complex topography. As a result, the energy dissipation and anti-scour abilities of the outlet structures in such projects have become the focus of research. This study used FLOW-3D fluid computation software with a renormalization group turbulence model and a volume of fluid free surface tracking technique. The bank of the ShiZiYa reservoir is steep and is located in a narrow river valley, in which the downstream angle is approximately 70°. The system was modeled under the conditions of this special terrain with the flow energy dissipation scheme having dovetail drainage characteristics, and the results were verified experimentally. With adjustments of the angles of the left and right walls, the width and jet angle of the dovetail-shaped sill were optimized in the model to ensure that the downstream flow fell into the main channel, and the hydraulic characteristics of the water jet were analyzed. The results showed that this scheme can meet the flood safety requirements of the ShiZiYa reservoir.
Assessment of Spatiotemporal Variability of Evapotranspiration and Its Governing Factors in a Mountainous Watershed
Authors: Tran Anh Phuong , Rungee Joseph , Faybishenko Boris , Dafflon Baptiste , Hubbard Susan S.
Published: February 2019

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key component of the water balance, which influences hydrometeorology, water resources, carbon and other biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem diversity. This study aims to investigate the spatio-temporal variations of ET at the East River watershed in Colorado and analyze the factors that control these variations. ET was acquired using the community land model (CLM) simulations and was compared with the values estimated using Fu’s equation and a watershed-scale water balance equation. The simulation results showed that 55% of annual precipitation in the East River is lost to ET, in which 75% of the ET comes from the summer months (May to September). We also found that the contribution of transpiration to the total ET was ~50%, which is much larger than that of soil evaporation (32%) and canopy evaporation (18%). Spatial analysis indicated that the ET is greater at elevations of 2950–3200 m and lower along the river valley (<2750 m) and at the high elevations (>3900 m). A correlation analysis of factors affecting ET showed that the land elevation, air temperature, and vegetation are closely correlated and together they govern the ET spatial variability. The results also suggested that ET in areas with more finely textured soil is slightly larger than regions with coarse-texture soil. This study presents a promising approach to the assessment of ET with a high spatiotemporal resolution over watershed scales and investigates factors controlling ET spatiotemporal variations.
Hydrological Model Supported by a Step-Wise Calibration against Sub-Flows and Validation of Extreme Flow Events
Authors: Onyutha Charles
Published: February 2019

Most hydrological models have fixed structures and their calibrations are typified by a conventional approach in which the overall water balance closure is considered (without a step-wise focus on sub-flows’ variation). Eventually, hydrological modelers are confronted with the difficulty of ensuring both the observed high flows and low flows are accurately reproduced in a single calibration. This study introduced Hydrological Model focusing on Sub-flows’ Variation (HMSV). Calibration of HMSV follows a carefully designed framework comprising sub-flow’s separation, modeling of sub-flows, and checking validity of hydrological extremes. The introduced model and calibration framework were tested using hydro-meteorological data from the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia in Africa. When the conventional calibration approach was adopted through automatic optimization strategy, results from the HMSV were found highly comparable with those of five internationally well recognized hydrological models (AWBM, IHACRES, SACRAMENTO, SIMHYD, and TANK). The new framework enhanced the HMSV performance for reproducing quantiles of both high flows and low flows. The combination of flow separation and step-wise calibration of hydrological model against sub-flows enhances the modeler’s physical insight in identifying which areas need focus in modeling to obtain meaningful simulation results, especially of extreme events. The link for downloading the HMSV is provided.
Conceptualizing Serious Games as a Learning-Based Intervention in the Context of Natural Resources and Environmental Governance
Authors: Rodela Romina , Ligtenberg Arend , Bosma Roel
Published: February 2019

The use of serious games in the governance of natural resources and the environment is progressively increasing and includes games used for research and data collection, teaching and training, and fostering a change of practices. However, this diversity remains underexplored and underreported. In view of a growing interest in the use of serious games in natural resource and environmental governance, the absence of discussions about how differences in intended use and delivery influence the performance, assessment, and outcomes of games is problematic. Here we present an inventory, and a description, of such different uses then, by focusing on serious games used as interventions, we discuss when, and how, games could be used to generate learning and social learning. To that end we use a narrative review of selected literature, and insight from research on social learning, to develop an inventory of game use, and within that inventory we conceptualize the use of serious games as a social learning intervention. Also, by means of an illustrative case of a serious game (developed as part of the Assessing the Learning Effects of Games on Attitude of Stakeholders toward Sustainable Shrimp Farming – ALEGAMS research project) we reflect on a few key aspects of game use. We suggest that developing a serious game needs several iterations and, although the learning outcomes can be assessed, the impact of games aiming at changes in current practice and policy will likely fall beyond the timespan of usual project periods. This is something future research should consider as it has implications for the research design and methodology.
Numerical Study of the Collapse of Multiple Bubbles and the Energy Conversion during Bubble Collapse
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Lingxin , Deng Jian
Published: February 2019

This paper investigates numerically the collapses of both a single cavitation bubble and a cluster consisting of 8 bubbles, concerning mainly on the conversions between different forms of energy. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) with volume of fluid (VOF) method is applied, considering the detailed resolution of the vapor-liquid interfaces. First, for a single bubble near a solid wall, we find that the peak value of the wave energy, or equivalently the energy conversion rate decreases when the distance between the bubble and the wall is reduced. However, for the collapses of multiple bubbles, this relationship between the bubble-wall distance and the conversion rate reverses, implying a distinct physical mechanism. The evolutions of individual bubbles during the collapses of multiple bubbles are examined. We observe that when the bubbles are placed far away from the solid wall, the jetting flows induced by all bubbles point towards the cluster centre, while the focal point shifts towards the solid wall when the cluster is very close to the wall. We note that it is very challenging to consider thermal and acoustic damping mechanisms in the current numerical methods, which might be significant contributions to the energy budget, and we leave it open to the future studies.
Assessing Sustainability of Wastewater Management Systems in a Multi-Scalar, Transdisciplinary Manner in Latin America
Authors: Benavides Lucía , Avellán Tamara , Caucci Serena , Hahn Angela , Kirschke Sabrina , Müller Andrea
Published: February 2019

Wastewater management in Latin America faces great challenges to reach a sustainable state. Although enough infrastructure has been built to treat around 40% of wastewater, only between 15–20% is effectively treated, and abandoned or defective infrastructure is a common sight. Data about current conditions at specific sites is quite fragmented, when existing. This leads to challenges in management, decision making and planning for sustainable options. We argue that a main obstacle is the lack of a regionally relevant sustainability assessment framework that allows for a holistic understanding of wastewater management as a nexus problem. We therefore developed a comprehensive framework to (1) understand current conditions (2) involve stakeholders and (3) point to pathways to improve wastewater management in the Americas. Building on literature review and stakeholder involvement, we constructed a multi-scalar extended dataset framework that is adaptable to different study sites using specific criteria. Sustainability was assessed through a “distance-to-target” approach. Social and economic variables were the lowest ranking in both cases, with technical variables generally performing better. Although some dimensions of sustainability are performing acceptably, others, such as social and economic, are general low to very low performing. This means, when looked at in an integrated manner, neither of the wastewater management systems analysed can be considered sustainable. Here we present the approach itself, the results of its application in two pilot sites in Latin America, and our recommendation to shift waste water management into sustainability.
Communications on Technological Innovations: Potable Water Reuse
Authors: Tortajada Cecilia , Nambiar Sunil
Published: February 2019

Water scarcity has prompted an increasing number of cities to look for non-conventional sources of clean water. One of these sources is reused water, or highly treated reclaimed or recycled wastewater, a worthy addition to the portfolio of water-resource alternatives that increasing cities are considering in view of demographic and environmental changes. In this paper, we analyse communications from the media, policymakers and utility managers on the technology used to produce reused water for potable purposes. The focus of our analysis is technology as a means for producing safe and reliable water supply in the long-term. Three places were selected because of their differing experiences with social acceptance: Singapore, Orange County (California, United States), and Queensland (Australia). We found distinct differences in the communications used in the three places, which we believe have strongly influenced public opinion on the provision of clean water through potable water reuse. In communicating technological innovations to the public, it is essential to also discuss the broader framework affecting reliable water supplies. In this light, planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, institutional coordination, financial sustainability, and operational aspects should also be communicated.
Remote Image Capture System to Improve Aerial Supervision for Precision Irrigation in Agriculture
Authors: Mateo-Aroca Antonio , García-Mateos Ginés , Ruiz-Canales Antonio , Molina-García-Pardo José María , Molina-Martínez José Miguel
Published: February 2019

Due to the limitations of drones and satellites to obtain aerial images of the crops in real time, the time to flight delay, the problems caused by adverse weather conditions and other issues, the use of fixed cameras placed on the regions of interest is essential to get closer, periodic and on-demand images. Water management in agriculture is one of the most important applications of these images. Top view images of a crop can be processed for determining the percentage of green cover (PGC), and 2D images from different viewing angles can be applied for obtaining 3D models of the crops. In both cases, the obtained data can be managed for calculating several parameters such as crop evapotranspiration, water demand, detection of water deficit and indicators about solute transport of fertilizers in the plant. For this purpose, a remote image capture system has been developed for an application in lettuce crops. The system consists of several capture nodes and a local processing base station which includes image processing algorithms to obtain key features for decision-making in irrigation and harvesting strategies. Placing multiple image capture nodes allows obtaining different observation zones that are representative of the entire crop. The nodes have been designed to have autonomous power supply and wireless connection with the base station. This station carries out irrigation and harvesting decisions using the results of the processing of the images captured by the nodes and the information of other local sensors. The wireless connection is made using the ZigBee communication architecture, supported by XBee hardware. The two main benefits of this choice are its low energy consumption and the long range of the connection.
Skeletal Deformity of Scoliosis in Gilthead Seabreams (Sparus aurata): Association with Changes to Calcium-Phosphor Hydroxyapatite Salts and Collagen Fibers
Authors: Boursiaki Vaia , Theochari Charitini , Zaoutsos Stefanos P. , Mente Eleni , Vafidis Dimitris , Apostologamvrou Chrisoula , Berillis Panagiotis
Published: February 2019

The development of skeletal deformities in seabream farming affects fish growth, survival, and production costs. Collagen distribution in different fish tissues might be correlated with swimming behavior. This study investigates whether scoliosis in seabreams is associated with changes to calcium-phosphor hydroxyapatite salts and collagen fibril morphology. Samples of decalcified vertebrae of scoliotic and non-scoliotic seabreams were examined with transmission electron microscopy and collagen micrographs were taken and analyzed. The mineral content, modulus of elasticity, and morphology of the vertebrae were also determined. The results indicated that fish with scoliosis had significant smaller mean vertebral collagen fibril diameters than the controls. Vertebrae in abdominal and caudal regions of the scoliotic seabreams appeared to be smaller than the respective vertebrae of the non-deformed seabreams. The calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) amounts of vertebrae of both scoliotic and non-scoliotic seabreams were not affected by the scoliosis deformity. The modulus of elasticity showed that the vertebrae from seabreams with scoliosis were more flexible than the vertebrae from seabreams without any skeletal deformity. The mechanical properties of bone are crucially dependent on collagen structure. Hence, how the vertebral column collagen of juvenile fish is related to the mechanism of deformities requires further investigation in order to provide a risk-reducing strategy to increase fish performance in aquaculture.
Genetic Loci Associated with Salt Tolerance in Advanced Breeding Populations of Tetraploid Alfalfa Using Genome‐Wide Association Studies
Authors: Liu Xiang‐Ping , Hawkins Charles , Peel Michael D. , Yu Long‐Xi
Published: February 2019

Many agricultural lands in the western United States consist of soil with high concentrations of salt, which is detrimental to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth and production, especially in the region where water resource is limited. Developing alfalfa varieties with salt tolerance is imperative for sustainable production under increasing soil salinity. In the present study, we used advanced alfalfa breeding populations and evaluated five traits related to salt tolerance including biomass dry weight (DW) and fresh weight (FW), plant height (PH), leaf relative water content (RWC), and stomatal conductance (SC) under control and salt stress. Stress susceptibility index (SSI) of each trait and single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated by genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) were used for genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) to identify loci associated with salt tolerance. A total of 53 significant SNPs associated with salt tolerance were identified and they were located at 49 loci through eight chromosomes. A Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search of the regions surrounding the SNPs revealed 21 putative candidate genes associated with salt tolerance. The genetic architecture for traits related to salt tolerance characterized in this report could help in understanding the genetic mechanism by which salt stress affects plant growth and production in alfalfa. The markers and candidate genes identified in the present study would be useful for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in breeding salt‐tolerant alfalfa after validation of the markers.
CORPORATE LOCATION POLICY IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION
Authors: Palm Andreas
Published: February 2019

In today's economy it is very important how companies select locations for headquarters, production sites and sales offices. This paper places particular emphasis on the effects on corporate location policy resulting from a constantly proceeding globalization. Therefore the term globalization is defined first. Then, using a globally present company as an example the process of deciding on locations is illustrated. Finally, there is an outlook on future demands globalization will place on corporate location policy.
INWARD AND OUTWARD FDI IN LITHUANIA AND ESTONIA: REVIEW OF PATTERNS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Authors: Ginevičius Romualdas , Tvaronavičiene Manuela
Published: February 2019

The paper aims to trace how important state policies, cultural differences and neighborhood of developed countries are as driving forces attracting foreign capital inflows. Authors overview the inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) tendencies in Lithuania and Estonia, reveal similarities and differences of the neighbor countries. Authors distinguish and discuss a role of privatization policy in attracting foreign direct investments. The assumption about different inward FDI sources caused by different privatization strategies adopted by considered countries is to be elaborated. Another focus of presented paper is outward FDI structure in terms of capital origin, and differences of its in scale in two Baltic countries ‐ Lithuania and Estonia. Phenomenon of Scandinavian FDI channeling through Estonia is to be traced and interpreted.
FOREIGN CAPITAL AND CREDIT MARKET DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF LITHUANIA
Authors: Rutkauskas Aleksandras Vytautas , Dudzevičiūte Gitana
Published: February 2019

There have been wide-ranging discussions on whether the investments of foreign banks into the banking sector of the Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEE) lead to greater competition and increase of the loan portfolio of the banks. Several empirical works have shown that a high proportion of foreign capital in the banking sector of CEE countries has generally positive effects on the quality and amount of loan portfolio of the banking sector, but there may also be some adverse effects.

Lithuania has an open economy and the credit market is open to international banking competition. The loan portfolio of the banks in Lithuania was growing very rapidly during the last year. A drop in the loan interest rates was significant and banks offered credits under favourable conditions. At the same time, the Lithuanian banking sector is largely foreign‐owned. Foreign investors currently own approx. 87 % of the share capital of banks in Lithuania.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the link between the Lithuanian credit market development and the entry of foreign banks
NUOTEKŲ VALYMO SORBENTAIS TYRIMAS / RESEARCH OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT WITH SORBENTS
Authors: Subatkevičienė Karina , Tetsman Ina , Gargasas Justinas
Published: February 2019

One of the largest industrial waste water pollutants is petroleum products. The most widely used physico-chemical cleaning methods (use of sorbents) are used for cleaning them, but the main difficulty is the selection of suitable sorbents (different according to their origin and structure) and maintenance of op-tidal treatment facilities. The production of sorbents from secondary raw materials reduces the amount of waste and, at the same time, protects nature against hazardous materials, for example from used car tires. Three different sorbent species (organic organic sorbents – branched lead, synthetic sorbents – zeolites, sorbents made of atrium raw materials – crushed used tires) have been evaluated and compared. The changes in the concentrations of oil products in the wastewater before and after treatment procees were evaluated and compared. The initial concentration of oil products in waste water was 0.25 mg/m3. Experimental studies show that the maximum adsorption capacity is 2.90 g/g (fraction 1.00−1.50 mm) of zeolite 2.55 g/g (fraction 2 mm), and 1.97 g/g The crushed tire rubber (fraction 1.00−1.50 mm) has adsorption capacity similar to that of a trimmer. The efficiency of the separa-tion of ceolite (fraction 2.00 mm) ranged from 87.51% to 96.11%, and the straw burners from 91.30% to 94.55%, and the crushed tire rubber shavings (fraction 1.00−1, 50 mm), the purification efficiency ranged from 91.51% to 95.21%.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE BIODIESEL FUEL JET DEVELOPMENT DYNAMICS IN COMMON RAIL AND CONVENTIONAL DESIGN FUEL SYSTEMS
Authors: Kulmanakov Sergey P. , Lebedevas Sergejus , Kulmanakov Sergey S. , Lazareva Nadežda , Rapalis Paulius
Published: February 2019

The results of comparative diesel and biodiesel (Rapeseed oil Methyl Ester (RME) and Rapeseed Oil (RO)) fuel jet structure studies by optical scanning method are presented. There is an interrelation between the dynamics of fuel jet development by the Common Rail (CR) with single-phase injection and Conventional Design System (CDS) and the parameters of mixture formation, which are typical for transferring the operation of the Diesel Engine (DE) from mineral diesel to RME and RO. The structure of the Diesel Fuel (DF) jet is significantly more heterogeneous by the size and number of droplets in CDS in comparison with CR. From the moment of the injection the presence of zones less saturated with fuel contributes to a relatively short induction period – 5° ca. compared to 11…12° ca. in the CR system. Using RME in the CR system in comparison with DF, increases the heterogeneity of the fuel jet, thereby causing a shorter (by 1…2° ca.) induction period in the whole investigated range of injection pressures of 60…160 MPa. The injection of a non-heated RO is accompanied by the shape and structure fluctuations of the fuel jet. RO heating to 65 °C stabilizes the structure of the jet and increases the share of less saturated zones. Promising way of use for the optical scanning method in the mathematical modelling of the DE working process is proposed.