bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposing a Value-Added Indicators framework for the apparel and fashion sector: Design and empirical evaluation
Authors: Bertolini M. , Romagnoli G. , Weinhard A.
Published: September 2017

OBJECTIVE:

Automatic identification technologies have become omnipresent in the retail industry. The introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the fashion and apparel industry has led to massive data sets which are currently an untapped source for decision makers. We therefore aim to leverage the economic potential of RFID by proposing a framework for novel RFID-enabled indicators. We use the term Value-Added Indicators (VAIs), instead of the common acronym KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), because the proposed metrics aim to add additional value to the existing management reporting with regard to the fashion and apparel supply chain.

DESIGN, METHODOLOGY, APPROACH:

We combine two sources of knowledge in order to build a comprehensive framework. We (i) use the theoretical background from a review of the relevant literature and (ii) use the experience from an RFID-system integrator and two fashion companies that have already deployed RFID on a large scale. The framework is then validated in several iterations by academics and practitioners.

FINDINGS:

The study has produced a set of 60 different VAIs that use, or might use, RFID technology to produce, monitor and increase the overall value of the fashion and apparel supply chain. These VAIs are organised in a structured framework, built and validated by more than 10 experts from the field. The framework was then further validated by 24 experts, comprehending managers and researchers from outside the borders of the EU-Project SERAMIS.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:

Practitioners from the fashion and apparel industry benefit from our research by having available a validated framework with a set of 60 different VAIs that can be readily implemented into their own management reporting. The framework can thus serve as the foundation for building up an RFID-based measurement system or as a guideline for extending an existing measurement system.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE:

We are the first who structure RFID-related performance indicators in a validated framework. Our framework can serve as a foundation for further research that goes beyond the fashion and apparel retail industry. We encourage researcher to build upon our research and to transfer it to different industries.
Entropy Generation in Thermal Radiative Loading of Structures with Distinct Heaters
Authors: Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi Mohammad , Safaei Mohammad , Alrashed Abdullah , Nguyen Truong , Bandarra Filho Enio
Published: September 2017

Thermal loading by radiant heaters is used in building heating and hot structure design applications. In this research, characteristics of the thermal radiative heating of an enclosure by a distinct heater are investigated from the second law of thermodynamics point of view. The governing equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy (fluid and solid) are solved by the finite volume method and the semi-implicit method for pressure linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm. Radiant heaters are modeled by constant heat flux elements, and the lower wall is held at a constant temperature while the other boundaries are adiabatic. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of the fluid are temperature-dependent, which leads to complex partial differential equations with nonlinear coefficients. The parameter study is done based on the amount of thermal load (presented by heating number) as well as geometrical configuration parameters, such as the aspect ratio of the enclosure and the radiant heater number. The results present the effect of thermal and geometrical parameters on entropy generation and the distribution field. Furthermore, the effect of thermal radiative heating on both of the components of entropy generation (viscous dissipation and heat dissipation) is investigated.
Secure Communication for Two-Way Relay Networks with Imperfect CSI
Authors: Sun Cong , Liu Ke , Zheng Dahu , Ai Wenbao
Published: September 2017

This paper considers a two-way relay network, where two legitimate users exchange messages through several cooperative relays in the presence of an eavesdropper, and the Channel State Information (CSI) of the eavesdropper is imperfectly known. The Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relay protocol is used. We design the relay beamforming weights to minimize the total relay transmit power, while requiring the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNRs) of the legitimate users to be higher than the given thresholds and the achievable rate of the eavesdropper to be upper-bounded. Due to the imperfect CSI, a robust optimization problem is summarized. A novel iterative algorithm is proposed, where the line search technique is applied, and the feasibility is preserved during iterations. In each iteration, two Quadratically-Constrained Quadratic Programming (QCQP) subproblems and a one-dimensional subproblem are optimally solved. The optimality property of the robust optimization problem is analyzed. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm performs very close to the non-robust model with perfect CSI, in terms of the obtained relay transmit power; it~achieves higher secrecy rate compared to the existing work. Numerically, the proposed algorithm converges very quickly, and more than 85% of the problems are solved optimally.
Analysis of the Potential for Use of Floating PV Power Plant on the Skadar Lake for Electricity Supply of Aluminium Plant in Montenegro
Authors: Durković Vladan , Đurišić Željko
Published: September 2017

This paper deals with a conceptual solution for the supply of a part of electrical energy for the needs of Aluminium Plant Podgorica (KAP) in Montenegro from a large Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant (FPPP), that would be installed on the nearby lake. The recommended FPPP, with an innovative azimuth angle control method and total installed power of 90 MWp, would consist of 18 power plants having an installed power of 5 MWp each. An analysis using the NREL solar insolation database ascertained that the recommended FPPP power plant can achieve a significantly higher production in comparison with previous solutions. An economic analysis has shown that the recommended power plant would yield positive economic indicators. Additionally, such a power plant would significantly contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Application of the Sensor Selection Approach in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Prognostics and Health Management
Authors: Mao Lei , Davies Ben , Jackson Lisa
Published: September 2017

In this paper, the sensor selection approach is investigated with the aim of using fewer sensors to provide reliable fuel cell diagnostic and prognostic results. The sensitivity of sensors is firstly calculated with a developed fuel cell model. With sensor sensitivities to different fuel cell failure modes, the available sensors can be ranked. A sensor selection algorithm is used in the analysis, which considers both sensor sensitivity to fuel cell performance and resistance to noise. The performance of the selected sensors in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell prognostics is also evaluated with an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and results show that the fuel cell voltage can be predicted with good quality using the selected sensors. Furthermore, a fuel cell test is performed to investigate the effectiveness of selected sensors in fuel cell fault diagnosis. From the results, different fuel cell states can be distinguished with good quality using the selected sensors.
Seamless Grid Synchronization of a Proportional+Resonant Control-Based Voltage Controller Considering Non-Linear Loads under Islanded Mode
Authors: Lim Kyungbae , Choi Jaeho
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes the grid synchronization method of inverter using a quasi Proportional+Multi Resonant (P+MR) control-based voltage controller a stationary reference frame. The inverter supplies a non-linear load under the islanded mode. In islanded mode, the inverter is defined as a voltage source to supply the full local load demand without a connection to the grid. On the other hand, if the grid is restored from a previous fault or the strategic islanding is unnecessary, the inverter needs to be synchronized with the phase of the grid before the transfer from islanded mode to grid-connected mode. When the system is modeled and controlled based on the stationary reference frame control, the AC reference voltage, which has a constant voltage and frequency in islanded mode, is substituted to the AC grid voltage. Significant error can occur due to the large phase differences between the phase of reference and that of the measured value. This error also can cause severe voltage dynamic problems. In addition, if any nonlinear local load is connected to the output of the inverter, it becomes more serious due to the harmonics generated from the loads. In this paper, the PR control under a stationary reference frame is used for voltage control under islanded mode considering the harmonic effects from the nonlinear load. The seamless grid synchronization method based on this PR control is proposed to solve the aforementioned problems. The validity of the proposed seamless grid synchronization method is verified through PSiM simulations and experimental results.
Et tu, Brute? Not Even Intracellular Mutualistic Symbionts Escape Horizontal Gene Transfer
Authors: López-Madrigal Sergio , Gil Rosario
Published: September 2017

Many insect species maintain mutualistic relationships with endosymbiotic bacteria. In contrast to their free-living relatives, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has traditionally been considered rare in long-term endosymbionts. Nevertheless, meta-omics exploration of certain symbiotic models has unveiled an increasing number of bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host genetic transfers. The abundance and function of transferred loci suggest that HGT might play a major role in the evolution of the corresponding consortia, enhancing their adaptive value or buffering detrimental effects derived from the reductive evolution of endosymbionts’ genomes. Here, we comprehensively review the HGT cases recorded to date in insect-bacteria mutualistic consortia, and discuss their impact on the evolutionary success of these associations.
Alienness: Rapid Detection of Candidate Horizontal Gene Transfers across the Tree of Life
Authors: Rancurel Corinne , Legrand Ludovic , Danchin Etienne
Published: September 2017

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the transmission of genes between organisms by other means than parental to offspring inheritance. While it is prevalent in prokaryotes, HGT is less frequent in eukaryotes and particularly in Metazoa. Here, we propose Alienness, a taxonomy-aware web application available at http://alienness.sophia.inra.fr. Alienness parses BLAST results against public libraries to rapidly identify candidate HGT in any genome of interest. Alienness takes as input the result of a BLAST of a whole proteome of interest against any National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) protein library. The user defines recipient (e.g., Metazoa) and donor (e.g., bacteria, fungi) branches of interest in the NCBI taxonomy. Based on the best BLAST E-values of candidate donor and recipient taxa, Alienness calculates an Alien Index (AI) for each query protein. An AI > 0 indicates a better hit to candidate donor than recipient taxa and a possible HGT. Higher AI represent higher gap of E-values between candidate donor and recipient and a more likely HGT. We confirmed the accuracy of Alienness on phylogenetically confirmed HGT of non-metazoan origin in plant-parasitic nematodes. Alienness scans whole proteomes to rapidly identify possible HGT in any species of interest and thus fosters exploration of HGT more easily and largely across the tree of life.
A Marine Bacterium, Bacillus sp. Isolated from the Sediment Samples of Algoa Bay in South Africa Produces a Polysaccharide-Bioflocculant
Authors: Ntozonke Ncedo , Okaiyeto Kunle , Okoli Arinze , Olaniran Ademola , Nwodo Uchechukwu , Okoh Anthony
Published: September 2017

Bioflocculants mediate the removal of suspended particles from solution and the efficiency of flocculation is dependent on the characteristics of the flocculant. Apart from the merits of biodegradability and harmlessness, bioflocculants could be viable as industrially relevant flocculants as they are a renewable resource. Additionally, the shortcomings associated with the conventionally used flocculants such as aluminium salts and acrylamide polymers, which include dementia and cancer, highlight more the need to use bioflocculants as an alternative. Consequently, in this study a marine sediment bacterial isolate was screened for bioflocculant production. Basic local alignment search tools (BLAST) analysis of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequence of the bacterial isolate showed 98% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis MR-R1. The bacteria produced bioflocculant optimally with inoculum size (4% v/v) (85%), glucose (85.65%) and mixed nitrogen source (urea, ammonium chloride and yeast extract) (75.9%) and the divalent cation (Ca2+) (62.3%). Under optimal conditions, a maximum flocculating activity of over 85% was attained after 60 h of cultivation. The purified polysaccharide-bioflocculant flocculated optimally at alkaline pH 12 (81%), in the presence of Mn2+ (73%) and Ca2+ (72.8%). The high flocculation activity shown indicates that the bioflocculant may contend favourably as an alternative to the conventionally used flocculants in water treatment.
Playing Chemical Plant Environmental Protection Games with Historical Monitoring Data
Authors: Zhu Zhengqiu , Chen Bin , Reniers Genserik , Zhang Laobing , Qiu Sihang , Qiu Xiaogang
Published: September 2017

The chemical industry is very important for the world economy and this industrial sector represents a substantial income source for developing countries. However, existing regulations on controlling atmospheric pollutants, and the enforcement of these regulations, often are insufficient in such countries. As a result, the deterioration of surrounding ecosystems and a quality decrease of the atmospheric environment can be observed. Previous works in this domain fail to generate executable and pragmatic solutions for inspection agencies due to practical challenges. In addressing these challenges, we introduce a so-called Chemical Plant Environment Protection Game (CPEP) to generate reasonable schedules of high-accuracy air quality monitoring stations (i.e., daily management plans) for inspection agencies. First, so-called Stackelberg Security Games (SSGs) in conjunction with source estimation methods are applied into this research. Second, high-accuracy air quality monitoring stations as well as gas sensor modules are modeled in the CPEP game. Third, simplified data analysis on the regularly discharging of chemical plants is utilized to construct the CPEP game. Finally, an illustrative case study is used to investigate the effectiveness of the CPEP game, and a realistic case study is conducted to illustrate how the models and algorithms being proposed in this paper, work in daily practice. Results show that playing a CPEP game can reduce operational costs of high-accuracy air quality monitoring stations. Moreover, evidence suggests that playing the game leads to more compliance from the chemical plants towards the inspection agencies. Therefore, the CPEP game is able to assist the environmental protection authorities in daily management work and reduce the potential risks of gaseous pollutants dispersion incidents.
Splitting the “Unsplittable”: Dissecting Resident and Infiltrating Macrophages in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Koeniger Tobias , Kuerten Stefanie
Published: September 2017

Macrophages predominate the inflammatory landscape within multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, not only regarding cellularity but also with respect to the diverse functions this cell fraction provides during disease progression and remission. Researchers have been well aware of the fact that the macrophage pool during central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity consists of a mixture of myeloid cells. Yet, separating these populations to define their unique contribution to disease pathology has long been challenging due to their similar marker expression. Sophisticated lineage tracing approaches as well as comprehensive transcriptome analysis have elevated our insight into macrophage biology to a new level enabling scientists to dissect the roles of resident (microglia and non-parenchymal macrophages) and infiltrating macrophages with unprecedented precision. To do so in an accurate way, researchers have to know their toolbox, which has been filled with diverse, discriminating approaches from decades of studying neuroinflammation in animal models. Every method has its own strengths and weaknesses, which will be addressed in this review. The focus will be on tools to manipulate and/or identify different macrophage subgroups within the injured murine CNS.
High Levels of Circulating Type II Collagen Degradation Marker (CTx-II) Are Associated with Specific VDR Polymorphisms in Patients with Adult Vertebral Osteochondrosis
Authors: Cauci Sabina , Viganò Marco , De Girolamo Laura , De Luca Paola , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , Banfi Giuseppe , Lombardi Giovanni , Brayda-Bruno Marco , Colombini Alessandra
Published: September 2017

Both vitamin D and collagen have roles in osteocartilaginous homeostasis. We evaluated the association between the circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) type I and II collagen degradation products (CTx-I, and CTx-II), and four vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphisms, in Italian males affected by low back pain (LBP) due to herniation/discopathy and/or vertebral osteochondrosis. FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI VDR-polymorphisms were detected through PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and circulating 25(OH)D, CTx-I and CTx-II were measured by immunoassays in 79 patients (of which 26 had osteochondrosis) and 79 age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. Among all 158 subjects, carriers of FF and Ff genotypes showed lower 25(OH)D than ff, which suggested a higher depletion of vitamin D in F allele carriers. Higher CTx-I concentrations were observed in TT versus Tt among controls, and Tt versus tt among LBP cases, which suggested a higher bone-cartilaginous catabolism in subjects bearing the T allele. Higher CTx-II concentrations were observed in patients with osteochondrosis bearing FF, bb, TT, or Aa genotypes in comparison with hernia/discopathy patients and healthy controls. Vertebral osteochondrosis shows peculiar genotypic and biochemical features related to vitamin D and the osteocartilaginous metabolism. Vitamin D has roles in the pathophysiology of osteochondrosis.
Alkaline Sodium Hypochlorite Irrigant and Its Chemical Interactions
Authors: Wright Patricia , Kahler Bill , Walsh Laurence
Published: September 2017

Endodontic irrigating solutions may interact chemically with one another. This is important, because even when solutions are not admixed, they will come into contact with one another during an alternating irrigation technique, forming unwanted by-products, which may be toxic or irritant. Mixing or alternating irrigants can also reduce their ability to clean and disinfect the root canal system of teeth by changing their chemical structure with subsequent loss of the active agent, or by inducing precipitate formation in the root canal system. Precipitates occlude dental tubules, resulting in less penetration of antimicrobials and a loss of disinfection efficacy. Sodium hypochlorite is not only a very reactive oxidizing agent, but is also the most commonly used endodontic irrigant. As such, many interactions occurring between it and other irrigants, chelators and other antimicrobials, may occur. Of particular interest is the interaction between sodium hypochlorite and the chelators EDTA, citric acid and etidronate and between sodium hypochlorite and the antimicrobials chlorhexidine, alexidine, MTAD and octenisept.
In Situ TEM Multi-Beam Ion Irradiation as a Technique for Elucidating Synergistic Radiation Effects
Authors: Taylor Caitlin , Bufford Daniel , Muntifering Brittany , Senor David , Steckbeck Mackenzie , Davis Justin , Doyle Barney , Buller Daniel , Hattar Khalid
Published: September 2017

Materials designed for nuclear reactors undergo microstructural changes resulting from a combination of several environmental factors, including neutron irradiation damage, gas accumulation and elevated temperatures. Typical ion beam irradiation experiments designed for simulating a neutron irradiation environment involve irradiating the sample with a single ion beam and subsequent characterization of the resulting microstructure, often by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This method does not allow for examination of microstructural effects due to simultaneous gas accumulation and displacement cascade damage, which occurs in a reactor. Sandia’s in situ ion irradiation TEM (I3TEM) offers the unique ability to observe microstructural changes due to irradiation damage caused by concurrent multi-beam ion irradiation in real time. This allows for time-dependent microstructure analysis. A plethora of additional in situ stages can be coupled with these experiments, e.g., for more accurately simulating defect kinetics at elevated reactor temperatures. This work outlines experiments showing synergistic effects in Au using in situ ion irradiation with various combinations of helium, deuterium and Au ions, as well as some initial work on materials utilized in tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs): zirconium alloys and LiAlO2.
Efficacy of a Fatty Acids Dietary Supplement in a Polyethylene Glycol-Induced Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration
Authors: Cammalleri Maurizio , Dal Monte Massimo , Locri Filippo , Lardner Emma , Kvanta Anders , Rusciano Dario , André Helder , Bagnoli Paola
Published: September 2017

Current knowledge of the benefits of nutrition supplements for eye pathologies is based largely on the use of appropriate animal models, together with defined dietary supplementation. Here, C57BL6 mice were subretinally injected with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400, an established model of retinal degeneration with a dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-like phenotype, an eye pathology that lacks treatment. In response to PEG-400, markers of the complement system, angiogenesis, inflammation, gliosis, and macrophage infiltration were upregulated in both retinas and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroids, whereas dietary supplementation with a mixture based on fatty acids counteracted their upregulation. Major effects include a reduction of inflammation, in both retinas and RPE/choroids, and an inhibition of macrophage infiltration in the choroid, yet not in the retina, suggesting a targeted action through the choroidal vasculature. Histological analysis revealed a thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), together with dysregulation of the epithelium layer in response to PEG-400. In addition, immunohistofluorescence demonstrated Müller cell gliosis and macrophage infiltration into subretinal tissues supporting the molecular findings. Reduced ONL thickness, gliosis, and macrophage infiltration were counteracted by the diet supplement. The present data suggest that fatty acids may represent a useful form of diet supplementation to prevent or limit the progression of dry AMD.
Processing ‘Ataulfo’ Mango into Juice Preserves the Bioavailability and Antioxidant Capacity of Its Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Quirós-Sauceda Ana , Chen C.-Y. , Blumberg Jeffrey , Astiazaran-Garcia Humberto , Wall-Medrano Abraham , González-Aguilar Gustavo
Published: September 2017

The health-promoting effects of phenolic compounds depend on their bioaccessibility from the food matrix and their consequent bioavailability. We carried out a randomized crossover pilot clinical trial to evaluate the matrix effect (raw flesh and juice) of ‘Ataulfo’ mango on the bioavailability of its phenolic compounds. Twelve healthy male subjects consumed a dose of mango flesh or juice. Blood was collected for six hours after consumption, and urine for 24 h. Plasma and urine phenolics were analyzed by electrochemical detection coupled to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-ECD). Five compounds were identified and quantified in plasma. Six phenolic compounds, plus a microbial metabolite (pyrogallol) were quantified in urine, suggesting colonic metabolism. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) occurred 2–4 h after consumption; excretion rates were maximum at 8–24 h. Mango flesh contributed to greater protocatechuic acid absorption (49%), mango juice contributed to higher chlorogenic acid absorption (62%). Our data suggests that the bioavailability and antioxidant capacity of mango phenolics is preserved, and may be increased when the flesh is processed into juice.
Spectral Similarity and PRI Variations for a Boreal Forest Stand Using Multi-angular Airborne Imagery
Authors: Markiet Vincent , Hernández-Clemente Rocío , Mõttus Matti
Published: September 2017

The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) is a proxy for light use efficiency (LUE), and is used in remote sensing to measure plant stress and photosynthetic downregulation in plant canopies. It is known to depend on local light conditions within a canopy indicating non-photosynthetic quenching of incident radiation. Additionally, when measured from a distance, canopy PRI depends on shadow fraction—the fraction of shaded foliage in the instantaneous field of view of the sensor—due to observation geometry. Our aim is to quantify the extent to which sunlit fraction alone can describe variations in PRI so that it would be possible to correct for its variation and identify other possible factors affecting the PRI–sunlit fraction relationship. We used a high spatial and spectral resolution Aisa Eagle airborne imaging spectrometer above a boreal Scots pine site in Finland (Hyytiälä forest research station, 61°50′N, 24°17′E), with the sensor looking in nadir and tilted (off-nadir) directions. The spectral resolution of the data was 4.6 nm, and the spatial resolution was 0.6 m. We compared the PRI for three different scatter angles ( β = 19 ° , 55 ° and 76 °, defined as the angle between sensor and solar directions) at the forest stand level, and observed a small (0.006) but statistically significant (p < 0.01) difference in stand PRI. We found that stand mean PRI was not a direct function of sunlit fraction. However, for each scatter angle separately, we found a clear non-linear relationship between PRI and sunlit fraction. The relationship was systematic and had a similar shape for all of the scatter angles. As the PRI–sunlit fraction curves for the different scatter angles were shifted with respect to each other, no universal curve could be found causing the observed independence of canopy PRI from the average sunlit fraction of each view direction. We found the shifts of the curves to be related to a leaf structural effect on canopy scattering: the ratio of needle spectral reflectance to transmittance. We demonstrate that modeling PRI–sunlit fraction relationships using high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy data is suitable and needed in order to quantify PRI variations over forest canopies.
Error Modeling and Experimental Study of a Flexible Joint 6-UPUR Parallel Six-Axis Force Sensor
Authors: Zhao Yanzhi , Cao Yachao , Zhang Caifeng , Zhang Dan , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2017

By combining a parallel mechanism with integrated flexible joints, a large measurement range and high accuracy sensor is realized. However, the main errors of the sensor involve not only assembly errors, but also deformation errors of its flexible leg. Based on a flexible joint 6-UPUR (a kind of mechanism configuration where U-universal joint, P-prismatic joint, R-revolute joint) parallel six-axis force sensor developed during the prephase, assembly and deformation error modeling and analysis of the resulting sensors with a large measurement range and high accuracy are made in this paper. First, an assembly error model is established based on the imaginary kinematic joint method and the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) method. Next, a stiffness model is built to solve the stiffness matrix. The deformation error model of the sensor is obtained. Then, the first order kinematic influence coefficient matrix when the synthetic error is taken into account is solved. Finally, measurement and calibration experiments of the sensor composed of the hardware and software system are performed. Forced deformation of the force-measuring platform is detected by using laser interferometry and analyzed to verify the correctness of the synthetic error model. In addition, the first order kinematic influence coefficient matrix in actual circumstances is calculated. By comparing the condition numbers and square norms of the coefficient matrices, the conclusion is drawn theoretically that it is very important to take into account the synthetic error for design stage of the sensor and helpful to improve performance of the sensor in order to meet needs of actual working environments.
Robust Small Target Co-Detection from Airborne Infrared Image Sequences
Authors: Gao Jingli , Wen Chenglin , Liu Meiqin
Published: September 2017

In this paper, a novel infrared target co-detection model combining the self-correlation features of backgrounds and the commonality features of targets in the spatio-temporal domain is proposed to detect small targets in a sequence of infrared images with complex backgrounds. Firstly, a dense target extraction model based on nonlinear weights is proposed, which can better suppress background of images and enhance small targets than weights of singular values. Secondly, a sparse target extraction model based on entry-wise weighted robust principal component analysis is proposed. The entry-wise weight adaptively incorporates structural prior in terms of local weighted entropy, thus, it can extract real targets accurately and suppress background clutters efficiently. Finally, the commonality of targets in the spatio-temporal domain are used to construct target refinement model for false alarms suppression and target confirmation. Since real targets could appear in both of the dense and sparse reconstruction maps of a single frame, and form trajectories after tracklet association of consecutive frames, the location correlation of the dense and sparse reconstruction maps for a single frame and tracklet association of the location correlation maps for successive frames have strong ability to discriminate between small targets and background clutters. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed small target co-detection method can not only suppress background clutters effectively, but also detect targets accurately even if with target-like interference.
How Urbanization Economies Impact TFP of R&D Performers: Evidence from China
Authors: Dai Meihong , Li Xianneng , Lu Yuduo
Published: September 2017

There have been extensive studies exploring the relationship between agglomeration economies and economic growth. However, far less attention is paid to the nonlinear relationship of urbanization economies–firm productivity nexus, especially in developing countries. This paper aims to explore how urbanization economies impact the total factor productivity (TFP) of research and development (R&D) performers using a large sample of Chinese manufacturing firms. The generalized propensity score matching methodology is employed to not only address the selection-bias and endogenous issues, but also quantitatively investigate how firm TFP responds to urbanization economies at each urbanization level. Based on the full data sample, our results show that there exists an S-shaped relationship between urbanization economies and TFP of Chinese R&D performers. Importantly, there is an optimal interval in which urbanization economies’ impact on firm TFP can be maximized. There is also a threshold value, only beyond which a further increase in urbanization economies improves firm TFP, and a saturation point, beyond which a further increase in urbanization economies does not increase and even decrease firm TFP. The relationship between urbanization economies and TFP of Chinese R&D performers presents a consistent pattern for firms in high- and medium–low-technology industries, as well as in Eastern and North East China. However, for firms in Central and Western China, there is a much smaller and even no range of optimal interval of urbanization economies, respectively. Our research helps provide insights into policy makers to maximize urbanization economies’ positive impact on firm TFP.
An Insight into Cotton Leaf Curl Multan Betasatellite, the Most Important Component of Cotton Leaf Curl Disease Complex
Authors: Zubair Muhammad , Zaidi Syed , Shakir Sara , Amin Imran , Mansoor Shahid
Published: September 2017

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is one of the most economically important diseases and is a constraint to cotton production in major producers, Pakistan and India. CLCuD is caused by monopartite plant viruses belonging to the family Geminiviridae (genus Begomovirus), in association with an essential, disease-specific satellite, Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB) belonging to a newly-established family Tolecusatellitidae (genus Betasatellite). CLCuMuB has a small genome (ca. 1350 nt) with a satellite conserved region, an adenine-rich region and a single gene that encodes for a multifunctional βC1 protein. CLCuMuB βC1 protein has a major role in pathogenicity and symptom determination, and alters several host cellular functions like autophagy, ubiquitination, and suppression of gene silencing, to assist CLCuD infectivity. Efficient trans-replication ability of CLCuMuB with several monopartite and bipartite begomoviruses, is also associated with the rapid evolution and spread of CLCuMuB. In this article we comprehensively reviewed the role of CLCuMuB in CLCuD, focusing on the βC1 functions and its interactions with host proteins.
A Novel SWMM Based Algorithm Application to Storm Sewer Network Design
Authors: Shao Zhiyu , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Li Shuang , Deng Shihu , Chai Hongxiang
Published: September 2017

An automated algorithm based on the dynamic hydrological and hydraulic simulation modules in Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was developed to aid the design of storm sewer networks, provided that a layout is given. Numerical performance of the proposed algorithm was compared with the existing design methods with two application cases. The automated computation process of the sewer network design was divided into two stages and solved iteratively, determining pipe diameter and pipe slope, respectively. In the first stage, starting with a set of initial values including pipe diameter, pipe cover depth, and ground elevation at manholes, the iteration was carried out from the downstream to the upstream while the pipe slopes of the network were assumed to be fixed and the diameter of each pipe segment was calculated. In the second stage, pipe diameters calculated from the first stage were fixed and the pipe slopes were calculated successively from the downstream pipe segment to the upstream pipe segment. Every time the diameter or slope of a pipe segment was adjusted, the pipe flow rate, velocity, and flow depth were obtained by running SWMM hydrological and hydraulic simulation modules. The iteration terminated once the combination scheme of pipe diameters and slopes met the design ordinance which requires the pipe flows full under gravity in a design return period. A real urban sewer system in a hilly city and a benchmark sewer network from the literature were tested to validate the proposed automated algorithm, and good performance was shown. The automated design results explicitly show that the proposed storm sewer design approach leads to a quality solution with reduced computational effort.
Some Preliminary Results of an Analysis of Coordinates Time Series of RTK Network LitPos
Authors: Galinauskas Karolis , Baniulis Rimvydas , Paršeliūnas Eimuntas , Petniūnas Marius
Published: September 2017

LitPOS (Lithuanian Positioning System), the network of permanent reference GNSS stations, became operational in July 2007. It provides data both for real-time and post-processing applications. Coordinate time series were obtained from LitPOS reprocessing data for years 2008–2014. The reprocessing was done using Bernese 5.2 software. The analysis of time series was done with Matlab routine “GITSA” (GPS Interactive Time Series Analysis). In this paper the review of obtained coordinate time series will be given, in addition error tracking and some of the results will be assessed. An analysis of discontinuities and outliers with possible problem solutions will be provided. As a result more consistent accumulated multi-year solution is presented.
Análisis visual y ensayos de índice de rebote con el martillo Schmidt en el Taj-ul-Masajid
Authors: Hussain A. , Akhtar S.
Published: September 2017

Taj-ul-Masajid, literalmente, la corona entre las mezquitas, es un conjunto de destacada ingeniería estructural situada en el corazón de Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. Se trata de una combinación única entre mamposterías de piedra y modernas estructuras de hormigón armado, constituyendo un punto de unión entre el presente y el pasado de la ingeniería estructural. Siendo una maravilla en sí misma, su estructura se ve a menudo despreciada por técnicos y restauradores a partes iguales, en una muestra de ingenuidad. Encontrándose en la actualidad en un estado bastante ruinoso, la estructura necesita urgentes trabajos de rehabilitación. Los autores de este trabajo han tratado de llevar a cabo una evaluación insitu de la estructura mediante ensayos no destructivos (NDT), sugiriendo una serie de pasos para mejorar su condición actual. Como primer paso llevaron a cabo una inspección visual y una campaña de determinación del índice de rebote mediante el martillo Schmidt que presentan en este artículo. También sugieren una nueva aproximación para la verificación de los resultados obtenidos.
Factores de corrección a la resistencia a compresión de testigos de hormigón. Análisis crítico de las normas cubanas e internacionales
Authors: Fernández Domínguez A. , Howland Albear J. J.
Published: September 2017

La norma cubana NC 724:2015 sólo exige la aplicación de un factor de corrección a la resistencia a compresión de un testigo de hormigón, e incluye otros dos con carácter informativo, uno de los cuales presenta incongruencias. Por su parte, en normativas internacionales de referencia se exige la aplicación de hasta 4 factores de corrección. A partir del análisis crítico de las normativas internacionales son propuestos los factores de corrección que pudieran aparecer en una actualización de la NC 724. Finalmente se demuestra, utilizando una base de datos de testigos de 15 edificios de La Habana, que las diferencias que se obtienen en la resistencia de un testigo al aplicar los factores propuestos respecto a la práctica actual en Cuba son estadísticamente significativas, alcanzando un valor promedio del 15 %.
Integrative taxonomy supports the presence of two species of Kyphosus (Perciformes: Kyphosidae) in Atlantic European waters
Authors: Bañón Rafael , Barros-García David , De Carlos Alejandro
Published: September 2017

The taxonomic identification of one Kyphosus sectatrix and two Kyphosus vaigiensis specimens caught in the European Atlantic waters of Galicia, northwestern Spain, was carried out by means of integrative taxonomy, combining the examination of morphological characters and DNA barcodes. Taxonomical assignation based on morphological characters of these specimens was tested by comparing their COI sequences with available data of Kyphosus deposited in public repositories. The resulting neighbour-joining tree defined four clades corresponding to Barcode Index Number (BIN) and indicated that some nucleotide sequences from Kyphosus, previously deposited, probably originate from misidentified specimens, as would be expected from cryptic and sympatric species. The specimens of Kyphosus vaigiensis represent a new record for the waters of Galicia and the northernmost record in the eastern Atlantic. This kind of herbivorous tropical fishes could play an important role in the tropho-dynamic context of this temperate coastal ecosystem.
Politiques environnementales brésiliennes : intentions et réalités
Authors: Mello-Théry Neli Aparecida de
Published: September 2017

Cet article constitue une réflexion sur les politiques environnementales élaborées et implantées ces quinze dernières années, et en particulier celles sur la conservation de la biodiversité, le changement climatique et la Loi sur les Forêts (ancien Code Forestier). Les contradictions, les avancées et les reculs dans la politique environnementale des gouvernements Lula et Dilma sont visibles sur la scène nationale et les risques pour l´environnement continuent à augmenter. Certains plans et programmes spécifiques (en particulier sur le déboisement de l´Amazonie) et la politique sur les changements climatiques ont permis des progrès. D´autres ont fini par aggraver une situation déjà assez précaire, comme ce fut le cas de la Loi sur les Forêts. Notre analyse montrera les évolutions et les continuités des politiques publiques en vigueur.
Changes in regional climate extremes as a function of global mean temperature: an interactive plotting framework
Authors: Wartenburger Richard , Hirschi Martin , Donat Markus G. , Greve Peter , Pitman Andy J. , Seneviratne Sonia I.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. This article extends a previous study Seneviratne et al. (2016) to provide regional analyses of changes in climate extremes as a function of projected changes in global mean temperature. We introduce the DROUGHT-HEAT Regional Climate Atlas, an interactive tool to analyse and display a range of well-established climate extremes and water-cycle indices and their changes as a function of global warming. These projections are based on simulations from the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). A selection of example results are presented here, but users can visualize specific indices of interest using the online tool. This implementation enables a direct assessment of regional climate changes associated with global mean temperature targets, such as the 2 and 1.5° limits agreed within the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Literature Review for the Type of Interview in Qualitative Research
Authors: Adhabi Essa Ali R , Anozie Christina B Lash
Published: September 2017

In carrying out qualitative studies, the important issue is the quality of data collected, which is dependent on the mode of data collection used. The interview is one of the data collection techniques for qualitative researchers. Distinct from other methods, interviews have unique features that make them superior. As such, the current study explores relevant issues that are linked to interviews, especially aspects that make them central to qualitative data collection. Besides the historical appeal, the discussion covers the advantages a researcher experiences while using interviews to collect data. They require a personal commitment of both the participant and researcher. Significantly, time and resource allocation are also required. With the emerging technology, implementation of the interview process is becoming flexible thus moving away from the rigid face to face mode. Besides their strengths, there are also challenges and ethical dilemmas that are linked to interviews. As a perfect qualitative data collection method, researchers have professional issues that they have a deal with throughout the process. The link between all these issues is the subject area of the current discussion, which tackles each factor separately.
Student Engagement: Enhancing Students’ Appreciation for Learning and Their Achievement in High Schools
Authors: Khodaeifaal Solmaz
Published: September 2017

Students’ perspectives and ideas related to classroom learning seem to be mostly ignored in high schools. Not only does this issue result in both teachers and students struggling in the process of teaching and learning, but students also fail to appreciate the intrinsic value of the curriculum content. It is therefore important to explore the significance of student engagement on their appreciation of learning as well as any positive effects that it might have on their success. This paper has two main aims. First, it provides an overview of the consequence of student engagement and why attending to students’ points of view and their engagement in the process of learning might improve their content learning and achievement. Second, it provides a sketch of the attempts made toward the use of technology and social media to motivate and engage students in content learning. Consequently, the paper has three main sections. The first gives succinct descriptions of student engagement in high school. The second part alongside with my own teaching experiences traces the ways that students are helped to develop an appreciation for learning and highlights the importance of the impact of student engagement in learning. The third section interweaves students’ interest and engagement with digital media and an appreciation of content learning. In so doing, the paper suggests that social media could be an aid for students to learn the content in the subjects being studied, which connects their in-school context and experience to out of school.
Impact of Massification on Resource Adequacy in Public and Private Universities in Kenya
Authors: Mwirichia Wilberforce N. , Jagero Nelson , Barchok Hillary
Published: September 2017

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of resource adequacy in public and private universities in Kenya. Massification is the rapid enrolment of students in universities. Kenya has expanded her student enrolment in universities for her development needs. Research findings raise pertinent issues touching on the quality of education in the Kenyan universities. The study adopted a causal- comparative survey research design. The respondents were students and lecturers in the eight purposely selected universities in Kenya. A sample of 399 respondents consisting of 361 students, 22 lecturers and 16 heads of Department from four public and four private universities in Kenya were selected for the study through simple random sampling technique. The inferential statistics used in the study was chi-square. The hypothesis of the study was stated as “there is no statistical significant difference on the impact of massification on resource adequacy between public and private universities in Kenya. The study found that there is no significant statistical difference on the impact of massification on resource adequacy between public and private universities. From the study it was concluded that there was no statistical significance difference on the impact of massification on resource adequacy between public and private universities in Kenya. The study recommends that university management in public universities should provide adequate learning, welfare services, computing services and human resources to improve the quality of education and training in the universities in Kenya.