bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Wetting and Adhesion of Three Bioceramic Root Canal Sealers to Intraradicular Human Dentin
Authors: Ha Jung-Hong , Kim Hyeon-Cheol , Kim Young Kyung , Kwon Tae-Yub
Published: July 2018

Root canal sealers should have good wetting and adhesion with intraradicular dentin. This study evaluated the wetting and adhesion properties of three bioceramic root canal sealers on dentin using contact angle (CA) measurements and calculations based on the Owens–Wendt–Rabel–Kälble (OWRK) model and compared the properties with those of a resin sealer. Three bioceramic sealers (EndoSequence BC Sealer (BC); Endoseal MTA (EM); and MTA Fillapex (MF)) were tested, together with one epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus (AP)). Disc-shaped sealer specimens and human premolar teeth with flat and polished intraradicular dentin surfaces were prepared (n = 12). The CAs of two liquids (water and methylene iodide) were measured on the surfaces using the sessile drop method. The wetting and adhesion properties of the four sealers were calculated using the wetting envelope and isogram diagram, respectively. Group BC showed the best wettability among the four sealer groups. The best adhesion was achieved for group EM, followed by group BC, with a significant difference being present between the two groups (p < 0.05). The OWRK-based calculation indicated that the bioceramic BC and EM sealers showed superior wetting and adhesion properties to the AP sealers.
Polysaccharide-Based Aerogel Bead Production via Jet Cutting Method
Authors: Preibisch Imke , Niemeyer Philipp , Yusufoglu Yusuf , Gurikov Pavel , Milow Barbara , Smirnova Irina
Published: July 2018

The aim of this work is to develop a method to produce spherical biopolymer-based aerogel particles, which is capable for scale-up in the future. Therefore, the jet cutting method is suggested. Amidated pectin, sodium alginate, and chitosan are used as a precursor (a 1–3 wt. % solution) for particle production via jet cutting. Gelation is realized via two methods: the internal setting method (using calcium carbonate particles as cross-linkers and citric and acidic acid for pH adjustment) and the diffusion method (in calcium chloride solutions). Gel particles are subjected to solvent exchange to ethanol and consequent supercritical drying with CO2. Spherical aerogel particles with narrow particle size distributions in the range of 400 to 1500 µm and a specific surface area of around 500 m2/g are produced. Overall, it can be concluded that the jet cutting method is suitable for aerogel particle production, although the shape of the particles is not perfectly spherical in all cases. However, parameter adjustment might lead to even better shaped particles in further work. Moreover, the biopolymer-based aerogel particles synthesized in this study are tested as humidity absorbers in drying units for home appliances, particularly for dishwashers. It has been shown that for several cycles of absorption and desorption of humidity, aerogel particles are stable with an absorption capacity of around 20 wt. %.
Surface Characterization and Secondary Electron Emission Properties of Alumina Containing MgO Film on Ag-Mg-Al Alloy
Authors: Zhou Fan , Zhang Quan , Wang Feifei , Wang Jing , Yang Yunfei , Lai Chen , Liu Wei , Wang Jinshu
Published: July 2018

Ag-Mg alloy is used as a dynode material in electron multiplier tubes due to the high secondary electron yields (δ) of the surface of MgO film. However, MgO film is readily degraded under strong electron or ion bombardment, which results in a decrease in the lifetime of devices. In this study, alumina-containing MgO films of ~50–150 nm were developed on a Ag-2Mg-2Al alloy (silver alloy containing 2 wt % Mg and 2 wt % Al) after a thermal activation process performed at 500–600 °C under low oxygen pressures of 5.0–20.0 Pa. Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal that the film consists of a thin layer of pure MgO and a relatively thicker layer of alumina-containing MgO located beneath the top MgO layer. The alumina-containing MgO film exhibits high δ value of 7.7 at a primary electron energy of 580 eV and a much better stability under energetic electron bombardment than pure MgO film on Ag-Mg alloy. Alumina has higher bond dissociation energy than MgO, and the presence of alumina in the film contributes to mitigating the dissociation of the MgO film under electron bombardment. The Ag-2Mg-2Al alloy with alumina-containing MgO film is a promising candidate as a dynode material for electron multiplier tubes.
Female Reproductive Performance in the Mouse: Effect of Oral Melatonin
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxue , Wang Dian , Wu Zhenzheng , Pan Bo , Yang Haoxuan , Zeng Changjun , Zhang Ming , Liu Guoshi , Han Hongbing , Zhou Guangbin
Published: July 2018

Although melatonin has some of the broadest ranges of actions on the physiology of vertebrates, especially on their reproductive processes, the mechanism by which melatonin regulates animal reproduction is still incompletely understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of oral melatonin on the reproductive performance of female mice. Female ICR mice (7 weeks old) were given melatonin-containing water (3, 30 and 300 μg/mL; melatonin) or water only (control) until 10 weeks of age. Then, some of the mice were successfully mated (confirmed by vaginal plugs), and the number of live births and their weights were recorded. Some mice were used for a histological analysis of the number of follicles in the ovaries. Others were used for oocyte collection after superovulation, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed. The mRNA expression of the apopotosis-related genes (BAX, BCL2) in the IVF embryos were analyzed. After melatonin administration, the mice showed similar serum melatonin levels to that of the control. The number of antral follicles per mm2 unit area in the 30 μg/mL melatonin-treated group (14.60) was significantly higher than that of the control (7.78), which was lower than that of the 3 μg/mL melatonin-treated group (12.29). The litter size was significantly higher in the 3 μg/mL melatonin-treated group (15.5) than in the control (14.3). After IVF, the hatched blastocyst formation rate in the 30 μg/mL melatonin-treated group (85.70%) was significantly higher than that of the control (72.10%), and it was the same for the BCL2/BAX expression ratio. Although oral melatonin did not appear to have an effect on the serum melatonin rhythm in the mouse, melatonin did increase litter size at the 3 μg/mL dose level, and improved the developmental competency of IVF embryos at the 30 μg/mL level.
UHPLC Analysis of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Optimization of Separation Using Chemometrics and Detection of Minor Crocetin Esters
Authors: D’Archivio Angelo Antonio , Di Donato Francesca , Foschi Martina , Maggi Maria Anna , Ruggieri Fabrizio
Published: July 2018

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD) was applied to improve separation and detection of mono- and bis-glucosyl esters of crocetin (crocins), the main red-colored constituents of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), and other polar components. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise the chromatographic resolution on the Kinetex C18 (Phenomenex) column taking into account of the combined effect of the column temperature, the eluent flow rate and the slope of a linear eluent concentration gradient. A three-level full-factorial design of experiments was adopted to identify suitable combinations of the above factors. The influence of the separation conditions on the resolutions of 22 adjacent peaks was simultaneously modelled by a multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) in which a bit string representation was used to identify the target analytes. The chromatogram collected under the optimal separation conditions revealed a higher number of crocetin esters than those already characterised by means of mass-spectrometry data and usually detected by HPLC. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography analyses carried out on the novel Luna Omega Polar C18 (Phenomenex) column confirmed the large number of crocetin derivatives. Further work is in progress to acquire mass-spectrometry data and to clarify the chemical structure to the newly found saffron components.
Nanostrip-Induced High Tunability Multipolar Fano Resonances in a Au Ring-Strip Nanosystem
Authors: Yi Zao , Li Xin , Xu Xibin , Chen Xifang , Ye Xin , Yi Yong , Duan Tao , Tang Yongjian , Liu Jiangwei , Yi Yougen
Published: July 2018

Surface plasmon resonances of a Au ring-strip nanosystem with tunable multipolar Fano resonances have been investigated based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Abundant plasmon properties of a Au ring-strip nanosystem can be obtained on the basis of the unique electronic properties of different geometry parameters. In our research models, these multipolar Fano resonances are induced and can be tuned independently by changing the geometry parameters of the Au ring-strip nanosystem. Complex electric field distributions excited by the Au ring-strip nanosystem provide possibility to form dark plasmonic modes. Multipolar Fano resonances display strong light extinction in the Au ring-strip nanosystem, which can offer a new approach for an optical tunable filter, optical switching, and advanced biosensing.
Design Space and QbD Approach for Production of Drug Nanocrystals by Wet Media Milling Techniques
Authors: Peltonen Leena
Published: July 2018

Drug nanocrystals are nanosized solid drug particles, the most important application of which is the improvement of solubility properties of poorly soluble drug materials. Drug nanocrystals can be produced by many different techniques, but the mostly used are different kinds of media milling techniques; in milling, particle size of bulk sized drug material is decreased, with the aid of milling beads, to nanometer scale. Utilization of Quality by Design, QbD, approach in nanomilling improves the process-understanding of the system, and recently, the number of studies using the QbD approach in nanomilling has increased. In the QbD approach, the quality is built into the products and processes throughout the whole production chain. Definition of Critical Quality Attributes, CQAs, determines the targeted final product properties. CQAs are confirmed by setting Critical Process Parameters, CPPs, which include both process parameters but also input variables, like stabilizer amount or the solid state form of the drug. Finally, Design Space determines the limits in which CPPs should be in order to reach CQAs. This review discusses the milling process and process variables, CPPs, their impact on product properties, CQAs and challenges of the QbD approach in nanomilling studies.
Understanding the Intrinsic Carrier Transport in Highly Oriented Poly(3-hexylthiophene): Effect of Side Chain Regioregularity
Authors: Qu Sanyin , Ming Chen , Yao Qin , Lu Wanheng , Zeng Kaiyang , Shi Wei , Shi Xun , Uher Ctirad , Chen Lidong
Published: July 2018

The fundamental understanding of the influence of molecular structure on the carrier transport properties in the field of organic thermoelectrics (OTEs) is a big challenge since the carrier transport behavior in conducting polymers reveals average properties contributed from all carrier transport channels, including those through intra-chain, inter-chain, inter-grain, and hopping between disordered localized sites. Here, combining molecular dynamics simulations and experiments, we investigated the carrier transport properties of doped highly oriented poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films with different side-chain regioregularity. It is demonstrated that the substitution of side chains can not only take effect on the carrier transport edge, but also on the dimensionality of the transport paths and as a result, on the carrier mobility. Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) study as well as temperature-dependent measurements of the electrical conductivity clearly showed ordered local current paths in the regular side chain P3HT films, while random paths prevailed in the irregular sample. Regular side chain substitution can be activated more easily and favors one-dimensional transport along the backbone chain direction, while the irregular sample presents the three-dimensional electron hopping behavior. As a consequence, the regular side chain P3HT samples demonstrated high carrier mobility of 2.9 ± 0.3 cm2/V·s, which is more than one order of magnitude higher than that in irregular side chain P3HT films, resulting in a maximum thermoelectric (TE) power factor of 39.1 ± 2.5 μW/mK2 at room temperature. These findings would formulate design rules for organic semiconductors based on these complex systems, and especially assist in the design of high performance OTE polymers.
Characterization and Evaluation of Controlled Antimicrobial Release from Petrochemical (PU) and Biodegradable (PHB) Packaging
Authors: Iordanskii Alexey , Zhulkina Anna , Olkhov Anatoliy , Fomin Sergey , Burkov Andrey , Stilman Mikhail
Published: July 2018

The academic exploration and technology design of active packaging are coherently supplying innovative approaches for enhancing the quality and safety of food, as well as prolonging their shelf-life. With the object of comparison between two barrier materials, such as stable petrochemical polyurethane (PU), (BASF), and biodegradable natural poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), (Biomer Co., Krailling, Germany), the study of antibacterial agent release has been performed. For the characterization of polymer surface morphology and crystallinity, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used respectively. The antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD) has been estimated by the Bauer–Kirby Disk Diffusion Test. It was shown that the kinetic release profiles of CHD, as the active agent, in both polymers, significantly differed due to the superposition of diffusion and surface degradation in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). To emphasize the special transport phenomena in polymer packaging, the diffusivity modeling was performed and the CHD diffusion coefficients for the plane films of PU and PHB were further compared. The benefit of active biodegradable packaging on the base of PHB is discussed.
Preparation and Characterization of Highly Ordered Mercapto-Modified Bridged Silsesquioxane for Removing Ammonia-Nitrogen from Water
Authors: Lin Derong , Huang Yichen , Yang Yuanmeng , Long Xiaomei , Qin Wen , Chen Hong , Zhang Qing , Wu Zhijun , Li Suqing , Wu Dingtao , Hu Lijiang , Zhang Xingwen
Published: July 2018

In acidic conditions, mesoporous molecular sieves SBA-15 and SBA-15-SH were synthesized. Structural characterization was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), 13C CP MAS-NMR, 29Si CP MAS-NMR and nitrogen adsorption–desorption (BET). The results showed that in SBA-15-SH, the direct synthesis method made the absorption peak intensity weaker than that of SBA-15, while the post-grafted peak intensity did not change. Their spectra were different due to the C-H stretching bands of Si-O-Si and propyl groups. But their structure was still evenly distributed and was still hexangular mesoporous structure. Their pore size increased, and the H-SBA-15-SH had larger pore size. The adsorption of ammonia-nitrogen by molecular sieve was affected by the relative pressure and the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, in which the adsorption capacity of G-SBA-15-SH was the largest and the adsorption capacity of SBA-15 was the smallest.
Rubber-Filler Interactions in Polyisoprene Filled with In Situ Generated Silica: A Solid State NMR Study
Authors: Borsacchi Silvia , Sudhakaran Umayal Priyadharsini , Calucci Lucia , Martini Francesca , Carignani Elisa , Messori Massimo , Geppi Marco
Published: July 2018

In this paper we used high- and low-resolution solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques to investigate a series of polyisoprene samples filled with silica generated in situ from tetraethoxysilane by sol-gel process. In particular, 1H spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times allowed us to get insights into the dynamic properties of both the polymer bulk and the bound rubber, and to obtain a comparative estimate of the amount of bound rubber in samples prepared with different compositions and sol-gel reaction times. In all samples, three fractions with different mobility could be distinguished by 1H T2 and ascribed to loosely bound rubber, polymer bulk, and free chain ends. The amount of bound rubber was found to be dependent on sample preparation, and it resulted maximum in the sample showing the best dispersion of silica domains in the rubber matrix. The interpretation of the loosely bound rubber in terms of “glassy” behaviour was discussed, also on the basis of 1H T1 and T1ρ data.
Experimental Study on the Damage of Granite by Acoustic Emission after Cyclic Heating and Cooling with Circulating Water
Authors: Zhu Dong , Jing Hongwen , Yin Qian , Han Guansheng
Published: July 2018

Hot dry rock is developed by injecting cold water into high-temperature rock mass. At the same time, cold water is heated in contact with the rock mass. With the continuous influx of cold water, the surrounding rock will undergo a rapid cooling process, which results in several cycles of heating and cooling. However, there is little research on the influence of cycles of heating and cooling with circulating water on the mechanical properties of rock, which is of great importance to the stability of rock mass engineering in the process of energy development. In this paper, the effects of cyclic heating and cooling with circulating water on the damage of granite are studied using uniaxial compressive, Brazilian and acoustic emission (AE) tests. The results show that heat treatment temperature and number of cycles have important effects on the mechanical properties of granite as follows: (1) at the same treatment temperature, an increase in the number of cycles means that the distribution of physical and mechanical parameters of the granite show an almost exponential downward trend. The uniaxial compression of granite results in its transformation from brittle to plastic, and the failure mode changes from slipping of the shear surface to plastic failure. With increased cycles of heating and cooling with circulating water, the tensile strength of granite also decreases; temperature has an obvious influence on physical and mechanical parameters, cracking of samples, and plays a controlling role in the failure mode of samples. In addition, (2) at the same temperature, the heating and cooling numbers N have a significant influence on the AE distribution characteristics of the sample under uniaxial compression and the number of AE collisions, and the cumulative number of AE decreases with the increase of N. (3) The concepts of mechanical damage and high-temperature and cold-water shock damage during uniaxial compression of samples were proposed based on AE, and the damage equations were established respectively. The curve equations of damage value (D) and cycle numbers N after thermal shock damage of high temperature and cold water were overlaid. The cracking mechanism of high-temperature and cold water impact on granite was analyzed, and the thermal shock stress equation of high temperature and water cooling was established.
Use of Twitter in Spanish Communication Journals
Authors: Tur-Viñes Victoria , Segarra-Saavedra Jesús , Hidalgo-Marí Tatiana
Published: July 2018

This is an exploratory study on the Twitter profiles managed by 30 Spanish Communication journals. The aim is to analyse the profile management, to identify the features of the most interactive content, and to propose effective practices motivating strategic management. The management variables considered were the following: the launch date of the journal and launch of the Twitter profile; published content and frequency of publication; number of publications in 2016; number of Twitter followers. The identification of the features of the most interactive tweets was performed in a 150-unit sample, taking into consideration the following factors: the number of retweets, likes, type of content (motivation), components forming the content, the date and time of publication, and origin of the publication (internal or unrelated). The results reveal notable practices and certain deficiencies in the strategic management of social profiles. Twitter represents an innovative opportunity in scientific dissemination, and it establishes an inalienable strategy for creating and maintaining the brand-journal while retaining the need to strengthen followers’ reciprocity. Other potential uses are suggested.
Quaker Prophetic Language in the Seventeenth Century: A Cross-Disciplinary Case Study
Authors: Roads Judith
Published: July 2018

This paper explores three themes: (i) a short, empirical research account of the linguistic realization of seventeenth-century Quaker prophecy using digital corpus-based tools; (ii) a practical description of how those tools can be used in interdisciplinary research such as the prophecy study; and (iii) a reflective section that considers the advantages, potential richness but also challenges of embarking on an integrated piece of research that straddles established academic disciplines. The ‘prophecy’ analysis comments on the nature of prophecy from a linguistic perspective. It includes positive and negative connotations observed in the data contrasted with non-Quaker texts (including the Bible), and also how Quaker prophetic style changed during the second half of the seventeenth century. The secondary purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the value of departing from traditional, well-established approaches in a discipline such as religion. Quaker studies scholars are familiar with the exercise of grappling with unfamiliar approaches, concepts and specialist vocabulary in order to learn about new insights that they might not otherwise encounter. The present quantitative-based study of Quaker prophesying is a fresh attempt to bring new life to this aspect of historical Quaker writings.
Blindness, Blinking and Boredom: Seeing and Being in Buddhism and Film
Authors: Verchery Lina
Published: July 2018

This essay takes up a paradoxical problem articulated by Buddhist philosopher, Nishitani Keiji: the eye does not see the eye itself. It argues that film has a therapeutic function by virtue of its ability to draw our attention to this precise aspect of our existential situation; namely, that we alternate between being in our experience and perceiving ourselves in our experience. Or, to borrow Nishitani’s terms, we alternate between the act of seeing and the quest to see the eye itself. The essay explores this theme with reference to specific elements of formal cinematic language. Rather than focus on a particular film or set of films for analysis, we focus instead on how the grammar of cinematic language draws our attention to aspects of our existential situation that ordinarily escape our awareness. Insofar as this may also be a goal of Buddhist practice—that is, to expand one’s ability to perceive reality for what it is, beginning with one’s own experience of it—this essay highlights a few of the salient ways that perennial aspects of the human condition have been articulated through the languages of both Buddhism and film.
Examining the Performance of PARACUDA-II Data-Mining Engine versus Selected Techniques to Model Soil Carbon from Reflectance Spectra
Authors: Gholizadeh Asa , Saberioon Mohammadmehdi , Carmon Nimrod , Boruvka Lubos , Ben-Dor Eyal
Published: July 2018

The monitoring and quantification of soil carbon provide a better understanding of soil and atmosphere dynamics. Visible-near-infrared-short-wave infrared (VIS-NIR-SWIR) reflectance spectroscopy can quantitatively estimate soil carbon content more rapidly and cost-effectively compared to traditional laboratory analysis. However, effective estimation of soil carbon using reflectance spectroscopy to a great extent depends on the selection of a suitable preprocessing sequence and data-mining algorithm. Many efforts have been dedicated to the comparison of conventional chemometric techniques and their optimization for soil properties prediction. Instead, the current study focuses on the potential of the new data-mining engine PARACUDA-II®, recently developed at Tel-Aviv University (TAU), by comparing its performance in predicting soil oxidizable carbon (Cox) against common data-mining algorithms including partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forests (RF), boosted regression trees (BRT), support vector machine regression (SVMR), and memory based learning (MBL). To this end, 103 soil samples from the Pokrok dumpsite in the Czech Republic were scanned with an ASD FieldSpec III Pro FR spectroradiometer in the laboratory under a strict protocol. Spectra preprocessing for conventional data-mining techniques was conducted using Savitzky-Golay smoothing and the first derivative method. PARACUDA-II®, on the other hand, operates based on the all possibilities approach (APA) concept, a conditional Latin hypercube sampling (cLHs) algorithm and parallel programming, to evaluate all of the potential combinations of eight different spectral preprocessing techniques against the original reflectance and chemical data prior to the model development. The comparison of results was made in terms of the coefficient of determination (R2) and root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEp). Results showed that the PARACUDA-II® engine performed better than the other selected regular schemes with R2 value of 0.80 and RMSEp of 0.12; the PLSR was less predictive compared to other techniques with R2 = 0.63 and RMSEp = 0.29. This can be attributed to its capability to assess all the available options in an automatic way, which enables the hidden models to rise up and yield the best available model.
Global Satellite Retrievals of the Near-Surface Atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit from AMSR-E and AMSR2
Authors: Du Jinyang , Kimball John S. , Reichle Rolf H. , Jones Lucas A. , Watts Jennifer D. , Kim Youngwook
Published: July 2018

Near-surface atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) is a key environmental variable affecting vegetation water stress, evapotranspiration, and atmospheric moisture demand. Although VPD is readily derived from in situ standard weather station measurements, more spatially continuous global observations for regional monitoring of VPD are lacking. Here, we document a new method to estimate daily (both a.m. and p.m.) global land surface VPD at a 25-km resolution using a satellite passive microwave remotely sensed Land Parameter Data Record (LPDR) derived from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) sensors. The AMSR-derived VPD record shows strong correspondence (correlation coefficient ≥ 0.80, p-value < 0.001) and overall good performance (0.48 kPa ≤ Root Mean Square Error ≤ 0.69 kPa) against independent VPD observations from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) data. The estimated AMSR VPD retrieval uncertainties vary with land cover type, satellite observation time, and underlying LPDR data quality. These results provide new satellite capabilities for global mapping and monitoring of land surface VPD dynamics from ongoing AMSR2 operations. Overall good accuracy and similar observations from both AMSR2 and AMSR-E allow for the development of climate data records documenting recent (from 2002) VPD trends and potential impacts on vegetation, land surface evaporation, and energy budgets.
Assessing Performance of the RSTVOLC Multi-Temporal Algorithm in Detecting Subtle Hot Spots at Oldoinyo Lengai (Tanzania, Africa) for Comparison with MODLEN
Authors: Lacava Teodosio , Kervyn Matthieu , Liuzzi Mariangela , Marchese Francesco , Pergola Nicola , Tramutoli Valerio
Published: July 2018

The identification of subtle thermal anomalies (i.e., of low-temperature and/or spatial extent) at volcanoes by satellite is of great interest for scientists, especially because minor changes in surface temperature might reveal an unrest phase or impending activity. A good test case for assessing the sensitivity level of satellite-based methods is to study the thermal activity of Oldoinyo Lengai (OL) (Africa, Tanzania), which is the only volcano on Earth emitting natrocarbonatite lavas at a lower temperature (i.e., in the range 500–600 °C) than usual magmatic surfaces. In this work, we assess the potential of the RSTVOLC multi-temporal algorithm in detecting subtle hot spots at OL for comparison with MODLEN: A thermal anomaly detection method tailored to OL local conditions, by using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. Our results investigating the eruptive events of 2000–2008 using RSTVOLC reveal the occurrence of several undocumented thermal activities of OL, and may successfully integrate MODLEN observations. In spite of some known limitations strongly affecting the identification of volcanic thermal anomalies from space (e.g., cloud cover; occurrence of short-lived events), this work demonstrates that RSTVOLC may provide a very important contribution for monitoring the OL, identifying subtle hot spots showing values of the radiant flux even around 1 MW.
Mapping Mining Areas in the Brazilian Amazon Using MSI/Sentinel-2 Imagery (2017)
Authors: Lobo Felipe de Lucia , Souza-Filho Pedro Walfir M. , Novo Evlyn Márcia Leão de Moraes , Carlos Felipe Menino , Barbosa Claudio Clemente Faria
Published: July 2018

Although mining plays an important role for the economy of the Amazon, little is known about its attributes such as area, type, scale, and current status as well as socio/environmental impacts. Therefore, we first propose a low time-consuming and high detection accuracy method for mapping the current mining areas within 13 regions of the Brazilian Amazon using Sentinel-2 images. Then, integrating the maps in a GIS (Geography Information System) environment, mining attributes for each region were further assessed with the aid of the DNPM (National Department for Mineral Production) database. Detection of the mining area was conducted in five main steps. (a) MSI (MultiSpectral Instrument)/Sentinel-2A (S2A) image selection; (b) definition of land-use classes and training samples; (c) supervised classification; (d) vector editing for quality control; and (e) validation with high-resolution RapidEye images (Kappa = 0.70). Mining areas derived from validated S2A classification totals 1084.7 km2 in the regions analyzed. Small-scale mining comprises up to 64% of total mining area detected comprises mostly gold (617.8 km2), followed by tin mining (73.0 km2). The remaining 36% is comprised by industrial mining such as iron (47.8), copper (55.5) and manganese (8.9 km2) in Carajás, bauxite in Trombetas (78.4) and Rio Capim (48.5 km2). Given recent events of mining impacts, the large extension of mining areas detected raises a concern regarding its socio-environmental impacts for the Amazonian ecosystems and for local communities.
Parents’ Responses to Coping with Bullying: Variations by Adolescents’ Self-Reported Victimization and Parents’ Awareness of Bullying Involvement
Authors: Larrañaga Elisa , Yubero Santiago , Navarro Raúl
Published: July 2018

Bullying has been recognized as an important risk factor for mental health. A growing number of researchers have encouraged parents to work collaboratively with schools to prevent and intervene in bullying situations. This study explores the relationship between parents’ awareness of bullying involvement, adolescents’ self-reported victimization, and six possible parents’ responses to their child’s victimization. The participants were 1044 seventh–tenth grade students and their parents. Logistic regressions analyses were applied to determine if parents’ awareness of victimization and adolescents’ self-reporting of victimization were associated with parents’ responses to bullying victimization. The results showed that parents’ awareness of bullying and adolescents’ self-reported victimization were only associated with the “defends herself/himself” and “talks to bully” response. In other words, the parents who believe their child has been bullied are less likely to encourage their children to talk with the bully, and when children are victimized, it is less likely that their parents will encourage them to defend themselves or talk with the bully.
Response of Organic Matter Decomposition to No-Tillage Adoption Evaluated by the Tea Bag Technique
Authors: Houben David , Faucon Michel-Pierre , Mercadal Anne-Maïmiti
Published: July 2018

Organic matter (OM) decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem service in conservation agriculture, but the response of this process to the conversion from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT) systems is not fully understood, especially during the transition period. Here, using a litterbag experiment (tea bag technique), we studied OM decomposition in a chronosequence of NT fields of different ages since conversion from CT (1 to 7 years) around Beauvais (northern France). We found that, in contrast with physico-chemical soil properties, the decomposition of both high quality (green tea) and low quality (rooibos tea) organic matter was significantly correlated with the NT age. Irrespective of the OM quality, the OM mass losses linearly increased with the time span since conversion from CT to NT. Taken together, our results suggest that adopting NT practices provides more favorable habitats for microorganisms involved in OM decomposition.
A Decision Framework under a Linguistic Hesitant Fuzzy Set for Solving Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making Problems
Authors: Krishankumar R. , Ravichandran K. S. , Premaladha J. , Kar Samarjit , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Antucheviciene Jurgita
Published: July 2018

With fast-growing interest in sustainable healthcare management, proper selection and evaluation of hospitals become highly essential. Generally, experts/decision-makers (DMs) prefer qualitative information for rating objects. Motivated by this idea, in this paper, a linguistic hesitant fuzzy set (LHFS) is adopted for elicitation of preference information. The LHFS provides qualitative preferences of DMs as well as reflects their hesitancy, inconsistency, and vagueness. Motivated by the power of LHFS, in this paper we present a new decision framework that initially presents some operational laws and properties. Further, a new aggregation operator called simple linguistic hesitant fuzzy weighted geometry (SLHFWG) is proposed under the LHFS context that uses the strength of power operators. Some properties of SLHFWG are also investigated. Criteria weights are estimated using a newly proposed linguistic hesitant fuzzy statistical variance (LHFSV) method, and objects are ranked using the newly proposed linguistic hesitant fuzzy VIKOR (visekriterijumska optimizacijai kompromisno resenje) (LHFVIKOR) method, which is an extension of VIKOR under the LHFS context. The practicality and usefulness of the proposal are demonstrated by using a hospital evaluation example for sustainable healthcare management. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal are realized by comparison with other methods.
Organization Sustainability through Human Resource Capital: The Impacts of Supervisor Incivility and Self-Efficacy
Authors: Alola Uju Violet , Avci Turgay , Ozturen Ali
Published: July 2018

The hotel business is globally acknowledged to significantly contribute to the tourism industry. Over time, supervisor’s incivility continues to be a serious issue where cases of the uncivil act are known to be costly to the organization and creating negative effects on employees’ health and organizational continuity. Human capital has also been highlighted as one of the key variables to organizational sustainability. Using convenience sampling method, this study adopted a total of 329 respondents’ perception to test the study variables. The effect of supervisor’s incivility was assessed against employee’s self-efficacy, turnover intention, emotional exhaustion, and job satisfaction. The study employed data gathered from four and five stars hotels in Nigeria using Analysis of a moment structures (IBM AMOS) software to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Empirical evidence shows that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between supervisor incivility, turnover intention, and job satisfaction. The results show that evidence of supervisor’s incivility negatively affects hotel employee.
Higher Education Input, Technological Innovation, and Economic Growth in China
Authors: Zhou Guangyou , Luo Sumei
Published: July 2018

Based on the theoretical analysis of the relationship between China’s higher education input, technological innovation, and economic growth, this paper chooses the 1997–2015 sample data of China, and uses a vector auto regression (VAR) model to test the relationship between the three. The results show that educational input, technological innovation, and economic growth form an interaction mechanism featuring dynamic circulation. Higher education input and technological innovation are two important factors influencing economic growth. In the meantime, higher education input is an important source and driving force of technological innovation, and technological innovation will further promote economic growth. However, technological innovation has a delayed positive effect on economic growth, so higher education input demands a long-term view and thinking for quick success, and instant benefits should be avoided.
Combined Exceedance Probability Assessment of Water Quality Indicators Based on Multivariate Joint Probability Distribution in Urban Rivers
Authors: Liu Yang , Cheng Yufei , Zhang Xi , Li Xitong , Cao Shengle
Published: July 2018

Discharge and water quality are two important attributes of rivers, although the joint response relationship between discharge and multiple water quality indicators is not clear. In this paper, the joint probability distributions are established by copula functions to reveal the statistical characteristics and occurrence probability of different combinations of discharge and multiple water quality indicators. Based on the data of discharge, ammonia nitrogen content index (NH4+) and permanganate index (CODMn) in the Xiaoqing River in Jinan, we first tested the joint change-point with the data from 1980–2016, before we focused on analyzing the data after the change-point and established the multivariate joint probability distributions. The results show that the Gaussian copula is more suitable for describing the joint distribution of discharge and water quality, while the year of 2005 is a joint change-point of water quantity and quality. Furthermore, it is more reasonable to use the trivariate joint probability distribution as compared to the bivariate distributions to reflect the exceedance probability of water quality combination events under different discharge conditions. The research results can provide technical support for the water quality management of urban rivers.
Microbial Function and Hydrochemistry within a Stratified Anchialine Sinkhole: A Window into Coastal Aquifer Interactions
Authors: Davis Madison C. , Garey James R.
Published: July 2018

Anchialine sinkholes provide insight into coastal aquifer systems and coastal mixing processes. Aquifer microbial community function is usually inferred from hydrochemical information, but there are few direct studies of microbial communities in the Floridan Aquifer. Hospital Hole is a 43 m-deep stratified sinkhole under the Weeki Wachee River, FL, with three distinct brackish layers: a hypoxic layer, a chemocline and a sulfidic anoxic layer. Illumina sequencing and bioinformatic tools were used to reconstruct metabolic functions and interactions of microbial communities in each layer. Each layer appears to originate from different parts of the coastal mixing zone and has a distinct microbial community with unique functions, which are influenced by the respective hydrochemistry. Sulfide oxidation and nitrate reduction are the most abundant functions. Syntrophy between methane oxidizers, methanogens and sulfate reducers is present. Similarities between the hydrochemistry and potential connectivity of Hospital Hole and the Floridan Aquifer coastal mixing zone suggest that microbial communities of Hospital Hole could be a surrogate for the coastal mixing zone of the aquifer in the absence of direct studies. Understanding how groundwater microbial communities react to saltwater intrusion and nutrient flux will be useful in predicting how coastal aquifer regions might react to anthropogenic change.
Simulation of the Transboundary Water Quality Transfer Effect in the Mainstream of the Yellow River
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Luo Jungang , Zhao Jin , Xie Jiancang , Yan Li , Yu Zhenzhen
Published: July 2018

In order to not only solve the technical problems of quantifying the degree and range of the effect that is caused by the water quality of upstream on that of downstream portions of a river, and of dividing the responsibility of transboundary water pollution, but also to tackle the difficulty in adapting to dynamic changes of the traditional water quality model in terms of practical application, pollutant discharge and water consumption were taken as the main influence factors to build the transboundary water quality transfer effect model. Supported by a comprehensive integration platform, the transboundary water quality transfer effect simulation system of the Yellow River mainstream was constructed. The simulation results show that the concentration decreases exponentially along the range. Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia had a more significant effect of exceeding standard water consumption on pollution, while Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi had a more distinct contribution to the over standard pollution discharge effect. The proposed model and simulation system can provide new methods and instruction for quantifying the degree and range of transboundary water pollution, as well as dividing the responsibility for water environment compensation.
A Study of the Insulation Mechanism and Anti-Frost Heave Effects of Polystyrene Boards in Seasonal Frozen Soil
Authors: Guo Fuqiang , Shi Haibin , Cheng Manjin , Gao Wenhui , Yang Hongzhi , Miao Qingfeng
Published: July 2018

The damages resulting from frost heaving are the main causes of channel destruction in seasonal frozen soil regions. Over the years, many experimental studies have been performed regarding the channel anti-frost heaving in the Hetao irrigation area. However, there have been few experimental research studies conducted regarding the insulation and anti-frost heave effects of polystyrene boards (EPS) of different thicknesses. Therefore, in order to explore the insulation mechanism and anti-frost heave effects of precast EPS laid under the conditions of different thicknesses, an anti-frost heave test field was established in the Hetao irrigation area for the examination of the ground temperatures, frozen depths, frost heave amounts, and water content change rules. This study’s results showed that, for the laid EPS with thicknesses between 2 and 12 cm, the frost-heave reduction rate ranged from 53.2% to 92.6%; total accumulated temperature warming ranged from 248.65% to 565.93%; and the frozen depth reduction rate was between 59.8% and 75.9%. It was determined that the EPS per cm additions could effectively improve the ground temperatures at a buried depth of 30 cm by 0.78 °C, and reduce the frozen depth by 10.1 cm. Then, by comprehensively considering the positive economic and insulation effects, it was determined that the most appropriate thickness of the EPS laid under the precast concrete slabs in the Hetao irrigation area of Inner Mongolia was 8–10 cm.
A Study on the Characteristics of Organic Matter and Nutrients Released from Sediments into Agricultural Reservoirs
Authors: Lee Jin-Kyung , Oh Jong-Min
Published: July 2018

Most agricultural reservoirs in Korea are more than 50 years old, have low water depth and storage capacity, and have experienced contaminant deposition for decades. Contaminated sedimentation on the reservoir bottom can cause water pollution and eutrophication. Consequently, intervention is required to remove and manage the sediments. We analyzed the release characteristics of organic matter and nutrients from sediments of four reservoirs to predict the pollution caused by sediment release and investigated their effects on water quality. Additionally, the effects of sediment release were compared with those of influent pollutant loads to the reservoirs. We employed the core culture method to determine the release concentrations changes under oxic, anoxic, and control conditions in the collected sediments. In all the studied reservoirs, the release concentrations of nitrate nitrogen increased under oxic conditions and those of ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and phosphate phosphorus increased under anoxic conditions. The water quality was affected by sediment release from the reservoir bottom. The release fluxes (internal sources) of total nitrogen and total phosphorous for the influent pollutant loads (external source) were 2.3–43.7% and 24.9–48.1%, respectively, for each reservoir. Therefore, optimal pollution control and management strategies will depend on the characteristics of individual reservoirs.
Le trattative di pace del 203-201 a.c.: Scipione e il Senato
Authors: Bellomo Michele
Published: July 2018

L’articolo si propone di analizzare le trattative di pace che posero fine alla seconda guerra punica, con particolare riferimento all’aspetto politico-istituzionale e alla posizione assunta da Scipione in Africa negli ultimi anni di guerra. Gli studiosi hanno generalmente sostenuto che Scipione godette di una grande libertà d’azione in Africa, frutto sia del suo prestigio militare, sia della forte incidenza politica della fazione a lui favorevole in Senato, scegliendo in questo caso di fare affidamento sulla narrazione di Livio per colmare le lacune lasciate dal frammentario resoconto di Polibio. In queste pagine si cercherà di dimostrare la debolezza di questa ricostruzione : in primo luogo, evidenziando i notevoli punti di disaccordo tra il testo di Polibio e quello dello storico latino ; in secondo luogo, riabilitando la versione di Appiano, considerata come quella più adatta a completare il quadro degli eventi. Di conseguenza, basandosi su una nuova ricostruzione letteraria, si proporrà una diversa interpretazione dei rapporti politici che intercorsero tra Scipione e il Senato.
Entre Galère et Maximien Hercule : Constantin en 307-308
Authors: Christol Michel
Published: July 2018

Th e inscriptions of the first years of Constantine, mainly milestones, show that he claimed immediatly a dynastic legitimacy upon the western part of the empire, and expressed a selfsuffi cient power of government. In the second half of 307 and the first of 308, the Herculius’ come back to the imperial power, permitted him to strengthen his position. It is possible to give a more accurate analysis of the relationship between these two emperors and to precise the difficulties for restoring the concordia in the empire as a whole.
Mémoire du voyage de Germanicus en Orient
Authors: Blonce Caroline , Gangloff Anne
Published: July 2018

Cet article examine les traces de mémoire laissées par la mission de Germanicus en Orient en 17-19, pour définir les formes prises par la mémoire du prince, identifier les communautés, les supports et les relais qui ont permis le développement de cette mémoire. Trois étapes célèbres du voyage sont étudiées : la visite à Athènes, le séjour sur l’île de Lesbos où Agrippine I mit au monde Iulia Drusilla, et celui en Syrie dont on trouve des échos sur les sites de Palmyre et de l’arc du Mont Amanus. La localisation précise de ce dernier est discutée. Les témoignages utilisés sont le texte de Tacite, les sources épigraphiques, la statuaire et les monnaies, qui montrent que cette mémoire fragmentaire était bien implantée en Orient, sur la longue durée, et qu’elle était plurielle et complexe, à la fois locale et dynastique.