bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
State of Panax ginseng Research: A Global Analysis
Authors: Xu Wanqi , Choi Hyung-Kyoon , Huang Linfang
Published: September 2017

This article aims to understand the global and longitudinal trends of research on Panax ginseng. We used bibliometrics to analyze 3974 papers collected from the Web of ScienceTM Core Collection database during 1959–2016. The number of publications showed a steady growth before 2000 and exponentially increased in stage III (2000–2016, about 86% of the papers were published). Research on P. ginseng was conducted in 64 countries, mainly in Asia; in particular, 41% and 28% of the publications were from South Korea and China, respectively. The institutions from South Korea and China had high publication output and close cooperation and provided the majority of financial support. All top 10 authors and four of the top 20 journals in terms of number of publications originated from South Korea. The leading research subjects were pharmacology (39%), plant science (26%), and integrative complementary medicine (19%). The hotspot of P. ginseng research transformed from basic science to application, and multidisciplinary sciences will play a substantial role in the future. This study provides a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the global distribution, collaboration patterns, and research trends in the P. ginseng domain.
Complete Chloroplast Genome of Pinus massoniana (Pinaceae): Gene Rearrangements, Loss of ndh Genes, and Short Inverted Repeats Contraction, Expansion
Authors: Ni ZhouXian , Ye YouJu , Bai Tiandao , Xu Meng , Xu Li-An
Published: September 2017

The chloroplast genome (CPG) of Pinus massoniana belonging to the genus Pinus (Pinaceae), which is a primary source of turpentine, was sequenced and analyzed in terms of gene rearrangements, ndh genes loss, and the contraction and expansion of short inverted repeats (IRs). P. massoniana CPG has a typical quadripartite structure that includes large single copy (LSC) (65,563 bp), small single copy (SSC) (53,230 bp) and two IRs (IRa and IRb, 485 bp). The 108 unique genes were identified, including 73 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Most of the 81 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) identified in CPG were mononucleotides motifs of A/T types and located in non-coding regions. Comparisons with related species revealed an inversion (21,556 bp) in the LSC region; P. massoniana CPG lacks all 11 intact ndh genes (four ndh genes lost completely; the five remained truncated as pseudogenes; and the other two ndh genes remain as pseudogenes because of short insertions or deletions). A pair of short IRs was found instead of large IRs, and size variations among pine species were observed, which resulted from short insertions or deletions and non-synchronized variations between “IRa” and “IRb”. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on whole CPG sequences of 16 conifers indicated that the whole CPG sequences could be used as a powerful tool in phylogenetic analyses.
Deviation of Chinese Adults’ Diet from the Chinese Food Pagoda 2016 and Its Association with Adiposity
Authors: Tian Xu , Huang Yingying , Wang Hui
Published: September 2017

Changing diet in China contributes to a raising prevalence of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the dietary status of Chinese adults (20–59 years old) using the China Food Pagoda (CFP) proposed in the Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2016 (CDG), and investigate the association between adiposity and deviation of real diet from CFP using an ordered logistic regression. Results showed that the consumption of fruits, eggs, meat, and poultry increased significantly during 2004–2011, while the consumption of cereal, potatoes, and beans dropped down significantly during the same period (all p < 0.05). Meanwhile, great disparity was detected between real consumption and recommended intake in CFP. In particular, a deficient intake was found for milk and milk products, eggs, and fruit, while over-consumption was observed for cereal, potatoes and beans, meat and poultry, legumes and nuts, oil, and salt. In addition, over-consumption of cereal, legumes and nuts, and salt, as well as under-consumption of vegetables, and meat and poultry, were associated with a higher risk of having high body mass index (BMI), while lower consumption of cereal, potatoes and beans, eggs, and higher consumption of vegetables contributed to low hazard of overweight/obesity (all p < 0.05). The huge disparity between real consumption and the CFP calls for specific health education campaigns.
Inadequate Vitamin C Status in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Glycaemic Control, Obesity, and Smoking
Authors: Wilson Renée , Willis Jinny , Gearry Richard , Skidmore Paula , Fleming Elizabeth , Frampton Chris , Carr Anitra
Published: September 2017

Vitamin C (ascorbate) is an essential micronutrient in humans, being required for a number of important biological functions via acting as an enzymatic cofactor and reducing agent. There is some evidence to suggest that people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have lower plasma vitamin C concentrations compared to those with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The aim of this study was to investigate plasma vitamin C concentrations across the glycaemic spectrum and to explore correlations with indices of metabolic health. This is a cross-sectional observational pilot study in adults across the glycaemic spectrum from NGT to T2DM. Demographic and anthropometric data along with information on physical activity were collected and participants were asked to complete a four-day weighed food diary. Venous blood samples were collected and glycaemic indices, plasma vitamin C concentrations, hormone tests, lipid profiles, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were analysed. A total of 89 participants completed the study, including individuals with NGT (n = 35), prediabetes (n = 25), and T2DM managed by diet alone or on a regimen of Metformin only (n = 29). Plasma vitamin C concentrations were significantly lower in individuals with T2DM compared to those with NGT (41.2 µmol/L versus 57.4 µmol/L, p < 0.05) and a higher proportion of vitamin C deficiency (i.e. <11.0 µmol/L) was observed in both the prediabetes and T2DM groups. The results showed fasting glucose (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.001), smoking history (p = 0.003), and dietary vitamin C intake (p = 0.032) to be significant independent predictors of plasma vitamin C concentrations. In conclusion, these results suggest that adults with a history of smoking, prediabetes or T2DM, and/or obesity, have greater vitamin C requirements. Future research is required to investigate whether eating more vitamin C rich foods and/or taking vitamin C supplements may reduce the risk of progression to, and/or complications associated with, T2DM.
Beneficial Effects of Common Bean on Adiposity and Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Thompson Henry , McGinley John , Neil Elizabeth , Brick Mark
Published: September 2017

In developed countries which are at the epicenter of the obesity pandemic, pulse crop consumption is well below recommended levels. In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled clinical trials, pulse consumption was associated with improved weight control and reduced adiposity, although the underlying mechanisms were a matter of speculation. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most widely consumed pulse crop and was the focus of this investigation. Using outbred genetic models of dietary induced obesity resistance and of dietary induced obesity sensitivity in the rat, the impact of bean consumption was investigated on the efficiency with which consumed food was converted to body mass (food efficiency ratio), body fat accumulation, adipocyte morphometrics, and patterns of protein expression associated with lipid metabolism. Cooked whole bean as well as a commercially prepared cooked bean powders were evaluated. While bean consumption did not affect food efficiency ratio, bean reduced visceral adiposity and adipocyte size in both obesity sensitive and resistant rats. In liver, bean consumption increased carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, which is the rate limiting step in long chain fatty acid oxidation and also resulted in lower levels of circulating triglycerides. Collectively, our results are consistent with the clinical finding that pulse consumption is anti-obesogenic and indicate that one mechanism by which cooked bean exerts its bioactivity is oxidation of long chain fatty acids.
Variability of Secondary Metabolites of the Species Cichorium intybus L. from Different Habitats
Authors: Zlatić Nenad , Stanković Milan
Published: September 2017

The principal aim of this paper is to show the influence of soil characteristics on the quantitative variability of secondary metabolites. Analysis of phenolic content, flavonoid concentrations, and the antioxidant activity was performed using the ethanol and ethyl acetate plant extracts of the species Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae). The samples were collected from one saline habitat and two non-saline habitats. The values of phenolic content from the samples taken from the saline habitat ranged from 119.83 to 120.83 mg GA/g and from non-saline habitats from 92.44 to 115.10 mg GA/g. The amount of flavonoids in the samples from the saline locality varied between 144.36 and 317.62 mg Ru/g and from non-saline localities between 86.03 and 273.07 mg Ru/g. The IC50 values of antioxidant activity in the samples from the saline habitat ranged from 87.64 to 117.73 μg/mL and from 101.44 to 125.76 μg/mL in the samples from non-saline habitats. The results confirmed that soil types represent a significant influence on the quantitative content of secondary metabolites. The greatest concentrations of phenols and flavonoids and the highest level of antioxidant activity were found in the samples from saline soil. This further corroborates the importance of saline soil as an ecological factor, as it is proven to give rise to increased biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and related antioxidant activity.
Computational Thermomechanical Properties of Silica–Epoxy Nanocomposites by Molecular Dynamic Simulation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxing , Wen Hao , Wu Yunjian
Published: September 2017

Silica–epoxy nanocomposite models were established to investigate the influence of silane coupling agent on the structure and thermomechanical properties of the nanocomposites through molecular dynamics simulation. Results revealed that incorporating silica nanoparticles into a polymer matrix could improve thermomechanical properties of the composites and increase their glass transition temperature and thermal conductivity. Their thermomechanical properties were further enhanced through silane coupling agent modification on the surface of fillers. Compared with that of pure epoxy, the glass transition temperatures of the silica–epoxy composites with grafting ratios of 5% and 10% increased by 17 and 28 K, respectively. The thermal conductivities of the two models at room temperature respectively increased by 60.0% and 67.1%. At higher temperature 450 K, thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite model with a high grafting ratio of 10% demonstrated a considerable increase of approximately 50% over the pure epoxy resin (EP) model. The elastic and shear modulus of the nanocomposite models decreased at temperatures below their glass transition temperatures. These observations were further addressed in the interpretation from three aspects: segmental mobility capability, radial distribution function, and free volume fraction. Our computational results are largely consistent with existing experimental data, and our simulation model got fully validated.
Inkjet Etching of Polymers and Its Applications in Organic Electronic Devices
Authors: Lee Wi , Park Yeong
Published: September 2017

Inkjet printing techniques for the etching of polymers and their application to the fabrication of organic electronic devices are reviewed. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of via holes in polymer layers through inkjet printing with solvent, and recent achievements in the fabrication with inkjet etching of various three-dimensional microstructures (i.e., microwells, microgrooves, hexagonal holes, and concave structures) are discussed. In addition, organic electronic devices are presented that use inkjet-etched subtractive patterns as platforms for the selective depositions of an emissive material, a liquid crystal, an organic conductor, an organic insulator, and an organic semiconductor, and as an optical waveguide.
Assessment of Policy Changes to Means-Tested Age Pension Using the Expected Utility Model: Implication for Decisions in Retirement
Authors: Andréasson Johan , Shevchenko Pavel
Published: September 2017

Means-tested pension policies are typical for many countries, and the assessment of policy changes is critical for policy makers. In this paper, we consider the Australian means-tested Age Pension. In 2015, two important changes were made to the popular Allocated Pension accounts: the income means-test is now based on deemed income rather than account withdrawals, and the income-test deduction no longer applies. We examine the implications of the new changes in regard to optimal decisions for consumption, investment and housing. We account for regulatory minimum withdrawal rules that are imposed by regulations on Allocated Pension accounts, as well as the 2017 asset-test rebalancing. The policy changes are considered under a utility-maximising life cycle model solved as an optimal stochastic control problem. We find that the new rules decrease the advantages of planning the consumption in relation to the means-test, while risky asset allocation becomes more sensitive to the asset-test. The difference in optimal drawdown between the old and new policy is only noticeable early in retirement until regulatory minimum withdrawal rates are enforced. However, the amount of extra Age Pension received by many households is now significantly higher due to the new deeming income rules, which benefit wealthier households who previously would not have received Age Pension due to the income-test and minimum withdrawals.
Performance Analysis of Ocean Surface Topography Altimetry by Ku-Band Near-Nadir Interferometric SAR
Authors: Kong Weiya , Chong Jinsong , Tan Hong
Published: September 2017

Interferometric imaging radar altimeter (InIRA) is the first spaceborne Ku-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) which is specially designed for ocean surface topography altimetry. It is on the Tiangong II space laboratory, which was launched on 15 September 2016. Different from any other spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR), InIRA chooses a near-nadir incidence of 1°~8° in order to increase the altimetric precision and swath width. Limited by the size of the Tiangong II capsule, the baseline length of InIRA is only 2.3 m. However, benefitting from the low orbit, the signal-to-noise ratio of InIRA-acquired data is above 10 dB in most of the swath, which, to a certain extent, compensates for the short baseline deficiency. The altimetric precision is simulated based on the system parameters of InIRA. Results show that it is better than 7 cm on a 5-km grid and improves to 3 cm on a 10-km grid when the incidence is below 7.4°. The interferometric data of InIRA are processed to estimate the altimetric precision after a series of procedures (including image coregistration, flat-earth-phase removal, system parameters calibration and phase noise suppression). Results show that the estimated altimetric precision is close to but lower than the simulated precision among most of the swath. The intensity boundary phenomenon is first found between the near range and far range of the SAR images of InIRA. It can be explained by the modulation of ocean internal waves or oil slick, which smooths ocean surface roughness and causes the modulated area to appear either brighter or darker than its surroundings. This intensity boundary phenomenon indicates that the available swath of high altimetric precision will be narrower than expected.
Landslide Displacement Monitoring with Split-Bandwidth Interferometry: A Case Study of the Shuping Landslide in the Three Gorges Area
Authors: Shi Xuguo , Jiang Houjun , Zhang Lu , Liao Mingsheng
Published: September 2017

Landslides constitute a major threat to people’s lives and property in mountainous regions such, as in the Three Gorges area in China. Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) with its wide coverage and unprecedented displacement measuring capabilities has been widely used in landslide monitoring. However, it is difficult to apply traditional InSAR techniques to investigate landslides having large deformation gradients or moving primarily in north-south direction. In this study, we propose a time series split-bandwidth interferometry (SBI) procedure to measure two dimensional (azimuth and range) displacements of the Shuping landslide in the Three Gorges area with 36 TerraSAR-X high resolution spotlight (HS) images acquired from February 2009 to April 2010. Since the phase based SBI procedure is sensitive to noise, we focused on extracting displacements of corner reflectors (CRs) installed on or surrounding the Shuping landslide. Our results agreed well with measurements obtained by the point-like targets offset tracking (PTOT) technique and in-situ GPS stations. Centimeter level accuracy could be achieved with SBI on CRs which shows great potential in futures studies on fast moving geohazards.
Feature Selection Solution with High Dimensionality and Low-Sample Size for Land Cover Classification in Object-Based Image Analysis
Authors: Huang Yaohuan , Zhao Chuanpeng , Yang Haijun , Song Xiaoyang , Chen Jie , Li Zhonghua
Published: September 2017

Land cover information extraction through object-based image analysis (OBIA) has become an important trend in remote sensing, thanks to the increasing availability of high-resolution imagery. Segmented objects have a large number of features that cause high-dimension and low-sample size problems in the classification process. In this study, on the basis of a partial least squares generalized linear regression (PLSGLR), we propose a group corrected PLSGLR, known as G-PLSGLR, that aims to reduce the redundancy of object features for land cover identifications. Using Gaofen-2 images, the area of interest was segmented and sampled to generate small sample-size training datasets with 51 object features. The features selected by G-PLSGLR were compared against a guided regularized random forest (GRRF) in metrics of reduction rate, feature redundancy, and accuracy assessment of classification. Three indicators of overall accuracy (OA), user’s accuracy (UA), and producer’s accuracy (PA) were applied for accuracy assessment in this paper. The result shows that the G-PLSGLR achieved a reduction rate of 9.27 with a feature redundancy of 0.29, and a value of OA 90.63%. The GRRF achieved a reduction rate of 1.61 with a feature redundancy of 0.42, and a value of OA 85.56%. The PA of each land cover category was more than 95% using features selected by G-PLSGLR, while the PA ranged from 77 to 96% using features selected by GRRF. The UA of G-PLSGLR-selected features ranged from 70 to 80% except for grass land and bare land, which achieved 10% higher UA than GRRF-selected features. The G-PLSGLR method we proposed has the advantages of a large reduction rate, low feature redundancy, and high classification performance, which can be applied in OBIA-based land cover classification.
Design and Validation of a 150 MHz HFFQCM Sensor for Bio-Sensing Applications
Authors: Fernández Román , García Pablo , García María , García José , Jiménez Yolanda , Arnau Antonio
Published: September 2017

Acoustic wave resonators have become suitable devices for a broad range of sensing applications due to their sensitivity, low cost, and integration capability, which are all factors that meet the requirements for the resonators to be used as sensing elements for portable point of care (PoC) platforms. In this work, the design, characterization, and validation of a 150 MHz high fundamental frequency quartz crystal microbalance (HFF-QCM) sensor for bio-sensing applications are introduced. Finite element method (FEM) simulations of the proposed design are in good agreement with the electrical characterization of the manufactured resonators. The sensor is also validated for bio-sensing applications. For this purpose, a specific sensor cell was designed and manufactured that addresses the critical requirements associated with this type of sensor and application. Due to the small sensing area and the sensor’s fragility, these requirements include a low-volume flow chamber in the nanoliter range, and a system approach that provides the appropriate pressure control for assuring liquid confinement while maintaining the integrity of the sensor with a good base line stability and easy sensor replacement. The sensor characteristics make it suitable for consideration as the elemental part of a sensor matrix in a multichannel platform for point of care applications.
Methods for Real-Time Prediction of the Mode of Travel Using Smartphone-Based GPS and Accelerometer Data
Authors: Martin Bryan , Addona Vittorio , Wolfson Julian , Adomavicius Gediminas , Fan Yingling
Published: September 2017

We propose and compare combinations of several methods for classifying transportation activity data from smartphone GPS and accelerometer sensors. We have two main objectives. First, we aim to classify our data as accurately as possible. Second, we aim to reduce the dimensionality of the data as much as possible in order to reduce the computational burden of the classification. We combine dimension reduction and classification algorithms and compare them with a metric that balances accuracy and dimensionality. In doing so, we develop a classification algorithm that accurately classifies five different modes of transportation (i.e., walking, biking, car, bus and rail) while being computationally simple enough to run on a typical smartphone. Further, we use data that required no behavioral changes from the smartphone users to collect. Our best classification model uses the random forest algorithm to achieve 96.8% accuracy.
A UWB/Improved PDR Integration Algorithm Applied to Dynamic Indoor Positioning for Pedestrians
Authors: Chen Pengzhan , Kuang Ye , Chen Xiaoyue
Published: September 2017

Inertial sensors are widely used in various applications, such as human motion monitoring and pedestrian positioning. However, inertial sensors cannot accurately define the process of human movement, a limitation that causes data drift in the process of human body positioning, thus seriously affecting positioning accuracy and stability. The traditional pedestrian dead-reckoning algorithm, which is based on a single inertial measurement unit, can suppress the data drift, but fails to accurately calculate the number of walking steps and heading value, thus it cannot meet the application requirements. This study proposes an indoor dynamic positioning method with an error self-correcting function based on the symmetrical characteristics of human motion to obtain the definition basis of human motion process quickly and to solve the abovementioned problems. On the basis of this proposed method, an ultra-wide band (UWB) method is introduced. An unscented Kalman filter is applied to fuse inertial sensors and UWB data, inertial positioning is applied to compensation for the defects of susceptibility to UWB signal obstacles, and UWB positioning is used to overcome the error accumulation of inertial positioning. The above method can improve both the positioning accuracy and the response of the positioning results. Finally, this study designs an indoor positioning test system to test the static and dynamic performances of the proposed indoor positioning method. Results show that the positioning system both has high accuracy and good real-time performance.
Self-Calibrated In-Process Photogrammetry for Large Raw Part Measurement and Alignment before Machining
Authors: Mendikute Alberto , Yagüe-Fabra José A. , Zatarain Mikel , Bertelsen Álvaro , Leizea Ibai
Published: September 2017

Photogrammetry methods are being used more and more as a 3D technique for large scale metrology applications in industry. Optical targets are placed on an object and images are taken around it, where measuring traceability is provided by precise off-process pre-calibrated digital cameras and scale bars. According to the 2D target image coordinates, target 3D coordinates and camera views are jointly computed. One of the applications of photogrammetry is the measurement of raw part surfaces prior to its machining. For this application, post-process bundle adjustment has usually been adopted for computing the 3D scene. With that approach, a high computation time is observed, leading in practice to time consuming and user dependent iterative review and re-processing procedures until an adequate set of images is taken, limiting its potential for fast, easy-to-use, and precise measurements. In this paper, a new efficient procedure is presented for solving the bundle adjustment problem in portable photogrammetry. In-process bundle computing capability is demonstrated on a consumer grade desktop PC, enabling quasi real time 2D image and 3D scene computing. Additionally, a method for the self-calibration of camera and lens distortion has been integrated into the in-process approach due to its potential for highest precision when using low cost non-specialized digital cameras. Measurement traceability is set only by scale bars available in the measuring scene, avoiding the uncertainty contribution of off-process camera calibration procedures or the use of special purpose calibration artifacts. The developed self-calibrated in-process photogrammetry has been evaluated both in a pilot case scenario and in industrial scenarios for raw part measurement, showing a total in-process computing time typically below 1 s per image up to a maximum of 2 s during the last stages of the computed industrial scenes, along with a relative precision of 1/10,000 (e.g. 0.1 mm error in 1 m) with an error RMS below 0.2 pixels at image plane, ranging at the same performance reported for portable photogrammetry with precise off-process pre-calibrated cameras.
Cross-Correlation-Based Structural System Identification Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Yoon Hyungchul , Hoskere Vedhus , Park Jong-Woong , Spencer Billie
Published: September 2017

Computer vision techniques have been employed to characterize dynamic properties of structures, as well as to capture structural motion for system identification purposes. All of these methods leverage image-processing techniques using a stationary camera. This requirement makes finding an effective location for camera installation difficult, because civil infrastructure (i.e., bridges, buildings, etc.) are often difficult to access, being constructed over rivers, roads, or other obstacles. This paper seeks to use video from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to address this problem. As opposed to the traditional way of using stationary cameras, the use of UAVs brings the issue of the camera itself moving; thus, the displacements of the structure obtained by processing UAV video are relative to the UAV camera. Some efforts have been reported to compensate for the camera motion, but they require certain assumptions that may be difficult to satisfy. This paper proposes a new method for structural system identification using the UAV video directly. Several challenges are addressed, including: (1) estimation of an appropriate scale factor; and (2) compensation for the rolling shutter effect. Experimental validation is carried out to validate the proposed approach. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy and significant potential of the proposed approach.
CleAir Monitoring System for Particulate Matter: A Case in the Napoleonic Museum in Rome
Authors: Fazio Eugenio , Bonacquisti Valerio , Di Michele Marta , Frasca Francesca , Chianese Angelo , Siani Anna
Published: September 2017

Monitoring the air particulate concentration both outdoors and indoors is becoming a more relevant issue in the past few decades. An innovative, fully automatic, monitoring system called CleAir is presented. Such a system wants to go beyond the traditional technique (gravimetric analysis), allowing for a double monitoring approach: the traditional gravimetric analysis as well as the optical spectroscopic analysis of the scattering on the same filters in steady-state conditions. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of light percolation through highly scattering matter by means of the stretched exponential evolution. CleAir has been applied to investigate the daily distribution of particulate matter within the Napoleonic Museum in Rome as a test case.
Localization of Ferromagnetic Target with Three Magnetic Sensors in the Movement Considering Angular Rotation
Authors: Gao Xiang , Yan Shenggang , Li Bin
Published: September 2017

Magnetic detection techniques have been widely used in many fields, such as virtual reality, surgical robotics systems, and so on. A large number of methods have been developed to obtain the position of a ferromagnetic target. However, the angular rotation of the target relative to the sensor is rarely studied. In this paper, a new method for localization of moving object to determine both the position and rotation angle with three magnetic sensors is proposed. Trajectory localization estimation of three magnetic sensors, which are collinear and noncollinear, were obtained by the simulations, and experimental results demonstrated that the position and rotation angle of ferromagnetic target having roll, pitch or yaw in its movement could be calculated accurately and effectively with three noncollinear vector sensors.
Interface Characteristics of Sapphire Direct Bonding for High-Temperature Applications
Authors: Li Wangwang , Liang Ting , Chen Yulei , Jia Pinggang , Xiong Jijun , Hong Yingping , Lei Cheng , Yao Zong , Qi Lei , Liu Wenyi
Published: September 2017

In this letter, we present a sapphire direct bonding method using plasma surface activation, hydrophilic pre-bonding, and high temperature annealing. Through the combination of sapphire inductively coupled plasma etching and the direct bonding process, a vacuum-sealed cavity employable for high temperature applications is achieved. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) research of the bonding interface indicates that the two sapphire pieces are well bonded and the cavity structure stays intact. Moreover, the tensile testing shows that the bonding strength of the bonding interface is in excess of 7.2 MPa. The advantage of sapphire direct bonding is that it is free from the various problems caused by the mismatch in the coefficients of thermal expansion between different materials. Therefore, the bonded vacuum-sealed cavity can be potentially further developed into an all-sapphire pressure sensor for high temperature applications.
A Decomposition Analysis of Embodied Energy Consumption in China’s Construction Industry
Authors: Lin Luhang , Fan Yinzi , Xu Meilian , Sun Chuanwang
Published: September 2017

With the fast-paced urbanization process, there will be a rapid development of China’s construction industry. However, it could also drive for considerable energy consumption, resulting in immense pressure on the environment. Based on non-competitive (import) input–output tables, we employed the SRIO (Single Region Input–Output) model to analyze energy use embodied in China’s construction industry from 1995 to 2009 and made projections for 2020. Our results show that about 4.84 billion tons of coal equivalent energy would be consumed by China’s construction industry in 2020. It implies that urbanization not only promotes the flow of embodied energy, but also provides development opportunities for a green and energy-saving construction industry.
Resource Recovery from Waste: Restoring the Balance between Resource Scarcity and Waste Overload
Authors: Velenturf Anne , Purnell Phil
Published: September 2017

Current societal patterns of production and consumption drive a twin environmental crisis of resource scarcity and waste overload. Positioning waste and resource management in the context of ecosystem stewardship, this article relates increasing resource demand and waste production to the violation of planetary boundaries and human rights. We argue that a transition towards a circular economy (CE) that contributes to a resilient environment and human well-being is necessary to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The transition requires scientific and technological progress, including the development of low-energy biogeochemical technologies for resource recovery, and multi-dimensional value assessment tools integrating environmental, social, and economic factors. While the urgency to adopt a CE is well-recognised, progress has been slow. Coordinated change is required from multiple actors across society. Academia can contribute through participatory action research. This article concludes with the participation strategy of the Resource Recovery from Waste programme, aiming for changes in mentality, industry practices, and policies and regulations in the waste and resource management landscape in the UK.
Economic, Environmental, and Animal Welfare Performance on Livestock Farms: Conceptual Model and Application to Some Case Studies in Italy
Authors: Galioto Francesco , Paffarini Chiara , Chiorri Massimo , Torquati Biancamaria , Cecchini Lucio
Published: September 2017

The aim of this paper is to propose a multi-attribute hierarchical evaluation model for the evaluation of the aggregate sustainability of livestock farms integrating the economic, environmental, and social aspects. This approach uses an aggregation criterion based on the geometric mean to assess a farm’s current level of sustainability. Sustainability was measured through the use of indicators including carbon footprint, farm income, and animal welfare. Secondly, based on the relationships between the sustainability aspects, the effects of improvement measures on all the indicators were estimated. This paper presents eight livestock case studies from Italy, analyzed in 2014. The results show intermediate values for the aggregate index of sustainability for most of the farms. The index mainly depends on the estimated values of the sustainability indicators related to the economic and environmental aspects. Lower values of animal welfare sustainability are quantified. The introduction of improvement measures in relation to the preparation of the soil had positive effects, both in terms of emissions and animal welfare. The increase of available space per Livestock Unit (LU) resulted in the greatest positive effect on animal welfare, among all the other actions analyzed.
Control Measures and Health Effects of Air Pollution: A Survey among Public Transportation Commuters in Malaysia
Authors: Wong Li Ping , Alias Haridah , Aghamohammadi Nasrin , Ghadimi Azadeh , Sulaiman Nik Meriam Nik
Published: September 2017

This research aimed to investigate the control measures used by public transport commuters and their health (physical and psychological) effects due to exposure to air pollution during their daily commute and during haze days. From June to October 2016, 800 public transport commuters in urban cities in the heart of Selangor, Malaysia were interviewed. Of these, 25.4% reported sometimes/often wearing surgical masks during their daily commute, while 92.1% reported such use during haze days. The total control measure score against air pollutants during the daily commute was low; on a control measure scale of 0–18, the median rating during the daily commute was 8 (interquartile range (IQR) 6–10). During haze days, control measures improved slightly (median 14, IQR 12–16). Evidence of adverse health effects was present. During the daily commute under normal conditions, the three highest adverse health experiences were fatigue and weakness (35.5%), coughing (23.6%), and dizziness (18.2%). During haze days, the three highest adverse health experiences were headache (85%), coughing (84.8%), and breathing difficulties (84.5%). On a possible total adverse health (physical and psychological) experience scale of 0–22, the median rating during the daily commute was 1 (IQR 0–3). The median rating during haze days was intensified (median 11, IQR 9–13). Public transportation commuters should be encouraged to enhance various control measures against particulate air pollutants during their daily commute, particularly during haze days, to minimize the adverse health risks associated with air pollutants.
Forecasting Model Based on Neutrosophic Logical Relationship and Jaccard Similarity
Authors: Guan Hongjun , Guan Shuang , Zhao Aiwu
Published: September 2017

The daily fluctuation trends of a stock market are illustrated by three statuses: up, equal, and down. These can be represented by a neutrosophic set which consists of three functions—truth-membership, indeterminacy-membership, and falsity-membership. In this paper, we propose a novel forecasting model based on neutrosophic set theory and the fuzzy logical relationships between the status of historical and current values. Firstly, the original time series of the stock market is converted to a fluctuation time series by comparing each piece of data with that of the previous day. The fluctuation time series is then fuzzified into a fuzzy-fluctuation time series in terms of the pre-defined up, equal, and down intervals. Next, the fuzzy logical relationships can be expressed by two neutrosophic sets according to the probabilities of different statuses for each current value and a certain range of corresponding histories. Finally, based on the neutrosophic logical relationships and the status of history, a Jaccard similarity measure is employed to find the most proper logical rule to forecast its future. The authentic Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) time series datasets are used as an example to illustrate the forecasting procedure and performance comparisons. The experimental results show that the proposed method can successfully forecast the stock market and other similar kinds of time series. We also apply the proposed method to forecast the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHSECI) to verify its effectiveness and universality.
Total Body Irradiation Mitigates Inflammation and Extends the Therapeutic Time Window for Anti-Ricin Antibody Treatment against Pulmonary Ricinosis in Mice
Authors: Gal Yoav , Sapoznikov Anita , Falach Reut , Ehrlich Sharon , Aftalion Moshe , Kronman Chanoch , Sabo Tamar
Published: September 2017

Ricin, a highly toxic plant-derived toxin, is considered a potential weapon in biowarfare and bioterrorism due to its pronounced toxicity, high availability, and ease of preparation. Pulmonary exposure to ricin results in the generation of an acute edematous inflammation followed by respiratory insufficiency and death. Massive neutrophil recruitment to the lungs may contribute significantly to ricin-mediated morbidity. In this study, total body irradiation (TBI) served as a non-pharmacological tool to decrease the potential neutrophil-induced lung injury. TBI significantly postponed the time to death of intranasally ricin-intoxicated mice, given that leukopenia remained stable following intoxication. This increase in time to death coincided with a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory marker levels, and led to marked extension of the therapeutic time window for anti-ricin antibody treatment.
Wheat Straw as a Bio-Sorbent for Arsenate, Chromate, Fluoride, and Nickel
Authors: Romar-Gasalla Aurora , Coelho Gustavo , Nóvoa-Muñoz Juan , Arias-Estévez Manuel , Fernández-Sanjurjo María , Álvarez-Rodríguez Esperanza , Núñez-Delgado Avelino
Published: September 2017

Batch-type experiments were used to study As(V), Cr(VI), F−, and Ni2+ sorption/desorption on wheat straw. For the lowest concentration added (0.5 mmol·L−1), the sorption sequence was F− > Ni2+ > Cr(VI) >> As(V) (93%, 61%, 29%, 0.3%), but changed to Ni2+ > F− > Cr(VI) >> As(V) when 3.0 and 6.0 mmol·L−1 were added (with 65%, 54%, 25%, 0%, and 68%, 52%, 27%, 0% sorption, respectively). Overall, As(V) showed the lowest sorption, whereas it was 25–37% for Cr(VI), 61–68% for Ni2+, and 52–93% for F−. For As(V), pH in the equilibrium solution was always above the pH of the point of zero charge (pHPZC) for wheat straw, decreasing sorption efficiency. For Cr(VI), pH was below pHPZC, but not enough to reach high sorption. For F−, pH in the equilibrium was above pHPZC, which could reduce sorption. For Ni2+, pH in the equilibrium was always below pHPZC, which made sorption difficult. The satisfactory fitting of Cr(VI), F−, and Ni2+ data to the Freundlich model suggests multilayer-type adsorption. Desorption was high for F−, whereas Ni2+ showed the lowest desorption. This research could be especially relevant when focusing on the use of wheat straw as a bio-sorbent, and in cases where straw mulching is used.
Adapting the Relaxed Tanks-in-Series Model for Stormwater Wetland Water Quality Performance
Authors: Merriman Laura , Hathaway Jon , Burchell Michael , Hunt William
Published: September 2017

Across the globe, water quality standards have been implemented to protect receiving waters from stormwater pollution, motivating regulators (and consequently designers) to develop tools to predict the performance of stormwater control measures such as constructed stormwater wetlands (CSWs). The goal of this study was to determine how well the relaxed tanks-in-series (P-k-C*) model described the performance of CSWs in North Carolina. Storm events monitored at 10 CSWs in North Carolina were used for calibrating the model, and statistical evaluations concluded the model could adequately predict the performance for all pollutants except organic nitrogen. Nash–Sutcliff calibration/validation values were determined to be 0.72/0.78, 0.78/0.74, 0.91/0.87, 0.72/0.62, 0.88/0.73, and 0.91/0.63 for total nitrogen, total ammoniacal nitrogen, oxidized nitrogen, organic nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed only one calibration parameter with strong sensitivity, the Arrhenius coefficient (temperature dependent model coefficient). With this model, CSWs can be optimized to treat watershed-specific influent concentrations to meet effluent targets. In general, the current design technique used in North Carolina and many other locations (a first flush volume detention method) oversizes CSWs for water quality vis-à-vis the method herein, suggesting improved designs for water quality may be possible through scientifically-informed methods.
Photospheric Emission in the Joint GBM and Konus Prompt Spectra of GRB 120323A
Authors: Guiriec S. , Gehrels N. , McEnery J. , Kouveliotou C. , Hartmann D. H.
Published: September 2017

GRB 120323A is a very intense short gamma -ray burst (GRB) detected simultaneously during its prompt γ-ray emission phase with the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Konus experiment on board the Wind satellite. GBM and Konus operate in the keV–MeV regime; however, the GBM range is broader toward both the low and the high parts of the γ-ray spectrum. Analyses of such bright events provide a unique opportunity to check the consistency of the data analysis as well as cross-calibrate the two instruments. We performed time-integrated and coarse time-resolved spectral analysis of GRB 120323A prompt emission. We conclude that the analyses of GBM and Konus data are only consistent when using a double-hump spectral shape for both data sets; in contrast, the single hump of the empirical Band function, traditionally used to fit GRB prompt emission spectra, leads to significant discrepancies between GBM and Konus analysis results. Our two-hump model is a combination of a thermal-like and a non-thermal component. We interpret the first component as a natural manifestation of the jet photospheric emission.
Detection of Low-energy Breaks in Gamma-Ray Burst Prompt Emission Spectra
Authors: Oganesyan Gor , Nava Lara , Ghirlanda Giancarlo , Celotti Annalisa
Published: September 2017

The radiative process responsible for gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission has not been identified yet. If dominated by fast-cooling synchrotron radiation, the part of the spectrum immediately below the

peak energy should display a power-law behavior with slope

, which breaks to a higher value

(i.e., to a harder spectral shape) at lower energies. Prompt emission spectral data (usually available down to

keV) are consistent with one single power-law behavior below the peak, with typical slope

, higher than (and then inconsistent with) the expected value

. To better characterize the spectral shape at low energy, we analyzed 14 GRBs for which the Swift X-ray Telescope started observations during the prompt. When available, Fermi-GBM observations have been included in the analysis. For 67% of the spectra, models that usually give a satisfactory description of the prompt (e.g., the Band model) fail to reproduce the 0.5–1000 keV spectra: low-energy data outline the presence of a spectral break around a few keV. We then introduce an empirical fitting function that includes a low-energy power law

, a break energy

, a second power law

, and a peak energy

. We find

(

),

(

),

(

), and

(

). The values

and

are very close to expectations from synchrotron radiation. In this context,

corresponds to the cooling break frequency. The relatively small ratio

suggests a regime of moderately fast cooling, which might solve the long-lasting problem of the apparent inconsistency between measured and predicted low-energy spectral index.
Characterizing Intracluster Light in the Hubble Frontier Fields
Authors: Morishita Takahiro , Abramson Louis E. , Treu Tommaso , Schmidt Kasper B. , Vulcani Benedetta , Wang Xin
Published: September 2017

We investigate the intracluster light (ICL) in the six Hubble Frontier Field clusters at

0.3
<
z
<
0.6

. We employ a new method, which is free from any functional form of the ICL profile, and exploit the unprecedented depth of this Hubble Space Telescope imaging to map the ICL’s diffuse light out to clustrocentric radii

R
∼
300

kpc

(

μ

ICL

∼
27

mag arcsec−2). From these maps, we construct radial color and stellar mass profiles via SED fitting and find clear negative color gradients in all systems with increasing distance from the Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG). While this implies older/more metal-rich stellar components in the inner part of the ICL, we find that the ICL mostly consists of a

≲
2

Gyr

population, and plausibly originated with

log

M

*

/

M

⊙

≲
10

cluster galaxies. Furthermore, we find that 10%–15% of the ICL’s mass at large radii (

≳
150

kpc) lies in a younger/bluer stellar population (∼1 Gyr), a phenomenon not seen in local samples. We attribute this light to the higher fraction of star-forming/(post-)starburst galaxies in clusters at

z
∼
0.5

. Ultimately, we find the ICL’s total mass to be

log

M

*

ICL

/

M

⊙

∼
11

–12, constituting 5%–20% of the clusters’ total stellar mass, or about half of the value at

z
∼
0

. The above implies distinct formation histories for the ICL and BCGs/other massive cluster galaxies; i.e., the ICL at this epoch is still being constructed rapidly (

∼
40

M

⊙

yr−1), while the BCGs have mostly completed their evolution. To be consistent with the ICL measurements of local massive clusters, such as Virgo, our data suggest mass acquisition mainly from quiescent cluster galaxies is the principal source of ICL material in the subsequent ∼5 Gyr of cosmic time.