bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Fingerprints of Iron Parameters among a Population-Based Sample
Authors: Kaul Anne , Masuch Annette , Budde Kathrin , Kastenmüller Gabi , Artati Anna , Adamski Jerzy , Völzke Henry , Nauck Matthias , Friedrich Nele , Pietzner Maik
Published: November 2018

Iron deficiency is the most frequent deficiency disease and parameters of iron metabolism appear to be linked to major metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We screened a large set of small molecules in plasma for associations with iron status among apparently healthy subjects to elucidate subclinical profiles which may provide a link between iron status and onset of diseases. Based on mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy we determined 613 plasma metabolites and lipoprotein subfractions among 820 apparently healthy individuals. Associations between ferritin, transferrin, haemoglobin and myoglobin and metabolite levels were tested by sex-specific linear regression analyses controlling for common confounders. Far more significant associations in women (82 out of 102) compared to men became obvious. The majority of the metabolites associated with serum ferritin and haemoglobin in women comprising fatty acid species, branched-chain amino acid catabolites and catabolites of heme. The latter was also obvious among men. Positive associations between serum transferrin and VLDL and IDL particle measures seen in women were observed in men with respect to serum ferritin. We observed a sexual-dimorphic fingerprint of surrogates of iron metabolism which may provide a link for the associations between those parameters and major metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
Ishige okamurae Extract Suppresses Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Seo Young-Jin , Lee Kippeum , Song Ji-Hyeon , Chei Sungwoo , Lee Boo-Yong
Published: November 2018

Obesity is caused by the expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT), which stores excess triacylglycerol (TG), this can lead to disorders including type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, metabolic diseases. Ishige okamurae extract (IOE) is prepared from a brown alga and has anti-oxidative properties. We investigated the detailed mechanisms of the anti-obesity activity of IOE. Treatment with IOE blocked lipid accumulation by reducing expression of key adipogenic transcription factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), in 3T3-L1 cells. Administration of IOE to high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice inhibited body and WAT mass gain, attenuated fasting hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. The obesity suppression was associated with reductions in expression of adipogenic proteins, such as C/EBPα and PPARγ, increases in expression of lipolytic enzymes, such as adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), in WAT of HFD-fed mice. In addition, IOE-treated mice had lower hepatic TG content, associated with lower protein expression of lipogenic genes, such as diglyceride acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthase (FAS). IOE treatment also reduced serum free fatty acid concentration, probably through the upregulation of β-oxidation genes, suggested by increases in AMPKα and CPT1 expression in WAT and liver. In summary, IOE ameliorates HFD-induced obesity and its related metabolic disease, hepatic steatosis, by regulating multiple pathways.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Their Polyphenol Content Are Inversely Associated with Sleep Duration: Prospective Associations from the UK Women’s Cohort Study
Authors: Noorwali Essra , Hardie Laura , Cade Janet
Published: November 2018

This study aims to investigate the prospective associations between fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes and their polyphenol content with subsequent sleep duration in UK women. In this study, 13,958 women with ~4 years of follow-up in the UK Women’s Cohort Study were included in the analyses. FV intakes were assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and average hours of sleep per day were self-reported in follow-up. Polyphenol intake was calculated by matching FV items from the FFQ with the Phenol-Explorer database. Linear regression models, adjusting for confounders, were used for the analyses. Consuming an additional portion of apples, kiwi, oranges, pineapple, and 100% pure juice were associated with shorter sleep. Similarly, an additional portion of cabbage, celery, aubergine, olives, and peppers were inversely associated with sleep duration. An additional gram of total polyphenols was associated with shorter sleep by 18 min (99% CI −31 to −4, p < 0.001). FV consumption and total polyphenol content were inversely associated with sleep duration; however, effect sizes were small, and polyphenol classes from FV intakes were not associated with sleep duration. Future intervention studies considering the time of FV consumption in relation to sleep are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Dietary Intakes and Dietary Quality during Pregnancy in Women with and without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - A Norwegian Longitudinal Study
Authors: Elvebakk Trude , Mostad Ingrid L. , Mørkved Siv , Salvesen Kjell Å. , Stafne Signe N.
Published: November 2018

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with maternal diet, however, findings are inconsistent. The aims of the present study were to assess whether intakes of foods and beverages during pregnancy differed between women who developed GDM and non-GDM women, and to compare dietary intakes with dietary recommendations of pregnancy. This is a longitudinal study using participants of a randomized controlled trial. Women with complete measurements of a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 18–22 and 32–36 weeks gestation were included in the cohort (n = 702). Women were diagnosed for GDM according to the simplified International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group criteria at 32–36 weeks (GDM women: n = 40; non-GDM women: n = 662). Dietary data (food frequency questionnaire) was collected at both time points and compared between GDM and non-GDM women. Variability in OGTT values was assessed in a general linear model. Marginal differences between GDM and non-GDM women in intakes of food groups were found. No associations were found between dietary variables and OGTT values. Not all dietary recommendations were followed in the cohort, with frequently reported alcohol consumption giving largest cause for concern. This study did not find dietary differences that could help explain why 40 women developed GDM.
Wheat ATI CM3, CM16 and 0.28 Allergens Produced in Pichia Pastoris Display a Different Eliciting Potential in Food Allergy to Wheat ‡
Authors: Tundo Silvio , Lupi Roberta , Lafond Mickael , Giardina Thierry , Larré Colette , Denery-Papini Sandra , Morisset Martine , Kalunke Raviraj , Sestili Francesco , Masci Stefania
Published: November 2018

Although wheat is a staple food for most of the human population, some of its components trigger adverse reactions. Among wheat components, the alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATI) are important triggers of several allergies and activators of innate immunity. ATI are a group of exogenous protease inhibitors and include several polypeptides. The three ATI polypeptides named CM3, CM16 and 0.28 are considered major allergens, and might also play a role in other common wheat-related pathologies, such as Non Celiac Wheat Sensitivity and even Celiac Disease. On this basis, we pointed to obtain high amounts of them in purity and to evaluate their allergenicity potential. We thus isolated the mRNA corresponding to the three ATI genes CM3, CM16 and 0.28 from 28 days post-anthesis wheat kernels and the corresponding cDNAs were used for heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. The three purified proteins were tested in degranulation assay against human sera of patients with food allergy to wheat. A large range of degranulation values was observed for each protein according to the sera tested. All of the three purified proteins CM3, CM16 and 0.28 were active as allergens because they were able to induce basophils degranulation on wheat allergic patients’ sera, with the highest values of β-hexosaminidase release observed for CM3 protein.
Multiple Pathways in the Control of the Shade Avoidance Response
Authors: Sessa Giovanna , Carabelli Monica , Possenti Marco , Morelli Giorgio , Ruberti Ida
Published: November 2018

To detect the presence of neighboring vegetation, shade-avoiding plants have evolved the ability to perceive and integrate multiple signals. Among them, changes in light quality and quantity are central to elicit and regulate the shade avoidance response. Here, we describe recent progresses in the comprehension of the signaling mechanisms underlying the shade avoidance response, focusing on Arabidopsis, because most of our knowledge derives from studies conducted on this model plant. Shade avoidance is an adaptive response that results in phenotypes with a high relative fitness in individual plants growing within dense vegetation. However, it affects the growth, development, and yield of crops, and the design of new strategies aimed at attenuating shade avoidance at defined developmental stages and/or in specific organs in high-density crop plantings is a major challenge for the future. For this reason, in this review, we also report on recent advances in the molecular description of the shade avoidance response in crops, such as maize and tomato, and discuss their similarities and differences with Arabidopsis.
Numerical Simulation of Water Absorption and Swelling in Dehulled Barley Grains during Canned Porridge Cooking
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Mengting , Guo Mingming , Ye Xingqian , Ding Tian , Liu Donghong
Published: November 2018

Understanding the hydration behavior of cereals during cooking is industrially important in order to optimize processing conditions. In this study, barley porridge was cooked in a sealed tin can at 100, 115, and 121 °C, respectively, and changes in water uptake and hygroscopic swelling in dehulled barley grains were measured during the cooking of canned porridge. In order to describe and better understand the hydration behaviors of barley grains during the cooking process, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model was developed and validated. The proposed model was found to be adequate for representing the moisture absorption characteristics with a mean relative deviation modulus (P) ranging from 4.325% to 5.058%. The analysis of the 3D simulation of hygroscopic swelling was satisfactory for describing the expansion in the geometry of barley. Given that the model represented the experimental values adequately, it can be applied to the simulation and design of cooking processes of cereals grains, allowing for saving in both time and costs.
Introduction to “Current Trajectories in Global Pentecostalism: Culture, Social Engagement, and Change”
Authors: Robins Roger G.
Published: November 2018

This special issue of Religions assembles a talented group of international scholars from a variety of regions and disciplines to address contemporary developments within global Pentecostalism, a burgeoning movement that is changing the face—and interface—of religion and society today. A total of twelve articles (representing the work of thirteen authors) speak to issues surfacing along one of three overlapping trajectories: cultural expression, social engagement, and institutional change. The introduction briefly sets a framework for each article and calls attention to its wider connections and notable contributions. As a body of scholarship, these articles constitute a set of strategic soundings that refine our understanding of the texture and topography of global Pentecostalism. In addition to their substantive contributions, the authors, viewed collectively, also put on display the central attributes of a new era in Pentecostal studies, one distinguished by its productivity, diversity, range, and interdisciplinary ken.
A Mathematical Analysis of Maria Valtorta’s Mystical Writings
Authors: Matricciani Emilio , De Caro Liberato
Published: November 2018

We have studied the very large amount of literary works written by the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta to assess similarities and differences in her writings, because she claims that most of them are due to mystical visions. We have used mathematical and statistical tools developed for specifically studying deep linguistic aspects of texts. The general trend indicates that the literary works explicitly attributable to Maria Valtorta differ significantly from her other literary works, which she claims are attributable to the alleged characters Jesus and Mary. Mathematically, they seem to have been written by different authors. The comparison with the Italian literature is very striking. A single author, namely Maria Valtorta, seems to be able to write texts so diverse as to cover the entire mathematical range (suitably defined) of the Italian literature spanning seven centuries.
A Ruby and Triangled Sign upon the Forehead of Taurus: Modalities of Revelation in Megalithic Archaeoastronomy and James Joyce’s Novels Ulysses and Finnegans Wake
Authors: Crook Simon
Published: November 2018

This paper proceeds from the concurrent interpretation of two distinct, apparently unrelated disciplinary contexts, at the crossroads of the positivism of archaeology and the imaginary world of literature. The character of the reciprocal relationship between megalithism in Neolithic Portugal and the writings of the twentieth-century author, James Joyce, is transfigured through the introduction of a third element of interpretation, a deeply paradoxical current of Jewish thought, with messianic dimensions, antithetical to the forces of mythic reconciliation present in Joyce’s fiction and in archaeological conceptions of ‘symbolic systems’ in antiquity, which tend to erase the innumerable singulars of experience. Applying a cryptotheologically-inflected exegesis immanent to the materials of text and archaeology in the light of their respective orientation to the same astral phenomenon, I seek to generate insights unanticipated within interpretations restricted to the disciplinary boundaries, theories and methodologies of archaeology and literary criticism as discrete entities. Within allegorised readings of archaeology and an archaeologicised reading of Joyce’s texts I bring into play non-synchronous elements which both disrupt the idealised harmonies of social and religious conformity and illuminate hitherto unseen connections between diverse, seemingly incommensurable contexts, beyond the discursive conventions of detached objectivity, without relinquishing irreduceible remnants to a totalising synthesis.
A Retrospective Review of Facial Fractures in Wales
Authors: George Jayan , Brahmabhatt Pranter , Farboud Amir , Marnane Conor
Published: November 2018

Facial fractures are the third most common type of fracture, with the nose most frequently involved. In the United Kingdom, their incidence is rising among young males particularly, and recent reports suggest that nasal injuries in females are becoming more common, which is attributed to “ladette” culture. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is any correlation in Wales with the rise in female facial fractures reported in England. A retrospective analysis of National Health Service Wales Informatics Service data (NHS WIS) shows that facial fractures were more likely to occur in males, in their teens or twenties, most commonly caused by assault and linked to alcohol consumption in this demographic. The most common cause of facial fracture in Wales was due to an accident which differs from England. The overall number of facial fractures in both males and females did not change significantly. It may be that the binge drinking culture is not as prevalent in Wales as it is in England. The reasons for this may be mutifactorial, reflecting geographical, cultural and socio-economic factors. Our findings do not correlate with the literature regarding the epidemiology of facial fractures. We suggest that binge drinking and “ladette culture” is not seen as commonly in Wales from the point of view of the ill effects of alcohol consumption.
A Comparison of Imputation Approaches for Estimating Forest Biomass Using Landsat Time-Series and Inventory Data
Authors: Nguyen Trung H. , Jones Simon , Soto-Berelov Mariela , Haywood Andrew , Hislop Samuel
Published: November 2018

The prediction of forest biomass at the landscape scale can be achieved by integrating data from field plots with satellite imagery, in particular data from the Landsat archive, using k-nearest neighbour (kNN) imputation models. While studies have demonstrated different kNN imputation approaches for estimating forest biomass from remote sensing data and forest inventory plots, there is no general agreement on which approach is most appropriate for biomass estimation across large areas. In this study, we compared several imputation approaches for estimating forest biomass using Landsat time-series and inventory plot data. We evaluated 18 kNN models to impute three aboveground biomass (AGB) variables (total AGB, AGB of live trees and AGB of dead trees). These models were developed using different distance techniques (Random Forest or RF, Gradient Nearest Neighbour or GNN, and Most Similar Neighbour or MSN) and different combinations of response variables (model scenarios). Direct biomass imputation models were trained according to the biomass variables while indirect biomass imputation models were trained according to combinations of forest structure variables (e.g., basal area, stem density and stem volume of live and dead-standing trees). We also assessed the ability of our imputation method to spatially predict biomass variables across large areas in relation to a forest disturbance history over a 30-year period (1987–2016). Our results show that RF consistently outperformed MSN and GNN distance techniques across different model scenarios and biomass variables. The lowest error rates were achieved by RF-based models with generalized root mean squared difference (gRMSD, RMSE divided by the standard deviation of the observed values) ranging from 0.74 to 1.24. Whereas gRMSD associated with MSN-based and GNN-based models ranged from 0.92 to 1.36 and from 1.04 to 1.42, respectively. The indirect imputation method generally achieved better biomass predictions than the direct imputation method. In particular, the kNN model trained with the combination of basal area and stem density variables was the most robust for estimating forest biomass. This model reported a gRMSD of 0.89, 0.95 and 1.08 for total AGB, AGB of live trees and AGB of dead trees, respectively. In addition, spatial predictions of biomass showed relatively consistent trends with disturbance severity and time since disturbance across the time-series. As the kNN imputation method is increasingly being used by land managers and researchers to map forest biomass, this work helps those using these methods ensure their modelling and mapping practices are optimized.
The VIIRS Sea-Ice Albedo Product Generation and Preliminary Validation
Authors: Peng Jingjing , Yu Yunyue , Yu Peng , Liang Shunlin
Published: November 2018

Ice albedo feedback amplifies climate change signals and thus affects the global climate. Global long-term records on sea-ice albedo are important to characterize the regional or global energy budget. As the successor of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) started its observation from October 2011 on S-NPP (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership). It has improved upon the capabilities of the operational Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and provides observation continuity with MODIS. We used a direct estimation algorithm to produce a VIIRS sea-ice albedo (VSIA) product, which will be operational in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) S-NPP Data Exploration (NDE) version of the VIIRS albedo product. The algorithm is developed from the angular bin regression method to simulate the sea-ice surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) from physical models, which can represent different sea-ice types and vary mixing fractions among snow, ice, and seawater. We compared the VSIA with six years of ground measurements at 30 automatic weather stations from the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE) and the Greenland Climate Network (GC-NET) as a proxy for sea-ice albedo. The results show that the VSIA product highly agreed with the station measurements with low bias (about 0.03) and low root mean square error (RMSE) (about 0.07) considering the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) requirement is 0.05 and 0.08 at 4 km scale, respectively. We also evaluated the VSIA using two datasets of field measured sea-ice albedo from previous field campaigns. The comparisons suggest that VSIA generally matches the magnitude of the ground measurements, with a bias of 0.09 between the instantaneous albedos in the central Arctic and a bias of 0.077 between the daily mean albedos near Alaska. The discrepancy is mainly due to the scale difference at both spatial and temporal dimensions and the limited sample size. The VSIA data will serve for weather prediction applications and climate model calibrations. Combined with the historical observations from MODIS, current S-NPP VIIRS, and NOAA-20 VIIRS observations, VSIA will dramatically contribute to providing high-accuracy routine sea-ice albedo products and irreplaceable records for monitoring the long-term sea-ice albedo for climate research.
A Comparison between the MODIS Product (MOD17A2) and a Tide-Robust Empirical GPP Model Evaluated in a Georgia Wetland
Authors: Tao Jianbin , Mishra Deepak R , Cotten David L. , O’Connell Jessica , Leclerc Monique , Nahrawi Hafsah Binti , Zhang Gengsheng , Pahari Roshani
Published: November 2018

Despite the importance of tidal ecosystems in the global carbon budget, the relationships between environmental drivers and carbon dynamics in these wetlands remain poorly understood. This limited understanding results from the challenges associated with in situ flux studies and their correlation with satellite imagery which can be affected by periodic tidal flooding. Carbon dioxide eddy covariance (EC) towers are installed in only a few wetlands worldwide, and the longest eddy-covariance record from Georgia (GA) wetlands contains only two continuous years of observations. The goals of the present study were to evaluate the performance of existing MODIS Gross Primary Production (GPP) products (MOD17A2) against EC derived GPP and develop a tide-robust Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) based model to predict GPP within a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh on Sapelo Island, GA. These EC tower-based observations represent a basis to associate CO2 fluxes with canopy reflectance and thus provide the means to use satellite-based reflectance data for broader scale investigations. We demonstrate that Light Use Efficiency (LUE)-based MOD17A2 does not accurately reflect tidal wetland GPP compared to a simple empirical vegetation index-based model where tidal influence was accounted for. The NDMI-based GPP model was capable of predicting changes in wetland CO2 fluxes and explained 46% of the variation in flux-estimated GPP within the training data, and a root mean square error of 6.96 g C m−2 in the validation data. Our investigation is the first to create a MODIS-based wetland GPP estimation procedure that demonstrates the importance of filtering tidal observations from satellite surface reflectance data.
Generalized Hierarchical Model-Based Estimation for Aboveground Biomass Assessment Using GEDI and Landsat Data
Authors: Saarela Svetlana , Holm Sören , Healey Sean , Andersen Hans-Erik , Petersson Hans , Prentius Wilmer , Patterson Paul , Næsset Erik , Gregoire Timothy , Ståhl Göran
Published: November 2018

Recent developments in remote sensing (RS) technology have made several sources of auxiliary data available to support forest inventories. Thus, a pertinent question is how different sources of RS data should be combined with field data to make inventories cost-efficient. Hierarchical model-based estimation has been proposed as a promising way of combining: (i) wall-to-wall optical data that are only weakly correlated with forest structure; (ii) a discontinuous sample of active RS data that are more strongly correlated with structure; and (iii) a sparse sample of field data. Model predictions based on the strongly correlated RS data source are used for estimating a model linking the target quantity with weakly correlated wall-to-wall RS data. Basing the inference on the latter model, uncertainties due to both modeling steps must be accounted for to obtain reliable variance estimates of estimated population parameters, such as totals or means. Here, we generalize previously existing estimators for hierarchical model-based estimation to cases with non-homogeneous error variance and cases with correlated errors, for example due to clustered sample data. This is an important generalization to take into account data from practical surveys. We apply the new estimation framework to case studies that mimic the data that will be available from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission and compare the proposed estimation framework with alternative methods. Aboveground biomass was the variable of interest, Landsat data were available wall-to-wall, and sample RS data were obtained from an airborne LiDAR campaign that produced simulated GEDI waveforms. The results show that generalized hierarchical model-based estimation has potential to yield more precise estimates than approaches utilizing only one source of RS data, such as conventional model-based and hybrid inferential approaches.
A Point Pattern Chamfer Registration of Optical and SAR Images Based on Mesh Grids
Authors: He Chu , Fang Peizhang , Xiong Dehui , Wang Wenwei , Liao Mingsheng
Published: November 2018

Automatic image registration of optical-to-Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is difficult because of the inconsistency of radiometric and geometric properties between the optical image and the SAR image. The intensity-based methods may require many calculations and be ineffective when there are geometric distortions between these two images. The feature-based methods have high requirements on features, and there are certain challenges in feature extraction and matching. A new automatic optical-to-SAR image registration framework is proposed in this paper. First, modified holistically nested edge detection is employed to detect the main contours in both the optical and SAR images. Second, a mesh grid strategy is presented to perform a coarse-to-fine registration. The coarse registration calculates the feature matching and summarizes the preliminary results for the fine registration process. Finally, moving direct linear transformation is introduced to perform a homography warp to alleviate parallax. The experimental results show the effectiveness and accuracy of our proposed method.
The AQUI Soil Moisture Network for Satellite Microwave Remote Sensing Validation in South-Western France
Authors: Al-Yaari A. , Dayau S. , Chipeaux C. , Aluome C. , Kruszewski A. , Loustau D. , Wigneron J.-P.
Published: November 2018

Global soil moisture (SM) products are currently available thanks to microwave remote sensing techniques. Validation of these satellite-based SM products over different vegetation and climate conditions is a crucial step. INRA (National Institute of Agricultural Research) has set up the AQUI SM and soil temperature in situ network (composed of three main sites Bouron, Bilos, and Hermitage), over a flat area of dense pine forests, in South-Western France (the Bordeaux–Aquitaine region) to validate the Soil Moisture and Ocean salinity (SMOS) satellite SM products. SMOS was launched in 2009 by the European Space Agency (ESA). The aims of this study are to present the AQUI network and to evaluate the SMOS SM product (in the new SMOS-IC version) along with other microwave SM products such as the active ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer) and the ESA combined (passive and active) CCI (Climate Change Initiative) SM retrievals. A first comparison, using Pearson correlation, Bias, RMSE (Root Mean Square Error), and Un biased RMSE (ubRMSE) scores, between the 0–5 cm AQUI network and ASCAT, CCI, and SMOS SM products was conducted. In general all the three products were able to reproduce the annual cycle of the AQUI in situ observations. CCI and ASCAT had best and similar correlations (R~0.72) over the Bouron and Bilos sites. All had comparable correlations over the Hermitage sites with overall average values of 0.74, 0.68, and 0.69 for CCI, SMOS-IC, and ASCAT, respectively. Considering anomalies, correlation values decreased for all products with best ability to capture day to day variations obtained by ASCAT. CCI (followed by SMOS-IC) had the best ubRMSE values (mostly < 0.04 m3/m3) over most of the stations. Although the region is highly impacted by radio frequency interferences, SMOS-IC followed correctly the in situ SM dynamics. All the three remotely-sensed SM products (except SMOS-IC over some stations) overestimated the AQUI in situ SM observations. These results demonstrate that the AQUI network is likely to be well-suited for satellite microwave remote sensing evaluations/validations.
Mapping Paddy Rice Using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with Landsat 8 Datasets in the Dongting Lake Area, China
Authors: Zhang Meng , Lin Hui , Wang Guangxing , Sun Hua , Fu Jing
Published: November 2018

Rice is one of the world’s major staple foods, especially in China. Highly accurate monitoring on rice-producing land is, therefore, crucial for assessing food supplies and productivity. Recently, the deep-learning convolutional neural network (CNN) has achieved considerable success in remote-sensing data analysis. A CNN-based paddy-rice mapping method using the multitemporal Landsat 8, phenology data, and land-surface temperature (LST) was developed during this study. First, the spatial–temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM) was used to blend the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat data for obtaining multitemporal Landsat-like data. Subsequently, the threshold method is applied to derive the phenological variables from the Landsat-like (Normalized difference vegetation index) NDVI time series. Then, a generalized single-channel algorithm was employed to derive LST from the Landsat 8. Finally, multitemporal Landsat 8 spectral images, combined with phenology and LST data, were employed to extract paddy-rice information using a patch-based deep-learning CNN algorithm. The results show that the proposed method achieved an overall accuracy of 97.06% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.91, which are 6.43% and 0.07 higher than that of the support vector machine method, and 7.68% and 0.09 higher than that of the random forest method, respectively. Moreover, the Landsat-derived rice area is strongly correlated (R2 = 0.9945) with government statistical data, demonstrating that the proposed method has potential in large-scale paddy-rice mapping using moderate spatial resolution images.
La grotte de Montfat : un jalon dans l'évolution de la vallée de la Meuse
Authors: Quinif Yves
Published: November 2018

Les grottes perchées aux flancs des vallées jouent un rôle important dans la quantification de l'enfoncement des rivières. Les dépôts détritiques et stalagmitiques qu'elles renferment permettent de nous renseigner sur les mécanismes de sédimentation en relation avec les rivières épigées tributaires. Les spéléothèmes postérieurs à l'assèchement de ces galeries fournissent un âge limite au paléotalweg situé à telle ou telle altitude. De plus, les dépôts détritiques associés sont aussi de précieux indicateurs des processus liés à cet enfoncement. La grotte de Montfat, à Dinant, le long de la Meuse belge, constitue un fragment de réseau sous-fluvial perché et renferme des témoins sédimentaires permettant de donner un âge limite au paléotalweg de la Meuse. L'étude de ses dépôts indique que la Meuse a abandonné l'altitude de 142 m avant 400.000 ans, soit quelque 45 mètres au-dessus de son altitude actuelle.
Implications of alternative land conversion cost specifications on projected afforestation potential in the United States
Authors: Cai Yongxia , Wade Christopher M. , Baker Justin S. , Jones Jason P. H. , Latta Gregory S. , Ohrel Sara B. , Ragnauth Shaun A. , Creason Jared R.
Published: November 2018

The Forestry and Agriculture Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases
(FASOMGHG) has historically relied on regional average costs of land conversion to simulate land use change across cropland, pasture, rangeland, and forestry. This assumption limits the accuracy of the land conversion estimates by not recognizing spatial heterogeneity in land quality and conversion costs. Using data from Nielsen et al. (2014), we obtained the afforestation cost per county, then estimated nonparametric regional marginal cost functions for land converting land to forestry.

These afforestation costs were then incorporated into FASOMGHG. Three different assumptions for land moving into the forest sector were run; constant average conversion cost, static rising marginal costs and dynamic rising marginal cost, in order to assess the implications of alternative land conversion cost assumptions on key outcomes, such as projected forest area and cropland use, carbon sequestration, and forest product output.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND SECTORAL COMPETITIVENESS IN SOUTHERN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES. FACTS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Dimian Gina Cristina , Aceleanu Mirela Ionela , Ileanu Bogdan Vasile , Șerban Andreea Claudia
Published: November 2018

This article addresses the problem of the main factors driving sectoral unemployment in the Mediterranean countries most affected by this phenomenon. The choice of the four countries (Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal) relies on the fact that they are dealing with the highest unemployment rates in the European Union and a certain typology of the economic structure. The originality of our research is offered by its direction, less tackled until now, namely the focus on the particularities of the economic sectors, trying to capture differences between them. The importance and the impact of the results are supported by the methods used to produce them, indicators and econometric models that are on trend and bring extra information to available studies. Descriptive statistics and mismatch indexes are used to outline the economic and labour market structure, while the econometric models built on panel data capture the impact of factors such as GVA growth, specialization and labour market mismatches on the unemployment rate at six economic sectors level. Our paper makes three contributions to the literature. First, we have demonstrated that agriculture is the sector of activity less sensitive to output fluctuations in terms of unemployment and can become a buffer for the jobless in times of recessions. Second, we have proved that industry, as a whole, is highly responsive to economic developments and bad specialization could worsen unemployment situation in this sector. Third, we showed that educational mismatches have a significant impact on unemployment in those sectors of activity that employ low educated workforce.
MARKETING COMMUNICATION MODEL FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: Klepek Martin , Starzyczná Halina
Published: November 2018

The advent of social media offers yet another set of communication channels which can brand add to integrated marketing communication strategies. Contrary to online advertising available on social media where traditional advertising logic provides an adequate explanation, the content creation and dialogue on social networks still lack sufficient understanding. Consequently, there are many companies which tend to misunderstand customers communication needs within the social media landscape. The obvious reason is the lack of knowledge combined with resistance to change. To bridge this gap, there is a need for empirical research which will clarify the current communication needs of customers. To explore this phenomenon, exploratory research employing questionnaire involving 481 respondents was evaluated with factor analysis method. Identification of three factors provided deeper insights into the understanding of attitudes and behaviour of the current internet population in the Czech Republic. Social network Facebook was chosen as the most widespread not only locally but also globally. Based on this research and previous research studies on communication, a new communication model is proposed in which the element of interaction is the most important. The proposed scheme bears some novel aspects. Firstly, the content in our model is not created outside as in previous models. A social network itself provides a platform for content creation. Secondly, we expanded the physical technical environment of the social network by the abstract brand community in which not only customers but the employees form a vital part. Lastly, the data plays an important role as a valuable tool for feedback and further analysis. Data flow from customer to company enables managers to execute true mass individualisation.
STRONG CONVERGENCE OF A NEW HYBRID ALGORITHM FOR FIXED POINT PROBLEMS AND EQUILIBRIUM PROBLEMS
Authors: Hieu Dang Van
Published: November 2018

The paper considers the problem of finding a common solution of a pseudomonotone and Lipschitz-type equilibrium problem and a fixed point problem for a quasi nonexpansive mapping in a Hilbert space. A new hybrid algorithm is introduced for approximating a solution of this problem. The presented algorithm can be considered as a combination of the extragradient method (two-step proximal-like method) and a modified version of the normal Mann iteration. It is well known that the normal Mann iteration has the weak convergence, but in this paper we has obtained the strong convergence of the new algorithm under some mild conditions on parameters. Several numerical experiments are reported to illustrate the convergence of the algorithm and also to show the advantages of it over existing methods.
CONTRACTION-MAPPING ALGORITHM FOR THE EQUILIBRIUM PROBLEM OVER THE FIXED POINT SET OF A NONEXPANSIVE SEMIGROUP
Authors: Hai Trinh Ngoc , Thuy Le Qung
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we consider the proximal mapping of a bifunction. Under the Lipschitz-type and the strong monotonicity conditions, we prove that the proximal mapping is contractive. Based on this result, we construct an iterative process for solving the equilibrium problem over the fixed point sets of a nonexpansive semigroup and prove a weak convergence theorem for this algorithm. Also, some preliminary numerical experiments and comparisons are presented.
Positional Offsets between SiO Masers in Evolved Stars and their Cross-matched Counterparts
Authors: Pihlström Ylva M. , Sjouwerman Loránt O. , Claussen Mark J , Morris Mark R. , Michael Rich R. , van Langevelde Huib Jan , Quiroga-Nuñez Luis Henry
Published: November 2018

Observations of dust-enshrouded evolved stars selected from infrared catalogs requiring high positional accuracy, like infrared spectroscopy or long baseline radio interferometric observations, often require preparational observational steps determining a position with an accuracy much better than 1″. Using phase-referencing observations with the Very Large Array at its highest resolution, we have compared the positions of SiO 43 GHz masers in evolved stars, assumed to originate in their infrared detected circumstellar shells, with the positions listed in the MSX, WISE, 2MASS, and Gaia catalogs. Starting from an MSX position it is, in general, simple to match 2MASS and WISE counterparts. However, in order to obtain a Gaia match to the MSX source it is required to use a two-step approach due to the large number of nearby candidates and low initial positional accuracy of the MSX data. We show that the closest comparable position to the SiO maser in our limited sample never is the MSX position. When a plausible source with a characteristic signature of an evolved star with a circumstellar shell can be found in the area, the best indicator of the maser position is provided by the Gaia position, with the 2MASS position being second best. Typical positional offsets from all catalogs to the SiO masers are reported.
New Hot Subdwarf Stars Identified in Gaia DR2 with LAMOST DR5 Spectra
Authors: Lei Zhenxin , Zhao Jingkun , Németh Péter , Zhao Gang
Published: November 2018

We selected 4593 hot subdwarf candidates from the Gaia DR2 Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram. By combining the sample with Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) DR5, we identified 294 hot subdwarf stars, including 169 sdB, 63 sdOB, 31 He-sdOB, 22 sdO, 7 He-sdO, and 2 He-sdB stars. The atmospheric parameters (e.g., T
eff, log g, log(nHe/nH)) are obtained by fitting the hydrogen (H) and helium (He) line profiles with synthetic spectra. Two distinct He sequences of hot subdwarf stars are clearly presented in the T
eff–log g diagram. We found that the He-rich sequence consists of the bulk of sdB and sdOB stars, as well as all of the He-sdB, He-sdO, and He-sdOB stars in our samples, while all the stars in the He-weak sequence belong to the sdO spectral type, combined with a few sdB and sdOB stars. We demonstrated that the combination of Gaia DR2 and LAMOST DR5 allows one to uncover a huge number of new hot subdwarf stars in our Galaxy.
Accretion in a Dynamical Spacetime and the Spinning Up of the Black Hole in the Gamma-Ray Burst Central Engine
Authors: Janiuk Agnieszka , Sukova Petra , Palit Ishika
Published: November 2018

We compute the evolution of a quasi-spherical, slowly rotating accretion flow around a black hole, whose mass and spin evolve adequately to transfer of mass and energy through the horizon. Our model is relevant for a central engine driving a long gamma-ray burst (GRB) that originates from the collapse of a massive star. The computations of a GRB engine in a dynamically evolving spacetime metric are important specifically due to the transient nature of the event, in which a huge amount of mass is accreted and changes the fundamental black hole parameters—its mass and spin—during the process. We discuss the results in the context of the angular momentum magnitude of the collapsing star. We also study the possible formation and evolution of shocks in the envelope, which may temporarily affect accretion. Our results are important for the limitations on the mass and spin range of black holes detected independently by electromagnetic observations of GRBs and gravitational waves. We speculate on the possible constraints for the final masses and spins of these astrophysical black holes. It is shown that the most massive black holes are not formed in a powerful GRB explosion if the cores of their progenitors were only weakly rotating.
Double Nuclei in NGC 908 and NGC 1187
Authors: Menezes R. B. , Steiner J. E.
Published: November 2018

We analyze optical data cubes of the nuclear regions of two late-type galaxies, NGC 908 and NGC 1187, obtained with the Integral Field Unit of the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph. Both data cubes show stellar structures consistent with double nuclei. The morphology of the line-emitting areas in the central region of NGC 1187 is also of a double nucleus, while the spatial morphology of the line-emitting areas in the data cube of NGC 908 is consistent with a circumnuclear asymmetric ring. The emission-line ratios of the nuclear spectra (and, actually, along the entire field of view) of both galaxies are characteristic of H ii regions. In particular, based on its emission-line properties, the circumnuclear ring in NGC 908 can be identified as a star-forming ring. The observed spatial morphology of the stellar emission and also the differences in the properties of the stellar populations detected in the stellar nuclei of NGC 908 suggest that the most likely scenario to explain the double stellar nucleus in this object involves a minor merger, probably with a high mass ratio. On the other hand, considering the similar properties of the stellar populations in the stellar nuclei of NGC 1187, together with the stellar and gas kinematic properties, we conclude that the most likely scenario to explain the double stellar and gas nucleus in this galaxy involves the stellar and gas kinematics, in the form of a circular nuclear disk subject to perturbations.
Helicity Removal and Coronal Fe xii Stalks: Evidence That the Axial Field Is Not Ejected but Resubmerged
Authors: Wang Y.-M. , Berger M. A.
Published: November 2018

The magnetic/current helicity of the coronal field is closely associated with the presence of a nonpotential axial component directed along the photospheric polarity inversion line (PIL), which is also the source of the axial/toroidal field in flux ropes and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). To better understand the role of this axial component in the evolution of coronal helicity, we use Fe xii 19.3 nm images and longitudinal magnetograms from the Solar Dynamics Observatory to track active regions (ARs) and their filament channels as they decay due to flux transport processes. We find that the Fe xii loop legs or “stalks,” initially oriented almost perpendicular to the PIL, become closely aligned with it after ∼1–4 rotations; this alignment is attributed to the progressive cancellation of the transverse field component at the PIL. As the AR flux continues to decay, the PIL becomes ever more distorted and the directions of the stalks are increasingly randomized. These observations suggest that most of the original axial field in ARs is not expelled in CMEs, but instead pinches off after the eruptions and becomes concentrated at the PIL. Because the twist of the field decreases, however, the helicity itself decreases, with CMEs removing a significant fraction of it in the form of disconnected flux ropes. Like most of the AR flux, the bulk of the axial field is eventually canceled/resubmerged, brought to the equator by the subsurface meridional flow, and annihilated (along with the remaining helicity) by merging with its opposite-handed counterpart from the other hemisphere.
Theoretically Motivated Search and Detection of Non-thermal Pulsations from PSRs J1747-2958, J2021+3651, and J1826-1256
Authors: Li Jian , Torres Diego F. , Coti Zelati Francesco , Papitto Alessandro , Kerr Matthew , Rea Nanda
Published: November 2018

Based on a theoretical selection of pulsars as candidates for detection at X-ray energies, we present an analysis of archival X-ray observations performed with Chandra and XMM-Newton of PSR J1747–2958 (the pulsar in the “Mouse” nebula), PSR J2021+3651 (the pulsar in the “Dragonfly” nebula), and PSR J1826–1256. X-ray pulsations from PSR J1747–2958 and PSR J1826–1256 are detected for the first time, and a previously reported hint of an X-ray pulsation from PSR J2021+3651 is confirmed with a higher significance. We analyze these pulsars’ spectra in regard to the theoretically predicted energy distribution, finding a remarkable agreement, and provide here a refined calculation of the model parameters taking into account the newly derived X-ray spectral data.