bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Characterization of Novel Polyvinylidene Fluoride/2-Aminobenzothiazole Modified Ultrafiltration Membrane for the Removal of Cr(VI) in Wastewater
Authors: Wang Xiuju , Zhou Kaili , Ma Zhun , Lu Xingjie , Wang Liguo , Wang Zhongpeng , Gao Xueli
Published: December 2017

Hexavalent chromium is one of the main heavy metal pollutants. As the environmental legislation becomes increasingly strict, seeking new technology to treat wastewater containing hexavalent chromium is becoming more and more important. In this research, a novel modified ultrafiltration membrane that could be applied to adsorb and purify water containing hexavalent chromium, was prepared by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blending with 2-aminobenzothiazole via phase inversion. The membrane performance was characterized by evaluation of the instrument of membrane performance, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and water contact angle measurements. The results showed that the pure water flux of the PVDF/2-aminobenzothiazole modified ultrafiltration membrane was 231.27 L/m2·h, the contact angle was 76.1°, and the adsorption capacity of chromium ion was 157.75 µg/cm2. The PVDF/2-aminobenzothiazole modified ultrafiltration membrane presented better adsorption abilities for chromium ion than that of the traditional PVDF membrane.
Preparation of a Mini-Library of Thermo-Responsive Star (NVCL/NVP-VAc) Polymers with Tailored Properties Using a Hexafunctional Xanthate RAFT Agent
Authors: Cortez-Lemus Norma Aidé , Licea-Claverie Angel
Published: December 2017

A mini-library of star-shaped thermoresponsive polymers having six arms was prepared using a hexafunctional xanthate by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Star polymers with homopolymeric arms of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL), copolymeric arms of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVCL-co-PNVP) and also arms of block copolymers of PNVCL-b-PVAc, (PNVCL-co-PNVP)-b-PVAc, and combinations of them changing the order of the block was achieved exploiting the R-RAFT synthetic methodology (or R-group approach), wherein the thiocarbonyl group is transferred to the polymeric chain end. Taking advantage of the RAFT benefits, the molecular weight of the star polymers was controlled (Mn = 11,880–153,400 g/mol) to yield star polymers of different sizes and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) values. Removing the xanthate group of the star polymers allowed for the introduction of specific functional groups at the ends of the star arms and resulted in an increase of the LCST values. Star PNVCL-b-PVAc diblock copolymers with PVAc contents of 5–26 mol % were prepared; the hydrophobic segment (PVAc) is located at the end of the star arms. Interestingly, when the PVAc content was 5–7 mol %, the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) value of the aggregates formed in water was almost the same sa the Dh of the corresponding PNVCL star homopolymers. It is proposed that these star block copolymers self-assemble into single flowerlike micelles, showing great stability in aqueous solution. Star block copolymers with the PVAc hydrophobic block in the core of the star, such as PVAc-b-(PNVCL-co-PNVP), form micellar aggregates in aqueous solution with Dh values in the range from ~115 to 245 nm while maintaining a thermoresponsive behavior. Micellar aggregates of selected star polymers were used to encapsulate methotrexate (MTX) showing their potential in the temperature controlled release of this antineoplasic drug. The importance of the order in which each block constituent is introduced in the arms of the star polymers for their solution/aggregation behavior is demonstrated.
Highly Productive Synthesis, Characterization, and Fluorescence and Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption Properties of Poly(2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) Nanosheets
Authors: Li Chao , Huang Shaojun , Min Chungang , Du Ping , Xia Yi , Yang Chaofen , Huang Qiuling
Published: December 2017

Poly(2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) (PBT) nanosheets were synthesized by chemical oxidative synthesis under mild conditions. The media, oxidant species, monomer concentrations, oxidant/monomer molar ratio, and temperature were optimized to achieve higher yields and better performance. The molecular structure, morphology, and properties of the nanosheets were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), and fluorescence spectroscopies, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). It was found that the polymerization of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole occurs via dehydrogenation coupling between two mercapto groups to form the –S–S– bond. PBTs show the highest polymerization yield of up to 98.47% and form uniform nanosheets with a thickness of 89~367 nm. poly(2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) polymers (PBTs) exhibit good chemical resistance, high thermostability, interesting blue-light emitting fluorescence, and wonderful heavy metal ion adsorption properties. Particularly, the PBT nanosheets having a unique synergic combination of three kinds of active –S–, –SH, and =N– groups with a moderate specific area of 15.85 m2 g−1 exhibit an ultra-rapid initial adsorption rate of 10,653 mg g−1 h−1 and an ultrahigh adsorption capacity of up to 680.01 mg g−1 for mercury ion, becoming ultrafast chelate nanosorbents with a high adsorption capacity. With these impressive properties, PBT nanosheets are very promising materials in the fields of water treatment, sensors, and electrodes.
Pātañjala Yoga’s Theory of ‘Many-Lives’ through Karma and Rebirth and Its Eccentric ‘Theism’
Authors: Larson Gerald
Published: December 2017

This paper discusses the theory of rebirth as set forth in Classical Samkhya and Yoga and offers a new interpretive perspective.
A Review of the Application of Ultrasound in Bioleaching and Insights from Sonication in (Bio)Chemical Processes
Authors: Vyas Shruti , Ting Yen-Peng
Published: December 2017

Chemical and biological leaching is practiced on a commercial scale for the mining of metals from ores. Although bioleaching is an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical leaching, one of the principal shortcomings is the slow rate of leaching which needs to be addressed. The application of ultrasound in bioleaching, termed sonobioleaching, is a technique which has been reported to increase the rate and extent of metal extraction. This article reviews efforts made in the field of sonobioleaching. Since bioleaching is effectively a biological and chemical process, the effects of sonication on chemical leaching/reactions and biological processes are also reviewed. Although sonication increases metal extraction by increasing the metabolite production and enhanced mixing at a micro scale, research is limited in terms of the microorganisms explored. This paper highlights some shortcomings and limitations of existing techniques, and proposes directions for future research.
Multi-Temporal Analysis of Forestry and Coastal Environments Using UASs
Authors: Pádua Luís , Hruška Jonáš , Bessa José , Adão Telmo , Martins Luís , Gonçalves José , Peres Emanuel , Sousa António , Castro João , Sousa Joaquim
Published: December 2017

Due to strong improvements and developments achieved in the last decade, it is clear that applied research using remote sensing technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can provide a flexible, efficient, non-destructive, and non-invasive means of acquiring geoscientific data, especially aerial imagery. Simultaneously, there has been an exponential increase in the development of sensors and instruments that can be installed in UAV platforms. By combining the aforementioned factors, unmanned aerial system (UAS) setups composed of UAVs, sensors, and ground control stations, have been increasingly used for remote sensing applications, with growing potential and abilities. This paper’s overall goal is to identify advantages and challenges related to the use of UAVs for aerial imagery acquisition in forestry and coastal environments for preservation/prevention contexts. Moreover, the importance of monitoring these environments over time will be demonstrated. To achieve these goals, two case studies using UASs were conducted. The first focuses on phytosanitary problem detection and monitoring of chestnut tree health (Padrela region, Valpaços, Portugal). The acquired high-resolution imagery allowed for the identification of tree canopy cover decline by means of multi-temporal analysis. The second case study enabled the rigorous and non-evasive registry process of topographic changes that occurred in the sandspit of Cabedelo (Douro estuary, Porto, Portugal) in different time periods. The obtained results allow us to conclude that the UAS constitutes a low-cost, rigorous, and fairly autonomous form of remote sensing technology, capable of covering large geographical areas and acquiring high precision data to aid decision support systems in forestry preservation and coastal monitoring applications. Its swift evolution makes it a potential big player in remote sensing technologies today and in the near future.
Evaluation of Accuracy and Practical Applicability of Methods for Measuring Leaf Reflectance and Transmittance Spectra
Authors: Hovi Aarne , Forsström Petri , Mõttus Matti , Rautiainen Miina
Published: December 2017

Leaf reflectance and transmittance spectra are urgently needed in interpretation of remote sensing data and modeling energy budgets of vegetation. The measurement methods should be fast to operate and preferably portable to enable quick collection of spectral databases and in situ measurements. At the same time, the collected spectra must be comparable across measurement campaigns. We compared three different methods for acquiring leaf reflectance and transmittance spectra. These were a single integrating sphere (ASD RTS-3ZC), a small double integrating sphere (Ocean Optics SpectroClip-TR), and a leaf clip (PP Systems UNI501 Mini Leaf Clip). With all methods, an ASD FieldSpec 4 spectrometer was used to measure white paper and tree leaves. Single and double integrating spheres showed comparable within-method variability in the measurements. Variability with leaf clip was slightly higher. The systematic difference in mean reflectance spectra between single and double integrating spheres was only minor (average relative difference of 1%), whereas a large difference (14%) was observed in transmittance. Reflectance measured with leaf clip was on average 14% higher compared to single integrating sphere. The differences between methods influenced also spectral vegetation indices calculated from the spectra, particularly those that were designed to track small changes in spectra. Measurements with double integrating sphere were four, and with leaf clip six times as fast as with single integrating sphere, if slightly reduced signal level (integration time reduced from optimum) was allowed for the double integrating sphere. Thus, these methods are fast alternatives to a conventional single integrating sphere. However, because the differences between methods depended on the measured target and wavelength, care must be taken when comparing the leaf spectra acquired with different methods.
Remote Sensing of Hydrological Changes in Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Lake, an Ungauged Area of the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Yang Chao , Cai Xiaobin , Wang Xuelei
Published: December 2017

The hydrological pattern changes have a great influence on the wetland environment. However, some important wetland areas often lack historical observations due to economic and physical conditions. The Tian-e-Zhou oxbow lake wetland is an important habitat for two endangered species and also has very little historical hydrological data. Remote sensing images can be used to explore the historical water area fluctuation of lakes. In addition, remote sensing can also be used to obtain historical water levels based on the water boundary elevation integrated with a topographic data (WBET) method or the level-surface area relationship curve (LRC) method. In order to minimize the uncertainty of the derived results, both methods were introduced in the extraction of the water level of Tian-e-Zhou during 1992–2015. The results reveal that the hydrological regime of the oxbow lake has experienced a significant change after the Shatanzi Levee construction in 1998. With the impact of the levee, the mean annual water surface area of the lake was reduced by 5.8 km2 during the flood season, but, during the non-flood season, it was increased by 1.35 km2. For the same period, the water level of the lake during the flood season also showed a 1.47 m (WBET method) or 3.21 m (LRC method) decrease. The mean annual water level increased by 1.12 m (WBET method) or 0.75 m (LRC method). Both results had a good accuracy with RMSE (root-mean-square errors) of less than 0.4 m. Furthermore, the water level differences between the Yangtze River channel and the oxbow lake increased by at least 0.5 m. It is found that the hydrological pattern of the oxbow lake changed significantly after the levee construction, which could bring some disadvantages to the habitats of the two endangered species.
Examining Land Cover and Greenness Dynamics in Hangzhou Bay in 1985–2016 Using Landsat Time-Series Data
Authors: Li Dengqiu , Lu Dengsheng , Wu Ming , Shao Xuexin , Wei Jinhong
Published: December 2017

Land cover changes significantly influence vegetation greenness in different regions. Dense Landsat time series stacks provide unique opportunity to analyze land cover change and vegetation greenness trends at finer spatial scale. In the past three decades, large reclamation activities have greatly changed land cover and vegetation growth of coastal areas. However, rarely has research investigated these frequently changed coastal areas. In this study, Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index time series (1984–2016) data and the Breaks For Additive Seasonal and Trend algorithm were used to detect the intensity and dates of abrupt changes in a typical coastal area—Hangzhou Bay, China. The prior and posterior land cover categories of each change were classified using phenology information through a Random Forest model. The impacts of land cover change on vegetation greenness trends of the inland and reclaimed areas were analyzed through distinguishing gradual and abrupt changes. The results showed that the intensity and date of land cover change were detected successfully with overall accuracies of 88.7% and 86.1%, respectively. The continuous land cover dynamics were retrieved accurately with an overall accuracy of 91.0% for ten land cover classifications. Coastal reclamation did not alleviate local cropland occupation, but prompted the vegetation greenness of the reclaimed area. Most of the inland area showed a browning trend. The main contributors to the greenness and browning trends were also quantified. These findings will help the natural resource management community generate better understanding of coastal reclamation and make better management decisions.
Soil Moisture Mapping from Satellites: An Intercomparison of SMAP, SMOS, FY3B, AMSR2, and ESA CCI over Two Dense Network Regions at Different Spatial Scales
Authors: Cui Chenyang , Xu Jia , Zeng Jiangyuan , Chen Kun-Shan , Bai Xiaojing , Lu Hui , Chen Quan , Zhao Tianjie
Published: December 2017

A good knowledge of the quality of the satellite soil moisture products is of great importance for their application and improvement. This paper examines the performance of eight satellite-based soil moisture products, including the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) passive Level 3 (L3), the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Centre Aval de Traitement des Données SMOS (CATDS) L3, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) L3, the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM) AMSR2 L3, the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) L3, the Chinese Fengyun-3B (FY3B) L2 soil moisture products at a coarse resolution of ~0.25°, and the newly released SMAP enhanced passive L3 and JAXA AMSR2 L3 soil moisture products at a medium resolution of ~0.1°. The ground soil moisture used for validation were collected from two well-calibrated and dense networks, including the Little Washita Watershed (LWW) network in the United States and the REMEDHUS network in Spain, each with different land cover. The results show that the SMAP passive soil moisture product outperformed the other products in the LWW network region, with an unbiased root mean square (ubRMSE) of 0.027 m3 m−3, whereas the FY3B soil moisture performed the best in the REMEDHUS network region, with an ubRMSE of 0.025 m3 m−3. The JAXA product performed much better at 0.25° than at 0.1°, but at both resolutions it underestimated soil moisture most of the time (bias < −0.05 m3 m−3). The SMAP-enhanced passive soil moisture product captured the temporal variation of ground measurements well, with a correlation coefficient larger than 0.8, and was generally superior to the JAXA product. The LPRM showed much larger amplitude and temporal variation than the ground soil moisture, with a wet bias larger than 0.09 m3 m−3. The underestimation of surface temperature may have contributed to the general dry bias found in the SMAP (−0.018 m3 m−3 for LWW and 0.016 m3 m−3 for REMEDHUS) and SMOS (−0.004 m3 m−3 for LWW and −0.012 m3 m−3 for REMEDHUS) soil moisture products. The ESA CCI product showed satisfactory performance with acceptable error metrics (ubRMSE < 0.045 m3 m−3), revealing the effectiveness of merging active and passive soil moisture products. The good performance of SMAP and FY3B demonstrates the potential in integrating them into the existing long-term ESA CCI product, in order to form a more reliable and useful product.
A Low-Noise X-ray Astronomical Silicon-On-Insulator Pixel Detector Using a Pinned Depleted Diode Structure
Authors: Kamehama Hiroki , Kawahito Shoji , Shrestha Sumeet , Nakanishi Syunta , Yasutomi Keita , Takeda Ayaki , Tsuru Takeshi , Arai Yasuo
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a novel full-depletion Si X-ray detector based on silicon-on-insulator pixel (SOIPIX) technology using a pinned depleted diode structure, named the SOIPIX-PDD. The SOIPIX-PDD greatly reduces stray capacitance at the charge sensing node, the dark current of the detector, and capacitive coupling between the sensing node and SOI circuits. These features of the SOIPIX-PDD lead to low read noise, resulting high X-ray energy resolution and stable operation of the pixel. The back-gate surface pinning structure using neutralized p-well at the back-gate surface and depleted n-well underneath the p-well for all the pixel area other than the charge sensing node is also essential for preventing hole injection from the p-well by making the potential barrier to hole, reducing dark current from the Si-SiO2 interface and creating lateral drift field to gather signal electrons in the pixel area into the small charge sensing node. A prototype chip using 0.2 μm SOI technology shows very low readout noise of 11.0 e−rms, low dark current density of 56 pA/cm2 at −35 °C and the energy resolution of 200 eV(FWHM) at 5.9 keV and 280 eV (FWHM) at 13.95 keV.
Comparison between Scalp EEG and Behind-the-Ear EEG for Development of a Wearable Seizure Detection System for Patients with Focal Epilepsy
Authors: Gu Ying , Cleeren Evy , Dan Jonathan , Claes Kasper , Van Paesschen Wim , Van Huffel Sabine , Hunyadi Borbála
Published: December 2017

A wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) device for continuous monitoring of patients suffering from epilepsy would provide valuable information for the management of the disease. Currently no EEG setup is small and unobtrusive enough to be used in daily life. Recording behind the ear could prove to be a solution to a wearable EEG setup. This article examines the feasibility of recording epileptic EEG from behind the ear. It is achieved by comparison with scalp EEG recordings. Traditional scalp EEG and behind-the-ear EEG were simultaneously acquired from 12 patients with temporal, parietal, or occipital lobe epilepsy. Behind-the-ear EEG consisted of cross-head channels and unilateral channels. The analysis on Electrooculography (EOG) artifacts resulting from eye blinking showed that EOG artifacts were absent on cross-head channels and had significantly small amplitudes on unilateral channels. Temporal waveform and frequency content during seizures from behind-the-ear EEG visually resembled that from scalp EEG. Further, coherence analysis confirmed that behind-the-ear EEG acquired meaningful epileptic discharges similarly to scalp EEG. Moreover, automatic seizure detection based on support vector machine (SVM) showed that comparable seizure detection performance can be achieved using these two recordings. With scalp EEG, detection had a median sensitivity of 100% and a false detection rate of 1.14 per hour, while, with behind-the-ear EEG, it had a median sensitivity of 94.5% and a false detection rate of 0.52 per hour. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of detecting seizures from EEG recordings behind the ear for patients with focal epilepsy.
A Study on the Model of Detecting the Variation of Geomagnetic Intensity Based on an Adapted Motion Strategy
Authors: Li Hong , Liu Mingyong , Liu Kun , Zhang Feihu
Published: December 2017

By simulating the geomagnetic fields and analyzing thevariation of intensities, this paper presents a model for calculating the objective function ofan Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)geomagnetic navigation task. By investigating the biologically inspired strategies, the AUV successfullyreachesthe destination duringgeomagnetic navigation without using the priori geomagnetic map. Similar to the pattern of a flatworm, the proposed algorithm relies on a motion pattern to trigger a local searching strategy by detecting the real-time geomagnetic intensity. An adapted strategy is then implemented, which is biased on the specific target. The results show thereliabilityandeffectivenessofthe proposed algorithm.
Enhanced Infrared Image Processing for Impacted Carbon/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composite Evaluation
Authors: Zhang Hai , Avdelidis Nicolas , Osman Ahmad , Ibarra-Castanedo Clemente , Sfarra Stefano , Fernandes Henrique , Matikas Theodore , Maldague Xavier
Published: December 2017

In this paper, an infrared pre-processing modality is presented. Different from a signal smoothing modality which only uses a polynomial fitting as the pre-processing method, the presented modality instead takes into account the low-order derivatives to pre-process the raw thermal data prior to applying the advanced post-processing techniques such as principal component thermography and pulsed phase thermography. Different cases were studied involving several defects in CFRPs and GFRPs for pulsed thermography and vibrothermography. Ultrasonic testing and signal-to-noise ratio analysis are used for the validation of the thermographic results. Finally, a verification that the presented modality can enhance the thermal image performance effectively is provided.
Doppler Radar Vital Signs Detection Method Based on Higher Order Cyclostationary
Authors: Yu Zhibin , Zhao Duo , Zhang Zhiqiang
Published: December 2017

Due to the non-contact nature, using Doppler radar sensors to detect vital signs such as heart and respiration rates of a human subject is getting more and more attention. However, the related detection-method research meets lots of challenges due to electromagnetic interferences, clutter and random motion interferences. In this paper, a novel third-order cyclic cummulant (TOCC) detection method, which is insensitive to Gaussian interference and non-cyclic signals, is proposed to investigate the heart and respiration rate based on continuous wave Doppler radars. The k-th order cyclostationary properties of the radar signal with hidden periodicities and random motions are analyzed. The third-order cyclostationary detection theory of the heart and respiration rate is studied. Experimental results show that the third-order cyclostationary approach has better estimation accuracy for detecting the vital signs from the received radar signal under low SNR, strong clutter noise and random motion interferences.
Simple Adaptive Single Differential Coherence Detection of BPSK Signals in IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Gaoyuan , Wen Hong , Wang Longye , Xie Ping , Song Liang , Tang Jie , Liao Runfa
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we propose an adaptive single differential coherent detection (SDCD) scheme for the binary phase shift keying (BPSK) signals in IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In particular, the residual carrier frequency offset effect (CFOE) for differential detection is adaptively estimated, with only linear operation, according to the changing channel conditions. It was found that the carrier frequency offset (CFO) and chip signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions do not need a priori knowledge. This partly benefits from that the combination of the trigonometric approximation sin − 1 ( x ) ≈ x and a useful assumption, namely, the asymptotic or high chip SNR, is considered for simplification of the full estimation scheme. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve an accurate estimation and the detection performance can completely meet the requirement of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, although with a little loss of reliability and robustness as compared with the conventional optimal single-symbol detector.
Application of a Multimedia Service and Resource Management Architecture for Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Castro Alfonso , Sedano Andrés , García Fco. , Villoslada Eduardo , Villagrá Víctor
Published: December 2017

Nowadays, the complexity of global video products has substantially increased. They are composed of several associated services whose functionalities need to adapt across heterogeneous networks with different technologies and administrative domains. Each of these domains has different operational procedures; therefore, the comprehensive management of multi-domain services presents serious challenges. This paper discusses an approach to service management linking fault diagnosis system and Business Processes for Telefónica’s global video service. The main contribution of this paper is the proposal of an extended service management architecture based on Multi Agent Systems able to integrate the fault diagnosis with other different service management functionalities. This architecture includes a distributed set of agents able to coordinate their actions under the umbrella of a Shared Knowledge Plane, inferring and sharing their knowledge with semantic techniques and three types of automatic reasoning: heterogeneous, ontology-based and Bayesian reasoning. This proposal has been deployed and validated in a real scenario in the video service offered by Telefónica Latam.
A New Method for Sensing Soil Water Content in Green Roofs Using Plant Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Tapia Natalia , Rojas Claudia , Bonilla Carlos , Vargas Ignacio
Published: December 2017

Green roofs have many benefits, but in countries with semiarid climates the amount of water needed for irrigation is a limiting factor for their maintenance. The use of drought-tolerant plants such as Sedum species, reduces the water requirements in the dry season, but, even so, in semiarid environments these can reach up to 60 L m−2 per day. Continuous substrate/soil water content monitoring would facilitate the efficient use of this critical resource. In this context, the use of plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) emerges as a suitable and more sustainable alternative for monitoring water content in green roofs in semiarid climates. In this study, bench and pilot-scale experiments using seven Sedum species showed a positive relationship between current generation and water content in the substrate. PMFC reactors with higher water content (around 27% vs. 17.5% v/v) showed larger power density (114.6 and 82.3 μW m−2 vs. 32.5 μW m−2). Moreover, a correlation coefficient of 0.95 (±0.01) between current density and water content was observed. The results of this research represent the first effort of using PMFCs as low-cost water content biosensors for green roofs.
Is There “Hope for Every Addicted American”? The New U.S. War on Drugs
Authors: Stone Elizabeth
Published: December 2017

The U.S. has been waging a War on Drugs for the last forty years. But in the mid-2010s, a series of reforms have rejected this militant approach. How did these policies manage to break through a gridlocked Congress? What is the nature of these reforms, and what are their political implications? Using critical discourse analysis, I demonstrate that a new policy framework of “addiction recovery” defines the political crises of the opioid epidemic, the failure of the War on Drugs, and mass incarceration in terms of disease, attributing Drug War injustices to prejudice against “addiction,” rather than a constellation of institutional racism, sexism, nativism, and economic exploitation enacted through drug policy. I conclude that characterizing recent reforms as a decisive break with the War on Drugs obscures the ways in which drug policy continues to perpetuate injustice by offering a personal, rather than political, solution in the “hope” of recovery.
Investigating How the Rents of Small Urban Houses are Determined: Using Spatial Hedonic Modeling for Urban Residential Housing in Seoul
Authors: Won Jaewoong , Lee Jae-Su
Published: December 2017

The Seoul metropolitan government has launched the Urban Residential Housing (URH) program to address the shortage of small urban houses, and enhance residential stability for the increasing number of one- and two-person households in Seoul, Korea. While studies have examined the price premium of locational and neighborhood environmental features for houses in general, little is known about how and to what extent these features influence the rents of small urban houses. We estimate and compare conventional and spatial hedonic price models (HPMs) to examine the effects of those features on the monthly rents of URH units, while using geographic information system techniques to measure the variables. We found that the spatial HPM outperforms the conventional HPM in terms of goodness of fit measures. All of the locational features, and most of the variables with respect to the neighborhood environment, had a significant impact on rents. Rent tended to be lower in areas adjacent to a university, suggesting that it is a good place for one and two-person households to enhance residential affordability. However, access to parks does not appear to be important for residents. We conclude that the people who live in small urban houses are inclined to place a premium on rents in different ways.
Value Creation Mechanism of Social Enterprises in Manufacturing Industry: Empirical Evidence from Korea
Authors: Son Hosung , Lee Joosung , Chung Yanghon
Published: December 2017

A variety of social enterprises (SEs) have recently emerged in many different countries in an effort to resolve diverse social problems. However, the value creation mechanism of SEs has not yet been disclosed. The purpose of this study is to reveal the value creation mechanism of SEs in manufacturing industry. To do so, we verify the role of social entrepreneurship and examine the effects of product innovation attributes and social capital on social value creation and financial performance by using structural equation modelling. Then, we conduct interviews with six experts in SE fields. According to the results of empirical study, the social entrepreneurship works as an antecedent of product innovation and social capital in SEs and the degrees of products’ simplicity, usability and standardization positively affect the social value creation of SEs. In addition, the social value creation works as a complete mediator between the product innovation of SEs and their financial performance. The interviews suggest policy implications for successful social value creation and sustainability of SEs. This research contributes towards further studies on innovation of SEs and provides social entrepreneurs with guidelines in planning their innovation strategy or developing their products.
Scale Effects of Water Saving on Irrigation Efficiency: Case Study of a Rice-Based Groundwater Irrigation System on the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Chen Haorui , Gao Zhanyi , Zeng Wenzhi , Liu Jing , Tan Xiao , Han Songjun , Wang Shaoli , Zhao Yongqing , Yu Chengkun
Published: December 2017

This research analyzed the scale effect of water saving in Bielahonghe (BLH) Basin, a rice-cultivating district on the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. Water budgets with different surface irrigation water supply ratios and water-saving measures were simulated with a semi-distributed water balance model. PFnws, representing the ratio of rice evapotranspiration to net water supply (the total amount of irrigation and precipitation minus the amount of water reused), was employed to assess the water use efficiency. Seven spatial scales (noted from S1 to S7), ranging from a single field (317.87 ha) to the whole basin (about 100,800 ha) were determined. PFnws values were quantified across scales and several water-saving measures, including water-saving irrigation regimes, canal lining, and a reduction of the surface water supply ratio (SWSR). The results indicated that PFnws increased with scale and could be calculated by a fitted power function (PFnws = 0.736Area0.033, R2 = 0.58). Furthermore, PFnws increased most prominently when the scale increased from S1 to S2. The water-saving irrigation regime (WSIR) had the most substantial water-saving effect (WSE) at S1. Specifically, PFnws improved by 21.2% at S1 when high-intensity WSIR was applied. Additionally, the WSE values of S3 and S5 were slightly higher than at other scales when the branch canal water delivery coefficient increased from 0.65 to 0.80 through canal lining. Furthermore, the PFnws at each scale varied with SWSR. Specifically, PFnws from S3 to S7 improved as SWSR decreased from 0.4 to 0.3 but remained approximately constant when SWSR decreased from 0.3 to 0.
Evolution of a Development Model for Fruit Industry against Background of an Aging Population: Intensive or Extensive Adjustment?
Authors: Yuan Bin , Zhan Jintao , Chen Chao
Published: December 2017

As an important starting point for optimizing the structure of agricultural products and implementing green production methods, the direction of orchard management development is directly related to the success of “supply side” reform in the fruit industry in China. However, in the context of the progressive aging of the rural labor force, is the old labor force still capable of the high labor intensity and fine cultivation management needed, such as for pruning, or to maintain or improve the application efficiency of fertilizers? In this paper, based on the micro-production data of peach farmers in Jiangsu Province, we explore the influence of aging on the management of fruit trees and further introduce fruit tree management into the production function to analyze the effects of different orchard management methods on fertilizer efficiency. The results show that with the increase of labor force age, although the total labor investment of aged farmer households has somewhat increased, significant differences exist in the distribution of labor investment between the different production processes due to the different labor demands from the various production processes. In technical stages that demand good physical capabilities, such as pruning and flower/fruit thinning, elderly farmers have significantly reduced labor investment than younger ones, and this relative shortfall further reduces the marginal output of their chemical and organic fertilizers. Foreseeably, the aging of the rural labor force will have a negative impact on the efficiency of chemical and other fertilizers, cost-cutting, and profit-making in the fruit and nut industries, which have the same management methods for pruning and flower (fruit) thinning. Therefore, this paper offers relevant policy recommendations for the optimization of production tools, expansion of operation scale, and development of socialized services for the fruit industry, etc.
Charged ρ Meson Condensate in Neutron Stars within RMF Models
Authors: Maslov Konstantin , Kolomeitsev Evgeni , Voskresensky Dmitry
Published: December 2017

Knowledge of the equation of state (EoS) of cold and dense baryonic matter is essential for the description of properties of neutron stars (NSs). With an increase of the density, new baryon species can appear in NS matter, as well as various meson condensates. In previous works, we developed relativistic mean-field (RMF) models with hyperons and Δ -isobars, which passed the majority of known experimental constraints, including the existence of a 2 M ⊙ neutron star. In this contribution, we present results of the inclusion of ρ − -meson condensation into these models. We have shown that, in one class of the models (so-called KVOR-based models, in which the additional stiffening procedure is introduced in the isoscalar sector), the condensation gives only a small contribution to the EoS. In another class of the models (MKVOR-based models with additional stiffening in isovector sector), the condensation can lead to a first-order phase transition and a substantial decrease of the NS mass. Nevertheless, in all resulting models, the condensation does not spoil the description of the experimental constraints.
The Abrogation of Phosphorylation Plays a Relevant Role in the CCR5 Signalosome Formation with Natural Antibodies to CCR5
Authors: Venuti Assunta , Pastori Claudia , Siracusano Gabriel , Pennisi Rosamaria , Riva Agostino , Tommasino Massimo , Sciortino Maria , Lopalco Lucia
Published: December 2017

The exposure to CCR5 (CC chemokine receptor 5) specific natural antibodies in vitro produces a Class B β-arrestin2-dependent CCR5 retention with the aid of ERK1, due to the formation of a CCR5 signalosome, which remains stable for at least 48 h. Considering that β-arrestins and MAPKs are receptive to environmental signals, their signal complexes could be one of the key junction for GPCRs internalization related signal transduction. Here, we demonstrate that, in T cells, the phosphorylation status of either CCR5 receptor or ERK1 protein is necessary to drive the internalized receptor into the early endosomes, forming the CCR5 signalosome. In particular, our data show that β-arrestin2/ERK1 complex is a relevant transducer in the CCR5 signaling pathway. Understanding the mechanism of CCR5 regulation is essential for many inflammatory disorders, tumorigenesis and viral infection such as HIV.
Structural Analysis and Epitope Prediction of MHC Class-1-Chain Related Protein-A for Cancer Vaccine Development
Authors: Adekiya Tayo , Aruleba Raphael , Khanyile Sbonelo , Masamba Priscilla , Oyinloye Babatunji , Kappo Abidemi
Published: December 2017

Major histocompatibility complex class 1 chain-related gene sequence A is a polymorphic gene found at about 46.6 kb centromeric to HLA-B. It encodes a transmembrane protein, which is a non-classical human leukocyte antigen whose expression is normally induced by stress conditions like cancer and viral infections. The expression of MIC-A leads to the activation of NKG2D receptors of natural killer and T cells, leading to the generation of innate immune response that can easily eliminate/cleanse tumour cells and other cells that express the protein. Several bioinformatics and immunoinformatics tools were used to analyse the sequence and structure of the MIC-A protein. These tools were used in building and evaluating modelled structure of MIC-A, and to predict several antigenic determinant sites on the protein. The MIC-A protein structure generated an average antigenic propensity of 1.0289. Additionally, the hydrophilic regions on the surface of the MIC-A protein where antibodies can be attached were revealed. A total of fourteen antigenic epitopes were predicted, with six found in the transmembrane protein topology, and are predicted to play a role in the development of vaccines that can reactivate the functionalities of the MIC-A protein on the surface of cancer cells in order to elicit a desired immune response.
Application of Fe-Cu/Biochar System for Chlorobenzene Remediation of Groundwater in Inhomogeneous Aquifers
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wu Yanqing , Zhao Pingping , Shu Xin , Zhou Qiong , Dong Zichen
Published: December 2017

Chlorobenzene (CB), as a typical Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOC), is toxic, highly persistent and easily migrates in water, posing a significant risk to human health and subsurface ecosystems. Therefore, exploring effective approaches to remediate groundwater contaminated by CB is essential. As an enhanced micro-electrolysis system for CB-contaminated groundwater remediation, this study attempted to couple the iron-copper bimetal with biochar. Two series of columns using sands with different grain diameters were used, consisting of iron, copper and biochar fillings as the permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), to simulate the remediation of CB-contaminated groundwater in homogeneous and heterogeneous aquifers. Regardless of the presence of homogeneous or heterogeneous porous media, the CB concentrations in the effluent from the PRB columns were significantly lower than the natural sandy columns, suggesting that the iron and copper powders coupled with biochar particles could have a significant removal effect compared to the natural sand porous media in the first columns. CB was transported relatively quickly in the heterogeneous porous media, likely due to the fact that the contaminant residence time is proportional to the infiltration velocities in the different types of porous media. The average effluent CB concentrations from the heterogeneous porous media were lower than those from homogeneous porous media. The heterogeneity retarded the vertical infiltration of CB, leading to its extended lateral distribution. During the treatment process, benzene and phenol were observed as the products of CB degradation. The ultimate CB removal efficiency was 61.4% and 68.1%, demonstrating that the simulated PRB system with the mixture of iron, copper and biochar was effective at removing CB from homogeneous and heterogeneous aquifers.
The Impact of the Age of Vines on Soil Hydraulic Conductivity in Vineyards in Eastern Spain
Authors: Alagna Vincenzo , Di Prima Simone , Rodrigo-Comino Jesús , Iovino Massimo , Pirastru Mario , Keesstra Saskia , Novara Agata , Cerdà Artemio
Published: December 2017

Soil infiltration processes manage runoff generation, which in turn affects soil erosion. There is limited information on infiltration rates. In this study, the impact of vine age on soil bulk density (BD) and hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was assessed on a loam soil tilled by chisel plough. Soil sampling was conducted in the inter row area of six vineyards, which differed by the age from planting: 0 (Age 0; just planted), 1, 3, 6, 13, and 25 years (Age 1, Age 3, Age 6, Age 13, and Age 25, respectively). The One Ponding Depth (OPD) approach was applied to ring infiltration data to estimate soil Ks with an α* parameter equal to 0.012 mm−1. Soil bulk density for Age 0 was about 1.5 times greater than for Age 25, i.e., the long-term managed vineyards. Saturated hydraulic conductivity at Age 0 was 86% less than at Age 25. The planting works were considered a major factor for soil compaction and the reduction of hydraulic conductivity. Compared to the long-term managed vineyards, soil compaction was a very short-term effect given that BD was restored in one year due to ploughing. Reestablishment of Ks to the long-term value required more time.
Estimation of Irrigation Water Demand and Economic Returns of Water in Zhangye Basin
Authors: Sun Tianhe , Huang Qiuqiong , Wang Jinxia
Published: December 2017

The objective of this study is to provide estimates of price elasticities of irrigation water demands in Zhangye Basin (ZB), an inland river basin in China, with the most recent data and to compare the values of marginal product (VMPs) of water to the prices of water farmers are currently paying. With a set of village and household survey data collected in 2009 and 2014, household fixed effects models are used to estimate water demand and crop production functions. The estimation results are then used to estimate price elasticities and VMPs. Results show that demands for surface water, groundwater, and conjunctive irrigation water are all in the inelastic range. The results imply that water prices may need to be increased significantly to induce sizable water savings. Another significant finding is that for a large share of the sample households, VMPs of water are higher than the prices of water. The estimated VMPs provide policy makers with some guidelines on the minimum level of water prices required to achieve any water savings among those households.
Halogen-containing thiazole orange analogues – new fluorogenic DNA stains
Authors: Vasilev Aleksey A , Kandinska Meglena I , Stoyanov Stanimir S , Yordanova Stanislava B , Sucunza David , Vaquero Juan J , Castaño Obis D , Baluschev Stanislav , Angelova Silvia E
Published: December 2017

Novel asymmetric monomeric monomethine cyanine dyes 5a–d, which are analogues of the commercial dsDNA fluorescence binder thiazole orange (TO), have been synthesized. The synthesis was achieved by using a simple, efficient and environmetally benign synthetic procedure to obtain these cationic dyes in good to excellent yields. Interactions of the new derivatives of TO with dsDNA have been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The longest wavelength absorption bands in the UV–vis spectra of the target compounds are in the range of 509–519 nm and these are characterized by high molar absorptivities (63000–91480 L·mol−1·cm−1). All investigated dyes from the series are either not fluorescent or their fluorescence is quite low, but they become strongly fluorescent after binding to dsDNA. The influence of the substituents attached to the chromophores was investigated by combination of spectroscopic (UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy) and theoretical (DFT and TDDFT calculations) methods.
Simulating the Refractive Index Structure Constant
in the Surface Layer at Antarctica with a Mesoscale Model
Authors: Qing 青 Chun 春 , Wu 吴 Xiaoqing 晓庆 , Li 李 Xuebin 学彬 , Tian 田 Qiguo 启国 , Liu 刘 Dong 栋 , Rao 饶 Ruizhong 瑞中 , Zhu 朱 Wenyue 文越
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we introduce an approach wherein the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method to estimate the surface layer refractive index structure constant (C

n

2) above Taishan Station in Antarctica. First, we use the measured meteorological parameters to estimate C

n

2 using the bulk aerodynamic method, and second, we use the WRF model output parameters to estimate C

n

2 using the bulk aerodynamic method. Finally, the corresponding C

n

2 values from the micro-thermometer are compared with the C

n

2 values estimated using the WRF model coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method. We analyzed the statistical operators—the bias, root mean square error (RMSE), bias-corrected RMSE (σ), and correlation coefficient (R

xy
)—in a 20 day data set to assess how this approach performs. In addition, we employ contingency tables to investigate the estimation quality of this approach, which provides complementary key information with respect to the bias, RMSE, σ, and R

xy
. The quantitative results are encouraging and permit us to confirm the fine performance of this approach. The main conclusions of this study tell us that this approach provides a positive impact on optimizing the observing time in astronomical applications and provides complementary key information for potential astronomical sites.