bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simple methods for quick determination of aquifer parameters using slug tests
Authors: Ufuk Şahin A.
Published: May 2016

The slug test is still one of the simplest and cost-effective methods to interpret the hydraulic parameters for aquifer analysis. This study introduces two new estimation approaches for the slug test, the time shift method (TSM) and arc-length matching method (AMM), to identify aquifer parameters in a reliable and accurate manner, which was established on the idea that any change in the normalized drawdown or arc-length measurements of the data curve at the predefined drawdown levels is linked with the variation of storativity. These approaches remove the need for superimposition of the type curves and the field data. The proposed methods are straightforward to apply and automatize the parameter estimation process. TSM and AMM were tested with a number of numerical experiments including synthetically generated data augmented with random noise, hypothetical slug tests conducted in a heterogeneous rock-fracture system, and well-known real field data. The skin effect was also implemented to evaluate its impact on the estimation performance of the suggested approaches. The results verified that both proposed methods are able to produce estimates of hydraulic parameters more accurately than existing methods. The proposed methods could serve as a viable supplementary interpretation tool for slug test analysis.
Assessing population coverage of safely managed wastewater systems: a case study of Lebanon
Authors: Karnib Ali
Published: May 2016

This paper presents the evaluation of the proportion of the population connected to safely managed wastewater collection systems (PW) based on the proportion of population connected to wastewater collection systems and additional specific indicators that can properly inform on the extent of environmental risks associated with the disposal of wastewater. A safely managed wastewater factor (SF) is proposed to take into consideration the environmental risks when evaluating PW. At the practical level, results of evaluation of the proposed PW and SF indicators in Lebanon are then presented and discussed. Finally, the conclusion and further developments are presented.
Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis): Chemistry and Oral Health
Authors: Khurshid Zohaib , Zafar Muhammad S. , Zohaib Sana , Najeeb Shariq , Naseem Mustafa
Published: May 2016

Green tea is a widely consumed beverage worldwide. Numerous studies have suggested about the beneficial effects of green tea on oral conditions such as dental caries, periodontal diseases and halitosis. However, to date there have not been many review articles published that focus on beneficial effects of green tea on oral disease. The aim of this publication is to summarize the research conducted on the effects of green tea on oral cavity. Green tea might help reduce the bacterial activity in the oral cavity that in turn, can reduce the aforementioned oral afflictions. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of the tea may reduce the chances of oral cancer. However, more clinical data is required to ascertain the possible benefits of green tea consumption on oral health.
How to read U.S.-Turkish relations: An analysis of scholar literature
Authors: Ajzenhamer Vladimir
Published: May 2016

Despite the great geopolitical importance of U.S.-Turkish bilateral relations
and multilateral cooperation in which both countries participate, it is
noticeable that only a small number of authors outside the United States and
Turkey deal with this topic directly. As both countries are considered to be
important players in the international arena, such small number of authors
outside the bilateral circuit can be understood as illogical in academic
terms. Especially if we take into account a large number of countries which,
after the adoption of Davutoglu's foreign policy doctrine, found themselves
in a stronger international interaction with Turkey. Therefore, we consider
that a selective review and critical analysis of scientific literature on
modern U.S.- Turkish relations can provide the possibility of a deeper
insight into the current Turkish foreign policy. In this paper author gives a
critical review of thirty-five academic papers. In order to facilitate
transparency and more complete analysis, the author suggests a classification
of papers according to three criteria: the timeframe of the paper, the
attitude of the author (towards the given problem), and theoretical approach
of the author. The aim of this paper is to review the literature, and enable
the reader to summarize certain conclusions which then can be used as
guidelines for further research of U.S.-Turkish relations, and the Turkish
foreign policy in general.
Novel precision enhancement algorithm with reduced image noise in cosmic muon tomography applications
Authors: Lee Sangkyu , Foley Amanda , Jevremovic Tatjana
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we present a new algorithm that improves muon-based generated
tomography images with increased precision and reduced image noise applicable
to the detection of nuclear materials. Cosmic muon tomography is an
interrogation-based imaging technique that, over the last decade, has been
frequently employed for the detection of high-Z materials. This technique
exploits a magnitude of cosmic muon scattering angles in order to construct
an image. The scattering angles of the muons striking the geometry of
interest are non-uniform, as cosmic muons vary in energy. The randomness of
the scattering angles leads to significant noise in the muon tomography
image. GEANT4 is used to numerically create data on the momenta and positions
of scattered muons in a predefined geometry that includes high-Z materials.
The numerically generated information is then processed with the point of
closest approach reconstruction method to construct a muon tomography image;
statistical filters are then developed to refine the point of closest
approach reconstructed images. The filtered images exhibit reduced noise and
enhanced precision when attempting to identify the presence of high-Z
materials. The average precision from the point of closest approach
reconstruction method is 13 %; for the integrated method, 88 %. The filtered
image, therefore, results in a seven-fold improvement in precision compared
to the point of closest approach reconstructed image.
The impact of radiation on semiconducting characteristics of monocrystalline silicon and germanium
Authors: Obrenovic Marija , Lazarevic Djordje , Stankovic Srboljub , Kartalovic Nenad
Published: May 2016

The paper examines the effects of radiation on the electrical characteristics
of monocrystalline silicon and germanium. Samples of monocrystalline silicon
and germanium are irradiated under controlled laboratory conditions in the
field of neutron, X- and g-radiation. Change of the samples' specific
resistance was measured dependent on the radiation dose with the type of
radiation as a parameter. Next, the dependence of the samples resistance on
temperature was recorded (in the impurities region and in intrinsic region)
with the previously absorbed dose as a parameter. The results were
statistically analyzed and explained on the basis of radiation effects in
solids. The results are compared with those obtained by using Monte Carlo
method. A good agreement was confirmed by the mentioned experimental
investigation.
The Implications of the Similarity between Fraud Numbers and the Numbers in Financial Accounting Textbooks and Test Banks
Authors: Nigrini Mark J.
Published: May 2016

Accounting students learn financial accounting through examples. The examples in accounting textbooks, and the exam questions in the test banks, use round numbers excessively. After graduation, these individuals could be asked to audit client journal entries and to scan transactions to identify unusual items. They will be expected to realize that, in this context, those familiar round numbers are now red flags for fraud. This study reviews the auditing standards and the authoritative practice aids that state that inappropriate journal entries have characteristics that include round numbers and consistent ending digits. Four fraud schemes in which the investigation of the round numbers would have uncovered the frauds are then described. The realism of the numbers in accounting textbooks and test banks is then evaluated using Benford's Law, their round number frequencies, and their number duplications. This analysis finds that the first digits of the textbook numbers conform to Benford's Law, but the second digits do not. It also finds that textbooks frequently use numbers that are both large and round. The concluding discussion explains why round numbers might be used so often in accounting textbooks and includes recommendations aimed at remedying the round-number conundrum.

Data Availability: The datasets were created by manually entering the textbook and test bank numbers into several spreadsheets. Each record in the final database includes the dollar amount, the chapter number, the page number, and a chapter-body or end-of-chapter-material indicator. The author will consider requests to share the data.
Recognizing the Political in Implementation Research
Authors: McDonnell Lorraine M. , Weatherford M. Stephen
Published: May 2016

The widely publicized opposition to the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is in marked contrast to its relatively uncontroversial development and adoption—a contrast that points to the importance of understanding how the politics of enactment differs from the politics of implementation. In this article, we draw on the research literatures on enactment, implementation, and policy feedback to outline the reasons that the politics of policy implementation may look quite different from the politics of enactment, and we argue that education researchers need to pay as much attention to the political sustainability of reforms as to their implementation into school-level practice. This essay is an exercise in retrieval and construction, looking back to early implementation studies that featured political factors as key components of their analytical frameworks but also building on the insights from newer research that uses policy feedback as its theoretical lens. In arguing why the analysis of a policy’s political sustainability should be more systematically integrated into implementation research, we draw illustrative examples from the CCSS.
Description of a longitudinal cohort to study the health of Canadian Veterans living in Ontario
Authors: Mahar Alyson L. , Aiken Alice B. , Kurdyak Paul , Whitehead Marlo , Groome Patti A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction: Social determinants of health are associated with the risk of disease and health services utilization. Understanding the distributions of sex, age, income, and other demographic variables in Canadian Veterans and how they change over time is necessary to optimize service delivery and enhance research validity. This study describes the demographic patterns over time and by age at release in an Ontario cohort of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans following release. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using administrative healthcare data in Ontario from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Veterans were identified using codes housed at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. A descriptive analysis of key demographic variables was presented and stratified by five-year time intervals following release (0–5 years, 5–10 years, 10–15 years, and 15–20 years) and age at release. Results: This cohort includes 23, 818 CAF and RCMP Veterans. At baseline, the average age of the cohort was 41, and 14% were female. Age-specific patterns of median community income and geographic location of residence were noted. In the first five years following release, younger Veterans had a lower income than older Veterans. The majority of older Veterans lived in the Ottawa and Kingston areas following release. Overall, the demographic profile of the cohort was stable over time. Discussion: We have identified a valuable resource to inform the development of relevant provincial public health policy and resource allocation for Veterans. The use of routinely collected healthcare data in Ontario will augment our current understanding of Veteran health in Canada.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Integrating First and Second-Generation Ethanol Production Using Filamentous Fungi: An Industrial Case Study
Authors: Rajendran Karthik , Rajoli Sreevathsava , Taherzadeh Mohammad
Published: May 2016

The 2nd generation plants producing ethanol from lignocelluloses demand risky and high investment costs. This paper presents the energy- and economical evaluations for integrating lignocellulose in current 1st generation dry mill ethanol processes, using filamentous fungi. Dry mills use grains and have mills, liquefactions, saccharifications, fermentation, and distillation to produce ethanol, while their stillage passes centrifugation, and evaporation to recycle the water and dry the cake and evaporated syrup into animal feed. In this work, a bioreactor was considered to cultivate fungi on the stillage either before or after the centrifugation step together with pretreated lignocellulosic wheat bran. The results showed that the integrated 1st and 2nd generation ethanol process requires a capital investment of 77 million USD, which could yield NPV of 162 million USD after 20 years. Compared to the fungal cultivation on thin stillage modified 1st generation process, the integrated process resulted in 53 million USD higher NPV. The energy analysis showed that the thin stillage modified 1st generation process could reduce the overall energy consumption by 2.5% and increase the ethanol production by 4%. Such modifications in the 1st generation processes and integration concepts could be interesting for the ethanol industries, as integrating lignocelluloses to their existing setup requires less capital investment.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Extra-Hepatic Cancers
Authors: Sanna Claudia , Rosso Chiara , Marietti Milena , Bugianesi Elisabetta
Published: May 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease but the second cause of death among NAFLD patients are attributed to malignancies at both gastrointestinal (liver, colon, esophagus, stomach, and pancreas) and extra-intestinal sites (kidney in men, and breast in women). Obesity and related metabolic abnormalities are associated with increased incidence or mortality for a number of cancers. NAFLD has an intertwined relationship with metabolic syndrome and significantly contributes to the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but recent evidence have fuelled concerns that NAFLD may be a new, and added, risk factor for extra-hepatic cancers, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. In this review we critically appraise key studies on NAFLD-associated extra-hepatic cancers and speculate on how NAFLD may influence carcinogenesis at these sites.
Super-Activation as a Unique Feature of Secure Communication in Malicious Environments
Authors: Schaefer Rafael , Boche Holger , Poor H.
Published: May 2016

The wiretap channel models secure communication between two users in the presence of an eavesdropper who must be kept ignorant of transmitted messages. This communication scenario is studied for arbitrarily varying channels (AVCs), in which the legitimate users know only that the true channel realization comes from a pre-specified uncertainty set and that it varies from channel use to channel use in an arbitrary and unknown manner. This concept not only captures the case of channel uncertainty, but also models scenarios in which malevolent adversaries influence or jam the transmission of the legitimate users. For secure communication over orthogonal arbitrarily varying wiretap channels (AVWCs) it has been shown that the phenomenon of super-activation occurs; that is, there are orthogonal AVWCs, each having zero secrecy capacity, which allow for transmission with positive rate if they are used together. It is shown that for such orthogonal AVWCs super-activation is generic in the sense that whenever super-activation is possible, it is possible for all AVWCs in a certain neighborhood as well. As a consequence, a super-activated AVWC is robust and continuous in the uncertainty set, although a single AVWC might not be. Moreover, it is shown that the question of super-activation and the continuity of the secrecy capacity solely depends on the legitimate link. Accordingly, the single-user AVC is subsequently studied and it is shown that in this case, super-activation for non-secure message transmission is not possible making it a unique feature of secure communication over AVWCs. However, the capacity for message transmission of the single-user AVC is shown to be super-additive including a complete characterization. Such knowledge is important for medium access control and in particular resource allocation as it determines the overall performance of a system.
Naphthyl-Containing Organophosphonate Derivatives of Keggin-Type Polyoxotungstates
Authors: Andino Nerea , Artetxe Beñat , Reinoso Santiago , Vitoria Pablo , San Felices Leire , Martínez Jose , López Arbeloa Fernando , Gutiérrez-Zorrilla Juan
Published: May 2016

New organophosphonate derivatives of monovacant Keggin-type polyoxotungstates that contain naphthyl groups have been synthesized and characterized in both solid state and solution. Single-crystal structural analysis shows that two phosphonate groups occupy the vacant position of the lacunary cluster unit in the isostructural compounds [N(C4H9)4]3[H(POC11H9)2(α-HBW11O39)] (TBA-1) and [N(C4H9)4]3[H(POC11H9)2(α-SiW11O39)] (TBA-2). Liquid-solution UV–Vis transmittance and solid-state diffuse reflectance spectroscopy studies reveal the presence of a new absorption band in the visible region, the charge transfer character of which has been further confirmed by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The latter evidence that the charge transfer process is dominated by transitions from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), localized in the aromatic ring of the organic group, to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), localized in the Keggin anion. Photoluminescence studies show that the fluorescent properties of the 1-naphthylmethylphosphonate group are quenched upon its incorporation into the inorganic oxo-tungstate skeleton. The solution stability of the hybrid clusters has been evaluated by a combination of 1H-, 13C- and 31P-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry. The hybrid polyanion [H(POC11H9)2(α-HBW11O39)]3− (1) herein constitutes the first structurally characterized organo-p-block containing borotungstate, and hence it confirms that this strategy for the organic functionalization of polyoxometalate clusters can be applied to new platforms belonging to the family of group-13 heteropolyoxotungstates.
Microwave Imaging Radiometers by Aperture Synthesis Performance Simulator (Part 2): Instrument Modeling, Calibration, and Image Reconstruction Algorithms
Authors: Camps Adriano , Park Hyuk , Kang Yujin , Bandeiras Jorge , Barbosa Jose , Vieira Paula , Friaças Ana , D’Addio Salvatore
Published: May 2016

The Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radiometer Performance Simulator (SAIRPS) has been a three-year project sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a completely generic end-to-end performance simulator of arbitrary synthetic aperture interferometric radiometers. In a companion manuscript (Part I), the Radiative Transfer Module used to generate synthetic fully polarimetric brightness temperatures from 1 to 100 GHz, including land and ocean covers, as well as the atmosphere, is described in detail. In this manuscript (Part II), the instrument model, the calibration procedure, and the imaging algorithms are described. The instrument model includes the simulation of the array topology in terms of the number of antenna elements, the time-dependent position and orientation, and the arbitrary receivers’ topology which can be modified from a very generic one by connecting and disconnecting subsystems. All the parameters can be, one by one, defined either by mathematical functions or by input data files, including the frequency and temperature dependence. Generic calibration algorithms including an external point source, the flat target transformation, and the two-level correlated noise injection are described. Finally, different image reconstruction algorithms suitable for arbitrary array topologies have also been implemented and tested. Simulation results have been validated and selected results are presented.
Immobilization of Trypsin in Lignocellulosic Waste Material to Produce Peptides with Bioactive Potential from Whey Protein
Authors: Bassan Juliana , De Souza Bezerra Thaís , Peixoto Guilherme , Da Cruz Clariana , Galán Julián , Vaz Aline , Garrido Saulo , Filice Marco , Monti Rubens
Published: May 2016

In this study, trypsin (Enzyme Comission 3.4.21.4) was immobilized in a low cost, lignocellulosic support (corn cob powder—CCP) with the goal of obtaining peptides with bioactive potential from cheese whey. The pretreated support was activated with glyoxyl groups, glutaraldehyde and IDA-glyoxyl. The immobilization yields of the derivatives were higher than 83%, and the retention of catalytic activity was higher than 74%. The trypsin-glyoxyl-CCP derivative was thermally stable at 65 °C, a value that was 1090-fold higher than that obtained with the free enzyme. The trypsin-IDA-glyoxyl-CCP and trypsin-glutaraldehyde-CCP derivatives had thermal stabilities that were 883- and five-fold higher, respectively, then those obtained with the free enzyme. In the batch experiments, trypsin-IDA-glyoxyl-CCP retained 91% of its activity and had a degree of hydrolysis of 12.49%, while the values for trypsin-glyoxyl-CCP were 87% and 15.46%, respectively. The stabilized derivative trypsin-glyoxyl-CCP was also tested in an upflow packed-bed reactor. The hydrodynamic characterization of this reactor was a plug flow pattern, and the kinetics of this system provided a relative activity of 3.04 ± 0.01 U·g−1 and an average degree of hydrolysis of 23%, which were suitable for the production of potentially bioactive peptides.
Water Vapor Adsorption on Biomass Based Carbons under Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Conditions: Effect of Post-Treatment
Authors: Querejeta Nausika , Plaza Marta , Rubiera Fernando , Pevida Covadonga
Published: May 2016

The effect of post-treatment upon the H2O adsorption performance of biomass-based carbons was studied under post-combustion CO2 capture conditions. Oxygen surface functionalities were partially replaced through heat treatment, acid washing, and wet impregnation with amines. The surface chemistry of the final carbon is strongly affected by the type of post-treatment: acid treatment introduces a greater amount of oxygen whereas it is substantially reduced after thermal treatment. The porous texture of the carbons is also influenced by post-treatment: the wider pore volume is somewhat reduced, while narrow microporosity remains unaltered only after acid treatment. Despite heat treatment leading to a reduction in the number of oxygen surface groups, water vapor adsorption was enhanced in the higher pressure range. On the other hand acid treatment and wet impregnation with amines reduce the total water vapor uptake thus being more suitable for post-combustion CO2 capture applications.
Diketonylpyridinium Cations as a Support of New Ionic Liquid Crystals and Ion-Conductive Materials: Analysis of Counter-Ion Effects
Authors: Pastor María , Cuerva Cristián , Campo José , Schmidt Rainer , Torres María , Cano Mercedes
Published: May 2016

Ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) allow the combination of the high ionic conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs) with the supramolecular organization of liquid crystals (LCs). ILCs salts were obtained by the assembly of long-chained diketonylpyridinium cations of the type [HOOR(n)pyH]+ and BF4−, ReO4−, NO3−, CF3SO3−, CuCl42− counter-ions. We have studied the thermal behavior of five series of compounds by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hot stage polarized light optical microscopy (POM). All materials show thermotropic mesomorphism as well as crystalline polymorphism. X-ray diffraction of the [HOOR(12)pyH][ReO4] crystal reveals a layered structure with alternating polar and apolar sublayers. The mesophases also exhibit a lamellar arrangement detected by variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction. The CuCl42− salts exhibit the best LC properties followed by the ReO4− ones due to low melting temperature and wide range of existence. The conductivity was probed for the mesophases in one species each from the ReO4−, and CuCl42− families, and for the solid phase in one of the non-mesomorphic Cl− salts. The highest ionic conductivity was found for the smectic mesophase of the ReO4− containing salt, whereas the solid phases of all salts were dominated by electronic contributions. The ionic conductivity may be favored by the mesophase lamellar structure.
Antifungal Activity of Eucalyptus Oil against Rice Blast Fungi and the Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression Pattern
Authors: Zhou Li-Jun , Li Fu-Rong , Huang Li-Jie , Yang Zhi-Rong , Yuan Shu , Bai Lin-Han
Published: May 2016

Eucalyptus oil possesses a wide spectrum of biological activity, including anti-microbial, fungicidal, herbicidal, acaricidal and nematicidal properties. We studied anti-fungal activities of the leaf oil extracted from Eucalyptus. grandis × E. urophylla. Eleven plant pathogenic fungi were tested based on the mycelium growth rates with negative control. The results showed that Eucalyptus oil has broad-spectrum inhibitory effects toward these fungi. Remarkable morphological and structural alterations of hypha have been observed for Magnaporthe grisea after the treatment. The mRNA genome array of M. grisea was used to detect genes that were differentially expressed in the test strains treated by the Eucalyptus oil than the normal strains. The results showed 1919 genes were significantly affected, among which 1109 were down-regulated and 810 were up-regulated (p < 0.05, absolute fold change >2). According to gene ontology annotation analysis, these differentially expressed genes may cause abnormal structures and physiological function disorders, which may reduce the fungus growth. These results show the oil has potential for use in the biological control of plant disease as a green biopesticide.
Walnut Polyphenol Extract Attenuates Immunotoxicity Induced by 4-Pentylphenol and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol in Murine Splenic Lymphocyte
Authors: Yang Lubing , Ma Sihui , Han Yu , Wang Yuhan , Guo Yan , Weng Qiang , Xu Meiyu
Published: May 2016

4-pentylphenol (PP) and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (PNMC), two important components of vehicle emissions, have been shown to confer toxicity in splenocytes. Certain natural products, such as those derived from walnuts, exhibit a range of antioxidative, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the effects of walnut polyphenol extract (WPE) on immunotoxicity induced by PP and PNMC in murine splenic lymphocytes. Treatment with WPE was shown to significantly enhance proliferation of splenocytes exposed to PP or PNMC, characterized by increases in the percentages of splenic T lymphocytes (CD3+ T cells) and T cell subsets (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), as well as the production of T cell-related cytokines and granzymes (interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and granzyme-B) in cells exposed to PP or PNMC. These effects were associated with a decrease in oxidative stress, as evidenced by changes in OH, SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA levels. The total phenolic content of WPE was 34,800 ± 200 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g, consisting of at least 16 unique phenols, including ellagitannins, quercetin, valoneic acid dilactone, and gallic acid. Taken together, these results suggest that walnut polyphenols significantly attenuated PP and PNMC-mediated immunotoxicity and improved immune function by inhibiting oxidative stress.
Enhanced Water Vapor Transmission through Porous Membranes Based on Melt Blending of Polystyrene Sulfonate with Polyethylene Copolymers and Their CNT Nanocomposites
Authors: Lainioti Georgia , Bounos Giannis , Voyiatzis George , Kallitsis Joannis
Published: May 2016

A novel concept for the use of an immiscible and non-meltable polymer, such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa), in order to prepare polyethylene non-woven breathable membranes is described. Membranes were fabricated by melt compounding of properly functionalized PE (P(E-co-AA)) and PSSNa (P(SSNa-co-GMA)) copolymers in the presence of water soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG). The inability of PSSNa derivatives to be melted was overcome by using PEG, which was easily meltable thus inducing PSSNa processability improvement. PEG was removed after membrane fabrication and therefore also acted as a porogen. Carbon nanotubes, functionalized with PSSNa moieties or alkyl groups, were also incorporated in the membranes with the aim of improving the porous connectivity and increasing the water vapor transmission rate. The morphology of the membranes was investigated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Water vapor transmission rate (permeation) (WVTR) measurements for the porous membranes showed increased values in comparison with the neat PE ones. A further increase of WVTR was observed with the addition of CNTs to the polymer membranes.
Recent Advances in Boron-Containing Conjugated Porous Polymers
Authors: Qiu Feng , Zhao Wuxue , Han Sheng , Zhuang Xiaodong , Lin Hualin , Zhang Fan
Published: May 2016

Porous polymers, integrating the advantages of porous materials and conventional polymers, have been well developed and exhibited tremendous attention in the fields of material, chemistry and biology. Of these, boron-containing conjugated porous polymers, featuring tunable geometric structures, unique Lewis acid boron centers and very rich physical properties, such as high specific surface, chargeable scaffold, strong photoluminescence and intramolecular charge transfer, have emerged as one of the most promising functional materials for optoelectronics, catalysis and sensing, etc. Furthermore, upon thermal treatment, some of them can be effectively converted to boron-doped porous carbon materials with good electrochemical performance in energy storage and conversion, extensively enlarging the applicable scope of such kinds of polymers. In this review, the synthetic approaches, structure analyses and various applications of the boron-containing conjugated porous polymers reported very recently are summarized.
The Variations of Land Surface Phenology in Northeast China and Its Responses to Climate Change from 1982 to 2013
Authors: Zhao Jianjun , Wang Yanying , Zhang Zhengxiang , Zhang Hongyan , Guo Xiaoyi , Yu Shan , Du Wala , Huang Fang
Published: May 2016

Northeast China is located at high northern latitudes and is a typical region of relatively high sensitivity to global climate change. Studies of the land surface phenology in Northeast China and its response to climate change are important for understanding global climate change. In this study, the land surface phenology parameters were calculated using the third generation dataset from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS 3g) that was collected from 1982 to 2013 were estimated to analyze the variations of the land surface phenology in Northeast China at different scales and to discuss the internal relationships between phenology and climate change. We examined the phonological changes of all ecoregions. The average start of the growing season (SOS) did not exhibit a significant trend throughout the study area; however, the end of the growing season (EOS) was significantly delayed by 4.1 days or 0.13 days/year (p < 0.05) over the past 32 years. The SOS for the Hulunbuir Plain, Greater Khingan Mountains and Lesser Khingan Mountains was earlier, and the SOS for the Sanjing, Songnen and Liaohe Plains was later. In addition, the EOS of the Greater Khingan Mountains, Lesser Khingan Mountains and Changbai Mountains was later than the EOS of the Liaohe Plain. The spring temperature had the greatest impact on the SOS. Precipitation had an insignificant impact on forest SOS and a relatively large impact on grassland SOS. The EOS was affected by both temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, although temperature had a lag effect on the EOS, no significant lag effect was observed for the SOS.
Model-Driven Approach for Body Area Network Application Development
Authors: Venčkauskas Algimantas , Štuikys Vytautas , Jusas Nerijus , Burbaitė Renata
Published: May 2016

This paper introduces the sensor-networked IoT model as a prototype to support the design of Body Area Network (BAN) applications for healthcare. Using the model, we analyze the synergistic effect of the functional requirements (data collection from the human body and transferring it to the top level) and non-functional requirements (trade-offs between energy-security-environmental factors, treated as Quality-of-Service (QoS)). We use feature models to represent the requirements at the earliest stage for the analysis and describe a model-driven methodology to design the possible BAN applications. Firstly, we specify the requirements as the problem domain (PD) variability model for the BAN applications. Next, we introduce the generative technology (meta-programming as the solution domain (SD)) and the mapping procedure to map the PD feature-based variability model onto the SD feature model. Finally, we create an executable meta-specification that represents the BAN functionality to describe the variability of the problem domain though transformations. The meta-specification (along with the meta-language processor) is a software generator for multiple BAN-oriented applications. We validate the methodology with experiments and a case study to generate a family of programs for the BAN sensor controllers. This enables to obtain the adequate measure of QoS efficiently through the interactive adjustment of the meta-parameter values and re-generation process for the concrete BAN application.
Erratum: Wu, C.; Shen, H.; Wang, K.; Shen, A.; Deng, J. and Gan, M. Landsat Imagery-Based Above Ground Biomass Estimation and Change Investigation Related to Human Activities. Sustainability 2016, 8, 159
Authors:   Sustainability Editorial Office
Published: May 2016

In the published paper [1], Figures 5 and 6 were inadvertently exchanged in the PDF ﬁle.[...]
A Hybrid Method of Analyzing Patents for Sustainable Technology Management in Humanoid Robot Industry
Authors: Kim Jongchan , Lee Joonhyuck , Kim Gabjo , Park Sangsung , Jang Dongsik
Published: May 2016

A humanoid, which refers to a robot that resembles a human body, imitates a human’s intelligence, behavior, sense, and interaction in order to provide various types of services to human beings. Humanoids have been studied and developed constantly in order to improve their performance. Humanoids were previously developed for simple repetitive or hard work that required significant human power. However, intelligent service robots have been developed actively these days to provide necessary information and enjoyment; these include robots manufactured for home, entertainment, and personal use. It has become generally known that artificial intelligence humanoid technology will significantly benefit civilization. On the other hand, Successful Research and Development (R & D) on humanoids is possible only if they are developed in a proper direction in accordance with changes in markets and society. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze changes in technology markets and society for developing sustainable Management of Technology (MOT) strategies. In this study, patent data related to humanoids are analyzed by various data mining techniques, including topic modeling, cross-impact analysis, association rule mining, and social network analysis, to suggest sustainable strategies and methodologies for MOT.
Discussion on the Choice of Decomposition Level for Wavelet Based Hydrological Time Series Modeling
Authors: Yang Moyuan , Sang Yan-Fang , Liu Changming , Wang Zhonggen
Published: May 2016

The combination of wavelet analysis methods with data-driven models is a prevalent approach to conducting hydrological time series forecasting, but the results are affected by the accuracy of the wavelet decomposition of the series. The choice of decomposition level is one of the key factors for the wavelet decomposition. In this paper, the data of daily precipitation and streamflow time series measured in the upper reach of the Heihe River Basin in Northwest China were used as an example, and the influence of the decomposition level on wavelet-based hydrological time series forecasting was investigated. The true components of the precipitation series were identified, and the modeling results using 10 decomposition levels and two decomposition types were compared. The results affirmed that the wavelet-based modeling performance is sensitive to the choice of decomposition level, which is determined by the time series analyzed, but has no relation with the decomposition type used. The essence of the choice of decomposition level is to reveal the complex variability of hydrological time series under multi-temporal scales, and first knowing the true components of series could guide the choice of decomposition level. Through this study, the relationship among original series’ characteristics, the choice of decomposition level, and the accuracy of wavelet-based hydrological time series forecasting can be more clearly understood, and it can be an improvement for wavelet-based data-driven modeling.
Textiles from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Site of Tell Halula (Euphrates Valley, Syria)
Authors: Alfaro Giner Carmen
Published: May 2016

A team from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, led by Miquel Molist, has been working on the Tell Halula prepottery Neolithic site on the right bank of the Euphrates since 1991. The excavation has allowed the discovery of remains of textiles, basketry and mats that are of special interest due to their antiquity. This article describes these textiles, most of which are connected with funeral rituals. The bodies were placed in small wells dug into the compacted clay floors inside the dwellings. Studying the spinning and weaving processes that gave rise to these items is extremely difficult because of the lack of instrumenta textilia that might throw light on the technology employed, which can only be postulated on the basis of the few samples of organic matter that have been preserved.
The cord-impressed pottery from the Late Neolithic Northern Levant: Case-study Shir (Syria)
Authors: Nieuwenhuyse Olivier , Bartl Karin , Berghuijs Koen , Vogelsang-Eastwood Gillian
Published: May 2016

In this paper we present the first, still preliminary, results of our study of the so-called cord-impressed pottery from the Late Neolithic of the Northern Levant. We focus on the Late Neolithic key site of Shir, Hama Province, Syria, a joint project of the Direction Générale des Antiquités et des Musées de la Syrie and the German Archaeological Institute at Damascus (DAI). The pottery is studied by Olivier Nieuwenhuyse on the behalf of the DAI. The textile imprints are being studied at the Textile Research Centre Leiden by Koen Berghuijs and Gillian Vogelsang. This joint effort makes it possible, for the fi rst time, to date the cord-impressed pottery securely, and to discuss the possible functions of cord-impressed pottery. The study of the imprints suggests that these may refl ect the presence of various types of textiles and fringes, making Shir the largest collection of Late Neolithic textile imprints currently known in the Near East. However, caution is due with regard to their identifi cation : experimental archaeology suggests the imprints may also come from cordages.
Das Flusstal der Kriva Lakavica in spätbyzantinischer und osmanischer Zeit (1259-1600): Das Verhältnis des Ortes Konče zum Siedlungsnetz der Städte Štip und Strumica
Authors: Поповић Михаило ст.
Published: May 2016

Les documents byzantins et vieux-slaves du 14e siècle comme les Defter ottomans du 16e siècle rendent possible une recherche approfondie de la structure de l’habitat de la campagne historique de Macédoine. Dans le cas présent est reconstruit le réseau d’habitation de la vallée fluviale de la Kriva Lakavica grâce aux sources mentionnées. Il est clair ici que l’histoire de l’habitat de cette vallée fluviale fut façonnée de manière déterminante par les événements politiques (et militaires) le long de la frontière byzantino-serbe près de la ville de Štip à la fin du 13e et au début du 14e siècle. Tandis que la partie nord-ouest de la vallée fluviale de la Kriva Lakavica était orientée vers le centre de Štip conformément à la théorie des lieux centraux et que, après une période de dévastation par le seigneur féodal Stefan Hrelja Dragovol sous la souveraineté serbe, elle fut à nouveau habitée, la partie sud-est connut un développement propre de l’habitat, durant lequel elle se développa à nouveau sous la direction du grand voïvode serbe Nicolas Stanjević grâce au défrichement et à la colonisation autour du centre de Konče.
Les romans de l’époque comnène : des réminiscences bibliques?
Authors: Meunier Florence
Published: May 2016

À l’heure actuelle, la recherche sur les romans comnènes s’oriente tout particulièrement vers une interprétation dans le champ du religieux. Bien que les différentes lectures qu’on en fait en ce domaine divergent jusqu’à l’antinomie, on peut parmi elles identifier au moins trois grands axes : une exégèse, ou son contraire, un questionnement sur des points de dogme qui peut aller jusqu’à la parodie, ou bien encore une lecture néo-platonicienne. Deux conclusions se dégagent de cette approche : l’importance croissante accordée à la lecture parodique, et l’originalité marquée du roman de Makrembolitès, qui sait s’affranchir de tous ses possibles modèles.
The issue of the authorship of the Synopsis Chronike and Theodore Skoutariotes
Authors: Zafeiris Konstantinos
Published: May 2016

Following the publication of the edition of the chronicle Synopsis Chronike by C. Sathas as anonymous, Heisenberg attributed its authorship to Theodore Skoutariotes, bishop of Kyzikos. Although the identification has been readily accepted by scholarship, it is far from conclusive. Following an overview of the manuscript tradition of the text and a presentation of all the information that is known about the person of Theodore Skoutariotes, the article reconsiders the issue, by analysing and reassessing the relevant internal evidence, the life of Theodore Skoutariotes and the arguments of the secondary literature. At the end, it suggests that there is no sufficient evidence to establish the authorship of the text, and that the text should once again be considered as anonymous.
Phenotypic plasticity of leaves enhances water‐stress tolerance and promotes hydraulic conductivity in a tall conifer
Authors: Chin Alana R. O. , Sillett Stephen C.
Published: May 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Leaves respond to environmental signals and acclimate to local conditions until their ecological limits are reached. Understanding the relationships between anatomical variation in leaves and the availability of water and light improves our ability to predict ecosystem‐level impacts of foliar response to climate change, as it expands our knowledge of tree physiology.

METHODS:

We examined foliar anatomy and morphology of the largest plant species, Sequoiadendron giganteum, from leafy shoot samples collected throughout crowns of trees up to 95 m tall and assessed the functionality of within‐crown variation with a novel drought/recovery experiment.

KEY RESULTS:

We found phenotypic variation in response to water availability in 13 anatomical traits of Sequoiadendron leaves. Shoot expansion was constrained by the hydrostatic gradient of maximum water potential, while functional traits supporting succulence and toughness were associated with sites of peak hydraulic limitation. Water‐stress tolerance in experimental shoots increased dramatically with height.

CONCLUSION:

We propose a heat–sink function for transfusion tissue and uncover a suite of traits suggesting rapid hydraulic throughput and flexibility in water‐stress tolerance investments as strategies that help this montane species reach such enormous size. Responses to water stress alter the amount of carbon stored in foliage and the rate of the eventual release of carbon.
TORSIONAL OSCILLATIONS OF A MAGNETAR WITH A TANGLED MAGNETIC FIELD*
Authors: Link Bennett , van Eysden C. Anthony
Published: May 2016

Motivated by stability considerations and observational evidence, we argue that magnetars possess highly tangled internal magnetic fields. We propose that the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) seen to accompany giant flares can be explained as torsional modes supported by a tangled magnetic field, and we present a simple model that supports this hypothesis for SGR 1900+14. Taking the strength of the tangle as a free parameter, we find that the magnetic energy in the tangle must dominate that in the dipolar component by a factor of ∼14 to accommodate the observed 28 Hz QPO. Our simple model provides useful scaling relations for how the QPO spectrum depends on the bulk properties of the neutron star and the tangle strength. The energy density in the tangled field inferred for SGR 1900+14 renders the crust nearly dynamically irrelevant, a significant simplification for study of the QPO problem. The predicted spectrum is about three times denser than observed, which could be explained by preferential mode excitation or beamed emission. We emphasize that field tangling is needed to stabilize the magnetic field, so should not be ignored in treatment of the QPO problem.
INTERACTION CROSS SECTIONS AND SURVIVAL RATES FOR PROPOSED SOLAR SYSTEM MEMBER PLANET NINE
Authors: Li Gongjie , Adams Fred C.
Published: May 2016

Motivated by the report of a possible new planetary member of the solar system, this work calculates cross sections for interactions between passing stars and this proposed Planet Nine. Evidence for the new planet is provided by the orbital alignment of Kuiper belt objects, and other solar system properties, which suggest a Neptune-mass object on an eccentric orbit with a semimajor axis

a

9

≈ 400–1500 au. With such a wide orbit, Planet Nine has a large interaction cross section and is susceptible to disruption by passing stars. Using a large ensemble of numerical simulations (several million) and Monte Carlo sampling, we calculate the cross sections for different classes of orbit-altering events: (A) scattering the planet into its proposed orbit from a smaller orbit, (B) ejecting it from the solar system from its current orbit, (C) capturing the planet from another system, and (D) capturing a free-floating planet. Results are presented for a range of orbital elements with planetary mass

m

9

= 10 M
⊕. Removing Planet Nine from the solar system is the most likely outcome. Specifically, we obtain ejection cross sections

σ

int

∼ 5 × 106 au2 (5 × 104 au2) for environments corresponding to the birth cluster (field). With these cross sections, Planet Nine is likely to be ejected if the Sun resides within its birth cluster longer than Δt ≳ 100 Myr. The probability of ejecting Planet Nine due to passing field stars is ≲3% over the age of the Sun. Probabilities for producing the inferred Planet Nine orbit are low (≲5%).