bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Biowaste Treatment Technology Assessment in Malawi
Authors: Mpanang’ombe Wrixon , Tilley Elizabeth , Zabaleta Imanol , Zurbrügg Christian
Published: November 2018

In the city of Blantyre, much of the generated municipal waste is biowaste, typically mixed with other waste fractions and disposed at the city’s dumpsite. Energy and nutrients could be recovered; however, with many biowaste options available, choosing what technology to implement is difficult. Selecting Organic Waste Treatment Technology (SOWATT) is a tool that supports decision making for selecting a biowaste treatment option considering social, technical, and environmental aspects. SOWATT was used to evaluate options for Blantyre’s Limbe Market. Anaerobic digestion, black soldier fly processing, slow pyrolysis, in-vessel composting, windrow composting, vermicomposting, and wet-biomass-briquetting were considered as options. The performance of each alternative was assessed based on five objectives by government, NGO, and market-based stakeholders in order to determine the most acceptable option for the greatest number of people: something that is rarely done, or if it is the preferences are not rigorously quantified (e.g., stakeholder workshops) and/or weighted against specific objectives. However, given the novelty of the ranking-solicitation process, some participants struggled with the variety of options presented, and further iterations of SOWATT will address this limitation. Ultimately, vermicomposting scored highest of all alternatives and could best achieve the five objectives as prioritized by the stakeholders when implemented.
Comparisons of Spatially Downscaling TMPA and IMERG over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ma Ziqiang , He Kang , Tan Xiao , Xu Jintao , Fang Weizhen , He Yu , Hong Yang
Published: November 2018

Accurate precipitation data is crucial in many applications such as hydrology, meteorology, and ecology. Compared with ground observations, satellite-based precipitation estimates can provide much more spatial information to characterize precipitation. In this study, the satellite-based precipitation products of Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) were firstly evaluated over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in 2015 against ground observations at both annual and monthly scales. Secondly, random forest algorithm was used to obtain the annual downscaled results (~1 km) based on IMERG and TMPA data and the downscaled results were examined against rain gauge data. Thirdly, a disaggregation algorithm was used to obtain the monthly downscaled results based on those at annual scale. The results indicated that (1) IMERG performed better than TMPA at both annual and monthly scales; (2) IMERG had few anomalies while TMPA displayed significant numbers of outliers in central and western parts of the TP; (3) random forest was a promising algorithm in acquiring high resolution precipitation data with improved accuracy; (4) the downscaled results based on IMERG had better performances than those based on TMPA.
Hydrological Evaluation of PERSIANN-CDR Rainfall over Upper Senegal River and Bani River Basins
Authors: Bâ Khalidou M. , Balcázar Luis , Diaz Vitali , Ortiz Febe , Gómez-Albores Miguel A. , Díaz-Delgado Carlos
Published: November 2018

This study highlights the advantage of satellite-derived rainfall products for hydrological modeling in regions of insufficient ground observations such as West African basins. Rainfall is the main input for hydrological models; however, gauge data are scarce or difficult to obtain. Fortunately, several precipitation products are available. In this study, Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks–Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) was analyzed. Daily discharges of three rivers of the Upper Senegal basin and one of the Upper Niger basin, as well as water levels of Manantali reservoir were simulated using PERSIANN-CDR as input to the CEQUEAU model. First, CEQUEAU was calibrated and validated using raw PERSIANN-CDR, and second, rainfalls were bias-corrected and the model was recalibrated. In both cases, ERA-Interim temperatures were used. Model performance was evaluated using Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), mean percent bias (MPBIAS), and coefficient of determination (R2). With raw PERSIANN-CDR, most years show good performance with values of NSE > 0.8, R2 > 0.90, and MPBIAS < 10%. However, bias-corrected PERSIANN-CDR did not improve the simulations. The findings of this study can be used to improve the design of dam projects such as the ongoing dam constructions on the three rivers of the Upper Senegal Basin.
Impacts of Climate Change and Intensive Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) Activity on Surface Water in High Arctic Pond Complexes
Authors: Campbell T. Kiyo F. , Lantz Trevor C. , Fraser Robert H.
Published: November 2018

Rapid increases in air temperature in Arctic and subarctic regions are driving significant changes to surface waters. These changes and their impacts are not well understood in sensitive high-Arctic ecosystems. This study explores changes in surface water in the high Arctic pond complexes of western Banks Island, Northwest Territories. Landsat imagery (1985–2015) was used to detect sub-pixel trends in surface water. Comparison of higher resolution aerial photographs (1958) and satellite imagery (2014) quantified changes in the size and distribution of waterbodies. Field sampling investigated factors contributing to the observed changes. The impact of expanding lesser snow goose populations and other biotic or abiotic factors on observed changes in surface water were also investigated using an information theoretic model selection approach. Our analyses show that the pond complexes of western Banks Island lost 7.9% of the surface water that existed in 1985. Drying disproportionately impacted smaller sized waterbodies, indicating that climate is the main driver. Model selection showed that intensive occupation by lesser snow geese was associated with more extensive drying and draining of waterbodies and suggests this intensive habitat use may reduce the resilience of pond complexes to climate warming. Changes in surface water are likely altering permafrost, vegetation, and the utility of these areas for animals and local land-users, and should be investigated further.
Satellite Retrieval of Surface Water Nutrients in the Coastal Regions of the East China Sea
Authors: Wang Difeng , Cui Qiyuan , Gong Fang , Wang Lifang , He Xianqiang , Bai Yan
Published: November 2018

Due to the tremendous flux of terrestrial nutrients from the Changjiang River, the waters in the coastal regions of the East China Sea (ECS) are exposed to heavy eutrophication. Satellite remote sensing was proven to be an ideal way of monitoring the spatiotemporal variability of these nutrients. In this study, satellite retrieval models for nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the coastal regions of the ECS are proposed using the back-propagation neural network (BP-NN). Both the satellite-retrieved sea surface salinity (SSS) and remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) were used as inputs in our model. Compared with models that only use Rrs or SSS, the newly proposed model performs much better in the study area, with determination coefficients (R2) of 0.98 and 0.83, and mean relative error (MRE) values of 18.2% and 17.2% for nitrate and phosphate concentrations, respectively. Based on the proposed model and satellite-retrieved Rrs and SSS datasets, monthly time-series maps of nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the coastal regions of the ECS for 2015–2017 were retrieved for the first time. The results show that the distribution of nutrients had a significant seasonal variation. Phosphate concentrations in the ECS were lower in spring and summer than those in autumn and winter, which was mainly due to phytoplankton uptake and utilization. However, nitrate still spread far out into the ocean in summer because the diluted Changjiang River water remained rich in nitrogen.
GaIn: Human Gait Inference for Lower Limbic Prostheses for Patients Suffering from Double Trans-Femoral Amputation
Authors: Chereshnev Roman , Kertész-Farkas Attila
Published: November 2018

Several studies have analyzed human gait data obtained from inertial gyroscope and accelerometer sensors mounted on different parts of the body. In this article, we take a step further in gait analysis and provide a methodology for predicting the movements of the legs, which can be applied in prosthesis to imitate the missing part of the leg in walking. In particular, we propose a method, called GaIn, to control non-invasive, robotic, prosthetic legs. GaIn can infer the movements of both missing shanks and feet for humans suffering from double trans-femoral amputation using biologically inspired recurrent neural networks. Predictions are performed for casual walking related activities such as walking, taking stairs, and running based on thigh movement. In our experimental tests, GaIn achieved a 4.55° prediction error for shank movements on average. However, a patient’s intention to stand up and sit down cannot be inferred from thigh movements. In fact, intention causes thigh movements while the shanks and feet remain roughly still. The GaIn system can be triggered by thigh muscle activities measured with electromyography (EMG) sensors to make robotic prosthetic legs perform standing up and sitting down actions. The GaIn system has low prediction latency and is fast and computationally inexpensive to be deployed on mobile platforms and portable devices.
Analysis of Design and Fabrication Parameters for Lensed Optical Fibers as Pertinent Probes for Sensing and Imaging
Authors: Park Soongho , Rim Sunghwan , Kim Ju Wan , Park Jinho , Sohn Ik-Bu , Lee Byeong Ha
Published: November 2018

A method for adjusting the working distance and spot size of a fiber probe while suppressing or enhancing the back-coupling to the lead-in fiber is presented. As the optical fiber probe, a lensed optical fiber (LOF) was made by splicing a short piece of coreless silica fiber (CSF) on a single-mode fiber and forming a lens at the end of the CSF. By controlling the length of the CSF and the radius of lens curvature, the optical properties of the LOF were adjusted. The evolution of the beam in the LOF was analyzed by using the Gaussian ABCD matrix method. To confirm the idea experimentally, 17 LOF samples were fabricated and analyzed theoretically and also experimentally. The results show that it is feasible in designing the LOF to be more suitable for specific or dedicated applications. Applications in physical sensing and biomedical imaging fields are expected.
A Measurement Setup and Automated Calculation Method to Determine the Charge Injection Capacity of Implantable Microelectrodes
Authors: Cisnal Ana , Fraile Juan-Carlos , Pérez-Turiel Javier , Muñoz-Martinez Victor , Müller Carsten , R. Ihmig Frank
Published: November 2018

The design of safe stimulation protocols for functional electrostimulation requires knowledge of the “maximum reversible charge injection capacity” of the implantable microelectrodes. One of the main difficulties encountered in characterizing such microelectrodes is the calculation of the access voltage Va. This paper proposes a method to calculate Va that does not require prior knowledge of the overpotential terms and of the electrolyte (or excitable tissue) resistance, which is an advantage for in vivo electrochemical characterization of microelectrodes. To validate this method, we compare the calculated results with those obtained from conventional methods for characterizing three flexible platinum microelectrodes by cyclic voltammetry and voltage transient measurements. This paper presents the experimental setup, the required instrumentation, and the signal processing.
Quantifying Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Quality-Control Measures: A Case Study in Frio River, Texas
Authors: Saylam Kutalmis , Hupp John R. , Andrews John R. , Averett Aaron R. , Knudby Anders J.
Published: November 2018

Airborne Lidar Bathymetry (ALB) is an advanced and effective technology for mapping water bodies and measuring water depth in relatively shallow inland and coastal zones. The concept of using light beams to detect and traverse water bodies has been around since the 1960s; however, its popularity has increased significantly in recent years with the advent of relatively affordable hardware, supplemented with potent software applications to process and analyze resulting data. To achieve the most accurate final product, which is usually a digital elevation model (DEM) of the bottom of a water body, various quality-control (QC) measures are applied during and after an airborne mission. River surveys, in particular, present various challenges, and quantifying the quality of the end product requires supplemental surveys and careful analysis of all data sets. In this article, we discuss a recent ALB survey of the Frio River in Texas and summarize the findings of all QC measures conducted. We conclude the article with suggestions for successful ALB deployments at similar survey locations.
Real-Time UAV Autonomous Localization Based on Smartphone Sensors
Authors: Zhao Boxin , Chen Xiaolong , Zhao Xiaolin , Jiang Jun , Wei Jiahua
Published: November 2018

Localization in GPS-denied environments has become a bottleneck problem for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Smartphones equipped with multi-sensors and multi-core processors provide a choice advantage for small UAVs for their high integration and light weight. However, the built-in phone sensor has low accuracy and the phone storage and computing resources are limited, which make the traditional localization methods unable to be readily converted to smartphone-based ones. The paper aims at exploring the feasibility of the phone sensors, and presenting a real-time, less memory autonomous localization method based on the phone sensors, so that the combination of “small UAV+smartphone” can operate in GPS-denied areas regardless of the overload problem. Indoor and outdoor flight experiments are carried out, respectively, based on an off-the-shelf smartphone and a XAircraft 650 quad-rotor platform. The results show that the precision performance of the phone sensors and real-time accurate localization in indoor environment is possible.
An Energy-Efficient and Obstacle-Avoiding Routing Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks
Authors: Jin Zhigang , Ding Mengge , Li Shuo
Published: November 2018

Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks (UASNs) have become one of the promising technologies for exploring underwater natural resources and collecting scientific data from the aquatic environment. As obstacles hinder the communications among sensor nodes in UASNs, designing an effective bypass routing protocol to avoid obstacles is an urgent need. Moreover, the sensor nodes are typically powered by batteries, which are difficult to replace, restricting the network lifetime of UASNs. In this paper, an Energy-efficient and Obstacle-Avoiding Routing protocol (EOAR) is proposed not only to address the issue of marine animals acting as obstacles that interfere with communications, but also to balance the network energy according to the residual energy. In the EOAR protocol, when the current node perceives the existence of marine animals, the interference area of the animal-nodes is first calculated using the underwater acoustic channel model, and then the candidate forwarding relay set of the current node is obtained according to the constraint conditions. The optimal candidate forwarding relay is determined by a fuzzy logic-based forwarding relay selection scheme based on considering the three parameters of the candidate forwarding relay, which includes the propagation delay, the included angle between two neighbor nodes, and the residual energy. Furthermore, in order to solve the problem of energy waste caused by packet collision, we use a priority-based forwarding method to schedule the packet transmission from the candidate forwarding relay to the destination node. The proposed EOAR protocol is simulated on the Aqua-sim platform and the simulation results show that proposed protocol can increase the packet delivery ratio by 28.4% and 11.8% and can reduce the energy consumption by 53.4% and 32.7% and, respectively, comparing with the hop-by-hop vector-based forwarding routing protocol (HHVBF) and void handling using geo-opportunistic routing protocol (VHGOR).
Measuring Industrial Health Using a Diminished Quality of Life Instrument
Authors: Ji Zuzhen , Pons Dirk , Pearse John
Published: November 2018

Historically, the focus of industrial health and safety (H&S) has been on safety and accident avoidance with relatively less attention to long-term occupational health other than via health monitoring and surveillance. The difficulty is the multiple overlapping health consequences that are difficult to separate, measure, and attribute to a source. Furthermore, many health problems occur later, not immediately on exposure, and may be cumulative. Consequently, it is difficult to conclusively identify the cause. Workers may lack knowledge of long-term consequences, and thus not use protective systems effectively. Compounding this is the lack of instruments and methodologies to measure exposure to harm. Historically, the existing risk methodologies for calculating safety risk are based on the construct of consequence and likelihood. However, this may not be appropriate for health, especially for the long-term harm, as both the consequence and likelihood may be indeterminate. This paper develops an instrument to measure the health component of workplace H&S. This is achieved by adapting the established World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) quality of life score to workplace health. Specifically, the method is to identify the likelihood of an exposure incident arising (as estimated by engineering technologists and H&S officers), followed by evaluation of the biological harm consequences. Those consequences are then scored by using the WHODAS 12-item inventory. The result is an assessment of the Diminished Quality of Life (DQL) associated with a workplace hazard. This may then be used to manage the minimization of harm, exposure monitoring, and the design of safe systems of work.
Sex-Related Differences in the Maximal Lactate Steady State
Authors: Hafen Paul , Vehrs Pat
Published: November 2018

The maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) is one of the factors that differentiates performance in aerobic events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex differences in oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at the MLSS in well-trained distance runners. Twenty-two (12 female, 10 male) well-trained distance runners (23 ± 5.0 years) performed multiple 30-min steady-state runs to determine their MLSS, during which blood lactate and respiratory gas exchange measures were taken. To interpret the MLSS intensity as a training tool, runners completed a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) run at their MLSS. The relative intensity at which the MLSS occurred was identical between males and females according to both oxygen consumption (83 ± 5 %O2max) and heart rate (89 ± 7 %HRmax). However, female runners displayed a significantly lower RER at MLSS compared to male runners (p < 0.0001; 0.84 ± 0.02 vs. 0.88 ± 0.04, respectively). There was not a significant difference in TTE at MLSS between males (79 ± 17 min) and females (80 ± 25 min). Due to the observed difference in the RER at the MLSS, it is suggested that RER derived estimates of MLSS be sex-specific. While the RER data suggest that the MLSS represents different metabolic intensities for males and females, the relative training load of MLSS appears to be similar in males and female runners.
Sustainability as the Key Framework of a Total Lighting
Authors: Peña-García Antonio
Published: November 2018

Science and technology progress with remarkable velocity. [...]
Does Organic Farming Provide a Viable Alternative for Smallholder Rice Farmers in India?
Authors: Eyhorn Frank , Van den Berg Marrit , Decock Charlotte , Maat Harro , Srivastava Ashish
Published: November 2018

Smallholder rice farming is characterized by low returns and substantial environmental impact. Conversion to organic management and linking farmers to fair trade markets could offer an alternative. Engaging in certified cash-crop value chains could thereby provide an entry path to simultaneously reduce poverty and improve environmental sustainability. Based on comprehensive data from a representative sample of approximately 80 organic and 80 conventional farms in northern India, we compared yield and profitability of the main rotation crops over a period of five years. Contrary to the widespread belief that yields in organic farming are inevitably lower, our study shows that organic farmers achieved the same yields in cereals and pulses as conventional farmers, with considerably lower external inputs. Due to 45% lower production costs and higher sales prices, organic basmati cultivation was 105% more profitable than cultivating ordinary rice under conventional management. However, since holdings are small and the share of agricultural income of total household income is declining, conversion to organic basmati farming alone will not provide households a sufficiently attractive perspective into the future. We propose that future efforts to enhance the long-term viability of rice-based organic farming systems in this region focus on diversification involving higher value crops.
Design of Bus Bridging Routes in Response to Disruption of Urban Rail Transit
Authors: Deng Yajuan , Ru Xiaolei , Dou Ziqi , Liang Guohua
Published: November 2018

Bus bridging has been widely used to connect stations affected by urban rail transit disruptions. This paper designs bus bridging routes for passengers in case of urban rail transit disruption. The types of urban rail transit disruption between Origin-Destination stations are summarized, and alternative bus bridging routes are listed. First, the feasible route generation method is established. Feasible routes for each pair of the disruption Origin-Destination stations include urban rail transit transfer, direct bus bridging, and indirect bus bridging. Then the feasible route generation model with the station capacity constraint is established. The k-short alternative routes are generated to form the bus bridging routes. Lastly, by considering the bus bridging resource constraints, the final bus bridging routes are obtained by merging and filtering the initial bridging routes. Numerical results of an illustrative network show that the bus bridging routes generated from the proposed model can significantly reduce travel delay of blocked passengers, and it is necessary to maintain the number of passengers in the urban rail transit below the station capacity threshold for ensuring a feasible routing design. One more important finding of this work is that the direct bridging route is preferred for short travel distances, while the indirect bridging route is preferred for longer travel distances. After the bridging bus routes are taken, the passenger’s total travel time is significantly lower than when no measures are taken. However, after the capacity constraint of a station is considered, the passenger’s total travel time will be increased by 3.49% compared with not considering a capacity constraint.
Transformative Sustainable Business Models in the Light of the Digital Imperative—A Global Business Economics Perspective
Authors: Brenner Barbara
Published: November 2018

The considerable body of literature on business models, business model innovation, and sustainable business models has yet to fully account for the impact of external dynamics—including the digital imperative—on generating sustainable value propositions. To address this issue, we developed a multifaceted framework of transformative sustainable business models, spanning three levels: the external environment, the organization, and the individual. We drew on the resource-based view and the literature on digitization to explain how organizations can capitalize on dynamic transformative capabilities to generate novel value propositions, based on both reconstructionist logic and shared-value logic. These include elements such as co-creation, usage-based pricing, agility, closed-loop processes, asset sharing, and collaborative business ecosystems.
Implementing Vertical Farming at University Scale to Promote Sustainable Communities: A Feasibility Analysis
Authors: Zhang He , Asutosh Ashish , Hu Wei
Published: November 2018

The issue of food security has affected the well-being of the people for centuries. Academic and industry experts have been constantly developing alternate and better ways to address this issue. One of such innovations is the concept of vertical and zero acreage farming for providing food security and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, this concept has been in its nascent stage, and its development has been sporadic for many years. This paper uses a comprehensive framework to conduct a feasibility analysis of initiating vertical farming on university campuses, which could set an example for using this technique on a large scale. A case study was conducted on a set of 24 canteens across a university in Wuhan, China for accessing the return on investment and food sufficiency using this technique. By using the central limit theorem, a model was developed after investing in 24 canteens in the university, and various scenarios were analyzed. The breakeven on implementing these farms was about 10 to 20 years, with annual profits reaching $92,000 (592,000 RMB).
Pricing Decisions of CSR Closed-Loop Supply Chains with Carbon Emission Constraints
Authors: Shu Tong , Liu Qian , Chen Shou , Wang Shouyang , Lai Kin Keung
Published: November 2018

Global warming has become a growing concern for countries around the world. Currently, the direct way to solve this issue is to curb carbon emissions. Governments and enterprises should assume the social responsibility to conserve the environment. Under the background of carbon emission constraint, this article investigates the optimal decisions of closed-loop supply chains in the context of social responsibility, explores the impacts of constraints of carbon emissions and corporate social responsibility on recycling and remanufacturing decisions, and introduces the model of maximizing social welfare for further comparison and analysis. The results show that the coefficient of remanufacturing and emission reduction and the coefficient of government reward and punishment are inversely proportional to recycling rates and the total carbon emissions. Governments should formulate rational carbon emission caps for enterprises with different coefficients of remanufacturing and emission reduction. Additionally, corporate social responsibility has a positive effect on recycling rates, and a rise in its strength can lead to a fall in carbon emissions per unit product. In terms of product recycling and profit sources, the model of maximizing social welfare is superior to that of maximizing the manufacturer’s total profits, which provides new managerial insights for decision-makers.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use/Land Cover and Its Effects on Surface Urban Heat Island Using Landsat Data: A Case Study of Metropolitan City Tehran (1988–2018)
Authors: Rousta Iman , Sarif Md Omar , Gupta Rajan Dev , Olafsson Haraldur , Ranagalage Manjula , Murayama Yuji , Zhang Hao , Mushore Terence Darlington
Published: November 2018

This article summarized the spatiotemporal pattern of land use/land cover (LU/LC) and urban heat island (UHI) dynamics in the Metropolitan city of Tehran between 1988 and 2018. The study showed dynamics of each LU/LC class and their role in influencing the UHI. The impervious surface area expanded by 286.04 (48.27% of total land) and vegetated land was depleted by 42.06 km2 (7.10% of total land) during the period of 1988–2018. The mean land surface temperature (LST) has enlarged by approximately 2–3 °C at the city center and 5–7 °C at the periphery between 1988 and 2018 based on the urban–rural gradient analysis. The lower mean LST was experienced by vegetation land (VL) and water body (WB) by approximately 4–5 °C and 5–7 °C, respectively, and the higher mean LST by open land (OL) by 7–11 °C than other LU/LC classes at all time-points during the time period, 1988–2018. The magnitude of mean LST was calculated based on the main LU/LC categories, where impervious land (IL) recorded the higher temperature difference compared to vegetation land (VL) and water bodies (WB). However, open land (OL) recorded the highest mean LST differences with all the other LU/LC categories. In addition to that, there was an overall negative correlation between LST and the normal difference vegetation index (NDVI). By contrast, there was an overall positive correlation between LST and the normal difference built-up index (NDBI). This article, executed through three decadal change analyses from 1988 to 2018 at 10-year intervals, has made a significant contribution to delineating the long records of change dynamics and could have a great influence on policy making to foster environmental sustainability.
Framing the Shades of Sustainability in Health Care: Pitfalls and Perspectives from Western EU Countries
Authors: Borgonovi Elio , Adinolfi Paola , Palumbo Rocco , Piscopo Gabriella
Published: November 2018

Sustainability is momentous for the appropriate functioning of health care systems. In fact, health and sustainability are two strictly related values, which could not be separately sought. While studies discussing the contextualization of this issue with respect to the distinguishing attributes of health care systems are rapidly blooming, there is still little agreement about what is ultimately meant by sustainability in the health care arena. On the one hand, attention is primarily focused on the proper use of available financial resources; on the other hand, people engagement and empowerment are gradually arising as a crucial step to enhance the viability of the health care system. This paper tries to identify, from a conceptual point of view inspired by the European integrative movement, the different shades of sustainability in health care and proposes a recipe to strengthen the long-term viability of health care organizations. The balanced mix of financial, economic, political, and social sustainability is compelling to increase the ability of health care organizations to create meaningful value for the population served. However, the focus on a single dimension of sustainability is thought to engender several side effects, which compromise the capability of health care organizations to guarantee health gains at the individual and collective levels. From this standpoint, further conceptual and practical developments are envisioned, paving the way for a full-fledged understanding of sustainability in the health care environment.
Analysis of the Factors Influencing Market Participation among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar
Authors: Kyaw Nyein Nyein , Ahn Soojung , Lee Sang Hyeon
Published: November 2018

Smallholder farmers face numerous constraints that restrict their access to markets and prevent them from taking advantage of market opportunities. This research aimed to examine the factors affecting the market participation of smallholder farmers and find ways to improve the income and livelihood of smallholder farmers, focusing on Myothit Township in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. For the primary data, we surveyed 150 smallholder rice farmers which were selected using a random sampling technique. Using the Heckman two-stage selection model, we analyzed the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers’ decisions regarding participation in the agricultural market. This study revealed that the decision to participate in the rice market was dependent on different factors such as the household head age, education status, household size, total produce of rice, price of rice, household income, ownership of livestock, membership of farmer organization, access to roads, distance to market, access to extension services, and market information. The results of this study have implications as to what factors need to be addressed to encourage smallholder rice farmers to participate in the market. We suggest that Myanmar government and policymakers need to establish balanced policies for small-scale farmers and manage them in an appropriate way so that agricultural development can be induced, contributing to poverty reduction, food security, and economic development.
Bio-Pellet Fuel from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB): Using European Standards for Quality Testing
Authors: Brunerová Anna , Müller Miroslav , Šleger Vladimír , Ambarita Himsar , Valášek Petr
Published: November 2018

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) represents Indonesian major agriculture crop, nevertheless, its cultivation and processing results in an excessive amount of waste biomass, namely, empty fruit bunches (EFB), which is not always properly processed or reused. Therefore, the present investigation was performed to attract wide public interest in proper waste management and reuse of waste biomass. The suitability of such waste biomass for bio-pellet fuel production within its ecological EFB reuse was the subject of investigation. Its fuel parameters, mechanical quality and microscopic analysis represented the set of experimental testing performed within the target purpose. Satisfactory result values were stated within oil palm EFB fuel parameters, namely, moisture content Mc—7.07%, ash content Ac—9.41% and energy potential NCV—15.06 MJ∙kg−1. Mechanical analysis of the produced bio-pellet fuel proved outstanding results: Volume density ρ—1440.01 kg∙m−3 and mechanical durability DU—97.4% and 99.4% (according to ÖNORM M 7135 (2003) and ISO 17831-1 (2015)). Furthermore, results of compressive strength σ proved the requested high level; in simple pressure σp—10.83 MPa and in cleft σc—60.46 N·mm−1. Stereoscopic microscope measurements proved a prevalent proportion of fiber >97% within the feedstock content, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of bio-pellet samples diagnosed cracks purely on the outer surface, not within their internal structures, which indicated high quality compacted products. In conclusion, the overall evaluation indicates the production of environmental-friendly high quality bio-pellet fuel, thus, proving the suitability of oil palm EFB for the production of bio-pellet fuel.
Application of Strongly Constrained Space Particle Swarm Optimization to Optimal Operation of a Reservoir System
Authors: Ma Lejun , Wang Huan , Lu Baohong , Qi Changjun
Published: November 2018

In view of the low efficiency of the particle swarm algorithm under multiple constraints of reservoir optimal operation, this paper introduces a particle swarm algorithm based on strongly constrained space. In the process of particle optimization, the algorithm eliminates the infeasible region that violates the water balance in order to reduce the influence of the unfeasible region on the particle evolution. In order to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, it is applied to the calculation of reservoir optimal operation. Finally, this method is compared with the calculation results of the dynamic programming (DP) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The results show that: (1) the average computational time of strongly constrained particle swarm optimization (SCPSO) can be thought of as the same as the PSO algorithm and lesser than the DP algorithm under similar optimal value; and (2) the SCPSO algorithm has good performance in terms of finding near-optimal solutions, computational efficiency, and stability of optimization results. SCPSO not only improves the efficiency of particle evolution, but also avoids excessive improvement and affects the computational efficiency of the algorithm, which provides a convenient way for particle swarm optimization in reservoir optimal operation.
Profiling End User of Renewable Energy Sources among Residential Consumers in Poland
Authors: Ropuszyńska-Surma Edyta , Węglarz Magdalena
Published: November 2018

This paper investigates the profile of end user of renewable energy sources (RES) among Polish households. Users differ in their sex, age, economic status, knowledge about energy, their attitudes toward RES and pro-ecological behavior therefore our focus was on exploring segmentation criteria. The main determinants of willingness to install small-scale RES among households were assumed as segmentation criteria. The research identified the correlation between the households’ willingness to install RES and (1) socio-economic and energy awareness variables, (2) pro-ecological and pro-effectiveness behaviors variables. The main determinants of RES adoption were explored using empirical analysis with data collected by the survey among 960 households in Lower Silesia, a southwest region in Poland in November and December of 2015. The importance of the variables was verified by a logit model. The discovery of the user profile is vital to obtain knowledge about users of small-scale generators to provide them personalized offer. The finding from this study could be valuable for local authority’s energy utilities that are involved for increasing the adoption rate of RES among households and for (e.g., services companies installing RES) that are interested in increasing number of RES installations.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Tibetan Alpine Grassland: Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition
Authors: Wang Guangshuai , Liang Yueping , Ren Fei , Yang Xiaoxia , Mi Zhaorong , Gao Yang , George Timothy S. , Zhang Zhenhua
Published: November 2018

The cycle of key nutrient elements nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) has been massively altered by anthropogenic activities. Little is known about the impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of the large nutrient additions occurring in the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. We investigated soil surface emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) under control, N, P and combined nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) additions from July 2011 to September 2012. Compared to the control, CO2 flux significantly increased by 14.6% and 27.4% following P and NP addition, respectively. The interaction of NP addition had a significant influence on CO2 flux during the non-growing season and the spring thaw period. Compared to the control, CH4 flux decreased by 9.9%, 23.2% and 26.7% following N, P and NP additions, respectively, and no interactive effect of NP addition was found in any period. Soil N2O flux was significantly increased 2.6 fold and 3.3 fold, following N and NP addition treatments, respectively, and there was no interaction effect of NP addition together. The contribution of cumulative CO2 emission during the non-growing season was less than 20% of the annual budget, but cumulative CH4 and N2O emissions during the same period can account for 37.3–48.9% and 44.7–59.5% of the annual budget, respectively. Methane and N2O emissions did not increase greatly during the spring thawing period, with contributions of only 0.4–3.6% and 10.3–12.3% of the annual budget, respectively. Our results suggest that N and P addition could increase CO2 and N2O emissions and reduce CH4 emission. Furthermore, although the non-growing season is very cold and long, cumulative CH4 and N2O emissions are considerable during this period and cannot be neglected by future studies evaluating the greenhouse gas emission budget in the Tibetan plateau.
An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach for Sustainable Assessment of Economy-Based and Community-Based Urban Regeneration: The Case of South Korea
Authors: Lee Jin Hui , Lim Sangyon
Published: November 2018

This paper uses South Korean cases to develop an indicator-oriented approach for evaluating the outcome of urban regeneration projects, focusing on the difference between economy-based and community-based urban regeneration projects. By identifying differences in the assessment indicators and weights of two types of urban regeneration projects, we can more successfully recognize a sustainable way to implement economy-based urban regeneration projects. The results of hierarchical assessment models show the differences in critical indicators related to economy-based and community-based urban regeneration projects. Economy-based urban regeneration projects should not only aim to revitalize local economies but also be evaluated using employment- and economic-related indicators, which should receive more weight than indicators concerning community-based regeneration. In this sense, our results suggest that different evaluation and monitoring systems must be developed to separately assess these two types of urban regeneration projects, as approximately 500 urban regeneration new deal projects are being carried out in Korea.
Invented Communities and Social Vulnerability: The Local Post-Disaster Dynamics of Extreme Environmental Events
Authors: Lidskog Rolf
Published: November 2018

This paper investigates post-disaster dynamics at the local level, in particular how local identity and social cohesion are affected after an extreme event. A particular case is investigated: the largest forest fire in modern Swedish history, which took place in 2014. The empirical material consists of interviews with forest professionals and organizations involved with the fire or the post-fire work and a postal survey to all people directly affected by the wildfire. The analysis finds that the experience of the wildfire and its social interpretation led to the invention of a particular community identity, one that strengthened the self-understanding of the community. Thus, the post-disaster dynamics are pivotal for what social practices that emerge and what local identities are invented and thus may greatly affect the capacity of a community to handle extreme events.
Leisure Motivation and Satisfaction: A Text Mining of Yoga Centres, Yoga Consumers, and Their Interactions
Authors: Jia Susan (Sixue)
Published: November 2018

Understanding the motivation and satisfaction of yoga consumers is of critical importance for both leisure service providers and leisure researchers to enhance the sustainability of personal lives in terms of physical wellness and mental happiness. For this purpose, this study investigated 25,120 pairs of online ratings and reviews from 100 yoga centres in Shanghai, China using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA)-based text mining, and successfully established the relationship between rating and review. Findings suggest that Chinese yogis are motivated by improving physical condition, improving psychological condition, gracing appearance, establishing social connection, and creating social isolation. In addition to teaching mainstream yoga, yoga centres also provide additional courses. From a consumer perspective, yogis are relatively satisfied with teachers, courses, and the environment, but complain about the supporting staff, membership price, and reservation service. Managerially, yoga centres are encouraged to continue attending to the motivations of yogis, specialising their guidance, and fostering strengths and circumventing weaknesses in their service. This study also contributes by verifying, elaborating on, and tentatively extending the framework of the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS).
Involvement of Carnosic Acid in the Phytotoxicity of Rosmarinus officinalis Leaves
Authors: Appiah Kwame Sarpong , Mardani Hossein Korrani , Omari Richard Ansong , Eziah Vincent Yao , Ofosu-Anim John , Onwona-Agyeman Siaw , Amoatey Christiana Adukwei , Kawada Kiyokazu , Katsura Keisuke , Oikawa Yosei , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: November 2018

Weeds are rapidly developing resistance to synthetic herbicides, and this can pose a threat to the ecosystem. Exploring allelopathic species as an alternative weed control measure can help minimize the ecological threat posed by herbicide-resistant weeds. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of some polyphenols to the allelopathy of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). The phytotoxic effects of rosemary (leaves, roots, inflorescences, and stems) crude extracts were tested on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Soils incorporated with dried rosemary leaves were also tested on test plants. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine the content of some polyphenols (caffeic, ferulic, gallic, rosmarinic, carnosic, and chlorogenic acids) in rosemary. The specific activity and total activity of crude extracts and individual compounds were evaluated using lettuce. The crude extract of rosemary leaves showed the highest growth inhibitory effect among the rosemary organs tested. Soil amended with rosemary leaf debris reduced the dry matter and seed emergence of lettuce. Carnosic acid was the main compound detected in rosemary leaves and had a high specific activity when tested on lettuce. During the seed germination period, there was observed filter paper coloration among the test plants treated with carnosic acid (250 μg/mL). The high concentration and strong inhibitory effect of carnosic acid could explain the inhibitory activity of the rosemary leaf extract. Hence, we conclude based on the total activity estimation that carnosic acid among the other tested compounds is the major allelochemical in rosemary leaves.
Methanolic Extract of Rhizoma Coptidis Inhibits the Early Viral Entry Steps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Hung Ting-Chun , Jassey Alagie , Lin Chien-Ju , Liu Ching-Hsuan , Lin Chun-Ching , Yen Ming-Hong , Lin Liang-Tzung
Published: November 2018

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) remains an important public health threat with approximately 170 million carriers worldwide who are at risk of developing hepatitis C-associated end-stage liver diseases. Despite improvement of HCV treatment using the novel direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting viral replication, there is a lack of prophylactic measures for protection against HCV infection. Identifying novel antivirals such as those that target viral entry could help broaden the therapeutic arsenal against HCV. Herein, we investigated the anti-HCV activity of the methanolic extract from Rhizoma coptidis (RC), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine documented by the WHO and experimentally reported to possess several pharmacological functions including antiviral effects. Using the cell culture-derived HCV system, we demonstrated that RC dose-dependently inhibited HCV infection of Huh-7.5 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In particular, RC blocked HCV attachment and entry/fusion into the host cells without exerting any significant effect on the cell-free viral particles or modulating key host cell entry factors to HCV. Moreover, RC robustly suppressed HCV pseudoparticles infection of Huh-7.5 cells and impeded infection by several HCV genotypes. Collectively, our results identified RC as a potent antagonist to HCV entry with potential pan-genotypic properties, which deserves further evaluation for use as an anti-HCV agent.
Erratum: Sunwoo, S.-Y. et al. A Universal Influenza Virus Vaccine Candidate Tested in a Pig Vaccination-Infection Model in the Presence of Maternal Antibodies. Vaccines 2018, 6(3), 64
Authors: Sunwoo Sun-Young , Schotsaert Michael , Morozov Igor , Davis Anne , Li Yuhao , Lee Jinhwa , McDowell Chester , Meade Philip , Nachbagauer Raffael , García-Sastre Adolfo , Ma Wenjun , Krammer Florian , Richt Juergen
Published: November 2018

In the published article, “A Universal Influenza Virus Vaccine Candidate Tested in a Pig Vaccination-Infection Model in the Presence of Maternal Antibodies. [...]