bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Device-Free Localization via an Extreme Learning Machine with Parameterized Geometrical Feature Extraction
Authors: Zhang Jie , Xiao Wendong , Zhang Sen , Huang Shoudong
Published: April 2017

Device-free localization (DFL) is becoming one of the new technologies in wireless localization field, due to its advantage that the target to be localized does not need to be attached to any electronic device. In the radio-frequency (RF) DFL system, radio transmitters (RTs) and radio receivers (RXs) are used to sense the target collaboratively, and the location of the target can be estimated by fusing the changes of the received signal strength (RSS) measurements associated with the wireless links. In this paper, we will propose an extreme learning machine (ELM) approach for DFL, to improve the efficiency and the accuracy of the localization algorithm. Different from the conventional machine learning approaches for wireless localization, in which the above differential RSS measurements are trivially used as the only input features, we introduce the parameterized geometrical representation for an affected link, which consists of its geometrical intercepts and differential RSS measurement. Parameterized geometrical feature extraction (PGFE) is performed for the affected links and the features are used as the inputs of ELM. The proposed PGFE-ELM for DFL is trained in the offline phase and performed for real-time localization in the online phase, where the estimated location of the target is obtained through the created ELM. PGFE-ELM has the advantages that the affected links used by ELM in the online phase can be different from those used for training in the offline phase, and can be more robust to deal with the uncertain combination of the detectable wireless links. Experimental results show that the proposed PGFE-ELM can improve the localization accuracy and learning speed significantly compared with a number of the existing machine learning and DFL approaches, including the weighted K-nearest neighbor (WKNN), support vector machine (SVM), back propagation neural network (BPNN), as well as the well-known radio tomographic imaging (RTI) DFL approach.
A Quantitative PCR-Electrochemical Genosensor Test for the Screening of Biotech Crops
Authors: Moura-Melo Suely , Miranda-Castro Rebeca , De-los-Santos-Álvarez Noemí , Miranda-Ordieres Arturo , Dos Santos Junior José , Da Silva Fonseca Rosana , Lobo-Castañón María
Published: April 2017

The design of screening methods for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food would improve the efficiency in their control. We report here a PCR amplification method combined with a sequence-specific electrochemical genosensor for the quantification of a DNA sequence characteristic of the 35S promoter derived from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV). Specifically, we employ a genosensor constructed by chemisorption of a thiolated capture probe and p-aminothiophenol gold surfaces to entrap on the sensing layer the unpurified PCR amplicons, together with a signaling probe labeled with fluorescein. The proposed test allows for the determination of a transgene copy number in both hemizygous (maize MON810 trait) and homozygous (soybean GTS40-3-2) transformed plants, and exhibits a limit of quantification of at least 0.25% for both kinds of GMO lines.
Multiple Objects Fusion Tracker Using a Matching Network for Adaptively Represented Instance Pairs
Authors: Oh Sang-Il , Kang Hang-Bong
Published: April 2017

Multiple-object tracking is affected by various sources of distortion, such as occlusion, illumination variations and motion changes. Overcoming these distortions by tracking on RGB frames, such as shifting, has limitations because of material distortions caused by RGB frames. To overcome these distortions, we propose a multiple-object fusion tracker (MOFT), which uses a combination of 3D point clouds and corresponding RGB frames. The MOFT uses a matching function initialized on large-scale external sequences to determine which candidates in the current frame match with the target object in the previous frame. After conducting tracking on a few frames, the initialized matching function is fine-tuned according to the appearance models of target objects. The fine-tuning process of the matching function is constructed as a structured form with diverse matching function branches. In general multiple object tracking situations, scale variations for a scene occur depending on the distance between the target objects and the sensors. If the target objects in various scales are equally represented with the same strategy, information losses will occur for any representation of the target objects. In this paper, the output map of the convolutional layer obtained from a pre-trained convolutional neural network is used to adaptively represent instances without information loss. In addition, MOFT fuses the tracking results obtained from each modality at the decision level to compensate the tracking failures of each modality using basic belief assignment, rather than fusing modalities by selectively using the features of each modality. Experimental results indicate that the proposed tracker provides state-of-the-art performance considering multiple objects tracking (MOT) and KITTIbenchmarks.
A Novel Auto-Sorting System for Chinese Cabbage Seeds
Authors: Huang Kuo-Yi , Cheng Jian-Feng
Published: April 2017

This paper presents a novel machine vision-based auto-sorting system for Chinese cabbage seeds. The system comprises an inlet-outlet mechanism, machine vision hardware and software, and control system for sorting seed quality. The proposed method can estimate the shape, color, and textural features of seeds that are provided as input neurons of neural networks in order to classify seeds as “good” and “not good” (NG). The results show the accuracies of classification to be 91.53% and 88.95% for good and NG seeds, respectively. The experimental results indicate that Chinese cabbage seeds can be sorted efficiently using the developed system.
Multi-Mode Estimation for Small Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Localization Based on a Linear Matrix Inequality Approach
Authors: Elzoghby Mostafa , Li Fu , Arafa Ibrahim. , Arif Usman
Published: April 2017

Information fusion from multiple sensors ensures the accuracy and robustness of a navigation system, especially in the absence of global positioning system (GPS) data which gets degraded in many cases. A way to deal with multi-mode estimation for a small fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) localization framework is proposed, which depends on utilizing a Luenberger observer-based linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. The proposed estimation technique relies on the interaction between multiple measurement modes and a continuous observer. The state estimation is performed in a switching environment between multiple active sensors to exploit the available information as much as possible, especially in GPS-denied environments. Luenberger observer-based projection is implemented as a continuous observer to optimize the estimation performance. The observer gain might be chosen by solving a Lyapunov equation by means of a LMI algorithm. Convergence is achieved by utilizing the linear matrix inequality (LMI), based on Lyapunov stability which keeps the dynamic estimation error bounded by selecting the observer gain matrix (L). Simulation results are presented for a small UAV fixed wing localization problem. The results obtained using the proposed approach are compared with a single mode Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the viability of the proposed strategy.
Integrated Flexible Electronic Devices Based on Passive Alignment for Physiological Measurement
Authors: Ryu Jin Hwa , Byun Sangwon , Baek In-Bok , Lee Bong Kuk , Jang Won Ick , Jang Eun-Hye , Kim Ah-Yung , Yu Han Yung
Published: April 2017

This study proposes a simple method of fabricating flexible electronic devices using a metal template for passive alignment between chip components and an interconnect layer, which enabled efficient alignment with high accuracy. An electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor was fabricated using 20 µm thick polyimide (PI) film as a flexible substrate to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. The interconnect layer was fabricated by a two-step photolithography process and evaporation. After applying solder paste, the metal template was placed on top of the interconnect layer. The metal template had rectangular holes at the same position as the chip components on the interconnect layer. Rectangular hole sizes were designed to account for alignment tolerance of the chips. Passive alignment was performed by simply inserting the components in the holes of the template, which resulted in accurate alignment with positional tolerance of less than 10 µm based on the structural design, suggesting that our method can efficiently perform chip mounting with precision. Furthermore, a fabricated flexible ECG sensor was easily attachable to the curved skin surface and able to measure ECG signals from a human subject. These results suggest that the proposed method can be used to fabricate epidermal sensors, which are mounted on the skin to measure various physiological signals.
A Phonocardiographic-Based Fiber-Optic Sensor and Adaptive Filtering System for Noninvasive Continuous Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Authors: Martinek Radek , Nedoma Jan , Fajkus Marcel , Kahankova Radana , Konecny Jaromir , Janku Petr , Kepak Stanislav , Bilik Petr , Nazeran Homer
Published: April 2017

This paper focuses on the design, realization, and verification of a novel phonocardiographic- based fiber-optic sensor and adaptive signal processing system for noninvasive continuous fetal heart rate (fHR) monitoring. Our proposed system utilizes two Mach-Zehnder interferometeric sensors. Based on the analysis of real measurement data, we developed a simplified dynamic model for the generation and distribution of heart sounds throughout the human body. Building on this signal model, we then designed, implemented, and verified our adaptive signal processing system by implementing two stochastic gradient-based algorithms: the Least Mean Square Algorithm (LMS), and the Normalized Least Mean Square (NLMS) Algorithm. With this system we were able to extract the fHR information from high quality fetal phonocardiograms (fPCGs), filtered from abdominal maternal phonocardiograms (mPCGs) by performing fPCG signal peak detection. Common signal processing methods such as linear filtering, signal subtraction, and others could not be used for this purpose as fPCG and mPCG signals share overlapping frequency spectra. The performance of the adaptive system was evaluated by using both qualitative (gynecological studies) and quantitative measures such as: Signal-to-Noise Ratio—SNR, Root Mean Square Error—RMSE, Sensitivity—S+, and Positive Predictive Value—PPV.
Fast Bragg Grating Inscription in PMMA Polymer Optical Fibres: Impact of Thermal Pre-Treatment of Preforms
Authors: Marques Carlos , Pospori Andreas , Demirci Gökhan , Çetinkaya Onur , Gawdzik Barbara , Antunes Paulo , Bang Ole , Mergo Pawel , André Paulo , Webb David
Published: April 2017

In this work, fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) were inscribed in two different undoped poly- (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer optical fibres (POFs) using different types of UV lasers and their inscription times, temperature and strain sensitivities are investigated. The POF Bragg gratings (POFBGs) were inscribed using two UV lasers: a continuous UV HeCd @325 nm laser and a pulsed UV KrF @248 nm laser. Two PMMA POFs are used in which the primary and secondary preforms (during the two-step drawing process) have a different thermal treatment. The PMMA POFs drawn in which the primary or secondary preform is not specifically pre-treated need longer inscription time than the fibres drawn where both preforms have been pre-annealed at 80 °C for 2 weeks. Using both UV lasers, for the latter fibre much less inscription time is needed compared to another homemade POF. The properties of a POF fabricated with both preforms thermally well annealed are different from those in which just one preform step process is thermally treated, with the first POFs being much less sensitive to thermal treatment. The influence of annealing on the strain and temperature sensitivities of the fibres prior to FBG inscription is also discussed, where it is observed that the fibre produced from a two-step drawing process with well-defined pre-annealing of both preforms did not produce any significant difference in sensitivity. The results indicate the impact of preform thermal pre-treatment before the PMMA POFs drawing, which can be an essential characteristic in the view of developing POF sensors technology.
Microfluidic EBG Sensor Based on Phase-Shift Method Realized Using 3D Printing Technology
Authors: Radonić Vasa , Birgermajer Slobodan , Kitić Goran
Published: April 2017

In this article, we propose a novel microfluidic microstrip electromagnetic band gap (EBG) sensor realized using cost-effective 3D printing technology. Microstrip sensor allows monitoring of the fluid properties flowing in the microchannel embedded between the microstrip line and ground plane. The sensor’s operating principle is based on the phase-shift method, which allows the characterization at a single operating frequency of 6 GHz. The defected electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure is realized as a pattern in the microstrip ground plane to improve sensor sensitivity. The designed microfluidic channel is fabricated using a fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing process without additional supporting layers, while the conductive layers are realized using sticky aluminium tape. The measurement results show that the change of permittivity of the fluid in the microfluidic channel from 1 to 80 results in the phase-shift difference of almost 90°. The potential application is demonstrated through the implementation of a proposed sensor for the detection of toluene concentration in toluene–methanol mixture where various concentrations of toluene were analysed.
The Influence of Women Legislators on State Health Care Spending for the Poor
Authors: Courtemanche Marie , Green Joanne
Published: April 2017

In the realm of representational politics, research exploring the relationship between descriptive representation and substantive representation is conflicted with some scholars finding policy outcomes influenced by the presence of women in office and others displaying a complicated or null relationship. We enter the discussion by investigating the effect of increased representation of women across state legislatures on state health care spending for poor children, the disabled, and elders, issues which disproportionately affect women. Using a 50-state dataset spanning from 1999 to 2009 we find that spending is indeed more generous when the number of women representatives is substantial, regardless of party. This generosity, however, is conditional upon the presence of considerable aggregate need. The findings suggest that contextual factors must be considered when exploring the influence of women on policy outcomes.
Brexit: The Economic and Political Implications for Asia
Authors: Wood Jacob , Jang Haejin
Published: April 2017

Often trumpeted as a bastion of modern economic and political integration, the European Union (EU) has played an integral role in the development of the United Kingdom’s (UK) economy. However, in recent times, the relationship between the EU and the UK has become increasingly fragile, particularly on issues of national sovereignty, immigration, and the general bureaucratic reach of Brussels. Tension surrounding these concerns meant that on 23 June 2016, the British public voted, by way of a referendum, to leave the EU. This decision, often referred to as Brexit, has created a watershed moment in the history of the region, with implications that may have a significant impact on not only Europe, but also Asia and the wider global community. In order to make better sense of the issue, this study provides a brief synopsis of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, before providing a detailed analysis of how the Brexit decision will impact the Asian region. As part of this discussion, a series of relevant policy issues are considered.
Metabolic Power of Female Footballers in Various Small-Sided Games with Different Pitch Surfaces and Sizes
Authors: López-Fernández Jorge , Sánchez-Sánchez Javier , Gallardo Leonor , García-Unanue Jorge
Published: April 2017

Small-sided-games (SSGs) seem to be a useful tool for replicating most types of scenarios found in sport competitions, but it is not that clear in female soccer. Game surface and pitch size seem to affect the intensity of SSGs, but no one has yet analysed the influence of these two variables together. The objective of this research was to analyse the metabolic power demands of various SSGs on possession play without goal-keepers, played on three different surfaces. Sixteen sub-elite female players performed three different four-a-side games (400 m2, 600 m2, and 800 m2) on three different surfaces (ground [GR]; natural grass [NG]; and artificial turf [AT]), recording a total of 96 events. Metabolic variables were recorded through a global positioning system (GPS). The GR condition obtained the lowest outputs for all variables in all of the SSGs. Furthermore, NG resulted in higher outcomes than AT for Average Metabolic Power (SSG 400 [+0.65; p = 0.019]; SSG 600 [+0.70; p = 0.04]); and equivalent distance (SSG 400 [+33.0; p = 0.02]; SSG 600 [+36.53; p = 0.04]). Moreover, SSG 400 obtained lower results than SSG 600 and SSG 800 for both AT and NG. In conclusion, playing on GR reduces the metabolic power of SSGs, While NG seems to be the most suitable surface for attaining highest metabolic responses for sub-elite female players. On the other hand, too big a pitch size may not increase the metabolic demands of the game.
Residential Fuel Choice in Rural Areas: Field Research of Two Counties of North China
Authors: Wu Jingwen , Hou Bingdong , Ke Ruo-Yu , Du Yun-Fei , Wang Ce , Li Xiangzheng , Cai Jiawei , Chen Tianqi , Teng Meixuan , Liu Jin , Wang Jin-Wei , Liao Hua
Published: April 2017

Solid fuels are still widely used in rural China though the living standard has improved greatly. Energy poverty is an obvious indicator of poverty, which has serious effects on economic development, environment, and health. In this paper, we conducted a detailed analysis on fuel choice and usage behavior of different end-use activities in rural residential energy consumption. Using 717 household observations from micro-survey data in two counties of Shandong and Hebei province in 2016, we find that biomass is the dominant fuel used for cooking among all energy sources despite of obvious decreasing trend in recent years, accounting for 44%. Clean energy used to cook increased markedly with a proportion of nearly 50%. Solar energy is an ordinary fuel used for water heating except for biomass. Almost 90% of households rely on coal for space heating in winter, and one-third of households have space heating for fewer than two months. Ownership of home appliances for basic needs is higher than that for hedonistic needs, and usage behaviors of some appliances are economical. Fuel accessibility of commercial energy have improved noticeably in rural areas, and the high proportion usage of biomass is affected by family income, usage habits, local resources, environmental recognition, education, and age. Since the negative effects of using solid fuels, it is urgent to cleanse biomass, develop new energy, and improve residents’ cognition about the consequences of using solid fuels.
Household Livelihood Strategies and Implication for Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas of Central Nepal
Authors: Paudel Khatiwada Shanta , Deng Wei , Paudel Bikash , Khatiwada Janak , Zhang Jifei , Su Yi
Published: April 2017

Understanding household livelihood strategies is pivotal to minimize rural poverty in the least developed countries like Nepal. This study is an attempt to assess livelihood strategies pursued by rural households, investigate the most remunerative strategy, and identify the factors that influence a household’s choice of better strategies in rural Nepal. Primary data collected in 453 households from three villages of central Nepal are analyzed quantitatively within a sustainable livelihood framework. This study categorized households into five main livelihood strategy groups. The results showed that the majority (61%) of the households diversified their income to non-farm sources. Livelihood diversification to business/enterprise strategies adopted by 16% of the households is the most remunerative strategy followed by commercial farming that includes 13% of the sample and are more relevant to poverty reduction. Land holding, education, agriculture and skill training, access to credit, and proximity to the road and market center are the major influencing factors on the adoption of higher returning livelihood strategies. Stimulating poor households to follow market-oriented farm and non-farm activities by improving access to education, vocational training, rural credit, and rural infrastructures is momentous for reducing poverty in the rural areas of central Nepal.
Large-Scale Screening of Intact Tomato Seeds for Viability Using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS)
Authors: Lee Ho-Sun , Jeon Young-Ah , Lee Young-Yi , Lee Gi-An , Raveendar Sebastin , Ma Kyung
Published: April 2017

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), a non-destructive and rapid analytical method, was used to examine the possibility of replacing a method for the large-scale screening of tomato seed viability. A total of 368 tomato seed samples were used for development and validation of an NIRS calibration model. The accelerating aging method (98 ± 2% R.H., 40 °C) was employed for preparation of a calibration set (n = 268) and a validation set (n = 100) with wider seed viability. Among the tomato NIRS calibration models tested, the modified partial least square (MPLS) regression produced the best equation model. Specifically, this model produced a higher RSQ (0.9446) and lower SEC (6.5012) during calibration and a higher 1-VR (0.9194) and lower SECV (7.8264) upon cross-validation compared to the other regression methods (PLS, PCR) tested in this study. Additionally, the SD/SECV was 3.53, which was greater than the criterion point of 3. External validation of this NIRS equation revealed a significant correlation between reference values and NIRS-estimated values based on the coefficient of determination (R2), the standard error of prediction (SEP (C)), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD = SD/SEP (C)), which were 0.94, 6.57, and 3.96, respectively. The external validation demonstrated that this model had predictive accuracy in tomato, indicating that it has the potential to replace the germination test.
Sustainability Assessment of Refining Enterprises Using a DEA-Based Model
Authors: Li Hui , Dong Kangyin , Sun Renjin , Yu Jintao , Xu Jinhong
Published: April 2017

As one of the basic industries supporting the national economy development and energy demand, the refining industry is expected to provide combustion energy, reduce pollution emission, and improve utilization efficiency. With more stringent requirement for environmental protection, refining enterprises have to insist on the sustainable development to achieve industrial optimization. Evaluation of the sustainability of enterprises can help them understand their situation more objectively and guide them to establish modes for sustainable development. In this study, the evaluation system is firstly built from perspectives of economic, ecological, and social sustainability, including six second-grade indexes and seventeen third-grade indexes, which can accurately reflect the entire sustainability contents of refining enterprises. Then, a DEA-based model is constructed, which selects seven input indexes (e.g., the asset–liability ratio and comprehensive energy consumption per unit of output) and nine output indexes (e.g., return on assets, asset turnover, and science and technology investment strength). The DEA-based model can not only objectively evaluate the sustainability level, but also find out the restriction factors for further optimization. Third, to demonstrate the validity of the model, 15 enterprises are selected for case studies, among which only four are identified as having strong sustainability. For the other 11 enterprises, projection analyses are implemented, and the DMU values of three enterprises characterized by low efficiency are adjusted to find out the restriction factors, which reflect the model’s efficiency and its potentially wide application in the future. Finally, specific suggestions are proposed for the enhancement of sustainability of refining enterprises.
Early-Stage Design Considerations for the Energy-Efficiency of High-Rise Office Buildings
Authors: Raji Babak , Tenpierik Martin , Van den Dobbelsteen Andy
Published: April 2017

Decisions made at early stages of the design are of the utmost importance for the energy-efficiency of buildings. Wrong decisions and design failures related to a building’s general layout, shape, façade transparency or orientation can increase the operational energy tremendously. These failures can be avoided in advance through simple changes in the design. Using extensive parametric energy simulations by DesignBuilder, this paper investigates the impact of geometric factors for the energy-efficiency of high-rise office buildings in three climates contexts: Amsterdam (Temperate), Sydney (Sub-tropical) and Singapore (Tropical). The investigation is carried out on 12 plan shapes, 7 plan depths, 4 building orientations and discrete values for window-to-wall ratio. Among selected options, each sub-section determines the most efficient solution for different design measures and climates. The optimal design solution is the one that minimises, on an annual basis, the sum of the energy use for heating, cooling, electric lighting and fans. The results indicate that the general building design is an important issue to consider for high-rise buildings: they can influence the energy use up to 32%. For most of the geometric factors, the greatest difference between the optimal and the worst solution occurs in the sub-tropical climate, while the tropical climate is the one that shows the smallest difference. In case of the plan depth, special attention should be paid in the case of a temperate climate, as the total energy use can increase more than in other climates. Regarding energy performance, the following building geometry factors have the highest to lowest influence: building orientation, plan shape, plan depth, and window-to-wall ratio.
Understanding Household Waste Separation Behaviour: Testing the Roles of Moral, Past Experience, and Perceived Policy Effectiveness within the Theory of Planned Behaviour
Authors: Xu Lin , Ling Maoliang , Lu Yujie , Shen Meng
Published: April 2017

Due to the increasing waste generation over the years in China, there is an urgent need to addressing this major problem by implementing effective household waste separation programs. Although past studies have tried to explain the waste behaviour from social and psychological motivations, there is little understanding as to the impact of individual moral obligation and past experience on forming waste separating intention. The aim of this study is to investigate key determinants influencing household waste separation intention and behaviour. Based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model, we designed a survey questionnaire by taking account of determinants including residents’ attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, moral obligation, past behaviour, and demographic factors, with the prediction of household waste separation behaviour in mind. After obtaining 628 valid questionnaires from households in the city of Hangzhou, the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of each construct. The results indicate that subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, past behaviour and intention significantly predict household waste separation behaviour, with past behaviour being the most significant construct to predict individuals’ intention and behaviour. Additional analysis on the moderating effect of different kinds of people in terms of their genders, ages, income levels and perceived policy effectiveness, to further evoke household waste separation behaviours is also discussed. The findings suggest insightful future policies that can focus on residents’ habit formation by providing the convenient location of waste separation and collection facilities, encouraging market-driven recycling programs and traders, promoting community campaigns and education which help residents to form favourable habits for protecting the environment.
Expert Evaluation of Subsidies for the Management of Fragmented Private Forest in Regards to National Biodiversity Goals—The Case of Kochi Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Gain Dennis , Watanabe Tsunemi
Published: April 2017

This paper presents an expert evaluation of the subsidy scheme for private forest plantations in Kami City, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, to determine whether the twelve currently available subsidies are designed to realize national biodiversity goals. Subsidies for forestry practices are often criticized for rarely achieving planned outcomes and for environmental threats. Threats to natural balance of private forest have been observed in Kochi Prefecture, suggesting that current forestry subsidies may not be achieving national objectives. The utilization objectives, type of management, requirements, area, intensity, and subsidy rates were contrasted to the three forest multifunctionality objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan (NBSJ) 2012–2020, to identify subsidy weaknesses. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in the study site, as well as Bavaria, Germany and Steiermark, Austria, to get a big picture of how experts in these comparable management areas evaluate the Kochi subsidy scheme. Analyses were performed based on a combination of framework analysis and constant comparison analysis. It was found that realization of vertical multifunctionality is hindered due to lack of site-specific management. A six-point proposal for restructuring the subsidy scheme, leaned on results, and the Bavarian subsidy scheme was made. To improve vertical multi-functionality, subsidy schemes should focus on forest owner integration and site-specific, long-term oriented forest works.
Measuring Green Growth Efficiency for Chinese Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Qu Ying , Yu Ying , Appolloni Andrea , Li Mengru , Liu Yue
Published: April 2017

As a pillar industry in supporting Chinese economy, Chinese manufacturing industry consumes a large amount of energy and causes serious environmental pollutants. Better understanding the greening level of manufacturing industry is important to promote its green growth. Hence first this study, measures the green growth efficiency for Chinese manufacturing industries by applying the EBM measuring model; second, to better understand the differences and similarity in green growth among those industries, this study categorizes those industries into different types by using cluster analysis. The result shows that within the past nine years, green growth efficiency value for Chinese manufacturing industries rises steadily year by year, and Chinese manufacturing industries have huge promotion potentials in resource saving and environment pollutant reduction. And the characteristics of each different type are analyzed. Finally, policies and suggestions are put forward to promote the green growth of manufacturing industries in China. This study objectively evaluates the green growth level of Chinese manufacturing industry, which is helpful to understand the status quo and also explore green growth path for Chinese manufacturing industries.
Global Transmission Dynamics of Measles in the Measles Elimination Era
Authors: Furuse Yuki , Oshitani Hitoshi
Published: April 2017

Although there have been many epidemiological reports of the inter-country transmission of measles, systematic analysis of the global transmission dynamics of the measles virus (MV) is limited. In this study, we applied phylogeographic analysis to characterize the global transmission dynamics of the MV using large-scale genetic sequence data (obtained for 7456 sequences) from 115 countries between 1954 and 2015. These analyses reveal the spatial and temporal characteristics of global transmission of the virus, especially in Australia, China, India, Japan, the UK, and the USA in the period since 1990. The transmission is frequently observed, not only within the same region but also among distant and frequently visited areas. Frequencies of export from measles-endemic countries, such as China, India, and Japan are high but decreasing, while the frequencies from countries where measles is no longer endemic, such as Australia, the UK, and the USA, are low but slightly increasing. The world is heading toward measles eradication, but the disease is still transmitted regionally and globally. Our analysis reveals that countries wherein measles is endemic and those having eliminated the disease (apart from occasional outbreaks) both remain a source of global transmission in this measles elimination era. It is therefore crucial to maintain vigilance in efforts to monitor and eradicate measles globally.
High-energy Gamma-Ray Activity from V404 Cygni Detected by AGILE during the 2015 June Outburst
Authors: Piano G. , Munar-Adrover P. , Verrecchia F. , Tavani M. , Trushkin S. A.
Published: April 2017

The AGILE satellite detected transient high-energy γ-ray emission from the X-ray binary V404 Cygni, during the 2015 June outburst observed in radio, optical, X-ray, and soft γ-ray frequencies. The activity was observed by AGILE in the 50–400 MeV energy band, between 2015 June 24 UT 06:00:00 and 2015 June 26 UT 06:00:00 (MJD 57197.25–57199.25), with a detection significance of ∼4.3σ. The γ-ray detection, consistent with a contemporaneous observation by Fermi-LAT, is correlated with a bright flare observed at radio and hard X-ray frequencies, and with a strong enhancement of the 511 keV line emission, possibly indicating plasmoid ejections in a lepton-dominated transient jet. The AGILE observations of this binary system are compatible with a microquasar scenario in which transient jets are responsible for the high-energy γ-ray emission.
Use of Evicel Fibrin Sealant in Optic Disc Pit-Associated Macular Detachment
Authors: de Oliveira Paulo Ricardo Chaves , Berger Alan Richard , Chow David Robert
Published: April 2017

Optic disc pit is a rare congenital anomaly of the optic nerve. Retinal detachment is a common complication with poor outcomes. Many surgical alternatives have been described for the treatment of this condition, producing variable results. Herein, the authors describe four cases of optic disc pit-associated macular detachment managed with pars plana vitrectomy, fluid-air exchange, drainage of subretinal fluid through the optic disc pit, temporal peripapillary laser, and application of Evicel fibrin sealant (human) (Ethicon, Bridgewater, NJ) over the optic disc head. Case 1 showed stable visual acuity and improvement of subretinal fluid. Cases 2 and 3 showed visual acuity and subretinal fluid improvements. At the 1-week follow-up visit, Case 4 showed almost total subretinal fluid absorption. The sealant invariably disappeared between 1 and 2 weeks and was tolerated by all patients. This case series suggests that Evicel fibrin sealant may be considered as an adjunctive option in the surgical treatment of optic disc pit-associated maculopathy.

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Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2017;48:358–363.]
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Features in Melanocytoma of the Optic Nerve
Authors: Carnevali Adriano , Querques Lea , Zucchiatti Ilaria , Scorcia Vincenzo , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: April 2017

Optic disc melanocytoma (ODM) is a pigmented tumor with malignant potential characterized clinically as a dark brown to black lesion with feathery margins. The authors report a case of ODM and describe the utility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in detecting superficial tumor vascularization. This case report demonstrated the ability of OCTA to reveal the fine abnormal retinal vasculature on the surface of the lesion, a characteristic of ODM, which has been previously correlated with tumor growth.

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Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2017;48:364–366.]
El «paradigma Ledesma-Kolvenbach»: origen y concreción en el ámbito universitario
Authors: Villa Sánchez Aurelio , Lemke Duque Carl Antonius
Published: April 2017

El artículo profundiza en el principio de Educación Superior conocido como «paradigma Ledesma-Kolvenbach», que desde los años más recientes ha orientado la identidad y misión de las universidades jesuíticas de todo el mundo. El paradigma distingue cuatro dimensiones interrelacionadas: la humanitas, la iustitia, la fides y la utilitas. Mediante análisis de contenido cualitativo y análisis de discurso el artículo analiza, primero, el origen y la génesis del modelo a partir de los discursos universitarios de Peter-Hans Kolvenbach (1928-2016), que fue superior general de la Compañía de Jesús desde 1983 hasta 2008. En segundo lugar, el artículo presenta el traspase del paradigma a un modelo valórico cuatrodimensional y una serie de aplicaciones prácticas. Los resultados de ambas partes de la investigación demuestran que el “paradigma Ledesma-Kolvenbach” significa un impulso importante de innovación pedagógica, no obstante de conservar ciertos rasgos de tradicionalismo.
Las business schools en la misión universitaria de la Compañía de Jesús
Authors: De la Iglesia Viguiristi Fernando
Published: April 2017

En la numerosa red de instituciones jesuíticas de enseñanza superior, se da una importante presencia de centros de formación en Ciencias Empresariales. En este estudio se pretende analizar el origen de esta red, su implantación en España, y sus retos en la actualidad. Se presta especial atención a la justificación ignaciana y eclesial del hecho de que pertenezca a la Compañía de Jesús la mayor red de centros privados de formación en business.
Ortega y las Meditaciones del Quijote
Authors: De Llera Esteban Luis Ricardo
Published: April 2017

Este trabajo pretende conmemorar al mismo tiempo Meditaciones del Quijote (1914) de José Ortega y Gasset y la obra magna de Cervantes, la segunda parte del Quijote, cuyo centenario se cumple en 1915. Se han resumido algunos de los últimos trabajos de excelentes orteguianos que han propuesto viejas y nuevas teorías para comprender y desentrañar el primer libro del filósofo del Escorial. Algunos de ellos han considerado que en el primer libro de Ortega se encuentran los fundamentos de toda su filosofía posterior. Otros han observado la influencia y la rivalidad de Ortega con las filosofías de Husserl y Heidegger. Por nuestra parte hemos querido equilibrar la controversia afirmando por una parte que algunos vestigios de las principales obras de madurez de Ortega se encuentran en Meditaciones, pero no lo suficiente como para poder afirmar que el joven filósofo de 1914 había concluido su itinerario filosófico. Es el mismo Ortega que repite continuamente que la filosofía es evolución y cambio de punto de vista, porque, entre otras cosas, el pensador necesita estar a la altura de los tiempos.
IPRs and Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Economic Welfare
Authors: Gil Juan Manuel , Madrid Luis Angel , Fajardo Carlos Hernán
Published: April 2017

The TRIPS agreement states that Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) protection should contribute to the promotion of technological innovation, economic welfare, and to the transfer and dissemination of technology. However, there is still no consensus on whether IPRs protection has achieved its goal. Thus, the chapter provides a discussion on how the impact of IPRs on innovation, technology transfer, and economic welfare is affected by the difference in the income level of the countries. The results suggest that in high-income and upper middle-income countries, IPRs have a positive impact in these variables. Nevertheless, it seems that in lower middle-income and low-income countries, IPRs have not increased innovation, spurred transfer of technology. or created economic welfare.
Concealment and Exposure: Contemporary Application of Masks in Lampshade
Authors: Adjei Kofi , Opoku-Bonsu Kwame , Appiah Edward
Published: April 2017

This study explored the use of traditional African masks in the designing and production of interior design accessories. Through pre-colonial antecedent and masks' contemporary explorations, three masks were selected and redesigned for interior ambiance using ceramics studio practice. The selection of the masks was based on their physical characteristics and associated meanings. Masks are believed to be carriers of the spirits they represent and may possess religious, reproductive, socio-cultural and theatrical significance. Due to their original use and symbolism, African masks have scarcely been sociable objects for ordinary domestic and public adaptations. They are deemed mystical, ritualistic, and psychic, and create auras whose exploration for today's design concerns seem plausible. The design outcomes from the study showed that masks as cultural objects associated with mysticism and socio-cultural purifications, could through effective design decisions be adapted for functional and aesthetic concerns.
A Comparative Analysis of Open Source Network Monitoring Tools
Authors: Al Shidhani Ali , Al Maawali Khalil , Al Abri Dawood , Bourdoucen Hadj
Published: April 2017

Nowadays, the heavy reliance on computer networks necessitates minimizing outage time, increasing the availability of services, and preventing network related problems. Such realization requires continuous monitoring and observation. This is not a trivial task. Thus, automatic network monitoring tools are deployed to monitor and analyze the traffic trespassing network devices. There is an increasing demand for automated network monitoring tools and selecting a suitable candidate can become a challenging task. Some computerized network monitoring tools and systems are available, including expensive proprietary/closed-source solutions and Free Open Source Software (FOSS) systems. Three of the most popular FOSS network monitoring systems are: Nagios, OpenNMS and Zabbix. They are solid competitors to the available proprietary solutions. This paper evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of these tools. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the tools were conducted through monitoring real-time network traffic. The paper presents a thorough comparison between the tools. The comparison results are vital for network administrators wishing to adopt the studied monitoring tools.
EBV MicroRNA BART16 Suppresses Type I IFN Signaling
Authors: Hooykaas Marjolein J. G. , van Gent Michiel , Soppe Jasper A. , Kruse Elisabeth , Boer Ingrid G. J. , van Leenen Dik , Groot Koerkamp Marian J. A. , Holstege Frank C. P. , Ressing Maaike E. , Wiertz Emmanuel J. H. J. , Lebbink Robert Jan
Published: April 2017

Type I IFNs play critical roles in orchestrating the antiviral defense by inducing direct antiviral activities and shaping the adaptive immune response. Viruses have evolved numerous strategies to specifically interfere with IFN production or its downstream mediators, thereby allowing successful infection of the host to occur. The prototypic human gammaherpesvirus EBV, which is associated with infectious mononucleosis and malignant tumors, harbors many immune-evasion proteins that manipulate the adaptive and innate immune systems. In addition to proteins, the virus encodes >40 mature microRNAs for which the functions remain largely unknown. In this article, we identify EBV-encoded miR-BART16 as a novel viral immune-evasion factor that interferes with the type I IFN signaling pathway. miR-BART16 directly targets CREB-binding protein, a key transcriptional coactivator in IFN signaling, thereby inducing CREB-binding protein downregulation in EBV-transformed B cells and gastric carcinoma cells. miR-BART16 abrogates the production of IFN-stimulated genes in response to IFN-α stimulation and it inhibits the antiproliferative effect of IFN-α on latently infected BL cells. By obstructing the type I IFN–induced antiviral response, miR-BART16 provides a means to facilitate the establishment of latent EBV infection and enhance viral replication.
Prospective study to compare antibiosis versus the association of N-acetylcysteine, D-mannose and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract in preventing urinary tract infections in patients submitted to urodynamic investigation
Authors: Palleschi Giovanni , Carbone Antonio , Zanello Pier Paolo , Mele Rita , Leto Antonino , Fuschi Andrea , Al Salhi Yazan , Velotti Gennaro , Al Rawashdah Samer , Coppola Gianluca , Maurizi Angela , Maruccia Serena , Pastore Antonio L.
Published: April 2017

Background: The abuse of antimicrobical drugs has increased the resistance of microorganisms to treatments, thus to make urinary tract infections (UTIs) more difficult to eradicate. Among natural substances used to prevent UTI, literature has provided preliminary data of the beneficial effects of D-mannose, N-acetylcysteine, and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract, due to their complementary mechanism of action which contributes respectively to limit bacteria adhesion to the urothelium, to destroy bacterial pathogenic biofilm, and to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the administration of an association of D-mannose, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Morinda citrifolia extract versus antibiotic therapy in the prophylaxis of UTIs potentially associated with urological mini-invasive diagnostics procedures, in clinical model of the urodynamic investigation. Methods: 80 patients eligible for urodynamic examination, 42 men and 38 women, have been prospectively enrolled in the study and randomised in two groups (A and B) of 40 individuals. Patients of group A followed antibiotic therapy with Prulifloxacine, by mouth 400 mg/day for 5 days, while patients of the group B followed the association of mannose and NAC therapy, two vials/day for 7 days. Ten days after the urodynamic study, the patients were submitted to urine examination and urine culture. Results: The follow up assessment didn't show statistical significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of UTI. Conclusions: The association of mannose and NAC therapy resulted similar to the antibiotic therapy in preventing UTIs in patients submitted to urodynamic examination. This result leads to consider the possible use of these nutraceutical agents as a good alternative in the prophylaxis of the UTI afterwards urological procedures in urodynamics.