bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Transducers Localization in Damage Detection by Wave Propagation Method
Authors: Stawiarski Adam , Muc Aleksander
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the elastic wave propagation method was used in damage detection in thin structures. The effectiveness and accuracy of the system based on the wave propagation phenomenon depend on the number and localization of the sensors. The utilization of the piezoelectric (PZT) transducers makes possible to build a low-cost damage detection system that can be used in structural health monitoring (SHM) of the metallic and composite structures. The different number and localization of transducers were considered in the numerical and experimental analysis of the wave propagation phenomenon. The relation of the sensors configuration and the damage detection capability was demonstrated. The main assumptions and requirements of SHM systems of different levels were discussed with reference to the damage detection expectations. The importance of the damage detection system constituents (sensors number, localization, or damage index) in different levels of analysis was verified and discussed to emphasize that in many practical applications introducing complicated procedures and sophisticated data processing techniques does not lead to improving the damage detection efficiency. Finally, the necessity of the appropriate formulation of SHM system requirements and expectations was underlined to improve the effectiveness of the detection methods in particular levels of analysis and thus to improve the safety of the monitored structures.
SCENet: Secondary Domain Intercorrelation Enhanced Network for Alleviating Compressed Poisson Noises
Authors: Yoo Seok Bong , Han Mikyong
Published: April 2019

In real image coding systems, block-based coding is often applied on images contaminated by camera sensor noises such as Poisson noises, which cause complicated types of noises called compressed Poisson noises. Although many restoration methods have recently been proposed for compressed images, they do not provide satisfactory performance on the challenging compressed Poisson noises. This is mainly due to (i) inaccurate modeling regarding the image degradation, (ii) the signal-dependent noise property, and (iii) the lack of analysis on intercorrelation distortion. In this paper, we focused on the challenging issues in practical image coding systems and propose a compressed Poisson noise reduction scheme based on a secondary domain intercorrelation enhanced network. Specifically, we introduced a compressed Poisson noise corruption model and combined the secondary domain intercorrelation prior with a deep neural network especially designed for signal-dependent compression noise reduction. Experimental results showed that the proposed network is superior to the existing state-of-the-art restoration alternatives on classical images, the LIVE1 dataset, and the SIDD dataset.
Self-Gradient Compensation of Full-Tensor Airborne Gravity Gradiometer
Authors: Qian Xuewu , Zhu Yanhua
Published: April 2019

In the process of airborne gravity gradiometry for the full-tensor airborne gravity gradiometer (FTAGG), the attitude of the carrier and the fuel mass will seriously affect the accuracy of gravity gradiometry. A self-gradient is the gravity gradient produced by the surrounding masses, and the surrounding masses include distribution mass for the carrier mass and fuel mass. In this paper, in order to improve the accuracy of airborne gravity gradiometry, a self-gradient compensation model is proposed for FTAGG. The self-gradient compensation model is a fuction of attitude for carrier and time, and it includes parameters ralated to the distribution mass for the carrier. The influence of carrier attitude and fuel mass on the self-gradient are simulated and analyzed. Simulation shows that the self-gradient tensor element Γ x x , Γ x y , Γ x z , Γ y z and Γ z z are greatly affected by the middle part of the carrier, and the self-gradient tensor element Γ y z is affected by the carrier’s fuel mass in three attitudes. Further simulation experiments show that the presented self-gradient compensation method is valid, and the error of the self-gradient compensation is within 0.1 Eu. Furthermore, this method can provide an important reference for improving the accuracy of aviation gravity gradiometry.
Development of an Electrical Resistance Sensor from High Strength Steel for Automotive Applications
Authors: Kosec Tadeja , Kuhar Viljem , Kranjc Andrej , Malnarič Vili , Belingar Branko , Legat Andraž
Published: April 2019

This work focuses on a demonstration of the monitoring of corrosion processes taking place in high strength steel in automotive applications. This is performed by means of a corrosion sensor, which operates as an electrical resistance sensor. It was developed from the same type of material that is used for the high-strength steel parts produced in the automotive industry. Using the sensor, real time corrosion processes can be measured. It is attached to a location inside the vehicle’s engine and is equipped with a data logger, which enables wireless transfer of the measured data. In this study the development, operation, and evaluation of the monitoring process are presented. Corrosion estimation is verified by means of electrochemical methods. A metallographic investigation was included in order to verify the similarity between the microstructural properties of the sensor and those of the as-received high-strength steel sheet.
Chaebol Firms’ Donation Activities and Firm Values
Authors: Hong Soonwook
Published: April 2019

This paper aims to investigate the effects of donation activities of chaebol firms on their firm values. The firm values will vary depending on capital market participants’ view on the donation activities of chaebol firms. To verify this hypothesis, data of firms listed in the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) from 2001 to 2017 are empirically analyzed. Whether a firm is a chaebol firm or not is assessed by whether the firm has been designated as a firm in one of the large business groups announced by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and firm values are measured by Tobin’s Q and market-to-book value ratio (MTB). The results of analysis indicated that donation activities of chaebol firms were negatively related to firm values. The donation activities of chaebol firms seem to be not positively evaluated in the capital market. This paper is meaningful in that it verified how capital market participants evaluate the donation activities of chaebol firms, which account for a large portion of the South Korean economy. To gain public support, chaebol firms should strive to truly fulfill their social responsibilities.
How Social Interaction Affects Purchase Intention in Social Commerce: A Cultural Perspective
Authors: Yin Xicheng , Wang Hongwei , Xia Qiangwei , Gu Qican
Published: April 2019

In the context of social commerce, the influence of culture on consumers’ behavior and attitude is more significant. This paper empirically analyzes the influence of social interaction (perceived risk, trust, and intimacy) on consumers’ purchase intention in social commerce, and the antecedent effect of cultural dimensions (uncertainty avoidance and individualism/collectivism) on social interaction is also explored. Data were collected in China and France from consumers who had prior online shopping experience on social commerce websites. The results show that the impact of perceived risk on subsequent purchase intention in social commerce will be transferred by trust and intimacy to a certain extent. The intimacy between users contributes to trust-building, and both of their positive impacts on purchase intention would show distinct effects in different cultures. Besides, cultural dimensions are proved to have a significant effect on users’ social interaction. Although high uncertainty avoidance brings perceived risk, it can promote subsequent trust-building. These findings help provide managerial insights for social commerce community to establish effective trust mechanism in a multicultural context.
Pakchoi Antioxidant Improvement and Differential Rhizobacterial Community Composition under Organic Fertilization
Authors: Liao Jianli , Ye Jun , Liang Yun , Khalid Muhammad , Huang Danfeng
Published: April 2019

A high level of antioxidants in organic-produced vegetables has been attributed to soil conditions; however, little is known about the relationships between antioxidants and rhizobacteria under different fertilization treatments. A pot trial for pakchoi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis L.) was conducted under greenhouse conditions with: (1) control; (2) chemical fertilizer; and (3) organic fertilizer. The responses of the plant, soil properties, and rhizobacterial community were measured after 45 days of cultivation. Fertilization increased soil nutrient levels and pakchoi productivity and the reshaped rhizobacterial community structure, while no differences in rhizobacterial abundance and total diversity were observed. Generally, most plant antioxidants were negatively correlated with inorganic nitrogen (N) and positively correlated to organic N in soil. The genera of Arthrospira and Acutodesmus contained differential rhizobacteria under chemical fertilizer treatment, which are known as copiotrophs. In addition, the addition of a chemical fertilizer may stimulate organic substance turnover by the enrichment of organic compound degraders (e.g., Microbacterium and Chitinophaga) and the promotion of predicted functional pathways involved in energy metabolism. Several beneficial rhizobacteria were associated with organic fertilizer amended rhizosphere including the genera Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Actinomycetospora, and Frankia. Furthermore, Bacillus spp. were positively correlated with plant biomass and phenolic acid. Moreover, predictive functional profiles of the rhizobacterial community involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism were significantly increased under organic fertilization, which were positively correlated with plant antioxidant activity. Overall, our study suggests that the short-term application of chemical and organic fertilizers reshapes the rhizobacterial community structure, and such changes might contribute to the plant’s performance.
Characterization of Renewable Energy Utilization Mode for Air-Environmental Quality Improvement through an Inexact Factorial Optimization Approach
Authors: Liu Zhengping , Zhang Wang , Liu Hongxian , Huang Guohe , Zhen Jiliang , Qi Xin
Published: April 2019

Energy-related environmental problems have been hot spot issues in regional energy system sustainable development. Thus, comprehensive planning of energy systems management is important for social and economic development, as well as environmental sustainability. In addition, uncertainties and complexities, as well as their potential interactions pose a great challenge for effective management in energy and environmental system. This study proposes a stochastic factorial energy systems management model to conduct uncertainties and risks in the energy systems, as well as handle their interaction effects among different environmental policies. The developed method can not only tackle uncertainties expressed as probability distributions and even interval values, but also be applied to determine decision alternatives associated with multiple economic penalties if the formulated environmental policy targets are violated. Meanwhile, by introducing the factorial technology, it can analyze a parameter’s impact on the system and their coordination effect. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, the developed model was applied to a hypothetical case study for energy structure optimization under considering energy supply, SO2 emissions reduction, and environmental quality requirements. Multiple facilities, related environmental pollutants, and energy demand levels were taken into account. Moreover, the key factors of the system and their interaction effect were discovered. The results indicated that the developed method can resolve meritorious uncertainties in decision-making and analysis, generate effective management programming under multi-levels of the proposed energy and environmental systems. The method can be used for supporting the adjustment for allocating fossil fuels and renewable energy resources, analyzing the tradeoff between conflicting economic and environmental objectives and formulating the local policies.
Evaluation of the Construction and Investment Process of a High-Pressure Gas Pipeline with Use of the Trenchless Method and Open Excavation Method. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Authors: Kwast-Kotlarek Urszula , Hełdak Maria
Published: April 2019

The study presents the application of multi-criteria analysis, i.e., the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), for the evaluation of investments related to the realisation of a high-pressure gas pipeline. The authors evaluated the realisation of the gas pipeline with the use of alternative methods: the trenchless Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method and the open excavation method, based on the example of the construction of a high-pressure gas pipeline DN1000. Sections located in naturally valuable areas on the route of the pipeline Wierzchowice-Kiełczów (Poland) were analysed, on the section from the valve station in Czeszów to the Kiełczów node. The research considered the following criteria: technical costs, economic costs, social costs, and environmental costs. The sum of these partial estimations is the “total cost” of the investment. Research revealed that the technical costs of the open excavation method are in all cases higher than the technological costs of the trenchless method during the realisation of a gas pipeline (in the AHP analysis, they receive an average score of −4 or −3, compared to a score of −2 for the HDD method). On the other hand, the economic costs are comparable, with a slight advantage for the HDD method. The overall score for the open excavation method obtained with use of the AHP multi-criteria evaluation is, for different variants, approximately −19, while the evaluation of the realisation of a gas pipeline with use of the Horizontal Directional Drilling method gives a score from −15 to −10, depending on the section.
Model-Based Selection of Cost-Effective Low Impact Development Strategies to Control Water Balance
Authors: Leimgruber Johannes , Krebs Gerald , Camhy David , Muschalla Dirk
Published: April 2019

Urbanization induces an increase of runoff volume and decrease of evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge. Low impact development (LID) strategies aim to mitigate these adverse impacts. Hydrologic simulation is a reasonable option to assess the LID performance with respect to the water balance and is applicable to planning purposes. Current LID design approaches are based on design storm events and focus on the runoff volume and peak, neglecting evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge. This contribution presents a model-based design approach for the selection of cost-effective LID strategies. The method is based on monitored precipitation time series and considers the complete water balance and life-cycle-costs, as well as the demand for land. The efficiency of LID strategies (ELID) is introduced as an evaluation measure which also accounts for emphasizing different goals. The results show that there exist several pareto-optimal LID strategies providing a reasonable basis for decision-making. Additionally, the application of LID treatment trains emerges as an option of high potential.
An Effects Analysis of Logistics Collaboration: The Case of Pharmaceutical Supplies in Seoul
Authors: Do Wooseok , Park Hyeongjun , Chung Koohong , Park Dongjoo
Published: April 2019

This paper estimates the environmental, social and financial effects of logistics collaboration of the existing logistics companies in Seoul, Korea. The truck routing models for collaborative and non-collaborative deliveries are proposed to estimate the collaboration effects. Findings show that both major and minor companies can benefit from logistics collaboration by saving delivery costs and time through economies of scale. The results from the study further indicate that logistics collaboration can mitigate negative environmental impacts resulting from urban logistics by reducing the number of delivery trucks, and shortening delivery times and travel distances. Discussion of related challenges that must be addressed during the implementation of logistic collaboration is included as well.
The Eco-Costs of Material Scarcity, a Resource Indicator for LCA, Derived from a Statistical Analysis on Excessive Price Peaks
Authors: Vogtländer Joost , Peck David , Kurowicka Dorota
Published: April 2019

The availability of resources is crucial for the socio-economic stability of our society. For more than two decades, there was a debate on how to structure this issue within the context of life-Cycle assessment (LCA). The classical approach with LCA is to describe “scarcity” for future generations (100–1000 years) in terms of absolute depletion. The problem, however, is that the long-term availability is simply not known (within a factor of 100–1000). Outside the LCA community, the short-term supply risks (10–30 years) were predicted, resulting in the list of critical raw materials (CRM) of the European Union (EU), and the British risk list. The methodology used, however, cannot easily be transposed and applied into LCA calculations. This paper presents a new approach to the issue of short-term material supply shortages, based on subsequent sudden price jumps, which can lead to socio-economic instability. The basic approach is that each resource is characterized by its own specific supply chain with its specific price volatility. The eco-costs of material scarcity are derived from the so-called value at risk (VAR), a well-known statistical risk indicator in the financial world. This paper provides a list of indicators for 42 metals. An advantage of the system is that it is directly related to business risks, and is relatively easy to understand. A disadvantage is that “statistics of the past” might not be replicated in the future (e.g., when changing from structural oversupply to overdemand, or vice versa, which appeared an issue for two companion metals over the last 30 years). Further research is recommended to improve the statistics.
Corn Classification System based on Computer Vision
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Dai Baisheng , Sun Hongmin , Li Weina
Published: April 2019

Automated classification of corn is important for corn sorting in intelligent agriculture. This paper presents a reliable corn classification method based on techniques of computer vision and machine learning. To discriminate different damaged types of corns, a line profile segmentation method is firstly used to segment and separate a group of touching corns. Then, twelve color features and five shape features are extracted for each individual corn object. Finally, a maximum likelihood estimator is trained to classify normal and damaged corns. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, a private dataset consisting of images of normal corn and six kinds of damage corns, including heat-damaged, germ-damaged, cob-rot-damaged, blue eye mold-damaged, insect-damaged, and surface mold-damaged, were collected in this work. The proposed method achieved an accuracy of 96.67% for the classification between normal corns and the first four common damaged corns, and an accuracy of 74.76% was achieved for the classification between normal corns and six kinds of damaged corns. The experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed corn classification system.
Extended Rectangular b-Metric Spaces and Some Fixed Point Theorems for Contractive Mappings
Authors: Mustafa Zead , Parvaneh Vahid , Jaradat Mohammed M.M. , Kadelburg Zoran
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we introduce the class of extended rectangular b-metric spaces as a generalization of both rectangular metric and rectangular b-metric spaces. In addition, some fixed point results connected with certain contractions are obtained and examples are given to illustrate these results.
Identification of Determinants of the Speed-Reducing Effect of Pedestrian Refuges in Villages Located on a Chosen Regional Road
Authors: Sołowczuk Alicja , Kacprzak Dominik
Published: April 2019

Traffic calming, as a traffic engineering discipline, is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the road engineering process. One of the traffic calming treatments are pedestrian refuges—raised islands located on or at the road centreline. This paper presents factors relevant to the performance of this kind of traffic calming devices retrofitted on the stretches of regional roads in village areas. To this end, speed surveys were carried out before and after the islands in each direction on purposefully chosen test sections. In order to identify the determinants, each test section was characterised by features including the symmetry of the road layout geometry, surrounding features and the existing traffic signs and, last but not least, visibility of the road ahead. The survey data were used by the authors to perform analyses in order to group the speeds at the pedestrian refuges and relate them to specific factors and, finally, identify the determinants of speed reduction. In this way, the authors arrived at a conclusion that the performance of pedestrian refuges depends on a number of factors rather than solely on their geometric parameters. The analyses showed that the pedestrian refuge geometric parameters, features located in its proximity that influence the driver’s perception and placement of appropriate marking, can, in combination, result in achieving the desired speed reduction and ensure safety of non-motorised users. These hypotheses were tested on a stretch of a regional road in village area at three points of the process: before upgrading, after installation of pedestrian refuges, and after retrofitting of enhancements.
Palmatine from Unexplored Rutidea parviflora Showed Cytotoxicity and Induction of Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Johnson-Ajinwo Okiemute Rosa , Richardson Alan , Li Wen-Wu
Published: April 2019

Ovarian cancer ranks amongst the deadliest cancers in the gynaecological category of cancers. This research work aims to evaluate in vitro anti-ovarian cancer activities and identify phytochemical constituents of a rarely explored plant species—Rutidea parviflora DC. The aqueous and organic extracts of the plant were evaluated for cytotoxicity using sulforhodamine B assay in four ovarian cancer cell lines and an immortalized human ovarian epithelial (HOE) cell line. The bioactive compounds were isolated and characterized by gas/liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Caspase 3/7 activity assay, western blotting and flow cytometry were carried out to assess apoptotic effects of active compounds. The extracts/fractions of R. parviflora showed promising anti-ovarian cancer activities in ovarian cancer cell lines. A principal cytotoxic alkaloid was identified as palmatine whose IC50 was determined as 5.5–7.9 µM. Palmatine was relatively selective towards cancer cells as it was less cytotoxic toward HOE cells, also demonstrating interestingly absence of cross-resistance in cisplatin-resistant A2780 cells. Palmatine further induced apoptosis by increasing caspase 3/7 activity, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage, and annexin V and propidium iodide staining in OVCAR-4 cancer cells. Our studies warranted further investigation of palmatine and R. parviflora extracts in preclinical models of ovarian cancer.
Characterization of a New Member of Alphacoronavirus with Unique Genomic Features in Rhinolophus Bats
Authors: Wang Ning , Luo Chuming , Liu Haizhou , Yang Xinglou , Hu Ben , Zhang Wei , Li Bei , Zhu Yan , Zhu Guangjian , Shen Xurui , Peng Cheng , Shi Zhengli
Published: April 2019

Bats have been identified as a natural reservoir of a variety of coronaviruses (CoVs). Several of them have caused diseases in humans and domestic animals by interspecies transmission. Considering the diversity of bat coronaviruses, bat species and populations, we expect to discover more bat CoVs through virus surveillance. In this study, we described a new member of alphaCoV (BtCoV/Rh/YN2012) in bats with unique genome features. Unique accessory genes, ORF4a and ORF4b were found between the spike gene and the envelope gene, while ORF8 gene was found downstream of the nucleocapsid gene. All the putative genes were further confirmed by reverse-transcription analyses. One unique gene at the 3’ end of the BtCoV/Rh/YN2012 genome, ORF9, exhibits ~30% amino acid identity to ORF7a of the SARS-related coronavirus. Functional analysis showed ORF4a protein can activate IFN-β production, whereas ORF3a can regulate NF-κB production. We also screened the spike-mediated virus entry using the spike-pseudotyped retroviruses system, although failed to find any fully permissive cells. Our results expand the knowledge on the genetic diversity of bat coronaviruses. Continuous screening of bat viruses will help us further understand the important role played by bats in coronavirus evolution and transmission.
Dual Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Delayed Antiviral Response of Haliotis diversicolor supertexta against Haliotid Herpesvirus-1
Authors: Bai Chang-Ming , Zhang Shu-Min , Li Ya-Na , Xin Lu-Sheng , Rosani Umberto , Wang Chong-Ming
Published: April 2019

Haliotid herpesvirus-1 (HaHV-1) is the first identified gastropod herpesvirus, causing a highly lethal neurologic disease of abalone species. The genome of HaHV-1 has been sequenced, but the functions of the putative genes and their roles during infection are still poorly understood. In the present study, transcriptomic profiles of Haliotis diversicolor supertexta at 0, 24 and 60 h post injection (hpi) with HaHV-1 were characterized through high-throughput RNA sequencing. A total of 448 M raw reads were obtained and assembled into 2.08 × 105 unigenes with a mean length of 1486 bp and an N50 of 2455 bp. Although we detected increased HaHV-1 DNA loads and active viral expression at 24 hpi, this evidence was not linked to significant changes of host transcriptomic profiles between 0 and 24 hpi, whereas a rich immune-related gene set was over-expressed at 60 hpi. These results indicate that, at least at the beginning of HaHV-1 infection, the virus can replicate with no activation of the host immune response. We propose that HaHV-1 may evolve more effective strategies to modulate the host immune response and hide during replication, so that it could evade the immune surveillance at the early stage of infection.
Lower Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Female Versus Male HIV-1 Infected Injecting Drug Users
Authors: EULER Zelda , VAN DEN KERKHOF Tom L. , KOUYOS Roger D. , TULLY Damien C. , ALLEN Todd M. , TRKOLA Alexandra , SANDERS Rogier W. , SCHUITEMAKER Hanneke , VAN GILS Marit J.
Published: April 2019

Understanding the factors involved in the development of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses in natural infection can guide vaccine design aimed at eliciting protective bNAb responses. Most of the studies to identify and study the development of bNAb responses have been performed in individuals who had become infected via homo- or heterosexual HIV-1 transmission; however, the prevalence and characteristics of bNAb responses in injecting drug users (IDUs) have been underrepresented. We retrospectively studied the prevalence of bNAb responses in HIV-1 infected individuals in the Amsterdam Cohort, including 50 male and 35 female participants who reported injecting drug use as the only risk factor. Our study revealed a significantly lower prevalence of bNAb responses in females compared to males. Gender, transmission route and CD4+ count at set point, but not viral load, were independently associated with the development of bNAb responses in IDUs. To further explore the influences of gender in the setting of IDU, we also looked into the Swiss 4.5k Screen. There we observed lower bNAb responses in female IDUs as well. These results reveal that the emergence of bNAbs may be dependent on multiple factors, including gender. Therefore, the effect of gender on the development of bNAb responses is a factor that should be taken into account when designing vaccine efficacy trials.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Activates Unfolded Protein Response in Forming Ground Glass Hepatocytes of Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Li Yao , Xia Yuchen , Cheng Xiaoming , Kleiner David E. , Hewitt Stephen M. , Sproch Julia , Li Tong , Zhuang Hui , Liang T. Jake
Published: April 2019

Ground glass hepatocytes (GGHs), a histological hallmark of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, contain excessive hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is linked to unfolded protein response (UPR). The mechanism by which HBV activates UPR has not been fully defined. To investigate this, HepG2-NTCP cells and primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) were either infected with HBV or transduced with adenoviral vectors expressing replication-competent HBV genome or individual HBV genes. UPR markers were evaluated by qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis and cell viability were measured by Caspase-3/7 and ATPlite assay respectively. We found that UPR markers were induced by the overexpression of HBsAg in HepG2-NTCP cells and PHHs. Elevation of UPR-induced genes showed a dose-dependent correlation with HBsAg levels. In HBV-infected livers, GGHs also demonstrated excessive accumulation of HBsAg associated with increased BIP/GRP78 staining, a marker of UPR. Prolonged activation of UPR by HBsAg overexpression induced signs of apoptosis. Overexpression of HBsAg can induce ER stress through protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) pathway in vitro, and may be linked to the appearance of GGHs. The activation of UPR by HBsAg may sensitize hepatocytes to cell death and result in possible subsequent cellular changes leading to a premalignant phenotype.
Oil and Grease as a Water Quality Index Parameter for the Conservation of Marine Biota
Authors: Eljaiek-Urzola Mónica , Romero-Sierra Nora , Segrera-Cabarcas Laura , Valdelamar-Martínez David , Quiñones-Bolaños Édgar
Published: April 2019

Water quality indexes are a tool used to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of a water body according to its use. The present study proposes the inclusion of oil and grease (OG) as a new water quality index (ICAMPFF-GA) parameter for the preservation of marine biota in tropical areas, since it is a typical pollutant found and measured in water bodies, causing damage to the aquatic environment. The normalized curve for OG was defined based on the percentage of surviving microorganism under a lethal concentration exposure of OG. The ICAMPFF-GA suitability was evaluated by its application to analyze marine water quality in the area of the sea outfall in the city of Cartagena, Colombia and comparing the trends of the outfall flow and the rainfall for 2017. Physical chemical data analyzed for the year 2017 shows that OG varies from 0.0 to 3.8 mg/L. The results show that the water quality index increases when rainfall and flow values increase for the rainy season. The ICAMPFF-GA can be a tool to evaluate the water quality of marine waters affected by the discharge of waters with oil and grease.
Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Kilombero Catchment in Tanzania
Authors: Näschen Kristian , Diekkrüger Bernd , Leemhuis Constanze , Seregina Larisa , van der Linden Roderick
Published: April 2019

This article illustrates the impact of potential future climate scenarios on water quantity in time and space for an East African floodplain catchment surrounded by mountainous areas. In East Africa, agricultural intensification is shifting from upland cultivation into the wetlands due to year-round water availability and fertile soils. These advantageous agricultural conditions might be hampered through climate change impacts. Additionally, water-related risks, like droughts and flooding events, are likely to increase. Hence, this study investigates future climate patterns and their impact on water resources in one production cluster in Tanzania. To account for these changes, a regional climate model ensemble of the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Africa project was analyzed to investigate changes in climatic patterns until 2060, according to the RCP4.5 (representative concentration pathways) and RCP8.5 scenarios. The semi-distributed Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was utilized to analyze the impacts on water resources according to all scenarios. Modeling results indicate increasing temperatures, especially in the hot dry season, intensifying the distinctive features of the dry and rainy season. This consequently aggravates hydrological extremes, such as more-pronounced flooding and decreasing low flows. Overall, annual averages of water yield and surface runoff increase up to 61.6% and 67.8%, respectively, within the bias-corrected scenario simulations, compared to the historical simulations. However, changes in precipitation among the analyzed scenarios vary between −8.3% and +22.5% of the annual averages. Hydrological modeling results also show heterogeneous spatial patterns inside the catchment. These spatio-temporal patterns indicate the possibility of an aggravation for severe floods in wet seasons, as well as an increasing drought risk in dry seasons across the scenario simulations. Apart from that, the discharge peak, which is crucial for the flood recession agriculture in the floodplain, is likely to shift from April to May from the 2020s onwards.
Community Engagement in WASH Emergencies: Understanding Barriers and Enablers Based on Action Research from Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Authors: Niederberger Eva , Glanville-Wallis Tanya
Published: April 2019

Engaging communities in humanitarian programming is key to ensuring their participation in decision-making that affects them as outlined by commitment 4 of the Core Humanitarian Standards. Based on learning from the West-African Ebola response (2014–2016), Oxfam’s WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) team is undertaking a paradigm shift toward greater community engagement (hereafter referred to as CE) in WASH, with a strong focus on measuring community participation—a crucial step toward understanding how we can better involve communities in reducing the risks of WASH-related diseases. This article presents key findings from Oxfam’s recent responses in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing the process of building trust and identifying barriers and enablers to meaningful CE in emergencies.
Monitoring and Modeling the Effect of Agricultural Drainage and Recent Channel Incision on Adjacent Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems
Authors: Gerla Philip J.
Published: April 2019

Channel incision isolates flood plains, disrupts sediment transport, and degrades riparian ecology. Reactivation and periodicity of incision may affect the water table and hydrological conditions far beyond the stream margin. Long-term incision and its recent acceleration along Iron Springs Creek, North Dakota, USA, has affected adjacent ecosystems. An agricultural surface drain empties directly into the original spring-fed source of the creek, which triggered channel erosion both up- and downstream. Historical maps, recent LiDAR, and field surveying were used to characterize incision since ditch excavation in 1911. Although the soils are sandy, small hydrological gradients impede natural drainage in the surrounding stabilized dunes. Incision resulting from expanded drainage and increased precipitation has been as much as 5 m. Numerical models of lateral groundwater profiles corroborated with field measurements show that the nearby water table responds quickly, becoming deeper and less variable. With 1 m of recent incision, model evapotranspiration rates are decreased 50% to 15% from the channel margin to 1 km, respectively, and the hydropattern disrupted >1 km. Species diversity is reduced and floristic quality is 25% less near the drain. A near-channel solution to erosion—fencing out cattle—failed to mitigate the problem because a broader watershed approach was necessary.
Towards a Framework for Designing and Assessing Game-Based Approaches for Sustainable Water Governance
Authors: Aubert Alice H. , Medema Wietske , Wals Arjen E. J.
Published: April 2019

Most of the literature on serious games and gamification calls for a shift from evaluating practices to using theories to assess them. While the former is necessary to justify using game-based approaches, the latter enables understanding “why” game-based approaches are beneficial (or not). Based on earlier review papers and the papers in this special issue of Water entitled “Understanding game-based approaches for improving sustainable water governance: the potential of serious games to solve water problems”, we show that game-based approaches in a water governance context are relatively diverse. In particular, the expected aims, targeted audience, and spatial and temporal scales are factors that differentiate game-based approaches. These factors also strongly influence the design of game-based approaches and the research developed to assess them. We developed a framework to guide and reflect on the design and assessment of game-based approaches, and we suggest opportunities for future research. In particular, we highlight the lack of game-based approaches that can support “society-driven” sustainable water governance.
KERAHIMAN ALLAH DI TENGAH KELUARGA KRISTIANI
Authors: Gaudiawan Antonius Virdei Eresto
Published: April 2019

Pope Francis promulgate Iubilaeum Extraordinarium Misericordiae. In the context of that jubilee, it is needed to reflect on the Christian family. How to make God’s Mercy radiat in the midst of Christian families through their problems. Christian families need God’s Mercy because nowadays, there are so much wounds exist in the families. We hope every Christian families receives God’s Mercy to encourage their lifes. Every people are called to show God’s Mercy in their own families. The research was made with qualitative research methods by reflecting the fundamentals of church faith such as the Scriptures and Church teachings. Furthermore, from the basis of this faith, the author will try to explore and reflect on the problem of the Christian family today. Next, look for and reflect on how God's merciful face is present in the midst of Christian families, now and here. Every family member needs to experience and realize. Forgiveness rooms are wide open for each family member. Grace rooms are open to every member of the Christian family who is involved.
Accessing a Russian Wheat Aphid Resistance Gene in Bread Wheat by Long‐Read Technologies
Authors: Tulpová Zuzana , Toegelová Helena , Lapitan Nora L. V. , Peairs Frank B. , Macas Jiří , Novák Petr , Lukaszewski Adam J. , Kopecký David , Mazáčová Mira , Vrána Jan , Holušová Kateřina , Leroy Philippe , Doležel Jaroslav , Šimková Hana
Published: April 2019

Russian wheat aphid (RWA) (Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) is a serious invasive pest of small‐grain cereals and many grass species. An efficient strategy to defy aphid attacks is to identify sources of natural resistance and transfer resistance genes into susceptible crop cultivars. Revealing the genes helps understand plant defense mechanisms and engineer plants with durable resistance to the pest. To date, more than 15 RWA resistance genes have been identified in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) but none of them has been cloned. Previously, we genetically mapped the RWA resistance gene Dn2401 into an interval of 0.83 cM on the short arm of chromosome 7D and spanned it with five bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Here, we used a targeted strategy combining traditional approaches toward gene cloning (genetic mapping and sequencing of BAC clones) with novel technologies, including optical mapping and long‐read nanopore sequencing. The latter, with reads spanning the entire length of a BAC insert, enabled us to assemble the whole region, a task that was not achievable with short reads. Long‐read optical mapping validated the DNA sequence in the interval and revealed a difference in the locus organization between resistant and susceptible genotypes. The complete and accurate sequence of the Dn2401 region facilitated the identification of new markers and precise annotation of the interval, revealing six high‐confidence genes. Identification of Epoxide hydrolase 2 as the most likely Dn2401 candidate opens an avenue for its validation through functional genomics approaches.
Discriminations dans l’accès à la banque et à l’assurance : Les enseignements de trois testings
Authors: L’Horty Yannick , Bunel Mathieu , Mbaye Souleymane , Petit Pascale , du Parquet Loïc
Published: April 2019

Cette recherche s’intéresse aux discriminations sur trois marchés qui ont encore été peu étudiés en France alors même que l’accès à ces marchés peut conditionner l’insertion professionnelle et sociale des personnes, en particulier des jeunes. Il s’agit de l’assurance automobile, des complémentaires-santé et du crédit à la consommation. Nous évaluons la discrimination sur ces marchés à raison de l’âge, du sexe, de l’origine et de la réputation du lieu de résidence, à l’aide d’opérations de testing. Nous avons utilisé six profils d’individus fictifs qui ont formulé des demandes de devis similaires auprès d’offreurs de crédits, d’assurances et de complémentaires santé. En mars 2016, nous avons tout d’abord testé 38 établissements d’assurance en leur adressant une demande de devis pour une assurance automobile à partir d’une simulation effectuée sur leur site Internet. Puis, entre avril et mai 2016, nous avons testé les 52 établissements qui permettaient d’adresser une demande de devis pour une complémentaire santé à partir d’une simulation effectuée sur leur site Internet. Enfin, en juin 2016, nous avons testé 20 établissements financiers en adressant six demandes de devis pour un crédit à la consommation en vue d’acheter une voiture d’occasion. Ces trois campagnes de testing mettent en évidence l’existence de discrimination liée à l’âge, au sexe, au lieu de résidence et à l’origine, à la fois dans l’accès aux services et dans la tarification appliquée par les offreurs. Classification JEL : C93, J14, M53
Le nazisme, une communauté de la performance
Authors: Chapoutot Johann
Published: April 2019

Le terme de performance est un enfant de l’âge industriel, celui de la physique, de la mécanique et de l’économie boursière. Exaltée avant 1914, la «  Leistung  » germanique semble prise en défaut par la défaite de 1918. Les nazis sont de ceux qui en font un impératif incoercible pour le peuple allemand – à la fois objectif de sa régénération biologique et condition nécessaire de son retour à la puissance d’être, sur le simple plan d’immanence de sa perpétuation biologique par la reproduction d’enfants et la production de nutriments propres à les nourrir.
Decadal-scale progression of the onset of Dansgaard–Oeschger warming events
Authors: Erhardt Tobias , Capron Emilie , Rasmussen Sune Olander , Schüpbach Simon , Bigler Matthias , Adolphi Florian , Fischer Hubertus
Published: April 2019

Abstract. During the last glacial period, proxy records throughout the Northern
Hemisphere document a succession of rapid millennial-scale warming events,
called Dansgaard–Oeschger (DO) events. A range of different mechanisms has
been proposed that can produce similar warming in model experiments; however,
the progression and ultimate trigger of the events are still unknown. Because
of their fast nature, the progression is challenging to reconstruct from
paleoclimate data due to the limited temporal resolution achievable in many
archives and cross-dating uncertainties between records. Here, we use new
high-resolution multi-proxy records of sea-salt (derived from sea spray and
sea ice over the North Atlantic) and terrestrial (derived from the central
Asian deserts) aerosol concentrations over the period 10–60 ka from the
North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP) and North Greenland Eemian Ice
Drilling (NEEM) ice cores in conjunction with local precipitation
and temperature proxies from the NGRIP ice core to investigate the
progression of environmental changes at the onset of the warming events at
annual to multi-annual resolution. Our results show on average a small lead
of the changes in both local precipitation and terrestrial dust aerosol
concentrations over the change in sea-salt aerosol concentrations and local
temperature of approximately one decade. This suggests that, connected to the
reinvigoration of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and the
warming in the North Atlantic, both synoptic and hemispheric atmospheric
circulation changes at the onset of the DO warming, affecting both the
moisture transport to Greenland and the Asian monsoon systems. Taken at face
value, this suggests that a collapse of the sea-ice cover may not have been
the initial trigger for the DO warming.
El libro de Judith: Historia, literatura y teología
Authors: D. Roitman Adolfo
Published: April 2019

El libro de Judit es un libro apócrifo judío, escrito probablemente para finales del siglo II a.e.c. en la tierra de Israel, y existente solamente en versión griega o en versiones hechas a partir de ésta. La obra de carácter novelesco cuenta sobre la proeza de Judith, una mujer piadosa, bella, viuda y rica, que con arrojo y picardía decapitó al general Holofernes, salvando así a los judíos de Betulia de caer en manos de los asirios. La obra presenta un plan estructural muy complejo (una pirámide quiástica piramidal), el cual sirve como soporte literario para comunicar una doctrina religiosa original, a saber: una revisión de la tradicional doctrina de la retribución. El objetivo de esta composición habría sido presentar de una manera novelada una reflexión en retrospectiva acerca del significado religioso de la revuelta macabea.
El libro de Judit: historia, literatura y teología
Authors: Roitman Dr. Adolfo D.
Published: April 2019

El libro de Judit es un libro apócrifo judío, escrito probablemente para finales del siglo II a.e.c. en la tierra de Israel, y existente solamente en versión griega o en versiones hechas a partir de ésta. La obra de carácter novelesco cuenta sobre la proeza de Judith, una mujer piadosa, bella, viuda y rica, que con arrojo y picardía decapitó al general Holofernes, salvando así a los judíos de Betulia de caer en manos de los asirios. La obra presenta un plan estructural muy complejo (una pirámide quiástica piramidal), el cual sirve como soporte literario para comunicar una doctrina religiosa original, a saber: una revisión de la tradicional doctrina de la retribución. El objetivo de esta composición habría sido presentar de una manera novelada una reflexión en retrospectiva acerca del significado religioso de la revuelta macabea.