bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indicators for Monitoring Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: A Systematic Review of Indicator Selection Methods
Authors: Schwemlein Stefanie , Cronk Ryan , Bartram Jamie
Published: March 2016

Monitoring water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) is important to track progress, improve accountability, and demonstrate impacts of efforts to improve conditions and services, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Indicator selection methods enable robust monitoring of WaSH projects and conditions. However, selection methods are not always used and there are no commonly-used methods for selecting WaSH indicators. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of indicator selection methods used in WaSH-related fields. We present a summary of indicator selection methods for environment, international development, and water. We identified six methodological stages for selecting indicators for WaSH: define the purpose and scope; select a conceptual framework; search for candidate indicators; determine selection criteria; score indicators against criteria; and select a final suite of indicators. This summary of indicator selection methods provides a foundation for the critical assessment of existing methods. It can be used to inform future efforts to construct indicator sets in WaSH and related fields.
Colour Sonar: Multi-Frequency Sidescan Sonar Images of the Seabed in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland
Authors: Tamsett Duncan , McIlvenny Jason , Watts Andrew
Published: March 2016

The backscatter response of a seabed to an incident sonar signal is dependent on the carrier wave frequency: i.e., the seabed is acoustically colourful. Colour is implemented in a prototype three-frequency sidescan sonar system deployed in the Pentland Firth, north Scotland. Sonar amplitude data as a function of frequency are processed to render them an unconfounded effect of the seabed normalized to the response at a reference inclination angle, for colour to be a meaningful property of the seabed. Methods for mapping data at sonar frequencies to optical primary colours for human visualisation are explored. We recommend methods that in our opinion generate colour characteristics harmonious with human vision in which: shadow is white; saturation black; colour shade darkness is proportional to backscatter strength; and shades of red, green and blue are seen in proportion to the backscatter amplitudes of the low-, mid- and high-frequency sonar data. Frequency equalisation is applied to achieve a balance in colour responses in images. The seabed in the survey area is acoustically colourful. Using the “negative BGR” colour mapping method: a weakly backscattering sand dune in the north of the survey area appears as shades of light blue and purple; a strongly backscattering halo of cobbles around the dune appears as shades of hazel brown; a strongly backscattering gravel ridge across the south of the survey area appears as shades of royal blue; and exposed rock as textures ranging in colour from light brown to light blue/green. There is evidence for colour anisotropy (a dependence of colour on the direction of ensonification). Similarities between anthropic colour sonar and the natural sonar of Microchiropteran bats are noted. Bats’ sonar satisfies the information criteria for acoustic colour, and it is hypothesized that it informs a colourfully-perceived world view.
New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy
Authors: Law Betty , Mok Simon , Wu An , Lam Christopher , Yu Margaret , Wong Vincent
Published: March 2016

Autophagy is a universal catabolic cellular process for quality control of cytoplasm and maintenance of cellular homeostasis upon nutrient deprivation and environmental stimulus. It involves the lysosomal degradation of cellular components such as misfolded proteins or damaged organelles. Defects in autophagy are implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases including cancers, myopathy, neurodegenerations, infections and cardiovascular diseases. In the recent decade, traditional drugs with new clinical applications are not only commonly found in Western medicines, but also highlighted in Chinese herbal medicines (CHM). For instance, pharmacological studies have revealed that active components or fractions from Chaihu (Radix bupleuri), Hu Zhang (Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati), Donglingcao (Rabdosia rubesens), Hou po (Cortex magnoliae officinalis) and Chuan xiong (Rhizoma chuanxiong) modulate cancers, neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease via autophagy. These findings shed light on the potential new applications and formulation of CHM decoctions via regulation of autophagy. This article reviews the roles of autophagy in the pharmacological actions of CHM and discusses their new potential clinical applications in various human diseases.
Low Urinary Iodine Concentrations Associated with Dyslipidemia in US Adults
Authors: Lee Kyung , Shin Dayeon , Song Won
Published: March 2016

Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormone which plays crucial roles in healthy thyroid function and lipid metabolism. However, the association between iodine status and dyslipidemia has not been well established at a population level. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the odds of dyslipidemia including elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, and lowered high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and HDL/LDL ratio are associated with urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in a population perspective. Data of 2495 US adults (≥20 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2012 were used in this study. Two subgroups (i.e., UIC below vs. above the 10th percentile) were compared of dyslipidemia as defined based on NCEP ATP III guidelines. The differences between the groups were tested statistically by chi-square test, simple linear regressions, and multiple logistic regressions. Serum lipid concentrations differed significantly between two iodine status groups when sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates were controlled (all, p < 0.05). Those with the lowest decile of UIC were more likely to be at risk for elevated total cholesterol (>200 mg/dL) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.23) and elevated LDL cholesterol (>130 mg/dL) (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.11–2.23) and lowered HDL/LDL ratio (<0.4) (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.18–2.33), compared to those with UIC above the 10th percentile. In US adults, low UIC was associated with increased odds for dyslipidemia. Findings of the present cross-sectional study with spot urine samples highlight the significant association between UIC and serum lipids at population level, but do not substantiate a causal relationship. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the causal relationship among iodine intakes, iodine status, and serum lipid profiles.
Activity of Gallium Meso- and Protoporphyrin IX against Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates
Authors: Chang David , Garcia Rebecca , Akers Kevin , Mende Katrin , Murray Clinton , Wenke Joseph , Sanchez Carlos
Published: March 2016

Acinetobacter baumannii is a challenging pathogen due to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm development. The role of iron in bacterial physiology has prompted the evaluation of iron-modulation as an antimicrobial strategy. The non-reducible iron analog gallium(III) nitrate, Ga(NO3)3, has been shown to inhibit A. baumannii planktonic growth; however, utilization of heme-iron by clinical isolates has been associated with development of tolerance. These observations prompted the evaluation of iron-heme sources on planktonic and biofilm growth, as well as antimicrobial activities of gallium meso- and protoporphyrin IX (Ga-MPIX and Ga-PPIX), metal heme derivatives against planktonic and biofilm bacteria of multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates of A. baumannii in vitro. Ga(NO3)3 was moderately effective at reducing planktonic bacteria (64 to 128 µM) with little activity against biofilms (≥512 µM). In contrast, Ga-MPIX and Ga-PPIX were highly active against planktonic bacteria (0.25 to 8 µM). Cytotoxic effects in human fibroblasts were observed following exposure to concentrations exceeding 128 µM of Ga-MPIX and Ga-PPIX. We observed that the gallium metal heme conjugates were more active against planktonic and biofilm bacteria, possibly due to utilization of heme-iron as demonstrated by the enhanced effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation.
Holistic Nursing of Forensic Patients: A Focus on Spiritual Care
Authors: Bagnasco Annamaria , Aleo Giuseppe , Delogu Barbara , Catania Gianluca , Sasso Loredana
Published: March 2016

Prisons are a unique context where nurses are required to have specific skills to ensure that prisoners receive the same type of holistic care as anyone else out of prison, including spiritual care. This discussion paper focuses on understanding how nurses deliver spiritual care in Italian prisons where there are often limited resources and where organizational priorities hinder the provision of holistic nursing. This paper draws from a previous qualitative research study that we had conducted. In this study, we observed that prison nurses reported that they experienced many difficulties related to the provision of holistic care to prisoners. This was particularly true for spiritual care in vulnerable forensic patients, such as older individuals, and physically and mentally frail prisoners. Prison officers did not allow nurses to just “listen and talk” to their patients in prison, because they considered it a waste of time. The conflict between prison organizational constraints and nursing goals, along with limited resources placed barriers to the development of therapeutic relationships between nurses and prisoners, whose holistic and spiritual care needs remained totally unattended. Therefore, prison organizational needs prevailed over prisoners’ needs for spiritual care, which, while fundamental, are nevertheless often underestimated and left unattended. Educational interventions are needed to reaffirm nurses’ role as providers of spiritual care.
Ash Decline Assessment in Emerald Ash Borer Infested Natural Forests Using High Spatial Resolution Images
Authors: Murfitt Justin , He Yuhong , Yang Jian , Mui Amy , De Mille Kevin
Published: March 2016

The invasive emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) infects and eventually kills endemic ash trees and is currently spreading across the Great Lakes region of North America. The need for early detection of EAB infestation is critical to managing the spread of this pest. Using WorldView-2 (WV2) imagery, the goal of this study was to establish a remote sensing-based method for mapping ash trees undergoing various infestation stages. Based on field data collected in Southeastern Ontario, Canada, an ash health score with an interval scale ranging from 0 to 10 was established and further related to multiple spectral indices. The WV2 image was segmented using multi-band watershed and multiresolution algorithms to identify individual tree crowns, with watershed achieving higher segmentation accuracy. Ash trees were classified using the random forest classifier, resulting in a user’s accuracy of 67.6% and a producer’s accuracy of 71.4% when watershed segmentation was utilized. The best ash health score-spectral index model was then applied to the ash tree crowns to map the ash health for the entire area. The ash health prediction map, with an overall accuracy of 70%, suggests that remote sensing has potential to provide a semi-automated and large-scale monitoring of EAB infestation.
A Differential Monolithically Integrated Inductive Linear Displacement Measurement Microsystem
Authors: Podhraški Matija , Trontelj Janez
Published: March 2016

An inductive linear displacement measurement microsystem realized as a monolithic Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is presented. The system comprises integrated microtransformers as sensing elements, and analog front-end electronics for signal processing and demodulation, both jointly fabricated in a conventional commercially available four-metal 350-nm CMOS process. The key novelty of the presented system is its full integration, straightforward fabrication, and ease of application, requiring no external light or magnetic field source. Such systems therefore have the possibility of substituting certain conventional position encoder types. The microtransformers are excited by an AC signal in MHz range. The displacement information is modulated into the AC signal by a metal grating scale placed over the microsystem, employing a differential measurement principle. Homodyne mixing is used for the demodulation of the scale displacement information, returned by the ASIC as a DC signal in two quadrature channels allowing the determination of linear position of the target scale. The microsystem design, simulations, and characterization are presented. Various system operating conditions such as frequency, phase, target scale material and distance have been experimentally evaluated. The best results have been achieved at 4 MHz, demonstrating a linear resolution of 20 µm with steel and copper scale, having respective sensitivities of 0.71 V/mm and 0.99 V/mm.
DENSE GAS IN MOLECULAR CORES ASSOCIATED WITH PLANCK GALACTIC COLD CLUMPS
Authors: Yuan (袁敬华) Jinghua , Wu Yuefang , Liu Tie , Zhang Tianwei , Li Jin Zeng , Liu Hong-Li , Meng Fanyi , Chen Ping , Hu Runjie , Wang Ke
Published: March 2016

We present the first survey of dense gas toward Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs). Observations in the J = 1–0 transitions of HCO+ and HCN toward 621 molecular cores associated with PGCCs were performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory’s 13.7 m telescope. Among them, 250 sources were detected, including 230 cores detected in HCO+ and 158 in HCN. Spectra of the J = 1–0 transitions from 12CO, 13CO, and C18O at the centers of the 250 cores were extracted from previous mapping observations to construct a multi-line data set. The significantly low detection rate of asymmetric double-peaked profiles, together with the good consistency among central velocities of CO, HCO+, and HCN spectra, suggests that the CO-selected Planck cores are more quiescent than classical star-forming regions. The small difference between line widths of C18O and HCN indicates that the inner regions of CO-selected Planck cores are no more turbulent than the exterior. The velocity-integrated intensities and abundances of HCO+ are positively correlated with those of HCN, suggesting that these two species are well coupled and chemically connected. The detected abundances of both HCO+ and HCN are significantly lower than values in other low- to high-mass star-forming regions. The low abundances may be due to beam dilution. On the basis of an inspection of the parameters given in the PGCC catalog, we suggest that there may be about 1000 PGCC objects that have a sufficient reservoir of dense gas to form stars.
SECURE MASS MEASUREMENTS FROM TRANSIT TIMING: 10 KEPLER EXOPLANETS BETWEEN 3 AND 8 M
⊕ WITH DIVERSE DENSITIES AND INCIDENT FLUXES
Authors: Jontof-Hutter Daniel , Ford Eric B. , Rowe Jason F. , Lissauer Jack J. , Fabrycky Daniel C. , Laerhoven Christa Van , Agol Eric , Deck Katherine M. , Holczer Tomer , Mazeh Tsevi
Published: March 2016

We infer dynamical masses in eight multiplanet systems using transit times measured from Kepler's complete data set, including short-cadence data where available. Of the 18 dynamical masses that we infer, 10 pass multiple tests for robustness. These are in systems Kepler-26 (KOI-250), Kepler-29 (KOI-738), Kepler-60 (KOI-2086), Kepler-105 (KOI-115), and Kepler-307 (KOI-1576). Kepler-105 c has a radius of 1.3 R
⊕ and a density consistent with an Earth-like composition. Strong transit timing variation (TTV) signals were detected from additional planets, but their inferred masses were sensitive to outliers or consistent solutions could not be found with independently measured transit times, including planets orbiting Kepler-49 (KOI-248), Kepler-57 (KOI-1270), Kepler-105 (KOI-115), and Kepler-177 (KOI-523). Nonetheless, strong upper limits on the mass of Kepler-177 c imply an extremely low density of ∼0.1 g cm−3. In most cases, individual orbital eccentricities were poorly constrained owing to degeneracies in TTV inversion. For five planet pairs in our sample, strong secular interactions imply a moderate to high likelihood of apsidal alignment over a wide range of possible eccentricities. We also find solutions for the three planets known to orbit Kepler-60 in a Laplace-like resonance chain. However, nonlibrating solutions also match the transit timing data. For six systems, we calculate more precise stellar parameters than previously known, enabling useful constraints on planetary densities where we have secure mass measurements. Placing these exoplanets on the mass–radius diagram, we find that a wide range of densities is observed among sub-Neptune-mass planets and that the range in observed densities is anticorrelated with incident flux.
KILOPARSEC MASS/LIGHT OFFSETS IN THE GALAXY PAIR-Lyα EMITTER LENS SYSTEM SDSS J1011+0143*
Authors: Shu Yiping , Bolton Adam S. , Moustakas Leonidas A. , Stern Daniel , Dey Arjun , Brownstein Joel R. , Burles Scott , Spinrad Hyron
Published: March 2016

We report the discovery of significant mass/light offsets in the strong gravitational lensing system SDSS J1011+0143. We use the high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope (HST) F555W- and F814W-band imaging and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopy of this system, which consists of a close galaxy pair with a projected separation of

at z
lens ∼ 0.331 lensing an Lyα emitter (LAE) at z
source = 2.701. Comparisons between the mass peaks inferred from lens models and light peaks from HST imaging data reveal significant spatial mass/light offsets as large as 1.72 ± 0.24 ± 0.34 kpc in both filter bands. Such large mass/light offsets, not seen in isolated field lens galaxies and relaxed galaxy groups, may be related to the interactions between the two lens galaxies. The detected mass/light offsets can potentially serve as an important test for the self-interacting dark matter model. However, other mechanisms such as dynamical friction on spatially differently distributed dark matter and stars could produce similar offsets. Detailed hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy–galaxy interactions with self-interacting dark matter could accurately quantify the effects of different mechanisms. The background LAE is found to contain three distinct star-forming knots with characteristic sizes from 116 to 438 pc. It highlights the power of strong gravitational lensing in probing the otherwise too faint and unresolved structures of distance objects below subkiloparsec or even 100 pc scales through its magnification effect.
BEAM-FORMING ERRORS IN MURCHISON WIDEFIELD ARRAY PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON EPOCH OF REIONIZATION SCIENCE
Authors: Neben Abraham R. , Hewitt Jacqueline N. , Bradley Richard F. , Dillon Joshua S. , Bernardi G. , Bowman J. D. , Briggs F. , Cappallo R. J. , Corey B. E. , Deshpande A. A. , Goeke R. , Greenhill L. J. , Hazelton B. J. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Kaplan D. L. , Lonsdale C. J. , McWhirter S. R. , Mitchell D. A. , Morales M. F. , Morgan E. , Oberoi D. , Ord S. M. , Prabu T. , Shankar N. Udaya , Srivani K. S. , Subrahmanyan R. , Tingay S. J. , Wayth R. B. , Webster R. L. , Williams A. , Williams C. L.
Published: March 2016

Accurate antenna beam models are critical for radio observations aiming to isolate the redshifted 21 cm spectral line emission from the Dark Ages and the Epoch of Reionization (EOR) and unlock the scientific potential of 21 cm cosmology. Past work has focused on characterizing mean antenna beam models using either satellite signals or astronomical sources as calibrators, but antenna-to-antenna variation due to imperfect instrumentation has remained unexplored. We characterize this variation for the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) through laboratory measurements and simulations, finding typical deviations of the order of ±10%–20% near the edges of the main lobe and in the sidelobes. We consider the ramifications of these results for image- and power spectrum-based science. In particular, we simulate visibilities measured by a 100 m baseline and find that using an otherwise perfect foreground model, unmodeled beam-forming errors severely limit foreground subtraction accuracy within the region of Fourier space contaminated by foreground emission (the “wedge”). This region likely contains much of the cosmological signal, and accessing it will require measurement of per-antenna beam patterns. However, unmodeled beam-forming errors do not contaminate the Fourier space region expected to be free of foreground contamination (the “EOR window”), showing that foreground avoidance remains a viable strategy.
SEARCH FOR HYPERLUMINOUS INFRARED DUST-OBSCURED GALAXIES SELECTED WITH WISE AND SDSS
Authors: Toba Y. , Nagao T.
Published: March 2016

We aim to search for hyperluminous infrared (IR) galaxies (HyLIRGs) with IR luminosity

> 1013
L
☉ by applying the selection method of dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs). They are spatially rare but could correspond to a maximum phase of cosmic star formation (SF) and/or active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity; hence, they are a crucial population for understanding the SF and mass assembly history of galaxies. Combining the optical and IR catalogs obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), we performed the extensive HyLIRGs survey; we selected 5311 IR-bright DOGs with i − [22] > 7.0 and flux at 22 μm > 3.8 mJy in 14,555 deg2, where i and [22] are i-band and 22 μm AB magnitudes, respectively. Among them, 67 DOGs have reliable spectroscopic redshifts that enable us to estimate their total IR luminosity based on the spectral energy distribution fitting. Consequently, we successfully discovered 24 HyLIRGs among the 67 spectroscopically confirmed DOGs. We found that (i) i − [22] color of IR-bright DOGs correlates with the total IR luminosity and (ii) the surface number density of HyLIRGs is >0.17 deg−2. A large fraction (∼73%) of IR-bright DOGs with i − [22] > 7.5 show 

> 1013
L
☉, and the DOG criterion we adopted could be independently effective against the “W1W2-dropout method,” based on four WISE bands, for searching hyperluminous IR populations of galaxies.
GIANT Hα NEBULA SURROUNDING THE STARBURST MERGER NGC 6240*
Authors: Yoshida Michitoshi , Yagi Masafumi , Ohyama Youichi , Komiyama Yutaka , Kashikawa Nobunari , Tanaka Hisashi , Okamura Sadanori
Published: March 2016

We revealed the detailed structure of a vastly extended Hα-emitting nebula (“Hα nebula”) surrounding the starburst/merging galaxy NGC 6240 by deep narrow-band imaging observations with the Subaru Suprime-Cam. The extent of the nebula is ∼90 kpc in diameter and the total Hα luminosity amounts to L
Hα
≈ 1.6 × 1042 erg s−1. The volume filling factor and the mass of the warm ionized gas are ∼10−4–10−5 and ∼5 × 108
M
⊙, respectively. The nebula has a complicated structure, which includes numerous filaments, loops, bubbles, and knots. We found that there is a tight spatial correlation between the Hα nebula and the extended soft-X-ray-emitting gas, both in large and small scales. The overall morphology of the nebula is dominated by filamentary structures radially extending from the center of the galaxy. A large-scale bipolar bubble extends along the minor axis of the main stellar disk. The morphology strongly suggests that the nebula was formed by intense outflows—superwinds—driven by starbursts. We also found three bright knots embedded in a looped filament of ionized gas that show head-tail morphologies in both emission-line and continuum, suggesting close interactions between the outflows and star-forming regions. Based on the morphology and surface brightness distribution of the Hα nebula, we propose the scenario that three major episodes of starburst/superwind activities, which were initiated ∼102 Myr ago, formed the extended ionized gas nebula of NGC 6240.
SN REFSDAL: PHOTOMETRY AND TIME DELAY MEASUREMENTS OF THE FIRST EINSTEIN CROSS SUPERNOVA
Authors: Rodney S. A. , Strolger L.-G. , Kelly P. L. , Bradač M. , Brammer G. , Filippenko A. V. , Foley R. J. , Graur O. , Hjorth J. , Jha S. W. , McCully C. , Molino A. , Riess A. G. , Schmidt K. B. , Selsing J. , Sharon K. , Treu T. , Weiner B. J. , Zitrin A.
Published: March 2016

We present the first year of Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the unique supernova (SN) “Refsdal,” a gravitationally lensed SN at z = 1.488 ± 0.001 with multiple images behind the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.6+2223. The first four observed images of SN Refsdal (images S1–S4) exhibited a slow rise (over ∼150 days) to reach a broad peak brightness around 2015 April 20. Using a set of light curve templates constructed from SN 1987A-like peculiar Type II SNe, we measure time delays for the four images relative to S1 of 4 ± 4 (for S2), 2 ± 5 (S3), and 24 ± 7 days (S4). The measured magnification ratios relative to S1 are 1.15 ± 0.05 (S2), 1.01 ± 0.04 (S3), and 0.34 ± 0.02 (S4). None of the template light curves fully captures the photometric behavior of SN Refsdal, so we also derive complementary measurements for these parameters using polynomials to represent the intrinsic light curve shape. These more flexible fits deliver fully consistent time delays of 7 ± 2 (S2), 0.6 ± 3 (S3), and 27 ± 8 days (S4). The lensing magnification ratios are similarly consistent, measured as 1.17 ± 0.02 (S2), 1.00 ± 0.01 (S3), and 0.38 ± 0.02 (S4). We compare these measurements against published predictions from lens models, and find that the majority of model predictions are in very good agreement with our measurements. Finally, we discuss avenues for future improvement of time delay measurements—both for SN Refsdal and for other strongly lensed SNe yet to come.
THE FIRST GEV OUTBURST OF THE RADIO-LOUD NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 GALAXY PKS 1502+036
Authors: Paliya Vaidehi S. , Stalin C. S.
Published: March 2016

The γ-ray-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (γ-NLSy1) galaxy PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.409) exhibited its first γ-ray outburst on 2015 December 20. In the energy range of 0.1–300 GeV, the highest flux measured by the Fermi-Large Area Telescope is (3.90 ± 1.52) × 10−6

, which is the highest γ-ray flux ever detected from this object. The associated spectral shape is soft (Γ0.1–300 GeV = 2.57 ± 0.17) and this corresponds to an isotropic γ-ray luminosity of (1.2 ± 0.6) × 1048 erg s−1. We generate the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) during the GeV flare and reproduce it using a one-zone leptonic emission model. The optical-UV spectrum can be explained by a combination of synchrotron and accretion disk emission, whereas the X-ray-to-γ-ray SED can be satisfactorily reproduced by inverse-Compton scattering of thermal photons that originated from the torus. The derived SED parameters hint that the increase in the bulk Lorentz factor is a major cause of the flare and the location of the emission region is estimated as being outside the broad-line region but still inside the torus. A comparison of the GeV-flaring SED of PKS 1502+036 with that of two other γ-NLSy1 galaxies, namely, 1H 0323+342 (z = 0.061) and PMN J0948+0022 (z = 0.585), and also with flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) 3C 279 (z = 0.536), has led to the conclusion that the GeV-flaring SEDs of γ-NLSy1 galaxies resemble FSRQs and a major fraction of their bolometric luminosities are emitted at γ-ray energies.
DEGENERACY BETWEEN LENSING AND OCCULTATION IN THE ANALYSIS OF SELF-LENSING PHENOMENA
Authors: Han Cheongho
Published: March 2016

More than 40 years after the first discussion, the detection of a self-lensing phenomenon within a binary system where the brightness of a background star is magnified by its foreground companion was recently reported. It is expected that the number of self-lensing binary detections will be increased by a wealth of data from current and future survey experiments. In this paper, we introduce a degeneracy in the interpretation of self-lensing light curves. The degeneracy is intrinsic to self-lensing binaries for which both magnification by lensing and de-magnification by occultation occur simultaneously and are caused by the difficulty in separating the contribution of the lensing-induced magnification from the observed light curve. We demonstrate the severity of this degeneracy by presenting examples of self-lensing light curves that suffer from it. We also present the relation between the lensing parameters of the degenerate solutions. This degeneracy is an important obstacle in accurately determining self-lensing parameters and thus characterizing binaries.
THE K2-ESPRINT PROJECT. II. SPECTROSCOPIC FOLLOW-UP OF THREE EXOPLANET SYSTEMS FROM CAMPAIGN 1 OF K2*
Authors: Eylen Vincent Van , Nowak Grzegorz , Albrecht Simon , Palle Enric , Ribas Ignasi , Bruntt Hans , Perger Manuel , Gandolfi Davide , Hirano Teriyuki , Sanchis-Ojeda Roberto , Kiilerich Amanda , Prieto-Arranz Jorge , Badenas Mariona , Dai Fei , Deeg Hans J. , Guenther Eike W. , Montañés-Rodríguez Pilar , Narita Norio , Rogers Leslie A. , Béjar Víctor J. S. , Shrotriya Tushar S. , Winn Joshua N. , Sebastian Daniel
Published: March 2016

We report on Doppler observations of three transiting planet candidates that were detected during Campaign 1 of the K2 mission. The Doppler observations were conducted with FIES, HARPS-N, and HARPS. We measure the mass of EPIC 201546283b, and provide constraints and upper limits for EPIC 201295312b and EPIC 201577035b. EPIC 201546283b is a warm Neptune orbiting its host star in 6.77 days and has a radius of

and a mass of

, which leads to a mean density of

. EPIC 201295312b is smaller than Neptune with an orbital period of 5.66 days, a radius of

, and we constrain the mass to be below

at 95% confidence. We also find a long-term trend indicative of another body in the system. EPIC 201577035b, which was previously confirmed as the planet K2-10b, is smaller than Neptune, orbiting its host star in 19.3 days, with a radius of

. We determine its mass to be

, with a 95% confidence upper limit at

, and a mean density of

. These measurements join the relatively small collection of planets smaller than Neptune with measurements or constraints of the mean density. Our code for performing K2 photometry and detecting planetary transits is now publicly available.
TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF THE VELA PULSAR’S PULSE PROFILE
Authors: Palfreyman J. L. , Dickey J. M. , Ellingsen S. P. , Jones I. R. , Hotan A. W.
Published: March 2016

The mechanisms of emission and changes in rotation frequency (“glitching”) of the Vela pulsar (J0835−4510) are not well understood. Further insight into these mechanisms can be achieved by long-term studies of integrated pulse width, timing residuals, and bright-pulse rates. We have undertaken an intensive observing campaign of Vela and collected over 6000 hr of single-pulse data. The data shows that the pulse width changes with time, including marked jumps in width after micro-glitches (frequency changes). The abundance of bright pulses also changes after some micro-glitches, but not all. The secular changes in pulse width have three possible cyclic periods that match with X-ray periodicities of a helical jet that are interpreted as free precession.
AN ULTRAMASSIVE 1.28 M⊙ WHITE DWARF IN NGC 2099*
Authors: Cummings Jeffrey D. , Kalirai Jason S. , Tremblay P.-E. , Ramirez-Ruiz Enrico , Bergeron P.
Published: March 2016

With the Keck I Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer we have observed nine white dwarf candidates in the very rich open cluster NGC 2099 (M37). The spectroscopy shows seven to be DA white dwarfs, one to be a DB white dwarf, and one to be a DZ white dwarf. Three of these DA white dwarfs are consistent with singly evolved cluster membership: an ultramassive (1.28

) and two intermediate-mass (0.70 and 0.75

) white dwarfs. Analysis of their cooling ages allows us to calculate their progenitor masses and establish new constraints on the initial–final mass relation. The intermediate-mass white dwarfs are in strong agreement with previous work over this mass regime. The ultramassive white dwarf has V = 24.5, ∼2 mag fainter than the other two remnants. The spectrum of this star has lower quality, so the derived stellar properties (e.g.,

, log g) have uncertainties that are several times higher than the brighter counterparts. We measure these uncertainties and establish the star’s final mass as the highest-mass white dwarf discovered thus far in a cluster, but we are unable to calculate its progenitor mass because at this high mass and cooler

its inferred cooling age is highly sensitive to its mass. At the highest temperatures, however, this sensitivity of cooling age to an ultramassive white dwarf’s mass is only moderate. This demonstrates that future investigations of the upper-mass end of the initial–final mass relation must identify massive, newly formed white dwarfs (i.e., in young clusters with ages 50–150 Myr).
SDSS J085431.18+173730.5: THE FIRST COMPACT ELLIPTICAL GALAXY HOSTING AN ACTIVE NUCLEUS
Authors: Paudel Sanjaya , Hilker Michael , Ree Change Hee , Kim Minjin
Published: March 2016

We report the discovery of a rare compact early-type galaxy, SDSS J085431.18+173730.5 (hereafter cE_AGN). It has a half-light radius of R

e
 = 490 pc and a brightness of M

r
 = −18.08 mag. Optical spectroscopy available from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) reveals the presence of prominent broad-line emissions with the Hα broad component width of FWHM = 2400 km s−1. The black hole (BH) mass, as estimated from the luminosity and width of the broad Hα emission, is 2.1 × 106

. With the help of surface photometry, we perform a detailed analysis of the structural properties. The observed light distribution is best modeled with a double Sérsic function. Fixing the outer component as an exponential disk, we find that the inner component has a Sérsic index of n = 1.4. Considering the inner component as bulge/spheroidal we find that cE_AGN remains consistent in both the BH mass–bulge mass relation and the BH mass–bulge Sérsic index relation. Given these observational properties, we discuss its possible origin investigating the surrounding environment where it is located.
From Marketing Education in a Developing Country to a U.S. Master's and/or Doctoral Degree in Marketing
Authors: Elbeck Matt
Published: March 2016

This chapter outlines the pathway to advanced marketing education by students in a developing country. We begin by contrasting the similarities and differences in undergraduate marketing education in Saudi Arabia versus the U.S. The analysis includes the typical markers of language and access to secondary sources, and culture-specific differences in the perception of time and various cultural influences using Hofstede's cultural dimensions. This is followed with a description of the pathway students from Saudi Arabia take to pursue a Master's and/or Doctorate in marketing in the U.S. The chapter concludes with the unique insight - unlike a sizeable number of foreign students in the U.S., most students from Saudi Arabia return to Saudi Arabia and in so doing stem the ‘brain drain' so many other countries face when their brightest head to the U.S. for advanced study.
A Mental Model for Teaching Strategic Marketing Management
Authors: Warren Homer B. , Burns David J.
Published: March 2016

The complex realities of the increasingly global nature of business require managers who are able to see and comprehend the multiple interrelationships of factors in the environment to optimize decision making. This paper offers a mental model used by the authors to help students better understand the heuristic thinking processes that successful strategic marketing managers use in decision making and problem solving. The authors argue that seeing the “whole” marketing system and understanding how to integrate marketing knowledge is a key ingredient in heuristic thinking. To this end, the paper details the foundation for and the construction of a mental model for a strategic marketing management course. An application is discussed.
Ethical Marketing
Authors: Ballesteros Carlos , Saldaña Dulce Eloisa
Published: March 2016

This chapter addresses those fundamentals and ethical issues related to the profession of marketing, as well as indirectly to other decision makers in companies, to guide human action in a moral sense. The main objective will be to provide different insights to business and marketing professionals to identify and analyze ethical problems in the various elements of a marketing strategy to propose alternatives, so that they may adjust their behavior according to the set of life and judging human acts (own and externals) according to the accepted norms and values. The chapter leads readers to an open invitation to reflect about his/her professional field: how I can contribute from an ethical perspective? From the ethics of marketing, how I can make decisions based on principles such as confidentiality, truthfulness, loyalty, transparency, fairness and accountability?
Promoting Effective Learning in Diverse Classrooms
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: March 2016

Cultural diversity in society, the workplace and classrooms is more or less is a global phenomenon. The multi-cultural classroom provides an opportunity for students from different cultures to bring their enormous range of experiences, knowledge, perspectives and insights to the learning – if the process is enabled. Many firms around the globe are expanding their businesses beyond domestic markets. These trends indicate that many individuals are likely to study or work in multicultural environments domestically and abroad. Research suggests that faculty and trainers adapt their teaching style and classroom policies to accommodate multicultural learners. Disconnections may arise, however, regarding the willingness to include these accommodations. This chapter explores various issues which faculty and students face regarding adjustments in teaching style, content, and policies to adapt to multicultural learners. Specific recommendations to meet the challenges of multicultural learning are also provided.
On Theory of Multisets and Applications
Authors: Tripathy B. K.
Published: March 2016

Although multiple occurrences of elements are immaterial in sets, in real life situations repetition of elements is useful. So, the notion of multisets (also called as bags) was introduced, where repetition of elements is taken into account. Fuzzy set, intuitionistic (a misnomer here as intuitionistic mathematics has nothing to do with its fuzzy counterpart) fuzzy sets, rough sets and soft sets are extensions of the basic notion of sets as they model uncertainty in data. Following this multisets have been extended to fuzzy multisets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, rough multisets and soft multisets. Many properties of basic sets have been extended to the context of multisets, fuzzy multisets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, rough multisets and soft multisets. Several applications of different multisets mentioned above are found in literature. In this chapter, it is our aim to introduce the different concepts of multisets, their properties, current status and highlight their applications.
Soft Sets and Its Applications
Authors: Tripathy B. K. , Arun K. R.
Published: March 2016

Uncertainty is an inherent characteristic of modern day databases. In order to handle such databases with uncertainty, several new models have been introduced in the literature. Some new models like fuzzy sets introduced by Zadeh (1965), rough sets invented by Z. Pawlak (1982) and intuitionistic fuzzy sets extended by K.T. Atanassov (1986). All these models have their own pros and cons. However, one of the major problems with these models is the lack of sufficient number of parameters to deal with uncertainty. In order to add adequate number of parameters, soft set theory was introduced by Molodtsov in 1999. Since then the theoretical developments on soft set theory has attracted the attention of researchers. However, the practical applications of any theory are of enough importance to make use of it. In this chapter, the basic definitions of soft set, operations and properties are discussed. Also, the aim in this chapter is to discuss on the different applications of soft sets; like decision making, parameter reduction, data clustering and data dealing with incompleteness.
Soft Topologies Generated by Soft Set Relations
Authors: Babitha K. V. , John Sunil Jacob
Published: March 2016

This chapter discusses different soft set topologies using binary soft set relations. The relationship between soft set topologies and different relations are investigated and some of the properties of these soft set topologies are obtained. The concept of topology generated by relations in the context of soft sets seems to be a promising tool for further research in the area of mathematics of soft sets.
Rough Approximations on Hesitant Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Deepak D. , John Sunil Jacob
Published: March 2016

Introduction of hesitant fuzzy rough sets would facilitate the use of rough set based techniques to hesitant fuzzy environment. Hesitant fuzzy rough sets deal with the lower and upper approximations in a hesitant fuzzy domain. For this purpose concepts of hesitant fuzzy relations are discussed first to create a theoretical framework to study hesitant fuzzy rough sets. The concepts of equivalence relations are discussed. Hesitant fuzzy rough sets and the properties of the approximations are discussed. The dual nature of the lower and upper approximations is proved. This chapter introduces the model of a hesitant fuzzy rough set which approximates a hesitant fuzzy set using a hesitant fuzzy relation.
Creating Generalized and Hybrid Set and Library with Neutrosophy and Quad-Stage Method
Authors: Fu Yuhua
Published: March 2016

Generalized and hybrid set can be created with neutrosophy and quad-stage method. Firstly the generalized and hybrid neutrosophic set is discussed. Secondly the combination or synthetical body of generalized and hybrid sets is named as “library” (various generalized and hybrid sets can be put into the related “library”); such as “mathematics library”, “physics library”, and the like. As for the constitution of “library”, the concept and methodology of a special “Four-library” are proposed. Neutrosophy and quad-stage method can also be used to solve many actual problems within the framework of “set” and “library”; for example, based on the analyses of one “Four-library”, jointly solving problem of advance of planet's perihelion with partial results of law of gravity and general relativity; and jointly expanding “uncertainty principle” to “certainty-uncertainty principle set”. Finally, we introduce the concepts of “variational principle of set” and “variational principle of library”, and establish a kind of “partial and temporary unified theory of mathematics so far”.
Refined Neutrosophic Sets and Refined Neutrosophic Soft Sets
Authors: Deli Irfan
Published: March 2016

Refined neutrosophic sets (RNS) are a generalization of a neutrosophic sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy multi-sets and fuzzy multi-sets. Similarly, refined neutrosophic soft sets (RNSS) are a generalization of a neutrosophic soft sets, intuitionistic fuzzy soft sets, fuzzy soft sets, intuitionistic fuzzy soft multi-sets and fuzzy soft multi-sets. These sets are a powerful general formal framework that has been proposed to present uncertainty, imprecise, incomplete, inaccurate and inconsistent information which exist in real life. This chapter will survey concept of RNS and concept of RNSS with basic definitions and will present an efficient approach for both RNS and RNSS. Also, the chapter will introduce an application of RNS in medical diagnosis problem, pattern recognition and an application of RNSS in decision making to illustrate the advantage of the proposed approach.
Triangular and Trapezoidal Fuzzy Assessment Models
Authors: Voskoglou Michael G.
Published: March 2016

In this chapter two new fuzzy assessment models are developed, the trapezoidal (TRFAM) and the Triangular (TFAM), which are proved to be equivalent to each other. These models are new original variations of the Centre of Gravity (COG) defuzzification technique, which has been properly adapted and used in earlier papers as an assessment method. The central idea of TRFAM is the replacement of the rectangles appearing in the graph of the membership function of the COG technique by isosceles trapezoids sharing common parts. In this way one treats better the ambiguous cases being at the boundaries between two successive linguistic assessment characterizations (grades). The corresponding idea of TFAM is the replacement of the rectangles by isosceles triangles. Two applications are also presented (students' and Bridge players' assessment) illustrating our results. In these applications the TRFAM and TFAM are validated through their comparison with other, already established, assessment methods.
Climate Change, Trade Competitiveness, and Opportunity for Climate Friendly Goods in SAARC and Asia Pacific Regions
Authors: Dinda Soumyananda
Published: March 2016

This paper examines trade performance of climate friendly goods using some trade indices for South Asia and Asia Pacific countries during 2002 - 2008. Climate friendly goods (CFG) are those goods which are less harmful to environment. Paper identifies performance of Asia Pacific region in CFG trade with other nations. Most of the countries in Asia are importers of climate friendly goods and technologies. The Comparative advantage analyses indicate that Hong Kong, China, and Japan have comparative advantage in the production of CFG goods. Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, and India prefer to trade in CFG regionally and have shown interest in production and trade of clean coal technologies (CCT). East and South East Asia regions have comparative advantage in Solar Photovoltaic Systems (SPVS) and Energy Efficient Lighting (EEL). Japan, China, Malaysia and Macao show good in 2008 for SPVS.
Effect of National Culture on Development of International Business in the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: March 2016

Today, no business can be local or national due to the effects of globalization. The world of business has become international. However, extant business literature ignores links between national culture and technology development and international business, although in reality all three are interdependent or least they are characterized by a cyclical co-dependence and co-influence. In the modern world, superior technologies enhance economic development, and technology transfer allows many emerging markets to grow significantly as seen in Asia or the Persian Gulf. Simultaneously, different cultures exhibit different levels of technological development in the Arab world commonly referred to as the Gulf. Among the Gulf, the Sultanate of Oman occupies a prime position in terms of the economic, social, and developmental strides made in the last three decades. How the Sultanate's national culture has played a significant role for development of international business is the core of this chapter.
Entrepreneurship, Firm Internationalization and Regional Development
Authors: Gonçalves Tânia , Gouveia Sofia , Teixeira Mário Sérgio
Published: March 2016

The aim of this chapter is to provide a broad understanding of the relationship between entrepreneurship, the internationalization of firms and regional development. It will present a literature review of the internationalization process, attending to related concepts and internationalization theories, and examine the traditional approach versus new patterns of internationalization. In the field of entrepreneurship it will consider the entrepreneurial orientation as a measure of a firm´s entrepreneurship and the relationship with its internationalization. In sum, this chapter aims to reach an understanding of how the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including clusters and networks, as well as entrepreneurial orientation developed by firms, contribute to internationalization of the firm, and the possible regional impacts resulting from entrepreneurship and internationalization.