bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DFT Study of Azole Corrosion Inhibitors on Cu2O Model of Oxidized Copper Surfaces: II. Lateral Interactions and Thermodynamic Stability
Authors: Gustinčič Dunja , Kokalj Anton
Published: May 2018

The adsorption of imidazole, triazole, and tetrazole—used as simple models of azole corrosion inhibitors—on various Cu 2 O(111)- and Cu 2 O(110)-type surfaces was characterized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the focus on lateral intermolecular interactions and the thermodynamic stability of various adsorption structures. To this end, an ab initio thermodynamics approach was used to construct two-dimensional phase diagrams for all three molecules. The impact of van der Waals dispersion interactions on molecular adsorption bonding was also addressed. Lateral intermolecular interactions were found to be the most repulsive for imidazole and the least for tetrazole, for which they are usually even slightly attractive. Both non-dissociative and dissociative adsorption modes were considered and although dissociated molecules bind to surfaces more strongly, none of the considered structures that involve dissociated molecules appear on the phase diagrams. Our results show that the three azole molecules display a strong tendency to preferentially adsorb at reactive coordinatively unsaturated (CUS) Cu surface sites and stabilize them. According to the calculated phase diagrams for Cu 2 O(111)-type surfaces, the three azole molecules adsorb to specific CUS sites, designated as Cu CUS , under all conditions at which molecular adsorption is stable. This tentatively suggests that their corrosion inhibition capability may stem, at least in part, from their ability to passivate reactive surface sites. We further comment on a specific drawback due to neglect of configurational entropy that is usually utilized within the ab initio thermodynamics approach. We analyze the issue for Langmuir and Frumkin adsorption models and show that when configurational entropy is neglected, the ab initio thermodynamics approach is too hasty to predict phase-transition like behavior.
Novel EMD-Based Extraction Approach of Electric Field Fringe Impacts on a Micro Capacitive Displacement Sensor
Authors: Yu Jian-Ping , Du Hui-Lin , Li Xin
Published: May 2018

This paper presents an EMD (empirical mode decomposition)-based extraction approach to decouple the electric field fringe component impacts on the nonlinearity errors of a micro encoder-like capacitive displacement sensor. A calculated capacitance model built under Maxwell’s equations against the impacts of electric field fringe component indicates that signals of this sensor are all in periodic co-sinusoidal waveforms. Applying the proposed EMD scheme, signals are decomposed into sets of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a residual, in which a fundamental component represents all the features of sensor signal and reserves the local information. Interpreting sensor information from the extracted component instead of the original signal drastically diminishes the impacts of electric field fringe effect. Results from a test bench shows that after applying the EMD-based extraction approach, waveform errors were decreased from over 4.18% to less than 0.89%. Nonlinearity of the interpreted displacement was decreased from 1.54% to 0.29% for 8 mm stroke.
Residue and Dietary Risk Assessment of Chiral Cyflumetofen in Apple
Authors: Guo Jing , Li Minmin , Liu Yongguo , Wang Fengzhong , Kong Zhiqiang , Sun Yufeng , Lu Jia , Jin Nuo , Huang Yatao , Liu Jiameng , Francis Frédéric , Fan Bei
Published: May 2018

Ultra-performance convergence chromatography is an environmentally-friendly analytical method that uses dramatically reduced amounts of organic solvents. In addition, a robust and highly sensitive chiral separation method was developed for the novel chiral acaricide cyflumetofen by using ultra-performance convergence chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, which shows that stereoisomer recoveries determined for various apple parts ranged from 78.3% to 119.9%, with the relative standard deviations being lower than 14.0%. The half-lives of (−)-cyflumetofen and (+)-cyflumetofen obtained under 5-fold applied dosage equal to 22.13 and 22.23 days, respectively. For 1.5-fold applied dosage, the respective values were determined as 22.42 and 23.64 days, i.e., the degradation of (−)-cyflumetofen was insignificantly favored over that of its enantiomer. Importantly, cyflumetofen was unevenly distributed in apples, with its relative contents in apple peel, peduncle, and pomace equal to 50%, 22%, and 16%, respectively. The proposed method can be used to efficiently separate and quantify chiral pesticide with advantages of a shorter analysis time, greater sensitivity, and better environmental compatibility. Additionally, the consumption of apples with residue of cyflumetofen did not pose a health risk to the population if the cyflumetofen applied under satisfactory agricultural practices after the long-term dietary risk assessment.
Preparation and Antioxidant Activity of Ethyl-Linked Anthocyanin-Flavanol Pigments from Model Wine Solutions
Authors: Li Lingxi , Zhang Minna , Zhang Shuting , Cui Yan , Sun Baoshan
Published: May 2018

Anthocyanin-flavanol pigments, formed during red wine fermentation and storage by condensation reactions between anthocyanins and flavanols (monomers, oligomers, and polymers), are one of the major groups of polyphenols in aged red wine. However, knowledge of their biological activities is lacking. This is probably due to the structural diversity and complexity of these molecules, which makes the large-scale separation and isolation of the individual compounds very difficult, thus restricting their further study. In this study, anthocyanins (i.e., malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-glucoside) and (–)-epicatechin were first isolated at a preparative scale by high-speed counter-current chromatography. The condensation reaction between each of the isolated anthocyanins and (–)-epicatechin, mediated by acetaldehyde, was conducted in model wine solutions to obtain ethyl-linked anthocyanin-flavanol pigments. The effects of pH, molar ratio, and temperature on the reaction rate were investigated, and the reaction conditions of pH 1.7, molar ratio 1:6:10 (anthocyanin/(–)-epicatechin/acetaldehyde), and reaction temperature of 35 °C were identified as optimal for conversion of anthocyanins to ethyl-linked anthocyanin-flavanol pigments. Six ethyl-linked anthocyanin-flavanol pigments were isolated in larger quantities and collected under optimal reaction conditions, and their chemical structures were identified by HPLC-QTOF-MS and ECD analyses. Furthermore, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays indicate that ethyl-linked anthocyanin-flavanol pigments show stronger antioxidant activities than their precursor anthocyanins.
Effect of Source/Drain Electrodes on the Electrical Properties of Silicon–Tin Oxide Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Liu Xianzhe , Ning Honglong , Chen Weifeng , Fang Zhiqiang , Yao Rihui , Wang Xiaofeng , Deng Yuxi , Yuan Weijian , Wu Weijing , Peng Junbiao
Published: May 2018

Ultra-high definition displays have become a trend for the current flat plane displays. In this study, the contact properties of amorphous silicon–tin oxide thin-film transistors (a-STO TFTs) employed with source/drain (S/D) electrodes were analyzed. Ohmic contact with a good device performance was achieved when a-STO was matched with indium-tin-oxide (ITO) or Mo electrodes. The acceptor-like densities of trap states (DOS) of a-STO TFTs were further investigated by using low-frequency capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics to understand the impact of the electrode on the device performance. The reason of the distinct electrical performances of the devices with ITO and Mo contacts was attributed to different DOS caused by the generation of local defect states near the electrodes, which distorted the electric field distribution and formed an electrical potential barrier hindering the flow of electrons. It is of significant importance for circuit designers to design reliable integrated circuits with SnO2-based devices applied in flat panel displays.
Breakfast in Human Nutrition: The International Breakfast Research Initiative
Authors: Gibney Michael , Barr Susan , Bellisle France , Drewnowski Adam , Fagt Sisse , Livingstone Barbara , Masset Gabriel , Varela Moreiras Gregorio , Moreno Luis , Smith Jessica , Vieux Florent , Thielecke Frank , Hopkins Sinead
Published: May 2018

Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day and in recent years has been implicated in weight control, cardio-metabolic risk factors and cognitive performance although, at present, the literature remains inconclusive as to the precise health benefits of breakfast. There are extensive reports of breakfast’s contributions to daily food and nutrient intakes, as well as many studies that have compared daily food and nutrient intakes by breakfast consumers and skippers. However, significant variation exists in the definitions of breakfast and breakfast skippers, and in methods used to relate breakfast nutrient intakes to overall diet quality. The present review describes a novel and harmonised approach to the study of the nutritional impact of breakfast through The International Breakfast research Initiative involving national dietary survey data from Canada, Denmark, France, Spain, the UK and the USA. It is anticipated that the analysis of such data along harmonised lines, will allow the project to achieve its primary goal of exploring approaches to defining optimal breakfast food and nutrient intakes. Such data will be of value to public health nutrition policy-makers and food manufacturers and will also allow consistent messaging to help consumers to optimize food choices at breakfast.
The Development of a Community Pharmacy-Based Intervention to Optimize Patients’ Use of and Experience with Antidepressants: A Step-by-Step Demonstration of the Intervention Mapping Process
Authors: Santina Tania , Lauzier Sophie , Gagnon Hélène , Villeneuve Denis , Moisan Jocelyne , Grégoire Jean-Pierre , Guillaumie Laurence
Published: May 2018

Objective: To describe the development of a community pharmacy-based intervention aimed at optimizing experience and use of antidepressants (ADs) for patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Methods: Intervention Mapping (IM) was used for conducting needs assessment, formulating intervention objectives, selecting change methods and practical applications, designing the intervention, and planning intervention implementation. IM is based on a qualitative participatory approach and each step of the intervention development process was conducted through consultations with a pharmacists’ committee. Results: A needs assessment was informed by qualitative and quantitative studies conducted with leaders, pharmacists, and patients. Intervention objectives and change methods were selected to target factors influencing patients’ experience with and use of ADs. The intervention includes four brief consultations between the pharmacist and the patient: (1) provision of information (first AD claim); (2) management of side effects (15 days after first claim); (3) monitoring treatment efficacy (30-day renewal); (4) assessment of treatment persistence (2-month renewal, repeated every 6 months). A detailed implementation plan was also developed. Conclusion: IM provided a systematic and rigorous approach to the development of an intervention directly tied to empirical data on patients’ and pharmacists’ experiences and recommendations. The thorough description of this intervention may facilitate the development of new pharmacy-based interventions or the adaptation of this intervention to other illnesses and settings.
Substrate Effect on Carbon/Ceramic Mixed Matrix Membrane Prepared by a Vacuum-Assisted Method for Desalination
Authors: Song Yingjun , Motuzas Julius , Wang David , Birkett Greg , Smart Simon , Diniz da Costa João
Published: May 2018

This work investigates the effect of various membrane substrates and coating conditions on the formation of carbon/ceramic mixed matrix membranes for desalination application. The substrates were impregnated with phenolic resin via a vacuum-assisted method followed by carbonization under an inert gas. Substrates with pore sizes of 100 nm required a single impregnation step only, where short vacuum times (<120 s) resulted in low quality membranes with defects. For vacuum times of ≥120 s, high quality membranes with homogeneous impregnation were prepared leading to high salt rejection (>90%) and high water fluxes (up to 25 L m−2 h−1). The increase in water flux as a function of the vacuum time confirms the vacuum etching effect resulting from the vacuum-assisted method. Substrates with pore sizes of 140 nm required two impregnation steps. These pores were too large for the ceramic inter-particle space to be filled with phenolic resin via a single step. In the second impregnation step, increasing the concentration of the phenolic resin resulted in membranes with lower water fluxes. These results indicate that thicker films were formed by increasing the phenolic resin concentration. In the case of substrates with pores of 600 nm, these pores were too large and inter-particle space filling with phenolic resin was not attained.
Optimal Control Strategy for TB-HIV/AIDS Co-Infection Model in the Presence of Behaviour Modification
Authors: Awoke Temesgen Debas , Kassa Semu Mitiku
Published: May 2018

A mathematical model for a transmission of TB-HIV/AIDS co-infection that incorporates prevalence dependent behaviour change in the population and treatment for the infected (and infectious) class is formulated and analyzed. The two sub-models, when each of the two diseases are considered separately are mathematically analyzed. The theory of optimal control analysis is applied to the full model with the objective of minimizing the aggregate cost of the infections and the control efforts. In the numerical simulation section, various combinations of the controls are also presented and it has been shown in this part that the optimal combination of both prevention and treatment controls will suppress the prevalence of both HIV and TB to below 3% within 10 years. Moreover, it is found that the treatment control is more effective than the preventive controls.
The Effect of Non-Proportional Reinsurance: A Revision of Solvency II Standard Formula
Authors: Clemente Gian Paolo
Published: May 2018

Solvency II Standard Formula provides a methodology to recognise the risk-mitigating impact of excess of loss reinsurance treaties in premium risk modelling. We analyse the proposals of both Quantitative Impact Study 5 and Commission Delegated Regulation highlighting some inconsistencies. This paper tries to bridge main pitfalls of both versions. To this aim, we propose a revision of non-proportional adjustment factor in order to measure the effect of excess of loss treaties on premium risk volatility. In this way, capital requirement can be easily assessed. As numerical results show, this proposal appears to be a feasible and much more consistent approach to describe the effect of non-proportional reinsurance on premium risk.
Optimal Sub-Band Analysis Based on the Envelope Power Spectrum for Effective Fault Detection in Bearing under Variable, Low Speeds
Authors: Nguyen Hung Ngoc , Kim Jaeyoung , Kim Jong-Myon
Published: May 2018

Early identification of failures in rolling element bearings is an important research issue in mechanical systems. In this study, a reliable methodology for bearing fault detection is proposed, which is based on an optimal sub-band selection scheme using the discrete wavelet packet transform (DWPT) and envelope power analysis techniques. A DWPT-based decomposition is first performed to extract the characteristic defect features from the acquired acoustic emission (AE) signals. The envelope power spectrum (EPS) of each sub-band signal is then calculated to detect the characteristic defect frequencies to reveal abnormal symptoms in bearings. The selection of an appropriate sub-band is essential for effective fault diagnosis, as it can reveal intrinsically explicit information about different types of bearing faults. To address this issue, we propose a Gaussian distribution model-based health-related index (HI) that is a powerful quantitative parameter to accurately estimate the severity of bearing defects. The most optimal sub-band for fault detection is determined using two dimensional (2D) visualization analysis. The efficiency of the proposed approach is validated using several experiments in which different defect conditions are identified under variable, and low operational speeds.
Assessment of Performance of the Industrial Process of Bulk Vacuum Packaging of Raw Meat with Nondestructive Optical Oxygen Sensing Systems
Authors: Kelly Caroline A. , Cruz-Romero Malco , Kerry Joseph P. , Papkovsky Dmitri P.
Published: May 2018

The commercially-available optical oxygen-sensing system Optech-O2 Platinum was applied to nondestructively assess the in situ performance of bulk, vacuum-packaged raw beef in three ~300 kg containers. Twenty sensors were attached to the inner surface of the standard bin-contained laminate bag (10 on the front and back sides), such that after filling with meat and sealing under vacuum, the sensors were accessible for optical interrogation with the external reader device. After filling and sealing each bag, the sensors were measured repetitively and nondestructively over a 15-day storage period at 1 °C, thus tracking residual oxygen distribution in the bag and changes during storage. The sensors revealed a number of unidentified meat quality and processing issues, and helped to improve the packaging process by pouring flakes of dry ice into the bag. Sensor utility in mapping the distribution of residual O2 in sealed bulk containers and optimising and improving the packaging process, including handling and storage of bulk vacuum-packaged meat bins, was evident.
New-Generation BeiDou (BDS-3) Experimental Satellite Precise Orbit Determination with an Improved Cycle-Slip Detection and Repair Algorithm
Authors: Hu Chao , Wang Qianxin , Wang Zhongyuan , Hernández Moraleda Alberto
Published: May 2018

Currently, five new-generation BeiDou (BDS-3) experimental satellites are working in orbit and broadcast B1I, B3I, and other new signals. Precise satellite orbit determination of the BDS-3 is essential for the future global services of the BeiDou system. However, BDS-3 experimental satellites are mainly tracked by the international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment Service (iGMAS) network. Under the current constraints of the limited data sources and poor data quality of iGMAS, this study proposes an improved cycle-slip detection and repair algorithm, which is based on a polynomial prediction of ionospheric delays. The improved algorithm takes the correlation of ionospheric delays into consideration to accurately estimate and repair cycle slips in the iGMAS data. Moreover, two methods of BDS-3 experimental satellite orbit determination, namely, normal equation stacking (NES) and step-by-step (SS), are designed to strengthen orbit estimations and to make full use of the BeiDou observations in different tracking networks. In addition, a method to improve computational efficiency based on a matrix eigenvalue decomposition algorithm is derived in the NES. Then, one-year of BDS-3 experimental satellite precise orbit determinations were conducted based on iGMAS and Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) networks. Furthermore, the orbit accuracies were analyzed from the discrepancy of overlapping arcs and satellite laser range (SLR) residuals. The results showed that the average three-dimensional root-mean-square error (3D RMS) of one-day overlapping arcs for BDS-3 experimental satellites (C31, C32, C33, and C34) acquired by NES and SS are 31.0, 36.0, 40.3, and 50.1 cm, and 34.6, 39.4, 43.4, and 55.5 cm, respectively; the RMS of SLR residuals are 55.1, 49.6, 61.5, and 70.9 cm and 60.5, 53.6, 65.8, and 73.9 cm, respectively. Finally, one month of observations were used in four schemes of BDS-3 experimental satellite orbit determination to further investigate the reliability and advantages of the improved methods. It was suggested that the scheme with improved cycle-slip detection and repair algorithm based on NES was optimal, which improved the accuracy of BDS-3 experimental satellite orbits by 34.07%, 41.05%, 72.29%, and 74.33%, respectively, compared with the widely-used strategy. Therefore, improved methods for the BDS-3 experimental satellites proposed in this study are very beneficial for the determination of new-generation BeiDou satellite precise orbits.
VeLoc: Finding Your Car in Indoor Parking Structures
Authors: Gao Ruipeng , He Fangpu , Li Teng
Published: May 2018

While WiFi-based indoor localization is attractive, there are many indoor places without WiFi coverage with a strong demand for localization capability. This paper describes a system and associated algorithms to address the indoor vehicle localization problem without the installation of additional infrastructure. In this paper, we propose VeLoc, which utilizes the sensor data of smartphones in the vehicle together with the floor map of the parking structure to track the vehicle in real time. VeLoc simultaneously harnesses constraints imposed by the map and environment sensing. All these cues are codified into a novel augmented particle filtering framework to estimate the position of the vehicle. Experimental results show that VeLoc performs well when even the initial position and the initial heading direction of the vehicle are completely unknown.
Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW)-Based Wireless Temperature Sensor for Harsh Environments
Authors: Tan Qiulin , Guo Yanjie , Zhang Lei , Lu Fei , Dong Helei , Xiong Jijun
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a new wireless sensor structure based on a substrate integrated circular waveguide (SICW) for the temperature test in harsh environments. The sensor substrate material is 99% alumina ceramic, and the SICW structure is composed of upper and lower metal plates and a series of metal cylindrical sidewall vias. A rectangular aperture antenna integrated on the surface of the SICW resonator is used for electromagnetic wave transmission between the sensor and the external antenna. The resonant frequency of the temperature sensor decreases when the temperature increases, because the relative permittivity of the alumina ceramic increases with temperature. The temperature sensor presented in this paper was tested four times at a range of 30–1200 °C, and a broad band coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed antenna was used as an interrogation antenna during the test process. The resonant frequency changed from 2.371 to 2.141 GHz as the temperature varied from 30 to 1200 °C, leading to a sensitivity of 0.197 MHz/°C. The quality factor of the sensor changed from 3444.6 to 35.028 when the temperature varied from 30 to 1000 °C.
Factors Influencing Public-Sphere Pro-Environmental Behavior among Mongolian College Students: A Test of Value–Belief–Norm Theory
Authors: Liu Xianwei , Zou Yang , Wu Jianping
Published: May 2018

Value–belief–norm (VBN) theory provides a valuable framework for identifying the social-psychological determinants of various types of pro-environmental behavior. However, limited empirical study has tested the applicability of VBN theory in the western minority areas of China. Given Mongolian college students’ crucial role in promoting the sustainable development of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) of China, this study investigates how VBN clusters of variables, namely, values, the new environmental paradigm (NEP) and pro-environmental personal norms (PPN), influence Mongolian college students’ self-reported public-sphere pro-environmental behavior (PSPB). The subjects were 1034 Mongolian college students from three large public universities in Hohhot. A structural equation model (SEM) and bootstrapping analyses revealed that: (1) altruistic values have a significant positive influence on PSPB, egoistic values negatively influence PSPB, and biospheric values have no significant influence on PSPB; (2) egoistic values negatively predict NEP and biospheric values positively predict NEP, whereas altruistic values have no direct impact on NEP; (3) NEP has a positive influence on PPN; (4) PPN has a significant positive impact on PSPB; and (5) biospheric and egoistic values have an indirect effect on PSPB through NEP and PPN. The findings provided evidence for the cross-cultural applicability of VBN theory in a Mongolian college student sample. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed, and recommended directions for future research were suggested.
The Role of Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Cities: Technology Roadmap-oriented Approaches
Authors: Park Eunil , Del Pobil Angel P. , Kwon Sang Jib
Published: May 2018

Since the concept of a smart city was introduced, IoT (Internet of Things) has beenconsidered the key infrastructure in a smart city. However, there are currently no detailed explanations of the technical contributions of IoT in terms of the management, development, and improvements of smart cities. Therefore, the current study describes the importance of IoT technologies on the technology roadmap (TRM) of a smart city. Moreover, the survey with about 200 experts was conducted to investigate both the importance and essentiality of detail components of IoT technologies for a smart city. Based on the survey results, the focal points and essential elements for the successful developments of a smart city are presented.
Leveraging Post-Disaster Windows of Opportunities for Change towards Sustainability: A Framework
Authors: Brundiers Katja , Eakin Hallie C.
Published: May 2018

Disasters are catalysts for change: they are increasingly recognized as offering opportunities to direct and navigate change towards aspired outcomes, such as sustainable development goals. However, we know little about how to leverage the opportunities created by disasters to achieve sustainability objectives. Learning from existing case studies is challenging, partly because there is no framework that integrates concepts of change from both sustainability science and disaster recovery literatures. This study develops a unified analytical framework to facilitate the documentation and analysis of case studies of sustainability transitions following disasters. Our aim is to enhance the potential for theory-building, and to draw lessons that can be used to help leverage opportunities presented by disasters in the future. We apply the framework to available empirical cases and identify specific conditions, resources, social relations and constraints that affect disaster-to-sustainability transitions. Our expectation is that this framework will serve professionals and researchers in the fields of sustainable development and disaster mitigation to enhance the effectiveness of their research and applied activities.
To Cooperate or Not? An Analysis of Complementary Product Pricing in Green Supply Chain
Authors: Wei Jie , Wang Wen , Tsai Sang-Bing , Yang Xiaoli
Published: May 2018

This paper investigates the green supply chain pricing problem when two manufacturers sell complementary products to one retailer. Considering the manufacturers’ cooperation or noncooperation strategies, we first give the centralized pricing model as a benchmark. According to market power among the supply chain, we analyze two types of supply chains: supplier-led type where the green driving factor comes from the suppliers and retailer-led type where the core member retailer leads the green supply chain. We then give two decentralized pricing models through considering strategic cooperation between two manufacturers and different structures. Corresponding closed-form expressions for equilibrium pricing strategies are established. Finally, many valuable managerial results are acquired through comparing the profits and equilibrium decisions of these models. Our paper shows that consumers are indifferent as to who is the leader of the two echelons when the manufacturers adopt non-cooperative action; the two complementary products get the same optimal wholesale/retail prices, maximum retail margins, and maximum demands regardless of the manufacturers’ cooperation or noncooperation strategies.
Trend Analyses of Extreme Precipitation Events in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, China Using a High-Resolution Precipitation Product
Authors: Fan Jiao , Sun Wenchao , Zhao Yong , Xue Baolin , Zuo Depeng , Xu Zongxue
Published: May 2018

The Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB) is an important transboundary river basin in Tibet, China with south Asian countries. Changes in precipitation are important driving factors of river flow changes. Extreme Precipitation Events (EPE), in particular, have serious impacts on human life and sustainable development. The objective of this study is to explore the temporal changes and the spatial distribution of EPE over the YZRB in recent decades using a precipitation product with a 5 km spatial resolution and the Mann–Kendall nonparametric statistical test method. A more thorough understanding of the spatial heterogeneity in precipitation was expected from using this high resolution dataset. At both basin and pixel scale, both annual precipitation amounts and number of rain days had significant upward trends, indicating that the increase in the number of rain days is one possible cause of the annual precipitation amounts increases. The annual precipitation and number of rain days increased significantly in 50.8% and 75.8% of the basin area, respectively. The areas showing upward trends for the two indexes mostly overlapped, supporting the hypothesis that the increasing number of rain days is one possible cause of the increases in annual precipitation in these areas. General precipitation intensity and EPE intensity increased in the Lhasa regions and in the southern part of the lower-reach region. However, the intensity of general precipitation and EPE decreased in the Nyangqu River Basin. A total of 43.0% of the area in the YZRB exhibits significant upward trends in EPE frequency. The contributions of EPE to total rainfall increase significantly in the Lhasa and Shannan regions. Overall, it was shown that the risk of disasters from EPE in the YZRB increases in the eastern middle-reach region and southern lower-reach region.
Sustainable Economic Growth and the Adaptability of a National System of Innovation: A Socio-Cognitive Explanation for South Korea’s Mired Technology Transfer and Commercialization Process
Authors: Hameed Tahir , Von Staden Peter , Kwon Ki-Seok
Published: May 2018

Sustainable economic growth is closely linked to a national system of innovation’s (NSI) adaptability. The NSI of a country in catch-up mode is different than one at the technology frontier. In this exploratory paper we use a socio-cognitive approach to demonstrate that shared mental models (SMMs) need to change with the evolution of a NSI to sustain growth. For South Korea in particular, this insight offers a way for it realize better technology transfer and commercialization (TTC) performance and a new cognitive model for its TTC teams to transition to and operate at the technology frontier. We use cognitive mapping techniques to interpret the interviews of teams in South Korea’s public research institutes active in TTC. Their SMMs reveal that a top-down policy for catching-up NSIs reinforces SMMs around a linear commercialization process. Alternatively, the participatory policy approach of frontier innovation systems supports interaction and the active learning of their actors’ SMMs. This affords a wider variety of innovation and commercialization processes. Consequently, a policy of transitioning NSIs that remains top-down freezes TTC teams in their existing SMMs fettering growth. By extension, as a transitioning NSI, South Korea should adopt policy that reconfigures its existing SMMs to encourage a more open approach to TTC.
Sustainability Assessment in Development Planning in Sub-National Territories: Regional Development Strategies in Chile
Authors: Franchi-Arzola Iván , Martin-Vide Javier , Henríquez Cristián
Published: May 2018

In Chile, the increasing occurrence of socio-environmental conflicts demonstrates that Regional Development Strategies—Estrategia Regional de Desarrollo (ERD)—as the main development policy of subnational territories (Regions), must consider sustainability as a central objective. The Taxonomy of Sustainability constitutes an assessment method that allows us to determine the correlation between the definitions of these public policies and the strategies for transition to sustainable development. The ERD of the Antofagasta and Aysén regions are the ones presenting the highest Taxonomic Index; this indicates a higher strategic content for the promotion of sustainability. It is also noted that the political will that conditions the principles and values on which the ERD are based is strongly determined by investment projects and socio-environmental conflicts, which represent the tension between environmental protection and the capacity and interests of regional society in the development project.
An Empirical Research on Bank Client Credit Assessments
Authors: Chen Quan , Tsai Sang-Bing , Zhai Yuming , Chu Chien-Chi , Zhou Jie , Li Guodong , Zheng Yuxiang , Wang Jiangtao , Chang Li-Chung , Hsu Chao-Feng
Published: May 2018

Individual microcredit loans involve large quantities and small amounts and necessitate rapid approval, therefore making simple and fast application approvals rather critical. Creditors must evaluate clients’ credit status and default risk within the shortest time when determining whether to approve or decline their applications, preventing overdue responses that negatively impact bank profits and management practices, and could trigger domestic financial crises. This study investigates client credit quality criteria, focusing on the expert opinions of bank managers. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method is adopted to enable a comparison and analysis of the similarities and differences in how banks evaluate their clients’ character, ability, financial capability, and collateral. Based on causality and correlations among the criteria, we also identify the core problems and key improvement criteria in the evaluation system. Through survey results of professional managers from Taiwanese banks, this study uses the DEMATEL method to compare the differences in bank evaluation methods based on the four dimensions of clients’ character, ability, pockets, and collateral, as well as the corresponding 14 criteria. In order to improve the reliability and usefulness in bank client credit risk assessment, the assessment dimensions and indicators of bank client credit risk assessment are first discussed; second, the causal relationship and degree of mutual influence between different dimensions and criteria are researched and assessed; in the end, the paper discusses how to improve the function and the benefits of bank client credit risk assessment.
Sustainable Urban Development: Spatial Analyses as Novel Tools for Planning a Universally Designed City
Authors: Borowczyk Joanna
Published: May 2018

The aim of the research was to analyze the “design for all” concept as a key strategy for creating social sustainability. The paper attempts to answer the question: how can universal design contribute to the rational development of the city space? The author has taken part in participatory experiments. The research took into account various criteria, including the level of the city space’s adaptation to the needs and capabilities of persons with different disabilities. Analyses included qualitative studies concerning the possibilities of developing the social capital as well as creating and preserving a cohesive social structure. The analytic process allowed determining the means of raising the quality of urban planning. Finding effective and reliable analytical tools enabling the development of healthy cities which are compatible with the principles of sustainability could become both a great chance and a great challenge for urban planners. Transition from the microplanning to the macroplanning scale and following the principles of universal design at the stage of the formation of urban concepts using spatiotemporal modelling methods will lead to the creation of harmonious accessible spaces adjusted to the needs of present and future users, which will generate sustainable development and lead to the healing of a city.
Experimental Validation of External Load Effects for Micro-Contacts under Low Frequency, Low Amplitude Alternating Current (AC) Test Conditions
Authors: Mahanta Protap , Coutu Ronald A. , Tomer Dushyant
Published: May 2018

The use of micro-contacts has been demonstrated in various radio frequency (RF) applications. However, the premature failure of such devices under alternating current (AC) operations is still a hurdle to further development. In this work, modified gray scale lithography is performed to fabricate two types of gold–gold (Au–Au) micro-contacts: hemispherical-planar and hemispherical-2D pyramid. The performance of these devices was investigated under low frequency, low amplitude AC conditions with external circuit loads. A custom-made experimental setup which uses various load configurations, controls the frequency of the applied voltage and modifies the cycle rate of switch operation to obtain the contact resistance as a function of number of cycles (up to 107 cycles). Nearly 87% of the tested devices (13 out of 15 hemispherical-planar micro-contacts) were found to be in good operational condition and passed the 10 million cycle mark successfully. A steady gain and large swing in the value of contact resistance was also observed near the end of all, but one, tests. Such changes in contact resistance were found to be permanent as none of the devices recovered completely. On the other hand, the hemispherical-2D pyramid micro-contact performed better than the planar one as it also passed 107 cycle mark with low and remarkably stable contact resistance throughout the testing span. This study suggests that micro-contacts with ‘engineered’ surface structures with external loads applied are a viable solution to premature failure and high contact resistance in micro-contacts under low frequency AC operations.
Pharmacological Cyclophilin Inhibitors Prevent Intoxication of Mammalian Cells with Bordetella pertussis Toxin
Authors: Ernst Katharina , Eberhardt Nina , Mittler Ann-Katrin , Sonnabend Michael , Anastasia Anna , Freisinger Simon , Schiene-Fischer Cordelia , Malešević Miroslav , Barth Holger
Published: May 2018

The Bordetella pertussis toxin (PT) is one important virulence factor causing the severe childhood disease whooping cough which still accounted for approximately 63,000 deaths worldwide in children in 2013. PT consists of PTS1, the enzymatically active (A) subunit and a non-covalently linked pentameric binding/transport (B) subunit. After endocytosis, PT takes a retrograde route to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where PTS1 is released into the cytosol. In the cytosol, PTS1 ADP-ribosylates inhibitory alpha subunits of trimeric GTP-binding proteins (Giα) leading to increased cAMP levels and disturbed signalling. Here, we show that the cyclophilin (Cyp) isoforms CypA and Cyp40 directly interact with PTS1 in vitro and that Cyp inhibitors cyclosporine A (CsA) and its tailored non-immunosuppressive derivative VK112 both inhibit intoxication of CHO-K1 cells with PT, as analysed in a morphology-based assay. Moreover, in cells treated with PT in the presence of CsA, the amount of ADP-ribosylated Giα was significantly reduced and less PTS1 was detected in the cytosol compared to cells treated with PT only. The results suggest that the uptake of PTS1 into the cytosol requires Cyps. Therefore, CsA/VK112 represent promising candidates for novel therapeutic strategies acting on the toxin level to prevent the severe, life-threatening symptoms caused by PT.
Zearalenone Promotes Cell Proliferation or Causes Cell Death?
Authors: Zheng Wanglong , Wang Bingjie , Li Xi , Wang Tao , Zou Hui , Gu Jianhong , Yuan Yan , Liu Xuezhong , Bai Jianfa , Bian Jianchun , Liu Zongping
Published: May 2018

Zearalenone (ZEA), one of the mycotoxins, exerts different mechanisms of toxicity in different cell types at different doses. It can not only stimulate cell proliferation but also inhibit cell viability, induce cell apoptosis, and cause cell death. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the available mechanisms and current evidence of what is known about the cell proliferation or cell death induced by ZEA. An increasing number of studies have suggested that ZEA promoted cell proliferation attributing to its estrogen-like effects and carcinogenic properties. What’s more, many studies have indicated that ZEA caused cell death via affecting the distribution of the cell cycle, stimulating oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis. In addition, several studies have revealed that autophagy and some antioxidants can reverse the damage or cell death induced by ZEA. This review thoroughly summarized the metabolic process of ZEA and the molecular mechanisms of ZEA stimulating cell proliferation and cell death. It concluded that a low dose of ZEA can exert estrogen-like effects and carcinogenic properties, which can stimulate the proliferation of cells. While, in addition, a high dose of ZEA can cause cell death through inducing cell cycle arrest, oxidative stress, DNA damage, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis.
Current Strategies for Inhibition of Chikungunya Infection
Authors: Subudhi Bharat Bhusan , Chattopadhyay Soma , Mishra Priyadarsee , Kumar Abhishek
Published: May 2018

Increasing incidences of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and co-infections with Dengue/Zika virus have highlighted the urgency for CHIKV management. Failure in developing effective vaccines or specific antivirals has fuelled further research. This review discusses updated strategies of CHIKV inhibition and provides possible future directions. In addition, it analyzes advances in CHIKV lifecycle, drug-target development, and potential hits obtained by in silico and experimental methods. Molecules identified with anti-CHIKV properties using traditional/rational drug design and their potential to succeed in subsequent stages of drug development have also been discussed. Possibilities of repurposing existing drugs based on their in vitro findings have also been elucidated. Probable modes of interference of these compounds at various stages of infection, including entry and replication, have been highlighted. The use of host factors as targets to identify antivirals against CHIKV has been addressed. While most of the earlier antivirals were effective in the early phases of the CHIKV life cycle, this review is also focused on drug candidates that are effective at multiple stages of its life cycle. Since most of these antivirals require validation in preclinical and clinical models, the challenges regarding this have been discussed and will provide critical information for further research.
Should UK Pneumococcal Vaccine Eligibility Criteria Include Alcohol Dependency in Areas with High Alcohol-Related Mortality?
Authors: Mooney John D. , Imarhiagbe Michael , Ling Jonathan
Published: May 2018

A recently reported steep increase in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults in the North East of England was primarily associated with pneumococcal sero-types found in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). This region also has one of the highest rates of alcohol-related premature mortality and morbidity in the UK. Given that alcohol dependence is long acknowledged as one of the strongest risk factors for IPD mortality, we feel there is an increasingly compelling case to look again at the divergence of UK vaccine guidance from that of the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control in the USA, in the non-inclusion of alcoholism as an indicator condition that would potentially benefit from receiving PPSV23 vaccine. Such a re-think would represent a responsible evaluation of vaccination guidance in the face of newly emerging epidemiological findings and would have the potential to save lives in a very marginalised and vulnerable section of the population. We propose therefore that alcohol dependency (now referred to as alcohol use disorder), should be re-considered an indicator condition for receiving pneumococcal vaccine in North East England, where mortality from pneumococcal disease has been rising and which already has an excessive burden of alcohol-related mortality.
Usage du télécopieur : une nouvelle relation pédagogique dans l'enseignement à distance
Authors: Dudezert-Delbreil Marie-José
Published: May 2018

The use of fax communicating techniques, such as the fax, to ensure the pedagogical follow up of students attending distance courses, deeply modifies the relationship between learners and teachers and increases the efficiency of the whole system. Yet, the induced effects in terms of organization and cost are still to be measured.
Aide à la démonstration en géométrie : le projet Mentoniezh.
Authors: Py Dominique
Published: May 2018

Le projet Mentoniezh (géométrie, en breton) vise à développer un tuteur intelligent pour la démonstration en géométrie euclidienne plane, destiné aux classes de collège. Le système est constitué d'un résolveur pédagogique qui détient l'expertise géométrique et d'un tuteur qui guide et corrige l'élève tout au long de la résolution du problème. Il utilise plusieurs types de connaissances : des connaissances sur la géométrie, des connaissances sur l'élève et des connaissances pédagogiques. Cet article présente un exemple d'interaction élève/tuteur, décrit la modélisation des connaissances adoptées et présente les expérimentations du système réalisées au collège.
Du livre au texte : les implications intellectuelles de l'édition électronique.
Authors: Clément Jean
Published: May 2018

L'édition électronique introduit plus qu'un simple changement de support dans notre accès au savoir. En séparant le texte du livre, elle prive le lecteur de ses repères culturels habituels. Dans le même temps, elle nous invite à reconsidérer nos façons de lire et de penser. Sur CD-Rom ou sur Internet, le livre est déconstruit au profit de l'hypertexte. Ce qui se joue ici est une reconfiguration des rapports entre l'auteur, le texte et le lecteur sous le paradigme de la complexité.
MathXpert : un logiciel pour aider les élèves à apprendre les mathématiques par l’action
Authors: Beeson Michael J.
Published: May 2018

MathXpert est un logiciel conçu pour aider les élèves à apprendre l’algèbre, la trigonométrie et le calcul (dérivées, limites, intégrales...). Son domaine s’étend des manipulations algébriques élémentaires aux calculs de limites et d’intégrales les plus compliqués que l’on rencontre dans les études universitaires. Il est capable d’engendrer pas à pas des résolutions complètes de problèmes mathématiques, mais en fonctionnement normal, cette capacité est seulement utilisée pour assister l’élève dans le développement de sa résolution. Les principes de conception de MathXpert ont été dictés par l’usage recherché : favoriser l’apprentissage. Ces principes sont discutés, ainsi que la façon dont ils ont influencé la réalisation de MathXpert. L’article se conclut par une discussion portant sur le présent et le futur de l’utilisation de la technologie en général, et de MathXpert en particulier, dans l’enseignement des mathématiques.