bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Repeated Application of Wetting Agents on Soil Water Repellency and Microbial Community
Authors: Song Enzhan , Pan Xiaowei , Kremer Robert J. , Goyne Keith W. , Anderson Stephen H. , Xiong Xi
Published: August 2019

Wetting agents are the primary tool used to control soil water repellency (SWR) and localized dry spot (LDS), especially on sand-based soils. However, the effect of repeated applications of wetting agents on soil microbial populations is unknown. This two-year field experiment investigated six wetting agents representing different chemistry effects on a creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) putting green with existing SWR. Four out of the six wetting agents improved soil volumetric water content in the second growing season, while others showed no effect. This result was negatively correlated to the development of LDS, and positively correlated to occurrence of an air-borne turf disease. Soil microbial populations, determined by soil phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, found that none of the treatments applied caused a shift in microbial populations between fungi and bacteria, or gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The stress indicators such as saturated to mono-unsaturated fatty acids were not affected by the wetting agents applied as well. However, the wetting agent that contains alkyl block polymers (ABP; Matador) with proven capability for removal of soil organic coatings showed inhibition of microbial populations at one evaluation timing. This result suggested a temporary restriction in soil carbon availability for soil microorganisms following repeated ABP application, which likely contributed to the elevated LDS development observed. Another wetting agent, a combined product of a nonionic surfactant plus acidifiers (NIS; pHAcid), which is designed to reduce inorganic carbonates while enhancing wetting, elevated all soil microbial populations tested at the end of the experiment, indicating a desirable improvement in soil health. However, repeated application of NIS did not reduce SWR at the conclusion of this experiment, which, in combination with a previous report, suggested a minimal disturbance of soil organic coatings of the hydrophobic sand. Overall, this experiment suggested that soil microbial populations can be affected by wetting agents which may further influence SWR, yet the actual effect on soil microorganisms varies depending on the chemistry of the wetting agents.
Comparison on Multi-Scale Urban Expansion Derived from Nightlight Imagery between China and India
Authors: Zhou Liang , Sun Qinke , Dang Xuewei , Wang Shaohua
Published: August 2019

“The Dragon and the Elephant” between China and India is an important manifestation of global multipolarization in the 21st century. As engines of global economic growth, the two rising powers have followed similar courses of development but possess important differences in modes of development and urban development, which have attracted the widespread attention of scholars. From a geospatial perspective, and based on continuous annual night light data (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System, DMSP-OLS) from 1992 to 2012, this paper conducts a multi-scale comparative analysis of urban development differences between China and India by employing various approaches such as the Gini coefficient, Getis–Ord Gi* index, and the Urban Expansion Intensity Index (UEII). The results show that: (1) The urban land space of the two countries expand rapidly, with the average annual expansion rate of China and India being 5.24% and 3.85%, respectively. The urban land expansion rate in China is 1.36 times faster than that in India. Resource-typed towns in arid northwest China and the resource-typed towns in central India have developed rapidly in recent years. (2) The unbalanced development in India is more prominent than in China; and the regional and provincial development imbalances in China are shrinking, while India’s imbalances are improving slowly and its regional differences are gradually widening. (3) The spatial pattern of land use in both countries shows significant coastal and inland differences. The difference between the east, the central regions, and the west is the main spatial pattern of China’s regional development, while the difference between the north and the south is the spatial pattern of India’s regional development. (4) There are obvious differences in the expansion intensity of core cities between the two countries. From 1997 to 2007, the expansion intensity of core cities in China was relatively higher than that in India, while that in India was relatively higher than that in China from 2007 to 2012.
Addressing Uncertainty of Environmental Governance in Environmentally Sensitive Areas in Developing Countries: A Precise-Strike and Spatial-Targeting Adaptive Governance Framework
Authors: Ding Xiaohui , Zhou Chen , Zhong Weizhou , Tang Pingping
Published: August 2019

Endowed with distinctive natural ecosystems and abundant biodiversity, regional environmental governance in developing countries, especially the environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs), is facing the daunting task to ultimately divert their regional development mode towards sustainable fashion through governance transition. However, given their less-developed status in particular expressed by under-developed economies, unsound political regimes, low governance capacity, such task seemingly insurmountable. In order to approach the incompatibility between economic development and maintenance of the ecosystem services value, and understand the complex and interlocked nature of the regional institution system of ESAs in developing countries, an ecosystem services value-based adaptive governance model was introduced to identify the deficiencies and failures of existing regional environmental governance and establish innovative arenas and transition agendas for innovating and reframing regional institutions and modifying role of regional actor groups and governance mode in the process of decision making on environmental issues. Such approaches were conducted in a circular diverting process in order to facilitate the mode of regional development transforming towards sustainable development. For demonstration the process of application and effectiveness of this methodology, a case study was conducted in a typical ESAs—the Water Source Area of the Middle Route Project of the South–North Water Diversion Project in China. Through integrating the ecosystem services value (ESV) assessment into a wider framework of institutional change, the regional institution system innovation and reformation was directed by taking the ESV changes and pattern of its geo-distribution in the research area as indicators or clues. Compared with traditional proposals for administrative change, the methodology proposed in this study was not prescriptive or directive: Rather, an approach for influencing the direction and speed of transition through a series of steering and coordination mechanism. Therefore, this model is with the potential to be implemented by local communities in regions, especially ESAs in developing countries, to encounter with similar regional development challenges and complex, interlocking, and over-dated regional institutional system associated with environmental issues.
Lane-Level Road Network Generation Techniques for Lane-Level Maps of Autonomous Vehicles: A Survey
Authors: Zheng Ling , Li Bijun , Yang Bo , Song Huashan , Lu Zhi
Published: August 2019

Autonomous driving is experiencing rapid development. A lane-level map is essential for autonomous driving, and a lane-level road network is a fundamental part of a lane-level map. A large amount of research has been performed on lane-level road network generation based on various on-board systems. However, there is a lack of analysis and summaries with regards to previous work. This paper presents an overview of lane-level road network generation techniques for the lane-level maps of autonomous vehicles with on-board systems, including the representation and generation of lane-level road networks. First, sensors for lane-level road network data collection are discussed. Then, an overview of the lane-level road geometry extraction methods and mathematical modeling of a lane-level road network is presented. The methodologies, advantages, limitations, and summaries of the two parts are analyzed individually. Next, the classic logic formats of a lane-level road network are discussed. Finally, the survey summarizes the results of the review.
Acquiring and Geo-Visualizing Aviation Carbon Footprint among Urban Agglomerations in China
Authors: Wu Chuntao , Liao Maozhu , Liu Chengliang
Published: August 2019

This paper had two main purposes. One was to estimate annual total aviation CO2 emissions from/among all key urban agglomerations (UAs) in China and its changes patterns from 2007 to 2014. The second one was to visualize the aviation carbon footprints among the UAs by using a chord diagram plot. This study also used Kaya identity to decompose the contribution of potential driving forces behind the aviation CO2 emissions using Kaya identity. Especially, it decomposed factor CO2/gross domestic product (GDP), which is wildly used in Kaya identity analysis, into factor CO2/value-added (VA) and factor VA/GDP. Here, VA represents the tourism value added of the corresponding flights. The main results were: (1) The UAs developed a much bigger and stronger carbon network among themselves. (2) There was also an expanding of the flows to less densely populated or less developed UAs. However, the regional disparity increased significantly. (3) Compared with the driving factor of population, the GDP per capita impacted the emission amount more significantly. Our contribution had two folds. First, it advances current knowledge by fulfilling the research gap between transport emissions and UA relationship. Second, it provides a new approach to visualizing the aviation carbon footprints as well as the relationships among UAs.
Investigating Gaps in Perception of Wildlife between Urban and Rural Inhabitants: Empirical Evidence from Japan
Authors: Kato Eri , Yano Yuki , Ohe Yasuo
Published: August 2019

A decline in natural resource management by rural communities has significantly contributed to human–wildlife conflicts, especially crop-raiding, in Japan. Collaborative wildlife management between existing rural stakeholders and new urban stakeholders is essential to address this problem. However, differences in the perception regarding wildlife exist between rural populations, which have ample direct experience with wildlife, and urban populations, which lack direct experience with wildlife. Consequently, this gap in perception can potentially lead to conflicts between stakeholders during collaborative wildlife management. In this study, content analysis, which has been extensively employed to analyze qualitative data, was performed to elucidate the differences in perception of wildlife between urban and rural stakeholders. An online survey was conducted in December 2016 to understand the perception of wildlife by stakeholders, in which 1401 responses were received. The results indicate that the urban individuals did not have a comprehensive understanding of wildlife and any positive views were primarily abstract. Conversely, rural individuals had diverse perceptions, both positive and negative. Therefore, a novel perceptual gap-narrowing approach based on staged interactions with the rural environment, is suggested. Introduction to rural issues through field-based experiences to urban stakeholders is likely to the narrow gaps in perception between urban and rural stakeholders, in order to allow for efficient and collaborative wildlife management.
Between Environmental Utilization and Protection: Adolescent Conceptions of Biodiversity
Authors: Schneiderhan-Opel Jennifer , Bogner Franz X.
Published: August 2019

As human activities threaten biodiversity on a global scale, preventing further biodiversity loss requires scientifically literate and environmentally responsible citizens. Biodiversity education (BE) as part of education for sustainable development (ESD) may lay the foundation of fostering a sense of responsibility for biodiversity and its preservation among future generations. Meaningful learning depends on the integration of new knowledge into already existing student conceptions (i.e., students’ pre-instructional mental concepts and ideas of teaching subjects). Thus, assessment and consideration of student conceptions on biodiversity are of high relevance for the development of successful BE and ESD lessons. In the present qualitative study, we applied three open-ended questions in a paper-and-pencil format to assess adolescents’ pre-instructional conceptions on biodiversity, its benefits, and protection. Almost our total sample of 275 German 10th graders equated biodiversity with species diversity, revealing an only fragmented understanding of the scientific concept of biodiversity. Conceptions of the benefits of biodiversity were almost equally balanced between environmental and economic benefits. Notions of environmental preservation considerably outnumbered notions of environmental utilization in student conceptions of biodiversity protection.
The Influences of Government Subsidies on Performance of New Energy Firms: A Firm Heterogeneity Perspective
Authors: Liu Manzhi , Liu Liyuan , Xu Shichun , Du Mingwei , Liu Xianxian , Zhang Yanqin
Published: August 2019

Based on the empirical analysis of panel data on new energy listed companies in China, the relationships among government subsidies, enterprise research and development input (R&D input), and firm performance are explored to measure the impact of government subsidies on firm performance and the mediation mechanism of R&D input. In addition, the effects of the moderation variables of regional characteristics and state ownership are measured from the enterprise heterogeneity perspective. The results show that government subsidies have a positive promoting effect on R&D input; R&D input has a two-year lag positive effect on firm performance; government subsidies have a two-year lag positive effect on firm performance through the mediation role of R&D input. Regional characteristics and enterprise properties moderate the effect of government subsidies on firm performance. Government subsidies have a greater positive effect on firm performance in the eastern coastal areas than they do in mid-west coastal areas, and there is a crowding-out effect on the mid-west coastal areas. Government subsidies have a greater positive effect on the performance of non-state-owned enterprises than they do on state-owned enterprises. Suggestions are provided for the government to adjust subsidy policy and improve the performance of new energy enterprises.
Sharing Values for Changing Practices, a Lever for Sustainable Transformation? The Case of Farmers and Processors in Interaction within Localized Cheese Sectors
Authors: Millet Morgane , Casabianca François
Published: August 2019

International research and development organizations have acknowledged that localized agrifood systems, particularly geographical indications (GIs), are a lever for evolving towards sustainable agriculture. Such a premise is neither spontaneous nor systematic. Research and development organizations show their limit in proposing approaches to overcome this raised issue: The performance-based approach of sustainability, associated with a strict economical understanding of activities, is at stake. We propose the introduction of a values-based approach to the understanding of localized activities and their contribution to sustainability. We base our demonstration on the study of the relationships between stakeholders within GIs on a day-to-day basis: Corsica and Western Pyrenees (WP) are regions where traditional cheeses (respectively GI Brocciu and GI Ossau-Iraty) are produced with ewe milk. We build a typology of relationships between farmers providing the milk and dairies, based on the theory of worlds of worth (from industrial to artisanal). We cross-reference it with values given to milk and cheese. Despite the framing role of GIs, milk is mainly valued according to industrial criteria of quantity and sound farming practices have no weightage. However, artisanal and civic initiatives have emerged using raw milk and fostering more sustainable practices, notably based on organic farming. Though those initiatives are currently marginal, they might be promising seeds of change.
Yield and Quality Performance of Traditional and Improved Bread and Durum Wheat Varieties under Two Conservation Tillage Systems
Authors: Ruiz Magdalena , Zambrana Encarna , Fite Rosario , Sole Aida , Tenorio Jose Luis , Benavente Elena
Published: August 2019

The increasing spread of conservation agriculture demands that the next generation of wheat varieties includes cultivars capable of maintaining satisfactory yields with lower inputs and under uncertain climate scenarios. On the basis of the genetic gains achieved during decades of selection oriented to yield improvements under conventional crop management, it is important that novel breeding targets are defined and addressed. Grain yield, yield-related traits, and phenological and morphological characteristics, as well as functional quality parameters have been analyzed for six varieties each of bread and durum wheat, under minimum tillage and no-tillage. During the three-year experiment, the climatic conditions at the field trial site were characterized by low rainfall, although different degrees of aridity—from moderate to severe—were experienced. Differences were found between these two soil management practices in regard to the varieties’ yield stability. A positive influence of no-tillage on traits related to grain and biomass yield was also evidenced, and some traits among the examined seemed involved in varietal adaptation to a particular non-conventional tillage system. The study also confirmed some breeding targets for improved performance of wheat genotypes in conservation agroecosystems. These traits were represented in the small set of traditional varieties analysed.
Characteristics of Cyclical Fluctuations in the Development of the Chinese Construction Industry
Authors: Sun Yanfang , Xie Haiyan , Niu Xirong
Published: August 2019

In the course of operation, the construction industry will repeat deviations and adjustments to it equilibrium state. Understanding the development fluctuations of the construction industry is critical to the formulation of a country’s sustainable development strategy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the development trend and fluctuation periodicity of the construction industry, particularly the deviation and characteristics of the development. In this paper, based on the H-P filtering method, the residual method for measurement of macro-economic cycle fluctuation is used to divide the periodic fluctuation of the Chinese construction industry into five rounds of economic cycles since the reform and opening up. The results are tested by a random test model and a self-correlation coefficient test model. The longitudinal time-series of data investigated in this research is the constant-price, gross output values of the construction industry in China in the period of 1980–2017 for a total of 38 years based on the national annual statistics. The results of the mathematical test show that the peak or valley of the economic cycle fluctuation of the construction industry in China reappears about every seven years or so. It shows that since the reform and opening up, the peak position of the cycle fluctuation of the Chinese construction industry began to decrease gradually, the valley level began to rise gradually, the volatility showed a downward trend, and the construction industry cycle fluctuation entered a steady and smooth process. The results of this study provide new comprehension of the development trend of construction industry and build the theoretical basis for governments and enterprises to judge the future development trends when formulating the relevant policies.
Financial Constraints, Trade Mode Transition, and Global Value Chain Upgrading of Chinese Firms
Authors: Chen Lin , Luo Sumei , Zhao Tian
Published: August 2019

China is facing the serious problem of ‘low-end locking’ in the global value chain as it becomes deeply integrated into world trade. Deciphering how to upgrade Chinese enterprises’ positions in the global value chain is crucial to China’s economic transformation and sustainable development. This study explores the feasibility of upgrading China’s global value chain from the perspective of financial constraints. Based on a theoretical framework, this study applies firm-level production data and trade data, using a documented method of measuring domestic value added at the firm level. Besides, we apply three methods to comprehensively measure the financial constraints faced by enterprises. In our study, we verify the findings of previous empirical studies that reducing financial constraints can significantly increase enterprises’ domestic value added, and this conclusion remains valid after considering various robustness tests. Our heterogeneity analysis indicates that easing financial constraints can significantly contribute to Chinese private enterprises’ upgrade in the global value chain, which could be related with “ownership discrimination” of Chinese banks. Finally, this study analyses the two mechanisms by which relaxing financial constraints could promote global value chain upgrading: (i) directly transfer enterprises’ trade mode from processing trade to general trade and (ii) allowing enterprises to climb up in the global value chain.
How to Transition from Cooperations to Cooperatives: A Case Study of the Factors Impacting the Organization of Urban Gardeners in Benin
Authors: Houessou Donald M. , Sonneveld Ben G. J. S. , Aoudji Augustin K. N. , Thoto Frejus S. , Dossou Smith A. R. , Snelder Denyse J. R. M. , Adegbidi Anselme A. , De Cock Buning Tjard
Published: August 2019

Urban gardening offers a viable option to improve diet diversity for the urban poor. Yet, its success rate is particularly dependent on the managerial capacities of urban gardeners to coordinate and organize collective actions for the successful exploitation of the gardens. The calls from governments to organize cooperative structures among farmers seem justified and merits a high priority on agricultural policy agendas. Although principles of cooperative structures exist, there is no blueprint available that indicates how to start a gardeners’ cooperation. Moreover, these collaborations need to ally with and build on existing social structures of the urban gardeners involved. Our research can contribute to this alignment process by exploring and comparing international standards of prevailing organizations and their functioning among 261 gardeners in two cities in Benin. We found that a vast majority of urban gardeners are members of a cooperation. Nevertheless, their membership is largely titular because gardeners mostly behave semi-autonomously and few decisions are taken collectively. The obvious economic advantages of leveraging bargaining power, reducing transaction costs, and increasing possibilities for loans are seriously underutilized. We suggest that capacity building can help to develop cooperation among urban gardeners to reach their full potential which, congruently, should also improve the livelihoods of the urban poor.
Landfill Site Selection Using MCDM Methods and GIS in the Sulaimaniyah Governorate, Iraq
Authors: Alkaradaghi Karwan , Ali Salahalddin S. , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Laue Jan , Chabuk Ali
Published: August 2019

A shortage of land for waste disposal is one of the serious problems that faces urban areas in developing countries. The Sulaimaniyah Governorate, located in the north of Iraq, is one of the major cities in the Kurdistan Region of the country, covering an area of 2400 km2 with a population of 856,990 in 2016. Currently, there is no landfill site in the study area that meets scientific and environmental criteria, and inappropriate solid waste dumping is causing negative environmental impacts. The process of landfill site selection is considered a complex process and is restricted by numerous factors and regulations. This paper proposes multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods in a model for landfill site decision. The model assumes the input of two groups of factors that need to satisfy the optimal values of weight coefficients. These groups of constants are natural factors and artificial factors, and they included thirteen selected criteria: slope, geology, land use, urban area, villages, rivers, groundwater, slope, elevation, soil, geology, road, oil and gas, land use, archaeology and power lines. The criteria were used in the geographic information system (GIS), which has a high capacity to process and analyze various data. In addition, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods followed by the weighted linear combination (WLC) method were used to derive criteria weightings using a matrix of pair-wise comparison. Finally, all the multi criteria decision methods were combined to obtain an intersection of the suitability index map for candidate landfill sites. Seven appropriate sites for landfill were suggested, all of which satisfied the scientific and environmental criteria which were adopted in this study.
Low-Cost Archaeological Investigation and Rapid Mapping of Ancient Stone Tidal Weirs in the Penghu Archipelago Using Google Earth
Authors: Luo Lei , Wang Xinyuan , Liu Jie , Zheng Wenwu , Zhen Jing , Zhu Lanwei , Liu Chuansheng , Wan Hong
Published: August 2019

This paper provides a brief history review of the use of ancient weirs in fishing on our planet, as well as a pilot study that involves investigating and mapping the coastal heritage of ancient stone tidal weirs (STWs) in the Penghu Archipelago which is located in the Taiwan Strait. The spatial distribution and morphological features of STWs across Penghu Archipelago were investigated and analyzed using very high-resolution (VHR) and freely available Google Earth (GE) imagery and geographic information system (GIS) analysis tools. A total of 539 ground-truthed STWs were identified from multiple temporal GE images, and these accounted for over 90% of the localized inventory databases. The proposed GE-based method was found to be more efficient, timely and effective compared to field and airborne surveys. This paper illustrates the utility of GE as a source of freely available VHR remote sensing imagery for archaeological surveys and heritage sustainability in coastal areas.
Analysis of Production Safety in the Construction Industry of China in 2018
Authors: Zhou Xin-Hui , Shen Shui-Long , Xu Ye-Shuang , Zhou An-Nan
Published: August 2019

Construction accidents are a significant hazard to the community, affecting sustainable development. This paper summarizes the safety situation of the construction industry in China over the past ten years. Detailed analysis is performed on fatal accidents that occurred in 2018 to reveal the spatiotemporal distribution pattern and characters of construction safety accidents. The construction failures are mainly attributed to management aspects rather than technical aspects. A case involving a major accident during shield tunnel construction in Foshan, Guangdong, in 2018 is investigated in detail. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is used to analyze the management issues of the Foshan metro project during planning, geological investigation, design, and implementation of construction works. The SEA result shows that the safety risk was very high with a low total SEA score. Based on the analysis, a guideline for safety construction management for sustainability is proposed.
Global Optimality under Internet of Vehicles: Strategy to Improve Traffic Safety and Reduce Energy Dissipation
Authors: Tan Jinhua , Gong Li , Qin Xuqian
Published: August 2019

Internet of Vehicles (IoV), which enables information exchange among vehicles, infrastructures and environment, is considered to have great potential for improving traffic. However, information delays may lead to driver’s incorrect operations and have a negative impact on traffic flow. To improve traffic safety and reduce energy dissipation under IoV conditions, this paper intends to explore a more favorable driving strategy, which may weaken the adverse effects of information delays. This study regarding driving strategy is based on an improved car-following model with consideration of Global Optimality (GO-FVD model). Linear stability analysis and numerical simulations are carried out to explore the effects of Global Optimality on traffic flow. Results confirm that Global Optimality contributes to enhancing the stability and safety of traffic flow as well as depressing the energy dissipation. In particular, it is more suitable for the low-density traffic to account for Global Optimality. These results can provide theoretical support for the development of favorable driving strategy under IoV conditions, which will promote the sustainable development of intelligent transportation.
Efficiency Evaluation of Atmospheric Pollutants Emission in Zhejiang Province China: A DEA-Malmquist Based Approach
Authors: Lu Ying-yu , He Yue , Wang Bo , Ye Shuang-shuang , Hua Yidi , Ding Lei
Published: August 2019

In order to sustainably and reasonably evaluate the characteristics and efficiency of regional atmospheric environment, this paper calculated the atmospheric environmental efficiency and regional differences, which is based on the non-radial directional distance function DEA model, among 11 cities in Zhejiang Province from 2006 to 2016 in both static and dynamic dimensions. Compared with existing researches, the atmospheric environmental efficiency evaluation system constructed in this paper not only considered the development of regional economy, but also focused on the air quality output so as to constrain the emission of atmospheric pollutants. The results showed that the average value of the static efficiency of atmospheric environment in Zhejiang was 0.6824 over the past ten years, and there was still about 32 percentage difference from the production frontier. The room for improvement in pollution reduction and control was still huge. The pure technical efficiency was the main factor to impede the improvement of atmospheric environment’s static efficiency in Zhejiang. Meanwhile the dynamic efficiency of atmospheric environment in Zhejiang reached an average annual rate of 7.60%, with a cumulative increase of 93.28%. As well, there were significant urban differences in the growth rate, of which Hangzhou was the fastest, followed by Ningbo and Jiaxing. The improvement of atmospheric environmental efficiency was mainly driven by technological advancement and scale efficiency expansion. The distribution of 11 cities in the four high and low environmental efficiency matrices was relatively uniform, and there was no “Matthew Effect” of H/H or L/L polarization. In the future, Zhejiang needs to formulate corresponding measures to control the atmospheric pollution by fully considering the actual conditions at different cities, and effectively strengthen the environmental management exchanges and collaboration within the province to enhance the overall atmospheric environment efficiency.
AHP-TOPSIS-Based Evaluation of the Relative Performance of Multiple Neighborhood Renewal Projects: A Case Study in Nanjing, China
Authors: Zhu Shiyao , Li Dezhi , Feng Haibo , Gu Tiantian , Zhu Jiawei
Published: August 2019

With the rapid development of urbanization worldwide, there is a large volume of neighborhoods that need to be renewed with various problems such as poor building performance, few public facilities, congested road traffic, unequal living standards, disappearing community culture, and deprived environments. Performance evaluations are considered to be useful tools for ensuring the outcomes of sustainable renewal. Although many research works have assessed the performances of urban renewal projects, evaluations, especially for neighborhood renewal projects, are often overlooked. Besides, it is also hard to find a general standard that is suitable for evaluating the performance of any neighborhood renewal project with a lack of related regulations or codes. Thus, this paper intends to build a framework to assess the relative performances of multiple neighborhood renewal projects through a hybrid AHP-TOPSIS method. A case study in Nanjing, China, is used to show how this framework could be applied to decision-making in order to pursue sustainable neighborhood renewal. The results are expected to provide references for sustainable renewal in each neighborhood. Suggestions related to the findings are proposed to further improve the performances of neighborhood renewal projects, such as establishing a multiple principle–agent framework, providing a sustainable funding system from both the public and private sector, and implementing multiprogram management measures.
Rural Poverty Identification and Comprehensive Poverty Assessment Based on Quality-of-Life: The Case of Gansu Province (China)
Authors: Ma Libang , Che Xinglong , Zhang Junhui , Fang Fang , Chen Meimei
Published: August 2019

Rural poverty has received extensive attention worldwide. Eliminating poverty and achieving common prosperity are the major tasks for China to build a well-off society in an all-round way. Based on the evaluation results of quality of rural life (QRL) and relative poverty index (RPI), this paper identifies and classifies the poor objects using importance–Performance analysis (IPA) method and poverty degree model. The results were as following: (1) QRL has obvious regional differences, and its value gradually decreases from west to east, which is opposite to the spatial distribution pattern of RPI. In areas with high QRL value, the RPI is lower. (2) Fifty counties and districts are clustered in the second quadrant of IPA quadrant map, i.e., Low QRL-High RPI, and the lower quality-of-life corresponds to the higher degree of relative poverty. (3) The coincidence between the poverty-stricken counties and the poverty-stricken counties of the country identified as 84.48% by IPA method, which indicates that the accuracy of poverty delineation based on income is high. (4) Gansu Province is dominated by highly impoverished areas, accounting for 60% of the total number of impoverished counties. The results of comprehensive poverty classification are in line with the actual situation of impoverished counties. In counties with higher CPL, the poverty level is deeper. It is more difficult to get rid of poverty. This study can provide theoretical basis and decision-making reference for the formulation and implementation of Poverty Alleviation Policies in the late stage of underdeveloped areas in western China.
Image Enhancement Using Modified Histogram and Log-Exp Transformation
Authors: Zhuang Liyun , Guan Yepeng
Published: August 2019

An effective method to enhance the contrast of digital images is proposed in this paper. A histogram function is developed to make the histogram curve smoother, which can be used to avoid the loss of information in the processed image. Besides the histogram function, an adaptive gamma correction for the histogram is proposed to stretch the brightness contrast. Moreover, the log-exp transformation strategy is presented to progressively increase the low intensity while suppressing the decrement of the high intensity. In order to further widen the dynamic range of the image, the nonlinear normalization transformation is put forward to make the output image more natural and clearer. In the experiment on non-uniform illumination images, the average contrast per pixel (CPP), root mean square (RMS), and discrete entropy (DE) metrics of the developed approach are shown to be superior to selected state-of-the-art methods.
Generalized Fixed-Point Results for Almost (α,Fσ)-Contractions with Applications to Fredholm Integral Inclusions
Authors: Al-Mezel Saleh Abdullah , Ahmad Jamshaid
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this article is to define almost ( α , F σ ) -contractions and establish some generalized fixed-point results for a new class of contractive conditions in the setting of complete metric spaces. In application, we apply our fixed-point theorem to prove the existence theorem for Fredholm integral inclusions ϖ ( t ) ∈ f ( t ) + ∫ 0 1 K ( t , s , x ( s ) ) ϑ s , t ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] where f ∈ C [ 0 , 1 ] is a given real-valued function and K : [ 0 , 1 ] × [ 0 , 1 ] × R → K c v ( R ) is a given multivalued operator, where K c v represents the family of nonempty compact and convex subsets of R and ϖ ∈ C [ 0 , 1 ] is the unknown function. We also provide a non-trivial example to show the significance of our main result.
Rotation Sensing Lasers in General Relativity: Some Technical Notes and Current Advances
Authors: Schreiber K. Ulrich , Gebauer André , Kodet Jan , Anyi Caroline L. , Wells Jon-Paul R.
Published: August 2019

We review the current status of large ring laser gyroscopes having the potential to contribute to terrestrial measurements of general relativistic precessions. At this point in time, although these devices possess the raw sensitivity for such a measurement, they remain limited by long-term geometric instability, detection noise and imperfections in the physical models required to isolate geophysical effects. Furthermore, minute non-reciprocal biases provide a null-shift error and therefore no currently constructed laser system meets the requirement of absolute rotation rate sensing. Nevertheless, we are of the view that these are surmountable problems and the ability of ring laser gyroscopes to measure low frequency to DC signals has vastly increased in the last decade.
Molecular Epidemiology of Dengue in Panama: 25 Years of Circulation
Authors: Díaz Yamilka , Chen-Germán María , Quiroz Evelia , Carrera Jean-Paul , Cisneros Julio , Moreno Brechla , Cerezo Lizbeth , Martinez-Torres Alex O. , Moreno Lourdes , Barahona de Mosca Itza , Armién Blas , Chen Rubing , Vasilakis Nikos , López-Vergès Sandra
Published: August 2019

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent arbovirus in terms of human public health importance globally. In addition to DENV epidemiological surveillance, genomic surveillance may help investigators understand the epidemiological dynamics, geographic distribution, and temporal patterns of DENV circulation. Herein, we aimed to reconstruct the molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of DENV in Panama to connect the epidemiological history of DENV dispersal and circulation in Latin America. We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological data obtained during 25 years of DENV surveillance in Panama. DENV was reintroduced in Panama in 1993 after a 35 year absence of autochthonous transmission. The increase in the number of total dengue cases has been accompanied by an increase in severe and fatal cases, with the highest case fatality rate recorded in 2011. All four serotypes were detected in Panama, which is characterized by serotype replacement and/or co-circulation of multiple serotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of datasets collected from envelope (E) gene sequences obtained from viruses isolated from human sera demonstrated that circulating viruses were highly diverse and clustered in distinct clades, with co-circulation of clades from the same genotype. Our analyses also suggest that Panamanian strains were related to viruses from different regions of the Americas, suggesting a continuous exchange of viruses within the Americas.
Inhibition of Influenza A Virus by Human Infant Saliva
Authors: Gilbertson Brad , Edenborough Kathryn , McVernon Jodie , Brown Lorena E.
Published: August 2019

Innate antiviral factors in saliva play a role in protection against respiratory infections. We tested the anti-influenza virus activities of saliva samples taken from human infants, 1–12 months old, with no history of prior exposure to influenza. In contrast to the inhibitory activity we observed in mouse and ferret saliva, the activity of human infant saliva was complex, with both sialic acid-dependent and independent components, the proportion of which differed between individuals. Taken as a whole, we showed that the major anti-influenza activity of infant saliva is acquired over the first year of life and is associated with sialic acid-containing molecules. The activity of sialic acid-independent inhibitors was lower overall, more variable between individuals, and less dependent on age. The results show that the saliva of very young infants can provide a degree of protection against influenza, which may be critical in the absence of adaptive immunity.
Discovery and Characterization of Novel RNA Viruses in Aquatic North American Wild Birds
Authors: Canuti Marta , Kroyer Ashley N. K. , Ojkic Davor , Whitney Hugh G. , Robertson Gregory J. , Lang Andrew S.
Published: August 2019

Wild birds are recognized viral reservoirs but our understanding about avian viral diversity is limited. We describe here three novel RNA viruses that we identified in oropharyngeal/cloacal swabs collected from wild birds. The complete genome of a novel gull metapneumovirus (GuMPV B29) was determined. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that this virus could represent a novel avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) sub-group, intermediate between AMPV-C and the subgroup of the other AMPVs. This virus was detected in an American herring (1/24, 4.2%) and great black-backed (4/26, 15.4%) gulls. A novel gull coronavirus (GuCoV B29) was detected in great black-backed (3/26, 11.5%) and American herring (2/24, 8.3%) gulls. Phylogenetic analyses of GuCoV B29 suggested that this virus could represent a novel species within the genus Gammacoronavirus, close to other recently identified potential novel avian coronaviral species. One GuMPV–GuCoV co-infection was detected. A novel duck calicivirus (DuCV-2 B6) was identified in mallards (2/5, 40%) and American black ducks (7/26, 26.9%). This virus, of which we identified two different types, was fully sequenced and was genetically closest to other caliciviruses identified in Anatidae, but more distant to other caliciviruses from birds in the genus Anas. These discoveries increase our knowledge about avian virus diversity and host distributions.
Deep Groundwater as an Alternative Source of Water in the Ogaden Jesoma Sandstone Aquifers of Somali Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Godfrey Samuel , Hailemichael Getachew , Serele Charles
Published: August 2019

Between 2015 and 2018, the Horn of Africa was affected by a series of climatic-induced events, namely El Nino, La Nina, and the Indian Ocean Dipole. These events modified the variability of rainfall patterns and resulted in extended periods of low rainfall, low recharge, and high evapotranspiration. That situation prompted humanitarian water professionals to finance the transportation of water from selected locations with high groundwater potential through water trucks to areas facing groundwater depletion and drought. To mitigate this, UNICEF identified alternative water supplies by exploring sustainable deeper groundwater sources. This paper describes a three-phase methodology of deep groundwater development of wells in the Ogaden Jesoma sandstone aquifers of the Somali region of the Horn of Africa, to a depth of 600 m below ground level. The methodology included the development of groundwater suitability maps using geological and remote sensing data, hydrogeological ground truthing of the maps, and then test drilling at the selected locations. The results concluded that the deep sandstone aquifer of Jesoma can provide fresh water with yields of 15 L/s to the local population of the Somali region. The study provided insights into deep groundwater identification and development as well as adaptive deep borehole drilling as a source for climate-resilient water supplies.
PROBLEMS OF FAMILIES WITH TERMINALLY ILL
Authors: Boycheva Tsvetka , Dimitrova Mariya
Published: August 2019

In recent decades, there has been a growing public interest in palliative care. This is dictated by the ever increasing number of people who need it. With advances in medical science and the development of new technologies, life expectancy has increased, but at the same time, the number of years spent in illness and suffering has increased. Still, death is not defeated, but pain and suffering can be relieved, and the quality of life of the terminally ill and their families can be improved. Palliative care is overwhelming. They target the patient and his family. They meet the psychic, social, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient, provide training and support to relatives. The family is a social institution that ensures the biological and social continuity of the human race. There is a correlation between it and health. Today it is impossible to function and develop properly without providing optimal health to its members. Diseases of a family member adversely affect his or her functions. Reproductive, economic and psycho-emotional function is impaired. A home is a place where one lives fully and most people prefer their care to be done at home. The needs of patients in need of palliative care are specific. Apart from a health problem, they also have spiritual, social and mental needs. The most frequent care of these patients is taken by a relative or a family member. In most cases, they lack the necessary skills, resources and time. This clearly shows that the quality of life of these patients and their families is not guaranteed. The purpose of this study is to find out what influence has the care of terminally ill on his family. The subject of the study is 602 persons, close to terminally ill in 30 medical institutions in the country. Within a six-month period from 01.11.2017 to 30.04.2018. With the help of a direct individual survey, how the care of the terminally ill is reflected in his family was identified. Statistical methods for data processing and analysis were used. Results: The family is experiencing great stress when there is a severely sick patient in it. The lifestyle of the whole family is changing. Negative emotions accumulate and social contacts are disturbed. Economic and social difficulties, lack of time and lack of knowledge and skills are major problems in families with patients in need of palliative care. Respondents want to participate in training for the care of the sick, need professional help and support to ensure a better quality of life for their close and normal family functioning.
THE ROLE OF THE PATRONAGE NURSE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS AFTER SPONTANEOUS DELIVERY OF PHI-CLINIC FOR GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS-SKOPJE FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2018
Authors: Saliha Sara , Panova Gordana
Published: August 2019

Postpartum health care starts after delivery at the maternity hospital, and includes screening during hospitalization, in her home in the early days through the patronage service, that is, education and giving advice to the mother. Next is a control examination after six weeks at the parent gynecologist. In the implementation of postpartum health care, patronage nurses have a very important role whose key tasks are controlling and monitoring the physiological events of both women and infants, especially in providing help in case of problems and education for the normal recovery process after delivery and possible difficulties and complications.