bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variable Pulsed Irrigation Algorithm (VPIA) to Reduce Runoff Losses under a Low-Pressure Lateral Move Irrigation Machine
Authors: Al Al-Baaj Aymen , Lewis Andrew
Published: January 2019

Due to restrictions and limitations on agricultural water worldwide, one of the most effective ways to conserve water in this sector is to reduce the water losses and improve irrigation uniformity. Nowadays, the low-pressure sprinkler has been widely used to replace the high-pressure impact sprinklers in lateral move sprinkler irrigation systems due to its low operating cost and high efficiency. However, the hazard of surface runoff represents the biggest obstacle for low-pressure sprinkler systems. Most researchers have used the pulsing technique to apply variable-rate irrigation to match the crop water needs within a normal application rate that does not produce runoff. This research introduces a variable pulsed irrigation algorithm (VPIA) based on an ON–OFF pulsing technique to conserve irrigation water through (1) decreasing the runoff losses by considering the soil infiltration rate, surface storage capacity, and sprinkler wetting diameter; and (2) ensuring a high level of water distribution uniformity in the direction of machine movement. From a wide range of pulse numbers and widths tested applying a certain water depth to a sandy loam soil, the best solution that gives the lowest runoff and highest uniformity while delivering an acceptable water depth was selected. A MATLAB code was written to simulate the soil infiltration rate, the sprinkler application rate, and to apply the proposed algorithm. The simulation results showed a runoff reduction of at least 90.7% with a high level of distribution uniformity in the direction of movement while delivering the highest possible irrigation depth using the lowest number of pulses.
What Is This Sensor and Does This App Need Access to It?
Authors: Mehrnezhad Maryam , Toreini Ehsan
Published: January 2019

Mobile sensors have already proven to be helpful in different aspects of people’s everyday lives such as fitness, gaming, navigation, etc. However, illegitimate access to these sensors results in a malicious program running with an exploit path. While the users are benefiting from richer and more personalized apps, the growing number of sensors introduces new security and privacy risks to end users and makes the task of sensor management more complex. In this paper, first, we discuss the issues around the security and privacy of mobile sensors. We investigate the available sensors on mainstream mobile devices and study the permission policies that Android, iOS and mobile web browsers offer for them. Second, we reflect the results of two workshops that we organized on mobile sensor security. In these workshops, the participants were introduced to mobile sensors by working with sensor-enabled apps. We evaluated the risk levels perceived by the participants for these sensors after they understood the functionalities of these sensors. The results showed that knowing sensors by working with sensor-enabled apps would not immediately improve the users’ security inference of the actual risks of these sensors. However, other factors such as the prior general knowledge about these sensors and their risks had a strong impact on the users’ perception. We also taught the participants about the ways that they could audit their apps and their permissions. Our findings showed that when mobile users were provided with reasonable choices and intuitive teaching, they could easily self-direct themselves to improve their security and privacy. Finally, we provide recommendations for educators, app developers, and mobile users to contribute toward awareness and education on this topic.
Approach for Intuitive and Touchless Interaction in the Operating Room
Authors: Hurstel Alexandre , Bechmann Dominique
Published: January 2019

The consultation of medical images, 2D or 3D, has a crucial role for planned or ongoing surgical operations. During an intervention, this consultation induces a sterility loss for the surgeon due to the fact that the classical interaction devices are non-sterile. A solution to this problem would be to replace conventional devices by touchless interaction technologies, thereby enabling sterile interventions. In this paper, we present the conceptual development of an intuitive “gesture vocabulary” allowing the implementation of an effective touchless interactive system that is well adapted to the specificities of the surgical context. Our methodology and its implementation as well as our results are detailed. The suggested methodology and its implementation were both shown to be a valid approach to integrating this mean of interaction in the operating room.
Vortex Dynamics in Trabeculated Embryonic Ventricles
Authors: Battista Nicholas A. , Douglas Dylan R. , Lane Andrea N. , Samsa Leigh Ann , Liu Jiandong , Miller Laura A.
Published: January 2019

Proper heart morphogenesis requires a delicate balance between hemodynamic forces, myocardial activity, morphogen gradients, and epigenetic signaling, all of which are coupled with genetic regulatory networks. Recently both in vivo and in silico studies have tried to better understand hemodynamics at varying stages of veretebrate cardiogenesis. In particular, the intracardial hemodynamics during the onset of trabeculation is notably complex—the inertial and viscous fluid forces are approximately equal at this stage and small perturbations in morphology, scale, and steadiness of the flow can lead to significant changes in bulk flow structures, shear stress distributions, and chemical morphogen gradients. The immersed boundary method was used to numerically simulate fluid flow through simplified two-dimensional and stationary trabeculated ventricles of 72, 80, and 120 h post fertilization wild type zebrafish embryos and ErbB2-inhibited embryos at seven days post fertilization. A 2D idealized trabeculated ventricular model was also used to map the bifurcations in flow structure that occur as a result of the unsteadiness of flow, trabeculae height, and fluid scale ( R e ). Vortex formation occurred in intertrabecular regions for biologically relevant parameter spaces, wherein flow velocities increased. This indicates that trabecular morphology may alter intracardial flow patterns and hence ventricular shear stresses and morphogen gradients. A potential implication of this work is that the onset of vortical (disturbed) flows can upregulate Notch1 expression in endothelial cells in vivo and hence impacts chamber morphogenesis, valvulogenesis, and the formation of the trabeculae themselves. Our results also highlight the sensitivity of cardiac flow patterns to changes in morphology and blood rheology, motivating efforts to obtain spatially and temporally resolved chamber geometries and kinematics as well as the careful measurement of the embryonic blood rheology. The results also suggest that there may be significant changes in shear signalling due to morphological and mechanical variation across individuals and species.
Determinants and Impacts of Financial Literacy in Cambodia and Viet Nam
Authors: Morgan Peter J. , Trinh Long Q.
Published: January 2019

Our paper extends the literature on the determinants and impacts of financial literacy by conducting the OECD/INFE survey in two relatively low-income Asian economies—Cambodia and Viet Nam—and analyzing the determinants of financial literacy and the effects of financial literacy on savings and financial inclusion. Generally, our study corroborates the findings of studies of other countries, but uncovers some differences as well. The main determinants of financial literacy are found to be educational level, income, age, and occupational status. Both financial literacy and general education levels are found to be positively and significantly related to savings behavior and financial inclusion, and these results generally hold even when correcting for possible endogeneity of financial literacy.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Biomarkers in Clinical and Experimental Models of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Ore Ayokanmi , Akinloye Oluseyi
Published: January 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a term that covers a range of hepatic disorders involving fat deposits in the liver. NAFLD begins with simple steatosis and progresses into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) characterised by inflammation, fibrosis, apoptosis, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction and release of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Oxidative stress and antioxidants are known to play a vital role in the pathogenesis and severity of NAFLD/NASH. A number of oxidative stress and antioxidant markers are employed in the assessment of the pathological state and progression of the disease. In this article, we review several biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidants that have been measured at clinical and experimental levels. Also included is a comprehensive description of oxidative stress, sources and contribution to the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH.
Emotional Effects of Live and Recorded Music in Various Audiences and Listening Situations
Authors: Theorell Töres , Bojner Horwitz Eva
Published: January 2019

Background: We assume that the emotional response to music would correspond to increased levels of arousal, and that the valence of the music exemplified by sad or joyful music would be reflected in the listener, and that calming music would reduce anxiety. This study attempts to characterize the emotional responses to different kinds of listening. Methods: Three experiments were conducted: (1) School children were exposed to live chamber music, (2) two adult audiences who were accustomed to classical music as a genre listened to chamber music, and (3) elderly listeners were exposed to recorded classical music of a sad character with and without words. Participants were asked to fill in visual analogue 10-cm scales along dimensions of: tiredness-arousal, sadness-joy, and anxiety-calmness. Ratings before exposure were compared with ratings after exposure. Results: The strongest positive emotional responses were observed in the live performances for listeners accustomed to classical music. School children tended to become tired during the concert, particularly the youngest children. There was a calming effect among school children, but in the oldest category increased joy was reported. Conclusions: The findings indicate that emotional response to music varies by type of audience (young, old, experience of classical music), and live or recorded music.
Salvia mellifera—How Does It Alleviate Chronic Pain?
Authors: Adams James David , Guhr Steven , Villaseñor Enrique
Published: January 2019

Black sage, Salvia mellifera, can be made into a sun tea that is used as a foot soak to treat pain patients. The monoterpenoids and diterpenoids in the preparation penetrate the skin of the feet and stop the pain chemokine cycle, which may be the basis of chronic pain. Several chronic pain patients have reported long-term improvements in their pain after treatment with the preparation.
Long Non-Coding RNAs in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Butova Romana , Vychytilova-Faltejskova Petra , Souckova Adela , Sevcikova Sabina , Hajek Roman
Published: January 2019

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematooncological disease of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. While new treatment brought unprecedented increase of survival of patients, MM pathogenesis is yet to be clarified. Increasing evidence of expression of long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNA) linked to development and progression of many tumors suggested their important role in tumorigenesis. To date, over 15,000 lncRNA molecules characterized by diversity of function and specificity of cell distribution were identified in the human genome. Due to their involvement in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and differentiation, they have a key role in the biological processes and pathogenesis of many diseases, including MM. This review summarizes current knowledge of non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), especially lncRNAs, and their role in MM pathogenesis. Undeniable involvement of lncRNAs in MM development suggests their potential as biomarkers.
Polypharmacy and Psychological Distress May Be Associated in African American Adults
Authors: Assari Shervin , Bazargan Mohsen
Published: January 2019

Background: Compared to Whites, African Americans are at a higher risk of multiple chronic conditions, which places them at a higher risk of polypharmacy. Few national studies, however, have tested whether polypharmacy is associated with psychological distress—the net of socioeconomic status, health status, and stress—in African Americans. Aims: In a national sample of African Americans in the US, this study investigated the association between polypharmacy and psychological distress. Methods: The National Survey of American Life (NSAL, 2003) included 3570 African American adults who were 18 years or over. This number was composed of 2299 women and 1271 men. Polypharmacy (using ≥ 5 medications) and hyper-polypharmacy (using ≥ 10 medications) were the independent variables. Psychological distress was the dependent variable. Age, gender, socioeconomic status (education attainment, income, employment, and marital status), health care access (insurance status and usual place of care), and health status (multimorbidity and psychiatric disorders) were the covariates. Linear multivariable regression was applied to perform the data analysis. Results: Both polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy were associated with psychological distress. This association was significant after controlling for all the covariates. Conclusions: African Americans with polypharmacy, particularly those with hyper-polypharmacy, are experiencing higher levels of psychological distress, which itself is a known risk factor for poor adherence to medications. There is a need for a comprehensive evaluation of medications as well as screening for psychopathology in African Americans with multiple medical conditions.
Simulation Study on the Influence of Gas Mole Fraction and Aqueous Activity under Phase Equilibrium
Authors: Zhao Weilong , Wu Hao , Wen Jing , Guo Xin , Zhang Yongsheng , Wang Ruirui
Published: January 2019

This work explored the influence of gas mole fraction and activity in aqueous phase while predicting phase equilibrium conditions. In pure gas systems, such as CH4, CO2, N2 and O2, the gas mole fraction in aqueous phase as one of phase equilibrium conditions was proposed, and a simplified correlation of the gas mole fraction was established. The gas mole fraction threshold maintaining three-phase equilibrium was obtained by phase equilibrium data regression. The UNIFAC model, the predictive Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation and the Chen-Guo model were used to calculate aqueous phase activity, the fugacity of gas and hydrate phase, respectively. It showed that the predicted phase equilibrium pressures are in good agreement with published phase equilibrium experiment data, and the percentage of Absolute Average Deviation Pressures are given. The water activity, gas mole fraction in aqueous phase and the fugacity coefficient in vapor phase are discussed.
Multivariate Risk-Neutral Pricing of Reverse Mortgages under the Bayesian Framework
Authors: Li Jackie , Kogure Atsuyuki , Liu Jia
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we suggest a Bayesian multivariate approach for pricing a reverse mortgage, allowing for house price risk, interest rate risk and longevity risk. We adopt the principle of maximum entropy in risk-neutralisation of these three risk components simultaneously. Our numerical results based on Australian data suggest that a reverse mortgage would be financially sustainable under the current financial environment and the model settings and assumptions.
Safety Problems in Urban Cycling Mobility: A Quantitative Risk Analysis at Urban Intersections
Authors: Cantisani Giuseppe , Moretti Laura , De Andrade Barbosa Yessica
Published: January 2019

The attention to the most vulnerable road users has grown rapidly in recent decades. The experience gained reveals an important number of cyclist fatalities due to road crashes; most of which occur at intersections. In this study, dispersion of trajectories in urban intersections has been considered to identify the whole conflict area and the largest conflict areas between cars and bicycles, and the speeds have been used to calculate exposure time of cyclists and reaction time available to drivers to avoid collision. These data allow the summary approach to the problem, while a risk probability model has been developed to adopt an elementary approach analysis. A quantitative damage model has been proposed to classify each conflict point, and a probabilistic approach has been defined to consider the traffic volume and the elementary unit of exposure. The combination of damage and probability, permitted to assess the risk of crash, at the examined intersection. Three types of urban four-arm intersection, with and without bike paths, were considered. For each scheme, the authors assessed the risk of collision between the cyclist and the vehicle. The obtained results allowed the identification of the most hazardous maneuvers and highlighted that geometry and kinematics of traffic movements cannot be overlooked, when designing an urban road intersection. The strategy proposed by the authors could have a significant impact on the risk management of urban intersections. The obtained results and the proposed hazard estimation methodology could be used to design safer intersections.
Research on the Behavior of Factors That Influence the International Virtual Project Team Performance, Using Data Modeling Techniques
Authors: Dumitraşcu-Băldău Iulia , Dumitraşcu Oana
Published: January 2019

International projects have helped organizations around the world to better adapt to the new environmental conditions in which they operate, driven by the phenomenon of globalization. Electronic communication and information tools have enabled the creation of international virtual project teams (IVPTs), allowing team members to collaborate regardless of their geographic location or cultural, historical, socio-political, and educational differences. However, such an environment characterized by diversity will be productive only if the project team managers acknowledge and understand the behavior of influence factors comprised by the virtual environment, developing, accordingly, strategies that support team performance. In order to analyze the factors that influence IVPT performance, we used a C5.0 algorithm on the dataset through IBM SPSS Modeler software. Data collection was performed through an online survey, conducted within 107 IVPT members and managers, in order to answer the third question of the research. The predictive model created by the data mining algorithm revealed that the most important fields underlying the decision tree building were the cognitive skills training programs, team culture, and selection of IVPT members based on the characterisics of their national cultures. These results demonstrate the hypothesis that culture represents one of the most important factors influencing team performance.
The Current Status of the Fermilab Muon g–2 Experiment
Authors: Raha Nandita
Published: January 2019

The anomalous magnetic moment of the muon can be both measured and computed to a very high precision, making it a powerful probe to test the Standard Model and search for new physics. The previous measurement by the Brookhaven E821 experiment found a discrepancy from the SM predicted value of about three standard deviations. The Muon g–2 experiment at Fermilab will improve the precision to 140 parts per billion compared to 540 parts per billion of E821 by increasing statistics and using upgraded apparatus. The first run of data taking has been accomplished in Fermilab, where the same level of statistics as E821 has already been attained. This paper, summarizes the current experimental status and briefly describes the data quality of the first run. It compares the statistics of this run with E821 and discusses the future outlook.
Prevention and Control of Diseases at the Interface of Livestock, Wildlife and Humans
Authors: Kock Richard , Heuer Cord
Published: January 2019

Relatively few scientists are investigating health at the wildlife–livestock interface [...]
Enhanced hypertension care through private clinics in Pakistan: a cluster randomised trial
Authors: Khan Muhammad Amir , Khan Nida , Walley John D , Khan Shaheer Ellahi , Hicks Joseph , Sheikh Faisal Imtiaz , Khan Muhammad Ahmar , Ali Muhammad , Ahmed Maqsood , Khan Haroon Jehangir , Zachariah Rony
Published: January 2019

Background

Hypertension in Pakistan affects 33% of people aged ≥45 years, and in urban areas around 70% of basic health care occurs in private facilities.

Aim

To assess whether enhanced care at urban private clinics resulted in better control of hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and treatment adherence.

Design & setting

A two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted at 26 private clinics (in three districts of Punjab) between January 2015–September 2016. Both arms had enhanced screening and diagnosis of hypertension and related conditions, and patient recording processes. Intervention facilities also had a clinical care guide, additional drugs for hypertension, a patient lifestyle education flipchart, associated training, and mobile phone follow-up.

Method

Clinics were randomised in a 1:1 ratio (sealed envelope lottery method). A total of 574 intervention and 564 control patients in 13 clusters in each arm were recruited (male and female, aged ≥25 years, systolic blood pressure [SBP] >140 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >90 mmHg). The primary outcome was change in SBP from baseline to 9-month follow-up.

Staff and patients were not blinded, but outcome assessors were blinded.

Results

Nine-month primary outcomes were available for 522/574 (90.9%) intervention and 484/564 (85.8%) control participants (all clusters). The unadjusted cluster-level analysis results were as follows: mean intervention outcome was -25.2 mmHg (95% confidence intervals [CI] = -29.9 to

-20.6); mean control outcome was -9.4 mmHg (95% CI = 21.2 to 2.2); and mean control–intervention difference was 15.8 (95% CI = 3.6 to 28.0; P = 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings and separate process evaluation support the scaling of an integrated CVD–hypertension care intervention in urban private clinics in areas lacking public primary care in Pakistan.
STOCHASTIC INVENTORY CONTROL MODEL WITH TWO STAGES IN ORDERING PROCESS
Authors: Kopytov Eugene , Greenglaz Leonid , Tissen Fedor
Published: January 2019

The purpose of offered work is the construction of a stochastic single‐product inventory control model for the chain “producer – wholesaler – customer”. Given situation takes place in many transport and industrial companies. Criterion of optimization is minimum of average expenses for goods holding, ordering and losses from deficit per a time unit.
BIOBASED ECONOMY AVAILABLE BIOMASS RESOURCES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: Wegscheider Zdenek , Sabolovic Mojmir
Published: January 2019

During the past two decades academia, industry and government have aimed more and more their attention to the phenomenon of a biobased economy providing society with non‐food biobased products. Now developing are biomass industries that make an array of commercial products, including fuels, electricity, chemicals, adhesives, lubricants and building materials, as well as new clothing fibers and plastics. Instead of fossil resources “green” biobased economy uses renewable grown or waste biomass. The lead supplying role to the biobased economy is held by a sector of agriculture, above all the crop production. In this manner an effective limitation of food surplus may occur in the EU market and enhance a value added to all vertical industry.

Industrial‐scale production of biobased materials in time with consumers’ changing attitudes towards sustainable economic and social development may affect a wide array of consequences which nowadays can be tediously estimated. Food safety along with food security is one of the hottest issues especially in the United States, knowing that human population and biobased economy compete in using and processing a broad range of agricultural crops. An energy analysis aspect of this caloric relationship among agricultural sector on the supply side and human population and biobased economy on the other – demand side is assumed to represent the principal aim of this study.

Consequently, there is the need to evaluate whether a quantity of Czech Crop Output Total is possible to nourish the Czech population and whether there is an available caloric surplus suitable as a biomass resource for biobased economy which is actually taking root.
ENTREPRENEURS' EDUCATION: CRITICAL AREAS FOR THE PEDAGOGIC‐DIDACTIC AGENDA AND BEYOND
Authors: Grüner Herbert , Neuberger Lars
Published: January 2019

In the following article we aim to give the reader an insight into the problems we have encountered since we began developing a curriculum for entrepreneur education at university level. We have been able to find solutions to some of the problems faced. More interesting though seem to be the quandaries which crop up almost automatically when pedagogues attempt to formulate a programme of “Entrepreneur Education”. They give us occasion to critically reflect on some accepted standpoints, and should also open up interesting perspectives for the reader for his or her own consideration. As such we intend to spend more time on the quandaries whilst providing rather brief sketches of our solutions.

We hope to be able to offer a small contribution to the field in order to fuel critical debate in the discipline of Entrepreneurship Research and Education; debate whose aim is to effect critically constructive reflection on practice and existing knowledge, and forge innovative new paths towards the object of research.
SOME ASPECTS OF THE LITHUANIAN BANKING SECTOR TRANSFORMATION
Authors: Aleknavičiene Aušra , Tvaronavičiene Manuela
Published: January 2019

The paper deals with changes in Lithuanian banking sector, which occurred during the 1996–2005 period. Authors highlight main driving force – foreign direct investments (FDI) into sector. Structure‐conduct‐performance (SCP) approach for sector transformation analysis has been adapted and applied. Change of a set of indicators incorporated into presented variation SCP is being commented. On that basis authors evaluate transformations of banking sector in terms of number and capital origin of market players, sector expansion, concentration and financial performance efficiency. Assumption about more efficient functioning of foreign banks in less developed countries is being discussed; considerations concerning foreign capital impact, taking into account positive and negative plausible facets presented.
NUMERICAL MODELING OF KINETICS OF HEAVY METAL SORPTION FROM POLLUTED WATER
Authors: Paliulis Dainius
Published: January 2019

Water protection is one of the most important priorities of environmental protection. It is necessary to reduce pollution of wastewater in order to reduce pollution of drinking‐water and water pools. One of the most dangerous wastewater pollutants are heavy metals (HM). They have a negative influence on people and aquatic water systems. The paper analyses possibilities of the sorption method application for heavy metal elimination from waste‐water. Experimental investigation of HM sorption from water and numerical modeling usage possibilities for prognosis of the HM sorption kinetic process was carried out as well as experimental study of HM elimination efficiency dependence on sorption time of HM from wastewater, when using sorbents. Two pseudo kinetic models, i e the pseudo first‐ and second‐order models, were developed on the basis of experimental investigation. These models were applied in numerical modeling in the computer program PHOENICS. The results of the computer program PHOENICS and those of experimental investigation describing HM sorption from water were compared. After comparing the two pseudo models, it is determined that the pseudo second‐order model suits better for HM sorpti.
ANALYSIS OF EXHAUST GAS COMPOSITION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES USING LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
Authors: Mockus Saulius , Sapragonas Jonas , Stonys Agnius , Pukalskas Saugirdas
Published: January 2019

The problems of implementation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply systems are related with the fact that they are alternative systems used in engines constructed and optimized for work with other kinds of fuel. So assemblers of the systems have to evaluate power losses and at the same time ecological requirements. The experiment is devoted to the analysis of gas composition of engines working at different modes in order to specify the particularity of LPG system tuning and to obtain data for the evaluation of environmental pollution by numerical car dynamics models. It is estimated that the algorithms of current LPG systems balance between ecological requirements and optimization of external characteristics of engines, and the gas systems are characterized by a great inertia. Also, it is determined that more precise tuning algorithms must be constructed, and more tuning points and tuning, when an engine works in standard modes, must be foreseen.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF A FILTER WITH NATURAL SORBENT CHARGE FOR RUNOFF CLEANING FROM HEAVY METALS AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
Authors: Baltrėnas Pranas , Brannvall Evelina
Published: January 2019

An experimental investigation on the removal of heavy metals (HM) and petroleum products (PP) from a solution by natural sorbents zeolite and vermiculite was carried out in a laboratory pilot‐scaled test bench. For this purpose a model of a runoff filter which was invented by the authors was used. 25 kg of natural zeolite and 2 kg of vermiculite were used for the filter charge. An experimental solution of 20 l contained 1 g/l of HM Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Mn nitrates and 200 ml of PP gasoline and diesel. The solution was poured into the filter through a funnel and passed over natural zeolite and vermiculite media. The first sample was taken through a sample mixer tap immediately after the contact of the experimental solution with the charge media, the second sample was taken after 5 min, then after 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 240, 360 and 720 min. TOG/TPH analyser was used for measuring concentration of filtrate samples. The highest efficiency of 99,7 % was reached for PP removal from water.
CHANGE CYCLICITY OF VOLUMETRIC ACTIVITY OF RADIONUCLIDE 137CS IN COASTAL WATERS OF THE BALTIC SEA AND ITS POSSIBLE REASONS
Authors: Styra Dmitrijus , Kleiza Jonas , Morkūnienė Rasa , Daunaravičienė Asta
Published: January 2019

Monitoring of the volumetric activity of a radionuclide 137Cs in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea was carried out near the settlement of Juodkrante in the summer – autumn of 2004. Three measurement stages of the VA of this radionuclide were carried out and hydrometeorological situations were considered simultaneously. 137Cs VA change cyclicity was found out near the seacoast. Extreme data for the whole period of observation were 48 and 94 Bq/m3. Maximal values exceeded minimal data approximately two times, which practically coincided with the radioactive “background”. The method of mathematical modeling was used to find out possible reasons of 137Cs VA change near the sea‐coast. Because of lack of information about the location and power of a possible “source” of radioactive pollution, repeated calculations were carried out, assuming its various places of formation and various power, i e search of optimum coincidence of calculation and measurement data was selected. Optimum coincidence of theoretic and measurement results was found at the location of a radioactive “source” in the southern part of the Lithuanian sea area at a distance of 25–35 km from Juodkrante. The VA of the radioactive “source” was 5000 Bq/m3 in the summertime and 15000 Bq/m3 in October of 2004. Agreement of measurement and calculation results was satisfactory for all the observation stages.
ESTIMATION OF EFFECTIVE DOSE CAUSED BY 40K, 90SR AND 137CS IN DAILY FOOD
Authors: Butkus Donatas , Laučytė Inga , Ladygienė Rima
Published: January 2019

This paper presents 137Cs, 90Sr and 40K activity concentrations in daily food and an annual effective dose caused by these radionuclides. Samples were taken during the period 28 October 2004–23 June 2005 once a month in a students’ canteen of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU). The weight of samples varied from 1,37 kg to 2,26 kg, and an average weight was 1,89 kg. The volume of liquids varied from 500 cm3 to 1000 cm3, and the average was 816 cm3. The average of activity concentration of 90Sr in daily food from the students’ canteen was (0,03±0,01) Bq/kg, of 137Cs – (0,02±0,01) Bq/kg and of 40K – (34±3) Bq/kg. An annual effective dose caused by these radionuclides was estimated using measured activity concentrations in daily food and dose coefficients. An annual effective dose caused by 90Sr was in the range of (1,9–14)·10−8 Sv, by 137Cs – (0,47–6,2)·10−8 Sv and by 40K – (6,8–21)·10−5 Sv.
LUMINESCENCE STUDY OF DETERGENT OPTICAL BRIGHTENERS IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPING OPTICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROL
Authors: Balcers Ojars , Teteris Janis
Published: January 2019

Water quality and anthropogenic loads in many, but not all, cases are related. Some water quality monitoring programs analyse samples for the presence of Escherichia coli. These bacteria can come from humans and animals. Human‐attributable effluent contains optical brighteners (OBs) from detergents. A convenient and affordable optical quantitative method giving a linear luminescence outcome over several orders of detergent concentrations in the water solution is demonstrated. The proposed method uses the common presence of OBs in detergents. Detergent concentration in water can be used as a surrogate indicator of resultant anthropogenic loads in water bodies. The proposed optical method with linear outcome over several ranges of detergent water concentrations is described.
EXTENSIVE USE OF SOWN MEADOWS - A TOOL FOR RESTORATION OF BOTANICAL DIVERSITY
Authors: Sendžikaitė Jūratė , Pakalnis Romas
Published: January 2019

The state of sown meadow communities of different intensity of management (intensive and extensive using) over the period of 10–14 years of running was evaluated at Graisupis Experimental Field Station, Lithuania. Comparison of study data on intensively and extensively used sown meadows enabled to ascertain that intensity of sown meadows succession depends upon the character of grassland management. The positive correlation between the number of vascular plant species and sown meadow age revealed that botanical diversity of species in extensively used grassland restores much faster (rE = 0,95) than under intensive management conditions (rI = 0,59).
COMPOSITION OF FLAMMABLE MATERIAL AND AIR MIXTURES CORRESPONDING TO MAXIMUM FLAME PROPAGATION RATE
Authors: Kazragis Algimantas , Gailius Albinas
Published: January 2019

Relationship between the important fire protection indices ‐ flammable gaseous materials (or vapours arising from liquid flammable materials during a fire) concentrations in gas‐air mixtures at maximum flame diffusion rate - and stoichiometric oxygen molecule number in combustion reaction equation were investigated.

The obtained equation combining the above mentioned factors were used to calculate especially dangerous flammable organic material concentrations in combustible mixtures. The obtained data will allow undertaking preventive measures and evaluating various stored materials which are fire hazards at construction and military sites.
A COMPARISON OF THE PREDICTIVE POWERS OF TENURE CHOICES BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND RENTING
Authors: Lee Chun-Chang , Liang Chih-Min , Liu Yang-Tung
Published: January 2019

This paper compares the predictive powers of hierarchical generalized linear modeling (HGLM), logistic regression, and discriminant analysis with regard to tenure choices between buying property and renting property by sampling the residents of the Greater Taipei area. The results imply that the hit rate and other indicators included in HGLM have better predictive power with regard to tenure choices than the binary logistic regression model and the discriminant analysis model. That is, using HGLM to process nested data can increase prediction accuracy regarding household tenure choices. Furthermore, cross-validation is performed to analyze hit rate stability. The hit rate sequencing from this cross-validation is found to be consistent with the HGLM results, implying that the comparison of the three models in terms of hit rate performance prediction in this study is stable and reliable.
THE ECONOMICS OF PAPER CONSUMPTION IN OFFICES
Authors: Shah Iqtidar Ali , Amjed Sohail , Alkathiri Nasser Alhamar
Published: January 2019

This paper explores the factors potentially responsible for the overconsumption of office paper and estimates the adverse environmental and economic impact of overconsumption. Data were collected from the employees of selected higher educational institutions in Oman. Technical factors, workplace environment, printing preferences and lack of awareness were found the main cause of overconsumption. Environmental and economic impact of the paper was estimated from the actual amount of paper consumed using standard formulas from literature. The institutions have used 5,200 reams (13 tons) of 80gm A4 size paper in one year. The economic cost of the paper was 7,800 OMR (20,280 US$). The environmental impact estimated are: cutting of 312 trees, 73,970 Ibs of CO2 gas emission, 144,742 KWh of energy consumption, solid waste produced 29,614 lbs and 247975 gallons of water were wasted. Changing printing preferences, a significant amount of economic and environmental resources to the tune of 44.8% can be saved.
Radii of 88 M Subdwarfs and Updated Radius Relations for Low-metallicity M-dwarf Stars
Authors: Kesseli Aurora Y. , Davy Kirkpatrick J. , Fajardo-Acosta Sergio B. , Penny Matthew T. , Scott Gaudi B. , Veyette Mark , Boeshaar Patricia C. , Henderson Calen B. , Cushing Michael C. , Calchi-Novati Sebastiano , Shvartzvald Y. , Muirhead Philip S.
Published: January 2019

M subdwarfs are low-metallicity M dwarfs that typically inhabit the halo population of the Galaxy. Metallicity controls the opacity of stellar atmospheres; in metal-poor stars, hydrostatic equilibrium is reached at a smaller radius, leading to smaller radii for a given effective temperature. We compile a sample of 88 stars that span spectral classes K7 to M6 and include stars with metallicity classes from solar-metallicity dwarf stars to the lowest metallicity ultra subdwarfs to test how metallicity changes the stellar radius. We fit models to Palomar Double Spectrograph (DBSP) optical spectra to derive effective temperatures (T
eff) and we measure bolometric luminosities (L
bol) by combining broad wavelength-coverage photometry with Gaia parallaxes. Radii are then computed by combining the T
eff and L
bol using the Stefan–Boltzman law. We find that for a given temperature, ultra subdwarfs can be as much as five times smaller than their solar-metallicity counterparts. We present color-radius and color-surface brightness relations that extend down to [Fe/H] of −2.0 dex, in order to aid the radius determination of M subdwarfs, which will be especially important for the WFIRST exoplanetary microlensing survey.
X-Ray Properties of SPT-selected Galaxy Clusters at 0.2 < z < 1.5 Observed with XMM-Newton
Authors: Bulbul Esra , Chiu I-Non , Mohr Joseph J. , McDonald Michael , Benson Bradford , Bautz Mark W. , Bayliss Matthew , Bleem Lindsey , Brodwin Mark , Bocquet Sebastian , Capasso Raffaella , Dietrich Jörg P. , Forman Bill , Hlavacek-Larrondo Julie , Holzapfel W. L. , Khullar Gourav , Klein Matthias , Kraft Ralph , Miller Eric D. , Reichardt Christian , Saro Alex , Sharon Keren , Stalder Brian , Schrabback Tim , Stanford Adam
Published: January 2019

We present measurements of the X-ray observables of the intracluster medium (ICM), including luminosity L

X
, ICM mass M
ICM, emission-weighted mean temperature T

X
, and integrated pressure Y

X
, that are derived from XMM-Newton X-ray observations of a Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect (SZE) selected sample of 59 galaxy clusters from the South Pole Telescope SPT-SZ survey that span the redshift range 0.20 < z < 1.5. We constrain the best-fit power-law scaling relations between X-ray observables, redshift, and halo mass. The halo masses are estimated based on previously published SZE observable-to-mass scaling relations, calibrated using information that includes the halo mass function. Employing SZE-based masses in this sample enables us to constrain these scaling relations for massive galaxy clusters (M
500 ≥ 3 × 1014
M
⊙) to the highest redshifts where these clusters exist without concern for X-ray selection biases. We find that the mass trends are steeper than self-similarity in all cases, and with ≥2.5σ significance in the case of L

X
and M
ICM. The redshift trends are consistent with the self-similar expectation, but the uncertainties remain large. Core-included scaling relations tend to have steeper mass trends for L

X
. There is no convincing evidence for a redshift-dependent mass trend in any observable. The constraints on the amplitudes of the fitted scaling relations are currently limited by the systematic uncertainties on the SZE-based halo masses, but the redshift and mass trends are limited by the X-ray sample size and the measurement uncertainties of the X-ray observables.
Molecular and Ionized Gas Phases of an AGN-driven Outflow in a Typical Massive Galaxy at z ≈ 2
Authors: Herrera-Camus R. , Tacconi L. , Genzel R. , Förster Schreiber N. , Lutz D. , Bolatto A. , Wuyts S. , Renzini A. , Lilly S. , Belli S. , Übler H. , Shimizu T. , Davies R. , Sturm E. , Combes F. , Freundlich J. , García-Burillo S. , Cox P. , Burkert A. , Naab T. , Colina L. , Saintonge A. , Cooper M. , Feruglio C. , Weiss A.
Published: January 2019

Nuclear outflows driven by accreting massive black holes are one of the main feedback mechanisms invoked at high-z to reproduce the distinct separation between star-forming disk galaxies and quiescent spheroidal systems. Yet our knowledge of feedback at high-z remains limited by the lack of observations of the multiple gas phases in galaxy outflows. In this work, we use new deep, high spatial resolution ALMA CO(3–2) and archival Very Large Telescope/SINFONI Hα observations to study the molecular and ionized components of the active galactic nucleus (AGN)–driven outflow in zC400528, a massive main-sequence galaxy at z = 2.3 in the process of quenching. We detect a powerful molecular outflow that shows a positive velocity gradient before a turnover and extends for at least ∼10 kpc from the nuclear region, about three times the projected size of the ionized wind. The molecular gas in the outflow does not reach velocities high enough to escape the galaxy and is therefore expected to be reaccreted. Keeping in mind the various assumptions involved in the analysis, we find that the mass and energetics of the outflow are dominated by the molecular phase. The AGN-driven outflow in zC400528 is powerful enough to deplete the molecular gas reservoir on a timescale comparable to that needed to exhaust it by star formation. This suggests that the nuclear outflow is one of the main quenching engines at work in the observed suppression of the central star formation activity in zC400528.
Skynet Algorithm for Single-dish Radio Mapping. I. Contaminant-cleaning, Mapping, and Photometering Small-scale Structures
Authors: Martin J. R. , Reichart D. E. , Dutton D. A. , Maples M. P. , Berger T. A. , Ghigo F. D. , Haislip J. B. , Shaban O. H. , Trotter A. S. , Barnes L. M. , Paggen M. L. , Gao R. L. , Salemi C. P. , Langston G. I. , Bussa S. , Duncan J. A. , White S. , Heatherly S. A. , Karlik J. B. , Johnson E. M. , Reichart J. E. , Foster A. C. , Kouprianov V. V. , Mazlin S. , Harvey J.
Published: January 2019

We present a single-dish mapping algorithm with a number of advantages over traditional techniques. (1) Our algorithm makes use of weighted modeling, instead of weighted averaging, to interpolate between signal measurements. This smooths the data, but without blurring the data beyond instrumental resolution. Techniques that rely on weighted averaging blur point sources sometimes by as much as 40%. (2) Our algorithm makes use of local, instead of global, modeling to separate astronomical signal from instrumental and/or environmental signal drift along the telescope’s scans. Other techniques, such as basket weaving, model this drift with simple functional forms (linear, quadratic, etc.) across the entirety of scans, limiting their ability to remove such contaminants. (3) Our algorithm makes use of a similar, local modeling technique to separate astronomical signal from radio-frequency interference (RFI), even if only continuum data are available. (4) Unlike other techniques, our algorithm does not require data to be collected on a rectangular grid or regridded before processing. (5) Data from any number of observations, overlapping or not, may be appended and processed together. (6) Any pixel density may be selected for the final image. We present our algorithm and evaluate it using both simulated and real data. We are integrating it into the image-processing library of the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network, which includes optical telescopes spanning four continents, and now also Green Bank Observatory’s 20 m diameter radio telescope in West Virginia. Skynet serves hundreds of professional users, and additionally tens of thousands of students, of all ages. Default data products are generated on the fly, but will soon be customizable after the fact.
The Ultraviolet Detection of Diffuse Gas in Galaxy Groups
Authors: Stocke John T. , Keeney Brian A. , Danforth Charles W. , Oppenheimer Benjamin D. , Pratt Cameron T. , Berlind Andreas A. , Impey Chris , Jannuzi Buell
Published: January 2019

A small survey of the UV-absorbing gas in 12 low-z galaxy groups has been conducted using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. Targets were selected from a large, homogeneously selected sample of groups found in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. A critical selection criterion excluded sight lines that pass close (<1.5 virial radii) to a group galaxy, to ensure absorber association with the group as a whole. Deeper galaxy redshift observations are used both to search for closer galaxies and also to characterize these 1013.5–1014.5
M
⊙ groups, the most massive of which are highly virialized with numerous early-type galaxies (ETGs). This sample also includes two spiral-rich groups, not yet fully virialized. At group-centric impact parameters of 0.3–2 Mpc, these signal-to-noise ratios = 15–30 spectra detected H i absorption in 7 of 12 groups; high (O vi) and low (Si iii) ion metal lines are present in two-thirds of the absorption components. None of the three most highly virialized, ETG-dominated groups are detected in absorption. Covering fractions ≳50% are seen at all impact parameters probed, but do not require large filling factors despite an enormous extent. Unlike halo clouds in individual galaxies, group absorbers have radial velocities that are too low to escape the group potential well without doubt. This suggests that these groups are “closed boxes” for galactic evolution in the current epoch. Evidence is presented that the cool and warm group absorbers are not a pervasive intra-group medium (IGrM), requiring a hotter (T ∼ 106–107 K) IGrM to be present to close the baryon accounting.