bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gelatin-Based Hydrogels for Organ 3D Bioprinting
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Ao Qiang , Tian Xiaohong , Fan Jun , Tong Hao , Hou Weijian , Bai Shuling
Published: August 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a family of enabling technologies that can be used to manufacture human organs with predefined hierarchical structures, material constituents and physiological functions. The main objective of these technologies is to produce high-throughput and/or customized organ substitutes (or bioartificial organs) with heterogeneous cell types or stem cells along with other biomaterials that are able to repair, replace or restore the defect/failure counterparts. Gelatin-based hydrogels, such as gelatin/fibrinogen, gelatin/hyaluronan and gelatin/alginate/fibrinogen, have unique features in organ 3D bioprinting technologies. This article is an overview of the intrinsic/extrinsic properties of the gelatin-based hydrogels in organ 3D bioprinting areas with advanced technologies, theories and principles. The state of the art of the physical/chemical crosslinking methods of the gelatin-based hydrogels being used to overcome the weak mechanical properties is highlighted. A multicellular model made from adipose-derived stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the predefined 3D constructs is emphasized. Multi-nozzle extrusion-based organ 3D bioprinting technologies have the distinguished potential to eventually manufacture implantable bioartificial organs for purposes such as customized organ restoration, high-throughput drug screening and metabolic syndrome model establishment.
Namaste Theory: A Quantitative Grounded Theory on Religion and Spirituality in Mental Health Treatment
Authors: Oxhandler Holly
Published: August 2017

A growing body of research is beginning to identify characteristics that influence or are related to helping professionals’ integration of clients’ religion and spirituality (RS) in mental health treatment. This article presents Namaste Theory, a new theory for understanding the role of mental health practitioners’ RS in clinical practice. Using Glaser’s (2008) formal quantitative grounded theory approach, this article describes an emerging theme in the author’s line of work—particularly that practitioners’ intrinsic religiosity is significantly related to their consideration of clients’ RS—and explores the findings of related, interdisciplinary studies. The Hindu term, Namaste, meaning, “the sacred in me recognizes the sacred in you”, provided a framework to explain the emerging theme. Specifically, Namaste Theory introduces the concept that as helping professionals infuse their own RS beliefs/practices into their daily lives, deepening their intrinsic religiosity and awareness of what they deem sacred, they tend to consider and integrate clients’ RS beliefs/practices, and what clients consider sacred as well. In order words, as the helping professional recognizes the sacred within him or herself, s/he appears to be more open to recognizing the sacred within his/her client. Future directions for research, as well as practice and education implications, are discussed.
Transcendental Trinitarian: James Marsh, the Free Will Problem, and the American Intellectual Context of Coleridge’s Aids to Reflection
Authors: Koefoed Jonathan
Published: August 2017

Historians of American religion and Transcendentalism have long known of James Marsh as a catalyst for the Concord Transcendentalist movement. The standard narrative suggests that the Congregationalist Marsh naively imported Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Aids to Reflection (Am. ed. 1829) hoping to revivify orthodoxy in America. By providing a “Preliminary Essay” to explain Coleridge’s abstruse theology, Marsh injected Coleridge’s hijacked Kantian epistemology—with its distinction between Reason and Understanding—into American discourse. This epistemology inspired Transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bronson Alcott, and it helped spark the Transcendentalists’ largely post-Christian religious convictions. This article provides a re-evaluation of Marsh’s philosophical theology by attending to the precise historical moment that Marsh chose to publish the Aids to Reflection and his “Preliminary Essay.” By the late 1820s, the philosophical problem of free will lurked in American religious discourse—Unitarian as well as Trinitarian—and Marsh sought to exploit the problem as a way to explain how aspects of Trinitarian Christianity might be rational and yet unexplainable. Attending carefully to the numerous philosophical and religious discourses of the moment—including Unitarianism, Trinitarianism, Kant, Coleridge, and Scottish Common Sense—and providing close readings of the historical philosophers Marsh engaged, this article shows how James Marsh laid the epistemological groundwork for a new romanticized Christianity that was distinct from the Concord Transcendentalists, but nonetheless part of its historical lineage.
Exploring the Potential of Machine Learning for Automatic Slum Identification from VHR Imagery
Authors: Duque Juan , Patino Jorge , Betancourt Alejandro
Published: August 2017

Slum identification in urban settlements is a crucial step in the process of formulation of pro-poor policies. However, the use of conventional methods for slum detection such as field surveys can be time-consuming and costly. This paper explores the possibility of implementing a low-cost standardized method for slum detection. We use spectral, texture and structural features extracted from very high spatial resolution imagery as input data and evaluate the capability of three machine learning algorithms (Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine and Random Forest) to classify urban areas as slum or no-slum. Using data from Buenos Aires (Argentina), Medellin (Colombia) and Recife (Brazil), we found that Support Vector Machine with radial basis kernel delivers the best performance (with F2-scores over 0.81). We also found that singularities within cities preclude the use of a unified classification model.
North Africa and Saudi Arabia Day/Night Sandstorm Survey (NASCube)
Authors: Gonzalez Louis , Briottet Xavier
Published: August 2017

The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary platform equipped with the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) instrument provides observations of the Earth every 15 min since 2004. Based on those measurements, we present a new method called North African Sandstorm Survey (NASCube) to: (i) generate day/night remote sensing images in order to detect sandstorms over the Sahara and Saudi Arabia; and (ii) estimate day and night aerosol optical depth (AOD). This paper presents a method to create true color day and night images from the SEVIRI instrument level 1.5 products and the complete operational data processing system to detect sandstorms and quantify the AOD over the desert areas of North Africa and Saudi Arabia. The designed retrieval algorithms are essentially based on the use of artificial neural networks (ANN), which seems to be well suited to this issue. Our methods are validated against two different datasets, namely the Deep Blue NASA moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) product and AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) acquisitions located in desert areas. It is shown that NASCube products deliver better estimations for high AOD (>0.2) over land areas than Deep Blue products. The open-public web platform will help researchers to identify, quantify and retrieve the impact of sandstorms over desert regions.
GPS Satellite Orbit Prediction at User End for Real-Time PPP System
Authors: Yang Hongzhou , Gao Yang
Published: August 2017

This paper proposed the high-precision satellite orbit prediction process at the user end for the real-time precise point positioning (PPP) system. Firstly, the structure of a new real-time PPP system will be briefly introduced in the paper. Then, the generation of satellite initial parameters (IP) at the sever end will be discussed, which includes the satellite position, velocity, and the solar radiation pressure (SRP) parameters for each satellite. After that, the method for orbit prediction at the user end, with dynamic models including the Earth’s gravitational force, lunar gravitational force, solar gravitational force, and the SRP, are presented. For numerical integration, both the single-step Runge–Kutta and multi-step Adams–Bashforth–Moulton integrator methods are implemented. Then, the comparison between the predicted orbit and the international global navigation satellite system (GNSS) service (IGS) final products are carried out. The results show that the prediction accuracy can be maintained for several hours, and the average prediction error of the 31 satellites are 0.031, 0.032, and 0.033 m for the radial, along-track and cross-track directions over 12 h, respectively. Finally, the PPP in both static and kinematic modes are carried out to verify the accuracy of the predicted satellite orbit. The average root mean square error (RMSE) for the static PPP of the 32 globally distributed IGS stations are 0.012, 0.015, and 0.021 m for the north, east, and vertical directions, respectively; while the RMSE of the kinematic PPP with the predicted orbit are 0.031, 0.069, and 0.167 m in the north, east and vertical directions, respectively.
Analysis of Differences in Phenology Extracted from the Enhanced Vegetation Index and the Leaf Area Index
Authors: Wang Cong , Li Jing , Liu Qinhuo , Zhong Bo , Wu Shanlong , Xia Chuanfu
Published: August 2017

Remote-sensing phenology detection can compensate for deficiencies in field observations and has the advantage of capturing the continuous expression of phenology on a large scale. However, there is some variability in the results of remote-sensing phenology detection derived from different vegetation parameters in satellite time-series data. Since the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and the leaf area index (LAI) are the most widely used vegetation parameters for remote-sensing phenology extraction, this paper aims to assess the differences in phenological information extracted from EVI and LAI time series and to explore whether either index performs well for all vegetation types on a large scale. To this end, a GLASS (Global Land Surface Satellite Product)-LAI-based phenology product (GLP) was generated using the same algorithm as the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)-EVI phenology product (MLCD) over China from 2001 to 2012. The two phenology products were compared in China for different vegetation types and evaluated using ground observations. The results show that the ratio of missing data is 8.3% for the GLP, which is less than the 22.8% for the MLCD. The differences between the GLP and the MLCD become stronger as the latitude decreases, which also vary among different vegetation types. The start of the growing season (SOS) of the GLP is earlier than that of the MLCD in most vegetation types, and the end of the growing season (EOS) of the GLP is generally later than that of the MLCD. Based on ground observations, it can be suggested that the GLP performs better than the MLCD in evergreen needleleaved forests and croplands, while the MLCD performs better than the GLP in shrublands and grasslands.
Multi Ray Model for Near-Ground Millimeter Wave Radar
Authors: Etinger Ariel , Litvak Boris , Pinhasi Yosef
Published: August 2017

A quasi-optical multi-ray model for a short-range millimeter wave radar is presented. The model considers multi-path effects emerging while multiple rays are scattered from the target and reflected to the radar receiver. Among the examined scenarios, the special case of grazing ground reflections is analyzed. Such a case becomes relevant when short range anti-collision radars are employed in vehicles. Such radars operate at millimeter wavelengths, and are aimed at the detection of targets located several tens of meters from the transmitter. Reflections from the road are expected to play a role in the received signal strength, together with the direct line-of-sight beams illuminated and scattered from the target. The model is demonstrated experimentally using radar operating in the W-band. Controlled measurements were done to distinguish between several scattering target features. The experimental setup was designed to imitate vehicle near-ground millimeter wave radars operating in vehicles. A comparison between analytical calculations and experimental results is made and discussed.
Development of Embedded EM Sensors for Estimating Tensile Forces of PSC Girder Bridges
Authors: Kim Junkyeong , Kim Ju-Won , Lee Chaggil , Park Seunghee
Published: August 2017

The tensile force of pre-stressed concrete (PSC) girders is the most important factor for managing the stability of PSC bridges. The tensile force is induced using pre-stressing (PS) tendons of a PSC girder. Because the PS tendons are located inside of the PSC girder, the tensile force cannot be measured after construction using conventional NDT (non-destructive testing) methods. To monitor the induced tensile force of a PSC girder, an embedded EM (elasto-magnetic) sensor was proposed in this study. The PS tendons are made of carbon steel, a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic specimen are changed according to the induced magnetic field, temperature, and induced stress. Thus, the tensile force of PS tendons can be estimated by measuring their magnetic properties. The EM sensor can measure the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials in the form of a B (magnetic density)-H (magnetic force) loop. To measure the B-H loop of a PS tendon in a PSC girder, the EM sensor should be embedded into the PSC girder. The proposed embedded EM sensor can be embedded into a PSC girder as a sheath joint by designing screw threads to connect with the sheath. To confirm the proposed embedded EM sensors, the experimental study was performed using a down-scaled PSC girder model. Two specimens were constructed with embedded EM sensors, and three sensors were installed in each specimen. The embedded EM sensor could measure the B-H loop of PS tendons even if it was located inside concrete, and the area of the B-H loop was proportionally decreased according to the increase in tensile force. According to the results, the proposed method can be used to estimate the tensile force of unrevealed PS tendons.
An Approach to Improve the Penetration of Sustainable Energy Using Optimal Transformer Tap Control
Authors: Bae Moonsung , Lee Hwanik , Lee Byongjun
Published: August 2017

A method to secure the generator reactive power reserve by adjusting the transformer tap to improve the power system penetration of renewable energy has been proposed in this study. The tap is adjusted based on the voltage and reactive power sensitivity in the power system network. That is, the transformer tap sensitivity is calculated and analyzed to adjust the tap variation to gain sufficient or the least necessary amount of reactive power reserve. This method can be effective for generators without any margins in the reserves. The optimization problem based on the calculated sensitivities and effectiveness are presented. The optimum solution derived from such a problem provides the minimum control amount necessary to maintain the system voltage and dynamic reactive power reserve at their pre-specified levels to improve the power system acceptability of renewable energy. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method proposed, a simulation has been performed for an IEEE-25 bus system. The results from simulations prove that the voltage has been well maintained while securing a dynamic reactive power reserve through optimal control based on the sensitivity analysis.
Impacts of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Voucher Program on Food Lifestyle Behaviors: Evidence from an Employer-Sponsored Pilot Program
Authors: Rossi Jairus , Woods Timothy , Allen James
Published: August 2017

Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs have recently received attention for their potential to influence food lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes. We build on and expand inquiries into the relationship between CSA participation and behavior change by presenting the results from a controlled pilot study of first-time CSA shareholders. We offered 95 first-time shareholders a $200 voucher to participate in a CSA. Prior to and immediately following CSA participation, these shareholders completed a survey on food lifestyle behaviors. Using econometric analyses, we measured shareholder behavior changes against an 82 person control group. All participants were drawn from a pool of individuals involved in a university wellness program. From these analyses, we identified potential benefits and changes to shareholders in four unique categories: (1) fresh versus processed food consumption; (2) food prepared at home versus away from home; (3) food purchasing behavior and interest in nutrition; and (4) self-reported health outcomes. Changes within these categories and differences between test and control were more strongly realized in shareholders who reported lower than average health prior to the CSA. We conclude with a discussion about the potential of incentivized CSAs to serve as a novel preventative health intervention.
A Conceptual Framework for the Integration of Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resource Development Based on Lifelong Learning
Authors: Ketschau Thilo
Published: August 2017

Companies often see themselves as actors in a process of sustainable development that takes place in society. With this self-conception comes the challenge to act in a socially responsible way. The following paper presents a framework to integrate the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resource Development to create an approach that can address this responsibility. The concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resource Development are linked by the idea of lifelong learning, incorporating concepts and ideas from the field of education into the framework, which makes it possible to examine the issue of promotion and social advancement irrespective of an individual’s social background. The article lays a foundation for the framework by describing the concepts named above and later on conceptualizes a three-part framework that helps to analyse the development of entrepreneurial structures that enable social commitment through company education. With this framework, an innovative approach to link a corporation’s social and educational engagement for mutual benefit is given an applicable form, with the immanent potential for the development of social sustainability. The research presented in this paper is purely theoretical and its results offer a connection point for practical interventions.
Rapid Detection of Land Cover Changes Using Crowdsourced Geographic Information: A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Meng Yuan , Hou Dongyang , Xing Hanfa
Published: August 2017

Land cover change (LCC) detection is a significant component of sustainability research including ecological economics and climate change. Due to the rapid variability of natural environment, effective LCC detection is required to capture sufficient change-related information. Although such information has been available through remotely sensed images, the complicated image processing and classification make it time consuming and labour intensive. In contrast, the freely available crowdsourced geographic information (CGI) contains easily interpreted textual information, and thus has the potential to be applied for capturing effective change-related information. Therefore, this paper presents and evaluates a method using CGI for rapid LCC detection. As a case study, Beijing is chosen as the study area, and CGI is applied to monitor LCC information. As one kind of CGI which is generated from commercial Internet maps, points of interest (POIs) with detailed textual information are utilised to detect land cover in 2016. Those POIs are first classified into land cover nomenclature based on their textual information. Then, a kernel density approach is proposed to effectively generate land cover regions in 2016. Finally, with GlobeLand30 in 2010 as baseline map, LCC is detected using the post-classification method in the period of 2010–2016 in Beijing. The result shows that an accuracy of 89.20% is achieved with land cover regions generated by POIs, indicating that POIs are reliable for rapid LCC detection. Additionally, an LCC detection comparison is proposed between remotely sensed images and CGI, revealing the advantages of POIs in terms of LCC efficiency. However, due to the uneven distribution, remotely sensed images are still required in areas with few POIs.
Assessing the Reliability of Thermal and Optical Imaging Techniques for Detecting Crop Water Status under Different Nitrogen Levels
Authors: Masseroni Daniele , Ortuani Bianca , Corti Martina , Gallina Pietro Marino , Cocetta Giacomo , Ferrante Antonio , Facchi Arianna
Published: August 2017

Efficient management of irrigation water is fundamental in agriculture to reduce the environmental impacts and to increase the sustainability of crop production. The availability of adequate tools and methodologies to easily identify the crop water status in operating conditions is therefore crucial. This work aimed to assess the reliability of indices derived from imaging techniques—thermal indices (Ig (stomatal conductance index) and CWSI (Crop Water Stress Index)) and optical indices (NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and PRI (Photochemical Reflectance Index))—as operational tools to detect the crop water status, regardless the eventual presence of nitrogen stress. In particular, two separate experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, on two spinach varieties (Verdi F1 and SV2157VB), with different microclimatic conditions and under different levels of water and nitrogen application. Statistical analysis based on ANOVA test was carried out to assess the independence of thermal and optical indices from the crop nitrogen status. These imaging indices were successively compared through correlation analysis with reference destructive and non-destructive measurements of crop water status (stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and leaf and soil water content), and linear regression models of thermal and optical indices versus reference measurements were calibrated. All models were significant (Fisher p-value lower than 0.05), and the highest R2 values (greater than 0.6) were found for the regression models between CWSI and the soil water content, NDVI and the leaf water content, and PRI and the stomatal conductance. Further analysis showed that imaging indices acquired by thermal cameras (especially CWSI) can be used as operational tools to detect the crop water status, since no dependence on plant nitrogen conditions was observed, even when the soil water depletion was very limited. Our results confirmed that imaging indices such as CWSI, NDVI and PRI can be used as operational tools to predict soil water status and to detect drought stress under different soil nitrogen conditions.
High Throughput Identification of Antimicrobial Peptides from Fish Gastrointestinal Microbiota
Authors: Dong Bo , Yi Yunhai , Liang Lifeng , Shi Qiong
Published: August 2017

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of small peptides, which are secreted by almost all creatures in nature. They have been explored in therapeutic and agricultural aspects as they are toxic to many bacteria. A considerable amount of work has been conducted in analyzing 16S and metagenomics of the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). However, these datasets are still untapped resources. In this present study, a homologous search was performed to predict AMPs from our newly generated metagenome of grass carp. We identified five AMPs with high similarities to previously reported bacterial toxins, such as lantibiotic and class II bacteriocins. In addition, we observed that the top abundant genus in the GI microbiota of the grass carp was generally consistent with the putative AMP-producing strains, which are mainly from Lactobacillales. Furthermore, we constructed the phylogenetic relationship of these putative AMP-producing bacteria existing in the GI of grass carp and some popular commercial probiotics (commonly used for microecologics), demonstrating that they are closely related. Thus, these strains have the potential to be developed into novel microecologics. In a word, we provide a high-throughput way to discover AMPs from fish GI microbiota, which can be developed as alternative pathogen antagonists (toxins) for microecologics or probiotic supplements.
Keratinocyte Differentiation-Dependent Human Papillomavirus Gene Regulation
Authors: Graham Sheila
Published: August 2017

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause diseases ranging from benign warts to invasive cancers. HPVs infect epithelial cells and their replication cycle is tightly linked with the differentiation process of the infected keratinocyte. The normal replication cycle involves an early and a late phase. The early phase encompasses viral entry and initial genome replication, stimulation of cell division and inhibition of apoptosis in the infected cell. Late events in the HPV life cycle include viral genome amplification, virion formation, and release into the environment from the surface of the epithelium. The main proteins required at the late stage of infection for viral genome amplification include E1, E2, E4 and E5. The late proteins L1 and L2 are structural proteins that form the viral capsid. Regulation of these late events involves both cellular and viral proteins. The late viral mRNAs are expressed from a specific late promoter but final late mRNA levels in the infected cell are controlled by splicing, polyadenylation, nuclear export and RNA stability. Viral late protein expression is also controlled at the level of translation. This review will discuss current knowledge of how HPV late gene expression is regulated.
Stimulating Learning through Policy Experimentation: A Multi-Case Analysis of How Design Influences Policy Learning Outcomes in Experiments for Climate Adaptation
Authors: McFadgen Belinda , Huitema Dave
Published: August 2017

Learning from policy experimentation is a promising way to approach the “wicked problem” of climate adaptation, which is characterised by knowledge gaps and contested understandings of future risk. However, although the role of learning in shaping public policy is well understood, and experiments are expected to facilitate learning, little is known about how experiments produce learning, what types of learning, and how they can be designed to enhance learning effects. Using quantitative research methods, we explore how design choices influence the learning experiences of 173 participants in 18 policy experiments conducted in the Netherlands between 1997 and 2016. The experiments are divided into three “ideal types” that are expected to produce different levels and types of learning. The findings show that policy experiments produce cognitive and relational learning effects, but less normative learning, and experiment design influenced three of six measured dimensions of learning, especially the cognitive learning dimensions. This reveals a trade-off between designing for knowledge development and designing for normative or relational changes; choices that experiment designers should make in the context of their adaptation problem. Our findings also show the role leadership plays in building trust.
Investigation and Evaluation of Speed Table Influence on Road Traffic Induced Ground Borne Vibration
Authors: Astrauskas Tomas , Grubliauskas Raimondas , Januševičius Tomas
Published: August 2017

Vertical Speed Control Measures are vertical elevated segments of roadway that require a vehicle to slow. Typical vertical speed control measures include speed humps, speed tables, raised sidewalks and raised intersections. These engineering measures are used to reduce risk to pedestrians of crossing streets where transport flow is big. The object of this research is speed table. Measurements of ground borne vibration was done 1 m near the speed table and in reference point, in the same street where the speed table do not influence the traffic speed. Reference measurement point is in the same distance to the street as to the speed table. Measurements was done in two seasons: cold and warm. Ground borne vibration measurements took place in L. Asanavičiūtės st., Vilnius. In this research was found that highest acceleration value near the speed table was 21,8 mm/s2 when heavy weight vehicles was passing, in reference point highest value was 38,1 mm/s2. Heavy weight vehicles induce highest ground borne vibration peaks.
Study of Thermal Reduction of Barium Sulphate for Barium Sulphide Preparation
Authors: Balintova Magdalena , Demcak Stefan , Estokova Adriana , Holub Marian , Pavlikova Petra
Published: August 2017

Industrial wastewaters, particularly those associated with mining and mineral processing, can contain high con-centrations of sulphate. There are various methods of sulphate removal e.g. reverse osmosis, ion exchange, precipitation by lime, cements, and salts of barium and the biological removal process. The soluble salts of barium are most commonly used for precipitation of sulphate from aquatic acidic solutions to the insoluble product barium sulphate BaSO4. Benefits of precip-itation are high sulphate removal efficiency but limitations are toxicity of barium compounds and high economical costs. For this reason the recycling of BaSO4 to barium sulphide BaS (the precipitating reagent) is very important.
The paper deals with study of BaSO4 reduction by activated carbon to BaS by thermal analysis and infrared spectrometry. DCS analysis indicated that conversion of BaSO4 to BaS in the range of temperature 800–1,000 °C was performed. Thermal analysis and infrared spectra of the products confirmed the change in its composition, but process of reduction by carbon was incomplete and in sample was still present a part of BaSO4. Presence of BaS was confirmed by colorimetric method.
The ecological diversity of vegetation within urban parks in the Dąbrowski Basin (southern Poland)
Authors: Banaszek Jarosław , Leksy Marzena , Rahmonov Oimahmad
Published: August 2017

The aim of this work is to present the diversity of flora in terms of ecological requirements. The research was conducted in the area of two urban parks in the area of two cities in southern Poland: Bedzin and Czeladz. These parks were established in different historical periods, and were planned (and are managed) differently. The results of the investigation have shown that the occurrence of 192 vascular species has been observed in the Gora Zamkowa (Castle Hill) Park, while in the Grabek park, 334 such species are known to exist. Such disparity is the result of the occurrence of micro-habitats and of the differences between the ways the two parks are managed. It is also due to these parks’ different functions. In the first case, the park area is protected by law. In the latter case, human activity has created a new ecological niche for organisms with a high degree of ecological tolerance. Based on the ecological values, the following groups of plants were distinguished: saxi-frages grasslands, xerothermic grasslands, beech forests, alder forests and artificial planted trees. Analysis has shown that ur-ban parks are potential places for growth various type of vegetation and also for increasing biodiversity, and can constitute particularly important hotspots for biodiversity in the cityscape, even if their primary role is recreational. As the study shows, the environment of a highly urbanized and industrialized region can also have a positive influence on ecological and floristic diversity.
Mathematical Modelling for Copper and Lead Adsorption on Coffee Grounds
Authors: Seniūnaitė Jurgita , Vaiškūnaitė Rasa , Bazienė Kristina
Published: August 2017

Research studies on the adsorption kinetics are conducted in order to determine the absorption time of heavy metals on coffee grounds from liquid. The models of adsorption kinetics and adsorption diffusion are based on mathe-matical models (Cho et al. 2005). The adsorption kinetics can provide information on the mechanisms occurring be-tween adsorbates and adsorbents and give an understanding of the adsorption process. In the mathematical modelling of processes, Lagergren’s pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order kinetics and the intra-particle diffusion models are usually applied. The mathematical modelling has shown that the kinetics of the adsorption process of heavy metals (copper (Cu) and lead (Pb)) is more appropriately described by the Lagergren’s pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The kinetic constants (k2Cu = 0.117; k2Pb = 0,037 min−1) and the sorption process speed (k2qeCu = 0.0058–0.4975; k2qePb = 0.021–0.1661 mg/g per min) were calculated. After completing the mathematical modelling it was calculated that the Langmuir isotherm better reflects the sorption processes of copper (Cu) (R2 = 0.950), whilst the Freundlich isotherm – the sorption processes of lead (Pb) (R2 = 0.925). The difference between the mathematically modelled and experimen-tally obtained sorption capacities for removal of heavy metals on coffee grounds from aqueous solutions is 0.059–0.164 mg/l for copper and 0.004–0.285 mg/l for lead. Residual concentrations of metals in a solution showed difference of 1.01 and 0.96 mg/l, respectively.
Efficient Eco-friendly Composite Fluorine Anhydrite-Based Materials
Authors: Yakovlev Grigory , Keriene Jadvyga , Gordina Anastasiia , Polyanskikh Irina , Bekmansurov Milan
Published: August 2017

The paper presents possible ways of utilizing technogenic waste – fluorine anhydrite – by its use in production of dry mortars and piece goods from lightweight concrete with expanded polystyrene, as a organic filler, for low-rise construc-tion. The developed dry mortars are based on fluorine anhydrite binder and complex modifier comprising curing activator (sulfate or alkaline) and finely dispersed additive. The fluorine anhydrite-based compositions have improved physical and performance characteristics, including the improved strength and average density and reduced water absorption compared to the control composition. The developed lightweight anhydrite polystyrene concrete has the density grade of 700 kg/m3 and good vapor and gas permeability. The concrete is stabile while using and fire safe, because each granule of expanded poly-styrene is coated with anhydrite matrix, and has the strength sufficient for structural and heat insulating slabs and blocks. All mentioned compositions are eco-friendly and are in great demand for low-rise construction. Therefore the manufacturing of these compositions will consume a large amount of technogenic waste and will reduce the environmental load on the region where the waste is located.
Soil Surface Pollution with Heavy Metals Caused by Coal-Fired Boilers
Authors: Braduliene Jolita , Sveikauskaite Ieva
Published: August 2017

One of the goals for environmental experts is to help avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole. The idea is that the public and the polluting companies would be informed of the effects of pollutants on humans, flora and fauna. To realize this goal are carrying out environmental monitoring, investigations and an-alysed the results.
The aim of this work is to evaluate JSC „Nemencines komunalininkas“ boiler-No. 9 resulting air pollution. Company is lo-cated in Vilnius region. The focus is on long-term emissions, e.g. heavy metals (HM), the accumulation on the soil surface to examine boiler-No. 9 impact on the area and assessing the long-term impact on ambient air quality. Soil samples was taken by the principle of the envelope in 11 selected locations 50–300 meters around the boiler area, using non-colour, non-grease, stainless steel tools. Examination of heavy metals in the soil solution, to get the actual data on the amount of HM and their distribution in the soil around the coal-fired boiler territory. Pollutants into the environment, exposure depends on many physical and geochemical processes. Environmental pollutants distribution describes not only the various environmental processes, physical and chemical properties of materials but also the weather conditions. Carryover assessed the prevailing wind direction, as well as simulated through forecast of the largest concentrations of locations. To assess of the boiler No. 9 environmental impact of selected air pollutants was choose in long-term storage medium (soil).
Nitrogen Compunds in the Surface Water Identifying Concentrations and Sources
Authors: Braduliene Jolita , Grubliauskas Raimondas
Published: August 2017

The main objective of the surface water monitoring – periodically to conduct water quality testing, to find out the possible sources of pollution in time and to warn population. Water samples for analysis of surface water bodies – rivers Raseika (Raseiniai district, central Lithuania) were taken during the autumn season. The river Raseika belongs to the basin of the river Jura. This river was drained for many times and has a lot of ponds. The treated urban sewage of Raseiniai wastewater treatment plants flows to this river. Also the river Raseika is polluted by population sewage, which are not col-lected and treated. The river Raseika flows through Dubysa Regional Park area, which was established in 1992 to preserve Dubysa erosive valley landscape, natural and cultural heritage values: the picturesque Dubysa valley; significant geomor-phological, hydrographic, cultural, botanical and landscape values, natural ecosystem stability, biota components, unique flora and fauna, natural fish migration routes and spawning grounds. Six points were selected to carry out the monitoring of the river Raseika. The nitrogen concentrations were mostly not corre-sponding to the standards. Most of the ascendances were found in samples where the treated urban sewage of Raseiniai city wastewater treatment plants flows in the river.
Accumulation of Cd in the Early Stages of the Development of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Exposed to Cd-Based Quantum Dots and Cd Salt
Authors: Cibulskaitė Živilė , Kazlauskienė Nijolė , Jokšas Kęstutis , Kulvietis Vytautas , Makaras Tomas , Montvydienė Danguolė , Stankevičius Mantas , Rotomskis Ričardas
Published: August 2017

The main aims of the present study were: 1) to determine the concentration of Cd in water during the experiment after long-term exposure to rainbow trout embryos and larvae to sublethal concentrations of Cd-based quantum dots (QDs) and Cd chloride salt, and 2) to evaluate accumulation of Cd in the whole body of test-organisms depending on the type of chemical substances (QDs or single Cd) and the duration of exposure. Experimental studies at the early developmental stages of rainbow trout were performed under static conditions. Cd concentration in water during the experiment was significantly higher in QD solution than in CdCl2 solution, and it declined over time. A comparative analysis indicated that the Cd accumulation in test-organisms from QDs was mostly higher than that from CdCl2. The accumulation of Cd from QDs tends to increase with increasing duration of exposure. The bioconcentration factor for Cd increased in embryos and larvae over time until reaching the maximum at the end of the QD exposition.
Theoretical Evaluation of Heavy Metals Migration and Sorption in Soil
Authors: Danila Vaidotas , Vasarevičius Saulius
Published: August 2017

Heavy metals are one of the group of toxic pollutants in the soil. Over the past years, many researches have been conducted on the migration of heavy metals in soils and various models were developed in order to study the mobility of toxic heavy metals. The convection-dispersion equation is the most commonly used equation for describing the migration of toxic pollutants in the soil. Various properties of the soil influence the mobility of heavy metals: soil pH, texture, sorption character-istics. Heavy metals not only migrate in the soil, but also interact with mineral and organic soil particles. The mobility of heavy metals in soils is determined by their partitioning between solid and aqueous phases of the soil. The partitioning of heavy metals between these two phases are described by sorption/desorption, precipitation/dissolution, and redox processes. Natural min-eral and organic sorbents present in soils have a strong influence on heavy metals sorption. As these sorbents are usually negatively charged, they attract heavy metals cations through electrostatic force.
Evapotranspiration Prediction Using M5T Method and Ritchie Equation for St. Johns, FL, USA
Authors: Kaya Yunus Ziya , Mamak Mustafa , Ünes Fatih , Demirci Mustafa
Published: August 2017

Evapotranspiration (ET) estimation takes an important role in hydraulic designs and agricultural yield. Even it is non-negligible for hydraulic designers and irrigation engineers it is not clear enough to estimate or calculate ET because of direct and indirect parameters effects. In this study Solar Radiation (SR), Air Temperature (AT), Relative Humidity (RH) and Wind Speed (U) meteorological parameters are used to create a M5T model. 1158 daily RH, U, AT and SR records are used to create model and 385 daily values are used to test it. Data set is taken from St. Johns, Florida, USA weather station. The test set is also applied to the Ritchie empirical formula. M5T model and Ritchie formula Results are compared with daily ET records using determination coefficient. Determination coefficient is found 0.966 for M5T model and 0.913 for Ritchie formula. According to the determination coefficient, Mean Square Error (MSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) statistics, it is understood that M5T method can be used for daily ET estimation effectively.
Analysis of Potential Application of Biogas Fuel in
Modern Compression-Ignition Engines
Authors: Smieja Michał , Wierzbicki Sławomir
Published: August 2017

Limited fossil fuel supplies and the necessary reduction in toxic fumes emission to the atmosphere are the
main motives in conducting a search for the new, effective energy supplies. The one with potential is biogas. It is the
product of natural fermentation processes of municipal waste in landfills or is produced in biogas plants out of agricultural
and green waste. Due to creation under different conditions, its chemical composition varies. This is enormous
obstacle in its effective application. Biogas is easily applied to fuel spark-ignition engines however intensive attempts
are made to employ it in much more effective compression-ignition engines. Application of biogas require the use of
dual-fuel CI engine. The point of the research described in this paper is to show the influence of different methanecarbon
dioxide composition ratio in biogas on dual-fuel CI engine effectiveness.
The Conception of the Net Weather Station for Measuring
the Microclimate of the Forest
Authors: Szymanski Paweł , Brach Michał , Szymanski Marcin , Smieja Michał , O>ga Wojciech
Published: August 2017

The project of meteorological station is designed to monitor the state of the weather on the selected (forest
areas) as well as the colleting the data to analyze the dynamic of the changes weather parameters. The main idea presented
in this paper, base on assumption that single weather station can be used as a part of net. The simultaneous and
continuous measurement of many parameters such as temperature, pressure, humidity and sunlight located at grid points
could work out finaly the weather map combined with the digital terrain model. The modern electronic make possible
flexible connecting indywidual stations in subsytems and exchange of huge amount of inforamtion leading to build base
knowledge. In the first part of the article it is presented the conception of the information system. In the next part there
are are outlined the results of works with the prototype of the measure mode. Dedicated to applications in forestry
prototype of device, can be used to measure temperature, pressure, humidity and sunlight. The additional features of the
device are the possibility of writing data on micro SD card, supplemented with current time, day, and year. The design
and research is a pilot, before the creation of a regular grid of sample plots with the use of many such devices. The
objective is to gather accurate meteorological data from the interior of the forest-based geostatistical analysis, necessary
for breeding purposes. Because of their design frames weather, it can be installed on most trees. Presented prototype of
basic station used in the concept of measuring net, generates data from the sensors, which are strongly correlated with
the compared professional station.
Rural Landscape Shaping Through the Introduction of Trees in Land
Consolidation Projects in Poland
Authors: Sobolewska-Mikulska Katarzyna , Stanczuk-Gałwiaczek Małgorzata
Published: August 2017

Land consolidation works carried out in Poland are mainly aimed at the improvement of spatial structure of
plots in agricultural holdings. However, modern trends indicate the necessity of compliance with sustainable rural development
policy. This implicates the inevitability of inclusion of the environmental, landscape, technical and organizational
aspects in the land consolidation projects in Poland. One such operation is the introduction of trees and shrubs.
The paper aims to investigate the scope of land consolidation design solutions concerning the introduction of trees and
shrubs. The study was based on selected land consolidation projects from different regions of Poland. The paper also
proposes the concept of implementation of the design solutions related to the introduction of trees and shrubs in the land
consolidation projects.
Using Ion-selective Electrodes in Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Tychkov Vladimir , Trembovetskaya Ruslana , Kisil Tatyana , Bondarenko Yulia
Published: August 2017

Environmental monitoring is an integral part of environmental protection. Control of hazardous substances wastewater occurs both in the laboratory and on-site sampling. The paper provides a method of injection analysis, which is used in data-measuring systems control the parameters of chemical and technological processes using flow-injection method. The method involves sequential injection analysis of the liquid sample supply for the hydraulic lines in the flow measuring channel slot detector. The detector is equipped with two solid-state heterogeneous ion-selective electrodes. Before measuring the detector further comprising sample preparation and filtration of samples. The estimation of the uncertainty of the measuring system with the use of ion-selective electrodes one of which performs the function of the measuring electrode, while the second an auxiliary. The ultrasonic sample preparation technique, which reduces the impact of uncertainty on the stage of sampling and preparation of samples for analysis is designed. The use of ultrasonic sample preparation directly into the stream allowed expanding the use of flow-injection analysis and reducing the time to control the quality of the process water.
Integral Assessment of Safety of Potable Waters in a Finishing
Point of Consumption
Authors: Y. A. Tunakova , S. V. Novikova , G. N. Gabdrakhmanova , R. I. Fayzulin
Published: August 2017

The approach for integral assessment of potable waters with use of methods of the cluster analysis based on
assessment of probability of intake of cations and anions of impurity with potable water and probabilities of carcinogenic
and not carcinogenic changes in the state of health of the children’s population is offered.