bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Location Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks Using a Vector-Based Swarm Optimized Connected Dominating Set
Authors: Kumar Gulshan , Saha Rahul , Rai Mritunjay Kumar , Thomas Reji , Kim Tai-Hoon , Lim Se-Jung , Singh Jai Sukh Paul
Published: January 2019

Location estimation in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has received tremendous attention in recent times. Improved technology and efficient algorithms systematically empower WSNs with precise location identification. However, while algorithms are efficient in improving the location estimation error, the factor of the network lifetime has not been researched thoroughly. In addition, algorithms are not optimized in balancing the load among nodes, which reduces the overall network lifetime. In this paper, we have proposed an algorithm that balances the load of computation for location estimation among the anchor nodes. We have used vector-based swarm optimization on the connected dominating set (CDS), consisting of anchor nodes for that purpose. In this algorithm, major tasks are performed by the base station with a minimum number of messages exchanged by anchor nodes and unknown nodes. The simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the network lifetime and reduces the location estimation error. Furthermore, the proposed optimized CDS is capable of providing a global optimum solution with a minimum number of iterations.
Pixelwise Phase Unwrapping Based on Ordered Periods Phase Shift
Authors: Tabata Satoshi , Maruyama Michika , Watanabe Yoshihiro , Ishikawa Masatoshi
Published: January 2019

The existing phase-shift methods are effective in achieving high-speed, high-precision, high-resolution, real-time shape measurement of moving objects; however, a phase-unwrapping method that can handle the motion of target objects in a real environment and is robust against global illumination as well is yet to be established. Accordingly, a robust and highly accurate method for determining the absolute phase, using a minimum of three steps, is proposed in this study. In this proposed method, an order structure that rearranges the projection pattern for each period of the sine wave is introduced, so that solving the phase unwrapping problem comes down to calculating the pattern order. Using simulation experiments, it has been confirmed that the proposed method can be used in high-speed, high-precision, high-resolution, three-dimensional shape measurements even in situations with high-speed moving objects and presence of global illumination. In this study, an experimental measurement system was configured with a high-speed camera and projector, and real-time measurements were performed with a processing time of 1.05 ms and a throughput of 500 fps.
Selection Process of Sustainable Indicators for the Algarve Region—OBSERVE Project
Authors: Farinha Fátima , Oliveira Miguel , Silva Elisa , Lança Rui , Pinheiro Manuel , Miguel Cátia
Published: January 2019

The selection of indicators for the Observatory of Sustainability of the Algarve Region for Tourism (OBSERVE), poses challenges, namely which indicators are relevant to stakeholders and how to assure that information is available. To support the selection of the environmental, sociocultural, economic and institutional indicators, an engagement process was designed and applied, which included meetings with stakeholders, a workshop and an online survey. The results showed that both workshop and online surveys reflected, in general, similar opinions, thus allowing the selecting of the sustainable development indicators for the Algarve region. Additionally, the results showed that nearly 75% of the indicators can be obtained from national statistics and, therefore, can be used on the OBSERVE project, assuring a quick flow of information. As limitations, it is important to mention that the other 25% will need further development, in order to provide data for indicators, like carbon management and client satisfaction. With this approach, the observatory will survey and evaluate the sustainable development of the region (status and trends), based on indicators that answer to the strategic needs of system’s main users, with social and economic implications, i.e., public institutions, economic agents, tourists, local communities and residents.
The Food Desert as a Concept and Policy Tool in African Cities: An Opportunity and a Risk
Authors: Battersby Jane
Published: January 2019

The idea that food insecurity can be resolved by increasing the presence of supermarkets has been gaining traction in African cities and has recently gained political traction in Africa. This paper interrogates the potential value and risks associated with the adoption of the discourse of the food desert in the African context. The paper draws on findings from a households survey, neighborhoods-scale food retail mapping and surveys, and city-wide supermarket mapping conducted in Cape Town (South Africa), Kisumu (Kenya), and Kitwe (Zambia). Following a discussion of why the concept is gaining traction, the paper identifies false assumptions associated with the food desert framing in Africa, namely: supermarkets provide better access to healthier food, low-income areas have poor access to healthy food; and food security can be reduced to economic and physical accessibility. The paper concludes that although the food desert concept may be valuable for African researchers to provoke debates about systemic inequality, the food desert policy narrative should be rejected as it is ill-informed by the lived experiences of food insecurity in African cities and may promote policy interventions that erode rather than enhance the capacity of the food system to meet the food security needs of African urbanites.
An Optimization Approach for the Coordinated Low-Carbon Design of Product Family and Remanufactured Products
Authors: Wang Qi , Tang Dunbing , Li Shipei , Yang Jun , Salido Miguel A. , Giret Adriana , Zhu Haihua
Published: January 2019

With increasingly stringent environmental regulations on emission standards, enterprises and investigators are looking for effective ways to decrease GHG emission from products. As an important method for reducing GHG emission of products, low-carbon product family design has attracted more and more attention. Existing research, related to low-carbon product family design, did not take into account remanufactured products. Nowadays, it is popular to launch remanufactured products for environmental benefit and meeting customer needs. On the one hand, the design of remanufactured products is influenced by product family design. On the other hand, the launch of remanufactured products may cannibalize the sale of new products. Thus, the design of remanufactured products should be considered together with the product family design for obtaining the maximum profit and reducing the GHG emission as soon as possible. The purpose of this paper is to present an optimization model to concurrently determine product family design, remanufactured products planning and remanufacturing parameters selection with consideration of the customer preference, the total profit of a company and the total GHG emission from production. A genetic algorithm is applied to solve the optimization problem. The proposed method can help decision-makers to simultaneously determine the design of a product family and remanufactured products with a better trade-off between profit and environmental impact. Finally, a case study is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented approach.
Measuring Environmental Efficiency through the Lens of Technology Heterogeneity: A Comparative Study between China and the G20
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Zhang Manyin , Nathwani Jatin , Yang Fangming
Published: January 2019

Drawing on a perspective of technology heterogeneity, this study advances the analytical framework for evaluation of environmental efficiency (EE) across diverse economies. To improve the continuity and robustness of efficiency estimation, we construct a Hybrid Malmquist–Luenberger index under the meta-frontier (MHML) technique to allow a dynamic evaluation of environmental efficiency and to probe the underlying sources of inefficiency. Decomposition of the MHML index into component factors of efficiency change (EC), Best Practice Change (BPC) and Technological Gap Change (TPC) allows an improved understanding of causality and enhanced guidance for decision-making units (DMUs). Empirical tests based on panel data of the Group 20 countries spanning 2000–2014 reveal an upward improving trend in environmental efficiency but is also characterized by notable evidence of technological heterogeneity. Whereas technical progress was the main cause of environmental efficiency improvements in the G20 countries, for the BRICS (i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), economic growth rates played a more significant in contrast to the role of technical change and allocation efficiency. The lagging growth rates of environmental efficiency for the G20 countries compared to the BRICS is a reflection of the fact that room for optimization in G20 countries was not as high as it was for BRICS and, China, in particular. China has been catching up with frontier technology whereas developing countries were shifting away from benchmark technology frontier. The developed economies remain the best performers and leaders in environmental technology. However, the BRICS countries, represented by China, remain on an upward trajectory of improvements’ in EE with gains from managerial sufficiency and technological advancement. The MHML index developed here provides a robust quantitative measure for policy interventions to support overall national environmental performance. Context-specific suggestions are proposed to foster efficiency gains and green transition for Chinese development scenarios against best performing economies.
Architectural and Management Strategies for the Design, Construction and Operation of Energy Efficient and Intelligent Primary Care Centers in Chile
Authors: Forcael Eric , Nope Alberto , García-Alvarado Rodrigo , Bobadilla Ariel , Rubio-Bellido Carlos
Published: January 2019

Primary care centers are establishments with elevated social relevance and high operational energy consumption. In Chile, there more than 628 family healthcare centers (CESFAM) have been built in the last two decades and with plans for hundreds more in the next few years. We revised the architecture, construction management and energy performance of five CESFAM centers to determine possible instances of overall improvement. Staff was interviewed, and state documents reviewed, which allowed the conceptualization of the architectonic and energy structure of the centers, as well as the process of implementation. At the same time, energy simulations were done for each one of the centers, controlling for different climates, construction solutions and orientations. Our study revealed that strategies employed by the primary healthcare centers in Chile have aided a progressive implementation of establishments with elevated costs and materialization times, as well as neglect for climatic conditions. These energy evaluations show relevant and consistent impacts of the architectural form and material conditions, especially in southern zones, demonstrating the need to work with shared knowledge resources such as BIM. There is a clear necessity to define technological, morphological and construction strategies specific to each climate zone in order to achieve energetically efficient and intelligent healthcare establishments.
Exploring and Visualizing the Patent Collaboration Network: A Case Study of Smart Grid Field in China
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Tao Yuan , Yang Zhile , Bi Kexin
Published: January 2019

Smart grids (SGs) have been widely recognized as an enabling technology for delivering sustainable energy transitions. SGs have a positive effect on the development of the world economy and society. SG construction plays an important role in responding to global climate change and promoting the sustainable development of the world economy and society. Under such a background, this paper attempts to investigate patent collaborations of the SG field in China. Based on the application data of collaborative patents from State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) in China, this study employs complex network theory and social network analysis (SNA) method and conducts in-depth research on the patent collaboration network of SG field in China. The trend of patent collaboration was examined, the collaboration network of SG-related patents was investigated, the network characteristics, and the network structure were also explored. The results show that the proportion of enterprises participating in patent collaboration is relatively large for SG field in China, the percentage of collaboration relationships formed by different patent applicants varies greatly, and that the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) plays an important role in patent collaboration in SG field currently. It can also be found that patent collaboration is an effective form of cooperative innovation among different entities. Finally, three suggestions are provided in response to the existing problems.
Safety Improvements by Converting a Standard Roundabout with Unbalanced Flow Distribution into an Egg Turbo Roundabout: Simulation Approach to a Case Study
Authors: Gallelli Vincenzo , Vaiana Rosolino
Published: January 2019

In 2011, the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020. Among the categories or “pillars” of activities, is the improvement of road safety for infrastructures. Furthermore, this plan is aligned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals that included even traffic safety. In this regard, this study estimates safety improvements achieved by converting a standard roundabout into an egg turbo roundabout. In particular, turbo roundabouts have become very popular in Northern Europe for both their safety and their capacity. Many studies have shown these advantages thanks to their features: preventive separation of entering flows, limited lane changing and low speeds due to curbs. Given the absence of existing turbo roundabouts in Italy, this research studied and compared a “virtual” roundabout with spiraling circular carriageways to an existing multi-lane roundabout in order to assess its significant reduction in terms of potential collisions. This study relied on traffic conflicts in micro-simulation by using VISSIM software and then Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM). The research is based on the traffic process observed at a standard roundabout in Cosenza (Italy) marked by a high level of congestion and safety problems. Speeds, critical gaps, queue lengths, and floating car data, obtained from video observations, have been used as input data for the calibration procedure of the first scenario (case study roundabout). Then, the turbo roundabout solution was built and simulated by using the previously derived parameters. Finally, the two roundabout scenarios were compared in terms of spatial distribution of the potential conflicts determined by SSAM. The results could help to measure the performance and safety impact of these two roundabout configurations.
Research on the Risk Assessment of Qingdao Marine Disaster Based on Flooding
Authors: Liao Qi , Yu Ge , Jiang Wensheng , Lu Chunxia , Ma Yan , Liu Kexiu , Lin Qun , Wang Yanping
Published: January 2019

The risk of marine disasters based on flooding is one of the most significant natural disasters in coastal zones. It can be said that flooding in coastal zones has typical sea–land characteristics. Yet, relatively little research has been done in this area. Thus, by using the characteristics of marine disaster risk based on flooding in Qingdao and combining marine science and land science methods, this paper constructs a targeted indicator system for the flooding risk from marine disasters from the perspectives of the disaster natural chain and flooding process. According to the results, the Integrated Risk Index of marine disasters based on flooding in Qingdao is 0.3694, which represents a medium risk level for natural disasters in China’s major coastal areas. The first- and third-level indicators with large contribution rates are almost all natural indicators. This indicates that the natural disaster process and disaster chain greatly affect the flooding disaster risk in Qingdao. However, although natural factors play large roles in the risk of disaster, preventive methods implemented by humans can still have a positive effect on disaster reduction. Therefore, human society should still proceed with understanding disasters from natural processes, change their passive response to active adaptation, and actively strengthen preventive measures to alleviate the adverse impacts of increasingly serious natural disasters.
The Effect of HOPSCA on Residential Property Values: Exploratory Findings from Wuhan, China
Authors: Qin Zhijiao , Yu Yan , Liu Dianfeng
Published: January 2019

Mixed-use development is theoretically considered to enhance the residential value of an area. However, limited empirical research has focused on European and North American cities. HOPSCA is a real estate project that integrates hotels, offices, parks, shopping malls, conference centers, and apartments. As an important mixed-use development project in Chinese cities, HOPSCA is designed to improve the quality of urban life and to enhance the residential value of an area. Few studies have explicitly examined the effect of HOPSCA on residential property values, let alone linked this question to particular types of HOPSCA. To bridge this research gap, we selected Wuhan City in China as a case study to explore the effects of HOPSCA on residential property values. Specifically, we used the potential model to quantify the effects of HOPSCA and used the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method to estimate the relationship between HOPSCA variables and residential property values. The results are as follows: (1) the effects of HOPSCA on residential property values are statistically significant with positive and negative effects. The balanced-development HOPSCA generated the greatest effects, with the highest premium of 10.76% placed on residential properties. Moderate price premiums of 3.57% and 1.83% were generated under the influence of the commerce-oriented HOPSCA and housing-oriented HOPSCA, respectively. By contrast, the business-oriented HOPSCA exerted a negative effect on residential property (−2.43%). (2) Significant spatial heterogeneity exists on the effect of HOPSCA on residential property values. The results showed that the influence of different types of HOPSCA, viz. the higher the compatibility between the HOPSCA type and the socioeconomic context of Wuhan, the higher the premium captured by residential properties within the city areas. HOPSCA benefits the improvement of the quality of urban life, which promotes urban development. For policy makers and real estate developers, our findings suggest that matching the development types and the spatial layouts of HOPSCA with the regional socioeconomic contexts is critical for enhancing the value performance of such projects.
Optimal Joint Production and Emissions Reduction Strategies Considering Consumers’ Environmental Preferences: A Manufacturer’s Perspective
Authors: Tong Wen , Du Jianbang , Zhao Fu , Mu Dong , Sutherland John W.
Published: January 2019

Carbon cap-and-trade mechanism is a government-mandated, market-based scheme to reduce emissions, which has a significant effect on manufacturers’ operation decisions. Based on the cap-and-trade mechanism, this paper studies the joint production and emission reduction problem of a manufacturer. The manufacturer faces emissions-sensitive demand impacted by consumers’ environmental preferences (CEP). An extended newsvendor model is used to find the optimal production quantity and emissions reduction quantity. We explore the impacts of market price of carbon credits, emission reduction investment coefficient and CEP on the optimal strategies. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical results and orthogonal experimental design technique was applied to find robust system parameters. It is concluded that among all parameters, emissions cap has the greater impact on the expected profit, which is followed by than the market price of carbon credits. This means that the government plays a major role in economic development. The total carbon emissions are mainly affected by the carbon trading price and the product’s sale price, which indicates the carbon trading market and product market play a larger role in controlling environmental benefits. Several valuable managerial insights on helping governments and industries understand how market conditions change and make better long-term decisions are further concluded.
Comparative Analysis of the Energy and CO2 Emissions Performance and Technology Gaps in the Agglomerated Cities of China and South Korea
Authors: Wang Na , Choi Yongrok
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the technology gap, energy efficiency, and CO2 emission performance of the agglomerated cities in Eastern and Central China and South Korea under economic heterogeneity. The potential reductions of energy and CO2 emission are estimated from agglomerated city perspectives. The global meta-frontier non-radial direction distance function is used to conduct an empirical analysis of agglomerated cities among Eastern, Central China and South Korea. The results show the potential reduction of 7.58 billion tons of CO2 emissions in Korea and another potential reduction of 1930.62 toe energy for the research period in China, if Korea and China proactively collaborate with each other. The empirical results conclude several unique findings and their implications. First, there are significant differences between the Chinese and Korean cities, in energy efficiency, CO2 emission performance, and meta-technology gaps. Korean cities play a leading role at benchmarking efficiency level with meta-frontier technology. Second, there is no significant difference between total-factor and single-factor performance indexes in the Korean cities, because South Korea requires large capital stocks to replace energy in the production process. However, the opposite is true for Eastern and Central China cities. Finally, there is huge potential for the Chinese cities to reduce energy and CO2 emissions by “catching up” internally as well as by the collaborative efforts with Korean cities.
Corporate Social Responsibility, the Atmospheric Environment, and Technological Innovation Investment
Authors: Zhou Guichuan , Zhang Lan , Zhang Liming
Published: January 2019

Based on the stakeholder theory, this paper takes the 2016 data of China’s A-share listed enterprises as a sample. It then uses SPSS 22 to conduct statistical analyses on the sample data to study the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and technological innovation investment, particularly the role of the atmospheric environment in regulating the relationship between the two. This paper shows that there is a significant positive correlation between CSR and an enterprise’s technological innovation investment. Further research has found that in the case of a poor atmospheric environment, the government’s environmental regulations have increased the operating costs of enterprises and weakened the intensity of technological innovation investment. However, when there is public pressure, CSR will improve. Consequently, the correlation between CSR and technological innovation investment is weak. In the case of a good atmospheric environment, enterprises do not need to increase their operating costs. To establish a good image and increase profitability, enterprises lean towards fulfilling their social responsibilities and enhancing their investment in technological innovation. This will also boost the positive correlation between CSR and technological innovation investment.
Effects of Community Perceptions and Institutional Capacity on Smallholder Farmers’ Responses to Water Scarcity: Evidence from Arid Northwestern China
Authors: Fan Yubing , Tang Zeng , Park Seong C.
Published: January 2019

Community contextual factors including community perceptions and institutional capacity are among the key determinants in community-based water resource management. The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework proposed by Ostrom is commonly employed to examine the outcome of common-pool resource management including water resources. However, community perceptions typically examined in behavioral economics and comparative community analysis literature are rarely incorporated in institutional analysis studies. This study draws on the IAD framework to investigate smallholder farmer communities’ responses to water scarcity in arid northwestern China. Adopting alternating multiple regression and multivariate regression models, this study conducts an empirical analysis using farmer survey data. The results show that the perceptions of water scarcity promote community actions in coping with water shortage. The perception of production risks encourages overall community responses, as well as farming- and irrigation-related responses. Communities with a stronger institutional enforcement are more responsive in taking farming-, irrigation-, and infrastructure-related actions, as well as having better overall responses. The analysis also shows that community interactional capacities and socio-economic factors may influence community actions to mitigate and adapt to adverse effects of local water scarcity. Our findings provide insights for understanding social and institutional aspects of rural farming communities toward sustainable response decisions to overcome water scarcity challenges.
Evidence-Based Resilience Management for Supply Chain Sustainability: An Interpretive Structural Modelling Approach
Authors: Shin Nina , Park Sangwook
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study is to systematically identify and design improvement planning for supply chain resilience (SCRES) for a higher level of sustainability and a competitive advantage. Literature-based interpretive structural modelling (ISM), a pairing of the systematic literature review (SLR) and ISM approaches, is proposed for investigating and identifying a set of key performance measures of resilience for supply chain (SC) management. In line with previous research, we identified and updated 13 key SC capabilities out of 24 as core performance measures of supply network resilience. Furthermore, our findings categorised each capability and element into one of four types of influential power variables (drivers, dependent, autonomous, or linkage). This study (i) lends support to and updates previous research that examined the core capabilities of SCRES and (ii) provides complementary classifications for the influential powers of SCRES capabilities and elements. The literature indicates that there has been no research that has integrated SLR as a basis to ISM for an effective way to utilize existing studies for increasing awareness and developing managerial guidelines to achieve SCRES.
Surface Investigation on Electrochemically Deposited Lead on Gold
Authors: Szczepanska Alicja , Wan Gary , Cattelan Mattia , Fox Neil A. , Vasiljevic Natasa
Published: January 2019

Electrodeposition of Pb on Au has been of interest for the variety of surface phenomena such as the UnderPotential Deposition (UPD) and surface alloying. Here, we examined the interface between the electrodeposited Pb film on Au, using surface sensitive techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS), Energy-Filtered Photoemission Electron Microscopy (EF-PEEM) and Work Function (WF) mapping. The initially electrodeposited Pb overlayer (~4 ML equivalent thickness) was transferred from the electrochemical cell to the UHV system. The deposited Pb layer was subjected to Argon sputtering cycles to remove oxide formed due to air exposure and gradually thinned down to a monolayer level. Surface science acquisitions showed the existence of a mixed oxide/metallic Pb overlayer at the monolayer level that transformed to a metallic Pb upon high temperature annealing (380 °C for 1 h) and measured changes of the electronic interaction that can be explained by Pb/Au surface alloy formation. The results show the electronic interaction between metallic Pb and Au is different from the interaction of Au with the PbO and Pb/PbO mixed layer; the oxide interface is less strained so the surface stress driven mixing between Au is not favored. The work illustrates applications of highly surface sensitive methods in the characterization of the surface alloy systems that can be extended to other complex and ultrathin mixed-metallic systems (designed or spontaneously formed).
The Two Supreme Principles of Plato’s Cosmos—the One and the Indefinite Dyad—the Division of a Straight Line into Extreme and Mean Ratio, and Pingala’s Mātrāmeru
Authors: Salamone Maria
Published: January 2019

The objective of this paper is to propose a mathematical interpretation of the continuous geometric proportion (Timaeus, 32a) with which Plato accomplishes the goal to unify, harmonically and symmetrically, the Two Opposite Elements of Timaeus Cosmos—Fire and Earth—through the Mean Ratio. As we know, from the algebraic point of view, it is possible to compose a continuous geometric proportion just starting from two different quantities a (Fire) and b (Earth); their sum would be the third term, so that we would obtain the continuous geometric proportion par excellence, which carries out the agreement of opposites most perfectly: (a + b)/a = a/b. This equal proportion, applied to linear geometry, corresponds to what Euclid called the Division into Extreme and Mean Ratio (DEMR) or The Golden Proportion. In fact, according to my mathematical interpretation, in the Timaeus 32b and in the Epinomis 991 a–b, Plato uses Pingala’s Mātrāmeru or The First Analogy of the Double to mould the body of the Cosmos as a whole, to the point of identifying the two supreme principles of the Cosmos—the One (1) and the Indefinite Dyad (Φ and1/Φ)—with the DEMR. In effect, Fire and Earth are joined not by a single Mean Ratio but by two (namely, Air and Water). Moreover, using the Platonic approach to analyse the geometric properties of the shape of the Cosmos as a whole, I think that Timaeus constructed the 12 pentagonal faces of Dodecahedron by means of elementary Golden Triangles (a/b = Φ) and the Mātrāmeru sequence. And, this would prove that my mathematical interpretation of the platonic texts is at least plausible.
Breakable Semihypergroups
Authors: Heidari Dariush , Cristea Irina
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we introduce and characterize the breakable semihypergroups, a natural generalization of breakable semigroups, defined by a simple property: every nonempty subset of them is a subsemihypergroup. Then, we present and discuss on an extended version of Rédei’s theorem for semi-symmetric breakable semihypergroups, proposing a different proof that improves also the theorem in the classical case of breakable semigroups.
Chiral Neuronal Motility: The Missing Link between Molecular Chirality and Brain Asymmetry
Authors: Tamada Atsushi
Published: January 2019

Left–right brain asymmetry is a fundamental property observed across phyla from invertebrates to humans, but the mechanisms underlying its formation are still largely unknown. Rapid progress in our knowledge of the formation of body asymmetry suggests that brain asymmetry might be controlled by the same mechanisms. However, most of the functional brain laterality, including language processing and handedness, does not share common mechanisms with visceral asymmetry. Accumulating evidence indicates that asymmetry is manifested as chirality at the single cellular level. In neurons, the growth cone filopodia at the tips of neurites exhibit a myosin V-dependent, left-helical, and right-screw rotation, which drives the clockwise circular growth of neurites on adhesive substrates. Here, I propose an alternative model for the formation of brain asymmetry that is based on chiral neuronal motility. According to this chiral neuron model, the molecular chirality of actin filaments and myosin motors is converted into chiral neuronal motility, which is in turn transformed into the left–right asymmetry of neural circuits and lateralized brain functions. I also introduce automated, numerical, and quantitative methods to analyze the chirality and the left–right asymmetry that would enable the efficient testing of the model and to accelerate future investigations in this field.
Visualization of High-Dimensional Data by Pairwise Fusion Matrices Using t-SNE
Authors: Husnain Mujtaba , Missen Malik Muhammad Saad , Mumtaz Shahzad , Luqman Muhammad Muzzamil , Coustaty Mickaël , Ogier Jean-Marc
Published: January 2019

We applied t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to visualize Urdu handwritten numerals (or digits). The data set used consists of 28 × 28 images of handwritten Urdu numerals. The data set was created by inviting authors from different categories of native Urdu speakers. One of the challenging and critical issues for the correct visualization of Urdu numerals is shape similarity between some of the digits. This issue was resolved using t-SNE, by exploiting local and global structures of the large data set at different scales. The global structure consists of geometrical features and local structure is the pixel-based information for each class of Urdu digits. We introduce a novel approach that allows the fusion of these two independent spaces using Euclidean pairwise distances in a highly organized and principled way. The fusion matrix embedded with t-SNE helps to locate each data point in a two (or three-) dimensional map in a very different way. Furthermore, our proposed approach focuses on preserving the local structure of the high-dimensional data while mapping to a low-dimensional plane. The visualizations produced by t-SNE outperformed other classical techniques like principal component analysis (PCA) and auto-encoders (AE) on our handwritten Urdu numeral dataset.
Development of Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to Detect Fusarium verticillioides in Poultry Feed Samples
Authors: Omori Aline Myuki , Ono Elisabete Yurie Sataque , Hirozawa Melissa Tiemi , de Souza Suguiura Igor Massahiro , Hirooka Elisa Yoko , Pelegrinelli Fungaro Maria Helena , Ono Mario Augusto
Published: January 2019

Fumonisins are a group of toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by Fusarium verticillioides which are associated with poultry health hazard and great economic losses. The objective of the present study was to develop an immunological method to detect F. verticillioides in poultry feed samples. An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) based on a polyclonal antibody against 67 kDa protein of the F. verticillioides 97K exoantigen was developed to detect this fungus. Antibody anti-67 kDa protein showed cross-reactivity against F. graminearum (2–7%) and F. sporotrichioides (10%), but no or low cross-reactivity against Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. exoantigens. The detection limit for the 67 kDa protein of F. verticillioides was 29 ng/mL. Eighty-one poultry feed samples were analyzed for Fusarium sp. count, 67 kDa protein of F. verticillioides and fumonisin concentrations. Eighty of the 81 feed samples (98.6%) showed Fusarium sp. contamination (mean 6.2 x 104 CFU/g). Mean 67 kDa protein and fumonisin concentration in the poultry feed samples was 21.0 µg/g and 1.02 µg/g, respectively. The concentration of 67 kDa protein, as determined by ic-ELISA correlated positively (p < 0.05) with fumonisin levels (r = 0.76). These results suggest that this ic-ELISA has potential to detect F. verticillioides and predict fumonisin contamination in poultry feed samples.
Gut Microbiota Profiling of Aflatoxin B1-Induced Rats Treated with Lactobacillus casei Shirota
Authors: Liew Winnie-Pui-Pui , Mohd-Redzwan Sabran , Than Leslie Thian Lung
Published: January 2019

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a ubiquitous carcinogenic food contaminant. Gut microbiota is of vital importance for the host’s health, regrettably, limited studies have reported the effects of xenobiotic toxins towards gut microbiota. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the interactions between AFB1 and the gut microbiota. Besides, an AFB1-binding microorganism, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Lcs) was tested on its ability to ameliorate the changes on gut microbiota induced by AFB1. The fecal contents of three groups of rats included an untreated control group, an AFB1 group, as well as an Lcs + AFB1 group, were analyzed. Using the MiSeq platform, the PCR products of 16S rDNA gene extracted from the feces were subjected to next-generation sequencing. The alpha diversity index (Shannon) showed that the richness of communities increased significantly in the Lcs + AFB1 group compared to the control and AFB1 groups. Meanwhile, beta diversity indices demonstrated that AFB1 group significantly deviated from the control and Lcs + AFB1 groups. AFB1-exposed rats were especially high in Alloprevotella spp. abundance. Such alteration in the bacterial composition might give an insight on the interactions of AFB1 towards gut microbiota and how Lcs plays its role in detoxification of AFB1.
Gravitational Fluctuations as an Alternative to Inflation
Authors: Hamber Herbert W. , Yu Lu Heng Sunny
Published: January 2019

The ability to reproduce the observed matter power spectrum P ( k ) to high accuracy is often considered as a triumph of inflation. In this work, we explore an alternative explanation for the power spectrum based on nonperturbative quantum field-theoretical methods applied to Einstein’s gravity, instead of ones based on inflation models. In particular, the power spectral index, which governs the slope on the P ( k ) graph, can be related to critical scaling exponents derived from the Wilson renormalization group analysis. We find that the derived value fits favorably with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope data. We then make use of the transfer functions, based only on the Boltzmann equations, which describe states out of equilibrium, and Einstein’s general relativity, to extrapolate the power spectrum to the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) regime. We observe that the results fit rather well with current data. Our approach contrasts with the conventional explanation, which uses inflation to generate the scale-invariant Harrison–Zel’dovich spectrum on CMB scales and uses the transfer function to extrapolate it to the galaxy regime. The results we present here only assume quantum field theory and Einstein’s gravity, and hence provide a competing explanation of the power spectrum, without relying on the assumptions usually associated with inflationary models. At the end, we also outline several testable predictions in this picture that deviate from the conventional picture of inflation and which hopefully will become verifiable in the near future with increasingly accurate measurements.
The ATLAS Fast TracKer—Architecture, Status and High-Level Data Quality Monitoring Framework
Authors: Marantis Alexandros
Published: January 2019

The Fast Tracker (FTK) is a highly parallel processor dedicated to a quick and efficient reconstruction of tracks in the Pixel and Semiconductor Tracker (SCT) detectors of the ATLAS experiment at LHC. It is designed to identify charged particle tracks with transverse momentum above 1 GeV and reconstruct their parameters at an event rate of up to 100 kHz. The average latency of the processing is below 100 μs at the expected collision intensities. This performance is achieved by using custom ASIC chips with associative memory for pattern matching, while modern FPGAs calculate the track parameters. This paper describes the architecture, the current status and a High-Level Data Quality Monitoring framework of the FTK system. This monitoring framework provides an online comparison of the FTK hardware output with the FTK functional simulation, which is run on the pixel and SCT detector data at a low rate, allowing the detection of non-expected outputs of the FTK system.
Characterization of the Lipidomic Profile of Human Coronavirus-Infected Cells: Implications for Lipid Metabolism Remodeling upon Coronavirus Replication
Authors: Yan Bingpeng , Chu Hin , Yang Dong , Sze Kong-Hung , Lai Pok-Man , Yuan Shuofeng , Shuai Huiping , Wang Yixin , Kao Richard Yi-Tsun , Chan Jasper Fuk-Woo , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: January 2019

Lipids play numerous indispensable cellular functions and are involved in multiple steps in the replication cycle of viruses. Infections by human-pathogenic coronaviruses result in diverse clinical outcomes, ranging from self-limiting flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia with extrapulmonary manifestations. Understanding how cellular lipids may modulate the pathogenicity of human-pathogenic coronaviruses remains poor. To this end, we utilized the human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) as a model coronavirus to comprehensively characterize the host cell lipid response upon coronavirus infection with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS)-based lipidomics approach. Our results revealed that glycerophospholipids and fatty acids (FAs) were significantly elevated in the HCoV-229E-infected cells and the linoleic acid (LA) to arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism axis was markedly perturbed upon HCoV-229E infection. Interestingly, exogenous supplement of LA or AA in HCoV-229E-infected cells significantly suppressed HCoV-229E virus replication. Importantly, the inhibitory effect of LA and AA on virus replication was also conserved for the highly pathogenic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Taken together, our study demonstrated that host lipid metabolic remodeling was significantly associated with human-pathogenic coronavirus propagation. Our data further suggested that lipid metabolism regulation would be a common and druggable target for coronavirus infections.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Vaccine Candidates: Cautious Optimism
Authors: Schindewolf Craig , Menachery Vineet D.
Published: January 2019

Efforts towards developing a vaccine for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have yielded promising results. Utilizing a variety of platforms, several vaccine approaches have shown efficacy in animal models and begun to enter clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the current progress towards a MERS-CoV vaccine and highlight potential roadblocks identified from previous attempts to generate coronavirus vaccines.
Feed Spacer Geometries and Permeability Coefficients. Effect on the Performance in BWRO Spriral-Wound Membrane Modules
Authors: Ruiz-García Alejandro , de la Nuez Pestana Ignacio
Published: January 2019

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most widely used technology to desalinate brackish water and seawater. Significant efforts have been made in recent decades to improve RO efficiency. Feed spacer geometry design is a very important factor in RO membrane performance. In this work, correlations based on computational fluid dynamics and experimental work were applied in an algorithm to simulate the effect of different feed spacer geometries in full-scale brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) membranes with different permeability coefficients. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of feed spacers in conjunction with the permeability coefficients on membrane performance. The results showed a greater impact of feed spacer geometries in the membrane with the highest water permeability coefficient (A). Studying only one single element in a series, variations due to feed spacer geometries were observed in specific energy consumption ( S E C ) and permeate concentration ( C p ) of about 6.83% and 10.42%, respectively. Allowing the rolling of commercial membranes with different feed spacer geometries depending on the operating conditions could optimize the RO process.
Poseidon—Decision Support Tool for Water Reuse
Authors: Oertlé Emmanuel , Hugi Christoph , Wintgens Thomas , Karavitis Christos A.
Published: January 2019

In an era when many water systems worldwide are experiencing water stress regarding water quantity and quality, water reuse has received growing attention as one of the most promising integrated mitigating solutions. Nevertheless, the plethora of technologies and their combinations available, as well as social, economic, and environmental constraints, often make it complex for stakeholders and especially decision makers to elicit relevant information. The scope of the current study is to develop a decision support tool that supports pre-feasibility studies and aims at promoting water reuse and building capacities in the field. The tool developed currently encompasses 37 unit processes combined into 70 benchmark treatment trains. It also contains information on water quality standards and typical wastewater qualities. It estimates the removal performances for 12 parameters and the lifecycle costs including distribution. The tool and all underlying data are open access and under continuous development. The underlying systemic approach of the tool makes it intuitive also for users with limited prior knowledge in the field to identify most adequate solutions based on a multi-criteria assessment. This should help to promote water reuse and spearhead initiates for more detailed feasibility and design commissioning for implementation of water reuse schemes.
Unraveling Flooding Dynamics and Nutrients’ Controls upon Phytoplankton Functional Dynamics in Amazonian Floodplain Lakes
Authors: Kraus Cleber , Bonnet Marie-Paule , de Souza Nogueira Ina , Morais Pereira Souza Lobo Maria , da Motta Marques David , Garnier Jérémie , Cardoso Galli Vieira Ludgero
Published: January 2019

The processes in tropical floodplain lakes enable maintaining phytoplankton nutrient requirements over a hydrological year. The nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon compounds play an essential role in phytoplankton growth. However, the way that nutrients and phytoplankton interact and how this relationship varies seasonally in tropical freshwater ecosystems is not clear. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between phytoplankton–nutrients over the hydrological cycle in Amazonian floodplain lakes and verify if this relationship influences the biomass of cyanobacteria. We also check what factors linked to nutrients act in structuring phytoplankton community. Using the phytoplankton functional approach, we verified how their ability to respond to hydrological and environmental variations reflects the ecological conditions and investigated how these interactions work. The results show that the Amazonian floodplain lakes could maintain long-term nutrient enrichment status. The nutrients input conduces to cyanobacteria dominance, that allied to other factors, play an essential role in supporting the stability of the phytoplankton–nutrients relationship over the hydrological cycle.