bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Novel Ceramic Preconcentrator and Integration in Gas Chromatographic System for Detection of Ethylene Gas from Ripening Bananas
Authors: Zaidi Nayyer , Tahir Muhammad , Vellekoop Micheal , Lang Walter
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a novel ceramic preconcentrator is manufactured using aluminum nitride (ALN) ceramics. The preconcentrator consists of a heater, a preconcentrator body, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The adsorption material, Carbosieve SII, is loaded into the preconcentrator. The preconcentrator is integrated with a previously developed micro gas chromatographic system filled with ethylene. When operated, adequate ethylene gas is adsorbed into the preconcentrator. The application of heat pulse also successfully desorbs the ethylene gas. Tests are conducted with ethylene gas at concentrations of 10 ppm, 5 ppm and 2.5 ppm and 400 ppb, respectively. The system is also tested with ethylene gas from ripening bananas over a period of three days. No interference signal is observed in the chromatogram because of other ripening gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, oxygen, alcohol) and humidity. A detection limit of 25 ppb is realized with this system. The developed preconcentrator has several applications, e.g., in food industry and environmental monitoring.
A Framework of Joint Energy Provisioning and Manufacturing Scheduling in Smart Industrial Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks
Authors: Feng Yixiong , Wang Yong , Zheng Hao , Mi Shanghua , Tan Jianrong
Published: August 2018

Energy provisioning is always a crucial problem restricting the further development and application of smart industrial wireless sensor networks in smart factories. In this paper, we present that it is necessary to develop smart industrial wireless rechargeable sensor networks (SIWRSNs) in a smart factory environment. Based on the complexity and time-effectiveness of factory operations, we establish a joint optimization framework named J-EPMS to effectively coordinate the charging strategies of wireless sensors and the scheduling plans of machines running. Then, we propose a novel double chains quantum genetic algorithm with Taboo search (DCQGA-TS) for J-EPMS to obtain a suboptimal solution. The simulation results demonstrate that the DCQGA-TS algorithm can maximally ensure the continuous manufacturing and markedly shorten the total completion time of all production tasks.
Consumption in the Circular Economy: A Literature Review
Authors: Camacho-Otero Juana , Boks Casper , Pettersen Ida Nilstad
Published: August 2018

A circular economy (CE) aims at decoupling value creation from waste generation and resource use by radically transforming production and consumption systems. Recent reviews on the topic of the circular economy have indicated that cultural barriers are a significant factor hindering the diffusion of so-called ‘circular’ business models, particularly the lack of consumer—or user—acceptance. However, none of them has provided an overview of the existing literature addressing such issues that can help academics and practitioners better understand consumption considerations when addressing the circular economy. Motivated by these observations, this paper presents the results of a literature review that summarises and discusses insights from 111 articles in terms of the problem area, theoretical approaches, methods, and tools that have been used to collect and analyse data, the main issues, and identified research gaps. The results show that most of the existing scientific work on the circular economy and circular solutions addressing consumption has focussed on identifying factors that drive or hinder the consumption of circular solutions. A smaller but expanding set of articles has focussed on offering insights into the nature, meaning, and dynamics of consumption in the context of the circular economy. According to this set of articles, consumption in the circular economy is anonymous, connected, political, uncertain, and based on multiple values, not only utility. A smaller set of papers has explored the integration of user and consumer perspectives into design processes. Although these contributions are relevant, opportunities for further research are still open, particularly regarding socio-material and cultural aspects of consumption in the context of the circular economy, and the role of digitalisation. In addition, more work could be done regarding strategies to foster not only acceptance but also the adoption and diffusion of the circular economy. Based on the findings of this literature review, some ideas for a research agenda on the issue of consumption in the circular economy are outlined.
Land Use Changes and Their Driving Forces in a Debris Flow Active Area of Gansu Province, China
Authors: He Songtang , Wang Daojie , Li Yong , Zhao Peng
Published: August 2018

Land use change is extremely sensitive to natural factors and human influence in active debris flow. It is therefore necessary to determine the factors that influence land use change. This paper took Wudu District, Gansu Province, China as a study area, and a systemic analysis of the transformational extent and rate of debris flow waste-shoal land (DFWSL) was carried out from 2005 to 2015. The results show that from 2005 to 2015, cultivated land resources transformed to other types of land; cultivated lands mainly transformed to grassland from 2005 to 2010 and construction land from 2010 to 2015. Moreover, the growth rate of construction land from 2005 to 2010 was only 0.11%, but increased to 6.87% between 2010 and 2015. The latter is more than 60 times the former. This increase was brought about by natural disasters (debris flow, earthquakes, and landslides) and anthropogenic factors (national policies or strategies), which acted as driving forces in debris flow area. The former determines the initial use type of the DFWSL while the latter only affects the direction of land use and transformation.
Terrestrial Vertebrate Biodiversity Loss under Future Global Land Use Change Scenarios
Authors: Chaudhary Abhishek , Mooers Arne O.
Published: August 2018

Efficient forward-looking mitigation measures are needed to halt the global biodiversity decline. These require spatially explicit scenarios of expected changes in multiple indicators of biodiversity under future socio-economic and environmental conditions. Here, we link six future (2050 and 2100) global gridded maps (0.25° × 0.25° resolution) available from the land use harmonization (LUH) database, representing alternative concentration pathways (RCP) and shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs), with the countryside species–area relationship model to project the future land use change driven rates of species extinctions and phylogenetic diversity loss (in million years) for mammals, birds, and amphibians in each of the 804 terrestrial ecoregions and 176 countries and compare them with the current (1900–2015) and past (850–1900) rates of biodiversity loss. Future land-use changes are projected to commit an additional 209–818 endemic species and 1190–4402 million years of evolutionary history to extinction by 2100 depending upon the scenario. These estimates are driven by land use change only and would likely be higher once the direct effects of climate change on species are included. Among the three taxa, highest diversity loss is projected for amphibians. We found that the most aggressive climate mitigation scenario (RCP2.6 SSP-1), representing a world shifting towards a radically more sustainable path, including increasing crop yields, reduced meat production, and reduced tropical deforestation coupled with high trade, projects the lowest land use change driven global biodiversity loss. The results show that hotspots of future biodiversity loss differ depending upon the scenario, taxon, and metric considered. Future extinctions could potentially be reduced if habitat preservation is incorporated into national development plans, especially for biodiverse, low-income countries such as Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Philippines, and The Democratic Republic of Congo that are otherwise projected to suffer a high number of land use change driven extinctions under all scenarios.
On Decision Makers’ Perceptions of What an Ecological Computer Model is, What It Does, and Its Impact on Limiting Model Acceptance
Authors: Boschetti Fabio , Hughes Michael , Jones Cheryl , Lozano-Montes Hector
Published: August 2018

Environmental decision makers are required to understand complex ecological processes and ecological computer models are designed to facilitate this understanding. A set of interviews reveals three main perceptions affecting senior environmental decision makers’ trust in ecological computer models as decision facilitation tools: an ecological computer model is perceived as (i) a ‘black box’, (ii) processing poorly documented, sparse and out-of-date input data, and (iii) whose sensitivity to model parameters enables manipulation to produce desired outcomes justifying pre-conceived decisions. This leads to lack of trust towards both ecological computer models and model-users, including other scientists and decision makers. Model acceptance appears to depend on the amount, currency and geographical origin of input data. This is at odds with modellers’ communication style, which typically places more emphasis on highlighting the ecological computer model’s features and performance, rather than on describing the input data. Developing ‘big data’ capabilities could deliver the large, real-time, local data that may enhance acceptance. However, the size and complexity of ‘big data’ requires automated pre-processing, using modelling and algorithms that are even more inscrutable than current ecological computer models. Future trust in ecological computer models will likely depend on how this dilemma is resolved, which is likely to require improved communication between modellers and decision makers.
Measuring and Spatio-Temporal Evolution for the Late-Development Advantage in China’s Provinces
Authors: Ma Fei , Liu Fei , Sun Qipeng , Wang Wenlin , Li Xiaodan
Published: August 2018

The coordinated development of regional economies is a major economic goal of many countries around the world. To that end, China has actively carried out a series of strategies to expedite the development of its late-developing regions. This study explores the issues raised by this coordinated development from the perspective of late-development advantages, which refer to a region’s late-development advantages compared with the early-developing regions in the country. The 15 indicators applied for evaluating the late-development advantages fall into five categories including capital, technology, industrial structure, institutions and human resources. Then, the model of entropy-weighted technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (EW-TOPSIS) is applied to evaluate the late-development advantages of China’s provinces. Following this, ArcGIS and GeoDa are used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution pattern of the late-development advantages of China’s provinces, and to compare the spatio-temporal effect of these advantages between the provinces. The results show that the overall late-development advantages of China’s provinces had a downward trend from 2006 to 2015, with the Eastern Region falling by 8.07%, the Central Region falling by 14.37% and the Western Region falling by 8.05%, indicating that the development gap between China’s Eastern and Western Regions is still large. The temporal effect analysis shows the temporal autocorrelation changes from positive status to negative status with the increase of lagging order, which means the trend of late-development advantage will reverse over time. The spatial effect analysis shows there were only significant Low-Low and Low-High aggregation in 2006 and 2010, but significant High-High and High-Low aggregations emerge in 2012 and 2015, implying that the development environment has effectively promoted the use of the provincial late-development advantage. The research results could provide theoretical basis for the policy making of the accelerating development of late-developing regions in China.
Pattern-Based Set Partitioning Algorithm for the Integrated Sustainable Operation of a District Heating Network
Authors: Song Sang Hwa , Cheong Taesu
Published: August 2018

District heating is a system of distributing heated water from centralized facilities to local homes and buildings. In this paper, we model the distribution planning problem as a supply chain planning problem and propose an explicit column generation algorithm to handle large-scale data and nonlinear constraints. The algorithm is successfully applied to a Korean district heating company and computational experiments show that the integrated operation of the district heating network increases the total profit compared to previous isolated networks.
Pathways for Sustainable Supply Chain Performance—Evidence from a Developing Country, Malaysia
Authors: Thong Kai-Chong , Wong Wai-Peng
Published: August 2018

Malaysia has recently started to adopt sustainable business best practices to benefit companies, environment and stakeholders. Therefore, this study demonstrates pathways to sustainable supply chain triple bottom line performance derived from linkages of institutional pressures (IP) and organizational identity (OI) to environment and social sustainable practices. It shows that the superordinate goal of sustainable supply chain management is met in spite of unyielding external pressures and desirable OI driving the unequivocal environmental and responsible social practices of firms. A survey approach was adopted to gather the data required for this study. A total of 118 completed questionnaires were received from respondents, who were managers and senior executives in supply chain management (SCM) in Malaysia. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM) version 3.0. Our findings showed that all hypothesized relationships are significant except both process- and market-based social practices could not directly impact economic performance. This is in sharp contrast to environmental practices. However, the significant linkage between social practices and social performance is a pathway for the former to economic performance. Therefore, the economic benefits derived from social practices are salvaged through its performance outcomes. The novel and useful impact of institutional pressures on sustainable supply chain practices are also unearthed.
Anticipating Constraints on Upscaling from Urban Innovation Experiments
Authors: Dijk Marc , De Kraker Joop , Hommels Anique
Published: August 2018

The upscaling of innovations from urban experiments is often assumed to be relatively easy, as if they can simply be ‘rolled out’. In practice, however, upscaling is usually constrained by a range of factors in the wider context of the innovation, typically a context of interconnected and ‘obdurate’ urban socio-technical networks and institutions. Innovation studies have used the notion of upscaling from experiments most explicitly in studies of transitions, especially of strategic niche management (SNM) and transition management (TM). However, these studies have focused more on niche internal dynamics and future visions, respectively, and much less on constraints in the present socio-institutional context. This paper offers a conceptual contribution on ‘constraints on upscaling’, elaborating on how upscaling can be more effective when constraints on upscaling are first identified in retrospective systems analysis, and then anticipated in the design of urban experiments. Our focus is on innovation in urban mobility systems. After a conceptualization of ‘constraints on upscaling’, based on a review of the literature of transition, social innovation, geography and science & technology studies, we present a retrospective analysis of urban mobility in Maastricht (NL) in which these interrelated constraints can be recognized. Further, we analyze a pilot on electric bus mobility which was relatively successful in anticipating future constraints. Based on this, we offer some guidelines on how to anticipate upscaling in the design of urban experiments with socio-technical innovations.
A Framework for Spatiotemporal Analysis of Regional Economic Agglomeration Patterns
Authors: Jin Rui , Gong Jianya , Deng Min , Wan Yiliang , Yang Xuexi
Published: August 2018

Understanding regional economic agglomeration patterns is critical for sustainable economic development, urban planning and proper utilization of regional resources. Taking Guangdong Province of China as the study area, this paper introduces a comprehensive research framework for analyzing regional economic agglomeration patterns and understanding their spatiotemporal characteristics. First, convergence and autocorrelation methods are applied to understand the economic spatial patterns. Then, the intercity spatial interaction model (ISIM) is proposed to measure the strength of interplay among cities, and social network analysis (SNA) based on the ISIM is utilized, which is designed to reveal the network characteristics of economic agglomerations. Finally, we perform a spatial panel data analysis to comprehensively interpret the influences of regional economic agglomerations. The results indicate that from 2001 to 2016, the economy in Guangdong showed a double-core/peripheral pattern of convergence, with strengthened intercity interactions. The strength and external spillover effects of Guangzhou and Shenzhen enhanced, while Foshan and Dongguan had relatively strong absorptive abilities. Moreover, expanding regional communication and cooperation is key to enhancing vigorous economic agglomerations and regional network ties in Guangdong by spatial panel data analysis. Our results show that this is a suitable method of reflecting regional economic agglomeration process and its spatiotemporal pattern.
Bi-Objective Scheduling Optimization for Discrete Time/Cost Trade-Off in Projects
Authors: Li Hongbo , Xu Zhe , Wei Wenchao
Published: August 2018

In sustainable project management, time and cost are two critical factors affecting the success of a project. Time/cost trade-offs in projects accelerate the execution of some activities by increasing the amount of non-renewable resources committed to them and therefore shorten the project duration. The discrete time/cost trade-off problem (DTCTP) has been extensively studied during the past 20 years. However, due to its complexity, the DTCTP—especially the DTCTP curve problem (DTCTP-C)—has only been solved for relatively small instances. To the best of our knowledge, there is no computational performance analysis for solving the DTCTP-C on large project instances with up to 500 activities. This paper aims to fill this gap. We present two bi-objective heuristic algorithms for the DTCTP-C where both project duration and cost are minimized. The objective is to obtain a good appropriate efficient set for the large-scale instances. The first algorithm is based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and uses a specially designed critical path-based crossover operator. The second algorithm is a steepest descent heuristic which generates efficient solutions by iteratively solving the DTCTP with different deadlines. Computational experiments are conducted to validate the proposed algorithms on a large set of randomly generated problem instances.
Temperature-Dependent s± ↔ s++ Transitions in the Multiband Model for Fe-Based Superconductors with Impurities
Authors: Shestakov V. A. , Korshunov M. M. , Dolgov O. V.
Published: August 2018

We study the dependence of the superconducting gaps on both the disorder and the temperature within the two-band model for iron-based materials. In the clean limit, the system is in the s± state with sign-changing gaps. Scattering by nonmagnetic impurities leads to the change of the sign of the smaller gap, resulting in a transition from the s± to the s++ state with the sign-preserving gaps. We show here that the transition is temperature-dependent. Thus, there is a line of s±→s++ transition in the temperature–disorder phase diagram. There is a narrow range of impurity scattering rates, where the disorder-induced s±→s++ transition occurs at low temperatures, but then the low-temperature s++ state transforms back to the s± state at higher temperatures. With increasing impurity scattering rate, the temperature of such s++→s± transition shifts to the critical temperature Tc, and only the s++ state is left for higher amounts of disorder.
Lower Bounds for Gaussian Estrada Index of Graphs
Authors: Shang Yilun
Published: August 2018

Suppose that G is a graph over n vertices. G has n eigenvalues (of adjacency matrix) represented by λ1,λ2,⋯,λn. The Gaussian Estrada index, denoted by H(G) (Estrada et al., Chaos 27(2017) 023109), can be defined as H(G)=∑i=1ne−λi2. Gaussian Estrada index underlines the eigenvalues close to zero, which plays an important role in chemistry reactions, such as molecular stability and molecular magnetic properties. In a network of particles governed by quantum mechanics, this graph-theoretic index is known to account for the information encoded in the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian near zero by folding the graph spectrum. In this paper, we establish some new lower bounds for H(G) in terms of the number of vertices, the number of edges, as well as the first Zagreb index.
Different Forms of Triangular Neutrosophic Numbers, De-Neutrosophication Techniques, and their Applications
Authors: Chakraborty Avishek , Mondal Sankar Prasad , Ahmadian Ali , Senu Norazak , Alam Shariful , Salahshour Soheil
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we introduce the concept of neutrosophic number from different viewpoints. We define different types of linear and non-linear generalized triangular neutrosophic numbers which are very important for uncertainty theory. We introduced the de-neutrosophication concept for neutrosophic number for triangular neutrosophic numbers. This concept helps us to convert a neutrosophic number into a crisp number. The concepts are followed by two application, namely in imprecise project evaluation review technique and route selection problem.
Markov Chain and Techno-Economic Analysis to Identify the Commercial Potential of New Technology: A Case Study of Motorcycle in Surakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Sutopo Wahyudi , Kurniyati Indah , Zakaria Roni
Published: August 2018

LiFePhO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, with their advantages compared to common current motorcycle batteries, are considered as an alternative in substituting wet and dry cell battery. The huge demand for motorcycles along with their batteries in Indonesia also make them an interesting product for business. To assess the commercial potential for such a new technology, market share needs to be estimated as well as the techno-economic feasibility. Hence, market share prediction using the residents of Surakarta Region and techno-economic analysis using Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period (PP) indicators were conducted in this study. Calculations using Markov chain method show that lithium iron phosphate batteries tend to dominate the market after certain period. Techno-economic analysis also finds that the commercialization is feasible in three conditions: first mover, even with market leader and equilibrium point. Therefore, there is a great commercial potential for lithium iron phosphate batteries, especially in Indonesia.
Low Doses of Ochratoxin-A Decrease IgY and IgA Production in Broiler Chicks
Authors: Khan Shahzad A. , Venancio Emerson J. , Fernandes Eduardo V. , Hirooka Elisa Y. , Oba Alexandre , Flaiban Karina K. M. C. , Itano Eiko N.
Published: August 2018

The mycotoxin, ochratoxin-A (OTA), produced by some fungi, and is a natural contaminant of many foods and animal feeds worldwide. Due to its toxic effects, the recommended maximum daily intake of OTA for poultry feeds is 0.1 mg OTA/kg (ECR2006/575/EC); this dose does not induce changes in hepatic/renal parameters, but decreases thymus size and serum globulin concentrations. Accordingly, in this study, we assessed quantitatively the total circulating IgY and IgA serum levels, in chicks consuming a 0.1 mg OTA/kg diet (limit) and higher doses (0.3–1.1 mg OTA/kg diet) for 14 or 21 days. We also evaluated other immunological parameters (thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen weights and leukocyte profiles) at day 21. Decreased IgY serum levels were observed in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05). In the low-dose group, IgA levels were decreased on day 21, but not on day 14. The size of the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius was decreased in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05), whereas reduced spleen size and altered leukocyte profiles were detected only in the high-dose group (p < 0.05). We concluded that chronic exposure to OTA, even at the recommended highest dose, affected IgY and IgA production in chicks.
Phaeoviral Infections Are Present in Macrocystis, Ecklonia and Undaria (Laminariales) and Are Influenced by Wave Exposure in Ectocarpales
Authors: McKeown Dean A. , Schroeder Joanna L. , Stevens Kim , Peters Akira F. , Sáez Claudio A. , Park Jihae , Rothman Mark D. , Bolton John J. , Brown Murray T. , Schroeder Declan C.
Published: August 2018

Two sister orders of the brown macroalgae (class Phaeophyceae), the morphologically complex Laminariales (commonly referred to as kelp) and the morphologically simple Ectocarpales are natural hosts for the dsDNA phaeoviruses (family Phycodnaviridae) that persist as proviruses in the genomes of their hosts. We have previously shown that the major capsid protein (MCP) and DNA polymerase concatenated gene phylogeny splits phaeoviruses into two subgroups, A and B (both infecting Ectocarpales), while MCP-based phylogeny suggests that the kelp phaeoviruses form a distinct third subgroup C. Here we used MCP to better understand the host range of phaeoviruses by screening a further 96 and 909 samples representing 11 and 3 species of kelp and Ectocarpales, respectively. Sporophyte kelp samples were collected from their various natural coastal habitats spanning five continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. Our phylogenetic analyses showed that while most of the kelp phaeoviruses, including one from Macrocystispyrifera, belonged to the previously designated subgroup C, new lineages of Phaeovirus in 3 kelp species, Ecklonia maxima, Ecklonia radiata, Undaria pinnatifida, grouped instead with subgroup A. In addition, we observed a prevalence of 26% and 63% in kelp and Ectocarpales, respectively. Although not common, multiple phaeoviral infections per individual were observed, with the Ectocarpales having both intra- and inter-subgroup phaeoviral infections. Only intra-subgroup phaeoviral infections were observed in kelp. Furthermore, prevalence of phaeoviral infections within the Ectocarpales is also linked to their exposure to waves. We conclude that phaeoviral infection is a widely occurring phenomenon in both lineages, and that phaeoviruses have diversified with their hosts at least since the divergence of the Laminariales and Ectocarpales.
Novel Flu Viruses in Bats and Cattle: “Pushing the Envelope” of Influenza Infection
Authors: Kuchipudi Suresh V. , Nissly Ruth H.
Published: August 2018

Influenza viruses are among the major infectious disease threats of animal and human health. This review examines the recent discovery of novel influenza viruses in bats and cattle, the evolving complexity of influenza virus host range including the ability to cross species barriers and geographic boundaries, and implications to animal and human health.
Quantitative Evaluation Method for Landscape Color of Water with Suspended Sediment
Authors: Ye Mao , Li Ran , Tu Weimin , Liao Jialing , Pu Xunchi
Published: August 2018

Landscape water is an important part of natural landscape, and a reasonable assessment of water landscape color is the basis for scientifically evaluating the quality of water landscape. To evaluate water landscape color with different concentrations of sediment objectively and quantitatively, a method of evaluating water landscape color based on hyperspectral technology is proposed to calculate water landscape color. The color spectrum calculation model of the water landscape color was constructed using the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage spectrum three stimulus system (CIE-XYZ) calculation method and the response relationship among water reflectance, water depth, and sediment concentration. Under the conditions of eliminating as many external factors as possible, using a hyperspectral instrument to measure the reflectance of sediment and water, the response relationship between water depth and sediment concentration and water reflectance is calculated. Water depth and sediment concentration, which did not appear previously, were verified by experiments that proved the reliability of the water landscape color spectrum calculation model. By using different absolute value of chromatic coordinates in the international CIE-XYZ calculation method, a formula for determining the difference in sediment concentration for water landscape color was defined, and the quantitative evaluation method of landscape color of sand-laden water was established. In this research, we found that the predicted water landscape color, quantified by the color spectrum calculation model, is basically consistent with the actual color of landscape water and is basically in line with actual observation about significant difference assessment, which demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the model. Hence, this research provides a scientific basis for the establishment of other water quality factors to evaluate water color, which makes it possible to quantify the color of the water landscape based on the establishment the color spectrum calculation model.
Clogging Impacts on Distribution Pipe Delivery of Street Runoff to an Infiltration Bed
Authors: Tu Min-Cheng , Traver Robert
Published: August 2018

The performance of flow through orifices on a perforated distribution pipe between periods with and without partial clogging (submersion of part of the distribution pipe) was compared. The distribution pipe receives runoff and delivers it to an underground infiltration bed. Clogging appeared in winter but was reduced in summer. Performance of flow delivery was found to be defined by the effective pipe length and the pressure head. ANCOVA (ANalysis of COVAriance) was used to examine the clogging effect with flow rate plotted against the effective pipe length times the square root of the mean pressure head, and found that it was significant during low or no rainfall. During larger storms, clogging had little effect on pipe performance. Clogging might be caused by leaves and other trash accumulating in the lower section of the pipe in winter and its effect was insignificant when the water level rose in the pipe, utilizing significantly more orifices on the distribution pipe. Larger storms might also move the debris, thus exposing the orifices. The current maintenance schedule was sufficient to keep the distribution pipe at a satisfactory performance even though partial clogging can exist.
Hospital-Volume Effects on Perioperative Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Implantation: Analysis of 2,505 Cases
Authors: Kinoshita Yoshitaka , Sugihara Toru , Yasunaga Hideo , Matsui Hiroki , Ishikawa Akira , Fujimura Tetsuya , Fukuhara Hiroshi , Ishibashi Yoshitaka , Fushimi Kiyohide , Homma Yukio
Published: August 2018

Background

Evidence regarding volume-outcome effects on peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter implantation is limited. This study aimed to investigate associations between hospital volume (annual caseload of catheter implantation) and perioperative outcomes.

Methods

Clinical data for patients who underwent PD catheter implantation from 2007 to 2012 were extracted from the Japanese nationwide Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. Hospital volume was divided into tertiles: low-volume (1 – 6 cases/year), medium-volume (7 – 13 cases/year), and high-volume (≥ 14 cases/year). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for the occurrence of any adverse events and blood transfusion, and gamma-distributed log-linked linear regression analysis for postoperative length of stay were conducted with explanatory variables of hospital volume, age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, history of hemodialysis, type of anesthesia, and type of hospital.

Results

Among 906, 855, and 744 cases in the low-volume, medium-volume, and high-volume groups, overall adverse events were 10.0%, 7.6%, and 6.0%, transfusion rates were 1.3%, 1.1%, and 0.9%, and median postoperative stays were 12, 10, and 9 days, respectively. In multivariate analyses, compared with the low-volume group, medium-volume and high-volume groups were associated with a lower incidence of overall adverse events (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, p = 0.058, and OR = 0.59, p = 0.013, respectively) and shorter postoperative stay (% difference = -10.5%, p = 0.023, and % difference = -18.5%, p = 0.001, respectively), while no significant association was detected for transfusion.

Conclusions

Less frequent adverse events and shorter stays were observed in higher-volume centers. Inverse volume-outcome relationships in PD catheter implantation were confirmed.
Self-Care Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Cognitive Impairment Have a Higher Risk of Peritonitis in the Second Year
Authors: Shea Yat-fung , Lee Mi-suen Connie , Mok Ming-yee Maggie , Lam Man-fai , Chu Leung-wing , Chan Felix Hon-wai , Chan Tak Mao
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Cognitive impairment is common among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). We hypothesize that cognitive impairment has a negative impact on the outcome of patients on PD, especially with regard to peritonitis.

Methods

This was a single-center 2-year prospective cohort study involving 206 patients at 1 PD unit. Cognitive impairment was defined by the latest Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (HK-MoCA) multiple cut-offs as determined by age and years of education. Eighty percent of patients had come back for interval HK-MoCA. The HK-MoCA was performed at baseline and after 1 year on PD. Potential risk factors for cognitive impairment and peritonitis were studied separately for the first and second year.

Results

For cognitive impairment at baseline, multivariate analyses showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.003, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003 – 1.065, p = 0.03), female sex (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.60 – 7.97, p = 0.002), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.33 – 9.01, p = 0.01), and hemoglobin level (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 – 0.84, p = 0.003) were statistically significant factors. For cognitive impairment at 1 year, multivariate analyses showed that age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02 – 1.012, p = 0.007), female sex (OR 5.87, 95% CI 1.86 – 18.5, p = 0.003), and PVD (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.07 – 12.84, p = 0.04) were statistically significant independent factors for cognitive impairment at 1 year. For self-care PD patients in the second year, patients with cognitive impairment had a higher rate of peritonitis and proportionately more patients suffered from both peritonitis and exit-site infection than non-cognitively impaired patients in the second year (0.50 vs 0.27 episodes per year, p = 0.048; 25% vs 7.2%, p = 0.049). Logistic regression showed that only HK-MoCA-defined cognitive impairment and HK-MoCA scores at 1 year were factors predicting peritonitis (risk ratio [RR] 3.2 [95% CI 1.03 – 9.95], p = 0.04 and RR 0.92 [95% CI 0.86 – 0.995], p = 0.04 respectively).

Conclusions

In summary, increasing age, female sex, anemia, and presence of PVD are risk factors for cognitive impairment in PD patients. Self-care PD with cognitive impairment at 1 year has a higher risk for PD-related peritonitis in the second year. Interval HK-MoCA assessment is recommended to detect cognitive impairment in our local PD patients.
An Alternative Channel for High-mass Binary Black Holes—Dark Matter Accretion onto Black Holes
Authors: Wang Tongzheng , Li Lin , Zhu Chunhua , Wang Zhaojun , Wang Anzhong , Wu Qiang , Liu Hai-Shan , Lü Guoliang
Published: August 2018

By a method of population synthesis we construct a model of dark matter (DM) accretion onto binary black holes (BHs) and investigate the merger rate of the binary BHs. We find that the merger rate can weakly increase (less than 10%). However, the DM accretion can efficiently enhance the masses of binary BHs. In our model, the result for Z = 0.01 without the DM accretion cannot explain GW170104, GW170814, and GW150914, while with the DM accretion it can cover all observations well. For the higher metallicity (Z = 0.02), our model cannot explain the mergers of high-mass binary BHs like GW170104, GW170814, and GW150914. We estimate that the merger rate of binary BHs lies between 55 and 197 Gpc−3 yr−1.
The WFC3 Galactic Bulge Treasury Program: Relative Ages of Bulge Stars of High and Low Metallicity∗
Authors: Renzini Alvio , Gennaro Mario , Zoccali Manuela , Brown Thomas M. , Anderson Jay , Minniti Dante , Sahu Kailash C. , Valenti Elena , VandenBerg Don A.
Published: August 2018

The Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 multiband photometry spanning from the UV to the near-IR of four fields in the Galactic bulge, together with that for six template globular and open clusters, are used to photometrically tag the metallicity [Fe/H] of stars in these fields after proper-motion rejecting most foreground disk contaminants. Color–magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions (LF) are then constructed, in particular for the most metal-rich and most metal-poor stars in each field. We do not find any significant difference between the I-band and H-band LFs, hence turnoff luminosity and age of the metal-rich and metal-poor components therefore appear essentially coeval. In particular, we find that no more than ∼3% of the metal-rich component can be ∼5 Gyr old, or younger. Conversely, theoretical LFs match well to the observed ones for an age of ∼10 Gyr. Assuming this age is representative for the bulk of bulge stars, we then recall the observed properties of star-forming galaxies at 10 Gyr lookback time, i.e., at z ∼ 2, and speculate about bulge formation in that context. We argue that bar formation and buckling instabilities leading to the observed boxy/peanut, X-shaped bulge may have arisen late in the history of the Milky Way Galaxy, once its gas fraction had decreased compared to the high values typical of high-redshift galaxies. This paper follows the public release of the photometric and astrometric catalogs of the measured stars in the four fields.
Inégalités en santé orale : déterminants de l’accès à la prévention et aux soins en France
Authors: Pegon-Machat Estelle , Jourdan Didier , Tubert-Jeannin Stéphanie
Published: August 2018

Introduction : Les inégalités en santé orale représentent une problématique majeure de santé publique. Agir contre ces inégalités suppose de comprendre les mécanismes qui génèrent un gradient dans l’accès à la prévention et aux soins pour identifier les leviers d’action. Il s’agit notamment d’identifier les obstacles rencontrés par les populations vulnérables. Méthodes : L’analyse est conduite en référence au modèle d’accès aux soins, centré sur le patient qui définit l’accès aux soins comme le résultat de l’interaction entre les individus et un système de soin dans un processus où les besoins de soins de santé sont perçus, le recours aux soins est recherché, les structures de soins sont atteintes et leur utilisation est effective. Elle s’appuie sur des données bibliographiques quantitatives et qualitatives appréhendées dans une approche sociologique explicative. Résultats : Dans chaque dimension du modèle, les obstacles rencontrés sont les suivants : les populations en situation de vulnérabilité orale perçoivent peu les besoins en soins dentaires, le recours aux soins n’est pas recherché d’emblée lorsque les besoins sont perçus, l’accès aux structures de soins est difficile et l’utilisation du système de soin est ponctuelle. Conclusion : Ce travail fournit une analyse aux acteurs des politiques régionales de santé de façon à élaborer des stratégies en matière d’accès à la prévention et aux soins selon le principe d’universalisme proportionné en suivant deux axes : élaborer une stratégie de promotion de la santé orale comme composante de la santé globale et repositionner graduellement le système de santé pour le rendre plus accessible à tous.
CALIPSO Lidar Calibration at 532 nm: Version 4 Daytime Algorithm
Authors: Getzewich Brian J. , Vaughan Mark A. , Hunt William H. , Avery Melody A. , Powell Kathleen A. , Tackett Jason L. , Winker David M. , Kar Jayanta , Lee Kam-Pui , Toth Travis
Published: August 2018

Abstract. The Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission released version 4.00 of their lidar level 1 data set in April of 2014, and subsequently updated this to version 4.10 in November of 2016. The primary difference in the newly released version 4 (V4) data is a suite of updated calibration coefficients calculated using substantially revised calibration algorithms. This paper describes the revisions to the V4 daytime calibration procedure for the 532 nm parallel channel. As in earlier releases, the V4 daytime calibration coefficients 15 are derived by scaling the raw daytime signals to the calibrated nighttime signals acquired within a calibration transfer region, and thus the new V4 daytime calibration benefits from improvements made to the V4 532 nm nighttime calibration. The V4 calibration transfer region has been moved upward from the upper troposphere to the more stable lower stratosphere. The identification of clear-air columns by an iterative thresholding scheme, crucial to selecting the observation regions used for calibration, now uses uncalibrated 1064 nm data rather than recursively using the 20 calibrated 532 nm data as was done in version 3 (V3). A detailed account of the rationale and methodology for this new calibration approach is provided, along with results demonstrating the improvement of this calibration over the previous version. Extensive validation data acquired by NASA's airborne high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) shows that during the daytime the average difference between collocated CALIPSO and HSRL measurements of 532 nm attenuated backscatter coefficients is reduced from 3.3 % ± 3.1 % in V3 to 1.0 % ± 3.5 % in V4.
Linear Optimal Runoff Aggregate (LORA): A global gridded synthesis runoff product
Authors: Hobeichi Sanaa , Abramowitz Gab , Evans Jason , Beck Hylke E.
Published: August 2018

Abstract. No synthesized global gridded runoff product, derived from multiple sources, is available despite such a product being useful to meet the needs of many global water initiatives. We apply an optimal weighting approach to merge runoff estimates from hydrological models constrained with observational streamflow records. The weighting method is based on the ability of the models to match observed streamflow data while accounting for error covariance between the participating products. To address the lack of observed streamflow for many regions, a dissimilarity method was applied to transfer the weights of the participating products to the ungauged basins from the closest gauged basins using dissimilarity between basins in physiographic and climatic characteristics as a proxy for distance. We perform out-of-sample tests to examine the success of the dissimilarity approach and we confirm that the weighted product performs better than its 11 constituents products in a range of metrics. Our resulting synthesized global gridded runoff product is available at monthly time scales, and includes time variant uncertainty, for the period 1980–2012 on a 0.5° grid. The synthesized global gridded runoff product broadly agrees with published runoff estimates at many river basins, and represents well the seasonal runoff cycle for most of the globe. The new product, called Linear Optimal Runoff Aggregate (LORA), is a valuable synthesis of existing runoff products and will be freely available for download on https://geonetwork.nci.org.au/.
Convective suppression before and during the United States Northern Great Plains flash drought of 2017
Authors: Gerken Tobias , Bromley Gabriel T. , Ruddell Benjamin L. , Williams Skylar , Stoy Paul C.
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Flash droughts tend to be disproportionately destructive because they
intensify rapidly and are difficult to prepare for. We demonstrate that the
2017 US Northern Great Plains (NGP) flash drought was preceded by a
breakdown of land–atmosphere coupling. Severe drought conditions in the NGP
were first identified by drought monitors in late May 2017 and rapidly
progressed to exceptional drought in July. The likelihood of convective
precipitation in May 2017 in northeastern Montana, however, resembled that of
a typical August when rain is unlikely. Based on the lower tropospheric
humidity index (HIlow), convective rain was suppressed by the
atmosphere on nearly 50 % of days during March in NE Montana and central
North Dakota, compared to 30 % during a normal year. Micrometeorological
variables, including potential evapotranspiration (ETp), were neither anomalously
high nor low before the onset of drought. Incorporating convective likelihood
to drought forecasts would have noted that convective precipitation in the
NGP was anomalously unlikely during the early growing season of 2017. It may
therefore be useful to do so in regions that rely on convective
precipitation.
Extending seasonal predictability of Yangtze River summer floods
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Yuan Xing
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Extreme pluvial floods across China's Yangtze River basin in the
summer of 2016 were strongly connected with intense atmospheric moisture
transport, and resulted in vast loss of properties after a strong El Niño
winter. Predicting such extreme floods in advance is essential for hazard
mitigation, but the flood forecast skill is relatively low due to the limited
predictability of summer precipitation. By using a “perfect model”
assumption, here we show that atmospheric moisture flux has a higher
potential predictability than precipitation over the Yangtze River at
seasonal timescales. The predictability of precipitation and moisture flux is
higher in post-El Niño summers than in post-La Niñas, especially for
flooding events. As compared with extreme precipitation, the potential
detectability of extreme moisture flux increases by 20 % in post-El
Niño summers, which suggests that atmospheric moisture flux could be
crucial for early warning of Yangtze River summer floods.
Árabe argelino moderno. Textos de Mahmoud Fekhar y Gabriel Deville
Authors: Moscoso García Francisco
Published: August 2018

Presentamos un estudio lingüístico de los textos escritos por Mahmoud Fekhar y Gabriel Deville en árabe argelino moderno entre 1966 y 1972. Sirvieron para la enseñanza de esta lengua, pero también supusieron una contribución al proceso de arabización iniciado tras la independencia en 1962.