bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building an Industry-Oriented Business Sustainability Curriculum in Higher Education
Authors: Chen Mei-hui , Wu Yenchun Jim , Tsai Kune-muh
Published: December 2018

In the past, research addressing the issues reflecting industrial needs for sustainability-related curriculum design in higher education has been limited. To narrow this gap and to provide students with better business sustainability curricula, we propose employing a mapping concept to extract the opinions and needs of industrial professionals. A total of 14 industrial professionals were invited to brainstorm on topics of business sustainability to be included in the curriculum, and we were able to obtain 52 topics. The participants were then asked to group the topics on the basis of their own perception of similarity, and rated their importance and difficulty levels. To associate the topics into clusters, we conducted multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. We achieved five clusters: resource usage reduction and management, corporate governance and labor safety, business sustainability practices, employee rights and community involvement, and knowledge of the regulations. A derived importance–performance analysis (dIPA) was later implemented to further categorize the topics on the basis of the distinct levels of importance and difficulty of each topic. The four quadrants in dIPA could act as guidelines for designing a series of progressive courses on business sustainability in higher education.
Evaluation of the Effects of Land Cover Change on Ecosystem Service Values in the Upper Reaches of the Heihe River Basin, Northwestern China
Authors: Zhao Minmin , He Zhibin
Published: December 2018

Ecological protection and restoration results in a series of complicated changes in land cover. Lack of research on the historical and potential effects of land cover change on ecosystem service value (ESV) hinders decision-making on trade-offs involved in environmental management. To address this gap, the effects of land cover change on ESV in the upper reaches of the Heihe River Basin in northwestern China were evaluated. First, on the basis of land cover maps for 2001, 2008 and 2015, the land cover map for 2029 was predicted with CA-Markov model. Then, the changes in ESV resulting from land cover change were valuated with the benefit transfer method. The results showed that the total ESV increased from $1207.33 million (USD) in 2001 to $1479.48 million (USD) in 2015, and the value was expected to reach $1574.53 million (USD) in 2029. The increase in ESV can be mainly attributed to expansion in areas of wetland. In this study, the elastic index was applied to identify areas that were more sensitive to ecological management, aiding in selecting sites for investment in ecological protection and restoration programs. Furthermore, the potential effects of land cover change on ESV was evaluated. The results are of great importance for guiding future ecological management.
Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Private Healthcare Providers in an Indian Slum Setting: A Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Perspective
Authors: Angeli Federica , Ishwardat Shila Teresa , Jaiswal Anand Kumar , Capaldo Antonio
Published: December 2018

Delivery of affordable healthcare services to communities is a necessary precondition to poverty alleviation. Co-creation approaches to the development of business models in the healthcare industry proved particularly suitable for improving the health-seeking behavior of BOP patients. However, scant research was conducted to understand BOP consumers’ decision-making process leading to specific healthcare choices in slum settings, and the relative balance of socio-cultural and socio-economic factors underpinning patients’ preferences. This article adopts a mixed-method approach to investigate the determinants of BOP patients’ choice between private and public hospitals. Quantitative analysis of a database, composed of 436 patients from five hospitals in Ahmedabad, India, indicates that BOP patients visit a public hospital significantly more than top-of-the-pyramid (TOP) patients. However, no significant difference emerges between BOP and TOP patients for inpatient or outpatient treatments. Qualitative findings based on 21 interviews with BOP consumers from selected slum areas led to the development of a grounded theory model, which highlights the role of aspirational demand of BOP patients toward private healthcare providers. Overall, healthcare provider choice emerges as the outcome of a collective socio-cultural decision-making process, which often assigns preference for private healthcare services because of the higher perceived quality of private providers, while downplaying affordability concerns. Implications for healthcare providers, social entrepreneurs, and policy-makers are discussed.
Spatial and Temporal Differences in the Relationships between Residents’ Income and Consumption in China: A Dynamic Analysis Using Functional Data Analysis
Authors: Wang Deqing , Xu Yan , He Lingyun , Liu Rongyan
Published: December 2018

Income inequality and consumption gaps between urban and rural residents are prominent problems in the economic transition phase of China. Stimulating consumption, expanding domestic demand, and shifting development modes are inevitable choices for maintaining China’s economy with healthy, stable, and endogenous growth, and the key premise is to clarify the coordination relationship between residents’ income and consumption. In view of that, this study incorporates the spatial factors of three economic zones and time factors of China’s economic transition into an analytical framework. By transforming discrete data into continuous functions, we compared the regional differences and temporal characteristics of the relationship between residents’ income and consumption based on the two perspectives of static absolute level and dynamic growing speed. The result shows that: (1) There are significant differences in the absolute levels of original income and consumption among residents in the eastern, middle, and western regions of China, whereas the growing velocity and acceleration of income and consumption do not have significant regional differences. (2) There is a highly positive canonical correlation both in the absolute growth amount and dynamic growth potential of residents’ income and consumption, whereas their nonlinear co-variation has obvious temporal characteristics, and the degree of canonical correlation has significant regional differences. Based on these conclusions, China’s government need not consider regional factors too much when formulating and implementing policies to narrow residents’ income gap and stimulating consumption in order to expand domestic demand, but should discriminate the specific coevolving period of income and consumption and take into account the difference in average consumption rate of different social strata.
Time-Varying Volatility Feedback of Energy Prices: Evidence from Crude Oil, Petroleum Products, and Natural Gas Using a TVP-SVM Model
Authors: Jiang Yong , Ma Chao-Qun , Yang Xiao-Guang , Ren Yi-Shuai
Published: December 2018

: In this paper, the time-varying volatility feedback of nine series of energy prices is researched by employing the time-varying parameter stochastic volatility in mean (TVP-SVM) model. The major findings and conclusions can be grouped as follows: Significant differences exist in the time-varying volatility feedback among the nine major energy productions. Specifically, crude oil and diesel’s price volatility has a remarkable positive time-varying effect on their returns. Yet the returns, for natural gas and most petroleum products are negatively affected by their price volatility over time. Furthermore, obvious structural break features exist in the time-varying volatility feedback of energy prices, which coincide with the breakpoints in the energy volatility. This indicates that some factors such as major global economic and geopolitical events that cause the sudden structural breaks in the energy volatility may also affect the volatility feedback of the energy price. Moreover, the volatility feedback in energy price will become weak and even have no impact on energy returns in some special periods when the energy price volatility is extremely high.
What is Sustainable Agriculture? Critical Analysis of the International Political Discourse
Authors: Janker Judith , Mann Stefan , Rist Stephan
Published: December 2018

The concepts, ‘sustainable development’ and ‘sustainable agriculture’, have been shaped by both political discourses of the United Nations and scientific discourses. Using critical discourse and content analysis, we trace the meaning of ‘sustainable agriculture’ in both international political and in scientific discourses to examine and identify key elements of the representation of sustainable agriculture. We found that the meanings of the concept of sustainable agriculture vary markedly: International political actors primarily produce discourses on sustainable development in agriculture and on sustainable agricultural intensification. Scientists tend to emphasise issues of environmental management. Based on our findings, we highlight the differences in the meaning of sustainable agriculture between the political and scientific discourses and attempt to explain them. In addition, discursive gaps are shown that have the potential to hinder the systematic operationalization of ‘sustainable agriculture’, such as the integration of a social dimension of sustainable agriculture.
Sufficient Conditions for Triangular Norms Preserving ⊗-Convexity
Authors: Li Lifeng , Luo Qinjun
Published: December 2018

The convexity in triangular norm (for short, ⊗−convexity) is a generalization of Zadeh’s quasiconvexity. The aggregation of two ⊗−convex sets is under the aggregation operator ⊗ is also ⊗−convex, but the aggregation operator ⊗ is not unique. To solve it in complexity, in the present paper, we give some sufficient conditions for aggregation operators preserve ⊗−convexity. In particular, when aggregation operators are triangular norms, we have that several results such as arbitrary triangular norm preserve ⊗ D − convexity and ⊗ a − convexity on bounded lattices, ⊗ M preserves ⊗ H − convexity in the real unite interval [ 0 , 1 ] .
Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on EWT Sub-Modal Hypothesis Test and Ambiguity Correlation Classification
Authors: Ge Mingtao , Wang Jie , Xu Yicun , Zhang Fangfang , Bai Ke , Ren Xiangyang
Published: December 2018

Because of the cyclic symmetric structure of rolling bearings, its vibration signals are regular when the rolling bearing is working in a normal state. But when the rolling bearing fails, whether the outer race fault or the inner race fault, the symmetry of the rolling bearing is broken and the fault destroys the rolling bearing’s stable working state. Whenever the bearing passes through the fault point, it will send out vibration signals representing the fault characteristics. These signals are often non-linear, non-stationary, and full of Gaussian noise which are quite different from normal signals. According to this, the sub-modal obtained by empirical wavelet transform (EWT), secondary decomposition is tested by the Gaussian distribution hypothesis test. It is regarded that sub-modal following Gaussian distribution is Gaussian noise which is filtered during signal reconstruction. Then by taking advantage of the ambiguity function superiority in non-stationary signal processing and combining correlation coefficient, an ambiguity correlation classifier is constructed. After training, the classifier can recognize vibration signals of rolling bearings under different working conditions, so that the purpose of identifying rolling bearing faults can be achieved. Finally, the method effect was verified by experiments.
On Some Statistical Approximation by (p,q)-Bleimann, Butzer and Hahn Operators
Authors: Ansari Khursheed J. , Ahmad Ishfaq , Mursaleen M. , Hussain Iqtadar
Published: December 2018

In this article, we propose a different generalization of ( p , q ) -BBH operators and carry statistical approximation properties of the introduced operators towards a function which has to be approximated where ( p , q ) -integers contains symmetric property. We establish a Korovkin approximation theorem in the statistical sense and obtain the statistical rates of convergence. Furthermore, we also introduce a bivariate extension of proposed operators and carry many statistical approximation results. The extra parameter p plays an important role to symmetrize the q-BBH operators.
Background Augmentation Generative Adversarial Networks (BAGANs): Effective Data Generation Based on GAN-Augmented 3D Synthesizing
Authors: Ma Yan , Liu Kang , Guan Zhibin , Xu Xinkai , Qian Xu , Bao Hong
Published: December 2018

Augmented Reality (AR) is crucial for immersive Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and the vision of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Labeled data drives object recognition in AR. However, manually annotating data is expensive, labor-intensive, and data distribution asymmetry. Scantily labeled data limits the application of AR. Aiming at solving the problem of insufficient and asymmetry training data in AR object recognition, an automated vision data synthesis method, i.e., background augmentation generative adversarial networks (BAGANs), is proposed in this paper based on 3D modeling and the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) algorithm. Our approach has been validated to have better performance than other methods through image recognition tasks with respect to the natural image database ObjectNet3D. This study can shorten the algorithm development time of AR and expand its application scope, which is of great significance for immersive interactive systems.
Dispersion Interactions between Neutral Atoms and the Quantum Electrodynamical Vacuum
Authors: Passante Roberto
Published: December 2018

Dispersion interactions are long-range interactions between neutral ground-state atoms or molecules, or polarizable bodies in general, due to their common interaction with the quantum electromagnetic field. They arise from the exchange of virtual photons between the atoms, and, in the case of three or more atoms, are not additive. In this review, after having introduced the relevant coupling schemes and effective Hamiltonians, as well as properties of the vacuum fluctuations, we outline the main properties of dispersion interactions, both in the nonretarded (van der Waals) and retarded (Casimir–Polder) regime. We then discuss their deep relation with the existence of the vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field and vacuum energy. We describe some transparent physical models of two- and three-body dispersion interactions, based on dressed vacuum field energy densities and spatial field correlations, which stress their deep connection with vacuum fluctuations and vacuum energy. These models give a clear insight of the physical origin of dispersion interactions, and also provide useful computational tools for their evaluation. We show that this aspect is particularly relevant in more complicated situations, for example when macroscopic boundaries are present. We also review recent results on dispersion interactions for atoms moving with noninertial motions and the strict relation with the Unruh effect, and on resonance interactions between entangled identical atoms in uniformly accelerated motion.
On the Role of Unitary-Symmetry for the Foundation of Probability and Time in a Realist Approach to Quantum Physics
Authors: Schlatter Andreas
Published: December 2018

We show that probabilities in quantum physics can be derived from permutation-symmetry and the principle of indifference. We then connect unitary-symmetry to the concept of “time” and define a thermal time-flow by symmetry breaking. Finally, we discuss the coexistence of quantum physics and relativity theory by making use of the thermal time-flow.
Random Untargeted Adversarial Example on Deep Neural Network
Authors: Kwon Hyun , Kim Yongchul , Yoon Hyunsoo , Choi Daeseon
Published: December 2018

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have demonstrated remarkable performance in machine learning areas such as image recognition, speech recognition, intrusion detection, and pattern analysis. However, it has been revealed that DNNs have weaknesses in the face of adversarial examples, which are created by adding a little noise to an original sample to cause misclassification by the DNN. Such adversarial examples can lead to fatal accidents in applications such as autonomous vehicles and disease diagnostics. Thus, the generation of adversarial examples has attracted extensive research attention recently. An adversarial example is categorized as targeted or untargeted. In this paper, we focus on the untargeted adversarial example scenario because it has a faster learning time and less distortion compared with the targeted adversarial example. However, there is a pattern vulnerability with untargeted adversarial examples: Because of the similarity between the original class and certain specific classes, it may be possible for the defending system to determine the original class by analyzing the output classes of the untargeted adversarial examples. To overcome this problem, we propose a new method for generating untargeted adversarial examples, one that uses an arbitrary class in the generation process. Moreover, we show that our proposed scheme can be applied to steganography. Through experiments, we show that our proposed scheme can achieve a 100% attack success rate with minimum distortion (1.99 and 42.32 using the MNIST and CIFAR10 datasets, respectively) and without the pattern vulnerability. Using a steganography test, we show that our proposed scheme can be used to fool humans, as demonstrated by the probability of their detecting hidden classes being equal to that of random selection.
Occurrence and Identification of Aspergillus Section Flavi in the Context of the Emergence of Aflatoxins in French Maize
Authors: Bailly Sylviane , Mahgubi Anwar El , Carvajal-Campos Amaranta , Lorber Sophie , Puel Olivier , Oswald Isabelle P. , Bailly Jean-Denis , Orlando Béatrice
Published: December 2018

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus section Flavi during their development, particularly in maize. It is widely accepted that AFB1 is a major contaminant in regions where hot climate conditions favor the development of aflatoxigenic species. Global warming could lead to the appearance of AFs in maize produced in Europe. This was the case in 2015, in France, when the exceptionally hot and dry climatic conditions were favorable for AF production. Our survey revealed AF contamination of 6% (n = 114) of maize field samples and of 15% (n = 81) of maize silo samples analyzed. To understand the origin of the contamination, we characterized the mycoflora in contaminated samples and in samples produced in the same geographic and climatic conditions but with no AFs. A special focus was placed on Aspergillus section Flavi. A total of 67 strains of Aspergillus section Flavi were isolated from the samples. As expected, the strains were observed in all AF+ samples and, remarkably, also in almost 40% of AF− samples, demonstrating the presence of these potent toxin producers in fields in France. A. flavus was the most frequent species of the section Flavi (69% of the strains). But surprisingly, A. parasiticus was also a frequent contaminant (28% of the strains), mostly isolated from AF+ samples. This finding is in agreement with the presence of AFG in most of those samples.
Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Tetrodotoxin from the Liver of Takifugu pseudommus
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Han Chengcheng , Chen Si , Li Le , Zong Jingjing , Zeng Junjie , Mei Guangming
Published: December 2018

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a marine biotoxin that has high scientific value. However, the lack of efficient TTX extraction and preparation methods has led to a scarcity of TTX samples for clinical application. In this study, TTX from the liver of Takifugu pseudommus was ultrasound-assisted extracted with acidified organic solvents. The extraction process was analyzed and optimized by single factor method and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal extraction conditions predicted by a response surface model were as follows: liquid:material ratio, 2.8:1; extraction temperature, 60 °C; extraction time, 23.3 min. Under these conditions, the extraction of TTX had a yield of 89.65%, and the results were further verified by experimental extraction, and analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). It was found that the extracts of T. pseudommus liver contained TTX and its four analogues at certain proportions (TTX: 10.4%; 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX: 83.3%; 5,11-dideoxyTTX:2.4%; 4,9-anhydro TTX:2.6%; 5-deoxyTTX:1.3%). This study demonstrates a stable and efficient extraction process of TTX from pufferfish liver, which can be helpful for further research and analysis, as well as the utilization of TTX from pufferfish.
Anti-CRISPR-Based and CRISPR-Based Genome Editing of Sulfolobus islandicus Rod-Shaped Virus 2
Authors: Mayo-Muñoz David , He Fei , Jørgensen Jacob Bruun , Madsen Poul Kári , Bhoobalan-Chitty Yuvaraj , Peng Xu
Published: December 2018

Genetic engineering of viruses has generally been challenging. This is also true for archaeal rod-shaped viruses, which carry linear double-stranded DNA genomes with hairpin ends. In this paper, we describe two different genome editing approaches to mutate the Sulfolobus islandicus rod-shaped virus 2 (SIRV2) using the archaeon Sulfolobus islandicus LAL14/1 and its derivatives as hosts. The anti-CRISPR (Acr) gene acrID1, which inhibits CRISPR-Cas subtype I-D immunity, was first used as a selection marker to knock out genes from SIRV2M, an acrID1-null mutant of SIRV2. Moreover, we harnessed the endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems of the host to knock out the accessory genes consecutively, which resulted in a genome comprised solely of core genes of the 11 SIRV members. Furthermore, infection of this series of knockout mutants in the CRISPR-null host of LAL14/1 (Δarrays) confirmed the non-essentiality of the deleted genes and all except the last deletion mutant propagated as efficiently as the WT SIRV2. This suggested that the last gene deleted, SIRV2 gp37, is important for the efficient viral propagation. The generated viral mutants will be useful for future functional studies including searching for new Acrs and the approaches described in this case are applicable to other viruses.
Subclinical Infection of Macaques and Baboons with A Baboon Simarterivirus
Authors: Buechler Connor R. , Semler Matthew , Baker David , Newman Christina , Cornish Joseph , Chavez Deborah , Guerra Bernadette , Lanford Robert , Brasky Kathy , Kuhn Jens , Johnson Reed , O’Connor David , Bailey Adam
Published: December 2018

Simarteriviruses (Arteriviridae: Simarterivirinae) are commonly found at high titers in the blood of African monkeys but do not cause overt disease in these hosts. In contrast, simarteriviruses cause severe disease in Asian macaques upon accidental or experimental transmission. Here, we sought to better understand the host-dependent drivers of simarterivirus pathogenesis by infecting olive baboons (n = 4) and rhesus monkeys (n = 4) with the simarterivirus Southwest baboon virus 1 (SWBV-1). Surprisingly, none of the animals in our study showed signs of disease following SWBV-1 inoculation. Three animals (two rhesus monkeys and one olive baboon) became infected and sustained high levels of SWBV-1 viremia for the duration of the study. The course of SWBV-1 infection was highly predictable: plasma viremia peaked between 1 × 107 and 1 × 108 vRNA copies/mL at 3–10 days post-inoculation, which was followed by a relative nadir and then establishment of a stable set-point between 1 × 106 and 1 × 107 vRNA copies/mL for the remainder of the study (56 days). We characterized cellular and antibody responses to SWBV-1 infection in these animals, demonstrating that macaques and baboons mount similar responses to SWBV-1 infection, yet these responses are ineffective at clearing SWBV-1 infection. SWBV-1 sequencing revealed the accumulation of non-synonymous mutations in a region of the genome that corresponds to an immunodominant epitope in the simarterivirus major envelope glycoprotein GP5, which likely contribute to viral persistence by enabling escape from host antibodies.
Identification of Human and Animal Fecal Contamination in Drinking Water Sources in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Using Host-Associated Bacteroidales Quantitative PCR Assays
Authors: Malla Bikash , Ghaju Shrestha Rajani , Tandukar Sarmila , Bhandari Dinesh , Inoue Daisuke , Sei Kazunari , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Sherchand Jeevan B. , Haramoto Eiji
Published: December 2018

This study identified the sources of fecal contamination in the groundwater of different land covers. A total of 300 groundwater samples were collected in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, in the dry (n = 152) and wet (n = 148) seasons of 2016. Fecal indicator bacteria were initially enumerated, and then fecal contamination sources were identified using human (BacHum), ruminant (BacR), and pig-associated (Pig2Bac) Bacteroidales quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Sixty-six percent (197/300) of the tested groundwater samples had Escherichia coli concentrations higher than the World Health Organization threshold for drinking (<1 most probable number/100 mL). The fecal contamination of the groundwater was of human (22%, 55/250), ruminant (11%, 28/250), and pig (3%, 8/250) origin. Deep tube wells were less likely to be positive for E. coli and fecal markers compared to shallow dug wells. The human fecal marker was more likely to be detected in sources from built-up as compared to agricultural areas (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.60, p = 0.002). Likewise, the ruminant fecal marker was more likely to be detected in sources from agricultural as compared to built-up areas (AOR = 2.90, p = 0.018). These findings suggest the preparation of mitigation strategies for controlling fecal pollution based on land cover and well types.
The Impact of Mountain Range Geographic Orientation on the Altitude Effect of Precipitation δ18O in the Upper Reaches of the Heihe River Basin in the Qilian Mountains
Authors: He Jianqiao , Zhang Wei , Wu Yuwei
Published: December 2018

The precipitation δ18O-elevation gradients are important for paleoclimate, hydrology, and paleoelevation studies. The field setting for this research was the upper reaches of the Heihe River Basin within the Qilian Mountains in the Northern Tibetan Plateau. Three study sites were established along the Heihe main river. These sites were the Yingluoxia and Qilian hydrological stations and the Yeniugou meteorological station. The Yingluoxia hydrological station was the dividing point between the upper and middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin. The altitudes of these sites range from 1600 m to 3300 m. Summer precipitation is predominant with regard to the annual precipitation amount. By analysis of variance (ANOVA), the precipitation δ18O data collected from the three sites were analyzed, spanning a year of precipitation data from 2007.10 to 2008.9. The results showed that the δ18O-elevation gradient was not significant (α = 0.05) at a seasonal or annual scale in this region and the precipitation-weighted annual mean δ18O was −7.1‰. Mechanisms that have been proposed to explain this result consider the role of two processes, including (1) mixing of moisture sources, a process common in an arid and semiarid region, and (2) the absence of a mechanism for water vapor to climb along slopes in the precipitation system. Atmospheric water vapor mainly travels along the trend of the Qilian Mountains range rather than climbing it because this region is dominated by the westerlies and the trend of the Qilian mountains is geographically aligned to the NWW (north-west-west) direction. We demonstrated that, aside from the water vapor source, the spatial relationship between the water vapor transport pathway and the trend of the mountain range are the main driving factors associated with the stable isotope trends in precipitation. As a result, it is important to re-recognize the timing and location of groundwater recharge in the Heihe River Basin.
Flow Velocity Distribution Towards Flowmeter Accuracy: CFD, UDV, and Field Tests
Authors: Simão Mariana , Besharat Mohsen , Carravetta Armando , Ramos Helena
Published: December 2018

Inconsistences regarding flow measurements in real hydraulic circuits have been detected. Intensive studies stated that these errors are mostly associated to flowmeters, and the low accuracy is connected to the perturbations induced by the system layout. In order to verify the source of this problem, and assess the hypotheses drawn by operator experts, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3.b, was used. To validate the results provided by the numerical model, intensive experimental campaigns were developed using ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (UDV) as calibration, and a pumping station was simulated using as boundary conditions the values measured in situ. After calibrated and validated, a new layout/geometry was proposed in order to mitigate the observed perturbations.
Dynamic Modeling of Sediment Budget in Shihmen Reservoir Watershed in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yi-Chin , Wu Ying-Hsin , Shen Che-Wei , Chiu Yu-Jia
Published: December 2018

Qualifying sediment dynamic in a reservoir watershed is essential for water resource management. This study proposed an integrated model of Grid-based Sediment Production and Transport Model (GSPTM) at watershed scale to evaluate the dynamic of sediment production and transport in the Shihmen Reservoir watershed in Taiwan. The GSPTM integrates several models, revealing landslide susceptibility and processes of rainfall–runoff, sediment production from landslide and soil erosion, debris flow and mass movement, and sediment transport. For modeling rainfall–runoff process, the tanks model gives surface runoff volume and soil water index as a hydrological parameter for a logistic regression-based landslide susceptibility model. Then, applying landslide model with a scaling relation of volume and area predicts landslide occurrence. The Universal Soil Loss Equation is then used for calculating soil erosion volume. Finally, incorporating runoff-routing algorithm and the Hunt’s model achieves the dynamical modeling of sediment transport. The landslide module was calibrated using a well-documented inventory during 10 heavy rainfall or typhoon events since 2004. A simulation of Typhoon Morakot event was performed to evaluate model’s performance. The results show the simulation agrees with the tendency of runoff and sediment discharge evolution with an acceptable overestimation of peak runoff, and predicts more precise sediment discharge than rating methods do. In addition, with clear distribution of sediment mass trapped in the mountainous area, the GSPTM also showed a sediment delivery ratio of 30% to quantify how much mass produced by landslide and soil erosion is still trapped in mountainous area. The GSPTM is verified to be useful and capable of modeling the dynamic of sediment production and transport at watershed level, and can provide useful information for sustainable development of Shihmen Reservoir watershed.
Projected Changes in Hydrological Variables in the Agricultural Region of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Masud Mohammad Badrul , Ferdous Jannatul , Faramarzi Monireh
Published: December 2018

The responses of regional hydrological variables to climate change are of prime concern for agricultural water resources planning and management. Therefore, the seasonal (April–September) and annual (January–December) evolution of precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture (SM), deep aquifer recharge (DA), and water yield (WYLD) was investigated using established statistical techniques for the historical, near and far future (1983–2007: His, 2010–2034: NF, 2040–2064: FF) in the agricultural region of Alberta, Canada. Previously calibrated and validated agro-hydrological models (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) were used to generate these variables. Future changes were investigated under two representative concentration pathways, i.e., RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5, projected by nine global climate models (GCM). Results revealed that Alberta had become warmer and drier during the His period. The future projection showed an increase in precipitation, SM, DA, and WYLD, in turn, indicated more water resources. Precipitation and temperature were projected to increase between 1 to 7% and 1.21 to 2.32 °C, respectively. Seasonal precipitation showed a higher trend magnitude than that of annual precipitation. The temperature generally had an increasing trend in the future with a maximum in the southern Alberta. Monthly average ET was likely to increase and decrease in the rising and falling limbs of the bell-shaped curve with the peak in July. A comparison of water demand from two land use types (dominant land use and barley) during the His period showed that water deficit existed in July and August. The results of this study could help in understanding anticipated changes in hydrological variables and decision-making regarding the regional agricultural water resources management.
ScoRE—A Simple Approach to Select a Water Quality Model
Authors: Mateus Marcos , Vieira Ricardo da Silva , Almeida Carina , Silva Miguel , Reis Filipa
Published: December 2018

Over the past decades, water quality models have become unique tools in the management of aquatic resources. A consequence of their widespread application is the significant number of models now available. Available methodologies to compare models provide limited support for their choice in the first place, especially to end-users or modelers with limited experience. Here we propose a method to assist in the selection of a particular model from a set of apparently similar models. The method is termed ScoRE, as it grades models according to three main aspects: Scope (aim, simulated processes, constituents, etc.), Record (reference to the model in publications, its range of applications, etc.), and the Experience of using the model from the user perspective (support material, graphical user interface, etc.). End-users define the criteria to be evaluated and their relative importance, as well as the conditions for model exclusion. The evaluation of models is still performed by the modelers, in open discussion with end-users. ScoRE is a complete approach, as it provides guidance not only to exclude models but also to select the most appropriate model for a particular situation. An application of this method is provided to illustrate its use in the choice of a model. The application resulted in the definition of 18 criteria, where 6 of these were defined exclusively by the end-users. Based on these and the relative importance of each criterion, ScoRE produced a ranking of models, facilitating model selection. The results illustrate how the contributions from modelers and end-users are integrated to select a model for a particular task.
Marrying Unmarried Literatures: The Water Footprint and Environmental (Economic) Valuation
Authors: Lowe Benjamin H. , Oglethorpe David R. , Choudhary Sonal
Published: December 2018

In this commentary, we set out the rationale for bringing together two research fields: Water Footprint Assessment and environmental (economic) valuation, which have evolved separately. This has the potential to inform the efficient allocation of virtual water flows at a global scale. It would also address some of the aims and objectives in the Water Footprint Assessment Manual regarding the assessment of environmental impacts and their sustainability, which thus far have not been covered in the literature. We also indicate how established practice in the environmental valuation community would need to develop to facilitate productive exchange between the two fields. Finally, we outline the key developments in the non-peer reviewed grey literature that signal the merit of such an exchange.
Characterization of the Adsorption of Cu (II) from Aqueous Solutions onto Pyrolytic Sludge-Derived Adsorbents
Authors: Wang Minghui , Chen Tao , Yan Bo , Li Lili , Xu Damao , Xiao Xianming
Published: December 2018

The adsorption of Cu (II) onto two typical types of pyrolytic sludge was investigated in this study. The examined conditions include pH, adsorption time, and temperature, as well as the dosage of adsorbents. Results show that the adsorbents removed the Cu (II) effectively. The adsorbent made from pyrolyzed paper mill sludge (CuMS) exhibited exceptional performance, with a removal efficiency of around 100%. Moreover, the adsorption of Cu (II) onto CuMS was not affected by pH in the range of 3–9. The kinetic data showed better conformation with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption processes of the CuMS fit well to the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption capacity reached 4.90 mg·g−1 under appropriate conditions. Microscopic analysis and FT-IR analysis revealed that the adsorbent with porous structure and high monosilicate content was beneficial to Cu (II) adsorption. Thus, the CuMS is a potentially promising candidate for retaining Cu (II) in aqueous environments.
Stagnant Rivers: Transboundary Water Security in South and Southeast Asia
Authors: Williams Jessica M.
Published: December 2018

Transboundary rivers are increasingly difficult to govern and often involve issues of national security, territoriality, and competition. In developing countries, the management and governance of these rivers is dominated by a particular decision making group, often comprised of politicians, bureaucrats, and engineers. These groups perpetrate a technocratic paradigm towards the management of transboundary water, with limited genuine international cooperation. The transboundary water situation in South and Southeast Asia is becoming increasingly fraught as the geopolitical context is changing due to China’s increased involvement in regional issues and climate change. With over 780 million people dependent on these rivers, their governance is vital to regional and international stability. Yet, the technocratic management of transboundary rivers persists and is likely to become increasingly unsustainable and inequitable. A discourse-based approach is applied to consider transboundary water governance in the shifting South and Southeast Asian context. The result is an alternative perspective of why governance approaches on transboundary rivers have resisted meaningful reform.
The Four Patterns of the East Branch of the Kuroshio Bifurcation in the Luzon Strait
Authors: Sun Ruili , Zhai Fangguo , Gu Yanzhen
Published: December 2018

Based on the self-organizing map (SOM) method, a suite of satellite measurement data, and Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis data, the east branch of the Kuroshio bifurcation is found to have four coherent patterns associated with mesoscale eddies in the Pacific Ocean: anomalous southward, anomalous eastward, anomalous northward, and anomalous westward. The robust clockwise cycle of the four patterns causes significant intraseasonal variation of 62.2 days for the east branch. Furthermore, the study shows that the four patterns of the east branch of the Kuroshio bifurcation can influence the horizontal and vertical distribution of local sea temperature.
Insights on Peritoneal Dialysis in China
Authors: Wilkie Martin , Davies Simon
Published: December 2018

The series of papers that are included in this China Supplement to Peritoneal Dialysis International chart peritoneal dialysis (PD) research over the last several years in that country, provide detailed analysis of a large de-identified dataset from the Baxter Patient Support Program, and include 2 papers that describe clinical experiences relevant to the local context. These studies present a fascinating insight into the practice of PD in China, adding considerably to the sum of worldwide PD experience. China presents important opportunities for clinical research to answer key questions relevant to our therapy.
Planck 2015 Constraints on the Non-flat XCDM Inflation Model
Authors: Ooba Junpei , Ratra Bharat , Sugiyama Naoshi
Published: December 2018

We examine the Planck 2015 cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data by using a physically consistent energy density inhomogeneity power spectrum generated by quantum-mechanical fluctuations during an early epoch of inflation in the non-flat XCDM model. Here dark energy is parameterized using a fluid with a negative equation of state parameter but with the speed of fluid acoustic inhomogeneities set to the speed of light. We find that the Planck 2015 data in conjunction with baryon acoustic oscillation distance measurements are reasonably well fit by a closed-XCDM model in which spatial curvature contributes a percent of the current cosmological energy density budget. In this model, the measured non-relativistic matter density parameter and Hubble constant are in good agreement with values determined using most other data. Depending on cosmological parameter values, the closed-XCDM model has reduced power, relative to the tilted, spatially flat ΛCDM case, and can partially alleviate the low multipole CMB temperature anisotropy deficit and can help partially reconcile the CMB anisotropy and weak lensing σ
8 constraints, at the expense of somewhat worsening the fit to higher multipole CMB temperature anisotropy data. However, the closed-XCDM inflation model does not seem to improve the agreement much, if at all, compared to the closed ΛCDM inflation case, even though it has one additional free parameter.
The Hipparcos–Gaia Catalog of Accelerations
Authors: Brandt Timothy D.
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a cross-calibrated catalog of Hipparcos and Gaia astrometry to enable their use in measuring changes in proper motion, i.e., accelerations in the plane of the sky. The final catalog adopts the reference frame of the second Gaia data release (DR2) and locally cross-calibrates both the scaled Hipparcos–Gaia DR2 positional differences and the Hipparcos proper motions themselves to this frame. This gives three nearly independent proper motion measurements per star, with the scaled positional difference usually being the most precise. We find that a linear combination of the two Hipparcos reductions is superior to either reduction on its own and address error inflation for both Hipparcos and Gaia DR2. Our adopted error inflation is additive (in quadrature) for Hipparcos and multiplicative for Gaia. We provide the covariance matrices along with the central epochs of all measurements. Our final proper motion differences are accurately Gaussian with the appropriate variances and are suitable for acceleration measurements and orbit fitting. The catalog is constructed with an eye toward completeness; it contains nearly 98% of the Hipparcos stars. It also includes a handful of spurious entries and a few stars with poor Hipparcos reductions that the user must vet by hand. Statistical distributions of accelerations derived from this catalog should be interpreted with caution.
Discovery of 14NH3 (2,2) Maser Emission in Sgr B2 Main
Authors: Mills E. A. C. , Ginsburg A. , Clements A. R. , Schilke P. , Sánchez-Monge Á. , Menten K. M. , Butterfield N. , Goddi C. , Schmiedeke A. , De Pree C. G.
Published: December 2018

We report the discovery of the first 14NH3 (2,2) maser, seen in the Sgr B2 Main star-forming region near the center of the Milky Way, using data from the Very Large Array radio telescope. The maser is seen in both lower-resolution (3″ or ∼0.1 pc) data from 2012 and higher-resolution (0.″1 or ∼1000 au) data from 2018. In the higher-resolution data NH3 (2,2) maser emission is detected toward five independent spots. The maser spots are not spatially or kinematically coincident with any other masers in this region, or with the peaks of the radio continuum emission from the numerous ultracompact and hypercompact H ii regions in this area. While the (2,2) maser spots are spatially unresolved in our highest-resolution observations, they have unusually broad line widths of several kilometers per second, which suggests that each of these spots consists of multiple masers tracing unresolved velocity structure. No other NH3 lines observed in Sgr B2 Main are seen to be masers, which continues to challenge existing models of NH3 maser emission.
The Twist Profile in the Cross Section of Interplanetary Magnetic Clouds
Authors: Zhao Ake , Wang Yuming , Feng Hengqiang , Xu Mengjiao , Zhao Yan , Zhao Guoqing , Hu Qiang
Published: December 2018

Magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) as a well-organized magnetic field structure embedded in space plasmas have been widely studied for several decades. The twists of magnetic field lines in MFRs can yield much information regarding the formation and stability of MFRs, yet there is still open debate about them. Here, with the aid of a uniform-twist force-free flux rope model, we study the twist profile in the cross section of a interplanetary magnetic cloud (MC) by peeling off equal azimuthal magnetic flux layer by layer from the outermost shell, just like peeling an onion. The absolute value of the average twist,

, and the twist in each layer, τ, exhibit an almost monotonous decrease from the axis to the periphery of the MC, but τ has a larger relative error. However, they do have a coincident trend of a high-twist core and an low-twist outer shell. The twist number per unit length,

/τ, follows a linear trend versus

, where R is the radius of each layer, with a correlation coefficient of 0.96/0.91 and slope of 0.27/0.26, which is well below the critical slope of 1 suggested by Wang et al.
Efavirenz Pharmacokinetics during Pregnancy and Infant Washout
Authors: Kreitchmann Regis , Schalkwijk Stein , Best Brookie , Wang Jiajia , Colbers Angela , Stek Alice , Shapiro David , Cressey Tim , Mirochnick Mark , Burger David
Published: December 2018

Background

Limited data exist on efavirenz pharmacokinetics in HIV-positive pregnant women and neonatal washout.

Methods

HIV-infected pregnant women receiving 600 mg efavirenz once daily had intensive steady-state 24-h pharmacokinetics profiles during the second trimester (2T), third trimester (3T) and 6–12 weeks postpartum (PP). Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were drawn at delivery and neonatal washout pharmacokinetics were determined. Therapeutic targets were the estimated 10th percentile efavirenz area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) in non-pregnant historical controls (40.0 μg•h/ml) and a trough concentration (C24 h) of 1 μg/ml. Data were prospectively collected within two trials: IMPAACT P1026s (United States) and PANNA (Europe).

Results

Among 42 women studied, 15, 42 and 40 had efavirenz pharmacokinetic data available in 2T, 3T and PP, respectively. Median (range) 3T age 33 (20.7–43.5) years, weight 74 (50–132) kg and gestational age 33.4 (28.4–37.9 weeks). Efavirenz AUC during the 3T (60 μg•h/ml) was similar to that reported in non-pregnant adults (58 μg•h/ml). Exposure in the 2T was lower, but within the 0.80–1.25 range. C24 concentrations during pregnancy were lower compared to historical controls on 600 mg efavirenz, however, they were similar to the C24 concentrations after equally potent dose of 400 mg efavirenz. Cord blood/maternal plasma concentration ratio (range) was 0.67 (0.36–0.95). Among 23 infants with washout data available, median (interquartile range) elimination half-life was 65.6 h (40.6–129). HIV RNA viral loads at delivery were <400 and <50 copies/ml for 96.7% and 86.7% of women, respectively. In 3T and PP, respectively, 8/41 (19%) and 6/40 (15%) had AUC below target; 7/41 (17%) and 3/39 (8%) had C24 below target.

Conclusions

Efavirenz exposure was similar during pregnancy compared with PP, C24 was in line with C24 after 400 mg equipotent efavirenz dosing. Efavirenz readily crossed the placenta and infant elimination half-life was over twice that of maternal participants. Clincaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT00825929 and NCT00042289.