bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Potential Evaluation and Sustainable Development of Rural Biomass Energy in Gansu Province of China
Authors: Zhong Sheng , Niu Shuwen , Wang Yipeng
Published: October 2018

The development and utilization of renewable energy is an important way to solve the environmental dilemma. Biomass energy is a kind of renewable energy and one of the most widely distributed and easily accessible energy forms. It has currently become a main direction of renewable energy development. This paper took Gansu Province of China as the research object to calculate its theoretical reserves of biomass energy resources and then evaluate its potential of biomass energy development by using TOPSIS method under different agricultural development and geographical environmental conditions. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was also performed to reveal the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the potential of biomass energy development in Gansu Province. The results show that: (1) The total reserves of biomass energy resources from agricultural wastes in Gansu Province reach 7.28 × 107 t/year, with equivalent biogas production of about 1.95 × 1010 m3/year. (2) In most counties of Gansu Province, the Ci value is smaller than 0.5000, indicating that the potential of biomass energy development is relatively low in Gansu Province. (3) The spatial agglomeration of biomass energy development potential occurs mainly in the Hexi area, the Gannan area and the Loess Plateau area of East Gansu Province. (4) There is an area with obvious high-low (H-L) agglomeration of biomass energy development potential to the north-west side of the Gannan area with low-low (L-L) agglomeration of biomass energy development potential. It is a key zone to help drive biomass energy development in the Gannan area. (5) The spatial range of positive correlation (high-high and low-low agglomeration) areas shrunk during the evaluation period.
Erratum: Qu, Q., et al. A Performance Evaluation Study of Human Resources in Low-Carbon Logistics Enterprises. Sustainability 2017, 9, 632
Authors:   Sustainability Editorial Office
Published: October 2018

In the published article, “A Performance Evaluation Study of Human Resources in Low-Carbon Logistics Enterprises. [...]
The Effect of Climate Change on Spring Maize (Zea mays L.) Suitability across China
Authors: Ji Yuhe , Zhou Guangsheng , He Qijin , Wang Lixia
Published: October 2018

Spring maize (Zea mays L.) is a thermophilic C4 crop which is sensitive to climate change. This paper provides a detailed assessment of the effect of climate change on the crop from a new perspective, by predicting the probability of the potential distribution of spring maize across China. The affected area of spring maize suitability was identified, and then the affected area was subdivided into the improved area and the deteriorated area. Our results confirmed that there was a detrimental consequence for spring maize suitability under observed climate change from 1961–1990 to 1981–2010. However, our results revealed that warming scenarios of 1.5 °C and 2 °C were helpful for the suitable area expansion of spring maize. The affected area was smaller under warming scenarios than under historical climate change, revealing that temperature rise alone was not enough to trigger a “tipping point” (a threshold value after which abrupt shifts occur) for spring maize, even if warming is 2 °C above the level of 1961–1990. Our results not only benefit China in the design of mitigation and adaptation strategies, but also provide a theoretical judgement that the impact of global warming on the crop ecosystem is not serious if other climate factors remain unchanged.
Paradigm Found? Immanent Critique to Tackle Interdisciplinarity and Normativity in Science for Sustainable Development
Authors: Boda Chad S. , Faran Turaj
Published: October 2018

The ambition of this two-part article is to argue for immanent critique as a research strategy in sustainability studies. We do this by picking up and developing two central, cross-cutting themes in sustainability research, namely interdisciplinarity and normativity. It is widely suggested that the problem-driven and solution-focused orientation in sustainability studies necessitates interdisciplinarity and an engagement with questions of normativity, each creating problems regarding how science is conducted. For interdisciplinarity, questions remain regarding by what scientific procedure rational (i.e., non-arbitrary) interdisciplinarity can be accomplished. For normativity, it is unclear whether normativity can be addressed scientifically, or only politically; in other words, can normativity be objectively incorporated in sustainability research, and if so, how? Ultimately, the paper asks and answers the following questions: when should a researcher move from one discipline to another in sustainability research and, how do we judge the validity of the normative values that are deemed necessary for sustainability? In Part I, we show the silences, gaps, vagueness and inadequacies of how these themes are currently addressed in sustainability science literature, and from this move to propose immanent critique as a potential strategy for dealing with them in a scientific manner. In Part II, we exemplify our strategy by applying it to re-construct the debate over sustainable development, by far the most prominent topical focus in sustainability science research, producing a novel systematized typology of sustainable development approaches in the process. We conclude with reflections on how this paper amounts to an initial contribution to the construction of a Lakatosian research programme in sustainability studies.
Promoting the Development of Enterprise Niche: Case Study on China’s Organizational Ambidexterity
Authors: Ding Ling , Cao Di , Ouyang Taohua , Wu Jin-xi
Published: October 2018

This paper aims to take the longitudinal development history of the Lenovo Cross-border complex nested R&D organization as the research object, to explore the development rules of enterprise niche. Strategic positioning is the core issue of enterprise management, and enterprise niche is the core issue of strategic positioning. This study elaborates on the three stages of enterprise R&D organizational ambidexterity promoting enterprise niche evolution, discusses the process model of space development, and reveals the life cycle of enterprise niche. It reveals the deep reason for promoting enterprise niche to develop—the ambidexterity of complex nested organization. The conclusion helps to promote the successful space development of enterprise niches through Cross-border merger and acquisition, and to enhance global sustainable development for the companies from emerging markets such as China.
Justifying Soil Protection and Sustainable Soil Management: Creation-Ethical, Legal and Economic Considerations
Authors: Hansjürgens Bernd , Lienkamp Andreas , Möckel Stefan
Published: October 2018

Fertile soils form an important basis for survival for humans, but also for animals, plants and ecosystems, on which all terrestrial organisms rely. Soil is not only of central importance to the global provision of food and in the fight against hunger; climate, biological diversity and water bodies are also highly dependent on soil quality. Soil conservation is therefore a decisive factor in the survival of humanity. Pope Francis also emphasized this in his encyclical “Laudato si’”. However, increasing pressure is being exerted on soils, which poses an enormous challenge to the international community and thus also to the church. Against this background, in this article, which is based on a Memorandum of the German Bishops’ Working Group on Ecological Issues, arguments and justifications for soil protection and sustainable soil management are developed from different angles—from a creation-ethical, a legal, and an economic perspective. All three perspectives point in the same direction, namely that in the use of soils public interests that serve the society and the environment should be given priority over private interests. These arguments may serve as an important reference point in political and societal debates about soils, and may support strategies for sustainable soil management.
What Motivates Local Governments to Invest in Critical Infrastructure? Lessons from Chile
Authors: Valdivieso Patricio , Andersson Krister
Published: October 2018

In this study, we identify institutional factors and processes that foster local government decisions about disaster risk reduction, especially critical infrastructure investments and maintenance. We propose that municipal institutional capacities, organization, leadership, and multilevel governance will affect critical infrastructure investments by local governments. To examine these ideas, we employ qualitative analysis to compare two representative medium–sized cities in Chile. Our results suggest that there are two main institutional factors that constitute the foundation for improvements in critical infrastructure in Chile: municipal institutional context and the local administration’s links with decision makers at higher levels of governance. These results imply that future interventions to strengthen local government efforts for disaster risk reduction in terms of critical infrastructures would benefit from a pre-intervention diagnosis of the target location’s existing institutional context and linkages with external governance actors.
Carbonation-Induced Corrosion Initiation Probability of Rebars in Concrete With/Without Finishing Materials
Authors: Lee Hyung-Min , Lee Han-Seung , Min Sang-ho , Lim Seungmin , Singh Jitendra Kumar
Published: October 2018

The carbonation of concrete is the prime deterioration factor in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. During carbonation, the atmospheric CO2 penetrates the concrete and lowers its alkalinity. The problem in predicting carbonation is difficult to address, and a reliable probabilistic carbonation assessment is required to consider different variables such as the concrete quality, the chemistry of the reinforcing steel, and the quality of finishing materials. In the present study, we have used different finishing materials on concrete to minimize the effects of carbonation with a field survey and accelerated conditions. In one experiment, the measurement of the thickness of the concrete cover and the application of the finishing materials were done on-site, whereas, in the other experiment, these were done under accelerated conditions. The carbonation depth and the coefficient of silk wallpaper (SWP) were reduced by half in an accelerated 5% CO2 experiment compared to the plain ordinary Portland cement (OPC), owing to the external physical barrier that reduces the penetration of CO2 through the pores of the concrete. We found that carbonation did not reach the embedded rebar even after 100 years when SWP finishing material was used. The probability model predicted that 51 years would be required for OPC and water paint (WP) to reach a 30% onset of corrosion initiation through accelerated carbonation, while SWP would require 200 years.
Alliance Portfolio Management and Sustainability of Entrepreneurial Firms
Authors: Han Wei , Chen Feng-Wen , Deng Yu
Published: October 2018

The aim of the present work is to testify whether the alliance portfolio management capability has an impact on entrepreneurial firms’ sustainability. A moderating mediation model has been applied to a sample consisting of 101 entrepreneurial firms listed in New OTC Market (Over the Counter Market) in China. Based on the research design, second-hand data and first-hand data were used. The findings reveal that the two dimensions of the alliance portfolio management capability, i.e., partnering proactiveness and relational governance, can trigger a higher value of the alliance portfolio and result in the sustainable growth of entrepreneurial firms. What is more, when the board of directors has centralized power, the alliance portfolio management capability will increase the value of the alliance portfolio and improve the sustainability of entrepreneurial firms. Unlike the previous literature, this study discovers the internal mechanism between the alliance portfolio management capability and firms’ sustainability in the context of entrepreneurship. The theoretical condition of this relationship is provided from the perspective of the board of directors.
Organizational Performance and Sustainability: Exploring the Roles of IT Capabilities and Knowledge Management Capabilities
Authors: Akram M. Shakaib , Goraya M. Awais Shakir , Malik Aneela , Aljarallah Amer M.
Published: October 2018

This study explores the effects of organizational information technology (IT) capability in determining organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage. Building on the resource-based and knowledge-based views of a firm, the study proposes a theoretical framework. In this framework, organizational IT capability is theorized to strengthen organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage, directly and indirectly, through organizational knowledge management capabilities. Data collected from the middle and senior managers of diverse organizations in an emerging economy have been used to test the relationships in the framework. To estimate the proposed relationships in the conceptual model, we use structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2. The results confirm that organizational IT capability significantly impacts organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage. Additionally, organizational knowledge management capabilities partially mediate the relationship between IT capability and the outcomes (i.e., organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage). The study concludes with a discussion of the implications for academicians and managers.
Assessment of Field Compaction of Aggregate Base Materials for Permeable Pavements Based on Plate Load Tests
Authors: Choi Yong-Jin , Ahn Donghyun , Nguyen Tan Hung , Ahn Jaehun
Published: October 2018

The permeable pavement is one of Low Impact Development technics that allows stormwater to infiltrate through the pavement surface and the underlying base layer, thereby reducing surface runoff and preventing water contamination. For permeable base layers of permeable pavements, open-graded aggregates are often used to infiltrate and store stormwater in the pore of aggregate base layers. The mechanical behavior of open-graded aggregates has not been a major interest of pavement industry and society, and therefore there is much less information known for behavior of compacted open-graded aggregates comparing to dense-graded materials. This study aims at investigating the mechanical behavior of compacted permeable or open-graded aggregate base materials based on field experiments. Five different open-graded aggregates were selected, and they were compacted in the field up to 12 passes with a 10-ton vibratory compaction roller. The mechanical behaviors of aggregates were evaluated by conducting plate load tests at 2, 4, 8, and 12 passes of roller. For the test conditions considered herein, the strain modulus at the first loading seems to provide more consistent results with respect to aggregate types and level of compaction than other stiffness measures from plate load tests.
Factors Contributing to Disaster Evacuation: The Case of South Korea
Authors: Lee Dongkwan , Yoon Soyeon , Park Eun-Seon , Kim Yuseung , Yoon D.K.
Published: October 2018

There has been increasing interest in effective evacuation in response to natural disasters, particularly in understanding human evacuation behavior. It is important to determine the factors affecting evacuation decision making to promote prompt evacuation. This study focuses on the effects of past experiences on evacuation behavior in South Korea, especially the evacuation drill experience. Additionally, the influence of demographic and socio-economic characteristics on evacuation behavior is considered. After collecting data through telephone surveys, t-tests and logit regression models were used to evaluate the data. The results reveal that an evacuation drill experience is positively related to making a decision to evacuate. The results also confirm that certain demographic factors, such as age and household size, as well as socio-economic factors, such as household income and housing type, influence evacuation decisions. Besides these, knowing the location of a shelter is another factor that improves the chances of evacuation. Finally, discussions and suggestions for increasing participation in evacuation drills are provided.
Sustainability Assessment of Organic Vegetable Production Using a Qualitative Multi-Attribute Model
Authors: Iocola Ileana , Campanelli Gabriele , Diacono Mariangela , Leteo Fabrizio , Montemurro Francesco , Persiani Alessandro , Canali Stefano
Published: October 2018

Organic agriculture is perceived as environmentally sustainable, but, under its umbrella, different production systems exist ranging from simplified organic productions to well diversified systems with a full implementation of agro-ecological approaches. Among several developed tools for agriculture sustainability assessment, multi-criteria models are increasingly gaining importance. In this study, we evaluated the use of the multi-criteria DEXi-BIOrt tool, coupled with data from long-term experiments, for the sustainability assessment of different organic vegetable production scenarios. These scenarios were applied in two Italian areas: the Adriatic coast of Marche Region and the Metaponto plan of Basilicata Region. Despite the presence of some critical issues, DEXI-BIOrt proved to be a valid tool for the sustainability evaluation of organic vegetable productions. In both areas, the most sustainable scenarios resulted the well diversified organic systems characterized by proper rotations, inclusion of agro-ecological service crops, cultivation of local and different cultivars, and presence of short supply chain mechanisms. Conversely, the implementation of the simplified organic substitution scenarios does not guarantee a suitable level of sustainability. The findings of this study could support decision makers in the implementation of appropriate measures for enhancing organic production sustainability in the framework of post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.
The Effect of Coding Teaching on Students’ Self-Efficacy Perceptions of Technology and Design Courses
Authors: Özden Celalettin , Tezer Murat
Published: October 2018

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of coding teaching on students’ self-efficacy perceptions of technology and design courses. A consecutive-explanatory design in a combined research model was used in this study. The qualitative dimension of the research was carried out through a random experimental design with pre/post-tests with controlled groups, and the qualitative dimension was conducted through interview techniques. The participants were seventh grade students from Şehit Hüseyin Ruso Secondary school in Lefkoşa, North Cyprus, in the 2016–2017 academic year. The quantitative data were collected through the “Technology and Design Course Self-efficacy Perception Scale”, developed by the researcher, and the qualitative data were collected through interview forms oriented around “Coding Teaching and Revised Technology and Design Course Teaching Program”. The quantitative data were analyzed through related and unrelated sampling t-test, Cohen’s d effect size coefficiency, and two-way variance analyses, and the qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. A significant difference was observed between the students, taking coding teaching, and self-efficacy perceptions of Technology and Design courses compared to the control groups. Besides, it was noted that students taking coding teaching courses exhibited a positive attitude towards the course, and they practiced their metacognitive thinking and social skills at top levels. Based on the students’ views, it is obvious that coding teaching has a positive effect on their self-efficacy perceptions of the subject.
Managing Growing Pains for the Sustainable Growth of Organizations: Evidence from the Growth Pathways and Strategic Choices of Korean Firms
Authors: Yeo Yeongjun , Park Chansoo
Published: October 2018

Life-cycle literature suggests that business organizations evolve in consistent and predictable manners, implying that organizational structures and strategies evolve as firms move through growth stages. The sustainable growth of firms involves successful transitions between growth stages through managing different types of organizational growing pains and maintaining sustainable competitive positions, suggesting shifts in the strategic orientation of the firms as the firms grow. Based on this approach, this study proposes a holistic framework to account for linkages between determinants of a firm’s growing pains and key areas of organizational development, based on a synthesis of qualitative and quantitative findings. From statistical analyses, Korean firms are found to have proceeded through distinct stages of growing pains as they reached organizational sizes as follows: 20, 100, 300, and 500 million USD in sales revenue. Furthermore, qualitative findings suggest that business strategies evolve to deal with different types of growing pains in life-cycle stages from the systemization of management system to the revitalization process. Our results expect to provide extensive knowledge on the role of strategic management to deal with firm’s growing pains, considering both internal and external factors governing organizations. Furthermore, this study expects to provide an insightful and practical framework for managing organizational growing pains and transitions required to build sustainably successful organizations.
Organic Farming Improves Soil Microbial Abundance and Diversity under Greenhouse Condition: A Case Study in Shanghai (Eastern China)
Authors: Liao Jianli , Liang Yun , Huang Danfeng
Published: October 2018

Agricultural practices have significant impacts on soil properties and microbial communities; however, little is known about their responses to open field and plastic tunnels under organic and conventional farming. We therefore investigated the responses of soil chemical variables and microbial communities to different agricultural management and cultivation types, including organic management in open field (OF), organic management in plastic tunnels (OP), conventional management in open field (CF) and conventional management in plastic tunnels (CP), by using a pyrosequencing approach of 16S rRNA gene amplicon. Both factors had significant influences on the soil properties and microbial communities. Organic farming increased the nutrient-related soil variables compared to conventional farming regardless of cultivation type, especially for the available N and P, which were increased by 137% and 711%, respectively, in OP compared to CP. Additionally, OP had the highest microbial abundance and diversity among treatments, whereas no difference was found between OF, CF and CP. Furthermore, OP possessed diverse differential bacteria which were mainly related to the organic material turnover (e.g., Roseiflexus, Planctomyces and Butyrivibrio) and plant growth promotion (e.g., Nostoc, Glycomyces and Bacillus). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrient levels (e.g., available N and available P) and total Zn content were significantly correlated to the structure of the microbial community. Overall, our results showed that the long-term organic farming with high fertilizer input increased soil nutrient levels and microbial abundance and diversity under plastic-tunnel condition compared to other cultivation systems.
Modified Kudryashov Method to Solve Generalized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky Equation
Authors: Kilicman Adem , Silambarasan Rathinavel
Published: October 2018

The generalized Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation is investigated using the modified Kudryashov method for the new exact solutions. The modified Kudryashov method converts the given nonlinear partial differential equation to algebraic equations, as a result of various steps, which upon solving the so-obtained equation systems yields the analytical solution. By this way, various exact solutions including complex structures are found, and their behavior is drawn in the 2D plane by Maple to compare the uniqueness and wave traveling of the solutions.
Special Issue on “Assistive Robotics”
Authors: Parasuraman Ramviyas , Min Byung-Cheol
Published: October 2018

The technology behind robotics has rapidly advanced to a level enabling humans and robots to interact in everyday aspects of life. [...]
Infilling Missing Data in Hydrology: Solutions Using Satellite Radar Altimetry and Multiple Imputation for Data-Sparse Regions
Authors: Ekeu-wei Iguniwari Thomas , Blackburn George Alan , Pedruco Philip
Published: October 2018

In developing regions missing data are prevalent in historical hydrological datasets, owing to financial, institutional, operational and technical challenges. If not tackled, these data shortfalls result in uncertainty in flood frequency estimates and consequently flawed catchment management interventions that could exacerbate the impacts of floods. This study presents a comparative analysis of two approaches for infilling missing data in historical annual peak river discharge timeseries required for flood frequency estimation: (i) satellite radar altimetry (RA) and (ii) multiple imputation (MI). These techniques were applied at five gauging stations along the floodprone Niger and Benue rivers within the Niger River Basin. RA and MI enabled the infilling of missing data for conditions where altimetry virtual stations were available and unavailable, respectively. The impact of these approaches on derived flood estimates was assessed, and the return period of a previously unquantified devastating flood event in Nigeria in 2012 was ascertained. This study revealed that the use of RA resulted in reduced uncertainty when compared to MI for data infilling, especially for widely gapped timeseries (>3 years). The two techniques did not differ significantly for data sets with gaps of 1–3 years, hence, both RA and MI can be used interchangeably in such situations. The use of the original in situ data with gaps resulted in higher flood estimates when compared to datasets infilled using RA and MI, and this can be attributed to extrapolation uncertainty. The 2012 flood in Nigeria was quantified as a 1-in-100-year event at the Umaisha gauging station on the Benue River and a 1-in-50-year event at Baro on the Niger River. This suggests that the higher levels of flooding likely emanated from the Kiri and Lagdo dams in Nigeria and Cameroon, respectively, as previously speculated by the media and recent studies. This study demonstrates the potential of RA and MI for providing information to support flood management in developing regions where in situ data is sparse.
Relationship between the Distribution of Broodstock and Vorticity of Spawning Grounds of Four Major Chinese Carps in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River during Ecological Operation of the Three Gorges Dam
Authors: Liu Mingdian , Lin Junqiang , Peng Qidong , Yu Lixiong , Chen Daqing , Liu Shaoping , Duan Xinbin
Published: October 2018

Hydrodynamic characteristics of spawning grounds are important factors affecting the spawning of four major Chinese carps (Mylopharyngodon piceus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Aristichthys nobilis). To investigate the relationship between the preferred hydrodynamic characteristics of spawning sites and the response of fish spawning behavior, we monitored the flow field of spawning sites during ecological operation of the Three Gorges Dam (i.e., man-made flood regulation) in 2014 and 2015. We used the data to explore the correlation between vorticity changes in spawning grounds and the spawning amount. Pearson correlation coefficients of the average vorticity in all cross-sections of the Yidu spawning ground and spawning amount in 2014 and 2015 were 0.730 and 0.822, respectively, indicating a significant positive correlation between vorticity and spawning activity. In some specific regions, this correlation was even stronger (Pearson correlations of the regional vorticity and egg production were >0.95). To further corroborate and analyze the relationship between these specific regions and the distribution of broodstock during the breeding season, an ultrasonic telemetry test of broodstock was conducted in the Yidu spawning ground in 2016. The results showed that the broodstocks were concentrated in the reach near the Quantong Pier (~76 km from the Three Gorges Dam). These regions were consistent with areas of river characterized by highly correlated vorticity and egg production levels, suggesting that these regions are areas preferred by four major Chinese carps for spawning.
Reduction and Accumulative Characteristics of Dissolved Heavy Metals in Modified Bioretention Media
Authors: Li Yajiao , Wen Meng , Li Jiake , Chai Beibei , Jiang Chunbo
Published: October 2018

Twelve bioretention filter columns with different media were designed to study the effects of media on dissolved heavy metals in bioretention systems by changing three test conditions (inflow concentration, discharge ratio, and recurrence interval). The results showed that the average load reduction efficiency of the bioretention soil media (BSM)+10%water treatment residue, BSM+10%green zeolite, and BSM+10%medicinal stone for Cu and Zn was larger than 80%. The highest volume reduction efficiency is 39.25% by BSM+coconut bran. Among the three factors selected in tests, inflow concentration had the biggest degree of influence, followed by discharge ratio and recurrence interval. The media of the upper, middle, and lower layers of each filter column were detected before and after the treatment to study the accumulative characteristics of heavy metals in the bioretention system. The accumulation of Cu, Zn, and Cd in the media of BSM+medicinal stone, BSM+fly ash, BSM+vermiculite, and BSM+turfy soil was relatively low. The contents of the three metals were positively correlated with urease and negatively correlated with protease in the media, but no obvious rule was showed in the accumulation of dissolved heavy metals with depth.
The Optimal Width and Mechanism of Riparian Buffers for Storm Water Nutrient Removal in the Chinese Eutrophic Lake Chaohu Watershed
Authors: Cao Xiuyun , Song Chunlei , Xiao Jian , Zhou Yiyong
Published: October 2018

Riparian buffers play an important role in intercepting nutrients entering lakes from non-point runoffs. In spite of its ecological significance, little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms of riparian buffers or their optimal width. In this study, we examined nutrient removal efficiency, including the quantity of nutrients and water quality, in the littoral zone of different types of riparian buffers in the watershed around eutrophic Lake Chaohu (China), and estimated the optimal width for different types of riparian buffers for effective nutrient removal. In general, a weak phosphorus (P) adsorption ability and nitrification-denitrification potential in soil resulted in a far greater riparian buffer demand than before in Lake Chaohu, which may be attributed to the soil degradation and simplification of cover vegetation. In detail, the width was at least 23 m (grass/forest) and 130 m (grass) for total P (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) to reach 50% removal efficiency, respectively, indicating a significantly greater demand for TN removal than that for TP. Additionally, wetland and grass/forest riparian buffers were more effective for TP removal, which was attributed to a high P sorption maximum (Qmax) and a low equilibrium P concentration (EPC0), respectively. The high potential nitrification rate (PNR) and potential denitrification rate (PDR) were responsible for the more effective TN removal efficiencies in grass riparian buffers. The nutrient removal efficiency of different types of riparian buffers was closely related with nutrient level in adjacent littoral zones around Lake Chaohu.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF LEGAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING
Authors: Fan Su-Ling , Lee Cen-Ying , Chong Heap-Yih , Skibniewski Mirosław J.
Published: October 2018

Although there are many discussions of the legal implications of BIM, none of the studies provides a comprehensive review of the legal issues associated with BIM; nor do they evaluate the solutions currently available to address the issues. This paper aims to provide a critical review of the legal issues arising from using BIM and of their associated solutions. A systematic review was conducted of fifty-five (55) journal articles and conference papers published from 2007 to 2017 to identify the legal issues. The identified legal issues were then analysed in relation to the solutions provided by the construction industry. The results of the study revealed that (1) an alternative project delivery approach that does not modify the original orientation of the design-bid-build procurement structure is required to deliver BIM effectively. (2) The potential change in the standard of care for project participants due to additional roles required in delivering BIM needs further investigation. (3) The roles for auditing a BIM delivery system must be included in the contracts to ensure the quality and compliance of BIM deliverables. The study not only reviews the legal issues associated with BIM, but more importantly, it also offers significant insights for future research.
Medium-resolution Optical and Near-infrared Spectral Atlas of 16 2MASS-selected NIR-red Active Galactic Nuclei at z ∼ 0.3
Authors: Kim Dohyeong , Im Myungshin , Canalizo Gabriela , Kim Minjin , Kim Ji Hoon , Woo Jong-Hak , Taak Yoon Chan , Kim Jae-Woo , Lazarova Mariana
Published: October 2018

We present medium-resolution spectra (R ∼ 2000–4000) at 0.4–1.0 μm and 0.7–2.5 μm of 16 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected with red color in the near-infrared (NIR) of J − K > 2.0 mag at z ∼ 0.3. We fit the Hβ, Hα, Pβ, and Pα lines from these spectra to obtain their luminosities and line widths. We derive the E(B − V) color excess values of the NIR-red AGNs using two methods, one based on the line-luminosity ratios and another based on the continuum slopes. The two E(B − V) values agree with each other at rms dispersion ∼0.249. About half of the NIR-red AGNs have g′ − K < 5 magnitude, and we find that these NIR-red, but blue in optical-NIR AGNs, have E(B − V) ∼ 0, suggesting that a significant fraction of the NIR color-selected red AGNs are unobscured or only mildly obscured. After correcting for the dust extinction, we estimate the black hole (BH) masses and the bolometric luminosities of the NIR-red AGNs using the Paschen lines to calculate their Eddington ratios (λ
Edd). The median Eddington ratios of nine NIR-red AGNs (

) are only mildly higher than those of unobscured type 1 AGNs (

). Moreover, we find that the M
BH–σ
* relation for three NIR-red AGNs is consistent with that of unobscured type 1 AGNs at similar redshift. These results suggest that the NIR-red color selection alone is not effective at picking up dusty, intermediate-stage AGNs.
Modeling the Atomic-to-molecular Transition in Cosmological Simulations of Galaxy Formation
Authors: Diemer Benedikt , Stevens Adam R. H. , Forbes John C. , Marinacci Federico , Hernquist Lars , Lagos Claudia del P. , Sternberg Amiel , Pillepich Annalisa , Nelson Dylan , Popping Gergö , Villaescusa-Navarro Francisco , Torrey Paul , Vogelsberger Mark
Published: October 2018

Large-scale cosmological simulations of galaxy formation currently do not resolve the densities at which molecular hydrogen forms, implying that the atomic-to-molecular transition must be modeled either on the fly or in postprocessing. We present an improved postprocessing framework to estimate the abundance of atomic and molecular hydrogen and apply it to the IllustrisTNG simulations. We compare five different models for the atomic-to-molecular transition, including empirical, simulation-based, and theoretical prescriptions. Most of these models rely on the surface density of neutral hydrogen and the ultraviolet (UV) flux in the Lyman–Werner band as input parameters. Computing these quantities on the kiloparsec scale resolved by the simulations emerges as the main challenge. We show that the commonly used Jeans length approximation to the column density of a system can be biased and exhibits large cell-to-cell scatter. Instead, we propose to compute all surface quantities in face-on projections and perform the modeling in two dimensions. In general, the two methods agree on average, but their predictions diverge for individual galaxies and for models based on the observed midplane pressure of galaxies. We model the UV radiation from young stars by assuming a constant escape fraction and optically thin propagation throughout the galaxy. With these improvements, we find that the five models for the atomic-to-molecular transition roughly agree on average but that the details of the modeling matter for individual galaxies and the spatial distribution of molecular hydrogen. We emphasize that the estimated molecular fractions are approximate due to the significant systematic uncertainties.
A review of regulation ecosystem services and disservices from faunal populations and potential impacts of agriculturalisation on their provision, globally
Authors: Gutierrez-Arellano Claudia , Mulligan Mark
Published: October 2018

Land use and cover change (LUCC) is the main cause of natural ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss and can cause a decrease in ecosystem service provision. Animal populations are providers of some key regulation services: pollination, pest and disease control and seed dispersal, the so-called faunal ecosystem services (FES). Here we aim to give an overview on the current and future status of regulation FES in response to change from original habitat to agricultural land globally. FES are much more tightly linked to wildlife populations and biodiversity than are most ecosystem services, whose determinants are largely climatic and related to vegetation structure. Degradation of ecosystems by land use change thus has much more potential to affect FES. In this scoping review, we summarise the main findings showing the importance of animal populations as FES providers and as a source of ecosystem disservices; underlying causes of agriculturalisation impacts on FES and the potential condition of FES under future LUCC in relation to the expected demand for FES globally. Overall, studies support a positive relationship between FES provision and animal species richness and abundance. Agriculturalisation has negative effects on FES providers due to landscape homogenisation, habitat fragmentation and loss, microclimatic changes and development of population imbalance, causing species and population losses of key fauna, reducing services whilst enhancing disservices. Since evidence suggests an increase in FES demand worldwide is required to support increased farming, it is imperative to improve the understanding of agriculturalisation on FES supply and distribution. Spatial conservation prioritisation must factor in faunal ecosystem functions as the most biodiversity-relevant of all ecosystem services and that which most closely links sites of service provision of conservation value with nearby sites of service use to provide ecosystem services of agricultural and economic value.
Unravelling the moons: review of the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella in the Indo-Pacific (Demospongiae, Tetractinellida, Tetillidae)
Authors: Santodomingo Nadiezhda , Becking Leontine E.
Published: October 2018

Paratetillabacca(Selenka, 1867) andCinachyrellaaustraliensis(Carter, 1886) occur in a broad range of marine environments and are allegedly widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific. We coin the term ‘moon sponges’ for these species as they are spherical in shape with numerous porocalices resembling the lunar surface. Both species have a complex taxonomic history with high synonymization, in particular by Burton (1934, 1959). An examination of the junior synonyms proposed by Burton (1934, 1959) was conducted to establish the validity of the names. More than 230 specimens from Naturalis Biodiversity Center were reviewed that belong to the generaParatetillaandCinachyrellafrom marine lakes, coral reefs, and mangroves in Indonesia. The aim of the current study was to untangle the taxonomic history, describe the collection of moon sponges from Indonesia, and develop a key. We extensively reviewed the taxonomic literature as well as holotypes of most of the species synonymized by Burton. The taxonomic history ofParatetillaspp. andCinachyrellaaustraliensisshowed some cases of misinterpreted synonyms, misidentifications, and lack of detailed descriptions for some species. The conclusion of the revision is that there are three valid species ofParatetilla(P.arcifera,P.bacca, andP.corrugata) and four valid species ofCinachyrella(C.australiensis,C.porosa,C.paterifera, andC.schulzei) in Indonesia. This is furthermore corroborated by molecular work from previous studies.ParatetillaarciferaWilson 1925 andC.porosa(Lendenfeld, 1888) are resurrected. A full review of taxonomic history is provided as well as a key for identification of moon sponges from Indonesia. All species are sympatric and we expect that there are undescribed species remaining within the Tetillidae from the Indo-Pacific. Our current review provides the framework from which to describe new species in the generaParatetillaandCinachyrellafrom the Indo-Pacific.
Low genetic diversity in broodstocks of endangered Chinese sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus: implications for artificial propagation and conservation
Authors: Liu Dongqi , Zhou Yu , Yang Kun , Zhang Xiuyue , Chen Yongbai , Li Chong , Li Hua , Song Zhaobin
Published: October 2018

The releasing program of Chinese sucker (Myxocyprinusasiaticus) has been conducted for years in China. To prevent loss of genetic variation in wild populations, it is important to assess and monitor genetic diversity of broodstocks before release of offspring. Three broodstocks (Pixian Base of Sichuan Fisheries Research Institute, China (PBS), Yibin Base of Sichuan Fisheries Research Institute, China (YBS) and Yibin Rare Aquatic Animal Research Institute, China (YRA)) were investigated using mitochondrial control region and 12 microsatellites. The relatively low genetic diversities of these broodstocks were detected (PBS, haplotype diversity (h) = 0.877, observed heterozygosity (Ho) = 0.416; YBS, h = 0.812, Ho = 0.392; YRA, h = 0.818, Ho = 0.365). PBS showed higher Ho than YBS and YRA (P <0.05). Genetic divergence (FST) based on microsatellites between PBS and YRA was significant (FST= 0.1270,P< 0.05), the same situation happened between YBS and YRA (FST= 0.1319,P< 0.05). However, divergence between PBS and YBS was not significant (FST= 0.0029,P> 0.05). Structure analysis revealed that YRA were distinct from PBS and YBS. Based on these results, it is important to propose some suggestions of genetic management for artificial propagation of Chinese sucker, such as broodstock exchange among hatcheries and broodstock supplement from wild.
Guidelines for Asking Questions
Authors: Kowalski Karren
Published: October 2018

This column discusses guidelines for asking questions to improve communication in clinical, academic, and other settings.
Data Visualization in Engineering Pedagogy through Determination of Colour Variance in Contaminated Grass Samples
Authors: White Conor , Uhomoibhi James
Published: October 2018

Big Data and Data Analytics have in recent times become important areas of focus in academia, in business and in society. This paper utilises experiments involving data visualisation of oil pollution studies and their effects on environment for enhanced learning in engineering education. Tracking and analysis of images and the use of accessible applications for the analysis of acquired data revealed the level of impact of the different types of oil pollution on grass vegetation. In accounting for these changes the primary RGB colours and corresponding values are used. The use of spectral analysis applications available in spectroscopy and comparison of results would in future prove useful in assessing some aspects of these changes in relation to wavelength and colours changes. The results of these studies would contribute in no small measure to the determination of best cleaning strategies for oil spills.
A Validity and Reliability Study of the Engineering and Engineering Education Attitude Scale (EEAS)
Authors: Korkmaz Özgen , Kösterelioğlu Meltem , Kara Mehmet
Published: October 2018

In literature it was not possible to find a proven valid and reliable scale to measure students’ attitudes towards engineering profession and engineering education. The objective of present research is to provide a valid and reliable scale for measuring students’ attitudes towards engineering profession and engineering education. The sample group is composed of 650 students for the first application and 113 students for the second. In order to detect the validity of the scale, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, item factor total correlations, corrected correlations and item discriminations were conducted. In order to assess the reliability of the scale, the level of internal consistency and the stability levels were calculated. EEAS a five-point Likert-type scale and includes 17 items with two factors. The analyses provided evidence that EEAS is a valid and reliable scale that can be assuredly used to identify students’ attitudes towards engineering profession and education they receive.
Knowledge and Experiences of Safety and Health Occupation Risks among Students
Authors: Tureková Ivana , Bagalová Terézia
Published: October 2018

Occupational safety and health should be the subject of education, as it prepares students for their future occupation, and further adult education, including retraining. Nowadays, as society supports technical education via dual learning, this issue is becoming particularly necessary. Schools ensure students’ safety and health in education, training and other related activities as well as in the provision of school services. In order to secure this task the schools adopt preventive measures based on risk assessment associated with the school activities and environment. When establishing specific measures the school takes into account predominantly the possible threat to students in education of individual subjects, movement within school, and the participation of students in various school-organised events. Subsequently, the educational institution provides continuous education in this area for its students and employees and requires the observance of relevant legal standards by systematic control. It takes into account the age of students, their abilities, and their physical and mental maturity. The aim of this article was to find out how students at different age levels (students of secondary school and elementary schools) understand and observe the principles of safety and health which is a central prerequisite in preparedness for future occupation. In the conclusion part of this paper, we present some solution suggestions; highlight the importance of suitable curricula at schools and educational institutions. Education methods must reflect current, valid and enforceable safety and health regulations at work. It is therefore essential that risk assessment is included in the education process.