bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communications Skills in the Pharmacy Profession: A Cross Sectional Survey of UK Registered Pharmacists and Pharmacy Educators
Authors: Jalal Zahraa , Cox Anthony , Goel Neera , Vaitha Nikita , King Kathryn , Ward Jon
Published: December 2018

Objectives: To determine UK pharmacists’ experiences of their current communication skills and undergraduate training and to identify communication skills training and teaching at UK schools of pharmacy. Methods: Two surveys were developed. The first survey was sent to UK practicing pharmacists examining their current communication skills and interest in behavioural counselling techniques such as Motivational Interviewing (MI). A second survey was sent to all UK Schools of Pharmacy investigating communication skills training and teaching. Results: In the first survey pharmacists reported low satisfaction with their undergraduate communication skills training. A convenience sample of 109 UK pharmacists responded to the first survey. Forty-four per cent (n = 48) of the respondents stated that they continued their professional development in communication skills after an undergraduate degree. Seventy (65.4%) were not familiar with behavioural counselling techniques such as MI. The most common patient consultation delivered by pharmacists was around adherence to medicine 22.4% (n = 50). Pharmacists expressed a need for further training in clinical areas such as mental health 25.7% (n = 80). Results from the second survey to pharmacy schools showed that Schools of Pharmacy response rate was 60% (18/30). All 18 schools stated that they teach health behaviour change consultation skills and this is mostly delivered by a clinical pharmacist. Teaching communication skills was mostly delivered as role play with peers (n = 17). Conclusion: This first national survey of communication skills training in Schools of Pharmacy shows that newer graduates have received more communication training compared to older graduates, however pharmacists’ respondents still felt that they were under prepared for behaviour change patient consultations. MI training would be welcomed by those. Practice Implications: Structured courses in communication skills, including behavioural change techniques, are needed for practicing UK pharmacists.
The Urgent Need of a Naturalized Logic
Authors: Magnani Lorenzo
Published: December 2018

The naturalization of logic aims at a revision of mainstream logic. In this article, I contend it is an urgent task to be completed. This new project will permit a new collaboration between logic and cognitive science. This can be accomplished doing for logic what many decades ago Quine and other philosophers undertook in the case of epistemology. First of all, this article analyzes how the naturalization can be achieved thanks to some insights provided by the recent John Woods’ book Errors of Reasoning: Naturalizing the Logic of Inference; important concepts that regard a naturalized logic are synthetically analyzed: errors (and the problem of fallacies), paradigm creep, third-way reasoning, consequence-having and consequence drawing, agent based reasoning. The article also takes advantage of my own studies, which are aimed both at exculpating the negative fallacious character of abduction (it is the fallacy of the affirming the consequent) and at illustrating the EC-model (Eco-Cognitive model) of it, I have recently proposed. Aiming at encouraging the project of naturalization of logic, the article specifically recommends the increase of logical research on abduction, and emphasizes how current philosophical and logical research on human inferences is indebted towards Charles Sanders Peirce, a philosopher whose importance and modernity are too often underestimated. The final part of the article will introduce an analysis of the importance of the so-called optimization of situatedness, a concept that is necessary to understand that maximization of “abducibility”, which characterizes modern science.
Incorporation of Carbon Nanofillers Tunes Mechanical and Electrical Percolation in PHBV:PLA Blends
Authors: Arroyo Jesse , Ryan Cecily
Published: December 2018

Biobased fillers, such as bio-derived cellulose, lignin byproducts, and biochar, can be used to modify the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of polymer composites. Biochar (BioC), in particular, is of interest for enhancing thermal and electrical conductivities in composites, and can potentially serve as a bio-derived graphitic carbon alternative for certain composite applications. In this work, we investigate a blended biopolymer system: poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and addition of carbon black (CB), a commonly used functional filler as a comparison for Kraft lignin-derived BioC. We present calculations and experimental results for phase-separation and nanofiller phase affinity in this system, indicating that the CB localizes in the PHBV phase of the immiscible PHBV:PLA blends. The addition of BioC led to a deleterious reaction with the biopolymers, as indicated by blend morphology, differential scanning calorimetry showing significant melting peak reduction for the PLA phase, and a reduction in melt viscosity. For the CB nanofilled composites, electrical conductivity and dynamic mechanical analysis supported the ability to use phase separation in these blends to tune the percolation of mechanical and electrical properties, with a minimum percolation threshold found for the 80:20 blends of 1.6 wt.% CB. At 2% BioC (approximately the percolation threshold for CB), the 80:20 BioC nanocomposites had a resistance of 3.43 × 10 8 Ω as compared to 2.99 × 10 8 Ω for the CB, indicating that BioC could potentially perform comparably to CB as a conductive nanofiller if the processing challenges can be overcome for higher BioC loadings.
Exploring Structure–Property Relationships of GAGs to Tailor ECM-Mimicking Hydrogels
Authors: Zimmermann Ralf , Werner Carsten , Sterling James
Published: December 2018

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a class of linear polysaccharides that are ubiquitous in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and on cell surfaces. Due to their key role in development, homeostasis, pathogenesis, and regeneration, GAGs are increasingly used in the design of ECM-mimicking hydrogels to stimulate tissue formation and regenerative processes via specifically orchestrated cell-instructive signals. These applications first and foremost build on the ability of GAGs to effectively bind, protect, and release morphogens. The specificity and strength of morphogen-GAG interactions are largely governed by the number and spatial distribution of negatively charged sulfate groups carried by GAGs. Herein, we summarize a mean-field approach to quantify the density of ionizable groups, GAG concentration, and cross-linking degree of GAG-containing hydrogels on the basis of microslit electrokinetic experiments. We further present and discuss a continuum model of mucosa that accounts for charge regulation by glycan-ion pairing in biological contexts and under conditions of macromolecular crowding. Finally, we discuss the modulation of the morphogen binding and transport in GAG hydrogels by selective desulfation of the GAG component.
Interface Modulation of Core-Shell Structured BaTiO3@polyaniline for Novel Dielectric Materials from Its Nanocomposite with Polyarylene Ether Nitrile
Authors: You Yong , Wang Yajie , Tu Ling , Tong Lifen , Wei Renbo , Liu Xiaobo
Published: December 2018

The core-shell structured polyaniline-functionalized-BaTiO3 (BT@PANI) nanoparticles with controllable shell layer thicknesses are developed via in-situ aniline polymerization technology and characterized in detail. The results prove that the PANI shell layer with the adjustable and controllable thicknesses of 3–10 nm are completely stabilized on the surface of the BaTiO3 core. In addition, the BT@PANI nanoparticles are regarded as the hybrid nanofillers to prepare PEN/BT@PANI nanocomposite films with a PEN matrix. The research results indicate that the surface functionalized nanoparticles facilitate the compatibility and dispersibility of them in the PEN matrix, which improves the properties of the PEN/BT@PANI nanocomposites. Specifically, the PEN/BT@PANI nanocomposites exhibit thermal stability, excellent permittivity-frequency, and dielectric properties-temperature stability. Most importantly, the energy density of nanocomposites is maintained at over 70% at 180 °C compared with that at 25 °C. All these results reveal that a new way to prepare the high-performance PEN-based nanocomposites is established to fabricate an energy storage component in a high temperature environment.
Low-Temperature Steam Reforming of Natural Gas after LPG-Enrichment with MFI Membranes
Authors: Seeburg Dominik , Liu Dongjing , Dragomirova Radostina , Atia Hanan , Pohl Marga-Martina , Amani Hadis , Georgi Gabriele , Kreft Stefanie , Wohlrab Sebastian
Published: December 2018

Low-temperature hydrogen production from natural gas via steam reforming requires novel processing concepts as well as stable catalysts. A process using zeolite membranes of the type MFI (Mobile FIve) was used to enrich natural gas with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) alkanes (in particular, propane and n-butane), in order to improve the hydrogen production from this mixture at a reduced temperature. For this purpose, a catalyst precursor based on Rh single-sites (1 mol% Rh) on alumina was transformed in situ to a Rh1/Al2O3 catalyst possessing better performance capabilities compared with commercial catalysts. A wet raw natural gas (57.6 vol% CH4) was fully reformed at 650 °C, with 1 bar absolute pressure over the Rh1/Al2O3 at a steam to carbon ratio S/C = 4, yielding 74.7% H2. However, at 350 °C only 21 vol% H2 was obtained under these conditions. The second mixture, enriched with LPG, was obtained from the raw gas after the membrane process and contained only 25.2 vol% CH4. From this second mixture, 47 vol% H2 was generated at 350 °C after steam reforming over the Rh1/Al2O3 catalyst at S/C = 4. At S/C = 1 conversion was suppressed for both gas mixtures. Single alkane reforming of C2–C4 showed different sensitivity for side reactions, e.g., methanation between 350 and 650 °C. These results contribute to ongoing research in the field of low-temperature hydrogen release from natural gas alkanes for fuel cell applications as well as for pre-reforming processes.
Retrieval of Daily PM2.5 Concentrations Using Nonlinear Methods: A Case Study of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region, China
Authors: Li Lijuan , Chen Baozhang , Zhang Yanhu , Zhao Youzheng , Xian Yue , Xu Guang , Zhang Huifang , Guo Lifeng
Published: December 2018

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with adverse health impacts on the population. Satellite observations and machine learning algorithms have been applied to improve the accuracy of the prediction of PM2.5 concentrations. In this study, we developed a PM2.5 retrieval approach using machine-learning methods, based on aerosol products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the NASA Earth Observation System (EOS) Terra and Aqua polar-orbiting satellites, near-ground meteorological variables from the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS), and ground-based PM2.5 observation data. Four models, which are orthogonal regression (OR), regression tree (Rpart), random forests (RF), and support vector machine (SVM), were tested and compared in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region of China in 2015. Aerosol products derived from the Terra and Aqua satellite sensors were also compared. The 10-repeat 5-fold cross-validation (10 × 5 CV) method was subsequently used to evaluate the performance of the different aerosol products and the four models. The results show that the performance of the Aqua dataset was better than that of the Terra dataset, and that the RF algorithm has the best predictive performance (Terra: R = 0.77, RMSE = 43.51 μg/m3; Aqua: R = 0.85, RMSE = 33.90 μg/m3). This study shows promise for predicting the spatiotemporal distribution of PM2.5 using the RF model and Aqua aerosol product with the assistance of PM2.5 site data.
Intra-Season Crop Height Variability at Commercial Farm Scales Using a Fixed-Wing UAV
Authors: Ziliani Matteo G. , Parkes Stephen D. , Hoteit Ibrahim , McCabe Matthew F.
Published: December 2018

Monitoring the development of vegetation height through time provides a key indicator of crop health and overall condition. Traditional manual approaches for monitoring crop height are generally time consuming, labor intensive and impractical for large-scale operations. Dynamic crop heights collected through the season allow for the identification of within-field problems at critical stages of the growth cycle, providing a mechanism for remedial action to be taken against end of season yield losses. With advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, routine monitoring of height is now feasible at any time throughout the growth cycle. To demonstrate this capability, five digital surface maps (DSM) were reconstructed from high-resolution RGB imagery collected over a field of maize during the course of a single growing season. The UAV retrievals were compared against LiDAR scans for the purpose of evaluating the derived point clouds capacity to capture ground surface variability and spatially variable crop height. A strong correlation was observed between structure-from-motion (SfM) derived heights and pixel-to-pixel comparison against LiDAR scan data for the intra-season bare-ground surface (R2 = 0.77 − 0.99, rRMSE = 0.44% − 0.85%), while there was reasonable agreement between canopy comparisons (R2 = 0.57 − 0.65, rRMSE = 37% − 50%). To examine the effect of resolution on retrieval accuracy and processing time, an evaluation of several ground sampling distances (GSD) was also performed. Our results indicate that a 10 cm resolution retrieval delivers a reliable product that provides a compromise between computational cost and spatial fidelity. Overall, UAV retrievals were able to accurately reproduce the observed spatial variability of crop heights within the maize field through the growing season and provide a valuable source of information with which to inform precision agricultural management in an operational context.
Monitoring Land-Use/Land-Cover Changes at a Provincial Large Scale Using an Object-Oriented Technique and Medium-Resolution Remote-Sensing Images
Authors: Luo Kaisheng , Li Bingjuan , Moiwo Juana P.
Published: December 2018

An object-based image analysis (OBIA) technique is replacing traditional pixel-based methods and setting a new standard for monitoring land-use/land-cover changes (LUCC). To date, however, studies have focused mainly on small-scale exploratory experiments and high-resolution remote-sensing images. Therefore, this study used OBIA techniques and medium-resolution Chinese HJ-CCD images to monitor LUCC at the provincial scale. The results showed that while woodland was mainly distributed in the west, south, and east mountain areas of Hunan Province, the west had the largest area and most continuous distribution. Wetland was distributed mainly in the northern plain area, and cultivated land was distributed mainly in the central and northern plains and mountain valleys. The largest impervious surface was the Changzhutan urban agglomerate in the northeast plain area. The spatial distribution of land cover in Hunan Province was closely related to topography, government policy, and economic development. For the period 2000–2010, the areas of cultivated land transformed into woodland, grassland, and wetland were 183.87 km2, 5.57 km2, and 70.02 km2, respectively, indicating that the government-promoted ecologically engineered construction was yielding some results. The rapid economic growth and urbanization, high resource development intensity, and other natural factors offset the gains made in ecologically engineered construction and in increasing forest and wetland areas, respectively, by 229.82 km2 and 132.12 km2 from 2000 to 2010 in Hunan Province. The results also showed large spatial differences in change amplitude (LUCCA), change speed (LUCCS), and transformation processes in Hunan Province. The Changzhutan urban agglomerate and the surrounding prefectures had the largest LUCCA and LUCCS, where the dominant land cover accounted for the conversion of some 189.76 km2 of cultivated land, 129.30 km2 of woodland, and 6.12 km2 of wetland into impervious surfaces in 2000–2010. This conversion was attributed to accelerated urbanization and rapid economic growth in this region.
Development of Himawari-8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Algorithm
Authors: Choi Youn-Young , Suh Myoung-Seok
Published: December 2018

We developed land surface temperature (LST) retrieval algorithms based on the time of day and water vapor content using the Himawari-8/AHI (Advanced Himawari Imager) data, which is the Japanese next generation geostationary satellite. To develop the LST retrieval algorithms, we simulated the spectral radiance using the radiative transfer model (MODTRAN4) by applying the atmospheric profiles (SeeBor), diurnal variation of LST and air temperature, spectral emissivity of land surface, satellite viewing angle, and spectral response function of Himawari-8/AHI. To retrieve the LST from Himawari-8 data, a linear type of split-window method was used in this study. The Himawari-8 LST algorithms showed a high correlation coefficient (0.996), and a small bias (0.002 K) and root mean square error (RMSE) (1.083 K) between prescribed LSTs and estimated LSTs. However, the accuracy of LST algorithms showed a slightly large RMSE when the lapse rate was larger than 10 K, and the brightness temperature difference was greater than 6 K. The cross-validation of Himawari-8/AHI LST using the MODIS (Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) LST showed that annual mean correlation coefficient, bias, and RMSE were 0.94, +0.45 K, and 1.93 K, respectively. The performances of LST algorithms were slightly dependent on the season and time of day, generally better during the night (warm season) than during the day (cold season).
Characterizing Variability of Solar Irradiance in San Antonio, Texas Using Satellite Observations of Cloudiness
Authors: Xia Shuang , Mestas-Nuñez Alberto M. , Xie Hongjie , Tang Jiakui , Vega Rolando
Published: December 2018

Since the main attenuation of solar irradiance reaching the earth’s surface is due to clouds, it has been hypothesized that global horizontal irradiance attenuation and its temporal variability at a given location could be characterized simply by cloud properties at that location. This hypothesis is tested using global horizontal irradiance measurements at two stations in San Antonio, Texas, and satellite estimates of cloud types and cloud layers from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Surface and Insolation Product. A modified version of an existing solar attenuation variability index, albeit having a better physical foundation, is used. The analysis is conducted for different cloud conditions and solar elevations. It is found that under cloudy-sky conditions, there is less attenuation under water clouds than those under opaque ice clouds (optically thick ice clouds) and multilayered clouds. For cloud layers, less attenuation was found for the low/mid layers than for the high layer. Cloud enhancement occurs more frequently for water clouds and less frequently for mixed phase and cirrus clouds and it occurs with similar frequency at all three levels. The temporal variability of solar attenuation is found to decrease with an increasing temporal sampling interval and to be largest for water clouds and smallest for multilayered and partly cloudy conditions. This work presents a first step towards estimating solar energy potential in the San Antonio area indirectly using available estimates of cloudiness from GOES satellites.
3D Calibration Test-Field for Digital Cameras Mounted on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Authors: Oniga Valeria-Ersilia , Pfeifer Norbert , Loghin Ana-Maria
Published: December 2018

Due to the large number of technological developments in recent years, UAS systems are now used for monitoring purposes and in projects with high precision demand, such as 3D model-based creation of dams, reservoirs, historical monuments etc. These unmanned systems are usually equipped with an automatic pilot device and a digital camera (photo/video, multispectral, Near Infrared etc.), of which the lens has distortions; but this can be determined in a calibration process. Currently, a method of “self-calibration” is used for the calibration of the digital cameras mounted on UASs, but, by using the method of calibration based on a 3D calibration object, the accuracy is improved in comparison with other methods. Thus, this paper has the objective of establishing a 3D calibration field for the digital cameras mounted on UASs in terms of accuracy and robustness, being the largest reported publication to date. In order to test the proposed calibration field, a digital camera mounted on a low-cost UAS was calibrated at three different heights: 23 m, 28 m, and 35 m, using two configurations for image acquisition. Then, a comparison was made between the residuals obtained for a number of 100 Check Points (CPs) using self-calibration and test-field calibration, while the number of Ground Control Points (GCPs) variedand the heights were interchanged. Additionally, the parameters where tested on an oblique flight done 2 years before calibration, in manual mode at a medium altitude of 28 m height. For all tests done in the case of the double grid nadiral flight, the parameters calculated with the proposed 3D field improved the results by more than 50% when using the optimum and a large number of GCPs, and in all analyzed cases with 75% to 95% when using a minimum of 3 GCP. In this context, it is necessary to conduct accurate calibration in order to increase the accuracy of the UAS projects, and also to reduce field measurements.
Applications of High-Resolution Imaging for Open Field Container Nursery Counting
Authors: She Ying , Ehsani Reza , Robbins James , Nahún Leiva Josué , Owen Jim
Published: December 2018

Frequent inventory data of container nurseries is needed by growers to ensure proper management and marketing strategies. In this paper, inventory data are estimated from aerial images. Since there are thousands of nursery species, it is difficult to find a generic classification algorithm for all cases. In this paper, the development of classification methods was confined to three representative categories: green foliage, yellow foliage, and flowering plants. Vegetation index thresholding and the support vector machine (SVM) were used for classification. Classification accuracies greater than 97% were obtained for each case. Based on the classification results, an algorithm based on canopy area mapping was built for counting. The effects of flight altitude, container spacing, and ground cover type were evaluated. Results showed that container spacing and interaction of container spacing with ground cover type have a significant effect on counting accuracy. To mimic the practical shipping and moving process, incomplete blocks with different voids were created. Results showed that the more plants removed from the block, the higher the accuracy. The developed algorithm was tested on irregular- or regular-shaped plants and plants with and without flowers to test the stability of the algorithm, and accuracies greater than 94% were obtained.
Validation and Comparison of MODIS C6.1 and C6 Aerosol Products over Beijing, China
Authors: Tian Xinpeng , Liu Qiang , Li Xiuhong , Wei Jing
Published: December 2018

The operational Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Products (APs) have provided long-term and wide-spatial-coverage aerosol optical properties across the globe, such as aerosol optical depth (AOD). However, the performance of the latest Collection 6.1 (C6.1) of MODIS APs is still unclear over urban areas that feature complex surface characteristics and aerosol models. The aim of this study was to validate and compare the performance of the MODIS C6.1 and C6 APs (MxD04, x = O for Terra, x = Y for Aqua) over Beijing, China. The results of the Dark Target (DT) and Deep Blue (DB) algorithms were validated against Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) ground-based observations at local sites. The retrieval uncertainties and accuracies were evaluated using the expected error (EE: ±0.05 + 15%) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE). It was found that the MODIS C6.1 DT products performed better than the C6 DT products, with a greater percentage (by about 13%–14%) of the retrievals falling within the EE. However, the DT retrievals collected from two collections were significantly overestimated in the Beijing region, with more than 64% and 48% of the samples falling above the EE for the Terra and Aqua satellites, respectively. The MODIS C6.1 DB products performed similarly to the C6 DB products, with 70%–73% of the retrievals matching within the EE and estimation uncertainties. Moreover, the DB algorithm performed much better than DT algorithm over urban areas, especially in winter where abundant missing pixels were found in DT products. To investigate the effects of factors on AOD retrievals, the variability in the assumed surface reflectance and the main optical properties applied in DT and DB algorithms are also analyzed.
Editorial for Multi-Constellation Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Methods and Applications
Authors: Geng Jianghui , Ge Maorong
Published: December 2018

This is a great era of significant changes and innovations in the field of geodesy and navigation with the emerging multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) [...]
Calibration Model of a Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Alhasa Kemal Maulana , Mohd Nadzir Mohd Shahrul , Olalekan Popoola , Latif Mohd Talib , Yusup Yusri , Iqbal Faruque Mohammad Rashed , Ahamad Fatimah , Abd. Hamid Haris Hafizal , Aiyub Kadaruddin , Md Ali Sawal Hamid , Khan Md Firoz , Abu Samah Azizan , Yusuff Imran , Othman Murnira , Tengku Hassim Tengku Mohd Farid , Ezani Nor Eliani
Published: December 2018

Conventional air quality monitoring systems, such as gas analysers, are commonly used in many developed and developing countries to monitor air quality. However, these techniques have high costs associated with both installation and maintenance. One possible solution to complement these techniques is the application of low-cost air quality sensors (LAQSs), which have the potential to give higher spatial and temporal data of gas pollutants with high precision and accuracy. In this paper, we present DiracSense, a custom-made LAQS that monitors the gas pollutants ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). The aim of this study is to investigate its performance based on laboratory calibration and field experiments. Several model calibrations were developed to improve the accuracy and performance of the LAQS. Laboratory calibrations were carried out to determine the zero offset and sensitivities of each sensor. The results showed that the sensor performed with a highly linear correlation with the reference instrument with a response-time range from 0.5 to 1.7 min. The performance of several calibration models including a calibrated simple equation and supervised learning algorithms (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system or ANFIS and the multilayer feed-forward perceptron or MLP) were compared. The field calibration focused on O3 measurements due to the lack of a reference instrument for CO and NO2. Combinations of inputs were evaluated during the development of the supervised learning algorithm. The validation results demonstrated that the ANFIS model with four inputs (WE OX, AE OX, T, and NO2) had the lowest error in terms of statistical performance and the highest correlation coefficients with respect to the reference instrument (0.8 < r < 0.95). These results suggest that the ANFIS model is promising as a calibration tool since it has the capability to improve the accuracy and performance of the low-cost electrochemical sensor.
Energy and Spectrally Efficient Modulation Scheme for IoT Applications
Authors: Hussein Hany S. , Elsayed Mohamed , Fakhry Mahmoud , Sayed Mohamed Usama
Published: December 2018

Due to the Internet of Things (IoT) requirements for a high-density network with low-cost and low-power physical (PHY) layer design, the low-power budget transceiver systems have drawn momentous attention lately owing to their superior performance enhancement in both energy efficiency and hardware complexity reduction. As the power budget of the classical transceivers is envisioned by using inefficient linear power amplifiers (PAs) at the transmitter (TX) side and by applying high-resolution analog to digital converters (ADCs) at the receiver (RX) side, the transceiver architectures with low-cost PHY layer design (i.e., nonlinear PA at the TX and one-bit ADC at the RX) are mandated to cope with the vast IoT applications. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the orthogonal shaping pulses minimum shift keying (OSP-MSK) as a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) modulation/demodulation scheme in order to design the low-cost transceiver architectures associated with the IoT devices. The OSP-MSK fulfills a low-power budget by using constant envelope modulation (CEM) techniques at the TX side, and by applying a low-resolution one-bit ADC at the RX side. Furthermore, the OSP-MSK provides a higher spectral efficiency compared to the recently introduced MIMO-CEM with the one-bit ADC. In this context, the orthogonality between the in-phase and quadrature-phase components of the OSP are exploited to increase the number of transmitted bits per symbol (bps) without the need for extra bandwidth. The performance of the proposed scheme is investigated analytically and via Monte Carlo simulations. For the mathematical analysis, we derive closed-form expressions for assessing the average bit error rate (ABER) performance of the OSP-MSK modulation in conjunction with Rayleigh and Nakagami-m fading channels. Moreover, a closed-form expression for evaluating the power spectral density (PSD) of the proposed scheme is obtained as well. The simulation results corroborate the potency of the conducted analysis by revealing a high consistency with the obtained analytical formulas.
Centralized Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Mesh Network Placement Scheme: A Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm Approach
Authors: Sabino Sérgio , Horta Nuno , Grilo António
Published: December 2018

In the past, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were mostly used in military operations to prevent pilot losses. Nowadays, the fast technological evolution has enabled the production of a class of cost-effective UAVs that can service a plethora of public and civilian applications, especially when configured to work cooperatively to accomplish a task. However, designing a communication network among the UAVs is a challenging task. In this article, we propose a centralized UAV placement strategy, where UAVs are used as flying access points forming a mesh network, providing connectivity to ground nodes deployed in a target area. The geographical placement of UAVs is optimized based on a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA). The goal of the proposed scheme is to cover all ground nodes using a minimum number of UAVs, while maximizing the fulfillment of their data rate requirements. The UAVs can employ different data rates depending on the channel conditions, which are expressed by the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR). In this work, the elitist Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is used to find a set of optimal positions to place UAVs, given the positions of the ground nodes. We evaluate the trade-off between the number of UAVs used to cover the target area and the data rate requirement of the ground nodes. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can optimize the UAV placement given the requirement and the positions of the ground nodes in the geographical area.
Reducing Message Collisions in Sensing-Based Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) by Using Reselection Lookaheads in Cellular V2X
Authors: Jeon Yongseok , Kuk Seungho , Kim Hyogon
Published: December 2018

In the C-V2X sidelink Mode 4 communication, the sensing-based semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) implements a message collision avoidance algorithm to cope with the undesirable effects of wireless channel congestion. Still, the current standard mechanism produces a high number of packet collisions, which may hinder the high-reliability communications required in future C-V2X applications such as autonomous driving. In this paper, we show that by drastically reducing the uncertainties in the choice of the resource to use for SPS, we can significantly reduce the message collisions in the C-V2X sidelink Mode 4. Specifically, we propose the use of the “lookahead”, which contains the next starting resource location in the time-frequency plane. By exchanging the lookahead information piggybacked on the periodic safety message, vehicular user equipment (UEs) can eliminate most message collisions arising from the ignorance of other UEs’ internal decisions. Although the proposed scheme would require the inclusion of the lookahead in the control part of the packet, the benefit may outweigh the bandwidth cost, considering the stringent reliability requirement in future C-V2X applications.
Integrated Ground-Based SAR Interferometry, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, and Corner Reflector Deformation Experiments
Authors: Zheng Xiangtian , Yang Xiaolin , Ma Haitao , Ren Guiwen , Zhang Keli , Yang Feng , Li Ce
Published: December 2018

An integrated sensor system comprised of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), corner reflectors (CRs), and high precision linear rail is utilized to validate ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) interferometric micro-displacement measurements. A rail with positioning accuracy of 0.1 mm is deployed to ensure accurate and controllable deformation. The rail is equipped with a CR on a sliding platform for mobility. Three smaller CRs are installed nearby, each with a reflective sticker attached to the CR’s vertex; the CRs present as high-amplitude points both in the GB-SAR images and the TLS point cloud to allow for accurate data matching. We analyze the GB-SAR zero-baseline repeated rail differential interferometry signal model to obtain 2D interferograms of the test site in time series, and then use TLS to obtain a 3D surface model. The model is matched with interferograms to produce more intuitive 3D products. The CR displacements can also be extracted via surface reconstruction algorithm. Finally, we compared the rail sensor measurement and TLS results to optimize coherent scatterer selection and filter the data. The proposed method yields accurate target displacement results via quantitative analysis of GB-SAR interferometry.
Entrepreneurial Orientation, Knowledge Utilization and Internationalization of Firms
Authors: Wach Krzysztof , Głodowska Agnieszka , Maciejewski Marek
Published: December 2018

The aim of this article is to verify what the relations are between entrepreneurial orientation and knowledge utilization in the internationalization of Polish firms. The article distinguishes four types of knowledge: market knowledge, network knowledge, sociocultural knowledge, and entrepreneurial knowledge. The research uses quantitative design and is based on a survey conducted in 2015 on a sample of 355 businesses from Poland (the response rate was 10.7%), following which statistical techniques (t-tests and regression analyses) were applied to verify the hypotheses. An overview of prior studies enabled us to identify the research gap in the literature regarding the combination of three elements that link to form one picture of reality, namely, (i) entrepreneurial orientation and (ii) knowledge utilization in (iii) the internationalization process of firms. The case of Polish firms confirms that entrepreneurial orientation is substantial in the use of knowledge in the internationalization process. Firms characterized by higher entrepreneurial orientation use particular types of knowledge much more intensely at various stages of the internationalization process. Entrepreneurial orientation, and especially risk-taking, has significant positive effects on the scope of internationalization. Greater entrepreneurial orientation increases the number of foreign markets in which a given firm operates. Not only market knowledge in the traditional approach, but especially network and entrepreneurial knowledge have significant positive effects on the intensification of the internationalization scale.
A Bi-Level Programming Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Transportation Operation for Urban Road Network by Period-Security
Authors: Jia Xiaoyan , He Ruichun , Zhang Chunmin , Chai Huo
Published: December 2018

As a clean energy, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is consistent with the coordinated and sustainable development of both the economy and environment. However, LPG is a hazardous material (hazmat) and is thus always transported in cylinders by vehicles on urban road networks to meet varying demand. This transport can threaten the surrounding citizens, vehicles, and even the whole urban area. Hence, LPG transportation should be focused on maintaining its security while simultaneously minimizing shipping costs. When LPG is moved through an urban area, its threat level fluctuates with the network congestion level, which continually varies by different time periods. So, variation in the magnitude of the threat posed by LPG transportation causes additional changes in the safe-related cost as well as the shipping cost. This study aims to solve the problem of an LPG transportation operation on an urban road network according to congested periods; the solution is based on cutting its two types of cost. In general, we should choose an LPG transport period that results in a lower safety cost, however optimization of an LPG transportation operation must minimize both the safety cost and shipping cost. This paper presents the problem of LPG flow distribution and vehicle dispatch scheme by “period-security” to rationalize the LPG transport risk level. Firstly, the impedance function of LPG flow distribution was constructed with a focus on the safety cost in different periods. Meanwhile, a bi-level programming model was built, in which the upper mixed binary integer programming model aims to minimize the shipping cost and the lower model is a user-equilibrium model that is aimed at calculating the distribution of the LPG demands on the given lines and in feasible periods. Then, we designed a heuristic algorithm based on the Genetic Algorithm to solve the upper model and embedded the Frank-Wolfe Algorithm to get the optimal LPG flow distribution solution. Numerical examples are presented which validate that the LPG optimal operation can realize a minimal safety cost and the minimum shipping cost for three LPG demand values by considering the congestion situation.
Measuring the Benefits of the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative for Manufacturing Industries in China
Authors: Hou Jianing , Chen Shih-Chih , Xiao De
Published: December 2018

China has shifted its focus from export-led growth to technology-driven growth. The “One Belt, One Road” initiative (OBOR) is aimed at promoting economic integration with the rest of the world that might boost China’s ability to upgrade its manufacturers. We evaluate the impact of the OBOR initiative on the manufacturing industries of China. In other words, we examine whether the greater openness entailed by the initiative has been a catalyst for upgrading China’s export portfolio. We demonstrate that the proposition has been such a catalyst formally and adduce some empirical support for the proposition by using a panel of the top 80 exporting countries in the world during the period from 2002–2017 to evaluate the impact of the economic integration brought by the OBOR in terms of upgrades to Chinese manufacturers. Meanwhile, when domestic R&D generates knowledge spillover, the benefits of greater openness become partly indeterminate, thus counterfactual analysis was adopted to preclude potential endogeneity. By relating the values of exports at the two-digit harmonized system level to data on sectors to conduct integration within global production networks, we find that the greater openness brought by the OBOR initiative has actively increased manufacturing complexity and facilitated industrial upgrading in China.
Price Determinants and GIS Analysis of the Housing Market in Vietnam: The Cases of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
Authors: Chung You Seok , Seo Ducksu , Kim Jaehwan
Published: December 2018

Since the introduction of the Doi Moi economic reform in 1986, the real estate market in Vietnam has witnessed a sharp increase in foreign investment inflows and a remarkable growth in the housing market, particularly for high-rise apartments in large cities. This study investigates the determinants of apartment prices in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi, the two most representative cities in Vietnam. The spatial distribution of apartments and their price determinants were addressed by the spatial analysis of Geographic Information System (GIS) and the hedonic model. The price determinants of both cities were closely associated with downtown-related factors; moreover, the externalities of urbanization affected each city. While HCMC was more related to the locational attributes of urban amenities and community density as well as programs because of unmanaged urbanization, Hanoi was more related to housing attributes, since the majority of apartment projects were developed under urban infrastructure development supported by the central government. Apartment cluster maps of each city clearly show the contrast of housing distribution. Our findings clarify the impact of government policies on housing price determinants and can be a reference for private- and public-sector stakeholders seeking to undertake economically and socially sustainable housing development projects in Vietnam.
Farmers’ Adaptive Strategies in Balancing Commercial Farming and Consumption of Nutritious Foods: Case Study of Myanmar
Authors: Herens Marion , Gabrielli Monica , Peters Bram , Brouwers Jan , Bosch Diane
Published: December 2018

Food systems undergo rapid changes in response to economic and market forces, and environmental and dietary changes. This study aimed to disentangle adaptation strategies in farm households balancing interests in the commercial aspects of farming and the consumption of nutritious foods. The area of interest was Central Myanmar, Pakokku region. A literature-based framework was used to identify entry points for adaptation strategies at the farm household level. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select smallholders (<5 acres), engaged in market-oriented agriculture (≥10 years). In 14 households, in-depth interviews were conducted, using a life course perspective depicting the household history in relation to agricultural developments and household food and nutrition security. The narratives of smallholders confirmed that household food and nutrition security was grounded in mixed livelihood strategies, including migration. Diet quality depended largely on income. Supportive strategies were a frugal lifestyle, responsible use of resources, participation in community activities, and different forms of social innovation. The study shows how the understanding of local diets provides insights in entry points for nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and suggests a need for alternative adaptation strategies, replacing those promoting specialization and intensification, for more holistic solutions that reinforce the flexibility and resilience of farmers.
Effect of Stakeholders-Oriented Behavior on the Performance of Sustainable Business
Authors: Ferro-Soto Carlos , Macías-Quintana Luz Amparo , Vázquez-Rodríguez Paula
Published: December 2018

This study focuses on stakeholder-oriented behavior, throughout organizational culture and organizational behavior, and its effects on the performance of sustainable organizations managed according to Corporative Social Responsibility (CSR) criteria. The investigation demonstrates that the sustainability efforts of a wide range of stakeholders exert various effects on business performance. This investigation tests two integrated conceptual models: (a) Stakeholder Orientation Model estimates the relationships among organizational culture components and their effects on stakeholder-oriented organizational behavior. That is, it estimates the influence of values on norms and artifacts, and their effects on stakeholder-oriented organizational behavior; (b) Performance model estimates the association between stakeholder-oriented organizational behavior and financial and market performance, reputation, and commitment. Using Structural Equation Modelling, both models were estimated from primary data collected from large- and medium-sized multi-sector Colombian companies involved in business sustainability practices. The findings reveal that values are antecedents of norms, but neither values nor norms are predictors of artifacts. Furthermore, norms and artifacts exert direct effects on stakeholder-oriented organizational behavior. In turn, stakeholder-oriented organizational behaviors are predictors of both market performance and commitment. Nevertheless, stakeholder-oriented organizational behaviors are not direct antecedents of both financial performance and reputation.
Identification of Inelastic Subway Trips Based on Weekly Station Sequence Data: An Example from the Beijing Subway
Authors: Huang Hainan , Lin Yi , Weng Jiancheng , Rong Jian , Liu Xiaoming
Published: December 2018

Urban rail transit has become an indispensable option for Beijing residents. Subway inelastic users (SIUs) are the main component among all users. Understanding the proportion of SIUs and their characteristics is important in developing service promotions and helpful for subway agencies in making marketing policies. This paper proposes a novel and simple identification process for identifying regular subway inelastic trips (SITs) in order to distinguish SITs and non-SITs and extract their characteristics. Weekly station sequence (WSS) is selected as the data-based format, principles of SIUs are discussed and chosen, and the framework of SIT identification is applied to a large weekly sample from the Beijing Subway. A revealed preference (RP) survey and results analysis are undertaken to estimate the performance of the proposed methods. The RP survey validation shows that accuracy reaches as high as 94%, and the distribution analysis of SITs and their origin-destinations (ODs) indicate that the SIT characteristics extracted are consistent with the situation in Beijing. The proportion of SIUs is stable on workdays and is more than 80% during rush hour. The efforts described in this paper can provide subway managers with a useful and convenient method to understand the characteristics of subway passengers and the performance of a subway system.