bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlling the Nanoscale Gaps on Silver Island Film for Efficient Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Chang Yu-Chung , Lu Yu-Chun , Hung Yu-Ju
Published: March 2019

We control the nanoscale gaps on silver island films by different processing methods and investigate the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) efficiency on the films. We propose a facile technique to control the film morphology by substrate bending while keeping the evaporation rate constant. The films developed by our new method are compared to the films developed by traditional methods at various evaporation rates. The SERS signals generated on the samples prepared by the new method have similar strengths as the traditional methods. Substrate bending allows us to reduce the gap sizes while using a higher evaporation rate, hence the film can be developed in a shorter time. This cost-effective and time-efficient method is suitable for the mass production of large-area SERS sensors with good sensitivity. Scanning electron microscope images are analyzed to quantify the gap densities and widths to elucidate the relationship between the film morphology and the SERS intensity. While the gap size appears to be the major factor influencing the enhancement, the shape of the nano-island also seems to influence the SERS efficiency.
A Facile and Efficient Protocol for Preparing Residual-Free Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Films for Stable Sensing Applications
Authors: Loghin Florin , Rivadeneyra Almudena , Becherer Markus , Lugli Paolo , Bobinger Marco
Published: March 2019

In this article, we report on an efficient post-treatment protocol for the manufacturing of pristine single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films. To produce an ink for the deposition, the SWCNTs are dispersed in an aqueous solution with the aid of a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derivative as the dispersing agent. On the basis of this SWCNT-ink, ultra-thin and uniform films are then fabricated by spray-deposition using a commercial and fully automated robot. By means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we show that the CMC matrix covering the CNTs can be fully removed by an immersion treatment in HNO3 followed by thermal annealing at a moderate temperature of 100 °C, in the ambient air. We propose that the presented protocols for the ink preparation and the post-deposition treatments can in future serve as a facile and efficient platform for the fabrication of high-quality and residual-free SWCNT films. The purity of SWCNT films is of particular importance for sensing applications, where residual-induced doping and dedoping processes distort the contributions from the sensing specimen. To study the usability of the presented films for practical applications, gas sensors are fabricated and characterized with the CNT-films as the sensing material, screen printed silver-based films for the interdigitated electrode (IDE) structure, and polyimide as a flexible and robust substrate. The sensors show a high and stable response of 11% to an ammonia (NH3) test gas, at a concentration of 10 ppm.
Effects of Drugs and Excipients on Hydration Status
Authors: Puga Ana M. , Lopez-Oliva Sara , Trives Carmen , Partearroyo Teresa , Varela-Moreiras Gregorio
Published: March 2019

Despite being the most essential nutrient, water is commonly forgotten in the fields of pharmacy and nutrition. Hydration status is determined by water balance (the difference between water input and output). Hypohydration or negative water balance is affected by numerous factors, either internal (i.e., a lack of thirst sensation) or external (e.g., polypharmacy or chronic consumption of certain drugs). However, to date, research on the interaction between hydration status and drugs/excipients has been scarce. Drugs may trigger the appearance of hypohydration by means of the increase of water elimination through either diarrhea, urine or sweat; a decrease in thirst sensation or appetite; or the alteration of central thermoregulation. On the other hand, pharmaceutical excipients induce alterations in hydration status by decreasing the gastrointestinal transit time or increasing the gastrointestinal tract rate or intestinal permeability. In the present review, we evaluate studies that focus on the effects of drugs/excipients on hydration status. These studies support the aim of monitoring the hydration status in patients, mainly in those population segments with a higher risk, to avoid complications and associated pathologies, which are key axes in both pharmaceutical care and the field of nutrition.
Mathematical Modeling of Release Kinetics from Supramolecular Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Mircioiu Constantin , Voicu Victor , Anuta Valentina , Tudose Andra , Celia Christian , Paolino Donatella , Fresta Massimo , Sandulovici Roxana , Mircioiu Ion
Published: March 2019

Embedding of active substances in supramolecular systems has as the main goal to ensure the controlled release of the active ingredients. Whatever the final architecture or entrapment mechanism, modeling of release is challenging due to the moving boundary conditions and complex initial conditions. Despite huge diversity of formulations, diffusion phenomena are involved in practically all release processes. The approach in this paper starts, therefore, from mathematical methods for solving the diffusion equation in initial and boundary conditions, which are further connected with phenomenological conditions, simplified and idealized in order to lead to problems which can be analytically solved. Consequently, the release models are classified starting from the geometry of diffusion domain, initial conditions, and conditions on frontiers. Taking into account that practically all solutions of the models use the separation of variables method and integral transformation method, two specific applications of these methods are included. This paper suggests that “good modeling practice” of release kinetics consists essentially of identifying the most appropriate mathematical conditions corresponding to implied physicochemical phenomena. However, in most of the cases, models can be written but analytical solutions for these models cannot be obtained. Consequently, empiric models remain the first choice, and they receive an important place in the review.
Long Wavelength (λ > 17 µm) Distributed Feedback Quantum Cascade Lasers Operating in a Continuous Wave at Room Temperature
Authors: Nguyen Van Hoang , Loghmari Zeineb , Philip Hadrien , Bahriz Michael , Baranov Alexei , Teissier Roland
Published: March 2019

The extension of the available spectral range covered by quantum cascade lasers (QCL) would allow one to address new molecular spectroscopy applications, in particular in the long wavelength domain of the mid-infrared. We report in this paper the realization of distributed feedback (DFB) QCLs, made of InAs and AlSb, that demonstrated a continuous wave (CW) and a single mode emission at a wavelength of 17.7 µm, with output powers in the mW range. This is the longest wavelength for DFB QCLs, and for any QCLs or semiconductor lasers in general, operating in a CW at room temperature.
A Novel Hexahedron Photonic Crystal Fiber in Terahertz Propagation: Design and Analysis
Authors: Kumar Paul Bikash , Haque Md. Ashraful , Ahmed Kawsar , Sen Shuvo
Published: March 2019

A novel hexahedron fiber has been proposed for biomedical imaging applications and efficient guiding of terahertz radiation. A finite element method (FEM) has been applied to investigate the guiding properties rigorously. All numerically computational investigated results for optimum parameters have revealed the high numerical aperture (NA) of 0.52, high core power fraction of 64%, near zero flattened dispersion of 0.5 ± 0.6 ps/THz/cm over the 0.8–1.4 THz band and low losses with 80% of the bulk absorption material loss. In addition, the V–parameter is also inspected for checking the proposed fiber modality. The proposed single-mode hexahedron photonic crystal fiber (PCF) can be highly applicable for convenient broadband transmission and numerous applications in THz technology.
Role of Silicon in Mitigation of Heavy Metal Stresses in Crop Plants
Authors: Bhat Javaid Akhter , Shivaraj S. M. , Singh Pritam , Navadagi Devanna B. , Tripathi Durgesh Kumar , Dash Prasanta K. , Solanke Amolkumar U. , Sonah Humira , Deshmukh Rupesh
Published: March 2019

Over the past few decades, heavy metal contamination in soil and water has increased due to anthropogenic activities. The higher exposure of crop plants to heavy metal stress reduces growth and yield, and affect the sustainability of agricultural production. In this regard, the use of silicon (Si) supplementation offers a promising prospect since numerous studies have reported the beneficial role of Si in mitigating stresses imposed by biotic as well as abiotic factors including heavy metal stress. The fundamental mechanisms involved in the Si-mediated heavy metal stress tolerance include reduction of metal ions in soil substrate, co-precipitation of toxic metals, metal-transport related gene regulation, chelation, stimulation of antioxidants, compartmentation of metal ions, and structural alterations in plants. Exogenous application of Si has been well documented to increase heavy metal tolerance in numerous plant species. The beneficial effects of Si are particularly evident in plants able to accumulate high levels of Si. Consequently, to enhance metal tolerance in plants, the inherent genetic potential for Si uptake should be improved. In the present review, we have discussed the potential role and mechanisms involved in the Si-mediated alleviation of metal toxicity as well as different approaches for enhancing Si-derived benefits in crop plants.
Studies on the Origin of Carbons in Aroma Compounds from [13C6]Glucose -Cysteine-(E)-2-Nonenal Model Reaction Systems
Authors: Song Ze , Jia Qian , Shi Miaomiao , Feng Tao , Song Shiqing
Published: March 2019

The thermal degradation of lipid oxidation products with amino acids and reducing sugars is known to be important for the characteristic aroma generation in both meat and meat-like process flavorings. SPME(solid phase microextraction)/GC-MS was used to analyze the volatiles produced from a solution of [13C6]glucose, cysteine, and lipid degradation product- (E)-2-nonenal, heated at 130 °C for 90 min. Analysis of the mass spectra showed that the resulting 2-butyl-thiophene and 5-butyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone were 13C6-labeled and hence stemmed from glucose. Glucose and (E)-2-nonenal were equally important for the formation of 2-pentylfuran, whether cysteine was present in the reaction or not. 2-Furanmethanol, (E)-2-(1-pentenyl)-furan, 2-hexanoylfuran, ethanethiol, 5-methyl-2(5H)-thiophenone, 1-methyl-5-mercaptotetrazole, 4-pentyl-pyridine, 2-pentyl-thiophene, and 2-mercaptopropanoic acid were virtually 13C1-13C4 labeled, suggesting an origin from both glucose and cysteine and/or (E)-2-nonenal carbons. Thus, the relative contribution of aldehyde to the C-skeleton of a particular aroma compound changed substantially when both glucose and cysteine were involved in its formation.
Ethylcellulose in Organic Solution or Aqueous Dispersion Form in Designing Taste-Masked Microparticles by the Spray Drying Technique with a Model Bitter Drug: Rupatadine Fumarate
Authors: Wasilewska Katarzyna , Szekalska Marta , Ciosek-Skibinska Patrycja , Lenik Joanna , Basa Anna , Jacyna Julia , Markuszewski Michal , Winnicka Katarzyna
Published: March 2019

The taste of drugs is an important factor affecting pharmacotherapy effectiveness, and obtaining formulations with acceptable organoleptic properties is still an ongoing issue in pharmaceutical technology. One of the innovative methods of taste masking is preparation of microparticles by the spray drying technique, utilizing polymers with different physicochemical properties. Rupatadine fumarate (RUP) is one of the newest antihistamines, with an innovative and multidirectional mechanism of action, and an extremely bitter taste. The aim of this work was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing organic or aqueous forms of ethylcellulose (EC) for the preparation of microparticles with RUP by the spray drying technique. Spray dried samples at different drug:polymer ratios were prepared using organic solution (Ethocel®) or aqueous dispersions of EC (Surelease®, Aquacoat® ECD). Evaluation of the taste masking efficacy was performed in vivo in human taste panel, in vitro based on dissolution test, and by self-constructed electronic tongue. It was shown that microparticles obtained from aqueous dispersions of EC have superior pharmaceutical properties in terms of both morphology and taste masking efficacy in comparison to those obtained from organic solution.
POSS Hybrid Robust Biomass IPN Hydrogels with Temperature Responsiveness
Authors: Chen Yi , Zhou Yueyun , Liu Wenyong , Pi Hejie , Zeng Guangsheng
Published: March 2019

In order to improve the performance of traditional sodium alginate (SA) hydrogels cross-linked by Ca2+ ions to meet greater application demand, a strategy was designed to structure novel SA-based gels (named OP-PN gels) to achieve both stimulus responsiveness and improved mechanical strength. In this strategy, the SA chains are co-cross-linked by CaCl2 and cationic octa-ammonium polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (Oa-POSS) particles as the first network, and an organically cross-linked poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) network is introduced into the gels as the second network. Several main results are obtained from the synthesis and characterization of the gels. For OP-PN gels, their properties depend on the content of both uniformly dispersed Oa-POSS and PNIPA network directly. The increased Oa-POSS and PNIPA network content significantly improves both the strength and resilience of gels. Relatively, the increased Oa-POSS is greatly beneficial to the modulus of gels, and the increased PNIPA network is more favorable to advancing the tensile deformation of gels. The gels with hydrophilic PNIPA network exhibit better swelling ability and remarkable temperature responsiveness, and their volume phase transition temperature can be adjusted by altering the content of Oa-POSS. The deswelling rate of gels increases gradually with the increase of POSS content due to the hydrophobic Si–O skeleton of POSS. Moreover, the enhanced drug loading and sustained release ability of the target drug bovine serum albumin displays great potential for this hybrid gel in the biomedical field.
Glass-Transition Dynamics of Mixtures of Linear Poly(vinyl methyl ether) with Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles: Evidence of a New Type of Nanocomposite Materials
Authors: Robles-Hernández Beatriz , González-Burgos Marina , Pomposo José A. , Colmenero Juan , Alegría Ángel
Published: March 2019

Single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) obtained through chain collapse by intramolecular cross-linking are attracting increasing interest as components of all-polymer nanocomposites, among other applications. We present a dielectric relaxation study on the dynamics of mixtures of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and polystyrene (PS)-based SCNPs with various compositions. Analogous dielectric measurements on a miscible blend of PVME with the linear precursor chains of the SCNPs are taken as reference for this study. Both systems present completely different behaviors: While the blend with the linear precursor presents dynamics very similar to that reported for PVME/PS miscible blends, in the PVME/SCNP mixtures there are an appreciable amount of PVME segments that are barely affected by the presence of SCNPs, which nearly vanishes only for mixtures with high SCNP content. Interestingly, in the frame of a simple two-phase system, our findings point towards the existence of a SCNP-rich phase with a constant PVME fraction, regardless of the overall concentration of the mixture. Moreover, the dynamics of the PVME segments in this SCNP-rich phase display an extreme dynamic heterogeneity, a signature of constraint effects.
Inductive Heating Using a High-Magnetic-Field Pulse to Initiate Chemical Reactions to Generate Composite Materials
Authors: Zimmerer Cordelia , Mejia Catalina Salazar , Utech Toni , Arnhold Kerstin , Janke Andreas , Wosnitza Joachim
Published: March 2019

Induction heating is efficient, precise, cost-effective, and clean. The heating process is coupled to an electrically conducting material, usually a metal. As most polymers are dielectric and non-conducting, induction heating is not applicable. In order to transfer energy from an electromagnetic field into polymer induction structures, conducting materials or materials that absorb the radiation are required. This report gives a brief overview of induction heating processes used in polymer technology. In contrast to metals, most polymer materials are not affected by electromagnetic fields. However, an unwanted temperature rise of the polymer can occur when a radio frequency field is applied. The now available high-field magnetic sources provide a new platform for induction heating at very low frequencies, avoiding unwanted thermal effects within the material. Using polycarbonate and octadecylamine as an example, it is demonstrated that induction heating performed by a magnetic-field pulse with a maximum flux density of 59 T can be used to initiate chemical reactions. A 50 nm thick Ag loop, with a mean diameter of 7 mm, placed in the polymer-polymer interface acts as susceptor and a resistive heating element. The formation of urethane as a linker compound was examined by infrared spectroscopic imaging and differential scanning calorimetry.
A Comparative Study on Physiochemical, Thermomechanical, and Electrochemical Properties of Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) Block Copolymer Membranes with and without Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Kim Ae Rhan , Yoo Dong Jin
Published: March 2019

The composite structure, good porosity, and electrochemical behavior of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are important characteristics, which can improve the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In this study, we designed and synthesized an XY block copolymer via a polycondensation reaction that contains sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) (X) as a hydrophilic unit and a fluorinated oligomer (Y) as a hydrophobic unit. The prepared XY block copolymer is composed of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to create composite architecture, which was subsequently treated with a 1 M H2SO4 solution at 70 °C for 1 h to eliminate Fe3O4 and generate a pores structure in the membrane. The morphological, physiochemical, thermomechanical, and electrochemical properties of bare XY, XY/Fe3O4-9 and XY(porous)-9 membranes were measured and compared in detail. Compared with XY/Fe3O4-9 composite, the proton conductivity of XY(porous)-9 membrane was remarkably enhanced as a result of the existence of pores as nano-conducting channels. Similarly, the XY(porous)-9 membrane exhibited enhanced water retention and ion exchange capacity among the prepared membranes. However, the PEFC power density of XY(porous)-9 membrane was still lower than that of XY/Fe3O4-9 membrane at 60 °C and 60% relative humidity. Also, the durability of XY(porous)-9 membrane is found to be lower compared with pristine XY and XY/Fe3O4-9 membranes as a result of the hydrogen crossover through the pores of the membrane.
Controlled ATRP Synthesis of Novel Linear-Dendritic Block Copolymers and Their Directed Self-Assembly in Breath Figure Arrays
Authors: Liu Xin , Monzavi Tina , Gitsov Ivan
Published: March 2019

Herein, we report the formation and characterization of novel amphiphilic linear-dendritic block copolymers (LDBCs) composed of hydrophilic dendritic poly(ether-ester), PEE, blocks and hydrophobic linear poly(styrene), PSt. The LDBCs are synthesized via controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiated by a PEE macroinitiator. The copolymers formed have narrow molecular mass distributions and are designated as LGn-PSt Mn, in which LG represents the PEE fragment, n denotes the generation of the dendron (n = 1–3), and Mn refers to the average molecular mass of the LDBC (Mn = 3.5–68 kDa). The obtained LDBCs are utilized to fabricate honeycomb films by a static “breath figure” (BF) technique. The copolymer composition strongly affects the film morphology. LDBCs bearing acetonide dendron end groups produce honeycomb films when the PEE fraction is lower than 20%. Pore uniformity increases as the PEE content decreases. For LDBCs with hydroxyl end groups, only the first generation LDBCs yield BF films, but with a significantly smaller pore size (0.23 μm vs. 1–2 μm, respectively). Although higher generation LDBCs with free hydroxyl end groups fail to generate honeycomb films by themselves, the use of a cosolvent or addition of homo PSt leads to BF films with a controllable pore size (3.7–0.42 μm), depending on the LDBC content. Palladium complexes within the two triazole groups in each of the dendron’s branching moieties can also fine-tune the morphology of the BF films.
Evaluation of the Difficulties in the Internet of Things (IoT) with Multi-Criteria Decision-Making
Authors: Uslu Buse , Eren Tamer , Gür Şeyda , Özcan Evrencan
Published: March 2019

The rapid development of technology has increased the desire of all to be on the Internet. The discovery that objects born of the Internet communicate with each other without external factors revealed, with the fourth industrial revolution, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). The communication of objects with each other means minimum labor and minimum cost for enterprises. Enterprises that want to transition to the Internet of Things face many difficulties. Identifying and correcting these difficulties can lead to both lost time and high cost. In this study, we investigated the difficulties encountered in the Internet of Things. As a result of the study, the degree of importance of the factors causing these difficulties was determined by multi-criteria decision-making methods and was presented to the enterprises. The main criteria, and the sub-criteria related to these main criteria, were determined. The main purpose of the enterprises transitioning to Industry 4.0 is the communication of things with each other. In this study, we aimed to determine which criteria caused difficulties in the transition to Industry 4.0. Then, the degree of importance of the criteria was determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) methods, in the multi-criteria decision-making. Through the study, we determined which criteria should be taken into consideration by the enterprises that want to transition to the Internet of Things. In this way, enterprises will be able to accelerate that transition by minimizing time and monetary loss.
Visually Hypothesising in Scientific Paper Writing: Confirming and Refuting Qualitative Research Hypotheses Using Diagrams
Authors: Chigbu Uchendu Eugene
Published: March 2019

Qualitative research involves scientific narratives and the analysis and interpretation of textual or numerical data (or both), mostly from conversations and discussions, to uncover meaningful patterns that describe a particular phenomenon. It is important to know other ways of framing and explaining these nuanced scientific narratives so that they can convey scientific knowledge. A qualitative hypothesis can play this role. The testing of hypotheses in qualitative research—which does not strictly mean the same thing as testing of hypotheses in quantitative research—always comes with challenges that provoke concerns. The questions that scholars, especially undergraduate and postgraduate students, have had to deal with are: Is it possible to “test” hypotheses using a qualitative method? If it is possible, how can this be done? This study deconstructs the concept, notion, and use of the hypotheses. It presents the “how-to” aspect of hypothesising (in qualitative research and inquiries) by using creative diagramming within post-positivist research, and also contributes to the literature on visual communication and qualitative research. The study is a guide to early career scholars (including undergraduate and post-graduate students) on how to formulate and “test” hypotheses qualitatively using visual or diagrammatical approaches.
Aesthetics, Music, and Meaning-Making
Authors: Ward Graham
Published: March 2019

The paper discusses the connection between rhythm and meaning based on Augustine’s De musica. This central topic is illuminated by the analysis of other particular aesthetic concepts that one can find in Augustine (such as sentience and desire, in its many Latin variations), as well as in reference to modern aesthetics. The result is the emergence of a relationship between aesthetics and the making of meaning in a co-creative operation between the divine and the human based upon an understanding of rhythm.
Testimonial Image Practices as a Politics of Aesthetics after Levinas
Authors: Bennke Johannes
Published: March 2019

The transition from ethics to politics still lacks a proper understanding. I propose thinking of this transition in terms of a politics of aesthetics. However, thinking about a politics of aesthetics means also thinking about images and their prohibition. The prohibition of images has a long history, dating back to the Bible and Plato; its implications are crucial for image theory. Since Levinas did not systematically develop a political theory, aesthetics, or image theory, it is necessary to collect and systematize his distributed statements. Having image theory as a starting point for a politics of aesthetics, I choose a media philosophical approach to identify the mediality of the image after Levinas. Key elements for a Levinasian image theory are the temporal aspect of its transient appearance, its involving affective power, and its negativity. I propose to think of this image theory as an image-pragmatics that testifies and responds not only to the Other but also to the mediality of the image. With Levinas it becomes possible to turn the prohibition of images into a commandment to remember. I call this a testimonial image practice that becomes a regulatory idea for a politics of aesthetics.
An Imaging Algorithm for Multireceiver Synthetic Aperture Sonar
Authors: Zhang Xuebo , Tan Cheng , Ying Wenwei
Published: March 2019

For the multireceiver synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), the point target reference spectrum (PTRS) in the two-dimensional (2D) frequency domain and azimuth modulation in the range Doppler domain were first deduced based on a numerical evaluation method and accurate time delay. Then, the difference between the PTRS and azimuth modulation generated the coupling term in the 2D frequency domain. Compared with traditional methods, the PTRS, azimuth modulation and coupling term was better at avoiding approximations. Based on three functions, an imaging algorithm is presented in this paper. Considering the fact that the coupling term is characterized by range variance, the range-dependent sub-block processing method was exploited to perform the decoupling. Simulation results showed that the presented method improved the imaging performance across the whole swath in comparison with existing multireceiver SAS processor. Furthermore, real data was used to validate the presented method.
A Parallel FPGA Implementation of the CCSDS-123 Compression Algorithm
Authors: Orlandić Milica , Fjeldtvedt Johan , Johansen Tor Arne
Published: March 2019

Satellite onboard processing for hyperspectral imaging applications is characterized by large data sets, limited processing resources and limited bandwidth of communication links. The CCSDS-123 algorithm is a specialized compression standard assembled for space-related applications. In this paper, a parallel FPGA implementation of CCSDS-123 compression algorithm is presented. The proposed design can compress any number of samples in parallel allowed by resource and I/O bandwidth constraints. The CCSDS-123 processing core has been placed on Zynq-7035 SoC and verified against the existing reference software. The estimated power use scales approximately linearly with the number of samples processed in parallel. Finally, the proposed implementation outperforms the state-of-the-art implementations in terms of both throughput and power.
Remote Sensing Techniques for Soil Organic Carbon Estimation: A Review
Authors: Angelopoulou Theodora , Tziolas Nikolaos , Balafoutis Athanasios , Zalidis George , Bochtis Dionysis
Published: March 2019

Towards the need for sustainable development, remote sensing (RS) techniques in the Visible-Near Infrared–Shortwave Infrared (VNIR–SWIR, 400–2500 nm) region could assist in a more direct, cost-effective and rapid manner to estimate important indicators for soil monitoring purposes. Soil reflectance spectroscopy has been applied in various domains apart from laboratory conditions, e.g., sensors mounted on satellites, aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Systems. The aim of this review is to illustrate the research made for soil organic carbon estimation, with the use of RS techniques, reporting the methodology and results of each study. It also aims to provide a comprehensive introduction in soil spectroscopy for those who are less conversant with the subject. In total, 28 journal articles were selected and further analysed. It was observed that prediction accuracy reduces from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) to satellite platforms, though advances in machine learning techniques could further assist in the generation of better calibration models. There are some challenges concerning atmospheric, radiometric and geometric corrections, vegetation cover, soil moisture and roughness that still need to be addressed. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are highlighted and future considerations are also discussed at the end.
An SRTM-Aided Epipolar Resampling Method for Multi-Source High-Resolution Satellite Stereo Observation
Authors: Hu Jingwen , Xia Gui-Song , Sun Hong
Published: March 2019

Binocular stereo observation with multi-source satellite images used to be challenging and impractical, but is now a valuable research issue with the introduction of powerful deep-learning-based stereo matching approaches. However, epipolar resampling, which is critical for binocular stereo observation, has rarely been studied with multi-source satellite images. The main problem is that, under the multi-source stereo mode, the epipolar-line-direction (ELD) at an image location may vary when computed with different elevations. Thus, a novel SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)-aided approach is proposed, where a point is transformed from the original image-space to the epipolar image-space through a global rotation, followed by a block-wise homography transformation. The global rotation transfers the ELDs at the center of the overlapping area to the x-axis, and then block-wise transformation shifts the ELDs of all grid-points to the x-axis and eliminates the y-disparities between the virtual corresponding points. Experiments with both single-source and multi-source stereo images showed that the proposed method is obviously more accurate than the previous methods that do not use SRTM. Moreover, with some of the multi-source image pairs, only the proposed method ensured the y-disparities remained within ±1 pixel.
Injury Surveillance during a European Touch Rugby Championship
Authors: Cropper Emma , Thorpe Cari M. , Roberts Simon , Twist Craig
Published: March 2019

Background: Touch (rugby/football) is a minimal contact sport for which the type and incidence of injuries remains unknown in Europe. Objectives: To establish the incidence, severity and nature of injuries sustained during a four-day European Touch Championship competition. Methods: A prospective cohort design was adopted to record match-related injuries during the European Touch Championships 2016. Injuries were collected from five countries and classified using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification (OSICS-10). Data were combined from all participating countries and injury incidence was recorded as number of injuries/1000 player hours. Results: A total of 135 injuries were recorded during the tournament with injury incidence calculated as 103.5 injuries per 1000 player match hours. Injuries were mainly recorded as transient (76%) occurring most frequently in the lower limb (69%). Injuries occurred more frequently on successive days, with exception to the final day of the tournament. The number of injuries was not different between the first and second half of matches and there was no relationship between the day of the tournament and the half of the match that injury occurred. Conclusion: Match injury incidence was 103.5 injuries per 100 player match hours. The most injured site was that of the lower limb, with the most common injury type reported as muscle/tendon injury. It is postulated that fatigue plays a role in injury incidence during a multiday tournament.
Identifying the Critical Stakeholders for the Sustainable Development of Architectural Heritage of Tourism: From the Perspective of China
Authors: Wang Ruiling , Liu Guo , Zhou Jingyang , Wang Jianhui
Published: March 2019

Architectural heritages, especially heritages of tourism, were destroyed in the process of urban reconstruction of China because of lacking protection from stakeholders. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the critical stakeholders to perform the responsibility of protection. The paper, focusing on architectural heritage of tourism, aims to identify the most important stakeholders for making them realize their critical roles in maintaining architectural heritages. Moreover, this paper also aims to evaluate the enthusiasm of stakeholders. As a result, the stakeholders with high importance and enthusiasm would be the critical stakeholders in maintaining architectural heritages. Thirteen stakeholders were selected through comprehensive literature review and the reality of China. A questionnaire survey was conducted with the qualified respondents in Mainland China. A five-point Likert scale and other statistical methods were used for achieving the results of evaluation. The findings demonstrated local government, central government, real estate development enterprise, expert groups, administration of architectural heritage protection, and construction company of architectural heritage are considered as the critical stakeholders for the sustainable development (SD) of architectural heritage of tourism. Finally, some helpful implications were introduced for improving the efficiency of participation and cooperation among all stakeholders.
Project Implementation Management Modalities and Their Implications on Sustainability of Water Services in Rural Areas in Ethiopia: Are Community-Managed Projects More Effective?
Authors: Senbeta Fekadu Megersa , Shu Yang
Published: March 2019

The study examines the impact of project implementation management approaches on the sustainability outcomes of rural water services in Ethiopia. A random selection of 102 water access points managed by the community, local government, and other external actors (charity and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)) were made to comparatively assess the sustainable outcomes of each. The analysis of the study is based on a unique set of data that constitutes interview results gathered from 612 beneficiary households, observation of 102 water access points, and another set of interviews held with 387 water supply, sanitation, and hygiene committee (WASHCO) members drawn from 102 water supply services. Additionally, document analysis was conducted on the records that were kept by all the 102 WASHCOs. One-way ANOVA and chi-square analysis was employed to assess and test the existence of significant differences among project implementation management approaches. The result showed the existence of a significant difference in most of the sustainability variables among project implementation management modalities under the study. As to the findings, the community-managed project approach generated a relatively higher and statistically significant sustainability outcome as compared to the others. Nevertheless, environmental sustainability indicators lack a statistically significant relationship. Overall, the key findings suggest that, in addition to demand-driven interventions, if the communities are empowered with the management and decision-making role of constructing their water points, the benefits of continuous delivery and sustainability of services can be maximized.
Adoption of Systemic and Socio-Technical Perspectives in Waste Management, WEEE and ELV Research
Authors: Andersson Magnus , Ljunggren Söderman Maria , Sandén Björn
Published: March 2019

A greater quantity and variety of materials are being produced worldwide to meet demand for consumer products, buildings and infrastructure. Additionally, highly diffused products such as cars and electronics have become materially complex and depend on numerous scarce metals. Consequently, managing the societal supply of a variety of materials and metals sustainably is becoming increasingly important. This includes the use of efficient and effective waste management. However, the current management of waste in general and of waste consumer products specifically, have been pointed out as requiring significant developments to become more advanced to cope with the increasing material complexity. It has also been pointed out that research taking systems perspectives is crucial to improve waste management. Additionally, researching change processes and the co-evolution of social and technical factors (i.e., socio-technical change), has furthered the understanding of how ‘green’ industries develop in other empirical fields. Consequently, both systemic and socio-technical perspectives are likely relevant to waste management research. We used the Scopus database to search for 31 research approaches associated with such perspectives in journal articles writing about waste management in general, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). We conclude that, although the majority of the examined research does not mention the considered approaches, some environmental system analysis approaches are frequently mentioned and show signs of growth in adoption. In contrast, socio-technical approaches are scarcely mentioned. Consequently, we argue that there are relevant scientific tools yet to be adopted in waste management, WEEE and ELV research.
Groundwater Potential Mapping Using Data Mining Models of Big Data Analysis in Goyang-si, South Korea
Authors: Lee Sunmin , Hyun Yunjung , Lee Moung-Jin
Published: March 2019

Recently, data mining analysis techniques have been developed, as large spatial datasets have accumulated in various fields. Such a data-driven analysis is necessary in areas of high uncertainty and complexity, such as estimating groundwater potential. Therefore, in this study, data mining of various spatial datasets, including those based on remote sensing data, was applied to estimate groundwater potential. For the sustainable development of groundwater resources, a plan for the systematic management of groundwater resources should be established based on a quantitative understanding of the development potential. The purpose of this study was to map and analyze the groundwater potential of Goyang-si in Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea and to evaluate the sensitivity of each factor by applying data mining models for big data analysis. A total of 876 surveyed groundwater pumping capacity data were used, 50% of which were randomly classified into training and test datasets to analyze groundwater potential. A total of 13 factors extracted from satellite-based topographical, land cover, soil, forest, geological, hydrogeological, and survey-based precipitation data were used. The frequency ratio (FR) and boosted classification tree (BCT) models were used to analyze the relationships between the groundwater pumping capacity and related factors. Groundwater potential maps were constructed and validated with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, with accuracy rates of 68.31% and 69.39% for the FR and BCT models, respectively. A sensitivity analysis for both models was performed to assess the influence of each factor. The results of this study are expected to be useful for establishing an effective groundwater management plan in the future.
Evaluating the Effects of Household Characteristics on Household Daily Traffic Emissions Based on Household Travel Survey Data
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Wu Shuyue
Published: March 2019

This study aimed to investigate the effects of household characteristics on household traffic emissions. The household travel survey data conducted in the Jiangning District of Nanjing City, China were used. The vehicle emissions of household members’ trips were calculated using average emission factors by average speed and vehicle category. Descriptive statistics analysis showed that the average daily traffic emissions of CO, NOx and PM2.5 per household are 8.66 g, 0.55 g and 0.04 g respectively. The household traffic emissions of these three pollutants were found to have imbalanced distributions across households. The top 20% highest-emission households accounted for nearly two thirds of the total emissions. Based on the one-way ANOVA tests, the means of CO, NOx and PM2.5 emissions were found to be significantly different over households with different member numbers, automobile numbers, annual income and access to the subway. Finally, the household daily traffic emissions were linked with household characteristics based on multiple linear regressions. The contributing factors are slightly different among the three different emissions. The number of private vehicles, number of motorcycles, and household income significantly affect all three emissions. More specifically, the number of private vehicles has positive effects on CO and PM2.5 emissions, but negative effect on NOx emissions. The number of motorcycles and the household income have positive effects on all three emissions.
The Long-Run and Short-Run Effects of Ethanol Production on U.S. Beef Producers
Authors: Lee Ji Yong , Featherstone Allen , Nayga Rodolfo M. , Han Doo Bong
Published: March 2019

Biofuel production has received considerable attention as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating global energy problems. The expansion of biofuel production has benefited the environment, but rising feed prices have negatively affected the livelihood of livestock producers. This study examines the direct effects of corn-based ethanol expansion on beef producers’ short-run resource transition and long-run productivity in the United States. Dynamic panel models are specified to measure farm productivity and to investigate the effects of ethanol expansion on input-use decisions and the productivity of individual beef producers. Analyses of farm-level panel data show that in the short run, ethanol expansion is associated with employment losses in the beef industry to compensate for increased costs of intermediate inputs used in the production process; however, in the long-run, it increases farm productivity. The productivity of surviving beef producers has improved because less efficient producers could not survive due to the drastic burden of rising feed prices. Given the interconnections between the agriculture and energy markets through the growth of biofuel production, our results provide important insights in developing sustainable energy policies that could harmonize both markets and reduce unintended negative effects of biofuel production.
The Triple Bottom Line on Sustainable Product Innovation Performance in SMEs: A Mixed Methods Approach
Authors: Muñoz-Pascual Lucía , Curado Carla , Galende Jesús
Published: March 2019

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute enormously to a country’s sustainable growth. Developing the pathways that lead to sustainable innovation in SMEs represents an important aspect of the business world and society. The aim of this article is to verify the relations and pathways that lead to sustainable product innovation performance while considering all three pillars of the Triple Bottom Line Approach. This study used a mixed methods approach to identify the antecedents of sustainable product innovation performance. Our approach applied structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The structural equation model was used to measure the effects of the three pillars of the triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental developments. The structural equation model was also designed to account for the firm’s type (Public Limited Companies vs. General Partnerships). Using the structural equation model, we determined whether a firm’s type moderates the effects of the three pillars. Furthermore, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, we identified alternative configurations of conditions and determined those that are likely to lead to sustainable product innovation performance and those that result in its absence. The sample comprises data from 349 Portuguese small and medium enterprises. The findings show that social and environmental developments are two important antecedents for product innovation performance, and they contribute to different pathways that lead to product innovation performance. In addition, in General Partnerships, human resource costs are important for sustainable product innovation performance. Therefore, the results of both the quantitative and qualitative analyses underline the relevance of the triple bottom line approach to product innovation performance.
A Research and Innovation Agenda for Zero-Emission European Cities
Authors: Fuso Nerini Francesco , Slob Adriaan , Ericsdotter Engström Rebecka , Trutnevyte Evelina
Published: March 2019

The Paris Agreement and SDG13 on Climate Action require a global drop in Green House Gases (GHG) emissions to stay within a “well below 2 degrees” climate change trajectory. Cities will play a key role in achieving this, being responsible for 60 to 80% of the global GHG emissions depending on the estimate. This paper describes how Research and Innovation (R&I) can play a key role in decarbonizing European cities, and the role that research and education institutions can play in that regard. The paper highlights critical R&I actions in cities based on three pillars: (1) innovative technology and integration, (2) governance innovation, and (3) social innovation. Further, the research needed to harmonize climate mitigation and adaptation in cities are investigated.