bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Secure and Efficient Group Key Management Protocol with Cooperative Sensor Association in WBANs
Authors: Tan Haowen , Chung Ilyong
Published: November 2018

The wireless body area network (WBAN) is considered as one of the emerging wireless techniques in the healthcare system. Typical WBAN sensors, especially implantable sensors, have limited power capability, which restricts their wide applications in the medical environment. In addition, it is necessary for the healthcare center (HC) to broadcast significant notifications to different patient groups. Considering the above issues, in this paper, the novel practical WBAN system model with group message broadcasting is built. Subsequently, a secure and efficient group key management protocol with cooperative sensor association is proposed. In the proposed protocol, the Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) is employed for group key management between HC and the personal controller (PC), which also supports batch key updating. The proposed sensor association scheme is motivated by coded cooperative data exchange (CCDE). The formal security proofs are presented, indicating that the proposed protocol can achieve the desired security properties. Moreover, performance analysis demonstrates that the proposed protocol is efficient compared with state-of-the-art group key management protocols.
A Noninvasive TDR Sensor to Measure the Moisture Content of Rigid Porous Materials
Authors: Suchorab Zbigniew , Widomski Marcin Konrad , Łagód Grzegorz , Barnat-Hunek Danuta , Majerek Dariusz
Published: November 2018

The article presents the potential application of the time domain reflectometry (TDR) technique to measure moisture transport in unsaturated porous materials. The research of the capillary uptake phenomenon in a sample of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was conducted using a TDR sensor with the modified construction for non-invasive testing. In the paper the basic principles of the TDR method as a technique applied in metrology, and its potential for measurement of moisture in porous materials, including soils and porous building materials are presented. The second part of the article presents the experiment of capillary rise process in the AAC sample. Application of the custom sensor required its individual calibration, thus a unique model of regression between the readouts of apparent permittivity of the tested material and its moisture was developed. During the experiment moisture content was monitored in the sample exposed to water influence. Monitoring was conducted using the modified TDR sensor. The process was additionally measured using the standard frequency domain (FD) capacitive sensor in order to compare the readouts with traditional techniques of moisture detection. The uncertainty for testing AAC moisture, was expressed as RMSE (0.013 cm3/cm3) and expanded uncertainty (0.01–0.02 cm3/cm3 depending on moisture) was established along with calibration of the applied sensor. The obtained values are comparable to, or even better than, the features of the traditional invasive sensors utilizing universal calibration models. Both, the TDR and capacitive (FD) sensor enabled monitoring of capillary uptake phenomenon progress. It was noticed that at the end of the experiment the TDR readouts were 4.4% underestimated and the FD readouts were overestimated for 12.6% comparing to the reference gravimetric evaluation.
Hemodialysis Impact on Motor Function beyond Aging and Diabetes—Objectively Assessing Gait and Balance by Wearable Technology
Authors: Zhou He , Al-Ali Fadwa , Rahemi Hadi , Kulkarni Nishat , Hamad Abdullah , Ibrahim Rania , Talal Talal K. , Najafi Bijan
Published: November 2018

Motor functions are deteriorated by aging. Some conditions may magnify this deterioration. This study examined whether hemodialysis (HD) process would negatively impact gait and balance beyond diabetes condition among mid-age adults (48–64 years) and older adults (65+ years). One hundred and ninety-six subjects (age = 66.2 ± 9.1 years, body-mass-index = 30.1 ± 6.4 kg/m2, female = 56%) in 5 groups were recruited: mid-age adults with diabetes undergoing HD (Mid-age HD+, n = 38) and without HD (Mid-age HD−, n = 40); older adults with diabetes undergoing HD (Older HD+, n = 36) and without HD (Older HD−, n = 37); and non-diabetic older adults (Older DM−, n = 45). Gait parameters (stride velocity, stride length, gait cycle time, and double support) and balance parameters (ankle, hip, and center of mass sways) were quantified using validated wearable platforms. Groups with diabetes had overall poorer gait and balance compared to the non-diabetic group (p < 0.050). Among people with diabetes, HD+ had significantly worsened gait and balance when comparing to HD− (Cohen’s effect size d = 0.63–2.32, p < 0.050). Between-group difference was more pronounced among older adults with the largest effect size observed for stride length (d = 2.32, p < 0.001). Results suggested that deterioration in normalized gait speed among HD+ was negatively correlated with age (r = −0.404, p < 0.001), while this correlation was diminished among HD−. Interestingly, results also suggested that poor gait among Older HD− is related to poor ankle stability, while no correlation was observed between poor ankle stability and poor gait among Older HD+. Using objective assessments, results confirmed that the presence of diabetes can deteriorate gait and balance, and this deterioration can be magnified by HD process. Among HD− people with diabetes, poor ankle stability described poor gait. However, among people with diabetes undergoing HD, age was a dominate factor describing poor gait irrespective of static balance. Results also suggested feasibility of using wearable platforms to quantify motor performance during routine dialysis clinic visit. These objective assessments may assist in identifying early deterioration in motor function, which in turn may promote timely intervention.
Real-Life Implementation of a GPS-Based Path-Following System for an Autonomous Vehicle
Authors: De Winter Alexander , Baldi Simone
Published: November 2018

This work is meant to report on activities at TU Delft on the design and implementation of a path-following system for an autonomous Toyota Prius. The design encompasses: finding the vehicle parameters for the actual vehicle to be used for control design; lateral and longitudinal controllers for steering and acceleration, respectively. The implementation covers the real-time aspects via LabVIEW from National Instruments and the real-life tests. The deployment of the system was enabled by a Spatial Dual Global Positioning System (GPS) system providing more accuracy than the regular GPS. The results discussed in this work represent the first autonomous tests on the Toyota Prius at TU Delft, and we expect the proposed system to be a benchmark against which to test more advanced solutions. The tests show that the system is able to perform in real-time while satisfying comfort and trajectory tracking requirements: in particular, the tracking error was within 16 cm, which is compatible with the 13 cm precision of the Spatial Dual GPS, whereas the longitudinal and lateral acceleration are within comfort levels as defined by available experimental studies.
Evaluation of Three Peptide Immobilization Techniques on a QCM Surface Related to Acetaldehyde Responses in the Gas Phase
Authors: Wasilewski Tomasz , Szulczyński Bartosz , Kamysz Wojciech , Gębicki Jacek , Namieśnik Jacek
Published: November 2018

The quartz-crystal microbalance is a sensitive and universal tool for measuring concentrations of various gases in the air. Biochemical functionalization of the QCM electrode allows a label-free detection of specific molecular interactions with high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, it enables a real-time determination of its kinetic rates and affinity constants. This makes QCM a versatile bioanalytical screening tool for various applications, with surface modifications ranging from the detection of single molecular monolayers to whole cells. Various types of biomaterials, including peptides mapping the binding sites of olfactory receptors, can be deposited as a sensitive element on the surface of the electrodes. One of key ways to ensure the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor is provided by application of an optimal and repeatable method of immobilization. Therefore, effective sensors operation requires development of an optimal method of deposition. This paper reviews popular techniques (drop-casting, spin-coating, dip-coating) for coating peptides on piezoelectric crystals surface. Peptide (LEKKKKDC-NH2) derived from an aldehyde binding site in the HarmOBP7 protein was synthesized and used as a sensing material for the biosensor. The degree of deposition of the sensitive layer was monitoring by variations in the sensors frequency. The highest mass threshold for QCM measurements for peptides was approximately 16.43 µg·mm−2 for spin coating method. Developed sensor exhibited repeatable response to acetaldehyde. Moreover, responses to toluene was observed to evaluate sensors specificity. Calibration curves of the three sensors showed good determination coefficients (R2 > 0.99) for drop casting and dip coating and 0.97 for the spin-coating method. Sensors sensitivity vs. acetaldehyde were significantly higher for the dip-coating and drop-casting methods and lower for spin-coating one.
An Adaptive Filtering Approach Based on the Dynamic Variance Model for Reducing MEMS Gyroscope Random Error
Authors: Zhang Yanshun , Peng Chuang , Mou Dong , Li Ming , Quan Wei
Published: November 2018

To improve the dynamic random error compensation accuracy of the Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) gyroscope at different angular rates, an adaptive filtering approach based on the dynamic variance model was proposed. In this paper, experimental data were utilized to fit the dynamic variance model which describes the nonlinear mapping relations between the MEMS gyroscope output data variance and the input angular rate. After that, the dynamic variance model was applied to online adjustment of the Kalman Filter measurement noise coefficients. The proposed approach suppressed the interference from the angular rate in the filtering results. Dynamic random errors were better estimated and reduced. Turntable experiment results indicated that the adaptive filtering approach compensated for the MEMS gyroscope dynamic random error effectively both in the constant angular rate condition and the continuous changing angular rate condition, thus achieving adaptive dynamic random error compensation.
The Black Criminal Other as an Object of Social Control
Authors: Williams Patrick , Clarke Becky
Published: November 2018

Throughout this paper, we contend that the ‘gang’ has been appropriated by the state as an ideological device that drives the hypercriminalisation of black, mixed, Asian, and other minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Drawing upon two research studies, we demonstrate how the gang is evoked to explain an array of contemporary ‘crime’ problems, which in turn (re)produces racialised objects to be policed. With particular reference to collective punishments, we suggest that “gang-branding” is critical to the development of guilt-producing associations that facilitate the arrest, charging, and prosecution of countless numbers of BAME people for offences they did not commit. As such, there is now an urgent need to ‘take seriously’ the criminalising intents of a dangerous criminology of the Other, which legitimises intrusive racist policing and surveillance, and justifies the imposition of deliberate harms upon racialised communities.
Open-Circuit Fault-Tolerant Characteristics of a New Four-Phase Doubly Salient Electro-Magnetic Generator
Authors: Shi Liwei , Yan Bing , Zhou Xiaoyu , Zhang Xueyi
Published: November 2018

In order to improve the reliability of a more sustainable mobility generator, a four-phase Doubly Salient Electro-Magnetic Generator (DSEG) and its phase-isolated rectifier are proposed in this paper. The mathematical model of the machine and fault-tolerant rectifiers is proposed, which indicates that the four-phase fault-tolerant DSEG should have symmetric phases. With the asymmetry analysis of the traditional 8/6-pole DSEG, a new 12/9-pole DSEG with symmetric phases is proposed. The four-phase full bridge rectifier, positive half-wave rectifier and four-phase H bridge rectifier are presented. The voltage waveforms, no-load characteristics and loading characteristics with different rectifiers will be given based on the simulation and the experiment on a prototype of DSEG, and the results show that the four-phase H bridge rectifier has the best fault tolerant no-load characteristic and external characteristic, except that it needs more diodes.
Iron Corrosion: Scientific Heritage in Jeopardy
Authors: Hu Rui , Noubactep Chicgoua
Published: November 2018

Research on the use of metallic iron (Fe0) for environmental remediation and water treatment has taken off during the past three decades. The results achieved have established filtration on Fe0 packed beds as an efficient technology for water remediation at several scales. However, the further development of Fe0-based filtration systems is impaired by the non-professional behavior of scientists who ignore available advances in knowledge. The confusion is overcome when due consideration is given to the fact that revealing state-of-the-art knowledge is a prerequisite to presenting individual achievements.
Transient Impact Analysis of High Renewable Energy Sources Penetration According to the Future Korean Power Grid Scenario
Authors: Oh Seungchan , Shin Heewon , Cho Hwanhee , Lee Byongjun
Published: November 2018

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions constitute a worldwide trend. According to this trend, there are many plans in place for the replacement of conventional electric power plants operating using fossil fuels with renewable energy sources (RESs). Owing to current needs to expand the RES penetration in accordance to a new National power system plan, the importance of RESs is increasing. The RES penetration imposes various impacts on the power system, including transient stability. Furthermore, the fact that they are distributed at multiple locations in the power system is also a factor which makes the transient impact analysis of RESs difficult. In this study, the transient impacts attributed to the penetration of RESs are analyzed and compared with the conventional Korean electric power system. To confirm the impact of the penetration of RESs on transient stability, the effect was analyzed based on a single machine equivalent (SIME) configuration. Simulations were conducted in accordance to the Korean power system by considering the anticipated RES penetration in 2030. The impact of RES on transient stability was provided by a change in CCT by increasing of the RES penetration.
Sustainable Recovery of CO2 by Using Visible-Light-Responsive Crystal Cuprous Oxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Liu Shou-Heng , Lu Jun-Sheng , Chen Yi-Chiun
Published: November 2018

A simple solution-chemistry method has been investigated to prepare crystal cuprous oxide (Cu2O) incorporated with reduced graphene oxide (designated as Cu2O-rGO-x, where x represents the contents of rGO = 1%, 5% and 10%) in this work. These Cu2O-rGO-x composites combine the prospective advantages of rhombic dodecahedra Cu2O together with rGO nanosheets which have been studied as visible-light-sensitive catalysts for the photocatalytic production of methanol from CO2. Among the Cu2O-rGO-x photocatalysts, the methanol yield photocatalyzed by Cu2O-rGO-5% can be observed to be 355.26 μmol g−1cat, which is ca. 36 times higher than that of pristine Cu2O nanocrystal in the 20th hour under visible light irradiation. The improved activity may be attributed to the enhanced absorption ability of visible light, the superior separation of electron–hole pairs, well-dispersed Cu2O nanocrystals and the increased photostability of Cu2O, which are evidenced by employing UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. This work demonstrates an easy and cost-effective route to prepare non-noble photocatalysts for efficient CO2 recovery in artificial photosynthesis.
Do Urban Subway Openings Reduce PM2.5 Concentrations? Evidence from China
Authors: Lu Hongyou , Zhu Yunchan , Qi Yu , Yu Jinliang
Published: November 2018

With the fast-growing consumption of automobiles in China, vehicle fumes appear to be one of the major contributors to PM2.5 (fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less) emissions. As a type of green transportation, Chinese urban subway transit has developed rapidly in recent years. This paper estimates the effect of urban subway openings on PM2.5 concentrations in Chinese cities. Using daily air quality data for 29 Chinese cities from 2013 to 2018, and using regression discontinuity design, we find that new subway openings reduce PM2.5 concentrations by an average of 18 μg/m3. The potential mechanism for this emission reduction is due to the offset in on-road transportation, and the use of cleaner energy. Also, central heating in winter, population scale, and city tier play crucial roles in the emission-reducing effect of subway openings. A series of robustness tests are conducted to support the fundamental empirical results. Targeted policy implications, such as optimizing the planning of urban subway construction and road network, fostering awareness of green travel, and promoting the innovation of emission-reducing technologies, are suggested for sustainable development in Chinese cities.
Integrating Climate Change into Hazard Mitigation Planning: A Survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers
Authors: Gonick Shannon A. , Errett Nicole A.
Published: November 2018

The increased number of catastrophic disasters in the United States in recent decades has been accompanied by consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels, floods, storms, extreme temperatures, drought, and wildfires. Climate change and extreme events are interrelated, and climate change is likely to lead to more frequent and severe hazards. Hazard mitigation offers tools to address the hazards that are influenced by climate change and minimize community-level exposure or vulnerability. State Hazard Mitigation Officers in the 56 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia involved in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program were surveyed to assess the extent to which climate change has been integrated into State Hazard Mitigation Plans (SHMPs) and the barriers and facilitators to such climate change integration. The majority of responding states reported integration of climate change into SHMPs, and increased climate change projection evidence was commonly cited as a driver of such integration. However, lack of funding and competing hazard mitigation priorities were the most commonly reported barriers to integration. Political prioritization was reported as both a barrier to and facilitator of integration. There is an ongoing need to effectively translate climate change research to practitioners to support evidence-based hazard mitigation policy and practice.
The Competing Social and Environmental Functions of Private Urban Land: The Case of an Informal Land Occupation in São Paulo’s South Periphery
Authors: Pimentel Walker Ana Paula , Arquero de Alarcón María
Published: November 2018

This article examines the role of legal actors in mediating urban land conflicts involving informal settlements and the social and environmental functions of private property. This problem reveals the challenges of conciliating two constitutional rights—the right to adequate housing and the right to a healthy environment. Methods include an analysis of the urban policy and legal framework regulating environmental protection, housing provision, property rights, and land use law. The legal case analysis of Ocupação Anchieta, a young land occupation in São Paulo’s periphery, offers additional evidence through interviews with key informants, fieldwork including household surveys, participatory planning meetings, direct observation, and mapping of existing conditions. Findings demonstrate that private property rights continue to have uncontested power in the legal system, especially during the first years of an informal settlement. Furthermore, planning regulations do little to help young land occupations, vis-à-vis consolidated informal settlements, in establishing sustainable practices from the beginning. Peripheral urbanisation through informal land occupations of environmentally protected areas remains one of the most pressing problems of the Global South. Thus, legal actors and planners should develop land use laws, urban policy, and mechanisms of private property conflict mediation that distinguish between young land occupations and consolidated informal settlements.
Investigating the Sustainability Performance of PPP-Type Infrastructure Projects: A Case of China
Authors: Zheng Shengqin , Xu Ke , He Qing , Fang Shaoze , Zhang Lin
Published: November 2018

In China, the demand for public infrastructure projects is high due to the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid growth of the economy in recent years. Infrastructures are mainly large scale, so local governments have difficulty in independently completing financing work. In this context, public sectors often seek cooperation from private sectors, in which public–private partnership (PPP) is increasingly common. Although numerous studies have concentrated on sustainable development, the unsustainability performances of infrastructures are often reported on various media. Furthermore, studies on the sustainability performances of PPP-type infrastructure (PTI) projects are few from the perspective of private sectors’ behaviors. In this study, we adopted the modified theory of planned behavior and the structure equation model and conducted a questionnaire survey with 258 respondents for analyzing the sustainable behaviors of private sectors. Results indicated that behavioral attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm interact significantly. They have direct positive effects on behavioral intention and then indirectly influence actual behavior through this intention. Actual sustainable behaviors of private sectors have significantly positive effects on the sustainable development of cities. We offer theoretical and managerial implications for public and private sectors on the basis of the findings to ensure and promote the sustainability performances of PTI projects.
Is Sustainable Intensification Possible? Evidence from Ethiopia
Authors: Mutyasira Vine , Hoag Dana , Pendell Dustin L. , Manning Dale T.
Published: November 2018

This paper explores the sustainable intensification possibilities facing smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. We examine the internal consistency of jointly achieving “sustainable” “intensification” by exploring the factors that lead to complementarity or tradeoffs in the outcomes. A cross-sectional survey of farms was examined in multiple regions of Ethiopia’s Highlands. The results show that some farmers can achieve both sustainability and intensification, while many do not, or cannot achieve both at the same time. We found that some actions have a common impact on both sustainability and intensification, while other factors only affect one outcome. Access to agricultural loans and farm mechanization significantly increases the likelihood of succeeding in sustainable intensification. Access to land will be critical for agricultural sustainability while access to farming information and technical services will drive agricultural intensification. Overall, opportunities to improve both sustainability and intensification are weak, but the opportunity to improve one without sacrificing the other are realistic. The results contribute to the ongoing debate on sustainable intensification and help policy makers explore alternatives for managing different intensification and sustainability scenarios to achieve agricultural development goals.
Exploring the Consumer Attitude of Building-Attached Photovoltaic Equipment Using Revised Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Tsaur Ruey-Chyn , Lin Yi-Hsuan
Published: November 2018

Climate change affects agriculture, the water supply, health, and the sustainability of the environment, and is largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities and power production. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the usage of renewable green energy must be promoted. The International Energy Agency showed that renewables have surpassed coal as the largest source of installed power capacity; half a million solar panels are installed every day around the world. The Taiwanese government has planned to block its fourth nuclear power plant, and is closing Taiwan’s three operating nuclear power plants since solar energy is the best way to solve power shortages. This study defined a solar-energy building as a Building-Attached Photovoltaic (BAPV) system in which the solar modules can be attached to and detached from the building without any structural damage; then, we proposed the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to forecast and explain public acceptance of BAPV. Last, we explored consumers’ intentions to use the BAPV systems and their purchasing behavior. The analytical results are fairly consistent with the proposed hypotheses. We find that when perceived ease of use (PEOU) is the antecedent of perceived usefulness (PU) and attitude toward using (AT), the model fit shows a positive influence. However, when PEOU directly affects AT, it shows a negative influence. These two opposing results show that consumers lack an awareness of PEOU. In order to get a positive AT, PEOU and PU have to be synergized. Further, the PEOU also has a negative influence on the antecedent of AT, but positively affects purchasing behavior.
The Hazardous Status of High Density Sludge from Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization
Authors: Sukati Bonokwakhe Hezekiel , De Jager Pieter Christiaan , Annandale John George , Tanner Philip Dale
Published: November 2018

Classification of waste is an essential part of waste management to limit potential environmental pollution; however, global systems vary. The objective was to understand the waste classification of high density sludge (HDS) from acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment, according to selected global systems. Three sludges from two limestone treatment plants, and three others from a limestone and lime treatment plant from the Mpumalanga coalfields of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) were evaluated. Systems for the RSA, Australia, Canada, China, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) were considered. The USEPA system rated all six sludges non-hazardous, Canadian and Chinese systems allocated a hazardous status to one sludge from the limestone treatment plants based on Ni solubility. The RSA system considered two of the sludges from limestone treatment plants to be higher risk materials than did the other countries. This was due mainly to the RSA system’s inclusion of Mn and use of appreciably lower minimum soluble levels for As, Cd, Pb, Hg, and Se. None’s use of lime resulted in higher soluble Mn. Minimum leachable concentration thresholds for Cd, Hg, Pb, As, and Se in the RSA system were below method detection limits for Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) extracts, making the guidelines impractical, and revision is advised. Considering all the systems, the probability that the HDS from the coalfields of Mpumalanga, South Africa will be classified as hazardous waste increases if the material is only subjected to limestone treatment because of Ni solubility.
Enhancing Road Network Resilience by Considering the Performance Loss and Asset Value
Authors: Do Myungsik , Jung Hoyong
Published: November 2018

In this study, we focus on resilience as the ability of specific infrastructure systems at the regional scale to absorb the shocks of extreme events, such as earthquakes. The occurrence of a disaster such as an earthquake leads to a rapid decrease in infrastructure performance. In the case of road networks, performance might refer to the number of drivers using the road within a certain period of time. The objective of this study is to propose a quantitative evaluation method to analyze road network performance (or performance loss) when natural disasters occur. Furthermore, we use cluster analysis and consider the performance loss and asset value in an attempt to propose a method to determine the critical path that should be prioritized for maintenance. This study aimed at analyzing hazard resilience from the network aspect through a scenario analysis depending on damage recovery after disaster occurrence. This study compared the hazard resilience speed to recover existing performance according to the scenario for damage recovery targeting the selected road network. It was found that the total increase in the utility (e.g., total travel time saved) gradually diminished as the restoration cost increased.
Cooperation between Two Micro-Grids Considering Power Exchange: An Optimal Sizing Approach Based on Collaborative Operation
Authors: Huang Yuansheng , Yang Lei , Liu Shijian , Wang Guangli
Published: November 2018

Optimal sizing of single micro-grid faces problems such as high life cycle cost, low self-consumption of power generated by renewable energy, and disturbances of intermittent renewable energy. Interconnecting single micro-grids as a cooperative system to reach a proper size of renewable energy generations and batteries is a credible method to promote performance in reliability and economy. However, to guarantee the optimal collaborative sizing of two micro-grids is a challenging task, particularly with power exchange. In this paper, the optimal sizing of economic and collaborative for two micro-grids and the tie line is modelled as a unit commitment problem to express the influence of power exchange between micro-grids on each life cycle cost, meanwhile guaranteeing certain degree of power supply reliability, which is calculated by Loss of Power Supply Probability in the simulation. A specified collaborative operation of power exchange between two micro-grids is constructed as the scheduling scheme to optimize the life cycle cost of two micro-grids using genetic algorithm. The case study verifies the validity of the method proposed and reveal the advantages of power exchange in the two micro-grids system. The results demonstrate that the proposed optimal sizing means based on collaborative operation can minimize the life cycle cost of two micro-grids respectively considering different renewable energy sources. Compared to the sizing of single micro-grid, the suggested method can not only improve the economic performance for each micro-grid but also form a strong support between interconnected micro-grids. In addition, a proper price of power exchanges will balance the cost saving between micro-grids, making the corresponding stake-holders prefer to be interconnected.
Sustainable Entrepreneurship Team Scale Development: A Complex Systems Perspective
Authors: Dai Shengli , Xue Hongyan , Jiang Yuan , Zhang Wei , Zhang Xin
Published: November 2018

This paper primarily focuses on two questions: (1) “How is a sustainable entrepreneurship team (SET) formed?”; and (2) “What factors contribute to effective SET?”. Based on the model of Baron and Henry (2011), we adopt a process view of SET development and propose a conceptual model of a SET work that includes four key elements: (1) Sustainable entrepreneurial motivation; (2) sustainable entrepreneurial opportunity recognition; (3) knowledge resources acquirement; and (4) sustainable entrepreneurial outcome. Furthermore, based on complex systems theory, we elaborate on how individual entrepreneurs form a SET. We also develop a SET scale and provide some initial empirical support for our conceptual model. Finally, based on our qualitative and quantitative results, we offer suggestions for Research Question 2.
Asymmetrical Development across Transboundary Regions: The Case of the Torres Strait Treaty Region (Australia and Papua New Guinea)
Authors: Busilacchi Sara , Butler James R. A. , Van Putten Ingrid , Maru Yiheyis , Posu Joseph
Published: November 2018

While there is much theoretical study of the evolution of border disparities, there is little empirical analysis of development asymmetries across border regions, and their causes or solutions. Often disparities among countries hinder the ability of transboundary agreements and other development initiatives to generate sustainable development. This study quantifies development progress amongst communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) covered by the Torres Strait Treaty, 26 years after its inception. Using regional census data from 2011 we found contrasting patterns of human development, with markedly poorer education levels in PNG. This asymmetry was confirmed by a Human Development Index of 0.735 for the Torres Strait and 0.270 for the neighbouring province in PNG. From a survey of 1089 PNG households in 2012–2013 we calculated that 63% of people in the villages were multidimensional poor, and 28% were ‘vulnerable to poverty’. Poverty was positively correlated with poor health, which has implications for the control of tuberculosis in the region. While Treaty provisions may have reduced poverty amongst some PNG villages closest to Australian communities, development initiatives by Ok Tedi mine in compensation for its environmental impacts have not. Our study highlights the causes of the sustainable development gap between PNG and Australian communities, and the necessity for transboundary agreements and institutions to have the capacity to adapt to their unintended consequences and rapid global change.
Critical Barriers to Implementation of Reverse Logistics in the Manufacturing Industry: A Case Study of a Developing Country
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Dong Qian-li , Ahmad Naveed , Zhu Yuming , Nadeem Muhammad
Published: November 2018

Globalization policies are encouraging manufacturing companies to produce environment-friendly products that offer a sustainable competitive advantage. Currently, product recovery and zero-waste supply chains have caught the attention of manufacturers and professionals. Reverse logistics (RL) is considered as the most significant part of supply chain management in developed countries; unfortunately, its implementation in developing countries is in the initial stages due to certain barriers. This study aims to identify and verify the barriers to implementation of reverse logistics using a two-stage methodology: the Delphi Method and Structural Equation Modeling. A comprehensive literature review was considered to identify a primary set of barriers. Using the Delphi Method, a team of experts screened out barriers after performing three iterations. A survey-based questionnaire was then sent out to supply chain and logistics employees in the manufacturing industry and relevant government authorities. Five hundred and forty-seven useful responses were analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) & AMOS 21 softwares using Structural Equation Modeling to verify barriers, and ranked according to their severity. The most critical barriers with respect to each category are: high cost of reverse logistics adoption (finance and economics), lack of skilled professionals (knowledge and experience), lack of government supportive policies (law and regulation), poor organizational culture (management), lack of human resources (infrastructure and technology), lack of environmental law awareness (environment), lack of community pressure (market) and company policies (reverse logistics in policy). Overall, the top five barriers found in this study include lack of initial capital, lack of skilled professional in RL, companies’ policies against RL, lack of new technologies and information systems, and lack of community pressure. Knowledge about barriers to reverse logistics allows manufacturing companies to prepare a priority list of actions for better implementation of the reverse logistics system.
Is Governmentality the Missing Link for Greening the Economic Growth?
Authors: Siyambalapitiya Janaka , Zhang Xu , Liu Xiaobing
Published: November 2018

The new concept of “green growth” appears to be an economic growth model, which balances environment sustainability and fostering of economic growth. Yet, much of the green growth research has failed to address the real extent of interconnections and complexity of the relationship between governance and economic, social, and environmental structures. Furthermore, current green growth research tends to focus on the country level, such as the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development indices, which risks ignoring the additional impacts on micro industrial economies. The lack of connection between green growth and good governance—known as environmental governance—is a crucial gap in practical adoption. Therefore, this study uses Foucault’s governmentality lens to view green growth as a technique of government, seeking an environmentally focused eco-governmentality. We examine the transformation, differential definitions, and critical dimensions of green growth in relation to particular case studies taken from China and South Korea and frame them for future sustainable studies. The findings of this study highlight the significant role of interdisciplinary research, as well both bottom-up and top-down initiatives, on enabling the transition to green growth. The proposed research framework and implementation strategy also identifies new avenues for future research and practices in the field of sustainable development, making it one of the study’s key contributions to the literature.
Low Complexity and High Accuracy Estimation of Frequency Offsets for OFDM-Based Cable Transmission Systems
Authors: Jung Yong-An , You Young-Hwan
Published: November 2018

Recently, the application of digital cable transmission standards as a second generation digital transmission system for cable systems (DVB-C2) in addition to MPEG-2 video compression has offered ways to provide a variety of digital high definition television (HDTV) programs. In the DVB-C2 system, the use of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation enables the delivery of innovative video-on-demand (VOD) and HDTV services. In this paper, a computationally-efficientleast-squares estimation of carrier frequency offset and sampling frequency offset is proposed in the OFDM-based DVB-C2 system. To obtain the noise averaging effect in the synchronization process, we adopt a block-by-block correlation, where observation symbols within two correlation blocks are added and the result is correlated. The use of block-by-block correlation improves the estimation performance and relieves the computational overhead. To optimize the performance of the block-by-block estimation method, the mean squared error is theoretically calculated. It is confirmed from simulation results that the performance of the proposed method is enhanced with a low complexity, in comparison with the existing methods.
Mean-Square Estimation of Nonlinear Functionals via Kalman Filtering
Authors: Choi Won , Shin Vladimir , Song Il Young
Published: November 2018

This paper focuses on estimation of a nonlinear functional of state vector (NFS) in discrete-time linear stochastic systems. The NFS represents a nonlinear multivariate functional of state variables, which can indicate useful information of a target system for control. The optimal mean-square estimator of a general NFS represents a function of the Kalman estimate and its error covariance. The polynomial functional of state vector is studied in detail. In this case an optimal estimation algorithm has a closed-form computational procedure. The novel mean-square quadratic estimator is derived. For a general NFS we propose to use the unscented transformation to calculate an optimal estimate. The obtained results are demonstrated on theoretical and practical examples with different types of NFS. Comparative analysis with suboptimal estimators for NFS is presented. The subsequent application of the proposed estimators to linear discrete-time systems demonstrates their practical effectiveness.
Tsallis, Rényi and Sharma-Mittal Holographic Dark Energy Models in Loop Quantum Cosmology
Authors: Jawad Abdul , Bamba Kazuharu , Younas Muhammad , Qummer Saba , Rani Shamaila
Published: November 2018

The cosmic expansion phenomenon is being studied through the interaction of newly proposed dark energy models (Tsallis, Rényi and Sharma-Mittal holographic dark energy (HDE) models) with cold dark matter in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. We investigate different cosmic implications such as equation of state parameter, squared sound speed and cosmological plane (ω d - ω d ′ , ω d and ω d ′ represent the equation of state (EoS) parameter and its evolution, respectively). It is found that EoS parameter exhibits quintom like behavior of the universe for all three models of HDE. The squared speed of sound represents the stable behavior of Rényi HDE and Sharma-Mittal HDE at the latter epoch while unstable behavior for Tsallis HDE. Moreover, ω d - ω d ′ plane lies in the thawing region for all three HDE models.
The Touch and Feel of the Past—Using Haptic and VR Artefacts to Enrich Reminiscence Therapy for People with Dementia
Authors: Klein Peter , Uhlig Martina , Will Hannes
Published: November 2018

New technology always needs validation in terms of stakeholder acceptance and usability. This challenge also applies in the case of technology for reminiscence therapy for people with dementia. We are looking at how to overcome this situation and identifying how technology can support reminiscence therapy. Therefore, we are conducting user research with people with dementia and their caregivers, prototyping multimedia approaches and testing for efficacy and acceptance of these approaches. Reminiscence therapy is an important aspect in the care for people with dementia as it improves their wellbeing. So far, mostly conventional, analog media is used for this purpose. Our qualitative research suggests that technology can enrich traditional reminiscence therapy, foster conversations, and support positive interactions between caregivers and people with dementia. As outcomes, we identify that special consideration should be directed toward the choice of personally relevant and engaging content, contextual factors of the therapy situations, and high usability of potential therapy artefacts. Suggestions for future research and further prototype iterations are provided.
Identification of Three Type II Toxin-Antitoxin Systems in Streptococcus suis Serotype 2
Authors: Xu Jiali , Zhang Nian , Cao Manman , Ren Sujing , Zeng Ting , Qin Minglu , Zhao Xigong , Yuan Fangyan , Chen Huanchun , Bei Weicheng
Published: November 2018

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are highly prevalent in bacterial genomes and have been extensively studied. These modules involve in the formation of persistence cells, the biofilm formation, and stress resistance, which might play key roles in pathogen virulence. SezAT and yefM-yoeB TA modules in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) have been studied, although the other TA systems have not been identified. In this study, we investigated nine putative type II TA systems in the genome of S. suis 2 strain SC84 by bioinformatics analysis and identified three of them (two relBE loci and one parDE locus) that function as typical type II TA systems. Interestingly, we found that the introduction of the two RelBE TA systems into Escherichia coli or the induction of the ParE toxin led to cell filamentation. Promoter activity assays indicated that RelB1, RelB2, ParD, and ParDE negatively autoregulated the transcriptions of their respective TA operons, while RelBE2 positively autoregulated its TA operon transcription. Collectively, we identified three TA systems in S. suis 2, and our findings have laid an important foundation for further functional studies on these TA systems.
Baseline Mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in the Northern and Eastern Health Regions of Gabon, Central Africa: Recommendations for Preventive Chemotherapy
Authors: Mintsa Nguema Rodrigue , Mavoungou Jacques F. , Mengue Me Ngou-Milama Krystina , Mabicka Mamfoumbi Modeste , Koumba Aubin A. , Sani Lamine Mariama , Diarra Abdoulaye , Nkone Asseko Ghislaine , Mourou Jean R. , Bouyou Akotet Marielle K. , Moné Hélène , Mouahid Gabriel , Atsame Julienne
Published: November 2018

In order to follow the Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) for the transmission control as recommended by WHO, Gabon initiated in 2014 the mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH). Here, we report the results of the Northern and Eastern health regions, representing a third of the land area and 12% of its total population. All nine departments of the two regions were surveyed and from each, five schools were examined with 50 schoolchildren per school. The parasitological examinations were realized using the filtration method for urine and the Kato-Katz technique for stool samples. Overall 2245 schoolchildren (1116 girls and 1129 boys), mean aged 11.28 ± 0.04 years, were examined. Combined schistosomiasis and STH affected 1270 (56.6%) with variation between regions, departments, and schools. For schistosomiasis, prevalence were 1.7% across the two regions, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the Northern (1.5%) and the Eastern (1.9%). Schistosomiasis is mainly caused by Schistosoma haematobium with the exception of one respective case of S. mansoni and S. guineensis. STH are more common than schistosomiasis, with an overall prevalence of 56.1% significantly different between the Northern (58.1%) and Eastern (53.6%) regions (p = 0.034). Trichuris trichiura is the most abundant infection with a prevalence of 43.7% followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 35.6% and hookworms 1.4%. According to these results, an appropriate PC strategy is given. In particular, because of the low efficacy of a single recommended drug on T. trichiura and hookworms, it is important to include two drugs for the treatment of STH in Gabon, due to the high prevalence and intensities of Trichuris infections.
QCD at High Energies and Yangian Symmetry
Authors: Kirschner Roland
Published: November 2018

Yangian symmetric correlators provide a tool to investigate integrability features of QCD at high energies. We discuss the kernel of the equation of perturbative Regge asymptotics, the kernels of the evolution equation of parton distributions, Born scattering amplitudes and coupling renormalization.
Ultrasensitive and Fast Diagnostics of Viable Listeria Cells by CBD Magnetic Separation Combined with A511::luxAB Detection
Authors: Kretzer Jan W. , Schmelcher Mathias , Loessner Martin J.
Published: November 2018

The genus Listeria includes foodborne pathogens that cause life-threatening infections in those at risk, and sensitive and specific methods for detection of these bacteria are needed. Based on their unrivaled host specificity and ability to discriminate viable cells, bacteriophages represent an ideal toolbox for the development of such methods. Here, the authors describe an ultrasensitive diagnostic protocol for Listeria by combining two phage-based strategies: (1) specific capture and concentration of target cells by magnetic separation, harnessing cell wall-binding domains from Listeria phage endolysins (CBD-MS); and (2) highly sensitive detection using an adaptation of the A511::luxAB bioluminescent reporter phage assay in a microwell plate format. The combined assay enabled direct detection of approximately 100 bacteria per ml of pure culture with genus-level specificity in less than 6 h. For contaminated foods, the procedure included a 16 h selective enrichment step, followed by CBD-MS separation and A511::luxAB detection. It was able to consistently detect extremely low numbers (0.1 to 1.0 cfu/g) of viable Listeria cells, in a total assay time of less than 22 h. These results demonstrate the superiority of this phage-based assay to standard culture-based diagnostic protocols for the detection of viable bacteria, with respect to both sensitivity and speed.