bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Plasma Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: The Alpha Omega Trial
Authors: De Borst Martin , Baia Leandro , Hoogeveen Ellen , Giltay Erik , Navis Gerjan , Bakker Stephan , Geleijnse Johanna , Kromhout Daan , Soedamah-Muthu Sabita
Published: November 2017

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid consumption has been inversely associated with FGF23 levels and with cardiovascular risk. We examined the effect of marine n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) on plasma FGF23 levels in post-myocardial infarction patients with chronic kidney disease. In the randomized double-blind Alpha Omega Trial, 4837 patients with a history of myocardial infarction aged 60–80 years (81% men) were randomized to one of four trial margarines supplemented with a targeted additional intake of 400 mg/day EPA and DHA, 2 g/day ALA, EPA-DHA plus ALA, or placebo for 41 months. In a subcohort of 336 patients with an eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (creatinine-cystatin C-based CKD-EPI formula), plasma C-terminal FGF23 was measured by ELISA at baseline and end of follow-up. We used analysis of covariance to examine treatment effects on FGF23 levels adjusted for baseline FGF23. Patients consumed 19.8 g margarine/day on average, providing an additional amount of 236 mg/day EPA with 158 mg/day DHA, 1.99 g/day ALA or both, in the active intervention groups. Over 79% of patients were treated with antihypertensive and antithrombotic medication and statins. At baseline, plasma FGF23 was 150 (128 to 172) RU/mL (mean (95% CI)). After 41 months, overall FGF23 levels had increased significantly (p < 0.0001) to 212 (183 to 241) RU/mL. Relative to the placebo, the treatment effect of EPA-DHA was indifferent, with a mean change in FGF23 (95% CI) of −17 (−97, 62) RU/mL (p = 0.7). Results were similar for ALA (36 (−42, 115) RU/mL) and combined EPA-DHA and ALA (34 (−44, 113) RU/mL). Multivariable adjustment, pooled analyses, and subgroup analyses yielded similar non-significant results. Long-term supplementation with modest quantities of EPA-DHA or ALA does not reduce plasma FGF23 levels when added to cardiovascular medication in post-myocardial patients with chronic kidney disease.
Maternal Vitamin D Status and the Relationship with Neonatal Anthropometric and Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: Results from the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study
Authors: Laird Eamon , Thurston Sally , Van Wijngaarden Edwin , Shamlaye Conrad , Myers Gary , Davidson Philip , Watson Gene , McSorley Emeir , Mulhern Maria , Yeates Alison , Ward Mary , McNulty Helene , Strain J.
Published: November 2017

Vitamin D has an important role in early life; however, the optimal vitamin D status during pregnancy is currently unclear. There have been recent calls for pregnant women to maintain circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations >100 nmol/L for health, yet little is known about the long-term potential benefits or safety of achieving such high maternal 25(OH)D concentrations for infant or child health outcomes. We examined maternal vitamin D status and its associations with infant anthropometric and later childhood neurocognitive outcomes in a mother-child cohort in a sun-rich country near the equator (4.6° S). This study was conducted in pregnant mothers originally recruited to the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study. Blood samples (n = 202) taken at delivery were analysed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. Multiple linear regression models assessed associations between maternal 25(OH)D and birth weight, infant head circumference, and neurocognitive outcomes in the children at age 5 years. Mothers were, on average, 27 years of age, and the children’s average gestational age was 39 weeks. None of the women reported any intake of vitamin D supplements. Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations had a mean of 101 (range 34–218 nmol/L) and none were deficient (<30 nmol/L). Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were not associated with child anthropometric or neurodevelopmental outcomes. These findings appear to indicate that a higher vitamin D status is not a limiting factor for neonatal growth or neurocognitive development in the first 5 years of life. Larger studies with greater variability in vitamin D status are needed to further explore optimal cut-offs or non-linear associations (including for maternal health) that might exist among populations with sub-optimal exposure.
In Vitro Fermentation Patterns of Rice Bran Components by Human Gut Microbiota
Authors: Pham Tung , Teoh Keat , Savary Brett , Chen Ming-Hsuan , McClung Anna , Lee Sun-Ok
Published: November 2017

Whole grain rice is a rich source of fiber, nutrients, and phytochemicals that may promote gastrointestinal health, but such beneficial components are typically removed with the bran during polishing. Soluble feruloylated arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (FAXO) and polyphenols (RBPP) isolated from rice bran are hypothesized to have positive impacts on human gut microbiota through a prebiotic function. Using an in vitro human fecal fermentation bioassay, FAXO and RBPP treatments were assessed for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production patterns and by evaluating their impacts on the phylogentic composition of human gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fresh fecal samples collected from healthy adults (n = 10, 5 males, 5 females) were diluted with anaerobic medium. Each sample received five treatments: CTRL (no substrates), FOS (fructooligosaccharides), FAXO, RBPP, and MIX (FAXO with RBPP). Samples were incubated at 37 °C and an aliquot was withdrawn at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h Results showed that SCFA production was significantly increased with FAXO and was comparable to fermentation with FOS, a well-established prebiotic. RBPP did not increase SCFA productions, and no significant differences in total SCFA production were observed between FAXO and MIX, indicating that RBPP does not modify FAXO fermentation. Changes in microbiota population were found in FAXO treatment, especially in Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Dorea populations, indicating that FAXO might modulate microbiota profiles. RBPP and MIX increased Faecalibacterium, specifically F. prausnitzii. Combined FAXO and RBPP fermentation increased abundance of butyrogenic bacteria, Coprococcus and Roseburia, suggesting some interactive activity. Results from this study support the potential for FAXO and RBPP from rice bran to promote colon health through a prebiotic function.
The Effects of Using Sodium Alginate Hydrosols Treated with Direct Electric Current as Coatings for Sausages
Authors: Król Żaneta , Kulig Dominika , Marycz Krzysztof , Zimoch-Korzycka Anna , Jarmoluk Andrzej
Published: November 2017

We investigated the effect of sodium alginate hydrosols (1%) with 0.2% of NaCl treated with direct electric current (DC) used as a coating on microbial (Total Viable Counts, Psychrotrophic bacteria, yeast and molds, Lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae), physiochemical (pH, lipid oxidation, antioxidant activity, weight loss, color) and sensory properties of skinned pork sausages or with artificial casing stored at 4 °C for 28 days. Moreover, the cytotoxicity analysis of sodium alginate hydrogels was performed. The results have shown that application of experimental coatings on the sausage surface resulted in reducing all tested groups of microorganisms compared to control after a 4-week storage. The cytotoxicity analysis revealed that proliferation of RAW 264.7 and L929 is not inhibited by the samples treated with 200 mA. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) analyses showed that there are no significant differences in antioxidant properties between control samples and those covered with sodium alginate. After 28 days of storage, the highest value of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was noticed for variants treated with 400 mA (1.07 mg malondialdehyde/kg), while it was only slightly lower for the control sample (0.95 mg MDA/kg). The obtained results suggest that sodium alginate treated with DC may be used as a coating for food preservation because of its antimicrobial activity and lack of undesirable impact on the quality factors of sausages.
Comparative Study of the Durability Behaviors of Epoxy- and Polyurethane-Based CFRP Plates Subjected to the Combined Effects of Sustained Bending and Water/Seawater Immersion
Authors: Hong Bin , Xian Guijun , Li Hui
Published: November 2017

In many applications, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials suffer from the combined effects of sustained bending and immersion. In the present study, pultruded epoxy- and polyurethane (PU)-based CFRP plates were studied for their long-term performances, subjected to the combined effects of water/seawater immersion and sustained bending (0%, 30%, and 58% of the ultimate strain). The water uptake and the evolution of the mechanical properties were investigated. In addition, the service lives of the CFRPs were predicted using the Arrhenius method. Generally, the sustained bending led to a decrease in the water uptake, and reduced the mechanical properties. A diffusion model, dividing the cross-section of CFRPs into the “less resin area” and “rich resin area”, was proposed to elucidate the variation of water uptake and mechanical properties. Compared to epoxy-based CFRPs, although PU-based CFRPs possessed a significantly higher water uptake, they exhibited better long-term performances in terms of mechanical properties.
Allylthioketone Mediated Free Radical Polymerization of Methacrylates
Authors: Zhong Feng , Qiu Liang , Hong Chun-Yan , Pan Cai-Yuan
Published: November 2017

By combination of high trapping free radical efficiency of the thioketone and resonance of the allylic radical, a new type of mediating agent, 1,3,3-triphenylprop-2-ene-1-thione (TPPT) has been successfully synthesized, and then is used to study controlled free radical polymerization of methacrylates. Very stable TPPT radicals at the end of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are detected in the polymerization of MMA using TPPT and AIBN as the control agent and initiator. The MALDI-TOF MS spectra are used to identify terminal groups of the resultant poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA), and major component of the obtained polymer has the structure, (CH3)2(CN)C-PGMA-C7H9O3. Chain extension reaction tests ascertain formation of the dead polymers during the polymer storage and purification process of the polymers. Owing to very slow fragmentation reaction of the TPPT-terminated polymethacrylate radical and addition reaction of this radical with a primary radical, the growing chain radicals are difficult to be regenerated, leading to an unobvious change of the molecular weight with monomer conversion. The molecular weights of polymers can be controlled by the ratios of monomer/initiator and TPPT/initiator. However, the first order kinetics of the polymerization and the polymers with narrow polydispersity are obtained, and these phenomena are discussed. This study provides useful information on how to design a better controlling agent.
Aquatic-Derived Biomaterials for a Sustainable Future: A European Opportunity
Authors: Nisticò Roberto
Published: November 2017

The valorization of aquatic-derived biowastes as possible feedstock for the production of value-added chemicals and materials is proposed here as a sustainable alternative compared to the exploitation of the more conventional (fossil) resources. In this context, the comprehension of the opportunity related to the valorization of the shellfish industry biowaste for the production of useful materials, especially focusing on chitin and its derived byproducts, is investigated. The large amount of waste produced each year by the shellfish processing industry seems to be an appealing opportunity for the European market to produce valuable products from underutilized waste. In order to highlight this important market-opportunity, the actual European situation concerning the shellfish volume of production is presented. The industrial processes necessary for the recovery of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives are largely described, together with a wide description of their peculiar (and interesting) physicochemical properties. Even if nowadays the scientific literature suggests that this class of biopolymers is very appealing, further research is still necessary for overcoming some criticisms still present in the extraction and valorization of such substrates. However, the principles of both circular economy and green chemistry encourage the reduction of such biowastes and their exploitation as an alternative resource for a global sustainable future.
Remote Sensing of 2000–2016 Alpine Spring Snowline Elevation in Dall Sheep Mountain Ranges of Alaska and Western Canada
Authors: Verbyla David , Hegel Troy , Nolin Anne , Van de Kerk Madelon , Kurkowski Thomas , Prugh Laura
Published: November 2017

The lowest elevation of spring snow (“snowline”) is an important factor influencing recruitment and survival of wildlife in alpine areas. In this study, we assessed the spatial and temporal variability of alpine spring snowline across major Dall sheep mountain areas in Alaska and northwestern Canada. We used a daily MODIS snow fraction product to estimate the last day of 2000–2016 spring snow for each 500-m pixel within 28 mountain areas. We then developed annual (2000–2016) regression models predicting the elevation of alpine snowline during mid-May for each mountain area. MODIS-based regression estimates were compared with estimates derived using a Normalized Difference Snow Index from Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) surface reflectance data. We also used 2000–2009 decadal climate grids to estimate total winter precipitation and mean May temperature for each of the 28 mountain areas. Based on our MODIS regression models, the 2000–2016 mean May 15 snowline elevation ranged from 339 m in the cold arctic class to 1145 m in the interior mountain class. Spring snowline estimates from MODIS and Landsat OLI were similar, with a mean absolute error of 106 m. Spring snowline elevation was significantly related to mean May temperature and total winter precipitation. The late spring of 2013 may have impacted some sheep populations, especially in the cold arctic mountain areas which were snow-covered in mid-May, while some interior mountain areas had mid-May snowlines exceeding 1000 m elevation. We found this regional (>500,000 km2) remote sensing application useful for determining the inter-annual and regional variability of spring alpine snowline among 28 mountain areas.
Parameterizing Anthropogenic Heat Flux with an Energy-Consumption Inventory and Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Hu Deyong
Published: November 2017

Anthropogenic heat (AH) generated by human activities is an important factor affecting the urban climate. Thus, refined AH parameterization of a large area can provide data support for regional meteorological research. In this study, we developed a refined anthropogenic heat flux (RAHF) parameterization scheme to estimate the gridded anthropogenic heat flux (AHF). Firstly, the annual total AH emissions and annual mean AHF of Beijing municipality in the year 2015 were estimated using a top-down, energy-consumption inventory method, which was derived based on socioeconomic statistics and energy consumption data. The heat released from industry, transportation, buildings (including both commercial and residential buildings), and human metabolism were taken into account. Then, the county-scale AHF estimation model was constructed based on multi-source remote sensing data, such as Suomi national polar-orbiting partnership (Suomi-NPP) visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) nighttime light (NTL) data and moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. This model was applied to estimate the annual mean AHF of the counties in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. Finally, the gridded AHF data with 500-m resolution was obtained using a RAHF parameterization scheme. The results indicate that the annual total AH emissions of Beijing municipality in the year 2015 was approximately 1.704 × 1018 J. Of this, the buildings contribute about 34.5%, followed by transportation and industry with about 30.5% and 30.1%, respectively, and human metabolism with only about 4.9%. The annual mean AHF value of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is about 6.07 W·m−2, and the AHF in urban areas is about in the range of 20 W·m−2 and 130 W·m−2. The maximum AHF value is approximately 130.84 W·m−2, mostly in airports, railway stations, central business districts, and other densely-populated areas. The error analysis of the county-scale AHF results showed that the residual between the model estimation and energy consumption statistics is less than 1%. In addition, the spatial distribution of RAHF results is generally centered on urban area and gradually decreases towards suburbs. The spatial pattern of the RAHF results within urban areas corresponds well to the distribution of population density, building density, and the industrial district. The spatial heterogeneity of AHF within urban areas is well-reflected through the RAHF results. The RAHF results can be used in meteorological and environmental modeling for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The results of this study also highlight the superiority of Suomi-NPP VIIRS NTL data for AHF estimation.
Linear vs. Nonlinear Extreme Learning Machine for Spectral-Spatial Classification of Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Cao Faxian , Yang Zhijing , Ren Jinchang , Jiang Mengying , Ling Wing-Kuen
Published: November 2017

As a new machine learning approach, the extreme learning machine (ELM) has received much attention due to its good performance. However, when directly applied to hyperspectral image (HSI) classification, the recognition rate is low. This is because ELM does not use spatial information, which is very important for HSI classification. In view of this, this paper proposes a new framework for the spectral-spatial classification of HSI by combining ELM with loopy belief propagation (LBP). The original ELM is linear, and the nonlinear ELMs (or Kernel ELMs) are an improvement of linear ELM (LELM). However, based on lots of experiments and much analysis, it is found that the LELM is a better choice than nonlinear ELM for the spectral-spatial classification of HSI. Furthermore, we exploit the marginal probability distribution that uses the whole information in the HSI and learns such a distribution using the LBP. The proposed method not only maintains the fast speed of ELM, but also greatly improves the accuracy of classification. The experimental results in the well-known HSI data sets, Indian Pines, and Pavia University, demonstrate the good performance of the proposed method.
Water-Based Suspensions of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Electrostatic or Steric Stabilization by Chitosan: Fabrication, Characterization and Biocompatibility
Authors: Kurlyandskaya Galina , Litvinova Larisa , Safronov Alexander , Schupletsova Valeria , Tyukova Irina , Khaziakhmatova Olga , Slepchenko Galina , Yurova Kristina , Cherempey Elena , Kulesh Nikita , Andrade Ricardo , Beketov Igor , Khlusov Igor
Published: November 2017

Present day biomedical applications, including magnetic biosensing, demand better understanding of the interactions between living systems and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). In this work spherical MNPs of maghemite were obtained by a highly productive laser target evaporation technique. XRD analysis confirmed the inverse spinel structure of the MNPs (space group Fd-3m). The ensemble obeyed a lognormal size distribution with the median value 26.8 nm and dispersion 0.362. Stabilized water-based suspensions were fabricated using electrostatic or steric stabilization by the natural polymer chitosan. The encapsulation of the MNPs by chitosan makes them resistant to the unfavorable factors for colloidal stability typically present in physiological conditions such as pH and high ionic force. Controlled amounts of suspensions were used for in vitro experiments with human blood mononuclear leukocytes (HBMLs) in order to study their morphofunctional response. For sake of comparison the results obtained in the present study were analyzed together with our previous results of the study of similar suspensions with human mesenchymal stem cells. Suspensions with and without chitosan enhanced the secretion of cytokines by a 24-h culture of HBMLs compared to a control without MNPs. At a dose of 2.3, the MTD of chitosan promotes the stimulating effect of MNPs on cells. In the dose range of MNPs 10–1000 MTD, chitosan “inhibits” cellular secretory activity compared to MNPs without chitosan. Both suspensions did not caused cell death by necrosis, hence, the secretion of cytokines is due to the enhancement of the functional activity of HBMLs. Increased accumulation of MNP with chitosan in the cell fraction at 100 MTD for 24 h exposure, may be due to fixation of chitosan on the outer membrane of HBMLs. The discussed results can be used for an addressed design of cell delivery/removal incorporating multiple activities because of cell capability to avoid phagocytosis by immune cells. They are also promising for the field of biosensor development for the detection of magnetic labels.
ABS-FishCount: An Agent-Based Simulator of Underwater Sensors for Measuring the Amount of Fish
Authors: García-Magariño Iván , Lacuesta Raquel , Lloret Jaime
Published: November 2017

Underwater sensors provide one of the possibilities to explore oceans, seas, rivers, fish farms and dams, which all together cover most of our planet’s area. Simulators can be helpful to test and discover some possible strategies before implementing these in real underwater sensors. This speeds up the development of research theories so that these can be implemented later. In this context, the current work presents an agent-based simulator for defining and testing strategies for measuring the amount of fish by means of underwater sensors. The current approach is illustrated with the definition and assessment of two strategies for measuring fish. One of these two corresponds to a simple control mechanism, while the other is an experimental strategy and includes an implicit coordination mechanism. The experimental strategy showed a statistically significant improvement over the control one in the reduction of errors with a large Cohen’s d effect size of 2.55.
Local Perception of Drought Impacts in a Changing Climate: The Mega-Drought in Central Chile
Authors: Aldunce Paulina , Araya Dámare , Sapiain Rodolfo , Ramos Issa , Lillo Gloria , Urquiza Anahí , Garreaud René
Published: November 2017

Droughts are a recurrent and complex natural hazard whose frequency and magnitude are expected to increase with climate change. Despite the advances in responding and adapting to droughts (with the development of new policies, for example), droughts continue to cause serious impacts and suffering. Developing well-targeted public policies requires further research on adaptation. Specifically, understanding the public perception of drought can help to identify drivers of and barriers to adaptation and options. This research seeks to understand the public perception of drought in central Chile in order to inform adaptation-related policies and decision-making processes. This study focused on the Mega-drought, which was a protracted dry spell afflicting central Chile since 2010.
On Production and Green Transportation Coordination in a Sustainable Global Supply Chain
Authors: Guo Feng , Liu Qi , Liu Dunhu , Guo Zhaoxia
Published: November 2017

This paper addresses a coordination problem of production and green transportation and the effects of production and transportation coordination on supply chain sustainability in a global supply chain environment with the consideration of important realistic characteristics, including parallel machines, different order processing complexities, fixed delivery departure times, green transportation and multiple transportation modes. We formulate the measurements for carbon emissions of different transportation modes, including air, sea and land transportation. A hybrid genetic algorithm-based optimization approach is developed to handle this problem, in which a hybrid genetic algorithm and heuristic procedures are combined. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated by means of various problem instances. We observe that the coordination of production and green transportation has a large effect on the overall supply chain sustainability, which can reduce the total supply chain cost by 9.60% to 21.90%.
Charge Pricing Optimization Model for Private Charging Piles in Beijing
Authors: Zhang Xingping , Liang Yanni , Zhang Yakun , Bu Yinhe , Zhang Hongyang
Published: November 2017

This paper develops a charge pricing model for private charging piles (PCPs) by considering the environmental and economic effects of private electric vehicle (PEV) charging energy sources and the impact of PCP charging load on the total load. This model simulates users’ responses to different combinations of peak-valley prices based on the charging power of PCPs and user charging transfer rate. According to the regional power structure, it calculates the real-time coal consumption, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, and power generation costs of PEVs on the power generation side. The empirical results demonstrate that the proposed peak-valley time-of-use charging price can not only minimize the peak-valley difference of the total load but also improve the environmental effects of PEVs and the economic income of the power system. The sensitivity analysis shows that the load-shifting effect of PCPs will be more obvious when magnifying the number of PEVs by using the proposed charging price. The case study indicates that the proposed peak, average, and valley price in Beijing should be 1.8, 1, and 0.4 yuan/kWh, which can promote the large-scale adoption of PEVs.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Workforce of Selected Business Firms in the United Arab Emirates: A Nascent Economy
Authors: Cherian Jacob , Pech Robert
Published: November 2017

The main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on employees working in two United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based companies. “Hilti Emirates” and “EROS Group” are the two companies that engage in a number of CSR applications which were focused on India in 2015. The impact of CSR on the companies is the key focus in this study by gauging employees’ and managers’ perceptions. Primary data were collected by means of a prepared questionnaire that concentrated on employee and managerial behavior and attitudes, while secondary data were collected from theoretical articles and published company reports. Data were analyzed by means of statistical analysis using SPSS software. Methods like factor analysis, descriptive analysis and ANOVA in SPSS software are helpful in assessing the effect of CSR on employees, and hence companies, in the UAE. The main findings of the study are that employees can develop a behavioral change depending on the nature of CSR practices within the company. In turn, CSR polices are sustainable in relation to company profit which may vary from one company to another and one financial year to another. Therefore, this study concludes that employee behavior regarding CSR policies has notable and positive implications, relevant to the company as well as to the employees and management. The two leading UAE companies demonstrate a confluent pattern of CSR practices and effects that may also relate to employee behavior in other economies, although the researchers encourage more investigations to corroborate that view.
Application of Fuzzy DEMATEL Method for Analyzing Occupational Risks on Construction Sites
Authors: Seker Sukran , Zavadskas Edmundas
Published: November 2017

The construction industry is known as a hazardous industry because of its complexity and strategic nature. Therefore, it is important to know the main causes of occupational accidents to prevent fatal occupational accidents in construction industry. At building construction sites, workers performing tasks are continuously exposed to risks, not only emerging from their own mistakes but also from the mistakes of their co-workers. A great deal of studies investigating risks and preventing occupational hazards for the construction industry has been carried out in the literature. The quantitative conventional methods mostly use either probabilistic techniques or statistics, or both, but they have limitations dealing with the ambiguity and fuzziness in information. In this study, to overcome these limitations, an applicable and improved approach, which helps construction managers to propose preventive measures for accidents on construction sites, is proposed to simplify the risk assessment. It is shown that the Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method can evaluate causal factors of occupational hazards by a cause–effect diagram and improve certain safety measures on construction sites. In addition, sensitivity analysis is conducted to verify the robustness of the results.
Using Microsimulation to Evaluate Safety and Operational Implications of Newer Roundabout Layouts for European Road Networks
Authors: Giuffrè Tullio , Trubia Salvatore , Canale Antonino , Persaud Bhagwant
Published: November 2017

“Standard” roundabouts, for example those designed in some European countries, can often be characterized by low levels of safety or capacity and a high degree of sustainability. Given the proliferation of newer layouts, it is of interest to explore whether design practices could be improved by capitalizing on the experience gained internationally. Operational aspects of some of these designs have been explored previously, but there is a need to compare both the operational and safety performance of new designs to that of standard roundabouts. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the safety and operational implications of various potential alternatives to the standard roundabouts that proliferate in Europe and elsewhere. Microsimulation is used to simulate traffic operations at roundabout layout alternatives at the same levels of volume to capacity (V/C) ratio and also with the same traffic flow. Operational performance measures include the common level of service parameters, while measures of safety are based initially on time to collision (TTC) values. Threshold values of TTC were then applied in defining conflicts that are used for crash-based safety evaluation by applying crash-conflict models estimated in published research. Interesting insights were revealed, suggesting that the newer layouts should be considered where warranted by cost-benefit considerations.
The Impact of Aircraft Noise on Housing Prices in Poznan
Authors: Trojanek Radoslaw , Tanas Justyna , Raslanas Saulius , Banaitis Audrius
Published: November 2017

In the paper, we analyzed the impact of aircraft noise on housing prices. We used a dataset containing geo-coded transactions for 1328 apartments and 438 single-family houses in the years 2010 to 2015 in Poznan. In this research, the hedonic method was used in OLS (ordinary least squares), WLS (weighted least squares), SAR (spatial autoregressive model) and SEM (spatial error model) models. We found strong evidence that aircraft noise is negatively linked with housing prices, which is in line with previous studies in other parts of the world. In our research, we managed to distinguish the influence of aircraft noise on different types of housing. The noise depreciation index value we found in our study was 0.87% in the case of single-family houses, and 0.57% regarding apartments. One of the reasons for the difference in the level of impact of aircraft noise may be the fact that the buyers of apartments may be less sensitive to aircraft noise than the buyers of single-family houses.
Overview, Comparative Assessment and Recommendations of Forecasting Models for Short-Term Water Demand Prediction
Authors: Anele Amos , Hamam Yskandar , Abu-Mahfouz Adnan , Todini Ezio
Published: November 2017

The stochastic nature of water consumption patterns during the day and week varies. Therefore, to continually provide water to consumers with appropriate quality, quantity and pressure, water utilities require accurate and appropriate short-term water demand (STWD) forecasts. In view of this, an overview of forecasting methods for STWD prediction is presented. Based on that, a comparative assessment of the performance of alternative forecasting models from the different methods is studied. Times series models (i.e., autoregressive (AR), moving average (MA), autoregressive-moving average (ARMA), and ARMA with exogenous variable (ARMAX)) introduced by Box and Jenkins (1970), feed-forward back-propagation neural network (FFBP-NN), and hybrid model (i.e., combined forecasts from ARMA and FFBP-NN) are compared with each other for a common set of data. Akaike information criterion (AIC), originally proposed by Akaike (1974) is used to estimate the quality of each short-term forecasting model. Furthermore, Nash–Sutcliffe (NS) model efficiency coefficient proposed by Nash–Sutcliffe (1970), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) are the forecasting statistical terms used to assess the predictive performance of the models. Lastly, as regards the selection of an accurate and appropriate STWD forecasting model, this paper provides recommendations and future work based on the forecasts generated by each of the predictive models considered.
Rapidly Rising Optical Transients from the Birth of Binary Neutron Stars
Authors: Hotokezaka Kenta , Kashiyama Kazumi , Murase Kohta
Published: November 2017

We study optical counterparts of a new-born pulsar in a double neutron star system like PSR J0737-3039A/B. This system is believed to have ejected a small amount of mass of


(
0.1

M

⊙

)

at the second core-collapse supernova. We argue that the initial spin of the new-born pulsar can be determined by the orbital period at the time when the second supernova occurs. The spin angular momentum of the progenitor is expected to be similar to that of the He-burning core, which is tidally synchronized with the orbital motion, and then the second remnant may be born as a millisecond pulsar. If the dipole magnetic field strength of the nascent pulsar is comparable with that inferred from the current spin-down rate of PSR J0737-3039B, the initial spin-down luminosity is comparable to the luminosity of super-luminous supernovae. We consider thermal emission arising from the supernova ejecta driven by the relativistic wind from such a new-born pulsar. The resulting optical light curves have a rise time of ∼10 days and a peak luminosity of ∼1044 erg s−1. The optical emission may last for a month to several months, due to the reprocessing of X-rays and UV photons via photoelectric absorption. These features are broadly consistent with those of the rapidly rising optical transients. The high spin-down luminosity and small ejecta mass are favorable for the progenitor of the repeating fast radio burst, FRB 121102. We discuss a possible connection between new-born double pulsars and fast radio bursts.
Rise of the Titans: A Dusty, Hyper-luminous “870 μm Riser” Galaxy at z ∼ 6
Authors: Riechers Dominik A. , Leung T. K. Daisy , Ivison Rob J. , Pérez-Fournon Ismael , Lewis Alexander J. R. , Marques-Chaves Rui , Oteo Iván , Clements Dave L. , Cooray Asantha , Greenslade Josh , Martínez-Navajas Paloma , Oliver Seb , Rigopoulou Dimitra , Scott Douglas , Weiss Axel
Published: November 2017

We report the detection of ADFS-27, a dusty, starbursting major merger at a redshift of z = 5.655, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). ADFS-27 was selected from Herschel/Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) and APEX/LABOCA data as an extremely red “870 μm riser” (i.e.,

), demonstrating the utility of this technique to identify some of the highest-redshift dusty galaxies. A scan of the 3 mm atmospheric window with ALMA yields detections of CO(J = 5 → 4) and CO(J = 6 → 5) emission, and a tentative detection of H2O(211 → 202) emission, which provides an unambiguous redshift measurement. The strength of the CO lines implies a large molecular gas reservoir with a mass of M
gas = 2.5 × 1011

M
⊙, sufficient to maintain its ∼2400 M
⊙ yr−1 starburst for at least ∼100 Myr. The 870 μm dust continuum emission is resolved into two components, 1.8 and 2.1 kpc in diameter, separated by 9.0 kpc, with comparable dust luminosities, suggesting an ongoing major merger. The infrared luminosity of L
IR ≃ 2.4 × 1013
L
⊙ implies that this system represents a binary hyper-luminous infrared galaxy, the most distant of its kind presently known. This also implies star formation rate surface densities of

and 750 M
⊙ yr−1 kpc2, consistent with a binary “maximum starburst.” The discovery of this rare system is consistent with a significantly higher space density than previously thought for the most luminous dusty starbursts within the first billion years of cosmic time, easing tensions regarding the space densities of z ∼ 6 quasars and massive quiescent galaxies at z ≳ 3.
Modeling the Effects of Inhomogeneous Aerosols on the Hot Jupiter Kepler-7b’s Atmospheric Circulation
Authors: Roman Michael , Rauscher Emily
Published: November 2017

Motivated by observational evidence of inhomogeneous clouds in exoplanetary atmospheres, we investigate how proposed simple cloud distributions can affect atmospheric circulations and infrared emission. We simulated temperatures and winds for the hot Jupiter Kepler-7b using a three-dimensional atmospheric circulation model that included a simplified aerosol radiative transfer model. We prescribed fixed cloud distributions and scattering properties based on results previously inferred from Kepler-7b optical phase curves, including inhomogeneous aerosols centered along the western terminator and hypothetical cases in which aerosols additionally extended across much of the planet’s nightside. In all cases, a strong jet capable of advecting aerosols from a cooler nightside to dayside was found to persist, but only at the equator. Colder temperatures at mid and polar latitudes might permit aerosol to form on the dayside without the need for advection. By altering the deposition and redistribution of heat, aerosols along the western terminator produced an asymmetric heating that effectively shifts the hottest spot further east of the substellar point than expected for a uniform distribution. The addition of opaque high clouds on the nightside can partly mitigate this enhanced shift by retaining heat that contributes to warming west of the hotspot. These expected differences in infrared phase curves could place constraints on proposed cloud distributions and their infrared opacities for brighter hot Jupiters.
New Parallaxes for the Upper Scorpius OB Association
Authors: Donaldson J. K. , Weinberger A. J. , Gagné J. , Boss A. P. , Keiser S. A.
Published: November 2017

Upper Scorpius is a subgroup of the nearest OB association, Scorpius–Centaurus. Its young age makes it an important association to study star and planet formation. We present parallaxes to 52 low-mass stars in Upper Scorpius, 28 of which have full kinematics. We measure ages of the individual stars by combining our measured parallaxes with pre-main-sequence evolutionary tracks. We find a significant difference in the ages of stars with and without circumstellar disks. The stars without disks have a mean age of 4.9 ± 0.8 Myr and those with disks have an older mean age of 8.2 ± 0.9 Myr. This somewhat counterintuitive result suggests that evolutionary effects in young stars can dominate their apparent ages. We also attempt to use the 28 stars with full kinematics (i.e., proper motion, radial velocity (RV), and parallax) to trace the stars back in time to their original birthplace to obtain a trackback age. As expected, given the large measurement uncertainties on available RV measurements, we find that measurement uncertainties alone cause the group to diverge after a few Myr.
Absolute Dimensions of the F-type Eclipsing Binary V2154 Cygni
Authors: Bright Jane C. , Torres Guillermo
Published: November 2017

We report spectroscopic observations of the 2.63 day, detached, F-type main-sequence eclipsing binary V2154 Cyg. We use our observations together with existing uvby photometric measurements to derive accurate absolute masses and radii for the stars that are good to better than 1.5%. We obtain masses of

and

, radii of

and

, and effective temperatures of 6770 ± 150 K and 5020 ± 150 K for the primary and secondary stars, respectively. Both components appear to have their rotations synchronized with the motion in the circular orbit. A comparison of the properties of the primary with current stellar evolution models gives good agreement for a metallicity of

, which is consistent with photometric estimates, and an age of about 2.2 Gyr. On the other hand, the K2 secondary is larger than predicted for its mass by about 4%. Similar discrepancies are known to exist for other cool stars, and are generally ascribed to stellar activity. The system is in fact an X-ray source, and we argue that the main site of the activity is the secondary star. Indirect estimates give a strength of about 1 kG for the average surface magnetic field on that star. A previously known close visual companion to V2154 Cyg is shown to be physically bound, making the system a hierarchical triple.
The Spatially Uniform Spectrum of the Fermi Bubbles: The Leptonic Active Galactic Nucleus Jet Scenario
Authors: Yang H.-Y. K. , Ruszkowski M.
Published: November 2017

The Fermi bubbles are among the most important findings of the
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope; however, their origin is still elusive. One of the unique features of the bubbles is that their gamma-ray spectrum, including a high-energy cutoff at ∼110 GeV and the overall shape of the spectrum, is nearly spatially uniform. The high-energy spectral cutoff is suggestive of a leptonic origin due to synchrotron and inverse-Compton cooling of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons; however, even for a leptonic model, it is not obvious why the spectrum should be spatially uniform. In this work, we investigate the bubble formation in the leptonic active galactic nucleus (AGN) jet scenario using a new CRSPEC module in FLASH that allows us to track the evolution of a CR spectrum during the simulations. We show that the high-energy cutoff is caused by fast electron cooling near the Galactic center (GC) when the jets were launched. Afterwards, the dynamical timescale becomes the shortest among all relevant timescales, and therefore the spectrum is essentially advected with only mild cooling losses. This could explain why the bubble spectrum is nearly spatially uniform: the CRs from different parts of the bubbles as seen today all share the same origin near the GC at an early stage of the bubble expansion. We find that the predicted CR spatial and spectral distribution can simultaneously match the normalization, spectral shape, and high-energy cutoff of the observed gamma-ray spectrum and their spatial uniformity, suggesting that past AGN jet activity is a likely mechanism for the formation of the Fermi bubbles.
La relation firme-analyste explique-t-elle les erreurs de prévision des analystes ?
Authors: Breton Régis , Galanti Sébastien , Hurlin Christophe , Vaubourg Anne-Gaël
Published: November 2017

L’article vérifie dans quelle mesure l’intensité de la relation entre une firme et un analyste financier améliore ou dégrade la précision des prévisions produites par cet analyste sur cette firme. À partir d’un échantillon de prévisions de bénéfices par action (BPA) sur 208 entreprises françaises, nous régressons l’erreur de prévision des analystes sur un ensemble de variables observables. Puis nous décomposons l’effet fixe de la régression et utilisons l’effet couple firme-analyste comme mesure de l’intensité de la relation. On montre qu’un effet couple faible (important) est associé à une erreur de prévision faible (importante), suggérant qu’une relation étroite entre une firme et un analyste tend à biaiser la prévision de ce dernier. Les analystes expérimentés et spécialisés dans le suivi des firmes à forte capitalisation semblent cependant moins sujets à ce biais.
Drivers and Barriers of the Cloud Computing in SMEs: the Position of the European Union
Authors: Palos-Sanchez Pedro R.
Published: November 2017

Cloud computing is one of the technologies that organizations, and especially users, know the least about. It is a new Internet-based technology used to store information on servers, and is provided as an on-demand service to clients. Cost savings and simplification of the technological infrastructure are two of the most decisive factors in its increasing use. However, the lack of standardization, the need for new professionals and the emergence ofdistrust are some of the barriers to its adoption. The purpose of this paper is, firstly, to present the current situation of this technology from the perspective of businesses by reviewing the existing literature. Secondly, we analyze the situation of this technology from a two-part viewpoint: the European Union, and in particular, the situation in SMEs. Finally, the strategic positions of the European Commission will be reviewed with respect to the consequences of the adoption of the cloud paradigm.
Development of a Competence Profile and Performance Assessment for Care Assistants from a Labor Pool at a Nursing Home
Authors: Fernández Millán Juan M. , Aguayo Estremera Raimundo , Fernández Navas Marina , González Cánovas Alejandro
Published: November 2017

This article presents the development of a competence-based professional profile and thesubsequent performance assessment, which were built on behaviors that represent thecompetences in a sample of care assistants working in a nursing home. Nine employeeswho knew the tasks performed by care assistants were asked to select and rank thecompetences in order of significance, considering their importance for performing the jobefficiently. Based on the weights obtained, the selected competences are transformed intobehaviors and, finally, into a five-point Likert scale used to assess the sample of careassistants (a total de 16 employees) and classify them using overall and specific scores oneach of the competences.
Letter from the Managing Editor
Authors: Altarriba Josep Maria
Published: November 2017

The articles in this issue of Harvard Deusto Business Research present studies and research on loss index trigger modeling for cat bonds; the competence profile and the performance evaluation of care assistants in a nursing home; the current situation of cloud computing, from the perspective of the European Union and SMEs; and training in values as an incubator of sustainable attitudes.