bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposed Release of Wilderness Study Areas in Montana (USA) Would Demote the Conservation Status of Nationally-Valuable Wildlands
Authors: Belote R. Travis
Published: June 2018

Wildlands are increasingly lost to human development. Conservation scientists repeatedly call for protecting the remaining wildlands and expanding the land area protected in reserves. Despite these calls, conservation reserves can be eliminated through legislation that demotes their conservation status. For example, legislation introduced to the Congress of the United States recently would demote 29 Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) from the protections afforded by their existing status. The proposed legislation suggests that the 29 areas are not suitable for a promotion and future inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System based on decades-old local evaluations. Local evaluations, notwithstanding, it may be important to consider the value of lands from a national perspective. Without a national perspective, local evaluations alone may lead to overlooking the national significance of lands. With this in mind, I used five qualities of wildland value (wildness, intactness of night sky, lack of human-generated noises, intactness of mammals, and intactness of mammal carnivores of conservation concern) to compare the 29 WSAs to all national parks and wilderness areas located within the contiguous United States. The pool of 29 WSAs was similar to the pool of national parks and wilderness areas with respect to the five qualities assessed, and some of the WSAs were characterized by higher values than most of national parks and wilderness areas. This analysis demonstrates the national significance of the WSAs targeted for demotion of their existing conservation status. Such an approach could be used in future land management legislation and planning to ensure that a national perspective on conservation value is brought to bear on decisions facing federally-managed lands.
Optimum Production Conditions, Purification, Identification, and Antioxidant Activity of Violaxanthin from Microalga Eustigmatos cf. polyphem (Eustigmatophyceae)
Authors: Wang Feifei , Huang Luodong , Gao Baoyan , Zhang Chengwu
Published: June 2018

Violaxanthin is a major xanthophyll pigment in the microalga Eustigmatos cf. polyphem, but the amount produced after propagation can vary depending upon culture conditions. In this study, the effects of cultivation time, nitrogen concentration, light intensity, and culture mode on violaxanthin production were investigated. The results showed that this microalga vigorously grew and maintained a high level of violaxanthin in the fed-batch culture, and the highest violaxanthin productivity of 1.10 ± 0.03 mg L−1 d−1 was obtained under low light illumination with 18 mM of initial nitrogen supply for ten days. Additionally, violaxanthin was purified from E. cf. polyphem by silica gel chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (PHPLC), and identified with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The antioxidant activity of the purified violaxanthin was evaluated by three tests in vitro: reducing power assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical assays. The strongest inhibition of purified violaxanthin occurred during the scavenging of ABTS+ radicals, with EC50 of 15.25 μg mL−1. In conclusion, this is the first report to investigate the effects of different culture conditions on violaxanthin accumulation in E. cf. polyphem and provide a novel source for the production of violaxanthin that can be used for food and pharmaceutical applications.
Micro-Dumbbells—A Versatile Tool for Optical Tweezers
Authors: Lamperska Weronika , Drobczyński Sławomir , Nawrot Michał , Wasylczyk Piotr , Masajada Jan
Published: June 2018

Manipulation of micro- and nano-sized objects with optical tweezers is a well-established, albeit still evolving technique. While many objects can be trapped directly with focused laser beam(s), for some applications indirect manipulation with tweezers-operated tools is preferred. We introduce a simple, versatile micro-tool operated with holographic optical tweezers. The 40 µm long dumbbell-shaped tool, fabricated with two-photon laser 3D photolithography has two beads for efficient optical trapping and a probing spike on one end. We demonstrate fluids viscosity measurements and vibration detection as examples of possible applications.
Effect on White Grape Must of Multiflora Bee Pollen Addition during the Alcoholic Fermentation Process
Authors: Amores-Arrocha Antonio , Roldán Ana , Jiménez-Cantizano Ana , Caro Ildefonso , Palacios Víctor
Published: June 2018

The aim of the present study was to compare and analyze the impact of using bee pollen doses (0.1, 0.25, 1, 5, 10 and 20 g/L) as activator in the alcoholic fermentation process of Palomino fino and Riesling wines. In this regard, its influence on the musts composition, the fermentative kinetics, the evolution of the populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the evolution of yeast-assimilable nitrogen and physico-chemical characteristics of final wines has been analyzed. Bee pollen addition produces significant increases in yeast-assimilable nitrogen and maximum yeasts population and exponential velocity reached during alcoholic fermentation. Bee pollen showed an important effect on yeast survival during the death phase. Final wines showed significantly increase in volatile acidity above doses higher than 10 g/L and Comisión Internacional de L’Eclairage parameters (CIELab), color intensity and Abs 420 nm, from 1 g/L. Therefore, pollen could be used as fermentative activator for the alcoholic fermentation of white wines applying doses below of 1 g/L.
Sphingolipidomic Profiling of Rat Serum by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS: Application to Rheumatoid Arthritis Study
Authors: Qu Fanghui , Zhang Hongyang , Zhang Min , Hu Ping
Published: June 2018

Sphingolipids (SPLs) are biologically important molecules, but the structural diversity and complexity of SPLs brings significant analytical challenges for their study. In this paper, we have developed an UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based sphingolipidomic approach for the comprehensive identification and quantification of SPLs in rat serum. A total of 120 SPLs covering seven subcategories were identified for the first time. Method validations including linearity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and recovery were also evaluated. This method was exemplarily applied to characterize the SPL alterations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats and the intervention effects of indomethacin (IDM). Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the model group was well separated from the control group, whereas the IDM-treated group exhibited a trend to recover the controls. Twenty-six significantly changed SPL markers were explored, and the levels of ceramides (Cers) and their metabolites were found to be reversed by IDM treatment. These results indicate that IDM exerts anti-arthritic effects through the suppression of Cer-mediated COX-2 activation and resulting PEG2 liberation. The present study demonstrates a promising potential of this method for the understanding of RA and the anti-arthritic mechanisms of relevant drugs.
Study on the Structure of Ginseng Glycopeptides with Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity
Authors: Luo Haoming , Zhu Difu , Wang Ying , Chen Yinghong , Jiang Ruizhi , Yu Peng , Qiu Zhidong
Published: June 2018

Panax ginseng is well known for its medicinal functions. As a class of important compound of ginseng, ginsenoside is widely studied around the world. In addition, ginseng glycopeptides also showed good biological activity, but researches in this field are rarely reported. In this study, ginseng glycopeptides (Gg) were first prepared from Panax ginseng by reflux extracted with 85% ethanol and the following purification with Sephadex G-15 column. Then, the inflammatory pain models induced by carrageenan and the rat pain models induced by Faure Marin were established for research on mechanism of analgesic activities. It is showed that Gg had an obvious inhibiting effect on inflammation and a significant reduction on the Malondialdehyde (MDA) of inflammatory foot tissue. And there were significant differences between moderate to high dose of Gg and model group in Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 4 (IL-4), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and Histamine. The two models can be preliminarily determined that the analgesic effect of Gg may be peripheral, which mechanism may be related to the dynamic balance between proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, and Interleukin 10 (IL-10)). A series of methods were used to study Gg in physical-chemical properties and linking mode of glycoside. The high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for identification of the structure of Gg. Moreover, the structure of 20 major Gg were investigated and identified. The structural analysis of Gg was benefit for the next study on structure-activity relationship.
Epitopes of MUC1 Tandem Repeats in Cancer as Revealed by Antibody Crystallography: Toward Glycopeptide Signature-Guided Therapy
Authors: Zhou Dapeng , Xu Lan , Huang Wei , Tonn Torsten
Published: June 2018

Abnormally O-glycosylated MUC1 tandem repeat glycopeptide epitopes expressed by multiple types of cancer have long been attractive targets for therapy in the race against genetic mutations of tumor cells. Glycopeptide signature-guided therapy might be a more promising avenue than mutation signature-guided therapy. Three O-glycosylated peptide motifs, PDTR, GSTA, and GVTS, exist in a tandem repeat HGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPA, containing five O-glycosylation sites. The exact peptide and sugar residues involved in antibody binding are poorly defined. Co-crystal structures of glycopeptides and respective monoclonal antibodies are very few. Here we review 3 groups of monoclonal antibodies: antibodies which only bind to peptide portion, antibodies which only bind to sugar portion, and antibodies which bind to both peptide and sugar portions. The antigenicity of peptide and sugar portions of glyco-MUC1 tandem repeat were analyzed according to available biochemical and structural data, especially the GSTA and GVTS motifs independent from the most studied PDTR. Tn is focused as a peptide-modifying residue in vaccine design, to induce glycopeptide-binding antibodies with cross reactivity to Tn-related tumor glycans, but not glycans of healthy cells. The unique requirement for the designs of antibody in antibody-drug conjugate, bi-specific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptors are also discussed.
Detection and Identification of Estrogen Based on Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS)
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Yue , Zhang Yuanyuan , Kou Qiangwei , Zhang Yongjun , Wang Yaxin , Chen Lei , Sun Yantao , Zhang Honglin , Jung Young Mee
Published: June 2018

Many studies have shown that it is important to consider the harmful effects of phenolic hormones on the human body. Traditional UV detection has many limitations, so there is a need to develop new detection methods. We demonstrated a simple and rapid surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) based detection method of trace amounts of phenolic estrogen. As a result of the coupling reaction, there is the formation of strong SERRS activity of azo compound. Therefore, the detection limits are as low as 0.2 × 10−4 for estrone (E1), estriol (E3), and bisphenol A (BPA). This method is universal because each SERRS fingerprint of the azo dyes a specific hormone. The use of this method is applicable for the testing of phenolic hormones through coupling reactions, and the investigation of other phenolic molecules. Therefore, this new method can be used for efficient detection.
Function of the RNA Coliphage Qβ Proteins in Medical In Vitro Evolution
Authors: Singleton Rana L. , Sanders Carrie A. , Jones Kevin , Thorington Bobby , Egbo Timothy , Coats Mamie T. , Waffo Alain Bopda
Published: June 2018

Qβ is a positive (+) single-stranded RNA bacteriophage covered by a 25 nm icosahedral shell. Qβ belongs to the family of Leviviridae and is found throughout the world (bacterial isolates and sewage). The genome of Qβ is about 4.2 kb, coding for four proteins. This genome is surrounded by 180 copies of coat proteins (capsomers) each comprised of 132 residues of amino acids. The other proteins, the subunit II (β) of a replicase, the maturation protein (A2) and the read-through or minor coat protein (A1), play a key role in phage infection. With the replicase protein, which lacks proofreading activity, as well as its short replication time, and high population size, Qβ phage has attractive features for in vitro evolution. The A1 protein gene shares the same initiation codon with the coat protein gene and is produced during translation when the coat protein’s UGA stop codon triplet (about 400 nucleotides from the initiation) is suppressed by a low level of ribosome misincorporation of tryptophan. Thus, A1 is termed the read-through protein. This RNA phage platform technology not only serves to display foreign peptides but is also exceptionally suited to address questions about in vitro evolution. The C-terminus of A1 protein confers to this RNA phage platform an exceptional feature of not only a linker for foreign peptide to be displayed also a model for evolution. This platform was used to present a peptide library of the G-H loop of the capsid region P1 of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) called VP1 protein. The library was exposed on the exterior surface of Qβ phages, evolved and selected with the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) SD6 of the FMDV. These hybrid phages could principally be good candidates for FMDV vaccine development. Separately, the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epitopes was fused with the A1 proteins and exposed on the Qβ phage exterior surface. The engineered phages with MPER epitopes were recognized by anti-MPER specific antibodies. This system could be used to overcome the challenge of effective presentation of MPER to the immune system. A key portion of this linear epitope could be randomized and evolved with the Qβ system. Overall, antigens and epitopes of RNA viruses relevant to public health can be randomized, evolved and selected in pools using the proposed Qβ model to overcome their plasticity and the challenge of vaccine development. Major epitopes of a particular virus can be engineered or displayed on the Qβ phage surface and used for vaccine efficacy evaluation, thus avoiding the use of live viruses.
Incorporation of Levodopa into Biopolymer Coatings Based on Carboxylated Carbon Nanotubes for pH-Dependent Sustained Release Drug Delivery
Authors: Tan Julia Meihua , Saifullah Bullo , Kura Aminu Umar , Fakurazi Sharida , Hussein Mohd Zobir
Published: June 2018

Four drug delivery systems were formulated by non-covalent functionalization of carboxylated single walled carbon nanotubes using biocompatible polymers as coating agent (i.e., Tween 20, Tween 80, chitosan or polyethylene glycol) for the delivery of levodopa, a drug used in Parkinson’s disease. The chemical interaction between the coating agent and carbon nanotubes-levodopa conjugate was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman studies. The drug release profiles were revealed to be dependent upon the type of applied coating material and this could be further adjusted to a desired rate to meet different biomedical conditions. In vitro drug release experiments measured using UV-Vis spectrometry demonstrated that the coated conjugates yielded a more prolonged and sustained release pattern compared to the uncoated conjugate. Cytotoxicity of the formulated conjugates was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using normal mouse embryonic fibroblast 3T3 cell line. Compared to the non-coated conjugate, the MTT data indicated that the coating procedure improved the biocompatibility of all systems by 34–41% when the concentration used exceeded 100 μg/mL. In conclusion, the comprehensive results of this study suggest that carbon nanotubes-based drug carrier coated with a suitable biomaterial may possibly be a potential nanoparticle system that could facilitate drug delivery to the brain with tunable physicochemical properties.
Roles of Sedentary Behaviors and Unhealthy Foods in Increasing the Obesity Risk in Adult Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional National Study
Authors: Nurwanti Esti , Uddin Mohy , Chang Jung-Su , Hadi Hamam , Syed-Abdul Shabbir , Su Emily Chia-Yu , Nursetyo Aldilas Achmad , Masud Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan , Bai Chyi-Huey
Published: June 2018

Sedentary behaviors and dietary intake are independently associated with obesity risk. In the literature, only a few studies have investigated gender differences for such associations. The present study aims to assess the association of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy foods intake with obesity in men and women in a comparative manner. The analysis presented in this study was based on the data from a population-based, cross-sectional, nationally representative survey (Indonesian Basic Health Research 2013/RISKESDAS 2013). In total, 222,650 men and 248,590 women aged 19–55 years were enrolled. A validated questionnaire, physical activity card, and food card were used for the assessments. The results showed that the prevalence of obesity (body mass index of ≥27.5 kg/m2) was higher in women (18.71%) than in men (8.67%). The mean body mass index in women tended to be higher than in men. After adjusting for age and education, the gender effect on obesity persisted in women and was more significant than in men. There was also a positive and significant effect on obesity of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy foods intake. Moreover, fatty and fried foods displayed a positive multiplicative interaction, increasing obesity risk in women more than in men and indicating a possible dietary risk in in women in relation to obesity. The study suggests that the implementation of educational programs on nutrition and physical activity is particularly important for promoting a healthy body weight among Indonesian women.
Electrochromic Devices Based on Poly(2,6-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)pyridine)-Type Polymer Films and PEDOT-PSS
Authors: Kuo Chung-Wen , Wu Bo-Wei , Chang Jeng-Kuei , Chang Jui-Cheng , Lee Li-Ting , Wu Tzi-Yi , Ho Tsung-Han
Published: June 2018

2,6-Di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)pyridine (DiCP) was synthesized and its corresponding homopolymer (PDiCP) and copolymers (P(DiCP-co-CPDT), P(DiCP-co-CPDT2), P(DiCP-co-CPDTK), and P(DiCP-co-CPDTK2)) were synthesized electrochemically. The anodic copolymer with DiCP:cyclopentadithiophene ketone (CPDTK) = 1:1 feed molar ratio showed high transmittance change (ΔT%) and colouration efficiency (η), which were measured as 39.5% and 184.1 cm2 C−1 at 1037 nm, respectively. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) were composed of PDiCP, P(DiCP-co-CPDT), P(DiCP-co-CPDT2), P(DiCP-co-CPDTK), and P(DiCP-co-CPDTK2) as anodically-colouring polymers, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT-PSS) as cathodically-colouring polymers. P(DiCP-co-CPDTK)/PEDOT-PSS ECD showed light silverish-yellow at 0.0 V, light grey at 0.7 V, grey at 1.3 V, light greyish blue at 1.7 V, and greyish blue at 2.0 V. Moreover, P(DiCP-co-CPDTK)/PEDOT-PSS ECD presented high ΔT (38.2%) and high η (633.8 cm2 C−1) at 635 nm.
What Is the Spatial Resolution of grace Satellite Products for Hydrology?
Authors: Vishwakarma Bramha Dutt , Devaraju Balaji , Sneeuw Nico
Published: June 2018

The mass change information from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (grace) satellite mission is available in terms of noisy spherical harmonic coefficients truncated at a maximum degree (band-limited). Therefore, filtering is an inevitable step in post-processing of grace fields to extract meaningful information about mass redistribution in the Earth-system. It is well known from previous studies that a number can be allotted to the spatial resolution of a band-limited spherical harmonic spectrum and also to a filtered field. Furthermore, it is now a common practice to correct the filtered grace data for signal damage due to filtering (or convolution in the spatial domain). These correction methods resemble deconvolution, and, therefore, the spatial resolution of the corrected grace data have to be reconsidered. Therefore, the effective spatial resolution at which we can obtain mass changes from grace products is an area of debate. In this contribution, we assess the spatial resolution both theoretically and practically. We confirm that, theoretically, the smallest resolvable catchment is directly related to the band-limit of the spherical harmonic spectrum of the grace data. However, due to the approximate nature of the correction schemes and the noise present in grace data, practically, the complete band-limited signal cannot be retrieved. In this context, we perform a closed-loop simulation comparing four popular correction schemes over 255 catchments to demarcate the minimum size of the catchment whose signal can be efficiently recovered by the correction schemes. We show that the amount of closure error is inversely related to the size of the catchment area. We use this trade-off between the error and the catchment size for defining the potential spatial resolution of the grace product obtained from a correction method. The magnitude of the error and hence the spatial resolution are both dependent on the correction scheme. Currently, a catchment of the size ≈63,000 km 2 can be resolved at an error level of 2 cm in terms of equivalent water height.
Using Multi-Spectral UAV Imagery to Extract Tree Crop Structural Properties and Assess Pruning Effects
Authors: Johansen Kasper , Raharjo Tri , McCabe Matthew F.
Published: June 2018

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) provide an unprecedented capacity to monitor the development and dynamics of tree growth and structure through time. It is generally thought that the pruning of tree crops encourages new growth, has a positive effect on fruiting, makes fruit-picking easier, and may increase yield, as it increases light interception and tree crown surface area. To establish the response of pruning in an orchard of lychee trees, an assessment of changes in tree structure, i.e., tree crown perimeter, width, height, area and Plant Projective Cover (PPC), was undertaken using multi-spectral UAV imagery collected before and after a pruning event. While tree crown perimeter, width and area could be derived directly from the delineated tree crowns, height was estimated from a produced canopy height model and PPC was most accurately predicted based on the NIR band. Pre- and post-pruning results showed significant differences in all measured tree structural parameters, including an average decrease in tree crown perimeter of 1.94 m, tree crown width of 0.57 m, tree crown height of 0.62 m, tree crown area of 3.5 m2, and PPC of 14.8%. In order to provide guidance on data collection protocols for orchard management, the impact of flying height variations was also examined, offering some insight into the influence of scale and the scalability of this UAV-based approach for larger orchards. The different flying heights (i.e., 30, 50 and 70 m) produced similar measurements of tree crown width and PPC, while tree crown perimeter, area and height measurements decreased with increasing flying height. Overall, these results illustrate that routine collection of multi-spectral UAV imagery can provide a means of assessing pruning effects on changes in tree structure in commercial orchards, and highlight the importance of collecting imagery with consistent flight configurations, as varying flying heights may cause changes to tree structural measurements.
Night-Time Light Dynamics during the Iraqi Civil War
Authors: Li Xi , Liu Shanshan , Jendryke Michael , Li Deren , Wu Chuanqing
Published: June 2018

In this study, we analyzed the night-time light dynamics in Iraq over the period 2012–2017 by using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) monthly composites. The data quality of VIIRS images was improved by repairing the missing data, and the Night-time Light Ratio Indices (NLRIs), derived from urban extent map and night-time light images, were calculated for different provinces and cities. We found that when the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attacked or occupied a region, the region lost its light rapidly, with the provinces of Al-Anbar, At-Ta’min, Ninawa, and Sala Ad-din losing 63%, 73%, 88%, and 56%, of their night-time light, respectively, between December 2013 and December 2014. Moreover, the light returned after the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) recaptured the region. In addition, we also found that the night-time light in the Kurdish Autonomous Region showed a steady decline after 2014, with the Arbil, Dihok, and As-Sulaymaniyah provinces losing 47%, 18%, and 31% of their night-time light between December 2013 and December 2016 as a result of the economic crisis in the region. The night-time light in Southern Iraq, the region controlled by Iraqi central government, has grown continuously; for example, the night-time light in Al Basrah increased by 75% between December 2013 and December 2017. Regions formerly controlled by ISIS experienced a return of night-time light during 2017 as the ISF retook almost all this territory in 2017. This indicates that as reconstruction began, electricity was re-supplied in these regions. Our analysis shows the night-time light in Iraq is directly linked to the socioeconomic dynamics of Iraq, and demonstrates that the VIIRS monthly night-time light images are an effective data source for tracking humanitarian disasters in that country.
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Chinese Vegetation Net Primary Productivity from the 1960s to the 2000s
Authors: Shang Erping , Xu Erqi , Zhang Hongqi , Liu Fang
Published: June 2018

Field net primary productivity (NPP) is useful in research modeling of regional and global carbon cycles and for validating results by remote sensing or process-based models. In this study, we used multiple models of NPP estimation and vegetation classification methods to study Chinese vegetation NPP characteristics, trends, and drivers using 7618 field measurements from the 1960s, 1980s, and 2000s. The values of other relevant NPP models, as well as process-based simulation and remote sensing models, were compared. Our results showed that NPP ranged from 3 to 12,407 gC·m−2·year−1 with a mean value of 571 gC·m−2·year−1. Vegetation NPP gradually decreased from the southeast to the northwest. Forest, farmland, and grassland NPP was 1152, 294, and 518 gC·m−2·year−1, respectively. Total NPP of grassland was higher than that of farmland. Total terrestrial NPP decreased from 3.58 to 3.41 Pg C·year−1 from the 1960s to the 2000s, a decadal decrease of 4.7%. Total NPP in forests and grasslands consistently showed a decreasing trend and decreased by 0.46 Pg C·year−1and 0.16 Pg C·year−1, respectively, whereas NPP for farmland showed an opposite trend, with a growth of 0.45 Pg C·year−1. Our research findings filled gaps in the information regarding NPP for the entire landmass of China based on field data from a long-term time series and provide valuable information and a basis for validation analyses by remote sensing models, as well as a robust quantification of carbon estimation to anticipate future development at the national and global scale.
Analysis of Wide-Lane Ambiguities Derived from Geometry-Free and Geometry-Based Precise Point Positioning Models and Their Implication for Orbit and Clock Quality
Authors: Chen Gang , Liu Sijing , Zhao Qile
Published: June 2018

Orbit and clock products are used in real-time global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) precise point positioning (PPP) without knowing their quality. This study develops a new approach to detect orbit and clock errors through comparing geometry-free and geometry-based wide-lane ambiguities in a PPP model. The reparameterization and estimation procedures of the geometry-free and geometry-based ambiguities are described in detail. The effects of orbit and clock errors on ambiguities are given in analytical expressions. The numerical similarity and differences of geometry-free and geometry-based wide-lane ambiguities are analyzed using different orbit and clock products. Furthermore, two types of typical errors in orbit and clock are simulated and their effects on wide-lane ambiguities are numerically produced and analyzed. The contribution discloses that the geometry-free and geometry-based wide-lane ambiguities are equivalent in terms of their formal errors. Although they are very close in terms of their estimates when the used orbit and clock for geometry-based ambiguities are precise enough, they are not the same, in particular, in the case that the used orbit and clock, as a combination, contain significant errors. It is discovered that the discrepancies of geometry-free and geometry-based wide-lane ambiguities coincide with the actual time-variant errors in the used orbit and clock at the line-of-sight direction. This provides a quality index for real-time users to detect the errors in real-time orbit and clock products, which potentially improves the accuracy of positioning.
Development of A Low-Cost FPGA-Based Measurement System for Real-Time Processing of Acoustic Emission Data: Proof of Concept Using Control of Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids
Authors: Wirtz Sebastian F. , Cunha Adauto P. A. , Labusch Marc , Marzun Galina , Barcikowski Stephan , Söffker Dirk
Published: June 2018

Today, the demand for continuous monitoring of valuable or safety critical equipment is increasing in many industrial applications due to safety and economical requirements. Therefore, reliable in-situ measurement techniques are required for instance in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) as well as process monitoring and control. Here, current challenges are related to the processing of sensor data with a high data rate and low latency. In particular, measurement and analyses of Acoustic Emission (AE) are widely used for passive, in-situ inspection. Advantages of AE are related to its sensitivity to different micro-mechanical mechanisms on the material level. However, online processing of AE waveforms is computationally demanding. The related equipment is typically bulky, expensive, and not well suited for permanent installation. The contribution of this paper is the development of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based measurement system using ZedBoard devlopment kit with Zynq-7000 system on chip for embedded implementation of suitable online processing algorithms. This platform comprises a dual-core Advanced Reduced Instruction Set Computer Machine (ARM) architecture running a Linux operating system and FPGA fabric. A FPGA-based hardware implementation of the discrete wavelet transform is realized to accelerate processing the AE measurements. Key features of the system are low cost, small form factor, and low energy consumption, which makes it suitable to serve as field-deployed measurement and control device. For verification of the functionality, a novel automatically realized adjustment of the working distance during pulsed laser ablation in liquids is established as an example. A sample rate of 5 MHz is achieved at 16 bit resolution.
Cross-Cultural Comparison between German, French and Dutch Consumer Preferences for Meat Substitutes
Authors: Weinrich Ramona
Published: June 2018

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for consumers when purchasing food. As meat production has a significant impact on the environment, meat substitutes are becoming more and more popular in Europe. However, consumers who regularly buy meat substitutes are still the exception. Although there are some initial results indicating why this proportion is still low, most research has been concentrated in the Netherlands. This paper aims to compare reasons for consuming or not consuming meat substitutes in three European countries—Germany, the Netherlands and France. As very little is known about the underlying reasons, an explorative approach was chosen. Focus group discussions were carried out in all three countries, six altogether. The results show that all participants can enumerate meat substitutes. The main reason for not consuming meat substitutes is the taste of meat. Further, eating habits seem to be fixed and convenience might also be an impediment to reducing meat consumption in favour of meat substitutes, as is confusion regarding healthy eating.
Factors Affecting Time Spent Visiting Heritage City Areas
Authors: Martinez-Garcia Esther , Raya-Vilchez Josep M. , Galí Nuria
Published: June 2018

Urban tourism is growing fast, and in many cities visitor influx tends to concentrate in historic urban centers. When there are large numbers of visitors, deepening the knowledge on visitor time consumption is critical to better managing their impact on the city, and creating a sustainable city tourism destination. This has generated an increasing interest in the micro-spatial and temporal dimensions of tourist behavior in city tourism research and planning. This article focuses on modelling the factors affecting the duration of visits to each heritage attraction, and to the whole visit to the heritage city. This study adds to previous research in several ways: it uses survival models; distinguishes between attractions with and without an entrance fee; and tests how visitor type affects time behavior, for example, day visitor versus tourists, peak season versus off-peak season, informed visitors versus non-informed visitors, highly motivated visitors versus visitors with low motivation. Results show that there is significant heterogeneity in time consumption. This is generated by factors such as traveling with children, cultural proximity, rating of the attraction, and price and time constraints. Some evidence is also found, which suggests first-time visitor and informed visitors have an impact on time consumption.
Inclusion of Life Cycle Thinking in a Sustainability-Oriented Consumer’s Typology: A Proposed Methodology and an Assessment Tool
Authors: Lewandowska Anna , Witczak Joanna , Giungato Pasquale , Dierks Christian , Kurczewski Przemyslaw , Pawlak-Lemanska Katarzyna
Published: June 2018

Characterizing consumers in terms of their propensity to practice sustainable consumption represents an interesting research challenge in which a crucial role is played by the questionnaire in terms of its structure and classification criteria. Various classification rules have been proposed in the literature, which can be used to identify consumer types and signify their propensity to practice the principles of sustainable development in daily life. In this paper, we based our approach in designing a classification tool on a combination of two elements: the concept of voluntary simplicity as a pillar for consumer characteristics and the idea of assessing consumers by using filters, in a modified form introducing many new aspects of life-cycle thinking. The tool proposed provides insight into the relationship between the consumer’s typology and behavior during purchasing decisions in daily life. The main function of the proposed tool is to assign respondents to one of the proposed consumer types distinguished and characterized in terms of many aspects of life cycle thinking. A pilot survey has been performed in order to verify the proposed tool, and the survey results have been presented in the paper, as well.
Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Aggregation Operators Based on the Hamacher t-norm and t-conorm
Authors: Zhu Jianghong , Li Yanlai
Published: June 2018

Hesitant fuzzy linguistic (HFL) term set, as a very flexible tool to represent the judgments of decision makers, has attracted the attention of many researchers. In recent years, some HFL aggregation operators have been developed to aggregate the HFL information. However, most of these operators are proposed based on the Algebraic product and Algebraic sum. In this paper, we presented some HFL aggregation operators to handle HFL information based on Hamacher triangle norms. We first define new operational laws on the HFL element according to Hamacher triangle norms. Then we present a family of HFL Hamacher aggregation operators, including the HFL Hamacher weighted averaging, HFL Hamacher weighted geometric, HFL Hamacher power weighted averaging and HFL Hamacher power weighted geometric operators and their generalized forms. We also investigate some special cases and properties of these operators in detail. Furthermore, we develop two approaches based on the proposed operators to deal with the multi-criteria decision-making problem with HFL information. Finally, a numerical example with regard to choosing a suitable city to release sharing car is provided to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method, and the advantages of the proposed methods are shown by conducting a sensitivity and comparative analysis.
A Classical Group of Neutrosophic Triplet Groups Using {Z2p, ×}
Authors: W.B. Vasantha Kandasamy , Kandasamy Ilanthenral , Smarandache Florentin
Published: June 2018

In this paper we study the neutrosophic triplet groups for a ∈ Z 2 p and prove this collection of triplets a , n e u t ( a ) , a n t i ( a ) if trivial forms a semigroup under product, and semi-neutrosophic triplets are included in that collection. Otherwise, they form a group under product, and it is of order ( p − 1 ) , with ( p + 1 , p + 1 , p + 1 ) as the multiplicative identity. The new notion of pseudo primitive element is introduced in Z 2 p analogous to primitive elements in Z p , where p is a prime. Open problems based on the pseudo primitive elements are proposed. Here, we restrict our study to Z 2 p and take only the usual product modulo 2 p .
Serial Use of Helosciadum nodiflorum and Typha latifolia in Mediterranean Constructed Wetlands to Naturalize Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Camacho Antonio , Picazo Antonio , Rochera Carlos , Peña María , Morant Daniel , Miralles-Lorenzo Javier , Santamans Anna C. , Estruch Héctor , Montoya Tatiana , Fayos Gloria , Ferriol Carmen
Published: June 2018

Constructed wetlands are commonly used for sewage treatment. However, as the natural processes operate, these artificial ecosystems can also be used to enhance the equalization of water features to those of the receiving environments, thus reducing the impacts of the treated water on the natural systems. Here, we studied, by a year-round survey, the simultaneous and separated operation of two subsurface wetlands that were used as a tertiary treatment to enhance the naturalization of wastewaters that had already been treated in a waste water treatment plant (WWTP). These wetlands were operating serially, with the first wetland being covered by the riparian plant Helosciadum nodiflorum, which has not been described so far as being used in treatment wetland, whereas the second was covered by Typha latifolia. The changes in the concentrations and transformation among the different types of pollutants and other physical and chemical parameters, as well as in the bacterial abundance and activity, were studied under different operational conditions of serial co-operation or of separately-operating wetlands. Both wetlands were differentially efficient in the reduction and transformation of the remaining pollutants, with very active nitrification and denitrification processes, which reduced the ammonium concentrations by more than 65%, although they changed according to the operational status of each wetland. They also reduced the already low organic matter contents by around 30% and promoted slight shifts in the dominant types of dissolved organic matter to less labile compounds. To a certain extent, the Typha-covered wetland also contributed to phosphorus removal, by up to 35%. Noticeably, both of the wetlands contributed greatly to the reduction of bacterial abundance, which was even 50% lower after the wetland transit, although the resulting community increased its activity, thus keeping the capacity for pollutant removal and transformation. Overall, the wetlands’ operation increased the similarity between the poured waters and those of the receiving stream, thus diminishing its environmental impact.
Effectiveness, Complications, and Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment with Biologics in Alberta: Experience of Indigenous and Non-indigenous Patients
Authors: Barnabe Cheryl , Zheng Yufei , Ohinmaa Arto , Crane Louise , White Tyler , Hemmelgarn Brenda , Kaplan Gilaad G. , Martin Liam , Maksymowych Walter P.
Published: June 2018

Objective.

To examine clinical effectiveness, treatment complications, and healthcare costs for indigenous and non-indigenous Albertans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) participating in the Alberta Biologics Pharmacosurveillance program.

Methods.

Patients initiating biologic therapy in Alberta (2004–2012) were characterized for disease severity and treatment response. Provincial hospitalization separations, physician claims, outpatient department data, and emergency department data were used to estimate treatment complication event rates and healthcare costs.

Results.

Indigenous patients (n = 90) presented with higher disease activity [mean 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) 6.11] than non-indigenous patients (n = 1400, mean DAS28 5.19, p < 0.0001). Improvements in DAS28, function, swollen joint count, CRP, and patient and physician global evaluation scores were comparable to non-indigenous patients, but indigenous patients did not have a significant improvement in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (−0.31 per month, 95% CI −0.79 to 0.16, p = 0.199). At the end of study followup, 13% (12/90) of indigenous and 33% (455/1400) of non-indigenous patients were in DAS28 remission (p < 0.001). Indigenous patients had a 40% increased risk of all-cause hospitalization [adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.8, p = 0.01] and a 4-fold increase in serious infection rate (adjusted IRR 4.0, 95% CI 2.3–7.0, p < 0.001). Non-indigenous patients incurred higher costs for RA-related hospitalizations (difference $896, 95% CI 520–1273, p < 0.001), and outpatient department visits (difference $128, 95% CI 2–255, p = 0.047).

Conclusion.

We identified disparities in treatment outcomes, safety profiles, and patient-experienced effects of RA for the indigenous population in Alberta. These disparities are critical to address to facilitate and achieve desired RA outcomes from individual and population perspectives.
Estancias subterráneas y aestiva loca en la arquitectura doméstica hispanorromana
Authors: Durán Cabello Rosalía M.ª , Rodríguez Martín F. Germán
Published: June 2018

El presente trabajo aborda la presencia de estancias subterráneas en las viviendas romanas. Estas habitaciones estuvieron destinadas, en la mayoría de los casos, a soportar los rigores estivales en las regiones mediterráneas, aunque en ocasiones también llegaron a emplearse como lugares de almacenaje. Al tratarse de aposentos cuyo uso estaba destinado, primordialmente, al descanso del dominus y de su familia durante el verano, hemos preferido denominarlas como aestiva loca, tal y como se mencionan en las fuentes clásicas. En los trabajos sobre arquitectura doméstica hispanorromana estas habitaciones han pasado prácticamente desapercibidas, salvo en contadas excepciones. Aquí presentamos un catálogo de las estancias que hasta el momento hemos podido reconocer, dado que la mayoría de ellas cambió de funcionalidad con el paso del tiempo, por lo que su identificación se hace muy compleja. Hemos podido identificar dos grupos, uno de ellos muy semejante a los loca aestiva del Norte de África o Italia, y otro, concentrado al este de la submeseta norte. Estos últimos podrían ser simples sótanos.
Más allá del mito: una lectura social del mosaico de los Doce Trabajos de Hércules (Liria, Valencia)
Authors: Peñalver Carrascosa Tamara
Published: June 2018

Con ocasión del centenario del descubrimiento del mosaico de los Doce Trabajos de Hércules en Liria (Valencia), este artículo pretende abordar aspectos hasta ahora poco tratados en trabajos precedentes. Dentro del estudio de los espacios domésticos romanos entendemos que la decoración de las estancias es una parte vital para la interpretación funcional de las mismas. A lo largo de los años, diversos estudios han centrado sus esfuerzos en realizar un análisis descriptivo del mosaico de Liria, haciendo apenas una mención a la interpretación social del mismo, mientras las tendencias actuales abogan por abordar otros aspectos como el estudio de las élites y su simbología. Por esta razón, nuestro objetivo en este artículo es analizar la vertiente social de este pavimento, cuya particular elección del motivo central, que desde luego no es aleatoria, combinado con las doce tareas, lo convierte en un unicum. Esta selección solía estar relacionada con la identidad del propietario/a de la vivienda, aspecto que también trataremos de dilucidar.
Revisión de los testimonios y documentos sobre el lugar del hallazgo de la Dama de Elche. La “fita” de Pedro Ibarra y la recreación de Ramos Folqués
Authors: Ronda Femenia Ana M.ª
Published: June 2018

El descubrimiento de la Dama de Elche en el yacimiento de La Alcudia ha cumplido 120 años el pasado 4 de agosto de 2017. La historia sobre el hallazgo ha llegado hasta nosotros por un protagonista coetáneo al momento: el archivero ilicitano Pedro Ibarra Ruiz. El regreso de la escultura en 1941, motivado por un canje entre el gobierno francés del mariscal Pétain y Franco, disparó el interés por la célebre escultura ibérica y su historia. Alejandro Ramos Folqués, dueño y excavador del yacimiento de La Alcudia, presentó el relato de un nuevo y desconocido descubridor, que varió algunas partes del testimonio original de Pedro Ibarra. El análisis actualizado de los testimonios gráficos y documentales, nos han permitido sacar a la luz nuevas hipótesis sobre el contexto arqueológico en que debió aparecer la obra cumbre de la escultura ibérica.