bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Children’s Eating Behaviours
Authors: Scaglioni Silvia , De Cosmi Valentina , Ciappolino Valentina , Parazzini Fabio , Brambilla Paolo , Agostoni Carlo
Published: June 2018

Relevant factors involved in the creation of some children’s food preferences and eating behaviours have been examined in order to highlight the topic and give paediatricians practical instruments to understand the background behind eating behaviour and to manage children’s nutrition for preventive purposes. Electronic databases were searched to locate and appraise relevant studies. We carried out a search to identify papers published in English on factors that influence children’s feeding behaviours. The family system that surrounds a child’s domestic life will have an active role in establishing and promoting behaviours that will persist throughout his or her life. Early-life experiences with various tastes and flavours have a role in promoting healthy eating in future life. The nature of a narrative review makes it difficult to integrate complex interactions when large sets of studies are involved. In the current analysis, parental food habits and feeding strategies are the most dominant determinants of a child’s eating behaviour and food choices. Parents should expose their offspring to a range of good food choices while acting as positive role models. Prevention programmes should be addressed to them, taking into account socioeconomic aspects and education.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Milk Feeding and Morbidity in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Authors: Miller Jacqueline , Tonkin Emma , Damarell Raechel A. , McPhee Andrew J. , Suganuma Machiko , Suganuma Hiroki , Middleton Philippa F. , Makrides Maria , Collins Carmel T.
Published: June 2018

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised the post-1990 literature examining the effect of human milk on morbidity, specifically necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), late onset sepsis (LOS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and neurodevelopment in infants born ≤28 weeks’ gestation and/or publications with reported infant mean birth weight of ≤1500 g. Online databases including Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, and comparisons were grouped as follows: exclusive human milk (EHM) versus exclusive preterm formula (EPTF), any human milk (HM) versus EPTF, higher versus lower dose HM, and unpasteurised versus pasteurised HM. Experimental and observational studies were pooled separately in meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed for each individual study and the GRADE system used to judge the certainty of the findings. Forty-nine studies (with 56 reports) were included, of which 44 could be included in meta-analyses. HM provided a clear protective effect against NEC, with an approximate 4% reduction in incidence. HM also provided a possible reduction in LOS, severe ROP and severe NEC. Particularly for NEC, any volume of HM is better than EPTF, and the higher the dose the greater the protection. Evidence regarding pasteurisation is inconclusive, but it appears to have no effect on some outcomes. Improving the intake of mother’s own milk (MOM) and/or donor HM results in small improvements in morbidity in this population.
Impact of Vitamin D on the Cardiovascular System in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Dialysis Patients
Authors: Gluba-Brzózka Anna , Franczyk Beata , Ciałkowska-Rysz Aleksandra , Olszewski Robert , Rysz Jacek
Published: June 2018

In patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is much more common than in the general population. The role of vitamin D deficiency had been underestimated until a significant association was found between vitamin D therapy and survival benefit in haemodialysis patients. Vitamin D deficiency is present even in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. The results of experimental studies have revealed the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and impairment of cardiac contractile function, higher cardiac mass and increased myocardial collagen content. Experimental models propose that intermediate end points for the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and higher risk of cardiovascular disease comprise diminished left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), enhanced left ventricular diastolic function, and decreased frequency of heart failure. Multiple observational studies have demonstrated an association between the use of active vitamin D therapy in patients on dialysis and with CKD and improved survival. However, there are also many studies indicating important adverse effects of such treatment. Therefore, large randomized trials are required to analyze whether supplementation of vitamin D may affect outcomes and whether it is safe to be used in CKD patients.
Using a Model to Design Activity-Based Educational Experiences to Improve Cultural Competency among Graduate Students
Authors: Bauer Kathleen , Bai Yeon
Published: June 2018

To improve the cultural competency of 34 students participating in graduate nutrition counseling classes, the Campinha-Bacote Model of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Health Care Services was used to design, implement, and evaluate counseling classes. Each assignment and activity addressed one or more of the five constructs of the model, i.e., knowledge, skill, desire, encounters, and awareness. A repeated measure ANOVA evaluated pre- and post-test cultural competence scores (Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence among Healthcare Professionals). The overall cultural competence score significantly improved (p < 0.001) from “culturally aware” (68.7 at pre-test) to “culturally competent” (78.7 at post-test). Students significantly improved (p < 0.001) in four constructs of the model including awareness, knowledge, skill, and encounter. Factor analysis indicated that course activities accounted for 83.2% and course assignments accounted for 74.6% of the total variance of cultural competence. An activity-based counseling course encouraging self-evaluation and reflection and addressing Model constructs significantly improved the cultural competence of students. As class activities and assignments aligned well with the Campinha-Bacote Model constructs, the findings of this study can help guide health educators to design effective cultural competence training and education programs.
Exploring the Role of Cell Wall-Related Genes and Polysaccharides during Plant Development
Authors: Tucker Matthew R. , Lou Haoyu , Aubert Matthew K. , Wilkinson Laura G. , Little Alan , Houston Kelly , Pinto Sara C. , Shirley Neil J.
Published: June 2018

The majority of organs in plants are not established until after germination, when pluripotent stem cells in the growing apices give rise to daughter cells that proliferate and subsequently differentiate into new tissues and organ primordia. This remarkable capacity is not only restricted to the meristem, since maturing cells in many organs can also rapidly alter their identity depending on the cues they receive. One general feature of plant cell differentiation is a change in cell wall composition at the cell surface. Historically, this has been viewed as a downstream response to primary cues controlling differentiation, but a closer inspection of the wall suggests that it may play a much more active role. Specific polymers within the wall can act as substrates for modifications that impact receptor binding, signal mobility, and cell flexibility. Therefore, far from being a static barrier, the cell wall and its constituent polysaccharides can dictate signal transmission and perception, and directly contribute to a cell’s capacity to differentiate. In this review, we re-visit the role of plant cell wall-related genes and polysaccharides during various stages of development, with a particular focus on how changes in cell wall machinery accompany the exit of cells from the stem cell niche.
Fully Kinetic Simulation of Ion-Temperature-Gradient Instabilities in Tokamaks
Authors: Hu Youjun , Miecnikowski Matthew , Chen Yang , Parker Scott
Published: June 2018

The feasibility of using full ion kinetics, instead of gyrokinetics, in simulating low-frequency Ion-Temperature-Gradient (ITG) instabilities in tokamaks has recently been demonstrated. The present work extends the full ion kinetics to the nonlinear regime and investigates the nonlinear saturation of a single-n ITG instability due to the E × B trapping mechanism (n is the toroidal mode number). The saturation amplitude predicted by the E × B trapping theory is found to agree with the saturation level observed in the simulation. In extending to the nonlinear regime, we developed a toroidal Boris full orbit integrator, which proved to be accurate in capturing both the short-time scale cyclotron motion and long time scale drift motion, with good kinetic energy conservation and toroidal angular momentum conservation in tokamak equilibrium magnetic fields. This work also extends the previous work from analytic circular magnetic equilibria to general numerical magnetic equilibria, enabling simulation of realistic equilibria reconstructed from tokamak experiments.
Recent Progress of Imprinted Polymer Photonic Waveguide Devices and Applications
Authors: Han Xiu-You , Wu Zhen-Lin , Yang Si-Cheng , Shen Fang-Fang , Liang Yu-Xin , Wang Ling-Hua , Wang Jin-Yan , Ren Jun , Jia Ling-Yun , Zhang Hua , Bo Shu-Hui , Morthier Geert , Zhao Ming-Shan
Published: June 2018

Polymers are promising materials for fabricating photonic integrated waveguide devices. Versatile functional devices can be manufactured using a simple process, with low cost and potential mass-manufacturing. This paper reviews the recent progress of polymer photonic integrated devices fabricated using the UV imprinting technique. The passive polymer waveguide devices for wavelength filtering, power splitting, and light collecting, and the active polymer waveguide devices based on the thermal-optic tuning effect, are introduced. Then, the electro-optic (EO) modulators, by virtue of the high EO coefficient of polymers, are described. Finally, the photonic biosensors, which are based on low-cost and biocompatible polymer platforms, are presented.
A Multivariate Analysis Framework to Detect Key Environmental Factors Affecting Spatiotemporal Variability of Chlorophyll-a in a Tropical Productive Estuarine-Lagoon System
Authors: Lins Regina Camara , Martinez Jean-Michel , Motta Marques David da , Cirilo José Almir , Medeiros Paulo Ricardo Petter , Fragoso Júnior Carlos Ruberto
Published: June 2018

Here, we demonstrate how a combination of three multivariate statistic techniques can identify key environmental factors affecting the seasonal and spatial variability of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in a productive tropical estuarine-lagoon system. Remote estimation of Chl-a was carried out using a NIR-Red model based on MODIS bands, which is highly consistent with the in situ measurement of Chl-a with root mean square error (RMSE) of 15.24 mg m−3 and 13.43 mg m−3 for two independent datasets used for the model’s calibration and validation, respectively. Our findings suggest that the river discharges and hydraulic residence time of the lagoons promote a stronger effect on the spatial variability of Chl-a in the coastal lagoons, while wind, solar radiation and temperature have a secondary importance. The results also indicate a slight seasonal variability of Chl-a in Mundaú lagoon, which are different the from Manguaba lagoon. The multivariate approach was able to fully understand the relative importance of key environmental factors on the spatiotemporal variability of Chl-a of the aquatic ecosystem, providing a powerful tool for reducing dimensionality and analyzing large amounts of satellite-derived Chl-a data.
Estimating Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) with the Google Earth Engine and Sentinel-2
Authors: Traganos Dimosthenis , Poursanidis Dimitris , Aggarwal Bharat , Chrysoulakis Nektarios , Reinartz Peter
Published: June 2018

Bathymetry mapping forms the basis of understanding physical, economic, and ecological processes in the vastly biodiverse coastal fringes of our planet which are subjected to constant anthropogenic pressure. Here, we pair recent advances in cloud computing using the geospatial platform of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) with optical remote sensing technology using the open Sentinel-2 archive, obtaining low-cost in situ collected data to develop an empirical preprocessing workflow for estimating satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB). The workflow implements widely used and well-established algorithms, including cloud, atmospheric, and sun glint corrections, image composition and radiometric normalisation to address intra- and inter-image interferences before training, and validation of four SDB algorithms in three sites of the Aegean Sea in the Eastern Mediterranean. Best accuracy values for training and validation were R2 = 0.79, RMSE = 1.39 m, and R2 = 0.9, RMSE = 1.67 m, respectively. The increased accuracy highlights the importance of the radiometric normalisation given spatially independent calibration and validation datasets. Spatial error maps reveal over-prediction over low-reflectance and very shallow seabeds, and under-prediction over high-reflectance (<6 m) and optically deep bottoms (>17 m). We provide access to the developed code, allowing users to map bathymetry by customising the time range based on the field data acquisition dates and the optical conditions of their study area.
Effect of Surface Coverage of Gold Nanoparticles on the Refractive Index Sensitivity in Fiber-Optic Nanoplasmonic Sensing
Authors: Wu Wei-Te , Chen Chien-Hsing , Chiang Chang-Yue , Chau Lai-Kwan
Published: June 2018

A simple theoretical model was developed to analyze the extinction spectrum of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the fiber core and glass surfaces in order to aid the determination of the surface coverage and surface distribution of the AuNPs on the fiber core surface for sensitivity optimization of the fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) sensor. The extinction spectrum of AuNPs comprises of the interband absorption of AuNPs, non-interacting plasmon resonance (PR) band due to isolated AuNPs, and coupled PR band of interacting AuNPs. When the surface coverage is smaller than 12.2%, the plasmon coupling effect can almost be ignored. This method is also applied to understand the refractive index sensitivity of the FOPPR sensor with respect to the non-interacting PR band and the coupled PR band. In terms of wavelength sensitivity at a surface coverage of 18.6%, the refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (205.5 nm/RIU) is greater than that of the non-interacting PR band (349.1 nm/RIU). In terms of extinction sensitivity, refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (−3.86/RIU) is similar to that of the non-interacting PR band (−3.93/RIU). Both maximum wavelength and extinction sensitivities were found at a surface coverage of 15.2%.
Compressed Sensing mm-Wave SAR for Non-Destructive Testing Applications Using Multiple Weighted Side Information
Authors: Becquaert Mathias , Cristofani Edison , Van Luong Huynh , Vandewal Marijke , Stiens Johan , Deligiannis Nikos
Published: June 2018

This work explores an innovative strategy for increasing the efficiency of compressed sensing applied on mm-wave SAR sensing using multiple weighted side information. The approach is tested on synthetic and on real non-destructive testing measurements performed on a 3D-printed object with defects while taking advantage of multiple previous SAR images of the object with different degrees of similarity. The tested algorithm attributes autonomously weights to the side information at two levels: (1) between the components inside the side information and (2) between the different side information. The reconstruction is thereby almost immune to poor quality side information while exploiting the relevant components hidden inside the added side information. The presented results prove that, in contrast to common compressed sensing, good SAR image reconstruction is achieved at subsampling rates far below the Nyquist rate. Moreover, the algorithm is shown to be much more robust for low quality side information compared to coherent background subtraction.
Detection of Sclerotinia Stem Rot on Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) Leaves Using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Kong Wenwen , Zhang Chu , Cao Feng , Liu Fei , Luo Shaoming , Tang Yu , He Yong
Published: June 2018

Hyperspectral imaging was explored to detect Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) on oilseed rape leaves with chemometric methods, and the influences of variable selection, machine learning, and calibration transfer methods on detection performances were evaluated. Three different sample sets containing healthy and infected oilseed rape leaves were acquired under different imaging acquisition parameters. Four discriminant models were built using full spectra, including partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN). PLS-DA and SVM models were also built with the optimal wavelengths selected by principal component analysis (PCA) loadings, second derivative spectra, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and successive projections algorithm (SPA). The optimal wavelengths selected for each sample set by different methods were different; however, the optimal wavelengths selected by PCA loadings and second derivative spectra showed similarity between different sample sets. Direct standardization (DS) was successfully applied to reduce spectral differences among different sample sets. Overall, the results demonstrated that using hyperspectral imaging with chemometrics for plant disease detection can be efficient and will also help in the selection of optimal variable selection, machine learning, and calibration transfer methods for fast and accurate plant disease detection.
Temperature Insensitivity Polarization-Controlled Orbital Angular Momentum Mode Converter Based on an LPFG Induced in Four-Mode Fiber
Authors: Liu Shen , Zhang Yan , Fu Cailing , Bai Zhiyong , Li Ziliang , Liao Changrui , Wang Ying , He Jun , Liu Yu , Wang Yiping
Published: June 2018

We propose a novel method for generating ±1-order orbital angular momentum (OAM) in long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) by adjusting a polarization controller (PC). An LPFG, inscribed in a four-mode fiber (4MF) using a CO2 laser, was used to generate OAM±1 across a broad range of wavelengths from 1530 nm to 1630 nm. Additionally, the OAM vortex phase remained stable while the temperature increased from 23 °C to 50 °C. The LPFG, as a temperature sensor, and its temperature sensitivity was measured to be 38.6 ± 0.37 pm/°C at the resonant wavelength of 1625 nm. This design offers simple fabrication and several properties which are highly beneficial for all-fiber optical communications based on the OAM mode-division multiplexing technique.
A Label-Free Aptasensor for Ochratoxin a Detection Based on the Structure Switch of Aptamer
Authors: Liu Feng , Ding Ailing , Zheng Jiushang , Chen Jiucun , Wang Bin
Published: June 2018

A label-free sensing platform is developed based on switching the structure of aptamer for highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). OTA induces the structure of aptamer, transforms into G-quadruplex and produces strong fluorescence in the presence of zinc(II)-protoporphyrin IX probe due to the specific bind to G-quadruplex. The simple method exhibits high sensitivity towards OTA with a detection limit of 0.03 nM and excellent selectivity over other mycotoxins. In addition, the successful detection of OTA in real samples represents a promising application in food safety.
Sensor Network Configuration Learning for Maximizing Application Performance
Authors: Helkey Joel , Holder Lawrence
Published: June 2018

Numerous applications rely on data obtained from a wireless sensor network where application performance is of utmost importance. However, energy usage is also important, and oftentimes, a subset of sensors can be selected to maximize application performance. We cast the problem of sensor selection as a local search optimization problem and solve it using a variant of stochastic hill climbing extended with novel heuristics. This paper introduces sensor network configuration learning, a feedback-based heuristic algorithm that dynamically reconfigures the sensor network to maximize the performance of the target application. The proposed algorithm is described in detail, along with experiments conducted and a scalability study. A quick method for launching the algorithm from a better starting point than random is also detailed. The performance of the algorithm is compared to that of two other well-known algorithms and randomness. Our simulation results obtained from running sensor network configuration learning on a number of scenarios show the effectiveness and scalability of our approach.
A Low-Profile Dual-Layer Patch Antenna with a Circular Polarizer Consisting of Dual Semicircular Resonators
Authors: Guo Li , Tang Ming-Chun , Li Mei
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a circular polarizer comprising dual semicircular split-rings (DSSRs) is presented. By placing it above an elliptical radiator that radiates linearly polarized (LP) waves, dual-layer patch antennas capable of radiating right-hand (RH) or left-hand (LH) circularly polarized (CP) waves are achieved in terms of the different offset direction of the bottom splits of the DSSRs. Because of both the capacitive coupling to the radiator and the degenerate modes existing in the excited DSSRs, the DSSRs collaboratively result in a circularly polarized radiation, successfully converting incident LP waves into CP ones. Simulated results show that the impedance, axial ratio (AR), and gain frequency response of both proposed CP antennas are identical, with a simulated 3-dB AR bandwidth of 72 MHz covering 2.402–2.474 GHz and a gain enhanced by 3.9 dB. The proposed antennas were fabricated and measured, revealing an operational bandwidth of 65 MHz (2.345–2.41 GHz) and a peak gain up to 9 dBi. Moreover, a low profile of 0.063λ0 is maintained. The proposed CP antennas could be as a candidate for wireless target detection applications in terms of their identical frequency response property.
Combining Motion Compensation with Spatiotemporal Constraint for Video Deblurring
Authors: Li Jing , Gong Weiguo , Li Weihong
Published: June 2018

We propose a video deblurring method by combining motion compensation with spatiotemporal constraint for restoring blurry video caused by camera shake. The proposed method makes effective full use of the spatiotemporal information not only in the blur kernel estimation, but also in the latent sharp frame restoration. Firstly, we estimate a motion vector between the current and the previous blurred frames, and introduce the estimated motion vector for deriving the motion-compensated frame with the previous restored frame. Secondly, we proposed a blur kernel estimation strategy by applying the derived motion-compensated frame to an improved regularization model for improving the quality of the estimated blur kernel and reducing the processing time. Thirdly, we propose a spatiotemporal constraint algorithm that can not only enhance temporal consistency, but also suppress noise and ringing artifacts of the deblurred video through introducing a temporal regularization term. Finally, we extend Fast Total Variation de-convolution (FTVd) for solving the minimization problem of the proposed spatiotemporal constraint energy function. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieve the state-of-the-art results either in subjective vision or objective evaluation.
Impact of Fermented Foods on Human Cognitive Function—A Review of Outcome of Clinical Trials
Authors: Sivamaruthi Bhagavathi Sundaram , Kesika Periyanaina , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat
Published: June 2018

Food is an essential need for all living creatures which provides the energy to maintain life and grow further. Fermentation is a process used to preserve and advance the quality of foods, and those foods are known as fermented foods. Some foods offer health benefits to consumers apart from nutrition, and such foods are called as functional foods. Most functional foods are fermented foods, and the fermenting microorganism plays a precious role in the functional property of the food. Cognitive decline is closely associated with the productivity of an individual and the society. Even though cognitive decline is connected to aging, dietary pattern influences memory, anxiety and other social behaviors. Many scientific studies have explained the link between food habits and cognitive functions by in vitro and in vivo models. The present review compiled the clinical data on the impact of fermented foods on human cognitive function.
Storm Power, an Icy Tower and Elsa’s Bower: The Winds of Change in Disney’s Frozen
Authors: Dundes Lauren , Streiff Madeline , Streiff Zachary
Published: June 2018

In Disney’s box office sensation Frozen (2013), Elsa conjures powers rivaling those of Zeus, which is an echo of the shifting gender dynamics at the time of the film’s release. By independently creating offspring Olaf and Marshmallow through whirlwinds, Elsa’s parthenogenesis (virgin birth) evokes wind-driven pollination, allowing her to circumvent any male role in creation. However, Elsa’s autonomy clashes with the traditional gender hierarchy, which is reinforced by a cultural context replete with latent symbolic meanings. Examples include both carrots and carats as phallic symbols, eggs as representations of the procreative potential that is appropriated by men and devalued in women, gender bias in perceptions of magic and enchantment, and the value of the nubile nymph over the tempestuous termagant. The normalcy of male dominance likely drives the resolution of the plot, in which Elsa learns to wield power in a non-threatening manner. In addition to having implications for gender roles, Frozen also portrays a mélange of gender symbolism through Elsa’s snowmen creations, which function as an expression of the storm of controversy surrounding the subversion of binary conceptions of gender. In the end, Frozen serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers inherent in an unattached female as the ultimate potentate. This content analysis suggests that the film reflects fears surrounding the maelstrom of societal changes including expanding fertility options and the re-conceptualization of gender identity--pressing issues likely to sustain Frozen’s relevance.
The Relationship between Parental Control and High-Risk Internet Behaviours in Adolescence
Authors: Álvarez-García David , García Trinidad , Suárez-García Zara
Published: June 2018

One of the main predictors of being a victim of cyber-aggression is engaging in high-risk behaviours on the internet. The main objective of this research is to analyse the relationship between two types of parental control (restriction and supervision) and engagement in high-risk internet behaviours during adolescence. To that end, and as a secondary objective, we designed and validated the High-risk Internet Behaviours Questionnaire for adolescents, used in this study. We analysed the responses of 946 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 to the High-risk Internet Behaviours Questionnaire and the Questionnaire on Parental Control of Internet Use in Adolescence. The results show that the questionnaire has appropriate metrics of reliability and validity, and show the existence of a statistically significant negative relationship, albeit small, between supervision and engaging in high-risk internet behaviours. We discuss the practical implications of these results.
The Impact of the Allocation of Facilities on Reducing Carbon Emissions from a Green Container Terminal Perspective
Authors: Peng Yun , Wang Wenyuan , Liu Ke , Li Xiangda , Tian Qi
Published: June 2018

The main contribution of this paper is to quantify the impact of the allocation of facilities, including the number of facilities and the fuels adopted by facilities, on carbon emissions. In order to deal with the complex queuing network of container terminals, a simulation model is established with the changing of the number of and the fuel adopted by facilities as inputs. Firstly, the operation process and complex queuing network of container terminals are described to explain why simulation technology needs to be used. Then, various simulation experiments based on a container terminal in Algeria are designed and carried out. Finally, the carbon emissions from facilities and ships at berth and inside container terminals, and the total carbon emissions inside container terminals, are obtained and analyzed. Results show that the emissions from facilities are only a small fraction of the total emissions of container terminals. Improving the number of trucks and yard cranes can help reduce carbon emissions, but when the number continues to rise, the emissions are decreased very slightly. The results obtained and proposed method can be applied to build a green container terminal, which can also be used for similar problems.
Integrating CFD and GIS into the Development of Urban Ventilation Corridors: A Case Study in Changchun City, China
Authors: Chang Shouzhi , Jiang Qigang , Zhao Ying
Published: June 2018

Given the situation of urban expansion and environmental deterioration, the government and researchers are paying considerable attention to ventilation corridors. The construction of urban ventilation corridors requires quantitative data support. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has advantages in the fine assessment of wind environment, and a geographic information system (GIS) has excellent performance in spatial analysis. With Changchun City used as an example, this study proposes the establishment of ventilation corridors on an urban scale to mitigate the urban-heat-island effect, and to accelerate the diffusion of air pollution. CFD simulations provided detailed spatiotemporal characteristics of wind speed and wind direction at various heights. These simulations were useful for identifying potential ventilation corridors. In general, the wind-speed and wind-direction characteristics at a height of 30 m clearly indicated potential ventilation corridors. Potential paths existed in the leading wind and south–north directions. The areas that required improvement were favorably situated in the path of potential ventilation corridors. The main roads, green spaces, and water had good connectivity. A total of five ventilation corridors were constructed, and they will directly affect the poor urban thermal environment, and enhance the mobility of air.
Consumer Intention toward Bringing Your Own Shopping Bags in Taiwan: An Application of Ethics Perspective and Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Chang Sheng-Hsiung , Chou Ching-Hsien
Published: June 2018

Following Chan and coworkers’ (2008) research, the current study integrated Hunt and Vitell’s (1986) ethics perspective and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to present a model that explains consumers’ intention to “Bring Your Own Shopping Bags” (BYOB) with grocery shopping. The proposed model is empirically validated in Taiwan. Based on a survey of 601 respondents, the findings suggest that consumers’ deontological evaluation is positively related to their attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, while teleological evaluation is positively related to perceived behavioral control only. In addition, the results also indicate that consumers’ attitude and perceived behavioral control has a positive relationship with BYOB intention, while subjective norm does not have a signification relationship with BYOB intention. In sum, this study contributes to the literature by providing insights for applying general ethics and theory of planned behavior to explain consumers’ BYOB behavior. The results also provide policy makers guidelines regarding BYOB. Managerial implications and research limitations are discussed at the end of this paper.
An Occupant-Oriented Calculation Method of Building Interior Cooling Load Design
Authors: Wang Zhaoxia , Ding Yan , Deng Huiyan , Yang Fan , Zhu Neng
Published: June 2018

Given continued improvement in the thermal performance of building envelopes, interior disturbances caused by occupant behavior now have the greatest impact on building loads and energy consumption. The accurate calculation of interior load during design stage was emphasized in this paper, and a new method was proposed. Indoor occupants were considered as the core of interior disturbances, and the relationship with other interior disturbances was explored. The interior heat release was arbitrarily combined with the representative cooling load to be utilized in building cooling load calculation. Field surveys were conducted in three typical university buildings: an office building, a teaching building, and a library, located in a university in Tianjin, China. The oversized chillers supplying cooling for the buildings resulted from the over-estimating of the indoor occupant number and the power density of electric appliances. Through quantitative analysis, it was observed that the maximum representative interior loads were 196.43, 329.94, and 402.58 W/person, respectively, for the case buildings, at least 50% less than the empirical design data. Compared to the measured cooling load during the testing period, the accuracy of the modified cooling load was greater than 90%. This research is intended to serve as a reference for calculating and optimizing the design loads of cooling systems.
Bridging Gaps in the Agricultural Phosphorus Cycle from an Animal Husbandry Perspective—The Case of Pigs and Poultry
Authors: Oster Michael , Reyer Henry , Ball Elizabeth , Fornara Dario , McKillen John , Sørensen Kristina Ulrich , Poulsen Hanne Damgaard , Andersson Kim , Ddiba Daniel , Rosemarin Arno , Arata Linda , Sckokai Paolo , Magowan Elizabeth , Wimmers Klaus
Published: June 2018

Since phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life, its usage and application across agricultural production systems requires great attention. Monogastric species such as pigs and poultry can significantly contribute to global food security but these animals remain highly dependent on the supply of mineral inorganic P in their feeds. Pig and poultry, which represent 70% of the global meat production, are also major P excretors and thus represent important sources of environmental P inputs. Balancing the P cycle within farming systems is crucial to achieve P sustainable and resilient livestock production. Therefore, the interconnection of animal feed, livestock farming, manure, and soil/aquatic ecosystems requires multidisciplinary approaches to improve P management. With regard to a sustainable agricultural P cycle, this study addresses aspects of feeding strategies and animal physiology (e.g., phase feeding, P conditioning, liquid feeding, phytase supplementation, genetics), soil agroecosystems (e.g., P cycling, P losses, P gains), reuse and recycling (e.g., manure, slaughter waste), measures of farmers’ economic performance (e.g., bio-economic models), and P governance/policy instruments (e.g., P quota, P tax). To reconcile the economic and ecological sustainability of animal husbandry, the strategic objective of future research will be to provide solutions for a sufficient supply of high-quality animal products from resource-efficient and economically competitive agro-systems which are valued by society and preserve soil and aquatic ecosystems.
Influencing Factors on the Ecological Protection Behaviors of Entrepreneurial Farmers in Chinese Forest Zones
Authors: Xue Yong-Ji , Deng Ting , Mao KuoRay
Published: June 2018

Following the collective forest tenure reforms in China, many households pursued entrepreneurial activities creating substantial pressure on the environment. This study examines data collected from 462 informants in 10 provinces in Southern China to understand how changes in attitudes toward ecological protection behavior occur. The internal mechanisms of ecological attitudes were explored using structural equation modeling to obtain a function path. Ecological emotion has a direct effect on ecological protection behavior by acting as an intermediary between ecological knowledge and ecological protection. Perceived ecological severity mediates between ecological knowledge and emotion influencing entrepreneurial farmers’ ecological protection behavior. The perception of individual effect is mediated by perceptions of ecological severity and ecological emotion, eventually affecting ecological protection behavior. A model of cognition–emotion–practice is proposed based on the findings.
Reflection Negative Kernels and Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Jorgensen Palle E. T. , Neeb Karl-Hermann , Ólafsson Gestur
Published: June 2018

In this article we study the connection of fractional Brownian motion, representation theory and reflection positivity in quantum physics. We introduce and study reflection positivity for affine isometric actions of a Lie group on a Hilbert space E and show in particular that fractional Brownian motion for Hurst index 0 < H ≤ 1 / 2 is reflection positive and leads via reflection positivity to an infinite dimensional Hilbert space if 0 < H < 1 / 2 . We also study projective invariance of fractional Brownian motion and relate this to the complementary series representations of GL 2 ( R ) . We relate this to a measure preserving action on a Gaussian L 2 -Hilbert space L 2 ( E ) .
A Bidirectional Diagnosis Algorithm of Fuzzy Petri Net Using Inner-Reasoning-Path
Authors: Zhou Kai-Qing , Gui Wei-Hua , Mo Li-Ping , Zain Azlan Mohd
Published: June 2018

Fuzzy Petri net (FPN) is a powerful tool to execute the fault diagnosis function for various industrial applications. One of the most popular approaches for fault diagnosis is to calculate the corresponding algebra forms which record flow information and three parameters of value of all places and transitions of the FPN model. However, with the rapid growth of the complexity of the real system, the scale of the corresponding FPN is also increased sharply. It indicates that the complexity of the fault diagnosis algorithm is also raised due to the increased scale of vectors and matrix. Focusing on this situation, a bidirectional adaptive fault diagnosis algorithm is presented in this article to reduce the complexity of the fault diagnosis process via removing irrelevant places and transitions of the large-scale FPN, followed by the correctness and algorithm complexity of the proposed approach that are also discussed in detail. A practical example is utilized to show the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed method. The results of the experiments illustrated that the proposed algorithm owns the ability to simplify the inference process and to reduce the algorithm complexity due to the removal of unnecessary places and transitions in the reasoning path of the appointed output place.
Monocentric Prospective Study into the Sustained Effect of Incobotulinumtoxin A (XEOMIN®) Botulinum Toxin in Chronic Refractory Migraine
Authors: Ion Ioana , Renard Dimitri , Le Floch Anne , De Verdal Marie , Bouly Stephane , Wacongne Anne , Lozza Alessandro , Castelnovo Giovanni
Published: June 2018

Refractory chronic migraine is a disabling disorder impacting quality of life. BOTOX® (Onabotulinumtoxin A) is approved as a prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine in patients unresponsive to at least three prior preventive treatments. The objective of this study was to determine the prophylactic effect of 145 U XEOMIN® (Incobotulinumtoxin A) injected at 31 specific sites in adult patients with refractory chronic migraine. Sixty-one patients (8 men and 53 women, mean age 50) with migraine were recruited, including 20 patients with isolated chronic migraine, 18 patients with chronic migraine associating tension-type headache, 12 patients with migraine associating medication overuse headache, and 11 patients with episodic disabling migraine. The mean number of injections and duration of treatment per patient was 3.5 (range 2–13) and 21 (6–68) months, respectively. From baseline to first injection, 44 patients (73%) had >50% reduction in frequency of migraine episodes, 29 patients (48%) showed >50% reduction in number of headache days, and 28 patients (46%) had a >50% reduction in drug intake. Stable response for all three parameters was observed after the last injection. XEOMIN® thus seems to represent an effective and sustained prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine.
Barriers to Food Security and Community Stress in an Urban Food Desert
Authors: Crowe Jessica , Lacy Constance , Columbus Yolanda
Published: June 2018

By analyzing data from focus groups in a poor, mostly African American neighborhood in a large U.S. city, we describe how residents in urban food deserts access food, the barriers they experience in accessing nutritious, affordable food, and how community food insecurity exacerbates prior social, built, and economic stressors. Provided the unwillingness of supermarkets and supercenters to locate to poor urban areas and the need for nutritious, affordable food, it may be more efficient and equitable for government programs to financially partner with ethnic markets and smaller locally-owned grocery stores to increase the distribution and marketing of healthy foods rather than to spend resources trying to entice a large supermarket to locate to the neighborhood. By focusing on improving the conditions of the neighborhood and making smaller grocery stores and markets more affordable and produce more attractive to residents, the social, built, and economic stressors experienced by residents will be reduced, thereby possibly improving overall mental and physical health.
Burkholderia cenocepacia Prophages—Prevalence, Chromosome Location and Major Genes Involved
Authors: Roszniowski Bartosz , McClean Siobhán , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna
Published: June 2018

Burkholderia cenocepacia, is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that belongs to Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) group. BCC representatives carry various pathogenicity factors and can infect humans and plants. Phages as bacterial viruses play a significant role in biodiversity and ecological balance in the environment. Specifically, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and lysogenic conversion (temperate phages) influence microbial diversification and fitness. In this study, we describe the prevalence and gene content of prophages in 16 fully sequenced B. cenocepacia genomes stored in NCBI database. The analysis was conducted in silico by manual and automatic approaches. Sixty-three potential prophage regions were found and classified as intact, incomplete, questionable, and artifacts. The regions were investigated for the presence of known virulence factors, resulting in the location of sixteen potential pathogenicity mechanisms, including toxin–antitoxin systems (TA), Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporters and responsible for drug resistance. Investigation of the region’s closest neighborhood highlighted three groups of genes with the highest occurrence—tRNA-Arg, dehydrogenase family proteins, and ABC transporter substrate-binding proteins. Searches for antiphage systems such as BacteRiophage EXclusion (BREX) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) in the analyzed strains suggested 10 sequence sets of CRISPR elements. Our results suggest that intact B. cenocepacia prophages may provide an evolutionary advantage to the bacterium, while domesticated prophages may help to maintain important genes.
Baculovirus Surface Display of Immunogenic Proteins for Vaccine Development
Authors: Premanand Balraj , Zhong Wee Poh , Prabakaran Mookkan
Published: June 2018

Vaccination is an efficient way to prevent the occurrence of many infectious diseases in humans. To date, several viral vectors have been utilized for the generation of vaccines. Among them, baculovirus—categorized as a nonhuman viral vector—has been used in wider applications. Its versatile features, like large cloning capacity, nonreplicative nature in mammalian cells, and broad tissue tropism, hold it at an excellent position among vaccine vectors. In addition to ease and safety during swift production, recent key improvements to existing baculovirus vectors (such as inclusion of hybrid promoters, immunostimulatory elements, etc.) have led to significant improvements in immunogenicity and efficacy of surface-displayed antigens. Furthermore, some promising preclinical results have been reported that mirror the scope and practicality of baculovirus as a vaccine vector for human applications in the near future. Herein, this review provides an overview of the induced immune responses by baculovirus surface-displayed vaccines against influenza and other infectious diseases in animal models, and highlights the strategies applied to enhance the protective immune responses against the displayed antigens.
Use of Decision Tables to Simulate Management in SWAT+
Authors: Arnold Jeffrey G. , Bieger Katrin , White Michael J. , Srinivasan Raghavan , Dunbar John A. , Allen Peter M.
Published: June 2018

Decision tables have been used for many years in data processing and business applications to simulate complex rule sets. Several computer languages have been developed based on rule systems and they are easily programmed in several current languages. Land management and river–reservoir models simulate complex land management operations and reservoir management in highly regulated river systems. Decision tables are a precise yet compact way to model the rule sets and corresponding actions found in these models. In this study, we discuss the suitability of decision tables to simulate management in the river basin scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) model. Decision tables are developed to simulate automated irrigation and reservoir releases. A simple auto irrigation application of decision tables was developed using plant water stress as a condition for irrigating corn in Texas. Sensitivity of the water stress trigger and irrigation application amounts were shown on soil moisture and corn yields. In addition, the Grapevine Reservoir near Dallas, Texas was used to illustrate the use of decision tables to simulate reservoir releases. The releases were conditioned on reservoir volumes and flood season. The release rules as implemented by the decision table realistically simulated flood releases as evidenced by a daily Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.52 and a percent bias of −1.1%. Using decision tables to simulate management in land, river, and reservoir models was shown to have several advantages over current approaches, including: (1) mature technology with considerable literature and applications; (2) ability to accurately represent complex, real world decision-making; (3) code that is efficient, modular, and easy to maintain; and (4) tables that are easy to maintain, support, and modify.