bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Uneven Price Impact of Energy Efficiency Ratings on Housing Segments. Implications for Public Policy and Private Markets
Authors: Marmolejo-Duarte Carlos , Chen Ai
Published: January 2019

In the literature, there is extensive, although in some cases inconclusive, evidence on the impact of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) on housing prices. Nonetheless, the question of whether such an impact is homogenous across residential segments remains highly unexplored. This paper addresses this latter issue utilizing multifamily listing data in metropolitan Barcelona. In doing so, first the entire sample is analyzed using a hedonic model. Second, the sample is split on the basis of a multivariate segmentation. Finally, separated hedonic models are specified again. The results suggest that in general, there is a modest impact of EPC ratings on listing prices, nonetheless it is not homogeneous across housing segments: (1) for the most modern apartments, with state-of-the-art features and active environmental comfort, energy ratings seem to play a null role in the formation of prices; (2) conversely, for the cheapest apartments, apartments boasting the most basic features, and apartments located in low-income areas, the “brown discount” is enormously significant, potentially depreciating the equity of those who have the least resources to carry out an energy retrofit. These results have implications for the assessment of the EPBD and its Spanish transposition, since a very well-intentioned environmental policy could have potentially harmful social repercussions in the absence of corrective measures.
Housing and the City: A Spatial Analysis of Residential Building Activity and the Socio-Demographic Background in a Mediterranean City, 1990–2017
Authors: Cecchini Massimo , Zambon Ilaria , Salvati Luca
Published: January 2019

Fluctuations in residential building activity are becoming progressively more intense over time and space in advanced economies and especially in Europe, fueling real estate market segmentation and making the performance of the construction industry increasingly unpredictable. If non-linear urbanization paths are the result of economic downturns consolidating progressively more volatile real estate markets, the present study investigates the impact of recent building cycles on long-term urban expansion in a Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece), using multiple clustering techniques run on a large set of building activity and socio-demographic indicators. Changes over time in building activity were evaluated considering 12 spatially-explicit indicators derived from the analysis of building permits released by Greek municipalities between 1990 and 2017. By referring to different analysis’ scales (macro-scale: settlements, meso-scale: buildings, micro-scale: dwellings), indicators allow a comprehensive investigation of multiple dimensions and characteristics of construction markets at four-time intervals of 7 years each (1990–1996, 1997–2003, 2004–2010, 2011–2017). Spatio-temporal variability in building activity was further investigated considering 12 contextual indicators assessing the basic socio-demographic attributes of local municipalities. Cluster analysis allows identification of distinctive, local-scale responses of real estate markets to economic cycles (expansion–stagnation–recession) in both short- and long-term horizons and relate them to the dominant socio-demographic context. Density of new buildings, average floors per new building, density of buildings’ additions and number of building permits per inhabitant were found to be the most sensitive indicators to economic downturns in the study area. Infrastructure-driven development, as a result of the 2004 Olympic Games, has produced relevant short-term alterations in residential construction markets, complicating urbanization trends at the local scale. Multi-scale indicators from building permit records provide a useful insight in the diachronic mechanisms of urban growth, with implications for regional planning and design of sustainable development practices.
Institutional Feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge in Northeast Ghana
Authors: Kwoyiga Lydia , Stefan Catalin
Published: January 2019

As part of global efforts to address the challenges that are confronting groundwater for various purposes (including irrigation), engineering methods such as Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) have been adopted. This wave of MAR has engulfed some parts of Northern Ghana, characterized by insufficient groundwater for dry-season irrigation. Inspired by the strides of these schemes, the paper assesses the institutional feasibility of MAR methods in the Atankwidi catchment where dry-season farmers may lose their source of livelihood due to limited access to groundwater. We used both primary and secondary data, together with policy documents, to address the following questions: (i) What provisions and impacts formal government institutions had for MAR, and; (ii) what catchment-level institutions exist which may influence MAR. The results show that formal government institutions do not prohibit the adoption of MAR in the country. Among these institutions, it is realized that laws/legislative instruments provide sufficient information and support for MAR than policies and administrative agencies. Moreover, catchment-level institutions which are informal in the form of taboos, rules, norms, traditions, and practices, together with local knowledge play a significant role as far as groundwater issues in the catchment are concerned, and are important for the adoption of MAR methods.
Social Network Analysis of Sustainable Human Resource Management from the Employee Training’s Perspective
Authors: Zhang Lu , Guo Xiaochao , Lei Zhimei , Lim Ming K.
Published: January 2019

Employee training is not only important for the continuous growth of human resources but also guarantees sustainable human resource management in enterprises. It is very important to understand corporate behaviour related to employee training not only from the perspective of a single enterprise but also from that of multiple enterprises. The purpose of this study is to explore multiple enterprises’ employee training behaviours by conducting a content analysis of corporate social responsibility (sustainability) reports and a social network analysis. This study also seeks to find a way to achieve sustainable employee training by analysing the similarities in the different types of corporate training behaviours. Our analysis shows that, in 2017, 108 types of training activities were implemented by 53 enterprises; the key employee trainings (e.g., security training and skills training) and enterprises (e.g., bank of communication) are identified. The training behaviours of some of the enterprises are similar to some extent, and eight groups of firms that are very similar are identified. The results of this study show that social network analysis performs well for studying corporate employee training behaviours. Some suggestions to minimize the investment costs of training and to improve the sustainability of human resource management from the employee training perspective are provided.
Revealing Urban Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emission Characteristics and Influencing Mechanisms from the Perspective of Commuting
Authors: Wang Huihui , Zeng Weihua
Published: January 2019

Commuting to and from work is one of the most important and regular routines using urban transport, being a major source for an increase in transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In this study, we explore the characteristics of CO2 emissions from commuter travel in Beijing from different perspectives. A bottom-up approach from a macro perspective is used to analyze recent changing trends of carbon emissions due to commuter travel modes in Beijing, and to identify the main sources of carbon emission increases that affect transportation. To identify CO2 emission characteristics and influencing mechanisms in Beijing, the proportion of commuting modes, commuting distance, and commuting-related CO2 emissions by Ring Roads was analyzed. The commuting-related CO2 emission model, based on Tobit models from the microscopic perspective, was constructed to explore the main factors affecting CO2 emissions of individuals/households. Results show that CO2 emissions due to commuting in Beijing in recent years has presented an increasing trend. In 2014, the amount of CO2 emissions from commuters had already reached the level of 553.68 × 104 t, with CO2 emissions generated by car trips accounting for 75–80% of emissions. Average individual/household commuting-related CO2 emissions on the Ring Road inside the main urban areas of Beijing shows a gradual increasing trend, with the growth trends between the 3rd–5th Ring Road being the largest. Household locations separated by Ring Roads and the occupation type of residents are important factors affecting CO2 emissions. Commuters with access to a car, those having a higher income, and those located in the outer regions of the main urban areas produce more CO2 emissions. To reduce the increasing trend of CO2 emissions in Beijing, it is important that the government accelerates the development of public transport, industry, and residential facilities along the outskirts of the city, along the Ring Road, and along the radix road.
Assessing the Potential of Sustainable Value Chains in the Collaborative Economy
Authors: Ertz Myriam , Sarigöllü Emine
Published: January 2019

The current business paradigm entails a narrow, profit-centered and managerially-focused nature. This article proposes that the study of the collaborative economy necessitates an inevitable shift in the conventional business paradigm and suggests that the institutional school of marketing thought, in general, and the electric theory of marketing, in particular, offers a useful theoretical framework for investigating the theoretical impact of the collaborative economy on the value chain. Uber is used as an illustrative case, on which the electric theory of marketing is applied, to demonstrate how the archetype of the collaborative economy theoretically impacts the value chain and contributes to sustainability in the value chain in the transportation services industry. The study provides further insights in the form of suggestions and propositions for ensuring sustainability in the value chain of collaborative systems.
Time Preferences between Individuals and Groups in the Transition from Hunter-Gatherer to Industrial Societies
Authors: Hernuryadin Yayan , Kotani Koji , Kamijo Yoshio
Published: January 2019

Three societies, namely the hunter-gatherer, the agrarian and the industrial, represent the course of human history of cultural and economic development. In this course, each society exhibits distinct cultures and daily life practices that shape human behaviors and preferences, characterizing temporal actions and consequences at the individual and group levels. We examine individual and group time preferences and their relation across the three societies. To this end, we conduct a field experiment to elicit individual and group discount factors in three societies of Indonesia—(i) the fisheries, (ii) the farming and (iii) the urban societies—as proxies of the hunter-gatherer, agrarian and industrial societies, respectively. We find that both individual and group discount factors are the lowest (highest) in the fisheries (agrarian) society, while those in the urban society are in the middle. We also observe that the determinants of group discount factors differ across societies: members of the lowest and middle discount factors in a group play an important role in determining the group discount factor in the fisheries society, while only the members with the middle discount factor are key in agrarian and urban societies. Overall, our results suggest that individual and group discount factors non-monotonically change as societies transition from fisheries to agrarian and from agrarian to urban and that comparatively shortsighted people (the lowest and middle) are more influential than farsighted people in determining group time preferences.
Is Foreign Aid Responsive to Environmental Needs and Performance of Developing Countries? Case Study of the Czech Republic.
Authors: Opršal Zdeněk , Harmáček Jaromír
Published: January 2019

This paper examines the responsiveness of foreign aid to environmental needs and performance of developing countries using, as an example, the Czech Republic. It focuses on the environmental component of foreign aid, which is defined as the development intervention of the Czech Government, which can be expected to have positive environmental impacts in target countries. The provision of environmental aid is based on the assumption that the Czech Republic has practical, transferable experience of qualitative improvements in the environment following the collapse of communist regime. Flows of environmental aid were determined by analyzing and categorizing individual development aid projects in the period 2000 to 2015. Regression analyses were employed to explain the pattern of Czech environmental aid allocations. The results show relatively limited reflection of the recipient’s environmental needs in the distribution of Czech environmental aid. Only two environmental objectives were significantly echoed in actual aid flows. The first was transfer of advanced environmental technologies and reductions in energy consumption, approximated by carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The second was protection of biodiversity, represented by the extinction risk of sets of species. The other five objectives did not play significant roles in environmental aid allocations. Above that, other factors not related to the environmental needs and performance of recipient countries affected Czech environmental aid. Among them, historical ties to other former communist countries were of high significance. The findings call into question the environmental objectives of Czech foreign aid and point to the need for transparent criteria for the allocation of environmental aid.
The Ambiguity in the Definition and Behavior of the Gravitational and Cosmological ‘Coupling Constants’ in the Theory of Induced Gravity
Authors: Zaripov Farkhat
Published: January 2019

This work is the extension of author’s research, where the modified theory of induced gravity (MTIG) is proposed. The theory describes two systems (stages): Einstein (ES) and “restructuring” (RS). We consider equations with quadratic potential that are symmetric with respect to scale transformations. The solutions of the equations obtained for the case of spaces defined by the Friedman-Robertson-Walker metric, as well as for a centrally symmetric space are investigated. In our model arise effective gravitational and cosmological “constants”, which are defined by the “mean square” of the scalar fields. In obtained solutions the values of such parameters as “Hubble parameter”, gravitational and cosmological “constants” in the RS stage fluctuate near monotonically evolving mean values. These parameters are matched with observational data, described as phenomena of dark energy and dark matter. The MTIG equations for the case of a centrally symmetric gravitational field, in addition to the Schwarzschild-de Sitter solutions, contain solutions that lead to the new physical effects at large distances from the center. The Schwarzschild-Sitter solution becomes unstable and enters the oscillatory regime. For distances greater than a certain critical value, the following effects can appear: deviation from General relativity and Newton’s law of gravitational interaction, antigravity.
Hybrid Image-Retrieval Method for Image-Splicing Validation
Authors: Pham Nam Thanh , Lee Jong-Weon , Kwon Goo-Rak , Park Chun-Su
Published: January 2019

Recently, the task of validating the authenticity of images and the localization of tampered regions has been actively studied. In this paper, we go one step further by providing solid evidence for image manipulation. If a certain image is proved to be the spliced image, we try to retrieve the original authentic images that were used to generate the spliced image. Especially for the image retrieval of spliced images, we propose a hybrid image-retrieval method exploiting Zernike moment and Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features. Due to the symmetry and antisymmetry properties of the Zernike moment, the scaling invariant property of SIFT and their common rotation invariant property, the proposed hybrid image-retrieval method is efficient in matching regions with different manipulation operations. Our simulation shows that the proposed method significantly increases the retrieval accuracy of the spliced images.
Frequency-Octupling Millimeter-Wave Optical Vector Signal Generation via an I/Q Modulator-Based Sagnac Loop
Authors: Yang Zhixian , Qu Kun , Liu Xiang
Published: January 2019

A new method for generating frequency-octupling millimeter-wave (mm-wave) vector signals in optical fields via a Sagnac loop is proposed. In this scheme, two orthogonally polarized fourth order sidebands can be obtained through an integrated dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulator. The two optical sidebands are sent into an I/Q modulator-based Sagnac loop. The I/Q modulator is modulated by a 16QAM baseband signal. In the Sagnac loop, one of the sidebands is modulated by the baseband vector signal along one direction, and the other sideband is unmodulated along the opposite direction because the I/Q modulator has the traveling-wave nature. Thanks to this modulation property and the symmetrical structure of the Sagnac loop, a frequency-octupling mm-wave vector signal that is free from interband beating and fiber chromatic dispersion interference can be generated by the photodetector (PD). After simulating a 20 km single-mode fiber (SMF) transmission, the generated frequency-octupling vector signal was good in function.
Hybrid Multivalued Type Contraction Mappings in αK-Complete Partial b-Metric Spaces and Applications
Authors: Ameer Eskandar , Aydi Hassen , Arshad Muhammad , Alsamir Habes , Noorani Mohd Selmi
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we initiate the notion of generalized multivalued ( α K * , Υ , Λ ) -contractions and provide some new common fixed point results in the class of α K -complete partial b-metric spaces. The obtained results are an improvement of several comparable results in the existing literature. We set up an example to elucidate our main result. Moreover, we present applications dealing with the existence of a solution for systems either of functional equations or of nonlinear matrix equations.
Selection of Fusarium Trichothecene Toxin Genes for Molecular Detection Depends on TRI Gene Cluster Organization and Gene Function
Authors: Villafana Ria T. , Ramdass Amanda C. , Rampersad Sephra N.
Published: January 2019

Food security is a global concern. Fusarium are among the most economically important fungal pathogens because they are ubiquitous, disease management remains a challenge, they produce mycotoxins that affect food and feed safety, and trichothecene mycotoxin production can increase the pathogenicity of some Fusarium species depending on the host species. Although trichothecenes may differ in structure by their patterns of hydroxylation or acetylation, these small changes have a significant impact on toxicity and the biological activity of these compounds. Therefore, detecting and identifying which chemotype is present in a given population are important to predicting the specific toxins that may be produced and, therefore, to evaluating the risk of exposure. Due to the challenges of inducing trichothecene production by Fusarium isolates in vitro for subsequent chemical analysis, PCR assays using gene-specific primers, either singly or in combination, designed against specific genes of the trichothecene gene cluster of multiple species of Fusarium have been developed. The establishment of TRI genotypes that potentially correspond to a specific chemotype requires examination of an information and knowledge pipeline whose critical aspects in sequential order are: (i) understanding the TRI gene cluster organization which differs according to Fusarium species under study; (ii) knowledge of the re-arrangements to the core TRI gene cluster over evolutionary time, which also differs according to Fusarium species; (iii) the functions of the TRI genes in the biosynthesis of trichothecene analogs; and (iv) based on (i)–(iii), selection of appropriate target TRI gene(s) for primer design in PCR amplification for the Fusarium species under study. This review, therefore, explains this pipeline and its connection to utilizing TRI genotypes as a possible proxy to chemotype designation.
Mesoscale Dynamics and Niche Segregation of Two Dinophysis Species in Galician-Portuguese Coastal Waters
Authors: Díaz Patricio A. , Reguera Beatriz , Moita Teresa , Bravo Isabel , Ruiz-Villarreal Manuel , Fraga Santiago
Published: January 2019

Blooms of Dinophysis acuminata occur every year in Galicia (northwest Spain), between spring and autumn. These blooms contaminate shellfish with lipophilic toxins and cause lengthy harvesting bans. They are often followed by short-lived blooms of Dinophysis acuta, associated with northward longshore transport, at the end of the upwelling season. During the summers of 1989 and 1990, dense blooms of D. acuta developed in situ, initially co-occurring with D. acuminata and later with the paralytic shellfish toxin-producer Gymnodinium catenatum. Unexplored data from three cruises carried out before, during, and following autumn blooms (13–14, 27–28 September and 11–12 October) in 1990 showed D. acuta distribution in shelf waters within the 50 m and 130 m isobaths, delimited by the upwelling front. A joint review of monitoring data from Galicia and Portugal provided a mesoscale view of anomalies in SST and other hydroclimatic factors associated with a northward displacement of the center of gravity of D. acuta populations. At the microscale, re-examination of the vertical segregation of cell maxima in the light of current knowledge, improved our understanding of niche differentiation between the two species of Dinophysis. Results here improve local transport models and forecast of Dinophysis events, the main cause of shellfish harvesting bans in the most important mussel production area in Europe.
The Launch of an International Animal Papillomavirus Reference Center
Authors: Van Doorslaer Koenraad , Dillner Joakim
Published: January 2019

The Papillomaviridae is a family of DNA viruses [...]
Single Chain Fragment Variable (scFv) Antibodies Targeting the Spike Protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Provide Protection against Viral Infection in Piglets
Authors: Zhang Fanqing , Chen Yuxue , Ke Yong , Zhang Lei , Zhang Bo , Yang Liang , Zhu Jianguo
Published: January 2019

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly contagious coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea and death in neonatal piglets. Passive immunization with neutralizing antibodies against PEDV is an effective prevention measure. In this study, single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies against PEDV were screened from the porcine scFv phage display library. After four rounds of biopanning, scFvs that showed higher affinity to the PEDV antigen were selected for further study. The scFv genes were cloned into the expression plasmid for recombinant protein expression. These scFvs were shown to inhibit PEDV infectivity by the plaque reduction neutralization assay. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed that the epitopes recognized by these scFvs were in the S1 region of the spike protein. The potential of scFvs to provide prevention against PEDV infections in piglets was further investigated. Piglets orally administered scFvs showed no to mild clinical symptoms, significantly less viral shedding, no mortality and no intestinal lesions. The field application also revealed that the survival rate of piglets was significantly increased by oral administration of scFvs. Our data support the potential role of scFvs in the prevention and treatment of PEDV infection.
From SARS to MERS, Thrusting Coronaviruses into the Spotlight
Authors: Song Zhiqi , Xu Yanfeng , Bao Linlin , Zhang Ling , Yu Pin , Qu Yajin , Zhu Hua , Zhao Wenjie , Han Yunlin , Qin Chuan
Published: January 2019

Coronaviruses (CoVs) have formerly been regarded as relatively harmless respiratory pathogens to humans. However, two outbreaks of severe respiratory tract infection, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), as a result of zoonotic CoVs crossing the species barrier, caused high pathogenicity and mortality rates in human populations. This brought CoVs global attention and highlighted the importance of controlling infectious pathogens at international borders. In this review, we focus on our current understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, as well as provides details on the pivotal structure and function of the spike proteins (S proteins) on the surface of each of these viruses. For building up more suitable animal models, we compare the current animal models recapitulating pathogenesis and summarize the potential role of host receptors contributing to diverse host affinity in various species. We outline the research still needed to fully elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of these viruses, to construct reproducible animal models, and ultimately develop countermeasures to conquer not only SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, but also these emerging coronaviral diseases.
Temperature and Circulation Dynamics in a Small and Shallow Lake: Effects of Weak Stratification and Littoral Submerged Macrophytes
Authors: Torma Péter , Wu Chin H.
Published: January 2019

In this paper, the effects of littoral submerged macrophytes on weak stratification conditions in a small and shallow lake are investigated. Diverse submerged macrophytes occupying a large portion of the littoral zone act as resistance to water motions and affect lake hydrodynamics. Strong solar radiation and mild wind forcing typically occurring during the summer season result in weak stratification characterized by a diurnal cycle with a temperature differential of 1–3 °C. Temperature and circulation dynamics of a small and shallow lake are depicted by extensive field measurements and a three-dimensional non-hydrostatic model with a generic length scale (GLS) approach for the turbulence closure and drag forces induced by macrophytes. Results show that the effects of macrophytes on velocity profiles are apparent. In the pelagic area, the circulation patterns with and without macrophytes are similar. The velocity profile is generally characterized by a two-layer structure with the maximum velocity at both the water surface and the mid-depth. In contrast, inside the littoral zone, the mean flow is retarded by macrophytes and the velocity profile is changed to only one maximum velocity at the surface with a steeper decrease until 2.0 m depth and another slight decrease to the lake bottom. From the whole lake perspective, littoral macrophytes dampen the horizontal water temperature difference between the upwind side and download side of the lake. Macrophytes promote a stronger temperature stratification by retarding mean flows and reducing vertical mixing. Overall, this study shows that the temperature structures and circulation patterns under weak stratification conditions in a small and shallow lake are strongly affected by littoral vegetation.
Influence of Temperature on Biogas Production Efficiency and Microbial Community in a Two-Phase Anaerobic Digestion System
Authors: Wang Shiwei , Ma Fang , Ma Weiwei , Wang Ping , Zhao Guang , Lu Xiaofei
Published: January 2019

In this study, the influence of temperature on biogas production efficiency and the microbial community structure was investigated in a two-phase anaerobic digestion reactor for co-digestion of cow manure and corn straw. The results illustrated that the contents of solluted chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the acidogenic phase and biogas production in the methanogenic phase maintained relatively higher levels at temperatures ranging from 35–25 °C. The methane content of biogas production could be maintained higher than 50% at temperatures above 25 °C. The microbial community structure analysis indicated that the dominant functional bacteria were Acinetobacter, Acetitomaculum, and Bacillus in the acidogenic phase and Cenarchaeum in the methanogenic phase at 35–25 °C. However, the performances of the acidogenic phase and the methanogenic phase could be significantly decreased at a lower temperature of 20 °C, and microbial activity was inhibited obviously. Accordingly, a low temperature was adverse for the performance of the acidogenic and methanogenic phases, while moderate temperatures above 25 °C were more conducive to high biogas production efficiency.
Field Water Balance Closure with Actively Heated Fiber-Optics and Point-Based Soil Water Sensors
Authors: Vidana Gamage Duminda N. , Biswas Asim , Strachan Ian B.
Published: January 2019

While traditional soil water sensors measure soil water content (SWC) at point scale, the actively heated fiber-optics (AHFO) sensor measures the SWC at field scale. This study compared the performance of a distributed (e.g., AHFO) and a point-based sensor on closing the field water balance and estimating the evapotranspiration (ET). Both sensors failed to close the water balance and produced larger errors in estimated ET (ETε), particularly for longer time periods with >60 mm change in soil water storage (ΔSWS), and this was attributed to a lack of SWC measurements from deeper layers (>0.24 m). Performance of the two sensors was different when only the periods of ˂60 mm ΔSWS were considered; significantly lower residual of the water balance (Re) and ETε of the distributed sensor showed that it could capture the small-scale spatial variability of SWC that the point-based sensor missed during wet (70–104 mm SWS) periods of ˂60 mm ΔSWS. Overall, this study showed the potential of the distributed sensor to provide a more accurate value of SWS at field scale and to reduce the errors in water balance for shorter wet periods. It is suggested to include SWC measurements from deeper layers to better evaluate the performance of the distributed sensor, especially for longer time periods of >60 mm ΔSWS, in future studies.
Zeolite as a Potential Medium for Ammonium Recovery and Second Cheese Whey Treatment
Authors: Kotoulas Aggelos , Agathou Dimitra , Triantaphyllidou Irene E. , Tatoulis Triantafyllos I. , Akratos Christos S. , Tekerlekopoulou Athanasia G. , Vayenas Dimitrios V.
Published: January 2019

The efficiency of natural zeolite to remove ammonium from artificial wastewater (ammonium aqueous solutions) and to treat second cheese whey was examined, aiming to recover nitrogen nutrients that can be used for further applications, such as slow-release fertilizers. Sorption experiments were performed using artificial wastewater and zeolite of different granulometries (i.e., 0.71–1.0, 1.8–2.0, 2.0–2.8, 2.8–4.0, and 4.0–5.0 mm). The granulometry of the zeolite had no significant effect on its ability to absorb ammonium. Nevertheless, smaller particles (0.71–1.0 mm) exhibited quicker NH4+-N adsorption rates of up to 93.0% in the first 10 min. Maximum ammonium removal efficiency by the zeolite was achieved at ammonium concentrations ranging from 10 to 80 mg/L. Kinetic experiments revealed that chemisorption is the mechanism behind the adsorption process of ammonium on zeolite, while the Freundlich isotherm model fitted the experimental data well. Column sorption experiments under batch operating mode were performed using artificial wastewater and second cheese whey. Column experiments with artificial wastewater showed high NH4+-N removal rates (over 96% in the first 120 min) for all granulometries and initial NH4+-N concentrations tested (200 and 5000 mg/L). Column experiments with second cheese whey revealed that natural zeolite can remove significant organic loads (up to 40%, 14.53 mg COD/g of zeolite) and NH4+-N (about 99%). For PO43−-P, the zeolite appeared to saturate after day 1 of the experiments at a removal capacity of 0.15 mg P/g of zeolite. Desorption experiments with water resulted in low NH4+-N and PO43−-P desorption rates indicating that the zeolite could be used as a substrate for slow nitrogen release in soils.
INVESTIGATION OF OZONE EMISSION AND DISPERSION FROM PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES
Authors: Valuntaitė Vaida , Girgždienė Raselė
Published: January 2019

Ozone concentration at the ground level of the atmosphere is constantly monitored, but people spend about 90 per cent of their time inside. Therefore, elevated level of ozone in premises is a matter of great concern. High indoor ozone concentration can cause respiratory failure, hacking cough, pain during deep breath, gnawing in breast and sometimes even nausea. According to the Lithuanian hygiene standard HN 35:2002, a marginal ozone concentration of eight hour average in a workplace is 200 μg/m3.

Investigation of ozone distribution from its emission source ‐ a copying machine ‐ in a room were caried out. Simulation showed that an equilibrium state, when ozone formation is equal to ozone decay, was observed only in 40 minutes after the emission source was started up in the room. The study of both vertical and horizontal distribution of ozone was analysed. The results showed that an average concentration near the floor varied in the interval 8–22 μg/m3, at the level of the machine it was from 10 to 380 μg/m3, and the interval of concentration was 10–110 μg/m3 at the ceiling. Assessment of ventilation influence on ozone distribution was performed. Ozone concentration varied in the interval 2–815 μg/m3 near the source at a different intensity of copying without ventilation, and using ventilation the concentration decreased up to 0–686 μg/m3. It was established that at 0,5 m distance from a copying machine ozone concentration decreased two times, therefore, a person working with a copying machine should be at a far enough distance from the ozone source in order to reduce its effect on his health.
A DETERMINATION OF AREA OF POTENTIAL EROSION BY GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Authors: Šurda Peter , Šimonides Ivan , Antal Jaroslav
Published: January 2019

Accelerated water erosion is the major problem of agricultural soils all over the world and also in the Slovak Republic. Accelerated erosion occurs in 55 % of agricultural land. It belongs to physical degradation of fertile land, and the whole process is irreversible. Therefore, it is very important to localize the presence of accelerated erosion and apply the basic principles of soil erosion control. Geographic information systems (GIS) are an effective tool for various environmental analyses, so it can also be succesfully used for determination of potential erosion intensity. The aim of this work was to create a map of domain areas that describes potential water erosion. As an area of interest the cadastral territory of Topolcianky in the Slovak Republic was selected. For this purpose the GIS software Arcview from ESRI was used. Water erosion process was modelled by universal soil loss equation (USLE) which computes an average annual soil loss. The limit values of acceptable intensity of soil loss are defined in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic (Act No 220/2004 Coll). The final result of this work is a map that divides the domain area according to potential annual soil loss into several categories. In this case the domain area was divided into four categories. The first category, named slightly threatened soil, had 620,05 ha of agricultural land (77,48 per cent of the total agricultural land of domain area). The second category, called averagely threatened soil, had 106,56 (13,32 per cent of the total agricultural land). The third category (intensively threatened soil) had 70,91 ha (8,86 per cent of the total agricultural land) and finally the fourth category (very intensively threatened soil) had 2,74 ha (0,34 per cent of the total agricultural land).
ORGANIC WASTE PRODUCTS IN AGRICULTURE ‐ MONITORING THE WASTE CONSTITUENTS PHTHALATE ESTERS IN SOIL‐CROP SYSTEM BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY AND ION TRAP TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY
Authors: Laturnus Frank , Grøn Christian
Published: January 2019

A method is described for monitoring phthalate esters in organic waste products, agricultural soil and crops. Solvent extraction, Ultra Turrax homogenisation and sonification were used to isolate the compounds from the sample matrices. Solid phase extraction was applied for purification, and gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry – for identification. With the method, six phthalate esters were determined in different matrices. The detection limits were in the range of 1 to 10 μg kg–1 wet weight, except for DEHP, which had a detection limit approaching 100 μg kg–1 wet weight. Repeatabilities were from 5 to 20 % relative standard deviation. Recoveries were from 6 to 100 %, depending on the compound analysed. However, except for the polar phthalates DMP and DEP, the recoveries were above 70 %. The method feasibility was demonstrated in an investigation of the occurrence of phthalate esters in barley, rape, carrots, agricultural soil, aerobic and anaerobic sludge, household compost and pig manure.
Search for a Metallicity Spread in the Multiple Population Large Magellanic Cloud Cluster NGC 1978
Authors: Piatti Andrés E. , Bailin Jeremy
Published: January 2019

We report on the spread of [Fe/H] values in the massive Large Magellanic Cloud cluster NGC 1978, recently confirmed to harbor multiple populations of nearly the same age. We used accurate Strömgren photometry of carefully selected cluster red giant branch stars along with a high-dispersion spectroscopy-based calibration of the metallicity-sensitive index m
1. Once we accounted for the photometry quality, assessed from extensive artificial star tests to trace the photometric uncertainties as a function of the position of the cluster’s center as well as the stellar brightness, and those from the metallicity calibration, we found that NGC 1978 exhibits a small metallicity spread of 0.035 dex (±0.019–0.023), depending on whether stars with individual σ[Fe/H] ≤ 0.15 dex or those located in the cluster’s outer areas are considered. Such a spread in [Fe/H] is consistent with a cluster formation model with self-enrichment, if mass loss higher than 90% due to stellar evolutionary and galactic tidal effects is assumed. Nevertheless, scenarios in which the apparent [Fe/H] variation reflects CN abundance anomalies or less extreme mass-loss models with environmentally dependent self-enrichment should not be ruled out.
Interstellar Medium and Star Formation of Starburst Galaxies on the Merger Sequence
Authors: Shangguan Jinyi , Ho Luis C. , Li Ruancun , Zhuang Ming-Yang , Xie Yanxia , Li Zhihui
Published: January 2019

The interstellar medium is a key ingredient that governs star formation in galaxies. We present a detailed study of the infrared (∼1–500 μm) spectral energy distributions of a large sample of 193 nearby (

) luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) covering a wide range of evolutionary stages along the merger sequence. The entire sample has been observed uniformly by 2MASS, WISE, Spitzer, and Herschel. We perform a multicomponent decomposition of the spectra to derive physical parameters of the interstellar medium, including the intensity of the interstellar radiation field and the mass and luminosity of the dust. We also constrain the presence and strength of nuclear dust heated by active galactic nuclei. The radiation field of LIRGs tends to have much higher intensity than that of quiescent galaxies, and it increases toward advanced merger stages as a result of the central concentration of the interstellar medium and star formation. The total gas mass is derived from the dust mass and the galaxy stellar mass. We find that the gas fraction of LIRGs is on average ∼0.3 dex higher than that of main-sequence star-forming galaxies, rising moderately toward advanced merger stages. All LIRGs have star formation rates that place them above the galaxy star formation main sequence. Consistent with recent observations and numerical simulations, the global star formation efficiency of the sample spans a wide range, filling the gap between normal star-forming galaxies and extreme starburst systems.
Measurements of Tropospheric Ice Clouds with a Ground-based CMB Polarization Experiment, POLARBEAR
Authors: Takakura S. , Aguilar-Faúndez M. A. O. , Akiba Y. , Arnold K. , Baccigalupi C. , Barron D. , Beck D. , Bianchini F. , Boettger D. , Borrill J. , Cheung K. , Chinone Y. , Elleflot T. , Errard J. , Fabbian G. , Feng C. , Goeckner-Wald N. , Hamada T. , Hasegawa M. , Hazumi M. , Howe L. , Kaneko D. , Katayama N. , Keating B. , Keskitalo R. , Kisner T. , Krachmalnicoff N. , Kusaka A. , Lee A. T. , Lowry L. N. , Matsuda F. T. , May A. J. , Minami Y. , Navaroli M. , Nishino H. , Piccirillo L. , Poletti D. , Puglisi G. , Reichardt C. L. , Segawa Y. , Silva-Feaver M. , Siritanasak P. , Suzuki A. , Tajima O. , Takatori S. , Tanabe D. , Teply G. P. , Tsai C.
Published: January 2019

The polarization of the atmosphere has been a long-standing concern for ground-based experiments targeting cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization. Ice crystals in upper tropospheric clouds scatter thermal radiation from the ground and produce a horizontally polarized signal. We report a detailed analysis of the cloud signal using a ground-based CMB experiment, Polarbear, located at the Atacama desert in Chile and observing at 150 GHz. We observe horizontally polarized temporal increases of low-frequency fluctuations (“polarized bursts,” hereafter) of ≲0.1 K when clouds appear in a webcam monitoring the telescope and the sky. The hypothesis of no correlation between polarized bursts and clouds is rejected with >24σ statistical significance using three years of data. We consider many other possibilities including instrumental and environmental effects, and find no reasons other than clouds that can explain the data better. We also discuss the impact of the cloud polarization on future ground-based CMB polarization experiments.
Banding cytogenetics of the vulnerable species Houbara bustard (Otidiformes) and comparative analysis with the Domestic fowl
Authors: Mahiddine-Aoudjit Leila , Boucekkine Ouahida , Ladjali-Mohammedi Kafia
Published: January 2019

The Houbara bustard Chlamydotisundulata (Jacquin, 1784) is an emblematic and endangered bird of steppes and desert spaces of North Africa. This species belonging to Otidiformes is recognized as vulnerable by the International Union for Nature Conservation.

The critical situation of this species and the revision of its classification on the tree of birds encouraged the authors to start accumulating chromosome data. For that, we propose the GTG- and RBG-banded karyotypes of the Houbara bustard prepared from primary fibroblast cell cultures. The first eight autosomal pairs and sex chromosomes have been described and compared to those of the domestic fowl Gallusdomesticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The diploid number has been estimated as 78 chromosomes with 8 macrochromosomes pairs and 30 microchromosomes pairs, attesting of the stability of chromosome number in avian karyotypes.

The description of the karyotype of the Houbara is of crucial importance for the management of the reproduction of this species in captivity. It can be used as a reference in the detection of chromosomal abnormalities, which would be responsible of the early embryonic mortalities.
Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 reduces severity of diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age: a double blind placebo controlled study
Authors: Sudha M. Ratna , Jayanthi N. , Pandey D.C. , Verma A.K.
Published: January 2019

Acute diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of mortality in infants and young children. Evidence suggests that probiotics can reduce diarrhoea duration. As the effects of probiotics are strain specific, the effect of Bacillus clausii UBBC-07, a safe probiotic strain in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children was studied. The double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group multicentric study was conducted at two outpatient facility sites in Lucknow, India. Children aged six months to five years suffering from acute diarrhoea, were randomly assigned to receive either probiotic (B. clausii UBBC-07) spore suspension or placebo suspension twice daily apart from oral rehydration solution (ORS). The duration of treatment was for five days with a follow -up until the 10th day. Outcomes evaluated were duration and frequency of diarrhoea, consistency of stool, fever and vomiting. The duration of diarrhoea was significantly shorter (P<0.05) in patients who received B. clausii suspension (75.66±13.23 h) than in placebo treated group (81.6±15.43 h). The average daily number of stools (frequency) was 8.67±3.42 at baseline in treatment group receiving B. clausii and 8.53±3.19 in placebo group. By day 4, there was a significant reduction (P<0.01) in frequency of stools in probiotic treated group (3.46±0.66) as compared to placebo group (4.57±1.59). Improvement in stool consistency was also observed in the probiotic treated group as compared to the placebo group. There was no effect on vomiting and duration of fever. B. clausii UBBC-07 significantly decreased the duration and frequency of diarrhoea as compared to placebo indicating effectiveness of strain in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children and could be a safe alternative to antibiotics.
Limb and thoracolumbosacral kinematics over an upright and parallel spread fence
Authors: Walker V.A. , Dyson S.J. , Tranquille C.A. , Tacey J.B. , Murray R.C.
Published: January 2019

Jumping mechanics have been investigated at take-off, flight and landing, mainly in reference to the limbs with limited evaluation of the thoracolumbosacral region. The objectives of this study were to investigate head, neck, thoracolumbosacral and limb angles in a group of experienced showjumping horses (competing at 1.20-1.60 m) over an upright and parallel spread fence. Ten horses in active showjumping training were recruited (mean 8 years old). High-speed videography (240 Hz) was used to determine thoracolumbosacral kinematic variables of the approach and take-off. No significant differences between the upright and parallel spread fences were observed for any of the variables measured. Individual horse review showed that neck-trunk, thoracolumbar, lumbosacral, coxofemoral angles, take-off distance and speed patterns at take-off were consistent among horses and also repeatable between fence types. Head-neck, stifle and tarsal angles had great variability among horses. The main limitation of this study was that only 2D motion analysis was carried out. In conclusion, analysis of individual horse patterns showed that head, neck, back and limb angles were repeatable over submaximal upright and spread fences in ten horses. Some angles were consistent among horses, but others had individual horse variation.