bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementarity between Textural and Radiometric Indices From Airborne and Spaceborne Multi VHSR Data: Disentangling the Complexity of Heterogeneous Landscape Matrix
Authors: Lang Marc , Alleaume Samuel , Luque Sandra , Baghdadi Nicolas , Féret Jean-Baptiste
Published: March 2019

The quantitative characterization of landscape structure is critical to assess conservation, and monitor and manage biodiversity. The Mediterranean Basin is a biodiversity hotspot that illustrates the strong relationship between biodiversity and the complexity of the landscape mosaic. Our objective was to test the relevance of two textural indices and one radiometric index (the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) to characterize vegetation structure. These indices could be used as indicators of vegetation composition and organization of four vertical strata when derived from airborne and Pléiades space-borne VHSR imagery. More specifically, we analyzed the influence of the spatial resolution and the radiometric information on the characterization of the landscape structure. Our results indicated that NDVI information at 0.5 m spatial resolution was necessary to be able to incorporate the heterogeneity of vegetation structure. Indices derived from lower resolution NDVI images or different radiometric information than airborne images also proved to be sensitive to vegetation fragmentation and composition. NDVI images brought out details on ligneous/herbs patterns while panchromatic image brought out more details on herbs/bare soil patterns. Combined textural and NDVI indices show strong potential for vegetation structure understanding, allowing detailed mapping. NDVI information shows good potential for applications related to landscape closure dynamics; related habitat degradation indicators caused by shrub encroachment. Panchromatic derived information, on the other hand, provides information relevant in applications focusing grazing management.
Domain Transfer Learning for Hyperspectral Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Zhang Lefei , You Jane
Published: March 2019

A Hyperspectral Image (HSI) contains a great number of spectral bands for each pixel; however, the spatial resolution of HSI is low. Hyperspectral image super-resolution is effective to enhance the spatial resolution while preserving the high-spectral-resolution by software techniques. Recently, the existing methods have been presented to fuse HSI and Multispectral Images (MSI) by assuming that the MSI of the same scene is required with the observed HSI, which limits the super-resolution reconstruction quality. In this paper, a new framework based on domain transfer learning for HSI super-resolution is proposed to enhance the spatial resolution of HSI by learning the knowledge from the general purpose optical images (natural scene images) and exploiting the cross-correlation between the observed low-resolution HSI and high-resolution MSI. First, the relationship between low- and high-resolution images is learned by a single convolutional super-resolution network and then is transferred to HSI by the idea of transfer learning. Second, the obtained Pre-high-resolution HSI (pre-HSI), the observed low-resolution HSI, and high-resolution MSI are simultaneously considered to estimate the endmember matrix and the abundance code for learning the spectral characteristic. Experimental results on ground-based and remote sensing datasets demonstrate that the proposed method achieves comparable performance and outperforms the existing HSI super-resolution methods.
An Overview of the Science Performances and Calibration/Validation of Joint Polar Satellite System Operational Products
Authors: Zhou Lihang , Divakarla Murty , Liu Xingpin , Layns Arron , Goldberg Mitch
Published: March 2019

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, launched in October 2011, initiated a series of the next-generation weather satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. The JPSS program at the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (JSTAR) leads the development of the algorithms, the calibration and validation of the products to meet the specified requirements, and long-term science performance monitoring and maintenance. All of the S-NPP products have been validated and are in successful operation. The recently launched JPSS-1 (renamed as NOAA-20) satellite is producing high-quality data products that have been available from S-NPP, along with additional products, as a direct result of the instrument upgrades and science improvements. This paper presents an overview of the JPSS product suite, the performance metrics achieved for the S-NPP, and the utilization of the products by NOAA stakeholders and user agencies worldwide. The status of NOAA-20 science data products and ongoing calibration/validation (Cal/Val) efforts are discussed for user awareness. In addition, operational implementation statuses of JPSS enterprise (multisensor and multiplatform) science algorithms for product generation and science product reprocessing efforts for the S-NPP mission are discussed.
Vertical Structures of Dust Aerosols over East Asia Based on CALIPSO Retrievals
Authors: Liu Di , Zhao Tianliang , Boiyo Richard , Chen Siyu , Lu Zhengqi , Wu Yan , Zhao Yang
Published: March 2019

The spatiotemporal and especially the vertical distributions of dust aerosols play crucial roles in the climatic effect of dust aerosol. In the present study, the spatial-temporal distribution of dust aerosols over East Asia was investigated using Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) retrievals (01/2007–12/2011) from the perspective of the frequency of dust occurrence (FDO), dust top layer height (TH) and profile of aerosol subtypes. The results showed that a typical dust belt was generated from the dust source regions (the Taklimakan and Gobi Deserts), in the latitude range of 25°N~45°N and reaching eastern China, Japan and Korea and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean. High dust frequencies were found over the dust source regions, with a seasonal sequence from high to low as follows: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Vertically, FDOs peaked at about 2 km over the dust source regions. In contrast, FDOs decreased with altitude over the downwind regions. On the dust belt from dust source regions to downwind regions, the dust top height (TH) was getting higher and higher. The dust TH varied in the range of 1.9–3.1 km above surface elevation (a.s.e.), with high values over the dust source regions and low values in the downwind areas, and a seasonally descending sequence of summer, spring, autumn and winter in accord with the seasonal variation of the boundary layer height. The annual AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) was generally characterized by two high and two low AOD centers over East Asia. The percent contribution of the Dust Aerosol Optical Depth to the total AOD showed a seasonal variation from high to low as follows: spring, winter, autumn and summer. The vertical profile of the extinction coefficient revealed the predominance of pure dust particles in the dust source regions and a mixture of dust particles and pollutants in the downwind regions. The dust extinction coefficients over the Taklimakan Desert had a seasonal pattern from high to low as follows: spring, winter, summer and autumn. The results of the present study offered an understanding of the horizontal and vertical structures of dust aerosols over East Asia and can be used to evaluate the performance aerosol transport models.
Using 1st Derivative Reflectance Signatures within a Remote Sensing Framework to Identify Macroalgae in Marine Environments
Authors: Mcilwaine Ben , Casado Monica Rivas , Leinster Paul
Published: March 2019

Macroalgae blooms (MABs) are a global natural hazard that are likely to increase in occurrence with climate change and increased agricultural runoff. MABs can cause major issues for indigenous species, fish farms, nuclear power stations, and tourism activities. This project focuses on the impacts of MABs on the operations of a British nuclear power station. However, the outputs and findings are also of relevance to other coastal operators with similar problems. Through the provision of an early-warning detection system for MABs, it should be possible to minimize the damaging effects and possibly avoid them altogether. Current methods based on satellite imagery cannot be used to detect low-density mobile vegetation at various water depths. This work is the first step towards providing a system that can warn a coastal operator 6–8 h prior to a marine ingress event. A fundamental component of such a warning system is the spectral reflectance properties of the problematic macroalgae species. This is necessary to optimize the detection capability for the problematic macroalgae in the marine environment. We measured the reflectance signatures of eight species of macroalgae that we sampled in the vicinity of the power station. Only wavelengths below 900 nm (700 nm for similarity percentage (SIMPER)) were analyzed, building on current methodologies. We then derived 1st derivative spectra of these eight sampled species. A multifaceted univariate and multivariate approach was used to visualize the spectral reflectance, and an analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) provided a species-level discrimination rate of 85% for all possible pairwise comparisons. A SIMPER analysis was used to detect wavebands that consistently contributed to the simultaneous discrimination of all eight sampled macroalgae species to both a group level (535–570 nm), and to a species level (570–590 nm). Sampling locations were confirmed using a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with the collected imagery being used to produce a single orthographic image via standard photogrammetric processes. The waveband found to contribute consistently to group-level discrimination has previously been found to be associated with photosynthetic pigmentation, whereas the species-level discriminatory waveband did not share this association. This suggests that the photosynthetic pigments were not spectrally diverse enough to successfully distinguish all eight species. We suggest that future work should investigate a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)-based sensor using the wavebands highlighted above. This should facilitate the development of a regional-scale early-warning MAB detection system using UAVs, and help inform optimum sensor filter selection.
The Terra Vega Active Light Source: A First Step in a New Approach to Perform Nighttime Absolute Radiometric Calibrations and Early Results Calibrating the VIIRS DNB
Authors: Ryan Robert E. , Pagnutti Mary , Burch Kara , Leigh Larry , Ruggles Timothy , Cao Changyong , Aaron David , Blonski Slawomir , Helder Dennis
Published: March 2019

A fully automated, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-traceable artificial light source called Terra Vega has been developed to radiometrically calibrate the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) Day Night Band (DNB) working in high gain stage (HGS) mode. The Terra Vega active point source is a calibrated integrating sphere that is only a fraction in size of a VIIRS DNB pixel. As such, it can be considered analogous to a ground-based photometric reference star. Vicarious calibrations that employ active point sources are different than those that make use of traditional extended sources and can be applyed to quantify the brightness of artificial light sources. The active source is successfully fielded, and early results indicate that it can be used to augment and validate the radiometric calibration of the VIIRS DNB HGS sensor on both the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) and NOAA-20 satellites. The VIIRS DNB HGS sensor can benefit from this technology as on-board calibration is challenging and hinges on transferring low gain stage (LGS) calibration using a solar diffuser to the medium gain stage (MGS) and HGS via regions of overlap. Current vicarious calibration methods that use a lunar-illuminated extended source estimate the HGS radiometric accuracy to within 8-15%. By comparison, early results and analysis showed that Terra Vega is stable to about 1%. Under clear dark night conditions, predicted top-of-atmosphere radiance from Terra Vega ranged between 1–11% of VIIRS measured values. Terra Vega’s excellent stability opens up new opportunities to validate and develop nighttime imaging applications based on point sources.
A Compact UWB Antenna with Independently Controllable Notch Bands
Authors: Iqbal Amjad , Smida Amor , Mallat Nazih Khaddaj , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , Kim Sunghwan
Published: March 2019

A minimally-sized, triple-notched band ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna, useful for many applications, is designed, analyzed, and experimentally validated in this paper. A modified maple leaf-shaped main radiating element with partial ground is used in the proposed design. An E-shaped resonator, meandered slot, and U-shaped slot are implemented in the proposed design to block the co-existing bands. The E-shaped resonator stops frequencies ranging from 1.8–2.3 GHz (Advanced Wireless System (AWS1–AWS2) band), while the meandered slot blocks frequencies from 3.2–3.8 GHz (WiMAX band). The co-existing band ranging from 5.6–6.1 GHz (IEEE 802.11/HIPERLANband) is blocked by utilizing the U-shaped section in the feeding network. The notched bands can be independently controlled over a wide range of frequencies using specific parameters. The proposed antenna is suitable for many applications because of its flat gain, good radiation characteristics at both principal planes, uniform group delay, and non-varying transfer function ( S 21 ) for the entire UWB frequency range.
Earthquake Magnitude Estimation Using a Total Noise Enhanced Optimization Model
Authors: Lee Kyunghyun , Oh Jinhwan , Lee Hyukwoo , You Kwanho
Published: March 2019

In this paper, a heterodyne laser interferometer, which is used as a sensor for high-precision displacement measurement, is introduced to measure ground vibration and seismic waves as a seismometer. The seismic wave is measured precisely through the displacement variation obtained by the heterodyne laser interferometer. The earthquake magnitude is estimated using only the P-wave magnitudes for the first 3 s through the total noise enhanced optimization (TNEO) model. We use data from southern California to investigate the relationship between peak acceleration amplitude ( P d ) and the earthquake magnitude ( M g ). For precise prediction of the earthquake magnitude using only the P d value, the TNEO model derives the relation equation between P d and the magnitude, considering the noise present in each measured seismic data. The optimal solution is obtained from the TNEO model based objective function. We proved the performance of the proposed method through simulation and experimental results.
Impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance Information on Economic Performance: Evidence of a Corporate ‘Sustainability Advantage’ from Europe
Authors: Taliento Marco , Favino Christian , Netti Antonio
Published: March 2019

Both UN Agenda 2030 and the Directive n. 2014/95/EU have recently promoted a marked improvement in sustainability disclosure, especially for larger companies or groups. Starting from this premise, we carried out an original study on the financial materiality of the E-S-G (environmental, social and governance) information of primary companies listed on major European indices in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain (BEL, CAC, DAX, FTSE-MIB, IBEX). Within the Stakeholder Theory and the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)–Corporate Social Perfomance (CSP) framework, our empirical analysis examined the impact of non-financial results (assessed through sustainability indicators) on economic (financial and market) performance in the timespan 2014–2017. We propose a different approach from previous studies, based on a PLS (Partial least squares)/SEM (Structural equation modeling) methodology together with the unprecedented consideration of “ESG” measures (Environmental, Social and Governance), either absolute (scores) or relative (extra-performance over industry sector). We find that, despite the absolute level of the individual ESG scores not being impactful, the “distance” from the industry average–normal figures (excess or abnormal ESG performance) is positively relevant, collaterally revisiting the notion of competitive advantage in sustainability terms. Corporate size is shown to be a significant background factor (as slack resources proxy). Social, environmental and governance responsibility (to all stakeholders) appear to be important as a competitive factor of the modern firm.
Diversity, Disparity and Territorial Resilience in the Context of the Economic Crisis: An Analysis of Rural Areas in Southern Spain
Authors: Sánchez-Zamora Pedro , Gallardo-Cobos Rosa
Published: March 2019

This paper analyses territorial resilience in rural Andalusia, Spain, after the impact of the recent economic crisis and identifies the factors associated with the highest recovery rates in different contexts and territories. To this end, we developed a methodology that incorporates the heterogeneity and diversity of rural territories and uses composite indices calculated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in order to measure levels of resilience and identify the factors that impact recovery in rural counties. The results reveal how different aspects of economic, social, human, and natural capital promote resilient territorial dynamics in rural Andalusia. These results provide useful information for political decision-makers in the design of public policies, especially at a time like the present when the EU is immersed in debate on the reform of rural development policies for the next programming period beyond 2020.
Food Preservative Capabilities of Grape (Vitis vinifera) and Clementine Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) By-products Extracts in South Africa
Authors: Pfukwa Trust M. , Fawole Olaniyi A. , Manley Marena , Gouws Pieter A. , Opara Umezuruike Linus , Mapiye Cletos
Published: March 2019

The drive towards sustainable food systems coupled with increased consumer sophistication have prompted innovation in waste valorization. Grape and citrus processing by-products, abundant in the Mediterranean and tropical regions, respectively, are expanding and are sustainable sources of bioactive phytochemicals that can be used as natural preservatives for foods. Phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of extracts from grape pomace (GPE), seeds (GSE), and clementine mandarin peel and pulp (MPE) grown in South Africa were analyzed. Total phenols and carotenoids were highest in GPE followed by GSE and MPE (p ≤ 0.05). Flavonoids and anthocyanins were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in GPE and GSE compared to MPE. The GSE had the highest proanthocyanidins content followed by GPE and MPE (p ≤ 0.05). Ascorbic acid was only detected in MPE, which also had the highest titratable acidity and lowest pH values (p ≤ 0.05). The GSE had the highest antioxidant potency composite index followed by GPE and MPE (p ≤ 0.05). The order of antimicrobial activity of the extracts was MPE > GSE > GPE (p ≤ 0.05). Current findings show that GSE is a potential antioxidant while MPE holds promise as an antimicrobial for the food industry.
An Empirical Study of How the Learning Attitudes of College Students toward English E-Tutoring Websites Affect Site Sustainability
Authors: Tan Paul Juinn Bing
Published: March 2019

The present study utilized the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM 3) to explore the learning attitudes of college students with respect to English e-tutoring websites, an approach that has rarely been employed from the perspective of information technology and the global e-digital market. More specifically, the study used college students’ assessments of self-paced business English e-learning websites to investigate the adoption of those sites. Using simple linear regression analysis, the research explored the question of whether engagement in e-learning was able to enhance the students’ willingness to learn. The results of the analysis indicated that the majority of English e-tutoring users felt that online sources for learning English offer greater convenience and are more effective than noninternet resources. This finding suggests, in turn, that the web designers of business English e-learning websites could maintain and enhance the loyalty of site users by taking care to ensure the quality of the sites’ content. In particular, the knowledge management functions and interface requirements of student users should be adequately addressed by web designers so that the students can operate the websites more easily in the course of the learning process.
Nutrient and Isotopic Dynamics of Litter Decomposition from Different Land Uses in Naturally Restoring Taihang Mountain, North China
Authors: Bohara Meena , Yadav Ram Kailash P. , Dong Wenxu , Cao Jiansheng , Hu Chunsheng
Published: March 2019

Litter decomposition is a prominent pathway for nutrient availability and management in terrestrial ecosystems. An in-situ litter decomposition experiment was carried out for different land use types along an elevation gradient in the Taihang Mountain area restored after heavy forest degradation in the past. Four land use types, i.e., cropland, shrubland, grassland, and forest, selected randomly from a 300–700 m elevation were investigated for the experiment using the litter bag technique. Litter mass loss ranged from 26.9% (forest) to 44.3% (cropland) varying significantly among land use types. The initial litter quality, mainly N and C/N, had a significant effect on the litter loss rate. The interaction of elevation × land use types × time was significant (p < 0.001). Litter nutrient mobility (K > P ≈ N > C) of the decomposing litter was sporadic with substantial stoichiometric effects of C/N, N/P, and C/P. The residual litters were enriched in 15N and depleted in 13C as compared to the initial litter. Increment of N, P, and δ15N values in residual litter indicates that, even in the highly weathered substrate, plant litter plays a crucial role in conserving nutrients. This study is a strong baseline for monitoring the functioning of the Taihang Mountain ecosystem restored after the complete destruction in the early 1990s.
When Is an Innovative Urban Mobility Business Model Sustainable? A Literature Review and Analysis
Authors: Valsecchi Ribeiro de Souza João , Marotti de Mello Adriana , Marx Roberto
Published: March 2019

Although researchers have increasingly examined how business models promote sustainable urban mobility through innovation, the literature has focused less attention on what constitutes a sustainable and innovative business model in the context of urban mobility. To fill this research gap, this article aims to answer the following research question: what elements characterize sustainable and innovative business models in the field of urban mobility? To identify whether and to what extent the existing intersection between business models and sustainable urban mobility literature contributes to the development of this concept, a systematic review and analysis of the literature was conducted. The results indicate that the following aspects contribute to the sustainability of an urban mobility business model: favoring the use of clean energy; maximizing the use of transport resources and capabilities; encouraging substitution using sustainable modes; offering service orientation and functionality; articulating initiatives that address the needs of a wide range of stakeholders in transport systems; reducing travel demands; extending benefits to society and the environment in a systemic perspective; and developing scale-up mobility solutions.
Influent Forecasting for Wastewater Treatment Plants in North America
Authors: Boyd Gavin , Na Dain , Li Zhong , Snowling Spencer , Zhang Qianqian , Zhou Pengxiao
Published: March 2019

Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) is a time series analysis model that can be dated back to 1955. It has been used in many different fields of study to analyze time series and forecast future data points; however, it has not been widely used to forecast daily wastewater influent flow. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to utilize ARIMA for daily influent flow forecasting. To pursue the objective confidently, five stations across North America are used to validate ARIMA’s performance. These stations include Woodward, Niagara, North Davis, and two confidential plants. The results demonstrate that ARIMA models can produce satisfactory daily influent flow forecasts. Considering the results of this study, ARIMA models could provide the operating engineers at both municipal and rural WWTPs with sufficient information to run the stations efficiently and thus, support wastewater management and planning at various levels within a watershed.
Examining the Association between Socioeconomic Status and Exposure to Carcinogenic Emissions in Gyeonggi of South Korea: A Multi-Level Analysis
Authors: Park Jeong-Il , Kwon Hye-Seon
Published: March 2019

Although South Korea introduced the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register system in 1996, there is relatively limited evidence on how socioeconomic status at both individual and municipal levels is associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in Korea because of limited data sources. Using a multi-level negative binomial model, this study examined the socioeconomic status of both individuals and municipalities with a higher level of exposure to carcinogenic emissions from industrial facilities in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The results reveal that economic minority individuals (national basic livelihood security recipients, unemployed people, and tenants), municipalities with higher percentages of industrial land use, and foreign-born populations had more facilities that produce carcinogenic emissions. While similar findings have been reported by many environmental justice studies conducted in other countries, this is the first Korean case study that reports the relationship between socioeconomic status at both individual and municipal levels and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Systematic Mapping of Scientific Production on Open Innovation (2015–2018): Opportunities for Sustainable Training Environments
Authors: García-González Abel , Ramírez-Montoya María-Soledad
Published: March 2019

Open innovation presents data that may be of value for future research and empirical studies in sustainable training environments. This paper aims to analyze the evidence published in the last three years (2015–2018) regarding open innovation, in order to identify the publications on the subject that may contribute to other studies or practical experiences. The systematic mapping method was used, reviewing 104 articles published from January 2015 to September 2018, which included studies on open innovation that were published in two databases—Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus. Inclusion, exclusion and quality criteria were applied in order to obtain the most relevant information. Findings show the type of methodology used, the most cited articles, the journals where they were published, the geographical distribution of the authors, the area of influence, contexts of application and the topics addressed. This paper provides value to assess progress, identify challenges and contexts of less influence, as well as to establish a database of scientific studies as support for future research.
Sociopsychological Aspects of Butterfly Souvenir Purchasing Behavior at Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park in Indonesia
Authors: Ansari Fajri , Jeong Yoonjeong , Putri Indra ASLP , Kim Seong-il
Published: March 2019

Utilizing butterflies in souvenirs escalates their exploitation, which occurs even with protected species. Visitors affect both tourism sustainability and butterfly populations. Thus, parks must establish visitor management practices to secure tourism, including butterfly-trading activities to provide social and economic benefits, while still maintaining butterfly populations and environmental sustainability. This research examined the relationships between visitors’ motivations, environmental attitudes (deontological status, legal compliance, and political activism), and preference regarding butterfly souvenirs. Data were collected using an on-site survey of 455 respondents at Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park in Indonesia and analyzed using factor analysis, correlation, and logistic regression. Results showed that visitors’ motivations were divided into four categories: challenge and freedom, nature appreciation, social relationships, and escape from routine. Visitors showed high deontological status, legal compliance, and political activist attitudes, valued the attributes of butterfly souvenirs highly, and strongly preferred souvenirs with authenticity value. Significant correlations existed among motivation, attitude, and preference for butterfly souvenir attributes. Logistic regression results revealed that with more frequent visits, better souvenir quality, and higher education levels, the possibility of visitors purchasing butterfly souvenirs increased. Prior knowledge regarding regulations prohibiting protected butterfly trading diminished this possibility. This study further discusses how visitors’ sociopsychological information can be used to minimize negative impacts caused by overtourism.
A Structural Analysis of Economic Processes by the Use of “Energy Content Value”
Authors: Aoki Hidekazu , Kawamiya Nobuo
Published: March 2019

Since currency is a means of exchange, it forms a standard of value. Modern economics uses the function of currency as a “general standard of value” and describes the economic processes in the terms of value by the quantity of money. The most notable indicator to symbolize this situation is “Gross Domestic Product” (GDP). However, GDP, in general, does not indicate the economic process as a whole. It is necessary to add intermediate inputs to the GDP in order to calculate the total amount of industrial output of a country, and this total industrial output can never realize without energy supply. In other words, the total industrial output of a country and the total amount of energy supplied (= consumed) constitute an inseparable relationship like the front and back of the coin. This research tries to propose an alternative evaluation indicator based on “energy”, which is the most important economic substance and the indispensable requirement for all human activities. Regarding this issue, this study deals with the following problems. First, we refer to a dualistic composition which Soddy had adopted, from the beginning, to classify wealth, which is a product of economic processes, into two categories: one on a physical dimension (Wealth I · II) and the other on a psychological dimension (Virtual Wealth). Then, based on the dualistic framework proposed by Soddy, we present that we can evaluate the economic process, through a compound-eye view, on two dimensions: the physical dimension (energy flow) and the institutional dimension (money flow). Next, we focus on ‘the economic process presented by monetary value’ (A) and ‘the energy quantity which effectually supports this process’ (B). We have introduced how to project (B) onto the constituent elements of (A). Thus, we take a case study on Japan by use of dualistic aspects approach.
An Empirical Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Adoption and Diffusion of GBTS in the Construction Market
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Shoujian , Su Yikun , Deng Xinyang
Published: March 2019

This study focuses on better development of green buildings. The key to the sustainable development of the construction industry is to popularize and promote the spread of green building technologies (GBTS) in the construction market. This study integrates the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) to analyze and construct the theoretical model of developers’ GBTS adoption behavior from three dimensions, including the individual factor, product factor and interface factor. This paper discusses the mechanism of GBTS adoption and diffusion in the construction market. The data are collected by questionnaire, and the structural equation model (SEM) is used for empirical analysis. The results show that the developers’ perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) of GBTS, developers’ innovativeness and sense of community at the individual level, competitive advantage at the product level, as well as government structural guarantees and relevant stakeholders at the interface level have a significant positive impact on the adoption of GBTS by developers. It is proved that the model can explain the basic path of GBTS adoption by developers, and suggestions to promote the adoption and diffusion of GBTS in China are put forward.
GPU-based Fast Motion Synthesis of Large Crowds Using Adaptive Multi-Joint Models
Authors: Sung Mankyu , Kim Yejin
Published: March 2019

This paper introduces a GPU (graphics processing unit)-based fast motion synthesis algorithm for a large crowd. The main parts of the algorithms were selecting the most appropriate joint model given adaptive screen-space occupancy of each character and synthesizing motions for the joint model with one or two input motion capture data. The different joint models had a character range from fine-detailed and fully-articulated ones to the most simplified ones. The motion synthesizer, running on a GPU, performed a series of motion blending for each joint of the characters in parallel. For better performance of the motion synthesizer, the GPU maintained a novel cache structure for given speed parameters. Using the high computation power of GPUs, the motion synthesizer could generate arbitrary speeds and orientations for the motions of a vast number of characters. Experiments showed that the proposed algorithm could animate more than 5000 characters in real-time on modest graphics acceleration cards.
Critical Components Identification for Service-Oriented Systems
Authors: Zhang Xiuguo , Jiang Shuo , Qiao Xinghao , Cao Zhiying , Zhang Liangjun
Published: March 2019

Identifying critical components are of great significance to the overall reliability of service-oriented systems (SOSs). As the size of the SOS increases, identifying critical components in the process of predicting the SOS reliability can reduce the number of components that need to be predicted and shorten the prediction time. Moreover, predicting the reliability of critical components can also ensure the stability of the SOS. Therefore, we transform the relationships among service components of the SOS into a service dependency graph. Then, an improved weighted LeaderRank algorithm (IW-LeaderRank) is proposed to measure the importance of components and obtain the sequence of critical components. Through experimental analysis, the method can accurately and efficiently identify critical components in SOSs.
The Development of a qPCR Assay to Measure Aspergillus flavus Biomass in Maize and the Use of a Biocontrol Strategy to Limit Aflatoxin Production
Authors: Mitema Alfred , Okoth Sheila , Rafudeen Suhail M.
Published: March 2019

Aspergillus flavus colonisation of maize can produce mycotoxins that are detrimental to both human and animal health. Screening of maize lines, resistant to A. flavus infection, together with a biocontrol strategy, could help minimize subsequent aflatoxin contamination. We developed a qPCR assay to measure A. flavus biomass and showed that two African maize lines, GAF4 and KDV1, had different fungal loads for the aflatoxigenic isolate (KSM014), fourteen days after infection. The qPCR assay revealed no significant variation in A. flavus biomass between diseased and non-diseased maize tissues for GAF4, while KDV1 had a significantly higher A. flavus biomass (p < 0.05) in infected shoots and roots compared to the control. The biocontrol strategy using an atoxigenic isolate (KSM012) against the toxigenic isolate (KSM014), showed aflatoxin production inhibition at the co-infection ratio, 50:50 for both maize lines (KDV1 > 99.7% and GAF ≥ 69.4%), as confirmed by bioanalytical techniques. As far as we are aware, this is the first report in Kenya where the biomass of A. flavus from maize tissue was detected and quantified using a qPCR assay. Our results suggest that maize lines, which have adequate resistance to A. flavus, together with the appropriate biocontrol strategy, could limit outbreaks of aflatoxicoses.
Chikungunya in Infants and Children: Is Pathogenesis Increasing?
Authors: Barr Kelli L. , Vaidhyanathan Vedana
Published: March 2019

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first extensively described in children during outbreaks in India and South Asia during the mid-1960s. Prior to the 2005 emergence of CHIKV on Reunion Island, CHIKV infection was usually described as a dengue-like illness with arthralgia in Africa and febrile hemorrhagic disease in Asia. Soon after the 2005 emergence, severe CNS consequences from vertical and perinatal transmission were described and as CHIKV continued to emerge in new areas over the next 10 years, severe manifestation of infection and sequelae were increasingly reported in infants and neonates. The following review describes the global reemergence and the syndromes of Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) in infants and children. The various manifestations of CHIKF are described and connected to the viral lineage that was documented in the area at the time the disease was described. The data show that certain manifestations of CHIKF occur with specific viral lineages and genetic motifs, which suggests that severe manifestations of CHIKF in the very young may be associated with the emergence of new viral lineages.
Towards Inhaled Phage Therapy in Western Europe
Authors: Wienhold Sandra-Maria , Lienau Jasmin , Witzenrath Martin
Published: March 2019

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria constitutes a great challenge for modern medicine, recognized by leading medical experts and politicians worldwide. Rediscovery and implementation of bacteriophage therapy by Western medicine might be one solution to the problem of increasing antibiotic failure. In some Eastern European countries phage therapy is used for treating infectious diseases. However, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) advised that the development of bacteriophage-based therapies should be expedited due to its significant potential, EMA emphasized that phages cannot be recommended for approval before efficacy and safety have been proven by appropriately designed preclinical and clinical trials. More evidence-based data is required, particularly in the areas of pharmacokinetics, repeat applications, immunological reactions to the application of phages as well as the interactions and effects on bacterial biofilms and organ-specific environments. In this brief review we summarize advantages and disadvantages of phage therapy and discuss challenges to the establishment of phage therapy as approved treatment for multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Immunostaining for p53 and p16CDKN2A Protein Is Not Predictive of Prognosis for Dogs with Malignant Mammary Gland Neoplasms
Authors: Munday John S , Ariyarathna Harsha , Aberdein Danielle , Thomson Neroli A
Published: March 2019

Mammary gland tumors (MGTs) are common in dogs and show a variable clinical behavior that is difficult to predict. Currently, few immunohistochemical markers have been established to predict the prognosis of a canine MGT. However, p53 immunostaining has been variably reported to be prognostic for canine MGTs. Additionally, while p16CDK2NA protein (p16) immunostaining has been found to be prognostic for human breast cancers, this marker has never been evaluated as a prognostic marker for canine neoplasms. In the present study, the prognostic utility of p53 and p16 was evaluated in 35 canine malignant MGTs. It was observed that 19 (54%) dogs died due to their MGTs with an overall mean survival time (MST) of 882 days. Seven MGTs showed p53 immunostaining, but this was not significantly associated with death (4 of 7 vs. 15 of 28; p = 0.6) or MST (670 vs. 934 days; p = 0.57). Five dogs had MGTs with no p16 immunostaining, 28 MGTs had intermediate p16 immunostaining, and two MGTs had increased p16 immunostaining. Neither death due to MGT (4 of 5, 14 of 28, or 1 of 2; p = 0.28) nor MST (683, 927, and 307 days; p = 0.31) were significantly associated with p16 immunostaining. Interestingly, p53 immunostaining was significantly associated with an increase or loss of p16 immunostaining. This is the first time that p16 has been evaluated as a prognostic marker for canine neoplasms. While these results suggest that a proportion of canine MGTs develop by cellular mechanisms that alter both p53 and p16 expression, there was no evidence that defects in p53 or p16 alter the behavior of a MGT. Neither p53 nor p16 was found to significantly predict prognosis, although this could reflect the limited number of MGTs included in the study.
Retrospective Dynamic Inundation Mapping of Hurricane Harvey Flooding in the Houston Metropolitan Area Using High-Resolution Modeling and High-Performance Computing
Authors: Noh Seong Jin , Lee Jun-Hak , Lee Seungsoo , Seo Dong-Jun
Published: March 2019

Hurricane Harvey was one of the most extreme weather events to occur in Texas, USA; there was a huge amount of urban flooding in the city of Houston and the adjoining coastal areas. In this study, we reanalyze the spatiotemporal evolution of inundation during Hurricane Harvey using high-resolution two-dimensional urban flood modeling. This study’s domain includes the bayou basins in and around the Houston metropolitan area. The flood model uses the dynamic wave method and terrain data of 10-m resolution. It is forced by radar-based quantitative precipitation estimates. To evaluate the simulated inundation, on-site photos and water level observations were used. The inundation extent and severity are estimated by combining the retrieved water depths, images collected from the impacted area, and high-resolution terrain data. The simulated maximum inundation extent, which is frequently found outside of the designated flood zones, points out the importance of capturing multi-scale hydrodynamics in the built environment under extreme rainfall for effective flood risk and emergency management.
CO2 Flux from Volcanic Lakes in the Western Group of the Azores Archipelago (Portugal)
Authors: Andrade César , Cruz J. Virgílio , Viveiros Fátima , Coutinho Rui
Published: March 2019

Here, we present the first detailed study on diffuse CO2 degassing in the lakes in the Western Group (Corvo and Flores islands) of the Azores archipelago. This research is of interest in order to determine (1) the overall CO2 emission from such lakes, as volcanic lakes are often underrepresented in the databases of these water bodies, and (2) the diffuse CO2 degassing estimates in active volcanic areas such as the Azores. The lake waters on Corvo and Flores islands are mainly of the Na–Cl type, which is likely caused by the lakes’ sea salt signatures, arising from nearby seawater spraying; however, a few samples show evidence of slight alkali earth metal and bicarbonate enrichments in the lake waters, suggesting a contribution of water–rock interaction. In this study, diffuse CO2 flux measurements were taken using the accumulation chamber method, and statistical analyses utilizing the graphical statistical approach (GSA) and sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) were conducted on the CO2 flux data, showing that the CO2 flux values measured in these lakes were relatively low (0.0–18.6 g m−2 d−1). The results seem to indicate that there is a single source of CO2 (a biogenic source), which is also supported by the waters’ δ13C isotopic signatures. Significant differences in the final CO2 output values were verified between surveys (e.g., 0.16 t d−1 in R1; 0.32 t d−1 in R2), and these differences are probably associated with the monomictic character of the lakes. CO2 emissions ranged between 0.18 t d−1 (CE1) and 0.50 t d−1 (CW1) for the Corvo lakes and between 0.03 t d−1 (P1) and 0.32 t d−1 (R2) for the seven lakes studied on Flores Island. The presence of a dense macrophyte mass in a few of the lakes appears to enhance the CO2 flux in these lakes.
Autonomous In Situ Measurements of Noncontaminant Water Quality Indicators and Sample Collection with a UAV
Authors: Koparan Cengiz , Koc Ali Bulent , Privette Charles V. , Sawyer Calvin B.
Published: March 2019

The objective of this research was to conduct in situ measurements of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature, and collect water samples simultaneously at different depths using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV system consists of a hexacopter, water sampling cartridges (WSC), and a sensor node. Payload capacity and endurance of the UAV were determined using an indoor test station. The UAV was able to produce 106 N of thrust for 10 min with 6.3 kg of total takeoff weight. The thrust-to-weight ratio of the UAV was 2.5 at 50% throttle. The decision for activating the water sampling cartridges and sensor node was made autonomously from an onboard microcontroller. System functions were verified at 0.5 m and 3.0 m depths in 6 locations over a 1.1 ha agricultural pond. Average measurements of EC, pH, DO, and temperature at 0.5 m depth were 42 µS/cm, 5.6, 8.2 mg/L, and 31 °C, while the measurements at 3 m depth were 80 µS/cm, 5.3, 5.34 mg/L, and 24 °C, respectively. The UAV-assisted autonomous water sampling system (UASS) successfully activated the WSC at each sampling location. The UASS would reduce the duration of water quality assessment and help practitioners and researchers to conduct observations with lower operational costs. The developed system would be useful for sampling and monitoring of water reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and ponds periodically or after natural disasters.
THE USE OF CHILDREN'S FOLKLORE IN THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN FROM THE FAMILIES OF ATO PARTICIPANTS AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
Authors: Povoroznyuk Svitlana
Published: March 2019

Children from families of ATO participants and internally displaced persons are extremely psychologically susceptible. Therefore, it is necessary to provide them with an emotionally comfortable environment for education and development, to promote the restoration of emotional stability and equilibrium. A lullaby is an effective ethno-cultural tool to overcome disturbing feelings that often cover a child of preschool age, creating an atmosphere of love, tenderness, cosiness and calm in the process of her education and development. With the help of amusements, tricks, humorous songs, an educator can create a relaxed and positive atmosphere and, accordingly, accelerate the process of re-socialization of children of these categories in new conditions or circumstances, to organize a comfortable environment for the restoration of their emotional balance. To overcome the negative consequences of children psychotraumatic situations, the elimination of a state of internal tension, emotional anxiety and the subsequent formation of emotional state of internal balance, vivacity, it is recommended to use song-fairy tales. Fables are considered to be an additional ethno-cultural tool for creating a relaxed communicative environment, overcoming the depressed emotional state of children from the families of ATO participants and internally displaced persons.