bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing the Dose and/or Repeating Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) Increases the Response in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Authors: El-Salhy Magdy , Hausken Trygve , Hatlebakk Jan Gunnar
Published: June 2019

Background: Faecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) appears to be an effective method for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. However, it is not clear if a high transplant dose and/or repeating FMT are/is needed to ensure a response. The present study was undertaken to clarify this matter. Methods: Ten IBS patients who did not respond to a 30-g transplant subsequently received a 60-g transplant into the duodenum via a gastroscope. The patients provided faecal samples before and 1 month after FMT. They completed five questionnaires measuring symptoms, fatigue and quality of life at baseline and then at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after FMT. The dysbiosis index (DI) was measured using the GA-map Dysbiosis Test®. Results: Seven patients (70%) responded to the 60-g transplant, with significant clinical improvements in the abdominal symptoms, fatigue and quality of life in 57%, 80% and 67% of these patients. The 60-g transplant also reduced the DI. Conclusion: FMT is an effective treatment for IBS. A high-dose transplant and/or repeated FMT increase the response rate and the intensity of the effects of FMT.
Nutritional Quality of Breakfast Consumed by the Low-Income Population in Brazil: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: de Sousa Janice Ramos , Botelho Raquel B. A. , Akutsu Rita de Cássia C. A. , Zandonadi Renata Puppin
Published: June 2019

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the nutritional quality of breakfast consumed by the low-income Brazilian population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1547 low-income individuals attending 36 Community Restaurants (CRs) in Brazil. Food consumption was analyzed by the frequency of food groups presented in the 24 h recall for three days. The nutritional consumption consisted of the analysis of the total energetic value (TEV) and the macronutrients, fibers, monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, calcium, and sodium. The nutrients were evaluated considering the percentage of contribution concerning the daily recommendation of consumption. Results: Among the 4641 breakfasts expected to be consumed and reported, 17.2% (n = 797) of the consumers did not consume breakfast. Therefore, we analyzed the 3844 breakfasts. The analysis of food groups showed a high consumption of dairy and cereals, and low consumption of fruits, roots/tubers, and meat/eggs. The percentages of energy contribution of the macronutrients in the TEV were adequate for a balanced diet. The mean intake of monounsaturated fatty acids was low, and the contribution percentages of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids were within the recommendations. The mean fiber intake of the breakfast was low, agreeing with the result of low fruit consumption. Calcium intake covered 73.49% of that expected for this meal, and sodium intake was adequate in breakfast. Conclusion: The individuals studied consumed a nutritionally balanced breakfast. Although dairy was one of the most consumed groups, calcium consumption was low, indicating the need to consume higher portions of food sources of this nutrient.
Experimental Infection of Human Volunteers with the Heat-Stable Enterotoxin-Producing Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Strain TW11681
Authors: Todnem Sakkestad Sunniva , Steinsland Hans , Skrede Steinar , Kleppa Elisabeth , Lillebø Kristine , Sævik Marianne , Søyland Hanne , Rykkje Heien Astrid , Gjerde Tellevik Marit , Barry Eileen M. , Sommerfelt Halvor , Hanevik Kurt
Published: June 2019

Infection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) producing the heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) is one of the most important causes of childhood diarrhoea in low- and middle-income countries. Here, we undertook a controlled human infection model (CHIM) study to investigate whether ST-producing ETEC strain TW11681 would be suitable for testing the protective efficacy of new ST-based vaccine candidates in vaccine challenge models. In groups of three, nine volunteers ingested 1 × 106, 1 × 107, or 1 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU) of TW11681. Flow cytometry-based assays were used to measure CD4+ T cell responses and antibody levels targeting virulence factors expressed by the strain. We found that infection with TW11681 elicited few and mild symptoms, including mild diarrhoea in two volunteers, both of whom ingested 1 × 106 CFU. Averaged across all volunteers, the CD4+ T cell responses specific for E. coli YghJ mucinase peaked 10 days after infection (3.2-fold (p = 0.016)), while the CD4+ T cell responses specific for Colonization Factor Antigen I (CFA/I) major fimbrial subunit (CfaB) peaked after 28 days (3.6-fold (p = 0.063)). The serum CfaB-specific anti-IgA and anti-IgG/IgM levels were significantly increased and peaked 3 months after infection. Both remained elevated for the duration of the 12-month follow-up. The corresponding anti-YghJ serological response was strongest after 10 days, although a significant increase was seen only for IgA levels (3.2-fold (p = 0.008)). In conclusion, due to its low diarrhoea attack risk, TW11681 is probably not suitable for testing the efficacy of new vaccines in human challenge studies at doses 1 × 106 to 1 × 108. However, the strain may still be useful in CHIMs for studying ETEC host-pathogen interactions.
β-Cyclodextrin as a Functional Excipient Used for Enhancing the Diminazene Aceturate Bioavailability
Authors: Marangoci Narcisa , Timpu Daniel , Corciova Andreia , Mircea Cornelia , Petrovici Anca-Roxana , Nicolescu Alina , Ursu Elena-Laura , Nastasa Valentin , Bostanaru Andra-Cristina , Mares Mihai , Pertea Mihaela , Pinteala Mariana
Published: June 2019

In this study, we proposed formulations of diminazene aceturate (DA) designed to improve its bioavailability and to maximize the therapeutic index in animals by overcoming the rapid degradation under the acidic pH of the stomach. An important consequence is the fact that its amount in the bloodstream is close to the administered dose. This was made possible by incorporating DA into the β-cyclodextrin’s (βCD) cavity in a molar ratio of 1:1. The structure of the resulted inclusion complex was established by Raman, DSC, and Wide-Angle X ray Diffraction (WAXD) in solid state and by 1H-NMR and H-H ROESY in aqueous solutions. The stoichiometry of the DA:βCD inclusion complex was obtained by using the continuous variation method (Job’s plot), considering the chemical shifts variations of protons from both DA and βCD compounds in 1H-NMR spectra. The biological activity was estimated in vitro by antioxidant activity and in vivo by comparing the bioavailability of parent DA and its inclusion complexes after a single dose administration in Wistar rats by using the HPLC method on their blood plasma. In vitro tests showed an improved antioxidant activity. In vivo tests have shown that the DA concentration is always much higher in blood plasma of rats when DA:βCD inclusion complex of 1:1 molar ratio was administered (i.e., at 60 min, DA is around 11 and 3 times higher when DA:βCD inclusion complex of 1:1 molar ratio was administered than the parent DA one and DA:βCD lyophilized mixture of 1:2 molar ratio, respectively).
Pollination Type Recognition from a Distance by the Ovary Is Revealed Through a Global Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: Joly Valentin , Tebbji Faïza , Nantel André , Matton Daniel P.
Published: June 2019

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants involves intimate contact and continuous interactions between the growing pollen tube and the female reproductive structures. These interactions can trigger responses in distal regions of the flower well ahead of fertilization. While pollination-induced petal senescence has been studied extensively, less is known about how pollination is perceived at a distance in the ovary, and how specific this response is to various pollen genotypes. To address this question, we performed a global transcriptomic analysis in the ovary of a wild potato species, Solanum chacoense, at various time points following compatible, incompatible, and heterospecific pollinations. In all cases, pollen tube penetration in the stigma was initially perceived as a wounding aggression. Then, as the pollen tubes grew in the style, a growing number of genes became specific to each pollen genotype. Functional classification analyses revealed sharp differences in the response to compatible and heterospecific pollinations. For instance, the former induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes while the latter affected genes associated to ethylene signaling. In contrast, incompatible pollination remained more akin to a wound response. Our analysis reveals that every pollination type produces a specific molecular signature generating diversified and specific responses at a distance in the ovary in preparation for fertilization.
Drought Yield QTL (qDTY) with Consistent Effects on Morphological and Agronomical Traits of Two Populations of New Rice (Oryza sativa) Lines
Authors: Mohd Ikmal Asmuni , Nurasyikin Zainuddin , Tuan Nur Aqlili Riana Tuan Ali , Puteri Dinie Ellina Zulkafli , Wickneswari Ratnam , Noraziyah Abd Aziz Shamsudin
Published: June 2019

Drought has been a major limiting factor for rice production. Drought yield QTLs (qDTYs; QTLs = quantitative trait loci) were pyramided into MRQ74 and MR219 to produce drought tolerant lines. In this study, new drought tolerant MRQ74 and MR219 pyramided lines (PLs) were evaluated under drought stress (RS) and non-stress (NS) conditions to evaluate the effects of different qDTYs combinations on morphological and agronomical traits. MRQ74 PLs having qDTY12.1 possessed the best root length (RL) under both RS and NS but the effect was only significant for MR219 PLs under RS. Some qDTYs combinations also found to have consistent effect on the same trait of both populations. PLs with only qDTY12.1 showed the highest grain yield (GY) under RS in both populations which means qDTY12.1 controlled RL and caused higher GY under drought condition. The interaction of major-effect qDTY12.1 with qDTY2.2 also shows significant effect on leaf rolling (LR) of both PL populations. These qDTYs proved to be beneficial in improving traits related to drought tolerance. Selected PLs with qDTY12.1 combinations also found to have better RL and root weight (RW) under RS. Improvement of morphological and agronomical traits led to higher GY of PLs. Therefore, qDTY12.1 either is present singly or in combination with other qDTYs was the best qDTY due to its consistent effect on morphological and agronomical traits and GY across populations under RS and NS.
Effect of the Marangoni Convection in the Unsteady Thin Film Spray of CNT Nanofluids
Authors: Rehman Ali , Gul Taza , Salleh Zabidin , Mukhtar Safyan , Hussain Fawad , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Kumam Poom
Published: June 2019

The gradient of surface temperature is known as Marangoni convection and plays an important role in silicon melt, spray, atomic reactors, and thin fluid films. Marangoni convection has been considered in the liquid film spray of carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofluid over the unsteady extending surface of a cylinder. The two kinds of CNTs, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiple-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), formulated as water-based nanofluids have been used for thermal spray analysis. The thickness of the nanofluid film was kept variable for a stable spray rate and pressure distribution. The transformed equations of the flow problem have been solved using the optimal homotopy analysis method (OHAM). The obtained results have been validated through the sum of the total residual errors numerically and graphically for both types of nanofluids. The impact of the physical parameters versus velocity, pressure, and temperature pitches under the influence of the Marangoni convection have been obtained and discussed. The obtained results are validated using the comparison of OHAM and the (ND-solve) method.
Religious/Spiritual Struggles and Life Satisfaction among Young Roman Catholics: The Mediating Role of Gratitude
Authors: Szcześniak Małgorzata , Bielecka Grażyna , Bajkowska Iga , Czaprowska Anna , Madej Daria
Published: June 2019

An extensive review of the psychological literature shows that interactions between religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles and other aspects of human functioning are complex and affected by “third” factors. Still, we have only a few studies that confirm R/S struggles as a source of well-being and indicate the ways in which it happens. In the present study, we aimed to verify whether the relationship between R/S struggles and life satisfaction was mediated by dispositional gratitude that seems to offer protection in times of adversity and turmoil. The sample consisted of 440 Roman Catholics (331 women) from Poland aged between 18 and 40. We applied the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Gratitude Questionnaire. In line with our hypotheses, it was confirmed that respondents with higher life satisfaction were more likely to display a higher sense of trust in God. They also declared a lower fear/guilt and perception of God as abandoning people. Gratitude correlated positively and significantly with religious comfort, and negatively with emotions towards God and social interactions surrounding religion. Moreover, it can be affirmed that dispositional gratitude mediated the relationship between three of four dimensions of religious strain and life satisfaction: religious comfort, negative emotions towards God, and negative social interactions surrounding religion.
Determining Optimal Solar Power Plant Locations Based on Remote Sensing and GIS Methods: A Case Study from Croatia
Authors: Gašparović Iva , Gašparović Mateo
Published: June 2019

In the last few years, the world has been turning to the exploitation of renewable energy sources due to increased awareness of environmental protection and increased consumption of fossil fuels. In this research, by applying geographic information systems and integrating them with multi-criteria decision making methods, an area suitable for the construction and exploitation of renewable energy sources is determined. The research uses not only climate, spatial, environmental, and geomorphological parameters but also socioeconomic parameters, population, unemployment, and number of tourist nights as well as electricity consumption. By applying spatial analysis, rasters of all parameters were created using GRASS GIS software. Using the analytic hierarchy process, the calculated rasters are assigned with weight coefficients, and the sum of all those rasters gives the final raster of optimal locations for the construction of solar power plants in Croatia. To test the accuracy of the obtained results, sensitivity analysis was performed using different weight coefficients of the parameters. From the sensitivity analysis results, as well as a histogram and statistical indicators of the three rasters, it is apparent that raster F1 gives the best results. The most decisive parameters in determining the optimal solar plant locations that result from this research are GHI, land cover, and distance to the electricity network.
Drought Monitoring Utility using Satellite-Based Precipitation Products over the Xiang River Basin in China
Authors: Zhu Qian , Luo Yulin , Zhou Dongyang , Xu Yue-Ping , Wang Guoqing , Gao Haiying
Published: June 2019

Drought is a natural hazard disaster that can deeply affect environments, economies, and societies around the world. Therefore, accurate monitoring of patterns in drought is important. Precipitation is the key variable to define the drought index. However, the spare and uneven distribution of rain gauges limit the access of long-term and reliable in situ observations. Remote sensing techniques enrich the precipitation data at different temporal–spatial resolutions. In this study, the climate prediction center morphing (CMORPH) technique (CMORPH-CRT), the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) multi-satellite precipitation analysis (TRMM 3B42V7), and the integrated multi-satellite retrievals for global precipitation measurement (IMERG V05) were evaluated and compared with in situ observations for the drought monitoring in the Xiang River Basin, a humid region in China. A widely-used drought index, the standardized precipitation index (SPI), was chosen to evaluate the drought monitoring utility. The atmospheric water deficit (AWD) was used for comparison of the drought estimation with SPI. The results were as follows: (1) IMERG V05 precipitation products showed the highest accuracy against grid-based precipitation, followed by CMORPH-CRT, which performed better than TRMM 3B42V7; (2) IMERG V05 showed the best performance in SPI-1 (one-month SPI) estimations compared with CMORPH-CRT and TRMM 3B42V7; (3) SPI-1 was more suitable for drought monitoring than AWD in the Xiang River Basin, because its high R-values and low root mean square error (RMSE) compared with the corresponding index based on in situ observations; (4) drought conditions in 2015 were apparently more severe than that in 2016 and 2017, with the driest area mainly distributed in the southwest part of the Xiang River Basin.
Multiple-Scale Variations of Sea Ice and Ocean Circulation in the Bering Sea Using Remote Sensing Observations and Numerical Modeling
Authors: Dong Changming , Gao Xiaoqian , Zhang Yiming , Yang Jingsong , Zhang Hongchun , Chao Yi
Published: June 2019

The Bering Sea is located between the Aleutian Low and Siberian High, with strong seasonal variations in the oceanic circulation and the sea ice coverage. Within such a large-scale system, the physical processes in the Bering Sea carry interannual variability. The special topography in the Bering Sea traps a strong jet along the Bering Slope, whose instability enriches the eddy activity in the region. A Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS), coupled with a sea ice module, is employed to study multiple-scale variability in the sea ice and oceanic circulation in the Bering Sea for interannual, seasonal, and intra-seasonal eddy variations. The model domain covers the whole Bering Sea and a part of the Chukchi Sea and south of Aleutian Islands, with an averaged spatial resolution of 5 km. The external forcings are momentum, heat, and freshwater flux at the surface and adaptive nudging to reanalysis fields at the boundaries. The oceanic model starts in an equilibrium state from a multiple year cyclical climatology run, and then it is integrated from years 1990 through 2004. The 15 year simulation is analyzed and assessed against the observational data. The model accurately reproduces the seasonal and interannual variations in the sea ice coverage compared with the satellite-observed sea ice data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Sea surface temperature and eddy kinetic energy patterns from the ROMS agree with satellite remote sensing data. The transportation through the Bering Strait is also comparable with the estimate of mooring data. The mechanism for seasonal and interannual variation in the Bering Sea is connected to the Siberia-Aleutian index. Eddy variation along the Bering Slope is discussed. The model also simulates polynya generation and evolution around the St. Lawrence Island.
Estimation of Ground Surface and Accuracy Assessments of Growth Parameters for a Sweet Potato Community in Ridge Cultivation
Authors: Teng Poching , Ono Eiichi , Zhang Yu , Aono Mitsuko , Shimizu Yo , Hosoi Fumiki , Omasa Kenji
Published: June 2019

There are only a few studies that have been made on accuracy assessments of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and biomass estimation using three-dimensional (3D) models generated by structure from motion (SfM) image processing. In this study, sweet potato was grown with different amounts of nitrogen fertilization in ridge cultivation at an experimental farm. Three-dimensional dense point cloud models were constructed from a series of two-dimensional (2D) color images measured by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) paired with SfM image processing. Although it was in the early stage of cultivation, a complex ground surface model for ridge cultivation with vegetation was generated, and the uneven ground surface could be estimated with an accuracy of 1.4 cm. Furthermore, in order to accurately estimate growth parameters from the early growth to the harvest period, a 3D model was constructed using a root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.3 cm for plant height estimation. By using a color index, voxel models were generated and LAIs were estimated using a regression model with an RMSE accuracy of 0.123. Further, regression models were used to estimate above-ground and below-ground biomass, or tuberous root weights, based on estimated LAIs.
Correction: Zafari, A.; Zurita-Milla, R.; Izquierdo-Verdiguier, E. Evaluating the Performance of a Random Forest Kernel for Land Cover Classification. Remote Sensing 2019, 11, 575
Authors: Zafari Azar , Zurita-Milla Raul , Izquierdo-Verdiguier Emma
Published: June 2019

The authors wish to make the following correction to the paper [...]
Short-Term Variation of the Surface Flow Pattern South of Lombok Strait Observed from the Himawari-8 Sea Surface Temperature
Authors: Taniguchi Naokazu , Kida Shinichiro , Sakuno Yuji , Mutsuda Hidemi , Syamsudin Fadli
Published: June 2019

Spatial and temporal information on oceanic flow is fundamental to oceanography and crucial for marine-related social activities. This study attempts to describe the short-term surface flow variation in the area south of the Lombok Strait in the northern summer using the hourly Himawari-8 sea surface temperature (SST). Although the uncertainty of this temperature is relatively high (about 0.6 ∘ C), it could be used to discuss the flow variation with high spatial resolution because sufficient SST differences are found between the areas north and south of the strait. The maximum cross-correlation (MCC) method is used to estimate the surface velocity. The Himawari-8 SST clearly shows Flores Sea water intruding into the Indian Ocean with the high-SST water forming a warm thermal plume on a tidal cycle. This thermal plume flows southward at a speed of about 2 m / s . The Himawari-8 SST indicates a southward flow from the Lombok Strait to the Indian Ocean, which blocks the South Java Current flowing eastward along the southern coast of Nusa Tenggara. Although the satellite data is limited to the surface, we found it useful for understanding the spatial and temporal variations in the surface flow field.
Eating and Drinking Recognition in Free-Living Conditions for Triggering Smart Reminders
Authors: Gomes Diana , Mendes-Moreira João , Sousa Inês , Silva Joana
Published: June 2019

The increasingly aging society in developed countries has raised attention to the role of technology in seniors’ lives, namely concerning isolation-related issues. Independent seniors that live alone frequently neglect meals, hydration and proper medication-taking behavior. This work aims at eating and drinking recognition in free-living conditions for triggering smart reminders to autonomously living seniors, keeping system design considerations, namely usability and senior-acceptance criteria, in the loop. To that end, we conceived a new dataset featuring accelerometer and gyroscope wrist data to conduct the experiments. We assessed the performance of a single multi-class classification model when compared against several binary classification models, one for each activity of interest (eating vs. non-eating; drinking vs. non-drinking). Binary classification models performed consistently better for all tested classifiers (k-NN, Naive Bayes, Decision Tree, Multilayer Perceptron, Random Forests, HMM). This evidence supported the proposal of a semi-hierarchical activity recognition algorithm that enabled the implementation of two distinct data stream segmentation techniques, the customization of the classification models of each activity of interest and the establishment of a set of restrictions to apply on top of the classification output, based on daily evidence. An F1-score of 97% was finally attained for the simultaneous recognition of eating and drinking in an all-day acquisition from one young user, and 93% in a test set with 31 h of data from 5 different unseen users, 2 of which were seniors. These results were deemed very promising towards solving the problem of food and fluids intake monitoring with practical systems which shall maximize user-acceptance.
An Approach to Measure Tilt Motion, Straightness and Position of Precision Linear Stage with a 3D Sinusoidal-Groove Linear Reflective Grating and Triangular Wave-Based Subdivision Method
Authors: Tsai Hsiu-An , Lo Yu-Lung
Published: June 2019

This work presents a novel and compact method for simultaneously measuring errors in linear displacement and vertical straightness of a moving linear air-bearing stage using 3D sinusoidal-groove linear reflective grating and a novel triangular wave-based sequence signal analysis method. The new scheme is distinct from the previous studies as it considers two signals to analyze linear displacement and vertical straightness. In addition, the tilt motion of the precision linear stage could also be measured using the 3D sinusoidal-groove linear reflective grating. The proposed system is similar to a linear encoder and can make online measurements of stage errors to analyze automatic processes and also be used for real-time monitoring. The performance of the proposed method and its reliability have been verified by experiments. The experiments show that the maximum error of measured tilt angle, linear displacement, and vertical straightness error is less than 0.058°, 0.239 μm, and 0.188 μm, respectively. The maximum repeatability error on measurement of tilt angle, linear displacement, and vertical straightness error is less than ±0.189o, ±0.093 μm, and ±0.016 μm, respectively. The proposed system is suitable for error compensation in the multi-axis system and finds application in most industries.
Exact Closed-Form Multitarget Bayes Filters
Authors: Mahler Ronald
Published: June 2019

The finite-set statistics (FISST) foundational approach to multitarget tracking and information fusion has inspired work by dozens of research groups in at least 20 nations; and FISST publications have been cited tens of thousands of times. This review paper addresses a recent and cutting-edge aspect of this research: exact closed-form—and, therefore, provably Bayes-optimal—approximations of the multitarget Bayes filter. The five proposed such filters—generalized labeled multi-Bernoulli (GLMB), labeled multi-Bernoulli mixture (LMBM), and three Poisson multi-Bernoulli mixture (PMBM) filter variants—are assessed in depth. This assessment includes a theoretically rigorous, but intuitive, statistical theory of “undetected targets”, and concrete formulas for the posterior undetected-target densities for the “standard” multitarget measurement model.
Autonomic Nervous System Response during Light Physical Activity in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa Measured by Wearable Devices
Authors: Billeci Lucia , Tonacci Alessandro , Brunori Elena , Raso Rossella , Calderoni Sara , Maestro Sandra , Morales Maria Aurora
Published: June 2019

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with a wide range of disturbances of the autonomic nervous system. The aim of the present study was to monitor the heart rate (HR) and the heart rate variability (HRV) during light physical activity in a group of adolescent girls with AN and in age-matched controls using a wearable, minimally obtrusive device. For the study, we enrolled a sample of 23 adolescents with AN and 17 controls. After performing a 12-lead electrocardiogram and echocardiography, we used a wearable device to record a one-lead electrocardiogram for 5 min at baseline for 5 min during light physical exercise (Task) and for 5 min during recovery. From the recording, we extracted HR and HRV indices. Among subjects with AN, the HR increased at task and decreased at recovery, whereas among controls it did not change between the test phases. HRV features showed a different trend between the two groups, with an increased low-to-high frequency ratio (LF/HF) in the AN group due to increased LF and decreased HF, differently from controls that, otherwise, slightly increased their standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). The response in the AN group during the task as compared to that of healthy adolescents suggests a possible sympathetic activation or parasympathetic withdrawal, differently from controls. This result could be related to the low energy availability associated to the excessive loss of fat and lean mass in subjects with AN, that could drive to autonomic imbalance even during light physical activity.
Trimodal Waveguide Demonstration and Its Implementation as a High Order Mode Interferometer for Sensing Application
Authors: Ramirez Jhonattan C. , Gabrielli Lucas H. , Lechuga Laura M. , Hernandez-Figueroa Hugo E.
Published: June 2019

This work implements and demonstrates an interferometric transducer based on a trimodal optical waveguide concept. The readout signal is generated from the interference between the fundamental and second-order modes propagating on a straight polymer waveguide. Intuitively, the higher the mode order, the larger the fraction of power (evanescent field) propagating outside the waveguide core, hence the higher the sensitivity that can be achieved when interfering against the strongly confined fundamental mode. The device is fabricated using the polymer SU-8 over a SiO2 substrate and shows a free spectral range of 20.2 nm and signal visibility of 5.7 dB, reaching a sensitivity to temperature variations of 0.0586 dB/°C. The results indicate that the proposed interferometer is a promising candidate for highly sensitive, compact and low-cost photonic transducer for implementation in different types of sensing applications, among these, point-of-care.
Characterization of Nile Red as a Tracer for Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Gasoline and Kerosene and Their Mixture with Biofuels
Authors: Koegl Matthias , Mull Christopher , Baderschneider Kevin , Wislicenus Jan , Will Stefan , Zigan Lars
Published: June 2019

Suitable fluorescence tracers (“dyes”) are needed for the planar measurement of droplet sizes by using a combination of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and Mie scattering. Currently, no suitable tracers have been characterized for application in planar droplet sizing in gasoline and kerosene fuels, as well as biofuel blends. One promising tracer is nile red, which belongs to the fluorophore group. For its utilization for droplet size measurements, preliminary characterization of the fluorescence of the respective fuel tracer mixtures are mandatory. For this purpose, the fluorescence and absorption behavior of nile red dissolved in the surrogate fuels Toliso and Jet A-1 as well as in biofuel blends was investigated. The fluorescence signal for nile red that was dissolved in the two base fuels Toliso and Jet A-1 showed a linear behavior as a function of dye concentration. The temperature effect on spectral absorption and emission of nile red was investigated in a specially designed test cell. An ethanol admixture to Toliso led to a spectral shift towards higher wavelengths. The absorption and emission bands were shifted towards lower wavelengths with increasing temperature for all fuels. Both absorption and fluorescence decreased with increasing temperature for all fuels, except for E20, which showed an increased fluorescence signal with increasing temperature. Jet A-1 and its blends with hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) and farnesane did not exhibit explicit variations in spectral absorption or emission, but these blends showed a more distinct temperature dependence compared to the Toliso-ethanol-blends. The effect of photo-dissociation of the LIF signal of the fuel tracer mixtures was studied, and all fuel mixtures besides Toliso showed a more or less distinct decay in the fluorescence signal with time. In summary, all investigated fuel-tracer mixtures are suitable for LIF/Mie ratio droplet sizing in combination with nile red at moderate temperatures and low evaporation cooling rates.
Redefining the Use of Big Data in Urban Health for Increased Liveability in Smart Cities
Authors: Allam Zaheer , Tegally Houriiyah , Thondoo Meelan
Published: June 2019

Policy decisions and urban governance are being influenced by an emergence of data from internet of things (IoT), which forms the backbone of Smart Cities, giving rise to Big Data which is processed and analyzed by Artificial Intelligence models at speeds unknown to mankind decades ago. This is providing new ways of understanding how well cities perform, both in terms of economics as well as in health. However, even though cities have been increasingly digitalized, accelerated by the concept of Smart Cities, the exploration of urban health has been limited by the interpretation of sensor data from IoT devices, omitting the inclusion of data from human anatomy and the emergence of biological data in various forms. This paper advances the need for expanding the concept of Big Data beyond infrastructure to include that of urban health through human anatomy; thus, providing a more cohesive set of data, which can lead to a better knowledge as to the relationship of people with the city and how this pertains to the thematic of urban health. Coupling both data forms will be key in supplementing the contemporary notion of Big Data for the pursuit of more contextualized, resilient, and sustainable Smart Cities, rendering more liveable fabrics, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 and the New Urban Agenda.
A Methodological Framework for the Selection of Key Performance Indicators to Assess Smart City Solutions
Authors: Angelakoglou Komninos , Nikolopoulos Nikos , Giourka Paraskevi , Svensson Inger-Lise , Tsarchopoulos Panagiotis , Tryferidis Athanasios , Tzovaras Dimitrios
Published: June 2019

Smart and sustainable cities are expected to form a cornerstone for achieving resource efficiency and sustainability worldwide. In this specific study we introduce a holistic framework for determining a repository of key performance indicators (KPIs) that are able to evaluate both business-as-usual and novel technologies and services related to smart city solutions. The framework includes six steps: (a) Clustering of the technology/service solutions into groups called Transition Tracks; (b) definition of the main groups of stakeholders; (c) definition of KPIs dimensions (or domains); (d) definition of KPIs repository per dimension; (e) definition of the scope of evaluation per KPI; and (f) threshold definition per KPI. The implementation of the proposed framework led to the development of a repository of 75 KPIs categorized in six dimensions (technical, environmental, economic, social, ICT and legal KPIs) with the corresponding levels of assessment and stakeholders’ group of interest. The proposed repository can serve as a great basis for similar projects to monitor and evaluate the performance of their solutions. Tips and guidance based on the actual implementation and lessons learned from a smart city project are provided.
Are Smart Innovation Ecosystems Really Seeking to Meet Citizens’ Needs? Insights from the Stakeholders’ Vision on Smart City Strategy Implementation
Authors: Agbali Mohammed , Trillo Claudia , Ibrahim Isa , Arayici Yusuf , Fernando Terrence
Published: June 2019

The concept of a smart city is becoming the leading paradigm worldwide. Consequently, a creative mix of emerging technologies and open innovation is gradually becoming the defining element of smart city evolution, changing the ways in which city administrators are organizing their services and development globally. Thus, the smart city concept is becoming extremely relevant on the agendas of policy-makers as a development strategy for enhancing the quality of life of the citizen and improving the sustainability goals of their cities. Despite of the relevance of the topic, still few studies investigate how open innovation shapes the way cities become smarter or focus on the experiences of professionals to understand the concept of a smart city and its implementation. This paper fills this gap and analyzes the processes for building effective smart cities by integrating the different perspectives of smart innovations and using the core components of smart cities according to a conceptual framework developed in previous research. In so doing, it provides useful insights for smart city stakeholders in adopting social and technological innovation to improve the global competitiveness of their cities. The empirical dataset allows examining how “smart cities” are being implemented in Manchester (UK), and in Boston, Massachusetts, and San Diego City (United States of America (USA)), including archival data and in-depth interviews with core smart city stakeholders who are involved in smart city projects and programs across the cases. Results from empirical data suggest that the conceptualization of smart cities across the cases is similar with a strong emphasis on social and technological innovation aimed at addressing municipal challenges in the core sub-systems of the cities, which include mobility, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurial development, quality of life, and social cohesion. The results also reveal benefits and challenges relating to smart innovation ecosystems across the cases and the future directions of their diffusion.
Authenticity, Quality, and Loyalty: Local Food and Sustainable Tourism Experience
Authors: Zhang Tao , Chen Junyu , Hu Baoliang
Published: June 2019

The sustainability of rural development, both economic and environmental, has been increasingly linking to local food, which plays an indispensable role by preserving traditional culture, attracting tourists, and supporting the regional economy. However, the authenticity and quality of local food have not been fully convinced as competitive advantages by most practitioners. Little is known about how authenticity affects quality attributes, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty. Thus, this study examines the role of authenticity in the quality–satisfaction–loyalty framework. The field research was performed in Shunde County, Guangdong Province, China. The results challenge the traditional view of quality attributes by highlighting that authenticity is a key antecedent to the quality–satisfaction–loyalty framework of food tourism. In contrast, the relationships among quality attributes, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty are contingent on the extent to which food tourists perceive the authenticity of rural local food.
How Societal Values Determine the Local Use of Forest Resources—Findings from the Rural Community Kegong (Northwest Yunnan, China)
Authors: Nassl Michael , Löffler Jörg
Published: June 2019

The transition from net deforestation to net reforestation in China has received much scientific attention, in the hope that, by understanding the underlying drivers and processes, it might be reproduced in other regions of the world. The scientific literature has suggested that this process was driven by the creation of off-farm opportunities and huge state afforestation programs by economic growth. Recent publications, however, have noted a lack of inclusion of local dynamics in this analysis. We used the social-ecological interactions (SEI) framework, designed for the assessment of ecosystem services in socio-ecological systems, to trace the causes and patterns of the local use of forest biomass in a village in Northwest Yunnan. Our results suggest that societal values, in particular, are key to understanding the local resource use underlying the forest transition in Yunnan. However, societal values have been neglected, both in the analysis of forest transition as well as in social-ecological systems research, in general.
Risks in Prefabricated Buildings in China: Importance-Performance Analysis Approach
Authors: Wang Zhong-Lei , Shen Hou-Cai , Zuo Jian
Published: June 2019

Prefabrication has drawn wide attention in China during the last decade. However, the market share of prefabricated buildings in China remains comparatively low. The Importance-Performance Analysis approach is employed in this study to investigate the crucial risk factors associated with prefabricated buildings in China. A preliminary list of risks associated with prefabricated buildings in China was developed based on a critical literature review, which was consequently refined by the interview with related experts. A questionnaire survey was then conducted with selected industry professionals to solicit their expert opinions of critical risks associated with prefabricated buildings in China. Findings show that attention should be paid to the following risks: improper decomposition system, low level of factory management, incompetent quality assurance system, deviation in specification of prefabricated components, defects of component system, missing catalogue of building parts and components, poor adaptability of prefabricated building during the operational stage, and lack of actual cases to prove the environmental benefits of prefabricated buildings. This study also revealed the discrepancy between perceived critical risks and those risks with comparatively lower management performance. These findings offer useful inputs for the future development of prefabricated buildings in China and beyond.
The Effects of Pressure and Temperature on the Process of Auto-Ignition and Combustion of Rape Oil and Its Mixtures
Authors: Tucki Karol , Mruk Remigiusz , Orynycz Olga , Gola Arkadiusz
Published: June 2019

The effects of initial pressure and temperature in a constant volume test chamber with a common rail injection system on the processes of self-ignition and combustion of rapeseed oil and various blends of rapeseed oil with diesel oil are explored. Based on the obtained pressure waveforms the amount of emitted heat was determined, and the tested fuels were compared. The variations of a number of physicochemical characteristics that occur during the combustion processes were evaluated for several mixtures of fuel components. It was found that in the case of blends of rapeseed oil with diesel oil, the best results were obtained for a mixture containing 70 weight percent of diesel oil and 30% of rapeseed oil.
Effect of Macro- and Nano-Biosolid Fractions on Sorption Affinity and Transport of Pb in a Loamy Sand Soil
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulaziz G. , Ibrahim Hesham M.
Published: June 2019

Applications of large amounts of biosolid to agricultural lands have raised the concern over its potential impact on co-transport of metal contaminants. In this study, bulk biosolid was fractioned into six macro- and nano-biosolid fraction sizes. We investigated variations in the physicochemical properties of the different biosolid fraction sizes, and assessed sorption affinity and transport of Pb in a loamy sand soil. Decreasing biosolid fraction size from macro to nano resulted in consistent increases in surface area, surface charge, and a decrease in pore size. Biosolid particles >1000 µm showed similar surface properties that differ from biosolid particles < 1000 µm. Sorption affinity for Pb was larger on nano-biosolid as compared to all macro-biosolid fraction sizes. This is mainly attributed to the larger surface area and zeta potential of nano-biosolid, leading to increased surface reactivity and greater stability. Total amount eluted of Pb was increased in the presence of macro- and nano-biosolid by 21.3% and 45.6%, respectively. Our findings suggest that the application of the >1000 µm biosolid fractions can help to minimize adverse effects of biosolid applied in areas susceptible to potential environmental risk of contamination by heavy metals. Further assessment of potential mobility of nano-biosolid at the field scale is needed before the recommendation of including such approach during land application of biosolid.
Policy Reforms and Productivity Change in the Dutch Drinking Water Industry: A Time Series Analysis 1980–2015
Authors: Blank Jos , Enserink Bert , van Heezik Alex
Published: June 2019

In the last four decades, the Dutch drinking water industry has undergone two major policy reforms, namely the consolidation of the industry by stimulating mergers and the introduction of yardstick competition by applying benchmarks. This paper addresses the question of whether these two instruments have improved productivity. Productivity changes are derived from an estimated cost function. The effects of average scale as well as the introduction of a form of yardstick competition on productivity are formally tested. Estimation is conducted on the basis of time series data in the period 1980–2015. Industry consolidation has taken place over a long period of time. Yardstick competition was introduced in 1997 on a voluntary basis. It shows that total factor productivity was rather stable in the period 1980–1998. Since 1998, annual productivity growth has been substantial (about 0.6% on average). There was an obvious break point in 1998, providing clear evidence that the introduction of the benchmark instrument has affected productivity change. Moreover, there are various indications that benchmarking has also contributed to improving quality and sustainability. We could not find any empirical evidence for the hypothesis that consolidation of the industry has improved productivity.
Influences of Transformational Leadership, Transactional Leadership, and Patriarchal Leadership on Job Satisfaction of Cram School Faculty Members
Authors: Lan Tian-Syung , Chang I-Hsiung , Ma Tsz-Ching , Zhang Lie-Ping , Chuang Kai-Chi
Published: June 2019

While there is a decline in the annual population of Taiwan, the number of crams schools in the supplementary education industry is increasing. A concern is that there are not enough students to go around. Cram schools are facing a difficult situation to survive in the industry. Therefore, a great and useful leadership method is needed to help leaders lead their faculty members and organizations so that they can survive and even grow in this white-hot industry. In this study, 400 New Taipei City cram school faculties were invited to be the research objects to study the influences of transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and patriarchal leadership on job satisfaction. This study adopted the method of intentional sampling to conduct a questionnaire survey. After collecting data, SPSS 12.0 software was used to analyze the descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, description of statistics, t-test method of single factor analysis of variance, and regression. As a result of this research, the employees under transformational leadership have a larger positive result on outer job satisfaction while patriarchal leadership has positive influences on inner job satisfaction. Encouraging subordinates with positive responses, inspiring speeches, and compliments could make subordinates satisfied with the company and interaction with colleagues, while teaching subordinates behavior sets up a moral and authorized style and controlling the organization directly could let subordinates get a sense of accomplishment from work. This study is aimed to provide suggestions and references for the cram schools’ leaders to change their leadership styles and improve their employees’ job satisfaction. Cram schools that take the suggestions and references could improve their working environment and become more competitive in the education industry.