bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethics for Innovation in Hospitality: How Incremental and Radical Novelties Are Induced by Managers’ Social and Ecological Responsibility
Authors: Díaz-Meneses Gonzalo , Nieves Julia
Published: November 2019

This paper proposes a model to explain how ethics play a role to produce innovation in hospitality. Literature from social responsibility and ecological management was reviewed in order to state how ethical values induce advances by stimulating teams and breakthroughs. A survey was carried out based on structured questionnaires, filled in by 134 hotel managers in Gran Canaria (Spain). By means of path analysis, it was demonstrated the antecedent role played by ethical management to cause knowledge exchange in employees, as well as innovations in hotels. Nevertheless, breakthroughs cannot be induced if there is an extrinsically motivated environmental management. To be more specific, radical innovation was produced at a higher rate if managers highlighted the importance of ethics over profit, rather than if they placed profitability ahead of ethical considerations, notwithstanding that both approaches tend to provoke disruptive novelties. In addition, incremental innovations are a consequence of knowledge exchange between hotel employees. Finally, knowledge exchange is induced in the context of ethical leadership consisting of general social responsibility. The conclusions drawn from this work are that ethics is a causative part of innovation and that practical implications provide specific and differential measures that help to bring about incremental and radical innovation.
Self-Deprecation or Self-Sufficient? Discrimination and Income Aspirations in Urban Labour Market Sustainable Development
Authors: Li Dan , Weng Yulei , Yang Xiaocong , Zhao Kai
Published: November 2019

This research contributes to previous studies through exploring the association between individual psychological aspirations and hukou discrimination in the Chinese urban labour market. Applying data from the 2010 China General Social Survey, we divided the sample into local hukou residents and non-local migrants (includes urban-urban migrants and rural-urban migrants). We then examined the relationship between these sub-categories with different hukou status and their income aspirations (i.e., expected wage levels). The estimated results suggest that, in comparison with urban-urban migrants, rural-urban migrants are more likely to self-deprecate. Discrimination against rural-urban migrants significantly restricts their income aspirations. These findings imply that it is urgent to eliminate these negative impacts caused by hukou discrimination in the Chinese urban labour market, and understanding the structure of labour force quality such as psychological condition appears to be important in determining the long-term sustainable development of labour market. Theoretical and empirical implications, limitations and further research directions are also discussed.
Bi-Objective Optimization of Vessel Speed and Route for Sustainable Coastal Shipping under the Regulations of Emission Control Areas
Authors: Zhao Yuzhe , Fan Yujun , Zhou Jingmiao , Kuang Haibo
Published: November 2019

To comply with the regulations of emission control areas (ECAs), most operators have to switch to low-sulfur fuels inside the ECAs. Besides, a low-carbon objective is essential for long-term environmental protection; thus, is regarded as important as making profit. Therefore, the operators start making speed and route decisions under the two objectives of minimizing carbon emissions and maximizing profit. Drawing on existing methods, this paper formulates the profit and carbon emissions in sustainable coastal shipping, investigates the speed and route principles, and determines the best tradeoff between profit and carbon emissions. It is found that vessel speed should be set between emissions-optimum speed and profit-optimum speed, and the route must be selected in light of the speed decision. Next, the optimal choices of speed and route were examined under different scenarios and vessel types. The results show that the operation measures and objectives depend greatly on fuel price, vessel load, and vessel parameters. The operator should speed up the vessel if he/she wants to make more profit or if the scenario is favorable for profit making; e.g., low fuel price and high vessel load (LFHL). Large vessels should pursue more profit under LFHL conditions, without having to sail further outside the ECA. But this rule does not apply to small vessels. In addition, the operator should slow down the vessel inside the ECA and sail further, outside the ECA, with the growth in the price spread between marine gas oil (MGO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO), especially at a low HFO price. The research findings help operators to design operational measures that best suit the limit on sulfur content in fuel and the situation of the shipping market.
Towards Auspicious Agricultural Informatization—Implication of Farmers’ Behavioral Intention Apropos of Mobile Phone Use in Agriculture
Authors: Mwalupaso Gershom Endelani , Wang Shangao , Xu Zhangxing , Tian Xu
Published: November 2019

The success of agricultural development programs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is subject to the extent and nature of information communication technology (ICT) usage, particularly mobile phones. In comparison to other ICTs, the mobile phone is less demanding in terms of user capabilities, infrastructure requirements, and affordability. Mobile phone technology plays a vital role in facilitating the realization of benefits for farmers through access to useful agricultural information. However, up till now farmers' behavioral intention towards mobile phone use has hardly been evaluated yet it is a critical issue that policymakers and development partners need to comprehend. Is mobile phone use in agriculture dependent upon farmers’ behavioral intention? We address this topic using cross-sectional data from Zambia obtained through a two-stage sampling procedure. Our results establish that a strong association consistent with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) exists. This suggests that positive behavioral intention has a substantial likelihood to elicit auspicious agricultural informatization and consequently, household economic development. We further find that mobile phone ownership, family size, wealth, and marital status can significantly influence smallholders’ behavioral change towards mobile phone use in agriculture. Therefore, in an effort to promote sustainable agricultural information access in rural settings, our study strongly demonstrates the relevance of farmers’ behavioral intent towards mobile phone use, and also enriches the discussion on the implementation of mobile phone use for collecting agricultural information.
The Effect of Kurzrasen and Strip-Grazing on Grassland Performance and Soil Quality of a Peat Meadow
Authors: Hoekstra Nyncke , Holshof Gertjan , Schils René , Philipsen Bert , van Reenen Kees , van Houwelingen Karel , van Eekeren Nick
Published: November 2019

Due to the increased herd size in the Netherlands, there is need to assess the performance of different grazing systems at high stocking densities. The objective of the current experiment was to assess the effect of two extreme grazing systems, kurzrasen (continuous grazing at 3–5 cm sward height) and strip-grazing at a high stocking rate, on grass production and quality, grass morphology and sward density, root development and load bearing capacity on peat soil. To this end, a two-year grazing trial with four herds of 15 cows on 2 ha each was conducted. Kurzrasen showed 18% lower herbage dry matter production on average compared to strip-grazing. The yield penalty of using a shorter regrowth period under kurzrasen was limited due to the strong response in grass morphology, resulting in a dense and lamina-rich sward. There was a small decline in root density at 10 cm soil depth, but no evidence of a lower root density at 20 cm soil depth for kurzrasen compared to strip-grazing. Sward density was higher for kurzrasen compared to strip-grazing, which had a positive impact on load bearing capacity. This is an important feature on peat soils, where load bearing capacity is often limited.
Intrinsic Environmental Vulnerability as Shallow Landslide Susceptibility in Environmental Impact Assessment
Authors: Turconi Laura , Luino Fabio , Gussoni Mattia , Faccini Francesco , Giardino Marco , Casazza Marco
Published: November 2019

This work investigated the susceptibility factors that trigger shallow landslides. In particular, the objective of the research was the implementation of a method to determine the relevant factors that can trigger shallow landslide events. However, with respect to the existing methods, the integration with historical datasets and the inclusion of spatial factors displaying dynamics in the same characteristic timescales were specific features of the developed tool. The study area included the watersheds of the Sessera and Strona rivers in the alpine area of the Province of Biella (Piedmont, NW Italy). The method was developed and tested from two sub-datasets derived from an integrated dataset that referred to an intense event, involving the same area, that occurred in 1968 (2–3 November). This allowed the implementation of an integrated representation of landslides’ predisposing factors and the identification and classification in different groups of the areas susceptible to geo-hydrological instability processes. The previously existing databases were verified and integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) environment, giving a potentially sharable source of information for planning purposes. The obtained maps represent a metric of one of the possible intrinsic environmental vulnerability factors for the area under study. Consequently, this method can represent a future instrument for determining the intrinsic environmental vulnerability dependent on landslides within an environmental impact assessment (EIA), as required by the most recent European regulation on EIA. Moreover, the shared information can be used to implement informed policy and planning processes, based on a bottom-up approach. In particular, the availability online of landslide susceptibility maps could support the generation of augmented information—useful for both local administrators and planners as well as for stakeholders willing to implement specific projects or infrastructure in vulnerable areas, such as mountains.
Opportunity Motivation and Growth Aspirations of Mexican Entrepreneurs: The Moderating Role of the Household Income
Authors: Carreón-Gutiérrez José Pedro , Saiz-Álvarez José Manuel
Published: November 2019

Framed in the Theory of Planned Behavior, this work analyzes the entrepreneurial growth aspirations in efficiency-driven economies and examines the interaction effect of household income on the relationship between opportunity entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial growth aspirations. We propose a growth aspirations model using GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) data, with two explanatory variables: increased wealth and independence, and a moderating variable (household income). Hypotheses were validated with the use of hierarchical regression, and we find that that opportunity motivation is positively related to the entrepreneurial intention to expand entrepreneurial business activities. A second interesting finding of this study is that the independent effects model infers that growth aspirations are significantly related to household income.
Will the EU Commission Successfully Integrate Sustainability Risks and Factors in the Investor Protection Regime? A Research Agenda
Authors: Siri Michele , Zhu Shanshan
Published: November 2019

Building a common EU framework for sustainable finance undoubtedly implies the integration of sound and sustainable processes and skills across the whole structure and governance of financial institutions. Consequently, a new financial paradigm is going to be needed, which will require the strengthening of investor care and protection, so contributing to the restoration of trust in the financial sector. In particular, on 18 December 2018, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) launched two public consultations on draft technical advice for the integration of sustainability risks and factors into the Directive on Markets in Financial Instruments (MiFID), the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), and the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directive (UCITS) regimes, with the aim to clarify the so-called fiduciary duties and to increase transparency in the financial services industry. However, the success of the EU initiatives on investor protection regulation may be seriously endangered by the existence of many challenges, weaknesses, and contradictions raised by economists and stakeholders in relation to the definition of sustainability, ESG data availability and reliability, the development of an EU taxonomy, conflicts of interest, product governance, and suitability assessment. This paper starts by briefly analyzing the recent developments of the regulation of sustainable finance at the global level, then offers a more detailed view on the establishment of a common regime on sustainable finance in the EU, with particular reference to the action plan ‘Financing Sustainable Growth’. Then, it examines the recent proposals for regulation on sustainable finance, specifically considering the barriers to the integration of sustainability risks and factors in the EU investor protection regulation—with particular reference to investment services—with respect to its four main dimensions: (1) disclosure of product information, (2) conduct of business (COB) rules, (3) product governance and intervention, and (4) financial education. The paper concludes that the EU reforming proposals, though admirable, risk oversimplifying a complex issue that cannot be easily solved without considering its practical implications on each category of financial operators in the performance of different financial services.
Defiance from Down River: Deflection and Dispute in the Urban-Industrial Metabolism of Pollution in Guadalajara
Authors: McCulligh Cindy , Vega Fregoso Georgina
Published: November 2019

Research in urban political ecology has been important in recent decades in understanding the complex socionatural processes entailed in urbanization, exploring the local and global linkages of the production and consumption processes of urban metabolism. While these studies have explored diverse networks and artefacts in this metabolism, little attention has been paid to the flows of the pollution of water and air, particularly of the industrial emissions that are also key to the socionatures of urbanization in industrialized regions of the Global South. In this paper, we explore two interconnected nodes in the metabolism of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area in Western Mexico. These are key sites for the flows of resources and emissions, with different levels of social discontent and conflict related particularly to the health impacts of water pollution. Here, government authorities tend to deflect attention from industrial- and city-level sources of pollution, focusing instead on proximate sources and household emissions. Organized social resistance, on the other hand, calls attention to powerful industrial actors and speculative urban development while taking action to imagine new socio-ecological configurations in the region. We focus on the role of the state in maintaining socio-ecological inequities, and the lessons that can be learned about urban metabolism by expanding the frame to include industrial processes in the shaping of urban socionatures.
Understanding Attitudes towards Reducing Meat Consumption for Environmental Reasons. A Qualitative Synthesis Review
Authors: Sanchez-Sabate Ruben , Badilla-Briones Yasna , Sabaté Joan
Published: November 2019

Meat-based diets are the norm in Western societies. This is a problem because meat production is a major contributor to global warming and environmental degradation. Despite the urgency to reduce meat consumption, quantitative studies have shown that there is only a small minority of consumers aware of the meat environmental impact, willing to halt or reduce meat intake for ecological reasons, or who have already stopped or reduced meat consumption because of environmental concerns. We conducted a qualitative synthesis reviewing studies that looked at attitudes towards changing meat consumption. Our focus was on the behavioral change process: Awareness, willingness, and change, aiming to enhance the current understanding of people’s attitudes towards reducing meat consumption due to environmental concerns. The studies reviewed show that consumer awareness is hindered by beliefs about food, meat, and personal behavior. Nutrition, health, and taste were found to be both enablers and barriers with regard to willingness. Vegetarians and vegans perceive the environment as simply another reason, among others, to maintain a meatless diet. Based on these results, we offer recommendations for future dietary public health interventions, and for future research endeavors on this topic. This review employed a meta-aggregative approach and partially followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence.
Spontaneous Emission of an Atom Near an Oscillating Mirror
Authors: Ferreri Alessandro , Domina Michelangelo , Rizzuto Lucia , Passante Roberto
Published: November 2019

We investigate the spontaneous emission of one atom placed near an oscillating reflecting plate. We consider the atom modeled as a two-level system, interacting with the quantum electromagnetic field in the vacuum state, in the presence of the oscillating mirror. We suppose that the plate oscillates adiabatically, so that the time-dependence of the interaction Hamiltonian is entirely enclosed in the time-dependent mode functions, satisfying the boundary conditions at the plate surface, at any given time. Using time-dependent perturbation theory, we evaluate the transition rate to the ground-state of the atom, and show that it depends on the time-dependent atom–plate distance. We also show that the presence of the oscillating mirror significantly affects the physical features of the spontaneous emission of the atom, in particular the spectrum of the emitted radiation. Specifically, we find the appearance of two symmetric lateral peaks in the spectrum, not present in the case of a static mirror, due to the modulated environment. The two lateral peaks are separated from the central peak by the modulation frequency, and we discuss the possibility to observe them with actual experimental techniques of dynamical mirrors and atomic trapping. Our results indicate that a dynamical (i.e., time-modulated) environment can give new possibilities to control and manipulate also other radiative processes of two or more atoms or molecules nearby, for example their cooperative decay or the resonant energy transfer.
A Vision-Based Robotic Laser Welding System for Insulated Mugs with Fuzzy Seam Tracking Control
Authors: Fang Zaojun , Weng Wenwu , Wang Weijun , Zhang Chi , Yang Guilin
Published: November 2019

The symmetrical insulated mug is composed of two layers. The two ends of the two layers form the mouth and bottom seams of the insulated mug. The weld quality of the two seams is very important to keep the vacuum degree of the air between the two layers, which is vital for the heat-insulating property of the mug. Due to the narrow seam, laser welding is used. Since laser welding has high demand on the relative position of the seam and the laser torch, a vision-based seam tracking system is designed. Before welding is started, the vision sensor scans the seam and feature sample points are collected. A reconstruction algorithm is proposed to form the image containing the seam. Then, a least square fitting (LSF) method combined with random sample consensus (RANSAC) method is proposed to detect the smooth seam from the sample points. In the welding process, a seam tracking system with fuzzy logic control method is presented to keep the torch precisely on the seam. Finally, full experiments are conducted in the welding factory of the insulated mugs to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system and method.
Internet of Things Meets Vehicles: Sheltering In-Vehicle Network through Lightweight Machine Learning
Authors: Xiao Junchao , Wu Hao , Li Xiangxue
Published: November 2019

An internet of vehicles allows intelligent automobiles to interchange messages with other cars, traffic management departments, and data analysis companies about vehicle identification, accident detection, and danger warnings. The implementation of these features requires Internet of Things system support. Smart cars are generally equipped with many (hundreds or even thousands of) sensors and microcomputers so that drivers gain more information about travel. The connection between the in-vehicle network and the Internet can be leveraged by the attackers in a malicious manner and thus increases the number of ways the in-vehicle network can now be targeted. Protecting increasingly intelligent vehicle systems becomes more difficult, especially because a network of many different devices makes the system more vulnerable than ever before. The paper assumes a generic threat model in which attackers can access the controller area network (CAN) bus via common access points (e.g., Bluetooth, OBD-II, Wi-Fi, physical access, and cellular communication, etc). A machine learning based simplified attention (SIMATT)-security control unit (SECCU) symmetry framework is proposed towards a novel and lightweight anomaly detecting mechanism for the in-vehicle network. For this framework, we propose two new models, SECCU and SIMATT, and obtain state-of-the-art anomaly detecting performance when fusing the former to the latter. Regardless of the training phase or the detection phase, we strive to minimize the computational cost and thereby obtain a lightweight anomaly detection method. In particular, the SECCU model has only one layer of 500 computing cells and the SIMATT model has been improved to reduce its computational costs. Through substantial experiment comparisons (with various classical algorithms, such as LSTM, GRU, GIDS, RNN, or their variations), it is demonstrated that the SIMATT-SECCU framework achieves an almost optimal accuracy and recall rate.
Exponentiation in QED and Quasi-Stable Charged Particles
Authors: Jadach Stanisław , Płaczek Wiesław , Skrzypek Maciej
Published: November 2019

In this note we present a new exponentiation scheme of soft photon radiation from charged quasi-stable resonances. It generalizes the well established scheme of Yennie, Frautschi and Suura. While keeping the same functional form of an exponent, the new scheme is both exact in its soft limit and accounts properly for the kinematical shift in resonant propagators. We present the scheme on an example of two processes: a toy model of single W production in e ν scattering and the W pair production and decay in e + e − annihilation. The latter process is of relevance for the planned FCCee collider where high precision of Monte Carlo simulations is a primary goal. The proposed scheme is a step in this direction.
Visualization of Positive and Negative Sense Viral RNA for Probing the Mechanism of Direct-Acting Antivirals against Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Liu Dandan , Tedbury Philip R. , Lan Shuiyun , Huber Andrew D. , Puray-Chavez Maritza N. , Ji Juan , Michailidis Eleftherios , Saeed Mohsan , Ndongwe Tanyaradzwa P. , Bassit Leda C. , Schinazi Raymond F. , Ralston Robert , Rice Charles M. , Sarafianos Stefan G.
Published: November 2019

RNA viruses are highly successful pathogens and are the causative agents for many important diseases. To fully understand the replication of these viruses it is necessary to address the roles of both positive-strand RNA ((+)RNA) and negative-strand RNA ((−)RNA), and their interplay with viral and host proteins. Here we used branched DNA (bDNA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to stain both the abundant (+)RNA and the far less abundant (−)RNA in both hepatitis C virus (HCV)- and Zika virus-infected cells, and combined these analyses with visualization of viral proteins through confocal imaging. We were able to phenotypically examine HCV-infected cells in the presence of uninfected cells and revealed the effect of direct-acting antivirals on HCV (+)RNA, (−)RNA, and protein, within hours of commencing treatment. Herein, we demonstrate that bDNA FISH is a powerful tool for the study of RNA viruses that can provide insights into drug efficacy and mechanism of action.
Social and Economic Aspects of Water Use in Specialty Crop Production in the USA: A Review
Authors: Majsztrik John C. , Behe Bridget , Hall Charles R. , Ingram Dewayne L. , Lamm Alexa J. , Warner Laura A. , White Sarah A.
Published: November 2019

Understanding human behavior is a complicated and complex endeavor. Academicians and practitioners need to understand the underlying beliefs and motivations to identify current trends and to effectively develop means of communication and education that encourage change in attitudes and behavior. Sociological research can provide information about how and why people make decisions; this information impacts the research and extension community, helping them formulate programs and present information in a way that increases adoption rates. Life cycle assessment can document how plant production impacts the environment. Production of ornamental plants (greenhouse, container, and field produced flowers trees and shrubs) accounted for 4.4% of the total annual on-farm income and 8.8% of the crop income produced in the United States in 2017, representing a substantial portion of farmgate receipts. Greenhouse and nursery growing operations can use this information to increase production and water application efficiency and decrease input costs. Information related to the environmental impacts of plant production, derived from life cycle assessment, can also inform consumer purchase decisions. Information from water footprint analysis quantifies the relative abundance and availability of water on a regional basis, helping growers understand water dynamics in their operation and informing consumer plant purchases based on water availability and conservation preference. Economics can motivate growers to adopt new practices based on whether they are saving or making money, and consumers modify product selection based on preference for how products are produced. Specialty crop producers, including nursery and greenhouse container operations, rely heavily on high quality water from surface and groundwater resources for crop production; but irrigation return flow from these operations can contribute to impairment of water resources. This review focuses on multiple facets of the socioeconomics of water use, reuse, and irrigation return flow management in nursery and greenhouse operations, focusing on grower and consumer perceptions of water; barriers to adoption of technology and innovations by growers; economic considerations for implementing new technologies; and understanding environmental constraints through life cycle assessment and water footprint analyses. Specialty crop producers can either voluntarily adapt practices gradually to benefit both economic and environmental sustainability or they may eventually be forced to change due to external factors (e.g., regulations). Producers need to have the most current information available to inform their decisions regarding water management.
Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Nitrogen Uptake of Sunflower in the Low Desert Region of California
Authors: Eltarabily Mohamed Galal , Burke John M. , Bali Khaled M.
Published: November 2019

Nitrogen (N) accounts for more than 80% of the total mineral nutrients absorbed by plants and it is the most widely limiting element for crop production, particularly under water deficit conditions. For a comprehensive understanding of sunflower Helianthus annuus N uptake under deficit irrigation conditions, experimental and numerical simulation studies were conducted for full (100% ETC) and deficit (65% ETC) irrigation practices under the semi-arid conditions of the Imperial Valley, California, USA. Plants were established with overhead sprinkler irrigation before transitioning to subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). Based on pre-plant soil N testing, 39 kg ha−1 of N and 78 kg ha−1 of P were applied as a pre-plant dry fertilizer in the form of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and an additional application of 33 kg ha−1 of N from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN-32) liquid fertilizer was made during the growing season. Soil samples at 15-cm depth increments to 1.2 m (8 layers, 15 cm each) were collected prior to planting and at three additional time points from two locations each in the full and deficit irrigation treatments. We used HYDRUS/2D for the simulation in this study and the model was calibrated for the soil moisture parameters (θs and θr), the rate constant factors of nitrification (the sensitive parameter) in the liquid and solid states (μw,3, and μs,3). The HYDRUS model predicted cumulative root water uptake fluxes of 533 mm and 337 mm for the 100% ETC and 65% ETC, respectively. The simulated cumulative drainage depths were 23.7 mm and 20.4 mm for the 100% ETC and 65% ETC which represented only 4% and 5% of the applied irrigation water, respectively. The soil wetting profile after SDI irrigation was mostly around emitters for the last four SDI irrigation events, while the maximum values of soil moisture in the top 30 cm of the soil profile were 0.262 cm3 cm−3 and 0.129 cm3 cm−3 for 100% ETC and 65% ETC, respectively. The 16.5 kg ha−1 (NH2)2CO (50% of the total N) that was applied during the growing season was completely hydrolyzed to NH4+ within 7 days of application, while 4.36 mg cm−1 cumulative decay was achieved by the end of the 98-day growing season. We found that 86% of NH4+ (74.25 mg cm−1) was nitrified to NO3− while 14% remained in the top 50 cm of the soil profile. The denitrification and free drainage of NO3− were similar for 100% ETC and 65% ETC, and the maximum nitrate was drained during the sprinkler irrigation period. By the end of the growing season, 30.8 mg cm−1 of nitrate was denitrified to N2 and the reduction of nitrate plant uptake was 17.1% for the deficit irrigation section as compared to the fully irrigated side (19.44 mg cm−1 vs. 16.12 mg cm−1). This reduction in N uptake due to deficit irrigation on sunflower could help farmers conserve resources by reducing the amount of fertilizer required if deficit irrigation practices are implemented due to the limited availability of irrigation water.
The Low-Impact Development Demand Index: A New Approach to Identifying Locations for LID
Authors: Kaykhosravi Sarah , Abogadil Karen , Khan Usman T. , Jadidi Mojgan A.
Published: November 2019

The primary goal of low impact development (LID) is to capture urban stormwater runoff; however, multiple indirect benefits (environmental and socioeconomic benefits) also exist (e.g., improvements to human health and decreased air pollution). Identifying sites with the highest demand or need for LID ensures the maximization of all benefits. This is a spatial decision-making problem that has not been widely addressed in the literature and was the focus of this research. Previous research has focused on finding feasible sites for installing LID, whilst only considering insufficient criteria which represent the benefits of LID (either neglecting the hydrological and hydraulic benefits or indirect benefits). This research considered the hydrological and hydraulic, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits of LID to identify sites with the highest demand for LID. Specifically, a geospatial framework was proposed that uses publicly available data, hydrological-hydraulic principles, and a simple additive weighting (SAW) method within a hierarchical decision-making model. Three indices were developed to determine the LID demand: (1) hydrological-hydraulic index (HHI), (2) socioeconomic index (SEI), and (3) environmental index (ENI). The HHI was developed based on a heuristic model using hydrological-hydraulic principles and validated against the results of a physical model, the Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System model (HEC-HMS). The other two indices were generated using the SAW hierarchical model and then incorporated into the HHI index to generate the LID demand index (LIDDI). The framework was applied to the City of Toronto, yielding results that are validated against historical flooding records.
Wastewater Treatment by Constructed Wetland Eco-Technology: Influence of Mineral and Plastic Materials as Filter Media and Tropical Ornamental Plants
Authors: Zamora Sergio , Marín-Muñíz J. Luis , Nakase-Rodríguez Carlos , Fernández-Lambert Gregorio , Sandoval Luis
Published: November 2019

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are sustainable technologies where the channels are filled with porous material and plants, which collectively remove pollutants, depending on the type of substrate and vegetation. This study evaluated CWs and their functionality by comparing three ornamental plants (Canna indica, Cyperus papyrus, and Hedychium coronarium) as a phytoremediation process of wastewater, in CWs filled with layers of porous stone–tepezil–plastic residues–soil (S-A), or in microcosms with layers of porous stone–tepezil–soil without the presence of plastic (S-B). The findings during 180 days showed that the removals of pollutants (chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids suspended (TSS), nitrogen as ammonium (N-NH4), as nitrate (N-NO3), and phosphate (P-PO4) were 20%–60% higher in microcosms with plants than in the absence of plants. Statistical differences were not observed when comparing removal effects among S-A and S-B, indicating that plastic residues as filter material in CWs did not affect the pollutant removal, growth, flowering, and shoots of plants. The use of plastic residues as filter may represent a less costly alternative in CW establishments. Dependence on N-NH4 and TSS removal was observed according to plant species. The three species used are suitable for using in CWs as wastewater treatment. In addition, the ornamental plants could generate interest for a commercial option.
Simulation of Climate Change Impact on A Coastal Aquifer under Arid Climate. The Tadjourah Aquifer (Republic of Djibouti, Horn of Africa)
Authors: Razack Moumtaz , Jalludin Mohamed , Houmed-Gaba Abdourahman
Published: November 2019

The Republic of Djibouti has an area of 23,000 km2, a coastline 370 km long and a population of 820,000 inhabitants. It experiences an arid climate characterized by high daytime temperatures and low and irregular rainfall (average of 140 mm/year), resulting in continuous periods of drought. These difficult climatic conditions and the absence of perennial surface water have progressively led to an intensive exploitation of groundwater to meet increasing water demands in all sectors (drinking water, agriculture and industries). In coastal areas, seawater intrusion constitutes a significant additional risk of groundwater degradation. This study is focused on the coastal aquifer of Tadjourah which supplies water to the city of Tadjourah, currently comprising 21,000 inhabitants. The main objective of this work is to assess the current resources of this aquifer; its capacity to satisfy, or not, the projected water demands during coming years; and to analyze its vulnerability to seawater intrusion within the frame of climate change. Three RCPs (Representative Concentration Pathway) were used to simulate different climate scenarios up to 2100. The simulated rainfall series allowed to deduce the aquifer recharge up to 2100. The code Seawat was used to model seawater intrusion into the aquifer, using the recharge data deduced from the climate scenarios. The results indicate that the risk of contamination of the Tadjourah coastal aquifer by seawater intrusion is high. The long-term and sustainable exploitation of this aquifer must take into consideration the impact of climate change.
Contribution of the Amazon River Discharge to Regional Sea Level in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Giffard Pierrick , Llovel William , Jouanno Julien , Morvan Guillaume , Decharme Bertrand
Published: November 2019

The Amazon River is by far the largest river by volume of water in the world, representing around 17% of the global riverine discharge to the oceans. Recent studies suggested that its impact on sea level is potentially important at global and regional scales. This study uses a set of regional simulations based on the ocean model NEMO to quantify the influence of the Amazon runoff on sea level in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. The model is forced at its boundaries with daily fields from the ocean reanalysis GLORYS2V4. Air-sea fluxes are computed using atmospheric variables from DFS5.2, which is a bias-corrected version of ERAinterim reanalysis. The particularity of this study is that interannual daily runoffs from the up-to-date ISBA-CTRIP land surface model are used. Firstly, mean state of sea level is investigated through a comparison between a simulation with an interannual river discharge and a simulation without any Amazon runoff. Then, the impact of the Amazon River on seasonal and interannual variability of sea level is examined. It was shown that the Amazon River has a local contribution to the mean state sea level at the river mouth but also a remote contribution of 3.3 cm around the whole Caribbean Archipelago, a region threatened by the actual sea level rise. This effect is mostly due to a halosteric sea level contribution for the upper 250 m of the ocean. This occurs in response to the large scale advection of the plume and the downward mixing of subsurface waters at winter time. The Amazon discharge also induces an indirect thermosteric sea level contribution. However, this contribution is of second order and tends to counterbalance the halosteric sea level contribution. Regional mass redistributions are also observed and consist in a 8 cm decrease of the sea level at the river mouth and a 4.5 increases on continental shelves of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. In terms of variability, simulations indicate that the Amazon discharge may contributes to 23% and 12% of the seasonal and interannual sea level variances in the Caribbean Archipelago area. These variances are first explained by the Amazon time mean discharge and show very weak sensitivity to the seasonal and interannual variability of the Amazon runoff.
Endemic Freshwater Fish Range Shifts Related to Global Climate Changes: A Long-Term Study Provides Some Observational Evidence for the Mediterranean Area
Authors: Carosi Antonella , Padula Rosalba , Ghetti Lucia , Lorenzoni Massimo
Published: November 2019

Climate changes will lead to a worsening of the ecological conditions, in terms of hydrological instability and rising water temperatures, of the Mediterranean rivers. Freshwater fishes inhabiting this area can be threatened in the near future by accelerating drought and decreased ecological connectivity. The main aim of the research was to analyze changes in the distribution of the endemic freshwater fishes Padogobius nigricans, Squalius lucumonis and Telestes muticellus in the Tiber River basin (Italy), within a proven period of climate warming, in terms of increasing water temperature and droughts. A multivariate analysis was conducted using fish and environmental data collected in 117 sites over the years 1990–2017. For the three species, population abundance, age structure and body condition were analyzed. Detectability, occupancy, local extinction and colonization processes were also examined. We showed that S. lucumonis and T. muticellus have shifted their distributions upstream, likely in order to reach their thermal optimum. Padogobius nigricans did not move upstream significantly, since the species is characterized by limited vagility and thus a low dispersal capability in a context of high river fragmentation. In the study area, elevation and river barriers seem to play a key role in extirpation and colonization processes; for S. lucumonis and T. muticellus the extinction probability decreased with increasing altitude, while for P. nigricans the colonization probability decreased with an increasing degree of river fragmentation. These results highlight how species-specific dispersal ability can lead to varying adaptability to climate change.
Environmentally Sensitive Elements in Groundwater of an Industrial Town in India: Spatial Distribution and Human Health Risk
Authors: Singh Dapinder Deep , Thind Parteek Singh , Sharma Mukta , Sahoo Sashikanta , John Siby
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the results of a study to assess the groundwater quality in an industrial town located in Punjab, India. A total of 99 samples of groundwater were analyzed during the premonsoon and postmonsoon periods of 2018, which revealed the presence of numerous environmentally sensitive elements (ESEs), namely, arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb). Geographic information system (GIS)-based spatial interpolation showed higher contamination levels around the industrial areas and the drainage channel where industrial effluent is generally discharged. Further, groundwater quality was assessed using the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and the metal index (MI), which indicated poor drinkability of the groundwater. Human exposure to groundwater contaminated with ESEs can pose serious health risks; therefore, noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks due to presence of these elements were also evaluated. Reported health risks to humans from exposure to contaminated groundwater indicate the importance of regular monitoring of groundwater for ESEs vis-a-vis industrial effluent disposal practices.
The Challenges of the Elderly Population with Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Honduras
Authors: Rivero, DBA Orlando
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the number of Alzheimer’s and Dementia incidences occurring in Honduras and afford recommendations to improve public health policies to assist the elderly. According to The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2016), there has been an increase in the number of Alzheimer’s incidences in Honduras. Moreover, the numberof Alzheimer’s cases has increased by 51.4% from 2005-2016. The findings suggested that the country needs to consider a reevaluation of public health policies to tackle the influx of Alzheimer’s incidences in the upcoming years. Though the elderly population stands at a little less than 6% of Honduras; total population (Bermúdez-Madriz et al., 2011), it is critical that the elderly community be afforded the best possible healthcare services available. Research suggests that most of the elderly community reside in rural areas where minimal healthcare services are available. In the end, the recommendations will be afforded for the improvement of public health policies to assist the elderly and preparedness for the surge of Alzheimer’s disease in the country.
FORMATION AND ACTIVITIES OF
SANITARY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SERVICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Patyashina M.A. , Trofimova M.V. , Alekperova A.K.
Published: November 2019

The article describes stages of formation and development of sanitary epidemiological service on the
territory of the Republic of Tatarstan. It reflects features of work during mass events with international
participation.
OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN METALLURGICAL WORKERS OF THE ARCTIC: PREVALENCE, CAUSES OF DEVELOPMENT, CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Authors: Syurin S.A. , Gorbanev S.A.
Published: November 2019

Overweight and obesity are the most common health disorders, closely related to the development of the lifestyle diseases. We studied the results of an in-depth survey of 1,220 employees of electrolysis and carbonyl nickel production. In addition to the clinical and functional examination, possible production and non-production causes of excessive development of adipose tissue in the form of overweight and obesity were analyzed. Obesity was detected in 18.3 % and overweight in 41.9 % of the examined individuals. We established that the development of obesity is influenced by the age and sex of employee, duration of work experience, the severity of work and low physical activity during free time.The risk of obesity is first increased at the age of 30–34 years (RR = 3.02; CI 0.95–9.64), and the formation of overweight is at the age of 45–49 years (RR = 1.67; CI 1,13-2.48). Obesity enhances the risk of circulatory (RR = 2.83; CI 2.16–3.71), the endocrine (RR = 3.23; CI 1.99–5.24), digestive (RR = 2,08; CI 1.47–2.94) and musculoskeletal (RR = 1.53; CI 1.33–1.77) diseases. No clinical significance of overweight has been identified. A comprehensive prevention of obesity, including correction of the diet and an adequate level of physical activity, is needed to reduce the risk of developing health problems among metallurgical workers of the Arctic.
Servicescape dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Kepuasan Pelanggan: Studi Pada Konsumen Eduplex Bandung
Authors: Ainun Azmi Mutia , Setiawardani Maya
Published: November 2019

Lifestyle communities are growing, have an impact on people's lives in fulfilling his needs.One of them, namely the need for food. To meet the needs of the food, people are more likely to go to a fast-food restaurant or Cafe. Specifically for the cafe, at this time many cafes are there in the city of Bandung stand not only to put forward products are sold, but also very attentive to the comfort of a given place.The purpose of this research is to know the servicescape and its effect on customer satisfaction at the Eduplex in Bandung.The sample in this study i.e. as many as 117 people respondents with the method of analysis used a classic assumption test, i.e. an analysis of descriptive statistics, correlation and simple linear regression, simple, the coefficient of determination and test hypotheses.
My Locker : Loaning Locker System Based on QR Code
Authors:   School of Electrical Engineering, Telkom University, Bandung Indonesia, Negara Ridha Muldina , Tulloh Rohmat ,   School of Apllied Science, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia, P.N Nandy Hadiansyah ,   School of Apllied Science, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia, Zahra Rizka Triani ,   School of Apllied Science, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia
Published: November 2019

Locker is a place that people usually use to keep things. Commonly, lockers are found in campus hall, tourist site, or other public places. Lockers that we face in a daily activities usually still using a conventional keys that we can’t guarantee the security of it. The focus of this research is on online locker rental system that can be accessed through android smartphone and MyLocker application by scanning the QR code. Within this system, occurred website that can be used to see the filled locker or the unfilled locker and there’s admin page, to see the summary of data user and the agreement of top up request. The devices component that we used are NodeMCU, Relay, solenoid door lock and magnetic door switch. From the result of the test that done by system worked so well and delayed that we achieved while we did the QR code reading experiment with of lux, gap, and gradient slope with optimal condition is 1.45 seconds.