bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Properties of a Yogurt Beverage Enriched with Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Berries and Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Pomace during Cold Storage
Authors: Raikos Vassilios , Ni He , Hayes Helen , Ranawana Viren
Published: December 2018

Aqueous extracts (20% w/w) of dried berry fruits and skins were used as sources of phenolic compounds to fortify yogurt beverages. The total phenol and anthocyanin content of the reformulated yogurts were determined, and the antioxidant properties were compared to plain yogurt (C) during storage at 4 °C for a total period of four weeks. Yogurt beverages fortified with salal berry (SB) extracts contained higher amounts of phenolic compounds (>69.9 μg GAE/mL) and anthocyanins (>19.12 mg C3G/L) compared to drinks supplemented with blackcurrant pomace (BC) extract (>50.13 μg GAE/mL and >10.80 mg C3G/L respectively). Storage affected the stability of anthocyanins, whereas total phenol content remained unaffected. Yogurts with SB displayed the highest antioxidant capacity followed by samples with BC, which is attributed to the radical scavenging effect of the bioactive compounds present with antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity of the yogurt beverages fortified with fruit extracts was maintained during cold storage. Findings of this study indicate that SB and BC pomace can be used as functional ingredients to increase the antioxidant potential of yogurt beverages.
Stress and Heart Rate Variability during University Final Examination among Lebanese Students
Authors: Hammoud Sabah , Karam Rita , Mourad Rabih , Saad Iman , Kurdi Mazen
Published: December 2018

Real-life stressors, such as university examination, cause an increase in sympathetic activity of the nervous system innervating the heart, and thus an increase in heart rate (HR). Our study aimed to detect changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during different stages of an exam in a group of 90 healthy university students (30 males and 60 females), over 4 h of monitoring divided into 1 h before, 2 h during, and 1 h after the examination. HRV was significantly highest after the exam, indicating release from stress, as compared to before and during the examination when stress was observable. Undergraduate students in different academic years did not differ in terms of stress, indicating the absence of adaptation to exam procedures. However, HR and R-R interval after the exam showed significant difference between first year undergraduate studies and first year of a graduate program, indicating a higher degree of confidence in graduate students. Results also suggest that HRV in females is significantly lower than that in males before and after examination, despite men having greater sympathetic input. In conclusion, the results of our novel study assessing stress in real-time examination show important gender differences, and lack of adaptation with academic study year.
Numerical Simulation of the Protective Effect of an Anti-Uplift Protector on Subway Tunnels with Different Sections
Authors: Zheng Aiyuan
Published: December 2018

The construction areas of both the upper water gallery of the left circular tunnel and the water gallery of the right square tunnel in the Shuangjie River gallery project in Shenzhen that pass through the parking access line of the Qianhai parking lot were numerically simulated. The ABAQUS finite element numerical simulation software was used to analyze the stress and strain of the cover and retaining pile with different sections under the design of tunnel anti-uplift protection measures. The results of the study are summarized as follows: The vertical deformation of the upper cover of the square section of tunnel was larger than that of the circular tunnel. The shear strength of the retaining pile on both sides of the square section tunnel was considerably lower than that of the retaining pile on both sides of the circular tunnel. The anti-uplift protection measures of the designed tunnel exhibited evident protective effects on the square and circular sections. However, the protection effect for the circular tunnel was more evident compared with that of the square section.
Effects of SAHA and EGCG on Growth Potentiation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Lewis Kayla A. , Jordan Harrison R. , Tollefsbol Trygve O.
Published: December 2018

Triple-negative breast cancer comprises approximately 15–20% of all breast cancers diagnosed and is nearly twice as common in black women than white women in the United States. We evaluated the effects of two epigenetic-modifying compounds on markers of growth potential in several triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor currently used in the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma, was administered to triple-negative breast cancer cells alone or in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor isolated from green tea. The compounds affected the expression of oncogenic miR-221/222 and tumor suppressors, p27 and PTEN, in addition to estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). E-cadherin expression was increased while N-cadherin was decreased, indicating a more epithelial phenotype. In addition, the activity of DNMTs was diminished with the treatments, and there was a significant enrichment of AcH3 within the promoter of p27 and PTEN, suggesting a role of epigenetic mechanisms for the aforementioned changes. These results translated to reduced migration of the triple-negative breast cancer cells with the treatments. Together, these findings support the role of SAHA and EGCG in limiting growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells.
Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Phase Change Materials for Low-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Singh Randeep , Sadeghi Sadegh , Shabani Bahman
Published: December 2018

Low thermal conductivity is the main drawback of phase change materials (PCMs) that is yet to be fully addressed. This paper studies several efficient, cost-effective, and easy-to-use experimental techniques to enhance thermal conductivity of an organic phase change material used for low-temperature thermal energy storage applications. In such applications, the challenges associated with low thermal conductivity of such organic PCMs are even more pronounced. In this investigation, polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) is used as PCM. To improve the thermal conductivity of the selected PCM, three techniques including addition of carbon powder, and application of aluminum and graphite fins, are utilized. For measurement of thermal conductivity, two experimental methods—including flat and cylindrical configurations—are devised and increments in thermal conductivity are calculated. Melting and solidification processes are analyzed to evaluate melting and solidification zones, and temperature ranges for melting and solidification processes respectively. Furthermore, latent heat of melting is computed under constant values of heat load. Ultimately, specific heat of the PCM in solid state is measured by calorimetry method considering water and methanol as calorimeter fluids. Based on the results, the fin stack can enhance the effective thermal conductivity by more than 40 times with aluminum fins and 33 times with carbon fins. For pure PCM sample, Initiation of melting takes place around 37 °C and continues to above 40 °C depending on input heat load; and solidification temperature range was found to be 33.6–34.9 °C. The investigation will provide a twofold pathway, one to enhance thermal conductivity of PCMs, and secondly ‘relatively easy to set-up’ methods to measure properties of pure and enhanced PCMs.
Radio Continuum Spectra of Planetary Nebulae
Authors: Hajduk Marcin , Van Hoof Peter , Sniadkowska Karolina , Krankowski Andrzej , Błaszkiewicz Leszek , Dabrowski Bartosz , Zijlstra Albert
Published: December 2018

Radio continuum emission of planetary nebulae is a rich source of information about their structure and physical parameters. Although radio emission is well studied, planetary nebulae show higher spectral indices than expected for homogeneous sphere. A few competing models exist in the literature to explain this discrepancy. We propose that it is related to non-spherical morphology of most of planetary nebulae.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a Cohort of Australian Nurses
Authors: Maharaj Shamona , Lees Ty , Lal Sara
Published: December 2018

Nurses remain at the forefront of patient care. However, their heavy workload as a career can leave them overworked and stressed. The demanding nature of the occupation exposes nurses to a higher risk of developing negative mental states such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of these mental states in a representative sample of Australian nurses. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was administered to 102 nurses. Information about demographic and work characteristics were obtained using lifestyle and in-house designed questionnaires. Prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were found to be 32.4%, 41.2%, and 41.2% respectively. Binominal logistic regressions for depression and stress were significant (p = 0.007, p = 0.009). Job dissatisfaction significantly predicted a higher risk of nurses developing symptoms of depression and stress respectively (p = 0.009, p = 0.011). Poor mental health among nurses may not only be detrimental to the individual but may also hinder professional performance and in turn, the quality of patient care provided. Further research in the area is required to identify support strategies and interventions that may improve the health and wellbeing of nursing professionals and hence the quality of care delivered.
Relationship between the Well-Being of Elderly Men and Cohabiting with Women Who Have Had Experience as a Health Promotion Volunteer in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Imamura Haruhiko , Nakamura Hideki , Nishiwaki Yuji
Published: December 2018

In Japan, there are traditionally many health promotion volunteer activities. However, the effects these activities have on the volunteers’ families are not clear. This study examined whether the well-being of Japanese elderly men was affected by cohabiting with women who have had experience as a health promotion volunteer. The study area was Suzaka City, where more than 7500 women have been elected and served as health promotion volunteers for over 60 years. A cross-sectional survey targeting all residents aged 65 years or over was conducted in 2014 using a self-administered questionnaire and 10,758 (77.7%) residents participated. Of those, married men who lived with married women were analyzed (n = 2370). Functional capacity and depressive symptoms were analyzed as outcomes respectively. Of the 2370 men, 1434 (60.5%) lived with women who had experience as a health promotion volunteer in the past. Modified Poisson regression analysis adjusting for covariates showed that living with women who had this experience was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted Prevalence Ratio; 0.84, 95% Confidence Interval; 0.73–0.97), but not with low functional capacity. These results suggest that living with women who had the experience as health promotion volunteer might affect depressive symptoms of elderly men.
Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
Authors: Wang Chengshun , Chen Yufen , Zheng Shulei , Liao Hua
Published: December 2018

Users more easily become lost in complex indoor environments than in outdoor environments. Users with diverse backgrounds encounter different self-location, route memorization, and route following problems during wayfinding. This study intends to explore gender and age effects on the use of indoor maps for wayfinding in real environments. We used eye-tracking and retrospective verbal protocol methods to conduct a wayfinding experiment in a newly opened building. Statistical data were collected and three findings were obtained. Finding 1: Males had no significant differences with females in indoor self-location, route reading, and route following. However, males paid less visual attention to the landmark and legend than females during route reading. Finding 2: Age-related differences were significant in indoor wayfinding. Younger adults generally outperformed elderly adults in wayfinding in real indoor environments. Finding 3: Gender and age interactive effects were significant in self-location and route memorization. The mean differences of visual attention on the self-location map reading and route memorization between males and females increased with age.
Active Optics in Astronomy: Freeform Mirror for the MESSIER Telescope Proposal
Authors: Lemaitre Gerard Rene , Vola Pascal , Muslimov Eduard
Published: December 2018

Active optics techniques in astronomy provide high imaging quality. This paper is dedicated to highly deformable active optics that can generate non-axisymmetric aspheric surfaces—or freeform surfaces—by use of a minimum number of actuators. The aspheric mirror is obtained from a single uniform load that acts over the surface of a closed-form substrate whilst under axial reaction to its elliptical perimeter ring during spherical polishing. MESSIER space proposal is a wide-field low-central-obstruction folded-two-mirror-anastigmat or here called briefly three-mirror-anastigmat (TMA) telescope. The optical design is a folded reflective Schmidt. Basic telescope features are 36 cm aperture, f/2.5, with 1.6° × 2.6° field of view and a curved field detector allowing null distortion aberration for drift-scan observations. The freeform mirror is generated by spherical stress polishing that provides super-polished freeform surfaces after elastic relaxation. Preliminary analysis required use of the optics theory of 3rd-order aberrations and elasticity theory of thin elliptical plates. Final cross-optimizations were carried out with Zemax raytracing code and Nastran FEA elasticity code in order to determine the complete geometry of a glass ceramic Zerodur deformable substrate.
Modified Potra–Pták Multi-step Schemes with Accelerated Order of Convergence for Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Arora Himani , Torregrosa Juan R. , Cordero Alicia
Published: December 2018

In this study, an iterative scheme of sixth order of convergence for solving systems of nonlinear equations is presented. The scheme is composed of three steps, of which the first two steps are that of third order Potra–Pták method and last is weighted-Newton step. Furthermore, we generalize our work to derive a family of multi-step iterative methods with order of convergence 3 r + 6 , r = 0 , 1 , 2 , … . The sixth order method is the special case of this multi-step scheme for r = 0 . The family gives a four-step ninth order method for r = 1 . As much higher order methods are not used in practice, so we study sixth and ninth order methods in detail. Numerical examples are included to confirm theoretical results and to compare the methods with some existing ones. Different numerical tests, containing academical functions and systems resulting from the discretization of boundary problems, are introduced to show the efficiency and reliability of the proposed methods.
Physical Activity Level Using Doubly-Labeled Water in Relation to Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Preschoolers
Authors: Leppänen Marja H. , Henriksson Pontus , Henriksson Hanna , Delisle Nyström Christine , Llorente-Cantarero Francisco Jesus , Löf Marie
Published: December 2018

Background and objectives: There is a lack of studies investigating associations of physical activity level (PAL) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) using the doubly-labeled water (DLW) method with body composition and physical fitness in young children. Thus, we aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of PAL and AEE with body composition indices and physical fitness components in Swedish preschool children. Materials and methods: PAL was calculated as total energy expenditure measured using DLW divided by the predicted basal metabolic rate in 40 children aged 5.5 (standard deviation 0.2) years. AEE was calculated as total energy expenditure minus basal metabolic rate and the thermic effect of food, and divided by fat-free mass. Body composition was assessed using the 3-component model by combining measurements based on isotope dilution and air-displacement plethysmography. Physical fitness (muscular strength, motor fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness) was evaluated using the PREFIT test battery. Multiple linear regression models were conducted. Results: PAL and AEE were negatively associated with body mass index, percent body fat, and fat mass index (PAL: standardized β −0.35, −0.41, and −0.45, all p < 0.036; AEE: standardized β −0.44, −0.44, and −0.47, all p < 0.006, respectively). Furthermore, PAL and AEE were positively associated with the standing long jump test (PAL: standardized β 0.37, p = 0.017; AEE: standardized β 0.38, p = 0.014). There were no statistically significant associations found regarding PAL or AEE with fat-free mass index or any other physical fitness test. Conclusions: Greater PAL and AEE at the age 5.5 were significantly associated with body fatness and improved lower-body muscular strength. Therefore, increasing physical activity, and thus energy expenditure, at young ages may be beneficial for preventing overweight/obesity. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the results.
Microstructural Evidence for Grain Boundary Migration and Dynamic Recrystallization in Experimentally Deformed Forsterite Aggregates
Authors: Bollinger Caroline , Nzogang Billy C. , Mussi Alexandre , Bouquerel Jérémie , Molodov Dmitri A. , Cordier Patrick
Published: December 2018

Plastic deformation of peridotites in the mantle involves large strains. Orthorhombic olivine does not have enough slip systems to satisfy the von Mises criterion, leading to strong hardening when polycrystals are deformed at rather low temperatures (i.e., below 1200 °C). In this study, we focused on the recovery mechanisms involving grain boundaries and recrystallization. We investigated forsterite samples deformed at large strains at 1100 °C. The deformed microstructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy using orientation mapping techniques (ACOM-TEM). With this technique, we increased the spatial resolution of characterization compared to standard electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps to further decipher the microstructures at nanoscale. After a plastic strain of 25%, we found pervasive evidence for serrated grain and subgrain boundaries. We interpreted these microstructural features as evidence of occurrences of grain boundary migration mechanisms. Evaluating the driving forces for grain/subgrain boundary motion, we found that the surface tension driving forces were often greater than the strain energy driving force. At larger strains (40%), we found pervasive evidence for discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (dDRX), with nucleation of new grains at grain boundaries. The observations reveal that subgrain migration and grain boundary bulging contribute to the nucleation of new grains. These mechanisms are probably critical to allow peridotitic rocks to achieve large strains under a steady-state regime in the lithospheric mantle.
Citric Acid Capped CdS Quantum Dots for Fluorescence Detection of Copper Ions (II) in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Wang Zhezhe , Xiao Xuechun , Zou Tong , Yang Yue , Xing Xinxin , Zhao Rongjun , Wang Zidong , Wang Yude
Published: December 2018

Citric acid capped CdS quantum dots (CA-CdS QDs), a new assembled fluorescent probe for copper ions (Cu2+), was synthesized successfully by a simple hydrothermal method. In this work, the fluorescence sensor for the detection of heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions has been extensively studied in aqueous solution. The results of the present study indicate that the obtained CA-CdS QDs could detect Cu2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity. It found that the existence of Cu2+ has a significant fluorescence quenching with a large red shifted (from greenish-yellow to yellowish-orange), but not in the presence of 17 other HTM ions. As a result, Cu2S, the energy level below the CdS conduction band, could be formed at the surface of the CA-CdS QDs and leads to the quenching of fluorescence of CA-CdS QDs. Under optimal conditions, the copper ions detection range using the synthesized fluorescence sensor was 1.0 × 10‒8 M to 5.0 × 10‒5 M and the limit of detection (LOD) is 9.2 × 10‒9 M. Besides, the as-synthesized CA-CdS QDs sensor exhibited good selectivity toward Cu2+ relative to other common metal ions. Thus, the CA-CdS QDs has potential applications for detecting Cu2+ in real water samples.
Electrospinning of Block and Graft Type Silicone Modified Polyurethane Nanofibers
Authors: Yin Chuan , Okamoto Rino , Kondo Mikihisa , Tanaka Toshihisa , Hattori Hatsuhiko , Tanaka Masaki , Sato Hiromasa , Iino Shota , Koshiro Yoshitaka
Published: December 2018

Silicone modified polyurethane (PUSX) has attracted interest as a useful material by various properties, which are combined with silicone and polyurethane. In this paper, we tried to optimize the electrospinning process of silicone modified polyurethane (PUSX) nanofibers on a lab scale device and a multinozzle pilot scale set-up to investigate the potential and limitations of preparing PUSX nanofibrous sheets using different equipment. The morphology and diameter of the obtained fibers were studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was also carried out to analyze the chemical structure of PUSX nanofibers. As a result, we successfully figured out the optimal parameters of PUSX electrospinning process and demonstrated the great potential of the process for mass production of PUSX nanofibrous sheets from solutions.
Higher Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Levels Are Associated with Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis, Obesity, Hypertension and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors
Authors: De la Cuesta-Zuluaga Jacobo , Mueller Noel , Álvarez-Quintero Rafael , Velásquez-Mejía Eliana , Sierra Jelver , Corrales-Agudelo Vanessa , Carmona Jenny , Abad José , Escobar Juan
Published: December 2018

Fiber fermentation by gut microbiota yields short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are either absorbed by the gut or excreted in feces. Studies are conflicting as to whether SCFAs are beneficial or detrimental to cardiometabolic health, and how gut microbiota associated with SCFAs is unclear. In this study of 441 community-dwelling adults, we examined associations of fecal SCFAs, gut microbiota diversity and composition, gut permeability, and cardiometabolic outcomes, including obesity and hypertension. We assessed fecal microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and SCFA concentrations by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fecal SCFA concentrations were inversely associated with microbiota diversity, and 70 unique microbial taxa were differentially associated with at least one SCFA (acetate, butyrate or propionate). Higher SCFA concentrations were associated with a measure of gut permeability, markers of metabolic dysregulation, obesity and hypertension. Microbial diversity showed association with these outcomes in the opposite direction. Associations were significant after adjusting for measured confounders. In conclusion, higher SCFA excretion was associated with evidence of gut dysbiosis, gut permeability, excess adiposity, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Studies assessing both fecal and circulating SCFAs are needed to test the hypothesis that the association of higher fecal SCFAs with obesity and cardiometabolic dysregulation is due to less efficient SCFA absorption.
Impact of Lignin Content on the Properties of Hemicellulose Hydrogels
Authors: Al-Rudainy Basel , Galbe Mats , Arcos Hernandez Monica , Jannasch Patric , Wallberg Ola
Published: December 2018

Hemicellulose is a promising renewable raw material for the production of hydrogels. This polysaccharide exists in large amounts in various waste streams, in which they are usually impure and heavily diluted. Several downstream processing methods can be combined to concentrate and purify the hemicellulose. However, such an approach can be costly; hence, the effect of impurities on the formation and properties of hydrogels must be determined. Lignin usually exists in these waste streams as a major impurity that is also difficult to separate. This compound can darken hydrogels and decrease their swellability and reactivity, as shown in many studies. Other properties and effects of lignin impurities are equally important for the end application of hydrogels and the overall process economy. In this work, we examined the feasibility of producing hydrogels from hemicelluloses that originated from sodium-based spent sulfite liquor. A combination of membrane filtration and anti-solvent precipitation was used to extract and purify various components. The influence of the purity of hemicellulose and the addition of lignosulfonates (emulated impurities in the downstream processing) to the crosslinking reaction mixture on the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of hydrogels was determined.
A Levinasian Reconstruction of the Political Significance of Vulnerability
Authors: Mao Xin
Published: December 2018

The concept of vulnerability has been renewed in meaning and importance over recent decades. Scholars such as Judith Butler, Martha Fineman and Pamela Sue Anderson have endeavored to redeem vulnerability from its traditional signification as a negative individual condition, and to reveal the positive meaning of vulnerability as a transformative call for solidarity, equality and love. In this paper we examine the newly constructed positive understanding of vulnerability, and argue that the current way of pursuing this positive understanding affirms a merely functional positivity. In the recent accounts, vulnerability is still a status to avoid, yet functions positively as a corrective force to the environment that produces vulnerability. We will try to find an essential way of designating the positivity of vulnerability by revisiting the philosophical discussion on vulnerability in Emmanuel Levinas. We will argue that Levinas’s notion of vulnerability is positive in a sense which goes beyond the purely functional; it is seen as essential for his definition of humanity. Yet compared to the contemporary discussion, Levinas’s notion of vulnerability lacks a direct social political meaning. We will tentatively explore how the essential positivity drawn from Levinas can provide a new way to construct the political significance of vulnerability.
Pulse Radar with Field-Programmable Gate Array Range Compression for Real Time Displacement and Vibration Monitoring
Authors: Tudose Mihai-Liviu , Anghel Andrei , Cacoveanu Remus , Datcu Mihai
Published: December 2018

This paper aims to present the basic functionality of a radar platform for real time monitoring of displacement and vibration. The real time capabilities make the radar platform useful when live monitoring of targets is required. The system is based on the RF analog front-end of a USRP, and the range compression (time-domain cross-correlation) is implemented on the FPGA included in the USRP. Further processing is performed on the host computer to plot real time range profiles, displacements, vibration frequencies spectra and spectrograms (waterfall plots) for long term monitoring. The system is currently in experimental form and the present paper aims to prove its functionality. The precision of this system is estimated (using the 3σ approximation) at 0.6 mm for displacement measurements and 1.8 mm for vibration amplitude measurements.
A Stakeholder-Based Evaluation of the Most Suitable and Sustainable Delivery Fleet for Freight Consolidation Policies in the Inner-City Area
Authors: Aljohani Khalid , Thompson Russell G.
Published: December 2018

Freight carriers, receivers and citizens in the inner-city area suffer the most from issues impacting last mile delivery due to exacerbated traffic congestion, limited parking and unsustainable delivery vehicles. Freight consolidation policies offer a sustainable solution to address these problems. The freight vehicles used in the consolidated deliveries could play a significant role in the sustainability and success of these policies. This paper applies a multi-stakeholder decision support approach to evaluate the suitability and potential of various delivery fleet configurations in addressing the perspectives and requirements of all stakeholders involved in last mile delivery to perform the consolidated delivery in the inner-city area. The Multi-Actor Multi-Criteria Analysis (MAMCA) framework was utilised to assess and rank various delivery configurations involving a combination of eco-friendly delivery vans, trucks and cargobikes based on the objectives of the stakeholders. The weight allocation of the criteria was determined through the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) method using responses collected from key actors representing all stakeholder groups in Melbourne, Australia. The multi-stakeholder analysis, which was performed using the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) method, suggested that the consolidated delivery should be performed using a combination of eco-friendly delivery vans and cargobikes to incorporate the concerns of the societal stakeholders and operational requirements of the business stakeholders. The mono-actor analysis revealed the heterogeneity of the stakeholders’ preferences and clashing views regarding the optimal delivery fleet. This highlights the importance of incorporating a multi-stakeholder perspective in the planning and selection of suitable urban freight policies. Accordingly, a suitable implementation plan for the consolidated delivery fleet was proposed to reflect the perspectives and requirements of these stakeholders.
Value-Based Profiles of Visitors to a World Heritage Site: The Case of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (in South Korea)
Authors: Song Hwasung , Kim Hyun
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study is to evaluate the place value of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in Korea, a mountain fortress located in natural resources with UNESCO World Heritage Site status, in order to classify visitors according to place value and to establish marketing strategies based on the characteristics of each profile. In particular, for sustainable cultural heritage development, visitors were asked to evaluate the place value of the site from various perspectives, through a presentation of government policies and business based on both the world heritage value and the inherent attractiveness of the site. Utilizing a person-centered approach, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was applied to a sample of visitors to Hwaseong Fortress (N = 656), with visitors classified by place value into four profiles: Outing Seekers (OS), Tourism Seekers (TS), Heritage Seekers (HS), and Serious Travel Seekers (SS). These profiles differed in relation to distance from the study setting from travelers’ residence, recognition of the fortress as a World Heritage site, and the degree to which the World Heritage site status influenced the decision to visit. The profiles also showed differences in visit satisfaction and intent to revisit. This study contributes a better understanding of visitors’ evaluated value of heritage sites and corresponding behaviors, in order to provide sustainable management for the heritage tourism market.
Over-Agglomeration and Its Effects on Sustainable Development: A Case Study on Istanbul
Authors: Kaya Abdullah , Koc Muammer
Published: December 2018

Inequality, in any form and dimension, is a major damaging factor for sustainable development. One of the essential drivers of inequality is the over-agglomeration and congestion in a certain region. The reasons for the agglomeration are well documented, such as knowledge-spillovers, access to supply and demand markets, availability of skilled labor, and good infrastructure. However, over-agglomeration in a region, mainly triggered by poor planning and mismanagement of resource allocation, may also become a barrier for sustainable development. The over-agglomeration generally results in undesired negative effects impeding the economic, social, and environmental development any further, even causing irreversible social and environmental issues. Following the big-push model, a theoretical model is proposed to consider the negative effects of increasing rent prices due to over-agglomeration first on the industrial development of a country. This is then followed by a case study of Istanbul as a megacity and its effects on Turkey’s sustainable development through industrial, social, and ecological aspects. Istanbul has been the main industrial and economic center of Turkey as the city further expanded rapidly in the last 50 years in terms of population and urbanization. This over-agglomeration has resulted in very high rent prices in the city compared to the rest of Turkey, which affected the country’s industrialization. The over-agglomeration in Istanbul has also created significant economic imbalances and income-inequalities within the city and across Turkey. The environmental degradation, the loss of forest area, and very high air and noise pollution were other results of the city’s rapid expansion and over-agglomeration. These industrial, social, and environmental dynamics pose serious challenges to Turkey’s sustainable development as long as over-agglomeration in Istanbul persists or even aggravates further.
Acute Retroviral Syndrome Presenting with Hemolytic Anemia Induced by G6PD Deficiency
Authors: Araujo Tiago , Katiyar Vatsala , Gonzales Zamora Jose A.
Published: December 2018

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzyme defect described in humans. Hemolysis in affected patients is usually triggered by circumstances involving free radical damage. While acute HIV infection is known to be a state of overwhelming oxidative stress, virus-induced hemolytic events in G6PD-deficient patients has rarely been reported. Despite an estimated overall prevalence of 6.8%–13% of this disorder in the HIV population, clinically significant hemolysis has been largely attributed to the use of offending medications rather than HIV infection itself. Here, we present a patient whose first episode of G6PD deficiency-associated hemolysis occurred as the main presentation of acute HIV infection.
NAUJOS STATYBOS DAUGIABUČIŲ NAMŲ PROJEKTŲ VILNIAUS MIESTE DAUGIAKRITERIS VERTINIMAS PRIEINAMUMO GYVENTOJAMS ASPEKTU / MULTIPLE CRITERIA ASSESSMENT OF THE NEW RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS IN VILNIUS: AFFORDABILITY ASPECT
Authors: Laurinavičiūtė Rimantė , Tupėnaitė Laura
Published: December 2018

Housing is one of most valuable purchases in human life and has a significant impact on the quality of life of households. Architects, builders, government and other market players arefacing major challenges in developing high-quality housing projects. Housing must be both high-quality and affordable to the population. In this article the affordability of five multi-apartment building projects in Vilnius is evaluated by using the multiple criteria assessment method COPRAS. The concept of affordable housing, based on the analysis of scientific literature, is provided; a system of criteria for assessing the affordability of housing developed; weights of criteria by using the expert survey method calculated; multiple criteria assessment of the residential projects performed; the projects that are most affordable to the residents of Vilnius identified. The assessment methodology presented in the article is universal and can be applied to other multi-apartment building projects. Santrauka Būstas dažnai tampa vienu didžiausių pirkinių žmogaus gyvenime ir daro reikšmingą įtaką namų ūkių gyvenimo kokybei. Architektai, statytojai, vyriausybė ir kiti rinkos dalyviai, siekdami vystyti kokybiškus būsto projektus, susiduria su dideliais iššūkiais. Būstas turi būti ne tik kokybiškas, bet ir prieinamas gyventojams. Šiame straipsnyje, taikant COPRAS daugiakriterio vertinimo metodą, analizuojamas penkių daugiabučių namų statybos projektų Vilniaus mieste prieinamumas gyventojams. Pateikiama prieinamo būsto samprata, mokslinės literatūros analizės pagrindu sudaroma ir aprašoma būsto prieinamumo vertinimo kriterijų sistema, ekspertų apklausos metodu nustatomas kriterijų reikšmingumas, remiantis projektų analize nustatomos kriterijų reikšmės, atliekamas projektų alternatyvų daugiakriteris vertinimas, leidžiantis išskirti projektus, kurie yra prieinamiausi Vilniaus miesto gyventojams. Straipsnyje pateikta vertinimo metodika yra universali ir gali būti taikoma kitiems daugiabučių namų projektams vertinti.
RME CO-COMBUSTION WITH HYDROGEN IN COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE: PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND EMISSIONS / SLĖGINIO UŽDEGIMO VARIKLIO ENERGINIŲ, EFEKTYVUMO IR DEGINIŲ EMISIJOS RODIKLIŲ TYRIMAS NAUDOJANT RAPSŲ METILESTERĮ IR VANDENILĮ
Authors: Juknelevičius Romualdas
Published: December 2018

The article presents the test results of the single cylinder CI engine with common rail injection system operating on biofuel – Rapeseed Methyl Ester with addition supply of hydrogen. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of the hydrogen addition to the biofuel on combustion phases, engine performance, efficiency, and exhaust emissions. HES was changed within the range from 0 to 44%. Hydrogen was injected into the intake manifold, where it created homogeneous mixture with air. Tests were performed at both fixed and optimal injection timings at low, medium and nominal engine load. After analysis of the engine bench tests and simulation with AVL BOOST software, it was observed that lean hydrogen – RME mixture does not support the ﬂame propagation and efficient combustion. While at the rich fuel mixture and with increasing hydrogen fraction, the combustion intensity concentrate at the beginning of the combustion process and shortened the ignition delay phase. AVL BOOST simulation performed within the wide range of HES (16–80%) revealed that combustion intensity moves to the beginning of combustion with increase of HES. Decrease of CO, CO2 and smoke opacity was observed with increase of hydrogen amounts to the engine. However, increase of the NO concentration in the engine exhaust gases was observed.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje pateikti tyrimo rezultatai, gauti atlikus bandymą vieno cilindro slėginio uždegimo variklyje su biodegalais – rapsų metilesterį (RME) ir vandenilį. Biodegalai įpurškiami akumuliatorine įpurškimo sistema „Common rail“. Šio tyrimo tikslas – ištirti, kaip vandenilis veikia biodegalų degimą, variklio veikimą, jo efektyvumą ir deginių susidarymą. Vandenilio energinė dalis degimo mišinyje buvo keičiama nuo 0 iki 44 %. Vandenilis buvo tiekiamas įsiurbimo fazės metu įsiurbimo kanalu į degimo kamerą, kurioje jis, susimaišęs su oru, sudaro homogeninį mišinį. Bandymai buvo atliekami nekeičiant įpurškimo kampo, nustačius optimalų įpurškimo kampą esant žemai, vidutinei ir nominaliai variklio apkrovai. Išnagrinėjus variklio bandymų rezultatus ir sumodeliavu AVL BOOST programa, buvo pastebėta, kad, esant liesam vandenilio ir RME mišiniui, liepsnos plitimas yra lėtas, mišinys dega neveiksmingai. Tačiau riebus degalų mišinys ir padidinta vandenilio energijos dalis užtikrina degimo intensyvumą degimo proceso pradžioje ir sutrumpina uždegimo gaišties trukmę. AVL BOOST modeliavimas, atliktas plačiu vandenilio energijos dalies diapazonu (16–80 %), patvirtino teiginį, kad degimas tampa intensyvesnis degimo pradžioje dėl padidinto vandenilio kiekio. Didinant vandenilio kiekį, buvo pastebėta, kad išmetamosiose dujose sumažėjo CO, CO2 ir kietųjų dalelių, tačiau padidėjo NO koncentracija.
TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION USING CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS / KELIO ŽENKLŲ ATPAŽINIMAS NAUDOJANT NEURONINĮ TINKLĄ
Authors: Miloš Ervin , Kolesau Aliaksei , Šešok Dmitrij
Published: December 2018

Traffic sign recognition is an important method that improves the safety in the roads, and this system is an additional step to autonomous driving. Nowadays, to solve traffic sign recognition problem, convolutional neural networks (CNN) can be adopted for its high performance well proved for computer vision applications. This paper proposes histogram equalization preprocessing (HOG) and CNN with additional operations – batch normalization, dropout and data augmentation. Several CNN architectures are compared to differentiate how each operation affects the accuracy of CNN model. Experimental results describe the effectiveness of using CNN with proposed operations.

Santrauka

Kelio ženklų atpažinimas – vienas iš svarbių būdų pagerinti saugumą keliuose. Ši sistema laikoma papildomu autonominio vairavimo žingsniu. Šiandien kelio ženklų atpažinimo problemai spręsti taikomi konvoliuciniai neuroniniai tinklai (KNN) dėl jų našumo, įrodyto vaizdų atpažinimo programose. Šiame straipsnyje siūlomas vaizdų histogramos išlyginimo apdorojimo metodas ir KNN su papildomomis operacijomis – paketo normalizavimas ir neuronų išjungimas / įjungimas. Yra palyginamos kelios KNN architektūros siekiant ištirti, kokią įtaką kiekviena operacija daro KNN modelio tikslumui. Eksperimentiniai rezultatai apibūdina KNN naudojimo efektyvumą su pasiūlytomis operacijomis.
Ground-based Spectroscopy of the Exoplanet XO-2b Using a Systematic Wavelength Calibration
Authors: Pearson Kyle A. , Griffith Caitlin A. , Zellem Robert T. , Koskinen Tommi T. , Roudier Gael M.
Published: December 2018

Exoplanets orbiting close to their host star are expected to support a large ionosphere, which extends to larger pressures than witnessed in our solar system. These ionospheres can be investigated with ground-based transit observations of the optical signatures of alkali metals, which are the source of the ions. However, most ground-based transit spectra do not systematically resolve the wings of the features and continuum, as needed to constrain the alkali abundances. Here we present new observations and analyses of optical transit spectra that cover the Na doublet in the atmosphere of the exoplanet XO-2b. To assess the consistency of our results, observations were obtained from two separate platforms: Gemini/GMOS and Mayall/KOSMOS. To mitigate the systematic errors, we chose XO-2, because it has a binary companion of the same brightness and stellar type, which provides an ideal reference star to model Earth’s atmospheric effects. We find that interpretation of the data is highly sensitive to time-varying translations along the detector, which change according to wavelength and differ between the target and reference star. It was necessary to employ a time-dependent cross-correlation to align our wavelength bins and correct for atmospheric differential refraction. This approach allows us to resolve the wings of the Na line across five wavelength bins at a resolution of ∼1.6 nm and limit the abundance of Na. We obtain consistent results from each telescope with an Na amplitude of 521 ± 161 and 403 ± 186 ppm for GMOS and KOSMOS, respectively. The results are analyzed with a radiative transfer model that includes the effects of ionization. The data are consistent with a clear atmosphere between ∼1 and 100 mbar that establishes a lower limit on Na at

ppm ([Na/H] = 

), consistent with solar. However, we cannot rule out the presence of clouds at ∼10 mbar that allow for higher Na abundances, which would be consistent with the stellar metallicity measured for the host star ([Na/H] = 0.485 ± 0.043).
PUSHing Core-collapse Supernovae to Explosions in Spherical Symmetry. III. Nucleosynthesis Yields
Authors: Curtis Sanjana , Ebinger Kevin , Fröhlich Carla , Hempel Matthias , Perego Albino , Liebendörfer Matthias , Thielemann Friedrich-Karl
Published: December 2018

In a previously presented proof-of-principle study, we established a parameterized spherically symmetric explosion method (PUSH) that can reproduce many features of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) for a wide range of pre-explosion models. The method is based on the neutrino-driven mechanism and follows collapse, bounce, and explosion. There are two crucial aspects of our model for nucleosynthesis predictions. First, the mass cut and explosion energy emerge simultaneously from the simulation (determining, for each stellar model, the amount of Fe-group ejecta). Second, the interactions between neutrinos and matter are included consistently (setting the electron fraction of the innermost ejecta). In the present paper, we use the successful explosion models from Ebinger et al. that include two sets of pre-explosion models at solar metallicity, with combined masses between 10.8 and 120 M
⊙. We perform systematic nucleosynthesis studies and predict detailed isotopic yields. The resulting 56Ni ejecta are in overall agreement with observationally derived values from normal CCSNe. The Fe-group yields are also in agreement with derived abundances for metal-poor star HD 84937. We also present a comparison of our results with observational trends in alpha element to iron ratios.
First Assessment of the Binary Lens OGLE-2015-BLG-0232
Authors: Bachelet E. , Bozza V. , Han C. , Udalski A. , Bond I. A. , Beaulieu J.-P. , Street R. A. , Kim H.-I , Bramich D. M. , Cassan A. , Dominik M. , Jaimes R. Figuera , Horne K. , Hundertmark M. , Mao S. , Menzies J. , Ranc C. , Schmidt R. , Snodgrass C. , Steele I. A. , Tsapras Y. , Wambsganss J. ,   (The RoboNet collaboration), Mróz P. , Soszyński I. , Szymański M. K. , Skowron J. , Pietrukowicz P. , Kozłowski S. , Poleski R. , Ulaczyk K. , Pawlak M. ,   (The OGLE collaboration), Abe F. , Barry R. , Bennett D. P. , Bhattacharya A. , Donachie M. , Fukui A. , Hirao Y. , Itow Y. , Kawasaki K. , Kondo I. , Koshimoto N. , Cheung Alex Li M. , Matsubara Y. , Muraki Y. , Miyazaki S. , Nagakane M. , Rattenbury N. J. , Suematsu H. , Sullivan D. J. , Sumi T. , Suzuki D. , Tristram P. J. , Yonehara A. ,   (The MOA collaboration)
Published: December 2018

We present an analysis of the microlensing event OGLE-2015-BLG-0232. This event is challenging to characterize for two reasons. First, the light curve is not well sampled during the caustic crossing due to the proximity of the full Moon impacting the photometry quality. Moreover, the source brightness is difficult to estimate because this event is blended with a nearby K dwarf star. We found that the light-curve deviations are likely due to a close brown dwarf companion (i.e., s = 0.55 and q = 0.06), but the exact nature of the lens is still unknown. We finally discuss the potential of follow-up observations to estimate the lens mass and distance in the future.