bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial Pathogen Occurrence and Persistence in Livestock Mortality Biopiles
Authors: Michitsch Robert , Gordon Robert , Jamieson Rob , Stratton Glenn
Published: September 2017

Properly managed biopiles can be used for slaughterhouse-residual degradation and bacterial pathogen inactivation, which otherwise represent a major health risk in the environment. Biopiles were used to dispose of slaughterhouse-residuals and determine the occurrence and persistence patterns of indicators of pathogenic bacteria. The indicator bacteria included the family Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli, and Streptococcus fecalis. The slaughterhouse-residual biopiles remained static for 164 d in 2006 and 141 d in 2007. In biopile effluent samples, exponentially decreasing populations of the indicator bacteria were observed. Indicator bacteria presence in biopile and soil samples suggested their retention and persistence in, but not migration from, the media. Though the family Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli shared behavioral correlations, they exhibited different fates in all media compared to S. fecalis, which was observed to persist and re-grow. The behavior of inoculated nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli suggested that inactivation was the primary process in the biopiles. However, the biopiles constituted continual sources of the indicator bacteria due to their persistence in isolated and protected locations, and changes in dominant species. While biopiling slaughterhouse-residuals was effective to inactivate >99% (log reductions) of indicator bacteria, tertiary methods and biopiling phases should be employed to ensure inactivation of pathogenic bacteria in animal waste biopiles. The fate of bacterial indicators in this system exhibited trends not-as-yet observed for animal waste biopiling activities, which generates numerous questions for further research.
Exposure as Duration and Distance in Telematics Motor Insurance Using Generalized Additive Models
Authors: Boucher Jean-Philippe , Côté Steven , Guillen Montserrat
Published: September 2017

In Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) automobile insurance, the premium is fixed based on the distance traveled, while in usage-based insurance (UBI) the driving patterns of the policyholder are also considered. In those schemes, drivers who drive more pay a higher premium compared to those with the same characteristics who drive only occasionally, because the former are more exposed to the risk of accident. In this paper, we analyze the simultaneous effect of the distance traveled and exposure time on the risk of accident by using Generalized Additive Models (GAM). We carry out an empirical application and show that the expected number of claims (1) stabilizes once a certain number of accumulated distance-driven is reached and (2) it is not proportional to the duration of the contract, which is in contradiction to insurance practice. Finally, we propose to use a rating system that takes into account simultaneously exposure time and distance traveled in the premium calculation. We think that this is the trend the automobile insurance market is going to follow with the eruption of telematics data.
Resilient Robots: Concept, Review, and Future Directions
Authors: Zhang Tan , Zhang Wenjun , Gupta Madan
Published: September 2017

This paper reviews recent developments in the emerging field of resilient robots and the related robots that share common concerns with them, such as self-reconfigurable robots. This paper addresses the identity of the resilient robots by distinguishing the concept of resilience from other similar concepts and summarizes the strategies used by robots to recover their original function. By illustrating some issues of current resilient robots in the design of control systems, physical architecture modules, and physical connection systems, this paper shows several of the possible solutions to facilitate the development of the new and improved robots with higher resilience. The conclusion outlines several directions for the future of this field.
Sensitivity of Landsat 8 Surface Temperature Estimates to Atmospheric Profile Data: A Study Using MODTRAN in Dryland Irrigated Systems
Authors: Rosas Jorge , Houborg Rasmus , McCabe Matthew
Published: September 2017

The land surface temperature (LST) represents a critical element in efforts to characterize global surface energy and water fluxes, as well as being an essential climate variable in its own right. Current satellite platforms provide a range of spatial and temporal resolution radiance data from which LST can be determined. One of the most complete records of data comes via the Landsat series of satellites, which provide a continuous sequence that extends back to 1982. However, for much of this time, Landsat thermal data were provided through a single broadband thermal channel, making surface temperature retrieval challenging. To fully exploit the valuable time-series of thermal information that is available from these satellites requires efforts to better describe and understand the accuracy of temperature retrievals. Here, we contribute to these efforts by examining the impact of atmospheric correction on the estimation of LST, using atmospheric profiles derived from a range of in-situ, reanalysis, and satellite data. Radiance data from the thermal infrared (TIR) sensor onboard Landsat 8 was converted to LST by using the MODTRAN version 5.2 radiative transfer model, allowing the production of an LST time series based upon 28 Landsat overpasses. LST retrievals were then evaluated against in-situ thermal measurements collected over an arid zone farmland comprising both bare soil and vegetated surface types. Atmospheric profiles derived from AIRS, MOD07, ECMWF, NCEP, and balloon-based radiosonde data were used to drive the MODTRAN simulations. In addition to examining the direct impact of using various profile data on LST retrievals, randomly distributed errors were introduced into a range of forcing variables to better understand retrieval uncertainty. Results indicated differences in LST of up to 1 K for perturbations in emissivity and profile measurements, with the analysis also highlighting the challenges in modeling aerosol optical depth (AOD) over arid lands and its impact on the TIR bands. Days with high AOD content (AOD > 0.5) in the evaluation study seem to consistently underestimate in-situ LSTs by 1–2 K, suggesting that MODTRAN is unable to accurately simulate the aerosol conditions for the TIR bands. Comparisons between available in-situ and Landsat 8 derived LST illustrate a range of seasonal and land surface dynamics and provide an assessment of retrieval accuracy throughout the nine-month long study period. In terms of the choice of atmospheric profile, when excluding the in-situ data, results show a mean absolute range of between 1.2 K to 1.8 K over bare soil and 3.3 K to 3.8 K over alfalfa for the different meteorological forcing, with the AIRS profile providing the best reproduction over the studied arid land irrigation region.
Sixty-Year Changes in Residential Landscapes in Beijing: A Perspective from Both the Horizontal (2D) and Vertical (3D) Dimensions
Authors: Zheng Zhong , Zhou Weiqi , Wang Jia , Hu Xiaofang , Qian Yuguo
Published: September 2017

Landscape changes associated with urbanization can lead to many serious ecological and environmental problems. Quantifying the vertical structure of the urban landscape and its change is important to understand its social and ecological impacts, but previous studies mainly focus on urban horizontal expansion and its impacts on land cover/land use change. This papers focuses on the residential landscape to investigate how the vertical dimension of the urban landscape (i.e., building height) change through time, and how such change is related to changes in the horizontal dimension of the landscape, using Beijing, the capital of China, as a case study. We quantified the expansion of the residential neighborhoods from 1949 to 2009, and changes in vegetation coverage, building density, and building height within these neighborhoods, using 1 m spatial resolution imagery. One-way ANOVA and correlation analysis were used to examine the relationships of building height to vegetation coverage and building density. We found: (1) The residential areas expanded rapidly and were dominated by outward growth, with much less within-city infilling. The growth rate varied greatly through time, first increasing from 1949–2004 and then decreasing from 2005–2009. The expansion direction of newly built residential neighborhoods shifted from west to north in a clockwise direction. (2) The vertical structure of residential neighborhoods changed with time and varied in space, forming a “low-high” pattern from urban central areas to the urban edges within the 5th ring road of Beijing. (3) The residential neighborhoods built in different time periods had significant differences in vegetation coverage, building density, and building height. The residential neighborhoods built in more recent years tended to have taller buildings, lower building density and lower vegetation coverage.
Aerosol Optical Properties and Direct Radiative Effects over Central China
Authors: Zhang Ming , Wang Lunche , Gong Wei , Ma Yingying , Liu Boming
Published: September 2017

Central China is important for aerosols and climate because it is among the worst regions for air pollution in China. However, it is understudied due to a lag in establishing an atmospheric monitoring network. So we did a comprehensive analysis using multiple techniques to improve the understanding of aerosol optical properties and their radiative effect in this region. The results showed that high aerosol optical depth (AOD) was generally found in the northern and central parts, whereas low values were observed in the southern and western parts. Most regions were predominantly loaded with small aerosol particles and a significant influence of long-distance transported dust was found in springtime. A strong and significantly decreasing trend was observed with a maximum decrease rate of −0.08 per year in the northern and western parts, related to the decreasing emission of aerosols and increasing rainfall. Aerosol optical properties and radiative effects were compared between an urban site, Wuhan, and a rural site, Dengfeng. The seasonal variations of AOD and Ångström exponent (AE) are similar for Wuhan and Dengfeng, but both values are larger in Wuhan than in Dengfeng. A greater dominance of coarse-mode and absorbing aerosols was found over Dengfeng. Annual averaged aerosol radiative effect (ARE) in shortwave spectrum (ARESW) and its efficiency (REE) are −48.01 W/m2 and −51.38 W/m2, respectively, in Wuhan, −40.02 W/m2 and −53.26 W/m2, respectively, in Dengfeng. The dependence of REE on aerosol absorptive and size properties was studied; the results showed that REE was strongly influenced by the aerosol absorptivity and size of fine-mode particles, but there was not a strong correlation between REE and AE. The percentage of ARE in visible spectrum (AREVIS) in ARESW in Wuhan was 3% lower than in Dengfeng. The AREVIS percentage depended largely on aerosol particle size, but was less influenced by aerosol absorptivity.
Monaural Sound Localization Based on Reflective Structure and Homomorphic Deconvolution
Authors: Park Yeonseok , Choi Anthony , Kim Keonwook
Published: September 2017

The asymmetric structure around the receiver provides a particular time delay for the specific incoming propagation. This paper designs a monaural sound localization system based on the reflective structure around the microphone. The reflective plates are placed to present the direction-wise time delay, which is naturally processed by convolutional operation with a sound source. The received signal is separated for estimating the dominant time delay by using homomorphic deconvolution, which utilizes the real cepstrum and inverse cepstrum sequentially to derive the propagation response’s autocorrelation. Once the localization system accurately estimates the information, the time delay model computes the corresponding reflection for localization. Because of the structure limitation, two stages of the localization process perform the estimation procedure as range and angle. The software toolchain from propagation physics and algorithm simulation realizes the optimal 3D-printed structure. The acoustic experiments in the anechoic chamber denote that 79.0% of the study range data from the isotropic signal is properly detected by the response value, and 87.5% of the specific direction data from the study range signal is properly estimated by the response time. The product of both rates shows the overall hit rate to be 69.1%.
Drawing Sensors with Ball-Milled Blends of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Graphite
Authors: Ko Michael , Aykanat Aylin , Smith Merry , Mirica Katherine
Published: September 2017

The synthetically tunable properties and intrinsic porosity of conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) make them promising materials for transducing selective interactions with gaseous analytes in an electrically addressable platform. Consequently, conductive MOFs are valuable functional materials with high potential utility in chemical detection. The implementation of these materials, however, is limited by the available methods for device incorporation due to their poor solubility and moderate electrical conductivity. This manuscript describes a straightforward method for the integration of moderately conductive MOFs into chemiresistive sensors by mechanical abrasion. To improve electrical contacts, blends of MOFs with graphite were generated using a solvent-free ball-milling procedure. While most bulk powders of pure conductive MOFs were difficult to integrate into devices directly via mechanical abrasion, the compressed solid-state MOF/graphite blends were easily abraded onto the surface of paper substrates equipped with gold electrodes to generate functional sensors. This method was used to prepare an array of chemiresistors, from four conductive MOFs, capable of detecting and differentiating NH3, H2S and NO at parts-per-million concentrations.
On-Board Detection of Pedestrian Intentions
Authors: Fang Zhijie , Vázquez David , López Antonio
Published: September 2017

Avoiding vehicle-to-pedestrian crashes is a critical requirement for nowadays advanced driver assistant systems (ADAS) and future self-driving vehicles. Accordingly, detecting pedestrians from raw sensor data has a history of more than 15 years of research, with vision playing a central role. During the last years, deep learning has boosted the accuracy of image-based pedestrian detectors. However, detection is just the first step towards answering the core question, namely is the vehicle going to crash with a pedestrian provided preventive actions are not taken? Therefore, knowing as soon as possible if a detected pedestrian has the intention of crossing the road ahead of the vehicle is essential for performing safe and comfortable maneuvers that prevent a crash. However, compared to pedestrian detection, there is relatively little literature on detecting pedestrian intentions. This paper aims to contribute along this line by presenting a new vision-based approach which analyzes the pose of a pedestrian along several frames to determine if he or she is going to enter the road or not. We present experiments showing 750 ms of anticipation for pedestrians crossing the road, which at a typical urban driving speed of 50 km/h can provide 15 additional meters (compared to a pure pedestrian detector) for vehicle automatic reactions or to warn the driver. Moreover, in contrast with state-of-the-art methods, our approach is monocular, neither requiring stereo nor optical flow information.
Avionic Air Data Sensors Fault Detection and Isolation by means of Singular Perturbation and Geometric Approach
Authors: Castaldi Paolo , Mimmo Nicola , Simani Silvio
Published: September 2017

Singular Perturbations represent an advantageous theory to deal with systems characterized by a two-time scale separation, such as the longitudinal dynamics of aircraft which are called phugoid and short period. In this work, the combination of the NonLinear Geometric Approach and the Singular Perturbations leads to an innovative Fault Detection and Isolation system dedicated to the isolation of faults affecting the air data system of a general aviation aircraft. The isolation capabilities, obtained by means of the approach proposed in this work, allow for the solution of a fault isolation problem otherwise not solvable by means of standard geometric techniques. Extensive Monte-Carlo simulations, exploiting a high fidelity aircraft simulator, show the effectiveness of the proposed Fault Detection and Isolation system.
ePave: A Self-Powered Wireless Sensor for Smart and Autonomous Pavement
Authors: Xiao Jian , Zou Xiang , Xu Wenyao
Published: September 2017

“Smart Pavement” is an emerging infrastructure for various on-road applications in transportation and road engineering. However, existing road monitoring solutions demand a certain periodic maintenance effort due to battery life limits in the sensor systems. To this end, we present an end-to-end self-powered wireless sensor—ePave—to facilitate smart and autonomous pavements. The ePave system includes a self-power module, an ultra-low-power sensor system, a wireless transmission module and a built-in power management module. First, we performed an empirical study to characterize the piezoelectric module in order to optimize energy-harvesting efficiency. Second, we developed an integrated sensor system with the optimized energy harvester. An adaptive power knob is designated to adjust the power consumption according to energy budgeting. Finally, we intensively evaluated the ePave system in real-world applications to examine the system’s performance and explore the trade-off.
Refugees in Cyprus: Local Acceptance in the Past and Present
Authors: Alecou Alexios , Mavrou Josefina
Published: September 2017

This paper seeks to report how Greek-Cypriots view migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Cyprus, compared with their views on the first migratory wave in the late 1940s, taking into account the influence of the media. More specifically, the paper investigates the lack of integration and local acceptance of asylum seekers and migrants in the host countries both in Europe and in Cyprus, giving special emphasis on the role of the media and the language used and how this affects the perception of civil society on refugees. The paper led us to the conclusion that this group of people faced in Cyprus, both previously in the 1940s as well as today, racism, exploitation, and marginalization from Greek-Cypriots due to the language used by the media and the lack of policies towards integration of refugees and asylum seekers.
Who Takes More Sustainability-Oriented Entrepreneurial Actions? The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Values, Beliefs and Orientations
Authors: Afshar Jahanshahi Asghar , Brem Alexander , Bhattacharjee Amitab
Published: September 2017

We examine the relationships between entrepreneurs’ values, beliefs and orientations with their firms’ engagement in sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial actions, using a sample of 352 newly established businesses from two Asian countries (Bangladesh and Iran). Our results reveal a dual role of entrepreneurs’ values, beliefs and orientations when taking sustainability-oriented actions. We confirm that individual differences in the set of values, beliefs and orientations can foster or hinder the sustainability-oriented actions across organizations. Our paper contributes to the growing literature of sustainable entrepreneurship, by providing answers for recent calls for better understanding which entrepreneurial ventures engage more in sustainability-oriented actions.
Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Spatial Plans: A Spanish Case Study
Authors: Segura Sergio , Pedregal Belen
Published: September 2017

Spatial planning, as a regional and subregional public policy, establishes a territorial integral vision implemented through spatial plans, aimed at achieving a balanced and sustainable spatial development and improving quality of life. To enhance the effectiveness of these plans, evaluation and monitoring are needed. This paper critically analyses the monitoring and evaluation framework for spatial plans in Spain. Based on extensive literature, legislative, and document review, as well as in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, the paper describes the legal provisions of spatial plans and how they work in practice. One of the main conclusions is that, although many laws and spatial plans have been adopted in Spain, they do not include sufficient details and provisions regarding basic monitoring and evaluation procedures. This practice is in fact highly dependent on the political will of regional governments. The main progress on monitoring and evaluation of spatial plans is achieved thanks to the enforcement of environmental legislation. Finally, it is suggested that the role of specific bodies, public participation, territorial observatories, and indicator systems should be strengthened as key elements of the evaluation and monitoring procedures for spatial planning.
Exploring Sustainable Street Tree Planting Patterns to Be Resistant against Fine Particles (PM2.5)
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Lee Sangwoo , Hwang Kwangil , An Kyungjin
Published: September 2017

Recent health threats from fine particles of PM2.5 have been warned by various health organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international governmental agencies. Due to the recognised threats of such particulate materials within urban areas, counter measures against PM2.5 have been largely explored; however, the methods in the context of planting types and structures have been neglected. Therefore, this study investigated and analysed the concentration levels of PM2.5 in roads, planting areas, and residential zones within urban areas. Moreover, the study attempted to identify any meaningful factors influencing the reduction of PM2.5 and their efficiencies. After surveying PM2.5 in winter and spring season, there were serious reductions of PM2.5 concentrations within the areas of pedestrian paths, planting, and residential areas compared to other urban areas. In particular, a significant low level of PM2.5 concentrations was shown in the residential areas located behind planting bands as green buffer. This research also found that three-dimensional volumes and quantity of planting rows play a critical role in reducing PM2.5. A negative correlation was shown between the fluctuated concentration rate of PM2.5 and quantity of planting rows—single row of trees showed fluctuated concentration rate of PM2.5, 84.77%, followed by double rows of trees 79.49%, and triple rows of trees 75.02%. Especially, trees need to be planted at certain distance to allow wind to diffuse fine particles rather than dense planting. Finally, planting shrubs also significantly reduces the concentration level of PM2.5—the fluctuated concentration rate of the single layer showed 88.79%, while the double layer and the multi-layer showed 81.16% and 68.93%, respectively—since it increases three-dimensional volume of urban plantings.
Study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Focus on Tax Avoidance and Financial Ratio Analysis
Authors: Kim Jeongho , Im Chaechang
Published: September 2017

This study is an attempt to find a causal relation between financial ratios and tax avoidance. Aside from direct financial responsibilities, we conjecture that firms that avoid taxes will also face indirect negative financial repercussions, such as degradation of their reputation in the investment market. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility) activities are reflected in the market as firms make a commitment to society, and investors perceive a positive value in an investment in such firms. Between the two contradictory drivers, tax avoidance and CSR activities, we seek to find their interplaying relation with financial ratios. From this study, tax authorities can regulate firms that engage in tax avoidance and encourage firms to conduct CSR activities. We summarize our findings as below: First, CSR activities deter tax avoidance, specifically in firms that are actively engaged in CSR. On the other hand, passive involvement in CSR does not have any influence on tax avoidance. Secondly, we find that current asset turnover, the labor-to-equipment ratio, the noncurrent liabilities ratio, and the net income-to-equity ratio all have a positive and significant influence on corporate tax avoidance. Conversely, common equity growth has been shown to be negatively related with corporate tax avoidance. From this empirical study, we contribute to the studies on tax avoidance by showing that there can be a voluntary method to reduce corporate tax avoidance in firms, which is by encouraging them to engage in CSR activities.
Sustainability and Financial Performance of Companies in the Energy Sector in Romania
Authors: Paun Dragos
Published: September 2017

In the article, we focus on the question of sustainability in the renewable energy sector of Romania. The aim of the current paper is to analyze the financial performance of the companies operating in the field. Our assumption is that the success of the implementation of the energy switch from classic to renewables relies on the businesses operating in this industry. In our article, we have selected the most prominent players in the energy industry, comparing the performance of those that are producing renewable energy to the ones that are producing energy using fossil fuels. Our analysis has shown that, starting with 2013, the companies have encountered financial difficulties, which has led to a halt in investments and the questioning of the sustainability of entering the market. After analyzing the data, we have seen that the investments have been rather opportunistic, based on the commitment of the government to keep the subsidies introduced by the policy, and have not been based on the realistic long-term financial performance of the companies in this area.
Towards a New Proposal for the Time Delay in Gravitational Lensing
Authors: Alchera Nicola , Bonici Marco , Maggiore Nicola
Published: September 2017

One application of the Cosmological Gravitational Lensing in General Relativity is the measurement of the Hubble constant H 0 using the time delay Δ t between multiple images of lensed quasars. This method has already been applied, obtaining a value of H 0 compatible with that obtained from the SNe 1A, but non-compatible with that obtained studying the anisotropies of the CMB. This difference could be a statistical fluctuation or an indication of new physics beyond the Standard Model of Cosmology, so it desirable to improve the precision of the measurements. At the current technological capabilities it is possible to obtain H 0 to a percent level uncertainty, so a more accurate theoretical model could be necessary in order to increase the precision about the determination of H 0 . The actual formula which relates Δ t with H 0 is approximated; in this paper we expose a proposal to go beyond the previous analysis and, within the context of a new model, we obtain a more precise formula than that present in the literature.
Structure–Function Relationships Underlying the Capacity of Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase Toxin to Disarm Host Phagocytes
Authors: Novak Jakub , Cerny Ondrej , Osickova Adriana , Linhartova Irena , Masin Jiri , Bumba Ladislav , Sebo Peter , Osicka Radim
Published: September 2017

Bordetellae, pathogenic to mammals, produce an immunomodulatory adenylate cyclase toxin–hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) that enables them to overcome the innate immune defense of the host. CyaA subverts host phagocytic cells by an orchestrated action of its functional domains, where an extremely catalytically active adenylyl cyclase enzyme is delivered into phagocyte cytosol by a pore-forming repeat-in-toxin (RTX) cytolysin moiety. By targeting sentinel cells expressing the complement receptor 3, known as the CD11b/CD18 (αMβ2) integrin, CyaA compromises the bactericidal functions of host phagocytes and supports infection of host airways by Bordetellae. Here, we review the state of knowledge on structural and functional aspects of CyaA toxin action, placing particular emphasis on signaling mechanisms by which the toxin-produced 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) subverts the physiology of phagocytic cells.
Safety Assessment of Lactobacillus helveticus KLDS1.8701 Based on Whole Genome Sequencing and Oral Toxicity Studies
Authors: Li Bailiang , Jin Da , Etareri Evivie Smith , Li Na , Yan Fenfen , Zhao Li , Liu Fei , Huo Guicheng
Published: September 2017

Lactobacillus helveticus KLDS1.8701 isolated from Chinese traditional fermented dairy product has been shown earlier to possess probiotic potentials but it is important to evaluate its safety in view of its possible use as a probiotic. The aim of the present study is to critically assess the safety of L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 through multiple perspectives. The complete genome of L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 was sequenced to mine for safety-associated genes. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobials and the adverse metabolites were determined. Standard acute oral and subacute toxicity studies were conducted in rats. The results in silico disclosed that the genome of L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 carries no transferable antibiotic resistance genes, no virulence factors and only 3 genes related to adverse metabolites. In vitro results showed that L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 was resistant against 6 antimicrobials and did not raise safety concerns about biogenic amine, D-lactic acid and nitroreductase. The results in vivo revealed that no adverse effects on experimental rats were observed in the oral toxicity tests. Overall, findings from this study suggest that L. helveticus KLDS1.8701 is safe and can be used as a potential probiotic for human consumption.
Determination of Ochratoxin A in Rye and Rye-Based Products by Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay
Authors: Lippolis Vincenzo , Porricelli Anna , Cortese Marina , Suman Michele , Zanardi Sandro , Pascale Michelangelo
Published: September 2017

A rapid fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) was optimized and validated for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in rye and rye crispbread. Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (60:40, v/v) and purified by SPE-aminopropyl column clean-up before performing the FPIA. Overall mean recoveries were 86 and 95% for spiked rye and rye crispbread with relative standard deviations lower than 6%. Limits of detection (LOD) of the optimized FPIA was 0.6 μg/kg for rye and rye crispbread, respectively. Good correlations (r > 0.977) were observed between OTA contents in contaminated samples obtained by FPIA and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with immunoaffinity cleanup used as reference method. Furthermore, single laboratory validation and small-scale collaborative trials were carried out for the determination of OTA in rye according to Regulation 519/2014/EU laying down procedures for the validation of screening methods. The precision profile of the method, cut-off level and rate of false suspect results confirm the satisfactory analytical performances of assay as a screening method. These findings show that the optimized FPIA is suitable for high-throughput screening, and permits reliable quantitative determination of OTA in rye and rye crispbread at levels that fall below the EU regulatory limits.
Newcastle Disease Virus Vectored Bivalent Vaccine against Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease and Newcastle Disease of Chickens
Authors: Dey Sohini , Chellappa Madhan , Pathak Dinesh , Gaikwad Satish , Yadav Kalpana , Ramakrishnan Saravanan , Vakharia Vikram
Published: September 2017

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain F is a lentogenic vaccine strain used for primary vaccination in day-old chickens against Newcastle disease (ND) in India and Southeast Asian countries. Recombinant NDV-F virus and another recombinant NDV harboring the major capsid protein VP2 gene of a very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV); namely rNDV-F and rNDV-F/VP2, respectively, were generated using the NDV F strain. The rNDV-F/VP2 virus was slightly attenuated, as compared to the rNDV-F virus, as evidenced from the mean death time and intracerebral pathogenicity index analysis. This result indicates that rNDV-F/VP2 behaves as a lentogenic virus and it is stable even after 10 serial passages in embryonated chicken eggs. When chickens were vaccinated with the rNDV F/VP2, it induced both humoral and cell mediated immunity, and was able to confer complete protection against very virulent IBDV challenge and 80% protection against virulent NDV challenge. These results suggest that rNDV-F could be an effective and inherently safe vaccine vector. Here, we demonstrate that a bivalent NDV-IBDV vaccine candidate generated by reverse genetics method is safe, efficacious and cost-effective, which will greatly aid the poultry industry in developing countries.
Use of text messaging in general practice: a mixed methods investigation on GPs’ and patients’ views
Authors: Leahy Dorothy , Lyons Aoife , Dahm Matthias , Quinlan Diarmuid , Bradley Colin
Published: September 2017

Background

Text messaging has become more prevalent in general practice as a tool with which to communicate with patients.

Aim

The main objectives were to assess the extent, growth, and perceived risks and benefits of text messaging by GPs to communicate with patients, and assess patients’ attitudes towards receiving text messages from their GP.

Design and setting

A mixed methods study, using surveys, a review, and a focus group, was conducted in both urban and rural practices in the south-west of Ireland.

Method

A telephone survey of 389 GPs was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of text messaging. Subsequently, the following were also carried out: additional telephone surveys with 25 GPs who use text messaging and 26 GPs who do not, a written satisfaction survey given to 78 patients, a review of the electronic information systems of five practices, and a focus group with six GPs to ascertain attitudes towards text messaging.

Results

In total, 38% (n = 148) of the surveyed GPs used text messaging to communicate with patients and 62% (n = 241) did not. Time management was identified as the key advantage of text messaging among GPs who used it (80%; n = 20) and those who did not (50%; n = 13). Confidentiality was reported as the principal concern among both groups, at 32% (n = 8) and 69% (n = 18) respectively. Most patients (99%; n = 77) were happy to receive text messages from their GP. The GP focus group identified similar issues and benefits in terms of confidentiality and time management. Data were extracted from the IT systems of five consenting practices and the number of text messages sent during the period from January 2013 to March 2016 was generated. This increased by 40% per annum.

Conclusion

Collaborative efforts are required from relevant policymakers to address data protection and text messaging issues so that GPs can be provided with clear guidelines to protect patient confidentiality.
A systematic study of the controlled generation of crystalline iron oxide nanoparticles on graphene using a chemical etching process
Authors: Krauß Peter , Engstler Jörg , Schneider Jörg J
Published: September 2017

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon precursors employing a metal catalyst is a well-established method for synthesizing high-quality single-layer graphene. Yet the main challenge of the CVD process is the required transfer of a graphene layer from the substrate surface onto a chosen target substrate. This process is delicate and can severely degrade the quality of the transferred graphene. The protective polymer coatings typically used generate residues and contamination on the ultrathin graphene layer. In this work, we have developed a graphene transfer process which works without a coating and allows the transfer of graphene onto arbitrary substrates without the need for any additional post-processing. During the course of our transfer studies, we found that the etching process that is usually employed can lead to contamination of the graphene layer with the Faradaic etchant component FeCl3, resulting in the deposition of iron oxide FexOy nanoparticles on the graphene surface. We systematically analyzed the removal of the copper substrate layer and verified that crystalline iron oxide nanoparticles could be generated in controllable density on the graphene surface when this process is optimized. It was further confirmed that the FexOy particles on graphene are active in the catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes when employing a water-assisted CVD process.
The Law behind the Law:
Rookes
v.
Barnard
[1964], the Common Law and the Right to Strike
Authors: Smith Paul
Published: September 2017

By the 1950s, given the scope of the Trade Disputes Act (TDA) 1906, the courts had little role in industrial relations. Hence the importance of the House of Lords decision in 1964 for Douglas Rookes that Alfred Barnard, John Fistal and Reginald Silverthorne had used unlawful means in threatening to strike to secure Rookes’s removal from the Heathrow design office of the British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC) after his resignation from the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (AESD), because a threat to break a contract of employment came within the tort of intimidation which was unprotected by the TDA’s statutory immunities.
Rookes
illustrated the relevance of Laski’s view that in labour law the common law is ‘a law behind the law’. It was a harbinger of a new judicial activism that outflanked the TDA’s tort immunities by creating novel common law liabilities, and which in turn strengthened calls for statutory restriction and regulation of industrial action.
Influence of Outside Temperature on the Operation of the Adsorption Chiller
Authors: Grzebielec Andrzej , Laskowski Rafał , Ruciński Adam
Published: September 2017

Adsorption refrigeration systems are characterized by a lower coefficient of performance than the compressor type device or even absorption, but can utilize waste heat at lower temperature. The aim of the study was to determine which external parameter has the greatest impact on the efficiency of the adsorption device. As a result of experimental studies there was found that this is not the temperature of the feed but particularly the temperature of external air. For this reason, it is recommended that the adsorption device should cooperate with evaporative spray coolers, instead of with popular dry coolers. This solution will increase annual efficiency of adsorption unit approx. by 25% and significantly reduce the costs of cold generation.
Methods for Improving Energy Performance of Single-family Buildings
in Poland’s Climatic Conditions
Authors: Jędrzejuk Hanna , Jaworski Maciej , Chwieduk Michał
Published: September 2017

The effect of standard means of thermal upgrading of buildings on energy performance indices is studied in the
paper. The following was considered: improving thermal performance of the envelope (walls, roof, floors over unheated cellars
or ground-floor slabs, windows, and doors); using exterior blinds during heating and cooling seasons; using heat recovery
(recuperation) in a forced ventilation system; reducing the ventilation air flow rate; and improving air-tightness of a building.
The calculations were performed for a number of variants. Seven locations in Poland were selected based on outdoor climate
conditions. Various standards of thermal performance of the building envelope, internal heat capacities, and ventilation rates
were applied. Variations in internal heat gains, depending on the presence of occupants (heat gains from occupants and from
lighting) were considered. Due to a dynamic nature of the energy processes that take place in a building, the simplified hourly
method 5R1C was used in calculations. It was verified whether single-family buildings constructed in a way that is typically
found in Poland, i.e. buildings with very high heat capacity and equipped with a forced ventilation system, can meet more
stringent energy performance requirements.
Determining the Ventilation Rate inside an Apartment House on the
Basis of Measured Carbon Dioxide Concentrations – Case Study
Authors: Kapalo Peter , Vilčeková Silvia , Domnita Florin , Bacotiu Ciprian , Voznyak Orest
Published: September 2017

In the construction process of modern residential buildings the aim is to achieve maximum comfort within
minimum energy consumption. One of the ways to achieve this requirement is the accurate determination of the volumetric
air flow rate necessary to ensure the required indoor air quality. The aim of the paper is to present a methodology
for determination the volumetric air flow rate on the basis of the results obtained from experimental measurements
of carbon dioxide concentrations, which were carried out inside an apartment house lived by a standard family.
Based on the measured values, the mass flow rate release of carbon dioxide was calculated. Consequently, the volumetric
air flow rate was calculated in two situations, during the day and during the night. The main goal of the paper is
to determine the required fresh air flow rate in an occupied room, based on carbon dioxide concentration measurement,
in order to maintain a comfortable level of indoor air quality. The calculated air flow rate should optimize a future
investment in ventilation equipment in order to choose the proper air handling unit with low operating costs. The
aim is not only to improve the energy efficiency of the ventilation system, but also to ensure a healthy indoor environment.
Based on the presented research it can be stated that during the sleeping of four family members there is
necessary to ensure the fresh air flow rate of 104 m3 per hour.
The Usage of CO2 Tracer Gas Methods for Ventilation Performance
Evaluation in Apartment Buildings
Authors: Mikola Alo , Kõiv Teet-Andrus , Rehand Juhan , Voll Hendrik
Published: September 2017

The purpose of the study is to investigate the potential of the CO2-based tracer gas methods for the ventilation
performance evaluation in apartment buildings. To test and elaborate the methods, the ventilation air change rate
(ACR) and air change efficiency (ACE) measurements were performed. The methods were tested in laboratory conditions
and apartments with natural ventilation, room-based ventilation units, exhaust ventilation and mechanical exhaust
ventilation with fresh air radiators. Concentration decay method is applied with both artificially and naturally
increasing the concentration of tracer gas. The ACR is also calculated using metabolic constant dosing method with
the effective volume. As the traditional tracer gas methods give the correct result only in case of perfect mixed ventilation,
then the ACE is also measured. To observe the effectiveness of the air change and the level of air mixing multiple
CO2 sensors placed in different positions. The tracer gas measurements were carried out in naturally ventilated
apartments to study the influence of the inner doors to the ACE. The daily variation of CO2 level in case the long-term
CO2 measurements gives us the possibility to calculate the ACR when inhabitants are sleeping or have left the apartment.
Using the CO2 as the natural tracer gas and the concentration decay method together with the metabolic constant
dosing strategy, we can calculate the CO2 concentrations according to the long-term CO2 measurements without
knowing the exact emission of inhabitants. The studied methods are inexpensive and at the same time sufficiently accurate
for airflow measurements. Another reason for the study comes from the ventilation retrofit process in Estonia
where the single room ventilation units are used. As these wall-mounted ventilation units are sensitive to in- and
outside pressure differences the measurement of ventilation airflow in the traditional way can be inaccurate.
Enhancement of Gravity Ventilation in Buildings
Authors: Nakielska Magdalena , Pawłowski Krzysztof
Published: September 2017

Nowadays, people are looking for solutions related to ventilation, cooling or heat demand systems, which
would be energy efficient and, at the same time, would not cause the degradation of the surrounding environment. As
far as ventilation is concerned, an good solution is a natural ventilation, which improves thermal comfort rooms without
increasing the consumption of electrical energy in the building. In order to improve the mode of action of the natural
ventilation in the building, one can mount various elements supporting the air flow. One of them is a solar chimney. In
order to check the correct operation of a gravity ventilation installation in Poland’s climatic conditions, the measurements
was carried out on a test stand on the 3.1 building of UTP University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz.
The received results show the intensification of the air flow through the room the value between 50% and 150%, depending
on a measuring hour (Chen et al. 2003). These research results were compared with the research results received
before the installation of the solar chimney on the ducts of the gravity ventilation.
Analysis of Possibilities to Use Phase Change Materials in Heat Exchangers-Accumulators
Authors: Pakalka Saulius , Valančius Kęstutis , Čiuprinskas Kęstutis , Pum Dominik , Hinteregger Markus
Published: September 2017

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are utilized in different engineering fields, such as thermal storage of building structures, such as domestic hot water, heating and cooling systems, electronic products, drying technology, waste heat recovery, refrigeration and cold storage, and solar cookers. The biggest technological problems for the implementation of low and high temperatures PCM are the insufficient thermal conductivity of the available phase change materials, compatibility with the container material, cycling stability. In order to evaluate efficient and cost effective operation of thermal energy storage, different design concepts for PCM integration into heat exchanger/ accumulator should be investigated.
Oscillations Excited by Plasmoids Formed During Magnetic Reconnection in a Vertical Gravitationally Stratified Current Sheet
Authors: Jelínek P. , Karlický M. , Van Doorsselaere T. , Bárta M.
Published: September 2017

Using the FLASH code, which solves the full set of the 2D non-ideal (resistive) time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, we study processes during the magnetic reconnection in a vertical gravitationally stratified current sheet. We show that during these processes, which correspond to processes in solar flares, plasmoids are formed due to the tearing mode instability of the current sheet. These plasmoids move upward or downward along the vertical current sheet and some of them merge into larger plasmoids. We study the density and temperature structure of these plasmoids and their time evolution in detail. We found that during the merging of two plasmoids, the resulting larger plasmoid starts to oscillate with a period largely determined by

, where L is the size of the plasmoid and c
A is the Alfvén speed in the lateral parts of the plasmoid. In our model,

evaluates to

. Furthermore, the plasmoid moving downward merges with the underlying flare arcade, which causes oscillations of the arcade. In our model, the period of this arcade oscillation is

, which also corresponds to

, but here L means the length of the loop and c
A is the average Alfvén speed in the loop. We also show that the merging process of the plasmoid with the flare arcade is a complex process as presented by complex density and temperature structures of the oscillating arcade. Moreover, all these processes are associated with magnetoacoustic waves produced by the motion and merging of plasmoids.