bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Effect of Removing Bovine Trypanosomiasis in Eastern Africa
Authors: MacLeod Michael , Eory Vera , Wint William , Shaw Alexandra , Gerber Pierre J. , Cecchi Giuliano , Mattioli Raffaele , Sykes Alasdair , Robinson Timothy
Published: May 2018

Increasing the production of meat and milk within sub-Saharan Africa should provide significant food security benefits. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions represent a challenge, as cattle production in the region typically has high emissions intensity (EI), i.e., high rates of GHG emissions per unit of output. The high EI is caused by the relatively low production efficiencies in the region, which are in turn partly due to endemic cattle diseases. In theory, improved disease control should increase the efficiency and decrease the emissions intensity of livestock production; however quantitative analysis of the potential GHG mitigation effects of improved disease control in Africa is lacking. This paper seeks to respond to this by using a hybrid modelling approach to quantify the production and emissions effects of removing trypanosomiasis from East African cattle production systems. The emissions are quantified for each cattle production system using an excel version of GLEAM, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model. The results indicate that removing trypanosomiasis leads to a reduction in the emissions intensity per unit of protein produced of between 0% and 8%, driven mainly by the increases in milk yields and cow fertility rates. Despite the limitations, it is argued that the approach provides considerable scope for modelling the GHG impacts of disease interventions.
A New Group Decision Model Based on Grey-Intuitionistic Fuzzy-ELECTRE and VIKOR for Contractor Assessment Problem
Authors: Hashemi Hassan , Mousavi Seyed Meysam , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Chalekaee Alireza , Turskis Zenonas
Published: May 2018

This study introduces a new decision model with multi-criteria analysis by a group of decision makers (DMs) with intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs). The presented model depends on a new integration of IFSs theory, ELECTRE and VIKOR along with grey relational analysis (GRA). To portray uncertain real-life situations and take account of complex decision problem, multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) model by totally unknown importance are introduced with IF-setting. Hence, a weighting method depended on Entropy and IFSs, is developed to present the weights of DMs and evaluation factors. A new ranking approach is provided for prioritizing the alternatives. To indicate the applicability of the presented new decision model, an industrial application for assessing contractors in the construction industry is given and discussed from the recent literature.
Classification of Economic Regions with Regards to Selected Factors Characterizing the Construction Industry
Authors: Hoła Bożena , Nowobilski Tomasz
Published: May 2018

This article presents the methodology for classifying economic regions with regards to selected factors that characterize a region, such as: the economic structure of the region and share of individual sectors in the economy; employment; the dynamics of the development of individual sectors expressed as an increase or decrease in production value; population density, and the level of occupational safety. Cluster analysis, which is a method of multidimensional statistical analysis available in Statistica software, was used to solve the task. The proposed methodology was used to group Polish voivodeships with regards to the speed of economic development and occupational safety in the construction industry. Data published by the Central Statistical Office was used for this purpose, such as the value of construction and assembly production, the number of people employed in the construction industry, the population of an individual region, and the number of people injured in occupational accidents.
The Effects of an Energy Use Paradigm Shift on Carbon Emissions: A Simulation Study
Authors: Wu Yuzhe , Luo Jiaojiao , Shen Liyin , Skitmore Martin
Published: May 2018

Carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries are closely tied to their economy and play a crucial role in the world’s future emissions. In this paper, we put forward an alternative energy use paradigm shift of low-carbon emissions from operational, governance, institutional, and cultural viewpoints (OGIC). An urbanization factor is introduced into the Kaya identity, and three simulations are conducted to forecast the carbon footprint and to explore the effects of the energy use paradigm shift policy. The simulation results show that, in the context of the energy use paradigm shift, the years 2015 and 2024 are the two inflection points that separate the carbon footprint into three periods of extensive consumption (2000–2015), early energy transition (2016–2023), and late energy transition (2024–2030). Overall, the peak carbon emission value is forecasted to appear during the third stage. The findings are expected to demonstrate the effects of the energy use paradigm shift on carbon emissions and assist policy makers formulate a scientific policy framework for low carbon development.
Coarse Woody Debris as a Land Reclamation Amendment at an Oil Sands Mining Operation in Boreal Alberta, Canada
Authors: Pinno Bradley D. , Das Gupta Sanatan
Published: May 2018

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is an important component of natural forests and is now being used in reclaiming oil sands land to control erosion, enhance diversity, and function as longer term storage of organic matter. However, the impact of woody debris on reclaimed ecosystems may vary depending on the amount applied and the soil it is applied to. We studied the impact on the plant community (including tree regeneration and understory plants) and soil properties of four levels of CWD cover (None, Low, Moderate, High) on two reclamation soils (forest floor-mineral mix and peat-mineral mix) and natural post-fire soils. Significant differences were observed among soil types in terms of the plant community and soil properties but fewer differences were attributable to CWD. However, overall native plant species’ diversity and abundance decreased with High CWD while cover of non-native species on the reclaimed soils greatly decreased with Low CWD. Natural seedling regeneration density of trembling aspen was unaffected by CWD on both reclamation soil types. The soil nutrient supply rates and soil moisture were significantly different among soil types but there were no differences among debris treatments while soil temperature decreased with CWD. Overall, a Low (up to 30% ground cover) woody debris application appears to be optimal for maintaining native plant species diversity and abundance while controlling undesirable plant species.
Toward a Socially Desirable EU Research and Innovation Agenda on Urban Waste: A Transnational EU Citizen Consultation
Authors: Lynch Durwin , Kupper Frank , Broerse Jacqueline
Published: May 2018

Growing waste production has become a global sustainability challenge that is in need of innovative solutions. It has been argued that greater public engagement in science and technology policy could stimulate new directions for innovation and provide orientation for the development of more acceptable, sustainable, and desirable innovations that address societal needs. In 2013, the European Commission (EC) piloted a EU-wide study to engage citizens in setting the research and innovation (R&I) agenda on urban waste. This yielded the question: ‘To what extent are the proposed ideas considered innovative, feasible, and meaningful for the EC R&I agenda?’ This article addresses the outcomes of 100 focus group discussions held in 27 European Union (EU) countries in which 992 citizens were consulted. Citizens discussed a number of (self-experienced) barriers and concerns regarding waste management, and proposed and prioritized over 350 ideas to realize a (near) zero-waste society. Although citizens found it complex to propose innovative and feasible ideas, their priorities were consistent with current EU research policy areas of importance (e.g., reduce packaging, stimulate recycling), and in addition, citizens proposed various new ways to strengthen current waste management (e.g., innovations to enhance convenience in household waste management). We argue that citizen involvement in EC R&I agenda-setting across the EU is feasible, and leads to meaningful input. However, in making sense of this input, it is essential to take contextual differences into account. Various recommendations are given for future agenda-setting activities at the EU level.
Characterizing Drought Effects on Vegetation Productivity in the Four Corners Region of the US Southwest
Authors: EL-Vilaly Mohamed Abd Salam , Didan Kamel , Marsh Stuart E. , Crimmins Michael A. , Munoz Armando Barreto
Published: May 2018

The droughts striking the Colorado Plateau, where the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation Native American reservation lands are located, and their impacts have appeared slowly and relatively unnoticed in conventional national drought monitoring efforts like the National Drought Monitor. To understand the effect of drought-based drivers on vegetation productivity in the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation reservation lands, an assessment approach was developed integrating climate, land cover types, and topographical data with annual geospatially explicit normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)-related productivity from 1989 to 2014 derived from 15-day composite multi-sensor NDVI time series data. We studied vegetation–environment relationships by conducting multiple linear regression analysis to explain the driver of vegetation productivity changes. Our results suggest that the interannual change of vegetation productivity showed high variability in middle elevations where needleleaf forest is the dominant vegetation cover type. Our analysis also shows that the spatial variation in interannual variability of vegetation productivity was more driven by climate drivers than by topography ones. Specifically, the interannual variability in spring precipitation and fall temperature seems to be the most significant factor that correlated with the interannual variability in vegetation productivity during the last two and a half decades.
A Framework for Tracing Social–Ecological Trajectories and Traps in Intensive Agricultural Landscapes
Authors: Uden Daniel R. , Allen Craig R. , Munoz-Arriola Francisco , Ou Gengxin , Shank Nancy
Published: May 2018

Charting trajectories toward sustainable agricultural development is an important goal at the food–energy–water–ecosystem services (FEWES) nexus of agricultural landscapes. Social–ecological adaptation and transformation are two broad strategies for adjusting and resetting the trajectories of productive FEWES nexuses toward sustainable futures. In some cases, financial incentives, technological innovations, and/or subsidies associated with the short-term optimization of a small number of resources create and strengthen unsustainable feedbacks between social and ecological entities at the FEWES nexus. These feedbacks form the basis of rigidity traps, which impede adaptation and transformation by locking FEWES nexuses into unsustainable trajectories characterized by control, stability, and efficiency, but also an inability to adapt to disturbances or changing conditions. To escape and avoid rigidity traps and enable sustainability-focused adaptation and transformation, a foundational understanding of FEWES nexuses and their unique trajectories and traps is required. We present a framework for tracing trajectories and traps at the FEWES nexuses of intensive agricultural landscapes. Framework implementation in a case study reveals feedbacks characteristic of rigidity traps, as well as opportunities for modifying and dissolving them. Such place-based understanding could inform sustainable agricultural development at the FEWES nexus of intensive agricultural landscapes worldwide.
Role of Creative Industries as a Regional Growth Factor
Authors: Correa-Quezada Ronny , Álvarez-García José , Del Río-Rama María de la Cruz , Maldonado-Erazo Claudia Patricia
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of employment in creative industries on the regional and national economic growth of Ecuador. The methodology used is a panel econometric model in which the temporary and structural dimensions considered to meet the proposed objective are addressed. The inputs of a basic production function were considered and the influence of creative employment was estimated as a proxy indicator of the work factor and of tax collections as a proxy of the capital factor on regional production for the years 2009 and 2014. Noteworthy is that in the main findings of this research, the analysis of the correspondence of the variables used and the growth show a significant influence of creative employment on regional production and development. The concentration and heterogeneity of employment indicators in the territory is also significant, with the most favoured regions being the same ones whose participation in national production is significant, where the three most important urban axes of the country are also found, which are the leading territories regarding these indicators. Special situations are shown for the rest of the provinces.
Impacts of Industrial Heterogeneity and Technical Innovation on the Relationship between Environmental Performance and Financial Performance
Authors: Li Ruiqian , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between environmental performance (EP) and financial performance (FP) from the perspective of technical innovation in Chinese industrial sectors. We also consider industrial heterogeneity and take temporal variations of the link into account. We collect the required data from different Chinese statistical yearbooks from 2004 to 2015. We use an aggregated index of environmental pollutants as a proxy for EP and return on assets as a proxy for FP, and we employ research and development expenditure to capture technical innovation. The empirical results indicate that industrial heterogeneity exists and the EP–FP link varies in different industrial groups. There is no evidence that the EP–FP link becomes more positive and more significant over time. Furthermore, the mediation effect of technical innovation and environmental pressures can jointly affect the link. Finally, technical innovation partially mediates the EP–FP link but only in Chinese light-polluting sectors not in heavy-polluting sectors. The mediating role of technical innovation has a great impact on shaping the EP–FP link. When technical innovation partially mediates the focal link, apart from the indirect link, the direct EP–FP link is likely to be positive. If not, the direct EP–FP link is likely to be negative.
A Novel Approach to Multi-Attribute Group Decision-Making with q-Rung Picture Linguistic Information
Authors: Li Li , Zhang Runtong , Wang Jun , Shang Xiaopu , Bai Kaiyuan
Published: May 2018

The proposed q-rung orthopair fuzzy set (q-ROFS) and picture fuzzy set (PIFS) are two powerful tools for depicting fuzziness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a new tool, called q-rung picture linguistic set (q-RPLS) to deal with vagueness and impreciseness in multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM). The proposed q-RPLS takes full advantages of q-ROFS and PIFS and reflects decision-makers’ quantitative and qualitative assessments. To effectively aggregate q-rung picture linguistic information, we extend the classic Heronian mean (HM) to q-RPLSs and propose a family of q-rung picture linguistic Heronian mean operators, such as the q-rung picture linguistic Heronian mean (q-RPLHM) operator, the q-rung picture linguistic weighted Heronian mean (q-RPLWHM) operator, the q-rung picture linguistic geometric Heronian mean (q-RPLGHM) operator, and the q-rung picture linguistic weighted geometric Heronian mean (q-RPLWGHM) operator. The prominent advantage of the proposed operators is that the interrelationship between q-rung picture linguistic numbers (q-RPLNs) can be considered. Further, we put forward a novel approach to MAGDM based on the proposed operators. We also provide a numerical example to demonstrate the validity and superiorities of the proposed method.
On Topological Properties of Symmetric Chemical Structures
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Siddiqui Muhammad Kamran , Naeem Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Azhar
Published: May 2018

The utilizations of graph theory in chemistry and in the study of molecule structures are more than someone’s expectations, and, lately, it has increased exponentially. In molecular graphs, atoms are denoted by vertices and bonds by edges. In this paper, we focus on the molecular graph of (2D) silicon-carbon S i 2 C 3 -I and S i 2 C 3 - I I . Moreover, we have computed topological indices, namely general Randić Zagreb types indices, geometric arithmetic index, atom–bond connectivity index, fourth atom–bond connectivity and fifth geometric arithmetic index of S i 2 C 3 -I and S i 2 C 3 - I I .
Optimum Geometric Transformation and Bipartite Graph-Based Approach to Sweat Pore Matching for Biometric Identification
Authors: Kim Min-jae , Kim Whoi-Yul , Paik Joonki
Published: May 2018

Sweat pores on the human fingertip have meaningful patterns that enable individual identification. Although conventional automatic fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) have mainly employed the minutiae features to match fingerprints, there has been minimal research that uses sweat pores to match fingerprints. Recently, high-resolution optical sensors and pore-based fingerprint systems have become available, which motivates research on pore analysis. However, most existing pore-based AFIS methods use the minutia-ridge information and image pixel distribution, which limit their applications. In this context, this paper presents a stable pore matching algorithm which effectively removes both the minutia-ridge and fingerprint-device dependencies. Experimental results show that the proposed pore matching algorithm is more accurate for general fingerprint images and robust under noisy conditions compared with existing methods. The proposed method can be used to improve the performance of AFIS combined with the conventional minutiae-based methods. Since sweat pores can also be observed using various systems, removing of the fingerprint-device dependency will make the pore-based AFIS useful for wide applications including forensic science, which matches the latent fingerprint to the fingerprint image in databases.
Neutrosophic Weighted Support Vector Machines for the Determination of School Administrators Who Attended an Action Learning Course Based on Their Conflict-Handling Styles
Authors: Turhan Muhammed , Şengür Dönüş , Karabatak Songül , Guo Yanhui , Smarandache Florentin
Published: May 2018

In the recent years, school administrators often come across various problems while teaching, counseling, and promoting and providing other services which engender disagreements and interpersonal conflicts between students, the administrative staff, and others. Action learning is an effective way to train school administrators in order to improve their conflict-handling styles. In this paper, a novel approach is used to determine the effectiveness of training in school administrators who attended an action learning course based on their conflict-handling styles. To this end, a Rahim Organization Conflict Inventory II (ROCI-II) instrument is used that consists of both the demographic information and the conflict-handling styles of the school administrators. The proposed method uses the Neutrosophic Set (NS) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to construct an efficient classification scheme neutrosophic support vector machine (NS-SVM). The neutrosophic c-means (NCM) clustering algorithm is used to determine the neutrosophic memberships and then a weighting parameter is calculated from the neutrosophic memberships. The calculated weight value is then used in SVM as handled in the Fuzzy SVM (FSVM) approach. Various experimental works are carried in a computer environment out to validate the proposed idea. All experimental works are simulated in a MATLAB environment with a five-fold cross-validation technique. The classification performance is measured by accuracy criteria. The prediction experiments are conducted based on two scenarios. In the first one, all statements are used to predict if a school administrator is trained or not after attending an action learning program. In the second scenario, five independent dimensions are used individually to predict if a school administrator is trained or not after attending an action learning program. According to the obtained results, the proposed NS-SVM outperforms for all experimental works.
Is 3-Carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionate (CMPF) a Clinically Relevant Uremic Toxin in Haemodialysis Patients?
Authors: Luce Mathilde , Bouchara Anais , Pastural Myriam , Granjon Samuel , Szelag Jean Christophe , Laville Maurice , Arkouche Walid , Fouque Denis , Soulage Christophe O. , Koppe Laetitia
Published: May 2018

3-Carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionate (CMPF) is a metabolite of furan fatty acid and a marker of fish oil intake. CMPF is described as a protein-bound uremic toxin and interacts with free oxygen radicals, which can induce cell damages. However, the clinical consequences of CMPF accumulation in haemodialysis patients remain poorly documented. The aims of this study are to investigate potential association between CMPF levels and (i) biochemical and nutritional parameters; (ii) cardiovascular events and (iii) mortality. Two hundred and fifty-two patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis were included. Routine clinical biochemistry tests and assay for CMPF by HPLC technique were performed at the inclusion. Body composition parameters were measured using a bioimpedance spectroscopy method. The enrolled patients were prospectively monitored for cardiovascular events and mortality. CMPF level was positively correlated with nutritional parameters and lean mass and is significantly higher in patients without protein-energy wasting. However, the multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that CMPF level was not independently associated with albumin, prealbumin, creatinemia and body mass index. Elevated serum CMPF was not associated with mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. Our results indicate that CMPF is not a relevant uremic toxin in haemodialysis and in contrast could be a marker of healthy diet and omega 3 intakes.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Pseudoscorpion Venom Reveals a Unique Cocktail Dominated by Enzymes and Protease Inhibitors
Authors: Santibáñez-López Carlos E. , Ontano Andrew Z. , Harvey Mark S. , Sharma Prashant P.
Published: May 2018

Transcriptomic and genomic analyses have illuminated the diversity of venoms in three of the four venomous arachnid orders (scorpions, spiders, and ticks). To date, no venom gland transcriptome analysis has been available for pseudoscorpions, the fourth venomous arachnid lineage. To redress this gap, we sequenced an mRNA library generated from the venom glands of the species Synsphyronus apimelus (Garypidae). High-throughput sequencing by the Illumina protocol, followed by de novo assembly, resulted in a total of 238,331 transcripts. From those, we annotated 131 transcripts, which code for putative peptides/proteins with similar sequences to previously reported venom components available from different arachnid species in protein databases. Transcripts putatively coding for enzymes showed the richest diversity, followed by other venom components such as peptidase inhibitors, cysteine-rich peptides, and thyroglobulin 1-like peptides. Only 11 transcripts were found that code for putatively low molecular mass spider toxins. This study constitutes the first report of the diversity of components within pseudoscorpion venom.
Acid Sphingomyelinase Promotes Cellular Internalization of Clostridium perfringens Iota-Toxin
Authors: Nagahama Masahiro , Takehara Masaya , Miyamoto Kazuaki , Ishidoh Kazumi , Kobayashi Keiko
Published: May 2018

Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin is a binary actin-ADP-ribosylating toxin composed of the enzymatic component Ia and receptor binding component Ib. Ib binds to a cell surface receptor, forms Ib oligomer in lipid rafts, and associates with Ia. The Ia-Ib complex then internalizes by endocytosis. Here, we showed that acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) facilitates the cellular uptake of iota-toxin. Inhibitions of ASMase and lysosomal exocytosis by respective blockers depressed cell rounding induced by iota-toxin. The cytotoxicity of the toxin increased in the presence of Ca2+ in extracellular fluids. Ib entered target cells in the presence but not the absence of Ca2+. Ib induced the extracellular release of ASMase in the presence of Ca2+. ASMase siRNA prevented the cell rounding induced by iota-toxin. Furthermore, treatment of the cells with Ib resulted in the production of ceramide in cytoplasmic vesicles. These observations showed that ASMase promotes the internalization of iota-toxin into target cells.
Synergistic Viral Replication of Marek’s Disease Virus and Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup J is Responsible for the Enhanced Pathogenicity in the Superinfection of Chickens
Authors: Zhou Jing , Zhao Guo-Liang , Wang Xiao-Man , Du Xu-Sheng , Su Shuai , Li Chen-Gui , Nair Venugopal , Yao Yong-Xiu , Cheng Zi-Qiang
Published: May 2018

Superinfection of Marek’s disease virus (MDV) and avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) causes lethal neoplasia and death in chickens. However, whether there is synergism between the two viruses in viral replication and pathogenicity has remained elusive. In this study, we found that the superinfection of MDV and ALV-J increased the viral replication of the two viruses in RNA and protein level, and synergistically promoted the expression of IL-10, IL-6, and TGF-β in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Moreover, MDV and ALV-J protein expression in dual-infected cells detected by confocal laser scanning microscope appeared earlier in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and caused more severe cytopathy than single infection, suggesting that synergistically increased MDV and ALV-J viral-protein biosynthesis is responsible for the severe cytopathy. In vivo, compared to the single virus infected chickens, the mortality and tumor formation rates increased significantly in MDV and ALV-J dual-infected chickens. Viral loads of MDV and ALV-J in tissues of dual-infected chickens were significantly higher than those of single-infected chickens. Histopathology observation showed that more severe inflammation and tumor cells metastases were present in dual-infected chickens. In the present study, we concluded that synergistic viral replication of MDV and ALV-J is responsible for the enhanced pathogenicity in superinfection of chickens.
Adaptive Mutations in Influenza A/California/07/2009 Enhance Polymerase Activity and Infectious Virion Production
Authors: Slaine Patrick D. , MacRae Cara , Kleer Mariel , Lamoureux Emily , McAlpine Sarah , Warhuus Michelle , Comeau André M. , McCormick Craig , Hatchette Todd , Khaperskyy Denys A.
Published: May 2018

Mice are not natural hosts for influenza A viruses (IAVs), but they are useful models for studying antiviral immune responses and pathogenesis. Serial passage of IAV in mice invariably causes the emergence of adaptive mutations and increased virulence. Here, we report the adaptation of IAV reference strain A/California/07/2009(H1N1) (also known as CA/07) in outbred Swiss Webster mice. Serial passage led to increased virulence and lung titers, and dissemination of the virus to brains. We adapted a deep-sequencing protocol to identify and enumerate adaptive mutations across all genome segments. Among mutations that emerged during mouse-adaptation, we focused on amino acid substitutions in polymerase subunits: polymerase basic-1 (PB1) T156A and F740L and polymerase acidic (PA) E349G. These mutations were evaluated singly and in combination in minigenome replicon assays, which revealed that PA E349G increased polymerase activity. By selectively engineering three PB1 and PA mutations into the parental CA/07 strain, we demonstrated that these mutations in polymerase subunits decreased the production of defective viral genome segments with internal deletions and dramatically increased the release of infectious virions from mouse cells. Together, these findings increase our understanding of the contribution of polymerase subunits to successful host adaptation.
Following Acute Encephalitis, Semliki Forest Virus is Undetectable in the Brain by Infectivity Assays but Functional Virus RNA Capable of Generating Infectious Virus Persists for Life
Authors: Fragkoudis Rennos , Dixon-Ballany Catherine M. , Zagrajek Adrian K. , Kedzierski Lukasz , Fazakerley John K.
Published: May 2018

Alphaviruses are mosquito-transmitted RNA viruses which generally cause acute disease including mild febrile illness, rash, arthralgia, myalgia and more severely, encephalitis. In the mouse, peripheral infection with Semliki Forest virus (SFV) results in encephalitis. With non-virulent strains, infectious virus is detectable in the brain, by standard infectivity assays, for around ten days. As we have shown previously, in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, infectious virus is detectable for months in the brain. Here we show that in MHC-II-/- mice, with no functional CD4 T-cells, infectious virus is also detectable in the brain for long periods. In contrast, in the brains of CD8-/- mice, virus RNA persists but infectious virus is not detectable. In SCID mice infected with SFV, repeated intraperitoneal administration of anti-SFV immune serum rapidly reduced the titer of infectious virus in the brain to undetectable, however virus RNA persisted. Repeated intraperitoneal passive transfer of immune serum resulted in maintenance of brain virus RNA, with no detectable infectious virus, for several weeks. When passive antibody transfer was stopped, antibody levels declined and infectious virus was again detectable in the brain. In aged immunocompetent mice, previously infected with SFV, immunosuppression of antibody responses many months after initial infection also resulted in renewed ability to detect infectious virus in the brain. In summary, antiviral antibodies control and determine whether infectious virus is detectable in the brain but immune responses cannot clear this infection from the brain. Functional virus RNA capable of generating infectious virus persists and if antibody levels decline, infectious virus is again detectable.
The Occurrence of a Commercial Npro and Erns Double Mutant BVDV-1 Live-Vaccine Strain in Newborn Calves
Authors: Wernike Kerstin , Michelitsch Anna , Aebischer Andrea , Schaarschmidt Uwe , Konrath Andrea , Nieper Hermann , Sehl Julia , Teifke Jens P. , Beer Martin
Published: May 2018

The major source for the spread of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are in-utero infected, immunotolerant, persistently infected (PI) animals since they shed enormous amounts of viruses throughout their lives. During the sequence-based virus typing of diagnostic ear notch samples performed in the context of the obligatory German BVDV eradication program, the commercial Npro and Erns double mutant BVDV-1 live-vaccine strain KE-9 was detected in seven newborn calves; their mothers were immunized in the first trimester of gestation. Six calves either succumbed or were culled immediately, but the one remaining animal was closely monitored for six months. The viral RNA was detected in the skin sample taken in its first and fifth week of life, but the virus could not be isolated. Further skin biopsies that were taken at monthly intervals as well as every serum and urine sample, nasal, oral, and rectal swabs taken weekly tested BVDV negative. However, neutralizing titers against BVDV-1 remained at a consistently high level. To further control for virus shedding, a BVDV antibody and antigen negative calf was co-housed which remained negative throughout the study. The missing viremia, a lack of excretion of infectious virus and negative follow-up skin samples combined with consistently high antibody titers speak against the induction of the classical persistent infection by vaccination with recombinant KE-9 during gestation. We, therefore, suggest that the epidemiological impact of the RNA/antigen positivity for an extended period in the skin is very low. The detection of live-vaccine viruses in skin biopsies mainly represents a diagnostic issue in countries that implemented ear notch-based control programs; and KE9-specific RT-PCRs or sequence analysis can be used to identify these animals and avoid culling measures.
Live-Cell Imaging of Early Steps of Single HIV-1 Infection
Authors: Francis Ashwanth C. , Melikyan Gregory B.
Published: May 2018

Live-cell imaging of single HIV-1 entry offers a unique opportunity to delineate the spatio-temporal regulation of infection. Novel virus labeling and imaging approaches enable the visualization of key steps of HIV-1 entry leading to nuclear import, integration into the host genome, and viral protein expression. Here, we discuss single virus imaging strategies, focusing on live-cell imaging of single virus fusion and productive uncoating that culminates in HIV-1 infection.
Crack Detection through the Change in the Normalized Frequency Shape
Authors: Dahak Mustapha , Touat Noureddine , Benkedjouh Tarak
Published: May 2018

The objective of this work is to use natural frequencies for the localization and quantification of cracks in beams. First, to study the effect of the crack on natural frequencies, a finite element model of Euler–Bernoulli is presented. Concerning the damaged element, the stiffness matrix is calculated by the theory of fracture mechanics, by inverting the flexibility matrix. Then, in order to detect damage, we are going to show that the shape given by the change in the natural frequencies is as function of the damage position only. Thus, the crack is located by the correlation between the shape of the measured frequencies and those obtained by the finite elements, where the position that gives the calculated shape which is the most similar to the measured one, indicates the crack position. After the localization, an inverse method will be applied to quantify the damage. Finally, an experimental application is presented to show the real applicability of the method, in which the crack is introduced by using an Electrical Discharge Machining. The results confirm the applicability of the method for the localization and the quantification of cracks.
Evaluation and Bias Correction of Satellite-Based Rainfall Estimates for Modelling Flash Floods over the Mediterranean region: Application to Karpuz River Basin, Turkey
Authors: Saber Mohamed , Yilmaz Koray K.
Published: May 2018

This study investigates the utility of satellite-based rainfall estimates in simulating flash floods in Karpuz River Basin, Turkey, characterized by limited rain gauge network. Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) product was evaluated with the rain gauge network at daily and monthly time-scales considering seasonality, elevation zones, extreme events and rainfall intensity thresholds. Statistical analysis indicated that GSMaP shows acceptable linear correlation coefficient with rain gauges, however, suffers from significant underestimation bias. Statistical measures exhibited a remarkable deterioration with increasing elevation-following a linear relationship; for example, percent bias was found to increase by a rate of 11.7% with every 400 m interval. A multiplicative bias correction scheme was devised, and Hydrological River Basin Environmental Assessment Model (Hydro-BEAM) was implemented to simulate flash floods driven by the uncorrected/corrected GSMaP data. Analysis of intensity thresholds revealed that appropriate threshold selection is critically important for the bias correction procedure. The hydrological model was calibrated for flash flood events during October–December 2007 and 2012 and validated during October–December, 2009 and 2010. Flash floods simulations were improved by the local bias correction procedure applied to the GSMaP data, but the degree of improvement varied from one period to another. The results of the study indicate that bias factors incorporating multiple variables such as extreme events and elevation variability have the potential to further improve flood simulations.
Assessment of Key Environmental Factors Influencing the Sedimentation and Aggregation Behavior of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environment
Authors: Khan Rizwan , Inam Muhammad Ali , Zam Saba Zam , Park Du Ri , Yeom Ick Tae
Published: May 2018

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are among the most widely used engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in various commercial sectors to achieve both social and economic benefits. The post-use release of these NPs to the environment is inevitable, and may pose threat to the human and eco-system. In the present study, we investigated the influence of single and multiple environmental factors on sedimentation behavior of ZnO NPs. The fractional-factorial method based on Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) L27(313) design matrix was used for systematic investigation on the contribution and significance of multiple factors and their interactions. The result of single-factor showed that the ZnO NPs were unstable at or near pHzpc, with high electrolyte concentration; however, the adsorption of natural organic matter (NOM) i.e., humic acid, salicylic acid, and citric acid reverses the surface charge and enhanced NP stability. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirms the organic capping ligands on the NP surface. Moreover, the matrix result of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that electrolyte concentration and type, and NOM concentration were the most significant factors (p < 0.001) in promoting and influencing aggregation, while the interaction between the factors was also found insignificant. In addition, the result of aggregation kinetics and environmental water samples indicated that the mobility of ENPs may vary substantially in an environment with complex and heterogeneous matrices. This study may contribute to better understanding and prediction of the sedimentation behavior and fate of ZnO NPs in aqueous environments, to facilitate their sustainable use in products and process.
Stream Health Evaluation Using a Combined Approach of Multi-Metric Chemical Pollution and Biological Integrity Models
Authors: Atique Usman , An Kwang-Guk
Published: May 2018

Bouchung Stream is a large tributary of the Geum River watershed that is simultaneously affected by wastewater treatment plant effluents and agricultural activities in the watershed area. The focal subject was to diagnose the chemical and biological health of the temperate stream by using a combined approach of the multi-metric water pollution index (WPI) and the index of biological integrity (IBIKR), using datasets from 2008–2014. Water chemistry analyses indicated seasonal and inter-annual variations mainly linked to the intensity of monsoon rainfall in the watershed, potentially causing the availability of agricultural runoff water. The main events of phosphorus inflow and nitrogen dilutions occurred during July–August. Temporal and spatial heterogeneities were observed and were largely recognizable due to nutrient enrichment and organic matter intensification. Chlorophyll showed weak linear relation to total phosphorus (R2 = 0.17) but no relation to total nitrogen (p > 0.05). Fish compositions analyzed as trophic/tolerance guilds in relation to water chemistry showed visible decline and modifications. Average WPI site scores ranged from 33–23, indicating an excellent upstream to fair downstream water quality status. Correspondingly, IBIKR scores ranged between 38–28 approximating with WPI site classification, as well as both indices showed higher regression relation (R2 = 0.90). Fish guild analyses revealed tolerant and omnivore species dominating the downstream, while sensitive and insectivores depleting in approximation with changing water chemistry and was confirmed by the principal component analysis. In addition, the fish guilds meticulously responded to phosphorus inflows. In conclusion, overall stream health and water chemistry analyses indicated continuous chemical and biological degradation influencing the trophic and tolerance fish guilds. Moreover, the combined application approach of WPI and IBIKR could help in better understanding the chemical and biological mechanisms in rivers and streams.
TWI Computations and Topographic Analysis of Depression-Dominated Surfaces
Authors: Grimm Kendall , Tahmasebi Nasab Mohsen , Chu Xuefeng
Published: May 2018

The topographic wetness index (TWI) has been widely used for determining the potential of each digital elevation model (DEM) grid to develop a saturated condition, which allows for the investigation of topographic control on the hydrologic response of a watershed. Many studies have evaluated TWI, its components, and the impacts of DEM resolution on its computation. However, the majority of the studies are concerned with typical dendritic watersheds, and the effectiveness of TWI computations for depression-dominated areas has been rarely evaluated. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a modified TWI computation procedure for depression-dominated areas, (2) to examine the differences between the new and existing TWI computation procedures using different DEMs, and (3) to assess the impact of DEM resolution on the new TWI procedure. In particular, a bathymetry survey was conducted for a study area in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), and the DEM representing the actual surface topography was created. The statistical analyses of TWI highlighted a two-hump pattern for the depression-dominated surface, whereas a one-hump pattern was observed for the dendritic surface. It was observed that depressional DEM grids accounted for higher values of TWI than other grids. It was demonstrated that a filled DEM led to misleading quantity and distribution of TWI for depression-dominated landscapes. The modified TWI computation procedure proposed in this study can also be applied to other depression-dominated areas.
Simulation of Crop Growth and Water-Saving Irrigation Scenarios for Lettuce: A Monsoon-Climate Case Study in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
Authors: Ket Pinnara , Garré Sarah , Oeurng Chantha , Hok Lyda , Degré Aurore
Published: May 2018

Setting up water-saving irrigation strategies is a major challenge farmers face, in order to adapt to climate change and to improve water-use efficiency in crop productions. Currently, the production of vegetables, such as lettuce, poses a greater challenge in managing effective water irrigation, due to their sensitivity to water shortage. Crop growth models, such as AquaCrop, play an important role in exploring and providing effective irrigation strategies under various environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were (i) to parameterise the AquaCrop model for lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) using data from farmers’ fields in Cambodia, and (ii) to assess the impact of two distinct full and deficit irrigation scenarios in silico, using AquaCrop, under two contrasting soil types in the Cambodian climate. Field observations of biomass and canopy cover during the growing season of 2017 were used to adjust the crop growth parameters of the model. The results confirmed the ability of AquaCrop to correctly simulate lettuce growth. The irrigation scenario analysis suggested that deficit irrigation is a “silver bullet” water saving strategy that can save 20–60% of water compared to full irrigation scenarios in the conditions of this study.
Vehicle Motion Control Issues Using Micro Electric Vehicle “NOVEL”
Authors: Raksincharoensak Pongsathorn , Shino Motoki , Nagai Masao
Published: May 2018

This article describes the scope of vehicle dynamics control application on micro-scale electric vehicle for enhancing its active safety. The use of in-wheel-motor control in various control objectives as active safety devices are stated in the paper. In the first half of the paper, the control systems for enhancing vehicle dynamics are described. The active front steering by using steer-by-wire mechanism for improving vehicle handling and stability is mainly presented. The latter half of the paper presents the control system designed for driving assist system. The lane keeping control with torque distribution strategy is described. The theoretical controller design and experimental validation are shown in the paper
Research and Development Work on Lithium-ion Batteries for Environmental Vehicles
Authors: Shimamura Osamu , Abe Takaaki , Watanabe Kyoichi , Ohsawa Yasuhiko , Horie Hideaki
Published: May 2018

Interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) has risen dramatically on account of environmental and energy concerns. The biggest issues that must be addressed in order to popularize these advanced vehicles are related to the battery.We have been promoting vigorous R&D work on batteries for application to environmental vehicles since the beginning of the 1990s. Attention was focused on lithium-ion batteries early on as a fundamental solution to the critical issue mentioned above. The conclusion was reached that the development of those potentialities to their fullest extent would create completely new forms of value unobtainable with conventional batteries. As a result of extensive theoretical studies and many experimental demonstrations, we successfully showed ahead of others that those potentialities did in fact exist and could be achieved.This paper makes clear the various performance requirements of advanced batteries for EV or HEV application, focusing in particular on the critical aspects of the battery thermal design and construction for system stability. It also explains how the power output of the lithium-ion battery has been substantially improved for application to HEVs.
Improvement of EV Maneuverability and Safety by Dynamic Force Distribution with Disturbance Observer
Authors: He Peng , Hori Yoichi
Published: May 2018

Multi-wheel driven EV is referred to as an over-actuated system in the motion control synthesis process. It is meaningful to use the redundant actuators to maintain the control reliability and thus improve the dynamics of EV. In this paper, a dynamic optimum force distribution method which utilizes redundant motors is discussed. Besides, we also mention a disturbance observer to estimate the tire friction conditions. Incorporated with active yaw moment control, the proposed method is evaluated by the experiments. The results show the proposed method can improve dynamics and keep handling stability of the EV.
The mobilicity PPT Automated Urban Mobility System “See the Future Today”
Authors: Ponsford Alan , Kunur Merih
Published: May 2018

The mobilicity Personalised Public Transport urban transport system has been developed to match the needs for mobility in the large cities of tomorrow. The whole basis of the PPT approach is that the coming decades will require a radically new methods of transport within these urban areas. It is vital that the three greatest problems of congestion, energy use and emissions (both local and global) are addressed in an innovative manner. The new mobilicity PPT system involves some fundamental changes in the use of electric drives, especially with fuel cells.