bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piketty and the Body: On the Relevance of Wealth Inequality to Bioethics
Authors: Reid Lynette
Published: March 2017

In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty argues that markets, absent political intervention, tend toward economic divergence and that this has deleterious consequences for democratic ideals of equal voice and meritocracy. His goal is to foster a public conversation about what a society dominated by wealth—which we already beginning to experience as the twenty-first century begins—would look like if we wish to maintain an egalitarian ethos. His work will contribute to and further motivate several discussions in feminist bioethics, namely, on the funding and organization of care labor, reproductive rights, global health, and commodification.
Combination of Disease Resistance, Drought Tolerance, and Dollar Value among Runner and Virginia-Type Peanut Cultivars in Georgia.
Authors: Branch W. D. , Fletcher S. M.
Published: March 2017

With increasing production cost, southeast U.S. peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growers are continually seeking to lower inputs to enhance economical return and sustainability of their farming operation. Utilization of peanut cultivars with the best combination of disease resistance, drought tolerance, and greatest dollar value return would be beneficial. Fifteen peanut cultivars were evaluated for 5-years (2011–15) and seventeen cultivars were evaluated for 4-years (2012–15) with minimum inputs and without irrigation at two locations in Georgia. Each year, minimum inputs for disease control included only three fungicide sprays at recommended rates on a 28 d schedule beginning 37 d after planting. No insecticide, nematocides, miticides, or irrigation were applied during the growing seasons each year. ‘Georgia-06G', ‘Georgia-12Y', ‘Georgia-13M', ‘Georgia-14N', and Florida-EP ‘113’ had the lowest TSWV and total disease incidence (disease resistance) among the ten runner-type cultivars for both Georgia locations; whereas, ‘Bailey', ‘Georgia-08V', and ‘Georgia-11J' had the least disease incidence among the five virginia-type cultivars. Similarly, Georgia-13M, Georgia-06G, and Georgia-12Y had the greatest gross dollar value return per hectare (drought tolerance) among the runner-types; whereas, Georgia-08V and Georgia-11J had the greatest dollar values per hectare among the virginia-type cultivars at both Georgia locations in this four and five-year study, respectively.
A review of family caregiving intervention trials in oncology
Authors: Ferrell Betty , Wittenberg Elaine
Published: March 2017

This article contains a review of literature published from 2010 to 2016 on family caregiving in oncology. An analysis of 810 citations resulted in 50 randomized trials. These trials describe the need to prepare family caregivers for the complex role they play in cancer care. Several studies have demonstrated improved quality of life for family caregivers and improved emotional support from interventions. Several studies addressed communication and relational intimacy, which are key concerns. An additional focus of these trials was in the area of caregiving tasks and ways to diminish the burden of caregiving and preparedness for this role. Further research is needed in this area given the shift to outpatient care and as family caregivers become the primary providers of care. Future research should include expanding tested models of family caregiver support in clinical practice and in diverse populations. CA Cancer J Clin 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:318–325. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Exergy Analysis of Air-Gap Membrane Distillation Systems for Water Purification Applications
Authors: Woldemariam Daniel , Martin Andrew , Santarelli Massimo
Published: March 2017

Exergy analyses are essential tools for the performance evaluation of water desalination and other separation systems, including those featuring membrane distillation (MD). One of the challenges in the commercialization of MD technologies is its substantial heat demand, especially for large scale applications. Identifying such heat flows in the system plays a crucial role in pinpointing the heat loss and thermal integration potential by the help of exergy analysis. This study presents an exergetic evaluation of air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) systems at a laboratory and pilot scale. A series of experiments were conducted to obtain thermodynamic data for the water streams included in the calculations. Exergy efficiency and destruction for two different types of flat-plate AGMD were analyzed for a range of feed and coolant temperatures. The bench scale AGMD system incorporating condensation plate with more favorable heat conductivity contributed to improved performance parameters including permeate flux, specific heat demand, and exergy efficiency. For both types of AGMD systems, the contributions of the major components involved in exergy destruction were identified. The result suggested that the MD modules caused the highest fraction of destructions followed by re-concentrating tanks.
Measurement of Heat Flow Transmitted through a Stacked-Screen Regenerator of Thermoacoustic Engine
Authors: Hsu Shu , Biwa Tetsushi
Published: March 2017

A stacked-screen regenerator is a key component in a thermoacoustic Stirling engine. Therefore, the choice of suitable mesh screens is important in the engine design. To verify the applicability of four empirical equations used in the field of thermoacoustic engines and Stirling engines, this report describes the measurements of heat flow rates transmitted through the stacked screen regenerator inserted in an experimental setup filled with pressurized Argon gas having mean pressure of 0.45 MPa. Results show that the empirical equations reproduce the measured heat flow rates to a mutually similar degree, although their derivation processes differ. Additionally, results suggest that two effective pore radii would be necessary to account for the viscous and thermal behaviors of the gas oscillating in the stacked-screen regenerators.
Low Temperature Performance Characteristics of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Mortars with Virgin and Aged Soft Binders
Authors: Xiao Feipeng , Li Ruoyu , Zhang Henglong , Amirkhanian Serji
Published: March 2017

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has many advantages and is utilized to improve the high temperature properties of asphalt mixtures. Low temperature cracking is a predominant distress in asphalt pavements containing RAP materials. Thus, the evaluation of fracture resistance for asphalt mixtures containing RAP is of interest. The objective of this research is to explore the low temperature performance characteristics of RAP mortars containing sieved RAP and soft binders at three aged states. The stiffness values and m-values from bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests at three test temperatures of −18 °C, −12 °C and −6 °C were obtained to conduct the minimum low temperature grades. RAP mortar with a higher aged binder content had a higher minimum low temperature regardless of RAP source. In addition, RAP mortars with virgin soft binder had the best low temperature resistance followed by the RAP mortars with rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure-aged vessel (PAV) binders.
Fatigue Life Prediction of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete Based on the Local Stress-Strain Method
Authors: Zheng Mulian , Li Peng , Yang Jiangang , Li Hongyin , Qiu Yangyang , Zhang Zhengliang
Published: March 2017

Previously published studies have proposed fatigue life prediction models for dense graded asphalt pavement based on flexural fatigue test. This study focused on the fatigue life prediction of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) pavement using the local strain-stress method and direct tension fatigue test. First, the direct tension fatigue test at various strain levels was conducted on HMAC prism samples cut from plate specimens. Afterwards, their true stress-strain loop curves were obtained and modified to develop the strain-fatigue life equation. Then the nominal strain of HMAC course determined using finite element method was converted into local strain using the Neuber method. Finally, based on the established fatigue equation and converted local strain, a method to predict the pavement fatigue crack initiation life was proposed and the fatigue life of a typical HMAC overlay pavement which runs a risk of bottom-up cracking was predicted and validated. Results show that the proposed method was able to produce satisfactory crack initiation life.
Differential Degradation and Detoxification of an Aromatic Pollutant by Two Different Peroxidases
Authors: Alneyadi Aysha , Shah Iltaf , AbuQamar Synan , Ashraf Syed
Published: March 2017

Enzymatic degradation of organic pollutants is a new and promising remediation approach. Peroxidases are one of the most commonly used classes of enzymes to degrade organic pollutants. However, it is generally assumed that all peroxidases behave similarly and produce similar degradation products. In this study, we conducted detailed studies of the degradation of a model aromatic pollutant, Sulforhodamine B dye (SRB dye), using two peroxidases—soybean peroxidase (SBP) and chloroperoxidase (CPO). Our results show that these two related enzymes had different optimum conditions (pH, temperature, H2O2 concentration, etc.) for efficiently degrading SRB dye. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography –mass spectrometry analyses confirmed that both SBP and CPO transformed the SRB dye into low molecular weight intermediates. While most of the intermediates produced by the two enzymes were the same, the CPO treatment produced at least one different intermediate. Furthermore, toxicological evaluation using lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds demonstrated that the SBP-based treatment was able to eliminate the phytotoxicity of SRB dye, but the CPO-based treatment did not. Our results show, for the first time, that while both of these related enzymes can be used to efficiently degrade organic pollutants, they have different optimum reaction conditions and may not be equally efficient in detoxification of organic pollutants.
Through the Kinesthetic Lens: Observation of Social Attunement in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Samaritter Rosemarie , Payne Helen
Published: March 2017

This paper will present a movement-informed perspective to social attunement in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Background: Dance movement therapy (DMT) is a psychotherapeutic intervention that is used with participants with ASD in various settings. Regular clinical outcome monitoring in an outpatient setting in the Netherlands had shown positive effects on social attunement capacities in young people with ASD. However, a systematic study of the development of social attunement movement behaviors of participants with ASD throughout a DMT intervention was not yet available. Methods: A series of individual cases of DMT with young people with ASD (mean age 12.2 years.) were analyzed for changes in interpersonal movement behaviors employing video-based retrospective observation. Results: The findings were summarized in an observation scale for interpersonal movement behaviors. This scale was then tested for its applicability for the monitoring of social attunement behaviors throughout therapy. Discussion: A movement-informed perspective may be helpful to inventory changes in social attunement behaviors in participants with ASD. The relevance of a movement-informed perspective for the concept of social attunement in ASD will be discussed.
Sunburn Protection by Sunscreen Sprays at Beach
Authors: Ou-Yang Hao , Rzendzian Richard
Published: March 2017

Background: The efficacy of sunscreen is evaluated by SPF values, which are quantitatively determined in laboratories on the backs of human subjects according to a standardized procedure. However, SPF cannot be directly translated to sunburn protection under real-life situations because actual efficacy depends on various factors related to human behaviors and environmental conditions. This study clinically evaluated the efficacy of two sunscreen sprays (SPF 30 and SPF 70) under natural sunlight exposure on healthy subjects at the beach. Methods: Twenty subjects were divided into two cells for the two sunscreen sprays (SPF 70 and SPF 30) in a single-center, actual usage test. The primary endpoint of the study was sunburn protection on the dorsal arms and the secondary endpoint was protection on the face and neck. Subjects stayed at the beach for 4 h after application of the sunscreens with normal beach activities. Subjects’ behavior at the beach, the amounts of sunscreen applied and reapplied, and environmental conditions were all recorded. Results: There was no significant sunburn for a majority of the subjects in either cell. However, neither sunscreen completely blocked the sunburn, especially the face/neck area. We found that the SPF 70 sunscreen was more effective than the SPF 30 sunscreen. Conclusion: Modern sunscreen sprays, applied liberally, are effective in providing sunburn protection for the body in a beach setting.
Discrepancies between Conventional Multiscale Entropy and Modified Short-Time Multiscale Entropy of Photoplethysmographic Pulse Signals in Middle- and Old- Aged Individuals with or without Diabetes
Authors: Lin Gen-Min , Haryadi Bagus , Yang Chieh-Ming , Chu Shiao-Chiang , Yang Cheng-Chan , Wu Hsien-Tsai
Published: March 2017

Multiscale entropy (MSE) of physiological signals may reflect cardiovascular health in diabetes. The classic MSE (cMSE) algorithm requires more than 750 signals for the calculations. The modified short-time MSE (sMSE) may have inconsistent outcomes compared with the cMSE at large time scales and in a disease status. Therefore, we compared the cMSE of 1500 (cMSE1500) consecutive and 1000 photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse amplitudes with the sMSE of 500 PPG (sMSE500) pulse amplitudes of bilateral fingertips among middle- to old-aged individuals with or without type 2 diabetes. We discovered that cMSE1500 had the smallest value across scale factors 1–10, followed by cMSE1000, and then sMSE500 in both hands. The cMSE1500, cMSE1000 and sMSE500 did not differ at each scale factor in both hands of persons without diabetes and in the dominant hand of those with diabetes. In contrast, the sMSE500 differed at all scales 1–10 in the non-dominant hand with diabetes. In conclusion, autonomic dysfunction, prevalent in the non-dominant hand which had a low local physical activity in the person with diabetes, might be imprecisely evaluated by the sMSE; therefore, using more PPG signal numbers for the cMSE is preferred in such a situation.
Accuracy and Efficiency of Various GMM Inference Techniques in Dynamic Micro Panel Data Models
Authors: Kiviet Jan , Pleus Milan , Poldermans Rutger
Published: March 2017

Studies employing Arellano-Bond and Blundell-Bond generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation for linear dynamic panel data models are growing exponentially in number. However, for researchers it is hard to make a reasoned choice between many different possible implementations of these estimators and associated tests. By simulation, the effects are examined in terms of many options regarding: (i) reducing, extending or modifying the set of instruments; (ii) specifying the weighting matrix in relation to the type of heteroskedasticity; (iii) using (robustified) 1-step or (corrected) 2-step variance estimators; (iv) employing 1-step or 2-step residuals in Sargan-Hansen overall or incremental overidentification restrictions tests. This is all done for models in which some regressors may be either strictly exogenous, predetermined or endogenous. Surprisingly, particular asymptotically optimal and relatively robust weighting matrices are found to be superior in finite samples to ostensibly more appropriate versions. Most of the variants of tests for overidentification and coefficient restrictions show serious deficiencies. The variance of the individual effects is shown to be a major determinant of the poor quality of most asymptotic approximations; therefore, the accurate estimation of this nuisance parameter is investigated. A modification of GMM is found to have some potential when the cross-sectional heteroskedasticity is pronounced and the time-series dimension of the sample is not too small. Finally, all techniques are employed to actual data and lead to insights which differ considerably from those published earlier.
The Risk of Residential Peak Electricity Demand: A Comparison of Five European Countries
Authors: Torriti Jacopo
Published: March 2017

The creation of a Europe-wide electricity market combined with the increased intermittency of supply from renewable sources calls for an investigation into the risk of aggregate peak demand. This paper makes use of a risk model to assess differences in time-use data from residential end-users in five different European electricity markets. Drawing on the Multinational Time-Use Survey database, it assesses risk in relation to the probability of electrical appliance use within households for five European countries. Findings highlight in which countries and for which activities the risk of aggregate peak demand is higher and link smart home solutions (automated load control, dynamic pricing and smart appliances) to different levels of peak demand risk.
Equivalent Electrical Circuits of Thermoelectric Generators under Different Operating Conditions
Authors: Siouane Saima , Jovanović Slaviša , Poure Philippe
Published: March 2017

Energy harvesting has become a promising and alternative solution to conventional energy generation patterns to overcome the problem of supplying autonomous electrical systems. More particularly, thermal energy harvesting technologies have drawn a major interest in both research and industry. Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) can be used in two different operating conditions, under constant temperature gradient or constant heat flow. The commonly used TEG electrical model, based on a voltage source in series with an electrical resistance, shows its limitations especially under constant heat flow conditions. Here, the analytical electrical modeling, taking into consideration the internal and contact thermal resistances of a TEG under constant temperature gradient and constant heat flow conditions, is first given. To give further insight into the electrical behavior of a TEG module in different operating conditions, we propose a new and original way of emulating the above analytical expressions with usual electronics components (voltage source, resistors, diode), whose values are determined with the TEG’s parameters. Note that such a TEG emulation is particularly suited when designing the electronic circuitry commonly associated to the TEG, to realize both Maximum Power Point Tracking and output voltage regulation. First, the proposed equivalent electrical circuits are validated through simulation with a SPICE environment in static operating conditions using only one value of either temperature gradient or heat flow. Then, they are also analyzed in dynamic operating conditions where both temperature gradient and heat flow are considered as time-varying functions.
Using Grass Cuttings from Sports Fields for Anaerobic Digestion and Combustion
Authors: Nitsche Meike , Hensgen Frank , Wachendorf Michael
Published: March 2017

Sports fields provide a recreation space for citizens, but also generate grass biomass, which is cut weekly during the main seasons and therefore could be used in energy generation (combustion or anaerobic digestion). To evaluate the technical suitability of the grass cuttings, silage was produced from four sports fields during one vegetation period and investigated for relevant properties. Potential methane yield was determined with batch tests. Mean methane yield was 291.86 lN·kg−1 VSadded (VS, volatile solid). Neutral detergent fiber concentration was low (44.47% DM, dry matter), yet mineral concentration was high in comparison to grass types cut at a lower frequency. Concentrations of Cl, N, and S, which may lead to unfavorable emissions, fouling, and corrosion during combustion, were too high for an unproblematic combustion process. This was still the case even after applying a mineral-reducing pretreatment, which generates a fiber-rich press cake and a press fluid rich in easy soluble substances. Digestion of the press fluid led to methane yields of 340.10 lN·kg−1 VSadded and the press cake had a higher heating value of 19.61 MJ·kg−1 DM, which is close to that of coniferous wood. It can be concluded that biomass from sports fields could be a suitable co-substrate in bio-energy generation.
Performance Improvement for Two-Stage Single-Phase Grid-Connected Converters Using a Fast DC Bus Control Scheme and a Novel Synchronous Frame Current Controller
Authors: Li Bingzhang , Huang Shenghua , Chen Xi
Published: March 2017

Two-stage single-phase grid-connected converters are widely used in renewable energy applications. Due to the presence of a second harmonic ripple across the DC bus voltage, it is very challenging to design the DC bus voltage control scheme in single-phase grid-connected inverters. The DC bus voltage controller must filter the ripple and balance a tradeoff between low harmonic distortion and high bandwidth. This paper presents a fast DC bus voltage controller, which uses a second order digital finite impulse response (FIR) notch filter in conjunction with input power feedforward scheme to ensure the steady-state and dynamic performance. To gain the input power without extra hardware, a Kalman filter is incorporated to estimate the DC bus input current. At the same time, a modulation compensation strategy is implemented to eliminate the nonlinearity of the grid current control loop, which is caused by the DC bus voltage ripple. Moreover, a novel synchronous frame current controller for single-phase systems is also introduced, and its equivalent model in stationary frame has been derived. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the effective of the proposed control scheme.
Assessment Analysis and Forecasting for Security Early Warning of Energy Consumption Carbon Emissions in Hebei Province, China
Authors: Liang Yi , Niu Dongxiao , Wang Haichao , Chen Hanyu
Published: March 2017

Against the backdrop of increasingly serious global climate change and the development of the low-carbon economy, the coordination between energy consumption carbon emissions (ECCE) and regional population, resources, environment, economy and society has become an important subject. In this paper, the research focuses on the security early warning of ECCE in Hebei Province, China. First, an assessment index system of the security early warning of ECCE is constructed based on the pressure-state-response (P-S-R) model. Then, the variance method and linearity weighted method are used to calculate the security early warning index of ECCE. From the two dimensions of time series and spatial pattern, the security early warning conditions of ECCE are analyzed in depth. Finally, with the assessment analysis of the data from 2000 to 2014, the prediction of the security early warning of carbon emissions from 2015 to 2020 is given, using a back propagation neural network based on a kidney-inspired algorithm (KA-BPNN) model. The results indicate that: (1) from 2000 to 2014, the security comprehensive index of ECCE demonstrates a fluctuating upward trend in general and the trend of the alarm level is “Severe warning”–“Moderate warning”–“Slight warning”; (2) there is a big spatial difference in the security of ECCE, with relatively high-security alarm level in the north while it is relatively low in the other areas; (3) the security index shows the trend of continuing improvement from 2015 to 2020, however the security level will remain in the state of “Semi-secure” for a long time and the corresponding alarm is still in the state of “Slight warning”, reflecting that the situation is still not optimistic.
Neuro-Fuzzy Wavelet Based Adaptive MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Hassan Syed , Li Hui , Kamal Tariq , Arifoğlu Uğur , Mumtaz Sidra , Khan Laiq
Published: March 2017

An intelligent control of photovoltaics is necessary to ensure fast response and high efficiency under different weather conditions. This is often arduous to accomplish using traditional linear controllers, as photovoltaic systems are nonlinear and contain several uncertainties. Based on the analysis of the existing literature of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques, a high performance neuro-fuzzy indirect wavelet-based adaptive MPPT control is developed in this work. The proposed controller combines the reasoning capability of fuzzy logic, the learning capability of neural networks and the localization properties of wavelets. In the proposed system, the Hermite Wavelet-embedded Neural Fuzzy (HWNF)-based gradient estimator is adopted to estimate the gradient term and makes the controller indirect. The performance of the proposed controller is compared with different conventional and intelligent MPPT control techniques. MATLAB results show the superiority over other existing techniques in terms of fast response, power quality and efficiency.
An Improved Multi-Infeed Effective Short-Circuit Ratio for AC/DC Power Systems with Massive Shunt Capacitors Installed
Authors: Liao Shiwu , Yao Wei , Ai Xiaomeng , Wen Jinyu , Liu Qing , Jiang Yanhong , Zhang Jian , Tu Jingzhe
Published: March 2017

The multi-infeed effective short-circuit ratio (MESCR) is widely used in indicating the strength of multi-infeed AC/DC power systems. However, when the widely used MESCR was adopted to evaluate the stability margin of the Eastern China Grid including three infeed ultra-high-voltage DC (UHVDC) and five high-voltage DC transmission lines in 2016, the MESCR result indicated the system was strong enough but in fact occasionally collapses after the N-1 contingency. To determine the reason for this conflict, this paper theoretically analyzes the limitations of the existing MESCR. The theoretical analysis reveals that when a large amount of capacitor compensations are concentratively installed in the system, the conventional MESCR will not be able to reflect the capacitor compensations’ influence on the system stability, and no matter how many capacitors are installed or where the capacitors are installed, the MESCR almost retains the same value; namely, the MESCR is saturated in such systems. To address the saturation problem of conventional MESCR, this paper proposes an improved multi-infeed effective short-circuit ratio (IMESCR) which considers the influences of all capacitor compensations by converting all capacitors installed throughout the system to virtual capacitors at the DC inverter station. Case studies are carried out based on the New England 39-bus system and the Eastern China Grid, respectively. The simulation results verify the theoretical analysis of the MESCR’s limitations in evaluating the stability of power systems with massive capacitors installed, and proves that the proposed IMESCR could accurately indicate the strength of AC/DC power systems. Therefore, the proposed IMESCR provides a new index for evaluating the stability margin of power systems with massive capacitor compensations installed.
A Droop Control Based Three Phase Bidirectional AC-DC Converter for More Electric Aircraft Applications
Authors: Zheng Xiancheng , Gao Fei , Ali Husan , Liu Huamei
Published: March 2017

This paper addresses the design and implementation of a droop controlled three phase bidirectional AC-DC converter for more electric aircraft (MEA) applications. A unified control strategy using a droop characteristic is presented to achieve the bidirectional power flow between the AC and DC source while maintaining a stable DC output voltage. Based on the rigorous control design, the converter is capable of operating over a wide frequency range with a unity power factor. The key findings obtained from the theoretical analysis are confirmed by simulation studies and further validated by a scaled down laboratory prototype. The practical results show good performance of the bidirectional converter and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies.
Climate Impacts on Soil Carbon Processes along an Elevation Gradient in the Tropical Luquillo Experimental Forest
Authors: Chen Dingfang , Yu Mei , González Grizelle , Zou Xiaoming , Gao Qiong
Published: March 2017

Tropical forests play an important role in regulating the global climate and the carbon cycle. With the changing temperature and moisture along the elevation gradient, the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Northeastern Puerto Rico provides a natural approach to understand tropical forest ecosystems under climate change. In this study, we conducted a soil translocation experiment along an elevation gradient with decreasing temperature but increasing moisture to study the impacts of climate change on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil respiration. As the results showed, both soil carbon and the respiration rate were impacted by microclimate changes. The soils translocated from low elevation to high elevation showed an increased respiration rate with decreased SOC content at the end of the experiment, which indicated that the increased soil moisture and altered soil microbes might affect respiration rates. The soils translocated from high elevation to low elevation also showed an increased respiration rate with reduced SOC at the end of the experiment, indicating that increased temperature at low elevation enhanced decomposition rates. Temperature and initial soil source quality impacted soil respiration significantly. With the predicted warming climate in the Caribbean, these tropical soils at high elevations are at risk of releasing sequestered carbon into the atmosphere.
Relationship between Leaf Surface Characteristics and Particle Capturing Capacities of Different Tree Species in Beijing
Authors: Zhang Weikang , Wang Bing , Niu Xiang
Published: March 2017

Leaf surface is a multifunctional interface between a plant and its environment, which affects both ecological and biological processes. Leaf surface topography directly affects microhabitat availability and ability for deposition. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the resuspended particulate matter method were applied to evaluate the adsorptive capacity of the leaf surface. Patterns of particulate‐capturing capacities in different tree species and the effect of leaf surface features on these capacities were explored. Results indicated the following: (1) more total suspended particles (TSP) per unit leaf area were captured by coniferous tree species than by broad‐leaved tree species in a particular order—i.e., Pinus tabuliformis > Pinus bungeana > Salix matsudana > Acer truncatum > Ginkgo biloba > Populus tomentosa; (2) Significant seasonal variation in particulate‐capturing capacities were determined. During the observation period, the broad‐leaved tree species capturing TSP and coarse particulate matter (PM10) clearly exhibited a ∩‐shape pattern— that is, increasing initially and later on decreasing; meanwhile, the ∩‐shape pattern was not clearly shown in P. tabuliformis and P. bungeana. However, no obvious patterns in the absorption of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were found in the tested tree species; (3) The leaf surface topography, as observed by AFM and scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the broad‐leaved tree exhibits a good correlation between micro‐roughness of leaf surfaces and density of particles settling on leaf surfaces over time. However, the main factors affecting the adsorptive capacities of the leaves in coniferous trees are the number of stomata as well as the amount of epicuticular wax and the properties of the cuticle in different seasons.
Designing a Softwarized Network Deployed on a Fleet of Drones for Rural Zone Monitoring
Authors: Rametta Corrado , Schembra Giovanni
Published: March 2017

In the last decade, the differences in the information communication technology (ICT) infrastructures between urban and rural areas have registered a tremendous increase. ICT infrastructures could strongly help rural communities where many operations are time consuming, labor-intensive and expensive due to limited access and large distances to cover. One of the most attractive solutions, which is widely recognized as promising for filling this gap, is the use of drone fleets. In this context, this paper proposes a video monitoring platform as a service (VMPaaS) for wide rural areas not covered by Internet access. The platform is realized with a Software-Defined Network (SDN)/Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)-based flying ad-hoc network (FANET), whose target is providing a flexible and dynamic connectivity backbone, and a set of drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, each transmitting a video stream of a portion of the considered area. After describing the architecture of the proposed platform, service chains to realize the video delivery service are described, and an analytical model is defined to evaluate the computational load of the platform nodes in such a way so as to allow the network orchestrator to decide the backbone drones where running the virtual functions, and the relative resources to be allocated. Numerical analysis is carried out in a case study.
Translating Developmental Origins: Improving the Health of Women and Their Children Using a Sustainable Approach to Behaviour Change
Authors: Barker Mary , Baird Janis , Tinati Tannaze , Vogel Christina , Strömmer Sofia , Rose Taylor , Begum Rufia , Jarman Megan , Davies Jenny , Thompson Sue , Taylor Liz , Inskip Hazel , Cooper Cyrus , Nutbeam Don , Lawrence Wendy
Published: March 2017

Theories of the developmental origins of health and disease imply that optimising the growth and development of babies is an essential route to improving the health of populations. A key factor in the growth of babies is the nutritional status of their mothers. Since women from more disadvantaged backgrounds have poorer quality diets and the worst pregnancy outcomes, they need to be a particular focus. The behavioural sciences have made a substantial contribution to the development of interventions to support dietary changes in disadvantaged women. Translation of such interventions into routine practice is an ideal that is rarely achieved, however. This paper illustrates how re-orientating health and social care services towards an empowerment approach to behaviour change might underpin a new developmental focus to improving long-term health, using learning from a community-based intervention to improve the diets and lifestyles of disadvantaged women. The Southampton Initiative for Health aimed to improve the diets and lifestyles of women of child-bearing age through training health and social care practitioners in skills to support behaviour change. Analysis illustrates the necessary steps in mounting such an intervention: building trust; matching agendas and changing culture. The Southampton Initiative for Health demonstrates that developing sustainable; workable interventions and effective community partnerships; requires commitment beginning long before intervention delivery but is key to the translation of developmental origins research into improvements in human health.
Monitoring of Selected Health Indicators in Children Living in a Copper Mine Development Area in Northwestern Zambia
Authors: Knoblauch Astrid , Divall Mark , Owuor Milka , Archer Colleen , Nduna Kennedy , Ng’uni Harrison , Musunka Gertrude , Pascall Anna , Utzinger Jürg , Winkler Mirko
Published: March 2017

The epidemiology of malaria, anaemia and malnutrition in children is potentially altered in mining development areas. In a copper extraction project in northwestern Zambia, a health impact assessment (HIA) was commissioned to predict, manage and monitor health impacts. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted: at baseline prior to project development (2011) and at four years into development (2015). Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum, anaemia and stunting were assessed in under-five-year-old children, while hookworm infection was assessed in children aged 9–14 years in communities impacted and comparison communities not impacted by the project. P. falciparum prevalence was significantly higher in 2015 compared to 2011 in both impacted and comparison communities (odds ratio (OR) = 2.51 and OR = 6.97, respectively). Stunting was significantly lower in 2015 in impacted communities only (OR = 0.63). Anaemia was slightly lower in 2015 compared to baseline in both impacted and comparison communities. Resettlement due to the project and migration background (i.e., moving into the area within the past five years) were generally associated with better health outcomes in 2015. We conclude that repeated cross-sectional surveys to monitor health in communities impacted by projects should become an integral part of HIA to deepen the understanding of changing patterns of health and support implementation of setting-specific public health measures.
Risk of Suicide and Dysfunctional Patterns of Personality among Bereaved Substance Users
Authors: Masferrer Laura , Caparrós Beatriz
Published: March 2017

Background: Research has shown that suicide is a phenomenon highly present among the drug dependent population. Different studies have demonstrated an upraised level of comorbidity between personality disorders (PD) and substance use disorders (SUD). This study aimed to describe which PDs are more frequent among those patients with a risk of suicide. Methods: The study was based on a consecutive non-probabilistic convenience sample of 196 bereaved patients attended to in a Public Addiction Center in Girona (Spain). Sociodemographic data, as well as suicide and drug related characteristics were recorded. The risk of suicide was assessed with the Spanish version of “Risk of suicide”. Personality disorders were measured with the Spanish version of Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory. Results: The PDs more associated with the presence of risk of suicide were depressive, avoidant, schizotypal and borderline disorders. However, the histrionic, narcissistic and compulsive PDs are inversely associated with risk of suicide even though the narcissistic scale had no statistical correlation. Conclusions: The risk of suicide is a significant factor to take into account related to patients with SUD and especially with the presence of specific PDs. These findings underline the importance of diagnosing and treating rigorously patients with SUD.
Associations among Substance Use, Mental Health Disorders, and Self-Harm in a Prison Population: Examining Group Risk for Suicide Attempt
Authors: Gates Madison , Turney Asher , Ferguson Elizabeth , Walker Veronica , Staples-Horne Michelle
Published: March 2017

Substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders are significant public health issues that co-occur and are associated with high risk for suicide attempts. SUD and mental health disorders are more prevalent among offenders (i.e., prisoners or inmates) than the non-imprisoned population, raising concerns about the risk of self-harm. This cross-sectional study examined the population of a state prison system (10,988 out of 13,079) to identify associations among SUD (alcohol, cannabis, intravenous drugs, narcotics, and tobacco smoking), mental health disorders (anxiety, bipolar, depression, and psychotic disorders), and suicide attempts. The primary aim was to determine which groups (SUD, mental health disorders, and co-occurrences) were strongly association with suicide attempts. Groups with a documented SUD or mental health disorders compared to peers without these issues had 2.0 and 9.2 greater odds, respectively, for attempting suicide, which was significant at p < 0.0001 for both conditions. There were also significant differences within SUD and mental health disorders groups in regard to suicide attempts. Groups with the greatest odds for suicide attempts were offenders with comorbid bipolar comorbid and anxiety, alcohol combined with depression, and cannabis co-occurring with depression. Documentation of suicide attempts during imprisonment indicates awareness, but also suggest a need to continue enhancing screening and evaluating environmental settings.
Exploring Impacts of Taxes and Hospitality Bans on Cigarette Prices and Smoking Prevalence Using a Large Dataset of Cigarette Prices at Stores 2001–2011, USA
Authors: Ballester Lance , Auchincloss Amy , Robinson Lucy , Mayne Stephanie
Published: March 2017

In the USA, little is known about local variation in retail cigarette prices; price variation explained by taxes, bans, and area-level socio-demographics, and whether taxes and hospitality bans have synergistic effects on smoking prevalence. Cigarette prices 2001–2011 from chain supermarkets and drug stores (n = 2973) were linked to state taxes (n = 41), state and county bar/restaurant smoking bans, and census block group socio-demographics. Hierarchical models explored effects of taxes and bans on retail cigarette prices as well as county smoking prevalence (daily, non-daily). There was wide variation in store-level cigarette prices in part due to differences in state excise taxes. Excise taxes were only partially passed onto consumers (after adjustment, $1 tax associated with $0.90 increase in price, p < 0.0001) and the pass-through was slightly higher in areas that had bans but did not differ by area-level socio-demographics. Bans were associated with a slight increase in cigarette price (after adjustment, $0.09 per-pack, p < 0.0001). Taxes and bans were associated with reduction in smoking prevalence and taxes had a stronger association when combined with bans, suggesting a synergistic effect. Given wide variation in store-level prices, and uneven state/county implementation of taxes and bans, more federal policies should be considered.
Enterovirus 71 Neutralizing Antibodies Seroepidemiological Research among Children in Guangzhou, China between 2014 and 2015: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Dingmei , Chen Yan , Chen Xiashi , He Zhenjian , Zhu Xun , Hao Yuantao
Published: March 2017

A hand-foot-mouth disease outbreak occurred in 2014 around Guangdong. The purpose of this study was investigating the status and susceptibility of infectious neutralizing antibodies to enterovirus 71 among children so as to provide scientific evidence for the population immunity level of hand-foot-mouth disease and prepare for enterovirus 71 vaccination implementation. Serum specimens were collected from children in communities from January 2014 to March 2015 in Guangzhou. A total of 197 serum samples from children 1–5 years old were collected for this cross-sectional study via non-probabilistic sampling from the database of Chinese National Science and Technique Major Project. Neutralization activity was measured via micro neutralization test in vitro. The positive rate of enterovirus 71 neutralizing antibodies was 59.4%, whereas the geometric mean titre was 1:12.7. A statistically significant difference in true positive rates was found between different age groups but not between different genders. Being the most susceptible population of hand–foot–mouth disease, children under 3 years of age are more likely to be infected with enterovirus 71, and the immunity of children increases with increasing age. Further cohort studies should be conducted, and measures for prevention and vaccination should be taken.
Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lee Insook , Choi Heeseung , Bang Kyung-Sook , Kim Sungjae , Song MinKyung , Lee Buhyun
Published: March 2017

This study systematically reviewed forest therapy programs designed to decrease the level of depression among adults and assessed the methodological rigor and scientific evidence quality of existing research studies to guide future studies. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The authors independently screened full-text articles from various databases using the following criteria: (1) intervention studies assessing the effects of forest therapy on depressive symptoms in adults aged 18 years and older; (2) studies including at least one control group or condition; (3) peer-reviewed studies; and (4) been published either in English or Korean before July 2016. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network measurement tool was used to assess the risk of bias in each trial. In the final sample, 28 articles (English: 13, Korean: 15) were included in the systematic review. We concluded that forest therapy is an emerging and effective intervention for decreasing adults’ depression levels. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor. Future studies assessing the long-term effect of forest therapy on depression using rigorous study designs are needed.
Influence of Transportation Noise and Noise Sensitivity on Annoyance: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea
Authors: Sung Joo , Lee Jiho , Jeong Kyoung , Lee Soogab , Lee Changmyung , Jo Min-Woo , Sim Chang
Published: March 2017

Environmental noise is known to cause noise annoyance. Since noise annoyance is a subjective indicator, other mediators—such as noise sensitivity—may influence its perception. However, few studies have thus far been conducted on noise annoyance in South Korea that consider noise sensitivity and noise level simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between noise sensitivity or noise level and noise annoyance on a large scale in South Korea. This study estimated the level of noise exposure based on a noise map created in 2014; identified and surveyed 1836 subjects using a questionnaire; and assessed the impact of transportation noise and noise sensitivity on noise annoyance. The result showed that noise exposure level and noise sensitivity simultaneously affect noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity has a relatively larger impact on noise annoyance. In conclusion, when study subjects were exposed to a similar level of noise, the level of noise annoyance differed depending on the noise sensitivity of the individual.
Tracing the Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Events Based on Social Media Data
Authors: Zhou Xiaolu , Xu Chen
Published: March 2017

Social media data provide a great opportunity to investigate event flow in cities. Despite the advantages of social media data in these investigations, the data heterogeneity and big data size pose challenges to researchers seeking to identify useful information about events from the raw data. In addition, few studies have used social media posts to capture how events develop in space and time. This paper demonstrates an efficient approach based on machine learning and geovisualization to identify events and trace the development of these events in real-time. We conducted an empirical study to delineate the temporal and spatial evolution of a natural event (heavy precipitation) and a social event (Pope Francis’ visit to the US) in the New York City—Washington, DC regions. By investigating multiple features of Twitter data (message, author, time, and geographic location information), this paper demonstrates how voluntary local knowledge from tweets can be used to depict city dynamics, discover spatiotemporal characteristics of events, and convey real-time information.