bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Oleic Acid Peanut Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Supplementation Attenuate Metabolic Syndrome in Rats by Modulating the Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhao Zhihao , Shi Aimin , Wang Qiang , Zhou Jinrong
Published: December 2019

Unhealthy dietary patterns are important risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS), which is associated with gut microbiota disorder. High oleic acid peanut oil (HOPO) and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), considered as healthy dietary oil, are rich in oleic acid and bioactive phytochemicals, yet efficacy of MS prevention and mechanisms linking to gut microbiota remain obscure. Herein, we investigated HOPO and EVOO supplementation in attenuating diet-induced MS, and the potential mechanisms focusing on modulation of gut microbiota. Physiological, histological and biochemical parameters and gut microbiota profiles were compared among four groups fed respectively with the following diets for 12 weeks: normal chow diet with ordinary drinking water, high-fat diet with fructose drinking water, HOPO diet with fructose drinking water, and EVOO diet with fructose drinking water. HOPO or EVOO supplementation exhibit significant lower body weight gain, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and reduced liver steatosis. HOPO significantly reduced cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level, while EVOO reduced these levels without significant difference. HOPO and EVOO prevented gut disorder and significantly increased β-diversity and abundance of Bifidobacterium. Moreover, HOPO significantly decreased abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Blautia. These findings suggest that both HOPO and EVOO can attenuate diet-induced MS, associated with modulating gut microbiota.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates and Associated Factors in 13 “Economic Community of West African States” (ECOWAS) Countries
Authors: Agho Kingsley , Ezeh Osita , Ghimire Pramesh , Uchechukwu Osuagwu , Stevens Garry , Tannous Wadad , Fleming Catharine , Ogbo Felix ,   Global Maternal and Child Health Research collaboration (GloMACH)
Published: December 2019

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has important protective effects on child survival and also increases the growth and development of infants. This paper examined EBF rates and associated factors in 13 “Economic Community of West African States” (ECOWAS) countries. A weighted sample of 19,735 infants from the recent Demographic and Health Survey dataset in ECOWAS countries for the period of 2010–2018 was used. Survey logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to determine the factors associated with EBF. In ECOWAS countries, EBF rates for infants 6 months or younger ranged from 13.0% in Côte d’Ivoire to 58.0% in Togo. EBF decreased significantly by 33% as the infant age (in months) increased. Multivariate analyses revealed that mothers with at least primary education, older mothers (35–49 years), and those who lived in rural areas were significantly more likely to engage in EBF. Mothers who made four or more antenatal visits (ANC) were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed their babies compared to those who had no ANC visits. Our study shows that EBF rates are still suboptimal in most ECOWAS countries. EBF policy interventions in ECOWAS countries should target mothers with no schooling and those who do not attend ANC. Higher rates of EBF are likely to decrease the burden of infant morbidity and mortality in ECOWAS countries due to non-exposure to contaminated water or other liquids.
Genetic Engineering for Global Food Security: Photosynthesis and Biofortification
Authors: Simkin Andrew John
Published: December 2019

Increasing demands for food and resources are challenging existing markets, driving a need to continually investigate and establish crop varieties with improved yields and health benefits. By the later part of the century, current estimates indicate that a >50% increase in the yield of most of the important food crops including wheat, rice and barley will be needed to maintain food supplies and improve nutritional quality to tackle what has become known as ‘hidden hunger’. Improving the nutritional quality of crops has become a target for providing the micronutrients required in remote communities where dietary variation is often limited. A number of methods to achieve this have been investigated over recent years, from improving photosynthesis through genetic engineering, to breeding new higher yielding varieties. Recent research has shown that growing plants under elevated [CO2] can lead to an increase in Vitamin C due to changes in gene expression, demonstrating one potential route for plant biofortification. In this review, we discuss the current research being undertaken to improve photosynthesis and biofortify key crops to secure future food supplies and the potential links between improved photosynthesis and nutritional quality.
Study on Micro Interfacial Charge Motion of Polyethylene Nanocomposite Based on Electrostatic Force Microscope
Authors: Han Bai , Chang Jiaxin , Song Wei , Sun Zhi , Yin Chuqi , Lv Penghao , Wang Xuan
Published: December 2019

The interface area of nano-dielectric is generally considered to play an important role in improving dielectric properties, especially in suppressing space charge. In order to study the role of interface area on a microscopic scale, the natural charge and injected charge movement and diffusion on the surface of pure LDPE and SiO2/LDPE nanocomposite were observed and studied by gradual discharge under electrostatic force microscope (EFM). It was detected that the charge in SiO2/LDPE nanocomposite moved towards the interface area and was captured, which indicates that the charge was trapped in the interface area and formed a barrier to the further injection of charge and improving the dielectric performance as a result. Moreover, pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) short-circuited test after charge injection was carried out, and the change of total charge was calculated. The trend of charge decay in the EFM test is also generally consistent with that in PEA short-circuit test and can be used to verify one another. The results revealed the law of charge movement and verified the interface area can inhibit space charge injection in nano-dielectric at the microscale, which provides an experimental reference for relevant theoretical research.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Powder—A Versatile Material for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Gu Hao , AlFayez Fayez , Ahmed Toseef , Bashir Zahir
Published: December 2019

The 3D printing of articles by the effect of a directed laser beam on a plastic powder is a demanding process, and unlike injection molding, very few polymers work well enough with it. Recently, we reported that poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) powder has intrinsically good properties for 3D printing. Basic mechanical properties were shown earlier and it was demonstrated that unfused but heat-exposed PET powder does not degrade quickly allowing good re-use potential. In this work, we conducted a detailed comparison of the mechanical properties of PET and polyamide 12 from different build orientations. PET powders with two different molecular weights were used. With the high molecular weight powder, the processing parameters were optimized, and the printed bars showed little difference between the different orientations, which means there is low anisotropy in mechanical properties of built parts. Based on processing experience of the first powder, the second powder with a lower molecular weight was also very printable and complex parts were made with ease from the initial printing trials; since the process parameters were not optimized then, lower mechanical properties were obtained. While the intrinsic material properties of PET (melting and re-crystallization kinetics) are not the best for injection molding, PET is eminently suitable for powder bed fusion.
Revealing the Influence of the Degumming Process in the Properties of Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles
Authors: Carissimi Guzmán , Lozano-Pérez A. Abel , Montalbán Mercedes G. , Aznar-Cervantes Salvador D. , Cenis José Luis , Víllora Gloria
Published: December 2019

Several studies have stated that the process used for sericin removal, or degumming, from silk cocoons has a strong impact in the silk fibroin integrity and consequently in their mechanical or biochemical properties after processing it into several biomaterials (e.g. fibers, films or scaffolds) but still, there is a lack of information of the impact on the features of silk nanoparticles. In this work, silk cocoons were degummed following four standard methods: autoclaving, short alkaline (Na2CO3) boiling, long alkaline (Na2CO3) boiling and ultrasounds. The resultant silk fibroin fibers were dissolved in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and used for nanoparticle synthesis by rapid desolvation in polar organic solvents. The relative efficiencies of the degumming processes and the integrity of the resulting fibroin fibers obtained were analyzed by mass loss, optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy and SDS-PAGE. Particle sizes and morphology were analyzed by Dynamic Light Scattering and Field Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy. The results showed that the different treatments had a remarkable impact on the integrity of the silk fibroin chains, as confirmed by gel electrophoresis, which can be correlated with particle mean size and size distribution changes. The smallest nanoparticles (156 ± 3 nm) and the most negative Z potential (−30.2 ± 1.8 mV) were obtained with the combination of long treatment (2 h) of boiling in alkaline solution (Na2CO3 0.02 eq/L). The study confirms that parameters of the process, such as composition of the solution and time of the degumming step, must be controlled in order to reach an optimum reproducibility of the nanoparticle production.
CFD Study of Gas Holdup and Frictional Pressure Drop of Vertical Riser Inside IC Reactor
Authors: Wang Sheng , Dong He , Geng Zhongfeng , Dong Xiuqin
Published: December 2019

The internal circulation system in Internal Circulation (IC) reactor plays an important role in increasing volumetric loading rate and promoting the mixing between sludge and wastewater. In order to design the internal circulation system, the flow behaviors of gas-liquid inside vertical riser should be studied in detail. In the present study, the Multiple Flow Regimes model is adopted to capture the phase interface for different flow conditions. The flow patterns, internal circulation flow rate, gas holdup, and frictional pressure drop of vertical riser are investigated. The results show that the bubble flow inside a vertical riser is in a stable flow condition. There exists a maximum value for internal circulation flow rate with the increasing superficial gas velocity. The parameters of Martinelli models for gas holdup and frictional pressure drop are improved based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results. The deviations between the calculated gas holdup and frictional pressure drop by improved model and experimental value are reduced to 14% and 13.2%, respectively. The improved gas holdup and frictional pressure drop model can be used for the optimal design of internal circulation system.
Heat Transfer Enhancement by Coupling of Carbon Nanotubes and SiO2 Nanofluids: A Numerical Approach
Authors: Saba Fitnat , Noor Saima , Ahmed Naveed , Khan Umar , Mohyud-Din Syed Tauseef , Bano Zarqa , M. Sherif El-Sayed , Khan Ilyas
Published: December 2019

This article comprises the study of three-dimensional squeezing flow of (CNT-SiO2/H2O) hybrid nanofluid. The flow is confined inside a rotating channel whose lower wall is stretchable as well as permeable. Heat transfer with viscous dissipation is a main subject of interest. We have analyzed mathematically the benefits of hybridizing SiO 2 -based nanofluid with carbon nanotubes ( CNTs ) nanoparticles. To describe the effective thermal conductivity of the CNTs -based nanofluid, a renovated Hamilton–Crosser model (RHCM) has been employed. This model is an extension of Hamilton and Crosser’s model because it also incorporates the effect of the interfacial layer. For the present flow scenario, the governing equations (after the implementation of similarity transformations) results in a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We have solved that system of ODEs, coupled with suitable boundary conditions (BCs), by implementing a newly proposed modified Hermite wavelet method (MHWM). The credibility of the proposed algorithm has been ensured by comparing the procured results with the result obtained by the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg solution. Moreover, graphical assistance has also been provided to inspect the significance of various embedded parameters on the temperature and velocity profile. The expression for the local Nusselt number and the skin friction coefficient were also derived, and their influential behavior has been briefly discussed.
Trajectory Optimization of a Redundant Serial Robot Using Cartesian via Points and Kinematic Decoupling
Authors: Bottin Matteo , Rosati Giulio
Published: December 2019

Moving from a given position to another with an industrial robot can be a challenging problem when the task is redundant around the tool axis. In this case, there are infinite ways of choosing both the starting and the ending configurations, so that the movement between the given points is not uniquely defined. In this paper, an algorithm that calculates the suboptimal movement between two positions is proposed, which automatically generates a cloud of safe via points around the workpiece and then by exploiting such points finds the suboptimal safe path between the two positions that minimizes movement time. The proposed method, in which the search of the suboptimal path is based on graph theory and the Dijkstra algorithm, can iteratively evaluate a high number of starting and ending configurations in low computational time, allowing performing a reasonably wide search of the suboptimal path within the infinite possible motions between the given points.
Correction: Hu, J., et al. Hyperspectral Image Super-Resolution by Deep Spatial-Spectral Exploitation. Remote Sensing 2019, 11, 1229
Authors: Hu Jing , Zhao Minghua , Li Yunsong
Published: December 2019

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
A Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation-Based Approach for Field-Level Sorghum Panicle Counting
Authors: Malambo Lonesome , Popescu Sorin , Ku Nian-Wei , Rooney William , Zhou Tan , Moore Samuel
Published: December 2019

Small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have emerged as high-throughput platforms for the collection of high-resolution image data over large crop fields to support precision agriculture and plant breeding research. At the same time, the improved efficiency in image capture is leading to massive datasets, which pose analysis challenges in providing needed phenotypic data. To complement these high-throughput platforms, there is an increasing need in crop improvement to develop robust image analysis methods to analyze large amount of image data. Analysis approaches based on deep learning models are currently the most promising and show unparalleled performance in analyzing large image datasets. This study developed and applied an image analysis approach based on a SegNet deep learning semantic segmentation model to estimate sorghum panicles counts, which are critical phenotypic data in sorghum crop improvement, from UAS images over selected sorghum experimental plots. The SegNet model was trained to semantically segment UAS images into sorghum panicles, foliage and the exposed ground using 462, 250 × 250 labeled images, which was then applied to field orthomosaic to generate a field-level semantic segmentation. Individual panicle locations were obtained after post-processing the segmentation output to remove small objects and split merged panicles. A comparison between model panicle count estimates and manually digitized panicle locations in 60 randomly selected plots showed an overall detection accuracy of 94%. A per-plot panicle count comparison also showed high agreement between estimated and reference panicle counts (Spearman correlation ρ = 0.88, mean bias = 0.65). Misclassifications of panicles during the semantic segmentation step and mosaicking errors in the field orthomosaic contributed mainly to panicle detection errors. Overall, the approach based on deep learning semantic segmentation showed good promise and with a larger labeled dataset and extensive hyper-parameter tuning, should provide even more robust and effective characterization of sorghum panicle counts.
A Weighted SVM-Based Approach to Tree Species Classification at Individual Tree Crown Level Using LiDAR Data
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Minh , Demir Begüm , Dalponte Michele
Published: December 2019

Tree species classification at individual tree crowns (ITCs) level, using remote-sensing data, requires the availability of a sufficient number of reliable reference samples (i.e., training samples) to be used in the learning phase of the classifier. The classification performance of the tree species is mainly affected by two main issues: (i) an imbalanced distribution of the tree species classes, and (ii) the presence of unreliable samples due to field collection errors, coordinate misalignments, and ITCs delineation errors. To address these problems, in this paper, we present a weighted Support Vector Machine (wSVM)-based approach for the detection of tree species at ITC level. The proposed approach initially extracts (i) different weights associated to different classes of tree species, to mitigate the effect of the imbalanced distribution of the classes; and (ii) different weights associated to different training samples according to their importance for the classification problem, to reduce the effect of unreliable samples. Then, in order to exploit different weights in the learning phase of the classifier a wSVM algorithm is used. The features to characterize the tree species at ITC level are extracted from both the elevation and intensity of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Experimental results obtained on two study areas located in the Italian Alps show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The Effectiveness of Promotional Cues for Organic Products in the German Retail Market
Authors: Aigner Andreas , Wilken Robert , Geisendorf Sylvie
Published: December 2019

The market for organic products is constantly growing, but successfully promoting them remains a controversial issue. Marketing research shows that organic products such as fruits and vegetables cannot be advertised effectively via monetary promotions (e.g., discounts); however, how promotional effectiveness is affected by other promotional actions (e.g., offering premiums instead of discounts) or the product type promoted (e.g., promoting hedonic products such as organic ice cream instead of utilitarian products) has not been empirically investigated to date. Through a study conducted with 487 German participants, we demonstrate that monetary promotion is less effective for organic than for conventional products. In contrast, non-monetary promotion (via offering increased content) enhances promotional effectiveness more for organic than for conventional products. Increased heuristic processing can explain these findings, as consumers focus more on the heuristic cues offered by non-monetary promotion when confronted with organic, and in particular hedonic organic, products.
Renovation Strategies for Multi-Residential Buildings from the Record Years in Sweden—Profit-Driven or Socioeconomically Responsible?
Authors: Mjörnell Kristina , Femenías Paula , Annadotter Kerstin
Published: December 2019

An important part of the multi-family housing stock in Sweden was built during the record years 1961–1975 and is in need of extensive renovation to be modernized. The stock is also at the center of political discussion of how to sustain ‘good housing for all’, especially in the rental sector. These renovation needs coincide with present energy targets and provides an opportunity to combine renovation with energy efficiency measures. Common for many of these buildings are that neglected maintenance has led to technical shortcomings, such as high energy use and low thermal comfort due to bad insulation, unsatisfactory air tightness and leaky windows, inefficient heating systems and insufficient ventilation, and moisture damage due to leaking building envelope and leaking pipes. However, the people living in these buildings are not willing to or cannot afford to pay the higher rents that extensive renovations would entail. Earlier research has highlighted the broader societal problem of energy renovations, but also that of housing companies’ priority of measures with short payback times, and those that give the possibility to raise rents. However, recent observations indicated a tendency towards more holistic approaches to housing renovation, and this study was initiated to investigate how public and private housing companies deal with renovation levels, rent increases and related social problems. The main conclusions are that sustainability and social responsibility are moving up on agendas in the public sector, but also, apparently, in the renovations strategies among the private companies. What is also seen is a trend moving from extensive total renovations to more tenant-adapted and step-by-step renovations. Renovation options which do not entail such large rent increases are increasingly being seen. Implications are that housing owners favor gentle renovation with reasonable rent increases of 10%–20%, which at the same time, may be a drawback for reaching energy efficiency targets.
Consumer’s Waste Classification Intention in China: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model
Authors: Tian Min , Pu Bo , Chen Yini , Zhu Zhian
Published: December 2019

Although there have been a variety of studies on waste classification management, there are few studies on how governments can effectively publicize waste classification knowledge in order to enhance citizen participation. Government publicity may be the key to the effective implementation of waste classification management in China. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of government publicity, consumer attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and consumer knowledge on consumers’ willingness to classify waste in the process of waste management in China. The methodology used for the study included data collected from a survey conducted among citizens from four cities in China, the extended theory of planned behavior model and a moderating effect analyses using the statistical software Amos17.0 and SPSS 22.0, utilizing structural equation modeling, hierarchical regression, and the interpretation of the results. The results show that government publicity has a significant positive impact on consumer attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The positive effect of consumer attitudes and perceived behavioral control on waste classification intentions are significant. Consumer knowledge plays a significant role in moderating the effect of perceived behavioral control on waste classification intentions. The findings of this study are of great significance to government and public decision-making. The results strongly suggest that the government should vigorously publicize the knowledge of waste classification at the initial stage of implementation of waste classification. Furthermore, a detailed distinction between types of consumers and the role of personal values in the implementation of waste classification is considered as a direction of future research.
Sustainable Product Lifecycle: The Role of ICT
Authors: Galati Francesco , Bigliardi Barbara , Petroni Alberto , Pinna Claudia , Rossi Monica , Terzi Sergio
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we introduce the themes addressed and the approaches used in the Special Issue entitled “Sustainable Product Lifecycle: The Role of ICT”. Specifically, by offering multiple perspectives of analysis, this work increases our comprehension and understanding of the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in enhancing sustainable product lifecycle.
A Methodology for a Performance Information Model to Support Facility Management
Authors: Marmo Rossella , Nicolella Maurizio , Polverino Francesco , Tibaut Andrej
Published: December 2019

Current facility management practice relies on different systems which require new technologies to integrate and manage information more easily. Building information modeling offers a good opportunity to improve facility information management by providing a unified platform for various data sources rather than an intuitive information interface. Although current research trends reveal that there is a continuously growing interest in facility management aided by building information modeling, an integrated model is still hard to obtain. This paper aims at developing a novel methodology based on building information modeling and facility management systems integration, underpinned by a performance information model. The implementation process of a performance information model is described, including information technologies involved, the data and process requirements, and the building performance assessment methods used. A first pilot case-study has been conducted with regards to surgery rooms in healthcare buildings. The proposal can support condition-based maintenance work schedule, as well as the achievement of organizational, environmental, and technical requirements. Among the practical implications found: Improved technological and environmental performances assessment; better visualization of building condition; improved decision-making process; facilitated maintenance tasks planning and maintenance records management.
Factors Affecting the Choice of Urban Freight Vehicles: Issues Related to Brazilian Companies
Authors: Oliveira Leise Kelli de , Bertoncini Bruno Vieira , Nascimento Carla de Oliveira Leite , Rocha Lara Braide , Batista Larissa Almeida Matias de Lima , Cellin Leonardo Ventorim
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we present the attributes that influence the choice of an urban freight vehicle by using a systematic literature review and a survey conducted with logistics operators that perform urban deliveries in some of the biggest cities in Brazil. The results obtained facilitate the analysis and determination of the main attributes of vehicle selection in some cities of Brazil. Descriptive statistics are used to describe the characteristics of the companies, and a principal component analysis identifies the dependent variables, in order to evaluate the importance of each attribute. Also, an ordered logistic regression model is used to identify if the characteristics of the companies influence the choice of an urban freight vehicle. The results of this analysis indirectly indicate the dependence of the decision-making process on the logistics policies implemented in a given city. These attributes agree with those in the literature review. These results, despite of being evident, are different from the present selection criteria, which depend on local city policies.
Co-Designing a Citizen Science Program for Malaria Control in Rwanda
Authors: Asingizwe Domina , Milumbu Murindahabi Marilyn , Koenraadt Constantianus J.M. , Poortvliet P. Marijn , van Vliet Arnold J.H. , Ingabire Chantal M. , Hakizimana Emmanuel , Mutesa Leon , Takken Willem , Leeuwis Cees
Published: December 2019

Good health and human wellbeing is one of the sustainable development goals. To achieve this goal, many efforts are required to control infectious diseases including malaria which remains a major public health concern in Rwanda. Surveillance of mosquitoes is critical to control the disease, but surveillance rarely includes the participation of citizens. A citizen science approach (CSA) has been applied for mosquito surveillance in developed countries, but it is unknown whether it is feasible in rural African contexts. In this paper, the technical and social components of such a program are described. Participatory design workshops were conducted in Ruhuha, Rwanda. Community members can decide on the technical tools for collecting and reporting mosquito species, mosquito nuisance, and confirmed malaria cases. Community members set up a social structure to gather observations by nominating representatives to collect the reports and send them to the researchers. These results demonstrate that co-designing a citizen science program (CSP) with citizens allows for decision on what to use in reporting observations. The decisions that the citizens took demonstrated that they have context-specific knowledge and skills, and showed that implementing a CSP in a rural area is feasible.
Intelligent Prediction of Minimum Miscibility Pressure (MMP) During CO2 Flooding Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques
Authors: Hassan Amjed , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez
Published: December 2019

Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection is one of the most effective methods for improving hydrocarbon recovery. The minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) has a great effect on the performance of CO2 flooding. Several methods are used to determine the MMP, including slim tube tests, analytical models and empirical correlations. However, the experimental measurements are costly and time-consuming, and the mathematical models might lead to significant estimation errors. This paper presents a new approach for determining the MMP during CO2 flooding using artificial intelligent (AI) methods. In this work, reliable models are developed for calculating the minimum miscibility pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2-MMP). Actual field data were collected; 105 case studies of CO2 flooding in anisotropic and heterogeneous reservoirs were used to build and evaluate the developed models. The CO2-MMP is determined based on the hydrocarbon compositions, reservoir conditions and the volume of injected CO2. An artificial neural network, radial basis function, generalized neural network and fuzzy logic system were used to predict the CO2-MMP. The models’ reliability was compared with common determination methods; the developed models outperform the current CO2-MMP methods. The presented models showed a very acceptable performance: the absolute error was 6.6% and the correlation coefficient was 0.98. The developed models can minimize the time and cost of determining the CO2-MMP. Ultimately, this work will improve the design of CO2 flooding operations by providing a reliable value for the CO2-MMP.
What Affects Participation in the Farmland Rental Market in Rural China? Evidence from CHARLS
Authors: Wang Yahui
Published: December 2019

Land fragmentation and the small size of land parcels are still the major bottlenecks for agriculture sustainable development in rural China, and an efficient land rental market could consolidate land plots and realize agricultural management at a moderate scale. However, transaction cost is still the main obstacle of land transfer. It is, therefore, essential to reduce the excessive transaction costs in the process of transfer; the primary task is to identify the roots of transaction costs. In order to accurately identify the sources of transaction costs, a generalized ordered Logit model with thresholds that allowed transaction costs to affect different directions of land transfer was developed using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey in 2015. The results suggested that the roots of transaction costs presented significant differences regarding the supply and demand of cropland. For the supply of land, the land titling program, land transfer intermediaries, and well-planned roads were the three most important factors that reduced transaction costs. For the demand of land, the three critical measures for reducing the transaction costs were well-planned roads, land consolidation, and the land titling program. The government should continue to push forward the land titling program and land consolidation projects in rural China, especially in hilly and mountainous areas. The infrastructure that greatly restricted agricultural development should be improved at a moderate level and the system of land circulating intermediary services at the township level should be established.
A Systems Thinking Model to Support Long-Term Bearability of the Healthcare System: The Case of the Province of Quebec
Authors: Lagarda-Leyva Ernesto A. , Ruiz Angel
Published: December 2019

This paper describes the modeling efforts devoted by the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Québec, Canada (MSSS), to ensure the long-term bearability of their care system. To this end, it studies the relationships between four entities that self-regulate and interact to form the complex care-providing system: (1) universities; (2) hospitals and doctors; (3) the ministry; and (4) society. The first phase of this research focuses on modeling such relationships and relies on the system dynamics methodology to adequately capture the long-term dynamics of the system. The methodology encompasses three phases: (a) determination of the critical variables and parameters of each entity; (b) development of the causal diagram of each entity; and (c) integration of the individual causal diagrams to form the global system diagram. The final casual model illustrates and explains the relationships between all the entities and constitutes an excellent tool to support experts during discussions or focus groups where critical variables that positively or negatively affect the system can be evaluated. We intend to enrich this casual model in a further phase of the project, which will hopefully lead to a simulation and scenario analysis tool that can be used to support managers in their long-term decision-making process.
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Outdoor Recreation
Authors: O’Toole Daniel , Brandt Leslie A. , Janowiak Maria K. , Schmitt Kristen M. , Shannon P. Danielle , Leopold Patricia R. , Handler Stephen D. , Ontl Todd A. , Swanston Christopher W.
Published: December 2019

Climate change will alter opportunities and demand for outdoor recreation through altered winter weather conditions and season length, climate-driven changes in user preferences, and damage to recreational infrastructure, among other factors. To ensure that outdoor recreation remains sustainable in the face of these challenges, natural resource managers may need to adapt their recreation management. One of the major challenges of adapting recreation to climate change is translating broad concepts into specific, tangible actions. Using a combination of in-depth interviews of recreational managers and a review of peer-reviewed literature and government reports, we developed a synthesis of impacts, strategies, and approaches, and a tiered structure that organizes this information. Six broad climate adaptation strategies and 25 more specific approaches were identified and organized into a “recreation menu”. The recreation menu was tested with two national forests in the US in multi-day workshops designed to integrate these concepts into real-world projects that were at the beginning stages of the planning process. We found that the recreation menu was broad yet specific enough to be applied to recreation-focused projects with different objectives and climate change impacts. These strategies and approaches serve as stepping stones to enable natural resource and recreation managers to translate broad concepts into targeted and prescriptive actions for implementing adaptation.
Population Distributions of Age Groups and Their Influencing Factors Based on Mobile Phone Location Data: A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Wenlai , Pei Tao , Chen Jie , Song Ci , Wang Xi , Shu Hua , Ma Ting , Du Yunyan
Published: December 2019

The fine-grained population distributions of different age groups are crucial for urban planning applications. With the development of information and communication technology (ICT), detailed population data retrieved from various big data sources, especially on a fine scale, have been extensively used for urban planning. However, studies estimating the detailed population distributions of different age groups are still lacking. This study constructs a framework to generate fine-grained population data for different age groups and explores the influence of various factors on the distributions of different age groups. The population is divided into the following four age groups: (1) early adulthood people: 18 ≤ age ≤ 24, (2) young people: 25 ≤ age ≤ 39, (3) middle-aged people: 40 ≤ age ≤ 59, and (4) elderly people: 60 ≤ age. The results indicate that education and accommodation factors have a major influence on the distributions of early adulthood and elderly people, respectively. Business, restaurant, and accommodation factors are the main factors influencing the population distributions of young and middle-aged people. The accommodation factor plays a major controlling role at night, and its explanatory power gradually decreases during the day, while the explanatory powers of the business and restaurant factors increase and become leading factors during the day. Specifically, the hospital factor has a greater effect on the distribution of elderly people. The entertainment factor has very little explanatory power for the population distributions of the different age groups.
Performance of Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines for Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping: A Case Study of the 12 September 2016 ML5.8 Gyeongju Earthquake, South Korea
Authors: Han Jihye , Park Soyoung , Kim Seongheon , Son Sanghun , Lee Seonghyeok , Kim Jinsoo
Published: December 2019

In this study, we performed seismic vulnerability assessment and mapping of the ML5.8 Gyeongju Earthquake in Gyeongju, South Korea, as a case study. We applied logistic regression (LR) and four kernel models based on the support vector machine (SVM) learning method to derive suitable models for assessing seismic vulnerabilities; the results of each model were then mapped and evaluated. Dependent variables were quantified using buildings damaged in the 9.12 Gyeongju Earthquake, and independent variables were constructed and used as spatial databases by selecting 15 sub-indicators related to earthquakes. Success and prediction rates were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The success rates of the models (LR, SVM models based on linear, polynomial, radial basis function, and sigmoid kernels) were 0.652, 0.649, 0.842, 0.998, and 0.630, respectively, and the prediction rates were 0.714, 0.651, 0.804, 0.919, and 0.629, respectively. Among the five models, RBF-SVM showed the highest performance. Seismic vulnerability maps were created for each of the five models and were graded as safe, low, moderate, high, or very high. Finally, we examined the distribution of building classes among the 23 administrative districts of Gyeongju. The common vulnerable regions among all five maps were Jungbu-dong and Hwangnam-dong, and the common safe region among all five maps was Gangdong-myeon.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Malawian Farmers on Pre- and Post-Harvest Crop Management to Mitigate Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut, Maize and Sorghum—Implication for Behavioral Change
Authors: Anitha Seetha , Tsusaka Takuji , Njoroge Samuel , Kumwenda Nelson , Kachulu Lizzie , Maruwo Joseph , Machinjiri Norah , Botha Rosemary , Msere Harry , Masumba Juma , Tavares Angela , Heinrich Geoffrey , Siambi Moses , Okori Patrick
Published: December 2019

A knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study was conducted in three districts of Malawi to test whether the training had resulted in increased knowledge and adoption of recommended pre- and post-harvest crop management practices, and their contribution to reducing aflatoxin contamination in groundnut, maize and sorghum. The study was conducted with 900 farmers at the baseline and 624 farmers at the end-line, while 726 and 696 harvested crop samples were collected for aflatoxin testing at the baseline and end-line, respectively. Results show that the knowledge and practice of pre- and post-harvest crop management for mitigating aflatoxin were inadequate among the farmers at the baseline but somewhat improved after the training as shown at the end-line. As a result, despite unfavorable weather, the mean aflatoxin contamination level in their grain samples decreased from 83.6 to 55.8 ppb (p < 0.001). However, it was also noted that increased knowledge did not significantly change farmers’ attitude toward not consuming grade-outs because of economic incentive incompatibility, leaving potential for improving the practices further. This existing gap in the adoption of aflatoxin mitigation practices calls for approaches that take into account farmers’ needs and incentives to attain sustainable behavioral change.
Camelids and Cattle Are Dead-End Hosts for Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants Virus
Authors: Schulz Claudia , Fast Christine , Wernery Ulrich , Kinne Jörg , Joseph Sunitha , Schlottau Kore , Jenckel Maria , Höper Dirk , Patteril Nissy Annie Georgy , Syriac Ginu , Hoffmann Bernd , Beer Martin
Published: December 2019

Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a severe respiratory disease in small ruminants. The possible impact of different atypical host species in the spread and planed worldwide eradication of PPRV remains to be clarified. Recent transmission trials with the virulent PPRV lineage IV (LIV)-strain Kurdistan/2011 revealed that pigs and wild boar are possible sources of PPRV-infection. We therefore investigated the role of cattle, llamas, alpacas, and dromedary camels in transmission trials using the Kurdistan/2011 strain for intranasal infection and integrated a literature review for a proper evaluation of their host traits and role in PPRV-transmission. Cattle and camelids developed no clinical signs, no viremia, shed no or only low PPRV-RNA loads in swab samples and did not transmit any PPRV to the contact animals. The distribution of PPRV-RNA or antigen in lymphoid organs was similar in cattle and camelids although generally lower compared to suids and small ruminants. In the typical small ruminant hosts, the tissue tropism, pathogenesis and disease expression after PPRV-infection is associated with infection of immune and epithelial cells via SLAM and nectin-4 receptors, respectively. We therefore suggest a different pathogenesis in cattle and camelids and both as dead-end hosts for PPRV.
A Novel Genus of Actinobacterial Tectiviridae
Authors: Caruso Steven M. , deCarvalho Tagide N. , Huynh Anthony , Morcos George , Kuo Nansen , Parsa Shabnam , Erill Ivan
Published: December 2019

Streptomyces phages WheeHeim and Forthebois are two novel members of the Tectiviridae family. These phages were isolated on cultures of the plant pathogen Streptomyces scabiei, known for its worldwide economic impact on potato crops. Transmission electron microscopy showed viral particles with double-layered icosahedral capsids, and frequent instances of protruding nanotubes harboring a collar-like structure. Mass-spectrometry confirmed the presence of lipids in the virion, and serial purification of colonies from turbid plaques and immunity testing revealed that both phages are temperate. Streptomyces phages WheeHeim and Forthebois have linear dsDNA chromosomes (18,266 bp and 18,251 bp long, respectively) with the characteristic two-segment architecture of the Tectiviridae. Both genomes encode homologs of the canonical tectiviral proteins (major capsid protein, packaging ATPase and DNA polymerase), as well as PRD1-type virion-associated transglycosylase and membrane DNA delivery proteins. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses firmly establish that these two phages, together with Rhodococcus phage Toil, form a new genus within the Tectiviridae, which we have tentatively named Deltatectivirus. The identification of a cohesive clade of Actinobacteria-infecting tectiviruses with conserved genome structure but with scant sequence similarity to members of other tectiviral genera confirms that the Tectiviridae are an ancient lineage infecting a broad range of bacterial hosts.
Comparative Study on Violent Sloshing with Water Jet Flows by Using the ISPH Method
Authors: Jiang Hua , You Yi , Hu Zhenhong , Zheng Xing , Ma Qingwei
Published: December 2019

The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method has been playing a more and more important role in violent flow simulations since it is easy to deal with the large deformation and breaking flows from its Lagrangian particle characteristics. In this paper, the incompressible SPH (ISPH) method was used to simulate the liquid sloshing in a 2D tank with water jet flows. The study compares the liquid sloshing under different water jet conditions to analyze the effects of the excitation frequency and the water jet on impact pressure. The results demonstrate that the water jet flows can significantly affect the impact pressures on the wall caused by violent sloshing. The main purpose of the paper is to test the ISPH ability for this study and some useful regulars that are obtained from different numerical cases and study the effect of their practical importance.
Effects of Residue Cover on Infiltration Process of the Black Soil Under Rainfall Simulations
Authors: Xin Yan , Xie Yun , Liu Yuxin
Published: December 2019

Residue cover is widely used for soil conservation after crop harvesting in the black soil region of the Northeastern China, which influences infiltration. It is necessary to optimize infiltration models for accurate predictions under bare and residue cover slope conditions. Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to quantify the infiltration for the black soil under four rainfall intensities (30, 60, 90, and 120 mm/h), five residue coverage controls (15%, 35%, 55%, 75%, and bare slope), and two soil moisture (8% and approximately 30%) conditions. The observed data were used to fit and compare four infiltration models by Kostiakov, Mein and Larson (short for GAML, a modification of GreenAmpt model made by Mein and Larson), Horton, and Philip under the bare slope conditions. The residue cover infiltration factor (RCFi) was derived to predict the infiltration under the residue cover slopes, which was defined as the ratio of infiltration from residue-covered soil to that from bare soil. The results showed that the newly derived equation coupling the Philip model with the RCFi was the most accurate way of predicting the cumulative infiltration of black soil under various residue covers, and could be applied to the black soil region for residue cover infiltration predictions.
Datation par les méthodes K/Ar et Rb/Sr de quelques roches de la partie orientale de l'Ile d'Elbe (Province de Livourne, Italie)
Authors: Saupé Francis , Marignac Christian , Moine Bernard , Sonet Jacques , Zimmermann Jean-Louis
Published: December 2019

Des datations nouvelles de la quartz˗monzonite de Porto-Azzurro (Ile d'Elbe, Italie) ont donné des âges de 5,9 ± 0,5 M.a. (K/Ar) et de 5,1 M.a. (Rb/Sr), concordants avec les âges K/Ar obtenus sur la biotite (6,2 ± 0,5 M.a.) et le feldspath potassique (5,4 ± 1,1 M.a.) d'un échantillon de cette roche. L'intrusion de quartz˗monzonite a été accompagnée d'un métamorphisme hydrothermal (amphibolite hydrothermale : 6,6 ± 0,9 M.a. — K/Ar) et d'un métamorphisme thermique donné par les âges K/Ar des Schistes de Calamita (5,1 ± 0,6 M.a.) et de trois essaims d'aplites (5,2 ± 0,7 ; 5,7 ± 0,4 et 6,1 ± 1,1 M.a. respectivement).
Stable and metastable solubility diagrams for the system CaCO3 — MgCO3 — H2O at ordinary temperature
Authors: Lippmann Friedrich
Published: December 2019

La solubilité dans l'eau d'un système binaire de carbonates est régie par le produit total de solubilité, qui est la somme ∑∏ des produits partiels de solubilité des deux pôles. ∑∏, tracé en fonction du titre molaire de la phase solide et de celui dans la solution aqueuse, donne des courbes semblables aux diagrammes de phase pour la tension de vapeur de mélanges liquides. Le diagramme stable CaCO₃ — MgCO₃ — H₂O comprend deux points eutectiques stables à cause de l'intervention de la dolomite comme phase intermédiaire. La solubilité des calcites magnésiennes est caractérisée par des états métastables qui se produisent par suite de transgressions de plusieurs limites de miscibilité solide.