bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Low Cost and Low Temperature Capacitive CO2 Sensors Based on Amine Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Boudaden Jamila , Klumpp Armin , Endres Hanns-Erik , Eisele Ignaz
Published: July 2019

Hybrid materials based on inorganic particles and an organic polymer were developed and used as an efficient sensing material for carbon dioxide (CO2). The sensing material consists of fumed silica that is functionalized with an organic polymer, polyethylenimine, by means of the impregnation method. The organic polymer is effectively immobilized around the silica nanoparticles and confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis proves the thermal stability of the sensing material. CO2 capacitive sensors operating at temperatures lower than 70 °C were fabricated by depositing a thin layer of hybrid sensing material on interdigitated gold electrodes. Impedance spectroscopy explored the sensing capability of the hybrid organic–inorganic material towards CO2 in the presence of different relative humidity levels, as well as its stability and reversibility. This strategy to couple organic and inorganic materials as a sensing layer for CO2 paves the way for the design of a low-cost CO2 sensor.
Synthesis of Hierarchical Porous Carbon in Molten Salt and Its Application for Dye Adsorption
Authors: Li Saisai , Zhang Haijun , Hu Shiya , Liu Jie , Zhu Qing , Zhang Shaowei
Published: July 2019

Hierarchical porous carbon was successfully synthesized from glucose in a molten salt at 800 °C for 2 h. It was amorphous and contained numerous oxygen containing functional groups on its surface. The porous carbon with 1.0 wt% Fe(NO3)3·9H2O oxidizing agent showed the highest specific surface area of 1078 m2/g, and the largest pore volume of 0.636 cm3/g, among all of the samples. Raman and TEM results revealed that it had more defects and pores than other as-prepared carbon materials. The adsorption capacities of as-prepared porous carbon for methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) were 506.8 mg/g and 683.8 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuir model and the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.
Abscisic Acid Standardized Fig (Ficus carica) Extracts Ameliorate Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses in Healthy Adults
Authors: Atkinson Fiona S. , Villar Agusti , Mulà Anna , Zangara Andrea , Risco Ester , Smidt Carsten R. , Hontecillas Raquel , Leber Andrew , Bassaganya-Riera Josep
Published: July 2019

Abscisic acid (ABA) can improve glucose homeostasis and reduce inflammation in mammals by activating lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LANCL2). This study examined the effects of two fig fruit extracts (FFEs), each administered at two different ABA doses, on glycemic index (GI) and insulinemic index (II) to a standard glucose drink. In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, 10 healthy adults consumed 4 test beverages containing FFE with postprandial glucose and insulin assessed at regular intervals over 2 h to determine GI and II responses. Test beverages containing 200 mg FFE-50× and 1200 mg FFE-10× significantly reduced GI values by −25% (P = 0.001) and −24% (P = 0.002), respectively. Two lower doses of FFE also reduced GI values compared with the reference drink (by approximately −14%), but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Addition of FFE to the glucose solution significantly reduced II values at all dosages and displayed a clear dose-response reduction: FFE-50× at 100 mg and 200 mg (−14% (P < 0.05) and −24% (P = 0.01), respectively) and FFE-10× at 600 mg and 1200 mg (−16% (P < 0.05) and −24% (P = 0.01), respectively). FFE supplementation is a promising nutritional intervention for the management of acute postprandial glucose and insulin homeostasis, and it is a possible adjunctive treatment for glycemic management of chronic metabolic disorders such as prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Prevention of Adult Colitis by Oral Ferric Iron in Juvenile Mice Is Associated with the Inhibition of the Tbet Promoter Hypomethylation and Gene Overexpression
Authors: Ettreiki Chourouk , Chango Abalo , Barbezier Nicolas , Coeffier Moise , Anton Pauline M , Delayre-Orthez Carine
Published: July 2019

Iron is an essential nutrient needed for physiological functions, particularly during the developmental period of the early childhood of at-risk populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate, in an experimental colitis, the consequences of daily oral iron ingestion in the early period on the inflammatory response, the spleen T helper (Th) profiles and the associated molecular mechanisms. Juvenile mice orally received microencapsulated ferric iron or water for 6 weeks. On adult mice, we induced a sham or experimental trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) moderate colitis during the last week of the experiment before sacrificing the animals 7 days later. The severity of the gut inflammation was assessed by macroscopic damage scores (MDS) and the myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Th profiles were evaluated by the examination of the splenic gene expression of key transcription factors of the Th differentiation (Tbet, Gata3, Foxp3 and RORγ) and the methylation of their respective promoter. While TNBS-induced colitis was associated with a change of the Th profile (notably an increase in the Tbet/Gata3 ratio in the spleen), the colitis-inhibition induced by ferric iron was associated with a limitation of the splenic Th profiles perturbation. The inhibition of the splenic Tbet gene overexpression was associated with an inhibition of promoter hypomethylation. In summary, mice treated by long-term oral ferric iron in the early period of life exhibited an inhibition of colitis associated with the inhibition of the splenic Tbet promoter hypomethylation and gene overexpression.
Role of Resveratrol and Selenium on Oxidative Stress and Expression of Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Genes in Immortalized Lymphocytes from Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Cosín-Tomàs Marta , Senserrich Júlia , Arumí-Planas Marta , Alquézar Carolina , Pallàs Mercè , Martín-Requero Ángeles , Suñol Cristina , Kaliman Perla , Sanfeliu Coral
Published: July 2019

Oxidative damage is involved in the pathophysiology of age-related ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Studies have shown that the brain tissue and also lymphocytes from AD patients present increased oxidative stress compared to healthy controls (HCs). Here, we use lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from AD patients and HCs to investigate the role of resveratrol (RV) and selenium (Se) in the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated after an oxidative injury. We also studied whether these compounds elicited expression changes in genes involved in the antioxidant cell response and other aging-related mechanisms. AD LCLs showed higher ROS levels than those from HCs in response to H2O2 and FeSO4 oxidative insults. RV triggered a protective response against ROS under control and oxidizing conditions, whereas Se exerted antioxidant effects only in AD LCLs under oxidizing conditions. RV increased the expression of genes encoding known antioxidants (catalase, copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione S-transferase zeta 1) and anti-aging factors (sirtuin 1 and sirtuin 3) in both AD and HC LCLs. Our findings support RV as a candidate for inducing resilience and protection against AD, and reinforce the value of LCLs as a feasible peripheral cell model for understanding the protective mechanisms of nutraceuticals against oxidative stress in aging and AD.
Susceptibility and Multidrug Resistance Patterns of Escherichia coli Isolated from Cloacal Swabs of Live Broiler Chickens in Bangladesh
Authors: Al Azad Muha. Ajijur Rahman , Rahman Md. Masudur , Amin Ruhul , Begum Mst. Ismat Ara , Fries Reinhard , Husna Asmaul , Khairalla Ahmed S. , Badruzzaman A.T.M. , El Zowalaty Mohamed E. , Lampang Kannika Na , Ashour Hossam M. , Hafez Hafez Mohamed
Published: July 2019

Antimicrobial resistance is a major health problem, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh, where there is a paucity of information on resistance patterns and prevalence of antimicrobial determinants. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of resistance, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), and the associated genetic determinants in Escherichia coli isolates from cloacal swabs of live broiler chickens in Bangladesh. Altogether, 400 cloacal swabs (200 from Rajshahi and 200 from Dhaka divisions) were randomly collected from individual chickens in 50 broiler farms. E. coli was isolated and identified using conventional bacteriological culture and biochemical methods. The isolates were further confirmed using genus-specific 16S rRNA-targeted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and MDR of the isolates against nine different antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, colistin sulphate, and streptomycin) were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Resistance determinants of E. coli to ampicillin (blaTEM), streptomycin (aadA1), erythromycin [ere(A)], trimethoprim (dfrA1), and tetracycline [tet(A), tet(B)] were screened using PCR. Our results showed that all swab samples were positive for E. coli. The isolates were uniformly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. The isolates exhibited highest susceptibility to colistin sulphate (73.5%), followed by gentamicin (49%), and levofloxacin (17%). All isolates were resistant to three classes of antibiotics, 204 isolates (51%) were resistant to four classes, and 56 isolates (14%) were resistant to five. The highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance gene was recorded for tetracycline (tet(A):95.25%; tet(B):95.25%) followed by ampicillin (blaTEM:91.25%), streptomycin (aadA1:88.25%), erythromycin (ere(A):84.75%), and trimethoprim (dfrA1:65.5%). In conclusion, surveillance for MDR bacteria in poultry is a critical piece of knowledge, which would be useful for optimizing empiric antimicrobial treatments and exploring alternative antimicrobial agents.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Drugs in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: García-Quintanilla Laura , Luaces-Rodríguez Andrea , Gil-Martínez María , Mondelo-García Cristina , Maroñas Olalla , Mangas-Sanjuan Víctor , González-Barcia Miguel , Zarra-Ferro Irene , Aguiar Pablo , Otero-Espinar Francisco J. , Fernández-Ferreiro Anxo
Published: July 2019

Intravitreal administration of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies has become the standard treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration; however, the knowledge of their pharmacokinetics is limited. A comprehensive review of the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic data that were obtained in different studies with intravitreal bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept has been conducted. Moreover, the factors that can influence the vitreous pharmacokinetics of these drugs, as well as the methods that were used in the studies for analytical determination, have been exposed. These anti-VEGF drugs present different charge and molecular weights, which play an important role in vitreous distribution and elimination. The pharmacokinetic parameters that were collected differ depending on the species that were involved in the studies and on physiological and pathological conditions, such as vitrectomy and lensectomy. Knowledge of the intravitreal pharmacokinetics of the anti-VEGF drugs that were used in clinical practice is of vital importance.
Floating-on-water Fabrication Method for Thin Polydimethylsiloxane Membranes
Authors: Kim Daehan , Kim Sung-Hwan , Park Joong Yull
Published: July 2019

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes are used in various applications, such as microvalves, micropumps, microlenses, and cell culture substrates, with various thicknesses from microscale to nanoscale. In this study, we propose a simple fabrication method for PDMS membranes on a water surface, referred to as the floating-on-water (FoW) method. FoW can be used to easily fabricate PDMS membranes with thicknesses of a few micrometers (minimum 3 μm) without special equipment. In addition, as the membrane is fabricated on the water surface, it can be easily handled without damage. In addition, alternative membrane structures were demonstrated, such as membrane-on-pins and droplet-shaped membranes. FoW can be widely used in various applications that require PDMS membranes with microscale thicknesses.
Study on Graphene/CNC-Coated Bamboo Pulp Fabric Preparation of Fabrics with Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Yang Feng , Lan Cuiqin , Zhang Haiming , Guan Jian , Zhang Fan , Fei Benhua , Zhang Jilei
Published: July 2019

Functional fabrics have gained attention as an environmentally-friendly synthesis route. In the current study, novelty bamboo pulp fabrics with thermal conductivity properties were prepared by coating the fabric with graphene and cellulose nanocrystal (G/CNC) solutions. The influences of G and CNC concentrations on properties of fabrics were studied. The viscosities of the G/CNC solutions increased with an increase of G contents. G had an obvious thickening effect. Furthermore, compounded fabrics with different G and CNC contents (GCBPFs) were prepared and extensively characterized in terms of thermal and mechanical properties, and morphology. The ultimate thermal conductivity, bursting strength, and tensile strength of the GCBPF were 0.136 W/m·K, 1.514 MPa, and 25.8 MPa, with 4 wt.% CNC and 3 wt.% G contents, respectively. The results demonstrated that the as-fabricated GCBPFs with favorable thermal conductivity could be applied as a novel fast cooling textile for the clothing industry.
Tuning the Swelling Properties of Smart Multiresponsive Core-Shell Microgels by Copolymerization
Authors: Brändel Timo , Dirksen Maxim , Hellweg Thomas
Published: July 2019

The present study focuses on the development of multiresponsive core-shell microgels and the manipulation of their swelling properties by copolymerization of different acrylamides—especially N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), N-isopropylmethacrylamide (NIPMAM), and NNPAM—and acrylic acid. We use atomic force microscopy for the dry-state characterization of the microgel particles and photon correlation spectroscopy to investigate the swelling behavior at neutral (pH 7) and acidic (pH 4) conditions. A transition between an interpenetrating network structure for microgels with a pure poly-N,-n-propylacrylamide (PNNPAM) shell and a distinct core-shell morphology for microgels with a pure poly-N-isopropylmethacrylamide (PNIPMAM) shell is observable. The PNIPMAM molfraction of the shell also has an important influence on the particle rigidity because of the decreasing degree of interpenetration. Furthermore, the swelling behavior of the microgels is tunable by adjustment of the pH-value between a single-step volume phase transition and a linear swelling region at temperatures corresponding to the copolymer ratios of the shell. This flexibility makes the multiresponsive copolymer microgels interesting candidates for many applications, e.g., as membrane material with tunable permeability.
Rheological Characterization of Asphalt Fine Aggregate Matrix Using Dynamic Shear Rheometer
Authors: Gong Xiangbing , Dong Zejiao , Wang Haipeng , Ma Xianyong , Yu Huanan , Hu Kaikai
Published: July 2019

Asphalt fine aggregate matrix (FAM) is a predominant component directly related to field performances of hot asphalt mix (HMA), it is necessary to investigate material properties of FAM. Prior to preparing FAM specimens, the asphalt content was calculated by keeping the filler–bitumen (FB) ratio the same as in the corresponding HMA. A non-destructive fabrication method instead of coring and cutting methods was developed to compact FAM cylinders, and the joint base was designed to be concentric with the loading axis of testing system. Rheological responses of FAM were studied using the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Two repeated tests prove that the FAM compactor and the jointed base meet the requirement of data validation. Results show that rheological performances of FAM are significantly affected by asphalt content, gradation, air void content, and testing frequency. Air void is concluded to be the decisive factor which influences the stability of FAM, and the fiber is demonstrated to play a role on enhancing the flow resistance of FAM-F even though with the richest asphalt content.
A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study of Flow Behaviors in Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Polyamide 6 Blends Based on Souza-Martins Method
Authors: Wang Junxia , Li Ping , Cao Changlin , Ren Shijie , Yu Dingshan
Published: July 2019

This paper presents our study on the use of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations to discover the flow behavior in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene/polyamide 6 (UHMWPE/PA6) blends associated with extensional-shear coupled flow, based on the Souza-Martins method, for the first time. By way of simulations, we aimed at investigating the mesoscopic morphology and alignment behavior in response to extensional-shear coupled flow, in comparison with simple shear flow and simple extensional flow. Our results reveal that the aggregation of polymers is noticeable under zero flow, as expected. Within the considered range of extensional-shear coupled rates, the morphology transforms from micelle-like clusters to a chain-like network structure by increasing coupled rates from 0.01 to 2.0. Furthermore, it shows a linear distribution along the flow direction at a high coupled rate. It can be concluded that the flow behaviors in UHMWPE/PA6 blends are significantly impacted by extensional-shear coupled rates. The orientation behavior induced by extensional-shear coupled flow is more obvious than shear flow, even though flow variations and mass fractions yield less effects on the distribution behaviors of UHMWPE/PA6 blends. The DPD results are verified by mean square displacement (MSD) as a function of simulation time and relative concentration distribution along Z direction.
High Moisture Accelerated Mechanical Behavior Degradation of Phosphor/Silicone Composites Used in White Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Fan Jiajie , Wang Zhen , Zhang Xunwei , Deng Zhentao , Fan Xuejun , Zhang Guoqi
Published: July 2019

In a high-power white light emitting diode (LED) package, the phosphor/silicone composite is typically used for photometric and colorimetric conversions, ultimately producing the white light. However, the phosphor/silicone composite is always exposed under harsh environments with high temperature, high blue light irradiation and high moisture when the LED operates. Therefore, its reliability issue has become one of the critical bottlenecks to improve the lifetime of a high-power white LED package. As the curing process and mechanical behavior of phosphor/silicone composite essentially determine its reliability, this paper firstly uses an in situ viscosity monitoring approach combined with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to explain the curing mechanism of a phosphor/silicone composite by taking the effects of temperature and phosphor mass fraction into consideration. Then, the mechanical properties of phosphor/silicone composites aged under a long-term high moisture condition are evaluated by using the tensile test. Meanwhile, the finite element (FE) simulations, the Mori–Tanaka theoretical estimations and the microstructure analysis are applied to investigate the high moisture induced degradation mechanisms. The results show that: (1) the in situ measured isothermal viscosity curves of both pristine silicone and phosphor/silicone composites follow the Arrhenius empirical model, and high temperature and high phosphor mass fraction can increase the curing rate; (2) the hydrosilylation reaction between silicones determines the curing mechanism of phosphor/silicone composite; (3) the tensile test, FE simulation and Mori–Tanaka theoretical prediction results confirm that the Young’s modulus of phosphor/silicone composite increases by gradually adding phosphors; and (4) the Young’s modulus of phosphor/silicone composite increases after the high moisture ageing test, which can be attributed to the oxidation and cross-linking reaction of silicone and the hydrolysis of phosphor powders.
Scission, Cross-Linking, and Physical Relaxation during Thermal Degradation of Elastomers
Authors: Zaghdoudi Maha , Kömmling Anja , Jaunich Matthias , Wolff Dietmar
Published: July 2019

Elastomers are susceptible to chemical ageing, i.e., scission and cross-linking, at high temperatures. This thermally driven ageing process affects their mechanical properties and leads to limited operating time. Continuous and intermittent stress relaxation measurements were conducted on ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) samples for different ageing times and an ageing temperature of 125 °C. The contributions of chain scission and cross-linking were analysed for both materials at different ageing states, elucidating the respective ageing mechanisms. Furthermore, compression set experiments were performed under various test conditions. Adopting the two-network model, compression set values were calculated and compared to the measured data. The additional effect of physical processes to scission and cross-linking during a long-term thermal exposure is quantified through the compression set analysis. The characteristic times relative to the degradation processes are also determined.
Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Mobile Robot Using Varying-Parameter Convergent Differential Neural Network
Authors: Hu Yingbai , Su Hang , Zhang Longbin , Miao Shu , Chen Guang , Knoll Alois
Published: July 2019

The mobile robot kinematic model is a nonlinear affine system, which is constrained by velocity and acceleration limits. Therefore, the traditional control methods may not solve the tracking problem because of the physical constraint. In this paper, we present the nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm to track the desired trajectory based on neural-dynamic optimization. In the proposed algorithm, the NMPC scheme utilizes a new neural network named the varying-parameter convergent differential neural network (VPCDNN) which is a Hopfifield-neural network structure with respect to the differential equation theory to solve the quadratic programming (QP) problem. The new network structure converges to the global optimal solution and it is more efficient than traditional numerical methods. In the simulation, we verify that the proposed method is able to successfully track reference trajectories with a two-wheel mobile robot. The experimental validation has been conducted in simulation and the results show that the proposed method is able to precisely track the trajectory maintaining a high robustness based on the VPCDNN solver.
Integrating Latent Heat Flux Products from MODIS and Landsat Data Using Multi-Resolution Kalman Filter Method in the Midstream of Heihe River Basin of Northwest China
Authors: Xu Jia , Yao Yunjun , Tan Kanran , Li Yufu , Liu Shaomin , Shang Ke , Jia Kun , Zhang Xiaotong , Chen Xiaowei , Bei Xiangyi
Published: July 2019

An accurate and spatially continuous estimation of terrestrial latent heat flux (LE) is crucial to the management and planning of water resources for arid and semi-arid areas, for which LE estimations from different satellite sensors unfortunately often contain data gaps and are inconsistent. Many integration approaches have been implemented to overcome these limitations; however, most suffer from either the persistent bias of relying on datasets at only one resolution or the spatiotemporal inconsistency of LE products. In this study, we exhibit an integration case in the midstream of the Heihe River Basin of northwest China by using a multi-resolution Kalman filter (MKF) method to develop continuous and consistent LE maps from satellite LE datasets across different resolutions. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LE product (MOD16), the Landsat-based LE product derived from the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor, and ground observations of eddy covariance flux tower from June to September 2012 are used. The integrated results illustrate that data gaps of MOD16 dropped to less than 0.4% from the original 27–52%, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the LE products decreased by 50.7% on average. Our findings indicate that the MKF method has excellent capacity to fill data gaps, reduce uncertainty, and improve the consistency of multiple LE datasets at different resolutions.
Remote Sensing 10th Anniversary Best Paper Award
Authors: Thenkabail Prasad S.
Published: July 2019

Started in 2009, our journal will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2019 [...]
Emergent Challenges for Science sUAS Data Management: Fairness through Community Engagement and Best Practices Development
Authors: Wyngaard Jane , Barbieri Lindsay , Thomer Andrea , Adams Josip , Sullivan Don , Crosby Christopher , Parr Cynthia , Klump Jens , Raj Shrestha Sudhir , Bell Tom
Published: July 2019

The use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) as platforms for data capture has rapidly increased in recent years. However, while there has been significant investment in improving the aircraft, sensors, operations, and legislation infrastructure for such, little attention has been paid to supporting the management of the complex data capture pipeline sUAS involve. This paper reports on a four-year, community-based investigation into the tools, data practices, and challenges that currently exist for particularly researchers using sUAS as data capture platforms. The key results of this effort are: (1) sUAS captured data—as a set that is rapidly growing to include data in a wide range of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Engineering Disciplines, and many civil and commercial use cases—is characterized as both sharing many traits with traditional remote sensing data and also as exhibiting—as common across the spectrum of disciplines and use cases—novel characteristics that require novel data support infrastructure; and (2), given this characterization of sUAS data and its potential value in the identified wide variety of use case, we outline eight challenges that need to be addressed in order for the full value of sUAS captured data to be realized. We conclude that there would be significant value gained and costs saved across both commercial and academic sectors if the global sUAS user and data management communities were to address these challenges in the immediate to near future, so as to extract the maximal value of sUAS captured data for the lowest long-term effort and monetary cost.
Predicting the Spatial Distribution and Severity of Soil Erosion in the Global Tropics using Satellite Remote Sensing
Authors: Vågen Tor-Gunnar , Winowiecki Leigh Ann
Published: July 2019

Soil erosion has long been recognized as a major process of land degradation globally, affecting millions of hectares of land in the tropics and resulting in losses in productivity and biodiversity, decreased resilience of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and increased vulnerability to climate change. This paper presents an assessment of the extent of soil erosion in the global tropics at a moderate spatial resolution (500 m) based on a combination of systematic field surveys using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) methodology and Earth observation data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) platform. The highest erosion prevalence was observed in wooded grassland, bushland, and shrubland systems in semi-arid areas, while the lowest occurrence was observed in forests. Observed erosion decreased with increasing fractional vegetation cover, but with high rates of erosion even at 50–60% fractional cover. These findings indicate that methods to assess soil erosion need to be able to detect erosion under relatively dense vegetation cover. Model performance was good for prediction of erosion based on MODIS, with high accuracy (~89% for detection) and high overall precision (AUC = 0.97). The spatial predictions from this study will allow for better targeting of interventions to restore degraded land and are also important for assessing the dynamics of land health indicators such as soil organic carbon. Given the importance of soil erosion for land degradation and that the methodology gives robust results that can be rapidly replicated at scale, we would argue that soil erosion should be included as a key indicator in international conventions such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Comparing the Residential Sustainability of Two Transformation Models for Chinese Urban Villages: Demolition/Relocation Market-Oriented and New Rural Construction
Authors: Yang Yongchun , Liu Qing , Wang Meimei
Published: July 2019

In China, large-scale urban village transformation has profoundly influenced the residential sustainability and interests of indigenous villagers. Local governments have widely adopted a demolition/relocation market-oriented model (D/RMM) for transformation of most of the urban villages (UVs) in China. During the D/RMM process, the interests of indigenous villagers have generally suffered to a certain extent. Originally, the new rural construction model (NRCM) was only used to improve rural development and sustainability. However, it has now occasionally been applied in the UV transformation process to safeguard and guarantee the interests of the village collective and villagers. Given the considerable difference between the two transformation models, we explored the sustainability and impact mechanisms of residential landscapes in terms of housing condition sustainability, community environment sustainability, and livelihood sustainability, through the cases of Beimiantan New Village (BNV) with NRCM and Xiaoyantan Village (XV) with D/RMM in Lanzhou, Gansu, China. The research findings reveal the differences in institutional design and social influence, and changes in the redistribution of benefits between the two transformation models. Overall, the residential sustainability of NRCM is higher than the D/RMM’s. Meanwhile, the influence factors in the residential sustainability of the two transformation models can mostly be attributed to three aspects: (1) Land development rights allocation models and earning redistribution fundamentally affect villagers’ housing condition sustainability; (2) The collective economy and the informal economy are the potential drivers of sustainable village community transformation; (3) Informal institutions and village social networks protect and continue the social capitals in village. Specifically, the NRCM in BNV has the following advantages in improving residential sustainability: (1) Collective land assets can be further activated; (2) Villagers’ vested interests are largely safeguarded; (3) The main role of social low-rent housing and informal employment places in the original village is optimized to a larger extent; (4) The original villagers’ social networks remain stable and intact. In summary, villagers’ rights are maintained and enhanced via informal institutions, informal economies, and original social relationship networks are completely preserved through NRCM in BNV, as much as possible. Therefore, NRCM can maximize the villagers’ interests, that may be conducive to residential sustainability in the transformation of China’s urban villages.
The Association between Health-Related Fitness and Physical Activity during Weekdays: Do Fit Students Exercise More after School?
Authors: Yang Dehong , Zhu Xihe , Haegele Justin A. , Wilson Patrick B. , Wu Xueping
Published: July 2019

Physically active students are more likely to be fit and learn better in school than sedentary ones. For school-aged children, it is unclear whether physical fitness level is an important determinant for student’s activity afterschool. This study examined the association between health-related physical fitness test performance and afterschool physical activity during weekdays. Participants (n = 97, 11–13 years old) completed health-related fitness tests. They wore Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for five consecutive days, recording physical activity participation during after school hours. Descriptive statistics for both afterschool physical activity and health-related fitness were summarized. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between variables. Participants spent most of their afterschool hours participating in sedentary behaviors (274.27 ± 66.89 min) and light physical activity (73.68 ± 51.66 min), and only 11.35 ± 16.92 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), accumulating approximately 2058.52 ± 1690.56 steps each day afterschool. The regression model explained 22.8% of the variance in afterschool MVPA, and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) scores were the only statistically significant predictor (β = 0.47, p < 0.01). Fit students do tend to exercise more after school. Promoting physical fitness in school is an important factor for students’ afterschool physical activity participation during weekdays.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Corruption: Implications for the Sustainable Energy Sector
Authors: Lu Jintao , Ren Licheng , Qiao Jiayuan , Yao Siqin , Strielkowski Wadim , Streimikis Justas
Published: July 2019

This paper focuses on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its relationship with sustainability. The authors investigate the linkages between CSR and sustainability at both enterprise and country levels. The main focus of this study is the energy sector due to its importance in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts. There are some doubts as to whether a socially responsible business meets public welfare expectations and fosters the country’s social and economic development, as well as the successful achievement of sustainable development objectives. However, it becomes apparent that the development of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector faces a plethora of challenges. Corruption is one of the most important challenges of sustainable energy development. The study analyzes the main areas of CSR policies where energy companies are expected to make a positive contribution to sustainable energy development: mitigation of environmental impact, economic and social development, and good governance. The authors argue that the corruption risks represent a very important issue that is hampering sustainable energy development, and CSR can be applied to mitigate these risks in the energy sector. In addition, government policies might be necessary to create a favorable environment for corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes the main tools of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector and addresses the impact of CSR on the sustainability of energy sector and corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes a corruption risk mitigation model in the energy sector and provides recommendations for strengthening corporate social responsibility and mitigating corruption risk. Our results show that CSR can play a vital role in dealing with corruption in the energy sector at the enterprise level. It becomes apparent that anti-corruption standards represent the main supporting means for achieving other CSR goals and principles. Therefore, mitigation of corruption risks should become a priority for socially responsible companies that are operating in the energy sector.
Green Development Behavior and Performance of Industrial Enterprises Based on Grounded Theory Study: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Xingwei , Du Jianguo , Long Hongyu
Published: July 2019

The issue of the green development of industrial enterprises has become the focus of attention of all parties. However, the driving factors of green development behavior and performance in industrial enterprises remains unexplored. What are the driving factors of green development behavior and performance in industrial enterprises? How does the theoretical model of green development behavior and performance in industrial enterprises work? In order to reveal the driving factors of green development behavior and performance in industrial enterprises, this paper develops a theoretical model and tests the model through the evidence of Chinese industrial enterprises. Based on the further study of in-depth interview materials from 52 employees in industrial enterprises, this paper takes industrial enterprises as the research object and constructs a theoretical model by using a grounded theory method. The results show that 40 initial concepts, 10 initial categories, four main categories and three core categories are obtained through the coding step of grounded theory. The study found the following three conclusions: (1) The green development of industrial enterprise exists in the organization in the form of specific behavioral expressions; (2) The green development of industrial enterprise caused the occurrence of green development behavior of industrial enterprises. The external factors of industrial enterprise green development consist of the environment of policy and institutional, market environment and public supervision. The internal factors of industrial enterprise green development are composed of tangible and intangible resources of enterprises; (3) The occurrence of industrial enterprise green development behavior has led to the consequence of green development of industrial enterprises. The consequence is embodied in the green development performance of industrial enterprises, including corporate financial performance, corporate environmental performance and corporate social performance. In addition, some management implications are presented based on the research findings. This research enriches the field of green development theory, business development theory and green behavior research. This study also provides a reference for exploring theoretical models of industrial enterprise green development in other countries and regions of the world.
Social Network Influences on Non-Agricultural Employment Quality for Part-Time Peasants: A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Xue Kaijing , Xu Dingde , Liu Shaoquan
Published: July 2019

In recent years, the issue of employment quality for workers has received increasing attention from the government and academia. As a social resource, a social network can provide people with social support and help job seekers find better jobs by transmitting the information on job opportunities. However, currently, there are few empirical studies on employment quality from the perspective of social networks. Based on data from 194 samples from 400 households in Sichuan Province in 2015, this paper constructs an employment quality index system from the six dimensions of labor wages, working time, employment stability, employment environment, career development, and social security. In addition, from the perspective of the structural features and the overall characteristics of the social network, OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) and the path analysis model are used to quantitatively explore the mechanisms of action paths of the social network in terms of the non-agricultural employment quality of part-time peasants. The results show that: (1) the social network scale and the relative network of part-time peasants are found to positively affect employment quality. (2) Age, gender, and education level have indirect impacts on the employment quality loop through network heterogeneity and network scale. In addition, network heterogeneity and health status indirectly impact employment quality through a network scale. (3) By synthesizing the direct and indirect impacts, the comprehensive impacts of each factor on employment quality, in decreasing order, are: village–county distance > village terrain > family population > network scale > education level > skill > network heterogeneity > health status > age > gender. The results suggest that we should pay attention to the role of social network resources in improving employment quality, and should implement various measures to expand peasants’ social networks, so as to achieve high-quality employment.
Acceptability of Robots to Assist the Elderly by Future Designers: A Case of Guangdong Ocean University Industrial Design Students
Authors: Huang Tianyang , Liu Haitao
Published: July 2019

The development of robot technology provides many possibilities for the life support of the elderly. This study explored the acceptability of robots to assist the elderly from the perspective of future designers. A quantitative questionnaire (58 copies) and a qualitative one-to-one interview (10 people) were conducted to explore the attitude of future designers towards the use of robots to assist the elderly. One-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test statistic was used to analyze the data of the questionnaire. The results show that the mean and median of 11 of the 12 dimensions of the acceptability questionnaire are greater than 3 (3 represents uncertain and neutral attitude), and 10 have statistical significance (p < 0.05). Also, the interview results show the positive attitude of future designers. The research shows that future designers hold a positive and open attitude towards the use of robots to assist the elderly. The research findings can help people understand the attitude of future designers and provide some reference for subsequent robot design and development.
Sustainable Practices in Logistics Systems: An Overview of Companies in Brazil
Authors: Martins Vitor W. B. , Anholon Rosley , Quelhas Osvaldo L. G. , Leal Filho Walter
Published: July 2019

The main purpose of this article is to present an overview of the applications of sustainable practices in logistic operations performed by Brazilian companies. To reach this objective, the following steps were carried out: (1) a review of the literature on logistics systems and sustainability in logistics activities; (2) the collection of sustainability reports published by companies that perform logistics operations, which are recognized in Brazil; (3) a content analysis of the reports collected and (4) a discussion of the results, cross-checked with the literature and the extrapolation of conclusions. It was possible to identify 22 sustainable practices, and these practices were grouped into five macro areas. The authors of this paper believe that the findings presented here can be useful for professionals and researchers in the implementation of sustainability practices in logistics systems.
An N-Modular Redundancy Framework Incorporating Response-Time Analysis on Multiprocessor Platforms
Authors: Baek Jaemin , Baek Jeonghyun , Yoo Jeeheon , Baek Hyeongboo
Published: July 2019

A timing constraint and a high level of reliability are the fundamental requirements for designing hard real-time systems. To support both requirements, the N modular redundancy (NMR) technique as a fault-tolerant real-time scheduling has been proposed, which executes identical copies for each task simultaneously on multiprocessor platforms, and a single correct one is voted on, if any. However, this technique can compromise the schedulability of the target system during improving reliability because it produces N identical copies of each job that execute in parallel on multiprocessor platforms, and some tasks may miss their deadlines due to the enlarged computing power required for completing their executions. In this paper, we propose task-level N modular redundancy (TL-NMR), which improves the system reliability of the target system of which tasks are scheduled by any fixed-priority (FP) scheduling without schedulability loss. Based on experimental results, we demonstrate that TL-NMR maintains the schedulability, while significantly improving average system safety compared to the existing NMR.
Green and Blue Infrastructure in Darwin; Carbon Economies and the Social and Cultural Dimensions of Valuing Urban Mangroves in Australia
Authors: Atchison Jennifer
Published: July 2019

Darwin’s mangrove ecosystems, some of the most extensive and biodiverse in the world, are part of the urban fabric in the tropical north of Australia but they are also clearly at risk from the current scale and pace of development. Climate motivated market-based responses, the so-called ‘new-carbon economies’, are one prominent approach to thinking differently about the value of living infrastructure and how it might provide for and improve liveability. In the Australian context, there are recent efforts to promote mangrove ecosystems as blue infrastructure, specifically as blue carbon, but also little recognition or valuation of them as green or urban infrastructure. Drawing on observational and qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, this study examines how key stakeholders in Darwin frame and understand mangroves in relation to the urban, and how they are anticipating and responding to governance efforts to frame mangroves and pay for their carbon sequestration and storage services as blue carbon. The push for large infrastructure development and an expanding urban footprint, present serious challenges for mangrove protection, and the study evidences both denial and complacency in this regard. However, although the concept of blue carbon is already taking effect in some circles, it was not viewed as straightforward or as appropriate by all study participants and may very well work in practice to exclude groups within the community. Both clear governance problems, as well as unrecognized and vernacular community connections to mangroves in Darwin, indicate that there are ongoing conceptual and empirical challenges to be considered in recognizing and valuing mangroves as part of urban life.