bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aesthetic Pleasure in the Worship of the Jina: Understanding Performance in Jain Devotional Culture
Authors: Restifo Aleksandra
Published: April 2019

Performance has long been recognized to be a meaningful component in the worship of the Jina. This paper will focus on a particular aspect of devotional performance and historicize the phenomenon of ritual re-enactment of the Jina’s biography, a practice that remains significant to temple worship today. This paper will argue that the performance of the enlightened soul’s biography was familiar to Jains already in the early centuries of the common era and was not confined to the five auspicious events (kalyāṇakas). In a Śvetāmabara canonical text called the Rāyapaseṇiyasutta, this re-enactment is part of a greater, highly pleasurable spectacle that evokes a variety of aesthetic emotions, including erotic emotion, in the audience of monks. Through this discussion I will question the dichotomies between aesthetic pleasure and ritual efficacy and between drama and meritorious conduct and show that aesthetic pleasure, which lies at the heart of Jina worship, defines its meritorious value in the eyes of the devotees. The more splendid and aesthetically pleasing one’s expression of devotion, the more efficacious it is believed to be. I propose that the significance of the aesthetic element in devotional performance for laypeople stems from their temporary transformation into gods and goddesses. Celestial beings, as the paradigmatic enjoyers (bhoktṛ) of sensual pleasures, spend their life-spans relishing joy and rapture. As such, the pleasurable experiences of laypeople are essential for the veracity of their ritual transformation.
Mapping Winter Crops in China with Multi-Source Satellite Imagery and Phenology-Based Algorithm
Authors: Tian Haifeng , Huang Ni , Niu Zheng , Qin Yuchu , Pei Jie , Wang Jian
Published: April 2019

Timely and accurate mapping of winter crop planting areas in China is important for food security assessment at a national level. Time-series of vegetation indices, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), are widely used for crop mapping, as they can characterize the growth cycle of crops. However, with the moderate spatial resolution optical imagery acquired by Landsat and Sentinel-2, it is difficult to obtain complete time-series curves for vegetation indices due to the influence of the revisit cycle of the satellite and weather conditions. Therefore, in this study, we propose a method for compositing the multi-temporal NDVI, in order to map winter crop planting areas with the Landsat-7 and -8 and Sentinel-2 optical images. The algorithm composites the multi-temporal NDVI into three key values, according to two time-windows—a period of low NDVI values and a period of high NDVI values—for the winter crops. First, we identify the two time-windows, according to the time-series of the NDVI obtained from daily Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer observations. Second, the 30 m spatial resolution multi-temporal NDVI curve, derived from the Landsat-7 and -8 and Sentinel-2 optical images, is composited by selecting the maximal value in the high NDVI value period, and the minimal and median values in the low NDVI value period, using an algorithm of the Google Earth Engine. Third, a decision tree classification method is utilized to perform the winter crop classification at a pixel level. The results indicate that this method is effective for the large-scale mapping of winter crops. In the study area, the area of winter crops in 2018 was determined to be 207,641 km2, with an overall accuracy of 96.22% and a kappa coefficient of 0.93. The method proposed in this paper is expected to contribute to the rapid and accurate mapping of winter crops in large-scale applications and analyses.
An Object-Based Classification Method to Detect Methane Ebullition Bubbles in Early Winter Lake Ice
Authors: Lindgren Prajna , Grosse Guido , Meyer Franz J. , Anthony Katey Walter
Published: April 2019

Thermokarst lakes in the Arctic and Subarctic release carbon from thawing permafrost in the form of methane and carbon dioxide with important implications for regional and global carbon cycles. Lake ice impedes the release of gas during the winter. For instance, bubbles released from lake sediments become trapped in downward growing lake ice, resulting in vertically-oriented bubble columns in the ice that are visible on the lake surface. We here describe a classification technique using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) framework to successfully map ebullition bubbles in airborne imagery of early winter ice on an interior Alaska thermokarst lake. Ebullition bubbles appear as white patches in high-resolution optical remote sensing images of snow-free lake ice acquired in early winter and, thus, can be mapped across whole lake areas. We used high-resolution (9–11 cm) aerial images acquired two and four days following freeze-up in the years 2011 and 2012, respectively. The design of multiresolution segmentation and region-specific classification rulesets allowed the identification of bubble features and separation from other confounding factors such as snow, submerged and floating vegetation, shadows, and open water. The OBIA technique had an accuracy of >95% for mapping ebullition bubble patches in early winter lake ice. Overall, we mapped 1195 and 1860 ebullition bubble patches in the 2011 and 2012 images, respectively. The percent surface area of lake ice covered with ebullition bubble patches for 2011 was 2.14% and for 2012 was 2.67%, representing a conservative whole lake estimate of bubble patches compared to ground surveys usually conducted on thicker ice 10 or more days after freeze-up. Our findings suggest that the information derived from high-resolution optical images of lake ice can supplement spatially limited field sampling methods to better estimate methane flux from individual lakes. The method can also be used to improve estimates of methane ebullition from numerous lakes within larger regions.
Downscaling GRACE TWSA Data into High-Resolution Groundwater Level Anomaly Using Machine Learning-Based Models in a Glacial Aquifer System
Authors: Seyoum Wondwosen , Kwon Dongjae , Milewski Adam
Published: April 2019

With continued threat from climate change and human impacts, high-resolution and continuous hydrologic data accessibility has a paramount importance for predicting trends and availability of water resources. This study presents a novel machine learning (ML)-based downscaling algorithm that produces a high spatial resolution groundwater level anomaly (GWLA) from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data by utilizing the relationship between Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly (TWSA) from GRACE and other land surface and hydro-climatic variables (e.g., vegetation coverage, land surface temperature, precipitation, streamflow, and in-situ groundwater level data). The predicted downscaled GWLA data were tested using monthly in-situ groundwater level observations. Of the 32 groundwater monitoring wells available in the study site, 21 wells were used to develop the ML-based downscaling model, while the remaining 11 wells were used to assess the performance of the ML-based downscaling model. The test results showed that the model satisfactorily reproduces the spatial and temporal variation of the GWLA in the area, with acceptable correlation coefficient and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency values of ~0.76 and ~0.45, respectively. GRACE TWSA was the most influential predictor variable in the models, followed by stream discharge and soil moisture storage. Though model limitations and uncertainty could exist due to high spatial heterogeneity of the geologic materials and omission of human impact (e.g., abstraction), the significance of the result is undeniable, particularly in areas where in-situ well measurements are sparse.
Improved Correlation Filter Tracking with Enhanced Features and Adaptive Kalman Filter
Authors: Yang Hao , Huang Yingqing , Xie Zhihong
Published: April 2019

In the field of visual tracking, discriminative correlation filter (DCF)-based trackers have made remarkable achievements with their high computational efficiency. The crucial challenge that still remains is how to construct qualified samples without boundary effects and redetect occluded targets. In this paper a feature-enhanced discriminative correlation filter (FEDCF) tracker is proposed, which utilizes the color statistical model to strengthen the texture features (like the histograms of oriented gradient of HOG) and uses the spatial-prior function to suppress the boundary effects. Then, improved correlation filters using the enhanced features are built, the optimal functions of which can be effectively solved by Gauss–Seidel iteration. In addition, the average peak-response difference (APRD) is proposed to reflect the degree of target-occlusion according to the target response, and an adaptive Kalman filter is established to support the target redetection. The proposed tracker achieved a success plot performance of 67.8% with 5.1 fps on the standard datasets OTB2013.
High Precision Vibration-Type Densitometers Based on Pulsed Excitation Measurements
Authors: Rechberger Andreas , Amsüss Robert , Rossegger Stefan , Breidler Robert , Steiner Gerald
Published: April 2019

Glass flexural resonators have established themselves as one of the de-facto standard methods for measuring the density of liquids in a laboratory environment. The core of this sensor is a U-Tube measuring cell whose oscillator’s resonance frequency changes with the mass of the liquid within the tube. This relationship can be used to derive the density of liquids in a fast and reliable way. In order to achieve the highest accuracy for the density measurement multiple physical effects (e.g., damping due to viscosity effects) need to be taken into account. For a reliable correction, additional measurements are required. The pulsed excitation method is able to produce these additional parameters along with a superior measurement performance compared to previous techniques.
Novel Method for NTC Thermistor Production by Aerosol Co-Deposition and Combined Sintering
Authors: Schubert Michaela , Münch Christian , Schuurman Sophie , Poulain Véronique , Kita Jaroslaw , Moos Ralf
Published: April 2019

A novel three-stage process to produce NTCR sensors is presented. In this process, an uncalcined powder mixture of NiO and Mn2O3 was deposited onto an alumina substrate via aerosol co-deposition (AcD). Then, an electrode structure was screen-printed onto the surface and the composite film was sintered in a multifunctional temperature treatment. Thereby, the sintering of the electrode, the formation of the NiMn2O4 spinel and the removal of film strains took place simultaneously. This enabled a significant reduction in energy demand and workload. The manufactured sensors, both as first prototypes, as well as miniaturized chip components, were characterized by a single-phase cubic NiMn2O4 spinel structure, mechanical stability and electrical properties that were similar to those of classical NiMn2O4 bulk ceramics or tempered aerosol deposited (AD) NiMn2O4 films. Particularly noteworthy was the high reproducibility and low variation of the NTCR parameters, such as the specific resistivity at 25 °C ρ25, the electrical resistance at 25 °C R25 and the thermistor constant B. The NTCR parameters were as aging-stable as for NiMn2O4 bulk ceramics or tempered NiMn2O4 AD-films and could even be further improved by thermal post-treatment.
A Survey of Routing Protocols in WBAN for Healthcare Applications
Authors: Qu Yating , Zheng Guoqiang , Ma Huahong , Wang Xintong , Ji Baofeng , Wu Honghai
Published: April 2019

The emergence of wireless body area network (WBAN) technology has brought hope and dawn to solve the problems of population aging, various chronic diseases, and medical facility shortage. The increasing demand for real-time applications in such networks, stimulates many research activities. Designing such a scheme of critical events while preserving the energy efficiency is a challenging task, due to the dynamic of the network topology, severe constraints on the power supply, and the limited computation power. The design of routing protocols becomes an essential part of WBANs and plays an important role in the communication stacks and has a significant impact on the network performance. In this paper, we briefly introduce WBAN and focus on the analysis of the routing protocol, classify, and compare the advantages and disadvantages of various routing protocols. Lastly, we put forward some problems and suggestions, which provides ideas for the follow-up routing design.
Reducing Working Hours as a Means to Foster Low(er)-Carbon Lifestyles? An Exploratory Study on Swiss Employees
Authors: Hanbury Hugo , Bader Christoph , Moser Stephanie
Published: April 2019

In the ongoing discussions on the transition to low-carbon systems a reduction of working hours has gained increased interest. A shift to lower incomes coupled with more discretionary time might promote low(er) individual carbon lifestyles without impairing individual well-being. Lower carbon emissions have been linked to shorter working hours on a macroeconomic level and to lower income, and thus less carbon-intensive activities on an individual level. However, little empirical research has been done on the effects of a self-determined reduction of working time on an intra-individual level. The aim of this paper was to explore whether and how a reduction of working hours facilitates low(er)-carbon lifestyles. We do this by means of 17 qualitative guideline interviews with Swiss employees that had recently reduced their working hours. Our results suggest that the underlying motives behind the employees’ decisions to reduce their working hours are crucial. A beneficial climate-saving effect arose only for those employees who dedicated their newly gained time to binding activities, that require a certain degree of commitment, such as parenting and further education. In contrast, those who reduced their working hours due to a desire for more recreational time risked increasing the carbon intensity of their lifestyles due to carbon-intensive leisure activities.
Spatial Patterns and Driving Forces of Conflicts among the Three Land Management Red Lines in China: A Case Study of the Wuhan Urban Development Area
Authors: Zhang Yang , Liu Yanfang , Zhang Yan , Kong Xuesong , Jing Ying , Cai Enxiang , Zhang Lingyu , Liu Yi , Wang Zhengyu , Liu Yaolin
Published: April 2019

The delimitation of three land management red lines (LMRLs), which refers to urban growth boundaries (UGBs), ecological protection redlines (EPRs), and basic farmland protection zones (BFPZs), has been regarded as a control method for promoting sustainable urban development in China. However, in many Chinese cities, conflicts extensively exist among the three LMRLs in terms of spatial partitioning. This study clarifies the connotation of conflicts among the three LMRLs. Moreover, a red line conflict index (RLCI) is established to characterize the intensity of conflicts among the three LMRLs. The Wuhan Urban Development Area (WUDA) is used for a case study, in which the spatial patterns of the three types of conflicts among the three LMRLs (i.e., conflicts between EPRs and BFPZs, EPRs and UGBs, and UGBs and BFPZs) are analyzed through numerous spatial statistical analysis methods (including spatial autocorrelation, urban-rural gradient, and landscape pattern analyses). In addition, the driving forces of these conflicts are identified from the perspectives of natural physics, socioeconomic development, neighborhood, policy and planning using three binary logistic regression models. Results show that the conflicts between EPRs and BFPZs, EPRs and UGBs, and UGBs and BFPZs are mainly distributed on the edge of the WUDA, inside Wuhan’s third circulation line, and at the urban–rural transition zone, respectively. The patch of conflict between BFPZs and UGBs has the lowest aggregation degree, the highest fragmentation degree, and the most complex shape. Logistic regression results show that the combination and relative importance of driving factors vary in the three types of conflicts among the three LMRLs. In the conflict between EPRs and BFPZs, the distance to city centers is the most important influencing factor, followed by the proportion of ecological land and elevation. In the conflict between UGBs and EPRs, the proportion of construction land, the distance to city centers, and whether the land unit is within the scope of a restricted development zone are the three most important factors. The proportion of construction land, the distances to the Yangtze and Han Rivers, and the proportion of cultivated land significantly influence the conflict between UGBs and BFPZs. This study aids in our understanding of the causes and mechanisms of conflicts among the three LMRLs, and provides important information for the “integration of multi-planning” and land management in Wuhan and similar cities.
On the Inevitable Bounding of Pluralism in ESE—An Empirical Study of the Swedish Green Flag Initiative
Authors: Hellquist Alexander , Westin Martin
Published: April 2019

This paper explores potential tensions in transformative learning and environmental and sustainability education (ESE) between, on the one hand, pluralistic approaches, and, on the other hand, promotion of societal change to address urgent issues. We stipulate that design of ESE inevitably contributes to a bounding of the plurality of facts and values that are acknowledged in a given learning process. Based on a frame analysis of the Swedish Green Flag initiative, we argue that such bounding by design is a key aspect of how ESE practitioners handle tensions between pluralism and urgency, either consciously or unconsciously. Given its inevitability and importance, we assert that bounding by design is insufficiently theorized in ESE literature, which might partly explain that practitioners perceive pluralistic ideals as challenging. In the empirics, we discern three justifications for bounding by design: (i) certain facts or degree of scientific consensus; (ii) objectives decided by elected bodies; and (iii) decisions taken by student and teacher representatives. We point to the theory of libertarian paternalism and a typology of democratic legitimacy as conceptual tools that can guide further scrutiny of pluralistic ESE and support practitioners in undertaking conscious and transparent bounding by design.
Application of SWAT Model with a Modified Groundwater Module to the Semi-Arid Hailiutu River Catchment, Northwest China
Authors: Shao Guangwen , Zhang Danrong , Guan Yiqing , Xie Yuebo , Huang Feng
Published: April 2019

In the original soil and water assessment Tool (SWAT) model (SWAT-O), the contributions of shallow aquifers and deep aquifers to streamflow are simulated using the linear reservoir method. The movement of groundwater was limited in the hydrological response unit which is a minimum calculation unit in the SWAT. However, this computational method may not be suitable for the areas where a groundwater system is complicated, and the river is predominately recharged by groundwater. In this paper, we proposed an enhanced groundwater module which divides shallow aquifers into upper and lower aquifers, integrates all the deep aquifers of a sub-basin into a regional aquifer, and simulates interactive water amount between lower aquifer and deep aquifer using water depth difference. The modified groundwater module was introduced to the original SWAT model, hereby referred to as SWAT-MG. The SWAT-MG and SWAT-O models were applied to the Hailiutu River catchment, which is a semi-arid wind sandy grass shoal catchment. Results showed that both models underestimated streamflow in peak flow, while the simulated streamflow of SWAT-MG was closer the observed values than that of SWAT-O. Three evaluation criteria (NSE, RSR, PBIAS) were applied to evaluate the performance of the models and the results showed that SWAT-MG had a better performance than SWAT-O. The baseflow index of Hailiutu River which was calculated by the results of SWAT-MG was 96.78%, which means the streamflow is predominately recharged by groundwater, and this conforms to the actual situation of Hailiutu River catchment. This indicates that a SWAT model with a modified groundwater module could better represent the groundwater flow behavior in the study area.
Paying Returns to Shareholders of Water Utilities: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Romano Giulia , Guerrini Andrea
Published: April 2019

The debate about the role of corporations with regard to water also involves the influence that paying returns to shareholders could have on the investment policy of utilities, influencing the development of new infrastructure or the renewal of existing ones. This study investigated the dividend policy of water utilities by analyzing the data of 128 Italian firms during 2009–2014. Data show that the majority of utilities do not distribute any return to shareholders. On average, large utilities pay more frequent returns than medium-sized and small ones. Moreover, water utilities that are part of a group, multi-utilities, and those located in the center of Italy pay more frequent returns than do others. Southern firms usually do not pay returns. As expected, privately owned water utilities pay dividends more frequently and have higher returns to equity. In all the observed years, at least one-third of such utilities paid returns. Empirical results provide water regulators, water utility managers, and stakeholders with information that can impact future regulatory and managerial decisions related to management and strategic model choices in the water industry and how these decisions affect investments to improve water quality, water quantity, and/or water services.
Factors Triggering Customer Willingness to Travel on Environmentally Responsible Electric Airplanes
Authors: Han Heesup , Lho Linda Heejung , Al-Ansi Amr , Ryu Hyungseo Bobby , Park Jinah , Kim Wansoo
Published: April 2019

Utilizing a quantitative methodological approach, the present study presented and investigated an integrated model embracing environmental corporate social responsibility, image, emotional attachment, attitude, and moral norms in order to explicate airline patrons’ intention formation for adopting eco-friendly electric airplanes. Our findings revealed that the proposed associations among research constructs were all significant, and that image, emotional attachment, attitude, and moral norms significantly mediated the effect of environmental corporate social responsibility on intention. In addition, the salient role of image of electric airplanes in building intention was uncovered. Despite the importance of greening airline products in the aviation industry, electric airplanes are a topic that has barely been explored. The results of this study can help airline practitioners and researchers to understand consumer readiness and willingness to adopt such eco-friendly alternatives to conventional air-flights. Implications are discussed.
Barriers to Adoption of Water-Saving Habits in Residential Buildings in Hong Kong
Authors: Zhao Ying , Bao Yani , Lee Wai Ling
Published: April 2019

The fresh water supply is finite, but the fresh water demand is infinite. A sustainable supply of fresh water is emerging as one of the most critical resource issues in the world. Hong Kong is one of the highest per capita fresh water users in the world. This has led to many government initiatives to promote water-saving habits in Hong Kong. However, after almost a decade of efforts, there has been no obvious reduction in consumption. Little has been done to identify the reason for this. Through the use of questionnaire surveys, site measurements, and controlled experiments, the aim of this study is to investigate the level of adoption of different water-saving habits, the most influential water-saving habits, and the barriers to the adoption of water-saving habits in residential buildings in Hong Kong. It was found that if the policies are targeted to break the identified barriers, then there is a potential for reducing the total domestic fresh water consumption in Hong Kong by 14.7%. It was also found that the knowledge of water scarcity and good water use habits are not the barriers to the adoption of water-saving habits in Hong Kong households. Rather, the government should draw public’s attention to the environmental impact of water usage and the high fresh water consumption level of Hong Kong people to break the knowledge barrier and should re-examine the water tariff to break the motivation barrier. The results of this study provide useful information for decision makers in the context of water conservation in Hong Kong as well as elsewhere in the world.
Searching for the Next New Energy in Energy Transition: Comparing the Impacts of Economic Incentives on Local Acceptance of Fossil Fuels, Renewable, and Nuclear Energies
Authors: Kim Seoyong , Lee Jae Eun , Kim Donggeun
Published: April 2019

This study compares the impacts of economic incentives on attitudes related to the acceptance of fossil fuels, renewable, and nuclear energies. Linear and nonlinear regression models are applied for the robust estimation results. Empirical findings based upon these regression models are summarized as follows: First, when people belong to the upper social class, reside in metropolitan area, and have more trust in the government’s energy policy, they tend to accept the construction of specific energy-related facilities in a neighborhood and raise the probability of attitude change and stability. Second, those who have more perceived risk and negative image are less likely to accept any types of energies and tend to lower the probability of attitude change toward positive direction or stability. Third, those who have more knowledge are less likely to accept some energy sources such as fossil fuels and there exists a trade-off relationship between knowledge and trust. Finally, the structural changes between acceptance of all energy sources with and without economic incentives imply that economic incentives play a significant role in determining acceptance of energies.
Reservoir Conservation in a Micro-Watershed in Tigray, Ethiopian Highlands
Authors: Koda Kazuhisa , Girmay Gebreyohannes , Berihu Tesfay , Nagumo Fujio
Published: April 2019

Soil erosion in Ethiopian highlands has caused land deterioration due to moving nutrient-rich top soil to downstream reservoirs while leaving reservoirs dysfunctional due to sedimentation. Micro-watershed management by removing reservoir sediments and using them for reclaiming farmland, while using reservoir water for irrigation, can be a potential solution to simultaneously address soil and water constraints and food security challenges. Still, there is knowledge gap before such a solution can be practically applied. The objective of this paper is to present potential solutions for the reservoir sedimentation problem and specifically highlight the utility of bathymetric survey using an echo-sounder to assess sediment volume. Our results indicated that the estimated reservoir sediment volume was 6400 m3 leading to a reclamation of 3.2 hectares by layering 0.2 m sediment. The sediment used for reclamation depicts neutral pH (7.3), high organic carbon (2.5%), available phosphorus (9.2 mg/kg) and exchangeable potassium (25 cmol(+)/kg). Garlic (Allium sativum) was planted in the reclaiming abandoned farmland and produced 7.1 t/ha of bulb on average. There is a potential of producing 2–3 horticultural crops per year. Thus, developing methods for scaling up potential farmland reclamation using reservoir sediment would contribute to degraded farmland restoration and food security in Ethiopia and beyond.
Design and Performance Characterization of Roadside Bioretention Systems
Authors: Singh Rajendra Prasad , Zhao Fei , Ji Qian , Saravanan Jothivel , Fu Dafang
Published: April 2019

In the current study, three roadside bioretention systems with different configurations were constructed to investigate their pollutant removal efficiency in different rainfall recurrence intervals. The bioretention systems (referred as units) (unit A: 700 mm height material without submerged zone; unit B: 400 mm height material with 300 mm submerged zone; unit C: 400 mm height material without submerged zone) were used to conduct the rainfall events with uniform 120 min rainfall duration for 2-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-year recurrence intervals. Results reveal that the gradual increase of rainfall return period would have negative effects on TN and NH4+-N removal. The higher filler layer may increase pollutant removal efficiency. Setting a submerged zone could improve the CODMn and TN removal compared to TP and NH4+-N removal. The values for comprehensive reduction rate of pollutant load in the three bioretention systems were recorded as follows: 64% in SS, 50%~80% in TP, 69% in NH4+-N, and 28%~53% in NO3-N separately. These results provide greater understanding of the design and treatment performance of bioretention systems.
Symmetrical Uncertainty-Based Feature Subset Generation and Ensemble Learning for Electricity Customer Classification
Authors: Piao Minghao , Piao Yongjun , Lee Jong Yun
Published: April 2019

The use of actual electricity consumption data provided the chance to detect the change of customer class types. This work could be done by using classification techniques. However, there are several challenges in computational techniques. The most important one is to efficiently handle a large number of dimensions to increase customer classification performance. In this paper, we proposed a symmetrical uncertainty based feature subset generation and ensemble learning method for the electricity customer classification. Redundant and significant feature sets are generated according to symmetrical uncertainty. After that, a classifier ensemble is built based on significant feature sets and the results are combined for the final decision. The results show that the proposed method can efficiently find useful feature subsets and improve classification performance.
Characterization of Hidden Chirality: Two-Fold Helicity in β-Strands
Authors: Sasaki Toshiyuki , Miyata Mikiji
Published: April 2019

A β-strand is a component of a β-sheet and is an important structural motif in biomolecules. An α-helix has clear helicity, while chirality of a β-strand had been discussed on the basis of molecular twists generated by forming hydrogen bonds in parallel or non-parallel β-sheets. Herein we describe handedness determination of two-fold helicity in a zig-zag β-strand structure. Left- (M) and right-handedness (P) of the two-fold helicity was defined by application of two concepts: tilt-chirality and multi-point approximation. We call the two-fold helicity in a β-strand, whose handedness has been unrecognized and unclarified, as hidden chirality. Such hidden chirality enables us to clarify precise chiral characteristics of biopolymers. It is also noteworthy that characterization of chirality of high dimensional structures like a β-strand and α-helix, referred to as high dimensional chirality (HDC) in the present study, will contribute to elucidation of the possible origins of chirality and homochirality in nature because such HDC originates from not only asymmetric centers but also conformations in a polypeptide chain.
Solution Models Based on Symmetric and Asymmetric Information
Authors: Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Turskis Zenonas , Antucheviciene Jurgita
Published: April 2019

This Special Issue covers symmetry and asymmetry phenomena occurring in real-life problems. We invited authors to submit their theoretical or experimental research presenting engineering and economic problem solution models dealing with the symmetry or asymmetry of different types of information. The issue gained interest in the research community and received many submissions. After rigorous scientific evaluation by editors and reviewers, nine papers were accepted and published. The authors proposed different solution models as integrated tools to find a balance between the components of sustainable global development, i.e., to find a symmetry axis concerning goals, risks, and constraints to cope with the complicated problems. We hope that a summary of the Special Issue as provided in this editorial will encourage a detailed analysis of the papers.
Civil Engineering and Symmetry
Authors: Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Bausys Romualdas , Antucheviciene Jurgita
Published: April 2019

A topic of utmost importance in civil engineering is finding optimal solutions throughout the life cycle of buildings and infrastructural objects, including their design, manufacturing, use, and maintenance. Operational research, management science, and optimisation methods provide a consistent and applicable groundwork for engineering decision-making. These topics have received the interest of researchers, and, after a rigorous peer-review process, eight papers have been published in the current special issue. The articles in this issue demonstrate how solutions in civil engineering, which bring economic, social and environmental benefits, are obtained through a variety of methodologies and tools. Usually, decision-makers need to take into account not just a single criterion, but several different criteria and, therefore, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches have been suggested for application in five of the published papers; the rest of the papers apply other research methods. The methods and application case studies are shortly described further in the editorial.
The Coat Protein of Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus Interacts with Viral Movement Proteins and Serves as an RNA Silencing Suppressor
Authors: Rehman Atta Ur , Li Zhuoran , Yang Zuokun , Waqas Muhammad , Wang Guoping , Xu Wenxing , Li Feng , Hong Ni
Published: April 2019

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus is a newly accepted member of the genus Mandarivirus in the family Alphaflexiviridae. The triple gene block proteins (TGBp1, TGBp2 and TGBp3) encoded by plant viruses in this family function on facilitating virus movement. However, the protein function of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) have never been explored. Here, we showed in both yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence (BiFC) assays that the coat protein (CP), TGBp1 and TGBp2 of CYVCV are self-interacting. Its CP also interacts with all three TGB proteins, and TGBp1 and TGBp2 interact with each other but not with TGBp3. Furthermore, the viral CP colocalizes with TGBp1 and TGBp3 at the plasmodesmata (PD) of epidermal cells of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, and TGBp1 can translocate TGBp2 from granular-like structures embedded within ER networks to the PD. The results suggest that these proteins could coexist at the PD of epidermal cells of N. benthamiana. Using Agrobacterium infiltration-mediated RNA silencing assays, we show that CYVCV CP is a strong RNA silencing suppressor (RSS) triggered by positive-sense green fluorescent protein (GFP) RNA. The presented results provide insights for further revealing the mechanism of the viral movement and suppression of RNA silencing.
Quantifying Impacts of Mean Annual Lake Bottom Temperature on Talik Development and Permafrost Degradation below Expanding Thermokarst Lakes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Ling Feng , Pan Feifei
Published: April 2019

Variations in thermokarst lake area, lake water depth, lake age, air temperature, permafrost condition, and other environmental variables could have important influences on the mean annual lake bottom temperature (MALBT) and thus affect the ground thermal regime and talik development beneath the lakes through their direct impacts on the MALBT. A lake expanding model was employed for examining the impacts of variations in the MALBT on talik development and permafrost degradation beneath expanding thermokarst lakes in the Beiluhe Basin on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). All required boundary and initial conditions and model parameters were determined based on field measurements. Four simulation cases were conducted with different respective fitting sinusoidal functions of the MALBTs at 3.75 °C, 4.5 °C, 5.25 °C, and 6.0 °C. The simulated results show that for lakes with MALBTs of 3.75 °C, 4.5 °C, 5.25 °C, and 6.0 °C, the maximum thicknesses of bowl-shaped talik below the lakes at year 300 were 27.2 m, 29.6 m, 32.0 m, and 34.4 m; funnel-shaped open taliks formed beneath the lakes at years 451, 411, 382, and 356 after the formation of thermokarst lakes, with mean downward thaw rates of 9.1 m/year, 10.2 m/year, 11.2 m/year, and 12.0 m/year, respectively. Increases in the MALBT from 3.75 °C to 4.52 °C, 4.25 °C to 5.25 °C, and 5.25 °C to 6.0 °C respectively resulted in the permafrost with a horizontal distance to lake centerline less than or equal to 45 m thawing completely 36 years, 32 years, and 24 years in advance, and the maximum ground temperature increases at a depth of 40 m below the lakes at year 600 ranged from 2.16 °C to 2.80 °C, 3.57 °C, and 4.09 °C, depending on the MALBT. The ground temperature increases of more than 0.5 °C at a depth of 40 m in year 600 occurred as far as 74.9 m, 87.2 m, 97.8 m, and 106.6 m from the lake centerlines. The simulation results also show that changes in the MALBT almost have no impact on the open talik lateral progress rate, although the minimum distances from the open talik profile to lake centerlines below the lakes with different MALBTs exhibited substantial differences.
Asimetrías territoriales en el Ecuador: Un enfoque desde el espacio rural
Authors: Loor Cedeño Pablo , Bravo Vélez Diana Asunción , Cobacango Villavicencio Lorena
Published: April 2019

Las ideas que a continuación se desarrollan permiten aproximarse al conocimiento de aquellos aspectos que caracterizan el desarrollo territorial de Ecuador en general y específicamente en las zonas rurales, teniendo en cuenta que la agricultura es considerada como una actividad económica de peculiar significado para la economía del país, la que históricamente ha sido una importante fuente de empleo, un factor generador de acumulación y se ha ubicado en un lugar privilegiado en las exportaciones, sin embargo, El objetivo de la investigación se centra en evidenciar que es en el ámbito rural donde se encuentra el conjunto de las asimetrías territoriales y en él se concentra el segmento de población más excluido, donde la situación socioeconómica es expresión de pobreza e inequidad. Metodológicamente este propósito se logra a través de la descripción y el análisis de diferentes variables vinculadas a la temática. Los resultados del presente trabajo permiten evidenciar que las disparidades territoriales sostenidas a través del tiempo contribuyen a la inestabilidad socioeconómica de importantes segmentos poblacionales en el Ecuador.

 

Palabras clave: inequidad, zonas rurales, agricultura, población, acumulación.

 

ABSTRACT

 

The ideas that are developed below allow us to approach the knowledge of those aspects that characterize the territorial development of Ecuador in general and specifically in rural areas, taking into account that agriculture is considered as an economic activity of peculiar significance for the economy of the country , which historically has been an important source of employment, a generator of accumulation and has been located in a privileged place in exports, however, the evaluation allows us to glimpse that it is in rural areas where the most depressed pole is located. the set of territorial asymmetries and it concentrates the segment of the most excluded population, where the socioeconomic situation is an expression of poverty and inequity. This purpose is achieved through the description and analysis of different variables linked to the theme.

 

Key words: Inequality, rural zones, farming, population. Accumulation.
Desafíos de la participación ciudadana en la gestión pública en el Ecuador
Authors: Yela Burgos Roger Tomás , Forteza Rojas Saimelyn , Ortiz Torres Maritza
Published: April 2019

La modernización del Estado es el gran desafío de los nuevos tiempos. Es responsabilidad del gobierno y sus políticas lograr un grado de eficiencia y efectividad, por lo menos similar a la que se necesita para resolver los problemas cada vez más perentorios de la población. En un escenario de cambios y transformaciones, conceptos como enfoque ciudadano, visión participativa, inclusión social, deben ser incorporados definitivamente en la gestión pública actual. Sin embargo, aun se perciben fallas en el hecho de imbricar procesos participativos a la gestión pública local. El presente artículo defiende la necesidad de una administración pública de orientaciones y políticas que incorpore la participación ciudadana en la toma de decisiones públicas. En este contexto, se aborda en síntesis la modernización en la gestión pública en Ecuador y los cambios en materia de participación en el contexto de la Revolución Ciudadana; asimismo, se muestran algunas deficiencias que son consideradas en dicho proceso.

Palabras clave: Administración pública, gestión pública, participación ciudadana, Ecuador
Medición de la satisfacción con la calidad del servicio prestado en una dirección financiera municipal
Authors: Palacios Zurita Wladimir Alexander , Félix López Miryam Elizabeth , Ormaza Murillo María Piedad
Published: April 2019

Este estudio evaluó la calidad del servicio con la finalidad de determinar el grado de satisfacción de los usuarios de la Dirección Financiera de un Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado (GAD) Municipal. Para ello se aplicó una encuesta modificada (15 preguntas) del modelo multidimensional SERVQUAL a una muestra representativa de 322 usuarios de la unidad financiera. Las dimensiones consideradas para evaluar la calidad del servicio fueron fiabilidad, capacidad de respuesta, empatía, seguridad, bienes tangibles y satisfacción global. Entre los hallazgos obtenidos, se destaca que existe un alto grado de satisfacción en los usuarios en cualquiera de sus categorías, teniendo así los niveles más altos de satisfacción en las dimensiones de empatía (72%), y seguridad (61%) y dentro de sus mejores fortalezas estuvieron las dimensiones de tangibilidad (56%), fiabilidad (55%) y capacidad de respuesta (46%). Se concluyó que el grado de satisfacción de los usuarios por la calidad del servicio que prestan los departamentos de recaudación, tesorería y rentas, contabilidad, proveeduría y presupuesto de la Dirección Financiera es positivo.

Palabras clave: Evaluación del servicio, satisfacción al cliente, calidad del servicio.
Comportamiento del consumidor de productos agroecológicos frente a la aplicación de buenas prácticas agrícolas
Authors: Merino Toro Jorge , Fernández Ulloa Walter
Published: April 2019

La presente investigación evalúa el comportamiento del consumidor de productos agroecológicos comercializados por productores de PACAT (Corporación de Asociaciones de Productores Agroecológicos y Comercio Asociativo de Tungurahua) frente a la aplicación de Buenas Prácticas Agrícolas (BPA), tomando como punto de partida el aumento descontrolado de ferias que comercializan productos bajo la denominación de agroecológicos en la provincia de Tungurahua. La principal herramienta utilizada en esta investigación fue la encuesta, aplicada a una muestra de 217 consumidores y 33 productores agroecológicos, con el uso de esta herramienta se determinó el comportamiento del consumidor de la Plaza Pachano y además se analizó la aplicación de Buenas Prácticas Agrícolas. Se reconoce la alta calidad como la principal razón para consumir productos agroecológicos, la frescura constituye la característica física que más atrae, y el producto más comprado fueron las hortalizas. Respecto a productores se determinó que aplican correctamente BPA.

Palabras clave: Economía del consumidor, mercados agrarios y marketing, análisis de la oferta y de la demanda, producción, consumo.
Costos y beneficios de la emisión de obligaciones y el apalancamiento financiero ante impuestos
Authors: Morán Montalvo Christian , Rodríguez Valencia Leslie , Viejó Parreño María , García Narvàez Mirian
Published: April 2019

La creciente participación de empresas en el mercado de valores pone de manifiesto que la forma de financiarse a través de la emisión de obligaciones ha tenido éxito en el país. En consecuencia, el presente artículo tiene como objetivo principal analizar y determinar los costos, beneficios y la forma de conseguir apalancamiento por medio de los impuestos que implica la emisión de obligaciones para las empresas. Por lo tanto, fue necesario evaluar aquellos costos que se incurren en el proceso como: los costos de emisión y los costos de colocación. El primero se refiere a la estructura financiera y legal, calificadora de riesgo, mientras que el segundo, al agente colocador, los intereses por pagar. Adicionalmente, se analizó el apalancamiento financiero en los impuestos corporativos. Los métodos de investigación utilizados fueron exploratoria y descriptiva. El caso de estudio permitió realizar proyecciones que proporcionaron respuestas al problema planteado. Según el análisis realizado, los resultados del financiamiento por medio de obligaciones estarán en función del tipo de tasa que se ofrezca y de los costos de la emisión, así como del tiempo y del monto requerido.

Palabras clave: Finanzas, emisión de obligaciones, bolsa de valores, apalancamiento financiero, impuestos corporativos.
Determinantes socioeconómicos de la fecundidad de los hogares en Cuba
Authors: Rosales Vázquez. Susset , Esquenazi Borrego Arelys
Published: April 2019

En este trabajo se analizan, para Cuba, los efectos de un conjunto de determinantes so- cioeconómicos sobre las decisiones de fecundidad reciente de un hogar. El objetivo de esta investigación por ende, es analizar los efectos de dichos determinantes socioeco- nómicos sobre la fecundidad de los hogares en el país. Para ello se utiliza un análisis empírico basado en la estimación de un modelo Probit para el año 2013, que permite concluir la probabilidad de que un hogar tenga hijos menores de seis años de edad, y la disminución en la medida en que los hogares tienen mayores niveles de escolaridad, más experiencia laboral potencial promedio y mayores ingresos monetarios. En cambio, esta probabilidad se incrementa con la edad promedio del núcleo, existencia de amas de casa, ancianos y mujeres ocupadas; y en los núcleos con parejas, el acceso que tiene éste a la divisa, en un país con doble moneda y residir en la región oriental. 

Palabras clave: Fecundidad, envejecimiento poblacional, determinantes socioeconómicos.
Estrategias de fidelización aplicadas a los clientes de la empresa Punto Exe del Canton Manta
Authors: Baduy Molina Aarón Leonel , Granda García Marco Iván , Alarcón Chávez César Raúl , Cardona Mendoza Diana Catalina
Published: April 2019

Las estrategias de fidelización en los clientes radican en ofrecer un servicio resaltando las cualidades del producto complementando una atención eficiente por parte de los colaboradores de una empresa. Es común observar que los técnicos en reparación de computadoras carecen de una atención personalizada, cumplir con eficiencia el plazo de entrega acordado. Esta investigación se realizó con el fin de desarrollar estrategias de marketing que permitan la captación y fidelización a corto plazo de nuevos clientes en la empresa Punto Exe de la ciudad de Manta. La misma describe las percepciones de los clientes sobre el servicio de atención que ellos reciben. Para ello se utilizó la encuesta basada al modelo Europeo de Gestión de la Calidad total, (EFQM) de Joaquín Membrado Martínez a 313 clientes durante el último trimestre del año 2015, con la finalidad de conocer el nivel de posicionamiento de la empresa. Se aplicó el método descriptivo lo cual permitió conocer los resultados de la investigación, se pudo determinar que no todos los clientes conocen en totalidad los servicios que esta brinda mediante su página web, debido a la poca publicidad en redes sociales que ayudarían a mantener una relación e interacción con ellos teniendo como resultado la fidelización hacia la empresa.

 

Palabras clave: marketing, imagen, gestión de calidad