bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutrition Risk is Associated with Leukocyte Telomere Length in Middle-Aged Men and Women with at Least One Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Ventura Marra Melissa , Drazba Margaret A. , Holásková Ida , Belden William J.
Published: February 2019

Poor diet quality has been associated with several age-related chronic conditions, but its relationship to telomere length, a biological marker of cellular aging, is unclear. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether overall diet quality was associated with relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) in a sample (n = 96) of nonsmoking middle-aged adults in Appalachia with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), the alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMed), and the Dietary Screening Tool (DST). Peripheral rLTL was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The associations between potentially confounding sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors and the first and fourth rLTL quartile groups were examined using Chi-square or Fisher’s Exact tests or logistic regression. The relationships between diet quality index scores and rLTL as a continuous variable were analyzed using simple linear regression and multivariate linear models, analogous to linear covariance analyses. The rLTL ranged from 0.46 to 1.49 (mean ± SEM was 1.02 ± 0.18). Smoking history, income level, and cardiovascular health (Life’s Simple 7) were associated with the lowest and highest quartiles of rLTL and were used as covariates. In adjusted and unadjusted models, participants considered “at nutrition risk” by the DST were more likely to have shorter rLTL than those “not at risk or at potential risk” (p = 0.004). However, there was no evidence that adherence to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans or to a Mediterranean diet was associated with rLTL in this sample. Intervention studies are needed to determine if improving the diet quality of those at nutrition risk results in reduced telomere attrition over time.
Diabetic Retinopathy as a Risk Factor for Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Multicenter Case–Control Study in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Hsin-Ting , Zheng Cai-Mei , Wu Yun-Chun , Chang Yun-Hsiang , Chen Jiann-Torng , Liang Chang-Min , Chang Tian-Jong , Zheng Jing-Quan , Tai Ming-Cheng , Lin Yuh-Feng
Published: February 2019

It has rarely been studied whether the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) could influence the renal disease progression among all chronic kidney disease (CKD) diabetic patients. This study investigates the characteristics of diabetic patients, with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy and determines the influence of retinopathy in the deterioration of renal function. We conduct a multicenter, longitudinal cohort study based on the Epidemiology and Risk Factors Surveillance of the CKD project (2008–2013) and the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) (2001–2013). A total of 4050 diabetic patients with CKD, 20–85 years of age, from 14 hospitals and the community are included in this study. As compared to CKD patients without DR, CKD patients with DR have a lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (39.17 ± 30.36 mL/min per 1.73 m2 vs. 54.38 ± 33.67 mL/min per 1.73 m2 ); poorer glycemic control (higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.85 ± 4.97 vs. 7.29 ± 4.02, p < 0.01); higher proteinuria (urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR )1.94 ± 2.96 g/dL vs. 0.91 ± 2.11 g/dL, p < 0.01); more anemia (Hb 11.22 ± 2.43 g/dL vs. 12.39 ± 3.85 g/dL, p < 0.01), and more hypoalbuminemia (3.88 ± 0.95 g/dL vs. 4.16 ± 1.74 g/dL, p < 0.01). Later stage (stage 3b–5) CKD patients with DR had significantly higher CKD progression compared with patients without DR (OR (odds ratio) 1.66 (1.36–2.02)). Patients with proliferative DR had significantly higher CKD progression events compared to patients with non-proliferative DR (OR 2.18 (1.71–2.78)). The presence and severity of DR is a risk factor for CKD progression among our Taiwanese CKD patients with diabetes. Prevention and early detection of DR are important and DR should be routinely screened as early as possible among diabetic CKD patients.
Green Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of trans Rosmarinic Acid from Plectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br. Leaves
Authors: Tungmunnithum Duangjai , Garros Laurine , Drouet Samantha , Renouard Sullivan , Lainé Eric , Hano Christophe
Published: February 2019

Painted nettle (Plectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br.) is an ornamental plant belonging to Lamiaceae family, native of Asia. Its leaves constitute one of the richest sources of trans-rosmarinic acid, a well-known antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolic compound. These biological activities attract interest from the cosmetic industry and the demand for the development of green sustainable extraction processes. Here, we report on the optimization and validation of an ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) method using ethanol as solvent. Following preliminary single factor experiments, the identified limiting extraction parameters (i.e., ultrasound frequency, extraction duration, and ethanol concentration) were further optimized using a full factorial design approach. The method was then validated following the recommendations of the association of analytical communities (AOAC) to ensure the precision and accuracy of the method used to quantify trans-rosmarinic acid. Highest trans-rosmarinic acid content was obtained using pure ethanol as extraction solvent following a 45-minute extraction in an ultrasound bath operating at an ultrasound frequency of 30 kHz. The antioxidant (in vitro radical scavenging activity) and antimicrobial (directed toward Staphylococcus aureus ACTT6538) activities were significantly correlated with the trans-rosmarinic acid concentration of the extract evidencing that these key biological activities were retained following the extraction using this validated method. Under these conditions, 110.8 mg/g DW of trans-rosmarinic acid were extracted from lyophilized P. scutellarioides leaves as starting material evidencing the great potential of this renewable material for cosmetic applications. Comparison to other classical extraction methods evidenced a clear benefit of the present USAE method both in terms of yield and extraction duration.
Kinetic Analysis of the Curing of a Partially Biobased Epoxy Resin Using Dynamic Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Authors: Lascano Diego , Quiles-Carrillo Luis , Balart Rafael , Boronat Teodomiro , Montanes Nestor
Published: February 2019

This research presents a cure kinetics study of an epoxy system consisting of a partially bio-sourced resin based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with amine hardener and a biobased reactive diluent from plants representing 31 wt %. The kinetic study has been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal conditions at different heating rates. Integral and derivative isoconversional methods or model free kinetics (MFK) have been applied to the experimental data in order to evaluate the apparent activation energy, Ea, followed by the application of the appropriate reaction model. The bio-sourced system showed activation energy that is independent of the extent of conversion, with Ea values between 57 and 62 kJ·mol−1, corresponding to typical activation energies of conventional epoxy resins. The reaction model was studied by comparing the calculated y(α) and z(α) functions with standard master plot curves. A two-parameter autocatalytic kinetic model of Šesták–Berggren [SB(m,n)] was assessed as the most suitable reaction model to describe the curing kinetics of the epoxy resins studied since it showed an excellent agreement with the experimental data.
Iron Age Cultic Sites in Transjordan
Authors: Steiner Margreet L.
Published: February 2019

In the area east of the river Jordan, eight Iron Age structures identified as cultic have been excavated. This paper presents the evidence as published and discusses the relevance of the cultic identification of the structures.
Where Is the Money? The Intersectionality of the Spirit World and the Acquisition of Wealth
Authors: Lazarus Suleman
Published: February 2019

This article is a theoretical treatment of the ways in which local worldviews on wealth acquisition give rise to contemporary manifestations of spirituality in cyberspace. It unpacks spiritual (occult) economies and wealth generation through a historical perspective. The article ‘devil advocates’ the ‘sainthood’ of claimed law-abiding citizens, by highlighting that the line dividing them and the Nigerian cybercriminals (Yahoo-Boys) is blurred with regards to the use of magical means for material ends. By doing so, the article also illustrates that the intersectionality of the spirit world and the acquisition of wealth (crime or otherwise) is connected with local epistemologies and worldviews, and its contemporaneity has social security benefits. Therefore, the view that the contemporary manifestations of spirituality in cyberspace signify a ‘new-danger’ and an ever-increasing outrage in Nigerian society is misplaced. I conclude that if people believe all aspects of life are reflective of the spiritual world and determined by it, the spiritual realm, by implication, is the base of society, upon which sits the superstructure comprised of all aspects of life, especially wealth. Inferentially, this conceptual position that the spirit world is the base of society is an inversion of Orthodox Marxist’s theory of economic determinism.
Divide-and-Conquer Dual-Architecture Convolutional Neural Network for Classification of Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Feng Jie , Wang Lin , Yu Haipeng , Jiao Licheng , Zhang Xiangrong
Published: February 2019

Convolutional neural network (CNN) is well-known for its powerful capability on image classification. In hyperspectral images (HSIs), fixed-size spatial window is generally used as the input of CNN for pixel-wise classification. However, single fixed-size spatial architecture hinders the excellent performance of CNN due to the neglect of various land-cover distributions in HSIs. Moreover, insufficient samples in HSIs may cause the overfitting problem. To address these problems, a novel divide-and-conquer dual-architecture CNN (DDCNN) method is proposed for HSI classification. In DDCNN, a novel regional division strategy based on local and non-local decisions is devised to distinguish homogeneous and heterogeneous regions. Then, for homogeneous regions, a multi-scale CNN architecture with larger spatial window inputs is constructed to learn joint spectral-spatial features. For heterogeneous regions, a fine-grained CNN architecture with smaller spatial window inputs is constructed to learn hierarchical spectral features. Moreover, to alleviate the problem of insufficient training samples, unlabeled samples with high confidences are pre-labeled under adaptively spatial constraint. Experimental results on HSIs demonstrate that the proposed method provides encouraging classification performance, especially region uniformity and edge preservation with limited training samples.
30 m Resolution Global Annual Burned Area Mapping Based on Landsat Images and Google Earth Engine
Authors: Long Tengfei , Zhang Zhaoming , He Guojin , Jiao Weili , Tang Chao , Wu Bingfang , Zhang Xiaomei , Wang Guizhou , Yin Ranyu
Published: February 2019

Heretofore, global Burned Area (BA) products have only been available at coarse spatial resolution, since most of the current global BA products are produced with the help of active fire detection or dense time-series change analysis, which requires very high temporal resolution. In this study, however, we focus on an automated global burned area mapping approach based on Landsat images. By utilizing the huge catalog of satellite imagery, as well as the high-performance computing capacity of Google Earth Engine, we propose an automated pipeline for generating 30-m resolution global-scale annual burned area maps from time-series of Landsat images, and a novel 30-m resolution Global annual Burned Area Map of 2015 (GABAM 2015) was released. All the available Landsat-8 images during 2014–2015 and various spectral indices were utilized to calculate the burned probability of each pixel using random decision forests, which were globally trained with stratified (considering both fire frequency and type of land cover) samples, and a seed-growing approach was conducted to shape the final burned areas after several carefully-designed logical filters (NDVI filter, Normalized Burned Ratio (NBR) filter, and temporal filter). GABAM 2015 consists of spatial extent of fires that occurred during 2015 and not of fires that occurred in previous years. Cross-comparison with the recent Fire_cci Version 5.0 BA product found a similar spatial distribution and a strong correlation ( R 2 = 0.74) between the burned areas from the two products, although differences were found in specific land cover categories (particularly in agriculture land). Preliminary global validation showed the commission and omission errors of GABAM 2015 to be 13.17% and 30.13%, respectively.
A Differential Evolution Approach to Optimize Weights of Dynamic Time Warping for Multi-Sensor Based Gesture Recognition
Authors: Rwigema James , Choi Hyo-Rim , Kim TaeYong
Published: February 2019

In this research, we present a differential evolution approach to optimize the weights of dynamic time warping for multi-sensory based gesture recognition. Mainly, we aimed to develop a robust gesture recognition method that can be used in various environments. Both a wearable inertial sensor and a depth camera (Kinect Sensor) were used as heterogeneous sensors to verify and collect the data. The proposed approach was used for the calculation of optimal weight values and different characteristic features of heterogeneous sensor data, while having different effects during gesture recognition. In this research, we studied 27 different actions to analyze the data. As finding the optimal value of the data from numerous sensors became more complex, a differential evolution approach was used during the fusion and optimization of the data. To verify the performance accuracy of the presented method in this study, a University of Texas at Dallas Multimodal Human Action Datasets (UTD-MHAD) from previous research was used. However, the average recognition rates presented by previous research using respective methods were still low, due to the complexity in the calculation of the optimal values of the acquired data from sensors, as well as the installation environment. Our contribution was based on a method that enabled us to adjust the number of depth cameras and combine this data with inertial sensors (multi-sensors in this study). We applied a differential evolution approach to calculate the optimal values of the added weights. The proposed method achieved an accuracy 10% higher than the previous research results using the same database, indicating a much improved accuracy rate of motion recognition.
Assessment of the Shear Strength of Pile-to-Soil Interfaces Based on Pile Surface Topography Using Laser Scanning
Authors: Muszyński Zbigniew , Wyjadłowski Marek
Published: February 2019

This article presents in situ research on the side surface of continuous flight auger (CFA) foundation piles using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner (Leica ScanStation C10) in order to evaluate the morphology assessment of pile concrete surfaces in various geotechnical layers. Terrestrial laser scanning describes the 3D geometry of the construction with high spatial resolution and accuracy. A total of six areas were selected from the acquired point cloud for which a two-step approach for removing the form was applied. In the first step, the reference surface was fitted using the least squares method, and then, cylindrical projection of the surface was performed. In the second step, an operator of removal of the multi-plane form was applied. For each sample, height parameters (Sq, Ssk, Sku, Sp, Sv, Sz, Sa) and functional volume parameters (Vmp, Vmc, Vvc, Vvv) according to the standard ISO 25178-2:2012 were determined. Significant differences in the values of surface height and functional volume parameters were observed for each geotechnical layer where piles were formed. Because the piles remain embedded in the ground, in situ tests of the side surface of piles are rarely performed and taken into account in the assessment of pile bearing capacity. The study of surface topography is a crucial stage in the assessment of the shear strength at the interface between a concrete pile and the soil layer. The obtained concrete morphology assessments are applicable during the determination of the skin friction factor in the analytical or numerical estimation of pile shaft resistance. The proposed procedure of morphology evaluation may improve the fidelity of the assumed friction factor between the concrete and soil and increase the reliability of direct shear experiments.
EM-Wave Biosensors: A Review of RF, Microwave, mm-Wave and Optical Sensing
Authors: Mehrotra Parikha , Chatterjee Baibhab , Sen Shreyas
Published: February 2019

This article presents a broad review on optical, radio-frequency (RF), microwave (MW), millimeter wave (mmW) and terahertz (THz) biosensors. Biomatter-wave interaction modalities are considered over a wide range of frequencies and applications such as detection of cancer biomarkers, biotin, neurotransmitters and heart rate are presented in detail. By treating biological tissue as a dielectric substance, having a unique dielectric signature, it can be characterized by frequency dependent parameters such as permittivity and conductivity. By observing the unique permittivity spectrum, cancerous cells can be distinguished from healthy ones or by measuring the changes in permittivity, concentration of medically relevant biomolecules such as glucose, neurotransmitters, vitamins and proteins, ailments and abnormalities can be detected. In case of optical biosensors, any change in permittivity is transduced to a change in optical properties such as photoluminescence, interference pattern, reflection intensity and reflection angle through techniques like quantum dots, interferometry, surface enhanced raman scattering or surface plasmon resonance. Conversely, in case of RF, MW, mmW and THz biosensors, capacitive sensing is most commonly employed where changes in permittivity are reflected as changes in capacitance, through components like interdigitated electrodes, resonators and microstrip structures. In this paper, interactions of EM waves with biomatter are considered, with an emphasis on a clear demarcation of various modalities, their underlying principles and applications.
Three-Dimensional Electromagnetic Torso Scanner
Authors: Ahdi Rezaeieh Sasan , Zamani Ali , Bialkowski Konstanty S. , Macdonald Graeme A. , Abbosh Amin M.
Published: February 2019

A three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic torso scanner system is presented. This system aims at providing a complimentary/auxiliary imaging modality to supplement conventional imaging devices, e.g., ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for pathologies in the chest and upper abdomen such as pulmonary abscess, fatty liver disease and renal cancer. The system is comprised of an array of 14 resonance-based reflector (RBR) antennas that operate from 0.83 to 1.9 GHz and are located on a movable flange. The system is able to scan different regions of the chest and upper abdomen by mechanically moving the antenna array to different positions along the long axis of the thorax with an accuracy of about 1 mm at each step. To verify the capability of the system, a three-dimensional imaging algorithm is proposed. This algorithm utilizes a fast frequency-based microwave imaging method in conjunction with a slice interpolation technique to generate three-dimensional images. To validate the system, pulmonary abscess was simulated within an artificial torso phantom. This was achieved by injecting an arbitrary amount of fluid (e.g., 30 mL of water), into the lungs regions of the torso phantom. The system could reliably and reproducibly determine the location and volume of the embedded target.
Robotic Active Information Gathering for Spatial Field Reconstruction with Rapidly-Exploring Random Trees and Online Learning of Gaussian Processes
Authors: Viseras Alberto , Shutin Dmitriy , Merino Luis
Published: February 2019

Information gathering (IG) algorithms aim to intelligently select a mobile sensor actions required to efficiently obtain an accurate reconstruction of a physical process, such as an occupancy map, or a magnetic field. Many recent works have proposed algorithms for IG that employ Gaussian processes (GPs) as underlying model of the process. However, most algorithms discretize the state space, which makes them computationally intractable for robotic systems with complex dynamics. Moreover, they are not suited for online information gathering tasks as they assume prior knowledge about GP parameters. This paper presents a novel approach that tackles the two aforementioned issues. Specifically, our approach includes two intertwined steps: (i) a Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT) search that allows a robot to identify unvisited locations, and to learn the GP parameters, and (ii) an RRT*-based informative path planning that guides the robot towards those locations by maximizing the information gathered while minimizing path cost. The combination of the two steps allows an online realization of the algorithm, while eliminating the need for discretization. We demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art both in simulations, and in a lab experiment in which a ground-based robot explores the magnetic field intensity within an indoor environment populated with obstacles.
INBED: A Highly Specialized System for Bed-Exit-Detection and Fall Prevention on a Geriatric Ward
Authors: Jähne-Raden Nico , Kulau Ulf , Marschollek Michael , Wolf Klaus-Hendrik
Published: February 2019

Objective: In geriatric institutions, the risk of falling of patients is very high and frequently leads to fractures of the femoral neck, which can result in serious consequences and medical costs. With regard to the current numbers of elderly people, the need for smart solutions for the prevention of falls in clinical environments as well as in everyday life has been evolving. Methods: Hence, in this paper, we present the Inexpensive Node for bed-exit Detection (INBED), a comprehensive, favourable signaling system for bed-exit detection and fall prevention, to support the clinical efforts in terms of fall reduction. The tough requirements for such a system in clinical environments were gathered in close cooperation with geriatricians. Results: The conceptional efforts led to a multi-component system with a core wearable device, attached to the patients, to detect several types of movements such as rising, restlessness and—in the worst case—falling. Occurring events are forwarded to the nursing staff immediately by using a modular, self-organizing and dependable wireless infrastructure. Both, the hardware and software of the entire INBED system as well as the particular design process are discussed in detail. Moreover, a trail test of the system is presented. Conclusions: The INBED system can help to relieve the nursing staff significantly while the personal freedom of movement and the privacy of patients is increased compared to similar systems.
The Impact of Supply Chain Integration and Internal Control on Financial Performance in the Jordanian Banking Sector
Authors: Pakurár Miklós , Haddad Hossam , Nagy János , Popp József , Oláh Judit
Published: February 2019

The aim of this paper is to use a recently developed framework of supply chain integration (SCI) to examine the influence of a set of relationships between SCI and internal control on financial performance in the Jordanian banking sector. SCI consists of external integration and internal integration. External integration includes customer integration and supplier integration. This study utilizes survey data from 249 employees in the Jordanian banking sector and tests the research framework and hypotheses using exploratory factor analysis. The impact of supply chain internal and external integration and internal control significantly affected financial performance. The impact of the examined factors on financial performance is as follows, in decreasing order: internal integration, supplier integration, customer integration, and internal control. This study’s contribution to supply chain management is in its integration of SCI and internal control variables to propose a practical framework for the banks to use, and its development of a measurement tool for managers to determine the effects of internal and external integration and internal control on financial performance.
Analysis of the Wind System Operation in the Optimal Energetic Area at Variable Wind Speed over Time
Authors: Sorandaru Ciprian , Musuroi Sorin , Frigura-Iliasa Flaviu , Vatau Doru , Dordescu Marian
Published: February 2019

Due to high mechanical inertia and rapid variations in wind speed over time, at variable wind speeds, the problem of operation in the optimal energetic area becomes complex and in due time it is not always solvable. No work has been found that analyzes the energy-optimal operation of a wind system operating at variable wind speeds over time and that considers the variation of the wind speed over time. In this paper, we take into account the evolution of wind speed over time and its measurement with a low-power turbine, which operates with no load at the mechanical angular velocity ωMAX. The optimal velocity is calculated. The energy that is captured by the wind turbine significantly depends on the mechanical angular velocity. In order to perform a function in the maximum power point (MPP) power point area, the load on the electric generator is changed, and the optimum mechanical velocity is estimated, ωOPTIM, knowing that the ratio ωOPTIM/ωMAX does not depend on the time variation of the wind speed.
The Socio-educational, Psychological and Family-Related Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Intentions among Spanish Youth
Authors: Escolar-Llamazares M. Camino , Luis-Rico Isabel , de la Torre-Cruz Tamara , Herrero Álvaro , Jiménez Alfredo , Palmero-Cámara Carmen , Jiménez-Eguizábal Alfredo
Published: February 2019

Despite the abundant scientific literature on entrepreneurship, there is still only limited information on young students’ entrepreneurial intentions. The reasons for this, may be generally found in the different conceptual approaches to entrepreneurial intention, and particularly in the variables that regulate and act as antecedents to such intentions. This bias has generated different lines of investigation into the factors relating to entrepreneurial intention among students. One line of investigation is centered on the variables that influence entrepreneurial intention, in particular, relational, educational, and psychological variables, and another is centered on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention, amongst which is entrepreneurial interest. In this paper, we seek to analyze the relationship between the entrepreneurial interest of Spanish youth and a set of socio-educational, psychological, and health-related variables using principal component analysis. A previously validated ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 1764 students (15–18 years old). Notably, few Spanish youth expressed significantly high entrepreneurial interest; those who did were mostly men with a family tradition of entrepreneurial parents, who held high perceptions of their health and quality of life, and considered it important in business to detect opportunities beforehand and to create employment. Their principal motives were to improve their professional development, to put their ideas into practice, and to achieve economic independence. This paper proposes the early detection of entrepreneurial interests in young people in order to reinforce these interests as potential long-term initiatives.
A Courier Service with Electric Bicycles in an Urban Area: The Case in Seoul
Authors: Lee Keyju , Chae Junjae , Kim Jinwoo
Published: February 2019

Various factors must be considered when running a courier service in an urban area, because the infrastructure of a city differs from those in suburban or countryside areas. Of note, population density is higher, and vehicles encounter greater restrictions. Moreover, air pollution from fossil fuel combustion is more severe. As tailpipe emissions are becoming costly to both corporations and the environment, researchers are increasingly exploring more appealing transportation options. Electric bicycles have become an important mode of transportation in some countries in the past decade. Electric bicycles and automobiles have their respective merits and demerits when used to provide courier services. E-bikes in particular can ply their trade in densely packed areas that are off-limits to cars and trucks. This paper focuses on (1) developing a truck–bike mixture model to reduce operating costs for an existing truck-only service by replacing some of the trucks with bicycles, and (2) exploring the resulting effects in terms of reducing overall carbon emissions. Data from one of the major courier companies in South Korea were utilized. The problem was tackled as a heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem using simulated annealing because the actual size of the problem cannot be solved directly with a mathematical approach. The most effective fleet mix was found for the company’s case. Effects on operating costs and reduced emissions were analyzed for 15 different scenarios with varying demands and off-limits areas. Computational results revealed that the new model is viable from economic and sustainability standpoints. They indicated that costs decrease to varying degrees in all scenarios, and that carbon emissions also decrease by around 10% regardless of the selected scenario.
Gender Inequality and Adaptive Capacity: The Role of Social Capital on the Impacts of Climate Change in Vietnam
Authors: Phan Loan Thi , Jou Sue Ching , Lin Jun-Hua
Published: February 2019

Climate change has exacerbated gender inequality, and women are a vulnerable group. Previous research attributed this to physical gender differences, gender differences in ownership and control of natural resources, and socioeconomic status. We used a survey of 99 participants, seven focus group discussions, and 13 in-depth interviews in a coastal community in Vietnam to gain insight into the roots of gender inequality in the capacity to adapt to climate change. We analysed the role of social capital in regulating and mobilising other livelihood assets from a gendered perspective and found that gender norms explain the division and interactions of men and women in formal and informal networks. Based on our results, we suggest that policy-makers should pay more attention to gender issues when proposing climate change policies and reducing the gender imbalance in the impact of climate change adaptation.
Food Preferences in Finland: Sustainable Diets and their Differences between Groups
Authors: Lehikoinen Elina , Salonen Arto O.
Published: February 2019

The world is facing the great challenge of how to feed the increasing and wealthier population sustainably in the future, with already limited natural resources. The existing literature reveals the negative impacts of animal-based diets, and thus global diet changes are required to ensure future food availability. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that food consumption is more than caloric intake—it is based on personal preferences. We assessed how sustainable food choices vary among Finnish citizens. The respondents (n = 2052) answered nine statements about their consumption behavior. We applied quantitative and qualitative methods, and our results indicate that favoring plant-based diets was the highest among people under 30 and above 60 years old. Middle-aged men with high incomes was the most reluctant group to adopt sustainable diets. Health-related issues and origin of food were the most preferred reasons for food choices, while environmental awareness was ranked lower. The key to mainstream sustainable diets lies in the co-benefits —transition towards more sustainable diets among Finns could be possible, if people felt that they can combine the selfish, hedonistic factors (e.g., health, weight loss) and altruistic factors (e.g., ecological benefits) in their everyday diets.
Application of Game Theory against Nature in the Assessment of Technical Solutions Used in River Regulation in the Context of Aquatic Plant Protection
Authors: Hachoł Justyna , Bondar-Nowakowska Elżbieta , Hachaj Paweł S.
Published: February 2019

The anthropogenic transformation of riverbeds causes a violation of the dynamic equilibrium of the river and its environment, threatening the ecological safety of aquatic ecosystems and dependent waters. However, the differing results of these transformations are dependent on many factors and it is difficult to determine them precisely before the works start. The designers and contractors of these works are dealing with the riverbed, which in terms of hydromorphological and biological features is variable, unique, and strongly diverse. Thus, decisions are followed by an unknown result concerning changes in the riverbed ecosystems. The aim of this study is to determine the suitability of game theory as a tool supporting decision-making in the design of regulatory works including ecological aspects, as well as an indication of a regulatory works model that would meet the expectations of water users while corresponding to environmentally friendly riverbed regulation. The analysis was made on the basis of observed changes in the number of species in aquatic plant vascular communities—one of the most important elements of a riverbed ecosystem. Using game theory, it is possible to create an effective tool for the design of regulatory works and decision-making process.
Investigation on the Debonding Failure Model of Anchored Polyurea Coating under a High-Velocity Water Flow and Its Application
Authors: Li Bingqi , Zhang Zhenyu , Wang Xiaogang , Liu Xiaonan
Published: February 2019

The debonding failure of a polymer-based coating seriously affects the safe operation of buildings under the action of a high-velocity flood discharge flow. In order to achieve a healthy and sustainable operation of hydropower stations, the debonding failure between polyurea coating and concrete was described by the cohesive zone model, and a debonding failure model was proposed and verified. The results obtained from the model were basically consistent with the test results. Accordingly, the influence of the performance of different anchoring types, the material mechanics of polyurea-based coating and the bonding on debonding behavior were analyzed, and engineering application research was also carried out. The impact resistances of polyurea-based coating under different anchoring conditions are obtained, which provide a reference for the anti-shock and wear-resistant design of flood discharge infrastructure. The elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the polyurea-based material have a significant influence on the impact resistance of polyurea-based coatings. When the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of a polyurea-based material are 25 MPa and 0.45, respectively, the impact resistance is optimal. The greater the fracture energy of the bonding material, the better the impact resistance. The engineering application results show that the seepage prevention and anti-wear characteristics of flood discharge infrastructure all meet the engineering requirements.
Sustainability Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Energy System Using an Improved Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Approach
Authors: Zhang Lihui , Xin He , Kan Zhinan
Published: February 2019

The hybrid energy system (HES) has attracted more and more attention since it can not only achieve multi-energy supply but realize cascade utilization of energy resources. However, the performances of the HES in relation to economic, environmental, social, and technological aspects are rarely studied. Therefore, this paper tries to fill this research gap to evaluate the sustainability performance of an HES. First, an evaluation criteria system is established based on a literature review. After that, the group analytic hierarchy process (GAHP) technique is used to obtain the importance weights of these criteria. Later, the sustainability performance of the HES is calculated through an improved fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) approach based on a cloud model. The applicability of this approach is demonstrated by a real case study in Zhejiang province, China. Finally, the sensitivity analysis results reveal that the overall consequence is that the performance of an HES is robust when the criteria weight is floating within a certain range (−30–30%), and the comparative analysis with the traditional FSE also reveals that the proposed approach is superior.
Prioritization of Strategic Intangible Assets in Make/Buy Decisions
Authors: Battagello Franco Maria , Cricelli Livio , Grimaldi Michele
Published: February 2019

Every company, in a knowledge-based economy and, in a sustainability-aware era, is “doomed” to deal with a critical mass of strategic assets, in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Maintaining this system up-to-date requires financial/organizational efforts. Therefore, in order to optimize performance, it is necessary to detect which are the assets that can be outsourced/externalized without jeopardizing the business model architecture. Nevertheless, several studies confirm the inherent risks upcoming with any decision of outsourcing; pursuing a bearable long-term advantage over competitors mostly involves combinations of resources and capabilities, i.e., intangible assets. By the means of a multi-criteria indicator, the proposed framework builds a quantitative relational ranking of such resources, disclosing their critical weight (revealing which assets are actually strategic), hence the convenience for each of them to be outsourced or kept “in-house” to create sustainable value. This solution permits a strategy-level prioritization to take informed decisions on outsourcing candidates, also returning further analytics on the status of each investigated entity. Designed as a discriminating tool in make/buy resolutions to be used alongside traditional cost-based criteria, it represents a comprehensive approach capable of appreciating the complexity of the problem and the involved risks in order to keep a sustainable momentum.
Analysis of Open Source Operating System Evolution: A Perspective from Package Dependency Network Motif
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Youguo , Tan Yusong , Wu Qingbo , Wu Quanyuan
Published: February 2019

Complexity of open source operating systems constantly increase on account of their widespread application. It is increasingly difficult to understand the collaboration between components in the system. Extant research of open source operating system evolution is mainly achieved by Lehman’s law, which is conducted by analyzing characteristics such as line of the source code. Networks, which are utilized to demonstrate relationships among entities, is an adequate model for exploring cooperation of units that form a software system. Software network has become a research hotspot in the field of software engineering, leading to a new viewpoint for us to estimate evolution of open source operating systems. Motif, a connected subgraph that occurs frequently in a network, is extensively used in other scientific research such as bioscience to detect evolutionary rules. Thus, this paper constructs software package dependency network of open source software operating systems and investigates their evolutionary discipline from the perspective of the motif. Results of our experiments, which took Ubuntu Kylin as a study example, indicate a stable evolution of motif change as well as discovering structural defect in that system.
Exploring Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Stachybotrys spp. by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Jagels Annika , Lindemann Viktoria , Ulrich Sebastian , Gottschalk Christoph , Cramer Benedikt , Hübner Florian , Gareis Manfred , Humpf Hans-Ulrich
Published: February 2019

The genus Stachybotrys produces a broad diversity of secondary metabolites, including macrocyclic trichothecenes, atranones, and phenylspirodrimanes. Although the class of the phenylspirodrimanes is the major one and consists of a multitude of metabolites bearing various structural modifications, few investigations have been carried out. Thus, the presented study deals with the quantitative determination of several secondary metabolites produced by distinct Stachybotrys species for comparison of their metabolite profiles. For that purpose, 15 of the primarily produced secondary metabolites were isolated from fungal cultures and structurally characterized in order to be used as analytical standards for the development of an LC-MS/MS multimethod. The developed method was applied to the analysis of micro-scale extracts from 5 different Stachybotrys strains, which were cultured on different media. In that process, spontaneous dialdehyde/lactone isomerization was observed for some of the isolated secondary metabolites, and novel stachybotrychromenes were quantitatively investigated for the first time. The metabolite profiles of Stachybotrys species are considerably influenced by time of growth and substrate availability, as well as the individual biosynthetic potential of the respective species. Regarding the reported adverse effects associated with Stachybotrys growth in building environments, combinatory effects of the investigated secondary metabolites should be addressed and the role of the phenylspirodrimanes re-evaluated in future research.
Immune Activation, Inflammation, and Non-AIDS Co-Morbidities in HIV-Infected Patients under Long-Term ART
Authors: Zicari Sonia , Sessa Libera , Cotugno Nicola , Ruggiero Alessandra , Morrocchi Elena , Concato Carlo , Rocca Salvatore , Zangari Paola , Manno Emma C. , Palma Paolo
Published: February 2019

Despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) still present persistent chronic immune activation and inflammation. This condition is the result of several factors including thymic dysfunction, persistent antigen stimulation due to low residual viremia, microbial translocation and dysbiosis, caused by the disruption of the gut mucosa, co-infections, and cumulative ART toxicity. All of these factors can create a vicious cycle that does not allow the full control of immune activation and inflammation, leading to an increased risk of developing non-AIDS co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of the most recent data about HIV-associated inflammation and chronic immune exhaustion in PLWH under effective ART. Furthermore, we discuss new therapy approaches that are currently being tested to reduce the risk of developing inflammation, ART toxicity, and non-AIDS co-morbidities.
Retrospective Detection and Genetic Characterization of Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) Strains Identified between 2006 and 2007 in Brazil
Authors: Saraiva Giuliana Loreto , Vidigal Pedro Marcus Pereira , Assao Viviane Sisdelli , Fajardo Murilo Leone Miranda , Loreto Alerrandra Nunes Saraiva , Fietto Juliana Lopes Rangel , Bressan Gustavo Costa , Lobato Zélia Inês Portela , Almeida Márcia Rogéria de , Silva-Júnior Abelardo
Published: February 2019

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) is an emerging virus that was first identified in the United States in 2016. Since its first detection, PCV3 has already been found in America, Asia, and Europe. Although PCV3 has already been described in Brazil, knowledge of its detection and sequence variation before 2016 is limited, as well as its distribution in the main swine producing regions of Brazil. In this study, 67 porcine clinical samples collected from nine states in Brazil between 2006 and 2007 were analyzed for PCV3 infection by PCR. Results showed that 47.8% of the samples were PCV3 positive, across all nine states. Of the PCV3-positive samples, 37.5% were also positive for PCV2. Interestingly, no clinical signs were associated with samples that were detected singularly with PCV3 infection. Moreover, the positive PCV3 rate in healthy pigs was higher (29.8%) than that found in unhealthy pigs (17.9%), suggesting that most pigs could live with PCV3 infection without any clinical sign in the analyzed samples. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that PCV3 strains obtained in this study shared 94.44% to 99.83% sequence identity at the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) gene level with available strains from different countries. PCV3 Brazilian sequences collected in 2006 and 2007 shared 97.94% to 99.62% identity with the strains obtained in 2016. The results of neutrality and selective pressure tests indicated that the PCV3 Cap protein seems unable to tolerate high levels of variation on its sequence. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Brazilian strains in PCV3a and PCV3b genotypes clusters, both including strains collected in America, Asia, and Europe. Taking the results together, multiple events of introduction of PCV3 may have occurred in Brazil, and Brazilian PCV3 strains may show genetic stability over the past 10 years.
Will Attention by Vaccine Developers to the Host’s Nuclear Hormone Levels and Immunocompetence Improve Vaccine Success?
Authors: Sealy Robert E. , Jones Bart G. , Surman Sherri L. , Penkert Rhiannon R. , Pelletier Stephane , Neale Geoff , Hurwitz Julia L.
Published: February 2019

Despite extraordinary advances in fields of immunology and infectious diseases, vaccine development remains a challenge. The development of a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, for example, has spanned more than 50 years of research with studies of more than 100 vaccine candidates. Dozens of attractive vaccine products have entered clinical trials, but none have completed the path to licensing. Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine development has proven equally difficult, as there is no licensed product after more than 30 years of pre-clinical and clinical research. Here, we examine vaccine development with attention to the host. We discuss how nuclear hormones, including vitamins and sex hormones, can influence responses to vaccines. We show how nuclear hormones interact with regulatory elements of immunoglobulin gene loci and how the deletion of estrogen response elements from gene enhancers will alter patterns of antibody isotype expression. Based on these findings, and findings that nuclear hormone levels are often insufficient or deficient among individuals in both developed and developing countries, we suggest that failed vaccine studies may in some cases reflect weaknesses of the host rather than the product. We encourage analyses of nuclear hormone levels and immunocompetence among study participants in clinical trials to ensure the success of future vaccine programs.
Anatomy and Pathology of the Texel Sheep Larynx
Authors: Waine Katie , Strugnell Ben , Remnant John , Lovatt Fiona , Green Martin , Rideout Hannah , Genever Elizabeth , Baiker Kerstin
Published: February 2019

Laryngeal chondritis, or “Texel throat”, is a disease affecting the upper respiratory tract of sheep with breeds like the Texel appearing to be predisposed. Previous work suggests the conformation of these breeds of sheep may be predisposing these animals to laryngeal disease. This study evaluated the anatomy of the Texel sheep larynx and describes incidental pathology. Forty-three larynges from rams of the Texel and Bluefaced Leicester breeds of sheep were measured and photographed. A larynx from each breed was submitted for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Measurements, photography, CT, and MRI demonstrated a difference in the anatomy of the larynx between breeds and a higher proportion of Texel sheep had laryngeal lesions. This study supports the hypothesis that the anatomy of the Texel sheep could be pre-disposing the breed to laryngeal chondritis.