bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controls on Deuterium Excess across Asia
Authors: Bershaw John
Published: July 2018

Deuterium excess (d-excess) is a second-order stable isotope parameter measured in meteoric water to understand both the source of precipitation and the evolution of moisture during transport. However, the interpretation of d-excess patterns in precipitation is often ambiguous, as changes in moisture source and processes during vapor transport both affect d-excess in non-unique ways. This is particularly true in Asia where continental moisture travels a long distance across diverse environments from unique moisture sources before falling as precipitation. Here, I analyzed published d-excess records from meteoric water throughout Asia to better characterize what influences d-excess values. I conclude that, (1) an increase in d-excess values with elevation up the windward side of mountain ranges and a marked decrease in d-excess into their rain shadows are primarily related to subcloud evaporation as opposed to moisture source mixing; (2) high d-excess values (>10‰) associated with the eastern Mediterranean Sea are lowered across much of Central Asia by the addition of other moisture sources, both oceanic and recycled continental; (3) subcloud evaporation of raindrops is lowering d-excess values of precipitation (<10‰) throughout the relatively arid Tarim Basin, China; and (4) temporal changes in d-excess values of alpine glaciers do reflect spatio-temporal changes in moisture source, as these samples experience minimal variation in subcloud evaporation.
Hydraulic Chiefdoms in the Eastern Andean Highlands of Colombia
Authors: Smyth Michael
Published: July 2018

The natural and cultural heritage of the Valley of Leiva in the Eastern Colombian Andes is closely tied to the Colonial town of Villa de Leyva. The popular tourist destination with rapid economic development and agricultural expansion contrasts sharply with an environment of limited water resources and landscape erosion. The recent discovery of Prehispanic hydraulic systems underscore ancient responses to water shortages conditioned by climate change. In an environment where effective rainfall and erosion are problematic, irrigation was vital to human settlement in this semi-arid highland valley. A chiefly elite responded to unpredictable precipitation by engineering a hydraulic landscape sanctioned by religious cosmology and the monolithic observatory at El Infiernito, the Stonehenge of Colombia. Early Colonial water works, however, transformed Villa de Leyva into a wheat breadbasket, though climatic downturns and poor management strategies contributed to an early 17th century crash in wheat production. Today, housing construction, intensive agriculture, and environmental instability combine to recreate conditions for acute water shortages. The heritage of a relatively dry valley with a long history of hydraulic chiefdoms, of which modern planners seem unaware, raises concerns for conservation and vulnerability to climate extremes and the need for understanding the prehistoric context and the magnitude of water availability today. This paper examines human ecodynamic factors related to the legacy of Muisca chiefdoms in the Leiva Valley and relevant issues of heritage in an Andean region undergoing rapid socio-economic change.
Role of Sediments in Insecticide Runoff from Urban Surfaces: Analysis and Modeling
Authors: Gorgoglione Angela , Bombardelli Fabián A. , Pitton Bruno J. L. , Oki Lorence R. , Haver Darren L. , Young Thomas M.
Published: July 2018

Insecticides, such as pyrethroids, have frequently been detected in runoff from urban areas, and their offsite transport can cause aquatic toxicity in urban streams and estuaries. To better understand the wash-off process of pesticide residues in urban runoff, the association of pyrethroids with sediment in runoff from residential surfaces was investigated in two watersheds located in Northern California (Sacramento County). Rainfall, flow rate, and event mean concentrations/loads of sediments and pyrethroids, collected during seasonal monitoring campaigns from 2007 to 2014, were analyzed to identify relationships among stormwater quality and rainfall characteristics, primarily using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Pyrethroid wash-off was strongly related to sediment wash-off whenever sediment loads exceeded 10 mg; this value was conveniently selected as a threshold between dissolved and particle-bound control of off-site pyrethroid transport. A new mechanistic model for predicting pyrethroid wash-off profiles from residential surfaces at basin-scale was implemented in the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). The accuracy of the model predictions was estimated by evaluating the root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliff efficiency (NSE), and Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) for each pyrethroid detected (RMSEtot = 0.13; NSEtot = 0.28; KGEtot = 0.56). The importance of particle-bound transport revealed in this work confirms previous field investigations at a smaller scale, and it should be a key consideration when developing policies to mitigate pesticide runoff from urban areas.
Loneliness and Health Service Utilization among the Rural Elderly in Shandong, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Jiao , Xu Lingzhong , Li Jiajia , Sun Long , Ding Gan , Qin Wenzhe , Wang Qian , Zhu Jing , Yu Zihang , Xie Su
Published: July 2018

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of loneliness and to explore the association between loneliness and health service utilization among the rural elderly in Shandong Province, China. Methods: A total of 5514 rural people aged 60 and above from Shandong Province, China, were enrolled in this study. Loneliness was used as a binary variable based on a single-item question. Health service utilization was measured by recent two-week physician visits and annual hospitalizations rates. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between loneliness and health service utilization. Results: The prevalence of loneliness among the rural elderly in Shandong, China, was 25.0%. Loneliness was associated with higher rates of recent two-week physician visits (OR = 1.260, p < 0.01) and annual hospitalizations (OR = 1.183, p < 0.05). The regression results also showed that self-rated health status and chronic conditions were significant and positively associated with both physician visits and hospitalizations rates. Conclusions: Loneliness had a significant association with higher odds of health service utilization among the elderly. The independent contribution of loneliness on health service utilization was smaller than self-rated health status and chronic conditions. Thus, healthcare policies need to shift from an emphasis on controlling health utilization and cost to a greater focus on enabling lonely older people to get more social support.
An Improved Control Strategy for Three-Phase Power Inverters in Islanded AC Microgrids
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zahid , Khan Muhammad Mansoor , Jiang Huawei , Hashmi Khurram , Shahid Muhammad Umair
Published: July 2018

Microgrids (MGs) are composed of multiple distributed generators (DGs) interfaced to micronetwork through paralleled connected power inverters (PIs). Load sharing among multiple DG units is an important task for autonomous operation of microgrids. In order to realize satisfactory power sharing and voltage regulation between DG units, different voltage droop control strategies have been reported in the literature. In the medium voltage (MV) microgrids, power sharing, and voltage regulation often deteriorate due to dependence on nontrivial feeder impedances. The conventional control strategies are subject to steady-state active and reactive power-sharing errors along with system voltage and frequency deviations. Furthermore, complex microgrid configurations either in looped or meshed networks often make power balancing and voltage regulations more challenging. This paper presents an improved control strategy that can be extended for radial networks in order to enhance the accuracy of power sharing and voltage regulation. The proposed control strategy considers load voltage magnitude regulation as opposed the voltage regulation at inverters terminals. At the same time, a supervisory control loop is added to observe and correct system frequency deviations. This proposed method is aimed at replacing paralleled inverter control methods hitherto used. Simulation studies of the proposed scheme in comparison with the conventional control strategy in MATLAB/Simulink validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Design and Construction of CFRP Rod Panel Retrofit for Impacted RC Bridge Girders
Authors: Peiris Abheetha , Harik Issam
Published: July 2018

CFRP Rod Panels (CRPs) have been recently developed to externally strengthening concrete structures in flexure, especially over multi-lane highways. Both exterior beams of a reinforced concrete (RC) bridge traversing southbound Interstate 71 (I-71) in Kentucky were damaged by an over-height truck impact. Rebars within the bottom mat of each exterior beam were severely bent due to the impact. CRP 195, with CFRP rods 3.96-mm (0.156 in) in diameter, and having a capacity of 870 kN (195.6 kips) per 300 mm (12 in) width of panel, were selected for flexural strengthening. CRPs were chosen due to their modular construction capability permitting a smaller work crew to carry out the retrofit construction while requiring closure of only a single lane of traffic on I-71. As current codes do not address CRPs, the retrofit design was based on American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines for externally bonded FRP. A load rating of the impacted girders was carried out for the as-built, damaged, and retrofitted stages. This paper details the retrofit construction of the bridge girders, highlighting the advantages of the CRPs.
Advanced Chemical Looping Materials for CO2 Utilization: A Review
Authors: Hu Jiawei , Galvita Vladimir V. , Poelman Hilde , Marin Guy B.
Published: July 2018

Combining chemical looping with a traditional fuel conversion process yields a promising technology for low-CO2-emission energy production. Bridged by the cyclic transformation of a looping material (CO2 carrier or oxygen carrier), a chemical looping process is divided into two spatially or temporally separated half-cycles. Firstly, the oxygen carrier material is reduced by fuel, producing power or chemicals. Then, the material is regenerated by an oxidizer. In chemical looping combustion, a separation-ready CO2 stream is produced, which significantly improves the CO2 capture efficiency. In chemical looping reforming, CO2 can be used as an oxidizer, resulting in a novel approach for efficient CO2 utilization through reduction to CO. Recently, the novel process of catalyst-assisted chemical looping was proposed, aiming at maximized CO2 utilization via the achievement of deep reduction of the oxygen carrier in the first half-cycle. It makes use of a bifunctional looping material that combines both catalytic function for efficient fuel conversion and oxygen storage function for redox cycling. For all of these chemical looping technologies, the choice of looping materials is crucial for their industrial application. Therefore, current research is focused on the development of a suitable looping material, which is required to have high redox activity and stability, and good economic and environmental performance. In this review, a series of commonly used metal oxide-based materials are firstly compared as looping material from an industrial-application perspective. The recent advances in the enhancement of the activity and stability of looping materials are discussed. The focus then proceeds to new findings in the development of the bifunctional looping materials employed in the emerging catalyst-assisted chemical looping technology. Among these, the design of core-shell structured Ni-Fe bifunctional nanomaterials shows great potential for catalyst-assisted chemical looping.
Screen Printed Pb3O4 Films and Their Application to Photoresponsive and Photoelectrochemical Devices
Authors: Panetta Riccardo , Quaranta Simone , Latini Alessandro
Published: July 2018

A new and simple procedure for the deposition of lead (II, IV) oxide films by screen printing was developed. In contrast to conventional electrochemical methods, films can be also deposited on non-conductive substrates without any specific dimensional restriction, being the only requirement the thermal stability of the substrate in air up to 500 °C to allow for the calcination of the screen printing paste and sintering of the film. In this study, films were exploited for the preparation of both photoresponsive devices and photoelectrochemical cell photoanodes. In both cases, screen printing was performed on FTO (Fluorine-Tin Oxide glass) substrates. The photoresponsive devices were tested with I-V curves in dark and under simulated solar light with different irradiation levels. Responses were evaluated at different voltage biases and under light pulses of different durations. Photoelectrochemical cells were tested by current density–voltage (J-V) curves under air mass (AM) 1.5 G illumination, incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
A Generalized Fejér–Hadamard Inequality for Harmonically Convex Functions via Generalized Fractional Integral Operator and Related Results
Authors: Kang Shin Min , Abbas Ghulam , Farid Ghulam , Nazeer Waqas
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we obtain a version of the Fejér–Hadamard inequality for harmonically convex functions via generalized fractional integral operator. In addition, we establish an integral identity and some Fejér–Hadamard type integral inequalities for harmonically convex functions via a generalized fractional integral operator. Being generalizations, our results reproduce some known results.
Effectiveness of Raw, Natural Medical Cannabis Flower for Treating Insomnia under Naturalistic Conditions
Authors: Vigil Jacob M. , Stith Sarah S. , Diviant Jegason P. , Brockelman Franco , Keeling Keenan , Hall Branden
Published: July 2018

Background: We use a mobile software application (app) to measure for the first time, which fundamental characteristics of raw, natural medical Cannabis flower are associated with changes in perceived insomnia under naturalistic conditions. Methods: Four hundred and nine people with a specified condition of insomnia completed 1056 medical cannabis administration sessions using the Releaf AppTM educational software during which they recorded real-time ratings of self-perceived insomnia severity levels prior to and following consumption, experienced side effects, and product characteristics, including combustion method, cannabis subtypes, and/or major cannabinoid contents of cannabis consumed. Within-user effects of different flower characteristics were modeled using a fixed effects panel regression approach with standard errors clustered at the user level. Results: Releaf AppTM users showed an average symptom severity reduction of −4.5 points on a 0–10 point visual analogue scale (SD = 2.7, d = 2.10, p < 0.001). Use of pipes and vaporizers was associated with greater symptom relief and more positive and context-specific side effects as compared to the use of joints, while vaporization was also associated with lower negative effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) was associated with greater statistically significant symptom relief than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but the cannabinoid levels generally were not associated with differential side effects. Flower from C. sativa plants was associated with more negative side effects than flower from C. indica or hybrid plant subtypes. Conclusions: Consumption of medical Cannabis flower is associated with significant improvements in perceived insomnia with differential effectiveness and side effect profiles, depending on the product characteristics.
The Effects of Sodium Ions, Phosphorus, and Silicon on the Eco-Friendly Process of Vanadium Precipitation by Hydrothermal Hydrogen Reduction
Authors: Zhang Guobin , Zhang Yimin , Bao Shenxu
Published: July 2018

The effects of sodium ions, phosphorus, and silicon on the eco-friendly process of vanadium precipitation by hydrothermal hydrogen reduction were investigated to establish the suitable concentrated solution system for this eco-friendly process. The results showed that sodium ions had no negative effects on the vanadium precipitation process. Phosphorus can reduce vanadate ion activity, and results in the decrease of vanadium precipitation percentage from 99.5% to 61.3%, as the phosphorus concentration in the feed solution increased from 0.05 g/L to 3 g/L. As a result, the aimed products of V2O3 were hard to be obtained, and the purity of the precipitates was lowered. Silicon can absorb in the form of H3Si3O7 on the surface of the precipitates, thus it was difficult for H (activity hydrogen atom) to react with the intermediate vanadium-bearing precipitates. As a result, the vanadium precipitation percentage decreased from 99.5% to 86.2% as the silicon concentration in the feed solution increased from 0.1 g/L to 3 g/L. The aimed products of V2O3 were not easy to be obtained, and only the intermediate vanadium-bearing precipitates containing sodium ions were obtained. The upper limits of the concentrations of phosphorus and silicon in the feed V (V) solution were ascertained as 0.5 g/L and 0.1 g/L, respectively. As the concentrations of phosphorus and silicon in the purified alkaline-concentrated V (V) solution extracted from vanadium-bearing shale are usually below the upper limits of the concentrations, the eco-friendly process of vanadium precipitation by hydrothermal hydrogen reduction has a great application prospect in the field of vanadium extraction from vanadium-bearing shale.
Structure-Related Gelling of Pectins and Linking with Other Natural Compounds: A Review
Authors: Gawkowska Diana , Cybulska Justyna , Zdunek Artur
Published: July 2018

Pectins are polysaccharides present commonly in dicotyledonous and non-grass monocotyledonous plants. Depending on the source, pectins may vary in molecular size, degrees of acetylation and methylation and contents of galacturonic acid and neutral sugar residues. Therefore, pectins demonstrate versatile gelling properties and are capable of forming complexes with other natural compounds, and as a result, they are useful for designing food products. This review focuses on the structure-related mechanisms of pectin gelling and linking with other natural compounds such as cellulose, hemicellulose, ferulic acid, proteins, starch, and chitosan. For each system, optimal conditions for obtaining useful functionality for food design are described. This review strongly recommends that pectins, as a natural biocomponent, should be the focus for both the food industry and the bioeconomy since pectins are abundant in fruits and may also be extracted from cell walls in a similar way to cellulose and hemicellulose. However, due to the complexity of the pectin family and the dynamic structural changes during plant organ development, a more intensive study of their structure-related properties is necessary. Fractioning using different solvents at well-defined development stages and an in-depth study of the molecular structure and properties within each fraction and stage, is one possible way to proceed with the investigation.
Erratum: Khairul, I.M. et al. Inter-Comparison of Gauge-Corrected Global Satellite Rainfall Estimates and Their Applicability for Effective Water Resource Management in a Transboundary River Basin: The Case of the Meghna River Basin. Remote Sens. 2018, 6, 828
Authors: Khairul Islam , Mastrantonas Nikolaos , Rasmy Mohamed , Koike Toshio , Takeuchi Kuniyoshi
Published: July 2018

After publication of the paper [1], it was found that one of the contributing authors, Nikolaos Mastrantonas, was not included in the original version of the article.[...]
Examining Spatial Patterns of Urban Distribution and Impacts of Physical Conditions on Urbanization in Coastal and Inland Metropoles
Authors: Lu Dengsheng , Li Longwei , Li Guiying , Fan Peilei , Ouyang Zutao , Moran Emilio
Published: July 2018

Urban expansion has long been a research hotspot and is often based on individual cities, but rarely has research conducted a comprehensive comparison between coastal and inland metropoles for understanding different spatial patterns of urban expansions and driving forces. We selected coastal metropoles (Shanghai and Shenzhen in China, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam) and inland metropoles (Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Lanzhou in China, and Vientiane in Laos) with various developing stages and physical conditions for examining the spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansions in the past 25 years (1990–2015). Multitemporal Landsat images with 30 m spatial resolution were used to develop urban impervious surface area (ISA) distributions and examine their dynamic changes. The impacts of elevation, slope, and rivers on spatial patterns of urban expansion were examined. This research indicates that ISA is an important variable for examining urban expansion. Coastal metropoles had much faster urbanization rates than inland metropoles. The spatial patterns of urban ISA distribution and expansion are greatly influenced by physical conditions; that is, ISA is mainly distributed in the areas with slopes of less than 10 degrees. Rivers are important geographical factors constraining urban expansion, especially in developing stages, while bridges across the rivers promote urban expansion patterns and rates. The relationships of spatial patterns of urban ISA distribution and dynamics with physical conditions provide scientific data for urban planning, management, and sustainability.
Long-Term Peatland Condition Assessment via Surface Motion Monitoring Using the ISBAS DInSAR Technique over the Flow Country, Scotland
Authors: Alshammari Lubna , Large David J. , Boyd Doreen S. , Sowter Andrew , Anderson Russell , Andersen Roxane , Marsh Stuart
Published: July 2018

Satellite Earth Observation (EO) is often used as a cost-effective method to report on the condition of remote and inaccessible peatland areas. Current EO techniques are primarily limited to reporting on the vegetation classes and properties of the immediate peat surface using optical data, which can be used to infer peatland condition. Another useful indicator of peatland condition is that of surface motion, which has the potential to report on mass accumulation and loss of peat. Interferometic SAR (InSAR) techniques can provide this using data from space. However, the most common InSAR techniques for information extraction, such as Persistent Scatterers’ Interferometry (PSI), have seen limited application over peat as they are primarily tuned to work in areas of high coherence (i.e., on hard, non-vegetated surfaces only). A new InSAR technique, called the Intermittent Small BAseline Subset (ISBAS) method, has been recently developed to provide measurements over vegetated areas from SAR data acquired by satellite sensors. This paper examines the feasibility of the ISBAS technique for monitoring long-term surface motion over peatland areas of the Flow Country, in the northeast of Scotland. In particular, the surface motions estimated are compared with ground data over a small forested area (namely the Bad a Cheo forest Reserve). Two sets of satellite SAR data are used: ERS C-band images, covering the period 1992–2000, and Sentinel-1 C-band images, covering the period 2015–2016. We show that the ISBAS measurements are able to identify surface motion over peatland areas, where subsidence is a consequence of known land cover/land use. In particular, the ISBAS products agree with the trend of surface motion, but there are uncertainties with their magnitude and direction (vertical). It is concluded that there is a potential for the ISBAS method to be able to report on trends in subsidence and uplift over peatland areas, and this paper suggests avenues for further investigation, but this requires a well-resourced validation campaign.
An Indoor Positioning System Based on Static Objects in Large Indoor Scenes by Using Smartphone Cameras
Authors: Xiao Aoran , Chen Ruizhi , Li Deren , Chen Yujin , Wu Dewen
Published: July 2018

The demand for location-based services (LBS) in large indoor spaces, such as airports, shopping malls, museums and libraries, has been increasing in recent years. However, there is still no fully applicable solution for indoor positioning and navigation like Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions in outdoor environments. Positioning in indoor scenes by using smartphone cameras has its own advantages: no additional needed infrastructure, low cost and a large potential market due to the popularity of smartphones, etc. However, existing methods or systems based on smartphone cameras and visual algorithms have their own limitations when implemented in relatively large indoor spaces. To deal with this problem, we designed an indoor positioning system to locate users in large indoor scenes. The system uses common static objects as references, e.g., doors and windows, to locate users. By using smartphone cameras, our proposed system is able to detect static objects in large indoor spaces and then calculate the smartphones’ position to locate users. The system integrates algorithms of deep learning and computer vision. Its cost is low because it does not require additional infrastructure. Experiments in an art museum with a complicated visual environment suggest that this method is able to achieve positioning accuracy within 1 m.
High Accuracy Open-Type Current Sensor with a Differential Planar Hall Resistive Sensor
Authors: Lee Sungho , Hong Sungmin , Park Wonki , Kim Wonhyo , Lee Jaehoon , Shin Kwangho , Kim Cheol-Gi , Lee Daesung
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we propose a high accuracy open-type current sensor with a differential Planar Hall Resistive (PHR) sensor. Conventional open-type current sensors with magnetic sensors are usually vulnerable to interference from an external magnetic field. To reduce the effect of an unintended magnetic field, the proposed design uses a differential structure with PHR. The differential structure provides robust performance to unwanted magnetic flux and increased magnetic sensitivity. In addition, instead of conventional Hall sensors with a magnetic concentrator, a newly developed PHR with high sensitivity is employed to sense horizontal magnetic fields. The PHR sensor and read-out integrated circuit (IC) are integrated through a post-Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process using multi-chip packaging. The current sensor is designed to measure a 1 A current level. The measured performance of the designed current sensor has a 16 kHz bandwidth and a current nonlinearity of under ±0.5%.
Radiation-Resistant Er3+-Doped Superfluorescent Fiber Sources
Authors: Liu Chengxiang , Wu Xu , Zhu Jianhui , He Nie , Li Zhuoyan , Zhang Gongshen , Zhang Li , Ruan Shuangchen
Published: July 2018

The radiation effects of three Er3+-doped superfluorescent fiber sources (SFSs), which are based on three segments of Er-doped fibers with different lengths, are studied experimentally. We observed that the radiation-induced attenuation of the signal light of the 1530 nm band for an SFS is less than that of the 1560 nm band. Thus, the trimming technique of the Gauss-like spectra is investigated to reduce the mean wavelength drift. A filter was customized and used in superfluorescent fiber sources. To further reduce output power loss, the method with feedback control of pump power was adopted in the SFS. Then, the trimming spectral SFS with pump feedback control was tested under irradiation environment at the dose rate of 2.988 Gy/h. The experimental results demonstrate that the mean wavelength drift is <40 ppm and the loss of output power is <0.2 dB under a total dose higher than 1000 Gy. These findings confirm the significance of the method in improving radiation-resistant capabilities of fiber sources under irradiation environments.
Hydrological Evaluation of Flow Diversion Terraces Using Downhill-Slope Calculation Method for High Resolution and Accuracy DEMs
Authors: Qi Junyu , Liang Kang , Li Sheng , Wang Lichun , Meng Fan-Rui
Published: July 2018

Slope is an important topographical parameter in hydrological models. Dramatic changes in slope are produced due to micro variations of topography in flow diversion terrace (FDT) systems. Assessing the effectiveness of FDT on soil conservation yields different results using different slope calculation methods with different resolution and accuracy digital elevation models (DEMs). In this study, the ArcGIS built-in average-neighborhood-slope (ANS) method and a downhill-slope (DHS) method were used to calculate slopes for a small agricultural watershed in New Brunswick, Canada. Six DEMs were used, i.e., 1, 5 and 10 m resolution DEMs generated with conventional photogrammetric techniques, and 1, 5, and 10 m resolution DEMs derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Calculated slopes were summarized for the whole watershed, a patch of FDT systems, and grassed flow channels in front of embankments in the patch. Results indicated that the DHS method produced smaller slopes than the ANS method with LiDAR-1m DEM along grasses flow channels. Furthermore, the mean L-factor derived from the DHS method was smaller than that derived from the ANS in terraces and grassed flow channels for the LiDAR-1m DEM. Finally, soil loss estimated from the DHS method using RUSLE was more consistent with measurement for the watershed than that from the ANS method when the LiDAR-1m DEM was used. The DHS method can provide accurate slopes along grassed flow channels and can be used to assess FDT systems using USLE-based models with high resolution and accuracy DEMs.
The Role of Product Design in Creating Circular Business Models: A Case Study on the Lease and Refurbishment of Baby Strollers
Authors: Sumter Deborah , Bakker Conny , Balkenende Ruud
Published: July 2018

In the transition to a circular economy companies are exploring new business models, implying a shift from selling products to offering products in circular business models, such as leasing. Product design is thought to play a crucial role in enabling this. Having a robust overview of relevant design roles and competencies is of foundational importance for the development of circular design tools and methods, and for the development of circular economy-based design curricula in higher education. However, how the role of design and the competencies required by designers need to change has hardly been investigated. Building on insights from literature regarding competencies of designers required to consider sustainability, sustainable design, and circular design, we developed a framework in which these competencies are related to the functional, coordinating, and strategic roles that have been recognized within the literature for designers. To complement the results from the literature with insights from practice, a single longitudinal in-depth case study was carried out describing a lease and refurbishment pilot conducted by a Dutch design-driven manufacturer of baby strollers. This case study allowed verification of the literature regarding the functional and coordinating roles of the designer. In addition, we were able to fill the gap observed in the literature regarding the strategic role product designers can assume when designing offers for circular business models. The competencies that we found are (1) the ability to concurrently develop the circular business model and the product’s design and (2) the ability to anticipate how the circular offering will evolve over multiple lifecycles. These findings have been used to expand the framework.
The Relevance of Collaborative Networks in Emerging Clusters. The Case of Muntenia-Oltenia Regions in Romania
Authors: Tomás-Miquel José-Vicente , Brătucu Gabriel , Expósito-Langa Manuel , Bărbulescu Oana
Published: July 2018

The present study aims to analyse the impact of collaborative networks on a firm’s international presence in contexts of emerging clusters in transition economies. The empirical study conducted here focuses on a sample of 42 firms belonging to the Muntenia-Oltenia wine cluster in Romania. Social network analysis techniques and non-parametric tests were applied to address the research questions. Findings reveal that companies’ external resources, mainly their relationships with other firms and institutions in the cluster, are essential aspects in promoting their access to international markets. Furthermore, with regard to the relationships between cluster companies and institutions, our results suggest that trade support institutions are relevant in supporting these internationalisation actions, while technical support institutions do not influence the international presence of cluster firms. These findings provide relevant insights for companies, institutions, and policymakers on the best way to promote cluster firms’ international participation.
Cognitive Effects and Educational Possibilities of Physical Activity in Sustainable Cities
Authors: Romance Ramón , Nielsen-Rodríguez Adriana , Benítez-Porres Javier , Chinchilla-Minguet José Luis , Morente-Oria Honorato
Published: July 2018

Life in cities has allowed the development of our capabilities since they have the necessary elements to evolve through successive generations. Our survival and well-being depend on social interactions. However, the excessive comforts offered by cities can be counterproductive to our health. This paper aims to identify the cognitive effects derived from the regular practice of physical activity (PA), as well as the opportunities and characteristics present in cities to enhance this activity and the pedagogical implications that can be extracted from it. Sustainable cities must achieve their ecological goals through economic development that meets the present needs without compromising the quality of the future. Reports reveal that the widespread lack of PA is a major risk factor for both physical and mental health. The literature provides more and more evidence of how physical exercise affects the brain and cognition, and informs us of how and when we perform our daily PA. An analysis of the situation reveals the need to plan an urbanism committed to the promotion of PA accompanied by an analysis of the characteristics of urban spaces demanded by citizens and a necessary programming of recreational and educational activities that encourage the practice of physical exercise.
relxill_nk: A Relativistic Reflection Model for Testing Einstein’s Gravity
Authors: Bambi Cosimo , Abdikamalov Askar B. , Ayzenberg Dimitry , Cao Zheng , Liu Honghui , Nampalliwar Sourabh , Tripathi Ashutosh , Wang-Ji Jingyi , Xu Yerong
Published: July 2018

Einstein’s theory of general relativity was proposed over 100 years ago and has successfully passed a large number of observational tests in the weak field regime. However, the strong field regime is largely unexplored, and there are many modified and alternative theories that have the same predictions as Einstein’s gravity for weak fields and present deviations when gravity becomes strong. relxill_nk is the first relativistic reflection model for probing the spacetime metric in the vicinity of astrophysical black holes and testing Einstein’s gravity in the strong field regime. Here, we present our current constraints on possible deviations from Einstein’s gravity obtained from the black holes in 1H0707–495, Ark 564, GX 339–4, and GS 1354–645.
Numerical Investigation on Infiltration and Runoff in Unsaturated Soils with Unsteady Rainfall Intensity
Authors: Tan Jinqiang , Song Hongqing , Zhang Hailong , Zhu Qinghui , Xing Yi , Zhang Jie
Published: July 2018

Modeling infiltration into soil and runoff quantitative evaluations is very significant for hydrological applications. In this paper, a flow model of unsaturated soils was established. A computational process of soil water content and runoff prediction was presented that combines an analytical solution with numerical approaches. The solutions have good agreements with the experimental results and other infiltration solutions (Richards numerical solution and classical Green–Ampt solution). We analyzed the effects on cumulative infiltration and runoff under three conditions of rainfall intensity with same average magnitude. These rainfall conditions were (Case 1) decreasing rainfall, (Case 2) steady rainfall, and (Case 3) increasing rainfall, respectively. The results show that the cumulative infiltration in Case 1 is the highest among the three cases. The cumulative runoff under condition of Case 3 is smaller than that of decreasing rainfall at the initial stage, which then becomes larger at the later stage. The time of runoff under the conditions of Case 1 is earliest among the three rainfall conditions, which is about 50% earlier than Case 3. Therefore, project construction for urban flood control should pay more attention to urban flood defense in increasing rainfall weather than other rainfall intensities under the same average magnitude. The approaches presented can be utilized to easily and effectively evaluate infiltration and runoff as a theoretical foundation.
The Effects of Litter Layer and Topsoil on Surface Runoff during Simulated Rainfall in Guizhou Province, China: A Plot Scale Case Study
Authors: Zhou Qiuwen , Zhou Xu , Luo Ya , Cai Mingyong
Published: July 2018

Litter layers and topsoil have important effects on surface runoff. To investigate these effects at the plot scale, artificial rainfall experiments were conducted on micro-runoff plots in Guizhou Province, China. Three types of plots were selected, the thin litter layer with low soil bulk density type (T-L type), the thick litter layer with high soil bulk density type (T-H type), and the moderate litter depth and soil bulk density type (M type), and three artificial rainfall intensities (30 mm/h, 70 mm/h, 120 mm/h) were used. The runoff volume was largest in the T-H type plot at different rainfall intensities and durations. Runoff in the M type plot had characteristics of both the T-L and T-H type plots. The runoff yielding speed was significantly higher and the runoff yielding time was significantly lower in the T-H type plot. In general, the runoff coefficient was the smallest in the T-L type plot and largest in the T-H type plot. The variations in the runoff coefficient were 15.6%, 19.3%, and 5.8% for the T-L, T-H, and M type plots respectively. The results of this study can improve the understanding of surface runoff processes at the plot scale under different litter and surface soil conditions.
Ecological Responses of Lakes to Climate Change
Authors: Havens Karl , Jeppesen Erik
Published: July 2018

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Detection of Sediment Trends Using Wavelet Transforms in the Upper Indus River
Authors: Tarar Zeeshan Riaz , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Ahmad Iftikhar , Majid Zahra
Published: July 2018

Sediment load trends play a key role in modelling either river morphology or reservoir sedimentation. In this study, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) series of four representative gauging stations of the Upper Indus Basin (Yugo, Dainyor, Bunji and Besham Qila) were selected and updated from a vast network of hydro-meteorological stations being operated and maintained by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan from the 1960s up to now. The temporal variations in the series were analysed using the wavelet transform (WT) method. The WT method disclosed the temporal and frequency information for trend estimation analysis by decomposing data on several levels. The results of the combined methods, WT and Mann–Kendall (MK) trend tests, revealed that the annual sediment time series, available since the 1960s for some stations, exhibited a statistically insignificant trend due to statistically significant intra-annual (monthly) shifts. Generally increasing trends in the winter months and decreasing trends in summer months for major sub-catchments of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) were detected. However, the study also proved that the identified intra-annual or monthly shifts in upper sub-catchments were being neutralized as the sediment progressed downstream. This study of variations in sediment trends was required for constructing sediment budgets and sustainable operations of existing and planned future water storage along the tributaries and the main stem of the Upper Indus River.
APPROACH TO RATIONAL CALCULATION OF SUPERELEVATION IN DUAL GAUGE TRACK
Authors: Gailienė Inesa , Gedaminskas Martynas , Laurinavičius Alfredas
Published: July 2018

One of the technical possibilities to solve a gauge crossing is to install a dual gauge. This solution has several advantages and disadvantages discussed in this paper. Lack of experience of maintenance and lack of standards for the design of dual track are among the most important disadvantages. The wheel and rail interface on track curves is more difficult than in straight sections. Therefore, the subject of the present article is a geometrical parameter of dual gauge track, i.e., the rail superelevation, which has an impact on the wheel–rail interaction at curves and influences the value of uncompensated acceleration, occurring when a train passes a curve, and, consequently, the intensity of rail wear. The objective of the present article is to analyse the features of dual gauge track and the superelevation calculation methodology considered, to present the approach to rational calculation of superelevation for dual gauge track of Šeštokai–Mockava (Lithuania–Poland) using several calculation versions as well as to make recommendations for the calculation of superelevation.
Educação escolar indígena como possibilidade para romper processos de invisibilização
Authors: Bento Karla Lucia , Theis Ivo Marcos , Blanck de Oliveira Lilian
Published: July 2018

O Povo Indígena Laklãnõ/Xokleng habitava o sul do Brasil até a chegada dos colonizadores portugueses que ocuparam as suas terras. O processo de colonização resultou na quase extinção dos indígenas que resistiam à submissão cultural. Os problemas se multiplicaram, mais recentemente, com processos de desenvolvimento que os invisibilizaram ainda mais. Para sobreviver, esse Povo precisou se apropriar da cultura dominante, utilizando a escola como instrumento. Nosso objetivo é problematizar algumas ações que visaram o desenvolvimento da região com a chegada dos europeus e identificar estratégias de sobrevivência, pressupondo que a escola indígena fortaleceu essas estratégias. Utilizamos pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e dados empíricos. Ao final, sinalizamos o resgate da história e da cultura indígena via processos educacionais interculturais, demonstrando a contribuição do Povo Indígena na constituição do que hoje é chamado Vale Europeu.
A participação das mulheres na pesca artesanal: uma pesquisa exploratória no Canto de Itaipu, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Rodrigues Davi Henrique Xavier Branco Carioni , Jorge Clara De Lima Patrizi , De Oliveira Marina Freire , Lianza Sidney
Published: July 2018

Esta pesquisa exploratória tem o intuito abordar a questão da participação das mulheres nas atividades de produção e reprodução social associadas à pesca artesanal realizada na comunidade do Canto de Itaipu, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa foi realizada com base em levantamento bibliográfico, observações de campo e em entrevistas semiestruturadas. Nosso objetivo central consistiu na busca por referencias que pudessem nortear a construção de uma linha de pesquisa e de extensão sobre gênero nos trabalhos desenvolvidos pelo Programa de Pesquisa-Ação na Cadeia Produtiva da Pesca Artesanal (PAPESCA) no Canto de Itaipu. Notamos que apesar de terem crescido as pesquisas sobre gênero na pesca artesanal na última década, o mesmo não pode ser constatado para o caso do Canto de Itaipu. Com base nos resultados é possível estabelecer direções para a realização de uma pesquisa-ação que busque ampliar o conhecimento e fortalecer a participação das mulheres na organização social do Canto de Itaipu.
Reflexões sobre a construção de outro paradigma na engenharia: potencialidades e limitações das tecnologias sociais e da extensão universitária
Authors: Chaves Vitor Tonzar , Pérez Pompeu Lucca
Published: July 2018

O presente artigo tem como objetivo principal discutir como o marco analítico conceitual da Tecnologia Social (TS) e a Extensão Universitária (EU) podem contribuir para a ressignificação da engenharia. Para nortear essa reflexão adota-se o conceito de paradigma a fim de integrar os diferentes fatores sociotécnicos que condicionam a formação e atuação dos engenheiros. Seguimos com a caracterização do paradigma tradicional da engenharia, buscando identificar como as contribuições da TS e da EU podem transformá-lo. Realizamos uma revisão crítica desses conceitos e  apresentamos como estudo de caso a experiência de um grupo de extensão que nós participamos. Essa experiência ajudou a refletir sobre as potencialidades e limitações da EU e da TS para a construção desse outro paradigma na engenharia e nos levaram a concluir que elas são importantes ferramentas nesse processo, pois a EU contribui para materialização da TS a partir da prática assentada em outros valores. Mas concluímos que uma transição paradigmática só será alcançada em um processo mais amplo de disputa política, pois a EU e a TS em si não garantem a transformação dos paradigmas dos cursos de engenharia.
Modification of landscape as promoter of change in structure and taxonomic diversity of reptile´s communities: an example in tropical landscape in the central region of Mexico
Authors: Berriozabal-Islas Christian , Ramírez-Bautista Aurelio , Cruz-Elizalde Raciel , Hernández-Salinas Uriel
Published: July 2018

The degree of species loss was assessed by comparing the structure of communities and species diversity of reptiles from three different environments, one natural (tropical evergreen forest [TEF]) and two modified (shaded coffee plantation [SCP] and grazing area [GA]) from the mid portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico. The results showed 29 species, 18 in TEF, 13 in SCP and 12 in GA. According to the abundance of each species, the reptile structure for TEF and SCP was similar and they both differed from GA, while the diversity (effective number of species) was the highest for TEF. The percentage of number of species from TEF accounted for 28% more species than SCP and GA, which indicated a species loss of about 70% in disturbed environments. The values of beta diversity were the highest between TEF and GA, followed by SCP and GA and to a lesser degree between TEF and SCP, which indicates that TEF showed a high number of exclusive species. Our results suggest that carrying out long-term studies that include richness and diversity in environments with different levels of disturbance, in addition to including characteristics of natural history, might enhance the development of more efficient conservation strategies for these species.
Checklist of ladybirds of Algeria with two new recorded species (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)
Authors: Lakhal Mohamed Amin , Ghezali Djelloul , Nedvěd Oldřich , Doumandji Salaheddine
Published: July 2018

An updated and corrected checklist of species of ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) known in Algeria now contains 75 species belonging in ten tribes. New country records include the European species Oenopiaconglobata and the invasive Asian species Harmoniaaxyridis. Sampling data is provided for 14 species found during a faunistic survey performed mostly in agroecosystems, together with host plant and prey species.