bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Partial nitritation treating nitrogen in old landfill leachate
Authors: Phan Nhat The , Truong Van Thi Thanh , Le Son Thanh , Ha Biec Nhu , Nguyen Dan Phuoc
Published: September 2018

In this study, a lab-scale Partial Nitritation Sequencing Batch Reactor (PNSBR) was implemented for treating high-ammonium old landfill leachate to yield an appropriate NO2—N/ NH4+-N ratio from 1/1 to 1.32/1 mixture as a pretreatment for subsequent Anammox. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) at different influent ammonia concentrations for 210 days. The experimental results showed that with the influent ammonia concentrations of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/L, HRT is 12 h, 21 h, 30 h and 48 h, respectively. The range of free ammonia (FA) concentration from 17 to 44 mg/L completely inhibited nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) for long time operation. The COD removal efficiency was very low (6±2) %.
Adsorption of As(V) and As(III) from aqueous solution by lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) nanoparticle
Authors: Nguyen Trung Dinh , Truong Phuong Dong
Published: September 2018

γ-FeOOH nanorods an adsorbent for As(V) and As(III) removal was prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method. The maximum adsorption capacities at pH6 for As(V) and As(III) were 63.75 and 88.99 mg/g, respectively, higher than those of Fe2O3, Fe3O4... The adsorption data accorded with Freundlich isotherms. At the study pH, for arsen, the adsorption equilibrium was gained after 90 min. Kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order reaction model. The adsorption of γ-FeOOH for As (V) and As(III) could be competed by some other ion such as sulfate, ammonium and chloride. The high adsorption capability and good performance on other aspects make the γ-FeOOH nanorod a promissing adsorbent for the removal of As (V) and As(III) from the groundwater.
Análise das despesas com pessoal dos Poderes Executivos dos estados do Nordeste quanto aos limites estabelecidos na lei de responsabilidade fiscal
Authors: Rabelo Natanael Carvalho , Rodrigues Jùnior Manuel Salgueiro
Published: September 2018

A Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal existe para estabelecer, nacionalmente, padrões relacionados às finanças públicas onde cada ente federativo deve observar os limites de gastos, endividamento, entre outros aspectos. Sabendo disso, o objetivo deste artigo é analisar as despesas com pessoal dos Poderes Executivos dos Estados da região Nordeste no período de 2013 a 2017, identificando o cumprimento dos limites estabelecidos pela mencionada Lei, apontando os impactos que a evolução dos gastos com pessoal e da Receita Corrente Líquida trouxeram para as finanças públicas destes Estados. Para tanto, foi feita uma pesquisa de natureza exploratória, analisando as despesas e receitas dos estados da região Nordeste. Os resultados indicaram que a recessão econômica afetou as contas públicas dos Estados, notadamente por conta da redução das receitas. Observou-se ainda que, na média geral, o ano de 2015 foi mais atribulado em decorrência das dificuldades ocasionadas pelo primeiro mandato dos governadores eleitos e do agravamento da crise econômica. Notou-se que os governantes reeleitos tiveram dificuldades para controlar os gastos com pessoal.
A Comparison between Two Reduction Strategies for Shrouded Bladed Disks
Authors: Sommariva Alessandro , Zucca Stefano
Published: September 2018

Shrouded bladed disks exhibit a nonlinear dynamic behavior due to the contact interfaces at shrouds between neighboring blades. As a result, reduced order models (ROMs) are mandatory to compute the response levels during the design phase for high cycle fatigue (HCF) life assessment. In this paper, two reduction strategies for shrouded bladed disk reduction are presented. Both approaches rely on: (i) the cyclic symmetry of the linear bladed disk with open shrouds to perform only single sector calculations, (ii) the Craig–Bampton (CB) method to reduce the number of physical degrees of freedom (dofs). The two approaches are applied to a set of test cases in order to evaluate and compare their accuracy and the associated computational effort. Although both approaches allow for generating accurate ROMs, it is found that the numerical efficiency of the two methods depends on the ratio of the number of nodes at the inter-sector interfaces over the number of inner nodes of the elementary sector model.
Role of Piezoelectric Elements in Finding the Mechanical Properties of Solid Industrial Materials
Authors: Mohammed Arshed Abdulhamed , Haris Sallehuddin Mohamed , Nuawi Mohd Zaki
Published: September 2018

Recent developments in ultrasonic material testing have increased the need to evaluate the current status of the different applications of piezoelectric elements (PEs). This research have reviewed state-of-the-art emerging new technology and the role of PEs in tests for a number of mechanical properties, such as creep, fracture toughness, hardness, and impact toughness, among others. In this field, importance is given to the following variables, namely, (a) values of the natural frequency to PEs, (b) type and dimensions of specimens, and (c) purpose of the tests. All these variables are listed in three tables to illustrate the nature of their differences in these kinds of tests. Furthermore, recent achievements in this field are emphasized in addition to the many important studies that highlight the role of PEs.
A New Procedure to Determine the Plasma Parameters from a Genetic Algorithm Coupled with the Spectral Line-Shape Code PPP
Authors: Mossé Caroline , Génésio Paul , Bonifaci Nelly , Calisti Annette
Published: September 2018

A method of analysis of experimental spectra for obtaining the plasma parameters is presented and discussed. Based on the coupling of the spectral line-shape code PPP with the genetic algorithm PIKAIA, the proposed method is inspired by natural selection mechanisms resulting in the development of basic genetic operators. The spectra analysis is performed by fitting experimental spectra with synthetic spectral line profiles obtained by using theoretical models and a set of plasma parameters, such as its temperature and electron density. In the present paper, the diagnostic procedure based on a genetic algorithm coupled with the PPP code has been used for the analysis of both hydrogen Balmer-β and He I 492.2 nm lines in the helium plasma created by corona discharge. The broadening of these spectral lines due to the Stark effect has been considered, together with the van der Waals and instrumental broadening.
Novel Bifunctional Mesoporous Catalysts Based on Preyssler Heteropolyacids for Green Pyrrole Derivative Synthesis
Authors: Portilla-Zúñiga Omar , Sathicq Ángel , Martínez José , Rojas Hugo , De Geronimo Eduardo , Luque Rafael , Romanelli Gustavo P.
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we report the synthesis of Preyssler heteropolyacids supported on mesoporous alumina in order to obtain materials with acid–base properties. A series of pyrrole derivatives were synthesized using a suitable procedure under solvent-free conditions. Using the alumina-supported material, more complex pyrrole derivatives can be obtained through a tandem one-pot process that involves the formation of 2-amino-3-cyano 4-H-chromenes by a multicomponent reaction and their subsequent conversion to pyrrole using a Paal–Knorr reaction.
A Joint Approach for Low-Complexity Channel Estimation in 5G Massive MIMO Systems
Authors: Bangash Kifayatullah , Khan Imran , Lloret Jaime , Leon Antonio
Published: September 2018

Traditional Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) detection is widely used in wireless communications, however, it introduces matrix inversion and has a higher computational complexity. For massive Multiple-input Multiple-output (MIMO) systems, this detection complexity is very high due to its huge channel matrix dimension. Therefore, low-complexity detection technology has become a hot topic in the industry. Aiming at the problem of high computational complexity of the massive MIMO channel estimation, this paper presents a low-complexity algorithm for efficient channel estimation. The proposed algorithm is based on joint Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Iterative Least Square with Projection (SVD-ILSP) which overcomes the drawback of finite sample data assumption of the covariance matrix in the existing SVD-based semi-blind channel estimation scheme. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively reduce the deviation, improve the channel estimation accuracy, mitigate the impact of pilot contamination and obtain accurate CSI with low overhead and computational complexity.
Grass Canopy Architecture Influences Temperature Exposure at Soil Surface
Authors: Gao Xiulin , Schwilk Dylan W.
Published: September 2018

There is increasing recognition that plant traits contribute to variations in fire behavior and fire regime. Diversity across species in litter flammability and canopy flammability has been documented in many woody plants. Grasses, however, are often considered homogeneous fuels in which any flammability differences across species are attributable to biomass differences alone and therefore are of less ecological interest, because biomass is hugely plastic. We examined the effect of grass canopy architecture on flammability across eight grass species in short grass steppe of New Mexico and Texas. To characterize grass canopy architecture, we measured biomass density and “biomass-height ratio” (the ratio of canopy biomass above 10 cm to that of biomass below 10 cm). Indoor flammability experiments were performed on air-dried individual plants. As expected, plant biomass influenced all flammability measures. However, biomass-height ratio had additional negative effect on temperature exposure at soil surface (accumulation of mean temperature >100 °C) in well-cured grasses, which is an important fire behavior metric predicting soil heating and meristem survival. This canopy architecture effect, however, needs further investigation to be isolated from biomass density due to correlation of these two traits. This result demonstrates the potential for species-specific variation in architecture to influence local fire effects in grasses.
Invasive Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Are Not Affected by Different Land Uses in a Multi-Use, Mediterranean Climate Landscape
Authors: Lacy Shaw , Ugalde Fernando , Mao Luca
Published: September 2018

Land use carries implications for freshwater fish conservation. Plantation forestry practices have been shown to have negative impacts on resident fish fauna, but little work has been conducted to assess these impacts on invasive vs. native fish populations. Ten headwater catchments in the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile were used to assess the impacts of land use (pine plantations vs. native forests) on fish condition (length-weight relationship) and abundance (catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)) of the invasive trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and the threatened native catfish Nematogenys inermis. Negative impacts on trout condition were associated with a lack of canopy cover and river topology. The presence of N. inermis was associated with catchment factors less favourable to trout. Current environmental regulations and forestry management practices do not appear to create negative pressures on invasive trout from land use practices, despite expectations from the literature. Assessing how land use management regulations impact invasive and native fishes should be a part of species conservation and territorial planning.
ARIMA Time Series Models for Full Truckload Transportation Prices
Authors: Miller Jason W.
Published: September 2018

The trucking sector in the United States is a $700 billion plus a year industry and represents a large percentage of many firms’ logistics spend. Consequently, there is interest in accurately forecasting prices for truck transportation. This manuscript utilizes the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) methodology to develop forecasts for three time series of monthly archival trucking prices obtained from two public sources—the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Truckstop.com. BLS data cover January 2005 through August 2018; Truckstop.com data cover January 2015 through August 2018. Different ARIMA models closely approximate the observed data, with coefficients of variation of the root mean-square deviations being 0.007, 0.040, and 0.048. Furthermore, the estimated parameters map well onto dynamics known to operate in the industry, especially for data collected by the BLS. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Geomorphic Evolution of the Lilas River Fan Delta (Central Evia Island, Greece)
Authors: Karymbalis Efthimios , Valkanou Kanella , Tsodoulos Ioannis , Iliopoulos George , Tsanakas Konstantinos , Batzakis Vasilis , Tsironis Giorgos , Gallousi Christina , Stamoulis Konstantinos , Ioannides Konstantinos
Published: September 2018

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried out on the Lilas River fan delta in central Evia Isl., Greece. A geomorphological map has been prepared using Digital Elevation Model analysis, aerial photos and Google Earth image interpretation, a reliable map of 1846, and extensive fieldwork. The Holocene sequence stratigraphy of the fan delta has been studied based on profiles of seven deep cores drilled by the municipal authorities. Two additional shallow boreholes were drilled with a portable drilling set and collected samples were analyzed using micropaleontological and grain size analysis methods while four sediment samples were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. During the early Holocene, most of the fan delta plain was a shallow marine environment. Between 4530 ± 220 and 3600 ± 240 years BP the depositional environment at the area of Nea Lampsakos changed from shallow marine to a lower energy lagoonal one. The main distributary changed its course several times leading to the building and subsequent abandonment of five fan delta lobes, through which the fan delta advanced during the late Holocene. The eastern part of the Kampos abandoned lobe is retreating with a maximum mean rate of −0.94 m/year for the period 1945–2009, whereas the presently active mouth of the river and its immediate surrounds are prograding with a mean rate of about +3.2 m/year.
Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Diplacusis in Professional Musicians: A Systematic Review
Authors: Di Stadio Arianna , Dipietro Laura , Ricci Giampietro , Della Volpe Antonio , Minni Antonio , Greco Antonio , De Vincentiis Marco , Ralli Massimo
Published: September 2018

Professional musicians (PMs) are at high risk of developing hearing loss (HL) and other audiological symptoms such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, and diplacusis. The aim of this systematic review is to (A) assess the risk of developing HL and audiological symptoms in PMs and (B) evaluate if different music genres (Pop/Rock Music—PR; Classical Music—CL) expose PMs to different levels of risk of developing such conditions. Forty-one articles including 4618 PMs were included in the study. HL was found in 38.6% PMs; prevalence was significantly higher among PR (63.5%) than CL (32.8%) PMs; HL mainly affected the high frequencies in the 3000-6000 Hz range and was symmetric in 68% PR PMs and in 44.5% CL PMs. Tinnitus was the most common audiological symptom, followed by hyperacusis and diplacusis. Tinnitus was almost equally distributed between PR and CL PMs; diplacusis was more common in CL than in PR PMs, while prevalence of hyperacusis was higher among PR PMs. Our review showed that PR musicians have a higher risk of developing HL compared to CL PMs; exposure to sounds of high frequency and intensity and absence of ear protection may justify these results. Difference in HL symmetry could be explained by the type of instruments used and consequent single-sided exposure.
Microparticles Produced by Activated Platelets Carry a Potent and Functionally Active Angiogenic Signal in Subjects with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Gaetani Eleonora , Del Zompo Fabio , Marcantoni Margherita , Gatto Ilaria , Giarretta Igor , Porfidia Angelo , Scaldaferri Franco , Laterza Lucrezia , Lopetuso Loris , Gasbarrini Antonio , Pola Roberto
Published: September 2018

Microparticles (MPs) are submicron vesicles shed from various cell types upon activation, stimulation, and death. Activated platelets are an important source of circulating MPs in subjects with inflammatory diseases, including Crohn’s disease (CD). Angiogenesis is a hallmark of inflammation in CD and plays an active role in sustaining disease progression, while targeting angiogenesis may be an effective approach to block colitis. In this study, we analyzed the angiogenic content of the MPs produced by activated platelets in subjects with CD. We also evaluated whether the angiogenic signal carried by these MPs was functionally active, or able to induce angiogenesis. We found that, in subjects with CD, MPs produced by activated platelets contain significantly higher levels of angiogenic mRNAs, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor-α (PDGFα), fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), and angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT1), compared to MPs isolated from control subjects. They also contain significantly higher levels of prototypical angiogenic proteins, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1, endoglin, endothelin-1, pentraxin 3, platelet factor-4, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), and thrombospondin 1. The protein content of these MPs is functionally active, since it has the ability to induce a robust angiogenic process in an endothelial cell/interstitial cell co-culture in vitro assay. Our results reveal a potential novel mechanism through which the angiogenic signal is delivered in subjects with CD, with potentially important clinical and therapeutic implications.
Molecular Biomarkers for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dias Stephanie , Pheiffer Carmen , Abrahams Yoonus , Rheeder Paul , Adam Sumaiya
Published: September 2018

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing public health problem worldwide. The condition is associated with perinatal complications and an increased risk for future metabolic disease in both mothers and their offspring. In recent years, molecular biomarkers received considerable interest as screening tools for GDM. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), DNA methylation, and microRNAs as biomarkers for GDM. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January 1990 and August 2018. The search terms included “gestational diabetes mellitus”, “blood”, “single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)”, “DNA methylation”, and “microRNAs”, including corresponding synonyms and associated terms for each word. This review updates current knowledge of the candidacy of these molecular biomarkers for GDM with recommendations for future research avenues.
Recent Advances of Plasmonic Nanoparticles and their Applications
Authors: Liu Jianxun , He Huilin , Xiao Dong , Yin Shengtao , Ji Wei , Jiang Shouzhen , Luo Dan , Wang Bing , Liu Yanjun
Published: September 2018

In the past half-century, surface plasmon resonance in noble metallic nanoparticles has been an important research subject. Recent advances in the synthesis, assembly, characterization, and theories of traditional and non-traditional metal nanostructures open a new pathway to the kaleidoscopic applications of plasmonics. However, accurate and precise models of plasmon resonance are still challenging, as its characteristics can be affected by multiple factors. We herein summarize the recent advances of plasmonic nanoparticles and their applications, particularly regarding the fundamentals and applications of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in Au nanoparticles, plasmon-enhanced upconversion luminescence, and plasmonic chiral metasurfaces.
Addressing the Issue of Tetrodotoxin Targeting
Authors: Melnikova Daria I. , Khotimchenko Yuri S. , Magarlamov Timur Yu.
Published: September 2018

This review is devoted to the medical application of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent non-protein specific blocker of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. The selectivity of action, lack of affinity with the heart muscle NaV channels, and the inability to penetrate the blood–brain barrier make this toxin an attractive candidate for anesthetic and analgesic drug design. The efficacy of TTX was shown in neuropathic, acute and inflammatory pain models. The main emphasis of the review is on studies focused on the improvement of TTX efficacy and safety in conjunction with additional substances and drug delivery systems. A significant improvement in the effectiveness of the toxin was demonstrated when used in tandem with vasoconstrictors, local anesthetics and chemical permeation enhancers, with the best results obtained with the encapsulation of TTX in microparticles and liposomes conjugated to gold nanorods.
Effect of Lime on Stability of Chromium in Stainless Steel Slag
Authors: Zhao Qing , Liu Chengjun , Cao Longhu , Zheng Xiang , Jiang Maofa
Published: September 2018

The stabilization of chromium is of great importance to the use of stainless steel slag (SSS), and the influence of lime on the stability of chromium is currently unclear. In this work, the variation of phase transformation and chromium distribution with slag basicity (CaO/SiO2) were investigated experimentally, and the leaching ability of chromium was evaluated. Results showed that chromium-bearing phases were glass, dicalcium silicate (C2S), spinel, and periclase, while the degree of enrichment of chromium in these phases was found to be closely related to the basicity. The optimal basicity obtained in this research was 1.5, with the chromium mainly present in the stable spinel and exhibiting the lowest leaching ability. The product layer structure of unmelted lime was studied as well, showing a periclase layer and a Ca2SiO4 layer. Some CaCr2O4 had formed in the periclase layer, which is potentially hazardous for the environment and living organisms.
The Impact of Metallic Nanoparticles on Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
Authors: Abdal Dayem Ahmed , Lee Soo Bin , Cho Ssang-Goo
Published: September 2018

Nanotechnology has a wide range of medical and industrial applications. The impact of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) on the proliferation and differentiation of normal, cancer, and stem cells is well-studied. The preparation of NPs, along with their physicochemical properties, is related to their biological function. Interestingly, various mechanisms are implicated in metallic NP-induced cellular proliferation and differentiation, such as modulation of signaling pathways, generation of reactive oxygen species, and regulation of various transcription factors. In this review, we will shed light on the biomedical application of metallic NPs and the interaction between NPs and the cellular components. The in vitro and in vivo influence of metallic NPs on stem cell differentiation and proliferation, as well as the mechanisms behind potential toxicity, will be explored. A better understanding of the limitations related to the application of metallic NPs on stem cell proliferation and differentiation will afford clues for optimal design and preparation of metallic NPs for the modulation of stem cell functions and for clinical application in regenerative medicine.
Encapsulation of Babchi Oil in Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges: Physicochemical Characterization, Photodegradation, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Pooja  , Trotta Francesco , Rao Rekha
Published: September 2018

Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia) oil is an important essential oil used in several traditional medicines to cure various disorders. This phytotherapeutic agent possesses a number of pharmacological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antitumor factors. However, volatile nature, poor stability, and solubility of babchi oil (BO) restrict its pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to encapsulate this oil in β-cyclodextrin nanosponges (NS) in order to overcome the above limitations. To fabricate nanosponges, β-cyclodextrin was cross-linked with diphenyl carbonate in different molar ratios viz. 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, and 1:10. The blank nanosponges were loaded with BO using the freeze-drying method. The particle size of the BO loaded nanosponges was found to lie between 200 and 500 nm with low polydispersity index. Furthermore, the zeta potential, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy were carried out for characterization of BO nanosponges. Results obtained from spectral analysis ascertained the formation of inclusion complexes. Additionally, solubilisation efficiency of BO was checked in distilled water and found enhanced by 4.95 times with optimized β-cyclodextrin nanosponges. The cytotoxicity study was carried out by the MTT assay using HaCaT cell lines. A significant improvement in photo-stability of essential oil was also observed by inclusion innanosponges. Lastly, the optimized formulation was tested for antibacterial activity using Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Therefore, encapsulation of BO in nanosponges resulted in efficacious carrier system in terms of solubility, photo-stability, and safety of this oil along with handling benefits.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Cannabis Publications: Six Decades of Research and a Gap on Studies with the Plant
Authors: Matielo Cristiane B. D. , Sarzi Deise S. , Justolin Beatriz , Lemos Rafael P. M. , Camargo Flavio A. O. , Stefenon Valdir M.
Published: September 2018

In this study we performed a bibliometric analysis focusing on the general patterns of scientific publications about Cannabis, revealing their trends and limitations. Publications related to Cannabis, released from 1960 to 2017, were retrieved from the Scopus database using six search terms. The search term “Genetics” returned 53.4% of publications, while “forensic genetics” and “traceability” represented 2.3% and 0.1% of the publications, respectively. However, 43.1% of the studies were not directly related to Cannabis and, in some cases, Cannabis was just used as an example in the text. A significant increase in publications was observed after 2001, with most of the publications coming from Europe, followed by North America. Although the term Cannabis was found in the title, abstract, or keywords of 1284 publications, we detected a historical gap in studies on Cannabis. We expect that increasing interest in this issue and the rise of new biotechnological advances will lead to the development of new studies. This study will help scientists identify overall research needs, detect the scientific areas in evidence concerning Cannabis studies, and find excellent centers of investigation for scientific interchange and collaboration.
A Novel Multirobot System for Plant Phenotyping
Authors: Gao Tianshuang , Emadi Hamid , Saha Homagni , Zhang Jiaoping , Lofquist Alec , Singh Arti , Ganapathysubramanian Baskar , Sarkar Soumik , Singh Asheesh K. , Bhattacharya Sourabh
Published: September 2018

Phenotypic studies require large datasets for accurate inference and prediction. Collecting plant data in a farm can be very labor intensive and costly. This paper presents the design, architecture (hardware and software) and deployment of a multi-robot system for row crop field data collection. The proposed system has been deployed in a soybean research farm at Iowa State University.
Landslide Susceptibility Mapping and Comparison Using Decision Tree Models: A Case Study of Jumunjin Area, Korea
Authors: Park Sung-Jae , Lee Chang-Wook , Lee Saro , Lee Moung-Jin
Published: September 2018

We assessed landslide susceptibility using Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID), exhaustive CHAID, and Quick, Unbiased, and Efficient Statistical Tree (QUEST) decision tree models in Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Korea. A total of 548 landslides were identified based on interpretation of aerial photographs. Half of the 548 landslides were selected for modeling, and the remaining half were used for verification. We used 20 landslide control factors that were classified into five categories, namely topographic elements, hydrological elements, soil maps, forest maps, and geological maps, to determine landslide susceptibility. The relationships of landslide occurrence with landslide-inducing factors were analyzed using CHAID, exhaustive CHAID, and QUEST models. The three models were then verified using the area under the curve (AUC) method. The results showed that the CHAID model (AUC = 87.1%) was more accurate than the exhaustive CHAID (AUC = 86.9%) and QUEST models (AUC = 82.8%). The verification results showed that the CHAID model had the highest accuracy. There was high susceptibility to landslides in mountainous areas and low susceptibility in coastal areas. Analyzing the characteristics of the landslide control factors in advance will enable us to obtain more accurate results.
Green Communication for Wireless Body Area Networks: Energy Aware Link Efficient Routing Approach
Authors: Anwar Muhammad , Abdullah Abdul Hanan , Altameem Ayman , Qureshi Kashif Naseer , Masud Farhan , Faheem Muhammad , Cao Yue , Kharel Rupak
Published: September 2018

Recent technological advancement in wireless communication has led to the invention of wireless body area networks (WBANs), a cutting-edge technology in healthcare applications. WBANs interconnect with intelligent and miniaturized biomedical sensor nodes placed on human body to an unattended monitoring of physiological parameters of the patient. These sensors are equipped with limited resources in terms of computation, storage, and battery power. The data communication in WBANs is a resource hungry process, especially in terms of energy. One of the most significant challenges in this network is to design energy efficient next-hop node selection framework. Therefore, this paper presents a green communication framework focusing on an energy aware link efficient routing approach for WBANs (ELR-W). Firstly, a link efficiency-oriented network model is presented considering beaconing information and network initialization process. Secondly, a path cost calculation model is derived focusing on energy aware link efficiency. A complete operational framework ELR-W is developed considering energy aware next-hop link selection by utilizing the network and path cost model. The comparative performance evaluation attests the energy-oriented benefit of the proposed framework as compared to the state-of-the-art techniques. It reveals a significant enhancement in body area networking in terms of various energy-oriented metrics under medical environments.
Adaptive Fifth-Degree Cubature Information Filter for Multi-Sensor Bearings-Only Tracking
Authors: Jiang Haonan , Cai Yuanli
Published: September 2018

Standard Bayesian filtering algorithms only work well when the statistical properties of system noises are exactly known. However, this assumption is not always plausible in real target tracking applications. In this paper, we present a new estimation approach named adaptive fifth-degree cubature information filter (AFCIF) for multi-sensor bearings-only tracking (BOT) under the condition that the process noise follows zero-mean Gaussian distribution with unknown covariance. The novel algorithm is based on the fifth-degree cubature Kalman filter and it is constructed within the information filtering framework. With a sensor selection strategy developed using observability theory and a recursive process noise covariance estimation procedure derived using the covariance matching principle, the proposed filtering algorithm demonstrates better estimation accuracy and filtering stability. Simulation results validate the superiority of the AFCIF.
Engaging with Migrant Communities: A Framework for Action
Authors: Laverack Glenn
Published: September 2018

Migrants have disproportionately higher rates of morbidity and mortality when compared to the host population and this reflects the reality of health inequalities in many countries. It is imperative to engage with communities to identify their needs and to include these in the delivery of public health programs and health care services. The aim of this paper is to outline a new approach that systematically ensures that vulnerable groups, such as migrants, can become actively involved and are not simply the passive recipients of program activities. The community engagement framework is based on practical experiences of working in a cross-cultural context in both rural and urban settings and is implemented as seven key steps: 1. stakeholder connection; 2. communication; 3. needs assessment; 4. informing the wider community; 5. strengthening community capacity; 6. building partnerships; and, 7. follow-up. The framework offers a flexible template that can be used to engage with vulnerable groups in future public health programs.
Sustainability in Organizations: Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility and Spanish Employees’ Attitudes and Behaviors
Authors: Pérez Sergio , Fernández-Salinero Samuel , Topa Gabriela
Published: September 2018

The fields of psychology of sustainability and sustainable development have been recently highlighted by their contributions to employee’s wellbeing in organizations. The present study is aimed to empirically explore the relationship between perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility of IBEX 35 (Spanish Exchange Index) companies’ employees, and their attitudes and behaviors. The relationship between the employees’ perception of Corporate Social Responsibility of the IBEX 35 companies with their job satisfaction and Organizational citizenships behaviors is empirically analyzed. The sample includes 600 employees of the IBEX 35 companies. The results supported that the three dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) perceived by the workers are different from each other, and that they are related positively, and significantly, with their job satisfaction, the Organizational Citizenships Behaviors oriented to the company and to other co-workers. We found that two dimensions of perceived CSR—sustainable economic development, and environmental protection—have a greater impact, whereas the CSR of social equity has an almost null explanatory power, compared to the other two dimensions. The study contributions will link the Firms’ CSR activities with the degree of wellbeing of employees: Relationships that become essential when designing companies’ products and/or services.
Assessment of the Influence of Feed-In Tariffs on the Profitability of European Photovoltaic Companies
Authors: Milanés-Montero Patricia , Arroyo-Farrona Alberto , Pérez-Calderón Esteban
Published: September 2018

Feed-in tariff policies have been the most common and effective tool contributing towards the important growth in photovoltaic solar energy in Europe. The purpose of this study is to analyze their influence on the economic profitability of photovoltaic companies operating in the most characteristic regions, Germany, Italy, France and Spain in the period 2008–2012. Variables characterizing these companies are also included. Regarding the method, a static linear panel data model is used. The results show how feed-in tariffs (FITs henceforth) have in fact had a significant positive influence on the economic profitability of these companies. In addition, the findings suggest that the expansion of these companies in terms of assets implies increased competition in the sector, positively influencing their profitability given the economies of scale generated. Moreover, contrary to expectations, photovoltaic companies with the highest leverage ratios are those with the largest return on investment in the analyzed period, what could be a consequence of their higher possibilities of investing the obtained external funds on PV technology.
Sustainable Development of Sweet Sorghum-Based Fuel Ethanol from the Perspective of Water Resources in China
Authors: Hao Mengmeng , Fu Jingying , Jiang Dong , Yan Xiaoxi , Chen Shuai , Ding Fangyu
Published: September 2018

Bioenergy is expected to play a key role in achieving a future sustainable energy system. Sweet sorghum-based fuel ethanol, one of the most promising bioenergy sources in China, has been receiving considerable attention. However, the conflict between sweet sorghum development and traditional water use has not been fully considered. The article presents an integrated method for evaluating water stress from sweet sorghum-based fuel ethanol in China. The region for developing sweet sorghum was identified from the perspective of sustainable development of water resources. First, the spatial distribution of the water demand of sweet sorghum-based fuel ethanol was generated with a Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model coupled with Geo-Information System (GIS). Subsequently, the surplus of water resources at the provincial scale and precipitation at the pixel scale were considered during the growth period of sweet sorghum, and the potential conflicts between the supply and demand of water resources were analyzed at regional scale monthly. Finally, the development level of sweet sorghum-based fuel ethanol was determined. The results showed that if the pressure of water consumption of sweet sorghum on regional water resources was taken into account, about 23% of the original marginal land was not suitable for development of sweet sorghum-based fuel ethanol, mainly distributed in Beijing, Hebei, Ningxia, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Tianjin. In future energy planning, the water demand of energy plants must be fully considered to ensure its sustainable development.
Construction and Recommendation of a Water Affair Knowledge Graph
Authors: Yan Jianzhuo , Lv Tiantian , Yu Yongchuan
Published: September 2018

Water affair data mainly consists of structured data and unstructured data, and the storage methods of data are diverse and heterogeneous. To meet the needs of water affair information integration, a method of constructing a knowledge graph using a combination of water affair structured and unstructured data is proposed. To meet the needs of a water information search, an information recommendation system for constructing a water affair knowledge graph is proposed. In this paper, the edit distance algorithm and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) algorithm are used to construct a water affair structured data and unstructured data combination knowledge graph, and this graph is validated based on the semantic distance algorithm. Finally, this paper uses the recall rate, accuracy rate, and F comprehensive results to compare the algorithms. The evaluation results of the edit distance algorithm and the LDA algorithm exceed 90%, which is greater than the comparison algorithm, thus confirming the validity and accuracy of the construction of a water affair knowledge graph. Furthermore, a set of water affair verification sets is used to verify the recommendation method, which proves the effectiveness of the recommended method.
Resource Harvesting through a Systematic Deconstruction of the Residential House: A Case Study of the ‘Whole House Reuse’ Project in Christchurch, New Zealand
Authors: Zaman Atiq U. , Arnott Juliet , Mclntyre Kate , Hannon Jonathon
Published: September 2018

This study analyzes the case study of a deconstruction project called the ‘Whole House Reuse’ (WHR) which aimed, firstly, to harvest materials from a residential house, secondly, to produce new products using the recovered materials, and thirdly, to organize exhibition for the local public to promote awareness on resource conservation and sustainable deconstruction practices. The study applies characterization of recovered materials through deconstruction. In addition to the material recovery, the study assesses the embodied energy saving and greenhouse gas emissions abatement of the deconstruction project. Around twelve tons of various construction materials were harvested through a systematic deconstruction approach, most of which would otherwise be disposed to landfill in the traditional demolition approach. The study estimates that the recovered materials could potentially save around 502,158 MJ of embodied energy and prevent carbon emissions of around 27,029 kg (CO2e). The deconstruction could eventually contribute to New Zealand’s national emission reduction targets. In addition, the project successfully engages local communities and designers to produce 400 new products using the recovered materials and exhibits them to the local people. The study concludes that there is a huge prospect in regard to resource recovery, emission reduction, employment, and small business opportunities using deconstruction of the old house. The sociocultural importance of the WHR project is definitely immense; however, the greater benefits of such projects are often ignored and remain unreported to wider audiences as most of the external and environmental costs are not considered in the traditional linear economy. It is acknowledged that under a favorable market condition and with appropriate support from local communities and authorities, deconstruction could contribute significantly to resource conservation and environmental protection despite its requirement of labor-intensive efforts.
Perceptions and Consumption of Bottled Water at the University of the Basque Country: Showcasing Tap Water as the Real Alternative towards a Water-Sustainable University
Authors: Díez José Ramón , Antigüedad Iñaki , Agirre Elena , Rico Arantza
Published: September 2018

This paper examines the beliefs and environmental attitudes of university individuals towards bottled and tap water use and examines tap and bottled water availability and sales volumes at the University of the Basque Country. The research employed a mixed methods approach including (i) an exploratory survey to document environmental beliefs and behaviors towards bottled and tap water; (ii) written questionnaires addressed to faculty administrators to inquire about accessibility to tap water and, (iii) personal interviews with restaurant managers to inquire about sales volumes of bottled water. Respondents to our survey predominately drink tap water and no health or taste issues associated with its consumption are perceived among respondents reporting to drink two or fewer bottles per week. These results imply that in our context, there are positive perceptions towards tap water and pro-environmental behavior regarding water consumption. However, respondents also claimed to use reused plastic water bottles as the most common tap water container. Moreover, there was widespread presence of bottled water sales at university premises, confirming the ubiquity of this commodity worldwide. Collectively, both survey and sales volume analyses suggest that a greater shift in sustainable behavior is needed in our community. Regarding measures and policies to promote tap water accessibility, considerable differences were found within and between campuses. These findings should help to inform university managers and support sustainability goals where bottled water consumption could be minimized or even eliminated.
Architect, Catalyst, Advocate, and Prophet: A Four-Lens View of Companies to Support Ecodesign Integration
Authors: Stewart Raphaëlle , Ali Faheem , Boks Casper , Bey Niki
Published: September 2018

Companies are increasingly expected to develop products with better environmental performance throughout their life cycle. Academic literature on ecodesign integration, which investigates firms’ practices of dealing with environmental concerns associated with their products, indicates a need for more focus on formal and informal organizational aspects. From the general management literature, the four-lens view of organizations provides a rich understanding of organizations by embracing their formal (structural lens) and informal (human, political and symbolic lenses) functioning. This article aims to explore the extent to which the four-lens view may support ecodesign integration in companies. This exploratory study builds on fifteen interviews about ecodesign integration at seven manufacturing companies in Denmark and Norway. The main results are threefold: (i) the different lenses of organizations could be found in measures mentioned at the case companies; (ii) measures from the architect’s perspective seemed necessary to provide an official scene for ecodesign and help prioritizing it in organizations; and (iii) the catalyst’s, advocate’s, and prophet’s perspectives seemed necessary to facilitate or complement the architect’s perspective. In the light of these findings, the four-lens view seems relevant to strengthen ecodesign integration, and its potential use as a reflective tool is an avenue for future work.
Multiplicity of Small or Large Energy Solutions for Kirchhoff–Schrödinger-Type Equations Involving the Fractional p-Laplacian in ℝN
Authors: Kim Jae-Myoung , Kim Yun-Ho , Lee Jongrak
Published: September 2018

We herein discuss the following elliptic equations: M ∫ R N ∫ R N | u ( x ) − u ( y ) | p | x − y | N + p s d x d y ( − Δ ) p s u + V ( x ) | u | p − 2 u = λ f ( x , u ) in R N , where ( − Δ ) p s is the fractional p-Laplacian defined by ( − Δ ) p s u ( x ) = 2 lim ε ↘ 0 ∫ R N \ B ε ( x ) | u ( x ) − u ( y ) | p − 2 ( u ( x ) − u ( y ) ) | x − y | N + p s d y , x ∈ R N . Here, B ε ( x ) : = { y ∈ R N : | x − y | < ε } , V : R N → ( 0 , ∞ ) is a continuous function and f : R N × R → R is the Carathéodory function. Furthermore, M : R 0 + → R + is a Kirchhoff-type function. This study has two aims. One is to study the existence of infinitely many large energy solutions for the above problem via the variational methods. In addition, a major point is to obtain the multiplicity results of the weak solutions for our problem under various assumptions on the Kirchhoff function M and the nonlinear term f. The other is to prove the existence of small energy solutions for our problem, in that the sequence of solutions converges to 0 in the L ∞ -norm.
An Illustrated Guide to Estimation of Water Velocity in Unregulated River for Hydrokinetic Performance Analysis Studies in East Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Saupi Almalik Faisel , Mailah Nashiren Farzilah , Mohd Radzi Mohd Amran , Mohamad Kamarul Bahrin , Ahmad Saiful Zuhaimi , Che Soh Azimi
Published: September 2018

Electrification coverage in Sarawak is the lowest at 78.74%, compared to Peninsular Malaysia at 99.62% and Sabah at 82.51%. Kapit, Sarawak, with 88.4% of its population located in rural areas and mostly situated along the main riverbanks, has great potential to generate electrical energy with a hydrokinetic system. Yearly water velocity data is the most significant parameter with which to perform a hydrokinetic analysis study. Nevertheless, the data retrieved from local river databases are inadequate for river energy analysis, thus hindering its progression. Instead, flow rates and rainfall data had been utilized to estimate the water velocity data. Till present, there is still no publication has been found on estimating of water velocity data in unregulated river using water level. Therefore, a novel technique of estimating the daily average water velocity data in unregulated rivers is proposed. The modelling of regression equation for water velocity estimation was performed and two regression model equations were generated to estimate both water level and water velocity on-site and proven to be valid as the coefficient of determination values had been R2 = 87.4% and R2 = 87.9%, respectively. The combination of both regression model equations can be used to estimate long-term time series water velocity data for type-C unregulated river in remote areas.