bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Networked Analysis and Engineering Framework for New Business Models
Authors: Vorraber Wolfgang , Müller Matthias
Published: October 2019

New technological possibilities and paradigm shifts from product-centered to service-centered offerings are one of the main drivers of business models. Business ventures today are more and more networked. Often, various partners are needed to deliver a service or product to frequently cross-linked customers with sometimes bi- or even multi-variant roles. Furthermore, business models are embedded in socio-technical systems where different kinds of needs and values of all actors, including social, ecological, technical and economic values, have to be balanced. The resulting complex network of actors, needs and values requires continuous management in order to create and operate viable and sustainable business models. This paper proposes a multi-layer framework to analyze existing business models as well as to shape new business ventures in a networked and values-based way and to support the identification of tacit network effects within business ecosystems. Based on an existing multi-layered analysis toolkit, focusing on legal and business dynamics aspects, an enhanced visualization and analysis tool is proposed that focuses especially on ethical, social and environmental aspects to foster the creation of (strongly) sustainable business models. The research process to create the presented approach followed the Design Science Research paradigm by applying argumentative-deductive analysis (ADA) and first applications in real-world case studies. A practical case from an international Open Source Software (OSS) project serves as an example to illustrate this values-based visualization and analysis layer and its benefits for managers and decision makers in the area of business model and information system management.
Scientific Support for Redesigning a Higher-Education Curriculum on Sustainability
Authors: Ruesch Schweizer Corinne , Di Giulio Antonietta , Burkhardt-Holm Patricia
Published: October 2019

This paper is devoted to how a team of experts scientifically supported redesigning the curriculum of an elective study program that promotes competences for sustainable development. In contrast to other case studies of higher education for sustainable development (HESD), the paper does not present the outcome of the curricular-redesign process but focuses on its scientific support. It shows how this process was initiated and facilitated. It understands curricular redesign as a social process. The premises are, first, that supporting curricular processes means guiding the decision-making of those in charge but not making decisions in their place, and second, that the redesign of a curriculum has to consider the existing institutional situation as well as empirical and theoretical expectations. The article discusses how scientific support can help a curricular redesign draw on both experience-based knowledge and sound HESD theories and findings. Furthermore, it reflects on the role of those supporting such a process and on how they can help the actors find a realistic compromise between the existing situation and the perceived ideal. This requires competences in mining, aggregating, and reprocessing knowledge in the field of HESD, as well as in designing and supporting an interdisciplinary process.
How Do Trade-Offs and Synergies between Ecosystem Services Change in the Long Period? The Case Study of Uxin, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhang Jing , Li Xueming , Buyantuev Alexander , Bao Tongliga , Zhang Xuefeng
Published: October 2019

Ecosystem services management should often expect to deal with non-linearities due to trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services (ES). Therefore, it is important to analyze long-term trends in ES development and utilization to understand their responses to climate change and intensification of human activities. In this paper, the region of Uxin in Inner Mongolia, China, was chosen as a case study area to describe the spatial distribution and trends of 5 ES indicators. Changes in relationships between ES and driving forces of dynamics of ES relationships were analyzed for the period 1979–2016 using a stepwise regression. We found that: the magnitude and directions in ES relationships changed during this extended period; those changes are influenced by climate factors, land use change, technological progress, and population growth.
Influence of Evacuation Walkway Design Parameters on Passenger Evacuation Time along Elevated Rail Transit Lines Using a Multi-Agent Simulation
Authors: Pan Zihua , Wei Qingchao , Torp Olav , Lau Albert
Published: October 2019

Passenger evacuation on elevated railway lines has always been an important issue for elevated rail transit safety management, because it is challenging to evacuate passengers efficiently in the event of man-made calamities and natural disasters. Therefore, an evacuation walkway has been designed as a primary solution to assist passenger evacuation during an emergency on elevated rail transit lines. However, investigations on how evacuation walkway designs influence passenger evacuation time are still limited. This study established two evacuation scenarios of interval evacuation on elevated rail transit lines and put forward a new evacuation time measurement method, based on the concept of ‘evacuation time for passengers leaving the evacuation walkway risk zone’. Then, the evacuation time for 90 combinations of entrance widths and walkway widths was simulated by a multi-agent evacuation simulator, Pathfinder, considering 1032 passengers being evacuated both unidirectionally and bidirectionally. The results show that the entrance width and walkway width have a combined effect on passenger evacuation time. An increase in the walkway width from 0.7 m to 1.5 m may potentially reduce the evacuation time by 54.5% in unidirectional evacuation, and 35.2% in bidirectional evacuation. An increase in the entrance width results in a noticeable evacuation time fluctuation when the walkway width is 0.7 and 0.8 m for both evacuation scenarios, while in a bidirectional evacuation, a noticeable fluctuation also can be observed when the walkway width is within the range of 1.4–1.5 m. According to the study, a potentially good design parameter combination for a newly built evacuation walkway is 1.3 m and 1.4 m for the walkway width and entrance width, respectively. The findings from this study may provide a useful reference in the optimization of the design of evacuation facilities and improvement of passenger evacuation safety in rail transit systems.
Spatial Assessment of Damage Vulnerability to Storms Based on the Analysis of Historical Damage Cost Data in the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Choi Hyun Il
Published: October 2019

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports, climate variability and changes increase the possibility of extreme weather events causing climate-related hazards and the risk of natural disasters. A storm is one of the most common and serious natural hazards that pose significant human and economic damage costs worldwide. The Korean Peninsula is also at persistent risk of hydro-meteorological disasters induced by rainstorms and typhoons due to geomorphological features and climate change impacts. This study has, therefore, proposed the damage vulnerability index for a spatial assessment of the damage vulnerability to storms, based on the IPCC’s vulnerability assessment concept. The damage vulnerability index is aggregated from the potential indicator for the potential damage targets, estimated by the population and major facility densities, and the risk indicator for the expected damage risk, estimated by the risk analysis for integrating both frequency and severity of human and economic damage cost records. The damage vulnerability index can assess regions vulnerable to the disaster damage induced by rainstorms, typhoons, and both, respectively, over the 231 administrative districts in the Republic of Korea. It is expected that the proposed damage vulnerability index can provide realistic and practical information on sustainable damage mitigation plans for the nationwide administrative districts against storm-induced disasters.
The Influence of Environmental, Social, and Personal Factors on the Usage of the App “Environment Info Push”
Authors: Liao Yi-Wen , Su Zhi-Yuan , Huang Chiung-Wei , Shadiev Rustam
Published: October 2019

This study analyzed citizens’ willingness to use the Environmental Info Push app to participate in air quality control and air pollution prevention. The participants used the app for two weeks and then we investigated the users’ opinions about factors relevant to the app, air pollution control, and prevention. Answer sheets to questionnaires were received from 347 participants. All of them were valid and the study conducted research simulation and statistical analysis with SPSS 19 Statistics software and SmartPLS 2.0. The results showed that an individual’s willingness to control and prevent air pollution is most influenced by other people. The second most influential factor is the degree of severity of climate change that an individual has recognized. Other influential factors and the order of their effect included: outcome expectation, third; self-efficacy, fourth; self-image, fifth: self-preference, sixth; and self-monitoring, seventh.
A Note on the Degenerate Type of Complex Appell Polynomials
Authors: Kim Dojin
Published: October 2019

In this paper, complex Appell polynomials and their degenerate-type polynomials are considered as an extension of real-valued polynomials. By treating the real value part and imaginary part separately, we obtained useful identities and general properties by convolution of sequences. To justify the obtained results, we show several examples based on famous Appell sequences such as Euler polynomials and Bernoulli polynomials. Further, we show that the degenerate types of the complex Appell polynomials are represented in terms of the Stirling numbers of the first kind.
An Improved Calculation Model for the Prediction of the Wear of Coated Electrical Contacts
Authors: Yuan Haomiao , Song Jian
Published: October 2019

To connect terminals in a cyber–physical system, large quantities of electrical contacts are used. In order to guarantee a high reliability of the system, the lifetime of the electrical contacts should be very long. Thus, it is of great importance to understand the failure mechanism and then to predict the lifetime of the electrical contacts. For the applications under high thermal and/or mechanical loads, noble plating is a good choice, considering its inertness to oxidation. For noble plating, one of the most critical failure mechanisms is the fretting wear. Wear debris generated in the contact area, acting as the third bodies, will greatly influence the further wear behavior and electrical performance. In this study, the state of the art regarding third bodies is firstly reviewed, and then the influence of the third bodies on the wear and electrical performance is investigated, from the aspects of lifetime and the element distributions in contact area. Finally, an example of prediction of the wear of noble plating is shown with the consideration of the third bodies. Based on this study, by involving the third bodies, the wear of noble plating can be predicted with a higher accuracy.
Rapid and Differential Evolution of the Venom Composition of a Parasitoid Wasp Depending on the Host Strain
Authors: Cavigliasso Fanny , Mathé-Hubert Hugo , Kremmer Laurent , Rebuf Christian , Gatti Jean-Luc , Malausa Thibaut , Colinet Dominique , Poirié Marylène
Published: October 2019

Parasitoid wasps rely primarily on venom to suppress the immune response and regulate the physiology of their host. Intraspecific variability of venom protein composition has been documented in some species, but its evolutionary potential is poorly understood. We performed an experimental evolution initiated with the crosses of two lines of Leptopilina boulardi of different venom composition to generate variability and create new combinations of venom factors. The offspring were maintained for 10 generations on two strains of Drosophila melanogaster differing in resistance/susceptibility to the parental parasitoid lines. The venom composition of individuals was characterized by a semi-automatic analysis of 1D SDS-PAGE electrophoresis protein profiles whose accuracy was checked by Western blot analysis of well-characterized venom proteins. Results made evident a rapid and differential evolution of the venom composition on both hosts and showed that the proteins beneficial on one host can be costly on the other. Overall, we demonstrated the capacity of rapid evolution of the venom composition in parasitoid wasps, important regulators of arthropod populations, suggesting a potential for adaptation to new hosts. Our approach also proved relevant in identifying, among the diversity of venom proteins, those possibly involved in parasitism success and whose role deserves to be deepened.
Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies for the Mycotoxin Citreoviridin
Authors: Maragos Chris M. , Uchiyama Yosuke , Kobayashi Naoki , Kominato Fumichika , Sugita-Konishi Yoshiko
Published: October 2019

Citreoviridin (CTV) in an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase that has been isolated from molded yellow rice and linked to the human disease Shoshin-kakke (acute cardiac beriberi). The disease results from a deficiency of thiamine, however, purified CTV can reproduce the symptoms in experimental animals. The link between CTV and Shoshin-kakke has been difficult to resolve, in part because cases of the disease are rare. In addition to rice, CTV has been found in maize, pecan nuts, and wheat products. A method to screen for CTV and its geometric isomer, iso-CTV, in commodities was developed, based upon the isolation of two novel monoclonal antibodies (mAb). In an antigen-immobilized competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay format (CI-ELISA), the observed IC50s for CTV were 11 ng/mL and 18 ng/mL (mAbs 2-2 and 2-4, respectively). The assays were relatively tolerant to methanol and acetonitrile, which allowed their application to the detection of CTV in spiked polished white rice. For quantification, a standard mixture of CTV and iso-CTV was used, along with matrix matched calibration. The dynamic range of the ELISA using mAb 2-4 was equivalent to 0.23 to 2.22 mg/kg in rice. Recoveries over the range of 0.36 to 7.23 mg/kg averaged 97 ± 10%. The results suggest that the mAb 2-4-based immunoassay can be applied to the screening of white rice for CTV. Both mAbs were also observed to significantly enhance the fluorescence of the toxin.
Improved Accuracy of Saxitoxin Measurement Using an Optimized Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Authors: McCall Jennifer R. , Holland W. Christopher , Keeler Devon M. , Hardison D. Ransom , Litaker R. Wayne
Published: October 2019

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is precipitated by a family of toxins produced by harmful algae, which are consumed by filter-feeding and commercially popular shellfish. The toxins, including saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, and gonyautoxins, accumulate in shellfish and cause intoxication when consumed by humans and animals. Symptoms can range from minor neurological dysfunction to respiratory distress and death. There are over 40 different chemical congeners of saxitoxin and its analogs, many of which are toxic and many of which have low toxicity or are non-toxic. This makes accurate toxicity assessment difficult and complicates decisions regarding whether or not shellfish are safe to consume. In this study, we describe a new antibody-based bioassay that is able to detect toxic congeners (saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, and gonyautoxins) with little cross-reactivity with the low or non-toxic congeners (decarbamoylated or di-sulfated forms). The anti-saxitoxin antibody used in this assay detects saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin, the two most toxic congers equally well, but not the relatively highly toxic gonyautoxins. By incorporating an incubation step with L-cysteine, it is possible to convert a majority of the gonyautoxins present to saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin, which are readily detected. The assay is, therefore, capable of detecting the most toxic PSP congeners found in commercially relevant shellfish. The assay was validated against samples whose toxicity was determined using standard HPLC methods and yielded a strong linear agreement between the methods, with R2 values of 0.94–0.96. As ELISAs are rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use, this new commercially available PSP ELISA represents an advance in technology allowing better safety management of the seafood supply and the ability to screen large numbers of samples that can occur when monitoring is increased substantially in response to toxic bloom events
New York State Emergency Preparedness and Response to Influenza Pandemics 1918–2018
Authors: Escuyer Kay L. , E. Fuschino Meghan , St. George Kirsten
Published: October 2019

Emergency health preparedness and response efforts are a necessity in order to safeguard the public against major events, such as influenza pandemics. Since posting warnings of the epidemic influenza in 1918, to the mass media communications available a century later, state, national and global public health agencies have developed sophisticated networks, tools, detection methods, and preparedness plans. These progressive measures guide health departments and clinical providers, track patient specimens and test reports, monitor the spread of disease, and evaluate the most threatening influenza strains by means of risk assessment, to be able to respond readily to a pandemic. Surge drills and staff training were key aspects for New York State preparedness and response to the 2009 influenza pandemic, and the re-evaluation of preparedness plans is recommended to ensure readiness to address the emergence and spread of a future novel virulent influenza strain.
Gravitational Fluctuations as an Alternative to Inflation II. CMB Angular Power Spectrum
Authors: Hamber Herbert W. , Yu Lu Heng Sunny
Published: October 2019

Power spectra always play an important role in the theory of inflation. In particular, the ability to reproduce the galaxy matter power spectrum P ( k ) and the CMB temperature angular power spectrum C l ’s to high accuracy is often considered a triumph of inflation. In our previous work, we presented an alternative explanation for the matter power spectrum based on nonperturbative quantum field-theoretical methods applied to Einstein’s gravity, instead of inflation models based on scalar fields. In this work, we review the basic concepts and provide further in-depth investigations. We first update the analysis with more recent data sets and error analysis, and then extend our predictions to the CMB angular spectrum coefficients C l , which we did not consider previously. Then we investigate further the potential freedoms and uncertainties associated with the fundamental parameters that are part of this picture, and show how recent cosmological data provides significant constraints on these quantities. Overall, we find good general consistency between theory and data, even potentially favoring the gravitationally-motivated picture at the largest scales. We summarize our results by outlining how this picture can be tested in the near future with increasingly accurate astrophysical measurements.
Survivin Overexpression Has a Negative Effect on Feline Calicivirus Infection
Authors: Barrera-Vázquez Oscar Salvador , Cancio-Lonches Clotilde , Miguel-Rodríguez Carlos Emilio , Valdes Pérez Monica Margarita , Gutiérrez-Escolano Ana Lorena
Published: October 2019

It is known that levels of the anti-apoptotic protein survivin are reduced during Murine norovirus MNV-1 and Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection as part of the apoptosis establishment required for virus release and propagation in the host. Recently, our group has reported that overexpression of survivin causes a reduction of FCV protein synthesis and viral progeny production, suggesting that survivin may affect early steps of the replicative cycle. Using immunofluorescence assays, we observed that overexpression of survivin, resulted in the reduction of FCV infection not only in transfected but also in the neighboring nontransfected CrFK cells, thus suggesting autocrine and paracrine protective effects. Cells treated with the supernatants collected from CrFK cells overexpressing survivin showed a reduction in FCV but not MNV-1 protein production and viral yield, suggesting that FCV binding and/or entry were specifically altered. The reduced ability of FCV to bind to the surface of the cells overexpressing survivin, or treated with the supernatants collected from these cells, correlate with the reduction in the cell surface of the FCV receptor, the feline junctional adhesion molecule (fJAM) 1, while no effect was observed in the cells transfected with the pAm-Cyan vector or in cells treated with the corresponding supernatants. Moreover, the overexpression of survivin affects neither Vaccinia virus (VACV) production in CrFK cells nor MNV-1 virus production in RAW 267.4 cells, indicating that the effect is specific for FCV. All of these results taken together indicate that cells that overexpress survivin, or cell treatment with the conditioned medium from these cells, results in the reduction of the fJAM-1 molecule and, therefore, a specific reduction in FCV entry and infection.
Capsular Polysaccharide Is a Receptor of a Clostridium perfringens Bacteriophage CPS1
Authors: Ha Eunsu , Chun Jihwan , Kim Minsik , Ryu Sangryeol
Published: October 2019

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, and spore forming bacterium that is widely distributed in the environment and one of the most common causes of foodborne illnesses. Bacteriophages are regarded as one of the most promising alternatives to antibiotics in controlling antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Here we isolated a virulent C. perfringens phage, CPS1, and analysis of its whole genome and morphology revealed a small genome (19 kbps) and a short noncontractile tail, suggesting that CPS1 can be classified as a member of Picovirinae, a subfamily of Podoviridae. To determine the host receptor of CPS1, the EZ-Tn5 random transposon mutant library of C. perfringens ATCC 13124 was constructed and screened for resistance to CPS1 infection. Analysis of the CPS1-resistant mutants revealed that the CPF_0486 was disrupted by Tn5. The CPF_0486 was annotated as galE, a gene encoding UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (GalE). However, biochemical analyses demonstrated that the encoded protein possessed dual activities of GalE and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 4-epimerase (Gne). We found that the CPF_0486::Tn5 mutant produced a reduced amount of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) compared with the wild type. We also discovered that glucosamine and galactosamine could competitively inhibit host adsorption of CPS1. These results suggest that CPS acts as a receptor for this phage.
Resistance Mutations A30K and Y93N Associated with Treatment Failure with Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir for Hepatitis C Virus Infection Non-Responder Patients: Case Reports
Authors: Costa Vanessa D. , Pellegrini Patricia , Rotman Vivian , Pittella Ana Maria , Nunes Estevão P. , Lago Barbara V. , Lampe Elisabeth , Mello Francisco C. A.
Published: October 2019

In Brazil, hepatitis C treatment has been evolving significantly with the licensing of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, viral determinants (amino acid substitutions in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome and infective genotype) associated with host factors (hepatic condition and prior HCV therapy) might limit the achievement of sustained virologic response (SVR). Here, we described two case reports in which the occurrence of HCV NS5A mutations A30K (subtype 3a) and Y93N (subtype 1a) might have influenced daclatasvir (DCV)/sofosbuvir (SOF) combined therapy non-response. Despite high response rates for DAA combined therapies in Brazil, these case reports stated the importance of an investigation about how to manage a DAA treatment failure since a combination of factors, especially the occurrence of resistance substitutions, could impact a rescue therapy with new available antivirals in clinical routine.
The Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant, Microcephaly-Associated Zika Viruses as Single-Round Infectious Particles
Authors: Lu Chien-Yi , Lin Chen-Sheng , Lai Hsueh-Chou , Yu Ya-Wen , Liao Chih-Yi , Su Wen-Chi , Ko Bo-Han , Chang Young-Sheng , Huang Su-Hua , Lin Cheng-Wen
Published: October 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and exhibits genetic variation with African and Asian lineages. ZIKV Natal RGN strain, an Asian-lineage virus, has been identified in brain tissues from fetal autopsy cases with microcephaly and is suggested to be a neurotropic variant. However, ZIKV Natal RGN strain has not been isolated; its biological features are not yet illustrated. This study rescued and characterized recombinant, single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) of the ZIKV Natal RGN strain using reverse genetic and synthetic biology techniques. The DNA-launched replicon of ZIKV Natal RGN was constructed and contains the EGFP reporter, lacks prM-E genes, and replicates under CMV promoter control. The peak in the ZIKV Natal RGN SRIP titer reached 6.25 × 106 TCID50/mL in the supernatant of prM-E-expressing packaging cells 72 h post-transfection with a ZIKV Natal RGN replicon. The infectivity of ZIKV Natal RGN SRIPs has been demonstrated to correlate with the green florescence intensity of the EGFP reporter, the SRIP-induced cytopathic effect, and ZIKV’s non-structural protein expression. Moreover, ZIKV Natal RGN SRIPs effectively self-replicated in rhabdomyosarcoma/muscle, glioblastoma/astrocytoma, and retinal pigmented epithelial cells, displaying unique cell susceptibility with differential attachment activity. Therefore, the recombinant ZIKV Natal RGN strain was rescued as SRIPs that could be used to elucidate the biological features of a neurotropic strain regarding cell tropism and pathogenic components, apply for antiviral agent screening, and develop vaccine candidates.
Rabies Surveillance Identifies Potential Risk Corridors and Enables Management Evaluation
Authors: Davis Amy J. , Nelson Kathleen M. , Kirby Jordona D. , Wallace Ryan , Ma Xiaoyue , Pepin Kim M. , Chipman Richard B. , Gilbert Amy T.
Published: October 2019

Intensive efforts are being made to eliminate the raccoon variant of rabies virus (RABV) from the eastern United States and Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program has implemented enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) to improve case detection across the extent of the raccoon oral rabies vaccination (ORV) management area. We evaluated ERS and public health surveillance data from 2006 to 2017 in three northeastern USA states using a dynamic occupancy modeling approach. Our objectives were to examine potential risk corridors for RABV incursion from the U.S. into Canada, evaluate the effectiveness of ORV management strategies, and identify surveillance gaps. ORV management has resulted in a decrease in RABV cases over time within vaccination zones (from occupancy ( ψ ¯ ) of 0.60 standard error (SE) = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ ¯ of 0.33 SE = 0.10 in the spring 2017). RABV cases also reduced in the enzootic area (from ψ ¯ of 0.60 SE = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ ¯ of 0.45 SE = 0.05 in the spring 2017). Although RABV occurrence was related to habitat type, greater impacts were associated with ORV and trap–vaccinate–release (TVR) campaigns, in addition to seasonal and yearly trends. Reductions in RABV occupancy were more pronounced in areas treated with Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) compared to RABORAL V-RG®. Our approach tracked changes in RABV occurrence across space and time, identified risk corridors for potential incursions into Canada, and highlighted surveillance gaps, while evaluating the impacts of management actions. Using this approach, we are able to provide guidance for future RABV management.
Metabolomic Analysis of Influenza A Virus A/WSN/1933 (H1N1) Infected A549 Cells during First Cycle of Viral Replication
Authors: Tian Xiaodong , Zhang Kun , Min Jie , Chen Can , Cao Ying , Ding Chan , Liu Wenjun , Li Jing
Published: October 2019

Influenza A virus (IAV) has developed strategies to utilize host metabolites which, after identification and isolation, can be used to discover the value of immunometabolism. During this study, to mimic the metabolic processes of influenza virus infection in human cells, we infect A549 cells with H1N1 (WSN) influenza virus and explore the metabolites with altered levels during the first cycle of influenza virus infection using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC–Q-TOF MS) technology. We annotate the metabolites using MetaboAnalyst and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses, which reveal that IAV regulates the abundance of the metabolic products of host cells during early infection to provide the energy and metabolites required to efficiently complete its own life cycle. These metabolites are correlated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mainly are involved in purine, lipid, and glutathione metabolisms. Concurrently, the metabolites interact with signal receptors in A549 cells to participate in cellular energy metabolism signaling pathways. Metabonomic analyses have revealed that, in the first cycle, the virus not only hijacks cell metabolism for its own replication, but also affects innate immunity, indicating a need for further study of the complex relationship between IAV and host cells.
Endoparasites of Selected Native Non-Domesticated Mammals in the Neotropics (New World Tropics)
Authors: Jones Kegan Romelle , Lall Kavita Ranjeeta , Garcia Gary Wayne
Published: October 2019

In this review, information was summarized on endoparasites found in six non-domesticated neotropical animals. These mammals have the potential to be domesticated. The animals included three rodents, agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), lappe (Agouti paca), and capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris); a marsupial, manicou (Didelphis marsupialis insularis); and an artiodactyl, the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu/Peccari tajacu) and a ruminant (the red brocket deer, Mazama americana). While there are many descriptions of the parasites present, the majority of publications failed to note the effect of them on the animals. Most information is available on endoparasites of capybara, while the endoparasites of the red brocket deer were the least reported. The manicou was reported to have had the most number of endoparasites, 44 species of parasites were reported, while there were only 24 endoparasites reported in the lappe. The most common parasites found in these neotropical animals were Paraspidodera uncinata, Strongyloides spp., Eimeria spp., Moniezia benedeni, Trichuris spp., Physocephalus spp., and Giardia spp. A large majority of the studies concluded that these animals were reservoirs for parasites that could affect domesticated livestock. Endoparasites of zoonotic significance were Echinoccocus spp., Trichuris spp., Giardia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp.
The Evapotranspiration of Tamarix and Its Response to Environmental Factors in Coastal Saline Land of China
Authors: Chen Huanyu , Yang Ce , Ren Angyan , Guo Kai , Feng Xiaohui , Li Jingsong , Liu Xiaojing , Sun Hongyong , Wang Jianlin
Published: October 2019

(1) Background: As a halophytic species, Tamarix (Tamarix chinensis) can be used for saline soil rehabilitation in China. The reclamation and rehabilitation of saline soil depend on the water consumption of plants. However, whether water resources in saline soil can support the construction of Tamarix vegetation is still unknown. (2) Methods: In this study, we measured the transpiration (T) of Tamarix for 3 years using sap flow and the evaporation (E) for 1 year using a micro-lysimeter in Tamarix land. The evaporation values in 2016 and 2017 were estimated with the soil crop coefficients obtained in 2018. (3) Results: The evapotranspiration (ET) ranged from 514.2 to 573.8 mm and was greatly affected by the wind speed, VPD and groundwater table. Transpiration was the main form of water consumption in this region, accounting for 60.2% of the total evapotranspiration. Compared with bare land, vegetation construction increased soil moisture dissipation by 377.6 mm in 2018. According to on-site measurements and estimates, the water shortage in the dry year was 107.2 mm, and the residual water values in the normal year and wet year were 77.8 mm and 187.5 mm, respectively. May and September were months of widespread water shortages in different precipitation years. Although the cultivation of this plant increased water consumption, the groundwater table remained at approximately 0.5 m during the study year. (4) Conclusions: These results indicated that planting Tamarix in coastal saline soil was feasible for the reclamation and rehabilitation of saline soil. In the dry year (2017), the consumption of evapotranspiration exceeded the precipitation. The inverse occurred in the normal year (2016) and wet year (2018). Taken together, our findings showed that the water resources in the coastal saline soil of China could tolerate vegetation construction and laid a strong foundation for saline soil rehabilitation.
Release of Ag/ZnO Nanomaterials and Associated Risks of a Novel Water Sterilization Technology
Authors: Pang Chengfang , Mackevica Aiga , Tian Jingjing , Feng Hongqing , Li Zhou , Baun Anders
Published: October 2019

For water sterilization, a highly effective system utilizing electrophoresis and the antimicrobial properties of Ag/ZnO nanomaterials has been developed. However, the key component of this system, a sterilization carbon cloth containing Ag/ZnO nanomaterials, has not been evaluated with respect to the potential environmental and human health risks associated with the nanomaterials released. In this paper, a recirculation flow system and methodology were developed to study the release of Ag and ZnO during water treatment. Our study showed that the released silver nanoparticles and dissolved Ag from the carbon cloth were 50 µg/L and 143 µg/L in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) medium, respectively. The release of dissolved Zn in the EPA medium was 33 µg /L. The results indicate that the release of dissolved and nanoparticulate silver from the sterilization carbon cloth exceeded acceptable risk levels in the aquatic environment. However, if the sterilization carbon cloth was pre-washed two days prior to use, the concentration of Ag was below the drinking water limit of 0.1 mg/L. Our study provides important exposure data for a novel water sanitation technology for real-world application in waste water and drinking water treatment, and aid in assuring its safe use.
Multifractal Analysis of River Networks in an Urban Catchment on the Taihu Plain, China
Authors: Xiang Jie , Xu Youpeng , Yuan Jia , Wang Qiang , Wang Jie , Deng Xiaojun
Published: October 2019

Multifractal analysis was successfully used to investigate the structure of river networks. In this paper, we performed a multifractal analysis of river networks in an urban catchment that is located on the Taihu Plain in the lower part of the Yangtze River Delta, China. Spatial and temporal variations in the river networks during the period 1960–2010 were investigated. The generalized multifractal dimensions (Dq) and the multifractal spectrum (f(α)) were calculated using a box-counting method. The results indicate that: (i) the river networks in Wuchengxiyu (WXCY), Yangchengdianmao (YCDM), and Hangjiahu (HJH) had obvious multifractal features with capacity dimensions between 1.90 and 1.91 during the period 1960–2010. The multifractal spectrums are asymmetrical inverted-hook-shaped curves with a dominant left arm. The variation in the singularity component (∆α) changed the most in WCXY (an increase of ~ 7.9%), and the height variation in the multifractal spectrum (∆f) increased by ~ 17.5% in HJH; (ii) the changes in ∆α and ∆f of the tributaries in the three areas during the period 1960–2010 were consistent with those of the overall river network, demonstrating the decisive role that the tributaries play in the complexity of the river networks; (iii) compared to the natural factors, the influences of urbanization on the river networks significantly changed with a higher urbanization level; and (iv) there were no border effects. Further applications of multifractal theory in analyses of the relationship between a flood-forming regime and the multifractal structures of river networks will attract more attention. Generally, this approach, when successfully applied to studies of changes in river networks, is of theoretical significance for better describing and quantifying the evolution of river networks’ structures.
Multi-Method Tracking of Monsoon Floods Using Sentinel-1 Imagery
Authors: Ruzza Giuseppe , Guerriero Luigi , Grelle Gerardo , Guadagno Francesco Maria , Revellino Paola
Published: October 2019

Floods cause great losses in terms of human life and damages to settlements. Since the exposure is a proxy of the risk, it is essential to track flood evolution. The increasing availability of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery extends flood tracking capabilities because of its all-water and day/night acquisition. In this paper, in order to contribute to a better evaluation of the potential of Sentinel-1 SAR imagery to track floods, we analyzed a multi-pulse flood caused by a typhoon in the Camarines Sur Province of Philippines between the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. Multiple simple classification methods were used to track the spatial and temporal evolution of the flooded area. Our analysis indicates that Valley Emphasis based manual threshold identification, Otsu methodology, and K-Means Clustering have the potential to be used for tracking large and long-lasting floods, providing similar results. Because of its simplicity, the K-Means Clustering algorithm has the potential to be used in fully automated operational flood monitoring, also because of its good performance in terms of computation time.
A IMPLANTA��O DA COLETA SELETIVA E DA EDUCA��O AMBIENTAL EM UMA CRECHE P�BLICA
Authors: Lisboa Geane Vilas Boas , Estender Antonio Carlos
Published: October 2019

Este trabalho se prop�e a compreender as percep��es dos stakeholders sobre a import�ncia da educa��o ambiental para a aplica��o pr�tica da coleta seletiva, visa tamb�m solucionar problemas espec�ficos, no caso, o descarte inadequado dos res�duos s�lidos. O objetivo foi verificar o quanto a coleta seletiva reduzir� na quantidade de res�duos gerados na organiza��o. O trabalho foi realizado por meio de estudo de caso �nico em uma empresa do setor de educa��o, onde foram efetivadas entrevistas de natureza qualitativa e explorat�ria, sendo a coleta de dados efetuada por meio de question�rios destinados aos stakeholders. Diante do exposto as implica��es mais relevantes foram que para que o objetivo seja atingido a melhor alternativa para a solu��o do problema � a implanta��o da educa��o ambiental de modo a viabilizar a mudan�a na cultura organizacional de forma cont�nua e sustent�vel gerando a melhoria da qualidade de vida e a preserva��o do meio ambiente.
SPACECRAFT DOCKING DYNAMIC FEATURES BY USING A PERIPHERAL MECH-ANISM WITH ACCUMULATION OF APPROACH KINETIC ENERGY
Authors: Yaskevich A.V.
Published: October 2019

Up to now, several docking systems have been developed under the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) by national space agencies and private companies. Docking mechanisms of these systems are based on different design and control principles. Thus a new peripheral docking mechanism, with more simple kinematics and design than that used in previous APAS docking unit, has been developed by Rocket and Space Corporation «Energia». An accumulation of spacecraft approach kinetic energy instead of traditional damping is used in this mechanism. It allows to move forward the docking ring for capture improvement and to ensure slowdown. Main features of spacecraft docking dynamic process with the use of this mechanism are described in this paper.
Key words: spacecraft, docking mechanisms, docking dynamics.
A STUDY OF VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF A TEXTILE SUSPENSION IN A PARACHUTE SYSTEM MODEL FOR ADVANCED SPACE RE-ENTRY VEHICLES
Authors: BOGOMOLOV N.V. , ZHURIN S.V. , PAKHMUTOV P.A. , PROKOPIEV V.P.
Published: October 2019

One of the pressing problems in space industry is providing soft landing on Earth for space re-entry vehicles and stages of launch vehicles for their re-use. This problem could be addressed by using a parachute system option which has an elastic link and tandem separation of the cargo into two tethered parts. The paper discusses determining viscoelastic behavior of the textile tether in a test setup of this parachute system, and constructing a math model of its strain behavior under transient mechanical loads. Obtained in the experiment was viscous friction coefficient for unit length of the tether, while the literature provides damping properties for samples of a certain length. The math model was developed under assumption of the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelestic model. Wave effects produced by shock impact are not simulated. The process of cargo descent was mathematically simulated using parameters of the test-bed experiment. The results of calculations using experimentally obtained coefficients are in satisfactory agreement with experiment with respect to strain and maximum g-load values.
Key words:
soft landing, re-entry vehicle, viscoelasticity, mechanical properties of textile materials, math model of strain.
STATISTICAL ESTIMATION OF REMAINING GAMMA-PERCENTILE LIFETIME OF SPACE HARDWARE BASED ON THE RESULTS OF TESTS THAT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURES AND WERE CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO PLAN WITH LIMITED TIME AND REFURBISHMENT
Authors: MIKHAYLOV V.S.
Published: October 2019

The problem of estimating the Remaining Lifetime (RL) of space hardware including spacecraft (SC) has been in existence throughout the entire history of space exploration. This is evidenced by numerous publications, which emphasize the importance of this problem. In practice, there are often situations, where a RL estimate needs to be made for a whole group of space hardware, in particular SC. The capability to do this is provided by well-developed methods of mathematical statistics, but only in those cases, where there have been failures in the course of operation, and in those cases the RL estimates that are used are not effective. However, for the group of SC that are in operation in space, in the course of which there have been no failures, conventional methods of mathematical statistics do not apply. The reliability of SC is continuously on the rise, as well as their numbers in space. Therefore, also on the rise is the importance of the problem of RL estimation for a whole group of SC of the same type that are currently in operation, during which there have been no failures. The reliability model is based on the exponential distribution law. The purpose of this paper is to provide an estimate ˆt of the Remaining Gamma-Percentile Lifetime (RGPL) for space hardware — under constraints imposed on the use of life, which will be simple and more efficient as compared with the conventional and slightly inferior to the efficient RGPL estimate, if any such estimate exists, from the standpoint of true RGPL value when using a test plan with limited running hours and refurbishment. To arrive at an efficient estimate, integral numerical characteristics of its accuracy were used, namely, total square of the bias (deviation) of the expected realization of a certain variant of the estimate from all the possible parameters of the binomial test plan. The obtained estimate ˆt of the RGPL t can be used in practice for SC operation, during which no failures occurred.
Key words: gamma-percentile operating life, exponential distribution, test plan, point estimate, remaining gamma-percentile operating life, space hardware, spacecraft.
CALCULATION OF SUBOPTIMAL HIGH-ELLIPTICAL ORBIT TO GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT TRAMSFERS FOR SPACECRAFT WITH LOW THRUSTERS
Authors: Salmin V.V. , Petrukhina K.V. , Kvetkin A.A.
Published: October 2019

At present the geostationary orbit is where communication satellites are preferably placed. Conventional orbital insertion profiles using chemical propulsion are insufficiently effective and require the use of heavy launch vehicles. Combining electric thrusters with chemical propulsion increases the mass of payload. On the other hand, orbital injection of a spacecraft using electrical propulsion brings up the problem of looking for an optimal control law. The paper discusses the transfer of a spacecraft with low-thrust electrical thruster from a high elliptical orbit to geostationary orbit. It proposes a suboptimal control law for the thrust vector. It provides examples of simulations of the transfer using the control law for various initial conditions. Parameters of intermediate high-elliptical orbits were selected to minimize the time of transfer to the final orbit, and estimates were made of the effects of the residual atmospheric drag during flight in the vicinity of the perigee of the orbit. Considering the low level of error, simplicity and high computational speed the proposed method can be used for trajectory design calculations.
Key words: Suboptimal control law, local optimization theory, electric thruster, high-elliptical orbit, geostationary orbit, math model of controlled motion, Pontryagin's maximum principle.
Medios digitales en el posicionamiento de marca.
Authors: Villamar Gavilanes Ana María , Zambrano Verdesoto Germán Jazmany , Regalado Vargas Ana Luisa
Published: October 2019

El auge de la tecnología en el mundo del marketing han revolucionado los medios con los que una institución educativa puede posicionar su marca. Así, las estrategias de branding hoy son influenciadas por los medios digitales tales como: páginas web, redes sociales y hasta aplicaciones como WhatsApp, entre otras, generando una comunicación bilateral e interactiva entre las organizaciones y sus clientes o usuarios. El objetivo de la presente investigación se centró en determinar si el uso de los medios digitales permite el posicionamiento de marca, analizando el caso del “Instituto Superior Tecnológico Guayaquil (ISTG)”. La metodología utilizada fue mixta con alcance descriptivo, enfocada a una muestra probabilística de 120 estudiantes de tercero de bachillerato de un colegio público de la ciudad. Además se entrevistó a un experto en el Marketing de Instituciones Educativas. Entre las principales conclusiones se obtuvieron que los jóvenes utilizan los medios digitales, especialmente las redes sociales, para informarse de las ofertas académicas y que el ISTG no está posicionado en el mercado. Esto se debe a la inexistencia de una estrategia de branding enfocada al posicionamiento de la marca y a la limitada operatividad de los medios digitales en el instituto. Se recomienda aplicar una estrategia de digital branding.
Impacto del Programa de Vinculación con la Comunidad de la Universidad Internacional del Ecuador en el Sector Independencia II – Barrios de Paz en Guayaquil, 2017 – 2018.
Authors: Izaguirre Jorge , Medina Vergara Viviana , Gavidia Bonilla Sabrina
Published: October 2019

Este trabajo tiene por objeto analizar el impacto del programa de vinculación con la comunidad de la Universidad Internacional del Ecuador – UIDE con el Sector Independencia II – Barrios de Paz en Guayaquil, durante los años 2017 y 2018. Para el efecto, la UIDE levantó una línea base donde se identificaron las necesidades del sector Barrios de Paz y en base a dichas necesidades se planteó una intervención. Para medir el impacto, se llenaron fichas de observación antes de la intervención y después de la misma. Con estas fichas se obtuvieron promedios para poder realizar un test de diferencia de medias. Los resultados del estudio muestran que el impacto de la vinculación en la comunidad fue positivo y significativo.