bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Quantification Procedure for Interior Performance of Architectural Openings Associated with Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Kim Jae-Hyang , Han Seung-Hoon
Published: November 2019

Windows with various colors are important design elements used widely ranging from traditional architecture to contemporary buildings to express the architectural façade, the interior atmosphere, and so on. Recently, there is a possibility that solar cells can be used to replace windows with various colors. In particular, attempts to manufacture windows using Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are actively underway. Accordingly, there is a need to determine physical and environmental performances of DSSCs. This study attempted a methodological approach to evaluate indoor environmental performance of windows and DSSCs. The concept of color gamut overage normally used in the field of displays was utilized to evaluate color expressions. In addition, a standard visual inspection table suggested by the International Ophthalmological Society was used to evaluate the recognition of shapes. This study compared performances between RGB color windows and DSSCs using the two above previous concepts. Measurement data showed that most DSSCs performed poorly in comparison with architectural color windows. However, some DSSCs showed good enough performances that could be used as alternatives of architectural color windows. Green DSSCs with VLT 18% had a color gamut similar to clear glasses. Blue DSSCs with VLT 18% were found to have similar or better shape recognition than current architectural color windows. Based on these results, limitations of DSSCs as alternatives of architectural color windows and their future development directions are suggested.
Mapping the Distribution of Water Resource Security in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region at the County Level under a Changing Context
Authors: Li Xiang , Yin Dongqin , Zhang Xuejun , Croke Barry F.W. , Guo Danhong , Liu Jiahong , Jakeman Anthony J. , Zhu Ruirui , Zhang Li , Mu Xiangpeng , Xu Fengran , Wang Qian
Published: November 2019

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jingjinji) region is the most densely populated region in China and suffers from severe water resource shortage, with considerable water-related issues emerging under a changing context such as construction of water diversion projects (WDP), regional synergistic development, and climate change. To this end, this paper develops a framework to examine the water resource security for 200 counties in the Jingjinji region under these changes. Thus, county-level water resource security is assessed in terms of the long-term annual mean and selected typical years (i.e., dry, normal, and wet years), with and without the WDP, and under the current and projected future (i.e., regional synergistic development and climate change). The outcomes of such scenarios are assessed based on two water-crowding indicators, two use-to-availability indicators, and one composite indicator. Results indicate first that the water resources are distributed unevenly, relatively more abundant in the northeastern counties and extremely limited in the other counties. The water resources are very limited at the regional level, with the water availability per capita and per unit gross domestic product (GDP) being only 279/290 m3 and 46/18 m3 in the current and projected future scenarios, respectively, even when considering the WDP. Second, the population carrying capacity is currently the dominant influence, while economic development will be the controlling factor in the future for most middle and southern counties. This suggests that significant improvement in water-saving technologies, vigorous replacement of industries from high to low water consumption, as well as water from other supplies for large-scale applications are greatly needed. Third, the research identifies those counties most at risk to water scarcity and shows that most of them can be greatly relieved after supplementation by the planned WDP. Finally, more attention should be paid to the southern counties because their water resources are not only limited but also much more sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. This work should benefit water resource management and allocation decisions in the Jingjinji region, and the proposed assessment framework can be applied to other similar problems.
Reflections on the Transformative Power of Environmental Education in Contemporary Societies: Experience from Two College Courses in Greece and the USA
Authors: Marouli Christina , Duroy Quentin
Published: November 2019

In the current information-saturated world of knowledge societies, universities are at risk of training technical experts who hold myopic views of the future, and leaders who are ill-equipped to address the systemic nature of current global ecological, economic, and political crises. In this context, and taking into account the obstacles posed, and the opportunities provided, by contemporary societies, the current paper discusses the design and implementation of courses which not only rely upon, but also increase the transformative power of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainability (EfS) within Higher Education. We rely on our experience in two college courses, in Greece and the USA, to provide reflections on the integrative, interdisciplinary and collaborative dimensions of EE/EfS and on their ability to challenge neoliberal discourse that permeates contemporary knowledge societies. The qualitative methodology utilized in the paper rests on a self-study research approach and on end-of-term course evaluations filled by the students. We propose that successful design and implementation of EE/EfS courses depends upon the instructors’ (and their institutions’) ability to democratize and rethink the classroom (beyond its physical limits and into the community), to help students self-examine their place in the system, and to create assignments that test the learning process rather than learning outcomes.
Perceived Sustainable Destination Image: Implications for Marketing Strategies in Europe
Authors: Almeida-Santana Arminda , Moreno-Gil Sergio
Published: November 2019

There is currently a growing concern about the consequences of tourism activity on the environment. In this regards, sustainable management is understood as a key element that can help destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to improve a tourist destination’s competitiveness. This study provides some clues about the best way to develop the image and branding of a destination using the concept of sustainable image. Through an analysis of 28,947 tourists from 18 European countries, this paper studies what sociodemographic, cultural, and behavioral characteristics of tourists influence their perception of sustainable destination. The results of the binomial logit analysis show that destination primary and secondary images, motivations, cultural background of tourists, and sociodemographic characteristics are determinant factors explaining the perception of sustainable destination image (SDI). Thus, the fundamental role of segmentation to positioning a destination as a sustainable destination is suggested. The study provides interesting recommendations for DMOs in order to be able to design better marketing strategies focused on destination image.
Return Migration and Tourism Sustainability in Portugal: Extracting Opportunities for Sustainable Common Planning in Southern Europe
Authors: Santos Rossana , Castanho Rui Alexandre , Lousada Sérgio
Published: November 2019

This study contributes to the knowledge of decision-makers on how tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises, return migration, and cooperation strategies can contribute to growth and sustainable development in rural areas. More specifically, it uses the Portuguese case to answer the following question: can the expectations and perceptions of emigrants provide directions for sustainable tourism development and common planning in order to contribute to rural development? The results obtained in a study developed in Portugal, through the application of a questionnaire survey of 5157 Portuguese emigrants, confirm the validity of this question. It is concluded that there are the emigrants at an active age (29–39 years old) and with a house in a rural area that have a greater propensity of returning, investing, and gaining employment in the area of tourism in Portugal, and they also have more training and professional experience in this area. Similarly, considering the experiences and migratory characteristics of these emigrants, it is argued that there is a strong probability that the return of emigrants from Southern European countries will contribute to the development of tourism in the rural areas of these countries. Besides, the study enables the identification of recommendations and directions for sustainable common planning in the political–strategic, financial–economic, resource sustainability, and sociocultural fields.
Energy-Efficient Window Retrofit for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Different Climatic Zones of China
Authors: He Qiong , Ng S. Thomas , Hossain Md. Uzzal , Skitmore Martin
Published: November 2019

The building envelope plays a significant role in the energy performance of buildings and windows are a key element in transmitting heating and cooling between the indoor and outdoor environment, and hence an adequate window system is one of the most important retrofit strategies of existing buildings for energy conservation. Therefore, this study presents a method with a theoretical case study to examine the improvement of energy efficiency in a typical high-rise residential building through window retrofitting. A building energy design model in Designbuilder along with a building information modeling (BIM) model in Revit are developed, with 20 common potential glazing alternatives being analyzed to predict the potential energy savings in the same case building with identical orientation located in a variety of climate zones in China. Based on different parameters and considerations, the results demonstrated that the currently relatively expensive low-e window glazing has the best energy performance in all climate zones, but is sufficiently close to conventionally glazed windows in its energy efficiency to discourage its adoption at present, and that, instead, a single dark conventional glazed window is preferred in a hot summer/warm winter climate, double dark traditional glazing in a hot summer/cold winter climate, and a double clear conventional window in a cold climate. Based on the simulated results, an indicative suggestion was provided to select an adequate window system for residential building retrofitting in the studied climates or similar climatic regions.
The Economic Value of Irrigation Water in Wadi Zabid, Tihama Plain, Yemen
Authors: Al-Qubatee Wahib , Hellegers Petra , Ritzema Henk
Published: November 2019

This study used crop budgets to assess the impact of declining groundwater levels on the economic value of irrigation water in the Wadi Zabid region of Yemen. The study found that returns to land and water were highly sensitive to changes in groundwater depths over time and the free availability of spate water for irrigation. Crops differed in the amounts of irrigation water applied and in their returns to land and water. Banana had the highest irrigation requirement, but also delivered the highest return to land. Banana’s return to water was greater than that of date palm and feed sorghum, but lower than that of mango and food sorghum.
Consolidated Climate Markets Mechanism Analysis—Case Studies of China, Japan, and Taiwan
Authors: Chuang Jules , Lien Hsing-Lung , Roche Akemi Kokubo , Liao Pei-Hsuan , Den Walter
Published: November 2019

The post-Kyoto Protocol era has seen a transition to focus on the development of a renewable energy (RE) market as a primary instrument to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. This paper analyses the development of GHG reduction and RE market in China, Japan, and Taiwan that are geographically proximate but socioeconomically diverse, and each plays a different but significant role in the world’s economy. By deploying a consolidated model incorporating the key components of market drivers underlying the goal of achieving GHG reduction, we threaded through the policy- and market-instruments implemented for each of the case studies over the past 20 years using the model. One commonality is that subsidiary schemes in the form of feed-in tariffs have served as an effective policy tool to boost the growth of renewable energy installations, though the worsening financial burden renders this path unsustainable. Over-reliance on feed-in-tariff schemes may have also impeded the liberation of an energy market pivotal to the success of elevating RE portfolio through trading mechanisms. What followed were the implementations of renewable energy certificate (REC) systems that have experienced various roadblocks leading to failures of the certificate market. By understanding the paths engaged in each of the cases, a conceptualized strategy depicted by the consolidated model is proposed to show the links between a renewable market and a carbon market. The framework would expedite the trading of RECs and carbon credits to accelerate the attainment of GHG emission reduction goals.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Corruption Disclosure in European Listed Firms through the Implementation of Directive 2014/95/EU
Authors: Alonso Carrillo María Inmaculada , Priego De La Cruz Alba María , Nuñez Chicharro Montserrat
Published: November 2019

The publication of Directive 2014/95/EU represents an important milestone related to the disclosure of non-financial information. This fact together with the role of the corporate governance guide firms towards achieving of an ethical, transparent, and responsible behavior. To contribute towards the understanding of this issue, this study investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and corporate social responsibility disclosure, namely, in corruption aspects relating to Directive 2014/95/EU. In so doing, a multiple regression analysis was carried out on a panel data sample of 198 European listed firms that are part of the EuroStoxx 200 index, in a studied period from 2014 to 2017. The findings reveal that outside directors and CEO duality impact positively and significantly on corruption disclosure. Therefore, this paper contributes to the existing research on corporate social responsibility disclosure, specifically, to the corruption disclosure literature by studying the corporate governance mechanisms that enhance these practices.
Influence of the Municipal Solid Waste Collection System on the Time Spent at a Collection Point: A Case Study
Authors: Carlos Mar , Gallardo Antonio , Edo-Alcón Natalia , Abaso Juan Ramón
Published: November 2019

Waste management plans pay attention to municipal solid waste (MSW) collection systems. It represents a significant portion of waste management as it involves a great economic cost and environmental impact. For these reasons, many researchers have studied the optimization of collection routes, analyzing factors that make them more efficient and sustainable, for example, the overall distance traveled and the time spent on the route. Collection times depend on factors such as the speed of the truck, time at traffic lights or time spent on loading and unloading the waste. The loading and unloading times play an important role in the measurement of the total time of the route. Moreover, there is scarce information in the literature about measuring the real-time spent on the trip. All those times are necessary to optimize the total route time. However, it is difficult to obtain this information directly as it depends on parameters such as the type of truck. The aim of this work is to propose a methodology to define all the times involved in the waste collection process. Once they are well defined, they have to be measured in some cases or calculated in others. This works also presents a case study to validate the proposed methodology with an extensive fieldwork to measure those times that can’t be calculated in the waste collection process. The work presents the results of a study of the time spent at a collection point in six MSW collection systems using different types of collection trucks and bin designs. We have determined how the characteristics of the system affect the time spent at a collection point. Additionally, the times for the six models have been established. Finally, we have determined the influence of the collection model in the duration of the activity. Under certain conditions, times can coincide even though the models are different.
Emergy-Based Sustainability Analysis of an Ecologically Integrated Model with Maize Planting for Silage and Pig-Raising in the North China Plain
Authors: Yun Lyu , Li Jing , Hou Ruixing , Sun Zhigang , Cong Peifei , Liang Rubiao , Hang Sheng , Gong Huarui , Ouyang Zhu
Published: November 2019

The structure of the pig-raising sector in China is changing towards large-scale and intensive systems or ecological pig-raising systems (EPRSs). To choose the best EPRS with high economic benefits and with low environmental consequences, this study combined economic analysis and emergy analysis methods to evaluate several EPRSs. Having a large percentage of maize silage in the feed (max 40%) to replace some maize increased the economic benefit and sustainability of the EPRS and decreased the pressure on the environment. The raising system that consisted of Tuhe black pigs fed feed containing maize silage (EPRS C) performed especially well. The yield-based economic profit and area-based economic profit of EPRS C increased by 37%–54% and 3%–17%, respectively, compared to those of the three-breed crossbred pig-raising systems with or without maize silage added to the feed (EPRS A and EPRS B). Its unit emergy value and emergy loading ratio were 9–22% and 10–15% lower, respectively, than those of EPRS A and EPRS B. Furthermore, its emergy yield ratio and emergy sustainability index were about 2% and 14%–19% higher, respectively, than those of EPRS A and EPRS B. To some extent, the results from EPRS C give some guidelines on improving the performance of the ecological pig-raising sector in China. Moreover, using a high concentration of maize silage in the feed and an optimal local pig type may be beneficial for the sustainability of the ecological pig-raising sector in China.
Sustainable Development of Mountain Hotels through the Implementation of International Management Standards: The Romanian Case
Authors: Firoiu Daniela , Ionescu George  H. , Bădîrcea Roxana , Vochița Luminița , Enescu Maria
Published: November 2019

This paper aims to identify the current level of implementation of the principles of sustainable development among hotels in the mountain area of Romania, how these standards influence the occupancy rate with the help of communication strategies, and to what extent the implementation of international management standards leads to an increase in the profitability rate. The research was carried out on the basis of questionnaires addressed to the hotels in the mountain areas of Romania, with information being collected from a number of 77 hotels, rated between 2 and 5 stars. The results obtained from the research highlighted the existence of positive correlations, both between the use of a communication strategy on the sustainable development objectives and the occupancy rate, as well as between the implementation of international management standards and the increase of the profitability rate.
An Evaluation Method of Green Development for Chemical Enterprises
Authors: Chen Yitong , Hu Shanying , Chen Dingjiang , Zhai Hongxuan , Bao Shutao , Lv Tianbao
Published: November 2019

Chemical enterprises in China make important contributions to daily life and the national economy. Since “green development” has been treated as one of the most important developmental strategies in China, scientifically evaluating the level of green development is extremely important for chemical enterprises. In this study, a systematic evaluation method is proposed for chemical enterprises by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The key to this evaluation method is a new comprehensive indicator, the Green Development Degree (GDD). As an example, Shandong Lubei Enterprise, that has the process of phosphogypsum to sulfuric acid and cement (PSC), is analyzed by GDD. The results show that GDD would increase with the improvement of the PSC process’s green evolution. When compared with the national average level, the GDD of the case enterprise increases from 50 to 133. In addition, experience regarding the green development for chemical enterprises is proposed. This study aims to guide the green development of chemical enterprises, help enterprise groups to assess subsidiary corporations and adjust improvement measures, and achieve the national macro-control of chemical enterprises.
The Genetic Structure of the Field Pea Landrace “Roveja di Civita di Cascia”
Authors: Ferradini Nicoletta , Torricelli Renzo , Terzaroli Niccolò , Albertini Emidio , Russi Luigi
Published: November 2019

“Roveja di Civita di Cascia” is a landrace of Pisum sativum grown in marginal land habitats of the Apennines, Central Italy, and is one of the eleven herbaceous crop landraces listed in the Regional Register of local varieties. The objective of the present paper was to assess its genetic structure using 62 morphological traits and five microsatellites. As many as 55 traits showed significant differences with the control entries (P. sativum subsp. sativum var. arvense and var. sativum). We tested P. sativum Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) for their transferability to “Roveja”, and found that only 12 out of 35 performed well. Of these, we demonstrated that five were sufficient to assess the genetic structure of this landrace, characterized by several private alleles, differentiating it from Paladio and Bluemoon, which were used as controls. Phenotypic and genotypic data evidenced a genetic structure based on a blend of several pure-bred lines. The sustainability of on-farm landrace conservation is discussed.
Cognitive Reflection and General Mental Ability as Predictors of Job Performance
Authors: Salgado Jesús F. , Otero Inmaculada , Moscoso Silvia
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a study with four independent samples on the validity of cognitive reflection (CR) for predicting job performance and academic outcomes. The results showed that CR was a valid predictor of academic outcomes (i.e., grades and exam marks) and job performance (i.e., assessment center ratings). The magnitude of the CR validity was similar to the validity of GMA. Moreover, we found that CR and GMA were moderately correlated, and multiple regression analyses showed that CR added a small amount of validity over GMA validity for predicting both types of performance. Finally, we discuss the implications of the findings for the theory and practice of predicting performance and organizational sustainability.
Moldboard Plowing with Direct Seeding Improves Soil Properties and Sustainable Productivity in Ratoon Rice Farmland in Southern China
Authors: Asenso Evans , Zhang Luyong , Tang Lingmao , Issaka Fuseini , Tian Kai , Li Jiuhao , Hu Lian
Published: November 2019

Several tillage and planting methods have been proposed to enhance the soil bulk density, biological community, and grain yield of rice. In this work, we present the impact of plowing methods with different rice crop establishment approaches, i.e., moldboard plowing with mechanical transplanting (MPMT), rotary tillage with mechanical transplanting (RTMT), moldboard plowing with direct seeding (MPDS), and rotary tillage with direct seeding (RTDS), on soil bulk density, microbial community, enzymatic activities, and grain yield of ratoon rice (RR). The results showed that MPDS improved soil bulk density in 0–30 cm depth in both years and both harvesting times (1H: 1st harvest and 2H: 2nd harvest). The results also showed that microbial community significantly improved under MPDS compared to the other treatments in both years and in 1H and 2H. Additionally, enzymatic activities showed a positive effect under MPDS in both years and in 1H and 2H. MPDS subsequently improved rice grain yield by 18.05% and 17.27% in 2017 (1H and 2H), and 14.86% and 18.64% in 2018 (1H and 2H), respectively. In conclusion, MPDS appears to be a more suitable approach to obtaining high soil eminence and health, as well as sustainable RR production.
Bioclimatology, Structure, and Conservation Perspectives of Quercus pyrenaica, Acer opalus subsp. Granatensis, and Corylus avellana Deciduous Forests on Mediterranean Bioclimate in the South-Central Part of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Piñar Fuentes J. C. , Cano-Ortiz A. , Musarella C. M. , Quinto Canas R. , Pinto Gomes C. J. , Spampinato G. , del Río S. , Cano E.
Published: November 2019

The plant variability in the southern Iberian Peninsula consists of around 3500 different taxa due to its high bioclimatic, geographic, and geological diversity. The deciduous forests in the southern Iberian Peninsula are located in regions with topographies and specific bioclimatic conditions that allow for the survival of taxa that are typical of cooler and wetter bioclimatic regions and therefore represent the relict evidence of colder and more humid paleoclimatic conditions. The floristic composition of 421 samples of deciduous forests in the south-central part of the Iberian Peninsula were analyzed. The ecological importance index (IVI) was calculated, where the most important tree species were Quercus pyrenaica, Acer opalus subsp. Granatensis, and Corylus avellana. These species are uncommon in the south-central part of the Iberian Peninsula, forming forests of little extension. An analysis of the vertical distribution of the species (stratum) shows that the majority of the species of stratum 3 (hemicriptophics, camephytes, geophites, and nanophanerophytes) are characteristic of deciduous forests, and their presence is positively correlated with high values of bioclimatic variables related to humidity and presence of water in the soil (nemoral environments), while they are negatively correlated with high values of bioclimatic variables related to high temperatures, evapotranspiration, and aridity. This work demonstrates that several characteristic deciduous forest taxa are more vulnerable to disappearance due to the loss of their nemoral conditions caused by gaps in the tree or shrub canopy. These gaps lead to an increase in evapotranspiration, excess insolation, and a consequent loss of water and humidity in the microclimatic conditions.
Closed Form Solutions for Nonlinear Oscillators Under Discontinuous and Impulsive Periodic Excitations
Authors: Pilipchuk Valery
Published: November 2019

Periodic responses of linear and nonlinear systems under discontinuous and impulsive excitations are analyzed with non-smooth temporal transformations incorporating temporal symmetries of periodic processes. The related analytical manipulations are illustrated on a strongly nonlinear oscillator whose free vibrations admit an exact description in terms of elementary functions. As a result, closed form analytical solutions for the non-autonomous strongly nonlinear case are obtained. Conditions of existence for such solutions are represented as a family of period-amplitude curves. The family is represented by different couples of solutions associated with different numbers of vibration half cycles between any two consecutive pulses. Poincaré sections showed that the oscillator can respond quite chaotically when shifting from the period-amplitude curves.
Agglomeration Economies: An Analysis of the Determinants of Employment in the Cities of Ecuador
Authors: Torres-Gutiérrez Tania Paola , Correa-Quezada Ronny , Álvarez-García José , del Río-Rama María de la Cruz
Published: November 2019

The objective of this investigation is to study the role of agglomeration economies (manufacturing) in urban employment growth, as a proxy for economic growth, between 1980 and 2010 in Ecuador. The three measures of agglomeration-specialization, diversity, and density-are tested to determine their effect on employment growth in industries. The empirical analysis is based on firm- and city-level data from manufacturing activities. A model is proposed to estimate the effect of agglomeration economies on the growth of employment and a regression is conducted using instrumental variables. In particular, the two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimator is used. We conclude that localization economies measured by a specialization index have a positive impact on the growth of employment in the period analyzed. The results are similar to those obtained by other work carried out both in developed and developing countries.
Timeliness of Infectious Diseases Referral and Inappropriate Antibiotic Usage Post-Referral in an Asian Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Wee Liang En , Tan Aidan Lyanzhiang , Wijaya Limin , Chlebicki Maciej Piotr , Thumboo Julian , Tan Ban Hock
Published: November 2019

Infectious diseases (ID) specialists advise on complicated infections and are advocates for the interventions of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP). Early referral to ID specialists has been shown to improve patient outcomes; however, not all referrals to ID specialists are made in a timely fashion. A retrospective cross-sectional study of all referrals to ID specialists in a Singaporean tertiary hospital was conducted from January 2016 to January 2018. The following quality indicators were examined: early referral to ID specialists (within 48 h of admission) and ASP intervention for inappropriate antibiotic usage, even after referral to ID specialists. Chi-square was used for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. A total of 6490 referrals over the 2-year period were analysed; of those, 36.7% (2384/6490) were from surgical disciplines, 47.0% (3050/6490) were from medical disciplines, 14.2% (922/6490) from haematology/oncology and 2.1% (134/6490) were made to the transplant ID service. Haematology/oncology patients and older patients (aged ≥ 60 years) had lower odds of early referral to ID specialists but higher odds of subsequent ASP intervention for inappropriate antibiotic usage, despite prior referral to an ID specialist. Elderly patients and haematology/oncology patients can be referred to ID specialists earlier and their antimicrobial regimens further optimised, perhaps by fostering closer cooperation between ID specialists and primary physicians.
Observational Constraints on Dynamical Dark Energy with Pivoting Redshift
Authors: Yang Weiqiang , Pan Supriya , Di Valentino Eleonora , Saridakis Emmanuel N.
Published: November 2019

We investigate the generalized Chevallier–Polarski–Linder (CPL) parametrization, which contains the pivoting redshift z p as an extra free parameter, in order to examine whether the evolution of the dark energy equation of state can be better described by a different parametrization. We use various data combinations from cosmic microwave background (CMB), baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), redshift space distortion (RSD), weak lensing (WL), joint light curve analysis (JLA), and cosmic chronometers (CC), and we include a Gaussian prior on the Hubble constant value, in order to extract the observational constraints on various quantities. For the case of free z p we find that for all data combinations it always remains unconstrained, and there is a degeneracy with the value of the dark energy equation of state w 0 p at z p . For the case where z p is fixed to specific values, and for the full data combination, we find that with increasing z p the mean value of w 0 p slowly moves into the phantom regime, however the cosmological constant is always allowed within 1 σ confidence-level. In fact, the significant effect is that with increasing z p , the correlations between w 0 p and w a (the free parameter of the dark energy equation of state quantifying its evolution with redshift), change from negative to positive, with the case z p = 0.35 corresponding to no correlation. The fact that the two parameters describing the dark energy equation of state are uncorrelated for z p = 0.35 justifies why a non-zero pivoting redshift needs to be taken into account.
A Multi-Omics Study of Chicken Infected by Nephropathogenic Infectious Bronchitis Virus
Authors: Xu Puzhi , Liu Ping , Zhou Changming , Shi Yan , Wu Qingpeng , Yang Yitian , Li Guyue , Hu Guoliang , Guo Xiaoquan
Published: November 2019

Chicken gout resulting from nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) has become a serious kidney disease problem in chicken worldwide with alterations of the metabolic phenotypes in multiple metabolic pathways. To investigate the mechanisms in chicken responding to NIBV infection, we examined the global transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of the chicken’s kidney using RNA-seq and GC–TOF/MS, respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed the alterations in cecal microorganism composition in chickens using 16S rRNA-seq. Integrated analysis of these three phenotypic datasets further managed to create correlations between the altered kidney transcriptomes and metabolome, and between kidney metabolome and gut microbiome. We found that 2868 genes and 160 metabolites were deferentially expressed or accumulated in the kidney during NIBV infection processes. These genes and metabolites were linked to NIBV-infection related processes, including immune response, signal transduction, peroxisome, purine, and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the comprehensive correlations between the kidney metabolome and cecal microbial community showed contributions of gut microbiota in the progression of NIBV-infection. Taken together, our research comprehensively describes the host responses during NIBV infection and provides new clues for further dissection of specific gene functions, metabolite affections, and the role of gut microbiota during chicken gout.
Persistent Infection with Rotavirus Vaccine Strain in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Child: Is Rotavirus Vaccination in SCID Children a Janus Face?
Authors: De Francesco Maria Antonia , Ianiro Giovanni , Monini Marina , Vezzoli Cesare , Schumacher Richard Fabian , Giliani Silvia , Lorenzin Giovanni , Gurrieri Francesca , Caruso Arnaldo
Published: November 2019

We report the first case, to our knowledge, in Italy, of a severe combined immunodeficiency patient with a persistent rotavirus infection due to a vaccine derived strain. Rotavirus was detected by enzyme immunoassays and RT-PCR in stool specimens for five months. The persistent infection was resolved after complete immune reconstitution achieved by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This case underlines the importance of neonatal SCID_screening.
The Potential of Influenza HA-Specific Immunity in Mitigating Lethality of Postinfluenza Pneumococcal Infections
Authors: Klausberger Miriam , Leneva Irina A. , Falynskova Irina N. , Vasiliev Kirill , Poddubikov Alexander V. , Lindner Claudia , Kartaschova Nadezhda P. , Svitich Oxana A. , Stukova Marina , Grabherr Reingard , Egorov Andrej
Published: November 2019

Influenza virus infections pre-dispose an individual to secondary pneumococcal infections, which represent a serious public health concern. Matching influenza vaccination was demonstrated helpful in preventing postinfluenza bacterial infections and associated illnesses in humans. Yet, the impact of influenza hemagglutinin (HA)-specific immunity alone in this dual-infection scenario remains elusive. In the present study, we assessed the protective effect of neutralizing and non-neutralizing anti-hemagglutinin immunity in a BALB/c influenza-pneumococcus superinfection model. Our immunogens were insect cell-expressed hemagglutinin-Gag virus-like particles that had been differentially-treated for the inactivation of bioprocess-related baculovirus impurities. We evaluated the potential of several formulations to restrain the primary infection with vaccine-matched or -mismatched influenza strains and secondary bacterial replication. In addition, we investigated the effect of anti-HA immunity on the interferon status in mouse lungs prior to bacterial challenge. In our experimental setup, neutralizing anti-HA immunity provided significant but incomplete protection from postinfluenza bacterial superinfection, despite effective control of viral replication. In view of this, it was surprising to observe a survival advantage with non-neutralizing adaptive immunity when using a heterologous viral challenge strain. Our findings suggest that both neutralizing and non-neutralizing anti-HA immunity can reduce disease and mortality caused by postinfluenza pneumococcal infections.
Investigation of Sediment-Rich Glacial Meltwater Plumes Using a High-Resolution Multispectral Sensor Mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Wójcik Kornelia Anna , Bialik Robert Józef , Osińska Maria , Figielski Marek
Published: November 2019

A Parrot Sequoia+ multispectral camera on a Parrot Bluegrass drone registered in four spectral bands (green, red, red edge (RE), and near-infrared (NIR)) to identify glacial outflow zones and determined the meltwater turbidity values in waters in front of the following Antarctic glaciers: Ecology, Dera Icefall, Zalewski, and Krak on King George Island, Southern Shetlands was used. This process was supported by a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) colour model from a Zenmuse X5 camera on an Inspire 2 quadcopter drone. Additional surface water turbidity measurements were carried out using a Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI) sonde EXO2. From this research, it was apparent that for mapping low-turbidity and medium-turbidity waters (<70 formazinenephelometricunits (FNU)), a red spectral band should be used, since it is insensitive to possible surface ice phenomena and registers the presence of both red and white sediments. High-turbidity plumes with elevated FNU values should be identified through the NIR band. Strong correlation coefficients between the reflectance at particular bands and FNU readings (RGreen = 0.85, RRed = 0.85, REdge = 0.84, and RNIR = 0.83) are shown that multispectral mapping using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be successfully usedeven in the unfavourable weather conditions and harsh climate of Antarctica. Lastly, the movement of water masses in Admiralty Bay is briefly discussed and supported by the results from EXO2 measurements.
Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Collaborative Sustainable Water Governance in Remote Australian Indigenous Communities
Authors: Jackson Melissa , Stewart Rodney A. , Beal Cara D.
Published: November 2019

Collaboration between government agencies and communities for sustainable water governance in remote Indigenous communities is espoused as a means to contribute to more equitable, robust, and long-term decision-making and to ensure that water services contribute to broader considerations of physical, social, and economic prosperity. In Australia, the uptake of collaborative water governance in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island contexts has been slow and few examples exist from which to inform policy and practice. This study identifies barriers to uptake of collaborative sustainable water governance, drawing from qualitative interviews with water practitioners working in remote Indigenous Australia and analysis of key project documentation. Thematic analysis revealed discrete barriers across five key categories: (1) governance arrangements, (2) economic and financial, (3) capacity and skills, (4) data and information, and (5) cultural values and norms, with many barriers identified, unique to the remote Indigenous Australian context. The paper provides insights into how to address these barriers strategically to create transformative and sustainable change for Indigenous communities. The results contribute to the greater body of knowledge on sustainable and collaborative water governance, and they are of relevance for broader water management, policy, and research.
Evaluating the Effect of Farmers’ Participation in Irrigation Management on Farm Productivity and Profitability in the Mubuku Irrigation Scheme, Uganda
Authors: Pék Éva , Fertő Imre , Alobid Mohannad
Published: November 2019

Irrigation remains a critical input into farming and, therefore, it remains a proxy for food security and poverty alleviation in developing countries. Despite their role in economic growth and the received investment, irrigation schemes are still underperforming. Among many irrigation schemes, transferring more management responsibilities to farmers proved to be a viable path toward improving performance. However, the large diversity of implementation strategies makes evaluation difficult, while its well-demonstrated benefits have paramount importance to convince reluctant smallholders to take additional roles. In order to address this gap, we analyze the effects of participation on farming outcomes (yield, revenue, net profit) by estimating the treatment effect. We present the case study of a Mubuku small-scale irrigation scheme, Uganda. We provide a framework to construct the Farmers Participation Index while distinguishing farmers into participating and not participating groups. The effects of participation are investigated through econometric methods including nonparametric and semiparametric estimation methods such as a difference in means, a regression adjustment, propensity score matching, and entropy balancing. The analysis reveals a positive and significant treatment effect of participation on farming outcomes. The obtained results endorse the efforts of governmental programs to foster responsibility transfer and the farmers’ role in irrigation management. A strong causal relationship between management and profitability provides incentives for farmers to engage in participation.
Parameter Uncertainty of a Snowmelt Runoff Model and Its Impact on Future Projections of Snowmelt Runoff in a Data-Scarce Deglaciating River Basin
Authors: Xiang Yiheng , Li Lu , Chen Jie , Xu Chong-Yu , Xia Jun , Chen Hua , Liu Jie
Published: November 2019

The impacts of climate change on water resources in snow- and glacier-dominated basins are of great importance for water resource management. The Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) was developed to simulate and predict daily streamflow for high mountain basins where snowmelt runoff is a major contributor. However, there are many sources of uncertainty when using an SRM for hydrological simulations, such as low-quality input data, imperfect model structure and model parameters, and uncertainty from climate scenarios. Among these, the identification of model parameters is considered to be one of the major sources of uncertainty. This study evaluates the parameter uncertainty for SRM simulation based on different calibration strategies, as well as its impact on future hydrological projections in a data-scarce deglaciating river basin. The generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method implemented by Monte Carlo sampling was used to estimate the model uncertainty arising from parameters calibrated by means of different strategies. Future snowmelt runoff projections under climate change impacts in the middle of the century and their uncertainty were assessed using average annual hydrographs, annual discharge and flow duration curves as the evaluation criteria. The results show that: (1) the strategy with a division of one or two sub-period(s) in a hydrological year is more appropriate for SRM calibration, and is also more rational for hydrological climate change impact assessment; (2) the multi-year calibration strategy is also more stable; and (3) the future runoff projection contains a large amount of uncertainty, among which parameter uncertainty plays a significant role. The projections also indicate that the onset of snowmelt runoff is likely to shift earlier in the year, and the discharge over the snowmelt season is projected to increase. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of considering the parameter uncertainty of time-varying hydrological processes in hydrological modelling and climate change impact assessment.
Characteristics of Water Isotopes and Water Source Identification During the Wet Season in Naqu River Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Chen Xi , Wang Guoli , Wang Fuqiang , Yan Denghua , Zhao Heng
Published: November 2019

Climate change is affecting the discharge of headstreams from mountainous areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. To constrain future changes in discharge, it is important to understand the present-day formation mechanism and components of runoff in the basin. Here we explore the sources of runoff and spatial variations in discharge through measurements of δ2H and δ18O in the Naqu River, at the source of the Nu River, on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau, during the month of August from 2016 to 2018. We established thirteen sampling sites on the main stream and tributaries, and collected 39 samples from the river. We examined all the water samples and analyzed them for isotopes. We find a significant spatial variation trend based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) between Main stream-2 and tributaries. The local meteoric water-line (LMWL) can be described as: δ2H = 7.9δ18O + 6.29. Isotopic evaporative fractionation in water and mixing of different water sources are responsible for the spatial difference in isotopic values between Main stream-2 and tributaries. Based on isotopic hydrograph separation, the proportion of snowmelt in runoff components ranges from 15% to 47%, and the proportion of rainwater ranges from 3% to 35%. Thus, the main components of runoff in the Naqu River are snowmelt and groundwater.
Smart EV Charging: A Global Review of Promising Practices
Authors: Hildermeier Julia , Kolokathis Christos , Rosenow Jan , Hogan Michael , Wiese Catharina , Jahn Andreas
Published: November 2019

The electrification of transport in Europe is in the early stages of a market transformation that has the potential to significantly cut emissions in both the transportation and energy sectors, while generating wider benefits for society. The research underpinning this study finds that the greatest value from integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into the power grid can be generated by charging them when and where it is most beneficial for the power system, while ensuring consumers’ mobility needs are met at an affordable cost. An emerging body of research on electric vehicle grid integration focuses on modeling the cost of integration under various scenarios, but few studies look at the existing promising practices that are based on policy tools in use today. The authors of this study conducted a qualitative review of policies for EV grid integration in the EU and U.S. markets. We found that, in order to unlock the environmental and economic opportunities associated with market uptake, three policy strategies are most effective: cost-reflective pricing, intelligent technology, and integrated infrastructure planning. The study also explores the implications of these practices for policymakers and regulators in the EU (A short version of this paper was presented at the 32nd Electric Vehicles Symposium in Lyon, France, in May 2019).
Realization of National Goals in the Proposed Model of Strategic Economic Planning
Authors: Gumerov R.R.
Published: November 2019

The article formulates the basic requirements for the ideology of strategic planning and strategic management in the context of current «big challenges». Using specific industries and management spheres as an example, the shortcomings of the ongoing state programs and national projects were demonstrated and a generalized conclusion was drawn that the Government’s practical activities in implementing the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated May 07, 2018 No. 204 were reduced to formal changes in the regulatory framework and methodological support, which did not able to ensure the implementation of ambitious national goals. The resulting part of the article formulates some conceptual considerations and specific recommendations for improving the strategic planning system.