bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Groundwater Challenges of the Lower Rio Grande: A Case Study of Legal Issues in Texas and New Mexico
Authors: Wheat Elizabeth
Published: March 2015

In 1938, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado signed the Rio Grande Compact, establishing terms of apportionment for some of the water from the Rio Grande for the three states. Following congressional approval in 1939, this compact governs water allocation in a region with a variable climate and frequent drought conditions and established the Rio Grande Compact Commission, comprised of a commissioner from each state and one from the federal government, to enforce the compact. With an increasing population and declining surface water supply, the Compact has been tested among the parties and within the states themselves. In a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado (2013), Texas claims New Mexico is violating the Compact and Rio Grande Project Act by using water in excess of its apportionment through its allowance of diversions of surface and groundwater. The issue is further compounded by disputes within Texas over separate legal regimes for groundwater and surface water. Combined with growing scarcity issues, the allocation of water in the Lower Rio Grande presents a timely natural resource challenge. This review explores legal issues involved in the case as well as growing challenges of population growth, agricultural development needs, and water shortages.
Performance Metrics for Soil Moisture Downscaling Methods: Application to DISPATCH Data in Central Morocco
Authors: Merlin Olivier , Malbéteau Yoann , Notfi Youness , Bacon Stefan , Khabba Salah , Jarlan Lionel
Published: March 2015

Data disaggregation (or downscaling) is becoming a recognized modeling framework to improve the spatial resolution of available surface soil moisture satellite products. However, depending on the quality of the scale change modeling and on the uncertainty in its input data, disaggregation may improve or degrade soil moisture information at high resolution. Hence, defining a relevant metric for evaluating such methodologies is crucial before disaggregated data can be eventually used in fine-scale studies. In this paper, a new metric, named GDOWN, is proposed to assess the potential gain provided by disaggregation relative to the non-disaggregation case. The performance metric is tested during a four-year period by comparing 1-km resolution disaggregation based on physical and theoretical scale change (DISPATCH) data with the soil moisture measurements collected by six stations in central Morocco. DISPATCH data are obtained every 2–3 days from 40-km resolution SMOS (Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity) and 1-km resolution optical MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. The correlation coefficient between GDOWN and the disaggregation gain in time series correlation, mean bias and bias in the slope of the linear fit ranges from 0.5 to 0.8. The new metric is found to be a good indicator of the overall performance of DISPATCH. Especially, the sign of GDOWN (positive in the case of effective disaggregation and negative in the opposite case) is independent of the uncertainties in SMOS data and of the representativeness of localized in situ measurements at the downscaling (1 km) resolution. In contrast, the traditional root mean square difference between disaggregation output and in situ measurements is poorly correlated (correlation coefficient of about 0.0) with the disaggregation gain in terms of both time series correlation and bias in the slope of the linear fit. The GDOWN approach is generic and thus could help test a range of downscaling methods dedicated to soil moisture and to other geophysical variables.
Highly Sensitive Measurement of Liquid Density in Air Using Suspended Microcapillary Resonators
Authors: Malvar Oscar , Ramos Daniel , Martínez Carmen , Kosaka Priscila , Tamayo Javier , Calleja Montserrat
Published: March 2015

We report the use of commercially available glass microcapillaries as micromechanical resonators for real-time monitoring of the mass density of a liquid that flows through the capillary. The vibration of a suspended region of the microcapillary is optically detected by measuring the forward scattering of a laser beam. The resonance frequency of the liquid filled microcapillary is measured for liquid binary mixtures of ethanol in water, glycerol in water and Triton in ethanol. The method achieves a detection limit in an air environment of 50 µg/mL that is only five times higher than that obtained with state-of-the-art suspended microchannel resonators encapsulated in vacuum. The method opens the door to novel advances for miniaturized total analysis systems based on microcapillaries with the add-on of mechanical transduction for sensing the rheological properties of the analyzed fluids without the need for vacuum encapsulation of the resonators.
A Non-Chemical System for Online Weed Control
Authors: Rueda-Ayala Victor , Peteinatos Gerassimos , Gerhards Roland , Andújar Dionisio
Published: March 2015

Non-chemical weed control methods need to be directed towards a site-specific weeding approach, in order to be able to compete the conventional herbicide equivalents. A system for online weed control was developed. It automatically adjusts the tine angle of a harrow and creates different levels of intensity: from gentle to aggressive. Two experimental plots in a maize field were harrowed with two consecutive passes. The plots presented from low to high weed infestation levels. Discriminant capabilities of an ultrasonic sensor were used to determine the crop and weed variability of the field. A controlling unit used ultrasonic readings to adjust the tine angle, producing an appropriate harrowing intensity. Thus, areas with high crop and weed densities were more aggressively harrowed, while areas with lower densities were cultivated with a gentler treatment; areas with very low densities or without weeds were not treated. Although the weed development was relatively advanced and the soil surface was hard, the weed control achieved by the system reached an average of 51% (20%–91%), without causing significant crop damage as a result of harrowing. This system is proposed as a relatively low cost, online, and real-time automatic harrow that improves the weed control efficacy, reduces energy consumption, and avoids the usage of herbicide.
A Robust Method to Detect Zero Velocity for Improved 3D Personal Navigation Using Inertial Sensors
Authors: Xu Zhengyi , Wei Jianming , Zhang Bo , Yang Weijun
Published: March 2015

This paper proposes a robust zero velocity (ZV) detector algorithm to accurately calculate stationary periods in a gait cycle. The proposed algorithm adopts an effective gait cycle segmentation method and introduces a Bayesian network (BN) model based on the measurements of inertial sensors and kinesiology knowledge to infer the ZV period. During the detected ZV period, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used to estimate the error states and calibrate the position error. The experiments reveal that the removal rate of ZV false detections by the proposed method increases 80% compared with traditional method at high walking speed. Furthermore, based on the detected ZV, the Personal Inertial Navigation System (PINS) algorithm aided by EKF performs better, especially in the altitude aspect.
The Application of a Piezo-Resistive Cardiorespiratory Sensor System in an Automobile Safety Belt
Authors: Hamdani Syed , Fernando Anura
Published: March 2015

Respiratory and heart failure are conditions that can occur with little warning and may also be difficult to predict. Therefore continuous monitoring of these bio-signals is advantageous for ensuring human health. The car safety belt is mainly designed to secure the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident. In the current research a prototype safety belt is developed, which is used to acquire respiratory and heart signals, under laboratory conditions. The current safety belt is constructed using a copper ink based nonwoven material, which works based on the piezo-resistive effect due to the pressure exerted on the sensor as a result of expansion of the thorax/abdomen area of the body for respiration and due to the principle of ballistocardiography (BCG) in heart signal sensing. In this research, the development of a theoretical model to qualitatively describe the piezo-resistive material is also presented in order to predict the relative change in the resistance of the piezo-resistive material due to the pressure applied.
CO2 Employment as Refrigerant Fluid with a Low Environmental Impact. Experimental Tests on Arugula and Design Criteria for a Test Bench
Authors: Bianchi Biagio , Cavone Giuseppe , Cice Gianpaolo , Tamborrino Antonia , Amodio Marialuisa , Capotorto Imperatrice , Catalano Pasquale
Published: March 2015

In order to define design criteria for CO2 refrigeration systems to be used for agricultural products and foodstuff storage, a variable geometrical system was realized, with the goal of meeting a wide range of environmental and process conditions, such as producing low environmental impact and maintaining the highest Coefficient of Performance (COP), at the same time. This test-bench, at semi-industrial scale, was designed as a result of experimental tests carried out on Arugula. The storage tests showed that all samples stored in cold rooms with R.H. control showed a slight increase of weight but also small rot zones in all the boxes due to an excessive accumulation of water condensation; thus, the system may not have achieved conditions that RH requires in a given range, without reaching saturation condition. At the same time, the use of CO2 must be adequately tested along its thermodynamic cycle, during steady state and/or transient conditions, imposing variable working conditions that can simulate plant starting phase or some striking conservation process, like those that characterize sausages. The designed plant will allow studying these specific performances and evaluate COP variation, according to environmental and plant operating conditions.
Optimal Electricity Distribution Framework for Public Space: Assessing Renewable Energy Proposals for Freshkills Park, New York City
Authors: Ozgun Kaan , Weir Ian , Cushing Debra
Published: March 2015

Integrating renewable energy into public space is becoming more common as a climate change solution. However, this approach is often guided by the environmental pillar of sustainability, with less focus on the economic and social pillars. The purpose of this paper is to examine this issue in the speculative renewable energy propositions for Freshkills Park in New York City submitted for the 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) competition. This paper first proposes an optimal electricity distribution (OED) framework in and around public spaces based on relevant ecology and energy theory (Odum’s fourth and fifth law of thermodynamics). This framework addresses social engagement related to public interaction, and economic engagement related to the estimated quantity of electricity produced, in conjunction with environmental engagement related to the embodied energy required to construct the renewable energy infrastructure. Next, the study uses the OED framework to analyse the top twenty-five projects submitted for the LAGI 2012 competition. The findings reveal an electricity distribution imbalance and suggest a lack of in-depth understanding about sustainable electricity distribution within public space design. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.
Alteration in the Expression of Cytochrome P450s (CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and CYP3A11) in the Liver of Mouse Induced by Microcystin-LR
Authors: Zhang Bangjun , Liu Yang , Li Xiaoyu
Published: March 2015

Microcystins (MCs) are cyclic heptapeptide toxins and can accumulate in the liver. Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) play an important role in the biotransformation of endogenous substances and xenobiotics in animals. It is unclear if the CYPs are affected by MCs exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of microcystin-LR (MCLR) on cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and CYP3A11) at mRNA level, protein content, and enzyme activity in the liver of mice the received daily, intraperitoneally, 2, 4, and 8 µg/kg body weight of MCLR for seven days. The result showed that MCLR significantly decreased ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) (CYP1A1) and erythromycin N-demthylase (ERND) (CYP3A11) activities and increased aniline hydroxylase (ANH) activity (CYP2E1) in the liver of mice during the period of exposure. Our findings suggest that MCLR exposure may disrupt the function of CYPs in liver, which may be partly attributed to the toxicity of MCLR in mice.
Rainwater Harvesting for Small-Holder Horticulture in Namibia: Design of Garden Variants and Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
Authors: Woltersdorf Laura , Liehr Stefan , Döll Petra
Published: March 2015

The design of rainwater harvesting based gardens requires considering current climate but also climate change during the lifespan of the facility. The goal of this study is to present an approach for designing garden variants that can be safely supplied with harvested rainwater, taking into account climate change and adaptation measures. In addition, the study presents a methodology to quantify the effects of climate change on rainwater harvesting based gardening. Results of the study may not be accurate due to the assumptions made for climate projections and may need to be further refined. We used a tank flow model and an irrigation water model. Then we established three simple climate scenarios and analyzed the impact of climate change on harvested rain and horticulture production for a semi-arid region in northern Namibia. In the two climate scenarios with decreased precipitation and medium/high temperature increase; adaptation measures are required to avoid substantial decreases in horticulture production. The study found that the most promising adaptation measures to sustain yields and revenues are a more water efficient garden variant and an enlargement of the roof size. The proposed measures can partly or completely compensate the negative impacts of climate change.
Performance Evaluation for a Contamination Detection Method Using Multiple Water Quality Sensors in an Early Warning System
Authors: Che Han , Liu Shuming , Smith Kate
Published: March 2015

In this approach, a method utilizing data series from multivariate parameters to detect contaminant events is discussed and evaluated. Eight water quality sensors (pH, turbidity, conductivity, temperature, oxidation reduction potential, UV-254, nitrate and phosphate) are used in this study and the most commonly used herbicide, glyphosate, is selected as the test contaminant. Variations of all parameters are recorded in real time at different concentrations. The results from the experiment and analysis show that the proposed method with suitable optimization can detect a glyphosate contamination less than 5 min after the introduction of the contaminant using responses from online water quality sensors. The average true positive rate is 95.5%. The study also discusses the impact of the number of sensors on detection performance. The results show that if the number of sensors is reduced from 8 to 5, the true positive rate performance is still good. This indicates that the method is flexible and can be applied using a smaller number of sensors to reduce monitoring costs.
Le grand virage démographique du Nord-Pas-de-Calais (The great demographic turning of Nord-Pas-de-Calais)
Authors: Thumerelle Pierre-Jean
Published: March 2015

Abstract. - A radical change in the demographic trend of the population of Nord-Pas-de-Calais happened during the last decades. The effects of the high birthrate are annuled by a large net out-migration, induced by the regional structural crisis. The new context of growth zero emphasizes new patterns of spatial distribution and augures still more radical changes.
Permanences et transformations dans la géographie industrielle du Nord-Pas-de-Calais (The changing industrial geography in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region)
Authors: Battiau Michel
Published: March 2015

Résumé. - L'industrie a perdu de son importance. Elle s'est diversifiée. Elle ne domine plus la vie économique de toutes les parties de la région.
L'évolution récente de l'agriculture du Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Le poids des facteurs géographiques (Nord and Pas-de-Calais : recent trends in agriculture)
Authors: Vaudois Jean
Published: March 2015

Abstract. - This paper deals about the relative decay of the regional agriculture among the french agriculture, and its duality. On one hand, the regional agriculture is always directed towards supplying the needs of the economy and the population of the region itself. On the other, a new trend leads to link the local production to international markets.
Spécificité de la région boulonnaise à partir de l'analyse d'images LANDSAT (Specific features of Boulonnais landscape from LANDSAT data)
Authors: Coudoux Janine
Published: March 2015

Abstract. - Landsat multispectral data show clearly the typical physiognomy of Law-Boulonnais and landscape around. They show also typical agrarian components and typical landscape units. They allow a new classification of «Small Agricultural Regions».
Nouvelles dimensions de l'observation culturelle en espace transfrontalier (A new cultural approach of frontier areas)
Authors: Wackermann Gabriel
Published: March 2015

Zusammenfassung. - Die grenzüberschreitenden Räume sind fur die Kulturgeographie von besonderer Bedeutung. Sie sind ganz spezifisch dazu geeignet die gesellschaftlichen Hemmungen auf sozialem und wirtschaftlichem Gebiet unvollendeter Gebiete aufzuwerfen. Politischmilitärische Strategien haben oft ursprüngliche Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten gedämmt oder sogar mehr oder weniger konkret untersagt. De derzeitigen Erschliessungstendenzen vieler Grenzgebiete, besonders in Westeuropa, erlauben es jedoch die verstockten Gemüter und Mentalitäten zu entspannen, so dass initiativgünstige «frische und freie Luft» echten Impuis zur Wettbewerbsfähigkeit fördert.
La variabilité spatiale des pluies en Tunisie (Spatial variability of rainfall in Tunis)
Authors: Henia Latifa
Published: March 2015

Résumé. - Le battement des isohyètes annuelles de 100, 200 et 400 mm fait apparaître une certaine stabilité des pluies au N du pays et de l'aridité au S. C'est au centre que la variabilité pluviométrique se manifeste de la façon la plus évidente.
L'évolution des perceptions dans le milieu maritime. L'exemple des marins-pêcheurs des Sables d'Olonne (The fishing communities at Les Sables d'Olonne. Changes in way of life and spatial perception)
Authors: Chaussade Jean
Published: March 2015

Résumé. - Les sociétés halieutiques connaissent sur les littoraux français une évolution accélérée depuis 15 ans. Les fondements de l'identité (appartenance à un quartier, existence de pratiques sociales originales), le prestige tiré de la maîtrise de la navigation côtière, sont remis en question. Une déstabilisation de ces sociétés maritimes résulte du bouleversement des références socio-spatiales qui ont longtemps fondé l'identité de ces communautés. Elle a pour corollaire la diminution de la relation à la mer, en particulier un appel moindre pour la pratique de l'élément marin. Les usages, les comportements des populations terriennes, sont copiés, intégrés au fonctionnement des sociétés de pêcheurs. Le changement dans la communauté halieutique des Sables-d'Olonne a été observé grâce à deux questionnaires socio-géographiques, en 1967 et en 1985. Il en ressort l'affaiblissement du dynamisme culturel et de la cohésion sociale des gens de mer.
Mutations technologiques et nouvelles activités industrielles (Technological changes and new industries)
Authors: Dezert Bernard
Published: March 2015

Abstract. - The technological changes in the pointed industries put back the organization and management of the undertacking as the industrial locations. Three locations are judged priorities : the scientific campus, a good accessibility to transport axis and poles (mobility strategy), a good position favouring the «distinguished impression ». The classical industries are in competition with those of the Third-World, and it's necessary for them to fit rapidly, with transnationalization and segmentation of productions, and development of little and middle firms.
Les entreprises à technologie avancée dans la région de Washington D.C. (High technology industries in Washington D.C.)
Authors: Boquet Yves
Published: March 2015

Résumé. - Les vingt dernières années ont vu l'émergence de la région de Washington-Baltimore comme centre important d'activités à technologie avancée, en particulier dans le domaine des industries de défense, des télécommunications et de la biotechnologie, grâce à la proximité du Pentagone et des organismes de recherche médicale. Ces «technologies de la capitale» sont installées entre Washington et l'aéroport Dulles, le long de l'autoroute 270 vers le Nord-Ouest, et en direction de Baltimore.
Nouvelles technologies et système de relations des activités de service d'Ile-de-France (Technological innovations and communication system in business services, in Ile-de-France)
Authors: Rousset-Deschamps Marcel
Published: March 2015

Résumé. - Les mutations technologiques, après avoir touché les flux d'informations numériques, commencent à produire leurs effets sur les flux d'informations textuelles. Désormais c'est toute l'architecture de réseaux qui est concernée, provoquant une nouvelle organisation du travail dans les services et des phénomènes de délocalisation de certaines fonctions tertiaires vers les autres régions françaises.
Les bases technologiques des mutations économiques dans l'espace européen (Technological and economical changes in Europe)
Authors: Wackermann Gabriel
Published: March 2015

Zusammenfassung. - Informations und Kommunikationsysteme sind seit hautpsächlich zwei Jahrzehnten die Grundiagen des zugespitzten technologischen Trends und daher der Bildung polarisierender Wirtschaftsräume in Westeuropa. Auf aktive Industrie und Dienstleistungsverflechtungen gestützt bereichern sie ihrer-seits die Gesamtentwicklung in Verbindung mit dem Weltnetz. Die Grenzgebiete sind ganz besonders dazu geeignet durch die Gefälle, welche ungleichmässige Entwicklung fördert, diese Technologieeigenschaften zu verbildlichen.
La gisante en pierre de Tournai de la cathédrale de Saint-Denis
Authors: Baron Françoise
Published: March 2015

La cathédrale de Saint-Denis abrite un gisant de princesse couronnée, sculpté dans un calcaire carbonifère d'origine tournaisienne et provenant de l'abbaye de Maubuisson, près de Pontoise, dont l'identité était dès le XVIIIe siècle inconnue. Il convient d'écarter l'identification proposée par Alexandre Lenoir, qui recueillit l'œuvre et la présenta au Musée des Monuments français comme Blanche de Castille, car la tombe de la fondatrice était en cuivre et fut fondue à la Révolution. Des divers noms proposés : Blanche de Bourgogne, Catherine de Courtenay, Mahaut d'Artois, ce dernier paraît le plus digne d'être retenu car un compte inédit de la recette d'Artois prouve que la comtesse avait, en 1323, fait faire par un sculpteur tournaisien nommé Jean Aloul, une tombe qui fut envoyée à l'abbaye de Maubuisson.
Le Palais de l'Arsenal à Paris. Étude architecturale et essai de répertoire iconographique critique
Authors: Babelon Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2015

En examinant aujourd'hui la Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, on a peine à imaginer l'ensemble prestigieux auquel ce long bâtiment disgracieux a pu appartenir. Célébré par les auteurs du XVIIe et du XVIIIe siècle comme l'un des plus beaux palais de Paris, l'Arsenal formait en effet une cité dans la cité, implantée dans un panorama admirable, celui de la ville toute entière aperçue à travers le bras de la Seine qui fut comblé plus tard par le boulevard Morland. Si le corps de logis principal subsiste, avec une façade nord construite pour Sully, donnant sur la rue de Sully (façade stérilisée par la restauration du Second Empire), et une autre façade bâtie pour le duc du Maine par Germain Boffrand, donnant sur l'ancien Mail et le cours de la Seine, tout l'environnement de pavillons, de corps de logis, de galeries et de longues cours successives qui lui donnait son sens a disparu, du Premier au Second Empire. Seuls les documents iconographiques nous permettent de recréer en imagination leur belle ordonnance ; en particulier les relevés d'architectes du début du XIXe siècle, antérieurs de peu d'années aux destructions, nous donnent le détail des constructions de Sully et de ses successeurs à la grande maîtrise de l'artillerie, et justifient ainsi la constitution d'un répertoire iconographique critique.
Stiffness of sphere–plate contacts at MHz frequencies: dependence on normal load, oscillation amplitude, and ambient medium
Authors: Vlachová Jana , König Rebekka , Johannsmann Diethelm
Published: March 2015

The stiffness of micron-sized sphere–plate contacts was studied by employing high frequency, tangential excitation of variable amplitude (0–20 nm). The contacts were established between glass spheres and the surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), where the resonator surface had been coated with either sputtered SiO2 or a spin-cast layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The results from experiments undertaken in the dry state and in water are compared. Building on the shifts in the resonance frequency and resonance bandwidth, the instrument determines the real and the imaginary part of the contact stiffness, where the imaginary part quantifies dissipative processes. The method is closely analogous to related procedures in AFM-based metrology. The real part of the contact stiffness as a function of normal load can be fitted with the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) model. The contact stiffness was found to increase in the presence of liquid water. This finding is tentatively explained by the rocking motion of the spheres, which couples to a squeeze flow of the water close to the contact. The loss tangent of the contact stiffness is on the order of 0.1, where the energy losses are associated with interfacial processes. At high amplitudes partial slip was found to occur. The apparent contact stiffness at large amplitude depends linearly on the amplitude, as predicted by the Cattaneo–Mindlin model. This finding is remarkable insofar, as the Cattaneo–Mindlin model assumes Coulomb friction inside the sliding region. Coulomb friction is typically viewed as a macroscopic concept, related to surface roughness. An alternative model (formulated by Savkoor), which assumes a constant frictional stress in the sliding zone independent of the normal pressure, is inconsistent with the experimental data. The apparent friction coefficients slightly increase with normal force, which can be explained by nanoroughness. In other words, contact splitting (i.e., a transport of shear stress across many small contacts, rather than a few large ones) can be exploited to reduce partial slip.
Direct access to pyrido/pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-ones through silver-mediated intramolecular alkyne hydroamination reactions
Authors: Wang Hengshuai , Jiao Shengchao , Chen Kerong , Zhang Xu , Zhao Linxiang , Liu Dan , Zhou Yu , Liu Hong
Published: March 2015

We report a synthetic methodology for the construction of the fused heterocyclic compounds pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-ones and pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-ones through an AgOTf-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne hydroamination reaction. The methodology is applicable to a wide scope of substrates and produces a series of fused quinazolinone heterocycles in good to excellent yields.
DIFFICULTY AND REASONS FOR SUSTAINABLE ROADWAY DESIGN – THE CASE FROM TAIWAN
Authors: Chang Andrew S. , Tsai Calista Y.
Published: March 2015

To accomplish sustainable design, it is essential to understand its barriers or limitations. This study investigated difficulties and their reasons for sustainable design using roadways as an example. A checklist of 60 sustainability items for roadway design was used to interview roadway designers to identify levels of difficulty, reasons for difficulty and proportions of difficulty reasons when designing these sustainability items. The results were analyzed and compared among sustainable items and design work. The difficulties of incorporating sustainability into designs are classified into three levels as compared with conventional design: equal, medium and high. The average difficulty for sustainable roadway design is between low and medium level; 28 of the 60 items were found to be at the same level of difficulty as conventional design. The technical items are regarded more difficult to adopt than material items. Nine reasons were identified for sustainable roadway design difficulty in which four are in the pre-design stage and five are in the design stage. The proportions of difficulty reasons in the pre-design and design stages are 63% and 37%, respectively. This implies that more difficulties will be encountered in the pre-design stage, and the designers can try to overcome or reduce difficulty in design stage. The top three reasons are natural preconditions; criteria and specifications; and owner, policy and law, which cause 33%, 20% and 14% of the difficulty, respectively. This study pointed out the difficulties and reasons for sustainable roadway design. Having a comprehensive understanding of the difficulties allows a designer to more accurately determine potential limitation, and to make better choices as to which sustainable items a particular construction project should pursue.
STOCHASTIC QUALITY-COST OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM HYBRIDIZING MULTI-OBJECTIVE GENETIC ALGORITHM AND QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT
Authors: Lim Tae-Kyung , Jang Won-Suk , Choi Jae-Ho , Lee Dong-Eun
Published: March 2015

This paper introduces an automated tool, the stochastic quality-cost optimization (SQCO) system, that hybridizes multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD). The system identifies the optimal trade-off between a construction owner’s satisfaction and a contractor’s satisfaction. It is important to reconcile the project participants’ conflicting interests because the construction owner aims to maximize the quality of construction while the contractor aims to minimize the cost of construction. MOGA is used to optimize resource allocation when owner satisfaction and contractor satisfaction are pursued at the same time under a limited budget. Multi-objective optimization is integrated with simulation to effectively deal with the uncertainties of the QFD input and the variability of the QFD output. This study is of value to practitioners because SQCO allows for the establishment of a quality plan that satisfies all of the multi project participants. The study is also of relevance to researchers in that it allows researchers to expeditiously identify an optimal design alternative of construction methods and operations. A test case implemented with a curtain-wall unit verifies the usability and validity of the system in practice.
OPTIMIZATION OF GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR LATTICE GIRDERS. PART I: CONSIDERING MEMBER STRENGTHS
Authors: Talaslioglu Tugrul
Published: March 2015

In this study, the entire weight, joint displacements and load-carrying capacity of tubular lattice girders are simultaneously optimized by a multi-objective optimization algorithm, named Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGAII). Thus, the structural responses of tubular lattice girders are obtained by use of arc-length method as a geometrically nonlinear analysis approach and utilized to check their member strengths at each load step according to the provisions of the American Petroleum Institute specification (API RP2A-LRFD 1993). In order to improve the computing capacity of proposed optimization approach, while the optimization algorithm is hybridized with a radial basis neural network approach, an automatic lattice girder generator is included into the design stage. The improved optimization algorithm, called ImpNSGAII, is applied to both a benchmark lattice girder with 17 members and a lattice girder with varying span lengths and loading conditions. Consequently, it is demonstrated: 1) the optimal lattice girder configuration generated has a higher load-carrying capacity ensuring lower weight and joint displacement values; 2) the use of a multi-objective optimization approach increases the correctness degree in evaluation of optimality quality due to the possibility of performing a trade-off analysis for optimal designations; 3) the computing performance of ImpNSGAII is higher than NSGAII’s.
MAKING FORMWORK CONSTRUCTION LEAN
Authors: Ko Chien-Ho , Kuo Jiun-De
Published: March 2015

Formwork material and payroll are among the greatest costs in building reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, formwork engineering is a key factor affecting project success. Traditional formwork construction entails non-value-adding activities resulting in waste. The objective of this study is to adapt lean manufacturing techniques to formwork engineering in a bid to reduce waste, specifically by developing a lean formwork construction model. In the model, andon is used to establish an on-site quality control culture, allowing form workers to obtain assistance immediately whenever a problem occurs. In addition, formwork operations are pulled through the kanban system to reduce mould inventory and achieve continuous construction flow. A case study is used to validate the applicability of the proposed model. Results show that the proposed model can effectively reduce waste in the formwork construction flow and increase the value of operations, thus providing a new approach to improving formwork engineering.
A GLOBAL RELATION OF FIRE SMOKE RE-CIRCULATION BEHAVIOUR IN URBAN STREET CANYONS
Authors: Hu Longhua , Zhang Xiaochun , Zhu Wei , Ning Zhi , Tang Fei
Published: March 2015

Street canyon, formed by buildings along two sides of a road, is an important and ubiquitous architectural element in the metropolises. When a fire occurs in an urban street canyon, a critical serious phenomenon is found to happen where the uprising fire smoke is re-circulated back into the base of the street canyon by the wind flow beyond a critical velocity. Theoretical analysis is derived based on Froude number (Fr), by balancing the inertial force of the wind flow to the buoyancy strength of the fire smoke. It is found that the critical re-circulation wind velocity is proportional to an integrated global parameter . Large Eddy Simulations (LES) are carried out by Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The critical Froude number (Fr) is found to be about 0.7~0.8. The simulation results are well collapsed by the generalized theoretical relation. It is further revealed that the non-dimensional critical re-circulation wind velocity . against aspect ratio of street canyons in the skimming flow pattern (W/H < 1.43) falls into two behavioural regimes, where it firstly increases then remains constant with the increase in street canyon aspect ratio (W/H) with a turning point at W/H = 1. A global non-dimensional relation is finally achieved for the critical re-circulation wind velocity (u), fire heat release rate (Q) and its height (H) to the top of the street canyon as well as the street canyon aspect ratio (W/H).
EMBEDDEDNESS AND COLLABORATIVE VENTURE NETWORKS AMONG KOREAN CONSTRUCTION FIRMS FOR OVERSEAS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Authors: Son JeongWook , Han Seung Heon , Rojas Eddy M.
Published: March 2015

Finding competent collaborators while executing construction projects overseas is of paramount importance for project success. The partner choice and project performance cannot be understood only from an economic viewpoint because it is constrained by the firms’ embeddedness in social relations. Based on this premise, this paper provides not only a theoretical explanation of the impact of structural and relational embeddedness on firms’ economic behaviour and outcomes, but also empirical evidence by analysing the collaborative process among Korean construction firms working overseas during the past 18 years. Three conclusions are drawn. First, the inter-firm network, at least asymptotically, has scale-free network properties with variance. Second, the network retained endogamic characteristics in that a great majority of smaller firms had worked with only one large firm, forming strong subgroups. Last, there is a plausible evidence of the impact of both structural embeddedness and relational embeddedness on profits.
A STUDY OF THE FIRE SMOKE PROPAGATION IN SUBWAY STATION UNDER THE EFFECT OF PISTON WIND
Authors: Zhong Wei , Tu Rui , Yang Jian Peng , Liang Tian Shui
Published: March 2015

A running traffic train induces piston wind in the subway. The influence of piston wind on fire smoke propagation in subway is investigated numerically. The flow field structure in fire platform, temperature contours and velocity profiles at certain positions are obtained at various scenarios respectively. Three methods are adopted to reduce the impact of piston wind on smoke layers. Results show that large-scale vortexes and tremendous horizontal inertial force would be produced under the influence of piston wind; and that smoke stratification would be broken totally under its influence, therefore toxic gas would spread to subway hall through stairs. So the former smoke management system in a subway station becomes less effective. Results also show that combination of enhanced the volume flux of pressurization at the subway hall and lowering the height of smoke screens around stairs are necessary to restrict hazard smoke on the floor on fire. The bypass wind tunnel and ventilation shaft are useful to attenuate the magnitude of piston wind.
ACCIDENT RISK IDENTIFICATION AND ITS IMPACT ANALYSES FOR STRATEGIC CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Authors: Chi Seokho , Han Sangwon , Kim Dae Young , Shin Yoonjung
Published: March 2015

The study presented in this paper reviewed 9,358 accidents which occurred in the U.S. construction industry between 2002 and 2011, in order to understand the relationships between the risk factors and injury severity (e.g. fatalities, hospitalized injuries, or non-hospitalized injuries) and to develop a strategic prevention plan to reduce the likelihood of fatalities where an accident is unavoidable. The study specifically aims to: (1) verify the relationships among risk factors, accident types, and injury severity; (2) determine significant risk factors associated with each accident type that are highly correlated to injury severity; and (3) analyse the impact of the identified key factors on accident and fatality occurrence. The analysis results explained that safety managers’ roles are critical to reducing human-related risks – particularly misjudgement of hazardous situations – through safety training and education, appropriate use of safety devices and proper safety inspection. However, for environment-related factors, the dominant risk factors were different depending on the different accident types. The outcomes of this study will assist safety managers to understand the nature of construction accidents and plan for strategic risk mitigation by prioritizing high frequency risk factors to effectively control accident occurrence and manage the likelihood of fatal injuries on construction sites.
SOME TAUBERIAN REMAINDER THEOREMS FOR HOLDER SUMMABILITY
Authors: Totur Umit , Okur Muhammet Ali
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we prove some Tauberian remainder theorems that generalize the results given by Meronen and Tammeraid [Math. Model. Anal., 18(1):97– 102, 2013] for Holder summability method using the notion of the general control modulo of the oscillatory behaviour of nonnegative integer order.
SINGULAR ORBITS AND DYNAMICS AT INFINITY OF A CONJUGATE LORENZ-LIKE SYSTEM
Authors: Geng Fengjie , Li Xianyi
Published: March 2015

A conjugate Lorenz-like system which includes only two quadratic nonlinearities is proposed in this paper. Some basic properties of this system, such as the distribution of its equilibria and their stabilities, the Lyapunov exponents, the bifurcations are investigated by some numerical and theoretical analysis. The forming mechanisms of compound structures of its new chaotic attractors obtained by merging together two simple attractors after performing one mirror operation are also presented. Furthermore, some of its other complex dynamical behaviours, which include the existence of singularly degenerate heteroclinic cycles, the existence of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits and the dynamics at infinity, etc, are formulated in detail. In the meantime, some problems deserving further investigations are presented.
POSITIVE SOLUTIONS OF NTH-ORDER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS WITH INTEGRAL BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: Karaca Ilkay Yaslan , Fen Fatma Tokmak
Published: March 2015

In this paper, by using double fixed point theorem and a new fixed point theorem, some sufficient conditions for the existence of at least two and at least three positive solutions of an nth-order boundary value problem with integral boundary conditions are established, respectively. We also give two examples to illustrate our main results.
GLOBAL SOLUTION FOR THE GENERALIZED ANISOTROPIC NAVIER–STOKES EQUATIONS WITH LARGE DATA
Authors: Fang Daoyuan , Han Bin
Published: March 2015

We are concerned with 3D incompressible generalized anisotropic Navier– Stokes equations with hyperdissipative term in horizontal variables. We prove that there exists a unique global solution for it with large initial data in anisotropic Besov space.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF THE TIME-DEPENDENT NAVIER–STOKES EQUATION FOR VARIABLE DENSITY–VARIABLE VISCOSITY. PART I
Authors: Axelsson Owe , He Xin , Neytcheva Maya
Published: March 2015

We consider methods for the numerical simulations of variable density incompressible fluids, modelled by the Navier–Stokes equations. Variable density problems arise, for instance, in interfaces between fluids of different densities in multiphase flows such as appearing in porous media problems. We show that by solving the Navier–Stokes equation for the momentum variable instead of the velocity the corresponding saddle point problem, arising at each time step, no special treatment of the pressure variable is required and leads to an efficient preconditioning of the arising block matrix. This study consists of two parts, of which this paper constitutes Part I. Here we present the algorithm, compare it with a broadly used projectiontype method and illustrate some advantages and disadvantages of both techniques via analysis and numerical experiments. In addition we also include test results for a method, based on coupling of the Navier–Stokes equations with a phase-field model, where the variable density function is handled in a different way.
QUANTITATIVE APPROXIMATION PROPERTIES FOR ITERATES OF MOMENT OPERATOR
Authors: Bardaro Carlo , Faina Loris , Mantellini Ilaria
Published: March 2015

Here we state a quantitative approximation theorem by means of nets of certain modified Hadamard integrals, using iterates of moment type operators, for functions f defined over the positive real semi-axis ]0, +∞[, having Mellin derivatives. The main tool is a suitable K-functional which is compatible with the structure of the multiplicative group ]0, +∞[. Some numerical examples and graphical representations are illustrated.
A PAIR OF PERFECTLY CONDUCTING DISKS IN AN EXTERNAL FIELD
Authors: Rylko Natalia
Published: March 2015

A pair of non-overlapping perfectly conducting equal disks embedded in a two-dimensional background was investigated by the classic method of images, by Poincar´e series, by use of the bipolar coordinates and by the elliptic functions in the previous works. In particular, successive application of the inversions with respect to circles were applied to obtain the field in the form of a series. For closely placed disks, the previous methods yield slowly convergent series. In this paper, we study the local fields around closely placed disks by the elliptic functions. The problem of small gap is completely investigated since the obtained closed form solution admits a precise asymptotic investigation in terms of the trigonometric functions when the gap between the disks tends to zero. The exact and asymptotic formulae are extended to the case when a prescribed singularity is located in the gap. This extends applications of structural approximations to estimations of the local fields in densely packed fiber composites in various external fields.
RETRACTION NOTICE TO “PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF SECOND ORDER IMPULSIVE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AT RESONANCE VIA VARIATIONAL APPROACH” [MATH. MODEL. ANAL. 19(5):664–675, 2014]
Authors: Li Jin , Luo Jianlin , Wang Zaihong
Published: March 2015

Retraction notice to “Periodic Solutions of Second Order Impulsive Differential Equations at Resonance via Variational Approach” [Math. Model. Anal. 19(5):664–675, 2014]
THE PROBABILITY OF DYING IN A PLANE CRASH OR HAVING A SAFE FLIGHT
Authors: Jozwiak Ireneusz , Marianski Aleksander , Cwik Michal
Published: March 2015

In the article, an overall study involving a plane crash and the likelihood of having a safe flight is presented. The probability of dying in a plane crash and the probability of getting to the destination safely were calculated within the period 1970–2008. The formula for calculating the average length of a sequence of consecutive safe flights was determined. The probability of dying in a car accident and the probability of dying as a result of a plane crash were compared as a conclusion.
GNSS BASED RELATIVE NAVIGATION FOR INTENTIONAL APPROXIMATION OF AIRCRAFT
Authors: Schielin Emmanuel , Dautermann Thomas
Published: March 2015

In aviation, satellite navigation is generally only used to determine the absolute position of aircraft. We show that the signals can also be used for safe relative navigation provided that a data link exists between the two aircraft. The link can be used to form a double difference combination of code phase measurements and determine a three dimensional baseline vector. The baseline vector is protected by protection levels which determine the 3×10−7 error bound of the baseline estimation. Thus, the distance vector can be used to perform safe approximation maneuvers in instrument weather conditions. We derive the protection level expression and test the baseline vector estimation using data from two real satellite navigation receivers on the ground. Moreover, we simulate an intercept mission using a Spirent GNSS7790 simulator and show that with the derived protection bounds an approximation up to 10 m is possible.
SELECTED PROBLEMS OF PROCESSING A RADAR SIGNAL WITH A LFM-FSK MODULATION
Authors: Grabowski Tadeusz , Dziupiński Jan , Szpakowska-Peas Ewelina
Published: March 2015

An operational model of continuous-wave radar designed for detection of stationary and moving objects in the air was built at the Institute of Aviation. The LFM-FSK modulation of radiated signal was selected, due to its advantages (short measurement time, not very complicated algorithm of calculations, the possibility of simultaneous measurement of the range and velocity of multiple objects). The modulation waveform is composed of two intertwined strictly linear or stepwise sweeps. Two adverse phenomena (the mutual influence, resulting from not perfect transmittance of receiver channel, of the samples related to even and odd steps of the transmitted signal and the leakage of transmitted signal into the receiver antenna causing an excessive increase of receiver output dynamic range) were encountered during the development process. The issues relating to them are presented in the paper. The first issue was solved by the use of a pre-compensation digital filter. The dynamics of the leakage signal was reduced by mixing of quadrature output signals of the radar head in a proper proportion, and by using the dome made of foam material, instead of a laminate one, which was designed initially.