bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Distribution of Precious Metals in High-Grade Banded Quartz Veins from Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits: Constraints from µXRF Mapping
Authors: Tharalson Erik , Monecke Thomas , Reynolds T. , Zeeck Lauren , Pfaff Katharina , Kelly Nigel
Published: November 2019

High-grade ore zones in low-sulfidation epithermal deposits are commonly associated with the occurrence of banded quartz veins. The ore minerals in these veins are heterogeneously distributed and are mostly confined to ginguro bands, which can be identified in hand specimen based on their distinct dark gray to black color. Micro-X-ray fluorescence element maps obtained on representative samples of banded quartz veins show that Au occurs together with Ag minerals in some of the ginguro bands, but Au can also be present in quartz bands that are light gray to white and cannot be macroscopically distinguished from barren bands. The occurrence of compositionally distinct ginguro and gankin bands, the latter being a new term coined here for colloform quartz bands containing primarily electrum or native gold, can be explained by temporal changes in the composition of the ore-forming thermal waters or variations in the conditions of ore deposition. Textural relationships, including the dendritic shape of ore minerals that appear to have grown in a matrix of silica microspheres, suggest that the ginguro and gankin bands have formed as a result of rapid deposition associated with vigorous boiling or flashing of the thermal waters.
Tetramethoxystilbene-Loaded Liposomes Restore Reactive-Oxygen-Species-Mediated Attenuation of Dilator Responses in Rat Aortic Vessels Ex vivo
Authors: Zaabalawi Azziza , Astley Cai , Renshall Lewis , Beards Frances , Lightfoot Adam P. , Degens Hans , Whitehead Debra , Alexander Yvonne , Harris Lynda K , Azzawi May
Published: November 2019

The methylated analogue of the polyphenol resveratrol (RV), 2,3′,4,5′-tetramethoxystilbene (TMS) displays potent antioxidant properties and is an effective cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 inhibitor. The bioavailability of TMS is low. Therefore, the use of liposomes for the encapsulation of TMS is a promising delivery modality for enhanced uptake into tissues. We examined the effect of delivery of TMS in liposomes on the restoration of vasodilator responses of isolated aortic vessels after acute tension elevation ex vivo. Aortic vessels from young male Wistar rats were isolated, and endothelial-dependent (acetylcholine, ACh) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) responses assessed. Acute tension elevation (1 h) significantly reduced ACh dilator responses, which were restored following incubation with superoxide dismutase or apocynin (an NADPH oxidase inhibitor). Incubation with TMS-loaded liposomes (mean diameter 157 ± 6 nm; PDI 0.097) significantly improved the attenuated dilator responses following tension elevation, which was sustained over a longer period (4 h) when compared to TMS solution. Endothelial denudation or co-incubation with L-NNA (Nω-nitro-l-arginine; nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) resulted in loss of dilator function. Our findings suggest that TMS-loaded liposomes can restore attenuated endothelial-dependent dilator responses induced by an oxidative environment by reducing NADPH-oxidase-derived ROS and potentiating the release of the vasodilator nitric oxide. TMS-loaded liposomes may be a promising therapeutic strategy to restore vasodilator function in vascular disease.
Halogen-Bond Assisted Photoinduced Electron Transfer
Authors: Dereka Bogdan , Fureraj Ina , Rosspeintner Arnulf , Vauthey Eric
Published: November 2019

The formation of a halogen-bond (XB) complex in the excited state was recently reported with a quadrupolar acceptor–donor–acceptor dye in two iodine-based liquids (J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2017, 8, 3927–3932). The ultrafast decay of this excited complex to the ground state was ascribed to an electron transfer quenching by the XB donors. We examined the mechanism of this process by investigating the quenching dynamics of the dye in the S1 state using the same two iodo-compounds diluted in inert solvents. The results were compared with those obtained with a non-halogenated electron acceptor, fumaronitrile. Whereas quenching by fumaronitrile was found to be diffusion controlled, that by the two XB compounds is slower, despite a larger driving force for electron transfer. A Smoluchowski–Collins–Kimball analysis of the excited-state population decays reveals that both the intrinsic quenching rate constant and the quenching radius are significantly smaller with the XB compounds. These results point to much stronger orientational constraint for quenching with the XB compounds, indicating that electron transfer occurs upon formation of the halogen bond.
Design and Synthesis of N-phenyl Phthalimides as Potent Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase Inhibitors
Authors: Gao Wei , Li Xiaotian , Ren Da , Sun Susu , Huo Jingqian , Wang Yanen , Chen Lai , Zhang Jinlin
Published: November 2019

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) has been identified as one of the most promising targets for herbicide discovery. A series of novel phthalimide derivatives were designed by molecular docking studies targeting the crystal structure of mitochondrial PPO from tobacco (mtPPO, PDB: 1SEZ) by using Flumioxazin as a lead, after which the derivatives were synthesized and characterized, and their herbicidal activities were subsequently evaluated. The herbicidal bioassay results showed that compounds such as 3a (2-(4-bromo-2,6-difluorophenyl) isoindoline-1,3-dione), 3d (methyl 2-(4-chloro-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-5-fluorobenzoate), 3g (4-chloro-2-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl) isoindoline-1,3-dione), 3j (4-chloro-2-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl) isoindoline-1,3-dione) and 3r (2-(4-bromo-2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-fluoroisoindoline-1,3-dione) had good herbicidal activities; among them, 3a showed excellent herbicidal efficacy against A. retroflexus and B. campestris via the small cup method and via pre-emergence and post-emergence spray treatments. The efficacy was comparable to that of the commercial herbicides Flumioxazin, Atrazine, and Chlortoluron. Further, the enzyme activity assay results suggest that the mode of action of compound 3a involves the inhibition of the PPO enzyme, and 3a showed better inhibitory activity against PPO than did Flumioxazin. These results indicate that our molecular design strategy contributes to the development of novel promising PPO inhibitors.
Preparation of Polyethylene Glycol-Ginsenoside Rh1 and Rh2 Conjugates and Their Efficacy against Lung Cancer and Inflammation
Authors: Mathiyalagan Ramya , Wang Chao , Kim Yeon Ju , Castro-Aceituno Verónica , Ahn Sungeun , Subramaniyam Sathiyamoorthy , Simu Shakina Yesmin , Jiménez-Pérez Zuly Elizabeth , Yang Deok Chun , Jung Seok-Kyu
Published: November 2019

Low solubility and tumor-targeted delivery of ginsenosides to avoid off-target cytotoxicity are challenges for clinical trials. In the present study, we report on a methodology for the synthesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-ginsenoside conjugates through a hydrolysable ester bond using the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol with the hydrophobic ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2 to enhance water solubility and passive targeted delivery. The resulting conjugates were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). 1H NMR revealed that the C-6 and C-3 sugar hydroxyl groups of Rh1 and Rh2 were esterified. The conjugates showed spherical shapes that were monitored by field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and the average sizes of the particles were 62 ± 5.72 nm and 134 ± 8.75 nm for PEG-Rh1and PEG-Rh2, respectively (measured using a particle size analyzer). Owing to the hydrophilic enhancing properties of PEG, PEG-Rh1 and PEG-Rh2 solubility was greatly enhanced compared to Rh1 and Rh2 alone. The release rates of Rh1 and Rh2 were increased in lower pH conditions (pH 5.0), that for pathophysiological sites as well as for intracellular endosomes and lysosomes, compared to normal-cell pH conditions (pH 7.4). In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that the PEG-Rh1conjugates had greater anticancer activity in a human non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549) compared to Rh1 alone, whereas PEG-Rh2 showed lower cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells. On the other hand, both PEG-Rh1 and PEG-Rh2 showed non-cytotoxicity in a nondiseased murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) compared to free Rh1 and Rh2, but PEG-Rh2 exhibited increased efficacy against inflammation by greatly inhibiting nitric oxide production. Thus, the overall conclusion of our study is that PEG conjugation promotes the properties of Rh1 for anticancer and Rh2 for inflammation treatments. Depends on the disease models, they could be potential drug candidates for further studies.
Advances in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Related Computational Methods
Authors: Beć Krzysztof B. , Huck Christian W.
Published: November 2019

Over the last few decades, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has distinguished itself as one of the most rapidly advancing spectroscopic techniques [...]
Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives with Dual Mechanism of Action from the Metabolomic Screening of Poincianella pluviosa
Authors: Domingos Olívia da S. , Alcântara Bianca G. V. , Santos Mário F. C. , Maiolini Tatiane C. S. , Dias Danielle F. , Baldim João L. , Lago João Henrique G. , Soares Marisi G. , Chagas-Paula Daniela A.
Published: November 2019

Metabolomics approaches have become fundamental strategies for the analysis of complex mixtures, guiding the isolation of target compounds by focusing on unpublished or promising pharmacological properties. The discovery of novel anti-inflammatory agents is important due to several limitations regarding their potency, efficacy, and adverse effects. Thus, novel anti-inflammatory candidates are essential, aiming to find agents with better mechanisms of action. In this context, extracts from Poincianella pluviosa var. peltophoroides demonstrated significant in vivo anti-inflammatory potential. Thus, metabolomics analysis based on UHPLC-UV-HRFTMS data was performed for the identification of biomarkers with anti-inflammatory properties. Metabolomics-guided chromatographic process led to the isolation of novel compounds 4‴-methoxycaesalpinioflavone and 7-methoxycaesalpinioflavone, as well as known derivatives rhuschalcone VI and caesalpinioflavone. Isolated compounds caused edema inhibition and neutrophil recruitment. Two of them showed better efficacy than reference drugs (indomethacin and dexamethasone). Results of in vivo experiments corroborated those obtained through metabolomics and statistical analyses guiding the isolation of substances of interest.
Organic Acids and Polyphenols Determination in Polish Wines by Ultrasound-Assisted Solvent Extraction of Porous Membrane-Packed Liquid Samples
Authors: Robles Alicia D. , Fabjanowicz Magdalena , Płotka-Wasylka Justyna , Konieczka Piotr
Published: November 2019

In the near future, Poland is going to have more and more favorable conditions for viticulture. Organic acids and polyphenols are among the most commonly analyzed compounds due to their beneficial properties for human health and their importance in the winemaking process. In this work, a new technique involving ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of porous membrane-packed liquid samples (UASE-PMLS) was for the first time described and applied for real samples. The methodology based on UASE-PMLS for organic acids and polyphenols in wine samples was optimized and validated. Using the new technique coupled to GC–MS, organic acids and polyphenols were evaluated in Polish wine samples. Extraction solvent, extraction temperature, derivatization time and sample pH were optimized. Chemometric tools were used for data treatment. Good linearity was obtained for the concentration ranges evaluated with r values between 0.9852 and 0.9993. All parameters of method validation (intra- and inter-day precision and matrix effect) were over 80% with coefficient of variation (CV) up to 17%. Recovery was between (92.0 ± 8.5)% and (113 ± 16)%. Finally, green assessment was evaluated using Analytical Eco-Scale and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI). The UASE-PMLS is characterized by many advantages, e.g., the extraction process is fast and easy coupled to GC–MS. Regarding other extraction techniques, the amount of used solvent is minimum, and no waste is generated. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly technique.
Antioxidant Activity of Graphene Quantum Dots Prepared in Different Electrolyte Environments
Authors: Zhao Lin , Wang Yingmin , Li Yan
Published: November 2019

Antioxidants can reduce or inhibit damage such as oxidative decay caused by elevated levels of free radicals. Therefore, pursuing antioxidants with excellent properties has attracted more and more attention. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are considered a promising material because of their good free radical scavenging activity, low toxicity, and excellent water solubility. However, their scavenging efficiency, antioxidant mechanism, and effective control methods need to be improved. Herein, in order to further reveal the antioxidant mechanism of GQDs, the role of electrolytes in improving the antioxidant activity of GQDs is explored. In addition, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrazine (DPPH∙), hydroxyl (∙OH), and superoxide (∙O2−) free radicals are used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the as-prepared GQDs. Combined with transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic volt–ampere characteristic curves, the effects of an electrolytic environment on the surface functional groups, charge transfer capability, and defect states of GQDs are obtained. The antioxidant mechanism of GQDs and how to improve their antioxidant activity are further elucidated.
High Hydration Factor in Older Hispanic-American Adults: Possible Implications for Accurate Body Composition Estimates
Authors: González-Arellanes Rogelio , Urquidez-Romero Rene , Rodríguez-Tadeo Alejandra , Esparza-Romero Julián , Méndez-Estrada Rosa-Olivia , Ramírez-López Erik , Robles-Sardin Alma-Elizabeth , Pacheco-Moreno Bertha-Isabel , Alemán-Mateo Heliodoro
Published: November 2019

Age- and obesity-related body composition changes could influence the hydration factor (HF) and, as a result, body composition estimates derived from hydrometry. The aim of the present study was to compare the HF in older Hispanic-American adults to some published values. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 412 subjects, men and women, aged ≥60 years from northern Mexico. HF values were calculated based on the ratio of total body water-using the deuterium dilution technique-to fat-free mass, derived from the four-compartment model. The mean HF value for the total sample (0.748 ± 0.034) was statistically (p ≤ 0.01) higher than the traditionally assumed value of 0.732 derived from chemical analysis, the “grand mean’’ value of 0.725 derived from in vivo methods, and the 0.734 value calculated for older French adults via the three-compartment model. The HF of the older women did not differ across the fat mass index categories, but in men the obese group was lower than the normal and excess fat groups. The hydration factor calculated for the total sample of older Hispanic-American people is higher than the HF values reported in the literature. Therefore, the indiscriminate use of these assumed values could produce inaccurate body composition estimates in older Hispanic-American people.
Poor Oral Health as a Determinant of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia
Authors: Azzolino Domenico , Passarelli Pier Carmine , De Angelis Paolo , Piccirillo Giovan Battista , D’Addona Antonio , Cesari Matteo
Published: November 2019

Aging is accompanied by profound changes in many physiological functions, leading to a decreased ability to cope with stressors. Many changes are subtle, but can negatively affect nutrient intake, leading to overt malnutrition. Poor oral health may affect food selection and nutrient intake, leading to malnutrition and, consequently, to frailty and sarcopenia. On the other hand, it has been highlighted that sarcopenia is a whole-body process also affecting muscles dedicated to chewing and swallowing. Hence, muscle decline of these muscle groups may also have a negative impact on nutrient intake, increasing the risk for malnutrition. The interplay between oral diseases and malnutrition with frailty and sarcopenia may be explained through biological and environmental factors that are linked to the common burden of inflammation and oxidative stress. The presence of oral problems, alone or in combination with sarcopenia, may thus represent the biological substratum of the disabling cascade experienced by many frail individuals. A multimodal and multidisciplinary approach, including personalized dietary counselling and oral health care, may thus be helpful to better manage the complexity of older people. Furthermore, preventive strategies applied throughout the lifetime could help to preserve both oral and muscle function later in life. Here, we provide an overview on the relevance of poor oral health as a determinant of malnutrition and sarcopenia.
Effect of Molecular Structure in the Chain Mobility of Dichalcogenide-Based Polymers with Self-Healing Capacity
Authors: Irigoyen Mikel , Matxain Jon M. , Ruipérez Fernando
Published: November 2019

Recently, it has been shown that the reaction mechanism in self-healing diphenyl dichalcogenide-based polymers involves the formation of sulfenyl and selenyl radicals. These radicals are able to attack a neighbouring dichalcogenide bond via a three-membered transition state, leading to the interchange of chalcogen atoms. Hence, the chain mobility is crucial for the exchange reaction to take place. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations have been performed in a set of disulfide- and diselenide-based materials to analyze the effect of the molecular structure in the chain mobility. First of all, a validation of the computational protocol has been carried out, and different simulation parameters like initial guess, length of the molecular chains, size of the simulation box and simulation time, have been evaluated. This protocol has been used to study the chain mobility and also the self-healing capacity, which depends on the probability to generate radicals ( ρ ), the barrier of the exchange reaction ( Δ G ) and the mobility of the chains ( ω ). The first two parameters have been obtained in previous quantum chemical calculations on the systems under study in this work. After analyzing the self-healing capacity, it is concluded that aromatic diselenides (PD-SeSe) are the best candidates among those studied to show self-healing, due to lower reaction barriers and larger ω values.
A Feasible Way to Produce Carbon Nanofiber by Electrospinning from Sugarcane Bagasse
Authors: Chen Wei , Meng Xin-Tong , Wang Hui-Hui , Zhang Xue-Qin , Wei Yi , Li Zeng-Yong , Li Di , Zhang Ai-Ping , Liu Chuan-Fu
Published: November 2019

Recently, the nanofiber materials derived from natural polymers instead of petroleum-based polymers by electrospinning have aroused a great deal of interests. The lignocellulosic biomass could not be electrospun into nanofiber directly due to its poor solubility. Here, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was subjected to the homogeneous esterification with different anhydrides, and the corresponding esterified products (SCB-A) were obtained. It was found that the bead-free and uniform nanofibers were obtained via electrospinning even when the mass fraction of acetylated SCB was 70%. According to the thermogravimetric analyses, the addition of SCB-A could improve the thermal stability of the electrospun composite nanofibers. More importantly, in contrast to the pure polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon nanofiber, the SCB-A based carbon nanofibers had higher electrical conductivity and the surface N element content. In addition, the superfine carbon nanofiber mats with minimum average diameter of 117.0 ± 13.7 nm derived from SCB-A were obtained, which results in a larger Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area than pure PAN based carbon nanofiber. These results demonstrated that the combination of the homogeneous esterification and electrospinning could be a feasible and potential way to produce the bio-based carbon nanofibers directly from lignocellulosic without component separation.
Adsorptive Findings on Selected Biomasses for Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Jha Pushpa
Published: November 2019

India produces an enormous number of biomasses in the form of agricultural and forestry residues. To handle their disposal, they need to be explored as adsorbents, as one of the alternatives for their utilizations. Biomasses, having a high content of carbon, can be used as low-cost adsorptive materials for the removal of phenol from aqueous streams. Ten biomasses, abundantly available in the Sangrur area of Punjab (India), were characterized. Based on their determined characteristics and availability, Acacia nilotica branches (ANB), Lantana camera (LC), and rice husk (RH) were selected for the study. As these biomasses removed low percentages of phenol, they were activated using thermochemical treatment. Their properties as adsorbents improved significantly. When they were subjected to phenol sequestration, the percentage removal of adsorbate was at 97%, 90%, and 83% by activated ANB (ANBC), activated LC (LCC), and activated RH (RHC), respectively. The equilibrium and kinetics of the process of adsorption on these activated biomasses were analyzed mathematically. It was possible to regenerate the spent ANBC, LCC, and RHC in a single step, with 1 M NaOH solution.
Circumpolar Thin Arctic Sea Ice Thickness and Small-Scale Roughness Retrieval Using Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity and Soil Moisture Active Passive Observations
Authors: Jo Suna , Kim Hyun-Cheol , Kwon Young-Joo , Hong Sungwook
Published: November 2019

The variations in the Arctic sea ice thickness (SIT) due to climate change have both positive and negative effects on commercial human activities, the ecosystem, and the Earth’s environment. Satellite microwave remote sensing based on microwave reflection signals reflected by the sea ice surface has been playing an essential role in monitoring and analyzing the Arctic SIT and sea ice concentration (SIC) during the past decades. Recently, passive microwave satellites incorporating an L-band radiometer, such as soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) and soil moisture active passive (SMAP), have been used for analyzing sea ice characteristics, in addition to land and ocean research. In this study, we present a novel method to estimate thin SIT and sea ice roughness (SIR) using a conversion relationship between them, from the SMAP and SMOS data. Methodologically, the SMAP SIR is retrieved. The SMAP thin SIT and SMOS SIR are estimated using a conversion relationship between thin SIT data from SMOS data and SMAP-derived SIR, which is obtained from the spatial and temporal collocation of the SMOS thin SIT and the SIR retrieved from SMAP. Our results for the Arctic sea ice during December for four consecutive years from 2015 to 2018, show high accuracy (bias = −2.268 cm, root mean square error (RMSE) = 15.919 cm, and correlation coefficient (CC) = 0.414) between the SMOS-provided thin SIT and SMAP-derived SIT, and good agreement (bias = 0.03 cm, RMSE = 0.228 cm, and CC = 0.496) between the SMOS-estimated SIR and SMAP-retrieved SIR. Consequently, our study could be effectively used for monitoring and analyzing the variation in the Arctic sea ice.
Matching RGB and Infrared Remote Sensing Images with Densely-Connected Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Zhu Ruojin , Yu Dawen , Ji Shunping , Lu Meng
Published: November 2019

We develop a deep learning-based matching method between an RGB (red, green and blue) and an infrared image that were captured from satellite sensors. The method includes a convolutional neural network (CNN) that compares the RGB and infrared image pair and a template searching strategy that searches the correspondent point within a search window in the target image to a given point in the reference image. A densely-connected CNN is developed to extract common features from different spectral bands. The network consists of a series of densely-connected convolutions to make full use of low-level features and an augmented cross entropy loss to avoid model overfitting. The network takes band-wise concatenated RGB and infrared images as the input and outputs a similarity score of the RGB and infrared image pair. For a given reference point, the similarity scores within the search window are calculated pixel-by-pixel, and the pixel with the highest score becomes the matching candidate. Experiments on a satellite RGB and infrared image dataset demonstrated that our method obtained more than 75% improvement on matching rate (the ratio of the successfully matched points to all the reference points) over conventional methods such as SURF, RIFT, and PSO-SIFT, and more than 10% improvement compared to other most recent CNN-based structures. Our experiments also demonstrated high performance and generalization ability of our method applying to multitemporal remote sensing images and close-range images.
Performance Assessment of Sub-Daily and Daily Precipitation Estimates Derived from GPM and GSMaP Products over an Arid Environment
Authors: Shawky Mohamed , Moussa Adel , Hassan Quazi K , El-Sheimy Naser
Published: November 2019

Precipitation is a critical variable for comprehending various climate-related research, such as water resources management, flash flood monitoring and forecasting, climatic analyses, and hydrogeological studies, etc. Here, our objective was to evaluate the rainfall estimates obtained from Global Precipitation Mission (GPM), and Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) constellation over an arid environment like the Sultanate of Oman that is characterized by a complex topography and extremely variable rainfall patterns. Global Satellite-based Precipitation Estimates (GSPEs) can provide wide coverage and high spatial and temporal resolutions, but evaluating their accuracy is a mandatory step before involving them in different hydrological applications. In this paper, the reliability of the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for the GPM (IMERG) V04 and GSMaP V06 products were evaluated using the reference in-situ rain gauges at sub-daily (e.g., 6, 12, and 18 h) and daily time scales during the period of March 2014–December 2016. A set of continuous difference statistical indices (e.g., mean absolute difference, root mean square error, mean difference, and unconditional bias), and categorical metrics (e.g., probability of detection, critical success index, false alarm ratio, and frequency bias index) were used to evaluate recorded precipitation occurrences. The results showed that the five GSPEs could generally delineate the spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall while they might have over- and under-estimations of in-situ gauge measurements. The overall quality of the GSMaP runs was superior to the IMERG products; however, it also encountered an exaggeration in case of light rain and an underestimation for heavy rain. The effects of the gauge calibration algorithm (GCA) used in the final IMERG (IMERG-F) were investigated by comparison with early and late runs. The IMERG-F V04 product did not show a significant improvement over the early (i.e., after 4 h of rainfall observations) and late (i.e., after 12 h of rainfall observations) products. The results indicated that GCA could not reduce the missed precipitation records considerably.
Interpretation of ASCAT Radar Scatterometer Observations Over Land: A Case Study Over Southwestern France
Authors: Shamambo Daniel , Bonan Bertrand , Calvet Jean-Christophe , Albergel Clément , Hahn Sebastian
Published: November 2019

This paper investigates to what extent soil moisture and vegetation density information can be extracted from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) satellite-derived radar backscatter (σ°) in a data assimilation context. The impact of independent estimates of the surface soil moisture (SSM) and leaf area index (LAI) of diverse vegetation types on ASCAT σ° observations is simulated over southwestern France using the water cloud model (WCM). The LAI and SSM variables used by the WCM are derived from satellite observations and from the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface model, respectively. They permit the calibration of the four parameters of the WCM describing static soil and vegetation characteristics. A seasonal analysis of the model scores shows that the WCM has shortcomings over karstic areas and wheat croplands. In the studied area, the Klaus windstorm in January 2009 damaged a large fraction of the Landes forest. The ability of the WCM to represent the impact of Klaus and to simulate ASCAT σ° observations in contrasting land-cover conditions is explored. The difference in σ° observations between the forest zone affected by the storm and the bordering agricultural areas presents a marked seasonality before the storm. The difference is small in the springtime (from March to May) and large in the autumn (September to November) and wintertime (December to February). After the storm, hardly any seasonality was observed over four years. This study shows that the WCM is able to simulate this extreme event. It is concluded that the WCM could be used as an observation operator for the assimilation of ASCAT σ° observations into the ISBA land surface model.
Point Set Multi-Level Aggregation Feature Extraction Based on Multi-Scale Max Pooling and LDA for Point Cloud Classification
Authors: Tong Guofeng , Li Yong , Zhang Weilong , Chen Dong , Zhang Zhenxin , Yang Jingchao , Zhang Jianjun
Published: November 2019

Accurate and effective classification of lidar point clouds with discriminative features expression is a challenging task for scene understanding. In order to improve the accuracy and the robustness of point cloud classification based on single point features, we propose a novel point set multi-level aggregation features extraction and fusion method based on multi-scale max pooling and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA). To this end, in the hierarchical point set feature extraction, point sets of different levels and sizes are first adaptively generated through multi-level clustering. Then, more effective sparse representation is implemented by locality-constrained linear coding (LLC) based on single point features, which contributes to the extraction of discriminative individual point set features. Next, the local point set features are extracted by combining the max pooling method and the multi-scale pyramid structure constructed by the point’s coordinates within each point set. The global and the local features of the point sets are effectively expressed by the fusion of multi-scale max pooling features and global features constructed by the point set LLC-LDA model. The point clouds are classified by using the point set multi-level aggregation features. Our experiments on two scenes of airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds—a mobile laser scanning (MLS) scene point cloud and a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) scene point cloud—demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed point set multi-level aggregation features for point cloud classification, and the proposed method outperforms other related and compared algorithms.
Social Innovation for Sustainability: The Case of Oil Producing Communities in the Niger Delta region
Authors: Omobhude Christian , Chen Shih-Hsin
Published: November 2019

This study demonstrates how social innovation may engender development as well as peace in deep-rooted poverty and conflict regions in the Niger Delta context. By means of a qualitative study involving oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, this study identifies the dynamics, relevant actors and factors that foster social innovation, creating particular socio-economic outcomes, and contributes to the role of institutions in this context. Our findings suggest that active stakeholders’ engagement, facilitation and contributions from key actors significantly influences the quality of economic and social outcomes, but not necessarily environmental outcomes. This allows us to advance the theory on social innovation by analyzing the mechanisms through which social intervention processes may alter the lives of ordinary community members in areas where social and economic interventions are seriously required.
From Degradation to the Regeneration of Territorial Heritage. An Eco-Systemic Vision for the Promotion of the Natural, Urban and Landscape Capital of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
Authors: Fallanca Concetta , Taccone Antonio , Corazziere Chiara
Published: November 2019

The results of the research conducted on the subject of regeneration of areas of land suffering degradation were presented, studied and analyzed to establish “families” of causes and effects, to forecast lines of action commensurate with the reversibility of the damage. The area in question is the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria covering the entire territory of the former province and including the Aspromonte National Park. The methods of direct observation and critical interpretation of the phenomena, in terms of extension and incidence, are aimed at advancing a protocol of interventions for the definition, evaluation and implementation of regeneration prospects through experimental pilot laboratories for University-Region coordination. Of particular interest was the role of prevention for areas that are used improperly with the consequent loss of habitat quality, limitations of the effectiveness of ecosystem services, for those environments that express values integrated from a cultural, naturalistic point of view, identity and are subject to risks of fragmentation that endanger ecological connectivity.
Measurement of Satisfaction in Sustainable Tourism: A Cultural Heritage Site in Spain
Authors: Huete-Alcocer Nuria , López-Ruiz Víctor Raúl , Grigorescu Adriana
Published: November 2019

Sustainable tourism, in the cultural context, is a fundamental element for the economic development of some local communities. There are many factors that can influence the success of this type of tourism, but any action or strategy adopted should be closely related to the satisfaction of the tourist. This research focuses on a heritage destination of an archaeological nature, and is aimed at analyzing the profile of the cultural tourist and his/her level of satisfaction after visiting the site. Information was collected using a closed questionnaire given to tourists. An ANOVA analysis has been used to determine the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and satisfaction, with significant results found in relation to gender and income level. This study has helped to highlight what underlies the differences in tourists’ post-visit satisfaction. These analyses have provided information that can be used in the planning of future sustainable tourism marketing strategies; thus, this study provides some recommendations on how to improve the provision of services and the management of these types of heritage elements.
The Effect of Weighting Materials on Oil-Well Cement Properties While Drilling Deep Wells
Authors: Ahmed Abdulmalek , Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulhamid , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Chen Weiqing
Published: November 2019

In deep hydrocarbon development wells, cement slurry with high density is required to effectively balance the high-pressure formations. The increase in the slurry density could be achieved by adding different heavy materials. In this study, the effect of the weighting materials (barite, hematite, and ilmenite) on the properties of Saudi Class G cement matrix of vertical homogeneity, compressive strength, porosity, and permeability was evaluated. Three cement slurries were weighted with barite, hematite, and ilmenite, and cured at 294 °F and 3000 psi for 24 h. All slurries have the same concentration of the different additives except the weighting material. The amount of weighting material used in every slurry was determined based on the targeted density of 18 lbm/gal. The results of this study revealed that the most vertically homogenous cement matrix was the ilmenite-weighted sample with a vertical variation of 17.6% compared to 20.2 and 24.8% for hematite- and barite-weighted cement, respectively. This is attributed to the small particle size of the ilmenite. The medical computerized tomography (CT) scan confirmed that the ilmenite-weighted sample is the most homogeneous, with a narrow range of density variation vertically along the sample. Hematite-weighted cement showed the highest compressive strength of 55.3 MPa, and the barite- and ilmenite-weighted cement compressive strengths are each 18.4 and 36.7% less than the compressive strength of the hematite-weighted cement, respectively. Barite-weighted cement has the lowest porosity and permeability of 6.1% and 18.9 mD, respectively. The maximum particle size of ilmenite used in this study is less than 42 μm to ensure no abrasion effect on the drilling system, and it minimized the solids segregation while maintaining a compressive strength that is higher than the minimum acceptable strength, which is the recommended weighting material for Saudi Class G cement.
Clean Power Dispatching of Coal-Fired Power Generation in China Based on the Production Cleanliness Evaluation Method
Authors: Li Tao , Song Yimiao , Shen Jing
Published: November 2019

China’s achievements in climate change and clean energy have been recognized by the international community. Although China has achieved successes in the field of clean energy, especially clean power dispatch, power dispatch is still one-sided and incomplete when considering environmental aspects. This paper presents a comprehensive production cleanliness evaluation model to assign a comprehensive environmental value as a reference for clean power dispatch. The model considers all the pollutants currently regulated in China’s coal-fired power plants, carbon emissions, and sustainability as three basic environmental constraints. Then, emergy analysis is used to unify the input/output materials with different units of measurement, and the emergy-based environmental value added (EEVA) value is constructed. As an integrated environmental value, the EEVA can provide an environmental reference for clean power dispatch. Finally, we selected a representative coal-fired power plant in China as a case study. By applying the above model, the dispatching sequence for four generating units was arranged from the perspective of cleanliness.
Developing Green: A Case for the Brazilian Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Gramkow Camila , Anger-Kraavi Annela
Published: November 2019

The recent IPCC Special Report on global warming of 1.5 °C emphasizes that rapid action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is vital to achieving the climate mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement. The most-needed substantial upscaling of investments in GHG mitigation options in all sectors, and particularly in manufacturing sectors, can be an opportunity for a green economic development leap in developing countries. Here, we use the Brazilian manufacturing sectors as an example to explore a transformation of its economy while contributing to the Paris targets. Projections of Brazil’s economic futures with and without a portfolio of fiscal policies to induce low carbon investments are produced up to 2030 (end year of Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution—NDC), by employing the large-scale macro econometric Energy-Environment-Economy Model, E3ME. Our findings highlight that the correct mix of green stimulus can help modernize and decarbonize the Brazilian manufacturing sectors and allow the country’s economy to grow faster (by up to 0.42% compared to baseline) while its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions decline (by up to 14.5% in relation to baseline). Investment levels increase, thereby strengthening exports’ competitiveness and alleviating external constraints to long-term economic growth in net terms.
A Risk Based Approach to Evaluating the Impacts of Zayanderood Drought on Sustainable Development Indicators of Riverside Urban in Isfahan-Iran
Authors: Sarvari Hadi , Rakhshanifar Mansooreh , Tamošaitienė Jolanta , Chan Daniel W.M. , Beer Michael
Published: November 2019

In recent years, the Zayanderood River in Isfahan-Iran has been encountered by hydrological imbalance and drought. Literature review shows that long-term climate change, drought, and disruption of the river’s water supply has led to depletion of underground aquifers and, consequently, gradual subsidence of the river and serious damage to old buildings and structures along the riverbank. This fact would be followed up by adverse environmental, social, and economic effect that could threaten the sustainable development of urban space. Therefore, it is necessary to use efficient risk identification and assessment approaches toward a more effective risk management. The goal of this study is to identify and prioritize the risks of river drought with regards to all three sustainable development areas including environmental, social, and economic. The research methodology was a mixed field method that included a set of questionnaires and interviews. To evaluate collected data, the analytic network process (ANP) method was used. Eighteen important risks were identified. Based on the results, decrease in the groundwater level, climate change, and gradual soil degradation were ranked first, second, and third, respectively. As this study examined the impacts of river drought on all three areas of sustainable development simultaneously and comprehensively, it is expected that the results will fill the existing theoretical and practical gap affecting improvements in assessment and management of sustainable development risks.
Philodryas (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) Envenomation, a Neglected Issue in Chile
Authors: Urra Félix , Miranda-Calle Alejandro , Araya-Maturana Ramiro
Published: November 2019

Snakebite envenomation is considered a neglected tropical disease, although it also occurs outside the tropics. In this work, we analyzed the literature on Philodryas species in Chile (Philodryas chamissonis, P. simonsii, and P. tachymenoides) from 1834 to 2019, searching for epidemiological, clinical, and molecular aspects of envenomation. Ninety-one percent of the studies found regarded taxonomy, ecology, and natural history, suggesting that snakebites and venom toxins are a neglected issue in Chile. All snakebite cases reported and toxicological studies concerned the species Philodryas chamissonis. Using 185 distributional records from the literature and museum collections for this species, we show for the first time that the reported snakebite cases correlate with human population density, occurring in the Valparaiso and Metropolitan regions in Central Chile. The reduced number of snakebite cases, which were previously considered as having a low incidence in Chile, may be a consequence of under-reported cases, probably due to the inadequate publication or scarce research on this issue. Absence of information about official pharmacological treatment, post-envenoming sequels, clinical management of particular patient groups (e.g., with non-communicable diseases, pregnant women, and the elderly) was also detected. In conclusion, despite having over 185 years of literature on Chilean snakes, knowledge on the envenomation of Philodryas genus remains scarce, seriously affecting adequate medical handling during an ophidic accident. This review highlights the need to develop deep research in this area and urgent improvements to the management of this disease in Chile.
Correction: Rasheduzzaman, M., et al. Reverse QMRA as a Decision Support Tool: Setting Acceptable Concentration Limits for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Naegleria fowleri. Water 2019, 11, 1850
Authors: Rasheduzzaman Md , Singh Rajveer , Haas Charles N. , Tolofari Dienye , Yassaghi Hamed , Hamilton Kerry A. , Yang Zhao , Gurian Patrick L.
Published: November 2019

The authors regret to report that the paper “Reverse QMRA as a Decision Support Tool: Setting Acceptable Concentration Limits for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Naegleria fowleri” contains some erroneous computations [...]
Assessing Future Impacts of Climate Change on Water Supply System Performance: Application to the Pozzillo Reservoir in Sicily, Italy
Authors: Peres David J. , Modica Rosario , Cancelliere Antonino
Published: November 2019

Climate change induced by greenhouse gas emissions is expected to alter the natural availability of water, affecting domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. This work aims at assessing the possible future impacts of climate change on precipitation, temperature and runoff, and to simulate the effects on reservoir demand–performance curves. To this aim, a modeling chain is set up, based on the combined use of regional climate models (RCMs) and water supply system simulation models. The methodology is applied to the Pozzillo reservoir, located in Sicily (Italy), which has experienced several droughts in the past. We use an RCM model that, based on a previous study, has proved to be the most reliable in the area, among those of the EURO-CORDEX initiative. RCM precipitation and temperature monthly time series are used to generate future reservoir inflow data, according to two representative concentration pathways, RCP4.5 (intermediate emissions scenario) and RCP8.5 (high emissions scenario) and a two-step bias correction procedure. Simulation of the reservoir indicated that, due to reservoir inflow reduction induced by climate change, performances of the Pozzillo reservoir are predicted to decrease significantly in the future, with impacts of RCP8.5 generally higher than RCP4.5.
POSSIBILITY OF USING BLAST FURNACE SLAG IN CONCRETE AND MORTAR PRODUCTION IN VIETNAM
Authors: Ву Ким Зиен , Vu Kim Dien , Танг Ван , Tang Van , Баженова С. , Bazhenova S. , Нгуен Зуен Фонг , Nguyen Duyen Phong
Published: November 2019

Blast furnace slag is a waste of metallurgical industry which can be used in production technology of concretes and mortars. The expedient use of blast furnace slag as a component for new building materials will improve the environmental situation and increase the economic efficiency of production. The authors reaserch blast furnace slag processing technology of factories "Hoa Phat" (Vietnam) and "Thai Nguyen" (Vietnam) to produce mineral additives. As a result of the conducted researches the chemical and mineralogical composition of slags are received, their physical and mechanical characteristics are considered and defined: specific surface area, density, water demand, and others.

According to standard of Vietnam and Russia, slag activity index is calculated when considering the possibility of using blast furnace slags to replace part of the binder. The relationship between the strength of the cement-sand mortar and density affected by the binder are reveald (where; binder = Portland cement + Granulated blast furnace slag). Comparison chart of slag activity index IR (%) has been shown.

The paper uses the Vietnamese standard TCVN 11586: 2016 to analyze the possibility of using blast furnace slag (Vietnam) in the technology of concrete and mortar construction.
Galician legends about miraculous sea-voyages in stone boats : Some Irish and Breton parallels
Authors: Alonso Romero Fernando
Published: November 2019

Légendes galliciennes de voyages miraculeux dans des barques de pierre : Quelques parallèles irlandais et bretons .

S’il existe différentes légendes en Irlande, en Bretagne et en Galice de voyages miraculeux dans des barques de pierre, la distribution géographique des quatre légendes galiciennes concernant des saints ayant voyagé ainsi indique une relation maritime importante entre le Nord et le Sud de la côte de Galice. Ce type de légende n’apparaît en aucune autre région de Galice, ni au Portugal, ce qui confirme l’hypothèse selon laquelle ces légendes ne proviendraient pas de la Galice mais de Bretagne ou d’Irlande, et qu’elles sont probablement entrées en Galice avec l’arrivée des moines qui fondèrent l’abbaye, maintenant disparue, de Santa Maria de Britonia (Lugo).