bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interface Reinforcement of Pulp Fiber Based ABS Composite with Hydrogen Bonding Initiated Interlinked Structure via Alkaline Oxidation and tert-Butyl Grafting on Cellulose
Authors: Zhu Qinrui , Li Dagang
Published: December 2019

Interface optimization in preparing natural fiber based biocomposite becomes a key factor that determines overall properties, especially mechanical performance. The solution for upgrading interfacial adhesion stemmed from polar fiber and nonpolar polymer remains unclear. Here, a kind of pulp fiber/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composite with content ratio of 1:1 was fabricated by functionalizing the cellulose fiber to coordinate interaction between fiber and ABS. With addition of 5 wt % polyacrylamide (PAM) there existed an interlinked three-element structure in composite. Three types of treatment to cellulose fiber, including alkali immersion, pivaloyl chloride grafting for 10 h and 20 h were conducted. Pulp fiber that was treated with alkali for one hour, followed by pivaloyl chloride reaction for ten hours, proved to be effective for interfacial adhesion. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals 21.9% of carbonyl and 12.1% of ester function in this fiber, which corresponds to oxidation and grafting. For its composite SEM picture displays that most of cellulose fiber are rooted in ABS and evident traces of tearing or fracture can be observed after tension test. DMA test indicates that this modified pulp fiber/ABS composite exhibits great compatibility, because of combined loss modulus peak ranging from 80 °C to 100 °C. Moreover, the well miscible composite has a tensile strength of 58.1 MPa and elastic modulus of 2515 MPa, increasing by nearly 50% and 60% from those of pure ABS, respectively.
Impact-Induced Reaction Characteristic and the Enhanced Sensitivity of PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 Composites
Authors: Yuan Ying , Geng Baoqun , Sun Tao , Yu Qingbo , Wang Haifu
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the reaction characteristic of a novel reactive material, which introduced bismuth trioxide (Bi2O3) into traditional polytetrafluoroethylene/aluminum (PTFE/Al), is studied. The effect of Bi2O3 with different content and particle size on the reaction behaviors of PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 are investigated by drop-weight test and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), including impact sensitivity, energy release performance under a certain impact, and reaction mechanism. The experimental results show that the content of Bi2O3 increased from 0% to 35.616%, the characteristic drop height of impact sensitivity (H50) of PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 reactive materials decreased first and then increased, and the minimum H50 of all types of materials in the experiment is 0.74 times that of PTFE/Al, and the particle size of Bi2O3 affects the rate of H50 change with Bi2O3 content. Besides, with the increase of Bi2O3 content, both the reaction intensity and duration first increase and then decrease, and there is optimum content of Bi2O3 maximizing the reaction degree of the PTFE/Al/Bi2O3. Furthermore, a prediction model for the impact sensitivity of PTFE-based reactive material is developed. The main reaction products include AlF3, xBi2O3·Al2O3, and Bi.
Durability and Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Fiber Cloth/Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber Composite for Active Deicing and Snow Melting
Authors: Han Shuanye , Wei Haibin , Han Leilei , Li Qinglin
Published: December 2019

To reduce the impact of road ice and snow disaster, it is necessary to adopt low energy consumption and efficient active deicing and snow melting methods. In this article, three functional components are combined into a conductive ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber composite material with good interface bonding. Among them, the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite material are enhanced by using carbon fiber cloth as a heating layer. EPDM rubber plays a mainly protective role. Further, aluminum silicate fiber cloth is used as a thermal insulation layer. The mechanical properties of EPDM rubber composites reinforced by carbon fiber cloth and the thermal behaviors of the composite material in high and low temperature environments were studied. The heat generation and heat transfer effect of the composite were analyzed by electrothermal tests. The results show that the conductive EPDM rubber composite material has good temperature durability, outstanding mechanical stability, and excellent heat production capacity. The feasibility of the material for road active deicing and snow melting is verified. It is a kind of electric heating deicing material with broad application prospects.
Optimal Tuning of Model Predictive Controller Weights Using Genetic Algorithm with Interactive Decision Tree for Industrial Cement Kiln Process
Authors: Ramasamy Valarmathi , Sidharthan Rakesh Kumar , Kannan Ramkumar , Muralidharan Guruprasath
Published: December 2019

Energy intense nature of cement kiln demands optimal operation to minimize the energy requirement. Optimal control of cement kiln is achieved by proper tuning of the model predictive controller (MPC), which is addressed in this work. Genetic algorithm (GA) is used to determine the MPC weights that minimize the overall energy utilization with reduced tracking error. Single objective function has been formulated using importance weighted performance metrics like energy utilization and integral absolute error in tracking the desired response. Importance weights are determined in specific to the control scenarios using an interactive decision tree (IDT). It interacts with the operator to detect the weaker metrics and raises the importance level for further improvement. The algorithm terminates after attending all the metrics with the consent from the operator. Five control scenarios that predominantly occur in industrial cement kiln have been considered in this study. It includes tracking, measured, and unmeasured disturbance rejection of pulse and Gaussian type noises. The results illustrate the minimized energy operation with the use of the proposed single objective function as compared with the multi-objective function-based GA tuning procedure.
The Løkka–Zervos Alternative for a Cramér–Lundberg Process with Exponential Jumps
Authors: Avram Florin , Goreac Dan , Renaud Jean-François
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we study a stochastic control problem faced by an insurance company allowed to pay out dividends and make capital injections. As in (Løkka and Zervos (2008); Lindensjö and Lindskog (2019)), for a Brownian motion risk process, and in Zhu and Yang (2016), for diffusion processes, we will show that the so-called Løkka–Zervos alternative also holds true in the case of a Cramér–Lundberg risk process with exponential claims. More specifically, we show that: if the cost of capital injections is low, then according to a double-barrier strategy, it is optimal to pay dividends and inject capital, meaning ruin never occurs; and if the cost of capital injections is high, then according to a single-barrier strategy, it is optimal to pay dividends and never inject capital, meaning ruin occurs at the first passage below zero.
High-Throughput Phenotyping of Indirect Traits for Early-Stage Selection in Sugarcane Breeding
Authors: Natarajan Sijesh , Basnayake Jayampathi , Wei Xianming , Lakshmanan Prakash
Published: December 2019

One of the major limitations for sugarcane genetic improvement is the low heritability of yield in the early stages of breeding, mainly due to confounding inter-plot competition effects. In this study, we investigate an indirect selection index (Si), developed based on traits correlated to yield (indirect traits) that were measured using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to improve clonal assessment in early stages of sugarcane breeding. A single-row early-stage clonal assessment trial, involving 2134 progenies derived from 245 crosses, and a multi-row experiment representative of pure-stand conditions, with an unrelated population of 40 genotypes, were used in this study. Both experiments were screened at several stages using visual, multispectral, and thermal sensors mounted on a UAV for indirect traits, including canopy cover, canopy height, canopy temperature, and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). To construct the indirect selection index, phenotypic and genotypic variance-covariances were estimated in the single-row and multi-row experiment, respectively. Clonal selection from the indirect selection index was compared to single-row yield-based selection. Ground observations of stalk number and plant height at six months after planting made from a subset of 75 clones within the single-row experiment were highly correlated to canopy cover (rg = 0.72) and canopy height (rg = 0.69), respectively. The indirect traits had high heritability and strong genetic correlation with cane yield in both the single-row and multi-row experiments. Only 45% of the clones were common between the indirect selection index and single-row yield based selection, and the expected efficiency of correlated response to selection for pure-stand yield based on indirect traits (44%–73%) was higher than that based on single-row yield (45%). These results highlight the potential of high-throughput phenotyping of indirect traits combined in an indirect selection index for improving early-stage clonal selections in sugarcane breeding.
Analysis of Grassland Degradation in Zona da Mata, MG, Brazil, Based on NDVI Time Series Data with the Integration of Phenological Metrics
Authors: Hott Marcos C. , Carvalho Luis M. T. , Antunes Mauro A. H. , Resende João C. , Rocha Wadson S. D.
Published: December 2019

There is currently a lot of interest in determining the state of Brazilian grasslands. Governmental actions and programs have recently been implemented for grassland recovery in Brazilian states, with the aim of improving production systems and socioeconomic indicators. The aim of this study is to evaluate the vegetative growth, temporal vigor, and long-term scenarios for the grasslands in Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by integrating phenological metrics. We used metrics derived from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, which were analyzed in a geographic information system (GIS), using multicriteria analysis, the analytical hierarchy process, and a simplified expert system (ESS). These temporal metrics, i.e., the growth index (GI) for 16-day periods during the growing season; the slope; and the maximum, minimum, and mean for the time series, were integrated to investigate the grassland vegetation conditions and degradation level. The temporal vegetative vigor was successfully described using the rescaled range (R/S statistic) and the Hurst exponent, which, together with the metrics estimated for the full time series, imagery, and field observations, indicated areas undergoing degradation or areas that were inadequately managed (approximately 61.5%). Time series analysis revealed that most grasslands showed low or moderate vegetative vigor over time with long-term persistence due to farming practices associated with burning and overgrazing. A small part of the grasslands showed high and sustainable plant densities (approximately 8.5%). A map legend for grassland management guidelines was developed using the proposed method with remote sensing data, which were applied using GIS software and a field campaign.
Preliminary Evaluation of the Consistency of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 Time Series Products in An Urban Area—An Example in Beijing, China
Authors: Nie Zhen , Chan Karen Kie Yan , Xu Bing
Published: December 2019

Global urbanization is occurring rapidly, and numerous moderate resolution remote sensing data are being used to monitor this process. Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI data are combined in many applications but few studies haves focused on either urban change or consistency between these two data in time series. To evaluate the varying correlation between the two sensors in a time series, the correlation coefficient (R) and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of seven band pairs and three indices (NDVI, NDBI, and MNDWI) were calculated in this study and the results of the built-up area identified by IBI derived from the above three indices were compared. It was found that the correlation between the two sensors (R > 0.8534, p < 0.0001) was good in most bands but not as good for indices (in half of the results, R < 0.9). Meanwhile, the correlation of the two sensors of both bands and indices fluctuated between seasons and the comparative results of built-up area identification between the two data are relative to this variation. Therefore, when the OLI and MSI data are used in future collaboration applications, the data and threshold selection should consider the consistency and the fluctuation between the two data, especially in both time series studies and urban detection.
Global Positioning from a Single Image of a Rectangle in Conical Perspective
Authors: Estrems Amestoy Manuel , de Francisco Ortiz Óscar
Published: December 2019

This article presents a method to obtain the overall positioning of the focus of a camera from an image that includes a rectangle in a fixed reference with known position and dimension. This technique uses basic principles of descriptive geometry introduced in engineering courses. The document will first show how to obtain the dihedral projections of a rectangle after three turns and one translation. Secondly, we will proceed to obtain the image of the rectangle rotated in a conical perspective, taking the elevation plane as the drawing plane and a specific point in space as the view point, and represented in the dihedral system. Thirdly, we proceed with the inverse perspective transformation; we will expose a method to obtain the coordinates in the space of a rectangle obtained from an image. Finally, we check the method experimentally by taking an image of the rectangle with a camera in which the coordinates in the drawing plane (center of the image) are the only available position information. Then, the positioning and orientation of the camera in 3D will be obtained.
PCB-Based Magnetometer as a Platform for Quantification of Lateral-Flow Assays
Authors: Khodadadi Mohammad , Chang Long , Trabuco João R. C. , Vu Binh V. , Kourentzi Katerina , Willson Richard C. , Litvinov Dmitri
Published: December 2019

This work presents a proof-of-concept demonstration of a novel inductive transducer, the femtoMag, that can be integrated with a lateral-flow assay (LFA) to provide detection and quantification of molecular biomarkers. The femtoMag transducer is manufactured using a low-cost printed circuit board (PCB) technology and can be controlled by relatively inexpensive electronics. It allows rapid high-precision quantification of the number (or amount) of superparamagnetic nanoparticle reporters along the length of an LFA test strip. It has a detection limit of 10−10 emu, which is equivalent to detecting 4 ng of superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. The femtoMag was used to quantify the hCG pregnancy hormone by quantifying the number of 200 nm magnetic reporters (superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded into a polymer matrix) immuno-captured within the test line of the LFA strip. A sensitivity of 100 pg/mL has been demonstrated. Upon further design and control electronics improvements, the sensitivity is projected to be better than 10 pg/mL. Analysis suggests that an average of 109 hCG molecules are needed to specifically bind 107 nanoparticles in the test line. The ratio of the number of hCG molecules in the sample to the number of reporters in the test line increases monotonically from 20 to 500 as the hCG concentration increases from 0.1 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL. The low-cost easy-to-use femtoMag platform offers high-sensitivity/high-precision target analyte quantification and promises to bring state-of-the-art medical diagnostic tests to the point of care.
Dual-Level Capacitive Micromachined Uncooled Thermal Detector
Authors: Tawfik Hani H. , Allidina Karim , Nabki Frederic , El-Gamal Mourad N.
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a novel dual-level capacitive microcantilever-based thermal detector that is implemented in the commercial surface micromachined PolyMUMPs technology. The proposed design is implemented side-by-side with four different single-level designs to enable a design-to-design performance comparison. The dual-level design exhibits a rate of capacitance change per degree Celsius that is over three times higher than that of the single-level designs and has a base capacitance that is more than twice as large. These improvements are achieved because the dual-level architecture allows a 100% electrode-to-detector area, while single-level designs are shown to suffer from an inherent trade-off between sensitivity and base capacitance. In single-level designs, either the number of the bimorph beams or the capacitance electrode can be increased for a given sensor area. The former is needed for a longer effective length of the bimorph for higher thermomechanical sensitivity (i.e., larger tilting angels per degree Celsius), while the latter is desired to relax the read-out integrated-circuits requirements. This thermomechanical response-to-initial capacitance trade-off is mitigated by the dual-level design, which dedicates one structural layer to serve as the upper electrode of the detector, while the other layer contains as many bimorph beams as desired, independently of the former’s area.
Multi-Target Localization and Tracking Using TDOA and AOA Measurements Based on Gibbs-GLMB Filtering
Authors: Tian Zhengwang , Liu Weifeng , Ru Xinfeng
Published: December 2019

This paper deals with mobile multi-target detection and tracking. In the traditional method, there are uncertainties such as misdetection and false alarm in the measurement data, and it will be inevitable having to deal with the data association. To solve the target trajectory and state estimation problem under a cluttered environment, this paper proposes a non-concurrent multi-target acoustic localization tracking method based on the Gibbs-generalized labelled multi-Bernoulli (Gibbs-GLMB) filter and considers an acoustic array of a fixed arrangement for the tracking of targets by joint time difference of arrival (TDOA) and angle of arrival (AOA) measurements. Firstly, the TDOAs are calculated by using the generalized cross-correlation algorithm (GCC) and the AOAs are derived from the received signal directions. Secondly, we assume the independence of the targets and fuse the measurements which are used to track the multiple targets via the Gibbs-GLMB filter. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified by Monte Carlo simulation experiments.
Blind Spoofing GNSS Constellation Detection Using a Multi-Antenna Snapshot Receiver
Authors: van der Merwe Johannes Rossouw , Rügamer Alexander , Felber Wolfgang
Published: December 2019

Spoofing of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals threatens positioning systems. A counter-method is to detect the presence of spoofed signals, followed by a warning to the user. In this paper, a multi-antenna snapshot receiver is presented to detect the presence of a spoofing attack. The spatial similarities of the array steering vectors are analyzed, and different metrics are used to establish possible detector functions. These include subset methods, Eigen-decomposition, and clustering algorithms. The results generated within controlled spoofing conditions show that a spoofed constellation of GNSS satellites can be successfully detected. The derived system-level detectors increase performance in comparison to pair-wise methods. A controlled test setup achieved perfect detection; however, in real-world cases, the performance would not be as ideal. Some detection metrics and features for blind spoofing detecting, with an array of antennas, are identified, which opens the field for future advanced multi-detector developments.
A Secure Data Sharing Platform Using Blockchain and Interplanetary File System
Authors: Naz Muqaddas , Al-zahrani Fahad A. , Khalid Rabiya , Javaid Nadeem , Qamar Ali Mustafa , Afzal Muhammad Khalil , Shafiq Muhammad
Published: December 2019

In a research community, data sharing is an essential step to gain maximum knowledge from the prior work. Existing data sharing platforms depend on trusted third party (TTP). Due to the involvement of TTP, such systems lack trust, transparency, security, and immutability. To overcome these issues, this paper proposed a blockchain-based secure data sharing platform by leveraging the benefits of interplanetary file system (IPFS). A meta data is uploaded to IPFS server by owner and then divided into n secret shares. The proposed scheme achieves security and access control by executing the access roles written in smart contract by owner. Users are first authenticated through RSA signatures and then submit the requested amount as a price of digital content. After the successful delivery of data, the user is encouraged to register the reviews about data. These reviews are validated through Watson analyzer to filter out the fake reviews. The customers registering valid reviews are given incentives. In this way, maximum reviews are submitted against every file. In this scenario, decentralized storage, Ethereum blockchain, encryption, and incentive mechanism are combined. To implement the proposed scenario, smart contracts are written in solidity and deployed on local Ethereum test network. The proposed scheme achieves transparency, security, access control, authenticity of owner, and quality of data. In simulation results, an analysis is performed on gas consumption and actual cost required in terms of USD, so that a good price estimate can be done while deploying the implemented scenario in real set-up. Moreover, computational time for different encryption schemes are plotted to represent the performance of implemented scheme, which is shamir secret sharing (SSS). Results show that SSS shows the least computational time as compared to advanced encryption standard (AES) 128 and 256.
Between Imitation and Embeddedness: Three Types of Polish Alternative Food Networks
Authors: Goszczyński Wojciech , Śpiewak Ruta , Bilewicz Aleksandra , Wróblewski Michał
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this article is to present the specific character of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) in Poland as one of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We refer to the issue increasingly debated in the social sciences, that is, how to translate academic models embedded in specific social contexts to other contexts, as we trace the process of adapting ideas and patterns of AFNs developed in the West to the semi-peripheral context of CEE countries. Drawing on the theory of social practices, we divide the analysis into three essential areas: The ideas of the network, its materiality, and the activities within the network. We have done secondary analysis of the research material, including seven case studies the authors worked on in the past decade. We distinguish three network models—imitated, embedded and mixed—which allow us to establish a specific post-transformational AFN growth theory. Particular attention should be paid to the type of embedded networks, as they highlight the possibility of local and original forms of AFNs. Mixed networks show that ideas imported from abroad need to be considered in juxtaposition and connection with local circumstances.
Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability in MBAs. Understanding the Motivations for the Incorporation of ERS in Less Traditional Markets
Authors: Fornes Gaston , Monfort Abel , Ilie Camelia , Koo Chun Kwong (Tony) , Cardoza Guillermo
Published: December 2019

This study of Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in regions with different history, background, legacies, and trajectories than those in the Global North aims at having an alternative view of how Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS) are incorporated in management education. To this end, the research uses case studies, analyzes in-depth interviews, and adopts an inductive stakeholder theory approach to identify and understand the motivations for the incorporation of the broad area of ERS in management education in relation to the schools’ main stakeholders, mainly students and their employers. The analysis of the data shows that individual motivations (individual level) and an articulated and embedded mission that incorporates different stakeholders (organizational/curriculum level) are strong predictors. Local regulations and legislation, along with the requirements from international accreditation agencies (institutions/environment level) are also predictors, although not that strong to go beyond the incorporation of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-related course in the curriculum of programs. Nevertheless, these CSR-related courses (organizational/curriculum level) are powerful mediators that create, as a minimum, awareness of ERS in MBA graduates who as a consequence modify their employment objectives. The data also show that the process leading to international accreditations (institutions/environment level), the expectation by employers that MBA graduates should have an ERS mindset/skills toolkit (institutions/environment level), and a hands-on, practice-based teaching methodology (organizational/curriculum level) can act as moderators. These findings show that business schools can become ERS predictors themselves, and to achieve this they need to have a better understanding of the different roles played by the different variables. This publication is based upon work from COST Action CA18215 – China in Europe Research Network, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), www.cost.eu.
The Effect of Choice Attributes of Internet Specialized Banks on Integrated Loyalty: The Moderating Effect of Gender
Authors: Jung Ji-Hee , Shin Jae-Ik
Published: December 2019

There is growing interest in how Internet specialized banks that provide the Internet as a major customer channel can change the paradigm of the banking industry by securing a niche market in competition with existing banks that have a multi-channel strategy. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the choice attributes of Internet specialized banks affect attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use, and to identify the moderating effect of gender. A structural equation analysis was performed using 215 respondents. They have experience using Internet specialized banks in South Korea. The results of the empirical analysis are as follows. First, information, transaction, and safety of choice attributes in Internet specialized banks have a positive effect on attitudinal loyalty. Second, information, transaction, and safety of choice attributes in Internet specialized banks have a positive effect on intention of continuous use. Third, attitudinal loyalty has a positive effect on intention of continuous use. Fourth, the gender moderating effects between information, transaction, safety and attitudinal loyalty, and intention of continuous use are rejected at the significance level of 0.05. It is found that information, transaction, and safety, which are choice attributes of Internet specialized banks, are the main factors that improve attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use. Contrary to expectations, the gender moderating effect between the choice attributes, attitudinal loyalty, and intention of continuous use is not significant, but there is a difference in the degree of influence between men and women. Therefore, in order to improve the performances of attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use in Internet specialized banks, the choice attribute should be managed from users’ perspective. The management of successful choice attributes that customers want will be the foundation for Internet specialized banks’ sustainability.
Fair Play in Physical Education and Beyond
Authors: Bronikowska Małgorzata , Korcz Agata , Pluta Beata , Krzysztoszek Jana , Ludwiczak Mateusz , Łopatka Marlena , Wawrzyniak Sara , Kowalska Jolanta E. , Bronikowski Michał
Published: December 2019

The aim of this study is to examine the level of understanding of the principle of fair play by secondary school pupils (n = 827) from the Polish province of Wielkopolska, physical education (PE) students from Poznan University of Physical Education (n = 437), and PE teachers (n = 130). Two structured survey questionnaires were used, namely: The three-level scale known as the Fair Play Moral Dimensions Concept Scale and a Factors of Moral Influence Scale. There were observed differences between male and female students in their comprehension of the principle of fair play regarding the category of sporting activity practiced. The female teachers’ amateur training group more frequently identified the highest level of fair play (32.1% of the examined female teachers) in comparison with their male colleagues. Moreover, differences were noted between boys and girls at the secondary school level. Boys rated the influence of PE teachers and coaches higher, while girls declared that they were more influenced by media and education. For both boys and girls, parents constituted the highest-rated factor of the influence on their moral development. Students also indicated the influence of parents as the highest-rated factor. Among PE teachers, school, as a source of influence on one’s moral development, was awarded higher rates by female than by male teachers. It was observed that parents constituted the highest-rated factor of influence for PE teachers.
Indicators for the Planning and Management of Urban Green Spaces: A Focus on Public Areas in Padua, Italy
Authors: Campagnaro Thomas , Sitzia Tommaso , Cambria Vito Emanuele , Semenzato Paolo
Published: December 2019

Green spaces and trees are fundamental for the sustainability of cities. The use of management and planning indicators for green spaces, including urban forests, have been proposed, but are rarely applied and their potential to provide ecological, social, and economic benefits is usually overlooked by policy makers and managers. Here, we apply a set of indicators describing green spaces and their variability in different urban units within the Basso Isonzo, an area of the city of Padua (northern Italy). Eleven indicators were selected based on their capacity to consider availability, accessibility and the preservation or increase of urban green spaces and tree cover. The value of indicators was standardized and enabled to have five classes indicating increasing performance. The study indicates green spaces’ heterogeneous conditions. Interestingly, the indicators commonly change moving from the city center to the outskirts. Monitoring through these indicators will enable understanding whether specific management and planning targets are met and, in the absence of these targets, identifying main trends over time. The proposed approach and indicators applied are simple to collect, analyze, and convey information. The indicators are related to relevant social, economic and ecological conditions pertaining to green spaces. The proposed indicators can therefore be used as a simple tool to guide decision-making with the aim of enhancing green spaces.
Analysis of Social Sustainability Information in a Global Context According to the New Global Reporting Initiative 400 Social Standards
Authors: Gallego-Álvarez Isabel , Lozano María Belén , Rodríguez-Rosa Miguel
Published: December 2019

Interest is increasing in what information companies disclose regarding the social aspects of their operations. This research therefore develops an index to analyze the social disclosure of companies from various countries and geographical regions including Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States. Using categorical principal component analysis and partial triadic analysis, we build a numerical value for a specific social individual index by firm. Then, we analyze the extent to which this disclosure follows the Global Reporting Initiative 400 social standards, which became effective on 1 July 2018. In addition to considering geographical aspects, we also analyze social disclosure based on industry, which facilitates firms’ decision-making and policy formation in social disclosure.
Place-Making through the Creation of Common Spaces in Lima’s Self-Built Settlements: El Ermitaño and Pampa de Cueva as Case Studies for a Regional Urbanization Strategy
Authors: Almaaroufi Samar , Golda-Pongratz Kathrin , Jauregui-Fung Franco , Pereira Sara , Pulido-Castro Natalia , Kenworthy Jeffrey
Published: December 2019

Lima has become the first Peruvian megacity with more than 10 million people, resulting from the migration waves from the countryside throughout the 20th century, which have also contributed to the diverse ethnic background of today’s city. The paper analyzes two neighborhoods located in the inter-district area of Northern Lima: Pampa de Cueva and El Ermitaño as paradigmatic cases of the city’s expansion through non-formal settlements during the 1960s. They represent a relevant case study because of their complex urbanization process, the presence of pre-Hispanic heritage, their location in vulnerable hillside areas in the fringe with a protected natural landscape, and their potential for sustainable local economic development. The article traces back the consolidation process of these self-built neighborhoods or barriadas within the context of Northern Lima as a new centrality for the metropolitan area. The analysis of urban form and mobility, heritage and environmental challenges, governance, and social integration leads to a proposal for neighborhood upgrading, capacity building with participatory processes, and a vision for future local development to decentralize the traditional metropolitan centers, which can be scaled to other peripheral neighborhoods.
Three YXXL Sequences of a Bovine Leukemia Virus Transmembrane Protein are Independently Required for Fusion Activity by Controlling Expression on the Cell Membrane
Authors: Matsuura Ryosuke , Inabe Kazunori , Otsuki Hiroyuki , Kurokawa Kazuo , Dohmae Naoshi , Aida Yoko
Published: December 2019

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which is closely related to human T-cell leukemia viruses, is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, the most common neoplastic disease of cattle. The transmembrane subunit of the BLV envelope glycoprotein, gp30, contains three completely conserved YXXL sequences that fit an endocytic sorting motif. The two N-terminal YXXL sequences are reportedly critical for viral infection. However, their actual function in the viral life cycle remains undetermined. Here, we identified the novel roles of each YXXL sequence. Syncytia formation ability was upregulated by a single mutation of the tyrosine (Tyr) residue in any of the three YXXL sequences, indicating that each YXXL sequence is independently able to regulate the fusion event. The alteration resulted from significantly high expression of gp51 on the cell surface, thereby decreasing the amount of gp51 in early endosomes and further revealing that the three YXXL sequences are independently required for internalization of the envelope (Env) protein, following transport to the cell surface. Moreover, the 2nd and 3rd YXXL sequences contributed to Env protein incorporation into the virion by functionally distinct mechanisms. Our findings provide new insights regarding the three YXXL sequences toward the BLV viral life cycle and for developing new anti-BLV drugs.
Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Rep Enhances IL-10 Production in Macrophages via Activation of p38-MAPK Pathway
Authors: Wu Xingchen , Wang Xiaoya , Shi Tengfei , Luo Le , Qiao Dan , Wang Zhenyu , Han Cong , Du Qian , Tong Dewen , Huang Yong
Published: December 2019

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the major threats to pig farms worldwide. Although PCV2 has been identified to promote IL-10 production, the detailed regulatory roles of PCV2 Rep for IL-10 production remain unclear. Herein, we first found that PCV2 Rep, rather than PCV1 Rep, enhanced IL-10 expression at the later phase of PCV2 infection in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Furthermore, we found that PCV2 Rep directly activated the p38-MAPK pathway to promote transcription factors NF-κB p50 and Sp1 binding to the il10 promoter, but PCV1 Rep did not. During PCV2 infection, however, PCV2 Rep promoted the binding activities of NF-κB p50 and Sp1 with the il10 promoter only at the later phase of PCV2 infection, since Rep proteins only expressed at the later phase of the infection. Moreover, silence of the thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), a Rep-binding protein, significantly reduced the binding activities of NF-κB p50 and Sp1 with il10 promoter, resulting in the reduction of IL-10 production in PCV2-inoculated PAMs at the later phase of infection. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Rep proteins enhance IL-10 production during PCV2 infection of PAMs via activation of p38-MAPK pathways, in which host TDG is a critical mediator.
Study of Humoral Responses against Lomentospora/Scedosporium spp. and Aspergillus fumigatus to Identify L. prolificans Antigens of Interest for Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Buldain Idoia , Pellon Aize , Zaldibar Beñat , Antoran Aitziber , Martin-Souto Leire , Aparicio-Fernandez Leire , Areitio Maialen , Mayayo Emilio , Rementeria Aitor , Hernando Fernando L. , Ramirez-Garcia Andoni
Published: December 2019

The high mortality rates of Lomentospora prolificans infections are due, above all, to the tendency of the fungus to infect weakened hosts, late diagnosis and a lack of effective therapeutic treatments. To identify proteins of significance for diagnosis, therapy or prophylaxis, immunoproteomics-based studies are especially important. Consequently, in this study murine disseminated infections were carried out using L. prolificans, Scedosporium aurantiacum, Scedosporium boydii and Aspergillus fumigatus, and their sera used to identify the most immunoreactive proteins of L. prolificans total extract and secreted proteins. The results showed that L. prolificans was the most virulent species and its infections were characterized by a high fungal load in several organs, including the brain. The proteomics study showed a high cross-reactivity between Scedosporium/Lomentospora species, but not with A. fumigatus. Among the antigens identified were, proteasomal ubiquitin receptor, carboxypeptidase, Vps28, HAD-like hydrolase, GH16, cerato-platanin and a protein of unknown function that showed no or low homology with humans. Finally, Hsp70 deserves a special mention as it was the main antigen recognized by Scedosporium/Lomentospora species in both secretome and total extract. In conclusion, this study identifies antigens of L. prolificans that can be considered as potential candidates for use in diagnosis and as therapeutic targets and the production of vaccines.
The Role of Debris Cover in Catchment Runoff: A Case Study of the Hailuogou Catchment, South-Eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yong , Liu Shiyin , Liu Qiao , Wang Xin , Jiang Zongli , Wei Junfeng
Published: December 2019

Runoff from high-elevation, debris-covered glaciers is a crucial water supply in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its surroundings, where insufficient debris thickness data make it difficult to analyze its influence. Here, we investigated the role of debris cover in runoff formation of the Hailuogou catchment in the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau for the 1988–2017 period, based on long-term observations combined with a physically based glacio-hydrological model. The catchment is characterized by extensive thin debris on the ablation zones of three debris-covered glaciers. An increasing trend in catchment runoff has been observed in the past three decades, more than 50% of which is attributed to glacier runoff in the last decade. With the exception of the influence of temperature rising and precipitation decreasing, our results underline the importance of debris cover and its spatial features in the glaciological and hydrological processes of the catchment, in which the acceleration effect of debris cover is dominant in the catchment. An experimental analysis indicated that the extraordinary excess meltwater in the catchment is generated from the debris-covered surface, especially the lower elevation region below 3600 m a.s.l.
Modelling of Erosion and Transport Processes
Authors: Zeleňáková Martina , Harabinová Slávka , Mésároš Peter , Abd-Elhamid Hany , Purcz Pavol
Published: December 2019

Erosion phenomena are the result of complicated natural processes. The determination of their course, their mathematical expression, and predicting erosion phenomena of certain intensities is an important hydrological problem. To obtain a solution, it is necessary to evaluate the erosion factors in detail, which act by the origin and course of erosion processes, to analyse their influences, and to apply correct conclusions to their complex activity on this basis. Dimensional analysis is a conceptual tool often applied in engineering to understand physical situations involving a mix of different kinds of physical quantities. It is routinely used by physical scientists and engineers to check the plausibility of derived equations and computations. It is also used to form reasonable hypotheses about complex physical situations that can be tested by experiment or by more developed theories of the phenomena. In this paper, the dimensional analysis is used for the modelling of erosion and transport processes.
Continuous Wetting on the Tibetan Plateau during 1970–2017
Authors: Zhang Huamin , Ding Mingjun , Li Lanhui , Liu Linshan
Published: December 2019

Based on daily observation records at 277 meteorological stations on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its surrounding areas during 1970–2017, drought evolution was investigated using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). First, the spatiotemporal changes in the growing season of SPEI (SPEIgs) were re-examined using the Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope approach—the piecewise linear regression and intensity analysis approach. Then, the persistence of the SPEIgs trend was predicted by the Hurst exponent. The results showed that the SPEIgs on the TP exhibited a significant increasing trend at the rate of 0.10 decade−1 (p < 0.05) and that there is no significant trend shift in SPEIgs (p = 0.37), indicating that the TP tended to undergo continuous wetting during 1970–2017. In contrast, the areas surrounding the TP underwent a significant trend shift from an increase to a decrease in SPEIgs around 1984 (p < 0.05), resulting in a weak decreasing trend overall. Spatially, most of the stations on the TP were characterized by an increasing trend in SPEIgs, except those on the Eastern fringe of TP. The rate of drought/wet changes was relatively fast during the 1970s and 1980s, and gradually slowed afterward on the TP. Finally, the consistent increasing trend and decreasing trend of SPEIgs on the TP and the area East of the TP were predicted to continue in the future, respectively. Our results highlight that the TP experienced a significant continuous wetting trend in the growing season during 1970–2017, and this trend is likely to continue.
Peran Gembala Sidang Sebagai Pendidik Dalam Pertumbuhan Rohani Jemaat
Authors: Telaumbanua Arozatulo
Published: December 2019

AbstrakPeran gembala sidang sebagai pendidik dalam pertumbuhan rohani jemaat, memiliki korelasi yang sangat signifikansi. Gembala sidang memiliki peran penting dalam memberikan pertumbuhan rohani kepada jemaat Tuhan. Gembala sidang memiliki peran sebagai pendidik, yakni mendidik, mengajar dan membimbing jemaat kepada pengenalan dan pertumbuhan rohani yang baik. Melalui Firman Tuhan yang diajarkan kepada jemaat, mereka semakin memahami dan hidup di dalamnya dengan efektif dan menjadi pelaku Firman Tuhan. Pertumbuhan rohani jemaat dapat mempengaruhi kualitas dan kuantitas jemaat Tuhan secara konsisten.Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menujukkan bahwa pertumbuhan rohani jemaat dipengaruhi oleh peran gembala sidang sebagai pendidik, yakni: pada tabel 2 menunjukkan 86,7% responden yang menjawab setuju, 10% yang menjawab ragu-ragu dan 3,3% yang menjawab tidak setuju dan pada tabel 5 menunjukkan ada ada 66,7% responden yang menjawab setuju, 26,7% yang menjawab ragu-ragu dan 6,6% yang menjawab tidak setuju.  Jadi, peran gembala sidang sebagai pendidik mampu mempengaruhi pertumbuhan rohani jemaat di Gereja Pentakosta Indonesia Orahili Kota.Kata Kunci: Peran, Gembala Sidang, Pendidik, Pertumbuhan Rohani
Pertumbuhan Gereja Dan Penginjilan Di Kepulauan Nias
Authors: Laia Kejar Hidup
Published: December 2019

AbstrakKorelasi Pertumbuhan Gereja Dengan Penginjilan Yang Alkitabiah. Gereja yang bertumbuh adalah gereja yang memusatkan tujuan utamanya terhadap Penginjilan. Tugas Penginjilan adalah tugas semua orang percaya tanpa terkecuali dipertajam oleh Rasul Paulus dalam Surat I Korintus 9:16 “Bahwa pemberitaan Injil adalah sebuah keharusan bukan pilihan”. Gereja yang bertumbuh memiliki beberapa faktor yang mendukungnya yakni: Kepemimpinan Gembala Sidang yang dinamis, Bebaskan kaum awam, Jangkauan Pelayanan, Keseimbangan, Homogenitas, Penginjilan , Pemuridan dan Prioritas sedangkan faktor penghambatnya adalah Gereja tidak terbeban memberitakan Injil dan Pemuridan. Takut ditolak dan dianiaya sehingga memilih untuk toleransi sampai lupa tugas amanat Agung. Gereja yang bertumbuh pasti memiliki hambatan dalam pertumbuhannya
Pendidikan Seks Pada Remaja
Authors: Lumban Gaol Stefanus M. Marbun , Stevanus Kalis
Published: December 2019

Pendidikan seks sangatlah penting untuk diberikan kepada para remaja, bahkan sejak masih kanak-kanak. Anak-anak dan remaja rentan terhadap informasi yang salah mengenai seks. Tujuan penulisan ini, diharapkan melalui pendidikan seks, orangtua dapat memberikan informasi yang sepatutnya sesuai kebutuhan dan umur anak. Selain itu, dengan pendidikan seks anak juga dapat diberitahu mengenai berbagai perilaku seksual berisiko sehingga mereka dapat menghindarinya. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan penelitian kualitatif yaitu studi literature, dengan menggali berbagai informasi berkenaan dengan pendidikan seks pada remaja, maka diperoleh hasil, pertama:  pendidikan seks harus dianggap sebagai bagian dari proses pendidikan untuk memperkuat pengembangan kepribadian. Kedua, orangtua memiliki peran penting untuk menanggulanggi perilaku seks yang menyimpang adalah dengan cara orangtua mengajarkan pendidikan seks secara langsung dan kontinyu pada anak sedini mungkin di dalam keluarga sesuai Alkitab dan norma-norma masyarakat setempat agar remaja meneima seksualitasnya yang adalah bagian integral kehidupannnya dengan penuh tanggung jawab.            Kata-kata Kunci: Pendidikan Seks; Remaja; Kristen
One God or One Lord? Deuteronomi and the Meaning of Monotheism
Authors: Lumingkewas Marthin Steven
Published: December 2019

Buku ini berupaya memahami ide monoteisme dan siknifikansi Yahweh dalam Ulangan, serta hubungan keduanya melalui beberapa teks yang terekam dalam Perjanjian Lama. Substansi dari penelitian ini adalah eksegesis mendalam beberapa pasal dalam Ulangan yang berhubungan dengan kesatuan Yahweh. Dimana ide utama yang dipaparkan sebagai ‘Yahweh adalah satu’ merupakan tema utama yang berkaitan dengan kesatuan Yahweh, keunikan Yahweh, keberadaan allah lain, arti mengasihi Yahweh, pemilihan Israel dan larangan penyembahan berhala melalui analisis literari-sejarah serta disimpulkan bahwa ide monoteisme modern tidak mampu mewakili model agama Israel yang menetapkan Yahweh sebagai allah ‘unik’ di antara allah lain.