bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eavesdropping Vulnerability and Countermeasure in Infrared Communication for IoT Devices
Authors: Kim Minchul , Suh Taeweon
Published: December 2021

Infrared (IR) communication is one of the wireless communication methods mainly used to manipulate consumer electronics devices. Traditional IR devices support only simple operations such as changing TV channels. These days, consumer electronic devices such as smart TV are connected to the internet with the introduction of IoT. Thus, the user’s sensitive information such as credit card number and/or personal information could be entered with the IR remote. This situation raises a new problem. Since TV and the set-top box are visual media, these devices can be used to control and/or monitor other IoT devices at home. Therefore, personal information can be exposed to eavesdroppers. In this paper, we experimented with the IR devices’ reception sensitivity using remotes. These experiments were performed to measure the IR reception sensitivity in terms of distance and position between the device and the remote. According to our experiments, the transmission distance of the IR remote signal is more than 20 m. The experiments also revealed that curtains do not block infrared rays. Consequently, eavesdropping is possible to steal the user’s sensitive information. This paper proposes a simple, practical, and cost-effective countermeasure against eavesdropping, which does not impose any burden on users. Basically, encryption is used to prevent the eavesdropping. The encryption key is created by recycling a timer inside the microcontroller typically integrated in a remote. The key is regenerated whenever the power button on a remote is pressed, providing the limited lifecycle of the key. The evaluation indicates that the XOR-based encryption is practical and effective in terms of the processing time and cost.
Comparative Study of Markerless Vision-Based Gait Analyses for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Kwon Jaerock , Lee Yunju , Lee Jehyung
Published: December 2021

The model-based gait analysis of kinematic characteristics of the human body has been used to identify individuals. To extract gait features, spatiotemporal changes of anatomical landmarks of the human body in 3D were preferable. Without special lab settings, 2D images were easily acquired by monocular video cameras in real-world settings. The 2D and 3D locations of key joint positions were estimated by the 2D and 3D pose estimators. Then, the 3D joint positions can be estimated from the 2D image sequences in human gait. Yet, it has been challenging to have the exact gait features of a person due to viewpoint variance and occlusion of body parts in the 2D images. In the study, we conducted a comparative study of two different approaches: feature-based and spatiotemporal-based viewpoint invariant person re-identification using gait patterns. The first method is to use gait features extracted from time-series 3D joint positions to identify an individual. The second method uses a neural network, a Siamese Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) network with the 3D spatiotemporal changes of key joint positions in a gait cycle to classify an individual without extracting gait features. To validate and compare these two methods, we conducted experiments with two open datasets of the MARS and CASIA-A datasets. The results show that the Siamese LSTM outperforms the gait feature-based approaches on the MARS dataset by 20% and 55% on the CASIA-A dataset. The results show that feature-based gait analysis using 2D and 3D pose estimators is premature. As a future study, we suggest developing large-scale human gait datasets and designing accurate 2D and 3D joint position estimators specifically for gait patterns. We expect that the current comparative study and the future work could contribute to rehabilitation study, forensic gait analysis and early detection of neurological disorders.
Speaking to Power: The Problem of Enabling Subaltern Voices to Be Heard. A Case Study Concerned with Using the Arts to Engage with the Issue of Maternal Mortality in Western Kenya
Authors: Plastow Jane
Published: December 2021

In the context of consistently poor provision of state maternity services to impoverished women in western Kenya over many decades, this article discusses the use of arts in relation to researching subaltern perspectives and enabling subaltern voices to be heard by the powerful. The argument is made that behaviour change agendas are almost always top down, while requirements for the authorities to engage with subaltern voices are minimal and frequently resisted. Case studies are offered of two artistic interventions—a play and a documentary film, made in 2018 and 2019 respectively, which sought to engage medical authorities and the middle classes regarding the consequences of the, sometimes very weak, implementation of Kenya’s excellent policies in relation to maternal health for the poor. In conclusion, the question of how to more effectively enable the powerless to speak to power is discussed.
Multi-Temporal Evaluation of Quantitative and Phenological Vegetation Dynamics Using Sentinel-2 Images in North Horr (Kenya)
Authors: Bigi Velia , Vigna Ingrid , Pezzoli Alessandro , Comino Elena
Published: December 2021

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Horn of Africa is getting drier. This research aims at assessing browning and/or greening dynamics and the suitability of Sentinel-2 satellite images to map changes in land cover in a semiarid area. Vegetation dynamics are assessed through a remote sensing approach based on densely vegetated areas in a pilot area of North Horr Sub-County, in northern Kenya, between 2016–2020. Four spectral vegetation indices are calculated from Sentinel-2 images to create annual multi-temporal images. Two different supervised classification methods—Minimum Distance and Spectral Angle Mapper—are then applied in order to identify dense vegetated areas. A general greening is found to have occurred in this period with the exception of the year 2020, with an average annual percentage increase of 19%. Results also highlight a latency between climatic conditions and vegetation growth. This approach is for the first time applied in North Horr Sub-County and supports local decision-making processes for sustainable land management strategies.
The Nexus of Social Cause Interest and Entrepreneurial Mindset: Driving Socioeconomic Sustainability
Authors: Marjerison Rob Kim , Chen Rongjuan , Lin Yinan
Published: December 2021

The importance of entrepreneurial activity as a driver of sustainable economic growth is well established. Interest in social enterprises as a means to fill gaps that exist in society is growing. With the emerging concept of social entrepreneurship in China, this paper aims to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial mindset, individual intention to start an enterprise, the likelihood of actually starting a business and personal interest in social causes. Theoretical models in the field of entrepreneurship study indicate that personal entrepreneurial desire is a strong factor in predicting future business behaviour but there is little in the existing research about entrepreneurial mindset as a predictor of actual activity. Considering entrepreneurship and psychological research and theory, four main psychological entrepreneur traits including chance alertness, risk tendency, tolerance of vagueness and intentional optimism are considered to measure the aptitude towards starting a business. Based on the results of 590 online surveys, the role of entrepreneurial mindset as a predictor is analysed using Correlation, Linear Regression and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings of this research indicate that social cause interest is unlikely to drive entrepreneurial activity in the absence of structured intervention. The findings contribute to the future development of social entrepreneurial programs, and to the role and assessment of the entrepreneurial mindset of potential social entrepreneurs. The study also provides insight into the perspective of the individual towards the concept of social responsibility.
Using Structural Equation Modeling to Assess Online Learning Systems’ Educational Sustainability for University Students
Authors: Alismaiel Omar A.
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the use of e-learning among students in higher education during the Corona Virus disease, during the 2019 season (COVID-19). A poll of 395 students from the student’s university was used to conduct the research. The study’s theoretical foundation was an expanded Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which included task-technology fit and students’ engagement, as well as external elements such as experience (EXP), technology anxiety (TEA), and facilitating conditions (FC). The suggested model was tested and evaluated using SEM-PLS. The investigation demonstrated that the suggested TAM-based scale effectively describes factors impacting students’ use of E-learning during the pandemic. According to the findings, students’ engagement (SEN), EXP, TEA, and FC have a favorable impact on task–technology fit (TTF) and perceived ease of use (PEOU), resulting in a good impact on TTF and usage of an e-learning system for educational sustainability (EA). Finally, the TTF fit and convenience of use of eLearning in education have a positive impact on the behavioral intention to use an e-learning system for educational sustainability and the adoption process. As a result, higher education institutions should use eLearning as a sustainability learning strategy.
Defining Material Compliance—A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Buckreus Lorena , Nuffer Anne-Kathrin , Miehe Robert , Sauer Alexander
Published: December 2021

The increase in the number of environmental regulations has resulted in great challenges for corporations in the manufacturing industry, especially within the electronic and electrical and the mechanical engineering sector. To address these compliance requirements, specialized management fields such as environmental compliance, substructures and management approaches have been implemented in industry. Recently, adherence to requirements concerning the composition of products and the use of materials and substances within products has become increasingly important and is referred to as material compliance (MC). Although the topic is of increasing importance, there is no generally accepted definition for MC nor a management framework. Corporations are thus unable to systematically address MC, and compliance violations occur frequently. We derived a definition for MC based on extensive literature research, which we subsequently evaluated in a quantitative survey. Our results indicate that MC is commonly understood as the adherence to requirements concerning the composition of a product and the use of substances and materials within products. By proposing a definition for MC, we aim to introduce a common understanding, enable future research to systematically address the topic and develop a framework for the management of MC.
Functions of Currency before and after COVID-19: Is Bitcoin Sustainable for Tourism?
Authors: Kim Hyojin , Lee Sangmook , Bae Gumkwang
Published: December 2021

The specific purposes of this study are (1) to analyze whether there is a difference in the recognition of tourists in the functions of currency according to the type of currency spent by tourists before and after COVID-19; (2) to identify why tourists employ Bitcoin among the functions of currency; and (3) to identify tourists’ intentions to continue to using Bitcoin according to the degree of recognition of the function of virtual currency in Korea. Both quantitative and qualitative methods, including a one-way analysis of variance, a paired t-test, a simple regression analysis, and an in-depth interview, were employed. One of the conclusions implies that tourists in a tourism destination still prefer paying with cash rather than paying with card or virtual currency. Moreover, the study discovered that tourists count more on virtual currency and prepare for a future with virtual currency when a factor that has an unstable impact on social economy, such as COVID-19, happens. As to the functions of Bitcoin, tourists appeared to place a great importance on its storage, value, satisfaction, convenience, and investment. Additionally, the study showed that tourists intend to continue using Bitcoin due to the same satisfaction, convenience, and investment attributed to Bitcoin. More discussion and implications were provided.
Greening Factor Framework Integrating Sustainability, Green Supply Chain Management, and Circular Economy: The Chilean Case
Authors: Tapia-Ubeda Francisco J. , Isbej Muga José A. , Polanco-Lahoz Diego A.
Published: December 2021

This paper focuses on two main topics: presenting a novel framework for assessing the sustainability of a productive process and the application of the framework to the specific case of Chile. The proposed framework integrates green supply chain management and circular economy within the sustainability perspective as drivers for improvements in sustainable development. Within the framework, the greening factor is introduced as a new concept that measures the required effort for a productive process to become sustainable. On one hand, the framework aims at computing the greening factor based on the impacts of resources exploitation and products generation. Additionally, the greening factor computation was designed based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of economic, social, and environmental mainstays. On the other hand, this paper presents a general application of the framework on the five biggest Chilean industries, i.e., mining, wine, forest, agriculture, and aquaculture. Based on the presented generalized application, it is possible to foresee the potentiality of Chile becoming a green country in spite of its productive matrix being mainly based on primary industries.
A Review on Constructed Treatment Wetlands for Removal of Pollutants in the Agricultural Runoff
Authors: Tang Zepei , Wood Jonaé , Smith Dominae , Thapa Arjun , Aryal Niroj
Published: December 2021

Constructed wetland (CW) is a popular sustainable best management practice for treating different wastewaters. While there are many articles on the removal of pollutants from different wastewaters, a comprehensive and critical review on the removal of pollutants other than nutrients that occur in agricultural field runoff and wastewater from animal facilities, including pesticides, insecticides, veterinary medicine, and antimicrobial-resistant genes are currently unavailable. Consequently, this paper summarized recent findings on the occurrence of such pollutants in the agricultural runoff water, their removal by different wetlands (surface flow, subsurface horizontal flow, subsurface vertical flow, and hybrid), and removal mechanisms, and analyzed the factors that affect the removal. The information is then used to highlight the current research gaps and needs for resilient and sustainable treatment systems. Factors, including contaminant property, aeration, type, and design of CWs, hydraulic parameters, substrate medium, and vegetation, impact the removal performance of the CWs. Hydraulic loading of 10–30 cm/d and hydraulic retention of 6–8 days were found to be optimal for the removal of agricultural pollutants from wetlands. The pollutants in agricultural wastewater, excluding nutrients and sediment, and their treatment utilizing different nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, are understudied, implying the need for more of such studies. This study reinforced the notion that wetlands are effective for treating agricultural wastewater (removal > 90%) but several research questions remain unanswered. More long-term research in the actual field utilizing environmentally relevant concentrations to seek actual impacts of weather, plants, substrates, hydrology, and other design parameters, such as aeration and layout of wetland cells on the removal of pollutants, are needed.
Application of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment to Used Lubricant Oil Management in South Brazilian Region
Authors: Tsambe Malaquias Zildo António , de Almeida Cássio Florisbal , Ugaya Cássia Maria Lie , de Abreu Cybis Luiz Fernando
Published: December 2021

Used Lubricant Oil (ULO) is a hazardous waste resulting from lubricant oil used in motorized equipment to reduce friction between moving surfaces that, over time, wear outs and becomes contaminated. The purpose of this study is to compare the sustainability of two ULO management systems in Brazil: one designated in this study by the TTR scenario (which includes transportation, trans-shipment, and re-refining phases), the other designated by the TsTR scenario (without the trans-shipment phase) to evaluate which scenario is socially, economically, and environmentally more efficient. The study uses the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) methodology. As a combination of life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC), and social life cycle assessment (s-LCA), it integrates the three sustainability dimensions (environmental, social, and economic). The sustainability index was calculated by aggregating data from eight environmental indicators, five economic indicators, and five social indicators. The results showed that the TsTR scenario presented the best values for the sustainability assessment than the TTR scenario. The TsTR scenario had the best social and economic performance, and the TTR scenario had the best environmental performance. The differences observed in those scenarios’ performances were noted by the absence or presence of the trans-shipment center. The absence of this center improved the social and economic performance of the scenario. The social dimension was improved by the elimination of the stage that causes problems related to social and economic dimensions by reducing several costs that can be associated with it. The presence of the trans-shipment center improves the environmental performance scenario by reducing the number of hazards that could impact the re-refining phase. The LCSA methodology enables a comparative life cycle assessment of two alternative system evaluations of ULO management by the sustainability index of each scenario. This index helps to analyze the contributions of each of the 18 categories and subcategories in the perspective of the sustainability dimensions and, consequently, to carry out their integrated evaluation, aiming to define the best sustainability scenario.
An Analysis Safe Protocols Employed in Professional Male Soccer and the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the 2020 Brazilian Championship
Authors: Mataruna-Dos-Santos Leonardo José , Albuquerque Pedro da Gama Roberto de , Vasconcellos Gabriel de Almeida , Nascimento Rodrigo Mendonça do , Cavalari Nadine Tonelli , Range Daniel , Guimarães-Mataruna Andressa Fontes , Ortiz-Silva Bianca
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic directly reached and impacted upon elite sports and caused the postponement of sporting events globally. In order to enable the return of activities, protocols were created with recommendations to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. The objective of this work is to analyze and compare the safe return protocols of major football leagues and associations to those of the Brazilian Championship, as well as to survey the numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks in clubs that competed in the 2020 Brazilian Championship Series A. The documentary research was carried out through the analysis of articles published on open-source football league and federation websites. National and international return protocols were verified, as well as the documenting of isolated cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Brazilian Championship. In the Brazilian Championship, the return to play occurred at a time when COVID-19 case numbers were rising, a fact that, together with the decentralization of the match cities, was likely linked to the number of positive cases. A total of 302 positive cases of COVID-19 were identified in 14 outbreaks during the competition. Therefore, this work identifies good practice and underscores the need to reassess and refine the protocols to minimize the impacts of COVID-19 going forward.
Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hydrogen Production via Gasification of Vacuum Residue Integrated with Dry Methane Reforming
Authors: Al-Rowaili Fayez Nasir , Khalafalla Siddig S. , Jamal Aqil , Al-Yami Dhaffer S. , Zahid Umer , Al-Mutairi Eid M.
Published: December 2021

The continuous rise of global carbon emissions demands the utilization of fossil fuels in a sustainable way. Owing to various forms of emissions, our environment conditions might be affected, necessitating more focus of scientists and researchers to upgrade oil processing to more efficient manner. Gasification is a potential technology that can convert fossil fuels to produce clean and environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel in an economical manner. Therefore, this study analyzed and examined it critically. In this study, two different routes for the produc-tion of high-purity hydrogen from vacuum residue while minimizing the carbon emissions were proposed. The first route (Case I) studied the gasification of heavy vacuum residue (VR) in series with dry methane reforming (DMR). The second route studied the gasification of VR in parallel integration with DMR (Case II). After investigating both processes, a brief comparison was made between the two routes of hydrogen production in terms of their CO2 emissions, en-ergy efficiency, energy consumption, and environmental and economic impacts. In this study, the two vacuum-residue-to-hydrogen (VRTH) processes were simulated using Aspen Plus for a hydrogen production capacity of 50 t/h with 99.9 wt.% purity. The results showed that Case II offered a process energy efficiency of 57.8%, which was slightly higher than that of Case I. The unit cost of the hydrogen product for Case II was USD 15.95 per metric ton of hydrogen, which was almost 9% lower than that of Case I. In terms of the environmental analysis, both cases had comparably low carbon emissions of around 8.3 kg of CO2/kg of hydrogen produced; with such high purity, the hydrogen could be used for production of other products further downstream or for industrial applications.
Characterization of Almost Yamabe Solitons and Gradient Almost Yamabe Solitons with Conformal Vector Fields
Authors: Alkhaldi Ali H. , Laurian-Ioan Pişcoran , Abolarinwa Abimbola , Ali Akram
Published: December 2021

In this paper, some sufficient conditions of almost Yamabe solitons are established, such that the solitons are Yamabe metrics, by which we mean metrics of constant scalar curvature. This is achieved by imposing fewer topological constraints. The properties of the conformal vector fields are exploited for the purpose of establishing various necessary criteria on the soliton vector fields of gradient almost Yamabe solitons so as to obtain Yamabe metrics.
Research on Knowledge Graphs with Concept Lattice Constraints
Authors: Lan Ning , Yang Shuqun , Yin Ling , Gao Yongbin
Published: December 2021

The application of knowledge graphs has been restricted in some domains, especially the industrial and academic domains. One of the reasons is that they require a high reliability of knowledge, which cannot be satisfied by the existing knowledge graph research. By comparison, traditional knowledge engineering has a high correctness, but low efficiency is an inevitable drawback. Therefore, it is meaningful to organically connect traditional knowledge engineering and knowledge graphs. Therefore, we propose a theory from Attribute Implications to Knowledge Graphs, named AIs-KG, which can construct knowledge graphs based on implications. The theory connects formal concept analysis and knowledge graphs. We firstly analyze the mutual transformation based on the ideas of symmetry with a strict proof among the attribute implication, the formal context and the concept lattice, which forms the closed cycle between the three. Particularly, we propose an Augment algorithm (IFC-A) to generate the Implication Formal Context through the attribute implication, which can make knowledge more complete. Furthermore, we regard ontology as a bridge to realize the transformation from the concept lattice to the knowledge graph through some mapping methods. We conduct our experiments on the attribute implication from the rule base of an animal recognition expert system to prove the feasibility of our algorithms.
Heavy Metals in the Fish Tenualosa ilisha Hamilton, 1822 in the Padma–Meghna River Confluence: Potential Risks to Public Health
Authors: Sarker Md. Jahangir , Islam Md. Ariful , Rahman Farhana , Anisuzzaman Md.
Published: December 2021

Hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha) is Bangladesh’s most important single-species fishery that contributes to 11% of total catch and employment for millions of people. However, heavy metals (HMs) toxicity in the edible organs of T. ilisha and their plausible public health threats have received weak attention. To provide insights on this issue, we determined, using ICP-MS, the concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr (VI), Pb, and Cd in the edible organs of five different sizes of T. ilisha and the surface water collected from the Padma–Meghna River confluence, Chandpur (Bangladesh). Multivariate analysis indicated that T. ilisha gills and liver contained higher HMs than muscle, and the surface water was below the safety limits. The study revealed that only Cr crossed the safety limits and bioaccumulated in the smaller-sized gills and liver. To assess the public health risks, target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ) and carcinogenic (CR) risks were calculated. Only Cr imposed non-carcinogenic risks to consumers, while TTHQ showed higher chronic health risks. There was no CR risk measured for consumers, except for the largest-sized gills for children. Randomly positive relations between HMs and sizes were found; whereas, consistently positive relations were found among the tissue types. The outcomes of our study may aid policymakers in managing pollutants, especially the Cr sources in the greater Chandpur regions.
Alterations in CNS Functions and DNA Methylation in Rats after 24 h Exposure to Peat Smoke
Authors: Vokina Vera A. , Sosedova Larisa M. , Novikov Mikhail A. , Rukavishnikov Viktor S. , Kapustina Ekaterina A. , Alekseenko Anton N. , Andreeva Elizaveta S.
Published: December 2021

The use of a developed experimental model of a natural fire made it possible to assess the consequences of 24 h exposure to peat combustion products in albino rats. Peat smoke exposure leads to behavioral disturbances in rats, characterized by an increase in locomotor activity and an increased level of anxiety. Indicators of brain bioelectrical activity of the exposed animals supported the state of anxiety and psychoemotional stress. Epigenetic changes in the blood cells of exposed animals were revealed under 24 h exposure to peat smoke, characterized by a decrease in the level of global DNA methylation.
Mimicking Native Display of CD0873 on Liposomes Augments Its Potency as an Oral Vaccine against Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Karyal Cansu , Palazi Panayiota , Hughes Jaime , Griffiths Rhys C. , Persaud Ruby R. , Tighe Patrick J. , Mitchell Nicholas J. , Griffin Ruth
Published: December 2021

Mucosal vaccination aims to prevent infection mainly by inducing secretory IgA (sIgA) antibody, which neutralises pathogens and enterotoxins by blocking their attachment to epithelial cells. We previously demonstrated that encapsulated protein antigen CD0873 given orally to hamsters induces neutralising antibodies locally as well as systemically, affording partial protection against Clostridioides difficile infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether displaying CD0873 on liposomes, mimicking native presentation, would drive a stronger antibody response. The recombinant form we previously tested resembles the naturally cleaved lipoprotein commencing with a cysteine but lacking lipid modification. A synthetic lipid (DHPPA-Mal) was designed for conjugation of this protein via its N-terminal cysteine to the maleimide headgroup. DHPPA-Mal was first formulated with liposomes to produce MalLipo; then, CD0873 was conjugated to headgroups protruding from the outer envelope to generate CD0873-MalLipo. The immunogenicity of CD0873-MalLipo was compared to CD0873 in hamsters. Intestinal sIgA and CD0873-specific serum IgG were induced in all vaccinated animals; however, neutralising activity was greatest for the CD0873-MalLipo group. Our data hold great promise for development of a novel oral vaccine platform driving intestinal and systemic immune responses.
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Control of Canine Infectious Cyclic Thrombocytopenia and Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: Emerging Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance
Authors: Atif Farhan Ahmad , Mehnaz Saba , Qamar Muhammad Fiaz , Roheen Taleeha , Sajid Muhammad Sohail , Ehtisham-ul-Haque Syed , Kashif Muhammad , Ben Said Mourad
Published: December 2021

This review highlights the diagnostic methods used, the control strategies adopted, and the global epidemiological status of canine cyclic thrombocytopenia and granulocytic anaplasmosis at the animal–human interface. Canine anaplasmosis is an important worldwide disease, mainly caused by Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum with zoonotic implications. A. platys chiefly infects platelets in canids, while A. phagocytophilum is the most common zoonotic pathogen infecting neutrophils of various vertebrate hosts. Diagnosis is based on the identification of clinical signs, the recognition of intracellular inclusions observed by microscopic observation of stained blood smear, and/or methods detecting antibodies or nucleic acids, although DNA sequencing is usually required to confirm the pathogenic strain. Serological cross-reactivity is the main problem in serodiagnosis. Prevalence varies from area to area depending on tick exposure. Tetracyclines are significant drugs for human and animal anaplasmosis. No universal vaccine is yet available that protects against diverse geographic strains. The control of canine anaplasmosis therefore relies on the detection of vectors/reservoirs, control of tick vectors, and prevention of iatrogenic/mechanical transmission. The control strategies for human anaplasmosis include reducing high-risk tick contact activities (such as gardening and hiking), careful blood transfusion, by passing immunosuppression, recognizing, and control of reservoirs/vectors.
The Clinical Guiding Role of the Distribution of Corneal Nerves in the Selection of Incision for Penetrating Corneal Surgery in Canines
Authors: Liu Zichen , Yu Chang , Song Yiwen , Pang Mo , Jin Yipeng
Published: December 2021

The cornea is one of the regions with the highest density of nerve terminals in the animal body and it bears such functions as nourishing the cornea and maintaining corneal sensation. In veterinary clinical practice, the corneoscleral limbus incision is frequently applied in cataract surgery, peripheral iridectomy, and other procedures for glaucoma. Inevitably, it would cause damage to the nerve roots that enter the cornea from the corneal limbus, thus inducing a series of complications. In this paper, the in vitro cornea (39 corneas from 23 canines, with ages ranging from 8 months old to 3 years old, including 12 male canines and 11 female canines) was divided into 6 zones, and the whole cornea was stained with gold chloride. After staining, corneal nerves formed neural networks at different levels of cornea. There was no significant difference in the number of nerve roots at the corneoscleral limbus between different zones (F = 1.983, p = 0.082), and the nerve roots at the corneoscleral limbus (mean value, 24.43; 95% CI, 23.43–25.42) were evenly distributed. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the number of corneal nerve roots between male and female canines (p = 0.143). There was also no significant difference in the number of corneal nerve roots between adult canines and puppies (p = 0.324). The results of the above analysis will provide a reasonable anatomical basis for selecting the incision location and orientation of penetrating surgery for the canine cornea in veterinary practice.
Roles of WNT6 in Sheep Endometrial Epithelial Cell Cycle Progression and Uterine Glands Organogenesis
Authors: Gao Xiaoxiao , Yao Xiaolei , Li Xiaodan , Liang Yaxu , Liu Zifei , Wang Zhibo , Li Kang , Li Yingqi , Zhang Guomin , Wang Feng
Published: December 2021

The uterus, as part of the female reproductive tract, is essential for embryo survival and in the maintenance of multiple pregnancies in domestic animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of WNT6 on Hu sheep endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) and uterine glands (UGs) in Hu sheep, with high prolificacy rates. In the present study, Hu sheep with different fecundity, over three consecutive pregnancies, were divided into two groups: high prolificacy rate group (HP, litter size = 3) and low prolificacy rate group (LP, litter size = 1). A comparative analysis of the endometrial morphology was performed by immunofluorescence. RNA-seq was used to analyze the gene’s expression in endometrium of HP and LP Hu sheep, providing a candidate gene, which was investigated in EECs and organoid culture. Firstly, higher density of UGs was found in the HP Hu sheep groups (p < 0.05). The RNA-seq data revealed the importance of the WNT signaling pathway and WNT6 gene in Hu sheep endometrium. Functionally, WNT6 could promote the cell cycle progression of EECs via WNT/β-catenin signal and enhance UGs organogenesis. Taken together, WNT6 is a crucial regulator for sheep endometrial development; this finding may offer a new insight into understanding the regulatory mechanism of sheep prolificacy.
Dynamic Release of Solutes from Roof Bitumen Sheets Used for Rainwater Harvesting
Authors: Nachshon Uri , Ben-Hur Meni , Kurtzman Daniel , Katzir Roee , Netzer Lior , Gusser Guy , Livshitz Yakov
Published: December 2021

Bitumen waterproof sheets are widely used to seal building roofs. Previous works have focused on the mechanical-physical properties of bitumen sheets, as well as their aging and degradation processes, and their impact on sealing properties of the buildings. Due to a growing need over recent years to use rooftops in urban environments for rainwater harvesting purposes, it is highly important to better characterize the quality of the harvested water from the bitumen covered roofs, and to shed more light on the impact of bitumen degradation processes on the release of various components to the harvested roof water. In the present study, the extracted organic and inorganic solutes from bitumen-covered roofs by water flow on the bitumen sheets were examined through a series of experiments, including measurements from the roofs of buildings in the center of Israel during the winter of 2019–2020. The results indicated high levels of organic and inorganic solute loads in the roof water during the first flush of the first rain of the winter, with maximal electric conductivity readings at the order of 4 dS/m. However, it was shown that following the first flush, a ~20 mm of cumulative rainfall was sufficient to wash off all the summers’ accumulated solutes from the roof. After this solute flushing of the roof, harvested rainwater along the winter was of good quality, with electric conductivity readings in the range of 0.04–0.85 dS/m. Moreover, it was shown that bitumen sheets which were exposed to direct sun radiation emitted greater loads of solutes, likely a result of elevated aging and degradation processes. The findings of the present research point to the need to find efficient ways to isolate roof bitumen sheets from direct sun radiation and to design rainwater harvesting systems that will not collect the water drained from the first flush.
Full-Scale Odor Abatement Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs): A Review
Authors: Senatore Vincenzo , Zarra Tiziano , Galang Mark Gino , Oliva Giuseppina , Buonerba Antonio , Li Chi-Wang , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: December 2021

The release of air pollutants from the operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is often a cause of odor annoyance for the people living in the surrounding area. Odors have been indeed recently classified as atmospheric pollutants and are the main cause of complaints to local authorities. In this context, the implementation of effective treatment solutions is of key importance for urban water cycle management. This work presents a critical review of the state of the art of odor treatment technologies (OTTs) applied in full-scale WWTPs to address this issue. An overview of these technologies is given by discussing their strengths and weaknesses. A sensitivity analysis is presented, by considering land requirements, operational parameters and efficiencies, based on data of full-scale applications. The investment and operating costs have been reviewed with reference to the different OTTs. Biofilters and biotrickling filters represent the two most applied technologies for odor abatement at full-scale plants, due to lower costs and high removal efficiencies. An analysis of the odors emitted by the different wastewater treatment units is reported, with the aim of identifying the principal odor sources. Innovative and sustainable technologies are also presented and discussed, evaluating their potential for full-scale applicability.
Rediseño organizacional para mejorar el enfoque a procesos en las organizaciones
Authors: García García Silvio Alberto , Romero Abreu Norbel , Sánchez Plasencia Mabel , Meléndez Breijo Lianet , Alfonso Robaina Daniel
Published: December 2021

El enfoque basado en procesos es una estrategia de gestión que las organizaciones utilizan actualmente. Este permite interrelacionar los procesos que se llevan a cabo en ellas. El siguiente artículo tiene como objetivo presentar los resultados de la aplicación de un procedimiento de rediseño organizacional para mejorar el enfoque de procesos en la Oficina del Conservador de Viñales, Pinar de Río, Cuba. El procedimiento utilizado en la investigación parte del análisis de la integración del sistema de dirección de la empresa desarrollado por el Centro de Estudios de Técnicas de Dirección de la Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana “José Antonio Echeverría”. Se logró el resultado esperado que mostró que el procedimiento es flexible y adaptable a cualquier tipo de organización.
Estudio valorativo del proceso de enseñanza – aprendizaje en tiempos de la COVID 19. Perspectiva del docente
Authors: Mendoza Giler Carlos Ariel , Enriquez Caro Lázaro Clodoaldo , Castro Bermúdez Idelisa Esther
Published: December 2021

El presente trabajo aborda una temática de mucho interés y actualidad: el uso de las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. El estudio revela el estado de opinión de un grupo de profesores de nivel medio sobre la enseñanza virtual en las condiciones impuestas por la pandemia de la COVID-19. El objetivo fue evaluar la percepción de los docentes sobre la incidencia que tiene la enseñanza virtual durante el confinamiento generado por la emergencia sanitaria. Se aplicó un estudio transversal descriptivo, a partir de un cuestionario ad hoc formado por 10 ítems en una escala tipo Likert, con un carácter aditivo y proposiciones directas e inversas que otorgan puntos según esa condición y permite determinar las tendencias en la opinión de los docentes de la provincia de Manabí sobre la efectividad o no de la enseñanza virtual o la enseñanza presencial con el uso de las tecnologías. Participaron 62 docentes que respondieron una encuesta en línea. Todos con más de tres años de experiencia. Los resultados muestran un estado de opinión contradictorio relacionado con las incoherencias del modelo educativo actual que se caracteriza por una enseñanza presencial a través de la tecnología.
Análisis preliminar de los trámites en línea en el servicio de rentas internas en tiempos de COVID-19
Authors: Marriot Alvarado Sergio Denis , Sablón Cossio Neyfe
Published: December 2021

Ante la emergencia sanitaria por el coronavirus, la Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda a cada stakeholder que adopte medidas de bioseguridad para evitar el contagio y propagación del COVID-19 en las organizaciones públicas. Por tal razón en el Ecuador, el Comité de Operaciones de Emergencia, implementó protocolos de seguridad de cumplimiento obligatorio para los ciudadanos, con la finalidad de disminuir transmisión de la enfermedad. Esto regulado de forma institucional por el Ministerio de Trabajo en entidades públicas, como el Servicio de Rentas Internas. Por lo que, se facilita los servicios de forma online para disminuir el aforo a dicha organización. Debido a ello, esta investigación se enfocó en analizar de forma prelimirar dos trámites en línea del servicio de rentas internas bajo estas condiciones. Para ello se utilizó el diagrama de flujo, la matriz FODA y el cálculo del tiempo de atención al usuario. Este estudio presenta un aporte práctico debido al diagnóstico de estos dos servicios y la posibilidad de identificación de estrategias que contribuyan a la mejora del mismo.
Depressed people and physical exercise
Authors: Yépez Herrera Emerson Roberto , Padilla Álvarez Gisela Catalina , Apolo Eguez Deysi Elizabeth , Caizaluisa Barros Noemí Fernanda
Published: December 2021

Depression is a mental disorder that is increasing each year, according to statistics over the world. Sports has become a good method to prevent and encourage the treatment of the mental disorder. The aim of this article to determine the benefits of sports in the treatment of depression. Method: The information was taken from Science Direct with the keywords (depression or mental disorders) and (physical exercise OR physical activity). The information was analyzed through systematic literature analysis. It was given priority to articles, that were published in the last 5 years. The number of the total articles was 498 which is related to the objective of this investigation. From 498 articles 24 were selected to develop the research. Results: Sports, according to studies, help people who have depression synthons. Conclusion: Physical exercise is a method, which can prevent and help medical treatment, however, it is necessary to increase the research in this area.
Sector de construcción y micronegocios en búsqueda de reactivación en medio de la pandemia Covid-19
Authors: Zambrano Barcia Andrea Viviana , Peña Vélez Isaura Vanessa
Published: December 2021

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo conocer estrategias de reactivación que se deben aplicar en la construcción y micronegocios frente a la pandemia. La metodología que se utilizó es cualitativa fundamentada en revisión documental de tipo descriptiva; entre los resultados obtenidos se determina que reinventarse es la mejor opción para muchos negocios que por su actividad se genera aglomeración de personas y no pueden funcionar debido a la pandemia, permitiendo concluir que el sector de construcción debe reactivarse con un protocolo de bioseguridad aprobado y creado por el Comité de Operaciones de Emergencia Nacional, las empresas dentro de la cadena de valor de esta actividad deben brindar sus servicios con valor agregado y facilidad de financiamiento que faciliten a las personas su adquisición, los micronegocios en general deben utilizar medios de comunicación digital para informar a su mercado objetivo los productos o servicios que ofertan, teniendo presencia en el internet y aplicando comercio electrónico, siendo necesario reinventarse y adaptarse a la realidad del entorno.
Autoevaluación de la calidad con estándares internacionales. La Universidad Técnica de Manabí
Authors: Ruiz Cedeño Ana Isabel , De la Herrán Gascón Agustín , Alfonso Robaina Daniel , Serra Toledo Rolando
Published: December 2021

El sistema de educación superior de Ecuador, desde hace tres décadas, ha vivido cambios significativos en sus procesos de evaluación de la calidad de las universidades, que se ven reflejados al contar con casi todas sus universidades acreditadas. En este contexto, el objetivo del estudio fue generar una propuesta para la autoevaluación de la calidad con estándares internacionales para la Universidad Técnica de Manabí, que responda a nuevos retos de alcance y proyección internacional. Se realizó un diseño metodológico mixto, combinando las metodologías cualitativa y cuantitativa. La fase cualitativa permitió la utilización del análisis histórico y documental, no interactivo, para identificar la evolución de los procesos de evaluación de la calidad en Ecuador. La fase cuantitativa permitió el estudio comparativo del Modelo de Evaluación Externa de Universidades y Escuelas Politécnicas 2019, con indicadores establecidos en el QS Latin American University Ranking, con lo que se generó la propuesta del modelo para la autoevaluación.
Entre lo editado y lo leído en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Hacia un debate de su marco teórico metodológico y de sus fuentes documentales desde la Historia de la Lectura
Authors: Parada Alejandro E. , Valinoti Beatriz C.
Published: December 2021

El presente artículo, elaborado en el marco de la programación FILO:CyT (UBA), intenta iniciar una discusión sobre la fundamentación teórico metodológica de su propio objeto de estudio. Al investigar Entre lo editado y lo leído en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, se abordan una serie de temáticas para reflexionar acerca de la Historia de la Edición, la Historia del Diseño Gráfico y la Historia de la Lectura en esa casa de estudios durante el período 1896-2019. Desde este contexto, articulado por la Historia de la Cultura Escrita, se desarrollan, para poner en debate, los siguientes tópicos: la construcción de una teoría indispensable para llevar a cabo dicho proyecto, la variedad y diversidad de las fuentes documentales existentes en la facultad, y la metodología con la cual instrumentar esta problemática, entre otros aspectos. Finalmente, se señala la necesidad de buscar una configuración conceptual con el objetivo de compararla, discutirla y adaptarla a otras universidades de la Argentina interesadas en estos estudios culturales; y, especialmente, resaltar la importancia de establecer, en los ámbitos académicos, modelos conceptuales similares para analizar la Historia de la Edición, del Diseño Gráfico y de la Lectura en la esfera universitaria.
Revisión del género Hexagonochilus Solier, 1851 (Tenebrionidae: Stenosini)
Authors: Guerrero Marcelo , Vidal Pedro
Published: December 2021

El género Hexagonochilus Solier es revisado y ahora incluye cinco especies endémicas de Chile central: H. dilaticollis Solier, H. tuberculatus Germain, H. dieguezi Guerrero y Vidal, sp. nov., H. moorei Vidal y Guerrero, sp. nov. y H. solervicensi Guerrero y Vidal, sp. nov. Se provee una redescripción del género, diagnosis individuales, una clave para la identificación de las especies, además de ilustraciones y un mapa de distribución. Se entrega información sobre el hábitat e historia natural de las especies. Basados en el estudio del material tipo, se designan lectotipos para Hexagonochilus dilaticollis Solier y Hexagonochilus tuberculatus Germain.
Densidad por compactación mediante sacudidas de polvos metálicos
Authors: Urban Petr , Ternero Fernández Fátima Ángela
Published: December 2021

Esta primera serie de vídeos didácticos titulada ENSAYOS METALÚRGICOS I trata, por un lado, sobre la preparación de materiales metálicos para la observación en el microscopio óptico y, por otro, sobre la determinación de la densidad aparente, densidad por compactación mediante sacudidas y la velocidad de flujo de polvos metálicos, para optimizar el posterior proceso de compactación y sinterización.