bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Aerosols on Satellite Infrared Radiance Simulations and Jacobians: Numerical Experiments of CRTM and GSI
Authors: Wei Shih-Wei , Lu Cheng-Hsuan (Sarah) , Johnson Benjamin T. , Dang Cheng , Stegmann Patrick , Grogan Dustin , Ge Guoqing , Hu Ming
Published: February 2022

For a variational data assimilation (DA) system that assimilates radiance observations, the simulated brightness temperature (BT) at the top of the atmosphere and the corresponding Jacobians carried out by the radiance observation operator are needed information. Previous studies reported that the incorporation of aerosol information into the radiance observation operator leads to cooler simulated infrared (IR) BTs and warmer temperature analyses at low levels of the atmosphere. However, the role of the aerosol-affected Jacobians in the DA system, which not only affect the determination of analysis increments but also influence the quality control and the bias correction algorithm, is yet to be investigated. This study examines the aerosol impacts on the sensitivity of IR radiance simulations, Jacobians, and the analysis increments by conducting two experiments: (i) sensitivity tests to assess how the different aspects of the aerosol profiles (i.e., mass loading, peak aerosol level, aerosol thickness layer, and bin partition) affect the simulated BT and the Jacobians from the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM), which is the radiance observation operator in the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) analysis system; (ii) single IR observation experiments using GSI to investigate how the aerosol-affected atmospheric Jacobians influence the analysis increment. The results show that dust aerosols produce the strongest cooling to simulated BTs under similar aerosol optical depths; simulated BTs and Jacobians are most sensitive to the loading and peak altitude of the aerosol layer; simulated BTs become more sensitive to the temperature of the aerosol layer; aerosol-induced differences in atmospheric Jacobians lead to considerable changes to temperature and moisture increments. These results provide a better understanding of the aerosol impacts on each component involved in radiance DA, which can provide guidance for assimilating aerosol-affected IR observations.
Optimization and Evaluation of Widely-Used Total Suspended Matter Concentration Retrieval Methods for ZY1-02D’s AHSI Imagery
Authors: Zhu Penghang , Liu Yao , Li Junsheng
Published: February 2022

Total suspended matter concentration (CTSM) is an important parameter in aquatic ecosystem studies. Compared with multispectral satellite images, the Advanced Hyperspectral Imager (AHSI) carried by the ZY1-02D satellite can capture finer spectral features, and the potential for CTSM retrieval is enormous. In this study, we selected seven typical Chinese inland water bodies as the study areas, and recalibrated and validated 11 empirical models and two semi-analytical models for CTSM retrieval using the AHSI data. The results showed that the semi-analytical algorithm based on the 697 nm AHSI-band achieved the highest retrieval accuracy (R2 = 0.88, average unbiased relative error = 34.43%). This is because the remote sensing reflectance at 697 nm was strongly influenced by CTSM, and the AHSI image spectra were in good agreement with the in-situ spectra. Although further validation is still needed in highly turbid waters, this study shows that AHSI images from the ZY1-02D satellite are well suited for CTSM retrieval in inland waters.
Comparing the Ability of Burned Area Products to Detect Crop Residue Burning in China
Authors: Zhang Sumei , Zhao Hongmei , Wu Zehao , Tan Longda
Published: February 2022

Burning crop residues is a common way to remove them during the final stages of crop ripening in China. To conduct research effectively, it is critical to reliably and quantitatively estimate the extent and location of a burned area. Here, we investigated three publicly available burned area products—MCD64A1, FireCCI 5.1, and the Copernicus Burnt Area—and evaluated their relative performance at estimating total burned areas for cropland regions in China between 2015 and 2019. We compared these burned area products at a fine spatial and temporal scale using a grid system comprised of three-dimensional cells spanning both space and time. In general, the Copernicus Burnt Area product detected the largest annual average burned area (37,095.1 km2), followed by MCD64A1 (21,631.4 km2) and FireCCI 5.1 (12,547.99 km2). The Copernicus Burnt Area product showed a consistent pattern of monthly burned areas during the study period, whereas MCD64A1 and FireCCI 5.1 showed frequent changes in monthly burned area peaks. The greatest spatial differences between all three products occurred in Northeast and North China, where cultivated land is concentrated. The burned area detected by Copernicus in Xinjiang Province was larger than that detected by the other two products. In conclusion, we found that all three products underestimated the amount of crop residues present in a burned area. This limits the ability of end users to understand fire-related impacts and burned area characteristics, and hinders them in making an informed choice of which product is most appropriate for their application.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Aerosols in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
Authors: Yao Jiaqi , Zhai Haoran , Yang Xiaomeng , Wen Zhen , Wu Shuqi , Zhu Hong , Tang Xinming
Published: February 2022

The widespread nature of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is gradually changing people’s lives and impacting economic development worldwide. Owing to the curtailment of daily activities during the lockdown period, anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants have greatly reduced, and this influence is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Spatiotemporal variations in aerosol optical depth (AOD) can be used to analyze this influence. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed AOD and NO2 data obtained from satellite remote sensing data inversion. First, data were corrected using Eidetic three-dimensional-long short-term memory to eliminate errors related to sensors and algorithms. Second, taking Hubei Province in China as the experimental area, spatiotemporal variations in AOD and NO2 concentration during the pandemic were analyzed. Finally, based on the results obtained, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human life has been summarized. This work will be of great significance to the formulation of regional epidemic prevention and control policies and the analysis of spatiotemporal changes in aerosols.
De-hydrogenation/Rehydrogenation Properties and Reaction Mechanism of AmZn(NH2)n-2nLiH Systems (A = Li, K, Na, and Rb)
Authors: Cao Hujun , Pistidda Claudio , Richter Theresia M. M. , Capurso Giovanni , Milanese Chiara , Tseng Jo-Chi , Shang Yuanyuan , Niewa Rainer , Chen Ping , Klassen Thomas , Dornheim Martin
Published: February 2022

With the aim to find suitable hydrogen storage materials for stationary and mobile applications, multi-cation amide-based systems have attracted considerable attention, due to their unique hydrogenation kinetics. In this work, AmZn(NH2)n (with A = Li, K, Na, and Rb) were synthesized via an ammonothermal method. The synthesized phases were mixed via ball milling with LiH to form the systems AmZn(NH2)n-2nLiH (with m = 2, 4 and n = 4, 6), as well as Na2Zn(NH2)4∙0.5NH3-8LiH. The hydrogen storage properties of the obtained materials were investigated via a combination of calorimetric, spectroscopic, and diffraction methods. As a result of the performed analyses, Rb2Zn(NH2)4-8LiH appears as the most appealing system. This composite, after de-hydrogenation, can be fully rehydrogenated within 30 s at a temperature between 190 °C and 200 °C under a pressure of 50 bar of hydrogen.
Strategic Niche Management for Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Giganti Patrizio , Falcone Pasquale Marcello
Published: February 2022

With the aim of achieving a sustainable future, a new research area dealing with “sustainability transitions” has emerged. The focus on socio-technical niches and the related management activities are paramount to understand their aptitude to replace the dominant socio-technical regime. Strategic niche management (SNM) has become a renowned analytical framework for understanding the introduction and diffusion of very new sustainable innovations through societal experiments. With an emphasis on SNM, a systematic literature review (SLR) mainly looking at the environmental dimension of sustainability was carried out adopting the PRISMA statement. The increase in publications over the years, the enlargement of the geographical borders interested, the presence of points of reference in the literature, as well as the adaptability of the theoretical framework to both a generic and specific issue related to sustainability, demonstrate the centrality of SNM for studying the transition towards sustainability in socio-technical systems.
The Impact of COVID-19 on High-Speed Rail and Aviation Operations
Authors: Yang Shan , Chen Zhenhua
Published: February 2022

Intercity transportation systems have experienced severe disruptions since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, it remains unclear how the operations of different systems were affected and whether the pandemic has influenced modal interaction. This paper provides an empirical assessment to address these questions using high-speed rail (HSR) and aviation in China as an example. The impact of COVID-19 on aviation and HSR operations was examined both temporally and spatially using a high-dimensional fixed-effect panel model. Using the big data with daily operational frequency for the period of January–June 2020, the study shows that the lockdown of Wuhan had varying effects on the operations of HSR and aviation. In addition, the correlation of operational services between HSR and aviation was found to vary both spatially and temporally during the pandemic. These research findings provide important implications for improving the adaptability of transportation systems and operational resilience.
Urban Planning Insights from Tree Inventories and Their Regulating Ecosystem Services Assessment
Authors: Rossi Luca , Menconi Maria Elena , Grohmann David , Brunori Antonio , Nowak David J.
Published: February 2022

With the uncertainties that our societies are living with (the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change), it becomes essential to provide urban planners and decision-makers with state-of-the-art and user-friendly methodologies to incorporate ecosystem service considerations into their designs for resilient cities. In this regard, urban forests play a crucial role. The quantification of the ecosystem services is geo-specific and needs studies in different urban contexts. At this scope, we evaluated the urban forest of a neighborhood of a densely built-up Italian city (Perugia) with a low level of urban greenery management and with a tree inventory still in progress. Furthermore, we defined a tool helpful in tree-planting decisions and management. This paper involves citizens in field research for trees inventory. Then, it uses i-Tree Eco to evaluate four ecosystem services (carbon storage and sequestration, pollution removal, and runoff avoided) provided by 373 inventoried urban trees belonging to 57 species. Our results show that Italian Municipal tree inventories do not adequately represent their urban forest and that citizens’ participation provides a cost-effective method for integrating field data. Finally, the paper develops an easy tool helping local administrations enhance the ecosystem services provisions in urban green design.
Use of Sentinel-2 Satellite for Spatially Variable Rate Fertiliser Management in a Sicilian Vineyard
Authors: Comparetti Antonio , Marques da Silva Jose Rafael
Published: February 2022

Satellites can be used for producing maps of within-field crop and soil parameters and, consequentially, spatially variable rate crop input application maps. The plant vegetative vigour index (i.e., Normalised Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI) and the leaf water content index (i.e., Normalised Difference Water Index—NDWI) maps were used to study—through both time and space—the phenological phases of two plots, with Syrah and Nero d’Avola grapevine varieties, in a Sicilian vineyard farm, located in Naro (Agrigento, Sicily, Italy). The aim of this work is to produce spatially variable rate nitrogen fertiliser maps to be applied in the two vineyard plots under study as well as to understand when they should be fertilised or not according to their target crop yields. The average plant vegetative vigour and leaf water content of both the plots showed a high temporal and spatial variability during all phenological phases and, according to these results, the optimal fertilisation time should have been 12 April 2021. In fact, this crop operation is aimed at supporting the vegetative activity but must be performed when the soil water and, therefore, the plant leaf water content are high. Therefore, spatially variable rate fertilisation should have been performed around 12 April 2021 in both plots, using previous NDVI maps and taking into consideration two management zones. This work demonstrates the usefulness of remote sensing data as Decision Support Systems (DSS) for nitrogen fertilisation in order to reduce the production cost, environmental impact and climate footprints per kg of produced grapes, according to the European Green Deal challenges.
Vulnerability Assessment of Target Shrimps and Bycatch Species from Industrial Shrimp Trawl Fishery in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh
Authors: Fatema Umme Kaniz , Faruque Hasan , Salam Md. Abdus , Matsuda Hiroyuki
Published: February 2022

Productivity susceptibility analysis (PSA) is a semi-quantitative ecological risk assessment tool, widely used to determine the relative vulnerability of target and non-target species to fishing impacts. Considering the available information on species-specific life-history and fishery-specific attributes, we used PSA to assess the relative risk of the 60 species interacting with the shrimp trawl fishery in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Penaeus monodon, the most important target, and Metapenaeus monoceros, the highest catch contributor, along with other 15 species were in the moderate-risk category, while seven non-target bycatch species were in the high-risk category. PSA-derived vulnerability results were validated with IUCN extinction risk, exploitation rate and stocks’ catch trend. The majority of the identified species showed high productivity (37%) and high susceptibility (46%), and all the moderately and highly vulnerable species were subjected to overfishing conditions by shrimp trawl fishery, which coincided with the vulnerability scores (V ≥ 1.8). Species with V ≥ 1.8 mostly showed a decreasing catch trend, while the species with a stable or increasing catch trend had a V ≤ 1.72. Data quality analysis of productivity and susceptibility attributes indicated that the majority of species were considered data-limited, which emphasizes the acquisition of data on spatio-temporal abundance, catch and effort, and biological information specifically relating to species age, growth, and reproduction. However, our findings can assist fishery administrators in implementing an ecosystem approach to ensure the sustainability and conservation of marine biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal.
Advances in Groundwater Quality and Protection for Sustainability
Authors: Kim Heejung
Published: February 2022

The impact type and magnitude of global phenomena, including climate change, on water resources around the world usually become discernible with time difference [...]
Environmental Governance at an Asymmetric Border, the Case of the U.S.–Mexico Border Region
Authors: Munoz-Melendez Gabriela , Martinez-Pellegrini Sarah E.
Published: February 2022

Environmental issues at the U.S.–Mexico border have been approached in a fragmented way and considered of minor political interest; even though they have been addressed in treaties and agreements, regional environmental pollution persists. One may ask what sort of measures should be taken to address the complex and long-term environmental problems in the U.S.–Mexico border region. To answer this question, an environmental cross-border governance proposal was evaluated by applying Qualitative Analysis of Textual Data to the text of Chapter 24 of the USMCA treaty. The results indicated that the environmental policies concerning the border region still lack a coherent systemic approach, and hence will lead to inefficiency. Territorial development is heavily dependent on national environmental governance and priorities; however, environmental issues should be understood in an integral, complex and deeply entangled way if they are to be effectively addressed. Otherwise, environmental degradation is likely to expand due to population growth and events associated with climate change.
Evaluation of the Catalytic Activity of Metal Phosphates and Related Oxides in the Ketonization of Propionic Acid
Authors: De Maron Jacopo , Bellotti Luca , Baldelli Alessio , Fasolini Andrea , Schiaroli Nicola , Lucarelli Carlo , Cavani Fabrizio , Tabanelli Tommaso
Published: February 2022

In recent years, the upgrading of lignocellulose bio-oils from fast-pyrolysis by means of ketonization has emerged as a frontier research domain to produce a new generation of biofuels. Propionic acid (PA) ketonization is extensively investigated as a model reaction over metal oxides, but the activity of other materials, such as metal phosphates, is mostly unknown. Therefore, PA ketonization was preliminarily investigated in the gas phase over both phosphates and oxides of Al, Zr, and La. Their catalytic activity was correlated to the physicochemical properties of the materials characterized by means of XRD, XRF, BET N2 porosimetry, and CO2- and NH3-TPD. Noteworthy, monoclinic ZrO2 proved to be the most promising candidate for the target reaction, leading to a 3-pentanone productivity as high as 5.6 h−1 in the optimized conditions. This value is higher than most of those reported for the same reaction in both the academic and patent literature.
Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Philippine Coal Fly Ash: Investigation and Optimisation of Leaching Parameters by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Dahan Al Mon E. , Alorro Richard D. , Pacaña Mona Lisa C. , Baute Ronben M. , Silva Leaniel C. , Tabelin Carlito B. , Resabal Vannie Joy T.
Published: February 2022

Coal Fly Ash (CFA) is a hazardous waste from coal-fired power plants, but has increasingly become a popular supplementary cementitious material for cement in the construction industry. As a secondary resource of REE, its main advantage lies in its fine particle size that eliminates the need for costly and energy-intensive comminution. In this study, the potential of CFA from the Philippines as a secondary REE resource was investigated by direct leaching of REEs with hydrochloric acid (HCl). The CFA sample came from a coal-fired power plant with a circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) technology. For the leaching tests, the effects of HCl concentration, leaching time and leaching temperature on REE extractions were elucidate optimized via Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The RSM results showed that the optimum leaching occurred at 3M HCl, 65 °C and 270 min with extractions of Nd, Er, Eu, Tb and Dy at 70.8%, 76.34%, 88.02%, 90.01% and 73.38%, respectively. According to these results, the CFA from the Philippines is a promising secondary resource of REE and the extraction method employed was effective in achieving a relatively high REE dissolution. Moreover, the empirical model that was established accurately predicted the dissolution of REE with an accuracy of 98.20%, 96.66%, 97.09%, 98.17% and 97.78% for Nd, Er, Eu, Tb and Dy, respectively.
New “Conticrete” Hermite–Hadamard–Jensen–Mercer Fractional Inequalities
Authors: Faisal Shah , Adil Khan Muhammad , Khan Tahir Ullah , Saeed Tareq , Alshehri Ahmed Mohammed , Nwaeze Eze R.
Published: February 2022

The theory of symmetry has a significant influence in many research areas of mathematics. The class of symmetric functions has wide connections with other classes of functions. Among these, one is the class of convex functions, which has deep relations with the concept of symmetry. In recent years, the Schur convexity, convex geometry, probability theory on convex sets, and Schur geometric and harmonic convexities of various symmetric functions have been extensively studied topics of research in inequalities. The present attempt provides novel portmanteauHermite–Hadamard–Jensen–Mercer-type inequalities for convex functions that unify continuous and discrete versions into single forms. They come as a result of using Riemann–Liouville fractional operators with the joint implementations of the notions of majorization theory and convex functions. The obtained inequalities are in compact forms, containing both weighted and unweighted results, where by fixing the parameters, new and old versions of the discrete and continuous inequalities are obtained. Moreover, some new identities are discovered, upon employing which, the bounds for the absolute difference of the two left-most and right-most sides of the main results are established.
Novel Radiographic Measurements for Operatively Treated Haglund’s Deformity
Authors: Tang Shih-Chieh , Tu Kao-Chang , Liao Wei-Jen , Hsu Chang-Te , Shih Han-Ting , Tung Kuan-Kai , Wu Min-Huan , Wang Shun-Ping
Published: February 2022

Background: Haglund’s deformity, which is characterized by a bony prominence of the posterosuperior aspect of the calcaneus, causes posterior heel pain. To date, there is no standard radiographic parameter to diagnose symptomatic Haglund’s deformity. Herein, we proposed novel radiographic measurements to distinguish between patients with and without symptomatic Haglund’s deformity. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ankle radiographs of 43 patients who underwent surgery for symptomatic Haglund’s deformity (Haglund group) and 41 healthy individuals (control group) free of heel complaints. Fowler–Phillip angle (FPA), Heneghan–Pavlov parallel pitch lines (PPL), Haglund’s deformity height, bump height, and bump-calcaneus ratio were measured and compared between the groups. Furthermore, the reliability and cut-off value of each parameter were validated via ICC and ROC curve analysis, respectively. Results: The bump height (p < 0.001) and the bump-calcaneus ratio (p < 0.001) showed significant differences between the control and Haglund groups, unlike FPA, PPL, and Haglund’s deformity height. ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC of bump-calcaneus ratio was larger than that of bump height. The optimal threshold was 4 mm or higher for bump height and 7.5% or higher for bump-calcaneus ratio. The intra- and inter- observer ICCs were, respectively, 0.965 and 0.898 for bump height and 0.930 and 0.889 for bump-calcaneus ratio. Conclusions: This study proposes two novel radiographic parameters to identify operatively treated Haglund’s deformity, namely bump height and bump-calcaneus ratio. They are easy to measure and intuitive. Both of them are effective diagnostic parameters for Haglund’s deformity. Furthermore, bump-calcaneus ratio is more reliable diagnostic parameter than bump height.
White-Tailed Eagles’ (Haliaeetus albicilla) Exposure to Anticoagulant Rodenticides and Causes of Poisoning in Poland (2018–2020)
Authors: Sell Bartosz , Śniegocki Tomasz , Giergiel Marta , Posyniak Andrzej
Published: February 2022

The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is strictly protected in Poland due to its threat of extinction. This study’s main goal was to assess their exposure to indirect poisoning by anticoagulant rodenticides (AR). This study presents the investigation results of 40 white-tailed eagles’ suspected poisoning cases in the years 2018–2020 in Poland. In all tested liver samples, using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method, at least one of the AR (bromadiolone, brodifacoum, difenacoum, flocoumafen) was detected and confirmed. The other tested AR compounds (chlorophacinone, coumachlor, coumatetralyl, difethialone, diphacinone, warfarin) were not detected. The mean concentration of the sum of rodenticides was 174.4 µg/kg (from 2.5 to 1225.0 µg/kg). In 20 cases, the sum concentration was above 100 µg/kg and in 10 cases it was above 200 µg/kg. Interpretation of cases of AR poisonings should take into account their concentration in the liver, anatomopathological lesions, circumstances of death/finding of the animal, and elimination of other possible causes of poisoning. Based on this study, AR was the direct cause of death in 10% of incidents. Extensive use of rodenticides generates a high risk of poisonings of white-tailed eagles in Poland.
Spent Coffee Grounds Valorization as Bioactive Phenolic Source Acquired Antifungal, Anti-Mycotoxigenic, and Anti-Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Badr Ahmed Noah , El-Attar Marwa M. , Ali Hatem S. , Elkhadragy Manal F. , Yehia Hany M. , Farouk Amr
Published: February 2022

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), which constitute 75% of original coffee beans, represent an integral part of sustainability. Contamination by toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins is a hazard that threatens food production. This investigation aimed to examine SCGs extract as antimycotic and anti-ochratoxigenic material. The SCGs were extracted in an eco-friendly way using isopropanol. Bioactive molecules of the extract were determined using the UPLC apparatus. The cytotoxicity on liver cancer cells (Hep-G2) showed moderate activity with selectivity compared with human healthy oral epithelial (OEC) cell lines but still lower than the positive control (Cisplatin). The antibacterial properties were examined against pathogenic strains, and the antifungal was examined against toxigenic fungi using two diffusion assays. Extract potency was investigated by two simulated models, a liquid medium and a food model. The results of the extract showed 15 phenolic acids and 8 flavonoids. Rosmarinic and syringic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids, while apigenin-7-glucoside, naringin, epicatechin, and catechin were the predominant flavonoids in the SCGs extract. The results reflected the degradation efficiency of the extract against the growth of Aspergillus strains. The SCGs recorded detoxification in liquid media for aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OCA). The incubation time of the extract within dough spiked with OCA was affected up to 2 h, where cooking was not affected. Therefore, SCGs in food products could be applied to reduce the mycotoxin contamination of raw materials to the acceptable regulated limits.
The Spontaneous Course of Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA-Associated Myocarditis and the Effect of Immunosuppressive Intervention
Authors: Elsanhoury Ahmed , Kühl Uwe , Stautner Bruno , Klein Oliver , Krannich Alexander , Morris Daniel , Willner Monika , Jankowska Ewa , Klingel Karin , Van Linthout Sophie , Tschöpe Carsten
Published: February 2022

Introduction: This study investigated the spontaneous clinical course of patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven lymphocytic myocarditis and cardiac human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) DNA presence, and the effectiveness of steroid-based intervention in HHV6-positive patients. Results: 756 heart failure (HF) patients underwent an EMB procedure to determine the underlying cause of unexplained HF. Low levels of HHV6 DNA, detectable by nested PCR only, were found in 10.4% of the cases (n = 79) of which 62% (n = 49) showed myocardial inflammation. The spontaneous course of patients with EMB-proven HHV6 DNA-associated lymphocytic myocarditis (n = 26) showed significant improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical symptoms, respectively, in 15/26 (60%) patients, 3–12 months after disease onset. EMB mRNA expression of components of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and protein analysis of cardiac remodeling markers, analyzed by real-time PCR and MALDI mass spectrometry, respectively, did not differ between HHV6-positive and -negative patients. In another cohort of patients with ongoing symptoms related to lymphocytic myocarditis associated with cardiac levels of HHV6-DNA copy numbers <500 copies/µg cardiac DNA, quantified by real-time PCR, the efficacy and safety of steroid-based immunosuppression for six months was investigated. Steroid-based immunosuppression improved the LVEF (≥5%) in 8/10 patients and reduced cardiac inflammation in 7/10 patients, without an increase in cardiac HHV6 DNA levels in follow-up EMBs. Conclusion: Low HHV6 DNA levels are frequently detected in the myocardium, independent of inflammation. In patients with lymphocytic myocarditis with low levels of HHV6 DNA, the spontaneous clinical improvement is nearby 60%. In selected symptomatic patients with cardiac HHV6 DNA copy numbers less than 500 copies/µg cardiac DNA and without signs of an active systemic HHV6 infection, steroid-based therapy was found to be effective and safe. This finding needs to be further confirmed in large, randomized trials.
Community-Based Screening for Hepatitis B and C Infectivity Using Two Quantitative Antigens to Identify Endemic Townships
Authors: Huang Wei-Cheng , Lin Yu-Chen , Chen Po-Ju , Hsu Nien-Tzu , Tu Chia-Ling , Chang Te-Sheng , Hung Chao-Hung , Kee Kwong-Ming , Chao Wen-Hua , Lu Sheng-Nan
Published: February 2022

Screening and linkage to care are essential to achieve viral hepatitis elimination before 2030. The accurate identification of endemic areas is important for controlling diseases with geographic aggregation. Viral activity drives prognosis of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection. This screening was conducted in Chiayi County from 2018–2019. All residents aged 30 years or older were invited to participate in quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) and HCV Ag screening. Among the 4010 participants (male:female = 1630:2380), the prevalence of qHBsAg and HCV Ag was 9.9% (396/4010) and 4.1% (163/4010), respectively. High-prevalence townships were identified, three for qHBsAg > 15% and two for HCV Ag > 10%. The age-specific prevalence of qHBsAg was distributed in an inverse U-shape with a peak (16.0%, 68/424) for subjects in their 40 s; for HCV, prevalence increased with age. Concentrations of qHBsAg < 200 IU/mL were found in 54% (214/396) of carriers. The rate of oral antiviral treatment for HCV was 75.5% (114/151), with subjects younger than 75 years tending to undergo treatment (85.6% vs. 57.4%, p < 0.001). QHBsAg and HCV Ag core antigens can reflect the concentration of the viral load, which serves as a feasible screening tool. Using quantitative antigen screening for hepatitis B and C in community-based screening, two hyperendemic townships were identified from an endemic county.
Minimum Cost Water Yield Strategy for Multiple Sources Water Distribution System
Authors: Hsu Chih-Hung , Chou Frederick N.-F. , Chen Chung-Ling
Published: February 2022

Minimizing water supply costs has always been the goal of water companies. However, it is not an easy task to minimize costs and meet customers’ water pressure needs in a water supply system with multiple sources and different unit costs of water discharge. In this paper, we develop a search method that incorporates the concepts of local search and steepest descent. First, we establish the discharge pressure of each water source as a variable and start searching the neighborhood for a feasible initial solution. The steepest descent concept is then used to find the most cost-effective solution in the neighborhood, before the initial solution is updated. We then iterate the search as described above until either the constraint is met or the amount of cost variation reaches an acceptable level. A simple example is used to explore the optimal solution characteristics. This is then followed by an analysis of a practical water supply system with up to six water sources. Compared with the original operation model, the optimized result can save 15.6%, 9.0%, and 12.7% of the total cost of water supply during off-peak, normal, and peak periods, respectively. We use the commonly used hydraulic analysis software EPANET to build different functional valve classes to satisfy various constraints for the purpose of simplifying the optimized search codes automatically. This method uses low levels of computational resources to obtain an acceptable and reasonable solution in a short time.
New Sets of Primers for DNA Identification of Non-Indigenous Fish Species in the Volga-Kama Basin (European Russia)
Authors: Karabanov Dmitry P. , Bekker Eugeniya I. , Pavlov Dmitry D. , Borovikova Elena A. , Kodukhova Yulia V. , Kotov Alexey A.
Published: February 2022

Adequate species’ identification is critical for the detection and monitoring of biological invasions. In this study, we proposed and assessed the efficiency of newly created primer sets for the genetic identification of non-indigenous species (NIS) of fishes in the Volga basin based on: (a) a “long” fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit one of the mitochondrial gene (COI) (0.7 kb), used in “classical” DNA barcoding; (b) a short 3’-fragment (0.3 kb) of COI, suitable for use in high-throughput sequencing systems (i.e., for dietary analysis); (c) fragment of 16S mitochondrial rRNA, including those designed to fill the library of reference sequences for work on the metabarcoding of communities and eDNA studies; (d) a fragment of 18S nuclear rRNA, including two hypervariable regions V1-V2, valuable for animal phylogeny. All four sets of primers demonstrated a high amplification efficiency and high specificity for freshwater fish. Also, we proposed the protocols for the cost-effective isolation of total DNA and purification of the PCR product without the use of commercial kits. We propose an algorithm to carry out extremely cheap studies on the assessment of biological diversity without expensive equipment. We also present original data on the genetic polymorphism of all mass NIS fish species in the Volga-Kama region. The high efficiency of DNA identification based on our primers is shown relative to the traditional monitoring of biological invasions.
Seasonal Differences in Water Pollution and Liver Histopathology of Iberian Barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) and Douro Nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense) in an Agricultural Watershed
Authors: Santos Regina Maria Bessa , Monteiro Sandra Mariza Veiga , Cortes Rui Manuel Vitor , Pacheco Fernando António Leal , Fernandes Luís Filipe Sanches
Published: February 2022

Histopathology has been used as a very useful tool to provide information on the severity of tissue damage, injuries, and organ functionality. Thus, this work aimed to assess whether seasonal variations (summer and winter) in water quality had consequences on the liver histology of Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) and Douro nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense). The research was carried out in the Vilariça River, a tributary of the Sabor River in Portugal, which is used as spawning grounds by these endemic cyprinids. The liver histopathological changes, assessed through a semi-quantitative system, allowed the identification of 13 histopathological changes located in the hepatic parenchyma, bile duct, and blood vessels. The histopathological changes with a higher prevalence in both species were vacuolization of hepatocytes, endothelial rupture, necrosis, fibrosis, and degenerative vacuolization. The results showed that the severity degree of liver histological alterations ranged between moderate and severe, and the major severity degree was observed in L. bocagei, in the summer season, and at the sampling points located in the downstream and middle stream. The canonical analysis indicated that the exposure of fish to metals may increase the potential risk of liver damage. Thus, in the summer, the high concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Mn justified the prevalence of the biliary duct epithelial detachment, in both species, and the hyperplasia of biliary epithelium, in L. bocagei. In the winter, the high TSS and Cd, Ni, and Cr concentrations justified the prevalence of congestion of blood vessels and degenerative vacuolization in both species. The higher hepatosomatic index of fish caught in the winter was due to the high presence of degenerative vacuolization and hepatocyte vacuolization. The severity of liver histopathological changes reflected differences in the type of contaminants in different seasons and sampling periods, and was thus proven as a valuable indicator of water quality.
Soil Water Erosion
Authors: Centeri Csaba
Published: February 2022

Soil erosion by water is considered to be one of the major forms of soil degradation (other than soil erosion by wind, acidification, salinization, desertification, etc [...]
LiDAR-IMU-UWB-Based Collaborative Localization
Authors: Zhang Chuanwei , Ma Xiaowen , Qin Peilin
Published: February 2022

This article introduced a positioning system composed of different sensors, such as LiDAR, IMU, and ultra-wideband (UWB), for the positioning method in autonomous driving technology under closed coal mine tunnels. First, we processed the LiDAR data, extracted its feature points and merged the extracted feature point clouds to generate a skewed combined feature point cloud. Then, we used the skew combined feature point clouds for feature matching, performed pre-integration processing on the IMU sensor data, and completed the LiDAR-IMU odometer with the LiDAR. Finally, we added UWB data to IMU pose node as a one-dimensional over-edge constraint. By updating the sliding window, the positioning accuracy was further improved. Moreover, we have conducted experiments to verify the proposed positioning system in a simulated roadway. The experimental results showed that the method proposed in this paper is superior to the single LiDAR method and the single UWB method in terms of positioning accuracy.
Cultura organizacional para manejo y prevención de riesgos laborales en una institución educativa, Quito-Ecuador
Authors: Naranjo Herrera Sergio , Vásquez Coba Sara , Rodríguez-Guerra Andrea
Published: February 2022

Las enfermedades ocupacionales y relacionadas con la actividad laboral y el ausentismo son factores que dependen de las condiciones de los entornos laborales de colaboradores de las instituciones. La investigación tuvo por objetivo analizar los riesgos reportados en el personal de una institución de educación superior. En el 2019 se registraron alrededor de 831 atenciones médicas relacionadas a distintas patologías, las más comunes fueron las enfermedades musculo-esqueléticas, respiratorias, metabólicas y neurológicas. El ausentismo incide en el incremento en costos económicos y en el desempeño laboral, se estimó que el impacto en horas perdidas debidas a los permisos médicos fue de 4093 horas, sobre las cuales, el médico ocupacional generó 349 horas de ausentismo que corresponde al 9% de horas perdidas. Dentro de los diagnósticos por enfermedad los más numerosos están la epicondilitis lateral, trastorno mixto de ansiedad y depresión, cervicalgia, síndrome cérvico-branquial y lumbago no específico. La planeación, control y vigilancia garantizan sitios de trabajo seguros, sanos y el bienestar físico, mental y social de cada persona.
Impacto del cáncer en la condición física y calidad de vida en niños, niñas y adolescentes
Authors: Abril Mera Tania , Méndez Pérez Boris , Noblecilla Troya Joselyne , Flores Ruíz Audry , Solís Mejía Roberto
Published: February 2022

Childhood cancer comprises different and numerous types of tumors that develop in children and adolescents from 0 to 19 years of age, the majority of which side effects derive from the treatments received and can persist over time. Objective. To determine the impact of cancer on the physical condition and quality of life in children and adolescents. Materials and methods. With a qualitative-quantitative approach, with a descriptive and relational scope, it has a non-experimental cross-sectional design, a population sample of 104 patients of both sexes and ages 5 to 18 years. Results. males predominate and the average age of the group is between 9 and 12 years old, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia the one with the highest incidence; It shows a deficit in muscular strength, flexibility, a predominance of fatigue and little or no physical activity. Conclusion. The analysis of this study and its conclusions, it can be evidenced that there are different states of well-being and that their physical condition can be influenced by the type of cancer, duration and treatment received, which results in a marked decrease in its functionality and therefore impact on the execution and integration of its activities of daily life and quality of life.
Reporte de un caso clínico. Rehabilitación Fisioterapéutica Mediante Facilitación Neuromuscular Propioceptiva en paciente POST-COVID19
Authors: Vallejo Chinche Silvia del Pilar , Alvarez Carrión Sonia Alexandra , Rodríguez Espinosa Jorge Ricardo , Granizo Mena Guillermo Vinicio
Published: February 2022

El virus por COVID-19 ha causado dificultades tanto físicas, psicológicas como respiratorias, entre los síntomas principales que presenta esta enfermedad resalta insuficiencia respiratoria a la que se suma la fragilidad física en respuesta a largos periodos de encamamiento en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. La investigación del caso clínico realizada a una paciente post COVID -19 quien tuvo una estancia prolongada de hospitalización, posteriormente tratada en su domicilio, donde la fisioterapia empleada se basó en la técnica de Facilitación Neuromuscular Propioceptiva combinada con ejercicios respiratorios que tienen como objetivo mejorar la funcionalidad del paciente post COVID-19. Se monitorizó los signos vitales al comienzo y final de la terapia. De igual manera se emplearon patrones bilaterales de F.N.P. en las extremidades superiores e inferiores, combinándose con los ejercicios respiratorios evidenciándose aumento de la capacidad respiratoria y mejorando el nivel de funcionalidad de la paciente. Se realizó una valoración mediante la escala de Borg para la percepción subjetiva de la dificultad respiratoria o del esfuerzo físico realizado.
Hábitos alimenticios, nocivos y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios en tiempos de Covid-19
Authors: Bravo Salinas Sara Elizabeth , Izquierdo Coronel Diana Carolina , Castillo Zhizhpón Alex Alberto , Rodas Bermeo Paola Andrea
Published: February 2022

Los hábitos alimenticios influyen drásticamente en el rendimiento académico universitario, teniendo consecuencias a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Objetivo. Identificar los hábitos alimenticios nocivos y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios en tiempos de Covid-19 en Ecuador-Azogues. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo transversal, población de estudio 623 estudiantes universitarios de la carrera de Medicina, se les aplicó una encuesta, el análisis estadístico se lo realizó mediante SPSS V20. Resultados. El 64,7% corresponden al sexo femenino, 58,3% proceden de la provincia del Cañar, el 82,7 son católicos y el 10,1% presentan bajo rendimiento, de los cuales el 28,6% presentaron sobrepeso y la probabilidad de que estos estudiantes tengan bajo rendimiento fue del 63%. Se demostró también que el 82,5% de estudiantes consumen comida chatarra, existiendo 3 veces (RP 3,12; IC95% 1,88-5,26) más probabilidad de que éstos estudiantes tengan bajo rendimiento, el sexo masculino también presentó 1,6 veces (IC95% 1,04-2,65) más probabilidad de tener bajo rendimiento en comparación con el sexo femenino, mientras que los estudiantes que proceden de las distintas provincias tienen 1,6 veces (RP 1,63; IC95% 1,03-2,63) más probabilidad de tener rendimiento deficiente. Un 85,7% de estudiantes consume alcohol y al menos el 25,4% ha consumido drogas existiendo 2 veces (PR 2; IC95% 1,19-3,44) más probabilidad de que estos estudiantes bajen su rendimiento. Conclusiones. Se determinó que el bajo rendimiento académico está relacionado no solo por el sexo sino también, por la procedencia, la malnutrición, consumo de comida chatarra y uso de drogas incrementando la proporción de estudiantes con bajo rendimiento.
STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN PADA PERSPEKTIF NONKEUANGAN METODE BALANCE SCORECARD TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KINERJA KEUANGAN UMKM DI INDONESIA SAAT PANDEMIC COVID-19
Authors: Pangestu Juan Carlos
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to determine and analyze: how much the company's business strategy has an influence on improving company performance and how big is the role of management accounting strategy in moderating the relationship between the company's business strategy and improving company performance. This research has its own peculiarities and is unique because it was carried out when the world situation was experiencing the corona pandemic, including Indonesia. Data were collected using quantitative techniques from primary data sources collected from questionnaires distributed to several restaurants, canteens and beverage outlets in the Jakarta and Bandung areas, especially in the food and beverage sector. Based on the test result  using multiple linear regression, this study concludes that: (1) The customer perspective has a significant influence on the financial performance of MSMEs in Indonesia, (2) the Internal Business Process perspective has a significant influence on the financial performance of MSMEs in Indonesia, and ( 3) Learning and Growth Perspective has a significant influence on the financial performance of MSMEs in Indonesia.

Keywords: customer perspective, internal business process perspective, learning and growth perspective, financial performance
PENGARUH PERPUTARAN MODAL KERJA TERHADAP RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) DI PT. UNILEVER TBK, JAKARTA
Authors: Maryanto Djoko , Rafif Iqbal
Published: February 2022

This study aims to produce information in the form of a more in-depth explanation of the influence of working capital turnover on return on equity. And get the results from the processed data about how much influence the working capital turnover have on return on equity. The research method used in this study, the data obtained both quantitative and qualitative in nature were examined using a descriptive method, namely with a quantitative approach to the form of financial reports for working capital turnover quarters of 2011-2019.Based on calculations with a simple linear regression equation Y = 0.058 + 0,182X means that if the value of  working capital turnover is 0, the value of return on equity is 0.058%  and if the working capital are Rp. 1, - the return on equity will increase by 0,182%. R value = 0.730  means that the relationship between working capital turnover and return on equityt is high. While the value of R2 = 0.533 or 53.3% means that the return on equity is influenced by working capital turnover by the remaining 53.3% by 46.7% influenced by other variables not examined. While the T test results obtained sig 0.003> 0.05 then H0 is accepted, and based on the T test t(6.230) which means that the variable t value is higher than t table that is( 2.03224) proving that the working capital turnover have relationship on the return on equity.

Keywords: Working Capital Turnover, Return On Equity (ROE)