bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Linguistic Interactions in Third Language Acquisition: Evidence from Multi-Feature Analysis of Speech Perception
Authors: Wrembel Magdalena , Gut Ulrike , Kopečková Romana , Balas Anna
Published: November 2020

Research on third language (L3) phonological acquisition has shown that Cross-Linguistic Influence (CLI) plays a role not only in forming the newly acquired language but also in reshaping the previously established ones. Only a few studies to date have examined cross-linguistic effects in the speech perception of multilingual learners. The aim of this study is to explore the development of speech perception in young multilinguals’ non-native languages (L2 and L3) and to trace the patterns of CLI between their phonological subsystems over time. The participants were 13 L1 Polish speakers (aged 12–13), learning English as L2 and German as L3. They performed a forced-choice goodness task in L2 and L3 to test their perception of rhotics and final obstruent (de)voicing. Response accuracy and reaction times were recorded for analyses at two testing times. The results indicate that CLI in perceptual development is feature-dependent with relative stability evidenced for L2 rhotics, reverse trends for L3 rhotics, and no significant development for L2/L3 (de)voicing. We also found that the source of CLI differed across the speakers’ languages: the perception accuracy of rhotics differed significantly with respect to stimulus properties, that is, whether they were L1-, L2-, or L3-accented.
Origin of Life: The Point of No Return
Authors: Kunnev Dimiter
Published: November 2020

Origin of life research is one of the greatest scientific frontiers of mankind. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain how life began. Although different hypotheses emphasize different initial phenomena, all of them agree around one important concept: at some point, along with the chain of events toward life, Darwinian evolution emerged. There is no consensus, however, how this occurred. Frequently, the mechanism leading to Darwinian evolution is not addressed and it is assumed that this problem could be solved later, with experimental proof of the hypothesis. Here, the author first defines the minimum components required for Darwinian evolution and then from this standpoint, analyzes some of the hypotheses for the origin of life. Distinctive features of Darwinian evolution and life rooted in the interaction between information and its corresponding structure/function are then reviewed. Due to the obligatory dependency of the information and structure subject to Darwinian evolution, these components must be locked in their origin. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Darwinian evolution in comparison with all other processes is the establishment of a fundamentally new level of matter capable of evolving and adapting. Therefore, the initiation of Darwinian evolution is the “point of no return” after which life begins. In summary: a definition and a mechanism for Darwinian evolution are provided together with a critical analysis of some of the hypotheses for the origin of life.
A Novel γ′-Strengthened Nickel-Based Superalloy for Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Xu Jinghao , Gruber Hans , Lin Peng Ru , Moverare Johan
Published: November 2020

An experimental printable γ′-strengthened nickel-based superalloy, MAD542, is proposed. By process optimization, a crack-free component with less than 0.06% defect was achieved by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). After post-processing by solution heat treatment, a recrystallized structure was revealed, which was also associated with the formation of annealing twins. After the aging treatment, 60–65% γ′ precipitates were obtained with a cuboidal morphology. The success of printing and post-processing the new MAD542 superalloy may give new insights into alloy design approaches for additive manufacturing.
Corrosion Characteristics of Rolling Oil on the Rolled Copper Foil
Authors: Xia Lei , Li Yan , Zhao Shen , Xiong Sang , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: November 2020

Static corrosion experiments were carried out to investigate the corrosion of each kind of component in the rolling oil on the rolled copper foil. The surface morphology and chemical composition of corrosion products were detected by a digital camera, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the maximum corrosion rate of rolled copper foil in the base stock and friction modifiers (butyl stearate and dodecanol) was close to zero, while that of rolled copper foil in the N-containing borate, phosphate and the fully formulated rolling oil were 0.17, 1.12 and 0.78 mm/a, respectively. The color of rolled copper foil changing from pink into purple-black when corroded in the N-containing borate. The composition of it was mainly CuO and Cu2O with some N-containing borate adsorbed on it. However, the color and composition of the corroded copper foil in the phosphate were similar to that of the original copper foil. It was complicated for the corroded copper foil in the fully formulated rolling oil, which showed characteristics both in the N-containing borate and in the phosphate according to different positions. It indicated that there might be little corrosion for the base stock and friction modifiers on the rolled copper foil. It might mainly be extreme pressure additives (N-containing borate and phosphate) that caused the corrosion of rolled copper foil. There might be competition between N-containing borate and phosphate for the corrosion of rolled copper foil in the fully formulated rolling oil, resulting in a lower corrosion rate compared with that in the phosphate.
Manufacturing Parameters, Materials, and Welds Properties of Butt Friction Stir Welded Joints–Overview
Authors: Laska Aleksandra , Szkodo Marek
Published: November 2020

The modern and eco-friendly friction stir welding (FSW) method allows the combination of even such materials that are considered to be non-weldable. The development of FSW technology in recent years has allowed a rapid increase in the understanding of the mechanism of this process and made it possible to perform the first welding trials of modern polymeric and composite materials, the joining of which was previously a challenge. The following review work focuses on presenting the current state of the art on applying this method to particular groups of materials. The paper has been divided into subchapters focusing on the most frequently used construction materials, with particular emphasis on their properties, applications, and usage of the FSW method for these materials. Mechanisms of joint creation are discussed, and the microstructure of joints and the influence of material characteristics on the welding process are described. The biggest problems observed during FSW of these materials and potential causes of their occurrence are quoted. The influence of particular parameters on the properties of manufactured joints for each group of materials is discussed on the basis of a wide literature review.
A Short-Patterning of the Texts Attributed to Al Ghazali: A “Twitter Look” at the Problem
Authors: Volkovich Zeev
Published: November 2020

This article presents an novel approach inspired by the modern exploration of short texts’ patterning to creations prescribed to the outstanding Islamic jurist, theologian, and mystical thinker Abu Hamid Al Ghazali. We treat the task with the general authorship attribution problematics and employ a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), intended in combination with a balancing procedure to recognize short, concise templates in manuscripts. The proposed system suggests new attitudes make it possible to investigate medieval Arabic documents from a novel computational perspective. An evaluation of the results on a previously tagged collection of books ascribed to Al Ghazali demonstrates the method’s high reliability in recognizing the source authorship. Evaluations of two famous manuscripts, Mishakat al-Anwa and Tahafut al-Falasifa, questioningly attributed to Al Ghazali or co-authored by him, exhibit a significant difference in their overall stylistic style with one inherently assigned to Al Ghazali. This fact can serve as a substantial formal argument in the long-standing dispute about these manuscripts’ authorship. The proposed methodology suggests a new look on the perusal of medieval documents’ inner structures and possible authorship from the short-patterning and signal processing perspectives.
On the Sharp Gårding Inequality for Operators with Polynomially Bounded and Gevrey Regular Symbols
Authors: Arias Junior Alexandre , Cappiello Marco
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we analyze the Friedrichs part of an operator with polynomially bounded symbol. Namely, we derive a precise expression of its asymptotic expansion. In the case of symbols satisfying Gevrey estimates, we also estimate precisely the regularity of the terms in the asymptotic expansion. These results allow new and refined applications of the sharp Gårding inequality in the study of the Cauchy problem for p-evolution equations.
Generalized Finite Difference Method for Plate Bending Analysis of Functionally Graded Materials
Authors: Li Yu-Dong , Tang Zhuo-Chao , Fu Zhuo-Jia
Published: November 2020

In this paper, an easy-to-implement domain-type meshless method—the generalized finite difference method (GFDM)—is applied to simulate the bending behavior of functionally graded (FG) plates. Based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and Hamilton’s principle, the governing equations and constrained boundary conditions of functionally graded plates are derived. Based on the multivariate Taylor series and the weighted moving least-squares technique, the partial derivative of the underdetermined displacement at a certain node can be represented by a linear combination of the displacements at its adjacent nodes in the GFDM implementation. A certain node of the local support domain is formed according to the rule of “the shortest distance”. The proposed GFDM provides the sparse resultant matrix, which overcomes the highly ill-conditioned resultant matrix issue encountered in most of the meshless collocation methods. In addition, the studies show that irregular distribution of structural nodes has hardly any impact on the numerical performance of the generalized finite difference method for FG plate bending behavior. The method is a truly meshless approach. The numerical accuracy and efficiency of the GFDM are firstly verified through some benchmark examples, with different shapes and constrained boundary conditions. Then, the effects of material parameters and thickness on FG plate bending behavior are numerically investigated.
Identification and Classification of Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and PMR-Like Syndromes Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) Therapy: Discussion Points and Grey Areas Emerging from a Systematic Review of Published Literature
Authors: Manzo Ciro , Isetta Marco , Natale Maria , Castagna Alberto
Published: November 2020

Background: Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is one of the most frequent rheumatologic immune-related adverse effects (IRAEs) in cancer patients following therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Atypical findings in many patients often lead to diagnosing PMR-like syndromes. Materials and methods: The aim of our research was to review reported diagnoses of PMR and PMR-like syndromes following ICIs therapy, and assess whether they can be redefined as adverse drug reaction (ADR). In line with PRISMA guidelines, we carried out a systematic search on three main bibliographic databases, based on a combination of subject headings and free text. We included all studies and case-reports published after 2011 (when FDA approved the use of the first ICI) describing the association of PMR or PMR-like syndromes with all types of ICIs therapy. We excluded reviews, conference abstracts, comments, secondary articles, and non-English language studies. Results: We reviewed data from seven studies and eight case-reports, involving a total of 54 patients. Limitations included: the small size of all studies; only one retrospective study used validated criteria for PMR; most reports assessed IRAEs by clinical judgment only and did not seek validation through assessment scales. To date, it remains a conundrum whether IRAEs-PMR is identical to the idiopathic form of the disease, or whether it should be considered a subset of the disease or a new entity. Conclusions: Our review indicates that the relationship between PMR and ICIs therapy is yet to be clearly understood and defined and that future research should remedy the current limits in study design.
An Alternative Molecular View of Evolution: How DNA was Altered over Geological Time
Authors: Menger Fredric M.
Published: November 2020

Four natural phenomena are cited for their defiance of conventional neo-Darwinian analysis: human intelligence; cat domesticity; the Cambrian explosion; and convergent evolution. 1. Humans are now far more intelligent than needed in their hunting–gathering days >10,000 years ago. 2. Domestic cats evolved from wildcats via major genetic and physical changes, all occurring in less than 12,000 years. 3. The Cambrian explosion refers to the remarkable expansion of species that mystifies evolutionists, as there is a total lack of fossil evidence for precursors of this abundant new life. 4. Convergent evolution often involves formation of complex, multigene traits in two or more species that have no common ancestor. These four evolutionary riddles are discussed in terms of a proposed “preassembly” mechanism in which genes and gene precursors are collected silently and randomly over extensive time periods within huge non-coding sections of DNA. This is followed by epigenetic release of the genes, when the environment so allows, and by natural selection. In neo-Darwinism, macroevolution of complex traits involves multiple mutation/selections, with each of the resulting intermediates being more favorable to the species than the previous one. Preassembly, in contrast, invokes natural selection only after a partially or fully formed trait is already in place. Preassembly does not supplant neo-Darwinism but, instead, supplements neo-Darwinism in those important instances where the classical theory is wanting.
Optimization Strategies Aimed to Increase the Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapies with Quinolones
Authors: Gisbert Javier P.
Published: November 2020

H. pylori infection is the main cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin, or more recently moxifloxacin or sitafloxacin, are efficacious alternatives to standard antibiotics for H. pylori eradication. The aim of the present review is to summarize the role of quinolone-based eradication therapies, mainly focusing on the optimization strategies aimed to increase their efficacy. Several meta-analyses have shown that, after failure of a first-line eradication treatment, a levofloxacin-containing rescue regimen is at least equally effective, and better tolerated, than the generally recommended bismuth quadruple regimen. Compliance with the levofloxacin regimens is excellent, and the safety profile is favourable. Higher cure rates have been reported with longer treatments (>10–14 days), and 500 mg levofloxacin daily is the recommended dose. Adding bismuth to the standard triple regimen (PPI-amoxicillin-levofloxacin) has been associated with encouraging results. Unfortunately, resistance to quinolones is easily acquired and is increasing in most countries, being associated with a decrease in the eradication rate of H. pylori. In summary, a quinolone (mainly levofloxacin)-containing regimen is an encouraging second-line (or even third-line) strategy, and a safe and simple alternative to bismuth quadruple therapy in patients whose previous H. pylori eradication therapy has failed.
Neuroprotective Effects of Baicalein, Wogonin, and Oroxylin A on Amyloid Beta-Induced Toxicity via NF-κB/MAPK Pathway Modulation
Authors: Ji Yeongseon , Han Jin , Lee Nayoung , Yoon Jeong-Hyun , Youn Kumju , Ha Hyun Joo , Yoon Eunju , Kim Dong Hyun , Jun Mira
Published: November 2020

Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, one of the most important pathogenic traits of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), invokes a cascade of oxidative damage and eventually leads to neuronal death. In the present study, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A, main active flavones in Scutellaria baicalensis, were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against Aβ25–35-stimulated damage. All tested compounds decreased Aβ25–35-induced ROS generation and cell cycle arrest. In particular, baicalein exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. In addition, these compounds suppressed apoptosis by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction such as loss of membrane potential, Ca2+ accumulation and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, all tested flavones inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2, which resulted in suppressing inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, NO, and PGE2. Noticeably, all compounds exhibited the anti-inflammatory effects through downregulating NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Especially, oroxylin A was effective against both p65 and IκBα, while wogonin and baicalein were suppressed phospho-p65 and phospho-IκBα, respectively. Taken together, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A can effectively relieve Aβ25–35-stimulated neuronal apoptosis and inflammation in PC12 cells via downregulating NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway.
In Vitro Study of the Toxicity Mechanisms of Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron (nZVI) and Released Iron Ions Using Earthworm Cells
Authors: Semerad Jaroslav , Pacheco Natividad Isabel Navarro , Grasserova Alena , Prochazkova Petra , Pivokonsky Martin , Pivokonska Lenka , Cajthaml Tomas
Published: November 2020

During the last two decades, nanomaterials based on nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) have ranked among the most utilized remediation technologies for soil and groundwater cleanup. The high reduction capacity of elemental iron (Fe0) allows for the rapid and cost-efficient degradation or transformation of many organic and inorganic pollutants. Although worldwide real and pilot applications show promising results, the effects of nZVI on exposed living organisms are still not well explored. The majority of the recent studies examined toxicity to microbes and to a lesser extent to other organisms that could also be exposed to nZVI via nanoremediation applications. In this work, a novel approach using amoebocytes, the immune effector cells of the earthworm Eisenia andrei, was applied to study the toxicity mechanisms of nZVI. The toxicity of the dissolved iron released during exposure was studied to evaluate the effect of nZVI aging with regard to toxicity and to assess the true environmental risks. The impact of nZVI and associated iron ions was studied in vitro on the subcellular level using different toxicological approaches, such as short-term immunological responses and oxidative stress. The results revealed an increase in reactive oxygen species production following nZVI exposure, as well as a dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and necrosis were detected upon exposure to ferric and ferrous ions, although no lethal effects were observed at environmentally relevant nZVI concentrations. The decreased phagocytic activity further confirmed sublethal adverse effects, even after short-term exposure to ferric and ferrous iron. Detection of sublethal effects, including changes in oxidative stress-related markers such as reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde production revealed that nZVI had minimal impacts on exposed earthworm cells. In comparison to other works, this study provides more details regarding the effects of the individual iron forms associated with nZVI aging and the cell toxicity effects on the specific earthworms’ immune cells that represent a suitable model for nanomaterial testing.
Can the Franciscan Legacy Be Decolonized or Decolonialized?
Authors: Foley Edward
Published: November 2020

Over the centuries, the dynamic and fluid charism labeled “Franciscanism” has evolved, changed and morphed well beyond the vision of St. Francis and St. Clare. There is ample evidence to suggest that, after Vatican II and its mandate for religious communities to renew themselves (Perfectae caritatis, nn. 2 et passim), Franciscans of various stripes have done just that. On the other hand, the majority of First Order friars in the world are yet clerics, often minister in diocesan settings (e.g., parishes), and frequently self-identify more as “Fr”. than “Br”. Recent developments in postcolonial and decolonial theory provide valuable lenses for discerning to what extent First Order Franciscans have actually recovered the founding charisms. While distinguished by genealogy, chronology and priorities—some argue that decolonization is about reasserting control of land and resources, while decolonialization is concerned with the epistemic control that continues long after foreign administrations have receded—these two frames are yet intimately linked. Together, they provide welcomed tools for discerning to what extent monasticized, clericalized and “diocesanized” stands of ministry, administration and thinking persist among First Order friars in the 21st century. This engagement with unexpected dialogue partners from critical theories, rather than with the more comfortable and traditional arenas of history and spirituality, promises fresh and maybe even unsettling insights about our enacted spirituality.
Automatic Mapping of Rice Growth Stages Using the Integration of SENTINEL-2, MOD13Q1, and SENTINEL-1
Authors: Ramadhani Fadhlullah , Pullanagari Reddy , Kereszturi Gabor , Procter Jonathan
Published: November 2020

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop for more than half of the world’s population. Rice production is facing a myriad of problems, including water shortage, climate, and land-use change. Accurate maps of rice growth stages are critical for monitoring rice production and assessing its impacts on national and global food security. Rice growth stages are typically monitored by coarse-resolution satellite imagery. However, it is difficult to accurately map due to the occurrence of mixed pixels in fragmented and patchy rice fields, as well as cloud cover, particularly in tropical countries. To solve these problems, we developed an automated mapping workflow to produce near real-time multi-temporal maps of rice growth stages at a 10-m spatial resolution using multisource remote sensing data (Sentinel-2, MOD13Q1, and Sentinel-1). This study was investigated between 1 June and 29 September 2018 in two (wet and dry) areas of Java Island in Indonesia. First, we built prediction models based on Sentinel-2, and fusion of MOD13Q1/Sentinel-1 using the ground truth information. Second, we applied the prediction models on all images in area and time and separation between the non-rice planting class and rice planting class over the cropping pattern. Moreover, the model’s consistency on the multitemporal map with a 5–30-day lag was investigated. The result indicates that the Sentinel-2 based model classification gives a high overall accuracy of 90.6% and the fusion model MOD13Q1/Sentinel-1 shows 78.3%. The performance of multitemporal maps was consistent between time lags with an accuracy of 83.27–90.39% for Sentinel-2 and 84.15% for the integration of Sentinel-2/MOD13Q1/Sentinel-1. The results from this study show that it is possible to integrate multisource remote sensing for regular monitoring of rice phenology, thereby generating spatial information to support local-, national-, and regional-scale food security applications.
Sensor Fusion of Motion-Based Sign Language Interpretation with Deep Learning
Authors: Lee Boon Giin , Chong Teak-Wei , Chung Wan-Young
Published: November 2020

Sign language was designed to allow hearing-impaired people to interact with others. Nonetheless, knowledge of sign language is uncommon in society, which leads to a communication barrier with the hearing-impaired community. Many studies of sign language recognition utilizing computer vision (CV) have been conducted worldwide to reduce such barriers. However, this approach is restricted by the visual angle and highly affected by environmental factors. In addition, CV usually involves the use of machine learning, which requires collaboration of a team of experts and utilization of high-cost hardware utilities; this increases the application cost in real-world situations. Thus, this study aims to design and implement a smart wearable American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation system using deep learning, which applies sensor fusion that “fuses” six inertial measurement units (IMUs). The IMUs are attached to all fingertips and the back of the hand to recognize sign language gestures; thus, the proposed method is not restricted by the field of view. The study reveals that this model achieves an average recognition rate of 99.81% for dynamic ASL gestures. Moreover, the proposed ASL recognition system can be further integrated with ICT and IoT technology to provide a feasible solution to assist hearing-impaired people in communicating with others and improve their quality of life.
Deep Photometric Stereo Network with Multi-Scale Feature Aggregation
Authors: Yu Chanki , Lee Sang Wook
Published: November 2020

We present photometric stereo algorithms robust to non-Lambertian reflection, which are based on a convolutional neural network in which surface normals of objects with complex geometry and surface reflectance are estimated from a given set of an arbitrary number of images. These images are taken from the same viewpoint under different directional illumination conditions. The proposed method focuses on surface normal estimation, where multi-scale feature aggregation is proposed to obtain a more accurate surface normal, and max pooling is adopted to obtain an intermediate order-agnostic representation in the photometric stereo scenario. The proposed multi-scale feature aggregation scheme using feature concatenation is easily incorporated into existing photometric stereo network architectures. Our experiments were performed with a DiLiGent photometric stereo benchmark dataset consisting of ten real objects, and they demonstrated that the accuracies of our calibrated and uncalibrated photometric stereo approaches were improved over those of baseline methods. In particular, our experiments also demonstrated that our uncalibrated photometric stereo outperformed the state-of-the-art method. Our work is the first to consider the multi-scale feature aggregation in photometric stereo, and we showed that our proposed multi-scale fusion scheme estimated the surface normal accurately and was beneficial to improving performance.
Model Free Inference on Multivariate Time Series with Conditional Correlations
Authors: Thomakos Dimitrios , Klepsch Johannes , Politis Dimitris N.
Published: November 2020

New results on volatility modeling and forecasting are presented based on the NoVaS transformation approach. Our main contribution is that we extend the NoVaS methodology to modeling and forecasting conditional correlation, thus allowing NoVaS to work in a multivariate setting as well. We present exact results on the use of univariate transformations and on their combination for joint modeling of the conditional correlations: we show how the NoVaS transformed series can be combined and the likelihood function of the product can be expressed explicitly, thus allowing for optimization and correlation modeling. While this keeps the original “model-free” spirit of NoVaS it also makes the new multivariate NoVaS approach for correlations “semi-parametric”, which is why we introduce an alternative using cross validation. We also present a number of auxiliary results regarding the empirical implementation of NoVaS based on different criteria for distributional matching. We illustrate our findings using simulated and real-world data, and evaluate our methodology in the context of portfolio management.
Reconstruction of Resin Collection History of Pine Forests in Korea from Tree-Ring Dating
Authors: Choi En-Bi , Kim Yo-Jung , Park Jun-Hui , Park Chan-Ryul , Seo Jeong-Wook
Published: November 2020

Resin is one of the traditional non-timber forest products in the Republic of Korea. In order to investigate the chronological activity of resin collection, the wounds/cuts on red pines (Pinus densiflora) were dated using a tree-ring analysis technique. Additionally, the size of the trees in the resin collection years and the present conditions of the trees were investigated to verify the tree conditions and the size of wounds. Eighty-eight red pines distributed over nine sites in the Republic of Korea were selected to extract increment cores and investigate the wound size. Through the tree-ring analysis, the trees with big wounds (24.7 × 104.7 cm) made via panel hacksaw method were dated in the range 1938–1952, whereas small wounds (40.2 × 20.9 cm) made via the conventional chisel method were dated between 1956 and 1973. Moreover, the red pines thicker than 20.0 cm were the ones that were used for resin collection. Furthermore, the wounds created by the conventional chisel were healed with time, whereas the ones formed via the panel hacksaw method still required long times for healing. The large wounds had the advantage of supplying a large amount of resin, but this was temporary. On the other hand, the smaller wounds formed via the traditional chisel method could generate resin for a longer time and heal faster.
Should Photovoltaics Stay at Home? Comparative Life Cycle Environmental Assessment on Roof-Mounted and Ground-Mounted Photovoltaics
Authors: Kouloumpis Victor , Kalogerakis Antonios , Pavlidou Anastasia , Tsinarakis George , Arampatzis George
Published: November 2020

Renewable energy technologies like photovoltaics may be considered an indispensable component of a low-carbon electricity mix, but social acceptance should not be taken for granted. For instance, in Greece there are still claims, especially in rural areas, regarding the land use and the competition against more traditional economic activities such as grazing. An argument in favor of confining to roof-mounted photovoltaic installations is the additional infrastructure requirements for ground-mounted larger-scale photovoltaics. These requirements reduce and could potentially negate their environmental benefits. The aim of this study is to investigate the life cycle environmental impacts of commercial ground-mounted photovoltaic farms and compare them against residential roof-mounted photovoltaic installations. Data were gathered for a 500 kW ground-mounted photovoltaic installation and for five roof-mounted installations of 10 kW capacity, each from the same area at the prefecture of Pella in Northern Greece. An LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) was performed and results show that panel production is the main contributor for both types and that ground-mounted photovoltaics—when no transmission/distribution infrastructure is considered—have lower impacts than the roof-mounted residential photovoltaic installations for all impact categories except terrestrial ecotoxicity. However, when located further than 10.22 km from grid connection, ground-mounted photovoltaics have higher impacts for almost all environmental impact categories.
A Bibliometric Analysis of COVID-19 across Science and Social Science Research Landscape
Authors: Aristovnik Aleksander , Ravšelj Dejan , Umek Lan
Published: November 2020

The lack of knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged extensive research in the academic sphere, reflected in the exponentially growing scientific literature. While the state of COVID-19 research reveals it is currently in an early stage of developing knowledge, a comprehensive and in-depth overview is still missing. Accordingly, the paper’s main aim is to provide an extensive bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research across the science and social science research landscape, using innovative bibliometric approaches (e.g., Venn diagram, Biblioshiny descriptive statistics, VOSviewer co-occurrence network analysis, Jaccard distance cluster analysis, text mining based on binary logistic regression). The bibliometric analysis considers the Scopus database, including all relevant information on COVID-19 related publications (n = 16,866) available in the first half of 2020. The empirical results indicate the domination of health sciences in terms of number of relevant publications and total citations, while physical sciences and social sciences and humanities lag behind significantly. Nevertheless, there is an evidence of COVID-19 research collaboration within and between different subject area classifications with a gradual increase in importance of non-health scientific disciplines. The findings emphasize the great need for a comprehensive and in-depth approach that considers various scientific disciplines in COVID-19 research so as to benefit not only the scientific community but evidence-based policymaking as part of efforts to properly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Green Hotels: Exploring the Drivers of Customer Approach Behaviors for Green Consumption
Authors: Han Heesup , Chen Che , Lho Linda Heejung , Kim Hyeran , Yu Jongsik
Published: November 2020

This research developed an integrated theoretical framework encompassing green image congruence, care for the environmental consequences, eco-conscious behaviors, sense of moral obligation, and perceived environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to explain customer approach behaviors for green hotels. Previous researches discussed about environmental behavior and consumer behavior. However, customer environmentally responsible approach decision formation and consumption activities are an insufficiently explored topic. This study implemented quantitative research methodological. The findings of this study showed the correlation of research constructs are significant and such relationships contribute to boosting of customer approach behaviors. Sense of obligation to take green actions as a mediator maximized the effect of other research variables on approach behaviors. In addition, a prominent role of the sense of moral obligation to take green actions in determining approach behaviors was uncovered. Perceived environmental CSR played a vital moderating role within the proposed conceptual framework. The outcomes of this research can help hotel operators and academics better comprehend customer pro-environmental decision-making process and behaviors.
Research on Optimization and Design of Sustainable Urban Underground Logistics Network Framework
Authors: Wei Hairui , Li Anlin , Jia Nana
Published: November 2020

As a new mode of transportation, the underground logistics system (ULS) has become one of the solutions to the problems of environmental pollution and traffic congestion. Considering the environmental and economic factors in urban logistics, this paper conducts comprehensive design and optimization research on the network nodes and passages of urban underground logistics and proposes a relatively complete framework for a sustainable underground logistics network. A hybrid method is proposed, which includes the set cover model used to perform the first location of urban underground logistics nodes, the fuzzy clustering method applied to classify the located logistics nodes into the first-level and second-level nodes considering the congestion in different urban areas of the city and a mixed integer programming model proposed to optimize and design the underground logistics passage to find optimal passage parameters at every underground logistics node. Based on the above hybrid method, a sustainable underground logistics network framework including all-levels logistics nodes and passages is formed, with a subdistrict of Nanjing as a case study. The discussion of results shows that this underground logistics network framework proposal is very effective in reducing logistics time cost, exhaust emission and congestion cost. It provides support for decisions in the design and development of urban sustainable underground logistics networks.
Identification of High-Priority Tributaries for Water Quality Management in Nakdong River Using Neural Networks and Grade Classification
Authors: Jung Kang-Young , Cho Sohyun , Hwang Seong-Yun , Lee Yeongjae , Kim Kyunghyun , Na Eun Hye
Published: November 2020

To determine the high-priority tributaries that require water quality improvement in the Nakdong River, which is an important drinking water resource for southeastern Korea, data collected at 28 tributaries between 2013 and 2017 were analyzed. To analyze the water quality characteristics of the tributary streams, principal component analysis and factor analysis were performed. COD (chemical oxygen demand), TOC (total organic carbon), TP (total phosphorus), SS (suspended solids), and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) were classified as the primary factors. In the self-organizing maps analysis using the unsupervised learning neural network model, the first factor showed a highly relevant pattern. To perform the grade classification, 11 parameters were selected. Six parameters are concentrations of the main parameters for the water quality standard assessment in South Korea. We added the pollution load densities for the selected five primary factors. Joochungang showed the highest pollution load density despite its small watershed area. According to the results of the grade classification method, Joochungang, Topyeongcheon, Hwapocheon, Chacheon, Gwangyeocheon, and Geumhogang were selected as tributaries requiring high-priority water quality management measures. From this study, it was concluded that neural network models and grade classification methods could be utilized to identify the high-priority tributaries for more directed and effective water quality management.
A Smart Water Grid for Micro-Trading Rainwater: Hydraulic Feasibility Analysis
Authors: Ramsey Elizabeth , Pesantez Jorge , Fasaee Mohammad Ali Khaksar , DiCarlo Morgan , Monroe Jacob , Berglund Emily Zechman
Published: November 2020

Water availability is increasingly stressed in cities across the world due to population growth, which increases demands, and climate change, which can decrease supply. Novel water markets and water supply paradigms are emerging to address water shortages in the urban environment. This research develops a new peer-to-peer non-potable water market that allows households to capture, use, sell, and buy rainwater within a network of water users. A peer-to-peer non-potable water market, as envisioned in this research, would be enabled by existing and emerging technologies. A dual reticulation system, which circulates non-potable water, serves as the backbone for the water trading network by receiving water from residential rainwater tanks and distributing water to households for irrigation purposes. Prosumer households produce rainwater by using cisterns to collect and store rainwater and household pumps to inject rainwater into the network at sufficiently high pressures. The smart water grid would be enabled through an array of information and communication technologies that provide capabilities for automated and real-time metering of water flow, control of infrastructure, and trading between households. The goal of this manuscript is to explore and test the hydraulic feasibility of a micro-trading system through an agent-based modeling approach. Prosumer households are represented as agents that store rainwater and pump rainwater into the network; consumer households are represented as agents that withdraw water from the network for irrigation demands. An all-pipe hydraulic model is constructed and loosely coupled with the agent-based model to simulate network hydraulics. A set of scenarios are analyzed to explore how micro-trading performs based on the level of irrigation demands that could realistically be met through decentralized trading; pressure and energy requirements at prosumer households; pressure and water quality in the pipe network.
The All-You-Can-Eat Economy: How Never-Ending Economic Growth Affects Our Happiness and Our Chances for a Sustainable Future
Authors: Wilson Eric , Mukhopadhyaya Phalguni
Published: November 2020

This paper explores the relationship between energy consumption, economic growth, and life satisfaction and makes the case that economic growth as usual is no longer a desirable or sustainable policy goal. Historically, economic and social development go along with energy sector transformation and total energy use. As a country develops, its use of energy increases, resource consumption increases, population booms, life expectancy rises, and overall socio-economic outcomes are improved. One might deduce then, that life satisfaction is also tightly correlated to economic development and energy consumption, but is this the case? To answer this question, current academic literature and data on the relationship between energy consumption, GDP, and quality of life were explored. The review showed a weak relationship between GDP and quality of life, a saturation relationship between energy use and social returns (social returns increase with increasing energy use to a point), and a strong relationship between GDP and energy use. There have been high hopes that improvements in energy-efficient technology will reduce global aggregate resource consumption, however, there is a growing body of research to suggest the opposite is likely to occur due to ”rebound effects”. The major environmental issues of our time have been seen predominantly as issues to be solved through advancements in technology; however, it is the argument of this paper that they cannot be addressed from a purely technological standpoint. Of course, improving energy efficiency is an important factor, but we must not forget the equally important subject of human behavior and our addiction to continual economic growth. We must first address the human desire to consume resources in the pursuit of happiness and socio-economic status, and shift towards a mentality of sufficiency. Future research must demonstrate concrete examples of sustainable development and consumption, advance the discourse on how the individual can be part of the solution, and empower the implementation of sustainable government policy.
Global warming, neurosurgery and neurocritical care
Authors: García-Ballestas Ezequiel , Moscote-Salazar Luis Rafael , Joaquim Andrei , Agrawal Amit
Published: November 2020

The changing temperatures are making an impact on health-related mortality outcomes with many studies on the role of temperature and mortality risks in cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Global warming a real phenomenon, progressing rapidly and producing changes in the ecosystem and have economic, social and public health implications.
Understanding the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a qualitative multiperspective study
Authors: Sowden Emma , Hossain Muhammad , Chew-Graham Carolyn , Blakeman Tom , Tierney Stephanie , Wellwood Ian , Rosa Francesca , Deaton Christi
Published: November 2020

Background

About half of all people with heart failure have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), in which the heart is stiff. This type of heart failure is more common in older people with a history of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Patients with HFpEF are often managed in primary care, sometimes in collaboration with specialists. Knowledge about how best to manage this growing population is limited, and there is a pressing need to improve care for these patients.

Aim

To explore clinicians’ and patients’/carers’ perspectives and experiences about the management of HFpEF to inform the development of an improved model of care.

Design and setting

A multiperspective qualitative study involving primary and secondary care settings across the east of England, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.

Method

Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted. Transcribed data were analysed using framework analysis and informed by the normalisation process theory (NPT).

Results

In total, 50 patients, nine carers/relatives, and 73 clinicians were recruited. Difficulties with diagnosis, unclear illness perceptions, and management disparity were identified as important factors that may influence management of HFpEF. The NPT construct of coherence reflected what participants expressed about the need to improve the identification, understanding, and awareness of this condition in order to improve care.

Conclusion

There is a pressing need to raise the public and clinical profile of HFpEF, develop a clear set of accepted practices concerning its management, and ensure that systems of care are accessible and attuned to the needs of patients with this condition.
Healthcare practitioner views and experiences of patients self-monitoring blood pressure: a vignette study
Authors: Andrews Jacob A , Weiner Kate , Will Catherine M , Henwood Flis , Dickson Jon M
Published: November 2020

Background

Home self-monitoring of blood pressure is widely used in primary care to assist in the diagnosis of hypertension, as well as to improve clinical outcomes and support adherence to medication. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) care pathways for hypertension recommend specific guidelines, although they lack detail on supporting patients to self-monitor.

Aim

To elicit primary care practitioners’ experiences of managing patients’ home blood pressure self-monitoring, across surgeries located in different socioeconomic areas.

Design & setting

A qualitative focus group study was conducted with a total of 21 primary care professionals.

Method

Participants were GPs and practice nurses (PNs), purposively recruited from surgeries in areas of low and high deprivation, according to the English indices of multiple deprivation. Six vignettes were developed featuring data from interviews with people who self-monitor and these were used in five focus groups. Results were thematically analysed.

Results

Themes derived in the thematic analysis largely reflected topics covered by the vignettes. These included: advice on purchase of a device; supporting home monitoring; mitigating patient anxiety experienced as a result of home monitoring; valuing patients’ data; and effect of socioeconomic factors.

Conclusion

The work provides an account of methods used by primary care practitioners in the management of home blood pressure self-monitoring, where guidance may be lacking and primary care practitioners act on their own judgement. Findings complement recent policy documentation, which recognises the need to adopt new ways of working to empower patients (for example, additional support from healthcare assistants), but lacks detail on how this should be done.