bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Absorption of Different Cell Structures for Closed-Cell Foam-Filled Tubes Subject to Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Yu Yang , Cao Zhuokun , Tu Ganfeng , Mu Yongliang
Published: November 2020

The energy absorption of different cell structures for closed-cell aluminum foam-filled Al tubes are investigated through quasi-static compression testing. Aluminum foams are fabricated under different pressures, obtaining aluminum foams with different cell sizes. It is found that the deformation of the foam core is close to the overall deformation, and the deformation band is seriously expanded when the cell size is fined, which leads to the increase of interaction. Results confirm that the foam-filled tubes absorb more energy due to the increase of interaction between the foam core and tube wall when the foaming pressure increases. The energy absorption efficiency of foam-filled tubes can reach a maximum value of 90% when the foam core is fabricated under 0.30 MPa, which demonstrates that aluminum foams fabricated under increased pressure give a new way for the applications of foam-filled tubes in the automotive industry.
Detection of Methanobrevobacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter oralis in Lower Respiratory Tract Microbiota
Authors: Hassani Yasmine , Brégeon Fabienne , Aboudharam Gérard , Drancourt Michel , Grine Ghiles
Published: November 2020

Methanogens, the sole microbes producing methane, are archaea commonly found in human anaerobic microbiota. Methanogens are emerging as opportunistic pathogens associated with dysbiosis and are also detected and cultured in anaerobic abscesses. Their presence in the respiratory tract is yet unknown. As a preliminary answer, prospective investigation of 908 respiratory tract samples using polyphasic approach combining PCR-sequencing, real-time PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and methanogens culture was carried out. Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter oralis DNA sequences, were detected in 21/527 (3.9%) sputum samples, 2/188 (1.06%) bronchoalveolar lavages, and none of 193 tracheo-bronchial aspirations. Further, fluorescence in situ hybridization detected methanogens in three sputum investigated specimens with stick morphology suggesting M. oralis and in another one bronchoalveolar lavage sample investigated, diplococal morphology suggesting M. smithii. These observations extend the known territory of methanogens to the respiratory tract and lay the foundations for further interpretation of their detection as pathogens in any future cases of isolation from bronchoalveolar lavages and the lungs.
Pharmacokinetics of Sodium and Calcium Salts of (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid Compared to Folic Acid and Indirect Comparison of the Two Salts
Authors: Obeid Rima , Schön Christiane , Pietrzik Klaus , Menzel Daniel , Wilhelm Manfred , Smulders Yvo , Knapp Jean-Pierre , Böhni Ruth
Published: November 2020

(6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid ((6S)-5-Methyl-THF) salts and folic acid may differ in their abilities to raise plasma (6S)-5-Methyl-THF levels. We compared the area under the curve (AUC), Cmax, and Tmax of plasma (6S)-5-Methyl-THF after intakes of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na salt (Arcofolin®) and folic acid. Moreover, we compared the AUCs after intakes of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na and the calcium salt, (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Ca, that were tested against folic acid in two independent studies. The study was randomized, double blind, and cross over. Twenty-four adults (12 men and 12 women) received a single oral dose of 436 µg (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na and an equimolar dose of folic acid (400 µg) on two kinetic days with two weeks washout period in between. The plasma concentrations of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF were measured at 9 time points between 0 and 8 h. We found that the AUC0–8 h of plasma (6S)-5-Methyl-THF (mean (SD) = 126.0 (33.6) vs. 56.0 (25.3) nmol/L*h) and Cmax (36.8 (10.8) vs. 11.1 (4.1) nmol/L) were higher after administration of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na than after the administration of folic acid (p < 0.001 for both). These differences were present in men and women. Only administration of folic acid resulted in a transient increase in plasma unmetabolized folic acid (2.5 (2.0) nmol/L after 0.5 h and 4.7 (2.9) nmol/L after 1 h). Intake of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na was safe. The ratios of the AUC0–8 h for (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na and (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Ca to the corresponding folic acid reference group and the delta of these AUC0–8 h did not differ between the studies. In conclusion, a single oral dose of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF-Na caused higher AUC0–8 h and Cmax of plasma (6S)-5-Methyl-THF compared to folic acid. The Na- and Ca- salts of (6S)-5-Methyl-THF are not likely to differ in their pharmacokinetics. Further studies may investigate whether supplementation of the compounds for a longer time will lead to differences in circulating or intracellular/tissue folate concentrations.
Fruit and Vegetable Knowledge and Intake within an Australian Population: The AusDiab Study
Authors: Hill Caroline R. , Blekkenhorst Lauren C. , Radavelli-Bagatini Simone , Sim Marc , Woodman Richard J. , Devine Amanda , Shaw Jonathan E. , Hodgson Jonathan M. , Daly Robin M. , Lewis Joshua R.
Published: November 2020

Understanding the relationship between fruit and vegetable knowledge (FVK) and fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) is an important consideration for improved public health and successful targeting of health promotion messaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FVK and FVI in Australian adults and to identify subgroups most at risk of poor knowledge. Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), we investigated associations between FVK and FVI, as well as demographic and lifestyle factors. Baseline FVK was measured using two self-reported questions. FVI was assessed using a validated, self-reported, food frequency questionnaire in 1999/00 (baseline), 2004/05, and 2011/12. Amongst the 8966 participants assessed at baseline, 24.1% had adequate, 73.0% had insufficient, and 2.9% had poor FVK. Using linear regression, those with insufficient or poor FVK reported significantly lower FVI (grams/day) compared to those with adequate FVK: baseline (coefficient (95%CI)): −67.1 (−80.0, −54.3) and −124.0 (−142.9, −105.1), respectively, whilst, at 12 years, the differences were −42.5 (−54.6, −30.5) and −94.6 (−133.8, −55.5) grams/day, respectively (all p < 0.001). Poor FVK was more likely to be reported in males, older individuals (>65 years), socio-economically disadvantaged, smokers, and those with insufficient physical activity/sedentary behavior. We demonstrate that having adequate knowledge of FVI, defined as knowing to consume fruit and vegetables several times a day for a well-balanced diet, is strongly associated with FVI, with several demographic and lifestyle factors predicting FVK. Health promotion messages aimed at increasing FVK should target these subgroups for maximal effect.
Verbal Memory Performance in Depressed Children and Adolescents: Associations with EPA but Not DHA and Depression Severity
Authors: Emery Sophie , Häberling Isabelle , Berger Gregor , Baumgartner Noemi , Strumberger Michael , Albermann Mona , Nalani Kristin , Schmeck Klaus , Erb Suzanne , Bachmann Silke , Wöckel Lars , Müller-Knapp Ulrich , Contin-Waldvogel Brigitte , Rhiner Bruno , Walitza Susanne , Hersberger Martin , Drechsler Renate
Published: November 2020

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been described as positively associated with cognitive functioning. Current meta-analyses have identified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as potentially more effective than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An especially vulnerable subgroup that might benefit from these beneficial effects are depressed youths. In this study, we examined associations between red blood cell (RBC) DHA and EPA levels and depression severity and verbal memory performance in a sample of 107 moderately (n = 63) and severely (n = 44) depressed youths. The findings showed that youths with high RBC EPA levels had steeper learning curves compared to those with moderate or low RBC EPA levels (Pillai’s Trace = 0.195, p = 0.027, ηp2 = 0.097). No associations between RBC DHA levels or depression severity and verbal memory performance were observed. Our results further confirm previous findings indicating a more important role of EPA compared to DHA in relation to cognitive functioning. Future research should further investigate the differential role of EPA and DHA concerning cognitive functioning in depressed youths. Evidence supporting beneficial supplementation effects could potentially establish a recommendation for a natural and easily accessible intervention for cognitive improvement or remission.
Optimization of Liposomes for Antigen Targeting to Splenic CD169+ Macrophages
Authors: Nijen Twilhaar Maarten K. , Czentner Lucas , Grabowska Joanna , Affandi Alsya J. , Lau Chun Yin Jerry , Olesek Katarzyna , Kalay Hakan , van Nostrum Cornelus F. , van Kooyk Yvette , Storm Gert , Haan Joke M.M. den
Published: November 2020

Despite promising progress in cancer vaccination, therapeutic effectiveness is often insufficient. Cancer vaccine effectiveness could be enhanced by targeting vaccine antigens to antigen-presenting cells, thereby increasing T-cell activation. CD169-expressing splenic macrophages efficiently capture particulate antigens from the blood and transfer these antigens to dendritic cells for the activation of CD8+ T cells. In this study, we incorporated a physiological ligand for CD169, the ganglioside GM3, into liposomes to enhance liposome uptake by CD169+ macrophages. We assessed how variation in the amount of GM3, surface-attached PEG and liposomal size affected the binding to, and uptake by, CD169+ macrophages in vitro and in vivo. As a proof of concept, we prepared GM3-targeted liposomes containing a long synthetic ovalbumin peptide and tested the capacity of these liposomes to induce CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses compared to control liposomes or soluble peptide. The data indicate that the delivery of liposomes to splenic CD169+ macrophages can be optimized by the selection of liposomal constituents and liposomal size. Moreover, optimized GM3-mediated liposomal targeting to CD169+ macrophages induces potent immune responses and therefore presents as an interesting delivery strategy for cancer vaccination.
Clay-Based Pharmaceutical Formulations and Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: García-Villén Fátima , Viseras César
Published: November 2020

The use of minerals as ingredients in health care products is a classical and active pharmaceutical subject [...]
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2) Aggregates Can be Solubilized by Albumin—Investigation of BMP-2 Aggregation by Light Scattering and Electrophoresis
Authors: Sundermann Julius , Zagst Holger , Kuntsche Judith , Wätzig Hermann , Bunjes Heike
Published: November 2020

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) has a high tendency to aggregate at physiological pH and physiological ionic strength, which can complicate the development of growth factor delivery systems. The aggregation behavior in differently concentrated BMP-2 solutions was investigated using dynamic and static light scattering. It was found that at higher concentrations larger aggregates are formed, whose size decreases again with increasing dilution. A solubilizing effect and therefore less aggregation was observed upon the addition of albumin. Imaged capillary isoelectric focusing and the simulation of the surface charges of BMP-2 were used to find a possible explanation for the unusually low solubility of BMP-2 at physiological pH. In addition to hydrophobic interactions, attractive electrostatic interactions might be decisive in the aggregation of BMP-2 due to the particular distribution of surface charges. These results help to better understand the solubility behavior of BMP-2 and thus support future pharmaceutical research and the development of new strategies for the augmentation of bone healing.
When Deep Learning Meets Multi-Task Learning in SAR ATR: Simultaneous Target Recognition and Segmentation
Authors: Wang Chenwei , Pei Jifang , Wang Zhiyong , Huang Yulin , Wu Junjie , Yang Haiguang , Yang Jianyu
Published: November 2020

With the recent advances of deep learning, automatic target recognition (ATR) of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has achieved superior performance. By not being limited to the target category, the SAR ATR system could benefit from the simultaneous extraction of multifarious target attributes. In this paper, we propose a new multi-task learning approach for SAR ATR, which could obtain the accurate category and precise shape of the targets simultaneously. By introducing deep learning theory into multi-task learning, we first propose a novel multi-task deep learning framework with two main structures: encoder and decoder. The encoder is constructed to extract sufficient image features in different scales for the decoder, while the decoder is a tasks-specific structure which employs these extracted features adaptively and optimally to meet the different feature demands of the recognition and segmentation. Therefore, the proposed framework has the ability to achieve superior recognition and segmentation performance. Based on the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) dataset, experimental results show the superiority of the proposed framework in terms of recognition and segmentation.
River Flow Monitoring by Sentinel-3 OLCI and MODIS: Comparison and Combination
Authors: Tarpanelli Angelica , Iodice Filippo , Brocca Luca , Restano Marco , Benveniste Jérôme
Published: November 2020

The monitoring of rivers by satellite is an up-to-date subject in hydrological studies as confirmed by the interest of space agencies to finance specific missions that respond to the quantification of surface water flows. We address the problem by using multi-spectral sensors, in the near-infrared (NIR) band, correlating the reflectance ratio between a dry and a wet pixel extracted from a time series of images, the C/M ratio, with five river flow-related variables: water level, river discharge, flow area, mean flow velocity and surface width. The innovative aspect of this study is the use of the Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on board Sentinel-3 satellites, compared to the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) used in previous studies. Our results show that the C/M ratio from OLCI and MODIS is more correlated with the mean flow velocity than with other variables. To improve the number of observations, OLCI and MODIS products are combined into multi-mission time series. The integration provides good quality data at around daily resolution, appropriate for the analysis of the Po River investigated in this study. Finally, the combination of only MODIS products outperforms the other configurations with a frequency slightly lower (~1.8 days).
UAS-Remote Sensing Methods for Mapping, Monitoring and Modeling Crops
Authors: Mesas-Carrascosa Francisco Javier
Published: November 2020

The advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms and on-board sensors in the past few years have greatly increased our ability to monitor and map crops. The ability to register images at ultra-high spatial resolution at any moment has made remote sensing techniques increasingly useful in crop management. These technologies have revolutionized the way in which remote sensing is applied in precision agriculture, allowing for decision-making in a matter of days instead of weeks. However, it is still necessary to continue research to improve and maximize the potential of UAV remote sensing in agriculture. This Special Issue of Remote Sensing includes different applications of UAV remote sensing for crop management, covering RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral and LIght Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor applications on-board (UAVs). The papers reveal innovative techniques involving image analysis and cloud points. It should, however, be emphasized that this Special Issue is a small sample of UAV applications in agriculture and that there is much more to investigate.
Imaging Floods and Glacier Geohazards with Remote Sensing
Authors: Cigna Francesca , Xie Hongjie
Published: November 2020

Geohazards associated with the dynamics of the liquid and solid water of the Earth’s hydrosphere, such as floods and glacial processes, may pose significant risks to populations, activities and properties [...]
A Water Body Extraction Methods Comparison Based on FengYun Satellite Data: A Case Study of Poyang Lake Region, China
Authors: Wei Xufeng , Xu Wenbo , Bao Kuanle , Hou Weimin , Su Jia , Li Haining , Miao Zhuang
Published: November 2020

Water body extraction can help eco-environmental policymakers to intuitively grasp surface water resources. Remote sensing technology can accurately and quickly extract surface water information, which is of great significance for monitoring surface water changes. Fengyun satellite images have the advantages of high time resolution and multispectral bands. This provides important image data suitable for high-frequency surface water monitoring. Based on Fengyun 3 medium resolution spectral imager (FY-3/MERSI) data, 7 methods were applied in this study, which include single-band threshold method, water body index method, knowledge decision tree classification method, supervised classification method, unsupervised classification method, spectral matching based on discrete particle swarm optimization (SMDPSO), and improved spectral matching based on discrete particle swarm optimization with linear feature enhancement (SMDPSO+LFE). These methods were used to extract the land surface water of Poyang Lake, check the samples from the Landsat image with similar times to the FY-3 images, and calculate the classification accuracy via the confusion matrix. The results showed that the overall classification accuracy (OA) of the SMDPSO+LFE is 97.64%, and the Kappa coefficient is 0.95. To analyze the stability of the surface water extracted by SMDPSO+LFE in different regions, this paper selected eight test sites with different surface water types, landscapes, and terrains to extract surface water. Based on an analysis of the land surface water results at the eight test sites, every OA in the eight sites was higher than 94.5%, the Kappa coefficient was greater than 0.88. In conclusion, the SMDPSO+LFE is found to be the most suitable method among the 7 methods and effectively distinguish between different surface water bodies and backgrounds with good stability.
Image-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping of Cereals Early Vigor and Weed-Competitiveness Traits
Authors: Aharon Shlomi , Peleg Zvi , Argaman Eli , Ben-David Roi , Lati Ran N.
Published: November 2020

Cereals grains are the prime component of the human diet worldwide. To promote food security and sustainability, new approaches to non-chemical weed control are needed. Early vigor cultivars with enhanced weed-competitiveness ability are a potential tool, nonetheless, the introduction of such trait in breeding may be a long and labor-intensive process. Here, two image-driven plant phenotyping methods were evaluated to facilitate effective and accurate selection for early vigor in cereals. For that purpose, two triticale genotypes differentiating in vigor and growth rate early in the season were selected as model plants: X-1010 (high) and Triticale1 (low). Two modeling approaches, 2-D and 3-D, were applied on the plants offering an evaluation of various morphological growth parameters for the triticale canopy development, under controlled and field conditions. The morphological advantage of X-1010 was observed only at the initial growth stages, which was reflected by significantly higher growth parameter values compared to the Triticale1 genotype. Both modeling approaches were sensitive enough to detect phenotypic differences in growth as early as 21 days after sowing. All growth parameters indicated a faster early growth of X-1010. However, the 2-D related parameter [projected shoot area (PSA)] is the most available one that can be extracted via end user-friendly imaging equipment. PSA provided adequate indication for the triticale early growth under weed-competition conditions and for the improved weed-competition ability. The adequate phenotyping ability for early growth and competition was robust under controlled and field conditions. PSA can be extracted from close and remote sensing platforms, thus, facilitate high throughput screening. Overall, the results of this study may improve cereal breeding for early vigor and weed-competitiveness.
Hyperspectral Image Classification with Feature-Oriented Adversarial Active Learning
Authors: Wang Guangxing , Ren Peng
Published: November 2020

Deep learning classifiers exhibit remarkable performance for hyperspectral image classification given sufficient labeled samples but show deficiency in the situation of learning with limited labeled samples. Active learning endows deep learning classifiers with the ability to alleviate this deficiency. However, existing active deep learning methods tend to underestimate the feature variability of hyperspectral images when querying informative unlabeled samples subject to certain acquisition heuristics. A major reason for this bias is that the acquisition heuristics are normally derived based on the output of a deep learning classifier, in which representational power is bounded by the number of labeled training samples at hand. To address this limitation, we developed a feature-oriented adversarial active learning (FAAL) strategy, which exploits the high-level features from one intermediate layer of a deep learning classifier for establishing an acquisition heuristic based on a generative adversarial network (GAN). Specifically, we developed a feature generator for generating fake high-level features and a feature discriminator for discriminating between the real high-level features and the fake ones. Trained with both the real and the fake high-level features, the feature discriminator comprehensively captures the feature variability of hyperspectral images and yields a powerful and generalized discriminative capability. We leverage the well-trained feature discriminator as the acquisition heuristic to measure the informativeness of unlabeled samples. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of both (i) the full FAAL framework and (ii) the adversarially learned acquisition heuristic, for the task of classifying hyperspectral images with limited labeled samples.
Robust Indoor Localization Methods Using Random Forest-Based Filter against MAC Spoofing Attack
Authors: Ko DongHyun , Choi Seok-Hwan , Ahn Sungyong , Choi Yoon-Ho
Published: November 2020

With the development of wireless networks and mobile devices, interest on indoor localization systems (ILSs) has increased. In particular, Wi-Fi-based ILSs are widely used because of the good prediction accuracy without additional hardware. However, as the prediction accuracy decreases in environments with natural noise, some studies were conducted to remove it. So far, two representative methods, i.e., the filtering-based method and deep learning-based method, have shown a significant effect in removing natural noise. However, the prediction accuracy of these methods severely decreased under artificial noise caused by adversaries. In this paper, we introduce a new media access control (MAC) spoofing attack scenario injecting artificial noise, where the prediction accuracy of Wi-Fi-based indoor localization system significantly decreases. We also propose a new deep learning-based indoor localization method using random forest(RF)-filter to provide the good prediction accuracy under the new MAC spoofing attack scenario. From the experimental results, we show that the proposed indoor localization method provides much higher prediction accuracy than the previous methods in environments with artificial noise.
Matching IoT Devices to the Fog Service Providers: A Mechanism Design Perspective
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Anjan , Kumar Singh Vikash , Mukhopadhyay Sajal , Rai Ujjwal , Xhafa Fatos , Krause Paul
Published: November 2020

In the Internet of Things (IoT) + Fog + Cloud architecture, with the unprecedented growth of IoT devices, one of the challenging issues that needs to be tackled is to allocate Fog service providers (FSPs) to IoT devices, especially in a game-theoretic environment. Here, the issue of allocation of FSPs to the IoT devices is sifted with game-theoretic idea so that utility maximizing agents may be benign. In this scenario, we have multiple IoT devices and multiple FSPs, and the IoT devices give preference ordering over the subset of FSPs. Given such a scenario, the goal is to allocate at most one FSP to each of the IoT devices. We propose mechanisms based on the theory of mechanism design without money to allocate FSPs to the IoT devices. The proposed mechanisms have been designed in a flexible manner to address the long and short duration access of the FSPs to the IoT devices. For analytical results, we have proved the economic robustness, and probabilistic analyses have been carried out for allocation of IoT devices to the FSPs. In simulation, mechanism efficiency is laid out under different scenarios with an implementation in Python.
Development and Application of an ICP-AES Method for the Determination of Nutrient and Toxic Elements in Savory Snack Products after Autoclave Dissolution
Authors: Manousi Natalia , Zachariadis George A.
Published: November 2020

In this study, a method for the determination of trace elements in snacks using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is presented. The examined elements were Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Mg, Zn, Fe, Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Mn and Cd. Under the optimized conditions, digestion of 300 mg of the snack samples was performed by the addition of 5 mL of nitric acid in a Teflon autoclave and by heating the obtained mixture at 120 °C for 75 min. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed protocol, method linearity, accuracy precision, limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were evaluated. The relative standard deviations (RSD%) for all elements were lower than 13.5%, demonstrating that the method offered good precision. The relative recoveries values (R%) ranged between 80–120%, demonstrating that the method offered good accuracy. The LODs for all the trace elements ranged between 0.18 and 3.75 μg g−1, while the LOQs ranged between 0.60 and 12.50 μg g−1. Finally, the proposed protocol was implemented for the analysis of a wide variety of savory snack samples including commercial snacks from corn, potato chips, popcorns, puffed rice cake and crackers.
The Importance of Sustainable Practices in Value Creation and Consumers’ Commitment with Companies’ Commercial Format
Authors: Servera-Francés David , Fuentes-Blasco María , Piqueras-Tomás Lidia
Published: November 2020

Sustainable economic models are essential for any economic sector of the country. Companies must manage their relationships with the agents involved in their economic activity through a strategy based on dialogue and the constant pursuit of a balance among economic, social and environmental interests. In this regard, there has been an increase in customers’ interest in products or businesses that display a comparatively higher commitment with workers, the environment, or society as a whole. This study aims at gaining further insight into the relationship between the committed customer and the company by analyzing the influence of corporate social responsibility on key variables such as customer perceived value or customer commitment as regards its engagement dimension (customer motivations). In order to reach this goal, we perform a review of the literature, followed by a structural equation model that incorporates said variables. This model is tested on a sample of 707 customers of supermarkets and hypermarkets. The results confirm that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) directly affects commitment and that customer perceived value influences both variables (CSR and commitment). In addition, the study confirms the indirect effect of perceived value on customers’ commitment with the commercial format, which is mediated by CSR.
Improving Governance of Tenure in Policy and Practice: Monitoring in a Space for Multiple Views
Authors: Jansen Louisa J. M.
Published: November 2020

The dynamics of current global challenges—like food and nutrition security, environmental degradation, climate change, and emergencies—reduce the availability of and/or access to natural resources, and thereby underline the urgency of achieving transformational changes in the governance of tenure. This is increasingly required to bring the greatest good to the most people, in line with human rights. The globally applicable “Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security” (VGGT) were developed to promote responsible tenure governance. The importance of instituting effective monitoring for the implementation of the VGGT at the country level in order to ensure that they have an impact on the ground is well accepted. However, little progress has been made to date. This paper explores plural perspectives on monitoring by the different stakeholders involved because of the multi-dimensional nature of the VGGT implementation, and because tenure governance is a complex system. Allowing space for multiple views means leaving no one’s view behind. It is proposed to map the multiple pathways of change to achieve responsible tenure governance in a causal framework using the concept of theories of change. A pluralistic approach will entail different theories of change operating simultaneously, which will provide an inclusive and comprehensive tool for monitoring by showing the preferred pathways of progress on the ground, and by contributing to future trajectories.
Pandapipes: An Open-Source Piping Grid Calculation Package for Multi-Energy Grid Simulations
Authors: Lohmeier Daniel , Cronbach Dennis , Drauz Simon Ruben , Braun Martin , Kneiske Tanja Manuela
Published: November 2020

The increasing complexity of the design and operation evaluation process of multi-energy grids (MEGs) requires tools for the coupled simulation of power, gas and district heating grids. In this work, we analyze a number of applicable tools and find that most of them do not allow coupling of infrastructures, oversimplify the grid model or are based on inaccessible source code. We introduce the open source piping grid simulation tool pandapipes that—in interaction with pandapower—addresses three crucial criteria: clear data structure, adaptable MEG model setup and performance. In an introduction to pandapipes, we illustrate how it fulfills these criteria through its internal structure and demonstrate how it performs in comparison to STANET®. Then, we show two case studies that have been performed with pandapipes already. The first case study demonstrates a peak shaving strategy as an interaction of a local electricity and district heating grid in a small neighborhood. The second case study analyzes the potential of a power-to-gas device to provide flexibility in a power grid while considering gas grid constraints. These cases show the importance of performing coupled simulations for the design and analysis of future energy infrastructures, as well as why the software should fulfill the three criteria.
The Crisis of Public Health and Infodemic: Analyzing Belief Structure of Fake News about COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kim Seoyong , Kim Sunhee
Published: November 2020

False information about COVID-19 is being produced and disseminated on a large scale, impeding efforts to rapidly impose quarantines. Thus, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic itself, an infodemic related with it is leading to social crises. This study therefore investigates who believes the misinformation that is being produced in the context of COVID-19. We choose two main factors—risk perception factor, so called psychometric paradigm, and communication factor—as independent variables that can affect belief in misinformation related to COVID-19. The results show that, among psychometric variables, perceived risk and stigma positively impact belief in fake news, whereas perceived benefit and trust have negative effects. Among communication factors, source credibility and the quantity of information reduce belief in fake news, whereas the credibility of information sources increases these beliefs. Stigma has the greatest explanatory power among the variables, followed by health status, heuristic information processing, trust, and subjective social class.
Online Webcast Demand vs. Offline Spectating Channel Demand (Stadium and TV) in the Professional Sports League
Authors: Feng Yan , Wang Jinbao , Yoon Yeujun
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the online spectating behavior of sports fans. Due to the great mobility and low opportunity/switching costs, webcast sports fans’ spectating behaviors are distinct from those associated with traditional spectating channels such as stadium attendance or TV viewership. We explore the unique characteristics of online webcast demand in professional sports leagues by rigorously modeling all three spectating choices of sports fans. To consider the substitute relationship of the three spectating choices simultaneously, we employ a BLP (Berry–Levinsohn–Pakes)-style random coefficient model. For the analysis, we collect a comprehensive game-level dataset from the Korean Professional Baseball Organization (KBO) League fan samples from three different channels: online webcast viewership, stadium attendance, and TV viewership. We find that the demand for online webcasts is distinctive compared to that of traditional spectating channels. Notably, we find that the impact of team performance is three times stronger than that of TV viewership demand and that the impact of game quality is four times stronger than that of attendance demand. In contrast, a nonperformance variable is relatively less effective in attracting sports fans to online broadcasting. Furthermore, we find evidence of a strong retention effect of online webcast viewers. Our findings indicate that the previous spectating experience of online webcasts increases the next-time choice of sports fans for the webcast because the genuine spectating experience with distinctive webcast services (such as real-time interactive communication or various supplementary programs) can induce consumers to revisit the channel.
On the Differential Equation Governing Torqued Vector Fields on a Riemannian Manifold
Authors: Deshmukh Sharief , Bin Turki Nasser , Alodan Haila
Published: November 2020

In this article, we show that the presence of a torqued vector field on a Riemannian manifold can be used to obtain rigidity results for Riemannian manifolds of constant curvature. More precisely, we show that there is no torqued vector field on n-sphere Sn(c). A nontrivial example of torqued vector field is constructed on an open subset of the Euclidean space En whose torqued function and torqued form are nowhere zero. It is shown that owing to topology of the Euclidean space En, this type of torqued vector fields could not be extended globally to En. Finally, we find a necessary and sufficient condition for a torqued vector field on a compact Riemannian manifold to be a concircular vector field.
A Scalable Virtualized Server Cluster Providing Sensor Data Storage and Web Services
Authors: Chiang Mei-Ling , Hou Tsung-Te
Published: November 2020

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, diversified applications deploy extensive sensors to monitor objects, such as PM2.5 air quality monitoring. The sensors transmit data to the server periodically and continuously. However, a single server cannot provide efficient services for the ever-growing IoT devices and the data they generate. This study bases on the concept of symmetry of architecture and quantities in system design and explores the load balancing issue to improve performance. This study uses the Linux Virtual Server (LVS) and virtualization technology to deploy a virtual machine (VM) cluster. It consists of a front-end server, also a load balancer, to dispatch requests, and several back-end servers to provide services. These receive data from sensors and provide Web services for browsing real-time sensor data. The Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and HBase are used to store the massive amount of received sensor data. Because load-balancing is critical for resource utilization, this study also proposes a new load distribution algorithm for VM-based server clusters that simultaneously provide multiple services, such as sensor services and Web service. It considers the aggregate load of all back-end servers on the same physical server that provides multiple services. It also considers the difference between physical machines and VMs. Algorithms such as those for LVS, which do not consider these factors, can cause load imbalance between physical servers. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system is fault tolerant, highly scalable, and offers high availability and high performance.
Can a Chameleon Field Be Identified with Quintessence?
Authors: Ivanov A. N. , Wellenzohn M.
Published: November 2020

In the Einstein–Cartan gravitational theory with the chameleon field, while changing its mass independently of the density of its environment, we analyze the Friedmann–Einstein equations for the Universe’s evolution with the expansion parameter a being dependent on time only. We analyze the problem of an identification of the chameleon field with quintessence, i.e., a canonical scalar field responsible for dark energy dynamics, and for the acceleration of the Universe’s expansion. We show that since the cosmological constant related to the relic dark energy density is induced by torsion (Astrophys. J.2016, 829, 47), the chameleon field may, in principle, possess some properties of quintessence, such as an influence on the dark energy dynamics and the acceleration of the Universe’s expansion, even in the late-time acceleration, but it cannot be identified with quintessence to the full extent in the classical Einstein–Cartan gravitational theory.
Studying Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars in the JWST Era
Authors: Ventura Paolo , Marini Ester , Tosi Silvia , Dell’Agli Flavia
Published: November 2020

We explore the potential offered by the incoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, to study the stars evolving through the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. To this aim we compare data of AGB stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, taken with the IRS spectrograph, with the results from modelling of AGB evolution and dust formation in the wind. We find that the best diagrams to study M- and C-stars are, respectively, ([F770W]−[F2500W], [F770W]) and ([F770W]−[F1800W], [F1800W]). ([F770W]−[F2500W], [F770W]) turns out to be the best way of studying the AGB population in its entirely.
Recombinant Lactococcus Expressing a Novel Variant of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus VP2 Protein Can Induce Unique Specific Neutralizing Antibodies in Chickens and Provide Complete Protection
Authors: Wang Zhihao , Mi Jielan , Wang Yulong , Wang Tingting , Qi Xiaole , Li Kai , Pan Qing , Gao Yulong , Gao Li , Liu Changjun , Zhang Yanping , Wang Xiaomei , Cui Hongyu
Published: November 2020

Recent reports of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infections in China, Japan, and North America have indicated the presence of variant, and the current conventional IBDV vaccine cannot completely protect against variant IBDV. In this study, we constructed recombinant Lactococcus lactis (r-L. lactis) expressing a novel variant of IBDV VP2 (avVP2) protein along with the Salmonella resistance to complement killing (RCK) protein, and Western blotting analysis confirmed that r-L. lactis successfully expressed avVP2-RCK fusion protein. We immunized chickens with this vaccine and subsequently challenged them with the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) and a novel variant wild IBDV (avIBDV) to evaluate the immune effect of the vaccine. The results show that the r-L. lactis-avVP2-RCK-immunized group exhibited a 100% protection rate when challenged with avIBDV and 100% survival rate to vvIBDV. Furthermore, this immunization resulted in the production of unique neutralizing antibodies that cannot be detected by conventional ELISA. These results indicate that r-L. lactis-avVP2-RCK is a promising candidate vaccine against IBDV infections, which can produce unique neutralizing antibodies that cannot be produced by other vaccines and protect against IBDV infection, especially against the variant strain.
Antimicrobials and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: A Risk to the Environment and to Public Health
Authors: Serwecińska Liliana
Published: November 2020

The release of antibiotics to the environment, and the consequences of the presence of persistent antimicrobial residues in ecosystems, have been the subject of numerous studies in all parts of the world. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a common global phenomenon, which substantially increases the levels of antibiotics in the environment and the rates of their spread. Today, it can be said with certainty that the mass production and use of antibiotics for purposes other than medical treatment has an impact on both the environment and human health. This review aims to track the pathways of the environmental distribution of antimicrobials and identify the biological effects of their subinhibitory concentration in different environmental compartments; it also assesses the associated public health risk and government policy interventions needed to ensure the effectiveness of existing antimicrobials. The recent surge in interest in this issue has been driven by the dramatic increase in the number of infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria worldwide. Our study is in line with the global One Health approach.
Planning for the Energy Transition and How to Overcome the Misfits of the Current Paradigm
Authors: Roggema Rob
Published: November 2020

The current paradigm for planning an energy transition is often embedded in practices within the existing political and societal regime. Within this paradigm, a genuine transformation to a fully fossil-free future is often not achieved. Thus, the problem is that in order to arrive at such a newly conceived future, the concepts and solutions created need to be fundamentally different from practices in recent past and present. At the same time, the community is not prepared for big changes, and the unknown future is experienced as uncertain and undesirable. These two mechanisms perpetuate current practices and prevent a new future from emerging. In this article, we will demonstrate how these two movements can be connected to disrupt incremental and path-dependent development, allowing people to become visionary and co-design a transformative future with innovative concepts. The Dutch Groningen region is used as an illustrative example for realising fundamental shifts supported by a bottom-up engagement process.
Perceptions of Sexual Assault: Effects of Victim Physiological Arousal and Victim Gender on Jurors’ Decisions
Authors: Starosta Cassandra , Schuller Regina A.
Published: November 2020

Limited research has assessed juror decision making in cases of female perpetrated sexual assault and the role played by factors such as the victim’s gender, physiological arousal, and participant’s gender in the decision making process. Participants (n = 215) were presented with one of four trial vignettes that varied the perpetrator and victim’s gender and victim’s physiological arousal. The impact of these variables was examined on guilty verdicts rendered, credibility, and blameworthiness of the victim and accused. Results demonstrate that the male victim was blamed more than the female victim. Further, male participants viewed the male victim to be less credible than the female victim. Lastly, male participants viewed the accused to be more credible when the victim was depicted as a male with signs of physiological arousal. The results reveal the disadvantages a male victim of female perpetrated sexual assault may face if he pursues his sexual assault at trial. Keywords: sexual assault, rape myths, juror bias, gender, physiological arousal
MOneyQU: A Gamified Android Based Personal Finance Recording Application
Authors: Juwono Firdayanti , Gunawan Dennis
Published: November 2020

Financial management is a knowledge which is not only important to learn but also important to be applied in life of each individual. In recognizing financial conditions, motivation can be one of the factors which influence it. Gamification can be one way to increase the motivation and must be adapted to the characteristics of the users. Focusing on goals, engagement, and intrinsic motivation, Marczewski Gamification Framework maps several user types based on the game elements and mechanics. This study aims to design and build a mobile-based personal financial recording application with gamification methods and find out the level of behavioral intention to use and immersion implementing the Marczewski Gamification Framework. Testing has been carried out by students, employees, housewives, entrepreneurs, and managers to prove that gamification can motivate users to recognize the condition of personal finances well. Based on the evaluation result using the Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model, 82.73% strongly agree that the application can increase reuse (behavioral intention to use) in the future and 66.56% agree that the application can increase the feeling of users to be carried away by the situation (immersion) in the application.
Electronic properties of quasi two-dimensional transition metals chalcogenides with low-dimensional magnetism
Authors: Baranava M. S. , Praskurava P. A.
Published: November 2020

The search for fundamental physical laws which lead to stable high-temperature ferromagnetism is an urgent task. In addition to the already synthesized two-dimensional materials, there remains a wide list of possible structures, the stability of which is predicted theoretically. The article suggests the results of studying the electronic properties of MAX3 (M = Cr, Fe, A = Ge, Si, X = S, Se, Te) transition metals based compounds with nanostructured magnetism. The research was carried out using quantum mechanical simulation in specialized VASP software and calculations within the Heisenberg model. The ground magnetic states of twodimensional MAX3 and the corresponding energy band structures are determined. We found that among the systems under study, CrGeTe3 is a semiconductor nanosized ferromagnet. In addition, one is a semiconductor with a bandgap of 0.35 eV. Other materials are antiferromagnetic. The magnetic moment in MAX3 is localized on the transition metal atoms: in particular, the main one on the d-orbital of the transition metal atom (and only a small part on the p-orbital of the chalcogen). For CrGeTe3, the exchange interaction integral is calculated. The mechanisms of the formation of magnetic order was established. According to the obtained exchange interaction integrals, a strong ferromagnetic order is formed in the semiconductor plane. The distribution of the projection density of electronic states indicates hybridization between the d-orbital of the transition metal atom and the p-orbital of the chalcogen. The study revealed that the exchange interaction by the mechanism of superexchange is more probabilistic.