bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistance and Strength of Conductive PLA Processed by FDM Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Beniak Juraj , Šooš Ľubomír , Križan Peter , Matúš Miloš , Ruprich Vít
Published: February 2022

There is a large number of materials that can be used for FDM additive manufacturing technology. These materials have different strength properties, they are designed for different purposes. They can be highly strong or flexible, abrasion-resistant, or designed for example for environments with higher thermal loads. However recently new innovative and progressive materials have come to the practice, which include nano-composite particles, bringing new added value. One such material is the Conductive PLA material, which is capable of conducting electric current. The aim of this article is to present the material properties of this material. The article describes the design of the experiment, the process of measuring the resistance of samples printed by FDM device, measuring the maximum tensile strength of samples. The article includes a statistical evaluation of the measured data, with the determination of the significance of individual factors of the experiment as well as the evaluation of the overall result of the experiments.
Stress Dependent Biofilm Formation and Bioactive Melanin Pigment Production by a Thermophilic Bacillus Species from Chilean Hot Spring
Authors: Marín-Sanhueza Cathalina , Echeverría-Vega Alex , Gómez Aleydis , Cabrera-Barjas Gustavo , Romero Romina , Banerjee Aparna
Published: February 2022

Thermophilic bacteria able to survive extreme temperature stress are of great biotechnological interest due to their extracellular production of bioactive molecules as a part of a survival strategy, or by intracellular modifications. In the present study, thermophilic Bacillus haynesii CamB6, isolated from a Chilean hot spring, was studied for the formation of different stress response molecules. The polymeric pigment produced by the bacterial strain was characterized by different physicochemical techniques. On exposure to ranges of temperature (50–60 °C), pH (5.0–7.0), and sources of nitrogen and carbon (1–5 g·L−1), the bacteria responded with a biofilm network formation in a hydrophobic polystyrene surface. Biofilm formation under fed-batch conditions was also statistically validated. The bacteria showed a planktonic pellicle network formation in the presence of induced hypoxia and salinity stress (19.45 g·L−1) under static conditions. Salinity stress also resulted in the intracellular response of brown pigment production. The pigment was structurally and functionally characterized by UV-Vis absorbance and the presence of different characteristic peaks via FTIR analysis (bacterial pyomelanin fingerprints) were assessed. A high thermal stability and TGA profile indicated the brown pigment was a probable pyomelanin candidate. Micropyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) showed that isoprene, pyrrole, benzene, pyridine, and their derivatives were the major components detected. In addition, acetic acid, indole, phenol, and its derivatives were observed. The absence of sulfocompounds in the pyrolyzed products agreed with those reported in the literature for pyomelanin. The pigment surface morphology was analyzed via SEM, and the elemental composition via EDS also demonstrated the similarity of the brown pigment to that of the melanin family. The pyomelanin pigment was observed to be bioactive with promising antioxidant capacity (H2O2, Fe2+) compared to the standard antioxidant molecules. In conclusion, B. haynesii CamB6 demonstrated the formation of several biomolecules as a stress response mechanism that is bioactive, showing its probable biotechnological applications in future.
The Influence of Circadian Rhythm on Cancer Cells Targeting and Transfection Efficiency of a Polycation-Drug/Gene Delivery Vector
Authors: Albuquerque Tânia , Neves Ana R. , Quintela Telma , Costa Diana
Published: February 2022

The conception of novel anticancer delivery systems and the combination of chronobiology with nanotechnology may provide a powerful tool to optimize cancer therapy. In this work, polyethylenimine (PEI) has been used to complex p53 encoded plasmid DNA (pDNA), and the anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX) has also been loaded into the vectors. To investigate the influence of circadian clock on drug/gene delivery efficiency, HeLa, C33A and fibroblast cells have been transfected with developed PEI/pDNA/MTX delivery vectors at six different time points. Phenomena as the cellular uptake/internalization, drug/gene delivery and p53 protein production have been evaluated. The cell-associated MTX fluorescence have been monitored, and p53 protein levels quantified. In HeLa and C33A cancer cells, significant levels of MTX were found for T8 and T12. For these time points, a high amount of p53 protein was quantified. Confocal microscopy images showed successful HeLa cell’s uptake of PEI/pDNA/MTX particles, at T8. In comparison, poor levels of MTX and p53 protein were found in fibroblasts; nevertheless, results indicated rhythmicity. Data demonstrate the influence of circadian rhythm on both cancer-cells targeting ability and transfection performance of PEI/pDNA/MTX carriers and seemed to provide the optimum time for drug/gene delivery. This report adds a great contribution to the field of cancer chronobiology, highlighting the relationship between circadian rhythm and nanodelivery systems, and charting the path for further research on a, yet, poorly explored but promising topic.
Mixed Solvents in Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) Electronic Paste and Their Effects on the Properties of Organic Vehicle
Authors: Gan Ruolong , Li Junrong , Cao Xiuhua , Huang Jun , Qian Liying
Published: February 2022

The copper end paste used in multilayer ceramic capacitors sintered in nitrogen atmosphere leads to carbon residues of organic vehicles, which leads to a reduction in electrode conductivity and high scrap rate. With an attempt to leave no residue in the sintering, the compatibility of solvents and thickeners should be improved because it has an important influence on the hierarchical volatilization and carbon residue of organic vehicles. In this work, the volatility of different solvents was compared, and several solvents were mixed in a definite proportion to prepare an organic vehicle with polyacrylate resins. The hierarchical volatility and solubility parameters of mixed solvents were effectively adjusted by changing proportions of different components. The thermogravimetric curves of resins and organic vehicles were measured by thermogravimetric analyzer, and the effect of solubility parameter on the dissolvability of resins in the solvent and the residual of organic vehicles were studied. Results showed that the hierarchical volatilization of solvents can be obtained by mixing different solvents; the intrinsic viscosity of the organic vehicle is higher, and the thermal decomposition residue of polyacrylate resins is lower when the solubility parameters of mixed solvents and polyacrylate resins are closer. The low residual sintering of organic vehicles can be achieved by using a mixed solvent with hierarchical volatility and approximate solubility parameters as resins.
Advances in Cruciform Biaxial Testing of Fibre-Reinforced Polymers
Authors: Horta Muñoz Sergio , Serna Moreno María del Carmen
Published: February 2022

The heterogeneity and anisotropy of fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites results in a highly complex mechanical response and failure under multiaxial loading states. Among the different biaxial testing techniques, tests with cruciform specimens have been a preferred option, although nowadays, they continue to raise a lack of consensus. It is therefore necessary to review the state of the art of this testing methodology applied to fibre-reinforced polymers. In this context, aspects such as the specific constituents, the geometric design of the specimen or the application of different tensile/compressive load ratios must be analysed in detail before being able to establish a suitable testing procedure. In addition, the most significant results obtained in terms of the analytical, numerical and experimental analyses of the biaxial tests with cruciform specimens are collected. Finally, significant modifications proposed in literature are detailed, which can lead to variants or adaptations of the tests with cruciform specimens, increasing their scope.
Understanding the Impact of Trampling on Rodent Bones
Authors: Fernández-Jalvo Yolanda , Rueda Lucía , Fernández Fernando Julian , García-Morato Sara , Marin-Monfort María Dolores , Montalvo Claudia Ines , Tomassini Rodrigo , Chazan Michael , Horwitz Liora K. , Andrews Peter
Published: February 2022

Experiments based on the premise of uniformitarism are an effective tool to establish patterns of taphonomic processes acting either before, or after, burial. One process that has been extensively investigated experimentally is the impact of trampling to large mammal bones. Since trampling marks caused by sedimentary friction strongly mimic cut marks made by humans using stone tools during butchery, distinguishing the origin of such modifications is especially relevant to the study of human evolution. In contrast, damage resulting from trampling on small mammal fossil bones has received less attention, despite the fact that it may solve interesting problems relating to site formation processes. While it has been observed that the impact of compression depends on the type of substrate and dryness of the skeletal elements, the fragility of small mammal bones may imply that they will break as a response to compression. Here, we have undertaken a controlled experiment using material resistance compression equipment to simulate a preliminary experiment, previously devised by one of us, on human trampling of owl pellets. Our results demonstrate that different patterns of breakage can be distinguished under wet and dry conditions in mandibles, skulls and long bones that deform or break in a consistent way. Further, small compact bones almost always remain intact, resisting breakage under compression. The pattern obtained here was applied to a Pleistocene small mammal fossil assemblage from Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa). This collection showed unusually extensive breakage and skeletal element representation that could not be entirely explained by excavation procedures or digestion by the predator. We propose that trampling was a significant factor in small mammal bone destruction at Wonderwerk Cave, partly the product of trampling caused by the raptor that introduced the microfauna into the cave, as well as by hominins and other terrestrial animals that entered the cave and trampled pellets covering the cave floor.
Gandhi’s Use of Scriptures: A Hermeneutic of Nonviolence against Letters That Kill
Authors: Noort Ed
Published: February 2022

Against the background of differing opinions about Gandhi’s views on the relationship between political action and religious inspiration, this paper examines his use of scriptures, if he made hermeneutical decisions and if so, what they were. The starting point is a letter from Gandhi in which he pleaded against reading the scriptures literally and named truth, ahiṃsā, and a living faith as criteria. Reason is most important, but with limitations; ahiṃsā, nonviolence, is never at stake, but the definition of what may be called hiṃsā, or ahiṃsā, is dependent on place, time, and situation. Faith-based truth as Faith = God enabled the use of religious language and definitively bridged the religious and the secular. For an understanding of Gandhi’s personal faith, his statements on Rama and Ramarajya as the Kingdom of God on earth are important. Gandhi found a leading principle in 2 Cor 3:6: “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life,” comparing it often with a literal vs. figurative reading. The connecting factor between Gandhi and Paul was their situation, which is more fully explained for Paul. Both tried from a different perspective to reformulate their religious heritages in a new way by claiming that their now-defended truth was already present in the scriptures. Both needed a hermeneutical key and found it in the killing letter and the life-giving Spirit. For Gandhi, it meant the right to expand the original meaning of texts to realise ahiṃsā hic et nunc. The last section of this paper offers examples of Gandhi’s use of this principle in changing contexts: the opening of the temples of Travancore, his approaches to the Gita, his exegesis of Galatians, and his readings of the Hebrew Bible.
A Comprehensive Survey of Visual SLAM Algorithms
Authors: Macario Barros Andréa , Michel Maugan , Moline Yoann , Corre Gwenolé , Carrel Frédérick
Published: February 2022

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques are widely researched, since they allow the simultaneous creation of a map and the sensors’ pose estimation in an unknown environment. Visual-based SLAM techniques play a significant role in this field, as they are based on a low-cost and small sensor system, which guarantees those advantages compared to other sensor-based SLAM techniques. The literature presents different approaches and methods to implement visual-based SLAM systems. Among this variety of publications, a beginner in this domain may find problems with identifying and analyzing the main algorithms and selecting the most appropriate one according to his or her project constraints. Therefore, we present the three main visual-based SLAM approaches (visual-only, visual-inertial, and RGB-D SLAM), providing a review of the main algorithms of each approach through diagrams and flowcharts, and highlighting the main advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Furthermore, we propose six criteria that ease the SLAM algorithm’s analysis and consider both the software and hardware levels. In addition, we present some major issues and future directions on visual-SLAM field, and provide a general overview of some of the existing benchmark datasets. This work aims to be the first step for those initiating a SLAM project to have a good perspective of SLAM techniques’ main elements and characteristics.
Ecological Water Demand of Taitema Lake in the Lower Reaches of the Tarim River and the Cherchen River
Authors: Ye Zhaoxia , Chen Shifeng , Zhang Qifei , Liu Yongchang , Zhou Honghua
Published: February 2022

Taitema Lake, located in the lower reaches of the Tarim River and the Cherchen River, is one of the most important ecological barriers in Ruoqiang County. The amount of water in Taitema Lake plays an important role in maintaining a healthy cycle within the ecosystem, curbing sandstorms, and improving salinization and desertification. The aim of this study was to reasonably determine the volume of ecological water conveyance by calculating the ecological water demand. We systematically analyzed the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of Taitema Lake during 21 ecological water conveyance processes from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that the area of Taitema Lake increased at a rate of 144% per year because of the Ecological Water Conveyance Project (EWCP). The areas of water in dry, normal, and high flow years were 30.35, 57.76, and 103.5 km2, respectively. The corresponding ecological water demand was 1.58 × 108, 3.09 × 108, and 5.66 × 108 m3, respectively. We calculated that the Cherchen River and the Tarim River carried 0.87 × 108–3.11 × 108 m3 and 0.71 × 108–2.55 × 108 m3 of water, respectively, under different inflow frequencies. This study has significance as a reference for estimates of the ecological water demand of terminal lakes under the condition of artificial water transport in arid inland river basins, and provides the basis for the rational allocation of water resources in the Tarim River Basin.
Multiview Image Matching of Optical Satellite and UAV Based on a Joint Description Neural Network
Authors: Xu Chuan , Liu Chang , Li Hongli , Ye Zhiwei , Sui Haigang , Yang Wei
Published: February 2022

Matching aerial and satellite optical images with large dip angles is a core technology and is essential for target positioning and dynamic monitoring in sensitive areas. However, due to the long distances and large dip angle observations of the aerial platform, there are significant perspective, radiation, and scale differences between heterologous space-sky images, which seriously affect the accuracy and robustness of feature matching. In this paper, a multiview satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image matching method based on deep learning is proposed to solve this problem. The main innovation of this approach is to propose a joint descriptor consisting of soft descriptions and hard descriptions. Hard descriptions are used as the main description to ensure matching accuracy. Soft descriptions are used not only as auxiliary descriptions but also for the process of network training. Experiments on several problems show that the proposed method ensures matching efficiency and achieves better matching accuracy for multiview satellite and UAV images than other traditional methods. In addition, the matching accuracy of our method in optical satellite and UAV images is within 3 pixels, and can nearly reach 2 pixels, which meets the requirements of relevant UAV missions.
Development of a Bio-Digital Interface Powered by Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: You Jiseon , Mendis Arjuna , Greenman John , Freeman Julie , Wolff Stephen , Armstrong Rachel , Hughes Rolf , Ieropoulos Ioannis A.
Published: February 2022

This paper reports the first relatable bio-digital interface powered by microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that was developed to inform the public and introduce the concept of using live microbes as waste processors within our homes and cities. An innovative design for the MFC and peripherals system was built as a digital data generator and bioreactor, with a custom-built energy-harvesting controller that was connected to the system to enable efficient system operation using adaptive dynamic cell reconfiguration and transmit data for the bio-digital interface. This system has accomplished multiple (parallel) tasks such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment and autonomous operation. Moreover, the controller demonstrated that microbial behaviour and consequent system operation can benefit from smart algorithms. In addition to these technical achievements, the bio-digital interface is a site for the production of digital art that aims to gain acceptance from a wider-interest community and potential audiences by showcasing the capabilities of living microorganisms in the context of green technologies.
Effects of Verbal Encouragement and Performance Feedback on Physical Fitness in Young Adults
Authors: Pacholek Martin , Zemková Erika
Published: February 2022

This study evaluates the effects on the performance of young adults undergoing physical fitness tests with external stimuli (verbal encouragement (VE), performance feedback (PF), goal-oriented (GO) and a combination of external stimuli (CS)) and without external stimuli (WS). A group of 432 male students (age 19.1 ± 2.1 y, BMI 24.72 ± 5.97) was randomly selected for this study. They underwent a battery of fitness tests (bench press, 10 and 30 m sprints, and vertical jump) with and without external stimuli. The results showed greater improvements in mean power in bench press after PF compared to attempts WS (14.93 W, 3.43%, p = 0.005), and after CS compared to WS (13.84 W, 3.18%, p = 0.015). The time in the 10 and 30 m sprints decreased more profoundly after a combination of VE and GO compared to WS (0.021 s, 1.07%, p = 0.000 and 0.06 s, 1.23%, p = 0.001, respectively) and after CS compared to VE (0.015 s, 0.76%, p = 0.004 and 0.074 s, 1.52%, p = 0.000, respectively). Furthermore, the height of the jump improved more after VE than WS (1.36 cm, 5.46%, p = 0.000), after CS than WS (1.94 cm, 7.79%, p = 0.000), and after CS than VE stimulus (0.58 cm, 2.21%, p = 0.000). These findings indicate that external stimuli and their combination are more effective for achieving better results in physical fitness tests than without external stimuli. Therefore, practitioners should use verbal encouragement, performance feedback, goal-oriented stimuli, and their combinations during physical fitness testing in physical education classes in order to enable their students to achieve a better performance.
COVID-19 Lockdown and the Impact on Mobility, Air Quality, and Utility Consumption: A Case Study from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Shanableh Abdallah , Al-Ruzouq Rami , Khalil Mohamad Ali , Gibril Mohamed Barakat A. , Hamad Khaled , Alhosani Mohamad , Stietiya Mohammed Hashem , Bardan Mayyada Al , Mansoori Saeed Al , Hammouri Nezar Atalla
Published: February 2022

This study presents an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on people’s mobility trends, air quality, and utility consumption in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Records of lockdown and subsequent easing measures, infection and vaccination rates, community mobility reports, remotely sensed and ground-based air quality data, and utility (electricity, water, and gas) consumption data were collected and analyzed in the study. The mobility trends reflected the stringency of the lockdown measures, increasing in the residential sector but decreasing in all other sectors. The data showed significant improvement in air quality corresponding to the lockdown measures in 2020 followed by gradual deterioration as the lockdown measures were eased. Electricity and water consumption increased in the residential sector during the lockdown; however, overall utility consumption did not show significant changes. The changes in mobility were correlated with the relevant air quality parameters, such as NO2, which in turn was highly correlated to O3. The study provides data and analysis to support future planning and response efforts in Sharjah. Furthermore, the methodology used in the study can be applied to assess the impacts of COVID-19 or similar events on people’s mobility, air quality and utility consumption at other geographical locations.
Modelling Sectoral Energy Consumption in Malaysia: Assessing the Asymmetric Effects
Authors: Tang Chung-Siong , Kogid Mori , Alin James , Dollery Brian
Published: February 2022

Economic growth, energy prices, technological innovations, and financial depth all play a vital role in sectoral energy consumption. Early studies have extensively examined the interactions among these variables, which are important in developing policies on energy consumption. However, to date, most studies have estimated energy consumption in a linear fashion. If the actual relationship is non-linear or asymmetric, then the inferences drawn from a linear framework may be misleading. Hence, in this study, we employed a non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) approach to analyse Malaysian sectoral energy consumption from 1978 to 2016. We found that the bounds test of the NARDL indicates the presence of cointegration among the variables. The key findings include: (1) a rise in income increases energy consumption throughout all sectors, but sectoral energy consumption does not respond significantly to a fall in income; (2) both increases and decreases in energy prices reduce industrial energy consumption, but residential and commercial sectors’ energy consumption react positively to price falls; (3) technological advancement increases transportation energy consumption; and (4) both an increase and decrease of credit availability to private sectors reduce industrial energy consumption, but transportation energy consumption reacts positively to financial deepening. Moreover, the effects at the sectoral level were asymmetrical. The findings indicate that the changes in selected macroeconomic variables were found to have a Granger causality effect on sectoral energy consumption. Given these findings, our study offers empirical support for the inclusion of non-linearity or asymmetric effects when modelling sectoral energy consumption.
Influence of Environmentally Specific Transformational Leadership on Employees’ Green Innovation Behavior—A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zhu Jian , Tang Weihang , Zhang Bin , Wang Hui
Published: February 2022

Ecological environment issues put forward higher requirements for enterprises to undertake environmental responsibility. Therefore, how to encourage employees’ green innovation behavior (EGIB) is of great significance for enterprises to practice green development. Based on the social exchange theory, this study constructs a moderating mediation model to explain the influence of environmentally specific transformational leadership (ESTL) on EGIB, in which green organization identity (GOI) and environmental commitment (EC) are used as mediators and the supervisor’s organizational embodiment (SOE) is used as a moderator. Data collected from 297 employees of the manufacturing industry in China are used for empirical analysis. Results show that (a) ESTL positively affects EGIB, (b) both GOI and EC mediate the positive relationship between ESTL and EGIB, (c) the path of GOI—EC mediates the positive relationship between ESTL and EGIB, and (d) SOE positively moderates the indirect effect of ESTL on EGIB through GOI and EC, and SOE moderates the indirect effect of ESTL on EGIB through the path of GOI—EC. Theoretical contributions, practical implications, and future research are also discussed.
United Nations (UN) Disaster Risk Reduction Framework: Case Study of the Portuguese Army on UN Challenges in the Context of Sustainable Risk Mitigation
Authors: Martinho Bruno , Reis João
Published: February 2022

The United Nations (UN) in the context of disaster risk reduction has been sensitizing governments and all citizens to the need to develop mechanisms that contribute to preventing risks and reducing vulnerabilities regarding serious accidents or disasters. The search for an adequate response to the different types of accidents is a social demand; leading civil protection authorities, together with other national entities, namely the Armed Forces, to create diverse response mechanisms. This research intends to call the reader’s attention and awareness to disaster risk reduction, characterizing the UN policy, and evaluating the Portuguese Army’s capacity for organizational change. This article follows a case study research strategy, considering a deductive reasoning structure and a qualitative methodological orientation. The evolution of the UN’s growing concern with disaster risk reduction over time will be studied, and the way in which the Portuguese military has adapted to the new challenges promoted by the UN will be discussed.
Green Supply Chain Management Efforts of First-Tier Suppliers on Economic and Business Performances in the Electronics Industry
Authors: Park So Ra , Kim Sung Tae , Lee Hong-Hee
Published: February 2022

Green supply chain management (GSCM) has a necessary goal of performing a firm’s social and environmental responsibilities, and SMEs employ GSCM practices with constrained resources. SMEs need to determine which areas they need to concentrate their limited resources to result in positively noticeable economic outcomes. This study aims to identify what GSCM practices would influence economic and business profitability for first-tier suppliers in the electronics industry. Specifically, this examines whether internal environmental management (IEM), green purchasing (GP), cooperation with customers (CC), and eco-design (ECO) have a role in enhancing an organization’s economic performance (ECP) and business performance (BP). Survey data from 193 South Korean electronics firms were collected to test the proposed model. The survey responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of the present study showed that IEM, CC, and ECO of the responding SMEs had direct positive influences on ECP. Moreover, economic performance has a statistically significant influence on BP. However, GP did not show a significant relationship with ECP. This study investigated first-tier suppliers within the electronics industry and identified what GSCM practices would be important in improving the performances of SME manufacturing companies.
Quality, Key Production Factors, and Consumption Volume of Niche Edible Oils Marketed in the European Union
Authors: Czwartkowski Kamil , Wierzbic Arkadiusz , Golimowski Wojciech
Published: February 2022

Consumer’s awareness of the health-promoting aspects of food and their search for products with high nutritional value is driving increased interest in niche oils. Such oils are produced on a small scale due to limited access to raw material and its low oil content. The aim of this multi-criteria analysis was to position niche oils. Data for the study were collected based on a literature review regarding twenty-three niche oils available on the European Union market. Analysis of quality parameters, key production factors, waste reusability, and average annual consumption volume in 2015–2020 was performed. Based on the research, it was concluded that linseed (flaxseed) oil, hemp oil, mustard oil, raspberry seed oil, and sesame oil should be of the most interest to consumers. They are characterized by the highest content of tocopherols, sterols, polyphenols, and carotenoids, a favorable ratio of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and pro-ecological and sustainable production technology. Based on the results of the study, the need for empirical research was identified, the key to filling the knowledge gaps in the area of edible niche oils.
Can I Get Back Later or Turn It Off? Day-Level Effect of Remote Communication Autonomy on Sustainable Proactivity
Authors: Liu Yujing , Du Jing , Choi Jin Nam , Li Yuan
Published: February 2022

Overwhelming remote communication episodes have become critical daily work demands for employees. On the basis of affective event theory, this study explores the effect of daily remote communication autonomy on positive affect and proactive work behaviors. We conducted a multilevel path analysis using a general survey, followed by experience sampling methodology, with a sample of 80 employees in China who completed surveys thrice daily over a two-week period. The results showed that daily remote communication autonomy increased positive affective reactions, which, in turn, enhanced proactive work behaviors on the same workday. Furthermore, positive day-level relationships leading to employee proactivity were only significant when the employees’ person-level general techno-workload was not high. The findings provide a new perspective for managing employees working under continuous techno-workload and demands for remote interactions.
Precision Nitrogen Management in Bt Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Improves Seed Cotton Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Reduces Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Authors: Gupta Rajeev Kumar , Arun Shankar  , Bijay-Singh  , Bhatt Rajan , Al-Huqail Asma A. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Kumar Ritesh
Published: February 2022

Field experiments were conducted to establish precision N management technology for nitrogen (N) topdressings in Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with the quantification of nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. The treatments consisted of five fixed N rates (0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha−1 applied in two split doses) and eight site-specific N management (SSNM) treatments of applying different N rates at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and the application of leaf colour chart (LCC)-guided 30, 45 or 60 kg N ha−1 at 55 DAS only in four treatments and at both 55 and 85 DAS (first flowering and boll formation stages) in the remaining four treatments. A higher R2 value between the total N uptake and the leaf N concentration at 85 DAS than at 55 DAS strongly suggested that fertilizer N management based on leaf N concentration measured in terms of LCC scores led to an adequate total N uptake resulting in a respectable yield. Topdressings of 45 to 60 kg N ha−1 at 40 DAS and an LCC-based application at 55 DAS produced seed cotton yields on a par with the addition of 150 kg N ha−1 based on a soil test basis along with an improved recovery and agronomic efficiency use, and remarkably lowered the nitrous oxide emissions as estimated using the CCAFS (Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security)-Mitigation Option Tool.
Organizational Culture: A Concept Captive between Determinants and Its Own Power of Influence
Authors: Cicea Claudiu , Țurlea Carmen , Marinescu Corina , Pintilie Nicolae
Published: February 2022

The main purpose of this study is to survey the scientific literature and try through bibliometric means to position the concept of organizational culture (OC) in a changing environment, governed today by sustainability goals. In such conditions, always appear new factors of influence and OC itself can exert a powerful impact on specific features of the organizational environment. The methodological approach comprises and follows four phases developed by the authors in accordance with recent and similar research. Main findings suggest that the interest of authors along time has fallen on the impact of OC at first rather than of OC determinants. Also there are many differences in terms of authors, sources, international cooperation, keywords and impact of scientific research between documents regarding the determinants of OC and documents related to the impact exerted by OC.
“I Like It like That”: A Study on the Relationship between Psychological Capital, Work Engagement and Extra-Role Behavior
Authors: Giancaspro Maria Luisa , Callea Antonino , Manuti Amelia
Published: February 2022

Starting from the Positive Organizational Behavior movement, several studies showed that some personal resources and some contextual features within the working context might encourage individuals and groups in thriving, thus providing a concrete competitive advantage for organizations. Among the individual factors, psychological capital (PsyCap) received a special interest because it was proved to promote positive work attitudes and behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the positive effect of PsyCap on extra-role behaviors considering the mediating role of work engagement. A mediational hypothesis was tested via SEM on 1219 Italian employees, balanced for gender. Results suggested that work engagement partially mediated the positive relationship between PsyCap and extra-role behaviors. The present study shed a light on the psychological mechanisms according to which PsyCap positively affects extra-role behaviors. In line with the Positive Organizational Behavior Movement Theory, personal resources, i.e., PsyCap, tend to improve work engagement that, in turn, tends to promote positive behaviors at work. Finally, the present study discussed results especially in terms of practical implications in order to promote employees’ PsyCap in organizational setting.
Impact of Land Use Changes on the Surface Runoff and Nutrient Load in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Chen Xiaomin , Zhang Wanshun , Peng Hong , Xu Gaohong , Zhao Yanxin , Shen Zhenling
Published: February 2022

Dramatic changes in land use/cover (LULC) patterns have taken place in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which have led to hydrological and environment alterations. In this study, eight land use scenarios from 1980 to 2018 were used to evaluate the impact of LULC changes on runoff and nutrient load in the TGRA, using a validated version of the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Firstly, we analyzed the LULC characteristic. During the 38-year period, the LULC pattern showed an increase in forestland and a decrease in cropland. The cropland mainly changed into forestland. Construction land realized growth by encroaching mainly on cropland and forestland. Secondly, the temporal–spatial characteristics of runoff and nutrient load were analyzed. In the TGRA, surface runoff and nutrient load exhibited significant tempo-spatial heterogeneity. The runoff depth and the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads increased through 1980 to 2018, and 2005 was a turning point. After 2005, the annual average change rate was larger than before 2005. The area with a larger runoff depth was mainly distributed in the head and middle region as well as on the left bank of the TGRA. The middle and tail region of the TGRA generated relatively higher TN and TP loads. Lastly, the contributions of LULC types on runoff and nutrient load were explored. Forestland had the highest contribution rate to surface runoff, followed by cropland. Cropland had the highest contribution rate to TN and TP, follow by forestland. This study can provide a better understanding of the hydrological consequences of LULC changes and help watershed management in the TGRA.
Taboos as a Social Mechanism Keeping the Human-Nature Balance: Core Values and Practices of Rukai Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Water
Authors: Shein Paichi Pat , Sukinarhimi Peresang
Published: February 2022

Sustainable water use and management has become an important issue globally and in Taiwan during this era of climate change. In search of a paradigm shift, this grounded theory paper investigates the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of a Rukai Indigenous community in Taiwan to unearth its core values and core practices related to sustainability, as its people have been living near the headwaters in the mountain area for generations. Six Elders from the community were interviewed, and the findings show that the Rukai TEK of water is guided by taboos, a social mechanism keeping the human-nature balance, which are ingrained in four core values (prevention of water contamination, group sharing, conservation of the sources of life, and adherence to the laws of nature). These core values are reflected in the five core practices of water use, including calakebe (spring), drakerale (streams), drapulu (ivy fishing), wakaruru (water diversion), and wadrele (water monitoring). These core values and practices contribute to the sustainable environment and livelihood of the Rukai community. This study proposes that positioning Indigenous TEK as the subjectivity of sustainability provides important implications for the sustainable management of natural resources, as well as Indigenous education for sustainable development.
Walkability Compass—A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies
Authors: Zaleckis Kestutis , Chmielewski Szymon , Kamičaitytė Jūratė , Grazuleviciute-Vileniske Indre , Lipińska Halina
Published: February 2022

The ongoing discourse on air quality and climate changes positions walkability as a pivotal point of sustainable urban planning. Urban studies examine a city’s walkability in terms of pedestrian flows, design qualities, and street network topology, leaving walkability comparative frameworks under development. Building on the space syntax theory, this research introduces a “walkability compass”, a four spatial indicator-designed tool for city walkability assessment and comparison. The tools are being tested on eight Baltic region cities: Vilnius, Kaunas (LT), Malmö (SE), Riga (LV), Tallinn (ES), Gdansk, Bialystok, Lublin (PL). The nine-step method framework integrates four indexes: Gravity (Gr), Reach (Re), Straightness (St), and Population density (Pop). The “walkability compass” results reveal significant Re and St correlations; thus, visual and cultural aspects become the main factors in pedestrian-friendly cities. The spatial pattern typology has matched similar cities (Malmö and Kaunas) to work closely on sustainable urban planning development. In all case studies, specific walkability zones were mapped, but the Gr zones turned out to be the most compact ones (the Z-score of Gr was ranged from 355.4 to 584; other indexes oscillated between 209.4 and 542.6). The walkability mapping results are publicly shared via WebMap to stimulate the participatory discussion on case studies cities further development.
Simulating Maize Productivity under Selected Climate Smart Agriculture Practices Using AquaCrop Model in a Sub-humid Environment
Authors: Zizinga Alex , Mwanjalolo Jackson Gilbert Majaliwa , Tietjen Britta , Bedadi Bobe , Amaro de Sales Ramon , Beesigamukama Dennis
Published: February 2022

Crop models are crucial in assessing the reliability and sustainability of soil water conservation practices. The AquaCrop model was tested and validated for maize productivity under the selected climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices in the rainfed production systems. The model was validated using final biomass (B) and grain yield (GY) data from field experiments involving seven CSA practices (halfmoon pits, 2 cm thick mulch, 4 cm thick mulch, 6 cm thick mulch, 20 cm deep permanent planting basins (PPB), and 30 cm deep) and the control (conventional practice) where no CSA was applied. Statistics for coefficient of determination (R2), Percent bias (Pbias), and Nash–Sutcliffe (E) for B and GY indicate that the AquaCrop model was robust to predict crop yield and biomass as illustrated by the value of R2 > 0.80, Pbias −1.52–1.25% and E > 0.68 for all the CSA practices studied. The relative changes between the actual and simulated water use efficiency (WUE) of grain yield was observed in most of the CSA practices. However, measured WUE was seemingly better in the 2 cm thick mulch, indicating a potential for water saving and yield improvement. Therefore, the AquaCrop model is recommended as a reliable tool for assessing the effectiveness of the selected CSA practices for sustainable and improved maize production; although, the limitations in severely low soil moisture conditions and water stressed environments should be further investigated considering variations in agroecological zones.
Participatory Methodologies for Self-Management of Waste: Case Study for the Reduction of Plastics in the Sahrawi Refugee Camps
Authors: Guijarro Ester , Clavel María , Fernández-Baldor Álvaro
Published: February 2022

According to the United Nations, if measures are not taken by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than there are fish. This work addresses this issue by proposing an adaptation of the CLTS, a methodology used in sanitation to promote behavioural changes, to the waste management sector. The methodology is applied in the Sahrawi refugee camps through two phases: a first one in which the specific context is analysed to achieve a real diagnosis of the problem and a second phase in which the CLTS is adapted proposing the use of various participatory techniques in order to reduce the use of plastic bags. The analysis of the information collected in the first phase shows that plastic bags constitute the highest percentage of waste and that the best solution to reduce the consumption of plastic bags is by actively raising awareness among the community through training and talks. This justifies the second phase where a practical guide is provided on how Sahrawi people themselves can become aware of the problem and triggering the desire for change in the community. Thus, the philosophy of the methodology proposed here is that people are capable of self-organising and solving their own problems.
Design and Research of Symmetrical Multi-Throttle Thrust Hydrostatic Bearing Based on Comparative Analysis of Various Meshes
Authors: Liu Yongmeng , Cao Zifei , Zhang Yuan , Wang Dawei , Wang Xiaoming , Sun Chuanzhi
Published: February 2022

Due to the advantages of high rotation accuracy and long life, hydrostatic air bearings are widely used in precision rotation equipment, such as machine tools and turntables. It is imperative to reasonably design the structural size of the bearing, especially as the size of the bearing in the precision turntable determines the bearing capacity of the turntable. At present, commercial CFD software is used chiefly for simulation verification for the design of air bearings. The mesh divided in the simulation calculation has a significant impact on the efficiency of the calculation and determines the accuracy of the final simulation results. Therefore, this paper takes the symmetrical multi-throttle thrust bearing in the precision turntable as the research object and compares and studies the advantages and disadvantages of sliced structured meshes, continuous structured meshes, and unstructured meshes. On this basis, simulation analysis of bearing capacity for different radial equalizing groove lengths, widths, and depths and explores the influence of the structure size of the thrust bearing on its bearing capacity. The study shows that the length and depth of the throttle groove significantly influence the bearing capacity, while the width has little influence on the bearing capacity. Therefore, under the specific cavity volume to ensure the dynamic characteristics of the bearing, the width of the throttling groove should be reduced first, and the length and depth of the throttling groove should be increased to improve the bearing capacity.
Bayesian Interval Estimation for the Two-Parameter Exponential Distribution Based on the Right Type II Censored Sample
Authors: Wu Shu-Fei
Published: February 2022

The Bayesian interval estimation of the scale parameter for two-parameter exponential distribution is proposed based on the right type II censored sample. Under this type of censoring, two methods of Bayesian joint confidence region of the two parameters are also proposed. The simulation results show that the Bayesian method has a higher coverage probability than the existing method, so the Bayesian method is recommended for use. This research is related to the topic of asymmetrical probability distributions and applications across disciplines. The predictive interval of the future observation based on the right type II censored sample is also provided. One biometrical example is given to illustrate the proposed methods for the Bayesian interval estimations and prediction interval.
Organocatalyst Design for the Stereoselective Annulation towards Bicyclic Diketones and Analogues
Authors: Vetica Fabrizio , Pandolfi Fabiana , Pettazzoni Luca , Leonelli Francesca , Bortolami Martina
Published: February 2022

The Wieland–Miescher ketone, Hajos–Parrish–Eder–Sauer–Wiechert ketone, and their analogues are bicyclic diketones essential as building blocks for the synthesis of several natural and bioactive molecules. For this reason, since 1971, when Hajos and Parrish and Eder, Sauer, and Wiechert reported the stereoselective synthesis of these compounds promoted by L-proline, numerous methodologies and organocatalysts have been studied over the years with the aim of identifying increasingly efficient asymmetrical syntheses of these bicyclic ketones. This review will outline the methodological and stereochemical features of the organocatalytic stereoselective synthesis of these bicyclic scaffolds based on the different organocatalysts employed from 1971 until today. Particular emphasis will be given to the structural features of the catalysts and to the reaction conditions.
Some Subordination Results for Atangana-Baleanu Fractional Integral Operator Involving Bessel Functions
Authors: Cătaş Adriana , Lupaş Alina Alb
Published: February 2022

We propose, in the present paper, to derive some differential subordination results. The work is developed in the case of analytic functions defined on the open unit disc. The results will be formulated by making use of an Atangana–Baleanu fractional integral operator and Bessel functions. For the newly obtained theorems, certain interesting consequences are also considered. Univalent function selections with specific symmetry properties were involved.