bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pricing ESG Equity Ratings and Underlying Data in Listed Real Estate Securities
Authors: Brounen Dirk , Marcato Gianluca , Op ’t Veld Hans
Published: February 2021

By analyzing the adoption of the European Public Real Estate Association’s (EPRA) Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations (sBPR), we examine and discuss the application of transparent environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and their interaction with public real estate performance across European markets. Due to increasing concerns about the environment and the impact of investment on society at large, public property companies have made significant progress in improving transparency and enhancing the protection of shareholder value by sharing and reporting ESG best practices. We explore and review the EPRA sBPR database, which is highly useful for investors who are already screening listed real estate companies. Hence, in this project, we carefully study the diffusion process of this new ESG metric as a tool to enhance informational transparency regarding public real estate investment management and assess the effects of this transparency and ESG performance for the real estate stock returns. We find evidence of a sustainability premium that investors are willing to pay to access companies with better sustainable ratings.
Universities’ Reporting on SDGs: Using THE Impact Rankings to Model and Measure Their Contribution to Sustainability
Authors: De la Poza Elena , Merello Paloma , Barberá Antonio , Celani Alberto
Published: February 2021

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have voiced growing concerns about sustainability issues since Agenda 2030 was approved, but this is not enough for societal stakeholders seeking and delivering innovation and excellence. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action, and pose a challenge for HEIs as for the efforts made to fulfill them and knowing how to assess their performance. However, the metric management system implemented by HEIs quickly led to rankings emerging, which compare HEIs to metrics not related to the sustainability dimensions of the 17 SDGs. The main aim of the paper is to assess the level of reporting and alignment of SDG achievements with the overall the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking score. For this purpose, our study (i) models and quantifies the impact of HEIs’ disclosure of SDG information on HEIs’ overall THE Impact Rankings score, (ii) analyzes whether the best ranked universities are indeed significantly related to different SDGs than other not-so-well-ranked ones, and (iii) models the differences in the overall score and its alignment with distinct SDGs by dimensions, subjects, and geographical regions. In order to do so, a descriptive analysis, non-parametric tests, and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Our results reveal that the overall ranking is related to the reporting of HEIs’ SDG achievements. Moreover, the more positive actions related to health, education, industry, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and partnerships there were, the higher the position of HEIs in the general ranking was. However, we found differences between top-ranking universities and others in geographical location, disclosed information, and impact. Thus, the best-ranked universities are more committed to transferring knowledge to industry to satisfy its needs (SDG9), support strong institutions in their countries, and promote peace and justice (SDG16). Finally, SDG9 and SDG17 are the most relevant and constant SDGs when modeling the alignment of SDGs with HEIs’ dimensions (teaching, research, citations, industry income, international outlook) and subjects (technological and social sciences and humanities). HEIs integrating SDG actions into the strategic management of universities and, consequently, reporting their SDG performance to promote sustainability and contribute to sustainable development, is advisable.
Development of Driving Simulation Scenarios Based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Road Safety Analysis
Authors: Dols Juan F. , Molina Jaime , Camacho-Torregrosa F. Javier , Llopis-Castelló David , García Alfredo
Published: February 2021

The analysis of road safety is critical in road design. Complying to guidelines is not enough to ensure the highest safety levels, so many of them encourage designers to virtually recreate and test their roads, benefitting from the evolution of driving simulators in recent years. However, an accurate recreation of the road and its environment represents a real bottleneck in the process. A very important limitation lies in the diversity of input data, from different sources and requiring specific adaptations for every single simulator. This paper aims at showing a framework for recreating faster virtual scenarios by using an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based file. This methodology was compared to two other conventional methods for developing driving scenarios. The main outcome of this study has demonstrated that with a data exchange file in IFC format, virtual scenarios can be faster designed to carry out safety audits with driving simulators. As a result, the editing, programming, and processing times were substantially reduced using the proposed IFC exchange file format through a BIM (Building Information Modeling) model. This methodology facilitates cost-savings, execution, and optimization resources in road safety analysis.
Evaluating Usability of Academic Websites through a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process
Authors: Muhammad AbdulHafeez , Siddique Ansar , Naveed Quadri Noorulhasan , Khaliq Uzma , Aseere Ali M. , Hasan Mohd Abul , Qureshi Mohamed Rafik N. , Shahzad Basit
Published: February 2021

In the higher education sector, there is a growing trend to offer academic information to users through websites. Contemporarily, the users (i.e., students/teachers, parents, and administrative staff) greatly rely on these websites to perform various academic tasks, including admission, access to learning management systems (LMS), and links to other relevant resources. These users vary from each other in terms of their technological competence, objectives, and frequency of use. Therefore, academic websites should be designed considering different dimensions, so that everybody can be accommodated. Knowing the different dimensions with respect to the usability of academic websites is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach has been considered to be a significant method to deal with the uncertainty that is involved in subjective judgment. Although a wide range of usability factors for academic websites have already been identified, most of them are based on the judgment of experts who have never used these websites. This study identified important factors through a detailed literature review, classified them, and prioritized the most critical among them through the FAHP methodology, involving relevant users to propose a usability evaluation framework for academic websites. To validate the proposed framework, five websites of renowned higher educational institutes (HEIs) were evaluated and ranked according to the usability criteria. As the proposed framework was created methodically, the authors believe that it would be helpful for detecting real usability issues that currently exist in academic websites.
Co-Producing Knowledge Innovation through Thematic Incubators for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development in India
Authors: Bajwa Sukhreet , Dabral Ambika , Chatterjee Ranit , Shaw Rajib
Published: February 2021

The private sector for long has been looked upon as a funding source to cushion the disaster and climate change damages and losses. In recent times, there is a more proactive approach with the private sector increasingly engaging in activities to promote Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a part of their business strategies. Despite significant strides being made by the private sector in this regard, the strategies that are good for the business, environment, and sustainability are yet to take off at a large-scale. Many private organizations are still facing the challenge of identifying the right target sector and stakeholders for fulfilling their sustainability requirements. However, the greatest strength of the private sector is its ability to innovate. As part of this innovative design, the concept of thematic incubation for corporate sustainability is explored. The products and services developed through these thematic incubators are envisaged to result in the achievement of global development agendas and promotion of sustainability performance for multiple stakeholders including government, academia, private sector, and the community at large. This concept allows a win-win situation with the culmination of long-lasting social and environmental goals along-with achieving profit-with-purpose. The paper identifies the concept of sustainability with respect to the interest of the stakeholders, as well as its alignment with that of sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. The paper presents an exploratory case of the thematic incubation for disaster risk reduction, climate change, and sustainable development as a possible approach to corporate sustainability. The paper details the process of thematic incubation along with possible challenges and advantages of the same. In all, thematic incubation has been identified as a lynchpin to ensure the effective utilization of resources and setting in motion a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, use of science, and sustainability at the local level.
Design and Development of a Proficient Converter for Solar Photovoltaic Based Sustainable Power Generating System
Authors: Alaraj Muhannad , Dube Anirudh , Alsaidan Ibrahim , Rizwan Mohammad , Jamil Majid
Published: February 2021

The demand for renewable energy resources is invigorated due to various issues primarily related to energy security, energy sustainability, and greenhouse gas emissions. The proper utilization of renewable energy resources has certain challenges due to the varying nature of meteorological parameters and atmospheric aerosols. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to extract the maximum power from the photovoltaic systems with the help of proficient converters. Here, a coupled inductor based highly efficient synchronous interleaved boost converter is designed and developed for the grid integrated photovoltaic system. The proposed converter contains an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) switch in place of the conventional diode to maintain zero leakage current, bared minimum switching losses, and improved conduction time thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the system. In addition, the proposed system topology is simple to implement and is capable of controlling power at both the generation as well as the load sides. The results obtained are validated with the help of a laboratory prototype under practical scenarios like varying temperature and solar irradiance. Further, an intelligent technique based on modified particle swarm optimization is utilized to extract the maximum power from the photovoltaic system. Moreover, the power quality indices were monitored and analyzed at the point of common coupling and at the grid level which vets the effectiveness of the proposed topology.
A Systematic Literature Review on Data and Information Required for Circular Manufacturing Strategies Adoption
Authors: Acerbi Federica , Sassanelli Claudio , Terzi Sergio , Taisch Marco
Published: February 2021

In the extant literature, circular economy (CE) is considered a driver for sustainable development of the manufacturing sector, being it an industrial paradigm aiming at regenerating resources. CE is transferred to manufacturing companies through the adoption of different Circular Manufacturing (CM) strategies (e.g., recycling, remanufacturing, etc.). Nowadays, manufacturers are struggling to implement these strategies to limit their resource consumption and pollution generation. To enable their adoption, the extant literature unveiled the importance to control along the entire value chain different types of resource flows (i.e., material, energy, and information). Nevertheless, while for material and energy management some advancements were achieved, information management and sharing remains one of the major barriers in adopting these strategies. The present work, through a systematic literature review, aims to identify the relevant information and data required to support the manufacturer’s decision process in adopting and managing the different CM strategies to pursue the transition towards CM. Furthermore, based on the results obtained, this research proposes a theoretical framework. It elucidates the four main areas to be managed by manufacturers in adopting CM strategies and it provides to the manufacturer an overview of what should be updated and upgraded inside the company to embrace CM strategies.
Thriving, Not Just Surviving in Changing Times: How Sustainability, Agility and Digitalization Intertwine with Organizational Resilience
Authors: Miceli Antonio , Hagen Birgit , Riccardi Maria Pia , Sotti Francesco , Settembre-Blundo Davide
Published: February 2021

Nowadays, the buzzwords for organizations to be prepared for the competitive environment’s challenges are sustainability, digitalization, resilience and agility. However, despite the fact that these concepts have come into common use at the level of both scholars and practitioners, the nature of the relation between sustainability and resilience has not yet been sufficiently clarified. Above all, there is still no evidence of what factors determine greater resilience to change in an organization that also wants to be more sustainable, especially in times of crisis and discontinuity. This research aims to explore from a theoretical point of view, through the construction of a conceptual model, how these dimensions interact to help the business to become strategically resilient by leveraging digitization and agility as enablers. A new view of resilience arises from the study, which goes beyond the well-known ability to absorb or adapt to adversity, to also include a strategic attribute that could help companies capture change-related opportunities to design new ways of doing business under stress. A key set of strategically agile processes, enabled by digitalization, creates strategic resilience that also includes a proactive, opportunity-focused attitude in the face of change. Strategic resilience to lead to organizational sustainability must be understood as a multi-domain concept quite similar to the holistic view of sustainability: environment, economy and society. Finally, the research offers a set of propositions and a theoretical framework that can be empirically validated.
A Comparison of Linear and Non-Linear Machine Learning Techniques (PCA and SOM) for Characterizing Urban Nutrient Runoff
Authors: Gorgoglione Angela , Castro Alberto , Iacobellis Vito , Gioia Andrea
Published: February 2021

Urban stormwater runoff represents a significant challenge for the practical assessment of diffuse pollution sources on receiving water bodies. Given the high dimensionality of the problem, the main goal of this study was the comparison of linear and non-linear machine learning (ML) methods to characterize urban nutrient runoff from impervious surfaces. In particular, the principal component analysis (PCA) for the linear technique and the self-organizing map (SOM) for the non-linear technique were chosen and compared considering the high number of successful applications in the water quality field. To strengthen this comparison, these techniques were supported by well-known linear and non-linear methods. Those techniques were applied to a complete dataset with precipitation, flow rate, and water quality (sediments and nutrients) records of 577 events gathered for a watershed located in Southern Italy. According to the results, both linear and non-linear techniques can represent build-up and wash-off, the two main processes that characterize urban nutrient runoff. In particular, non-linear methods are able to capture and represent better the rainfall-runoff process and the transport of dissolved nutrients in urban runoff (dilution process). However, their computational time is higher than the linear technique (0.0054 s vs. 15.24 s, for linear and non-linear, respectively, in our study). The outcomes of this study provide significant insights into the application of ML methods for the water quality field.
Enterprise Crisis-Resilience and Competitiveness
Authors: Bistrova Julija , Lace Natalja , Kasperovica Ludmila
Published: February 2021

Past events exert significant influence on corporate development and management behavior, thus impacting the financial sustainability of companies. Therefore, the consequences of the 2008 financial crisis and corporate tax reform introduced in Latvia in 2018 are well reflected in the financial conditions of Latvian enterprises. This study, which was conducted based on financial reporting data from 2015–2019 and aimed at the assessment of Latvian companies’ ability to survive during the crisis, revealed a substantial improvement in financial sustainability and in the efficiency of capital management, particularly visible in 2018–2019. On the other hand, the margins, which are a proxy of competitive advantage, remained at a low level, and the operating leverage level indicates the rather high riskiness of Latvian companies, which might be critical in overcoming the crisis triggered by COVID-19. The analysis also revealed that there was a large gap between the best and the worst companies. A significant discrepancy in the quality of the financial conditions was also found based on an analysis by region and industry.
Does Mandatory Audit Partner Rotation Influence Auditor Selection Strategies?
Authors: He Li-Jen , Chen Jianxiong
Published: February 2021

Under mandatory rotation, the switching cost may be the most influential factor to be considered for experienced mandatory audit rotations. This study attempts to explore the impacts of the mandatory rotation mechanism on company information disclosure and signaling strategies by examining the audit partner and audit firm switching activities of the mandatory rotation company. Are companies that experience mandatory audit rotation more likely to engage industry specialist auditors with better industry-specific knowledge and reputations to minimize the costs of mandatory rotations? Furthermore, in the case of being required to rotate audit partners, do companies rotate only audit partners, rather than changing both audit partners and audit firms at the same time, to minimize switching costs? To explore these problems, this study examined auditor rotations of listed companies in Taiwan from 2004 to 2016; and expected that, to minimize switching costs, mandatory rotation companies are more likely to select industry specialist auditors to be their successor auditors, and are less likely to rotate audit partners and audit firms at the same time. For the audit partner rotations, we find that, compared to voluntarily rotated companies, a higher percentage of companies choose industry specialist auditors to be their successor audit partners under mandatory rotation. Furthermore, the empirical results support our expectations that companies that experience mandatory audit partner rotation are significantly more likely to engage industry specialists to be their successor audit partners and are more likely to rotate only audit partners rather than rotating both audit partners and audit firms around mandatory audit rotation periods.
Techno-Economic Assessment of On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion System Using Attached-Biofilm Reactor in the Dairy Industry
Authors: Tan Jia Boh , Jamali Nur Syakina , Tan Wei En , Che Man Hasfalina , Zainal Abidin Zurina
Published: February 2021

In this study, a techno-economic assessment of an on-farm biogas system using an anaerobic biofilm reactor utilizing cow manure as a fermentation substrate was evaluated. A projection model was developed using Microsoft Excel software with three outputs, the size and dimension of a bioreactor, experimental microbial kinetic studies, and the economic studies based on the experimental results. Characterization analysis of cow manure wastewater showed the total solid (TS), total volatile solid (TVS), total carbohydrate (TC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and pH values which were 10.95 g/L, 8.65 g/L, 6.65 g/L, 57.80 g/L, and 7, respectively. Using the modified Gompertz equation for the microbial studies, it was found that, at 37 °C and 20 days hydraulic retention time (HRT), the biogas yield was 934.54 mL/gVS, the volume of biogas produced was 11.28 m3/d, and 22.56 kWh of electricity was generated. The Gompertz prediction helps to determine the optimal HRT for the system so that the microorganisms are at their optimum stage to produce biogas. The economic analysis was done, and the results illustrated that, when the rate of cow manure produced was at 55 L/day.cow, the net present value (NPV) was RM 611,936.09, with a 13% internal rate of return (IRR), 0.14 return on investment (ROI), and 7.02 years of payback period (PP). By developing a techno-economic assessment that included all the necessary parameters such as sizing of the bioreactor, microbial kinetic studies, and economics of the plant, farmers could easily implement the system into their farms. This model showed that the anaerobic digestion system utilizing an attached biofilm with cow manure as a fermentation inoculum and substrate was applicable on an industrial scale to generate electricity and reutilize to the farm, at the same time generating additional income from the production of fertilizer.
Comparison of Projection in Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts in the Cheongmicheon Watershed for RCP4.5 and SSP2-4.5
Authors: Kim Jin Hyuck , Sung Jang Hyun , Chung Eun-Sung , Kim Sang Ug , Son Minwoo , Shiru Mohammed Sanusi
Published: February 2021

Due to the recent appearance of shares socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios, there have been many studies that compare the results between Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP)5 and CMIP6 general circulation models (GCMs). This study attempted to project future drought characteristics in the Cheongmicheon watershed using SSP2-4.5 of Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator-coupled model (ACCESS-CM2) in addition to Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 of ACCESS 1-3 of the same institute. The historical precipitation and temperature data of ACCESS-CM2 were generated better than those of ACCESS 1-3. Two meteorological drought indices, namely, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were used to project meteorological drought while a hydrological drought index, Standardized Streamflow Index (SDI), was used to project the hydrological drought characteristics. The metrological data of GCMs were bias-corrected using quantile mapping method and the streamflow was obtained using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and bias-corrected meteorological data. As a result, there were large differences of drought occurrences and severities between RCP4.5 and SSP2-4.5 for the values of SPI, SPEI, and SDI. The differences in the minimum values of drought index between near (2021–2060) and far futures (2061–2100) were very small in SSP2-4.5, while those in RCP4.5 were very large. In addition, the longest drought period from SDI was the largest because the variation in precipitation usually affects the streamflow with a lag. Therefore, it was concluded that it is important to consider both CMIP5 and CMIP6 GCMs in establishing the drought countermeasures for the future period.
Urban Water Inclusive Sustainability: Evidence from 38 Cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China
Authors: Gao Siyu , Guo Haixiang , Yu Jing
Published: February 2021

The ecological environment of urban water resources in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is in a huge challenge; yet, while myriad studies have investigated the carrying capacity or sustainable utilization of Chinese water resources, few to none have looked at the inclusive sustainable development of water resources. In this article, a new concept of urban water inclusive sustainability (UWIS) is firstly proposed, and the conceptual framework of ASFII and a five-dimensional indicator system are developed, integrating availability, sustainability, friendliness, inclusiveness and innovation. The panel data of 38 cities in the YREB are adopted from 2008 to 2018 to measure UWIS and five development indexes by the TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) and entropy method. Moreover, the characteristics of the temporal–spatial evolution of the overall system and subsystems coupling coordination are described using the coupling coordination degree model. Key factors that hinder UWIS are identified through the obstacle degree model. The results indicate that the overall UWIS showed a gradual upward trend at a lower to medium level from 2008 to 2018 and a friendliness > sustainability > inclusiveness > innovation > availability index. The UWIS from high to low is YRDUA (Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration), MRYRUA (middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration) and CCUA (Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration). The 38 cities are in low-level coordination, and their temporal characteristics show a trend of economy > science and technology > water resources > environment > societal system, YRDUA > MRYRUA > CCUA. The spatial differentiation is manifested as high in the east and low in the west. The main obstacles come from 12 factors, such as the water resources utilization rate, etc. The findings of our study will be a scientific reference for the Chinese government to track UWIS and ensure urban water resources security in the YREB.
Green Infrastructure for Sanitation in Settlements in the Global South: A Narrative Review of Socio-Technical Systems
Authors: Prescott Michaela F. , Dobbie Meredith F. , Ramirez-Lovering Diego
Published: February 2021

In the developing economies of the Global South, a fundamental challenge in the transition of settlements from rural or periurban to urban is increased environmental contamination as a result of poor sanitation and sanitation management. With governments’ limited ability to connect all neighbourhoods to a city’s existing municipal water, sewerage and other services, decentralised approaches using green infrastructure offer potential to address this challenge. In addition, green infrastructure might facilitate a move towards a holistic response to manage the full water cycle. This paper presents a narrative review of green infrastructure projects, involving constructed wetlands or their variants for wastewater treatment, within vulnerable communities in the Global South. It describes the scale and scope of each project, identifies the challenges of implementation, and reflects on their outcomes for different stakeholder groups. The review demonstrates that decentralised sanitation programs using constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment can provide a range of advantages/benefits/services, dependant on the specific sociocultural, political and biogeophysical contexts of each. Issues of governance and sociocultural appropriateness, rather than technical issues, challenged the implementation of green infrastructure for sanitation in these projects. Projects must be a collaboration between the government, nongovernment organisations and the community. Whether the project is organised from top-down or bottom-up, community consultation is essential. Context will determine the role of the community in the consultation process and the type of information required to guide the design, implementation and governance of the system. In every project to provide decentralised sanitation systems, the community must be participants, not simply beneficiaries.
Gender and Social Seed Networks for Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Bean, Finger Millet, and Sorghum Seed Systems in East Africa
Authors: Otieno Gloria , Zebrowski Wesley Mlsna , Recha John , Reynolds Travis William
Published: February 2021

In many East African countries, women and men have different levels of access to formal markets for agricultural inputs, including seed, reflecting a combination of gender norms and resource constraints. As a result, women and men may have different levels of participation in—and reliance upon—informal seed systems for sourcing preferred planting material and accessing new crop varieties over time. We use network analysis to explore differences in seed networks accessed by women and men for three major food security crops—beans, finger millet, and sorghum—in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Drawing on data from an original survey of 1001 rural farm households across five study sites, we find that women, on average, have fewer connections to experts and farmers’ groups than men but are relatively better connected in farmer-to-farmer social networks across different farming systems. We further find women’s and men’s networks are clustered by gender (i.e., women’s networks include more women, and men’s networks include more men)—and that men’s networks are more likely to exchange improved seed. Women’s networks, though sometimes larger, are less likely to exchange improved varieties that might help farmers adapt to climate change. Women farmers across contexts may also be more reliant on farmer-to-farmer networks than men due to their relative isolation from other seed and information sources. Findings emphasize the need for careful attention to the different implications of seed policies, market interventions, and other seed system reforms to support gender-equitable food security options for women and men in sub-Saharan Africa.
Transformation Directions of Brownfields: The Case of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis
Authors: Pytel Sławomir , Sitek Sławomir , Chmielewska Marta , Zuzańska-Żyśko Elżbieta , Runge Anna , Markiewicz-Patkowska Julita
Published: February 2021

Brownfields are remnants of the functional and spatial transformations of urban areas in Poland. They are particularly abundant in old industrial districts, based on coal mining and metallurgy. The aim of this study is to identify the transformation directions and functional changes of brownfields in the former Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland, which has evolved into the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM) through the process of socio-economic transformation. The study makes use of the χ2 test of independence and Cramer’s V as a post-test, and the method of in-depth interviews. The results indicate that the most popular new functions of post-industrial sites are production and services. When we consider large brownfields such as, in particular, disused mine dumps, dumping sites, settling ponds and workings, the most popular new form of land use is green spaces. Moreover, the study shows that the size of brownfields impacts their new forms of land use.
Symmetry Based Material Optimization
Authors: Shi Zeyun , Lin Jinkeng , Chen Jiong , Jin Yao , Huang Jin
Published: February 2021

Many man-made or natural objects are composed of symmetric parts and possess symmetric physical behavior. Although its shape can exactly follow a symmetry in the designing or modeling stage, its discretized mesh in the analysis stage may be asymmetric because generating a mesh exactly following the symmetry is usually costly. As a consequence, the expected symmetric physical behavior may not be faithfully reproduced due to the asymmetry of the mesh. To solve this problem, we propose to optimize the material parameters of the mesh for static and kinematic symmetry behavior. Specifically, under the situation of static equilibrium, Young’s modulus is properly scaled so that a symmetric force field leads to symmetric displacement. For kinematics, the mass is optimized to reproduce symmetric acceleration under a symmetric force field. To efficiently measure the deviation from symmetry, we formulate a linear operator whose kernel contains all the symmetric vector fields, which helps to characterize the asymmetry error via a simple ℓ2 norm. To make the resulting material suitable for the general situation, the symmetric training force fields are derived from modal analysis in the above kernel space. Results show that our optimized material significantly reduces the asymmetric error on an asymmetric mesh in both static and dynamic simulations.
Addressing Semantics Standards for Cloud Portability and Interoperability in Multi Cloud Environment
Authors: Ramalingam Chithambaramani , Mohan Prakash
Published: February 2021

The increasing demand for cloud computing has shifted business toward a huge demand for cloud services, which offer platform, software, and infrastructure for the day-to-day use of cloud consumers. Numerous new cloud service providers have been introduced to the market with unique features that assist service developers collaborate and migrate services among multiple cloud service providers to address the varying requirements of cloud consumers. Many interfaces and proprietary application programming interfaces (API) are available for migration and collaboration services among cloud providers, but lack standardization efforts. The target of the research work was to summarize the issues involved in semantic cloud portability and interoperability in the multi-cloud environment and define the standardization effort imminently needed for migrating and collaborating services in the multi-cloud environment.
Second-Order Non-Canonical Neutral Differential Equations with Mixed Type: Oscillatory Behavior
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Nabih Amany , Alotaibi Hammad , Hamed Y. S.
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we establish new sufficient conditions for the oscillation of solutions of a class of second-order delay differential equations with a mixed neutral term, which are under the non-canonical condition. The results obtained complement and simplify some known results in the relevant literature. Example illustrating the results is included.
A Modular Car Body for Sustainable, Cost-Effective, and Versatile Vehicle Development
Authors: Hartmann Christoph , Welm Markus , Schreyer Sven , Hartmann Christoph , Volk Wolfram
Published: February 2021

Availability, sustainability, and functionality pose particular challenges for the value chain of individual mobility. Therefore, in this work, the typical value chain is broken up and the traditional approaches are extended with an open-source perspective. The focus is on modularity and simplicity in order to enable the broadest possible applicability and fast implementation of local production. Nevertheless, the mobility concept should meet the current standards, especially with regard to safety. A modular vehicle frame is presented as a basis, which meets all regulations, can be built in self-assembly, and is available as open-source.
The Impact of Having a Holiday or Work in Fiji on Perceived Immune Fitness
Authors: Verster Joris , Arnoldy Lizanne , van de Loo Aurora , Kraneveld Aletta , Garssen Johan , Scholey Andrew
Published: February 2021

The Western 24 h society poses great psychological and physical demands on people, which may result in complaints such as stress or being overworked, and reduced immune fitness. Having a holiday may be a good way to reduce work-related stress and reduced mood and improve perceived immune fitness. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the impact of having a holiday or work on perceived immune fitness and mood. A survey was held among N = 246 young adults who were on holiday in Fiji, and N = 87 subjects who were in Fiji for work. The sample comprised both students and individuals with a job at home. Past year immune status was assessed with the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ). Current perceived immune functioning and mood were rated from 0 (very poor) to 10 (excellent). Assessments were made for two occasions: (1) the current situation (in Fiji), and (2) at home (before traveling). Compared to being at home, both students and working individuals on holiday in Fiji reported significantly improved immune fitness and significantly improved mood. For example, both groups reported reduction of stress of about 60% while in Fiji. In students who came to Fiji for work or spending a holiday, improvements in perceived immune fitness were more pronounced than in working people coming on holiday in Fiji. In contrast, working people on holiday reported greater improvements in mood compared to students. The magnitude of improvements were significantly greater among women than men. In conclusion, the data suggest that both having a holiday or working in Fiji is associated with significant improvements of mood, which were themselves associated with improved immune fitness. The findings are of importance for the tourism industry as they demonstrate that, in addition to leisure (or being active) as a purpose for having a holiday, the observed mental health benefits and improved perceived immune fitness provide an additional motive to have a holiday.
Uremic Toxins in the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Lim Yong Jin , Sidor Nicole A. , Tonial Nicholas C. , Che Adrian , Urquhart Bradley L.
Published: February 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss of renal function. The gradual decline in kidney function leads to an accumulation of toxins normally cleared by the kidneys, resulting in uremia. Uremic toxins are classified into three categories: free water-soluble low-molecular-weight solutes, protein-bound solutes, and middle molecules. CKD patients have increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), due to an assortment of CKD-specific risk factors. The accumulation of uremic toxins in the circulation and in tissues is associated with the progression of CKD and its co-morbidities, including CVD. Although numerous uremic toxins have been identified to date and many of them are believed to play a role in the progression of CKD and CVD, very few toxins have been extensively studied. The pathophysiological mechanisms of uremic toxins must be investigated further for a better understanding of their roles in disease progression and to develop therapeutic interventions against uremic toxicity. This review discusses the renal and cardiovascular toxicity of uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, hippuric acid, TMAO, ADMA, TNF-α, and IL-6. A focus is also placed on potential therapeutic targets against uremic toxicity.
Fungi–Bacteria Correlation in Alcoholic Hepatitis Patients
Authors: Gao Bei , Zhang Xinlian , Schnabl Bernd
Published: February 2021

Alcohol-related liver disease is one of the most prevalent types of chronic liver diseases globally. Alcohol-related liver disease begins with fatty liver, which further develops into hepatic inflammation, hepatocyte injury, and progresses to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Compositional changes of gut bacteria and fungi were found in patients with alcohol-related liver disease. However, the functional changes of fungi and correlations between fungi and bacteria have not been investigated. In this study, we first examined the functional capacity of fungi in patients with alcohol-related liver disease using shotgun metagenomics. Among 24 MetaCyc pathways contributed by fungi, superpathway of allantoin degradation in yeast was enriched in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Furthermore, we compared the predictive power of bacteria versus fungi and found that bacteria performed better than fungi to separate patients with alcoholic hepatitis from non-alcoholic controls and patients with alcohol use disorder. Finally, we investigated the associations between the intestinal fungi and bacteria in alcoholic hepatitis patients. Positive association between fungi and bacteria was found between Cladosporium and Gemmiger, meanwhile negative association was found between Cryptococcus and Pseudomonas in alcoholic hepatitis patients.
ERK and mTORC1 Inhibitors Enhance the Anti-Cancer Capacity of the Octpep-1 Venom-Derived Peptide in Melanoma BRAF(V600E) Mutations
Authors: Moral-Sanz Javier , Fernandez-Rojo Manuel A. , Potriquet Jeremy , Mukhopadhyay Pamela , Brust Andreas , Wilhelm Patrick , Smallwood Taylor B. , Clark Richard J. , Fry Bryan G. , Alewood Paul F. , Waddell Nicola , Miles John J. , Mulvenna Jason P. , Ikonomopoulou Maria P.
Published: February 2021

Melanoma is the main cause of skin cancer deaths, with special emphasis in those cases carrying BRAF mutations that trigger the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling and unrestrained cell proliferation in the absence of mitogens. Current therapies targeting MAPK are hindered by drug resistance and relapse that rely on metabolic rewiring and Akt activation. To identify new drug candidates against melanoma, we investigated the molecular mechanism of action of the Octopus Kaurna-derived peptide, Octpep-1, in human BRAF(V600E) melanoma cells using proteomics and RNAseq coupled with metabolic analysis. Fluorescence microscopy verified that Octpep-1 tagged with fluorescein enters MM96L and NFF cells and distributes preferentially in the perinuclear area of MM96L cells. Proteomics and RNAseq revealed that Octpep-1 targets PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in MM96L cells. In addition, Octpep-1 combined with rapamycin (mTORC1 inhibitor) or LY3214996 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) augmented the cytotoxicity against BRAF(V600E) melanoma cells in comparison with the inhibitors or Octpep-1 alone. Octpep-1-treated MM96L cells displayed reduced glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration when combined with LY3214996. Altogether these data support Octpep-1 as an optimal candidate in combination therapies for melanoma BRAF(V600E) mutations.
Synthetic Messenger RNA-Based Vaccines: From Scorn to Hype
Authors: Pascolo Steve
Published: February 2021

In the race for a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the synthetic mRNA format has been shown to be the fastest one and proved to be safe and highly efficient, even at the very low dose of a few µg per injection. The mRNA vaccines are not new: vaccines that are based on attenuated mRNA viruses, such as Mumps, Measles, and Rubella, immunize by delivering their mRNAs into the cells of the vaccinated individual, who produces the viral proteins that then prime the immune response. Synthetic mRNA in liposomes can be seen as a modern, more refined, and thereby a safer version of those live attenuated RNA viruses. The anti-COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (coding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) is the third synthetic RNA therapeutic being approved. It follows the aptamer Macugen® (which neutralizes VEGF) and the siRNA Onpattro® (which destroys the transthyretin-coding mRNA). Remarkably, the 30 µg of mRNA that are contained in the first approved anti-COVID-19 vaccine are sufficient for generating high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the virus in all injected volunteers (including participants over 65 years old). The efficacy and safety data are stunning. The distribution of these vaccines throughout the world will bring a halt to the coronavirus pandemic.
Adenovirus and the Cornea: More Than Meets the Eye
Authors: Rajaiya Jaya , Saha Amrita , Ismail Ashrafali M. , Zhou Xiaohong , Su Ting , Chodosh James
Published: February 2021

Human adenoviruses cause disease at multiple mucosal sites, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts, and are common agents of conjunctivitis. One site of infection that has received sparse attention is the cornea, a transparent tissue and the window of the eye. While most adenovirus infections are self-limited, corneal inflammation (keratitis) due to adenovirus can persist or recur for months to years after infection, leading to reduced vision, discomfort, and light sensitivity. Topical corticosteroids effectively suppress late adenovirus keratitis but are associated with vision-threatening side effects. In this short review, we summarize current knowledge on infection of the cornea by adenoviruses, including corneal epithelial cell receptors and determinants of corneal tropism. We briefly discuss mechanisms of stromal keratitis due to adenovirus infection, and review an emerging therapy to mitigate adenovirus corneal infections based on evolving knowledge of corneal epithelial receptor usage.
Captivating Perplexities of Spinareovirinae 5′ RNA Caps
Authors: Kniert Justine , Lin Qi Feng , Shmulevitz Maya
Published: February 2021

RNAs with methylated cap structures are present throughout multiple domains of life. Given that cap structures play a myriad of important roles beyond translation, such as stability and immune recognition, it is not surprising that viruses have adopted RNA capping processes for their own benefit throughout co-evolution with their hosts. In fact, that RNAs are capped was first discovered in a member of the Spinareovirinae family, Cypovirus, before these findings were translated to other domains of life. This review revisits long-past knowledge and recent studies on RNA capping among members of Spinareovirinae to help elucidate the perplex processes of RNA capping and functions of RNA cap structures during Spinareovirinae infection. The review brings to light the many uncertainties that remain about the precise capping status, enzymes that facilitate specific steps of capping, and the functions of RNA caps during Spinareovirinae replication.
Viral Loads and Disease Severity in Children with Rhinovirus-Associated Illnesses
Authors: Sanchez-Codez Maria I. , Moyer Katherine , Benavente-Fernández Isabel , Leber Amy L. , Ramilo Octavio , Mejias Asuncion
Published: February 2021

The role of rhinoviruses (RVs) in children with clinical syndromes not classically associated with RV infections is not well understood. We analyzed a cohort of children ≤21 years old who were PCR+ for RV at a large Pediatric Hospital from 2011 to 2013. Using univariate and multivariable logistic regression, we analyzed the associations between demographic, clinical characteristics, microbiology data, and clinical outcomes in children with compatible symptoms and incidental RV detection. Of the 2473 children (inpatients and outpatients) with an RV+ PCR, 2382 (96%) had compatible symptoms, and 91 (4%) did not. The overall median age was 14 months and 78% had underlying comorbidities. No differences in RV viral loads were found according to the presence of compatible symptoms, while in children with classic RV symptoms, RV viral loads were higher in single RV infections versus RV viral co-infections. Bacterial co-infections were more common in RV incidental detection (7.6%) than in children with compatible symptoms (1.9%, p < 0.001). The presence of compatible symptoms independently increased the odds ratio (OR, 95% CI) of hospitalization 4.8 (3.1–7.4), prolonged hospital stays 1.9 (1.1–3.1), need for oxygen 12 (5.8–25.0) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission 4.13 (2.0–8.2). Thus, despite comparable RV loads, disease severity was significantly worse in children with compatible symptoms.