bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collision-Aware Routing Using Multi-Objective Seagull Optimization Algorithm for WSN-Based IoT
Authors: Jagannathan Preetha , Gurumoorthy Sasikumar , Stateczny Andrzej , Divakarachar Parameshachari , Sengupta Jewel
Published: December 2021

In recent trends, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have become popular because of their cost, simple structure, reliability, and developments in the communication field. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of everyday objects and sharing of information through the Internet. Congestion in networks leads to transmission delays and packet loss and causes wastage of time and energy on recovery. The routing protocols are adaptive to the congestion status of the network, which can greatly improve the network performance. In this research, collision-aware routing using the multi-objective seagull optimization algorithm (CAR-MOSOA) is designed to meet the efficiency of a scalable WSN. The proposed protocol exploits the clustering process to choose cluster heads to transfer the data from source to endpoint, thus forming a scalable network, and improves the performance of the CAR-MOSOA protocol. The proposed CAR-MOSOA is simulated and examined using the NS-2.34 simulator due to its modularity and inexpensiveness. The results of the CAR-MOSOA are comprehensively investigated with existing algorithms such as fully distributed energy-aware multi-level (FDEAM) routing, energy-efficient optimal multi-path routing protocol (EOMR), tunicate swarm grey wolf optimization (TSGWO), and CoAP simple congestion control/advanced (CoCoA). The simulation results of the proposed CAR-MOSOA for 400 nodes are as follows: energy consumption, 33 J; end-to-end delay, 29 s; packet delivery ratio, 95%; and network lifetime, 973 s, which are improved compared to the FDEAM, EOMR, TSGWO, and CoCoA.
Maturity Has a Greater Association than Relative Age with Physical Performance in English Male Academy Soccer Players
Authors: Radnor John M. , Staines Jacob , Bevan James , Cumming Sean P. , Kelly Adam L. , Lloyd Rhodri S. , Oliver Jon L.
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to: (1) examine differences in physical performance across birth-quartiles and maturity-status, and (2) determine the relationships among relative age, maturation and physical performance in young male soccer players. The sample included 199 males aged between 8.1 and 18.9 years, from two professional soccer academies in the English Football League. Data were collected for height, weight, self-reported biological parent heights, 30 m sprint time and countermovement jump (CMJ) height. Relative age was conveyed as a decimal, while maturity status was determined as the percentage of predicted adult height (PAH). There were no significant differences in any measure between birth quartiles, however early maturers outperformed on-time and later maturers in most performance measures. Pearson-product-moment correlations revealed that maturation was inversely associated with 30 m sprint time in U12 to U16 (r = −0.370–0.738; p < 0.05), but only positively associated with CMJ performance in U12 (r = 0.497; p < 0.05). In contrast, relative age was unrelated to sprint performance and only significantly associated with superior CMJ performance in U16. This study indicates that maturity has a greater association with sprint performance than relative age in English male academy soccer players. Practitioners should monitor and assess biological maturation in young soccer players to attempt to control for the influence on physical performance, and avoid biasing selection on absolute performance rather than identifying the most talented player.
Sports Participation and Value of Elite Sports in Predicting Well-Being
Authors: Silva Alfredo , Sobreiro Pedro , Monteiro Diogo
Published: December 2021

This work contributes to an emerging literature focused on the role of physical activity on the subjective well-being of populations. Unlike the existing literature, it proposes an approach that uses algorithms to predict subjective well-being. The aims of this study were to determine the relative importance of sports participation and perceived value of elite sports on the subjective well-being of individuals. A total of 511 participants completed an online questionnaire. The statistical analysis used several machine learning techniques, including three algorithms, Decision Tree Classifier (DTC), Random Forest Classifier (RFC), and Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC). In the three algorithms tested, sports participation, expressed as the weekly frequency and the time spent engaging in vigorous physical activity, showed a greater importance (between 47% and 53%) in determining subjective well-being. It also highlights the effect of perceived value of elite sport on the prediction of subjective well-being. This study provides evidence for public sport policy makers/authorities and for managers of physical activity and sport development programs. The surprising effect of the perceived value of elite sport on the prediction of subjective well-being.
Interactive Effects of Organic Fertilizers and Drought Stress on Growth and Nutrient Content of Brassica juncea at Vegetative Stage
Authors: Geremew Addisie , Carson Laura , Woldesenbet Selamawit , Carpenter Charles , Peace Elisha , Weerasooriya Aruna
Published: December 2021

With the ongoing climate change scenario and alarmingly increased land degradation, understanding complex interactions of drought stress and organic fertilizers on morpho-physiological traits and dynamics of nutrient concentration is pivotal for sustainable production leafy vegetables such as mustard (Brassica juncea). Thus, this study evaluated the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizers on B. juncea growth, physiology, and dynamics of nutrient concentration at the vegetative stage. The plants were exposed to three water stress levels (well-watered (100% field capacity, FC), mild (50% FC), and severe (25% FC) supplemented with three organic fertilizers (chitosan, ultra green, and home-grown natural vegetable foods) either individually or in combination during the vegetative growth stage. Water stress had a negative effect on growth and physiological traits, and macro- and micronutrients of mustard. However, the ameliorative effects of fertilizer application were revealed by improved plant height, leaf area, relative water content, membrane stability index, and chlorophyll content from 9.7% to 26.9%, 28% to 32.72%, 7.97% to 39.51%, 7.93% to 39.66%, and 29.68% to 56.53%, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of soil moisture level, fertilizer type and their interaction on content of macronutrients (Ca, K, P, N, C, S, Na, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn) in mustard leaves. However, there was no significant effect detected for Cu across all factors as well the interaction effect on Mn. Overall, our results indicated that application of organic fertilizers enables mustard plant to withstand the deleterious effect of drought stress, resulting in improved growth and physiological traits as well as leaf nutrient content.
The Influencing Mechanism of Social Effort-Reward Imbalance on Life Satisfaction among Aging Workforces in the United States: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Lin Xinqi , Gao Yongchuang
Published: December 2021

Improving life satisfaction is consistent with the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals. Although there are many studies examining life satisfaction, research on the influencing mechanisms remains a hot topic and scholars hope to explore more aspects that improve life satisfaction. The purpose was to explore how the relationship between social effort-reward imbalance and life satisfaction are mediated by positive and negative affect. We collected longitudinal data from 909 respondents participating in the 2008 and 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We used the first-order difference method and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis to evaluate the validity of the proposed hypotheses. Our results demonstrated that social effort-reward imbalance was positively related to negative affect, and negatively related to positive affect. Positive affect was positively related to life satisfaction, while negative affect was negatively related to life satisfaction. The findings also indicated that positive and negative affect completely mediated the relationship between social effort-reward imbalance and life satisfaction. This study has made a contribution to the research on the influencing mechanism of life satisfaction from the aspects of theory and practice. Longitudinal data ensured that the conclusions were more reliable so that the study could provide useful suggestions for improving life satisfaction.
Influence of COVID-19 Mobility-Restricting Policies on Individual Travel Behavior in Malaysia
Authors: Dias Charitha , Abd Rahman Noorhazlinda , Abdullah Muhammad , Sukor Nur Sabahiah Abdul
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in new postpandemic travel patterns as a result of the stay-at-home policies and restricted movement orders imposed by the Malaysian government. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in individual travel behavior after the government imposed a series of lockdowns, also known as movement control orders (MCO). From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was distributed throughout Malaysia, and 435 complete responses were collected. Results indicated that the respondents predominantly chose private cars for various traveling purposes during the pandemic. When choosing a travel mode during the pandemic, married respondents and essential workers placed a significantly higher priority on pandemic-related - items such as cleanliness, infection concern, social distance, and wearing face masks, compared to single respondents and nonessential workers. Binary logistic regression models were developed to estimate individuals’ propensity to make trips for different purposes, i.e., work/study, social activities, recreational activities, and religious activities. Results indicated that essential workers were nearly three times more likely than the general population to make a work trip during the pandemic. Regarding social and recreational trips, males were more likely to make such types of trips as compared to females. Furthermore, those who perceived a higher risk of infection were less likely to make social and recreational trips. Regarding religious trips, males were significantly more likely to make such trips during the pandemic as compared to females. In addition, Muslims had significantly higher odds of making a trip for religious purposes during the pandemic. The findings of this study could be useful in transportation planning when considering travel restrictions during pandemics based on peoples’ travel purposes and mode choices.
Is Corporate Social Entrepreneurship a (So Far) Missed Opportunity for Higher Education Institutions? Evidence from Germany
Authors: Rickhoff-Fischer Iris , Schank Christoph , Ortland Arne
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: Corporate social entrepreneurship (CSE) is a young phenomenon courting recognition that is attracting increasing attention in academia and corporate practice. Nevertheless, it has rarely found its way into the curricula of higher education institutions (HEI), which raises the question of the concept’s potential for further development in the realm of academic teaching; (2) Our study is based on a mostly qualitative research design consisting of expert interviews, focus groups, and a low-standardized survey; (3) Results: Corporate social entrepreneurship is seen as having strong potential to enrich education at institutions of higher learning, to establish new forms of teaching, and to bridge the gap between higher education and society; (4) Conclusions: Although our results indicate industry need and student demand for competent corporate social entrepreneurs, German HEIs have not yet integrated CSE-specific education into their curricula. However, the required competences are covered by CSE-related fields of study, which hampers the holistic education of CSE learners. A CSE curriculum needs to cover core CSE concepts as well as key competences, and the engagement of quadruple helix stakeholders requires an adjustable and transversal approach of curriculum development.
Technological Solutions for Sustainable Development: Effects of a Visual Prompt Scaffolding-Based Virtual Reality Approach on EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension, Learning Attitude, Motivation, and Anxiety
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Guo Yu , Wang Yan , Tu Yun-Fang , Liu Chenchen
Published: December 2021

As is indicated by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 4, it is crucial to have access to inclusive and quality education for all. For English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, reading English is a basic skill for learners to acquire and exchange information and to have lifelong learning experiences. To provide a vivid EFL learning environment, a visual prompt scaffolding-based VR (VPS-VR) approach was proposed to enhance students’ reading comprehension skills. To investigate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an experiment was conducted in an English reading course at a Chinese university. Students from experimental group A (N = 31) learned with the VPS-VR approach, experimental group B (N = 32) learned with the virtual reality (VR) approach, and the control group learned with the traditional instruction (TI) approach. The results revealed the positive effects of the VPS-VR approach on students’ EFL reading comprehension, learning motivation, and English learning anxiety. Furthermore, it was also found that experimental students’ lower-level skills of reading comprehension, such as information location and text comprehension, were significantly improved, rather than the higher-level skills of reflection and evaluation. Fifteen students participated in interviews, and their learning experience and technology acceptance are also discussed.
Citizen Science Addressing Challenges of Sustainability
Authors: Skarzauskiene Aelita , Mačiulienė Monika
Published: December 2021

Practices for the engagement of citizens and other research and innovation (R and I) stakeholders in science can be found aplenty in the existing literature, all along with principles, guidelines and tools providing meaningful guidance for practitioners in research funding and performing, organizations (RPFOs) and helping them achieve high quality and responsible citizen science projects addressing sustainability challenges. Such guidance, however, is scarce when it comes to setting up and running transdisciplinary citizen science eco systems, where projects can be systematically initiated by different stakeholders and carried out in a dedicated supportive environment. Based on literature review and series of semi-structured interviews with quadruple helix stakeholders in Lithuania, this paper provides a current overview of the perceptions, concerns, motivational factors, and obstacles with regard to participation in citizen science activities.
Sustainability: A Public Policy, a Concept, or a Competence? Efforts on the Implementation of Sustainability as a Transversal Competence throughout Higher Education Programs
Authors: Membrillo-Hernández Jorge , Lara-Prieto Vianney , Caratozzolo Patricia
Published: December 2021

The concept of sustainability emerged globally in the 1987 Brundtland Report. Initially, it comprised three dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. Over time, sustainability became a global necessity that led to the establishment in 2015 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so that sustainability became a public policy of extreme urgency. Thirty-four years later, there is an imperative need to expand the original concept not in a public policy but in a competence that graduates of higher education develop, regardless of their studied academic program. We propose sustainability as a transversal competence. Our work describes the path that a higher education institution in Mexico, Tecnologico de Monterrey, has followed to accomplish this task. The new educational model Tec21 based on challenge-based learning experiences has a focus on the development of sustainability competences and actions ownership towards solving the problems described in the 17 SDGs. Our proposed definition for the sustainability transversal competence is: “The student possesses the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the successful performance of the task and the resolution of problems related to the challenges and opportunities for sustainability in today’s world”. Thus, education is both an objective and a means to achieve all the other SDGs.
Humanitarian Mapping as a Contribution to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Research into the Motivation of Volunteers and the Ideal Setting of Mapathons
Authors: Štampach Radim , Herman Lukáš , Trojan Jakub , Tajovská Kateřina , Řezník Tomáš
Published: December 2021

Missing Maps is a humanitarian mapping project that maps vulnerable places in the developing world. Its outcomes are used to target aid in affected areas and to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. A mapathon is an event in which a group of volunteers maps a defined location. The presented communication answers the following questions: What is the motivation of different contributors in the Missing Maps community in Czechia and Slovakia? How can a mapathon be set up to attract as many participants as possible? How exactly can the contributors to humanitarian mapping subjectively evaluate their contribution so far? A questionnaire about the motivation of contributors and the analysis of statistics from eighteen public mapathons in Brno (Czechia) were used as the primary research methods. The analysis of motivation found six strong motivators. Half of them concern altruism and half of them relate to the importance of the OpenStreetMap project and the mapping community. Analysis of the characteristics of 18 mapathons found that the month of the mapathon had a significant influence on the number of attendants. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant correlation between the number of edits and participants’ self-assessment. This means that humanitarian mappers evaluate their overall contribution very realistically. Analyses with an identical scope are planned for future years.
Use of Wearable Devices to Study Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Díaz-Quesada Gema , Bahamonde-Pérez Cecilia , Giménez-Egido José María , Torres-Luque Gema
Published: December 2021

Physical activity recommendations for early childhood are gradually being met to a lesser extent today. The objectives of the study were: (i) to assess the degree of compliance with physical activity (PA) recommendations by gender; and (ii) to analyze the level of PA and steps in different periods over a week. This study was an observational cross-sectional study. Sixty-three young children (33 boys and 30 girls) aged two years (2.15 ± 0.35) were recruited for this study. Participants wore a “Garmin vivofit® jr.” activity tracker for seven days, collecting minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and step volume (Out-of-School Time and School Time). The results show a 50% compliance of the 120 min/day MVPA and 13,000 steps per day. No gender differences were detected. The findings in the analysis indicated a trend towards higher PA and steps at the Weekend. Moreover, participants reached higher PA and steps values “Out-of-School Time” than “School Time” (MVPA) (min/day). This study can provide strategies and motivational PA guidelines at school to enhance well-being at an early age. These activity trackers could stimulate more sustainable forms of urban mobility, such as walking, as the environment would accompany the child to meet daily PA recommendations.
Global Food Security Assessment during 1961–2019
Authors: Guo Jingpeng , Mao Kebiao , Yuan Zijin , Qin Zhihao , Xu Tongren , Bateni Sayed M. , Zhao Yinghui , Ye Caixia
Published: December 2021

Quantified components of the global food system are used to assess long-term global food security under a series of socio-economic, epidemic normalization and climate change scenarios. Here, we evaluate the global food security including the global farming system as well as the global food trade, reserve and loss systems from 1961 to 2019, and analyze their temporal and spatial characteristics by using the global food vulnerability (GFV) model. The spatio–temporal patterns of the vulnerability of the global food system were consistent with the GFSI. As food production and consumption vary greatly in different countries which have continued for a long time, food exports from many developed agricultural countries have compensated for food shortages in most countries (about 120 net grain-importing countries). As a result, many countries have relied heavily on food imports to maintain their domestic food supplies, ultimately causing the global food trade stability to have an increasing impact on the food security of most countries. The impact of global food trade on global food security increased from 9% to 17% during 1961–2019, which has increased the vulnerability of the global food system. The food damage in the United States, Russia, China, and India has varied significantly, and global cereal stocks have fluctuated even more since 2000. From 1961 to 2019, the food system security of some Nordic countries significantly improved, while the food system security of most African countries significantly deteriorated. Most countries with high food insecurity are located in Africa and South Asia. In order to cope with extreme events, these countries need to strengthen and improve their own food production and storage systems, which will help the World Food and Agriculture Organization to formulate relevant food policies and maintain sustainable development.
Drivers and Barriers towards Social Farming: A Systematic Review
Authors: Nazzaro Concetta , Uliano Anna , Marotta Giuseppe
Published: December 2021

Social farming (SF) spread across Europe in recent decades. It represents an expression of agriculture diversification and performs a social function expressed through vulnerable individuals’ social inclusion. As a result, SF is able to generate positive externalities and thus contribute to social wellbeing. Despite benefits, SF faces several issues related to its dissemination. Although in recent years scholars have been approaching this topic, much remains to be researched. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate, through a systematic review, drivers and barriers related to the spread of this phenomenon. Results showed that factors such as the lack of information on SF, farmers’ mental limitations and the lack of economic resources, as well as excessive bureaucratization, could hamper the spread of SF. On the other hand, ethical production, new income sources, sustainable rural development and new employment opportunities can encourage the dissemination of such practices. In order to overcome the barriers and emphasize the drivers pointed out by this study, the role of policymakers is essential, as they should promote information and training activities for farmers and consumers in order to increase awareness of SF social value and encourage a collective approach to SF practices.
Snow-Disaster Risk Zoning and Assessment in Heilongjiang Province
Authors: Li Hao , Xi Wenshuang , Zhang Lijuan , Zang Shuying
Published: December 2021

Heilongjiang Province is located in the northeast region of China, with the country’s highest latitude. It has long and cold winters, and a temperate monsoon climate. Its unique geographic location and climatic conditions make it the second largest stable snow-covered region in China. The winter snow period starts in October and ends in April of the following year. Therefore, the long-term accumulation of snow causes road obstructions and low-temperature frost damage, which seriously affects local economic development and human safety. This study adopts snow parameters (e.g., snow depth and snow-cover period), natural environmental factors (e.g., elevation and slope), and socioeconomic factors (e.g., gross domestic product and light index). On the basis of the disaster risk assessment theory, we constructed a disaster risk index from four aspects (i.e., disaster risk, susceptibility, vulnerability, and disaster prevention and mitigation). Then, we performed snow-disaster risk zoning and an assessment in Heilongjiang Province. The main findings are as follows: the snow-disaster risk in the northern and eastern regions of Heilongjiang Province was high; the central and northern regions were highly sensitive to disasters; the main urban areas were highly vulnerable; and the economically developed regions had strong disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. Overall, the spatial distribution of the snow-disaster risk followed a decreasing trend from east to west. High-risk areas were distributed in the east and northwest (covering 34.3% of the entire Heilongjiang Province area); medium-risk areas were distributed in the north and center (accounting for 45.2% of the entire Heilongjiang Province area); and low-risk areas were concentrated in the west (constituting 20.5% of the entire Heilongjiang Province area).
The Effects of Temper Traits and Study Method (Full-Time vs. Extramural) on Polish Students’ Adaptability to Online Learning as a Result of COVID-19. A Pilot Study
Authors: Jaworek Magdalena Anna
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 has forced students to readjust to online learning. The current study aimed to investigate attitudes of Polish students towards online education, relationships between learning preferences and temper traits, and differences in learning preferences among extramural and full-time students. The study recruited 185 college students between May and June 2021. The findings indicated between group differences in learning preferences, with extramural students preferring online education slightly more than full-time students. Two temper traits, briskness and activity, appeared to be significant predictors of positive attitude towards online learning. However, as this was a pilot study, further investigations are recommended.
A Sensitivity Analysis for Thermal Performance of Building Envelope Design Parameters
Authors: Elhadad Sara , Orban Zoltan
Published: December 2021

Sensitivity analysis is crucial in building energy assessments. It is used to determine the major variables influencing building thermal performance, using both observational research and energy simulation models. This study investigates the most influential envelope design parameters on the thermal performance of a typical residential building in Budapest, Hungary. Sensitivity analysis is used in conjunction with the IDA-Indoor and Climate Energy (IDA-ICE 4.8) simulation tool to assess the effects of 33 envelope design parameters for energy consumption and carbon dioxide concentrations. The input parameters include thickness, materials, density, specific heat and thermal conductivity of the basement, exterior floor, interior floor, exterior wall, interior wall, roof, ground slab, glazing type, and infiltration rate. The results show that exterior floor materials have the biggest impact on annual delivered energy for heating and cooling, whereas the density of all structural elements and thickness of the basement, exterior floors, interior floors, and walls have minimal effects on energy consumption. It is also shown that the impact of all investigated parameters is not sensitive to the carbon dioxide concentration in the building. The authors consider that the findings of the paper assist designers to assess the performance of existing buildings and more efficiently generating alternative solutions in the energetic retrofitting of existing and energy design of new residential buildings.
System-Cluster Technology of e-Learning Improvement under the Conditions of COVID-19
Authors: Stoyanova Tsvetana , Stoyanov Philip , Remnova Anzhelika , Kushniruk Svitlana , Rakityanska Lyudmyla , Drobyazko Svetlana
Published: December 2021

The paper defines the scientific provisions on the feasibility and effectiveness of using e-learning under conditions of quarantine restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was proved that within the use of e-learning there has been a convergence between the scientific and methodological bases and the learning process itself, and new approaches to the general didactic and information content of e-learning courses within the education process have been formed. Modern platforms of e-learning are examined and a scheme involving the synchronous technology of e-learning was formed. Within the framework of the suggested learning platform, effective learning tools under conditions of quarantine restrictions were identified, the use of which allows the most successful solution of didactic tasks facing e-learning to be ensured on the basis of the everyday use of digital media and electronic devices for learning purposes. The fractal-cluster technology of an e-learning organization was suggested for an introduction. The functional dependencies on the forms and technologies of the educational process for the efficiency of higher education were obtained. The expediency of introducing fractal-cluster structures into the organizational component of the educational process was determined. Based on the tools of the fractal-cluster approach, a model of organization of the educational process in the information-entropy format was formulated.
Pilot Cultivation of the Vulnerable Cretan Endemic Verbascum arcturus L. (Scrophulariaceae): Effect of Fertilization on Growth and Quality Features
Authors: Paschalidis Konstantinos , Fanourakis Dimitrios , Tsaniklidis Georgios , Tzanakakis Vasileios A. , Bilias Fotis , Samara Eftihia , Kalogiannakis Konstantinos , Debouba Faten Jamel , Ipsilantis Ioannis , Tsoktouridis Georgios , Matsi Theodora , Krigas Nikos
Published: December 2021

The domestication of wild-growing plants, including cultivation and fertilization protocols, is able to alleviate the ecological risks posed by the uncontrolled harvesting of range-restricted local endemic plants. In this field study focused on Verbascum arcturus, a vulnerable local endemic of Crete (Greece), the effect of two kinds of fertilization applied by two methods (foliar/root) was investigated. The foliar application included conventional or integrated nutrient management (INM) fertilization. Root application included the application of conventional fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Several properties of plant growth, physiology and nutrition were determined. The results showed that fertilization treatment affected neither leaf color and shape nor plant growth, morphology, dry mass partitioning or nutrient content. However, both kinds of foliar-applied fertilization enhanced Zn and B in leaves and soil-applied biostimulant increased leaf Ca. Considering both chlorophyll and antioxidant compounds’ content, foliar application of the INM fertilizers, as well as soil application of the conventional fertilizers or biostimulants, could be considered as accepted options. This study reports for the first time an assessment of the total phenolic and flavonoids content evidenced in V. arcturus and encourages the use of fertilization in promoting the herbal antioxidant profile without compromising visual quality or yield. The findings of this study could be considered as a documented contribution toward the sustainable exploitation of V. arcturus.
Priority Weights for Predicting the Success of Hotel Sustainable Business Models
Authors: Wang Tien-Chin , Huang Chin-Ying , Huang Shu-Li , Lee Jen-Yao
Published: December 2021

This study proposes the use of consistent fuzzy preference relations to evaluate the structure of hotel sustainable business model (HSBM) dimensions and the corresponding hierarchy of evaluation indicators, and predict the overall probability of success. As fuzzy preference relations require, a group of hotel professionals in Taiwan was asked to process pairwise comparisons using linguistic variables to determine the weights of dimensions and indicators. According to the results, finances were found to be the most important dimension, followed by human capital. The number of local cultural events in the hotel was identified as the most important indicator. The predictive values revealed the possibility for successful HSBM implementation, shedding light on the vision of sustainability for the hotel industry. The results of the present study contribute to the literature on sustainability by determining the importance and weights of dimensions and indicators for hotel business models, providing an example of the use of this strategic tool in generating and modifying sustainable business models for the hotel industry.
How Intellectual Capital Predicts Innovation Output in EU Regions: Implications for Sustainable Development
Authors: Martinidis George , Komninos Nicos , Dyjakon Arkadiusz , Minta Stanislaw , Hejna Małgorzata
Published: December 2021

Intellectual capital is an overarching concept that includes the intangible, human-related factors that are relevant to the innovation process, such as human capital and social capital. In the present study, intellectual capital was assessed by indicators measuring different aspects of human and social capital. Factor analysis demonstrated the existence of three underlying factors, with all variables of the model having important contributions to them. A linear regression analysis indicated that 8 out of the 12 variables of intellectual capital used have a statistically significant impact on the measure of innovation output. These findings were discussed and their implications for policy were considered. The paper provides research evidence on the importance of intellectual capital for innovation output and discusses potential ways to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the context of the next generation of sustainable smart specialisation strategies.
Numerical Study on Effects of Geometric Parameters on the Release Characteristics of Straight Sudden Expansion Gas Extinguishing Nozzles
Authors: Li Quanwei , He Xiaohua , Chen Yongbing , Lin Jiang , Zhang Yi , Chen Ruiyu , Zhou Xia
Published: December 2021

In order to guide the optimization design of the nozzle of the aircraft-fixed gas fire extinguishing system, we studied the influence of nozzle geometric parameters including outlet–inlet area ratio, length–diameter aspect ratio, and wall roughness on the distribution of pressure and velocity in the nozzle on the basis of CFD simulations. Although the structure of the nozzle is axisymmetric, the spatial distribution of the pressure and velocity during the flow and release of gas extinguishing agent is not completely symmetric. It was found that both of the outlet–inlet area ratio (δ) and the length–diameter aspect ratio (ξ) had a significant impact on the distribution characteristics of the pressure and axial velocity in the nozzle. With the increase of δ, the average pressure at the outlet cross-section of the nozzle decreased monotonically, while the average axial velocity at the outlet increased approximately linearly. When ξ≥2, the uniformity of the pressure and velocity distribution at the nozzle outlet was significantly improved. Moreover, with the increase of ξ, the average pressure and the average axial velocity of the outlet both showed a non-monotonic change trend, and the optimal value of ξ should be about 3.0. Compared with δ and ξ, the influence of the nozzle wall roughness (εN) on the flow and release characteristics of the extinguishing agent was weak. With the increase of εN, the average pressure of the nozzle outlet increased slightly, while the average axial velocity at the nozzle outlet decreased slightly.
Global Climate Resources for Camping and Nature-Based Tourism
Authors: Ma Siyao , Craig Christopher , Scott Daniel , Feng Song
Published: December 2021

Climate change is impacting the distribution of climate resources upon which nature-based tourism and recreation depends. Accordingly, we examine the global distribution of climate resources from 1948 to 2016 using the Camping Climate Index (CCI), a composite index previously validated for camping and national parks visitation for 80% of the world’s major climate types found in the United States. Calculating the CCI globally, spatial and temporal analysis indicates that climate suitability differs greatly for nature-based tourism and that changes have occurred over the last 50 years in many destinations. Locations with higher latitudes and altitudes have primarily experienced shifts towards more favorable climate conditions. Conditions have worsened in tropical and subtropical regions such as central Africa, central Australia, and Southern Asia. Results demonstrate that the redistribution of global climate resources for nature-based tourism and recreation is primarily driven by warming temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme weather events in some regions. Study findings are of particular interest to destination managers and planners of outdoor locations susceptible to weather and climate change.
Differential Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein 1 on Human Bronchial and Alveolar Lung Mucosa Models: Implications for Pathogenicity
Authors: Rahman Mizanur , Irmler Martin , Keshavan Sandeep , Introna Micol , Beckers Johannes , Palmberg Lena , Johanson Gunnar , Ganguly Koustav , Upadhyay Swapna
Published: December 2021

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mediates attachment of the virus to the host cell receptor and fusion between the virus and the cell membrane. The S1 subunit of the spike glycoprotein (S1 protein) contains the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor binding domain. The SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern contain mutations in the S1 subunit. The spike protein is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies generated following infection, and constitutes the viral component of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Therefore, in this work we assessed the effect of exposure (24 h) to 10 nM SARS-CoV-2 recombinant S1 protein on physiologically relevant human bronchial (bro) and alveolar (alv) lung mucosa models cultured at air–liquid interface (ALI) (n = 6 per exposure condition). Corresponding sham exposed samples served as a control. The bro-ALI model was developed using primary bronchial epithelial cells and the alv-ALI model using representative type II pneumocytes (NCI-H441). Results: Exposure to S1 protein induced the surface expression of ACE2, toll like receptor (TLR) 2, and TLR4 in both bro-ALI and alv-ALI models. Transcript expression analysis identified 117 (bro-ALI) and 97 (alv-ALI) differentially regulated genes (p ≤ 0.01). Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of canonical pathways such as interferon (IFN) signaling, influenza, coronavirus, and anti-viral response in the bro-ALI. Secreted levels of interleukin (IL) 4 and IL12 were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, whereas IL6 decreased in the bro-ALI. In the case of alv-ALI, enriched terms involving p53, APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) tight junction, integrin kinase, and IL1 signaling were identified. These terms are associated with lung fibrosis. Further, significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines IFNγ, IL1ꞵ, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were detected in alv-ALI, whereas IL12 was decreased. Altered levels of these cytokines are also associated with lung fibrotic response. Conclusions: In conclusion, we observed a typical anti-viral response in the bronchial model and a pro-fibrotic response in the alveolar model. The bro-ALI and alv-ALI models may serve as an easy and robust platform for assessing the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern at different lung regions.
LABRADOR—A Computational Workflow for Virus Detection in High-Throughput Sequencing Data
Authors: Fabiańska Izabela , Borutzki Stefan , Richter Benjamin , Tran Hon Q. , Neubert Andreas , Mayer Dietmar
Published: December 2021

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) allows detection of known and unknown viruses in samples of broad origin. This makes HTS a perfect technology to determine whether or not the biological products, such as vaccines are free from the adventitious agents, which could support or replace extensive testing using various in vitro and in vivo assays. Due to bioinformatics complexities, there is a need for standardized and reliable methods to manage HTS generated data in this field. Thus, we developed LABRADOR—an analysis pipeline for adventitious virus detection. The pipeline consists of several third-party programs and is divided into two major parts: (i) direct reads classification based on the comparison of characteristic profiles between reads and sequences deposited in the database supported with alignment of to the best matching reference sequence and (ii) de novo assembly of contigs and their classification on nucleotide and amino acid levels. To meet the requirements published in guidelines for biologicals’ safety we generated a custom nucleotide database with viral sequences. We tested our pipeline on publicly available HTS datasets and showed that LABRADOR can reliably detect viruses in mixtures of model viruses, vaccines and clinical samples.
A Novel High-Throughput Nanopore-Sequencing-Based Strategy for Rapid and Automated S-Protein Typing of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Wagner Gabriel E. , Totaro Massimo G. , Volland André , Lipp Michaela , Saiger Sabine , Lichtenegger Sabine , Forstner Patrick , von Laer Dorothee , Oberdorfer Gustav , Steinmetz Ivo
Published: December 2021

Rapid molecular surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein variants leading to immune escape and/or increased infectivity is of utmost importance. Among global bottlenecks for variant monitoring in diagnostic settings are sequencing and bioinformatics capacities. In this study, we aimed to establish a rapid and user-friendly protocol for high-throughput S-gene sequencing and subsequent automated identification of variants. We designed two new primer pairs to amplify only the immunodominant part of the S-gene for nanopore sequencing. Furthermore, we developed an automated “S-Protein-Typer” tool that analyzes and reports S-protein mutations on the amino acid level including a variant of concern indicator. Validation of our primer panel using SARS-CoV-2-positive respiratory specimens covering a broad Ct range showed successful amplification for 29/30 samples. Restriction to the region of interest freed sequencing capacity by a factor of 12–13, compared with whole-genome sequencing. Using either the MinION or Flongle flow cell, our sequencing strategy reduced the time required to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants accordingly. The S-Protein-Typer tool identified all mutations correctly when challenged with our sequenced samples and 50 deposited sequences covering all VOCs (December 2021). Our proposed S-protein variant screening offers a simple, more rapid, and low-cost entry into NGS-based SARS-CoV-2 analysis, compared with current whole-genome approaches.
COVID-19 Vaccinations: Perceptions and Behaviours in People with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
Authors: Pedersen Eva S. L. , Mallet Maria Christina , Lam Yin Ting , Bellu Sara , Cizeau Isabelle , Copeland Fiona , Fernandez Trini Lopez , Manion Michele , Harris Amanda L. , Lucas Jane S. , Santamaria Francesca , Goutaki Myrofora , Kuehni Claudia E. ,   COVID-PCD Patient Advisory Group
Published: December 2021

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disease that causes recurrent respiratory infections. People with PCD may be at higher risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and therefore vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is important. We studied vaccination willingness, speed of vaccination uptake, side effects, and changes in social contact behaviour after vaccination in people with PCD. We used data from COVID-PCD, an international participatory cohort study. A COVID-19 vaccination questionnaire was emailed to participants in May 2021 and 423 participants from 31 countries replied (median age: 30 years, range 1–85 years; 261 (62%) female). Vaccination uptake and willingness were high, with 273 of 287 adults (96%) being vaccinated or willing to be in June 2021; only 4% were hesitant. The most common reason for hesitancy was fear of side effects, reported by 88%. Mild side effects were common, but no participant reported severe side effects. Half of the participants changed their social behaviour after vaccination by seeing friends and family more often. The high vaccination willingness in the study population might reflect the extraordinary effort taken by PCD support groups to inform people about COVID-19 vaccination. Clear and specific information and involvement of representatives is important for high vaccine uptake.
Bacterial-Based Cancer Therapy (BBCT): Recent Advances, Current Challenges, and Future Prospects for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Gupta Kajal H. , Nowicki Christina , Giurini Eileena F. , Marzo Amanda L. , Zloza Andrew
Published: December 2021

Currently approximately 10 million people die each year due to cancer, and cancer is the cause of every sixth death worldwide. Tremendous efforts and progress have been made towards finding a cure for cancer. However, numerous challenges have been faced due to adverse effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and alternative cancer therapies, including toxicity to non-cancerous cells, the inability of drugs to reach deep tumor tissue, and the persistent problem of increasing drug resistance in tumor cells. These challenges have increased the demand for the development of alternative approaches with greater selectivity and effectiveness against tumor cells. Cancer immunotherapy has made significant advancements towards eliminating cancer. Our understanding of cancer-directed immune responses and the mechanisms through which immune cells invade tumors have extensively helped us in the development of new therapies. Among immunotherapies, the application of bacteria and bacterial-based products has promising potential to be used as treatments that combat cancer. Bacterial targeting of tumors has been developed as a unique therapeutic option that meets the ongoing challenges of cancer treatment. In comparison with other cancer therapeutics, bacterial-based therapies have capabilities for suppressing cancer. Bacteria are known to accumulate and proliferate in the tumor microenvironment and initiate antitumor immune responses. We are currently well-informed regarding various methods by which bacteria can be manipulated by simple genetic engineering or synthetic bioengineering to induce the production of anti-cancer drugs. Further, bacterial-based cancer therapy (BBCT) can be either used as a monotherapy or in combination with other anticancer therapies for better clinical outcomes. Here, we review recent advances, current challenges, and prospects of bacteria and bacterial products in the development of BBCTs.