bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational Design of Topical Semi-Solid Dosage Forms-How Far Are We?
Authors: Herbig Michael E. , Evers Dirk-Heinrich , Gorissen Sascha , Köllmer Melanie
Published: June 2023

Specific aspects of semi-solid dosage forms for topical application include the nature of the barrier to be overcome, aspects of susceptibility to physical and chemical instability, and a greater influence of sensory perception. Advances in understanding the driving forces of skin penetration as well as the design principles and inner structure of formulations, provide a good basis for the more rational design of such dosage forms, which still often follow more traditional design approaches. This review analyses the opportunities and constraints of rational formulation design approaches in the industrial development of new topical drugs. As the selection of drug candidates with favorable physicochemical properties increases the speed and probability of success, models for drug selection based on theoretical and experimental approaches are discussed. This paper reviews how progress in the scientific understanding of mechanisms and vehicle-influence of skin penetration can be used for rational formulation design. The characterization of semi-solid formulations is discussed with a special focus on modern rheological approaches and analytical methods for investigating and optimizing the chemical stability of active ingredients in consideration of applicable guidelines. In conclusion, the combination of a good understanding of scientific principles combined with early consideration of regulatory requirements for product quality are enablers for the successful development of innovative and robust semi-solid formulations for topical application.
A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials on the Efficacy and Safety of CRLX101 Cyclodextrin-Based Nanomedicine for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Serrano-Martínez Ana , Victoria-Montesinos Desirée , García-Muñoz Ana María , Hernández-Sánchez Pilar , Lucas-Abellán Carmen , González-Louzao Rebeca
Published: June 2023

CRLX101 is a cyclodextrin-based nanopharmaceutical designed to improve the delivery and efficacy of the anti-cancer drug camptothecin. Cyclodextrins have unique properties that can enhance drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, making them an attractive option for drug delivery. The use of cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles can potentially reduce toxicity and increase the therapeutic index compared to conventional chemotherapy. CRLX101 has shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating enhanced tumor targeting and prolonged drug release. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, assessing the efficacy and toxicity of CRLX101 in cancer treatment using clinical trials. Studies from January 2010 to April 2023 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using specific search terms. The risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I and Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. After screening 6018 articles, 9 were included in the final review. These studies, conducted between 2013 and 2022, focused on patients with advanced or metastatic cancer resistant to standard therapies. CRLX101 was often combined with other therapeutic agents, resulting in improvements such as increased progression-free survival and clinical benefit rates. Toxicity was generally manageable, with common adverse events including fatigue, nausea, and anemia.
Integrated Molecular and Bioinformatics Approaches for Disease-Related Genes in Plants
Authors: Joshi Alpana , Song Hyung-Geun , Yang Seo-Yeon , Lee Ji-Hoon
Published: June 2023

Modern plant pathology relies on bioinformatics approaches to create novel plant disease diagnostic tools. In recent years, a significant amount of biological data has been generated due to rapid developments in genomics and molecular biology techniques. The progress in the sequencing of agriculturally important crops has made it possible to develop a better understanding of plant–pathogen interactions and plant resistance. The availability of host–pathogen genome data offers effective assistance in retrieving, annotating, analyzing, and identifying the functional aspects for characterization at the gene and genome levels. Physical mapping facilitates the identification and isolation of several candidate resistance (R) genes from diverse plant species. A large number of genetic variations, such as disease-causing mutations in the genome, have been identified and characterized using bioinformatics tools, and these desirable mutations were exploited to develop disease resistance. Moreover, crop genome editing tools, namely the CRISPR (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated) system, offer novel and efficient strategies for developing durable resistance. This review paper describes some aspects concerning the databases, tools, and techniques used to characterize resistance (R) genes for plant disease management.
Establishing a Virus-Induced Gene Silencing System in Lycoris chinensis
Authors: Cheng Guanghao , Shu Xiaochun , Wang Zhong , Wang Ning , Zhang Fengjiao
Published: June 2023

Lycoris is an important plant with both medicinal and ornamental values. However, it does not have an efficient genetic transformation system, which makes it difficult to study gene function of the genus. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an effective technique for studying gene functions in plants. In this study, we develop an efficient virus-induced gene-silencing (VIGS) system using the leaf tip needle injection method. The widely used TRV vector is constructed, and the Cloroplastos Alterados 1 (CLA1) and Phytoene Desaturase (PDS) genes are selected as visual indicators in the VIGS system. As a result, it is observed that leaves infected with TRV-LcCLA1 and TRV-LcPDS both show a yellowing phenotype (loss of green), and the chlorosis range of TRV-LcCLA1 was larger and deeper than that of TRV-LcPDS. qRT-PCR results show that the expression levels of LcCLA1 and LcPDS are significantly reduced, and the silencing efficiency of LcCLA1 is higher than that of LcPDS. These results indicate that the VIGS system of L. chinensis was preliminarily established, and LcCLA1 is more suitable as a gene-silencing indicator. For the monocotyledonous plant leaves with a waxy surface, the leaf tip injection method greatly improves the infiltration efficiency. The newly established VIGS system will contribute to gene functional research in Lycoris species.
Engineered Metal Oxide Nanoparticles as Fungicides for Plant Disease Control
Authors: Cruz-Luna Aida R. , Vásquez-López Alfonso , Rojas-Chávez Hugo , Valdés-Madrigal Manuel A. , Cruz-Martínez Heriberto , Medina Dora I.
Published: June 2023

Metal oxide nanoparticles are considered to be good alternatives as fungicides for plant disease control. To date, numerous metal oxide nanoparticles have been produced and evaluated as promising antifungal agents. Consequently, a detailed and critical review on the use of mono-, bi-, and tri-metal oxide nanoparticles for controlling phytopathogenic fungi is presented. Among the studied metal oxide nanoparticles, mono-metal oxide nanoparticles—particularly ZnO nanoparticles, followed by CuO nanoparticles —are the most investigated for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. Limited studies have investigated the use of bi- and tri-metal oxide nanoparticles for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, more studies on these nanoparticles are required. Most of the evaluations have been carried out under in vitro conditions. Thus, it is necessary to develop more detailed studies under in vivo conditions. Interestingly, biological synthesis of nanoparticles has been established as a good alternative to produce metal oxide nanoparticles for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. Although there have been great advances in the use of metal oxide nanoparticles as novel antifungal agents for sustainable agriculture, there are still areas that require further improvement.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Genetic Structure of Saussurea medusa (Asteraceae), a “Sky Island” Plant in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Using SRAP Markers
Authors: Wang Jun , Dai Wei , Chen Jie , Ye Kunhao , Lai Qianglong , Zhao Dan
Published: June 2023

Saussurea medusa Maxim. is a typical “sky island” species and one with the highest altitude distributions among flowering plants. The present study aimed at analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure of 300 S. medusa accessions collected from 20 populations in the Qilian Mountains in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. A total of 14 SRAP primer combinations were employed to analyze genetic diversity and population structure across all accessions. Out of 511 amplified bands, 496 (97.06%) were polymorphic. The populations in the eastern Qilian Mountains had significantly higher genetic diversity than those in the central and western groups. Population structure analysis revealed greater genetic differentiation among populations with a Gst of 0.4926. UPGMA-based clustering classified the 300 S. medusa accessions into 3 major clusters, while the Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis categorized them into 2 groups. Correlation analyses showed that the genetic affinity of the populations was based on differences in geographical distance, moisture conditions, and photothermal conditions between the habitats. This study represents the first comprehensive genetic assessment of S. medusa and provides important genetic baseline data for the conservation of the species.
Duplicate Genes Contribute to Variability in Abiotic Stress Resistance in Allopolyploid Wheat
Authors: Du Linying , Ma Zhenbing , Mao Hude
Published: June 2023

Gene duplication is a universal biological phenomenon that drives genomic variation and diversity, plays a crucial role in plant evolution, and contributes to innovations in genetic engineering and crop development. Duplicated genes participate in the emergence of novel functionality, such as adaptability to new or more severe abiotic stress resistance. Future crop research will benefit from advanced, mechanistic understanding of the effects of gene duplication, especially in the development and deployment of high-performance, stress-resistant, elite wheat lines. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of gene duplication in wheat, including the principle of gene duplication and its effects on gene function, the diversity of duplicated genes, and how they have functionally diverged. Then, we discuss how duplicated genes contribute to abiotic stress response and the mechanisms of duplication. Finally, we have a future prospects section that discusses the direction of future efforts in the short term regarding the elucidation of replication and retention mechanisms of repetitive genes related to abiotic stress response in wheat, excellent gene function research, and practical applications.
Integrating Exposure Assessment and Process Hazard Analysis: The Nano-Enabled 3D Printing Filament Extrusion Case
Authors: Saliakas Stratos , Damilos Spyridon , Karamitrou Melpo , Trompeta Aikaterini-Flora , Milickovic Tatjana Kosanovic , Charitidis Costas , Koumoulos Elias P.
Published: June 2023

Nanoparticles are being used in novel applications of the thermoplastics industry, including automotive parts, the sports industry and leisure and consumer goods, which can be produced nowadays through additive manufacturing. However, there is limited information on the health and safety aspects during the production of these new materials, mainly from recycled sources. This study covers the exposure assessment to nano- and micro-size particles emitted from the nanocomposites during the production of filaments for 3D printing through a compounding and extrusion pilot line using recycled (post-industrial) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and recycled polyamide 12 (PA12), which have been also upcycled through reinforcement with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs), introducing matrix healing properties triggered by induction heating. The assessment protocol included near- and far-field measurements, considering the extruder as the primary emission source, and portable measuring devices for evaluating particulate emissions reaching the inhalable zone of the lab workers. A Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) study for the extrusion process line was defined along with a Failure Tree Analysis (FTA) process in which the process deviations, their sources and the relations between them were documented. FTA allowed the identification of events that should take place in parallel (simultaneously) or in series for the failure modes to take place and the respective corrective actions to be proposed (additional to the existing control measures).
Exploration of the Fire-Retardant Potential of Microencapsulated Ammonium Polyphosphate in Epoxy Vitrimer Containing Dynamic Disulfide Bonds
Authors: Shao Wenlong , Li Tongbing , Xiao Fei , Luo Fubin , Qiu Yong , Liu Yanyan , Yuan Bihe , Li Kaiyuan
Published: June 2023

Epoxy vitrimers appear as a promising alternative to common epoxy thermoset composites. Nevertheless, the possibilities of applying these materials are limited due to their high flammability which may cause high fire risks. To date, the flame-retardant epoxy vitrimer systems reported in the literature almost all rely on intrinsic flame retardancy to achieve high fire safety; however, the complex and expensive synthesis process hinders their large-scale application. In this work, disulfide-based epoxy vitrimer (EPV) was fabricated with 4, 4′-dithiodianiline as the curing agent, and microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MFAPP) was employed as a potential additive flame retardant to improve their fire retardancy. As a comparative study, common epoxy (EP) composites were also prepared using 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane as the curing agent. The results showed that the introduction of dynamic disulfide bonds led to a reduction in the initial thermal decomposition temperature of EPV by around 70 °C compared to EP. Moreover, the addition of 7.5 wt.% of MFAPP endowed EP with excellent fire performance: the LOI value was as high as 29.9% and the V-0 rating was achieved in the UL-94 test (3.2 mm). However, under the same loading, although EPV/MFAPP7.5% showed obvious anti-dripping performance, it did not reach any rating in the UL-94 test. The flame-retardant mechanisms in the condensed phase were evaluated using SEM-EDS, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the residue of EPV/MFAPP7.5% presented numerous holes during burning, which failed to form a continuous and dense char layer as a physical barrier resulting in relatively poor flame retardancy compared to EP/MFAPP7.5%.
Digital Image Correlation Analysis of Strain Fields in Fibre-Reinforced Polymer–Matrix Composite under ±45° Off-Axis Tensile Testing
Authors: Bogusz Paweł
Published: June 2023

This study presents an experimental investigation of an in-plane shear of a glass lamina composite using a ±45° off-axis tension test. Typically, the shear stress curve, shear modulus, and in-plane shear strength for composite lamina-type materials are identified. Previous research indicated that a loading rate affects the strength of this composite. This study extends the existing literature by utilising a non-contact optical digital image correlation (DIC) method to measure strain distribution during the test. Two cross-head displacement rates were examined. The obtained strain maps reveal an uneven distribution resembling fabric texture. As the deformation progresses, the differences in the strain pattern increase. Subsequently, a quantitative analysis of the differences between regions with extreme (minimum and maximum) strain values and regions with average values was conducted. Based on these measurements, shear stress–strain curves, indicating variations in their courses, were constructed. These differences may reach several percent and may influence the analysis of numerical simulations. The DIC results were validated using strain gauge measurements, a commonly utilised method in this test. It was demonstrated that the location of the strain gauge installation impacts the results. During the tests, the occurrence of multiple microcracks in the resin was observed, which can contribute to the nonlinearity observed in the shear stress–shear strain curve.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance of Commensal Escherichia coli from Dairy Cows’ Feces
Authors: Kerluku Maksud , Ratkova Manovska Marija , Prodanov Mirko , Stojanovska-Dimzoska Biljana , Hajrulai-Musliu Zehra , Jankuloski Dean , Blagoevska Katerina
Published: June 2023

Commensal Escherichia coli has the potential to easily acquire resistance to a broad range of antimicrobials, making it a reservoir for its transfer to other microorganisms, including pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of resistant commensal Escherichia coli isolated from dairy cows’ feces. Phenotypic resistance profiles and categorization were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing with the broth microdilution method, while the PCR method was used to determine the presence of resistant genes. Out of 159 commensal E. coli isolates, 39 (24.5%) were confirmed to have resistance. According to the MIC values, 37 (97.3%) and 1 (2.7%) isolate were phenotypically categorized as ESBL and ESBL/AmpC, respectively. All isolates showed resistance to ampicillin, while 97.4%, 56.4%, and 36% showed resistance to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacine, and azitromycine, respectively. Not all isolates that showed phenotypic resistance were found to be carrying the corresponding gene. The most prevalent resistant genes were gyrA, tetA, sul2, and tetB, which were present in 61.5%, 64%, 54%, and 49% of the isolates, respectively. The results clearly indicate that, besides their resistance to multiple antimicrobials, the commensal E. coli isolates did not necessarily carry any genes conferring resistance to that particular antimicrobial.
Von Hildebrand on the Roots of Moral Evil
Authors: Cajthaml Martin
Published: June 2023

In this article, I sketch, both in broad outlines and in selected details, the new, richer picture of von Hildebrand’s account of moral evil as it emerges from my discovery of extensive materials in von Hildebrand´s Nachlass at the Bavarian State Library in Munich dealing with the “roots of moral evil”. These manuscripts and typescripts, the critical edition of which will be published at the same time as this article or shortly thereafter, show that von Hildebrand´s account of moral evil is much richer, more nuanced, and complex than the one we can glean from the final section of Ethics, his magnum opus in moral philosophy. In this article, I also aim to situate von Hildebrand´s analysis of the roots of moral evil in the context of both Christian religious thought and the Western philosophical tradition. Von Hildebrand was, to be sure, an heir to both of these traditions, despite the thrust of his phenomenological method to “bracket” all extant theories and turn “back to the things themselves”. The mind-boggling feature of the tension between von Hildebrand´s existential rootedness in the Catholic tradition and his methodological distance to it, including the Aristotelian–Thomist philosophy, is the following: On one hand, he claims that the two ultimate roots of moral evil are pride and concupiscence, which sounds perfectly traditionally Christian. On the other hand, however, he strips these concepts of most of their traditional connotations and endows them with the meaning they acquire in the context of his phenomenological analyses. The intriguing result of this approach is the transformation of religious or moral theological concepts of pride and concupiscence into descriptive phenomenological categories which encompass an almost inexhaustible wealth of various subspecies and subordinate forms of moral evil.
Is There Life? Is There Spirit? Debating Belief and Being a Good Christian in Watchman Nee’s ‘Little Flock’
Authors: Lee Christine , Ma Yujing , Huang Jianbo
Published: June 2023

Christian, especially Protestant, identity is often framed through the lens of belief, particularly belief understood as an interior orientation. Through an examination of the non-denominational Protestant group, the ‘Little Flock’, founded by Watchman Nee in the early 20th century, we trace enduring aspects of Little Flock theology in contemporary Chinese Protestant practice. In particular, we attend to conceptions of and debates surrounding belief and how to determine the quality of one’s faith—whether or not one might be considered not just a Christian, but a ‘good’ one.
Intelligent Identification of Pine Wilt Disease Infected Individual Trees Using UAV-Based Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Li Haocheng , Chen Long , Yao Zongqi , Li Niwen , Long Lin , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: June 2023

The pine wood nematode (PWN; Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is a major invasive species in China, causing huge economic and ecological damage to the country due to the absence of natural enemies and the extremely rapid rate of infection and spread. Accurate monitoring of pine wilt disease (PWD) is a prerequisite for timely and effective disaster prevention and control. UAVs can carry hyperspectral sensors for near-ground remote sensing observations, which can obtain rich spatial and spectral information and have the potential for infected tree identification. Deep learning techniques can use rich multidimensional data to mine deep features in order to achieve tasks such as classification and target identification. Therefore, we propose an improved Mask R-CNN instance segmentation method and an integrated approach combining a prototypical network classification model with an individual tree segmentation algorithm to verify the possibility of deep learning models and UAV hyperspectral imagery for identifying infected individual trees at different stages of PWD. The results showed that both methods achieved good performance for PWD identification: the overall accuracy of the improved Mask R-CNN with the screened bands as input data was 71%, and the integrated method combining prototypical network classification model with individual tree segmentation obtained an overall accuracy of 83.51% based on the screened bands data, in which the early infected pine trees were identified with an accuracy of 74.89%. This study indicates that the improved Mask R-CNN and integrated prototypical network method are effective and practical for PWD-infected individual trees identification using UAV hyperspectral data, and the proposed integrated prototypical network enables early identification of PWD, providing a new technical guidance for early monitoring and control of PWD.
Predicting Water Quality Distribution of Lakes through Linking Remote Sensing–Based Monitoring and Machine Learning Simulation
Authors: Sedighkia Mahdi , Datta Bithin , Saeedipour Parisa , Abdoli Asghar
Published: June 2023

The present study links monitoring and simulation models to predict water quality distribution in lakes using an optimized neural network and remote sensing data processing. Two data driven models were developed. First, a monitoring model was established that is able to convert spectral images to TDS distribution. Moreover, a simulation model was developed to generate a TDS distribution map for unseen scenarios for which no spectral images are available. Outputs of the monitoring model were applied as the observations for training the simulation model. The Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE) was utilized in the system performance measurement of the models. Based on the results in the case study, the monitoring model was sufficiently robust to convert the operational land imager spectral bands of Landsat 8 to the TDS distribution map. The NSE was more than 0.6 for the monitoring model, which confirms the predictive skills of the model. Furthermore, the simulation model was highly reliable in generating the TDS distribution map of the lakes. Three tests were carried out to demonstrate the reliability of the model. When comparing the results of the monitoring model and simulation model, an NSE of more than 0.6 was found for all the tests. It is recommendable to apply the proposed method instead of conventional hydrodynamic models that might be highly time consuming for simulating water quality parameters distribution in lakes. Low computational complexity is the main advantage of the proposed method.
Structural Health Monitoring in Long-Span Steel Structures Based on the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
Authors: Gao Hui , Jia Baoxin , Wang Guochuan , Zhang Tong , Dang Pei , Wang Donglin
Published: June 2023

The BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) provides precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services in the Asia-Pacific Region, but the BDS-based structural health monitoring (SHM) approach (SHM) is rarely studied, especially in civil engineering. Moreover, how BDS can be applied to complete the tasks of SHM in a real project is also not fully investigated, especially working in conjunction with other techniques. This study aims to propose a BDS-based approach for SHM in civil engineering. The performance of the proposed approach is investigated through a case study—the Tianhan Grand Theater (TGT). A specific Tianhan system corresponding to BDS is proposed to complete the SHM tasks of TGT. Based on the collected data, the trusses with maximum displacement and stress are found by BDS to evaluate structural health in the construction stage. The results show that the maximum displacement and stress have certain safety reserves and meet the requirements of the specifications and regulations. Thus, BDS can satisfactorily complete the tasks of SHM for Long-span steel structures. This study gives a clear view to engineers and researchers that how to apply BDS in structural construction and provides a valuable real case for evaluating the performance of BDS in SHM.
Healthcare Workers’ Moral Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Authors: Nagle Evija , Šuriņa Sanita , Griškēviča Ingūna
Published: June 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) did not have the opportunity to provide high-quality and standard healthcare services. Research conducted during the pandemic has revealed widespread mental health problems among HCWs. Moral distress was noted as one of the critical issues that limited the performance of HCWs in providing quality care. The purpose of this scoping review was to create an overview of HCWs’ moral distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review was conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework. A systematic literature search was performed in five database systems: Medline/PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Relevant article titles and abstracts were retrieved. The final review included 16 publications identifying the moral distress of HCWs during the pandemic. In total, five themes characterizing the moral distress of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: (1) a level of moral distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) risk factors for moral distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) moral and ethical dilemmas during the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) harm caused by moral distress to HCWs; and (5) intervention methods for reducing moral distress. The pandemic turned a health emergency into a mental health emergency for HCWs.
Digital Presence and Online Identity among Digital Scholars: A Thematic Analysis
Authors: Quintas-Mendes António , Paiva Ana
Published: June 2023

In today’s postdigital society, the public presence of academics on the Web and the consequent affirmation of a given identity or of a multidimensional identity imply a much more complex and multifaceted management of their image than when we were dealing with a scholar whose identity was affirmed in circumscribed spaces and times. In this work, we seek to analyze the positioning of the subjects about their online identities and the ways in which they express the multiple facets of the construction of their online selves. We adopted a Thematic Analysis approach to qualitative research and used NVivo to analyze the data collected through semi-structured interviews of 13 subjects from a purposive sample of digital scholars. Three major themes were identified: Theme A—Digital-Presence Awareness; Theme B—The Public and the Private Spheres; and Theme C—Offline, Online, and Hybrid Selves. Overall, subjects clearly express the awareness of the need to build a presence on the Web. While there is a general concern to preserve a certain level of authenticity, intimacy, and privacy on the Web, there seems to be some heterogeneity in the experiencing of these processes. For some participants, the distinction between public and private and between personal and professional should be clearly marked, while for others, the necessarily hybrid nature of identity should be assumed, arguing that it is no longer possible to make a clear separation between the offline and the online world. This work, thus, shows different shades in the way academics construct their presence on the Web and how differently they assume several of the constitutive dimensions of their identities.
An Analysis of Legislative Support Effect for Circular Economy Development in the Context of “Double Carbon” Goal in China
Authors: Gao Ruisi , Han Hongfang , Zeng Xueting , Zhang Xinyu , Yang Xuejing
Published: June 2023

In the requirement of the “double carbon” goal, China has confronted the lack of a driving force for the low-carbon transformation of socioeconomic development, which requires a comprehensive law and strategy support system for supporting a circular economy. In this study, a framework associated with a multi-level quantitative index system associated with legislative support for a circular economy (MILC) through the entropy TOPSIS method was developed. It can not only reflect the legal support for a circular economy in four areas based on the “3R” principle, but also respond to the process of environmental law improvement dynamically. The legislative support effect can be applied and analyzed in China’s circular economy for the period from 2009 to 2022, which can respond to the process of legal improvement on the environment dynamically. The obtained results show that China’s circular economy and its rule-of-law guarantee system are still facing many challenges, such as the low systematic degree of legalization for industrial development, unmatched supporting legal system, and backward concepts and consciousness of circular economy legalization. Various suggestions according to the identification of the importance of a legal support system for the circular economy were obtained, which can not only encourage a reduction in resource consumption and carbon reduction from the view of systematic legalization, but also promote socioeconomic transformation to match the goal of “double carbon”.
Study on Accuracy Evaluation of MODIS AOD Products and Spatio-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of AOD in Hangzhou
Authors: Yuan Xiaohong , Xia Yuji , He Jinqi , Cheng Mengjia , Qi Bing , Yu Zhifeng , Wang Ben
Published: June 2023

In recent years, although the quality of the atmospheric environment has improved in some regions, monitoring air quality remains crucial. Aerosol optical thickness (aerosol optical depth, AOD) reflects the attenuation effect of atmospheric aerosol on light, which is an important parameter in aerosol research and plays an important role in the study of the atmosphere. Based on the CE-318 photometer data of 2015, 2016, and 2020 in Hangzhou and the MODIS satellite AOD data of 2015, 2016, and 2020, this paper first obtains the correlation between the MODIS AOD data and the ground-measured data by linear fitting. Then, the spatial and temporal distribution of the MODIS AOD data from 2012 to 2020 is analyzed. The analysis results indicate that the average correlation coefficient between the MODIS AOD data and ground-measured data is 0.77, and the average relative error is 30.53%. Thus, the MODIS AOD data can be used as an important basis for atmospheric research in Hangzhou. Based on this, the conclusions are as follows: (1) the AOD value in Hangzhou has been decreasing in recent years, from 0.43 in 2012 to 0.28 in 2020, with an average annual decrease of 0.017. (2) The AOD value in Hangzhou is large in spring and summer, and small in autumn and winter, with an average AOD value of 0.45 in spring, 0.39 in summer, 0.30 in autumn, and 0.33 in winter. (3) The AOD value in Hangzhou is large in the east and small in the west, and the AOD values in the Hangzhou urban area, Xiaoshan, and Yuhang are higher.
Correction: De Felice et al. Development of a Framework for Sustainable Outsourcing: Analytic Balanced Scorecard Method (A-BSC). Sustainability 2015, 7, 8399–8419
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Petrillo Antonella , Autorino Claudio
Published: June 2023

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]
Understanding the Impact of Underwater Noise to Preserve Marine Ecosystems and Manage Anthropogenic Activities
Authors: Moretti Pier Francesco , Affatati Alice
Published: June 2023

Policy makers require a knowledge-based support to identify effective interventions for the socio-economic sustainability of human activities at sea. When dealing with anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems, we deal with a complex and faceted system which has high variability in terms of environment, regulation, governance, industrial activities, and geo-political scenarios. We analyzed the conceptual scientific framework adopted to address underwater noise as a polluting component of the marine environment. We identified the scientific paths that can provide useful contributions towards comprehending the impacts on the native ecosystem. In order to furnish relevant clues towards the properties of the interconnection of signals, we briefly reviewed an example from a different discipline (helioseismology). We describe a new approach on how acoustic energy in the sea could be detected and analyzed to understand its role in the functioning of the ecosystem. We propose a change of perspective in the observation strategy of underwater noise, promoting a knowledge transfer from other disciplines, which in turn will enable a better understanding of the system. This will allow researchers and policy-makers to identify feasible and effective solutions to tackle the negative impacts of underwater noise and the conservation of the marine ecosystem.
The Circular Economy and the Food System: A Review of Principal Measuring Tools
Authors: Fassio Franco , Chirilli Chiara
Published: June 2023

With average food demand on the rise and increasing pressure on sustainability, it is essential to outline the cultural framework in which food systems are evolving, with the goal of studying solutions that target concrete actions and achieve communicable and more transparent results for the market and consumers. The objective was to analyze indicators, methods, and good practices, highlighting their positive aspects, criticalities, and possible gaps, for monitoring the impact the food system has on the environment, economy, and society from a circular economy perspective. A review of scientific literature was conducted to define the framework for implementing a circular economy in the food sector. The nations most involved in circular economy research with a focus on the food system were mapped, and circular strategies and indicators were classified according to the three different scales of implementation to which they apply: micro, meso, and macro. The literature review showed that most indicators focus on material flows and end-of-life strategies, without focusing on nutrient circularity in food systems and the circular bio-economy. This work suggests a potential and original framework for analyzing food and agriculture systems that can provide a holistic assessment of the impacts, actions, and outcomes achieved by these systems.
Factors Influencing the Knowledge Level of Fish Consumers: An Explanatory Analysis
Authors: Hebsale Mallappa Vinaya Kumar , Panigrahy Shakti Ranjan , Nayak Archit Kumar , Pundir Rambirsingh , Kumari Prity
Published: June 2023

Despite scientific proof of the benefits and effects of fish consumption on human health, most Indians consume less than the recommended dietary amounts. The current study attempted to assess the knowledge gap of fish eaters regarding the health and nutritional benefits, along with identifying the factors that directly and indirectly influence the knowledge level of fish consumers. The fish eaters were surveyed during the F.Y. 2021–2022 with representative samples of 934 fish consumers from across ten districts of the Gujarat state in western India. Fish consumers were found to have insufficient knowledge about health and nutritional benefits, which stalled the growth of fish consumption in the region. The significant factors influencing the knowledge level of fish consumers were education qualification, fish quality evaluation criteria, number of children in a family, years of fish consumption and family size. The consumers were found to place greater emphasis on the fish quality evaluation parameters such as smell, appearance, nutritional value, product price and freshness. The study’s outcomes suggested that mass awareness programs should be planned to achieve higher levels of fish consumption in the region and the country.
Study on Carbon Emission Characteristics and Emission Reduction Measures of Lime Production—A Case of Enterprise in the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Wu Erxi , Wang Qiaozhi , Ke Lihua , Zhang Guangquan
Published: June 2023

A scientific carbon accounting system can help enterprises reduce carbon emissions. This study took an enterprise in the Yangtze River basin as a case study. The accounting classification of carbon emissions in the life cycle of lime production was assessed, and the composition of the sources of carbon emission was analyzed, covering mining explosives, fuel (diesel, coal), electricity and high-temperature limestone decomposition. Using the IPCC emission factor method, a carbon life cycle emission accounting model for lime production was established. We determined that the carbon dioxide equivalent from producing one ton of quicklime ranged from 1096.68 kg CO2 equiv. to 1176.96 kg CO2 equiv. from 2019 to 2021 in the studied case. The decomposition of limestone at a high temperature was the largest carbon emission source, accounting for 64% of the total carbon emission. Coal combustion was the second major source of carbon emissions, accounting for 31% of total carbon emissions. Based upon the main sources of carbon emission for lime production, carbon emission reduction should focus on CO2 capture technology and fuel optimization. Based on the error transfer method, we calculated that the overall uncertainty of the life cycle carbon emissions of quicklime from 2019 to 2021 are 2.13%, 2.07% and 2.09%, respectively. Using our analysis of carbon emissions, the carbon emission factor of producing one unit of quicklime in the lime enterprise in the Yangtze River basin was determined. Furthermore, this research into carbon emission reduction for lime production can provide a point of reference for the promotion of carbon neutrality in the same industry.
Linking Green Infrastructure Deployment Needs and Agroecosystem Conditions for the Improvement of the Natura2000 Network: Preliminary Investigations in W Mediterranean Europe
Authors: Valeri Simone , Capotorti Giulia
Published: June 2023

Reconnecting natural habitats and improving agroecosystem conditions are strategic targets set by several European policies. In order to combine both of these needs, the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 has triggered new investments in Green Infrastructure (GI), which actually represents a valuable tool to increase ecological connectivity across natural and semi-natural habitats. In particular, GI may benefit the Natura2000 (N2K) network (i.e., the network of protected sites under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives) by reinforcing the node/site number, extent, and distribution and by improving connections between often small and isolated habitat patches. However, there is a lack of knowledge on what the actual needs of GI deployment are for improving the current N2K network, on the distribution of these needs across Europe and on the potential role of agricultural areas in the improvement of the network functionality. Concurrently, especially in SW Europe, there is an ongoing trend toward the homogenisation and intensification of agricultural systems and the combined loss of associated landscape elements, such as natural and semi-natural Small Woody Features (SWF). Although a well-planned network of such elements could support biodiversity and landscape connectivity, thus effectively complementing the N2K network, little evidence is available on their abundance and residual distribution, especially in agricultural areas and at continental/bioregional scales. Therefore, the present work is aimed at (i) identifying different types of territorial units (NUTS3) in W Mediterranean Europe according to current N2K network features, the overall composition of the actual landscape mosaic and the potential natural heterogeneity of the environment and (ii) identifying and spatialising N2K-related GI deployment needs according to a more specific network analysis in terms of nodes (extent of the total protected area) and links (density of residual woody elements in arable land) within the different types of NUTS3. By means of this wide-scale investigation, four different types of GI deployment needs were generalised across the W Mediterranean Europe NUTS3. Overall, the need for connection restoration prevails, followed by the need for the consolidation of node and link conservation, for the creation of new protected sites and for the enlargement of existing N2K sites. Although useful for a preliminary setting, the shortcomings related to summary data at the European level were also highlighted when compared to local-scale information, with the latter being more suitable for identifying and prioritising truly effective GI conservation and restoration actions.
The Role of User Experience in the Impact of Low-Carbon Building Characteristics on Consumer’s Housing Purchase Intention
Authors: Qi Bing , Deng Tianjuan , Yang Zhilin
Published: June 2023

While residential buildings account for a small proportion of global energy consumption, their significance in terms of energy usage and environmental impact should not be underestimated, especially considering population growth and urbanization. Consequently, low-carbon building has gained popularity as a new architectural form. This article first presents a theoretical model with low-carbon building characteristics as the independent variable, consumer purchase intention as the dependent variable, and user experience as the mediating variable. Subsequently, data were collected through a survey questionnaire. Finally, regression analysis and sequential testing were used to examine the influence of low-carbon building characteristics on consumers’ housing purchase intentions and the mediating role of user experience. The findings reveal a significant positive influence of low-carbon building characteristics on consumer housing purchase tendency, with user experience playing a crucial mediating role. Therefore, real estate companies should prioritize the incorporation of low-carbon building characteristics and continuously enhance user experience in the design, development, and marketing of residential properties to increase consumer purchase intention. This research provides empirical evidence and theoretical support to elucidate the relationship between low-carbon buildings and consumer purchase intention in China.
Does Enterprise Internal Control Improve Environmental Performance—Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Tao Lijuan , Wei Xiaoju , Wang Wenjing
Published: June 2023

Enterprises are key actors in green governance. Many studies have analyzed the factors that affect corporate environmental performance, but the impact of internal control on environmental performance has not been investigated yet. China’s innovative internal control policies make this issue more meaningful for research. Unlike the general practices of developed market economy countries or regions which require enterprises to evaluate and disclose the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, China’s policy focuses on multi-objective internal control. Using the instrumental variables regression method, this paper employs a moderated mediation model to study the relationship between internal control and environmental performance. This paper takes listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2013 to 2021 as the sample. Empirical results show that high-quality internal control is conducive to enhancing environmental performance, while the level of enterprise digitalization plays a mediating role in the relationship between the two, and ownership type moderates the effects of internal control on environmental performance. The conclusion indicates that China’s internal control policy is of great significance for the green development of enterprises. Our study contributes to the literature on both the factors affecting environmental performance and the economic consequences of internal control. The study findings can be beneficial for managers in corporations, internal control policymakers and environmental regulators.
The Linkage of Digital Transformation and Tourism Development Policies in Indonesia from 1879–2022: Trends and Implications for the Future
Authors: Nanda Windi Dwi , Widianingsih Ida , Miftah Ahmad Zaini
Published: June 2023

This research analyzes digital transformation and tourism development in Indonesia based on policies issued by the central government. The policy was issued in the period 1879–2022, or, precisely, during the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia until the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze digital transformation policies and tourism policies in Indonesia that are historically linked, as well as their implications for the future. We analyze the trends and times of the COVID-19 pandemic and their implications for the future. The method used in this research is content analysis by analyzing policy texts quantitatively (number of policies in a certain time) and qualitatively (topics and content). The dataset obtained for analysis in this research contains 87 policies on digital transformation and tourism development with various forms of policies. This study found a linkage between digital transformation policies and tourism development, especially tourism development policies toward digital transformation. In addition, during the COVID-19 period, both policies reached the highest number compared to previous years. This allows for more supportive policies to be born in the coming years and implies opportunities for establishing policies on the use of technology in tourism management.