bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Features of Classic Retinal Drugs, Retinal Therapeutic Targets and Emerging Treatments
Authors: Arrigo Alessandro , Bandello Francesco
Published: July 2021

The management of exudative retinal diseases underwent a revolution due to the introduction of intravitreal treatments. There are two main classes of intravitreal drugs, namely anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and corticosteroids molecules. The clinical course and the outcome of retinal diseases radically changed thanks to the efficacy of these molecules in determining the regression of the exudation and the restoration of the macular profile. In this review, we described the molecular features of classic retinal drugs, highlighting the main therapeutic targets, and we provided an overview of new emerging molecules. We performed a systematic review of the current literature available in the MEDLINE library, focusing on current intravitreal molecules and on new emerging therapies. The anti-VEGF molecules include Bevacizumab, Pegaptanib, Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, Conbercept, Brolucizumab, Abicipar-pegol and Faricimab. The corticosteroids approach is mainly based on the employment of triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone and fluocinolone acetonide molecules. Many clinical trials and real-life reports demonstrated their efficacy in exudative retinal diseases, highlighting differences in terms of molecular targeting and pharmacologic profiles. Furthermore, several new molecules are currently under investigation. Intravitreal drugs focus their activity on a wide range of therapeutic targets and are safe and efficacy in managing retinal diseases.
Effectiveness and Feasibility of Pharmacist-Driven Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling Pilot Program without Skin Testing or Oral Challenges
Authors: Song You-Chan , Nelson Zachary J. , Wankum Michael A. , Gens Krista D.
Published: July 2021

Documented penicillin allergies have been associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. The goal of this project was to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a pharmacist-led penicillin allergy “de-labeling” process that does not involve labor-intensive skin testing or direct oral challenges. Adult patients with penicillin allergies were identified and interviewed by an infectious diseases pharmacy resident during a 3-month pilot period. Using an evidence-based standardized checklist, the pharmacist determined if an allergy qualified for de-labeling. In total, 66 patients were interviewed during the pilot period. The average time spent was 5.2 min per patient interviewed. Twelve patients (18%) met the criteria for de-labeling and consented to the removal of the allergy. Four patients (6%) met the criteria but declined removal of the allergy. In brief, 58.3% of patients (7/12) who were de-labeled and 50% of patients (2/4) who declined de-labeling but had their allergy updated to reflect intolerance were subsequently prescribed beta-lactam antibiotics and all (9/9, 100%) were able to tolerate these agents. A pharmacist-led penicillin allergy de-labeling process utilizing a standardized checklist is an effective and feasible method for removing penicillin allergies in patients without a true allergy.
Ag-Yb Alloy-Novel Tunable Plasmonic Material
Authors: Ching Suetying , Chan Chakming , Ng Jack , Cheah Kokwai
Published: July 2021

Metals are commonly used in plasmonic devices because of their strong plasmonic property. However, such properties are not easily tuned. For applications such as spatial light modulators and beam steering, tunable plasmonic properties are essential, and neither metals nor other plasmonic materials possess truly tunable plasmonic properties. In this work, we show that the silver alloy silver–ytterbium (Ag-Yb) possesses tunable plasmonic properties; its plasmonic response strength can be adjusted as a function of Yb concentration. Such tunability can be explained in terms of the influence of Yb on bound charge and interaction of its dielectric with the dielectric of Ag. The change in transition characteristics progressively weakens Ag’s plasmonic properties. With a spectral ellipsometric measurement, it was shown that the Ag-Yb alloy thin film retains the properties of Ag with high transmission efficiency. The weakened surface plasmon coupling strength without dramatic change in the coupling wavelengths implies that the tunability of the Ag-Yb alloy is related to its volume ratio. The principle mechanism of the plasmonic change is theoretically explained using a model. This work points to a potential new type of tunable plasmonic material.
Root Foraging Precision of Pinus pumila (Pall.) Regel Subjected to Contrasting Light Spectra
Authors: He Chunxia , Gao Jun , Zhao Yan , Liu Jing
Published: July 2021

Root foraging behavior in heterogeneous patterns of soil nutrients is not well understood for undergrowth in alpine forests, where light spectra may generate an interactive effect on root foraging precision. A dwarf alpine species, Pinus pumila (Pall.) Regel., was cultured in pots where nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) nutritional granules (N–P2O5–K2O, 14–13–13) were added to both halves of an inner space at a rate of 67.5 mg N (homogeneous) or 135 mg N to a random half (heterogeneous). Potted seedlings were subjected to either a green-and-blue light spectrum with a red-to-green light ratio of 4.24 (15.3% red, 64.9% green, and 19.8% blue) or a red-light enriched spectrum (69.4% red, 30.2% green, and 0.4% blue) both at irradiations of 200.43 µmol m−2 s−1. The root foraging precision was assessed by the difference in the fine root morphology or weight between the two halves. The foraging precision was assessed by both fine root length and surface area and was promoted in seedlings subjected to the heterogeneous pattern in the red-light enriched spectrum. Seedlings subjected to the green-and-blue light spectrum showed lower shoot growth, biomass, and root morphology but had higher shoot and root N and P concentrations. The heterogenous pattern resulted in greater seedling growth and fine root morphology as well as N and P concentrations compared to the homogeneous pattern. We conclude that P. pumila has a strong ability to forage nutrients in heterogenous soil nutrients, which can be further promoted by a spectrum with higher red-light proportions.
Characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Mutants That Exhibit Strong Positive Phototaxis
Authors: Morishita Jun , Tokutsu Ryutaro , Minagawa Jun , Hisabori Toru , Wakabayashi Ken-ichi
Published: July 2021

The most motile phototrophic organisms exhibit photo-induced behavioral responses (photobehavior) to inhabit better light conditions for photosynthesis. The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an excellent model organism to study photobehavior. Several years ago, we found that C. reinhardtii cells reverse their phototactic signs (i.e., positive and negative phototaxis) depending on the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in the cell. However, its molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study, we isolated seven mutants showing positive phototaxis, even after the induction of negative phototaxis (ap1~7: always positive) to understand the ROS-dependent regulatory mechanism for the phototactic sign. We found no common feature in the mutants regarding their growth, high-light tolerance, and photosynthetic phenotypes. Interestingly, five of them grew faster than the wild type. These data suggest that the ROS-dependent regulation of the phototactic sign is not a single pathway and is affected by various cellular factors. Additionally, the isolation and analyses of mutants with defects in phototactic-sign regulation may provide clues for their application to the efficient cultivation of algae.
Anything New under the Sun? An Update on Modulation of Bioactive Compounds by Different Wavelengths in Agricultural Plants
Authors: Santin Marco , Ranieri Annamaria , Castagna Antonella
Published: July 2021

Plants continuously rely on light as an energy source and as the driver of many processes in their lifetimes. The ability to perceive different light radiations involves several photoreceptors, which in turn activate complex signalling cascades that ultimately lead to a rearrangement in plant metabolism as an adaptation strategy towards specific light conditions. This review, after a brief summary of the structure and mode of action of the different photoreceptors, introduces the main classes of secondary metabolites and specifically focuses on the influence played by the different wavelengths on the content of these compounds in agricultural plants, because of their recognised roles as nutraceuticals.
Volume Change during Creep and Micromechanical Deformation Processes in PLA–PBSA Binary Blends
Authors: Aliotta Laura , Gigante Vito , Coltelli Maria-Beatrice , Lazzeri Andrea
Published: July 2021

In this paper, creep measurements were carried out on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and its blends with poly(butylene succinate-adipate) (PBSA) to investigate the specific micromechanical behavior of these materials, which are promising for replacing fossil-based plastics in several applications. Two different PBSA contents at 15 and 20 wt.% were investigated, and the binary blends were named 85-15 and 80-20, respectively. Measurements of the volume strain, using an optical extensometer, were carried out with a universal testing machine in creep configuration to determine, accompanied by SEM images, the deformation processes occurring in a biopolymeric blend. With the aim of correlating the creep and the dilatation variation, analytical models were applied for the first time in biopolymeric binary blends. By using an Eyring plot, a significant change in the curves was found, and it coincided with the onset of the cavitation/debonding mechanism. Furthermore, starting from the data of the pure PLA matrix, using the Eyring relationship, an apparent stress concentration factor was calculated for PLA-PBSA systems. From this study, it emerged that the introduction of PBSA particles causes an increment in the apparent stress intensity factor, and this can be ascribed to the lower adhesion between the two biopolymers. Furthermore, as also confirmed by SEM analysis, it was found that debonding was the main micromechanical mechanism responsible for the volume variation under creep configuration; it was found that debonding starts earlier (at a lower stress level) for the 85-15 blend.
Superparamagnetic, High Magnetic α-Fe & α″-Fe16N2 Mixture Prepared from Inverse Suspension-Polymerized Fe3O4@polyaniline Composite
Authors: Wang Yen-Zen , Cheng Yu-Wei , Ho Lin-Chia , Huang Wen-Yao , Ho Ko-Shan , Syu Yu-Ting
Published: July 2021

Oleic acid (OA)-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully covered with polyanilines (PANIs) via inverse suspension polymerization in accordance with SEM and TEM micrographs. The obtained nanoparticles were able to develop into a ferrite (α-Fe) and α″-Fe16N2 mixture with a superparamagnetic property and high saturated magnetization (SM) of 245 emu g−1 at 950 °C calcination under the protection of carbonization materials (calcined PANI) and other iron-compounds (α″-Fe16N2). The SM of the calcined iron-composites slightly decreases to 232 emu g−1 after staying in the open air for 3 months. The calcined mixture composite can be ground into homogeneous powders without the segregation of the iron and carbon phases in the mortar without significantly losing magnetic activities.
Polyethylene/Polyamide Blends Made of Waste with Compatibilizer: Processing, Morphology, Rheological and Thermo-Mechanical Behavior
Authors: Czarnecka-Komorowska Dorota , Nowak-Grzebyta Jagoda , Gawdzińska Katarzyna , Mysiukiewicz Olga , Tomasik Małgorzata
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to develop a polyethylene/polyamide (R-PE/R-PA) regranulated product made from post-consumer wastes grafted with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH) by reactive extrusion in a twin-screw extruder equipped with an external mixing zone. The compatibility effect of PE-g-MAH used as a modifier in R-PE/R-PA blends was evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), while the analysis of the chemical structure of this blend was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal properties, complex viscosity, and selected usage properties of R-PE/R-PA blends compatibilized with PE-g-MAH, i.e., density and water absorption, were evaluated. The morphology of the blends with and without the compatibilizer was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The R-PE/R-PA/MAH blend shows heterogenic structure, which is a result of the chemical reaction in reactive extrusion between functional groups of PE-g-MAH used as modifier and the end groups of R-PA6. The results show that the R-PE/R-PA blend with increased PE-g-MAH content showed increased hardness, stiffness, and ultimate tensile strength due to the increased degree of crystallinity. The increase in crystallinity is proportional to the improvement of the mechanical properties. Moreover, it is shown that 1 wt.% PE-g-MAH added to the R-PE/R-PA waste blend increases the interfacial interactions and compatibility between R-PE and R-PA, resulting in decreased polyamide particle size. Finally, the results show that it is possible to produce good quality regranulated products with advantageous properties and structure from immiscible polymer waste for industrial applications.
Aerodynamic Optimization of a 10 kW Radial Inflow Turbine with Splitter Blades
Authors: Chen Yuxuan , Zhu Zhicheng , Li Xiao , Zhang Yanping , Gao Wei
Published: July 2021

The application of splitter blades can improve passage obstructions and reduce flow loss of small-scale organic Rankine cycle (ORC) radial inflow turbines. In this study, taking R245fa as the working fluid, splitter blades are applied to design an impeller layout for a 10 kW ORC radial inflow turbine, and numerical simulation is conducted on different impeller schemes through Fluent 15.0. The influence of the meridian length and circumferential position of the splitter blade on the performance of the turbine impeller is studied. The results show that the meridian length and circumferential position of the splitter blade exert greater effects on the flow field distribution inside the impeller and the impeller performance. When the circumferential offset of the splitter blade is around 0.6 and the blade length is around 80% of the length of main blade, the ORC radial inflow turbine designed in this study reaches optimum performance, and its performance is better than the traditional impeller.
The Historiography of Medieval Monasticism: Perspectives from Northern Europe
Authors: Jamroziak Emilia
Published: July 2021

The article provides a thematized discussion of the development of the historiography of European monasticism in northern Europe (north Atlantic, North Sea to the Baltic). Whilst it does not offer a comprehensive overview of the field, it discusses the significance of major currents and models for the development of monastic history to the present day. From focusing on the heritage of history writing “from within”—produced by the members of religious communities in past and modern contexts—it examines key features of the historiography of the history of orders and monastic history paradigms in the context of national and confessional frameworks. The final section of the article provides an overview of the processes or musealization of monastic heritage and the significance of monastic material culture in historical interpretations, both academic and popular.
Preference for Religious Coping Strategies and Passive versus Active Coping Styles among Seniors Exhibiting Aggressive Behaviors
Authors: Niewiadomska Iwona , Szot Leon
Published: July 2021

This article is theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part presents issues related to experiencing stress (including ways of coping with experienced problems) and the relationships between preference for various coping strategies and human behavior. The empirical part presents the results of research on the relationship between the frequency of seniors (n = 329) using 13 different ways to deal with experienced difficulties (including the strategy of turning to religion/religious coping) and 11 categories of aggressive behavior (retaliation tendencies, self-destructive tendencies, aggression control disorders, displaced aggression, unconscious aggressive tendencies, indirect aggression, instrumental aggression, self-hostility, physical aggression towards the environment, hostility towards the environment, and reactive aggression). The last part is devoted to a discussion on the obtained research results and the practical implications of using the strategy of turning to religion/religious coping in difficult situations as a factor protecting the elderly from aggressive behavior.
Giqatilla’s Philosophical Poems on the Hebrew Vowels: Poetry, Philosophy, and Theology in Giqatilla’s Ginnat Egoz and Sefer ha-Niqqud
Authors: Dal Bo Federico
Published: July 2021

In the present paper, I will examine Yosef ben Abraham Giqatilla’s philosophical poems on the Hebrew vowels that are included in his three early works on “punctuation:” the third section from the larger Ginnat Egoz (“The Nut Garden”), the longer version of Sefer ha-Niqqud (“The Book of Punctuation”), and a short version of the latter. Scholarship on the chronology of these three texts has been inconclusive. I will argue that a textual comparison of Giqatilla’s philosophical poems and an analysis of their paratextual function allow for a solution, and therefore a possible chronology of their composition.
Contextualizing Human—Automated Vehicle Interactions: A Socio-Ecological Framework
Authors: Robert Lionel Peter
Published: July 2021

Automated vehicles (AVs) have given rise to a new field of study: human—automated vehicle interaction (H–AVI). Unfortunately, the H–AVI field has largely ignored the importance of context. To address this, this paper describes a socio-ecological view of H–AVI. Drawing on this view, the author briefly discusses and identifies unexplored areas. In doing so, the author draws attention to: (i) transportation infrastructure, (ii) national and regional differences, (iii) special and vulnerable populations and (iv) the impacts of multiple H–AVI types. This paper describes the challenges and opportunities in each of these areas.
Characterizing the Relationship between the Sediment Grain Size and the Shoreline Variability Defined from Sentinel-2 Derived Shorelines
Authors: Cabezas-Rabadán Carlos , Pardo-Pascual Josep E. , Palomar-Vázquez Jesus
Published: July 2021

Sediment grain size is a fundamental parameter conditioning beach-face morphology and shoreline changes. From remote sensing data, an efficient definition of the shoreline position as the water–land interface may allow studying the geomorphological characteristics of the beaches. In this work, shoreline variability is defined by extracting a set of Satellite Derived Shorelines (SDS) covering about three and a half years. SDS are defined from Sentinel 2 imagery with high accuracy (about 3 m RMSE) using SHOREX. The variability is related to a large dataset of grain-size samples from the micro-tidal beaches at the Gulf of Valencia (Western Mediterranean). Both parameters present an inverse and non-linear relationship probably controlled by the beach-face slope. High shoreline variability appears associated with fine sands, followed by a rapid decrease (shifting point about medium/coarse sand) and subsequent small depletions as grain sizes increases. The relationship between both parameters is accurately described by a numerical function (R2 about 0.70) when considering samples at 137 open beaches. The definition of the variability is addressed employing different proxies, coastal segment lengths, and quantity of SDS under diverse oceanographic conditions, allowing to examine the effect they have on the relation with the sediment size. The relationship explored in this work improves the understanding of the mutual connection between sediment size, beach-face slope, and shoreline variability, and it may set up the basis for a rough estimation of sediment grain size from satellite optical imagery.
A Review of Reconstructing Remotely Sensed Land Surface Temperature under Cloudy Conditions
Authors: Mo Yaping , Xu Yongming , Chen Huijuan , Zhu Shanyou
Published: July 2021

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important environmental parameter in climate change, urban heat islands, drought, public health, and other fields. Thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing is the main method used to obtain LST information over large spatial scales. However, cloud cover results in many data gaps in remotely sensed LST datasets, greatly limiting their practical applications. Many studies have sought to fill these data gaps and reconstruct cloud-free LST datasets over the last few decades. This paper reviews the progress of LST reconstruction research. A bibliometric analysis is conducted to provide a brief overview of the papers published in this field. The existing reconstruction algorithms can be grouped into five categories: spatial gap-filling methods, temporal gap-filling methods, spatiotemporal gap-filling methods, multi-source fusion-based gap-filling methods, and surface energy balance-based gap-filling methods. The principles, advantages, and limitations of these methods are described and discussed. The applications of these methods are also outlined. In addition, the validation of filled LST values’ cloudy pixels is an important concern in LST reconstruction. The different validation methods applied for reconstructed LST datasets are also reviewed herein. Finally, prospects for future developments in LST reconstruction are provided.
On the Geomagnetic Field Line Resonance Eigenfrequency Variations during Seismic Event
Authors: Piersanti Mirko , Burger William Jerome , Carbone Vincenzo , Battiston Roberto , Iuppa Roberto , Ubertini Pietro
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we report high statistical evidence for a seismo–ionosphere effects occurring in conjunction with an earthquake. This finding supports a lithosphere-magnetosphere coupling mechanism producing a plasma density variation along the magnetic field lines, mechanically produced by atmospheric acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) impinging the ionosphere. We have analysed a large sample of earthquakes (EQ) using ground magnetometers data: in 28 of 42 analysed case events, we detect a temporary stepwise decrease (Δf) of the magnetospheric field line resonance (FLR) eigenfrequency (f*). Δf decreases of ∼5–25 mHz during ∼20–35 min following the time of the EQ. We present an analytical model for f*, able to reproduce the behaviour observed during the EQ. Our work is in agreement with recent results confirming co-seismic direct coupling between lithosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere opening the way to new remote sensing methods, from space/ground, of the earth seismic activity.
Non-Parametric Statistical Approaches for Leaf Area Index Estimation from Sentinel-2 Data: A Multi-Crop Assessment
Authors: De Peppo Margherita , Taramelli Andrea , Boschetti Mirco , Mantino Alberto , Volpi Iride , Filipponi Federico , Tornato Antonella , Valentini Emiliana , Ragaglini Giorgio
Published: July 2021

The leaf area index (LAI) is a key biophysical variable for agroecosystem monitoring, as well as a relevant state variable in crop modelling. For this reason, temporal and spatial determination of LAI are required to improve the understanding of several land surface processes related to vegetation dynamics and crop growth. Despite the large number of retrieved LAI products and the efforts to develop new and updated algorithms for LAI estimation, the available products are not yet capable of capturing site-specific variability, as requested in many agricultural applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of non-parametric approaches for multi-temporal LAI retrieval by Sentinel-2 multispectral data, in comparison with a VI-based parametric approach. For this purpose, we built a large database combining a multispectral satellite data set and ground LAI measurements collected over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019), including three crops (i.e., winter wheat, maize, and alfalfa) characterized by different growing cycles and canopy structures, and considering different agronomic conditions (i.e., at three farms in three different sites). The accuracy of parametric and non-parametric methods for LAI estimation was assessed by cross-validation (CV) at both the pixel and field levels over mixed-crop (MC) and crop-specific (CS) data sets. Overall, the non-parametric approach showed a higher accuracy of prediction at pixel level than parametric methods, and it was also observed that Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) did not provide any significant difference (p-value > 0.05) between the predicted values of LAI in the MC and CS data sets, regardless of the crop. Indeed, GPR at the field level showed a cross-validated coefficient of determination (R2CV) higher than 0.80 for all three crops.
Factors Affecting the Rate of Fuel Consumption in Aircrafts
Authors: Hassan Thowayeb H. , Sobaih Abu Elnasr E. , Salem Amany E.
Published: July 2021

The cost of fuel and its availability are among the most major concerns for aircrafts and the aviation industry overall. Environmental difficulties with chemical pollutant emissions emitted by aviation machines are also connected to fuel consumption. As a result, it is crucial to examine factors that affect the overall fuel usage and consumption in the airport-based aviation industry. Several variables were investigated related to the total fuel consumed, such as dry operating weight (DOW) (KG), zero-fuel weight (ZFW), take-off weight (TOW), air distance (AIR DIST) (KM), and ground distance (GDN DIST). Analysis of the correlation between total fuel consumed as well as the extra fuel and selected variables was conducted. The results showed that the most positively associated factors with the total used fuel were the air distance (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.01), ground distance (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.01), TOW (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01), and flight time (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01). There was also a strong positive association between the average fuel flow (FF) and actual TOW (r2 = 0.74, p < 0.01) as well as ZFW (r2 = 0.61, p < 0.01). The generalized linear model (GLM) was utilized to assess the predictions of total energy usage after evaluating important outliers, stability of the homogeneity of variance, and the normalization of the parameter estimation. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that the most significant predictors of the total consumed fuel were the actual ZFW (p < 0.01), actual TOW (p < 0.01), and actual average FF (p < 0.05). The results interestingly confirmed that wind speed has some consequences and effects on arrival fuel usage. The result reflects that thermal and hydrodynamic economies impact on the flying fuel economy. The research has various implications for both scholars and practitioners of aviation industry.
What Does the Arctic’s Unstable Past Say about a Sustainable Future?
Authors: Huntington Henry
Published: July 2021

Visions for tomorrow’s Arctic include complementary and conflicting ideas such as sustainability, security, prosperity, biodiversity, Indigenous rights, and more. Implicit in many of these views is the assumption that the right combination of policy and action will create a stable configuration producing the intended outcome for the foreseeable future. Even a cursory review of Arctic history, however, shows that economic, political, cultural, ecological, climatic, and other forms of stability are unlikely. Instead, the lessons of the past suggest that local and global factors will continue to interact to create high variability. Individual policies and institutions may help promote effective responses to that variability, but a commitment to enduring equity is necessary to foster long-term well-being for the Arctic and its peoples.
Industrial Waste Materials as Alternative Fillers in Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Dimulescu Catalina , Burlacu Adrian
Published: July 2021

One important role in asphalt mixture performances is represented by the filler content and characteristics. This research aims to assess the potential usage of industrial waste powders as replacers of the standard limestone filler in asphalt mixture composition. First of all, an SEM and EDX analysis was carried out to figure whether this industrial waste can be used in asphalt mixture composition by comparing the results of the industrial wastes with the properties of the standard filler. After a chemical evaluation, laboratory investigations were carried out to characterize the materials in terms of geometrical and physical properties. The research study involved sixteen dosages of limestone filler with four different types of industrial waste powders in different percentages used. The results obtained from laboratory testing suggested that the inclusion of industrial wastes in the manufacture of asphaltic mixtures may have benefits for the construction industry, the waste management sector, and also for the environment.
Risk Handling Responsibilities in Tanzanian Project-Based Organisations
Authors: Sospeter Nyamagere Gladys , Chileshe Nicholas
Published: July 2021

Risk handling is one of the elements and essential parts of risk management when properly incorporated into a project. However, there is inadequate knowledge amongst the contractual parties on risk handling responsibilities in road projects, particularly in Sub-Saharan African developing countries. This study is aimed at bridging that knowledge gap by investigating the perceptions of contractors and consultants on the risk handling responsibilities in road projects in Tanzania. The primary data were collected from 80 registered foreign and local civil contractors and engineering consultants based in Dar es Salaam. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. The results show that both contractors and consultants ranked safety project provision and ensuring quality provision in terms of construction as shared risk responsibilities among contractual parties. The findings further show that consultant-related risk responsibilities are: safety provision, the use of historical cost deviation, ensuring quality provision, and review of knowledge on budgeting. On the other hand, contractor-related risk responsibilities include: safety provision and ensuring quality provision. The findings of this study can be used by the practitioners and stakeholders as important lessons useful for controlling risks and making decisions when they intend to participate in such projects during the construction stage.
Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Environmental Impact of the Production of Asphalt Mixes Modified with Recycled Materials
Authors: Movilla-Quesada Diana , Lagos-Varas Manuel , Raposeiras Aitor C. , Muñoz-Cáceres Osvaldo , Andrés-Valeri Valerio C. , Aguilar-Vidal Carla
Published: July 2021

This research focuses on the production and construction stages of the life cycle analysis (LCA) of asphalt mixtures modified with industrial waste and by-products, based on the quantification of methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced during these processes. A laboratory-designed and calibrated gas measurement system with a microcontroller and MQ sensors is used to compare the emissions (GHG) of a “conventional” asphalt mix with those emitted by waste-modified asphalt mixes (polyethylene terephthalate and nylon fibres) and industrial by-products (copper slag and cellulose ash). The results obtained show that the gases emitted by each type of material can influence the design criteria from an environmental perspective. Methane gas emissions for asphalt mixes made with polymeric materials increase compared to the production phase of a conventional mix (M1) by 21% for PET and 14% for nylon. In contrast, for mixtures made with copper slag and cellulose ash, this emission is reduced by 12%. In addition, the use of copper slag and cellulose ash to replace natural aggregates reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 15% during the production phase and contributes to the creation of photochemical ozone for a shorter period of time. Regarding carbon dioxide emission, it increases considerably for all asphalt mixes, by 26% and 44.5% for cellulose ash and copper slag, respectively. For asphalt mixtures made of polymeric materials, the increase in carbon dioxide emission is significant, 130% for PET and 53% for nylon. In addition, it is noted that for this type of material, not only the emission of the gas must be taken into consideration, but also the time that the volatile particles spend in the atmosphere, affecting climate change and photochemical ozone (smog). The carbon monoxide gases emitted in the production phase of all the asphalt mixes analysed is similar among them.
A Survey of Research on Data Analytics-Based Legal Tech
Authors: Park So-Hui , Lee Dong-Gu , Park Jin-Sung , Kim Jun-Woo
Published: July 2021

Data analytics provides important tools and methods for processing the data generated during legal services. This paper aims to provide a systematic survey of the research papers on the application of quantitative data analytics algorithms in the legal domain. To this end, relevant research papers were collected and used to analyze topics and trends of research on data analytics-based Legal Tech. The key findings of this paper are as follows. Firstly, the number of research papers about Legal Tech has increased dramatically recently. Secondly, the application of supervised learning techniques to legal judgment data is a very popular approach in this research area. Thirdly, preprocessing legal documents is a very important procedure as many legal documents exist in text form. Fourthly, artificial neural networks and their variations are widely used in research on data analytics-based Legal Tech. Fifthly, data analytics-based Legal Tech is a multidisciplinary research topic related to computer science and social science, etc.
Links between Climate Change Knowledge, Perception and Action: Impacts on Personal Carbon Footprint
Authors: Chuvieco Emilio , Burgui-Burgui Mario , Orellano Anabel , Otón Gonzalo , Ruíz-Benito Paloma
Published: July 2021

The current understanding of determinants of climate action and mitigation behaviour is largely based on measures of climate change including concerns, attitudes and beliefs. However, few studies have shown the actual effects of external and internal drivers on citizens’ lifestyles related to climate change, particularly in terms of their carbon footprint (CF). A questionnaire (N = 845) assessing the impact of potential explanation factors for personal CF was carried out in Spain. The study showed the importance of better understanding the factors affecting citizen’s consumption and climate change mitigation policies. Internal factors were not very explicative. Knowledge was linked to clothing and perceived commitment to food, with both sectors being more directly linked to personal choices than other CF sections. Both accounted for 40% of personal emissions. Frequency of action was not shown to be significantly related to any CF section. External factors, such as income, level of studies, age and type of work, were found to be more important than internal drivers in explaining personal CF, particularly type of work, age and income, which were linked to all CF sectors but household energy. Sex was highly associated to clothing, but also significant for transport. Political orientation was not found to be linked to any section of personal CF.
The Critical Factors of Student Performance in MOOCs for Sustainable Education: A Case of Chinese Universities
Authors: Yang Qin , Lee Young-Chan
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 has drastically changed human life, both in the current era and, no doubt, in the years to come. One of the hot topics during this period is whether and how COVID-19 will change education patterns in the next few years. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between massive open online courses (MOOCs) and students’ learning performance. To that end, this study combined the gamification concept with the modified information systems (IS) success model and the expectation–confirmation model (ECM) for building a research model. We surveyed 586 students through an online survey and tested the hypotheses. The research results indicated that MOOCs’ information quality (IQ), system quality (SQ), and service quality (SEQ) had positive influences on the confirmation, which then affected MOOCs’ usefulness, satisfaction, and gamification. Students’ continued usage intention and course performance were positively influenced by usefulness and gamification. Students’ continued usage intention of MOOCs also positively affected course performance. The relationship between gamification and satisfaction, however, was not proved. The research results also showed that gamification, which was composed of entertainment, challenge, and social interaction, played a critical role in improving students’ continued usage intention of MOOCs and their course performance.
Generation Y’s Information Needs Concerning Sharing Rides in Autonomous Mobility on Demand Systems
Authors: König Alexandra , Wirth Christina , Grippenkoven Jan
Published: July 2021

Empirical studies show that autonomous vehicles can contribute to sustainability goals when rides are shared. However, sharing rides with strangers in shared autonomous mobility-on-demand systems (SAMODSs) might impede the adoption of these systems. The present study addresses the research question whether a comprehensive information provision about fellow passengers could increase acceptability of the shared rides in SAMODSs. A discrete choice experiment (N = 154) assessed the potential of different levels of information on fellow passengers: (1) no information, (2) name, (3) picture, (4) rating, (5) combination of name, picture and rating. The results show that the overall compensation demands for sharing a ride was a reduction of approximately 25% of the nonshared reference price. The provision of detailed information about fellow travelers proved beneficial for reducing the compensation demands of travelers while the provision of a name only resulted in higher compensation demands. A significant effect of the fellow passengers’ gender indicated that male gender information was related to a higher refusal rate than female gender information. This was particularly relevant when only names were presented. The study provides first empirical insights into the psychological factors concerning the emerging trend of shared mobility.
Digital Transformation in the Chilean Lodging Sector: Opportunities for Sustainable Businesses
Authors: Farías Antonio , Cancino Christian A.
Published: July 2021

The lodging industry increasingly relies on digital technology and innovations in various operations in order to develop a competitive strategy and improve their operational activities during the pandemic. Nowadays, digital transformation is a key element for business sustainability. This paper presents an industry case study involving four hotels or lodging companies operating in Chile which have successfully incorporated technology and new communication channels with their clients, carrying out a digital transformation that is key to the competitiveness and survival of their businesses. The results show that the impact of digitalization on sales and visibility of companies in the sector is huge; second, the effects of digital innovation on the management of key processes, both in the back office and in the front office, is very important; third, the incorporation of technology as a standard factor in order to be competitive in the industry is a key element; finally, the problems or obstacles that lodging companies must face in the process of implementing new information technologies. Without digital innovation, this sector would not have been able to survive in times of pandemic.
Multivariate Modeling of Mechanical Properties for Hot Runner Molded Bioplastics and a Recycled Polypropylene Blend
Authors: Kazmer David O. , Masato Davide , Piccolo Leonardo , Puleo Kyle , Krantz Joshua , Venoor Varun , Colon Austin , Limkaichong Justin , Dewar Neil , Babin Denis , Sayer Cheryl
Published: July 2021

Four sustainable materials including a recycled polypropylene blend, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, and two grades of polylactic acid are compared to a reference isotactic polypropylene. Tensile specimens were produced using a two-cavity, hot runner mold with fully automatic cycles per standard industrial practices to investigate the effect of melt temperature, injection velocity, cycle time, and screw speed on the mechanical properties. Multiple regression and principal component analyses were performed for each of the materials. Results indicated that all the materials were readily processed using a hot runner, and the mechanical properties exhibited minimal variation. To the extent that losses in mechanical properties were observed, the results indicated that the losses were correlated with thermal degradation as independently characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis. Such losses can be minimized by reducing melt temperature and cycle time, leading to a reduction of the environmental impact of injection molding processes.
Exploring the Effects of a Modified Higher Education Performance Service Quality Model on Organisational Sustainability: The Case of Malaysian Polytechnics
Authors: Khalid Sulaiman Mohammed , Ali Khairul Anuar Mohd , Makhbul Zafir Khan Mohamed , Ali Mohd Helmi , Wahid Siti Daleela Mohd
Published: July 2021

Higher education service quality and performance in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is critical for developing human capital for economic survival; however, the effects of service quality on organisational performance are still unclear. Furthermore, neglecting employee soft factors and ignoring higher education-specific models have hindered efforts to develop a comprehensive model for service quality excellence in order to improve higher education performance for organisations. This study aims to assess higher education service quality based on a modified higher education performance (modified HEdPERF) model, as well as consideration of the mediating effects of soft factors (i.e., job satisfaction and organisational commitment) in Malaysian polytechnic institutions. Based on random sampling, 214 department heads from 33 polytechnic institutes in Malaysia participated in this study. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and were analysed using AMOS. The results uncover that service quality significantly affects job satisfaction, thus positively affecting organisational commitment, which enhances organisational performance sustainability. The findings also reveal that job satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between service quality and organisational commitment. Similarly, organisational commitment fully mediates the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational performance sustainability. The results have important implications for enhancing organisational performance sustainability in a TVET context when implementing the modified HEdPERF service quality model with simultaneous attention paid towards employee soft factors.
Evaluating the Social Cost of Conflict between New Media and Society: The Case of Gaming Disorder in South Korea
Authors: Yoo Changsok , Kim Yelim , Sohn Jee Hoon
Published: July 2021

Historically, the introduction of a new media in mass market caused a strong conflict starting from the nineteenth century popular literature, comics, rock music and film. Interestingly, these conflicts have shown similar and repeated patterns, which is now called media panic and moral regulation, and games are following this pattern. In 2019, Gaming disorder (GD) was decided to be included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and similar conflicts on games arenow expected. However, the social cost and damage have not been fully addressed until now. Thus, this study focuses on the estimation of the social cost induced by GD for policy design and decisions in the public healthcare of South Korea. Using the contingent valuation method, a popular valuation method in econometrics for non-market goods, this study has tried to estimate the social cost induced by the introduction of GD into the public healthcare practice. Focusing on a false positive problem in the diagnosis, this study estimates that the willingness to pay for GD diagnosis for children is about KRW 152 K (USD 135). Considering the difference between the prevalence of GD (1.9%) and GD suspicion rate of children in the respondents (12.54%), the excessive medical diagnosis cost due to the false positive problem is estimated to KRW 101 billion (USD 89.6 M), which is about four times more than the annual medical cost for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatment in South Korea. Thus, strong scientific proof and a cautious policy approach on GD are needed before the inclusion of GD in the public health practice.
Between Urban and Rural: Is Agricultural Parks a Governance Tool for Developing Tourism in the Periurban Areas? Reflections on Two Italian Cases
Authors: Spagnoli Luisa , Mundula Luigi
Published: July 2021

The new demand for rurality raises new issues: it is no longer a question of sustaining a traditional agricultural model based exclusively on productivity and profit maximisation, but rather agriculture strongly oriented towards the production of non-commodity outputs that very often have the characteristics of externalities or public goods. Based on these assumptions, the paper intends to frame the role of multifunctional agriculture for the development of peri-urban areas looking in particular to the agricultural parks phenomenon, in which innovative and multifunctional agriculture is practiced (with environmental, landscape, and social functions), to asses if they can represent a strategic resource for the tourist enhancement of territories on the edge of urban and rural areas. With this perspective, two Italian case studies, Parco agricolo di Ciaculli (Palermo and Parco agricolo Sud Milano (Milano), have been analyzed highlighting their main characteristics and under which conditions they can play the role of tourism development driver.