bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of High Concentrations of Wood Ash on Soil Properties and Development of Young Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
Authors: Jansone Baiba , Samariks Valters , Okmanis Modris , Kļaviņa Dārta , Lazdiņa Dagnija
Published: November 2020

Wood ash recycling can be a reasonable method for energy producers to decrease waste problems. Using wood ash as a fertilizer or liming material could improve soil macro and micronutrient content in peat soils. Therefore, the effect of wood ash on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) juvenile growth and nutrient content in the soil after spreading wood ash in medium to high doses before and after planting seedlings was investigated in peat forests in the Eastern part of Latvia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of high doses of wood ash on soil properties and the growth of planted Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings up to 10 years after experiment establishment. Wood ash was applied a year before planting seedlings in doses of 5 and 10 t ha−1 and right after planting in concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1. Changes in macronutrient content (i.e., phosphorus [P], and potassium [K]) and tree height and diameter at breast height were measured at one and 10 years after establishing the experiment. Fertilization one year prior to planting the seedlings exhibited a positive response on tree height and diameter growth compared to fertilization after the seedlings were planted. Soil samples from fertilized plots one year after establishment contained more P and K in the soil than the control plots. Wood ash application of the highest doses did not reach the overdose limit, as the tree growth (height and diameter at breast height) results of fertilized plots were similar to those of the control fields; therefore, no significant negative effect on tree growth was discovered.
Applying the Technology Acceptance Model to Assess the Intention to Use an Aftermarket eCall Based on 112 Device for Passenger Vehicles to Ensure Sustainable Rescue Operations on European Roads
Authors: Perju-Mitran Alexandra , Zirra Daniela , Căruţaşu George , Pîrjan Alexandru , Stănică Justina-Lavinia
Published: November 2020

Sustainable, improved rescue operations contribute to both the safety of traffic participants and the quality of transportation services. From this perspective, we considered the need to determine to what extent the target audience, consisting of owners and/or users of road vehicles, is prepared to purchase and use an eCall In-Vehicle System (eCall IVS) for passenger vehicles, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a research framework. To confirm the hypotheses of our research, we resorted to structural equation modelling (SEM), based on the analysis of variance (PLS—partial least squares), and we were able to validate all the causal relationships of the conceptual model, with significant path coefficients at a chosen significance threshold of p < 0.01. Analyzing the obtained results achieved in the field of eCall IVS, one can state that the integration of these approaches with the TAM research framework gives a much more complete picture of a driver’s acceptance of using an aftermarket eCall IVS, which can also serve as a starting point in aftermarket vehicle implementation and future studies.
A Hybrid Deep Learning Model and Comparison for Wind Power Forecasting Considering Temporal-Spatial Feature Extraction
Authors: Zhen Hao , Niu Dongxiao , Yu Min , Wang Keke , Liang Yi , Xu Xiaomin
Published: November 2020

The inherent intermittency and uncertainty of wind power have brought challenges in accurate wind power output forecasting, which also cause tricky problems in the integration of wind power to the grid. In this paper, a hybrid deep learning model bidirectional long short term memory-convolutional neural network (BiLSTM-CNN) is proposed for short-term wind power forecasting. First, the grey correlation analysis is utilized to select the inputs for forecasting model; Then, the proposed hybrid model extracts multi-dimension features of inputs to predict the wind power from the temporal-spatial perspective, where the Bi-LSTM model is utilized to mine the bidirectional temporal characteristics while the convolution and pooling operations of CNN are utilized to extract the spatial characteristics from multiple input time series. Lastly, a case study is conducted to verify the superiority of the proposed model. Other deep learning models (Bi-LSTM, LSTM, CNN, LSTM-CNN, CNN-BiLSTM, CNN-LSTM) are also simulated to conduct comparison from three aspects. The results show that the BiLSTM-CNN model has the best accuracy with the lowest RMSE of 2.5492, MSE of 6.4984, MAE of 1.7344 and highest R2 of 0.9929. CNN has the fastest speed with an average computational time of 0.0741s. The hybrid model that mines the spatial feature based on the extracted temporal feature has a better performance than the model mines the temporal feature based on the extracted spatial feature.
Visitors’ Perception of the Overcrowding of a Protected Natural Area: A Case Applied to the Natural Reserve “Garganta de los Infiernos” (Caceres, Spain)
Authors: Mateos Ana Beatriz , Leco Felipe , Pérez Antonio
Published: November 2020

The main objective of this research is to analyse the perception of visitors in protected natural areas struggling with mass tourism. An exhaustive analysis is carried out of both the tourist activity and the profile of the tourists in the Garganta de los Infiernos Natural Reserve (Extremadura, Spain). It studies variables such as the number of visitors, their personal profile, their perception of the protected area after the visit, etc. The method used was non-experimental, descriptive, qualitative and analytical, and it allowed for a better understanding of the profile of the visitors: sex, age, origin, professional profile, etc. The results show the visitors’ conviction about the need to properly manage areas of public use, mainly due to the notable and partly uncontrolled growth of tourism activity during certain periods of the year. On the other hand, the relevance of the actions of the Governing Board of the Natural Reserve is highlighted, as it guarantees public participation and channels the opinions of the main partners involved in the management of the protected area, to ensure a responsible management of tourism activity and improve its quality.
Policy Analyses on Promoting the Recycling of Express Packages
Authors: Xiao Lu , Fan Rongrong , Wang Chaojie , Wang Jun
Published: November 2020

With the development of e-commerce industry, the express enterprises are growing up rapidly. At the same time, they produce a large amount of express packaging garbage. The recycling of express packages has become an important issue for environment protection. In this paper, three types of possible policies are discussed for consideration: subsidy, penalty, and tax reduction. We analyze the efficiency of each policy and find the conditions under which the express packaging manufacturers prefer to recycle and reprocess the used products. A two-stage model is established from the perspective of manufacturers to discuss the production and recycling strategies under the three policies. Besides, we suggest an optimal choice between subsidy and tax reduction for the government when the budget is fixed. This paper provides guidelines for the government to improve related policies on promoting the recycling of express packages.
Changes in the Influence of Social Responsibility Activities on Corporate Value over 10 Years in China
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Jung Jin-young
Published: November 2020

This study analyzes changes in how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects corporate value in China. We use multiple regression analysis on a sample of A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2009 to 2018. We divide the sample into 2009–2012 and 2013–2018 periods according to the development of CSR-related media and corporate policies. The dependent variable is corporate value, measured by Tobin’s Q. The independent variable is the CSR score calculated and published by RKS, a widely recognized CSR evaluation agency in China. We use firm size, sales growth rate, return on equity, top 10 shareholders’ equity, operating cash flow, and debt ratio as control variables. The panel-based regression models find no statistical correlation between CSR score and corporate value from 2009 to 2012 but find that the CSR score has a significantly positive influence on corporate value from 2013 to 2018. The impact of CSR activities on corporate value increases over the 10-year period. This decade saw the Chinese government shift its development strategy from a rapid growth model to a high-quality growth model and pursue sustainable development. This study is useful for Chinese companies considering adopting CSR activities to promote sustainable development.
A Novel Multicriteria Decision Making Model for Sustainable Stormwater Management
Authors: Alkhaledi Khaled , Arnold Allison , Means Kenneth , Kim In-Ju , Bendak Salaheddine
Published: November 2020

Precipitation not absorbed by the soil or local vegetation and remain on the surface leading to stormwater can cause soil erosion, flooding, property damage, and overflow to wastewater treatment facilities. This paper introduces a novel multicriteria decision-making model to choose among various sustainable solutions that can help in managing stormwater. This model is intended to help decision-makers in handling stormwater through proper utilization of precipitation while ensuring public safety and adhering to runoff regulations. The model also aims to present sustainable technologies that can help in reducing harmful stormwater overflows. As a way of constructing and validating the model, precipitation and other relevant data from the North-Eastern region of the United States were used. The model can be altered though to suit other regions in the world. The model was further validated by seeking the opinion of a group of experts on its constructs. Statistical analysis identified high item-to-total correlations for model constructs and a model Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.84 leading to conclude that the model is valid. Yet, green solutions presented in this study and the developed model should be considered as a first step in determining sustainable stormwater solutions and further research in this area is needed.
Alliances between For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations as an Instrument to Implement the Economy for the Common Good
Authors: Talavera Carmen , Sanchis Joan R.
Published: November 2020

The model of the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) has cooperation as one of its main principles. This alternative economic model proposes to prioritize cooperation over competition to favor the creation of social value. From this point of view, strategic alliances between organizations can be used as an instrument that supports implementation of the ECG model. In recent years, alliances between for-profit and non-profit entities have been strengthened as a method to facilitate actions focused on social responsibility and sustainability. Moreover, the ECG model has become an adequate management framework for corporate sustainability. This work aims to connect alliances between for-profit and non-profit organizations with the ECG model. First, this connection is manifested in a theoretical way. This paper is going to analyze how such alliances can contribute to increasing the values of the ECG model: human dignity, solidarity and social justice, environmental sustainability, and transparency and codetermination. Afterwards, this work analyzes two cases of this type of alliance—Grupo Vips-Fundación Hazlo Posible and Danone Foods-Grameen Bank—to determine the benefits that this type of cooperation can provide to society. We study their motives and the benefits that they bring to the organizations and the community. Therefore, this work assesses how these types of alliances influence the different topics included in the Common Good Matrix. Moreover, we conduct a comparative analysis between both cases. This work demonstrates that, by implementing this type of strategic alliances, the creation of social value is favored, thus contributing to implementation of the ECG model.
Cultural Identity Distance Computation through Artificial Intelligence as an Analysis Tool of the Amazon Indigenous People. A Case Study in the Waorani Community
Authors: Espín-León Aldrin Marcel , Jimeno-Morenilla Antonio , Pertegal-Felices María Luisa , Azorín-López Jorge
Published: November 2020

Cultural identity is a complex concept that includes subjective factors such as ideology, family knowledge, customs, language, and acquired skills, among others. Measuring culture involves a significant level of difficulty, since its study and scope differ from the point of view, the time and the place where the studies are carried out. In the Amazon, indigenous communities are in an accelerated process of acculturation that results in a loss of cultural identity that is not easy to quantify. This paper presents a method to measure the cultural distance between individuals or between groups of people using Artificial Intelligence techniques. The distance between individuals is calculated as the distance of the minimum path in the self-organizing map using Dijkstra’s algorithm. The experiments have been carried out to measure the cultural identity of indigenous people in the Waorani Amazon community and compares them with people living in cities who have a modern identity. The results showed that the communities are still distant in terms of identity from the westernised cities around them, although there are already factors where the distances are minimal concerning these cities. In any case, the method makes it possible to quantify the state of acculturation. This quantification can help the authorities to monitor these communities and take political decisions that will enable them to preserve their cultural identity.
Is Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Quality Related to a Combined Farmer–Farm Profile?
Authors: Bermeo-Andrade Helga , Bahamón-Monje Andrés F. , Aragón-Calderón Renso , Beltrán-Vargas Yarmel , Gutiérrez-Guzmán Nelson
Published: November 2020

This study proposed a classification model for 125 agricultural productive units (APUs) in Tolima, Colombia, to establish whether they are related to the quality of coffee produced. The model considered two aspects related to farmer profile and farm profile. The following proposed categories resulted from the coordinate obtained in relation to the two aspects: Low-Low, High-Low, Low-High, and High-High. The variables for each aspect were prioritized using the analysis hierarchical process (AHP). The coffee’s quality, sensory profile by attribute, and specific descriptors for each category were determined employing the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol. The sensory attributes were analyzed by way of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Bonferroni test was used to compare by category, both with a significance level of α = 0.05. The model grouped the APUs by category and cup quality, with the High-High category achieving the best scores in the sensory analysis. The variables with the greatest relative weight within the AHP model constituted farmer stance regarding the use of good agricultural practices (44.5%) and farmer attitude toward excellence (40.6%) in the farmer’s profile. As part of the farm’s profile, environmental commitment level (38.0%) and international certifications (29.1%) were the greatest relative weights. Coffee in the High-High category was characterized by its notes of cinnamon, cocoa, chocolate, and dried vegetables.
The Hindrances to Green Roof Adoption in a Semi-Arid Climate Condition
Authors: Zakeri Seyed Mohammad Hossein , Mahdiyar Amir
Published: November 2020

Green roofs (GRs) offer several environmental, social, and economic benefits while numerous barriers are limiting their adoption. This study covers two gaps in the literature: first, the lack of indicating separate hindrances to different types of GRs; second, the dearth of research related to the hindrances on GR adoption in any climate of Iran. This research aims to identify and analyze the importance of hindrances to GR adoption by considering the two major types of GRs using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP), respectively. The results indicated that eight out of twenty-five identified hindrances to GR adoption were rejected using FDM. Moreover, it was found that although financial hindrances are significant for both types of GRs, public awareness is the most important hindrance to extensive GR adoption. As the first research of its kind in a semi-arid climate of Iran, the findings of this research provide an insight for the researchers and policymakers regarding the hindrances to GR adoption for further research and action.
Water Interpretation Centers: A Case Study in Spanish Territory
Authors: Galván-Pérez Laura , Gutiérrez-Pérez José
Published: November 2020

The shortage of water in the Iberian Peninsula has become one of the most pressing environmental problems and of greater transcendence in recent decades. This issue is also underlined at the international level because of climate change. The proliferation of interpretation centers that focus their attention on water in Spain is a relevant response to the need for public awareness of the problem of water as a scarce resource, as well as at the international level. Among the issues that we raise in this work we highlight: to what extent has been the strategy of the construction of Water Interpretation Centers (WIC) and if its contents, methodologies, resources and facilities have effectively contributed to a greater awareness of the population on the problem of water? Finally, how are these centers fragile in time in relation to their stability and the working conditions of their staff? The methodology is based on descriptive–evaluative research, with the following phases: preparation of a census of interpretation centers at the state level, and the design and submission of a form around six topics and data analysis. In conclusion, we can highlight that 150 centers have been registered. Finally, the main conclusion is that the crisis has affected the sector, causing a drop in financing and in the supply of activities, where it has not recovered at present.
Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of a Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System for Combined Aquaponics on Drylands
Authors: Baiyin Bateer , Tagawa Kotaro , Gutierrez Joaquin
Published: November 2020

An open-field cultivation combined-type aquaponic system (OCAS) was developed to effectively utilize saline groundwater and prevent soil salinization while ensuring food production in drylands. To achieve the sustainable food production of the OCAS in power-scarce areas, a stand-alone photovoltaic system (PVS) for the OCAS was designed through a feasibility study of utilizing solar energy to meet its power demand. As a case study, the OCAS was established in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with power consumption 22.72 kWh/day and annual average daily global horizontal irradiation (GHI) 6.12 kWh/m2/day, considering the 2017 meteorological data. HOMER software was employed for performance analysis and techno-economic evaluation of an appropriate PVS. Thousands PVS configurations were evaluated in terms of total net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of energy (COE). The PVS that fulfilled the power demand and had the smallest NPC was proposed, for which the NPC and COE were calculated as $46,993 and $0.438/kWh, respectively. The relationship between its annual power supply and power demand of the OCAS was also analyzed in detail. It was found that the operation hours and the amount of power generation by the proposed PVS were 4156 h and 19,106 kWh in one year. Additionally, it was predicted that the excess power would occur almost every afternoon and reach 43% of the generated power. Therefore, the COE can be further reduced by rationally utilizing the excess power during operation.
Language that Supports Sustainable Development: How to Write about People in Universal Design Policy
Authors: Ericsson Stina , Wojahn Daniel , Sandström Ida , Hedvall Per-Olof
Published: November 2020

Universal Design (UD) is a design approach that recognises and anticipates diversity as a fundamental human condition. UD is also frequently referred to in relation to the social dimension of sustainable development. Central to both UD and sustainability is the way “everyone,” as the target of UD and sustainability goals, is understood. The purpose of the study is to identify how UD’s “everyone” is conceptualised in Swedish UD policy and to provide a set of recommendations for how to categorise people with regards to UD. A qualitative text analysis is used, which investigates semiotic modes in relation to the content, form, and social relations of texts. Based on the analysis, two challenges for UD policy are identified: (i) how to convey that UD is design for everyone, and (ii) how to move away from a thought pattern of norm and deviation. Seven recommendations for how to approach categorisations of people in UD policy are formulated. We argue that an adoption of UD has the potential to bring about sustainable living environments for all, if integrated with social, economic, environmental, and spatial dimensions of development, but that in order for this to succeed, careful attention needs to be paid to how UD is conceptualised, and a radically different way of categorising people is necessary.
Core Competitiveness Evaluation of Clean Energy Incubators Based on Matter-Element Extension Combined with TOPSIS and KPCA-NSGA-II-LSSVM
Authors: Liang Guangqi , Niu Dongxiao , Liang Yi
Published: November 2020

Scientific and accurate core competitiveness evaluation of clean energy incubators is of great significance for improving their burgeoning development. Hence, this paper proposes a hybrid model on the basis of matter-element extension integrated with TOPSIS and KPCA-NSGA-II-LSSVM. The core competitiveness evaluation index system of clean energy incubators is established from five aspects, namely strategic positioning ability, seed selection ability, intelligent transplantation ability, growth catalytic ability and service value-added ability. Then matter-element extension and TOPSIS based on entropy weight is applied to index weighting and comprehensive evaluation. For the purpose of feature dimension reduction, kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is used to extract momentous information among variables as the input. The evaluation results can be obtained by least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) optimized by NSGA-II. The experiment study validates the precision and applicability of this novel approach, which is conducive to comprehensive evaluation of the core competitiveness for clean energy incubators and decision-making for more reasonable operation.
Numerical Investigation on Forced Hybrid Nanofluid Flow and Heat Transfer Inside a Three-Dimensional Annulus Equipped with Hot and Cold Rods: Using Symmetry Simulation
Authors: Shahsavar Goldanlou Aysan , Badri Mohammad , Heidarshenas Behzad , Hussein Ahmed Kadhim , Rostami Sara , Safdari Shadloo Mostafa
Published: November 2020

A 3D computational fluid dynamics method is used in the current study to investigate the hybrid nanofluid (HNF) flow and heat transfer in an annulus with hot and cold rods. The chief goal of the current study is to examine the influences of dissimilar Reynolds numbers, emissivity coefficients, and dissimilar volume fractions of nanoparticles on hydraulic and thermal characteristics of the studied annulus. In this way, the geometry is modeled using a symmetry scheme. The heat transfer fluid is a water, ethylene–glycol, or water/ethylene–glycol mixture-based Cu-Al2O3 HNF, which is a Newtonian NF. According to the findings for the model at Re = 3000 and ϕ1 = 0.05, all studied cases with different base fluids have similar behavior. ϕ1 and ϕ2 are the volume concentration of Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles, respectively. For all studied cases, the total average Nusselt number (Nuave) reduces firstly by an increment of the volume concentrations of Cu nanoparticles until ϕ2 = 0.01 or 0.02 and then, the total Nuave rises by an increment of the volume concentrations of Cu nanoparticles. Additionally, for the case with water as the base fluid, the total Nuave at ϕ2 = 0.05 is higher than the values at ϕ2 = 0.00. On the other hand, for the other cases, the total Nuave at ϕ2 = 0.05 is lower than the values at ϕ2 = 0.00. For all studied cases, the case with water as the base fluid has the maximum Nuave. Plus, for the model at Re = 4000 and ϕ1 = 0.05, all studied cases with different base fluids have similar behavior. For all studied cases, the total Nuave reduces firstly by an increment of the volume concentrations of Cu nanoparticles until ϕ2 = 0.01 and then, the total Nuave rises by an increment of the volume concentrations of Cu nanoparticles. The Nuave augments are found by an increment of Reynolds numbers. Higher emissivity values should lead to higher radiation heat transfer, but the portion of radiative heat transfer in the studied annulus is low and therefore, has no observable increment in HNF flow and heat transfer.
Pauli Crystals–Interplay of Symmetries
Authors: Gajda Mariusz , Mostowski Jan , Pylak Maciej , Sowiński Tomasz , Załuska-Kotur Magdalena
Published: November 2020

Recently observed Pauli crystals are structures formed by trapped ultracold atoms with the Fermi statistics. Interactions between these atoms are switched off, so their relative positions are determined by joined action of the trapping potential and the Pauli exclusion principle. Numerical modeling is used in this paper to find the Pauli crystals in a two-dimensional isotropic harmonic trap, three-dimensional harmonic trap, and a two-dimensional square well trap. The Pauli crystals do not have the symmetry of the trap—the symmetry is broken by the measurement of positions and, in many cases, by the quantum state of atoms in the trap. Furthermore, the Pauli crystals are compared with the Coulomb crystals formed by electrically charged trapped particles. The structure of the Pauli crystals differs from that of the Coulomb crystals, this provides evidence that the exclusion principle cannot be replaced by a two-body repulsive interaction but rather has to be considered to be a specifically quantum mechanism leading to many-particle correlations.
A New Sum of Squares Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Control Chart Using Auxiliary Information
Authors: Chen Jen-Hsiang , Lu Shin-Li
Published: November 2020

The concept of control charts is based on mathematics and statistics to process forecast; which applications are widely used in industrial management. The sum of squares exponentially weighted moving average (SSEWMA) chart is a well-known tool for effectively monitoring both the increase and decrease in the process mean and/or variability. In this paper, we propose a novel SSEWMA chart using auxiliary information, called the AIB-SSEWMA chart, for jointly monitoring the process mean and/or variability. With our proposed chart, the attempt is to enhance the performance of the classical SSEWMA chart. Numerical simulation studies indicate that the AIB-SSEWMA chart has better detection ability than the existing SSEWMA and its competitive maximum EWMA based on auxiliary information (AIB-MaxEWMA) charts in view of average run lengths (ARLs). An illustrated example is used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed AIB-SSEWMA chart in detecting small process shifts.
Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Apis and Non-Apis Bees
Authors: Devillers James , Devillers Hugo
Published: November 2020

Pyriproxyfen is a juvenile hormone mimic used extensively worldwide to fight pests in agriculture and horticulture. It also has numerous applications as larvicide in vector control. The molecule disrupts metamorphosis and adult emergence in the target insects. The same types of adverse effects are expected on non-target insects. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the existing information on the toxicity of pyriproxyfen on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and non-Apis bees (bumble bees, solitary bees, and stingless bees). The goal was also to identify the gaps necessary to fill. Thus, whereas the acute and sublethal toxicity of pyriproxyfen against A. mellifera is well-documented, the information is almost lacking for the non-Apis bees. The direct and indirect routes of exposure of the non-Apis bees to pyriproxyfen also need to be identified and quantified. More generally, the impacts of pyriproxyfen on the reproductive success of the different bee species have to be evaluated as well as the potential adverse effects of its metabolites.
Surgical Treatment of Severe Bowel Obstruction as a Rare Complication Following Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Reikvam Håkon , Tvedt Tor , Johansen Silje , Aase Setran Hege , Havre Roald
Published: November 2020

Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease are common complications occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and contribute to a high degree of morbidity and mortality associated with allo-HSCT. Herein, we present a patient with severe intestinal GVHD complicated by recurring CMV enteritis, which overall resulted in severe terminal ileum stenosis. The patient underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection that significantly reduced symptoms and possibly prevented the development of fulminant ileus. Surgical treatment is rarely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal GVHD; however, the current patient history illustrates that patients with inadequate symptom control and severe inflammatory bowel stenosis can be successfully managed with surgery. We also review published case reports on surgical treatment for severe gastrointestinal GVHD.
Kinematics and Selection Rules for Light-by-Light Scattering in a Strong Magnetic Field
Authors: Shabad Anatoly
Published: November 2020

Selection rules that follow from parity and four-momentum conservation are listed for head-on light-by-light scattering in a strong magnetic field taking into account nontrivial dispersion laws of different photon eigen-modes. The wave-length shifts occur for certain transitions between photon eigen-modes.
Viral Infections in Burn Patients: A State-Of-The-Art Review
Authors: Baj Jacek , Korona-Głowniak Izabela , Buszewicz Grzegorz , Forma Alicja , Sitarz Monika , Teresiński Grzegorz
Published: November 2020

Infections that are triggered by the accompanying immunosuppression in patients with burn wounds are very common regardless of age. Among burn patients, the most frequently diagnosed infections include the bacterial ones primarily caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Klebsiella pneumonia, as well as fungal infections with the etiology of Candida spp. or Aspergillus spp. Besides, burn wounds are highly susceptible to viral infections mainly due to the impaired immune responses and defective functions of the immune cells within the wound microenvironment. The most prevalent viruses that invade burn wounds include herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human papilloma virus (HPV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Likewise, less prevalent infections such as those caused by the orf virus or Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) might also occur in immunosuppressed burn patients. Viral infections result in increased morbidity and mortality rates in severely burned patients. Additionally, a positive correlation between the hospitalization duration and the severity of the viral infection has been demonstrated. Viral infections trigger the occurrence of various complications, ranging from mild symptoms to even fatal incidents. Accurate detection of viral infection is of great clinical importance because of the possibility for a quicker introduction of proper treatment therapy and shortening of hospitalization time. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature and summarize the findings regarding the most common viral infections in immunosuppressed burn patients.
Anthropogenic Activity Effects on Canals Morphology, Case Study: Nile Delta, Egypt
Authors: Abd-Elaziz Sherien , Zeleňáková Martina , Mésároš Peter , Purcz Pavol , Abd-Elhamid Hany F.
Published: November 2020

Waterways are usually contaminated with wastes from industrial, domestic or irrigation sectors. Organizations in charge have adopted solutions to eliminate this problem; however, the adopted solutions contribute indirectly to modifying canal morphology during maintenance. These are examples of anthropogenic activity, as well as randomly implemented dredging, which expand the canal cross-sections. Egypt is a country which depends on surface irrigation through a huge network of canals. The majority of canals in Egypt are subject to anthropogenic activity which affects their efficiency. This study aims to assess the impact of conjugated instances of anthropogenic activity and dredging on canal morphology and capacity. Five canals were selected in the current study in the Nile Delta, Egypt. These canals are highly affected by two associated factors: anthropogenic activity by users and dredging by the government. The study also aims to determine the effects of a newly adopted policy for saving surface water through restoration of the canals’ originally designed cross-sections. The results showed a clear change in canal morphology, which has increased the volume of water in the affected canals. In some cases, the volume of water has increased by 59%, which could have negative consequences for Egypt’s water resources. Sustainable management of water resources in Egypt requires saving each water droplet, and canal rehabilitation is expected to save about 6.56 million m3/year by the year 2022.
Assignment of Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata to Its Origin through Scale Shape and Microchemistry Composition: Management Implications for Aquaculture Escapees
Authors: Šegvić-Bubić Tanja , Talijančić Igor , Vulić Lena , Šegvić Branimir , Žužul Iva , Radonić Ivana , Grubišić Leon
Published: November 2020

This study tests the suitability of the gilthead seabream scales as a proxy for origin selection in wild and anthropogenically pressured environments. Scale morphology and microchemistry were used to discriminate the habitat selection of two wild, farmed and wild farm-associated populations where landmark and outline-based scale morphometrics, trace-element chemistry and scale microstructure characteristics were analysed. The morphometric techniques successfully differentiated between the farmed and wild origin scale phenotypes. Reduced discrimination sensitivity between the wild and wild farm-associated origin was, however, reported. The discrimination based on microchemistry (B, Ba, Mn, K, Sr and Zn) classified the scales with high accuracy according to their origin (wild vs. farmed vs. wild farm-associated) and sampling locations, thus proving itself as a powerful tool in provenance study of gilthead seabream. Disparity in scale microstructure characteristics accounted for radii, circuli and inter-circulus spacing, hence unveiling the differences in growth and environmental conditions between the wild and farmed fish. In brief, scale shape was found to be a potent exploration tool for farmed fish identification, whereas scale microchemistry yielded a good resolution in identifying gilthead seabream membership among different habitats. Considering the importance of this species in aquaculture and fisheries throughout the Mediterranean, more research is needed to assess the usefulness of scales as nonlethal biogeochemical tags.
Perspectives on Micro(Nano)Plastics in the Marine Environment: Biological and Societal Considerations
Authors: Soares Joana , Miguel Isabel , Venâncio Cátia , Lopes Isabel , Oliveira Miguel
Published: November 2020

Marine litter is a global problem which has been negatively affecting the environment. Plastic materials are the most commonly found marine debris, with potential biological (not only for aquatic organisms but also for humans) as well as socio-economic impacts. Considering that it is an anthropogenic problem, society could play an important role to minimize it. Although a considerable amount of research has addressed the biological effects of plastics (micro(nano)plastics) on biota, few studies have addressed how scientific information is being transmitted to the public and the potential role of citizen environmental education. The current paper discusses known effects, researched topics and how scientific knowledge is currently being transmitted to the public.
The Role of Water Temperature Modelling in the Development of a Release Strategy for Cyprinid Herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) for Common Carp Control in Southeastern Australia
Authors: Joehnk Klaus D. , Graham Kerryne , Sengupta Ashmita , Chen Yun , Aryal Santosh K. , Merrin Linda , Durr Peter A.
Published: November 2020

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an invasive species in the rivers and waterways of southeastern Australia, and it has been implicated in the serious decline of many native fish species. Over the past 50 years, various control options have been explored, and to date, these have been ineffective or cost-prohibitive. Most recently, cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) has been proposed as a biocontrol agent because of its high specificity and mortality rate. However, the virus is known to be only effective in a permissive water temperature range of approximately 16–28 °C. To define when this occurs, we undertook a hydrological reconstruction of five diverse river catchments (>130,000 km2) of southeastern Australia over three decades. This confirmed, in the studied areas, that while water temperatures are permissive from spring through to autumn, the time of year that this starts and ends is highly variable, interannually, and with strong latitudinal and altitudinal gradients between and within catchments. The results show that the virus should be effective with respect to water temperature throughout the water temperature range that carp occur in most of southeastern Australia. However, detailed water temperature estimation would still be required to determine the exact week of the start of release in any given catchment. Referring to observations in wild carp populations, we point out the limitation of developing a “release strategy” based solely on water temperature modelling and the need to incorporate fish biology and ecology into this planning.
Deep Reinforcement Learning with Uncertain Data for Real-Time Stormwater System Control and Flood Mitigation
Authors: Saliba Sami M. , Bowes Benjamin D. , Adams Stephen , Beling Peter A. , Goodall Jonathan L.
Published: November 2020

Flooding in many areas is becoming more prevalent due to factors such as urbanization and climate change, requiring modernization of stormwater infrastructure. Retrofitting standard passive systems with controllable valves/pumps is promising, but requires real-time control (RTC). One method of automating RTC is reinforcement learning (RL), a general technique for sequential optimization and control in uncertain environments. The notion is that an RL algorithm can use inputs of real-time flood data and rainfall forecasts to learn a policy for controlling the stormwater infrastructure to minimize measures of flooding. In real-world conditions, rainfall forecasts and other state information are subject to noise and uncertainty. To account for these characteristics of the problem data, we implemented Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG), an RL algorithm that is distinguished by its capability to handle noise in the input data. DDPG implementations were trained and tested against a passive flood control policy. Three primary cases were studied: (i) perfect data, (ii) imperfect rainfall forecasts, and (iii) imperfect water level and forecast data. Rainfall episodes (100) that caused flooding in the passive system were selected from 10 years of observations in Norfolk, Virginia, USA; 85 randomly selected episodes were used for training and the remaining 15 unseen episodes served as test cases. Compared to the passive system, all RL implementations reduced flooding volume by 70.5% on average, and performed within a range of 5%. This suggests that DDPG is robust to noisy input data, which is essential knowledge to advance the real-world applicability of RL for stormwater RTC.
Strategies to reduce the use of low-value medical tests in primary care: a systematic review
Authors: Takada Toshihiko , Heus Pauline , van Doorn Sander , Naaktgeboren Christiana A , Weenink Jan-Willem , van Dulmen Simone A , Hooft Lotty
Published: November 2020

Background

It is recognised that medical tests are overused in primary care; however, it is unclear how best to reduce their use.

Aim

To identify which strategies are effective in reducing the use of low-value medical tests in primary care settings.

Design and setting

Systematic review.

Method

The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Rx for Change were searched (January 1990 to November 2019) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated strategies to reduce the use of low-value medical tests in primary care settings. Two reviewers selected eligible RCTs, extracted data, and assessed their risk of bias.

Results

Of the 16 RCTs included in the review, 11 reported a statistically significant reduction in the use of low-value medical tests. The median of the differences between the relative reductions in the intervention and control arms was 17% (interquartile range 12% to 24%). Strategies using reminders or audit/feedback showed larger reduction than those without these components (22% versus 14%, and 22% versus 13%, respectively) and patient-targeted strategies showed larger reductions than those not targeted at patients (51% versus 17%). Very few studies investigated the sustainability of the effect, adverse events, cost-effectiveness, or patient-reported outcomes related to reducing the use of low-value tests.

Conclusion

This review indicates that it is possible to reduce the use of low-value medical tests in primary care, especially by using multiple components including reminders, audit/feedback, and patient-targeted interventions. To implement these strategies widely in primary care settings, more research is needed not only to investigate their effectiveness, but also to examine adverse events, cost-effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes.
Implementing PROMs in routine clinical care: a qualitative exploration of GP perspectives
Authors: Litchfield Ian , Greenfield Sheila , Turner Grace M , Finnikin Samuel , Calvert Melanie J
Published: November 2020

Background

The recently announced long-term plan for the NHS is based on a model of person-centred care, which relies on the sustained engagement of patients, shared decision making, and capability for self-management. For a primary care service under increasing pressure from an ageing and chronically ill population, Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) appear capable of supporting many of the requirements for person-centred care, yet little is known of the circumstances of their current implementation or how their use might be optimised.

Aim

To begin the conversation about how successfully PROMs have been integrated into primary care and how their use might be supported.

Design & setting

A qualitative investigation of the perspectives of GPs exploring the use of PROMs as part of routine clinical care in England.

Method

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with GPs from across England. The data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Results

A total of 25 interviews were conducted and GPs described the potential benefit of PROMs in a range of circumstances, but also voiced concerns about their reliability and their potential to constrain consultations. Their flexibility meant they had the potential to be incorporated into existing care processes but only with the requisite logistical support.

Conclusion

Areas that need to be addressed include the creation of a compelling body of evidence of the benefit of PROMs, appropriate training for staff and patients, and a coherent implementation strategy from policymakers and funding bodies.
Evaluation of winter pressures on general practice in Manchester: a cross-sectional analysis of nine GP practices
Authors: Millwood Sinead , Tomlinson Peter , Hopwood Jon
Published: November 2020

Background

The Nuffield Trust’s report on NHS winter pressures highlights a lack of data for primary care, with a consequential focus on secondary care. An increase in data is required on the scale of the winter demand on primary care, so the need for investment in this area can be clearly seen.

Aim

To quantify seasonal variation in workload in primary and secondary care.

Design & setting

Analysis of data for nine GP practices in Greater Manchester with a patient population of 75 421.

Method

Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed for winter and summer periods in 2018–2019. Data were obtained from the North of England Clinical Support Unit (NECSU) via the Rapid Actionable Insight Driving Reform (RAIDR) toolkit, and EMIS Enterprise clinical audit tools.

Results

Accident and emergency (A&E) attendances increased by 4% (P = 0.035) during winter with no difference in the number of hospital admissions (P = 0.668). The number of problems (defined as separate diagnoses or causes for a GP consultation, for example, chest infection or medication request) seen in general practice increased by 61% (P<0.001) in winter compared to summer, as did the number of GP consultations, which was also 61% (P<0.001). Respiratory diagnoses saw the greatest seasonal variation accounting for 10% in winter compared with 4% in summer (P<0.001). Self-referral accounted for 66% of all A&E attendance and increased by 16% in winter. GP referral accounted for 7% in winter and 6% in summer (P = 0.002).

Conclusion

General practice observed a greater seasonal increase in presenting patients compared with secondary care. Any winter pressures strategy should target both respiratory illness and patients who self-refer to A&E. Transferring 50% of self-referrals in Manchester to GP appointments would achieve a £2.3 million cost saving. Increasing provision in primary care requires funding and increased appointments, but more importantly improved patient opportunities to easily access timely advice and assistance.