bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Conceptual Framework of the Sustainability Challenges Experienced during the Life Cycle of Biobased Packaging Products
Authors: Turkcu Deniz , Tura Nina , Ojanen Ville
Published: August 2022

Biobased packaging products are framed as products that have environmental value. They are promoted by many institutions and companies as a way of addressing climate change challenges by decreasing carbon footprints and providing alternatives for the fossil fuel-based economy. The use of biobased packaging products has started to become widespread, and they are increasingly commercially available. Despite the acknowledged benefits of such products, there are several challenges associated with the use of them. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of biobased packaging products and presents a conceptual framework of the sustainability challenges experienced over their life cycles. The framework categorizes the identified challenges by their environmental, social, and economic impact, as well in terms of the different life cycle stages, from beginning of life to middle of life to end of life. In addition to increasing the understanding of the challenges associated with biobased packaging materials and their use, the proposed framework benefits the analysis of these challenges in different organizations, the identification of potential greenwashing, and the development of mitigation strategies to overcome the challenges. Furthermore, this study reveals gaps in the literature to be considered in future research into biobased packaging products.
Capacity Evaluation Method of Ship Terminal Area Based on Network Maximum Flow
Authors: Zhong Gang , Fei Yuhan , Yi Jia , Feng Dikun , Feng Ouge
Published: August 2022

With the development of modern military ship equipment, the airspace operation environment of shipboard aircraft is becoming increasingly complex. The objective and accurate evaluation of ship-terminal capacity is the basis of air traffic flow management for shipboard aircraft, and it is also the premise of improving the efficiency of airspace resources. First of all, this paper divides the airspace and ship terminal areas and realizes the route network planning for the arrival and departure of shipboard aircraft. Following this, according to the airspace characteristics of the ship terminal area and the operation process of the shipboard aircraft, an arrival-and-departure network flow model for shipboard aircraft is established by using capacity-limitation and flow-conservation conditions. Finally, simulated annealing (SA) is used to solve the maximum flow in the arrival-and-departure network flow model, and the capacity evaluation results of the ship terminal area are obtained. The results show that when the number of gates is ng ≥ 7, the bottleneck in the ship terminal area’s operation capacity is the deck runway. When 3 ≤ ng < 7, imbalanced take-off and landing tasks lead to a waste of runway resources, and when ng < 3, the number of gates becomes the bottleneck which limits the capacity. With the number of gates being reduced from seven to three, the capacity is reduced from twenty sorties per hour to six sorties per hour. The model and core idea proposed in this paper can not only quickly evaluate the capacity of the terminal area of ships but also provide a solid foundation for the development of future fleet groups and the full use of maritime airspace.
Can Emissions Trading System Aid Industrial Structure Upgrading?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on 249 Prefecture-Level Cities in China
Authors: Li Chunxiao , Xu Jingjing , Zhang Luxiaohe
Published: August 2022

Emissions trading system (ETS) is a market-based policy tool that essentially provides economic compensation for corporate environmental measures. The Chinese government implemented pilot emissions trading in 2007. In order to evaluate the effect of the policy, we conducted a quasi-natural experiment to collect the data of 249 prefecture-level cities in China from 2001 to 2020 and applied the difference-in-difference method to explore the impact of ETS on regional industrial structure. The results show that the implementation of ETS can promote the upgrading of regional industrial structure but can hinder the rationalization of the upgrading. The results of regional heterogeneity regression suggest that the effects of ETS pilots on industrial structure upgrading in three regions of China are significantly different, with the strongest one being the western region, followed by the central and eastern regions. Finally, we put forward some policy proposals in terms of technological innovations, implementation of ETS in different regions and ETS improvement.
The Response Mechanisms of Topographic Changes in Small Loess Watershed under Rainstorm
Authors: Yao Zhihong , Yang Jianchen , Zhang Pan , Zhang Yu , Liu Liwei , Zhao Dongbao
Published: August 2022

This paper uses a small watershed entity model to simulate the rainfall experiment and combines traditional water and sediment observation and terrain three-dimensional laser scanning technology to reveal the characteristics of erosion and sediment yield in small watersheds and the law of channel sediment transport and quantitatively describe the response mechanism of terrain changes in small watersheds to the layout of silt dams and rainfall intensity. Rainfall intensity with three types (30, 60, and 120 mm/h) under three soil conservation measure types (none dam, single dam, and double dams) was simulated, and a small watershed entity model was adopted. The changes in topography were recorded by a Focus 3D laser scanner (Faro) for each experiment. The main results were as follows: (1) Soil erosion under the effect of rainfall occurs on the slope of the watershed and in the gully, while deposition usually occurs on the gentle slope of the gully or in low-lying areas. (2) When the runoff volume is small, deposition occurs easily in the gully, and vice versa. (3) The increase in the number of silt dams deployed has a small effect on the rate of runoff yield on the small watershed, but the limitation on the rate of sand production is especially obvious. Silt dam measures have a good flood and sand reduction effect on small- and medium-intensity rain, but for high-intensity rain, their runoff and sand reduction effect will be reduced, so rainfall is the dominant factor in the formation of soil erosion. Our results provide the scientific basis for identifying key parts of soil erosion and for the rational arrangement of soil and water conservation measures in loess areas.
Territorial Mining Scenarios for Sustainable Land-Planning: A Risk-Based Comparison on the Example of Gold Mining in French Guiana
Authors: Scammacca Ottone , Mehdizadeh Rasool , Gunzburger Yann
Published: August 2022

Mining can be the source and target of opportunities and threats of different natures exceeding the mine site perimeter, affecting the socio-ecological system and leading to social conflicts and entrepreneurial risks for mining companies. Hence, a mining project is a matter of land planning rather than a simple industrial object. Nevertheless, current mandatory risk and impact assessment methods are often performed on one project at a time, neglecting the coexistence of different mining activities and the socio-ecological vulnerability of the territory where mining takes place. This paper proposes an original risk-based approach to develop and compare different territorial mining scenarios (TMSs) to support land-planning strategies in mining territories, tested on the French Guiana gold mining sector. Five TMSs combining different mine types (e.g., legal artisanal, medium, large-scale mining, illegal mining) were developed for the same total amount of gold production at the watershed level. For each TMS, both accidental and ordinary risk scenarios were assessed through a GIS-based approach considering watershed socio-ecological vulnerability. Risks were finally weighted according to different stakeholders’ perception, and the TMSs were compared based on their global risk scores. Despite the multiple challenges highlighted, this paper highlights the feasibility of a methodological framework to support mining planning at the territory level.
Circular Economy of Construction and Demolition Wood Waste—A Theoretical Framework Approach
Authors: Jahan Israt , Zhang Guomin , Bhuiyan Muhammed , Navaratnam Satheeskumar
Published: August 2022

A considerable amount of construction and demolition wood waste (CDWW) is generated, mostly landfilled, contributing to severe environmental effects. The management of CDWW is a significant challenge as it is a hazardous contaminated waste. In this context, the circular economy (CE) concept is a solution as it comprises waste minimisation and efficient recovery of resources. Although much research is found in the literature on CDWW end-of-life management, research on CE implementation considering every life cycle stage is still scarce. In this review, we endeavour to integrate CE in CDWW to identify the waste management strategies involved in the life cycle phases. The databases were searched from 2009 to 2020 and were analysed using CiteSpace version 5.7.R1 software. Forty-nine articles were identified, and the six life cycle stages were explored. The analysis shows that CE for wood waste is essential and has greater growth potential. While the LCA studies are limited to environmental viewpoints, combining economic and social perspectives is necessary for sustainable development. Overall, based on the research findings, a theoretical framework was proposed. This study, as a consequence, promotes the application of recycled wood into multiple valuable products and thus encourages waste management to boost CE and sustainability.
From ESG to DESG: The Impact of DESG (Digital Environmental, Social, and Governance) on Customer Attitudes and Brand Equity
Authors: Puriwat Wilert , Tripopsakul Suchart
Published: August 2022

Due to the advances in digital technology, the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concept has been transformed into the digital environmental, social, and corporate governance (DESG) model, which can be realized as a potentially vital strategic movement for sustainable business practices in the contemporary digital era. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical research evidence on how firms’ DESG practices impact customers’ attitudes and brand equity. The purposes of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of DESG initiatives on customers’ attitudes (CA) and brand equity (BE), and (2) to explore how those impacts vary based on the diversity of socio-economic attributes. An online survey was conducted, and the data were analyzed by a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Based on 212 samples of Thai citizens’ experiences with firms’ DESG initiatives, the results revealed that DESG has a significant positive direct effect on CA. The mediation analysis revealed that CA fully mediated the relationship between DESG and BE. The results of a second-order confirmatory factor analysis of the DESG construct found that the digital social dimension (b = 0.775) played the strongest role in explaining DESG, followed by the digital environmental (b = 0.768) and digital governance (b = 0.718) dimensions. The moderation analysis found that the impact of DESG on CA was stronger for younger groups than older populations. Additionally, the group with a higher formal education level seemed to exhibit higher levels of CA than those with a lower level. Our study is one of a few endeavors to clarify the effects of DESG from the customer’s side, and suggests several implications and recommendations.
The Origin of the Crisis in the Spatial Development of Contemporary Cities: A Review of Selected Historical and Modern Mechanisms
Authors: Rybak-Niedziółka Kinga
Published: August 2022

The presented research is a review containing an original synthesis on some of the causes of urban development problems. The article covers historical and contemporary aspects of selected phenomena since the end of the 19th and 20th centuries in cities with patterns of European and American structures. The research background focuses on issues related to morphology, function, and form. The aim of the research is to present the results of the review, mostly canonical publications surrounding the history of architecture and town planning, grouping them according to the observed regularities. The research thesis assumes that the observed trends that are present in today’s discussion on urban development stem from some phenomena that appear in both selected urban patterns. The research methods are based on the literature query on the development of cities and the issues raised in the articles. The results are combined with a discussion and focus on the author’s synthesis of the observed trends, and they are divided into historical and contemporary groups describing selected causes of the current crisis.
The Potential of Improving Construction Transport Time Efficiency—A Freight Forwarder Perspective
Authors: Naz Farah , Fredriksson Anna , Ivert Linea Kjellsdotter
Published: August 2022

Construction transport, in general, is not carried out efficiently, resulting in unnecessary costs and CO2 emissions. Although it has been found that there is a great potential to improve construction transport, little research has been conducted within this field. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the construction transport time efficiency by identifying non-value-adding activities and their causes from a freight forwarder perspective. A single case study was conducted and two flows, a goods delivery flow and a waste material flow, were mapped and analyzed with the help of value stream mapping (VSM). We ran two workshops to discuss the findings of the VSM. The results from this study show that there is large potential for improving construction transport time efficiency as over 40% of the time was used for non-value-adding activities. Although transport suffers from similar non-value-adding activities undertaken in other industries, this study identifies the transport activities with respect to construction transport. The findings further highlight areas of potential improvements, such as improved information sharing, planning, and coordination among all stakeholders. This knowledge can be used by the freight forwarder and the main contractor to improve construction transport time efficiency. The limitation of this study is that it is based on a single case of a freight forwarder. It does not provide a full picture of construction transport efficiency but rather a starting point for future studies.
The Influence of Audit-Committee Characteristics on the Association between Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Quality
Authors: Song Bomi
Published: August 2022

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are affected by the national system, and the social and cultural environment to which a firm belongs. This study investigates whether the characteristics of an audit committee (AC) such as independence, expertise, activity, or power influence the relation between CSR and earnings quality for Korean firms. Multivariate regression analysis is used to identify the effect of AC characteristics on the relation between CSR and the earnings management of firms with CSR excellence, as well as whether their contribution enhances the quality of earnings of firms that actively engage in CSR practices. The results show that when ACs are active, earnings management using the discretionary accruals of firms that participate in CSR activities with an ethical motive is more tightly constrained. ACs are more effective when they have independent directors, accounting expertise, active participation, and relative power. The findings suggest that ACs have a positive effect on the financial reporting quality of firms with high levels of CSR. Furthermore, active ACs are crucial for improving the quality of earnings, which is further enhanced when ACs have a variety of superior characteristics.
Sustainable Development of Eco-Cities: A Bibliometric Review
Authors: Tang Weiping , Niu Zhengjia , Wei Zili , Zhu Liandong
Published: August 2022

With the increase in the urban population, nearly 70% of future people will live in cities, which will not only bring massive consumption of resources but also cause irreversible damage to the urban ecological environment. Therefore, the study of sustainable development of eco-cities (SDEC) has received wide attention from academics. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of journal articles on sustainable development of ecological cities using the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1990 to 2021 is conducted to analyze the current status, hotspots, and research trends in this field. The results of this study reveal the evolution of the number of publications, major research disciplines, authors, countries, and institutions in this research field over the last three decades. Regarding research hotspots, SDEC research has focused on cleaner production, sustainable buildings, municipal solid waste management, energy policy, and carbon emissions in China. With the emergence of climate change, carbon emission limitation, and sustainable development requirements, scholars’ research targeting performance analysis and whole life cycle assessment of urban ecosystems will gradually become a mainstream trend. In the future, technological innovation still needs to be strengthened, and we should enhance the research on stakeholders in ecological city construction and study the impact of urban ecological transformation on social, economic, and environmental changes.
Energy Efficiency Engagement Training in SMEs: A Case Study in the Automotive Sector
Authors: Millán Gema , Rqiq Yassine , Llano Erudino , Ballestín Víctor , Neusel Lisa , Durand Antoine , Tröger Josephine , Lamberti Fabrizio , De Lorenzis Federico , Repetto Maurizio
Published: August 2022

Energy efficiency requirements in Europe are set by the Energy Efficiency Directive, considering energy audits as a systematic procedure to determine the savings in energy costs. These kinds of tools provide useful information for companies to identify opportunities for the improvement of their energy performance. However, the regulation is only applied for non-SMEs in Europe, which make up only 0.2% of the total number of European companies. Compared in terms of the value added or the number of employees, these companies are still at a lower percentage than small and medium enterprises. The wide versatility of small companies, however, makes it difficult to determine a regulation that promotes the objective of the Directive in a uniform way. For this reason, one aspect that is being worked on with small companies is raising awareness and training in energy aspects, encouraging them to carry out activities to improve their energy performance based on their own initiative. In this regard, within the framework of an H2020 research project based on the automotive sector, the E2DRIVER project, a collaborative–cooperative training methodology has been designed to motivate and empower the key actors within a company. This paper describes the methodology and its implementation in different companies in European countries, providing some representative results.
The Educational Use of WhatsApp
Authors: Suárez-Lantarón Belén , Deocano-Ruíz Yolanda , García-Perales Nuria , Castillo-Reche Irina Sherezade
Published: August 2022

The mobile phone has become the preferred means of communication, especially among young people, and there are many teachers who are committed to introducing it as a resource in their classrooms. Therefore, the objective of this work was to describe the educational uses of WhatsApp. The methodology was a systematic review of published work on the subject, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and similar phases in the process. The sample was made up of 192 papers, which shows the large amount of research that has gone into the subject. WhatsApp’s educational use comes from the creation of groups—students alone or including the teacher. It is applied in both formal and informal education in all educational stages and in numerous subjects. It is also related to improvements in active learning, decision-making, and motivation, in addition to skills related to efficiency, planning, and time organization. Although the application was not designed for the educational environment, its advantages have shown it to be an adequate educational and support resource in teaching and learning at all educational stages.
Alternative Soil Substrates Addition Cause Deterioration in Reclaimed Soil Macropore Networks at Eastern Mining Area, China
Authors: Min Xiangyu , Dong Zhoubin , Bo Huaizhi , Zheng Guodong , Li Qian , Chang Xiaoyan , Li Xinju
Published: August 2022

Minesoil profiles are reconstructed by alternative soil substrates worldwide. However, some substrates lack appropriate soil characteristics and negatively affect the minesoil functions, these negative impacts are largely caused by the deterioration of macropore structure. Nevertheless, the differences of typical substrate characteristics and their influence on the deterioration are unclear. Thus, we present a case study to analyze macropore number, size, connectivity, distribution, and soil permeability of RMSs with three substrates (MSW, YRS and RM), respectively, using industrial X-ray computed tomography. The results indicated that (1) filling of substrates made adverse variations for minesoils in macropore number, Ma, ED, τ and size distribution, and the RMS filled with RM had biggest difference in macropore parameters with NCS, followed by the MSW and YRS. (2) The variations of RMSs in macropore parameters were found to be dominated by a synthetic action of substrate texture, SBD and SOM, where SOM showed significant positive correlations with most macropore parameters other than IM, and clay content and SBD showed significant negative correlations. (3) The macropore network can be linked to SP, among various macropore parameters, Ma, AM, and Ma with ED > 600 μm had significant positive correlations with it. It is suggested that the filling substrates need to be reformed from improving the substrate texture, bulk density, and organic matter content.
An HRA Model Based on the Cognitive Stages for a Human-Computer Interface in a Spacecraft Cabin
Authors: Jiang Jianjun , Xiao Yi , Zhan Wenhao , Jiang Changhua , Yang Dan , Xi Liaozi , Zhang Li , Hu Hong , Zou Yanhua , Liu Jianqiao
Published: August 2022

HRA (Human Reliability Analysis) can be seen as a symmetric problem, as it is mainly reflected in two aspects of failure and success. Human error is the most common accident in industrial systems; furthermore, an astronaut is in a very complex environment, and coupled with weightlessness, it is easy to cause human error. For this reason, this paper took the human-computer interface in a spacecraft cabin as the background, and based on the literature, questionnaire inquiry, and the division of three cognitive processes during the interaction between the astronaut and human, a computer interface was determined. This paper proposed a human reliability influencing factors system of different cognitive phases for the human-computer interface in a spacecraft cabin, a task analysis tree with a symmetry of success and failure, an HRA model with symmetry of failure and success based on cognitive stages, and Game Theory and Fuzzy Center of Gravity Method, and obtained influencing factors weights of three cognitive stages. By simulating an experiment, the trend of error probability curves shows the rationality of the human reliability method. Finally, an example was illustrated, and the analysis process of the example demonstrates that an HRA model with symmetry provides a feasible analysis process and method for the cognitive reliability of the spacecraft cabin human-computer interface interaction. The research achievements in this paper can provide theoretical guidance to improve human error root reason analysis, an analysis basis of how to improve influencing factors level, and provide a HRA method based on cognitive stages for the human-computer interaction process in a spacecraft cabin.
Heterosigma akashiwo in Patagonian Fjords: Genetics, Growth, Pigment Signature and Role of PUFA and ROS in Ichthyotoxicity
Authors: Flores-Leñero Ana , Vargas-Torres Valentina , Paredes-Mella Javier , Norambuena Luis , Fuenzalida Gonzalo , Lee-Chang Kim , Mardones Jorge I.
Published: August 2022

Heterosigma akashiwo is the only raphidophyte described for Chilean waters. A recent 2021 fish-killing bloom event of this raphidophyte ignited scientific research, but the ichthyotoxic mechanism and environmental conditions that promote its growth are still unclear. This is the first study confirming the occurrence of H. akashiwo in Chilean waters on the basis of the region D1/D2 of the 28S ribosomal gene. The pigment signature of the CREAN_HA03 strain revealed chlorophyll-a, fucoxanthin, and violaxanthin as the most abundant pigments, but profiles were variable depending on culture and field conditions. A factorial temperature–salinity growth experiment showed a maximal growth rate of 0.48 d−1 at 17 °C and 35 in salinity, but reached a maximal cell abundance of ~50,000 cells mL−1 at 12 °C and 25 in salinity. The fatty acid profile included high levels of saturated (16:0) and polyunsaturated (18:4 ω3; 20:5 ω3) fatty acids, but superoxide production in this strain was low (~0.3 pmol O2– cell−1 h−1). The RTgill-W1 bioassay showed that the H. akashiwo strain was cytotoxic only at high cell concentrations (>47,000 cells mL−1) and after cell rupture. In conclusion, salmon mortality during H. akashiwo bloom events in Patagonian fjords is likely explained by the high production of long-chain PUFAs at high cell densities, but only in the presence of high ROS production.
Recent Technological Advances and Strategies for Arbovirus Vector Control
Authors: Koerich Leonardo B. , Sant’Anna Mauricio R. V. , Huits Ralph
Published: August 2022

In recent decades, we have seen the emergence and re-emergence of many arthropod-transmitted viruses (arboviruses) that pose important public health challenges worldwide [...]
Epidemiological Study of Multiple Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Alphaviruses in Horses in Queensland, Australia (2018–2020)
Authors: Yuen Ka Y. , Henning Joerg , Eng Melodie D. , Wang Althea S. W. , Lenz Martin F. , Caldwell Karen M. , Coyle Mitchell P. , Bielefeldt-Ohmann Helle
Published: August 2022

The increased frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change has complicated the epidemiological pattern of mosquito-borne diseases, as the host and vector dynamics shift to adapt. However, little is known about the seroprevalence of common mosquito-borne virus infections in horses in Australia. In this study, serological surveys for multiple alphaviruses were performed on samples taken from 622 horses across two horse populations (racehorses and horses residing on The University of Queensland (UQ) campus) in Queensland using the gold standard virus neutralization test. As is the case in humans across Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common arbovirus infection in horses, followed by Barmah Forest virus, with an overall apparent seroprevalence of 48.6% (302/622) and 4.3% (26/607), respectively. Horses aged over 6 years old (OR 1.86, p = 0.01) and residing at UQ (OR 5.8, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with seroconversion to RRV. A significant medium correlation (r = 0.626, p < 0.001) between RRV and Getah virus (GETV) neutralizing antibody titers was identified. Collectively, these results advance the current epidemiological knowledge of arbovirus exposure in a susceptible host in Australia. The potential use of horses as sentinels for arbovirus monitoring should be considered. Furthermore, since GETV is currently exotic to Australia, antibodies cross-reactivity between RRV and GETV should be further investigated for cross-protection, which may also help to inform vaccine developments.
Effective Approaches to Study the Genetic Variability of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Kotov Ivan , Saenko Valeriia , Borisova Nadezhda , Kolesnikov Anton , Kondrasheva Larisa , Tivanova Elena , Khafizov Kamil , Akimkin Vasily
Published: August 2022

Significant efforts are being made in many countries around the world to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing diagnostic reagent kits, identifying infected people, determining treatment methods, and finally producing effective vaccines. However, novel coronavirus variants may potentially reduce the effectiveness of all these efforts, demonstrating increased transmissibility and abated response to therapy or vaccines, as well as the possibility of false negative results in diagnostic procedures based on nucleic acid amplification methods. Since the end of 2020, several variants of concern have been discovered around the world. When information about a new, potentially more dangerous strain of pathogen appears, it is crucial to determine the moment of its emergence in a region. Eventually, that permits taking timely measures and minimizing new risks associated with the spreading of the virus. Therefore, numerous nations have made tremendous efforts to identify and trace these virus variants, which necessitates serious technological processes to sequence a large number of viral genomes. Here, we report on our experience as one of the primary laboratories involved in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in Russia. We discuss the various approaches used, describe effective protocols, and outline a potential technique combining several methods to increase the ability to trace genetic variants while minimizing financial and labor costs.
The Crucial Importance of Air Valve Characterization to the Transient Response of Pipeline Systems
Authors: Tasca Elias , Karney Bryan , Fuertes-Miquel Vicente S. , Dalfré Filho José Gilberto , Luvizotto Edevar
Published: August 2022

Air valves are often crucial components in an air management strategy for pressurized water conveyance systems. However, the reliability of characteristic curves of air valves found in product catalogs is quite variable. This paper evaluates the consistency of a selection of product curves to basic air flow principles. Several recurring issues are identified: catalogs that present identical curves for admission and expulsion (they are, in fact, quite distinct); admission curves that are inconsistent with the isentropic inflow model; inflow (admission) curves actually consistent with the shape of the isentropic outflow model; limited validity curves that encompass only part of the subsonic flow regimen; and unclear or unstated specifications regarding the conditions under which the characterization tests were performed or their results displayed. To examine the significance of these representational issues related to air valve capacity on system behaviour, this paper uses a case study involving the simulated transient response arising from a pump trip at the upstream end of a rising water line having a distinct high point fitted with an air valve. It is found that employing inaccurate air valve characteristics in a transient simulation may potentially result in appreciable or even dangerous simulation errors.
Simultaneous Removal of Nitrate and Tetracycline by an Up-Flow Immobilized Biofilter
Authors: Xu Wenjie , Luo Minghan , Lu Xinyue , Ye Zhengfang , Jeong Taeseop
Published: August 2022

The removal of nitrate (NO3−-N) and antibiotics in aquaculture tail water is urgent and necessary. A lab-scale up-flow immobilized biofilter (I-BF) filled with polyurethane foam (PUF) carriers and a microbial consortium was developed for simultaneous removal of nitrate and tetracycline (TC). The denitrification and TC removal performance of the I-BF reactor was investigated under different TC concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 mg·L−1), carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio (2, 4, 5, 6) and hydraulic retention times (HRT) (4, 8, 12 h). Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and TC was achieved by the I-BF reactor. Low TC concentration (≤50 mg·L−1) had little effect on nitrogen removal. The denitrification performance of the I-BF reactor was inhibited at high TC load, which may be attributed to the damage of cell membranes and the inhibition of the intracellular denitrification enzymes’ activities. The optimal C/N ratio and HRT were 5 h and 8 h with almost complete denitrification and high TC removal efficiency (73.46%) at influent NO3−-N and TC concentrations of 100 mg·L−1 and 50 mg·L−1, respectively. The I-BF reactor proposed in this study has promising applications such as the treatment of piggery wastewater, aquaculture tail water and pharmaceutical wastewater co-contaminated with nitrate and antibiotics.
Removal of Chromium (VI) from the Steel Mill Effluents Using the Chemically Modified Leaves of Pteris vittata as Adsorbent
Authors: Khan Qaiser , Zahoor Muhammad , Salman Syed Muhammad , Wahab Muhammad , Talha Muhammad , Kamran Abdul Waheed
Published: August 2022

Chromium (Cr), a metal that is released in appreciable amounts from the steel industry into water bodies, is not only the main causative agent of lung cancer in human but also negatively affects the metabolic activities of plants. Keeping in view the hazardous effects of Cr(VI), the present study was aimed to eliminate it from industrial effluents of steel mills installed in Dargai District Malakand, Pakistan, using chemically modified Pteris vittata plant leaves as an adsorbent. The instrumental techniques such as FTIR, surface area analysis, SEM, TGA and EDX were used to evaluate surface functionality, morphology, thermal stability and elemental composition of the modified leaves. To identify the ideal conditions for the biosorption process, batch adsorption tests were carried out under varied conditions of pH, contact time, initial metal concentration, biosorbent dose, as well as temperature. Various models, such as those of Freundlich, Jovanovich, Temkin, Langmuir, and Harkins–Jura, were utilized to explain the isothermal experimental data. The high value of R2 (0.991) was exhibited by the Langmuir model. Pseudo-first-order, power function, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, and Natarajan–Khalaf models were employed to obtain an insight into kinetics of the process. The highest R2 value, close to unity was recorded with pseudo-second order. At pH = 2, the best elimination of Cr was observed with maximum uptake capacity qmax(66.6 mg/g) as calculated from the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic analysis, which was conducted at different temperatures, showed that the nature of this sorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. The modified leaves-based biosorbent could be used as an alternative adsorbent for effective Cr elimination from water, and its use could be extended to other heavy metals and organic pollutants as well, and further experimentation are needed in this regard.
A Review of Critical State Joint Estimation Methods of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Hou Junjian , Li Tong , Zhou Fang , Zhao Dengfeng , Zhong Yudong , Yao Lei , Zeng Li
Published: August 2022

Battery state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), and state of power (SOP) are decisive factors that influence the energy-management system (EMS) performance of electric vehicles. However, the accurate estimation of SOC, SOH, and SOP remains a challenge due to the high nonlinearity of the battery dynamic characteristics and the strong coupling among the states. In this paper, different methods of single-state and two-state joint estimation are classified and discussed, including SOC/SOH and SOC/SOP joint estimation methods, and their advantages and limitations are analyzed. On this basis, key issues of joint multi-state estimation are discussed, and suggestions for future work are made.
Modern trends in the treatment of otitis media in children and adults
Authors:   Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital named after S. P. Botkin, St. Petersburg, Ilyin P. A.
Published: August 2022

Otitis media, which is an inflammatory process in the middle ear cavity, is a fairly common disease. Its incidence is up to 30 % of all otolaryngological pathology. The main route of transmission is tubogenic, in which the pathogen migrates from the nasopharynx into the middle ear cavity through the pharyngeal pouch of the auditory tube. The main causative agents of acute otitis media are S. pneumoniae and nontypeable strains of H. influenzae, less often — M. catarrhalis. Otitis media of viral etiology occurs in no more than 6 % of cases. Most often, otitis media affects children, mostly under the age of 3 years. The course of the disease is characterized by a pronounced staging of the pathological process: the catarrhal stage is replaced by the purulent one, which turns into the reparative one during recovery. In adult patients, inflammation of the middle ear is relatively rare; the older age group is characterized by an atypical course without otorrhea and pain in the mastoid process. The main complications of otitis media include the spread of infection into the intracranial space, the occurrence of the facial nerve paresis, and the development of mastoiditis and sepsis. One of the main problems in the treatment of otitis media is the resistance of the microflora that caused it to β-lactam drugs.
Celiac disease in the practice of a family doctor
Authors:   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Skvortsov V. V. , Skvortsova E. M. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Matveev N. D. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University
Published: August 2022

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated genetically determined disease with a predominant lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by the development of specific changes in the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The prevalence of the disease is on average 1.4 % of the total population of the planet. Other autoimmune diseases are associated with celiac disease, including Hashimoto»s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, primary biliary cirrhosis, and Addison»s disease. In the clinical picture, there are no specific symptoms that could directly indicate the presence of celiac disease. The variety of forms of this disease also complicates the diagnosis. The leading diagnostic methods are serodiagnosis with the detection of specific antibodies to deaminated gliadin peptides, tissue transglutaminase, antiendomysial and antigliadin antibodies, as well as HLA typing and histological examination of biopsy material taken from the duodenal mucosa. The leading treatment method is the prescription of a gluten-free diet in combination with maintenance therapy drugs: vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, E, iron and magnesium compounds.
Nestor Maksimovich-Ambodik»s contribution to the art of healing
Authors:   FSBI National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Klimov V. A.
Published: August 2022

Nestor Maksimovich Maksimovich-Ambodik is considered one of the founders of obstetrics, it was he who came up with the idea of using obstetric forceps. Maksimovich-Ambodik was the first to prepare and publish the well-known treatise "The Art of Midwifery, or the Science of Women's Business". More than one generation of students studied according to his textbooks. It is noteworthy that he was the first to start teaching at a medical university in Russian; before that, all lectures were given in Latin. However, few people know that this scientist was also seriously involved in the issues of herbal medicine. In 1784, the scientist published the book "Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Healing, compiled by the personal physician of Her Imperial Majesty Catherine II in 1784, professor N. Ambodik", which is the richest collection of descriptions of medicinal plants. In his medical practice, this scientist and doctor gave preference to medicinal herbs, believing that the more complete the unity of an individual with nature is, the faster s/he will be able to achieve harmony and defeat the disease. Thus, Nestor Maksimovich-Ambodik can rightfully be considered the founder of not only obstetrics, but also herbal medicine.
Comparative assessment of questionnaire and fecal immunochemical test efficacy in colorectal cancer screening
Authors:   FSBI Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Kulovskaya D. P. , Shelygin Yu. A. ,   FSBI Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Achkasov S. I. ,   FSBI Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Nikonov E. L. ,   FSAEI HE N. I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Veselov A. V. ,   Ministry of Health of the Khabarovsk Region, Frolov S. A. ,   FSBI Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: August 2022

The aim of the study: to estimate the efficacy of the colorectal cancer (CRC) risk assessment according to the questionnaire and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). The pilot study included 2,324 respondents over 40 years of age, without severe comorbidities, who filled out the original questionnaire and had the FIT. Risk stratification (high, moderate, low) was done using the original software for automatic data processing. Occult blood detection in feces was done using the fecal immunochemical test. Colonoscopy was proposed for all persons included in the screening program. The questionnaire revealed the high CRC risk in 272 (11.7 %) respondents, moderate risk — in 1,349 (58.0 %), and low risk — in 703 (30.0 %) respondents. The respondents with the high CRC risk had positive FIT results significantly more often — 199 (73.2 %) respondents, with 148 (11.0 %) respondents in the moderate-risk group, and 21 (3.0 %) respondents in the low-risk group (р<0.0001). Colonoscopy was performed in 28 (10.3 %) persons in the high-risk group, 76 (5.6 %) — in the moderate-risk group and in 50 (7.1 %) respondents in the low-risk group. The clinically important colon diseases (CRC, colorectal polyps, and IBD) were revealed significantly more often in the high-risk group than in moderate- and low-risk groups (82.1 % vs 68.0 %; p=0.02) and in those with positive FIT (87.5 % vs 60.5 %; p=0.01). Conclusion: the preliminary results showed that risk stratification by questionnaire is not inferior in the detection of clinically significant diseases of the colon than the fecal immunochemical test. It is necessary to continue the screening project with increasing the proportion of colonoscopies in all risk groups to obtain valid results.
Book Review: Varieties of Jesus Mythicism
Authors: Carrier Richard
Published: August 2022

The edited volume, Varieties of Jesus Mythicism, aims to present diverse approaches and theories to the debate on Jesus’ historical existence. While it includes several enlightening and worthwhile contributions, there are too many amateur contributions employing dubious claims and methodologies. The result is that, apart from the few worthy contributions, the book as a whole is only useful for comparing poor with genuine scholarship. And some advice on how to make such a comparison, so as to distinguish the one from the other, is here provided.
Characteristics of Sr2Ni1.8Mo0.2O6-δ Anode for Utilization in Methane Fuel Conditions in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Kim Jun Ho , Yun Jeong Woo
Published: August 2022

In this study, Sr2Ni1.8Mo0.2O6-δ (SNM) with a double perovskite structure was investigated as an alternative anode for use in the CH4 fuel in solid oxide fuel cells. SNM demonstrates a double perovskite phase over 600°C and marginal crystallization at higher temperatures. The Ni nanoparticles were exsolved from the SNM anode during the fabrication process. As the SNM anode demonstrates poor electrochemical and electro-catalytic properties in the H2 and CH4 fuels, it was modified by applying a samarium-doped ceria (SDC) coating on its surface to improve the cell performance. As a result of this SDC modification, the cell performance improved from 39.4 mW/cm2 to 117.7 mW/cm2 in H2 and from 15.9 mW/cm2 to 66.6 mW/cm2 in CH4 at 850°C. The mixed ionic and electronic conductive property of the SDC provided electrochemical oxidation sites that are beyond the triple boundary phase sites in the SNM anode. In addition, the carbon deposition on the SDC thin layer was minimized due to the SDC’s excellent oxygen ion conductivity.
Estandarización del índice internacional normalizado en pacientes pre-quirúrgicos del Hospital San Juan de Dios de Cuenca
Authors: Arévalo Ordóñez Tamara
Published: August 2022

El índice internacional normalizado (INR, por sus siglas en inglés), es un tipo de cálculo matemático que se basa en las pruebas de tiempo de protrombina. La seguridad y eficacia de la terapia dependen del efecto anticoagulante que reciban dentro del margen terapéutico fijado por el médico en base al estudio de sus tiempos de coagulación, específicamente expresado como el intervalo de INR. Establecer los rangos de referencia del INR aplicado en resultados obtenidos en pacientes del sexo masculino y femenino en edades entre los 18 hasta 60 años de edad en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de Cuenca, durante los meses de enero a junio del año 2021. Los datos fueron recopilados de 699 pacientes que acudieron a consulta externa del Hospital San Juan de Dios de Cuenca del área de hematología, que incluyen valores de tiempo de tromboplastina y su referente INR en base al ISI establecido en el reactivo emitido por el fabricante. Se establecieron los valores normales de INR los cuales varían en referencia al sexo del paciente. Para el sexo masculino valores con límite inferior 0,82 y límite superior 1,16; para el sexo femenino con límite inferior de 0,51 y el límite superior de 1,51. Los valores de INR tienen variaciones de acuerdo al sexo siendo los valores de hombres mas altos en relación al de las mujeres en el rango inferiores, Evidentemente los factores influyentes van en relación del sexo, edad, dieta y sobretodo la genética del paciente.
Perfil Lipídico como factor de riesgo de Preeclampsia en mujeres embarazadas
Authors: Toledo Bravo Lidia , Román Collazo Carlos Alberto
Published: August 2022

La preeclampsia es una complicación del embarazo, cuya prevalencia se calcula entre 4 y 7% de los embarazos en el mundo. En Ecuador los trastornos hipertensivos fueron causantes del 20,6% de mortalidad materna (años 2017-2018). De allí la importancia de estudios de su diagnóstico oportuno. Objetivo. Asociar el perfil lipídico como factor de riesgo en el padecimiento de preeclampsia de mujeres embarazadas que acudieron al Hospital Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, durante los años 2020-2021. Materiales y Métodos. El tipo de diseño utilizado para la investigación, en una población de 300 embarazadas, fue no experimental, documental, de cohorte, observacional, correlacional y cuantitativo. En el análisis de diferencias significativas entre variables categóricas se usó la prueba Chi cuadrado. Para calcular la relación el padecimiento de Preeclampsia o no en el embarazo con las variables que conforman el perfil lipídico se usó la técnica U de Mann-Whitney. Resultados. El 35,33% de la población de estudio padece preeclampsia. En las variables analizadas como parte del perfil lipídico, mediante la técnica U de Mann-Whitney, se obtuvo un p-valor inferior a 0,5, como se describe a continuación: para triglicéridos <,001; para colesterol HDL 0,421; para colesterol LDL 0,003; y para Colesterol Total <,001. En análisis comparativos con otros estudios se describen resultados similares, pero no en todos coinciden los promedios de comparación. Conclusiones. Existe diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el perfil lipídico de mujeres con preeclampsia, en comparación con el perfil lipídico de mujeres que no padecen preeclampsia.