bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Sustainable NGO–firm Partnerships: An Experimental Study of Consumer Perception of Co-Branded Products
Authors: Heinl Laura Therese , Baatz Anna , Beckmann Markus , Wehnert Peter
Published: November 2021

With crises like climate change and degradation of the earth’s natural habitats, human consumption needs to become more sustainable to decrease humanity’s environmental footprint. Fostering sustainable consumer behavior by enabling consumers to make an informed choice for sustainable products is vital in changing human consumption for the better. To optimize consumers’ perception of sustainable products, companies can establish partnerships with environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In practice, retailers and NGOs can engage in NGO–firm co-branding of sustainable products. Yet, little is known about the impact of this NGO–firm co-branding on consumer perception. We fill this gap based on a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental study. We test consumers’ trust, product and brand perception of co-branded sustainable products. Our study finds that NGO–firm co-branding has a significant positive effect on all the above. The effect is moderated by familiarity with the co-branding partnership and consumer attitudes. We discuss how those NGO–firm partnerships can be a useful tool to guide customers to more sustainable consumption choices. The results are discussed in light of sustainability communication and cross-sector partnership theory. We offer important insights for consumer perspectives on sustainability communication, business engagement of NGO–firm partnerships and develop future research ideas for consumer behaviour.
Impact of Knowledge Sharing on Sustainable Performance: Mediating Role of Employee’s Ambidexterity
Authors: Aamir Alamzeb , Jan Sharif Ullah , Qadus Abdul , Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Haffar Mohamed
Published: November 2021

The prime objective of the current study is to examine the impact of knowledge sharing and employee ambidexterity on the sustainable performance of manufacturing firms operating in the KPK province of Pakistan. In addition to this, the study has examined the mediating role of employees’ ambidexterity in the relationship between knowledge sharing and sustainable performance. The final sample included 240 respondents, which represented a response rate of 68%. The study employed SEM-PLS for data analysis. The results indicate that the employee’s ambidexterity fully mediates between knowledge sharing and sustainable performance. Knowledge sharing appears as a significant determinant of employees’ ambidexterity and sustainable performance. Meanwhile, the employee’s ambidexterity also has a positive and significant relationship with sustainable performance. In the field of Management Sciences and other disciplines, knowledge sharing is considered a significant field of study. Globally, very little research has targeted these variables. This research offers conceptual highlights for developing the influence of knowledge sharing on the sustainable performance of employees particularly in the manufacturing sector.
A Regional Industrial Economic Forecasting Model Based on a Deep Convolutional Neural Network and Big Data
Authors: Tuo Shouheng , Chen Tianrui , He Hong , Feng Zengyu , Zhu Yanling , Liu Fan , Li Chao
Published: November 2021

To accurately predict the economic development of each industry in different types of regions, a deep convolutional neural network model was designed for predicting the annual GDP; GDP growth index; and primary, secondary and tertiary industry growth values of each. In the model, raw industrial data are preprocessed by a normalization operation and subsequently transformed by the BoxCox method to approach the normal distribution. Panel data of consecutive years are constructed and used as input to the deep convolutional neural network, and industrial data of year t + 1 are used as the output of the network. Simulation experiments were conducted to analyze 23 years of industrial economic data from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. The experimental results show that R-squared value is larger than 0.91 for all 31 provinces and root mean squared log errors (RMSLE) of all regions are less than 0.1, which demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high prediction accuracy with generalization capability and can accurately predict the economic growth trends of different types of regions.
Digital Technologies, Circular Economy Practices and Environmental Policies in the Era of COVID-19
Authors: Khan Syed Abdul Rehman , Ponce Pablo , Thomas George , Yu Zhang , Al-Ahmadi Mohammad Saad , Tanveer Muhammad
Published: November 2021

The degradation of the environment is associated with economic activity, particularly with the linear way in which the economy does not make efficient use of resources. However, the circular economy is opposed to this linear paradigm, since it makes the most of the resources in trying to achieve zero waste. In this context, this study investigates the relationship between industry 4.0 technologies, COVID-19 outbreak, environmental regulation policies and circular economy practices. A questionnaire is designed to collect information from 214 big and private manufacturing firms in Ecuador, and subsequently, through CB-SEM, the information is processed, and the study paths are validated. The results suggest that industry 4.0 technologies and environmental regulation policies are driving circular economy practices during the pandemic. The study finds no evidence favoring COVID-19 being a determining factor in the adoption of the circular economy. The results provide a policy framework for the adoption of a circular economy.
Exploring Interest Formation in English Learning through XploreRAFE+: A Gamified AR Mobile App
Authors: Wang Dan , Md Khambari Mas Nida , Wong Su Luan , Razali Abu Bakar
Published: November 2021

The use of gamification and AR technology is found to have the capacity to enhance students’ interest. In this study, the researchers chose a class in a vocational college in China as a specific case that used the gamified AR mobile application, called XploreRAFE+. This study aimed to explore the use of XploreRAFE+ in the formation of learners’ interest in order to answer the research question: What is the process of interest formation among vocational college students in a gamified AR environment, and how does it sustain students’ motivation in learning English? The data for the study were collected via observations, interviews, and document analysis. The findings of the study indicated that in a gamified AR environment, vocational college students’ interest was triggered by piquing curiosity. This then led to optimal learning experiences, where eventually the students began to have positive perceptions of English lessons and were motivated to extend learning experience on their own. These three components of interest formation formed a dynamic loop where interest formation was developed in a cyclical process. It is proposed that a cyclical formation of interest developed through a gamified AR environment over time could sustain learners’ motivation.
A Macroeconomic Review of the Factors Influencing Fruit Consumption in Romania—The Road towards Sustainability
Authors: Popescu Gabriel , Istudor Nicolae , Zaharia Alina , Diaconeasa Maria-Claudia , Panait Ioana , Cucu Marian-Cătălin
Published: November 2021

Sustainable development, including the consumption of sustainable food, is an issue that is receiving increasing attention in research and policy construction. Thus, complex policies are being created to address these issues, targeting economic, social, and environmental factors. This study aims to provide a macroeconomic overview of the factors that have the potential to influence fruit consumption at a national level, so that proposals can be offered in order to pursue a more sustainable fruit consumption in Romania. In order to carry out the research, two approaches were used: a bibliometric technique, through which the Scopus and Web of Science publications on the supply and consumption of fruits were analyzed, and an econometric approach, through which some of the macroeconomic factors influencing fruit consumption in Romania were identified and assessed. The study highlights the high interest of worldwide researchers in the field and an upward trend in Romanian fruit consumption.
Numerical Modeling of Failure Mechanisms in Articulated Concrete Block Mattress as a Sustainable Coastal Protection Structure
Authors: Safari Ghaleh Ramin , Aminoroayaie Yamini Omid , Mousavi S. Hooman , Kavianpour Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2021

Shoreline protection remains a global priority. Typically, coastal areas are protected by armoring them with hard, non-native, and non-sustainable materials such as limestone. To increase the execution speed and environmental friendliness and reduce the weight of individual concrete blocks and reinforcements, concrete blocks can be designed and implemented as Articulated Concrete Block Mattress (ACB Mat). These structures act as an integral part and can be used as a revetment on the breakwater body or shoreline protection. Physical models are one of the key tools for estimating and investigating the phenomena in coastal structures. However, it does have limitations and obstacles; consequently, in this study, numerical modeling of waves on these structures has been utilized to simulate wave propagation on the breakwater, via Flow-3D software with VOF. Among the factors affecting the instability of ACB Mat are breaking waves as well as the shaking of the revetment and the displacement of the armor due to the uplift force resulting from the failure. The most important purpose of the present study is to investigate the ability of numerical Flow-3D model to simulate hydrodynamic parameters in coastal revetment. The run-up values of the waves on the concrete block armoring will multiply with increasing break parameter (0.5<ξm−1,0<3.3) due to the existence of plunging waves until it (Ru2%Hm0=1.6) reaches maximum. Hence, by increasing the breaker parameter and changing breaking waves (ξm−1,0>3.3) type to collapsing waves/surging waves, the trend of relative wave run-up changes on concrete block revetment increases gradually. By increasing the breaker index (surf similarity parameter) in the case of plunging waves (0.5<ξm−1,0<3.3), the low values on the relative wave run-down are greatly reduced. Additionally, in the transition region, the change of breaking waves from plunging waves to collapsing/surging (3.3<ξm−1,0<5.0), the relative run-down process occurs with less intensity.
Intake of Animal-Based Foods and Consumer Behaviour towards Organic Food: The Case of Nepal
Authors: Budhathoki Mausam , Pandey Sujita
Published: November 2021

This study aims to segment Nepalese consumers based on the frequency of animal-based food intake and thereby the determinants of organic food purchasing behaviour to suggest possible marketing strategies for organic food suppliers. A face-to-face survey was conducted among Nepalese consumers (n = 527), underpinned by the theoretical framework, ‘theory of planned behaviour (TPB)’, and extended to include: knowledge, environmental concerns, health-consciousness, and background factors (socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics). Three segments of consumer types were identified by employing k-means segmentation: All Low (n = 113), High Dairy (n = 246), and High Dairy and Meat (n = 168). A covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) analysis indicated that perceived behavioural control (β = 0.438, p < 0.001) was the main predictor of organic food purchasing intention, followed by attitude (β = 0.302, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.300, p < 0.001), knowledge (β = 0.211, p < 0.001), and environmental concerns (β = 0.208, p < 0.001). Health-consciousness (β = −0.034, p = 0.374) showed no significant impact on organic food purchasing intention. Organic food purchasing intention had a strong positive impact on organic food purchasing behaviour. Socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics were found to impact behavioural intention indirectly by their effects on attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, knowledge, and environmental concern. Income also had a direct impact on organic food purchasing behaviour. Further, consumers with a low intake of animal-based foods held positive attitudes towards organic food and had higher environmental concerns. The findings can be used to inform organic food producers and targeted marketing campaigns towards promoting organic food purchasing behaviour in Nepal and similar countries.
Optimized Support Vector Machines Combined with Evolutionary Random Forest for Prediction of Back-Break Caused by Blasting Operation
Authors: Yu Qun , Monjezi Masoud , Mohammed Ahmed Salih , Dehghani Hesam , Armaghani Danial Jahed , Ulrikh Dmitrii Vladimirovich
Published: November 2021

Back-break is an adverse event in blasting works that causes the instability of mine walls, equipment collapsing, and reduction in effectiveness of drilling. Therefore, it boosts the total cost of mining operations. This investigation intends to develop optimized support vector machine models to forecast back-break caused by blasting. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) model was optimized using two advanced metaheuristic algorithms, including whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and moth–flame optimization (MFO). Before the models’ development, an evolutionary random forest (ERF) technique was used for input selection. This model selected five inputs out of 10 candidate inputs to be used to predict the back break. These two optimized SVM models were evaluated using various performance criteria. The performance of these two models was also compared with other hybridized SVM models. In addition, a sensitivity evaluation was made to find how the selected inputs influence the back-break magnitude. The outcomes of this study demonstrated that both the SVM–MFO and SVM–WOA improved the performance of the standard SVM. Additionally, the SVM–MFO showed a better performance than the SVM–WOA and other hybridized SVM models. The outcomes of this research recommend that the SVM–MFO can be considered as a powerful model to forecast the back-break induced by blasting.
Exploring the Shifting Geographical Pattern of the Global Command-and-Control Function of Cities
Authors: Raźniak Piotr , Csomós György , Dorocki Sławomir , Winiarczyk-Raźniak Anna
Published: November 2021

In recent years, some cities have experienced significant growth in terms of command and control functions of cities, and thus have managed to relocate themselves to a much upscale position in the global economy. The main goal of this study is to examine the command-and-control function of cities and the impact of the relocation of corporate headquarters on a city’s command-and-control function. The study examines the changes in the revenues of companies located in selected cities and countries and measure the command-and-control function (“C&C”) of cities that well illustrates the strength of cities and countries in the global economy. To achieve our goals, we employ a composite indicator, the Command and Control Index that integrates such fundamental financial data of companies as revenues, profits, market value, and assets. In the analysis, we consider the companies that are listed by Forbes Global 2000. Our findings reinforce that the command-and-control function of the traditional centers of corporate headquarters has been lessening for a while, whereas cities located in developing countries and China in the first place have been occupying an increasing position in the global command and control. Now, we are experiencing the robust growth of Beijing’s command-and-control function index, and the decline of that index of the former leaders (i.e., New York, London, and Tokyo). We can also draw the conclusion that the migration of headquarters does not significantly impact the change of cities’ command-and-control function. In addition, when relocating the headquarters, most companies have remained within the same country and some of them have not even left the metropolitan area itself. In recent years, the number of those companies that have relocated the corporate headquarters has increased, and they have experienced increase in their revenues as well. To attract more corporate headquarters, cities has to offer an attractive environment for companies which strategy should be supported by such governmental initiatives as the reduction of corporate taxes for relocated companies.
Balantidiasis: A Neglected Tropical Disease Used as a Study Model for a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development in the Framework of Agenda 2030 Goals
Authors: Nalbone Luca , Giarratana Filippo , Napoli Ettore
Published: November 2021

The term “sustainability” could be defined as the process of people maintaining changes in a homeostasis-balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, direction of investments, orientation of technological development, and institutional change are all in harmony. The most significant global effort to address sustainable development is the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the various targets set within the 17 SDGs, the end of neglected tropical zoonoses (NTZs) is an example of how coordinated social, economic, and environmental efforts are needed to achieve this goal. Balantidiasis, caused by Balantidium coli, is a zoonotic parasitic disease characterized by high infection and incidence rates; however, it is only scantly investigated and therefore considered a NTZ. In this review article, balantidiasis was used as a model to demonstrate how proper management of NTZs falls in all the SDGs and how a holistic approach to animal and human diseases could improve their health status and other aspects of their being. In this manuscript, the SDGs were divided in three pillars: (i) social, (ii) economic, and (iii) eviromental. This theoretical division helps to demonstrate that the presence and, consequently, the control of an NTZ could be reflected on all the 17 SDGs.
The Role of Children in Tourism and Hospitality Family Entrepreneurship
Authors: Canosa Antonia , Schänzel Heike
Published: November 2021

This paper reports on a systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed academic literature in the areas of tourism and hospitality family entrepreneurship. Specifically, it explored how and to what extent existing literature paid attention to the roles of children and how children are constructed, including whether their voices and lived experiences are reflected in the studies. The Extension for Scoping Reviews’ approach (PRISMA-ScR) was used to identify appropriate articles included in the review. Findings suggest there is limited research focused, specifically, on the role of children in tourism and hospitality family entrepreneurship. Children are often referred to, in passing, as family helpers, beneficiaries of inheritance, and as recipients of intergenerational knowledge and entrepreneurial skills. The original contribution of this paper lies in highlighting the dearth of research focused on children’s roles, as economic and social actors, in tourism and hospitality, as well as proposing a child-inclusive approach to conceptualising tourism/hospitality family entrepreneurship. This is part of a broader social justice agenda, which is critical in tourism and hospitality research, policy, and planning to privilege children’s rights, their participation, and wellbeing.
Green Coalescent Synthesis Based on the Design for Environment (DfE) Principles: Brazilian Experience
Authors: Cunha Isadora Luiza Climaco , Rosa Fábio , Kulay Luiz
Published: November 2021

Coalescents are compounds with a high potential for generating tropospheric ozone, which causes adverse effects on humans and their surroundings. This study designed a coalescent for decorative paints that reached technical levels equivalent to those obtained by StC, a product on the market, but with better environmental and economic performance. The strategy adopted in creating the green coalescent (GrC) improved film formation and reduced the product’s atmospheric emission rate. Regarding the environmental performance, GrC outperformed StC in terms of water consumption, global warming potential, and human toxicity by 30%, 35%, and 91%, but had a high smog formation potential even with a reduced loss to the air. The redesign of the molecule gave rise to AGrC, which achieved a more homogeneous environmental performance. The results of an economic analysis indicated that the procedures adopted to reduce environmental impacts could also make the coalescent more competitive if the lowest market prices were practiced. On the other hand, if the products are sold at high prices, the paint industry tends to privilege the economic dimension and disregard environmental performance for decision purposes. This research succeeded in reconciling technical functions and aspects related to sustainability to design more competitive products in the Brazilian market.
Sustainable Education in the Context of COVID-19: Study of the Social Perception and Well-Being of Students at the Faculty of Engineering in Sibiu, Romania
Authors: Cioca Lucian-Ionel , Bratu Mihaela Laura
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had global effects on all industries and on people around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has had repercussions both politically and economically, as well as on society and the individual, i.e., on the human psyche. Although the effects on the human psyche have been highlighted in research, the well-being of the individual in correlation with social perception have not been addressed in this context but in different situations. The review of the relevant literature has also identified a knowledge gap concerning online vs. face-to-face learning, from the perspective of psychological, pedagogical and managerial factors. The present study aims to address the relationship of well-being—social perception—academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic on a group of students from the Faculty of Engineering in Sibiu, Romania. Three types of instruments were used to evaluate the studied characteristics: the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), the SKS method for generating feedback and the grid for assessing knowledge. The results showed the increase of the three parameters studied, after quarantine. The conclusions of the research are that, despite the greater variation in mood, caused by stress, anxiety and tension, the well-being of the subjects increased and the positive feedback provided increased significantly. The results lead to the formation of a positive self-image of students, which also has an impact on learning outcomes.
Harvesting Solar Energy from Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Hossain Md Fahim Tanvir , Dessouky Samer , Biten Ayetullah B. , Montoya Arturo , Fernandez Daniel
Published: November 2021

This study aims at designing and developing a new technique to harvest solar energy from asphalt pavements. The proposed energy harvester system consists of a pavement solar box with a transparent polycarbonate sample and a thin-film solar panel. This device mechanism can store energy in a battery charged over daytime and later convert it into electric power as per demand. A wide range of polycarbonate samples containing different thicknesses, elastic moduli, and light transmission properties were tested to select the most efficient materials for the energy harvester system. Transmittance Spectroscopy was conducted to determine the percent light transmission property of the polycarbonate samples at different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Finite Element Analysis modeling of the pavement–tire load system was conducted to design the optimal energy harvester system under static load. It was followed by the collection of data on the generated power under different weather conditions. The energy harvesters were also subjected to vehicular loads in the field. The results suggest that the proposed pavement solar box can generate an average of 23.7 watts per square meter continuously over 6 h a day under sunny conditions for the weather circumstances encountered in South Texas while providing a slightly smaller power output in other weather circumstances. It is a promising self-powered and low-cost installation technique that can be implemented at pedestrian crossings and intersections to alert distracted drivers at the time of pedestrian crossing, which is likely to improve pedestrian safety.
Thinking Urban Transformation through Elsewhere: A Conversation between Real-World Labs in São Paulo and Hamburg on Governance and Practical Action
Authors: Kohler Martin , Engels Anita , Koury Ana Paula , Zengerling Cathrin
Published: November 2021

Urban real-world laboratories (RWLs) are increasingly used internationally and studied as an instrument of urban transformation. New cases in diverse political, economic, social and ecological situations offer a rich set of learning experiences, but the distinctive urban contexts make it impossible to draw comparisons in the traditional sense. In this article—an experiment in itself—we aim to gain a deeper understanding of how RWLs contribute to urban transformation in very different contexts. We apply Jennifer Robinson’s theoretical framework “thinking through elsewhere” on two ongoing urban RWLs: the Itaim Paulista Lab, located in the urban periphery of São Paulo, Brazil and the Lokstedt Urban Transformation Lab in Hamburg, Germany. We operationalize Robinson’s framework in two steps. First, we present the genetics—context, roots, concepts and activities—of both labs. Second, we engage the RWLs in a generative conversation on their role in transforming governance and practical action, with a special focus on the questions of if and how the labs contribute to long-term transformative change. We also find that both labs show potential to contribute to long-term transformative change through governance and practical action.
A Trip Generation Model for a Petrol Station with a Convenience Store and a Fast-Food Restaurant
Authors: Mohd Shafie Shafida Azwina , Leong Lee Vien , Mohd Sadullah Ahmad Farhan
Published: November 2021

A trip generation manual and database are important for transportation planners and engineers to forecast new trip generation for any new development. Nowadays, many petrol stations have fast-food restaurant outlets. However, this land use category has yet to be included in the Malaysian Trip Generation Manual. Therefore, this study attempted to develop a new trip generation model for the new category of “petrol station with convenience store and fast-food restaurant”. Significant factors influencing the trip generation were also determined. Manual vehicle counts at the selected sites were conducted for 3 h during morning, afternoon and evening peak hours. Regression analysis was used in this study to develop the model. A simple trip generation model based on the independent variable number of restaurant seats showed a greater value for the coefficient of determination, R2, compared with the independent variables gross floor area in thousand square feet and number of pumps. The multivariable trip generation model using three independent variables generated the highest R2 among all of the models but was still below a satisfactory level. Further study is needed to improve the model for this new land use category. We must ensure more accuracy in trip generation estimation for future planning and development.
Regional Development Quality of Yangtze River Delta: From the Perspective of Urban Population Agglomeration and Ecological Efficiency Coordination
Authors: Xu Zhenxiao , Yin Yongqiang
Published: November 2021

With the deepening of the development process of regional integration in the Yangtze River Delta, integration and high quality have become the key paths of regional development. On the basis of the panel data of 26 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, from 2008 to 2018, this paper uses a DEA model to calculate the ecological efficiency of each city. On the basis of the visual expression of the population agglomeration degree, with the help of ArcGIS platform, the coupling coordination between the population agglomeration and the ecological efficiency is calculated by using the coupling degree model. The results show the spatiotemporal pattern changes of the coupling coordination degrees of 26 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration between population agglomeration and ecological environment, modeling the impact of urban population growth on the ecological environment. The research provides a scientific basis for determining the goal of urban population development, for coordinating the relationship between populations and the environment in urban development, and for realizing regional sustainable and high-quality development.
Performance Estimation in V2X Networks Using Deep Learning-Based M-Estimator Loss Functions in the Presence of Outliers
Authors: Abdellah Ali R. , Alshahrani Abdullah , Muthanna Ammar , Koucheryavy Andrey
Published: November 2021

Recently, 5G networks have emerged as a new technology that can control the advancement of telecommunication networks and transportation systems. Furthermore, 5G networks provide better network performance while reducing network traffic and complexity compared to current networks. Machine-learning techniques (ML) will help symmetric IoT applications become a significant new data source in the future. Symmetry is a widely studied pattern in various research areas, especially in wireless network traffic. The study of symmetric and asymmetric faults and outliers (anomalies) in network traffic is an important topic. Nowadays, deep learning (DL) is an advanced approach in challenging wireless networks such as network management and optimization, anomaly detection, predictive analysis, lifetime value prediction, etc. However, its performance depends on the efficiency of training samples. DL is designed to work with large datasets and uses complex algorithms to train the model. The occurrence of outliers in the raw data reduces the reliability of the training models. In this paper, the performance of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) traffic was estimated using the DL algorithm. A set of robust statistical estimators, called M-estimators, have been proposed as robust loss functions as an alternative to the traditional MSE loss function, to improve the training process and robustize DL in the presence of outliers. We demonstrate their robustness in the presence of outliers on V2X traffic datasets.
Trajectory Tracking Control for Underactuated USV with Prescribed Performance and Input Quantization
Authors: Jiang Kunyi , Mao Lei , Su Yumin , Zheng Yuxin
Published: November 2021

This paper is devoted to the problem of prescribed performance trajectory tracking control for symmetrical underactuated unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in the presence of model uncertainties and input quantization. By combining backstepping filter mechanisms and adaptive algorithms, two robust control architectures are investigated for surge motion and yaw motion. To guarantee the prespecified performance requirements for position tracking control, the constrained error dynamics are transformed to unconstrained ones by virtue of a tangent-type nonlinear mapping function. On the other hand, the inaccurate model can be identified through radial basis neural networks (RBFNNs), where the minimum learning parameter (MLP) algorithm is employed with a low computational complexity. Furthermore, quantization errors can be effectively reduced even when the parameters of the quantizer remain unavailable to designers. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed controllers is verified via theoretical analyses and numerical simulations.
An Improvised SIMPLS Estimator Based on MRCD-PCA Weighting Function and Its Application to Real Data
Authors: Zahariah Siti , Midi Habshah , Mustafa Mohd Shafie
Published: November 2021

Multicollinearity often occurs when two or more predictor variables are correlated, especially for high dimensional data (HDD) where p>>n. The statistically inspired modification of the partial least squares (SIMPLS) is a very popular technique for solving a partial least squares regression problem due to its efficiency, speed, and ease of understanding. The execution of SIMPLS is based on the empirical covariance matrix of explanatory variables and response variables. Nevertheless, SIMPLS is very easily affected by outliers. In order to rectify this problem, a robust iteratively reweighted SIMPLS (RWSIMPLS) is introduced. Nonetheless, it is still not very efficient as the algorithm of RWSIMPLS is based on a weighting function that does not specify any method of identification of high leverage points (HLPs), i.e., outlying observations in the X-direction. HLPs have the most detrimental effect on the computed values of various estimates, which results in misleading conclusions about the fitted regression model. Hence, their effects need to be reduced by assigning smaller weights to them. As a solution to this problem, we propose an improvised SIMPLS based on a new weight function obtained from the MRCD-PCA diagnostic method of the identification of HLPs for HDD and name this method MRCD-PCA-RWSIMPLS. A new MRCD-PCA-RWSIMPLS diagnostic plot is also established for classifying observations into four data points, i.e., regular observations, vertical outliers, and good and bad leverage points. The numerical examples and Monte Carlo simulations signify that MRCD-PCA-RWSIMPLS offers substantial improvements over SIMPLS and RWSIMPLS. The proposed diagnostic plot is able to classify observations into correct groups. On the contrary, SIMPLS and RWSIMPLS plots fail to correctly classify observations into correct groups and show masking and swamping effects.
Phytotoxins Produced by Two Biscogniauxia rosacearum Strains, Causal Agents of Grapevine Trunk Diseases, and Charcoal Canker of Oak Trees in Iran
Authors: Masi Marco , Bashiri Samaneh , Cimmino Alessio , Bahmani Zeinab , Abdollahzadeh Jafar , Evidente Antonio
Published: November 2021

Biscogniauxia rosacearum, recognized for the first time as a pathogen involved in grapevine trunk diseases in Paveh (west of Iran) vineyards, produced meso-2,3-butanediol (1) as the only phytotoxin. Nectriapyrone (2), (3R)-5-methylmellein (3), (3R)-5-methyl-6-methoxymellein (4), and tyrosol (5) were instead produced as phytotoxins from a strain of the same fungus isolated from oak trees in Zagros forests of Gilan-e Gharb, Kermanshah Province. They were identified comparing their 1H and 13C NMR, ESIMS, and specific optical rotation data with those already reported in the literature. The phytotoxicity of metabolites (1–5) was estimated by leaf puncture assay on Quercus ilex L. and Hedera helix L., and by leaf absorption assay on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) at a concentration of 5 × 10−3 and 10−3 M. Tested on grapevine, meso-2,3-butanediol (1) and (3R)-5-methyl-6-methoxymellein (4) resulted to be the most phytotoxic compounds. On Q. ilex, nectriapyrone (2) and tyrosol (5) showed severe necrosis at the highest concentration while none of the compounds (1–5) was active on H. helix. Furthermore, the phytotoxicity of compounds 3 and 4 was also compared with that of some related natural melleins to perform a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study. The results of this study were also discussed.
The Roles of Amphibian (Xenopus laevis) Macrophages during Chronic Frog Virus 3 Infections
Authors: Hossainey Muhammad Riadul Haque , Yaparla Amulya , Hauser Kelsey A. , Moore Tyler E. , Grayfer Leon
Published: November 2021

Infections by Frog Virus 3 (FV3) and other ranavirus genus members are significantly contributing to global amphibian decline. The Xenopus laevis frog is an ideal research platform upon which to study the roles of distinct frog leukocyte populations during FV3 infections. Frog macrophages (MΦs) are integrally involved during FV3 infection, as they facilitate viral dissemination and persistence but also participate in immune defense against this pathogen. In turn, MΦ differentiation and functionality depend on the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R), which is ligated by CSF-1 and iterleukin-34 (IL-34) cytokines. Our past work indicated that X. laevis CSF-1 and IL-34 give rise to morphologically and functionally distinct frog MΦ subsets, and that these CSF-1- and IL-34-MΦs respectively confer susceptibility and antiviral resistance to FV3. Because FV3 targets the frog kidneys and establishes chronic infections therein, presently we examined the roles of the frog CSF-1- and IL-34-MΦs in seeding and maintaining these chronic kidney infections. Our findings indicate that the frog CSF-1-MΦs result in more prominent kidney FV3 infections, which develop into greater reservoirs of lingering FV3 marked by infiltrating leukocytes, fibrosis, and overall immunosuppressive states. Moreover, the antiviral effects of IL-34-MΦs are short-lived and are lost as FV3 infections progress.
Kite-Shaped Molecules Block SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry at a Post-Attachment Step
Authors: Chan Shiu-Wan , Shafi Talha , Ford Robert C.
Published: November 2021

Anti-viral small molecules are currently lacking for treating coronavirus infection. The long development timescales for such drugs are a major problem, but could be shortened by repurposing existing drugs. We therefore screened a small library of FDA-approved compounds for potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antivirals using a pseudovirus system that allows a sensitive read-out of infectivity. A group of structurally-related compounds, showing moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the 2–5 μM range, were identified. Further studies demonstrated that these “kite-shaped” molecules were surprisingly specific for SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 and that they acted early in the entry steps of the viral infectious cycle, but did not affect virus attachment to the cells. Moreover, the compounds were able to prevent infection in both kidney- and lung-derived human cell lines. The structural homology of the hits allowed the production of a well-defined pharmacophore that was found to be highly accurate in predicting the anti-viral activity of the compounds in the screen. We discuss the prospects of repurposing these existing drugs for treating current and future coronavirus outbreaks.
Autoantibody Release in Children after Corona Virus mRNA Vaccination: A Risk Factor of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome?
Authors: Buchhorn Reiner , Meyer Carlotta , Schulze-Forster Kai , Junker Juliane , Heidecke Harald
Published: November 2021

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) is a new systemic inflammatory acute onset disease that mainly affects children (MIS-C) and, at a lesser frequency, adults (MIS-A); it typically occurs 3–6 weeks after acute SARS-CoV infection. It has been postulated and shown in adults that MIS may occur after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (MIS-V). Our current case is one of the first published cases with a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in an 18-year-old adolescent after the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from Pfizer/BionTech (BNT162b2), who fulfills the published level 1 criteria for a definitive disease: age < 21 years, fever > 3 consecutive days, pericardial effusion, elevated CRP/NT-BNP/Troponin T/D-dimeres, cardiac involvement, and positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The disease starts 10 weeks after the second vaccination, with a fever (up to 40 °C) and was treated with amoxicillin for suspected pneumonia. The SARS CoV-2-PCR and several antigen tests were negative. With an ongoing fever, he was hospitalized 14 days later. A pericardial effusion (10 mm) was diagnosed by echocardiography. The C-reactive protein (174 mg/L), NT-BNP (280 pg/mL), and Troponin T (28 pg/mL) values were elevated. Due to highly elevated D-dimeres (>35,000 μg/L), a pulmonary embolism was excluded by thoracal computer tomography. If the boy did not improve with intravenous antibiotics, he was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins; however, the therapy was discontinued after 230 mg/kg if he developed high fever and hypotension. A further specialized clinic treated him with colchicine and ibuprofen. The MIS-V was discovered late, 4 months after the onset of the disease. As recently shown in four children with MIS-C after SARS-CoV-2 infection and a girl with Hashimoto thyroiditis after BNT162b2 vaccination, we found elevated functional autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors that may be important for pathophysiology but are not conclusive for the diagnosis of MIS-C. Conclusion: We are aware that a misattribution of MIS-V as a severe complication of coronavirus vaccination can lead to increased vaccine hesitancy and blunt the global COVID-19 vaccination drive. However, the pediatric population is at a higher risk for MIS-C and a very low risk for COVID-19 mortality. The publication of such cases is very important to make doctors aware of this complication of the vaccination, so that therapy with intravenous immunoglobulins can be initiated at an early stage.
Changing Causes of Drought in the Urmia Lake Basin—Increasing Influence of Evaporation and Disappearing Snow Cover
Authors: Habibi Maral , Babaeian Iman , Schöner Wolfgang
Published: November 2021

The water level of the Urmia Lake Basin (ULB), located in the northwest of Iran, started to decline dramatically about two decades ago. As a result, the area has become the focus of increasing scientific research. In order to improve understanding of the connections between declining lake level and changing local drought conditions, three common drought indices are employed to analyze the period 1981–2018: The Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standard Precipitation-Evaporation Index (SPEI), and the Standardized Snow Melt and Rain Index (SMRI). Although rainfall is a significant indicator of water availability, temperature is also a key factor since it determines rates of evapotranspiration and snowmelt. These different processes are captured by the three drought indices mentioned above to describe drought in the catchment. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of drought over the ULB by incorporating different drought indices. Since there is not enough long-term observational data of sufficiently high density for the ULB region, ECMWF Reanalysis data version 5(ERA5) has been used to estimate SPI, SPEI, and SMRI drought indicators. These are shown to work well, with AUC-ROC > 0.9, in capturing different classes of basin drought characteristics. The results show a downward trend for SPEI and SMRI (but not for SPI), suggesting that both evaporation and lack of snowmelt exacerbate droughts. Owing to the increasing temperatures in the basin and the decrease in snowfall, drought events have become particularly pronounced in the SPEI and SMRI time series since 1995. No significant SMRI drought was detected prior to 1995, thus indicating that sufficient snowfall was available at the beginning of the study period. The study results also reveal that the decrease in lake water level from 2010 to 2018 was not only caused by changes in the water balance components, but also by unsustainable water management.
ENSURING INDEPENDENCE OF LOCAL BUDGETS UNDER CONDITIONS OF FINANCIAL DECENTRALIZATION
Authors: PYSMENNYI Vitalii
Published: November 2021

The article investigates the modern conditions and problems of forming local budget revenues in Ukraine. It is determined that local budgets must function as a well-oiled machine ensuring the equivalence of financial resources and planned allocations under conditions of financial decentralization. Approaches to ensuring budgetary independence are substantiated, outlining the tools necessary for local self-government bodies to ensure their capacity to develop. It is established that increased emphasis on independence of local budgets can become one the levers used for ensuring the local finance system complies with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and Law of Ukraine «On Local Self-Government in Ukraine». For this purpose, local self-governments are recommended to establish a sufficient and stable revenue base by introducing their own taxes and fees, expanding the non-tax revenue sources, changing the distribution of the revenues from the income tax and corporate tax between government budgets of different levels, creating community funds of economic development, balancing subsidies and subventions. It is argued that budgetary independence is an economic ideal that local self-government bodies should strive for. Its antipodes are rigid financial dependence of local budgets on state budgets, lack of own revenues, and ineffective distribution of funds between budgets of different levels. Additionally, the revenue sources specified in the legislature do not allow the authorities to sustain expenditures with the levies at local level. It is substantiated that territories with independent local budgets can create the state economic environment that corresponds to the principles of financial decentralization.
THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF MICROECONOMIC SYSTEMS IN THE CONDITIONS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONS
Authors: DEMIANCHUK Maryna
Published: November 2021

The article determines the essence, distinctive features and functions of the balanced development of microeconomic systems under the influence of globalization phenomena and digital transformations. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was formed by the evolutionary-cyclical theory and the theory of dynamic equilibrium, the main approaches to balanced (sustainable) development. In the course of the study, methods of dialectical cognition, generalization and scientific abstraction were used, the use of which made it possible to form the theoretical foundations of the balanced development of microeconomic systems, taking into account globalization, informatization and digital transformations. The factors of positive and negative influence of globalization processes on the microeconomic systems activity have been established. A coherent relationship between the modern patterns of microeconomic systems development and infocommunication technologies and services they use, was revealed, taking into account the created synergistic effect, which makes it possible to determine the influence of infocommunication technologies on the digital literacy of society and the development of digital economy by taking into account their availability and intensity of use. It is noted that the balanced development of microeconomic systems is a dynamic category aimed at optimizing the process of achieving balanced economic, social and environmental development through the implementation of the dynamic relationship of new functions and qualitative characteristics of systems. It has been determined that the balanced development of microeconomic systems is characterized by excellent features, in particular: economic, ecological, energy and social. The aggregate of microeconomic systems functions, implemented by them in the context of sustainable development and necessary for solving external and internal problems of ensuring high-quality and stable development in the long term, maintaining a dynamic balance and relying on their own capabilities, is characterized. Based on the generalization of existing theoretical approaches and basic provisions of the sustainable development concept at different levels of the hierarchy, taking into account globalization, informatization and digital transformations, a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of microeconomic systems was further developed, based on the establishment of the characteristic distinctive features of the balanced development of enterprises, the activities of which are investigated from the standpoint of their implementation of the totality economic, social and environmental functions.