bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Satellite-Derived Bathymetry: An Overview and WoS and Scopus Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Duplančić Leder Tea , Baučić Martina , Leder Nenad , Gilić Frane
Published: February 2023

A technical and scientific overview regarding satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB)—one of the most promising and relatively cheap methods of shallow water depth determination—is presented. The main goal of the article is to present information about the possibilities of the SDB method to meet the demanding standard of bathymetric measurements in coastal mapping areas up to 20 m deep, i.e., up to depth areas where the largest number of ports and access waterways are located, as obtained using the bibliometric analysis. The Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus scientific databases, as well as R studio applications Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny, were used for scientific analysis. The bibliometric analysis presents the quantitative aspects of producing and disseminating scientific and professional articles with SDB as their topic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to give the academic community an insight into the current knowledge about the SDB method, its achievements and shortcomings. The results of the bibliometric analysis of articles dealing with SDB show that most authors use empirical statistical methods. However, in recent years, articles using automated artificial intelligence methods have prevailed, especially the machine learning method. It is concluded that SDB data can become a very important low-cost source of bathymetric data in shallow coastal areas. Satellite methods have been proven to be very effective in very shallow coastal areas (up to a depth of about 20 m), and their biggest advantage is that the depth data obtained in this way are relatively low cost, while major limitations are associated with the parameters that determine the properties of the atmosphere and water column (clear atmosphere and water column) and bottom material. Procedures for different bathymetric applications are being developed. Regardless of the significant progress of the SDB method, which was manifested in the development of sensors and processing methods, its results still do not meet the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Standards for Hydrographic Surveys S-44.
Recognizing the Shape and Size of Tundra Lakes in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Images Using Deep Learning Segmentation
Authors: Demchev Denis , Sudakow Ivan , Khodos Alexander , Abramova Irina , Lyakhov Dmitry , Michels Dominik
Published: February 2023

Permafrost tundra contains more than twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere, and it is warming six times as fast as the global mean. Tundra lakes dynamics is a robust indicator of global climate processes, and is still not well understood. Satellite data, particularly, from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a suitable tool for tundra lakes recognition and monitoring of their changes. However, manual analysis of lake boundaries can be slow and inefficient; therefore, reliable automated algorithms are required. To address this issue, we propose a two-stage approach, comprising instance deep-learning-based segmentation by U-Net, followed by semantic segmentation based on a watershed algorithm for separating touching and overlapping lakes. Implementation of this concept is essential for accurate sizes and shapes estimation of an individual lake. Here, we evaluated the performance of the proposed approach on lakes, manually extracted from tens of C-band SAR images from Sentinel-1, which were collected in the Yamal Peninsula and Alaska areas in the summer months of 2015–2022. An accuracy of 0.73, in terms of the Jaccard similarity index, was achieved. The lake’s perimeter, area and fractal sizes were estimated, based on the algorithm framework output from hundreds of SAR images. It was recognized as lognormal distributed. The evaluation of the results indicated the efficiency of the proposed approach for accurate automatic estimation of tundra lake shapes and sizes, and its potential to be used for further studies on tundra lake dynamics, in the context of global climate change, aimed at revealing new factors that could cause the planet to warm or cool.
A Proposal for Modification of Plasmaspheric Electron Density Profiles Using Characteristics of Lightning Whistlers
Authors: Putri Desy Purnami Singgih , Kasahara Yoshiya , Ota Mamoru , Matsuda Shoya , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Kumamoto Atsushi , Matsuoka Ayako , Miyoshi Yoshizumi
Published: February 2023

Reconstruction of reliable plasmaspheric electron density profiles is important for understanding physical processes in the plasmasphere. This paper proposes a technique that can be applied to correct the plasmaspheric electron density profiles using ray tracing by scrutinizing dispersion analyses of lightning whistlers. The Global Core Plasma Model and the International Reference Ionosphere were introduced as a reference electron density profile. Modifications of this electron density profile were then proposed to satisfy the dispersion characteristics of lightning whistlers measured by satellites in the plasmasphere. We first introduce two kinds of functions to modify the electron density: constant and linear, the linear function is more adequate. We applied our method to two lightning whistler events on 14 August 2017, measured by the Plasma Wave Experiment/Waveform Capture aboard the Arase satellite, and analyzed the dispersion of the observed lightning whistlers. We show how the density modification affects the delay time of the ray path and satisfies the dispersion characteristics under the appropriate adjustments.
Spectral Mixing Theory-Based Double-Branch Network for Spectral Super-Resolution
Authors: Sha Lingyu , Zhang Wenjuan , Zhang Bing , Liu Zhiqiang , Li Zhen
Published: February 2023

Due to the limitations of imaging systems, the swath width of available hyperspectral images (HSIs) is relatively narrow, making it difficult to meet the demands of various applications. Therefore, an appealing idea is to expand the width of HSIs by using widely covered multispectral images (MSIs), called spectral super-resolution (SSR) of MSIs. According to the radiation transmission process of the imaging system, the spectral mixing characteristics of ground objects can be described by the linear spectral mixing model (LSMM). Inspired by the linear mixed part and nonlinear residual part of the LSMM, we propose a double-branch SSR network. To generate wide HSIs, a spectral mixing branch is designed to extract abundances from wide MSIs and adaptively learn hyperspectral endmembers from narrow HSIs. Furthermore, considering the nonlinear factors in the imaging system and atmospheric transmission, a nonlinear residual branch is built to complement the spectral and spatial details. Finally, the SSR result can be obtained with the fusion of linear and nonlinear features. To make the network structure achieve corresponding physical significance, we constrain the network through joint loss functions at different stages. In addition to two simulated datasets with limited coverage, our model is also evaluated on a real MSI–HSI dataset in a larger area. Extensive experiments show the superiority of the proposed model compared with state-of-the-art baselines. Moreover, we visualized the internal results of our network and conducted ablation experiments on a single branch to further demonstrate its effectiveness. In the end, the influence of network hyperparameters, including endmembers and loss function weight coefficient, is discussed and analyzed in detail.
Recent Advances in Analysis of Food and Beverages
Authors: Saurina Javier
Published: February 2023

In this section, we summarize the characteristics of the published papers according to different typologies [...]
New Perspectives for Human and Artificial Intelligence Interactions for Leadership e-Recruitment
Authors: Anghel Dan
Published: February 2023

In order to adapt to the post-pandemic era, e-recruitment systems should change their requirements to search for a more competitive leader profile. These systems currently search for individual skills specific to leaders, taking into consideration whether a leader has the required skills and abilities for a certain job. The aim of this study is to improve e-recruitment searches for capable leaders in this new environment. In this regard, the study proposes to search for combinations of complementary skills. These skills, to be effective, should necessarily support each other in order to create successful management. The author’s proposal is to call this combination of skills: Leadership Complementary Skills (LCS). Understanding that some skills should be complementary in order to be viable, the LCS’ new insight into the hiring process was developed to comply with the aim of a performant organization. The idea was drawn from the author’s half a century of real-world experience and from several discussions with employers, employees, consultants and MBA students, debating cases along working and teaching. Statements are presented regarding proposals of appropriate combinations of skills to be implemented in the software of e-recruitment systems, their influence on employees’ behavior and the possible consequences on organizational outcomes. Consistent with the proposals, the author has also developed the Honeycomb Complementary Skills Model for Leadership as a first step in this endeavor, inviting future researchers to find other LCS to be added to the model and accomplish the actual ideal profile of a leader, opening as such a new field of research.
Repudiation and Repression: The Human Costs of Sovereign Default
Authors: Bagwell Stephen
Published: February 2023

Sovereign default has myriad economic and political consequences. Existing research, however, has not explored the human costs of sovereign default, though some link the fiscal flexibility afforded by sovereign creditworthiness to improved human rights performance. But what are the consequences when sovereigns lose all creditworthiness and default on their debt obligations? I argue that while the average effect of default is negative for respect for physical integrity rights, a conditional effect exists. When states devote more of their resources to debt service and default, they are likely to see a short term increase in respect for physical integrity rights. I find robust support for these arguments using panel data on over 90 developing countries from 1981–2010.
Incentive Mechanism Analysis of Environmental Governance Using Multitask Principal–Agent Model
Authors: Wang Lin , Pan Feng
Published: February 2023

In view of the principal–agent relationship between local government and pollution enterprise in environmental governance, this paper established a multitask principal–agent model, gave the optimal contract form of local government incentive to enterprises, examined the influencing factors of the optimal incentive contract, and focused on analyzing the influences of institutional factors, enterprise types and enterprise attributes on the optimal incentive contract. The results show that the optimal incentive contract is affected by the influence coefficient of enterprise economic benefits on local government revenue, the environmental index weight in government performance systems, the types of enterprise, the risk preference of enterprise, the variance in economic benefits, the variance in pollution emission reduction, the ability of economic benefits, the direct cost of emission reduction and the economic cost (income) of emission reduction. In order to realize the coordinated development of economy and environment, the establishment and adjustment of optimal incentive contract should be established or adjusted according to the institutional factors, different types of enterprise, and the enterprise characteristics. Local governments should divide enterprises into traditional enterprises and green innovative enterprises in the process of management. The policy formulation of the local government should be based on the characteristics of the system and cooperate with the national strategy. Local governments should actively collect and master the attribute information of the enterprises, including risk preference, profit model, pollution control technology and ability, management experience and level, production mode and green innovation ability. Local governments should combine the types of enterprises, the characteristics of institutions and the attributes of enterprises, and adjust various policies and measures more flexibly.
Predictive Modelling of Sports Facility Use: A Model of Aquatic Centre Attendance
Authors: Barbier Antoine , Evrard Barbara , Dermit-Richard Nadine
Published: February 2023

The level of attendance appears to be the central indicator for analysing the performance of public sports facilities. However, most of the studies focus on customer satisfaction and loyalty and have been carried out in Australia and the United Kingdom. The aim of this article was, therefore, to identify potential explanatory variables that could explain attendance at leisure sports facilities in Europe based on the literature (a). Then, we aimed to identify the variables that explained attendance based on a study of aquatic centres (b) to propose an exploratory predictive model (c). The sample was composed of data from 28 aquatic facilities over 5 years, and we examined 41 variables from the literature. A predictive model of attendance was created using backward regression. The proposed formula had a predictive power of 79.13% of the observed attendance in our sample of aquatic centres. These results suggest that it is possible to determine attendance at an aquatic facility with only four variables and that the study of leisure facilities in Europe implies adapting the variables to be considered. This is also the first model to investigate leisure sports facilities in Europe.
A Single Source Self-Balanced Boost MLI with Reduced Part Count for EV Applications
Authors: Aditya Kancharapu , Suresh Y. , Kumar R. Dilip , Naik B. Shiva , Rao B. Nageswar , Dhanamjayulu C.
Published: February 2023

As the use of inductor-based topologies demands a large amount of space, capacitor-based topologies have garnered attention. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are usually equipped with two-level inverters, which require separate control strategies for each level and synchronizing the strategies increases the complexity of operation and makes them unreliable. Therefore, a single-stage converter with boost and conversion abilities with better power quality at optimal component count and efficiency is needed. A novel capacitor-based boost multilevel inverter (CB-MLI) topology is proposed in this paper as it is found suitable for EV and HEV applications. It is capable of generating an eleven-level waveform with only eleven switches, three capacitors, and a single isolated source. The self-balancing property of the capacitors makes the topology one of a kind. A constant carrier PWM-based control strategy is utilized to switch the IGBTs. Testing results from hardware setup confirm the proposed capacitor-based CB-MLI topology operating modes and potentiality. Lastly, by highlighting the proposed and existing MLI circuits, the benefits of the recommended configuration are outlined by component count and total cost. Additionally, it is a simplified design that needs fewer footprint areas and space.
Learning from Each Other: UK Global Businesses, SMEs, CSR and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Williams Sarah , Murphy David F.
Published: February 2023

Situated within the context of ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ and the associated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this article explores some current understandings about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and related ethical and sustainable business policies and practices within UK-based global businesses. It also considers the potential lessons for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) based on the approaches of global companies. The research engaged senior CSR managers from UK global brand businesses to discuss their CSR perceptions and practices. To the surprise of researchers, the participants described how they were moving past ‘CSR’ to instead use the SDGs as their framework. The findings suggest that global companies are reframing CSR within the broader concept of sustainability, influenced by the SDGs, and are willing to offer advice to SMEs as part of a broader supply chain collaboration process. While there is emerging literature focusing on the practical implications of the SDGs for global business, there appears to have been less attention to the potential for knowledge sharing between global companies and SMEs linked to the SDGs. Our research asked participants about recommendations for SMEs and these are also discussed in this paper. Our intention is to make a particular contribution to the latter area of inquiry and demonstrate the relevance of the SDGs to business, regardless of size.
Low Computational Burden Predictive Direct Power Control of Quasi Z-Source Inverter for Grid-Tied PV Applications
Authors: Abid Abderahmane , Bakeer Abualkasim , Zellouma Laid , Bouzidi Mansour , Lashab Abderezak , Rabhi Boualaga
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a simplified predictive direct power control for the grid-tied quasi Z-source inverter. The proposed control implements a model predictive control structure to achieve the maximum obtainable power from the collected PV source. The power delivered to the grid is managed to compensate for the reactive power and, as needed, to ensure the grid’s stability. A predictive power model for a quasi Z-source inverter is developed in which the proposed control can operate with a fixed switching frequency without a weighting factor. The simplified space vector modulation uses the three appropriate switching vectors that are selected and applied using precalculated switching times during each switching period, in which the required switching vectors are determined only from one sector in the space vector diagram, taking all of the information of the other sectors, which leads to reducing the computational burden. Simulation results and comparative study are used to confirm the proposed control performance for the grid-tied quasi Z-source inverter capable of tracking and generating the maximum power from PV with fast-tracking dynamics, ensuring the ac voltage desired, and better tracking of the active and reactive power reference with the lowest power ripple. The grid current harmonics were tested and conformed to the IEEE-519 standard. Additionally, the proposed simplified PDPC is experimentally validated using the Hardware-in-the-Loop emulator and the C2000TM-microcontroller-LaunchPadXL TMS320F28379D kit, establishing the usability and good result of our proposed control approach in terms of requirements.
Additive Tannins in Ruminant Nutrition: An Alternative to Achieve Sustainability in Animal Production
Authors: Fonseca Natalia Vilas Boas , Cardoso Abmael da Silva , Bahia Angélica Santos Rabelo de Souza , Messana Juliana Duarte , Vicente Eduardo Festozo , Reis Ricardo Andrade
Published: February 2023

Sustainable intensification involves maintaining ecosystem balance and increasing productivity per animal per unit area. Phytogenic additives can be used as an alternative to achieve sustainable intensification. Tannins are phenolic compounds present in plants that are classified according to their chemical structure into hydrolyzable and condensed compounds. When added to ruminant diets, condensed tannins exert effects on rumen fermentation, such as a reduction in rumen protein degradation and enteric methane production per unit of dry matter ingested, and may also improve weight gain. The advantage of this mechanism is that it increases dietary protein utilization, reduces nitrogen excretion in urine, and reduces nitrous oxide emissions. However, the positive effects of these compounds as nutritional additives require further investigation. Therefore, the objective of this review is to demonstrate the results hitherto known of the use of condensed tannins in ruminant nutrition. The use of tannins can result in both positive and negative effects, depending on the sources and doses administered.
Energy Hogs and Misers: Magnitude and Variability of Individuals’ Household Electricity Consumption
Authors: Bustamante Claudia , Bird Stephen , Legault Lisa , Powers Susan E.
Published: February 2023

We use circuit-level granular electricity measurements from student housing and statistical analysis to better understand individuals’ electricity consumption. Two key patterns emerged—individuals varied systematically in their magnitude of electricity use as well as in their variability of usage at the hourly and daily level. A cluster analysis of electricity consumption in individual bedrooms shows that 18% of students consume 48% of total electricity use at a median of 2.17 kWh/d/person. These few energy hogs have a disproportionate impact on electricity consumption. In contrast, the misers (22% of students) consume only 4% of the electricity (0.18 kWh/d/person). Mini-refrigerators in bedrooms contributed substantially to the total electricity use of the moderate users. In contrast, mini-refrigerators were less influential for energy hogs, suggesting that these residents may draw power in others ways, such as by using powerful computing or gaming systems for hours each day. A sub-cluster analysis revealed substantial individual variability in hourly usage profiles. Some energy hogs use electricity consistently throughout the day, while others have specific periods of high consumption. We demonstrate how our analysis is generalizable to other situations where the resident does not directly pay their utility bills and thus has limited financial incentive to conserve, and how it contributes to a deeper understanding of the different ways in which individuals use energy. This allows for targeting interventions to groups with similar patterns of consumption. For example, policies such as fines or fees that might reduce the excessive electricity use for short times or for individual hogs could result in potential savings ranging from 16–33% of bedroom electricity.
Stepping towards the Green Transition: Challenges and Opportunities of Estonian Companies
Authors: Kekkonen Aleksandra , Pesor Renee , Täks Marge
Published: February 2023

Addressing the sustainability crisis requires innovative approaches such as sustainable technological entrepreneurship. The case of Estonia, as an example of a twin (digital and green) transition, is examined. We explored Estonian entrepreneurs’ perceptions of challenges and opportunities related to the green transition. The data were collected via an online survey from 532 Estonian companies, focus groups, and individual semi-structured interviews with 42 experts. Survey data were analyzed using proportional odds logistic regression, and interview data were examined using thematic analysis. Based on the interview findings, the main perceived entrepreneurial opportunities related to green transitions were increasing production efficiency and favoring taxation for green products and services. The main challenges included losing competitive advantage, coping with crises, and the need for long-term planning and significant investments. Survey findings revealed that too much pressure only from politicians and a lack of innovation might increase the likelihood of perceived company cost increases. More pressure from other stakeholders and increased innovation were associated with higher odds of viewing the green transition as an opportunity. This study provides valuable insights into the perceptions of Estonian entrepreneurs regarding the challenges and opportunities of the green transition and contributes to their categorization.
Investigating Undergraduate Student Experiences of NEE Courses in Guangdong, China during the COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020 to 2021
Authors: Xing Yongkang , Xie Tiande , Shell Jethro , Fahy Conor
Published: February 2023

New Engineering Education (NEE) has become increasingly important in higher education in China. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced higher education institutions to adopt online and hybrid modes of instruction globally, with Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) becoming a primary educational tool. In this paper, we explore the impacts of online/hybrid modes on NEE courses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the rapid transition to online/hybrid modes may have negatively affected students due to insufficient preparation by teachers. This hypothesis was tested through an investigation involving 787 students conducted in 2020 and 2021. The results indicated that, while most students considered online/hybrid modes a helpful tool for their studies, 28.69–36.74% of participants reported significant issues. Through one-to-one interviews with negative/neutral attitude students, we found that insufficient and burdensome communication/interaction with classmates and teachers was the main contributor to these issues. We conclude by proposing a conceptual path to address the issues raised in the study, as well as offering the obtained results as a critical reference for educational researchers seeking to improve the quality of online/hybrid courses and contribute to the field of education.
Empirical Investigation of the Motivation and Perception of Tourists Visiting the Apuseni Nature Park (Romania) and the Relationship of Tourism and Natural Resources
Authors: Telbisz Tamás , Imecs Zoltán , Máthé András , Mari László
Published: February 2023

As part of an international project, national parks and nature parks established in karst regions are examined, with a primary focus on how local residents, visitors and influential figures (i.e., park managers, mayors) perceive the advantages and disadvantages of a specific park. The study area in this paper is the Apuseni Nature Park (Romania). The main natural resources of this park are: the karst (morphology and hydrology), the forests and the landscape. In order to explore the perception and motivation of tourists visiting the park, a field survey using a convenience sampling strategy was conducted in 2019 and 2021 at eleven sites in the park. The results show that among the motivations, the “search for relaxation” option is the most frequently selected (43%), but “interest in caves” (34%) and “interest in karst terrains” (29%) were also relatively popular. In terms of public support for potential developments, one positive result of the questionnaire is that developments involving sustainability and nature conservation (visitor centre, education trails and viewpoints) enjoy significantly more support than developments that put a strain on the environment (adventure parks and expansion of entertainment facilities). The awareness of geotourism should be improved, but even at the current level it can be said that geotourists are an important segment of the park’s visitors. A careful development of tourism can be recommended for the park, but it must ensure that the principles of sustainability are taken into account during the developments. Given the environmental and economic challenges, strengthening the organization of the park is suggested in order to better protect the threatened natural resources.
Islamic Home Finance in the UK: A Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling Approach
Authors: Ahmed Tanveer , Kabir Sarkar , Aziz Aqsa , Alhassan Yahaya
Published: February 2023

Previous studies assessing the prospects for Islamic home finance in the UK appear to be outdated, predominantly customer-oriented and lacking industry views. This study developed an up-to-date conceptual framework comprising four predicting constructs: extendibility, accessibility, affordability and authenticity, with the target construct being the prospects for Islamic home finance in the UK. The framework was assessed using a sample of 144 mortgage consultants selected through expert sampling. The findings revealed that authenticity had the greatest direct effect on prospects, followed by accessibility. In contrast, the effect of affordability on prospects was found to be insignificant. The mediation analysis showed that extendibility had a significant indirect effect on prospects via the accessibility construct. The multi-group analysis revealed no significant differences between experienced and novice mortgage consultants. Results of the post-hoc importance–performance matrix analysis (IPMA) identified authenticity as the high-priority development area, whereas the affordability of Islamic home finance was found in a low-priority zone. These results, derived from mortgage brokers, along with the combined application of PLS-SEM and IPMA, offer a more robust and industry-driven assessment of the prospects for Islamic home finance in the UK. These industry-driven and up-to-date findings provide valuable directions for policymakers and Islamic banks offering home financing in the UK and contribute new and extensive insights to the existing literature in this field.
Chinese Path to Sports Modernization: Fitness-for-All (Chinese) and a Development Model for Developing Countries
Authors: Li Jiaomu , Wan Bin , Yao Yaping , Bu Te , Li Ping , Zhang Yang
Published: February 2023

This policy review overviews the Chinese path to sports modernization within the theoretical framework of the Chinese path to modernization, which is centered on the principle of Fitness-for-All. Over a century of endeavors, the modernization of sports in China has created a new and comprehensive sports civilization in a developing country with a large population and inadequate sports resources. The essence of the Chinese path to sports modernization can be summarized as a people-centered process of sports modernization led by the Communist Party of China that relies on a top-level design with universal participation and seeks to develop a diverse global sports governance. The development of Chinese sports will not only make a transformative contribution to China’s commitment to its second Century Goal, but it will also provide a renaissance for the ancient Chinese philosophy of health first into a people-centered modernization theory, and contribute a Chinese blueprint for the pursuit of the advancement of cross-cultural, diverse world sports civilizations and sustainable development goals.
Biochar Application Maintains Photosynthesis of Cabbage by Regulating Stomatal Parameters in Salt-Stressed Soil
Authors: Chen Ruixia , Zheng Lijian , Zhao Jinjiang , Ma Juanjuan , Li Xufeng
Published: February 2023

Salinity is one of the main abiotic stresses, and the stomatal conductance (gs) is an important physiological index in plants that is used to measure their responses to salt stress, as stomatal closure leads to lower yields. However, the factors that affect the gs after biochar application in saline soil remain unclear. To explore the stomatal adaptation mechanisms of facility vegetables under salt stress after the addition of biochar, Chinese cabbage was selected for the pot experiment in this study. The soil and plant Na+ and K+ concentrations, water status, and plant stomatal parameters were measured following treatments with different salt concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mM) and biochar application rates (0, 2, and 4%). The results showed that salt stress induced the physiological closure of the stomata in Chinese cabbage. Compared with the salt-stress treatment without biochar, the biochar application significantly increased the plant gs (20.29–128.79%). Moreover, in the biochar treatment, the open state of the stomata was maintained by sustaining the plant osmotic adjustment, reducing the abscisic acid (ABA) content, and improving the water status. The Na+/K+ ratio had the most pronounced effect on the stomata (0.702). The actual photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (ΦPSII) and electron transport rate (ETR) of the Chinese cabbage increased by 0.75–3.41% and 0.65–2.88%, respectively, after the biochar application, which supported the photosynthetic capacity and yield formation. According to the current findings, biochar application can mitigate salt stress and regulate stomatal opening, thereby improving the photosynthesis and the overall yield of Chinese cabbage. Therefore, the application of biochar is a promising method to maintain the productivity of Chinese cabbage under salt stress.
Capital Structure and Corporates Financial Sustainability: Evidence from Listed Non-Financial Entities in Ghana
Authors: Kong Yusheng , Donkor Mary , Musah Mohammed , Nkyi Joseph Akwasi , Ampong George Oppong Appiagyei
Published: February 2023

This study examined the nexus between capital structure and the financial sustainability of 28 listed non-financial firms in Ghana. Panel data for the period 2008 to 2019 was used for the analysis. From the results, the panel studied was heterogeneous and cross-sectionally dependent. In addition, the variables investigated were first-differenced stationary and cointegrated in the long term. The elasticities of the predictors were explored via the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimator. From the findings, capital structure proxied by the debt and debt-to-equity ratio improved the firms’ financial sustainability via the increase in return on equity (ROE). Also, firm size and assets growth promoted the entities’ financial sustainability in all the panels; however, the association between operational efficiency and the corporates’ sustainability was heterogeneous across panels. Finally, asset tangibility significantly impacted the firms’ financial sustainability. Based on the findings, the study recommended that authorities should opt for a capital structure mix that would minimize costs and optimize the firms’ financial sustainability when making capital structure decisions.
Spatial Spillover Effects of Internet Development on Foreign Trade in China
Authors: Yamaka Woraphon , Shi Rui , Maneejuk Paravee , Chi Chihyi
Published: February 2023

This study analyzes the spatial spillover effects of internet development on China’s foreign trade using panel data of 31 provinces in China covering 2003–2016. First, the global Moran’s I is employed to check for spatial autocorrelation in internet development. The results demonstrate a positive correlation between the internet development of the local province and the neighboring provinces during the sample period. Then, we validate the accuracy and performance of the spatial Durbin model by comparing it with two other spatial models: spatial error and spatial autoregression. The Wald and Likelihood Ratio tests confirmed the superiority of the SDM model. According to the direct and indirect effects results obtained from SDM, internet development plays an essential role in promoting local foreign trade and generates a positive spatial spillover effect on the foreign trade of neighboring provinces. The key findings suggest that China should continuously strengthen its internet infrastructure and expand its internet popularity, especially in the tertiary sector, to enhance the advantage of the internet on international trade development.
Perlite and Rice Husk Ash Re-Use As Fine Aggregates in Lightweight Aggregate Structural Concrete—Durability Assessment
Authors: Stratoura Maria C. , Lazari Gerasimina-Ersi D. , Badogiannis Efstratios G. , Papadakis Vagelis G.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, perlite mining and rice production by-products, namely run-of-mine perlite and rice husk ash, are used as fine aggregates in combination with pumice and calcareous aggregates to produce lightweight concrete. Their use is evaluated mainly in terms of the durability of the concrete, by comparing four optimized lightweight concrete mixtures of similar density and strength with a reference one of normal weight. The sorptivity due to capillary sorption, open porosity, chloride migration, penetration resistance, and freeze and thaw response were studied to evaluate the durability of the lightweight concrete. According to the experimental results, the examined mixtures developed an adequate strength in order to be classified into strength classes greater than LC25/28 and, therefore, be used in structural applications. The durability of the mixtures was also sufficient, especially as far as the chlorides’ penetration resistance is concerned, which was found to be up to 39% lower compared to the reference mixture. The sorptivity and open porosity of the LWC mixtures increased due to the porous nature of the lightweight aggregates, and the mixtures were also found to be susceptible to freeze and thaw cycles. Exceptionally, the lightweight concrete mixtures comprising pumice and perlite exhibited a lower sorptivity and resistance to chloride penetration than the standard concrete and a promising tolerance to freezing and thawing. Thus, the optimized combination of pumice and perlite is a sustainable recommendation for structural lightweight concrete production and use, promoting the wider exploitation of natural aggregates with an acceptable compromise on strength and durability.
Numerical Study of Indoor Air Quality in a University Professor’s Office
Authors: Ovando-Chacon Guillermo Efren , Ovando-Chacon Sandy Luz , Rodríguez-León Abelardo , Díaz-González Mario
Published: February 2023

Indoor air conditioning is currently a topic of much interest, not only to save energy but also due to public health issues such as pandemics. This study focuses on the thermal comfort and air quality of a closed, air-conditioned space located in an extremely hot climate. Due to noise and weather conditions, the door and window of the space are kept closed at all times. The study uses computational fluid dynamics techniques and the finite element method. Average temperatures and CO2 concentrations, as well as effectiveness for temperature and concentration distribution, are calculated for the analysis. Results indicate that supplying air away from hot walls improves air quality and thermal comfort. Furthermore, there is an optimal Reynolds number that depends on the number of people inside the space. Due to the above, it is possible to find an ideal configuration that simultaneously allows for efficient energy use, helps to avoid the adverse effects of CO2 on daily activities such as working or studying, and supports people’s health and comfort.
Challenges and Emerging Trends in Advanced Oxidation Technologies and Integration of Advanced Oxidation Processes with Biological Processes for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Ginni , Jeyakumar Rajesh Banu , Somanathan Adishkumar
Published: February 2023

One of the biggest problems the world is currently experiencing is wastewater treatment. Numerous pollutants are released into water bodies by enormous amounts of effluents from varied sources. This paper provides a concise summary of the state of the art in AOPs, biological treatment, and their efficient application for the degradation of the numerous recalcitrant organic contaminants found in wastewater. The employment of a photoreactor is necessary for the efficient execution of the majority of photocatalytic processes. This review examines the effectiveness of several reactor configurations with varying geometries. Integrating different AOPs and AOPs with biological approaches for degrading pollutants in wastewater was also discussed. It is important to emphasize that an integrated AOP/biological system produces by-products that are not hazardous, uses little energy, and completely degrades pollutants. The review also outlines the challenges and issues of wastewater treatment for an environmentally and economically feasible process.
On Cohesive Fuzzy Sets, Operations and Properties with Applications in Electromagnetic Signals and Solar Activities
Authors: Xue Xingsi , Poonia Mahima , Abdulsahib Ghaida Muttashar , Bajaj Rakesh Kumar , Khalaf Osamah Ibrahim , Dhumras Himanshu , Shukla Varun
Published: February 2023

In the present communication, a new concept of a cohesive fuzzy set (CHFS) has been proposed as a synchronized generalization of complex fuzzy sets and hesitant fuzzy sets in a systematic way. The novelty of the introduced notion lies in the selection of the best alternative among the available multiple favorable situations, where the possibility of its range is in the extended unit circle of the complex plane. We study the relationship between the CHFS and the complex intuitionistic fuzzy set (CIFS), along with validation of the obtained results. On the basis of the proposed notion, various properties, operations, and identities have been established with their necessary proof. The applications of CHFS in the process of filtering the signals for obtaining the reference signal using the necessary Fourier cosine transform or inverse Fourier cosine transform and identifying the maximum number of sunspots in a particular interval of solar activity have been suitably discussed with illustrative numerical examples. Some advantages of incorporating the proposed notion have also been tabulated for better understanding.
A Promising Glass Type in Electronic and Laser Applications: Elastic Moduli, Mechanical, and Photon Transmission Properties of WO3 Reinforced Ternary-Tellurite Glasses
Authors: ALMisned Ghada , Rabaa Elaf , Rammah Yasser S. , Khattari Ziad Y. , Baykal Duygu Sen , Ilik Erkan , Kilic Gokhan , Zakaly Hesham M. H. , Ene Antoaneta , Tekin Huseyin Ozan
Published: February 2023

We report the symmetry of mechanical and gamma-ray attenuation properties for some tellurite glasses through elastic moduli, mechanical, and transmission properties as a function of varied WO3 amount in glass configuration. Four glass samples, along with different molar compositions as well as WO3/GdF3 substitution ratios, are investigated. Transmission properties using several essential parameters, such as attenuation coefficients, half-value layers, effective atomic numbers, effective conductivity, and buildup factors, are calculated in the 0.015–15 MeV energy range. Moreover, elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratios (σ) of the studied glass are calculated using the Makishima–Mackenzie model. The M4 sample with the highest WO3 addition is found with superior photon attenuation properties among the glasses investigated. Poisson’s ratio (σ) is increased, while all elastic moduli are decreased. Young’s modulus is reported as 62.23 GPa and 36.45.37 GPa at the highest and lowest WO3 mol%, respectively. It can be concluded that WO3 is a functional and monotonic tool in ternary-tellurite glasses for multiple modifications and enhancement purposes on gamma-ray attenuation, elastic moduli, and mechanical properties. It can also be concluded that increasing the WO3 amount in tellurite glasses may be considered a tool in terms of providing symmetry for mechanical and gamma-ray attenuation properties.
Pasteurian Contributions to the Study of Bordetella pertussis Toxins
Authors: Locht Camille
Published: February 2023

As a tribute to Louis Pasteur on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, this article summarizes the main contributions of scientists from Pasteur Institutes to the current knowledge of toxins produced by Bordetella pertussis. The article therefore focuses on publications authored by researchers from Pasteur Institutes and is not intended as a systematic review of B. pertussis toxins. Besides identifying B. pertussis as the causative agent of whooping cough, Pasteurians have made several major contributions with respect to the structure–function relationship of the Bordetella lipo-oligosaccharide, adenylyl cyclase toxin and pertussis toxin. In addition to contributing to the understanding of these toxins’ mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels and their role in pathogenesis, scientists at Pasteur Institutes have also exploited potential applications of the gathered knowledge of these toxins. These applications range from the development of novel tools to study protein–protein interactions over the design of novel antigen delivery tools, such as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine candidates against cancer and viral infection, to the development of a live attenuated nasal pertussis vaccine. This scientific journey from basic science to applications in the field of human health matches perfectly with the overall scientific objectives outlined by Louis Pasteur himself.
Barriers and Facilitators to HIV Treatment Adherence in Indonesia: Perspectives of People Living with HIV and HIV Service Providers
Authors: Hutahaean Bona S. H. , Stutterheim Sarah E. , Jonas Kai J.
Published: February 2023

HIV treatment adherence in Indonesia is a major challenge. Although previous studies have demonstrated several barriers and facilitators to adherence, studies providing a comprehensive analysis from both PLHIV and HIV service providers’ perspectives are limited, especially in Indonesia. In this qualitative study with 30 people living with HIV on treatment (PLHIV-OT) and 20 HIV service providers (HSPs), we explored, via online interviews, the barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence using a socioecological approach. Both PLHIV-OT and HSPs reported stigma as a major barrier at each socioecological level, including public stigma at the societal level, stigma in healthcare settings, and self-stigma at the intrapersonal level. Stigma reduction must therefore be prioritized. PLHIV-OT and HSPs also reported support from significant others and HSPs as the foremost facilitators to ART adherence. The enablement of support networks is thus an important key to improved ART adherence. Overall, the societal level and health system barriers to ART adherence should be addressed in order to remove barriers and enhance the facilitators at the subordinate socioecological levels.
Discrepancy in Response of Mouse Dendritic Cells against BCG: Weak Immune Effects of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Compared to Classical Dendritic Cells despite the Uptake of Bacilli
Authors: Meng Chuang , Liu Jun , Kang Xilong , Xu Zhengzhong , Xu Shuangyuan , Li Xin , Pan Zhiming , Chen Xiang , Jiao Xinan
Published: February 2023

Tuberculosis (TB), a zoonosis characterized by chronic respiratory infections, is mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is associated with one of the heaviest disease burdens in the world. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role and act as a bridge between innate and adaptive immune responses against TB. DCs are divided into distinct subsets. Currently, the response of DCs to mycobacterial infections is poorly understood. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the responses of splenic conventional DCs (cDC) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDC), subsets to Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) infection in mice. Splenic pDC had a significantly higher infection rate and intracellular bacterial count than cDC and the CD8+ and CD8− cDC subsets after BCG infection. However, the expression levels of CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC-II molecules were significantly upregulated in splenic cDC and the CD8 cDC subsets compared to pDC during BCG infection. Splenic cDC had a higher expression of IFN-γ and IL-12p70 than pDC, whereas pDC had higher levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 than cDC in mice infected with BCG. At early stages of immunization with BCG containing the Ag85A protein, splenic cDC and pDC could present the Ag85A peptide to a specific T hybridoma; however, cDC had a stronger antigen presenting activity than pDC. In summary, splenic cDC and pDC extensively participate in mouse immune responses against BCG infection in vivo. Although pDC had a higher BCG uptake, cDC induced stronger immunological effects, including activation and maturation, cytokine production, and antigen presentation.