bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron Homeostasis Disruption and Oxidative Stress in Preterm Newborns
Authors: Raffaeli Genny , Manzoni Francesca , Cortesi Valeria , Cavallaro Giacomo , Mosca Fabio , Ghirardello Stefano
Published: May 2020

Iron is an essential micronutrient for early development, being involved in several cellular processes and playing a significant role in neurodevelopment. Prematurity may impact on iron homeostasis in different ways. On the one hand, more than half of preterm infants develop iron deficiency (ID)/ID anemia (IDA), due to the shorter duration of pregnancy, early postnatal growth, insufficient erythropoiesis, and phlebotomy losses. On the other hand, the sickest patients are exposed to erythrocytes transfusions, increasing the risk of iron overload under conditions of impaired antioxidant capacity. Prevention of iron shortage through placental transfusion, blood-sparing practices for laboratory assessments, and iron supplementation is the first frontier in the management of anemia in preterm infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the administration of 2 mg/kg/day of oral elemental iron to human milk-fed preterm infants from one month of age to prevent ID. To date, there is no consensus on the type of iron preparations, dosages, or starting time of administration to meet optimal cost-efficacy and safety measures. We will identify the main determinants of iron homeostasis in premature infants, elaborate on iron-mediated redox unbalance, and highlight areas for further research to tailor the management of iron metabolism.
Reply to Comments on the editor Re: Carsten Posovszky et al. “Roles of Lactose and Fructose Malabsorption and Dietary Outcomes in Children Presenting with Chronic Abdominal Pain.”, Nutrients 2019, 11(12), 3063
Authors: Posovszky Carsten , Roesler Vreni , Becker Sebastian , Iven Enno , Hudert Christian , Ebinger Friedrich , Calvano Claudia , Warschburger Petra
Published: May 2020

We would like to thank Drs [...]
Fish Oil Enriched Intravenous Lipid Emulsions Reduce Triglyceride Levels in Non-Critically Ill Patients with TPN and Type 2 Diabetes. A Post-Hoc Analysis of the INSUPAR Study
Authors: Abuín-Fernández Jose , Tapia-Guerrero María José , López-Urdiales Rafael , Herranz-Antolín Sandra , García-Almeida Jose Manuel , García-Malpartida Katherine , Ferrer-Gómez Mercedes , Cancer-Minchot Emilia , Luengo-Pérez Luis Miguel , Álvarez-Hernández Julia , Aragón Valera Carmen , Ocón-Bretón Julia , García-Manzanares Álvaro , Bretón-Lesmes Irene , Serrano-Aguayo Pilar , Pérez-Ferre Natalia , López-Gómez Juan José , Olivares-Alcolea Josefina , Arraiza-Irigoyen Carmen , Tejera-Pérez Cristina , Martínez-González Jorge Daniel , Urioste-Fondo Ana , Abad-González Ángel Luis , Molina-Puerta María José , Zugasti-Murillo Ana , Parra-Barona Juan , López-Cobo Irela , Olveira Gabriel
Published: May 2020

There are no studies that have specifically assessed the role of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILE) enriched with fish oil in people with diabetes receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic control (glycemic and lipid) and in-hospital complications that occurred in non-critically ill inpatients with TPN and type 2 diabetes with regard to the use of fish oil emulsions compared with other ILEs. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Insulin in Parenteral Nutrition (INSUPAR) trial that included patients who started with TPN for any cause and that would predictably continue with TPN for at least five days. The study included 161 patients who started with TPN for any cause. There were 80 patients (49.7%) on fish oil enriched ILEs and 81 patients (50.3%) on other ILEs. We found significant decreases in triglyceride levels in the fish oil group compared to the other patients. We did not find any differences in glucose metabolic control: mean capillary glucose, glycemic variability, and insulin dose, except in the number of mild hypoglycemic events that was significantly higher in the fish oil group. We did not observe any differences in other metabolic, liver or infectious complications, in-hospital length of stay or mortality.
Role of the Proportional Intake of Fortified Mother’s Own Milk in the Weight Gain Pattern of Their Very-Preterm-Born Infants
Authors: Petrova Anna , Eccles Shannon , Mehta Rajeev
Published: May 2020

Breastfeeding has been recommended for preterm infants as the optimal diet from nutritional, gastrointestinal, immunological, and developmental perspectives. However, the relevance of differing intakes of fortified mother’s own milk (MOM) on the growth of their preterm infants is a challenging question because of the potential risk of extrauterine growth impairment, apart from its essential role in the provision of biological and immunological factors, and the reduction of serious morbidities. We aimed to identify the weight gain pattern in very-preterm-born infants with respect to their proportional intake of fortified MOM. The daily and average weight gain, dietary volume, calories, and proportional intake of fortified MOM were studied in a cohort of 84 very-preterm-born infants during the first 2 weeks post initiation of full enteral feeds. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were comprised of infants with a proportional fortified MOM intake of 85% or more, 35% to 84.9%, and 0 to 34.9%, respectively. Data analysis included regression models and a group-based comparison of the number of infants with weight gain that would be considered minimally acceptable for normal intrauterine growth. The infants’ weight gain was not found to be associated with the proportional intake of fortified MOM or other feeding parameters. Overall, the intergroup variability in the proportion of infants with weight gain less than the lower limit of normal fetal growth was insignificant. During the first 2 weeks post initiation of full enteral feeds, the weight gain pattern of the studied very-preterm-born infants was not significantly dependent on the proportional intake of fortified maternal milk.
Food Insecurity during Pregnancy in a Maternal–Infant Cohort in Brazilian Western Amazon
Authors: Ramalho Alanderson A. , Holanda Cibely M. , Martins Fernanda A. , Rodrigues Bárbara T.C. , Aguiar Débora M. , Andrade Andréia M. , Koifman Rosalina J.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with food insecurity during gestation in a maternal–infant cohort in Brazilian Western Amazon. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with parturients from a maternal–infant cohort in Rio Branco, located in the Western Brazilian Amazon. The dependent variable food insecurity (FI) was obtained through the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity, and associated factors were identified through multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of FI in pregnancy was of 34.8%. Regarding severity, the prevalence of mild food insecurity was 24.6%, moderate food insecurity was 4.8%, and severe food insecurity was 5.4%. The factors directly associated with FI were the presence of open sewage in the peridomestic environment; belonging to the lower economic classes; being an income transfer program beneficiary, while the factors inversely associated with FI were schooling equal to or greater than 8 years; having a partner; primigestation; and regular consumption of fruits and vegetables during pregnancy. These findings reinforce the need for the ratification of actions aimed at the domestic economy in the income transfer programs and the development of actions of food and nutritional education in the gestational period.
Consumption of Biscuits with a Beverage of Mulberry or Barley Leaves in the Afternoon Prevents Dinner-Induced High, but Not Low, Increases in Blood Glucose among Young Adults
Authors: Kuwahara Mai , Kim Hyeon-Ki , Ozaki Mamiho , Nanba Takuya , Chijiki Hanako , Fukazawa Mayuko , Okubo Jin , Mineshita Yui , Takahashi Masaki , Shibata Shigenobu
Published: May 2020

We examined the impact of consuming biscuits with a beverage of powdered mulberry or barley leaves in the afternoon on postprandial glucose levels at dinnertime among young adults. A total of 18 young adults participated in a partially double-blinded, randomized crossover trial over 2 weeks, consuming either: (1) no biscuits; (2) a biscuit; (3) a biscuit with a beverage of powdered mulberry leaves; or (4) a biscuit with a beverage of powdered barley leaves, as an afternoon snack followed by a standardized test dinner. Glucose levels were recorded after each meal. Results showed intake of biscuits with a beverage of mulberry and barley leaves significantly reduced postprandial rises in glucose after their immediate consumption and dinner, though there was no direct relationship between the glucose levels at the two meals. Compared to those with low glucose levels, participants with high glucose levels at dinner showed a stronger second meal effect, that was attributed to the mulberry or barley leaves, and were also more likely to have lean body weights and prefer evenings. Our findings indicate that eating snacks alongside mulberry or barley leaves is an effective way to suppress postprandial glucose levels in young adults with high glucose levels who prefer evenings.
HD-FFQ to Detect Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities for a Multiethnic Asian Dialysis Population
Authors: Md Ali Mohammad Syafiq , Yeak Zu-Wei , Khor Ban-Hock , Sahathevan Sharmela , Sualeheen Ayesha , Lim Jun-Hao , Adanan Nurul Iman Hafizah , Abdul Gafor Abdul Halim , Zakaria Nor Fadhlina , Khosla Pramod , Karupaiah Tilakavati , Daud Zulfitri Azuan Mat
Published: May 2020

A rapid and reliable tool appropriate to quantifying macronutrient and micronutrient intakes in diets consumed by Malaysian hemodialysis (HD) patients is lacking. We aimed to develop and validate a novel HD-food frequency questionnaire (HD-FFQ) to assess habitual nutritional intakes of HD patients with diverse ethnic backgrounds. This study was conducted in three phases. In Phase I, a HD-FFQ comprising 118 food items was developed using 3-day diet recalls (3DDR) from 388 HD patients. Phase II was the face and content validation using the Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI). After successfully developing the FFQ, Phase III tested relative validation against a reference method, the 3DDR. Results from Phase III showed that the mean difference for absolute intakes of nutrients assessed by HD-FFQ and 3DDR were significant (p < 0.05). However, there was a significant correlation between the HD-FFQ and reference method ranging from 0.35–0.47 (p < 0.05). Cross-quartile classification showed that <10% of patients were grossly misclassified. In conclusion, the HD-FFQ has an acceptable relative validity in assessing and ranking the dietary intake of the HD patients in Malaysia.
Oral Intake of Hydrangea serrata (Thunb.) Ser. Leaves Extract Improves Wrinkles, Hydration, Elasticity, Texture, and Roughness in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Myung Da-Bin , Lee Jeong-Hun , Han Hee-Soo , Lee Kwang-Young , Ahn Hye Shin , Shin Yu-Kyong , Song Eunjung , Kim Bo-Hyung , Lee Kwang Hoon , Lee Sun Hee , Lee Kyung-Tae
Published: May 2020

Previously, we reported that the hot water extract of Hydrangea serrata leaves (WHS) and its active component, hydrangenol, possess in vitro and in vivo effects on skin wrinkles and moisturization. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to clinically evaluate the effect of WHS on human skin. Participants (n = 151) were randomly assigned to receive either WHS 300 mg, WHS 600 mg, or placebo, once daily for 12 weeks. Skin wrinkle, hydration, elasticity, texture, and roughness parameters were assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo, skin wrinkles were significantly reduced in both WHS groups after 8 and 12 weeks. In both WHS groups, five parameters (R1–R5) of skin wrinkles significantly improved and skin hydration was significantly enhanced when compared to the placebo group after 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, three parameters of skin elasticity, including overall elasticity (R2), net elasticity (R5), and ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation (R7), improved after 12 weeks of oral WHS (600 mg) administration. Changes in skin texture and roughness were significantly reduced in both WHS groups. No WHS-related adverse reactions were reported. Hence, WHS could be used as a health supplement for skin anti-aging.
Excess Ascorbate is a Chemical Stress Agent against Proteins and Cells
Authors: Lehene Maria , Fischer-Fodor Eva , Scurtu Florina , Hădade Niculina D. , Gal Emese , Mot Augustin C. , Matei Alina , Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu
Published: May 2020

Excess ascorbate (as expected in intravenous treatment proposed for COVID-19 management, for example) oxidizes and/or degrades hemoglobin and albumin, as evidenced by UV-vis spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. It also degrades hemoglobin in intact blood or in isolated erythrocytes. The survival rates and metabolic activities of several leukocyte subsets implicated in the antiviral cellular immune response are also affected. Excess ascorbate is thus an unselective biological stress agent.
Different Drought Legacies of Rain-Fed and Irrigated Croplands in a Typical Russian Agricultural Region
Authors: He Yuanhuizi , Chen Fang , Jia Huicong , Wang Lei , Bondur Valery G.
Published: May 2020

Droughts are one of the primary natural disasters that affect agricultural economies, as well as the fire hazards of territories. Monitoring and researching droughts is of great importance for agricultural disaster prevention and reduction. The research significance of investigating the hysteresis of agricultural to meteorological droughts is to provide an important reference for agricultural drought monitoring and early warnings. Remote sensing drought monitoring indices can be employed for rapid and accurate drought monitoring at regional scales. In this paper, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices and the surface temperature product are used as the data sources. Calculating the temperature vegetation drought index (TVDI) and constructing a comprehensive drought disaster index (CDDI) based on the crop growth period allowed drought conditions and spatiotemporal evolution patterns in the Volgograd region in 2010 and 2012 to be effectively monitored. The causes of the drought were then analyzed based on the sensitivity of a drought to meteorological factors in rain-fed and irrigated lands. Finally, the lag time of agricultural to meteorological droughts and the hysteresis in different growth periods were analyzed using statistical analyses. The research shows that (1) the main drought patterns in 2010 were spring droughts from April to May and summer droughts from June to August, and the primary drought patterns in 2012 were spring droughts from April to June, with an affected area that reached 3.33% during the growth period; (2) local drought conditions are dominated by the average surface temperature factor. Rain-fed lands are sensitive to the temperature and are therefore prone to summer droughts. Irrigated lands are more sensitive to water shortages in the spring and less sensitive to extremely high temperature conditions; (3) there is a certain lag between meteorological and agricultural droughts during the different growth stages. The strongest lag relationship was found in the planting stage and the weakest one was found in the dormancy stage. Therefore, the meteorological drought index in the growth period has a better predictive ability for agricultural droughts during the appropriately selected growth stages.
Novel Remote Sensing Index of Electron Transport Rate Predicts Primary Production and Crop Health in L. sativa and Z. mays
Authors: Liran Oded , Shir Ofer M. , Levy Shai , Grunfeld Ariel , Shelly Yuval
Published: May 2020

Photosynthesis performance can be assessed quantitatively with light response curves. These curves record the Electron Transport Rate (ETR) as a function of light intensity. Then, statistical fit on these curves parameterize light use efficiency, maximum photosynthetic activity and the reaction of the apparatus to stress. While this technique is performed with portable fluorometers in field conditions, it is difficult to scale it to the canopy level. The Fraunhofer line discrimination technique, which detects fluorescence signals emitted during photosynthesis, is a promising method to assess photosynthetic performance of canopies. In this study, we define a remote sensing ETR index based on a combination of three parameters: sun-induced fluorescence, normalized differential vegetation index and light intensity. Two representatives of C3 and C4 photosynthesis, L. sativa and Z. mays, experienced a fertilization concentrations gradient. ETR increased with light intensity in both crops. In L. sativa, ETR assumed a linear relationship between the photosynthetic activity and light intensity, with a correlation of R2 = 0.99 to the portable fluorometer. Additional parametrization revealed a resilience of its reaction centers to photoinhibition in maximum light intensities. When Z. mays experienced open field conditions, ETR correlated with the plant’s status. While the results of this study are promising, the index still requires validation in terms of temporal track and spatial variability.
Montmorillonite Estimation in Clay–Quartz–Calcite Samples from Laboratory SWIR Imaging Spectroscopy: A Comparative Study of Spectral Preprocessings and Unmixing Methods
Authors: Ducasse Etienne , Adeline Karine , Briottet Xavier , Hohmann Audrey , Bourguignon Anne , Grandjean Gilles
Published: May 2020

Clay minerals play an important role in shrinking–swelling of soils and off–road vehicle mobility mainly due to the presence of smectites including montmorillonites. Since soils are composed of different minerals intimately mixed, an accurate estimation of its abundance is challenging. Imaging spectroscopy in the short wave infrared spectral region (SWIR) combined with unmixing methods is a good candidate to estimate clay mineral abundance. However, the performance of unmixing methods is mineral-dependent and may be enhanced by using appropriate spectral preprocessings. The objective of this paper is to carry out a comparative study in order to determine the best couple spectral preprocessing/unmixing method to quantify montmorillonite in intimate mixtures with clays, such as montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite, and no-clay minerals, such as calcite and quartz. To this end, a spectral database is built with laboratory hyperspectral imagery from 51 dry pure mineral samples and intimate mineral mixtures of controlled abundances. Six spectral preprocessings, standard normal variate (SNV), continuum removal (CR), continuous wavelet transform (CWT), Hapke model, first derivative (1st SGD) and pseudo–absorbance (Log(1/R)), are applied and compared with reflectance spectra. Two linear unmixing methods, fully constrained least square method (FCLS) and multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA), and two non-linear unmixing methods, generalized bilinear method (GBM) and multi-linear model (MLM), are compared. Global results showed that the benefit of spectral preprocessings occurs when spectral absorption features of minerals overlap for SNV, CR, CWT and 1st SGD, whereas the use of reflectance spectra performs the best when no overlap is present. With one mineral having no spectral feature (quartz), montmorillonite abundance estimation is difficult and gives RMSE higher than 50%. For the other mixtures, performances of linear and non-linear unmixing methods are similar. Consequently, the recommended couple spectral preprocessing/unmixing method based on the trade-off between its simplicity and performance is 1st SGD/FCLS for clay binary and ternary mixtures (RMSE of 9.2% for montmorillonite–illite mixtures, 13.9% for montmorillonite–kaolinite mixtures and 10.8% for montmorillonite–illite–kaolinite mixtures) and reflectance/FCLS for binary mixtures with calcite (RMSE of 8.8% for montmorillonite–calcite mixtures). These performances open the way to improve the classification of expansive soils.
Review: Deep Learning on 3D Point Clouds
Authors: Bello Saifullahi Aminu , Yu Shangshu , Wang Cheng , Adam Jibril Muhmmad , Li Jonathan
Published: May 2020

A point cloud is a set of points defined in a 3D metric space. Point clouds have become one of the most significant data formats for 3D representation and are gaining increased popularity as a result of the increased availability of acquisition devices, as well as seeing increased application in areas such as robotics, autonomous driving, and augmented and virtual reality. Deep learning is now the most powerful tool for data processing in computer vision and is becoming the most preferred technique for tasks such as classification, segmentation, and detection. While deep learning techniques are mainly applied to data with a structured grid, the point cloud, on the other hand, is unstructured. The unstructuredness of point clouds makes the use of deep learning for its direct processing very challenging. This paper contains a review of the recent state-of-the-art deep learning techniques, mainly focusing on raw point cloud data. The initial work on deep learning directly with raw point cloud data did not model local regions; therefore, subsequent approaches model local regions through sampling and grouping. More recently, several approaches have been proposed that not only model the local regions but also explore the correlation between points in the local regions. From the survey, we conclude that approaches that model local regions and take into account the correlation between points in the local regions perform better. Contrary to existing reviews, this paper provides a general structure for learning with raw point clouds, and various methods were compared based on the general structure. This work also introduces the popular 3D point cloud benchmark datasets and discusses the application of deep learning in popular 3D vision tasks, including classification, segmentation, and detection.
The Performance Analysis of INS/GNSS/V-SLAM Integration Scheme Using Smartphone Sensors for Land Vehicle Navigation Applications in GNSS-Challenging Environments
Authors: Chiang Kai-Wei , Le Dinh Thuan , Duong Thanh Trung , Sun Rui
Published: May 2020

Modern smartphones contain embedded global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), inertial measurement units (IMUs), cameras, and other sensors which are capable of providing user position, velocity, and attitude. However, it is difficult to utilize the actual navigation performance capabilities of smartphones due to the low-cost and disparate sensors, software technologies adopted by manufacturers, and the significant influence of environmental conditions. In this study, we proposed a scheme that integrated sensor data from smartphone IMUs, GNSS chipsets, and cameras using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) to enhance the navigation performance. The visual data from the camera was preprocessed using oriented FAST (Features from accelerated segment test) and rotated BRIEF (Binary robust independent elementary features)-simultaneous localization and mapping (ORB-SLAM), rescaled by applying GNSS measurements, and converted to velocity data before being utilized to update the integration filter. In order to verify the performance of the integrated system, field test data was collected in a downtown area of Tainan City, Taiwan. Experimental results indicated that visual data contributed significantly to improving the accuracy of the navigation performance, demonstrating improvements of 43.0% and 51.3% in position and velocity, respectively. It was verified that the proposed integrated system, which used data from smartphone sensors, was efficient in terms of increasing navigation accuracy in GNSS-challenging environments.
Assessing the Accuracy of Multiple Classification Algorithms for Crop Classification Using Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Data
Authors: Chakhar Amal , Ortega-Terol Damián , Hernández-López David , Ballesteros Rocío , Ortega José F. , Moreno Miguel A.
Published: May 2020

The launch of Sentinel-2A and B satellites has boosted the development of many applications that could benefit from the fine resolution of the supplied information, both in time and in space. Crop classification is a necessary task for efficient land management. We evaluated the benefits of combining Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2A information for irrigated crop classification. We also assessed the robustness and efficiency of 22 nonparametric classification algorithms for classifying irrigated crops in a semiarid region in the southeast of Spain. A parcel-based approach was proposed calculating the mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of each plot and the standard deviation to generate a calibration-testing set of data. More than 2000 visited plots for 12 different crops along the study site were utilized as ground truth. Ensemble classifiers were the most robust algorithms but not the most efficient because of their low prediction rate. Nearest neighbor methods and support vector machines have the best balance between robustness and efficiency as methods for classification. Although the F1 score is close to 90%, some misclassifications were found for spring crops (e.g., barley, wheat and peas). However, crops with quite similar cycles could be differentiated, such as purple garlic and white garlic, showing the powerfulness of the developed tool.
Future Simulation of Land Use Changes in Rapidly Urbanizing South China Based on Land Change Modeler and Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Hasan Sarah , Shi Wenzhong , Zhu Xiaolin , Abbas Sawaid , Khan Hafiz Usman Ahmed
Published: May 2020

Landscape transformations in rapidly urbanizing Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao (GHKM) regions of South China represent the most complex and dynamic processes altering the local ecology and environment. In this study, Land Change Modeler (LCM) is applied to land use land cover (LULC) maps for the years 2005, 2010, and 2017, derived from Landsat images, with the aim of understanding land use land cover change patterns during 2005–2017 and, further, to predict the future scenario of the years 2024 and 2031. Furthermore, the changes in spatial structural patterns are quantified and analyzed using selected landscape morphological metrics. The results show that the urban area has increased at an annual rate of 4.72% during 2005–2017 and will continue to rise from 10.31% (20,228.95 km2) in 2017 to 16.30% (31,994.55 km2) in 2031. This increase in urban area will encroach further into farmland and fishponds. However, forest cover will continue to increase from 45.02% (88,391.98 km2) in 2017 to 46.88% (92,049.62 km2) in 2031. This implies a decrease in the mean Euclidian nearest neighbor distance (ENN_MN) of forest patches (from 217.57 m to 206.46 m) and urban clusters (from 285.55 m to 245.06 m) during 2017–2031, indicating an accelerated landscape transformation if the current patterns of the change continues over the next decade. Thus, knowledge of the current and predicted LULC changes will help policy and decision makers to reconsider and develop new policies for the sustainable development and protection of natural resources.
Detecting and Analyzing the Increase of High-Rising Buildings to Monitor the Dynamic of the Xiong’an New Area
Authors: Li Liwei , Zhu Jinming , Gao Lianru , Cheng Gang , Zhang Bing
Published: May 2020

As an effort to monitor the urban dynamic of the Xiong’an new area, this paper proposed a novel procedure to detect the increase of High-Rising Buildings (HRBs) from multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data based on Fully Convolutional Networks. The procedure was applied to detect the increase of HRBs between 2017 and 2019 in 39 counties in the center of the Xiong’an new area. The detected increases were validated and then analyzed in terms of their quantities, spatial distribution and driving forces at the county level. The results indicate that our method can effectively detect the increase of HRBs in large urban areas. The quantity and spatial distribution of the increased HRBs varies a lot in the 39 counties. Most of the increase is located in the north-east and the mid-west of the study region. As to the driving forces, it seems that no single factor can fully explain the increase. Among the five selected factors, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and transportation accessibility have clear high impacts than others. Number of Permanent Residents (NPR) and policy follow as the secondary group. The terrain has the lowest influence on the increase. Our method provides a useful tool to dynamically monitor HRBs in large areas and also the increase of HRBs can be employed as a new indicator to characterize urban development.
A Model for the Development of Innovative Tourism Products: From Service to Transformation
Authors: Custódio Santos Margarida , Ferreira Ana , Costa Carlos , Santos José António C.
Published: May 2020

This study sought to develop a conceptual model of innovative tourism product development, because the existing models tend to provide an incomplete framework for these products’ development. The models presented to date focus on either the resources needed, the tourism experiences to be provided, or development processes. These models also tend to see the overall process as linear. The proposed model gives particular importance to the development process’s design, as well as stressing a dynamic, nonlinear approach. Based on the new services or products’ concept, project managers identify tourism destinations’ core resources, select the stakeholders, and design transformative tourism experiences. This framework can be applied to innovative tourism products or re-evaluations of existing products in order to maintain tourism destinations’ competitiveness. Thus, the model is applicable to both destination management companies and the private tourism sector.
Allocation of Environmental Impacts in Circular and Cascade Use of Resources—Incentive-Driven Allocation as a Prerequisite for Cascade Persistence
Authors: Rehberger Max , Hiete Michael
Published: May 2020

In cascade use, a resource is used consecutively in different application areas demanding less and less quality. As this practically allows using the same resource several times, cascading contributes to resource efficiency and a circular economy and, therefore, has gained interest recently. To assess the advantages of cascading and to distribute the environmental impacts arising from resource extraction/processing, potentially needed treatment and upcycling within the cascade chain and end-of-life proesses represent a difficult task within life cycle assessment and highlight the needs for a widely applicable and acceptable framework of how to allocate the impacts. To get insight into how the allocation is handled in cascades, a systematic literature review was carried out. Starting from this status quo, common allocation approaches were extracted, harmonized, and evaluated for which a generic set of criteria was deduced from the literature. Most importantly, participants must be willing to set up a cascade, which requires that for each participant, there are individual benefits, e.g., getting less environmental burdens allocated than if not joining. A game-theoretic approach based on the concept of the core and the Shapley value was presented, and the approaches were benchmarked against this in a case-study setting. Several of the approaches laid outside the core, i.e., they did not give an incentive to the participants to join the cascade in the case study. Their application for cascade use is, therefore, debatable. The core was identified as an approach for identifying suitable allocation procedures for a problem at hand, and the Shapley value identified as a slightly more complex but fair allocation procedure.
Application of Circular Economy Techniques for Design and Development of Products through Collaborative Project-Based Learning for Industrial Engineer Teaching
Authors: González-Domínguez Jaime , Sánchez-Barroso Gonzalo , Zamora-Polo Francisco , García-Sanz-Calcedo Justo
Published: May 2020

Collaborative project-based learning aims to get students to take responsibility for their knowledge processes. The objective of this research is to analyze the viability of applying circular economy techniques for the design and development of products, through learning based on collaborative projects in industrial engineering. A survey was carried out between 2015 and 2019 on final year students of industrial engineering in Spain, from five different academic years. The responses obtained were analyzed statistically. The results indicate that the students who had more previous knowledge about the circular economy, valued its relevance for the design and development of products as well as for the practice of the profession more. In addition, it was demonstrated that the implementation of circular economy strategies in the design and development of products through collaborative projects allows the acquisition of different knowledge: eco-design, product planning and distribution, reuse, recycling, etc. Moreover, most of the students considered that the circular economy should be a complementary discipline and a transversal competence.
A Sustainable Revolution: Let’s Go Sustainable to Get Our Globe Cleaner
Authors: D’Adamo Idiano , Falcone Pasquale Marcello , Martin Michael , Rosa Paolo
Published: May 2020

The concept of sustainability is a clear blue sea, a snowy mountain, a flowery meadow, in which there is resource sharing that allows us to satisfy human needs without damaging natural resources. The challenge is complex, and we hope to support the decarbonization of our society and mitigate climate changes. This Special Issue aims to outline different approaches in several sectors with a common point of view: seeing our world with a green perception and encouraging a sustainable revolution to provide a cleaner world.
CSR Disclosure: The IPO Case
Authors: Arenas-Parra Mar , Álvarez-Otero Susana
Published: May 2020

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the pillars of sustainable development. It is the key to operationalizing the strategic role of business in contributing towards the sustainability process. The fact that firms communicate their activities about economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social equity shows their commitment to society and their stakeholders. This paper analyzes the influence exerted by the composition of boards of directors on corporate social responsibility disclosure with reference to those companies that undertook an initial public offerings (IPO) in the Spanish capital market during the period 1998–2013. The empirical evidence provided by this study shows that ownership structure and board characteristics are relevant in the context of a firm’s CSR disclosure. The independent directors, non-executive directors, and large shareholder representatives affect the way in which their companies voluntarily disclose information regarding CSR. Our results lend support for a non-linear relationship between the proportion of shares in the IPO belonging to the members of the board of directors and the level of CSR reporting. We also find that the underwriter’s reputation has a positive and statistically significant influence on CSR disclosure for Spanish IPOs.
Influence of Business Commitment to Sustainability, Perceived Value Fit, and Gender in Job Seekers’ Pursuit Intentions: A Cross-Country Moderated Mediation Analysis
Authors: Carballo-Penela Adolfo , Ruzo-Sanmartín Emilio , Sousa Carlos M. P.
Published: May 2020

Recruitment messages can help organizations to attract talent by influencing job seekers perceived fit with the company. As sustainability issues have become more relevant for 21st century citizens, messages communicating companies’ commitment to sustainability can send information that could influence young job seekers perceived fit with their future organizations. This between-subjects study analyses the influence of six messages showing business commitment to sustainability on job seekers pursuit intentions, considering a sample of 265 job applicants from three countries (Spain, Kazakhstan, and Germany). We are particularly interested in studying the role of perceived value fit as a mediating mechanism, as well as the moderating role of gender. Results obtained from a between-subjects factorial design confirm that different actions showing business commitment to sustainability positively affect job seekers’ job pursuit intentions. Our findings also show that the importance of every message is different depending on the studied country. The obtained results confirm that recruitment messages showing business commitment to sustainability influence job seekers’ pursuit intensions by increasing the perceived fit between job seekers’ and business values. Finally, results show the moderating role of prospective employees’ gender in the proposed model.
Spatial Heterogeneous of Ecological Vulnerability in Arid and Semi-Arid Area: A Case of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
Authors: Li Rong , Han Rui , Yu Qianru , Qi Shuang , Guo Luo
Published: May 2020

Ecological vulnerability, as an important evaluation method reflecting regional ecological status and the degree of stability, is the key content in global change and sustainable development. Most studies mainly focus on changes of ecological vulnerability concerning the temporal trend, but rarely take arid and semi-arid areas into consideration to explore the spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) there. In this study, we selected the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on the Loess Plateau of China, a typical arid and semi-arid area, as a case to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of the EVI every five years, from 1990 to 2015. Based on remote sensing data, meteorological data, and economic statistical data, this study first evaluated the temporal‒spatial change of ecological vulnerability in the study area by Geo-information Tupu. Further, we explored the spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability using Getis-Ord Gi*. Results show that: (1) the regions with high ecological vulnerability are mainly concentrated in the north of the study area, which has high levels of economic growth, while the regions with low ecological vulnerability are mainly distributed in the relatively poor regions in the south of the study area. (2) From 1990 to 2015, ecological vulnerability showed an increasing trend in the study area. Additionally, there is significant transformation between different grades of the EVI, where the area of transformation between a slight vulnerability level and a light vulnerability level accounts for 41.56% of the transformation area. (3) Hot-spot areas of the EVI are mainly concentrated in the north of the study area, and cold-spot areas are mainly concentrated in the center and south of the study area. Spatial heterogeneity of ecological vulnerability is significant in the central and southern areas but insignificant in the north of the study area. (4) The grassland area is the main driving factor of the change in ecological vulnerability, which is also affected by both arid and semi-arid climates and ecological projects. This study can provide theoretical references for sustainable development to present feasible suggestions on protection measures and management modes in arid and semi-arid areas.
Power Grid Simulation Testbed for Transactive Energy Management Systems
Authors: Ozmen Ozgur , Nutaro James , Starke Michael , Munk Jeffrey , Roberts Larry , Kou Xiao , Im Piljae , Dong Jin , Li Fangxing , Kuruganti Teja , Zandi Helia
Published: May 2020

To effectively engage demand-side and distributed energy resources (DERs) for dynamically maintaining the electric power balance, the challenges of controlling and coordinating building equipment and DERs on a large scale must be overcome. Although several control techniques have been proposed in the literature, a significant obstacle to applying these techniques in practice is having access to an effective testing platform. Performing tests at scale using real equipment is impractical, so simulation offers the only viable route to developmental testing at scales of practical interest. Existing power-grid testbeds are unable to model individual residential end-use devices for developing detailed control formulations for responsive loads and DERs. Furthermore, they cannot simulate the control and communications at subminute timescales. To address these issues, this paper presents a novel power-grid simulation testbed for transactive energy management systems. Detailed models of primary home appliances (e.g., heating and cooling systems, water heaters, photovoltaic panels, energy storage systems) are provided to simulate realistic load behaviors in response to environmental parameters and control commands. The proposed testbed incorporates software as it will be deployed, and enables deployable software to interact with various building equipment models for end-to-end performance evaluation at scale.
E-Learning Financing Models in Russia for Sustainable Development
Authors: Nie Dayong , Panfilova Elena , Samusenkov Vadim , Mikhaylov Alexey
Published: May 2020

E-learning brings new dimensions to traditional education. This especially affects countries that, due to many factors, have historically been considered the “talent pool” for the world community. In this study, a model for financing e-education has been developed that is applicable to Russian realities. The model was built around the balance between demand (global politics, economics, and principles of sustainable development) and supply (sources of direct financing). As a result, a key challenge of improving the e-learning financing methodology and models, specifically the efficiency of government spending and private investing, demands the use of new approaches and mechanisms. To improve e-learning financing, a clear understanding of the applied purpose of public and private means is required. Responsibilities for the e-learning outcome of institutions that receive financing are linked to their status. An unclear understanding of these issues is more likely associated with the issue of transparency of financing than with inefficiency. The proposed model allows transforming the “standards” of financing both in the field of e-education and Russian education in general and presents a new vision of participants’ interaction in the educational process, taking into account a set of restrictions and market features.
Perception of the Fair Social Distribution of Benefits and Costs of a Sports Event: An Analysis of the Mediating Effect between Perceived Impacts and Future Intentions
Authors: Parra-Camacho David , Alguacil Mario , Calabuig-Moreno Ferran
Published: May 2020

Residents’ perception of a sporting event as a socially unfair phenomenon can lead to changes in residents’ behavior towards the event and future sporting events. The aim of this study is to analyze the mediating effect of the perception variable on the fair social distribution (FSD) of benefits and costs between perceived positive and negative impacts and future intentions with respect to the celebration of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. A total of 371 residents were interviewed by using a questionnaire made up of indicators referring to positive and negative impacts, FSD, and future intentions. The psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The results confirm that positive and negative impacts are significantly related to the perception of FSD, which, in turn, significantly influences future intentions. The mediating effect of FSD between perceived impacts and future intentions was also tested. The study suggests that it is important for organizers to pay attention to the social injustices and imbalances that may be associated with the holding of major sporting events in order to improve future behaviors toward sporting events.
Community Adaptive Capacity in Peri-Urban Natural Protected Areas: A Case Study Near Mexico City
Authors: Quiroz-Ibarra Ana , Torres-Lima Pablo , Conway-Gómez Kristen
Published: May 2020

Conservation of natural protected areas (NPA), including national parks (NP) in socio-ecological contexts, as spaces essential to the conservation of ecosystems can be closely linked to the adaptive capacity and resilience of the communities associated with them. To analyze the adaptive capacity of the community in Ejido Emiliano Zapata (Emerald Forest) in east peri-urban Mexico City and its influence on the sustainability of Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl National Park (NP Izta-Popo), interviews and focus groups within the framework of participatory research were used. We found that there is a close relationship between adaptative strategies of this local community and the NP Izta-Popo Management Program. Strategies such as the sustainable use of ecological resources (ecotourism) based on training, educational, and traditional tools generate economic benefits for families and ecosystem services for environmental conservation. However, the lack of coordination among local and federal institutions represents a gap that the community seeks to reduce through active participation in governance processes that directly affect environmental degradation. Thus, the adaptive capacity of this community, in a context of change and risk, plays an important role in decreasing the ecological deterioration of NP Izta-Popo through participatory, inclusive, and bidirectional approaches.
Кримінологічні особливості запобігання рецидиву злочинів неповнолітніх
Authors: Гумін О. , Якимова С.
Published: May 2020

У статті з’ясовано місце, роль і значення запобігання рецидиву злочинів у системі запобігання злочинності неповнолітніх. Встановлено, що реалізація запобігання рецидиву неповнолітніх ускладнена тим, що об’єктом запобігання є категорія дітей, які вже мають певний кримінальний досвід. Мета виправлення неповнолітнього розглядається як процес відновлення позитивного особистісного потенціалу засудженого неповнолітнього та закріплення його здатності протистояти можливим кримінальним загрозам.
Захист прав неповнолітніх засуджених: ресоціалізаційний потенціал
Authors: Максимова Н. , Красілова Ю.
Published: May 2020

Стаття присвячена вивченню проблеми захисту прав засуджених як основної умови їх ресоціалізації. Доведено, що ресоціалізаційний потенціал включає: високий рівень рефлексії; розвинену функцію прогнозу та цілепокладання; соціально спрямовані ціннісні орієнтації; достатній рівень суб’єктності; досягаючу мотивацію та асертивну поведінку.
Протидія організованій злочинності в Україні: перспективи удосконалення кримінального законодавства
Authors: Вознюк А.
Published: May 2020

У статті аналізуються переваги та недоліки нових кримінально-правових інструментів протидії організованій злочинності, які пропонуються в Проекті Закону України «Про внесення змін до Кримінального кодексу України щодо відповідальності за злочини, вчинені злочинною спільнотою» (№ 2513 від 02.12.2019). З урахуванням досвіду інших країн (насамперед Вірменії, Грузії та Росії) розроблено прогноз щодо перспектив їх застосування, а також пропозиції щодо удосконалення. Визначено основи сучасної моделі протидії організованій злочинності. Аргументовано, що вона потребує комплексного підходу з удосконалення не лише кримінального, але й інших галузей законодавства, зокрема кримінально-процесуального, кримінально-виконавчого, адміністративного тощо.