bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Learning-Based Detection of Pigment Signs for Analysis and Diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Arsalan Muhammad , Baek Na Rae , Owais Muhammad , Mahmood Tahir , Park Kang Ryoung
Published: June 2020

Ophthalmological analysis plays a vital role in the diagnosis of various eye diseases, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy. RP is a genetic retinal disorder that leads to progressive vision degeneration and initially causes night blindness. Currently, the most commonly applied method for diagnosing retinal diseases is optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based disease analysis. In contrast, fundus imaging-based disease diagnosis is considered a low-cost diagnostic solution for retinal diseases. This study focuses on the detection of RP from the fundus image, which is a crucial task because of the low quality of fundus images and non-cooperative image acquisition conditions. Automatic detection of pigment signs in fundus images can help ophthalmologists and medical practitioners in diagnosing and analyzing RP disorders. To accurately segment pigment signs for diagnostic purposes, we present an automatic RP segmentation network (RPS-Net), which is a specifically designed deep learning-based semantic segmentation network to accurately detect and segment the pigment signs with fewer trainable parameters. Compared with the conventional deep learning methods, the proposed method applies a feature enhancement policy through multiple dense connections between the convolutional layers, which enables the network to discriminate between normal and diseased eyes, and accurately segment the diseased area from the background. Because pigment spots can be very small and consist of very few pixels, the RPS-Net provides fine segmentation, even in the case of degraded images, by importing high-frequency information from the preceding layers through concatenation inside and outside the encoder-decoder. To evaluate the proposed RPS-Net, experiments were performed based on 4-fold cross-validation using the publicly available Retinal Images for Pigment Signs (RIPS) dataset for detection and segmentation of retinal pigments. Experimental results show that RPS-Net achieved superior segmentation performance for RP diagnosis, compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
Rapid Multi-Sensor Feature Fusion Based on Non-Stationary Kernel JADE for the Small-Amplitude Hunting Monitoring of High-Speed Trains
Authors: Ning Jing , Fang Mingkuan , Ran Wei , Chen Chunjun , Li Yanping
Published: June 2020

Joint Approximate Diagonalization of Eigen-matrices (JADE) cannot deal with non-stationary data. Therefore, in this paper, a method called Non-stationary Kernel JADE (NKJADE) is proposed, which can extract non-stationary features and fuse multi-sensor features precisely and rapidly. In this method, the non-stationarity of the data is considered and the data from multi-sensor are used to fuse the features efficiently. The method is compared with EEMD-SVD-LTSA and EEMD-JADE using the bearing fault data of CWRU, and the validity of the method is verified. Considering that the vibration signals of high-speed trains are typically non-stationary, it is necessary to utilize a rapid feature fusion method to identify the evolutionary trends of hunting motions quickly before the phenomenon is fully manifested. In this paper, the proposed method is applied to identify the evolutionary trend of hunting motions quickly and accurately. Results verify that the accuracy of this method is much higher than that of the EEMD-JADE and EEMD-SVD-LTSA methods. This method can also be used to fuse multi-sensor features of non-stationary data rapidly.
Intelligent Data Management and Security in Cloud Computing
Authors: Ogiela Lidia , Ogiela Marek R. , Ko Hoon
Published: June 2020

This paper will present the authors’ own techniques of secret data management and protection, with particular attention paid to techniques securing data services. Among the solutions discussed, there will be information-sharing protocols dedicated to the tasks of secret (confidential) data sharing. Such solutions will be presented in an algorithmic form, aimed at solving the tasks of protecting and securing data against unauthorized acquisition. Data-sharing protocols will execute the tasks of securing a special type of information, i.e., data services. The area of data protection will be defined for various levels, within which will be executed the tasks of data management and protection. The authors’ solution concerning securing data with the use of cryptographic threshold techniques used to split the secret among a specified group of secret trustees, simultaneously enhanced by the application of linguistic methods of description of the shared secret, forms a new class of protocols, i.e., intelligent linguistic threshold schemes. The solutions presented in this paper referring to the service management and securing will be dedicated to various levels of data management. These levels could be differentiated both in the structure of a given entity and in its environment. There is a special example thereof, i.e., the cloud management processes. These will also be subject to the assessment of feasibility of application of the discussed protocols in these areas. Presented solutions will be based on the application of an innovative approach, in which we can use a special formal graph for the creation of a secret representation, which can then be divided and transmitted over a distributed network.
E-Consumers and Local Food Products: A Perspective for Developing Online Shopping for Local Goods in Poland
Authors: Barska Anetta , Wojciechowska-Solis Julia
Published: June 2020

The constant development of consumer awareness regarding sustainable development has spread to food markets. Decisions related to food consumption are increasingly becoming, for consumers, an opportunity to demonstrate a specific value system, contesting mass and globally distributed food. Local products began to appreciate local produce, which is the opposite of mass production. Local food is gaining popularity, being perceived as healthier, unprocessed, and containing fewer preservative compounds, while also requiring fewer natural resources, leading to a lower environmental footprint. The phenomenon of shopping virtualization has also been growing in strength lately, especially among food consumers. Although Polish food e-commerce is still relatively undeveloped, online food sales have been the fastest growing category of Internet sales. According to experts, by 2026, nearly 40% of all products globally will be sold online. The main purpose of this article was to identify the behavior of Polish consumers shopping online for local food products and to identify barriers to purchase. Our findings were then used to determine development opportunities for this form of trade in relation to local food in the light of new legislative solutions currently in force in Poland. As part of the research procedure, an extensive literature review was carried out. In addition, some of the research findings were cited regarding consumer behavior in the local food market, conducted on a population of 1067 respondents. The study showed that Polish e-consumers of local products are usually aged 30–40, well-educated, and are in a good financial situation. Respondents pointed to high prices as the main barrier to buying local products via the Internet, a drawback which may be remedied to some extent by the recently adopted legislative solutions falling under the scope of what is termed in Poland as agricultural retail trade as well as by the promotion of short supply chains such as the Polska Smakuje initiative.
Empathy and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Adults
Authors: Żelaźniewicz Agnieszka , Nowak Judyta , Groyecka Agata , Sorokowski Piotr , Dobrowolska Małgorzata , Pawłowski Bogusław
Published: June 2020

Empathy is crucial for normal and effective social functioning, enabling comprehension and prediction of actions in social environments. Despite its importance for maintaining social relationships in human groups, the physiological correlates of empathy are not fully known. The aim of this study was to test whether empathy is related to oxidative stress level, that may result both from internal disturbances and influence of external adverse factors. Seventy-four healthy women (Mage = 26.23, SDage = 2.88) and one hundred and one men (Mage = 28.09, SDage = 3.03) took part in the study. Participants’ empathy was evaluated with self-assessment questionnaire—Empathy Quotient (EQ). Oxidative stress level was measured with serum 8-OH-dG, a product of oxidative DNA damage. The results showed that empathy is negatively related to oxidative stress level in men but not in women, when controlled for testosterone level. Revealed sex differences may be explained by men’s greater vulnerability to various adverse conditions and harmful factors. Men, compared to women, seem to be more susceptible to behavioral changes, induced by increased oxidative stress level. The study adds to growing evidence showing that many physiological mechanisms, other than hormonal factors, that may be also related with environmental harmful factors, are related to behavioral, affective and cognitive phenomena.
Cloud Computing Usage in SMEs. An Empirical Study Based on SMEs Employees Perceptions
Authors: Neicu Andra-Ileana , Radu Anamaria-Cătălina , Zaman Gheorghe , Stoica Ivona , Răpan Florian
Published: June 2020

This paper aims to determine the perception of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employees regarding the usage of cloud computing services in their activities. The quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 315 respondents employed in Romanian SMEs. Testing of the conceptual model was performed with the WarpPLS 3.0 software. The study aimed to test how several constructs—the perceived benefits, disadvantages and risks, communication process, overall experience of using cloud computing services, perceived image, and empathy regarding the cloud computing services—influence the perception of the cloud computing service quality among SMEs employees. Moreover, employees’ perception regarding the satisfaction of using cloud computing services based on the perceived quality was also tested. We concluded that the perceived benefits and disadvantages of cloud computing service usage, the perception of both the communication process and users’ experience regarding cloud computing service use, empathy, and cloud computing service image positively influence the perceived quality of the cloud computing service usage in SMEs. We did not find evidence that the perceived risks significantly influence the perceived quality of cloud computing services. Finally, we demonstrated that the perceived quality of the cloud computing services positively influences the satisfaction regarding cloud computing services among SMEs employees.
Association between Parameters Related to Oxidative Stress and Trace Minerals in Athletes
Authors: Barrientos Gema , Alves Javier , Pradas Francisco , Robles María Concepción , Muñoz Diego , Maynar Marcos
Published: June 2020

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the basal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and retinol in plasma or erythrocytes, and the plasma concentrations of 16 trace minerals in endurance athletes from Extremadura (Spain). In addition, we aimed to assess the possible relationships between some parameters related to cellular oxidative stress with plasma concentrations of some trace minerals. Sixty-two national long-distance men athletes participated in this study. The parameters related to oxidative stress and antioxidant activity were analyzed through high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and trace minerals analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We found that plasma MDA was positively correlated with selenium and rubidium. Plasma ascorbic acid was positively correlated with manganese and negatively correlated with cobalt and cadmium. Erythrocyte ascorbic acid was related to arsenic and cesium. Plasma α-tocopherol correlated with copper and manganese negatively and positively with arsenic. Erythrocyte α-tocopherol was positively related to copper, rubidium, and lithium. The findings show that athletes with a high degree of training should monitor their intake and concentrations of α-tocopherol for its fundamental role of neutralizing the excess of reactive oxygen species produced by exercise and the prooxidant effects of several minerals such as arsenic, copper, and lithium.
Whom Do Urban Agriculture Parks Provide Landscape Services to and How? A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Xie Miaomiao , Li Manyu , Li Zhaoyang , Xu Meng , Chen Yan , Wo Ran , Tong De
Published: June 2020

An urban agriculture park (UAP) is a mixture of various kinds of urban agriculture and has a group of administrators to plan and manage its landscapes. Thus, the relationships between users and the ability of the UAPs to provide services are crucial. This study investigated the user profiles of three kinds of UAPs in Beijing, China. Investigation of 345 interviewees suggested that most of the users have an upper-middle level income and are well educated. Social connections vary across different types of UAPs. An assessment matrix of landscape services was introduced for a pioneer of UAP, Little Donkey Farm, based on questionnaires, a field survey, and indicators of landscape patterns. Pearson correlations between service demands and users’ characters showed age, companions, and education level were significantly correlated to the needs of scenery and education services. The landscape with the highest supply value was the vegetable plots planted by members. The scenery service was not adequately supplied, and 31.5% of the areas did not meet the demand. Based on the budgets of supply and demand, six types of landscape should be optimized. This study provides an approach to understand the path of landscape service provision in UAP and supports basic knowledge on how to better involve urban agriculture in sustainable development.
Inter-Organizational Collaboration on Projects Supporting Sustainable Development Goals: The Company Perspective
Authors: Escher Iwona , Brzustewicz Pawel
Published: June 2020

There is a significant research gap in the theory of the nature of relationships between companies and other organizations (including NGOs) when collaborating on projects to support sustainable development goals. In particular, the company perspective has not yet been analyzed in depth. This paper therefore presents these relationships from the company’s point of view, and particularly in terms of how company representatives describe the roles of each partner in the collaboration and the outcomes it generates for the company. The empirical research is theoretically grounded in the Activities–Resources–Actors (ARA) model developed by Håkansson and Snehota. The study adopted a qualitative approach and was conducted using semi-structured individual in-depth interviews in 18 companies; the companies represented different industries and were involved in different types of projects related to sustainable development goals. The paper contributes to developing the theory in various ways. It contributes to the understanding of processes related to company involvement in sustainable development. It also contributes to the theory of the essence and substance of inter-organizational relationships, and specifically the ARA framework. Moreover, it explains the specificity of such inter-organizational collaborations and identifies to what extent these relationships vary from other types of inter-organizational collaboration, especially from business-to-business relationships. The paper also contributes to the discussion on the role of personal bonds within such inter-organizational relationships. The practical implications relate to the ways in which the activities and resources of a company and its partner may be combined in projects addressing social and/or environmental problems. Therefore, the paper offers guidance to companies and their potential partners interested in undertaking joint sustainability initiatives.
A Critical Review of Academic Approaches, Methods and Tools to Assess Circular Economy at the Micro Level
Authors: Roos Lindgreen Erik , Salomone Roberta , Reyes Tatiana
Published: June 2020

Transitioning from the current linear economic development model to a circular economy (CE) is a hot topic in academic literature, public governance, and the corporate domain. Actors have implemented CE strategies to reduce their resource use and its associated impacts, while boosting economic competitiveness and generating positive social impact. Companies are identified as key actors in transitioning to a CE, and many academics have proposed tools to assess CE and guide them in this process. This paper critically reviews such academic ‘assessment approaches’ at the micro level in order to reflect on their key properties. Seventy-four approaches are inventoried through a systematic literature review of academic literature. A critical review framework is constructed and applied, containing four perspectives: A general perspective, a descriptive perspective (methodological aspects), a normative perspective (connections to Sustainable Development), and a prescriptive perspective (implementation-focused). Methodologically, the 74 approaches are highly diverse, having various connections to previously established methodologies. Eighteen of the reviewed assessment approaches include all three dimensions of Sustainable Development (SD), in addition to a ‘circular’ dimension. Roughly one quarter of the approaches apply a participatory design approach. Suggested key desired properties of CE assessment approaches include making use of existing assessment methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and a closer collaboration between science and practitioners to consider end-user needs in the design of CE assessment approaches.
Hazard-Consistent Earthquake Scenario Selection for Seismic Slope Stability Assessment
Authors: Konovalov Alexey , Gensiorovskiy Yuriy , Stepnov Andrey
Published: June 2020

Design ground shaking intensity, based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) maps, is most commonly used as a triggering condition to analyze slope stability under seismic loading. Uncertainties that are associated with expected ground motion levels are often ignored. This study considers an improved, fully probabilistic approach for earthquake scenario selection. The given method suggests the determination of the occurrence probability of various ground motion levels and the probability of landsliding for these ground motion parameters, giving the total probability of slope failure under seismic loading in a certain time interval. The occurrence hazard deaggregation technique is proposed for the selection of the ground shaking level, as well as the magnitude and source-to-site distance of a design earthquake, as these factors most probably trigger slope failure within the time interval of interest. An example application of the approach is provided for a slope near the highway in the south of Sakhalin Island (Russia). The total probability of earthquake-induced slope failure in the next 50 years was computed to be in the order of 16%. The scenario peak ground acceleration value estimated from the disaggregated earthquake-induced landslide hazard is 0.15g, while the 475-year seismic hazard curve predicts 0.3g. The case study highlights the significant difference between ground shaking scenario levels in terms of the 475-year seismic hazard map and the considered fully probabilistic approach.
Digital Transformation for Business Model Innovation in Higher Education: Overcoming the Tensions
Authors: Rof Albert , Bikfalvi Andrea , Marquès Pilar
Published: June 2020

The higher education sector is in the eye of the hurricane of the digital revolution, immersed as it is in an ongoing digital transformation (DT) process that is expected to result in significant changes in the current business model. Despite the relevance of this transformation, little remains known about how the business model is innovated (BMI), due to the impact of digital transformation in the context of higher education institutions (HEI). This research explores the impact of DT on the HEI business model, through analyzing the case of a traditional university, conceived non-digitally. The results present the HEI understanding of DT, the main tensions arising from the DT process for each of the business model dimensions, and the anticipated solutions for solving these tensions. Additionally, the results uncover the existence of an emergent (non-formalized) envisioned business model, which is a visualization of how the current business model is expected to be innovated, due to the impact of DT. The main originality of this paper is in addressing a research gap at the intersection of DT and BMI in the HEI context.
The Citizens’ Views on Adaptation to Bioclimatic Housing Design: Case Study from Greece
Authors: Andrea Veronika , Tampakis Stilianos , Karanikola Paraskevi , Georgopoulou Maria
Published: June 2020

Bioclimatic housing design is regarded as an important pillar towards energy policies. Additionally, it is closely affiliated with the performance of energy efficiency of buildings. The citizens’ views and their adaptation to energy saving practices can be utilized as an important data base in order to design, improve and properly manage urbanization and environmental challenges in the residential sector. For the capitalization of the citizens’ views in Orestiada, the newest city in Greece, simple random sampling was applied on data that were collected via personal interviews and with the use of a structured questionnaire. Reliability and factor analyses were applied for the data processing along with hierarchical log-linear analysis. The latter was utilized for the statistical clustering of citizens into given distinct groups—clusters, arising by factor analysis. The main findings revealed that the citizens are merely aware of bioclimatic principles, while only a small percentage of 28.8% adopts some primary bioclimatic disciplines. Conclusively, it should be noted that there is a need for effective planning towards empowerment on energy efficiency in the residential sector of the city. Notwithstanding, it should not be disregarded the need for the incorporation of conceptual frameworks in urban planning. This is an approach that prerequisites public awareness and the stakeholders’ participation in decision making processes.
Unraveling the Links between Organizational Factors and Perceptions of Community Sustainability Performance: An Empirical Investigation of Community-Based Nongovernmental Organizations
Authors: Wright Nathaniel S. , Reames Tony G.
Published: June 2020

Community-based nongovernmental organizations have emerged as leaders in local economic development, with a growing capacity for undertaking community sustainability projects in distressed neighborhoods. Very little is known about what organizational and managerial characteristics contribute to community sustainability performance. This article seeks to address this gap in the literature. Survey data from 134 community action agencies in the U.S. were analyzed to determine which organizational and managerial factors influence the effectiveness of community-based organizations in meeting community sustainability goals. The findings from an ordinary least-square regression model suggest that community engagement, human resource capacity, county/regional government collaboration, government funding, and revenue diversification are important predictors of community sustainability performance.
Health-Oriented Tourists and Sustainable Domestic Tourism
Authors: Lee Timothy J. , Han Ji-Sook , Ko Tae-Gyou
Published: June 2020

Health-oriented tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing niche tourism fields worldwide. Although there have been studies on the relationship between health and travel behavior, most have been from the perspective of travel motivation and have rarely examined the impact of travel on health. This study explores those travel elements that have a positive influence on health in the domestic health tourism industry, with health being viewed across three domains: psychological, physical, and social. A total of 28 health-contributing travel items reported by 862 package tour participants were analyzed. On the psychological health dimension, experiencing good feelings and escaping bad ones is important. On the physical wellness dimension, natural patterns of food intake during the day is strongly recognized, including the results of increased appetite and improved digestion. On the social health dimension, relationship improvements were experienced, along with a greater understanding of partner(s). These findings add to our understanding of traveler wellness, a significant step towards having the right information to enhance the quality of travel services, especially in the domestic health tourism industry.
Exploring the Optimal Cost-Benefit Solution for a Low Impact Development Layout by Zoning, as Well as Considering the Inundation Duration and Inundation Depth
Authors: Wu Jiansheng , Chen Ying , Yang Rui , Zhao Yuhao
Published: June 2020

Urban flooding now occurs frequently and low impact development (LID) has been widely implemented as an effective resilience strategy to improve storm water management. This study constructed the inundation curve to dynamically simulate the disaster, and established an inundation severity indicator (ISI) and cost-effectiveness indicator (CEI) to quantify the severity and cost effectiveness at each site. The study set 10 different density scenarios using a zonal approach. The results showed that LID could reduce the overall ISI value, but as the construction increased, the CEI exhibited a downward trend, showing that there is a marginal utility problem in LID. However, the performance of CEI differed slightly in areas of different severity. In the vulnerable resilience zone, the CEI increased initially and then decreased, and the optimal cost–benefit combination was 60% permeable pavement +20% green roof +50% vegetative swale. The mutual effects of LID measures in different zones led to synergistic or antagonistic effects on LID. This study explored the tradeoff between the resilience enhancement effect and strategy transformation cost, and determined the optimal combination of the LID strategy, thereby providing a new analytical perspective for the sustainable development of sponge cities.
The Effect of Mechanical Actions Occurring during Transport on Physicochemical Changes in Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms
Authors: Walkowiak-Tomczak Dorota , Idaszewska Natalia , Bieńczak Krzysztof , Kómoch Wiktoria
Published: June 2020

In this study, physicochemical changes occurring in the fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus champignons, subjected to mechanical vibrations under model conditions and a 4-day storage (shelf-life), were analysed. The experiment was conducted in two versions (applying vibrations for 3 and 6 h, at the frequencies of 46 Hz and 28 Hz). As part of physicochemical analyses, such parameters as pH, extract, dry mass, colour parameters and colour difference ∆E, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were determined. The values of the examined physicochemical parameters changed depending on the applied frequencies and vibration time during transport under model conditions, as well as a result of short-term storage (shelf-life). The greatest total colour difference ΔE occurred in the sample subjected to vibrations for 6 h, followed by a 4-day storage. The changes in pH value, dry matter content and refractometric extract were relatively more significant in the samples subjected to 46 Hz vibrations than to those subjected to 28 Hz. The content of polyphenols and the antioxidative activity of mushrooms subjected to vibrations was higher than in the sample stored but not subjected to vibrations.
Natural Hazard Influence Model of Maintenance and Repair Cost for Sustainable Accommodation Facilities
Authors: Yum Sang-Guk , Kim Ji-Myong , Son Kiyoung
Published: June 2020

To optimally maintain buildings and other built infrastructure, the costs of managing them during their entire existence—that is, lifecycle costs—must be taken into account. However, due to technological improvements, developers now build more high-rise and high-performance buildings, meaning that new approaches to estimating lifecycle costs are needed. Meanwhile, an accelerating process of industrialization around the world means that global warming is also accelerating, and the damage caused by natural disasters due to climate change is increasing. However, the costs of losses related to such hazards are rarely incorporated into lifecycle-cost estimation techniques. Accordingly, this study explored the relationship between, on the one hand, some known parameters of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, high winds, and/or flooding, and on the other hand, the data on exceptional maintenance costs, represented by gross loss costs, generated by a large international hotel chain from 2007 to 2017. The regression model used revealed a correlation between heavy rain and insurance-claim payouts. This and other results can usefully inform safety and design guidelines for policymakers, both in disaster management and real estate, as well as in insurance companies
Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis of Construction and Demolition Waste Management in the European Economic Area
Authors: Taboada Guillermo L. , Seruca Isabel , Sousa Cristina , Pereira Ángeles
Published: June 2020

This paper deals with the efficiency and sustainability of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management in 30 Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA) (the 28 European Union countries plus Norway and Iceland) for the period 2010–2016 using Exploratory Data Analytics (EDA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The first stage of the proposed methodology is EDA with already available (the CDW recovery rate) and suggested indicators (e.g., building stock characterization, dwelling occupancy ratio, macroeconomic ratios and CDW breakdown) to characterize the efficiency and sustainability of CDW management. The second stage is to assess the efficiency of countries using DEA through two original CDW production models, one for sustainability, measuring the efficiency of the construction sector for reducing its CDW, and the second a model to score the efficiency of maximizing the CDW recovery rate. The main outcome of the paper is the proposed methodology, which is a candidate for replacing current indicators in order to evaluate the performance of CDW policy, due to is adaptive nature, promoting the continuous improvement and overcoming the limitations of the poor quality of metrics, data and parametric indicators. The methodology has been experimentally validated using Eurostat data for 30 Member States of EEA, ranking them according to the two DEA model scores, to point out the countries considered efficient among those of their scale, as a reference for sustainable and efficient practices.
Breakfast Characterization and Consumption by Low-Income Brazilians: Food Identity and Regional Food
Authors: de Sousa Janice Ramos , Akutsu Rita de Cássia C.A. , Zandonadi Renata Puppin , Botelho Raquel B. A.
Published: June 2020

The study aimed to evaluate the breakfast (BF) of the Brazilian low-income population, analyzing cultural aspects, such as the habit of consuming regional foods and the BF food identity markers. This cross-sectional study used a sample of 1872 low-income Brazilians. For the food consumption analysis, three 24–hour dietary recalls were used. For the qualitative analysis of the BF, we used three classifications: standard, full, partial, and without BF. Also, BF was considered as regional when at least one regional food (contained in a predefined list of regional foods) was consumed. For the analysis of BF's food identity markers, we evaluated all food groups and their frequencies. Of the 5616 possible BF meals available for the three days of consumption, 17.3% were skipped, a low percentage. A total of 4642 BF examples were analyzed. Standard type BF was prevalent in all regions, and full BF was rarely consumed by participants. Women during the weekend skipped BF less often. Out of all five Brazilian regions, the ones with the highest consumption of regional foods were the Midwest (46.6%) and the South (45.9%). The highest frequency of consumed foods in BF were coffee with cow’s milk (or milk with coffee), added sugar, bread, and margarine, indicating that these are the identity markers of BF in the studied sample. Considering that the percentage of standard type BF was very high and that the consumption of added sugar and margarine was accentuated, actions to stimulate the intake of fresh fruits and foods in all meals are necessary, especially in the first meal of the day. There is a need for new proposals for actions and programs with the purpose of expanding access to healthy and adequate regional foods, especially to low-income families.
Linking Household Food Security and Food Value Chains in North West Mt. Kenya
Authors: Mwangi Veronica , Owuor Samuel , Kiteme Boniface , Giger Markus , Jacobi Johanna , Kirui Oliver
Published: June 2020

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists produce the largest proportion of food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain among the food insecure populations. This paper explores the food (in)security among smallholder farmers and pastoralists using a sample of 175 households in three agro-food value chains of wheat, dairy, and beef in the north-west Mt. Kenya region. The study seeks to answer if a farmer’s participation in a particular agro-food value chain determines his/her food security situation. We use the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and two Poisson regression models, parsimonious and full, to assess the household food security status and determinants of food security among the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The results show that 61% of the households were either mildly, moderately, or severely food insecure. Households in the beef value chain experienced relatively higher incidences of food insecurity compared to households in the wheat and dairy value chains. The HFIAS scores revealed a wide gap between households with minimum and maximum score. Household size, income and income-related variables (ability to save and borrow to meet family needs), transport assets, membership in farmers’ associations, and household energy were significant in determining household food security, while access to credit and to extension services was not. Strategies that focus on boosting smallholder farmers’ incomes, building strong and resilient farmers associations to improve inclusive and equitable value chains have the potential to get smallholder farmers out of recurrent food insecurity.
A Sustainable Approach for the Management and Valorization of Underwater Cultural Heritage: New Perspectives from the TECTONIC Project
Authors: Ricca Michela , Alexandrakis George , Bonazza Alessandra , Bruno Fabio , Davidde Petriaggi Barbara , Elkin Dolores , Lagudi Antonio , Nicolas Stephane , Novák Michal , Papatheodorou George , Prieto Javier , Ricci Marco , Vasilijevic Antonio , Francesco La Russa Mauro
Published: June 2020

Documentation and conservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) are crucial to preserving humankind’s history and traditions, safeguarding tangible testimonies of past human life while ensuring its accessibility to future generations. The TECTONIC (Technological Consortium TO develop sustainability of underwater Cultural Heritage) project is promoting an intersectoral collaboration between academic and non-academic professionals (i.e., archaeologists, conservators, geologists, engineers, etc.) working on different topics related to UCHs, to find solutions to the issues still existing in the field. The overall aim is the exchange of skills for the improvement and assessment of innovative materials and techniques to develop solutions and marketable products for the conservation and management of the UCH, sustainably. To achieve its overall aim, TECTONIC is undertaking activities driven by the following objectives: (a) the study, documentation, and mapping of selected UCHs; (b) the creation of decision-support tools for UCH risk assessment in a changing environment; (c) the initiation of conservation studies and protocols for conservation activities; (d) the development of open and low-cost robotic solutions for the inspection of UCH; and (e) the raising of public awareness and knowledge about UCH. All the objectives are devoted to stimulating new sustainable ideas that would bring the growth of cultural tourism and the development of new marketable products by capitalizing on the research results.
Managing a Sustainable and Resilient Perishable Food Supply Chain (PFSC) after an Outbreak
Authors: Zhu Quan , Krikke Harold
Published: June 2020

It is a challenging task to manage a perishable food supply chain (PFSC), due to the product’s short lifetime and to demand uncertainty. Even worse is the fact that, because of the multitude of participating stakeholders in production, distribution, and retailing, the PFSC becomes complex and thus particularly vulnerable to crises. Product shortages that result from an outbreak like COVID-19 often cause customers to seek alternative sources of supply, possibly with a larger purchasing amount (i.e., hoarding), leading to even severer demand uncertainty after the shortage period. To manage a sustainable and resilient PFSC after an outbreak, supply chain partners need to share and use the right information to facilitate decision making. A system dynamics simulation was thus applied to study a cheese supply chain with three tiers. Three scenarios that cause product shortages were simulated. Seven balanced feedback loops and two reinforced feedback loops were identified from the simulation model. Through the feedback loop dominance analysis, we identified four dominant loops that facilitate the generation of endogenous demand. In order to alleviate the negative influence of endogenous demand, it is suggested that the information sharing that causes endogenous demand be stopped and a loosely coupled strategy to support decision making utilized.
Pricing Decisions on Online Channel Entry for Complementary Products in a Dominant Retailer Supply Chain
Authors: Gu Qiongqiong , Yang Xiaodong , Liu Bin
Published: June 2020

This study considered the supply chain that two manufacturers sell green complementary products to a dominant offline retailer. We investigated whether a manufacturer (the integrated manufacturer) should add an online channel and examined how it affects channel members’ decisions and profits. We formulated the power structure as the retailer-Stackelberg model and analyzed the pricing decisions for the supply chain. The results demonstrate that the integrated manufacturer prefers not to add the online channel when online and offline market bases are comparable and the level of complementarity is moderate. The integrated manufacturer gains more power at the expense of the offline retailer and the other manufacturer (the traditional manufacturer) when the complementarity between the offline and online channel is the same as offline channels with the addition of a new online channel; furthermore, the retailer earns less, while the traditional manufacturer’s profit hinges on the complementarity between the online and offline channels. It is beneficial for the offline retailer to balance the online and offline market bases of product 1 by improving the sales environment of the physical store. The integrated manufacturer can benefit from varying their marketing actions to decrease the degree of complementarity between the retail and online channels for the two products, while the traditional manufacturer can be better off from the online channel introduction by taking steps to increase the complementarity of the two products between the offline channels.
Resilience Thinking as a System Approach to Promote China’s Sustainability Transitions
Authors: Li Qirui
Published: June 2020

Urban regeneration and rural revitalization are becoming major policy initiatives in China, which requires new approaches for sustainability transitions. This paper reviewed the history of policy reforms and institutional changes and analysed the main challenges to sustainability transitions in China. The urban-rural systems were defined as a complex dynamic social-ecological system based on resilience thinking and transition theory. The notions of adaptation and transformation were applied to compose a framework to coordinate “resilience” with “sustainability”. The findings indicate that China’s urbanization has experienced the conservative development of restructuring socio-economic and political systems (before 1984), the fast industrialization and economic development leaned to cities (1984 to 2002), the rapid urbanization led by land expropriation and investment expansion (2002 to 2012), and the quality development transformation equally in urban and rural areas (since 2012). The sustainability transitions have been challenged by controversial institutional arrangements, concerning population mobility control, unequal social welfare, and incomplete property rights. A series of policy interventions should be designed and implemented accordingly with joint efforts of multiple stakeholders and based on the combined technocratic and bottom-up knowledge derived from proactive and conscious individuals and collectives through context-dependent social networks.
Salento Honey (Apulia, South-East Italy): A Preliminary Characterization by 1H-NMR Metabolomic Fingerprinting
Authors: Girelli Chiara Roberta , Schiavone Roberta , Vilella Sebastiano , Fanizzi Francesco Paolo
Published: June 2020

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers, plant secretions or plant-sucking insect excretions. Sugars and water constitute the major components, other minor components characterize the organoleptic and nutritional properties. To date, Salento (Apulia region, Italy) honey production is considerably threatened due to the suggested use of neonicotinoids in order to control the insect-vectored bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (subsp. pauca). Metabolomics based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to describe, for the first time, the composition of honey samples from different Salento producers. Exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed, among the observed clustering, a separation between light and dark honeys and a discrimination according to producers, both further analyzed by supervised multivariate analysis. According to the obtained data, although limited to small-scale emerging production, Salento honey shows at the molecular level, a range of specific characteristic features analogous to those exhibited by similar products originating elsewhere and appreciated by consumers. The impact on this production should therefore be carefully considered when suggesting extensive use of pesticides in the area.
A Time-Motion Analysis of the Cross-Over Step Block Technique in Volleyball: Non-Linear and Asymmetric Performances
Authors: Hernández-Hernández Elena , Montalvo-Espinosa Antonio , García-de-Alcaraz Antonio
Published: June 2020

Blocking performance in volleyball is strongly affected by the time in which the action is executed. This study analyzes the time-motion variables in terms of the player’s role and movement direction (right or left), in different phases of the displacement and jump actions in the cross-over step block technique. A kinematic analysis was conducted with 10 senior male volleyball players. Two series of five repetitions were each recorded and classified in terms of middle-blockers (block in the center and sides of the net) and wing-players (only block in the sides). The results showed that the middle-blockers were significantly slower than the wing-players in the first (0.75 ± 0.24 vs. 0.66 ± 0.19 sec; p = 0.020; ES = −0.37 ± 0.30) and fourth phases (0.33 ± 0.8 vs. 0.29 ± 0.8 sec; p = 0.001; ES = −0.44 ± 0.31), and in the total time for blocking (3.15 ± 0.6 vs. 3 ± 0.58 sec; p = 0.003; ES = −0.23 ± 0.31). Overall, players were significantly faster when moving to the right side, showing performance asymmetries. The fastest phases were also performed just before the jump. These findings provide specific knowledge about the cross-over step block technique in its different phases and displacement direction. This information can be used to improve the movement time in the first defensive action in volleyball.
Solute Transport in the Element of Fractured Porous Medium with an Inhomogeneous Porous Block
Authors: Khuzhayorov Bakhtiyor , Mustofoqulov Jabbor , Ibragimov Gafurjan , Md Ali Fadzilah , Fayziev Bekzodjon
Published: June 2020

In this paper, the problem of solute transport in a fractured-porous medium taking into account the non-equilibrium adsorption kinetic is studied. The solute transport in fractured-porous medium consisting of two fractures and a porous block between them located in a symmetric form is considered. The problem is then solved numerically by using the finite difference method. Based on the numerical results, the solute concentration and adsorption fields in the fractures and porous blocks are shown in graphical form. The effect of adsorption on the solute transport in a fractured-porous medium is then analyzed. In the case of different parameters in two zones, asymmetric distribution of the solute concentration and adsorption is obtained. The nonlinear kinetics of adsorption leads to an increase in the adsorption effects, conversely slowing down the rate of the distribution of concentration of the solute in the fluid.
Special Issue “Viral Evasion or Suppression of Host Immunity”
Authors: Hahm Bumsuk
Published: June 2020

Viruses have evolved to survive in hosts, presumably by devising meticulous strategies to elude or suppress host immunity [...]