bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in Microbial Community and Metabolites in Litter Layer of Plantation and Original Korean Pine Forests in North Temperate Zone
Authors: Wang Yue , Li Ting , Li Chongwei , Song Fuqiang
Published: December 2020

In order to explore the relationship between microbial diversity and metabolites in the litter layer of northern temperate forests, the microbial community structure and metabolite species in the litter layer of an original Korean pine forest and Korean pine plantation of northern temperate climate were determined on the basis of high-throughput sequencing and metabonomic techniques. The results showed that there were 698 bacterial genera and 363 fungal genera in the litter samples in the original Korean pine forest. Linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that there were 35 indicator bacterial species and 19 indicator fungal species. In the litter samples of the Korean pine plantation, there were 622 bacterial genera and 343 fungal genera. Additionally, LEfSe analysis showed that there were 18 indicator bacterial species and 5 indicator fungal species. The litter of the two forest types contained 285 kinds of organic compounds, among which 16 different metabolites were screened, including 6 kinds of organic acids, 5 kinds of amino acids, 2 kinds of sugars, 2 kinds of sugar alcohols, and 1 kind of lipid. Latescibacteria, Rokubacteria, and Olpidiomycota are unique to the original Korean pine forest. They can catalyze the degradation rate of litter and decompose cellulose and chitin, respectively. Subgroup 6 was abundant in the lower litter layer. Subgroup 6 can grow with carbon compounds as substrate. It was clear that the microbial diversity of the litter layer in the original Korean pine forest was higher than that of the Korean pine plantation. Moreover, whether original forest or plantation forest, the lower-litter layer microbial diversity was higher than that in the middle-litter layer. CCA showed that the main metabolites were related to Chitinophagaceae_uncultured were saccharopine. The main metabolites associated with Mortierella and Polyscytalum were myo-inositol. At the same time, analysis of the difference between the litter layer of the original Korean pine forest and the Korean pine plantation also provides a theoretical basis for their participation in the element cycles of forest ecosystems.
Editorial: Nutrition Management for Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Liakopoulos Vassilios , Dounousi Evangelia
Published: December 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitutes a major health problem worldwide [...]
Dietary Fiber Intake Alters Gut Microbiota Composition but Does Not Improve Gut Wall Barrier Function in Women with Future Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Authors: Tomsett Kate I. , Barrett Helen L. , Dekker Evelyn E. , Callaway Leonie K. , McIntyre David H. , Dekker Nitert Marloes
Published: December 2020

Pregnancy alters the inflammatory state, metabolic hormones, and gut microbiota composition. It is unclear if the lower abundance of dietary fiber-fermenting, short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria observed in hypertension also occurs in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). This study investigated the relationship between dietary fiber intake and the gut microbiota profile at 28 weeks gestation in women who developed HDP in late pregnancy (n = 22) or remained normotensive (n = 152) from the Study of PRobiotics IN Gestational diabetes (SPRING). Dietary fiber intake was classified as above or below the median of 18.2 g/day. Gut microbiota composition was examined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The gut permeability marker zonulin was measured in a subset of 46 samples. In women with future HPD, higher dietary fiber intake was specifically associated with increased abundance of Veillonella, lower abundance of Adlercreutzia, Anaerotruncus and Uncl. Mogibacteriaceae and higher zonulin levels than normotensive women. Fiber intake and zonulin levels were negatively correlated in women with normotensive pregnancies but not in pregnancies with future HDP. In women with normotensive pregnancies, dietary fiber intake may improve gut barrier function. In contrast, in women who develop HDP, gut wall barrier function is impaired and not related to dietary fiber intake.
The Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in Polish and Lebanese Adults and Its Relationship with Sociodemographic Variables and BMI Ranges: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Authors: Brytek-Matera Anna , Sacre Hala , Staniszewska Anna , Hallit Souheil
Published: December 2020

The prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) appears to be increasing, and more research into its cross-cultural aspects is required to provide culturally appropriate psychological treatment. Until now, there has been relatively little research published about ON across cultures. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to determine: (1) the prevalence of ON in Polish and Lebanese adults and (2) the association between ON and sociodemographic variables and Body Mass Index (BMI) in two culturally different samples. One thousand two hundred and sixty-two adults participated in the present study (NPoland = 743 adults; NLebanon = 519 adults). The Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale and the Eating Habits Questionnaire were used in the present study. Information about age, sex, anthropometry, and marital status was obtained from all participants as well. The Polish sample had an ON prevalence rate of 2.6%, while the Lebanese sample had an ON prevalence rate of 8.4%. No significant correlation was found between ON and age in both samples. A statistically significant difference was found between marital status and country on ON, with the highest mean score seen among Lebanese singles. In Lebanon, having a low of BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 compared to a high BMI was significantly associated with lower ON tendencies, while this association was not significant among Polish participants. This study was the second to focus on the prevalence of ON in Western and non-Western countries and its association with sociodemographic characteristics and BMI ranges. Knowledge about ON and its correlates in diverse populations may inform the design of culturally tailored behavior change interventions and the development of culturally appropriate tools in various groups to improve their dietary patterns.
Menopause Delays the Typical Recovery of Pre-Exercise Hepcidin Levels after High-Intensity Interval Running Exercise in Endurance-Trained Women
Authors: Alfaro-Magallanes Víctor , Benito Pedro , Rael Beatriz , Barba-Moreno Laura , Romero-Parra Nuria , Cupeiro Rocío , Swinkels Dorine , Laarakkers Coby , Peinado Ana , on behalf of the IronFEMME Study Group
Published: December 2020

Menopause commonly presents the gradual accumulation of iron in the body over the years, which is a risk factor for diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, or cardiovascular diseases. Running exercise is known to acutely increase hepcidin levels, which reduces iron absorption and recycling. As this fact has not been studied in postmenopausal women, this study investigated the hepcidin response to running exercise in this population. Thirteen endurance-trained postmenopausal women (age: 51.5 ± 3.89 years; height: 161.8 ± 4.9 cm; body mass: 55.9 ± 3.6 kg; body fat: 24.7 ± 4.2%; peak oxygen consumption: 42.4 ± 4.0 mL·min−1·kg−1) performed a high-intensity interval running protocol, which consisted of 8 × 3 min bouts at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed with 90-second recovery. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, 0, 3, and 24 hours post-exercise. As expected, hepcidin exhibited higher values at 3 hours post-exercise (3.69 ± 3.38 nmol/L), but also at 24 hours post-exercise (3.25 ± 3.61 nmol/L), in comparison with pre-exercise (1.77 ± 1.74 nmol/L; p = 0.023 and p = 0.020, respectively) and 0 hour post-exercise (2.05 ± 2.00 nmol/L; p = 0.021 and p = 0.032, respectively) concentrations. These differences were preceded by a significant increment of interleukin-6 at 0 hour post-exercise (3.41 ± 1.60 pg/mL) compared to pre-exercise (1.65 ± 0.48 pg/m, p = 0.003), 3 hours (1.50 ± 0.00 pg/mL, p = 0.002) and 24 hours post-exercise (1.52 ± 0.07 pg/mL, p = 0.001). Hepcidin peaked at 3 hours post-exercise as the literature described for premenopausal women but does not seem to be fully recovered to pre-exercise levels within 24 hours post-exercise, as it would be expected. This suggests a slower recovery of basal hepcidin levels in postmenopausal women, suggesting interesting applications in order to modify iron homeostasis as appropriate, such as the prevention of iron accumulation or proper timing of iron supplementation.
Update on Chemotherapeutic Approaches and Management of Bevacizumab Usage for Glioblastoma
Authors: Funakoshi Yusuke , Hata Nobuhiro , Kuga Daisuke , Hatae Ryusuke , Sangatsuda Yuhei , Fujioka Yutaka , Takigawa Kosuke , Mizoguchi Masahiro
Published: December 2020

Glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults, has one of the most dismal prognoses in cancer. In 2009, bevacizumab was approved for recurrent glioblastoma in the USA. To evaluate the clinical impact of bevacizumab as a first-line drug for glioblastoma, two randomized clinical trials, AVAglio and RTOG 0825, were performed. Bevacizumab was found to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and was reported to be beneficial for maintaining patient performance status as an initial treatment. These outcomes led to bevacizumab approval in Japan in 2013 as an insurance-covered first-line drug for glioblastoma concurrently with its second-line application. However, prolongation of overall survival was not evinced in these clinical trials; hence, the clinical benefit of bevacizumab for newly diagnosed glioblastomas remains controversial. A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of bevacizumab combined with temozolomide in recurrent glioblastoma also showed an effect only on PFS, and the benefit of bevacizumab even for recurrent glioblastoma is controversial. Here, we discuss the clinical impact of bevacizumab for glioblastoma treatment by reviewing previous clinical trials and real-world evidence by focusing on Japanese experiences. Moreover, the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab are summarized, and we provide suggestions for updating the approaches and management of bevacizumab.
Seed Morphology in Silene Based on Geometric Models
Authors: Martín-Gómez José Javier , Rewicz Agnieszka , Rodríguez-Lorenzo José Luis , Janoušek Bohuslav , Cervantes Emilio
Published: December 2020

Seed description in morphology is often based on adjectives such as “spherical”, “globular”, or “reniform”, but this does not provide a quantitative method. A new morphological approach based on the comparison of seed images with geometric models provides a seed description in Silene species on a quantitative basis. The novelty of the proposed method is based in the comparison of the seed images with geometric models according to a cardioid shape. The J index is a measurement that indicates the seed percentage of similarity with a cardioid or cardioid-derived figures used as models. The seeds of Silene species have high values of similarity with the cardioid and cardioid-derived models (J index superior to 90). The comparison with different figures allows species description and differentiation. The method is applied here to seeds of 21 species and models are proposed for some of them including S. diclinis, an endangered species. The method is discussed in the context of previous comparison with the measures used in traditional morphometric analysis. The similarity of seed images with geometric figures opens a new perspective for the automatized taxonomical evaluation of samples linking seed morphology to functional traits in endangered Silene species.
Enhanced Piezoelectric Properties of Poly(Vinylidenefluoride-Co-Trifluoroethylene)/Carbon-Based Nanomaterial Composite Films for Pressure Sensing Applications
Authors: Li Jia-Wun , Huang Chen-Yang , Chen Kuan-Yu , Chen Jian-Xun , Hsu Xiao-Yong , Chen Yan-Feng , Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Cheng Chih-Chia , Suen Maw-Cherng , Chiu Chih-Wei
Published: December 2020

In this study, heat and polarization treatments were applied to poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) films to improve their crystallinity and piezoelectric effect. Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) of multiple dimensions (i.e., modified zero-dimensional (0D) carbon black (OCB), one-dimensional (1D) modified carbon nanotubes (CNT–COOH) and two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO)) were added to the copolymer to study the effects of different CBN dimensions on the crystallinity and piezoelectric effect of PVDF-TrFE films. Additionally, amphiphilic polymeric dispersants were added to improve the dispersibility of CBNs; the dispersant was synthesized by the amidation, and imidization reactions of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMAz) and polyoxyalkylene amine (M1000). Polymer solutions with different ratios of CBN to dispersant (z = 10:1, 5:1, 1:1, 1:5, 1:10) were prepared. The enhanced dispersibility enabled the fluorine atoms in the PVDF-TrFE molecular chain to more efficiently form hydrogen bonds with the –COOH group in the CBN, thereby increasing the content of the β crystal phase (the origin of the piezoelectric effect) of the film. Therefore, the resulting film exhibited a higher output voltage on the application side and better sensitivity on the sensing element. The addition of CNT–COOH and polymeric dispersants increased the β-phase content in PVDF-TrFE from 73.6% to 86.4%, which in turn raised the piezoelectric coefficient from 19.8 ± 1.0 to 26.4 ± 1.3 pC/N. The composite film-based pressure sensor also exhibited a high degree of sensitivity, which is expected to have commercial potential in the future.
Recycling of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Polymers—Review—Part 2: Recovery and Application of Recycled Carbon Fibers
Authors: Bledzki Andrzej K. , Seidlitz Holger , Krenz Jonas , Goracy Krzysztof , Urbaniak Magdalena , Rösch Janina J.
Published: December 2020

The paper presents some examples of new technological solutions for the recovery and re-use of recycled carbon fiber in automotive and railway industries, as well as in aviation and wind turbine constructions. The new technologies of fiber recovery that are described can enable the mass-scale use of recycled carbon fiber in the future.
Effect of Radiation Crosslinking and Surface Modification of Cellulose Fibers on Properties and Characterization of Biopolymer Composites
Authors: Lenfeld Petr , Brdlík Pavel , Borůvka Martin , Běhálek Luboš , Habr Jiří
Published: December 2020

Recently, polymers have become the fastest growing and most widely used material in a huge number of applications in almost all areas of industry. In addition to standard polymer composites with synthetic matrices, biopolymer composites based on PLA and PHB matrices filled with fibers of plant origin are now increasingly being used in selected advanced industrial applications. The article deals with the evaluation of the influence and effect of the type of surface modification of cellulose fibers using physical methods (low-temperature plasma and ozone application) and chemical methods (acetylation) on the final properties of biopolymer composites. In addition to the surface modification of natural fibers, an additional modification of biocomposite structural systems by radiation crosslinking using gamma radiation was also used. The components of the biopolymer composite were a matrix of PLA and PHBV and the filler was natural cellulose fibers in a constant percentage volume of 20%. Test specimens were made from compounds of prepared biopolymer structures, on which selected tests had been performed to evaluate the properties and mechanical characterization of biopolymer composites. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the failure and characterization of fracture surfaces of biocomposites.
Models of Disability as Models of First Contact
Authors: Wells-Jensen Sheri , Zuber Alyssa
Published: December 2020

Because humanity is a young technological species, any extraterrestrials we meet will inevitably be more advanced than we are. The realization that we are no longer dominant in our sphere of influence will inevitably cause spiritual cultural and even economic trauma as we come to terms with the new reality. The question we should endeavor to answer before this happens is: what direction will this trauma take and how can we prepare in advance to minimize harm as we adjust to this? Disability studies offer several models of how one advantaged group understands and interacts with a less advantaged group. These include the medical, social, moral/religious, economic, charity, and limits models, and each lays out a unique way of understanding situations where one group has a strong perceived or real advantage over another. Exploring these models can give us a sense of the possible variation that might occur upon first contact. Such an exploration is relevant both to how ET might perceive us and how we might begin to conceptualize ourselves in that new situation. As with most seemingly theoretical forays into astrobiology, this work has implications for the present as it interrogates how disabled and abled humans interact and negotiate power and how we understand one another.
Spatial and Temporal Changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Their Driving Factors in the Desert/Grassland Biome Transition Zone of the Sahel Region of Africa
Authors: Wu Shupu , Gao Xin , Lei Jiaqiang , Zhou Na , Wang Yongdong
Published: December 2020

The ecological system of the desert/grassland biome transition zone is fragile and extremely sensitive to climate change and human activities. Analyzing the relationships between vegetation, climate factors (precipitation and temperature), and human activities in this zone can inform us about vegetation succession rules and driving mechanisms. Here, we used Landsat series images to study changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) over this zone in the Sahel region of Africa. We selected 6315 sampling points for machine-learning training, across four types: desert, desert/grassland biome transition zone, grassland, and water bodies. We then extracted the range of the desert/grassland biome transition zone using the random forest method. We used Global Inventory Monitoring and Modelling Studies (GIMMS) data and the fifth-generation atmospheric reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA5) meteorological assimilation data to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of NDVI and climatic factors (temperature and precipitation). We used the multiple regression residual method to analyze the contributions of human activities and climate change to NDVI. The cellular automation (CA)-Markov model was used to predict the spatial position of the desert/grassland biome transition zone. From 1982 to 2015, the NDVI and temperature increased; no distinct trend was found for precipitation. The climate change and NDVI change trends both showed spatial stratified heterogeneity. Temperature and precipitation had a significant impact on NDVI in the desert/grassland biome transition zone; precipitation and NDVI were positively correlated, and temperature and NDVI were negatively correlated. Both human activities and climate factors influenced vegetation changes. The contribution rates of human activities and climate factors to the increase in vegetation were 97.7% and 48.1%, respectively. Human activities and climate factors together contributed 47.5% to this increase. The CA-Markov model predicted that the area of the desert/grassland biome transition zone in the Sahel region will expand northward and southward in the next 30 years.
About the Pitfall of Erroneous Validation Data in the Estimation of Confusion Matrices
Authors: Radoux Julien , Bogaert Patrick
Published: December 2020

Accuracy assessment of maps relies on the collection of validation data, i.e., a set of trusted points or spatial objects collected independently from the classified map. However, collecting spatially and thematically accurate dataset is often tedious and expensive. Despite good practices, those datasets are rarely error-prone. Errors in the reference dataset propagate to the probabilities estimated in the confusion matrices. Consequently, the estimates of the quality are biased: accuracy indices are overestimated if the errors are correlated and underestimated if the errors are conditionally independent. The first findings of our study highlight the fact that this bias could invalidate statistical tests of map accuracy assessment. Furthermore, correlated errors in the reference dataset induce unfair comparison of classifiers. A maximum entropy method is thus proposed to mitigate the propagation of errors from imperfect reference datasets. The proposed method is based on a theoretical framework which considers a trivariate probability table that links the observed confusion matrix, the confusion matrix of the reference dataset and the “real” confusion matrix. The method was tested with simulated thematic and geo-reference errors. It proved to reduce the bias to the level of the sampling uncertainty. The method was very efficient with geolocation errors because conditional independence of errors can reasonably be assumed. Thematic errors are more difficult to mitigate because they require the estimation of an additional parameter related to the amount of spatial correlation. In any case, while collecting additional trusted labels is usually expensive, our result show that the benefits for accuracy assessment are much larger than collecting a larger number of questionable reference data.
Estimation of Land Surface Albedo from MODIS and VIIRS Data: A Multi-Sensor Strategy Based on the Direct Estimation Algorithm and Statistical-Based Temporal Filter
Authors: Wang Mengsi , Fan Xianlei , Li Xijia , Liu Qiang , Qu Ying
Published: December 2020

Land surface albedo is an important variable for Earth’s radiation and energy budget. Over the past decades, many surface albedo products have been derived from a variety of remote sensing data. However, the estimation accuracy, temporal resolution, and temporal continuity of these datasets still need to be improved. We developed a multi-sensor strategy (MSS) based on the direct-estimation algorithm (DEA) and Statistical-Based Temporal Filter (STF) to improve the quality of land surface albedo datasets. The moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data onboard Terra and Aqua and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) were used as multi-sensor data. The MCD43A3 product and in situ measurements from the Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) and FLUXNET sites were employed for validation and comparison. The results showed that the proposed MSS method significantly improved the temporal continuity and estimation accuracy during the snow-covered period, which was more consistent with the measurements of SURFRAD (R = 0.9498, root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.0387, and bias = −0.0017) and FLUXNET (R = 0.9421, RMSE = 0.0330, and bias = 0.0002) sites. Moreover, this is a promising method to generate long-term, spatiotemporal continuous land surface albedo datasets with high temporal resolution.
A New Method for Positional Accuracy Analysis in Georeferenced Satellite Images without Independent Ground Control Points
Authors: Sánchez Miguel , Cuartero Aurora , Barrena Manuel , Plaza Antonio
Published: December 2020

This paper introduces a new method to analyze the positional accuracy of georeferenced satellite images without the use of ground control points. Compared to the traditional method used to carry out this kind of analysis, our approach provides a semiautomatic way to obtain a larger number of control points that satisfy the requirements of current standards regarding the size of the set of sample points, the positional accuracy of such points, the distance between points, and the distribution of points in the sample. Our methodology exploits high quality orthoimages, such as those provided by the Aerial Orthography National Plan (PNOA)—developed by the Spanish National Geographic Institute—and has been tested on spatial data from Landsat 8. Our method works under the current international standard (ASPRS 2014) and exhibits similar performance than other well-known methods to analyze the positional accuracy of georeferenced images based on the use of independent ground control points. More specifically, the positional accuracy achieved for a Landsat 8 dataset evaluated by the traditional method is 5.22 ± 1.95 m, and when evaluated with the proposed method, it exhibits a typical accuracy of 5.76 ± 0.50 m. Our experimental results confirm that the method is equally effective and less expensive than other available methods to analyze the positional accuracy of satellite images.
Land-Use and Land-Cover Classification Using a Human Group-Based Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with an LSTM Classifier on Hybrid Pre-Processing Remote-Sensing Images
Authors: Rajendran Ganesh B. , Kumarasamy Uma M. , Zarro Chiara , Divakarachari Parameshachari B. , Ullo Silvia L.
Published: December 2020

Land-use and land-cover (LULC) classification using remote sensing imagery plays a vital role in many environment modeling and land-use inventories. In this study, a hybrid feature optimization algorithm along with a deep learning classifier is proposed to improve the performance of LULC classification, helping to predict wildlife habitat, deteriorating environmental quality, haphazard elements, etc. LULC classification is assessed using Sat 4, Sat 6 and Eurosat datasets. After the selection of remote-sensing images, normalization and histogram equalization methods are used to improve the quality of the images. Then, a hybrid optimization is accomplished by using the local Gabor binary pattern histogram sequence (LGBPHS), the histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and Haralick texture features, for the feature extraction from the selected images. The benefits of this hybrid optimization are a high discriminative power and invariance to color and grayscale images. Next, a human group-based particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to select the optimal features, whose benefits are a fast convergence rate and ease of implementation. After selecting the optimal feature values, a long short-term memory (LSTM) network is utilized to classify the LULC classes. Experimental results showed that the human group-based PSO algorithm with a LSTM classifier effectively well differentiates the LULC classes in terms of classification accuracy, recall and precision. A maximum improvement of 6.03% on Sat 4 and 7.17% on Sat 6 in LULC classification is reached when the proposed human group-based PSO with LSTM is compared to individual LSTM, PSO with LSTM, and Human Group Optimization (HGO) with LSTM. Moreover, an improvement of 2.56% in accuracy is achieved, compared to the existing models, GoogleNet, Visual Geometric Group (VGG), AlexNet, ConvNet, when the proposed method is applied.
Mapping Dragon Fruit Croplands from Space Using Remote Sensing of Artificial Light at Night
Authors: Wang Ruirui , Shi Wei , Dong Pinliang
Published: December 2020

The nighttime light (NTL) on the surface of Earth is an important indicator for the human transformation of the world. NTL remotely sensed data have been widely used in urban development, population estimation, economic activity, resource development and other fields. With the increasing use of artificial lighting technology in agriculture, it has become possible to use NTL remote sensing data for monitoring agricultural activities. In this study, National Polar Partnership (NPP)-Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) NTL remote sensing data were used to observe the seasonal variation of artificial lighting in dragon fruit cropland in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Compared with the statistics of planted area, area having products and production of dragon fruit by district in the Statistical Yearbook of Binh Thuan Province 2018, values of the mean and standard deviation of NTL brightness have significant positive correlations with the statistical data. The results suggest that the NTL remotely sensed data could be used to reveal some agricultural productive activities such as dragon fruits production accurately by monitoring the seasonal artificial lighting. This research demonstrates the application potential of NTL remotely sensed data in agriculture.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Stormwater System, under Data Scarcity, for Decision-Making Process: The Duran Case Study (Ecuador)
Authors: Matamoros David , Arias-Hidalgo Mijail , Cornejo-Rodriguez Maria del Pilar , Borbor-Cordova Mercy J.
Published: December 2020

Urban flooding is a major problem in many coastal cities around the world, mainly caused by factors such as poor urban planning, outdated sewer capacity or high frequent extreme events. In developing countries such as Ecuador, lack of monitoring, financial constraints and absence of proper policies exacerbate flooding problems. The use of the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) helped to identify zones that are flooded even with a 2-year precipitation event at Duran city. Since there are no flood monitoring stations across the study area, model calibration was performed against unofficial records (people complaints, media photographs, and water marks on walls). Model results fairly agreed with those unofficial record. However, a validation process is not achievable yet due to lack of enough flood data even in flood prone areas. To further increase city resilience, authorities and stakeholders should engage in climate actions to raise flood hazard-risk awareness, monitoring hydro-meteorological factors, complement drainage operations with nature-based solutions, and improve hydrodynamic modelling to develop a flood early warning system for the city.
Blockchain Technology and Its Role in Enhancing Supply Chain Integration Capability and Reducing Carbon Emission: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Wang Michael , Wang Bill , Abareshi Ahmad
Published: December 2020

Most current blockchain and carbon emission studies are from engineering and sciences disciplines. By incorporating blockchain technology into supply chain integration capabilities, the firms are be able to work collaboratively with each other to enhance the supply chain integration and simultaneously reduce the carbon emission in a supply chain. This paper presents a conceptual framework to understand the role of blockchain in a low carbon supply chain management. Applying the Socio-Technical Theory and Resource-Based View, the research propositions between blockchain, supply chain integration capability and carbon emission are proposed in the research framework. The results indicate that the blockchain technology may be viewed as a strategic management approach to enhance supply chain integration and reduce the carbon emissions. In addition, it may be adopted as an operational tool to track carbon footprint, streamline processes and improve efficiency of carbon management to minimize the overall emissions in supply chains. The paper contributes to the blockchain literature and its applications in low carbon supply chain management and provides recommendation for future research.
Evaluating Outwards Regeneration Effects (OREs) in Neighborhood-Based Projects: A Reversal of Perspective and the Proposal for a New Tool
Authors: Saiu Valeria
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a reversal of perspective in the evaluation of Regeneration projects. Until now, attention has been mainly focused on project “internal effectiveness”, in reference to the environment and life quality improvement of the areas directly affected by the interventions. The effects induced in the wider urban context are rarely sufficiently analyzed. This aspect instead opens an important field of investigation, useful for a broader assessment of regeneration initiatives, especially with regards to Public Housing Neighborhoods where the long-term project success also depends on the positive effects it generates in the surroundings. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop a conceptualization of “Outwards Regeneration Effects” (OREs), based on an extensive literature review, and to make it operational through a conceptual framework for the qualitative analysis. The results of this study, on the one hand, highlight several critical issues raised by the interventions implemented so far, and, on the other hand, provide a more effective assessment framework, useful in the evaluation of future projects. Further developments of such an approach could lead to the development of operational evaluation models, combining both qualitative and quantitative indicators, starting from the implementation of the proposed analytic framework.
Potential Renewable Hydrogen from Curtailed Electricity to Decarbonize ASEAN’s Emissions: Policy Implications
Authors: Phoumin Han , Kimura Fukunari , Arima Jun
Published: December 2020

The power generation mix of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is dominated by fossil fuels, which accounted for almost 80% in 2017 and are expected to account for 82% in 2050 if the region does not transition to cleaner energy systems. Solar and wind power are the most abundant energy resources but contribute negligibly to the power mix. Investors in solar or wind farms face high risks from electricity curtailment if surplus electricity is not used. Employing the policy scenario analysis of the energy outlook modelling results, this paper examines the potential scalability of renewable hydrogen production from curtailed electricity in scenarios of high share of variable renewable energy in the power generation mix. The study found that ASEAN has high potential in developing renewable hydrogen production from curtailed electricity. The study further found that the falling cost of renewable hydrogen production could be a game changer to upscaling the large-scale hydrogen production in ASEAN through policy support. The results implied a future role of renewable hydrogen in energy transition to decarbonize ASEAN’s emissions.
A Creative Living Lab for the Adaptive Reuse of the Morticelli Church: The SSMOLL Project
Authors: Cerreta Maria , Elefante Alessia , La Rocca Ludovica
Published: December 2020

The international debate on the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage sites consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals has become increasingly important in the implementation of circular economy models for urban policies. The new values that characterize cultural assets, considered the result of a collaborative process, can enhance both manufactured and human capital, and provide the basis for a system of relationships that binds them. Furthermore, the values of historical artistic assets produced by community-based regeneration processes are particularly relevant when they characterize abandoned commons and cult buildings, to which communities attribute an identity and symbolic value. Starting from the definition of the concept of complex social value, we propose a methodological process that combines approaches and techniques typical of deliberative evaluations and collaborative decision-making processes. The aim is to identify the complex value chains generated by adaptive reuse, in which intrinsic values can play a driving role in the regeneration strategies of discarded cultural heritage. The experimentation, tested with the project “San Sebastiano del Monte dei Morti Living Lab” (SSMOLL), activates a creative and cultural Living Lab in the former Morticelli church, in the historic center of Salerno, in southern Italy. The reuse project is part of a more comprehensive process of social innovation and culture-led urban regeneration triggered in Salerno starting from SSMOLL. The partial results of the process show how a co-exploration phase has characterized the cultural characteristic of the living lab and how the co-evaluation of the individual activities orient the possible reuse scenarios. Finally, the results provide a first analysis of the relationship types activated.
An Empirical Comparison of Graduate Entrepreneurs and Graduate Employees Based on Graduate Entrepreneurship Education and Career Development
Authors: Yuan Chih-Hung , Wang Dajiang , Mao Chuanyu , Wu Feixia
Published: December 2020

Entrepreneurship is a double-edged sword. Entrepreneurs may either reap great rewards or suffer great damages from crises in the near future. Therefore, it is crucial to offer entrepreneurship education to students. This would help them broaden their horizons in graduate employment. This study compares graduate entrepreneurs and graduate employees in China, focusing on their career development. The results of the study show that graduate entrepreneurs have higher career satisfaction than graduate employees. In addition, graduate entrepreneurs have greater work commitments than graduate employees, although they also have higher job stress. We also found that most graduates in either group could earn a living easily. A certain number of the two parties spent more than what they earned mainly to provide financial support to their families.
Preserving the Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (Women Divers) as a Sustainable Tourism Resource
Authors: Park Sunwoo , Chung Namho , Lee Won Seok
Published: December 2020

The culture of Jeju Haenyeo, the women free divers of Jeju Island, is inscribed on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list; however, it is proving difficult to maintain this status because, in the absence of conservation measures, the number of Haenyeo is decreasing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use contingent valuation to determine the economic value of preserving Jeju Haenyeo culture, which derives from visitor entrance fees, with the aim of justifying the preservation of this and other such intangible cultural resources. Despite its methodological advantage of allowing estimation of the value of non-market goods, the contingent valuation method (CVM) has been criticized because the hypothetical nature of the conditions can cause overestimation. To overcome that limitation, the respondents in this study reported their willingness to pay (WTP), and their responses were repeatedly confirmed to ensure their sincerity. The CVM estimate of the preservation value of Jeju Haenyeo culture was 17,308 South Korean Won. The results of this study serve as referential data on the value of cultural heritages and the need to preserve and utilize these resources.
Promoting Future Sustainable Transition by Overcoming the Openness Paradox in KIE Firms
Authors: Heidemann Lassen Astrid , Ljungberg Daniel , McKelvey Maureen
Published: December 2020

A key issue for transition to a more sustainable future is how to promote collaboration for innovation amongst multiple diverse partners. However, collaborating for innovation requires that firms overcome the paradox of openness, i.e., they need to be open to collaboration to innovate and at the same time protect their internal knowledge and intellectual assets to appropriate value from their innovations. The aim of this paper is to investigate how knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial (KIE) firms can overcome this paradox—which is an important barrier to future transitions—by choosing a combination of collaborative partners and appropriability strategies that support their ability to create more radical innovations. We analyze a sample of over 2450 KIE firms, drawing from a cross-European survey. Our results indicate how different partners, and different appropriability strategies, are more, or less, relevant to the generation of the radical innovations needed to transform society into one with a sustainable future; university collaboration and the use of formal protection mechanisms seem especially important for such new-to-the-world innovations. Our study includes important policy implications for how to support and promote future sustainable transitions and also establishes a foundation for future lines of research regarding entrepreneurship and sustainable transition.
Transforming Brownfields as Tourism Destinations and Their Sustainability on the Example of Slovakia
Authors: Gregorová Bohuslava , Hronček Pavel , Tometzová Dana , Molokáč Mário , Čech Vladimír
Published: December 2020

This study analyzes the issue of mining brownfields (sites abandoned after the extraction of minerals) in terms of their secondary use after revitalization as potential new sites of mining tourism. In the first part of the paper, we deal with the theoretical basis of the study, the conceptualization of mining brownfields, possibilities for their revitalization, and their sustainability for mining tourism. In the second part, we analyze mining brownfields as devastated mining sites using a questionnaire survey conducted among students of geotourism and geography at three Slovak universities in Košice, Banská Bystrica, and Prešov. The result of our several years of field research was a database of mining brownfields in Slovakia. According to our findings and the latest theoretical and methodological literature about other types of brownfields, we compiled a comprehensive definition of mining brownfields. The questionnaire survey confirmed that mining brownfields are interesting destinations for (mining) tourism with long-term sustainability. The equipment of the services did not directly determine the number of visitors, who did not perceive the risk and danger of visiting mining brownfields.
Seismic Behavior of Moment-Resisting Frames with Conventional and Innovative Connections
Authors: Di Benedetto Sabatino , Francavilla Antonella Bianca , Latour Massimo , Ferrante Cavallaro Giovanni , Piluso Vincenzo , Rizzano Gianvittorio
Published: December 2020

In the last few decades, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of beam-to-column connections able to accommodate the local ductility demand dissipating, contemporaneously, the seismic input energy. Among the typologies proposed, the so-called RBS (Reduced Beam Section) has gained wide acceptance in the construction market, leading to easy-to-construct and cost-effective solutions. As an alternative, new proposals based on the inclusion of friction devices in beam-to-column joints have recently been made. Such a practice has the merit, in case of destructive events, of exhibiting wide and stable hysteretic cycles concentrating damage in elements that undergo only minor yielding. Both RBS and friction joints have been widely studied, carrying out experimental tests on sub-assemblies investigating their cyclic rotational response. Nevertheless, the available experimental results on full-scale structures equipped with these connections are still quite limited. This is the reason why two experimental campaigns aimed at performing pseudo-dynamic testing of a full-scale two-storey steel building equipped with RBS and friction connections have been planned at the STRENGTH (STRuctural ENGineering Test Hall) Laboratory of the University of Salerno. The first experimental campaign with the structure equipped with RBSs has already been performed; the connections showed higher resistance than expected, and exhibited brittle fracture due to cyclic fatigue. The second campaign has not yet been carried out, but in this paper the blind analysis of the supposed behavior is reported. It is expected that the friction joints allow to dissipate the seismic input energy without any structural damage in the members, but only through the friction pads of the devices, which can be easily replaced at the end of a severe seismic event.
Exposure Risk of Chronic Wasting Disease in Humans
Authors: Nemani Satish K. , Myskiw Jennifer L. , Lamoureux Lise , Booth Stephanie A. , Sim Valerie L.
Published: December 2020

The majority of human prion diseases are sporadic, but acquired disease can occur, as seen with variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) following consumption of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). With increasing rates of cervid chronic wasting disease (CWD), there is concern that a new form of human prion disease may arise. Currently, there is no evidence of transmission of CWD to humans, suggesting the presence of a strong species barrier; however, in vitro and in vivo studies on the zoonotic potential of CWD have yielded mixed results. The emergence of different CWD strains is also concerning, as different strains can have different abilities to cross species barriers. Given that venison consumption is common in areas where CWD rates are on the rise, increased rates of human exposure are inevitable. If CWD was to infect humans, it is unclear how it would present clinically; in vCJD, it was strain-typing of vCJD prions that proved the causal link to BSE. Therefore, the best way to screen for CWD in humans is to have thorough strain-typing of harvested cervids and human CJD cases so that we will be in a position to detect atypical strains or strain shifts within the human CJD population.
Application of a Sanger-Based External Quality Assurance Strategy for the Transition of HIV-1 Drug Resistance Assays to Next Generation Sequencing
Authors: Jennings Cheryl , Parkin Neil T. , Zaccaro Daniel J. , Capina Rupert , Sandstrom Paul , Ji Hezhao , Brambilla Donald J. , Bremer James W.
Published: December 2020

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Virology Quality Assurance (VQA) established a robust proficiency testing program for Sanger sequencing (SS)-based HIV-1 drug resistance (HIVDR) testing in 2001. While many of the lessons learned during the development of such programs may also apply to next generation sequencing (NGS)-based HIVDR assays, challenges remain for the ongoing evaluation of NGS-based testing. These challenges include a proper assessment of assay accuracy and the reproducibility of low abundance variant detection, intra- and inter-assay performance comparisons among laboratories using lab-defined tests, and different data analysis pipelines designed for NGS. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Global HIVDR Laboratory Network and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Rush VQA program distributed archived proficiency testing panels to ten laboratories to evaluate internally developed NGS assays. Consensus FASTA files were submitted using 5%, 10%, and 20% variant detection thresholds, and scored based on the same criteria used for SS. This small study showed that the SS External Quality Assurance (EQA) approach can be used as a transitional strategy for using NGS to generate SS-like data and for ongoing performance while using NGS data from the same quality control materials to further evaluate NGS assay performance.
Investigating the Performance of Enhanced Permeable Groins in Series
Authors: Shokrian Hajibehzad Manoochehr , Shafai Bejestan Mahmood , Ferro Vito
Published: December 2020

The enhanced permeable groin is a novel eco-friendly and cost-effective technique for bank protection and restoration of meander bends. The behavior of bed deformations due to the distance between the structures has to be studied to design enhanced permeable groins in series properly. In this study, scour morphologies around enhanced permeable groins in series, characterized by four different distances and located in a 180° mild flume bend, for clear water conditions were investigated. The analysis indicated that scour geometrical patterns such as the maximum scour depth nearby the structures and the maximum deposition height between them are strongly affected by the distance between the groins. The results revealed that the maximum scour depth around the structures increases with the distance between structures, the scour holes develop towards the outer bank and create a series of pools that can lead to the bank collapse. All experiments, carried out with different structure distances, demonstrated that the location of thalweg effectively shifted towards the middle of the channel and near the inner bank for high and low particle Froude numbers, respectively. As a general result, a distance between enhanced permeable groins equal to four times the effective length of the structure is recommended for a 180° mild flume bend for the investigated particle Froude numbers. Finally, a general design guideline is presented to a proper design of enhanced permeable groins in series.