bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles Mediated by Streptomyces plicatus: Characterizations, Antimicrobial and Nematicidal Activities and Cytogenetic Effects
Authors: Kalaba Mohamed H. , Moghannem Saad A. , El-Hawary Ahmad S. , Radwan Ahmed A. , Sharaf Mohamed H. , Shaban Abdelghany S.
Published: August 2021

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are regarded as one of the most promising kinds of materials in a variety of fields, including agriculture. Therefore, this study aimed to biosynthesize and characterize ZnO-NPs and evaluate their different biological activities. Seven isolates of actinomycetes were obtained and screened for ZnO-NPs synthesis. The isolate MK-104 was chosen and identified as the Streptomyces plicatus MK-104 strain. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs exhibited an absorbance peak at 350 nm and were spherical in shape with an average size of 21.72 ± 4.27 nm under TEM. XRD and DLS methods confirmed these results. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs demonstrated activity against plant pathogenic microbes such as Erwinia amylovora, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliform and Alternaria alternata, with MIC values ranging from 15.6 to 500 µg/mL. Furthermore, ZnO-NPs had a significant effect on Meloidogyne incognita, with death percentages of 88.2, 93.4 and 96.72% after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure, respectively. Vicia faba seeds were treated with five concentrations of ZnO-NPs (12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL). Low-moderate ZnO-NP concentrations (12.5–50 µg/mL) were shown to promote seed germination and seedling development, while the mitotic index (MI) decreased as the dosage of ZnO-NPs increased. Micronuclei (MNs) and the chromosomal abnormality index increased as well.
Review of Strain Rate Effects of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Ma Lulu , Liu Feng , Liu Dongyu , Liu Yaolu
Published: August 2021

The application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is gaining increasing popularity in impact-resistant devices, automotives, biomedical devices and aircraft structures due to their high strength-to-weight ratios and their potential for impact energy absorption. Impact-induced high loading rates can result in significant changes of mechanical properties (e.g., elastic modulus and strength) before strain softening occurs and failure characteristics inside the strain localization zone (e.g., failure mechanisms and fracture energy) for fiber-reinforced polymer composites. In general, these phenomena are called the strain rate effects. The underlying mechanisms of the observed rate-dependent deformation and failure of composites take place among multiple length and time scales. The contributing mechanisms can be roughly classified as: the viscosity of composite constituents (polymer, fiber and interfaces), the rate-dependency of the fracture mechanisms, the inertia effects, the thermomechanical dissipation and the characteristic fracture time. Numerical models, including the viscosity type of constitutive models, rate-dependent cohesive zone models, enriched equation of motion and thermomechanical numerical models, are useful for a better understanding of these contributing factors of strain rate effects of FRP composites.
Development and Characterization of Field Structured Magnetic Composites
Authors: Nagarajan Balakrishnan , Wang Yingnan , Taheri Maryam , Trudel Simon , Bryant Steven , Qureshi Ahmed Jawad , Mertiny Pierre
Published: August 2021

Polymer composites containing ferromagnetic fillers are promising for applications relating to electrical and electronic devices. In this research, the authors modified an ultraviolet light (UV) curable prepolymer to additionally cure upon heating and validated a permanent magnet-based particle alignment system toward fabricating anisotropic magnetic composites. The developed dual-cure acrylate-based resin, reinforced with ferromagnetic fillers, was first tested for its ability to polymerize through UV and heat. Then, the magnetic alignment setup was used to orient magnetic particles in the dual-cure acrylate-based resin and a heat curable epoxy resin system in a polymer casting approach. The alignment setup was subsequently integrated with a material jetting 3D printer, and the dual-cure resin was dispensed and cured in-situ using UV, followed by thermal post-curing. The resulting magnetic composites were tested for their filler loading, microstructural morphology, alignment of the easy axis of magnetization, and degree of monomer conversion. Magnetic characterization was conducted using a vibrating sample magnetometer along the in-plane and out-of-plane directions to study anisotropic properties. This research establishes a methodology to combine magnetic field induced particle alignment along with a dual-cure resin to create anisotropic magnetic composites through polymer casting and additive manufacturing.
Water-Preserving and Salt-Resistant Slow-Release Fertilizers of Polyacrylic Acid-Potassium Humate Coated Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Authors: Li Hongping , Yang Lanwen , Cao Jianxin , Nie Chenchen , Liu Hao , Tian Juan , Chen Wenxing , Geng Pinglan , Xie Guiming
Published: August 2021

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) has high water absorbency but poor salt resistance. Humic acid (HA) extracted from lignite was introduced into the cross-linked copolymer systems of AA to improve the water absorbency and salt-tolerance. A polyacrylic acid-potassium humate (PAA-KHA) coated ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) fertilizer with water-preserving, salt-resistant and slow-release properties was prepared. The main properties of HA extracted from lignite oxidized by H2O2 were studied. Furthermore, the synthesis process, water absorbency of PAA-KHA in deionized water and in NaCl solution, morphologies of PAA-KHA, and the slow-release performance of the fertilizer (ADP@PAA-KHA) were investigated. The results showed PAA-KHA had a layered interpenetrating network, which can provide sufficient storage space for water and nutrients. The salty water absorbency of PAA-KHA increased by about 3 times compared to PAA. Both the PO43− and NH4+ cumulative release of ADP@PAA-KHA with a coating rate of 10% in deionized water, were less than 20% within 24 h, and were 55.71% and 28.04% after the 15th day, respectively. The weight change of ADP@PAA-KHA before and after absorbing water was about 53 times in deionized water and about 4 times in 1 wt% of NaCl salty water. The results show that ADP@PAA-KHA has excellent properties of water retention, salt resistance and slow-release. This will efficiently improve the utilization of fertilizer and reduce the irrigation water consumption at the same time.
Optimal Design of IPMSM for EV Using Subdivided Kriging Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Ahn Jong-Min , Baek Myung-Ki , Park Sang-Hun , Lim Dong-Kuk
Published: August 2021

In this paper, subdivided kriging multi-objective optimization (SKMOO) is proposed for the optimal design of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM). The SKMOO with surrogate kriging model can obtain a uniform and accurate pareto front set with a reduced computation cost compared to conventional algorithms which directly adds the solution in the objective function area. In other words, the proposed algorithm uses a kriging surrogate model, so it is possible to know which design variables have the value of the objective function on the blank space. Therefore, the solution can be added directly in the objective function area. In the SKMOO algorithm, a non-dominated sorting method is used to find the pareto front set and the fill blank method is applied to prevent premature convergence. In addition, the subdivided kriging grid is proposed to make a well-distributed and more precise pareto front set. Superior performance of the SKMOO is confirmed by compared conventional multi objective optimization (MOO) algorithms with test functions and are applied to the optimal design of IPMSM for electric vehicle.
Study of Biocrudes Obtained via Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) of Wild Alga Consortium under Different Conditions
Authors: Barrère-Mangote Caroline , Roubaud Anne , Bouyssiere Brice , Maillard Julien , Hertzog Jasmine , Maître Johann Le , Hubert-Roux Marie , Sassi Jean-Francois , Afonso Carlos , Giusti Pierre
Published: August 2021

Microalga-based fuels are promising solutions for replacing fossil fuels. This feedstock presents several advantages such as fast growth in a harsh environment and an ability to trap gases emitted from industries, thus reducing global warming effects. An efficient way to convert harvested microalgae into biofuels is hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which yields an intermediate product called biocrude. In this study, the elemental and molecular compositions of 15 different HTL biocrudes were determined by means of different techniques. Wild algae were cultivated in an industrial environment with plant emissions as a carbon source in fresh or seawater. It was notably observed that the culture medium had an influence on the biochemical composition and mineral matter content of algae. Thus, seawater algae were characterized by larger amounts of carbohydrates and mineral matter than freshwater ones, which also affected the oil yields and the light and heavy fractions of biocrudes.
Family Dynamics, Fertility Cults, and Feminist Critiques: The Reception of Hosea 1–3 through the Centuries
Authors: Anderson Bradford A.
Published: August 2021

This article examines a number of contested and contentious issues in the reception of Hosea 1–3, exploring how readers through the centuries have engaged with the interpretive challenges found in the initial chapters of this prophetic text. These include (1) debates concerning whether the marriage of Hosea and Gomer should be understood literally or figuratively; (2) questions concerning the identity of the woman in chp. 3 in relation to the events of chp. 1; (3) proposals on how to understand the metaphorical elements related to Hosea’s marriage and Israel’s infidelity; (4) ethical, theological, and rhetorical concerns raised by these chapters, including feminist critiques; (5) the place of Gomer’s children in the opening chapter of the book; (6) the themes and rhetoric of chp. 2, including the punishment and wooing of the wife and Israel; and (7) the role of Hos 1–3 in Jewish and Christian liturgical traditions. This study offers soundings from across historical, religious, and interpretive traditions that give a sense of the wide-ranging ways in which this book has been read and understood through the centuries. In particular, it highlights that while specific questions and issues related to Hosea have persisted through the years, the underlying interpretive assumptions and approaches to these questions have shifted considerably in various historical periods, which in turn has led to considerable diversity in the reception of this prophetic text.
‘When the Waves Roll High’: Religious Coping among the Amish and Mennonites during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: DiGregorio Bernard D. , Corcoran Katie E. , Colyer Corey J. , Stein Rachel E.
Published: August 2021

Religious beliefs, practices, and social support facilitate coping with psychologically distressful events and circumstances. However, COVID-19 and governmental mandates for social distancing and isolation make in-person communal forms of religious coping difficult. While some congregations began holding virtual rituals, this was not an option for Amish and conservative Mennonite groups that restrict communication and media technologies as a religious sacrament. Governmental mandates placed a disproportionate burden on these groups whose members could not conduct rituals or interact virtually with other members and family. What religious coping strategies did the Amish and Mennonites use to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic given their restricted ability to participate in in-person rituals? We collected data from The Budget and The Diary, two Amish and Mennonite correspondence newspapers, which provide information on the experiences of community members. We content analyzed all entries from March 2020 to April 2020 and identified several themes related to religious coping focused on the positive benefits of the pandemic, specifically how it helps and reminds the Amish and Mennonites to refocus on the simple and important things in life, including God, spirituality, family, tradition, gardening, and other at-home hobbies, all of which reflect their religious commitment to a slower pace of life.
Erratum: Liu et al. Nightlight as a Proxy of Economic Indicators: Fine-Grained GDP Inference around Chinese Mainland via Attention-Augmented CNN from Daytime Satellite Imagery. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2067
Authors: Liu Haoyu , He Xianwen , Bai Yanbing , Liu Xing , Wu Yilin , Zhao Yanyun , Yang Hanfang
Published: August 2021

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
A Novel Approach to Global Positioning System Accuracy Assessment, Verified on LiDAR Alignment of One Million Kilometers at a Continent Scale, as a Foundation for Autonomous DRIVING Safety Analysis
Authors: Bedkowski Janusz , Nowak Hubert , Kubiak Blazej , Studzinski Witold , Janeczek Maciej , Karas Szymon , Kopaczewski Adam , Makosiej Przemyslaw , Koszuk Jaroslaw , Pec Michal , Miksa Krzysztof
Published: August 2021

This paper concerns a new methodology for accuracy assessment of GPS (Global Positioning System) verified experimentally with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data alignment at continent scale for autonomous driving safety analysis. Accuracy of an autonomous driving vehicle positioning within a lane on the road is one of the key safety considerations and the main focus of this paper. The accuracy of GPS positioning is checked by comparing it with mobile mapping tracks in the recorded high-definition source. The aim of the comparison is to see if the GPS positioning remains accurate up to the dimensions of the lane where the vehicle is driving. The goal is to align all the available LiDAR car trajectories to confirm the of accuracy of GNSS + INS (Global Navigation Satellite System + Inertial Navigation System). For this reason, the use of LiDAR metric measurements for data alignment implemented using SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) was investigated, assuring no systematic drift by applying GNSS+INS constraints. The methodology was verified experimentally using arbitrarily chosen measurement instruments (NovAtel GNSS + INS, Velodyne HDL32 LiDAR) mounted onto mobile mapping systems. The accuracy was assessed and confirmed by the alignment of 32,785 trajectories with a total length of 1,159,956.9 km and a total of 186.4 × 109 optimized parameters (six degrees of freedom of poses) that cover the United States region in the 2016–2019 period. The alignment improves the trajectories; thus the final map is consistent. The proposed methodology extends the existing methods of global positioning system accuracy assessment, focusing on realistic environmental and driving conditions. The impact of global positioning system accuracy on autonomous car safety is discussed. It is shown that 99% of the assessed data satisfy the safety requirements (driving within lanes of 3.6 m) for Mid-Size (width 1.85 m, length 4.87 m) vehicles and 95% for Six-Wheel Pickup (width 2.03–2.43 m, length 5.32–6.76 m). The conclusion is that this methodology has great potential for global positioning accuracy assessment at the global scale for autonomous driving applications. LiDAR data alignment is introduced as a novel approach to GNSS + INS accuracy confirmation. Further research is needed to solve the identified challenges.
Are Working Children in Developing Countries Hidden Victims of Pandemics?
Authors: Kechagia Polyxeni , Metaxas Theodore
Published: August 2021

The consequences of the recent pandemic have been disproportionately disruptive to several social groups, including children. As developing economies have been firefighting the recent pandemic, the welfare of minors could be affected and children’s economic exploitation and abuse could increase. Therefore, the present research aims to shed light on and to investigate the association between child labour in developing countries and pandemics, including the coronavirus, through conducting a systematic literature review on previous empirical studies. The present research concludes that previous studies on non-COVID-19 pandemics have mainly focused on the African economies, while studies on the recent pandemic have focused on Asian countries. In addition, differences were observed in relation to the methodological approaches and the characteristics of minor employees and the protection services in certain countries have proven to be insufficient. Suggestions for future research and policy implications are presented.
Research on the Anti-Reflective Cracking Performance of a Full-Depth Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Hou Fujin , Li Tao , Li Xu , Li Yunliang , Guo Meng
Published: August 2021

In order to analyze the anti-reflective cracking performance of a full-depth asphalt pavement and study the propagation process of a reflection crack and its influencing factors, a mechanical model of pavement structural crack analysis was established based on the ABAQUS finite element software and the extended finite element method (XFEM). Based on two different loading modes of three-point bending and direct tension, the propagation process of a reflection crack is analyzed. The results show that the anti-reflective cracking performance of a full-depth asphalt pavement is better than that of a semi-rigid base pavement structure, and the loading mode II based on direct tension is more consistent with the propagation mechanism of pavement reflection cracks, while the loading mode II is more suitable for analyzing the anti-reflective cracking performance of the pavement structure. Appropriately reducing the elastic modulus of the stress-absorbing layer can significantly improve the anti-reflective cracking performance of the full-depth asphalt pavement.
Guiding Nutritious Food Choices and Diets along Food Systems
Authors: Pretorius Beulah , Ambuko Jane , Papargyropoulou Effie , Schönfeldt Hettie C.
Published: August 2021

Poor diets are responsible for more of the global burden of disease than sex, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco combined. Without good health, food security, and nutrition, development is unsustainable. How food is grown, distributed, processed, marketed, and sold determines which foods are available, affordable, and acceptable within the local cultural context. These factors guide food choices, influencing the quality of people’s diets, and hence they play a vital part in health. The food system is complex and is neither nutrition nor health driven. Good nutrition and human health are not seen as important supply chain outcomes, diminishing between the different processes and actors in the chain. This is in contrast to the environmental and labour concerns now also perceived as supply chain issues. Although food loss and waste is now appreciated as key to sustainable food supply chains, the critical role on nutrition security remains obscure. In a free market dispensation, the trade-offs between agricultural production and income generation versus nutrient delivery from farm to fork needs to be addressed. Investment and incentivised initiatives are needed to foster diverse food production, preservation, distribution and influence consumers’ behaviour and consumption. The decisions made at any stage of the food supply chain have implications on consumer choices, dietary patterns, and nutritional outcomes. Leveraging the entire food system is an underused policy response to the growing problem of unhealthy diets.
Stakeholder Management and Project Sustainability—A Throw of the Dice
Authors: Cvijović Jelena , Obradović Vladimir , Todorović Marija
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze the strategies that external stakeholders apply to influence sustainable projects. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we employed a qualitative case study approach considering the Serbian small hydro power plant project. For the purpose of this research, we developed a theoretical framework consisting of four types of different influence strategies, which were identified and then applied to our case. The results show that external stakeholders utilized all four strategies interchangeably, with the goal to influence the project and decision-makers. The case of the small hydro power plant project revealed certain relationships between influence strategies, as well as the intensity and direction of these relationships. It also revealed that external stakeholders were highly motivated by negative impacts on the environment. Five propositions were derived as a result of our research. This paper contributes not just to the project and stakeholder management literature but also to the practical knowledge of project managers. Understanding stakeholder actions and influence is essential to achieving project goals.
Study on the Aging Resistance of Polyurethane Precursor Modified Bitumen and its Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Liang , Li Pengfei , Hu Guanfeng , Zhang Sufeng , Hong Bin , Wang Haopeng , Wang Dawei , Oeser Markus
Published: August 2021

As an environmentally friendly alternative for the production of high-performance modified asphalt by chemical reactions, a liquid-state polyurethane-precursor-based reactive modifier (PRM) was developed and employed in the asphalt modification. In contrast to the traditional solid bitumen modifier, for example, rubber and thermoplastic elastomers, the PRM as a liquid modifier has more significant advantages in reducing energy consumption and improving asphalt performance, which has attracted widespread attention. However, the aging resistance and its mechanism are not clear. In view of this, the aging performance of two PRM-modified bitumen (PRM-70 and PRM-90), under the short-term thermo-oxidative aging, long-term thermo-oxidative aging, and ultraviolet (UV) aging conditions, was investigated through chemical and mechanical methods. The results show that the PRM-90 is more susceptible to the thermos-oxidative aging and UV aging. The use of low-penetration-grade bitumen and ensuring an adequate reaction are beneficial to enhance the aging resistance of PRM-modified bitumen. The impact of aging on high-temperature performance of PRM-modified bitumen is great, followed by the low-temperature performance and the anti-fatigue performance. The mechanic-relevant rheological aging index (RAI) and fracture energy index (FEI) are recommended to evaluate aging properties for PRM-modified bitumen. This study not only provides support for further research on the relationship between the aging properties and mechanical performance of PRM-modified bitumen, but also provides a reference for conducting mechanism analysis.
Sustainable Development of EFL Learners’ Research Writing Competence and Their Identity Construction: Chinese Novice Writer-Researchers’ Metadiscourse Use in English Research Articles
Authors: Gu Xiaole , Xu Ziwei
Published: August 2021

English for foreign language (EFL) novice writer-researchers are faced with an increasing pressure for international publication as a prerequisite for sustainable career development in academia. The use of metadiscourse, as a key indicator for their discourse competence, has been a subject of research for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and/or English for Specific Purposes (ESP) scholars. This study investigates metadiscourse features of research articles’ (RA) results and discussion (R&D) sections written by Chinese PhD students and their writer identities reflected through metadiscourse choice. A corpus was built, consisting of a subcorpus of R&D of unpublished research articles (RAs) written by Chinese PhD students (CNWs) and one of the same part-genre by English-speaking expert writers (EEWs). Metadiscourse used by the two groups were identified based on Hyland’s interpersonal model of metadiscourse. Quantitative analyses on the frequency and variety of metadiscourse markers found a significant difference not only in interactional metadiscourse but also in some subcategories of interactive and interactional metadiscourse, indicating that CNWs attach more importance to organisation of ideas than to the persuasiveness of arguments. A questionnaire survey was conducted to explore the influence of the CNWs’ perception of RA writing on their metadiscourse choice. It revealed that knowledge of generic conventions and metadiscourse functions, awareness of the writer–reader relationship, and confidence in language competence may influence metadiscourse choice. The paper concludes with the view that the CNWs generally view themselves as a recounter and reporter of their research, remaining conservative when presenting an authoritative voice and a confident identity as a knowledge creator.
A Comparison into the Factors Affecting Urban Rail Systems: Local, Express, and High-Speed Rail in Tunnels at a Great Depth in a Metropolitan Area
Authors: Lee Kyujin , Kim Woojin , Baek Junghan , Kim Junghwa
Published: August 2021

In this study, the factors influencing the choice of the type of urban railroad transportation in the metropolitan areas of Korea were analyzed. As the populations of metropolitan areas are expanding, the importance of rail transportation, which has a high travel reliability in terms of travel time, has increased, and various types of railroad systems have emerged accordingly. This study was focused on the choice behavior of travelers on local and express trains that use the same track and differ only in the number of stations and operating times. To compare the choice behavior of travelers between local and express trains, factors such as the waiting time on the platform and the in-car travel time were considered. We also investigated the system choice behavior for an existing express subway and high-speed rail trains in tunnels at a great depth in terms of horizontal access time (walking), vertical access time, in-vehicle travel time, and travel fare. For a high-speed rail built underground at a great depth of 50 m, the stated preference survey was designed, and data were collected in consideration of the Great Train Express being promoted in the Seoul metropolitan area by the Korean government. The results of this study are expected to be considered important data for improving the rail system design from the user’s perspective to increase the demand for urban rail transportation in metropolitan areas.
Development of Multi-Disciplinary Green-BOM to Maintain Sustainability in Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Kurniadi Kezia Amanda , Ryu Kwangyeol
Published: August 2021

The reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) appears to be eco-friendly while coping with rapidly changing market demands. However, there remains a lack of discussion or research regarding sustainability or environment-friendly functions within RMS. In this study, the reconfiguration planning problem is introduced to represent the core issues within the RMS. Reconfiguration occurs depending on new demands or conditions in the company by reconfiguring machines, such as removing, adding, or changing parts, giving considerable consideration to arrangement of machines, known as configurations in RMS. Therefore, reconfiguration process is always strongly connected to cost, energy consumption, and, more importantly, data management. The complexity of reconfiguration, product variation, and development processes requires tools that are capable of managing multi-disciplinary bill-of-material(BOM) or product data and providing a better collaboration support for data/information tracking while maintaining sustainability. This paper proposes a multi-disciplinary green bill-of-material (MDG-BOM)—an improved Green-BOM concept—with an additional multi-disciplinary feature to minimize emissions and hazardous materials during product development, as well as manage product information across multiple disciplines during the reconfiguration process. A smart spreadsheet for managing MDG-BOM was developed to allow multiple departments to integrate multiple sources of CAD design data and monitor/track changes throughout each step of the process.
Investigating the Determinants of Credit Spread Using a Markov Regime-Switching Model: Evidence from Banks in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Su-Lien , Lee Kuo-Jung
Published: August 2021

In this study, we investigate the determinants of credit spread using a Markov regime-switching model. We consider corporate governance variables and credit risk to analyze the determinants of credit spread. The corporate governance mechanism is an indicator of company sustainability, and credit spread is the main factor in profits obtained by banks. However, the relationship between credit spread and corporate governance is seldom discussed. We focus on loans from banks in Taiwan between 2000 and 2019 and apply a Markov regime-switching model, which is superior to other models in capturing different effects in various regimes. We specify two regime types: corporate governance and credit risk regimes. Furthermore, we consider four aspects of corporate governance: firm ownership structure, board structure, deviation, and information environment. In this study, the determinants of credit spread are investigated more thoroughly than in previous studies. Moreover, in this study, we examine the effects of monetary policy and economic status on credit spread using a Markov regime-switching model; such models are not employed to their full extent in related studies of credit spread. Empirical results indicate that credit spread has different effects in various regimes. Thus, understanding the determinants of credit spread in different regimes is crucial for financial analysts, investors, economic policymakers, and banks. Consequently, we expect that this study can improve the management and measurement of credit risk and be of value to financial institutions.
Remittance Flows from Healthcare Workers in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Syed Iffath Unissa
Published: August 2021

Previous research indicates that Canadian healthcare workers, particularly long-term care (LTC) workers, are frequently composed of immigrant and racialized/visible minorities (VM) who are often precariously employed, underpaid, and face significant work-related stress, violence, injuries, illness, and health inequities. Few studies, however, have analyzed the contributions and impact of their labor in international contexts and on global communities. For instance, it is estimated that over CAD 5 billion-worth of remittances originate from Canada, yet no studies to date have examined the contributions of these remittances from Canadian workers, especially from urbanized regions consisting of VM and immigrants who live and/or work in diverse and multicultural places like Toronto. The present study is the first to investigate health and LTC workers’ roles and behaviors as related to remittances. The rationale for this study is to fill important knowledge gaps. Accordingly, this study asked: Do health/LTC workers in the site of study send remittances? If so, which workers send remittances, and who are the recipients of these remittances? What is the range of monetary value of annual remittances that each worker is able to send? What is the purpose of these remittances? What motivates the decision to send remittances? This mixed-methods study used a single-case design and relied on interviews and a survey. The results indicate that many LTC workers provided significant financial support to transnational families, up to CAD 15,000 annually, for a variety of reasons, including support for education and healthcare costs, or as gifts during cultural festivals. However, the inability to send remittances was also a source of distress for those who wanted to assist their families but were unable to do so. These findings raise important questions that could be directed for future research. For example, are there circumstances under which financial remittances are funded through loans or debt? What are the implications for the sustainability and impact of remittances, given the current COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effect of dampening incomes and wages, worsening migrants’ health, wellbeing, and quality of life, as well as adversely affecting recipient economies and the quality of life of global communities?
Molecular Dynamics Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites Reinforced by C7N6 Nanosheet
Authors: Zhang Qinghua , Mortazavi Bohayra , Aldakheel Fadi
Published: August 2021

Carbon-nitride nanosheets have attracted remarkable attention in recent years due to their outstanding physical properties. C7N6 is one of the hotspot nanosheets which possesses excellent mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. In this study, the coupled thermo-mechanical properties of the single nanosheet C7N6 are systematically investigated. Although temperature effects have a strong influence on the mechanical properties of C7N6 monolayer, thermal effects were not fully analyzed for carbon-nitride nanosheet and still an open topic. To this end, the presented contribution aims to highlight this important aspect and investigate the temperature influence on the mechanical stress-strain response. By using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we have found out that the C7N6 monolayer’s maximum strength decreases as the temperature increase from 300 K to 1100 K. In the current contribution, 5% to 15% volume fractions of C7N6/P3HT composite were employed to investigate the C7N6 reinforcing ability. Significantly, the uniaxial tensile of C7N6/P3HT composite reveals that 10%C7N6 can enhance the maximum strength of the composite to 121.80 MPa which is 23.51% higher than the pure P3HT matrix. Moreover, to better understand the enhanced mechanism, we proposed a cohesive model to investigate the interface strength between the C7N6 nanosheet and P3HT matrix. This systematic study provides not only a sufficient method to understand the C7N6 thermo-mechanical properties, but also the reinforce mechanism of the C7N6 reinforced nanocomposite. Thus, this work provides a valuable method for the later investigation of the C7N6 nanosheet.
Estimating the Reattachment Length by Realizing a Comparison between URANS k-Omega SST and LES WALE Models on a Symmetric Geometry
Authors: Teso-Fz-Betoño Daniel , Juica Martin , Portal-Porras Koldo , Fernandez-Gamiz Unai , Zulueta Ekaitz
Published: August 2021

In this study, a water reattachment length was calculated by adopting two different models. The first was based on Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) k-omega with Shear Stress Transport (SST); the second was a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with Wall-Adapting Local Eddy-Viscosity (WALE). Both models used the same mesh and were checked with Taylor length-scale analysis. After the analysis, the mesh had 11,040,000 hexahedral cells. The geometry was a symmetrical expansion–contraction tube with a 4.28 expansion ratio that created mechanical energy losses, which were taken into account. Moreover, the reattachment length was estimated by analyzing the speed values; the change of speed value from negative to positive was used as the criterion to recognize the reattachment point.
Harnessing the Genetic Plasticity of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 to Target Suicidal Replication
Authors: Rakibuzzaman Agm , Piñeyro Pablo , Pillatzki Angela , Ramamoorthy Sheela
Published: August 2021

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the causative agent of a wasting disease in weanling piglets, has periodically evolved into several new subtypes since its discovery, indicating that the efficacy of current vaccines can be improved. Although a DNA virus, the mutation rates of PCV2 resemble RNA viruses. The hypothesis that recoding of selected serine and leucine codons in the PCV2b capsid gene could result in stop codons due to mutations occurring during viral replication and thus result in rapid attenuation was tested. Vaccination of weanling pigs with the suicidal vaccine constructs elicited strong virus-neutralizing antibody responses. Vaccination prevented lesions, body-weight loss, and viral replication on challenge with a heterologous PCV2d strain. The suicidal PCV2 vaccine construct was not detectable in the sera of vaccinated pigs at 14 days post-vaccination, indicating that the attenuated vaccine was very safe. Exposure of the modified virus to immune selection pressure with sub-neutralizing levels of antibodies resulted in 5 of the 22 target codons mutating to a stop signal. Thus, the described approach for the rapid attenuation of PCV2 was both effective and safe. It can be readily adapted to newly emerging viruses with high mutation rates to meet the current need for improved platforms for rapid-response vaccines.
Evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes among Arab American Healthcare Professionals Living in the United States
Authors: Shallal Anita , Abada Evi , Musallam Rami , Fehmi Omar , Kaljee Linda , Fehmi Ziad , Alzouhayli Suma , Ujayli Deema , Dankerlui Doreen , Kim Seongho , Cote Michele L. , Kumar Vijaya Arun , Zervos Marcus , Ali-Fehmi Rouba
Published: August 2021

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is the next great barrier for public health. Arab Americans are a rapidly growing demographic in the United States with limited information on the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy. We therefore sought to study the attitudes towards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine amongst Arab American health professionals living in the United States. Methods: This was a cross sectional study utilizing an anonymous online survey. The survey was distributed via e-mail to National Arab American Medical Association members and Arab-American Center for Economic and Social Services healthcare employees. Respondents were considered vaccine hesitant if they selected responses other than a willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 4000 surveys were sent via e-mail from 28 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, and 513 responses were received. The highest group of respondents were between the ages of 18–29 years and physicians constituted 48% of the respondents. On multivariable analysis, we found that respondents who had declined an influenza vaccine in the preceding 5 years (p < 0.001) and allied health professionals (medical assistants, hospital administrators, case managers, researchers, scribes, pharmacists, dieticians and social workers) were more likely to be vaccine hesitant (p = 0.025). In addition, respondents earning over $150,000 US dollars annually were less likely to be vaccine hesitant and this finding was significant on multivariable analysis (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy among health care providers could have substantial impact on vaccine attitudes of the general population, and such data may help inform vaccine advocacy efforts.
Fabrication of rGO/Fe3O4 Magnetic Composite for the Adsorption of Anthraquinone-2-Sulfonate in Water Phase
Authors: Zhao Shuangyang , Li Meixi , Ding Jie , Yang Shanshan , Zang Yani , Zhao Yan , Gao Xinlei , Ren Nanqi
Published: August 2021

In the last few decades, anthraquinone and its derivatives (AQs) have been intensively applied to electrochemical, textile and dye, and photovoltaic industries. This has increased the levels of AQs in the natural environment and threatens human health. To remove AQs from the aqueous phase and recover these multi-functional molecules, a binary magnetic adsorbent, reduced graphene/Fe3O4 (rGO/Fe3O4), was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were then used to characterize the samples. The adsorption capacities of rGO/Fe3O4 to AQs were investigated by selecting anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S) as a model molecule. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the second-order kinetics. The regeneration of adsorbents and the recycling of AQ2S and solvent were simultaneously achieved by Soxhlet extraction and rotary evaporation. These results confirm the high adsorption efficiency of rGO/Fe3O4 for removing AQs from water and provide a promising approach to recover the valuable molecules from the aqueous phase.
Influence of Pore Size Distribution on the Electrokinetic Coupling Coefficient in Two-Phase Flow Conditions
Authors: Vinogradov Jan , Hill Rhiannon , Jougnot Damien
Published: August 2021

Streaming potential is a promising method for a variety of hydrogeophysical applications, including the characterisation of the critical zone, contaminant transport or saline intrusion. A simple bundle of capillary tubes model that accounts for realistic pore and pore throat size distribution of porous rocks is presented in this paper to simulate the electrokinetic coupling coefficient and compared with previously published models. In contrast to previous studies, the non-monotonic pore size distribution function used in our model relies on experimental data for Berea sandstone samples. In our approach, we combined this explicit capillary size distribution with the alternating radius of each capillary tube to mimic pores and pore throats of real rocks. The simulation results obtained with our model predicts water saturation dependence of the relative electrokinetic coupling coefficient more accurately compared with previous studies. Compared with previous studies, our simulation results demonstrate that the relative coupling coefficient remains stable at higher water saturations but vanishes to zero more rapidly as water saturation approaches the irreducible value. This prediction is consistent with the published experimental data. Moreover, our model was more accurate compared with previously published studies in computing the true irreducible water saturation relative to the value reported in an experimental study on a Berea sandstone sample saturated with tap water and liquid CO2. Further modifications, including explicit modelling of the capillary trapping of the non-wetting phase, are required to improve the accuracy of the model.
Questions of the overall dependability of the scada system in the corporate infrastructure
Authors: Simeonova Tsvetelina
Published: August 2021

The paper considers the peculiarities of the SCADA (energy infrastructure management system in the railway infrastructure), as well as issues of the overall dependability in the corporate infrastructure, which is the aim of the study. The study, based on the accepted structure and values of the parameters, examines what depends on and how the readiness factor of a SCADA system changes when the recovery intensity changes and at a fixed failure rate. The results show that with increasing recovery intensity, the readiness factors of the telecommunications network and SCADA system thus defined increase, while reducing the downtime. For a more in-depth study of the overall reliability of the SCADA system, it is necessary to set specific normatively accepted dependability parameters of all connected elements, as well as a real set structure. Based on the fact that with backup resources provided, a defined dependability of the system can be ensured at preset values of the reliability parameters of its components and the backup structure; the opposite problem can also be solved. The proposed approach for studying the reliable behavior of the SCADA system within the corporate infrastructure can be noted as a contribution of the present work and conclusions are made for the practical use of the results.
Impact of Bulgaria’s entry in the euro area for the banking and real sectors in the republic of Bulgaria and in particulary for the telecommunications industry
Authors: Avramov Joseph
Published: August 2021

The publication analyzes the advantages of the entry of the Republic of Bulgaria into the ERM 2 currency mechanism and the banking union. The first part indicates the benefits for our country for the banking sector of the Bulgarian economy, respectively for facilitating the payments of companies and citizens. The second part of the publication refers to the advantages for the real sector of the Bulgarian economy, respectively for the Telecommunications sector. In conclusion, some not very significant shortcomings are indicated, which will occur after Bulgaria's accession to the euro area.
Relevance of the glycemic index control of products and dishes for school meals
Authors: Livinskiy А.А. , Livinskaya S.A. Livinskaya
Published: August 2021

The eff ect of adolescent nutrition on various diseases is considered. Rationing of the amount of sugars in the diet is the main problem. Glycemic index (GI) is used for this purpose in the world practice. Glycemic curves for various cereals and derived products are presented. It is shown, that GI is an individual characteristic of each product. Introduction of GI and glycemic load (GL) values as indicators of food product quality and placing values on the consumer packaging label is confi rmed.
On the Legal Nature of the Oldage Insurance Pension in the Russian Federation
Authors: Shaikhatdinov V. , Mamatkazin I.
Published: August 2021

The article analyzes the concepts of insurance pensions, the signs of insurance pensions currently developed in the educational and scientific literature on the law of social security. Based on the analysis of essential features, the nature of the insurance pension as a type of social security is revealed. The view is justified that, despite the use of insurance methods in pension provision, the insurance pension should still remain a payment related to the past work of the individual.
Theoretical and methodological aspects of land rent
Authors: Khakhuk B. A.
Published: August 2021

The article presents the evolution of the development of land rent as a complex economic category in the directions: classical, neoclassical and modern. The content, nature and mechanism of formation of various types of rental incomes are considered in this work, namely: differential rents I and II, monopoly and absolute rents, as well as new types of rents, happened in result of the development of scientifi c and technical process in the country and the need to strengthen the environmental factor in agricultural production. The particular attention is paid to the role of rent in modern Russian conditions, characterized by large-scale natural resource potential, as well as features and necessity for an innovative direction of its development.
The conceptual-terminological aspect of the spatial organization of rural territories
Authors: Spiridonova A. P.
Published: August 2021

This article highlights the particular importance of rural development. The author presents the analytical review of the existing approaches and definitions of Russian scientists to the concept "rural territories", and propose his own definition of the concepts "rural territories" and "land management of rural territories".
The peculiarities of investigation of environmental criminal offences
Authors: Blankov A. S. , Vinogradova O. B. , Orlova Y. R.
Published: August 2021

The article examines the problems of environmental crimes investigation. The authors made some recommendations about improvement in investigation process.
Self-Knowledge in Petrus Hispanus’ Commentary on the De anima
Authors: Alcalde Celia
Published: August 2021

In the Sententia cum questionibus in libros De anima I-II Aristotelis (c. 1240), attributed to Petrus Hispanus, the recovered Aristotelian understanding of the soul does not completely replace the old Neoplatonic frame. Indeed, the commentary holds the existence of self-knowledge from the very beginning of the existence of the soul, before the acquisition of species. The aim of this paper is to describe Sententia’s view on self-knowledge analysing it in the context of its eclectic psychology and epistemology. I will attempt to demonstrate that, although the commentary is set in an explicit Neoplatonic framework, Petrus Hispanus seems to be quite uncomfortable within this framework and becomes increasingly committed to the Aristotelian doctrine and its vision of science.