bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of PRISMA Data with Model Simulations, Hyperion Reflectance and Field Spectrometer Measurements on ‘Piano delle Concazze’ (Mt. Etna, Italy)
Authors: Romaniello Vito , Silvestri Malvina , Buongiorno Maria Fabrizia , Musacchio Massimo
Published: December 2020

In this work, we compare first acquisitions from the ASI-PRISMA (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana-PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) space mission with model simulations, past data acquired by the Hyperion sensor and field spectrometer measurements. The test site is ‘Piano delle Concazze’ (Mt. Etna, Italy), suitable for calibration purposes due to its homogeneity characteristics. The area measures at about 0.2 km2 and is composed of very homogeneous trachybasalt rich in plagioclase and olivine. Three PRISMA acquisitions, achieved on 31 July and 8 and 17 August 2019, are analyzed. Firstly, spectral profiles of PRISMA top of atmosphere (TOA) radiance are compared with MODerate resolution atmospheric TRANsmission (MODTRAN) simulations. The Pearson correlation coefficient is equal to 0.998 and 0.994 for VNIR (Visible and Near InfraRed) and SWIR (Short-Wave InfraRed) spectral ranges, respectively. PRISMA radiance overestimates values simulated by MODTRAN for all considered days, showing a mean bias of +5.22 and of +0.91 Wm−2sr−1µm−1 for VNIR and SWIR, respectively. The relative mean difference between reflectance values estimated by PRISMA and Hyperion, on the test area, is around +19%, despite the great difference in time acquisition (up to 19 years); PRISMA slightly overestimates Hyperion reflectance with an absolute mean difference of about +0.0083, within the variability of Hyperion acquisitions of ±0.0250 (corresponding to ±2 standard deviation). Finally, FieldSpec measurements also confirm the great quality of PRISMA reflectance estimations. The absolute mean difference results are around +0.0089 (corresponding to a relative error of about +21%). In the study, we investigate only the lower values of reflectance characterizing the test site. A more complete evaluation of PRISMA performances needs to consider other test sites with different optical characteristics.
Working Principle and Performance of a Scalable Gravimetric System for the Monitoring of Access to Public Places
Authors: Addabbo Tommaso , Fort Ada , Intravaia Matteo , Mugnaini Marco , Tani Marco , Vignoli Valerio , De Muro Stefano , Tesei Marco
Published: December 2020

Here, we propose a novel application of a low-cost robust gravimetric system for public place access monitoring purposes. The proposed solution is intended to be exploited in a multi-sensor scenario, where heterogeneous information, coming from different sources (e.g., metal detectors and surveillance cameras), are collected in a central data fusion unit to obtain a more detailed and accurate evaluation of notable events. Specifically, the word “notable” refers essentially to two event categories: the first category is represented by irregular events, corresponding typically to multiple people passing together through a security gate; the second category includes some event subsets, whose notification can be interesting for assistance provision (in the case of people with disabilities), or for statistical analysis. The employed gravimetric sensor, compared to other devices existing in the literature, exhibits a simple scalable robust structure, made up of an array of rigid steel plates, each laid on four load cells. We developed a tailored hardware and software to individually acquire the load cell signals, and to post-process the data to formulate a classification of the notable events. The results are encouraging, showing a remarkable detectability of irregularities (95.3% of all the test cases) and a satisfactory identification of the other event types.
A Survey of Smartphone-Based Indoor Positioning System Using RF-Based Wireless Technologies
Authors: Subedi Santosh , Pyun Jae-Young
Published: December 2020

In recent times, social and commercial interests in location-based services (LBS) are significantly increasing due to the rise in smart devices and technologies. The global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have long been employed for LBS to navigate and determine accurate and reliable location information in outdoor environments. However, the GNSS signals are too weak to penetrate buildings and unable to provide reliable indoor LBS. Hence, GNSS’s incompetence in the indoor environment invites extensive research and development of an indoor positioning system (IPS). Various technologies and techniques have been studied for IPS development. This paper provides an overview of the available smartphone-based indoor localization solutions that rely on radio frequency technologies. As fingerprinting localization is mostly accepted for IPS development owing to its good localization accuracy, we discuss fingerprinting localization in detail. In particular, our analysis is more focused on practical IPS that are realized using a smartphone and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as a signal source. Furthermore, we elaborate on the challenges of practical IPS, the available solutions and comprehensive performance comparison, and present some future trends in IPS development.
Improved GNSS Localization and Byzantine Detection in UAV Swarms
Authors: Hacohen Shlomi , Medina Oded , Grinshpoun Tal , Shvalb Nir
Published: December 2020

Many tasks performed by swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles require localization. In many cases, the sensors that take part in the localization process suffer from inherent measurement errors. This problem is amplified when disruptions are added, either endogenously through Byzantine failures of agents within the swarm, or exogenously by some external source, such as a GNSS jammer. In this paper, we first introduce an improved localization method based on distance observation. Then, we devise schemes for detecting Byzantine agents, in scenarios of endogenous disruptions, and for detecting a disrupted area, in case the source of the problem is exogenous. Finally, we apply pool testing techniques to reduce the communication traffic and the computation time of our schemes. The optimal pool size should be chosen carefully, as very small or very large pools may impair the ability to identify the source/s of disruption. A set of simulated experiments demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed methods, which enable reliable error estimation even amid disruptions. This work is the first, to the best of our knowledge, that embeds identification of endogenous and exogenous disruptions into the localization process.
Modelling Bioeconomy Scenario Pathways for the Forest Products Markets with Emerging Lignocellulosic Products
Authors: Morland Christian , Schier Franziska
Published: December 2020

The forest-based sector plays diverse roles among the emerging bio-based industries. The goal of this study is to examine how forest product markets could develop in the face of a growing bioeconomy and which interdependencies occur between traditional and emerging forest-based sectors. Therefore, we analyze the development of dissolving pulp together with lignocellulose-based textile fibres and chemical derivatives in a partial equilibrium model. For this purpose, we extend the product structure of the Global Forest Products Model (GFPM) and analyze three different bioeconomy scenarios from 2015 to 2050. The simulation results show that, in a scenario where the world is changing toward a sustainable bio-economy, wood consumption patterns shift away from fuelwood (−30% by 2050) and classical paper products (−32% by 2050) towards emerging wood-based products. In this context, the dissolving pulp subsector could outpace the continuously shrinking paper pulp subsector by 2050. To develop in this way, the dissolving pulp subsector mainly uses released resources from the decreasing paper pulp production. Simultaneously, wood-based panels are finding increasing application (+196% by 2050) and thus are taking over potential markets for sawn wood, for which production growth remains limited. Our results also show that, until 2050, the production of many wood-based products will take place mainly in Asia instead of North America and Europe.
Modern Project Management Approaches in Uncertainty Environments: A Comparative Study Based on Action Research
Authors: Apaolaza Unai , Lizarralde Aitor , Oyarbide-Zubillaga Aitor
Published: December 2020

Change and high uncertainty levels are the main characteristics of current project contexts. Years ago, the traditional project management faced problems when operating in these environments. Thus, at the end of the 20th century, new project management approaches were conceived to provide a more effective answer to such contexts. These methods propose a different approach, aimed at promoting the project flow by focusing on the short term. However, their adoption involves certain adjustments from a managerial perspective. The influence on the way resources are used is of special interest, as it may cause unexpected behaviors and reactions. The literature vastly analyzes the features and benefits of these methods. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical evidence about both the practical implications of the transition process toward them and their superior performance. Thus, this research aims to contribute to filling this gap by providing real-world based evidence related to the change process from a traditional project management approach to a flow-driven one. With this objective in mind, we analyzed the transition processes experienced by two design departments from companies of different industries. The results of the study confirm that the adoption of this type of approach can improve an organization’s performance and simplify its project management system. Therefore, we consider that our findings are useful for anybody interested in these methodologies. From the academic perspective, the evidence obtained in this study contributes to supporting the research works suggested by the literature. Furthermore, it can be helpful to guide further research and extend current knowledge. Additionally, they can assist companies in the improvement of their current project management approaches.
Unprepared to Deal with Invasion: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perception, Knowledge and Attitudes toward Invasive Species
Authors: Ladrera Rubén , Robredo Beatriz , Ortega-Lasuen Unai , Díez José Ramón , Ruiz-González Aritz
Published: December 2020

The serious and growing impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on the planet make it necessary to include this issue with greater determination in educational programs, with the aim of generating citizens capable of dealing with this environmental problem in a sustainable way. Likewise, the management of IAS represents a clear socio-scientific issue (SSI), which gives greater interest to its inclusion in school. At this point, future teachers play a key role, so that their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes on the subject must be evaluated. In order to deal with this objective, a questionnaire was filled out by 400 students of the degrees in early childhood education and primary education of the Universities of La Rioja (UR) and the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain. Our results show that pre-service teachers do not perceive impacts of different types generated by IAS, and they show a clear lack of knowledge about transmission vectors. Likewise, they do not support various control measures, especially slaughter of invasive vertebrates, related to affective dimensions. These results highlight the need to work toward an appropriate integration of this issue at different educational levels, training students and educators, fostering favorable attitudes toward a sustainable management of IAS.
The Impact of Structure Similarity of Nontariff Measures on Agricultural Trade
Authors: Cho Sung Ju , Oh Saera , Lee Sang Hyeon
Published: December 2020

This study quantifies the structure similarity of nontariff measures between countries and estimates its impact on bilateral agricultural trade using a structural gravity model. The findings show that a similar structure of technical barriers to trade (TBT) between countries is likely to expand their bilateral trade. However, a similar structure of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) is shown to have negative impacts on agricultural trade. We also discuss the effects of regulatory harmonization on sustainable development.
Assessment of the Impact of CO, NOx and PM10 on Air Quality during Road Construction and Operation Phases
Authors: Giunta Marinella
Published: December 2020

The road sector is one of the main sources of air emissions in the atmosphere during both construction and operation. The objective of the present paper is a comprehensive evaluation of the impact on air quality during the two main phases of life cycle of roads. In this case study of a motorway project, the emissions of the primary pollutants, CO, NOx, and PM10 are estimated, and the results showed that (i) CO and NOx pollutants released during both phases are comparable, while the emissions of PM10 are more significant in the construction phase; (ii) 85% of PM10 in construction is due to storage, transit on unpaved road, and crushing; (iii) the portals of the tunnel are the sites where there are higher concentrations of pollutants in operation; and (iv) the CO concentrations estimated by the dispersion model are strongly influenced by the topography.
Communication Strategies for the 2030 Agenda Commitments: A Multivariate Approach
Authors: García-Sánchez Isabel-María , Amor-Esteban Víctor , Galindo-Álvarez David
Published: December 2020

Companies are fully aware of the importance of including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, and of the importance of ensuring that the information disclosed allows groups to be identified. The business contribution to the 2030 Agenda is of interest, as it entails an accurate representation of company identity and is congruent with its contribution to the 2030 Agenda. For it, a content analysis of the business communication of 69 Spanish companies with their stakeholders was carried out in order to identify the possible existence of impression management practices. The evidence obtained indicates that although certain companies have adopted strategies to legitimise their contribution through self-promoting information or terms that allow diverting attention from irresponsible behaviour, companies that show a commitment to the 2030 Agenda do not make use of the information disclosed to manage stakeholder perceptions. Theoretically, our research contributes to increasing current knowledge about corporate communication strategies related to non-financial information, and identifying strategies to legitimise and manage impressions in the information related to the SDGs initiatives.
Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Examine Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Moderating Effect of COVID-19 Beliefs
Authors: Lucarelli Caterina , Mazzoli Camilla , Severini Sabrina
Published: December 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change issues present evident interdependencies which justify the spread of connected beliefs. We examine possible changes in individuals’ pro-environmental behavior in light of this pandemic, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. A questionnaire survey was submitted to the same sample of individuals, before and during the pandemic. Our evidence, based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has not led to a weakening in TPB construct relationships, or in related Pro-Environmental Behavior (PEB). Conversely, through our Partial Least Squares-Multi-Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), we show that individuals with greater awareness of interdependencies between the COVID-19 and climate change exhibit both higher Intention and reinforced Pro-Environmental Behaviors. This finding reveals interesting policy implications in terms of innovative behavioral drivers that should be employed to steer public support towards climate-oriented initiatives.
Life Cycle Assessment and Indoor Environmental Quality of Wooden Family Houses
Authors: Vilčeková Silvia , Harčárová Katarína , Moňoková Andrea , Burdová Eva Krídlová
Published: December 2020

This article analyzes in detail the impact of wooden houses on the environment using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and at the same time evaluates the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in these houses. The investigated detached family houses had a wooden structure. The first one had a bearing system made of a wooden frame; other materials were conventional. The second house was built entirely of log wood. Given the high risk of greenhouse gas emissions, the concentration of which in the atmosphere is causing global climate change, the global warming potential (GWP) indicator is crucial. According to results, the family house built entirely of wood and with a biomass boiler significantly reduces CO2 emissions and is therefore considered from the LCA point of view as a more suitable alternative compared to a house with a wooden frame structure. The building materials with the highest share involved in the creation of GWP include concrete structures (38–48%), ceramic roof tiles (33%) and plasterboard (15%). Plasterboard cladding (55%), concrete structures (17–19%), oriented strand board OSB (9–22%), impregnated wooden structures (31–52%) and plastic windows (9%) are the most involved in acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP). Plasterboard structures (21%), impregnated wood materials (47.4%), reinforced concrete structures (12%) and mineral wool and roof tiles significantly contribute to the creation of photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP). The indoor environmental quality was evaluated through short-term measurements of basic physico-chemical parameters. Since both houses have different characteristics, the aim of this monitoring was to evaluate the actual state of IEQ in selected wooden houses under real conditions. Based on the recorded results, it can be stated that neither presented wooden house, in terms of thermal-humidity microclimate, concentration of CO2 and particulate matter, represents an environment with a negative impact on their occupants. With regards to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the increased concentrations of xylenes and tetrachlorethylene in the log house were probably caused by the application of impregnation and protective coatings six months before monitoring. In this case, the concentration of tetrachloroethene, which is considered a potential carcinogen, was six times higher than the legislative limit. For VOCs, such as limonene, isobutylene and n-butylacetate, which were found in the wooden frame house, no limits are set. The legislative limits for xylenes and tetrachlorethylene in this house have not been exceeded, and therefore the IEQ cannot yet be considered harmful for health. The presence of all the mentioned VOCs in the interior air of the wooden frame house is more related to the activities of occupants, as this house has been inhabited for several years.
Optical Sensing Approach to the Recognition of Different Types of Particulate Matters for Sustainable Indoor Environment Management
Authors: Ahn Hosang , Kang Jae Sik , Choi Gyeong-Seok , Choi Hyun-Jung
Published: December 2020

The indoor environment is a crucial part of the built environment where our daily time is mostly spent. It is governed not only by indoor activities, but also affected by interconnected activities such as door opening, walking and routine tasks throughout the inside and outside of buildings and houses. Pollutant control is one of the major concerns for maintaining a sustainable indoor environment, and finding the source of pollutants is a relatively hard part of that task. Pollutants are emitted from various sources, transformed by sunlight, react with vapor in ozone and are transported into cities and from country to country. Due to these reasons, there has been high demand to monitor the transportation of particulate matters and improve air quality. The monitoring of pollutants and identification of their type and concentration enables us to track and control their generation and consequently discover reliable suitable mitigation measures to control air quality at regulated levels by contaminant source removal. However, the monitoring of pollutants, especially particulate matter generation and its transportation, is still not fully operated in atmospheric air due to its open nature and meteorological factors. Even though indoor air is relatively easier to monitor and control than outdoor air in the aspect of specific volume and contaminant source, meteorological parameters still need to be considered because indoor air is not fully separated from outdoor air flow and contaminants’ transportation. In this study, an optical approach using a spectral sensor was attempted to reveal the feasibility of wavelength and chromaticity values of reflected light from specific particles. From the analysis of reflected light of various particulate matters according to different liquid additives, parameter studies were performed to investigate which experimental conditions can contribute to the enhanced selective sensing of particulate matter. Five different particulate matters such as household dust, soil, talc powder, gypsum powder and yellow pine tree pollen were utilized. White samples were selectively identified by the peak at 720 nm for talc and 433 nm and 690 nm in wavelength for gypsum under chemical additives. Other grey household dust and yellowish soil and pine tree pollen revealed a distinct chromaticity x, y coordinates shift in vector within the maximum range from (0.22, 0.19) to (0.55, 0.48). Applicable approaches to assist current particle matter sensors and improve the selective sensing were suggested.
Security and Privacy in Big Data Life Cycle: A Survey and Open Challenges
Authors: Koo Jahoon , Kang Giluk , Kim Young-Gab
Published: December 2020

The use of big data in various fields has led to a rapid increase in a wide variety of data resources, and various data analysis technologies such as standardized data mining and statistical analysis techniques are accelerating the continuous expansion of the big data market. An important characteristic of big data is that data from various sources have life cycles from collection to destruction, and new information can be derived through analysis, combination, and utilization. However, each phase of the life cycle presents data security and reliability issues, making the protection of personally identifiable information a critical objective. In particular, user tendencies can be analyzed using various big data analytics, and this information leads to the invasion of personal privacy. Therefore, this paper identifies threats and security issues that occur in the life cycle of big data by confirming the current standards developed by international standardization organizations and analyzing related studies. In addition, we divide a big data life cycle into five phases (i.e., collection, storage, analytics, utilization, and destruction), and define the security taxonomy of the big data life cycle based on the identified threats and security issues.
Principles of Affective Design in Consumers’ Response to Sustainability Design Strategies
Authors: Agost Maria-Jesus , Vergara Margarita
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to explore the generation of consumers’ responses to sustainability design strategies by considering the principles of affective design. A conceptual model of consumers’ response, in which a distinction is made between subjective impressions and behavioral responses, is defined and validated by conducting an experiment. Six wardrobes, representing sustainability design strategies (refurbishment, adaptability, durability, personalization, maintenance and flexibility) were selected. Eighty-seven participants assessed 14 impressions of the wardrobes including long-life, functional, aesthetic, emotional and environmental aspects as well as behavioral responses (product attachment and willingness to keep). Long-life impressions are more related to willingness to keep, while aesthetic ones are more closely linked to attachment. Practical and emotional impressions are associated with both behavioral responses. Design strategies and personal concerns have an influence on consumer response. These results are expected to help managers and designers promote a sustainable behavior by selecting the most suitable design strategies.
How Industrialization Stage Moderates the Impact of China’s Low-Carbon Pilot Policy?
Authors: Sun Qi , Wu Qiaosheng , Cheng Jinhua , Tang Pengcheng , Li Siyao , Mei Yantuo
Published: December 2020

The goal of China’s low-carbon pilot policy (LCP) is not only to solve the problem of climate change but, more importantly, to achieve the low-carbon transformation of cities. This paper analyzes the industrialization stage’s moderating effect on LCP policy implementation using the difference-in-difference model (DID) with the Low Carbon Development Index (LCDI) as the explained variable. We find that for the low-carbon pilot cities (LCPCs) at the later stage of industrialization, the LCP policy has a positive impact on LCDI, gradually increasing with the study period’s extension. The marginal impact reaches its maximum in the second year after its implementation. For the LCPCs at the middle stage of industrialization, the LCP policy has a weakly negative impact on LCDI. The marginal impact does not change to positive until the fourth year after its implementation. In terms of mechanism analysis, the LCP policy enhances LCDI by slowing down the industrialization process and boosting innovation; the industrialization stage does not constrain the effect. In contrast, the LCP policy’s impact on LCDI by facilitating FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)inflows is strongly influenced by the industrialization stage. For the LCPCs at the later stage of industrialization, the LCP policy can enhance LCDI through FDI. For the LCPCs at the middle stage of industrialization, the LCP policy reduces the inflow of FDI, and the positive effect of FDI on LCDI does not pass the significance test. Thus, this paper argues that a one-size-fits-all strategy to policy implementation should be avoided. Instead, the industrialization stage should be considered a criterion for city classification, and a differentiated target responsibility assessment mechanism should be adopted according to local conditions.
Genetic Similarity Analysis Based on Positive and Negative Sequence Patterns of DNA
Authors: Lu Yue , Zhao Long , Li Zhao , Dong Xiangjun
Published: December 2020

Similarity analysis of DNA sequences can clarify the homology between sequences and predict the structure of, and relationship between, them. At the same time, the frequent patterns of biological sequences explain not only the genetic characteristics of the organism, but they also serve as relevant markers for certain events of biological sequences. However, most of the aforementioned biological sequence similarity analysis methods are targeted at the entire sequential pattern, which ignores the missing gene fragment that may induce potential disease. The similarity analysis of such sequences containing a missing gene item is a blank. Consequently, some sequences with missing bases are ignored or not effectively analyzed. Thus, this paper presents a new method for DNA sequence similarity analysis. Using this method, we first mined not only positive sequential patterns, but also sequential patterns that were missing some of the base terms (collectively referred to as negative sequential patterns). Subsequently, we used these frequent patterns for similarity analysis on a two-dimensional plane. Several experiments were conducted in order to verify the effectiveness of this algorithm. The experimental results demonstrated that the algorithm can obtain various results through the selection of frequent sequential patterns and that accuracy and time efficiency was improved.
Intermediate Gas Feed in Bi- or Triphasic Gas–Liquid(–Liquid) Segmented Slug Flow Capillary Reactors
Authors: von Vietinghoff Niclas , Hellmann David , Priebe Jan , Agar David W.
Published: December 2020

Segmented slug flow systems in capillaries have already shown good potential for process intensification, due to their symmetry in the characteristic flow pattern. However, several challenges remain in this technology. For instance, in gas-consuming reactions, like Aliq + Bgas→Cliq, the gas droplets shrink and may even disappear, limiting the conversions and throughputs of capillary reactor systems. To overcome such shortcomings, an intermediate gas feed was developed. In order to maintain the well-defined slug flow characteristics, it is necessary to introduce the gas rapidly and precisely, in small aliquots of <10 µL. This allows us to preserve the well-defined alternating triphasic slug flow. A miniaturized electrolysis cell, together with a flow-observing system, was thus devised and implemented successfully as an intermediate gas feed. Feeding a new gas droplet into an existing liquid–liquid segmented flow had a success rate of up to 99%, whereas refilling an existing gas droplet is often limited by a lack of coalescence. Here, only at low volumetric flows, 70% of the gas bubbles were refilled by coalescence.
An Improved Framework for Quantum Gravity
Authors: Pereira José G. , López Diego F.
Published: December 2020

General relativity has two fundamental problems that render it unsuitable for tackling the gravitational field’s quantization. The first problem is the lack of a genuine gravitational variable representing gravitation only, inertial forces apart. The second problem is its incompatibility with quantum mechanics, a problem inherited from the more fundamental conflict of special relativity with quantum mechanics. A procedure to overcome these difficulties is outlined, which amounts to replacing general relativity with its teleparallel equivalent and the Poincaré-invariant special relativity with the de Sitter-invariant special relativity. Those replacements give rise to the de Sitter-modified teleparallel gravity, which does not have the two mentioned problems. It can thus be considered an improved alternative approach to quantum gravity.
Mining the Unmapped Reads in Bovine RNA-Seq Data Reveals the Prevalence of Bovine Herpes Virus-6 in European Dairy Cows and the Associated Changes in Their Phenotype and Leucocyte Transcriptome
Authors: Buggiotti Laura , Cheng Zhangrui , Wathes D. Claire ,   GplusE Consortium
Published: December 2020

Microbial RNA is detectable in host samples by aligning unmapped reads from RNA sequencing against taxon reference sequences, generating a score proportional to the microbial load. An RNA-Seq data analysis showed that 83.5% of leukocyte samples from six dairy herds in different EU countries contained bovine herpes virus-6 (BoHV-6). Phenotypic data on milk production, metabolic function, and disease collected during their first 50 days in milk (DIM) were compared between cows with low (1–200 and n = 114) or high (201–1175 and n = 24) BoHV-6 scores. There were no differences in milk production parameters, but high score cows had numerically fewer incidences of clinical mastitis (4.2% vs. 12.2%) and uterine disease (54.5% vs. 62.7%). Their metabolic status was worse, based on measurements of IGF-1 and various metabolites in blood and milk. A comparison of the global leukocyte transcriptome between high and low BoHV-6 score cows at around 14 DIM yielded 485 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The top pathway from Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was the immune system process. Down-regulated genes in the high BoHV-6 cows included those encoding proteins involved in viral detection (DDX6 and DDX58), interferon response, and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. This suggested that BoHV-6 may largely evade viral detection and that it does not cause clinical disease in dairy cows.
Integrase-Defective Lentiviral Vectors for Delivery of Monoclonal Antibodies against Influenza
Authors: Michelini Zuleika , Minkoff Judith M. , Yang Jianjun , Negri Donatella , Cara Andrea , Hanson Brendon J. , Salvatore Mirella
Published: December 2020

Delivering rapid protection against infectious agents to non-immune populations is a formidable public health challenge. Although passive immunotherapy is a fast and effective method of protection, large-scale production and administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is expensive and unpractical. Viral vector-mediated delivery of mAbs offers an attractive alternative to their direct injection. Integrase-defective lentiviral vectors (IDLV) are advantageous for this purpose due to the absence of pre-existing anti-vector immunity and the safety features of non-integration and non-replication. We engineered IDLV to produce the humanized mAb VN04-2 (IDLV-VN04-2), which is broadly neutralizing against H5 influenza A virus (IAV), and tested the vectors’ ability to produce antibodies and protect from IAV in vivo. We found that IDLV-transduced cells produced functional VN04-2 mAbs in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. These mAbs specifically bind the hemagglutinin (HA), but not the nucleoprotein (NP) of IAV. VN04-2 mAbs were detected in the serum of mice at different times after intranasal (i.n.) or intramuscular (i.m.) administration of IDLV-VN04-2. Administration of IDLV-VN04-2 by the i.n. route provided rapid protection against lethal IAV challenge, although the protection did not persist at later time points. Our data suggest that administration of mAb-expressing IDLV may represent an effective strategy for rapid protection against infectious diseases.
A Review of Adherence and Predictors of Adherence to the CONSORT Statement in the Reporting of Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials
Authors: Ngah Veranyuy D. , Mazingisa Akhona V. , Zunza Moleen , Wiysonge Charles S.
Published: December 2020

The statement on Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) ensures transparency in the reporting of randomized trials. However, it is unclear if the statement has led to improvement in the quality of reporting of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trials. We explored the quality of reporting of TB vaccine trials according to the latest version of the CONSORT statement, released in 2010. We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in August 2019. We conducted screening, study selection, and data extraction in duplicate; and resolved differences through discussion. We assessed reporting to be adequate if trials reported at least 75% of the CONSORT 2010 items. We conducted a trend analysis to assess if there was improvement in reporting over time. We also used logistic regression to assess factors associated with adequate reporting. We included 124 trials in the analyses. The mean proportion of adherence was 67.3% (95% confidence interval 64.4% to 70.1%), with only 46 (37%) trials having adequate reporting. There was a significant improvement in the quality of reporting over time (p < 0.0001). Trials published in journals with impact factors between 10 and 20 were more likely to have adequate reporting (odds ratio 9.4; 95% confidence interval 1.30 to 67.8), compared to lower-impact-factor journals. Despite advances over time, the reporting of TB vaccine trials is still inadequate and requires improvement.
Occurrence of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Domestic Cat Population of Germany
Authors: Michelitsch Anna , Hoffmann Donata , Wernike Kerstin , Beer Martin
Published: December 2020

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are popular companion animals that live in close contact with their human owners. Therefore, the risk of a trans-species spreading event between domestic cats and humans is ever-present. Shortly after the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its rapid spread around the world, the role of domestic cats in the transmission cycle was questioned. In the present study, the first large-scale survey of antibody occurrence in the domestic cat population in Germany was conducted, in order to assess the incidence of naturally occurring human to cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 920 serum samples, which were collected from April to September of 2020, were screened by an indirect multispecies ELISA. Positive samples were verified using an indirect immunofluorescence test (iIFT) and additionally tested for neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, serum samples were screened for antibodies against feline coronavirus (FCoV), in order to rule out cross-reactivity in the described test systems. Overall, 0.69% (6/920) of serum samples were found to be positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by ELISA and iIFT. Two of these reactive sera also displayed neutralizing antibodies. No cross-reactivity with FCoV-specific antibodies was observed. The finding of SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positive serum samples in the domestic cat population of Germany, during a period when the incidence of human infection in the country was still rather low, indicates that human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 happens, but there is no indication of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in cats.
Impact of Climate Change on Soil Erosion in the Lam Phra Phloeng Watershed
Authors: Sirikaew Uba , Seeboonruang Uma , Tanachaichoksirikun Pinit , Wattanasetpong Jatuwat , Chulkaivalsucharit Virun , Chen Walter
Published: December 2020

Soil erosion plays a vital role in reducing reservoir capacity. The Lam Phra Phloeng (LPP) dams were built for flood protection and irrigation. However, they have experienced reservoir sedimentation, and the capacity of the reservoir has decreased. The surrounding soil surface was easily eroded and transported by heavy rainfall and surface runoff to streams and eventually into the reservoir. Understanding this soil erosion and sedimentation is necessary for preventing further decline of reservoir capacity and water management. This research aims to estimate long-term average annual soil erosion and predict sediment yield in the reservoir due to climate change. The methodology is determined soil loss parameters and sediment yield using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) with the Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR). The USLE and SDR methods differed from field data, with an average absolute error of 4.0%. The Global Climatic Model, Institute Pierre Simon Laplace-Climate Model version 5A (IPSL-CM5A-MR), with Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5, was downscaled and analyzed to forecast future rainfall in the watershed. The high intensity of rainfall contributed to higher soil erosion, in RCP 8.5. Interestingly, the high and very high-risk areas increased, but the moderate risk area declined, indicating that the moderate risk area should be a priority in land management. However, the heavy rainfall and high slope gradient led to a slight increase in the soil erosion in some areas because the land covers were evergreen and deciduous forest. The prediction of sediment yield was positively correlated with the intensity of rainfall in the central part of the watershed, because the rainfall and runoff led the sediment to the river and streams, indicating that the land cover should be managed to prevent capacity decline.
Comparison of Different Anode Materials to Remove Microcystis aeruginosa Cells Using Electro-Coagulation–Flotation Process at Low Current Inputs
Authors: Meetiyagoda Thenuwara Arachchige Omila Kasun , Fujino Takeshi
Published: December 2020

Cyanobacterial blooms are a threat to the drinking water supply owing to their potential toxicity. Microcystins which are the most widespread cyanotoxins, are mainly produced by Microcystis spp. In this study, we cultured Microcystis aeruginosa cells in BG-11 medium at 25 °C to investigate the efficiency of the electro-coagulation–flotation process to remove them. Different anode materials (Fe, Al, Cu, and Zn) along with a graphite cathode were compared separately in the 10–100 mA current range in a 0.025 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. Turbidity, optical density at 684 nm (OD684), OD730, Chl-a concentration, and DOC concentration were analyzed to clarify the mechanism by which M. aeruginosa cells are removed. The Al anode indicated the highest removal efficiencies in terms of turbidity (90%), OD684 and OD730 (98%), and Chl-a concentration (96%) within 30 min at 4.0 mA/cm2 current density and the lowest average electrode consumption of 0.120 ± 0.023 g/L. The energy consumption of the Al electrode was 0.80 Wh/L. From these results, we found that Al was the best among the anode materials evaluated to remove M. aeruginosa cells. However, further studies are required to optimize the Al anode in terms of pH, treatment time, electrode distance, and electrolyte concentration to enhance the removal of M. aeruginosa cells.
Impact of Input Filtering and Architecture Selection Strategies on GRU Runoff Forecasting: A Case Study in the Wei River Basin, Shaanxi, China
Authors: Wang Qianyang , Liu Yuan , Yue Qimeng , Zheng Yuexin , Yao Xiaolei , Yu Jingshan
Published: December 2020

A gated recurrent unit (GRU) network, which is a kind of artificial neural network (ANN), has been increasingly applied to runoff forecasting. However, knowledge about the impact of different input data filtering strategies and the implications of different architectures on the GRU runoff forecasting model’s performance is still insufficient. This study has selected the daily rainfall and runoff data from 2007 to 2014 in the Wei River basin in Shaanxi, China, and assessed six different scenarios to explore the patterns of that impact. In the scenarios, four manually-selected rainfall or runoff data combinations and principal component analysis (PCA) denoised input have been considered along with single directional and bi-directional GRU network architectures. The performance has been evaluated from the aspect of robustness to 48 various hypermeter combinations, also, optimized accuracy in one-day-ahead (T + 1) and two-day-ahead (T + 2) forecasting for the overall forecasting process and the flood peak forecasts. The results suggest that the rainfall data can enhance the robustness of the model, especially in T + 2 forecasting. Additionally, it slightly introduces noise and affects the optimized prediction accuracy in T + 1 forecasting, but significantly improves the accuracy in T + 2 forecasting. Though with relevance (R = 0.409~0.763, Grey correlation grade >0.99), the runoff data at the adjacent tributary has an adverse effect on the robustness, but can enhance the accuracy of the flood peak forecasts with a short lead time. The models with PCA denoised input has an equivalent, even better performance on the robustness and accuracy compared with the models with the well manually filtered data; though slightly reduces the time-step robustness, the bi-directional architecture can enhance the prediction accuracy. All the scenarios provide acceptable forecasting results (NSE of 0.927~0.951 for T + 1 forecasting and 0.745~0.836 for T + 2 forecasting) when the hyperparameters have already been optimized. Based on the results, recommendations have been provided for the construction of the GRU runoff forecasting model.
Filterability of Polysulfone Membrane in a Tilted Panel System for Activated Sludge Filtration
Authors: Ismail Ahmad Aliyan Alif , Mulyati Sri , Aprilia Sri , Yusoff Mohd Hizami Mohd , Nawi Normi Izati Mat , Bilad Muhammad Roil , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Arahman Nasrul
Published: December 2020

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are established technology for treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater because they offer a small footprint and high quality of effluent, in addition to lower excess sludge. However, their widespread applications are still limited by higher expenditure for compensating for membrane fouling. In this study, polysulfone (PSF)-based ultrafiltration membranes were developed and integrated with a tilted panel system for fouling control in activated sludge filtration. The results show an enhanced performance of filtration system thanks to the mutual advantage of the tilted panel system and the membrane properties. Both membranes showed a clear trend of higher permeability with respect to the tilted panel parameters, namely, higher tilting angle, higher aeration rate, and shorter intermittent/switching period. PSF-1 (1 wt% polyethylene glycol (PEG) additive) shows significantly better performance than PSF-3 (3 wt% PEG additive) although their mean flow pore size, structural properties, and contact angle do not differ significantly. PSF-1 shows superior filterability performance of about 45% for panel tilting angles of 20° at an aeration rate of 1.8 L·min−1, and 11% for a switching period of 1 min compared with PSF-3. The key property enhancing the performance of the PSF-1 is its narrower distribution of pore size. Overall results suggest that an optimum system could be achieved by optimizing both the filtration system and the membrane material properties.
Hydrodynamic and Waves Response during Storm Surges on the Southern Brazilian Coast: A Hindcast Study
Authors: de Lima Andre de Souza , Khalid Arslaan , Miesse Tyler Will , Cassalho Felicio , Ferreira Celso , Scherer Marinez Eymael Garcia , Bonetti Jarbas
Published: December 2020

The Southern Brazilian Coast is highly susceptible to storm surges that often lead to coastal flooding and erosive processes, significantly impacting coastal communities. In addition, climate change is expected to result in expressive increases in wave heights due to more intense and frequent storms, which, in conjunction with sea-level rise (SLR), has the potential to exacerbate the impact of storm surges on coastal communities. The ability to predict and simulate such events provides a powerful tool for coastal risk reduction and adaptation. In this context, this study aims to investigate how accurately storm surge events can be simulated in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean employing the coupled ADCIRC+SWAN hydrodynamic and phase-averaged wave numerical modeling framework given the significant data scarcity constraints of the region. The model’s total water level (TWL) and significant wave height (Hs) outputs, driven by different sources of meteorological forcing, i.e., the Fifth Generation of ECMWF Atmospheric Reanalysis (ERA 5), the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2), and the Global Forecast System (GFS), were validated for three recent storm events that affected the coast (2016, 2017, and 2019). In order to assess the potentially increasing storm surge impacts due to sea-level rise, a case study was implemented to locally evaluate the modeling approach using the most accurate model setup for two 2100 SLR projections (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). Despite a TWL underestimation in all sets of simulations, the CFSv2 model stood out as the most consistent meteorological forcing for the hindcasting of the storm surge and waves in the numerical model, with an RMSE range varying from 0.19 m to 0.37 m, and an RMSE of 0.56 m for Hs during the most significant event. ERA5 was highlighted as the second most accurate meteorological forcing, while adequately simulating the peak timings. The SLR study case demonstrated a possible increase of up to 82% in the TWL during the same event. Despite the limitations imposed by the lack of continuous and densely distributed observational data, as well as up to date topobathymetric datasets, the proposed framework was capable of expanding TWL and Hs information, previously available for a handful of gauge stations, to a spatially distributed and temporally unlimited scale. This more comprehensive understanding of such extreme events represents valuable knowledge for the potential implementation of more adequate coastal management and engineering practices for the Brazilian coastal zone, especially under changing climate conditions.