bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between ENaC Regulators and SARS-CoV-2 Virus Receptor (ACE2) Expression in Cultured Adult Human Fungiform (HBO) Taste Cells
Authors: Ozdener Mehmet Hakan , Mahavadi Sunila , Mummalaneni Shobha , Lyall Vijay
Published: June 2022

In addition to the α, β, and γ subunits of ENaC, human salt-sensing taste receptor cells (TRCs) also express the δ-subunit. At present, it is not clear if the expression and function of the ENaC δ-subunit in human salt-sensing TRCs is also modulated by the ENaC regulatory hormones and intracellular signaling effectors known to modulate salt responses in rodent TRCs. Here, we used molecular techniques to demonstrate that the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1), the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), and components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are expressed in δ-ENaC-positive cultured adult human fungiform (HBO) taste cells. Our results suggest that RAAS components function in a complex with ENaC and TRPV1 to modulate salt sensing and thus salt intake in humans. Early, but often prolonged, symptoms of COVID-19 infection are the loss of taste, smell, and chemesthesis. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains two subunits, S1 and S2. S1 contains a receptor-binding domain, which is responsible for recognizing and binding to the ACE2 receptor, a component of RAAS. Our results show that the binding of a mutated S1 protein to ACE2 decreases ACE2 expression in HBO cells. We hypothesize that changes in ACE2 receptor expression can alter the balance between the two major RAAS pathways, ACE1/Ang II/AT1R and ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/MASR1, leading to changes in ENaC expression and responses to NaCl in salt-sensing human fungiform taste cells.
3D Structure of the Ras Al Hadd Oceanic Dipole
Authors: Bennani Yassine , Ayouche Adam , Carton Xavier
Published: June 2022

In the Arabian Sea, southeast of the Arabian peninsula, an oceanic dipole, named the Ras Al Hadd (RAH) dipole, is formed each year, lying near the Ras Al Hadd cape. The RAH dipole is the association of a cyclonic eddy (CE) to the northeast, with an anticyclonic eddy (AE) to the southwest. This dipole intensifies in the summer monsoon and disappears during the winter monsoon. This dipole has been described previously, but mostly for its surface expression, and for short time intervals. Here, we describe the 3D structure of this dipole over the 2000–2015 period, by combining colocalized ARGO float profiler data (a total of 7552 profiles inside and outside the RAH dipole) with angular momentum eddy detection and tracking algorithm (AMEDA) surface data. We show first the different water masses in and near the RAH dipole. The presence of the Persian Gulf water (PGW) below 200 m depth is confirmed in both eddies. Arabian Sea high salinity water (ASHSW) is found exclusively in the AE; a layer of fresh and cold water is observed above 100 m depth in both eddies. By analyzing the potential density structures, we show that the CE has a surface-intensified structure while the AE is subsurface-intensified. The sea level anomaly shows a 0.04 m elevation above the AE and a 0.2 m depression over the CE. The CE has a faster geostrophic velocity, (vertical velocity, respectively) 0.6 m s−1 than the AE, 0.15 m s−1 (respectively, 3 m day−1 for the CE and 0.6 m day−1 for the AE). After presenting the vertical structure of the dipole, we show the dominance of the nonlinear Ekman pumping in the CE over the linear pumping affecting the dipole. As a consequence, we explain the CE’s longer lifetime by its intensity and shallowness, and by its sensitivity to the interaction with the atmosphere (in particular the wind stress) and with neighboring eddies. We examined the possible (co)existence of symmetric, barotropic, and baroclinic instabilities in both eddies. These instabilities coexist near the surface in both eddies. They are intensified for the CE, which suggests that the CE is unstable and the AE is rather stable or may need a long time to be unstable.
Multiplexing for Plasmodium spp.? Think Again! Comment on Bhowmick et al. Dry Post Wintertime Mass Surveillance Unearths a Huge Burden of P. vivax, and Mixed Infection with P. vivax P. falciparum, a Threat to Malaria Elimination, in Dhalai, Tripura, India. Pathogens 2021, 10, 1259
Authors: Deora Nimita , Kar Sonalika , Sinha Abhinav
Published: June 2022

The study by Bhowmick et al. [...]
Protein Levels of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines as Biomarkers of Mycobacterium bovis Infection and BCG Vaccination in Cattle
Authors: Khalid Hamza , van Hooij Anouk , Connelley Timothy K. , Geluk Annemieke , Hope Jayne C.
Published: June 2022

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a globally prevalent infectious disease with significant animal welfare and economic impact. Difficulties in implementing test-and-slaughter measures in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the underperformance of the current diagnostics establish a clear need to develop improved diagnostics. Adaptive immunity biomarkers other than IFNγ could be useful as suggested by various gene expression studies; however, a comprehensive assessment at the protein level is lacking. Here, we screened a range of chemokines and cytokines for their potential as biomarkers in samples from M. bovis experimentally challenged or naive animals. Although serum concentrations for most proteins were low, the pro-inflammatory markers, IL-2, CXCL-9, IP-10 and CCL4, in addition to IFNγ, were found to be significantly elevated in bovine tuberculin (PPDb)-stimulated whole blood supernatants. Further assessment of these molecules in BCG-vaccinated with or without subsequent M. bovis challenge or naive animals revealed that PPDb-specific IL-2 and IP-10, in addition to IFNγ, could discriminate naive and BCG-vaccinated from M. bovis challenged animals. Moreover, these proteins, along with CCL4, showed DIVA potential, i.e., enabling differentiation of M. bovis-infected animals from BCG-vaccinated animals. Combined analysis of cytokines and chemokines could also accurately identify M. bovis infection with strong correlations observed between PPDb-specific IFNγ, IL-2 and IP-10 levels. This provides proof of concept for utilizing multiple biomarker signatures for discrimination of animals with respect to M. bovis infection or BCG vaccination status.
Foliar Functional Traits of Resource Island-Forming Nurse Tree Species from a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of La Guajira, Colombia
Authors: Toro-Tobón Gabriela , Alvarez-Flórez Fagua , Mariño-Blanco Hernán D. , Melgarejo Luz M.
Published: June 2022

Semi-arid environments characterized by low rainfall are subject to soil desertification processes. These environments have heterogeneous landscapes with patches of vegetation known as resource islands that are generated by nurse species that delay the desertification process because they increase the availability of water and nutrients in the soil. The study aimed to characterize some foliar physiological, biochemical, and anatomical traits of three nurse tree species that form resource islands in the semi-arid environment of La Guajira, Colombia, i.e., Haematoxylum brasiletto, Pithecellobium dulce, and Pereskia guamacho. The results showed that H. brasiletto and P. dulce have sclerophyllous strategies, are thin (0.2 and 0.23 mm, respectively), and have a high leaf dry matter content (364.8 and 437.47 mg/g). Moreover, both species have a high photochemical performance, reaching Fv/Fm values of 0.84 and 0.82 and PIABS values of 5.84 and 4.42, respectively. These results agree with the OJIP curves and JIP parameters. Both species had a compact leaf with a similar dorsiventral mesophyll. On the other hand, P. guamacho has a typical succulent, equifacial leaf with a 97.78% relative water content and 0.81 mm thickness. This species had the lowest Fv/Fm (0.73) and PIABS (1.16) values and OJIP curve but had the highest energy dissipation value (DIo/RC).
Foundry Service of CMOS MEMS Processes and the Case Study of the Flow Sensor
Authors: Yang Lung-Jieh , Waikhom Reshmi , Shih Horng-Yuan , Lee Yi-Kuen
Published: June 2022

The complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process is the main stream to fabricate integrated circuits (ICs) in the semiconductor industry. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), when combined with CMOS electronics to form the CMOS MEMS process, have the merits of small features, low power consumption, on-chip circuitry, and high sensitivity to develop microsensors and micro actuators. Firstly, the authors review the educational CMOS MEMS foundry service provided by the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) allied with the United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Taiwan’s foundry service of ICs is leading in the world. Secondly, the authors show the new flow sensor integrated with an instrumentation amplifier (IA) fabricated by the latest UMC 0.18 µm CMOS MEMS process as the case study. The new flow sensor adopted the self-heating resistive-thermal-detector (RTD) to sense the flow speed. This self-heating RTD half-bridge alone gives a normalized output sensitivity of 138 µV/V/(m/s)/mW only. After being integrated with an on-chip amplifier gain of 20 dB, the overall sensitivity of the flow sensor was measured and substantially improved to 1388 µV/V/(m/s)/mW for the flow speed range of 0–5 m/s. Finally, the advantages of the CMOS MEMS flow sensors are justified and discussed by the testing results.
High Surface Area–Activated Carbon Production from Cow Manure Controlled by Heat Treatment Conditions
Authors: Park Jung Eun , Lee Gi Bbum , Kim Ho , Hong Bum Ui
Published: June 2022

In this study, methods of adding value to cow manure were studied. Due to the properties of cow manure, activated carbon with a high surface area can only be produced by increasing the fixed carbon ratio and removing the ash content. Activated carbon was fabricated using five different treatments: (1) raw material–chemical activation, (2) raw material–hydrothermal carbonization–chemical activation, (3) raw material–hydrothermal carbonization–chemical activation–acid washing, (4) raw material–hydrothermal carbonization–heat treatment–chemical activation, and (5) raw material–hydrothermal carbonization–chemical activation–acid washing. The products then underwent proximate, elementary, and surface area analyses. In addition, changes in activated carbon properties depending on the heat treatment temperature (300, 500, 700 °C) and the applied chemical activator ratios (1:1–1:3) were examined. The results showed that the best heat treatment temperature was 300 °C, and the cow manure to chemical activator ratio was 1:2. The heat treatment stabilization process increases the fixed carbon ratio and the solid yield, and the acid wash process removes substances that restrain the increase in surface area. Therefore, activated carbon with a surface area of 1955 m2/g can be produced after the addition of heat treatment and an acid wash to the process. In addition, the adsorption properties of activated carbon with different heat treatment conditions were studied.
On the Use of Spores of Coprophilous Fungi Preserved in Sediments to Indicate Past Herbivore Presence
Authors: Lee Claire M. , van Geel Bas , Gosling William D.
Published: June 2022

Fungal spores that grew on the faeces of herbivores in the past can be extracted from sediments and used to identify the presence of herbivores in former ecosystems. This review: (i) examines the factors that should be considered when interpreting these fungal spores, (ii) assesses the degree to which they can be used to estimate past herbivore populations and biomass density change, and (iii) identifies gaps in our current understanding that limit, or confound, the information that can be extracted from the fungal spore record. We focus on the life cycles of coprophilous fungi and highlight the importance of understanding spore dispersal mechanisms to ensure robust palaeoecological interpretation. We then discuss how variation in methodological approaches across studies and modifications can influence comparability between studies. The key recommendations that emerge relate to: (i) improving our understanding of the relationship between spores of coprophilous fungi (SCF) and herbivores through the study of the coprophilous fungi succession; (ii) refining our understanding of how climate and environment parameters effect fungal spore abundance, with particular reference to estimating past herbivore biomass density; and (iii) enhancing sedimentary DNA (SedaDNA) analysis to identify SCF that do not allow preservation in a way that allows visual identification. To further this field of study and provide more robust insights into herbivores in the past, we suggest that additional research is required to help to reduce bias during the preparation process, that concertation metrics are used for the quantification of SCF, and that multiple cores should be taken in each site and multiproxy analysis should be utilised.
Understanding Business Requirements for Increasing the Uptake of Recycled Plastic: A Value Chain Perspective
Authors: van der Vegt Malou , Velzing Evert-Jan , Rietbergen Martijn , Hunt Rhiannon
Published: June 2022

Circularity and recycling are gaining increased attention, yet the amount of recycled plastic applied in new products remains low. To accelerate its uptake by businesses, it will be useful to empirically investigate the barriers, enablers, needs and, ultimately, requirements to increase uptake of recycled plastic feedstock for the production of new plastic products. During the six focus group sessions we conducted, a value chain approach was used to map the factors that actors face regarding the implementation of recycled materials. The identified factors were structured based on three levels: determining whether a certain factor acted as a barrier or enabler, identifying the steps in the value chain that the factor directly affected and the category it could be subdivided into. The results were then further processed by translating the (rather abstract) needs of businesses into (specific) requirements from industry. This study presented eight business requirements that require actions from other actors in the value chain: design for recycling, optimised waste processing, standardisation, material knowledge, showing possibilities, information and education, cooperation, and regulation and government intervention. The main scientific contributions were the value chain perspective and the applied relevance of the findings. Future studies may delve deeper into the individual factors identified.
“If There Isn’t Love, It Isn’t Home”: An Exploration of Relationship Qualities and the Meaning of Home for Residents in Aged Care
Authors: Mordike Sally Louise
Published: June 2022

Exploring the meaning of home is essential for the quality of life and well-being of older people in residential aged care. ‘Home’ is a spiritual concept that is deeply personal and important for older people. Using a qualitative, phenomenologically-based methodology, the meaning of home for ten older people living in residential aged care in Australia was examined using in-depth interviews to draw out the depth of meaning around the home. A key finding of the study showed that ‘home’ means connection through meaningful relationships and meaningful connection to place. The current paper focuses on meaningful relationships required for an older person to feel ‘at home’ in residential aged care. Drawing on residents’ personal narratives, fresh insights are provided into essential relationship qualities, and suggestions are made on how quality relationships can be facilitated and maintained, both for and by residents, to increase a sense of homeliness in residential aged care.
Byzantinised or Alexandrianised—Or Both? Vespers in the 13th c. Melkite Alexandrian Arabic Horologion Sinai Arabic 232
Authors: Wade Andrew
Published: June 2022

This paper presents an annotated English translation of the rite of Vespers contained in the Melkite Alexandrian Arabic Book of Hours (Horologion) found in the 13th century Christian Arabic manuscript Sinai Arabic 232. Most of the texts comprising this service have been identified from the contemporary Greek Horologion, the Constantinople Euchologion and the Coptic Agpeya. This very unusual combination is discussed. While further research on Sin. Ar. 232 and other Arabic Horologia is necessary before we may draw more definitive conclusions, enough seems clear at this point to suggest that the Egyptian Melkites originally used a Hierosolymitan type Horologion and that this, in due time, was both Alexandrinised and Byzantinised. We can therefore say that Sin. Ar. 232 is an Egyptian redaction of a Middle Byzantine Horologion with archaic Hierosolymitan features. No other Arabic Horologia have been studied to date, and no earlier Melkite or Coptic Alexandrian Horologia are known. Considerable further research on Arabic Horologia is needed.
An Unhedgeable Black–Scholes–Merton Implicit Option?
Authors: Pereira Alfredo M. , Tarter M. Sean
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we focus on an implicit assumption in the BSM framework that limits the scope of market network connections to seeking gains in the currency basis, i.e., on trading strategies between the numeraire and the stock and between the numeraire and the option, separately. We relax this assumption and derive the equivalent of the standard BSM approach under a more general market network framework in order to assess its implications. In doing so, we find that it is not possible to hedge on an implicit option that allows one to directly trade the option and stock. This represents a potential challenge to the BSM framework, since the missing market network connection provides a potentially useful mechanism for risk-bearing portfolio managers to alter their portfolios.
Active 2D-DNA Fingerprinting of WirelessHART Adapters to Ensure Operational Integrity in Industrial Systems
Authors: Mims Willie H. , Temple Michael A. , Mills Robert F.
Published: June 2022

The need for reliable communications in industrial systems becomes more evident as industries strive to increase reliance on automation. This trend has sustained the adoption of WirelessHART communications as a key enabling technology and its operational integrity must be ensured. This paper focuses on demonstrating pre-deployment counterfeit detection using active 2D Distinct Native Attribute (2D-DNA) fingerprinting. Counterfeit detection is demonstrated using experimentally collected signals from eight commercial WirelessHART adapters. Adapter fingerprints are used to train 56 Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA) models with each representing five authentic network devices. The three non-modeled devices are introduced as counterfeits and a total of 840 individual authentic (modeled) versus counterfeit (non-modeled) ID verification assessments performed. Counterfeit detection is performed on a fingerprint-by-fingerprint basis with best case per-device Counterfeit Detection Rate (%CDR) estimates including 87.6% < %CDR < 99.9% and yielding an average cross-device %CDR ≈ 92.5%. This full-dimensional feature set performance was echoed by dimensionally reduced feature set performance that included per-device 87.0% < %CDR < 99.7% and average cross-device %CDR ≈ 91.4% using only 18-of-291 features—the demonstrated %CDR > 90% with an approximate 92% reduction in the number of fingerprint features is sufficiently promising for small-scale network applications and warrants further consideration.
Efficient Aggregate Queries on Location Data with Confidentiality
Authors: Feng Da , Zhou Fucai , Wang Qiang , Wu Qiyu , Li Bao
Published: June 2022

Location data have great value for facility location selection. Due to the privacy issues of both location data and user identities, a location service provider can not hand over the private location data to a business or a third party for analysis or reveal the location data for jointly running data analysis with a business. In this paper, we propose a newly constructed PSI filter that can help the two parties privately find the data corresponding to the items in the intersection without any computations and, subsequently, we give the PSI filter generation protocol. We utilize it to construct three types of aggregate protocols for facility location selection with confidentiality. Then we propose a ciphertext matrix compressing method, making one block of cipher contain lots of plaintext data while keeping the homomorphic property valid. This method can efficiently further reduce the computation/communication cost of the query process—the improved query protocol utilizing the ciphertext matrix compressing method is given followed. We show the correctness and privacy of the proposed query protocols. The theoretical analysis of computation/communication overhead shows that our proposed query protocols are efficient both in computation and communication and the experimental results of the efficiency tests show the practicality of the protocols.
Kinect-Based Assessment of Lower Limbs during Gait in Post-Stroke Hemiplegic Patients: A Narrative Review
Authors: Cerfoglio Serena , Ferraris Claudia , Vismara Luca , Amprimo Gianluca , Priano Lorenzo , Pettiti Giuseppe , Galli Manuela , Mauro Alessandro , Cimolin Veronica
Published: June 2022

The aim of this review was to present an overview of the state of the art in the use of the Microsoft Kinect camera to assess gait in post-stroke individuals through an analysis of the available literature. In recent years, several studies have explored the potentiality, accuracy, and effectiveness of this 3D optical sensor as an easy-to-use and non-invasive clinical measurement tool for the assessment of gait parameters in several pathologies. Focusing on stroke individuals, some of the available studies aimed to directly assess and characterize their gait patterns. In contrast, other studies focused on the validation of Kinect-based measurements with respect to a gold-standard reference (i.e., optoelectronic systems). However, the nonhomogeneous characteristics of the participants, of the measures, of the methodologies, and of the purposes of the studies make it difficult to adequately compare the results. This leads to uncertainties about the strengths and weaknesses of this technology in this pathological state. The final purpose of this narrative review was to describe and summarize the main features of the available works on gait in the post-stroke population, highlighting similarities and differences in the methodological approach and primary findings, thus facilitating comparisons of the studies as much as possible.
A New Immersive Virtual Reality Station for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Objective Structured Clinical Exam Evaluation
Authors: Rodríguez-Matesanz Manuel , Guzmán-García Carmen , Oropesa Ignacio , Rubio-Bolivar Javier , Quintana-Díaz Manuel , Sánchez-González Patricia
Published: June 2022

The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) is an assessment tool used as a reliable method for clinical competence evaluation of students. This paper presents an investigation focused on the chain of survival, its related exploration, management, and technical skills, and how Virtual Reality (VR) can be used for the creation of immersive environments capable of evaluating students’ performance while applying the correct protocols. In particular, the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedure is studied as an essential step in the development of the chain of survival. The paper also aims to highlight the limitations of traditional methods using mechanical mannequins and the benefits of the new approaches that involve the students in virtual, immersive, and dynamic environments. Furthermore, an immersive VR station is presented as a new technique for assessing CPR performance through objective data collection and posterior evaluation. A usability test was carried out with 33 clinicians and OSCE evaluators to test the viability of the presented scenario, reproducing conditions of a real examination. Results suggest that the environment is intuitive, quick, and easy to learn and could be used in clinical practice to improve CPR performance and OSCE evaluation.
Advanced and Complex Energy Systems Monitoring and Control: A Review on Available Technologies and Their Application Criteria
Authors: Massaro Alessandro , Starace Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Complex energy monitoring and control systems have been widely studied as the related topics include different approaches, advanced sensors, and technologies applied to a strongly varying amount of application fields. This paper is a systematic review of what has been done regarding energy metering system issues about (i) sensors, (ii) the choice of their technology and their characterization depending on the application fields, (iii) advanced measurement approaches and methodologies, and (iv) the setup of energy Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The paper provides models about KPI estimation, by highlighting design criteria of complex energy networks. The proposed study is carried out to give useful elements to build models and to simulate in detail energy systems for performance prediction purposes. Some examples of energy complex KPIs based on the integration of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) concept and on basic KPIs or variables are provided in order to define innovative formulation criteria depending on the application field. The proposed examples highlight how modeling a complex KPI as a function of basic variables or KPIs is possible, by means of graph models of architectures.
Managing Sands of the Lower Mekong Basin to Limit Land Degradation: A Review of Properties and Limitations for Crop and Forage Production
Authors: Bell Richard W. , Seng Vang , Vance Wendy H. , Philp Joshua N. M. , Hin Sarith , Touch Veasna , Denton Matthew D.
Published: June 2022

Land development is rapidly occurring on sand-dominant soils that cover substantial areas of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). Sands are at risk of degradation on sloping uplands where agriculture is expanding and on lowland landscapes where intensification of cropping is occurring. Sandstone and granitic geology explain the prevalence of sand-dominant textures of profiles in the LMB. However, the sand terrains in uplands of Cambodia and Southern Laos mostly have not been mapped in detail and the diversity of their edaphic properties is poorly understood. On high-permeability sands, lowland rainfed rice crops are drought-prone, while nutrient losses from leaching are also a risk. Furthermore, waterlogging, inundation and subsoil hardpans are significant hazards that influence the choice of crops and forages for lowland soils. Soil acidity, low nutrient status, hard-setting and shallow rooting depth are significant constraints for crops and forages on sands in the lowlands. Land use change in the lowlands to alternative field crops and forages on sands is contingent on their profitability relative to rice, the amounts and reliability of early wet season rainfall, and the amounts of stored water available after harvesting rice. Low soil fertility and soil acidity are limitations to the productivity of farming systems on the sand profiles in uplands, while erosion, low soil organic matter levels and water balance are concerns for their sustainable use. Site-/soil-specific fertilizer and lime management, land suitability assessment and the use of conservation agriculture principles (minimum tillage and crop residue retention) can overcome some of these constraints.
Applicability of an Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise Training System for Office Workers during Working Hours
Authors: Touloudi Evlalia , Hassandra Mary , Galanis Evangelos , Goudas Marios , Theodorakis Yannis
Published: June 2022

Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation of a real or imaginary three-dimensional environment that has entered our lives, particularly for gaming. Lately, it has been permeating into many aspects of our everyday life, such as exercise. It is important to ascertain whether exercise in an immersive virtual reality environment can be accepted from employees and lead to positive outcomes for them. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the acceptance, future adoption, interest/enjoyment and usability of an immersive virtual reality system for exercise training by office workers during breaks within their working hours. A total of 40 female employees participated in the study with a mean age of 42.58 years (SD 10.77). Participants were requested to complete two sequential 15-min dual task cycling sessions corresponding to two experimental conditions. The first, condition A, involved cycling in a virtual environment, wearing a virtual reality head mounted display, and responding to cognitive tasks by answering multiple choice questions—on a screen, using a joystick. The second, condition B, involved cycling on a static bicycle and simultaneously responding to cognitive tasks by answering multiple choice questions in a real environment. After completion of the two conditions, participants responded to a series of scales regarding each of the experimental conditions and to a semi-structured interview. The results showed that participants noted a significant preference for the immersive virtual reality exercise, condition A, compared to condition B (bike only); and their acceptance, interest/enjoyment, usability and intention for future use were high. The qualitative data showed increased intention for future use, feelings of control and presence and most of the participants did not encounter any difficulties or require extra help to understand the immersive virtual reality system. Overall, exercising during working hours with an immersive virtual reality exercise system was well perceived by office workers and applicable. However, the effects of the immersive virtual reality training system on physical and mental health and the employees’ adherence to the exercise program should be tested with a longer intervention program.
Supporting Decision-Making in the Technical Equipment Selection Process by the Method of Contradictory Evaluations
Authors: Gaworski Marek , Borowski Piotr F. , Kozioł Łukasz
Published: June 2022

Creating new research concepts is an important element in supporting the development of production systems and their components, including technical equipment. Many technical devices are characterized by a high degree of complexity, which justifies the need for a specific approach to their assessment and becomes an inspiration to search for innovative methods of assessment. As part of the proposed new approach to the assessment of technical objects, studies were carried out in which users of chainsaws assessed their technical and functional features, taking into account the options: advantage and disadvantage. The number of positive and negative assessments of a given feature was used in the developed methodology to calculate the utility potential index. The proposed formula for calculating the utility potential index is a contribution to the current state of knowledge in the field of evaluation of technical objects and their features, as well as comparisons between technical objects. Based on the definition of the utility potential index, its value ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. The conducted research and calculation results indicated the accumulation of the lowest and the highest values of the utility potential index for one of the functional features, i.e., the price of the equipment. The utilitarian effect of the study is the creation of a tool supporting the selection of equipment for the needs of its users. The research results can also be used as a suggestion for the improvement of the indicated features of technical devices by their manufacturers.
Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis Attending SDG 3 and 4 of the 2030 Agenda
Authors: Idoiaga Nahia , Legorburu Idoia , Ozamiz-Etxebarria Naiara , Lipnicki Darren M. , Villagrasa Beatriz , Santabárbara Javier
Published: June 2022

Background: Most universities around the world have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. Many students were isolated at home and underwent a forced transition from face-to-face learning to e-learning, at least in the first few months. The subsequent months and years were typically characterised by a slow return to normal learning under COVID-19 protocols and restrictions. A potential consequence of the lockdowns, social restrictions and changes to learning is the development of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in university students, affecting their health and well-being (SDG3) and quality of education (SDG4). Materials and Methods: Medline was searched through PubMed for studies on the prevalence of PTSD in university students from 1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021. The pooled prevalence of PTSD was calculated with random-effects models. Results: A total of six studies were included, across which the prevalence of PTSD among university students was 23%. Meta-regression showed that the prevalence of PTSD was significantly higher with older age, but independent of the percentage of women in a study or its methodological quality. Conclusions: Our results suggest that students suffer from PTSD at a moderate rate. Measures are needed to address the mental health issues of university students that have arisen during COVID-19 all around the world.
Demand-Side Flexibility in Power Systems: A Survey of Residential, Industrial, Commercial, and Agricultural Sectors
Authors: Golmohamadi Hessam
Published: June 2022

In recent years, environmental concerns about climate change and global warming have encouraged countries to increase investment in renewable energies. As the penetration of renewable power goes up, the intermittency of the power system increases. To counterbalance the power fluctuations, demand-side flexibility is a workable solution. This paper reviews the flexibility potentials of demand sectors, including residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural, to facilitate the integration of renewables into power systems. In the residential sector, home energy management systems and heat pumps exhibit great flexibility potential. The former can unlock the flexibility of household devices, e.g., wet appliances and lighting systems. The latter integrates the joint heat–power flexibility of heating systems into power grids. In the industrial sector, heavy industries, e.g., cement manufacturing plants, metal smelting, and oil refinery plants, are surveyed. It is discussed how energy-intensive plants can provide flexibility for energy systems. In the commercial sector, supermarket refrigerators, hotels/restaurants, and commercial parking lots of electric vehicles are pointed out. Large-scale parking lots of electric vehicles can be considered as great electrical storage not only to provide flexibility for the upstream network but also to supply the local commercial sector, e.g., shopping stores. In the agricultural sector, irrigation pumps, on-farm solar sites, and variable-frequency-drive water pumps are shown as flexible demands. The flexibility potentials of livestock farms are also surveyed.
A Framework to Evaluate Areas of Interest for Sustainable Products and Designs
Authors: Borgianni Yuri , Maccioni Lorenzo , Dignös Anton , Basso Demis
Published: June 2022

Experience and evaluation research on sustainable products’ design is increasingly supported by eye-tracking tools. In particular, many studies have investigated the effect of gazing at or fixating on Areas of Interest on products’ evaluations, and in a number of cases, they have inferred the critical graphical elements leading to the preference of sustainable products. This paper is motivated by the lack of generalizability of the results of these studies, which have predominantly targeted specific products and Areas of Interest. In addition, it has also been overlooked that the observation of some Areas of Interest, despite not specifically targeting sustainable aspects, can lead consumers to prefer or appreciate sustainable products in any case. Furthermore, it has to be noted that sustainable products can be recognized based on their design (shape, material, lack of waste generated) and/or, more diffusedly, information clearly delivered on packaging and in advertising. With reference to the latter, this paper collected and classified Areas of Interest dealt with in past studies, markedly in eco-design and green consumption, and characterized by their potential generalizability. Specifically, the identified classes of Areas of Interest are not peculiar to specific products or economic sectors. These classes were further distinguished into “Content”, i.e., the quality aspect they intend to highlight, and “Form”, i.e., the graphical element used as a form of communication. This framework of Areas of Interest is the major contribution of the paper. Such a framework is needed to study regularities across multiple product categories in terms of how the observation of Areas of Interest leads to product appreciation and value perception. In addition, the potential significant differences between sustainable and commonplace products can be better investigated.
Automatically Generating Scenarios from a Text Corpus: A Case Study on Electric Vehicles
Authors: Davis Christopher W. H. , Jetter Antonie J. , Giabbanelli Philippe J.
Published: June 2022

Creating ‘what-if’ scenarios to estimate possible futures is a key component of decision-making processes. However, this activity is labor intensive as it is primarily done manually by subject-matter experts who start by identifying relevant themes and their interconnections to build models, and then craft diverse and meaningful stories as scenarios to run on these models. Previous works have shown that text mining could automate the model-building aspect, for example, by using topic modeling to extract themes from a large corpus and employing variations of association rule mining to connect them in quantitative ways. In this paper, we propose to further automate the process of scenario generation by guiding pre-trained deep neural networks (i.e., BERT) through simulated conversations to extract a model from a corpus. Our case study on electric vehicles shows that our approach yields similar results to previous work while almost eliminating the need for manual involvement in model building, thus focusing human expertise on the final stage of crafting compelling scenarios. Specifically, by using the same corpus as a previous study on electric vehicles, we show that the model created here either performs similarly to the previous study when there is a consensus in the literature, or differs by highlighting important gaps on domains such as government deregulation.
Investigating Accessibility of Social Security System (SSS) Mobile Application: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Jou Yung-Tsan , Mariñas Klint Allen , Saflor Charmine Sheena , Young Michael Nayat
Published: June 2022

Due to the Philippines’ current condition in COVID-19, the Social Security System (SSS) has launched a mobile app as an intervention for walk-in appointments and another convenient way to exchange information. By integrating the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study scrutinizes and investigates the various factors influencing the SSS mobile app’s accessibility. An online questionnaire composed of 60 items required at least 200 respondents. The researchers measured twelve latent variables, including social influence, awareness of service, computer self-efficacy, quality of internet connection, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, subjective norms, the impression of use, demographic, attitude towards using, behavioral intention to use, and actual use of SSS mobile app. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that awareness of service had a substantial direct influence on computer self-efficacy and perceived usefulness. In addition, computer self-efficacy had a substantial direct influence on the quality of internet connection and perceived ease of used, in which this perceived ease of use had a substantial direct influence on perceived usefulness and attitude toward using the mobile application. This study’s findings can be used to provide information on the key factors that have been identified as having a considerable effect on the app’s accessibility and further improving the overall service efficiency of the SSS mobile app. Finally, the study’s model construct will be valuable for researchers and other sectors investigating user–software interaction of applicable government or private service mobile applications.
Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Tourism Flows and Network Analysis of Traditional Villages in Western Hunan
Authors: Liu Chunla , Qin Yingjie , Wang Yufei , Yu Yue , Li Guanghui
Published: June 2022

Traditional village tourism is an effective path to rural revitalization and an excellent way to preserve traditional sceneries and cultural heritage. However, research on the subject matter has been limited. To address some of the current research gaps, this study used 2372 online travelogues from popular travel websites to explore the spatio-temporal distribution and network structure of the tourism flow in traditional villages in western Hunan using ArcGIS and social network analysis. The main findings are as follows: (1) In terms of time distribution, the tourism flow in traditional villages in Western Hunan is dominated by short-term tourism and shows significant seasonal differences. (2) The spatial distribution forms a double-core and multipoint spatial pattern with “Fenghuang Ancient City—Zhangjiajie National Forest Park” as core. (3) The network of traditional villages in Western Hunan exhibits a “core-periphery” hierarchical structure, with a network density of 0.275. Aside from the attraction and appeal of the twin cores, Furong Town and Tianmen Mountain constitute the core points of the network structure, and the radiation drive of the core nodes is not pronounced.
The Employability of Graduates of National Characteristic Discipline Programs of Study in China: Evidence from Employers
Authors: Wang Haoyu , Li Sen , Qin Peifan , Xing Fei
Published: June 2022

Prior studies have examined the historical evolution, multiple stakes, measurements and operation models of graduate employability, and the researches on graduate employability have gradually shifted to the perspective of employers with wider labor market uncertainty and higher education massification. However, there is still a gap in research on the demand for graduate employability by employers in national high-end equipment manufacturing that work closely with higher education in scientific research. Namely, it remains unclear what really matters in the processes of employers’ recruitment decisions in national high-end equipment manufacturing. Drawing on Yorke’s definition and CareerEDGE model, this study defines graduate employability as a set of achievements—skills, understandings and personal attributes—that makes graduates more likely to gain employment in national high-end equipment manufacturing, including “emotional intelligence”, “knowledge and skills”, “generic skills”, “work experience”, “character and personality”. Owing to the importance and arduousness of national high-end equipment manufacturing historical mission and main tasks, we argue that employers pay more attention to graduate employability in the recruitment process. Empirically examining based on 831 questionnaires from employers of national high-end equipment manufacturing in China, we show that employers prefer graduates with higher levels of “cooperative innovation ability”, “knowledge and skills”, “stress management and adaptation” within Chinese national characteristic discipline programs. Particularly, although employers in national high-end equipment manufacturing have always emphasized employees’ loyalty and dedication, “character and personality” of a graduate does not have a direct effect on employer hiring preference, but instead the effect of cooperative innovation ability and knowledge and skills are fully moderated by character and personality.
The Spatiotemporal Evolution and Prediction of Carbon Storage in the Yellow River Basin Based on the Major Function-Oriented Zone Planning
Authors: Wang Jinfeng , Li Lingfeng , Li Qing , Wang Sheng , Liu Xiaoling , Li Ya
Published: June 2022

Land use/cover change is the main reason for the variation of ecosystem carbon storage. The study of the impact of land use on carbon storage has certain reference values for realizing high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. In this paper, the InVEST model was used to simulate the variation of carbon storage in the Yellow River Basin in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, and to predict the carbon storage in 2030 in combination with the CA-Markov model, as well as to discuss the impact of land use on carbon storage. The results showed that: (1) The variation trend of carbon storage for different land use types in the Yellow River Basin was different and was mainly manifested as a decrease of cultivated land and unused land, and an increase of forest land, grassland, water, and construction land. The carbon storage in the provincial key development prioritized zone, national development optimized zone, and provincial development optimized zone showed decreasing trends, while the national key development prioritized zone and national major grain producing zone presented a fluctuating downward trend. (2) The ecosystem carbon storage function weakened after 2000, and part of the carbon sink area transformed into a carbon source area. The area with low carbon storage was distributed in the west of the provincial key ecological function zone, and the area with high carbon storage was concentrated in the south and middle of national key ecological function zone and the east of the provincial key ecological function zone. (3) The carbon loss was largest in the urban expansion scenario (UES), followed by the natural development scenario (NDS) and ecological protection scenario (EPS). The carbon storage of different scenarios presented significant positive correlations with land use intensity.
Responding to the Popular Demand: Itinerary for the Socio-Political Learning of Situated Agroecologies in Chile
Authors: Peredo Parada Santiago , Barrera Salas Claudia , Burbi Sara
Published: June 2022

Agroecology has proven to be successful in responding to the demands and needs of a collective due to the relevance of its approach and proposals, which are built collaboratively between all the actors under a specific context that focuses on the actions developed. This is facilitated when spaces of horizontal interaction are generated through dialogues between different perspectives and experiences. In this perspective, agroecological training in higher education, i.e., university level, requires structural changes that go beyond the incorporation of technical content. Based on a critical documentary analysis of the records generated in the implementation of teaching innovation projects, the learning itinerary in agroecology is presented, consisting of four certifications based on transformational learning and supported by active methodologies. The potentialities, including marketing potential, of the proposed learning itinerary relate to curricular design, the articulation of the itinerary, the suitability of the learning methodologies used, the performance of the teachers, and the participation of the students. It is concluded that the implementation of flexible itineraries allows for addressing the transformation processes necessary for an agroecological transition in which we see a convergence of students’ skills, the learning objectives, and the requirements of the various actors with which they interact.