bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate Governance and Corporate Reputation: The Role of Environmental and Social Reporting Quality
Authors: Ghuslan Mohamad Iruwan , Jaffar Romlah , Mohd Saleh Norman , Yaacob Mohd Hasimi
Published: September 2021

Corporate reputation is companies’ most valuable asset as it can position them to gain competitive advantages that lead to sustainable performance. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence corporate reputation is vital for a company’s survival. The study objectives were to investigate the effects of corporate governance and the quality of environmental and social reporting on corporate reputation. Additionally, this study examined the role of environmental and social reporting quality on the relationship between these two variables. This study used secondary data collected from multiple sources such as the Thomson Data Stream database and annual reports of publicly listed Malaysian companies between 2017 and 2018. The results showed that corporate governance effectiveness and environmental and social reporting quality positively influence corporate reputation. Additionally, the quality of environmental and social reporting mediates the relationship between corporate governance and corporate reputation. This study bridges research gaps by providing evidence for the impact of effective corporate governance, specifically board diversity, on corporate reputation in Malaysia. The findings can help companies to establish criteria and qualifications for the appointment of new board members. The members must have the right combination of skills, knowledge, experience and independent elements that enable them to make decisions to meet companies’ objectives.
Ultra Short-Term Wind Power Forecasting Based on Sparrow Search Algorithm Optimization Deep Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: An Guoqing , Jiang Ziyao , Chen Libo , Cao Xin , Li Zheng , Zhao Yuyang , Sun Hexu
Published: September 2021

Improving the accuracy of wind power forecasting is an important measure to deal with the uncertainty and volatility of wind power. Wind speed and wind direction are the most important factors affecting the power generation of wind turbines. In this paper, we propose a wind power forecasting method that combines the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) with the deep extreme learning machine (DELM). Based on the DELM model, the length of the time series’ influence on the performance of the neural network is validated through the comparison of the forecast error indexes, and the optimal time series length of the wind power is determined. The sparrow search algorithm is used to optimize its parameters to solve the problem of random changes in model input weights and thresholds. The proposed SSA-DELM model is validated using the measured data of a certain wind turbine, and various forecasting indexes are compared with several current wind power forecasting methods. The experimental results show that the proposed model has better performance in ultra-short-term wind power forecasting, and its coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) are 0.927, 69.803, and 115.446, respectively.
Spatial Pattern Simulation of Land Use Based on FLUS Model under Ecological Protection: A Case Study of Hengyang City
Authors: Zhang Chuchu , Wang Peng , Xiong Pingsheng , Li Chunhong , Quan Bin
Published: September 2021

With rapid economic development in China, the excessive expansion of cities has led to the imbalance of land use structure, and then the ecological regulation function of the land ecosystem experiences problems, which has become an obstacle to sustainable development. Therefore, in order to protect the ecological environment, regulate urban development and pursue the maximization of ecological benefits, it is necessary to analyze, simulate and predict land use change. In this study, Hengyang City was taken as the study area, and based on the current land use data of Hengyang City in 2010, 2015, and 2018, the land use type transfer during 2010–2015 and 2015–2018 was analyzed. Then, starting from 2010, the FLUS model was used to simulate the spatial distribution of land use in 2015 and 2018, and then the spatial distribution of land use in Hengyang City in 2025 was predicted with the Markov prediction method under the premise of ecological protection priority. The results show that the change in ecological land in Hengyang City is mainly distributed in the surrounding and marginal areas, because the topography of Hengyang City is a basin. Changes in land type in Hengyang City in 2015 were subtle and difficult to observe. However, in 2018, the transformation of non-ecological land into ecological land was obvious, and the distribution area of ecological land expanded significantly. The Kappa index of the results simulated by the FLUS model based on neural network is above 0.72, and overall accuracy is above 0.9, which is highly consistent with the actual situation. It is reasonable and convincing to predict the spatial distribution of land use in the context of ecological protection. The predicted results can be useful for urban planning and land use distribution and provide a reference for relevant decision-makers.
Taiwan’s Offshore Wind Energy Policy: From Policy Dilemma to Sustainable Development
Authors: Chung Huey-Shian
Published: September 2021

Taiwan’s offshore wind energy policy (OWE policy) is a response to sustainable development goals. Offshore wind energy has become one of the fastest growing renewable energies on Taiwan’s coastline, with the government’s full support for the promotion and implementation of the OWE policy. With the operation of Taiwan’s first wind farm in 2021, increasing controversies are specifically concerned with the distribution of social, economic, and environmental burdens and benefits resulting from the OWE policy. More offshore wind farms are forthcoming by 2025. However, little attention has been paid to policy dilemmas for many aspects relevant to sustainable development. Therefore, this paper conducts a policy analysis to construct policy-relevant information of the OWE policy and identifies policy dilemmas in relation to concerns about sustainable development. This paper presents policy recommendations on the design and decision-making processes for facilitating the smooth promotion and implementation of Taiwan’s OWE policy and future renewable energy policies.
Flood Mitigation in Mediterranean Coastal Regions: Problems, Solutions, and Stakeholder Involvement
Authors: Ciampa Francesca , Seifollahi-Aghmiuni Samaneh , Kalantari Zahra , Ferreira Carla Sofia Santos
Published: September 2021

Flooding affects Mediterranean coastal areas, with negative impacts on regional populations and ecosystems. This paper reviews the causes and consequences of coastal flooding in European Mediterranean countries, common and advanced solutions implemented to mitigate flood risk, and the importance of stakeholder involvement in developing these solutions. Climate change, intensive urbanization, tourism, deforestation, wildfires, and erosion are the main causes of coastal flooding, leading to social and economic losses, degradation of ecosystems, and water and soil contamination due to saltwater intrusion. Various measures for mitigating urban coastal flooding have been implemented, including coastal barriers, infrastructural drainage systems, wetlands, and mobile dams. Development and implementation of such solutions should be performed in close collaboration with stakeholders, but their current engagement at the coordination and/or decision-making level does not allow full integration of local knowledge in flood mitigation projects. Various processes are used to engage stakeholders in coastal flood mitigation, but participatory approaches are required to integrate their perspectives into performance analysis of potential solutions. Such approaches would allow a balance to be reached between nature conservation, market forces, stakeholder needs, and decision-makers’ priorities, resulting in development of innovative and sustainable mitigation solutions to enhance urban resilience to coastal flooding.
The Conflict between Preserving a ‘Sacred Natural Site’ and Exploiting Nature for Commercial Gain: Evidence from Phiphidi Waterfall in South Africa
Authors: Sinthumule Ndidzulafhi Innocent , Mugwena Thendo , Rabumbulu Mulalo
Published: September 2021

Over the years, the Phiphidi sacred natural site has been protected by traditional methods or cultural codes. However, over the past three decades, anthropogenic pressures have affected the site. This study aimed to investigate the historical uses of the Phiphidi sacred natural site and contemporary anthropogenic threats to the area, and the implications on the sustainability of the area. The data supporting this study were collected between June 2018 and May 2021, during which (i) interviews, (ii) observations and (iii) documents were used as the main techniques of data collection. Non-probabilistic purposive (also known as judgemental) sampling was used to select respondents including the custodians of the Phiphidi sacred natural site, officials working at Phiphidi Waterfall, representatives of the Dzomo La Mupo committee and local communities. The data obtained from interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. Field observations helped in validating the data that were collected through interviews. The study showed that although the sacred site was historically a ‘no go area’ and was used to connect with ancestors and perform rituals, contemporary anthropogenic threats affecting the Phiphidi sacred site include weak property right systems and tourism infrastructure development that has led to land-use conflicts that have been driven by vested interests. The contemporary practices not only undermine the Vhavenda culture but also have negative implications for the biodiversity of the area. In addition, the current practices undermine the founding principles of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa; these embrace culture, religion and the country’s environmental laws. While passion to save the sacred sites by custodians and local communities is still alive, government support is weak and, as a result, there are fears that other sacred sites in the region may also be targeted for tourism purposes. Several suggestions are made that, if implemented, could help to protect the remaining sacred natural sites.
Synergetic Co-Production of Beer Colouring Agent and Solid Fuel from Brewers’ Spent Grain in the Circular Economy Perspective
Authors: Jackowski Mateusz , Niedźwiecki Łukasz , Mościcki Krzysztof , Arora Amit , Saeed Muhammad Azam , Krochmalny Krystian , Pawliczek Jakub , Trusek Anna , Lech Magdalena , Skřínský Jan , Čespiva Jakub , Vereš Ján , Ochodek Tadeáš , Pawlak-Kruczek Halina
Published: September 2021

Brewers’ Spent Grain is a by-product of the brewing process, with potential applications for energy purposes. This paper presents the results of an investigation aiming at valorization of this residue by torrefaction, making product for two purposes: a solid fuel that could be used for generation of heat for the brewery and a colouring agent that could replace colouring malt for the production of dark beers. Decreased consumption of malt for such purposes would have a positive influence on the sustainability of brewing. Torrefaction was performed at temperatures ranging between 180 °C and 300 °C, with a residence time between 20 and 60 min. For the most severe torrefaction conditions (300 °C, 60 min), the higher heating value of torrefied BSG reached 25 MJ/kg. However, the best beer colouring properties were achieved for mild torrefaction conditions, i.e., 180 °C for 60 min and 210 °C for 40 min, reaching European Brewery Convention colours of 145 and 159, respectively. From the solid fuel properties perspective, the improvements offered by torrefaction in such mild conditions were modest. Overall, the obtained results suggest some trade-off between the optimum colouring properties and optimum solid fuel properties that need to be considered when such dual-purpose torrefaction of BSG for brewery purposes is implemented.
Gym-Goers Preference Analysis of Fitness Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Conjoint Analysis Approach for Business Sustainability
Authors: Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Picazo Kerr Lorenzo , Salvador Kim Aaron , Miraja Bobby Ardiansyah , Kurata Yoshiki B. , Chuenyindee Thanatorn , Nadlifatin Reny , Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira , Young Michael Nayat
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the fitness centers industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of gym-goers on fitness centers in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. One thousand gym-goers voluntarily participated in this study and answered 22 queries created from the orthogonal design. The results indicated that Price was the highest attribute considered (21.59%), followed by Ventilation (17.56%), Service (16.59%), Trainer (14.63%), Payment Method (11.95%), Operating Hours (8.90%), and Login (8.70%). The results also indicated that comfort, security, and fitness center services were the main aspects that gym-goers would consider as their main preference. The study highlighted how gym-goers are sensitive to the price set by the fitness centers. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation and size are considered highly important attributes among gym-goers. Comfort, safety, and security are the main consideration to have sustainable fitness centers during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of this study may benefit fitness centers and increase their business market by considering the preference of customers. Finally, the result of this study can be utilized by fitness centers to promote a generalized fitness center for gym-goers of different generations, statuses, and even socioeconomic status during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Co-Creation of Value and Customer Experience: An Application in Online Banking
Authors: Peña-García Nathalie , Losada-Otálora Mauricio , Juliao-Rossi Jorge , Rodríguez-Orejuela Augusto
Published: September 2021

The need for the banking sector to digitize its services to improve the efficiency of its processes has motivated a wave of research among academics and professionals. One of the most important themes emerging in e-service adoption research is the customer experience. The customer experience has been explored from different angles, being explained from personal elements, interactions between peers, and in terms of the tools provided by companies to improve the experience. However, one of the key elements for improving the customer experience understood from the perspective of service-dominant logic is the co-creation of value. This research explores the personal elements that lead customers to co-create value and how this impacts the customer experience of digital banking channels. We present a cross-sectional quantitative investigation, carried out through a structured questionnaire applied to 406 financial consumers in Colombia. The results indicate that perceived brand knowledge, creativity, and connectivity are antecedents of value co-creation that have a direct effect on the customer experience. The value of the co-creation process allows banks to offer personalized products to their clients without making significant financial and time investments to understand what the client wants, thus improving customer experience with the brand.
Political and Historical Determinants of the Differentiation of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems of Agritourism in Poland and Kazakhstan
Authors: Wendt Jan A. , Pashkov Sergey V. , Mydłowska Elżbieta , Bógdał-Brzezińska Agnieszka
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: In the context of differences among countries developing pre-entrepreneurship ecosystems in relation to agritourism, the need to define the specific challenges and facilitators in the group of post-communist countries is recognised. Given that, we aim to examine the differences between the countries belonging to the former USSR and the satellite countries of the former USSR. (2) Methods: For the realisation of the intended objective, we analysed studies of the literature on the subject, in terms of the theoretical treatment of the entrepreneurial eco-system in the field of agritourism, and current legal acts. Our own observations from stays in the regions in question were also used, along with statistical methods concerning the density of the transport network, comparative analysis of historical and political conditions, and SWOT analysis. (3) Results: Substantial differences were found between the components of the agritourism entrepreneurship ecosystem in Poland and Kazakhstan, primarily related to the level of transport infrastructure density (satisfactory in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, insufficient in North Kazakhstan), tradition of individual farming (well established in Poland, poorly present in Kazakhstan), support for agritourism development by central and local authorities (relatively high in Poland, incidental and with a short history in Kazakhstan), and finally, differences in the target group of agritourism service recipients (stable in Poland, undefined in Kazakhstan). (4) Conclusions: The research leads to the conclusion of the heterogeneity of the determinants of the development of the agritourism entrepreneurship ecosystem in countries collectively defined as post-communist. There are clearly different challenges and facilitations resulting not so much from the past political system as from the ethnic-historical considerations, the position of agriculture in the economy, and the degree and effectiveness of the involvement of administrative authorities in the development of agritourism. The study leads to a recommendation on the need for more efficient targeting of agritourism consumers abroad.
Oso, Osito ¿A Qué Venís? Andean Bear Conflict, Conservation, and Campesinos in the Colombian Páramos
Authors: Garrido Corredor Ana María , Cottyn Hanne , Martínez-Medina Santiago , Wheatley Christopher J. , Sanchez Adriana , Kirshner Joshua , Cowie Helen , Touza-Montero Julia , White Piran C. L.
Published: September 2021

This article proposes a historical, multispecies, and ontological approach to human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in the Colombian páramos. Focusing on the páramos surrounding the capital city of Bogotá, we reconstruct the historically changing relationship between cattle-farming campesino communities and the Andean bear, Tremarctos ornatus. Using ethnographic and historical research methods, we conceptualise this relationship as embedded in localised landscapes and multispecies assemblages, in which scientists, conservation practitioners, water infrastructures, public environmental agencies, and cows participate as well. This article demonstrates that insufficient attention to the practices and relationships of historically marginalised humans and non-humans in the management of HWCs contributes to new dynamics of exclusion and friction, and can reduce the effectiveness of conservation programmes. We conclude that opening up conservation to the interests and knowledges of local communities is imperative in moving towards more historically informed, pluralistic and effective conservation strategies.
Analysis of Sustainable Methods to Recover Neodymium
Authors: Periyapperuma Kalani , Sanchez-Cupido Laura , Pringle Jennifer M. , Pozo-Gonzalo Cristina
Published: September 2021

Neodymium (Nd) is one of the most essential rare-earth metals due to its outstanding properties and crucial role in green energy technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. Some of the key uses includes permanent magnets present in technological applications such as mobile phones and hard disk drives, and in nickel metal hydride batteries. Nd demand is continually growing, but reserves are severely limited, which has put its continued availability at risk. Nd recovery from end-of-life products is one of the most interesting ways to tackle the availability challenge. This perspective concentrates on the different methods to recover Nd from permanent magnets and rechargeable batteries, covering the most developed processes, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, and with a special focus on electrodeposition using highly electrochemical stable media (e.g., ionic liquids). Among all the ionic liquid chemistries, only phosphonium ionic liquids have been studied in-depth, exploring the impact of temperature, electrodeposition potential, salt concentration, additives (e.g., water) and solvation on the electrodeposition quality and quantity. Finally, the importance of investigating new ionic liquid chemistries, as well as the effect of other metal impurities in the ionic liquid on the deposit composition or the stability of the ionic liquids are discussed. This points to important directions for future work in the field to achieve the important goal of efficient and selective Nd recovery to overcome the increasingly critical supply problems.
Recent Advances on Boundary Conditions for Equations in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics
Authors: Yong Wen-An , Zhou Yizhou
Published: September 2021

This paper is concerned with modeling nonequilibrium phenomena in spatial domains with boundaries. The resultant models consist of hyperbolic systems of first-order partial differential equations with boundary conditions (BCs). Taking a linearized moment closure system as an example, we show that the structural stability condition and the uniform Kreiss condition do not automatically guarantee the compatibility of the models with the corresponding classical models. This motivated the generalized Kreiss condition (GKC)—a strengthened version of the uniform Kreiss condition. Under the GKC and the structural stability condition, we show how to derive the reduced BCs for the equilibrium systems as the classical models. For linearized problems, the validity of the reduced BCs can be rigorously verified. Furthermore, we use a simple example to show how thus far developed theory can be used to construct proper BCs for equations modeling nonequilibrium phenomena in spatial domains with boundaries.
The Use of Trapezoidal Oriented Fuzzy Numbers in Portfolio Analysis
Authors: Łyczkowska-Hanćkowiak Anna
Published: September 2021

Oriented fuzzy numbers are a convenient tool to manage an investment portfolio as they enable the inclusion of uncertain and imprecise information about the financial market in a portfolio analysis. This kind of portfolio analysis is based on the discount factor. Thanks to this fact, this analysis is simpler than a portfolio analysis based on the return rate. The present value is imprecise due to the fact that it is modelled with the use of oriented fuzzy numbers. In such a case, the expected discount factor is also an oriented fuzzy number. The main objective of this paper is to conduct a portfolio analysis consisting of the instruments with the present value estimated as a trapezoidal oriented fuzzy number. We consider the portfolio elements as being positively and negatively oriented. We test their discount factor. Due to the fact that adding oriented fuzzy numbers is not associative, a weighted sum of positively oriented discount factors and a weighted sum of negatively oriented factors is calculated and consequently a portfolio discount factor is obtained as a weighted addition of both sums. Also, the imprecision risk of the obtained investment portfolio is estimated using measures of energy and entropy. All theoretical considerations are illustrated by an empirical case study.
Influence of Small Vehicle on Transiting Test Method for Measuring Building Wind Pressure Coefficients
Authors: Li Shengli , Liu Xin , Li Qing , Gao Wudi , Guo Pan
Published: September 2021

The transiting test method is a new approach for structural wind resistance research. However, traffic on the test road inevitably influences test results. In this study, the symmetrical CAARC standard tall building model was used to investigate the influence of a small vehicle near the test vehicle. A small vehicle was set up as an interference vehicle to drive around the test vehicle under different cases during the test. Results indicate that the mean wind pressure coefficient during the overtaking period is higher than that during the no overtaking period. The enlarged relative velocity and the small test vehicle velocity increase the overtaking interference and the data calculation time required to eliminate the overtaking influence. The overtaking influence only occurs if the test vehicle is overtaken by the small vehicle in the adjacent lane. The influence of the overtaking behavior of a small vehicle can be eliminated after the data calculation time exceeds 26 s. Moreover, the wake of small interference vehicle no longer influences the transiting test results after the spacing reaches 24 m.
Industrial Laser Welding Defect Detection and Image Defect Recognition Based on Deep Learning Model Developed
Authors: Deng Honggui , Cheng Yu , Feng Yuxin , Xiang Junjiang
Published: September 2021

Aiming at the problem of the poor robustness of existing methods to deal with diverse industrial weld image data, we collected a series of asymmetric laser weld images in the largest laser equipment workshop in Asia, and studied these data based on an industrial image processing algorithm and deep learning algorithm. The median filter was used to remove the noises in weld images. The image enhancement technique was adopted to increase the image contrast in different areas. The deep convolutional neural network (CNN) was employed for feature extraction; the activation function and the adaptive pooling approach were improved. Transfer Learning (TL) was introduced for defect detection and image classification on the dataset. Finally, a deep learning-based model was constructed for weld defect detection and image recognition. Specific instance datasets verified the model’s performance. The results demonstrate that this model can accurately identify weld defects and eliminate the complexity of manually extracting features, reaching a recognition accuracy of 98.75%. Hence, the reliability and automation of detection and recognition are improved significantly. The research results can provide a theoretical and practical reference for the defect detection of sheet metal laser welding and the development of the industrial laser manufacturing industry.
Symmetries and Geometries of Qubits, and Their Uses
Authors: Rau A. R. P.
Published: September 2021

The symmetry SU(2) and its geometric Bloch Sphere rendering have been successfully applied to the study of a single qubit (spin-1/2); however, the extension of such symmetries and geometries to multiple qubits—even just two—has been investigated far less, despite the centrality of such systems for quantum information processes. In the last two decades, two different approaches, with independent starting points and motivations, have been combined for this purpose. One approach has been to develop the unitary time evolution of two or more qubits in order to study quantum correlations; by exploiting the relevant Lie algebras and, especially, sub-algebras of the Hamiltonians involved, researchers have arrived at connections to finite projective geometries and combinatorial designs. Independently, geometers, by studying projective ring lines and associated finite geometries, have come to parallel conclusions. This review brings together the Lie-algebraic/group-representation perspective of quantum physics and the geometric–algebraic one, as well as their connections to complex quaternions. Altogether, this may be seen as further development of Felix Klein’s Erlangen Program for symmetries and geometries. In particular, the fifteen generators of the continuous SU(4) Lie group for two qubits can be placed in one-to-one correspondence with finite projective geometries, combinatorial Steiner designs, and finite quaternionic groups. The very different perspectives that we consider may provide further insight into quantum information problems. Extensions are considered for multiple qubits, as well as higher-spin or higher-dimensional qudits.
Improvement of Properties of Stainless Steel Orthodontic Archwire Using TiO2:Ag Coating
Authors: Kielan-Grabowska Zofia , Bącela Justyna , Zięty Anna , Seremak Wioletta , Gawlik-Maj Marta , Kawala Beata , Borak Beata , Detyna Jerzy , Sarul Michał
Published: September 2021

Orthodontic treatment carries the risk of major complications such as enamel demineralization, tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontal damage. A large number of elements of fixed orthodontic appliance results in the creation of additional plaque retention sites which increase the risk of biofilm creation. Modification of the surface of orthodontic elements may prevent the formation of bacterial biofilm. In this paper, surface modification of stainless steel orthodontic wires with TiO2: Ag was carried out by the sol-gel thin film dip-coating method. To obtain the anatase crystal structure, substrates were calcined for 2 h at 500 °C. The properties of the obtained coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical tests. Corrosion studies were performed in a Ringer’s solution, which simulated physiological solution. SEM and XRD analyses of the coated surface confirmed the presence of Ag nanoparticles which may have antimicrobial potential.
User Selection Approach in Multiantenna Beamforming NOMA Video Communication Systems
Authors: Tseng Shu-Ming , Kao Shih-Chun
Published: September 2021

For symmetric non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)/multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, radio resource allocation is an important research problem. The optimal solution is of high computational complexity. Thus, one existing solution Kim et al. proposed is a suboptimal user selection and optimal power assignment for total data rate maximization. Another existing solution Tseng et al. proposed is different suboptimal user grouping and optimal power assignment for sum video distortion minimization. However, the performance of sub-optimal schemes by Kim et al. and Tseng et al. is still much lower than the optimal user grouping scheme. To approach the optimal scheme and outperform the existing sub-optimal schemes, a deep neural network (DNN) based approach, using the results from the optimal user selection (exhaustive search) as the training data, and a loss function modification specific for NOMA user selection to meet the constraint that a user cannot be in both the strong and weak set, and avoid the post processing online computational complexity, are proposed. The simulation results show that the theoretical peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the proposed scheme is higher than the state-of-the-art suboptimal schemes Kim et al. and Tseng et al. by 0.7~2.3 dB and is only 0.4 dB less than the optimal scheme at lower online computational complexity. The online computational complexity (testing stage) of the proposed DNN user selection scheme is 60 times less than the optimal user selection scheme. The proposed DNN-based scheme outperforms the existing suboptimal solution, and slightly underperforms the optimal scheme (exhaustive search) at a much lower computation complexity.
Identification of Private ICS Protocols Based on Raw Traffic
Authors: Zhai Liang , Zheng Qiuhua , Zhang Xu , Hu Haizhong , Yin Weihao , Zeng Yingpei , Wu Ting
Published: September 2021

With the development of the Industrial Internet in recent years, security issues have been a hot topic of the industrial control system (ICS) network management. Identifying the protocol traffic in the communication process of the ICS is an important prerequisite to avoid security problems, especially in ICSs that use many private protocols. The private protocols cannot be analyzed due to the unknown internal structure of the protocols, which makes the ICS protocol identification work more difficult. However, the Internet-oriented protocol identification method is not applicable to the scenario of the private ICS protocols network environment. With this problem in mind, this paper proposes a method of ICS protocol identification based on the raw traffic payload. The method firstly performs data preprocessing such as data selection, interception, cleaning conversion, and labeling on the raw traffic of the protocol based on the characteristics of the industrial control protocol. Then it uses an AM-1DCNN + LSTM deep learning model to extract temporal and spatial features of the ICS raw traffic, and performs protocol identification. This method can effectively extract ICS protocol features in scenarios where protocol parsing is impossible compared with existing methods. We constructed a dataset for ICS protocol identification based on open-source data and tested the proposed method for experiments, and the identification accuracy rate reached 93%.
Can an Intermediate Rate of Nitrogen Inversion Affect Drug Efficacy?
Authors: Steimbach Raphael R. , Tihanyi Gergely , Géraldy Magalie N. E. , Wzorek Alicja , Miller Aubry K. , Klika Karel D.
Published: September 2021

Nitrogen-inversion rates and diffusion coefficients were measured using 1H NMR for 14 drug-like molecules. The slow nitrogen-inversion rates interconverting the enantiomers of these molecules lay within a postulated intermediate range in terms of their ability to bind to proteins bounded by diffusion constraints, potentially affecting the availability, hence efficacy, of these compounds if they were utilized as drugs. The postulated intermediate range is based on a capture-volume concept, whereby the nitrogen inversion during the time a ligand takes to pass through a volume surrounding the protein binding site, as calculated by the diffusion rate, determines if it will influence ligand binding to the protein. In the systems examined here, the measured nitrogen-inversion rates and the times required to traverse the capture volume differed by a few orders of magnitude. Potentially more consequential are intermediate nitrogen-inversion rates in epimeric cases—since the energies of the interconverting species are unequal, a heavy bias against the eutomer might occur. The implications of an intermediate nitrogen-inversion rate are significant for in silico drug design, drug efficacy, molecular modeling of drug–protein binding, pharmacokinetics, drug enantiomer evaluation, etc. Due consideration of the process should thus be taken into account for drug development directions and in vitro evaluation.
Comparative Study: Catalytic Activity and Rhodamine Dye Luminescence at the Surface of TiO2-Based Nanoheterostructures
Authors: Konstantinova Elizaveta , Zaitsev Vladimir , Marikutsa Artem , Ilin Alexander
Published: September 2021

Nanoheterostructures based on titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium nanooxides with symmetric crystal structures, morphologies and high photocatalytic activity in under illumination by visible light, have been synthesized and studied. Microscopy, optical spectroscopy, and electron-spin resonance techniques were used. The asymmetric separation of photo-generated holes and electrons between different nanooxides in their nanoheterostructures suppresses their recombination. Using the method developed by the authors and based on ESR spectroscopy, the energy levels of the active centers inside the band gaps of the studied samples were found. We have shown, for the first time, that under illumination of nanoheterostructures under asymmetric conditions with adsorbed rhodamine dye at the dye-absorption wavelength (500 nm), photocatalytic reactions are mainly determined by light absorption by the nanostructures themselves, and not by energy transfer from the dye. This important result shows that high photocatalytic activity of materials with symmetric crystal structures is the primary criterion for creating energy-efficient photocatalysts. The results will be useful for the development of energy-efficient catalytic devices based on various combinations of metal nanooxides.
In Vitro Biological Control of Aspergillus flavus by Hanseniaspora opuntiae L479 and Hanseniaspora uvarum L793, Producers of Antifungal Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: Tejero Paula , Martín Alberto , Rodríguez Alicia , Galván Ana Isabel , Ruiz-Moyano Santiago , Hernández Alejandro
Published: September 2021

Aspergillus flavus is a toxigenic fungal colonizer of fruits and cereals and may produce one of the most important mycotoxins from a food safety perspective, aflatoxins. Therefore, its growth and mycotoxin production should be effectively avoided to protect consumers’ health. Among the safe and green antifungal strategies that can be applied in the field, biocontrol is a recent and emerging strategy that needs to be explored. Yeasts are normally good biocontrol candidates to minimize mold-related hazards and their modes of action are numerous, one of them being the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To this end, the influence of VOCs produced by Hanseniaspora opuntiae L479 and Hanseniaspora uvarum L793 on growth, expression of the regulatory gene of the aflatoxin pathway (aflR) and mycotoxin production by A. flavus for 21 days was assessed. The results showed that both yeasts, despite producing different kinds of VOCs, had a similar effect on inhibiting growth, mycotoxin biosynthetic gene expression and phenotypic toxin production overall at the mid-incubation period when their synthesis was the greatest. Based on the results, both yeast strains, H. opuntiae L479 and H. uvarum L793, are potentially suitable as a biopreservative agents for inhibiting the growth of A. flavus and reducing aflatoxin accumulation.
Impact of Season, Region, and Traditional Agricultural Practices on Aflatoxins and Fumonisins Contamination in the Rice Chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Phan Lien Thi Kim , Tran Trang Minh , De Boevre Marthe , Jacxsens Liesbeth , Eeckhout Mia , De Saeger Sarah
Published: September 2021

The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of the crop season, cultivation region, and traditional pre- and post-harvest agricultural practices on mycotoxin contamination in the Mekong Delta rice chain of Vietnam. The results showed that aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) were predominantly detected in both paddy (n = 91/184, 50%) and white rice (n = 9/46, 20%). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated paddy samples (n = 3) exceeded the regulatory threshold (5 µg·kg−1). The contamination of paddy with AFs and FBs was not significantly different by growing seasons and cultivation localities. Evidently, in the winter–spring season, fumonisins frequently occurred in paddy planted in Can Tho, while AFs were found in paddy planted in regions Dong Thap and An Giang, and such toxins were absent in Can Tho. Furthermore, the selection of paddy varieties strongly impacted the occurrence of these toxins, especially AFs, for example, line DT8 and Jasmine were susceptible to AFs and FBs. In addition, poor pre- and post-harvest practices (such as crop residue-free fields, fertilizer application, unsanitary means of transport, delayed drying time) had an impact on the AFs and FBs contamination. Our findings can help to understand the dynamics of AFs and FBs in the rice chain in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, leading to the mitigation of the contamination of AFs and FBs in rice.
Force Mapping Study of Actinoporin Effect in Membranes Presenting Phase Domains
Authors: Cosentino Katia , Hermann Edward , von Kügelgen Nicolai , Unsay Joseph D. , Ros Uris , García-Sáez Ana J.
Published: September 2021

Equinatoxin II (EqtII) and Fragaceatoxin C (FraC) are pore-forming toxins (PFTs) from the actinoporin family that have enhanced membrane affinity in the presence of sphingomyelin (SM) and phase coexistence in the membrane. However, little is known about the effect of these proteins on the nanoscopic properties of membrane domains. Here, we used combined confocal microscopy and force mapping by atomic force microscopy to study the effect of EqtII and FraC on the organization of phase-separated phosphatidylcholine/SM/cholesterol membranes. To this aim, we developed a fast, high-throughput processing tool to correlate structural and nano-mechanical information from force mapping. We found that both proteins changed the lipid domain shape. Strikingly, they induced a reduction in the domain area and circularity, suggesting a decrease in the line tension due to a lipid phase height mismatch, which correlated with proteins binding to the domain interfaces. Moreover, force mapping suggested that the proteins affected the mechanical properties at the edge, but not in the bulk, of the domains. This effect could not be revealed by ensemble force spectroscopy measurements supporting the suitability of force mapping to study local membrane topographical and mechanical alterations by membranotropic proteins.
A Bayesian Inference Framework for Gamma-ray Burst Afterglow Properties
Authors: Lin En-Tzu , Hayes Fergus , Lamb Gavin P. , Heng Ik Siong , Kong Albert K. H. , Williams Michael J. , Saha Surojit , Veitch John
Published: September 2021

In the field of multi-messenger astronomy, Bayesian inference is commonly adopted to compare the compatibility of models given the observed data. However, to describe a physical system like neutron star mergers and their associated gamma-ray burst (GRB) events, usually more than ten physical parameters are incorporated in the model. With such a complex model, likelihood evaluation for each Monte Carlo sampling point becomes a massive task and requires a significant amount of computational power. In this work, we perform quick parameter estimation on simulated GRB X-ray light curves using an interpolated physical GRB model. This is achieved by generating a grid of GRB afterglow light curves across the parameter space and replacing the likelihood with a simple interpolation function in the high-dimensional grid that stores all light curves. This framework, compared to the original method, leads to a ∼90× speedup per likelihood estimation. It will allow us to explore different jet models and enable fast model comparison in the future.
Dangerous Liaisons: Long-Term Replication with an Extrachromosomal HPV Genome
Authors: Warburton Alix , Della Fera Ashley N. , McBride Alison A.
Published: September 2021

Papillomaviruses cause persistent, and usually self-limiting, infections in the mucosal and cutaneous surfaces of the host epithelium. However, in some cases, infection with an oncogenic HPV can lead to cancer. The viral genome is a small, double-stranded circular DNA molecule that is assembled into nucleosomes at all stages of infection. The viral minichromosome replicates at a low copy number in the nucleus of persistently infected cells using the cellular replication machinery. When the infected cells differentiate, the virus hijacks the host DNA damage and repair pathways to replicate viral DNA to a high copy number to generate progeny virions. This strategy is highly effective and requires a close association between viral and host chromatin, as well as cellular processes associated with DNA replication, repair, and transcription. However, this association can lead to accidental integration of the viral genome into host DNA, and under certain circumstances integration can promote oncogenesis. Here we describe the fate of viral DNA at each stage of the viral life cycle and how this might facilitate accidental integration and subsequent carcinogenesis.
A Novel Class of Norovirus Inhibitors Targeting the Viral Protease with Potent Antiviral Activity In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Van Dycke Jana , Dai Wenhao , Stylianidou Zoe , Li Jian , Cuvry Arno , Roux Emma , Li Bingqian , Rymenants Jasper , Bervoets Lindsey , de Witte Peter , Liu Hong , Neyts Johan , Rocha-Pereira Joana
Published: September 2021

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis resulting annually in ~219,000 deaths and a societal cost of ~USD 60 billion, and no antivirals or vaccines are available. Here, we assess the anti-norovirus activity of new peptidomimetic aldehydes related to the protease inhibitor rupintrivir. The early hit compound 4 inhibited the replication of murine norovirus (MNV) and the HuNoV GI.1 replicon in vitro (EC50 ~1 µM) and swiftly cleared the HuNoV GI.1 replicon from the cells. Compound 4 still inhibits the proteolytic activity. We selected a resistant GI.1 replicon, with a mutation (I109V) in a highly conserved region of the viral protease, conferring a low yield of resistance against compound 4 and rupintrivir. After testing new derivatives, compound 10d was the most potent (EC50 nanomolar range). Molecular docking indicated that the aldehyde group of compounds 4 and 10d bind with Cys139 in the HuNoV 3CL protease by a covalent linkage. Finally, compound 10d inhibited the replication of HuNoV GII.4 in infected zebrafish larvae, and PK studies in mice showed an adequate profile.
VP8, the Major Tegument Protein of Bovine Herpesvirus-1, Is Partially Packaged during Early Tegument Formation in a VP22-Dependent Manner
Authors: Sucharita Soumya , Zhang Kuan , van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk Sylvia
Published: September 2021

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is a major cause of rhinotracheitis and vulvovaginitis in cattle. VP8, the major tegument protein of BoHV-1, is essential for viral replication in the host. VP8 is phosphorylated by the viral kinase US3, mediating its translocation to the cytoplasm. VP8 remains nuclear when not phosphorylated. Interestingly, VP8 has a significant presence in mature BoHV-1YmVP8, in which the VP8 phosphorylation sites are mutated. This suggests that VP8 might be packaged during primary envelopment of BoHV-1. This was investigated by mass spectrometry and Western blotting, which showed VP8, as well as VP22, to be constituents of the primary enveloped virions. VP8 and VP22 were shown to interact via co-immunoprecipitation experiments, in both BoHV-1-infected and VP8-transfected cells. VP8 and VP22 also co-localised with one another and with nuclear lamin-associated protein 2 in BoHV-1-infected cells, suggesting an interaction between VP8 and VP22 in the perinuclear region. In cells infected with VP22-deleted BoHV-1 (BoHV-1ΔUL49), VP8 was absent from the primary enveloped virions, implying that VP22 might be critical for the early packaging of VP8. In conclusion, a novel VP22-dependent mechanism for packaging of VP8 was identified, which may be responsible for a significant amount of VP8 in the viral particle.
Tribute to Professor Stefan Kunz
Authors: Pascual Manuel
Published: September 2021

It has been a year since Stefan Kunz, a Full Professor since 2017 at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, passed away [...]
Bromodeoxyuridine Labelling to Determine Viral DNA Localization in Fluorescence and Electron Microscopy: The Case of Adenovirus
Authors: Condezo Gabriela N. , San Martín Carmen
Published: September 2021

The localization of viral nucleic acids in the cell is essential for understanding the infectious cycle. One of the strategies developed for this purpose is the use of nucleotide analogs such as bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, analog to thymine) or bromouridine (BrU, analog of uridine), which are incorporated into the nucleic acids during replication or transcription. In adenovirus infections, BrdU has been used to localize newly synthesized viral genomes in the nucleus, where it is key to distinguish between host and viral DNA. Here, we describe our experience with methodological variations of BrdU labeling to localize adenovirus genomes in fluorescence and electron microscopy. We illustrate the need to define conditions in which most of the newly synthesized DNA corresponds to the virus and not the host, and the amount of BrdU provided is enough to incorporate to the new DNA molecules without hampering the cell metabolism. We hope that our discussion of problems encountered and solutions implemented will help other researches interested in viral genome localization in infected cells.