bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multifaceted Protective Role of Glucosamine against Osteoarthritis: Review of Its Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Al-Saadi Hiba Murtadha , Pang Kok-Lun , Ima-Nirwana Soelaiman , Chin Kok-Yong
Published: December 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease resulting from cartilage degeneration and causing joint pain and stiffness. Glucosamine exerts chondroprotective effects and effectively reduces OA pain and stiffness. This review aims to summarise the mechanism of glucosamine in protecting joint health and preventing OA by conducting a literature search on original articles. Current evidence has revealed that glucosamine exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6) and enhancing the synthesis of proteoglycans that retard cartilage degradation and improve joint function. Additionally, glucosamine improves cellular redox status, reduces OA-mediated oxidative damages, scavenges free radicals, upregulates antioxidant proteins and enzyme levels, inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species, and induces autophagy to delay OA pathogenesis. In conclusion, glucosamine prevents OA and maintains joint health by reducing inflammation, improving the redox status, and inducing autophagy in joints. Further studies are warranted to determine the synergistic effect of glucosamine with other anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidative agents on joint health in humans.
Symptomatic Achilles Tendons are Thicker than Asymptomatic Tendons on Ultrasound Examination in Recreational Long-Distance Runners
Authors: Tillander Bo , Gauffin Håkan , Lyth Johan , Knutsson Anders , Timpka Toomas
Published: December 2019

There is a need for clinical indicators that can be used to guide the treatment of Achilles tendon complaints in recreational runners. Diagnostic ultrasound has recently been introduced for clinical decision support in tendon pain management. The aim of this study was to determine whether tendon thickness and morphological changes in the Achilles tendon detected in ultrasound examinations are associated with local symptoms in middle-age recreational long-distance runners. Forty-two Achilles tendons (21 middle-aged runners) were investigated by ultrasound examination measuring tendon thickness and a morphology score indicating tendinosis. The Generalized Estimating Equations method was applied in multiple models of factors associated with reporting a symptomatic tendon. Eleven symptomatic and 31 asymptomatic Achilles tendons were recorded. In the multiple model that used tendon thickness measured 30 mm proximal to the distal insertion, an association was found between thickness and reporting a symptomatic tendon (p < 0.001; OR 12.9; 95% CI 3.1 to 53.2). A qualitative morphology score was not found to be significantly associated with reporting a symptomatic tendon (p = 0.10). We conclude that symptomatic Achilles tendons were thicker than asymptomatic tendons on ultrasound examination among recreational long-distance runners and that the importance of parallel morphological findings need to be further investigated in prospective studies.
Failure Analysis of the Water Supply Network in the Aspect of Climate Changes on the Example of the Central and Eastern Europe Region
Authors: Żywiec Jakub , Piegdoń Izabela , Tchórzewska-Cieślak Barbara
Published: December 2019

The consequences of climate changes are felt by society every day. A sudden increase or decrease in air temperature, increasingly frequent, extreme weather phenomena can cause enormous economic damage to countries and cities. The occurrence of random weather phenomena and their negative impact on technical infrastructure nowadays are the basic problem related to ensuring the safety of the functioning of each system. Climate changes and significant air temperature amplitudes have a direct impact on the functioning of the critical infrastructure of cities, which includes collective water supply systems (CWSS). The paper presents the impact of climate change on the failure of a water supply network. Correlation between failure rate and air temperature was determined. This was used to determine the number of failures for the near 2036–2050 and distant 2086–2100 future in terms of climate change (temperature increase). The results confirm the thesis known from the literature that the failure rate decreases as the temperature increases. For forecasted periods as a result of temperature rise due to climate change, the reduction of the number of water pipe failures is expected in the range of 1.22% to 2.35% for the 2036–2050 period and from 2.96% to 8.66% for the 2086–2100 period, depending on the development of Representative CO2 Concentration Scenarios (RCP). The decrease in the total number of failures will have an impact on the increase in the reliability and safety of water supply to consumers.
Spatiotemporal Differences in Determinants of City Shrinkage Based on Semiparametric Geographically Weighted Regression
Authors: Peng Wangchongyu , Gao Weijun , Yuan Xin , Wang Rui , Jiang Jinming
Published: December 2019

City shrinkage, as an ongoing worldwide phenomenon, is an issue for urban planning and regional development. City shrinkage is remarkable in Japan, with over 85% of municipalities experiencing population loss from 2005 to 2015. As Japan’s society ages and with its low fertility rate, city shrinkage has had a tremendous negative effect on economic development and urban planning. Understanding the spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity of city shrinkage and its determinants is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of a city or region. In this study, a semiparametric geographically weighted regression (SGWR) model was adopted to explore the spatiotemporal differences in determinants of city shrinkage. The results reveal that the SGWR model incorporating the global and local variables is more interpretive compared to ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression models in exploring the correlates of city shrinkage. We found the spatial dependence and heterogeneity of shrinking cities resulted from demographic, economy, and social factors, and revealed low fertility, the ageing population, and enterprise change ratio influenced city shrinkage in different regions at different times in Japan, whereas foreign population ratio, industry structure, and social welfare had global impacts. The findings provide useful information for understanding city shrinkage at global and local scales.
Teaching on Mars: Some Lessons Learned from an Earth-Bound Study into Community Open Online Courses (COOCs) as a Future Education Model Rooted in Social Justice
Authors: Shukie Peter
Published: December 2019

This paper begins with a playful contention that visions of future Martian colonies provide us not only with spaces for imagining extraplanetary activity. These futuristic considerations also offer us opportunity to reflect on education and technology in the here, planet Earth, and now. The focus of this research was the creation of a learning and teaching platform that was offered freely to anyone with the contention that ‘anyone can teach, anyone can learn’. The platform itself was created using Moodle, as an open-source technology, and WordPress. The focus was on creating a space in which any individual, or group, might create learning spaces for free to share with others, based on social justice and challenging often exclusive, marginalising institutional practice. The project began as a critical response to institutional Massive Open Online courses (MOOCs) that promise widened access to knowledge, while rooted in conventional roles of where knowledge comes from and who teachers should be. The COOCs (Community Open Online Courses) project has now over 1500 registered course creators, and this paper discusses some of the key findings from an initial participatory action research process, involving twenty-five of the initial project users introduces some of the key findings from a research project. While decidedly earth-bound, the findings provide evidence of the benefits of widening who is involved in producing educational technology. The results suggest that widened access and greater awareness of power can help avoid continued inequality and marginalised knowledge as we look to a future that must include us all.
Analysis of the Drought Mitigated Mechanism in Terraced Paddy Fields Using CWSI and TVDI Indices and Hydrological Monitoring
Authors: Fitriyah Atiqotun , Fatikhunnada Alvin , Okura Fumi , Nugroho Bayu Dwi Apri , Kato Tasuku
Published: December 2019

Food security is often threatened by droughts during rice production. Although most of the rice is produced in lowland or irrigated “wet” rice fields, terraced paddy fields are important in the rice production system in island or mountainous countries. With the intensifying frequency of El Niño periods in recent decades, there has been a risk of droughts in terraced paddy areas. To mitigate drought, remote sensing data analysis could be an efficient and reliable tool for obtaining scarce ground monitoring data. In this study, crop water stress index (CWSI) and temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) were applied to evaluate the drought intensity, and hydrological monitoring data was provided as a support for the evaluation. The results indicated that droughts normally occurred during the dry season, and intensified during El Niño periods. CWSI and TVDI were visible to predict drought occurrences in the watershed area. TVDI overestimated the drought inside Keduang watershed compared to CWSI because of the complex condition of the terraced paddy area, including the hydrology in this area. The complex topography, high groundwater table, and continuous plot-to-plot irrigation helped to maintain the water availability and mitigated the drought impact for rice production in the studied terraced paddy field.
Thermo-Poroelastic Analysis of Induced Seismicity at the Basel Enhanced Geothermal System
Authors: Andrés Sandro , Santillán David , Mosquera Juan Carlos , Cueto-Felgueroso Luis
Published: December 2019

Geothermal energy has emerged as an alternative to ensure a green energy supply while tackling climate change. Geothermal systems extract the heat stored in the Earth’s crust by warming up water, but the low rock permeability at exploitation depths may require the hydraulic stimulation of the rock fracture network. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) employ techniques such as hydro-shearing and hydro-fracturing for that purpose, but their use promotes anthropogenic earthquakes induced by the injection or extraction of fluids. This work addresses this problem through developing a computational 3D model to explore fault reactivation and evaluating the potential for earthquake triggering at preexisting geological faults. These are included in the model as frictional contacts that allow the relative displacement between both of its sides, governed by rate-and-state friction laws and fully coupled with thermo-hydro-mechanical equations. We apply our methodology to the Basel project, employing the on-site parameters and conditions. Our results demonstrate that earthquakes which occurred in December 2006 in Basel (Switzerland) are compatible with the geomechanical and frictional consequences of the hydraulic stimulation of the rock mass. The application of our model also shows that it can be useful for predicting fault reactivation and engineering injection protocols for managing the safe and sustainable operation of EGS.
Identification of Shrinkage and Growth Patterns of a Shrinking City in China Based on Nighttime Light Data: A Case Study of Yichun
Authors: Zhou Ying , Li Chenggu , Ma Zuopeng , Hu Shuju , Zhang Jing , Liu Wei
Published: December 2019

Urban shrinkage has become a topic of major concern to scholars of geography and urban science. However, the methods of identifying urban shrinkage and growth have mostly focused on traditional statistical methods, and studies based on nighttime light (NTL) data are rare. Here, we use the NTL data for 56 months from 2012 to 2019 obtained by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the Suomi National Polar Orbiting Partnership (NPP) to identify the shrinkage and growth patterns of Yichun in China, by calculating the slope of the NTL radiance value after denoising. At the same time, by combining high-resolution Google satellite images and traditional demographic data, we analyzed the shrinkage characteristics of Yichun. The results of the study confirmed the characteristics of partial shrinkage in China’s shrinking cities. In addition, the use of NPP-VIIRS NTL data was able to more accurately identify the urban shrinkage and growth patterns, and may also be seen to present a more objective picture of reality, thus providing a new perspective for studies of urban shrinkage.
Perceptions and Role of Tourist Destination Residents Compared to Other Event Stakeholders in a Small-Scale Sports Event. The Case of the FIS World Junior Alpine Ski Championships 2019 in Val di Fassa
Authors: Bazzanella Filippo
Published: December 2019

The role of stakeholders is critical in addressing challenges with or problems in small-scale sports events. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of the event stakeholders toward sports events, with a particular focus on the role of residents in a tourist destination. The goal is to understand their perceptions with respect to different topics and in particular to the sustainable development of the tourist destination. This case study focuses on the World Junior Alpine Ski Championships 2019 in Trentino Val di Fassa—Italy (JWC2019). Applying a mixed methodology, the study analyzes the stakeholders during the sports event (quantitative method) and the point of view of the residents in their stakeholder role after the sports event (qualitative method). The main findings of this study show that residents differ from tourists and other stakeholders in terms of their perception of the event and its strengths. But when it comes to the perceptions regarding the territory, the groups of stakeholders analyzed do not seem to have systematically different opinions. Some paradoxes do, however, emerge with respect to the residents’ awareness of their role as stakeholders and the implications of the event with respect to sustainability and how such an event may underpin a concept of sustainable development for the territory as a whole.
Different Factors Affecting Vacant Housing According to Regional Characteristics in South Korea
Authors: Yoo Hyejeong , Kwon Youngsang
Published: December 2019

In recent years, many cities in developed countries have struggled with housing vacancy. Empty homes are accompanied by social problems such as vandalism, arson, unsanitary environments, and collapse risk. Vacant houses also have negative effects on the value of nearby properties and their local communities. Accordingly, there have been various policy responses to tackle this problem. In spite of these efforts, however, the number of vacant houses continues to increase alongside a population decrease and imprudent developments. In South Korea, the number of vacant houses has increased since the 1990s, and central and local governments started developing plans and policies to resolve the problem from 2010. However, most of these policies have many similarities regardless of their differing regional conditions and contexts. Housing vacancy varies according to regions, its magnitude, surrounding environments or housing types, and thus calls for multilateral approaches. This article, therefore, aims to identify distributional characteristics of vacant houses in South Korea, and categorize them into three groups with regional contexts using cluster analysis. The study further found that there are differences in affecting factors of vacant houses by type through the use of a multiple regression model. Based on the analysis, the ways of managing housing vacancy for sustainable development are discussed.
Monitoring Mining Disturbance and Restoration over RBM Site in South Africa Using LandTrendr Algorithm and Landsat Data
Authors: Dlamini Lubanzi Z. D. , Xulu Sifiso
Published: December 2019

Considering the negative impact of mining on ecosystems in mining areas, the South African government legislated the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002), to compel mining companies to restore the land affected by mining. Several studies have used remotely sensed data to observe the status and dynamics of surface mines. Advances in remote sensing along the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) now promise an enhanced observation strategy for improved monitoring of mine environments. Despite these advances, land rehabilitation at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) is mainly restricted to field-based approaches which are unable to reveal seamless patterns of disturbance and restoration. Here, we illustrate the value of the trajectory-based LandTrendr algorithm in conjunction with GEE for mine rehabilitation studies. Our automated method produced disturbance and recovery patterns (1984–2018) over the RBM site. The study revealed that RBM has progressively been mining different portions of the mineral-rich coastal area after which restoration was undertaken. The duration of mining over each site ranged from 2 to 6 years. The LandTrendr outputs correspond with independent reference datasets that were classified with an overall accuracy of 99%; it captures mine-induced disturbance efficiently and offers a practical tool for mine restoration management.
Using Mobile Devices for Improving Learning Outcomes and Teachers’ Professionalization
Authors: García-Martínez Inmaculada , Fernández-Batanero José María , Cobos Sanchiz David , Luque de la Rosa Antonio
Published: December 2019

Teaching in higher education is changing due to the influence of technology. More and more technological tools are replacing old teaching methods and strategies. Thus, mobile devices are being positioned as a key tool for new ways of understanding educational practices. The present paper responds to a systematic review about the benefits that mobile devices have for university students’ learning. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, 16 articles were selected to argue why Mobile learning (Mlearning) has become a modern innovative approach. The results point to an improvement in students’ learning through Mlearning, factors that encourage the use of mobile devices in universities have been identified, and effective mobile applications in improving teaching and learning processes have been presented. The inclusion of this methodology requires a new role for teachers, whose characterization is also specified.
Factors Promoting Clean Energy in Japanese Cities: Nuclear Risks Versus Climate Change Risks
Authors: Nakano Ryoko , Miwa Tomio , Morikawa Takayuki
Published: December 2019

This article focuses on understanding the factors affecting the subconscious minds of urban citizens in terms of promoting clean energy and deregulation of the electricity sector. Does risk perception related to climate change and nuclear energy effect their choices? Does it differ between cities? A comparative analysis was performed for four cities after the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Corporation’s (TEPCO)’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. This article uses a modeling technique based on surveys gathered in 2012. The results show that nuclear risks had a larger influence than climate-change risks with regards to supporting the deregulation of the electricity sector in TEPCO-serviced cities. Meanwhile, in non TEPCO-serviced cities, nuclear risks were more influential when the proportion of nuclear within the energy mix of the local utility was large. When the proportion was low, climate-change risks had the larger influence. Meanwhile, results from all four cities show that there is indeed a positive causal relationship between citizens’ levels of awareness of climate change and energy savings.
Life Cycle Analysis of Strengthening Existing RC Structures with R-PE-UHPFRC
Authors: Hajiesmaeili Amir , Pittau Francesco , Denarié Emmanuel , Habert Guillaume
Published: December 2019

(PE)-UHPFRC, a novel strain hardening ultra high-performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) with low clinker content, using Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) fibers, was developed for structural applications of rehabilitation. A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to study the environmental impact of interventions on an existing bridge using PE-UHPFRC compared with conventional UHPFRC and post-tensioned reinforced concrete methods in three categories of global warming potential (GWP), cumulative energy demand (CED), and ecological scarcity (UBP). The results showed 55% and 29% decreases in the environmental impact of the PE-UHPFRC compared with reinforced concrete and conventional UHPFRC methods, respectively, which highlighted the effectiveness of this material for the rehabilitation/strengthening of structures from the viewpoint of environmental impact.
Application of Fractal and Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix Indices to Assess the Forest Dynamics in the Curvature Carpathians—Romania
Authors: Ciobotaru Ana-Maria , Andronache Ion , Ahammer Helmut , Radulovic Marko , Peptenatu Daniel , Pintilii Radu-Daniel , Drăghici Cristian-Constantin , Marin Marian , Carboni Donatella , Mariotti Gavino , Fensholt Rasmus
Published: December 2019

The mountain ecosystems face significant damage from deforestation and environmental forest changes. We investigated the evolution of tree types of cover areas, deforested areas and total deforested areas from Curvature Carpathians using Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix and fractal analysis. The forest dynamics mapping was one of the main objectives of this study and it was carried out using multiple fractal and GLCM indices. We approached the analysis of satellite forest images by calculation of four fractal indices such as Pyramid dimension, Cube Counting Dimension, Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index and Tug-of-War lacunarity. We also calculated fractal dimension because it is an index of complexity comparing how the detail in a pattern changes with the scale at which it is measured. Fractal dimension is useful for estimation of irregularity or roughness of fractal and natural objects that do not conform to Euclidian geometry. While the fractal dimension quantifies how much space is occupied, the Tug-of-War lacunarity complements fractal dimension with its ability to quantify how space is occupied. Analysis was further supplemented by the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix analysis because it quantifies spatial probability distributions of gray level values between pixel pairs within an image. The calculated Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix features included Angular Second Moment, Contrast, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment and Entropy. Such comprehensive analysis has the advantage of combining fractal analysis that extracts quantitative information about the morphological complexity of the image with the spatial distribution of the gray pixel intensities as calculated by the co-occurrence features provided by Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix. Evolution of deforested areas, expansion of agricultural land and the increased demand for quality timber have affected the forests ecosystems and, the regional sustainable development of local communities.
Agroforestry as a Biodiversity Conservation Tool in the Atlantic Forest? Motivations and Limitations for Small-Scale Farmers to Implement Agroforestry Systems in North-Eastern Brazil
Authors: Sagastuy Mauricio , Krause Torsten
Published: December 2019

Agroforestry practices support agricultural resilience against climatic variability, increase soil productivity, can diversify and increase farmers’ incomes, and support native fauna in agricultural landscapes. However, many farmers are still reluctant to implement agroforestry practices. We distributed questionnaires to 75 agroforestry and 64 “conventional agriculture” small-scale farmers working in the northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest to identify the motivations and limitations to implement agroforestry practices. We reveal the four main reasons why farmers worked with agroforestry: Higher income generation (89%), diversification of the production system (86%), increase in the land’s quality and productivity (86%), and increase in self-sufficiency (82%). The three most common mentioned reasons for conventional agriculture farmers to not shift to agroforestry practices were: Uncertainty if the system will work (62%), reduction in yield of the main agricultural crop (43%), and a lack of models and knowledge in the region (41%). Agroforestry in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest region can support native fauna, but farmers need to be educated about agroforestry practices and encouraged to switch from conventional agriculture to agroforestry through an increase in available technical assistance and capacitation/training in agroforestry practices.
GIS-Based Livelihood Vulnerability Index Mapping of the Socioeconomy of the Pekan Community
Authors: Abd Majid Nuriah , Muhamad Nazi Nurafiqah , Mohd Idris Nor Diana , Taha Mohd. Raihan
Published: December 2019

Monsoon floods that annually hit the east coast of Malaysia have brought a variety of implications, especially for those who inhabit the most vulnerable areas. This study aims to find the relationship between the socioeconomy of the community living and flood events in the district of Pekan, Pahang. This involved geographic analyses which combined data on vulnerability index components represented by Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping. A field survey was conducted to assess the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), comprising major and sub-components of vulnerability for ten sub-districts in Pekan. LVI mapping was performed for every major component of the LVI with spatial data on the district. Households in the Gancung sub-district were found to be more vulnerable to flooding impact, with a high exposure index (0.59), but reported a positive vulnerability based on adaptive capacity (0.06). Penyur (0.51) was the most vulnerable and sensitive in terms of food security during the flood season. LVI assessment in the Pekan district could be used as an indicator to change livelihoods, survival food storage practices, and other preventive measures in order to curb damages and injuries when annual flooding strikes in the future.
“The Overwhelmed City”: Physical and Social Over-Capacities of Global Tourism in Venice
Authors: Bertocchi Dario , Visentin Francesco
Published: December 2019

Venice is one of the most famous iconic destinations and one of the most emblematic cases of overtourism affecting a historic city. Here, social movements against tourism have emerged as a reaction to vastly unsustainable tourist flows that have had dramatic and transformational impacts on Venetians’ lives. The aim of this paper is to investigate how tourism transforms the social, cultural, and everyday geographies of the city. The effects of tourism on the historic city are conceived as a process of continuous transformation and repositioning. Taking into consideration the most tangible daily practices of tourists (eating, sleeping, and buying) and the finer dynamics of Venice’s tourism problem, we translate data on these practices into a temporal and spatial analysis to better understand how dynamic the texture of the city is in relation to the tourism subsystem. A comparison between 2008 and 2019 is conducted to evaluate the impact of tourism on residential uses of the city and measure the sustainability of growth of the tourism facilities. The investigation highlighted an impressive accommodation’s growth, from 8.249 in 2008 to 49.260 in 2019 of bed places (497% growth) in the entire historical city, a similar expansion is also evident in the total number of restaurants that has increased by 160% in all districts and a variations of 4% in shops instead of a population decline of −13% in the same period. In addition, a residents’ survey in spring 2019 was conducted to better understand the intensity of these impacts and the motives for depopulation and the anti-tourism movements. We focus on how tourism, if not managed and planned, radically changes the social and urban structures of the city and the lives of local residents. We conclude by presenting some local theoretical and practical insights into the touristic pressure, provided by citizens’ associations on one side and policymakers on the other.
From the Perspective of Battery Production: Energy–Environment–Economy (3E) Analysis of Lithium-Ion Batteries in China
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Yu Yajuan , Huang Kai , Tang Baojun
Published: December 2019

With the wide use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), battery production has caused many problems, such as energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Although the life-cycle impacts of LIBs have been analyzed worldwide, the production phase has not been separately studied yet, especially in China. Therefore, this research focuses on the impacts of battery production and builds an energy–environment–economy (3E) evaluation system. Two battery factories in China were selected for an applied research. Case 1 annually produces 0.22 GWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, while case 2 produces 0.024 GWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NCM) batteries. The results demonstrate that electricity consumption per GWh LIBs production is 5.24 × 104 and 4.13 × 104 kWh for case 1 and 2, respectively. Major water pollutant emissions come from employees’ lives, and domestic waste accounts for 82%–83% of the total waste. Material costs per GWh NCM battery are 2.77 × 105 yuan, which is more expensive than the LFP battery, whose cathode material is relatively cheaper. Moreover, the cradle-to-gate carbon footprints (CFs) of the GWh LIBs are 41392.17 and 32254.57 kg CO2eq. The lithium compounds are major contributors to carbon emission for two LIBs. Some measures such as cleaner production, scale expansion and increase of environmental protection investment can effectively promote the development of a 3E system for LIB factories.
Sociocultural Adaptation Profiles of Ethnic Minority Senior High School Students in Mainland China: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Su Aoxue , He Wei , Huang Taichao
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to quantitatively determine the sociocultural adaptation profiles of ethnic minority senior high school students in mainland China. A large-scale questionnaire survey of 1873 Grade 12 students from 31 interior ethnic boarding schools throughout China was conducted. Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the underlying structure of the sociocultural adaptation questionnaire was uncovered as consisting of three domains and six factors: General adaptation (daily life and school management), academic adaption (learning strategies and learning self-efficacy), and interaction adaptation (interethnic contact and cultural identity). By performing latent class analysis, four distinct sociocultural adaptation profiles of students were distinguished: The well-adapted group (28.0%), the general adaptation group (31.0%), the interaction adaptation group (24.4%), and the maladaptation group (16.6%). The results of chi-squared and variance analyses showed that the sociocultural adaptation profiles of ethnic minority senior high school students were significantly related to sociodemographic variables, such as ethnicity, class organization, hometown location, and family socioeconomic status. These profiles can be used to evaluate changes in ethnic minority students’ sociocultural adaptation and will contribute to the perfection of the ethnic minority boarding school system and the ultimate realization of inclusive and equitable quality education in China.
National Culture and Tax Avoidance of Multinational Corporations
Authors: Yoo Ji Seon , Lee Ye Ji
Published: December 2019

This study tests the role of national culture in tax avoidance by multinational corporations (MNCs). Hofstede’s four cultural dimensions are used to measure cultural differences across countries: uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, and power distance. The empirical results of the study imply that MNCs headquartered in countries with low uncertainty avoidance, low individualism, high masculinity, and low power distance engage in a higher level of tax avoidance than MNCs in countries with high uncertainty avoidance, high individualism, low masculinity, and high power distance. In addition, the cultural features of the parent company generally have a stronger influence on group-level tax avoidance than those of its subsidiaries. This study contributes to the literature by presenting empirical evidence of culture as a determinant of tax avoidance by MNCs.
Urban Growth and Long-Term Transformations in Spanish Cities Since the Mid-Nineteenth Century: A Methodology to Determine Changes in Urban Density
Authors: Alvarez-Palau Eduard J. , Martí-Henneberg Jordi , Solanas-Jiménez Jorge
Published: December 2019

The current work models urban growth in the continuous built-up areas of 47 Spanish cities from the mid-nineteenth century through to the present day. We did this by compiling a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset, based on a series of historic maps and aerial images, and then used this to study urban growth and to make spatial comparisons. Our chosen indicator of expansion: population density, was calculated by dividing the total population of each city (based on its municipal area) by its built-up area during each period. Our results revealed four different stages of growth, each of which was characterised by a certain political and economic reality. They showed the clogging up of the walled city, the shaping of the urban ensanches, the maturity of the compact city and the process of metropolisation.
Pricing and Service Level Decisions under a Sharing Product and Consumers’ Variety-Seeking Behavior
Authors: Liu Zhenfeng , Feng Jian , Liu Bin
Published: December 2019

We developed a two-period duopoly model to show how consumers’ variety-seeking behavior affects the pricing and service level decisions of a traditional product and a sharing product. Our analysis revealed that, without considering the consumers’ variety-seeking behavior, the traditional product attracted consumers with a high level of service and high price, while the sharing product attracted consumers with a low level of service and low price. When we only considered variety-seeking behavior and did not adjust the service level, the product with the low level of service benefited from the consumers’ variety-seeking behavior, while the product with the high level of service lost profits. When we considered the variety-seeking behavior and adjusted the service level as well as the price, the sharing product was attractive to variety-seeking consumers and it gained a greater competitive advantage over the traditional product. For two periods, the number of variety-seeking consumers who switched from buying traditional products to buying sharing products was greater than those who switched from buying sharing products to buying traditional products. Furthermore, we found that when the consumers’ variety-seeking behavior was not obvious, the number of consumers shifting from the traditional product increased monotonically. In contrast, when the variety-seeking behavior was obvious, the number of consumers shifting from the traditional product decreased monotonically.
Shock Waves Asymmetry in a Symmetric Nozzle
Authors: Telega Janusz , Szwaba Ryszard , Doerffer Piotr
Published: December 2019

The results of the experimental research on the symmetry of supersonic flow in a symmetric convergent-divergent nozzle are presented. The investigations were focused on the fact that for some flow conditions the flow in a precisely symmetric nozzle becomes asymmetric. Starting from a specific value of Mach number, the flow becomes asymmetric in terms of shock wave λ-foot geometry on both sides of a symmetric nozzle. The evolution of the abovementioned asymmetry has been analysed for Mach number value ranging from M = 1.26 to M = 1.59 with the nozzle opening angle of up to 6.5° on each side. The presented results indicate that for the same flow parameters as Mach number and Reynolds number, and for the same geometry of the nozzle, different λ-foot size is formed at each wall. This unexpected behaviour is responsible for the flow asymmetry. Numerical simulations carried out earlier confirm the appearance of shock wave asymmetry. The side in which the asymmetry takes place is accidental, as the full symmetry of simulation mesh and experiment setup was secured. In numerical simulation the asymmetry follows always the same direction. In experiments the direction of asymmetry happens alternatively without any apparent reason. The explanation of the phenomena is provided in this paper.
Ulam Stability for a Class of Hill’s Equations
Authors: Fukutaka Ryuma , Onitsuka Masakazu
Published: December 2019

This paper deals with Ulam’s type stability for a class of Hill’s equations. In the two assertions of the main theorem, we obtain Ulam stability constants that are symmetrical to each other. By combining the obtained results, a necessary and sufficient condition for Ulam stability of a Hill’s equation is established. The results are generalized to nonhomogeneous Hill’s equations, and then application examples are presented. In particular, it is shown that if the approximate solution is unbounded, then there is an unbounded exact solution.
Modified Advanced Encryption Standard Algorithm for Information Security
Authors: Abikoye Oluwakemi Christiana , Haruna Ahmad Dokoro , Abubakar Abdullahi , Akande Noah Oluwatobi , Asani Emmanuel Oluwatobi
Published: December 2019

The wide acceptability of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as the most efficient of all of the symmetric cryptographic techniques has further opened it up to more attacks. Efforts that were aimed at securing information while using AES is still being undermined by the activities of attackers This has further necessitated the need for researchers to come up with ways of enhancing the strength of AES. This article presents an enhanced AES algorithm that was achieved by modifying its SubBytes and ShiftRows transformations. The SubBytes transformation is modified to be round key dependent, while the ShiftRows transformation is randomized. The rationale behind the modification is to make the two transformations round key dependent, so that a single bit change in the key will produce a significant change in the cipher text. The conventional and modified AES algorithms are both implemented and evaluated in terms avalanche effect and execution time. The modified AES algorithm achieved an avalanche effect of 57.81% as compared to 50.78 recorded with the conventional AES. However, with 16, 32, 64, and 128 plain text bytes, the modified AES recorded an execution time of 0.18, 0.31, 0.46, and 0.59 ms, respectively. This is slightly higher than the results obtained with the conventional AES. Though a slightly higher execution time in milliseconds was recorded with the modified AES, the improved encryption and decryption strength via the avalanche effects measured is a desirable feat.
Efficacy of the Combined Protective Cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum and Debaryomyces hansenii for the Control of Ochratoxin A Hazard in Dry-Cured Ham
Authors: Cebrián Eva , Rodríguez Mar , Peromingo Belén , Bermúdez Elena , Núñez Félix
Published: December 2019

The ecological conditions during the ripening of dry-cured ham favour the development of moulds on its surface, being frequently the presence of Penicillium nordicum, a producer of ochratoxin A (OTA). Biocontrol using moulds and yeasts usually found in dry-cured ham is a promising strategy to minimize this hazard. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of previously selected Debaryomyces hansenii and Penicillium chrysogenum strains on growth, OTA production, and relative expression of genes involved in the OTA biosynthesis by P. nordicum. P. nordicum was inoculated against the protective cultures individually and combined on dry-cured ham for 21 days at 20 °C. None of the treatments reduced the growth of P. nordicum, but all of them decreased OTA concentration. The lower production of OTA could be related to significant repression of the relative expression of otapksPN and otanpsPN genes of P. nordicum. The efficacy of the combined protective cultures was tested in 24 dry-cured hams in industrial ripening (an 8 month-long production). OTA was detected in nine of the 12 dry-cured hams in the batch inoculated only with P. nordicum. However, in the batch inoculated with both P. nordicum and the combined protective culture, a considerable reduction of OTA contamination was observed. In conclusion, although the efficacy of individual use P. chrysogenum is great, the combination with D. hansenii enhances its antifungal activity and could be proposed as a mixed protective culture to control the hazard of the presence of OTA in dry-cured ham.
The Cellular Localization of the p42 and p46 Oligoadenylate Synthetase 1 Isoforms and Their Impact on Mitochondrial Respiration
Authors: Skrivergaard Stig , Jensen Monica Skou , Rolander Tine Breckling , Nguyen Tram Bao Ngoc , Bundgaard Amanda , Nejsum Lene N. , Martensen Pia M.
Published: December 2019

The importance of the IFN-induced oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) proteins and the OAS/RNase L pathway in the innate response against viral pathogens is well-established, however the observed differences in anti-viral activity between the human OAS1 p46 and p42 isoforms are not fully understood. The protein expression of these isoforms is determined by the SNP rs10774671, either being an A or a G allele resulting in expression of either the p42 or the p46 isoform. Using fluorescence microscopy and immunoblot analysis of fractionated cell samples, we show here that the CaaX motif is of key importance to the cellular localization. The OAS1 p42 isoform is mainly located in the cytosol, whereas the p46 isoform with a C-terminal CaaX motif is translocated to membranous organelles, like the mitochondria. We furthermore observed differences between p42 and p46 in their effect on mitochondrial physiology using high resolution respirometry and fluorometry. Overexpression of OAS1 p42 and IFN-β treatment of HeLa cells (AA genotype) resulted in significantly increased respiration, which was not seen with p46 overexpression. The difference in subcellular localization and mitochondrial effect of these two OAS1 isoforms might help to explain the anti-viral mechanisms that differentiate these proteins.
Yellow Fever Virus Genotyping Tool and Investigation of Suspected Adverse Events Following Yellow Fever Vaccination
Authors: Rezende Izabela Maurício de , Alves Pedro Augusto , Arruda Matheus Soares , Gonçalves Andreza Parreiras , Oliveira Gabriela Fernanda Garcia , Pereira Leonardo Soares , Dutra Maria Rita Teixeira , Campi-Azevedo Ana Carolina , Valim Valéria , Tourinho Renata , Oliveira Jaquelline Germano de , Calzavara Carlos Eduardo , Said Rodrigo Fabiano do Carmo , Kroon Erna Geessien , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Teixeira-Carvalho Andrea , Drumond Betânia Paiva
Published: December 2019

The yellow fever (YF) vaccine consists of an attenuated virus, and despite its relative safety, some adverse events following YF vaccination have been described. At the end of 2016, Brazil experienced the most massive sylvatic yellow fever outbreak over the last 70 years and an intense campaign of YF vaccination occurred in Minas Gerais state in Southeast Brazil from 2016 to 2018. The present study aimed to develop a genotyping tool and investigate 21 cases of suspected adverse events following YF vaccination. Initial in silico analyses were performed using partial NS5 nucleotide sequences to verify the discriminatory potential between wild-type and vaccine viruses. Samples from patients were screened for the presence of the YFV RNA, using 5′UTR as the target, and then used for amplification of partial NS5 gene amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Genotyping indicated that 17 suspected cases were infected by the wild-type yellow fever virus, but four cases remained inconclusive. The genotyping tool was efficient in distinguishing the vaccine from wild-type virus, and it has the potential to be used for the differentiation of all yellow fever virus genotypes.
The Impact of a Fish Cannery Wastewater Discharge on the Bacterial Community Structure and Sanitary Conditions of Marine Coastal Sediments
Authors: Paliaga Paolo , Felja Igor , Budiša Andrea , Ivančić Ingrid
Published: December 2019

The effects of fish cannery discharge (FCD) on bacteria in marine coastal sediments were investigated. Redox potentials were measured, and granulometry was determined by wet ASTM sieving, and with the Sedigraph method. Prokaryotic abundance (PA) was determined by epifluorescence microscopy (DAPI staining), and faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) enumerated with the multiple test tube and most probable number method. Total lipids were determined gravimetrically, and sterols analysed by GC/MSD. Bacterial community composition was determined after total DNA isolation, Illumina MiSeq amplification, and SILVAngs processing pipeline. The FCD was rich in lipids, heterotrophic prokaryotes and FIB. The bacterial community of the FCD was dominated by Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria and many potentially pathogenic bacteria. Highly porosusgravelly sands clogged with fish remains transitioned to less permeable sandy muds away from the FCD. All sediments were anoxic with extremely negative potentials around the outfall. High surface PA and FIB spread 300 m from the outfall. Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria appeared in all sediments. Sulfurovum and Anaerolineaceae characterized the most polluted locations where gammaproteobacterial Woeseiaceae/JTB255 marine benthic group declined. Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes characterized surface sediments, while Chloroflexi and Deltaproteobacteria prevailed in deeper layers. The FCD enriched sediments in lipids and allochthonous bacteria degrading sanitary quality, lowering the permeability, redox potential, and bacterial diversity.
PERSPECTIVAS E AÇÕES DE DIFERENTES ATORES SOCIAIS NA GESTÃO E SUSTENTABILIDADE DO TURISMO EM PEDRA BELA, SP
Authors: Belgamo Jessica Alves , Dalmas Fabricio Bau
Published: December 2019

RESUMO

O presente trabalho compreendeu desenvolver estudos relacionados ao turismo sustentável e ecológico, contribuindo para subsídios de fomentos de atrativos turísticos visando o aumento progressivo de turistas. Através do planejamento turístico eficaz que contribuirá para o desenvolvimento e na infraestrutura do município de Pedra Bela, interior de (SP). A metodologia abordada fornecerá um levantamento bibliográfico e local da região, que apresentará uma coleta de dados para a determinação de fatores e perspectivas da gestão pública em ações sustentáveis e nos processos de uma reestruturação turística, com o intuito de aumento do fluxo de turistas e melhor qualidade de vida local. Neste estudo o objeto a ser apresentado é uma proposta de ações que auxiliem no processo de um planejamento sustentável e ecológico em Pedra Bela, fornecendo propostas para fomentar o crescimento turístico consciente para a minimização de impactos ambientais causados por atividades humanas e assim contribuir para o crescimento econômico. Os resultados obtidos desta pesquisa é apresentar ações e ferramentas para que os gestores públicos de Pedra Bela possam utilizar e aplicar de forma planejada e concluindo que as preservações destes recursos naturais são fundamentais tanto para a região como para o turista que irá utilizá-la de forma consciente.

Palavras-chave: Sustentabilidade. Planejamento Urbano. Pedra Bela. Turismo Ecológico e Religioso. Reestruturação.