bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stabilising Rural Roads with Waste Streams in Colombia as an Environmental Strategy Based on a Life Cycle Assessment Methodology
Authors: Balaguera Alejandra , Alberti Jaume , Carvajal Gloria I. , Fullana-i-Palmer Pere
Published: February 2021

Roads with low traffic volume link rural settlements together and connect them with urban centres, mobilising goods and agricultural products, and facilitating the transportation of people. In Colombia, most of these roads are in poor conditions, causing social, economic, and environmental problems, and significantly affecting the mobility, security, and economic progress of the country and its inhabitants. Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies to improve such roads, keeping in mind technical, economic, and environmental criteria. This article shows the results of the application of the environmental life cycle assessment—LCA—to sections of two low-traffic roads located in two different sites in Colombia: one in the Urrao area (Antioquia), located in the centre of the country; and another in La Paz (Cesar), located in the northeast of the country. Each segment was stabilised with alternative materials such as brick dust, fly ash, sulfonated oil, and polymer. The analysis was carried out in three stages: the first was the manufacture of the stabiliser; the second included preliminary actions that ranged from the search for the material to its placement on site; and the third was the stabilisation process, which included the entire application process, from the stabiliser to the road. The environmental impacts are mainly found in the manufacture of stabilisers (60% of the total), for sulfonated oil or polymer, due to the different compounds used during production, before their use as stabilisers. The impact categories with the greatest influence were abiotic depletion potential (ADP), global warming potential (GWP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP). For the stabilisation stage (impact between 40% and 99%), ash and brick dust have the highest impacts. The impact categories most influenced in this stage were: acidification potential (AP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), human toxicity potential (HTP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP).
Recycled Glass Blends with Recycled Concrete Aggregates in Sustainable Railway Geotechnics
Authors: Naeini Mahdi , Mohammadinia Alireza , Arulrajah Arul , Horpibulsuk Suksun
Published: February 2021

This research investigates the static and cyclic characteristics of recycled glass (RG) as a supplementary material with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the rail track capping layer. RG was blended by-weight with RCA in 10% increments up to 50% RG content. A performance-based laboratory testing scheme was designed according to the field loading conditions of capping layers in rail tracks. Basic geotechnical properties of RG + RCA blends were evaluated through their particle size distribution, compaction properties, and California bearing ratio. Effect of flooding was assessed with one-dimensional static and cyclic compression tests. Multistage triaxial compression tests were performed to determine the effect of RG content on shear strength parameters. A new repeated loading triaxial testing protocol was introduced for railway capping layer materials to assess the stiffness of RG blends to cyclic loading. Long term performance of samples also was evaluated through multistage cyclic permanent deformation tests. The shakedown concept was used to assess the permanent deformation results of RG + RCA samples. Results indicated that RG can be used effectively as a supplementary geomaterial in construction of rail track substructure.
Sustainability of Machinery Traffic in Vineyard
Authors: Pessina Domenico , Galli Lavinia Eleonora , Santoro Stefano , Facchinetti Davide
Published: February 2021

Viticulture involves significant levels of machinery traffic, causing heavy soil compaction. In particular, the compaction of the subsoil is increased; a deep tillage could certainly solve the problem, but the risk of damage to the plants’ root system is high. The aim of this study was to investigate the trend of both the top- and the sub-soil compaction in a hillside vineyard located in Tuscany (Italy), investigating different machine-implement combinations, i.e., self-propelled machinery or narrow tractor coupled to implements. The tests were repeated periodically along the entire growing season, approximately every 6–8 weeks (end of May, end of July and first decade of October). A single test included at least 50 sample measurements, recorded randomly along each inter-row investigated. In the surveyed field, the inter-rows were alternatively covered with grass, or tilled in the top layer during the previous wintertime. Two experimental test sets were developed: the first involved the use of two implements (a sprayer and a grape harvester) towed by narrow tractors, while in the second the pesticide distribution and the harvesting were performed with a properly equipped self-propelled tool carrier. All the other farming operations were executed using the same implements in both cases. Balanced use of the self-propelled tool carrier and the traditional tractor-implement combination allows a better distribution of the soil compaction (in particular in the top-soil), thus improving the root-growing efficiency.
Choosing between Formal and Informal Technology Transfer Channels: Determining Factors among Spanish Academicians
Authors: Vega-Gomez Francisco I. , Miranda-Gonzalez Francisco J.
Published: February 2021

Technology transfer has become one of the most important activities that must be developed by universities. However, there are multiple ways to do it. We can differentiate, essentially, between formal transfer (which is carried out through the channels established and controlled by the university staff, legalized through contracts) and informal (channels not legalized by signing a contract). Both types of transfers have diverse implications, which is why their study is necessary. This research aimed to study what are the determinants that lead academics to choose one or another channel of technology transfer. To this end, an empirical study was carried out by sending a questionnaire ad hoc to which a total of 1215 researchers responded. The results show that the choice of formal transfer channels depends on the academic experience in informal channels, as well as on the capacity and that of organizational justice. These results have important implications for policy makers and university managers.
Integrating Business Students’ E-Learning Preferences into Knowledge Management of Universities after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hargitai Dávid Máté , Pinzaru Florina , Veres Zoltán
Published: February 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many universities to close doors and keep students completely online—a phenomenon that raised unprecedented challenges with lessons learned that should be integrated into future educational knowledge management strategies and practices. Special attention should be given to students’ learning habits. This paper presents the results of a semi-systematic literature review on the research problem and a survey of a sample of business students regarding their learning habits and preferences. Learnings of the research can be useful for the transition to an entirely online distance education, integrated in the framework of knowledge management strategies regarding e-learning in universities. The primary quantitative research was conducted before the start of the lockdown, and the results give useful insights that can be translated into mandatory elements for any strategy designed to assure a smooth and effective passage from in-class education to online teaching and learning. Students’ pre-epidemic learning habits, their use of communication tools and their preferences for solutions usable in distance education, with a special focus on gender and education level, have been investigated. Results are correlated in the paper with possible knowledge management strategies in universities as part of an approach with both academic and practical implications.
Shared Automated Mobility with Demand-Side Cooperation: A Proof-of-Concept Microsimulation Study
Authors: Zhu Lei , Zhao Zhouqiao , Wu Guoyuan
Published: February 2021

Most existing shared automated mobility (SAM) services assume the door-to-door manner, i.e., the pickup and drop-off (PUDO) locations are the places requested by the customers (or demand-side). While some mobility services offer more affordable riding costs in exchange for a little walking effort from customers, their rationales and induced impacts (in terms of mobility and sustainability) from the system perspective are not clear. This study proposes a demand-side cooperative shared automated mobility (DC-SAM) service framework, aiming to fill this knowledge gap and to assess the mobility and sustainability impacts. The optimal ride matching problem is formulated and solved in an online manner through a micro-simulation model, Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO). The objective is to maximize the profit (considering both the revenue and cost) of the proposed SAM service, considering the constraints in seat capacities of shared automated vehicles (SAVs) and comfortable walking distance from the perspective of customers. A case study on a portion of a New York City (NYC) network with a pre-defined fleet size demonstrated the efficacy and promise of the proposed system. The results show that the proposed DC-SAM service can not only significantly reduce the SAV’s operating costs in terms of vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), vehicle-hours traveled (VHT), and vehicle energy consumption (VEC) by up to 53, 46 and 51%, respectively, but can also considerably improve the customer service by 30 and 56%, with regard to customer waiting time (CWT) and trip detour factor (TDF), compared to a heuristic service model. In addition, the demand-side cooperation strategy can bring about additional system-wide mobility and sustainability benefits in the range of 4–10%.
Effect of the Human Utilization of Northern Snakehead (Channa argus Cantor, 1842) on the Settlement of Exotic Fish and Cladoceran Community Structure
Authors: Choi Jong-Yun , Kim Seong-Ki
Published: February 2021

Empirical studies suggest that changes in the density of top predators, such as carnivorous fish, in freshwater food webs, strongly affect not only fish communities but also various primary and secondary consumers. Based on these findings, we explored how differences in the utilization of carnivorous fish (i.e., Northern Snakehead, Channa argus) by humans affected the fish and cladoceran community structure as well as the settlement of exotic fish species (i.e., Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides) in 30 wetlands located in the upper and lower reaches of the Nakdong River. Our results show that in the mid–lower reaches of the Nakdong River, the density of C. argus was low, while high densities of L. macrochirus and M. salmoides were observed. Exotic fish species are frequently consumed by C. argus, leading to a low density of L. macrochirus and M. salmoides in the upper reaches, which supported a high density of C. argus. However, in the mid–lower reaches, the density of L. macrochirus was high because of the frequent collection of C. argus by fishing activities. The dominance of L. macrochirus significantly changed the structure of cladoceran communities. L. macrochirus mainly feeds on pelagic species, increasing the density of epiphytic species in the mid–lower reaches. The continued utilization of C. argus by humans induced a stable settlement of exotic fish species and strongly affected the community structures of primary consumers in the 30 wetlands. The frequency of C. argus collection has to be reduced to secure biodiversity in the mid–lower reaches of the Nakdong River, which will reduce the proportion of exotic fish species and increase the conservation of native fish.
Wild Boar Meat as a Sustainable Substitute for Pork: A Mixed Methods Approach
Authors: Macháčková Karolina , Zelený Jiří , Lang Daniel , Vinš Zbyněk
Published: February 2021

Sensory analysis is unusual in sustainability research, although it can offer a neoteric aspect of nature and wild animals’ perception. The study’s objective was to identify consumers’ attitudes towards plant and animal products from wild and conventional foods and put these findings into a broader social context. A blind sensory evaluation with 80 semi-trained assessors was used, segmented by gender, age, education, income, place of origin, family status, number of children, and willingness to pay. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) was chosen as an example of an overpopulated animal species occurring in the wild, which could be considered a partial substitute for pork. Statistical testing in these blind evaluations proved that wild boar meat is not considered less tasty. Therefore, wild boar meat could represent a partial substitute, complementing pork, on which consumers are willing to spend the same amount of money. Despite the mostly indifferent sensory evaluation, focus group responses showed considerable barriers to wild food. This paper concludes that possible educational and popularizing procedures are presented, including forest pedagogy, eliminating consumers’ prejudices. A mixed-methods approach within quantitative and qualitative methodology was chosen.
Are Professionals Rationals? How Organizations and Households Make E-Car Investments
Authors: Kastner Ingo , Becker Annalena , Bobeth Sebastian , Matthies Ellen
Published: February 2021

This study attempts to identify the main drivers for e-car investments in households and organizations. We questioned 227 decision makers in households currently considering car purchases, and 101 decision makers in small businesses. The businesses were private care services, because their driving profiles widely fit the capabilities of modern e-cars. The main investment drivers were compared in an integrated action model involving elements of the theory of planned behavior and the norm-activation model, i.e., investment intentions, attitudes, personal (ecological) and social norms, and perceived behavioral control. For each group, different models were calculated in order to investigate the relevance of different types of social norms within the decision process, i.e., injunctive or descriptive norms. As expected, the household and organizational decisions were found to be based on different key factors: the decision makers in households mostly considered personal and descriptive social norms; the organizational decisions were mostly grounded in attitudes and injunctive social norms concerning staff expectations. The results suggest the need for tailored policy measures for each target group.
Supply Chain Operations Management in Pandemics: A State-of-the-Art Review Inspired by COVID-19
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Umar , Hussain Amjad , Masood Tariq , Habib Muhammad Salman
Published: February 2021

Pandemics cause chaotic situations in supply chains (SC) around the globe, which can lead towards survivability challenges. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has severely affected global business dynamics. Similar vulnerabilities have been caused by other outbreaks in the past. In these terms, prevention strategies against propagating disruptions require vigilant goal conceptualization and roadmaps. In this respect, there is a need to explore supply chain operation management strategies to overcome the challenges that emerge due to COVID-19-like situations. Therefore, this review is aimed at exploring such challenges and developing strategies for sustainability, and viability perspectives for SCs, through a structured literature review (SLR) approach. Moreover, this study investigated the impacts of previous epidemic outbreaks on SCs, to identify the research objectives, methodological approaches, and implications for SCs. The study also explored the impacts of epidemic outbreaks on the business environment, in terms of effective resource allocation, supply and demand disruptions, and transportation network optimization, through operations management techniques. Furthermore, this article structured a framework that emphasizes the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, resilience strategies, and sustainability to overcome SC challenges during pandemics. Finally, future research avenues were identified by including a research agenda for experts and practitioners to develop new pathways to get out of the crisis.
Driving Mechanism of Farmers’ Utilization Behaviors of Straw Resources—An Empirical Study in Jilin Province, the Main Grain Producing Region in the Northeast Part of China
Authors: Guo Hongpeng , Xu Shuang , Wang Xiaotong , Shu Wen , Chen Jia , Pan Chulin , Guo Cheng
Published: February 2021

In recent years, the unsustainable behaviors of straw utilization have led to waste straw being one of the sources of agricultural non-point source pollution. Studying the resource utilization of crop straw is conducive to expediate the development of ecological and green agriculture. More importantly, it has long-term significance for the recycling of agricultural waste, improving the quality of rural life, and the employment of farmers. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), taking the representative survey questionnaire of farmers in Jilin Province, China as the sample, the structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to study the main factors that drive the utilization behaviors of straw resources of farmers and to explore the driving mechanism of the farmers behaviors in Jilin Province. The results show that the behavioral attitude and subjective norms of farmers in Jilin Province not only indirectly affect their actual behaviors through behavioral willingness, but also has significant direct effects on their behaviors. The most critical factors that affect the willingness of farmers to utilize the straw resources in Jilin Province are subjective norms and moral responsibilities. The subjective norms of farmers have a direct and significant positive impact on their willingness and behaviors. Behavioral attitude and perceived behavior control have a significant positive impact on their willingness. The behavioral willingness has a significant positive impact on their actual behaviors. This study provides guidance for the utilization of straw resources policy implications.
Discussion on the Unified Survey and Evaluation of Cultivated Land Quality at County Scale for China’s 3rd National Land Survey: A Case Study of Wen County, Henan Province
Authors: Zhao Rui , Wu Kening , Li Xiaoliang , Gao Nan , Yu Mingming
Published: February 2021

Under the task requirements of China’s 3rd national land survey on the grade determination of cultivated land, research on a reasonable and unified survey and evaluation system of cultivated land quality (CLQ) is of great importance. From the three dimensions of agricultural climate, production potential, and health status components of cultivated land, six factors are selected in this study to construct a set of simple, practicable, and operable county-level CLQ survey and evaluation system. These factors are climate conditions of cultivated land, soil characteristics, tillage conditions, the attributes of cultivated land type, environmental conditions, and biological activity. The developed survey and evaluation system meets the demands of national engineering for the inclusion and coordination of multiple departments based on the current evaluation system and evaluation methodology of all relevant land administrative departments. Wen County, Henan Province is used for field verification and evaluation. Results demonstrate that the average quality index of cultivated land in Wen County is 2196.33, ranging from 660.70 to 2802.96 with the largest area of the first-class and second-class land accounting for 20.98% and 52.61% of the county’s cultivated land, respectively; the third-class and fourth-class land, 12.63% and 13.78%. The obvious regional differentiation characteristics are presented along the boundary of Qingfengling with the quality of northern cultivated land higher than that in the south. The comparison with the results of the national utilization gradation in 2018 infers that they are in accordance with the distribution of CLQ, which bears a significant positive correlation trend with the measured grain output of the field. The constructed evaluation system serves as a rewarding attempt of a unified survey and evaluation of CLQ at the county scale to reflect the production capacity of local crops, realize the sharing of data platforms, save manpower and capital investment, improve the practical connection of supervision and management of cultivated land protection in different departments, and meet the requirements of current cultivated land protection and management.
Expert Insights on the Impacts of, and Potential for, Agricultural Big Data
Authors: Lassoued Rim , Macall Diego M. , Smyth Stuart J. , Phillips Peter W. B. , Hesseln Hayley
Published: February 2021

Advanced digital technologies are rapidly permeating agriculture from laboratory to field. Machine-based breeding, robotics and big data technologies have deeply transformed not only production systems but also the way scientific research is conducted. How are digital applications revolutionizing people’s jobs and skills? What are the challenges and opportunities for managing and sharing agricultural big data? This article addresses these and other questions by surveying international experts in plant biotechnology. Results show that digital innovations in the form of decision-support tools are perceived as promising. Most surveyed experts anticipate the deployment of big data analytics and artificial intelligence to boost agricultural productivity. Another key finding is that substantial physical investment, specialized human capital and effective data governance are critical to successful implementation of technological innovations associated with big data.
Zoom In, Zoom Out: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Classroom
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio , Lorenzo Manuela
Published: February 2021

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic to be confronted by humanity. As a result, social isolation has become the norm in most countries, with the consequent replacement of face-to-face classes by classes mediated by information and communication technology. Within this context, this work sets out to investigate the factors necessary for courses mediated by technology to attain their pedagogical objectives. Additionally, the study examines how subjects that develop hard and soft skills differ in a technology-mediated setting. The results show that the teacher’s digital competence on the technological platform and the metacognitive support available in the digital environment are significant factors for a course to attain its pedagogical objectives successfully. Lastly, the study revealed that hard skill disciplines, when they migrate to technology-mediated environments, are more likely to fail to achieve their educational goals than soft skill disciplines subject to the same migration.
Future Options for Lightweight Photovoltaic Modules in Electrical Passenger Cars
Authors: Kim Sehyeon , Holz Markus , Park Soojin , Yoon Yongbeum , Cho Eunchel , Yi Junsin
Published: February 2021

Twenty-three percent of carbon emissions come from fossil fuels used in transportation. Electric vehicles are suggested as alternatives to fossil-fueled vehicles. Cars having vehicle integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) on the roof have recently been launched, aiming to increase fuel efficiency and increase maximum mileage by supplying electricity to the vehicle when needed. VIPV needs to be light in terms of efficiency. The use of polymeric materials, made of low-iron tempered glass on the front that contributes significantly to the module’s weight, is required instead. The use of a sandwich structure with polymer material achieves nine times stiffer rigidity than an aluminum sheet of the same weight. It can be used with a weight that is half that of glass through the lightweight and light-transmitting polymer material on the front side. The concentrator photovoltaic module structure is used to compensate for various angles of incidence on a moving car, and it is advantageous because it is easy to apply and has a low weight owing to its excellent flexibility. It is possible to reduce the weight from 20 kg to less than 10 kg by limiting the use of glass.
An Efficient Hybrid Approach for Scheduling the Train Timetable for the Longer Distance High-Speed Railway
Authors: Wang Zeyu , Zhou Leishan , Guo Bin , Chen Xing , Zhou Hanxiao
Published: February 2021

Compared with other modes of transportation, a high-speed railway has energy saving advantages; it is environmentally friendly, safe, and convenient for large capacity transportation between cities. With the expansion of the high-speed railway network, the operation of high-speed railways needs to be improved urgently. In this paper, a hybrid approach for quickly solving the timetable of high-speed railways, inspired by the periodic model and the aperiodic model, is proposed. A space–time decomposition method is proposed to convert the complex passenger travel demands into service plans and decompose the original problem into several sub-problems, to reduce the solving complexity. An integer programming model is proposed for the sub-problems, and then solved in parallel with CPLEX. After that, a local search algorithm is designed to combine the timetables of different periods, considering the safety operation constraints. The hybrid approach is tested on a real-world case study, based on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway (HSR), and the results show that the train timetable calculated by the approach is superior to the real-world timetable in many indexes. The hybrid approach combines the advantages of the periodic model and the aperiodic model; it can deal with the travel demands of passengers well and the solving speed is fast. It provides the possibility for flexible adjustment of a timetable and timely response to the change of passenger travel demands, to avoid the waste of transportation resources and achieve sustainable development.
Two Classes of Iteration Functions and Q-Convergence of Two Iterative Methods for Polynomial Zeros
Authors: Proinov Petko D.
Published: February 2021

In this work, two broad classes of iteration functions in n-dimensional vector spaces are introduced. They are called iteration functions of the first and second kind at a fixed point of the corresponding iteration function. Two general local convergence theorems are presented for Picard-type iterative methods with high Q-order of convergence. In particular, it is shown that if an iterative method is generated by an iteration function of first or second kind, then it is Q-convergent under each initial approximation that is sufficiently close to the fixed point. As an application, a detailed local convergence analysis of two fourth-order iterative methods is provided for finding all zeros of a polynomial simultaneously. The new results improve the previous ones for these methods in several directions.
CPT Symmetry in Two-Fold de Sitter Universe
Authors: Fiscaletti Davide , Licata Ignazio , Tamburini Fabrizio
Published: February 2021

The problem of baryon asymmetry unifies cosmology and particle physics at the hearth of theoretical physics. In this work, we consider the point of view of archaic cosmology based on the de Sitter hypersphere as topology of quantum vacuum. We show CPT symmetry derives from the nucleation of particles that divides the hypersphere in two mirror universes and defines big bang as a bifurcation point, as the creation of a de Sitter universe or a pair of entangled universes from “nothing”. Then, we direct our attention to the behavior of neutrinos in a CPT universe and discuss the differences between Majorana and Dirac neutrinos in the observational imprints of the entangled universes.
RoboEye, an Efficient, Reliable and Safe Semi-Autonomous Gaze Driven Wheelchair for Domestic Use
Authors: Maule Luca , Luchetti Alessandro , Zanetti Matteo , Tomasin Paolo , Pertile Marco , Tavernini Mattia , Guandalini Giovanni M. A. , De Cecco Mariolino
Published: February 2021

Any severe motor disability is a condition that limits the ability to interact with the environment, even the domestic one, caused by the loss of control over one’s mobility. This work presents RoboEYE, a power wheelchair designed to allow users to move easily and autonomously within their homes. To achieve this goal, an innovative, cost-effective and user-friendly control system was designed, in which a non-invasive eye tracker, a monitor, and a 3D camera represent some of the core elements. RoboEYE integrates functionalities from the mobile robotics field into a standard power wheelchair, with the main advantage of providing the user with two driving options and comfortable navigation. The most intuitive and direct modality foresees the continuous control of frontal and angular wheelchair velocities by gazing at different areas of the monitor. The second, semi-autonomous modality allows navigation toward a selected point in the environment by just pointing and activating the wished destination while the system autonomously plans and follows the trajectory that brings the wheelchair to that point. The purpose of this work was to develop the control structure and driving interface designs of the aforementioned driving modalities taking into account also uncertainties in gaze detection and other sources of uncertainty related to the components to ensure user safety. Furthermore, the driving modalities, in particular the semi-autonomous one, were modeled and qualified through numerical simulations and experimental verification by testing volunteers, who are regular users of standard electric wheelchairs, to verify the efficiency, reliability and safety of the proposed system for domestic use. RoboEYE resulted suitable for environments with narrow passages wider than 1 m, which is comparable with a standard domestic door and due to its properties with large commercialization potential.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Can Alter the Toxicological Effects of Simvastatin on Danio rerio
Authors: Barreto Angela , Santos Joana , Amorim Mónica , Maria Vera
Published: February 2021

Once in the environment, nanoplastics (NPls) may interact with other contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, potentially acting as carriers and modulating their toxicity. Thus, the main aim of the current study is to investigate how polystyrene (PS) NPls (mean diameter: 60 nm) interact with simvastatin (SIM), an anticholesterolemic drug, and modulate its toxicity to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. PS NPls were carboxyl group functionalized, to promote the interaction/binding of NPls with SIM (worst-case scenarios) and it was fluorescently dyed, allowing to detect the intake. Exposure was 96 h to 0–150 mg/L NPls or 0–150 µg/L SIM, as well as to dual combinations (NPls 0.015 or 1.5 mg/L and SIM 12.5 or 15 µg/L). PS NPls alone did not exert effects whereas SIM (≥ 12.5 µg/L) significantly delayed the hatching, decreased the heartbeat, induced edemas and mortality. The combination of NPls (1.5 mg/L) and SIM (12.5 or 15 µg/L) had significant effects on the survival of the organisms while the correspondent NPls and SIM single exposures did not have significant effects on this endpoint. Concerning the malformations appearance, SIM alone had similar effects than when in co-exposures (0.015 mg/L NPls plus 12.5 or 15 µg/L SIM). Hatching and heartbeat increased after the co-exposures SIM and NPls comparing with SIM single exposures, showing that 0.015 mg/L NPls plus 12.5 or 15 µg/L SIM did not cause significant effects on these endpoints. This study shows that NPls effects on bioavailability and toxicity of other contaminants cannot be ignored when assessing the environmental behavior and risks of NPls.
In Silico, In Vitro and In Cellulo Models for Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Spike/Human ACE2 Complex, Viral Entry and Cell Fusion
Authors: Lapaillerie Delphine , Charlier Cathy , Fernandes Henrique S. , Sousa Sergio F. , Lesbats Paul , Weigel Pierre , Favereaux Alexandre , Guyonnet-Duperat Véronique , Parissi Vincent
Published: February 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent responsible for the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Productive SARS-CoV-2 infection relies on viral entry into cells expressing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Indeed, viral entry into cells is mostly mediated by the early interaction between the viral spike protein S and its ACE2 receptor. The S/ACE2 complex is, thus, the first contact point between the incoming virus and its cellular target; consequently, it has been considered an attractive therapeutic target. To further characterize this interaction and the cellular processes engaged in the entry step of the virus, we set up various in silico, in vitro and in cellulo approaches that allowed us to specifically monitor the S/ACE2 association. We report here a computational model of the SARS-CoV-2 S/ACE2 complex, as well as its biochemical and biophysical monitoring using pulldown, AlphaLISA and biolayer interferometry (BLI) binding assays. This led us to determine the kinetic parameters of the S/ACE2 association and dissociation steps. In parallel to these in vitro approaches, we developed in cellulo transduction assays using SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentiviral vectors and HEK293T-ACE2 cell lines generated in-house. This allowed us to recapitulate the early replication stage of the infection mediated by the S/ACE2 interaction and to detect cell fusion induced by the interaction. Finally, a cell imaging system was set up to directly monitor the S/ACE2 interaction in a cellular context and a flow cytometry assay was developed to quantify this association at the cell surface. Together, these different approaches are available for both basic and clinical research, aiming to characterize the entry step of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and its variants as well as to investigate the possible chemical modulation of this interaction. All these models will help in identifying new antiviral agents and new chemical tools for dissecting the virus entry step.
Attitudes towards Anti-SARS-CoV2 Vaccination among Healthcare Workers: Results from a National Survey in Italy
Authors: Di Gennaro Francesco , Murri Rita , Segala Francesco Vladimiro , Cerruti Lorenzo , Abdulle Amina , Saracino Annalisa , Bavaro Davide Fiore , Fantoni Massimo
Published: February 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has afflicted tens of millions of people, fostering and unprecedent effort in vaccine development and distribution. Healthcare workers (HCW) play a key role in vaccine promotion and patient guidance, and it is likely that hesitancy among this population will have a major impact on the adoption of a successful immunization policy. To investigate HCW attitudes towards anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination, we developed an anonymous online cross-sectional survey. 1723 Italian HCW responded. Overall, 1155 (67%) intended to be vaccinated, while 443 (26%) were not sure and 125 (7%) declared refusal. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with hesitancy were using Facebook as the main information source and being a non-physician HCW, while predictors of acceptance included younger age, being in close contact with high-risk groups and having received flu vaccination during the 2019–2020 season. Reasons for hesitancy included lack of trust in vaccine safety (85%) and receiving little (78%) or conflicting (69%) information about vaccines. According to our results, adequate investment in vaccine education for healthcare personnel appears to be urgently needed, prioritizing non-physicians and information quality spread through social media. We hope that our data could help governments and policy-makers to target communication in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Experimental Challenge of Sheep and Cattle with Dugbe Orthonairovirus, a Neglected African Arbovirus Distantly Related to CCHFV
Authors: Hartlaub Julia , von Arnim Felicitas , Fast Christine , Mirazimi Ali , Keller Markus , Groschup Martin H.
Published: February 2021

Dugbe orthonairovirus (DUGV) is a tick-borne arbovirus within the order Bunyavirales. DUGV was first isolated in Nigeria, but virus isolations in ten further African countries indicate that DUGV is widespread throughout Africa. Humans can suffer from a mild febrile illness, hence, DUGV is classified as a biosafety level (BSL) 3 agent. In contrast, no disease has been described in animals, albeit serological evidence exists that ruminants are common hosts and may play an important role in the transmission cycle of this neglected arbovirus. In this study, young sheep and calves were experimentally inoculated with DUGV in order to determine their susceptibility and to study the course of infection. Moreover, potential antibody cross-reactivities in currently available diagnostic assays for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) were assessed as DUGV is distantly related to CCHFV. Following subcutaneous inoculation, none of the animals developed clinical signs or viremia. However, all ruminants seroconverted, as demonstrated by two DUGV neutralization test formats (micro-virus neutralization test (mVNT), plaque reduction (PRNT)), by indirect immunofluorescence assays and in bovines by a newly developed DUGV recombinant N protein ELISA. Sera did not react in commercial CCHFV ELISAs, whereas cross-reactivities were observed by immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays.
The Changing Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination in Different Epidemic Phases in China: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Wang Jiahao , Lu Xinran , Lai Xiaozhen , Lyu Yun , Zhang Haijun , Fenghuang Yufei , Jing Rize , Li Li , Yu Wenzhou , Fang Hai
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 vaccines have been conditionally used in a few countries, including China since December 2020. The present study aimed to examine whether the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination changed in different COVID-19 epidemic phases in China. Two consecutive surveys were conducted among Chinese adults in March (n = 2058) (severe epidemic phase) and November–December (n = 2013) (well-contained phase, right before the COVID-19 vaccine was conditionally approved) 2020, and 791 respondents were longitudinally followed-up. The attitude, acceptance, and preferences for future COVID-19 vaccination were compared between two epidemic phases. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify influencing factors of acceptance. Among the 791 respondents longitudinally followed, 91.9% in March and 88.6% of them in November–December 2020 would like to get COVID-19 vaccination in China. In March 58.3% wished to get vaccinated immediately, but the proportion declined to 23.0% in November–December 2020, because more respondents wanted to delay vaccination until the vaccine’s safety was confirmed. Similar results were found by comparing all respondents from the two cross-sectional surveys in different epidemic phases. The risk perception, attitude for the importance of vaccination against COVID-19, vaccination history, valuing doctor’s recommendations, vaccination convenience, or vaccine price in decision-making had impacts on respondents’ intention for immediate vaccination. The public acceptance for COVID-19 vaccination in China sustained at a high level in different COVID-19 epidemic phases. However, the intention of immediate vaccination declined substantially due to concerns about the vaccine’s safety. Information about vaccination safety from authoritative sources, doctor’s recommendations, and vaccination convenience were important in addressing vaccine hesitancy and promoting successful herd immunity for the general population in China.
Transfer Learning with Convolutional Neural Networks for Rainfall Detection in Single Images
Authors: Notarangelo Nicla , Hirano Kohin , Albano Raffaele , Sole Aurelia
Published: February 2021

Near real-time rainfall monitoring at local scale is essential for urban flood risk mitigation. Previous research on precipitation visual effects supports the idea of vision-based rain sensors, but tends to be device-specific. We aimed to use different available photographing devices to develop a dense network of low-cost sensors. Using Transfer Learning with a Convolutional Neural Network, the rainfall detection was performed on single images taken in heterogeneous conditions by static or moving cameras without adjusted parameters. The chosen images encompass unconstrained verisimilar settings of the sources: Image2Weather dataset, dash-cams in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and experiments in the NIED Large-scale Rainfall Simulator. The model reached a test accuracy of 85.28% and an F1 score of 0.86. The applicability to real-world scenarios was proven with the experimentation with a pre-existing surveillance camera in Matera (Italy), obtaining an accuracy of 85.13% and an F1 score of 0.85. This model can be easily integrated into warning systems to automatically monitor the onset and end of rain-related events, exploiting pre-existing devices with a parsimonious use of economic and computational resources. The limitation is intrinsic to the outputs (detection without measurement). Future work concerns the development of a CNN based on the proposed methodology to quantify the precipitation intensity.
The Role of Psychological Ownership in Safe Water Management: A Mixed-Methods Study in Nepal
Authors: Ambuehl Benjamin , Tomberge Vica Maria Jelena , Kunwar Bal Mukunda , Schertenleib Ariane , Marks Sara J. , Inauen Jennifer
Published: February 2021

Long-term management and use of community-based safe water systems are essential to reduce water-related health risks in rural areas. Water sector professionals frequently cite water users’ sense of ownership for the water system as essential for its continuity. This study aims to provide the first insight into users’ understanding of psychological ownership, as well as generalizable data, regarding safe water management in rural Nepal. In this convergent mixed-methods study, we conducted 22 qualitative and 493 quantitative interviews with community members in five districts of Nepal, where spring-fed piped water supplies were previously implemented through a demand-led, participatory planning approach. We analyzed the qualitative data by thematic analysis and modeled quantitative routes to and consequences of psychological ownership in generalized estimating equations. Findings from qualitative and quantitative analyses converged to show that community members’ decision-making, investment of labor and money, and knowledge about the water system were associated with greater psychological ownership. Psychological ownership was related to greater acceptance and responsibility for maintenance and use, as well as greater confidence in functionality of the water system, but not to its actual functionality. The results highlight the potential of psychological ownership and community participation for the longevity of community-based safe water infrastructure.
Temporary Confined Water-Induced Landslide in the Binary Structure of a Gentle Slope: A Case Study of the Fanshantou Landslide
Authors: Wang Lei , Shang Yuequan , Zheng Jun , Zhang Yingqiu
Published: February 2021

With the increase in rainfall, landslides occur on many gentle slopes in the mountainous areas of southeast China. Gentle slopes have a particular dual geological structure, i.e., the lower part is a gravel soil layer with good water permeability, and the surface layer is clay soil with relatively poor water permeability. Under conditions of heavy rainfall, a gentle slope with this structure is likely to collect temporary confined water. The intermittent creep of the upper slope is caused by the floating force of the temporary confined water, which causes landslide disasters. The conditions that bring about temporary confined water are related not only to the stratum structure, but also to the rainfall intensity and the initial height of the water table level. On the basis of the characteristics of the stratum of the gentle slope landslide on the front of Fanshantou Mountain, we constructed a hydrological model in GEO-STUDIO. We investigated the effect of different rainfall intensities and initial water table levels on confined water under continuous rainfall conditions and conducted a corresponding stability analysis. The results show that when both the initial water table level and the rainfall intensity are high, temporary confined water is formed rapidly, increasing the chance of a landslide disaster. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of landslides on similar gentle slopes in the mountainous areas of southeast China.
Flood Hazard Assessment for the Tori Levee Breach of the Indus River Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Naeem Babar , Azmat Muhammad , Tao Hui , Ahmad Shakil , Khattak Muhammad , Haider Sajjad , Ahmad Sajjad , Khero Zarif , Goodell Christopher
Published: February 2021

Levee breaches are some of the most common hazards in the world and cause the loss of lives, livelihoods, and property destruction. During the 2010 flood in Pakistan, the most devastating breach occurred at Tori Levee on the right bank of the Indus River, downstream of the Guddu Barrage, which caused residual floods in northern Sindh and the adjoining regions of the Balochistan province. In this study, 2D unsteady flow modeling performed for Tori Levee breach computed residual flood inundation by coupling a HEC-RAS (Hydrological Engineering Centre—River Analysis System) 2D hydraulic model with remote sensing and Geographic Information System techniques. The model performance was judged by comparing the observed and simulated water levels (stage) during peak flow at seven different gauging stations located within the Indus River reach and daily flood extents and multi-day composites. The quantitative values for the calibration and validation of the HEC-RAS model showed good performance with a range of difference from 0.13 to −0.54 m between the simulated and observed water levels (stage), 84% match for the maximum flood inundation area, and 73.2% for the measure of fit. The overall averages of these values for the daily flood comparison were 57.12 and 75%, respectively. Furthermore, the simulated maximum flow passed through the Tori Levee breach, which was found to be 4994.47 cumecs (about 15% of peak flow) with a head water stage of 71.56 m. By using the simulated flows through the Tori Levee breach, the flood risk maps for the 2010 flood identified hazard zones according to the flood characteristics (depth, velocity, depth times velocity, arrival time, and duration). All the flood risk maps concluded the fact that the active flood plain was uninhabitable under flood conditions.