bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calculating Protein Content of Expressed Breast Milk to Optimize Protein Supplementation in Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Minimal Effort—A Secondary Analysis
Authors: Minarski Michaela , Maas Christoph , Engel Corinna , Heinrich Christine , Böckmann Katrin , Bernhard Wolfgang , Poets Christian F , Franz Axel R
Published: April 2020

Breast milk does not meet the nutritional needs of preterm infants, necessitating fortification. Breast milk is particularly variable in protein content, hence standardized (fixed dosage) supplementation results in inadequate supply. This was a secondary analysis of 589 breast milk protein content measurements of 51 mothers determined by mid-infrared spectroscopy during a clinical trial of higher versus lower protein supplementation in very low birth weight infants. Mothers (and breast milk samples) were divided into a test (41 mothers) and a validation cohort (10 mothers). In the test cohort, the decrease in protein content by day of lactation was modeled resulting in the breast milk-equation (BME)). In the validation cohort, five supplementation strategies to optimize protein supply were compared: standardized supplementation (adding 1.0 g (S1) or 1.42 g protein/100 mL (S2)) was compared with ‘adapted’ supplementation, considering variation in protein content (protein content according to Gidrewicz and Fenton (A1), to BME (A2) and to BME with adjustments at days 12 and 26 (A3)). S1 and S2 achieved 5% and 24% of adequate protein supply, while the corresponding values for A1–A3 were 89%, 96% and 95%. Adapted protein supplementation based on calculated breast milk protein content is easy, non-invasive, inexpensive and improves protein supply compared to standardized supplementation.
Oils’ Impact on Comprehensive Fatty Acid Analysis and Their Metabolites in Rats
Authors: Stawarska Agnieszka , Jelińska Małgorzata , Czaja Julia , Pacześniak Ewelina , Bobrowska-Korczak Barbara
Published: April 2020

Fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated, and their metabolites (eicosanoids) play many pivotal roles in human body, influencing various physiological and pathological processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with edible oils diverse in terms of fatty acid composition on fatty acid contents, activities of converting their enzymes, and on lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic and linoleic acids (eicosanoids) in rat serum. Female Sprague-Dawley rats divided into seven groups were used in the study. Animals from six groups were fed one of oils daily (carotino oil, made up by combining of red palm oil and canola oil, linseed oil, olive oil, rice oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil). One group received a standard diet only. Fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Eicosanoids—hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (HETE) and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODE) were extracted using a solid-phase extraction method and analyzed with HPLC. Vegetable oils given daily to rats caused significant changes in serum fatty acid profile and eicosanoid concentrations. Significant differences were also found in desaturases’ activity, with the linseed and olive oil supplemented groups characterized by the highest D6D and D5D activity. These findings may play a significant role in various pathological states.
Vitamin D and Immunity in Infants and Children
Authors: Mailhot Geneviève , White John H.
Published: April 2020

The last couple of decades have seen an explosion in our interest and understanding of the role of vitamin D in the regulation of immunity. At the molecular level, the hormonal form of vitamin D signals through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), a ligand-regulated transcription factor. The VDR and vitamin D metabolic enzymes are expressed throughout the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. The advent of genome-wide approaches to gene expression profiling have led to the identification of numerous VDR-regulated genes implicated in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. The molecular data infer that vitamin D signaling should boost innate immunity against pathogens of bacterial or viral origin. Vitamin D signaling also suppresses inflammatory immune responses that underlie autoimmunity and regulate allergic responses. These findings have been bolstered by clinical studies linking vitamin D deficiency to increased rates of infections, autoimmunity, and allergies. Our goals here are to provide an overview of the molecular basis for immune system regulation and to survey the clinical data from pediatric populations, using randomized placebo-controlled trials and meta-analyses where possible, linking vitamin D deficiency to increased rates of infections, autoimmune conditions, and allergies, and addressing the impact of supplementation on these conditions.
Pyropia yezoensis Extract Suppresses IFN-Gamma- and TNF-Alpha-Induced Proinflammatory Chemokine Production in HaCaT Cells via the Down-Regulation of NF-κB
Authors: Ha Yuna , Lee Won-Hwi , Jeong JaeWoo , Park Mira , Ko Ju-Young , Kwon Oh Wook , Lee Jongsung , Kim Youn-Jung
Published: April 2020

Pyropia yezoensis, a red alga, is popular and harvested a lot in East Asia and is famous for its medicinal properties attributable to its bioactive compounds including amino acids (porphyra-334 and shinorine, etc.), polysaccharides, phytosterols, and pigments, but its anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigate the anti-AD effect of P. yezoensis extract (PYE) on mRNA and protein levels of the pro-inflammatory chemokines, thymus, and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22), in human HaCaT keratinocyte cells treated to interferon (IFN)-γ or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (10 ng/mL each). The effect of the PYE on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and other mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was related to its suppression of TARC and MDC production by blocking NF-κB activation in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, astaxanthin and xanthophyll from P. yezoensis were identified as anti-AD candidate compounds. These results suggest that the PYE may improve AD and contained two carotenoids by regulating pro-inflammatory chemokines.
Effect of Lupin-Enriched Biscuits as Substitute Mid-Meal Snacks on Post-Prandial Interstitial Glucose Excursions in Post-Surgical Hospital Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Skalkos Sophie , Moschonis George , Thomas Colleen J. , McMillan Joanna , Kouris-Blazos Antigone
Published: April 2020

Hospital biscuit snacks offered to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients may adversely affect glycaemic control. This study investigated the effect of lupin mid-meal biscuit snacks, compared to spelt or standard hospital biscuits, on interstitial glucose levels in post-operative T2DM inpatients. In a pilot cross-over pragmatic study, 20 patients (74 ± 12 years) consumed, in order, lupin biscuits (20% lupin), wholemeal spelt and standard plain sweet biscuits as mid-meal snacks (2 biscuits each for morning and afternoon tea) on three consecutive days. Continuous glucose monitoring, appetite perceptions and bowel motions were recorded. Glucose levels were not significantly different in the first 90 min after mid-meal biscuit consumption at morning and afternoon tea, irrespective of type. However, after consuming the lupin biscuits only, glucose levels were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced 90 min postprandially after dinner, indicating a potential second-meal effect. Patients also reported improved satiety after lupin biscuit consumption on day 1, compared to days 2 and 3 (p = 0.018). These findings suggest that lupin-enriched biscuits may improve both glycaemic control and satiety in hospitalised T2DM patients, potentially contributing to reduced length of stay. Larger controlled studies are warranted to confirm these findings and inform potential revision of hospital menu standards for T2DM patients.
Vitamin D’s Effect on Immune Function
Authors: Martens Pieter-Jan , Gysemans Conny , Verstuyf Annemieke , Mathieu Chantal
Published: April 2020

Ever since its discovery by Windhaus, the importance of the active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; 1,25-(OH)2D3) has been ever expanding. In this review, the attention is shifted towards the importance of the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D, with special emphasis on the immune system. The first hint of the significant role of vitamin D on the immune system was made by the discovery of the presence of the vitamin D receptor on almost all cells of the immune system. In vitro, the overwhelming effect of supra-physiological doses of vitamin D on the individual components of the immune system is very clear. Despite these promising pre-clinical results, the translation of the in vitro observations to solid clinical effects has mostly failed. Nevertheless, the evidence of a link between vitamin D deficiency and adverse outcomes is overwhelming and clearly points towards avoidance of vitamin D deficiency especially in early life.
mcIRBP-19 of Bitter Melon Peptide Effectively Regulates Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Patients’ Blood Sugar Levels
Authors: Hsu Pang-Kuei , Pan Frank F. C. , Hsieh Ching-Sen
Published: April 2020

This study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a particular bitter melon peptide (BMP), with a specific sequence of 19 amino acids (mcIRBP-19), in regulating diabetic patients’ blood glucose. In order to test the product with the specially processed BMP, a total of 142 diabetic patients were solicited as study subjects, of which 64 were assigned to an experiment group and 78 to a control group. Biochemical data were compared with a paired t-test to verify the significance of changes over different time periods. The clinical results showed that BMP started to improve the subjects’ glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at the end of the second month (T2), with mean values being significantly lowered from 7.8 ± 1.4% (T0) to 7.5 ± 1.4% (T2) (p = 0.004). The values reduced continuously, eventually reaching 7.4 ± 1.1% (p = 0.000) at the end of the experiment (T3). HbA1c levels for the control group were 7.5 ± 1.2% in T0 and 7.5 ± 1.1% (T3), and not significantly different (p = 0.852) over the same period. This study provides clinical evidence that helps to verify the effectiveness of the new BMP product in regulating diabetic patients’ blood sugar levels.
Multitarget Activities of Kleeb Bua Daeng, a Thai Traditional Herbal Formula, Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Chheng Chantha , Waiwut Pornthip , Plekratoke Kusawadee , Chulikhit Yaowared , Daodee Supawadee , Monthakantirat Orawan , Pitiporn Supaporn , Musigavong Natdanai , Kwankhao Pakakrong , Boonyarat Chantana
Published: April 2020

The Kleeb Bua Daeng formula (KBD) is a Thai traditional medicine for brain health promotion. On the basis of the activities of its individual components, the KBD could have good potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we investigated the KBD as an AD treatment. The ethanol extracts of KBD and its components, i.e., Nelumbo nucifera (NN), Piper nigrum fruits (BP), and the aerial part of Centella asiatica (CA) exhibited antioxidant activity, as determined by both ABTS and DPPH assays. The Ellman’s assay revealed that the KBD, NN, and BP showed an ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase. The thioflavin T assay indicated that the KBD, NN, BP, and CA inhibited beta-amyloid aggregation. The neuroprotection and Western blot analysis revealed that the KBD reduced H2O2-induced neuronal cell death by inhibiting the expression of pro-apoptotic factors, i.e., cleaved caspase-9 and -3, p-P65, p-JNK, and p-GSK-3β, as well as by inducing expression of anti-apoptotic factors, i.e., MCl1, BClxl, and survivin. Furthermore, the KBD could improve scopolamine induced memory deficit in mice. Our results illustrate that the KBD with multimode action has the potential to be employed in AD treatment. Thus, the KBD could be used as an alternative novel choice for the prevention and treatment of patients with AD.
Urban Heat Island Monitoring and Impacts on Citizen’s General Health Status in Isfahan Metropolis: A Remote Sensing and Field Survey Approach
Authors: Mirzaei Mohsen , Verrelst Jochem , Arbabi Mohsen , Shaklabadi Zohreh , Lotfizadeh Masoud
Published: April 2020

Urban heat islands (UHIs) are one of the urban management challenges, especially in metropolises, which can affect citizens’ health and well-being. This study used a combination of remote sensing techniques with field survey to investigate systematically the effects of UHI on citizens’ health in Isfahan metropolis, Iran. For this purpose, the land surface temperature (LST) over a three-year period was monitored by Landsat-8 satellite imagery based on the split window algorithm. Then, the areas where UHI and urban cold island (UCI) phenomena occurred were identified and a general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was applied to evaluate the health status of 800 citizens in terms of physical health, anxiety and sleep, social function, and depression in UHI and UCI treatments. The average LST during the study period was 45.5 ± 2.3 °C and results showed that the Zayandeh-Rood river and the surrounding greenery had an important role in regulating the ambient temperature and promoting the citizens’ health. Citizens living in the suburban areas were more exposed to the UHIs phenomena, and statistical analysis of the GHQ-28 results indicated that they showed severe significant (P < 0.05) responses in terms of non-physical health sub-scales (i.e., anxiety and sleep, social functioning, and depression). Therefore, it can be concluded that not all citizens in the Isfahan metropolis are in the same environmental conditions and city managers and planners should pay more attention to the citizens living in the UHIs. The most important proceedings in this area would be the creation and development of parks and green belts, as well as the allocation of health-medical facilities and citizen education.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Tropical Forest Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimation with Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Airborne LiDAR Data: The Effect of Seasonal Landsat Image Selection
Authors: Kashongwe Herve B. , Roy David P. , Bwangoy Jean Robert B.
Published: April 2020

Inventories of tropical forest aboveground biomass (AGB) are often imprecise and sparse. Increasingly, airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) and satellite optical wavelength sensor data are used to map tree height and to estimate AGB. In the tropics, cloud cover is particularly prevalent and so several years of satellite observations must be considered. This may reduce mapping accuracy because of seasonal and inter-annual changes in the forest reflectance. In this paper, the sensitivity of airborne LiDAR and Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) based dominant canopy height and AGB 30 m mapping is assessed with respect to the season of Landsat acquisition for a ~10,000 Km2 tropical forest area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A random forest regression estimator is used to predict and assess the 30 m dominant canopy height using LiDAR derived test and training data. The AGB is mapped using an allometric model parameterized with the dominant canopy height and is assessed by comparison with field based 30 m AGB estimates. Experiments are undertaken independently using (i) only a wet season Landsat-8 image, (ii) only a dry season Landsat-8 image, and (iii) both Landsat-8 images. At the study area level there is little reported sensitivity to the season of Landsat image used. The mean dominant canopy height and AGB values are similar between seasons, within 0.19 m and 5 Mg ha−1, respectively. The mapping results are improved when both Landsat-8 images are used with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values that correspond to 18.8% of the mean study area mapped tree height (20.4 m) and to 41% of the mean study area mapped AGB (204 Mg ha−1). The mean study area mapped AGB is similar to that reported in other Congo Basin forest studies. The results of this detailed study are illustrated and the implications for tropical forest tree height and AGB mapping are discussed.
Land Use/Land Cover Mapping Using Multitemporal Sentinel-2 Imagery and Four Classification Methods—A Case Study from Dak Nong, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Huong Thi Thanh , Doan Trung Minh , Tomppo Erkki , McRoberts Ronald E.
Published: April 2020

Information on land use and land cover (LULC) including forest cover is important for the development of strategies for land planning and management. Satellite remotely sensed data of varying resolutions have been an unmatched source of such information that can be used to produce estimates with a greater degree of confidence than traditional inventory estimates. However, use of these data has always been a challenge in tropical regions owing to the complexity of the biophysical environment, clouds, and haze, and atmospheric moisture content, all of which impede accurate LULC classification. We tested a parametric classifier (logistic regression) and three non-parametric machine learning classifiers (improved k-nearest neighbors, random forests, and support vector machine) for classification of multi-temporal Sentinel 2 satellite imagery into LULC categories in Dak Nong province, Vietnam. A total of 446 images, 235 from the year 2017 and 211 from the year 2018, were pre-processed to gain high quality images for mapping LULC in the 6516 km2 study area. The Sentinel 2 images were tested and classified separately for four temporal periods: (i) dry season, (ii) rainy season, (iii) the entirety of the year 2017, and (iv) the combination of dry and rainy seasons. Eleven different LULC classes were discriminated of which five were forest classes. For each combination of temporal image set and classifier, a confusion matrix was constructed using independent reference data and pixel classifications, and the area on the ground of each class was estimated. For overall temporal periods and classifiers, overall accuracy ranged from 63.9% to 80.3%, and the Kappa coefficient ranged from 0.611 to 0.813. Area estimates for individual classes ranged from 70 km2 (1% of the study area) to 2200 km2 (34% of the study area) with greater uncertainties for smaller classes.
Above-Ground Biomass Retrieval over Tropical Forests: A Novel GNSS-R Approach with CyGNSS
Authors: Carreno-Luengo Hugo , Luzi Guido , Crosetto Michele
Published: April 2020

An assessment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CyGNSS) mission for biomass studies is presented in this work on rain, coniferous, dry, and moist tropical forests. The main objective is to investigate the capability of Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry (GNSS-R) for biomass retrieval over dense forest canopies from a space-borne platform. The potential advantage of CyGNSS, as compared to monostatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) missions, relies on the increasing signal attenuation by the vegetation cover, which gradually reduces the coherent scattering component σ coh , 0 . This term can only be collected in a bistatic radar geometry. This point motivates the study of the relationship between several observables derived from Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs) with Above-Ground Biomass (AGB). This assessment is performed at different elevation angles θ e as a function of Canopy Height (CH). The selected biomass products are obtained from data collected by the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument on-board the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-1). An analysis based on the first derivative of the experimentally derived polynomial fitting functions shows that the sensitivity requirements of the Trailing Edge TE and the reflectivity Γ reduce with increasing biomass up to ~ 350 and ~ 250 ton/ha over the Congo and Amazon rainforests, respectively. The empirical relationship between TE and Γ with AGB is further evaluated at optimum angular ranges using Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP)-derived Vegetation Optical Depth ( VOD ), and the Polarization Index ( PI ). Additionally, the potential influence of Soil Moisture Content (SMC) is investigated over forests with low AGB.
Monitoring Invasion Process of Spartina alterniflora by Seasonal Sentinel-2 Imagery and an Object-Based Random Forest Classification
Authors: Tian Yanlin , Jia Mingming , Wang Zongming , Mao Dehua , Du Baojia , Wang Chao
Published: April 2020

In the late 1990s, the exotic plant Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora), was introduced to the Zhangjiang Estuary of China for tidal zone reclamation and protection. However, it invaded rapidly and has caused serious ecological problems. Accurate information on the seasonal invasion of S. alterniflora is vital to understand invasion pattern and mechanism, especially at a high temporal resolution. This study aimed to explore the S. alterniflora invasion process at a seasonal scale from 2016 to 2018. However, due to the uncertainties caused by periodic inundation of local tides, accurately monitoring the spatial extent of S. alterniflora is challenging. Thus, to achieve the goal and address the challenge, we firstly built a high-quality seasonal Sentinel-2 image collection by developing a new submerged S. alterniflora index (SAI) to reduce the errors caused by high tide fluctuations. Then, an object-based random forest (RF) classification method was applied to the image collection. Finally, seasonal extents of S. alterniflora were captured. Results showed that (1) the red edge bands (bands 5, 6, and 7) of Sentinel-2 imagery played critical roles in delineating submerged S. alterniflora; (2) during March 2016 to November 2018, the extent of S. alterniflora increased from 151.7 to 270.3 ha, with an annual invasion rate of 39.5 ha; (3) S. alterniflora invaded with a rate of 31.5 ha/season during growing season and 12.1 ha/season during dormant season. To our knowledge, this is the first study monitoring S. alterniflora invasion process at a seasonal scale during continuous years, discovering that S. alterniflora also expands during dormant seasons. This discovery is of great significance for understanding the invasion pattern and mechanism of S. alterniflora and will facilitate coastal biodiversity conservation efforts.
MFFA-SARNET: Deep Transferred Multi-Level Feature Fusion Attention Network with Dual Optimized Loss for Small-Sample SAR ATR
Authors: Zhai Yikui , Deng Wenbo , Lan Tian , Sun Bing , Ying Zilu , Gan Junying , Mai Chaoyun , Li Jingwen , Labati Ruggero Donida , Piuri Vincenzo , Scotti Fabio
Published: April 2020

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Automatic Target Recognition (ATR), most algorithms of which have employed and relied on sufficient training samples to receive a strong discriminative classification model, has remained a challenging task in recent years, among which the challenge of SAR data acquisition and further insight into the intuitive features of SAR images are the main concerns. In this paper, a deep transferred multi-level feature fusion attention network with dual optimized loss, called a multi-level feature attention Synthetic Aperture Radar network (MFFA-SARNET), is proposed to settle the problem of small samples in SAR ATR tasks. Firstly, a multi-level feature attention (MFFA) network is established to learn more discriminative features from SAR images with a fusion method, followed by alleviating the impact of background features on images with the following attention module that focuses more on the target features. Secondly, a novel dual optimized loss is incorporated to further optimize the classification network, which enhances the robust and discriminative learning power of features. Thirdly, transfer learning is utilized to validate the variances and small-sample classification tasks. Extensive experiments conducted on a public database with three different configurations consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed network, and the significant improvements yielded to surpass those of the state-of-the-art methods under small-sample conditions.
Ammonia Emission Factors and Uncertainties of Coke Oven Gases in Iron and Steel Industries
Authors: Kang Seongmin , Hong Yoon-Jung , Kim Seong-Dong , Jeon Eui-Chan
Published: April 2020

In this study, uncertainties related to NH3 concentration, emission factor, and emission factor estimation in the exhaust gas of the steel sintering furnace using COG (coke oven gas) among the by-product gas generated in steel production was estimated to identify the missing source. By measuring the NH3 concentration in the exhaust gas of steel sintering furnace using COG, a concentration between 0.02 and 0.12 ppm was found, with an average concentration of 0.06 ppm, confirming the emissions of NH3. Using this measurement of the NH3 concentration, an NH3 emission factor of 0.0061 kg NH3/ton was derived. The uncertainty of the developed NH3 emission factor of the sintering furnace using COG was analyzed using a Monte Carlo simulation. Consequently, the uncertainty range of NH3 emission factor of the sintering furnace using COG was derived to be −11.4% to +12.89% at the 95% confidence level. According to the results of this study, NH3 emissions occur from the use of COG, yielding values higher than the NH3 emission factor resulting from the use of LNG(liquefied natural gas) in combustion facilities. It should be recognized that it is a missing emission source and the corresponding emission should be calculated.
The Investment Performance of U.S. Islamic Mutual Funds
Authors: Climent Francisco , Mollá Paula , Soriano Pilar
Published: April 2020

Islamic investment funds have become increasingly important because of high demand from many investors, including those outside the Muslim investment community. This article compares the performance and risk sensitivity of Islamic mutual funds in the United States with that of their conventional peers. This article also analyzes the performance of Islamic funds, and compares this performance with that of socially responsible investment (SRI) mutual funds. Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)-based methodology was used for the analysis. The results suggest that over the entire study period (1987–2018), Islamic funds outperformed conventional funds with comparable characteristics. However, over the most recent period (2000–2018), there were no significant differences in performance. Moreover, Islamic funds achieved levels of adjusted performance that did not significantly differ from those of SRI funds. Conversely, for the earlier period (1987–2000), Islamic funds performed worse than SRI and conventional funds with similar characteristics.
Preliminary Evaluation of Hot Mix Asphalt Containing Reclaimed Epoxy Asphalt Materials
Authors: Alamri Mohammed , Lu Qing , Xin Chunfu
Published: April 2020

Designing long-life pavements and pavement recycling with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) are two important strategies for improving the sustainability of asphalt pavements. Epoxy asphalt, as a proven long-life pavement material, is attracting attention from the pavement community for its use in road pavements. The recyclability of epoxy asphalt mixtures, however, has never been studied and has now become one concern in promoting the use of epoxy asphalt in road pavements. This study attempts to explore the performance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) containing reclaimed epoxy asphalt materials. Reclaimed epoxy asphalt was fabricated in the laboratory and incorporated into regular asphalt mixtures at various contents. Specimens were prepared and tested for their performance in comparison with mixtures without RAP. It was found that replacing the coarse aggregates in HMA with epoxy RAP up to 80% did not negatively affect its Marshall stability, tensile strength, and moisture resistance. The plastic deformation at failure of HMA, however, may increase with the increase in epoxy RAP content. At the current stage, the results from this study do not provide evidence to invalidate the use of epoxy RAP in HMA, at least at a coarse aggregate replacement rate of less than 40%.
Business Models Addressing Sustainability Challenges—Towards a New Research Agenda
Authors: Ogrean Claudia , Herciu Mihaela
Published: April 2020

From just another buzzword a few decades ago, sustainability has become a hot topic on strategists’ agenda—and it is here to stay. The growing pressures on businesses to address the ever-complex sustainability challenges and to (consequently) assess their performance against a variety of sustainability-related goals are imperatively asking for a new paradigm—grounded on a global business ethics perspective and able to support a fundamental change in the traditional ways of doing business; placed at the heart of any company’s way of doing business, business models are instrumental in these transformative changes, both as triggers (in the short run) and backbones (in the medium to long run). Building on existing literature and capitalizing on the opportunities provided by inter- and trans-disciplinary research, this theoretical analysis aims to (re)frame the (research in) search of the most appropriate business models to address sustainability challenges. Thus, the purpose of the study is: (1) To advocate for a complex yet contingent approach at the business level—able to capture the bigger picture (the sustainability imperative) without missing its idiosyncrasies (the best fitted to the business model context)—when searching for strategic performance; (2) to propose an integrative, multi-level conceptual framework (able to provide widespread synergies for companies and their broader environment) as guidance for this kind of approach, and to suggest specific directions with respect to its implementation.
Multi-Objective Optimum Design of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Sustainable Energy Supply to a Green Cellular Networks
Authors: Hossain Md. Sanwar , Jahid Abu , Ziaul Islam Khondoker , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Rahman Md. Fayzur
Published: April 2020

A hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)/biomass generator (BG) energy-trading framework between grid supply and base stations (BSs) is proposed in this article to address the power crisis of the utility grid, to enhance energy self-reliance, and to downsize the cost. The optimal size, technical criteria, energy generation, and different types of costs have been evaluated considering the dynamic behavior of solar radiation, traffic arrival intensity, and average biomass energy potential. Additionally, the wireless network performance in terms of total achievable throughput, spectral efficiency (SE), and energy efficiency (EE) are extensively examined using the MATLAB-based Monte-Carlo simulations taking multipath fading, system bandwidth, transmission power, and inter-cell interference (ICI) into consideration. The numerical results demonstrate that the energy-trading facility can achieve net present cost (NPC) and greenhouse gas saving up to 3.20% and 65.8%, respectively. In the end, the performance of the hybrid solar PV/BG system has been thoroughly compared with the standalone solar PV, hybrid PV/wind turbine (WT), and hybrid PV/diesel generator (DG) systems under on-grid and off-grid configurations for benchmarking.
Critical Thinking Using Project-Based Learning: The Case of The Agroecological Market at the “Universitat Politècnica de València”
Authors: Aránguiz Pablo , Palau-Salvador Guillermo , Belda Ana , Peris Jordi
Published: April 2020

Higher education institutions play an important role in the transition processes to sustainable development through developing critical thinking (CT) in their students. The case of the Research Methodology course of the International Cooperation Master’s degree at the Universitat Politècnica de València is a paradigmatic case of experiential learning, where students face their own realities related to sustainable topics through an action research project with the Agroecological Market (AM). The learning methodology is project-based learning and helps the participants to deeply analyze problems related to the transition of socio-technical systems, such as sustainable food. The objective of this research was to analyze the contribution of project-based learning to students’ critical thinking through a qualitative analysis of the pedagogical outputs obtained during the course. The analysis and results are structured in three dimensions of critical thinking: (i) students’ critical attitude towards reality; (ii) students’ ability to reason and analyze in order to form their own rigorous judgments; and (iii) students’ capacity to construct and deconstruct their own experiences and meanings. The results show that project-based learning using a real-life scenario helped students reflect on their critical thinking and the challenges that our societies face for a transition to sustainability.
Economic Gain vs. Ecological Pain—Environmental Sustainability in Economies Based on Renewable Biological Resources
Authors: Pedersen Simen , Gangås Kristin E. , Chetri Madhu , Andreassen Harry P.
Published: April 2020

There are two main international strategies concerning how to ensure a sustainable environment: one is to develop a globally bio-based economy, or bioeconomy, to meet the increased demand of goods and products to maintain our well-being and to reduce climate change. On the other hand, there is an aim to decrease the negative impacts on nature and natural habitats to conserve and maintain ecosystems and control the loss of biodiversity. There is a trade-off between these two strategies; as we increase the commitment to the bioeconomy by intensifying biomass production, we will simultaneously challenge biodiversity through the increased pressure on, and the utilization of, biological raw materials. Here, we first review and discuss the challenges and opportunities in terrestrial and marine ecosystems for the production of biomass for the bioeconomy. We focus on the trade-offs between economic sustainability on one hand, and environmental sustainability and resilience on the other hand. We conclude with a discussion of the various bioeconomy strategies. Finally, we present a conceptual model on how to sustainably develop the bioeconomies (by introducing the concept of optimizing the economic gain/ecological pain ratio) to be able to manage the biodiversity in a sustainable way.
A Study of the Relative Stock Market Performance of Companies Recognized for Supporting Gender Equality Policies and Practices
Authors: Badea Leonardo , Armeanu Daniel Ştefan , Nițescu Dan Costin , Murgu Valentin , Panait Iulian , Kuzman Boris
Published: April 2020

This paper explores the relative stock market performance of well-diversified gender equality equity indices in comparison with the overall market, taking both a cross-sectoral and a financial sector approach, for the period January 2017 to March 2020, with a sample of 11 indices and 834 daily observations, and using several different statistical and econometric methods. Our results show a high level of dynamic conditional correlation of daily returns among the gender equality and the overall indices. We also found comparable levels of conditional volatility (resulting from an Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH)model) and an elevated degree of synchronization of the volatility regimes (identified by a Markov switching model). Calibrating simple linear quantile regressions, we found that the value of the slope coefficients of the hypothetical linear relationship between the gender equality indices and the overall market indices are close to one, and relatively stable in relation with the value of the quantile. Using separate Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models for the cross-sectoral indices and for the financial sector indices, we found only very little evidence of causality and spill-over effects. Based on these results, we argue that the daily returns of the gender equality indices exhibited very similar characteristics with the daily returns of the overall market indices. In our interpretation, this could mean that, limited to our sample and methods of investigation, there were not significant differences in the investors’ preferences towards the equity issued by public companies committed to supporting gender equality, in comparison with their approach towards listed equity in general. It could also mean that investors do not yet anticipate the significantly different financial performance of listed companies stemming from their approach towards gender equality.
Work–Life Balance, Organizations and Social Sustainability: Analyzing Female Telework in Spain
Authors: Gálvez Ana , Tirado Francisco , Martínez M. Jesús
Published: April 2020

The concept of work–life balance has recently established itself as a key component on route maps drawn up in the pursuit of social sustainability, both on a local scale, represented by individual organizations, and on a more general one, represented by global institutions such as the United Nations. Our article analyzes telework’s use as a political tool within organizations that either boost or hinder the development of social sustainability. Additionally, we propose the notion of “life sustainability” to analyze how female teleworkers describe the link between specific work cultures and the possibility of fulfilling social sustainability goals in local work environments through the achievement of a good work–life balance. Our research was performed following a qualitative approach, drawing from a sample of 24 individual interviews and 10 focus groups with a total of 48 participants, all of which are female teleworkers with family responsibilities. Our main findings allow us to summarize the interviewees’ social perceptions into two categories, which we have dubbed ‘life sustainability ecologies’ and ‘presence-based ecologies’. We conclude by discussing female teleworkers’ claim that work–life balance is directly linked to social sustainability and that the latter goal will remain out of reach as long as the issue of balance goes unresolved.
Are Protected Geographical Indications Evolving Due to Environmentally Related Justifications? An Analysis of Amendments in the Fruit and Vegetable Sector in the European Union
Authors: Marescotti Andrea , Quiñones-Ruiz Xiomara F. , Edelmann Hanna , Belletti Giovanni , Broscha Kristina , Altenbuchner Christine , Penker Marianne , Scaramuzzi Silvia
Published: April 2020

Protected designations of origin (PDO) and Protected geographical indications (PGI) in the European Union have been recognized through a sound legal framework for more than three decades. We are recently witnessing an increased number of amendments to the product specifications of registered PDO/PGI. This paper aims to understand how PDO/PGI for the fruit and vegetables product class have evolved. Until 31 December 2018, there were 379 PDO/PGI registered under the fruit and vegetables product class and 81 amendments approved. We designed a coding guideline to: (i) analyze all the amendments to the product specifications; (ii) identify the type of rules that were modified; (iii) find out whether the amendments resulted in more flexible or more restrictive rules, and (iv) the respective justifications given by producers. We designed a database to manage all the information. Overall, amendments brought more flexible rules (particularly in Italy and Spain), while France showed a more diversified situation. Concerning the justifications stated by producers for amending the product specification, market changes, available new technology, and strengthening product quality were the most important, while environmental concerns were less relevant. Then, we in-depth analyzed the amendments that were explicitly justified with environmental reasons. The analysis showed only a light movement towards more environment-friendly rules, although environmental justifications were often used “indirectly”, as a means to achieve better marketing competitiveness, meeting new market demand and reducing production costs. These results seem consistent with previous studies, which indicated market forces as a primary motivation to amend product specifications.
Development of a Decision Support Model Based on Machine Learning for Applying Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology
Authors: Lee Sungwoo , Tae Sungho
Published: April 2020

Multiple nations have implemented policies for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction since the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. In this convention, participants voluntarily agreed to a new climate regime that aimed to decrease GHG emissions. Subsequently, a reduction in GHG emissions with specific reduction technologies (renewable energy) to decrease energy consumption has become a necessity and not a choice. With the launch of the Korean Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) in 2015, Korea has certified and financed GHG reduction projects to decrease emissions. To help the user make informed decisions for economic and environmental benefits from the use of renewable energy, an assessment model was developed. This study establishes a simple assessment method (SAM), an assessment database (DB) of 1199 GHG reduction technologies implemented in Korea, and a machine learning-based GHG reduction technology assessment model (GRTM). Additionally, we make suggestions on how to evaluate economic benefits, which can be obtained in conjunction with the environmental benefits of GHG reduction technology. Finally, we validate the applicability of the assessment model on a public building in Korea.
Sensorless Active and Reactive Control for DFIG Wind Turbines Using Opposition-Based Learning Technique
Authors: Eltamaly Ali Mohamed , Al-Saud Mamdooh , Sayed Khairy , Abo-Khalil Ahmed G.
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a wind speed sensorless control method for doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) control in wind energy systems is proposed. This method is based on using opposition-based learning (OBL) in optimizing the parameters of the support vector regression (SVR) algorithm. These parameters are tuned by applying particle swarm optimization (PSO) method. As a general rule, wind speed measurements are usually done using an anemometer. The measured wind speed by the anemometer is taken at the level of the blades. In a high-power wind turbine, the blade diameter is very large which makes the measurement of the wind speed at a single point inaccurate. Moreover, using anemometers also increases the maintenance cost, complexity and the system cost. Therefore, estimating the wind speed in variable speed wind power systems gives a precise amount of wind speed which is then used in the generator control. The proposed method uses the generator characteristics in mapping a relationship between the generated power, rotational speed and wind speed. This process is carried on off-line and the relationship is then used online to deduce the wind speed based on the obtained relationship. Using OBL with PSO-SVR to tune the SVR parameters accelerates the process to get the optimum parameters in different wind speeds.
Tax Progressivity and Entrepreneurial Dynamics
Authors: Nadirov Orkhan , Dehning Bruce
Published: April 2020

This study examines how tax progressivity affects entrepreneurial dynamics in 18 countries. The results show that increased downside progressivity has a positive influence on the transition rate from nascent entrepreneurship to established business ownership. In addition, only downside progressivity calculated using marginal tax rates is related to the transition ratio, implying that it is marginal tax rates, and not average tax rates, that are used in the entrepreneurial decision-making process. This paper contributes to our understanding of entrepreneurial dynamics and the effect of tax progressivity on the transition from nascent entrepreneurship to established business ownership.
Disease Ecology of Rickettsial Species: A Data Science Approach
Authors: Morand Serge , Chaisiri Kittipong , Kritiyakan Anamika , Kumlert Rawadee
Published: April 2020

We present an approach to assess the disease ecology of rickettsial species by investigating open databases and by using data science methodologies. First, we explored the epidemiological trend and changes of human rickettsial disease epidemics over the years and compared this trend with knowledge on emerging rickettsial diseases given by published reviews. Second, we investigated the global diversity of rickettsial species recorded in humans, domestic animals and wild mammals, using the Enhanced Infectious Disease Database (EID2) and employing a network analysis approach to represent and quantify transmission ecology of rickettsial species among their carriers, arthropod vectors or mammal reservoirs and humans. Our results confirmed previous studies that emphasized the increasing incidence in rickettsial diseases at the onset of 1970. Using the Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network (GIDEON) database, it was even possible to date the start of this increase of global outbreaks in rickettsial diseases in 1971. Network analysis showed the importance of domestic animals and peridomestic mammals in sharing rickettsial diseases with humans and other wild animals, acting as important hubs or connectors for rickettsial transmission.
Diversity of Astroviruses Circulating in Humans, Bats, and Wild Birds in Egypt
Authors: El Taweel Ahmed , Kandeil Ahmed , Barakat Ahmed , Alfaroq Rabiee Omar , Kayali Ghazi , Ali Mohamed Ahmed
Published: April 2020

Astroviruses belong to Astroviridae family which includes two main genera: Mamastroviruses that infect mammals, and Avastroviruses that infect avian hosts. Bats and wild birds are considered among the natural reservoirs for astroviruses. Infections in humans are associated with severe gastroenteritis, especially among children. We conducted surveillance for astroviruses in bats, wild birds, and humans in Egypt. Our results indicated relatively high prevalence of astroviruses in those hosts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed diversity of these viruses within hosts. Detected human viruses showed similarity with classic and variant human astroviruses, as well as similarity with animal-origin viruses. Viruses in bats were dispersed, with similarities to other bat viruses as well as other mammalian, including human, viruses. Wild bird viruses varied and were related to other avastroviruses, as well as human astroviruses. Our results indicate that astroviruses are common in bats, wild birds, and humans in Egypt, with a wide gene pool. Potential cross-species transmission may be occurring but should be verified by further surveillance and molecular studies.
Clinical and Pathological Data of 17 Non-Epithelial Pancreatic Tumors in Cats
Authors: Törner Katrin , Staudacher Marlies , Steiger Katja , Aupperle-Lellbach Heike
Published: April 2020

Tumors of mesenchymal origin are rarely reported in the pancreas. Therefore, this study characterized 17 feline non-epithelial pancreatic tumors, including clinical data, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Seventeen feline pancreatic tissue samples were investigated histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Selected pancreatic and inflammatory serum parameters, e.g., feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI), 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase and serum amyloid A (SAA), were recorded, when available. The neoplasms were characterized as round (n = 13) or spindle (n = 4) cell tumors. Round cell tumors included 12 lymphomas and one mast cell tumor in ectopic splenic tissue within the pancreas. Lymphomas were of T-cell (n = 9) or B-cell (n = 3) origin. These cats showed leukocytosis (3/3) and increased fPLI (5/5), DGGR lipase (3/5) and SAA (4/5) values. Spindle cell tumors included two hemangiosarcomas, one pleomorphic sarcoma and one fibrosarcoma. The cat with pleomorphic sarcoma showed increased SAA value. Overall survival time was two weeks to seven months. These are the first descriptions of a pancreatic pleomorphic sarcoma and a mast cell tumor in accessory spleens within feline pancreas. Although rare, pancreatic tumors should be considered in cats presenting with clinical signs and clinical pathology changes of pancreatitis. Only histopathology can certainly distinguish solitary pancreatitis from a neoplasm with inflammation.