bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Buddhism and Cognitive Sciences in Dialogue: Pedagogical Reflections on Teaching across Disciplines
Authors: Aviv Eyal , Spires Kaleigh
Published: April 2021

In this essay, we, a professor and a student, share our experience of teaching and learning in a class on Buddhism and cognitive science at George Washington University. Our goal is not to argue for one approach over others, but to present a guide on this particular class experience. We offer a description of the course and deliberate on the complexities related to the subject matter. Using empirical data from a survey conducted after the commencement of the course, we reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the class and how it could improve. This essay provides a possible template for other faculty members interested in teaching a similar course to extend the dialogue to a new generation of young scholars.
Eco-Theology and Environmental Leadership in Orthodox and Evangelical Perspectives in Russia and Ukraine
Authors: Negrov Alexander , Malov Alexander
Published: April 2021

Environmental leadership and eco-theology have not been a priority for Evangelical and Orthodox Christians in the countries of the former Soviet Union (particularly, Ukraine and Russia) due to various historical, political, social, and theological reasons. However, contemporary environmental global challenges suggest that both Orthodox and Evangelical Christians should revisit their perspectives and efforts related to responsible stewardship by humankind of the earth and its life forms. This article presents the analysis of multiple forms of data (relevant Orthodox and Evangelical documents, specialized literature, and individual interviews/focus groups). We conducted individual interviews and focus groups with 101 Evangelical and 50 Orthodox Christians from Russia and Ukraine. Although the majority of interviewees agreed that the ecological crisis exists and should be addressed, only some of them admitted that they actively care for creation. While Orthodox Christians are more active in practical care for creation, Evangelicals have a stronger grasp of the biblical teaching concerning nature and humans’ responsibility for it. We argue that Evangelical and Orthodox Churches in Ukraine and Russia can learn from each other and impact their communities: engage minds, touch hearts, feed souls, and respond to environmental challenges as an expression of their faith and leadership.
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Hillslope Erosion Investigated Based on Field Scouring Experiments and Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Li Pengfei , Hao Mingkui , Hu Jinfei , Gao Chendi , Zhao Guangju , Chan Faith Ka Shun , Gao Jianjian , Dang Tianmin , Mu Xingmin
Published: April 2021

Hillslope erosion is an essential source of catchment sediment yield. However, the current understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of field hillslope erosion processes is limited. In this study, fourteen runoff scouring experiments were undertaken on two plots (A and B) established on one field slope of the hilly and gully loess plateau in China. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was employed to investigate soil erosion processes across the hillslopes of the plots. The results demonstrated that the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yields of the hillslopes were more accurate than the TLS-derived consecutive sediment yields (i.e., the sediment yields for individual experiments). The magnitudes of the mean absolute/relative errors for the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yield for slopes A and B were 0.87 kg/25.02% and 1.26 kg/56.82%, respectively, with the linear relation R2 between the calculated and measured values over 0.60 (p < 0.001). The sediment yields from the hillslopes fluctuated considerably even when the runoff production became stable, leading to a weak relationship between the sediment yield and runoff discharge (the R2 values for slopes A and B were 0.57 (p = 0.002) and 0.08 (p = 0.321) for inter-experiments, and 0.37 (p < 0.001) and 0.06 (p = 0.035) for intra-experiments, respectively). The development of hillslope erosion was found to experience three major stages, which included a rapid increase and widespread distribution, a sharp decrease, and a stable distribution of the area with erosion/deposition. The rill development impacted the cumulative erosion and sediment yield rather than the cumulative deposition, with the impacts of rill depth and rill width development being stronger than those of rill length. The peak sediment yield corresponded well with the evolution of rills, partly accounting for the weak relationship between runoff and sediment yield. Our results provide a useful reference for the development of process-based soil erosion models and the establishment of spatially targeted control of soil erosion.
Variations in Channel Centerline Migration Rate and Intensity of a Braided Reach in the Lower Yellow River
Authors: Xia Junqiang , Wang Yingzhen , Zhou Meirong , Deng Shanshan , Li Zhiwei , Wang Zenghui
Published: April 2021

The Yellow River (YR) covers three climatic zones including arid region, semi-arid region and temperate monsoon region, with frequent appearance of flow intermittence in the Lower Yellow River (LYR) before 1999. Channel migration occurs frequently in braided rivers, which is a major focus of study in geomorphology and river dynamics. The braided reach in the LYR is featured by a complexly spatio-temporal variation in channel migration parameters owing to the varying condition of flow and sediment. It is crucial to investigate the migration characteristics of channel centerline for the sake of fully understanding channel evolution. A detailed calculation procedure is proposed to quantify migration rates and intensities of channel centerline at section- and reach-scales, using the measurements of remote sensing images and cross-sectional topography. Migration rates and intensities of channel centerline at section- and reach-scales from 1986 to 2016 were calculated, with the characteristics and key factors to control the migration intensity of channel centerline being identified quantitatively. Calculated results indicate that: (i) the mean probability of centerline migrating toward the left side was approximately equal to the probability of rightward migration from a long-term sequence; (ii) the mean reach-scale migration rate of channel centerline was reduced from 410 m/yr in 1986–1999 to 185 m/yr in 1999–2016, with a reduction of 55% owing to the Xiaolangdi Reservoir operation in 1999, and the mean reach-scale migration intensity of channel centerline was decreased from 0.28 to 0.16 m/(yr·m), with a reduction of 43%; (iii) the incoming flow-sediment regime was a dominant factor affecting the degree of channel migration, although the channel boundary conditions could influence the intensity of channel migration; and (iv) the reach-scale migration intensity of channel centerline can be written as a power function of the previous two-year average incoming sediment coefficient or fluvial erosion intensity, and the reach-scale migration intensities of channel centerline calculated using the proposed relations are generally in close agreement with the measurements over the period of 30 years.
Ground-Penetrating Radar Prospections in Lecce Cathedral: New Data about the Crypt and the Structures under the Church
Authors: Leucci Giovanni , De Giorgi Lara , Ditaranto Immacolata , Miccoli Ilaria , Scardozzi Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Lecce is a city located in the southern part of the Apulia region (south Italy). Its subsoil is rich in the remains of superimposed ancient settlements from the Messapian period (7th–3rd century BC) to the Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Lecce Cathedral is one of the most important buildings in the town. It was built in the 12th century and transformed in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out in the cathedral and its crypt with the aim to evidence both probably buried structures related to the known crypt and other features such as tombs. The GPR investigations allow us to locate many features under the floor of the church. Some of them are unknown and could belong to the previous building of the Romanesque period. Furthermore, most of the identified structures are related to tombs and underground rooms (ossuaries). Under the crypt floor, six tombs of the 19th and 20th centuries and other ancient structures were documented.
Hyperspectral Data Simulation (Sentinel-2 to AVIRIS-NG) for Improved Wildfire Fuel Mapping, Boreal Alaska
Authors: Badola Anushree , Panda Santosh K. , Roberts Dar A. , Waigl Christine F. , Bhatt Uma S. , Smith Christopher W. , Jandt Randi R.
Published: April 2021

Alaska has witnessed a significant increase in wildfire events in recent decades that have been linked to drier and warmer summers. Forest fuel maps play a vital role in wildfire management and risk assessment. Freely available multispectral datasets are widely used for land use and land cover mapping, but they have limited utility for fuel mapping due to their coarse spectral resolution. Hyperspectral datasets have a high spectral resolution, ideal for detailed fuel mapping, but they are limited and expensive to acquire. This study simulates hyperspectral data from Sentinel-2 multispectral data using the spectral response function of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) sensor, and normalized ground spectra of gravel, birch, and spruce. We used the Uniform Pattern Decomposition Method (UPDM) for spectral unmixing, which is a sensor-independent method, where each pixel is expressed as the linear sum of standard reference spectra. The simulated hyperspectral data have spectral characteristics of AVIRIS-NG and the reflectance properties of Sentinel-2 data. We validated the simulated spectra by visually and statistically comparing it with real AVIRIS-NG data. We observed a high correlation between the spectra of tree classes collected from AVIRIS-NG and simulated hyperspectral data. Upon performing species level classification, we achieved a classification accuracy of 89% for the simulated hyperspectral data, which is better than the accuracy of Sentinel-2 data (77.8%). We generated a fuel map from the simulated hyperspectral image using the Random Forest classifier. Our study demonstrated that low-cost and high-quality hyperspectral data can be generated from Sentinel-2 data using UPDM for improved land cover and vegetation mapping in the boreal forest.
Spatial-Temporal Distribution of the Freeze–Thaw Cycle of the Largest Lake (Qinghai Lake) in China Based on Machine Learning and MODIS from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Han Weixiao , Huang Chunlin , Gu Juan , Hou Jinliang , Zhang Ying
Published: April 2021

The lake ice phenology variations are vital for the land–surface–water cycle. Qinghai Lake is experiencing amplified warming under climate change. Based on the MODIS imagery, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the ice phenology of Qinghai Lake were analyzed using machine learning during the 2000/2001 to 2019/2020 ice season, and cloud gap-filling procedures were applied to reconstruct the result. The results showed that the overall accuracy of the water–ice classification by random forest and cloud gap-filling procedures was 98.36% and 92.56%, respectively. The annual spatial distribution of the freeze-up and break-up dates ranged primarily from DOY 330 to 397 and from DOY 70 to 116. Meanwhile, the decrease rates of freeze-up duration (DFU), full ice cover duration (DFI), and ice cover duration (DI) were 0.37, 0.34, and 0.13 days/yr., respectively, and the duration was shortened by 7.4, 6.8, and 2.6 days over the past 20 years. The increased rate of break-up duration (DBU) was 0.58 days/yr. and the duration was lengthened by 11.6 days. Furthermore, the increase in temperature resulted in an increase in precipitation after two years; the increase in precipitation resulted in the increase in DBU and decrease in DFU in corresponding years, and decreased DI and DFI after one year.
Design and Implementation of 2D MIMO-Based Optical Camera Communication Using a Light-Emitting Diode Array for Long-Range Monitoring System
Authors: Nguyen Huy , Nguyen Vanhoa , Nguyen Conghoan , Bui Van , Jang Yeongmin
Published: April 2021

Wireless technologies that use radio frequency (RF) waveforms are common in wireless communication systems, such as the mobile communication, satellite system, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems. It is more advantageous than wired communication because of the ease of installation. However, it can negatively impact human health if high frequencies are used to transmit data. Therefore, researchers are exploring the potential of optical wireless communication as an alternative, which uses the visible light bandwidth instead of RF waveforms. Three possibilities are being investigated: visible light communication, light fidelity, and optical camera communication. In this paper, we propose a multiple-input multiple-output modulation scheme using a light-emitting diode (LED) array, which is applicable to the IoT system, based on on–off keying modulation in the time domain. This scheme is compatible with the two popular types of camera in the market, rolling shutter cameras and global shutter cameras, as well as the closed-circuit television camera, which is used in factories, buildings, etc. Despite the small size of the LED array, implementing this scheme with 10 links in different positions at a communication distance of 20 m is possible for efficient performance (low error rate) by controlling the exposure time, shutter speed, focal length, channel coding and applying the matched filter.
Privacy-Preserving Task-Matching and Multiple-Submissions Detection in Crowdsourcing
Authors: Xu Jie , Lin Zhaowen , Wu Jun
Published: April 2021

Crowdsourcing enables requesters to publish tasks to a platform and workers are rewarded for performing tasks of interest. It provides an efficient and low-cost way to aggregate data and solve problems that are difficult for computers but simple for humans. However, the privacy risks and challenges are still widespread. In the real world, the task content may be sensitive and only workers who meet specific requirements or possess certain skills are allowed to acquire and perform it. When these distributed workers submit their task answers, their identity or attribute privacy may also be exposed. If workers are allowed to submit anonymously, they may have the chance to repeat their answers so as to get more rewards. To address these issues, we develop a privacy-preserving task-matching and multiple-submissions detection scheme based on inner-product cryptography and proof of knowledge (PoK) protocol in crowdsourcing. In such a construction, multi-authority inner-product encryption is introduced to protect task confidentiality and achieve fine-grained task-matching based on the attributes of workers. The PoK protocol helps to restrict multiple submissions. For one task, a suitable worker could only submit once without revealing his/her identity. Moreover, different tasks for one worker are unlinkable. Furthermore, the implementation analysis shows that the scheme is effective and feasible.
A Membrane Filter-Assisted Mammalian Cell-Based Biosensor Enabling 3D Culture and Pathogen Detection
Authors: Cho Il-Hoon , Jeon Jin-Woo , Choi Min-Ji , Cho Hyun-Mo , Lee Jong-Sung , Kim Dong-Hyung
Published: April 2021

We have developed a membrane filter-assisted cell-based biosensing platform by using a polyester membrane as a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture scaffold in which cells can be grown by physical attachment. The membrane was simply treated with ethanol to increase surficial hydrophobicity, inducing the stable settlement of cells via gravity. The 3D membrane scaffold was able to provide a relatively longer cell incubation time (up to 16 days) as compared to a common two-dimensional (2D) cell culture environment. For a practical application, we fabricated a cylindrical cartridge to support the scaffold membranes stacked inside the cartridge, enabling not only the maintenance of a certain volume of culture media but also the simple exchange of media in a flow-through manner. The cartridge-type cell-based analytical system was exemplified for pathogen detection by measuring the quantities of toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) induced by applying a lysate of P. aeruginosa and live E. coli, respectively, providing a fast, convenient colorimetric TLR1 immunoassay. The color images of membranes were digitized to obtain the response signals. We expect the method to further be applied as an alternative tool to animal testing in various research areas such as cosmetic toxicity and drug efficiency.
Hyperspectral Imaging for Bloodstain Identification
Authors: Zulfiqar Maheen , Ahmad Muhammad , Sohaib Ahmed , Mazzara Manuel , Distefano Salvatore
Published: April 2021

Blood is key evidence to reconstruct crime scenes in forensic sciences. Blood identification can help to confirm a suspect, and for that reason, several chemical methods are used to reconstruct the crime scene however, these methods can affect subsequent DNA analysis. Therefore, this study presents a non-destructive method for bloodstain identification using Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI, 397–1000 nm range). The proposed method is based on the visualization of heme-components bands in the 500–700 nm spectral range. For experimental and validation purposes, a total of 225 blood (different donors) and non-blood (protein-based ketchup, rust acrylic paint, red acrylic paint, brown acrylic paint, red nail polish, rust nail polish, fake blood, and red ink) samples (HSI cubes, each cube is of size 1000 × 512 × 224, in which 1000 × 512 are the spatial dimensions and 224 spectral bands) were deposited on three substrates (white cotton fabric, white tile, and PVC wall sheet). The samples are imaged for up to three days to include aging. Savitzky Golay filtering has been used to highlight the subtle bands of all samples, particularly the aged ones. Based on the derivative spectrum, important spectral bands were selected to train five different classifiers (SVM, ANN, KNN, Random Forest, and Decision Tree). The comparative analysis reveals that the proposed method outperformed several state-of-the-art methods.
Geocorrection of Airborne Mid-Wave Infrared Imagery for Mapping Wildfires without GPS or IMU
Authors: Ifimov Gabriela , Naprstek Tomas , Johnston Joshua M. , Arroyo-Mora Juan Pablo , Leblanc George , Lee Madeline D.
Published: April 2021

The increase in annual wildfires in many areas of the world has triggered international efforts to deploy sensors on airborne and space platforms to map these events and understand their behaviour. During the summer of 2017, an airborne flight campaign acquired mid-wave infrared imagery over active wildfires in Northern Ontario, Canada. However, it suffered multiple position-based equipment issues, thus requiring a non-standard geocorrection methodology. This study presents the approach, which utilizes a two-step semi-automatic geocorrection process that outputs image mosaics from airborne infrared video input. The first step extracts individual video frames that are combined into orthoimages using an automatic image registration method. The second step involves the georeferencing of the imagery using pseudo-ground control points to a fixed coordinate systems. The output geocorrected datasets in units of radiance can then be used to derive fire products such as fire radiative power density (FRPD). Prior to the georeferencing process, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) associated with the imagery was greater than 200 m. After the georeferencing process was applied, an RMSE below 30 m was reported, and the computed FRPD estimations are within expected values across the literature. As such, this alternative geocorrection methodology successfully salvages an otherwise unusable dataset and can be adapted by other researchers that do not have access to accurate positional information for airborne infrared flight campaigns over wildfires.
Using Stated Preference Valuation to Support Sustainable Marine Fishery Management
Authors: Liu Tzu-Ming , Chen I-Jean , Yuan Ho-Ching Jenny
Published: April 2021

This study uses a random parameters logit (RPL) model to estimate the Taiwanese preference for northern shrimp (NS) products (NSP) with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label. The estimated results show that, ceteris paribus, the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) of Taiwanese consumers for NSP with the MSC label is up to New Taiwan dollar (NTD) 84.86 in comparison to products without the label. Moreover, the price of MSC-labeled NSP has a positive effect on the quantity demanded by Taiwanese consumers. They also prefer products in smaller packages and with shorter certification periods. The positive effect can be explained by the Veblen effect or the fact that sometimes prices are perceived as signals of product quality. However, the effects of preference for smaller packages and shorter certification periods are minimal compared with the effects of preference for MSC-labeled products. When consumers are unfamiliar with products or labels, a high price is a viable marketing strategy. However, the advantage cannot sustain the promotion of products and labels.
The Physico-Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Mg-Rich Synthetic Gypsum Produced in a Rare Earth Refining Plant
Authors: Ayanda Fatai Arolu , Anuar Mohd Firdaus Mohd , Zaibon Syaharudin , Jusop Shamshuddin
Published: April 2021

The physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of the constituents of magnesium-rich synthetic gypsum produced in a rare earth-refining plant located in Gebeng, Pahang, Malaysia was conducted through elemental chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)-analyzer, thermal analysis, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. The crystalline nature of the by-product was studied using FTIR spectroscopy. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Ca and Mg, which are essential macronutrients required by plants and this Ca alongside the high pH (9.17) of MRSG may confer on the material a high acid neutralization capacity. From the result, it was observed that the studied by-product is a heterogeneous crystalline material comprising of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) and other major components such as calcium (magnesium) compounds (hydroxide, oxide, silicates, and carbonate) and sulfur. These aggregates may contribute to give an acid neutralization capacity to MRSG. The XRD study of MRSG indicated a high content of gypsum (45.4%), shown by the d-spacing of 7.609 Å (2-theta 11.63) in the diffractogram. The infrared absorption spectra of MRSG indicate close similarities to mined gypsum. The results of the characterization indicated that MRSG has valuable properties that can promote its use in amending soil fertility constraints on nutrient-deficient tropical acid soils.
Environmental Assessment of the Recycled Paper Production: The Effects of Energy Supply Source
Authors: Ferrara Carmen , De Feo Giovanni
Published: April 2021

The main aim of the study was to assess the environmental performance, through the application of the life cycle assessment, of a recycled paper production process focusing on the energy aspect. The production process occurred in a paper mill that produces packaging paper using paper and cardboard from source separation of municipal solid waste as raw materials. Two scenarios (S1 and S2) were defined by their energy supply sources. A cogeneration (CHP) system using natural gas for the combined production of thermal and electric energy was the source in S1. The Italian electricity grid (using the Italian country mix) and a natural gas boiler were the separate sources for electric and thermal energy, respectively, in S2. Finally, in order to evaluate the environmental effects on the results of the study about the variation in the natural gas supply source, four alternative Italian import mixes (M1, M2, M3, and M4) were defined by varying the contribution of the supplier countries. The environmental impacts were evaluated with ReCiPe 2016 (H) using both midpoint and endpoint approaches. The results showed that for both the scenarios, the energy consumption was the main cause of impacts mainly because of the natural gas contribution. The presence of the cogeneration (CHP) system generated significant environmental benefits compared with the use of energy provided by more conventional sources. The production and use of chemicals as well as the disposal of waste produced during the paper production were other environmental hotspots. The variation in the composition of the Italian import mix of natural gas, in terms of the supplier country’s contribution, had a significant influence on the results. The import of natural gas from Russia was the most impactful option. Since Russia is the country that contributes to the Italian import mix the most, in the next years, the use of natural gas in Italy could become increasingly impactful. Therefore, the replacement of natural gas with renewable sources is an urgent priority.
A Causal Network-Based Risk Matrix Model Applicable to Shield TBM Tunneling Projects
Authors: Chung Heeyoung , Park Jeongjun , Kim Byung-Kyu , Kwon Kibeom , Lee In-Mo , Choi Hangseok
Published: April 2021

The present study compares and analyzes three risk analysis models that are applicable to shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling, and thus proposes an improved risk matrix model based on the causal networks applicable to sustainable tunnel projects. The advantages and disadvantages of three risk analysis models are compared, and causal networks are structured by analyzing the causal relationship between risk factors and risk events. Based on the comparison and analysis results, the causal network-based risk matrix model (CN-Matrix model), which complements the disadvantages and exploits the advantages of the three existing models, is proposed in this paper. Furthermore, this study suggests a means of modifying the weighting scores in the estimation of the risk score, which permits the CN-Matrix model to determine the risk level more reasonably. Thus, the improved CN-Matrix model is more reliable and robust compared to the three existing models.
Activity Scheduling Behavior of the Visitors to an Outdoor Recreational Facility Using GPS Data
Authors: Hidaka Ken , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: April 2021

Understanding the decision-making behavior of pedestrians is essential for urban designers and developers in enhancing the commercial and aesthetic value of streets and other urban spaces. However, limited research has been conducted on the activity scheduling behavior of pedestrians. The majority of the studies conducted on outdoor facilities utilize spatial representations by links and are unable to sufficiently represent the highly flexible behavior of pedestrians. This study proposes a new method to discretize data from the global positioning system (GPS) into a two-dimensional grid-based spatial representation with a high spatial resolution. The information regarding the stay at the point of interests (POIs) is extracted from the discretized data, and the activity scheduling model is estimated. The estimation results indicate that the visitors’ attributes, such as the age of the representative and number of children, affect the probability of the activity choice and the time spent at the POI. The probability of choosing the main gate increases in the latter half of the stay, confirming the existence of time pressure. The information on the decision-making behavior of the visitors to a facility, obtained from the GPS data, can be applied to the data-oriented spatial design process to create attractive and lively spaces.
Environmental Sustainability of Building Retrofit through Vertical Greening Systems: A Life-Cycle Approach
Authors: Perini Katia , Magrassi Fabio , Giachetta Andrea , Moreschi Luca , Gallo Michela , Del Borghi Adriana
Published: April 2021

Urban greening provides a wide range of ecosystem services to address the main challenges of urban areas, e.g., carbon sequestration, evapotranspiration and shade, thermal insulation, and pollution control. This study evaluates the environmental sustainability of a vertical greening system (VGS) built in 2014 in Italy, for which extensive monitoring activities were implemented. The life-cycle assessment methodology was applied to quantify the water–energy–climate nexus of the VGS for 1 m2 of the building’s wall surface. Six different scenarios were modelled according to three different end-of-life scenarios and two different useful lifetime scenarios (10 and 25 years). The environmental impact of global-warming potential and generated energy consumption during the use phase in the VGS scenarios were reduced by 56% in relation to the baseline scenario (wall without VGS), and showed improved environmental performance throughout the complete life cycle. However, the water-scarcity index (WSI) of the VGS scenarios increased by 42%. This study confirms that the installation of VGSs offers a relevant environmental benefit in terms of greenhouse-gas emissions and energy consumption; however, increased water consumption in the use phase may limit the large-scale application of VGSs.
The Barriers to Corporate Social Responsibility in the Nordic Energy Sector
Authors: Latapí Mauricio , Jóhannsdóttir Lára , Davíðsdóttir Brynhildur , Morsing Mette
Published: April 2021

Nordic companies have been at the top of sustainable business rankings since the early 2010s. Some of them are energy companies that have adopted Corporate Social Responsibility to have a positive social impact and become carbon neutral. However, limited literature has analyzed the barriers that Nordic energy companies face while implementing Corporate Social Responsibility. This article aims to identify and categorize the barriers faced by Nordic energy companies. The research is based on empirical data obtained from interviews involving high-level managers from the largest suppliers of energy in the Nordic region. A model is developed, which identifies and categorizes seven barriers at the individual level, seven at the organizational level, and three at the institutional level of analysis. The findings suggest that barriers can be of a direct and indirect nature and can be found across the three levels of analysis. The main contributions of this article are: (1) it identifies and categorizes the barriers that Nordic energy companies face; (2) it defines the barriers as direct and indirect based on their interaction with the company; (3) it presents two models of the barriers and provides empirical evidence that complement the literature; and (4) it contributes to the literature by focusing on the Nordic countries, a region that has received limited attention by scholarly research.
The Experimental Timber–UHPC Composite Bridge
Authors: Holý Milan , Čítek David , Tej Petr , Vráblík Lukáš
Published: April 2021

This paper describes the development of an innovative timber–concrete composite bridge system and especially focuses on the evaluation of the load tests of an experimental bridge structure. The load-bearing structure was designed as glue-laminated timber beams connected with only 60-mm-thick precast bridge deck segments made of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). To verify the production details and behavior of the designed structure, we built a full-scale experimental structure and performed a load test. The load test was arranged as a four-point bending test. First, we performed the overall load test until failure. Some bridge deck segments were consequently cut from the structure in order to run further load tests of the bridge deck in the transversal direction. The results of the experiments were evaluated in detail and compared with analytical calculations.
Actual Symmetry of Symmetric Molecular Adducts in the Gas Phase, Solution and in the Solid State
Authors: Shenderovich Ilya G.
Published: April 2021

This review discusses molecular adducts, whose composition allows a symmetric structure. Such adducts are popular model systems, as they are useful for analyzing the effect of structure on the property selected for study since they allow one to reduce the number of parameters. The main objectives of this discussion are to evaluate the influence of the surroundings on the symmetry of these adducts, steric hindrances within the adducts, competition between different noncovalent interactions responsible for stabilizing the adducts, and experimental methods that can be used to study the symmetry at different time scales. This review considers the following central binding units: hydrogen (proton), halogen (anion), metal (cation), water (hydrogen peroxide).
Extreme Gradient Boosting for Recommendation System by Transforming Product Classification into Regression Based on Multi-Dimensional Word2Vec
Authors: Park Se-Joon , Kang Chul-Ung , Byun Yung-Cheol
Published: April 2021

Now that untact services are widespread and worldwide, the number of users visiting online shopping malls has increased. For example, the recommendation systems in Netflix, Amazon, etc., have gained a lot of attention by attracting many users and have made large profit by recommending suitable products to their users. In the paper, we conduct a study to enhance recommendation accuracy using Word2Vec, widely used in natural language processing. We collect user shopping history with personal click preference information of product items as data, representing a document for natural language processing. The sequence of product item clicks is fed into the Word2Vec technology algorithm to obtain the vectors symmetrically representing all of the product items clicked by users. Training and test data have a series of vectors representing a sequence of the clicked product items as inputs and a purchased product as a target. Machine learning models recommend a product as a symmetric vector for each input and calculate the similarity among the recommended vectors and all other registered products they sell in the system to recommend multiple products as final recommendation results. We use XGBoost regressor and classifier models to recommend some products that users would like and evaluate the recommendation accuracy. A finally recommended product by the models is a vector, and the system recommends some more products by calculating the similarity as mentioned above. We evaluated the classifier model’s recommendation accuracy without Word2Vec encoding first and then with the Word2Vec technique. Meanwhile, we can represent the products with single or multiple dimensional vectors. We noted that the recommendation accuracy increases when we use multiple dimensions of Word2Vec vectors from the experiments. We also evaluated the performances when the system recommends one or multiple products. For the recommendation of multiple products (five here), a regression model has higher accuracy than a classification model in all dimensions of vectors.
ASFV-G-∆I177L as an Effective Oral Nasal Vaccine against the Eurasia Strain of Africa Swine Fever
Authors: Borca Manuel V. , Ramirez-Medina Elizabeth , Silva Ediane , Vuono Elizabeth , Rai Ayushi , Pruitt Sarah , Espinoza Nallely , Velazquez-Salinas Lauro , Gay Cyril G. , Gladue Douglas P.
Published: April 2021

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is currently causing a pandemic affecting wild and domestic swine from Western Europe to Asia. No commercial vaccines are available to prevent African swine fever (ASF), resulting in overwhelming economic losses to the swine industry. We recently developed a recombinant vaccine candidate, ASFVG-ΔI177L, by deleting the I177L gene from the genome of the highly virulent ASFV strain Georgia (ASFV-G). ASFV-G-ΔI177L has been proven safe and highly efficacious in challenge studies using parental ASFV-G. Here, we present data demonstrating that ASFV-G-ΔI177L can be administered by the oronasal (ON) route to achieve a similar efficacy to that of intramuscular (IM) administration. Animals receiving ON ASFV-G-ΔI177L were completely protected against virulent ASFV-G challenge. As previously described, similar results were obtained when ASFV-G-ΔI177L was given intramuscularly. Interestingly, viremias induced in animals inoculated oronasally were lower than those measured in IM-inoculated animals. ASFV-specific antibody responses, mediated by IgG1, IgG2 and IgM, do not differ in animals inoculated by the ON route from that had IM inoculations. Therefore, the ASFV-G-ΔI177L vaccine candidate can be administered oronasally, a critical attribute for potential vaccination of wild swine populations.
Discovery of New Small Molecule Hits as Hepatitis B Virus Capsid Assembly Modulators: Structure and Pharmacophore-Based Approaches
Authors: Senaweera Sameera , Du Haijuan , Zhang Huanchun , Kirby Karen A. , Tedbury Philip R. , Xie Jiashu , Sarafianos Stefan G. , Wang Zhengqiang
Published: April 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulators (CpAMs) have shown promise as potent anti-HBV agents in both preclinical and clinical studies. Herein, we report our efforts in identifying novel CpAM hits via a structure-based virtual screening against a small molecule protein-protein interaction (PPI) library, and pharmacophore-guided compound design and synthesis. Curated compounds were first assessed in a thermal shift assay (TSA), and the TSA hits were further evaluated in an antiviral assay. These efforts led to the discovery of two structurally distinct scaffolds, ZW-1841 and ZW-1847, as novel HBV CpAM hits, both inhibiting HBV in single-digit µM concentrations without cytotoxicity at 100 µM. In ADME assays, both hits displayed extraordinary plasma and microsomal stability. Molecular modeling suggests that these hits bind to the Cp dimer interfaces in a mode well aligned with known CpAMs.
Targeted COVID-19 Vaccination (TAV-COVID) Considering Limited Vaccination Capacities—An Agent-Based Modeling Evaluation
Authors: Jahn Beate , Sroczynski Gaby , Bicher Martin , Rippinger Claire , Mühlberger Nikolai , Santamaria Júlia , Urach Christoph , Schomaker Michael , Stojkov Igor , Schmid Daniela , Weiss Günter , Wiedermann Ursula , Redlberger-Fritz Monika , Druml Christiane , Kretzschmar Mirjam , Paulke-Korinek Maria , Ostermann Herwig , Czasch Caroline , Endel Gottfried , Bock Wolfgang , Popper Nikolas , Siebert Uwe
Published: April 2021

(1) Background: The Austrian supply of COVID-19 vaccine is limited for now. We aim to provide evidence-based guidance to the authorities in order to minimize COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths in Austria. (2) Methods: We used a dynamic agent-based population model to compare different vaccination strategies targeted to the elderly (65 ≥ years), middle aged (45–64 years), younger (15–44 years), vulnerable (risk of severe disease due to comorbidities), and healthcare workers (HCW). First, outcomes were optimized for an initially available vaccine batch for 200,000 individuals. Second, stepwise optimization was performed deriving a prioritization sequence for 2.45 million individuals, maximizing the reduction in total hospitalizations and deaths compared to no vaccination. We considered sterilizing and non-sterilizing immunity, assuming a 70% effectiveness. (3) Results: Maximum reduction of hospitalizations and deaths was achieved by starting vaccination with the elderly and vulnerable followed by middle-aged, HCW, and younger individuals. Optimizations for vaccinating 2.45 million individuals yielded the same prioritization and avoided approximately one third of deaths and hospitalizations. Starting vaccination with HCW leads to slightly smaller reductions but maximizes occupational safety. (4) Conclusion: To minimize COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, our study shows that elderly and vulnerable persons should be prioritized for vaccination until further vaccines are available.
Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices in Dogs and Cats by Colombian Veterinarians in the City of Medellin
Authors: Gómez-Beltrán David A. , Schaeffer David J. , Ferguson Duncan C. , Monsalve Laura K. , Villar David
Published: April 2021

This study surveyed the prescribing behavior of Colombian companion animal veterinarians and compared the responses to the current guidelines of the International Society for Companion Animals on Infectious Diseases (ISCAID). A convenience sample of 100 primary-care veterinary practitioners was selected from the city of Medellin. A questionnaire was designed to present hypothetical clinical scenarios regarding prescription choices for systemic antimicrobials. The numbers of veterinarians empirically prescribing a course of systemic antimicrobials for each scenario were—perioperative elective surgeries (86%), superficial pyoderma (90%), lower urinary tract disease (52%), acute hemorrhagic diarrhea (50%), and kennel cough (46%). For urinary tract disease, cultures and susceptibility testing were only performed by half of the respondents, suggesting lower diagnostic standards. In superficial pyoderma cases, cytology was performed in the following percent of cases—0% (24), 20% (30), 40% (17), 60% (11), 80% (8), and 100% (10). Antimicrobials were over-prescribed relative to emerging standard for elective surgeries (86%), kennel cough (46%), and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea (50%). Critically important antimicrobials, such as fluoroquinolones, were applied commonly for superficial pyoderma (18%), kennel cough (12%), and lower urinary tract disease in dogs (20%) and cats (26%). In conclusion, antimicrobial prescribing behavior was inconsistent with current guidelines, and antimicrobial use could be improved by appropriate diagnostic steps allowing choice of an optimal antimicrobial drug. Overall, we documented the widespread use of antimicrobials for the treatment of these four common disease conditions.
Adapting Santiago Method to Determine Appropriate and Resource Efficient Sanitation Systems for an Urban Settlement in Lima Peru
Authors: Nisaa Ainul Firdatun , Krauss Manuel , Spuhler Dorothee
Published: April 2021

The pre-selection of locally appropriate sanitation technologies and systems is crucial for strategic sanitation planning as any decision is only as good as the options presented. One approach that allows us to systematically consider the local conditions and a diverse range of conventional and novel technologies and systems is the Santiago method. In this paper, we discuss whether the Santiago method can be applied to the case of Latin America and what we would gain from this application. We do so by expanding the Santiago technology library with technologies that have been shown to be promising in metropolitan areas of Latin America, such as condominial sewer, container-based sanitation, and activated sludge. We then apply Santiago to the semi-informal settlement Quebrada Verde (QV) in Lima, Peru. Using Santiago, we were able to generate 265,185 sanitation system options from 42 technologies and 18 appropriateness criteria. A set of 17 appropriate and divers are then selected. The diversity is defined by 17 system templates. To further evaluate these 17 systems, resource recovery and loss potentials are quantified. Higher nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and total solids recovery are observed for systems that combine urine diversion and biofuel production. The case of QV shows that the Santiago method is applicable in the Latin American context.
A Review of Photoelectrocatalytic Reactors for Water and Wastewater Treatment
Authors: McMichael Stuart , Fernández-Ibáñez Pilar , Byrne John Anthony
Published: April 2021

The photoexcitation of suitable semiconducting materials in aqueous environments can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can inactivate microorganisms and degrade a range of chemical compounds. In the case of heterogeneous photocatalysis, semiconducting materials may suffer from fast recombination of electron–hole pairs and require post-treatment to separate the photocatalyst when a suspension system is used. To reduce recombination and improve the rate of degradation, an externally applied electrical bias can be used where the semiconducting material is immobilised onto an electrically conducive support and connected to a counter electrode. These electrochemically assisted photocatalytic systems have been termed “photoelectrocatalytic” (PEC). This review will explain the fundamental mechanism of PECs, photoelectrodes, the different types of PEC reactors reported in the literature, the (photo)electrodes used, the contaminants degraded, the key findings and prospects in the research area.
A Simulation of Salt Transport in NaCl-Laden Soil Barrier to Control Subterranean Termites in an Earth Embankment
Authors: Li Ying , Pan Dong-Zi
Published: April 2021

Subterranean termite activity can increase the hydraulic conductivity and water infiltration of filling soil, and therefore affects the stability of an earth embankment and subsequent safety. As a physical barrier for sustainable termite management, NaCl-laden soil barrier (NLSB) is a promising alternative for subterranean termite control in earth embankments. This novel technology can prevent tunneling and penetration of subterranean termites into the interior of an embankment and has been widely employed for more than 20 years in Zhejiang Province, China. The efficacy and longevity of NLSB depend on the long-term presence of NaCl concentration in soil barriers. The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of water flow and salt transport in NLSB based on the two-dimensional Richards’ equation and convection dispersion equation using the HYDRUS software package. Conceptual and numerical models of NLSB are modeled using scenario analysis according to water level fluctuations, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and rainfall infiltration conditions. Furthermore, the center and spread variance of a solute mass over a 100-year period are quantified using moment analysis. As flood frequency, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and rainfall infiltration flux increase, salt desalination in NLSB significantly increases. When the rainfall infiltration flux is 1% of the annual average rainfall, the total amount of salt transport and leaching can increase by 55%. Moreover, these results facilitate better long-term sustainable management of existing sites and optimal design of future NLSBs.
Phytoplankton Community in the Western South China Sea in Winter and Summer
Authors: Ding Changling , Sun Jun , Narale Dhiraj , Liu Haijiao
Published: April 2021

Phytoplankton are known as important harbingers of climate change in aquatic ecosystems. Here, the influence of the oceanographic settings on the phytoplankton community structure in the western South China Sea (SCS) was investigated during two seasons, i.e., the winter (December 2006) and summer (August–September, 2007). The phytoplankton community was mainly composed of diatoms (192 taxa), dinoflagellates (109 taxa), and cyanobacteria (4 taxa). The chain-forming diatoms and cyanobacteria Trichodesmium were the dominants throughout the study period. The phytoplankton community structure displayed distinct variation between two seasons, shifting from a diatom-dominated regime in winter to a cyanobacteria-dominated system in summer. The increased abundance of overall phytoplankton and cyanobacteria in the water column during the summer signifies the impact of nutrient advection due to upwelling and enriched eddy activity. That the symbiotic cyanobacteria–diatom (Rhizosolenia–Richelia) association was abundant during the winter signifies the influence of cool temperature. On the contrary, Trichodesmium dominance during the summer implies its tolerance to increased temperature. Overall, the two seasonal variations within the local phytoplankton community in the western SCS could simulate their community shift over the forthcoming climatic conditions.
Retraction: Roche et al. An Accessible Pre-Design Calculation Tool to Support the Definition of EV Components. World Electr. Veh. J. 2015, 7, 101–113
Authors:   World Electric Vehicle Association
Published: April 2021

The journal retracts the article, “An accessible pre-design calculation tool to support the definition of EV components” [...]