bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growing Biodiverse Urban Futures: Renaturalization and Rewilding as Strategies to Strengthen Urban Resilience
Authors: Lehmann Steffen
Published: March 2021

How are our cities using nature-based solutions to confront the challenges posed by a warming climate, the loss of biodiversity and major resource depletion? This article discusses the opportunities and benefits of applying the concepts of regreening and rewilding of cities. The article engages with key sources and summarizes the background and development of regreening and nature-based solutions and important policies, concerns and perspectives of international and national organizations. It introduces the integration of nature-based solutions (NBS) as a strategy in urban planning with the aim to strengthen urban resilience and to slow down the biodiversity decline. Rewilding areas in cities has become a powerful strategy to bring back butterflies, insects, birds, and wildlife. In contrast to highly managed parks and gardens, these rewilding initiatives are leaving allotted spaces mostly uncultivated and self-regulated. Contact to nature is essential for human existence, urban wellbeing, and good quality of life. Green spaces in cities—big or small—all contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents. However, many cities do not offer residents easy access to green space within the city. Improving the better distribution of and access to green spaces and extending gardens and parks is likely to deliver a large number of benefits, such as: ecosystem services, better water management for enhanced urban flood control, slowing down the biodiversity loss, contributing to food security, and restoring damaged ecosystems. Furthermore, additional green space and NBS help to keep cities cool during heatwaves and improve the urban microclimate. Rewilding has emerged as an important part of new public parks and gardens. The next step is to up-scale citywide climate intervention strategies deployed to keep cities cool. However, as the discussion of this article shows, it is essential that the design of these NBS strategies is fully integrated with other complementary planning interventions and seeks synergies across all sectors.
An Improved Prediction of Pre-Combustion Processes, Using the Discrete Multicomponent Model
Authors: Kabil Islam , Al Qubeissi Mansour , Badra Jihad , Abdelghaffar Walid , Eldrainy Yehia , Sazhin Sergei S. , Im Hong G. , Elwardany Ahmed
Published: March 2021

An improved heating and evaporation model of fuel droplets is implemented into the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software CONVERGE for the simulation of sprays. The analytical solutions to the heat conduction and species diffusion equations in the liquid phase for each time step are coded via user-defined functions (UDF) into the software. The customized version of CONVERGE is validated against measurements for a single droplet of n-heptane and n-decane mixture. It is shown that the new heating and evaporation model better agrees with the experimental data than those predicted by the built-in heating and evaporation model, which does not consider the effects of temperature gradient and assumes infinitely fast species diffusion inside droplets. The simulation of a hollow-cone spray of primary reference fuel (PRF65) is performed and validated against experimental data taken from the literature. Finally, the newly implemented model is tested by running full-cycle engine simulations, representing partially premixed compression ignition (PPCI) using PRF65 as the fuel. These simulations are successfully performed for two start of injection timings, 20 and 25 crank angle (CA) before top-dead-centre (BTDC). The results show good agreement with experimental data where the effect of heating and evaporation of droplets on combustion phasing is investigated. The results highlight the importance of the accurate modelling of physical processes during droplet heating and evaporation for the prediction of the PPCI engine performance.
Simulation-Based Decision Support System to Improve Material Flow of a Textile Company
Authors: Silva Vítor , Ferreira Luís Pinto , Silva Francisco J. G. , Tjahjono Benny , Ávila Paulo
Published: March 2021

To remain competitive, companies must continuously improve the processes at hand, be they administrative, production, or logistics. The objective of the study described in this paper was to develop a decision-making tool based on a simulation model to support the production of knits and damask fabrics. The tool was used to test different control strategies for material flow, from the raw material warehouse to the finished product warehouse, and thus can also be used to evaluate the impacts of these strategies on the productivity. The data upon which the decision support tool was built were collected from five sectors of the plant: the raw material warehouse, knit production, damask production, finishing work, and the finished product warehouse. The decision support tool met the objectives of the project, with all five strategies developed showing positive results. Knit and damask production rates increased by up to 8% and 44%, respectively, and a reduction of 75% was observed in the waiting time on the point of entry to the finishing work area, compared to the company’s existing system.
Machine Learning-Based Node Characterization for Smart Grid Demand Response Flexibility Assessment
Authors: Krč Rostislav , Kratochvílová Martina , Podroužek Jan , Apeltauer Tomáš , Stupka Václav , Pitner Tomáš
Published: March 2021

As energy distribution systems evolve from a traditional hierarchical load structure towards distributed smart grids, flexibility is increasingly investigated as both a key measure and core challenge of grid balancing. This paper contributes to the theoretical framework for quantifying network flexibility potential by introducing a machine learning based node characterization. In particular, artificial neural networks are considered for classification of historic demand data from several network substations. Performance of the resulting classifiers is evaluated with respect to clustering analysis and parameter space of the models considered, while the bootstrapping based statistical evaluation is reported in terms of mean confusion matrices. The resulting meta-models of individual nodes can be further utilized on a network level to mitigate the difficulties associated with identifying, implementing and actuating many small sources of energy flexibility, compared to the few large ones traditionally acknowledged.
The Influence of Consumer Behavior on Climate Change: The Case of Switzerland
Authors: Matasci Cecilia , Gauch Marcel , Böni Heinz , Wäger Patrick
Published: March 2021

Reducing material flows and their associated environmental impacts substantially contributes to moving toward a more sustainable society. Both individual consumption behavior and governmental regulations play a crucial role in reaching sustainability goals. In this article, we present a Material Flow Analysis combined with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment of the Swiss economy. Results were linked to an analysis of consumption patterns. This allowed us to evaluate the direct influence of consumer behavior on national greenhouse gas emissions using a consumption-based approach and the quantification of the range of these emissions from different lifestyles. We conclude that the consumer has a direct influence on slightly more than 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the Domestic Material Consumption. If everybody were to behave like the 20% of the population with the most climate-friendly behavior, emissions would decrease by merely 16%. Cooperation between stakeholders at all levels of society is therefore needed. This study provides a contribution to decreasing material and energy consumption and defining possible future pathways with the final aim to bring anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions down to zero in Switzerland.
Integrated Application of Rapeseed Cake and Green Manure Enhances Soil Nutrients and Microbial Communities in Tea Garden Soil
Authors: Fu Haiping , Li Huan , Yin Peng , Mei Huiling , Li Jianjie , Zhou Pinqian , Wang Yuanjiang , Ma Qingping , Jeyaraj Anburaj , Thangaraj Kuberan , Chen Xuan , Li Xinghui , Guo Guiyi
Published: March 2021

(1) Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer application on the soil nutrients and microbiota in tea garden soil. (2) Method: Illumina Hiseq sequencing technique was conducted to analyze the microbial diversity and density in different fertilizer-applied tea garden soil. (3) Results: The results showed that Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the predominant bacterial species observed in the tea garden soil. Besides, the relative abundance of Basidiomycota, Ascomycota and Zygomycota fungal species were higher in the tea garden soil. Correlation analysis revealed that Acidibacter and Acidothermus were significantly correlated with chemical properties (such as total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP) contents) of the tea garden soil. Furthermore, all these microbes were abundant in medium rapeseed cake (MRSC) + green manure (GM) treated tea garden soil. (4) Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, we conclude that the application of MRSC + GM could be a preferred fertilizer to increase the soil nutrients (TOC, TP and AP content) and microbial population in the tea garden soil.
Performance Evaluation of a Vortex Induced Piezoelectric Energy Converter (VIPEC) with CFD Approach
Authors: An Xinyu , Huang Haocai , Song Baowei , Ma Congcong
Published: March 2021

A novel vortex induced piezoelectric energy converter (VIPEC) was present in this paper to harvest flow kinetic energy from the ambient environment through a piezoelectric beam. The converter consists of a circular cylinder, a pivoted beam attached to the tail of the cylinder and several piezoelectric patches. Vortex induced pressure difference acts on the beam and drives the beam to squeeze piezo patches to convert fluid dynamic energy into electric energy. Transition Shear Stress Transport (SST) combined with Scale Adaptive Simulation (SAS) model was employed to predict the turbulent flow and flow separation around the cylinder with various beam lengths at high Reynolds number of 8 × 104 based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The accuracy of SST-SAS model was investigated through verification and validation studies. The output voltage equation was derived from the piezoelectric constitutive equation. It was revealed that the beam length influences the flow wake pattern, the separation angle and shedding frequency greatly through changing the adverse pressure gradient around the cylinder. The wake pattern becomes symmetrical about the beam when the beam length is longer than a critical value. The length of the beam has little influence on the separation angle. When the beam length is about 1.3 times the diameter of the cylinder, the shedding frequency and output voltage achieves its maximum, and the separation angle is minimal. Maximal output voltage reaches 20 mV.
Low Inertia Systems Frequency Variation Reduction with Fine-Tuned Smart Energy Controllers
Authors: Patsalides Minas , Papadimitriou Christina N. , Efthymiou Venizelos
Published: March 2021

The distributed and stochastic nature of Renewable Power Sources is certainly forming considerable challenges for the operation of the power system. Specifically, the stability of the system can be jeopardized when the penetration of inverter-based systems is high. Storage and the proper design of controllers is seen as part of the solution for supporting the future expansion of distributed systems. Thus, control strategies need to be designed to provide the appropriate support to the system and be capable of keeping the variation of the frequency within limits to keep the reliability of the system as high as possible. The main challenge is the appropriate parameterization of these distributed controllers and their coordination under the integrated grid approach in securing the stability of the system at all times. In this paper, a smart energy controller is utilized and incorporated into the projection case study for Cyprus’ real distribution grid for the year 2050 to evaluate its behavior and identify possible weaknesses in its usage. It was found that the parameterization and not only the architecture of such controllers is crucial in coping with the frequency variation and stability problem. From the simulation work and recorded results, it was observed that the smart energy controllers can maintain frequency variation within the desirable range when the parametrization of the controllers is chosen appropriately. This specific observation highlights the need to evaluate and configure the smart controllers while operating in the field, and possibly further research is required to provide the advanced capability to such systems to adjust dynamically during field operation, thereby achieving better response during abnormal conditions.
Validation of the Velocity Optimization for a Ropeway Passing over a Support
Authors: Wenin Markus , Ladurner Siegfried , Reiterer Daniel , Bertotti Maria Letizia , Modanese Giovanni
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we present a successful experimental validation of the velocity optimization for a cable car passing over a support. We apply the theoretical strategy developed in a previous work, refined by taking into account in a simple manner the hauling cable dynamics. The experiments at the ropeway Postal–Verano (South Tirol, Italy) have shown a significant reduction of the pendulum angle amplitude for both the descent and the ascending rides, as predicted from simulations. Furthermore, we measured a smoother progress of the torque at the driving engine during the vehicle support crossings.
Emergy-Based Assessment and Suggestions for Sustainable Development of Regional Ecological Economy: A Case Study of Anhui Province, China
Authors: Wang Cui , Zhang Yingyan , Liu Conghu , Hu Fagang , Zhou Shuling , Zhu Juan
Published: March 2021

In view of the coordination of economy, society, and environment in the process of the rapid development of the regional economy, this study proposes the evaluation method of sustainable development of a regional economy on the basis of emergy. The study also constructed an evaluation index system of sustainable development of regional ecological economy from four aspects, namely, structural, functional, and ecological efficiency, and sustainable development index. The objective was to comprehensively evaluate the quality and environmental friendliness of regional economic development. On this basis, this study measured and evaluated the sustainable development of the ecological economy in Anhui Province by using emergy to analyze the statistical data of the economic development of Anhui Province, China, from 2010 to 2018. The study also provides targeted decision-making suggestions for the sustainable and high-quality development of the Anhui economy. Furthermore, this study provides a measure and evaluation method for the sustainable development of the regional economy and effective policy recommendations, which have important theoretical and practical significance.
Vehicular Communications Utility in Road Safety Applications: A Step toward Self-Aware Intelligent Traffic Systems
Authors: Zadobrischi Eduard , Dimian Mihai
Published: March 2021

The potential of wireless technologies is significant in the area of the safety and efficiency of road transport and communications systems. The challenges and requirements imposed by end users and competent institutions demonstrate the need for viable solutions. A common protocol by which there could be vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-road communications is ideal for avoiding collisions and road accidents, all in a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). Ways of transmitting warning messages simultaneously by vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications by various multi-hop routings are set out. Approaches to how to improve communication reliability by achieving low latency are addressed through the multi-channel (MC) technique based on two non-overlaps for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-road (V2R) or road-to-vehicle (R2V) communications. The contributions of this paper offer an opportunity to use common communication adaptable protocols, depending on the context of the situation, coding techniques, scenarios, analysis of transfer rates, and reception of messages according to the type of protocol used. Communications between the road infrastructure and users through a relative communication protocol are highlighted and simulated in this manuscript. The results obtained by the proposed and simulated scenarios demonstrate that it is complementary and that the common node of V2V/V2R (R2V) communication protocols substantially improves the process of transmitting messages in low-latency conditions and is ideal for the development of road safety systems.
High Prevalence of Genogroup I and Genogroup II Picobirnaviruses in Dromedary Camels
Authors: Teng Jade L. L. , Wernery Ulrich , Wong Po Chun , Chan Elaine , Lee Hwei Huih , Joseph Sunitha , Bai Ru , Tang Ying , Wong Emily Y. M. , Lau Susanna K. P. , Woo Patrick C. Y.
Published: March 2021

Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are small non-enveloped bisegmented double-stranded RNA viruses found in humans, mammals, and birds. Increasing molecular epidemiology studies suggest a high sequence diversity of PBVs in numerous hosts and the environment. In this study, using 229 fecal samples from dromedary camels in Dubai, 52.8% were positive for PBVs, of which 77.7% and 41.3% were positive for genogroup I and II, respectively, and 19.0% were positive for both genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed high diversity among the sequences of genogroup I and II dromedary PBVs. Marked nucleotide polymorphisms were observed in 75.5% and 46.0% of genogroup I and II RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) sequences, respectively, suggesting the co-existence of multiple strains in the same specimen. Both high genetic diversity and prevalence of genogroup I and II PBV in dromedaries were observed. In fact, the prevalence of genogroup II PBV in dromedaries is the highest among all animals to date. The complete/near-complete core genomes of five genogroup I and one genogroup II dromedary PBVs and partial segment 1 and 2 of both genotypes were also sequenced. The dromedary PBV genome organizations were similar to those of other animals. Genetic reassortment and mutation are both important in the ecology and evolution of PBVs.
In Memory of Two Pioneers in the Complement Field—Sir Peter J. Lachmann, 1931–2020 & Robert B. Sim, 1951–2021
Authors: Würzner Reinhard
Published: March 2021

With deep sadness, we have to accept that two cornerstones, not just of British immunology, but also world-famous scientists in the field of complement research, passed away within the margin of a few weeks: Peter Julius Lachmann on 26 December 2020 (Figure 1), and Robert Braidwood Sim (known to everyone as Bob) on 6 February 2021 (Figure 2) [...]
Virological Factors Associated with Failure to the Latest Generation of Direct Acting Agents (DAA) and Re-Treatment Strategy: A Narrative Review
Authors: Onorato Lorenzo , Pisaturo Mariantonietta , Starace Mario , Minichini Carmine , Di Fraia Alessandra , Astorri Roberta , Coppola Nicola
Published: March 2021

The availability of all oral direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has revolutionized the management of HCV infections in recent years, allowing to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) in more than 95% of cases, irrespective of hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotype or staging of liver disease. Although rare, the failure to the latest-generation regimens (grazoprevir/elbasvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, pibrentasvir/glecaprevir) represents a serious clinical problem, since the data available in the literature on the virological characteristics and management of these patients are few. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide an overview of the impact of baseline RASs in patients treated with the latest-generation DAAs and to analyze the efficacy of the available retreatment strategies in those who have failed these regimens.
Structure-Function Analyses of New SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and B.1.1.28.1: Clinical, Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Public Health Implications
Authors: Singh Jasdeep , Samal Jasmine , Kumar Vipul , Sharma Jyoti , Agrawal Usha , Ehtesham Nasreen Z. , Sundar Durai , Rahman Syed Asad , Hira Subhash , Hasnain Seyed E.
Published: March 2021

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2) has accumulated multiple mutations during its global circulation. Recently, three SARS-CoV-2 lineages, B.1.1.7 (501Y.V1), B.1.351 (501Y.V2) and B.1.1.28.1 (P.1), have emerged in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, respectively. Here, we have presented global viewpoint on implications of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants based on structural–function impact of crucial mutations occurring in its spike (S), ORF8 and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. While the N501Y mutation was observed in all three lineages, the 501Y.V1 and P.1 accumulated a different set of mutations in the S protein. The missense mutational effects were predicted through a COVID-19 dedicated resource followed by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Current findings indicate that some mutations in the S protein might lead to higher affinity with host receptors and resistance against antibodies, but not all are due to different antibody binding (epitope) regions. Mutations may, however, result in diagnostic tests failures and possible interference with binding of newly identified anti-viral candidates against SARS-CoV-2, likely necessitating roll out of recurring “flu-like shots” annually for tackling COVID-19. The functional relevance of these mutations has been described in terms of modulation of host tropism, antibody resistance, diagnostic sensitivity and therapeutic candidates. Besides global economic losses, post-vaccine reinfections with emerging variants can have significant clinical, therapeutic and public health impacts.
Early Colorectal Responses to HIV-1 and Modulation by Antiretroviral Drugs
Authors: Herrera Carolina , McRaven Mike D. , Laing Ken G. , Dennis Jayne , Hope Thomas J. , Shattock Robin J.
Published: March 2021

Innate responses during acute HIV infection correlate with disease progression and pathogenesis. However, limited information is available about the events occurring during the first hours of infection in the mucosal sites of transmission. With an ex vivo HIV-1 challenge model of human colorectal tissue we assessed the mucosal responses induced by R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 isolates in the first 24 h of exposure. Microscopy studies demonstrated virus penetration of up to 39 μm into the lamina propia within 6 h of inoculation. A rapid, 6 h post-challenge, increase in the level of secretion of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, interferon- γ (IFN-γ), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was observed following exposure to R5- or X4-tropic isolates. This profile persisted at the later time point measured of 24 h. However, exposure to the X4-tropic isolate tested induced greater changes at the proteomic and transcriptomic levels than the R5-tropic. The X4-isolate induced greater levels of CCR5 ligands (RANTES, MIP-1α and MIP-1β) secretion than R5-HIV-1. Potential drugs candidates for colorectal microbicides, including entry, fusion or reverse transcriptase inhibitors demonstrated differential capacity to modulate these responses. Our findings indicate that in colorectal tissue, inflammatory responses and a Th1 cytokine profile are induced in the first 24 h following viral exposure.
Roles of the Fc Receptor γ-Chain in Inducing Protective Immune Responses after Heterologous Vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Authors: Hwang Hye Suk , Lee Young-Tae , Kim Ki-Hye , Seo Ho Seong , Yang Kap Seung , Cho Hoonsung , Kang Sang-Moo
Published: March 2021

The roles of the Fc receptor (FcR) in protection or inflammatory disease after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination and infection remain unknown. Virus-like particles containing RSV fusion proteins (RSV F-VLPs) induce T-helper type 1 antibody responses and protection against RSV. Heterologous RSV F-VLP prime and formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) boost vaccination has been reported to be effective in providing protection without inflammatory disease. Here, we investigated whether the FcRγ-chain is important for immune protection by the heterologous F-VLP and FI-RSV vaccination using FcRγ-chain knockout (−/−) mice. RSV F-VLP-primed and FI-RSV-boosted FcRγ −/− mice displayed less protective efficacy, as shown by higher lung viral titers upon RSV challenge, compared to RSV F-VLP-primed and FI-RSV-boosted immunized wild-type mice. RSV F-VLP and FI-RSV immunization induced lower levels of neutralizing activity and interferon-γ-producing CD8 T-cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells of FcRγ −/− mice than in those of wild-type mice. In addition, FcRγ −/− mice displayed a trend of enhancing lung histopathology after RSV vaccination and infection. This study suggests that the FcRγ-chain plays an important role in inducing antiviral protection and CD8 T-cell responses in RSV F-VLP prime and FI-RSV boost vaccination after RSV infections.
Silicone Oil-Based Nanoadjuvants as Candidates for a New Formulation of Intranasal Vaccines
Authors: Razim Agnieszka , Pyclik Marcelina , Pacyga Katarzyna , Górska Sabina , Xu Jintao , Olszewski Michal A. , Gamian Andrzej , Myc Andrzej
Published: March 2021

Many conventional vaccines are administered via a needle injection, while most pathogens primarily invade the host via mucosal surfaces. Moreover, protective IgA antibodies are insufficiently induced by parenteral vaccines. Mucosal immunity induces both local and systemic response to pathogens and typically lasts for long periods of time. Therefore, vaccination via mucosal routes has been increasingly explored. However, mucosal vaccines require potent adjuvants to become efficacious. Despite many efforts to develop safe and robust adjuvants for mucosal vaccines, only a few have been approved for use in human formulations. The aim of our study was to design, develop and characterize new silicone oil-based nanoadjuvant candidates for intranasal vaccines with potential to become mucosal adjuvants. We have developed an array of nanoadjuvant candidates (NACs), based on well-defined ingredients. NAC1, 2 and 3 are based on silicone oil, but differ in the used detergents and organic solvents, which results in variations in their droplet size and zeta potential. NACs’ cytotoxicity, Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) induction and their effect on antigen engulfment by immune cells were tested in vitro. Adjuvant properties of NACs were verified by intranasal vaccination of mice together with ovalbumin (OVA). NACs show remarkable stability and do not require any special storage conditions. They exhibit bio-adhesiveness and influence the degree of model protein engulfment by epithelial cells. Moreover, they induce high specific anti-OVA IgG antibody titers after two intranasal administrations. Nanoadjuvant candidates composed of silicone oil and cationic detergents are stable, exhibit remarkable adjuvant properties and can be used as adjuvants for intranasal immunization.
Complete Genome Sequence, Genome Stability and Phylogeny of the Vaccine Strain Mycobacterium bovis BCG SL222 Sofia
Authors: Panaiotov Stefan , Hodzhev Yordan , Tolchkov Vladimir , Tsafarova Borislava , Mihailov Alexander , Stefanova Tzvetelina
Published: March 2021

Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the only live attenuated vaccine available against tuberculosis. The first BCG vaccination was done exactly 100 years ago, in 1921. The BCG vaccine strains used worldwide represent a family of daughter sub-strains with distinct genotypic characteristics. BCG SL222 Sofia is a seed lot sub-strain descending from the Russian BCG-I (seed lot 374a) strain and has been used for vaccine production in Bulgaria since 1972. Here, we report the assembled circular genome sequence of Mycobacterium bovis BCG SL222 Sofia and phylogeny analysis with the most closely related BCG sub-strains. The full circular genome of BCG SL222 Sofia had a length of 4,370,706 bp with an average GC content of 65.60%. After 49 years of in vitro evolution in a freeze-dried condition, we identified four SNP mutations as compared to the reference BCG-I (Russia-368) sequence. BCG vaccination is of central importance for the TB elimination programs in many countries. Since 1991, almost 40 million vaccine doses of the BCG SL222 Sofia have been distributed annually through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to approximately 120 countries. The availability of the complete reference genome sequence for M. bovis BCG SL222 Sofia, a WHO reference reagent for the Russian BCG-I sub-strain, will facilitate the identity assurance of the genomic stability, will contribute to more consistent manufacturing, and has an important value in standardization and differentiation of sub-strains used in vaccine production. We propose to rename the sub-strain BCG SL222 Sofia to BCG-Sofia for practical and common use.
On the Power of Microwave Communication Data to Monitor Rain for Agricultural Needs in Africa
Authors: David Noam , Liu Yanyan , Kumah Kingsley K. , Hoedjes Joost C. B. , Su Bob Z. , Gao H. Oliver
Published: March 2021

Over the last two decades, prevalent technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) systems have been found to have potential for carrying out environmental monitoring. The data generated from these infrastructures are readily available and have the potential to provide massive spatial coverage. The costs involved in using these data are minimal since the records are already generated for the original uses of these systems. Commercial microwave links, which provide the underlying framework for data transfer between cellular network base stations, are one example of such a system and have been found useful for monitoring rainfall. Wireless infrastructure of this kind is deployed widely by communication providers across Africa and can thus be used as a rainfall monitoring device to complement the sparse proprietary resources that currently exist or to substitute for them where alternatives do not exist. Here we focus this approach’s potential to acquire valuable information required for agricultural needs across Africa using Kenya as an example.
The Problem of Removing Seaweed from the Beaches: Review of Methods and Machines
Authors: Warguła Łukasz , Wieczorek Bartosz , Kukla Mateusz , Krawiec Piotr , Szewczyk Jakub Wojciech
Published: March 2021

Beach cleaning and algae collection in the shoreline area are important for the tourism industry, mainly for aesthetic reasons, but also to protect human health. In addition, the collected material can be used in many industries such as energy, medicine, cosmetics or catering. The problem of cleaning the shoreline area concerns the need to clear land, water and the strip of shore and land onto which water is thrown from falling waves. The vast majority of available cleaning methods are adapted to cleaning beaches or waters. There is a lack of solutions and machine designs suitable for cleaning the coastal strip, which includes: land, the area of land on which the wave is thrown, shoal and deep water. This area is particularly important for tourism as it is mainly used for water bathing. Pictures from tourist areas that are exposed to intensive water contamination show that measures taken to clear the shoreline area are not very effective, as seaweed in shallow water is thrown ashore with the waves. The paper presents a review of methods for cleaning coastal waters and beaches from contamination. It also shows the author’s conceptual design adapted to clear the shoreline area and sandy beaches.
Development of Fragility Curves for Piping and Slope Stability of River Levees
Authors: Rossi Nicola , Bačić Mario , Kovačević Meho Saša , Librić Lovorka
Published: March 2021

The design code Eurocode 7 relies on semi-probabilistic calculation procedures, through utilization of the soil parameters obtained by in situ and laboratory tests, or by the means of transformation models. To reach a prescribed safety margin, the inherent soil parameter variability is accounted for through the application of partial factors to either soil parameters directly or to the resistance. However, considering several sources of geotechnical uncertainty, including the inherent soil variability, measurement error and transformation uncertainty, full probabilistic analyses should be implemented to directly consider the site-specific variability. This paper presents the procedure of developing fragility curves for levee slope stability and piping as failure mechanisms that lead to larger breaches, where a direct influence of the flood event intensity on the probability of failure is calculated. A range of fragility curve sets is presented, considering the variability of levee material properties and varying durations of the flood event, thus providing crucial insight into the vulnerability of the levee exposed to rising water levels. The procedure is applied to the River Drava levee, a site which has shown a continuous trend of increased water levels in recent years.
ПРОФЕСІЙНА ПІДГОТОВКА МАЙБУТНІХ ПЕДАГОГІВ ЗАСОБАМИ ДИСТАНЦІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ В УМОВАХ КАРАНТИНУ
Authors: Цюняк Оксана
Published: March 2021

У статті проаналізовано проблему професійної підготовки майбутніх педагогів в умовах карантину. Здійснено аналіз сучасних публікацій та наукових праць з досліджуваної проблеми. Акцентовано увагу на тому, що нині увесь світ опинився в умовах жорстких карантинних заходів, а навчання в умовах ізоляції стало викликом для усіх учасників освітнього процесу. Запровадження карантину та необхідність продовження освітнього процесу з використанням засобів дистанційного навчання стали справжнім випробуванням для закладів вищої освіти. Розкрито сутність поняття «дистанційне навчання». З’ясовано, що дистанційне навчання – це нова, специфічна форма навчання, основою якої є самостійна робота здобувачів освіти та широке застосування сучасних інформаційних та телекомунікаційних технологій, які дозволяють навчатися на відстані. Авторка зазначає, що дистанційне навчання сприяло створенню широких можливостей для розв’язання нових дидактичних завдань, спрямованих на забезпечення якості та ефективності реалізації професійної освіти, серед яких виокремлено професійну підготовку майбутніх педагогів у закладах вищої освіти в умовах карантину.  Зроблено висновки, що професійна підготовка майбутніх педагогів в умовах карантину спрямована на глибше розуміння навчального матеріалу,  формування комунікативних, інформаційних компетенцій, а засоби дистанційного навчання дають можливість отримувати освітні послуги у безпечних для життя і здоров’я умовах. Окрім того, дистанційне навчання виконує й виховну функцію – сприяє формуванню самостійності, самовдосконаленню та творчості. Також українські студенти використовують можливість користування відкритими на час карантину освітніми платформами та сервісами з усього світу, що сприяє підвищенню їхньої мотивації до навчання, рефлексії та самоаналізу.

Ключові слова: освітній процес, професійна підготовка, майбутні педагоги, дистанційна освіта, дистанційне навчання, заклад вищої освіти, пандемія, COVID-19.
АНАЛІЗ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЦЕНТРІВ МЕДІАОСВІТИ В УКРАЇНІ
Authors: Головченко Гліб
Published: March 2021

Автором оглядової статті наголошено, що епоха цифрового суспільства вимагає від нинішніх громадян вільного володіння новими навичками для успішного використання можливостей новітньої реальності – медіаінформаційними. Відтак, все більшої вагомості набуває медіаосвіта. ЮНЕСКО навіть визнає медіа освіту окремою складовою освіти. Україна вже має певний позитивні здобутки з її провадження у формальній, неформальній та інформальній освіті. У публікації здійснено спробу систематизувати набутий досвід через призму діяльності вітчизняних медіаосвітніх центрів.Для досягнення поставленої мети було використано комплекс теоретичних методів дослідження для вивчення напрямів провадження вітчизняної медіаосвіти: огляд літератури, відбір і й осмислення результатів, їх систематизація та визначення перспектив. Описано діяльність 3 визнаних вітчизняних центрів медіаосвіти: Інституту соціальної та політичної психології, Інституту вищої освіти Національної академії педагогічних наук України та Інституту екології масової інформації. Узагальнення та систематизація їх медіаосвітньої діяльності уможливили виокремлення наступних критеріїв: історичного, методичного, прогностичного. Завдяки їх використанню, було визначено й 2 нових медіаосвітніх центри в Україні: Академія преси України та Коледж преси та телебачення у м. Миколаїв. У статті проаналізовано історію їх створення, особливості розроблення та впровадження науково-навчально-методичного забезпечення, окреслено напрями їх подальшої діяльності. Таким чином, через діяльність визначених центрів медіаосвіти було простежено тенденції її розвитку на ринку освітніх послуг України. З‘ясовано, що всі медіаосвітні центри є схожими за своєю місією – медіапросвітницькою діяльністю. Водночас їх відмінності проявляються в практичному провадженні медіаосвіти. У подальшому планується дослідити особливості медіаосвітньої діяльності в дистанційному форматі, зумовленого пандемією COVID

Ключові слова: медіаосвіта, центри, Україна, медіаосвітня діяльність, аналіз.
LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT OF TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE
Authors: Котун Кирил
Published: March 2021

Modern education acquires qualitative transformations, adapting to new conditions. Institutions of postgraduate pedagogical education and methodological services are undergoing a thorough reorientation, to overcome a number of stereotypes in the system of teacher professional development before calling for educational services to improve the skills of newly established professional educational associations and NGOs. However, today not only is the problem of inconsistency of the current education system with new needs exacerbated, but also traditions and connections are being broken. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain cooperation between educational institutions and build new cooperation with communities in the regions, without losing the potential of institutions of postgraduate pedagogical education. The New Ukrainian School is changing the entire education system and the teacher, who must be an agent of change, a provider of educational reform, a community leader. These changes affect the system of postgraduate education, causing a new content and technological burden on the teacher professional development. The basis of teacher professional development is the awareness of all transformations in education as a natural need to constantly improve their skills, to form and develop a professional worldview and pedagogical consciousness. The ar-ticle outlines the features of legislative support for the teacher professional development in Ukraine. Several ways of implementing parts of the new law of Ukraine "On Education" on teacher professional development are substantiated (for example, change of forms of teacher professional development, change of mentality, financing of professional development, formation of a plan of teacher professional development etc.). The functional activities of the future Centres for Teacher Professional Development, which will replace the current methodical offices, as well as the concept of "professional development" are briefly outlined.
UNIVERSITY AND LIFELONG EDUCATION IN THE EUROPEAN EDUCATIONAL SPACE: THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF GOALS AND STRATEGIES
Authors: Товканець Ганна
Published: March 2021

The article analyzes the interdependence of goals and strategies of university education and lifelong learning in the European educational space. The aim of the article is to substantiate the interaction of university education and lifelong learning and to determine their role in the modern European social space. The research is carried out on the basis of methods of theoretical generalization, comparative analy-sis; methods of grouping and systematization. It was emphasized that the rethinking of social tasks, the need to adapt to the expectations of society, the growth of the demand for future skills motivate university education at the beginning of the 21st century to prepare a successful professional who is focused on the continu-ous updating and replenishment of knowledge, skills and abilities. It is revealed that in modern conditions in university and lifelong education the emphasis is on the formation of such competencies as an optimistic view of life situations, that is, the ability to adapt and interact effectively in the growing demands of volatile and uncertain social environments, the ability to analytically process large amounts of data, detection of algo-rithms, prediction of dynamics, ability to model optimal production processes and environments for systematically achieving desired results in each individual situation, ability to establish direct and deep interpersonal connections, ability to recognize causes and consequences of key trends, notice tendencies on the periphery of social systems. It is concluded that today more and more the question arises about the need to expand the scope of universities and their exit beyond the two-dimensional classical model, which includes educational activities and scientific research and the social purpose of universities, and within their framework and education throughout their lives, the direction and formation of socially important competencies.
ACADEMIC CULTURE AS A COMPOSITION OF NATIONAL INNOVATION SECURITY
Authors: Семеног Олена
Published: March 2021

The article describes the essence and content of academic culture as a significant component of national innovation security. The semantic and terminological analysis of the key concepts of the research like «national security», «human security», «human security of humanity», «human capital» were carried out. The concept of «innovative security» is described as a stable, effective provision of country’s innovations in the economy, creation of conditions for modernization of industries, development of priority areas of fundamental and applied scientific research, technical and technological developments that ensure the competitiveness of the country.It was proved that main features of academic culture are the culture of study at the university, ethical values, traditions, norms, rules for conducting scientific research; scientific linguistic culture, professional subculture of the scientific community; social, moral responsibility for the process and results of the research which is formed in the cultural and educational space of higher education institution. The cultural and educational space of the university is described as a component of the development of human capital and one of the factors of national innovation safety. It is noted that universities must clearly show the values of educational services, be centers of academic culture, act on the principles of academic freedom, public responsibility, respect for human dignity and support adherence to academic integrity in research activities. The formation of the researcher’s academic culture in the conditions of the university’s cultural and educational space is defined as a complex, multidimensional, phased process of qualitative changes in the psychological sphere of the individual, taking into account the main provisions of the theory of activity, intercultural communication; the ideas of a humanistic, acmeological paradigm; concept of continuous pedagogical education.
МУЗЕЙНА ПЕДАГОГІКА – ТЕОРЕТИЧНА ОСНОВА ПЕДАГОГІЧНО-ПРОСВІТНИЦЬКОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЗАКЛАДІВ ОСВІТИ І КУЛЬТУРИ
Authors: Філіпчук Наталія
Published: March 2021

У статті викладено загальну характеристику взаємодії музеїв і закладів освіти; проаналізовано її основні напрями і зміст; розкрито особливості комунікації в системі «музей – заклад освіти». Схарактеризовано музейний простір, в якому відбувається музеальна дія, спрямована на передавання суспільству цінностей матеріальної і духовної культури. Виявлено, що реалізація суспільної місії музеїв, освітньо-виховних завдань просвітницької діяльності різнопрофільних музеїв (історичних, літературних, краєзнавчих, археологічних, зоологічних, геологічних, мистецтвознав-чих, музичних, природничих та ін.) забезпечується на основі постійного оновлення змісту, форм і методів педагогічно-просвітницької взаємодії музейних й освітніх інституцій. Це потребує забезпечення науково обґрунтованої фахової підготовки музейних педагогів у закладах вищої педагогічної освіти. Доведено, що активне навчання студентів методиці проведення занять у музейному середовищі, розкриття їх специфіки, формування умінь проводити їх у формі ділової гри, дискусії, діалогу, добирати інноваційні методи, засоби, прийоми, розвивати творчу активність з допомогою музейного культурного ресурсу, суб’єктність, критичне мислення сприяють формуванню професійних компетентностей майбутніх педагогів. Для продуктивної взаємодії в умовах формального та неформального навчання доцільно здійснювати відбір і структурування матеріалу для проведення музейних уроків та інших занять з урахуванням дидактичних вимог до організації. Обґрунтовано положення щодо педагогічної взаємодії музеїв і освітніх інституцій, ефективність якої залежить від особистості вчителя, який має вмотивовувати учнів до пізнання музейних артефактів, «занурення» у сучасне музейне середовище.
Urban Design Practice in "Instant New Towns"
Authors:   Shenzhen University, Fang Chien , Nianzhong Li ,   Shenzhen University
Published: March 2021

Shenzhen is a lengendary city booming out from a small fishing village within ten years. It is situated at the south end of China, along eastern side of the Pearl River opening to the South China Sea. As one of the earliest of four Special Economic Zones in China since 198 1, Shenzhen has enjoyed a set of privileged economic policies and turned into an energetic metropolis with population of over three million. According to the strategic planning, Shenzhen will expand to an area of nearly 2000 square kilometers from 300 square kilometers right now. The local government seeks to realize 100% urbanization in Shenzhen in a short time. In other words, the whole outskirts and rural area will be urbanized. In the conprehensive plannning, the surburb, formerly Baoan county, is becoming another two districts (Baoan and Longgang) besides the existing three districts (Luohu, Futian, and Nanshan). The grouped structure of urban layout in the planning attempts to organize the present villages and towns in the outskii into 8 groups (4 in each district), which are assigned different priority urban bctions such as transportation, communication, industry, tourism, district centre, etc. Generalization of the project of Longgang District Planning Our project is concerned with the zone planning ofthe central group in Longgang district. It consists of Longgang, Pingdi, and Pingdi Centre, covers an area of over 180 square kilometers, and holds population of 200,000. According to the strategic plan, the group is to develop into the future admistrative, commercial, and cultural center of Longgang district. The study of urban design is one important field in our project.