bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Random Fourier Features-Based Deep Learning Improvement with Class Activation Interpretability for Nerve Structure Segmentation
Authors: Jimenez-Castaño Cristian Alfonso , Álvarez-Meza Andrés Marino , Aguirre-Ospina Oscar David , Cárdenas-Peña David Augusto , Orozco-Gutiérrez Álvaro Angel
Published: November 2021

Peripheral nerve blocking (PNB) is a standard procedure to support regional anesthesia. Still, correct localization of the nerve’s structure is needed to avoid adverse effects; thereby, ultrasound images are used as an aid approach. In addition, image-based automatic nerve segmentation from deep learning methods has been proposed to mitigate attenuation and speckle noise ultrasonography issues. Notwithstanding, complex architectures highlight the region of interest lacking suitable data interpretability concerning the learned features from raw instances. Here, a kernel-based deep learning enhancement is introduced for nerve structure segmentation. In a nutshell, a random Fourier features-based approach was utilized to complement three well-known semantic segmentation architectures, e.g., fully convolutional network, U-net, and ResUnet. Moreover, two ultrasound image datasets for PNB were tested. Obtained results show that our kernel-based approach provides a better generalization capability from image segmentation-based assessments on different nerve structures. Further, for data interpretability, a semantic segmentation extension of the GradCam++ for class-activation mapping was used to reveal relevant learned features separating between nerve and background. Thus, our proposal favors both straightforward (shallow) and complex architectures (deeper neural networks).
Editorial: Special Issue “Antenna Design for 5G and Beyond”
Authors: Ojaroudi Parchin Naser , See Chan Hwang , Abd-Alhameed Raed A.
Published: November 2021

The demand for high data rate transfer and large capacities of traffic is continuously growing as the world witnesses the development of the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communications with the fastest broadband speed yet and low latency [...]
In-Vehicle Alcohol Detection Using Low-Cost Sensors and Genetic Algorithms to Aid in the Drinking and Driving Detection
Authors: Celaya-Padilla Jose M. , Romero-González Jonathan S. , Galvan-Tejada Carlos E. , Galvan-Tejada Jorge I. , Luna-García Huizilopoztli , Arceo-Olague Jose G. , Gamboa-Rosales Nadia K. , Sifuentes-Gallardo Claudia , Martinez-Torteya Antonio , De la Rosa José I. , Gamboa-Rosales Hamurabi
Published: November 2021

Worldwide, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death, with alcohol-related accidents playing a significant role, particularly in child death. Aiming to aid in the prevention of this type of accidents, a novel non-invasive method capable of detecting the presence of alcohol inside a motor vehicle is presented. The proposed methodology uses a series of low-cost alcohol MQ3 sensors located inside the vehicle, whose signals are stored, standardized, time-adjusted, and transformed into 5 s window samples. Statistical features are extracted from each sample and a feature selection strategy is carried out using a genetic algorithm, and a forward selection and backwards elimination methodology. The four features derived from this process were used to construct an SVM classification model that detects presence of alcohol. The experiments yielded 7200 samples, 80% of which were used to train the model. The rest were used to evaluate the performance of the model, which obtained an area under the ROC curve of 0.98 and a sensitivity of 0.979. These results suggest that the proposed methodology can be used to detect the presence of alcohol and enforce prevention actions.
Urban Wastewater Treatment in African Countries: Evidence from the Hydroaid Initiative
Authors: Ravina Marco , Galletta Sergio , Dagbetin Augustin , Kamaleldin Omama Ahmed Hussein , Mng’ombe Madalitso , Mnyenyembe Lameck , Shanko Alemayehu , Zanetti MariaChiara
Published: November 2021

This study is based on the evidence collected during the “Technical e-Learning Course on Wastewater Treatment”, an international training project developed in 2020 in Italy by the Hydroaid Association, in collaboration with Turin Polytechnic. This work intended to address the sustainability of urban sanitation in various African countries, which the world of international cooperation has been looking at in recent years with growing interest. A comparative analysis of the current strategies and technological solutions was conducted. Data and information reported by the project participants were elaborated and verified. Four African countries—Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Malawi—were considered and two relevant case studies among those proposed by the participants were presented. Starting from this analysis, significant elements about the status and coverage of wastewater management were extracted and reported. The analysis of existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) allowed evaluating their design features and current status of operation. Considerations about the environmental, economic, social, and technical sustainability of wastewater treatment and management were finally reported. Conducting such an analysis provided support in identifying the best practices and the most recurrent problems linked to the various African contexts, which need to be considered for a complete definition of the planning strategy for accessible, efficient, and sustainable sanitation infrastructures.
Integrated Surface-Groundwater Modelling of Nitrate Concentration in Mediterranean Rivers, the Júcar River Basin District, Spain
Authors: Dorado-Guerra Diana Yaritza , Paredes-Arquiola Javier , Pérez-Martín Miguel Ángel , Tafur Hermann Harold
Published: November 2021

High nutrient discharge from groundwater (GW) into surface water (SW) have multiple undesirable effects on river water quality. With the aim to estimate the impact of anthropic pressures and river–aquifer interactions on nitrate status in SW, this study integrates two hydrological simulation and water quality models. PATRICAL models SW–GW interactions and RREA models streamflow changes due to human activity. The models were applied to the Júcar River Basin District (RBD), where 33% of the aquifers have a concentration above 50 mg NO3−/L. As a result, there is a direct linear correlation between the nitrate concentration in rivers and aquifers (Júcar r2 = 0.9, and Turia r2 = 0.8), since in these Mediterranean basins, the main amount of river flows comes from groundwater discharge. The concentration of nitrates in rivers and GW tends to increase downstream of the district, where artificial surfaces and agriculture are concentrated. The total NO3− load to Júcar RBD rivers was estimated at 10,202 tN/year (239 kg/km2/year), from which 99% is generated by diffuse pollution, and 3378 tN/year (79 kg/km2/year) is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea. Changes in nitrate concentration in the RBD rivers are strongly related to the source of irrigation water, river–aquifer interactions, and flow regulation. The models used in this paper allow the identification of pollution sources, the forecasting of nitrate concentration in surface and groundwater, and the evaluation of the efficiency of measures to prevent water degradation, among other applications.
Reward–Penalty Mechanism Based on Daily Energy Consumption for Net-Zero Energy Buildings
Authors: Zhang Yang , Lu Yuehong , Wang Changlong , Huang Zhijia , Lv Tao
Published: November 2021

Net-zero energy buildings (ZEB/NZEB) have been greatly encouraged and are considered to be a promising approach for energy conservation as well as environmental protection. However, a lack of incentive mechanisms can hinder the fast development and application of ZEB. This study thus focuses on the design of a daily reward–penalty mechanism (RPM) by considering the performance of the building, aiming to enable a lower penalty cost for the building where there is a better match between energy consumption and energy generation. The impact of the degree of freedom of the building load (k) is investigated on building performance based on a single-family house located in Shanghai city, China. It is observed that a higher value of k is preferred since the building users can adjust its energy consumption profile to better match with its energy generation. A higher k value enables lower annual energy consumption, lower penalty cost, better stability, and an average daily zero energy level of around 1.0. In addition, four quadratic fit curves are derived to describe the relationship between building performance (i.e., annual energy consumption, the average daily zero energy level, stability, and annual penalty cost) and the degree of freedom. Meanwhile, the uncertainty of ZEB performance is quantified, which provides flexibility for building users in selecting the appropriate degree of freedom.
Collaborative Hybrid Aerial and Ground Vehicle Routing for Post-Disaster Assessment
Authors: Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira , Sopha Bertha Maya , Asih Anna Maria Sri , Liperda Rahmad Inca
Published: November 2021

Hybrid aerial and ground vehicles are seen as a promising option for deployment in a post-disaster assessment due to the risk of infrastructure damage that may hinder the assessment operation. The efficient operation of the hybrid aerial and ground vehicle, particularly routings, remains a challenge. The present study proposed a collaborative hybrid aerial and ground vehicle to support the operation of post-disaster assessment. The study developed two models, i.e., the Two-Echelon Vehicle Routing Problem combined with Assignment (2EVRPA) and the Two-Echelon Collaborative Vehicle Routing Problem (2ECoVRP) to evaluate optimal routings for both aerial and ground vehicles. The difference lies in the second echelon in which the 2EVRPA uses a single point-to-point assignment, whereas the 2ECoVRP considers the collaborative routings between the ground vehicle and the aerial vehicle. To demonstrate its applicability, the developed models were applied to solve the post-disaster assessment for the Mount Merapi eruption in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Sets of numerical experiments based on the empirical case were conducted. The findings indicate that the 2ECoVRP performs better than 2EVRPA in terms of the total operation time. The tabu search algorithm was found to be a promising method to solve the models due to its good quality solution and computational efficiency. The deployment of eight drones appears to be optimum for the given network configuration of the studied case. Flight altitude and battery capacity were found to be influential to the operation time, hence requiring further exploration. Other potential avenues for future research are also discussed.
Message for Solidarity: A Japanese Perspective on the Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services Developed over Centuries of History
Authors: Ishizaki Ryoko , Matsuda Shinju
Published: November 2021

Payments for ecosystem/environmental services (PES) have emerged internationally as a new environmental conservation concept over the past two decades. By contrast, Japan has a centuries-long history of using various forms of PES. These schemes can be understood as solutions to interregional problems with forest ecosystem services that have been agreed upon and accepted by the society. This paper aims to consider the significance of PES with respect to cooperative relationships by examining historically formed solutions in Japan. The Japanese experience shows that rather than simply being a demonstration of monetary value, PES in upstream forests were a means of communication across regions, expressing interregional solidarity as a core concept. As connections among communities became less visible, the government artificially created solidarity through payments. The payments gradually shifted from having a socioeconomic meaning to having a psychological meaning. The government sought to substantiate the sense of solidarity by making individual users more aware of the meaning of payments. We can find the significance of this type of PES in the fact that payments can be a way to approach the issue of building solidarity by focusing on the function of payments as messengers rather than them merely having an economic value.
Sorption Efficiency of Potentially Toxic Elements onto Low-Cost Materials: Peat and Compost
Authors: Lima Jacqueline Zanin , Lupion Renan Marques , Raimondi Isabela Monici , Pejon Osni José , Rodrigues Valéria Guimarães Silvestre
Published: November 2021

Anthropogenic activities can lead to elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil and water. Thus, the search for low-cost, ecofriendly and innovative sorbents is a global necessity. The present investigation addresses the performance of peat and compost derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) as a sorbent of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The physicochemical features and effects of the initial concentration (equilibrium) and contact time (kinetic) were systematically analyzed by batch experiments. In addition, human bioaccessibility tests were conducted to compare the human health risk of these PTEs postsorption. The results showed that the sorption capacities followed the order: compost(Pb) > peat(Pb) > compost(Cd) > compost(Zn) > peat(Cd) > peat(Zn), indicating that compost had a better sorption potential. Kinetic data were well-fitted to the pseudo-first-order (PSO), pseudo-second-order (PFO), and Elovich equation models. The external diffusion model proposed by Mathews and Weber (M&W) indicated the contribution of diffusion as a sorption mechanism, mainly in the sorption of Zn, Pb and Cd onto compost and Pb onto peat. The bioaccessible fractions in the first stage (stomach conditions) were greater than those in the second phase (intestinal simulation). Pb has higher sorption capacities (10.511 and 7.778 mg g−1 for compost and peat, respectively) and lowers fraction bioaccessible (35 to 70%). These findings demonstrate that utilizing these low-cost sorbents seems promising for the remediation of PTE soils and contaminated waters. However, more experiments should be conducted, including desorption and multielement solutions, as well as field-tests to prove the long-term effects of application in large-scale and real conditions.
Ultrasonic or Microwave Cascade Treatment of Medicinal Plant Waste
Authors: Staicu Vasile , Luntraru Cristina , Calinescu Ioan , Chisega-Negrila Ciprian Gabriel , Vinatoru Mircea , Neagu Miruna , Gavrila Adina Ionuta , Popa Ioana
Published: November 2021

In this study, we present a strategy for valorizing lignocellulosic wastes (licorice root and willow bark) that result from industrial extraction of active principles using water as green solvent and aqueous NaOH solution. The wastes were submitted to severe ultrasound (US) and microwave (MW) treatments. The aim of these treatments was to extract the remaining active principles (using water as a solvent) or to prepare them for cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis to hexoses (performed in an NaOH aqueous solution). The content of glycyrrhizic acid and salicin derivatives in licorice root and willow bark wastes, respectively, were determined. The best results for licorice root were achieved by applying the US treatment for 5 min at 25 °C (26.6 mg glycyrrhizic acid/gDM); while, for willow bark, the best results were achieved by applying the MW treatment for 30 min at 120 °C (19.48 mg salicin/gDM). A degradation study of the targeted compounds was also performed and showed good stability of glycyrrhizic acid and salicin derivatives under US and MW treatments. The soluble lignin concentration prior to enzymatic hydrolysis, as well as the saccharide concentration of the hydrolyzed solution, were determined. As compared with the MW treatment, the US treatment resulted in saccharides concentrations that were 5% and 160% higher for licorice root and willow bark, respectively.
GIS-Based Urban Flood Risk Assessment and Management—A Case Study of Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT), India
Authors: Tomar Pallavi , Singh Suraj Kumar , Kanga Shruti , Meraj Gowhar , Kranjčić Nikola , Đurin Bojan , Pattanaik Amitanshu
Published: November 2021

Urban floods are very destructive and have significant socioeconomic repercussions in regions with a common flooding prevalence. Various researchers have laid down numerous approaches for analyzing the evolution of floods and their consequences. One primary goal of such approaches is to identify the areas vulnerable to floods for risk reduction and management purposes. The present paper proposes an integrated remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and field survey-based approach for identifying and predicting urban flood-prone areas. The work is unique in theory since the methodology proposed finds application in urban areas wherein the cause of flooding, in addition to heavy rainfall, is also the inefficient urban drainage system. The work has been carried out in Delhi’s Yamuna River National Capital Territory (NCT) area, considered one of India’s most frequently flooded urban centers, to analyze the causes of its flooding and supplement the existing forecasting models. Research is based on an integrated strategy to evaluate and map the highest flood boundary and identify the area affected along the Yamuna River NCT of Delhi. In addition to understanding the causal factors behind frequent flooding in the area, using field-based information, we developed a GIS model to help authorities to manage the floods using catchment precipitation and gauge level relationship. The identification of areas susceptible to floods shall act as an early warning tool to safeguard life and property and help authorities plan in advance for the eventuality of such an event in the study area.
Trends in United States Human Footprint Revealed by New Spatial Metrics of Urbanization and Per Capita Land Change
Authors: Vogler John B. , Vukomanovic Jelena
Published: November 2021

Accelerations in population growth and urban expansion are transforming landscapes worldwide and represent a major sustainability challenge. In the United States, land conversion to impervious surfaces has outpaced population increases, yet there are few spatial metrics of urbanization and per capita land change available nationwide for assessing local to regional trends in human footprint. We quantified changes (2000–2010) in housing density, imperviousness, per capita land consumption, and land-use efficiency for block groups of the contiguous U.S. and examined national patterns and variation in these metrics along the urban–rural gradient and by megaregion. Growth in housing (+13.6%) and impervious development (+10.7%) resulted in losses of rural lands, primarily due to exurbanization and suburbanization. Mean per capita consumption increased in all density classes but was over 8.5 times greater in rural lands than in exurban, suburban, and urban areas. Urban and suburban areas had significantly lower mean consumption, yet change was unsustainable in 60% of these areas. Megaregions across the sprawling Sun Belt, spanning from Arizona to North Carolina, grew most unsustainably, especially compared to regions in the Pacific Northwest and Front Range. This work establishes 21st-century benchmarks that decision-makers can use to track local and regional per capita land change and sustainable growth in the U.S.; however, these metrics of the form, extent, rate, and efficiency of urbanization can be applied anywhere concurrent built-up area and population data are available over time. Our web mapping application allows anyone to explore spatial and temporal trends in human footprint and download metrics, and it is designed to be easily updatable with future releases of validated developed land cover, protected areas, and decennial Census data.
Comparing Models with Positive Anticipated Emotions, Food Values, Attitudes and Subjective Norms as Influential Factors in Fast-Food Purchase Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Channels: Restaurants and Mobile Apps
Authors: Núñez-Fernández María , Pérez-Villarreal Héctor Hugo , Mayett-Moreno Yesica
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this research is to determine if positive anticipated emotions, food values, attitudes and subjective norms influence food purchase intention in two different models: a fast food restaurant and a food delivery service via mobile apps. For this study, we utilized a non-experimental, causal, descriptive and cross-sectional design. From October 2020 to January 2021, self-administered online surveys were distributed to a convenience sample of 200 fast-food consumers at restaurants, and users of food delivery services via mobile apps Puebla City, Mexico. IBM–SPSS Statistics and the SmartPLS 3 Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling were used to test our hypotheses. The results underscored a difference in attitudes between the models. The attitude toward the brand positively and significantly influenced purchase intention via mobile apps, whereas attitude toward eating a hamburger positively and significantly influenced purchase intention of visiting a fast-food restaurant. In both models, positive anticipated emotions exhibited the closest relationships with purchase intention, attitude toward the brand and attitude toward eating a hamburger, whereas food values exerted an insignificant effect on attitudes and purchase intention. Future research should consider performing a face-to-face survey with a random sample while accounting for different demographics, regions and countries, as well as including other brands, food types and restaurants.
Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Process to Select Waste-to-Energy Technology in Developing Countries: The Case of Ghana
Authors: Agbejule Adebayo , Shamsuzzoha Ahm , Lotchi Kodjovi , Rutledge Kendall
Published: November 2021

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Accra region of Ghana has created the need for innovative ways to deal with waste management crises facing the city. The goal of this study is to use the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to select an appropriate waste-to-energy (WtE) technology for Accra. The AHP methodology is used to assess four WtE technologies, namely landfill biogas, incineration, anaerobic digestion, and aerobic composting. Three main criteria and nine sub-criteria are identified for pair-wise comparison and assessed by 10 experts. The results show that incineration is the most preferred technology, followed by anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion, with landfilled gas being the least preferred technology. Stakeholders in waste management development in Ghana can utilize the findings of the study to develop implementation strategies for capacity and institutional capabilities for both thermochemical and biochemical processes in the country.
Source-Based Argumentation as a Form of Sustainable Academic Skill: An Exploratory Study Comparing Secondary School Students’ L1 and L2 Writing
Authors: Cheong Choo-Mui , Zhu Xinhua , Xu Wandong
Published: November 2021

Argumentative writing is the most commonly used genre in writing classroom practices and assessments. To draft an argumentative essay in authentic settings, writers are usually required to evaluate and use content knowledge from outside sources. Although source-based argumentation is a sustainable skill that is crucial for students’ academic career, this area remains under-researched. Hence, this paper presents a within-subject study that investigated Hong Kong secondary school students’ argumentation construction in L1 and L2 source-based writing from both product-oriented and process-oriented perspectives. Multiple sources of data were collected, including L1 and L2 source-based argumentative texts, eye-tracking metrics and recorded videos, and stimulated recall interviews. Findings of our study show that the L1 source-based argumentative compositions of the Hong Kong secondary student writers differed greatly from their L2 ones in terms of the argument structure, source use, and reasoning quality. Analyses on four cases further revealed a multitude of factors such as self-regulation and cultural orientations coming into play in similar and different argumentation performance between L1 and L2 source-based writing tasks. This study contributes new knowledge to better understand the argumentation in L1 and L2 source-based writing, yielding meaningful implications on pedagogy and assessment in this field.
The U-Shaped Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Technological Innovation: A Perspective on Enterprise Ownership and the Moderating Effect of CSR
Authors: Zhang Zhenyang , Wang Xinyuan , Chun Dongphil
Published: November 2021

Promoting technological innovation is an essential issue for enterprises to maintain sustainable development in a highly competitive environment. Previous studies have focused on exploring the linear relationship between intellectual capital and technological innovation, ignoring the possibility of a non-linear relationship between them. This study draws on a dualistic view of intellectual capital and divides it into two elements: human capital and structural capital. Based on the factor endowment theory, we explored the non-linear relationship between intellectual capital and technological innovation, using the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2014 to 2019 as the sample, and then analyzed the moderating effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on their relationship. The results of the OLS regressions indicated a significant U-shaped relationship between intellectual capital and its elements on technological innovation. This means a “regressive” effect of low levels of intellectual capital on technological innovation and an “incremental” effect of high levels of intellectual capital on technological innovation. Improving CSR could positively enhance the U-shaped effect of intellectual capital on technological innovation. A further study found that the U-shaped effects of intellectual capital and human capital on technological innovation were still supported in state-owned and private enterprises. The U-shaped effect of structural capital on technological innovation was still supported in private enterprises but not in state-owned enterprises. This study explored the relationship between intellectual capital and technological innovation from a unique perspective. It provides a theoretical basis for enterprises to appropriately fulfill their social responsibility and actively promote technological innovation.
Fostering Sustainable Cities through Resilience Thinking: The Role of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs): Lessons Learned from Two Italian Case Studies
Authors: Conti Marcelo Enrique , Battaglia Massimo , Calabrese Mario , Simone Cristina
Published: November 2021

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach and framing sustainability issues from a resilience perspective, our paper first aimed to highlight nature-based solutions (NBSs) as levers to foster sustainable cities consistent with Agenda 2030-SDG 11 (2015) and the New Urban Agenda (Habitat III, 2016). Second, we empirically analyzed two Italian municipalities that are experimenting with initiatives of sustainable urban management and planning based on NBSs: the Municipality of Lucca in Tuscany and the Municipality of Latina in the Latium Region. These municipalities present institutional and socioeconomic similarities, making them an interesting study setting that allows us to draw significant lessons. We conducted four research steps: (1) theoretical background analysis, including resilience thinking in sustainable urban management. We investigated the role of NBSs in enabling urban resilience according to the last level of resilience, i.e., the transformative level. (2) We studied the contributions of NBSs to sustainable cities and resilience thinking. (3) We analyzed the NBSs’ projects of Lucca and Latina, and (4) we proposed an urban managerial tool: the NBSs’ curve, which facilitates the estimation of the NBS ecosystem endowment. The results of the NBS initiatives presented in this study have a two-fold value. First, they aim to combine citizens’ well-being with ecological and environmental aspects by better managing urban spaces that facilitate interpersonal relationships and resource sharing. Second, they are developed to meet the needs of local groups by serving as a stimulus (Fridays For Future movement) and as enablers (local associations) of managed actions. The lessons learned about the enhancement of sustainable cities through NBSs were thoroughly debated.
The Role of Incumbent Actors in Sustainability Transitions: A Case of LITHUANIA
Authors: Ramanauskaitė Joana
Published: November 2021

To explore what roles incumbent actors take in sustainability transitions, this paper investigates the current situation in the scientific literature, which reveals a shift from opponents to promoters and the case of a post-Soviet transitioning economy that is exemplified by examining five sustainability-oriented incumbent actors in Lithuania. A single case study design is selected as a methodological approach, illustrated by empirical data from interviews and secondary sources (corporate websites and sustainability reports). These examples provide insights on the initiatives the organisations that are already interested in sustainability take to promote sustainability ideas and be active members of the transition themselves, supporting the contemporary view of incumbents as agents of sustainable transitions.
Do You Want Sustainable Olympics? Environment, Disaster, Gender, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Authors: Yamamura Eiji
Published: November 2021

The slogans of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were “symbol of resilience from the Great East Japan Earthquake” and “Compact Olympics”. The Olympics were also expected to demonstrate “gender equality” and to enhance sustainability in modern society. However, in practice, the cost of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 was far greater than estimated. The slogan was changed to “symbol of overcoming COVID-19” although in reality, infection spread dramatically during the games. Overall, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics did not turn out as expected or meet the expectations of the populace. Using individual-level data, we tested how and to what extent Japanese proponents of a sustainable society supported the compact Olympics announced in 2016. The key findings are: (1) most people support policies for environmental protection, gender equality, and disaster prevention and (2) they would have wished to reduce public expenditure for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Further examination with a questionnaire yielded similar results for the male but not for the female sample.
High Sulfur Content of Mesoporous Activated Carbon Composite Derived from Water Hyacinth
Authors: Nurhilal Otong , Winarsih Suci , Hidayat Sahrul , Sumiarsa Dadan , Risdiana Risdiana
Published: November 2021

Cathode composites with high sulfur content have become a concern to develop because they can improve the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. The high sulfur content in the composite can be obtained from the carbon matrix, which has a high surface area and high electrical conductivity. Activated carbon made from biomass waste can be used as a carbon matrix due to its high surface area and ease of synthesis. In this study, activated carbon was prepared from water hyacinth (ACWH-600), which was carbonized at a temperature of 600 °C with a ZnCl2 activator. Activated-carbon–sulfur composite (ACWH-600/S) was synthesized by mixing activated carbon and sulfur in a ratio of 1:3. The characterizations performed for ACWH-600 and ACWH-600/S were N2 desorption–adsorption to determine the surface area, SEM to determine surface morphology, XRD to determine graphite structure, thermogravimetric analysis test to determine the sulfur content in the composite, and four-line probe conductivity to measure electrical conductivity at room temperature. The surface area, total pore volume, and pore diameter of ACWH were 642.39 m2 g−1, 0.714 cm3 g−1, and 2.22 nm, respectively, while the surface area, total pore volume, and pore diameter of ACWH-600/S were 29.431 m2 g−1, 0.038 cm3 g−1, and 2.54 nm. The conductivity value of ACWH-600 was 3.93 × 10−2 S/cm, while for ACWH-600/S, the conductivity value was 2.24 × 10−4 S/cm. The decrease in conductivity value after activated carbon added sulfur indicated the success of synthesizing a carbon matrix from water hyacinth with high sulfur content. The high sulfur content of 58 wt%, together with the acceptable conductivity value of composite ACWH-600/S, provide an opportunity to apply these composites as cathodes in lithium-sulfur batteries.
The Development of Major Seaports in the Context of National Maritime Policy. The Case Study of Poland
Authors: Bocheński Tadeusz , Palmowski Tadeusz , Studzieniecki Tomasz
Published: November 2021

State authorities may influence the development of seaports by employing the tools of national maritime policy. On the one hand, seaports contribute to the socioeconomic development of coastal regions; on the other, they have a significant impact on foreign trade turnover. The aim of this study is to identify the major factors that have influenced the development of Poland’s seaports in the context of the country’s maritime policy. The paper examines and explains the development and transitions of major Polish seaports such as Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin, and Swinoujcie. In order to identify the state of the port economy the authors used public statistics and data analysis. Furthermore, they created a model of comanagement of major seaports and presented a qualitative and quantitative comparison of the development of major seaports from 2005 to 2019. It was discovered that port turnover increased, but in various ways in each of the analysed ports. The government of Poland, acting in a dual role as the coordinator of national maritime policy and the majority owner of seaports, was the most powerful decision-maker in the port economy. However initiatives to implement sustainable principles in seaports have gradually emerged through bottom-up activities of port authorities supported by local and regional authorities.
Thinking Like a Mountain: Exploring the Potential of Relational Approaches for Transformative Nature Conservation
Authors: Foggin J. Marc , Brombal Daniele , Razmkhah Ali
Published: November 2021

Building on a review of current mainstream paradigms of nature conservation, the essence of transformations necessary for effective and lasting change are presented—namely, convivial solutions (or ‘living with others’), in which relationality and an appreciation of our interdependencies are central, in contrast to life-diminishing models of individualism and materialism/secularism. We offer several areas for improvement centred on regenerative solutions, moving beyond conventional environmental protection or biophysical restoration and focusing instead on critical multidimensional relationships—amongst people and between people and the rest of nature. We focus, in particular, on the potential of people’s values and worldviews to inform morality (guiding principles and/or beliefs about right and wrong) and ethics (societal rules defining acceptable behaviour), which alone can nurture the just transformations needed for nature conservation and sustainability at all scales. Finally, we systematize the potential of regenerative solutions against a backdrop of relational approaches in sustainability sciences. In so doing, we contribute to current endeavours of the conservation community for more inclusive conservation, expanding beyond economic valuations of nature and protected areas to include more holistic models of governance that are premised on relationally-oriented value systems.
Modelling Multi-Species Connectivity at the Kafue-Zambezi Interface: Implications for Transboundary Carnivore Conservation
Authors: Lines Robin , Bormpoudakis Dimitrios , Xofis Panteleimon , Tzanopoulos Joseph
Published: November 2021

Linking wildlife areas with corridors facilitating species dispersal between core habitats is a key intervention to reduce the deleterious effects of population isolation. Large heterogeneous networks of areas managed for wildlife protection present site- and species-scale complexity underpinning the scope and performance of proposed corridors. In Southern Africa, the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area seeks to link Kafue National Park to a cluster of wildlife areas centered in Namibia and Botswana. To assess and identify potential linkages on the Zambian side, we generated a high-resolution land cover map and combined empirical occurrence data for Lions (Panthera leo), Leopards (Panthera pardus) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) to build habitat suitability maps. We then developed four connectivity models to map potential single and multi-species corridors between Kafue and the Zambezi River border with Namibia. Single and multi-species connectivity models selected corridors follow broadly similar pathways narrowing significantly in central-southern areas of the Kafue-Zambezi interface, indicating a potential connectivity bottleneck. Capturing the full extent of human disturbance and barriers to connectivity remains challenging, suggesting increased risk to corridor integrity than modelled here. Notwithstanding model limitations, these data provide important results for land use planners at the Kafue-Zambezi Interface, removing much speculations from existing connectivity narratives. Failure to control human disturbance and secure corridors will leave Kafue National Park, Zambia’s majority component in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, isolated.
Impact of Light Stress on the Synthesis of Both Antioxidants Polyphenols and Carotenoids, as Fast Photoprotective Response in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: New Prospective for Biotechnological Potential of This Microalga
Authors: Faraloni Cecilia , Di Lorenzo Tiziana , Bonetti Alessandra
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as an antioxidant source of enriched biomass. This microalga is a model organism deeply investigated for physiological studies, particularly considering carotenoid synthesis in response to stress, to counteract the effects of the formation of free radicals. Less attention has been paid to the profile characterization of other antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, which can be synthesized, concomitantly with carotenoids, under photooxidative stress, especially high light. The cultures of C. reinhardtii were exposed to three different light intensities, 70, 800 and 1500 µmoles photons m−2 s−1. The increasing light intensity symmetrically induced the increasing accumulation of both carotenoids and phenolic compounds. The results showed that exposure to high light intensities caused the accumulation of electrons in the electron transport chain, with a reduction in photosynthetic activity. In the same cultures, high light intensity induced the strong increment of polyphenols such as gallic, chlorogenic and coumaric acids, which resulted 6.2-fold, 4-fold and 3.7-fold higher, respectively, than in cells exposed to the lowest intensities. As expected, at the highest light intensity, the strong induction of the xanthophyll cycle and the largest increment of loroxanthin, lutein, α-carotene and ß-carotene could be detected. Antioxidant properties doubled with respect to the initial time, both in acetone and methanol cellular extracts of these cultures, revealing a new potential role for biotechnological application of this microalga.
The Injectivity Theorem on a Non-Compact Kähler Manifold
Authors: Wu Jingcao
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we establish an injectivity theorem on a weakly pseudoconvex Kähler manifold X with negative sectional curvature. For this purpose, we develop the harmonic theory in this circumstance. The negative sectional curvature condition is usually satisfied by the manifolds with hyperbolicity, such as symmetric spaces, bounded symmetric domains in Cn, hyperconvex bounded domains, and so on.
An Equivalent Homogenization Theoretical Method for Composite Sandwich Cylinders Subjected to Pure Bending
Authors: Liu Yang , Gu Fuwei , Li Mingxuan , Lu Xiaofeng , Zhu Xiaolei
Published: November 2021

An equivalent theoretical homogenization method was proposed for composite sandwich cylinders subjected to pure bending. Firstly, based on a homogeneous orthotropic layer hypothesis, the trapezoidal corrugated sandwich core was found to be equivalent in a homogenization orthotropic layer with the nine equivalent mechanical properties. Then, Lekhnitskii’s theory, based on a unified connection parameter method, was introduced and applied in the equivalent composite sandwich cylinder. The method developed by Lekhnitskii is suitable for arbitrary combinations of winding layers with different winding angles and materials. Additionally, the bending stiffness of the equivalent sandwich cylinder could be calculated. By developing user subroutine of UMAT, the numerical calculation results were in a good agreement with the results of the proposed method. Further, according to the Hill–Tsai strength criterion and the maximum strain criterion, parametric study was done for specified bending stiffness and specified bending strength. The results show that the influence of core parameters on the specified bending stiffness and strength are lower than that of the skin parameters. Additionally, larger skin thickness and smaller winding angles could improve the specified bending stiffness and specified bending strength of the composite corrugated sandwich cylinders.
Manufacturing and Characterization of Customizable Flexible Carbon Nanotube Fabrics for Smart Wearable Applications
Authors: Kubley Ashley , Chitranshi Megha , Hou Xiaoda , Schulz Mark
Published: November 2021

The integration of carbon nanotube fabric into textiles is paving its way into smart materials and wearable applications. Potential novel applications of carbon nanotube hybrid (CNTH) materials and fabric composites span across a range of market levels from high-level PPE appropriate for military and industrial applications down to consumer products that can be used in everyday scenarios. The high-level performance properties of CNTH materials and their ability to be customized provide new possibilities for constructing fabrics with properties that are made to order. Furthermore, CNTH in combination with advanced textile compositing and construction methods allows the CNTH material to further leverage material customization aspects to meet specific requirements. The unique synthesis process for nanotube fabric allows for modification of the physical properties of the CNTH itself. The CNTH fabric combined with the customizability of standard textile composite materials and with the use of apparel design features allows for the design of materials with new combinations of physical properties. These unique properties offer high potential for developing families of smart wearable garments that can be scaled for industrial production. This article discusses the synthesis of carbon nanotube hybrid fabric, the process of hybrid fabric and textile integration, properties of the hybrid textile, and potential applications. The paper also provides an outlook towards large scale production of the hybrid textile material.
A Note on the Gravitoelectromagnetic Analogy
Authors: Ruggiero Matteo Luca
Published: November 2021

We discuss the linear gravitoelectromagnetic approach used to solve Einstein’s equations in the weak-field and slow-motion approximation, which is a powerful tool to explain, by analogy with electromagnetism, several gravitational effects in the solar system, where the approximation holds true. In particular, we discuss the analogy, according to which Einstein’s equations can be written as Maxwell-like equations, and focus on the definition of the gravitoelectromagnetic fields in non-stationary conditions. Furthermore, we examine to what extent, starting from a given solution of Einstein’s equations, gravitoelectromagnetic fields can be used to describe the motion of test particles using a Lorentz-like force equation.
How Influenza A Virus NS1 Deals with the Ubiquitin System to Evade Innate Immunity
Authors: Lamotte Laurie-Anne , Tafforeau Lionel
Published: November 2021

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification regulating critical cellular processes such as protein degradation, trafficking and signaling pathways, including activation of the innate immune response. Therefore, viruses, and particularly influenza A virus (IAV), have evolved different mechanisms to counteract this system to perform proper infection. Among IAV proteins, the non-structural protein NS1 is shown to be one of the main virulence factors involved in these viral hijackings. NS1 is notably able to inhibit the host’s antiviral response through the perturbation of ubiquitination in different ways, as discussed in this review.
Susceptibility of Four Abalone Species, Haliotis gigantea, Haliotis discus discus, Haliotis discus hannai and Haliotis diversicolor, to Abalone asfa-like Virus
Authors: Matsuyama Tomomasa , Kiryu Ikunari , Inada Mari , Takano Tomokazu , Matsuura Yuta , Kamaishi Takashi
Published: November 2021

Abalone amyotrophia is a viral disease that causes mass mortality of juvenile Haliotis discus and H. madaka. Although the cause of this disease has yet to be identified, we had previously postulated a novel virus with partial genome sequence similarity to that of African swine fever virus is the causative agent and proposed abalone asfa-like virus (AbALV) as a provisional name. In this study, three species of juvenile abalone (H. gigantea, H. discus discus, and H. diversicolor) and four species of adult abalone (the above three species plus H. discus hannai) were experimentally infected, and their susceptibility to AbALV was investigated by recording mortality, quantitatively determining viral load by PCR, and conducting immunohistological studies. In the infection test using 7-month-old animals, H. gigantea, which was previously reported to be insusceptible to the disease, showed multiplication of the virus to the same extent as in H. discus discus, resulting in mass mortality. H. discus discus at 7 months old showed abnormal cell masses, notches in the edge of the shell and brown pigmentation inside of the shell, which are histopathological and external features of this disease, while H. gigantea did not show any of these characteristics despite suffering high mortality. Adult abalones had low mortality and viral replication in all species; however, all three species, except H. diversicolor, became carriers of the virus. In immunohistological observations, cells positive for viral antigens were detected predominantly in the gills of juvenile H. discus discus and H. gigantea, and mass mortality was observed in these species. In H. diversicolor, neither juvenile nor adult mortality from infection occurred, and the AbALV genome was not increased by experimental infection through cohabitation or injection. Our results suggest that H. gigantea, H. discus discus and H. discus hannai are susceptible to AbALV, while H. diversicolor is not. These results confirmed that AbALV is the etiological agent of abalone amyotrophia.