bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearable Sensors for the Monitoring of Maternal Health—A Systematic Review
Authors: Alim Anika , Imtiaz Masudul H.
Published: February 2023

Maternal health includes health during pregnancy and childbirth. Each stage during pregnancy should be a positive experience, ensuring that women and their babies reach their full potential in health and well-being. However, this cannot always be achieved. According to UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), approximately 800 women die every day from avoidable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, so it is important to monitor mother and fetal health throughout the pregnancy. Many wearable sensors and devices have been developed to monitor both fetal and the mother’s health and physical activities and reduce risk during pregnancy. Some wearables monitor fetal ECG or heart rate and movement, while others focus on the mother’s health and physical activities. This study presents a systematic review of these analyses. Twelve scientific articles were reviewed to address three research questions oriented to (1) sensors and method of data acquisition; (2) processing methods of the acquired data; and (3) detection of the activities or movements of the fetus or the mother. Based on these findings, we discuss how sensors can help effectively monitor maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. We have observed that most of the wearable sensors were used in a controlled environment. These sensors need more testing in free-living conditions and to be employed for continuous monitoring before being recommended for mass implementation.
Toward Early and Objective Hand Osteoarthritis Detection by Using EMG during Grasps
Authors: Jarque-Bou Néstor J. , Gracia-Ibáñez Verónica , Roda-Sales Alba , Bayarri-Porcar Vicente , Sancho-Bru Joaquín L. , Vergara Margarita
Published: February 2023

The early and objective detection of hand pathologies is a field that still requires more research. One of the main signs of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is joint degeneration, which causes loss of strength, among other symptoms. HOA is usually diagnosed with imaging and radiography, but the disease is in an advanced stage when HOA is observable by these methods. Some authors suggest that muscle tissue changes seem to occur before joint degeneration. We propose recording muscular activity to look for indicators of these changes that might help in early diagnosis. Muscular activity is often measured using electromyography (EMG), which consists of recording electrical muscle activity. The aim of this study is to study whether different EMG characteristics (zero crossing, wavelength, mean absolute value, muscle activity) via collection of forearm and hand EMG signals are feasible alternatives to the existing methods of detecting HOA patients’ hand function. We used surface EMG to measure the electrical activity of the dominant hand’s forearm muscles with 22 healthy subjects and 20 HOA patients performing maximum force during six representative grasp types (the most commonly used in ADLs). The EMG characteristics were used to identify discriminant functions to detect HOA. The results show that forearm muscles are significantly affected by HOA in EMG terms, with very high success rates (between 93.3% and 100%) in the discriminant analyses, which suggest that EMG can be used as a preliminary step towards confirmation with current HOA diagnostic techniques. Digit flexors during cylindrical grasp, thumb muscles during oblique palmar grasp, and wrist extensors and radial deviators during the intermediate power–precision grasp are good candidates to help detect HOA.
Integrated Land Suitability Assessment for Depots Siting in a Sustainable Biomass Supply Chain
Authors: Toba Ange-Lionel , Paudel Rajiv , Lin Yingqian , Mendadhala Rohit V. , Hartley Damon S.
Published: February 2023

A sustainable biomass supply chain would require not only an effective and fluid transportation system with a reduced carbon footprint and costs, but also good soil characteristics ensuring durable biomass feedstock presence. Unlike existing approaches that fail to account for ecological factors, this work integrates ecological as well as economic factors for developing sustainable supply chain development. For feedstock to be sustainably supplied, it necessitates adequate environmental conditions, which need to be captured in supply chain analysis. Using geospatial data and heuristics, we present an integrated framework that models biomass production suitability, capturing the economic aspect via transportation network analysis and the environmental aspect via ecological indicators. Production suitability is estimated using scores, considering both ecological factors and road transportation networks. These factors include land cover/crop rotation, slope, soil properties (productivity, soil texture, and erodibility factor) and water availability. This scoring determines the spatial distribution of depots with priority to fields scoring the highest. Two methods for depot selection are presented using graph theory and a clustering algorithm to benefit from contextualized insights from both and potentially gain a more comprehensive understanding of biomass supply chain designs. Graph theory, via the clustering coefficient, helps determine dense areas in the network and indicate the most appropriate location for a depot. Clustering algorithm, via K-means, helps form clusters and determine the depot location at the center of these clusters. An application of this innovative concept is performed on a case study in the US South Atlantic, in the Piedmont region, determining distance traveled and depot locations, with implications on supply chain design. The findings from this study show that a more decentralized depot-based supply chain design with 3depots, obtained using the graph theory method, can be more economical and environmentally friendly compared to a design obtained from the clustering algorithm method with 2 depots. In the former, the distance from fields to depots totals 801,031,476 miles, while in the latter, it adds up to 1,037,606,072 miles, which represents about 30% more distance covered for feedstock transportation.
Development and Validation for Quantitative Determination of Genotoxic Impurity in Gemfibrozil by Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chittireddy Hari Naga Prasada Reddy , Kumar J. V. Shanmukha , Bhimireddy Anuradha , Shaik Mohammed Rafi , Hatshan Mohammad Rafe , Khan Mujeeb , Alwarthan Abdulrahman , Shaik Baji
Published: February 2023

All regulatory organizations are paying close attention to the identification and measurement of genotoxic contaminants. Using conventional analytical techniques like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography to quantify probable genotoxic substances (PGIs) at the trace level is difficult (GC). Therefore, there is a necessity for advanced analytical techniques for the development of highly sensitive analytical procedures for the determination of trace-level PGIs in drug products and drug substances. This study’s goal is to develop and evaluate an analytical technique for measuring allyl chloride, a possible genotoxic contaminant in gemfibrozil. For the detection of very low and trace levels of impurities, a gas chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS/MS) approach was developed and validated. Using a column USP phase G27, a nonpolar and low bleed 5% diphenyl, 95% dimethylpolysiloxane, with dimensions of 30 m in length, 0.32 mm internal diameters, and 1.5 m film thickness, along with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min and Helium (He) as a carrier gas, this method uses a thermal gradient elution program. The method was calibrated with a linearity range from 30% to 150% concentration with respect to the specification level and achieved a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.005 ppm and 0.01 ppm, respectively, for allyl chloride. According to current ICH requirements, the method was validated, and it was discovered to be specific, exact, accurate, linear, sensitive, tough, robust, and stable. This method is suitable for determining allyl chloride in the regular analysis of Gemfibrozil.
Accurate Determination of Pesticide Residues in Milk by Sonication-QuEChERS Extraction and LC-LTQ/Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Koloka Ourania , Boti Vasiliki , Albanis Triantafyllos , Konstantinou Ioannis
Published: February 2023

A modified, quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure combined with sonication and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Orbitrap-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC–Orbitrap-MS) was developed as a sensitive and reliable methodology for the determination of multiclass pesticides in full-fat milk. Different amounts of EMR-lipid sorbent were assayed for the cleanup step in order to achieve both acceptably high recoveries and low co-extractives in the final extracts. Accurate mass measurements of the analyte’s pseudo-molecular ions and tandem MS fragmentation were used to quantify and identify the target pesticides. Analytical performance characteristics of the method, such as linearity, recovery, precision, the limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), matrix effects (ME), and expanded uncertainty, have been determined for method validation fulfilling all criteria for its use as a validated routine method. The method was successfully applied to real samples (by local farms and commercial), revealing the presence of carbendazim in one milk sample at a concentration level below the maximum residue limits.
Research on the Spatial Spillover Effect of Industrial Agglomeration on the Economic Growth in the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Song Mei , Gao Yujin , Dong Furong , Feng Yunan
Published: February 2023

The proposal of the high-quality development strategy of the Yellow River Basin is of great significance for accelerating industrial agglomeration. This study takes 49 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin as the research object. Based on the panel data from 2006 to 2018, we used the location quotient to calculate the manufacturing agglomeration, the producer service industry agglomeration and the synergistic agglomeration in the basin. The spatial Dubin model of the impact of the three types of agglomeration on the economic growth in the basin was constructed. The Yellow River basin was divided into upstream, midstream and downstream to explore the regional heterogeneity of the impact of the industrial agglomeration on the economic growth. The result showed that (1) the economic development of the Yellow River Basin has a spatial overflow. The economic improvement of the surrounding cities promotes local economic growth—the manufacturing agglomeration, producer service industry agglomeration and synergistic agglomeration all promote economic growth. The effect of the manufacturing agglomeration is more significant than the others. (2) The impact of the industrial agglomeration on the economic growth in the Yellow River Basin presents an evident regional heterogeneity, and the magnitude and direction of the action vary in the different regions.
Streamlining Building Energy Modelling Using Open Access Databases—A Methodology towards Decarbonisation of Residential Buildings in Sweden
Authors: Campamà Pizarro Rafael , Bernardo Ricardo , Wall Maria
Published: February 2023

The building sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, consuming significant energy and available resources. Energy renovation of buildings is an effective strategy for decarbonisation, as it lowers operational energy and avoids the embodied impact of new constructions. To be successful, the energy renovation process requires meaningful building models. However, the time and costs associated with obtaining accurate data on existing buildings make large-scale evaluations unrealistic. This study proposes a methodology to streamline building energy models from open-access datasets for urban scalability. The methodology was tested on six case study buildings representing different typologies of the Swedish post-war construction period. The most promising results were obtained by coupling OpenStreetMap-sourced footprints with energy performance declarations and segmented archetypes for building characterisation. These significantly reduced simulation time while retaining similar accuracy. The suggested methodology streamlines building energy modelling with a promising degree of automation and without the need for input from the user. The study concludes that municipalities and building owners could use a such methodology to develop roadmaps for cities to achieve carbon neutrality and evaluate energy renovation solutions. Future work includes achieving higher accuracy of the generated energy models through calibration, performing renovation analysis, and upscaling from individual buildings to neighbourhoods.
Evaluation of Tolerant to CO2 Excess Microalgae for the Production of Multiple Biochemicals in a 3G Biorefinery
Authors: Pavlou Alexandros , Penloglou Giannis , Kiparissides Costas
Published: February 2023

To date, the positive environmental impact of microalgae-based technologies has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, there is still a number of major technical and economic obstacles to overcome. Therefore, further research and innovation are needed for the development and commercial exploitation of large-scale integrated and sustainable processes, based on robust ‘industrial’ microalgal strains and novel photobioreactors (PBRs). Note that the advancement of intensified microalgal cultivation processes can facilitate the economically feasible co-production of microalgal biomass and value-added biochemicals. In this context, the goal of the present investigation was to compare several microalgal strains based on a set of productivity criteria, including the maximum biomass growth and the maximum concentration of total biochemicals (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) under CO2 excess conditions (10% v/v). It was found that the wild type strain of Stichococcus sp. fully meets the above productivity criteria. In particular, a biomass concentration of 1.68 g·L−1 and a concentration of total biochemical products of 1.4 g·L−1 were measured in batch cultivation experiments in flasks using the selected strain. Further studies were performed in two different PBRs. Cultivation in a conventional stirred tank PBR showed successful scaling of the bioprocess, whereas cultivation in an innovative tubular recirculating PBR resulted in maximization of both biomass concentration (3.66 g·L−1) and total biochemical products concentration (3.33 g·L−1).
“Quiet the Mind, and the Soul Will Speak”! Exploring the Boundary Effects of Green Mindfulness and Spiritual Intelligence on University Students’ Green Entrepreneurial Intention–Behavior Link
Authors: Cai Binbin , Chen Yin , Ayub Arslan
Published: February 2023

Given the escalated gravity of interest in green start-ups in recent years, extant research on green entrepreneurial behavior has investigated the influence of green entrepreneurial intention in stimulating behavior. However, factors that shape green entrepreneurial intention warrant empirical scrutiny to provide a more nuanced understanding of how green entrepreneurial intention transforms into green entrepreneurial behavior. This study aims to explore the role of an individual’s cognitive mechanism, i.e., green mindfulness, in predicting university students’ green entrepreneurial behavior. The study examines a serial mediation model of green intrinsic motivation and green entrepreneurial intention in the relationship between green mindfulness and green entrepreneurial behavior. In addition, the study investigates the moderating role of spiritual intelligence in the direct relationship between green mindfulness and green intrinsic motivation, and the indirect association between green mindfulness and green entrepreneurial intention through green intrinsic motivation. The study adopts a time-lagged design to collect data from university students from Punjab, Pakistan. The authors analyze 395 responses from students in their final years using SmartPLS (v 4.0). As projected, our findings reveal that green mindfulness elevates green entrepreneurial intention through the mediator effect of green intrinsic motivation, which translates into green entrepreneurial behavior. Furthermore, spiritual intelligence significantly moderates the relationship between green mindfulness and green entrepreneurial intention, mediated by green intrinsic motivation, such that at high levels of spiritual intelligence the association is more pronounced and vice versa. The study presents several noteworthy theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes to the extant literature by investigating the link between green mindfulness and green entrepreneurial behavior through the serial mediator effects of green entrepreneurial intention and green intrinsic motivation and the moderator effect of spiritual intelligence. From a practical perspective the study presents a theoretical framework of university students’ green entrepreneurial intentions, culminating in green entrepreneurial behavior. By investigating these linkages our research draws practitioners’ attention to the crucial roles of green mindfulness and spiritual intelligence in fostering green entrepreneurial behavior.
Evaluation of Various Organic Amendment Sources to Improve the Root Yield and Sugar Contents of Sugar Beet Genotypes (Beta vulgaris L.) under Arid Environments
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad , Ul-Allah Sami , Sattar Abdul , Sher Ahmad , Hussain Ijaz , Nawaz Ahmad
Published: February 2023

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a sucrose-rich tap root crop, with its fresh root containing up to 20% sucrose contents. Natural organic fertilizers can be a good alternative to synthetic fertilizers. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted for the optimization of different organic amendments i.e., farmyard manure, poultry manure, compost, and biochar. After the optimization experiment, pre-optimized doses of different organic amendments (farmyard manure, 40 t ha−1; poultry manure, 20 t ha−1; compost, 40 t ha−1; and biochar, 20 t ha−1) were evaluated for the production and root quality of two diverse sugar beet genotypes. The experiment was repeated over time (2019 and 2020) at four locations (BZU Research Farm Layyah, Farmer Field Layyah, Farmer Field Bhakkar-A and Farmer Field Bhakkar-B). Among different organic amendments, the use of an optimized rate of poultry manure (20 t ha−1) was the most useful for improvement in root yield, sugar yield and sugar quality. Improvement in root yield was attributed to better leaf growth and root yield which resulted eventually in higher reserve accumulation in roots. The performance of genotype ‘California’ was superior to the genotype ‘Serenada’. In conclusion, growing of genotype ‘California’ in sandy loam soils with poultry manure application (20 t ha−1) might be a pragmatic option to improve the sugar beet yield and sugar recovery.
Does the Effectiveness of Budget Deficit Vary between Welfare and Non-Welfare Countries?
Authors: Musa Kazi , Ali Norli , Said Jamaliah , Ghapar Farha , Mariev Oleg , Mohamed Norhayati , Tahir Hirnissa Mohd
Published: February 2023

Government intervention is imperative in the mixed economic system due to market failures, imperfection, pure public goods, and economic externalities. To this end, we measure the comparative impact of budget deficits on economic growth, incorporating the moderating role of quality of governance (QOG) for welfare and non-welfare countries. We apply a newly developed econometric model, namely Panel Quantile Regression via Moment Conditions, considering the scale and location effect due to high heterogeneity in our panel time series data over 1990–2020. Our empirical investigation shows that the budget deficit promotes economic growth sustainability in the overall sample countries. The comparative analysis confirms that budget deficit promotes economic growth for welfare countries while it impends for non-welfare countries. Furthermore, QOG augments sustainable economic growth in different economic circumstances in welfare countries and non-welfare countries. Finally, the results also demonstrate that the QOG plays a supportive role in the nexus between budget deficit and economic growth in the full sample countries. The findings indicate that the effectiveness of the budget deficit varies across welfare and non-welfare countries. In general, QOG promotes economic growth, but its stringent rules and restrictions somewhat slow down the wheel of the growth process. We provide several policy implications.
A Participatory Inventory Project to Kick-Start the Creation of a Hospital Park: The Experience of the University of Verona (North-Eastern Italy)
Authors: Alba Silvia , Baldo Maddalena , De Benedetti Laura , Deimichei Sara , Mazzino Francesca , Margagliotti Antonino , Polin Veronica , Quaglia Davide , Tardivo Stefano , Tocco Tussardi Ilaria
Published: February 2023

The proximity and accessibility of a green space to places of care have recognized beneficial effects on healing processes. In this communication, we present the results of a pilot research action which has been focused on a neglected urban green area located near to a university hospital. The research action was conducted with a participatory approach, which mainly involved university students, to make the renovation project more inclusive and to create an opportunity for training on green and sustainability themes. The specific aims were: (i) to initiate the renovation of a green space of 18,000 square meters with potential benefits for users of both the hospital and the University of Verona (north-eastern Italy); (ii) to map and classify the greenery in the park; and (iii) to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the potential users of the green area. By performing digital identification and mapping, a detailed tree inventory of the green space was created. Results showed that five species accounted for more than 70% of the trees, with the majority being deciduous plants (59%) between 5 and 20 m tall (72.5%) and 20–200 cm in circumference (80.8%). Through interviews with the population, we highlighted a limited knowledge of the area but a consensus on the importance of the requalification. We highlight how the participatory methodology may represent a valuable tool for local policymakers to manage the city’s green spaces at various scales and implement greenery for the common well-being.
High-Efficiency Microplastic Sampling Device Improved Using CFD Analysis
Authors: Ju Seonghyeon , Yi Jongchan , Lee Junho , Kim Jiyoon , Lim Chaehwi , Lee Jihoon , Kim Kyungtae , Yoon Yeojoon
Published: February 2023

Since microplastics are considered harmful to the human body, studies on their samplings, pretreatments and analyses environmental media, such as water, are continuously being conducted. However, a standard sampling and pretreatment method must be established, particularly because microplastics of a few micrometers in size are easily affected by external contamination. In this study, a microplastic sampling device was designed and developed to obtain a high recovery rate of microplastics and prevent plastics contamination during all processes. For the evaluation of the developed device, microplastic reference materials were produced and used, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed. This device has not only been applied to the relatively large previously studied microplastics (100 µm) but also to microplastics of approximately 20 µm that are vulnerable to contamination. A recovery rate of 94.2% was obtained using this device, and the particles were separated by filtration through a three-stage cassette. In conclusion, we propose a method to increase the accuracy and reproducibility of results for microplastic contamination in the environment. This method is able to consistently obtain and manage microplastics data, which are often difficult to compare using various existing methods.
Frequency, Intensity and Influences of Tropical Cyclones in the Northwest Pacific and China, 1977–2018
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhu Sirui , Liu Jiaming , Wang Xun , Wang Jiarui , Xu Jiayuan , Yao Peiling , Yang Yijie
Published: February 2023

China is part of the western Pacific region, which is the source of the most frequent tropical cyclones in the world. These cause severe disasters each year, including huge economic losses and casualties. To better understand their frequency and intensity, remote sensing tropical cyclone data were obtained for the entire Northwest Pacific region for the period 1977–2018. MATLAB and ArcGIS were used to analyse the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones and their characteristics in various regions of China. At the same time, the influence factors of tropical cyclone characteristics such as El Niño and SST were analyzed by correlation analysis and Geographical detector. The annual frequency of tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific showed a fluctuating state, but the overall trend was decreasing. In particular, since 1994, the overall frequency decreased significantly but rebounded in recent years, while the intensity did not change significantly. It was found that cyclone intensity is lower when the frequency is higher, and vice versa. 85% of tropical cyclones occurred in summer and autumn, with the highest intensities in autumn, when the maximum average wind speed peaks at 37 m/s. The area with the most frequent tropical cyclones was 5–20° N, 125–155° E. A total of 314 tropical cyclones arrived in China during the study period, an average of about 7.5 per year. Their frequency and intensity gradually decreased as they moved from coastal to inland areas. Both SST and El Niño are significantly related to the formation and development of tropical cyclones, and the contribution of multiple factors interaction to the variation characteristics of tropical cyclones is significantly higher than that of single factors. Understanding the characteristics of the Pacific tropical cyclones is an important step in planning disaster prevention framework.
A Hybrid Large Neighborhood Search Method for Minimizing Makespan on Unrelated Parallel Batch Processing Machines with Incompatible Job Families
Authors: Ji Bin , Xiao Xin , Yu Samson S. , Wu Guohua
Published: February 2023

This paper studies a scheduling problem with non-identical job sizes, arbitrary job ready times, and incompatible family constraints for unrelated parallel batch processing machines, where the batches are limited to the jobs from the same family. The scheduling objective is to minimize the maximum completion time (makespan). The problem is important and has wide applications in the semiconductor manufacturing industries. This study proposes a mixed integer programming (MIP) model, which can be efficiently and optimally solved by commercial solvers for small-scale instances. Since the problem is known to be NP-hard, a hybrid large neighborhood search (HLNS) combined with tabu strategy and local search is proposed to solve large-scale problems, and a lower bound is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on numerous compatible benchmark instances and newly generated incompatible instances. The results of computational experiments indicate that the HLNS outperforms the commercial solver and the lower bound for incompatible problems, while for compatible problems, the HLNS outperforms the existing algorithm. Meanwhile, the comparison results indicate the effectiveness of the tabu and local search strategies.
Implementation of Digital Geotwin-Based Mobile Crowdsensing to Support Monitoring System in Smart City
Authors: Supangkat Suhono H. , Ragajaya Rohullah , Setyadji Agustinus Bambang
Published: February 2023

According to the UN (United Nations) data released in 2018, the growth in the world’s population in urban areas is increasing every year. This encourages changes in cities that are increasingly dynamic in infrastructure development, which has an impact on social, economic, and environmental conditions. On the other hand, this also raises the potential for new problems in urban areas. To overcome potential problems that occur in urban areas, a smart, effective, and efficient urban monitoring system is needed. One solution that can be implemented is the Smart City concept which utilizes sensor technology, IoT, and Cloud Computing to monitor and obtain data on problems that occur in cities in real time. However, installing sensors and IoT throughout the city will take a long time and be relatively expensive. Therefore, in this study, it is proposed that the Mobile Crowdsensing (MCS) method is implemented to retrieve and collect data on problems that occur in urban areas from citizen reports using their mobile devices. MCS implementation in collecting data from the field is relatively inexpensive and does not take long because all data and information are sent from citizens or the community. The data and information that has been collected from the community are then integrated and visualized using the Digital Geotwin-based platform. Compared to other platforms, which are mostly still based on text and GIS in 2D, the advantage of Digital Geotwin is being able to represent and simulate real urban conditions in the physical world into a virtual world in 3D. Furthermore, the use of the Digital Geotwin-based platform is expected to improve the quality of planning and policy making for stakeholders. This research study aims to implement the MCS method in retrieving and collecting data in the form of objects and problem events from the field, which are then integrated into the Digital Geotwin-based platform. Data collected from MCS are coordinate data and images of problem objects. These are the contributions of this research study: the first is to increase the accuracy in determining the coordinates of a distant object by adding a parameter in the form of the approximate coordinates of the object. Second, 3D visualization of the problem object using image data obtained through the MCS method and then integrating it into the Digital Geotwin-based platform. The results of the research study show a fairly good increase in accuracy for determining the coordinates of distant objects. Evaluation results from the visualization of problem objects in 3D have also proven to increase public understanding and satisfaction in capturing information.
Research on the Relationship between the Environmental Characteristics of Pocket Parks and Young People’s Perception of the Restorative Effects—A Case Study Based on Chongqing City, China
Authors: Peng Huiyun , Li Xiangjin , Yang Tingting , Tan Shaohua
Published: February 2023

Work and life stresses can cause spiritual fatigue and emotional tension, threatening the physical and psychological health of young people. Several studies have demonstrated the important role and value of pocket parks in the emotional and spiritual refreshment of people. This study quantitatively evaluated the perceived restorative effects associated with the environmental characteristics of a pocket park, and determined the relationships between the physical-environmental characteristics, psychological-environmental characteristics and the restorative effects. In this study, pocket parks in Chongqing City were chosen as the study areas, and a total of 25 sample pictures of the parks were chosen for analysis. Each picture was quantized into 14 physical-environmental indices and three psychological-environmental indices for measurement of the restorative effect. The results showed that the environmental characteristics of parks with a restorative effect include naturality, sense of distance, charm and privacy. The physical-environmental characteristics related to young people’s restoration and their degree of influence were determined through quantitative analysis. Moreover, a prediction model of the environmental restoration effect of pocket parks was established. The research conclusions can provide a reference for the evaluation and comparison of the environmental restoration performance of pocket parks and the design of restorative pocket parks.
Assessing Lean 4.0 for Industry 4.0 Readiness Using PLS-SEM towards Sustainable Manufacturing Supply Chain
Authors: Qureshi Karishma M. , Mewada Bhavesh G. , Kaur Sumeet , Qureshi Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Lean 4.0 (L4.0) plays a significant role in reducing waste and enhancing productivity for a sustainable manufacturing supply chain in Industry 4.0 (I4.0). L4.0, with its soft and hard practices, may be well integrated into I4.0 to enhance its readiness. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are attempting to prepare themselves for I4.0 readiness. Hence, the present research explores L4.0 in terms of its soft and hard practices to understand its holistic relationship with I4.0’s readiness for delivering a sustainable manufacturing supply chain. To reap the maximum benefits, several traditional lean thinking practices and lean management principles should be combined with internet-enabled I4.0 technologies. The result of the present empirical analysis revealed that the soft L4.0 practices of top management leadership (TML), customer focus (CF), and employee training and learning (ETL) influence the hard L4.0 practices of total productive maintenance (TPM), statistical process control (SPC), and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) to have a positive significant influence on operational readiness (OR) and technological readiness (TR).
Supporting Culture to Improve Corporate Image: The Case of Greek Banks
Authors: Kotzaivazoglou Iordanis , Fragidis Garyfallos , Papaioannou Eugenia , Assimakopoulos Costas , Nanos Ioannis , Astrini Nektaria
Published: February 2023

Banks are under criticism that their business models are not adequately sustainable and also that they do not contribute largely to the resolution of the big issues of humanity. For this, banks seek eagerly to develop sustainable and socially responsible strategies as a means for supporting their public image, establishing trusted relationships with society and increasing customer loyalty. Greek banks implement such strategies; however, they seem to have image issues due to the harsh and extended economic crisis that occurred in the country, as well as their policies of the past. It is interesting to investigate the impact of such activities undertaken by institutions with a damaged image, an area that does not seem to have been investigated yet in the relevant literature. The purpose of the paper is to record the supporting activities in culture of the Greek banks and explore the public’s attitude towards them. The research method combines a content analysis on the banks’ websites and published annual reports to specify their actions in culture, and a structured survey to investigate the evaluation of these actions by the public. The findings of this study reveal that the Greek banks pay much attention to the support of culture. These activities have a positive impact on the public’s attitude towards them, but not on customer loyalty.
Homotopy of Linearly Ordered Split–Join Chains in Covering Spaces of Foliated n-Manifold Charts
Authors: Bagchi Susmit
Published: February 2023

Topological spaces can be induced by various algebraic ordering relations such as, linear, partial and the inclusion-ordering of open sets forming chains and chain complexes. In general, the classifications of covering spaces are made by using fundamental groups and lifting. However, the Riesz ordered n-spaces and Urysohn interpretations of real-valued continuous functions as ordered chains provide new perspectives. This paper proposes the formulation of covering spaces of n-space charts of a foliated n-manifold containing linearly ordered chains, where the chains do not form topologically separated components within a covering section. The chained subspaces within covering spaces are subjected to algebraic split–join operations under a bijective function within chain-subspaces to form simply directed chains and twisted chains. The resulting sets of chains form simply directed chain-paths and oriented chain-paths under the homotopy path-products involving the bijective function. It is shown that the resulting embedding of any chain in a leaf of foliated n-manifold is homogeneous and unique. The finite measures of topological subspaces containing homotopies of chain-paths in covering spaces generate multiplicative and cyclic group varieties of different orders depending upon the types of measures. As a distinction, the proposed homotopies of chain-paths in covering spaces and the homogeneous chain embedding in a foliated n-manifold do not consider the formation of circular nerves and the Nachbin topological preordering, thereby avoiding symmetry/asymmetry conditions.
Characterizing the Bone Marrow Environment in Advanced-Stage Myelofibrosis during Ruxolitinib Treatment Using PET/CT and MRI: A Pilot Study
Authors: Slot Stefanie , Lavini Cristina , Zwezerijnen Gerben J. C. , Boden Bouke J. H. , Marcus J. Tim , Huisman Marc C. , Yaqub Maqsood , Barbé Ellis , Wondergem Mariëlle J. , Zijlstra Josée M. , Zweegman Sonja , Raijmakers Pieter G.
Published: February 2023

Current diagnostic criteria for myelofibrosis are largely based on bone marrow (BM) biopsy results. However, these have several limitations, including sampling errors. Explorative studies have indicated that imaging might form an alternative for the evaluation of disease activity, but the heterogeneity in BM abnormalities complicates the choice for the optimal technique. In our prospective diagnostic pilot study, we aimed to visualize all BM abnormalities in myelofibrosis before and during ruxolitinib treatment using both PET/CT and MRI. A random sample of patients was scheduled for examinations at baseline and after 6 and 18 months of treatment, including clinical and laboratory examinations, BM biopsies, MRI (T1-weighted, Dixon, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)) and PET/CT ([15O]water, [18F]NaF)). At baseline, all patients showed low BM fat content (indicated by T1-weighted MRI and Dixon), increased BM blood flow (as measured by [15O]water PET/CT), and increased osteoblastic activity (reflected by increased skeletal [18F]NaF uptake). One patient died after the baseline evaluation. In the others, BM fat content increased to various degrees during treatment. Normalization of BM blood flow (as reflected by [15O]water PET/CT and DCE-MRI) occurred in one patient, who also showed the fastest clinical response. Vertebral [18F]NaF uptake remained stable in all patients. In evaluable cases, histopathological parameters were not accurately reflected by imaging results. A case of sampling error was suspected. We conclude that imaging results can provide information on functional processes and disease distribution throughout the BM. Differences in early treatment responses were especially reflected by T1-weighted MRI. Limitations in the gold standard hampered the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy.
Comparison of the Atmospheric Electric Field from Three Global Stations in 2021
Authors: Li Lei , Chen Tao , Song Jiajun , Ti Shuo , Wang Shihan , Cai Chunlin , Li Wen , Luo Jing
Published: February 2023

The atmospheric electric field is an important physical parameter used to study the state of charge density distribution between the earth and the ionosphere, and its daily variation characteristics reflect the underlying atmospheric electrical properties in a region. In this paper, we used atmospheric electric field data from three global observation stations (the Xanthi station, the Zhuanghe station, and the University of Reading station) from January to December 2021 and then combined these data with meteorological data and geomagnetic activity data to filter the fair-day atmospheric electric field data and plot the average fair-weather atmospheric electric field curve. Then, we compared different sunrise and sunset times and PM 2.5 concentrations, analyzed the seasonal differences for each station, the differences among the three stations, and the difference between their curves and the Carnegie curve, and finally concluded that the difference among them showed positive correlations with PM 2.5 concentrations. The other possible reasons and the entire shape of the average fair-weather atmospheric electric field curve for a defined station are not affected by the season, including the location of peaks and valleys, and the overall variation have been also revealed.
Vector Competence of Northern European Culex pipiens Biotype pipiens and Culex torrentium to West Nile Virus and Sindbis Virus
Authors: Jansen Stephanie , Heitmann Anna , Uusitalo Ruut , Korhonen Essi M. , Lühken Renke , Kliemke Konstantin , Lange Unchana , Helms Michelle , Kirjalainen Lauri , Nykänen Roope , Gregow Hilppa , Pirinen Pentti , Rossini Giada , Vapalahti Olli , Schmidt-Chanasit Jonas , Huhtamo Eili
Published: February 2023

The West Nile Virus (WNV) and Sindbis virus (SINV) are avian-hosted mosquito-borne zoonotic viruses that co-circulate in some geographical areas and share vector species such as Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium. These are widespread in Europe, including northern parts and Finland, where SINV is endemic, but WNV is currently not. As WNV is spreading northwards in Europe, we wanted to assess the experimental vector competence of Finnish Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium mosquitoes to WNV and SINV in different temperature profiles. Both mosquito species were found susceptible to both viruses and got infected via infectious blood meal at a mean temperature of 18 °C. WNV-positive saliva was detected at a mean temperature of 24 °C, whereas SINV-positive saliva was detected already at a mean temperature of 18 °C. Cx. torrentium was found to be a more efficient vector for WNV and SINV over Cx. pipiens. Overall, the results were in line with the previous studies performed with more southern vector populations. The current climate does not seem optimal for WNV circulation in Finland, but temporary summertime transmission could occur in the future if all other essential factors are in place. More field data would be needed for monitoring and understanding the northward spreading of WNV in Europe.
Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Isolated from Dogs and Cats, 2011–2021
Authors: Woerde Dennis J. , Reagan Krystle L. , Byrne Barbara A. , Weimer Bart C. , Epstein Steven E. , Schlesener Cory , Huang Bihua C. , Sykes Jane E.
Published: February 2023

The rising prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales is a significant threat to animal and human health. This study aims to describe the clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and genotypic features of infections associated with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in dogs and cats seen at a tertiary referral veterinary teaching hospital. Enterobacterales isolated from dogs and cats that underwent ESBL testing during the study period were identified using a search of the hospital antimicrobial susceptibility test software database. Medical records of confirmed ESBL isolates were reviewed, and the source of infection, clinical findings, and antimicrobial susceptibility were recorded. Genomic DNA from bacterial isolates was evaluated for antimicrobial resistance genes with whole genome sequencing. Thirty ESBL-producing isolates were identified based on phenotypic testing (twenty-nine from dogs, one from a cat); twenty-six were Escherichia coli and the remainder were Klebsiella spp. Bacterial cystitis was the most commonly identified (8/30, 27%) clinical problem associated with infection. Resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes was identified in 90% (27/30) of isolates, and all isolates were susceptible to imipenem. Over 70% of isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, and cefoxitin. BlaCTX-M-15 was the most common ESBL gene identified, present in 13/22 (59%) isolate genomes. A wide range of clinical infections were identified. Piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin may be alternatives to carbapenem therapy. Further, larger-scale studies are needed.
Wybrane determinanty rozwoju rynków ubezpieczeniowych krajów Unii Europejskiej w latach 1999–2019
Authors: Lament Marzanna , Bukowski Sławomir
Published: February 2023

Celem artykułu jest wskazanie czynników determinujących rozwój rynków ubezpieczeniowych krajów Unii Europejskiej w latach 1999–2019. W artykule dokonano analizy literatury przedmiotu, a także wykorzystano metody statystyki opisowej oraz prognozowanie ekonometryczne. W opracowaniu wykorzystano roczne dane finansowe zgromadzone na podstawie następujących baz danych: EIOPA, Eurostat, OECD Statistics oraz Insurance Europe. Analiza uzyskanych wyników została przeprowadzona przy wykorzystaniu oprogramowania STATISTICA 12 oraz GRETL. Wykonane badania pokazują, że rozwój rynków ubezpieczeniowych jest zdeterminowany przez czynniki zarówno o charakterze makroekonomicznym, jak i specyficzne cechy danego rynku ubezpieczeniowego, takie jak jego wielkość i struktura. Artykuł prezentuje autorskie opracowanie efektów badań, dotyczące rozwoju rynków ubezpieczeniowych krajów Unii Europejskiej. Przedstawia czynniki determinujące rozwój badanych rynków ubezpieczeniowych. Wyniki badań mogą zostać wykorzystane przez zakłady ubezpieczeń oraz instytucje rynku ubezpieczeniowego. Przeprowadzone badania przyczynią się do rozwoju teorii determinant rozwoju rynków ubezpieczeniowych.
Metode Geomembran Sebagai Alternatif Produksi Garam Trasdisional di Gampong Kuala Ba’u Kecamatan Kluet Utara Kabupaten Aceh Selatan
Authors: Muliana Anggun , Nufus Hayatun , Mursawal Asri , Muliyana Agusriati , Gazali Mohamad
Published: February 2023

Gampong Kuala Ba’u Kecamatan Kluet Utara Kabupaten Aceh Selatan telah memproduksi garam menggunakan metode tradisional secara turun-temurun untuk dikonsumsi maupun penunjang kebutuhan ekonomi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan produksi garam melalui pemberdayaan teknik modern (geomembran), metode yang digunakan adalah observasi produksi dan operasi dilapangan (survei). Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa produksi garam tradisional oleh Kelompok Usaha Garam Rakyat (KUGAR) ‘Usaha Geutanyo’ yang telah dibina oleh Penyuluh Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Aceh Selatan selama tiga tahun terakhir sebanyak 7.393 ton, total petani garam berjumlah 16 orang dan memiliki luas lahan selebar 64 meter. Garam tradisional memiliki kualitas garam yang bagus dan dipengaruhi oleh garam induk/bantu, dikarenakan salinitas 70% mengakibatkan produksi yang sedikit dan banyak memakan biaya tambahan. Terdapat 13 tunel geomembran dilahan seluas 50x20 m pada tahap awal produksi gagal disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor seperti musim penghujan yang mempengaruhi lambatnya proses kristalisasi garam dan letak tunel terlalu dekat dengan laut sehingga membuat kerusakan kecil-besar pada tunel garam akibat kencangnya angin laut (angin barat).