bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Quercetin against Vibrio parahaemolyticus Biofilm on Food Surfaces and Downregulation of Virulence Genes
Authors: Roy Pantu Kumar , Park Sung-Hee , Song Min Gyu , Park Shin Young
Published: September 2022

For the seafood industry, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, one of the most prevalent food-borne pathogenic bacteria that forms biofilms, is a constant cause of concern. There are numerous techniques used throughout the food supply chain to manage biofilms, but none are entirely effective. Through assessing its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, quercetin will be evaluated for its ability to prevent the growth of V. parahaemolyticus biofilm on shrimp and crab shell surfaces. With a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 220 µg/mL, the tested quercetin exhibited the lowest bactericidal action without visible growth of bacteria. In contrast, during various experiments in this work, the inhibitory efficacy of quercetin without (control) and with sub-MICs levels (1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 MIC) against V. parahaemolyticus was examined. With increasing quercetin concentration, swarming and swimming motility, biofilm formation, and expression levels of related genes linked to flagella motility (flaA and flgL), biofilm formation (vp0952 and vp0962), and quorum-sensing (luxS and aphA) were all dramatically reduced (p < 0.05). Quercetin (0–110 μg/mL) was investigated on shrimp and crab shell surfaces, the inhibitory effects were 0.68–3.70 and 0.74–3.09 log CFU/cm2, respectively (p < 0.05). The findings were verified using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), which revealed quercetin prevented the development of biofilms by severing cell-to-cell contacts and induced cell lysis, which resulted in the loss of normal cell shape. Furthermore, there was a substantial difference in motility between the treatment and control groups (swimming and swarming). According to our findings, plant-derived quercetin should be used as an antimicrobial agent in the food industry to inhibit the establishment of V. parahaemolyticus biofilms. These findings suggest that bacterial targets are of interest for biofilm reduction with alternative natural food agents in the seafood sector along the entire food production chain.
A Mechanistic Study on the Anti-Corrosive Performance of Zinc-Rich Polyester/TGIC Powder Coatings
Authors: Yang Marshall Shuai , Huang Jinbao , Noël James Joseph , Chen Jian , Barker Ivan , Henderson Jeffrey Daniel , Zhang Hui , Zhang Haiping , Zhu Jesse
Published: September 2022

Powder coatings represent an environmentally friendly VOC-free alternative to widely used solvent-borne zinc-rich coatings, with economic and ecological benefits. In particular, powder coatings have several advantageous properties, such as chemical resistance and mechanical strength. However, the performance and characteristics of polyester-based zinc-containing powder coatings remain unknown. In this study, the corrosion performance of polyester powder coatings containing up to 80% zinc is compared. Electrochemical and salt-spray testing results indicate that coatings formulated with 80% zinc demonstrate superior anti-corrosive properties than coatings with lower zinc dosages. Two distinct behavioral phases of the coating with 80% zinc were observed by measurements of open circuit potential (OCP) and polarization resistance (Rp) during immersion tests—a phase indicative of a barrier effect and a phase consistent with galvanic protection. The evolution of the coating was further characterized and interpreted as five stages by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the mechanistic details were discussed. This UV-resistant single-layer powder coating has the potential to replace the commonly used high-VOC multi-layer liquid coating systems at a significantly lower cost.
The Role of Optimism and Abstinence in the Mechanism Underlying the Indirect Links of Religious and Spiritual Involvement with the Happiness of Alcoholics Anonymous from Poland
Authors: Wnuk Marcin
Published: September 2022

Religiosity and spirituality are important factors for recovery of alcohol-addicted individuals. Previous studies have given some suggestions about the spiritual mechanism that influences the wellbeing of representatives of this group. The purpose of this research was to examine whether religious practices and spiritual experiences are indirectly related, through optimism and duration of abstinence, to the happiness of alcohol-dependent individuals participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The study had a cross-sectional design; path analysis in structural equation modeling was used. The sample consisted of 115 AA participants in Poland. The Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) was used in the study, along with questionnaires surveying three indicators of happiness—desire for life, passion for life, and evaluation of current happiness—along with four further measures—optimism, length of abstinence, frequency of prayer, and frequency of Mass attendance. Confirmed indirect relationship between spiritual experiences and happiness through optimism and the abstinence duration and indirect links between religious practices and happiness. Among AA participants, religious practices were positively related to spiritual growth, which via longer abstinence and higher levels of optimism, were indirectly related to improved happiness. The research results indicate a beneficial role played by religious practices and spiritual experiences in AA participants, associated with their happiness and relevant variables such as optimism and abstinence duration.
Development of Risk Management Mechanism and the System of Risk Metrics to Evaluate and Enhance the Long-Term Orientation of the Strategies of Non-Financial Companies
Authors: Grishunin Sergey , Suloeva Svetlana , Burova Ekaterina
Published: September 2022

Companies that are performing innovation-focused strategies or experiencing digital transformation are exposed to significant long-term risks. The untimely and inefficient management of these risks leads to the destruction of the company’s value and calls into question its survival. This is often underpinned by companies following strategic management with a short-term horizon. Such “strategic myopia” prevents timely identification and treatment of strategic risks and destroys value due to physical and intellectual capital investment restrictions. However, the existing mechanisms of setting up risk management architecture neither addresses the lengths of the horizon and the alignment of the horizon with the strategic objectives, state of the environment and stakeholder expectations nor provides the tools for evaluating the horizon of the firm’s strategy. Moreover, existing systems of evaluating short-termism rely only on financial and governance metrics and do not address environmental and social factors. We closed these gaps and developed a strategic risk-controlling mechanisms to set up the risk management architecture that expanded “conventional” risk management analysis and addressed the “strategic myopia”. We also worked out the critical tool of the mechanism—the system of key risk metrics (SKRI) aimed at assessing the degree of a company’s following of long-term strategic orientation. Finally, we tested it on a sample of Russian non-financial companies. Testing results revealed a strong and positive correlation between the management’s decision to follow a long-term strategic focus and the growth of companies’ long-term value (measured by economic value added (EVA)). SKRI can be utilized in strategic risk controlling to assess the company’s propensity to follow a short-term horizon, evaluate its ability to maintain sustainable value creation, and develop recommendations to stakeholders to expand its strategic focus.
Impact of the Internet of Things on Psychology: A Survey
Authors: Vahdat-Nejad Hamed , Mansoor Wathiq , Abbasi Sajedeh , Hajiabadi Mahdi , Salmani Fatemeh , Azizi Faezeh , Mosafer Reyhane , Jamalian Mohadese , Khosravi-Farsani Hadi
Published: September 2022

The Internet of things (IoT) continues to “smartify” human life while influencing areas such as industry, education, economy, business, medicine, and psychology. The introduction of the IoT in psychology has resulted in various intelligent systems that aim to help people—particularly those with special needs, such as the elderly, disabled, and children. This paper proposes a framework to investigate the role and impact of the IoT in psychology from two perspectives: (1) the goals of using the IoT in this area, and (2) the computational technologies used towards this purpose. To this end, existing studies are reviewed from these viewpoints. The results show that the goals of using the IoT can be identified as morale improvement, diagnosis, and monitoring. Moreover, the main technical contributions of the related papers are system design, data mining, or hardware invention and signal processing. Subsequently, unique features of state-of-the-art research in this area are discussed, including the type and diversity of sensors, crowdsourcing, context awareness, fog and cloud platforms, and inference. Our concluding remarks indicate that this area is in its infancy and, consequently, the next steps of this research are discussed.
A Multi-Experiment Investigation of the Effects Stance Width on the Biomechanics of the Barbell Squat
Authors: Sinclair Jonathan , Taylor Paul John , Jones Bryan , Butters Bobbie , Bentley Ian , Edmundson Christopher James
Published: September 2022

This two-experiment study aimed to explore habitual and manipulated stance widths on squat biomechanics. In experiment one, 70 lifters completed back squats at 70%, 1 repetition maximum (1RM), and were split into groups (NARROW < 1.06 * greater trochanter width (GTW), MID 1.06–1.18 * GTW and WIDE > 1.37 * GTW) according to their self-selected stance width. In experiment two, 20 lifters performed squats at 70%, 1RM, in three conditions (NARROW, MID and WIDE, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 * GTW). The three-dimensional kinematics were measured using a motion capture system, ground reaction forces (GRF) using a force platform, and the muscle forces using musculoskeletal modelling. In experiment two, the peak power was significantly greater in the NARROW condition, whereas both experiments showed the medial GRF impulse was significantly greater in the WIDE stance. Experiment two showed the NARROW condition significantly increased the quadriceps forces, whereas both experiments showed that the WIDE stance width significantly enhanced the posterior-chain muscle forces. The NARROW condition may improve the high mechanical power movement performance and promote the quadriceps muscle development. Greater stance widths may improve sprint and rapid change-of-direction performance and promote posterior-chain muscle hypertrophy. Whilst it appears that there is not an optimal stance width, these observations can be utilized by strength and conditioning practitioners seeking to maximize training adaptations.
Experimental and Numerical Prediction of Wetting Fronts Size Created by Sub-Surface Bubble Irrigation System
Authors: Alrubaye Yasir L. , Yusuf Badronnisa , Mohammad Thamer A. , Nahazanan Haslinda , Zawawi Mohamed Azwan Mohamed
Published: September 2022

A bubble irrigation system (BIS) is a subsurface irrigation method recently introduced that may provide a better mechanism in terms of flow regulation, as it involves mainly the exchange of water and air bubbles under slight negative pressure. The negative pressure flow was created using inverted closed plastic bottles (ICPB) that connected to an elevated closed tank. Understanding the characteristics of wetting fronts is key in designing this irrigation system. This paper mainly presents the principles of BIS, the experimental measurements and software simulation of BIS wetting patterns, and the development of statistical models for BIS wetting patterns dimensions estimation. Laboratory experiments were accomplished to measure the BIS’s sharp-wetting fronts variation with four diameters of contact areas of ICPB and two different soil types, namely SS1 and SS2. In addition, numerical simulations using a 2D HYDRUS were performed to explore the possibility of using the simulated non-sharp wetting fronts in predicting BIS wetting fronts. The experimental results and numerical simulations show that the soil properties and the area of contact have a significant impact on the bubble flow rate and the shape and size of the wetting patterns. The hydraulic conductivity and the density of soil SS2, which were 62 and 22 percent, respectively, higher than soil SS1, have resulted in average incremental ratios of wetted depth and width by 94 and 178 percent, respectively. Results also show that more than 50 percent of the growth of wetting fronts’ width and depth occurred rapidly at the early portion of irrigation time before flattening at the latter time, indicating the effectiveness of the air–water exchange in regulating the amount of water supplied and in controlling wetting fronts propagation. Furthermore, based on experimental and simulation results, regression models have been developed for estimation of bubble flow rates and the size of wetting fronts. The developed models can be reliably used to predict the bubble flow rate and size of wetting patterns with high accuracy.
Correction: Martínez-Reyes et al. Supplying Personal Protective Equipment to Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Colombia. A Simheuristic Approach Based on the Location-Routing Problem. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7822
Authors: Martínez-Reyes Andrés , Quintero-Araújo Carlos L. , Solano-Charris Elyn L.
Published: September 2022

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]
Multi-Objective Vehicle Routing Problem for Waste Classification and Collection with Sustainable Concerns: The Case of Shanghai City
Authors: Zhou Jian , Zhang Meixi , Wu Sisi
Published: September 2022

With the promotion of an ecological civilization philosophy and a sustainable development strategy, solid waste classification and collection has become an emerging issue in China. Based on the three dimensions of sustainable development, namely economy, society, and environment, the route optimization model of waste collection and transportation is constructed. In order to solve the model aiming to maximize the benefits of sanitation companies under the constraints of workload balance, transportation cleanliness, and route changes due to cost factors, we combine the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III with simulated annealing. According to the characteristics of the problem, the probabilistic insertion method is incorporated to generate the initial solution, and the adaptive mutation operator is added to improve the population diversity. Finally, a real case in Xuhui District, Shanghai, a megacity taking the lead in 2019 in mandating a separated collection policy, is presented to verify the proposed model’s performance. The results provide a decision solution for dispatching the collection route of vehicles with some references for sanitary companies.
Spatial Analysis for the Landscape Visual Aesthetic Quality of Urban Residential Districts Based on 3D City Modeling
Authors: Zhu Zheng , He Qingyun , Zhu Xiang
Published: September 2022

The landscape visual aesthetic quality (LVAQ) of urban residential districts is an important index for measuring urban livability and is a tripartite concern among urban managers, real estate developers and residents. The LVAQ of residential districts is determined by their visual openness and the aesthetic degree of the surrounding landscape, a value combining subjective evaluation and objective analysis. Although existing studies have carried out empirical analyses on the LVAQ of residential districts and have summarized some influencing factors, they have largely overlooked the specific impact and interactions of various factors, failing to establish 3D city models meeting LVAQ analysis requirements and falling short in developing appropriate evaluation approaches suitable for whole city scale. In this study, we propose a spatial simulation analysis for the LVAQ of residential districts based on 3D city modeling, aesthetic evaluation and viewshed analysis. In order to improve the accuracy of the study, we collected massive RS data and established a 3D city model covering a large amount of architecture and landscape information. We analyzed three representative cases and calculated the LVAQ of 1258 residential districts in Changsha City, Hunan, China, evaluating the results with various construction and planning indicators. Our results show that the LVAQ of residential districts is affected by their own construction conditions and the surrounding districts and landscape areas. Various architectural and planning indicators have restrictive and direct effects on LVAQ. Optimizing the layout of landscape areas and the construction mode of residential districts through urban planning and urban renewal may help improve their LVAQ. This study helps better understand the general principles that affect the LVAQ of residential districts and supports the development of urban scale LVAQ analysis methods for residential districts. The findings are expected to provide methodological support for the landscape analysis and evaluation of urban residential districts in China and other developing countries and provide optimization ideas for urban human settlement environment sustainability.
Analysis of Ecosystem Protection and Sustainable Development Strategies—Evidence Based on the RWEQ Model on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Song Ruiya , Zhao Xiufeng , Jing Yongcai , Li Xiaoxia , Su Jiwen , Wang Xiao , Zhao Dandan
Published: September 2022

Environmental sustainability and high-quality development are global issues since soil deterioration and potential desertification are caused by human activities and global climate change, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The Loess Plateau is one of the most severely eroded regions in the world. Since the “Grain for Green Program” was established on the Loess Plateau in the late 1990s as a result of the degradation of the soil, it has been an important state policy and demonstration project for ecological protection and sustainable development in China. Therefore, understanding the spatiotemporal changes of soil wind erosion, such as yearly and monthly fluctuations in various periods, under the scenarios of global climate change and human activities, is crucial for carrying out soil conservation initiatives in the Yellow River basin. The revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) model was applied in this study to evaluate the dynamics of soil wind erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. The soil wind erosion was evaluated on the Loess Plateau from 1981 to 2019 to provide a creative idea for managing ecosystems at the regional scale. By examining the case of the Loess Plateau, we hope to be better able to comprehend the significance of putting environmental protection projects into action to enhance the ecological environment and the well-being of locals, as well as to offer recommendations for the future creation of effective and sustainable development strategies.
Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation Practices, and Business Performance in Brazilian Industrial Companies
Authors: Perlin Ana Paula , Gomes Clandia Maffini , Motke Francies Diego , Kruglianskas Isak , Zaluski Felipe Cavalheiro
Published: September 2022

This study sought to analyze the level of adopted climate change mitigation and adaptation practices and their relationship with the performance of Brazilian industrial companies. The data were collected through an e-survey in 40 Brazilian industrial companies linked to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Mitigation and adaptation practices were adopted as independent variables against climate change, while performance parameters (financial, innovative, production, market, and export performance) were included as the dependent variables. Our findings indicate that Brazilian industrial companies have been adopting both corporate practices of mitigation and adaptation to climate change and show that there are relationships between mitigation and adaptation practices and different dimensions of corporate performance. This study contributes to scientific advancement and developing a theoretical model that addresses, in an integrated manner, managing climate change adaptation and mitigation practices and corporate performance.
Difficulty Evaluation of Navigation Scenarios for the Development of Ship Remote Operators Training Simulator
Authors: Hwang Taemin , Youn Ik-Hyun
Published: September 2022

The enhancement of navigators’ ability has been promoted by on-scene training; however, considering the safety and repeatability, simulation training (ST) is recommended. Notably, the training of maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) remote operators has to be performed in a systemic simulated environment. In various fields, ST has differentiated levels of training scenarios considering the proper training effect and evaluation. Although the accuracy and implementation of a realistic situation have received the most attention in simulated navigation, the objective criteria of difficulty are to be established for systemic training. For this purpose, this study aims to propose difficulty criteria in navigation generation scenarios for the development of training simulator MASS remote operators. Proposed methods generated navigation scenarios with differentiated difficulties, simulated navigation experiments were performed, and the results were analyzed as a validation of the differentiated difficulties. Our findings include the difficulty differentiation method, navigation scenario samples, and simulated navigation experimental results.
Study on Low-Carbon Construction System of Desakota Village-and-Town Communities: Take Zhejiang Province as an Example
Authors: Zhu Xiaoqing , Zhong Yuebin , Li Zhixing , Shi Hanyuan , Shi Bin
Published: September 2022

In the context of urbanization, desakota villages and towns, which feature mixed land utilization, a diversified industrial structure, and “half-city and half-town”, have gradually come into being and play a big part in impacting the development of towns and villages. As the top-down policy guidance and control play a minor role, and the bottom-up construction runs out of control, various human settlement problems, such as the waste of land resources, low energy efficiency, high carbonization, and disappearing ecological livability, stand out. The core problems confronting China in the next phase concern the rational utilization of village resources and the guidance for and control over the low-carbon development of villages and towns in the future. Based on the demand for the low-carbon development of the human settlements in desakota villages and towns, the analyzed points in this article include the correlation between the carbon emission intensity and the spatial form characteristics and other related elements in Zhejiang Province. The low-carbon construction of the desakota village-and-town communities is transformed into the spatial form structure in order to gain a better understanding of the low-carbon control elements. A correlation evaluation model is established to provide the basis for the optimization and improvement of a low-carbon construction system from multiple dimensions and perspectives, thus providing a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the future low-carbon construction of desakota villages and towns.
Air Pollution and Employee Protection: The Moderating Effect of Public Attention and Environmental Regulations
Authors: Zhao Rui , Liang Dawei , Pan Yukun , Du Qianqian
Published: September 2022

Air pollution is imposing substantial health and economic burdens on billions of people around the world. Although the impacts of air pollution on human health and economic growth have long been recognized, empirical evidence on whether and how air pollution affects firms’ employee protection remains unclear. Using a sample of publicly listed Chinese firms from 2010 to 2019, we show that air pollution can significantly increase firms’ employee protection. The results indicate that employee protection is an effective substitute for poor air quality in firm headquarters. Further analyses suggest that public pressure enhances the influence of air pollution on firms’ labor protection, while environmental regulation lessens the positive relationship between air pollution and employee treatment. Overall, we emphasize that air pollution is a significant non-economic determinant affecting firms’ human capital stock and employee treatment strategy. This study would be of particular interest to economists, managers, and regulators who are concerned about designing optimal environmental and welfare policies.
Sustainability of Worker Co-Operatives
Authors: Preluca Andreea , Hakelius Karin , Mark-Herbert Cecilia
Published: September 2022

With the world of business often criticised for contributing to social and environmental damage, addressing sustainability has become necessary for virtually all business models, including co-operatives. This article investigates ways in which worker co-operatives can contribute to a more sustainable world, using the conceptual lens of Doughnut Economics (DE). It places enterprises, as a supporting pillar of our economies, at the intersection between meeting social needs and operating within planetary boundaries. A descriptive multiple case study of six worker co-operatives in the UK indicates that these enterprises contribute to sustainability primarily by embodying a mission of fulfilling the needs of workers and their communities, rather than just aiming for financial gains. Worker co-operatives are enterprises with highly generative design traits, distributive of the wealth they generate, and to some degree regenerative by design. Their strengths lie in learning capacity and distributive values that contribute to social sustainability. The implications of the study are demonstrated in the use of the DE model for addressing sustainability in the studied worker co-operatives. This article contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainability in worker co-operatives as a relatively less researched form of co-operative organisation, employing DE as a holistic framework which so far has been seldom used in business research.
Factors Affecting Crash Severity among Elderly Drivers: A Multilevel Ordinal Logistic Regression Approach
Authors: Alrumaidhi Mubarak , Rakha Hesham A.
Published: September 2022

This study modeled the crash severity of elderly drivers using data from the state of Virginia, United States, for the period of 2014 through to 2021. The impact of several exogenous variables on the level of crash severity was investigated. A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model (M-OLR) was utilized to account for the spatial heterogeneity across different physical jurisdictions. The findings discussed herein indicate that the M-OLR can handle the spatial heterogeneity and lead to a better fit in comparison to a standard ordinal logistic regression model (OLR), as the likelihood-ratio statistics comparing the OLR and M-OLR models were found to be statistically significant, with p-value of <0.001. The results showed that crashes occurring on two-way roads are likely to be more severe than those on one-way roads. Moreover, the risks for older, distracted, and/or drowsy drivers to be involved in more severe crashes escalate than undistracted and nondrowsy drivers. The data also confirmed that the consequences of crashes involving unbelted drivers are prone to be more severe than those for belted drivers and their passengers. Furthermore, the crash severity on higher-speed roads or when linked to high-speed violations is more extreme than on low-speed roads or when operating in compliance with stated speed limits. Crashes that involve animals are likely to lead to property damage only, rather than result in severe injuries. These findings provide insights into the contributing factors for crash severity among older drivers in Virginia and support better designs of Virginia road networks.
Use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Selected Methods in the Managerial Decision-Making Process in the Context of Sustainable Development
Authors: Stofkova Jana , Krejnus Matej , Stofkova Katarina Repkova , Malega Peter , Binasova Vladimira
Published: September 2022

This article deals with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, which can be calculated in several ways. The aim of the paper is to analyze and describe the AHP method as essential for strategic managerial decision-making to determine which method is efficient for the calculation and to set the proper order of criteria. In the contribution, we show how the AHP method can be used through different techniques. In the article, there are included methods that can be used in order to calculate the matrix in the AHP process for setting criteria. This study also focused on the accuracy of various methods used to compute AHP. The paper contains the procedure of using the Saaty method through the Excel program. The results of the research show that the most accurate method is the Saaty method. In comparison with the Saaty method is the geometric mean method with the slightest deviation (CI = 0.00010), followed by the Row sum of the adjusted Saaty matrix with deviation (CI = 0.00256), reverse sums of the Saaty matrix columns (CI = 0.00852), Arithmetic mean and Row sums of the Saaty matrix (CI = 0.01261). All of these methods are easy to calculate and can be performed without major mathematical calculations. The AHP method is often used with other methods such as SWOT, FUZZY, etc. The survey was carried out through an inquiry with managers who graduated from universities in Slovakia and showed that the respondents considered the Saaty method as the most complex and the most difficult. The geometric mean and average mean methods were regarded as the simplest methods. Respondents (44%) stated that they were able to use a program to calculate the AHP. Respondents (46%) had experience with some method related to the strategic managerial decision-making process. Managers (72%) regarded this skill as important for decision-making in their managerial position. The contribution of this paper is to show the advantages of the AHP method in its wide use in various fields.
Continuous and Discrete Dynamical Models of Total Nitrogen Transformation in a Constructed Wetland: Sensitivity and Bifurcation Analysis
Authors: Sunarsih  , Ansori Moch. , Khabibah Siti , Sasongko Dwi
Published: September 2022

In this research, we study a dynamical system of total nitrogen transformation in a mangrove-filled constructed wetland. The system’s variables are the mangrove biomass concentration and total nitrogen concentration in wastewater and in soil solution. We investigate the system’s dynamics by examining the local stability of the equilibriums, simulating the phase portrait and solutions and providing time-dependent parameter sensitivity analyses. The analysis shows that the level of garbage acts as the parameter for when mangrove biomass will disappear. Both the graphs of the system solutions and the sensitivity function in the case of biomass concentration and total nitrogen concentration in soil solution versus time show symmetrical features at specific time intervals. According to the sensitivity index when reaching equilibrium, the level of garbage is the most sensitive parameter to the system. In addition, we explore the model’s discrete form by investigating the conditions for the equilibrium’s local stability and presenting bifurcation diagrams for each parameter. The symmetrical aspects are visible in the visualization of the bifurcation diagram and the solutions’ chaotic behavior.
Measuring Impact of Cloud Computing and Knowledge Management in Software Development and Innovation
Authors: Gupta Chetna , Fernandez-Crehuet Jose Maria , Gupta Varun
Published: September 2022

For organizations, knowledge is a valuable intangible asset that should be obtained, preserved, shared, and applied to assist decision-making. Cloud computing and knowledge management systems bring together technology and organizational methods to help organizations manage their knowledge and enhance their performance. This work investigates how organizations adopt software development and distribution innovation models using ubiquitous computing more specifically cloud-based software services appraise knowledge management (KM) practices. A combined hybrid research model has been developed using extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) with KM practices. Series of statistical results using structural equation modeling performed on data collected through an online survey from 983 professionals working in distributed software development (DSD) and innovation worldwide are used to put hypotheses to the test. The results of the study indicate that KM practices (knowledge accessibility, storage, application, and sharing) along with TOE (complexity, compatibility, relative advantage, security, privacy and trust, and reputation) have a substantial and positive impact on the adoption of cloud-based software services. Coordination and communication concerns are the backbones of successful practicing distributed development and innovation. Furthermore, results indicate acceptance of the moderating role of geographical (cultural) difference in examining the impact of KM practices and cloud services.
Assessment of Metal Contamination in Water of Freshwater Aquaculture Farms from a South Asian Tropical Coastal Area
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Belal , Miazie Md. Robel , Nur As-Ad Ujjaman , Paul Shyamal Kumar , Bakar Muhammad Abu , Paray Bilal Ahamad , Arai Takaomi
Published: September 2022

Heavy metal accumulation in aquaculture farms has become a major problem due to the widespread use of artificial feed to enhance fish productivity. To estimate the contamination level and identify metal sources, we investigated the amounts of seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn) in the surface water of commercial fresh water aquaculture farms in a south Asian tropical coastal area. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to analyze 36 water samples from 12 commercial fish farms. The results demonstrated that the range of three heavy metals were detected in a decreasing order of Mn (0.0574–0.4100 mg.L−1) > Zn (0.0125–0.3250 mg.L−1) > Cu (0.0275–0.085 mg.L−1). In all samples, the remaining four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were below the detectable level (BDL). Except for Mn, the amounts of the metals examined were below WHO and USEPA guideline values. According to the findings, the levels were found to be safe for drinking, agriculture production, and aquaculture. There was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between heavy metal concentrations and water quality parameters, indicating that pollution came from diverse sources and that no single factor was controlling their levels. Furthermore, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences in the mean metal values among the fish farms (p > 0.05). Multivariate analyses (CA and PCA) demonstrated the association and sources of metal in the study area. Although metal levels were not beyond the threshold limit, it is recommended that suitable measures and continuous monitoring should be undertaken to reduce heavy metal pollution in aquaculture farms and prevent water quality degradation.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Constraints on f (T, TG) Gravity
Authors: Asimakis Petros , Saridakis Emmanuel , Basilakos Spyros , Yesmakhanova Kuralay
Published: September 2022

We confront f(T,TG) gravity, with big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) requirements. The former is obtained using both the torsion scalar, as well as the teleparallel equivalent of the Gauss–Bonnet term, in the Lagrangian, resulting to modified Friedmann equations in which the extra torsional terms constitute an effective dark energy sector. We calculate the deviations of the freeze-out temperature Tf, caused by the extra torsion terms in comparison to ΛCDM paradigm. Then, we impose five specific f(T,TG) models and extract the constraints on the model parameters in order for the ratio |ΔTf/Tf| to satisfy the observational BBN bound. As we find, in most of the models the involved parameters are bounded in a narrow window around their general relativity values as expected, asin the power-law model, where the exponent n needs to be n≲0.5. Nevertheless, the logarithmic model can easily satisfy the BBN constraints for large regions of the model parameters. This feature should be taken into account in future model building.
Mechanical Properties of Cometary Surfaces
Authors: Biele Jens , Vincent Jean-Baptiste , Knollenberg Jörg
Published: September 2022

Mechanical properties, in particular, strength (tensile, shear, compressive) and porosity, are important parameters for understanding the evolution and activity of comets. However, they are notoriously difficult to measure. Unfortunately, neither Deep Impact nor other comet observations prior to Rosetta provided firm data on the strength of cometary material. This changed with the Rosetta mission and its detailed close observation data and with the landing(s) of Philae in 2014. There are already many articles and reviews in the literature that derive or compile many different strength values from various Rosetta and Philae data. In this paper, we attempt to provide an overview of the available direct and indirect data; we focus on comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko/67P but include a discussion on the Deep Impact strength results. As a prerequisite, we start by giving precise definitions of ‘strength’, discuss soil mechanics based on the Mohr–Coulomb ‘law’ of micro-gravity, and discuss bulk density and porosity, sintering, and the physics of the strength of a cohesive granular medium. We proceed by discussing the scaling of strength with the size and strain rate, which is needed to understand the observational data. We show how measured elastic properties and thermal (conductivity) data can be correlated with strength. Finally, a singular very high strength value is reviewed as well as some particularly small-strength values inferred from the bouncing motion of Philae, data from its collisions with the surface of the comet, and scratch marks it left, allegedly, on the surface close to its final resting site. The synthesis is presented as an overview figure of the tensile and compressive strength of cometary matter as a function of the size scale; conclusions about the size dependence and apparent natural variability of strength are drawn.
SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Study in Pediatric Patients and Health Care Workers Using Multiplex Antibody Immunoassays
Authors: Prados de la Torre Esther , Obando Ignacio , Vidal Marta , de Felipe Beatriz , Aguilar Ruth , Izquierdo Luis , Carolis Carlo , Olbrich Peter , Capilla-Miranda Ana , Serra Pau , Santamaria Pere , Blanco-Lobo Pilar , Moncunill Gemma , Rodríguez-Ortega Manuel J. , Dobaño Carlota
Published: September 2022

SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a global health problem specially exacerbated with the continuous appearance of new variants. Healthcare workers (HCW) have been one of the most affected sectors. Children have also been affected, and although infection generally presents as a mild disease, some have developed the Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS). We recruited 190 adults (HCW and cohabitants, April to June 2020) and 57 children (April 2020 to September 2021), of whom 12 developed PIMS-TS, in a hospital-based study in Spain. Using an in-house Luminex assay previously validated, antibody levels were measured against different spike and nucleocapsid SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants of concern (VoC). Seropositivity rates obtained from children and adults, respectively, were: 49.1% and 11% for IgG, 45.6% and 5.8% for IgA, and 35.1% and 7.3% for IgM. Higher antibody levels were detected in children who developed PIMS-TS compared to those who did not. Using the COVID-19 IgM/IgA ELISA (Vircell, S.L.) kit, widely implemented in Spanish hospitals, a high number of false positives and lower seroprevalences compared with the Luminex estimates were found, indicating a significantly lower specificity and sensitivity. Comparison of antibody levels against RBD-Wuhan versus RBD-VoCs indicated that the strongest positive correlations for all three isotypes were with RBD-Alpha, while the lowest correlations were with RBD-Delta for IgG, RBD-Gamma for IgM, and RBD-Beta for IgA. This study highlights the differences in antibody levels between groups with different demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as reporting the IgG, IgM, and IgA response to RBD VoC circulating at the study period.
Immunotherapies for Alzheimer’s Disease—A Review
Authors: Valiukas Zachary , Ephraim Ramya , Tangalakis Kathy , Davidson Majid , Apostolopoulos Vasso , Feehan Jack
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that falls under the umbrella of dementia and is characterised by the presence of highly neurotoxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of tau protein within the brain. Historically, treatments for AD have consisted of medications that can slow the progression of symptoms but not halt or reverse them. The shortcomings of conventional drugs have led to a growing need for novel, effective approaches to the treatment of AD. In recent years, immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these efforts. Briefly, immunotherapies utilise the immune system of the patient to treat a condition, with common immunotherapies for AD consisting of the use of monoclonal antibodies or vaccines. Most of these treatments target the production and deposition of Aβ due to its neurotoxicity, but treatments specifically targeting tau protein are being researched as well. These treatments have had great variance in their efficacy and safety, leading to a constant need for the research and development of new safe and effective treatments.
Emission of Structural Noise of Tank Wagons Due to Induced Vibrations during Wagon Operation
Authors: Ďungel Ján , Grenčík Juraj , Zvolenský Peter
Published: September 2022

Railway transport is considered relatively environmentally friendly in terms of energy consumption and air pollution, but it is relatively unfriendly in terms of noise pollution. Noise and vibrations propagating to railroad surrounding areas are disturbing populations. In order to minimize this noise, legislation and regulations such as TSI NOI have been adopted and research of noise and vibrations generated by railway transport has been carried out. Such research has been carried out also by our team focused on experimental investigation of noise generated by railway wagons, in this particular case on tank wagons. We simulated the structural eigenfrequencies of both bogies and tanks using FEM models to find vibrations and corresponding noise levels generated by these vibrations. Theoretical results have been compared with results of measurements of noise generated by impact hammer and visualization of noise fields using a digital acoustic camera Soundcam. Based on the simulation and measurements, principal frequency noise domains of fundamental noise sources were determined—rolling (40–63 Hz), tank (200–1000 Hz), bogie (400–1600 Hz), and wheel (800–10,000 Hz). Measurements on the railway line under real operational conditions at two train speeds have been carried out, too, to see the actual external noise levels.
Cultural Heritage in Fully Immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Cecotti Hubert
Published: September 2022

Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) applications have modified the way people access cultural heritage—from the visiting of virtual museums containing large collections of paintings to the visiting of ancient buildings. In this paper, we propose to review the software that are currently available that deal with cultural heritage in fully immersive virtual reality. It goes beyond technologies that were available prior to virtual reality headsets, at a time where virtual was simply the synonym of the application of digital technologies to cultural heritage. We propose to group these applications depending on their content—from generic art galleries and museums to applications that focus on a single artwork or single artist. Furthermore, we review different ways to assess the performance of such applications with workload, usability, flow, and potential VR symptoms surveys. This paper highlights the progress in the implementation of applications that provide immersive learning experiences related to cultural heritage, from 360 images to photogrammetry and 3D models. The paper shows the discrepancy between available software to the general audience on various VR headsets and scholarship activities dealing with cultural heritage in VR.
Assessing Climate Adaptation and Flood Security Using a Benchmark System: Some Swedish Water Utilities as Good Learning Examples
Authors: Najar Nasik , Persson Kenneth M.
Published: September 2022

The 2020 Sustainability Index (SI), a benchmark system, shows that 2% of the 184 municipal water and wastewater utilities (WWS) in Sweden have a good performance level (green), i.e., they meet all benchmark requirements for the “climate adaptation and flood safety” (“CA and FS”). In this study, ten Swedish WWS organizations were selected and studied in depth. The goal was to present them as good learning examples to inspire other utilities seeking to improve their results and to clarify and concretize the driving factors, strategies, and important explanations for their success, and the challenges they face. A total of 52 SI annual documents from ten utilities were analyzed. Six of their managers were interviewed in depth. One of the ten utilities studied was green on the parameter “CA and FS”. Flooding events in two utilities drove climate adaptation. The formation of an interdisciplinary group in two organizations had a major impact on their success. Two utilities focused on low-lying sites and enclosed spaces. Three believed capacity building increased their chances of success. The biggest challenge was sharing responsibility. That only 2% of municipal water and wastewater utilities are green is not the whole truth. Therefore, there should be other factors in SI that measure performance in “CA and FS”. To improve the results, new laws are needed to solve the problem of shared responsibility.