bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of Bioactive Metabolites and Biological Activities of Calli, Shoots, and Seedlings of Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray
Authors: Song Kihwan , Sivanesan Iyyakkannu , Ak Gunes , Zengin Gokhan , Cziáky Zoltán , Jekő József , Rengasamy Kannan RR , Lee O New , Kim Doo Hwan
Published: November 2020

Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray is threatened with extinction owing to climate change, poor seed germination, and ocean warming. In vitro explant-culture is used for ex situ preservation and plantlet massive production. In vitro cell and organ cultures serve as an alternative plant material source to investigate the biological activities and phytochemical profiles of rare plants. We aimed to develop an efficient callus and shoot production protocol and investigate bioactive metabolites, antioxidants, and enzyme inhibitory potential of M. maritima calli, shoots, and in vivo seedlings. The effects of combinations of different plant growth regulators, 6-BA (N6-benzyladenine), 6-KN (Kinetin), TDZ (Thidiazuron), and NAA (1-Naphthylacetic acid), in MS (Murashige and Skoog) nutrient medium were studied. The highest callus proliferation was obtained after 5-week cultivation over a 16-h photoperiod on growth medium MS enriched with 4 µM each of 6-BA and NAA. The medium with 2 µM 6-BA and 4 µM 6-KN had the best shoot induction rate (91.1%) with a mean of 13.4 shoots. The combination of two cytokinins (6-BA and 6-KN) was found to be effective in M. maritima shoot regeneration. The rooting frequency was 100% in ½ MS with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA 2 µM). The number of detected compounds and chemical composition in the M. maritima shoots and seedlings extracts were similar. The total amount of phenolics in the shoots was 216.4% and 369.5% higher than in seedlings and calli, respectively. The total amount of flavonoids in the shoots was 241.1% and 429.3% higher than in seedlings and calli, respectively. The best antioxidant activity was obtained in the shoots, followed by seedlings and calli. However, the order was seedlings > calli > shoots regarding metal chelating ability. The strongest acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties were obtained in the calli, followed by seedlings and shoots. However, the tested samples can be ranked as seedlings > shoots > calli in butylcholinestrase inhibition assay. This study is the first report on the enzyme inhibitory effects of M. maritima extracts, providing valuable contributions to the scientific community.
PEG 6000-Stimulated Drought Stress Improves the Attributes of In Vitro Growth, Steviol Glycosides Production, and Antioxidant Activities in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Arslan , Javed Rabia , Adeel Muhammad , Rizwan Muhammad , Yang Yuesuo
Published: November 2020

This study addresses the favourable effects of drought stress imposed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 on the micropropagated shoots of Stevia rebaudiana. Various concentrations, i.e., 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% of PEG 6000 were applied to the nodal shoot explants for four weeks, and the influence produced on shoots growth parameters, bioactive steviol glycosides (rebaudioside A and stevioside), and nonenzymatic antioxidant activities (total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total reducing power (TRP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)-free radical scavenging activity (FRSA)) was elucidated. The significantly highest yield (92.4% direct shoot organogenesis) and secondary metabolites (2.94% Reb A, 2.52% ST, 95.3% DPPH-FRSA, 15.0% TPC, 13.0 µg/mg TFC, 22.3 µg/mg TAC, and 19.8 µg/mg TRP) production in response to abiotic stress elicitors was obtained in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium treatment provided with 4% of PEG 6000. The overall trend was significant enhancement of growth dynamics and pharmaceutical compounds from control to 4% of PEG 6000 concentration as a defensive response against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in excess by water deficit. This is a very promising study to be employed in bioreactors to get markedly enhanced content of compounds of medicinal importance in the pharmaceutical market.
Inhibition or Facilitation? Contrasted Inter-Specific Interactions in Sphagnum under Laboratory and Field Conditions
Authors: Liu Chao , Bu Zhao-Jun , Mallik Azim , Chen Yong-Da , Hu Xue-Feng , Lu Fan
Published: November 2020

In a natural environment, plants usually interact with their neighbors predominantly through resource competition, allelopathy, and facilitation. The occurrence of the positive effect of allelopathy between peat mosses (Sphagnum L.) is rare, but it has been observed in a field experiment. It is unclear whether the stability of the water table level in peat induces positive vs. negative effects of allelopathy and how that is related to phenolic allelochemical production in Sphagnum. Based on field experiment data, we established a laboratory experiment with three neighborhood treatments to measure inter-specific interactions between Sphagnum angustifolium (Russ.) C. Jens and Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. We found that the two species were strongly suppressed by the allelopathic effects of each other. S. magellanicum allelopathically facilitated S. angustifolium in the field but inhibited it in the laboratory, and relative allelopathy intensity appeared to be positively related to the content of released phenolics. We conclude that the interaction type and intensity between plants are dependent on environmental conditions. The concentration of phenolics alone may not explain the type and relative intensity of allelopathy. Carefully designed combined field and laboratory experiments are necessary to reveal the mechanism of species interactions in natural communities.
Post-Anthesis Water-stressed Barley Maintains Grain Specific Weight Through Altered Grain Composition and Plant Architecture
Authors: Hoyle Aaron , Brennan Maree , Rees Logan , Jackson Gail , Hoad Stephen
Published: November 2020

Specific weight (SW) is a long-established measure used as a malting quality specification in barley, with an increased SW thought to result in a higher malt output. Specific weight is a product of individual grain density as determined by grain composition and structure, and grain packing efficiency in a container as determined by grain dimensions. We investigated the effect of moderate but prolonged post-anthesis water stress on barley plant and grain development using pots of cultivars with a known range of SWs to explore how altering plant growth influence SW. Water stress was expected to influence these grain characteristics through decreased photosynthetic capacity. We demonstrated that SW was maintained under water stress conditions through compensatory mechanisms such as increased tiller mortality which preserved grain physical parameters on the main shoots. However, water stress significantly affected plant development by reducing not only ear number and yield, but also grain filling duration, plant biomass and ear length. Grain composition was also altered, with water-stressed plants having reduced carbon:nitrogen. Therefore, although SW can be conserved under water-stressed conditions, grain composition and plant development are altered, producing smaller harvests with higher grain nitrogen content. This would result in bulks of malting barley having different malt outputs despite having the same SW.
A Study of Physico-Mechanical Properties of Hollow Glass Bubble, Jute Fibre and Rubber Powder Reinforced Polypropylene Compounds with and without MuCell® Technology for Lightweight Applications
Authors: Tao Yinping , Hinduja Srichand , Heinemann Robert , Gomes Anselmo , Bártolo Paulo Jorge
Published: November 2020

Lightweighting is one of the key solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles. Nowadays, it is still challenging to achieve this target because there is a conflict between the cost and final material performance, as well as the fact that many lightweight solutions are restricted to laboratory or small-scale production. In this work, a commercially feasible strategy was adopted to fabricate materials for lightweight applications. Hollow glass bubbles, jute fibres, and rubber powder were used as fillers with polypropylene as the base polymer. Various samples were fabricated using conventional and MuCell® injection moulding. Their performance was then characterised by their density and morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties. A comparison among hybrid fillers/polypropylene compounds with and without MuCell® technology was investigated. The filler hybridisation resulted in not only a density reduction of up to approximately 10%, but also improved tensile/flexural modulus and strength. The use of MuCell® led to a further reduction in density of roughly 10%. Meanwhile, although some compounds fabricated by MuCell® exhibited some deterioration in their tensile yield strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength, they maintained acceptable mechanical properties for automotive applications.
Low-Temperature Carbonized Elastomer-Based Composites Filled with Silicon Carbide
Authors: Stepashkin Andrey A. , Ignatyev Semen D. , Chukov Dilyus I. , Tcherdyntsev Victor V. , Kaloshkin Sergey D. , Medvedeva Elena V.
Published: November 2020

Thermally stable composites obtained by the low-temperature carbonization of an elastomeric matrix filled with hard dispersed silicon carbide particles were obtained and investigated. Evolution of the microstructure and of mechanical and thermal characteristics of composites during thermal degradation and carbonization processes in a wide range of filling from 0 to 450 parts per hundred rubber was studied. For highly filled composites, the compressive strength values were found to be more than 200 MPa; Young’s modulus was more than 15 GPa. The thermal conductivity coefficient of composites was up to 1.6 W/(m·K), and this magnitude varied slightly in the temperature range of 25–300 °C. Coupled with the high thermal stability of the composites, the observed properties make it possible to consider using such composites as strained friction units instead of reinforced polymers.
Fabrication of Bio-Based Gelatin Sponge for Potential Use as A Functional Acellular Skin Substitute
Authors: Arif Mior Muhammad Amirul , Fauzi Mh Busra , Nordin Abid , Hiraoka Yosuke , Tabata Yasuhiko , Yunus Mohd Heikal Mohd
Published: November 2020

Gelatin possesses biological properties that resemble native skin and can potentially be fabricated as a skin substitute for full-thickness wound treatment. The native property of gelatin, whereby it is easily melted and degraded at body temperature, could prevent its biofunctionality for various applications. This study aimed to fabricate and characterise buffalo gelatin (Infanca halal certified) crosslinked with chemical type crosslinker (genipin and genipin fortified with EDC) and physicaly crosslink using the dihydrothermal (DHT) method. A porous gelatin sponge (GS) was fabricated by a freeze-drying process followed by a complete crosslinking via chemical—natural and synthetic—or physical intervention using genipin (GNP), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) (EDC) and dihydrothermal (DHT) methods, respectively. The physicochemical, biomechanical, cellular biocompatibility and cell-biomaterial interaction of GS towards human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) and dermal fibroblasts (HDF) were evaluated. Results showed that GS had a uniform porous structure with pore size ranging between 60 and 200 µm with high porosity (>78.6 ± 4.1%), high wettability (<72.2 ± 7.0°), high tensile strain (>13.65 ± 1.10%) and 14 h of degradation rate. An increase in the concentration and double-crosslinking approach demonstrated an increment in the crosslinking degree, enzymatic hydrolysis resistance, thermal stability, porosity, wettability and mechanical strength. The GS can be tuned differently from the control by approaching the GS via a different crosslinking strategy. However, a decreasing trend was observed in the pore size, water retention and water absorption ability. Crosslinking with DHT resulted in large pore sizes (85–300 µm) and low water retention (236.9 ± 18.7 g/m2·day) and a comparable swelling ratio with the control (89.6 ± 7.1%). Moreover no changes in the chemical content and amorphous phase identification were observed. The HEK and HDF revealed slight toxicity with double crosslinking. HEK and HDF attachment and proliferation remain similar to each crosslinking approach. Immunogenicity was observed to be higher in the double-crosslinking compared to the single-crosslinking intervention. The fabricated GS demonstrated a dynamic potential to be tailored according to wound types by manipulating the crosslinking intervention.
Physical and Chemical Properties Characterization of 3D-Printed Substrates Loaded with Copper-Nickel Nanowires
Authors: V-Niño Ely Dannier , Lonne Quentin , Díaz Lantada Andrés , Mejía-Ospino Enrique , Estupiñán Durán Hugo Armando , Cabanzo Hernández Rafael , Ramírez-Caballero Gustavo , Endrino José Luis
Published: November 2020

This study deals with the laser stereolithography manufacturing feasibility of copper-nickel nanowire-loaded photosensitive resins. The addition of nanowires resulted in a novel resin suitable for additive manufacturing technologies based on layer-by-layer photopolymerization. The pure and nanowire-loaded resin samples were 3D printed in a similar way. Their morphological, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties were characterized. X-ray computed tomography revealed that 0.06 vol % of the composite resin was filled with nanowires forming randomly distributed aggregates. The increase of 57% in the storage modulus and 50% in the hardness when loading the resin with nanowire was attributed to the load transfer. Moreover, the decrease in the glass transition temperature from 57.9 °C to 52.8 °C in the polymeric matrix with nanowires evidenced a decrease in the cross-linking density, leading to a higher mobility of the polymer chains during glass transition. Consequently, this research demonstrates the successful dispersion and use of copper-nickel nanowires as a reinforcement material in a commercial resin for laser stereolithography.
Effect of Sialic Acid on Mammalian Cell Culture and Protein Expression: A Potential Productivity Enhancer for Biopharmaceutical Cell Culture Processes
Authors: Chen Xiangsong , Xiao Shang , Wu Jinyong , Yao Jianming
Published: November 2020

Improved productivity of the two most commonly used cell lines in the biopharmaceutical industry, such as human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), could reduce production costs and increase manufacturing capacity. One method for increasing protein productivity is the addition of antioxidants during the cell culture process. In this study, we examined the effect of sialic acid (SA) on one HEK293 cell line and two CHO cell lines. The addition of SA to HEK293 cell led to a higher viable cell density (VCD), viability (Via), and a lower lactate content in the later stage of cultures. Further results showed that SA reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS), improved cell viability, reduced lactate production, and increased antibody expression by more than 20% in the later stage of the two CHO cell lines cultures. Besides, an optimized dose of SA had no significant effect on acidic variants level aggregation level, N-linked glycosylation pattern, and SA content on antibodies. These results suggest that the addition of SA can improve the productivity of biopharmaceutical cell culture processes.
Dielectric Spectroscopy to Improve the Production of rAAV Used in Gene Therapy
Authors: Pais Daniel A. M. , Brown Chris , Neuman Anastasia , Mathur Krishanu , Isidro Inês A. , Alves Paula M. , Slade Peter G.
Published: November 2020

The insect cell-baculovirus expression vector system is an established method for large scale recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production, largely due to its scalability and high volumetric productivities. During rAAV production it is critical to monitor process parameters such as Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell concentration, infection timing, and cell harvest viabilities since they can have a significant influence on rAAV productivity and product quality. Herein we developed the use of dielectric spectroscopy as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool used to continuously monitor the production of rAAV in 2 L stirred tank bioreactors, achieving enhanced control over the production process. This study resulted in improved manufacturing robustness through continuous monitoring of cell culture parameters, eliminating sampling needs, increasing the accuracy of infection timing, and reliably estimating the time of harvest. To increase the accuracy of baculovirus infection timing, the cell growth/permittivity model was coupled to a feedback loop with real-time monitoring. This system was able to predict baculovirus infection timing up to 24 h in advance for greatly improved accuracy of infection and ensuring consistent high rAAV productivities. Furthermore, predictive models were developed based on the dielectric measurements of the culture. These multiple linear regression-based models resulted in correlation coefficients (Q2) of 0.89 for viable cell concentration, 0.97 for viability, and 0.92 for cell diameter. Finally, models were developed to predict rAAV titer providing the capability to distinguish in real time between high and low titer production batches.
Religion, Human Rights, and Forensic Activism: The Search for the Disappeared in Latin America
Authors: Catoggio María Soledad
Published: November 2020

This paper systematizes and analyzes the links and exchanges between the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense (EAAF)) and the world of religion. My hypothesis is that these links are inextricable from the mode of operation that defined the EAAF, which can be called “forensic activism”. This kind of activism, outside the State, combined scientific expertise with humanitarian sensitivity, defined by its autonomy from the human rights movement and the national scientific system (both academic and university). Moreover, religion emerged constantly from the type of work undertaken, between the living and the dead. Thus, beliefs, with their prohibitions, rituals, and ways of making sense of suffering and their tools for coming to terms with grief, coexisted with the EAAF’s development. These findings emerge from a qualitative research design combining document analysis, in-depth interviews, and participative observation of scientific disclosure open to the public provided by the EAAF over the past three years.
Observable Cyber Risk on Cournot Oligopoly Data Storage Markets
Authors: Franke Ulrik , Hoxell Amanda
Published: November 2020

With the emergence of global digital service providers, concerns about digital oligopolies have increased, with a wide range of potentially harmful effects being discussed. One of these relates to cyber security, where it has been argued that market concentration can increase cyber risk. Such a state of affairs could have dire consequences for insurers and reinsurers, who underwrite cyber risk and are already very concerned about accumulation risk. Against this background, the paper develops some theory about how convex cyber risk affects Cournot oligopoly markets of data storage. It is demonstrated that with constant or increasing marginal production cost, the addition of increasing marginal cyber risk cost decreases the differences between the optimal numbers of records stored by the oligopolists, in effect offsetting the advantage of lower marginal production cost. Furthermore, based on the empirical literature on data breach cost, two possibilities are found: (i) that such cyber risk exhibits decreasing marginal cost in the number of records stored and (ii) the opposite possibility that such cyber risk instead exhibits increasing marginal cost in the number of records stored. The article is concluded with a discussion of the findings and some directions for future research.
Investigating the Error Propagation from Satellite-Based Input Precipitation to Output Water Quality Indicators Simulated by a Hydrologic Model
Authors: Solakian Jennifer , Maggioni Viviana , Godrej Adil
Published: November 2020

This study investigated the propagation of errors in input satellite-based precipitation products (SPPs) on streamflow and water quality indicators simulated by a hydrological model in the Occoquan Watershed, located in the suburban Washington, D.C. area. A dense rain gauge network was used as reference to evaluate three SPPs which are based on different retrieval algorithms. A Hydrologic Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) hydrology and water quality model was forced with the three SPPs to simulate output of streamflow (Q), total suspended solids (TSS), stream temperature (TW), and dissolved oxygen (DO). Results indicate that the HSPF model may have a dampening effect on the precipitation-to-streamflow error. The bias error propagation of all three SPPs showed a positive dependency on basin scale for streamflow and TSS, but not for TW and DO. On a seasonal basis, bias error propagation varied by product, with larger values generally found in fall and winter. This study demonstrated that the spatiotemporal variability of SPPs, along with their algorithms to estimate precipitation, have an influence on water quality simulations in a hydrologic model.
Assessing Scale Dependence on Local Sea Level Retrievals from Laser Altimetry Data over Sea Ice
Authors: Tian Liuxi , Xie Hongjie , Ackley Stephen F. , Mestas-Nuñez Alberto M.
Published: November 2020

The measurement of sea ice elevation above sea level or the “freeboard” depends upon an accurate retrieval of the local sea level. The local sea level has been previously retrieved from altimetry data alone by the lowest elevation method, where the percentage of the lowest elevations over a particular segment length scale was used. Here, we provide an evaluation of the scale dependence on these local sea level retrievals using data from NASA Operation IceBridge (OIB) which took place in the Ross Sea in 2013. This is a unique dataset of laser altimeter measurements over five tracks from the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM), with coincidently high-spatial resolution images from the Digital Mapping System (DMS), that allows for an independent sea level validation. The local sea level is first calculated by using the mean elevation of ATM L1B data over leads identified by using the corresponding DMS imagery. The resulting local sea level reference is then used as ground truth to validate the local sea levels retrieved from ATM L2 by using nine different percentages of the lowest elevation (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, and 4%) at seven different segment length scales (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 50 km) for each of the five ATM tracks. The closeness to the 1:1 line, R2, and root mean square error (RMSE) is used to quantify the accuracy of the retrievals. It is found that all linear least square fits are statistically significant (p < 0.05) using an F test at every scale for all tested data. In general, the sea level retrievals are farther away from the 1:1 line when the segment length scale increases from 1 or 5 to 50 km. We find that the retrieval accuracy is affected more by the segment length scale than the percentage scale. Based on our results, most retrievals underestimate the local sea level; the longer the segment length (from 1 to 50 km) used, especially at small percentage scales, the larger the error tends to be. The best local sea level based on a higher R2 and smaller RMSE for all the tracks combined is retrieved by using 0.1–2% of the lowest elevations at the 1–5 km segment lengths.
Integrated GNSS/IMU-Gyrocompass with Rotating IMU. Development and Test Results
Authors: Emel’yantsev Gennadiy , Stepanov Oleg , Stepanov Aleksey , Blazhnov Boris , Dranitsyna Elena , Evstifeev Mikhail , Eliseev Daniil , Volynskiy Denis
Published: November 2020

The paper presents the developed integrated GNSS/IMU gyrocompass which, unlike the existing systems, contains a single-axis rotating platform with two antennas installed on it and an inertial measurement unit with tactical grade fiber-optic gyros. It is shown that the proposed design provides attitude solution by observing the signals of only one navigation satellite. The structure of the integrated GNSS/IMU gyrocompass, its specific features and prototype model used in the tests are described. The given test results in urban conditions confirmed heading determination accurate to ±1.5° (3σ).
Measuring Resilience Potentials: A Pilot Program Using the Resilience Assessment Grid
Authors: Klockner Karen , Meredith Peter
Published: November 2020

Researchers in the resilience engineering space have proposed the notion that organisations operating in complex socio-technical systems cannot ‘be’ resilient but can have the ‘potential for resilient performance’. This theoretical stance also suggests that organisations wanting to enhance their potential for resilience begin by measuring their operational safety performance against four key potentials, these being: the Potential to Anticipate; the Potential to Respond; the Potential to Learn; and the Potential to Monitor. Furthermore, to measure these four key resilience constructs, organisations have been recommended to use a Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG) developed as part of this theory. However, scarce research appears to have been conducted that bridges the theory and practice divide on just how organisations can pragmatically measure their current performance against these four resilience potentials using the RAG. Therefore, this research was interested in undertaking a pilot study using RAG theory in order to examine an organisation’s four resilience potentials, and was conducted within a large road transport organisation in Australia. Results indicated that measuring both the four individual potentials and a combination of the four potentials was possible using a RAG and proved effective in providing a snapshot of operational safety system resilience concepts. Recommendations on how to increase organisational resilience potentials were provided to ensure future safety endeavours would enhance the organisation’s potential to be resilience in the face of system variability and operational demands.
Misconceptions and Unmet Need for Modern Contraception among Cambodian Females: A Mix Methods Study
Authors: Rizvi Farwa , Williams Joanne W. , Bowe Steven J. , Hoban Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

(1) Background: Women using unreliable traditional contraception need to be included in the proportion of women having an ‘unmet need for modern contraception’ instead of the current classification which presumes they have a ‘met need’. (2) Methods: Mix methods research design comprising initial quantitative analyses utilizing data from the nationally representative 2014 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) for 4823 Cambodian, sexually active females aged 15–29 years. Then a qualitative phase explored knowledge about the menstrual cycle and misconceptions about modern contraception with 30 females aged 15–29 years in urban Cambodia using semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim with quality checks. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used until data saturation was reached. Inductive thematic data analysis was conducted; (3) Results: Unmet need for modern contraception increased to 25.4% when traditional contraception users were included. The qualitative themes show women have a lack of information about the menstrual cycle and misconceptions about modern contraception which contributed to increased use of traditional contraception; (4) Conclusion: Major drivers of increased unmet need for modern contraception include lack of literacy, misconceptions and low autonomy to choose modern contraception. Cambodia needs to endorse a policy shift to implement targeted, countrywide sexual and reproductive health literacy and family planning services.
Solids: An International and Interdisciplinary Scientific Open Access Journal
Authors: Pasquini Marta , Witkowska Agnieszka , Ribar Peter
Published: November 2020

We are pleased to welcome you to the newly established journal, Solids [...]
Transformation of Test Data for the Specification of a Viscoelastic Marlow Model
Authors: Hesebeck Olaf
Published: November 2020

The combination of hyperelastic material models with viscoelasticity allows researchers to model the strain-rate-dependent large-strain response of elastomers. Model parameters can be identified using a uniaxial tensile test at a single strain rate and a relaxation test. They enable the prediction of the stress–strain behavior at different strain rates and other loadings like compression or shear. The Marlow model differs from most hyperelastic models by the concept not to use a small number of model parameters but a scalar function to define the mechanical properties. It can be defined conveniently by providing the stress–strain curve of a tensile test without need for parameter optimization. The uniaxial response of the model reproduces this curve exactly. The coupling of the Marlow model and viscoelasticity is an approach to create a strain-rate-dependent hyperelastic model which has good accuracy and is convenient to use. Unfortunately, in this combination, the Marlow model requires to specify the stress–strain curve for the instantaneous material response, while experimental data can be obtained only at finite strain rates. In this paper, a transformation of the finite strain rate data to the instantaneous material response is derived and numerically verified. Its implementation enables us to specify hyperelastic materials considering strain-rate dependence easily.
Evolution of Collaborative Networks Supporting Startup Sustainability: Evidences from Digital Firms
Authors: Passaro Renato , Quinto Ivana , Rippa Pierluigi , Thomas Antonio
Published: November 2020

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether startup evolution can be conceptualized in a life cycle model intended as an unpredictable sequence of stages, where startups need to find actors with whom to collaborate to acquire knowledge and resources supporting the effectiveness and the sustainability of their mission. The creation and implementation of collaborative networks is observed through the lens of the holistic approach to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, whose purpose is to build “bridges” between different actors through the creation of communities of best practices or entrepreneurial networks. The creation of a specific ecosystem is suggested to ease the new digital entrepreneurship generation toward acquiring an appropriate level of knowledge, skills, financial facilitations, and entrepreneurial culture. Following a multiple case study analysis based on nine successful Italian digital firms, the empirical evidence seems to confirm that firms collaborate with different actors in different stages, as knowledge and resource networks play a critical role in sustaining the evolution and success of new firms.
Contracts to Govern the Transition towards Sustainable Production: Evidence from a Discrete Choice Analysis in the Durum Wheat Sector in Italy
Authors: Ciliberti Stefano , Del Sarto Simone , Frascarelli Angelo , Pastorelli Giulia , Martino Gaetano
Published: November 2020

The increasing request for food sustainability is affecting the pasta sector in Italy. This phenomenon introduces different sources of uncertainties that, in turn, put pressure on all the stages of the supply chain, with a consequent emerging need for a higher level of coordination. Based on the Transaction Costs Theory approach, the paper is aimed at verifying whether contract design—revolving around the negotiation of contractual attributes with different functions in terms of safeguard, adaptability, and coordination—plays a crucial role in aligning sources of uncertainty surrounding transactions with the allocation of property and decision rights. To this aim, a sample of durum wheat producers is interviewed for expressing their preferences about some contractual features, such as price, production and quality rules, sustainable environmental techniques, and advisory services. Using a discrete choice analysis through a multinomial logit model, results reveal that, thanks to the presence of attributes able to ensure coordination and adaptability, contracts are able to steer towards elements of sustainability related to food quality and safety, whereas further efforts are needed to share environmental goals with farmers.
Sustainable HRM as a Pathway to Sustainability—HRMS Relevance on Affective Commitment through Organizational Trust
Authors: Ferreira-Oliveira Ana Teresa , Keating José , Silva Isabel
Published: November 2020

Human resource management system (HRMS) is an organizational instrument that sends organizational messages to employees. If we consider that HRMS can be an indicator of organization’s involvement towards employees’ it is relevant to understand its impact in employees’ organizational commitment and study indicators that can help unravel the black box between HRMS and positive results, associating an emerging approach, sustainable HRMS that relates HRMS with sustainability, having as common features the association with positive results for employees. Recent literature has tested organizational trust (OT) as a relevant indicator in the understanding of this process. There have been studies that have debated and tested OT in managers as a mediator or moderator of HRMS on affective commitment (AOC) and support for both have been found. In this study, we attempt to contribute to the development of the field, by considering the terminological, conceptual and statistical distinction between moderator and mediator, testing two alternative models that may elucidate the relationship between these variables. 1328 valid responses with employees and managers from 21 Portuguese organizations were collected. A factor analysis, a cluster analysis, moderation tests using hierarchical linear regression, pos hoc tests and mediation tests with sequential regressions were performed. HRMS dimensions are mediated (partially or totally) by OT in manager towards AOC. HRMS dimensions (HR relationship with employees, comprehensibility, utility, visibility and distributive justice) influences OT in manager, which, in turn, influences AOC. Regarding moderation, the interaction between distributive justice and OT, pos-hoc tests showed that when distributive justice increases and levels of OT in manager is high, OAC increases rapidly. It seems that the importance of the distributive justice of HRMS only becomes relevant on OAC, if OT in manager is present. This empirical test of the HRMS model also suggests its reframing in two meta-dimensions: A. the agents of HR system, the HR relationship with employees based on their competence, consistent behavior, ability to solve problems and listening to people; and B. the effects of the system itself, possibly Visibility is the most relevant attribute. We suggest that these interactions between HR agents and employees are relevant and may lead to generalizations about the HRMS.
Evaluation of Green Transformation Efficiency in Chinese Mineral Resource-Based Cities Based on a Three-Stage DEA Method
Authors: Yin Qing , Wang Yadong , Wan Kaidi , Wang Delu
Published: November 2020

With sustained and rapid economic growth, environmental degradation and resource depletion are becoming increasingly prominent in Chinese mineral resource-based cities (MRBC). An in-depth study regarding the efficiency and characteristics of urban green transformation in recent years will help to promote the healthy development of MRBC in China. In this study, we use a three-stage data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the green transformation efficiency and potential of 110 MRBC in China from 2008 to 2017. The results show that, first, the comprehensive green transformation efficiency in the vast majority of MRBC is relatively low. After excluding external factors, the efficiency of most MRBC is considerably improved. Second, regardless of whether the external factors are excluded, the green transformation efficiency in the western and northeast regions of China is relatively higher than that in the central and eastern regions, whereas the coal cities and ferrous cities have higher efficiencies compared with non-ferrous cities and oil cities. Third, compared with pure technology efficiency, scale efficiency plays a leading role in overall green transformation efficiency. Based on the empirical analysis results, this study indicates that China’s MRBC should pay special attention to the influence of external environmental factors when formulating green transformation policies.
The Risk Monitoring of the Financial Ecological Environment in Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment Based on a Complex Network
Authors: Min Jian , Zhu Jiaojiao , Yang Jian-Bo
Published: November 2020

Aiming at the risk problem of financial ecological environment in outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), this paper constructs a risk monitoring model of the financial ecological environment based on complex network theory, and analyzes the general laws of financial risk evolution in Chinese OFDI by using data from 2008 to 2017 in 20 countries. First, the key risk factors are found through centrality analysis, then the correlation between risk indicators is obtained by cohesive subgroup analysis. Finally, we calculate network density, clustering coefficient and global efficiency to explore the time-spatial laws of the financial risk evolution in OFDI are obtained. At the same time, Kruskal’s algorithm is used to generate the minimum spanning tree (MST), and the change trend of risk transmission path is obtained. The results show that the following four risk indicators: M2/GDP, foreign exchange reserve, stock exchange turnover rate, total government debt as a percentage of GDP play an important role in the whole risk network and are the key nodes of risk evolution. The internal financial risks in Pakistan, the United States, Israel and Poland are more complex and highly transmissible. The risk transmission path based on MST shows that Australia and Bulgaria play an important role in risk transmission, and the length of risk transmission path has an overall upward trend. The conclusions of this study have guiding significance for overseas investment companies to prevent investment risks and ensure their sustainable development overseas.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as a Fishmeal Substitute in Juvenile Dusky Kob Diets: Effect on Feed Utilization, Growth Performance, and Blood Parameters
Authors: Madibana Molatelo Junior , Mwanza Mulunda , Lewis Brett Roderick , Fouché Chris Henri , Toefy Rashieda , Mlambo Victor
Published: November 2020

Using black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM) in place of fishmeal is an ingenious strategy for sustainable fish aquaculture. However, BSFM has not been evaluated for dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus), an economically important fish in South Africa. Therefore, this five-week study investigated the effect of partially replacing fishmeal with BSFM on feed utilization, growth performance, and blood parameters of juvenile dusky kob in a recirculating aquaculture system. Four diets were formulated by replacing fishmeal in a commercial dusky kob diet with BSFM at the rate of 0 (BSFM0), 50 (BSFM50), 100 (BSFM100), and 200 g/kg (BSFM200). Fish length and weights were measured weekly, while blood analyses were performed at the end of Week 5. For fish length and weight gain, there were neither linear nor quadratic responses in Weeks 1–4, while quadratic trends (y = 14.77 (± 0.19)−0.11 (± 0.05)x + 0.01 (± 0.00) x2; R2 = 0.35 and y = 49.85 (± 1.53)−1.22 (± 0.39)x + 0.06 (± 0.02) x2; R2 = 0.47, respectively) were observed in Week 5 in response to BSFM levels. Quadratic effects (y = 1.75 (± 0.15) + 0.10 (± 0.04)x − 0.01 (± 0.00) x2; R2 = 0.39) were also observed for feed conversion ratio (FCR) in response to BSFM inclusion levels. Fish fed BSFM200 had a similar overall FCR and specific growth rate as those reared on BSFM0. All blood parameters fell within the normal range for the dusky kob. We concluded that 20% dietary replacement of fishmeal with BSFM does not compromise feed utilization and growth performance of juvenile dusky kob.
Green Technology Approach for Reinforcement of Calcium Chloride Cured Sodium Alginate Films by Isolated Bacteria from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)
Authors: Ho Briant Kang Xian , Azahari Baharin , Yhaya Mohd Firdaus Bin , Talebi Amir , Ng Charles Wai Chun , Tajarudin Husnul Azan , Ismail Norli
Published: November 2020

The suitability of bacteria application as fillers to reinforce calcium chloride cured sodium alginate film was investigated through the determination of the physical, morphological and mechanical properties of composite films. There were six species of bacteria isolated from palm oil mill effluent sample. The bacteria sample selected for filler reinforcement has a sub-micron diameter of 0.83 ± 0.13 µm. The growth curve of selected bacteria revealed that four days of broth culture produced the maximum bacteria mass. The composite films were produced with reinforcement of 0.1 g, 0.2 g, 0.3 g and 0.4 g of bacteria respectively. Overall, the increment of bacteria mass resulted in the production of yellowish composite films with improved morphological, physical and mechanical properties. The results revealed that the composite films reinforced with 0.3 g and 0.4 g of bacteria appeared to have less curling on the surface of the film. The water absorption properties of the films were initially 140.74% and remained constant at an approximate of 200% after the reinforcement. The tensile strength properties showed a total increment of approximately 22.70% (from 36.10 ± 1.94 MPa to 44.29 ± 0.60 MPa). Based on the results, bacteria fillers were not able to enhance the elongation properties because only about 0.6% of overall increment was observed which was considered insignificant. It was concluded that the bacteria biomass has the potential to be used as fillers to reinforce calcium chloride cured sodium alginate film.
Tetra- and Penta-Quark Structures in the Constituent Quark Model
Authors: Yang Gang , Ping Jialun , Segovia Jorge
Published: November 2020

With the development of high energy physics experiments, a large amount of exotic states in the hadronic sector have been observed. In order to shed some light on the nature of the tetraquark and pentaquark candidates, a constituent quark model, along with the Gaussian expansion method, has been employed systematically in real- and complex-range investigations. We review herein the double- and fully-heavy tetraquarks, but also the hidden-charm, hidden-bottom and doubly charmed pentaquarks. Several exotic hadrons observed experimentally were well reproduced within our approach; moreover, their possible compositeness and other properties, such as their decay widths and general patterns in the spectrum, are analyzed. Besides, we report also some theoretical predictions of tetra- and penta-quark states which have not seen by experiment yet.
Biological Activity of Berberine—A Summary Update
Authors: Och Anna , Podgórski Rafał , Nowak Renata
Published: November 2020

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.
Discerning the Nature of Neutrinos: Decoherence and Geometric Phases
Authors: Capolupo Antonio , Giampaolo Salvatore Marco , Lambiase Gaetano , Quaranta Aniello
Published: November 2020

We present new approaches to distinguish between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos. The first is based on the analysis of the geometric phases associated to neutrinos in matter, the second on the effects of decoherence on neutrino oscillations. In the former we compute the total and geometric phase for neutrinos, and find that they depend on the Majorana phase and on the parametrization of the mixing matrix. In the latter, we show that Majorana neutrinos might violate CPT symmetry, whereas Dirac neutrinos preserve CPT. A phenomenological analysis is also reported showing the possibility to highlight the distinctions between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos.
BCS-BEC Crossover Effects and Pseudogap in Neutron Matter
Authors: Durel David , Urban Michael
Published: November 2020

Due to the large neutron–neutron scattering length, dilute neutron matter resembles the unitary Fermi gas, which lies half-way in the crossover from the BCS phase of weakly coupled Cooper pairs to the Bose–Einstein condensate of dimers. We discuss crossover effects in analogy with the T-matrix theory used in the physics of ultracold atoms, which we generalize to the case of a non-separable finite-range interaction. A problem of the standard Nozières–Schmitt-Rink approach and different ways to solve it are discussed. It is shown that in the strong-coupling regime, the spectral function exhibits a pseudo-gap at temperatures above the critical temperature Tc. The effect of the correlated density on the density dependence of Tc is found to be rather weak, but a possibly important effect due to the reduced quasiparticle weight is identified.
Multiple Vaccinations and the Enigma of Vaccine Injury
Authors: Mawson Anthony R. , Croft Ashley M.
Published: November 2020

A growing number of vaccines are administered at the same time or in close succession, increasing the complexity of assessing vaccine safety. Individual vaccines are assumed to have no other effect than protection against the targeted pathogen, but vaccines also have nonspecific and interactive effects, the outcomes of which can be beneficial or harmful. To date, no controlled trials and very few observational studies have determined the impact of vaccination schedules on overall health. The balance of the risks and benefits from mass vaccination therefore remains uncertain. Recent studies worryingly suggest links between multiple vaccinations and increased risks of diverse multisystem health problems, including allergies, infections, and neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we propose that, in susceptible persons, multiple vaccinations activate the retinoid cascade and trigger apoptotic hepatitis, leading to cholestatic liver dysfunction, in which stored vitamin A compounds (retinyl esters and retinoic acid) enter the circulation in toxic concentrations; this induces endogenous forms of hypervitaminosis A, with the severity of adverse outcomes being directly proportional to the concentration of circulating retinoids. In very low concentrations, vitamin A and its major metabolite retinoic acid contribute to immune function and to the process of immunization, whereas excess vitamin A increases the risk of adverse events, including common “side-effects” as well as chronic adverse outcomes. The increasing rates of allergy, ear infections, and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in countries with high rates of vaccination could be related to mass vaccination and to its impact on liver function and vitamin A metabolism, collectively representing endogenous manifestations of hypervitaminosis A. Further studies of health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups are urgently needed, to increase understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of vaccine injury, to identify the risk factors and screen for vaccine injury, to inform public health policy on potential hazards related to vaccination schedules, and to optimize the safety and benefits of vaccines.