bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inheritance Pattern and Molecular Markers for Resistance to Blackleg Disease in Cabbage
Authors: Ferdous Mostari Jahan , Hossain Mohammad Rashed , Park Jong-In , Robin Arif Hasan Khan , Jesse Denison Michael Immanuel , Jung Hee-Jeong , Kim Hoy-Taek , Nou Ill-Sup
Published: December 2019

The inheritance and causal loci for resistance to blackleg, a devastating disease of Brassicaceous crops, are yet to be known in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.). Here, we report the pattern of inheritance and linked molecular marker for this trait. A segregating BC1 population consisting of 253 plants was raised from resistant and susceptible parents, L29 (♀) and L16 (♂), respectively. Cotyledon resistance bioassay of BC1 population, measured based on a scale of 0–9 at 12 days after inoculation with Leptosphaeria maculans isolate 03–02 s, revealed the segregation of resistance and ratio, indicative of dominant monogenic control of the trait. Investigation of potential polymorphism in the previously identified differentially expressed genes within the collinear region of ‘B. napus blackleg resistant loci Rlm1′ in B. oleracea identified two insertion/deletion (InDel) mutations in the intron and numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the LRR-RLK gene Bol040029, of which six SNPs in the first exon caused the loss of two LRR domains in the susceptible line. An InDel marker, BLR-C-InDel based on the InDel mutations, and a high resolution melting (HRM) marker, BLR-C-2808 based on the SNP C2808T in the second exon were developed, which predicated the resistance status of the BC1 population with 80.24%, and of 24 commercial inbred lines with 100% detection accuracy. This is the first report of inheritance and molecular markers linked with blackleg resistance in cabbage. This study will enhance our understanding of the trait, and will be helpful in marker assisted breeding aiming at developing resistant cabbage varieties.
Variation Among Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes in Response to the Drought Stress. II—Root System Structure
Authors: Grzesiak Maciej T. , Hordyńska Natalia , Maksymowicz Anna , Grzesiak Stanisław , Szechyńska-Hebda Magdalena
Published: December 2019

(1) Background: The study analyzed wheat morphological traits to assess the role of roots structure in the tolerance of drought and to recognize the mechanisms of root structure adjustment to dry soil environment. (2) Methods: Root-box and root-basket methods were applied to maintain an intact root system for analysis. (3) Results: Phenotypic differences among six genotypes with variable drought susceptibility index were found. Under drought, the resistant genotypes lowered their shoot-to-root ratio. Dry matter, number, length, and diameter of nodal and lateral roots were higher in drought-tolerant genotypes than in sensitive ones. The differences in the surface area of the roots were greater in the upper parts of the root system (in the soil layer between 0 and 15 cm) and resulted from the growth of roots of the tolerant plant at an angle of 0–30° and 30–60°. (4) Conclusions: Regulation of root bending in a more downward direction can be important but is not a priority in avoiding drought effects by tolerant plants. If this trait is reduced and accompanied by restricted root development in the upper part of the soil, it becomes a critical factor promoting plant sensitivity to water-limiting conditions.
5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Soil Fertility Enhance the Resistance of Rosemary to Alternaria dauci and Rhizoctonia solani and Modulate Plant Biochemistry
Authors: Elansary Hosam O. , El-Ansary Diaa O. , Al-Mana Fahed A.
Published: December 2019

Fungal infection of horticultural and cereal crops by Alternaria dauci and Rhizoctonia solani represents an important biotic stress that could be alleviated by application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to fertile and poor soils. Therefore, in this study, the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic effects of ALA application (eight weekly applications at 3–10 ppm) to A. dauci- and R. solani-infected Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) in fertile and poor soils were investigated. ALA-treated plants produced the longest and highest number of branches and had higher fresh and dry weights. There were increases in the major essential oil constituents (1,8-cineole, linalool, camphor, and borneol), as shown by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS); higher antioxidant activities in DPPH and β-carotene-bleaching assays; upregulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activities; increased total phenolics, chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and proline; increased gas exchange parameters; enhanced leaf water potential and relative water content (RWC); and upregulated expression of DREB2 and ERF3 (stress-related genes) and FeSOD, Cu/ZnSOD, and MnSOD (antioxidant genes). Several mechanisms were involved, including stress tolerance, antioxidative, and transcription regulation mechanisms. Furthermore, ALA performance was increased in higher-quality soils with higher nutrient content. This study demonstrated the novel application of ALA as a biotic stress ameliorant with enhanced performance in fertile soils.
Production and Characterization of Glutathione-Chitosan Conjugate Films as Systems for Localized Release of Methotrexate
Authors: Ciro Yhors , Rojas John , Yarce Cristian J. , Salamanca Constain H.
Published: December 2019

Cancer is one of the most serious public health problems that affect humanity. Diverse delivery systems of anticancer drugs have been developed to enhance the treatment effectiveness and patient compliance. Thus, drug delivery systems from polymeric films could be an interesting and promising alternative, especially for skin chemotherapeutics. In this work, polymeric films based on glutathione-chitosan conjugates with degrees of thiolation of 4.4%, 5.1% and 7.0% were synthetized by casting-evaporation method and subsequent loading with methotrexate. The surface properties of these films were evaluated by contact angle and spreading rate measurements. The sessile drop methods along with the thermodynamic parameter of work of adhesion were determined using the Young–Dupré semi-empirical model. The in vitro methotrexate release was assessed at a pH of 4.5 and 7.4 simulating physiological conditions. Data from the resulting profiles were fitted to the order one, Higuchi, Peppas–Sahlin and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic models. The results suggest a strong relationship between the thiolation degree and hydrophilic surface properties such as contact angle and water spreading rate, whereas the work of adhesion was not significantly affected. Further, these polymer films could control the methotrexate release through diverse mechanisms such as diffusion and relaxation depending on the thiolation degree and the aqueous medium employed. In fact, as thiolation degree increased, the release mechanism shifted from a primary diffusional type towards a predominant relaxation-driven mechanism. These polymer films could be used as modified systems for anticancer local delivery.
Characterization and Application of PVDF and Its Copolymer Films Prepared by Spin-Coating and Langmuir–Blodgett Method
Authors: Yin Zerun , Tian Bobo , Zhu Qiuxiang , Duan Chungang
Published: December 2019

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers are key polymers, displaying properties such as flexibility and electroactive responses, including piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, and ferroelectricity. In the past several years, they have been applied in numerous applications, such as memory, transducers, actuators, and energy harvesting and have shown thriving prospects in the ongoing research and commercialization process. The crystalline polymorphs of PVDF can present nonpolar α, ε phase and polar β, γ, and δ phases with different processing methods. The copolymers, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), can crystallize directly into a phase analogous to the β phase of PVDF. Since the β phase shows the highest dipole moment among polar phases, many reproducible and efficient methods producing β-phase PVDF and its copolymer have been proposed. In this review, PVDF and its copolymer films prepared by spin-coating and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method are introduced, and relevant characterization techniques are highlighted. Finally, the development of memory, artificial synapses, and medical applications based on PVDF and its copolymers is elaborated.
Fully Biobased Shape Memory Thermoplastic Vulcanizates from Poly(Lactic Acid) and Modified Natural Eucommia Ulmoides Gum with Co-Continuous Structure and Super Toughness
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Jinhui , Xia Lin , Shen Mei , Wei Liping , Xin Zhenxiang , Kim Jinkuk
Published: December 2019

Novel, fully biobased shape memory thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared using two sustainable biopolymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and modified natural Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG-g-GMA), via a dynamic vulcanization technique. Simultaneously, in situ compatibilization was achieved in the TPVs to improve interfacial adhesion and the crosslinked modified Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) was in “netlike” continuous state in the PLA matrix to form “sea-sea” phase structure. The promoted interface and co-continuous structure played critical roles in enhancing shape memory capacity and toughness of the TPVs. The TPV with 40 wt % modified EUG displayed the highest toughness with an impact strength of 54.8 kJ/m2 and the most excellent shape memory performances with a shape fixity ratio (Rf) of 99.83% and a shape recovery ratio (Rr) of 93.74%. The prepared shape memory TPVs would open up great potential applications in biobased shape memory materials for smart medical devices.
Tailoring CO2/CH4 Separation Performance of Mixed Matrix Membranes by Using ZIF-8 Particles Functionalized with Different Amine Groups
Authors: Suhaimi Nadia Hartini , Yeong Yin Fong , Ch’ng Christine Wei Mann , Jusoh Norwahyu
Published: December 2019

CO2 separation from CH4 by using mixed matrix membranes has received great attention due to its higher separation performance compared to neat polymeric membrane. However, Robeson’s trade-off between permeability and selectivity still remains a major challenge for mixed matrix membrane in CO2/CH4 separation. In this work, we report the preparation, characterization and CO2/CH4 gas separation properties of mixed matrix membranes containing 6FDA-durene polyimide and ZIF-8 particles functionalized with different types of amine groups. The purpose of introducing amino-functional groups into the filler is to improve the interaction between the filler and polymer, thus enhancing the CO2 /CH4 separation properties. ZIF-8 were functionalized with three differents amino-functional group including 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propylamine (APTMS), N-[3-(Dimethoxymethylsilyl)propyl ethylenediamine (AAPTMS) and N1-(3-Trimethoxysilylpropyl) diethylenetriamine (AEPTMS). The structural and morphology properties of the resultant membranes were characterized by using different analytical tools. Subsequently, the permeability of CO2 and CH4 gases over the resultant membranes were measured. The results showed that the membrane containing 0.5 wt% AAPTMS-functionalized ZIF-8 in 6FDA- durene polymer matrix displayed highest CO2 permeability of 825 Barrer and CO2/CH4 ideal selectivity of 26.2, which successfully lies on Robeson upper bound limit.
Novel Bio-Based Pomelo Peel Flour/Polyethylene Glycol Composite Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Zhang Hai-Chen , Kang Ben-hao , Sheng Xinxin , Lu Xiang
Published: December 2019

A series of novel bio-based form stable composite phase-change materials (fs-CPCMs) for solar thermal energy storage and management applications were prepared, using the pomelo peel flour (PPF) as the supporting matrix and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) or isocyanate-terminated PEG to induce a phase change. The microscopic structure, crystalline structures and morphologies, phase change properties, thermal stability, light-to-thermal conversion behavior, and thermal management characteristics of the obtained fs-CPCMs were studied. The results indicate that the obtained fs-CPCM-2 presented remarkable phase-change performance and high thermal stability. The melting latent heat and crystallization heat for fs-CPCM-2 are 143.2 J/g and 141.8 J/g, respectively, and its relative enthalpy efficiency ( λ ) is 87.4%, which are higher than most reported values in the related literature. The obtained novel bio-based fs-CPCM-2 demonstrated good potential for applications in solar thermal energy storage and waste heat recovery.
Fine Tuning of Electrical Transport and Dielectric Properties of Epoxy/Carbon Nanotubes Composites via Magnesium Oxide Additives
Authors: Bertasius Povilas , Meisak Darya , Macutkevic Jan , Kuzhir Polina , Selskis Algirdas , Volnyanko Elena , Banys Juras
Published: December 2019

The dielectric properties of epoxy/MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotubes)/MgO hybrid composites with a fixed MWCNT amount of 0.12 vol.% (0.2 wt.%) and varying MgO concentrations up to 3 vol.% were investigated in broad frequency (20–40 GHz) and temperature (20–500 K) ranges. The composites with up to 2 vol.% MgO nanoparticles concentration showed a significant increase of DC conductivity in relation to their non MgO-containing counterparts. The optimal content of MgO was found, i.e., 0.46 vol.%, which gave up to 2.5 orders of magnitude larger DC conductivity than those of the samples prepared without MgO additives. Using various amounts of MgO, it is possible to predictably vary the broadband electromagnetic properties of the composites, even entirely eliminating the electrical percolation. Electrical transport at different temperatures can be substantially controlled by the addition of given amounts of MgO. The broadband properties are discussed in terms of the distribution of relaxation times, which are proven to be an effective, noninvasive, and simple tool for checking composite fabrication issues, such as the distribution of MWCNT aggregates within the epoxy matrix.
Hamilton Equations, Commutator, and Energy Conservation
Authors: Chew Weng Cho , Liu Aiyin Y. , Salazar-Lazaro Carlos , Na Dong-Yeop , Sha Wei E. I.
Published: December 2019

We show that the classical Hamilton equations of motion can be derived from the energy conservation condition. A similar argument is shown to carry to the quantum formulation of Hamiltonian dynamics. Hence, showing a striking similarity between the quantum formulation and the classical formulation. Furthermore, it is shown that the fundamental commutator can be derived from the Heisenberg equations of motion and the quantum Hamilton equations of motion. Also, that the Heisenberg equations of motion can be derived from the Schrödinger equation for the quantum state, which is the fundamental postulate. These results are shown to have important bearing for deriving the quantum Maxwell’s equations.
Detection of Residual “Hot Spots” in RFI-Filtered SMAP Data
Authors: Soldo Yan , Le Vine David , de Matthaeis Paolo
Published: December 2019

Radio frequency interference (RFI) is a well-documented problem for passive remote sensing of the Earth at L-band even though the measurements are made in the protected band at 1.413 GHz. Consequently, filtering for RFI is an important early step in the processing of measurements made by the SMAP (Soil Moisture Active/Passive) radiometer. However, the filtered data still include regions with suspiciously high antenna temperatures. One possible cause of these “hot spots” is interference not fully detected during RFI filtering. This paper presents evidence supporting this hypothesis and describes an algorithm to identify these “hot spots” so that they can be removed from the measurements. The impact of removing these “hot spots” is generally small, but evidence is presented that the brightness temperature and soil moisture improve when the hot spots are removed.
Proposal for an Embedded System Architecture Using a GNDVI Algorithm to Support UAV-Based Agrochemical Spraying
Authors: Basso Maik , Stocchero Diego , Ventura Bayan Henriques Renato , Vian André Luis , Bredemeier Christian , Konzen Andréa Aparecida , Pignaton de Freitas Edison
Published: December 2019

An important area in precision agriculture is related to the efficient use of chemicals applied onto fields. Efforts have been made to diminish their use, aiming at cost reduction and fewer chemical residues in the final agricultural products. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents itself as an attractive and cheap alternative for spraying pesticides and fertilizers compared to conventional mass spraying performed by ordinary manned aircraft. Besides being cheaper than manned aircraft, small UAVs are capable of performing fine-grained instead of the mass spraying. Observing this improved method, this paper reports the design of an embedded real-time UAV spraying control system supported by onboard image processing. The proposal uses a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) algorithm to detect the exact locations in which the chemicals are needed. Using this information, the automated spraying control system performs punctual applications while the UAV navigates over the crops. The system architecture is designed to run on low-cost hardware, which demands an efficient NDVI algorithm. The experiments were conducted using Raspberry Pi 3 as the embedded hardware. First, experiments in a laboratory were conducted in which the algorithm was proved to be correct and efficient. Then, field tests in real conditions were conducted for validation purposes. These validation tests were performed in an agronomic research station with the Raspberry hardware integrated into a UAV flying over a field of crops. The average CPU usage was about 20% while memory consumption was about 70 MB for high definition images, with 4% CPU usage and 20.3 MB RAM being observed for low-resolution images. The average current measured to execute the proposed algorithm was 0.11 A. The obtained results prove that the proposed solution is efficient in terms of processing and energy consumption when used in embedded hardware and provides measurements which are coherent with the commercial GreenSeeker equipment.
Spectral Image Processing for Museum Lighting Using CIE LED Illuminants
Authors: Martínez-Domingo Miguel Ángel , Melgosa Manuel , Okajima Katsunori , Medina Víctor Jesús , Collado-Montero Francisco José
Published: December 2019

This work presents a spectral color-imaging procedure for the detailed colorimetric study of real artworks under arbitrary illuminants. The results demonstrate this approach to be a powerful tool for art and heritage professionals when deciding which illumination to use in museums, or which conservation or restoration techniques best maintain the color appearance of the original piece under any illuminant. Spectral imaging technology overcomes the limitations of common area-based point-measurement devices such as spectrophotometers, allowing a local study either pixelwise or by selected areas. To our knowledge, this is the first study available that uses the proposed CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage) light-emitting diode (LED) illuminants in the context of art and heritage science, comparing them with the three main CIE illuminants A, D50, and D65. For this, the corresponding colors under D65 have been calculated using a chromatic adaptation transform analogous to the one in CIECAM02. For the sample studied, the CIE LED illuminants with the lowest average CIEDE2000 color differences from the standard CIE illuminants are LED-V1 for A and LED-V2 for D50 and D65, with 1.23, 1.07, and 1.57 units, respectively. The work studied is a Moorish epigraphic frieze of plasterwork with a tiled skirting from the Nasrid period (12th–15th centuries) exhibited in the Museum of the Alhambra (Granada, Spain).
Spectral Representation via Data-Guided Sparsity for Hyperspectral Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Han Xian-Hua , Sun Yongqing , Wang Jian , Shi Boxin , Zheng Yinqiang , Chen Yen-Wei
Published: December 2019

Hyperspectral imaging is capable of acquiring the rich spectral information of scenes and has great potential for understanding the characteristics of different materials in many applications ranging from remote sensing to medical imaging. However, due to hardware limitations, the existed hyper-/multi-spectral imaging devices usually cannot obtain high spatial resolution. This study aims to generate a high resolution hyperspectral image according to the available low resolution hyperspectral and high resolution RGB images. We propose a novel hyperspectral image superresolution method via non-negative sparse representation of reflectance spectra with a data guided sparsity constraint. The proposed method firstly learns the hyperspectral dictionary from the low resolution hyperspectral image and then transforms it into the RGB one with the camera response function, which is decided by the physical property of the RGB imaging camera. Given the RGB vector and the RGB dictionary, the sparse representation of each pixel in the high resolution image is calculated with the guidance of a sparsity map, which measures pixel material purity. The sparsity map is generated by analyzing the local content similarity of a focused pixel in the available high resolution RGB image and quantifying the spectral mixing degree motivated by the fact that the pixel spectrum of a pure material should have sparse representation of the spectral dictionary. Since the proposed method adaptively adjusts the sparsity in the spectral representation based on the local content of the available high resolution RGB image, it can produce more robust spectral representation for recovering the target high resolution hyperspectral image. Comprehensive experiments on two public hyperspectral datasets and three real remote sensing images validate that the proposed method achieves promising performances compared to the existing state-of-the-art methods.
Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Protein Detection
Authors: Hendler-Neumark Adi , Bisker Gili
Published: December 2019

Nanosensors have a central role in recent approaches to molecular recognition in applications like imaging, drug delivery systems, and phototherapy. Fluorescent nanoparticles are particularly attractive for such tasks owing to their emission signal that can serve as optical reporter for location or environmental properties. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) fluoresce in the near-infrared part of the spectrum, where biological samples are relatively transparent, and they do not photobleach or blink. These unique optical properties and their biocompatibility make SWCNTs attractive for a variety of biomedical applications. Here, we review recent advancements in protein recognition using SWCNTs functionalized with either natural recognition moieties or synthetic heteropolymers. We emphasize the benefits of the versatile applicability of the SWCNT sensors in different systems ranging from single-molecule level to in-vivo sensing in whole animal models. Finally, we discuss challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives.
Mode Selection and Spectrum Allocation in Coexisting D2D and Cellular Networks with Cooperative Precoding
Authors: Chan Yu-Wei , Chien Feng-Tsun , Yang Chao-Tung
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we investigate the mode selection strategies for a new device-to-device (D2D) pair becoming active in a network with a number of existing D2D sensors or users coexisting with cellular users in a D2D-enabled heterogeneous network. Specifically, we propose two selection rules, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR)-based and the capacity-based, combined with two sets of different precoding schemes and discuss their impacts on the system under a variety of scenarios. While the cooperative block diagonalization (BD) among the cellular users combined with the zero-forcing (ZF) precoding among D2D users can eliminate interference observed at the new D2D receiving sensor, the maximum signal-to-leakage-and-noise-ratio (SLNR) precoding is often a preferred option due to low-complexity implementations and comparable performance. We note that the two selection rules, the SINR-based and the capacity-based, considered in this paper impact on the system differently, with interesting tradeoff from different perspectives. Finally, we provide insights by simulations into the best selection among the three modes depending on a variety of use cases in the network.
Alternative Approaches to Measurement of Ground Vibrations Due to the Vibratory Roller: A Pilot Study
Authors: Nedoma Jan , Stolarik Martin , Kepak Stanislav , Pinka Miroslav , Martinek Radek , Frnda Jaroslav , Fridrich Michael
Published: December 2019

At present, one of the primary tasks of the construction industry is to build transport infrastructure. This concerns both the construction of new bypasses of towns and the repair of existing roads, which are damaged by congestion, especially by freight transport. Whether it is a new building or a reconstruction, it is always very important to choose a suitable method of subsoil treatment. One of the most commonly used methods for soil treatment is currently compaction using vibratory rollers. This method is very effective both in terms of results and due to its low financial demands compared to other methods. Vibration is transmitted to the surrounding rock environment when compacting the subsoil using vibratory rollers. Although the intensity of these vibrations is not as pronounced as in other methods of subsoil treatment, such vibrations can have a significant effect, for example during compaction in urban areas or in an area with the presence of historical objects. Therefore, it is very advisable to monitor the effect of these vibrations on the environment during construction. This paper brings an original experimental comparative study of standard seismic instrumentation with a developed interferometric sensor for the field of monitoring vibrations generated during compaction of subsoil using vibrating rollers. The paper presents time and frequency domain results, as well as attenuation curves, which represent real attenuation of vibrations in a given rock environment. The results presented here show that a system operating on a different physical principle from the one used at present has the potential to replace the existing, very expensive, seismic equipment.
A Metamaterial-Based Compact Planar Monopole Antenna for Wi-Fi and UWB Applications
Authors: Khurshid Adnan , Dong Jian , Shi Ronghua
Published: December 2019

Ultrawideband (UWB) antennas are widely used as core devices in high-speed wireless communication. A novel compact UWB monopole antenna with an additional narrow band for Wi-Fi applications comprising a metamaterial (MTM) is proposed in this paper. The antenna has a compact size of 27 × 33 mm2 and consists of a V-shaped slot with two rectangular slots in the radiation patch. The inductance and capacitance develop due to the V-shaped slot in the radiation patch. The proposed antenna has −10 dB bandwidths of 3.2 GHz to 14 GHz for UWB and 2.38 GHz to 2.57 GHz for narrowband, corresponding to 144% and 7.66% fractional bandwidths, respectively. The measured gain and efficiency meet the desired values for UWB and Wi-Fi applications. To verify the performance of the antenna, the proposed antenna is fabricated and tested. The simulated and measured results agree well at UWB frequencies and Wi-Fi frequencies, and the antenna can be used as a smart device for portable IoT applications.
Dynamic Hand Gesture Recognition Using 3DCNN and LSTM with FSM Context-Aware Model
Authors: Hakim Noorkholis Luthfil , Shih Timothy K. , Kasthuri Arachchi Sandeli Priyanwada , Aditya Wisnu , Chen Yi-Cheng , Lin Chih-Yang
Published: December 2019

With the recent growth of Smart TV technology, the demand for unique and beneficial applications motivates the study of a unique gesture-based system for a smart TV-like environment. Combining movie recommendation, social media platform, call a friend application, weather updates, chatting app, and tourism platform into a single system regulated by natural-like gesture controller is proposed to allow the ease of use and natural interaction. Gesture recognition problem solving was designed through 24 gestures of 13 static and 11 dynamic gestures that suit to the environment. Dataset of a sequence of RGB and depth images were collected, preprocessed, and trained in the proposed deep learning architecture. Combination of three-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (3DCNN) followed by Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model was used to extract the spatio-temporal features. At the end of the classification, Finite State Machine (FSM) communicates the model to control the class decision results based on application context. The result suggested the combination data of depth and RGB to hold 97.8% of accuracy rate on eight selected gestures, while the FSM has improved the recognition rate from 89% to 91% in a real-time performance.
Applications of Hollow-Fiber and Related Microextraction Techniques for the Determination of Pesticides in Environmental and Food Samples—A Mini Review
Authors: Prosen Helena
Published: December 2019

Pesticides represent one of the most important groups of analytes in environmental analysis. Moreover, their levels are very frequently determined in food and beverages due to the concern over their possible adverse health effects. Their concentration in samples is usually very low; thus, they have to be preconcentrated. Conventional solvent and solid-phase extractions are mainly used for this purpose, but miniaturized approaches are also being applied more and more often. The present review covers solvent microextractions that use a semi-permeable membrane barrier between the sample and the solvent. The main representatives of this approach are hollow-fiber microextraction (HFME), solvent bar microextraction (SBME), electromembrane extraction (EME), and different variations of those, such as combinations with other sorbent or solvent microextractions, electromigration, etc. The relevant research from the last decade, dealing with the application of these microextractions to the isolation of pesticides from various environmental and food samples, is critically discussed with emphasis on their strengths and weak points.
Adopting a Circular Economy: Current Practices and Future Perspectives
Authors: D’Adamo Idiano
Published: December 2019

All scientists, researchers, and citizens are involved in achieving sustainable goals. Their current actions contribute to writing a story for future generations, and interesting perspectives can be narrated based only on a great sense of social responsibility. The literature gives a great deal of attention to the models of a Circular Economy (CE). This topic is multidisciplinary and different sectors are involved in its development. This Special Issue aims to underline the relevance of the CE models in the scientific field and its applications in real contexts in order to achieve sustainability goals.
Optimal FRP Jacket Placement in RC Frame Structures Towards a Resilient Seismic Design
Authors: Mahdavi G. , Nasrollahzadeh K. , Hariri-Ardebili M. A.
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes an optimal plan for seismically retrofitting reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. In this method, the columns are wrapped by fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers along their plastic hinges. This technique enhances their ductility and increases the resiliency of the structure. Two meta-heuristic algorithms (i.e., genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization) are adopted for this purpose. The number of FRP layers is assumed to be the design variable. The objective of the optimization procedure was to provide a uniform usage of plastic hinge rotation capacity for all the columns, while minimizing the consumption of the FRP materials. Toward this aim, a single objective function containing penalty terms is introduced. The seismic performance of the case study RC frame was assessed by means of nonlinear pushover analyses, and the capacity of the plastic hinge rotation for FRP-confined columns was evaluated at the life safety performance level. The proposed framework was then applied to a non-ductile low-rise RC frame structure. The optimal retrofit scheme for the frame was determined, and the capacity curve, inter-story drift ratios, and fragility functions were computed and compared with alternative retrofit schemes. The proposed algorithm offers a unique technique for the design of more resilient structures.
How to Lead the Board of Directors to a Sustainable Development of Business with the CSR Committees
Authors: Gennari Francesca
Published: December 2019

The sustainable development of business requires adjustments in corporate governance to assure the economic, social and environmental aspects of a firm’s responsibility are managed according to the triple bottom line approach. For this purpose, the board of directors can establish devoted corporate social responsibility (CSR) committees to reduce a company’s exposure to responsibility failures. By means of a quantitative analysis on listed firms on FTSE MIB and STAR markets of the Italian Stock Exchange and embracing different theories this paper aims at finding the potential influence of external (soft law and socio-environmental industry risk) and internal (firm size and ownership structure) factors on the presence of CSR committees. This study contributes to the existing literature about sustainability in business, recommends to directors to not underestimate the risk of ‘strategic unsustainability’, and offers to regulators significant food for thought to improve the contribution to sustainable development by companies.
Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into the Belt and Road Initiative: Would It Be a New Model for Green and Sustainable Investment?
Authors: Yin Wei
Published: December 2019

Given the challenges presented by climate change and related environmental pressure, a sustainable, investment-led development model, i.e., aligning investment with social and sustainability objectives, is needed to ensure long-term prosperity and generate sustainable growth. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was released to guide nations towards green and sustainable development and address governance deficits. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by China, a development strategy involving investment in infrastructure development, intends to enhance regional connectivity, integration, and stimulate economic growth. These two agendas share the notion of ‘sustainable development’ and are growing increasingly relevant. Although various studies have analysed the sustainability of the BRI, the implementation of SDGs and the similarities and complementarities between the two initiatives, few of them touched on the possibility of the BRI to be a green and sustainable investment-led model by aligning the SDGs. This paper, thus, aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on sustainable development and infrastructure investment by exploring the possibilities and challenges of the BRI to be a sustainable, investment-led development model. By comparing these two agendas and seeking the linkages between them, this article recognises the potential of the BRI to play such a role while there are issues and risks of BRI that hinder the achievement of infrastructure development and sustainable investment. The paper recommends that, to exert the synergies from aligning the BRI and SDGs to seize substantial development benefits, it is necessary to enhance the sustainability of BRI projects, provide effective cooperation and communication with stakeholders, and adapt BRI to the national development policies of each partner country. Joint efforts taken by both state and non-state actors are indispensable.
How to Discover Traditional Varieties and Shape in a National Germplasm Collection: The Case of Finnish Seed Born Apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.)
Authors: Heinonen Maarit , Bitz Lidija
Published: December 2019

Cultivated apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is a major crop of economic importance, both globally and regionally. It is currently, and was also in the past, the main commercial fruit in the northern European countries. In Finland, apple trees are grown on the frontier of their northern growing limits. Because of these limits, growing an apple tree from a seed was discovered in practice to be the most appropriate method to get trees that bear fruit for people in the north. This created a unique culturally and genetically rich native germplasm to meet the various needs of apple growers and consumers from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The preservation, study and use of this genetic heritage falls within the mandate of the Finnish National Genetic Resources Program. The first national apple clonal collection for germplasm preservation was reorganized from the collections of apple breeders. The need to evaluate the accessions, both in this collection and possible missing ones, to meet the program strategy lead us to evaluate the Finnish apple heritage that is still available in situ in gardens. In this article we use multiple-approach methodologies and datasets to gain well-described, proof-rich samples for the trueness-to-type analysis of old heirloom apple varieties. The approach includes a combination of socio-historic, pomological and genotyping methods and datasets that are all valued as equally important. The main finding was that in addition to the pomological, molecular and genetic evaluation of ex situ apple collections, an extensive historical data and socio-economic conditions research are essential to perform good characterization of accessions. After implementing the results in re-creating the Finnish national apple germplasm collection, the number of Finnish local varieties was more than doubled from 38 accessions to 97.
Lyophilized Protein Structures as an Alternative Biodegradable Material for Food Packaging
Authors: Kozłowicz Katarzyna , Nazarewicz Sybilla , Góral Dariusz , Krawczuk Anna , Domin Marek
Published: December 2019

Considering the need for sustainable development in packaging production and environmental protection, a material based on lyophilized protein structures intended for frozen food packaging was produced and its selected thermophysical properties were characterized. Analyses of density, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity were performed and strength tests were carried out for lyophilized protein structures with the addition of xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose. Packagings were made of new materials for their comparative assessment. Then, the surface temperature distribution during thawing of the deep-frozen product inside the packaging was tested. In terms of thermal insulation capacity, the best properties were obtained for sample B4 with a thermal conductivity of λ = 0.06 W∙(mK)−1), thermal capacity C = 0.29 (MJ∙(m3K)−1) and thermal diffusivity a = 0.21 (mm2∙s−1). The density and hardness of the obtained lyophilized protein structures were significantly lower compared to foamed polystyrene used as a reference material. Thermal imaging analysis of the packaging showed the occurrence of local freezing. Lyophilized protein structures obtained from natural ingredients meet the needs of consumers and are environmentally friendly. These were made in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and can be an alternative material used for the production of frozen food packaging.
Cooperative Learning and Students’ Motivation, Social Interactions and Attitudes: Perspectives from Two Different Educational Stages
Authors: Hortigüela Alcalá David , Hernando Garijo Alejandra , Pérez-Pueyo Ángel , Fernández-Río Javier
Published: December 2019

The goal of the study was to contrast the effects that a Cooperative Learning implementation in Physical Education can produce in two different Educational stages: Primary and Secondary Education. A total of 179 students agreed to participate: 96 (44 boys, 52 girls) were enrolled in four Year 7 Primary Education groups (11.37 ± 0.89 years) and 83 students (38 boys, 45 girls) were enrolled in three Year 11 Secondary Education groups (15.42 ± 1.12 years). Convenience sampling was used. All groups experienced three consecutive learning units (23 sessions). At post-test, motivation increased significantly in the two groups (p = 0.031, p = 0.029), while social interaction only in the Secondary Education group (p = 0.024), and a significant difference between groups was also obtained in the post-test (p = 0.034). All effect sizes exceed the value of 0.87, which is considered large. Qualitative data showed that the teacher highlighted the importance of cooperation in Physical Education in order to promote respect for others and joint thinking in Primary Education.
The Adoption of Environmental Management Systems Based on ISO 14001, EMAS, and Alternative Models for SMEs: A Qualitative Empirical Study
Authors: Díaz de Junguitu Alberto , Allur Erlantz
Published: December 2019

The adoption of environmental management systems (EMSs) based on standards such as ISO 14001 and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) has become very popular and the academic literature has studied the adoption of these standards extensively. However, the variety of ways in which EMSs are adopted and internalized has not been fully analyzed and the few studies that have analyzed this issue have focused on the analysis of the outcomes of just one of the main reference standards for EMSs, namely, ISO 14001. Considering this shortcoming in the literature, this work contributes to the empirical literature on the analysis of the adoption of standards for EMS by analyzing the case of the three main reference models used by organizations: ISO 14001, EMAS, and the alternative models for EMSs. The present work summarizes conclusions of interest for the different stakeholders involved in the adoption of EMSs. Implications for scholars and other stakeholders are discussed. It is recommended that further studies should focus on the analysis of the real effects of the adoption of the main standards for EMSs.
Green Supplier Selection in the Agro-Food Industry with Contract Farming: A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach
Authors: Miranda-Ackerman Marco A. , Azzaro-Pantel Catherine , Aguilar-Lasserre Alberto A. , Bueno-Solano Alfredo , Arredondo-Soto Karina C.
Published: December 2019

An important contribution to the environmental impact of agro-food supply chains is related to the agricultural technology and practices used in the fields during raw material production. This problem can be framed from the point of view of the Focal Company (FC) as a raw material Green Supplier Selection Problem (GSSP). This paper describes an extension of the GSSP methodology that integrates life cycle assessment, environmental collaborations, and contract farming in order to gain social and environmental benefits. In this approach, risk and gains are shared by both parties, as well as information related to agricultural practices through which the FC can optimize global performance by deciding which suppliers to contract, capacity and which practices to use at each supplying field in order to optimize economic performance and environmental impact. The FC provides the knowledge and technology needed by the supplier to reach these objectives via a contract farming scheme. A case study is developed in order to illustrate and a step-by-step methodology is described. A multi-objective optimization strategy based on Genetic Algorithms linked to a MCDM approach to the solution selection step is proposed. Scenarios of optimization of the selection process are studied to demonstrate the potential improvement gains in performance.
China’s Agricultural Irrigation and Water Conservancy Projects: A Policy Synthesis and Discussion of Emerging Issues
Authors: Du Lijuan , Xu Li , Li Yanping , Liu Changshun , Li Zhenhua , Wong Jefferson S. , Lei Bo
Published: December 2019

The United Nations (UN) has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to tackle major barriers to sustainable development by 2030. Achieving these goals will rely on the contribution of all nations and require balancing trade-offs among different sectors. Water and food insecurity have long been the two major challenges facing China. To address these challenges and achieve the SDGs, China needs to safeguard its agricultural irrigation and water conservancy projects. Although China is making efforts to transition its agricultural development to a sustainable trajectory by promoting water-saving irrigation, a number of issues are emerging, both with policy reforms and technological innovations. Through synthesizing the historical development of agriculture and its relationship with policy and political regimes, this paper identifies four major issues that are challenging the sustainability transformation of China’s agricultural irrigation system and water conservancy projects: (1) problems with financial policy coordination between central and local governments; (2) the lack of incentives for farmers to construct and maintain irrigation infrastructure; (3) conflicts between decentralized operation of land and benefits from shared irrigation infrastructure; and (4) deterioration of small-scale irrigation infrastructure calls for action. In addressing these challenges, policy changes are required: government financial accountability at all levels needs to be clarified; subsidies need to be raised for the construction and management of small-scale irrigation and water conservancy projects; local non-profit organizations need to be established to enhance co-management between farmers and government.
Creating Sustainable Work Environments by Developing Cultures that Diminish Deviance
Authors: Aleksić Ana , Načinović Braje Ivana , Rašić Jelavić Sanda
Published: December 2019

Sustainable work environment creation seeks the development of a healthy environment that diminishes all forms of deviant organizational and interpersonal workplace behavior. This paper explores the role of organizational culture and values of organizational culture that help to create a sustainable work environment where the presence of deviant workplace behavior is least present. Using Cameron and Quinn’s Competing Values Framework and FOCUS questionnaires as the grounds for the taxonomy of organizational culture and Robinson and Bennett typology of deviant workplace behavior, this paper analyzed the effects of different organizational cultures and their dominant values on the level of occurrence of different forms of deviant workplace behavior. Empirical analysis was done on a sample of 251 employees, belonging to 11 organizations. The research results imply that an emphasis on market and hierarchy culture can be related with occurrence of deviant behaviors. Emphasizing market culture value “job clarity” can reduce deviant behavior, unlike an emphasis on market culture value “efficiency” that could increase the level of deviant behavior. The research results are compared with previous similar studies and discussed in terms of creating a sustainable work environment.