bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling Synergism between Various GH Family Xylanases and Debranching Enzymes during Hetero-Xylan Degradation
Authors: Malgas Samkelo , Mafa Mpho S. , Mathibe Brian N. , Pletschke Brett I.
Published: November 2021

Enzymes classified with the same Enzyme Commission (EC) that are allotted in different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families can display different mechanisms of action and substrate specificities. Therefore, the combination of different enzyme classes may not yield synergism during biomass hydrolysis, as the GH family allocation of the enzymes influences their behavior. As a result, it is important to understand which GH family combinations are compatible to gain knowledge on how to efficiently depolymerize biomass into fermentable sugars. We evaluated GH10 (Xyn10D and XT6) and GH11 (XynA and Xyn2A) β-xylanase performance alone and in combination with various GH family α-l-arabinofuranosidases (GH43 AXH-d and GH51 Abf51A) and α-d-glucuronidases (GH4 Agu4B and GH67 AguA) during xylan depolymerization. No synergistic enhancement in reducing sugar, xylose and glucuronic acid released from beechwood xylan was observed when xylanases were supplemented with either one of the glucuronidases, except between Xyn2A and AguA (1.1-fold reducing sugar increase). However, overall sugar release was significantly improved (≥1.1-fold reducing sugar increase) when xylanases were supplemented with either one of the arabinofuranosidases during wheat arabinoxylan degradation. Synergism appeared to result from the xylanases liberating xylo-oligomers, which are the preferred substrates of the terminal arabinofuranosyl-substituent debranching enzyme, Abf51A, allowing the exolytic β-xylosidase, SXA, to have access to the generated unbranched xylo-oligomers. Here, it was shown that arabinofuranosidases are key enzymes in the efficient saccharification of hetero-xylan into xylose. This study demonstrated that consideration of GH family affiliations of the carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) used to formulate synergistic enzyme cocktails is crucial for achieving efficient biomass saccharification.
Acute Paraxanthine Ingestion Improves Cognition and Short-Term Memory and Helps Sustain Attention in a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial
Authors: Yoo Choongsung , Xing Dante , Gonzalez Drew , Jenkins Victoria , Nottingham Kay , Dickerson Broderick , Leonard Megan , Ko Joungbo , Faries Mark , Kephart Wesley , Purpura Martin , Jäger Ralf , Wells Shawn D. , Sowinski Ryan , Rasmussen Christopher J. , Kreider Richard B.
Published: November 2021

This study examined the effects of acute paraxanthine (PXN) ingestion on markers of cognition, executive function, and psychomotor vigilance. In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, and counterbalanced manner, 13 healthy male and female participants were randomly assigned to consume a placebo (PLA) or 200 mg of PXN (ENFINITY™, Ingenious Ingredients, L.P.). Participants completed stimulant sensitivity and side effect questionnaires and then performed the Berg Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (BCST), the Go/No-Go test (GNG), the Sternberg task test (STT), and the psychomotor vigilance task test (PVTT). Participants then ingested one capsule of PLA or PXN treatment. Participants completed side effect and cognitive function tests after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h after ingestion of the supplement. After 7 days, participants repeated the experiment while consuming the alternative treatment. Data were analyzed by general linear model (GLM) univariate analyses with repeated measures using body mass as a covariate, and by assessing mean and percent changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) expressed as means (LL, UL). PXN decreased BCST errors (PXN −4.7 [−0.2, −9.20], p = 0.04; PXN −17.5% [−36.1, 1.0], p = 0.06) and perseverative errors (PXN −2.2 [−4.2, −0.2], p = 0.03; PXN −32.8% [−64.4, 1.2], p = 0.04) at hour 6. GNG analysis revealed some evidence that PXN ingestion better maintained mean accuracy over time and Condition R Round 2 response time (e.g., PXN −25.1 [−52.2, 1.9] ms, p = 0.07 faster than PLA at 1 h), suggesting better sustained attention. PXN ingestion improved STT two-letter length absent and present reaction times over time as well as improving six-letter length absent reaction time after 2 h (PXN −86.5 ms [−165, −7.2], p = 0.03; PXN −9.0% [−18.1, 0.2], p = 0.05), suggesting that PXN enhanced the ability to store and retrieve random information of increasing complexity from short-term memory. A moderate treatment x time effect size (ηp2 = 0.08) was observed in PVTT, where PXN sustained vigilance during Trial 2 after 2 h (PXN 840 ms [103, 1576], p = 0.03) and 4 h (PXN 1466 ms [579, 2353], p = 0.002) compared to PL. As testing progressed, the response time improved during the 20 trials and over the course of the 6 h experiment in the PXN treatment, whereas it significantly increased in the PL group. The results suggest that acute PXN ingestion (200 mg) may affect some measures of short-term memory, reasoning, and response time to cognitive challenges and help sustain attention.
Monitoring Mining Activities Using Sentinel-1A InSAR Coherence in Open-Pit Coal Mines
Authors: Wang Lili , Yang Liao , Wang Weisheng , Chen Baili , Sun Xiaolin
Published: November 2021

Long-term continuous monitoring of the mining activities in open-pit coal mines is conducive to planning and management of the mining operations. Additionally, this faciliatates assessment on their environmental impact and supervises illegal mining behaviors. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology can be effectively applied in the monitoring of open-pit mines where vegetation is sparse and land cover is dominated by bare rock. The main objective of this study is to monitor the mining activities of four open-pit coal mines in the Wucaiwan mining area in China from 2018 to 2020, namely No. 1, No. 2 (containing two mining areas), and No. 3. We use the normalized differential activity index (NDAI) based on the coherence coefficient as an indicator of the mine activity due to its robustness to temporal and spatial decorrelation. After analyzing and removing the decorrelation caused by rain and snow weather, 70 NDAI images in 12-day intervals are obtained from Sentinel-1A InSAR coherence images. Then, the annually-averaged NDAI images are applied to an RGB composite technique (red for 2018, green for 2019, blue for 2020) to express the interannual variation of the mining activities. Points of interest are then selected for NDAI time series analysis. The RGB composite results indicated that No. 1 and 3 open-pit coal mines were continuously mined during the three years; whereas, the two mining areas of No. 2 were mainly active in 2018. The 12-day NDAI time-series graphs of No. 2 open-pit coal mine also indicate that the coal piles located in the coal transferring area of the first mining area were not completely removed until April 2019. It is also seen that the second mining area was decommissioned in November 2018 and became rehabilitated in July 2019. Results were validated using the Sentinel-2A images and related background information confirming the efficiency of the proposed approach for monitoring the mining activity in open-pit mines.
Precise Relative Orbit Determination for Chinese TH-2 Satellite Formation Using Onboard GPS and BDS2 Observations
Authors: Yi Bin , Gu Defeng , Shao Kai , Ju Bing , Zhang Houzhe , Qin Xianping , Duan Xiaojun , Huang Zhiyong
Published: November 2021

TH-2 is China’s first short-range satellite formation system used to realize interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology. In order to achieve the mission goal of InSAR processing, the relative orbit must be determined with high accuracy. In this study, the precise relative orbit determination (PROD) for TH-2 based on global positioning system (GPS), second-generation BeiDou navagation satellite system (BDS2), and GPS + BDS2 observations was performed. First, the performance of onboard GPS and BDS2 measurements were assessed by analyzing the available data, code multipath errors and noise levels of carrier phase observations. The differences between the National University of Defense Technology (NDT) and the Xi’an Research Institute of Surveying and Mapping (CHS) baseline solutions exhibited an RMS of 1.48 mm outside maneuver periods. The GPS-based orbit was used as a reference orbit to evaluate the BDS2-based orbit and the GPS + BDS2-based orbit. It is the first time BDS2 has been applied to the PROD of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite formation. The results showed that the root mean square (RMS) of difference between the PROD results using GPS and BDS2 measurements in 3D components was 2.89 mm in the Asia-Pacific region. We assigned different weights to geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites to illustrate the impact of GEO satellites on PROD, and the accuracy of PROD was improved to 7.08 mm with the GEO weighting strategy. Finally, relative orbits were derived from the combined GPS and BDS2 data. When BDS2 was added on the basis of GPS, the average number of visible navigation satellites from TH-2A and TH-2B improved from 7.5 to 9.5. The RMS of the difference between the GPS + BDS2-based orbit and the GPS-based orbit was about 1.2 mm in 3D. The overlap comparison results showed that the combined orbit consistencies were below 1 mm in the radial (R), along-track (T), and cross-track (N) directions. Furthermore, when BDS2 co-worked with GPS, the average of the ambiguity dilution of precision (ADOP) reduced from 0.160 cycle to 0.153 cycle, which was about a 4.4% reduction. The experimental results indicate that millimeter-level PROD results for TH-2 satellite formation can be obtained by using onboard GPS and BDS2 observations, and multi-GNSS can further improve the accuracy and reliability of PROD.
Road Surface Crack Detection Method Based on Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Kyslytsyna Anastasiia , Xia Kewen , Kislitsyn Artem , Abd El Kader Isselmou , Wu Youxi
Published: November 2021

Constant monitoring of road surfaces helps to show the urgency of deterioration or problems in the road construction and to improve the safety level of the road surface. Conditional generative adversarial networks (cGAN) are a powerful tool to generate or transform the images used for crack detection. The advantage of this method is the highly accurate results in vector-based images, which are convenient for mathematical analysis of the detected cracks at a later time. However, images taken under established parameters are different from images in real-world contexts. Another potential problem of cGAN is that it is difficult to detect the shape of an object when the resulting accuracy is low, which can seriously affect any further mathematical analysis of the detected crack. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes a method called improved cGAN with attention gate (ICGA) for roadway surface crack detection. To obtain a more accurate shape of the detected target object, ICGA establishes a multi-level model with independent stages. In the first stage, everything except the road is treated as noise and removed from the image. These images are stored in a new dataset. In the second stage, ICGA determines the cracks. Therefore, ICGA focuses on the redistribution of cracks, not the auxiliary elements in the image. ICGA adds two attention gates to a U-net architecture and improves the segmentation capacities of the generator in pix2pix. Extensive experimental results on dashboard camera images of the Unsupervised Llamas dataset show that our method has better performance than other state-of-the-art methods.
Low-Cost Polyethylene Terephthalate Fluidic Sensor for Ultrahigh Accuracy Measurement of Liquid Concentration Variation
Authors: Twu Ruey-Ching , Li Kai-Hsuan , Lin Bo-Lin
Published: November 2021

A low-cost polyethylene terephthalate fluidic sensor (PET-FS) is demonstrated for the concentration variation measurement on fluidic solutions. The PET-FS consisted of a triangular fluidic container attached with a birefringent PET thin layer. The PET-FS was injected with the test liquid solution that was placed in a common path polarization interferometer by utilizing a heterodyne scheme. The measured phase variation of probe light was used to obtain the information regarding the concentration change in the fluidic liquids. The sensor was experimentally tested using different concentrations of sodium chloride solution showing a sensitivity of 3.52 ×104 deg./refractive index unit (RIU) and a detection resolution of 6.25 × 10−6 RIU. The estimated sensitivity and detection resolutions were 5.62 × 104 (deg./RIU) and 6.94 × 10−6 RIU, respectively, for the hydrochloric acid. The relationship between the measured phase and the concentration is linear with an R-squared value reaching above 0.995.
A Self-Calibration Stitching Method for Pitch Deviation Evaluation of a Long-Range Linear Scale by Using a Fizeau Interferometer
Authors: Xiong Xin , Shimizu Yuki , Matsukuma Hiraku , Gao Wei
Published: November 2021

An interferometric self-calibration method for the evaluation of the pitch deviation of scale grating has been extended to evaluate the pitch deviation of the long-range type linear scale by utilizing the stitching interferometry technique. Following the previous work, in which the interferometric self-calibration method was proposed to assess the pitch deviation of the scale grating by combing the first-order diffracted beams from the grating, a stitching calibration method is proposed to enlarge the measurement range. Theoretical analysis is performed to realize the X-directional pitch deviation calibration of the long-range linear scale while reducing the second-order accumulation effect by canceling the influence of the reference flat error in the sub-apertures’ measurements. In this paper, the stitching interferometry theory is briefly reviewed, and theoretical equations of the X-directional pitch deviation stitching are derived for evaluation of the pitch deviation of the long-range linear scale. Followed by the simulation verification, some experiments with a linear scale of 105 mm length from a commercial interferential scanning-type optical encoder are conducted to verify the feasibility of the self-calibration stitching method for the calibration of the X-directional pitch deviation of the linear scale over its whole area.
Phybrata Sensors and Machine Learning for Enhanced Neurophysiological Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Hope Alex J. , Vashisth Utkarsh , Parker Matthew J. , Ralston Andreas B. , Roper Joshua M. , Ralston John D.
Published: November 2021

Concussion injuries remain a significant public health challenge. A significant unmet clinical need remains for tools that allow related physiological impairments and longer-term health risks to be identified earlier, better quantified, and more easily monitored over time. We address this challenge by combining a head-mounted wearable inertial motion unit (IMU)-based physiological vibration acceleration (“phybrata”) sensor and several candidate machine learning (ML) models. The performance of this solution is assessed for both binary classification of concussion patients and multiclass predictions of specific concussion-related neurophysiological impairments. Results are compared with previously reported approaches to ML-based concussion diagnostics. Using phybrata data from a previously reported concussion study population, four different machine learning models (Support Vector Machine, Random Forest Classifier, Extreme Gradient Boost, and Convolutional Neural Network) are first investigated for binary classification of the test population as healthy vs. concussion (Use Case 1). Results are compared for two different data preprocessing pipelines, Time-Series Averaging (TSA) and Non-Time-Series Feature Extraction (NTS). Next, the three best-performing NTS models are compared in terms of their multiclass prediction performance for specific concussion-related impairments: vestibular, neurological, both (Use Case 2). For Use Case 1, the NTS model approach outperformed the TSA approach, with the two best algorithms achieving an F1 score of 0.94. For Use Case 2, the NTS Random Forest model achieved the best performance in the testing set, with an F1 score of 0.90, and identified a wider range of relevant phybrata signal features that contributed to impairment classification compared with manual feature inspection and statistical data analysis. The overall classification performance achieved in the present work exceeds previously reported approaches to ML-based concussion diagnostics using other data sources and ML models. This study also demonstrates the first combination of a wearable IMU-based sensor and ML model that enables both binary classification of concussion patients and multiclass predictions of specific concussion-related neurophysiological impairments.
How Precisely Can Easily Accessible Variables Predict Achilles and Patellar Tendon Forces during Running?
Authors: Brund René B. K. , Waagepetersen Rasmus , O. Nielsen Rasmus , Rasmussen John , Nielsen Michael S. , Andersen Christian H. , de Zee Mark
Published: November 2021

Patellar and Achilles tendinopathy commonly affect runners. Developing algorithms to predict cumulative force in these structures may help prevent these injuries. Importantly, such algorithms should be fueled with data that are easily accessible while completing a running session outside a biomechanical laboratory. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate whether algorithms can be developed for predicting patellar and Achilles tendon force and impulse during running using measures that can be easily collected by runners using commercially available devices. A secondary objective was to evaluate the predictive performance of the algorithms against the commonly used running distance. Trials of 24 recreational runners were collected with an Xsens suit and a Garmin Forerunner 735XT at three different intended running speeds. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effects multiple regression model, which was used to model the association between the estimated forces in anatomical structures and the training load variables during the fixed running speeds. This provides twelve algorithms for predicting patellar or Achilles tendon peak force and impulse per stride. The algorithms developed in the current study were always superior to the running distance algorithm.
Paenibacillus polymyxa A26 and Its Surfactant-Deficient Mutant Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Timmusk Salme , Teder Tiiu , Behers Lawrence
Published: November 2021

We compared the ability of two bacterial strains, Paenibacillus polymyxa A26 and P. polymyxa A26Sfp, for biodegradation of naphthalene (NAP). The studies were performed under simulated laboratory conditions, in liquid medium and soil with different carbon sources, pH and salt contents. Changes in the luminescence inhibition of Aliivibrio fischeri, as an indicator of the baseline toxicity, were observed in degradation mixtures during 7 days of incubation. While both strains expressed the best growth and NAP degradation ability in the minimal salt medium containing sucrose and 5% NaCl at pH 7 and 8, the mutant strain remained effective even under extreme conditions. A26Sfp was found to be an efficient and potentially industrially important polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation strain. Its extracellular polysaccharide production is 30%, and glucan production is twice that of the wild type A 26. The surface tension reduction ability was ascertained as 25–30% increased emulsification ability.
The Relationship between CFO Compensation and Corporate Sustainability: An Empirical Examination of German Listed Firms
Authors: Profitlich Mirko , Bouzzine Yassin Denis , Lueg Rainer
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we analyze the relationship between Chief Financial Officer (CFO) compensation and Corporate Sustainability (CS) by relying on stakeholder-agent theory and institutional theory. Taking a closer look at the German DAX30 and MDAX firms for the business years 2014–2018 (313 firm-year observations), we perform regression and correlation analyses to determine if the different CFO compensation components are related to CS. Our analyses use the environmental, social, governance (ESG) performance as a proxy for CS, determined by the Asset Four database of Thomson Reuters and the CFO compensation data from the Beck et al. (2020) database, and reveal a positive relationship between CS and CFO compensation for pension and stock compensation. Based on our knowledge, this study is the first empirical study that takes a closer look at the relationship between the different CFO compensation components and CS for the German DAX30 and MDAX firms. This result comes with important implications concerning the design of CFO compensation and for future research.
Improving the Climate Resilience of Rice Farming in Flood-Prone Areas through Azolla Biofertilizer and Saline-Tolerant Varieties
Authors: Simarmata Tualar , Prayoga Muhamad Khais , Setiawati Mieke R. , Adinata Kustiwa , Stöber Silke
Published: November 2021

Rice farming in coastal areas is often victim to flooding as a result of climate change. Low-cost adaptation strategies are required to increase resilience and rice productivity in these flood-prone coastal areas. In this study, enriched Azolla extract (EAE) liquid biofertilizers, combined with selected stress-tolerant rice varieties, were tested in farmers’ fields in Pangandaran, West Java from June to October 2020. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of EAE in increasing the yield of different rice varieties. The research was arranged as a split-plot design with five replications. The main plot was the EAE application (T1 = 3 ton ha−1 compost and T2 = 3 ton ha−1 compost + 10 L ha−1 of EAE), and the sub-plots were stress-tolerant rice varieties (V1 = Inpari 43, V2 = Mawar, V3 = Inpari 30, V4 = Inpara 03, V5 = Mendawak). The application of EAE of 10 L ha−1 significantly affected the rice grain yield, which was 37.06% higher than that of the control plot. The average grain yield of the five varieties under EAE treatment (5.51 ton ha−1) was greater than the grain yield of local farmers’ fields (3.78−4.97 ton ha−1). Inpari 43 had the highest grain yield with 5.90 ton ha−1, but the yield was not significantly different from the Mendawak variety (4.90 ton ha−1). This result suggests that EAE and selected stress-tolerant rice varieties (Inpari 43 or Mendawak) are an effective adaptation strategy to increase rice farms’ resilience and productivity in coastal areas prone to flooding.
The Occurrence of Heavy Air Pollution during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Beijing, China: Roles of Emission Reduction, Meteorological Conditions, and Regional Transport
Authors: Yan Xiao , Shi Aijun , Cao Jingyuan , Li Tingting , Sun Xuesong , Zhang Rui , Qiu Xionghui , Li Yanxue , Liang Miao , Lv Miao , Liu Chunlan , Wei Jing
Published: November 2021

To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and mitigate the epidemic risk, strict lockdown measures were implemented in Beijing during the quarantine period, significantly reducing human activities. However, severe air pollution episodes occurred frequently in Beijing. To explore the occurrence of severe air pollution during the quarantine period, the impacts of emission reductions, meteorological conditions, and regional transport on heavy air pollution were individually evaluated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Observations showed that the more unfavorable meteorological conditions which occurred during the pandemic as compared to the corresponding 2019 levels, including higher temperature, relative humidity, and frequency of strong southerly winds, and lower HPBL, led to an increase in PM2.5 concentrations. The model results also showed that the meteorological conditions in February 2020 favored PM2.5 formation. The PM2.5 concentrations were mainly dominated by regional transport, which became more significant in the quarantine period than in 2019, suggesting the importance of joint control on regional sources for reducing heavy air pollution. This study highlights that, although the emissions in Beijing and surrounding regions were largely reduced during the quarantine period, severe air pollution in Beijing did not reduce due to the unfavorable meteorological conditions.
Will the EU Taxonomy Regulation Foster Sustainable Corporate Governance?
Authors: Pacces Alessio M.
Published: November 2021

EU securities regulation has established a taxonomy of environmentally sustainable activities. This article discusses, from a law and economics standpoint, the potential of this taxonomy to support sustainable corporate governance. Corporate governance can be an efficient way to channel investor preferences towards sustainability because the concentration of institutional shareholding has lowered the transaction costs of shareholder action. However, there is a principal-agent problem between institutional investors and their beneficiaries, which depends on greenwashing and undermines sustainable corporate governance. This article argues that introducing environmental sustainability into EU mandatory disclosure aligns the institutional investors’ incentives with the interest of their beneficiaries and may foster the efficient inclusion of sustainability in corporate governance. The argument is threefold. Firstly, the EU Taxonomy may curb greenwashing by standardizing the disclosure of environmental sustainability. Secondly, this information may become salient for the beneficiaries as the same standards define the sustainability preferences to be considered in recommending and marketing financial products. Thirdly, sustainability disclosure prompts institutional investors to compete for sustainability-minded beneficiaries. Being unable to avoid unsustainable companies altogether, institutional investors are expected to cater to beneficiaries’ preferences for environmental sustainability using voice instead of exit.
Enhancing the Performance of an Sb2Se3-Based Solar Cell by Dual Buffer Layer
Authors: Mamta  , Maurya Kamlesh Kumar , Singh Vidya Nand
Published: November 2021

In an Sb2Se3-based solar cell, the buffer layer is sandwiched between the absorber and the window layer, playing an essential role in interfacial electricity. Generally, CdS is used as a buffer layer, but its toxic nature and low bandgap can cause current loss because of parasitic absorption. In this work, we optimized the buffer layer by using ZnS as an alternative to the CdS buffer layer in order to decrease the use of CdS. The effect of different buffer layers on the solar device was explored by numerical simulation with the help of SCAPS 1D software. The basic parameters, such as open-circuit voltage (Voc), current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (η) were analyzed and compared for both the buffer layers (CdS/ZnS). The results demonstrate that changing buffer materials and thicknesses has a significant impact on cell performance. The efficiency for the ZnS buffer layer was lower compared to that of the CdS-based solar cells because of insufficient energy band alignment. In order to enhance the efficiency of Sb2Se3-based solar cells, we used CdS/ZnS dual buffer layers and studied the device performance. The work function of the back contact also affects the device performance, and for work functions below 4.8 eV, the device’s efficiency was very low. The effect of varying the thicknesses and temperatures of the buffer layers on the I-V/C-V characteristics, quantum efficiency, and energy band structure are also reported. This study shall guide the researcher in reducing CdS and improving the device’s performance.
Blind Obedience to Environmental Friendliness: The Goal Will Set Us Free
Authors: Jung Bohee , Joo Jaewoo
Published: November 2021

In the past, researchers focusing on environmentally friendly consumption have devoted attention to the intention–action gap, suggesting that consumers have positive attitudes toward an environmentally friendly product even though they are not willing to buy it. In the present study, we borrow insights from the behavioral decision making literature on preference reversal to introduce an opposite phenomenon—that is, consumers buying an environmentally friendly product even though they do not evaluate it highly. We further rely on the research on goals to hypothesize that choice–evaluation discrepancies disappear when consumers pursue an environmentally friendly goal. A two (Mode: Choice vs. Evaluation) by three (Goal: Control vs. Quality vs. Environmentally friendly) between-subjects experimental design was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Our findings obtained from 165 undergraduate students in Korea showed that, first, 76% of the participants chose an environmentally friendly cosmetic product whereas only 49% of the participants ranked it higher than a competing product, and, second, when participants read the sentence “You are now buying one of the two compact foundations in order to minimize the waste of buying new foundations,” the discrepancy disappeared (64% vs. 55%). Our experimental findings advance academic discussions of green consumption and the choice–evaluation discrepancy and have practical implications for eco-friendly marketing.
Morphological, Leaf Nutrient, and Fruit Quality Characteristics of Diverse Tomato Cultivars under Organic Low-Input Management
Authors: Chea Leangsrun , Erika Cut , Naumann Marcel , Smit Inga , Horneburg Bernd , Pawelzik Elke
Published: November 2021

Increasing fruit yield and quality of tomatoes under organic low-input conditions remains a challenge for producers and breeders. Therefore, it is necessary to identify superior tomato cultivars that are suitable for production and use as parents in breeding programmes. In the present study, the variations in plant morphology and fruit quality characteristics of tomato cultivars were assessed to reveal the traits associated with improved yield and fruit quality. Sixty diverse tomato cultivars were screened in 2015, and in 2016, a subset of 20 cultivars was selected for further evaluation under organic low-input conditions. The results showed high variability among cultivars in all 28 traits that were observed. Salad cultivars had lower plant growth and fruit quality (minerals, dry matter, total soluble solids, and total phenolics) by 10–70%, but they displayed 10–60% higher fruit yield and leaf minerals than cocktail cultivars. Salad tomato cultivars with superior yield and harvest index were mainly derived from breeding for intensive indoor production. Cocktail cultivars with superior yield were mainly derived from organic and outdoor breeding programs. There was a trade-off between fruit yield and quality, indicating a challenge for simultaneous improvement of yield and quality. The importance of Mg was highlighted because of its contribution to the fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality. Cultivars superior in one trait or trait combination under organic low-input conditions were identified to be used by producers and breeders as superior cultivars to meet their production targets and breeding objectives. The importance of Mg provides a novel path for further research on improving soil-available Mg in organic tomato production to enhance fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality in general.
Weeding Frequency Effects on Growth and Yield of Dry Bean Intercropped with Sweet Sorghum and Cowpea under a Dryland Area
Authors: Baker Conrad , Modi Albert Thembinkosi , Nciizah Adornis D.
Published: November 2021

A better understanding of the dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth and yield response to weed competition under the intercropping system is critical for improving sustainable weed management strategies. A two-year trial was conducted with three types of crop arrangement (sole cropping, inter-row, and intra-row intercropping) combined with weeding frequency (no weeding, weeding over the first 50 days of crop growth, and weed-free). Effects of the treatments were tested on dry bean agronomic indicators in terms of the following: 100-grain weight, dry biomass, grain yield, grains per pod, pods per plant, plant height, number of leaves per plant, and chlorophyll content. The intercropping pattern significantly affected dry bean pods per plant, height, and chlorophyll content, while weeding frequency significantly affected all measured agronomic indicators for dry bean, except for chlorophyll content, during the 2017/18 growing season. The results showed that the significant measured agronomic indicators were the lowest under no weed control; however, they increased as weeding frequency increased. The 2018/19 growing season followed a similar trend; however, the interaction effect significantly affected dry bean 100-grain weight, dry biomass, and number of leaves per plant at 40 days after emergence. The dry bean/sweet sorghum or cowpea intra-row intercropping and intermediate weeding frequency displayed optimum productivity.
Investigating the Impact of Professional and Nonprofessional Hosts’ Pricing Behaviors on Accommodation-Sharing Market Outcome
Authors: Jia Ru , Wang Shanshan
Published: November 2021

Nonprofessional hosts in the P2P accommodation-sharing markets have been demonstrated to be inferior in pricing. The sharing market is increasingly recruiting more professional hosts but is bothered by the disharmony from nonprofessionals’ feelings of being cast aside in this drive. To respond to this practice and disharmony, we develop a modeling framework with price-sensitive customers and earning-based hosts to investigate how varying ratios of professional and nonprofessional hosts affect pricing and impact sharing-market outcomes according to contemporary and long-term success indicators. This study is one of the first attempts to examine whether more professional hosts as supply decision makers is more beneficial to the sharing market. Numerical experiments for model analysis led to two primary managerial implications. A high ratio of professional hosts does not necessarily maximize indicators of hosts’ earnings, platform’s profit, or supply size, indicators that measure the accommodation-sharing market’s contemporary and long-term success. In addition, the market improves with magnified differences in the unique features of two types of hosts and they can cater to customers’ experiences and expectations, differentiating the market positioning of the two types of hosts.
Alternatives for Circular Bioeconomy in Organic Farming under Excessive Nutrients (Goat manure and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi): A Case Study in Indonesia
Authors: Kurniawati Ari , Windriyati Ratna Dwi Hirma , Wulansari Nur Kholida , Toth Gergely , Toth Zoltan
Published: November 2021

A case study in Indonesia of circular bioeconomy implementation was investigated by managing livestock wastes, especially goat manure (GM), which an excess of its availability may be adverse to the environment. The efficacy of this scenario to control pollution or to increase productivity still needs to be proven. Hence, this research aimed to study the possibility of circular bioeconomy implementation using biotic and abiotic resources in Indonesia under excessive nutrients (GM and mycorrhizal) on P. angulata production. Outdoor factorial container experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design in Central Java, Indonesia. Treatments included four levels of GM (0, 10, 20, 30 g plant−1) and four levels of mycorrhizal (0, 10, 20, 30 g plant−1) applied in the soil with six replications. This case study revealed that the use of mycorrhizal inoculant and GM indicated no significant difference to most of P. angulata’s growth and yield parameters. The implementation of circular bioeconomy through integrated farming of P. angulata was not an instant solution for economic and environmental optimization, but can be considered as a way to tackle environmental problem due to the excessive livestock wastes. The environmental sustainability can be achieved step by step, without hindering farmers’ income.
Initial Coefficient Estimates and Fekete–Szegö Inequalities for New Families of Bi-Univalent Functions Governed by (p − q)-Wanas Operator
Authors: Wanas Abbas Kareem , Cotîrlǎ Luminiţa-Ioana
Published: November 2021

The motivation of the present article is to define the (p−q)-Wanas operator in geometric function theory by the symmetric nature of quantum calculus. We also initiate and explore certain new families of holormorphic and bi-univalent functions AE(λ,σ,δ,s,t,p,q;ϑ) and SE(μ,γ,σ,δ,s,t,p,q;ϑ) which are defined in the unit disk U associated with the (p−q)-Wanas operator. The upper bounds for the initial Taylor–Maclaurin coefficients and Fekete–Szegö-type inequalities for the functions in these families are obtained. Furthermore, several consequences of our results are pointed out based on the various special choices of the involved parameters.
Multi Stress-Strength Reliability Based on Progressive First Failure for Kumaraswamy Model: Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Estimation
Authors: Yousef Manal M. , Almetwally Ehab M.
Published: November 2021

It is highly common in many real-life settings for systems to fail to perform in their harsh operating environments. When systems reach their lower, upper, or both extreme operating conditions, they frequently fail to perform their intended duties, which receives little attention from researchers. The purpose of this article is to derive inference for multi reliability where stress-strength variables follow unit Kumaraswamy distributions based on the progressive first failure. Therefore, this article deals with the problem of estimating the stress-strength function, R when X,Y, and Z come from three independent Kumaraswamy distributions. The classical methods namely maximum likelihood for point estimation and asymptotic, boot-p and boot-t methods are also discussed for interval estimation and Bayes methods are proposed based on progressive first-failure censored data. Lindly’s approximation form and MCMC technique are used to compute the Bayes estimate of R under symmetric and asymmetric loss functions. We derive standard Bayes estimators of reliability for multi stress–strength Kumaraswamy distribution based on progressive first-failure censored samples by using balanced and unbalanced loss functions. Different confidence intervals are obtained. The performance of the different proposed estimators is evaluated and compared by Monte Carlo simulations and application examples of real data.
Immunological Mechanisms of Sickness Behavior in Viral Infection
Authors: Krapić Mia , Kavazović Inga , Wensveen Felix M.
Published: November 2021

Sickness behavior is the common denominator for a plethora of changes in normal behavioral routines and systemic metabolism during an infection. Typical symptoms include temperature, muscle weakness, and loss of appetite. Whereas we experience these changes as a pathology, in fact they are a carefully orchestrated response mediated by the immune system. Its purpose is to optimize immune cell functionality against pathogens whilst minimizing viral replication in infected cells. Sickness behavior is controlled at several levels, most notably by the central nervous system, but also by other organs that mediate systemic homeostasis, such as the liver and adipose tissue. Nevertheless, the changes mediated by these organs are ultimately initiated by immune cells, usually through local or systemic secretion of cytokines. The nature of infection determines which cytokine profile is induced by immune cells and therefore which sickness behavior ensues. In context of infection, sickness behavior is typically beneficial. However, inappropriate activation of the immune system may induce adverse aspects of sickness behavior. For example, tissue stress caused by obesity may result in chronic activation of the immune system, leading to lasting changes in systemic metabolism. Concurrently, metabolic disease prevents induction of appropriate sickness behavior following viral infection, thus impairing the normal immune response. In this article, we will revisit recent literature that elucidates both the benefits and the negative aspects of sickness behavior in context of viral infection.
VALORIZA��O DE RES�DUOS DE PAPEL�O VIA HIDR�LISE QU�MICA VISANDO OBTEN��O DE A��CARES
Authors: De Lira Estefani Wanderley , Soares Isa�as Barbosa
Published: November 2021

Res�duos lignocelul�sicos t�m ganhado grande interesse por parte de pesquisadores e ind�strias nessas �ltimas d�cadas, por seu baixo custo e pelo seu potencial como fonte de energia renov�vel. Dentre esses res�duos, os res�duos papeleiros provenientes de atividades comerciais e institui��es de ensino v�m ganhando destaque por sua abund�ncia e pouca reciclagem praticada. Neste trabalho, res�duos de papel�o, que s�o res�duos provenientes de atividades de transporte e log�stica, foram submetidos � hidr�lise qu�mica com solu��o de H2SO4 a 0,5 mol/L em reator batelada por 2 h a 54�C, com o intuito de testar seu potencial como fonte de a��cares. Esses materiais podem ser transformados em especialidades qu�micas de alto valor agregado, tais como �cidos org�nicos. Os resultados mostraram uma convers�o de celulose de 2,71% e em hemiceluloses de 7,38%, indicando que a hidr�lise qu�mica pode ser utilizada como processo de decomposi��o dos res�duos de papel�o, especialmente se forem usadas condi��es operacionais adequadamente mais severas.��������
INFLU�NCIA DA PANDEMIA PELO CORONAVIRUS NA QUALIDADE DAS �GUAS DA PRAIA DE MARANDUBA - UBATUBA SP.
Authors: Silva La�s Ribeiro Rodrigues da , Arruda Regina De Oliveira Moraes
Published: November 2021

A polui��o da �gua do mar � uma grande preocupa��o global que vem afetando a sa�de p�blica e ambiental. A disposi��o inadequada do lixo e descarga costeira contribuem para a contamina��o da areia da praia e da �gua do mar. Al�m das descargas no mar temos as atividades tur�sticas e polui��o exacerbada expondo os recursos h�dricos costeiros. Analises da �gua s�o indispens�veis para monitorar quaisquer mudan�as na qualidade. A infraestrutura sanit�ria no pa�s afeta diretamente a qualidade das �guas costeiras brasileiras. A balneabilidade � a classifica��o da qualidade das �guas para o contato direto em atividades de recrea��o de contato prim�rio (nata��o, mergulho, surf, esqui-aqu�tico, entre outros tipos de recrea��o) onde o indiv�duo poder� ingerir alguma quantidade de �gua. A densidade de coliformes fecais e o par�metro b�sico utilizado para classifica��o da balneabilidade das praias. No final de 2019 come�amos a enfrentar a COVID 19, e entre as a��es propostas tivemos a quarentena. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar a influ�ncia da pandemia por COVID 19 na qualidade das �guas da praia de Maranduba. Foi realizada uma pesquisa em dados secund�rios nos anos de 2018 a 2021 relativos a qualidade microbiol�gica, al�m de uma pesquisa de campo na praia da Maranduba, munic�pio de Ubatuba, �localizado no litoral norte de S�o Paulo. Para tanto realizou-se uma coleta em tr�s pontos desta praia e foi utilizada a t�cnica de membrana filtrante, em triplicatas para pesquisa de presen�a de coliformes fecais.�
Trends and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine recipients: a federated analysis of 57.9 million patients' primary care records in situ using OpenSAFELY
Authors: Curtis Helen J , Inglesby Peter , Morton Caroline E , MacKenna Brian , Green Amelia , Hulme William , Walker Alex J , Morley Jessica , Mehrkar Amir , Bacon Seb , Hickman George , Bates Chris , Croker Richard , Evans David , Ward Tom , Cockburn Jonathan , Davy Simon , Bhaskaran Krishnan , Schultze Anna , Rentsch Christopher T , Williamson Elizabeth J , Rowan Anna , Fisher Louis , McDonald Helen I , Tomlinson Laurie , Mathur Rohini , Drysdale Henry , Eggo Rosalind M , Wing Kevin , Wong Angel YS , Forbes Harriet , Parry John , Hester Frank , Harper Sam , O’Hanlon Shaun , Eavis Alex , Jarvis Richard , Avramov Dima , Griffiths Paul , Fowles Aaron , Parkes Nasreen , Douglas Ian J , Evans Stephen JW , Smeeth Liam , Goldacre Ben ,   (The OpenSAFELY Collaborative)
Published: November 2021

Background

On 8 December 2020 NHS England administered the first COVID-19 vaccination.

Aim

To describe trends and variation in vaccine coverage in different clinical and demographic groups in the first 100 days of the vaccine rollout.

Design and setting

With the approval of NHS England, a cohort study was conducted of 57.9 million patient records in general practice in England, in situ and within the infrastructure of the electronic health record software vendors EMIS and TPP using OpenSAFELY.

Method

Vaccine coverage across various subgroups of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority cohorts is described.

Results

A total of 20 852 692 patients (36.0%) received a vaccine between 8 December 2020 and 17 March 2021. Of patients aged ≥80 years not in a care home (JCVI group 2) 94.7% received a vaccine, but with substantial variation by ethnicity (White 96.2%, Black 68.3%) and deprivation (least deprived 96.6%, most deprived 90.7%). Patients with pre-existing medical conditions were more likely to be vaccinated with two exceptions: severe mental illness (89.5%) and learning disability (91.4%). There were 275 205 vaccine recipients who were identified as care home residents (JCVI group 1; 91.2% coverage). By 17 March, 1 257 914 (6.0%) recipients had a second dose.

Conclusion

The NHS rapidly delivered mass vaccination. In this study a data-monitoring framework was deployed using publicly auditable methods and a secure in situ processing model, using linked but pseudonymised patient-level NHS data for 57.9 million patients. Targeted activity may be needed to address lower vaccination coverage observed among certain key groups.
Hanoman Obong sebagai Ide Kreatif Penciptaan Night Light Shadow Box
Authors: Hukmi Aqim Amral
Published: November 2021

Puppet is a culture of the Indonesian nation. Puppet stories originally developed during the Javanese Hindu era. Pewayangan has been appointed as a masterpiece of world culture by UNESCO on 7 November 2003 or the Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. One of the familiar characters in puppet stories is Hanoman. However, nowadays people, especially teenagers who call themselves millennials, are less interested in puppet stories. To introduce traditional culture to society and millennial adolescents as the younger generation, breakthroughs or new innovative ways are needed, one of which is media that is popular among young people, namely by making a room decoration lamp called the Night Light Shadow Box. The research method used is descriptive qualitative research methods. The research begins by exploring the Hanoman figure. Furthermore, developing the results of observations that have been made through the product design of the Night Light Shadow Box so as to produce creative products that are in accordance with the interests of the community and millennial youth. The purpose of this research is (1) to create creative products with Hanoman local content vision that can compete with foreign products. (2) can foster understanding and love of the community towards the local culture of the archipelago.
L’émergence du syncrétisme participe présent / gérondif en moyen-anglais d’après le Corpus d’Helsinki
Authors: Hancil Sylvie
Published: November 2021

This article aims at exploring the emergence of the syncretism present participle / gerund in Middle English during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. By examining the Helsinki Corpus, we shall try to understand how and why the replacing of a phonetic form by another one and the integration into the verbal paradigm of a nominal form in -ing were brought about by a set of interrelated factors.