bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Derndorfer Michael , Chen Shaojie , Pürerfellner Helmut
Published: August 2021

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Heart Failure (HF) are closely linked to each other, as each can be either the cause of or the result of the other. Successfully treating one of the two entities means laying the basis for treating the other one as well. Management of patients with AF and HF can be challenging and should primarily adhere to available guidelines. Concerning AF, medication is limited and causes many side effects, leading to low medical adherence. Several smaller studies, summarized in a big meta-analysis, provide evidence that ablation of AF in HF patients is crucial for improving quality of life, reducing HF hospitalizations, and reducing death, provided the LVEF is at least 25% or higher. In advanced HF, alternative treatment options (including assist devices, heart transplant) might still be the better option. Early rhythm control should be taken into consideration, as there is evidence that it is associated with better cardiovascular outcome.
An Integrated Model including the ROX Index to Predict the Success of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Use after Planned Extubation: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Young Seok , Chang Sung Won , Sim Jae Kyeom , Kim Sua , Kim Je Hyeong
Published: August 2021

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy is commonly used to prevent reintubation after planned extubation. In clinical practice, there are no appropriate tools to evaluate whether HFNC therapy was successful or failed after planned extubation. In this retrospective observational study, we investigated whether the use of the ROX index was appropriate to differentiate between HFNC success and failure within 72 h after extubation and to develop an integrated model including the ROX index to improve the prediction of HFNC success in patients receiving HFNC therapy after planned extubation. Of 276 patients, 50 patients (18.1%) were reintubated within 72 h of extubation. ROX index values of >8.7 at 2 h, >8.7 at 6 h, and >10.4 at 12 h after HFNC therapy were all meaningful predictors of HFNC success in extubated patients. In addition, the integrated model including the ROX index had a better predictive capability for HFNC success than the ROX index alone. In conclusion, the ROX index at 2, 6, and 12 h could be applied to extubated patients to predict HFNC success after planned extubation. To improve its predictive power, we should also consider an integrated model consisting of the ROX index, sex, body mass index, and the total duration of ventilator care.
High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygenation in Older Patients with SARS-CoV-2-Related Acute Respiratory Failure
Authors: Hacquin Arthur , Perret Marie , Manckoundia Patrick , Bonniaud Philippe , Beltramo Guillaume , Georges Marjolaine , Putot Alain
Published: August 2021

We aimed to compare the mortality and comfort associated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation (HFNCO) and high-concentration mask (HCM) in older SARS-CoV-2 infected patients who were hospitalized in non-intensive care units. In this retrospective cohort study, we included all consecutive patients aged 75 years and older who were hospitalized for acute respiratory failure (ARF) in either an acute geriatric unit or an acute pulmonary care unit, and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We compared the in-hospital prognosis between patients treated with HFNCO and patients treated with HCM. To account for confounders, we created a propensity score for HFNCO, and stabilizing inverse probability of treatment weighting (SIPTW) was applied. From March 2020 to January 2021, 67 patients (median age 87 years, 41 men) were hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2-related ARF, of whom 41 (61%) received HFNCO and 26 (39%) did not. Age and comorbidities did not significantly differ in the two groups, whereas clinical presentation was more severe in the HFNCO group (NEW2 score: 8 (5–11) vs. 7 (5–8), p = 0.02, and Sp02/Fi02: 88 (98–120) vs. 117 (114–148), p = 0.03). Seven (17%) vs. two (5%) patients survived at 30 days in the HFNCO and HCM group, respectively. Overall, after SIPTW, HFNCO was significantly associated with greater survival (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.99; p = 0.04). HFNCO use was associated with a lower need for morphine (AHR 0.39, 95% CI 0.21–0.71; p = 0.005), but not for midazolam (AHR 0.66, 95% CI 0.37–1.19; p = 0.17). In conclusion, HFNCO use in non-intensive care units may reduce mortality and discomfort in older inpatients with SARS-CoV-2-related ARF.
A Single-Center (Sibiu, Romania), Retrospective Study (March–November 2020) of COVID-19 Clinical and Epidemiological Features in Children
Authors: Totan Maria , Gligor Felicia Gabriela , Duică Lavinia , Grigore Nicolae , Silișteanu Sinziana , Maniu Ionela , Antonescu Elisabeta
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze epidemiological and clinical features of children screened for COVID-19 at Sibiu Pediatric Clinical Hospital during the first 9 months (March–November) of coronavirus disease pandemic in Romania. A total of 203 pediatric patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 121 (IQR 18–181) months and 52.22% had mild clinical type with pneumonia, 35.47% were moderate cases, 3.94% severe cases, 0.99% critically ill cases and 7.39% were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms were fever (n = 130, 64.03%), nasal congestion (n = 138, 67.98%), cough (n = 128, 63.05%) followed by sore throat (n = 64, 31.52%), rhinorrhea (n = 63, 31.03%), fatigue (n = 57, 28.07%), headache (n = 47, 23.15%), diarrhea (n = 39, 19.21%), vomiting (n = 32, 15.76%), myalgia (n = 24, 11.82%), abdominal pain (n = 22, 10.83%). A higher proportion of infants with severe or critical disease was encountered with lymphopenia (n = 9, 90%), neutrophilia (n = 5, 50%), leukocytosis (n = 5, 50%) compared with asymptomatic infants (n = 10, 66.67%, n = 1, 6.67%, n = 3, 20%) or mild (n = 53, 50%, n = 19, 17.92%, n = 15, 14.15%) and moderate (n = 37, 51.39%, n = 9, 12.50%, n = 6, 8.33%) cases (p = 0.095, p = 0.042, p = 0.034). Pediatric patients generally had mild or moderate type of COVID-19, and the critically ill cases were rare. In our study, frequent symptoms were observed in both the systemic and respiratory systems, ear, nose and throat system, and less from gastrointestinal system, central nervous system or ocular system. Additionally, there is an increase in liver and myocardial enzyme levels with an increase in disease severity. Understanding the clinical and laboratory characteristics of pediatric patients is important for diagnosis, management and effective control of the disease.
Importance of NUDT15 Polymorphisms in Thiopurine Treatments
Authors: Tanaka Yoichi , Saito Yoshiro
Published: August 2021

Thiopurines, mercaptopurine, and azathioprine are used as immunosuppressants in the treatments of inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and organ transplantation and as chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of acute leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. This drug class sometimes causes severe adverse reactions, including bone marrow suppression and hair loss. Genetic polymorphisms of the metabolizing enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase have been used for predicting these reactions in Caucasians, but these allele frequencies are less frequently observed in Asian populations. Recently, nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) polymorphisms have been shown to play an important role in thiopurine-induced adverse reactions in Asians. In this review, we summarize the NUDT15 studies, mainly in Asian countries, and their implementation in several countries.
Effects of the Autophagy-Inhibiting Agent Chloroquine on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells; Characterization of Patient Heterogeneity
Authors: Grønningsæter Ida Sofie , Reikvam Håkon , Aasebø Elise , Bartaula-Brevik Sushma , Hernandez-Valladares Maria , Selheim Frode , Berven Frode S. , Tvedt Tor Henrik , Bruserud Øystein , Hatfield Kimberley Joanne
Published: August 2021

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular degradation process that prevents cell damage and promotes cell survival, and clinical efforts have exploited autophagy inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in cancer. Chloroquine is a well-known antimalarial agent that inhibits late-stage autophagy. We evaluated the effects of chloroquine on cell viability and proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells derived from 81 AML patients. Our results show that chloroquine decreased AML cell viability and proliferation for the majority of patients. Furthermore, a subgroup of AML patients showed a greater susceptibility to chloroquine, and using hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified 99 genes upregulated in this patient subgroup, including several genes related to leukemogenesis. The combination of chloroquine with low-dose cytarabine had an additive inhibitory effect on AML cell proliferation. Finally, a minority of patients showed increased extracellular constitutive mediator release in the presence of chloroquine, which was associated with strong antiproliferative effects of chloroquine as well as cytarabine. We conclude that chloroquine has antileukemic activity and should be further explored as a therapeutic drug against AML in combination with other cytotoxic or metabolic drugs; however, due to the patient heterogeneity, chloroquine therapy will probably be effective only for selected patients.
Special Issue “Security Threats and Countermeasures in Cyber-Physical Systems”
Authors: Hammoudeh Mohammad , Watters Paul , Epiphaniou Gregory , Kayes A. S. M. , Pinto Pedro
Published: August 2021

Wireless, sensor and actuator technologies are often central to sensing or communication critical systems [...]
Overseas Support in the Field of Vascular Access
Authors: Naganuma Toshihide , Hyodo Toru , Hanaoka Ako , Takemoto Yoshiaki , Uchida Junji
Published: August 2021

Since joining the Non-Governmental Organization Ubiquitous Blood Purification International in 2014, professionals who are mainly members of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) have worked toward promoting dialysis therapy in several countries through help with organization of local nephrology societies and conducting educational activities. Since 2016, training at our hospital has been provided for doctors and dialysis staff from these countries as part of the activities of the JSDT. These activities also involve technical training for vascular access (VA) surgery and management. To date, lectures and practical teaching on VA procedures have been given in Cambodia and Vietnam, and a hands-on seminar on echo-guided puncture and VA management was held in Mongolia. In Mongolia and Myanmar, a plan to provide systemic VA surgery education has been developed, at the request of local nephrology societies. Doctors and medical staff from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal and Indonesia have visited our hospital and have observed operations as part of their training. To achieve sustainable medical support and academic activities, we have found it to be important to have a counterpart society in each country, and guidance has been provided when required on organization of a national nephrology society.
The Impact of SNCA Variations and Its Product Alpha-Synuclein on Non-Motor Features of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Magistrelli Luca , Contaldi Elena , Comi Cristoforo
Published: August 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common and progressive neurodegenerative disease, caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta in the midbrain, which is clinically characterized by a constellation of motor and non-motor manifestations. The latter include hyposmia, constipation, depression, pain and, in later stages, cognitive decline and dysautonomia. The main pathological features of PD are neuronal loss and consequent accumulation of Lewy bodies (LB) in the surviving neurons. Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is the main component of LB, and α-syn aggregation and accumulation perpetuate neuronal degeneration. Mutations in the α-syn gene (SNCA) were the first genetic cause of PD to be identified. Generally, patients carrying SNCA mutations present early-onset parkinsonism with severe and early non-motor symptoms, including cognitive decline. Several SNCA polymorphisms were also identified, and some of them showed association with non-motor manifestations. The functional role of these polymorphisms is only partially understood. In this review we explore the contribution of SNCA and its product, α-syn, in predisposing to the non-motor manifestations of PD.
Recent Advances in the Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks
Authors: Vigneswari Sevakumaran , Noor Muhammad Shahrul Md , Amelia Tan Suet May , Balakrishnan Karthnee , Adnan Azila , Bhubalan Kesaven , Amirul Al-Ashraf Abdullah , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: August 2021

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable polymers that are considered able to replace synthetic plastic because their biochemical characteristics are in some cases the same as other biodegradable polymers. However, due to the disadvantages of costly and non-renewable carbon sources, the production of PHA has been lower in the industrial sector against conventional plastics. At the same time, first-generation sugar-based cultivated feedstocks as substrates for PHA production threatens food security and considerably require other resources such as land and energy. Therefore, attempts have been made in pursuit of suitable sustainable and affordable sources of carbon to reduce production costs. Thus, in this review, we highlight utilising waste lignocellulosic feedstocks (LF) as a renewable and inexpensive carbon source to produce PHA. These waste feedstocks, second-generation plant lignocellulosic biomass, such as maize stoves, dedicated energy crops, rice straws, wood chips, are commonly available renewable biomass sources with a steady supply of about 150 billion tonnes per year of global yield. The generation of PHA from lignocellulose is still in its infancy, hence more screening of lignocellulosic materials and improvements in downstream processing and substrate pre-treatment are needed in the future to further advance the biopolymer sector.
Analysis and Control of Vibrations of a Cartesian Cutting Machine Using an Equivalent Robotic Model
Authors: Bottin Matteo , Cipriani Giulio , Tommasino Domenico , Doria Alberto
Published: August 2021

The vibrations of a Cartesian cutting machine caused by the pneumatic tool are studied with a sub-system approach. The cutting head is modeled as an equivalent robot arm which is able to mimic the measured resonances. The Cartesian structure is modeled according to the mode superposition approach. A global analytical model is obtained coupling the aforementioned models, and is solved in MATLAB. The full model is able to predict the variations in the response of the machine to tool excitation that are caused by the motion of the head along the rails of the Cartesian structure. Comparisons with experimental results are made.
Modelling Interaction Effects by Using Extended WOE Variables with Applications to Credit Scoring
Authors: Giner-Baixauli Carlos , Rodríguez Juan Tinguaro , Álvaro-Meca Alejandro , Vélez Daniel
Published: August 2021

The term credit scoring refers to the application of formal statistical tools to support or automate loan-issuing decision-making processes. One of the most extended methodologies for credit scoring include fitting logistic regression models by using WOE explanatory variables, which are obtained through the discretization of the original inputs by means of classification trees. However, this Weight of Evidence (WOE)-based methodology encounters some difficulties in order to model interactions between explanatory variables. In this paper, an extension of the WOE-based methodology for credit scoring is proposed that allows constructing a new kind of WOE variable devised to capture interaction effects. Particularly, these new WOE variables are obtained through the simultaneous discretization of pairs of explanatory variables in a single classification tree. Moreover, the proposed extension of the WOE-based methodology can be complemented as usual by balance scorecards, which enable explaining why individual loans are granted or not granted from the fitted logistic models. Such explainability of loan decisions is essential for credit scoring and even more so by taking into account the recent law developments, e.g., the European Union’s GDPR. An extensive computational study shows the feasibility of the proposed approach that also enables the improvement of the predicitve capability of the standard WOE-based methodology.
Application of Amorphous Zirconium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Magnesium-Oxide Thin Film with a High Relative Dielectric Constant Prepared by Spin-Coating
Authors: Yang Huiyun , Liang Zhihao , Fu Xiao , Xu Zhuohui , Ning Honglong , Liu Xianzhe , Lin Jiajing , Pan Yaru , Yao Rihui , Peng Junbiao
Published: August 2021

Amorphous metal oxide has been a popular choice for thin film material in recent years due to its high uniformity. The dielectric layer is one of the core materials of the thin film transistor (TFT), and it affects the ability of charges storage in TFT. There is a conflict between a high relative dielectric constant and a wide band gap, so we solved this problem by using multiple metals to increase the entropy of the system. In this paper, we prepared zirconium-yttrium-aluminum-magnesium-oxide (ZYAMO) dielectric layers with a high relative dielectric constant using the solution method. The basic properties of ZYAMO films were measured by an atomic force microscope (AFM), an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), etc. It was observed that ZYAMO thin films had a larger optical band when the annealing temperature increased. Then, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) devices were fabricated to measure the electrical properties. We found that the leakage current density of the device is relatively lower and the ZYAMO thin film had a higher relative dielectric constant as the concentration went up. Finally, it reached a high relative dielectric constant of 56.09, while the leakage current density was no higher than 1.63 × 10−6 A/cm2@ 0.5 MV/cm at 1.0 M and 400 °C. Therefore, the amorphous ZYAMO thin films has a great application in the field of high permittivity request devices in the future.
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Safety Review of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Authors: Oketch-Rabah Hellen A. , Madden Emily F. , Roe Amy L. , Betz Joseph M.
Published: August 2021

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is marketed in the U.S. as a dietary supplement. USP conducted a comprehensive safety evaluation of GABA by assessing clinical studies, adverse event information, and toxicology data. Clinical studies investigated the effect of pure GABA as a dietary supplement or as a natural constituent of fermented milk or soy matrices. Data showed no serious adverse events associated with GABA at intakes up to 18 g/d for 4 days and in longer studies at intakes of 120 mg/d for 12 weeks. Some studies showed that GABA was associated with a transient and moderate drop in blood pressure (<10% change). No studies were available on effects of GABA during pregnancy and lactation, and no case reports or spontaneous adverse events associated with GABA were found. Chronic administration of GABA to rats and dogs at doses up to 1 g/kg/day showed no signs of toxicity. Because some studies showed that GABA was associated with decreases in blood pressure, it is conceivable that concurrent use of GABA with anti-hypertensive medications could increase risk of hypotension. Caution is advised for pregnant and lactating women since GABA can affect neurotransmitters and the endocrine system, i.e., increases in growth hormone and prolactin levels.
Correction: Zia, H. Enhanced Pulse Compression within Sign-Alternating Dispersion Waveguides. Photonics 2021, 8, 50
Authors: Zia Haider
Published: August 2021

Error in Figure 2 [...]
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia
Authors: Meyer Rachelle , Sinnett Alexandria , Perera Ruchika , Cullen Brendan , Malcolm Bill , Eckard Richard J.
Published: August 2021

Declines in growing-season rainfall and increases in the frequency of heatwaves in southern Australia necessitate effective adaptation. The Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture Model (SGS) was used to model the growth of three pasture species differing in root depth and root distribution under three different climate scenarios at two sites. The modelled metabolisable energy intake (in MJ) was used in a partial discounted net cash flow budget. Both the biophysical and economic modelling suggest that deep roots were advantageous in all climate scenarios at the long growing season site but provided no to little advantage at the short growing season site, likely due to the deep-rooted species drying out the soil profile earlier. In scenarios including climate change, the DM production of the deep-rooted species at the long growing season site averaged 386 kg/ha/year more than the more shallow-rooted species, while at the site with a shorter growing season it averaged 205 kg/ha/year less than the shallower-rooted species. The timing of the extra growth and pasture persistence strongly influenced the extent of the benefit. At the short growing season site other adaptation options such as summer dormancy will likely be necessary.
A Parallel Processing Approach to Dynamic Simulation of Ethylbenzene Process
Authors: Zhang Junkai , Liu Zhongqi , Du Zengzhi , Wang Jianhong
Published: August 2021

Parallel computing has been developed for many years in chemical process simulation. However, existing research on parallel computing in dynamic simulation cannot take full advantage of computer performance. More and more applications of data-driven methods and increasing complexity in chemical processes need faster dynamic simulators. In this research, we discuss the upper limit of speed-up for dynamic simulation of the chemical process. Then we design a parallel program considering the process model solving sequence and rewrite the General dynamic simulation & optimization system (DSO) with two levels of parallelism, multithreading parallelism and vectorized parallelism. The dependency between subtasks and the characteristic of the hottest subroutines are analyzed. Finally, the accelerating effect of the parallel simulator is tested based on a 500 kt·a−1 ethylbenzene process simulation. A 5-hour process simulation shows that the highest speed-up ratio to the original program is 261%, and the simulation finished in 70.98 s wall clock time.
How to Measure the Urban Park Cooling Island? A Perspective of Absolute and Relative Indicators Using Remote Sensing and Buffer Analysis
Authors: Zhu Wenhao , Sun Jiabin , Yang Chaobin , Liu Min , Xu Xinliang , Ji Caoxiang
Published: August 2021

Urban parks have been proven to cool the surrounding environment, and can thus mitigate the urban heat island to an extent by forming a park cooling island. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of park cooling islands is still required. Therefore, we studied 32 urban parks in Jinan, China and proposed absolute and relative indicators to depict the detailed features of the park cooling island. High-spatial-resolution GF-2 images were used to obtain the land cover of parks, and Landsat 8 TIR images were used to examine the thermal environment by applying buffer analysis. Linear statistical models were developed to explore the relationships between park characteristics and the park cooling island. The results showed that the average land surface temperature (LST) of urban parks was approximately 3.6 °C lower than that of the study area, with the largest temperature difference of 7.84 °C occurring during summer daytime, while the average park cooling area was approximately 120.68 ha. The park cooling island could be classified into four categories—regular, declined, increased, and others—based on the changing features of the surrounding LSTs. Park area (PA), park perimeter (PP), water area proportion (WAP), and park shape index (PSI) were significantly negatively correlated with the park LST. We also found that WAP, PP, and greenness (characterized by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) were three important factors that determined the park cooling island. However, the relationship between PA and the park cooling island was complex, as the results indicated that only parks larger than a threshold size (20 ha in our study) would provide a larger cooling effect with the increase in park size. In this case, increasing the NDVI of the parks by planting more vegetation would be a more sustainable and effective solution to form a stronger park cooling island.
Matrix SegNet: A Practical Deep Learning Framework for Landslide Mapping from Images of Different Areas with Different Spatial Resolutions
Authors: Yu Bo , Chen Fang , Xu Chong , Wang Lei , Wang Ning
Published: August 2021

Practical landslide inventory maps covering large-scale areas are essential in emergency response and geohazard analysis. Recently proposed techniques in landslide detection generally focused on landslides in pure vegetation backgrounds and image radiometric correction. There are still challenges in regard to robust methods that automatically detect landslides from images with multiple platforms and without radiometric correction. It is a significant issue in practical application. In order to detect landslides from images over different large-scale areas with different spatial resolutions, this paper proposes a two-branch Matrix SegNet to semantically segment input images by change detection. The Matrix SegNet learns landslide features in multiple scales and aspect ratios. The pre- and post- event images are captured directly from Google Earth, without radiometric correction. To evaluate the proposed framework, we conducted landslide detection in four study areas with two different spatial resolutions. Moreover, two other widely used frameworks: U-Net and SegNet, were adapted to detect landslides via the same data by change detection. The experiments show that our model improves the performance largely in terms of recall, precision, F1-score, and IOU. It is a good starting point to develop a practical, deep learning landslide detection framework for large scale application, using images from different areas, with different spatial resolutions.
Variabilities in PM2.5 and Black Carbon Surface Concentrations Reproduced by Aerosol Optical Properties Estimated by In-Situ Data, Ground Based Remote Sensing and Modeling
Authors: Damiani Alessandro , Irie Hitoshi , Yamaguchi Kodai , Hoque Hossain Mohammed Syedul , Nakayama Tomoki , Matsumi Yutaka , Kondo Yutaka , Da Silva Arlindo
Published: August 2021

Because of the increased temporal and spatial resolutions of the sensors onboard recently launched satellites, satellite-based surface aerosol concentration, which is usually estimated from the aerosol optical depth (AOD), is expected to become a strategic tool for air quality studies in the future. By further exploring the relationships of aerosol concentrations and their optical properties using ground observations, the accuracies of these products can be improved. Here, we analyzed collocated observations of surface mass concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC), as well as columnar aerosol optical properties from a sky radiometer and aerosol extinction profiles obtained by multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS), during the 2019–2020 period. We focused the analyses on a daily scale, emphasizing the role of the ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. Generally, the correlation between the AOD of the fine fraction (i.e., fAOD) and the PM2.5 surface concentration was moderately strong, regardless of considerations of boundary layer humidity and altitude. In contrast, the fAOD of the partial column below 1 km, which was obtained by combining sky radiometer and MAX-DOAS retrievals, better reproduced the variability of the PM2.5 and resulted in a linear relationship. In the same manner, we demonstrated that the absorption AOD of the fine fraction (fAAOD) of the partial column was related to the variability of the BC concentration. Analogous analyses based on aerosol products from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) confirmed these findings and highlighted the importance of the shape of the aerosol profile. Overall, our results indicated a remarkable consistency among the retrieved datasets, and between the datasets and MERRA-2 products. These results confirmed the well-known sensitivity to aerosol absorption in the UV spectral region; they also highlighted the efficacy of combined MAX-DOAS and sky radiometer observations.
Impact of Express Delivery Industry’s Development on Transportation Sector’s Carbon Emissions: An Empirical Analysis from China
Authors: Zhao Chang , Zhou Boya
Published: August 2021

In recent years, China’s express delivery industry has developed rapidly. According to a rough estimate in this paper, carbon emissions caused by express parcel transportation in China account for 1/7 of the transportation sector’s carbon emissions. However, considering the possibility of a scale effect, it is unclear whether the express delivery industry’s development will inevitably lead to more carbon emissions. Therefore, this paper uses the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2008 to 2017 to explore the complex relationship between the express delivery industry’s development and the transportation sector’s carbon emissions, and also conducts regional heterogeneity analysis. The main findings are as follows: (1) There is a significant U-shaped relationship between per capita express delivery amounts and the transportation sector’s CO2 emissions, especially in the Central region. (2) At the national level, the number of per capita postal outlets significantly promotes the transportation sector’s CO2 emissions. (3) The impact caused by the number of per capita postal workers varies regionally. Increasing postal worker numbers in the Western region can significantly reduce carbon emissions, while the result in the Central region is the opposite. (4) The Express Comprehensive Development Index (ECDI) has a significant U-shaped effect on the transportation sector’s carbon emissions at the national and sub-regional level.
An Evaluation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt Manufacturing Industry Level of Intelligentization and Influencing Factors: Evidence from China
Authors: Tang Decai , Wang Luxia , Bethel Brandon J.
Published: August 2021

Over recent decades, the application of artificial intelligence methods in manufacturing has led to new spheres of research such as the Internet of Things, Cyber–Physical Systems, and Cloud Computing and Big Data, leading to the so-called Industry 4.0. However, to date, little research has been geared towards assessing the factors that influence intelligent manufacturing on a regional scale. Addressing this problem, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) intelligent manufacturing sector using eleven years (2008–2018) of provincial panel data. The entropy method is applied to three evaluation criteria, namely intelligent innovation, equipment, and profit, to construct an evaluation index system. An analysis of the results revealed that the level intelligentization of the manufacturing industry of the YREB increases yearly, and that intelligent innovations are notably occurring at a faster rate than profits. Disproportional enterprise returns on investment have occurred, which decreases enterprise motivation to be innovative in the first place. Additionally, it was also observed that FDI, financial development, government intervention, and the level of opening-up were the primary factors modulating regional intelligent manufacturing levels.
How Does the Family Influence the Process of Transition to Adulthood? A Comparative Study of Young People with and without Family Ties in Spain
Authors: Cano-López Leticia , De la Fuente-Robles Yolanda María , Fuentes Virginia , Aranda María , Espinilla-Estévez Macarena
Published: August 2021

The transition to adulthood is a process that brings childhood to an end and turns the individual into a young adult. This process is characterised by the acquisition of new roles for young people, roles linked to the development of personal autonomy that culminate in their emotional and functional independence. The aim of this study was to ascertain how young people with family ties and youths without family support perceive and understand their emancipation process. The study also sought to identify the extent to which family provides support during the emancipation process. The research design was qualitative and used the focus group technique for data collection. The total sample consisted of 12 participants (seven males and five females) with an average age of 18. Five of them were minors in the custody of the State, and seven were young adults in a regular family environment. The information collected was analysed using Atlas.ti software. The results highlighted the existence of difficulties and barriers among young people (with and without family ties) related to psychological problems, difficulties in choosing training, finding a job and, in short, emancipation. However, young people with healthy social ties and family stability during their childhood had more support for an effective transition to independent adulthood compared to young people without family ties.
Characterization of Ionic Exchange and Macroporous Resins for Their Application on the Separation and Recovery of Chlorogenic Acid from the Wastewater of Artichoke Blanching
Authors: Rodriguez-Lopez Antonio D. , Reig Milagro , Mayor Luis , Ortiz-Climent Mireia , Garcia-Castello Esperanza M.
Published: August 2021

Food wastes have traditionally been considered as dead-end materials; however, recent international, national, and regional policies strongly promote the use of these wastes as potential resources. This change of perception considers the need for sustainable exploitation of natural resources. In this context, artichoke processing produces high amounts of wastewaters, and specifically, wastewaters from the artichoke blanching step present a high content of valuable biocomponents such as carbohydrates and phenolic compounds (e.g., chlorogenic acid, 1700 ppm). In this work, the recovery of chlorogenic acid by applying sorption processes was studied. Five resins were tested, and it was found that the resin XAD 7 HP presented the best total adsorption-desorption yield (72.8%) at 20 °C. It was also found that there was a strong variation of the adsorption ratio depending on solution pH (3–7). Four models of isotherms were applied to the adsorption processes, and the Langmuir isotherm better explained the adsorption behavior. The kinetic study showed that the adsorption and desorption of chlorogenic acid followed a pseudo-second order model where the kinetic constant depended on the adsorbate concentration. In addition, it was found that the sorption process was controlled by more than just the intraparticle diffusion mechanism.
Difficulties for Teleworking of Public Employees in the Spanish Public Administration
Authors: Ortiz-Lozano José María , Martínez-Morán Pedro César , Fernández-Muñoz Iván
Published: August 2021

This paper studies the extent to which difficulties in teleworking continue to be encountered by civil servants of the Spanish General State Administration (AGE) who, after the mandatory lockdown decreed by the Spanish Government from March to May 2020, continue to carry out their work under this modality. The results obtained support that the main difficulties are the acquisition of bad posture and problems in separating work and family life, and the presence of different types of difficulties differs depending on gender, the structure of the household, or whether the employee belongs to the levels of positions where higher qualification is required. In addition, ambiguity is expressed regarding the provision of resources and lack of training provided by the AGE.
Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study
Authors: Baena-Moreno Francisco M. , Malico Isabel , Marques Isabel Paula
Published: August 2021

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in Évora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO2, the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO2, a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages.
ESG Rating—Necessity for the Investor or the Company?
Authors: Zumente Ilze , Lāce Nataļja
Published: August 2021

With the rise of responsible investments, the demand for non-financial data has multiplied. Even for those companies who have obtained an environmental, social and governance (ESG) assessment, the scores issued by rating agencies tend to depict differing pictures of the sustainability performance. First, this article explores the approaches employed by different ESG rating providers. Next, it aims to evaluate the availability and correlation of multiple third-party ratings awarded to companies that are stock-listed on European stock exchanges. Finally, an independent t-test analysis is performed to explore whether the lack of ESG rating availability in the region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has a negative impact on stock’s trading volume and returns. The results suggest substantial divergence in the ratings awarded to the European companies; therefore, companies should pay attention to the methodologies and practices applied by differing agencies to make sure that their efforts are appropriately evaluated, while investors should bear in mind the correlation coefficient of only 0.58 between the two most popular ESG ratings. The analysis on CEE companies shows significant differences in the trading volume between companies that have been awarded an ESG rating and those that have not, implying the importance of the ESG score not only for the investors but also for the companies.
Sustainable Business Model and Corporate Performance: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Orientation and Management Accounting Control in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Al-Baghdadi Enas Nadher , Alrub Ahmad Abu , Rjoub Husam
Published: August 2021

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of management accounting control systems (MACS) and sustainable innovations orientation (SIO) in the relationship between business model innovations (BMI) and overall corporate performance. A total of 355 managers drawn from different types of manufacturing firms in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) participated in the study, and the collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the structural model with the aid of Smart PLS 3. The findings from the study revealed that BMI does not directly influence SIO but has an indirect effect through MACS. Moreover, this study revealed that MACS mediate the relationship between BMI and financial performance. In addition, the argument that SIO influences overall corporate per-formance was supported with our findings. Finally, it was established in this study that MACS and SIO partially mediate the relationship between BMI and environmental performance as well as BMI and employee performance.
Intrinsic and Spiritual Dimensions of Water at the Local Scale, and the Disconnect with International Institutions
Authors: Porta Erica Lynn , Wolf Aaron T.
Published: August 2021

Local and indigenous populations the world over ascribe deeply and explicitly spiritual attributes to water. Springs, wells, and rivers are the homes of deities, have divine healing powers, and enhance processes of spiritual transformation. These attributes are rarely expressed in global declarations related to sustainable water management and are found only implicitly in a handful of international water treaties. This paper uses a multi-scalar lens to identify areas of disconnect between community-specific intrinsic and spiritual dimensions of water, regional management institutions or international agreements, and global conventions. The scale-based structure of the article highlights the systems-based connections, and disconnections, from global to local-scopes of dimensions of water enshrined in different institutions.
Evaluation of (Z)-5-(Azulen-1-ylmethylene)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones Properties Using Quantum Mechanical Calculations
Authors: Vasile (Corbei) Alina-Alexandra , Ungureanu Eleonora-Mihaela , Stanciu Gabriela , Cristea Mihaela , Stefaniu Amalia
Published: August 2021

Derivatives of (Z)-5-(azulen-1-ylmethylene)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one are reported as heavy metal (HM) ligands in heterogeneous systems based on chemically modified electrodes. Their ability to coordinate HMs ions has recently been shown to be very selective. In this context, an additional computer-assisted study of their structure was performed using density functional theory (DFT) to achieve a complex structural analysis. Specific molecular descriptors and properties related to their reactivity and electrochemical behaviour were calculated. The correlation between certain quantum parameters associated with the general chemical reactivity and the complexing properties of the modified electrodes based on these ligands was carried out to facilitate the design of molecular sensors. Good linear correlations between DFT-calculated HOMO/LUMO energies and experimental redox potentials were found. A good agreement between the chemical shifts predicted by the DFT method and those determined experimentally from NMR data for these ligands demonstrated the accuracy of the calculations to assess the structural data. Such a computational approach can be used to evaluate other properties, such as electrochemical properties for similar azulene derivatives.
SHARED: An International Collaboration to Unravel Hepatitis C Resistance
Authors: Howe Anita Y.M. , Ceccherini-Silberstein Francesca , Dietz Julia , Popping Stephanie , Grebely Jason , Rodrigo Chaturaka , Lennerstrand Johan , Douglas Mark W. , Parczewsk Milosz , Harrigan P. Richard , Pawlotsky Jean-Michel , Garcia Federico , Collaborators SHARED
Published: August 2021

The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has transformed the treatment landscape of hepatitis C [...]
Labor productivity growth factors
Authors: Hamid Niazi
Published: August 2021

The modern strategy of economic development of Russia, which is aimed at restructuring the economy, requires, first of all, the search for new and improvement of existing ways of increasing labor productivity at any domestic enterprise. That is why the issues of creating effective motives and incentives for increasing labor productivity as an important tool for the development of an industrial enterprise are relevant.
Reincorporación laboral como medida de amparo constitucional en Bolivia en la reparación al daño moral
Authors: Díaz Antequera Claudia Rissel
Published: August 2021

La pertinencia del estudio radica en la carencia de una herramienta adecuada para efectivizar la reparación de daños de carácter extrapatrimonial, en materia laboral, asimismo, la presente tesis resulta innovadora debido a la inexistencia de alguna acción para reclamar la reparación del daño moral, en casos de reincorporación. El objetivo fue analizar la doctrina de reparación integral del daño, poniendo especial énfasis en la rehabilitación en caso de reincorporación laboral a través de la acción de amparo constitucional. Se trató de un estudio cualitativo interpretativo bajo el diseño documental y de campo, como instrumento se usó el cuestionario usando la técnica de la entrevista mediante plataforma electrónica. De lo desarrollado, se infiere que el Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional TCP, tiene el deber de aplicar los criterios establecidos por la CIDH, referidos a la reparación integral de daño, en la emisión de sus sentencias, resultando necesario operar la rehabilitación como medida de reparación.
Uso, promoción y difusión del derecho de autor de música folclórica
Authors: Serrudo Terrazas Jhoselin
Published: August 2021

La investigación tuvo como objetivo principal analizar el uso, promoción y difusión del derecho de autor de música folclórica en Bolivia. Por lo que se usó una metodología de tipo descriptivo, con un diseño documental de campo, a su vez se usó un enfoque cualitativo y cualitativo, se utilizó los métodos histórico-lógico y análisis-síntesis. Por otro lado, la técnica e instrumentos que se usaron fueron el estudio documental, encuesta, y consultas a expertos. Además la investigación contó con una población de 200 personas relacionadas con derecho de autor. A su vez, se asumió como muestra la totalidad de la población. Se obtuvo como resultado que el folklore boliviano requiere de una política de seguridad que emerja del Estado. Y se concluyó que no existe una adecuada protección de los derechos de autores y compositores de música folclórica boliviana.
Reparación del daño moral con base en los lineamientos de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Authors: León Gutiérrez Paola Karen
Published: August 2021

La reparación del daño moral está tipificada en las leyes de Bolivia; sin embargo, existe un vacío en el direccionamiento y criterios específicos que definan la determinación y cuantificación de este tipo de daño, lo que genera la necesidad de desarrollar criterios para abordar de forma sistemática los casos de daño moral. Al respecto la Corte Interamericana de los Derechos Humanos (CIDH) posee unos lineamientos para sistematizar los procesos referidos al daño moral. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo desarrollar un Sistema metodológico de reparación del daño moral, con base en los lineamientos de la CIDH, que permita a los Jueces en Materia Civil, garantizar la protección de derechos de los sujetos procesales. Es una investigación proyectiva de diseño mixto. La población estuvo constituida por 14 Jueces especialistas en materia Civil y Comercial y 4 vocales de las Salas Civiles. La técnica utilizada fue la encuesta y el instrumento un cuestionario para diagnosticar la necesidad, la utilidad y la aceptación de la propuesta. Se puede concluir que no existe una herramienta jurídica que facilite a los Juzgadores la aplicación directa estándares internacionales sobre reparación de daño con base en los lineamientos de la CIDH.