bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction and Stability Assessment of Soft Foundation Settlement of the Fishbone-Shaped Dike Near the Estuary of the Yangtze River Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Zhu Mingcheng , Li Shouqian , Wei Xianglong , Wang Peng
Published: March 2021

Fishbone-shaped dikes are always built on the soft soil submerged in the water, and the soft foundation settlement plays a key role in the stability of these dikes. In this paper, a novel and simple approach was proposed to predict the soft foundation settlement of fishbone dikes by using the extreme learning machine. The extreme learning machine is a single-hidden-layer feedforward network with high regression and classification prediction accuracy. The data-driven settlement prediction models were built based on a small training sample size with a fast learning speed. The simulation results showed that the proposed methods had good prediction performances by facilitating comparisons of the measured data and the predicted data. Furthermore, the final settlement of the dike was predicted by using the models, and the stability of the soft foundation of the fishbone-shaped dikes was assessed based on the simulation results of the proposed model. The findings in this paper suggested that the extreme learning machine method could be an effective tool for the soft foundation settlement prediction and assessment of the fishbone-shaped dikes.
Understanding the Impact of ESG Practices in Corporate Finance
Authors: Kim Sang , Li Zhichuan (Frank)
Published: March 2021

This study examines the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and corporate financial performance. Specifically, we study various individual ESG categories, both ESG strengths and concerns, and aggregate ESG factor and their impact on corporate financial performance including profitability and financial risk. We find a positive effect of ESG factors on corporate profitability, and the effect is more pronounced for larger firms. Among different ESG categories, corporate governance has the most significant impact, particularly for firms with weak governance. We also find that ESG variables generally have a positive influence on credit rating. In particular, the social factor has the most significant impact on credit rating, while environmental score surprisingly has a negative effect. Overall, this research provides a rationale for ESG integration in the context of investment management and portfolio construction to maximize value and minimize risk.
Green Technology Investment in a Decentralized Supply Chain under Demand Uncertainty
Authors: Wang Cong , Zou Zongbao , Geng Shidao
Published: March 2021

Green technology investment is an important factor that influences the sustainability and performance of the supply chain. In this paper, we use the game-theoretic approach, which is quite suitable to operation decision research, to model a supply chain consisting of one supplier and one retailer and discuss who should invest in green technology in a decentralized supply chain under demand uncertainty. An important result we found is that the retailer has a stronger investment motivation and higher investment efficiency compared to the supplier. The retailer also tends to invest in green technology himself when customers are not so sensitive to the product’s retail price. We analyze the supply chain sustainability, and find that high levels of green technology investments are not always necessarily good for environmental sustainability, it depends on the environmental impact’s sensitivity to green technology. Lastly, a joint investment mechanism is designed to induce the retailer to join in the green technology investment when he has no investment intention, and that realizes a Pareto improvement of the supply chain. Based on the results, we recommend designing more incentive mechanisms to induce the retailers to join in the green technology investment according to supply chain conditions.
An Ecosystem Innovation Framework: Assessing Mobility as a Service in Budapest
Authors: Roumboutsos Athena , Pagoni Ioanna , Tsirimpa Athena , Polydoropoulou Amalia
Published: March 2021

Smart Mobility and the introduction of innovation in the complex and dynamic actor ecosystem of urban transport is faced with the need to manage change in order to secure sustainability and protect against negative externalities. The present contribution provides decision-makers with a tool to assess innovation strategies and monitor change over time. The proposed EcoSystem Innovation Framework (ESIF) is applied to a flagship innovation: Mobility as a Service (MaaS). The application concerns the City of Budapest, a location with highly-utilized resources and low car ownership, in contrast to other locations where MaaS is implemented. The ESIF is constructed through qualitative research (stakeholder workshops, interviews, document collection and analysis) for three (3) points in time: Summer 2018; Summer 2019 and end of 2020 (first year of the COVID-19 pandemic). The ESIF analysis was able to guide decision-makers and highlight potential future trends demonstrating the potential of the ESIF framework. For the City of Budapest, the ESIF highlighted the delicate balance in the promotion of MaaS, as the dichotomy between public and private on-demand mobility may trigger a negative modal shift. The COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced this potential. Despite public sector efforts, market opportunity has surfaced leading to contrasting interests in the ecosystem.
Research on the Environmental Effect of Green Finance Policy Based on the Analysis of Pilot Zones for Green Finance Reform and Innovations
Authors: Huang Haifeng , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2021

In this study, taking the pilot zones for green finance reform and innovations set up in 2017 as the objects, a quasi-natural experiment is conducted to assess the environmental effects of green finance policy using the difference-in-difference propensity score matching (PSM-DID) method based on the panel data in 30 provincial-level administrative regions from 2011 to 2019. In addition, further efforts are made to investigate the differences of green financial policies in environmental effect. According to the research findings, the set-up of green finance pilot zones can reduce the environmental pollution, and green finance policy is conductive to environmental enhancement. Meanwhile, a partial mediating effect exists between a region’s innovation capability and industrial structure. On the whole, green finance policy plays the most significant role in improving the eastern region’s environmental pollution, followed by the central region, but barely enhances the environment in the western region. To sum up, the more serious the environmental pollution is, the better the effect of green finance policy.
Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Chinese Time-Honored Catering Brands in the Five Northwestern Provinces
Authors: Zhang Haiyan , Sun Meiping , Zhang Hao , Zhang Lei , Wang Zhilan
Published: March 2021

The Chinese Time-honored Catering Brands (CTCBs) in the five northwestern provinces are the accumulation of culture in the northwest of China and have precious value. Their formation and development process have their own characteristics and rules. In order to clarify the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of CTCBs in these provinces, this study uses geolocated social media data (the data of the CTCBs’ directory, location, and per capita consumption level), and applies statistical analysis, kernel density analysis, standard deviational ellipse, and buffer analysis to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of CTCBs in the five northwestern provinces. The results show that: (1) the spatial development intensity of CTCBs is relatively strong in their original place, and their spatial distribution is uneven. The overall distribution is in the northwest-southeast direction, with strong agglomeration, and tends to be scattered in the periphery of the agglomeration area. There are some areas with higher concentrations distributed in the form of patches. (2) The number and spatial distribution of old brands with different grades and tastes have different characteristics. (3) The spatial distribution pattern of CTCBs is formed under a variety of factors, such as historical and traditional culture, regional traffic conditions and urban development patterns, etc.
A Wind-Storage Combined Frequency Regulation Control Strategy Based on Improved Torque Limit Control
Authors: Hu Benxi , Tang Fei , Liu Dichen , Li Yu , Wei Xiaoqing
Published: March 2021

The doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) uses the rotor’s kinetic energy to provide inertial response for the power system. On this basis, this paper proposes an improved torque limit control (ITLC) strategy for the purpose of exploiting the potential of DFIGs’ inertial response. It includes the deceleration phase and acceleration phase. To shorten the recovery time of the rotor speed and avoid the second frequency drop (SFD), a small-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) is utilized by the wind-storage combined control strategy. During the acceleration phase of DFIG, the BESS adaptively adjusts its output according to its state of charge (SOC) and the real-time output of the DFIG. The simulation results prove that the system frequency response can be significantly improved through ITLC and the wind-storage combined control under different wind speeds and different wind power penetration rates.
A Detailed Forecast of the Technologies Based on Lifecycle Analysis of GMAW and CMT Welding Processes
Authors: Oliveira André Souza , Santos Raphael Oliveira dos , Silva Bruno Caetano dos Santos , Guarieiro Lilian Lefol Nani , Angerhausen Matthias , Reisgen Uwe , Sampaio Renelson Ribeiro , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Droguett Enrique López , Silva Paulo Henrique Ferreira da , Coelho Rodrigo Santiago
Published: March 2021

In this study, GMAW and CMT welding technologies were evaluated in terms of their technological lifecycles based on their patent datasets together with the S-curve concept, and the joints were evaluated in terms of their welding characteristics. To predict the future trends for both technologies, different models based on the time-series and growth-curve methods were tested. From a process point of view, the results showed better performance and stability for the CMT process based on the heat input to the base material and the frequency of the short circuits. The temperature distribution in the sample revealed that the GMAW process delivers higher values and, consequently, greater heat transfer. Regarding the technological lifecycle, the analyses revealed that the CMT welding process, despite being recent, is already in its mature phase. Moreover, the GMAW welding process is positioned in the growth phase on the S-curve, indicating a possibility of advancement. The main findings indicated that through mathematical modelling, it is possible to predict, in a precise way, the inflection points and the maturity phases of each technology and chart their trends with expert opinions. The new perspectives for analysing maturity levels and welding characteristics presented herein will be essential for a broaden decision-making market process.
Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults Who Regularly Exercise
Authors: Esain Izaro , Gil Susana María , Duñabeitia Iratxe , Rodriguez-Larrad Ana , Bidaurrazaga-Letona Iraia
Published: March 2021

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of social distancing on physical activity (PA) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in active Spanish older adults according to their physical functionality. The study included 58 older adults aged 76.24 ± 6.00 years who were enrolled in a supervised physical exercise program before the COVID-19 outbreak. Anthropometric, physical function, physical activity and HRQoL were measured at baseline (October 2019). After the two-month lockdown due to the COVID-19, questionnaires were collected again during de-escalation (May 2020). Participants were divided into high- (n = 29) and low-functionality (n = 29) groups. Total PA, walking and cleaning significantly decreased (p < 0.001) whilst exercising or dancing increased (p < 0.001). General health, social and emotional role functioning dimensions and overall mental component scores worsened (p < 0.01–p < 0.05). Low-functionality participants had significantly lower physical functioning scores at baseline (p < 0.01) and lower bodily pain scores at de-escalation (p < 0.01). Emotional role functioning dimension and overall mental component significantly decreased only in low-functionality participants (p < 0.05). Although PA levels decreased significantly, older adults continued being active regardless of their functionality. While mental HRQoL in participants with higher physical functionality remained unchanged, participants with lower functional capacity had a higher risk of mental health concerns. Therefore, attention should focus on strategies to mitigate the negative effects of distancing measures on older people’s mental health, especially in those with lower functionality.
A Study on the Impact of STEAM Education for Sustainable Development Courses and Its Effects on Student Motivation and Learning
Authors: Hsiao Peng-Wei , Su Chung-Ho
Published: March 2021

In 2019, the United Nations released its 10-year policy of “ESD for 2030”. Many schools around the world have actively participated in the transformation and have included the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Many developed countries hope to combine the concept of STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) with interdisciplinary learning, and apply it to ESD. This study intended to integrate the sustainability concept into Virtual Reality (VR) system-aided STEAM education, in order to provide school children with integrated interdisciplinary STEAM education. A literature review was conducted and the research hypotheses were proposed. The empirical method and questionnaires were used as research methods to investigate the influence of the proposed system on the students’ satisfaction, self-efficacy, and learning outcomes after cognition learning. The results of this study showed that the combination of STEAM education, with VR-aided experience courses, could help to improve the learning satisfaction and outcomes of students and to arouse their learning motivation. However, the proposed system needs an ESD that is based on students’ traditional culture (such as designing a role-playing game), so that they can improve their self-efficacy through playing a VR game. Although VR games are interesting, they are difficult for some students to play. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the teaching materials, methods, and strategies appropriately by using information technology, so that ESD can be achieved by inspiring students to explore continuously. The findings can serve as a reference for further relevant studies.
Value Proposition for Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery. A Retailer Perspective
Authors: Mangano Giulio , Zenezini Giovanni , Cagliano Anna Corinna
Published: March 2021

The sustainability of last-mile (LM) freight delivery is crucial to add value to the stakeholders in the distribution chain. However, its achievement is often hindered by a poor consideration of their needs by both literature and practice. The goal of this paper is to address the point of view of local retailers by exploring their needs about innovative LM delivery services and identifying sustainable value propositions (VP). A survey was submitted to retailers operating in the limited traffic zone of Torino (Italy). The survey data were analyzed by a factor analysis using a principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the factors. A correlation analysis was also conducted between the needs and selected contextual variables. The results show that retailers accept higher costs for more reliable deliveries and stock reduction. Retailers also correlate punctuality and flexibility because flexible and on-time deliveries allow for better inventory management, higher control, and, in turn, improved customer service level. This work is one of the first research attempts to quantify local retailers’ LM delivery needs and provides guidelines about how to design value-added logistics services. Moreover, from a practical point of view, the analysis shows the main VP that managers and practitioners should consider in the development of LM initiatives.
The Dark Side of Managing for the Long Run: Examining When Family Firms Create Value
Authors: Jin Kyuho , Lee Joowon , Hong Sung Min
Published: March 2021

Family firms take a substantial fraction of economic activities and significantly influence a nation’s economic sustainability. Despite the considerable amount of research efforts to determine their performance implications, there is still a lack of consensus. This study aims to address this dissensus in two ways. Theory-wise, we introduce two interdependent contingencies that interactively determine the relative strength of positive and negative effects of family involvement: inside chief executive officers (CEOs) and business fluctuations. Method-wise, we employ an advanced econometric technique, the system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, to control for endogeneity. Using panel data of Korean family firms listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) stock market during the periods between 2013 and 2016, we find (1) that family firms underperform non-family firms, (2) that the negative effect of family involvement decreases under the management of inside CEOs, and (3) that this positive moderation effect of inside CEOs decreases in the face of business fluctuations. This study furthers our understanding of how the family influences firm performance and, eventually, economic sustainability.
Planning the Rational Freight Vehicle Fleet Utilization Considering the Season Temperature Factor
Authors: Galkin Andrii , Olkhova Maria , Iwan Stanisław , Kijewska Kinga , Ostashevskyi Serhii , Lobashov Oleksii
Published: March 2021

Food product transportation is one of the most problematic tasks considering the specific expectations in the context of the transport conditions. It seems to be a significant challenge for the freight carriers’ decision-makers. The proper organization and management of that process is the basis for the appropriate fulfilment of the needs of customers, related, among others, to the proper quality of delivered products (such as freshness, expiration date, etc.). The additional challenge in this context is the efficient delivery at the city area, taking into account typical city transportation problems, such as congestion, narrow ways, lack of the unloading areas, etc. The role of these tasks is analyzed in this paper, on the basis of the chosen parameters and technologies of the transportation process. The purpose of this paper is to study the rational freight fleet formation in the case of changing the parameters of material flow in time. It was found that with the other unchanged parameters of material flow, the change in ambient temperature affects the technological process of transportation, the type of vehicle for its movement and the structure of the vehicle fleet. Accordingly, the types of vehicles (tent or insulated) necessary for the movement of certain material flows, which require special conditions for their transportation, have been determined, in compliance with the temperature regime and periods of their use. The organization scenarios of the transport service of the studied distribution processes were proposed, taking into consideration the change in conditions for the transportation of material flow, purchase of insulated semitrailers or their rent. The proposed versions were calculated and evaluated under the given conditions, and based on the net present value, the best of the proposed options was found: the purchase of one insulated semi-trailer while hiring the remaining insufficient insulated vehicles.
Public Perceived Effects of 2022 Winter Olympics on Host City Sustainability
Authors: Yeerkenbieke Gulijiazi , Chen Chunci , He Guizhen
Published: March 2021

Sustainability is now fully integrated into the entire life cycle of the Olympic Games. The planning, preparation, and staging of the Winter Olympics have opportunities to create a sustainable legacy for the host cities for decades. The tangible and/or intangible impacts of the Winter Olympics on the host city are multidimensional, including economic, social, and environmental aspects. However, there are still few studies on the multidimensional impact of the Winter Olympics on the sustainable development of the host city. This paper aims to investigate the effects of the 2022 Winter Olympics on host city sustainability from public perspective. Using a survey of 806 host residents in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the authors performed descriptive statistics and regression analysis to analyze the effects of the Winter Olympic Games on the city’s sustainable development. The Winter Olympic Games are divided into three stages, including the pre-game phase, in-game phase, and post-game phase, and the impacts cover three dimensions, including economic, social, and environmental aspects. The results show that the 2022 Winter Olympics integrate sustainability into the whole process of the Winter Olympics; the Winter Olympics have an important catalytic effect on the host city’s sustainable development.
Workforce Composition of Public R&D and Performance: Evidence from Korean Government-Funded Research Institutes
Authors: Han Sangyun , Park Soo Kyung , Kwak Kyu Tae
Published: March 2021

How do the organizational attributes of public R&D organizations affect their performance? Recent researchers have focused on the relationship between R&D investments and performance or efficiency, and others suggest that performance may be affected by organizational factors. However, we focus on the attributes of R&D workforce excellence and diversity of R&D workforce, which can affect the performance of public R&D organizations. Therefore, we conduct a panel negative binomial regression and a focus group interview after empirical analysis to derive interpretations and implications. The results show that the effects of the diversity and excellence of an R&D workforce can vary depending on the type of performance: scientific, technological, or social. Overall, we call for a human resources and resource-based approach to consider the importance of R&D workforce composition, specifically diversity and excellence, in evaluating the performance of public R&D organizations.
Walking on a Vertically Oscillating Platform with Simulated Gait Asymmetry
Authors: Alyami Mashaer , Nessler Jeff A.
Published: March 2021

Asymmetric gait is associated with pain, injury, and reduced stability in patient populations. Data from side by side walking suggest that unintentional synchronization with an external cue may reduce gait asymmetry. Two types of asymmetric gait were examined here: (1) mass imbalance between limbs to simulate single limb amputation and (2) restriction of plantarflexion during toe-off to simulate reduced propulsion from neurological impairment. Twenty-five healthy participants walked normally and with simulated gait asymmetry on a custom-designed treadmill that oscillated in the vertical direction via pneumatic actuation (amplitude: 2 cm, frequency: participant’s preferred step frequency). Swing Time Asymmetry (STA) and Phase Coordination Index (PCI) both increased significantly with the application of unilateral mass and plantarflexion restriction (p < 0.001). However, walking with simulated asymmetry did not alter unintentional synchronization with the treadmill motion. Further, oscillation of the treadmill did not improve STA or PCI while walking with simulated asymmetry. Analysis of synchronized step clusters using the Weibull survival function revealed that synchronization with the platform persisted for longer durations when compared with data from side by side walking. These results suggest that walking on a vertically oscillating surface may not be an effective approach for improving gait asymmetry.
Semigroups of Terms, Tree Languages, Menger Algebra of n-Ary Functions and Their Embedding Theorems
Authors: Kumduang Thodsaporn , Leeratanavalee Sorasak
Published: March 2021

The concepts of terms and tree languages are significant tools for the development of research works in both universal algebra and theoretical computer science. In this paper, we establish a strong connection between semigroups of terms and tree languages, which provides the tools for studying monomorphisms between terms and generalized hypersubstitutions. A novel concept of a seminearring of non-deterministic generalized hypersubstitutions is introduced and some interesting properties among subsets of its are provided. Furthermore, we prove that there are monomorphisms from the power diagonal semigroup of tree languages and the monoid of generalized hypersubstitutions to the power diagonal semigroup of non-deterministic generalized hypersubstitutions and the monoid of non-deterministic generalized hypersubstitutions, respectively. Finally, the representation of terms using the theory of n-ary functions is defined. We then present the Cayley’s theorem for Menger algebra of terms, which allows us to provide a concrete example via full transformation semigroups.
Multivariate Tail Moments for Log-Elliptical Dependence Structures as Measures of Risks
Authors: Landsman Zinoviy , Shushi Tomer
Published: March 2021

The class of log-elliptical distributions is well used and studied in risk measurement and actuarial science. The reason is that risks are often skewed and positive when they describe pure risks, i.e., risks in which there is no possibility of profit. In practice, risk managers confront a system of mutually dependent risks, not only one risk. Thus, it is important to measure risks while capturing their dependence structure. In this short paper, we compute the multivariate risk measures, multivariate tail conditional expectation, and multivariate tail covariance measure for the family of log-elliptical distributions, which captures the dependence structure of the risks while focusing on the tail of their distributions, i.e., on extreme loss events. We then study our result and examine special cases, as well as the optimal portfolio selection using such measures. Finally, we show how the given multivariate tail moments can also be computed for log-skew elliptical models based on similar approaches given for the log-elliptical case.
Optimization of the Aesthetic Design of an Agronomic Product Inspired by an Asymmetric Shape of Water
Authors: Parras-Burgos Dolores , Fernández-Pacheco Daniel G. , Cañavate Francisco J. F.
Published: March 2021

Industrial products have been highlighted in the agronomic field more for their technical and functional aspects than for their visual aesthetics. Currently, this concept has changed and has favoured the development of innovative products taking into account all the factors involved in the conception of a product. This article describes a real industrial product redesign case that was functionally innovative and a reference in the agronomic domain. Due to the large number of copies that emerged from its competitors, this design required a new image in its aesthetic appearance to differentiate it from the rest. The difficulty of this project lay in the technical limitations to develop it, so a conceptual design process based on analogies and inspired by nature was necessary to find the most appropriate shape. Based on this methodology, a symmetrical and static design was transformed into one with asymmetrical and dynamic shapes inspired by the helicoidal movement of water. This new design gave this product an innovative, symbolic, and differentiating image that allowed its industrial registration in a large number of countries.
Thermodynamics of Barrow Holographic Dark Energy with Specific Cut-Off
Authors: Chakraborty Gargee , Chattopadhyay Surajit , Güdekli Ertan , Radinschi Irina
Published: March 2021

Motivated by the work of Saridakis (Phys. Rev. D102, 123525 (2020)), the present study reports the cosmological consequences of Barrow holographic dark energy (HDE) and its thermodynamics. The literature demonstrates that dark energy (DE) may result from electroweak symmetry breaking that triggers a phase transition from early inflation to late-time acceleration. In the present study, we incorporated viscosity in the Barrow HDE. A reconstruction scheme is presented for the parameters associated with Barrow holographic dark energy under the purview of viscous cosmology. The equation of state (EoS) parameter is reconstructed in this scenario and quintessence behaviour is observed. Considering Barrow HDE as a specific case of Nojiri–Odintsov (NO) HDE, we have observed quintom behaviour of the EoS parameter and for some values of n the EoS has been observed to be very close to −1 for the current universe. The generalised second law of thermodynamics has come out to be valid in all the scenarios under consideration. Physical viability of considering Barrow HDE as a specific case of NO HDE is demonstrated in this study. Finally, it has been observed that the model under consideration is very close to ΛCDM and cannot go beyond it.
Second Hankel Determinant for a Certain Subclass of Bi-Close to Convex Functions Defined by Kaplan
Authors: Kanas Stanislawa , Sivasankari Pesse V. , Karthiyayini Roy , Sivasubramanian Srikandan
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we consider the class of strongly bi-close-to-convex functions of order α and bi-close-to-convex functions of order β. We obtain an upper bound estimate for the second Hankel determinant for functions belonging to these classes. The results in this article improve some earlier result obtained for the class of bi-convex functions.
Biomonitoring of Multiple Mycotoxins in Urine by GC–MS/MS: A Pilot Study on Patients with Esophageal Cancer in Golestan Province, Northeastern Iran
Authors: Niknejad Farhad , Escrivá Laura , Adel Rad Khoda Berdi , Khoshnia Masoud , Barba Francisco J. , Berrada Houda
Published: March 2021

A pilot study to investigate the occurrence of 10 mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, DON; 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 3-ADON; 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-ADON; fusarenon-X, FUS-X; diacetoxyscirpenol, DAS; nivalenol, NIV; neosolaniol, NEO; zearalenone, ZON; zearalanone, ZAN; T-2 toxin, T-2; and HT-2 toxin, HT-2) in esophageal cancer patients was performed with the urinary biomarkers approach in Golestan, Iran. Urine multimycotoxin analysis was performed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) analysis, and values were normalized with urinary creatinine (μg/g). Four mycotoxins, namely NEO (40%), HT-2 (17.6%), DON (10%), and HT-2 (5.8%), were detected in the analyzed urine samples. DON was only detected in the control group (5.09 μg/g creatinine), while T-2 (44.70 μg/g creatinine) was only present in the esophageal cancer group. NEO and HT-2 were quantified in both control and case groups, showing average of positive samples of 9.09 and 10.45 μg/g creatinine for NEO and 16.81 and 29.09 μg/g creatinine for HT-2, respectively. Mycotoxin co-occurrence was observed in three samples as binary (NEO/HT-2 and T-2/HT-2) and ternary (DON/NEO/HT-2) combinations, reaching total concentrations of 44.58, 79.13, and 30.04 µg/g creatinine, respectively. Further investigations are needed to explore a causal association between mycotoxin contamination and esophageal cancer. For this pilot study in Golestan, the low sample size was a very limiting factor.
Virus Eradication and Synthetic Biology: Changes with SARS-CoV-2?
Authors: Tournier Jean-Nicolas , Kononchik Joseph
Published: March 2021

The eradication of infectious diseases has been achieved only once in history, in 1980, with smallpox. Since 1988, significant effort has been made to eliminate poliomyelitis viruses, but eradication is still just out of reach. As the goal of viral disease eradication approaches, the ability to recreate historically eradicated viruses using synthetic biology has the potential to jeopardize the long-term sustainability of eradication. However, the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 pandemic has highlighted our ability to swiftly and resolutely respond to a potential outbreak. This virus has been synthetized faster than any other in the past and is resulting in vaccines before most attenuated candidates reach clinical trials. Here, synthetic biology has the opportunity to demonstrate its truest potential to the public and solidify a footing in the world of vaccines.
Effectiveness Regarding Hantavirus Detection in Rodent Tissue Samples and Urine
Authors: Madai Mónika , Horváth Győző , Herczeg Róbert , Somogyi Balázs , Zana Brigitta , Földes Fanni , Kemenesi Gábor , Kurucz Kornélia , Papp Henrietta , Zeghbib Safia , Jakab Ferenc
Published: March 2021

The natural hosts of Orthohantaviruses are rodents, soricomorphs and bats, and it is well known that they may cause serious or even fatal diseases among humans worldwide. The virus is persistent among animals and it is shed via urine, saliva and feces throughout the entirety of their lives. We aim to identify the effectiveness of hantavirus detection in rodent tissue samples and urine originating from naturally infected rodents. Initially, animals were trapped at five distinct locations throughout the Transdanubian region in Hungary. Lung, liver, kidney and urine samples were obtained from 163 deceased animals. All organs and urine were tested using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR). Furthermore, sera were examined for IgG antibodies against Dobrava–Belgrade virus (DOBV) and Puumala virus (PUUV) by Western blot assay. IgG antibodies against hantaviruses and/or nucleic acid were detected in 25 (15.3%) cases. Among Apodemus, Myodes, and Microtus rodent species, DOBV, PUUV and Tula virus (TULV) were clearly identified. Amid the PCR-positive samples, the nucleic acid of the viruses was detected most effectively in the kidney (100%), while only 55% of screened lung tissues were positive. Interestingly, only three out of 20 rodent urine samples were positive when tested using nRT-PCR. Moreover, five rodents were seropositive without detectable virus nucleic acid in any of the tested organs.
Stable Display of Artificially Long Foreign Antigens on Chimeric Bamboo mosaic virus Particles
Authors: Chen Tsung-Hsien , Hu Chung-Chi , Lee Chin-Wei , Feng Yu-Min , Lin Na-Sheng , Hsu Yau-Heiu
Published: March 2021

Plant viruses can be genetically modified to generate chimeric virus particles (CVPs) carrying heterologous peptides fused on the surface of coat protein (CP) subunits as vaccine candidates. However, some factors may be especially significant in determining the properties of chimeras. In this study, peptides from various sources and of various lengths were inserted into the Bamboo mosaic virus-based (BaMV) vector CP N-terminus to examine the chimeras infecting and accumulating in plants. Interestingly, it was found that the two different strains Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 antigens with flexible linker peptides (77 or 82 amino acids) were directly expressed on the BaMV CP, and the chimeric particles self-assembled and continued to express FMDV antigens. The chimeric CP, when directly fused with a large foreign protein (117 amino acids), can self-fold into incomplete virus particles or disks. The physicochemical properties of heterologus peptides N-terminus, complex strand structures of heterologus peptides C-terminus and different flexible linker peptides, can affect the chimera accumulation. Based on these findings, using plant virus-based chimeras to express foreign proteins can increase their length limitations, and engineered plant-made CVP-based vaccines have increasing potential for further development as novel vaccines.
Transcriptional and Non-Transcriptional Activation, Posttranslational Modifications, and Antiviral Functions of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 and Viral Antagonism by the SARS-Coronavirus
Authors: Glanz Anna , Chakravarty Sukanya , Varghese Merina , Kottapalli Anita , Fan Shumin , Chakravarti Ritu , Chattopadhyay Saurabh
Published: March 2021

The immune system defends against invading pathogens through the rapid activation of innate immune signaling pathways. Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is a key transcription factor activated in response to virus infection and is largely responsible for establishing an antiviral state in the infected host. Studies in Irf3−/− mice have demonstrated the absence of IRF3 imparts a high degree of susceptibility to a wide range of viral infections. Virus infection causes the activation of IRF3 to transcribe type-I interferon (e.g., IFNβ), which is responsible for inducing the interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which act at specific stages to limit virus replication. In addition to its transcriptional function, IRF3 is also activated to trigger apoptosis of virus-infected cells, as a mechanism to restrict virus spread within the host, in a pathway called RIG-I-like receptor-induced IRF3 mediated pathway of apoptosis (RIPA). These dual functions of IRF3 work in concert to mediate protective immunity against virus infection. These two pathways are activated differentially by the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of IRF3. Moreover, PTMs regulate not only IRF3 activation and function, but also protein stability. Consequently, many viruses utilize viral proteins or hijack cellular enzymes to inhibit IRF3 functions. This review will describe the PTMs that regulate IRF3′s RIPA and transcriptional activities and use coronavirus as a model virus capable of antagonizing IRF3-mediated innate immune responses. A thorough understanding of the cellular control of IRF3 and the mechanisms that viruses use to subvert this system is critical for developing novel therapies for virus-induced pathologies.
Landfill Pollution Plume Survey in the Moroccan Tadla Using Spontaneous Potential
Authors: El Mouine Yousra , El Hamdi Amal , Morarech Moad , Kacimi Ilias , Touzani Meryem , Mohsine Ismail , Tiouiouine Abdessamad , Ouardi Jamila , Zouahri Abdelmajid , Yachou Hasna , Dakak Houria
Published: March 2021

In many parts of the world, the impact of open landfills on soils, biosphere, and groundwater has become a major concern. These landfills frequently generate pollution plumes, the contours of which can be delineated by non-intrusive geophysical measurements, but in arid environments, the high soils resistivity is usually an obstacle, which results in the low number of studies that have been carried out there. In addition, such prospecting using geophysical techniques do not provide information on the intensity of the processes occurring in the water table. This study was carried out on an uncontrolled landfill in the arid Tadla plain, Morocco’s main agricultural region. A survey based on geo-referenced spontaneous potential measurements was combined with measurements of anoxic conditions (Eh-pH and O2 equilibrating partial pressure) in the groundwater and leachates, in order to highlight a pollution plume and its geometry. The range of spontaneous potential measurement is wide, reaching 155 mV. Ponds of leachate with high electrical conductivity (20 to 40 mS cm−1) form within the landfill, and present very reducing conditions down to sulphate reduction and methanisation. The plume is slowly but continuously supplied with these highly reducing and organic carbon-rich leachates from the landfill. Its direction is towards N-NW, stable throughout the season, and consistent with local knowledge of groundwater flow. The fast flow of the water table suggests pollution over long distances that should be monitored in the future. The results obtained are spatially contrasting and stable, and show that such techniques can be used on a resistive medium of arid environments.
Comparison of Changes in Soil Moisture Content Following Rainfall in Different Subtropical Plantations of the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Liu Xin , Tang Yingzhou , Cheng Xuefei , Jia Zhaohui , Li Chong , Ma Shilin , Zhai Lu , Zhang Bo , Zhang Jinchi
Published: March 2021

Rainfall is an indispensable link in the atmospheric water cycle, which plays a critical role in forest hydrology. Quercus acutissima and Cunninghamia lanceolata are two fast-growing and economically important tree species in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. They are extensively applied in the restoration of vegetation, hydraulic engineering, and the development of artificial forests. The primary aims of this study were to describe and compare the changes in soil water content following rainfall events, while elucidating their relationships to environmental factors. From September 2012 to August 2013, we monitored the soil moisture at different depths every 30 min using commercially available soil moisture measuring devices. Hourly meteorological data were monitored over an open area at 200 m from the sample site, including photosynthetically active radiation (Par), air temperature (Ta), relative air humidity (RH), vapor pressure deficits (Vpd), rainfall, and wind speed. The results revealed that variations in the soil moisture content during summer (Cv = 0.231) and autumn (Cv = 0.0.170) were greater than during spring (Cv = 0.0.092) and winter (Cv = 0.0.055), with those in the deep soil moisture (Cv = 0.117) being smaller. The soil moisture content was significantly altered following the cessation of rainfall, where the initial and average moisture content, and the ACR of the soil increased with higher rainfall intensities. The ACR was positively correlated with Ta (γ = 0.16), RH (γ = 0.46) and rainfall (γ = 0.22), but negatively correlated with Par (γ = −0.29), Vpd (γ = −0.23), and wind speed (γ = −0.01). This study provides valuable information regarding the hydrological processes of artificial forests in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Technical Note: On the Production and Accuracy of CNC-Manufactured Hydraulic Scale Models
Authors: Aberle Jochen , Eikenberg Ralph , Branß Till , Henry Pierre-Yves
Published: March 2021

This Technical Note addresses the workflow for the production of hydraulic scale models using a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) production technique and investigates the possibilities to accurately reproduce topographical roughness features. Focusing on the construction of three scale models of unlined rock blasted tunnels, their accuracy is evaluated based on the comparison of differences between scaled prototype point clouds obtained by terrestrial laser scanning, spatially filtered meshes that served as input for the milling of the models, and digital twins of the constructed models that were created by Structure from Motion photogrammetry. The direct comparison between the point clouds and meshes as well as the comparison of derived statistical parameters show that the models could be reproduced with a high degree of accuracy. Observed deviations between the point clouds of the milled models and the milling meshes, as well as the scaled original point cloud, are identified and discussed in light of the production technique and the accuracy of the applied methods for the comparison.
Prediction of River Stage Using Multistep-Ahead Machine Learning Techniques for a Tidal River of Taiwan
Authors: Guo Wen-Dar , Chen Wei-Bo , Yeh Sen-Hai , Chang Chih-Hsin , Chen Hongey
Published: March 2021

Time-series prediction of a river stage during typhoons or storms is essential for flood control or flood disaster prevention. Data-driven models using machine learning (ML) techniques have become an attractive and effective approach to modeling and analyzing river stage dynamics. However, relatively new ML techniques, such as the light gradient boosting machine regression (LGBMR), have rarely been applied to predict the river stage in a tidal river. In this study, data-driven ML models were developed under a multistep-ahead prediction framework and evaluated for river stage modeling. Four ML techniques, namely support vector regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), multilayer perceptron regression (MLPR), and LGBMR, were employed to establish data-driven ML models with Bayesian optimization. The models were applied to simulate river stage hydrographs of the tidal reach of the Lan-Yang River Basin in Northeastern Taiwan. Historical measurements of rainfall, river stages, and tidal levels were collected from 2004 to 2017 and used for training and validation of the four models. Four scenarios were used to investigate the effect of the combinations of input variables on river stage predictions. The results indicated that (1) the tidal level at a previous stage significantly affected the prediction results; (2) the LGBMR model achieves more favorable prediction performance than the SVR, RFR, and MLPR models; and (3) the LGBMR model could efficiently and accurately predict the 1–6-h river stage in the tidal river. This study provides an extensive and insightful comparison of four data-driven ML models for river stage forecasting that can be helpful for model selection and flood mitigation.
Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador
Authors: Carrión-Mero Paul , Quiñonez-Barzola Ximena , Morante-Carballo Fernando , Montalván F. Javier , Herrera-Franco Gricelda , Plaza-Úbeda José
Published: March 2021

Modeling an aquifer provides significant advantages when evaluating and estimating the water resource for its sustainable use. This study focuses on the rural parish Manglaralto, a semi-arid area with a shortage of water, and without supply service by the public network. Still, it has a great demand for supply by the local and floating population (tourism). This has caused the coastal aquifer, which supplies the area’s water, to show signs of overexploitation, and its natural balance is compromised. The aim is to establish a geometric model of the aquifer through geological and geophysical analysis to set sustainable water-use guidelines. The methodology includes: (i) the processing of the current technical and hydrogeological information to know the aquifer’s data; (ii) geometric modeling of the aquifer through the correlation of technical information, using the GeoModeller software; (iii) proposals for the sustainable use of water in the framework of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. The geometric model results reveal that the aquifer’s thickness varies from 4 m at the head of the river to 30 m at the sea’s mouth. The volume of water is estimated at 13.6 Hm3. The sustainable-use proposals ensure that more than half of the population receives the community company’s service. More than 40% of the territory is a protected area, and 64% of the population has sewerage service. This geometric model is a visual contribution that allows us to know the aquifer’s shape and establishes guidelines that help strengthen the water supply’s development and sustainability over time.