bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Analysis of Soil Trace Element Contaminants in Urban Public Open Space, Perth, Western Australia
Authors: Rate Andrew W.
Published: August 2021

Public recreation areas in cities may be constructed on land which has been contaminated by various processes over the history of urbanisation. Charles Veryard and Smith’s Lake Reserves are adjacent parklands in Perth, Western Australia with a history of horticulture, waste disposal and other potential sources of contamination. Surface soil and soil profiles in the Reserves were sampled systematically and analysed for multiple major and trace elements. Spatial analysis was performed using interpolation and Local Moran’s I to define geochemical zones which were confirmed by means comparison and principal components analyses. The degree of contamination of surface soil in the Reserves with As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was low. Greater concentrations of As, Cu, Pb, and Zn were present at depth in some soil profiles, probably related to historical waste disposal in the Reserves. The results show distinct advantages to using spatial statistics at the site investigation scale, and for measuring multiple elements not just potential contaminants.
Generated Value of Electricity Versus Incurred Cost for Solar Arrays under Conditions of High Solar Penetration
Authors: Boivin Adrian B. , Holzman Jonathan F.
Published: August 2021

This work considers an emerging value-based paradigm for solar generation under high penetration, in light of its conflicting cycles of supply and demand. The resulting swings in electricity prices, in locales such as California, call into question the aim of optimizing solar arrays solely in terms of accumulated electrical power. Thus, this work studies solar arrays in terms of value, as an accumulated product of electrical power and price, where solar arrays that generate greater electrical power over more profitable early- and late-day hours yield improved value. Experimental, theoretical, and economic analyses are given to characterize the industry-standard angled-panel, an alternative V-groove, and a new U-groove array over a 5-year study. The trends and projections suggest that the industry-standard angled-panel array realizes the best value-based performance at present, although it will likely be outperformed in the foreseeable future by the V-groove array.
Detecting the Crisis of Supply Chain Management on E-Commerce for Sustainability Using Q-Technique
Authors: Ma Qi , Chang Chi-Cheng , Lin Chin-Tsai
Published: August 2021

Detecting the crisis of supply chain management is an important subject for the sustainable management of e-commerce. The purpose of this study was to explore the application of Q-technique to the detection of supply chain crises in the imported food industry under the influence of COVID-19. Literature analysis, expert consultation, and Q-technique methods were adopted. We used an expert consultation and questionnaire survey combined with Q-technique using the imported food industry in Taiwan as an example. Fifteen business owners were interviewed to identify priorities for supply chain crises, and 137 questionnaires were collected to determine the strength of each item. By investigating suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, platform operators, online sellers, and logistics operators, this study obtained the priority of supply chain crisis items and the strength of factors for each item. The results show that Q-technique can effectively detect the crisis of cross-border supply chain management, clarifying import food industry e-commerce supply chain crisis items and determining their priority and strength, to help enterprises make emergency decisions regarding supply chain operation, and they can also be used as a reference for enterprises to respond to the crisis.
Technology-Independent Directors and Innovative Knowledge Assets: A Contingency Perspective
Authors: Liu Yexin , Wu Weiwei , Han Ruixiang
Published: August 2021

In the current dynamic and competitive environment, the sustainable competitive advantage of firms has flowed to the development of innovative knowledge assets. Drawing on resource dependence theory, this paper develops a contingency research model to explore how technology-independent directors affect innovative knowledge assets. A sample of Chinese manufacturing firms listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges between 2010 and 2019 was used for the regression analysis. By employing the fixed effect model, the results show that technology-independent directors have a significant positive impact on innovative knowledge assets. Furthermore, the impact of technology-independent directors on innovative knowledge assets is strengthened in the firms that are state-owned, larger, and older. These results provide important insights related to innovation research.
Children and Multidimensional Poverty: Four Measurement Strategies
Authors: Dirksen Jakob , Alkire Sabina
Published: August 2021

Empirically, official multidimensional measures of poverty often show children to be the poorest age group. Such poverty measures and their analysis can be used to directly inform policies to reduce children’s multiple deprivations. This paper introduces methods to produce official national statistics on multidimensional poverty that inform child-focused anti-poverty policies. In doing so, it recognises the importance of parsimonious, consistent measures, given practical constraints such as policy makers’ time. The paper does not recommend constructing several disjoint poverty measures which cannot be straightforwardly interpreted and used alongside one another, as these may create confusion or dilute policy attention. To create a compact and high-information measurement platform, the paper introduces four measurement strategies that have been used to directly uncover policy-relevant data on children’s experience of multidimensional poverty, and that are consistent with official population-level statistics. The four are as follows: (1) Include children’s deprivations as indicators of multidimensional poverty in national measures. (2) Disaggregate multidimensional poverty indices and their associated information platform to compare children and adults. (3) Analyse individual child deprivations and explore gendered and intra-household inequalities. (4) Construct an individual measure of child multidimensional poverty that is directly linked to the official national measure, but contains additional indicators across the life course of children. The paper illustrates these four strategies and the child-relevant statistics they yield, using examples from official poverty measures and previous research. It discusses the strengths and challenges of each method from conceptual, policy, and technical perspectives, and examines how they can be used for descriptive and prescriptive purposes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
European Funds in Tourism Sustainability—A Case Study of Beneficiaries’ Satisfaction Regarding the Process of Accessing
Authors: Radu Anamaria-Cătălina , Stoica (Răpan) Ivona , Catanã Aida , Radu Andra-Victoria , Dan Monica-Lavinia
Published: August 2021

The scope of this research was to identify the degree of satisfaction experienced by beneficiaries as a result of accessing and implementing a project using European funds in tourism. The whole research identified more than 1000 projects that were financed from European funds in tourism in the period 2007–2013 through the operational programs. The survey was conducted on a sample of 312 respondents, and the method used was a quantitative, research-based survey. This research aims to collect the necessary data for understanding how the process of accessing European funds in tourism is perceived. A few important objectives, such as the effect of the benefits perceived by beneficiaries as a result of accessing projects using European funds in tourism on the degree of satisfaction experienced by them as a result of their development and the effect of risks perceived by beneficiaries as a result of accessing European funded projects in tourism on the degree of satisfaction experienced by them as a result of their development, were highlighted in this research. The most important objective proposed in this research is strategic planning, which is the main way in which the beneficiaries can be fulfilled in regards to the process of accessing European Funds.
Lost Energy of Water Spilled over Hydropower Dams
Authors: Predin Andrej , Fike Matej , Pezdevšek Marko , Hren Gorazd
Published: August 2021

The present paper presents a view of water spilled over hydropower plants as an energy loss. In the current climate conditions, flood events are becoming more frequent due to human impact on the environment; water spills are also more frequent, which means more and more energy is lost. How much water is spilled and, consequently, how much energy is lost is shown in the present article on the chain of power plants on the Sava River in the five years from 2015 to 2019. An analytical assessment of the current situation in the lock was carried out, which showed that the available water through the locks could be used efficiently. The paper presents a case study of one overflow event lasting 48 h. The calculated theoretical losses of energy (of spilled water) and possible technical implementation for capturing losses are given. The proposed technical implementation is based on established technology, so we could expect that the approach is feasible. The results show that the estimated spilled water energy potential reaches about 40% of the actual spilled water or energy lost.
Differences in Learning Motivation among Bartle’s Player Types and Measures for the Delivery of Sustainable Gameful Experiences
Authors: Park Sungjin , Min Kyoungsoon , Kim Sangkyun
Published: August 2021

Gamification is one of the methods used for delivering gameful experiences to Generation Z learners. The player-type theory must be reflected to effectively design gamification. This study aims to analyze the differences in learning motivation among different player types and to propose methods that can deliver effective gameful experiences. The study was conducted on 91 university students who were instructed to attend a class that utilized gamification. Based on the results, there were no statistical differences in the motivation among the different player types. Accordingly, constructing environments that can establish gameful experiences, rules, and strategies preferred by each type of player is proposed as an important factor in gamification design.
Sustainable Initiatives in Sports Organizations—Analysis of a Group of Stakeholders in Pandemic Times
Authors: Cayolla Ricardo Roseira , Santos Teresa , Quintela Joana A.
Published: August 2021

This study explores the importance of environmentally sustainable initiatives in sport (ESIS) for stakeholders in pandemic times. Three topics—climate changes and energy consumption, environmental impact of sports events, and health and well-being—were considered and analysed under three sustainability forms: organisational, community, and individual. A total of 5917 stakeholders (sponsors, employees, and members) of a sports organization realised one online survey. The data gathering process occurred during pandemic times, when every kind of collective sport event was suspended to the general public. The descriptive analysis of the results is provided, and the findings reveal that health and well-being is the most valorised topic by members and employees, in a sustainable individual form. On the other hand, sponsors manifest their interest mainly in a sustainability organisational and community forms.
Conceptualising Therapeutic Environments through Culture, Indigenous Knowledge and Landscape for Health and Well-Being
Authors: Marques Bruno , Freeman Claire , Carter Lyn , Pedersen Zari Maibritt
Published: August 2021

Academic research has long established that interaction with the natural environment is associated with better overall health outcomes. Notably, the area of therapeutic environments has been borne out of the recognition of this critical relationship, but much of this research comes from a specific Western perspective. In Aotearoa-New Zealand, Māori (the Indigenous people of the land) have long demonstrated significantly worse health outcomes than non-Māori. Little research has examined the causes compared to Western populations and the role of the natural environment in health outcomes for Māori. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between Māori culture, landscape and the connection to health and well-being. Eighteen Māori pāhake (older adults) and kaumātua (elders) took part in semi-structured interviews carried out as focus groups, from June to November 2020. Transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and kaupapa Māori techniques. We found five overarching and interrelated key themes related to Indigenous knowledge (Mātauranga Māori) that sit within the realm of therapeutic environments, culture and landscape. A conceptual framework for Therapeutic Cultural Environments (TCE) is proposed in terms of the contribution to our understanding of health and well-being and its implications for conceptualising therapeutic environments and a culturally appropriate model of care for Māori communities.
Supplemental Effects of Biochar and Foliar Application of Ascorbic Acid on Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Cadmium-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Yaseen Samia , Amjad Syeda Fasiha , Mansoora Nida , Kausar Shameem , Shahid Huma , Alamri Saad A. M. , Alrumman Sulaiman A. , Eid Ebrahem M. , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Danish Subhan , Datta Rahul
Published: August 2021

Biochar, prepared from organic waste materials, can improve the quality of contaminated soil areas. Biochar can be used as an economic centerpiece over other available resources and can properly utilize large amounts of waste. Soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) is a worldwide problem that poses potential agricultural and human health hazards. Moreover, Cd toxicity causes serious problems for sustainable food production, especially in food crops like barley. High cadmium concentration in soil is phytotoxic and decreases plant growth and ultimately yields. Biochar and ascorbic acid in ameliorating Cd stress are economically compatible and consistent approaches in agriculture. The present study aimed to evaluate biochar’s and foliar-applied ascorbic acid’s influence on some growth and biochemical characteristics of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to Cd stress. The soil was supplemented with biochar 2% w/w and 20 mg Cd kg−1. The foliar application of 30 mM ascorbic acid was done on plants. The results revealed that Cd stress decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. It also increased oxidative stress indicators, i.e., APX, COD, POD, flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolics, and electrolyte leakage, in barley with Cd-contamination. A significant enhancement in root and shoot length, gas exchange attributes, and chlorophyll contents validated the effectiveness of Bio + Asa treatments over all other treatments under Cd contamination. In conclusion, the sole applications of biochar and Asa in Cd contamination are also effective, but Bio + Asa is a better amendment for Cd stress alleviation in barley plants.
Precaution and Innovation in the Context of Wastewater Regulation: An Examination of Financial Innovation under UWWTD Disputes in London and Milan
Authors: Grafe Fritz-Julius , Mieg Harald A.
Published: August 2021

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) under the guidance of the precautionary principle sets out standards to guarantee high quality water services for European citizens. This creates pressure on European cities to update and renew their water infrastructures in accordance with EU Law at great financial cost. Cities within the Union try to bridge this financial gap with a variety of approaches. This paper presents the cases of London and Milan, both of which were subject to legal proceedings for breaching the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. By example of these two cases, this article details how the precautionary principle affects urban water infrastructure provision, and how the regulation of the primary risk of pollution can both trigger innovation and create secondary risks within the highly integrated urban water infrastructure sector. The London case focusses on an individual infrastructure project and shows how its financial framing has compromised the final outcome, while the Milan case presents a longer-view perspective that shows how structural changes in the urban water infrastructure sector have enabled an environment for sustainable financial innovation. The role of transparency and good local governance practices are emphasized for a successful implementation of the precautionary principle requirements in a city’s water sector. Managing this process effectively can result in meaningful social innovation for urban water infrastructure provision.
Developing Country-Specific Methane Emission Factors and Carbon Fluxes from Enteric Fermentation in South Korean Dairy Cattle Production
Authors: Ibidhi Ridha , Kim Tae-Hoon , Bharanidharan Rajaraman , Lee Hyun-June , Lee Yoo-Kyung , Kim Na-Yeon , Kim Kyoung-Hoon
Published: August 2021

Dairy cattle farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation. To complement global efforts to mitigate climate change, there is a need for accurate estimations of GHG emissions using country-specific emission factors (EFs). The objective of this study was to develop national EFs for the estimation of CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation in South Korean dairy cattle. Information on dairy cattle herd characteristics, diet, and management practices specific to South Korean dairy cattle farming was obtained. Enteric CH4 EFs were estimated according to the 2019 refinement of the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) using the Tier 2 approach. Three animal subcategories were considered according to age: milking cows >2 years, 650 kg body weight (BW); heifers 1–2 years, 473 kg BW; and growing animals <1 year, 167 kg BW. The estimated enteric CH4 EFs for milking cows, heifers, and growing animals, were 139, 83 and 33 kg/head/year, respectively. Currently, the Republic of Korea adopts the Tier 1 default enteric CH4 EFs from the North America region for GHG inventory reporting. Compared with the generic Tier 1 default EF of 138 (kg CH4/head/year) proposed by the 2019 refinement to the 2006 IPCC guidelines for high-milking cows, our suggested value for milking cows was very similar (139 kg CH4 /head/year) and different to heifers and growing animals EFs. In addition, enteric CH4 EFs were strongly correlated with the feed digestibility, level of milk production, and CH4 conversion rate. The adoption of the newly developed EFs for dairy cattle in the next national GHG inventory would lead to a potential total GHG reduction from the South Korean dairy sector of 97,000 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent per year (8%). The outcome of this study underscores the importance of obtaining country-specific EFs to estimate national enteric CH4 emissions, which can further support the assessment of mitigation actions.
Efficacy of Hormonal Growth Promoter Implants on the Performance of Grazing Steers of Different Breeds in Southern Chile
Authors: Rivero M. Jordana , Araya Luis , Oyarzo Marcelo , Cooke Andrew S. , Morgan Sarah A. , Merino Veronica M.
Published: August 2021

Increasing demands for land is necessitating the optimisation of grazing land used for livestock production. Hormonal growth promoter implants (HGPI) are widely used to improve cattle performance and thus land-use efficiency. However, there is limited information on their efficacy in grazing systems. Forty grazing steers, 10 of each breed (Angus, Hereford, Holstein, Overo Colorado), had growth rates monitored for 85 days after which half received HGPI and half continued as a control. Growth rates were monitored for an additional 61 days and performance between the groups compared. Implants had a significant impact on liveweight gain (LWG; p = 0.013), and whilst breed did not (p = 0.65), there was an interaction effect of breed × treatment (p = 0.029). For three of the four breeds, the LWG was greater in the implant group (mean +14.3%). The exception was for Holstein steers which did not respond to the implant. In general, HGPI were found to be effective in increasing LWG of grazing cattle and thus has the potential to increase yield densities and relieve pressures of land use and competition. The efficacy may be affected by breed and other extraneous factors not covered in this study. Furthermore, the use of HGPI must be carefully considered in a wider context since its use might have secondary impacts.
Sustainable Provision of School Buildings in The Netherlands: An Empirical Productivity Analysis of Local Government School Building Operations
Authors: Blank Jos L. T.
Published: August 2021

Building operations and construction are responsible for a large part of global energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. In this paper, we present an analysis of the efficiency and productivity of the provision of school buildings by Dutch municipalities. A cost function is estimated for the years 2005–2016 using stochastic frontier methods based on data of Dutch municipalities. The results indicate that inefficiency and unproductiveness are substantial. The provision of school buildings on a more appropriate scale, detailed performance benchmarking and including more incentives for innovative behaviour may result in a more sustainable provision of school buildings and less energy use and emission of carbon dioxide.
Digital Piracy among Young Adults: The Role of Values and Time Perspectives
Authors: Bayraktar Fatih , Tomczyk Łukasz
Published: August 2021

The aim of the research is to measure the extent of piracy among young adults and to relate this phenomenon to variables, such as values and time orientation. The research fits into the risk paradigm of cyber research. The research was carried out in Northern Cyprus, a country with a persistently high rate of digital piracy. The research involved 318 young adults (Mean Age: 20.9, SD: 2.47). The research process was conducted through the triangulation of three questionnaires: Piracy Risk Scale, Time Perspective Inventory, and the Values Scale. Based on the data collected, it was noted that piracy is not a rare phenomenon among young people (similar to other e-risks), and it is most common for files related to entertainment to be systematically downloaded. Digital piracy is linked to the level of digital competence, as well as hedonistic and fatalistic attitudes to time and values such as materialism and sense of honour. Despite technological developments maximising the legal circulation of cultural and other digital content, piracy has still not been completely eliminated.
Study of Temperature Field Distribution in Topographic Bias Tunnel Based on Monitoring Data
Authors: Zhang Tao , Nie Lei , Zhang Min , Dai Shulin , Xu Yan , Du Chao , Rui Xiangjian , He Yuanyuan , Wang Yuzheng
Published: August 2021

In recent decades, numerous tunnels have been built in the cold region of China. However, the temperature field of topographically biased tunnels in the monsoon freeze zone has not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we monitored the temperature of the surrounding rock in two topographic bias sections of the Huitougou Tunnel and analyzed the results by fitting them to the monitoring results. The results showed that the temperature of the surrounding rock on both sides after tunnel excavation varied periodically in an approximate triangular function. As the distance from the cave wall increased, the annual average temperature of the surrounding rock did not change significantly, the amplitude decreased, and the delay time increased, while the annual maximum temperature decreased, and the annual minimum temperature increased. The heat generated by blasting, the heat of hydration of the primary and secondary lining, and the decorated concrete all caused a significant increase in the temperature of the surrounding rock within 4 m for a short period of time. Both construction and topographic factors led to asymmetry in the distribution of the surrounding rock temperature in different ways. The results of this paper are intended as a reference for other studies on temperature in deviated tunnels.
Effect of Natural Wind on the Transiting Test for Measuring the Aerodynamic Coefficients of Structures
Authors: Zhu Guangxia , Liu Xin , Liu Lulu , Li Shengli
Published: August 2021

The aerodynamic coefficients transiting test is a new method for measuring the structural aerodynamic coefficients using the wind generated by a moving vehicle. However, the effect and correction of natural wind on the transiting test has not been studied. Hence, in this study, the investigation of the aerodynamic force and pressure measurements on a special triangular prism model is simulated through the transiting test under different natural wind conditions for 30° and 90° angles of wind incidence. Force and pressure measurement results in the transiting test are used to describe and explain the effect of natural wind in the range of 0–3.0 m/s on the aerodynamic coefficients of the symmetric triangular prism qualitatively and quantitatively. The results show that the driving wind field of the vehicle, aerodynamic force coefficient, and aerodynamic pressure coefficient are significantly influenced by strong natural wind greater than 1.71 m/s, which must be considered and so it is recommended that the structure aerodynamic coefficients transiting test should be conducted under the condition that the natural wind is less than 1.71 m/s. In addition, the method of two-direction round-trip measurement is proposed to modify the effect of natural wind on transiting tests.
Use of Li-ESWT, Tadalafil, and a Vacuum Device to Preserve Erectile Function in Subjects Affected by Peyronie’s Disease and Undergoing Grafting Surgery
Authors: Trama Francesco , Ruffo Antonio , Illiano Ester , Romeo Giuseppe , Riccardo Filippo , Sarcinella Marco , Crocetto Felice , Costantini Elisabetta , Iacono Fabrizio
Published: August 2021

Background: Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a little-known disease characterized by pain during erections, the presence of penile curvature, and consequent psychological disorders. In addition, concomitant erectile dysfunction may be present. The treatment of PD is adapted to the patient, especially when the penile curvature is >60°; with stabilized pathology, it is preferable to perform penile straightening approaches, such as penile plication and plaque incision, or partial excision and grafting. The most frequent side effect of straightening approaches is the onset of erectile dysfunction due to the formation of venous leakage appearing after the excision of calcific plaque. Materials and methods: All enrolled patients had PD, a curvature >60°, had an IIEF subdomain erectile function score >16, and refused penile prosthesis implantation concurrent with tunica albuginea grafting surgery. Subsequently, 4 weeks after surgery, all patients underwent a rehabilitation protocol that consisted of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT), the administration of 5 mg/daily of tadalafil, and the use of a vacuum device. Results: From January 2014 to March 2016, 15 subjects affected by PD with severe penile curvatures were enrolled in the study. At 6 months after surgery, the IIEF scores for erectile function were not statistically significantly different before and after surgery (p > 0.05); the other items, especially orgasmic function (p = 0.01), sexual desire (p < 0.01), intercourse satisfaction (p = 0.01), and overall satisfaction (p = 0.04), were all statistically significant. The modified EDITS questionnaire reported that 80% of patients were satisfied, that 13.3% were dissatisfied, and that 1 patient (6.6%) was dissatisfied with the surgery. Moreover, there was no statistically significant decrease in the patients’ penile lengths. The aim of this study was to use a rehabilitation protocol consisting of Li-ESWT, the administration of 5 mg/daily, and the use of a vacuum device in order to preserve the erectile function of patients undergoing straightening approaches using surgical grafting. In addition, patient satisfaction following surgery was analyzed.
A Case of Acute Pulmonary Embolus after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Immunization
Authors: Wiest Nathaniel E. , Johns Gretchen S. , Edwards Eric
Published: August 2021

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a critical strategy to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been developed in a rapid timeframe to combat the pandemic. While generally safe and effective, rare cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been reported after two adenovirus-based vaccines, the AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and the Janssen Ad.26.COV2.S vaccine, as well as after the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Here, we present the case of a patient who developed acute pulmonary emboli (PE) shortly after his second dose of the Moderna mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report the results of an extensive thrombophilia workup that was normal except for the identification of positive lupus anticoagulant (LA) signals. It is our goal to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and encourage vaccine adverse event reporting so that clinicians can have a full appreciation and awareness of the possible adverse events related to these critical vaccines.
Optimization of Whole Tumor Cell Vaccines by Interaction with Phagocytic Receptors
Authors: Korbelik Mladen
Published: August 2021

The principal event in the function of whole-cell cancer vaccines is the ingestion of vaccine-delivered tumor antigen-containing material, which is performed by the patient’s antigen-presenting cells (APCs) through the employment of their phagocytic receptors. The goal of the present study was to identify the phagocytic receptors critical for the therapeutic efficacy of whole-cell cancer vaccines. The model of photodynamic therapy (PDT)-generated vaccines based on mouse SCCVII tumors was utilized, with in vitro expanded SCCVII cells treated by PDT serving as the vaccine material used for treating mice bearing established SCCVII tumors. The therapeutic impact, monitored as delayed progression of vaccinated tumors, was almost completely eliminated when antibodies specifically blocking the activity of LOX-1 scavenger receptor were administered to mice 30 min before vaccination. Similar, but much less pronounced, impacts were found with antibodies neutralizing the activity of CR3/CR4 receptors recognizing complement-opsonized vaccine cells, and with those blocking activating Fcγ receptors that recognized IgG antibody-based opsonins. A strikingly contrary action, a greatly enhanced tumor control by the vaccine, was found by blocking immune inhibitory receptor, FcγRIIB. The reported findings establish, therefore, an attractive strategy that can be effectively exploited for potent therapeutic enhancement of PDT-generated (and probably other) whole-cell tumor vaccines.
Effect of Bivalent Vaccines against Vibrio anguillarum and Aeromonas salmonicida Subspecie achromogenes on Health and Survival of Turbot
Authors: Torres-Corral Yolanda , Girons Albert , González-Barreiro Oscar , Seoane Rafael , Riaza Ana , Santos Ysabel
Published: August 2021

The efficacy of intraperitoneal injection of an oil-based bivalent autogenous vaccine and the commercial vaccine AlphaJect 3000 (Pharmaq AS) to prevent atypical furunculosis and vibriosis in turbot was analyzed. The effect of both vaccines on health parameters and survival of fish after challenge with V. anguillarum and A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes was tested. The autogenous vaccine conferred high levels of protection and long-lasting immunity against both pathogens with a single dose. However, severe side effects were observed in turbot injected with this autovaccine and minor negative effects with the AlphaJect 3000 vaccine and the adjuvant Montanide or Eolane. All vaccinated fish showed remarkable antibody agglutination titers, higher than those of control fish, which were maintained 160 d after vaccination. In conclusion, the autogenous bivalent vaccine induces long-lasting protection against atypical furunculosis and vibriosis in turbot, after administration of a single dose, at the cost of high side effects in fish. Therefore, the development of new vaccines should focus on autovaccines and the use of liquid paraffin adjuvants that increase protection with reduced or no side effects.
3D GIS Platform for Flood Wargame: A Case Study of New Taipei City, Taiwan
Authors: Su Wen-Ray , Lin Yong-Jun , Huang Chun-Hung , Yang Chun-Hung , Tsai Yuan-Fan
Published: August 2021

Wargames have been promoted by local governments in Taiwan since 2009, as they require far fewer resources than full-scale exercises. Previously, wargame scenarios were divulged before their launch, enabling participants to formulate response plans in advance, which made them ineffective. Currently, wargames in which scenarios are not shared in advance require a common platform for debriefing players regarding their planned actions. Owing to its geographical location, Taiwan is prone to significant flooding disasters. To assist in making countermeasures, we created a 3D GIS-based Flood Wargame Assistance Platform (FWGAP) for conducting rapid spatial analyses. Flooded areas are estimated in the FWGAP in three ways: (1) using a digital terrain model (DTM) with designated flood center and depth; (2) applying historical flooding spots; and (3) potential flooding maps. A FWGAP can estimate affected and vulnerable populations and has functions for locating resources such as shelters and hospitals near the flooded areas. Its integrated use of closed-circuit televisions, Google Street View maps, and 3D buildings to display flooded areas realistically ensures greater fidelity. This study reports on the city- and the district-level applications of the FWGAP. The results of the survey undertaken indicates that 56% of the participants agreed that the FWGAP enables disaster relief resources to be located on a GIS map. About half of the participants believed that a no-script flooding wargame using a FWGAP could help to identify problems in standard operation procedures and promote greater horizontal coordination among departments.
Glacial Change and Its Hydrological Response in Three Inland River Basins in the Qilian Mountains, Western China
Authors: Liu Guohua , Chen Rensheng , Li Kailu
Published: August 2021

Glacial changes have great effects on regional water security because they are an important component of glacierized basin runoff. However, these impacts have not yet been integrated and evaluated in the arid/semiarid inland river basins of western China. Based on the degree-day glacier model, glacier changes and their hydrologic effects were studied in 12 subbasins in the Shiyang River basin (SYRB), Heihe River basin (HHRB) and Shule River basin (SLRB). The results showed that the glacier area of each subbasin decreased by 16.7–61.7% from 1965 to 2020. By the end of this century, the glacier areas in the three basins will be reduced by 64.4%, 72.0% and 83.4% under the three climate scenarios, and subbasin glaciers will disappear completely after the 2070s even under RCP2.6. Glacial runoff in all subbasins showed a decreasing–increasing–decreasing trend, with peak runoff experienced in 11 subbasins during 1965~2020. The contribution of glacial meltwater to total runoff in the basin ranged from 1.3% to 46.8% in the past, and it will decrease in the future due to increasing precipitation and decreasing glacial meltwater. However, the scale differences in glacier runoff are significant when aggregated over the region/basin/subbasin. This suggests that the results of large-scale generalization may be misleading for subbasin glacier water resource evaluations. Therefore, the hydrological effects of glaciers should be studied more in subbasins to provide an accurate reference for practical water resource management.
Regional and Seasonal Precipitation and Drought Trends in Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin
Authors: Parajuli Bikram , Zhang Xiang , Deuja Sudip , Liu Yingbing
Published: August 2021

Satellite-based precipitation products can be a better alternative of rain gauges for hydro-meteorological studies in data-poor regions. This study aimed to evaluate how regional and seasonal precipitation and drought patterns had changed in the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin between 1983 and 2020 with PERSIANN-CDR precipitation data. The spatial pattern of winter drought, monsoon drought, and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) calculated for different time scales were evaluated using principal component analysis. Ganga–Brahmaputra is one of the most populated river basins that flows through different geographical regions. Rain gauges are heterogeneously distributed in the basin due to its complex orography, highlighting the significance of gridded precipitation products over gauge observations for climate studies. Annual and monthly precipitation trends between 1983 and 2020 were evaluated using the original and modified Mann–Kendall trend test, and annual precipitation in the basin was found to be declining at a rate of 5.8 mm/year. An increasing trend was observed in pre-monsoon rainfall, whereas precipitation exhibited a decreasing trend for other months. Results of the Pettitt test showed precipitation time series was inhomogeneous and changepoint occurred around 2000. Decreasing trends of SPI indicated increasing frequency and intensity of drought events. Winter drought showed a clear spatial pattern in the basin; however, SPIs calculated for different time scales and monsoon drought had complex spatial patterns. This study demonstrates the applicability of satellite-based PERSIANN-CDR precipitation data in climate research in the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin.
Nitrogen and Rainfall Effects on Crop Growth—Experimental Results and Scenario Analyses
Authors: Shahadha Saadi Sattar , Wendroth Ole , Ding Dianyuan
Published: August 2021

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is critical for crop growth; however, its effect on crop growth and evapotranspiration (ETc) behaviors under different amounts of rainfall is not well understood. As such, there is a need for studying the impact of nitrogen application rates and rainfall amounts on crop growth and ETc components. Agricultural system models help to fill this knowledge gap, e.g., the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2), which integrates crop growth-related processes. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the nitrogen application rate on crop growth, soil water dynamics, and ETc behavior under different rainfall amounts by using experimental data and the RZWQM2. A field study was conducted from 2016 to 2019 with three nitrogen application rates (0, 70, and 130 kg N ha−1) for unirrigated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and two nitrogen application rates (0 and 205 kg N ha−1) for unirrigated corn (Zea mays L.). For the period of 1986–2019, the amounts of actual rainfall during each crop growth period are categorized into four groups. Each rainfall group is used as a rainfall scenario in the RZWQM2 to explore the interactions between the rainfall amounts and N levels on the resulting crop growth and water status. The results show that the model satisfactorily captures the interaction effects of nitrogen application rates and rainfall amounts on the daily ETc and soil water dynamics. The nitrogen application rate showed a noticeable impact on the behavior of soil water dynamics and ETc components. The 75% rainfall scenario yielded the highest nitrogen uptake for both crops. This scenario revealed the highest water consumption for wheat, while corn showed the highest water uptake for the 100% rainfall scenario. The interaction between a high nitrogen level and 50% rainfall yielded the highest water use efficiency, while low nitrogen and 125% rainfall yielded the highest nitrogen use efficiency. A zero nitrogen rate yielded the highest ETc and lowest soil water content among all treatments. Moreover, the impacts of the nitrogen application rate on ETc behavior, crop growth, and soil water dynamics differed depending on the received rainfall amount.
Modeling Groundwater-Fed Irrigation and Its Impact on Streamflow and Groundwater Depth in an Agricultural Area of Huaihe River Basin, China
Authors: Sun Yimeng , Chen Xi , Chen Xi , Yang Liu
Published: August 2021

The amount of water taken from groundwater for agricultural irrigation is often not observed, while hydrological models have been extensively proposed to investigate the irrigation dynamics and impacts in agricultural areas. In this work, we propose an agro-hydrological model that integrates agricultural irrigation with the traditional Xin’anjiang (XAJ) hydrological model. In particular, the proposed model incorporates the FAO guidelines on crop evapotranspiration into hydrological routing of water balance and flow fluxes in unsaturated and saturated zones. The model was used to calibrate the groundwater irrigation amounts in terms of both the observed river discharge and the groundwater depth in the Xuanwu plain area of the Huaihe River Basin in China. The calibration and sensitivity analyses were performed by the shuffled complex evolution (SCE-UA) method. This method can be applied to a single-objective optimization of model parameters, based on either the river discharge or the groundwater depth, or to a multi-objective optimization of model parameters based on both of these objectives. The results show that the multi-objective calibration is more efficient than the single-objective method for capturing dynamics of the river discharge and the groundwater depth. The estimated means of the annual groundwater withdrawal for wheat and maize irrigations were found to be about 140.5 mm and 13.7 mm, respectively. The correlation between the groundwater withdrawal and the change in groundwater depth during crop growing seasons demonstrated that the groundwater withdrawal is the dominant factor for the groundwater depth change in the river basin, particularly in the winter wheat season. Moreover, model simulations show that the combined effects of the reduced precipitation and the increased groundwater withdrawal would lead to a decrease of the average annual runoff and an increase of the average groundwater depth. These estimates can greatly help in understanding the irregular changes in the groundwater withdrawal and offer a quantitative basis for studying future groundwater demands in this area.
Interpretation of the history of culture in education
Authors:   Russian Research Institute for Cultural and Natural Heritage of D.S. Likhachev, Flier A.Ya.
Published: August 2021

The paper discusses the relationship of a particular interpretation of historical and cultural artifacts from the ideological interpreter settings. Systematized basic modern ideology, and built an algorithm considering cultural artifacts, which allows to reach the main most common interpretation.
Some structures in teaching Solfeggio and Elementary Music Theory
Authors: Severina Irina Markovna
Published: August 2021

The article is devoted to the most common structures of intervals and chords, which are studied in the course of elementary music theory and mastered in practice in solfeggio lessons. The author has repeatedly encountered the fact that certain structures are explained out of system, and, as a result, they do not linger in the memory of students for a long time. On the pages of many textbooks, it is possible to find more or less disparate information. However, according to the author, the issue is not only the textbooks, but also the common way of teaching, when one chord is studied separately without connection with the other chords and/or intervals, then another one, and so on. This presentation of information seems unproductive: sometimes even numerous repetitions do not save the situation, and the material does not always fit in the heads of even the most diligent students. The author of this publication demonstrates how to combine seemingly heterogeneous sound structures into two large blocks and fit simpler structures into more complex ones. The article also shows some patterns in the construction and resolution of intervals and chords. A systematic and logical approach to the study of sound structures is indispensable, especially in the case of low-performing students, who, in a short period of time, do not have time to learn the material from textbooks, even with a strong desire. In the end, the author comes to the conclusion that the main task of theoretical disciplines is to contribute to developing the ear for music, and not only to develop mathematical and logical thinking.
On education and upbringing: On the issue of global security
Authors:   Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Cultural Studies, Moscow University for the Humanities, Ivanova Irina Sergeevna
Published: August 2021

The article analyzes those ethical teachings of the humanities and works of art that can serve as a guide to the prevention of conflicts and the threat of self-destruction of the mankind. The author points out that teaching and presenting to society its fruits must be teleological. The purpose of studying these texts should be a theory of creating a planetary human community based on the principles of goodness and justice. It requires the creation of a new type of man. I.S. Ivanova presents the problems of education and upbringing in the form of three circles: the circle of education of the individual and society, the circle of education and upbringing, and the cultural and linguistic circle. As the most important teachings in philosophy and ethics for the prevention of conflicts and the threat of self-destruction of the mankind, the author singles out the golden rule of morality, the categorical imperative of I. Kant; the teachings of V.S. Solovyov on tolerance and debunking of national, state and personal egoism. In the field of fiction, it is proposed to pay more attention to the books by L.N. Tolstoy, F.M. Dostoevsky, and literature about the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet period. In the sphere of speech culture, it is crucial to teach to prevent conflicts using a system of taboos and euphemisms. The author proposes the idea of principles common to all humanities, necessary for the upbringing of a new type of man and the creation of theoretical principles for building a society of a new planetary human community.