bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Effective Hotel Recommendation System through Processing Heterogeneous Data
Authors: Forhad Md. Shafiul Alam , Arefin Mohammad Shamsul , Kayes A. S. M. , Ahmed Khandakar , Chowdhury Mohammad Jabed Morshed , Kumara Indika
Published: August 2021

Recommendation systems have recently gained a lot of popularity in various industries such as entertainment and tourism. They can act as filters of information by providing relevant suggestions to the users through processing heterogeneous data from different networks. Many travelers and tourists routinely rely on textual reviews, numerical ratings, and points of interest to select hotels in cities worldwide. To attract more customers, online hotel booking systems typically rank their hotels based on the recommendations from their customers. In this paper, we present a framework that can rank hotels by analyzing hotels’ customer reviews and nearby amenities. In addition, a framework is presented that combines the scores generated from user reviews and surrounding facilities. We perform experiments using datasets from online hotel booking platforms such as TripAdvisor and Booking to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed framework. We first store the keywords extracted from reviews and assign weights to each considered unigram and bigram keywords and, then, we give a numerical score to each considered keyword. Finally, our proposed system aggregates the scores generated from the reviews and surrounding environments from different categories of the facilities. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed recommendation framework.
ReFuzz: A Remedy for Saturation in Coverage-Guided Fuzzing
Authors: Lyu Qian , Zhang Dalin , Da Rihan , Zhang Hailong
Published: August 2021

Coverage-guided greybox fuzzing aims at generating random test inputs to trigger vulnerabilities in target programs while achieving high code coverage. In the process, the scale of testing gradually becomes larger and more complex, and eventually, the fuzzer runs into a saturation state where new vulnerabilities are hard to find. In this paper, we propose a fuzzer, ReFuzz, that acts as a complement to existing coverage-guided fuzzers and a remedy for saturation. This approach facilitates the generation of inputs that lead only to covered paths by omitting all other inputs, which is exactly the opposite of what existing fuzzers do. ReFuzz takes the test inputs generated from the regular saturated fuzzing process and continue to explore the target program with the goal of preserving the code coverage. The insight is that coverage-guided fuzzers tend to underplay already covered execution paths during fuzzing when seeking to reach new paths, causing covered paths to be examined insufficiently. In our experiments, ReFuzz discovered tens of new unique crashes that AFL failed to find, of which nine vulnerabilities were submitted and accepted to the CVE database.
Quantification of the Flexibility of Residential Prosumers
Authors: Balázs István G. , Fodor Attila , Magyar Attila
Published: August 2021

Balancing in a distributed generation network is an increasingly difficult task because of the increasing number of residential prosumers on the power network. This paper proposes a framework for the estimation, as well as the prediction of the power flexibility of residential prosumers. In order to quantify the residential buildings’ demand flexibility, a thermoelectric simulation model of a typical residential house was developed based on first engineering principles. Based on the calculated flexibility values, a simple prediction method was used to give a short-term forecast of the prosumer flexibility. The results were validated by simulation experiments incorporating real data for four different scenarios.
Datafication Process in the Concept of Smart Cities
Authors: Walentek Dorota
Published: August 2021

Datafication, currently visible in almost all areas of the human life, turned out to be a very good basis for the development of the concept of smart cities. Smart city authorities use various types of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the process of managing individual urban infrastructure systems. Modern ICT solutions enable city authorities to collect and process data about citizens. The purpose of this article is to determine the correlation between datafication and a city’s position in the global smart cities ranking, with particular emphasis on the role of social media. To achieve the goal, the method of examining documents was used. Two independent reports were thoroughly analyzed: the Smart City Index 2020 and the Digital 2021 Local Country Headlines. The study showed that the more residents use social media, the better a city performs in the ranking. Additionally, a directly proportional relationship between the level of urbanization and the percentage of people using the Internet was demonstrated. The results of the presented study may be important primarily for people and institutions responsible for creating modern urban space.
Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS
Authors: Ociepa-Kubicka Agnieszka , Deska Iwona , Ociepa Ewa
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this article is to analyze and compare the benefits of and barriers to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)—International Standard ISO 14001 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—by organizations. This paper attempts to answer the following research questions: 1. Does the implementation of either ISO 14001 or EMAS bring the same benefits and barriers to organizations? 2. Does the system functioning duration in the company influence internal and external benefits resulting from EMS implementation? 3. Are economic aspects of EMS adoption as important for entrepreneurs as the ecological aspects? This topic is important due to the large disproportions appearing in recent years between the number of companies registered in ISO 14001 and in EMAS, and due to relatively frequent cases of non-renewal of EMAS certifications in recent years. It is crucial because each EMS certified institution has implemented procedures which contribute to better protection of the natural environment. The study was conducted in the form of a survey; questions and answers were specified based on the literature review and the authors’ research. Results indicate that the knowledge-based and organizational problems, as well as the time invested in preparing the documentation, are much more significant than financial problems associated with EMS implementation. Even organizations that previously introduced ISO 14001 still have difficulties with EMAS implementation. The perception of benefits resulting from EMS introduction is related to the system functioning duration in the company. The analysis shows that it is necessary to strengthen economic incentives in order to enable the widest possible dissemination of EMS among companies. Research results can contribute to further simplification and increases in EMS implementation, which may lead to more sustainable development and climate change mitigation, inter alia, due to the improvement in energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
PV Energy Communities—Challenges and Barriers from a Consumer Perspective: A Literature Review
Authors: Lazdins Roberts , Mutule Anna , Zalostiba Diana
Published: August 2021

Renewable energy sources, in particular those based on solar radiation, are growing rapidly and are planned to play an instrumental role in building power systems to reach the 2030 and 2050 energy and climate mitigation objectives. However, new actors have been introduced into the energy field, highlighting the importance of the role of citizens and communities in building such energy systems. To outline the significance of citizens in the development of solar energy communities and to describe the benefits of and barriers to their implementation so far, a comprehensive literature review has been carried out based on 64 thoroughly selected, reliable scientific publications (published within 2015–2021), revealing the latest trends, technologies and research in this field. The research focuses on four consumer interest areas: policy, economic, technical and social, covering the following subsections: policy, trading model, economic assessment, business model, energy management, demand response, modelling tools and consumer adoption. Within each subsection the conducted review seeks to answer the questions related to the further development and implementation of PV energy communities, considering consumer needs and revealing the possible solutions.
Application of Meteorological Variables for the Estimation of Static Load Model Parameters
Authors: Jović Aleksandar S. , Korunović Lidija M. , Djokic Sasa Z.
Published: August 2021

This paper presents a novel approach for estimating the parameters of the most frequently used static load model, which is based on the use of meteorological variables and is an alternative to the commonly used but time-consuming measurement-based approach. The presented model employs five frequently reported meteorological variables (ambient temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, and wind direction) and the load model parameters as the independent and dependent variables, respectively. The analysis compared the load model parameters obtained by using all five meteorological variables and also when the meteorological variables with the lowest influence are omitted successively (one by one) from the model. It is recommended based on these results to use the model with the maximum accuracy, i.e., with five meteorological variables. The model was validated on a validation set of measurements, demonstrating its applicability for the estimation of load model parameters when the measurements of electrical variables for parameter identification are not available. Finally, load model parameters of the analyzed demand were estimated on the basis of only ambient temperature, and it was found that such a linear model can be used with a similar accuracy as the models with up to four meteorological variables.
Could It Be a Bike for Everyone? The Electric Bicycle in Poland
Authors: Kwiatkowski Michał Adam , Grzelak-Kostulska Elżbieta , Biegańska Jadwiga
Published: August 2021

The purpose of study was to find out how electric bikes are perceived in Poland, a country with a high level of motorisation and a low cycling culture. A key question was to investigate whether differences in perceptions between traditional (unassisted) and electrically assisted bicycles could bring about greater interest in bicycle transport. The analysis was based on the results of a CAWI survey analysing the perception of the electric bicycle in comparison with the traditional bicycle and the car. Its undoubted advantages are marginalised (only 14% of respondents considered it more practical). The position of the electric bicycle seemed to increase in the opinion of the surveyed only when used by elderly people with poorer fitness, as something that can encourage them to cycle. In general evaluations, it was the traditional bicycle that was seen as better for health. The presented results may serve as a signal that electric bicycles need more promotion in Poland, especially in terms of the benefits of using this mode of transport and the advantages over conventional bikes. The electric bicycle, due to its still low popularity in Poland, may be treated as a certain novelty, which is approached with some distrust and reserve.
A Practical Load Disaggregation Approach for Monitoring Industrial Users Demand with Limited Data Availability
Authors: Tavakoli Sara , Khalilpour Kaveh
Published: August 2021

The emergence of smart sensors has had a significant impact on the utility industry. In particular, it has made the planning and implementation of demand-side management (DSM) programmes easier. Nevertheless, for various reasons, some users may not implement smart meters for load monitoring. This paper addresses such cases, particularly large-scale industrial users, which, despite heavy electrical loads coming from many different processes, implement only simple energy measuring equipment for billing purposes. This necessitates the utilisation of novel methodologies for load disaggregation, often referred to as nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM). The availability of such tools can create multifold benefits for industrial park management, utility service providers, regulators, and policymakers. Here, we introduce an optimisation algorithm for nonintrusive load disaggregation that is low-cost, speedy, and acceptably accurate. As a case study, we used real network data of three industrial sectors: food processing, stonecutting, and glassmaking. For all cases, the optimisation framework developed a desegregated profile and estimated the load with an error of less than 5%. For non-workdays, given the higher uncertainty for the continuity of different processes, the estimation error was higher but still in an acceptable range of around 3.63–15.09% with an average of 8.10%.
Impact of Technogenic Saline Soils on Some Chemical Properties and on the Activity of Selected Enzymes
Authors: Lemanowicz Joanna , Gawlińska Kinga , Siwik-Ziomek Anetta
Published: August 2021

The study was based on saline soils with surface mineral layers impacted by the waste produced by the soda plant in Poland. The activity of selected enzymes (catalase CAT, alkaline AlP, and acid phosphatase AcP), pH in KCl, content of the clay, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total exchangeable bases (TEB), electrical conductivity (ECe), CaCO3, and concentration of available phosphorus AP were investigated in the soil next to the soda plant. Based on the enzyme activity, the following were calculated: enzymatic pH indicator AlP/AcP, the resistance index (RS), resilience index (RL), relative changes (RCh), and the time index (TI). The soil was sampled from the mineral horizon in spring and autumn from eight (S1–S8) soil sampling sites in the area of the soda plant and from the control point (C). Soil is characterized by alkaline reaction. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, η2 effect size) showed significant variation in parameters under the influence of different sites next to soda plant. The content of TOC ranged from 4.70 to 47.7 g kg−1, and TN from 19 to 4.36 g kg−1. ECe next to the soda plant ranged between 6.87 and 204 mS cm−1. The highest values were confirmed in the soil of S1 both in spring and autumn. Higher TEB values were noted in the soil in autumn. In the soil within the impact of the soda plant, the AP content decreased and in the soil from sites S1, S3, S6, and S8 (in spring), the lowest AP content was recorded at 1.20, 4.14, 5.98, and 0.99 mg kg−1, respectively. The highest activity of AlP in spring was noted at site S1 and in autumn at site S4. In the soil next to the soda plant, the activity of AcP decreased, as compared to the control which is seen from the negative values of the coefficient of relative changes (RCh). The analysis of RCh in the catalase activities showed that in the soil from sites S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, the activity increased, as compared to the control. The lowest values of the resistance index (RS) for phosphatases were reported in the soil of S6. Research shows that the activity of enzymes and their indexes make it possible to conduct long-term monitoring and identify the processes in soil.
Baltic Offshore Wind Energy Development—Poland’s Public Policy Tools Analysis and the Geostrategic Implications
Authors: Pronińska Kamila , Księżopolski Krzysztof
Published: August 2021

A key question for European energy transition is which forms of renewable energy technologies will play a central role in this process. The recent dynamic growth in offshore wind power together with the vast wind energy potential of the European seas, including the Baltic Sea, make this technology an increasingly attractive and viable option. Considering the high installation and connection costs, government support is considered essential for the development of offshore wind power. The aim of this article is to analyze Poland’s public policy tools, which govern offshore wind farm development, and to present them from a wider geostrategic perspective. Authors identify, classify, and evaluate individual public policy tools with the use of multi-criteria and multi-dimensional methods while explaining their impact on offshore wind development in Poland. The analysis of the individual tools has shown that the currently applied tools give a high probability of achieving public policy objectives. The characteristics of the applied tools prove that vital decisions on offshore wind energy have been made concerning the need for decarbonization but also regarding wider geostrategic calculations. Given the changing security dynamics in the Baltic Sea region, we highlight potential geostrategic risks to the implementation of offshore wind projects.
Polish Local Government’s Perspective on Revitalisation: A Framework for Future Socially Sustainable Solutions
Authors: Przywojska Justyna
Published: August 2021

The principal goal of this paper is to investigate the views of local government officials on revitalisation priorities in Polish municipalities. To accomplish this, the perception of revitalisation objectives by local government representatives (who, according to Polish regulations, are responsible for revitalisation planning and carrying it out) was examined. A catalogue of revitalisation objectives, which were assessed by the respondents, was drawn up on the basis of a review of research on the conceptualisation and measurement of sustainable revitalisation and social sustainability at the local level. Exploratory factor analysis was the method used in the study. In total, the list of the examined revitalisation objectives includes 26 objectives related to the following revitalisation dimensions: infrastructure, community, economy, environment, space, co-governance, and inclusion. A survey of the executive bodies of 573 municipalities in Poland revealed a discrepancy between the sustainable approach to revitalisation advocated by the researchers and the perception of revitalisation objectives by the local decision makers. The study demonstrated that decision makers ranked objectives related to the physical dimension of revitalisation and selected objectives related to the social dimension of revitalisation and oriented at counteracting social exclusion by far the highest. The proactive objectives, related to the engagement, mobilisation and integration of the inhabitants, improvement of human capital, stimulation of the local economy and residential satisfaction, were viewed as definitely less important. The challenges facing revitalisation in Poland still fail to be perceived holistically by decision makers, which may hinder the building of strong and sustainable communities.
Age-Friendly Built Environment
Authors: Chau Hing-Wah , Jamei Elmira
Published: August 2021

Age-friendly built environments have been promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) under the Global Age-friendly Cities (AFC) movement in which three domains are related to the built environment. These are: housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and public buildings. The aim is to foster active ageing by optimising opportunities for older adults to maximise their independent living ability and participate in their communities to enhance their quality of life and wellbeing. An age-friendly built environment is inclusive, accessible, respects individual needs and addresses the wide range of capacities across the course of life. Age-friendly housing promotes ageing in familiar surroundings and maintains social connections at the neighbourhood and community levels. Both age-friendly housing and buildings provide barrier-free provisions to minimise the needs for subsequent adaptations. Age-friendly public and outdoor spaces encourage older adults to spend time outside and engage with others against isolation and loneliness. Age-friendly public transport enables older adults to get around and enhances their mobility. For achieving an age-friendly living environment, a holistic approach is required to enable independent living, inclusion and active participation of older adults in society. The eight domains of the AFC movement are not mutually exclusive but overlap and support with one another.
Soil Effects on Stem Growth and Wood Anatomy of Tamboril Are Mediated by Tree Age
Authors: Angélico Talita dos Santos , Marcati Carmen Regina , Rossi Sergio , da Silva Magali Ribeiro , Sonsin-Oliveira Júlia
Published: August 2021

Soil influences the growth of trees and the characteristics of the wood; but could this influence change during the ontogeny of trees? To answer this question, we analyzed the wood anatomy of 9-year-old trees and 2-year-old saplings of Enterolobium contortisiliquum, known as “tamboril”, growing in eutrophic and oligotrophic soil in the Brazilian Cerrado, and assessed the effect of age on plant–soil relationship. Sapwood samples were collected from the main stem, anatomical sections were prepared in the lab, and 12 anatomical wood traits were measured. Individuals in eutrophic soil had greater stem diameter and height than those in oligotrophic soil. Trees in eutrophic soil had vessel-associated parenchyma cells with abundant storage compounds. Fibers walls were 47% thicker and intervessel pits diameter were 14% larger in trees of eutrophic soil. A greater proportion of solitary vessels (74%) was observed in trees rather than in saplings (50%). The secondary xylem of trees was mainly formed by fibers (63%) whereas in saplings it was mainly formed by storage tissue (64%). Our study provides evidence that the influence of soil conditions on tree growth reflects variations in wood anatomical features. No significant response to soil type was observed in saplings, thus demonstrating that the relationship between soil type and wood growth is mediated by tree age. These findings help to develop reliable reforestation strategies in tropical ecosystems characterized by different levels of soil fertility.
Changes of Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Diversity of Odonata (Insecta) in Response to Land Use in Amazonia
Authors: Geraldo de Carvalho Fernando , Duarte Leandro , Nakamura Gabriel , Dubal dos Santos Seger Guilherme , Juen Leandro
Published: August 2021

Changes in natural habitats for human use can alter the distribution of biodiversity, favoring species that are more tolerant to environmental disturbance. Usually, these species comprise clades of habitat generalists, which have biological mechanisms to colonize environments with different environmental conditions. However, such effects are still poorly understood for most biological groups, such as the Amazon odonates. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of land use along an environmental gradient on the phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity of Odonata in the Amazon. We tested the following hypotheses: In deforested areas (e.g., pasture for cattle, palm plantation, and logging), the Odonata community will be more taxonomically and phylogenetically impoverished than in forested areas. We assume that the modification of the natural habitat causes loss of specialist forest species and favors specialist species of open areas and/or habitat generalists. Data sampling was performed in 195 streams under different land-use types: livestock areas, palm monoculture, timber exploitation, and forest areas taken as reference sites. Our results showed that anthropogenic impacts affected the phylogenetic diversity of odonates and the increase in shrub vegetation was related to the increase in the phylogenetic diversity of communities. On the other hand, shrub vegetation is indicative of disturbed areas, where secondary vegetation predominates, with less canopy cover due to the absence or discontinuity of the native tree cover in these habitats. Nonetheless, species richness and abundance were not related to the effects of anthropogenic land use. Finally, our results suggest that the phylogenetic diversity of Amazonian odonates is related to riparian vegetation structure.
Detectability of Pseudomonassyringae pv. aesculi from European Horse Chestnut Using Quantitative PCR Compared with Traditional Isolation
Authors: Schneider Salome , Schefer Christopher , Meyer Joana Beatrice
Published: August 2021

Bleeding cankers on horse chestnut trees (Aesculushippocastanum and Aesculus × carnea), caused by Pseudomonassyringae pv. aesculi, have been reported across Europe. In the present study, we show the successful detection of P. syringae pv. aesculi on symptomatic horse chestnut trees in Switzerland using quantitative PCR (qPCR). However, P. syringae pv. aesculi was also detected by qPCR on trees from which no isolate was obtained through cultivation. Reduced isolation success and low copy numbers of the target gene were correlated with the increasing age of symptomatic horse chestnut trees. The potential of detecting non-viable P. syringae pv. aesculi by qPCR was evaluated using an inoculation experiment with dead bacteria and detection by qPCR and cultivation. The detectability of DNA from P. syringae pv. aesculi cells dropped by 34.5% one day after inoculation and then decreased only slightly until the end of the experiment (22 days after inoculation). In contrast, no bacterial growth was observed at any time point after the inactivation of the bacteria. To protect horse chestnut trees, evaluating the viability and actual infection stage of the bacterium may play an important role.
Comprehensive Review of Polysaccharide-Based Materials in Edible Packaging: A Sustainable Approach
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Li Bo , Li Cuicui , Xu Yangfan , Luo Yi , Liang Dongwu , Huang Chongxing
Published: August 2021

Edible packaging is a sustainable product and technology that uses one kind of “food” (an edible material) to package another kind of food (a packaged product), and organically integrates food with packaging through ingenious material design. Polysaccharides are a reliable source of edible packaging materials with excellent renewable, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Using polysaccharide-based materials effectively reduces the dependence on petroleum resources, decreases the carbon footprint of the “product-packaging” system, and provides a “zero-emission” scheme. To date, they have been commercialized and developed rapidly in the food (e.g., fruits and vegetables, meat, nuts, confectioneries, and delicatessens, etc.) packaging industry. However, compared with petroleum-based polymers and plastics, polysaccharides still have limitations in film-forming, mechanical, barrier, and protective properties. Therefore, they need to be improved by reasonable material modifications (chemical or physical modification). This article comprehensively reviews recent research advances, hot issues, and trends of polysaccharide-based materials in edible packaging. Emphasis is given to fundamental compositions and properties, functional modifications, food-packaging applications, and safety risk assessment of polysaccharides (including cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, chitosan, and polysaccharide gums). Therefore, to provide a reference for the development of modern edible packaging.
Possible Protective Effect of LOXL1 Variant in the Cohort of Chernobyl Catastrophe Clean-Up Workers
Authors: Žukauskaitė Gabrielė , Domarkienė Ingrida , Matulevičienė Aušra , Vaitėnienė Evelina Marija , Arasimavičius Justas , Smailytė Giedrė , Kučinskas Vaidutis , Ambrozaitytė Laima
Published: August 2021

Ionising radiation (IR) is an environmental factor known to alter genomes and therefore challenge organisms to adapt. Lithuanian clean-up workers of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (LCWC) experienced high doses of IR, leading to different consequences. This study aims to characterise a unique protective genomic variation in a relatively healthy LCWC group. This variation influenced their individual reaction to IR and potentially protects against certain diseases such as exfoliation syndrome and glaucoma. Clinical and IR dosage data were collected using a questionnaire to characterise the cohort of 93 LCWC. Genome-wide genotyping using Illumina beadchip technology was performed. The control group included 466 unrelated, self-reported healthy individuals of Lithuanian descent. Genotypes were filtered out from the microarray dataset using a catalogue of SNPs. The data were used to perform association, linkage disequilibrium, and epistasis analysis. Phenotype data analysis showed the distribution of the most common disease groups among the LCWC. A genomic variant of statistical significance (Fishers’ exact test, p = 0.019), rs3825942, was identified in LOXL1 (NM_005576.4:c.458G>A). Linkage disequilibrium and epistasis analysis for this variant identified the genes LHFPL3, GALNT6, PIH1D1, ANKS1B, and METRNL as potentially involved in the etiopathogenesis of exfoliation syndrome and glaucoma, which were not previously associated with the disease. The LOXL1 variant is mostly considered a risk factor in the development of exfoliation syndrome and glaucoma. The influence of recent positive selection, the phenomenon of allele-flipping, and the fact that only individuals with the homozygous reference allele have glaucoma in the cohort of the LCWC suggest otherwise. The identification of rs3825942 and other potentially protective genomic variants may be useful for further analysis of the genetic architecture and etiopathogenetic mechanisms of other multifactorial diseases.
Transdisciplinarity—A Bold Way into the Academic Future, from a European Medievalist Perspective and or the Rediscovery of Philology?
Authors: Classen Albrecht
Published: August 2021

This essay examines the challenges and opportunities provided by transdisciplinarity from the point of view of medieval literature. This approach is situated within the universal framework of General Education or Liberal Arts, which in turn derives its essential inspiration from medieval and ancient learning. On the one hand, the various recent efforts to work transdisciplinarily are outlined and discussed; on the other, a selection of medieval narratives and one modern German novel plus one eighteenth-century ode are examined to illustrate how a transdisciplinary approach could work productively in order to innovate the principles of the modern university or all academic learning, putting the necessary tools of twenty-first century epistemology into the hands of the new generation. The specific angle pursued here consists of drawing from the world of medieval philosophy and literature as a new launching pad for future endeavors.
Comment on Laratta et al. Marital Stability and Quality of Couple Relationships after Acquired Brain Injury: A Two-Year Follow-Up Clinical Study. Healthcare 2021, 9, 283
Authors: van den Broek Brenda , Bus Boudewijn , Rijnen Sophie
Published: August 2021

We read with great interest the recent article by Laratta et al. [...]
The Scopic Feast of Heritage and the Invention of Unthreatening Diversity in Neoliberal Cities
Authors: Hammami Feras
Published: August 2021

This article explores the role that heritage might play in the representation of ‘difference’, within the context of neoliberal cities. The case is a large-scale urban change in the former working-class neighborhood of Gamlestaden, Sweden. Interviews and on-site observations revealed how authorized heritage practices can enable the celebration of particular social and cultural values, while naturalizing the erasure of others. People’s cultural diversity, and diverging interpretations of the past, have been guided by the power of heritage into a process of subjectification, according to which only ‘unthreatening’ forms of cultural diversity were celebrated and revealed legitimate. The ‘fetishized’ difference and particular historical records have served to conceal the political interest at stake in its’ production and maintenance, and led to a politicised representation of cultural diversity through what Annie Coombes’ terms ‘scopic feast’. All this was made possible through BID, the first neoliberal business improvement district model in Sweden, and its investment in a deeply rooted process of heritageisation. Uncritical engagement with difference in the context of heritage management and neoliberal urban development, make it appear almost natural to erase the cultural values that fall outside the authorized narrative of value.
Histories of Technology and the Environment in Post/Colonial Africa: Reflections on the Field
Authors: Hasenöhrl Ute
Published: August 2021

Much has happened since Dipesh Chakrabarty, at the turn of the millennium, paradigmatically called for a “provincialization of Europe”. The paper connects with three major trends in current history of technology, exploring these threads with regards to the Global South in general and post/colonial Africa in particular: (1) exemplifying and (later) disentangling transnational connections; (2) rethinking (colonial) infrastructures; and (3) exploring technologies-in-use, everyday practices and perceptions. Unpacking established Science and Technology concepts such as Thomas P. Hughes “Large (Socio)Technical Systems” (LTS) approach for post/colonial contexts, the paper argues that we need to move beyond the much-invoked “key figures” and drivers of global technological (ex)change and scrutinize place- and time-specific landscapes of technology instead. In particular, we need to pay closer attention to seemingly peripheral actors and actants as well as to the manifold interrelations between the human and the “natural” world.
Systematic Identification and Validation of Housekeeping and Tissue-Specific Genes in Allotetraploid Chenopodium quinoa
Authors: He Bing , Chen Hui , Shi Pibiao , Hu Fengqin , Song Wenjing , Meng Lin , Lv Yuanda
Published: August 2021

Quinoa is a gluten-free food crop that contains all the essential amino acids and vitamins. The selection of proper housekeeping and tissue-specific genes is the crucial prerequisite for gene expression analysis using the common approach, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In this study, we identified 40 novel candidate housekeeping genes by the minimum transcript per million (TPM), coefficient of variation (CV) and maximum fold change (MFC) methods and 19 candidate tissue-specific genes by the co-expression network method based on an RNA-seq dataset that included 53 stem, leaf, flower and seed samples, as well as additional shoot and root samples under different stresses. The expression stability of 12 housekeeping and tissue-specific genes, as well as that of another two traditionally used housekeeping genes, was further evaluated using qPCR and ranked using NormFinder, BestKeeper and the comparative delta-Ct method. The results demonstrated that MIF, RGGA, VATE and UBA2B were ranked as the top four most stable candidate housekeeping genes. qPCR analysis also revealed three leaf-specific genes and five root-specific genes, but no stem-specific gene was identified. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis identified that housekeeping genes were mainly enriched in the small molecule metabolic process, organonitrogen compound metabolic process, NAD binding and ligase activity. In addition, tissue-specific genes are closely associated with the major functions of a specific tissue. Specifically, GO terms “photosynthesis” and “thylakoid” were most significantly overrepresented in candidate leaf-specific genes. The novel housekeeping and tissue-specific genes in our study will enable better normalization and quantification of transcript levels in quinoa.
Rootstocks Impact Yield, Fruit Composition, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Winter Survival of Hybrid Cultivars in Eastern Canada
Authors: Provost Caroline , Campbell Alexander , Dumont François
Published: August 2021

Grafting cold-hardy hybrid grapevines may influence their attributes under different pedoclimatic conditions and may also contribute to cold-hardiness, influence plant physiology, and affect yield and fruit composition. In a six-year study, we evaluated bud survival, plant development, nutrient deficiencies, yield, and fruit composition for three cold-hardy grape varieties: Frontenac, Frontenac blanc, and Marquette. The grape varieties were grafted on four rootstocks: 3309C, SO4, Riparia Gloire, and 101-14. The final combinations were own-rooted. The six-year research period indicated that cold-hardy hybrids were affected differently by each rootstock. Magnesium deficiency was lower for grafted Frontenac and Frontenac blanc compared with own-rooted vines, but bud survival and grapevine development were not affected by rootstock. Moreover, results related to yield components showed that there are significant differences between rootstocks and own-rooted vines. Frontenac was the least affected grape variety compared to Frontenac blanc and Marquette, where only cluster weight and berry weight were impacted. Overall, for the two Frontenac varietals, we also observed a greater maturity for fruits of vines grafted on 101-14 and 3309C compared with own-rooted vines. Grafting affected fruit composition for Marquette differently, where the lowest grape maturity was observed for fruits on vines grafted on SO4. This study demonstrates that rootstocks affect cold-hardy hybrids, highlighting their potential under eastern North American conditions.
Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond
Authors: Bikomeye Jean C. , Namin Sima , Anyanwu Chima , Rublee Caitlin S. , Ferschinger Jamie , Leinbach Ken , Lindquist Patricia , Hoppe August , Hoffman Lawrence , Hegarty Justin , Sperber Dwayne , Beyer Kirsten M. M.
Published: August 2021

The intersecting negative effects of structural racism, COVID-19, climate change, and chronic diseases disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities in the US and around the world. Urban populations of color are concentrated in historically redlined, segregated, disinvested, and marginalized neighborhoods with inadequate quality housing and limited access to resources, including quality greenspaces designed to support natural ecosystems and healthy outdoor activities while mitigating urban environmental challenges such as air pollution, heat island effects, combined sewer overflows and poor water quality. Disinvested urban environments thus contribute to health inequity via physical and social environmental exposures, resulting in disparities across numerous health outcomes, including COVID-19 and chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this paper, we build off an existing conceptual framework and propose another conceptual framework for the role of greenspace in contributing to resilience and health equity in the US and beyond. We argue that strategic investments in public greenspaces in urban neighborhoods impacted by long term economic disinvestment are critically needed to adapt and build resilience in communities of color, with urgency due to immediate health threats of climate change, COVID-19, and endemic disparities in chronic diseases. We suggest that equity-focused investments in public urban greenspaces are needed to reduce social inequalities, expand economic opportunities with diversity in workforce initiatives, build resilient urban ecosystems, and improve health equity. We recommend key strategies and considerations to guide this investment, drawing upon a robust compilation of scientific literature along with decades of community-based work, using strategic partnerships from multiple efforts in Milwaukee Wisconsin as examples of success.
The Influence of Infectious Disease Cues on Purchase Intention for Environmentally Friendly Products
Authors: Wang Xingyuan , Wang Yaming , Wang Yi
Published: August 2021

Consumers often come across cues of infectious disease in daily life, such as diners coughing in restaurants, commuters sneezing on the bus, or recent news reports about the spread of infectious diseases. In this study, four experiments were conducted to explore the role of infectious disease cues on consumers’ purchase intention for environmentally friendly products (eco-friendly products), as well as the moderating effects of consumers’ sense of power and anti-disease intervention. According to the results, infectious disease cues enhance consumers’ intent to purchase eco-friendly products, and perceived uncertainty and need to belong played a chain-mediated role in the relationship between infectious disease cues and this purchase intention. Consumers’ sense of power moderated the relationship between infectious disease cues and purchase intention. The purchase intention of consumers with a low sense of power (vs. high sense of power) was significantly enhanced when the infectious disease cues were highlighted. Anti-disease interventions also have a moderating effect on the relationship between infectious disease cues and purchase intention. When anti-disease intervention (such as wearing an anti-bacterial mask against airborne diseases) was adopted, consumers’ willingness to purchase eco-friendly products decreased.
Performance and Thermal Perceptions of Runners Competing in the London Marathon: Impact of Environmental Conditions
Authors: Vernon Tim , Ruddock Alan , Gregory Maxine
Published: August 2021

The 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon (2018 VMLM) was the hottest in the race’s 37-year history. The aims of this research were to (1) survey novice mass participation marathoners to examine the perceptual thermal demands of this extreme weather event and (2) investigate the effect of the air temperature on finish times. A mixed-methods design involving the collection of survey data (n = 364; male = 63, female = 294) and secondary analysis of environmental and marathon performance (676,456 finishers) between 2001 and 2019 was used. The 2018 VMLM mean finishing time was slower than the mean of all other London marathons; there were positive correlations between maximum race day temperature and finish time for mass-start participants, and the difference in maximum race day temperature and mean maximum daily temperature for the 60 days before the London Marathon (p < 0.05). Of the surveyed participants, 23% classified their thermal sensation as ‘warm’, ‘hot’ or ‘very hot’ and 68% ‘thermally comfortable’ during training, compared with a peak of 95% feeling ‘warm’, ‘hot’ or ‘very hot’ and 77% ‘uncomfortable’ or ‘very uncomfortable’ during the 2018VMLM. Organisers should use temperature forecasting and plan countermeasures such as adjusting the start time of the event to avoid high temperatures, help runners predict finish time and adjust pacing strategies accordingly and provide safety recommendations for participants at high-risk time points as well as cooling strategies.
Measuring Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Using Strong Souls: A Rasch Measurement Approach
Authors: Gorman Ella , Heritage Brody , Shepherd Carrington C. J. , Marriott Rhonda
Published: August 2021

Currently, there are few robustly evaluated social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) measures available for use with Aboriginal youth in research, policy, and practice. As such, this study used a Rasch measurement approach to examine the psychometric properties of Strong Souls, a 25-item self-reported SEWB instrument, created for use with Aboriginal youth in the Northern Territory. Our sample (N = 154) included youth (15–25 years old) living on Whadjuk (metropolitan Western Australia; N = 91) and Kamilaroi countries (rural New South Wales; N = 63). Using Rasch modelling techniques, evidence for multidimensionality in the scale was observed, resulting in subsequent analyses conducted separately on two subscales: Psychological Distress and Resilience. The Resilience subscale did not meet the Rasch model assumptions, with poor person and item separation and reliability indexes suggesting the scale was not reliably differentiating between participants’ Resilience scores. The Psychological Distress subscale had mixed separation and reliability index results, with good construct validity implied but poorer ability to target the distress of participants. Our findings provide novel evidence demonstrating the functioning of Strong Souls in a contemporary sample of Aboriginal youth, suggesting further modifications of the instrument are required before it can be used with confidence as a reliable measure in this population group.
Effect of Home Exercise Training in Patients with Nonspecific Low-Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Quentin Chloé , Bagheri Reza , Ugbolue Ukadike C. , Coudeyre Emmanuel , Pélissier Carole , Descatha Alexis , Menini Thibault , Bouillon-Minois Jean-Baptiste , Dutheil Frédéric
Published: August 2021

Background: Exercise therapy is recommended to treat non-specific low back pain (LBP). Home-based exercises are promising way to mitigate the lack of availability of exercise centers. In this paper, we conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis on the effects of home-based exercise on pain and functional limitation in LBP. Method: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and ScienceDirect were searched until April 20th, 2021. In order to be selected, studies needed to report the pain and functional limitation of patients before and after home-based exercise or after exercise both in a center and at-home. Random-effect meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted. Results: We included 33 studies and 9588 patients. We found that pain intensity decreased in the exclusive home exercise group (Effect size = −0.89. 95% CI −0.99 to −0.80) and in the group which conducted exercise both at-home and at another setting (−0.73. −0.86 to −0.59). Similarly, functional limitation also decreased in both groups (−0.75. −0.91 to −0.60, and −0.70, −0.92 to −0.48, respectively). Relaxation and postural exercise seemed to be ineffective in decreasing pain intensity, whereas trunk, pelvic or leg stretching decreased pain intensity. Yoga improved functional limitation. Supervised training was the most effective method to improve pain intensity. Insufficient data precluded robust conclusions around the duration and frequency of the sessions and program. Conclusion: Home-based exercise training improved pain intensity and functional limitation parameters in LBP.
The Treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ): A Systematic Review with a Pooled Analysis of Only Surgery versus Combined Protocols
Authors: Di Fede Olga , Canepa Federica , Panzarella Vera , Mauceri Rodolfo , Del Gaizo Carmine , Bedogni Alberto , Fusco Vittorio , Tozzo Pietro , Pizzo Giuseppe , Campisi Giuseppina , Galvano Antonio
Published: August 2021

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious adverse reaction of antiresorptive and antiangiogenic agents, and it is also a potentially painful and debilitating condition. To date, no specific studies have prospectively evaluated the efficacy of its treatment and no robust standard of care has been established. Therefore, a systematic review (2007–2020) with a pooled analysis was performed in order to compare MRONJ surgical techniques (conservative or aggressive) versus combined surgical procedures (surgery plus a non-invasive procedure), where 1137 patients were included in the pooled analysis. A statistically significant difference in the 6-month improvement rate, comparing combined conservative surgery versus only aggressive (91% versus 72%, p = 0.05), was observed. No significant difference regarding any group with respect to the 6-month total resolution rate (82% versus 72%) was demonstrated. Of note, conservative surgery combined with various, adjuvant, non-invasive procedures (ozone, LLLT or blood component + Nd:YAG) was found to achieve partial or full healing in all stages, with improved results and the amelioration of many variables. In conclusion, specific adjuvant treatments associated with minimally conservative surgery can be considered effective and safe in the treatment of MRONJ, although well-controlled studies are a requisite in arriving at definitive statements