bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphine Accumulates in the Retina Following Chronic Systemic Administration
Authors: Bergum Nikolas , Berezin Casey-Tyler , Dooley Gregory , Vigh Jozsef
Published: April 2022

Opioid transport into the central nervous system is crucial for the analgesic efficacy of opioid drugs. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of opioid analgesics such as morphine have been extensively studied in systemic circulation and the brain. While opioid metabolites are routinely detected in the vitreous fluid of the eye during postmortem toxicological analyses, the pharmacokinetics of morphine within the retina of the eye remains largely unexplored. In this study, we measured morphine in mouse retina following systemic exposure. We showed that morphine deposits and persists in the retina long after levels have dropped in the serum. Moreover, we found that morphine concentrations (ng/mg tissue) in the retina exceeded brain morphine concentrations at all time points tested. Perhaps most intriguingly, these data indicate that following chronic systemic exposure, morphine accumulates in the retina, but not in the brain or serum. These results suggest that morphine can accumulate in the retina following chronic use, which could contribute to the deleterious effects of chronic opioid use on both image-forming and non-image-forming visual functions.
Rapid Absorption of Naloxone from Eye Drops
Authors: Tuunainen Johanna , Saloranta Lasse , Levijoki Jouko , Lindstedt Jenni , Lehtisalo Jenni , Pappinen Sari , Ramela Meri , Virtanen Sami , Joensuu Heikki
Published: April 2022

Naloxone as emergency treatment for opioid overdosing can be administered via several routes. However, the available administration methods are invasive or may be associated with incomplete or slow naloxone absorption. We evaluated pharmacokinetics and local tolerance of naloxone ocular drops in healthy beagle dogs. Naloxone administration as eye drops produced fast absorption with time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) achieved in 14 to 28 min, high plasma exposure (Cmax 10.3 ng/mL to 12.7 ng/mL), and good bioavailability (41% to 56%). No signs of ocular irritability were observed in the scored ocular tolerability parameters, and the reactions of dogs suggesting immediate ocular discomfort after the dosing were sporadic and short lasting. Slight and transient increase in the intraocular pressure and transient decrease in the tear production were recorded. The results suggest that eye drops may provide a fast and an effective non-invasive route for naloxone administration to reverse opioid overdosing, and clinical studies in the human are warranted.
Nanocarrier-Based Targeted Therapies for Myocardial Infarction
Authors: George Thomashire A. , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Meeson Annette , Lundy David J.
Published: April 2022

Myocardial infarction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to poor inherent regeneration of the adult mammalian myocardium and challenges with effective drug delivery, there has been little progress in regenerative therapies. Nanocarriers, including liposomes, nanoparticles, and exosomes, offer many potential advantages for the therapy of myocardial infarction, including improved delivery, retention, and prolonged activity of therapeutics. However, there are many challenges that have prevented the widespread clinical use of these technologies. This review aims to summarize significant principles and developments in the field, with a focus on nanocarriers using ligand-based or cell mimicry-based targeting. Lastly, a discussion of limitations and potential future direction is provided.
Development and Validation of a Novel Tool for Assessing the Environmental Impact of 3D Printing Technologies: A Pharmaceutical Perspective
Authors: Youssef Souha H. , Abdella Sadikalmahdi , Garg Sanjay
Published: April 2022

Technological advancements have created infinite opportunities and rendered our life easier at several fronts. Nonetheless, the environment has suffered the aftermaths of modernization. Ironically, the pharmaceutical industry was found to be a significant contributor to environmental deterioration. To tackle this issue, continuous eco-evaluation of newly introduced technologies is crucial. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is rapidly establishing its routes in different industries. Interestingly, 3DP is revolutionising the production of pharmaceuticals and is regarded as a promising approach for the fabrication of patient-centric formulations. Despite the increasing applications in the pharmaceutical field, tools that evaluate the environmental impacts of 3DP are lacking. Energy and solvent consumption, waste generation, and disposal are the main associated factors that present major concerns. For the first time, we are proposing a quantitative tool, the index of Greenness Assessment of Printed Pharmaceuticals (iGAPP), that evaluates the greenness of the different 3DP technologies used in the pharmaceutical industry. The tool provides a colour-coded pictogram and a numerical score indicating the overall greenness of the employed printing method. Validation was performed by constructing the greenness profile of selected formulations produced using the different 3DP techniques. This tool is simple to use and indicates the greenness level of the procedures involved, thereby creating an opportunity to modify the processes for more sustainable practices.
Nitric Oxide Improves Salt Tolerance of Cyclocarya paliurus by Regulating Endogenous Glutathione Level and Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Liu Yang , Yuan Yichao , Jiang Zhuoke , Jin Songheng
Published: April 2022

Cyclocarya paliurus is commonly used to treat diabetes in China. However, the natural habitats of C. paliurus are typically affected by salt stress. Previous studies showed that nitric oxide (NO) level was related to salt tolerance of C. paliurus, and its synthesis was induced by exogenous hydrogen sulfide. However, the effects of different NO donors in alleviating the negative effect of salt stress are still unclear. In the present study, C. paliurus seedlings pretreated with three NO donors (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, SNAP and S-nitrosoglutathione, GSNO and sodium nitroprusside, SNP) were exposed to salt stress, and then, the total biomass, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, NO and glutathione levels, oxidative damage, and antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. The results showed that pretreatment of NO donors maintained chlorophyll fluorescence and attenuated the loss of plant biomass under salt stress, and the best performance was observed in C. paliurus under SNP treatment. We also found that pretreatment of NO donors further increased the endogenous NO content and nitrate reductase (NR) activity compared with salt treatment. Moreover, pretreatment with NO donors, especially SNP, alleviated salt-induced oxidative damage, as indicated by lowered lipid peroxidation, through an enhanced antioxidant system including glutathione accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. The supply of NO donors is an interesting strategy for alleviating the negative effect of salt on C. paliurus. Our data provide new evidence contributing to the current understanding of NO-induced salt stress tolerance.
Microstructure Study and Linear/Nonlinear Optical Performance of Bi-Embedded PVP/PVA Films for Optoelectronic and Optical Cut-Off Applications
Authors: Elhosiny Ali H. , Abdel-Aziz Mohammad , Mahmoud Ibrahiem Ashraf , Sayed Mahmoud , Abd-Rabboh Hisham , Awwad Nasser , Algarni Hamed , Shkir Mohd. , Yasmin Khairy M.
Published: April 2022

Hybrid polymer films of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embedded with gradient levels of Bi-powder were prepared using a conventional solution casting process. XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques have been used to examine the micro/molecular structure and morphology of the synthesized flexible films. The intensities of the diffraction peaks and transmission spectrum of the PVP/PVA gradually declined with the introduction of Bi-metal. In addition, filler changes the microstructure surface of the pure film. The modification in the microstructure leads to an enhancement in the optical absorption characteristic of the blend films. The indirect allowed transition energy was calculated via Tauc’s and ASF (Absorption Spectra Fitting) models. The decrease in the hybrid film’s bandgap returns to the localized states in the forbidden region, which led the present films to be suitable for photo-electric, solar cell, etc., applications. The relation between the transition energy and the refractive index was studied. The enhancement in the refractive index with Bi-metal concentrations led to use the as-prepared films in optical sensors. The rise of Bi-metal concentrations leads also to the improvement of the nonlinear susceptibility and refractive parameters. The optical limiting characteristics revealed that the higher concentration dopant films reduce the light transmission intensity which is appropriate for laser attenuation and optical limiting in photonic devices. The results suggest that hybrid films are promising materials in a wide range of opto-electronic applications.
Numerical and Experiment Investigation on Novel Guide Vane Structures of Turbo Air Classifier
Authors: Zeng Yun , Huang Bowen , Qin Daoxin , Zhou Sizhu , Li Meiqiu
Published: April 2022

In this paper, three types of air guide vanes are designed: direct-type, L-type, and logarithmic spiral type, respectively. ANSYS-FLUENT 20.0 is used to numerically simulate the internal flow field of turbo air classifier by novel different structures. The numerical results show that the guide vane structures have a good effect on the flow field stability of the annular function zone in the classifying chamber. The distribution of tangential velocity and radial velocity verified the logarithmic spiral guide vane, and makes the airflow flow along the rotor cage circumferentially uniformly. In addition, the turbulent dissipation rate and energy loss decreases in the rotor cage region, which also shows that the guide vane is beneficial to improve classification performance. The tromp curve of the numerical simulation shows that the logarithmic spiral guide vane reduced the cutting size by 6.3% and 23.7% at two different process parameters, and is obviously better than other guide vane structures in improving the classification sharpness index (K). Finally, the reliability of numerical simulation is verified by material experiment. The research results have certain theoretical significance and guidance for the structural design of the guide vanes of the turbo air classifier.
Thermal-Induced Autolysis Enzymes Inactivation, Protein Degradation and Physical Properties of Sea Cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa
Authors: Zhang Qian , Liu Ru , Geirsdóttir Margrét , Li Shiyu , Tomasson Tumi , Xiong Shanbai , Li Xiuchen , Gudjónsdóttir María
Published: April 2022

The main objective is to effectively denature the autolysis enzymes of C. frondosa on the premise of avoiding the quality deterioration caused by overheating. The effects of the different thermal treatments (blanching at 40–80 °C for 45 min, boiling and steaming at 100 °C for 15–120 min) on the cooking yield, moisture content, protein degradation, texture, and enzyme inactivation were studied, and the inner relationship was investigated by multivariate analysis. The autolysis enzymes of C. frondosa were thermally stable and cannot be denatured completely by blanching. Boiling and steaming could efficiently inactivate the enzymes but overheating for 60–120 min reduced the cooking yield and texture quality. Boiling at 100 °C for 45 min was suitable for pre-treatment, with cooking yield of 70.3% and protein content of 78.5%. Steaming at 100 °C for at least 30 min was preferable for long-term storage and instant food, in which the relative activity was only 3.2% with better palatability.
The Absence of Women in the Land of Bliss
Authors: Lu Jiefeng
Published: April 2022

In The Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha, the descriptions of “no women” and “transforming the female body” cause criticism and defense among modern researchers. However, “woman” as the central discourse has not been clarified. In the Buddhist gender myth, the fundamental distinction between men and women is the realization of “sexual difference”, which means that the subject orientates its desire and ways to satisfy the desire in the world of the conditioned co-arising. Therefore, what the Land of Bliss negates is more desire itself than women. “No women” eliminates the desire and ego-grasping of male Buddhists, and “transforming the female body” enlightens female Buddhists as to the emptiness of herself and the impossibility of desire. As a result, all sentient beings are liberated from sexuality and practice the act of truth.
A Self-Attentive Hybrid Coding Network for 3D Change Detection in High-Resolution Optical Stereo Images
Authors: Pan Jianping , Li Xin , Cai Zhuoyan , Sun Bowen , Cui Wei
Published: April 2022

Real-time monitoring of urban building development provides a basis for urban planning and management. Remote sensing change detection is a key technology for achieving this goal. Intelligent change detection based on deep learning of remote sensing images is a current focus of research. However, most methods only use unimodal remote sensing data and ignore vertical features, leading to incomplete characterization, poor detection of small targets, and false detections and omissions. To solve these problems, we propose a multi-path self-attentive hybrid coding network model (MAHNet) that fuses high-resolution remote sensing images and digital surface models (DSMs) for 3D change detection of urban buildings. We use stereo images from the Gaofen-7 (GF-7) stereo mapping satellite as the data source. In the encoding stage, we propose a multi-path hybrid encoder, which is a structure that can efficiently perform multi-dimensional feature mining of multimodal data. In the deep feature fusion link, a dual self-attentive fusion structure is designed that can improve the deep feature fusion and characterization of multimodal data. In the decoding stage, a dense skip-connection decoder is designed that can fuse multi-scale features flexibly and reduce spatial information losses in small-change regions in the down-sampling process, while enhancing feature utilization and propagation efficiency. Experimental results show that MAHNet achieves accurate pixel-level change detection in complex urban scenes with an overall accuracy of 97.44% and F1-score of 92.59%, thereby outperforming other methods of change detection.
Multisite and Multitemporal Grassland Yield Estimation Using UAV-Borne Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Wengert Matthias , Wijesingha Jayan , Schulze-Brüninghoff Damian , Wachendorf Michael , Astor Thomas
Published: April 2022

Grassland ecosystems can be hotspots of biodiversity and act as carbon sinks while at the same time providing the basis of forage production for ruminants in dairy and meat production. Annual grassland dry matter yield (DMY) is one of the most important agronomic parameters reflecting differences in usage intensity such as number of harvests and fertilization. Current methods for grassland DMY estimation are labor-intensive and prone to error due to small sample size. With the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and miniaturized hyperspectral sensors, a novel tool for remote sensing of grassland with high spatial, temporal and radiometric resolution and coverage is available. The present study aimed at developing a robust model capable of estimating grassland biomass across a gradient of usage intensity throughout one growing season. Therefore, UAV-borne hyperspectral data from eight grassland sites in North Hesse, Germany, originating from different harvests, were utilized for the modeling of fresh matter yield (FMY) and DMY. Four machine learning (ML) algorithms were compared for their modeling performance. Among them, the rule-based ML method Cubist regression (CBR) performed best, delivering high prediction accuracies for both FMY (nRMSEp 7.6%, Rp2 0.87) and DMY (nRMSEp 12.9%, Rp2 0.75). The model showed a high robustness across sites and harvest dates. The best models were employed to produce maps for FMY and DMY, enabling the detailed analysis of spatial patterns. Although the complexity of the approach still restricts its practical application in agricultural management, the current study proved that biomass of grassland sites being subject to different management intensities can be modeled from UAV-borne hyperspectral data at high spatial resolution with high prediction accuracies.
Hybrid Loss-Constrained Lightweight Convolutional Neural Networks for Cervical Cell Classification
Authors: Chen Wen , Shen Weiming , Gao Liang , Li Xinyu
Published: April 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have resulted in remarkable achievements and conferred massive benefits to computer-aided systems in medical imaging. However, the worldwide usage of AI-based automation-assisted cervical cancer screening systems is hindered by computational cost and resource limitations. Thus, a highly economical and efficient model with enhanced classification ability is much more desirable. This paper proposes a hybrid loss function with label smoothing to improve the distinguishing power of lightweight convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for cervical cell classification. The results strengthen our confidence in hybrid loss-constrained lightweight CNNs, which can achieve satisfactory accuracy with much lower computational cost for the SIPakMeD dataset. In particular, ShufflenetV2 obtained a comparable classification result (96.18% in accuracy, 96.30% in precision, 96.23% in recall, and 99.08% in specificity) with only one-seventh of the memory usage, one-sixth of the number of parameters, and one-fiftieth of total flops compared with Densenet-121 (96.79% in accuracy). GhostNet achieved an improved classification result (96.39% accuracy, 96.42% precision, 96.39% recall, and 99.09% specificity) with one-half of the memory usage, one-quarter of the number of parameters, and one-fiftieth of total flops compared with Densenet-121 (96.79% in accuracy). The proposed lightweight CNNs are likely to lead to an easily-applicable and cost-efficient automation-assisted system for cervical cancer diagnosis and prevention.
A Fault Diagnosis System for a Pipeline Robot Based on Sound Signal Recognition
Authors: Cao Hai , Yu Jinpeng , Wang Yu , Zhang Liang , Kim Jongwon
Published: April 2022

Timely and accurate identification of fault types at the early stage of minor faults is significant for cutting off fault evolution. In order to have a clear understanding of the pipeline robot’s own situation in the pipeline, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis system for pipeline robots based on sound signal recognition. This can effectively reduce the probability of serious faults such as shutdown and loss of control in the pipeline without affecting the safe operation of the pipeline robot, which is a key issue to improve the reliability of the pipeline robot. The system consists of a combination of three parts: hardware, software, and algorithm. On the one hand, Raspberry Pi is the core module, while on the other hand, it is also responsible for the data transmission between the various modules, including storing the original sound signals collected by the sensors and transmitting the diagnosis results to the upper computer software interface. The proposed system is validated on the dataset collected by the data experimentation platform. The experimental results show that the proposed fault prediction method obtains advanced results on this dataset, verifying the effectiveness and stability of the proposed fault diagnosis system for pipeline robots based on sound signal recognition.
Hand Motion Analysis during the Execution of the Action Research Arm Test Using Multiple Sensors
Authors: Padilla-Magaña Jesus Fernando , Peña-Pitarch Esteban , Sánchez-Suarez Isahi , Ticó-Falguera Neus
Published: April 2022

The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) is a standardized outcome measure that can be improved by integrating sensors for hand motion analysis. The purpose of this study is to measure the flexion angle of the finger joints and fingertip forces during the performance of three subscales (Grasp, Grip, and Pinch) of the ARAT, using a data glove (CyberGlove II®) and five force-sensing resistors (FSRs) simultaneously. An experimental study was carried out with 25 healthy subjects (right-handed). The results showed that the mean flexion angles of the finger joints required to perform the 16 activities were Thumb (Carpometacarpal Joint (CMC) 28.56°, Metacarpophalangeal Joint (MCP) 26.84°, and Interphalangeal Joint (IP) 13.23°), Index (MCP 46.18°, Index Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (PIP) 38.89°), Middle (MCP 47.5°, PIP 42.62°), Ring (MCP 44.09°, PIP 39.22°), and Little (MCP 31.50°, PIP 22.10°). The averaged fingertip force exerted in the Grasp Subscale was 8.2 N, in Grip subscale 6.61 N and Pinch subscale 3.89 N. These results suggest that the integration of multiple sensors during the performance of the ARAT has clinical relevance, allowing therapists and other health professionals to perform a more sensitive, objective, and quantitative assessment of the hand function.
A Data-Driven Approach to Quantify and Measure Students’ Engagement in Synchronous Virtual Learning Environments
Authors: Solé-Beteta Xavier , Navarro Joan , Gajšek Brigita , Guadagni Alessandro , Zaballos Agustín
Published: April 2022

In face-to-face learning environments, instructors (sub)consciously measure student engagement to obtain immediate feedback regarding the training they are leading. This constant monitoring process enables instructors to dynamically adapt the training activities according to the perceived student reactions, which aims to keep them engaged in the learning process. However, when shifting from face-to-face to synchronous virtual learning environments (VLEs), assessing to what extent students are engaged to the training process during the lecture has become a challenging and arduous task. Typical indicators such as students’ faces, gestural poses, or even hearing their voice can be easily masked by the intrinsic nature of the virtual domain (e.g., cameras and microphones can be turned off). The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology and its associated model to measure student engagement in VLEs that can be obtained from the systematic analysis of more than 30 types of digital interactions and events during a synchronous lesson. To validate the feasibility of this approach, a software prototype has been implemented to measure student engagement in two different learning activities in a synchronous learning session: a masterclass and a hands-on session. The obtained results aim to help those instructors who feel that the connection with their students has weakened due to the virtuality of the learning environment.
Magnetic Nanoparticles as Effective Heavy Ion Adsorbers in Natural Samples
Authors: Klekotka Urszula , Wińska Ewelina , Zambrzycka-Szelewa Elżbieta , Satuła Dariusz , Kalska-Szostko Beata
Published: April 2022

This paper refers to research based on tests completed on the adsorption of heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+) from selected natural liquid samples such as apple, tomato, and potato juices using surface-functionalized Mn ferrite nanoparticles (Mn0.2Fe2.8O4). To determine the most efficient adsorption conditions of these heavy metals, the nanoparticles’ surfaces were modified with five different ligands (phthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, acetic anhydride, 3-phosphonopropionic acid, and 16-phosphonohexadecanoic acid). To evaluate the success of the adsorption process, the resultant liquid samples were examined for the amount of residuals using the flame atomic absorption spectroscopy method. The Mn ferrite particles selected for these tests were first characterized physicochemically by the following methods: transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy.
The Sociocultural Dimensions of Gender-Based Violence in Afro-Mexican Communities in the Coastal Region of Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Sartini Ilaria
Published: April 2022

In Mexico, as part of the historical and political context, race heavily influences a person’s opportunities. Moreover, the data refer to a scenario of normalized gender-based violence caused by sociocultural practices, the lack of application of the laws, and structural discrimination. Given this precedent, the purpose of this study is to analyze the social and physical dimensions of gender-based violence in an Afro-Mexican community in the south of Mexico. The techniques used to gather data for this study consist of a variety of styles of interviews with a group of Afro-Mexican women from the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, who are survivors of gender-based violence, and participant observation obtained through conducting ethnographic fieldwork in Oaxaca. The social phenomena of emigration and alcohol and drug consumption, in combination with the cultural dimensions of the machista practices in this region of Mexico, are the material and immaterial spaces where GBV is produced and reproduced daily. An intersectional perspective of the context can be helpful when collecting data for effective and well-grounded public policies and intervention projects established on a feminist and women-centered perspective.
Organizational Aspects and Practices for Enhancing Organizational Project Management Maturity
Authors: Karim Muhammad Abdul , Ong Tze San , Ng Sin Huei , Muhammad Haslinah , Ali Noor Azman
Published: April 2022

An organization’s performance in a project is determined by its ability to implement project management knowledge and practices. This ability reflects the organization’s level of project management maturity (PMM). PMM is premised on the belief that the higher the PMM level, the higher the ability to successfully deliver a project. With this in mind, the current paper aims to determine the type of organizational aspects and practices that could influence the success of PMM implementation in organizations. For this purpose, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed on 23 articles published between 2011 and 2021 that studied PMM. The findings showed that most articles stressed organizational culture and integration with strategic organizational initiatives. Among all the studied industries, the information technology industry stood out. Content analysis was used for analyzing data, which were thematized using ATLAS.ti. Ten sub-themes emerged, with six sub-themes under organizational aspects and four sub-themes under organizational practices. These sub-themes, which were intertwined with the implementation and growth of PMM in organizations, positively impact project delivery performance. Based on this, several future research opportunities were proposed.
Review on Millimeter-Wave Radar and Camera Fusion Technology
Authors: Zhou Yong , Dong Yanyan , Hou Fujin , Wu Jianqing
Published: April 2022

Cameras allow for highly accurate identification of targets. However, it is difficult to obtain spatial position and velocity information about a target by relying solely on images. The millimeter-wave radar (MMW radar) sensor itself easily acquires spatial position and velocity information of the target but cannot identify the shape of the target. MMW radar and camera, as two sensors with complementary strengths, have been heavily researched in intelligent transportation. This article examines and reviews domestic and international research techniques for the definition, process, and data correlation of MMW radar and camera fusion. This article describes the structure and hierarchy of MMW radar and camera fusion, it also presents its fusion process, including spatio-temporal alignment, sensor calibration, and data information correlation methods. The data fusion algorithms from MMW radar and camera are described separately from traditional fusion algorithms and deep learning based algorithms, and their advantages and disadvantages are briefly evaluated.
Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Mechanism of Green Innovation in China
Authors: Mi Weisong , Zhao Kaixu , Zhang Pei
Published: April 2022

Sustainable development has become a global consensus, and green innovation is the key to promoting transition to sustainable development. The study on green innovation contributes to develop and implement green innovation policies. This paper investigates the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving mechanism of green innovation 2009–2019 in China from the perspective of economic geography based on a variety of methods such as GIS tools and Geodetector, in two dimensions of green innovation power (GIP) and green innovation growth ability (GIGA). The findings show that (1) The GIP and GIGA in China continue to increase, with obvious decreasing gradient characteristics from eastern to central and western China, extreme polarization, and obvious spatial aggregation, and the high-value regions show a change from coastal and riverine distribution to coastal distribution, with Shandong and Yangtze River Delta as the centers of high-value regions. (2) The power of the 18 driving factors on green innovation varies widely across time, and the 7 factors such as green area in urban completed area and investment in urban environmental infrastructure facilities are super interaction factors. Besides, the 5 variables of innovation input, foreign connection, economic environment, market environment and environmental regulation have different driving forces on green innovation, suggesting that the driving mechanism has changed in different periods. (3) Core factors of GIP were identified as R&D intramural expenditure and R&D personnel equivalent; important factors were identified as 5 factors such as R&D intramural expenditure in high-tech industry and FDI. Core factors of GIGA were identified as R&D intramural expenditure and added value of financial industry; important factors were identified as 4 factors such as R&D intramural expenditure in high-tech industry and GDP. (4) The 31 provinces in China were classified into 4 types of policy areas by BCG model, and proper policy suggestions were put forward. The research methods and conclusions of this paper can provide reference for green innovation policy optimization in China and other countries under similar conditions.
Experimental Study on the Use of Iron Tailings-Based Multicomponent Solid Waste as SCMs
Authors: Zhang Yannian , Sun Houqi , Gu Xiaowei , Zhang Wenjie , Liu Bonan
Published: April 2022

A considerable amount of carbon dioxide is released during the preparation of traditional Portland cement, which is not in conformity with the sustainable road. Developing supplementary cementitious material (SCMs) and reducing cement consumption are safe ways to solve this problem. Iron tailings (IOTs), a type of mining waste from the beneficiation process of iron ore concentrate, can be used as SCMs in concrete. In order to tackle the problem of low compressive performance of IOTs as SCMs in concrete, this study develops a multi-SCMs system based on IOTs. Mechanical properties and microstructure of samples with different activator contents and ratios were analyzed by compressive strength, differential thermal–thermal gravimetric analysis (DTA-TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the compressive strength of the composite gel blocks in different gel systems changed as follows: ternary SCMs system > binary SCMs system > unary SCMs system. The ternary SCMs system (IOTs: Steel slag(SS):Phosphorus slag(PS) = 1:2:2) without activator was added so that it resulted in the highest compressive strength in multi-SCMs system. With the increase in the content of activators, the compressive strength with ternary SCMs system shows a decreasing trend. It is well known from DTA-TG, as well as SEM, that NaOH and Na2SiO3 have an inhibitory effect on the secondary hydration reaction and inhibit the formation of C-S-H gel.
Ethical Leadership and Innovative Behavior: Mediating Role of Voice Behavior and Moderated Mediation Role of Psychological Safety
Authors: Jin Xiu , Qing Chenglin , Jin Shanyue
Published: April 2022

Organizations increasingly emphasize and require their members to engage in innovative behavior because it is directly associated with organizational sustainability and survival. This study aims to address whether ethical leadership enhances subordinates’ innovative behavior and investigates the mediating role of voice behavior in promoting innovative behavior. Psychological safety was tested to moderate the mediating effect of voice behavior on the relationship between ethical leadership and innovative behavior. We collected data from 296 full-time employees from small and medium-sized enterprises in China. The results suggest that ethical leadership positively influences innovative behavior through the mediating role of voice behavior. Furthermore, psychological leadership significantly moderates the mediating effect of voice behavior on the relationship between ethical leadership and innovative behavior. This study expands the scope of research on improving innovative behavior and provides a theoretical basis for related research.
Tourism Network Attention Variation of Chinese Cities under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hou Xinshuo
Published: April 2022

At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out globally and had a tremendous impact on tourism development in countries around the world. The rapid shift of tourism from “over-tourism” to “under-tourism”, threatening the future of the global economy and society, has generated considerable interest from academia and the policy community, but the impact of COVID-19 on tourism variation remains untested by empirical evidence. Based on the daily Baidu Index of 247 prefecture-level cities in China from 2018 to 2021, this study assessed the treatment effect of COVID-19 on tourism and analyzed its dynamic characteristics using the regression-discontinuity-design (RDD) method combined with tourism network attention (TNA) data. The results show that after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level value of TNA dropped significantly by 2.12 (p < 0.10), and the difference value of TNA (TNA_diff) dropped significantly by 10.77 (p < 0.01), indicating that COVID-19 has a negative causal effect on tourism development, and its impact is more pronounced in major tourist source cities, with a coefficient of −14.91 (p < 0.01) corresponding to −4.57 (p < 0.01) for non-major tourist source cities when the dependent variable TNA_diff. The identification of dynamic effects further confirms that the negative impact of the pandemic on tourism network attention is fluctuating and persistent during the study period, with the two major “golden weeks” and peak season being the most severe. Compared to 2020, the TNA has generally shown an upward trend since 2021, indicating signs of a rebound in the vitality of resident tourism, which is conducive to the healthy development of the tourism market.
Soils of the Ribeira Valley (Brazil) as Environmental Protection Barriers: Characterization and Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium
Authors: Marques Jéssica Pelinsom , Vaz Carlos Manoel Pedro , Sígolo Joel Barbujiani , Rodrigues Valéria Guimarães Silvestre
Published: April 2022

In waste disposal areas, soils can be used as environmental protection barriers to retain potentially toxic metals. Although most studies focus on lateritic soils, it is still of interest to evaluate other soil types, aiming to select the best materials among those available near the contamination area, reducing costs and construction efforts. This paper characterizes and evaluates the behavior of 13 soil materials collected in a region (Ribeira Valley, Brazil) with a history of improper mining waste disposal for the retention of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and their possible use as environmental protection barriers. All soils were acidic, kaolinitic, with negatively charged particles. Soils were grouped into three classes according to soil properties, such as particle size distribution, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and specific surface area (SSA), using cluster and principal component analysis. The Pb and Cd adsorption capacities ranged from 288 to 479 µg g−1 and 207 to 326 µg g−1, respectively, obtained from batch equilibrium tests. In general, all soils presented suitable characteristics for the retention of Pb and Cd, but four of them (1 to 4) showed the highest adsorption capacities, probably due to their larger SSA, CEC and percentage of fines (clay + silt).
Development of Strategies for Taiwan’s Corrugated Box Precision Printing Machine Industry—An Implementation for SWOT and EDAS Methods
Authors: Lin Chin-Tsai , Chiang Cheng-Yu
Published: April 2022

The small scale of Taiwan’s domestic market due to its land area requires businesses in the corrugated box precision printing machine (CBPPM) industry to formulate developmental strategies to compete on the global market. This study uses the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-based analytic network process, an evaluation based on distance from the average solution, and Strengths–Weaknesses–Opportunities–Threats analysis to construct and evaluate a model for the Taiwanese CBPPM industry’s developmental strategies. A hierarchy of five strategies with 16 criteria is established. The results indicate the most critical dimension is Strengths, followed by Threats, Weaknesses, and Opportunities, and that the optimal developmental strategy is a strategic alliance. The findings can provide the CBPPM industry with insights for developing developmental strategies.
Assessment of Lantern Festivals by Government Procurements
Authors: Shih Naai-Jung , Chen Tzu-Yu
Published: April 2022

The Lantern Festival constitutes a specific tradition that originated from a long-term evolved culture. Should the festival only consist of a large number of installations and visitors? This study aims to assess the Taiwan Lantern Festival (TLF) in terms of government procurements between 2016 and 2020 according to the classification of tender projects. The classifications contribute to a comparison of the similarities and diversities in respect to the major challenge of the number of visitors exceeding 10 million in two weeks. The 140–234 tender projects each year presented a 76% increment of the budget for services, financing, and construction. The similarities and differences made each year’s TLF a local-identity-rich event. Shared similarities accounted for approximately 54% of all 654 tender items and 66% of the budget. The shared main items demonstrated their importance in transferring the TLF experience to the host city of the subsequent year. The interpretation of procurement contributed to the novelty of TLF classifications and the shared project similarities and diversities through the government acting as a curator. The findings contributed to an evolved model of classification for local situation and TLF experience transfer, evolved measures for diversities and shared similarities, and an evolved instrumentation for traditions.
Adoption Trend of Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties in Bangladesh
Authors: Nayak Swati , Habib Muhammad Ashraful , Das Kuntal , Islam Saidul , Hossain Sk Mosharaf , Karmakar Biswajit , Fritsche Neto Roberto , Bhosale Sankalp , Bhardwaj Hans , Singh Sudhanshu , Islam Mohammad Rafiqul , Singh Vikas Kumar , Kohli Ajay , Singh Uma S. , Hassan Lutful
Published: April 2022

Rice is a major crop in Bangladesh that supports both food security and livelihoods. However, a need remains for improved productivity and adaptation to the risks associated with climate change. To accomplish this, the increased adoption of climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties can be beneficial. Therefore, we conducted a study in Bangladesh over three consecutive years: 2016, 2017, and 2018. The scope of the study included the major cropping season (wet), Aman. The yield advantages of climate-resilient rice varieties were evaluated and compared with those of the varieties popular with farmers. We included new stress-tolerant varieties, such as submergence-tolerant rice (BRRI dhan51 and BRRI dhan52) and drought-tolerant rice (BRRI dhan56 and BRRI dhan71), along with farmer-chosen controls, in the study. We conducted the evaluation through on-farm trials to compare the varieties in both submergence- and drought-affected environments. The seasonal trials provided measured results of yield advantages. The participating farmers were also studied over the three-year-period to capture their varietal adoption rates. We calculated both the location estimated yield advantages (LEYA) and the location observed yield advantages (LOYA). The results revealed that, under non-stress conditions, the grain yields of climate-resilient varieties were either statistically similar to or higher than those of the farmer-chosen controls. Our study also revealed a year-to-year progressive adoption rate for the introduced varieties. The study suggests that the wide-scale introduction and popularization of climate-resilient varieties can ensure higher productivity and climate risk adaptation. The close similarity between LOYA and LEYA indicated that the observational and experiential conclusions of the host farmers were similar to the scientific performance of the varieties. We also found that comparison performed through on-farm trials was a critical method for enhancing experiential learning and obtaining an accurate estimation of yield advantages.
Diversity and Governance: Is There Really Progress?
Authors: Arenas-Torres Felipe , Bustamante-Ubilla Miguel , Santander-Ramírez Valentín , Severino-González Pedro
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the study was to determine if the diversity of gender, nationality, and age has a positive and significant effect on adopting corporate governance practices. The study considered 1106 corporate social responsibility and corporate governance reports from 2015 to 2020. The research was of the descriptive–correlational type, with a longitudinal temporality, considering in the first instance an analysis of the disaggregated descriptive statistics to later determine if the diversity of gender, nationality, and age of the board affects the adoption of corporate governance practices. The results show a low degree of diversity and stagnation in the analyzed period. Regarding the adoption of corporate governance practices, these are in an incipient stage, and the most liquid companies in the Chilean stock market are the ones that have advanced the most during the period. It is concluded that gender diversity has a positive and significant impact on the degree of adoption of corporate governance practices, operation, and composition of the board of directors, and protection of shareholders, while the diversity of nationality has a positive and significant impact on the adoption of related practices to risk management. Finally, the study confirms the heterogeneity of results by linking board diversity variables versus non-financial variables.
Regional Division and Its Criteria of Mining Fractures Based on Overburden Critical Failure
Authors: Bai Erhu , Guo Wenbing , Tan Yi , Guo Mingjie , Wen Peng , Liu Zhiqiang , Ma Zhibao , Yang Weiqiang
Published: April 2022

Mining fracture is the key factor in realizing water-conservation mining, stability evaluation of coal mining subsidence areas, and accurate restoration of the surface eco-environment. To clarify, the evolution and distribution of mining fractures, based on the key strata theory and the mining degree of overburden failure, the contact state of rock stratum after overburden critical failure was analyzed, the formation mechanism of “saddle shaped” water conducting fracture zone was revealed, and the permanent mining fractures were determined to be primarily concentrated in the overburden structure at the boundary of the working face. According to the shear test of sandstone in the fracture zone, the damage degree of the rock sample was positively correlated with shear stress, and the overburden structure exhibited no instability. Based on the distribution of mining fractures, the fracture zone was divided into the original fracture, tensile fracture, structural void, and void compaction areas in the horizontal direction. The structural void area had the largest residual deformation in the goaf. A regional division method based on overburden critical failure was proposed and applied in engineering by using surface movement monitoring. The results showed that the surface subsidence near the boundary of working face was greater than that in the middle, and the residual surface deformation in the goaf was closely related to the mining time, which has long-term characteristics. The rationality of the regional division method of mining fractures was also verified.
Latin America and the Search for a Coastal Law: Lessons from the Legislative Procedure in Colombia
Authors: Botero Camilo M. , Milanes Celene B. , Cuker Benjamin , Anfuso Giorgio
Published: April 2022

In 2009, a network of scholars identified the legal framework associated with coastal management in eleven Latin American countries. They found an important lag in several countries, including Colombia. According to many scholars, a clear regulatory framework is of the utmost importance for integrated coastal management; however, the hurdles to reaching this goal have been poorly analyzed. This article aims to illustrate the challenges and barriers to legislate on coastal and marine issues in Colombia. The methodology and analysis used in this study can serve as an example to other Latin American countries. We combined comparative, documentary, and analytical research techniques to describe the current Latin American state-of-the-art legal framework. Additionally, from 16,224 gazettes (official records of the Congress of Colombia) we identified 80 bills concerning coastal and marine activities for a period of 17 years. However, only 2.1% of those bills addressed marine or coastal issues from the perspective of planning and management procedures. Instead the majority focused on social uses and economic activities. This research identified the difficulties that could be faced by a country in regulating its coast from an integrated perspective. These findings could support future procedures to approve coastal laws in Latin America and other countries on the world.
Unraveling the Hidden Environmental Impacts of AI Solutions for Environment Life Cycle Assessment of AI Solutions
Authors: Ligozat Anne-Laure , Lefevre Julien , Bugeau Aurélie , Combaz Jacques
Published: April 2022

In the past ten years, artificial intelligence has encountered such dramatic progress that it is now seen as a tool of choice to solve environmental issues and, in the first place, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). At the same time, the deep learning community began to realize that training models with more and more parameters require a lot of energy and, as a consequence, GHG emissions. To our knowledge, questioning the complete net environmental impacts of AI solutions for the environment (AI for Green) and not only GHG, has never been addressed directly. In this article, we propose to study the possible negative impacts of AI for Green. First, we review the different types of AI impacts; then, we present the different methodologies used to assess those impacts and show how to apply life cycle assessment to AI services. Finally, we discuss how to assess the environmental usefulness of a general AI service and point out the limitations of existing work in AI for Green.