bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Machine Vision Rapid Method to Determine the Ripeness Degree of Olive Lots
Authors: Ortenzi Luciano , Figorilli Simone , Costa Corrado , Pallottino Federico , Violino Simona , Pagano Mauro , Imperi Giancarlo , Manganiello Rossella , Lanza Barbara , Antonucci Francesca
Published: April 2021

The degree of olive maturation is a very important factor to consider at harvest time, as it influences the organoleptic quality of the final product, for both oil and table use. The Jaén index, evaluated by measuring the average coloring of olive fruits (peel and pulp), is currently considered to be one of the most indicative methods to determine the olive ripening stage, but it is a slow assay and its results are not objective. The aim of this work is to identify the ripeness degree of olive lots through a real-time, repeatable, and objective machine vision method, which uses RGB image analysis based on a k-nearest neighbors classification algorithm. To overcome different lighting scenarios, pictures were subjected to an automatic colorimetric calibration method—an advanced 3D algorithm using known values. To check the performance of the automatic machine vision method, a comparison was made with two visual operator image evaluations. For 10 images, the number of black, green, and purple olives was also visually evaluated by these two operators. The accuracy of the method was 60%. The system could be easily implemented in a specific mobile app developed for the automatic assessment of olive ripeness directly in the field, for advanced georeferenced data analysis.
Implementation of a Six-Layer Smart Factory Architecture with Special Focus on Transdisciplinary Engineering Education
Authors: Ralph Benjamin James , Sorger Marcel , Schödinger Benjamin , Schmölzer Hans-Jörg , Hartl Karin , Stockinger Martin
Published: April 2021

Smart factories are an integral element of the manufacturing infrastructure in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. Nevertheless, there is frequently a deficiency of adequate training facilities for future engineering experts in the academic environment. For this reason, this paper describes the development and implementation of two different layer architectures for the metal processing environment. The first architecture is based on low-cost but resilient devices, allowing interested parties to work with mostly open-source interfaces and standard back-end programming environments. Additionally, one proprietary and two open-source graphical user interfaces (GUIs) were developed. Those interfaces can be adapted front-end as well as back-end, ensuring a holistic comprehension of their capabilities and limits. As a result, a six-layer architecture, from digitization to an interactive project management tool, was designed and implemented in the practical workflow at the academic institution. To take the complexity of thermo-mechanical processing in the metal processing field into account, an alternative layer, connected with the thermo-mechanical treatment simulator Gleeble 3800, was designed. This framework is capable of transferring sensor data with high frequency, enabling data collection for the numerical simulation of complex material behavior under high temperature processing. Finally, the possibility of connecting both systems by using open-source software packages is demonstrated.
Custom Outlier Detection for Electrical Energy Consumption Data Applied in Case of Demand Response in Block of Buildings
Authors: Jurj Dacian I. , Czumbil Levente , Bârgăuan Bogdan , Ceclan Andrei , Polycarpou Alexis , Micu Dan D.
Published: April 2021

The aim of this paper is to provide an extended analysis of the outlier detection, using probabilistic and AI techniques, applied in a demo pilot demand response in blocks of buildings project, based on real experiments and energy data collection with detected anomalies. A numerical algorithm was created to differentiate between natural energy peaks and outliers, so as to first apply a data cleaning. Then, a calculation of the impact in the energy baseline for the demand response computation was implemented, with improved precision, as related to other referenced methods and to the original data processing. For the demo pilot project implemented in the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca block of buildings, without the energy baseline data cleaning, in some cases it was impossible to compute the established key performance indicators (peak power reduction, energy savings, cost savings, CO2 emissions reduction) or the resulted values were far much higher (>50%) and not realistic. Therefore, in real case business models, it is crucial to use outlier’s removal. In the past years, both companies and academic communities pulled their efforts in generating input that consist in new abstractions, interfaces, approaches for scalability, and crowdsourcing techniques. Quantitative and qualitative methods were created with the scope of error reduction and were covered in multiple surveys and overviews to cope with outlier detection.
Principles of Monetary & Financial Sustainability and Wellbeing in a Post-COVID-19 World: The Crisis and Its Management
Authors: Huerta de Soto Jesús , Sánchez-Bayón Antonio , Bagus Philipp
Published: April 2021

This paper analyses the COVID-19 crisis and its management from the perspective of Austrian Economics. The attention focuses on the State’s coercive intervention according to the principles of political economy, capital theory and Austrian business economic cycles. The paper examines the specific case of massive intervention by governments and, especially, central banks in monetary and financial markets to deal with the pandemic trying to mitigate its negative effects. The paper offers a critical analysis of government tax policies and the increase in public spending, considered as the panacea and universal remedy for the social troubles. This review concludes with a proposal to change the mainstream paradigm, thereby proposing a more sustainable and wellbeing economics.
Physical and Biological Treatment Technologies of Slaughterhouse Wastewater: A Review
Authors: Musa Mohammed Ali , Idrus Syazwani
Published: April 2021

Physical and biological treatment technology are considered a highly feasible and economic way to treat slaughterhouse wastewater. To achieve the desired effluent quality for disposal or reuse, various technological options were reviewed. However, most practical operations are accompanied by several advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, due to the presence of biodegradable organic matter in slaughterhouse waste, anaerobic digestion technology is commonly applied for economic gain. In this paper, the common technologies used for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment and their suitability were reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of the different processes were evaluated. Physical treatments (dissolved air floatation (DAF), coagulation–flocculation and sedimentation, electrocoagulation process and membrane technology) were found to be more effective but required a large space to operate and intensive capital investment. However, some biological treatments such as anaerobic, facultative lagoons, activated sludge process and trickling filters were also effective but required longer start-up periods. This review further explores the various strategies being used in the treatment of other wastewater for the production of valuable by-products through anaerobic digestion.
A Hierarchical Pyramid for Food Waste Based on a Social Innovation Perspective
Authors: Lombardi Mariarosaria , Costantino Marco
Published: April 2021

Food waste (FW) represents one of the greatest concerns facing mankind today; thus, the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development establishes that it must be halved by 2030. European Union legislators have taken part in this debate by publishing Directive 2018/851 to monitor the FW reduction goals, according to the waste hierarchical pyramid approach. At present, there are several proposed FW hierarchical pyramids, but these do not regard the associations between the level of waste-tackling strategies and social innovation (SI) models. Thus, the paper aims to build a hierarchical pyramid that considers, for each step of the food-supply chain and each level of the pyramid, all the FW social innovation models. A qualitative analysis of academic studies, institutional documents, and specific projects has been conducted. The results confirm the gap in the scientific literature and the lack of a systematic classification of SI activities to reduce FW. Furthermore, current SI practices are actually more focused on the human reuse of FW than on prevention, whereas SI models based on prevention might return the FWL issue to its systematic dimension. This information will help policymakers to reconsider the structural causes of FW inside the agro-food system, and not only its final consequences.
Analyzing Continuance of Cloud Computing in Higher Education Institutions: Should We Stay, or Should We Go?
Authors: Qasem Yousef A. M. , Abdullah Rusli , Jusoh Yusmadi Yah , Atan Rodziah , Asadi Shahla
Published: April 2021

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) consider resource optimization as an essential concern. Cloud computing (CC) in the fourth industrial revolution became the de-facto standard for delivering IT resources and services. CC is now a mainstream technology, andHEIs across the globe are rapidly transitioning to this model; hence, maintaining the retention of the customers of such technologies is challenging for cloud service providers. Current research concerning CC focused on adoption and acceptance. However, there is still a scarcity of research concerning such technology’s continued use in an organizational setting. Drawing on the prior literature in organizational-level continuance, this paper established a positivist quantitative-empirical study to bridge the research gap and assess the precursors for a continuance of cloud technology in HEIs. Subsequently, this study developed a conceptual framework by integrating the IS success model and the IS discontinuance model through the lens of the TOE framework. The data were collected from the decision-makers of Malaysian HEIs that have adopted CC services, and analyzed using Structural equation Modelling (SEM) based on Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results indicate that the continuance intention can be predicted by technology, organizational, environmental, and other contextualized factors, explaining 85.2% of the dependent variables’ variance. The paper closes with a discussion of the research limitations, contribution, and future directions.
Landscape Design toward Urban Resilience: Bridging Science and Physical Design Coupling Sociohydrological Modeling and Design Process
Authors: Kwak Yoonshin , Deal Brian , Mosey Grant
Published: April 2021

Given that evolving urban systems require ever more sophisticated and creative solutions to deal with uncertainty, designing for resilience in contemporary landscape architecture represents a cross-disciplinary endeavor. While there is a breadth of research on landscape resilience within the academy, the findings of this research are seldom making their way into physical practice. There are existent gaps between the objective, scientific method of scientists and the more intuitive qualitative language of designers and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to help bridge these gaps and ultimately support an endemic process for more resilient landscape design creation. This paper proposes a framework that integrates analytic research (i.e., modeling and examination) and design creation (i.e., place-making) using processes that incorporate feedback to help adaptively achieve resilient design solutions. Concepts of Geodesign and Planning Support Systems (PSSs) are adapted as part of the framework to emphasize the importance of modeling, assessment, and quantification as part of processes for generating information useful to designers. This paper tests the suggested framework by conducting a pilot study using a coupled sociohydrological model. The relationships between runoff and associated design factors are examined. Questions on how analytic outcomes can be translated into information for landscape design are addressed along with some ideas on how key variables in the model can be translated into useful design information. The framework and pilot study support the notion that the creation of resilient communities would be greatly enhanced by having a navigable bridge between science and practice.
Weekly Wellness Variations to Identify Non-Functional Overreaching Syndrome in Turkish National Youth Wrestlers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Akyildiz Zeki , Fani Maryam , Oliveira Rafael , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Clemente Filipe Manuel
Published: April 2021

The present study aimed at (i) investigating weekly variations in wellness ratings relative to Hooper indicators (HI): fatigue (wFatigue), stress levels (wStress), delayed onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), sleep quality/disorders (wSleep), and wHI across the full preparation season (PS) and (ii) comparing the aforementioned variables between three periods: early-PS, week (W) W1 to W11; mid-PS, W12 to W22; end-PS, W23 to W32. Ten elite young wrestlers were involved in this study (age, 16 ± 0.7 years; height, 163 ± 4.8 cm; body mass, 57.7 ± 9.0 kg; VO2max, 48.7 ± 1.4 mL/kg−1/min−1). Wellness status was monitored daily using the HI questionnaire. The main results were found in W26 (24.2 ± 3.9 arbitrary units (AU)) and W14 (17.9 ± 7 AU) with the highest and lowest wDOMS, respectively. Decreases in wDOMS were reported during the PS. For wFatigue, the highest and lowest values belong to W19 (24.3 ± 3.3 AU) and W32 (16.7 ± 3.9 AU), respectively. In the case of wFatigue, the level increased within the PS. The highest wHI was observed in W19 (88.5 ± 7.7 AU) and the lowest in W32 (72.3 ± 6.1 AU). There were no significant changes between early-PS compared to mid- and end-PS, while significant changes were found for mid-PS in comparison to the end-PS. Changes in wDOMS, wStress, and wFatigue were in line with the changes in Hooper’s scoring. All PS daily monitoring results can provide a great standpoint from which coaches can determine wellness status throughout the season in elite youth level athletes. This information can be used to avoid the risk of injury, overtraining, and non-functional overreaching.
Supply Chain Integration Enables Resilience, Flexibility, and Innovation to Improve Business Performance in COVID-19 Era
Authors: Siagian Hotlan , Tarigan Zeplin Jiwa Husada , Jie Ferry
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a sudden change from normal conditions to disruption conditions, and industrial sectors have experienced eroded growth. In particular, the manufacturing industry experienced a slowdown due to the sudden disruption in supply and demand. This situation stimulates the manufacturing industry to recover from this current challenging disruption. This study investigates the impact of supply chain integration on business performance through supply chain resilience, supply chain flexibility, and innovation system in Indonesia’s manufacturing companies. Data collection has obtained as many as 470 questionnaires considered valid for further analysis. Data analysis used the partial least square (PLS) technique using smartPLS software version 3.0. The results show that supply chain integration affects innovation system, supply chain flexibility, and supply chain resilience because of its ability to share complete product information and share production planning. Innovation systems and supply chain flexibility enhance supply chain resilience through the ability to deal with sudden changes in customer demand and production problems. Supply chain integration improves business performance through innovation, supply chain flexibility, and supply chain resilience in the COVID-19 era. This research could be the best practice for managers in restoring manufacturing performance quickly. This study also contributes to the current research in supply chain management.
Research on the Sustainable Heterogeneous Catalyst Development for Photocatalytic Treatment of Phenol
Authors: Li Zan , Zhang Hongkun , Jiang Wenrui
Published: April 2021

A large amount of wastewater from various and discharged sources that are not treated in any way could affect properties of both land and water, causing severe problems for the environment. Advanced oxidation processes seem to be a feasible option to address effluent treatment with regard to salvation of the environment. In this work, a CdO/ZnO/Yb2O3 composite composed of trimetallic semiconductors was synthesized through a simple one-pot hydrophile approach at low temperatures and then was employed as a photocatalyst. The degradation of phenol, a common organic persistent pollutant in industrial wastewater, was efficiently catalyzed in the presence of simulated sunlight. It was demonstrated that the synthesized CdO/ZnO/Yb2O3 photocatalyst was significantly active after 15 min of reaction and facilitated the effective degradation of the phenol. The CdO/ZnO/Yb2O3 photocatalyst achieved 71.5% and 97.81% degradation of the phenol without and with the existence of H2O2, correspondingly. The results show that the synthesized composite possesses high oxygen reduction capability and is available for rapid and potent photodegradation of the organic persistent pollutants such as phenol, with minimal damage to the environment.
Decomposing the Persistent and Transitory Effect of Information and Communication Technology on Environmental Impacts Assessment in Africa: Evidence from Mundlak Specification
Authors: Shobande Olatunji Abdul
Published: April 2021

This study examines the persistent and transitory effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on the environmental impact assessment in Africa. The applied advanced econometrics is based on both the Mundlak and Hausman–Taylor methodology for correcting endogeneity and the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) method to identify any potential cross-panel correlation. The empirical evidence suggests that an increase in ICT (Internet penetration) has a positive transitory effect on the environment. On the contrary, an increase in ICT has a negative persistent effect on the environment. This implies that a temporary change in ICT usage increases carbon emissions, whereas ICT use can reduce carbon emissions in the long run. In addition, this study identified mediums through which ICT can affect the environment, such as energy consumption. Therefore, this study recommends continuous investment in ICT infrastructure and education on the importance of practicing environmentally sustainable practices. Similarly, energy conservation is critical because use of the Internet appears to indirectly increase energy usage by increasing the overall productivity of the economy, which may subsequently degrade the environment.
Relationship between Water Surface Area of Qingtu Lake and Ecological Water Delivery: A Case Study in Northwest China
Authors: Guo Yuntong , Shao Jingli , Zhang Qiulan , Cui Yali
Published: April 2021

Qingtu Lake is located between Tengger Desert and Badain Jilin Desert, Gansu Province, Northwest China. It is the terminal lake of Shiyang River. In recent years, Qingtu lake has maintained a certain area of water surface and vegetation by artificial water conveyance. It is of great significance in preventing the convergence of the two deserts and restraining the trend of ecological deterioration of Shiyang River Basin. The relationship between the water surface area and the ecological water conveyance have not been thoroughly investigated. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of water surface area of Qingtu Lake and surrounding reeds by interpreting remote sensing data; the change of water surface area under the influence of meteorological factors and water conveyance by linear regression; the water conveyance to maintain current water surface area by water balance method, as well as the reasonable ecological water delivery in high flow year, normal flow year and low flow year by the means of analyzing the upstream inflow and water consumption in Minqin Basin. The results showed that there is a significant correlation between the water surface area of Qingtu Lake, evaporation and ecological water conveyance, and the minimum and maximum water surface areas generally appear before and after water delivery, indicating that the ecological water delivery and evaporation are the two main factors affecting the water surface area change of Qingtu Lake. The result calculated by linear regression indicated that the ecological water delivery volume to maintain current water surface area of Qingtu Lake is 3.146 × 107 m3/yr, while the value was 3.136 × 107 m3/yr calculated by water balance method. These two results are similar and can be verified with each other. Reasonable ecological water conveyance of Qingtu Lake in high flow year, normal flow year and low flow years were 4 × 107 m3/yr, 3.2 × 107 m3/yr and 2.3 × 107 m3/yr, respectively.
Examining the Asymmetric Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Global Financial Crisis on Dow Jones and Oil Price Shock
Authors: Shehzad Khurram , Zaman Umer , Liu Xiaoxing , Górecki Jarosław , Pugnetti Carlo
Published: April 2021

COVID-19 has significantly affected the financial and commodity markets. The purpose of this investigation is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Dow Jones and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil returns in relation to other crises using the Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) model. The results indicate that COVID-19 and the accompanying lockdown have adversely impacted both yields and that the impact on oil prices is more significant than on the Dow Jones index. The variance and squared residuals of oil prices and the Dow Jones reached their highest historical levels during the COVID-19 outbreak, even higher than during the global financial crisis, and especially the VaR of both markets reached their historical peak points during the COVID-19 era. The variance of WTI during COVID-19 is higher than that of DJI, as was also the case during the financial crisis. These findings confirm that COVID-19 has negatively impacted investors’ ability to determine optimal portfolios and thus the sustainability of financial and energy markets more than the global financial crisis of 2007–2009. We, therefore, suggest that policy changes are needed to maintain financial sustainability and help investors deal with future financial and other crises.
Marine Litter in Croatian Adriatic: Sources, Quantities and Stakeholders′ Perspectives
Authors: Funduk Marina , Tutman Pero , Farkaš Anamarija , Tišma Sanja , Boromisa Ana-Maria
Published: April 2021

The problem of marine litter is becoming more visible in Croatia. The main goal of this paper is to investigate issues related to marine litter in the Croatian Adriatic, from the current state of sources and quantities of marine litter, through marine litter monitoring and legislation, to stakeholders’ awareness about the marine litter issue in Croatia. The topic was designed as a case study and was covered by the method of document analysis and the survey method. Quantitative analysis was done for involved stakeholders and their level of interest. The mean value method and method for stakeholder mapping for marine areas was used. In addition, an exhaustive review of Croatian marine litter studies was done. The results of the research indicate that our knowledge about marine litter sources and quantities in the Croatian Adriatic is still quite scarce and that the stakeholders in Croatia have a moderate level of interest in the marine litter issue. Conclusions indicate that in Croatia particular attention is committed to strengthening both bilateral and multilateral relations with the neighboring countries given the transboundary nature that allows marine litter to spread over long distances.
Resource-Efficient Characterisation of Pit Latrine Sludge for Use in Agriculture
Authors: Kalulu Khumbo , Thole Bernard , Mkandawire Theresa , Kululanga Grant
Published: April 2021

Resource recovery through reuse of by-products of the sanitation chain presents a great potential towards ensuring universal access to safely managed sanitation. Many developing countries are faced with uncertainty over public and environmental health concerns associated with use of faecal sludge in agriculture. Due to resource constraints, limited data exists on the characteristics of faecal sludge to inform proper and safe use in agriculture. Despite predictive characterisation being demonstrated to be a resource-efficient approach to generate data in other fields, its application in agricultural resource recovery from faecal sludge is lacking in the literature. This paper explored predictive modelling as a less resource-intensive approach for characterisation of nutrients and pathogens in faecal sludge. Specifically, it investigated the extent to which gravimetric parameters could predict nutrients and pathogens in pit latrine sludge from informal settlements in the cities of Malawi. The study explored predictive models to estimate total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN), total phosphorus (TP), E.coli and helminth eggs from gravimetric parameters (total solids [TS] and total volatile solids [TVS]) in pit latrine sludge. The models developed in the study allow substantially reliable estimation of TAN (R2pred = 75.4%) and TP (R2pred = 78.2%); they also provide moderately reliable predictions for E.coli (R2pred = 69.1%) and helminth eggs (R2pred = 74.3%) from total solids. Since total solids are easy and inexpensive to measure, the models present an option that can reduce resource requirement for characterisation of pit latrine sludge for informed decision-making when using pit latrine sludge in agriculture. In the absence of data on faecal sludge characteristics at the national level, the models provide a starting point for estimation of pathogens and nutrients in sludge for agricultural use. However, stepwise refinement of the models needs to be done through their validation for different types of sludge and inclusion of spatially available demographic, technical and environmental (SPA-DET) data.
On the Multilinear Fractional Transforms
Authors: Kulak Öznur
Published: April 2021

In this paper we first introduce multilinear fractional wavelet transform on Rn×R+n using Schwartz functions, i.e., infinitely differentiable complex-valued functions, rapidly decreasing at infinity. We also give multilinear fractional Fourier transform and prove the Hausdorff–Young inequality and Paley-type inequality. We then study boundedness of the multilinear fractional wavelet transform on Lebesgue spaces and Lorentz spaces.
Effect of Food Endotoxin on Infant Health
Authors: Wu Haoming , Wang Yang , Li Huiying , Meng Lu , Zheng Nan , Wang Jiaqi
Published: April 2021

Endotoxin is a complex molecule derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and it has strong thermal stability. The processing of infant food can kill pathogenic bacteria but cannot remove endotoxin. Because the intestinal structure of infants is not fully developed, residual endotoxin poses a threat to their health by damaging the intestinal flora and inducing intestinal inflammation, obesity, and sepsis, among others. This paper discusses the sources and contents of endotoxin in infant food and methods for preventing endotoxin from harming infants. However, there is no clear evidence that endotoxin levels in infant food cause significant immune symptoms or even diseases in infants. However, in order to improve the safety level of infant food and reduce the endotoxin content, this issue should not be ignored. The purpose of this review is to provide a theoretical basis for manufacturers and consumers to understand the possible harm of endotoxin content in infant formula milk powder and to explore how to reduce its level in infant formula milk powder. Generally, producers should focus on cleaning the milk source, securing the cold chain, avoiding long-distance transportation, and shortening the storage time of raw milk to reduce the level of bacteria and endotoxin. After production and processing, the endotoxin content should be measured as an important index to test the quality of infant formula milk powder so as to provide high-quality infant products for the healthy growth of newborns.
A Comprehensive Study Monitoring the Venom Composition and the Effects of the Venom of the Rare Ethiopian Endemic Snake Species Bitis parviocula
Authors: Petrilla Vladimír , Polláková Magdaléna , Bekešová Barbora , Andrejčáková Zuzana , Vlčková Radoslava , Marcinčáková Dana , Petrillová Monika , Petrovová Eva , Sopková Drahomíra , Legáth Jaroslav
Published: April 2021

The Ethiopian endemic snake of the species Bitis parviocula, recognized for its colorful patterns, might be more interesting as we look deeper into the venom activity. We assayed the effects of venoms from the most widespread venomous African Bitis arietens and closely related species Bitis parviocula using The Hen’s Egg Test—Chorioallantoic membrane test (HET-CAM) and Chicken embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) analysis, cytotoxicity assay performed on cell lines and protein analysis of selected venoms. Our results indicated that B. parviocula venom contains vasoactive compounds that have a direct effect on blood vessels. The AChE analysis showed significant ability inhibiting AChE activity in embryonic tissue. Cytotoxicity observed on A549 ATCC® CCL-185™ cells indicates the possible presence of cytotoxic agents in B. parviocula venom. We proved previously described differences in the composition of venom obtained from B. arietans and B. parviocula by using electrophoresis and total protein concentration. Based on similarities in vasoactive effects observed after administration of venoms onto a chicken chorioallantoic membrane, we suggest that venom from B. arietans and B. parviocula might share certain venom proteins responsible for haemotoxicity. The main active components of B. parviocula venom are unknown. Our results suggest that it might be worth performing proteomic analysis of B. parviocula venom as it might contain medically valuable compounds.
Radio Stars of the SKA
Authors: Yu Bin , Zijlstra Albert , Jiang Biwei
Published: April 2021

Radio emission from stars can be used, for example, to study ionized winds or stellar flares. The radio emission is faint and studies have been limited to few objects. The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) brings a survey ability to the topic of radio stars. In this paper we investigate what the SKA can detect, and what sensitivity will be required for deep surveys of the stellar Milky Way. We focus on the radio emission from OB stars, Be stars, flares from M dwarfs, and Ultra Compact HII regions. The stellar distribution in the Milky Way is simulated using the Besançon model, and various relations are used to predict their radio flux. We find that the full SKA will easily detect all UltraCompact HII regions. At the limit of 10 nJy at 5 GHz, the SKA can detect 1500 Be stars and 50 OB stars per square degree, out to several kpc. It can also detect flares from 4500 M dwarfs per square degree. At 100 nJy, the numbers become about 8 times smaller. SKA surveys of the Galactic plane should be designed for high sensitivity. Deep imaging should consider the significant number of faint flares in the field, even outside the plane of the Milky Way.
Beyond the Gastrointestinal Tract: The Emerging and Diverse Tissue Tropisms of Astroviruses
Authors: Janowski Andrew B.
Published: April 2021

Astroviruses are single stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that have been historically associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates, including humans. However, there is now a multitude of evidence demonstrating the capacity of these viruses to cause extraintestinal diseases. The most striking causal relationship is neurological diseases in humans, cattle, pigs, and other mammals, caused by astrovirus infection. Astroviruses have also been associated with disseminated infections, localized disease of the liver or kidneys, and there is increasing evidence suggesting a potential tropism to the respiratory tract. This review will discuss the current understanding of the tissue tropisms for astroviruses and their emerging capacity to cause disease in multiple organ systems.
Modeling a Three-Stage Biological Trickling Filter Based on the A2O Process for Sewage Treatment
Authors: Liang Jiabin , Yuan Yuan , Zhang Zimeng , You Shijie , Yuan Yixing
Published: April 2021

Biological trickling filters are widely used for sewage treatment. This study models a biological trickling filter based on an anaerobic–anoxic–oxic process (A2O–BTF), established by a combination of aerobic and anaerobic technology. The performance and operational parameters were analyzed using Sumo, a commercially available wastewater treatment process (WWTP) simulation software. The wastewater treatment performance of the anaerobic–anoxic–oxic process biological trickling filter (A2O–BTF), the conventional three-stage biological trickling filter (Three-Stage–BTF), and the single-stage biological trickling filter (Single–BTF) was compared, which indicated the higher performance of A2O–BTF in terms of COD, TN, NH3-N, and TP removal. The operational parameters of A2O–BTF were optimized by Sumo simulation software, and the results showed that the removal efficiency of pollutants was increased by raising the temperature to the range of 13.94–21.60 °C. The dissolved oxygen (DO) in the aerobic reactor enhanced removal efficiency under a saturation concentration of 2.2–2.6 g O2/m3. In addition, the optimization of the reflux ratio promoted the removal efficiency of the pollutants, indicated by the maximum removal efficiency of COD and TN, achieved at the reflux ratio of 2.25, and that of NH3-N and TP, achieved at a reflux ratio of 0.75. This study provides a proof-in-concept demonstration that software modeling can be a useful tool for assisting the optimization of the design and operation of sewage treatment processes.
The Impacts of the Geographic Distribution of Manufacturing Plants on Groundwater Withdrawal in China
Authors: Zheng Yanting , Yang Huidan , Huang Jinyuan , Wang Linjuan , Lv Aifeng
Published: April 2021

The overexploitation of groundwater in China has raised concern, as it has caused a series of environmental and ecological problems. However, far too little attention has been paid to the relationship between groundwater use and the spatial distribution of water users, especially that of manufacturing factories. In this study, a factory scatter index (FSI) was constructed to represent the spatial dispersion degree of manufacturing factories in China. It was found that counties and border areas between neighboring provinces registered the highest FSI increases. Further non-spatial and spatial regression models using 205 provincial-level secondary river basins in China from 2016 showed that the scattered distribution of manufacturing plants played a key role in groundwater withdrawal in China, especially in areas with a fragile ecological environment. The scattered distribution of manufacturing plants raises the cost of tap water transmission, makes monitoring and supervision more difficult, and increases the possibility of surface water pollution, thereby intensifying groundwater withdrawal. A reasonable spatial adjustment of manufacturing industry through planning and management can reduce groundwater withdrawal and realize the protection of groundwater. Our study may provide a basis for water-demand management through spatial adjustment in areas with high water scarcity and a fragile ecological environment.
Fresh- and Brackish-Water Cold-Tolerant Species of Southern Europe: Migrants from the Paratethys That Colonized the Arctic
Authors: Artamonova Valentina S. , Bolotov Ivan N. , Vinarski Maxim V. , Makhrov Alexander A.
Published: April 2021

Analysis of zoogeographic, paleogeographic, and molecular data has shown that the ancestors of many fresh- and brackish-water cold-tolerant hydrobionts of the Mediterranean region and the Danube River basin likely originated in East Asia or Central Asia. The fish genera Gasterosteus, Hucho, Oxynoemacheilus, Salmo, and Schizothorax are examples of these groups among vertebrates, and the genera Magnibursatus (Trematoda), Margaritifera, Potomida, Microcondylaea, Leguminaia, Unio (Mollusca), and Phagocata (Planaria), among invertebrates. There is reason to believe that their ancestors spread to Europe through the Paratethys (or the proto-Paratethys basin that preceded it), where intense speciation took place and new genera of aquatic organisms arose. Some of the forms that originated in the Paratethys colonized the Mediterranean, and overwhelming data indicate that representatives of the genera Salmo, Caspiomyzon, and Ecrobia migrated during the Miocene from the region of the modern Caspian through the Araks Strait, which existed at that time. From the Ponto-Caspian and the Mediterranean regions, noble salmon, three-spined stickleback, European pearl mussel, seals, and mollusks of the genus Ecrobia spread to the Atlantic Ocean and colonized the Subarctic and Arctic regions of Europe and North America. Our study indicates that the area of the former Paratethys retains its significance as a center of origin of new species and genera and that it has been the starting point of migration “corridors” up to the present time.
Publishing Patterns of Health Informatics in Africa: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Enakrire Rexwhite Tega
Published: April 2021

This study investigates the publishing patterns of health informatics (HIs) in Africa, with a view to analyse the bibliometric growth. The application of HIs has played an important role in the advancements in medical practice and scholars/academics’ teaching and learning at higher education institutions. The aim of analysing the volume of publications of HIs was to establish the research impact, visibility and output of academics, in order to promote scholarly communication and knowledge sharing, and contribute to existing knowledge in this field of study. Interpretive document analysis was applied to literature extracted from the Scopus database for the period between 1987 to 2018. The keywords entered for search engine optimisation were “Health Informatics” and “Africa”. The duration of the study - from when data was harvested, collated and analysis to when the data was presented in tables and then discussed - was three weeks. The results obtained revealed that there were 2332 papers published within this period. The publications were communicated through different avenues, including articles, conference papers, review and others. Publications on medicine was at the top of the list of subject areas recorded. The top journal, where papers in HIs were published, is Plos One. South Africa was among the top countries that published research on HIs. In relation to institution affiliation, University of Cape Town was identified as the higher education institution that produced the highest number of publications, with 128 publications. In terms of funding bodies that supported research, thus leading to publication of papers in HIs, it was found that the National Institute of Health, South African Medical Council, United States Agency for International Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Research Foundation played crucial roles.
Educación intercultural bilingüe, privatización por defecto y desigualdad entre los docentes Awajún de la región San Martín
Authors: Zúñiga Marianella
Published: April 2021

El artículo aborda las implicancias de la privatización de la educación y la formación docente de maestros Awajún en la reproducción de desigualdad en la Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (EIB), política educativa dirigida a los pueblos indígenas en el Perú. En el contexto de implementación de políticas educativas neoliberales se promulgó el Decreto Legislativo 882 en 1996, lo que generó el notable incremento de la educación privada en el país. Aunque pobremente regulada por el Estado, un sector de la oferta privada resulta atractivo para los maestros Awajún de la región San Martín, quienes trabajan en el servicio de EIB en un contexto caracterizado por el déficit de maestros indígenas con formación profesional concluida. Sin embargo, el acceso a la educación privada de cuestionable calidad y probidad participa de la creciente devaluación del rol del maestro Awajún y en la configuración de circuitos educativos desiguales. La investigación cualitativa involucró la construcción de datos a través de entrevistas, encuestas y observaciones en las que participaron estudiantes y maestros Awajún así como docentes no indígenas de institutos pedagógicos y universidades en las ciudades de Moyobamba, Rioja, Nueva Cajamarca y Jaén. Además, la investigación utilizó documentos oficiales respecto a la privatización de la educación, la formación docente y la política de EIB durante el periodo de 1990 al 2015.
Particle Theory: A New Theory That May Reconcile General Relativity and Quantum Theory
Authors: Martinez Dino
Published: April 2021

In an attempt to reconcile General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, Particle Theory is a concept that may try to address this issue. This theory explains the effects accurately calculated by General Relativity in an alternate and real, physical way, and is therefore an alternative to GR. The theory states that indivisible atomic particles are instead divided into even smaller particles (called “EM particles”) held together by a central potential, the speed of light being the limit to their velocities. The “shedding” of these particles are responsible for the static and magnetic fields we observe. This also creates a “screening” effect that, for an atomic particle at rest, blocks about half of what this theory defines as the “true gravitational potential”, which is just twice the Newtonian value (mediated by what this theory defines as “gravity particles”). When an atomic system of particles starts moving in a certain direction, the act of shedding and the internal movement decreases as the particles orient themselves in the direction of the velocity, which reduces the screening effect, where we start to observe the relativistic effects of General (and Special) Relativity.
Outside In/Inside Out: Extimacy and Public Space
Authors:   University of Texas at Austin, Feliz Arrizabalaga Nerea
Published: April 2021

As the public sphere has intruded the privacy of the home, the semiotics of the domestic have migrated to workplaces and public squares. The entropic mixture of private and public environments is gradually altering the physiognomy of the city.
Infrastructure of Dust Managing Particulate in the Borderland
Authors:   Texas Tech University, Kripa Ersela , Mueller Stephen ,   Texas Tech University
Published: April 2021

Airborne particulate in the US/Mexico border region indexes an emerging transnational security concern, enabling the proliferation of novel managerial infrastructures. Through an investigation of the weaponized atmospheres and securocratic frontiers of cross-border dust, the paper uncovers an invisible agent with the capacity to reshape bodies, buildings, cities, and territories in its image.
Rewiring Territories: The Future Production of Extraction Infrastructure
Authors:   California College of the Arts, The Urban Works Agency, Bhatia Neeraj
Published: April 2021

The disjuncture between a territorial infrastructure and local cultures is most overtly witnessed in the development of pipelines, which are large infrastructural conduits used to transport oil or gas, deployed primarily between points of extraction and refining. This article examines the typology of the pipeline and its relationship to both territorial and local systems for their eventual future productions. Specifically, it focuses on the South American “Uruguayana-Porto Alegre Pipeline”, which will unify a series of separate pipelines developed over the past two decades. Spanning 3,100 kilometers across Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Brazil, and linking northern regions to the southern cone once completed, this energy ring will redistribute flows of energy, wealth, and people across the territory. As new pipelines and their associated infrastructures cross the once remote hinterland, it exposes these rural settlements and local ecologies to development pressures. This case study will use two design-research projects to investigate how the pipeline can be leveraged to reassert local cultures, economies, ecologies, and values.
Ruled Based Construction and the Materialization of a Line in Motion
Authors:   The University of Hong Kong, Ottevaere Olivier
Published: April 2021

From the work of the Architect and Engineer Felix Candela on Hyperbolic Paraboloid surfaces for thin shell construction, the paper retraces how ruled geometries, generalized by a sequence of rotating lines, directly regulate procedures of construction for concrete formwork, made of straight timber elements. From the conception of three timber structures, The Pinch, Sweep and Warp, it is discussed how such geometrical principles are further explored structurally, materially and spatially. Finally, a series of subsequent physical experiments are put forward in search of new shell topologies, generated solely from a moving line described by time and movement. For the timber structures, sequences of changing wooden trusses capture the movement of a line to support ruled decks performing as new active grounds. The results are a series of three small scalesocial programs: a library, a play area and a roadsidemarketplace. They were each built with students and with the helpof a local timber workshop, developing constructionmethods for adapting highly articulated geometriesto simple traditional techniques. Situated at the intersection of teaching and research, experimentation and on-site construction, complex geometry and local craftsmanship, these design-build projects engage with full scale construction in difficult sites through experiential learning.
Ubiquitous Simultaneity: A Design Workflow for an Information Rich Environment
Authors:   University of Calgary, Johnson Jason S. , Parker Matthew ,   University of Calgary
Published: April 2021

In June of 2014 over 1700 entries were submitted to a competition for a proposed Guggenheim Museum in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Winners had no guarantee that the project would be built, yet architects from around the world spent huge amounts of capital and time to produce what was described by the director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation as “an unprecedented volume of design information that is now freely available for study and use”. Just like that the intellectual capital of nearly two thousand architects was distributed essentially free of charge to the public. This represented a massive upload of the architectural intentions and pre-occupations of a generation of architects that was not used or evaluated in any way other than to promote the competition itself. This paper focuses on the development of a design process that makes use of large repositories of previously designed projects as the content for a new kind of design workflow. The leveraging of computational techniques and large data rich territories is described and its preliminary outputs presented.
Contextualized Metrics + Narrating Binaries: Defining Place and Processing Indigenous North America
Authors:   Arizona State University, Dalla Costa Wanda
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces four cultural catalysts in Indigenous architecture: language, place, kinship and transformation. Inspired by the interrelationship of physical, sociocultural and spiritual factors- the measurable and immeasurable – we investigate a number of concepts related to Indigenous thinking and ways of knowing. We contrast these notions with non-Indigenous writers including Pallasmaa, Ricoeurand Doshi, in the hopes of initiating a dialogue, and assisting the two-way knowledge transfer, between architecture and Indigenous theory.