bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Computational Investigation of In Vivo Cytosolic Protein Delivery for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Torres Camilo , Dumas Simon , Palacio-Castañeda Valentina , Descroix Stéphanie , Brock Roland , Verdurmen Wouter P. R.
Published: April 2021

The ability to specifically block or degrade cytosolic targets using therapeutic proteins would bring tremendous therapeutic opportunities in cancer therapy. Over the last few years, significant progress has been made with respect to tissue targeting, cytosolic delivery, and catalytic inactivation of targets, placing this aim within reach. Here, we developed a mathematical model specifically built for the evaluation of approaches towards cytosolic protein delivery, involving all steps from systemic administration to translocation into the cytosol and target engagement. Focusing on solid cancer tissues, we utilized the model to investigate the effects of microvascular permeability, receptor affinity, the cellular density of targeted receptors, as well as the mode of activity (blocking/degradation) on therapeutic potential. Our analyses provide guidance for the rational optimization of protein design for enhanced activity and highlight the importance of tuning the receptor affinity as a function of receptor density as well as the receptor internalization rate. Furthermore, we provide quantitative insights into how enzymatic cargoes can enhance the distribution, extent, and duration of therapeutic activity, already at very low catalytic rates. Our results illustrate that with current protein engineering approaches, the goal of delivery of cytosolic delivery of proteins for therapeutic effects is well within reach.
Invasive Plant Species Distribution Is Structured by Soil and Habitat Type in the City Landscape
Authors: Szumańska Ilona , Lubińska-Mielińska Sandra , Kamiński Dariusz , Rutkowski Lucjan , Nienartowicz Andrzej , Piernik Agnieszka
Published: April 2021

Invasive alien species (IAS) is a global problem that largely relates to human activities and human settlements. To prevent the further spread of IAS, we first need to know their pattern of distribution, to determine which constitutes the greatest threat, and understand which habitats and migration pathways they prefer. Our research aimed to identify the main vectors and distribution pattern of IAS of plants in the city environment. We checked the relations between species distribution and such environmental factors as urban soil type and habitat type. We applied data on IAS occurrence (collected in the period 1973–2015) in 515 permanent plots with dimensions of 0.5 × 0.5 km and analyzed by direct ordination methods. In total, we recorded 66 IAS. We found a 27% variance in the IAS distribution pattern, which can be explained by statistically significant soil and habitat types. The most important for species distribution were: river and alluvial soils, forests and related rusty soils, and places of intensive human activities, including areas of urbisols and industriosols. Our results provide details that can inform local efforts for the management and control of invasive species, and they provide evidence of the different associations between natural patterns and human land use.
Petiole-Lamina Transition Zone: A Functionally Crucial but Often Overlooked Leaf Trait
Authors: Langer Max , Speck Thomas , Speck Olga
Published: April 2021

Although both the petiole and lamina of foliage leaves have been thoroughly studied, the transition zone between them has often been overlooked. We aimed to identify objectively measurable morphological and anatomical criteria for a generally valid definition of the petiole–lamina transition zone by comparing foliage leaves with various body plans (monocotyledons vs. dicotyledons) and spatial arrangements of petiole and lamina (two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional configurations). Cross-sectional geometry and tissue arrangement of petioles and transition zones were investigated via serial thin-sections and µCT. The changes in the cross-sectional geometries from the petiole to the transition zone and the course of the vascular bundles in the transition zone apparently depend on the spatial arrangement, while the arrangement of the vascular bundles in the petioles depends on the body plan. We found an exponential acropetal increase in the cross-sectional area and axial and polar second moments of area to be the defining characteristic of all transition zones studied, regardless of body plan or spatial arrangement. In conclusion, a variety of terms is used in the literature for describing the region between petiole and lamina. We prefer the term “petiole–lamina transition zone” to underline its three-dimensional nature and the integration of multiple gradients of geometry, shape, and size.
Suppression of an Invasive Native Plant Species by Designed Grassland Communities
Authors: Möhrle Kathrin , Reyes-Aldana Hugo E. , Kollmann Johannes , Teixeira Leonardo H.
Published: April 2021

Grassland biodiversity is declining due to climatic change, land-use intensification, and establishment of invasive plant species. Excluding or suppressing invasive species is a challenge for grassland management. An example is Jacobaea aquatica, an invasive native plant in wet grasslands of Central Europe, that is causing problems to farmers by being poisonous, overabundant, and fast spreading. This study aimed at testing designed grassland communities in a greenhouse experiment, to determine key drivers of initial J. aquatica suppression, thus dismissing the use of pesticides. We used two base communities (mesic and wet grasslands) with three plant traits (plant height, leaf area, seed mass), that were constrained and diversified based on the invader traits. Native biomass, community-weighted mean trait values, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) were used as explanatory variables to understand variation in invasive biomass. The diversified traits leaf area and seed mass, PD, and native biomass significantly affected the invader. High native biomass permanently suppressed the invader, while functional traits needed time to develop effects; PD effects were significant at the beginning of the experiment but disappeared over time. Due to complexity and temporal effects, community weighted mean traits proved to be moderately successful for increasing invasion resistance of designed grassland communities.
Silicon Stimulates Plant Growth and Metabolism in Rice Plants under Conventional and Osmotic Stress Conditions
Authors: Ramírez-Olvera Sara Monzerrat , Trejo-Téllez Libia Iris , Gómez-Merino Fernando Carlos , Ruíz-Posadas Lucero del Mar , Alcántar-González Ernesto Gabriel , Saucedo-Veloz Crescenciano
Published: April 2021

Exogenous silicon (Si) can enhance plant resistance to various abiotic factors causing osmotic stress. The objective of this research was to evaluate the application of 1 and 2 mM Si to plants under normal conditions and under osmotic stress. Morelos A-98 rice seedlings, were treated with 1 and 2 mM SiO2 for 28 d. Subsequently, half of the plants were subjected to osmotic stress with the addition of 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000; and continued with the addition of Si (0, 1 and 2 mM SiO2) for both conditions. The application of Si under both conditions increased chlorophyll b in leaves, root volume, as well as fresh and dry biomass of roots. Interestingly, the number of tillers, shoot fresh and dry biomass, shoot water content, concentration of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and the concentration of total sugars and proline in shoot increased with the addition of Si under osmotic stress conditions. The addition of Si under normal conditions decreased the concentration of sugars in the roots, K and Mn in roots, and increased the concentration of Fe and Zn in shoots. Therefore, Si can be used as a potent inorganic biostimulant in rice Morelos A-98 since it stimulates plant growth and modulates the concentration of vital biomolecules and essential nutrients.
Mechanically Sustainable Starch-Based Flame-Retardant Coatings on Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Choi Kyung-Who , Kim Jun-Woo , Kwon Tae-Soon , Kang Seok-Won , Song Jung-Il , Park Yong-Tae
Published: April 2021

The use of halogen-based materials has been regulated since toxic substances are released during combustion. In this study, polyurethane foam was coated with cationic starch (CS) and montmorillonite (MMT) nano-clay using a spray-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly to develop an eco-friendly, high-performance flame-retardant coating agent. The thickness of the CS/MMT coating layer was confirmed to have increased uniformly as the layers were stacked. Likewise, a cone calorimetry test confirmed that the heat release rate and total heat release of the coated foam decreased by about 1/2, and a flame test showed improved fire retardancy based on the analysis of combustion speed, flame size, and residues of the LbL-coated foam. More importantly, an additional cone calorimeter test was performed after conducting more than 1000 compressions to assess the durability of the flame-retardant coating layer when applied in real life, confirming the durability of the LbL coating by the lasting flame retardancy.
Designing Biodegradable and Active Multilayer System by Assembling an Electrospun Polycaprolactone Mat Containing Quercetin and Nanocellulose between Polylactic Acid Films
Authors: López de Dicastillo Carol , Garrido Luan , Velásquez Eliezer , Rojas Adrián , Gavara Rafael
Published: April 2021

The design of multilayer systems is an innovative strategy to improve physical properties of biodegradable polymers and introduce functionality to the materials through the incorporation of an active compound into some of these layers. In this work, a trilayer film based on a sandwich of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers (PCLé) containing quercetin (Q) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) between extruded polylactic acid (PLA) films was designed with the purpose of improving thermal and barrier properties and affording antioxidant activity to packaged foods. PCLé was successfully electrospun onto 70 µm-thick extruded PLA film followed by the assembling of a third 25 µm-thick commercial PLA film through hot pressing. Optical, morphological, thermal, and barrier properties were evaluated in order to study the effect of PCL layer and the addition of Q and CNC. Bilayer systems obtained after the electrospinning process of PCL onto PLA film were also evaluated. The release of quercetin from bi- and trilayer films to food simulants was also analyzed. Results evidenced that thermal treatment during thermo-compression melted PCL polymer and resulted in trilayer systems with barrier properties similar to single PLA film. Quercetin release from bi- and trilayer films followed a similar profile, but achieved highest value through the addition of CNC.
Mixed Mode Crack Propagation in Polymers Using a Discrete Lattice Method
Authors: Braun Matías , Aranda-Ruiz Josué , Fernández-Sáez José
Published: April 2021

The fracture behavior of polymeric materials has been widely studied in recent years, both experimentally and numerically. Different numerical approaches have been considered in the study of crack propagation processes, from continuum-based numerical formulations to discrete models, many of the latter being limited in the selection of the Poisson’s coefficient of the considered material. In this work, we present a numerical and experimental analysis of the crack propagation process of polymethylmethacrylate beams with central and eccentric notches subjected to quasi-static three-point bending tests. The developed discrete numerical model consists of a regular triangular lattice model based on axial and normal interaction springs, accounting for nearest-neighbor interactions. The proposed model allows solving the above mentioned limitation in the selection of Poisson’s coefficient, incorporating a fracture criterion defined by a bilinear law with softening that includes the fracture energy in the formulation and allows considering a progressive damage. One of the main objectives of this work is to show the capacity of this lattice to simulate quasi-static fracture problems. The obtained results show that the proposed lattice model is capable of providing results close to the experimental ones in terms of crack pattern, peak load and initial stiffening.
New Hyaluronic Acid/Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers: Design, Characterization and In Vitro Biological Evaluation
Authors: Ionescu Oana Maria , Mignon Arn , Iacob Andreea Teodora , Simionescu Natalia , Confederat Luminita Georgeta , Tuchilus Cristina , Profire Lenuța
Published: April 2021

Natural compounds have been used as wound-healing promoters and are also present in today’s clinical proceedings. In this research, different natural active components such as propolis, Manuka honey, insulin, L-arginine, and Calendula officinalis infusion were included into hyaluronic acid/poly(ethylene)oxide-based electrospun nanofiber membranes to design innovative wound-dressing biomaterials. Morphology and average fiber diameter were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Chemical composition was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which indicated successful incorporation of the active components. The nanofiber membranes with propolis and Calendula officinalis showed best antioxidant activity, cytocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties against pathogen strains Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and had an average diameter of 217 ± 19 nm with smooth surface aspect. Water vapor transmission rate was in agreement with the range suitable for preventing infections or wound dehydration (~5000 g/m2 24 h). Therefore, the developed hyaluronic acid/poly(ethylene)oxide nanofibers with additional natural components showed favorable features for clinical use as wound dressings.
Exploring the Potential Application of Matrimid® and ZIFs-Based Membranes for Hydrogen Recovery: A Review
Authors: Fernández-Castro Pablo , Ortiz Alfredo , Gorri Daniel
Published: April 2021

Hydrogen recovery is at the center of the energy transition guidelines promoted by governments, owing to its applicability as an energy resource, but calls for energetically nonintensive recovery methods. The employment of polymeric membranes in selective gas separations has arisen as a potential alternative, as its established commercial availability demonstrates. However, enhanced features need to be developed to achieve adequate mechanical properties and the membrane performance that allows the obtention of hydrogen with the required industrial purity. Matrimid®, as a polyimide, is an attractive material providing relatively good performance to selectively recover hydrogen. As a consequence, this review aims to study and summarize the main results, mechanisms involved and advances in the use of Matrimid® as a selective material for hydrogen separation to date, delving into membrane fabrication procedures that increase the effectiveness of hydrogen recovery, i.e., the addition of fillers (within which ZIFs have acquired extraordinary importance), chemical crosslinking or polymeric blending, among others.
The Multiple Uses of Polypropylene/Polyethylene Terephthalate Microfibrillar Composite Structures to Support Waste Management—Composite Processing and Properties
Authors: Almajid Abdulhakim , Walter Rolf , Kroos Tim , Junaedi Harri , Gurka Martin , Khalil Khalil Abdelrazek
Published: April 2021

Composite processing and subsequent characterization of microfibrillar composites (MFC) were the focus of this work. Compression molding of wound MFC filaments was used to fabricate MFC composites. The MFC composites were composed of polypropylene (PP) as matrix materials and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as reinforcement fibers. The PP/PET blends were mixed with PET contents ranging from 22 wt% to 45 wt%. The effect of processing parameters, pressure, temperature, and holding time on the mechanical properties of the MFCs was investigated. Tensile tests were conducted to optimize the processing parameter and weight ratio of PET. Tensile strength and modulus increased with the increase in PET content. PP/45 wt% PET MFC composites properties reached the value of PP/30 wt% GF. Falling weight tests were conducted on MFC composites. The MFC composites showed the ability to absorb the impact energy compared to neat PP and PP/30 wt% GF.
Ensuring Individual Rights through Institutional Freedoms: The Role of Religious Institutions in Securing Religious Rights
Authors: Fox Jonathan , Finke Roger
Published: April 2021

Understanding the restrictions placed on religious institutions and associations, or the freedoms that they are denied, is essential for understanding the limits placed on individual religious freedoms and human rights more generally. This study uses the Religion and State round 3 (RAS3) dataset to track restrictions faced by religious organizations and individuals between 1990 and 2014 and explores how reduced institutional freedoms results in fewer individual freedoms. We find that restrictions on both institutional and individual religious freedoms are common and rising. Restrictions on institutional religious freedom are harsher against religious minorities than restrictions on individual freedoms. However, against the majority religion, restrictions on individual religious freedoms are harsher.
On the Management of Nature-Based Solutions in Open-Air Laboratories: New Insights and Future Perspectives
Authors: Gallotti Glauco , Santo Marco Antonio , Apostolidou Ilektra , Alessandri Jacopo , Armigliato Alberto , Basu Bidroha , Debele Sisay , Domeneghetti Alessio , Gonzalez-Ollauri Alejandro , Kumar Prashant , Mentzafou Angeliki , Pilla Francesco , Pulvirenti Beatrice , Ruggieri Paolo , Sahani Jeetendra , Salmivaara Aura , Basu Arunima Sarkar , Spyrou Christos , Pinardi Nadia , Toth Elena , Unguendoli Silvia , Pillai Umesh Pranavam Ayyappan , Valentini Andrea , Varlas George , Verri Giorgia , Zaniboni Filippo , Di Sabatino Silvana
Published: April 2021

The adoption of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) represents a novel means to mitigate natural hazards. In the framework of the OPERANDUM project, this study introduces a methodology to assess the efficiency of the NBSs and a series of Open-Air Laboratories (OALs) regarded as a proof-of-concept for the wider uptake of NBSs. The OALs are located in Finland, Greece, UK, Italy, and Ireland. The methodology is based on a wide modeling activity, incorporated in the context of future climate scenarios. Herein, we present a series of models’ chains able to estimate the efficiency of the NBSs. While the presented models are mainly well-established, their coupling represents a first fundamental step in the study of the long-term efficacy and impact of the NBSs. In the selected sites, NBSs are utilized to cope with distinct natural hazards: floods, droughts, landslides, salt intrusion, and nutrient and sediment loading. The study of the efficacy of NBSs to mitigate these hazards belongs to a series of works devoted to the implementation of NBSs for environmental purposes. Our findings prove that land management plays a crucial role in the process. Specifically, the selected NBSs include intensive forestry; the conversion of urban areas to grassland; dunes; marine seagrass; water retention ponds; live cribwalls; and high-density plantations of woody vegetation and deep-rooted herbaceous vegetation. The management of natural resources should eventually consider the effect of NBSs on urban and rural areas, as their employment is becoming widespread.
Editorial for the Special Issue “Remote Sensing of the Oceans: Blue Economy and Marine Pollution”
Authors: Buono Andrea , Li Yu , Paes Rafael Lemos
Published: April 2021

Oceans represent an extraordinary source of resources that needs to be preserved while being exploited [...]
R-DFS: A Coverage Path Planning Approach Based on Region Optimal Decomposition
Authors: Tang Gang , Tang Congqiang , Zhou Hao , Claramunt Christophe , Men Shaoyang
Published: April 2021

Most Coverage Path Planning (CPP) strategies based on the minimum width of a concave polygonal area are very likely to generate non-optimal paths with many turns. This paper introduces a CPP method based on a Region Optimal Decomposition (ROD) that overcomes this limitation when applied to the path planning of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in a port environment. The principle of the approach is to first apply a ROD to a Google Earth image of a port and combining the resulting sub-regions by an improved Depth-First-Search (DFS) algorithm. Finally, a genetic algorithm determines the traversal order of all sub-regions. The simulation experiments show that the combination of ROD and improved DFS algorithm can reduce the number of turns by 4.34%, increase the coverage rate by more than 10%, and shorten the non-working distance by about 29.91%. Overall, the whole approach provides a sound solution for the CPP and operations of UAVs in port environments.
Use of Sentinel-2 Satellite Data for Windthrows Monitoring and Delimiting: The Case of “Vaia” Storm in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (North-Eastern Italy)
Authors: Olmo Valentina , Tordoni Enrico , Petruzzellis Francesco , Bacaro Giovanni , Altobelli Alfredo
Published: April 2021

On the 29th of October 2018, a storm named “Vaia” hit North-Eastern Italy, causing the loss of 8 million m3 of standing trees and creating serious damage to the forested areas, with many economic and ecological implications. This event brought up the necessity of a standard procedure for windthrow detection and monitoring based on satellite data as an alternative to foresters’ fieldwork. The proposed methodology was applied in Carnic Alps (Friuli Venezia Giulia, NE Italy) in natural stands dominated by Picea abies and Abies alba. We used images from the Sentinel-2 mission: 1) to test vegetation indices performance in monitoring the vegetation dynamics in the short period after the storm, and 2) to create a windthrow map for the whole Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Results showed that windthrows in forests have a significant influence on visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of Sentinel-2, both in the short and the long-term timeframes. NDWI8A and NDWI were the best indices for windthrow detection (R2 = 0.80 and 0.77, respectively) and NDVI, PSRI, SAVI and GNDVI had an overall good performance in spotting wind-damaged areas (R2 = 0.60–0.76). Moreover, these indices allowed to monitor post-Vaia forest die-off and showed a dynamic recovery process in cleaned sites. The NDWI8A index, employed in the vegetation index differencing (VID) change detection technique, delimited damaged areas comparable to the estimations provided by Regional Forest System (2545 ha and 3183 ha, respectively). Damaged forests detected by NDWI8A VID ranged from 500 m to 1500 m a.s.l., mainly covering steep slopes in the south and east aspects (42% and 25%, respectively). Our results suggested that the NDWI8A VID method may be a cost-effective and accurate way to produce windthrow maps, which could limit the risks associated with fieldwork and may provide a valuable tool to plan tree removal interventions in a more efficient way.
Spatial Analysis of Urbanization Patterns in Four Rapidly Growing South Asian Cities Using Sentinel-2 Data
Authors: Ranagalage Manjula , Morimoto Takehiro , Simwanda Matamyo , Murayama Yuji
Published: April 2021

The rapid and dominant urbanization in Asian cities has fueled concerns regarding the local and global efforts toward urban sustainability. Specifically, South Asian cities have been a topical issue concerning ecological and environmental threats due to their unplanned and haphazard urban development. However, comparative urbanization studies in South Asian cities remain uncommon. Therefore, in this study, we sought to comparatively examine the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics and to detect the urbanization patterns of four rapidly developing South Asian lowland cities: Mumbai (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Karachi (Pakistan), and Dhaka (Bangladesh). Sentinel-2 (10 m) data and various geospatial approaches, including urban–rural gradient and grid-based methods, statistics, and urban landscape metric techniques, were used to facilitate the analysis. The study revealed that Mumbai, Karachi, and Dhaka had larger built-up landscapes compared to Colombo. Mumbai had the highest percentage of green spaces, followed by Colombo. Dhaka and Karachi had relatively small percentages of green spaces. Colombo and Dhaka had more croplands, which consistently increased along the urban–rural gradient compared to Mumbai and Karachi. Karachi showed that the only major land use was built-up, while most of the areas were left as open lands. On the other hand, Colombo’s urban setup was more fragmented than the other three cities. Mumbai and Karachi had larger patches of urban footprints compared to Colombo and Dhaka. Thus, this study provides vital information on the past land utilization priorities in the four cities, and comparatively proffers guidance on certain critical areas of focus for local, regional, and global future sustainable urban planning.
Towards On-Board Hyperspectral Satellite Image Segmentation: Understanding Robustness of Deep Learning through Simulating Acquisition Conditions
Authors: Nalepa Jakub , Myller Michal , Cwiek Marcin , Zak Lukasz , Lakota Tomasz , Tulczyjew Lukasz , Kawulok Michal
Published: April 2021

Although hyperspectral images capture very detailed information about the scanned objects, their efficient analysis, transfer, and storage are still important practical challenges due to their large volume. Classifying and segmenting such imagery are the pivotal steps in virtually all applications, hence developing new techniques for these tasks is a vital research area. Here, deep learning has established the current state of the art. However, deploying large-capacity deep models on-board an Earth observation satellite poses additional technological challenges concerned with their memory footprints, energy consumption requirements, and robustness against varying-quality image data, with the last problem being under-researched. In this paper, we tackle this issue, and propose a set of simulation scenarios that reflect a range of atmospheric conditions and noise contamination that may ultimately happen on-board an imaging satellite. We verify their impact on the generalization capabilities of spectral and spectral-spatial convolutional neural networks for hyperspectral image segmentation. Our experimental analysis, coupled with various visualizations, sheds more light on the robustness of the deep models and indicate that specific noise distributions can significantly deteriorate their performance. Additionally, we show that simulating atmospheric conditions is key to obtaining the learners that generalize well over image data acquired in different imaging settings.
Hyperspectral Empirical Absolute Calibration Model Using Libya 4 Pseudo Invariant Calibration Site
Authors: Chaity Manisha Das , Kaewmanee Morakot , Leigh Larry , Teixeira Pinto Cibele
Published: April 2021

The objective of this paper is to find an empirical hyperspectral absolute calibration model using Libya 4 pseudo invariant calibration site (PICS). The approach involves using the Landsat 8 (L8) Operational Land Imager (OLI) as the reference radiometer and using Earth Observing One (EO-1) Hyperion, with a spectral resolution of 10 nm as a hyperspectral source. This model utilizes data from a region of interest (ROI) in an “optimal region” of 3% temporal, spatial, and spectral stability within the Libya 4 PICS. It uses an improved, simple, empirical, hyperspectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution function (BRDF) model accounting for four angles: solar zenith and azimuth, and view zenith and azimuth angles. This model can perform absolute calibration in 1 nm spectral resolution by predicting TOA reflectance in all existing spectral bands of the sensors. The resultant model was validated with image data acquired from satellite sensors such as Landsat 7, Sentinel 2A, and Sentinel 2B, Terra MODIS, Aqua MODIS, from their launch date to 2020. These satellite sensors differ in terms of the width of their spectral bandpass, overpass time, off-nadir viewing capabilities, spatial resolution, and temporal revisit time, etc. The result demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed model has an accuracy of the order of 3% with a precision of about 3% for the nadir viewing sensors (with view zenith angle up to 5°) used in the study. For the off-nadir viewing satellites with view zenith angle up to 20°, it can have an estimated accuracy of 6% and precision of 4%.
Examining the Links between Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data and Sediment Grain Size
Authors: Runya Robert Mzungu , McGonigle Chris , Quinn Rory , Howe John , Collier Jenny , Fox Clive , Dooley James , O’Loughlin Rory , Calvert Jay , Scott Louise , Abernethy Colin , Evans Will
Published: April 2021

Acoustic methods are routinely used to provide broad scale information on the geographical distribution of benthic marine habitats and sedimentary environments. Although single-frequency multibeam echosounder surveys have dominated seabed characterisation for decades, multifrequency approaches are now gaining favour in order to capture different frequency responses from the same seabed type. The aim of this study is to develop a robust modelling framework for testing the potential application and value of multifrequency (30, 95, and 300 kHz) multibeam backscatter responses to characterize sediments’ grain size in an area with strong geomorphological gradients and benthic ecological variability. We fit a generalized linear model on a multibeam backscatter and its derivatives to examine the explanatory power of single-frequency and multifrequency models with respect to the mean sediment grain size obtained from the grab samples. A strong and statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the mean backscatter and the absolute values of the mean sediment grain size for the data was noted. The root mean squared error (RMSE) values identified the 30 kHz model as the best performing model responsible for explaining the most variation (84.3%) of the mean grain size at a statistically significant output (p < 0.05) with an adjusted r2 = 0.82. Overall, the single low-frequency sources showed a marginal gain on the multifrequency model, with the 30 kHz model driving the significance of this multifrequency model, and the inclusion of the higher frequencies diminished the level of agreement. We recommend further detailed and sufficient ground-truth data to better predict sediment properties and to discriminate benthic habitats to enhance the reliability of multifrequency backscatter data for the monitoring and management of marine protected areas.
Development and Test of a Portable ECG Device with Dry Capacitive Electrodes and Driven Right Leg Circuit
Authors: Zompanti Alessandro , Sabatini Anna , Grasso Simone , Pennazza Giorgio , Ferri Giuseppe , Barile Gianluca , Chello Massimo , Lusini Mario , Santonico Marco
Published: April 2021

The use of wearable sensors for health monitoring is rapidly growing. Over the past decade, wearable technology has gained much attention from the tech industry for commercial reasons and the interest of researchers and clinicians for reasons related to its potential benefit on patients’ health. Wearable devices use advanced and specialized sensors able to monitor not only activity parameters, such as heart rate or step count, but also physiological parameters, such as heart electrical activity or blood pressure. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is becoming one of the most attractive health-related features of modern smartwatches, and, because cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death globally, the use of a smartwatch to monitor patients could greatly impact the disease outcomes on health care systems. Commercial wearable devices are able to record just single-lead ECG using a couple of metallic contact dry electrodes. This kind of measurement can be used only for arrhythmia diagnosis. For the diagnosis of other cardiac disorders, additional ECG leads are required. In this study, we characterized an electronic interface to be used with multiple contactless capacitive electrodes in order to develop a wearable ECG device able to perform several lead measurements. We verified the ability of the electronic interface to amplify differential biopotentials and to reject common-mode signals produced by electromagnetic interference (EMI). We developed a portable device based on the studied electronic interface that represents a prototype system for further developments. We evaluated the performances of the developed device. The signal-to-noise ratio of the output signal is favorable, and all the features needed for a clinical evaluation (P waves, QRS complexes and T waves) are clearly readable.
Direct Provision, Rights and Everyday Life for Asylum Seekers in Ireland during COVID-19
Authors: Murphy Fiona
Published: April 2021

This article considers the impact of COVID-19 on international protection applicants in the Irish asylum system. It presents a critical reflection on the failings of direct provision and how the experience of COVID-19 has further heightened the issues at stake for asylum seekers and refugees living in Ireland. In Ireland, international protection applicants are detained in a system of institutionalized living called direct provision where they must remain until they receive status. Direct provision centres offer substandard accommodation and are often overcrowded. During the pandemic, many asylum seekers could not effectively socially isolate, so many centres experienced COVID-19 outbreaks. This article examines these experiences and joins a community of scholars calling for the urgent end to the system of direct provision.
Mothers’ Accounts of Attending to Educational and Everyday Needs of Their Children at Home during COVID-19: The Case of the UAE
Authors: Said Fatma F. S. , Jaafarawi Nadine , Dillon Anna
Published: April 2021

From March 2020 until July 2020, the UAE implemented mandatory distance learning due to COVID-19, which meant that children had to continue their learning remotely at home. Though schools concerted exemplary efforts to ensure that children received all that was necessary through advanced technology platforms and interfaces, the duty of ensuring that children continued to engage in successful learning fell solely on parents. This paper is based on a self-report study conducted during this first period of distance learning where parents were invited to anonymously complete a survey and then be interviewed. The paper relies on interviews as its main data source. Interview transcripts once transcribed were thematically analysed. One recurring theme in the data was gender differences in domestic and other duties as well as attending to the educational needs of children. Mothers, irrespective of cultural or educational background, disproportionately seemed to be the caretakers of the home and of children’s educational needs. Mothers spoke of their mental health concerns, pressures of time management, and negative effects on their own work. This paper makes an original contribution by exploring parental experiences of emergency remote learning and what these reflect about parental ethnotheories in the UAE.
E-Commerce in the Retail Chain Store Market: An Alternative or a Main Trend?
Authors: Kleisiari Christina , Duquenne Marie-Noelle , Vlontzos George
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of important aspects leading to the further development of e-trade in the retail market and to identify the rationale behind consumer preferences. The degree of total service (adequacy of staff, reception) and the overall satisfaction regarding the facilities (organization and hygiene level of the supermarket) are the main factors influencing consumers’ decisions for their purchases. Other important components are the degree of coverage of needs in quality products, the intention to use an online store, the interest of consumers in finding quality and safe food, having at the same time information about their prices and possible offers. A quite important criterion is the degree of physical accessibility to the store. The main norm about using e-trade platforms instead of physical presence in supermarkets is quite low. It is tested though if there are significantly different approaches among customers of different firms, with no surprising results to be obtained. Customers familiarized with e-shopping, to a greater extent, are highly educated but quite sensitive to price issues as well. Τhe findings of this survey reflect the consumers’ decision-making process to familiarize and use electronic platforms, instead of visiting physical stores for shopping, based on a group of motives and anti-motives relative to this alternative.
Analysis of the Impacts of Economic Growth Targets and Marketization on Energy Efficiency: Evidence from China
Authors: Su Xufeng , Yang Xiaodong , Zhang Jinning , Yan Jinling , Zhao Junfeng , Shen Jianliang , Ran Qiying
Published: April 2021

OEnergy efficiency is a vital factor to promote sustainable development. In this paper, the directional distance function–global Malmquist–Luenberger model (DDF-GML) is applied to measure the energy efficiency levels of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2017. Simultaneously, the impacts of the economic growth targets and marketization on energy efficiency are empirically tested using the generalized system moment estimation (SYS-GMM) and mediation effect model. The statistical results reveal that energy efficiency is on the rise every year as a whole. Mediated by marketization, economic growth targets inhibit energy efficiency by distorting marketization. Moreover, there is significant regional heterogeneity in the impacts of economic growth targets on energy efficiency. The inhibition effect of economic growth targets on energy efficiency in the eastern region is greater than in the central and western regions. The above empirical results are determined to be robust through testing.
Smart Products Enable Smart Regulations—Optimal Durability Requirements Facilitated by the IoT
Authors: Schlegel Moritz-C. , Koch Claudia , Mirtsch Mona , Harrer Andrea
Published: April 2021

The challenges and opportunities linked with IoT have been intensively discussed in recent years. The connectivity of things over their entire life cycle and the smart properties associated with it provide new functionalities and unprecedented availability of (usage) data. This offers huge opportunities for manufacturers, service providers, users, and also policymakers. The latter may impact policy areas such as the regulations on resource and materials efficiency under the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC. With the general approach as it is practiced today, legal requirements are usually set for entire product groups without considering the products individually, including user behavior and environmental conditions. The increasing number of smart products and the growing availability of product data are sparking a discussion on whether these requirements could be more product and application-specific. This paper presents a method for calculating the economically and ecologically optimal durability of a product. It allows determining the point in time when a product should be replaced by combining consumer data with product design data. This novel approach could contribute to making product regulation more flexible and possibly more efficient. In this context, fundamental challenges associated with smart products in policymaking are also discussed.
Compaction Procedures and Associated Environmental Impacts Analysis for Application of Steel Slag in Road Base Layer
Authors: Gao Bo , Yang Chao , Zou Yingxue , Wang Fusong , Zhou Xiaojun , Barbieri Diego Maria , Wu Shaopeng
Published: April 2021

In recent years, recycling steel slag is receiving growing interest in the road base layer construction field due to its role in alleviating land occupation and resource shortages. However, the mixture compaction and its environmental impact on practical construction sites remain unclear, which may hinder the application of steel slags in road layers. This study investigates the pavement construction of the ‘Baotou-Maoming’ motorway, located in Inner Mongolia, China, analyzing the compaction procedures and assessing the environmental impacts caused by the road base layer containing steel slag. Firstly, mechanical properties and texture appearances of the steel slag aggregates are characterized. Afterwards, the comparative assessments for steel slag and andesite layers compaction are quantified from equivalent CO2 emission and energy consumption aspects, respectively. The results show that the steel slag has a better surface texture than the natural aggregates; physical properties including compactness, flatness and compressive strength comply with the requirements for applying steel slag to a hydraulically bound mixture. Compared to the base layer using andesite aggregates, the compaction vibration period of the course containing steel slags should be reduced to achieve a proper density due to the “hard-to-hard” effect that occurs between the adjacent steel slag particles. Consequently, the additional energy and the equivalent CO2 are generated at 2.67 MJ/m3 and 0.20 kg/m3, respectively.
Effects of Faking on the Predictive Validity of a Quasi-Ipsative Forced-Choice Personality Inventory: Implications for Sustainable Personnel Selection
Authors: Martínez Alexandra , Moscoso Silvia , Lado Mario
Published: April 2021

Faking behavior is one of the main problems of personality measures. For this reason, determining the potential effects of faking on personality assessment procedures is relevant. The aim of this study has been to examine the impact of faking, induced in a laboratory setting, on the predictive validity of a quasi-ipsative forced-choice (FC) inventory based on the five-factor model. It also examined whether the magnitude of the predictive validity varied depending on the type of criteria analyzed (self-reported performance ratings and grade point average). The participants were 939 students from the University of Santiago de Compostela. As expected, the results showed that: (1) conscientiousness is the best predictor of performance even under faking response conditions; (2) conscientiousness predicts performance better when it is assessed using rating scales; and (3) reliability and validity were attenuated under faking conditions. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings for the research and practice of personnel selection.
Induced Effects of Environmentally Friendly Generations in Korea
Authors: Kim Ji-Whan , Kim Yoon-Kyung
Published: April 2021

This study estimated the induced effects of LNG, mega PV (photovoltaic), small PV, onshore wind and offshore wind power, which will be used as major power sources under the Korea’s energy transition policy. The 2015 Input–Output Statistics of Bank of Korea were used to reflect Korea’s economic structure. The MCI (manufacture, construction and installation) and O&M (operation and maintenance) of each power source would have different effects, so in the analysis the MCI and O&M of each power source were distinguished. According to estimation results, the induced-effect coefficients of the MCI are greater than those of the O&M in every power source. The induced production effect coefficient of the MCI is decreased in the order of mega PV > small PV > LNG power > offshore wind > onshore wind. The induced production effect coefficient of the O&M is decreased in the order of mega PV > small PV > onshore wind > offshore wind > LNG thermal. The induced employment coefficient of the MCI is decreased in the order of LNG thermal > mega PV > small PV > onshore wind > offshore wind. PV power and wind power have bigger induced effects and bring economic effects in Korean economy. The carbon neutrality and energy transition policies implemented by Korea have a certain level of induced effects and offset the burden of transition costs even if existing power sources are replaced with environmentally friendly power sources.
Feeling Good in the Place We Live: The Moderating Role of the Perception of Environmental Resources in the Relationship between Values and Personal and Family Well-Being
Authors: Maricchiolo Fridanna , Mosca Oriana , Paolini Daniele , Marino Davide
Published: April 2021

The environmental psychological literature suggested that three different value orientations (egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric) are relevant for understanding environmental beliefs and intentions. We surveyed 365 Italian adults of different ages (range 18–87) to examine whether the egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric value orientations can lead to personal and/or family related well-being. Additionally, it is examined whether the perception of presence and accessibility of two types of environmental resources (natural and urbanistic) related to ecosystem services can moderate the relation between value orientations and personal and family well-being. Results of moderation analyses showed that people with high biospheric values felt themselves as more satisfied if they perceived high and medium (but not low) presence or accessibility of natural resources in their environment, while people with high egoistic values perceived their family more satisfied if they perceived the high and medium (but not low) presence of good infrastructures in their environment of living. No significant moderation model emerged considering the participants’ altruistic values. The implications for environmental beliefs and well-being are discussed.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis Comparison of Hot Mix Asphalt and Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement: A Case Study
Authors: Rafiq Waqas , Musarat Muhammad Ali , Altaf Muhammad , Napiah Madzlan , Sutanto Muslich Hartadi , Alaloul Wesam Salah , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Mosavi Amir
Published: April 2021

In the construction and maintenance of asphalt pavement, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is being widely used as a cheaper alternative to the conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA). HMA incorporated with a high RAP content (e.g., 40%), which is the most commonly used, may have prominent adverse effects on life cycle, performance properties, and related costs. Thus, before utilizing RAP, it is essential to investigate whether it is still economical to use under the local climate by taking into consideration the life cycle performance. Therefore, for this paper, a case study was conducted using 20% RAP, assessed in terms of materials related to cost analysis. The results of the analysis showed that, from the total life cycle costing measurement, a total of 14% cost reduction was reported using RAP as compared to conventional materials. Moreover, the two materials (conventional HMA and RAP) are manufactured in different types of manufacturing plants. Thus, in analyzing the cost difference between the two chosen manufacturing plants for virgin materials and RAP, a total of 57% cost reduction was observed for a RAP manufacturing plant. Besides this, no cost difference was observed in the rest of the phases, such as manpower, materials transportation, and construction activities, as the same procedures and types of machinery are used. Furthermore, assessing the carbon dioxide impact and cost, the transportation and machinery emissions were considered, while the plant’s operation emission was omitted due to the unavailability of the data.