bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Evaluation Output of Taste Information for Liquor Using Electronic Tongue Based on Cloud Model
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Zuo Mingxu , Low Sze Shin , Xu Ning , Chen Zhiqing , Lv Chuang , Cui Ying , Shi Yan , Men Hong
Published: January 2020

As a taste bionic system, electronic tongues can be used to derive taste information for different types of food. On this basis, we have carried forward the work by making it, in addition to the ability of accurately distinguish samples, be more expressive by speaking evaluative language like human beings. Thus, this paper demonstrates the correlation between the qualitative digital output of the taste bionic system and the fuzzy evaluation language that conform to the human perception mode. First, through principal component analysis (PCA), backward cloud generator and forward cloud generator, two-dimensional cloud droplet groups of different flavor information were established by using liquor taste data collected by electronic tongue. Second, the frequency and order of the evaluation words for different flavor of liquor were obtained by counting and analyzing the data appeared in the artificial sensory evaluation experiment. According to the frequency and order of words, the cloud droplet range corresponding to each word was calculated in the cloud drop group. Finally, the fuzzy evaluations that originated from the eight groups of liquor data with different flavor were compared with the artificial sense, and the results indicated that the model developed in this work is capable of outputting fuzzy evaluation that is consistent with human perception rather than digital output. To sum up, this method enabled the electronic tongue system to generate an output, which conforms to human’s descriptive language, making food detection technology a step closer to human perception.
Three Local Organizing Strategies to Implement Place-Based School Integration Initiatives in a Mixed-Income Community
Authors: Jackson April
Published: January 2020

This paper explores two policy efforts to revitalize public housing communities: education reform and HOPE VI. Chicago underwent transformation of housing and schools from 2000 to 2014. I examine school integration planning efforts of three local actors in a Chicago neighborhood and ask how do actors make integration strategies work? This research investigates how efforts to remedy existing segregation in a Chicago neighborhood combined housing and school integration efforts through a single case study approach comprised of 20 in-depth interviews. Findings show that two approaches encouraged fairness in the residential mix, but did not promote an integrated educational experience. The third approach shows how a purposeful integration strategy works as part of a place-based effort. This study provides a lens to understand ongoing local community organizing efforts supporting education reform in a Chicago neighborhood and offers lessons learned by local actors about effective approaches to address the barriers to building mixed income communities.
Panel Econometric Analysis on Mobile Payment Transactions and Traditional Banks Effort toward Financial Accessibility in Sub-Sahara Africa
Authors: Coffie Cephas Paa Kwasi , Zhao Hongjiang , Adjei Mensah Isaac
Published: January 2020

The financial landscape of sub-Sahara Africa is undergoing major changes due to the advent of FinTech, which has seen mobile payments boom in the region. This paper examines the salient role of mobile payments in traditional banks’ drive toward financial accessibility in sub-Sahara Africa by using panel econometric approaches that consider the issues of independencies among cross-sectional residuals. Using data from the World Development Index (WDI) 2011–2017 on 11 countries in the region, empirical results from cross-sectional dependence (CD) tests, panel unit root test, panel cointegration test, and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) approach indicates that (i) the panel time series data are cross-sectionally independent, (ii) the variables have the same order of integration and are cointegrated, and (iii) growth in mobile payment transactions had a significant positive relationship with formal account ownership, the number of ATMs, and number of new bank branches in the long-run. The paper therefore confirms that the institutional structure of traditional banks that makes them competitive, irrespective of emerging disruptive technologies, has stimulated overall financial accessibility in the region leading to overall sustainable growth in the financial sector. We conclude the paper with feasible policy suggestions.
Smart City Governance in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Tan Si , Taeihagh Araz
Published: January 2020

Smart cities that make broad use of digital technologies have been touted as possible solutions for the population pressures faced by many cities in developing countries and may help meet the rising demand for services and infrastructure. Nevertheless, the high financial cost involved in infrastructure maintenance, the substantial size of the informal economies, and various governance challenges are curtailing government idealism regarding smart cities. This review examines the state of smart city development in developing countries, which includes understanding the conceptualisations, motivations, and unique drivers behind (and barriers to) smarty city development. A total of 56 studies were identified from a systematic literature review from an initial pool of 3928 social sciences literature identified from two academic databases. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis and thematic analysis. The review found that technology-enabled smart cities in developing countries can only be realised when concurrent socioeconomic, human, legal, and regulatory reforms are instituted. Governments need to step up their efforts to fulfil the basic infrastructure needs of citizens, raise more revenue, construct clear regulatory frameworks to mitigate the technological risks involved, develop human capital, ensure digital inclusivity, and promote environmental sustainability. A supportive ecosystem that encourages citizen participation, nurtures start-ups, and promotes public–private partnerships needs to be created to realise their smart city vision.
The Convergence Management of Strategic Emerging Industries: Sustainable Design Analysis for Facilitating the Improvement of Innovation Networks
Authors: Wang Xue , Li Baizhou , Yin Shi
Published: January 2020

The overall high-end of strategic emerging industries can be effectively promoted by strengthening the inter-industry innovation linkage effect. This paper constructs a strategic emerging industry innovation network based on industry correlation. This paper studies the development trend of the whole network structure and individual network characteristics and analyzes the influence of network structure characteristics on the attribute performance of each industry. The research results are as follows: (i) The innovation network as a whole was in a slight decline trend of low density during the sample investigation period, and the correlation level had great room for improvement. (ii) The high-end equipment manufacturing industry, the new materials industry, and the new-generation information technology industry occupy the center of the network, but their spillover effect on other industries is poor, and some industries even get more innovation benefits. (iii) The innovation network of China’s strategic emerging industries has the characteristics of cross-industry clustering, and the linkage effect between plates is insufficient, showing the characteristics of the “reflexivity” aggregation subgroup. (iv) The unreasonable connection mode of strategic emerging industries’ innovation network leads to the improvement of the centrality degree, which is not conducive to the innovation output of the industry. However, innovation output can be positively affected, to a certain extent, by improving the betweenness and closeness of the industries in the network.
Social Hierarchy Materialized: Korean Vernacular Houses as a Medium to Transfer Confucian Ideology
Authors: Seo Kyung Wook , Ryoo Seong-Lyong
Published: January 2020

Buildings reveal the social values of a society through their forms and configuration. During the Choseon dynasty, Confucianism was the national ideology and basis for governing principles. Consequently, houses for the ruling class were built to conform to the principle of separating domains for men, women, servants, and ancestors. This hierarchical social system persisted for hundreds of years, but from the 19th century, various social movements gradually delegitimized many inequalities between sexes and classes. Mysteriously, even after this series of radical political and social changes, vernacular houses still adhered to the same hierarchical spatial order until the mid-20th century. This paper analyzes the houses built from the 15th century to the mid-20th century to show how Confucian principles were translated into the design to control social interactions. The paper concludes with a discussion of how Confucianism has been passed on through the medium of housing until today and how they have influenced people’s perception of different gender roles in contemporary Korean society.
The Influence of Knowledge Sharing on Sustainable Performance: A Moderated Mediation Study
Authors: Jilani Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader , Fan Luo , Islam Mohammad Tazul , Uddin Md. Aftab
Published: January 2020

The past few decades showed inadequate discussion of the impact of employees’ knowledge sharing and its diffusion on advancing banks’ long-term sustainability. The objective of the study is to examine the role of employees’ knowledge sharing on the sustainable performance of the banks operating in Bangladesh. Furthermore, this study tested the “moderated mediation model” of knowledge hiding and employees’ ambidexterity on the association above. The researchers applied the deductive reasoning method through the application of quantitative techniques, using structural equation modeling. Finally, 287 respondents from different banks were chosen through a self-administered questionnaire survey in the capital city of Dhaka. The findings indicated that all the predictor variables significantly explain the outcome variable, except the influence of knowledge sharing. Mediation analysis showed that employees’ ambidexterity mediated the association between knowledge sharing and sustainable performance. Surprisingly, moderation analysis revealed that the influence of knowledge sharing on employees’ ambidexterity is not affected by knowledge hiding. This study adds to the existing literature by demonstrating the importance of knowledge hiding, along with explaining how knowledge sharing can motivate and influence employees to achieve sustainable performances. In addition, the main contribution of this study is to advance knowledge and add values in the forms of knowledge creation, preservation, and dissemination among practitioners, banking professionals, and academics for utilizing their domain-specific areas to increase long-term sustainability.
Sustainable Management, Instable Legislation Regarding Wages, and Employee Satisfaction/Motivation in Two Romanian Hospitals
Authors: Ilea Codrin Dan Nicolae , Daina Lucia Georgeta , Bungau Simona , Tit Delia Mirela , Uivarosan Diana , Moleriu Lavinia , Petre Ion , Bungau Constantin , Petre Izabella
Published: January 2020

The aim of our study is to evaluate the employees’ level of satisfaction/motivation in two Romanian public hospitals in the context of numerous changes of the legislation concerning the level of payment of the employees working in the healthcare system, and to reveal the characteristics of a proper, sustainable management in this type of public healthcare unit. During 2015–2018, 4945 questionnaires were distributed to the staff of both hospitals, processed, and analyzed. In the Clinical County Emergency Hospital of Oradea, the analysis of the questionnaires showed a decrease in motivation (from 94.63% in 2017 to 79.14% in 2018). In the Timisoara County Clinical Emergency Hospital, for all the categories tested, there was a slight increase of the motivation. All the professional categories showed a degree of satisfaction with ascending evolution. Motivations of a different kind than the financial one, reinforced by the hospital’s management in recent years, have led to a general degree of employee satisfaction, 96.95% of them being satisfied that they work in the hospital. In the current unstable legislative context, financial motivation cannot be influenced by the management of public hospitals; therefore, the most appropriate measures that are needed must be geared towards increasing non-financial motivation.
Improving Building Design Processes and Design Management Practices: A Case Study
Authors: Pikas Ergo , Koskela Lauri , Seppänen Olli
Published: January 2020

The aim of this case study, underpinned by participative action research and design science research methodologies, is to show how design and design management practices can be improved based on a new conception of design activity and lean design management. First, problems related to design and design project management are identified using a triangulation of methods, and a root-cause analysis is conducted. Second, interventions are developed, implemented, and evaluated over two iterations. The methods and practices employed in the organization under study imply it had adopted the transformation view of the conceptualization of design. It was also observed that the organization considered design strictly a technical activity. Both choices appeared to be the root causes of the problems faced by the organization. To complement the transformation view, methods and practices following the flow and value views were introduced. To counteract the strictly “technical understanding of design”, “social” concepts were introduced. As a direct result of theory-driven interventions, there were significant improvements in building design processes and design management practices.
Seismic Resilience Enhancement of Urban Water Distribution System Using Restoration Priority of Pipeline Damages
Authors: Han Zhao , Ma Donghui , Hou Benwei , Wang Wei
Published: January 2020

The malfunction of the water distribution system (WDS) following severe earthquakes have significant impacts on the post-earthquake rescue. Moreover, the restoration priority of earthquake-induced pipeline damages plays an important role in improving the post-earthquake serviceability of WDS and the “seismic resilience”. Thus, to enhance the seismic resilience of WDS, this study develops a dynamic cost-benefit method and introduces three existing methods to determine the restoration priority of pipeline damages based on a quantitative resilience evaluation framework. In this resilience evaluation framework, the restoration priority is firstly determined. Then the time-varying performance of post-earthquake WDS is modeled as a discrete event dynamic system. In this model, the system state changes after the reparation of pipeline damage, and the system performance is simulated by a hydraulic model to be consistent with the system state. In this study, this method is also tested and compared with other existing methods, and the results show that the system resilience corresponding to the restoration priority obtained by this method is close to that obtained by the global optimization method with a relative difference of less than 3%, whereas the calculation complexity is about 0.4% of the optimization model. It is concluded that this proposed method is valid.
A Governance Approach to Regional Energy Transition: Meaning, Conceptualization and Practice
Authors: Hoppe Thomas , Miedema Michiel
Published: January 2020

Energy transition requires action from different levels of government. While the national and local level have received ample scholarly attention, thus far little attention has been paid to the regional level. This is remarkable because policy makers across Europe are wondering what governance of regional transition actually is and how to shape and implement it. In the present paper, this concern is addressed. The research questions are, “What does regional governance of energy transition entail? How can it be conceptualized? And what does it mean in practice?” The questions are answered by presenting the results of a multi-disciplinary literature study, presenting a conceptual framework on governance of regional energy transition, using insights from innovation and transition studies as well as from the regional and network governance literature, and applying this to the illustrative case of the West-Brabant region in The Netherlands. West-Brabant is a relatively large region and was home to a pilot that involved the development of a regional energy strategy. Data collection involved twenty expert interviews, text documents and participative observation in workshops. Results highlight the relevance of each of the key elements of the conceptual governance framework. However, some are particularly relevant like structural characteristics of the regional actor network, actor characteristics, and regional governance arrangements used. The results reveal commonalities with regional governance in other policy domains. This paper contributes to the literature on polycentric governance of energy transition and climate change mitigation, and concludes with the presentation of a research agenda.
Resource-Constrained Innovation Method for Sustainability: Application of Morphological Analysis and TRIZ Inventive Principles
Authors: Liu Zhenfeng , Feng Jian , Wang Jinfeng
Published: January 2020

Extensive research on resource-constrained innovation has been conducted by scholars and practitioners in recent years. An interesting research avenue is how firms explore the process of the new product development (NPD) and the ideas generation to foster resource-constrained innovation. However, despite the importance of product development and creative ideas under the resource-constraints contexts, innovation methods for applying to the resource-constrained innovation and designers have received comparatively less attention. As a remedy, this paper proposes a resource-constrained innovation method (RCIM) to generate ideas for the NPD. The RCIM is mainly divided into four sections: Developing the resource-constrained innovation approaches, developing the resource-constrained innovation dimensions, generating the creative ideas and evaluating the creative ideas. First, the resource-constrained innovation algorithms are developed based on success factors, characteristics, and attributes of resource-constrained innovation and the TRIZ (Teopия Peшeния Изoбpeтaтeльcкиx Зaдaч in Russian; Theory of Inventive Problem Solving in English) inventive principles via the systematic literature review (SLR). Second, the innovation dimensions are categorized to structure a target technology by means of the morphological analysis (MA) and the Derwent manual codes (DMCs) mapping based on collected patents. Third, the creative ideas are generated for the NPD by combining the innovation dimensions with the resource-constrained innovation approaches. Finally, the creative ideas are evaluated by the frugal criteria. The RCIM will stimulate designers’ creativity for achieving sustainability and innovation within constraint-based scenarios, MA and TRIZ.
Validation of Simulated Safety Indicators with Traffic Crash Data
Authors: Alonso Borja , Astarita Vittorio , Dell’Olio Luigi , Giofrè Vincenzo Pasquale , Guido Giuseppe , Marino Marcella , Sommario William , Vitale Alessandro
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this document is to validate a new methodology useful for the estimation of road accidents resulting from possible driver distractions. This was possible through a statistical comparison made between real accident data between 2016 and 2018 in the city of Santander (Spain) and simulated data resulting from the application of the methodology on two areas of study. The methodology allows us to evaluate possible collisions starting from the knowledge of vehicular trajectories extrapolated from microsimulation. Studies show that there are good correlations between the real data and the simulated data. The results obtained show that the proposed methodology can be considered reliable and, therefore, it could be of fundamental importance for designers, since it would simplify the choice between different possible intervention scenarios, determining which is the least risky in terms of road safety.
Maize (Zea mays) Response to Anthill Soil (Termitaria), Manure and NPK Fertilization Rate under Conventional and Reduced Tillage Cropping Systems
Authors: Chisanga Kafula , Mbega Ernest , Ndakidemi Patrick Alois
Published: January 2020

Soil fertility management has been described by many scholars as fundamental and a major hindrance to food production amongst smallholder farmers in the developing world. To counteract this challenge, some farmers have been reported to use anthill soil as analternative fertilizer to improve soil fertility for supporting crop growth. Against this background, a study was undertaken with the aim of ascertaining the effect of anthill soil application alone, cattle manure, and/or their combination with commercially available NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield parameters of three maize varieties under field conditions involving conventional (CONV) and conservation agriculture (CA) tillage systems. Results revealed that anthill soil alone (5000 kg/ha) or in combination with either manure (10,000 kg/ha) or half rate of commercially available fertilizer (NPKS: 10% N, 20% P2O5, 10% K2O, 6% S at 100 kg/ha) competed favourably in terms of response to growth parameters. Furthermore, pH and P levels changed significantly (p < 0.05) at harvest. We conclude that resource-constrained smallholder farmers in less developed countries utilizing anthill soil for fertility improvement purposes should judiciously apply it in CA planting basin structures compared with conventional methods, which appeared to be less effective and leads to sub-optimal yields.
Influence of Sustainability Practices and Green Image on the Re-Visit Intention of Small and Medium-Size Towns
Authors: Mercadé Melé Pere , Molina Gómez Jesús , Sousa Maria José
Published: January 2020

This study set a model to predict the effect of corporate social responsibility and green image on visit intention in small and medium-size towns (SMST). At present, there is a keen social awareness towards environmental problems, and cities are required to reduce their ecological footprint and make more sustainable use of natural resources. Increasingly, tourists are considering “green options” in their decision making. The questionnaire responses, obtained from a sample of 221 tourism in Malaga town (Spain) were analyzed using a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the research hypothesis related to the positive influence of sustainability practices, green image, trust with the intention of revisiting related to the loyalty of the destination. This study shows that there is a positive relationship between sustainability practices and re-visit intention and between the green image and re-visit intention, both directly and indirectly, through trust. Also, the fact that this relationship is more significant if it is part of the green image than if it is part of sustainability actions. To practice, this study provides managerial implications to help executives adopt green actions, thanks to their positive effects on tourist loyalty and the different way of manifesting this loyalty.
The Effect of Corporate Social Performance on Audit Hours: Moderating Role of the Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs in Audit Report
Authors: Kim Hyun Ah , Jung Nam Chul
Published: January 2020

This study investigated the effect of corporate social performance (CSP) on audit hours and whether the emphasis of matter (EOM) paragraphs in audit report moderates the association between CSP and audit hours. Auditors input audit hours based on the judgement of audit risk related to firm and managerial characteristics. They increase audit hours when they perceive that client companies are riskier; thus, audit hours reflect auditors’ perceptions of the firm. Prior studies have shown that high CSP is associated with ethical managers, leading to fewer audit hours. However, auditors’ perceptions of CSP can be different depending on their knowledge about firms’ potential risks. EOM paragraphs consists of risk-related factors, such as going-concern opinions or litigation and they should be considered when auditors determine that users need to check this information acquired in the auditing process. Therefore, EOM is likely to affect auditors’ perceptions of CSP. This study investigates this possibility by examining whether the associations between CSP and audit hours are different in firms with and without EOM paragraphs in audit reports. Using Korean listed companies from 2011 to 2016, we found that CSP has a negative association with audit hours, suggesting that better CSP is related to ethical corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Korea, consistently with the literature. However, CSP is not related to audit hours for firms with EOM paragraphs, possibly indicating that auditors differently interpret CSP based on their knowledge gained in the auditing process. Our findings contribute to the literature by suggesting that EOM paragraphs can be used in distinguishing firms’ CSR motivations and that information users should be careful in interpreting CSP.
Investigating Spatial and Vertical Patterns of Wetland Soil Organic Carbon Concentrations in China’s Western Songnen Plain by Comparing Different Algorithms
Authors: Ren Yongxing , Li Xiaoyan , Mao Dehua , Wang Zongming , Jia Mingming , Chen Lin
Published: January 2020

Investigating the spatial and vertical patterns of wetland soil organic carbon concentration (SOCc) is important for understanding the regional carbon cycle and managing the wetland ecosystem. By integrating 160 wetland soil profile samples and environmental variables from climatic, topographical, and remote sensing data, we spatially predicted the SOCc of wetlands in China’s Western Songnen Plain by comparing four algorithms: random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) for regression, inverse distance weighted (IDW), and ordinary kriging (OK). The predicted results of the SOCc from the different algorithms were validated against independent testing samples according to the mean error, root mean squared error, and correlation coefficient. The results show that the measured SOCc values at depths of 0–30, 30–60, and 60–100 cm were 15.28, 7.57, and 5.22 g·kg−1, respectively. An assessment revealed that the RF algorithm was most accurate for predicting SOCc; its correlation coefficients at the different depths were 0.82, 0.59, and 0.51, respectively. The attribute importance from the RF indicates that environmental variables have various effects on the SOCc at different depths. The land surface temperature and land surface water index had a stronger influence on the spatial distribution of SOCc at the depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm, whereas topographic factors, such as altitude, had a stronger influence within 60–100 cm. The predicted SOCc of each vertical depth increased gradually from south to north in the study area. This research provides an important case study for predicting SOCc, including selecting factors and algorithms, and helps with understanding the carbon cycles of regional wetlands.
Employee Commitment Matters for CSR Practice, Reputation and Corporate Brand Performance—European Model
Authors: Kucharska Wioleta
Published: January 2020

So far, there have been no studies that explore how employee brand commitment moderates CSR practice outcomes. Employee brand commitment is often claimed as a focal input and output of the CSR. So, it means that it shapes CSR conditions. Then, it is a moderator. This study aims to verify it. Besides, commitment exists in many forms and can be achieved in many ways. Hence the question, if employees are committed to the brand, then how does it affect the outcomes of social responsibility practices such as corporate reputation or brand performance? This study analyzed a sample of 282 cases from the construction industry in Europe, using SPSS Amos and the PROCESS macro, to reveal the strong alignment of an excellent level of all three: CSR practice, corporate brand reputation, employee brand commitment. Still, it also shows that the high level of CSR practice may leverage corporate brand reputation even though employees are not brand committed. It exposes how meaningful the excellent level of CSR practice is. Moreover, the study also reveals that the lack of employee brand commitment may jeopardize reputation. So, the simplest way to achieve sustainability of brand performance is to keep employee brand commitment and CSR practice at the highest possible level to secure corporate brand reputation, which is a strong mediator between CSR practice and brand performance. The people are the company. So, in light of the study findings, it is clear that the future of corporate brands is in employees’ hands. Thus, companies should focus on improving employee commitment to achieve better corporate social responsibility practice outcomes. Moreover, the findings in this study present evidence supporting the importance of internal branding. This is the first study that has explored how employee brand commitment moderates CSR outcomes in a national context.
Application of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to Underground Mining Method Selection
Authors: Bajić Sanja , Bajić Dragoljub , Gluščević Branko , Ristić Vakanjac Vesna
Published: January 2020

The paper proposes a problem-solving approach in the area of underground mining, related to the evaluation and selection of the optimal mining method, employing fuzzy multiple-criteria optimization. The application of fuzzy logic to decision-making in multiple-criteria optimization is particularly useful in cases where not enough information is available about a given system, and where expert knowledge and experience are an important aspect. With a straightforward objective, multiple-criteria decision-making is used to rank various mining methods relative to a set of criteria and to select the optimal solution. The considered mining methods represent possible alternatives. In addition, various criteria and subcriteria that influence the selection of the best available solution are defined and analyzed. The final decision concerning the selection of the optimal mining method is made based on mathematical optimization calculations. The paper demonstrates the proposed approach as applied in a case study.
Dietary Pyrethroid Exposures and Intake Doses for 188 Duplicate-Single Solid Food Items Consumed by North Carolina Adults
Authors: Morgan Marsha K.
Published: January 2020

Few studies have measured pyrethroid residue concentrations in food items consumed by adults in their daily environments. In a further analysis of study data, the objectives were to determine pyrethroid residue levels in single, solid food items consumed by adults and to estimate dietary pyrethroid exposures and intake doses per food item. A total of 50 adults collected 782 duplicate-diet solid food samples over a six-week monitoring period in North Carolina between 2009 and 2011. Of these samples, 188 contained a single, solid food item (i.e., lasagna). Levels of eight pyrethroids were quantified in the 188 food items using LC–MS/MS. At least one pyrethroid was detected in 39% of these food items. Cis-permethrin (17%), bifenthrin (15%), trans-permethrin (14%), and deltamethrin (14%) were detected the most often. Cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, and esfenvalerate were all detected in <6% of the samples. The highest residue level was found in a pizza sample containing both cis-permethrin (96.4 ng/g) and trans-permethrin (73.7 ng/g). For cis-permethrin, median residue levels (≥LOQ) were significantly higher (p = 0.001) in foods that contained a fruit/vegetable compared to foods that did not. For individual pyrethroids, the participants’ maximum dietary intake doses in the single food items ranged from 38.1 (deltamethrin) to 939 ng/kg/day (cis/trans-permethrin).
Tb1, a Neurotoxin from Tityus bahiensis Scorpion Venom, Induces Epileptic Seizures by Increasing Glutamate Release
Authors: Beraldo Neto Emidio , Freitas Lucas Alves de , Pimenta Daniel Carvalho , Lebrun Ivo , Nencioni Ana L. A.
Published: January 2020

Here, we report the neurotoxic effects aroused by the intracerebral injection (in rats) of Tb1, which is a neurotoxin isolated from Tityus bahiensis scorpion venom. Biochemical analyses have demonstrated that this toxin is similar to the gamma toxin from T. serrulatus, which is a β-scorpion toxin that acts on sodium channels, causing the activation process to occur at more hyperpolarized membrane voltages. Male Wistar rats were stereotaxically implanted with intrahippocampal electrodes and cannulas for electroencephalographic recording and the evaluation of amino acid neurotransmitters levels. Treated animals displayed behavioral and electroencephalographic alterations similar to epileptiform activities, such as myoclonus, wet dog shakes, convulsion, strong discharges, neuronal loss, and increased intracerebral levels of glutamate. Scorpion toxins are important pharmacological tools that are widely employed in ion channel dysregulation studies. The current work contributes to the understanding of channelopathies, particularly epilepsy, which may originate, among other events, from dysfunctional sodium channels, which are the main target of the Tb1 toxin.
Modeling of Effective Antimicrobials to Reduce Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Gene Expression Using a Two-Compartment Hollow Fiber Infection Model
Authors: Shukla Sanjay K. , Carter Tonia C. , Ye Zhan , Pantrangi Madhulatha , Rose Warren E.
Published: January 2020

Toxins produced by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) contribute to virulence. We developed a statistical approach to determine an optimum sequence of antimicrobials to treat CA-MRSA infections based on an antimicrobial’s ability to reduce virulence. In an in vitro pharmacodynamic hollow fiber model, expression of six virulence genes (lukSF-PV, sek, seq, ssl8, ear, and lpl10) in CA-MRSA USA300 was measured by RT-PCR at six time points with or without human-simulated, pharmacokinetic dosing of five antimicrobials (clindamycin, minocycline, vancomycin, linezolid, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT)). Statistical modeling identified the antimicrobial causing the greatest decrease in virulence gene expression at each time-point. The optimum sequence was SXT at T0 and T4, linezolid at T8, and clindamycin at T24–T72 when lukSF-PV was weighted as the most important gene or when all six genes were weighted equally. This changed to SXT at T0–T24, linezolid at T48, and clindamycin at T72 when lukSF-PV was weighted as unimportant. The empirical p-value for each optimum sequence according to the different weights was 0.001, 0.0009, and 0.0018 with 10,000 permutations, respectively, indicating statistical significance. A statistical method integrating data on change in gene expression upon multiple antimicrobial exposures is a promising tool for identifying a sequence of antimicrobials that is effective in sustaining reduced CA-MRSA virulence.
Bioprospecting Sponge-Associated Marine Cyanobacteria to Produce Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Konstantinou Despoina , Mavrogonatou Eleni , Zervou Sevasti-Kiriaki , Giannogonas Panagiotis , Gkelis Spyros
Published: January 2020

Marine cyanobacteria are considered a prolific source of bioactive natural products with a range of biotechnological and pharmacological applications. However, data on the production of natural compounds from sponge-associated cyanobacteria are scarce. This study aimed to assess the potential of sponge-associated cyanobacteria strains representing different taxonomic groups for the production of bioactive compounds and the biological activity of their extracts. Phylogenetic analysis of sponge-associated cyanobacteria and screening for the presence of genes encoding non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs) were performed. Methanol extracts of the sponge-associated strains were analyzed for cyanotoxin production and tested for antioxidant activity and cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines and pathogenic bacteria. PKS were detected in all sponge-associated strains examined, indicating the metabolic potential of the isolates. PKS genes were more ubiquitous than NRPS genes. Cyanotoxins (i.e., cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, nodularin, and microcystins) were not detected in any of the sponge-associated cyanobacterial strains. Strains belonging to Leptothoe, Pseudanabaena, and Synechococcus were found to have activity mainly against Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, sponge-associated Leptothoe strains (TAU-MAC 0915, 1015, 1115, and 1215) were found to be highly cytotoxic and in most cases more effective against human cancer cell lines than against normal cells. Extracts with the most promising bioactivity deserve further investigation in order to isolate and identify the bioactive molecule(s).
Reduced Expression of a Novel Midgut Trypsin Gene Involved in Protoxin Activation Correlates with Cry1Ac Resistance in a Laboratory-Selected Strain of Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: Gong Lijun , Kang Shi , Zhou Junlei , Sun Dan , Guo Le , Qin Jianying , Zhu Liuhong , Bai Yang , Ye Fan , Akami Mazarin , Wu Qingjun , Wang Shaoli , Xu Baoyun , Yang Zhongxia , Bravo Alejandra , Soberón Mario , Guo Zhaojiang , Wen Lizhang , Zhang Youjun
Published: January 2020

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produce diverse insecticidal proteins to kill insect pests. Nevertheless, evolution of resistance to Bt toxins hampers the sustainable use of this technology. Previously, we identified down-regulation of a trypsin-like serine protease gene PxTryp_SPc1 in the midgut transcriptome and RNA-Seq data of a laboratory-selected Cry1Ac-resistant Plutella xylostella strain, SZ-R. We show here that reduced PxTryp_SPc1 expression significantly reduced caseinolytic and trypsin protease activities affecting Cry1Ac protoxin activation, thereby conferring higher resistance to Cry1Ac protoxin than activated toxin in SZ-R strain. Herein, the full-length cDNA sequence of PxTryp_SPc1 gene was cloned, and we found that it was mainly expressed in midgut tissue in all larval instars. Subsequently, we confirmed that the PxTryp_SPc1 gene was significantly decreased in SZ-R larval midgut and was further reduced when selected with high dose of Cry1Ac protoxin. Moreover, down-regulation of the PxTryp_SPc1 gene was genetically linked to resistance to Cry1Ac in the SZ-R strain. Finally, RNAi-mediated silencing of PxTryp_SPc1 gene expression decreased larval susceptibility to Cry1Ac protoxin in the susceptible DBM1Ac-S strain, supporting that low expression of PxTryp_SPc1 gene is involved in Cry1Ac resistance in P. xylostella. These findings contribute to understanding the role of midgut proteases in the mechanisms underlying insect resistance to Bt toxins.
Isolation and Characterization of [D-Leu1]microcystin-LY from Microcystis aeruginosa CPCC-464
Authors: LeBlanc Patricia , Merkley Nadine , Thomas Krista , Lewis Nancy I. , Békri Khalida , Renaud Susan LeBlanc , Pick Frances R. , McCarron Pearse , Miles Christopher O. , Quilliam Michael A.
Published: January 2020

[D-Leu1]MC-LY (1) ([M + H]+ m/z 1044.5673, Δ 2.0 ppm), a new microcystin, was isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa strain CPCC-464. The compound was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS/MS) and UV spectroscopy. A calibration reference material was produced after quantitation by 1H NMR spectroscopy and LC with chemiluminescence nitrogen detection. The potency of 1 in a protein phosphatase 2A inhibition assay was essentially the same as for MC-LR (2). Related microcystins, [D-Leu1]MC-LR (3) ([M + H]+ m/z 1037.6041, Δ 1.0 ppm), [D-Leu1]MC-M(O)R (6) ([M + H]+ m/z 1071.5565, Δ 2.0 ppm) and [D-Leu1]MC-MR (7) ([M + H]+ m/z 1055.5617, Δ 2.2 ppm), were also identified in culture extracts, along with traces of [D-Leu1]MC-M(O2)R (8) ([M + H]+ m/z 1087.5510, Δ 1.6 ppm), by a combination of chemical derivatization and LC–HRMS/MS experiments. The relative abundances of 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8 in a freshly extracted culture in the positive ionization mode LC–HRMS were ca. 84, 100, 3.0, 11 and 0.05, respectively. These and other results indicate that [D-Leu1]-containing MCs may be more common in cyanobacterial blooms than is generally appreciated but are easily overlooked with standard targeted LC–MS/MS screening methods.
Factor XII-Deficient Chicken Plasma as a Useful Target for Screening of Pro- and Anticoagulant Animal Venom Toxins
Authors: Prezoto Benedito C. , Oguiura Nancy
Published: January 2020

The sensitivity of vertebrate citrated plasma to pro- and anticoagulant venom or toxins occurs on a microscale level (micrograms). Although it improves responses to agonists, recalcification triggers a relatively fast thrombin formation process in mammalian plasma. As it has a natural factor XII deficiency, the recalcification time (RT) of chicken plasma (CP) is comparatively long [≥ 1800 seconds (s)]. Our objective was to compare the ability of bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) to neutralize clot formation induced by an activator of coagulation (the aPTT clot) in recalcified human and chicken plasmas, through rotational thromboelastometry. The strategy used in this study was to find doses of bvPLA2 that were sufficient enough to prolong the clotting time (CT) of these activated plasmas to values within their normal RT range. The CT of CP was prolonged in a dose-dependent manner by bvPLA2, with 17 ± 2.8 ng (n = 6) being sufficient to displace the CT values of the activated samples to ≥ 1800 s. Only amounts up to 380 ± 41 ng (n = 6) of bvPLA2 induced the same effect in activated human plasma samples. In conclusion, the high sensitivity of CP to agonists and rotational thromboelastometry could be useful. For example, during screening procedures for assaying the effects of toxins in several stages of the coagulation pathway, such as clot initiation, formation, stability, strength, or dissolution.
Arthropod Venom Components and Their Potential Usage
Authors: Rádis-Baptista Gandhi , Konno Katsuhiro
Published: January 2020

Arthropods comprise a predominant and well-succeeded phylum of the animal kingdom that evolved and diversified in millions of species grouped in four subphyla, namely, Chelicerata (arachnids), Crustacea, Myriapoda (centipedes), and Hexapoda (insects) [...]
Rotation and Spin and Position Operators in Relativistic Gravity and Quantum Electrodynamics
Authors: O’Connell Robert F.
Published: January 2020

First, we examine how spin is treated in special relativity and the necessity of introducing spin supplementary conditions (SSC) and how they are related to the choice of a center-of-mass of a spinning particle. Next, we discuss quantum electrodynamics and the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation which we note is a position operator identical to the Pryce–Newton–Wigner position operator. The classical version of the operators are shown to be essential for the treatment of classical relativistic particles in general relativity, of special interest being the case of binary systems (black holes/neutron stars) which emit gravitational radiation.
Virus Discovery in Desert Tortoise Fecal Samples: Novel Circular Single-Stranded DNA Viruses
Authors: Orton Joseph P. , Morales Matheo , Fontenele Rafaela S. , Schmidlin Kara , Kraberger Simona , Leavitt Daniel J. , Webster Timothy H. , Wilson Melissa A. , Kusumi Kenro , Dolby Greer A. , Varsani Arvind
Published: January 2020

The Sonoran Desert tortoise Gopherus morafkai is adapted to the desert, and plays an important ecological role in this environment. There is limited information on the viral diversity associated with tortoises (family Testudinidae), and to date no DNA virus has been identified associated with these animals. This study aimed to assess the diversity of DNA viruses associated with the Sonoran Desert tortoise by sampling their fecal matter. A viral metagenomics approach was used to identify the DNA viruses in fecal samples from wild Sonoran Desert tortoises in Arizona, USA. In total, 156 novel single-stranded DNA viruses were identified from 40 fecal samples. Those belonged to two known viral families, the Genomoviridae (n = 27) and Microviridae (n = 119). In addition, 10 genomes were recovered that belong to the unclassified group of circular-replication associated protein encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA virus and five circular molecules encoding viral-like proteins.
RNA Viruses of Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus microplus and Cattle Susceptibility in the French Antilles
Authors: Gondard Mathilde , Temmam Sarah , Devillers Elodie , Pinarello Valérie , Bigot Thomas , Chrétien Delphine , Aprelon Rosalie , Vayssier-Taussat Muriel , Albina Emmanuel , Eloit Marc , Moutailler Sara
Published: January 2020

Ticks transmit a wide variety of pathogens including bacteria, parasites and viruses. Over the last decade, numerous novel viruses have been described in arthropods, including ticks, and their characterization has provided new insights into RNA virus diversity and evolution. However, little is known about their ability to infect vertebrates. As very few studies have described the diversity of viruses present in ticks from the Caribbean, we implemented an RNA-sequencing approach on Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from cattle in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Among the viral communities infecting Caribbean ticks, we selected four viruses belonging to the Chuviridae, Phenuiviridae and Flaviviridae families for further characterization and designing antibody screening tests. While viral prevalence in individual tick samples revealed high infection rates, suggesting a high level of exposure of Caribbean cattle to these viruses, no seropositive animals were detected. These results suggest that the Chuviridae- and Phenuiviridae-related viruses identified in the present study are more likely tick endosymbionts, raising the question of the epidemiological significance of their occurrence in ticks, especially regarding their possible impact on tick biology and vector capacity. The characterization of these viruses might open the door to new ways of preventing and controlling tick-borne diseases.
Impact of Mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana Metabolic Pathways on Polerovirus Accumulation, Aphid Performance, and Feeding Behavior
Authors: Bogaert Florent , Marmonier Aurélie , Pichon Elodie , Boissinot Sylvaine , Ziegler-Graff Véronique , Chesnais Quentin , Villeroy Claire , Drucker Martin , Brault Véronique
Published: January 2020

During the process of virus acquisition by aphids, plants respond to both the virus and the aphids by mobilizing different metabolic pathways. It is conceivable that the plant metabolic responses to both aggressors may be conducive to virus acquisition. To address this question, we analyze the accumulation of the phloem-limited polerovirus Turnip yellows virus (TuYV), which is strictly transmitted by aphids, and aphid’s life traits in six Arabidopsis thaliana mutants (xth33, ss3-2, nata1, myc234, quad, atr1D, and pad4-1). We observed that mutations affecting the carbohydrate metabolism, the synthesis of a non-protein amino acid and the glucosinolate pathway had an effect on TuYV accumulation. However, the virus titer did not correlate with the virus transmission efficiency. Some mutations in A. thaliana affect the aphid feeding behavior but often only in infected plants. The duration of the phloem sap ingestion phase, together with the time preceding the first sap ingestion, affect the virus transmission rate more than the virus titer did. Our results also show that the aphids reared on infected mutant plants had a reduced biomass regardless of the mutation and the duration of the sap ingestion phase.