bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Graphene Oxide and Fly Ash on Frost Resistance of the Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Yuan Xiaosa , Dai Mingjiang , Li Mengfan , Zhang Shanshan , Zhang Mingming
Published: May 2022

The addition of graphene oxide (GO) and fly ash (FA) to SFRC (steel fiber reinforced concrete) increases frost resistance. Based on the analysis of the amelioration of GO on the frost resistance of SFRC, the improvement mechanism and the effects of GO and FA on the durability of SFRC were studied in depth. The test blocks’ compressive strength, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, and mass-loss rate were tested through experiments. The pore distribution and morphological characteristics of concrete were captured by industrial CT scanning technology. The effects of GO and FA on the pore distribution and morphology of the SFRC are discussed. The results show that the compressive strength of GO-SFRC(graphene oxide and steel fiber reinforced concrete)with GO proportion of 0.03% is 28.20% higher than that of ordinary SFRC without freezing and thawing; after 100 freeze-thaw cycles, the compressive strength of the G0.03S25 increased by 31.70% compared with the compressive strength of the G0.00S25, and pore shape of G0.03S25 presents a spherical shape and an elliptical spherical shape; based on the data analysis of the strength loss, relative dynamic elastic modulus loss and mass-loss rate, it is considered that the properties of ordinary SFRC are the worst under freezing and thawing; as FA admixture increases, the porosity decreases; with FA of 30% and GO of 0.03%, the GO-FA-SFRC has the best frost resistance, as well as most of the pores are closed which resemble spheres and ellipsoids.
Food Delivery Couriers and Their Interaction with Urban Public Space: A Case Study of a Typical “Takeaway Community” in the Wuhan Optics Valley Area
Authors: Peng Lei , Shui Siyuan , Li Zhuo , Yang Jianwen
Published: May 2022

Food delivery couriers are a new type of worker created in modern cities within the background of a sharing economy. As a form of gig worker, they shuttle through the streets and take charge of order distribution for digital labor platforms. Food delivery couriers use the atriums and streets of their community neighborhood as their places of work and rest, occupying the public spaces that belonged to the original residents. Additionally, this phenomenon sets off a chain reaction which not only creates conflicts with the activities and passage of residents, creating time–space interlinkages, but also exerts profound influence on the economic and population structure of the region. This study focuses on the time–space patterns of food delivery couriers in the Optics Valley youth city community in Wuhan city. Inspired by Tim Cresswell’s mobility theory, this study creates a conceptual framework to explain the time–space patterns of food delivery couriers, including the following aspects: motivation, experience, conduction, and efficiency. This study revealed the characteristics of food delivery couriers on the occupation level, the conflicts between food delivery couriers and other parties as invaders of public space, and their tactics. This study also makes some policy recommendations regarding the career status of couriers and provides a reference for research on the emergence of gig workers in the urban environment.
Driver Behavioral Classification on Curves Based on the Relationship between Speed, Trajectories, and Eye Movements: A Driving Simulator Study
Authors: Rondora Maria Emilia Schio , Pirdavani Ali , Larocca Ana Paula C.
Published: May 2022

Horizontal curves of rural highways are prone to a considerably high number of fatalities because an erroneous perception can lead to unsafe driving. This generally occurs when a driver fails to notice the highway geometry or changes in the driving environment, particularly curved segments. This study aimed to understand the geometric characteristics of curved segments, such as radius and approach tangents, on the driving performance towards minimizing vehicle crashes. Speed profiles and lateral position, the most common indicators of successful negotiation in curves, and eye movements were recorded during an experiment conducted in a fixed-base driving simulator equipped with an eye-tracking system with a road infrastructure (a three-lane highway) and its surroundings. A driving simulator can faithfully reproduce any situation and enable sustainable research because it is a high-tech and cost-effective tool allowing repeatability in a laboratory. The experiment was conducted with 28 drivers who covered approximately 500 test kilometers with 90 horizontal curves comprising nine different combinations of radii and approach tangent lengths. The drivers’ behavior on each curve was classified as ideal, normal, intermediate, cutting, or correcting according to their trajectories and speed changes for analyses of the performance parameters and their correlation conducted by factorial ANOVA and Pearson chi-square tests. The cross-tabulation results indicated that the safest behavior significantly increased when the curve radius increased, and the performance measures of curve radii were greatly affected. However, the driving behavior was not affected by the approach tangent length. The results revealed segments of the road that require a driver’s closer attention for essential vehicle control, critical information, and vehicle control in different parts of the task.
An Educational Project Based on the YouTuber Phenomenon for the Development of a Minority Language
Authors: Etxebarria Aintzane , Iglesias Aitor , Eguskiza Naia , Unamuno Lorea
Published: May 2022

In the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC), the “Basic Law on the normalization of the use of Basque” (law 10/1982, of 24 November) establishes that Basque citizens have the right to express themselves in either of the two official languages (Basque and Spanish), and to receive instructions in both languages. Therefore, the Faculties of Education must train future teachers to be able to teach and communicate in the Basque language. However, data from the last VI sociolinguistic survey (2016) tell us that 33.9% of the population aged 16 and over living in the BAC is Basque-speaking, but balanced bilinguals who express themselves with the same fluency in both Basque and Spanish make up only 29.3% of Basque speakers. In a study on linguistic customs in the academic field carried out on a group of future primary education teachers, it was observed that although Basque is the language they will teach in the schools of the BAC, it is not their main language of communication. Given this situation, it was deemed necessary to introduce the use of technology to promote the use of Basque. To this end, a project was designed and implemented, involving the intensive use of the social network YouTube. This paper presents the results of the data generated in this didactic experiment at the university level.
Spatiotemporal Variations in the Intensity of Human Activity in Inner Mongolia and the Identification of Influencing Forces
Authors: Ah Rong , Yu Tingting , Dong Zhenhua , Tong Baoquan
Published: May 2022

The quantitative evaluation of the intensity of regional human activity can reflect changes in the relationship between people and the environment and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of land-use policy and for the construction of the ecological environment. This paper adopted the ratio of the area of construction land to the total area to calculate human activity intensity in Inner Mongolia at the league/city, banner/county, and pixel levels, respectively. On this basis, the overall change in human activity intensity and its spatiotemporal differentiation, geographical unit change, and spatial autocorrelation were analyzed. The results are as follows: (1) The intensity of human activity increased from 2000 to 2020. The intensity of human activity in Inner Mongolia was 8.71% in 2000, and it increased to 8.73% in 2010 and to 9.71% in 2020. The growth rate has accelerated since 2010. (2) The areas with high and medium intensity of human activities are mainly concentrated in the area south of the Hinggan–Yinshan–Helan Mountains. The intensity in the Hulunbeier grassland area and Alxa desert area is relatively low, and the diffusion effect gradually becomes prominent in the proximal local area. (3) The results for the detection of influencing factors indicate that the livestock density, multi-year average precipitation conditions, and population density have significant driving effects on the changes in intensity of human activity in Inner Mongolia.
Multiple Analysis of the Relationship between the Characteristics of Plant Landscape and the Spatiotemporal Aggregation of the Population
Authors: Liu Guan , Shao Jizhong , Zhang Yubin , Yang Minge , Zhang Xiaosi , Wan Wentao , Zhang Yuxin , Wang Linjie
Published: May 2022

The reformation and development of the education system in China have led to environmental upgrades in a great number of universities. Amid this improvement, plant landscapes hold an important role in improving the environment and highlighting the campus culture. However, due to the lack of in-depth exploration of the relationship between plant landscape characteristics and the spatiotemporal aggregation of the population in current research, the design methods of campus plant landscapes are not thoroughly studied. Therefore, the mutual improvement between landscaping and population activity has not been maximized. In this study, we collected 52 plant landscape units from Northwest A&F University as the research objects. We investigated the patterns of population aggregation on campus plant landscapes through quantitative analysis of the characteristics of plant landscapes and the temporal and spatial aggregation of people. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore the complex relationship between the characteristics of each landscape and the spatial-temporal agglomeration of people. Traditional survey questionnaires and field surveys, kernel density analysis, Python crawler technology, raincloud plots analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and other methods were used to further measure and analyze plant landscape characteristics under the influence of population density from the two levels of various characteristic elements and different landscape units, and explain the mechanism affecting population aggregation, striving to provide a theoretical basis and practical support for the sustainable development of the campus environment and landscape design methods.
The Impact of Parental Migration on Offspring’s Education Investment: Evidence from Left-Behind Children in China
Authors: Lu Ziyuan , Pang Xiaopeng
Published: May 2022

Educational investment of families in their children is related to the sustainable development of both individuals and society. This paper uses data from China Family Panel Studies to study the impact of rural parents’ internal migration on education investment in left-behind children in China. The results show that parental internal migration has a significant negative impact on educational investment in left-behind children. The results persisted after further treatment for endogeneity and multiple robustness tests. Mechanism analysis shows that while increasing the family income, rural to urban migration reduces parents’ recognition of children’s education, thus reducing the family’s investment in left-behind children’s education. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the negative impact of both parents’ going out was the largest, followed by only the father going out, while only the mother going out was no longer significant. The negative effect of inter-provincial out-going is greater than that of intra-provincial out-going. Girls were negatively affected more than boys; middle school students were more affected than primary school students. Our findings suggest it is necessary to further eliminate labor market discrimination caused by household registration and improve educational quality of rural public schools. The lessons learned from China are valuable for other developing countries with large numbers of rural citizens migrating to cities.
Safety Risk Assessment of Air Traffic Control System Based on the Game Theory and the Cloud Matter Element Analysis
Authors: Tang Jiawen , Wang Di , Ye Wei , Dong Bing , Yang Huijuan
Published: May 2022

With the ever-increasing demand for air traffic over the years, safety risk assessment has become significant in maintaining the operational safety of the air transport system for long-term development towards sustainability. This paper conducts a safety risk assessment of the air traffic control (ATC) system based on game theory and cloud matter element analysis. The safety risk of the ATC system is evaluated from four aspects, including human, machine, environment, and management. The Nash equilibrium is introduced from game theory to weigh the indicators. The cloud matter element assessment adopts the cloud model from fuzzy sets and probability theory to replace the certain value in conventional matter element theory, which takes the randomness, ambiguity, and incompatibility of the indicators into consideration. In this sense, the safety risk level of the ATC system can be evaluated by calculating the correlation degree of the standard cloud matter element between the indicators and the risks. This paper expands the research scope by introducing and combing game theory and cloud matter element analysis. Furthermore, the applicability and the robustness of the method are examined with a case study of the ATC system, which enriches the existing literature and points out the direction for future work.
Extending the UTAUT Model of Gamified English Vocabulary Applications by Adding New Personality Constructs
Authors: Zhang Kexin , Yu Zhonggen
Published: May 2022

Learning vocabulary through mobile applications has gained momentum in recent years. However, little is known about what elements motivate or demotivate learners to use the applications. This research thus aims at finding out factors that may influence users’ intention to use certain gamified English vocabulary apps and their actual use of the applications based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). This study complements the missing link through structural equation modeling based on the data collected from a large-scale online questionnaire survey. The results show that performance expectancy (PE), facilitating conditions (FC), and attitudes towards behavior (ATB) are positively correlated with behavioral intention (BI) while effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and openness (OP) are negatively correlated with BI. However, no significant correlation was found between emotional stability (ES), positive competition (PC), and perseverance of effort (POE) and BI as predicted. In addition, behavioral intention (BI) and actual use (AU) are strongly correlated. However, unlike some of the previous studies, the result of this study does not present a significant relationship between FC and actual use (AU). Future research may include participants with diversified cultural backgrounds and extend the constructs further to psychology.
Sustainable Development–Fiscal Federalism Nexus: A “Beyond GDP” Approach
Authors: Olaide Kayode , Simo-Kengne Beatrice D. , Uwilingiye Josine
Published: May 2022

The hypothetical allocative efficiency of fiscal federalism and its potential welfare impact have fueled the increased fiscal authority of subnational governments experienced in most countries around the world. This research sheds light on important aspects of developmental outcome of fiscal federalism which hitherto either have not been explored or have been obscured by the exclusive use of GDP or GDP growth as the empirical measure of welfare and development in previous studies. The National Sustainable Development Index (NSDI) and its subcomponent indices were computed for 40 selected countries from 2006 to 2018. Using the NSDI as welfare proxy and employing the difference and system generalized method of moments techniques, this study revealed that fiscal federalism has no significant impact on aggregate sustainable development, environmental and natural resource development index, and social development index, but has a positive impact on economic development index. Hence, fiscal federalism discourse among policy decision-makers in most countries seems to have been based on economic development considerations, leaving out other important dimensions of sustainable development. Therefore, in designing a fiscal federalism apparatus, policy decision-makers should consider proper coordination of the three dimensions of sustainable development if the development-enhancing role of fiscal federalism is to be sustainably achieved.
Examining Leadership Capabilities, Risk Management Practices, and Organizational Resilience: The Case of State-Owned Enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Lisdiono Purwatiningsih , Said Jamaliah , Yusoff Haslinda , Hermawan Ancella Anitawati
Published: May 2022

This study aims to assess the role of leadership in Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises in bringing the companies to be resilient amid uncertainties and a dynamic environment based on dynamic capability theory. Risk management practices are used to mediate the relationship between leadership capabilities and enterprise resilience. The authors conducted a quantitative and cross-sectional study using a questionnaire distributed to members of the board of directors and senior managers of Indonesia SOEs and their subsidiaries. Based on the structural equation modeling analysis, the findings reveal that leadership capabilities play a role in developing enterprise resilience and risk management practice. Additionally, risk management practice partially mediates the relationship between leadership capabilities and enterprise resilience. The empirical findings enrich the knowledge on the relationship between enterprise resilience, leadership capability, and risk management practice. These results enable management SOEs and their subsidiaries and policymakers to develop strategies and a policy framework to create and develop enterprise resilience and help SOEs navigate safely and triumphantly in uncertain and disruptive business environments. This study supports empirical evidence that expands the context of applying the enterprise resilience concept and dynamic capability theory in hybrid organization types, such as SOEs, that operate in emerging countries.
Satisfaction Level of Engineering Students in Face-to-Face and Online Modalities under COVID-19—Case: School of Engineering of the University of León, Spain
Authors: Martínez-García Rebeca , Fraile-Fernández Fernando J. , Búrdalo-Salcedo Gabriel , Castañón-García Ana María , Fernández-Raga María , Palencia Covadonga
Published: May 2022

University education in times of COVID-19 was forced to seek alternative teaching/learning methods to the traditional ones, having to abruptly migrate to the online modality, changes that have repercussions on student satisfaction. That is why this study aims to compare the level of student satisfaction in face-to-face and “forced” online modalities under COVID-19. A quantitative, cross-sectional methodology was applied to two groups of students: Under a face-to-face modality (n = 116) and under an online modality (n = 120), to which a questionnaire was applied under a Likert scale, with four dimensions: Course design structure, content, resources, and instructor. Non-parametric statistics, specifically the Mann–Whitney U-test, were used to compare the groups. The results showed that there are significant differences in the level of satisfaction of students in the face-to-face and online “forced” modalities (p = 0.01984 < 0.05), and the dimensions of the level of satisfaction that presented significant differences were course design structure (p = 0.04523 < 0.05) and content (p = 0.00841 < 0.05). The research shows that students in the face-to-face modality express a higher level of satisfaction, which is reflected in the dimension design structure of the course, specifically in its workload indicator, as well as in the dimension content, in its indicators, overlapping with other courses and materials.
Application of M-SWARA and TOPSIS Methods in the Evaluation of Investment Alternatives of Microgeneration Energy Technologies
Authors: Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat , Aksoy Tamer , Hacıoğlu Ümit
Published: May 2022

Investments in microgeneration technologies help to boost the usage of clean energy while reducing pollution. However, selecting the appropriate investment remains the most critical phase in developing these technologies. This study aims to design a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) to evaluate investment alternatives for microgeneration energy technologies. The proposed MCDM is based on a Multi Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (M-SWARA), to define the relative importance of the factors. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Soft Sets (q-ROFSs) are used to rank investment alternatives. Calculations were also made with Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IFSs) and Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets (PFSs). For analysis, five evaluation criteria were selected based on the literature: frequency of maintenance, ease of installation, environmental adaptation, transmission technologies, and efficiency of cost. Similarly, six alternatives for microgeneration technology investments were selected: ground source heat pumps, micro hydroelectric power, micro combined heat and power, micro bioelectrochemical fuel cell systems, small-scale wind turbines, and photovoltaic systems. The results showed that cost efficiency was the most significant factor in the effectiveness of microgeneration energy investments, and the photovoltaic system was the best alternative to increase microgeneration energy technology investment performance. Furthermore, the results were the same for the analyses made with IFSs and PFSs, demonstrating the reliability of the proposed method. Therefore, investors in microgeneration technologies should prioritize photovoltaic systems. This conclusion is supported by the fact that photovoltaic is a renewable energy source that has witnessed the most technological improvements and cost reductions over the last decade.
Measuring Compound Soil Erosion by Wind and Water in the Eastern Agro–Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China
Authors: Lin Degen , Shi Peijun , Meadows Michael , Yang Huiming , Wang Jing’ai , Zhang Gangfeng , Hu Zhenhua
Published: May 2022

Land degradation induced by soil erosion is widespread in semiarid regions globally and is common in the agro–pastoral ecotone of northern China. Most researchers identify soil erosion by wind and water as independent processes, and there is a lack of research regarding the relative contributions of wind and water erosion and the interactions between them in what is referred to here as compound soil erosion (CSE). CSE may occur in situations where wind more effectively erodes a surface already subject to water erosion, where rainfall impacts a surface previously exposed by wind erosion, or where material already deposited by wind is subject to water erosion. In this paper, we use the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) to calculate the rate of soil erosion and map the distribution of three types of soil erosion classified as (i) wind (wind-erod), (ii) water (water-erod), and (iii) CSE (CSE-erod) for the study area that spans more than 400,000 km2 of sand- and loess-covered northern China. According to minimum threshold values for mild erosion, we identify water-erod, wind-erod, and CSE-erod land as occurring across 41.41%, 13.39%, and 27.69% of the total area, while mean soil erosion rates for water-erod, wind-erod, and CSE-erod land were calculated as 6877.65 t km−2 yr−1, 1481.47 t km−2 yr−1, and 5989.49 t km−2 yr−1, respectively. Land subject to CSE-erod is predominantly distributed around the margins of those areas that experience wind erosion and water erosion independently. The CSLE and RWEQ do not facilitate a direct assessment of the interactions between wind and water erosion, so we use these equations here only to derive estimates of the relative contributions of wind erosion and water erosion to total soil erosion and the actual mechanisms controlling the interactions between wind and water erosion require further field investigation. It is concluded that CSE is an important but underappreciated process in semiarid regions and needs to be accounted for in land degradation assessments as it has substantial impacts on agricultural productivity and sustainable development in regions with sandy and/or loess-covered surfaces.
A CSR Perspective to Drive Employee Creativity in the Hospitality Sector: A Moderated Mediation Mechanism of Inclusive Leadership and Polychronicity
Authors: Shao Jiajing , Cherian Jacob , Xu Li , Zaheer Muhammad , Samad Sarminah , Comite Ubaldo , Mester Liana , Badulescu Daniel
Published: May 2022

The hospitality sector, especially the hotel business, is at a crossroads. Dynamic business environments, rivalries, and isomorphisms in service operations are significant challenges for hotel enterprises. Fostering employee creativity is undoubtedly something that can well position a hotel in the face of competition. Research shows that corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions of employees for an enterprise can motivate them to be engaged in creativity. At the same time, it has also been mentioned that corporate leaders could significantly influence the behavior of employees. Nevertheless, employee creativity in a CSR framework has not been well-explored in a hospitality context. Moreover, the role of leadership, especially inclusive leadership styles, has been less discussed to spur employee creativity from a CSR perspective. To bridge the above knowledge gaps, this study investigates the relationship between CSR and employee creativity with the mediating effect of inclusive leadership in the hotel industry of a developing economy. Moreover, the conditional indirect effect of employee polychronicity was also tested in the proposed mediated relationship. For data collection, an adapted questionnaire was taken into consideration by employing a paper–pencil method (n = 427). A hypothetical model was refined and validated through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results confirmed that CSR can drive employee creativity significantly, and inclusive leadership partially mediates this relationship. It was also realized that polychronicity has a significant conditional indirect effect on the above-mediated relationship. These outcomes contribute to improvements in the hotel management, as well-designed CSR activities both improve the hotel’s image as an ethical enterprise and increase creativity among employees.
Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors Analysis of Reference Evapotranspiration in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region from 1990 to 2019 under Climate Change
Authors: Liu Zihan , Jing Dong , Han Yu , Yu Jingxin , Lu Tiangang , Zhangzhong Lili
Published: May 2022

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is an important part of the water and energy cycles during crop growth. Understanding the influencing factors and spatiotemporal variations of ET0 is of positive significance for guiding regional water-saving irrigation and regulating agricultural production. Data for daily meteorological observations of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and sunshine hours from 40 surface meteorological stations and the methods of climate tendency rate, Morlet wavelet, M-K mutation, path analysis, sensitivity analysis, and contribution rate analysis were utilized, to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region from 1990 to 2019. The ET0 from 1990 to 2019 was 958.9 mm, and there was a significant downward trend in the climate tendency rate of −3.07 mm/10 a. The ET0 presents a spatial distribution pattern decreasing from southwest to northeast. A change in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region’s interannual ET0 occurred in 2016, with a decrease of 41.12 mm since then. The ET0 was positively correlated with temperature, wind speed, and sunshine hours, and negatively correlated with relative humidity; among those, wind speed and temperature are the dominant factors affecting the change of ET0. This study provides a scientific basis for the regulation and control of agricultural production in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region.
The Challenges of Lean Transformation and Implementation in the Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Maware Catherine , Parsley David M.
Published: May 2022

In this study we explored the challenges involved in Lean Transformation and implementation in the manufacturing sector. Using survey data from 50 North American manufacturing organizations, we examined the challenges involved in implementing and sustaining Lean Manufacturing (LM) principles and practices in production processes. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) were used to rank the considerable challenges observed in these organizations. We concluded that the need for a change in organizational culture was the major barrier to Lean implementation. It is challenging to sustain Lean without a culture shift and a clear direction set by the organization’s leadership team. The originality of the paper relates to prioritizing the cultural aspects of organizations as a major barrier to LM implementation. Other challenges encountered during Lean implementation in the manufacturing industries were related to management support, technical knowledge, and employee resistance to change. Early identification of these challenges enables companies to question their capabilities before implementing the Lean philosophy. In this study we used results obtained from 50 manufacturing companies in North America, representing a subset of manufacturing organizations. As a result, it must be interpreted based on the data acquisition method and the study’s sample size.
Corruption and FDI in Brazil: Contesting the “Sand” or “Grease” Hypotheses
Authors: Onody Vanessa da Silva Mariotto , Gandra de Carvalho Ana Catarina , Polloni-Silva Eduardo , Roiz Guilherme Augusto , Mariano Enzo Barberio , Rebelatto Daisy Aparecida Nascimento , Moralles Herick Fernando
Published: May 2022

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is seen as a significant driver of economic growth and a potential ally in the struggle against poverty and inequality, making emerging countries focus on attracting this type of investment. Thus, understanding factors that impact the concentration of regional FDI is essential to verifying which characteristics encourage or deter foreign investment. Likewise, the literature has explored institutional factors such as corruption as determining factors for the concentration of FDI. Within this framework, this study aims to empirically examine the sensitivity of multinational enterprises (MNEs) to corruption. Few studies have been carried out on this subject, mainly in Latin American economies. We employ a unique Brazilian municipality-level FDI database to investigate whether corruption hinders (i.e., corruption acting as “sand”) or promotes the concentration of foreign investment (i.e., corruption acting like “grease”). Additionally, we believe that analyzing different economic sectors is essential to deepening the knowledge about the impacts of corruption on FDI. Our results show that corruption acts as “grease” for both overall FDI and at the level of individual sectors. Finally, when taking a non-linear approach, our findings show that corruption acts as grease for FDI only in regions with intermediate (medium–low) levels of corruption.
Organizational Culture Management as an Element of Innovative and Sustainable Development of Enterprises
Authors: Mingaleva Zhanna , Shironina Elena , Lobova Elena , Olenev Vasiliy , Plyusnina Lyubov , Oborina Anna
Published: May 2022

The paper is aimed at determining the relationship between personal and organizational values in an innovative company, and the compliance of the basic elements of the organizational culture of an enterprise to the requirements of its innovative development. The main goal of the study is to determine how to improve personnel activity by changing the organizational culture. To achieve the goal of this study, a survey of employees of an innovative Russian company is conducted in order to determine the compliance of the organizational culture as a whole, as well as its main elements (personal and organizational values), to modern business conditions. The main research methods employed are a questionnaire survey, bibliographic analysis, and content analysis. Barrett’s Cultural Values Assessment methodology is selected and adapted to the conditions of active innovative organizations and enterprises in Russia. Based on the application of Barrett’s Cultural Values Assessment methodology, adapted to the specifics of the given company, an assessment of the existing organizational culture is obtained, inconsistencies between the current and desired organizational culture are identified, and recommendations for changing the organizational culture of the company are formulated. It is concluded that organizational culture is an active resource when managing sustainable development, and is part of organizational innovation. A well-grounded and adequate choice of directions and methods for organizational changes is an important factor in achieving business sustainability. The results of the analysis imply the necessity of changing the existing organizational culture of the given company.
Borrowing Power from Potential Entrants and High-Speed Rail: Entry Pattern of China’s Low-Cost Carrier
Authors: Tang Xiaowei , Ren Siyu , Ma Xinyao , Fuellhart Kurt
Published: May 2022

This paper investigates the impact of market structure and high-speed rail on China’s low-cost carrier Spring Airlines’ entry patterns during the pre-pandemic period. Dividing the air transport system into discrete distance segments (i.e., short-, medium- and long-haul) helps better reveal critical factors that affect the route entry of Spring. Given the existence of market power in China’s airline industry and the capacity constraints at major airports, Spring strives to enter routes that can accommodate more potential entrants without a strong response from incumbents and are connected with more concentrated or lower-capacity airports. The complementary and competition effects of high-speed rail are well-distinguished in different distance ranges.
New Insight into the Depositional Age of No. 6 Coal in Heidaigou Mine, Late Paleozoic Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Liu Chao , Chang Xiangdong , Sun Beilei , Zeng Fangui
Published: May 2022

Coal deposits can provide novel stratigraphic markers for reconstructing the evolution history of a sedimentary basin and correlating sedimentary successions. Age dating was conducted on zircons harvested from the No. 6 coal seam within the Heidaigou Mine, Inner Mongolia. Two-kilogram samples were taken, and the recovered zircons were analyzed for U–Pb isotopic and rare earth elements (REE). The REE results of the zircon grains showed that all the zircon grains were enriched in heavy rare earth elements (HREE) but depleted in light rare earth elements (LREE). In addition, zircons from the No. 6 coal seam had strongly positive Ce (Ce/Ce* = 2.4–224.6) and strongly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.1–0.6). Combined with the clear oscillatory zones in the cathodoluminescence images, all the zircon grains of the No. 6 coal were characteristic of zircons with magmatic origins. The 206Pb/238U ages of 34 zircon grains produced a narrow age population of 303–286 Ma, with a weighted average age of 293.0 ± 1.5 Ma (mean-squared weighted deviation = 1.5). Therefore, we infer that the No. 6 coal in the Heidaigou Mine was deposited during the Early Permian, and the Carboniferous–Permian boundary should be located stratigraphically lower than the No. 6 coal. The zircon U–Pb geochronology is a useful tool to determine the depositional ages of non-marine-influenced coal.
Advances in Quasi-Symmetry for Square Contingency Tables
Authors: Tahata Kouji
Published: May 2022

Contingency tables highlight relationships between categorical variables. Typically, the symmetry or marginal homogeneity of a square contingency table is evaluated. The original symmetry model often does not accurately fit a dataset due to its restrictions. Caussinus proposed a quasi-symmetry model which served as a bridge between symmetry and marginal homogeneity in square contingency tables. This study significantly influenced methodological developments in the statistical analysis of categorical data. Herein recent advances in quasi-symmetry are reviewed with an emphasis on four topics related to the author’s results: (1) modeling based on the f-divergence, (2) the necessary and sufficient condition of symmetry, (3) partition of test statistics for symmetry, and (4) measure of the departure from symmetry. The asymmetry model based on f-divergence enables us to express various asymmetries. Additionally, these models are useful to derive the necessary and sufficient conditions of symmetry with desirable properties. This review may be useful to consider the statistical modeling and the measure of symmetry for contingency tables with the same classifications.
Experimental and Numerical Simulation of a Symmetrical Three-Cylinder Buoy
Authors: Pan Yun , Yang Fengting , Tong Huanhuan , Zuo Xiao , Shen Liangduo , Xue Dawen , Liu Can
Published: May 2022

The wave resistance of a buoy is affected by the mode of anchorage and the buoy structure. Combining the structures and the mode of anchorage of the existing buoys, designing a buoy with significantly improved wave resistance is a major challenge for marine environment monitoring. This work carried out experimental and numerical simulation studies on the hydrodynamic properties of a self-designed symmetrical three-cylinder buoy. The wave resistance of the buoy was analyzed using different wave conditions, and a full-scale simulation of the buoy was performed using the finite element method and lumped mass method. Experimentally, it was found that the symmetrical three-cylinder buoy stability was less affected by the wave height, but mainly by the wave period. Additionally, the effects of wave height and wave period on mooring tension were also studied, and the results showed that mooring tension was mainly affected by wave period, which was explained by the rate of change of the buoy momentum. Finally, a numerical model was proposed for the interpretation of these experiments. Results from numerical simulations for the trajectory of the buoy and the tension of the mooring cable correlated well with the experimental data.
Biomonitoring of Exposure to Urban Pollutants and Oxidative Stress during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Rome Residents
Authors: Buonaurio Flavia , Borra Francesca , Pigini Daniela , Paci Enrico , Spagnoli Mariangela , Astolfi Maria Luisa , Giampaoli Ottavia , Sciubba Fabio , Miccheli Alfredo , Canepari Silvia , Ancona Carla , Tranfo Giovanna
Published: May 2022

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of traffic on human health comparing biomonitoring data measured during the COVID-19 lockdown, when restrictions led to a 40% reduction in airborne benzene in Rome and a 36% reduction in road traffic, to the same parameters measured in 2021. Methods: Biomonitoring was performed on 49 volunteers, determining the urinary metabolites of the most abundant traffic pollutants, such as benzene and PAHs, and oxidative stress biomarkers by HPLC/MS-MS, 28 elements by ICP/MS and metabolic phenotypes by NMR. Results: Means of s-phenylmercaputric acid (SPMA), metabolites of naphthalene and nitropyrene in 2020 are 20% lower than in 2021, while 1-OH-pyrene was 30% lower. A reduction of 40% for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and 60% for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) were found in 2020 compared to 2021. The concentrations of B, Co, Cu and Sb in 2021 are significantly higher than in the 2020. NMR untargeted metabolomic analysis identified 35 urinary metabolites. Results show in 2021 a decrease in succinic acid, a product of the Krebs cycle promoting inflammation. Conclusions: Urban pollution due to traffic is partly responsible for oxidative stress of nucleic acids, but other factors also have a role, enhancing the importance of communication about a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of cancer diseases.
Quantum Capacity and Vacuum Compressibility of Spacetime: Thermal Fields
Authors: Cho Hing-Tong , Hsiang Jen-Tsung , Hu Bei-Lok
Published: May 2022

An important yet perplexing result from work in the 1990s and 2000s is the near-unity value of the ratio of fluctuations in the vacuum energy density of quantum fields to the mean in a collection of generic spacetimes. This was carried out by way of calculating the noise kernels which are the correlators of the stress-energy tensor of quantum fields. In this paper, we revisit this issue via a quantum thermodynamics approach, by calculating two quintessential thermodynamic quantities: the heat capacity and the quantum compressibility of some model geometries filled with a quantum field at high and low temperatures. This is because heat capacity at constant volume gives a measure of the fluctuations of the energy density to the mean. When this ratio approaches or exceeds unity, the validity of the canonical distribution is called into question. Likewise, a system’s compressibility at constant pressure is a criterion for the validity of grand canonical ensemble. We derive the free energy density and, from it, obtain the expressions for these two thermodynamic quantities for thermal and quantum fields in 2d Casimir space, 2d Einstein cylinder and 4d (S1×S3 ) Einstein universe. To examine the dependence on the dimensionality of space, for completeness, we have also derived these thermodynamic quantities for the Einstein universes with even-spatial dimensions: S1×S2 and S1×S4. With this array of spacetimes we can investigate the thermodynamic stability of quantum matter fields in them and make some qualitative observations on the compatibility condition for the co-existence between quantum fields and spacetimes, a fundamental issue in the quantum and gravitation conundrum.
A GoldenBraid-Compatible Virus-Based Vector System for Transient Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Plants
Authors: Plchová Helena , Moravec Tomáš , Čeřovská Noemi , Pobořilová Zuzana , Dušek Jakub , Kratochvílová Kateřina , Navrátil Oldřich , Kundu Jiban Kumar
Published: May 2022

We have developed a Potato virus X (PVX)-based vector system compatible with the GoldenBraid 2.0 (GB) cloning strategy to transiently express heterologous proteins or peptides in plants for biotechnological purposes. This vector system consists of three domestication vectors carrying three GB parts—the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter with PVX upstream of the second subgenomic promoter of the PVX coat protein (PVX CP SGP), nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator with PVX downstream of the first PVX CP SGP and the gene of interest (GOI). The full-length PVX clone carrying the sequence encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as GOI was incorporated into the binary GB vector in a one-step reaction of three GB parts using the four-nucleotide GB standard syntax. We investigated whether the obtained vector named GFP/pGBX enables systemic PVX infection and expression of GFP in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. We show that this GB-compatible vector system can be used for simple and efficient assembly of PVX-based expression constructs and that it meets the current need for interchange of standard biological parts used in different expression systems.
Cranberry Pomace Extract Exerts Antiviral Activity against Zika and Dengue Virus at Safe Doses for Adult Zebrafish
Authors: Tamkutė Laura , Haddad Juliano G. , Diotel Nicolas , Desprès Philippe , Venskutonis Petras Rimantas , El Kalamouni Chaker
Published: May 2022

Mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) and zika virus (ZIKV) infections constitute a global health emergency. Antivirals directly targeting the virus infectious cycle are still needed to prevent dengue hemorrhagic fever and congenital zika syndrome. In the present study, we demonstrated that Cranberry Pomace (CP) extract, a polyphenol-rich agrifood byproduct recovered following cranberry juice extraction, blocks DENV and ZIKV infection in human Huh7.5 and A549 cell lines, respectively, in non-cytotoxic concentrations. Our virological assays identified CP extract as a potential inhibitor of virus entry into the host-cell by acting directly on viral particles, thus preventing their attachment to the cell surface. At effective antiviral doses, CP extract proved safe and tolerable in a zebrafish model. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich agrifood byproducts such as berry extracts are a promising source of safe and naturally derived nutraceutical antivirals that target medically important pathogens.
In Silico Evaluation of Paxlovid’s Pharmacometrics for SARS-CoV-2: A Multiscale Approach
Authors: Bartha Ferenc A. , Juhász Nóra , Marzban Sadegh , Han Renji , Röst Gergely
Published: May 2022

Paxlovid is a promising, orally bioavailable novel drug for SARS-CoV-2 with excellent safety profiles. Our main goal here is to explore the pharmacometric features of this new antiviral. To provide a detailed assessment of Paxlovid, we propose a hybrid multiscale mathematical approach. We demonstrate that the results of the present in silico evaluation match the clinical expectations remarkably well: on the one hand, our computations successfully replicate the outcome of an actual in vitro experiment; on the other hand, we verify both the sufficiency and the necessity of Paxlovid’s two main components (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) for a simplified in vivo case. Moreover, in the simulated context of our computational framework, we visualize the importance of early interventions and identify the time window where a unit-length delay causes the highest level of tissue damage. Finally, the results’ sensitivity to the diffusion coefficient of the virus is explored in detail.
HPV Vaccination among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Living with or at High-Risk for HIV
Authors: Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield , Bridges S. Kate , Goldbeck Cameron , Norwood Peter , Swendeman Dallas , Rotheram-Borus Mary Jane ,   The Adolescent HIV Medicine Trials Network (ATN) CARES Team
Published: May 2022

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is epidemic among young people, especially those at highest risk of acquiring HPV-related cancers. Methods: Youth aged 14–24 years old (N = 1628) were recruited from 13 clinics, community agencies, and social media sites in Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana, that specialized in serving sexual and gender minority youths (SGMY), especially males at risk for HIV. A cross-sectional comparison of sociodemographic and risk histories of HPV vaccinated/unvaccinated youths was conducted using both univariate and multivariate regressions. Results: About half (51.9%) of youth were vaccinated, with similar percentages across states and across genders. Sexual and gender minority youths (SGMY, i.e., gay, bisexual, transgender, and non-heterosexual; 68.8%) and their heterosexual peers (15%) were equally likely to be vaccinated (54%), even though their risk for HPV-related cancers is very different. Vaccinations were higher among younger youth, those not using condoms, youth with greater education, that possessed a primary health care provider, and youth diagnosed with HIV. Vaccinations were lower among youth that were out-of-home due to mental health inpatient hospitalization, drug treatment, homelessness, or incarceration. Conclusions: Special programs are required to target youth experiencing multiple life stressors, especially out-of-home experiences, those with less education, and without the safety net of health insurance or a provider.