bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Owner-Managers in Shaping CSR Activity of Romanian SMEs
Authors: Saveanu Tomina , Badulescu Daniel , Saveanu Sorana , Abrudan Maria-Madela , Badulescu Alina
Published: October 2021

Background: While corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a field of study that has gained popularity in the last years, the approaches of small and medium enterprises’ (SME) contributions to social responsibility are under debate. Moreover, studies on Romanian CSR demonstrate the incremental development of such practices, while the social responsibility of Romanian small business is an understudied topic. In this paper we present data regarding the role of owner-managers in shaping the CSR actions of their SMEs in Romania, along with their opinions on what social responsibility is. Methods: We analyze two sources of data: quantitative research, based on 109 questionnaires collected from SMEs in the western part of Romania, and also a qualitative study, based on 17 interviews with owner-managers of small businesses. The quantitative data presents the reality of social responsibility actions and the relationship with manager’s attitudes, while the qualitative focuses on a better understanding of owner-managers opinions on social responsibility. Results: Our data confirms the high impact of owner-managers’ values and orientations in shaping the degree and forms of the CSR of their firms, and reveals definitions of CSR given by practitioners. Conclusions: Our data reveals that the way managers’ see the role of business in providing social welfare influences their decisions to participate in different types of CSR actions. Through interviews we show that managers, whether their firm has formal CSR actions or not, consider being fair and doing business at their best as part of CSR. Those that also displayed other forms of CSR are those who considered it their duty to give back to the community. The interest of stakeholders was displayed mostly by those who have incremental interest in CSR.
Competitiveness of E Commerce Firms through ESG Logistics
Authors: Kim Jinsung , Kim Minseok , Im Sehyeuk , Choi Donghyun
Published: October 2021

Rapid growth in the e-commerce market, caused by COVID-19, has led to fierce competition. The intense competition in e-commerce market triggers firms to strengthen their competitiveness by providing logistics services. Furthermore, as sustainability becomes important in consumers’ choices of products or services, e-commerce companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities are becoming important. Therefore, our purpose of study is to examine the attributes of e-commerce’s competitiveness in the perspective of ESG in the logistics service and to suggest differentiation strategies. We analyzed the importance of each ESG attribute in the logistics through a conjoint analysis. As a result, we found that e-commerce consumers value ESG activities in the order of distribution in the social (9.866%), partnership in the governance (9.637%), operation of distribution center in the social (8.570%), packaging in the environmental (8.320%), operation of distribution center in the environmental (8.262%), purchasing in the social (8.200%), and distribution in the environmental (7.153%). Accordingly, we suggested ESG strategies such as win-win cooperation, opening information on the working environment in delivery and distribution centers, development of a shared logistics platform, preventing COVID-19, and raising consumers’ awareness of eco-friendly delivery.
Predicting Textile Recycling through the Lens of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
Authors: Vilkaite-Vaitone Neringa , Jeseviciute-Ufartiene Laima
Published: October 2021

Management of textile waste is a growing challenge for many countries. In order to tackle this issue, countries are turning to recycle, which is treated as an efficient way to manage textile waste. This empirical research is the first study on the scale of Lithuanian households aimed to ascertain the predictors of textile recycling behaviour. The study involved a sampling research method in order to understand factors affecting textile recycling behaviours and attitudes of residents in Lithuania. Data from a sample of 391 households were analysed using structural equation modelling. The research indicated key factors stimulating textile recycling behaviour based on standard and extended versions of the theory of planned behaviour. Results have shown the usefulness of applying the traditional model of planned behaviour instead of the extended one in predicting intention to recycle textile waste. The outcome of this research contributes to the formulation of recommendations regarding the promotion of sustainable textile waste management.
Post-Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Immobilised Green Microalgae Chlorococcum oleofaciens
Authors: Tan Kah Aik , Lalung Japareng , Morad Norhashimah , Ismail Norli , Wan Omar Wan Maznah , Khan Moonis Ali , Sillanpää Mika , Rafatullah Mohd
Published: October 2021

Microalgae immobilisation can be a long-term solution for effective wastewater post-treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of immobilised Chlorococcum oleofaciens to remove contaminants from palm oil mill effluent (POME) until it complies with the POME discharge standard. First, the native dominating green microalga was isolated from a polishing POME treatment pond. Then, the microalgae cells were immobilised on sodium alginate beads and cultivated in a lab-scale-treated POME to treat it further. The immobilised microalgae cells demonstrated a high removal of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and soluble chemical oxygen demand with 90.43%, 93.51%, 91.26%, and 50.72% of reduction, respectively. Furthermore, the growth rate of the microalgae fitted nicely with the Verhulst logistical model with r2 of more than 0.99, indicating the model’s suitability in modelling the growth. Thus, we concluded that the species can be used for post-treatment of effluents to remove TP, TN, and ammonia nitrogen from palm oil mills until it complies with the POME effluent discharge standard. However, during the process, degradation of the beads occurred and the COD value increased. Therefore, it is not suitable to be used for COD removal.
Electric Buses in Malaysia: Policies, Innovations, Technologies and Life Cycle Evaluations
Authors: Al-Ogaili Ali Saadon , Al-Shetwi Ali Q. , Sudhakar Babu Thanikanti , Hoon Yap , Abdullah Majid A. , Alhasan Ameer , Al-Sharaa Ammar
Published: October 2021

A large-scale adoption of electric buses (EBs) is a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. In the upcoming decades, the development of EB technologies will be initiated worldwide, including in Malaysia. Government policies to support EB deployments have been widely established. Therefore, Malaysia’s National Automotive Policy has stated a roadmap of policies to promote a national groundwork accordingly. Following the elaboration of Malaysia’s goals for EBs deployments by 2014 and 2020, there are crucial associated topics for EBs implementation, including EB innovations and technologies adoption. This study presents a deep discussion about the groundwork of EB innovations that have been initiated in Malaysia to meet the roadmap targets. This paper also comprehensively reviews the technical specifications of EB innovation technologies, including Electric Bus Innovation Malaysia, Malaysia Automotive Institute, and Go Auto prototypes. In addition, this study outlines the EB technologies that have been launched in three states in Malaysia, known as Putrajaya, Melaka, and Sarawak. Furthermore, a generic framework for life cycle assessments of EB is presented, focusing on the economic and environmental impacts. This framework provides the necessary groundwork for further studies on charging infrastructure requirements.
Resilience of Tourists’ Repurchase Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Shared Accommodation Sector
Authors: Wang Yan , Peng Kang-Lin , Lin Pearl M. C.
Published: October 2021

The economy has suffered unprecedentedly during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the shared accommodation sector. This study aims to discover the pandemic consumer behavior model for the recovery of the sector as well as investigate the economic resilience of tourists’ behavior to prevent and control the normalized pandemic. Most of the resilience literature discussed the level of economic and industry revitalization. There are relatively few studies on the individual level of tourists’ resilience. Therefore, we applied the adjusted theory of planned behavior with pandemic-related intrinsic factors to construct the research model, which is analyzed by the SEM approach. The results show that perceived risk affects tourists’ perceived value, trust, and behavioral attitude when repurchasing shared accommodation during the pandemic. The repurchase intention is indirectly affected by the behavioral attitude and perceived value. We concluded that the perceived risk of the pandemic could be resilient with respect to the perceived value, trust, and behavioral attitude for the repurchase intention of the shared accommodation for the sector to recover.
More than Bike Lanes—A Multifactorial Index of Urban Bikeability
Authors: Hardinghaus Michael , Nieland Simon , Lehne Marius , Weschke Jan
Published: October 2021

The present study aims to deduce bikeability based on a collective understanding and provides a methodology to operationalize its calculation based on open data. The approach contains four steps building on each other and combines qualitative and quantitative methods. The first three steps include the definition and operationalization of the index. First, findings from the literature are condensed to determine relevant categories influencing bikeability. Second, an expert survey is conducted to estimate the importance of these categories to gain a common understanding of bikeability and merge the impacting factors. Third, the defined categories are calculated based on OpenStreetMap data and combined to a comprehensive spatial bikeability index in an automated workflow. The fourth step evaluates the proposed index using a multinomial logit mode choice model to derive the effects of bikeability on travel behavior. The expert process shows a stable interaction between the components defining bikeability, linking specific spatial characteristics of bikeability and associated components. Applied components are, in order of importance, biking facilities along main streets, street connectivity, the prevalence of neighborhood streets, green pathways and other cycle facilities, such as rental and repair facilities. The mode choice model shows a strong positive effect of a high bikeability along the route on choosing the bike as the preferred mode. This confirms that the bike friendliness on a route surrounding has a significant impact on the mode choice. Using universal open data and applying stable weighting in an automated workflow renders the approach of assessing urban bike-friendliness fully transferable and the results comparable. It, therefore, lays the foundation for various large-scale cross-sectional analyses.
Seed Germination Ecophysiology of Acacia dealbata Link and Acacia mearnsii De Wild.: Two Invasive Species in the Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Dessì Ludovica , Podda Lina , Brundu Giuseppe , Lozano Vanessa , Carrouée Antoine , Marchante Elizabete , Marchante Hélia , Petit Yohan , Porceddu Marco , Bacchetta Gianluigi
Published: October 2021

Acacia dealbata and A. mearnsii are two invasive species found in coastal, mountain, and riparian Mediterranean habitats. Seed biology and germination traits are important drivers of the competitive performance of plants and may significantly contribute to biological invasions. The seeds of Acacia s.l. have physical dormancy due to an impermeable epidermal layer. The aim of this study was to assess the germination capacity of scarified and non-scarified seeds of A. dealbata and A. mearnsii from different areas of the Mediterranean Basin. To test the seed imbibition capacity, the increase in mass was evaluated. Non-scarified seeds were tested at 15, 20, and 25 °C in light conditions. Scarified seeds were tested at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C and 25/10 °C in light and dark conditions. Scarified seeds increased in mass more than non-scarified seeds. Both species showed a higher germination capacity at 25 °C in non-scarified seeds; A. dealbata reached a germination maximum of 55%, while A. mearnsii reached 40%, showing a difference among these populations. Scarified seeds of both species reached germination percentages >95% at all temperatures except at 5 °C in dark conditions. Scarification was necessary to break dormancy and promote germination. The present study provides new knowledge about the seed ecology and germinative behaviour of the two Acacia species under different pre-treatment, temperature, and photoperiod regimes, contributing to the understanding of their invasive behaviour.
Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Soil Nitrogen Content at Smallholder Maize Farms Using Machine Learning Regression and Sentinel-2 Data
Authors: Mashaba-Munghemezulu Zinhle , Chirima George Johannes , Munghemezulu Cilence
Published: October 2021

Nitrogen is one of the key nutrients that indicate soil quality and an important component for plant development. Accurate knowledge and management of soil nitrogen is crucial for food security in rural communities, especially for smallholder maize farms. However, less research has been done on generating digital soil nitrogen maps for these farmers. This study examines the utility of Sentinel-2 satellite data and environmental variables to map soil nitrogen at smallholder maize farms. Three machine learning algorithms—random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and extreme gradient boosting (XG) were investigated for this purpose. The findings indicate that the RF (R2 = 0.90, RMSE = 0.0076%) model performs slightly better than the GB (R2 = 0.88, RMSE = 0.0083%) and XG (R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 0.0077%) models. Furthermore, the variable importance measure showed that the Sentinel-2 bands, particularly the red and red-edge bands, have a superior performance in comparison to the environmental variables and soil indices. The digital maps generated in this study show the high capability of Sentinel-2 satellite data to generate accurate nitrogen content maps with the application of machine learning. The developed framework can be implemented to map the spatial pattern of soil nitrogen. This will also contribute to soil fertility interventions and nitrogen fertilization management to improve food security in rural communities. This application contributes to Sustainable Development Goal number 2.
The Impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Carbon Emission toward China’s Sustainable Development
Authors: Tan Feifei , Wan Hao , Jiang Xiangjun , Niu Zhiyuan
Published: October 2021

It is of practical significance to evaluate whether enhancing outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) can promote carbon mitigation under the new urbanization background toward China’s sustainable development and carbon neutrality. The impact of OFDI on carbon emissions is investigated from the dual perspectives of the urbanization threshold and the mediating path by using panel data from China’s 30 provinces during the period of 2003–2015 and considering both population and land. The results show that there is a significant impact from interprovincial OFDI on CO2 emissions with the double threshold effect of urbanization, and that OFDI expansion will increase CO2 emissions with urbanization; however, the different stages of urbanization show inverted U-shaped characteristics that first rise and then fall. The optimization of industrial structures has not passed the mediating effects test during the sample period, while the rationalization of the industrial structure provides a mediating effect in the primary stage of urbanization and a suppressing effect in the high level stage of urbanization. Import dependence only shows a masking effect in the intermediate stage of urbanization, while the technical level shows an intermediary effect in the primary stage of urbanization and a masking effect in the intermediate stage. The intensification of OFDI has brought different effects on economic and social production in various regions of China under urbanization, which has further affected regional carbon emissions. Discussing these effects would help to provide constructive suggestions for the regional coordination of development, new urbanization construction and urban low carbon transformation.
Study of the Association between Postural Misalignments in School Students
Authors: Gouveia João Pedro , Forte Pedro , Ribeiro Joana , Coelho Eduarda
Published: October 2021

Nowadays, postural misalignments prevalence in students is increasingly evident and its early detection is the best way to prevent complications in adulthood. It is also known that postural problems appear to have association between them. The aim of this study was to characterize and study the association between spine, scapular and pelvic girdles postural misalignments in 213 school students (124 males and 89 females), aged between 10 and 20 years, from Escola Básica e Secundária de Santa Maria (EBSSM). To understand the relation between postural misalignments we compare the head positioning with the shoulder girdle, the shoulder girdle with the dorsal spine and the lumbar spine with the pelvic girdle. The postural assessment was made by visual scan analysis in a symmetrograph based on photogrammetry and the Adams. We found high percentages of postural misalignments in all subjects. High prevalence was observed in the posterior view of the frontal plane in the head lateral flexion, shoulders vertical asymmetry, scoliosis and in the presence of gibbosity, whereas, in the right view of the sagittal plane forward head posture and protracted shoulders were observed. The lumbar scoliosis was more prevalent in subjects with iliac crest’s asymmetry (p < 0.001) and forward head posture was significantly related to the subjects with protracted shoulders (p = 0.010). The protracted shoulders were more prevalent in subjects with dorsal hyperkyphosis (p = 0.048) and lumbar hyperlordosis was related to the subjects with pelvic anteversion (p < 0.001). The students’ postural assessment showed a wide variety of postural misalignments. It also seems evident that there is a relationship between their occurrences. It should be highlighted the importance of postural assessment in physical education (PE) classes to determine postural misalignments among school students.
Research on the New Topology and Coordinated Control Strategy of Renewable Power Generation Connected MMC-Based DC Power Grid Integration System
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Qin Shanmeng , Yang Panbo , Sun Yuanyuan , Zhao Bing , Yin Rui , Sun Shengya , Tian Chunyi , Zhao Yuetong
Published: October 2021

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) station connected to the islanded renewable energy generation system needs to adopt the voltage frequency (VF) control to provide AC voltage. The single-pole converter fault will unbalance the input and output power of the DC power grid, which causes the DC voltage or the bridge arm current of the non-fault pole to exceed the protection value in the time scale of tens to hundreds of milliseconds, leading to cascading failures. To realize the fault ride-through (FRT) of single-pole converter fault, this paper analyzes the electrical characteristic of the system. Based on the analysis, the existing topology is optimized and the reasonable operation reserved margin is designed. Furthermore, the corresponding control strategy is proposed, which can not only ensure the single-pole converter block fault ride-through but can also realize economic, stable, and resilient power supply and address asymmetrical problems. Finally, the simulation model is built in PSCAD/EMTDC and the simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Approximation Solution of the Nonlinear Circular Sitnikov Restricted Four–Body Problem
Authors: Kumari Reena , Pal Ashok Kumar , Abouelmagd Elbaz I. , Alhowaity Sawsan
Published: October 2021

In this paper, the approximated periodic solutions of the circular Sitnikov restricted four–body problem (RFBP) were constructed using the Lindstedt–Poincaré method, by removing the secular terms, and compared with numerical solution. It can be observed that, in the numerical as well as approximated solutions patterns, the initial conditions are important. In the sense of a numerical solution, the motion is periodic in a certain interval, but beyond this interval, the motion is not periodic. But, the Lindstedt–Poincaré method constantly gives regular and periodic motion all time. Finally, we observed that the solution obtained by the Lindstedt–Poincaré method gives the true motion of the circular Sitnikov RFBP and the fourth approximate solution has more accuracy than the first, second, and third approximate solutions.
Improving the Convergence of Interval Single-Step Method for Simultaneous Approximation of Polynomial Zeros
Authors: Salim Nur Raidah , Chen Chuei Yee , Mahad Zahari , Sapar Siti Hasana
Published: October 2021

This paper describes the extended method of solving real polynomial zeros problems using the single-step method, namely, the interval trio midpoint symmetric single-step (ITMSS) method, which updates the midpoint at each forward-backward-forward step. The proposed algorithm will constantly update the value of the midpoint of each interval of the previous roots before entering the preceding steps; hence, it always generate intervals that decrease toward the polynomial zeros. Theoretically, the proposed method possesses a superior rate of convergence at 16, while the existing methods are known to have, at most, 9. To validate its efficiency, we perform numerical experiments on 52 polynomials, and the results are presented, using performance profiles. The numerical results indicate that the proposed method surpasses the other three methods by fine-tuning the midpoint, which reduces the final interval width upon convergence with fewer iterations.
On Eigenfunctions of the Boundary Value Problems for Second Order Differential Equations with Involution
Authors: Sarsenbi Abdissalam , Sarsenbi Abdizhahan
Published: October 2021

We give a definition of Green’s function of the general boundary value problems for non-self-adjoint second order differential equation with involution. The sufficient conditions for the basis property of system of eigenfunctions are established in the terms of the boundary conditions. Uniform equiconvergence of spectral expansions related to the second-order differential equations with involution:−y″(x)+αy″(−x)+qxyx=λyx,−1<x<1, with the boundary conditions y′−1+b1y−1=0,y′1+b2y1=0, is obtained. As a corollary, it is proved that the eigenfunctions of the perturbed boundary value problems form the basis in L2(−1,1) for any complex-valued coefficient q(x)∈L1(−1,1).
Towards Potential Content-Based Features Evaluation to Tackle Meaningful Citations
Authors: Qayyum Faiza , Jamil Harun , Jamil Faisal , Kim Do-Hyeun
Published: October 2021

The scientific community has presented various citation classification models to refute the concept of pure quantitative citation analysis systems wherein all citations are treated equally. However, a small number of benchmark datasets exist, which makes the asymmetric citation data-driven modeling quite complex. These models classify citations for varying reasons, mostly harnessing metadata and content-based features derived from research papers. Presently, researchers are more inclined toward binary citation classification with the belief that exploiting the datasets of incomplete nature in the best possible way is adequate to address the issue. We argue that contemporary ML citation classification models overlook essential aspects while selecting the appropriate features that hinder elutriating the asymmetric citation data. This study presents a novel binary citation classification model exploiting a list of potential natural language processing (NLP) based features. Machine learning classifiers, including SVM, KLR, and RF, are harnessed to classify citations into important and non-important classes. The evaluation is performed using two benchmark data sets containing a corpus of around 953 paper-citation pairs annotated by the citing authors and domain experts. The study outcomes exhibit that the proposed model outperformed the contemporary approaches by attaining a precision of 0.88.
Process Tomography in General Physical Theories
Authors: Chiribella Giulio
Published: October 2021

Process tomography, the experimental characterization of physical processes, is a central task in science and engineering. Here, we investigate the axiomatic requirements that guarantee the in-principle feasibility of process tomography in general physical theories. Specifically, we explore the requirement that process tomography should be achievable with a finite number of auxiliary systems and with a finite number of input states. We show that this requirement is satisfied in every theory equipped with universal extensions, that is, correlated states from which all other correlations can be generated locally with non-zero probability. We show that universal extensions are guaranteed to exist in two cases: (1) theories permitting conclusive state teleportation, and (2) theories satisfying three properties of Causality, Pure Product States, and Purification. In case (2), the existence of universal extensions follows from a symmetry property of Purification, whereby all pure bipartite states with the same marginal on one system are locally interconvertible. Crucially, our results hold even in theories that do not satisfy Local Tomography, the property that the state of any composite system can be identified from the correlations of local measurements. Summarizing, the existence of universal extensions, without any additional requirement of Local Tomography, is a sufficient guarantee for the characterizability of physical processes using a finite number of auxiliary systems and with a finite number of input systems.
The Influence of Threat Development on the Failure of the System’s Symmetry
Authors: Maris Ladislav , Zvakova Zuzana , Kampova Katarina , Lovecek Tomas
Published: October 2021

The existence or non-existence of a threat to a system is essential for its existence or essential for the functionality of the system. Even more crucial is the potential of the threat and its development, which leads to the failure of the symmetry of the system. What influences the development of such threats? What contexts influence the evolution of system threats? The development of threats is linked to the changing values of indicators that affect the state of the threat at a certain point in time. This development takes place in a constantly changing environment, therefore it is dynamically and causally linked. The system aims to maintain its order, however, the influence of the development of threats deflects it towards the entropy of the system. The paper is focused on the identification of the phases of the development of threats and their impact on the symmetry of a system. The paper presents a theoretical view of the impact of threat development on system symmetry failure.
Textile Branch and Main Breakthroughs of the Czech Republic in the Field of Textile Machinery: An Illustrated Review
Authors: Militký Jiří , Křemenáková Dana , Václavík Miroslav , Klička Václav , Dídek Stanislav
Published: October 2021

The main aim of this review is to discuss and explain breakthrough solutions and main improvements in the construction of textile machinery originating in Czech Republic and their influence on processing and quality of textile products. Open-end spinning, jet weft insertion and jet looms, perpendicularly layered nonwovens and needleless electrospinning machines for manufacturing nanofibrous assemblies and corresponding technologies developed in Czech Republic are briefly discussed and pictorially illustrated. This review is also focused on specifying the different factors responsible for the development of technology and products in textile branches. The human and civilization factors influencing textile production and general requirement for advanced textile products are critically discussed. The unique position of the textile industry in society is demonstrated. The future basic needs that influence textile branch development are discussed.
Zearalenone Affect the Intestinal Villi Associated with the Distribution and the Expression of Ghrelin and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen in Weaned Gilts
Authors: Zhang Quanwei , Huang Libo , Leng Bo , Li Yang , Jiao Ning , Jiang Shuzhen , Yang Weiren , Yuan Xuejun
Published: October 2021

This study explored and investigated how zearalenone (ZEA) affects the morphology of small intestine and the distribution and expression of ghrelin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the small intestine of weaned gilts. A total of 20 weaned gilts (42-day-old, D × L × Y, weighing 12.84 ± 0.26 kg) were divided into the control and ZEA groups (ZEA at 1.04 mg/kg in diet) in a 35-d study. Histological observations of the small intestines revealed that villus injuries of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, such as atrophy, retardation and branching dysfunction, were observed in the ZEA treatment. The villi branch of the ileum in the ZEA group was obviously decreased compared to that of the ileum, jejunum and duodenum, and the number of lymphoid nodules of the ileum was increased. Additionally, the effect of ZEA (1.04 mg/kg) was decreased by the immunoreactivity and distribution of ghrelin and PCNA in the duodenal and jejunal mucosal epithelial cells. Interestingly, ZEA increased the immunoreactivity of ghrelin in the ileal mucosal epithelial cells and decreased the immunoreactivity expression of PCNA in the gland epithelium of the small intestine. In conclusion, ZEA (1.04 mg/kg) had adverse effects on the development and the absorptive capacity of the villi of the intestines; yet, the small intestine could resist or ameliorate the adverse effects of ZEA by changing the autocrine of ghrelin in intestinal epithelial cells.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Adult: A Case Report from the Maldives
Authors: Miqdhaadh Ahmed , Imad Hisham Ahmed , Fazeena Aminath , Ngamprasertchai Thundon , Nguitragool Wang , Nakayama Emi E. , Shioda Tatsuo
Published: October 2021

The multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a novel syndrome observed during COVID-19 outbreaks. This hyper-inflammatory syndrome is seen predominantly in children and adolescents. The case of an adult from the Maldives who had asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection three weeks before presenting to the hospital with fever, rash, and shock is presented. De-identified clinical data were retrospectively collected to summarize the clinical progression and treatment during hospitalization and the six-month follow-up. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by RT-PCR. Other laboratory findings included anemia (hemoglobin: 9.8 g/dL), leukocytosis (leukocytes: 20,900/µL), neutrophilia (neutrophils: 18,580/µL) and lymphopenia (lymphocytes: 5067/µL), and elevated inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (34.8 mg/dL) and ferritin (2716.0 ng/dL). The electrocardiogram had low-voltage complexes, and the echocardiogram showed hypokinesia, ventricular dysfunction, and a pericardial effusion suggestive of myocardial dysfunction compromising hemodynamics and causing circulatory shock. These findings fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of MIS-A. The case was managed in the intensive care unit and required non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, inotropes, and steroids. With the new surges of COVID-19 cases, more cases of MIS-A that require the management of organ failure and long-term follow-up to recovery are anticipated. Clinicians should therefore be vigilant in identifying cases of MIS-A during the pandemic.
Present and Future of 0ν2β Searches with Germanium
Authors: Burlac Nina , Salamanna Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Among the several experiments and techniques conceived of to search for neutrinoless double β decay (0ν2β) in a handful of isotopes, presently the best lower limit on the half-life for this rare process, is provided by those using 76Ge, a rare isotope of germanium. Such a lower limit is of 1.8 × 1026 y. Building from such a successful achievement of the GERDA and Majorana Demonstrator experiments, the baton with 76Ge passes now to the LEGEND experiment. Using a two-stage approach with about 200 kg and then 1 t of germanium, LEGEND aims to attain a sensitivity of around 1028 y, which will enable it to probe the standard inverted-ordering neutrino mass scenario. We touch upon the past generation of experiments to illustrate their strong and weak points, review the general concept and design of LEGEND, and describe the LEGEND-200 detector and its preliminary performance. We also illustrate how the backgrounds can have a dramatic effect on the search and in which way the latter can be mitigated.
Higher Dimensional Lie Algebroid Sigma Model with WZ Term
Authors: Ikeda Noriaki
Published: October 2021

We generalize the (n+1)-dimensional twisted R-Poisson topological sigma model with flux on a target Poisson manifold to a Lie algebroid. Analyzing the consistency of constraints in the Hamiltonian formalism and the gauge symmetry in the Lagrangian formalism, geometric conditions of the target space to make the topological sigma model consistent are identified. The geometric condition is an universal compatibility condition of a Lie algebroid with a multisymplectic structure. This condition is a generalization of the momentum map theory of a Lie group and is regarded as a generalization of the momentum section condition of the Lie algebroid.
Review of a Light NMSSM Pseudoscalar Higgs-State Production at the LHC
Authors: Almarashi Mosleh M.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we briefly review the LHC discovery potential of a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson of the NMSSM, a1, produced in the gluon fusion gg→a1, bottom-quark fusion bb¯→a1 and bottom-gluon fusion bg→ba1. We also review the LHC discovery potential of the next-to-lightest CP-even Higgs boson h2 being the non-SM-like Higgs, decaying either into two light CP-odd Higgs bosons a1 or into a light a1 and the Z gauge boson through the gluon fusion gg→h2 in the 4τ final state. We find that the light a1 can be detected at the LHC in a variety of production processes including the gluon fusion, bottom-quark fusion and bottom-gluon fusion. The latter two processes require high luminosity of the LHC and large values of tanβ. We also find that the LHC has the potential to discover the non-SM-like Higgs state, h2, decaying into a pair of light CP-odd Higgses a1’s, allowing the distinguishing of the NMSSM Higgs sector from the MSSM one as such a light a1, is impossible in the latter scenario.
How Do Socio-Demographic Characteristics Affect Users’ Perception of Place Quality at Station Areas? Evidence from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: Du Jinglun , Druta Oana , van den Berg Pauline , van Wesemael Pieter J. V.
Published: October 2021

Incorporating users’ experiences in transport hub (re)development has become paramount, especially in the case of (high-speed) railway stations located in central urban locations. Designing “quality” according to users’ perspectives requires that we rethink about the dimensions to be prioritized, but also consider the variegated perspectives of users. Drawing on data from a survey of 452 users of the Amsterdam Central station area in the Netherlands, the relative importance of three value perspectives (node, place, and experience) on place quality were assessed through exploratory factor analysis. Seven quality factors were identified. Furthermore, relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and quality perceptions were simultaneously analyzed using a path analysis. The outcome showed that age and gender play a key role in explaining different quality perceptions. Senior citizens attach a higher importance to basic needs and safety and advanced services, while women also find wayfinding important. Moreover, education and visiting purpose influence other aspects of place quality perception, such as shopping or transfer. These findings provide a better understanding of place quality considerations in railway station areas in general and can serve as guidelines for the improvement of Amsterdam Central station, in particular.
Chemical Fractionation of Sediment Phosphorus in Residential Urban Stormwater Ponds in Florida, USA
Authors: Lusk Mary G. , Chapman Kylie
Published: October 2021

Stormwater ponds collect and transform pollutants (including nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in urban runoff and are often hydrologically connected to downstream waters, making it important to maximize their pollutant retention efficiency. A key mechanism for phosphorus (P) removal in stormwater ponds is sedimentation. However, sediment P in stormwater ponds may be present in several chemical forms with varying bioavailability and potential to move from sediments into the overlying water column. The purpose of this study was to characterize the chemical fractions of sediment P in residential urban stormwater ponds, with the goal of better understanding expected movement of P from sediments to water. We used a chemical fractionation scheme to separate sediment P into the following pools: loosely adsorbed and readily available P, Fe- and Al-bound P, Ca- and Mg-bound P, NaOH-exchangeable organic P, and refractory P. From six stormwater ponds in the Tampa Bay, Florida urban area, we found the pool of readily available P was less than 3% of total sediment P, and the refractory P pool was 28–40% of Total P. However, both Fe/Al-bound and Ca/Mg-bound P each accounted for about 18% of total sediment P. These latter pools may become available under anoxic or low pH (<6) conditions, respectively, demonstrating that a change in environmental conditions could cause internal P loading from sediments to pond water.
How Antibodies Recognize Pathogenic Viruses: Structural Correlates of Antibody Neutralization of HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and Zika
Authors: Abernathy Morgan E. , Dam Kim-Marie A. , Esswein Shannon R. , Jette Claudia A. , Bjorkman Pamela J.
Published: October 2021

The H1N1 pandemic of 2009-2010, MERS epidemic of 2012, Ebola epidemics of 2013-2016 and 2018-2020, Zika epidemic of 2015-2016, and COVID-19 pandemic of 2019-2021, are recent examples in the long history of epidemics that demonstrate the enormous global impact of viral infection. The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics has proven vital to reducing morbidity and mortality from newly emerging viruses. Structural biology methods can be used to determine how antibodies elicited during infection or vaccination target viral proteins and identify viral epitopes that correlate with potent neutralization. Here we review how structural and molecular biology approaches have contributed to our understanding of antibody recognition of pathogenic viruses, specifically HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and Zika. Determining structural correlates of neutralization of viruses has guided the design of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors in response to the global threat of viral epidemics.
Innate Immune Antagonism of Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses in Humans and Mosquitoes
Authors: Elrefaey Ahmed M. E. , Hollinghurst Philippa , Reitmayer Christine M. , Alphey Luke , Maringer Kevin
Published: October 2021

Mosquito-borne viruses of the Flavivirus genus (Flaviviridae family) pose an ongoing threat to global public health. For example, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika viruses are transmitted by infected mosquitoes and cause severe and fatal diseases in humans. The means by which mosquito-borne flaviviruses establish persistent infection in mosquitoes and cause disease in humans are complex and depend upon a myriad of virus-host interactions, such as those of the innate immune system, which are the main focus of our review. This review also covers the different strategies utilized by mosquito-borne flaviviruses to antagonize the innate immune response in humans and mosquitoes. Given the lack of antiviral therapeutics for mosquito-borne flaviviruses, improving our understanding of these virus-immune interactions could lead to new antiviral therapies and strategies for developing refractory vectors incapable of transmitting these viruses, and can also provide insights into determinants of viral tropism that influence virus emergence into new species.
Importance of Education about Cervical Cancer and Its Preventive Measures for the Promotion of HPV Vaccine According to the WHO Strategies
Authors: Ueda Yutaka , Miyagi Etsuko
Published: October 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared a global strategy regarding the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in November 2020, which focuses on preventing cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, screening precancerous lesions and managing and treating invasive cervical cancer [...]
The Impact of Social Media Exposure and Interpersonal Discussion on Intention of COVID-19 Vaccination among Nurses
Authors: Xin Meiqi , Luo Sitong , She Rui , Chen Xi , Li Liping , Li Lijuan , Chen Xiaojun , Lau Joseph T. F.
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among nurses is a global public health concern and it is imperative to understand associated factors. Information environment plays a critical role in shaping health behaviors, while few studies explored such effects in the context of COVID-19 vaccination. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1902 nurses in China. The study investigated the effects of social media exposure/interpersonal discussion on intention of COVID-19 vaccination and tested whether perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (perceived vaccine efficacy, perceived duration of protection, and perceived effectiveness in preventing resurgences) mediated such associations. Results showed that about 68.0% and 56.5% of the participants had an intention of free and self-paid COVID-19 vaccinations, respectively. Frequent social media exposure and interpersonal discussion were positively associated with vaccination intentions. Perceived vaccine efficacy significantly mediated the effects of frequent social media exposure and interpersonal discussion, whereas perceived effectiveness in preventing resurgences suppressed the effects of frequent social media exposure. In conclusion, the prevalence of intention of COVID-19 vaccination was relatively low among Chinese nurses and health promotion is needed. Frequent social media exposure and interpersonal discussion potentially enhanced vaccination intentions via increased perceived vaccine efficacy. The findings can help inform the development of relevant health communication interventions.
Vaccine Hesitancy and Trust in the Scientific Community in Italy: Comparative Analysis from Two Recent Surveys
Authors: Cadeddu Chiara , Sapienza Martina , Castagna Carolina , Regazzi Luca , Paladini Andrea , Ricciardi Walter , Rosano Aldo
Published: October 2021

Vaccination rates in Italy fell until 2015 because of unfounded safety concerns. Public education and a 2017 law on mandatory vaccination have boosted rates since then. The aim of our study is to explore how trust in the scientific community and attitudes towards vaccines have changed in the period of 2017–2019 in Italy. Data were extracted from the Italian section of the 2017 and 2019 editions of the European Social Survey (ESS). We compared the two surveys highlighting changes in public opinion on vaccines. A descriptive analysis of the socio-cultural variables according to the answers provided to key questions on the harmfulness of vaccines was conducted. Differences between percentages were tested by using the χ2 test. The association between the opinion about the harmfulness of vaccines and trust in the scientific community was analyzed through a logistic regression model. Compared to ESS8, ESS9 showed an increase in the percentage of respondents disagreeing with the harmfulness of vaccines. Trust in the scientific community raised in the period from 2017 to 2019 (59% vs. 69.6%). Higher education was significantly associated with disagreement regarding the harmfulness of vaccines (odds ratio (OR) = 2.41; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.75–3.31), the strongest predictor was trust in the scientific community (OR = 10.47; 95% CI 7.55–14.52). In Italy, trust in the scientific community and in vaccinations has grown significantly in recent years, indicating a paradigm shift in public opinion compared to the past. Central actions and effective public communication strategies might reduce vaccine hesitancy and could be essential to garner public trust.
The Development of Dual Vaccines against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF)
Authors: Douglass Nicola , Omar Ruzaiq , Munyanduki Henry , Suzuki Akiko , de Moor Warren , Mutowembwa Paidamwoyo , Pretorius Alri , Nefefe Tshifhiwa , Schalkwyk Antoinette van , Kara Pravesh , Heath Livio , Williamson Anna-Lise
Published: October 2021

Dual vaccines (n = 6) against both lumpy skin disease (LSD) and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) were constructed, based on the BEFV glycoprotein (G) gene, with or without the BEFV matrix (M) protein gene, inserted into one of two different LSDV backbones, nLSDV∆SOD-UCT or nLSDVSODis-UCT. The inserted gene cassettes were confirmed by PCR; and BEFV protein was shown to be expressed by immunofluorescence. The candidate dual vaccines were initially tested in a rabbit model; neutralization assays using the South African BEFV vaccine (B-Phemeral) strain showed an African consensus G protein gene (Gb) to give superior neutralization compared to the Australian (Ga) gene. The two LSDV backbones expressing both Gb and M BEFV genes were tested in cattle and shown to elicit neutralizing responses to LSDV as well as BEFV after two inoculations 4 weeks apart. The vaccines were safe in cattle and all vaccinated animals were protected against virulent LSDV challenge, unlike a group of control naïve animals, which developed clinical LSD. Both neutralizing and T cell responses to LSDV were stimulated upon challenge. After two inoculations, all vaccinated animals produced BEFV neutralizing antibodies ≥ 1/20, which is considered protective for BEF.