bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentinel-1 Satellite Radar Images: A New Source of Information for Study of River Channel Dynamics on the Lower Vistula River, Poland
Authors: Kryniecka Klaudia , Magnuszewski Artur , Radecki-Pawlik Artur
Published: February 2022

The amount of sediments transported by a river is difficult to estimate, while this parameter could influence channel geometry. It is possible to derive the bedload transport rate per unit width of the river channel by measuring the migration distance of bedform profiles over time and thickness of bedload layer in motion. Other possible methods include instrumental measurements using bedload traps and empirical formulas. It is possible to use remote-sensing techniques to measure the dynamics of bedform movements and geometries. Landsat images and aerial photographs have been used for this. A new source of remote-sensing information is radar satellite images. Sentinel-1 images have a temporal resolution of 2–3 days and spatial resolution of 25 m at middle latitudes, which make them usable on large rivers. The research area is the 814–820 km reach of the Lower Vistula River, where seven alternate sandbars were selected. The bank lines of the sandbars were delineated on Sentinel-1 images sensed during two low-flow periods of 4 August–26 September 2018 and 1 July–31 August 2019, when discharges at low flow were similar. From water stage observations at gauges, water elevations were assigned to every bank line of the alternate sandbars. The following morphometric parameters were calculated: alternate sandbar centers, volumes and longitudinal profile. Average daily movement of the sandbars in the period 4 August 2018–1 July 2019 was calculated as 0.97 m·day−1. A similar alternate sandbar movement velocity was obtained from a study of Sentinel-2 optical satellite images and hydro-acoustic measurements on the Lower Vistula River. Having depth of bedload in motion and alternate sandbar shift velocities, it was possible to calculate the rate of bedload transport according to the Exner approach formula. Rate of bedload transport was estimated as qb = 0.027 kg·s−1·m−1. This study shows a novel use of Sentinel-1 images to study the 3D geometry and movement rate of sandbars.
Assessing the Performance of Irrigation Systems in Large Scale Urban Parks: Application to the Case of Valdebebas, Madrid (Spain)
Authors: Canales-Ide Freddy , Zubelzu Sergio , Segovia-Cardozo Daniel , Rodríguez-Sinobas Leonor
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a novel approach to assess spatial and temporal irrigation performance in urban parks and can assist park manager/operator decisions in irrigation management. First, irrigation needs are estimated by traditional irrigation scheduling and the irrigation zones with similar water needs that share the same electric valve (hydrozones) are identified. Then, irrigation performance is calculated using the relative water supply (RWS) indicator and mapped (GIS software). This approach can be adapted to various spatial and temporal scales. In this study, it was applied to the Valdebebas urban development VBB (Madrid) between the 2017 and 2019 irrigation seasons. The results for the VBB parks showed high spatio-temporal variation in irrigation performance among plant typologies within an irrigation season, which can be explained by the landscape coefficient KL variation across the parks. Likewise, this variation was also observed among the three evaluated seasons; explained among other factors by differences in irrigation management. For each hydrozone, the estimation of the NDVI index by Sentinel-2A satellite images in 2019 showed a threshold on irrigation performance. Thus, the remote sensing data together with the proposed approach can be a valuable tool for helping park managers/technicians adopt better decisions on irrigation practices.
The SST–Wind Causal Relationship during the Development of the IOD in Observations and Model Simulations
Authors: Xiao Yao , Tang Youmin , Tan Xiaoxiao , Wu Yanling , Yao Zhixiong
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we employ reanalysis data to systematically investigate the development of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), thereby distinguishing the SST–wind causal relationship during IOD development. The results indicate that the variations in sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) are particularly important during IOD development. SSTAs over the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) lead to variations in Sumatran coastal winds and equatorial zonal winds, whereas SSTAs over the western Indian Ocean (WIO) lag behind these variations. On this basis, the Community Earth System Model (CESM) is adopted to examine the influences of different atmospheric physical processes and model resolutions on the simulation of the IOD evolution. For this purpose, four sets of sensitivity experiments are carried out involving two versions of the Community Atmospheric Model (CAM4 or CAM5) and two atmospheric model resolutions (0.9° × 1.25° or 1.9° × 2.5°). The CAM5 simulation experiments better capture the detailed characteristics of IOD development, especially the wind–SST causal relationship, than the CAM4 experiments. Moreover, increasing the resolution of the atmospheric model can effectively reduce the simulation bias, thus benefiting the simulation of the SST–wind relationship.
Use Remote Sensing and Machine Learning to Study the Changes of Broad-Leaved Forest Biomass and Their Climate Driving Forces in Nature Reserves of Northern Subtropics
Authors: Sun Zhibin , Qian Wenqi , Huang Qingfeng , Lv Haiyan , Yu Dagui , Ou Qiangxin , Lu Haomiao , Tang Xuehai
Published: February 2022

Forest is the largest vegetation carbon pool in the global terrestrial ecosystem. The spatial distribution and change of forest biomass are of importance to reveal the surface spatial variation and driving factors, to analyze and evaluate forest productivity, and to evaluate ecological function of forest. In this study, broad-leaved forests located in a typical state nature reserve in northern subtropics were selected as the study area. Based on ground survey data and high-resolution remote sensing images, three machine learning models were used to identify the best remote sensing quantitative inversion model of forest biomass. The biomass of broad-leaved forest with 30-m resolution in the study area from 1998 to 2016 was estimated by using the best model about every two years. With the estimated biomass, multiple leading factors to cause biomass temporal change were then identified from dozens of remote sensing factors by investigating their nonlinear correlations. Our results showed that the artificial neural network (ANN) model was the best (R2 = 0.8742) among the three, and its accuracy was also much higher than that of the traditional linear or nonlinear models. The mean biomass of the broad-leaved forest in the study area from 1998 to 2016 ranged from 90 to 145 Mg ha−1, showing an obvious temporal variation. Instead of biomass, biomass change (BC) was studied further in this research. Significant correlations were found between BC in broad-leaved forest and three climate factors, including average daily maximum surface temperature, maximum precipitation, and maximum mean temperature. It was also found that BC has a strong correlation with the biomass at the previous time (i.e., two years ago). Those quantitative correlations were used to construct a linear model of BC with high accuracy (R2 = 0.8873), providing a new way to estimate the biomass change of two years later based on the observations of current biomass and the three climate factors.
Analysis of Spatially Distributed Data in Internet of Things in the Environmental Context
Authors: de Azevedo Leonildo José de Melo , Estrella Júlio Cezar , Delbem Alexandre C. B. , Meneguette Rodolfo Ipolito , Reiff-Marganiec Stephan , de Andrade Sidgley Camargo
Published: February 2022

The Internet of Things consists of “things” made up of small sensors and actuators capable of interacting with the environment. The combination of devices with sensor networks and Internet access enables the communication between the physical world and cyberspace, enabling the development of solutions to many real-world problems. However, most existing applications are dedicated to solving a specific problem using only private sensor networks, which limits the actual capacity of the Internet of Things. In addition, these applications are concerned with the quality of service offered by the sensor network or the correct analysis method that can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant conclusions, which can cause significant harm for decision makers. In this context, we propose two systematic methods to analyze spatially distributed data Internet of Things. We show with the results that geostatistics and spatial statistics are more appropriate than classical statistics to do this analysis.
Rapid Estimation of Water Stress in Choy Sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) Using Integrative Approach
Authors: AL Aasmi Alaa , Alordzinu Kelvin Edom , Li Jiuhao , Lan Yubin , Appiah Sadick Amoakohene , Qiao Songyang
Published: February 2022

To optimize crop water consumption and adopt water-saving measures such as precision irrigation, early identification of plant water status is critical. This study explores the effectiveness of estimating water stress in choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) grown in pots in greenhouse conditions using Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) and crop vegetation indicators to improve irrigation water management. Data on CWSI and Spectral reflectance were collected from choy sum plants growing in sandy loam soil with four different soil field capacities (FC): 90–100% FC as no water stress (NWS); 80–90% FC for light water stress (LWS); 70–80% FC for moderate water stress (MWS); and 60–70% FC for severe water stress (SWS). With four treatments and three replications, the experiment was set up as a completely randomized design (CRD). Throughout the growing season, plant water stress tracers such as leaf area index (LAI), canopy temperature (Tc), leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaf chlorophyll content, and yield were measured. Furthermore, CWSI estimated from the Workswell Wiris Agro R Infrared Camera (CWSIW) and spectral data acquisition from the Analytical Spectral Device on choy sum plants were studied at each growth stage. NDVI, Photochemical Reflectance Index positioned at 570 nm (PRI570), normalized PRI (PRInorm), Water Index (WI), and NDWI were the Vegetation indices (VIs) used in this study. At each growth stage, the connections between these CWSIW, VIs, and water stress indicators were statistically analyzed with R2 greater than 0.5. The results revealed that all VIs were valuable guides for diagnosing water stress in choy sum. CWSIW obtained from this study showed that Workswell Wiris Agro R Infrared Camera mounted on proximal remote sensing platform for assessing water stress in choy sum plant was rapid, non-destructive, and user friendly. Therefore, integrating CWSIW and VIs approach gives a more rapid and accurate approach for detecting water stress in choy sum grown under greenhouse conditions to optimize yield by reducing water loss and enhancing food security and sustainability.
Scalable Fire and Smoke Segmentation from Aerial Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Quad-Tree Search
Authors: Perrolas Gonçalo , Niknejad Milad , Ribeiro Ricardo , Bernardino Alexandre
Published: February 2022

Autonomous systems can help firefighting operations by detecting and locating the fire spot from surveillance images and videos. Similar to many other areas of computer vision, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have achieved state-of-the-art results for fire and smoke detection and segmentation. In practice, input images to a CNN are usually downsized to fit into the network to avoid computational complexities and restricted memory problems. Although in many applications downsizing is not an issue, in the early phases of fire ignitions downsizing may eliminate the fire regions since the incident regions are small. In this paper, we propose a novel method to segment fire and smoke regions in high resolution images based on a multi-resolution iterative quad-tree search algorithm , which manages the application of classification and segmentation CNNs to focus the attention on informative parts of the image. The proposed method is more computationally efficient compared to processing the whole high resolution input, and contains parameters that can be tuned based on the needed scale precision. The results show that the proposed method is capable of detecting and segmenting fire and smoke with higher accuracy and is useful for segmenting small regions of incident in high resolution aerial images in a computationally efficient way.
Novel Improved Salp Swarm Algorithm: An Application for Feature Selection
Authors: Zivkovic Miodrag , Stoean Catalin , Chhabra Amit , Budimirovic Nebojsa , Petrovic Aleksandar , Bacanin Nebojsa
Published: February 2022

We live in a period when smart devices gather a large amount of data from a variety of sensors and it is often the case that decisions are taken based on them in a more or less autonomous manner. Still, many of the inputs do not prove to be essential in the decision-making process; hence, it is of utmost importance to find the means of eliminating the noise and concentrating on the most influential attributes. In this sense, we put forward a method based on the swarm intelligence paradigm for extracting the most important features from several datasets. The thematic of this paper is a novel implementation of an algorithm from the swarm intelligence branch of the machine learning domain for improving feature selection. The combination of machine learning with the metaheuristic approaches has recently created a new branch of artificial intelligence called learnheuristics. This approach benefits both from the capability of feature selection to find the solutions that most impact on accuracy and performance, as well as the well known characteristic of swarm intelligence algorithms to efficiently comb through a large search space of solutions. The latter is used as a wrapper method in feature selection and the improvements are significant. In this paper, a modified version of the salp swarm algorithm for feature selection is proposed. This solution is verified by 21 datasets with the classification model of K-nearest neighborhoods. Furthermore, the performance of the algorithm is compared to the best algorithms with the same test setup resulting in better number of features and classification accuracy for the proposed solution. Therefore, the proposed method tackles feature selection and demonstrates its success with many benchmark datasets.
Spatially Balanced Sampling for Validation of GlobeLand30 Using Landscape Pattern-Based Inclusion Probability
Authors: Xie Huan , Wang Fang , Gong Yali , Tong Xiaohua , Jin Yanmin , Zhao Ang , Wei Chao , Zhang Xinyi , Liao Shicheng
Published: February 2022

Global and local land-cover mapping products provide important data on land surface. However, the accuracy of land-cover products is the key issue for their further scientific application. There has been neglect of the relationship between inclusion probability and spatial heterogeneity in traditional spatially balanced sampling. The aim of this paper was to propose an improved spatially balanced sampling method using landscape pattern-based inclusion probability. Compared with other global land-cover datasets, Globeland30 has the advantages of high resolution and high classification accuracy. A two-stage stratified spatially balanced sampling scheme was designed and applied to the regional validation of GlobeLand30 in China. In this paper, the whole area was divided into three parts: the Tibetan Plateau region, the Northwest China region, and the East China region. The results show that 7242 sample points were selected, and the overall accuracy of GlobeLand30-2010 in China was found to be 80.46%, which is close to the third-party assessment accuracy of GlobeLand30. This method improves the representativeness of samples, reduces the classification error of remote sensing, and provides better guidance for biodiversity and sustainable development of environment.
Exploring Digital Literacy Skills in Social Sciences and Humanities Students
Authors: Vodă Ana Iolanda , Cautisanu Cristina , Grădinaru Camelia , Tănăsescu Chris , de Moraes Gustavo Herminio Salati Marcondes
Published: February 2022

Digital literacy is among the mandatory abilities to any higher education level and represents a fundamental ingredient in successful professionalization. Considering the deep penetration of digital technologies in everyday life, digital literacy offers a set of transversal skills that could improve a whole area of activities, from banking operations to civic participation. However, these skills are diverse and vary according to the development of technologies and society. This study fills an important academic gap on digital literacy by placing it in a specific and well-defined context, analyzing different perspectives that involve such learning, such as predictors of digital literacy in different types of students. In addition, research increases its importance as it is being developed during the pandemic, a period characterized by accelerated technological use and sudden changes. This research used a quantitative design based on the answers to a questionnaire conducted from March 2021 to May 2021. From a methodological perspective, we tested several hypotheses using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) within the structural equation model (SEM). The results show that communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical digital skills are more present in the case of students enrolled in social sciences, while other digital skills (i.e., creativity and information) are more prevalent in the case of humanities students. Moreover, the results showed that, except for creativity and problem-solving-related digital skills, all of the digital skills were significantly influenced by students’ different levels of education.
Effective Sustainability Messages Triggering Consumer Emotion and Action: An Application of the Social Cognitive Theory and the Dual-Process Model
Authors: Rakib Mohammad Abu Nasir , Chang Hyo Jung , Jones Robert Paul
Published: February 2022

Communication utilizing proper message framing is a crucial component in the promotion of sustainability and other related activities. Additionally, engaging all stakeholders in sustainable communication and endeavors is proven to be essential to corporate success. This is especially true for textile and apparel retailers, as they strive to gain competitive advantages through the incorporation of sustainability in their communication with their stakeholders. Therefore, promotional activities consisting of different message framing types can be a profitable way to reach, inform, and persuade consumers to engage in sustainable activities and to support corporate sustainability initiatives. Based on two theoretical foundations, the social cognitive theory and the dual-process model, this study investigates how different aspects of sustainability and message framing can persuade textile and apparel consumers to engage in sustainable behavior. The findings of this study demonstrated that each message framing type significantly influences the consumers’ emotion. Further, when the textile and apparel consumers purchase sustainable products, as a result of conscious decision-making or without much thought put into the buying decision, the act of buying sustainable products per se compels the consumers to make sustainable choices in the future.
Ecological Transition in the Field of Brake Pad Manufacturing: An Overview of the Potential Green Constituents
Authors: Gautier di Confiengo Giovanna , Faga Maria Giulia
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, the drive for green products has undergone a rapid increase following the global ecoawareness and the severe regulations aimed at preventing the environment from further damage. The use of ecosafe constituents in materials for harsh applications, such as brake pad systems, can be a possible solution for reducing health hazards arising from particle release during braking. Based on this, the present study provides a bibliographic review of green alternative constituents for friction material formulation, focusing the attention on their influence on the tribological properties of the final composites. The traditional materials still used in commercial brake pads are shortly described, with the aim to provide an overview of the current situation. In the final part of the review, following the trend of circular economy, works dealing with the use of waste as an ingredient of friction materials are also reported. The whole literature screening points out that much work is still required to obtain completely green friction materials. Indeed, few works dealing with the phenolic resin replacement, proposing inorganic ecosafe materials such as geopolymers, are present. On the contrary, the use of natural fibers is widely investigated: palm kernel, flax, agave and aloe can be identified as promising constituents based on the literature results and the generated patents.
Project Governance and Project Performance: The Moderating Role of Top Management Support
Authors: Fareed Muhammad Zeeshan , Su Qin
Published: February 2022

Project governance (PG) has been primarily acknowledged as critical by researchers and practitioners in regard to successfully executing projects. However, project governance of public projects has received less attention from researchers. Therefore, in this study, we studied the effects of project governance and top management support (TMS) on project performance (PP) and their interactions in public sector projects. Using the lens of resource dependence theory (RDT), we hypothesize whether TMS moderates the impact of PG on PP. A quantitative deductive approach was employed to examine this relationship. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 346 project managers, team members, and stakeholders. Our results indicated that PG and TMS are positively significantly correlated with project performance. Moreover, we found that TMS acts as a quasi-moderator in the relationship between PG and PP.
The Role of Environment, Business and Human Behavior towards Entrepreneurial Sustainability
Authors: Abdelwahed Nadia A. Abdelmegeed , Soomro Bahadur Ali , Shah Naimatullah
Published: February 2022

The current paper investigates the factors, i.e., environmental, business, behavioral, and human relations, that promote entrepreneurial sustainability of SMEs in Pakistan. The study employs the quantitative approach, which utilizes the cross-sectional data of 347 entrepreneurs of the SMEs sector of Pakistan. The data study applies a survey questionnaire to collect the data. The random technique is employed to target the respondents. By employing the structural equation model (SEM), the study finds a positive and significant impact of environment/surroundings, business, behavior, and human-related factors on entrepreneurial sustainability. In a simple sense, all the hypotheses are accepted. The study’s findings would encourage practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to hunt the patterns of social, behavioral, economic, human, and environmental contributions to promote entrepreneurial activity. Further, the study would provide an optimal solution to utilize these factors for bringing sustainable development SMEs.
The Sustainable Care Model for an Ageing Population in Vietnam: Evidence from a Systematic Review
Authors: Nguyen Loi Tan , Nantharath Phouthakannha , Kang Eungoo
Published: February 2022

Social demographic studies in Vietnam have shown a growing trend of an ageing population. Demographic trends project that one third of the Vietnamese population will be aged 65 years and older by 2050. Vietnam is a country where the majority of the elderly live with their children, with little savings and pension. The purpose of this review was to explore existing literature on models of care for an ageing population and provide evidence to develop a care model that is suitable for the ageing community in Vietnam. A systematic review utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was carried out. An extensive literature search was performed, with a focus on articles and other materials with relevance to elderly care in Vietnam in terms of socio-economic, demographic, and associated factors based on comprehensive data sources. The review found that there is a lack of evidence of professional practice for caring for the aged in Vietnam. There also is a lack of evidence of government support for the limited community initiatives to support the ageing. There exist no community models of care for the ageing population in Vietnam. From a global perspective, there exist alternative models of care options to support the elderly through various care models, such as living in assisted-care facilities, home care, and other assistance. Inter-professional practice care models and health services were found to be essential for an ageing population. There is limited literature specifically for the care of an ageing population in Vietnam. Most of the available literature on care models for the aged is drawn from developed countries. The review offers insights into the development of care models for the elderly in Vietnam, with the need for inter-professional efforts in practice settings to support the ageing Vietnamese population. The reviewed literature agrees on the developing global challenges due to ageing. Despite the existing literature on care models for the ageing, there is a lack evidence-based care models concerning the current and future needs of elderly care in middle- and lower-income economies like Vietnam. More evidence is required to establish evidence for best care models for the elderly in developing economies.
Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency in Different Ecozones of the North China Plain
Authors: Hu Yungang , Li Guangchao , Chen Wei
Published: February 2022

Water use efficiency (WUE), as an environmental factor of metabolism in different ecosystem functional areas, is a key indicator of the ecosystem carbon-water cycle. WUE is defined as the ratio of carbon absorbed by ecosystems to water evaporated. Exploring the spatiotemporal variation in carbon and water cycles in different ecological zones of the North China Plain and their driving factors is important for the ecological management and sustainable development of the different ecological zones in the North China Plain. Based on remote sensing data products, this paper studies the spatiotemporal variations of WUE and their driving factors in different ecological functional areas of the North China Plain from 2001 to 2017. This study found that: (1) The spatial distribution of WUE and gross primary production (GPP) in the North China Plain is similar, with the multiyear average of WUE at 0.74 g C m−2 y−1. The variation trend of WUE is mainly affected by the variation trend of GPP (44.38% of the area of the North China Plain). (2) The change trend of WUE mainly showed a mild decrease and a mild increase, accounting for 73.22% of the area of the North China Plain; the area with medium-low fluctuation of WUE accounted for the largest proportion, accounting for 59.90% of the area of the North China Plain. In addition, the multiyear average values of WUE in the ecological functional area are Qin Ling Mountains deciduous forests > Central China loess plateau mixed forests > Mongolian-Manchurian grassland > Ordos Plateau steppe > Changjiang Plain evergreen forests > Huang He Plain mixed forests > Bohai Sea saline meadow, in the order from high to low. (3) The influence of precipitation on WUE was higher than that of temperature. The area of WUE that increased with the increase of precipitation accounted for 23.74% of the area of the North China Plain and was mainly distributed in the Qin Ling Mountains deciduous forests, Changjiang Plain evergreen forests, and Huang He Plain mixed forests’ ecological functional areas. The results of the study can provide a reference and theoretical basis for the conservation and management of carbon and water cycles in the functional areas of North China’s ecosystems.
Prediction of Post-Yield Strain from Loading and Unloading Phases of Pressuremeter, Triaxial, and Consolidation Test Curves for Sustainable Embankment Design
Authors: Khan Ammad Hassan , Rehman Zia ur , Abbass Wasim , Masoud Zubair , Mohamed Abdeliazim Mustafa , Fathi Dina Mohamed , Aziz Mubashir , Abbas Safeer
Published: February 2022

Exponential development of post-yield strain (Ԑpost) is a pivotal indicator of failure in embankments constructed on soft saturated clays. This paper characterizes saturated clay stratum comprising very soft to very stiff stratigraphy, with plasticity index (PI) ranging from 19% to 31%, by performing widely used geotechnical engineering tests, i.e., the prebored pressuremeter (PMT) test, the triaxial (TXL) test, and constant-rate-of-strain (CRS) consolidation. PMT, TXL, and CRS tests were performed at a strain rate range of 0.18%/min to 0.21%/min to explore the yield stress (σ′y), the pre-yield strain (Ԑpre), and the post-yield strain (Ԑpost). Results indicate that Ԑpost/Ԑpre for PMT, TXL, and CRS stress–strain curves range from 2.7 to 19 in the loading phase and 2 to 21 in the unloading phase. An exponential increase in Ԑpost/Ԑpre is observed in the range of 10 to 21 for very soft to soft clay which is congruent with the realistic sustainable range of 4 to 30 for embankment failure on soft clays worldwide. The evaluated Ԑpost/Ԑpre can be applied for sustainable prediction of post-failure evolution of strains in embankments on soft clays. Simplistic correlations are developed for approximation and prediction of Ԑpost as a function of σ′y, Ԑpre and maximum applied pressure (Pmax) for loading and unloading phases with reasonable accuracy. The intuitive zone of critical ℇpost is quantified for impending failure in embankments for maximum applied pressure (Pmax), ranging from 36 kPa to 100 kPa for very soft to soft clay for use in sustainable embankment design and construction. Variation in predicted versus measured results of an individual site is observed to be within ±10% of line of equality.
Two New Organic Co-Crystals Based on Acetamidophenol Molecules
Authors: Andrusenko Iryna , Hitchen Joseph , Mugnaioli Enrico , Potticary Jason , Hall Simon R. , Gemmi Mauro
Published: February 2022

Herein we present two new organic co-crystals obtained through a simple solution growth process based on an acetamidophenol molecule, either paracetamol or metacetamol, and on 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). These co-crystals are part of a family of potential organic charge transfer complexes, where the acetamidophenol molecule behaves as an electron donor and TCNQ behaves as an electron acceptor. Due to the sub-micron size of the crystalline domains, 3D electron diffraction was employed for the structure characterization of both systems. Paracetamol-TCNQ structure was solved by standard direct methods, while the analysis of metacetamol-TCNQ was complicated by the low resolution of the available diffraction data and by the low symmetry of the system. The structure determination of metacetamol-TCNQ was eventually achieved after merging two data sets and combining direct methods with simulated annealing. Our study reveals that both paracetamol-TCNQ and metacetamol-TCNQ systems crystallize in a 1:1 stoichiometry, assembling in a mixed-stack configuration and adopting a non-centrosymmetric P1 symmetry. It appears that paracetamol and metacetamol do not form a strong structural scaffold based on hydrogen bonding, as previously observed for orthocetamol-TCNQ and orthocetamol-TCNB (1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene) co-crystals.
A Single Mutation at Position 120 in the Envelope Protein Attenuates Tembusu Virus in Ducks
Authors: Yan Dawei , Wang Binbin , Shi Ying , Ni Xintao , Wu Xiaogang , Li Xuesong , Liu Xingpo , Wang Haiwang , Su Xin , Teng Qiaoyang , Yang Jianmei , Liu Qinfang , Li Zejun
Published: February 2022

A live attenuated duck Tembusu virus (TMUV) vaccine FX2010-180P (180P) was successfully utilized to prevent TMUV infections in ducks in China. Compared with wild-type TMUV, 180P was highly attenuated and lost transmissibility in ducks. However, the mechanism of the attenuation of 180P remains poorly understood. To explore the key molecular basis of attenuation, chimeric and site mutant viruses in the background of the wild-type TMUV-FX2010 (FX) strain were rescued, and the replication, tissue tropism, and transmissibility were characterized in ducks. The results show that the envelope (E) protein was responsible for attenuation and loss of transmission in ducks. Further studies showed that a D120N amino acid mutation located in domain II of the E protein was responsible for the attenuation and transmissibility loss of 180P in ducks. The D120N substitution resulted in an extra high-mannose type N-linked glycosylation (NLG) in the E protein of 180P compared with the wild-type TMUV, which might restrict the tissue tropism and transmissibility of TMUV in ducks. Our findings elucidate that N120 in the E protein is a key molecular basis of TMUV attenuation in ducks and provide new insight into the role of NLG in TMUV tissue tropism and transmissibility.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors May Increase While Active Vitamin D May Decrease the Risk of Severe Pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis
Authors: Tylicki Piotr , Polewska Karolina , Och Aleksander , Susmarska Anna , Puchalska-Reglińska Ewelina , Parczewska Aleksandra , Biedunkiewicz Bogdan , Szabat Krzysztof , Renke Marcin , Tylicki Leszek , Dębska-Ślizień Alicja
Published: February 2022

The group most at risk of death due to COVID-19 are patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). The study aims to describe the clinical course of the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and find predictors of the development of COVID-19 severe pneumonia in this population. This is a case series of HD nonvaccinated patients with COVID-19 stratified into mild pneumonia and severe pneumonia group according to the chest computed tomography (CT) pneumonia total severity score (TSS) on admission. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained from hospital records. 85 HD patients with a mean age of 69.74 (13.19) years and dialysis vintage of 38 (14–84) months were included. On admission, 29.14% of patients had no symptoms, 70.59% reported fatigue followed by fever—44.71%, shortness of breath—40.0%, and cough—30.59%. 20% of the patients had finger oxygen saturation less than 90%. In 28.81% of patients, pulmonary parenchyma was involved in at least 25%. The factors associated with severe pneumonia include fever, low oxygen saturation and arterial partial pressure of oxygen, increased C-reactive protein and ferritin serum levels, low blood count of lymphocytes as well as chronic treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; while the chronic active vitamin D treatment was associated with mild pneumonia. In conclusion, even though nearly one-third of the patients were completely asymptomatic, while the remaining usually reported only single symptoms, a large percentage of them had extensive inflammatory changes at diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We identified potential predictors of severe pneumonia, which might help individualize pharmacological treatment and improve clinical outcomes.
Highly Pathogenic PRRSV-Infected Alveolar Macrophages Impair the Function of Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Sun Weifeng , Wu Weixin , Jiang Nan , Ge Xinna , Zhang Yongning , Han Jun , Guo Xin , Zhou Lei , Yang Hanchun
Published: February 2022

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), especially the highly pathogenic strains, can cause serious acute lung injury (ALI), characterized by extensive hemorrhage, inflammatory cells and serous fluid infiltration in the lung vascular system. Meanwhile, the pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) are essential for forming the air–blood barrier and keeping the water–salt balance to prevent leakage of circulating nutrients, solutes, and fluid into the underlying tissues. As well, they tightly regulate the influx of immune cells. To determine the possible relationship between the PMVECs’ function changes and lung vascular permeability during PRRSV infection, the PMVECs were co-cultured with HP-PRRSV-inoculated primary pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in transwell model, and then the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and comprehensive bioinformatics analysis were carried out to characterize the dynamic transcriptome landscapes of PMVECs. In total, 16,489 annotated genes were identified, with 275 upregulated and 270 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were characterized at both 18 and 24 h post PRRSV inoculation. The GO terms and KEGG pathways analysis indicated that the immune response, metabolic pathways, cell death, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, viral responses, and apoptotic process are significantly regulated upon co-culture with PRRSV-infected PAMs. Moreover, according to the TERR and dextran flux assay results, dysregulation of TJ proteins, including CLDN1, CLDN4, CLDN8, and OCLN, is further confirmed to correlate with the increased permeability of PMVECs. These transcriptome profiles and DEGs will provide valuable clues for further exploring the roles of PMVECs in PRRSV-induced ALI in the future.
Tata Kelola Perusahaan dan Atribut Perusahaan pada Ketepatan Pelaporan Keuangan: Bukti dari Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia
Authors: Pratama Ikbar
Published: February 2022

Timeliness and corporate governance are considered important and important factors that affect the usefulness of information available to external users. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of corporate governance (Size of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee) and company attributes (Company Size) that affect the timeliness of financial reporting of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the Republic of Indonesia. The study applied agency theory and formulated four hypotheses that guided the analysis. The study sample consisted of 225 companies registered with the IDX. To achieve the research objectives, the data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 19. The study found a positive but insignificant relationship between company size and financial reporting punctuality, but a negative relationship between board size, audit committee size and corporate sector with financial reporting punctuality. However, the size of the board of directors is insignificant. The study also recommends measures to improve the timeliness of financial reporting on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
Cultural and Social Capitals for Recovering from Covid-19 Pandemic in Lebakmuncang Tourism Village
Authors: Brilyanti Farida Ayu , Purwanto Tri Joko
Published: February 2022

Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on reducing tourist visit numbers and agricultural products sales in Lebakmuncang Tourism Village, Bandung Regency, West Java. This study aims to identify the cultural capital and social capital that owned by Lebakmuncang Tourism Village people; to find the undeveloped potential in Lebakmuncang Tourism Village management and development; and provide recommendations for optimizing the Lebakmuncang Tourism Village management from Social Capital and Cultural Capital aspects. This study uses a qualitative approach using primary and secondary data. Based on the results, Lebakmuncang Tourism Village people has good cultural and social capital to support the Lebakmuncang Tourism Village development after Covid-19 pandemic.
PANDANGAN MOHAMMAD HATTA MENGENAI DESENTRALISASI DAN KRITIK TERHADAP KLIENTELISME DI INDONESIA
Authors: Assidiqi Farid Luthfi , Kushandajani Kushandajani
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to examine Hatta's thoughts on the urgency of decentralization as well as his criticism of clientelism in Indonesia. This research uses the type of literature study research. The data obtained in this study were analyzed using descriptive discourse analysis methods and critical discourse analysis. The results of this study indicate that Mohammad Hatta prepared for the implementation of decentralization to rely on the autonomy of the Village and District Governments, as well as the implementation of periodic General Elections from the village to the central level. The goal is to organize community participation from the lowest level so that the aspirations of the people can be achieved. This view, both directly, is criticism and suggestion of clientelism that occurs in Indonesia. This practice took place from the beginning of independence until the post-1998 reform era in different ways. Thus, there has been a gap between Hatta's views and hopes for Indonesian democracy with the reality that has occurred in Indonesia's political situation since the beginning of independence until now.
Gerakan Perempuan Subaltern Ekofeminisme dalam Melawan Pembangunan PLTU 2 Indramayu
Authors: Cusdiawan Cusdiawan , Abdoellah Oekan S. , Manan Firman
Published: February 2022

This research examines the struggle of women in rejecting development that is considered damaging to the environment. The problem asked in this study, namely "How is the process of the subaltern ecofeminism women's movement in Indramayu against the construction of PLTU  2 ?". Meanwhile, the purpose of the research is to describe the process of the subaltern ecofeminism women's movement in Indramayu against the construction of PLTU 2. This research was conducted using a qualitative method with a feminist perspective, and took place in Mekarsari Village, Patrol District, Indramayu Regency which became the site of PLTU 2 construction. subaltern groups, because of their position outside of social and political representation, this development will further marginalize them. Therefore, they took the fight in the form of social movements. In this movement, women affirm the spirit of ecofeminism. This article looks at the process of the movement with a social movement integration approach (political opportunity structure, mobilization structure and framing process), so that the factors of political economy structure, mobilization structure and framing are considered an important part of the process of emergence and development of a movement
Status Perkawinan dan Pengeluaran Konsumsi Bukan Pangan bagi Perempuan
Authors: Maheralia Resti , Wisana I Dewa Gede Karma
Published: February 2022

This article aims to analyze the comparison of economic well-being between women experiencing a marital dissolution and married women on non-food consumption expenditures. The research question is focused on a marital dissolution (separated, divorced, or widowed) which always harms women. Some empirical studies find that women with discontinuous marriage (divorced or widowed) have lower economic well-being than married ones. To analyze the aforementioned research question, this article applied income pooling concept and employed fixed effects regression. Data in this study used Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) 2007 and 2014. Results suggested that women experiencing a marital dissolution had a greater expenditure compared to married ones. However, this does not imply that the prior group has better economic well-being than the latter one. The marital dissolution incident causes women to manage a numerousadjustments in overcoming difficulties that arise after such incident. The decomposition of non-food consumption expenditures show that some of the items are used to recover after such incident.
Efektivitas Permainan Puzzle dan Balok terhadap Peningkatan Keterampilan Sosial Emosional Anak Usia Dini di PAUD Mbah Ceria Medan Pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Yusmiati Yusmiati , Surbakti Amanah , Masganti Masganti
Published: February 2022

This study aims to determine the effectiveness and differences of puzzle and block games on improving children's socio-emotional at PAUD Mbah Ceria Medan during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This type of research is a quasi-experimental design using pretest - posttest. The research population was all of Mbah Ceria's PAUD students, totaling 75 children. The sampling technique used purposive sampling with a total sample of 22 children. The data collection method used a child's social emotional checklist sheet with the scale used was the rating scale. Analysis of research data shows that (1) Puzzle games are effective in increasing children's socio-emotional at PAUD Mbah Ceria Medan during the COVID-19 Pandemic with an N-Gain Score of 0.4709; the effective contribution of X1 to Y is 47.1% (2) The game of blocks is effective for improving the social and emotional of children at PAUD Mbah Ceria Medan during the COVID-19 Pandemic with an N – Gain Score of 0.4800; the effective contribution of X2 to Y is 48.0% (3) There is a difference in the effectiveness of Puzzle and Block Games on children's socio-emotional improvement in PAUD Mbah Ceria Medan during the COVID-19 Pandemic, where the difference in the N - Gain Score of Puzzles and Blocks is 0.0091.
Implementasi Metode Value Clarification Technique pada Pembelajaran Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial di Sekolah Dasar
Authors: Isk Wulan Syarifatunnujum , Munastiwi Erni
Published: February 2022

This article aims to find out how to implement the Value Clarification Technique (VCT) learning method in Social Sciences (IPS) learning in elementary schools. The problem is focused on Social Science (IPS) subjects in elementary schools which have various types of material, the material must be delivered by conveying it in an appropriate method so that students understand what is being conveyed. Based on online observations in Wahyu and Nova's research which were analyzed qualitatively, the results showed that learning using audio-visual-assisted Value Clarification Technique (VCT) increased students' motivation in the learning process and learning outcomes. This study uses a meta-analysis method. Meta-analysis is quantitative because it uses numerical calculations and statistics for practical purposes. The instrument in this study used the Human Instrument. Data collection techniques will use documentation techniques. The data analysis technique used is quantitative data analysis with percentages and qualitative data analysis for data from narrative studies of studies found using SPSS 25, namely through the N-Gain Test and Paired Sample T-Test. Of the five journals collected, it turned out that implementing the Value Clarification Technique (VCT) learning method in Social Sciences (IPS) learning gave significant results, increasing from 0.2% to 71.76%.
Penegakan Hukum Tindak Pidana Pencurian Dengan Kekerasan di Wilayah Hukum Polsek Pangkalan Berandan
Authors: Ginting Dediyansyah Putra , Siregar Taufik , Trisna Wessy
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to find out and analyze law enforcement and the obstacles that occur in the criminal act of theft with violence in positive law in the Pangkalan Berandan Police Legal Area. The research method used is normative law and empirical law (combined). The results of the study found that the crime of theft with violence in positive law. Law enforcement against the crime of theft with violence The Pangkalan Brandan Sector Police submit cases of theft with violence against vehicles that occur to law enforcement agencies to be processed in accordance with applicable legal provisions, where penalties or criminal sanctions imposed on perpetrators are expected to provide a deterrent effect to perpetrators in accordance with sentencing purposes. The obstacle factor in law enforcement in the crime of theft through violence is the victim dies, the perpetrator is a minor, the suspect easily escapes, and the perpetrator eliminates evidence.