bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Intention to Use Fitness and Physical Activity Apps: A Systematic Review
Authors: Angosto Salvador , García-Fernández Jerónimo , Valantine Irena , Grimaldi-Puyana Moisés
Published: August 2020

Recently the development of new technologies has produced an increase in the number of studies that try to evaluate consumer behavior towards the use of sports applications. The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review of the literature on the intention to use mobile applications (Apps) related to fitness and physical activity by consumers. This systematic review is a critical evaluation of the evidence from quantitative studies in the field of assessment of consumer behavior towards sport applications. A total of 13 studies are analyzed that propose models for evaluating the intentions to use fitness applications by sport consumers. The results revealed several key conclusions: (a) Technology Acceptance Model is the most widely used model; (b) the relationship between perceived utility and future intentions is the most analyzed; and (c) the most evaluated applications are diet/fitness. These findings could help technology managers to know the most important key elements to take into account in the development of future applications in sport organizations.
Vegetation Changes and Their Response to Global Change Based on NDVI in the Koshi River Basin of Central Himalayas Since 2000
Authors: Wu Xue , Sun Xiaomin , Wang Zhaofeng , Zhang Yili , Liu Qionghuan , Zhang Binghua , Paudel Basanta , Xie Fangdi
Published: August 2020

Vegetation forms a main component of the terrestrial biosphere owing to its crucial role in land cover and climate change, which has been of wide concern for experts and scholars. In this study, we used MODIS (moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer) NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data, land cover data, meteorological data, and DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data to do vegetation change and its relationship with climate change. First, we investigated the spatio-temporal patterns and variations of vegetation activity in the Koshi River Basin (KRB) in the central Himalayas from 2000 to 2018. Then, we combined NDVI change with climate factors using the linear method to examine their relationship, after that we used the literature review method to explore the influence of human activities to vegetation change. At the regional scale, the NDVIGS (Growth season NDVI) significantly increased in the KRB in 2000–2018, with significant greening over croplands in KRB in India. Further, the croplands and forest in the KRB in Nepal were mainly influenced by human interference. For example, improvements in agricultural fertilization and irrigation facilities as well as the success of the community forestry program in the KRB in Nepal increased the NDVIGS of the local forest. Climate also had a certain impact on the increase in NDVIGS. A significant negative correlation was observed between NDVIGS trend and the annual minimum temperature trend (TMN) in the KRB in India, but an insignificant positive correlation was noted between it and the total annual precipitation trend (PRE). NDVIGS significantly decreased over a small area, mainly around Kathmandu, due to urbanization. Increases in NDVIGS in the KRB have thus been mainly affected by human activities, and climate change has helped increase it to a certain extent.
Exploring the Initial Impact of COVID-19 Sentiment on US Stock Market Using Big Data
Authors: Lee Hee Soo
Published: August 2020

This study explores the initial impact of COVID-19 sentiment on US stock market using big data. Using the Daily News Sentiment Index (DNSI) and Google Trends data on coronavirus-related searches, this study investigates the correlation between COVID-19 sentiment and 11 select sector indices of the Unites States (US) stock market over the period from 21st of January 2020 to 20th of May 2020. While extensive research on sentiment analysis for predicting stock market movement use tweeter data, not much has used DNSI or Google Trends data. In addition, this study examines whether changes in DNSI predict US industry returns differently by estimating the time series regression model with excess returns of industry as the dependent variable. The excess returns are obtained from the Fama-French three factor model. The results of this study offer a comprehensive view of the initial impact of COVID-19 sentiment on the US stock market by industry and furthermore suggests the strategic investment planning considering the time lag perspectives by visualizing changes in the correlation level by time lag differences.
Sustainable Perspective of Low-Lime Stabilized Fly Ashes for Geotechnical Applications: PROMETHEE-Based Optimization Approach
Authors: Moghal Arif Ali Baig , Rehman Ateekh Ur , Vydehi K Venkata , Umer Usama
Published: August 2020

In the present scenario of global green environmental and sustainable management, the disposal of large volumes of coal-based ashes (fly ashes) generate significant environmental stress. The aim is to exploit these fly ashes for bulk civil engineering applications to solve societal-environmental issues employing sustainable measures. In this study, the addition of lime and/or gypsum in improving the geotechnical properties (hydraulic conductivity, compressibility, unconfined compression strength, lime leachability, and California bearing ratio) of fly ashes was investigated. To assist the practicing engineers in selecting the right mix of lime and/or gypsum for a given amount of fly ash for a specific application, a multi-criteria approach was adopted. The possible alternatives investigated included untreated fly ash, fly ash treated with lime (1%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10%), and a variation in gypsum dosage (1% or 2.5%) in the presence of lime. Sensitivity analysis was performed to recognize and resolve the conflicting advantages and disadvantages when mixing lime and gypsum. The study revealed that to derive the potential benefits of fly ash, it is essential to combine the lime dosage with gypsum for pavement and liner applications where bulk quantities of fly ash are employed.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Water Stable Isotope Compositions in Nujiang Headwaters, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wu Hongbao , Wang Xuexia , Shui Hongwei , Ganjurjav Hasbagan , Hu Guozheng , Lin Quanhong , Qin Xiaobo , Gao Qingzhu
Published: August 2020

The variations of the stable isotope compositions in water provide critical information on hydroclimatic mechanisms. The climatological and hydrological processes in the Nujiang headwaters in the central Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are extremely complex and are controlled by alternating continental/local recycled and maritime moisture. However, previous studies have only derived limited data from different types of water in the Nujiang headwaters. Therefore, aiming to understand the sources of stable oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δ2H) isotopes’ compositional variability and how these are related to hydroclimatic processes, we measured δ18O and δ2H values from surface waters, snow and precipitation across the Nujiang headwaters from April to September 2018. We found higher δ18O (−13.7‰), δ2H (−101.8‰) and deuterium excess (d-excess; 7.6‰) values in the non-monsoon season and lower values in the summer monsoon season. Our findings indicated that the δ18O and δ2H compositions were significantly affected by different moisture sources in this region. The slope (6.66) and intercept (−14.90) of the surface water line (SWL: δ2H = 6.66 δ18O − 14.90, R2 = 0.98) were lower than those of the local meteoric water line (LMWL: δ2H = 9.50 δ18O + 41.80, R2 = 0.99) and global meteoric water line (GMWL), indicating that precipitation was the primary water vapor source for surface water, and evaporation was the dominant hydrological process for the Nujiang headwaters. In general, δ18O and δ2H tended to be negatively correlated with precipitation and air temperature. In addition, δ18O and δ2H values in the Nagqu River were inversely correlated with the intensity of discharge, highlighting a precipitation-driven isotope-discharge pattern. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the hydroclimatic mechanisms occurring in the Nujiang headwaters and further augment our understanding of the southern–middle–northern hydroclimate in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.
Evaluation of the Effects of Forest on Slope Stability and Its Implications for Forest Management: A Case Study of Bailong River Basin, China
Authors: Wang Siyuan , Zhao Minmin , Meng Xingmin , Chen Guan , Zeng Runqiang , Yang Qiang , Liu Yi , Wang Biao
Published: August 2020

Previous studies have shown that the mechanical effects of vegetation roots on slope stability can be classified as additional cohesion effects and anchorage effects. The present study investigated the combined mechanical effects (additional cohesion effects and anchorage effects) of vegetation on a slope with coarse-grained soil in the mountainous region (significantly prone to slope failure) of Gansu Province, China. A detailed survey of tree density, root system morphology and slope profiles was conducted, and we also assessed the soil cohesion provided by the root systems of monospecific stands of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in different locations on the slope. The measured data were incorporated into a numerical slope model to calculate the stability of the slope under the influence of trees. The results indicated that it was necessary to consider the anchoring effect of coarse roots when estimating the mechanical effects of trees on slope stability. In particular, the FoS (factor of safety) of the slope was increased by the presence of trees. The results also demonstrated that vegetation increased slope stability. The reinforcing effects were most significant when the trees were planted along the entire slope. Although the reinforcing effects contributed by trees were limited (only 4–11%), they were essential for making optimal use of vegetation for enhancing slope stability. Overall, vegetation development can make a major contribution to ecosystem restoration in the study region.
Intensification: A Key Strategy to Achieve Great Animal and Environmental Beef Cattle Production Sustainability in Brachiaria Grasslands
Authors: Cardoso Abmael da Silva , Barbero Rondineli Pavezzi , Romanzini Eliéder Prates , Teobaldo Ronyatta Weich , Ongaratto Fernando , Fernandes Marcia Helena Machado da Rocha , Ruggieri Ana Cláudia , Reis Ricardo Andrade
Published: August 2020

Intensification of tropical grassland can be a strategy to increase beef production, but methods for achieving this should maintain or reduce its environmental impact and should not compromise future food-producing capacity. The objective of this review was to discuss the aspects of grassland management, animal supplementation, the environment, and the socioeconomics of grassland intensification. Reducing environmental impact in the form of, for example, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is particularly important in Brazil, which is the second-largest beef producer in the world. Most Brazilian pastures, however, are degraded, representing a considerable opportunity for the mitigation and increase of beef-cattle production, and consequently increasing global protein supply. Moreover, in Brazil, forage production is necessary for seasonal feeding strategies that maintain animal performance during periods of forage scarcity. There are many options to achieve this objective that can be adopted alone or in association. These options include improving grassland management, pasture fertilization, and animal supplementation. Improving grazing management has the potential to mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of the intensity of CO2 emissions, as well as the preservation of natural areas by reducing the need for expanding pastureland. Limitations to farmers adopting intensification strategies include cultural aspects and the lack of financial resources and technical assistance.
The Role of Social Media in Health Safety Evaluation of a Tourism Destination throughout the Travel Planning Process
Authors: Țuclea Claudia-Elena , Vrânceanu Diana-Maria , Năstase Carmen-Eugenia
Published: August 2020

This research aims at identifying the role of social media in evaluating the attractiveness of a tourism destination, with special emphasis on the health safety of the destination. Consistent with this objective, a survey has been carried out on a sample of 675 Romanian social media users. The research results led to the development of a model based on structural equation modeling. The model includes nine latent variables that were structured taking into account different behavioral aspects related to the role social media has in travel planning, as well as for evaluating the health safety of a tourism destination. The main findings suggest that the trust in social media for tourism information made people become more interested in communicating through this means and to consider it more useful throughout the travel planning process. When choosing a travel destination, the more involved a tourist is in the decision making process, the greater the attention they pay to social media. The perceived usefulness of social media in travel planning has a significant influence on intentions to choose a tourism destination. As the importance assigned to the health safety of tourism destination increases, social media plays a more active role in travel by creating trust in this means in order to obtain sanitary safety information. People that intend to use social media for finding information on the health safety of a tourism destination are more likely to choose that destination for their vacation. The managerial implications of this paper regard the communication strategies adopted by tourism services suppliers or by some public authorities aimed at stimulating an efficient usage of social media so as to increase the buying intentions for tourism destinations.
Use of Recycled Aggregates Made from Construction and Demolition Waste in Sustainable Road Base Layers
Authors: Teijón-López-Zuazo Evelio , Vega-Zamanillo Ángel , Calzada-Pérez Miguel Ángel , Robles-Miguel Ángel
Published: August 2020

Research has been carried out on recycled aggregates from the exclusive crushing of structural concrete waste (CDWRCon) and mixed ceramic materials (CDWRCer) in selective demolitions. This study analyses the use of these recycled aggregates as wet mix macadam (GARCon, GARCer) and in cement soil (CSRCon, CSRCer). The materials comply with the requirements of a road base; although, due to the low values of resistance to fragmentation, these materials are adequate for use in sensitive road systems and other places, such as urban roads and car parks, that have a low intensity of heavy traffic. As soluble salt contents were detected, additional waterproofing or drainage measures must be adopted to prevent water infiltration into the layers made up of CDWRCon or CDWRCer. Finally, the high initial values of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) allow the temporary passage of light vehicles over CSRCon or CSRCer after three days.
What is a Green Economy? Review of National-Level Green Economy Policies in Cambodia and Lao PDR
Authors: Vuola Marketta , Korkeakoski Mika , Vähäkari Noora , Dwyer Michael B. , Hogarth Nicholas J. , Kaivo-oja Jari , Luukkanen Jyrki , Chea Eliyan , Thuon Try , Phonhalath Keophousone
Published: August 2020

A green economy that simultaneously promotes environmental sustainability, social inclusiveness, and economic growth is expected to benefit the heavily resource-dependent least developed countries. Yet, internationally, there is very little empirically based research on how the “green development” agenda translates into natural resource management policies in the least developed countries. This paper examines the implementation of green economy policies at the national level in the energy and forestry sectors in the Lao PDR and Cambodia. Both countries have adopted green growth targets; however, in terms of natural resources management, two contradictory processes have taken place during the past decade. While there have been some initiatives to decentralize natural resource management by enhancing the role of local communities role, such as community-based forest or fishery management, the far greater trend has been the opening up of the economies of the Lao PDR and Cambodia to large-scale investments by multinational enterprises. Large-scale hydropower projects and increasing deforestation pose challenges to more sustainable natural resource management efforts. This article is based on an analysis of the national green economy strategies and expert interviews with the government, academia, private sector and international and national development organizations. Focusing on the energy and forestry sectors, but also analysing the national green economy strategies as a whole, our analysis sheds light on the choices made in the national development versus green economy strategies. While green economy thinking rests on strong state regulation, the policies are often formulated within a complex dynamic of donor and investor interests. The achievement of a green economy depends on the state; thus, it should steer investments to ecologically less harmful industries and ensure social inclusiveness in land-use decisions. Our results show, however, that implementing a green economy is far more complex. Despite the quest for synergies, at the sectoral level there are still many unaddressed trade-offs between, for example, energy sources and forms of land use.
A Multi-Objective Model for Sustainable Perishable Food Distribution Considering the Impact of Temperature on Vehicle Emissions and Product Shelf Life
Authors: Gharehyakheh Amin , Krejci Caroline C. , Cantu Jaime , Rogers K. Jamie
Published: August 2020

The food distribution process is responsible for significant quality loss in perishable products. However, preserving quality is costly and consumes a tremendous amount of energy. To tackle the challenge of minimizing transportation costs and CO2 emissions while also maximizing product freshness, a novel multi-objective model is proposed. The model integrates a vehicle routing problem with temperature, shelf life, and energy consumption prediction models, thereby enhancing its accuracy. Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is adapted to solve the proposed model for the set of Solomon test data. The conflicting nature of these objectives and the sensitivity of the model to shelf life and shipping container temperature settings are analyzed. The results show that optimizing freshness objective degrade the cost and the emission objectives, and the distribution of perishable foods are sensible to the shelf life of the perishable foods and temperature settings inside the container.
Social Life Cycle Assessment of Product Value Chains Under a Circular Economy Approach: A Case Study in the Plastic Packaging Sector
Authors: Reinales Diana , Zambrana-Vasquez David , Saez-De-Guinoa Aitana
Published: August 2020

Environmental and economic impact assessment of products have a long record, while social performance analysis of products have less references in the scientific literature due its particularities and the adaptations needed for the features of the studied subject. In addition, there is a lack of a methodological framework of its application in the analysis of value chains, with the aim of estimating the impacts of technical innovations from the social point of view. This paper describes the theoretical framework and impact assessment approach for the Social Life Cycle Assessment of product value chains under a circular economy approach by applying a scoring system in different subcategories and indicators, considering the plastic packaging sector as a case study. Twelve subcategories have been chosen, because of their relevance to the case study, related to the impacts on the labor conditions, consumers’ well-being, end-of-life of the product, local community conditions, technology and suppliers, among others. The validation of the methodology in the plastic packaging sector is done by considering the main stakeholders involved in the value chain and the particularities of the sector.
Using Wastes from the Process of Blasting with Steel Shot to Make a Radiation Shield in Mortar
Authors: Lermen Richard Thomas , Prauchner Márcio Baldissera , Silva Rodrigo de Almeida , Bonsembiante Francieli Tiecher
Published: August 2020

The waste generated from the process of steel shot blasting must be safely disposed of due to its classification, non-hazardous and non-inert, and, consequently, is sent to landfills. One of the possibilities for reusing this waste is in the cement materials industry. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of waste from steel shot blasting, thereby replacing natural sand, for the manufacture of cementitious material with properties that shield against ionizing radiation. Three forms of steel shot (commercial steel shot—AG1, intermediate steel shot waste—AG2, and steel shot dust—AG3) were used to replace natural sand in different proportions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by volume). Compressive strength results were found with values above the minimum compressive strength (20 MPa) requirement of structural concrete. The results indicated that AG1, AG2, and AG3 can be used to attenuate X-ray radiation. Regarding the reference samples (mortar developed without natural sand replacement), an increase in X-ray shielding of 76.7%, 72.5%, and 59.3% was found for samples with AG1, AG2, and AG3, respectively. Therefore, the waste generated in the steel shot blasting process had the potential to be used in mortar developed to attenuate X-ray radiation.
Exploring Mission-Oriented Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability: Towards a Literature-Based Typology
Authors: Jütting Malte
Published: August 2020

With mounting sustainability challenges, policy makers have embraced the idea of transformative, mission-oriented innovation policies, to direct innovation objectives towards the ‘grand challenges’ in recent years. Against this backdrop, the discourse on innovation ecosystems, bringing together actors from science, industry, government and civil society for collaborative research and innovation, has increasingly gained traction. Yet, their role and architectural set-up in a sustainability context remains rather poorly understood. Complementing a systematic literature review with methods of bibliometric analysis and typology building, this paper introduces a typology of mission-oriented innovation ecosystems. It finds that, depending on the type of mission they are trying to address, ecosystems differ, with both a view to the actors involved, and the specific role taken on by them throughout the innovation process. In particular, it points to an increasingly important role of the state for realizing system-level transformations, underlines the importance of civil society involvement, and highlights research organizations’ need to adapt to new requirements.
Sustainability in Community Building: Framing Design Thinking Using a Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective
Authors: Shen Tao , Gao Chan
Published: August 2020

Complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory is acquiring mainstream recognition in sustainable community building. In this paper, we bring the applicability of CAS theory into sharper focus, highlighting its potential for integrating complexity and adaptivity of community into a structured body of knowledge while also providing a thought pattern for generating, implementing and validating new design ideas. Therefore, this paper aims to propose a framework of design thinking that uses a CAS perspective to aid designers in conceiving new community building design ideas efficiently. Next, this paper presents the results of a cognitive design experiment where functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and extended protocol analysis methods were combined to examine the validities of the proposed design thinking framework in community building. The results show that the Agent-Interaction-Adaptation (AIA) design thinking framework has the ability to promote designers’ extension of idea space, brain activation and idea quality in contrast to a traditional design thinking framework, but it did not significantly increase the designers’ idea quantity.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Forces of Ecosystem Changes: A Case Study of the National Barrier Zone, China
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Li Yuehao , Chu Bingyang , Liu Shirong , Yang Dan , Luan Junwei
Published: August 2020

It is of great significance to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the ecosystem and explore the driving forces that affect change in the ecosystem in the National Barrier Zone (NBZ). Based on multi-source remote sensing data, this paper analyzed the change in the ecosystem in the NBZ from 2000 to 2015. Natural and social economic factors were selected as the driving factors, and the change mechanism of the ecological system in the NBZ area was analyzed by means of redundancy analysis and other methods. The results showed the following: (1) Between 2000 and 2015, the ecosystem changes in the NBZ are obvious. It is important to note that the grassland and urban ecosystem increased by 13,952 and 6720 km2, respectively; at the same time, the desert ecosystem significantly decreased by 4544 km2. (2) The human activity represented by gross domestic product (GDP) is the main factor in the change of ecosystem change in the NBZ with a contribution of 75%, especially in the ecological barrier of the Sichuan–Yunnan–Loess plateau with a GDP contribution rate of 83%. (3) The changes in the ecosystems are significantly influenced by multifactorial interactions, such as the joint contribution rate of the drought index (PDSI) and GDP reaching 0.11 in the ecological barrier of Qinghai–Tibet plateau. (4) The ecological protection projects, such as the Green for Grain Project in the NBZ, play a positive role, and the ecological environment is improving. The conclusions of this paper will be used as a basic theory to contribute to subsequent research on ecosystem services, policy making, and other aspects in the NBZ.
The Economic Impact of a New Type of Ripening Chamber in Traditional Cheese Manufacturing
Authors: Teixeira Nuno , Pires Maria Clara , Ferreira Paulo , P. Carvalho Graça , Santos Rute , M. Rodrigues Francisco , Dias João , Martins João C. , Caeiro José Jasnau
Published: August 2020

A new prototype of a ripening chamber was proposed in the CFD4CHEESE project aiming to evaluate the application of computational fluid dynamics in the optimization of traditional cheeses ripening conditions. With the purpose of evaluating the possible impact on the energy cost of cheese ripening in three Portuguese regions (Setúbal, Évora, and Beja), we demonstrated the potential economic benefits of the prototype. The proposed automation process would imply higher productive efficiency, reducing the consumption of water and electricity. The simple consideration of the reduction of electricity costs is enough to recover the investment needed to have the new ripening chambers, meaning that the investment is economically viable. In addition to the economic impact in firms, which are mostly small and medium firms, our results also contribute to an increase on the sustainable use of natural resources.
Application of the Integrated Design Process (IDP) Method to the Design of Riverside on the Example of Żmigród (Poland)
Authors: Bocheńska-Skałecka Anna , Walter Ewa
Published: August 2020

Today, natural resources of urban areas have been given the rank of a necessary tool for combating climate change. Many cities are trying to manage biologically active areas of great quality by applying a blue-green infrastructure (BGI) strategy. Designing areas such as riverside areas belonging to BGI is particularly challenging. On the one hand, they are environmentally valuable areas requiring protection. On the other hand, they form urban public spaces subject to requirements of urban continuity as well as social and cultural conditions. The authors of the article argue that the optimal way of shaping riverside areas in cities that responds to diverse conditions (environmental, economic, legal, social) can be achieved by applying an integrated system of cooperation between designers known as the integrated design process (IDP) in the design process. The study aimed to answer the question of whether the integrated design process (IDP) that combines both the expert and social approach at the first stage, in the pre-concept phase may be optimal when developing riverside areas as part of blue-green infrastructure (BGI). The method was originally applied to architectural design, therefore the authors analyzed to what extent its assumptions may be used in the waterfront design process. First, the authors’ study compares design processes (traditional and integrated) for use in these processes of expert and social perspective. As a result, the integrated design process (IDP) has been considered as an optimal design process to create such areas. Then, the authors analyze the waterfront design process in Żmigród. The authors wanted to see to what extent the process corresponds to the assumptions of the IDP method. The authors point out the stages that implement assumptions of the IDP method partially or not at all and indicate the reasons for such a situation. The authors evaluated the role of various stakeholders. The analysis and critique of Żmigród case study presented here provide conclusions regarding the possibilities and limitations of the IDP method when implementing blue-green infrastructure projects in a small town.
Municipal Health Promotion as Part of Urban Health: A Policy Framework for Action
Authors: Quilling Eike , Babitsch Birgit , Dadaczynski Kevin , Kruse Stefanie , Kuchler Maja , Köckler Heike , Leimann Janna , Walter Ulla , Plantz Christina
Published: August 2020

The link between health, socio-economic status and the living environment is increasingly moving into the focus of public health research and policy. The aim of the European Union’s Project “Joint Action Health Equity Europe (JAHEE)” is to enable countries to identify and implement needs-based measures to promote health equity. In one of JAHEE’s work packages, focusing on healthy living environments as a strategy to tackle health inequities, a Policy Framework for Action (PFA) has been developed. This article gives an insight into the core contents of the PFA, which are valid beyond the project boundaries for all actors that work at the intersection of community health promotion. The PFA was developed as a consensus document in a participatory process between the members of the work package and an interdisciplinary German team of public health experts. Results from project meetings of the partner countries as well as research findings and recommendations from field experts were incorporated. Reducing health inequalities in public health is a cross-sectional issue that needs to be addressed across all policy areas. The municipality setting is of particular importance in this context, as it offers many starting points and can coordinate between all relevant actors with an overarching strategy.
Rural Sustainable Environmental Management
Authors: An Chunjiang , Cai Mengfan , Guy Christophe
Published: August 2020

Rural environmental protection has received increasing attention in recent years. The economic development and population growth of rural areas results in many problems, such as environmental pollution, land degradation, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, income loss, and public health risks. Although much progress has been made, many major challenges to rural environmental management remain to be addressed. The question of how to deal with these problems through sustainable approaches has become an urgent issue in rural areas. This Special Issue, “Rural Sustainable Environmental Management”, was dedicated to the perception of rural, sustainable environmental management based on the integration of economic, environmental, and social considerations. The Special Issue covered the topics about the rural land management and planning, sustainable rural water resources management, integrated simulation and optimization, rural environmental risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, rural water and wastewater treatment, rural environmental policy analysis, rural ecosystem protection and biodiversity recovery, and the characterization of emerging rural environmental problems and related solutions. A total of 24 high-quality papers were accepted after strict and rigorous review. These accepted papers focused on various perspectives of rural sustainable environmental management.
Preliminary Design and Cross-Sectional Form Study of Closed-Type Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Support for Traffic Tunnel
Authors: Li Lei , Lei Ke
Published: August 2020

In view of the structural form and common construction methods of traffic tunnels, the bearing performance of the closed-type CFST support designed for traffic tunnels is studied. The closed-type CFST support, which consist of a CFST girder with external shotcrete, is improved from the CFST support used in mine roadways. The reasonable cross-sectional form of closed-type CFST support is analyzed by the FEM. The closed-type CFST support is mainly composed of CFST arches, a shotcrete layer, sleeves, and blind flanges. The post-buckling analysis of the closed-type CFST circular arch members using circular-shaped, rectangular-shaped, triangular-shaped, and trapezoidal-shaped steel tubes is implemented. The result shows that the closed-type CFST support has better performance than the traditional tunnel support. The study also found that for closed-type CFST support, the triangular-shaped steel tube section has the highest bearing capacity, stiffness, and steel utilization rate, which is the preferred cross-sectional form. The bearing capacity of the circular-shaped steel tube section is acceptable. Moreover, the circular-shaped steel tubes are more convenient to obtain and process, so it is also an optional cross-sectional form. The square-shaped and trapezoidal-shaped steel tube sections have neither performance advantages nor economic efficiency, so these two forms are not recommended.
The Generalized Trust-Region Sub-Problem with Additional Linear Inequality Constraints—Two Convex Quadratic Relaxations and Strong Duality
Authors: Almaadeed Temadher A. , Taati Akram , Salahi Maziar , Hamdi Abdelouahed
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we study the problem of minimizing a general quadratic function subject to a quadratic inequality constraint with a fixed number of additional linear inequality constraints. Under a regularity condition, we first introduce two convex quadratic relaxations (CQRs), under two different conditions, that are minimizing a linear objective function over two convex quadratic constraints with additional linear inequality constraints. Then, we discuss cases where the CQRs return the optimal solution of the problem, revealing new conditions under which the underlying problem admits strong Lagrangian duality and enjoys exact semidefinite optimization relaxation. Finally, under the given sufficient conditions, we present necessary and sufficient conditions for global optimality of the problem and obtain a form of S-lemma for a system of two quadratic and a fixed number of linear inequalities.
Recognition of Stator Winding Inter-Turn Fault in Interior-Mount LSPMSM Using Acoustic Signals
Authors: Maraaba Luqman S. , Twaha Ssennoga , Memon Azhar , Al-Hamouz Zakariya
Published: August 2020

This paper presents a novel stator inter-turn fault diagnosis method for Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (LSPMSMs) using the frequency analysis of acoustic signals resulting from asymmetrical faults. In this method, acoustic data are experimentally collected from a 1 hp interior mount LSPMSM for different inter-turn fault cases and motor loading levels, while including the background noise. The signals are collected using a smartphone at a sampling rate of 48,000 samples per second. The signal for each case is analyzed using fast Fourier transform (FFT), which results in the decomposition of the signal into its frequency components. The results indicate that, for both no-load and full-load conditions, 39 components are observed to be affected by the faults, whereby their amplitudes increase with the fault severity. The 40-turns fault shows the highest difference in the component amplitudes compared with the healthy condition acoustic signal. Therefore, this diagnostic method is able to detect the stator inter-turn fault for interior mount LSPMSMs. Moreover, the method is simple and cheap since it uses a readily available sensor.
Single-Valued Neutrosophic Set Correlation Coefficient and Its Application in Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Iryna Shchur , Zhong Yu , Jiang Wen , Deng Xinyang , Geng Jie
Published: August 2020

With the increasing automation of mechanical equipment, fault diagnosis becomes more and more important. However, the factors that cause mechanical failures are becoming more and more complex, and the uncertainty and coupling between the factors are getting higher and higher. In order to solve the given problem, this paper proposes a single-valued neutrosophic set ISVNS algorithm for processing of uncertain and inaccurate information in fault diagnosis, which generates neutrosophic set by triangular fuzzy number and introduces the formula of the improved weighted correlation coefficient. Since both the single-valued neutrosophic set data and the ideal neutrosophic set data are considered, the proposed method solves the fault diagnosis problem more effectively. Finally, experiments show that the algorithm can significantly improve the accuracy degree of fault diagnosis, and can better satisfy the diagnostic requirements in practice.
Benznidazole as Prophylaxis for Chagas Disease Infection Reactivation in Heart Transplant Patients: A Case Series in Brazil
Authors: Rossi Neto Joao Manoel , Finger Marco Aurelio , dos Santos Carolina Casadei
Published: August 2020

Background—Patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) have high mortality, and CC is a common indication for heart transplantation (HTx) in endemic countries. Chagas disease reactivation (CDR) is common after transplantation and is likely to cause adverse outcomes unless detected and treated appropriately. This study reviews our experiences with HTx among patients with CC, and the use of benznidazole (BZ) before transplantation. Methods—During the 18-year period from 1996 through 2014, 70 of 353 patients who underwent HTx (19.8%) had CC, and 53 patients met the inclusion criteria. The effectiveness of prophylactic treatment with BZ (dose of 5 mg/kg/day, two times per day, for at least four weeks and for a maximum of eight weeks) was determined based on the observed reduction in the incidence of CDR during the post-HTx period. Results—Prophylactic therapy was administered to 18/53 patients (34.0%). During the follow-up period, the incidence rate of CDR in our study was 34.0% (18/53). Based on logistic regression analysis, only prophylaxis (OR = 0.12; CI 0.02–0.76; p = 0.025) was considered to protect against CDR. Conclusion—Our study suggests that the use of BZ may reduce the incidence of CDR in patients undergoing HTx and warrants further investigation in a prospective, randomized trial.
Oral Infection by Mucosal and Cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses in the Men Who Have Sex with Men from the OHMAR Study
Authors: Gheit Tarik , Rollo Francesca , Brancaccio Rosario N , Robitaille Alexis , Galati Luisa , Giuliani Massimo , Latini Alessandra , Pichi Barbara , Benevolo Maria , Cuenin Cyrille , McKay-Chopin Sandrine , Pellini Raul , Cristaudo Antonio , Morrone Aldo , Tommasino Massimo , Donà Maria Gabriella
Published: August 2020

Both mucosal and cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) can be detected in the oral cavity, but investigations regarding the epidemiology of cutaneous HPVs at this site are scarce. We assessed mucosal (alpha) and cutaneous (beta and gamma) HPV infection in oral samples of HIV-infected and uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM). Oral rinse-and-gargles were collected from 310 MSM. Alpha HPVs were detected using the Linear Array, whereas beta and gamma HPVs were detected using multiplex PCR and Luminex technology. An amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) protocol was applied to a subset of samples collected from 30 HIV-uninfected and 30 HIV-infected MSM. Beta HPVs were significantly more common than alpha types (53.8% vs. 23.9% for HIV-infected subjects, p < 0.0001; 50.3% vs. 17.1% for HIV-uninfected subjects, p < 0.0001). Gamma HPVs were also frequently detected (30.8% and 25.9% in HIV-infected and uninfected MSM, respectively). NGS produced 2,620,725 reads representative of 146 known HPVs (16 alpha-PVs, 53 beta-PVs, 76 gamma-PVs, one unclassified) and eight putative new HPVs, taxonomically assigned to the beta genus. The oral cavity contains a wide spectrum of HPVs, with beta types representing the predominant genus. The prevalence of beta and gamma HPVs is high even in immunorestored HIV-infected individuals. NGS confirmed the abundance of cutaneous HPVs and identified some putative novel beta HPVs. This study confirms that cutaneous HPVs are frequently present at mucosal sites and highlights that their pathological role deserves further investigation since it may not be limited to skin lesions.
Characteristics of Fluorescence Spectra, UV Spectra, and Specific Growth Rates during the Outbreak of Toxic Microcystis Aeruginosa FACHB-905 and Non-Toxic FACHB-469 under Different Nutrient Conditions in a Eutrophic Microcosmic Simulation Device
Authors: Wang Qi , Pang Wenjing , Ge ShuJie , Yu Hengguo , Dai Chuanjun , Huang Xianfeng , Li Jun , Zhao Min
Published: August 2020

Microcystis aeruginosa is the dominant alga forming cyanobacteria blooms, the growth of which is limited by available nutrients. Thus, it is necessary to study cyanobacteria blooms and explore the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa under different nutrient conditions. In this paper, we take Microcystis aeruginosa, including toxic Freshwater Algae Culture of Hydrobiology Collection (FACHB)-905 and non-toxic FACHB-469 strains, into account. The strains were cultured using a simulation device under different nutrient conditions. Ultraviolet spectra, three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, and kinetic parameter indicators of the two species are studied. Compared to FACHB-469, the results show that the specific growth rate of FACHB-905 is much higher, in particular, FACHB-905 is the dominant species under low nutrient conditions. Furthermore, the UV spectral characteristics indicate that the molecular weight of dissolved organic matter in the culture tank of toxic FACHB-905 is greater than that of FACHB-469. Additionally, the humification index of toxic FACHB-905 is slightly higher as well, which suggests that it is more stable in the presence of dissolved organic matter during blooms. Therefore, the toxic Microcystis strain is more likely to become the dominant species in water blooms under lower eutrophic conditions and water blooms formed by the toxic Microcystis strain may be more difficult to recover from.
Analysis of Barriers and Opportunities for Reclaimed Wastewater Use for Agriculture in Europe
Authors: Mesa-Pérez Enrique , Berbel Julio
Published: August 2020

This paper presents an analysis of the perception regarding reclaimed wastewater reuse in agriculture conducted in the European Union regions. The analysis is based upon a SWOT framework and applies a cluster analysis to reduce the dimension of the responses enabling an assessment of the different perceptions of water reuse. More than one hundred key actors identified among the regions participated in the evaluation of the relevance of aspects identified. The results indicate some groups of countries according to natural conditions (water scarcity) and the strategic role of agriculture as a key factor to determine agent’s perceptions and attitudes. The results indicate that the forthcoming EU regulation of water reuse should focus in the problems of the perceived high cost of reclaimed water for farmers and the sanitary risk perception for irrigated crops by consumers as the critical points for fostering the use of reclaimed water in agriculture and the need for regional implementation of the global regulatory framework.
The Production and Marketing of Mineral Water in 21st Century Spain
Authors: García-Marín Ramón , Lozano-Parra Javier , Espejo-Marín Cayetano , Aparicio-Guerrero Ana
Published: August 2020

Since the end of the last century, Spain has become a country of reference in the European Union due to its volume of bottled mineral water. This study aims to analyze the evolution of the key aspects of this sector over the last two decades. Through this research, it has been verified that (i) Spanish mineral water has been analyzed for a long time from a medicinal and geochemical point of view, and not so much in commercial analysis; (ii) water has great diversity due to the abundance of hydrogeological domains that this country offers; (iii) a very strict legal framework must be complied for its commercialization; (iv) its consumption has been growing; and (v) the business structure is characterized by the predominance of a small group of companies, with a very important role in multinational corporations. Three nature reserves: Montseny, Sierra Nevada, and Guadarrama Mountains, stand out from the rest of the Spanish territory in terms of catchment and packaging of natural mineral water, which is an increasingly strategic resource.
Ontology-Based Transformation and Verification of UML Class Model
Authors: Hafeez Abdul , Abbas Syed , Rehman Aqeel-ur
Published: August 2020

Software models describe structures, relationships and features of the software system. Especially, in Model Driven Engineering (MDE), they are considered as first-class elements instead of programming code and all software development activities move around these models. In MDE, programming code is automatically generated by the models and models’ defects can implicitly transfer to the code. These defects can harder to discover and rectify. Model verification is a promising solution to the problem. The Unified Modelling Language (UML) class model is an important part of UML and is used in both analysis and design. However, UML only provides graphical elements without any formal foundation. Therefore, verification of formal properties such as consistency, satisfiability and consequences are not possible in UML. This paper mainly focuses on ontology-based transformation and verification of the UML class model elements which have not been addressed in any existing verification methods e.g. xor association constraint, and dependencies relationships. We validate the scalability and effectiveness of the proposed solution using various UML class models. The empirical study shows that the proposed approach scales in the presence of the large and complex model