bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vpassport: A Digital Architecture to Support Social Restart during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Capece Guendalina , Bazzica Paolo
Published: April 2021

As a consequence of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic, the causative agent of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the world is currently witnessing profound changes in everyday life. The infection and the resulting death number forecasts generate an increasing threat to the lives of people and the economics of countries. As the acute phase of the pandemic ends, the greatest challenge that most governments are currently undergoing is the lack of tools to certify the immunity status of citizens and the related infection risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. To mitigate this challenge, this study proposes an innovative approach to implement a set of IT tools, here named VPassport, that assist large-scale test execution/result management in a distributed way and store the results of all tests made through all channels in a blockchain under country authority control. The proposed approach aims to produce an effective system able to support governments, health authorities, and citizens to take informed decisions on which services and social activities can be accessed respecting policies and rules set by the authorities. This aims to allow a controlled restart of the activities of the country, giving to all citizens the possibility to manage their immunity tests while allowing the authorities to manage the reopening of services and social activities. The proposed model helps in managing this phase and, therefore, the resulting outcome can be used to authorize possible behaviors (e.g., going to the office, production plants, public transportation, theaters, cinemas, etc.). The knowledge of being infected or not in a secure and not modifiable way that can be shown in a simple way, accessible to all, will be the real change in managing the coexistence with the virus until a vaccine will be available for all people.
EU Cultural Security Law in an Educational Context
Authors: Stec Piotr , Jagielska-Burduk Alicja
Published: April 2021

Cultural security is a comprehensive notion that has gained much attention in the recent cultural heritage debates. In terms of the EU, it encapsulates cultural heritage destruction and protection in armed conflicts, post-war cultural heritage management, restitution, illicit traffic of cultural property, cultural diversity, and intercultural dialogue. The article aims to present how cultural security matters appear in the EU legal system and policy. The authors argue that cultural security is present in different policies regarding cultural property and the fight against illicit trafficking, as well as in EU external cultural relations. Digitization in the cultural sector constitutes a challenge, facilitates access to cultural heritage, and is an important tool for future cultural security. Therefore, EU law in the context of cultural security is analyzed. The authors took the Polish law as an example of how cultural security can be safeguarded while promoting an EU Member State’s jurisdiction. The paper’s educational part offers some ideas on creating and incorporating law and cultural security courses into varied higher education programs.
Effects of Diet Selection by Goats Grazing on the Vegetation of a Protected Pine Forest in Doñana Natural Park (SW Spain)
Authors: Mancilla-Leytón Juan Manuel , Fernández-Alés Rocío , Martín Vicente Ángel
Published: April 2021

We investigated the relationship between feeding selection by goats and changes in plant species abundance in the shrubland of a pine forest in Doñana Natural Park along three years. The abundance of the shrub species was measured using the point-intercept method. Goat preferences for shrub species were determined through direct observation. Goats showed selective feeding, since their browsing behavior was not related to species abundance. Myrtus communis was the overall preferred species (almost half of the bites belonged to this species, despite its low abundance) throughout the monitored years and seasons. Half of the species were selected some years while discarded others; two species were never grazed (Daphne gnidium and Thymus mastichina) and nine others were always ingested below their abundance. Within a year, species were consumed in certain seasons but not in others. The detected changes in species abundance were not related to the feeding preferences of the goats. The influence that grazing selectivity exerts on vegetation composition and abundance has long been recognized, but our study suggests that the mechanical effect of grazing herbivores on vegetation (pawing, scratching, and lying) may portrait a more important role than attributed to date.
Value Capture and Vertical Allocations of Public Amenities
Authors: Mualam Nir , Hendricks Andreas , Maliene Vida , Salinger Eyal
Published: April 2021

This paper describes and critically reviews an important but under-theorized value capture mechanism that we have termed “vertical allocations” (or vertical exactions). This mechanism enables cities to capture value vertically by allocating floor space for public utilities in privately owned, mixed-use, vertical development. As a value capture tool, vertical allocations allow the government to tap value uplift to supply the nearby neighborhood, and the city as a whole, with much needed public services. The owner or developer is required to make in-kind contributions in the form of spaces provided for a range of public facilities such as schools, preschools, community centers, and public medical clinics. While focusing on vertical exactions in Israel we explore how a certain share of land/floorspace can be allocated for public amenities in a given project. There are several legal pathways for securing public floorspace including negotiated agreements, land readjustment and expropriation. The findings show that unclear policies and regulations could create frictions between developers and municipalities, and these raise the nexus question as well as debates about construction costs and financial contributions developers have to make. Specifically, the paper finds that while developers often argue that cities should cover the costs of constructing public floorspace, city officials assert that the costs should be borne by the owners and developers.
Assessment of Potato Farmland Soil Nutrient Based on MDS-SQI Model in the Loess Plateau
Authors: Xing Yingying , Wang Ning , Niu Xiaoli , Jiang Wenting , Wang Xiukang
Published: April 2021

Soil nutrients are essential nutrients provided by soil for plant growth. Most researchers focus on the coupling effect of nutrients with potato yield and quality. There are few studies on the evaluation of soil nutrients in potato fields. The purpose of this study is to investigate the soil nutrients of potato farmland and the soil vertical nutrient distributions, and then to provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the fertilizer management practices for potatoes in Loess Plateau. Eight physical and chemical soil indexes were selected in the study area, and 810 farmland soil samples from the potato agriculture product areas were analyzed in Northern Shaanxi. The paper established the minimum data set (MDS) for the quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland by principal component analysis (PCA), respectively, and furthermore, analyzed the soil nutrient characteristics of the cultivated layer adopted soil quality index (SQI). The results showed that the MDS on soil quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland soil included such indicators as the soil organic matter content, soil available potassium content, and soil available phosphorus content. The comprehensive index value of the soil quality was between 0.064 and 0.302. The SPSS average clustering process used to classify SQI was divided into three grades: class I (36.2%) was defined as suitable soil fertility (SQI < 0.122), class II (55.6%) was defined as moderate soil fertility (0.122 < SQI < 0.18), and class III (8.2%) was defined as poor soil fertility (SQI > 0.186). The comprehensive quality of the potato farmland soils was generally low. The proportion of soil nutrients in the SQI composition ranged from large to small as the soil available potassium content = soil available phosphorus content > soil organic matter content, which became the limiting factor of the soil organic matter content in this area. This study revolves around the 0 to 60 cm soil layer; the soil fertility decreased gradually with the soil depth, and had significant differences between the respective soil layers. In order to improve the soil nutrient accumulation and potato yield in potato farmland in northern Shaanxi, it is suggested to increase the fertilization depth (20 to 40 cm) and further study the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer.
Sustainable Management of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Wastes in Gypsum Composites
Authors: Iucolano Fabio , Campanile Assunta , Caputo Domenico , Liguori Barbara
Published: April 2021

Promoting the use of gypsum and gypsum-based materials in construction is a successful strategy from an environmental point of view; it allows a lower energy demand with a sensible reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, the manufacturing of gypsum products can represent an interesting sector to redirect and manage the large amount of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) waste. In this paper a sustainable application of AAC granulate waste in gypsum-based building materials was proposed. The intrinsic compatibility derived their chemical composition and allowed it to partially substitute raw gypsum with the waste up to 30% without affecting the functional and structural properties of the final product. Physical characterization and sound absorption data confirmed that the addition of AAC waste does not significantly alter the typical porosity of the gypsum composite. Finally, all of the composites reached mechanical performances suitable for different building application as gypsum plaster.
Stationary Traffic as a Factor of Tourist Destination Quality and Sustainability
Authors: Maršanic Robert , Mrnjavac Edna , Pupavac Drago , Krpan Ljudevit
Published: April 2021

Since the Republic of Croatia is one of the most popular European and world tourist destinations, the aim of this paper is, from the user’s (n = 596) point of view, to research the importance of stationary traffic in tourist destinations. The purpose of this paper is to point out the possibilities of improving the tourist destination quality and sustainability through an adequate parking service. In order to corroborate constructed scientific hypotheses, a larger number of scientific methods were used from which a polling method, analysis and synthesis method, descriptive statistics method, t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) should be singled out. The major finding of this paper indicates a relatively big importance of stationary traffic (M = 6.51; SD = 2.21) as an element of tourist destination quality. Moreover, regarding the quality of tourist destination, the results of this paper suggest that the parking space availability is more important than the way parking or parking payment are organized. Between the experienced parking problem in a tourist destination and age on one side and evaluation of the importance of stationary traffic as an element of tourist destination quality on the other side, a statistically important connection was established. Gained knowledge can be particularly helpful to hotel industry managers but also to traffic managers whose duty is to provide an adequate number of parking spaces in tourist destinations.
Family Farming Plays an Essential Role in Preserving Soil Functionality: A Study on Active Managed and Abandoned Traditional Tree Crop-Based Systems
Authors: Biasi Rita , Farina Roberta , Brunori Elena
Published: April 2021

In traditional agricultural areas, where traditional crops (TCs) are cultivated, small farms are still highly represented. Located prevalently in marginal and sensitive areas, agricultural areas have undergone deep transformation. Smallholders have maintained the traditional asset of cultivation (extensive and low input requirement management) only to some extent. In some cases they have adapted traditional orchards into more intensive planting systems. Frequently, they have abandoned agriculture. The land use and management influence soil functions, i.e., the capability of a specific soil to provide key functions in terrestrial ecosystems. In order to assess whether small farms are environmentally sustainable, we used a set of soil quality indicators in three traditional tree crops in the Latium region (central Italy), like hazelnut, grapevine, and Citrus. The soil parameters, chemical, biological, and biochemical, were quantified under three different management models: extensive cultivation, intensive cultivation, and abandonment. The selected set of indicators proved to be able to discriminate adequately between the management models and to be suitable for the soil health assessment. Results proved that hazelnut orchards stored more organic C, independently from farming management, while vineyard showed the lower total organic carbon (TOC). The microbial carbon vs. organic carbon ratio (Cmic-to Corg ratio) was higher for vineyards and Citrus groves, denoting a more active degradation of soil organic matter. Soil enzymes (ESs) involved in C cycle were variable along the different treatments and mainly influenced by the C inputs to soil and soil cover, whereas those involved in N, P, and S cycles were higher in abandoned and extensive TCs. Overall, extensive cultivation performed better in terms of soil quality than intensive or abandonment. This study suggests that a transition to an agriculture based on agroecological principles and toward extensification would provide significant soil-based environmental benefits in marginal sensitive areas.
Indonesians’ Perceptions of Auto Parts Remanufactured in China: Implications for Global Remanufacturing Operations
Authors: Chinen Kenichiro , Matsumoto Mitsutaka
Published: April 2021

Remanufacturing is a key strategy for achieving a circular economy. One crucial obstacle to remanufacturing is consumers’ acceptance (or non-acceptance) of remanufactured products. The current study investigated Indonesian consumers’ perceived images of remanufactured auto parts (RAPs) remanufactured in China. Consumers’ perception of a target country can be either helpful or damaging for an international business. If China seeks successful remanufacturing operations across national boundaries, it must establish national branding and manage the image of remanufactured products to meet and exceed consumer expectations in the global market. An online survey with 500 respondents was conducted to examine (1) how basic product knowledge of RAPs influence consumers’ perceived risks and benefits, (2) whether consumers’ purchase intention of RAPs made in the home country influences their purchase intention of RAPs made in China, and (3) whether the trust in the RAP certification increases purchase intention of RAPs.
The Importance of Stud Flanges Size and Shape on the Thermal Performance of Lightweight Steel Framed Walls
Authors: Santos Paulo , Poologanathan Keerthan
Published: April 2021

Energy production still relies considerably on fossil fuels, and the building sector is a major player in the energy consumption market, mainly for space heating and cooling. Thermal bridges (TBs) in buildings are very relevant for the energy efficiency of buildings and may have an impact on heating energy needs of up to 30%. Given the high thermal conductivity of steel, the relevance of TBs in lightweight steel framed (LSF) components could be even greater. No research was found in the literature for evaluating how important the size and shape of steel studs are on the thermal performance of LSF building elements, which is the main objective of this work. This assessment is performed for the internal partitions and exterior façade of load-bearing LSF walls. The accuracy of the numerical model used in the simulations was verified and validated by comparison experimental measurements. Three reference steel studs were considered, six stud flange lengths and four steel thicknesses were evaluated, and five flange indentation sizes and four indent filling materials were assessed, corresponding to a total of 246 modelled LSF walls. It was concluded that the R-value decreases when the flange length and the steel studs’ thickness increases, being that these variations are more significant for bigger flange sizes and for thicker steel studs. Additionally, it was found that a small indentation size (2.5 or 5 mm) is enough to provide a significant R-value increase and that it is preferable not to use any flange indentation filling material rather than using a poor performance one (recycled rubber).
How Can We Mitigate Power Imbalances in Collaborative Environmental Governance? Examining the Role of the Village Facilitation Team Approach Observed in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Arai Yuki , Maswadi Maswadi , Oktoriana Shenny , Suharyani Anita , Didik Didik , Inoue Makoto
Published: April 2021

Researchers have focused on collaborative governance as an effective measure to realise sustainable natural resource management through the participation of various stakeholders. However, the literature has indicated that issues such as power imbalances tend to undermine the effectiveness of collaborative governance. Powerful actors represented by the government tend to control collaborative processes and produce benefits for dominant groups, while less empowered local communities are often deprived of opportunities for livelihood improvement. Although numerous researchers have analysed the key factors that influence the processes and outcomes of collaborative governance, few have identified a concrete measure to reduce the risk of failure, particularly when managing power imbalances in developing countries. This study explored a methodology to address the power imbalances in collaborative governance based on a case study of a participatory peatland fire prevention project implemented in West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys conducted with project participants suggested that measures such as establishing a joint team of government officers and villagers, providing a common facilitation training programme, training villagers as facilitators, promoting equal knowledge sharing, and allowing villagers to make their own decisions mitigated the power imbalances between the two groups.
Innovation and Scientific Research as a Sustainable Development Goal in Spanish Public Universities
Authors: Ogachi Daniel , Bares Lydia , Zeman Zoltan
Published: April 2021

One of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 is building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and fostering innovation. This paper aims to analyse the possible consequences of stimulating commercial exploitation of academic research, encouraged by recent policy initiatives and legislative changes, on the quantity and quality of scientific knowledge in Spain’s public universities. We collected data of innovation variables (national patents, R&D and consultancy agreements, services rendered, licenses and PCT extensions and spin-offs), publications and number of citations for 48 Spanish public universities in 2009–2018 from Observatorio IUNE, which obtains data from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, the Network of Research Results Transfer Offices and Web of Science. The results of linear regressions models showed that universities that render more services and have a greater number of PCTs (patent cooperation treaties), have a positive impact on the quantity and quality of the publications in Spanish universities. However, the number of national patents has no impact on the scientific output. Finally, universities with a greater number of patents have a lower number of citations.
Effects after 1500 Hardening Days on the Microstructure and Durability-Related Parameters of Mortars Produced by the Incorporation of Waste Glass Powder as a Clinker Replacement
Authors: Tremiño Rosa María , Real-Herraiz Teresa , Letelier Viviana , Branco Fernando G. , Ortega José Marcos
Published: April 2021

One of the ways of lessening the CO2 emissions of cement industry consists of replacing clinkers with supplementary cementitious materials. The required service life of real construction elements is long, so it is useful to characterize the performance of these materials in the very long term. Here, the influence of incorporating waste glass powder as a supplementary cementitious material, regarding the microstructure and durability of mortars after 1500 hardening days (approximately 4 years), compared with reference mortars without additions, was studied. The percentages of clinker replacement by glass powder were 10% and 20%. The microstructure was studied using impedance spectroscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Differential thermal and X-ray diffraction analyses were performed for assessing the pozzolanic activity of glass powder at the end of the time period studied. Water absorption after immersion, the steady-state diffusion coefficient, and length change were also determined. In view of the results obtained, the microstructure of mortars that incorporated waste glass powder was more refined compared with the reference specimens. The global solid fraction and pores volume were very similar for all of the studied series. The addition of waste glass powder reduced the chloride diffusion coefficient of the mortars, without worsening their behaviour regarding water absorption after immersion.
Uncertainty in Intermodal and Synchromodal Transport: Review and Future Research Directions
Authors: Delbart Thibault , Molenbruch Yves , Braekers Kris , Caris An
Published: April 2021

Long-haul continental freight flows still heavily rely on unimodal road transport. Intermodal transport, combining road transport with other transport modes, has the potential to have lower operating costs and to be more environmentally sustainable. However, road transport benefits from its better flexibility and adaptability to sudden disruptions and uncertainties. To facilitate a modal shift towards intermodal transport, it is crucial to improve its resilience (i.e., capability to resist and recover from sudden disruptions). Synchromodality is an extension of intermodality in which decisions on modal choice and routing are not predefined long in advance but are taken based on real-time information and may provide a step in that direction. The conducted literature review investigates how uncertainty can be handled in intermodal and synchromodal freight transport networks. The literature is classified based on the planning level, which is either strategic, tactical or operational. The main focus is on the studied types of uncertainty and the proposed solution approaches. This work contributes to the research field by reviewing the literature on intermodal and synchromodal transport with uncertainty, presenting measures to mitigate the effects of uncertainty and proposing future research directions.
Communicating Environmental CSR towards Consumers: The Impact of Message Content, Message Style and Praise Tactics
Authors: Christis Julia , Wang Yijing
Published: April 2021

While engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gradually become mainstream in the business context, the investigation of CSR communication and its effectiveness remains limited. This study examines how environmental CSR communication affects consumer perception and behavior through an experiment design. We distinguish three CSR communication factors—message content (climate responsibility vs. sustainable use of natural resources), message style (greenhushing vs. uniform vs. greenwashing) and praise tactics (consumer praise vs. company praise)—and assess their impacts on consumer trust, purchase intention and consumer advocacy, respectively. We also investigate the moderating role of attributed intrinsic and extrinsic corporate motives on engaging in environmental CSR. An online experiment (N = 304) revealed that a uniform message style outperforms the other two styles, whereas greenwashing is found to be least effective. In addition, attributed intrinsic corporate motives moderate the impacts of environmental CSR communication on consumer trust, purchase intention and consumer advocacy, respectively. No moderation effect was found for attributed extrinsic corporate motives. The findings provide important implications for effective environmental CSR communication with respect to specific message styles and attributed corporate motives.
Research on Industry Development Path Planning of Resource-Rich Regions in China from the Perspective of “Resources, Assets, Capital”
Authors: Liu Mingkai , Liu Changxin , Zhang Shouting , Liu Baoyin , Sun Yi , Ge Xun , Wang Xinyu , Zhang Hongyan
Published: April 2021

The development of industries in China’s resource-rich regions is mainly affected by resource reserves, environmental protection, and industrial structural adjustment. The development of resource-oriented industries that can’t support a high-quality regional economy is large but not well developed. This article considers China’s resource product imports and exports, carbon emissions, and industrial structure ratio factors in recent years. It is believed that China’s resource-rich regions have macro-level development bottlenecks, and the general development of a resource-based industries path is proposed based on the perspective of “resources, assets, and capital”. Taking Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as an empirical case, this article analyzes the pattern of regional industrial development by using the input-output method, calculates the degree of inter-industrial correlation, and constructs a regional industrial development system. The results show the following: 1. China’s overall industrial development pattern has undergone major changes; 2. emerging industries and service-oriented industries have risen in development status, and although resource-based industries have a weaker development momentum, they still have an important position; 3. the hierarchical industry development management model is helpful for forming a regional circular economy innovation development pattern. The results also indicate that the integrated management of “resources, assets, and capital” has a positive effect on the development of resource-based industries in resource-rich regions, which affects the overall industrial development pattern of the region and promotes economic development.
Quantum Retrodiction: Foundations and Controversies
Authors: Barnett Stephen M. , Jeffers John , Pegg David T.
Published: April 2021

Prediction is the making of statements, usually probabilistic, about future events based on current information. Retrodiction is the making of statements about past events based on current information. We present the foundations of quantum retrodiction and highlight its intimate connection with the Bayesian interpretation of probability. The close link with Bayesian methods enables us to explore controversies and misunderstandings about retrodiction that have appeared in the literature. To be clear, quantum retrodiction is universally applicable and draws its validity directly from conventional predictive quantum theory coupled with Bayes’ theorem.
Embedding Gauss–Bonnet Scalarization Models in Higher Dimensional Topological Theories
Authors: Herdeiro Carlos , Radu Eugen , Tchrakian D. H.
Published: April 2021

In the presence of appropriate non-minimal couplings between a scalar field and the curvature squared Gauss–Bonnet (GB) term, compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes (BHs) can spontaneously scalarize, becoming a preferred vacuum. Such strong gravity phase transitions have attracted considerable attention recently. The non-minimal coupling functions that allow this mechanism are, however, always postulated ad hoc. Here, we point out that families of such functions naturally emerge in the context of Higgs–Chern–Simons gravity models, which are found as dimensionally descents of higher dimensional, purely topological, Chern–Pontryagin non-Abelian densities. As a proof of concept, we study spherically symmetric scalarized BH solutions in a particular Einstein-GB-scalar field model, whose coupling is obtained from this construction, pointing out novel features and caveats thereof. The possibility of vectorization is also discussed, since this construction also originates vector fields non-minimally coupled to the GB invariant.
Periodic Solutions of Nonlinear Relative Motion Satellites
Authors: Pal Ashok Kumar , Abouelmagd Elbaz I. , García Guirao Juan Luis , Brzeziński Dariusz W.
Published: April 2021

The relative motion of an outline of the rendezvous problem has been studied by assuming that the chief satellite is in circular symmetric orbits. The legitimacy of perturbation techniques and nonlinear relative motion are investigated. The deputy satellite equations of motion with respect to the fixed references at the center of the chief satellite are nonlinear in the general case. We found the periodic solutions of the linear relative motion satellite and for the nonlinear relative motion satellite using the Lindstedt–Poincaré technique. Comparisons among the analytical solutions of linear and nonlinear motions and the obtained solution by the numerical integration of the explicit Euler method for both motions are investigated. We demonstrate that both analytical and numerical solutions of linear motion are symmetric periodic. However, the solutions of nonlinear motion obtained by the Lindstedt–Poincaré technique are periodic and the numerical solutions obtained by integration by using explicit Euler method are non-periodic. Thus, the Lindstedt–Poincaré technique is recommended for designing the periodic solutions. Furthermore, a comparison between linear and nonlinear analytical solutions of relative motion is investigated graphically.
Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) MRI in Glomerular Disease
Authors: Nemirovsky Daniel R. , Gupta Puneet , Hu Sophia , Wong Raymond , Thakor Avnesh S.
Published: April 2021

Renal hypoxia has recently been implicated as a key contributor and indicator of various glomerular diseases. As such, monitoring changes in renal oxygenation in these disorders may provide an early diagnostic advantage that could prevent potential adverse outcomes. Blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD MRI) is an emerging noninvasive technique for assessing renal oxygenation in glomerular disease. Although BOLD MRI has produced promising initial results for the use in certain renal pathologies, the use of BOLD imaging in glomerular diseases, including primary and secondary nephrotic and nephritic syndromes, is relatively unexplored. Early BOLD studies on primary nephrotic syndrome, nephrotic syndrome secondary to diabetes mellitus, and nephritic syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus have shown promising results to support its future clinical utility. In this review, we outline the advancements made in understanding the use of BOLD MRI for the assessment, diagnosis, and screening of these pathologies.
Glycyrrhizin Effectively Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Inhibiting the Viral Main Protease
Authors: van de Sand Lukas , Bormann Maren , Alt Mira , Schipper Leonie , Heilingloh Christiane Silke , Steinmann Eike , Todt Daniel , Dittmer Ulf , Elsner Carina , Witzke Oliver , Krawczyk Adalbert
Published: April 2021

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 developed into a global pandemic affecting millions of people worldwide. Despite one year of intensive research, the current treatment options for SARS-CoV-2 infected people are still limited. Clearly, novel antiviral compounds for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are still urgently needed. Complementary medicine is used along with standard medical treatment and accessible to a vast majority of people worldwide. Natural products with antiviral activity may contribute to improve the overall condition of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral activity of glycyrrhizin, the primary active ingredient of the licorice root, against SARS-CoV-2. We demonstrated that glycyrrhizin potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Furthermore, we uncovered the underlying mechanism and showed that glycyrrhizin blocks the viral replication by inhibiting the viral main protease Mpro that is essential for viral replication. Our data indicate that the consumption of glycyrrhizin-containing products such as licorice root tea of black licorice may be of great benefit for SARS-CoV-2 infected people. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin is a good candidate for further investigation for clinical use to treat COVID-19 patients.
Deep Transfer Learning Approach for Automatic Recognition of Drug Toxicity and Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Werner Julia , Kronberg Raphael M. , Stachura Pawel , Ostermann Philipp N. , Müller Lisa , Schaal Heiner , Bhatia Sanil , Kather Jakob N. , Borkhardt Arndt , Pandyra Aleksandra A. , Lang Karl S. , Lang Philipp A.
Published: April 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 and is responsible for the ongoing pandemic. Screening of potential antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 depend on in vitro experiments, which are based on the quantification of the virus titer. Here, we used virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) in brightfield microscopy of SARS-CoV-2-infected monolayers to quantify the virus titer. Images were classified using deep transfer learning (DTL) that fine-tune the last layers of a pre-trained Resnet18 (ImageNet). To exclude toxic concentrations of potential drugs, the network was expanded to include a toxic score (TOX) that detected cell death (CPETOXnet). With this analytic tool, the inhibitory effects of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and emetine were validated. Taken together we developed a simple method and provided open access implementation to quantify SARS-CoV-2 titers and drug toxicity in experimental settings, which may be adaptable to assays with other viruses. The quantification of virus titers from brightfield images could accelerate the experimental approach for antiviral testing.
Survival Strategies of Streptococcus pyogenes in Response to Phage Infection
Authors: Beerens Dior , Franch-Arroyo Sandra , Sullivan Timothy J. , Goosmann Christian , Brinkmann Volker , Charpentier Emmanuelle
Published: April 2021

Bacteriophages exert strong evolutionary pressure on their microbial hosts. In their lytic lifecycle, complete bacterial subpopulations are utilized as hosts for bacteriophage replication. However, during their lysogenic lifecycle, bacteriophages can integrate into the host chromosome and alter the host’s genomic make-up, possibly resulting in evolutionary important adjustments. Not surprisingly, bacteria have evolved sophisticated immune systems to protect against phage infection. Streptococcus pyogenes isolates are frequently lysogenic and their prophages have been shown to be major contributors to the virulence of this pathogen. Most S. pyogenes phage research has focused on genomic prophages in relation to virulence, but little is known about the defensive arsenal of S. pyogenes against lytic phage infection. Here, we characterized Phage A1, an S. pyogenes bacteriophage, and investigated several mechanisms that S. pyogenes utilizes to protect itself against phage predation. We show that Phage A1 belongs to the Siphoviridae family and contains a circular double-stranded DNA genome that follows a modular organization described for other streptococcal phages. After infection, the Phage A1 genome can be detected in isolated S. pyogenes survivor strains, which enables the survival of the bacterial host and Phage A1 resistance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the type II-A CRISPR-Cas system of S. pyogenes acquires new spacers upon phage infection, which are increasingly detectable in the absence of a capsule. Lastly, we show that S. pyogenes produces membrane vesicles that bind to phages, thereby limiting the pool of phages available for infection. Altogether, this work provides novel insight into survival strategies employed by S. pyogenes to combat phage predation.
Development of Diagnostic Tests Provides Technical Support for the Control of African Swine Fever
Authors: Qiu Zilong , Li Zhaoyao , Yan Quanhui , Li Yuwan , Xiong Wenjie , Wu Keke , Li Xiaowen , Fan Shuangqi , Zhao Mingqiu , Ding Hongxing , Chen Jinding
Published: April 2021

African swine fever is a highly contagious global disease caused by the African swine fever virus. Since African swine fever (ASF) was introduced to Georgia in 2007, it has spread to many Eurasian countries at an extremely fast speed. It has recently spread to China and other major pig-producing countries in southeast Asia, threatening global pork production and food security. As there is no available vaccine at present, prevention and control must be carried out based on early detection and strict biosecurity measures. Early detection should be based on the rapid identification of the disease on the spot, followed by laboratory diagnosis, which is essential for disease control. In this review, we introduced the prevalence, transmission routes, eradication control strategies, and diagnostic methods of ASF. We reviewed the various methods of diagnosing ASF, focusing on their technical characteristics and clinical test results. Finally, we give some prospects for improving the diagnosis strategy in the future.
Simultaneous Influenza Vaccination and Hymenoptera Venom Immunotherapy Is Safe
Authors: Czerwińska Ewa , Nittner-Marszalska Marita , Pawłowicz Robert , Szenborn Leszek
Published: April 2021

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a standard treatment for venom allergy. Our purpose was to determine if the administration of both allergen and protective vaccines during one visit is safe and if such a procedure does not deteriorate the tolerance of both vaccines. As current guidelines are based on theoretical assumptions, our aim was to establish the safety and tolerance of shortening the recommended interval between vaccinations. During two influenza seasons, 44 adult patients, with a history of systemic allergic reactions after a Hymenoptera sting, underwent 58 simultaneous allergen and seasonal influenza vaccinations (study group) while in the maintenance phase of venom immunotherapy (VIT). The control group consisted of 57 healthy adults who were vaccinated against influenza only. The conditions of the patients were monitored during hospital visits, and via telecommunication methods to evaluate the safety and tolerance of the procedure. Within the study group, there were no immediate or delayed allergic reactions after vaccinations. The presence of common, adverse influenza vaccine reactions among study group patients (29%) and control group patients (32%) did not differ significantly (p = 0.841). We did not observe a difference in the frequency of various adverse reactions in either group or a dependence of previous vaccinations against influenza on the occurrence of adverse reactions. The most frequent occurrences were local adverse reactions. All adverse reactions were resolved without treatment. These findings demonstrate the safety and tolerance of an influenza vaccination and Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy administration during one visit.
Model Parameters for Aerobic Biological Sulfide Oxidation in Sewer Wastewater
Authors: Nielsen Asbjørn Haaning , Vollertsen Jes
Published: April 2021

Sulfide related odor and corrosion are two of the major problems associated with the operation and maintenance of sewer networks. The extent of the problems is governed by several complex and interrelated processes. Sulfide oxidation is typically the most important process for sulfide removal in wastewater from aerobic gravity sewers. Despite the significance of the process, little is known about the significance of the growth of sulfide oxidizing bacteria (SOB) during the transport of wastewater. Biological sulfide oxidation in wastewater from sewers was investigated in a series of oxygen uptake rate (OUR) experiments. The experiments showed that, for oxygen nonlimiting conditions, sulfate was produced, with elemental sulfur as an intermediate. During each experiment, the activity of the sulfide oxidizing bacteria increased significantly. This was interpreted as the result of bacterial growth related to the oxidation of intermediately stored elemental sulfur. A model concept describing biological sulfide oxidation, with intermediary storage of elemental sulfur and associated growth, was developed. The model was calibrated against the experimental results. The observed average growth rate and yield constant for the SOB were determined at 1.98 d−1 and 0.17 g Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) per g sulfur, respectively. These values correspond to reported values for mixed cultures of autotrophic SOB.
Time Series Analysis of Monthly and Annual Precipitation in The State of Texas Using High-Resolution Radar Products
Authors: Ghebreyesus Dawit , Sharif Hatim O.
Published: April 2021

Precipitation is the main source for replenishing groundwater stored in aquifers for a myriad of beneficial purposes, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. A significant portion of the municipal and agricultural water demand is satisfied through groundwater withdrawals in Texas. These withdrawals have to be monitored and regulated to be in balance with the recharge amount from precipitation in order to ensure water security. The main goal of this study is to understand the spatio-temporal variability of precipitation in the 21st century using high spatial resolution stage-IV radar data over the state of Texas and examine some climatic controls behind this variability. The results will shed light on the trends of precipitation and hence will contribute to improving water resources management strategies and policies. Pettit’s test and Standard Normal Homogeneity Test (SNHT), tools for detecting change-point in the monthly precipitation, suggested change-points have occurred across the state around the years 2013 and 2014. The test for the homogeneity of the data before and after 2013 revealed that, in over 64% of the state, the precipitation means were significantly different. The Panhandle region (northern part) is the only part of the state that did not show a significant difference in the mean precipitation before and after 2013. Theil-Sen’s slope test, Correlated Seasonal Mann-Kendall Test, and Cox and Stuart Trend Test all indicated that there were no significant trends in the monthly precipitation after 2013 in over 98% of the area of the state. Texas precipitation was found to be influenced significantly by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). A significant correlation in more than 82% and 60% of the state was found with ENSO at two-month and with PDO at four-month lag, respectively.
Characterizing Groundwater Interaction with Lakes and Wetlands Using GIS Modeling and Natural Water Quality Measurements
Authors: Speldrich Brianna , Gerla Philip , Tschann Emma
Published: April 2021

Wetlands provide many benefits, including flood attenuation, groundwater recharge, water-quality improvement, and habitat for wildlife. As their structure and functions are sensitive to changes in hydrology, characterizing the water budgets of wetlands is crucial to effective management and conservation. The groundwater component of a budget, which often controls resiliency and water quality, is difficult to estimate and can be costly, time-consuming, and invasive. This study used a GIS approach using a digital elevation model (DEM) and the elevations of lakes, wetlands, streams, and hydric soils to produce a water-table surface raster for a portion of the Itasca Moraine, Minnesota, U.S. The water-table surface was used to delineate groundwatersheds and groundwater flow paths for lakes and wetlands, and map recharge and discharge rates across the landscape. Specific conductance and pH, which depend on the hydrological processes that dominate a wetlands water budget, were measured in the field to verify this modeling technique. While the pH of surface waters varied in the study area, specific conductance increased from 16.7 to 357.5 μS/cm downgradient along groundwater flow paths, suggesting increased groundwater interaction. Our results indicate that basic GIS tools and often freely available public-domain elevation datasets can be used to map and characterize the interaction of groundwater in the water budgets of lakes and wetlands, as exemplified by the Itasca Moraine region. Combining this with grid cell-by-cell water balance provides a means to estimate recharge and discharge, thereby affording a way to quantify groundwater contribution to and from lakes and wetlands. Applied elsewhere, this cost-efficient technique can be used to assess the vulnerability of lakes and wetlands to changes in land use, groundwater development, and climate change.
Tras los sitios de los pioneros y algo más. Prospecciones en la llanura de Santiago del Estero (Argentina) y aportes a problemáticas de investigación regional
Authors: Taboada Constanza , Angiorama Carlos Ignacio
Published: April 2021

Este artículo ofrece los resultados de prospecciones realizadas en el centro-sur de la llanura de Santiago del Estero (Argentina), dando cuenta de 12 sitios arqueológicos. Gran parte de ellos pudieron ser correlacionados con los mencionados por las investigaciones arqueológicas pioneras en la región, cuya identidad y ubicación se habían perdido con el tiempo. Para cada sitio se exponen características, factores de alteración y diversidad material, la distribución que asumen y sus posibles implicancias cronológicas y culturales. Se enfatizan las evidencias reconocidas en algunos sitios que muestran un patrón material diferente al del Período Tardío regional y que podrían aportar a la discusión de una posible ocupación desde el primer milenio de la era, hasta ahora invisible para el área. Se plantea la necesidad de abordar la cuestión a partir de excavaciones y fechados actuales.
Grupos de interés, valores y significados del sitio arqueológico Intihuasi, provincia de San Luis, Argentina. Un análisis orientado a su gestión patrimonial
Authors: Endere María Luz , Chaparro María Gabriela , Giacomasso María Vanesa
Published: April 2021

El sitio arqueológico Intihuasi ha marcado un hito en la arqueología argentina a mediados del siglo XX. Pese a estar legalmente protegido y gestionado por la provincia, que ha construido en las últimas décadas infraestructura turística con personal permanente afectado a su protección, ha perdido atractivo debido a la acumulación de impactos antrópicos y naturales. Recientes investigaciones en el área y el empleo de nuevas tecnologías permitieron la identificación de nuevas pinturas y aportaron información inédita que reactivarán su valoración científica. El gobierno provincial está interesado en poner en valor a Intihuasi y constituirlo en un punto de referencia del turismo cultural regional, razón por la cual patrocinó nuevas investigaciones y la elaboración de un plan de manejo. En este trabajo se presenta parte de los resultados obtenidos, vinculados con el estudio de su significación cultural; para ello se identificaron los grupos de interés involucrados, se relevaron y evaluaron los valores atribuidos al sitio. Así mismo se reconstruyó la historia del lugar, las diferentes etapas de su gestión, su situación jurídica y condiciones de conservación. A partir de esta información se espera contribuir al diseño de una gestión patrimonial orientada a valores para Intihuasi.