bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spirocerca lupi Proteomics and Its Role in Cancer Development: An Overview of Spirocercosis-Induced Sarcomas and Revision of Helminth-Induced Carcinomas
Authors: Porras-Silesky Catalina , Mejías-Alpízar María José , Mora Javier , Baneth Gad , Rojas Alicia
Published: January 2021

Spirocerca lupi is a parasitic nematode of canids that induces a myriad of clinical manifestations in its host and, in 25% of infections, leads to the formation of sarcomas. The description of the protein composition of the excretory and secretory products (Sl-ESP) of S. lupi has shed light on its possible interactions with the host environment, including migration within the host and mechanisms of immunomodulation. Despite this, the process by which S. lupi induces cancer in the dog remains poorly understood, and some hypotheses have arisen regarding these possible mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the role of specific ESP from the carcinogenic helminths Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini and Schistosoma haematobium in inducing chronic inflammation and cancer in their host’s tissues. The parasitic worms Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, Heterakis gallinarum, Trichuris muris and Strongyloides stercoralis, which have less-characterized mechanisms of cancer induction, are also analyzed. Based on the pathological findings in spirocercosis and the mechanisms by which other parasitic helminths induce cancer, we propose that the sustained inflammatory response in the dog´s tissues produced in response to the release of Sl-ESP homologous to those of other carcinogenic worms may lead to the malignant process in infected dogs.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Philosophies in 2020
Authors:   Philosophies Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

The editorial team greatly appreciates the reviewers who have dedicated their considerable time and expertise to the journal’s rigorous editorial process over the past 12 months, regardless of whether the papers are finally published or not [...]
The Effect of the Modification of Mica by High-Temperature Mechanochemistry on the Anticorrosion Performance of Epoxy Coatings
Authors: Cai Yahui , Meng Fandi , Liu Li , Liu Rui , Cui Yu , Zheng Hongpeng , Wang Fuhui
Published: January 2021

Epoxy resin was directly grafted onto the surface of mica powder by high-temperature mechanical ball milling. This method was used to achieve a chemical reaction between the epoxy resin and mica that cannot be carried out under conventional circumstances. The results show that an epoxy resin layer with a thickness of approximately 10 nm formed on the surface of the mica. This modified mica filler exhibited a significant change in its hydrophilic properties. The dispersion of mica and its compatibility with organic coatings also significantly improved. In addition, the modified mica filler was added to the epoxy coating. The improvement of the coating’s compactness and toughness is the reason for its anti-corrosion performance enhancement.
Role of Curing Temperature of Poly(Glycerol Sebacate) Substrates on Protein-Cell Interaction and Early Cell Adhesion
Authors: Martín-Cabezuelo Rubén , Rodríguez-Hernández José Carlos , Vilariño-Feltrer Guillermo , Vallés-Lluch Ana
Published: January 2021

A novel procedure to obtain smooth, continuous polymeric surfaces from poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) has been developed with the spin-coating technique. This method proves useful for separating the effect of the chemistry and morphology of the networks (that can be obtained by varying the synthesis parameters) on cell-protein-substrate interactions from that of structural variables. Solutions of the PGS pre-polymer can be spin-coated, to then be cured. Curing under variable temperatures has been shown to lead to PGS networks with different chemical properties and topographies, conditioning their use as a biomaterial. Particularly, higher synthesis temperatures yield denser networks with fewer polar terminal groups available on the surface. Material-protein interactions were characterised by using extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin (Fn) and collagen type I (Col I), to unveil the biological interface profile of PGS substrates. To that end, atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and quantification of protein adsorbed in single, sequential and competitive protein incubations were used. Results reveal that Fn is adsorbed in the form of clusters, while Col I forms a characteristic fibrillar network. Fn has an inhibitory effect when incubated prior to Col I. Human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also cultured on PGS surfaces to reveal the effect of synthesis temperature on cell behaviour. To this effect, early focal adhesions (FAs) were analysed using immunofluorescence techniques. In light of the results, 130 °C seems to be the optimal curing temperature since a preliminary treatment with Col I or a Fn:Col I solution facilitates the formation of early focal adhesions and growth of HUVECs.
Modification of Thiol-Ene Ionogels with Octakis(methacryloxypropyl) Silsesquioxane
Authors: Lewandowska Aneta , Gajewski Piotr , Szcześniak Katarzyna , Sadej Mariola , Patelski Piotr , Marcinkowska Agnieszka
Published: January 2021

The effect of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) on the synthesis and properties of hybrid organic–inorganic ionogels was investigated using octakis(methacryloxypropyl) silsesquioxane (methacryl-POSS). Ionogels were prepared in situ by thiol-ene photopolymerization of triallyl isocyanurate with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) in a mixture of imidazolium ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMImNTf2) and propylene carbonate (PC). Investigations included the kinetics of hybrid materials formation and selected physical and mechanical properties. The disadvantage of ionogels without the methacryl-POSS modifier is leakage and insufficient mechanical properties. Modifying the thiol-ene matrix by the addition of methacryl-POSS made it possible to obtain non-leaking ionogels with improved mechanical and conductive properties. The steric hindrance of POSS cages and high-density network formation played important roles in ionogel synthesis: decrease of polymerization rate (with almost no effect on conversion), as well as dimensions of the formed polymer spheres during dispersion polymerization (highly cross-linked polymer has poorer solubility in polymerizing medium at a similar conversion, and nucleation begins at lower conversion), an increase of glass transition temperature and puncture strength. Hybrid ionogels with high ionic conductivity in the range of 4.0–5.1 mS∙cm−1 with the maximum parameter for 1.5 wt.% addition of the methacryl-POSS were obtained, which can be associated with ion-pair dissociations in ionic liquid clusters caused by methacryl-POSS.
Cumulative Production of Bioactive Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, and CK from Fermented Black Ginseng Using Novel Aspergillus niger KHNT-1 Strain Isolated from Korean Traditional Food
Authors: Park Jin Kyu , Yang Dong Uk , Arunkumar Lakshminarayanan , Han Yaxi , Lee Seung Jin , Arif Muhammad Huzaifa , Li Jin Feng , Huo Yue , Kang Jong Pyo , Hoang Van An , Ahn Jong Chan , Yang Deok Chun , Kang Se Chan
Published: January 2021

Ginseng is an ancient herb widely consumed due to its healing property of active ginsenosides. Recent researchers were explored to increase its absorption and bioavailability of ginsenosides at the metabolic sites, due to its pharmacological activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the isolation and characteristics of components obtained by a shorter steaming cycle (seven cycles) of white ginseng to fermented black ginseng, using a novel strain of Aspergillus niger KHNT-1 isolated from fermented soybean. The degree of bioactive of Rg3 increased effectively during the steaming process, and biotransformation converted the color towards black along active ginsenosides. Glycol moiety associated with C-3, C-6, or C-20 underwent rapid biotransformation and hydrolysis, such as Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd → Rg3, F2, and was converted to CK. Dehydration produces Rg3 → Rk1, Rg5. Rh2 → Rk2; thus, converted fermented black ginseng was solvent-extracted, and the isolated components were identified by TLC, HPLC, and quantification by LCMS. The unique composition obtained during this process with Rk1, Rg3, Rg5, and CK is nontoxic to HaCaT cell line up to 200 ug/mL for 24 h and was found to be effective in B16BL6 cell lines, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Thus, it is a suitable candidate for nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
Bimetallic Pt-Co Nanoparticle Deposited on Alumina for Simultaneous CO and Toluene Oxidation in the Presence of Moisture
Authors: Peng Peng , Li Jun , Mo Shengpeng , Zhang Qi , Shen Taiming , Xie Qinglin
Published: January 2021

Carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HCs) generally have competitive adsorption on the active site of noble-metal nano-catalysts, thus developing an effective way to reduce the passivation of competitive reaction with each other is an urgent problem. In this study, we successfully synthesized transition metal-noble metal (Pt-M) alloys via introducing inexpensive metal elements (M = Ni, Co and Cu) into Pt particles and then deposited on alumina support to form Pt-based catalysts. Subsequently, we choose CO and toluene as polluting gases to evaluate the catalytic activities of Pt-M/Al2O3 catalysts. Introducing inexpensive metal elements (M = Ni, Co, and Cu) significantly changed the physicochemical properties and catalytic activities of these Pt-based catalysts. It can be found that the Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited outstanding catalytic activity for CO and toluene oxidation under mixed gas atmosphere, compared with other Pt-based catalysts, which is due to the higher dispersity, more surface adsorption oxygen, and well redox ability. Surprisingly, H2O could promote the catalytic activities for CO/toluene co-oxidation over the Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalyst. Thus, the present synthetic strategy not only opens an avenue towards the synthesis of noble metal-based catalysts, but also provides an excellent tolerance to H2O in the catalytic process.
Targeted Quantification of the Lysosomal Proteome in Complex Samples
Authors: Mosen Peter , Sanner Anne , Singh Jasjot , Winter Dominic
Published: January 2021

In eukaryotic cells, lysosomes play a crucial role in the breakdown of a variety of components ranging from small molecules to complex structures, ascertaining the continuous turnover of cellular building blocks. Furthermore, they act as a regulatory hub for metabolism, being crucially involved in the regulation of major signaling pathways. Currently, ~450 lysosomal proteins can be reproducibly identified in a single cell line by mass spectrometry, most of which are low-abundant, restricting their unbiased proteomic analysis to lysosome-enriched fractions. In the current study, we applied two strategies for the targeted investigation of the lysosomal proteome in complex samples: data-independent acquisition (DIA) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). Using a lysosome-enriched fraction, mouse embryonic fibroblast whole cell lysate, and mouse liver whole tissue lysate, we investigated the capabilities of DIA and PRM to investigate the lysosomal proteome. While both approaches identified and quantified lysosomal proteins in all sample types, and their data largely correlated, DIA identified on average more proteins, especially for lower complex samples and longer chromatographic gradients. For the highly complex tissue sample and shorter gradients, however, PRM delivered a better performance regarding both identification and quantification of lysosomal proteins. All data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXDD023278.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Quaternary in 2020
Authors:   Quaternary Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Quaternary maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Retrieval of Urban Aerosol Optical Depth from Landsat 8 OLI in Nanjing, China
Authors: Jin Yangyang , Hao Zengzhou , Chen Jian , He Dong , Tian Qingjiu , Mao Zhihua , Pan Delu
Published: January 2021

Aerosol is an essential parameter for assessing the atmospheric environmental quality, and accurate monitoring of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) is of great significance in climate research and environmental protection. Based on Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images and MODIS09A1 surface reflectance products under clear skies with limited cloud cover, we retrieved the AODs in Nanjing City from 2017 to 2018 using the combined Dark Target (DT) and Deep Blue (DB) methods. The retrieval accuracy was validated by in-situ CE-318 measurements and MOD04_3K aerosol products. Furthermore, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of the AODs and discussed a case of high AOD distribution. The results showed that: (1) Validated by CE-318 and MOD04_3K data, the correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) of the retrieved AODs were 0.874 and 0.802, 0.134 and 0.188, and 0.099 and 0.138, respectively. Hence, the combined DT and DB algorithms used in this study exhibited a higher performance than the MOD04_3K-obtained aerosol products. (2) Under static and stable meteorological conditions, the average annual AOD in Nanjing was 0.47. At the spatial scale, the AODs showed relatively high values in the north and west, low in the south, and the lowest in the center. At the seasonal scale, the AODs were highest in the summer, followed by spring, winter, and autumn. Moreover, changes were significantly higher in the summer than in the other three seasons, with little differences among spring, autumn, and winter. (3) Based on the spatial and seasonal characteristics of the AOD distribution in Nanjing, a case of high AOD distribution caused by a large area of external pollution and local meteorological conditions was discussed, indicating that it could provide extra details of the AOD distribution to analyze air pollution sources using fine spatial resolution like in the Landsat 8 OLI.
Effectively Extracting Iceberg Freeboard Using Bi-Temporal Landsat-8 Panchromatic Image Shadows
Authors: Guan Zhenfu , Cheng Xiao , Liu Yan , Li Teng , Zhang Baogang , Yu Zhitong
Published: January 2021

The freshwater flux from icebergs into the Southern Ocean plays an important role in the global climate through its impact on the deep-water formation. Large uncertainties exist in the ice volume transported by Southern Ocean icebergs due to the sparse spatial and temporal coverage of observations, especially observations of ice thickness. The iceberg freeboard is a critical geometric parameter for measuring the thickness of an iceberg and then estimating its volume. This study developed a new, highly efficient shadow-height method to precisely measure the freeboard of various icebergs surrounded by sea ice using Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager 15-m bi-temporal panchromatic image shadows at low-solar-elevation angles. We evaluated and validated shadow length precision according to bi-temporal measurements and comparison with the measurements from the unmanned aerial vehicle. We determined freeboard precision according to shadow length precision and solar elevation angle. In our case study area, 4832 available freeboard measuring points with shadow length precision better than 2 pixels covered 376 icebergs with sizes ranging from 0.002 to 0.7 km² and with freeboard ranging from 2.3 to 83.4 m. At the solar elevation angles of 5.2°, the freeboard precision of 64.1% data could reach 1 m and 86.9% could reach 2 m. Our proposed method effectively filled in the data gap of existing freeboard measurement methods.
Machine Learning Enabled Performance Prediction Model for Massive-MIMO HetNet System
Authors: Bandopadhaya Shuvabrata , Samal Soumya Ranjan , Poulkov Vladimir
Published: January 2021

To support upcoming novel applications, fifth generation (5G) and beyond 5G (B5G) wireless networks are being propelled to deploy an ultra-dense network with an ultra-high spectral efficiency using the combination of heterogeneous network (HetNet) solutions and massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO). As the deployment of massive MIMO HetNet systems involves a high capital expenditure, network service providers need a precise performance analysis before investment. The performance of such networks is limited because of presence of inter-cell and inter-tier interferences. The conventional analytic approach to model the performance of such networks is not trivial, as the performance is a stochastic function of many network parameters. This paper proposes a machine learning (ML) approach to predict the network performance of a massive MIMO HetNet system considering a multi-cell scenario. This paper considers a two-tier network in which the base stations of each tier are equipped with massive MIMO systems working in a sub 6GHz band. The coverage probability (CP) and area spectral efficiency (ASE) are considered to be the network performance metrics that quantify the reliability and achievable rate in the network, respectively. Here, an ML model is inferred to predict the numerical values of the performance metrics for an arbitrary network configuration. In the process of practical deployments of future networks, the use of this model could be very valuable.
Radioactive Source Localisation via Projective Linear Reconstruction
Authors: White Samuel R. , Wood Kieran T. , Martin Peter G. , Connor Dean T. , Scott Thomas B. , Megson-Smith David A.
Published: January 2021

Radiation mapping, through the detection of ionising gamma-ray emissions, is an important technique used across the nuclear industry to characterise environments over a range of length scales. In complex scenarios, the precise localisation and activity of radiological sources becomes difficult to determine due to the inability to directly image gamma photon emissions. This is a result of the potentially unknown number of sources combined with uncertainties associated with the source-detector separation—causing an apparent ‘blurring’ of the as-detected radiation field relative to the true distribution. Accurate delimitation of distinct sources is important for decommissioning, waste processing, and homeland security. Therefore, methods for estimating the precise, ‘true’ solution from radiation mapping measurements are required. Herein is presented a computational method of enhanced radiological source localisation from scanning survey measurements conducted with a robotic arm. The procedure uses an experimentally derived Detector Response Function (DRF) to perform a randomised-Kaczmarz deconvolution from robotically acquired radiation field measurements. The performance of the process is assessed on radiation maps obtained from a series of emulated waste processing scenarios. The results demonstrate a Projective Linear Reconstruction (PLR) algorithm can successfully locate a series of point sources to within 2 cm of the true locations, corresponding to resolution enhancements of between 5× and 10×.
Computer Vision-Based Bridge Damage Detection Using Deep Convolutional Networks with Expectation Maximum Attention Module
Authors: Qiao Wenting , Ma Biao , Liu Qiangwei , Wu Xiaoguang , Li Gang
Published: January 2021

Cracks and exposed steel bars are the main factors that affect the service life of bridges. It is necessary to detect the surface damage during regular bridge inspections. Due to the complex structure of bridges, automatically detecting bridge damage is a challenging task. In the field of crack classification and segmentation, convolutional neural networks have offer advantages, but ordinary networks cannot completely solve the environmental impact problems in reality. To further overcome these problems, in this paper a new algorithm to detect surface damage called EMA-DenseNet is proposed. The main contribution of this article is to redesign the structure of the densely connected convolutional networks (DenseNet) and add the expected maximum attention (EMA) module after the last pooling layer. The EMA module is obviously helpful to the bridge damage feature extraction. Besides, we use a new loss function which considers the connectivity of pixels, it has been proved to be effective in reducing the break point of fracture prediction and improving the accuracy. To train and test the model, we captured many images from multiple bridges located in Zhejiang (China), and then built a dataset of bridge damage images. First, experiments were carried out on an open concrete crack dataset. The mean pixel accuracy (MPA), mean intersection over union (MIoU), precision and frames per second (FPS) of the EMA-DenseNet are 87.42%, 92.59%, 81.97% and 25.4, respectively. Then we also conducted experiments on a more challenging bridge damage dataset, the MIoU, where MPA, precision and FPS were 79.87%, 86.35%, 74.70% and 14.6, respectively. Compared with the current state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed algorithm is more accurate and robust in bridge damage detection.
Dense Deployment of LoRa Networks: Expectations and Limits of Channel Activity Detection and Capture Effect for Radio Channel Access
Authors: Pham Congduc , Ehsan Muhammad
Published: January 2021

With worldwide deployment of LoRa/LoRaWAN LPWAN networks in a large variety of applications, it is crucial to improve the robustness of LoRa channel access which is largely ALOHA-like to support environments with higher node density. This article presents extensive experiments on LoRa Channel Activity Detection and Capture Effect property in order to better understand how a competition-based channel access mechanisms can be optimized for LoRa LPWAN radio technology. In the light of these experimentation results, the contribution continues by identifying design guidelines for a channel access mechanism in LoRa and by proposing a channel access method with a lightweight collision avoidance mechanism that can operate without a reliable Clear Channel Assessment procedure. The proposed channel access mechanism has been implemented and preliminary tests show promising capabilities in increasing the Packet Delivery Rate in dense configurations.
Pushing Back on Displacement: Community-Based Redevelopment through Historically Black Churches
Authors: Born Branden , Berney Rachel , Baker Olivia , Jones Mark R. , King Donald , Marcus Dylan
Published: January 2021

Gentrification and subsequent displacement are common problems in cities, and result in the removal of poor communities and communities of color from urban areas as they move to cheaper locations in the metropolitan region. Here we describe a community-based approach to redevelopment by historic Black churches that seeks to counter such displacement and cultural removal. We explain the history of a historically Black neighborhood in Seattle and the founding and rationale for a church-led project called the Nehemiah Initiative. Our perspective is that of participants in the work of the Nehemiah Initiative and as faculty and students from a local university partner supporting it. We conclude with policy strategies that can be used to support such redevelopment in Seattle, with understanding that some may be broadly applicable to other cities.
The Application of the Structured Democratic Dialogue to Generate Action Plans for a Successful Integration Process in Swedish-Speaking Ostrobothnia
Authors: Habes Hasan , Björkqvist Kaj , Andreou Andreas
Published: January 2021

In a previous study on integrating minority groups in Ostrobothnia in 2019, one of the most influential challenges was that Finland was not including native Finns in the integration process. This finding was made using the structured democratic dialogue (SDD). For the present study, the same participatory methodology was applied, wherein 12 participants from diverse socio-economical, cultural, and educational background who reside in Ostrobothnia were brought together to explore feasible action plans to facilitate the inclusion of Finns in the integration process in the city of Vaasa in this region of Finland. The participants generated 66 action plans categorized under eight clusters. Based on the influence map generated by participants, Action #62 stated that the most influential one was “All projects are inclusive”. Action #55 stated, “Balanced representation of all the people (Finns, minorities and foreigners) in the political parties” and Action #49 stated, “Social-emotional education curriculum” were perceived as having great influence on other actions. Thus, drawing from the results of this SDD Co-Lab, these action plans should be considered priorities in order to successfully include Finns in the integration process. The low number of participants and the narrow representation of some minority groups are limitations of this study.
Household Social Expenditure in Ghana: Examining the Ex-Post Effects and Vulnerability to Poverty
Authors: Nkrumah Richard Kwabena , Annim Samuel Kobina , Afful Benedict
Published: January 2021

We estimate the effect of household social expenditure on vulnerability to poverty using the four latest cross-sectional waves of Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) from 1999 to 2017. Using a 3-Stage Least Square and Quantile Regression, our results show a widening consumption ex-post welfare gap between the poorest households and the non-poor households in a per-dollar social expenditure. Further, we estimate the probability of an ex-ante poverty using vulnerability to expected poverty. The results, however, indicate that regardless of poverty status, household vulnerability to poverty increased consistently between 1999 and 2017, and the very poor households showing the severest vulnerability. Hence, it is concluded that social expenditure increases the chances of a poor household falling into chronic poverty a non-poor household into transient poverty in the future.
Investigations on the Sustainable Resource Use of Swiss Timber
Authors: Leyder Claude , Klippel Michael , Bartlomé Olin , Heeren Niko , Kissling Sarah , Goto Yutaka , Frangi Andrea
Published: January 2021

In Switzerland, the advantages of timber buildings for the climate are broadly discussed. In the following paper, a comparative sustainability assessment of four building alternatives is presented. Especially the contribution of implementing Swiss timber versus the implementation of imported timber is highlighted. Additionally, the timber-hybrid building structures are compared to a pure reinforced concrete structure. The timber-hybrid structure, with Swiss timber, has clear ecological advantages with only half the greenhouse gas emissions and half the non-renewable energy consumption compared to the reinforced concrete alternative. Comparing the Swiss timber alternative to the imported timber alternative, there are clear ecological advantages, as well. In terms of economic and social sustainability assessment criteria, the reinforced concrete alternative has the lowest production costs and the lowest labor intensity (measured in terms of full-time equivalents). Additionally, the paper includes an analysis of biogenic CO2 emissions and CO2 storage within the timber building alternatives. Finally, an up-scaling to the national level is attempted, showcasing the ecological and economic advantages of promoting the use of locally produced timber.
Sustainability Practices in Australian Firms: The Effect of Family Control and the Generational Stage
Authors: Fernández-Méndez Carlos , Arrondo-García Rubén
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the effects of family control on a firm’s adoption of sustainability practices, with special attention given to the heterogeneity of the family business derived from the generational stage of the company. Using a panel of 166 Australian companies listed between 2011 and 2018, we found that family businesses have lower sustainability scores compared to non-family businesses, according to the predictions of the socioemotional wealth (SEW) approach. For a subsample of family businesses, we found that multi-generational family businesses score better on sustainability than firms managed by the founders (first-generation). The SEW perspective could explain the effects of family control based on the pursuit of non-economic goals and the higher risk-aversion of family businesses. The decline in non-economic goals resulting from the ageing of the company stimulates the adoption of better sustainability practices. The generational stage of a family business could be a moderator of the relationship between family control and the adoption of sustainability practices and is a central element in explaining the disparity in the sustainability policies within family businesses.
Predicted Medium Vote Thermal Comfort Analysis Applying Energy Simulations with Phase Change Materials for Very Hot-Humid Climates in Social Housing in Ecuador
Authors: Godoy-Vaca Luis , Vallejo-Coral E. Catalina , Martínez-Gómez Javier , Orozco Marco , Villacreses Geovanna
Published: January 2021

This work aims to estimate the expected hours of Predicted Medium Vote (PMV) thermal comfort in Ecuadorian social housing houses applying energy simulations with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for very hot-humid climates. First, a novel methodology for characterizing three different types of social housing is presented based on a space-time analysis of the electricity consumption in a residential complex. Next, the increase in energy demand under climate influences is analyzed. Moreover, with the goal of enlarging the time of thermal comfort inside the houses, the most suitable PCM for them is determined. This paper includes both simulations and comparisons of thermal behavior by means of the PMV methodology of four types of PCMs selected. From the performed energy simulations, the results show that changing the deck and using RT25-RT30 in walls, it is possible to increase the duration of thermal comfort in at least one of the three analyzed houses. The applied PCM showed 46% of comfortable hours and a reduction of 937 h in which the thermal sensation varies from “very hot” to “hot”. Additionally, the usage time of air conditioning decreases, assuring the thermal comfort for the inhabitants during a higher number of hours per day.
Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Introduce Weights to Social Life Cycle Assessment of Mobility Services
Authors: Gompf Katharina , Traverso Marzia , Hetterich Jörg
Published: January 2021

Decisions in social sustainability assessment of mobility services often pose a multi-criteria decision-making issue, as trade-offs can occur between multiple alternatives and a participatory process should be used. Thus, the goal of this research is to support decision-making through determining weightings for different criteria and indicators for social sustainability assessment of mobility services. For the weighting process, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used. A participatory analysis was chosen to identify those weightings. In total, 48 experts in the field of sustainable urban mobility were questioned from three different groups: academic institutions, city authorities, and mobility service providers in order to analyze differences and similarities between these groups. While some indicators resulted in clear prioritization, other indicators revealed large differences between the expert groups. For the majority of indicators, the weighting results were similar for all three groups of experts. Consequently, the results provide clear guidance for decision-makers in the field of sustainable urban mobility.
MRP-PCI: A Multiple Reference Point Based Partially Compensatory Composite Indicator for Sustainability Assessment
Authors: Ruiz Francisco , Cabello José Manuel
Published: January 2021

Assessing different types of sustainability is a complex procedure, which implies considering aspects of very different nature. One way to do this is using a system of single indicators measuring all these different aspects and aggregating them in an overall composite indicator. In line with the concepts of weak and strong sustainability, the compensability degree among the indicators allowed by the aggregation procedure is a crucial issue. There exist methods that allow for full compensability, zero compensability, or partial compensability. In most of them, the compensation degree is established in a global way, that is, it is the same for all the indicators. In this paper, we develop the Multiple Reference Point Partially Compensatory Indicator (MRP-PCI), where a different compensation index can be established for each indicator. The resulting method can be applied to any system of indicators, and successfully considers the compensation indices given. Some examples and comparisons are used to illustrate its behavior.
Innovating with Nature: From Nature-Based Solutions to Nature-Based Enterprises
Authors: Kooijman Esmee D. , McQuaid Siobhan , Rhodes Mary-Lee , Collier Marcus J. , Pilla Francesco
Published: January 2021

Nature-based solutions (NBS) to address societal challenges have been widely recognised and adopted by governments in climate change and biodiversity strategies. Nevertheless, significant barriers exist for the necessary large-scale implementation of NBS and market development is still in its infancy. This study presents findings from a systematic review of literature and a survey on private sector agents in the planning and implementation of NBS, with the aim to identify them. In this study, we propose a typology for organisations delivering NBS and a categorisation of their economic activities. The most common organisation type found is nature-based enterprise which offers products or services where nature is a core element and used sustainably and engages in economic activity. Moreover, eleven categories of economic activities were identified, ranging from ecosystem restoration, living green roofs, and eco-tourism to smart technologies and community engagement for NBS. Nature-based enterprises contribute to a diverse range of sustainable economic activities, that standard industry classification systems do not adequately account for. The recognition of the value created by these activities is essential for designing effective policy support measures, and for market development of the sector and its potential to facilitate the wider adoption of NBS.
Green Energy, Economic Growth and Environmental Quality Nexus in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Kahia Montassar , Omri Anis , Jarraya Bilel
Published: January 2021

This article extends the previous studies on environmental economics literature by examining a possible relationship between economic growth, green energy, and environmental quality. Specifically, this article investigated the three-way linkage between economic growth, renewable energy, and environmental quality in the case of Saudi Arabia using the simultaneous equation modeling approach over the period of 1990–2016. The following are the main findings obtained: (i) a unidirectional causal impact of economic growth on renewable energy consumption was found, confirming the conservation hypothesis; (ii) bidirectional relationships between economic growth and CO2 emissions and between CO2 emissions and renewable energy consumption were also found; (iii) the failure of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia to close the gap between growing the economy and protecting the environment in Saudi Arabia; (iv) the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis was supported. Policy implications are also discussed.
Linking Economic Complexity, Diversification, and Industrial Policy with Sustainable Development: A Structured Literature Review
Authors: Ferraz Diogo , Falguera Fernanda P. S. , Mariano Enzo B. , Hartmann Dominik
Published: January 2021

Research on economic diversification and complexity has made significant advances in understanding economic development processes, but has only recently explored environmental and social sustainability considerations. In this article we evaluate the current state of this emerging literature and reveal 13 research gaps. A total of 35 different keywords and methods from structured literature reviews and network science helped to identify 374 scientific articles between 1988 and 2020 and revealed a fragmented research landscape around three larger network communities: (1) industrial policies, climate change, and green growth; (2) economic complexity and its association with inequality and environmental sustainability; and (3) economic diversification, including studies on livelihood diversification in poor areas. Economic complexity research applies new empirical methods and considers both social and environmental sustainability, but seldom scrutinizes theory and policy. Industrial policy research focuses on green growth policies but tends to omit social sustainability issues and advanced empirical methods. Research on economic diversification in poor regions provides insights on the livelihood diversification of farmers, but is disconnected from the economic complexity and industrial policy research. This review helps to summarize the main contributions and shows pathways for potential mutual learning between these communities for the sake of sustainable development.
Material-Driven Textile Design (MDTD): A Methodology for Designing Circular Material-Driven Fabrication and Finishing Processes in the Materials Science Laboratory
Authors: Ribul Miriam , Goldsworthy Kate , Collet Carole
Published: January 2021

In the context of the circular economy, materials in scientific development present opportunities for material design processes that begin at a raw state, before being introduced into established processes and applications. The common separation of the scientific development of materials from design intervention results in a lack of methodological approaches enabling designers to inform new processes that respond to new material properties. This paper presents the results of a PhD investigation that led to the development and application of a Material-Driven Textile Design (MDTD) methodology for design research based in the materials science laboratory. It also presents the development of the fabrication of a textile composite with regenerated cellulose obtained from waste textiles, resulting from the MDTD methodology informing novel textile processes. The methods and practice which make up this methodology include distinct phases of exploration, translation and activation, and were developed via three design-led research residencies in materials science laboratories in Europe. The MDTD methodology proposes an approach to design research in a scientific setting that is decoupled from a specific product or application in order to lift disciplinary boundaries for the development of circular material-driven fabrication and finishing processes at the intersection of materials science and design.
Tracing the Trends in Sustainability and Social Media Research Using Topic Modeling
Authors: Lee Jee Hoon , Wood Jacob , Kim Jungsuk
Published: January 2021

New ideas are often born from connecting the dots. What new ideas have emerged among the two highly trending research topics of sustainability and social media? In this study, we present an empirical analysis of 762 published works that included the terms “sustainability” and “social media” in their abstracts. The bibliographic data, including abstracts, were collected from the Scopus database. In order to conduct the analysis, we used the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), an unsupervised machine learning algorithm to extract the latent topics from the large quantity of research abstracts without any manual adjustment. The 10 main topics identified from our analysis revealed topographical maps of research in the field. By measuring the variation of topic distributions over time, we identified hot topics (research trends that are becoming increasingly popular over time) and cold topics. Sustainable consumer behavior, Sustainable community and Sustainable tourism were identified as being hot topics, while Education for sustainability was identified as the only cold topic. By identifying current trends in social media and sustainability research, our findings lay a platform from which further studies may abound.
Sustainable Electric Personal Mobility: The Design of a Wireless Charging Infrastructure for Urban Tourism
Authors: Kwag Sung Il , Hur Uhjin , Ko Young Dae
Published: January 2021

Though new technologies have been applied in all industries, electric mobility technology using eco-friendly energy is drawing a great deal of attention. This research focuses on a personal electric mobility system for urban tourism. Some tourism sites such as Gyeongju, Korea, have broad spaces for tourists to walk around, but the public transportation system has been insufficiently developed due to economic reasons. Therefore, personal mobility technology such as electric scooters can be regarded as efficient alternatives. For the operation of electric scooters, a charging infrastructure is necessary. Generally, scooters can be charged via wires, but this research suggests an advanced electric personal mobility system based on wireless electric charging technology that can accommodate user convenience. A mathematical model-based optimization was adopted to derive an efficient design for a wireless charging infrastructure while minimizing total investment costs. By considering the type of tourists and their tour features, optimal locations and lengths of the static and dynamic wireless charging infrastructure are derived. By referring to this research, urban tourism can handle transportation issues from a sustainable point of view. Moreover, urban tourism will have a better chance of attracting tourists by conserving heritage sites and by facilitating outdoor activities with electric personal mobility.
Insight into the Impact of COVID-19 on Australian Transportation Sector: An Economic and Community-Based Perspective
Authors: Munawar Hafiz Suliman , Khan Sara Imran , Qadir Zakria , Kouzani Abbas Z. , Mahmud M A Parvez
Published: January 2021

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major virus outbreak of the 21st century. The Australian government and local authorities introduced some drastic strategies and policies to control the outspread of this virus. The policies related to lockdown, quarantine, social distancing, shut down of educational institute, work from home, and international and interstate travel bans significantly affect the lifestyle of citizens and, thus, influence their activity patterns. The transport system is, thus, severely affected due to the COVID-19 related restrictions. This paper analyses how the transport system is impacted because of the policies adopted by the Australian government for the containment of the COVID-19. Three main components of the transport sector are studied. These are air travel, public transport, and freight transport. Various official sources of data such as the official website of the Australian government, Google mobility trends, Apple Mobility trends, and Moovit were consulted along with recently published research articles on COVID-19 and its impacts. The secondary sources of data include databases, web articles, and interviews that were conducted with the stakeholders of transport sectors in Australia to analyse the relationship between COVID-19 prevention measures and the transport system. The results of this study showed reduced demand for transport with the adoption of COVID-19 prevention measures. Declines in revenues in the air, freight, and public transport sectors of the transport industry are also reported. The survey shows that transport sector in Australia is facing a serious financial downfall as the use of public transport has dropped by 80%, a 31.5% drop in revenues earned by International airlines in Australia has been predicted, and a 9.5% reduction in the freight transport by water is expected. The recovery of the transport sector to the pre-pandemic state is only possible with the relaxation of COVID-19 containment policies and financial support by the government.
Co-Movement between Tourist Arrivals of Inbound Tourism Markets in South Korea: Applying the Dynamic Copula Method Using Secondary Time Series Data
Authors: Choi Ki-Hong , Kim Insin
Published: January 2021

Tourism demand is severely affected by unpredicted events, which has prompted scholars to examine ways of predicting the effects of positive and negative shocks on tourism, to ensure a sustainable tourism industry. The purpose of this study was to investigate if non-linear dependence structures exist between tourist flows into South Korea from five major source countries, as South Korea has undergone fluctuations in tourist arrivals due to diverse circumstances and has complex relations with tourism source countries. Additionally, the study examines the structures of extreme tail dependence, which is indicated in the case of unexpected events, and identifies how co-movements vary over time through dynamic copula–GARCH (generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) tests. The secondary time series data for the 2005–2019 period of tourist arrivals to Korea were derived from the Korea Tourism Knowledge and Information System for testing the copula models. The copula estimations indicate significant dependencies among all market pairs as well as the strongest dependence between China and Taiwan. Moreover, extreme tail dependence structures show co-movements for four pairs of tourism markets in only negative shocks, for five pairs in both positive and negative conditions, but no co-movement in the China–Taiwan pair. Finally, the dynamic dependence structures reveal that the China–Taiwan dependence is higher than the other time-varying dependence structures, implying that the two markets complement each other.
How Different Are the Nordics? Unravelling the Willingness to Make Economic Sacrifices for the Environment
Authors: Reyes Joseph Anthony L.
Published: January 2021

The Nordic countries are often considered as remarkably exceptional in terms of the proenvironmental behavior of their citizens and also as forerunners in environmental policies. However, very few empirical studies have been done at the aggregated level about how the Nordics compare to other countries. The article addresses this knowledge gap and analyzes the Nordic region in terms of willingness to make economic sacrifices, proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors. Data (N = 5877) from the environment module of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) are utilized, with nonparametric statistical tests and multinomial logistic regression employed—wherein, emphasis is placed on the regression models for willingness as dependent variables as analysis of the first order, with attitudes, behaviors and sociodemographic variables as part of second order analysis. The findings reveal that the region’s higher levels of willingness, attitudes, and behaviors become more salient when compared to third countries. People in the Nordic region who are ‘neither willing nor unwilling’ to protect the environment can be considered as distinct, and should not be arbitrarily lumped within the categories of the ‘unwilling’ or ‘willing’ respondents. These insights allow for a deeper understanding of peoples’ willingness and the relationships to respective attitudes and behaviors beneficial towards engaging the acceptability of extant environmental policies.
An Analytical Approach to the Universal Wave Function and Its Gravitational Effect
Authors: Xiong Yunuo , Xiong Hongwei
Published: January 2021

Based on quantum origin of the universe, in this article we find that the universal wave function can be far richer than the superposition of many classical worlds studied by Everett. By analyzing the more general universal wave function and its unitary evolutions, we find that on small scale we can obtain Newton’s law of universal gravity, while on the scale of galaxies we naturally derive gravitational effects corresponding to dark matter, without modifying any physical principles or hypothesizing the existence of new elementary particles. We find that an auxiliary function having formal symmetry is very useful to predict the evolution of the classical information in the universal wave function.