bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stepwise Utilization Process to Recover Valuable Components from Copper Slag
Authors: Li Siwei , Guo Zhengqi , Pan Jian , Zhu Deqing , Dong Tao , Lu Shenghu
Published: February 2021

Waste copper slag is a typical hazardous solid waste containing a variety of valuable elements and has not been effectively disposed of so far. In this paper, a stepwise extraction process was proposed to recover valuable elements (copper, iron, lead and zinc) from waste copper slag. The specific procedures are as follows: (1) A flotation process was adopted to enrich copper, and when the copper grade in the flotation concentrate was 21.50%, the copper recovery rate was 77.78%. (2) The flotation tailings were pelletized with limestone, then the green pellets were reduced, and the magnetic separation process was carried out. When the iron and copper grades in the magnetic concentrate were 90.21% Fe and 0.4% Cu, 91.34% iron and 83.41% copper were recovered, respectively. (3) Non-magnetic tailings were mixed with clinker and standard sand to produce common Portland cement. Several products were obtained from the waste copper slag through the proposed process: flotation concentrate, measured 21.50% Cu; magnetic concentrate, containing 90.21% TFe and 0.4% Cu; direct reduction dust, including 65.17% ZnO and 2.66% PbO; common Portland cement for building construction. The comprehensive utilization method for waste copper slag achieved zero tailing and has great potential for practical application.
Calculation of the Vapour Pressure of Organic Molecules by Means of a Group-Additivity Method and Their Resultant Gibbs Free Energy and Entropy of Vaporization at 298.15 K
Authors: Naef Rudolf , Acree William E.
Published: February 2021

The calculation of the vapour pressure of organic molecules at 298.15 K is presented using a commonly applicable computer algorithm based on the group-additivity method. The basic principle of this method rests on the complete breakdown of the molecules into their constituting atoms, further characterized by their immediate neighbour atoms. The group contributions are calculated by means of a fast Gauss–Seidel fitting algorithm using the experimental data of 2036 molecules from literature. A ten-fold cross-validation procedure has been carried out to test the applicability of this method, which confirmed excellent quality for the prediction of the vapour pressure, expressed in log(pa), with a cross-validated correlation coefficient Q2 of 0.9938 and a standard deviation σ of 0.26. Based on these data, the molecules’ standard Gibbs free energy ΔG°vap has been calculated. Furthermore, using their enthalpies of vaporization, predicted by an analogous group-additivity approach published earlier, the standard entropy of vaporization ΔS°vap has been determined and compared with experimental data of 1129 molecules, exhibiting excellent conformance with a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.9598, a standard error σ of 8.14 J/mol/K and a medium absolute deviation of 4.68%.
Study of Endogen Substrates, Drug Substrates and Inhibitors Binding Conformations on MRP4 and Its Variants by Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Becerra Edgardo , Aguilera-Durán Giovanny , Berumen Laura , Romo-Mancillas Antonio , García-Alcocer Guadalupe
Published: February 2021

Multidrug resistance protein-4 (MRP4) belongs to the ABC transporter superfamily and promotes the transport of xenobiotics including drugs. A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in the ABCC4 gene can promote changes in the structure and function of MRP4. In this work, the interaction of certain endogen substrates, drug substrates, and inhibitors with wild type-MRP4 (WT-MRP4) and its variants G187W and Y556C were studied to determine differences in the intermolecular interactions and affinity related to SNPs using protein threading modeling, molecular docking, all-atom, coarse grained, and umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations (AA-MDS and CG-MDS, respectively). The results showed that the three MRP4 structures had significantly different conformations at given sites, leading to differences in the docking scores (DS) and binding sites of three different groups of molecules. Folic acid (FA) had the highest variation in DS on G187W concerning WT-MRP4. WT-MRP4, G187W, Y556C, and FA had different conformations through 25 ns AA-MD. Umbrella sampling simulations indicated that the Y556C-FA complex was the most stable one with or without ATP. In Y556C, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and ceefourin-1 binding sites are located out of the entrance of the inner cavity, which suggests that both cAMP and ceefourin-1 may not be transported. The binding site for cAMP and ceefourin-1 is quite similar and the affinity (binding energy) of ceefourin-1 to WT-MRP4, G187W, and Y556C is greater than the affinity of cAMP, which may suggest that ceefourin-1 works as a competitive inhibitor. In conclusion, the nsSNPs G187W and Y556C lead to changes in protein conformation, which modifies the ligand binding site, DS, and binding energy.
Room-Temperature Hydrogen-Sensing Capabilities of Pt-SnO2 and Pt-ZnO Composite Nanoceramics Occur via Two Different Mechanisms
Authors: Liu Ming , Li Pengcheng , Huang Yong , Cheng Liang , Hu Yongming , Tang Zilong , Chen Wanping
Published: February 2021

Impressive room-temperature gas-sensing capabilities have been reported for nanomaterials of many metal oxides, including SnO2, ZnO, TiO2, WO3, and Fe2O3, while little attention has been paid to the intrinsic difference among them. Pt-SnO2 and Pt-ZnO composite nanoceramics have been prepared through convenient pressing and sintering. The former shows strong and stable responses to hydrogen in 20% O2-N2 (synthetic air) at room temperature, while the responses to hydrogen in N2 cannot be stabilized in limited times; the latter shows strong and stable responses to hydrogen in N2, while the responses to hydrogen in synthetic air are greatly depressed. Further analyses reveal that for Pt-ZnO, the responses result from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen chemisorbed on ZnO; while for Pt-SnO2, the responses result from two reactions of hydrogen, one is that with oxygen chemisorbed on SnO2 and the other is hydrogen chemisorption on SnO2. These results reveal two different room-temperature hydrogen-sensing mechanisms among MOXs, which results in highly contrasting room-temperature hydrogen-sensing capabilities attractive for sensing hydrogen in oxygen-contained and oxygen-free environments, separately.
Fermi-Level Tuning of G-Doped Layers
Authors: Tavkhelidze Avto , Bibilashvili Amiran , Jangidze Larissa , Gorji Nima E.
Published: February 2021

Recently, geometry-induced quantum effects were observed in periodic nanostructures. Nanograting (NG) geometry significantly affects the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of semiconductor layers. Silicon NG layers exhibit geometry-induced doping. In this study, G-doped junctions were fabricated and characterized and the Fermi-level tuning of the G-doped layers by changing the NG depth was investigated. Samples with various indent depths were fabricated using laser interference lithography and a consecutive series of reactive ion etching. Four adjacent areas with NG depths of 10, 20, 30, and 40 nm were prepared on the same chip. A Kelvin probe was used to map the work function and determine the Fermi level of the samples. The G-doping-induced Fermi-level increase was recorded for eight sample sets cut separately from p-, n-, p+-, and n+-type silicon substrates. The maximum increase in the Fermi level was observed at a10 nm depth, and this decreased with increasing indent depth in the p- and n-type substrates. Particularly, this reduction was more pronounced in the p-type substrates. However, the Fermi-level increase in the n+- and p+-type substrates was negligible. The obtained results are explained using the G-doping theory and G-doped layer formation mechanism introduced in previous works.
Application of ZnO Nanocrystals as a Surface-Enhancer FTIR for Glyphosate Detection
Authors: Valle Anderson L. , Silva Anielle C. A. , Dantas Noelio O. , Sabino-Silva Robinson , Melo Francielli C. C. , Moreira Cleumar S. , Oliveira Guedmiller S. , Rodrigues Luciano P. , Goulart Luiz R.
Published: February 2021

Glyphosate detection and quantification is still a challenge. After an extensive review of the literature, we observed that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) had practically not yet been used for detection or quantification. The interaction between zinc oxide (ZnO), silver oxide (Ag2O), and Ag-doped ZnO nanocrystals (NCs), as well as that between nanocomposite (Ag-doped ZnO/AgO) and glyphosate was analyzed with FTIR to determine whether nanomaterials could be used as signal enhancers for glyphosates. The results were further supported with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. The glyphosate commercial solutions were intensified 10,000 times when incorporated the ZnO NCs. However, strong chemical interactions between Ag and glyphosate may suppress signaling, making FTIR identification difficult. In short, we have shown for the first time that ZnO NCs are exciting tools with the potential to be used as signal amplifiers of glyphosate, the use of which may be explored in terms of the detection of other molecules based on nanocrystal affinity.
Edge-Rich Interconnected Graphene Mesh Electrode with High Electrochemical Reactivity Applicable for Glucose Detection
Authors: Tran Van Viet , Nguyen Duc Dung , Hofmann Mario , Hsieh Ya-Ping , Kan Hung-Chih , Hsu Chia-Chen
Published: February 2021

The development of graphene structures with controlled edges is greatly desired for understanding heterogeneous electrochemical (EC) transfer and boosting EC applications of graphene-based electrodes. We herein report a facile, scalable, and robust method to produce graphene mesh (GM) electrodes with tailorable edge lengths. Specifically, the GMs were fabricated at 850 °C under a vacuum level of 0.6 Pa using catalytic nickel templates obtained based on a crack lithography. As the edge lengths of the GM electrodes increased from 5.48 to 24.04 m, their electron transfer rates linearly increased from 0.08 to 0.16 cm∙s−1, which are considerably greater than that (0.056 ± 0.007 cm∙s−1) of basal graphene structures (defined as zero edge length electrodes). To illustrate the EC sensing potentiality of the GM, a high-sensitivity glucose detection was conducted on the graphene/Ni hybrid mesh with the longest edge length. At a detection potential of 0.6 V, the edge-rich graphene/Ni hybrid mesh sensor exhibited a wide linear response range from 10.0 μM to 2.5 mM with a limit of detection of 1.8 μM and a high sensitivity of 1118.9 μA∙mM−1∙cm−2. Our findings suggest that edge-rich GMs can be valuable platforms in various graphene applications such as graphene-based EC sensors with controlled and improved performance.
The Prevalence of Anti-Zein Antibodies: A Comparative Study between Celiac Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Sánchez-Vargas Luis Alberto , Hernández-Flores Karina Guadalupe , Cabrera-Jorge Francisco Javier , Remes-Troche José María , Reyes-Huerta Job , Vivanco-Cid Héctor
Published: February 2021

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. In contrast, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting the large intestine, without an autoimmune component. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of IgA and IgG antibodies to maize zeins (AZA) in patients with CD and IBS. Using an in-house ELISA assay, the IgA and IgG anti-zein antibodies in the serum of 37 newly diagnosed CD (16 biopsy proved and 21 serological diagnosis) and 375 IBS patients or 302 healthy control (HC) subjects were measured. Elevated levels of IgA AZA were found in CD patients compared with IBS patients (p < 0.01) and HC (p < 0.05). CD patients had the highest prevalence (35.1%), followed by IBS (4.3%) and HCs (2.3%) (p < 0.0001). IgG AZA antibodies were not found in any CD patients, IBS patients, or HC subjects. A significant positive correlation was found between IgA AZA with IgA anti-gliadin (AGA, r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and IgA anti-deaminated gliadin peptides (DGP, r = 0.42, p < 0.001) in the celiac disease group. Taken together, our results show for the first time a higher prevalence of AZA IgA antibodies in newly diagnosed CD patients than in IBS patients, confirming a biased immune response to other gliadin-related prolamins such as maize zeins in genetically susceptible individuals.
Diet and Nutrition in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Cucinotta Ugo , Romano Claudio , Dipasquale Valeria
Published: February 2021

Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In particular, diet composition is suspected to significantly contribute to IBD risk. In recent years, major interest has raised about the role of nutrition in disease pathogenesis and course, and many studies have shown a clear link between diet composition and intestinal permeability impairment. Moreover, many IBD-related factors, such as poor dietary intake, nutrients loss and drugs interact with nutritional status, thus paving the way for the development of many therapeutic strategies in which nutrition represents the cornerstone, either as first-line therapy or as reversing nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition in IBD patients. Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the most rigorously supported dietary intervention for the treatment of Crohn’s Disease (CD), but is burdened by a low tolerability, especially in pediatric patients. Promising alternative regimens are represented by Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), and other elimination diets, whose use is gradually spreading. The aim of the current paper is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview on the latest evidence about the role of nutrition and diet in pediatric IBD, focusing on the different nutritional interventions available for the management of the disease.
Sarcopenia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Overview
Authors: Dhaliwal Amritpal , Quinlan Jonathan I. , Overthrow Kellie , Greig Carolyn , Lord Janet M. , Armstrong Matthew J. , Cooper Sheldon C.
Published: February 2021

Malnutrition is a common condition encountered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is often associated with sarcopenia (the reduction of muscle mass and strength) which is an ever-growing consideration in chronic diseases. Recent data suggest the prevalence of sarcopenia is 52% and 37% in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, respectively, however it is challenging to fully appreciate the prevalence of sarcopenia in IBD. Sarcopenia is an important consideration in the management of IBD, including the impact on quality of life, prognostication, and treatment such as surgical interventions, biologics and immunomodulators. There is evolving research in many chronic inflammatory states, such as chronic liver disease and rheumatoid arthritis, whereby interventions have begun to be developed to counteract sarcopenia. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current literature regarding the impact of sarcopenia in the management of IBD, from mechanistic drivers through to assessment and management.
Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine: Efficacy in the Treatment of the COVID-19
Authors: Ho Tzu-Chuan , Wang Yung-Hsuan , Chen Yi-Ling , Tsai Wan-Chi , Lee Che-Hsin , Chuang Kuo-Pin , Chen Yi-Ming Arthur , Yuan Cheng-Hui , Ho Sheng-Yow , Yang Ming-Hui , Tyan Yu-Chang
Published: February 2021

Chloroquine (CQ) and its derivative, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), have attracted wide attention for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, conflicting outcomes have been found in COVID-19 clinical trials after treatment with CQ or HCQ. To date, it remains uncertain whether CQ and HCQ are beneficial antiviral drugs for combating COVID-19. We performed a systematic review to depict the efficacy of CQ or HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19. The guidelines of PRISMA were used to conduct this systematic review. We searched through articles from PubMed, Web of Science and other sources that were published from 1 January 2020 to 31 October 2020. The search terms included combinations of human COVID-19, CQ, and HCQ. Eleven qualitative articles comprising of four clinical trials and seven observation studies were utilized in our systematic review. The analysis shows that CQ and HCQ do not have efficacy in treatment of patients with severe COVID-19. In addition, CQ and HCQ have caused life-threatening adverse reactions which included cardiac arrest, electrocardiogram modification, and QTc prolongation, particularly during the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19. Our systematic review suggested that CQ and HCQ are not beneficial antiviral drugs for curing patients with severe COVID-19. The treatment effect of CQ and HCQ is not only null but also causes serious side effects, which may cause potential cardiotoxicity in severe COVID-19 patients.
Pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 Inducer Carbamazepine and Its Drug–Drug Interaction Potential: A Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Approach
Authors: Fuhr Laura Maria , Marok Fatima Zahra , Hanke Nina , Selzer Dominik , Lehr Thorsten
Published: February 2021

The anticonvulsant carbamazepine is frequently used in the long-term therapy of epilepsy and is a known substrate and inducer of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2B6. Carbamazepine induces the metabolism of various drugs (including its own); on the other hand, its metabolism can be affected by various CYP inhibitors and inducers. The aim of this work was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) parent−metabolite model of carbamazepine and its metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, including carbamazepine autoinduction, to be applied for drug–drug interaction (DDI) prediction. The model was developed in PK-Sim, using a total of 92 plasma concentration−time profiles (dosing range 50–800 mg), as well as fractions excreted unchanged in urine measurements. The carbamazepine model applies metabolism by CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 to produce carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, metabolism by CYP2B6 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7 and glomerular filtration. The carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide model applies metabolism by epoxide hydroxylase 1 (EPHX1) and glomerular filtration. Good DDI performance was demonstrated by the prediction of carbamazepine DDIs with alprazolam, bupropion, erythromycin, efavirenz and simvastatin, where 14/15 DDI AUClast ratios and 11/15 DDI Cmax ratios were within the prediction success limits proposed by Guest et al. The thoroughly evaluated model will be freely available in the Open Systems Pharmacology model repository.
Mucoadhesive Gelatin Buccal Films with Propranolol Hydrochloride: Evaluation of Mechanical, Mucoadhesive, and Biopharmaceutical Properties
Authors: Jovanović Marija , Tomić Nataša , Cvijić Sandra , Stojanović Dušica , Ibrić Svetlana , Uskoković Petar
Published: February 2021

This study processes and characterizes propranolol hydrochloride/gelatin mucoadhesive buccal films. Two types of gelatin are used: Gelatin from porcine skin, type A (GA), and gelatin from bovine skin (GB). The influence of gelatin type on mechanical, mucoadhesive, and biopharmaceutical characteristics of buccal films is evaluated. Fourier-Transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis show that GA with propranolol hydrochloride (PRH) in the film (GAP) formed a physical mixture, whereas GB with PRH (GBP) form a compound-complex. Results of mechanical testing (tensile test, hardness) revealed that GAP films exhibit higher elastic modulus, tensile strength, and hardness. A mucoahesion test shows that GBP has higher adhesion strength, while GAP shows higher work of adhesion. Both in vitro release study and in silico simulation indicated that processed films can provide effective drug transport through the buccal mucosa. In silico simulation shows improved bioavailability from buccal films, in comparison to the immediate-release tablets—indicating that the therapeutic drug dose can be markedly reduced.
Collagen Type I Biomaterials as Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Rico-Llanos Gustavo A. , Borrego-González Sara , Moncayo-Donoso Miguelangel , Becerra José , Visser Rick
Published: February 2021

Collagen type I is the main organic constituent of the bone extracellular matrix and has been used for decades as scaffolding material in bone tissue engineering approaches when autografts are not feasible. Polymeric collagen can be easily isolated from various animal sources and can be processed in a great number of ways to manufacture biomaterials in the form of sponges, particles, or hydrogels, among others, for different applications. Despite its great biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, collagen type I also has some drawbacks, such as its high biodegradability, low mechanical strength, and lack of osteoinductive activity. Therefore, many attempts have been made to improve the collagen type I-based implants for bone tissue engineering. This review aims to summarize the current status of collagen type I as a biomaterial for bone tissue engineering, as well as to highlight some of the main efforts that have been made recently towards designing and producing collagen implants to improve bone regeneration.
In Situ Synthesis of Poly(butyl methacrylate) in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Nanoreactors by Radical Polymerization: A Comparative Kinetics Analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and 1H-NMR
Authors: León-Boigues Laia , Pérez Luis Andrés , Mijangos Carmen
Published: February 2021

In this work, we explore the ability to generate well-defined poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) nanostructures by “in situ” polymerization of butyl methacrylate monomer (BMA). PBMA nanostructures of high and low aspect ratios have been successfully obtained through the free radical polymerization (FRP) of a BMA monomer in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanoreactors of suitable size. A polymerization kinetics process has been followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR).The determination of the kinetics of polymerization through DSC is based on a quick and direct analysis of the exothermic polymerization process, whereas the analysis through 1H-NMR also allows the unambiguous chemical analysis of the resulting polymer. When compared to bulk polymerization, both techniques demonstrate confinement effects. Moreover, DSC and 1H-NMR analysis give the same kinetics results and show a gel-effect in all the cases. The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the PBMA obtained in AAO of 60–300 nm are between 30·103–175·103 g/mol. Even if the Mn value is lower with respect to that obtained in bulk polymerization, it is high enough to maintain the polymer properties. As determined by SEM morphological characterization, once extracted from the AAO nanoreactor, the polymer nanostructures show controlled homogeneous aspect/size all throughout the length of nanopillar over a surface area of few cm2. The Young’s modulus of low aspect ratio PBMA nanopillars determined by AFM gives a value of 3.1 ± 1.1 MPa. In this work, a 100% of PBMA polymer nanostructures are obtained from a BMA monomer in AAO templates through a quick double process: 30 min of monomer immersion at room temperature and 90 min of polymerization reaction at 60 °C. While the same nanostructures are obtained by polymer infiltration of PBMA at 200 °C in about 6 h, polymerization conditions are much softer than those corresponding to the polymer infiltration process. Furthermore, the 1H-NMR technique has been consolidated as a tool for studying the kinetics of the copolymerization reactions in confinement and the determination of monomer reactivity ratios.
Downscaling of MODIS NDVI by Using a Convolutional Neural Network-Based Model with Higher Resolution SAR Data
Authors: Nomura Ryota , Oki Kazuo
Published: February 2021

The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a simple but powerful indicator, that can be used to observe green live vegetation efficiently. Since its introduction in the 1970s, NDVI has been used widely for land management, food security, and physical models. For these applications, acquiring NDVI in both high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution is preferable. However, there is generally a trade-off between temporal and spatial resolution when using satellite images. To relieve this problem, a convolutional neural network (CNN) based downscaling model was proposed in this research. This model is capable of estimating 10-m high resolution NDVI from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 250-m resolution NDVI by using Sentinel-1 10-m resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. First, this downscaling model was trained to estimate Sentinel-2 10-m resolution NDVI from a combination of upscaled 250-m resolution Sentinel-2 NDVI and 10-m resolution Sentinel-1 SAR data, by using data acquired in 2019 in the target area. Then, the generality of this model was validated by applying it to test data acquired in 2020, with the result that the model predicted the NDVI with reasonable accuracy (MAE = 0.090, ρ = 0.734 on average). Next, 250-m NDVI from MODIS data was used as input to confirm this model under conditions replicating an actual application case. Although there were mismatch in the original MODIS and Sentinel-2 NDVI data, the model predicted NDVI with acceptable accuracy (MAE = 0.108, ρ = 0.650 on average). Finally, this model was applied to predict high spatial resolution NDVI using MODIS and Sentinel-1 data acquired in target area from 1 January 2020~31 December 2020. In this experiment, double cropping of cabbage, which was not observable at the original MODIS resolution, was observed by enhanced temporal resolution of high spatial resolution NDVI images (approximately ×2.5). The proposed method enables the production of 10-m resolution NDVI data with acceptable accuracy when cloudless MODIS NDVI and Sentinel-1 SAR data is available, and can enhance the temporal resolution of high resolution 10-m NDVI data.
Hyperspectral Monitoring of Non-Native Tropical Grasses over Phenological Seasons
Authors: Pfitzner Kirrilly , Bartolo Renee , Whiteside Tim , Loewensteiner David , Esparon Andrew
Published: February 2021

The miniaturisation of hyperspectral sensors for use on drones has provided an opportunity to obtain hyper temporal data that may be used to identify and monitor non-native grass species. However, a good understanding of variation in spectra for species over time is required to target such data collections. Five taxological and morphologically similar non-native grass species were hyper spectrally characterised from multitemporal spectra (17 samples over 14 months) over phenological seasons to determine their temporal spectral response. The grasses were sampled from maintained plots of homogenous non-native grass cover. A robust in situ standardised sampling method using a non-imaging field spectrometer measuring reflectance across the 350–2500 nm wavelength range was used to obtain reliable spectral replicates both within and between plots. The visible-near infrared (VNIR) to shortwave infrared (SWIR) and continuum removed spectra were utilised. The spectra were then resampled to the VNIR only range to simulate the spectral response from more affordable VNIR only hyperspectral scanners suitable to be mounted on drones. We found that species were separable compared to similar but different species. The spectral patterns were similar over time, but the spectral shape and absorption features differed between species, indicating these subtle characteristics could be used to distinguish between species. It was the late dry season and the end of the wet season that provided maximum separability of the non-native grass species sampled. Overall the VNIR-SWIR results highlighted more dissimilarity for unlike species when compared to the VNIR results alone. The SWIR is useful for discriminating species, particularly around water absorption.
Mid-Infrared Compressive Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Yang Shuowen , Yan Xiang , Qin Hanlin , Zeng Qingjie , Liang Yi , Arguello Henry , Yuan Xin
Published: February 2021

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been widely investigated within the context of computational imaging due to the high dimensional challenges for direct imaging. However, existing computational HSI approaches are mostly designed for the visible to near-infrared waveband, whereas less attention has been paid to the mid-infrared spectral range. In this paper, we report a novel mid-infrared compressive HSI system to extend the application domain of mid-infrared digital micromirror device (MIR-DMD). In our system, a modified MIR-DMD is combined with an off-the-shelf infrared spectroradiometer to capture the spatial modulated and compressed measurements at different spectral channels. Following this, a dual-stage image reconstruction method is developed to recover infrared hyperspectral images from these measurements. In addition, a measurement without any coding is used as the side information to aid the reconstruction to enhance the reconstruction quality of the infrared hyperspectral images. A proof-of-concept setup is built to capture the mid-infrared hyperspectral data of 64 pixels × 48 pixels × 100 spectral channels ranging from 3 to 5 μm, with the acquisition time within one minute. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first mid-infrared compressive hyperspectral imaging approach that could offer a less expensive alternative to conventional mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging systems.
The Impact of CSR on Corporate Value of Restaurant Businesses Using Triple Bottom Line Theory
Authors: Shim Jimin , Moon Joonho , Lee Won Seok , Chung Namho
Published: February 2021

The main goal of this study was to investigate the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the value of restaurant firms by employing triple bottom line theory, a framework for a business model of sustainable development focusing on profit, environment, and people rather than just maximizing profit. Even though triple bottom line has been a common theoretical foundation in the CSR area, there is sparse literature on the theory in the context of CSR in the restaurant domain. Data regarding CSR dimensions and market-to-book value from 32 publicly traded restaurant firms in the US stock market for the period 1999–2012 were gathered, and panel data analysis methods of ordinary least square, one-way fixed effect, and time series feasible generalized least square were employed. The results revealed that economic CSR enhanced restaurant value, whereas environmental CSR diminished the value. The theoretical contribution of this study is that it will broaden the scope of triple bottom line theory. The results of the study will help restaurant administrators determine CSR policy.
Agroforestry: Challenges and Opportunities in Rhino Camp and Imvepi Refugee Settlements of Arua District, Northern Uganda
Authors: Grosrenaud Evangeline , Okia Clement Akais , Adam-Bradford Andrew , Trenchard Liz
Published: February 2021

In the past, the environment has been a low priority in humanitarian operations for refugee agencies and implementing partners because of the emergency context. However, actions to safeguard the environment can be undertaken concurrently with emergency interventions and organisations should take responsibility for conserving the environment in refugee settlements in the same way that they are responsible for the welfare of refugees. Tree-based interventions, such as agroforestry, have been demonstrated as a viable option for resilience and sustainability in landscapes with increasing human pressure. Refugee settlements are subject to intense human pressure and suffer environmental degradation as a consequence. The potential benefits of agroforestry in refugee settlements though are not well researched. This study explores the implementation of agroforestry schemes in refugee settlements in the Arua district of Uganda. Using semi-structured interviews with the beneficiaries of the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF) agroforestry projects in Imvepi and Rhino camps, the study identifies key benefits for participants and the environment. These include improved livelihoods and nutrition. However, there are challenges to overcome before agroforestry can be made more widely available in refugee camps. Key barriers include insufficient land, limited water availability and lack of local knowledge, which limits productivity. This research shows how relief, rehabilitation and development can work hand in hand to reduce social and environmental pressure in the targeted refugee settlements and host communities and improve the well-being of beneficiary households by creating opportunities for income generation, improving nutrition and contributing to social cohesion.
Ignition Vulnerabilities of Combustibles around Houses to Firebrand Showers: Further Comparison of Experiments
Authors: Suzuki Sayaka , Manzello Samuel L.
Published: February 2021

Wildland fires and wildland urban-interface (WUI) fires have become a significant problem in recent years. The mechanisms of home ignition in WUI fires are direct flame contact, thermal radiation, and firebrand attack. Out of these three fire spread factors, firebrands are considered to be a main driving force for rapid fire spread as firebrands can fly far from the fire front and ignite structures. The limited experimental data on firebrand showers limits the ability to design the next generation of communities to resist WUI fires to these types of exposures. The objective of this paper is to summarize, compare, and reconsider the results from previous experiments, to provide new data and insights to prevent home losses from firebrands in WUI fires. Comparison of different combustible materials around homes revealed that wood decking assemblies may be ignited within similar time to mulch under certain conditions.
Teleworking during the Covid-19 Crisis in Italy: Evidence and Tentative Interpretations
Authors: Tokarchuk Oksana , Gabriele Roberto , Neglia Giorgio
Published: February 2021

The paper investigates the determinants and discusses the consequences of the switch towards Italian high-tech firms’ teleworking due to the COVID-19 crisis. Teleworking is important to reduce traffic congestion and increase the sustainability of cities, and as such, it is important to understand what helps the successful transition of firms to telework. COVID-19 crisis represents a natural experiment that allows studying organizational ability to adapt to unexpected environmental changes rapidly. The study is based on a survey conducted in mid-April 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown among Italian manufacturing firms’ managers in high-tech sectors. The final sample is composed of 179 observations. Using path analysis, we model the organizational e-readiness as a mediator of the firm’s technological and organizational characteristics in the rate of adoption of teleworking. Teleworking is also modeled as dependent on human resources and from the exogenous shock represented by COVID-19 lockdown. While teleworking has been imposed by COVID-19, organizational readiness plays a key role in shaping the rate of teleworking adoption during emergencies.
Thinking Big and Thinking Small: A Conceptual Framework for Best Practices in Community and Stakeholder Engagement in Food, Energy, and Water Systems
Authors: Kliskey Andrew , Williams Paula , Griffith David L. , Dale Virginia H. , Schelly Chelsea , Marshall Anna-Maria , Gagnon Valoree S. , Eaton Weston M. , Floress Kristin
Published: February 2021

Community and stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognized as essential to science at the nexus of food, energy, and water systems (FEWS) to address complex issues surrounding food and energy production and water provision for society. Yet no comprehensive framework exists for supporting best practices in community and stakeholder engagement for FEWS. A review and meta-synthesis were undertaken of a broad range of existing models, frameworks, and toolkits for community and stakeholder engagement. A framework is proposed that comprises situational awareness of the FEWS place or problem, creation of a suitable culture for engagement, focus on power-sharing in the engagement process, co-ownership, co-generation of knowledge and outcomes, the technical process of integration, the monitoring processes of reflective and reflexive experiences, and formative evaluation. The framework is discussed as a scaffolding for supporting the development and application of best practices in community and stakeholder engagement in ways that are arguably essential for sound FEWS science and sustainable management.
EEG and fMRI Correlates of Insight: A Pilot Study
Authors: Knyazev Gennady G. , Ushakov Vadim L. , Orlov Vyacheslav A. , Malakhov Denis G. , Kartashov Sergey I. , Savostyanov Alexander N. , Bocharov Andrey V. , Velichkovsky Boris M.
Published: February 2021

Insight is described as the sudden solution of a problem and is contrasted with an analytical, step-by-step approach. Traditionally, insight is thought to be associated with activity of the right hemisphere, whereas analytical solutions are thought to be associated with activity of the left hemisphere. However, empirical evidence as to the localization of insight-related brain activity is mixed and inconclusive. Some studies seem to confirm the traditional view, whereas others do not. Moreover, results of EEG and fMRI studies frequently contradict each other. In this study, EEG and fMRI data were recorded while subjects performed the remote association test and for each solved problem were asked to report whether the solution was reached analytically or insightfully. The data were analyzed in a 16-second fragment preceding the subject’s response. Source localization techniques were used in the analysis of EEG data. Based on EEG data, insightful as compared to analytical problem solving was accompanied by high-frequency synchronization in semantic cortical areas of the left hemisphere 10–12 s before the subject’s response. Based on fMRI data, however, insightful solutions were accompanied by increased activity in frontal and temporal regions of the right hemisphere. The results are interpreted in terms of different cognitive processes involved in insightful problem solving, which could be differently reflected in EEG and fMRI data.
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Its Virulence Factors H2O2 and Pneumolysin Are Potent Mediators of the Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Gonzales Joyce , Chakraborty Trinad , Romero Maritza , Mraheil Mobarak Abu , Kutlar Abdullah , Pace Betty , Lucas Rudolf
Published: February 2021

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders in the world. Due to functional asplenia, a dysfunctional antibody response, antibiotic drug resistance and poor response to immunization, SCD patients have impaired immunity. A leading cause of hospitalization and death in SCD patients is the acute chest syndrome (ACS). This complication is especially manifested upon infection of SCD patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn)—a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium that causes lower respiratory tract infections. Spn has developed increased rates of antibiotics resistance and is particularly virulent in SCD patients. The primary defense against Spn is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the oxidative burst of neutrophils and macrophages. Paradoxically, Spn itself produces high levels of the ROS hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a virulence strategy. Apart from H2O2, Spn also secretes another virulence factor, i.e., the pore-forming exotoxin pneumolysin (PLY), a potent mediator of lung injury in patients with pneumonia in general and particularly in those with SCD. PLY is released early on in infection either by autolysis or bacterial lysis following the treatment with antibiotics and has a broad range of biological activities. This review will discuss recent findings on the role of pneumococci in ACS pathogenesis and on strategies to counteract the devastating effects of its virulence factors on the lungs in SCD patients.
Targeting the Complement Serine Protease MASP-2 as a Therapeutic Strategy for Coronavirus Infections
Authors: Flude Ben M. , Nannetti Giulio , Mitchell Paige , Compton Nina , Richards Chloe , Heurich Meike , Brancale Andrea , Ferla Salvatore , Bassetto Marcella
Published: February 2021

MASP-2, mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease 2, is a key enzyme in the lectin pathway of complement activation. Hyperactivation of this protein by human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 has been found to contribute to aberrant complement activation in patients, leading to aggravated lung injury with potentially fatal consequences. This hyperactivation is triggered in the lungs through a conserved, direct interaction between MASP-2 and coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Blocking this interaction with monoclonal antibodies and interfering directly with the catalytic activity of MASP-2, have been found to alleviate coronavirus-induced lung injury both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a virtual library of 8736 licensed drugs and clinical agents has been screened in silico according to two parallel strategies. The first strategy aims at identifying direct inhibitors of MASP-2 catalytic activity, while the second strategy focusses on finding protein-protein interaction inhibitors (PPIs) of MASP-2 and coronaviral N proteins. Such agents could represent promising support treatment options to prevent lung injury and reduce mortality rates of infections caused by both present and future-emerging coronaviruses. Forty-six drug repurposing candidates were purchased and, for the ones selected as potential direct inhibitors of MASP-2, a preliminary in vitro assay was conducted to assess their interference with the lectin pathway of complement activation. Some of the tested agents displayed a dose-response inhibitory activity of the lectin pathway, potentially providing the basis for a viable support strategy to prevent the severe complications of coronavirus infections.
Structure Unveils Relationships between RNA Virus Polymerases
Authors: Mönttinen Heli A. M. , Ravantti Janne J. , Poranen Minna M.
Published: February 2021

RNA viruses are the fastest evolving known biological entities. Consequently, the sequence similarity between homologous viral proteins disappears quickly, limiting the usability of traditional sequence-based phylogenetic methods in the reconstruction of relationships and evolutionary history among RNA viruses. Protein structures, however, typically evolve more slowly than sequences, and structural similarity can still be evident, when no sequence similarity can be detected. Here, we used an automated structural comparison method, homologous structure finder, for comprehensive comparisons of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). We identified a common structural core of 231 residues for all the structurally characterized viral RdRps, covering segmented and non-segmented negative-sense, positive-sense, and double-stranded RNA viruses infecting both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. The grouping and branching of the viral RdRps in the structure-based phylogenetic tree follow their functional differentiation. The RdRps using protein primer, RNA primer, or self-priming mechanisms have evolved independently of each other, and the RdRps cluster into two large branches based on the used transcription mechanism. The structure-based distance tree presented here follows the recently established RdRp-based RNA virus classification at genus, subfamily, family, order, class and subphylum ranks. However, the topology of our phylogenetic tree suggests an alternative phylum level organization.
Immunogenicity of Calvenza-03 EIV/EHV® Vaccine in Horses: Comparative In Vivo Study
Authors: Pavulraj Selvaraj , Bergmann Tobias , Trombetta Claudia Maria , Marchi Serena , Montomoli Emanuele , Alami Sidi Sefiane El , Ragni-Alunni Roberto , Osterrieder Nikolaus , Azab Walid
Published: February 2021

Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of equines that is caused mainly by the H3N8 subtype of influenza A virus. Vaccinating horses against EI is the most effective strategy to prevent the infection. The current study aimed to compare the kinetics of EI-specific humoral- and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in horses receiving either identical or mixed vaccinations. Two groups of horses were previously (six months prior) vaccinated with either Calvenza 03 EIV EHV® (G1) or Fluvac Innovator® (G2) vaccine. Subsequently, both groups received a booster single dose of Calvenza 03 EIV EHV®. Immune responses were assessed after 10 weeks using single radial hemolysis (SRH), virus neutralization (VN), and EliSpot assays. Our results revealed that Calvenza-03 EIV/EHV®-immunized horses had significantly higher protective EI-specific SRH antibodies and VN antibodies. Booster immunization with Calvenza-03 EIV/EHV® vaccine significantly stimulated cell-mediated immune response as evidenced by significant increase in interferon-γ-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In conclusion, Calvenza-03 EIV/EHV® vaccine can be safely and effectively used for booster immunization to elicit optimal long persisting humoral and CMI responses even if the horses were previously immunized with a heterogeneous vaccine.
Controls on Streamflow Densities in Semiarid Rocky Mountain Catchments
Authors: Martin Caroline , Kampf Stephanie , Hammond John , Wilson Codie , Anderson Suzanne
Published: February 2021

Developing accurate stream maps requires both an improved understanding of the drivers of streamflow spatial patterns and field verification. This study examined streamflow locations in three semiarid catchments across an elevation gradient in the Colorado Front Range, USA. The locations of surface flow throughout each channel network were mapped in the field and used to compute active drainage densities. Field surveys of active flow were compared to National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution (NHD HR) flowlines, digital topographic data, and geologic maps. The length of active flow declined with stream discharge in each of the catchments, with the greatest decline in the driest catchment. Of the tributaries that did not dry completely, 60% had stable flow heads and the remaining tributaries had flow heads that moved downstream with drying. The flow heads were initiated at mean contributing areas of 0.1 km2 at the lowest elevation catchment and 0.5 km2 at the highest elevation catchment, leading to active drainage densities that declined with elevation and snow persistence. The field mapped drainage densities were less than half the drainage densities that were represented using NHD HR. Geologic structures influenced the flow locations, with multiple flow heads initiated along faults and some tributaries following either fault lines or lithologic contacts.