bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review on Mandibular Muscle Kinematics
Authors: Martínez-Silva Beatriz , Diéguez-Pérez Montserrat
Published: August 2022

The complexity of mandibular dynamics encourages constant research as a vehicle to improve oral health. The gold standard motion capture system might help us to understand its functioning and its relation to body position, aiming to perform an exhaustive bibliographic review in the Dentistry field. Six different electronic databases were used (Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus) in April 2022. The selection criteria includes a biography, critical analysis, and the full text from 1984 to April 2022, based on the odontological gold standard, whether or not in combination with additional devices. Clinical cases, bibliographic reviews or meta-analysis and grey literature were excluded. The checklist of the critical assessment methodology by Joanna Brigs was used (JBI). After choosing scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals, 23 out of 186 investigations were classified as eligible with a total of 384 participants. The issue being addressed is related to the speech properties, posture and body movement in relation to dento-oro-facial muscle and facial analysis, mandibular kinematics and mandibular dynamics during the mastication process. The markers arrangement depends on the dynamic to be analysed. From a physiologic and pathologic perspective, the applications of the optic system are relevant in Dentistry. The scarcity of literature obtained implies the need for future research.
Subject-Dependent Artifact Removal for Enhancing Motor Imagery Classifier Performance under Poor Skills
Authors: Tobón-Henao Mateo , Álvarez-Meza Andrés , Castellanos-Domínguez Germán
Published: August 2022

The Electroencephalography (EEG)-based motor imagery (MI) paradigm is one of the most studied technologies for Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) development. Still, the low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) poses a challenge when constructing EEG-based BCI systems. Moreover, the non-stationary and nonlinear signal issues, the low-spatial data resolution, and the inter- and intra-subject variability hamper the extraction of discriminant features. Indeed, subjects with poor motor skills have difficulties in practicing MI tasks against low SNR scenarios. Here, we propose a subject-dependent preprocessing approach that includes the well-known Surface Laplacian Filtering and Independent Component Analysis algorithms to remove signal artifacts based on the MI performance. In addition, power- and phase-based functional connectivity measures are studied to extract relevant and interpretable patterns and identify subjects of inefficency. As a result, our proposal, Subject-dependent Artifact Removal (SD-AR), improves the MI classification performance in subjects with poor motor skills. Consequently, electrooculography and volume-conduction EEG artifacts are mitigated within a functional connectivity feature-extraction strategy, which favors the classification performance of a straightforward linear classifier.
Cross-Evaluation of Reflectivity from NEXRAD and Global Precipitation Mission during Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Acosta-Coll Melisa , Morales Abel , Zamora-Musa Ronald , Butt Shariq Aziz
Published: August 2022

During extreme events such as tropical cyclones, the precision of sensors used to sample the meteorological data is vital to feed weather and climate models for storm path forecasting, quantitative precipitation estimation, and other atmospheric parameters. For this reason, periodic data comparison between several sensors used to monitor these phenomena such as ground-based and satellite instruments, must maintain a high degree of correlation in order to issue alerts with an accuracy that allows for timely decision making. This study presents a cross-evaluation of the radar reflectivity from the dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) onboard the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) and the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) ground-based instrument located in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, USA, to determine the correlation degree between these two sensors’ measurements during extreme weather events and normal precipitation events during 2015–2019. GPM at Ku-band and Ka-band and NEXRAD at S-band overlapping scanning regions data of normal precipitation events during 2015–2019, and the spiral rain bands of four extreme weather events, Irma (Category 5 Hurricane), Beryl (Tropical Storm), Dorian (Category 1 hurricane), and Karen (Tropical Storm), were processed using the GPM Ground Validation System (GVS). In both cases, data were classified and analyzed statistically, paying particular attention to variables such as elevation angle mode and precipitation type (stratiform and convective). Given that ground-based radar (GR) has better spatial and temporal resolution, the NEXRAD was used as ground-truth. The results revealed that the correlation coefficient between the data of both instruments during the analyzed extreme weather events was moderate to low; for normal precipitation events, the correlation is lower than that of studies that compared GPM and NEXRAD reflectivity located in other regions of the USA. Only Tropical Storm Karen obtained similar results to other comparative studies in terms of the correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the GR elevation angle and precipitation type have a substantial impact on how well the rain reflectivity correlates between the two sensors. It was found that the Ku-band channel possesses the least bias and variability when compared to the NEXRAD instrument’s reflectivity and should therefore be considered more reliable for future tropical storm tracking and tropical region precipitation estimates in regions with no NEXRAD coverage.
Using Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Reactive Carbon Fiber Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Aflatoxin B1 from Complex Samples
Authors: Tsai Jia-Jen , Lai Yu-Ting , Chen Yu-Chie
Published: August 2022

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common mycotoxin present in agricultural and food products. Therefore, rapid screening methods must be developed for AFB1 detection with high sensitivity and good selectivity. In this study, we developed an analytical method based on the combination of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with carbon fiber ionization (CFI)-mass spectrometry (MS) to detect the presence of trace AFB1 from complex samples. A pencil lead (type 2B, length: ~2.5 cm) with a sharp end (diameter: ~150 μm) was used as the SPME fiber and the ionization emitter in CFI-MS analysis. Owing to the graphite structure of the pencil lead, AFB1 can be trapped on the pencil lead through π–π interactions. After adsorbing AFB1, the pencil lead was directly introduced in a pipette tip (length: ~0.7 cm; tip inner diameter: ~0.6 mm), placed close (~1 mm) to the inlet of the mass spectrometer, and applied with a high voltage (−4.5 kV) for in situ AFB1 elution and CFI-MS analysis. A direct electric contact on the SPME-CFI setup was not required. Followed by the introduction of an elution solvent (10 μL) (acetonitrile/ethanol/deionized water, 2:2:1 (v/v/v)) to the pipette tip, electrospray ionization was generated from the elution solvent containing AFB1 for CFI-MS analysis. A reactive SPME-CFI-MS strategy was employed to further identify AFB1 and improve elution capacity using our approach. Butylamine was added to the elution solvent, which was then introduced to the pipette tip inserted with the SPME fiber. Butylamine-derivatized AFB1 was readily generated and appeared in the resultant SPME-CFI mass spectrum. The lowest detectable concentration against AFB1 using our approach was ~1.25 nM. Our method can distinguish AFB1 from AFG1 in a mixture and can be used for the detection of trace AFB1 in complex peanut extract samples.
Simultaneous Extraction of Four Antibiotic Compounds from Soil and Water Matrices
Authors: Franklin Alison M. , Andrews Danielle M. , Williams Clinton F. , Watson John E.
Published: August 2022

The incidence of antibiotic resistance is on the rise and becoming a major health concern. Analyzing the presence of antibiotic compounds in the environment is critical for determining the potential health effects for humans, animals, and ecosystems. For this study, methods were developed to simultaneously isolate and quantify four antibiotics important in human medicine (sulfamethoxazole—SMX, trimethoprim—TMP, lincomycin—LIN, and ofloxacin—OFL) in water and soil matrices. For water analysis, different solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges (Oasis HLB plus and Phenomenex Strata-X) were compared. The Oasis HLB Plus SPE cartridge provided the highest and most consistent recoveries with 118 ± 5%, 86 ± 4%, 83 ± 5%, and 75 ± 1% for SMX, TMP, LIN, and OFL, respectively. For soil analysis, different pre-treatments (grinding and freeze-drying) and soil extraction methodologies (liquid-solid extraction and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE)) were compared. The ASE system resulted in the highest overall recoveries of SMX, TMP, LIN, and OFL with an optimal extracting solution of acetonitrile/water (v/v, 50:50, pH 2.8). When the soil was ground and freeze-dried, trimethoprim recovery increased and when soil was ground, but not freeze-dried, LIN and OFL recoveries increased, while sulfamethoxazole recoveries decreased when soil was ground and freeze-dried. Based on this research, matrix characteristics, especially pH, as well as the pKa’s and functional groups of the antibiotics need to be carefully considered when attempting to extract antibiotic compounds from a water or soil environment.
Characteristics of Soil Temperature, Humidity, and Salinity on Bird Island within Qinghai Lake Basin, China
Authors: Chen Zhirong , Yu Deyong , Cao Guangchao , Chen Kelong , Fu Jianxin , Ma Yuanxi , Wang Xinye
Published: August 2022

The temperature, moisture, and salt content of soil in alpine regions are sensitive to changes in climatic factors and are important indicators of ecosystem functions. In this study, we collected soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity data at different depths at a sampling site on Bird Island in Qinghai Lake during winter using a continuous soil temperature, moisture and salt content monitoring system and analyzed their variations and influential factors. The variation in soil moisture showed an obvious ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and an upward trend with soil layer depth. From 00:00 to 23:00, the overall soil temperature data fitted a ‘unimodal’ curve and showed a clear and continuous upward trend with soil layer depth at a rate of 0.684 (p < 0.001). Soil electrical conductivity data also exhibited a distinct ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and a continuous increase with increasing soil depth. The correlation between soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity and the spatial distribution of five climate factors indicated that climate factors accounted for 53.6% of the changes in soil temperature, moisture, and salinity. Climate factors showed a significant positive correlation with soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity (p < 0.001), and air temperature was the most important factor influencing soil temperature and soil moisture changes, whereas wind direction was the most important factor influencing soil conductivity. (Wind direction and wind speed affect soil evapotranspiration, and then affect soil moisture and solute transport process). The results of this preliminary study reveal the characteristics associated with soil temperature, moisture, and salinity changes in winter within the wetlands of Bird Island on Qinghai Lake in the context of climate change, and they can be used as valuable reference data in further studies investigating associated changes in ecosystem functions.
Factors behind the Consumer Acceptance of Sustainable Business Models in Pandemic Times
Authors: Csutora Maria , Harangozo Gabor , Szigeti Cecilia
Published: August 2022

A huge set of sustainable business models have emerged during recent decades to promote decarbonization, but the drivers of their consumer adoption remain somewhat unclear. This paper examines these drivers based on a sample of 622 university students during the second wave of COVID-19 at the end of 2020. Our research links business models to the theory of planned behavior and discusses their adoption from a consumer perspective. Using exploratory factor analysis, we identified five major and nine minor components of SBM adoption. Findings suggest that functional benefits, general attitudes, and habits may play a more important role in these factors than sustainability values during the second wave of pandemic. Still, sustainability values have neither lost nor gained momentum during hard times. Thrift, localization, and digitalization have become more dominant. We find that some SBM models are very strongly embedded in consumer culture, so the spread of SBM models does not necessarily lead to a reduction in environmental impacts.
Redefining Quality in Food Supply Chains via the Natural Resource Based View and Convention Theory
Authors: Johnson-Hall Tracy D. , Hall David C.
Published: August 2022

This study develops and tests a novel product quality framework for food supply chains (FSCs) that addresses sustainability. Issues including climate change, population growth, and the resources required by industrialized agriculture, as well as changing consumer preferences contribute to concerns about the social, ecological, and economic sustainability of FSCs. FSCs, therefore, need to be adapted to address changing supply and demand characteristics. We integrate the natural resource-based view (NRBV) with convention theory (CT) to develop a new set of quality dimensions. Placing social and ecological considerations within the domain of quality management advances theory in two ways. First, while social and ecological considerations are typically peripheral to business models, this framework allows social responsibility and the natural environment to occupy a central place within FSC operations. Second, the framework reflects the fundamentally socially embedded nature of FSCs, including the geographic, historical, and cultural associations of food quality. We then construct a typology of quality conventions and FSCs. We empirically test the typology using a case study methodology with cases from the United States of America (USA). The analysis explores how firms bundle quality conventions across FSCs for competitive advantage. We also find a set of paths through which FSCs transition via exploitation, exploration and organizational ambidexterity to generate competitive advantage, highlighting tradeoffs that may arise as FSCs evolve. These tradeoffs, which relate to maintaining or adapting quality conventions, are practically important because, if not managed appropriately, may result in lower performance and less sustainable FSCs.
Drinking Water Supply in Rural Africa Based on a Mini-Grid Energy System—A Socio-Economic Case Study for Rural Development
Authors: Falk Joern , Globisch Björn , Angelmahr Martin , Schade Wolfgang , Schenk-Mathes Heike
Published: August 2022

Water is an essential resource required for various human activities such as drinking, cooking, growing food, and personal hygiene. As a key infrastructure of public services, access to clean and safe drinking water is an essential factor for local socio-economic development. Despite various national and international efforts, water supply is often not guaranteed, especially in rural areas of Africa. Although many water resources are theoretically available in these areas, bodies of water are often contaminated with dangerous pathogens and pollutants. As a result, people, often women and children, have to travel long distances to collect water from taps and are exposed to dangers such as physical violence and accidents on their way. In this article, we present a socio-economic case study for rural development. We describe a drinking water treatment plant with an annual capacity of 10,950 m3 on Kibumba Island in Lake Victoria (Tanzania). The plant is operated by a photovoltaic mini-grid system with second-life lithium-ion battery storage. We describe the planning, the installation, and the start of operation of the water treatment system. In addition, we estimate the water prices achievable with the proposed system and compare it to existing sources of drinking water on Kibumba Island. Assuming a useful life of 15 years, the installed drinking water system is cost-neutral for the community at a cost price of 0.70 EUR/m3, 22% less than any other source of clean water on Kibumba Island. Access to safe and clean drinking water is a major step forward for the local population. We investigate the socio-economic added value using social and economic key indicators like health, education, and income. Hence, this approach may serve as a role model for community-owned drinking water systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Healthier Construction: Conceptualising Transformation of Mental Health Outcomes through an Integrated Supply Chain Model
Authors: London Kerry Anne , Meade Tanya , McLachlan Craig
Published: August 2022

The construction industry is undoubtedly one of the most significant global sectors that contributes to sustainable development across physical, social, environmental and economic objectives. Globally the value of the construction industry is USD 10 trillion annually. The robustness of the sector is in serious question with a crisis in mental health. The rebuilding of economies is often led by significant capital works programs and therefore in response to the global pandemic, it is anticipated that this problem will only be exacerbated. The construction sector has a unique project-based structure of numerous intersecting subsectors, which influence the behaviours and culminate in highly demanding work environments on a project-by-project basis. We propose that to institute transformational change to the mental health problem, we need to challenge current problematisations towards presenting a new conceptual framework. The aim of this paper is to analyse the industrial organisation and the structural and behavioural context of the industry and propose a new approach to understanding interactions at multiple levels in relation to root causes of the mental health problem. Aligned to the UN SDG that we are to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, this paper responds to high rates of depression, anxiety and suicide in the construction industry. There is a need to generate new knowledge about the interactions between multi project supply chain, construction project supply chain environment and construction supply chain performance in relation to mental health outcomes. Literature indicates that there is a wealth of research on stressors, coping and interventions at an individual level, however very little from an ‘insider’ construction management perspective which contextualise mental health outcomes with the environmental stressors. Coupled with this, past research designs predominantly utilised quantitative approaches reliant on questionnaires. We critique past problematisations of the mental health problem and show how it has been represented to enable the development of a reframed conceptualisation. There is a need to identify contextual evidence-based stressors throughout the construction project supply chain. We present a transformational change model integrating construction industry specific context knowledge with psychosocial expertise to improve workers’ mental health. Future research could lead to outcomes including recommendations and guidelines to engage management actors who can influence positive change through preventative strategies leading to effective and measurable mental health and project performance improvements.
On-Demand Logistics: Solutions, Barriers, and Enablers
Authors: Lozzi Giacomo , Iannaccone Gabriele , Maltese Ila , Gatta Valerio , Marcucci Edoardo , Lozzi Riccardo
Published: August 2022

The urban freight sector provides an essential service by delivering goods that are required by shops, companies, and households at a specific place and time. However, the growth of e-commerce and the dawn of on-demand logistics (hereinafter ODL) have raised citizens’ expectations of logistics systems, further stressing them and thereby increasing their operational and environmental costs. To the authors’ best knowledge, there are no extensive literature reviews specifically on the topic of ODL and on suggestions for policy prioritisation for tackling its effects. This paper aims at addressing this issue by providing an extensive literature review of ODL and its enablers. This research, after a thorough explanation of the ODL rationale, its trends, and its effects, analyses possible solutions to its inefficiencies, focusing on enablers and barriers. Furthermore, it illustrates and clarifies the role of external factors in influencing ODL. Finally, it proposes a systematic evaluation approach by identifying knowledge gaps and consequently defining the subsequent actions needed, broken down by the individual influencing components, rendering these solutions compatible with the status quo and effective for solving the highlighted issues.
Planning Criteria and Models for the Development of Urban Structures of Coastal Settlements of Boka Kotorska
Authors: Savić Sanja , Mašanović Nevena , Bajić Šestović Jelena
Published: August 2022

This study examines planning criteria and models for the development of urban settlements situated along the coastline of Boka Kotorska. In the period between 1940 and 2006, coastal settlements underwent great transformations that changed their historical image and the image of the immediate landscape significantly. The transformations resulted from political, economic and sociological changes occurring within the observed period. Consequently, huge transformations of the urban structure and the appearance of certain settlements are noticeable. Based on the available archival material (topographic maps, plans and drafts of the settlement or its parts in different scales), statistical data and the analysis of completed scientific research in this area, the analysis and comparison of the expansion of Boka Kotorska settlements as well as analysis of their urban transformation was conducted. Defining and using criteria based on recognizing the features of the subject area is a prerequisite for the planned development of Montenegrin coastal settlements, both regarding built and nonbuilt or ruined structures of the subject area. By identifying planning criteria and models, and upon conducting the systematic examination and valuation of physical planning documentation, new planning criteria and models for the improvement of Boka Kotorska coastal settlements have been proposed—ones that can be used in practice, i.e., for the development of physical planning documentation, studies and expertise.
A Practical and Sustainable Approach to Determining the Deployment Priorities of Automatic Vehicle Identification Sensors
Authors: Li Dongya , Wang Wei , Zhao De
Published: August 2022

Monitoring vehicles’ paths is important for the management and governance of smart sustainable cities, where traffic sensors play a significant role. As a typical sensor, an automatic vehicle identification (AVI) sensor can observe the whereabouts and movements of vehicles. In this article, we introduced an indicator called the deployment score to present the deployment priorities of AVIs for a better reconstruction of vehicles’ paths. The deployment score was obtained based on a programming method for maximizing the accuracy of a recurring vehicle’s path and minimizing the number of AVI sensors. The calculation process is data-driven, where a random-work method was developed to simulate massive path data (tracks of vehicles) according to travel characteristics extracted from finite GPS data. Then, for each simulated path, a path-level bi-level programming model (P-BPM) was constructed to find the optimal layout of the AVI sensors. The solutions of the P-BPM proved to be approximate Pareto optima from a data-driven perspective. Furthermore, the PageRank method was presented to integrate the solutions; thus, the deployment score was obtained. The proposed method was validated in Chengdu City, whose results demonstrated the remarkable value of our approach.
Alternatives to Improve Performance and Operation of a Hybrid Solar Thermal Power Plant Using Hybrid Closed Brayton Cycle
Authors: Moreno-Gamboa Faustino , Escudero-Atehortua Ana , Nieto-Londoño César
Published: August 2022

Hybrid solar thermal power plants using the Brayton cycle are currently of great interest as they have proven to be technically feasible. This study evaluates mechanisms to reduce fuel consumption and increase the power generated, improving plant efficiency. An energy and exergy model for the hybrid solar plant is developed using an estimation model for the solar resource to determine the plant operation under specific environmental conditions. The effect of using different working fluids in the Brayton cycle, such as air, and helium in transcritical conditions and carbon dioxide in subcritical and supercritical conditions, is evaluated. Additionally, the plant’s exergy destruction and exergy efficiency are evaluated. In those, it can be highlighted that the helium cycle in the same operating conditions compared to other working fluids can increase the power by 160%, increasing fuel consumption by more than 390%.
Advances in Thermo-Electrochemical (TEC) Cell Performances for Harvesting Low-Grade Heat Energy: A Review
Authors: Burmistrov Igor , Khanna Rita , Gorshkov Nikolay , Kiselev Nikolay , Artyukhov Denis , Boychenko Elena , Yudin Andrey , Konyukhov Yuri , Kravchenko Maksim , Gorokhovsky Alexander , Kuznetsov Denis
Published: August 2022

Thermo-electrochemical cells (also known as thermocells, TECs) represent a promising technology for harvesting and exploiting low-grade waste heat (<100–150 °C) ubiquitous in the modern environment. Based on temperature-dependent redox reactions and ion diffusion, emerging liquid-state thermocells convert waste heat energy into electrical energy, generating power at low costs, with minimal material consumption and negligible carbon footprint. Recent developments in thermocell performances are reviewed in this article with specific focus on new redox couples, electrolyte optimisation towards enhancing power output and operating temperature regime and the use of carbon and other nanomaterials for producing electrodes with high surface area for increasing current density and device performance. The highest values of output power and cell potentials have been achieved for the redox ferri/ferrocyanide system and Co2+/3+, with great opportunities for further development in both aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. New thermoelectric applications in the field include wearable and portable electronic devices in the health and performance-monitoring sectors; using body heat as a continuous energy source, thermoelectrics are being employed for long-term, continuous powering of these devices. Energy storage in the form of micro supercapacitors and in lithium ion batteries is another emerging application. Current thermocells still face challenges of low power density, conversion efficiency and stability issues. For waste-heat conversion (WHC) to partially replace fossil fuels as an alternative energy source, power generation needs to be commercially viable and cost-effective. Achieving greater power density and operations at higher temperatures will require extensive research and significant developments in the field.
Measuring the Self-Efficacy of Health Professionals for Practicing Hand Hygiene and Using Gloves: Development and Validation of an Instrument
Authors: Pereira Eliana Borges Silva , de Andrade Denise , Haas Vanderlei José , Watanabe Evandro , Cunha Cristiane Martins , Lopes de Sousa Alvaro Francisco
Published: August 2022

Adherence to hand hygiene procedures and the use of gloves is a problem that deserves to be analyzed from an individual and organizational point of view. For this, we aim to develop and validate an instrument for measuring the self-efficacy of health professionals for practicing hand hygiene and using gloves. We evaluated the metric properties of validity and reliability for measuring the self-efficacy of health professionals for practicing hand hygiene and using gloves. Fifteen health and education professionals formed the judges committee to construct the instrument for measuring the self-efficacy of health professionals for practicing hand hygiene and using gloves. Moreover, 362 nursing professionals participated in this study that was carried out from 2017 to 2020. The construct validity by known groups was confirmed by comparing the means of self-efficacy of the self-efficacy of health professionals for practicing hand hygiene and using gloves with the variables sex and unit of activity. The convergent construct validity showed a weak correlation between the scores of the self-efficacy of health professionals for practicing hand hygiene and using gloves instrument, and the perceived general self-efficacy scale. This instrument is easy to apply and can be used in the assessment of behavioral determinants, regarding hand hygiene and the use of gloves, in other health professionals, considering the generalization and scope of the items.
Applications of Hydrochar and Charcoal in the Iron and Steelmaking Industry—Part 1: Characterization of Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Lu Yuchiao , Yang Hanmin , Karasev Andrey V. , Wang Chuan , Jönsson Pär G.
Published: August 2022

The iron and steelmaking industry faces the dilemma of the need to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions to align with decarbonization goals, while at the same time fulfill the increasing steel demand from the growing population. Replacing fossil coal and coke with biomass-based carbon materials reduces the net carbon dioxide emissions. However, there is currently a shortage of charcoal to fully cover the demand from the iron and steelmaking industry to achieve the emission-reduction goals. Moreover, the transportation and energy sectors can compete for biofuel usage in the next few decades. Simultaneously, our society faces challenges of accumulation of wastes, especially wet organic wastes that are currently not reused and recycled to their full potentials. Here, hydrothermal carbonization is a technology which can convert organic feedstocks with high moisture contents to solid fuels (hydrochar, one type of biochar) as an alternative renewable carbon material. This work studied the differences between a hydrochar, produced from lemon peels (Lemon Hydrochar), and two types of charcoals (with and without densification) and an Anthracite coal. Characterizations such as chemical and ash compositions, thermogravimetric analyses in nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres, scanning electron microscope analyses of carbon surface morphologies, and pyrolysis up to 1200 °C were performed. The main conclusions from this study are the following: (1) hydrochar has a lower thermal stability and a higher reactivity compared to charcoal and Anthracite; (2) densification resulted in a reduction of the moisture pickup and CO2 reactivity of charcoal; (3) pyrolysis of Lemon Hydrochar resulted in the formation of a large amount of tar (17 wt%) and gas (39 wt%), leading to its low fixed carbon content (27 wt%); (4) a pyrolyzed hydrochar (up to 1200 °C) has a comparable higher heating value to those of charcoal and Anthracite, but its phosphorous, ash, and alkalis contents increased significantly; (5) based on the preliminary assessment, hydrochar should be blended with charcoal or Anthracite, or be upgraded through slow pyrolysis to fulfill the basic functions of carbon in the high-temperature metallurgical processes.
Can Digital Finance Narrow the Household Consumption Gap of Residents on Either Side of the Hu Line?
Authors: Yu Jiangbo , Xu Ying , Bai Kai
Published: August 2022

The Hu line is a geo-demographic demarcation line in China. The eastern side of the line supports more than 96% of the population, despite constituting less than 44% of the national territory. The domestic household consumption level gradually exhibited an asymmetrical spatial pattern, with the Hu line serving as a demarcation line spanning from the north to the south. Continuous advancements in network and digital development domestically have allowed for an integration of digital technology with traditional financial services, thereby creating digital finance. Based on this, can digital finance narrow the household consumption gap among residents on both sides of the Hu line? By applying a geographical detector that could empirically detect the spatial causality, this paper aimed to explore whether digital finance can narrow the gap between the consumption levels of residents on both sides of the Hu line. The study results indicated that digital finance was a key factor influencing domestic household consumption. Combining digital finance with other factors such as marketization degree, the urban–rural income gap, and the urbanization level, our understanding of how it affects household consumption was further enhanced. Digital finance and household consumption levels had the same spatial structure, with the Hu line serving as their spatial axis. Additionally, the southeast side of the Hu line had significantly higher consumption levels than the northwest side. Digital finance in provinces on the southeast side of the line improved household consumption and simultaneously shared the positive benefits with neighboring provinces. In contrast, digital finance in provinces on the northwest side of the line decreased household consumption and shared this negative impact with neighboring provinces. We believe this study has provided a new perspective for academia to explore the relationship between the development of digital finance and residents’ consumption levels.
Agricultural Insurance, Climate Change, and Food Security: Evidence from Chinese Farmers
Authors: Wang Hengli , Liu Hong , Wang Danyang
Published: August 2022

As an effective risk management mechanism, agricultural insurance can reduce the risk of uncertainty in agricultural production and guarantee food security. Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2003 to 2020, this study uses the Entropy Method to measure food security and systematically examines the impact of climate change and agricultural insurance on food security as well as its mechanisms. The present study found that climate change, especially extreme temperatures, has a significant negative impact on food security and food production. The promotion effect of agricultural insurance on food security increases with increased investments in technology, education, and other factors. Furthermore, our findings suggest the presence of geographical variations in the contribution of agricultural insurance to ensuring food security, with greater coverage in major food-producing regions. Additionally, maize yields are better protected by agricultural insurance than wheat and rice yields. To encourage sustainable agricultural development, the Chinese government should set up a diversified subsidy scheme with various planting scales and plant structures.
Phytoremediation of Composite Industrial Effluent using Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn): A Lab-Scale Experimental Investigation
Authors: AL-Huqail Arwa A. , Kumar Piyush , Eid Ebrahem M. , Taher Mostafa A. , Kumar Pankaj , Adelodun Bashir , Andabaka Željko , Mioč Boro , Držaić Valentino , Bachheti Archana , Singh Jogendra , Kumar Vinod , Širić Ivan
Published: August 2022

This study investigates the phytoremediation of composite industrial effluent (CIE) released from multiple industries within the SIIDCUL cluster, Haridwar, India, using the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plant. Batch-mode phytoremediation experiments were conducted using three selected concentrations (0%: borewell water as control, 50%, and 100%) of CIE for 45 days. Results show that the N. nucifera plant significantly reduced loads of physicochemical and heavy metal pollutants of CIE. In particular, the maximal removal of total dissolved solids (TDS: 89.56%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD: 78.20%), chemical oxygen demand (COD: 79.41%), total Kjeldahl’s nitrogen (TKN: 86.48%), phosphorus (P: 76.37%), cadmium (Cd: 70.37%), copper (Cu: 85.82%), chromium (Cr: 68.61%), iron (Fe: 72.86%), lead (Pb: 76.92%), and zinc (Zn: 74.51%) pollutants was noted in the 50% CIE concentration treatment. Heavy metal bioaccumulation and translocation factor values (>1) for root and leaf parts show that the N. nucifera plant was a hyperaccumulator. However, the contents of heavy metals were higher in the root than the leaf part of the N. nucifera plant. Moreover, the selected plant growth attributes such as fresh plant biomass (760.70 ± 8.77 g/plant; without flowers), chlorophyll content (4.30 ± 0.22 mg/g fwt.), plant height (154.05 ± 4.55 cm), root length (70.35 ± 2.42 cm), leaf spread (41.58 ± 0.26 cm), number of leaves (10.00 ± 1.00 per plant), and number of flowers (16.00 ± 2.00) were also maximal in the 50% CIE concentration. This study provides a sustainable approach towards the effective biotreatment of noxious mixed effluent using plant-based green technology.
Characterisation of Mg-Al Hydrotalcite and Surfactant-Modified Bentonite Nano Clays for the Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
Authors: Gumede Silindile , Musonge Paul
Published: August 2022

The presence of acid mine drainage (AMD) poses health risks to humans and other living organisms. While much research on AMD has been conducted, the absence of a widely accepted AMD treatment technology makes it an ongoing topic for further exploration. The present study explored the potential of nano-clay adsorbents for the removal of iron and manganese from AMD. The two nano-clay adsorbents used in this study were synthetic hydrotalcite (HT) and modified bentonite (MB) clays. The adsorption media were characterised before and after adsorption using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to explain the adsorption mechanisms. To investigate the efficiency of the clays, batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying the concentration, pH, and time. To establish the kind of adsorption mechanism that occurred, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied. It was found from characterisation results that HT and MB contained hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups responsible for surface complexation mechanisms; XRD showed that isomorphic substitution and precipitation also occurred in adsorption using HT. The specific surface area for modified bentonite and hydrotalcite as determined by BET was 3.13 and 44.7 m2/g respectively. The XRD and the SEM results showed that HT was crystalline while MB was amorphous, probably due to the irregular stacking of the surfactant. It was observed that the adsorbent deprotonated as pH increased, resulting in an increase in metal removal. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best monolayer adsorption capacity with RL < 1 and correlation coefficients ranged from 0.95 to 0.99 for both adsorbents.
Some Inequalities Related to Jensen-Type Results with Applications
Authors: Baloch Imran Abbas , Mughal Aqeel Ahmad , Haq Absar Ul , Nonlaopon Kamsing
Published: August 2022

The class of harmonic convex functions has acquired a very useful and significant placement among the non-convex functions, since this class not only reinforces some major results of the class of convex functions, but also has supported the development of some remarkable results in analysis where the class of convex functions is silent. Therefore, many researchers have deployed themselves to explore valuable results for this class of non-convex functions. This paper obtains new discrete inequalities for univariate harmonic convex functions on linear spaces related to a Jensen-type and a variant of the Jensen-type results. Our results are refinements of very important recent inequalities presented by Dragomir and Baloch et al. Furthermore, we provide the natural applications of our results.
Recovery from the Neuroparalysis Caused by the Micrurus nigrocinctus Venom Is Accelerated by an Agonist of the CXCR4 Receptor
Authors: Stazi Marco , Fabris Federico , Fernández Julián , D'Este Giorgia , Rigoni Michela , Megighian Aram , Gutiérrez José María , Lomonte Bruno , Montecucco Cesare
Published: August 2022

Snake envenoming is a major but neglected human disease in tropical and subtropical regions. Among venomous snakes in the Americas, coral snakes of the genus Micrurus are particularly dangerous because they cause a peripheral neuroparalysis that can persist for many days or, in severe cases, progress to death. Ventilatory support and the use of snake species-specific antivenoms may prevent death from respiratory paralysis in most cases. However, there is a general consensus that additional and non-expensive treatments that can be delivered even long after the snake bite are needed. Neurotoxic degeneration of peripheral motor neurons activates pro-regenerative intercellular signaling programs, the greatest of which consist of the chemokine CXCL12α, produced by perisynaptic Schwann cells, which act on the CXCR4 receptor expressed on damaged neuronal axons. We recently found that the CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390 promotes axonal growth. Here, we show that the venom of the highly neurotoxic snake Micrurus nigrocinctus causes a complete degeneration of motor axon terminals of the soleus muscle, followed by functional regeneration whose time course is greatly accelerated by NUCC-390. These results suggest that NUCC-390 is a potential candidate for treating human patients envenomed by Micrurus nigrocinctus as well as other neurotoxic Micrurus spp. in order to improve the recovery of normal neuromuscular physiology, thus reducing the mortality and hospital costs of envenoming.
Long Term Norovirus Infection in a Patient with Severe Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: Ottosson Loa , Hagbom Marie , Svernlöv Rikard , Nyström Sofia , Carlsson Beatrice , Öman Mattias , Ström Magnus , Svensson Lennart , Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Åsa , Nordgren Johan
Published: August 2022

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Immunocompromised patients can become chronically infected, with or without symptoms. In Europe, common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is one of the most common inborn errors of immunity. A potentially severe complication is CVID-associated enteropathy, a disorder with similar histopathology to celiac disease. Studies suggest that chronic norovirus infection may be a contributor to CVID enteropathy, and that the antiviral drug ribavirin can be effective against norovirus. Here, a patient with CVID-like disease with combined B- and T-cell deficiency, had chronic norovirus infection and enteropathy. The patient was routinely administered subcutaneous and intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy (SCIg and IVIg). The patient was also administered ribavirin for ~7.5 months to clear the infection. Stool samples (collected 2013–2016) and archived paraffin embedded duodenal biopsies were screened for norovirus by qPCR, confirming a chronic infection. Norovirus genotyping was done in 25 stool samples. For evolutionary analysis, the capsid (VP1) and polymerase (RdRp) genes were sequenced in 10 and 12 stool samples, respectively, collected before, during, and after ribavirin treatment. Secretor phenotyping was done in saliva, and serum was analyzed for histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) blocking titers. The chronic norovirus strain formed a unique variant subcluster, with GII.4 Den Haag [P4] variant, circulating around 2009, as the most recent common ancestor. This corresponded to the documented debut of symptoms. The patient was a secretor and had HBGA blocking titers associated with protection in immunocompetent individuals. Several unique amino acid substitutions were detected in immunodominant epitopes of VP1. However, HBGA binding sites were conserved. Ribavirin failed in treating the infection and no clear association between ribavirin-levels and quantity of norovirus shedding was observed. In conclusion, long term infection with norovirus in a patient with severe CVID led to the evolution of a unique norovirus strain with amino acid substitutions in immunodominant epitopes, but conservation within HBGA binding pockets. Regularly administered SCIg, IVIg, and ~7.5-month ribavirin treatment failed to clear the infection.
Isolation and Characterization of the Lytic Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensi Phage PW916
Authors: Wen Chang , Ai Chaofan , Lu Shiyun , Yang Qiue , Liao Hanpeng , Zhou Shungui
Published: August 2022

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens poses a serious global health threat. While patient infections by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudoxanthomonas spp. have been increasingly reported worldwide, no phage associated with this bacterial genus has yet been isolated and reported. In this study, we isolated and characterized the novel phage PW916 to subsequently be used to lyse the multidrug-resistant Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensi which was isolated from soil samples obtained from Chongqing, China. We studied the morphological features, thermal stability, pH stability, optimal multiplicity of infection, and genomic sequence of phage PW916. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the morphology of PW916 and indicated it to belong to the Siphoviridae family, with the morphological characteristics of a rounded head and a long noncontractile tail. The optimal multiplicity of infection of PW916 was 0.1. Moreover, PW916 was found to be stable under a wide range of temperatures (4–60 °C), pH (4–11) as well as treatment with 1% (v/w) chloroform. The genome of PW916 was determined to be a circular double-stranded structure with a length of 47,760 bp, containing 64 open reading frames that encoded functional and structural proteins, while no antibiotic resistance nor virulence factor genes were detected. The genomic sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that PW916 was a novel phage belonging to the Siphoviridae family that was closely related to the Stenotrophomonas phage. This is the first study to identify a novel phage infecting the multidrug-resistant P. kaohsiungensi and the findings provide insight into the potential application of PW916 in future phage therapies.