bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying and Correcting Signal Shift in DMSP-OLS Data
Authors: Ash Konstantin , Mazur Kevin
Published: July 2020

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) nighttime light data has become a key tool of the environmental and social scientific fields, but suffers from several validity problems. We highlight one such problem—shifts in the digital number position in DMSP-OLS composites in the same satellite. We present techniques for identifying the problem, using moving window raster correlation and visual inspection, and for solving the problem, by assigning control points and manually shifting raster positions. To illustrate the importance of accounting for signal shift, we re-examine a recent analysis of the relationship between public goods provision and patterns of violence in the 2011 Syrian uprising and ensuing civil war. We find the statistical results change considerably when correcting for signal shift. We attribute this change to the systematic undercounting of light intensity in heavily populated areas. We close by identifying the types of research that would most benefit from our correction and suggest future refinements to our technique through automation.
Point Cloud vs. Mesh Features for Building Interior Classification
Authors: Bassier Maarten , Vergauwen Maarten , Poux Florent
Published: July 2020

Interpreting 3D point cloud data of the interior and exterior of buildings is essential for automated navigation, interaction and 3D reconstruction. However, the direct exploitation of the geometry is challenging due to inherent obstacles such as noise, occlusions, sparsity or variance in the density. Alternatively, 3D mesh geometries derived from point clouds benefit from preprocessing routines that can surmount these obstacles and potentially result in more refined geometry and topology descriptions. In this article, we provide a rigorous comparison of both geometries for scene interpretation. We present an empirical study on the suitability of both geometries for the feature extraction and classification. More specifically, we study the impact for the retrieval of structural building components in a realistic environment which is a major endeavor in Building Information Modeling (BIM) reconstruction. The study runs on segment-based structuration of both geometries and shows that both achieve recognition rates over 75% F1 score when suitable features are used.
Using Artificial Neural Networks and Remotely Sensed Data to Evaluate the Relative Importance of Variables for Prediction of Within-Field Corn and Soybean Yields
Authors: Kross Angela , Znoj Evelyn , Callegari Daihany , Kaur Gurpreet , Sunohara Mark , Lapen David R. , McNairn Heather
Published: July 2020

Crop yield prediction prior to harvest is important for crop income and insurance projections, and for evaluating food security. Yet, modeling crop yield is challenging because of the complexity of the relationships between crop growth and predictor variables, especially at the field scale. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) method was used: (1) to evaluate the relative importance of predictor variables for the prediction of within-field corn and soybean end-of-season yield and (2) to evaluate the performance of the ANN models with a minimal optimized variable dataset for their capacity to predict corn and soybean yield over multiple years at the within-field level. Several satellite derived vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index—NDVI, red edge NDVI and simple ratio—SR) and elevation derived variables (slope, flow accumulation, aspect) were used as crop yield predictor variables, hypothesizing that the different variables reflect different crop and site conditions. The study identified the SR index and the slope as the most important predictor variables for both crop types during two training and testing years (2011, 2012). The dates of the most important SR images, however, were different for the two crop types and corresponded to their critical crop developmental stages (phenology). The relative mean absolute errors were overall smaller for corn compared to soybean: all of the 2011 corn study fields had errors below 10%; 75% of the fields had errors below 10% in 2012. The errors were more variable for soybean. In 2011, 37% of the fields had errors below 10%, while in 2012, 100% of the fields had errors below 20%. The results are promising and can provide yield estimates at the farm level, which could be useful in refining broader scale (e.g., county, region) yield projections.
Association of Environmental Factors in the Taiwan Strait with Distributions and Habitat Characteristics of Three Swimming Crabs
Authors: Naimullah Muhamad , Lan Kuo-Wei , Liao Cheng-Hsin , Hsiao Po-Yuan , Liang Yen-Rong , Chiu Ting-Chen
Published: July 2020

Information regarding the oceanic environment is crucial for determining species distributions and their habitat preferences. However, in studies on crustaceans, especially swimming crabs, such information remains poorly utilized, and its effects on crab communities in the Taiwan Strait (TS) has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between the catch rates of three swimming crab species and environmental factors in the TS. We fitted generalized additive models (GAMs) to logbooks and voyage data recorder data from Taiwanese crab vessels (2011–2015), developed a species distribution model, and predicted catch rates for these three swimming crab species based on the GAM output. The chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration was related to the high catch rates of Chrybdis feriatus and Portunus sanguinolentus, whereas bottom temperature (BT) was related to high catch rates of Portunus pelagicus. The variance percentages for each crab species indicated that high catch rates of C. feriatus and P. sanguinolentus occurred in a Chl-a concentration > 0.5 mg/m3, whereas P. pelagicus catch rates exhibited negative correlations with BTs > 25 °C. The model predicted high catch rates of C. feriatus in the north of the TS during autumn and winter, whereas P. pelagicus was observed to the south during summer and autumn. P. sanguinolentus was predicted to be widely distributed around the TS and distributed further to the northern area during autumn and winter. These findings revealed that each species responds to spatiotemporal environmental variations. Understanding the distributions and habitats of these three crabs is vital in fisheries resource management and conservation planning.
Hierarchical Radar Data Analysis for Activity and Personnel Recognition
Authors: Li Xingzhuo , Li Zhenghui , Fioranelli Francesco , Yang Shufan , Romain Olivier , Kernec Julien Le
Published: July 2020

Radar-based classification of human activities and gait have attracted significant attention with a large number of approaches proposed in terms of features and classification algorithms. A common approach in activity classification attempts to find the algorithm (features plus classifier) that can deal with multiple activities analysed in one study such as walking, sitting, drinking and crawling. However, using the same set of features for multiple activities can be suboptimal per activity and not take into account the diversity of kinematic movements that could be captured by diverse features. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical classification approach that uses a large variety of features including but not limited to energy features like entropy and energy curve, physical features like centroid and bandwidth, image-based features like skewness extracted from multiple radar data domains. Feature selection is used at each step of the hierarchical model to select the best set of features to discriminate the target activity from the others, showing improvements with respect to the more conventional approach of using a multiclass model. The proposed approach is validated on a large dataset with 1078 recorded samples of varying length from 5 s to 10 s of experimental data, yielding 95.4% accuracy to classify six activities. The approach is also validated on a personnel recognition task to identify individual subjects from their walking gait, yielding 83.7% accuracy for ten subjects and 68.2% for a significantly larger group of subjects, i.e., 60 people.
A Novel Ship Imaging Method with Multiple Sinusoidal Functions to Match Rotation Effects in Geosynchronous SAR
Authors: Xiong Wei , Zhang Ying , Dong Xichao , Cui Chang , Liu Zheng , Xiong Minghui
Published: July 2020

Geosynchronous Synthetic Aperture Radar (GEO SAR) has a very long Coherent Processing Interval (in the order of hundreds of seconds) compared with other SAR platforms. Thus, the current methods of rotation effect matching and ship imaging that operate within a relatively short Coherent Processing Interval (in the order of seconds) are obviously not applicable. To address this problem, a novel ship imaging method with multiple sinusoidal functions matching for rotation effects is proposed for GEO SAR. Firstly, the influence of the rotational motion of a ship on the slant range is analyzed. It can be matched with the sum of multiple sinusoidal functions, and the signal model of a ship with rotational motion is given. Then, multiple sinusoidal functions for the matching-based ship imaging method are proposed, and their procedures are presented as follows: (1) The Generalized Keystone Transform and Generalized Dechirp Process (GKTGDP) is modified to compensate for the range migration and phase caused by the motion of GEO SAR. Then, the signal is focused at the frequencies of sinusoidal functions, and the frequencies can be matched. (2) From the matched frequencies, the other parameters of sinusoidal functions can be matched by parameter searching. (3) Based on the matched results, the Back Projection Algorithm (BPA) is used to take an image of the ship with rotational motion. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by numerical experiments.
A Novel Approach for Satellite-Based Turbulence Nowcasting for Aviation
Authors: Barleben Axel , Haussler Stéphane , Müller Richard , Jerg Matthias
Published: July 2020

The predictability of aviation turbulence is influenced by energy-intensive flow patterns that are significantly smaller than the horizontal grid scale of current numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The parameterization of these subgrid scale (SGS) processes is possible by means of an additional prognostic equation for the temporal change of turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), whereby scale transfer terms are used. This turbulence scheme has been applied operationally for 5 years in the NWP model ICON (Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic). The most important of the source terms parameterizes the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, better known as clear air turbulence. This shear term was subjected to a nowcasting technique, is calculated with satellite data, and shifted forward in time using motion based on optical flow estimates and atmospheric motion vector (AMV). The nowcasts include turbulence altitude as determined by an adapted height assignment scheme presented here. The case studies illustrate that the novel approach for satellite-based turbulence nowcasting is a supplement to the NWP models.
Spatio-Temporal Variability of Aerosol Optical Depth, Total Ozone and NO2 Over East Asia: Strategy for the Validation to the GEMS Scientific Products
Authors: Park Sang Seo , Kim Sang-Woo , Song Chang-Keun , Park Jong-Uk , Bae Kang-Ho
Published: July 2020

In this study, the spatio-temporal variability of aerosol optical depth (AOD), total column ozone (TCO), and total column NO2 (TCN) was identified over East Asia using long-term datasets from ground-based and satellite observations. Based on the statistical results, optimized spatio-temporal ranges for the validation study were determined with respect to the target materials. To determine both spatial and temporal ranges for the validation study, we confirmed that the observed datasets can be statistically considered as the same quantity within the ranges. Based on the thresholds of R2>0.95 (temporal) and R>0.95 (spatial), the basic ranges for spatial and temporal scales for AOD validation was within 30 km and 30 min, respectively. Furthermore, the spatial scales for AOD validation showed seasonal variation, which expanded the range to 40 km in summer and autumn. Because of the seasonal change of latitudinal gradient of the TCO, the seasonal variation of the north-south range is a considerable point. For the TCO validation, the north-south range is varied from 0.87° in spring to 1.05° in summer. The spatio-temporal range for TCN validation was 20 min (temporal) and 20–50 km (spatial). However, the nearest value of satellite data was used in the validation because the spatio-temporal variation of TCN is large in summer and autumn. Estimation of the spatio-temporal variability for respective pollutants may contribute to improving the validation of satellite products.
A Thirty-Five-Minute Nap Improves Performance and Attention in the 5-m Shuttle Run Test during and outside Ramadan Observance
Authors: Hsouna Hsen , Boukhris Omar , Trabelsi Khaled , Abdessalem Raouf , Ammar Achraf , Glenn Jordan M. , Bott Nick , Souissi Nizar , Lanteri Paola , Garbarino Sergio , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Chtourou Hamdi
Published: July 2020

Ramadan observance is characterized by several changes in behaviors, such as food and sleep, which could affect physical and cognitive performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a 35-min nap (N35) opportunity on physical performance during the 5-m shuttle run test (5mSRT); attention; feelings; mood states; and perceptual measures of stress, fatigue, and muscle soreness during Ramadan observance. Fourteen physically active men (22 ± 3 years, 177 ± 4 cm, 76 ± 5 kg) were tested after a no-nap condition (N0), N35 15 days before Ramadan (BR), the last 10 days of Ramadan (DR), and 20 days after Ramadan (AR). Measures included the digit cancellation test (attention estimation), the profile of mood state (POMS), and the Hooper questionnaires. After a 5-min standard warm-up, participants performed the 5mSRT (6 × 30 s with 35 s in between; best distance (BD), total distance (TD), and fatigue index (FI) were recorded), along with the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) after each test repetition. After the 5mSRT test, participants responded to the feeling scale (FS). The results showed that TD and FI during the 5mSRT were not affected by Ramadan observance. However, BD was significantly lower than DR compared to AR after N0 (∆ = −4.3 ± 1.3%; p < 0.01) and N35 (∆ = −2.6 ± 1.0%; p < 0.05). After N0, attention decreased significantly at DR in comparison with BR (p < 0.05) and AR (p < 0.001). BD and TD improved after N35 compared to N0 at BR (∆ = +4.4 ± 2.1%, p < 0.05 for BD and ∆ = +4.8 ± 1.6%, p < 0.01 for TD), DR (∆ = +7.1 ± 2.2%, p < 0.05 for BD and ∆ = +5.1 ± 1.6%, p < 0.01 for TD), and AR (∆ = +5.5 ± 1.5%, p < 0.01 for BD and ∆ = +5.2 ± 1.2%, p < 0.001 for TD). A significant increase in attention was observed after N35 in comparison with N0 at DR (p < 0.01) and AR (p < 0.01). However, no changes were found for the perception of mood states, stress, sleep, muscle soreness, and the FI during the 5mSRT. Also, N35 was better than N0 for RPE at DR (p < 0.05), feelings at AR (p < 0.05), and fatigue estimation at AR (p < 0.01). A 35-min nap opportunity may have beneficial effects on physical and cognitive performances before, during, and after Ramadan.
Effect of ACTN3 Genotype on Sports Performance, Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage, and Injury Epidemiology
Authors: Baltazar-Martins Gabriel , Gutiérrez-Hellín Jorge , Aguilar-Navarro Millán , Ruiz-Moreno Carlos , Moreno-Pérez Victor , López-Samanes Álvaro , Domínguez Raúl , Del Coso Juan
Published: July 2020

Genetic factors play a significant role in athletic performance and its related phenotypes such as power, strength and aerobic capacity. In this regard, the lack of a muscle protein due to a genetic polymorphism has been found to affect sport performance in a wide variety of ways. α-actinin-3 is a protein located within the skeletal muscle with a key role in the production of sarcomeric force. A common stop-codon polymorphism (rs1815739; R577X) in the gene that codes for α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) produces individuals with the XX genotype that lack expression of a functional α-actinin-3. In contrast, individuals with the R-allele (i.e., RX vs. RR genotypes) in this polymorphism can express α-actinin-3. Interestingly, around ~18% of the world population have the XX genotype and much has been debated about why a polymorphism that produces a lack of a muscle protein has endured natural selection. Several investigations have found that α-actinin-3 deficiency due to XX homozygosity in the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism can negatively affect sports performance through several structural, metabolic, or signaling changes. In addition, new evidence suggests that α-actinin-3 deficiency may also impact sports performance through indirect factors such a higher risk for injury or lower resistance to muscle-damaging exercise. The purpose of this discussion is to provide a clear explanation of the effect of α-actinin-3 deficiency due to the ACTN3 XX genotype on sport. Key focus has been provided about the effect of α-actinin-3 deficiency on morphologic changes in skeletal muscle, on the low frequency of XX athletes in some athletic disciplines, and on injury epidemiology.
Chocolate Consumption and Purchasing Behaviour Review: Research Issues and Insights for Future Research
Authors: Del Prete Margherita , Samoggia Antonella
Published: July 2020

Chocolate is consumed all over the world. Since its origin, it has undergone many transformations to meet changing market demand. A better understanding of consumer behaviour is a key objective of any business, and so it is for chocolate businesses. In order to fulfil this aim, the current study presents a systematic literature review of consumers’ consumption and purchasing behaviour towards cocoa and chocolate. Two databases have been used to collect the literature: Scopus and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram was used to identify the articles through the process of data screening and extractions. A total of sixty-four scientific articles have been selected. Research topics, methodological approach and data collection method were identified for each article selected. Then, the identified topics were grouped into four categories in order to obtain a model of major determinants in chocolate consumption: personal preferences, product attributes, socio-demographic factors and economic attributes. Results show that there is a strong focus on Fair Trade in chocolate. Moreover, the current literature review supports the fact that the price and promotion are under-investigated issues. This research represents a valuable tool, especially from a marketing point of view, by creating new channels and new sales opportunities for chocolate products.
Validation of the Portuguese Adaptation of the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS-p)
Authors: Lameiras João , L. Almeida Pedro , Oliveira João , Robert da Silva Walan , Martins Bruno , Hernández Mendo Antonio , Rosado António Fernando
Published: July 2020

The clear decline in the practice of physical activity (PA) in contemporary society has well-documented problematic consequences in public health. It has led to a clear investment of research efforts in the attempt to identify the psychological constructs associated with health behaviors such as PA, in particular, the motivation that leads people to adopt these behaviors. In this context, the objective of the present study is to present a suggestion of a Portuguese version of the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS), denominated PALMS-p. This instrument evaluates the reasons for the practice of PA. The psychometric qualities of the instrument were evaluated in a sample of 234 participants (86 males, 148 females) who practiced different PA in a recreational context. Confirmatory factorial analysis confirmed the factorial robustness of the PALMS-p (χ2/df = 2.010 comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.950, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.855, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.939 root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.021, P(RMSEA ≤ 0.05) < 0.001), and the results show that this version presents good internal consistency. The present study corroborates the fidelity and validity of PALMS-p as a motivation measure for the practice of PA in the Portuguese population.
Transport Infrastructure Development and Economic Growth in China: Recent Evidence from Dynamic Panel System-GMM Analysis
Authors: Ke Xiao , Lin Justin Yifu , Fu Caihui , Wang Yong
Published: July 2020

China’s growth miracle has been accompanied by a great leap forward in the development of transport infrastructure. This study examines and compares impacts from the quantity, quality, and structural aspects of transport infrastructure on regional economic growth in China as the country approaches an upper-middle income status. We also incorporate government’s development strategies into the framework for evaluating the growth effect of China’s transport infrastructure. Using a consistent and robust dynamic panel data system generalized method of moments (system-GMM) estimation for identification, we find strong evidence confirming that transport infrastructure contributes to regional economic growth in China during the period 2007–2015, as the country approaches its upper-middle income status. In particular, quality improvements in roads and railways and the structural upgrading of transport infrastructure significantly contribute to growth. However, we do not find that quantity expansion of the overall land transport network has a significant impact. Moreover, government development strategies that defy local comparative advantages not only detract from the growth rate but also potentially restrict the contribution of transport infrastructure. Lastly, the regional heterogeneity for Western China may differ across transport modes, particularly with respect to goods versus passenger transport and roadways versus railways.
Using Intelligence Green Building Materials to Evaluate Color Change Performance
Authors: Lee Yu-Lan , Chang Yuan-Hsiou , Li Jia-Lin , Lin Ching-Yuan
Published: July 2020

Environmental protection is an important issue in modern society. Most construction demolition wastes cannot be easily decomposed, thus occupying a lot of space in landfill. Reducing the demand for new resources is an efficient approach to decrease the environmental burden. Most green buildings are made from reused and recycled materials. Although there are a variety of green building materials available on the market, there is no material, as yet, with thermochromic functionality. This study used a form of face bricks, and six recovered materials, including wood chips, iron powder, fallen leaves, concrete, newspaper, and silt, to make smart green building materials. The modules were made in accordance with Taiwan’s green building material regulations. The discoloration efficiency of indoor and outdoor green building materials was tested, and the RGB (red, green, blue) values of the face bricks were measured by a color analyzer to observe the discoloration effect. The findings show that among the A, B, C, and D groups, Group D exhibited the optimal rate of change in color, and the rates of change in the six recycled waste materials of indoor Group D were wood chips > newspaper > fallen leaves > concrete > iron powder > silt, while the rates of change in the outdoor group were newspaper > wood chips > fallen leaves. This study successfully reused waste materials to reduce the environmental burden, achieve sustainable environmental protection, and ensure both the aesthetics and quality of the building materials. The results of this study can offer an alternative choice to architects or space designers when selecting green building materials.
Energy Clusters as a New Urban Symbiosis Concept for Increasing Renewable Energy Production—A Case Study of Zakopane City
Authors: Czaplicka-Kotas Agnieszka , Kulczycka Joanna , Iwaszczuk Natalia
Published: July 2020

One of the priority lines of action in Poland is to increase energy production from renewable energy sources (RESs). Based on the “Poland’s national energy and climate plan for the years 2021–2030”, Poland aims to achieve 21%–23% of RES share in gross final energy consumption by 2030. While coal is still the most important source of energy, new technological and organisational solutions for increasing RESs are being tested and implemented. Therefore, the creation of energy clusters based on the idea of urban and industrial symbiosis was first proposed by the Ministry of Energy in 2016. To date, there are 66 clusters in different regions in Poland, but only a few of them are active and innovative. One of them is located in the city of Zakopane, a mountain resort, which attracts about 3 million tourists annually and has developed the wide-ranging use of geothermal sources for energy supply and recreation. The paper aims to analyse the impact of the creation of energy clusters on the city’s development, including economic, social, and environmental aspects. The “willingness to pay” (WTP) method was used to calculate the impact of air pollution on Zakopane and to compare it with the Polish average to estimate the significance of the transformation to RESs in this tourist city. The results from the studies are as follows: health cost per capita in Zakopane is between 252.07 and 921.30 euro. The investigations presented can be the basis for recommendations in strategic documents in the field of regional development and environmental protection, especially on the use and promotion of urban symbiosis for increasing use of RESs.
Segmentation of Participants in a Sports Event Using Cluster Analysis
Authors: Martínez-Cevallos Daniel , Proaño-Grijalva Alejandra , Alguacil Mario , Duclos-Bastías Daniel , Parra-Camacho David
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study is to analyze the segmentation of participants in a sports event according to their perceived quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and future intentions, in order to better understand how each user profile behaves. The sample was made up of 195 participants of a marathon aged between 18 and 65 and the instrument for collecting information consisted of a questionnaire structured in four blocks referring to their participation in popular races, their sports habits, and their opinions according to the aforementioned variables. Using SPSS version 25, frequencies and percentages were analyzed to find out respondents’ opinions. Subsequently, a cluster analysis was carried out to obtain information on how the clusters created from the variables under study aforementioned are distributed. The results of the hierarchical cluster analysis allow us to conclude that there are two differentiated groups of participants that have been called Non-Conformists and Conformists, characterized by having low average ratings and high ratings, respectively. These groups show significant differences in their opinion about perceived quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and future intentions, providing useful information to organizers, to better understand their opinions, better manage events, and better handle variables that are key to business success.
Flourishing Women through Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneurship
Authors: Ertac Murude , Tanova Cem
Published: July 2020

As a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus must develop a sustainable tourism model. Although the ongoing political problems in Cyprus provide additional challenges, the number and activities of women ecotourism entrepreneurs demonstrated an inspiring growth over the last decade in the northern part of Cyprus. The well-being and flourishing of these women entrepreneurs influence their participation and further involvement in the sector. Psychological empowerment plays a significant role in achieving a flourishing society, and our results reveal that ecotourism can be used to create positive change in women’s lives. We study how the mindsets and flourishing levels of these ecotourism entrepreneurs are related and how empowerment can change the direction of this relationship. Our research model was developed based on the self-Determination theory. Surveys were distributed to 200 women ecotourism entrepreneurs in rural areas of Northern Cyprus. We demonstrate that women who have growth mindsets, i.e., those that believe people’s characteristics such as abilities are not fixed, experience lower levels of flourishing, perhaps contrary to what some might expect. This result may be due to the presence of gender inequality and may be an outcome of living in a region where a frozen conflict places additional external constraints on women entrepreneurs. However, as we predict, psychological empowerment changes the direction of this relationship. When psychological empowerment is high, women with a higher level of growth mindset experience a greater level of flourishing, even in an unfavorable context. This is the first study which analyzes women ecotourism entrepreneurs in Northern Cyprus. Moreover, this is the first study that focuses on the relationship between growth mindset, flourishing and psychological empowerment. The results can be used by governmental and non-governmental organizations as a source in their decision-making processes while managing and coordinating microfinance opportunities for rural development to support women’s empowerment and well-being.
International Entrepreneurial Orientation and the Intention to Internationalize
Authors: Ruzzier Mitja , Douglas Evan J. , Ruzzier Maja Konečnik , Hojnik Jana
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a conceptual model of international entrepreneurial intention (IEI) through the lens of planned behavior and expectancy-valence theories. Extending the entrepreneurial intentions literature, where attitude to sustainability has started to have an increasingly important influence, to post-launch decisions, we provide an improved theoretical rationale for new venture internationalization, clarify the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and IEI, and more closely align the international entrepreneurship literature with mainstream entrepreneurship literature. In this model, IEI is influenced by the entrepreneur’s attitudes to sustainability, learning, risk, work enjoyment, and work effort, moderated by entrepreneur’s perceived feasibility to act entrepreneurially, and determines the firm-level EO, which may culminate in the internationalization of a new or existing venture.
COVID, CITIES and CLIMATE: Historical Precedents and Potential Transitions for the New Economy
Authors: Newman AO Peter
Published: July 2020

The 2020 collapse of the global economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic has enabled us to think about long term trends and what the future could hold for our cities and regions, especially due to the climate agenda. The paper sets out the historical precedents for economic transitions after collapses that unleash new technologically based innovation waves. These are shown to be associated with different energy and infrastructure priorities and their transport and resulting urban forms. The new technologies in the past were emerging but mainstreamed as the new economy was built on new investments. The paper suggests that the new economy, for the next 30 years, is likely to be driven by the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agendas (summarised as zero carbon–zero poverty) and will have a strong base in a cluster of innovative technologies: renewable energy, electromobility, smart cities, hydrogen-based industry, circular economy technologies, and biophilic urbanism. The first three are well underway, and the other three will need interventions if not cultural changes and may miss being mainstreamed in this recovery but could still play a minor role in the new economy. The resulting urban transformations are likely to build on Covid-19 through “global localism” and could lead to five new features: (1) relocalised centres with distributed infrastructure, (2) tailored innovations in each urban fabric, (3) less car dependence, (4) symbiotic partnerships for funding, and (5) rewritten manuals for urban professionals. This period needs human creativity to play a role in revitalising the human dimension of cities. The next wave following this may be more about regenerative development.
Beclin1 Binds to Enterovirus 71 3D Protein to Promote the Virus Replication
Authors: Xiang Qi , Wan Pin , Yang Ge , Huang Siyu , Qin Mengying , Yang Hua , Luo Zhen , Wu Kailang , Wu Jianguo
Published: July 2020

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main pathogen causing hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in infants and children, which can also lead to severe neurological diseases and even death. Therefore, understanding the replication mechanism of EV71 is of great significance for the prevention and control of EV71-induced diseases. Beclin1 (BECN1, a mammalian homologue of ATG6 in yeast) is an important core protein for the initiation and the normal process of autophagy in cells. In addition to its involvement in autophagy, Beclin1 has also been reported to play an important role in cancer and innate immune signaling pathways. However, the role of Beclin1 in EV71 replication remains elusive. Here, we primarily found that Beclin1 facilitates EV71 replication in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells and the autophagy was actually induced, but Beclin1 was not significantly affected at either mRNA level or protein level during early EV71 infection. Further studies discovered that Beclin1 could interacts with EV71 non-structural protein 3D mainly through its evolutionary conserved domain (ECD) and coiled-coiled domain (CCD), thus promoting the replication of EV71 in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells and human astroglioma (U251) cells. Collectively, we reveal a novel regulatory mechanism associated with Beclin1 to promote EV71 replication, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and control of EV71-associated diseases.
Cross-Reactivity Antibody Response after Vaccination with Modified Live and Killed Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVD) Vaccines
Authors: Sozzi Enrica , Righi Cecilia , Boldini Massimo , Bazzucchi Moira , Pezzoni Giulia , Gradassi Matteo , Petrini Stefano , Lelli Davide , Ventura Giordano , Pierini Ilaria , Moreno Ana , Brocchi Emiliana , Lavazza Antonio , De Mia Gian Mario
Published: July 2020

Pestivirus A or bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) type 1 is responsible for cosmopolitan diseases affecting cattle and other ruminants, presenting a wide range of clinical manifestations, with relevant impact on zootechnic production. The objective of the present study was to verify whether animals immunised with four commercial vaccines also developed a protective humoral immunity against other viral subgenotypes than those contained in each vaccine. Four groups of 25 bovines each were formed and vaccinated according to the manufacturer’s instructions of the commercial vaccines. On sera collected 28 days after the last vaccination, virus neutralisation tests (VNT) were performed using homologous and heterologous viruses and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Finally, the VNT results were comparatively evaluated through a statistical analysis. Serological results highlighted that, although with a different degree of efficiency, the four vaccines resulted in not developing a solid antibody-mediated cross-immunity against all the strains used.
A Phase 2a Randomized, Double-Blind, Dose-Optimizing Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of a Bivalent DNA Vaccine for Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Delivered by Intramuscular Electroporation
Authors: Hooper Jay , Paolino K. M. , Mills K. , Kwilas S. , Josleyn M. , Cohen M. , Somerville B. , Wisniewski M. , Norris S. , Hill B. , Sanchez-Lockhart M. , Hannaman D. , Schmaljohn C. S.
Published: July 2020

Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Puumala virus (PUUV) are pathogenic hantaviruses found in Asia and Europe, respectively. DNA vaccines targeting the envelope glycoproteins of these viruses have been constructed and found to elicit neutralizing antibodies when delivered to humans by various technologies including intramuscular electroporation. Here, we report findings from a Phase 2a clinical trial of a combined HTNV/PUUV DNA vaccine delivered at varying doses and administration schedules using the Ichor Medical Systems TriGrid intramuscular electroporation delivery technology. The study was designed to characterize the effects of DNA vaccine dose and number of administrations on the frequency and magnitude of immunological response. Subjects (n = 120) were divided into four cohorts. Cohorts 1 and 2 received a dose of 2 mg of DNA (1 mg per plasmid), and cohorts 3 and 4 received a dose of 1 mg of DNA (0.5 mg per plasmid) each vaccination. Each of the four cohorts received a series of four administrations (days 0, 28, 56 and 168). For cohorts 1 and 3, the DNA vaccine candidate was delivered at each of the four administrations. For cohorts 2 and 4, in order to maintain blinding, subjects received the DNA vaccine on days 0, 56 and 168, but on day 28 received only the phosphate buffered saline vehicle rather the DNA vaccine. Sera were collected on days 0, 28, 56, 84, 140, 168, 196, 252 and 365 and evaluated for the presence of neutralizing antibodies by PUUV and HTNV pseudovirion neutralization assays (PsVNAs). Day 84 was also evaluated by a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Overall the PsVNA50 geometric mean titers (GMTs) and seropositivity rates among cohorts were similar. Cohort 3 exhibited the highest frequency of subjects that became seropositive to both PUUV and HTNV after vaccination, the highest peak GMT against both viruses, and the highest median titers against both viruses.
Significantly Improved COVID-19 Outcomes in Countries with Higher BCG Vaccination Coverage: A Multivariable Analysis
Authors: Klinger Danielle , Blass Ido , Rappoport Nadav , Linial Michal
Published: July 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic that started in China has spread within 3 months to the entire globe. We tested the hypothesis that the vaccination against tuberculosis by Bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine (BCG) correlates with a better outcome for COVID-19 patients. Our analysis covers 55 countries complying with predetermined thresholds on the population size and number of deaths per million (DPM). We found a strong negative correlation between the years of BCG administration and the DPM along with the progress of the pandemic, corroborated by permutation tests. The results from multivariable regression tests with 23 economic, demographic, health-related, and pandemic restriction-related quantitative properties, substantiate the dominant contribution of BCG years to the COVID-19 outcomes. The analysis of countries according to an age-group partition reveals that the strongest correlation is attributed to the coverage in BCG vaccination of the young population (0–24 years). Furthermore, a strong correlation and statistical significance are associated with the degree of BCG coverage for the most recent 15 years, but no association was observed in these years for other broadly used vaccination protocols for measles and rubella. We propose that BCG immunization coverage, especially among the most recently vaccinated population, contribute to attenuation of the spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Field Study on the Immunological Response and Protective Effect of a Licensed Autogenous Vaccine to Control Streptococcus suis Infections in Post-Weaned Piglets
Authors: Corsaut Lorelei , Misener Marty , Canning Paisley , Beauchamp Guy , Gottschalk Marcelo , Segura Mariela
Published: July 2020

Streptococcus suis is one of the most important bacterial pathogens in weaned piglets and responsible for serious economic losses to the swine industry. Currently, mostly autogenous vaccines composed of killed bacteria (bacterins) are available. However, immunological and protective data from field studies are missing. We report for the first time a comparative field study on the immunological response induced by an autogenous vaccine applied to either piglets or sows in a farm with recurrent S. suis problems. (I) Piglets from non-vaccinated sows received an autogenous bacterin during the first week and at three weeks of age. (II) Sows received the vaccine at five and three weeks pre-farrowing and piglets were non-vaccinated. Levels, isotype profile and opsonophagocytosis capacity of the serum antibodies induced by vaccination were evaluated. Vaccination of piglets failed to induce an active immune response. Vaccination of sows induced a significant increase in anti-S. suis antibodies, mainly composed of IgG1. However, isotype switching was modulated by the S. suis serotype included in the vaccine formulation. Despite this antibody increase in vaccinated sows, transfer of maternal immunity to piglets was not different from the control group (i.e., piglets from non-vaccinated sows). Notably, levels of maternal antibodies in piglets were already very high with marked opsonophagocytosis capacity at one week of age, independently of the vaccination program. However, their levels decreased by three weeks of age, indicating possible absence of antibodies in the post-weaning high-risk period. These observations correlated with lack of clinical protection in the farm. Overall, a piglet or a sow vaccination program herein mostly failed to induce lasting protection in nursery piglets. An improvement of vaccine formulation or an optimized program may be required.
Gut Microbiome of Healthy and Arthritic Dogs
Authors: Cintio Michela , Scarsella Elisa , Sgorlon Sandy , Sandri Misa , Stefanon Bruno
Published: July 2020

Several studies have underlined the interplay among host-microbiome and pathophysiological conditions of animals. Research has also focused specifically on whether and how changes in the gut microbiome have provoked the occurrence of pathological phenomena affecting cartilage and joints in humans and in laboratory animals. Here, we tried to evaluate the relationship between the gut microbiome and the hip and elbow arthritis in owned dogs. The study included 14 dogs suffering from chronic arthritis (AD) and 13 healthy dogs (HD). After the first visit and during the period of the study, the dogs, under the supervision of the owner, were fed a semi-moist complete diet supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids. Feces and blood samples were collected in the clinic at the first visit (T0) and after days (T45). The plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) was higher, and the serum vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in the AD group in comparison to the HD group. Data of the fecal microbiome showed that the relative abundances of the genus Megamonas were higher in AD (p < 0.001), while the relative abundance of the families Paraprevotellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Mogibacteriaceae was significantly lower in comparison to HD. The results of the study identified several bacterial groups that differed significantly in the fecal microbiome between healthy and diseased dogs. If the observed differences in fecal bacterial composition predispose dogs to hip and elbow arthritis or if these differences reflect a correlation with these conditions deserves further investigation.
Influencia del Gobierno Corporativo en las Empresas Familiares en su comportamiento contable - financiero, en crisis económicas y /o sanitarias: Ecuador, periodo 2020
Authors: Coca  Benitez Jorge , Peña Shirley , Narváez Cumbicos José Gonzalo
Published: July 2020

El estudio se centró en identificar los factores que conforman la estructura de capital en las Empresas Familiares, para aquellas empresas que no cotizan en Bolsa de Valores, desde la generación inicial - socio fundador, pasando por las siguientes generaciones, donde las perspectivas no son las mismas. Cada generación tiene argumentos diferentes respecto de las políticas de financiamiento y pago de dividendos.  Se presentaron soluciones alternativas para temas financieros en las Empresas Familiares, su impacto, desempeño emprendedor y la creación de riqueza trans-generacional a través de las finanzas; se estudió la literatura respecto a estructura de capital y modelos que permita dar luces al Gobierno Corporativo en la toma de decisiones de inversión y financiamiento.  El estudio mostró las distintas particularidades de las Empresas Familiares, las mismas que demuestran las particularidades y preferencia por un tipo de estructura de capital en detrimento de otros.  Las empresas pequeñas y medianas que presentan un Gobierno Corporativo con sanas prácticas de control y ejecución, presentan cambios agiles y duraderos, mejores procesos, estructura de gobernanza estable, los actores conocen sus roles y responsabilidades, persiguen un protocolo familiar y la disciplina familiar es predominante.  Si las Empresas familiares medianas y grandes con propietarios dentro de la Junta de accionistas, se presentan un elemento perdido, el crecimiento se ha detenido, y es que aquí que el emprendedor o director gerencial puede dar un aporte significativo y provocar el crecimiento de la Empresa familiar.   Finalmente se identificaron los factores exógenos de riesgo que impactan su performance; y si estos factores afectan de forma diferente a la micro, pequeña y mediana empresa familiar según su actividad.
Effect of pre-existing conditions on bladder cancer stage at diagnosis: a cohort study using electronic primary care records in the UK
Authors: Carney Madeline , Quiroga Myra , Mounce Luke , Shephard Elizabeth , Hamilton Willie , Price Sarah
Published: July 2020

Background

Pre-existing concurrent medical conditions (multimorbidity) complicate cancer diagnosis when they provide plausible diagnostic alternatives for cancer symptoms.

Aim

To investigate associations in bladder cancer between: first, pre-existing condition count and advanced-stage diagnosis; and, second, comorbidities that share symptoms with bladder cancer and advanced-stage diagnosis.

Design and setting

This observational UK cohort study was set in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink with Public Health England National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service linkage.

Method

Included participants were aged ≥40 years with an incident diagnosis of bladder cancer between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015, and primary care records of attendance for haematuria, dysuria, or abdominal mass in the year before diagnosis. Stage at diagnosis (stage 1 or 2 versus stage 3 or 4) was the outcome variable. Putative explanatory variables using logistic regression were examined, including patient-level count of pre-existing conditions and ‘alternative-explanations’, indicating whether pre-existing condition(s) were plausible diagnostic alternatives for the index cancer symptom.

Results

In total, 1468 patients (76.4% male) were studied, of which 399 (35.6%) males and 217 (62.5%) females had alternative explanations for their index cancer symptom, the most common being urinary tract infection with haematuria. Females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20 to 2.18; P = 0.001). Alternative explanations were strongly associated with advanced-stage diagnosis in both sexes (aOR 1.69; 95% CI = 1.20 to 2.39; P = 0.003).

Conclusion

Alternative explanations were associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of bladder cancer. Females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, but the effect was not driven entirely by alternative explanations.