bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zones and High-Quality Development of Tourism: Evidence from the Quasi-Natural Experiment in China
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Ziwei , Li Changjin
Published: July 2023

The all-for-one tourism guides the development of the tourism industry in China and promotes coordinated development of the economy and society. Existing studies emphasize the significance of all-for-one tourism but pay limited attention to the impact and mechanism of all-for-one tourism on the high-quality development of tourism. By employing the all-for-one tourism demonstration zones as a quasi-natural experiment, this research uses the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically investigate the relationship between all-for-one tourism demonstration zones and the high-quality development of tourism. In particular, under the guidance of the new development philosophy, this research constructs a measurement and evaluation indicator system for the high-quality development of tourism from five dimensions, including innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development. The results show that the all-for-one tourism demonstration zones positively impact the high-quality development of tourism, and the result is robust to a series of robustness checks, including the placebo test and the propensity score matching (PSM) procedures. Network infrastructure construction and tourism talent agglomeration are mechanisms channelling through all-for-one tourism demonstration zones and high-quality tourism development. Heterogeneity analysis reveals positive impacts of all-for-one tourism demonstration zones on central and western regions and provinces with a low proportion of tertiary sector.
Can Fintech Lead to the Collaborative Reduction in Pollution Discharges and Carbon Emissions?
Authors: Wen Huwei , Liu Yutong
Published: July 2023

Pollutants and greenhouse gases are major challenges to regional and global sustainability, respectively, and regulatory policies always target one of them. Using panel data, including those of fintech, economy, society, and environment for the prefecture-level cities in China, this study aimed to investigate the role of fintech in regional pollution control and carbon emission reduction. It was found that fintech not only significantly reduces pollutant and carbon dioxide emissions, but can also significantly promote the coordination between pollution control and carbon reduction. This study also adopted a pilot policy of integrating technology and finance for a differences-in-differences regression and identified the causal effects of fintech on the collaborative reduction in pollution and carbon emissions. In addition, innovation factors play a crucial role in the collaborative implementation process of pollution control and carbon reduction driven by fintech. Specifically, fiscal technology expenditure and regional innovation have significant moderating effects on pollution control and carbon reduction, while green innovation has a significant mediating effect. Our findings contribute to optimizing financial and regulatory policies, thereby enabling fintech to leverage the momentum of regional pollution control and carbon reduction.
The Preference of Inter-Organizational Trust on Corporate Benefit-Seeking Behaviors: A Mechanisms-Based and Policy-Capturing Analysis
Authors: Sun Shichao , Ran Xin , Shi Xuanya
Published: July 2023

In the realm of organizational cooperation, the choice of benefit behaviors has a profound impact on the sustainability of the collaboration. The influence of trust relationships on firms’ decisions regarding private versus common benefit behaviors has been a subject of debate among researchers. To address this debate, we propose and test an analytical framework that acknowledges the presence of two fundamental dimensions in partner relationships: calculative trust and relational trust. Through the utilization of a policy-capturing approach, we rigorously examine and validate our hypotheses at a mechanistic level. Our findings indicate that both calculative trust and relational trust increase the likelihood of firms adopting both private and common benefit behaviors. Furthermore, in terms of comparative choices between private and common benefit behaviors, calculative trust exerts a stronger influence on firms’ preference for private benefit, while relational trust has a stronger impact on firms’ preference for common benefit. Lastly, we discuss the theoretical and empirical implications arising from the results of this study.
Biosorption Potential of Desmodesmus sp. for the Sequestration of Cadmium and Lead from Contaminated Water
Authors: Waqar Rooma , Rahman Sultana , Iqbal Javed , Kaleem Muhammad , Minhas Lubna Anjum , Ullah Nabi , Kausar Farzana , Chalgham Wadie , Al-Misned Fahad A. , El-Serehy Hamed A. , Mumtaz Abdul Samad
Published: July 2023

Industrialization, urbanization, and natural processes have potentially accelerated the pace and level of heavy metals in the aquatic environment. Recently, modern strategies for heavy metal treatment in wastewater have received the specific attention of the scientific community. The present study aimed to assess the amorphous biomass of Desmodesmus sp. as a low-cost adsorbent to remove the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. It involved the optimization of pH, contact time, initial concentration of metal ions, and the dosage of biosorbent. Data collation revealed that an optimum contact time for both metals was 60 min, with an adsorption capacity of 63% for Cd and 66% for Pb. Different models were applied to the equilibrium data. The pseudo 2nd order described the best adsorption of Cd and Pb. The equilibrium data were computed with various isotherms. Langmuir isotherms better suit the adsorption of the above-mentioned metals. Hence, the maximum adsorption capacity of Desmodesmus sp. for Cd and Pb was 64.1 and 62.5 mg/g, respectively. The mechanism of biosorption was validated through a comparative FT-IR and Scanning Electron Microscopy of raw and metal-loaded algal biomass based on cell morphological changes. In order to study the reusability of adsorbent, adsorption-desorption of Cd and Pb ions was repeated three times using HCl. These results did not noticeably change in adsorption capacity during the three cycles. Using HCl (0.1 M), desorption of both metals was achieved up to 90% in three cycles. This work presented a long-term bioremediation approach for heavy metal pollutants in wastewater. This research could be seen as an interdisciplinary approach to large-scale heavy metal remediation. In addition, growing microalgae in wastewater produces animal feed and biodiesel. When compared to other conventional methods for environmental remediation and the manufacture of valuable products, the use of microalgae is a more efficient and cost-effective method.
Investigating the Locus of Control and Epistemological Beliefs of Social Studies Teacher Candidates in Turkey
Authors: Akkuş Zekerya , Küçük-Turgut Birgül , Cevger Figen
Published: July 2023

Today, the concepts of “epistemological belief” (EB) and “locus of control” (LOC) have become important in education. It is considerable to investigate these concepts on teacher candidates who are the teachers of the future. This study aimed to examine the LOC and EB of social studies teacher candidates. The research, which adopted a survey model, was conducted with five hundred and fifty social studies teacher candidates studying at seven state universities in Turkey. The Locus of Control Scale and the Epistemological Belief Scale were used to collect research data. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the Scheffe test, and correlation analysis were employed in the data analysis process. When evaluating the research results, it was determined that female teacher candidates have a higher external LOC. No significant difference was observed in social studies teacher candidates’ LOC regarding their parents’ educational grade level. It was observed that there was a significant difference in the EB of social studies teacher candidates regarding gender. It was revealed that female teacher candidates had underdeveloped/immature EB. No significant difference was found in the EB of social studies teacher candidates based on their parents’ educational levels or grade. It was observed that there is a weak but positive significant relationship between the social studies teacher candidates’ LOC and EB and their sub-scales.
Urban Flood Loss Assessment and Index Insurance Compensation Estimation by Integrating Remote Sensing and Rainfall Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of the 2021 Henan Rainstorm
Authors: Wu Zhixia , Zheng Xiazhong , Chen Yijun , Huang Shan , Hu Wenli , Duan Chenfei
Published: July 2023

To address the problems of traditional insurance compensation methods for flood losses, such as difficulty in determining losses, poor timeliness, a complicated compensation process and moral hazard, an urban flood index insurance tiered compensation model integrating remote sensing and rainfall multi-source data was proposed. This paper first extracted the area of water bodies using the Normalized Difference Water Index and estimates the urban flood area loss based on the flood loss model of remote sensing pixels. Second, the tiered compensation mechanism triggered by rainfall was determined, and the urban flood index insurance tiered compensation model was constructed using remote sensing and rainfall multi-source data. Finally, the economic losses and flood insurance compensation in urban flood were estimated. The results show that: (1) the geo-spatial distribution of flood-affected areas by remote sensing inversion is consistent with the actual rainfall characteristics of Henan Province, China; (2) based on the flood losses model of remote sensing pixels, the estimated flood losses for Henan Province are CNY 110.20 billion, which is consistent with the official data (accuracy ≥ 90%); and (3) the proposed model has good accuracy (R2 = 0.98, F = 1379.42, p < 0.05). The flood index insurance compensation in Henan Province is classified as a three-tier payout, with a total compensation of CNY 24,137 million. This paper can provide a new approach to estimate large-scale urban flood losses and the scientific design of flood index insurance products. It can also provide theoretical and technical support to many countries around the world, particularly those with underdeveloped flood insurance systems.
Financing Options for Green and Affordable Housing (GAH): An Exploratory Study of South Asian Economies
Authors: Bashir Sana , Sarker Tapan , Talib Mirza , Akram Umair
Published: July 2023

Housing is a basic human need and its affordability has become a concern with the exponential population growth, especially in densely populated developing countries. Rapid urbanization, inadequate housing and increasing slums have also brought environmental challenges to urban areas of developing countries. To address such concerns, Green Affordable Housing (GAH) has emerged as a concept with the convergence of ideas and actions of affordable housing and sustainability. This research aims to identify the GAH adoption strategies and the financial options through case study analysis of three South Asian Economies (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) and validated the case study outcome by using content analysis approach. The findings reveal that India has made notable progress in establishing a GAH financial market, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are struggling due to a lack of appropriate funds and underrated financial markets. This study further proposed the financing framework to achieve GAH for South Asian economies because the low-income Credit Link Subsidy Scheme alone supporting the adoption of GAH would not be enough. The study provides policy recommendations for using Credit Link subsidies, energy-efficient mortgages, and Public-Private Partnerships for housing investment as effective methods for financingGAH.
Structural Grading and Characteristic Value of the Moso Bamboo Culm Based on Its Minimum External Diameter
Authors: Ma Rui , Chen Zhihua , Du Yansheng , Jiao Lingao
Published: July 2023

Bamboo culm has been regarded as a traditional element in construction; meanwhile, it has great potential for the construction of rural houses to achieve green and low-carbon development. However, traditional bamboo houses are usually constructed according to previous experience, and it is hard to design bamboo houses in a standard way. Structural grading of the bamboo culm is an essential work to achieve standardization design. Grading the Moso bamboo culm (P. edulis) based on its minimum external diameter is proposed in this paper. The geometric, physical and mechanical properties of 883 Moso bamboo culms with three different treatment processes were measured and analyzed, namely untreated, with chemical preservatives and heat treatment. It was found that the external diameter of the Moso bamboo culm could be determined by the perimeter in practice. The treatment process has a great influence on the geometric, physical and mechanical properties. Bamboo culms with three different treatment processes could be divided into five, five and four grades, respectively. Meanwhile, based on measurement data, the characteristic values of each grade are presented, including the wall thickness, external and internal taper, linear mass, nominal density and compressive strength. The minimum chemical treatment factor is 0.785, 0.662 and 0.649, while the minimum heat treatment factor is 0.722, 0.644 and 0.877 for wall thickness, linear mass and nominal density, respectively. The treatment factor for compressive strength is 1.12 and 1.52 of chemical treatment and heat treatment, respectively. This study may aid establishing technical specifications and a standard design method for Moso bamboo structural building.
Mint Plants (Mentha) as a Promising Source of Biologically Active Substances to Combat Hidden Hunger
Authors: Hutsol Taras , Priss Olesia , Kiurcheva Liudmyla , Serdiuk Maryna , Panasiewicz Katarzyna , Jakubus Monika , Barabasz Wieslaw , Furyk-Grabowska Karolina , Kukharets Mykola
Published: July 2023

Hidden hunger, also known as micronutrient deficiency, is a form of undernutrition, which is exacerbated when food security is fragile. However, the amount of phytonutrients in the diet can be increased by using underutilized species, such as fresh mint greens (Mentha). These plants have a high biological value due to the high content of biologically active substances. Plants of the genus Mentha, however, differ significantly in their chemical composition and, thus, nutritional value. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the content of phytonutrients in different Ukrainian species of mint: peppermint (Mentha piperita), horsemint (Mentha longifolia L.), silver-leaved horsemint (Mentha longifolia S.), and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.), and to determine their stability after drying and freezing. After studying the chemical composition of fresh, dried, and frozen plants of these species, it was established that Ukrainian mint species offer a robust set of phytonutrients and can be used as ingredients of the so-called “functional foods.” The biologically active substances in mint are concentrated during drying. Moreover, such raw materials are easily stored and used as an ingredient. However, the losses of ascorbic acid due to drying mint reach 70%; of carotenoids—approximately 10–15%; of chlorophylls—21–38%; and of phenols—19–29%. Peppermint and spearmint were observed to have higher stability of biologically active compounds. As for the freezing, the best stability of the chemical composition was demonstrated by field mint and spearmint samples. Therefore, a targeted selection of mint types and varieties prior to processing will allow preserving maximal preservation of a maximum amount of biologically active substances, increasing the content of phytonutrients in finished products, and preventing the development of hidden hunger.
Emission Characteristics, Speciation, and Potential Environmental Risks of Heavy Metals from Coal-Fired Boilers: A Review
Authors: Tong Yali , Gao Jiajia , Ma Jingyun
Published: July 2023

Coal-fired boilers, including coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) and coal-fired industrial boilers (CFIBs), are an important area for achieving sustainability globally as they are one of the globally important sources of anthropogenic emissions of heavy metals (HMs) due to huge amount of coal consumption. To date, the investigation of atmospheric emission characteristics, speciation, and potential environmental risks of HMs from coal-fired boilers has received widespread attention and achieved significant progress. To characterise the emissions of HMs from coal-fired boilers, research is currently being carried out in the areas of (1) studying the release of HMs from coal combustion processes, (2) developing emission factors and emission inventories, and (3) revealing the cross-media partitioning of HMs between different output streams. Research on the chemical forms of HMs in waste from coal-fired boiler is currently focused on chemical valence and speciation components. The sequential chemical extraction method is currently the most widely used method for investigating the chemical fractionations of HMs in wastes from coal-fired boilers. Studies indicate that different HM elements display differentiated characteristics of speciation in waste from coal-fired boilers. Early studies on potential environmental risk and ecological risk caused by HMs are usually based on actual monitoring values of HMs in the target environmental media. The risk assessment code method and the leaching toxicity method are the most widely used method to study the potential environmental risk of HMs in waste from coal-fired boilers. With the implementation of global carbon emission reduction strategies, the scale of coal-fired boilers and air pollution control technologies are bound to change in the future. Therefore, as an important component of global efforts to achieve sustainable development, more research is needed in the future to improve the accuracy of emission inventories, reveal the mechanisms of HM chemical transformation, and establish methods for potential environmental risk assessment at regional scales.
Internationalization of SMEs: A Developing Country Perspective
Authors: Islam Md. Touhidul , Islam Md. Aminul , Hossain Muhammad Muazzem , Olalere Oluwaseyi Ebenezer
Published: July 2023

Internationalization has become increasingly important to the competitiveness of firms of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs play a crucial role in the development of lower-income countries. In Bangladesh, SMEs account for between 80 and 85 percent of industrial employment and 23 percent of total employment and are critical to economic growth. Though the literature on firm internationalization is well established, the internationalization process of SMEs from developing countries, such as Bangladesh, remains relatively under-explored. The main aim of this study is to explore factors that hinder the internationalization of SMEs in a developing country, with Bangladesh serving as the context of the investigation. Qualitative research methods were adopted, comprising semi-structured interviews with leaders of 16 SMEs in Bangladesh. Six major themes were identified as hindrances to the firms’ internationalization: (1) lack of market knowledge, (2) lack of family support, (3) the proliferation of ‘scammer buyers’, (4) the (negative) involvement of third parties, (5) mismanagement of domestic ports, and (6) unregulated local market. Regarding positive factors, only one theme emerged from the data, the strong support from the local government, which provides considerable backing for local SMEs with international ambitions. This study’s primary contribution and originality lie in the context of the investigation, with Bangladesh primarily overlooked in the international business literature. Therefore, the study presents several novel insights into the internationalization process of SMEs.
Framework for Evaluating the BIM Application Performance: A Case Study of a Grid Information Modeling System
Authors: Rong Jingguo , Qi Lizhong , Wu Hongbo , Zhang Ming , Hu Xiancun
Published: July 2023

BIM has played an important role in promoting sustainable development in the construction industry. The lack of an effective system for evaluating BIM application performance has become a major obstacle to BIM application. Therefore, this study develops an indicator evaluation framework that includes benefit factors and cost factors to systematically evaluate the BIM application performance. The evaluation indicators are determined through a scientometric literature review and expert evaluations, and the AHP method is employed to assess the weights of each indicator. A performance index is established and measured through a cost–benefit measurement. The developed evaluation framework and index are applied in a case study of a grid information modeling (GIM) system implemented in a specific UHV substation project. The sensitivity of the evaluation index is further examined. Finally, the recommendations for developing BIM applications like GIM are discussed. Accordingly, this research mainly contributes to developing the BIM application performance evaluation framework and index, which can be used to assess the application performance of digital technologies in the construction industry worldwide. The case experience and recommendations could promote BIM application in the power generation construction industry.
Industrial Agglomeration and Enterprise Innovation Sustainability: Empirical Evidence from the Chinese A-Share Market
Authors: Guo Xuemeng , Guo Ke , Zheng Hanzhong
Published: July 2023

The data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China are selected as research samples from 2005 to 2021, using the panel data of listed companies. The empirical study examines the impact of regional industrial agglomeration levels on enterprise innovation sustainability and its heterogeneity effects. The findings reveal that industrial agglomeration in the manufacturing sector significantly hampers enterprise innovation sustainability, while agglomeration in the producer services sector promotes it. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that industrial agglomeration affects enterprise innovation sustainability through the micro-conductive mechanism of financial constraints. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of manufacturing agglomeration on enterprise innovation sustainability is more pronounced in technology-intensive and high-end technology industries, whereas the impact of producer services agglomeration varies significantly in knowledge-intensive and resource-intensive industries. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis suggests that the influence of industrial agglomeration on enterprise innovation sustainability varies according to different firm characteristics. These research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the microeconomic effects of industrial agglomeration and expand the research perspective on the internal mechanisms and external factors driving sustainable corporate innovation.
Entrepreneurship Education for Training the Talent in China: Exploring the Influencing Factors and Their Effects
Authors: Xiong Tangfei , Zhang Jianjun , Huang Huiyan
Published: July 2023

The essence of Chinese entrepreneurship education is to build an “upgraded” version of higher education that can enable China’s modernization through innovations and the sustainable development of the planet, in order to comprehensively and scientifically measure the magnitude of the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education for training the innovative talent, investigate the influencing factors of efficiency, and uncover the existing problems. This study was based on The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EntreComp), conducting quantitative research on 606 typical students from 211 undergraduate universities in China who achieved recognition for entrepreneurship achievements at the provincial level or above. This study found that entrepreneurship education has a significant effect on students’ innovation and entrepreneurship literacy, and in descending order of effectiveness, it improves 15 literacies, such as initiative; these are categorized into three domains: innovative action, innovative resources, and innovative thinking. Meanwhile, the more in-depth the entrepreneurship education reform, the more significant the efficiency. Second, there are significant differences in efficacy against the background of different durations of participation, score rankings, and numbers of achievements. There are no significant differences in efficacy between different disciplines and educational backgrounds. Third, the experience of the project leader has a significantly positive effect on efficiency. The current lack of innovative team building is the main factor affecting the effectiveness of innovative talent training in China.
Sustainable Management of Dairy Cows in Semi-Arid Summers: Additional Early Nighttime Sprinkler Cooling for Heat Stress Mitigation
Authors: Macavoray Abu , Rashid Muhammad Afzal , Rahman Hifzul , Shahid Muhammad Qamer
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different cooling sessions on the performance and welfare of Holstein Friesian cows during the semi-arid summer in Pakistan. Sixteen lactating cows were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) five cooling sessions per day (5CS) and (2) eight cooling sessions (8CS), with two sessions during early nighttime and one in the early morning. Each sprinkler cooling session lasted 1 hour. The trial was conducted over a period of 8 weeks during August and September of 2021. The results showed that cows in the 8CS group produced an average of 2.9 kg/d more milk than those in the 5CS group. Additionally, the respiration rate and total feeding time of cows in the 8CS group was significantly lower than that of the 5CS group. Moreover, the core body temperature of cows was not significantly influenced by addition of extra cooling sessions. In conclusion, the results suggest that the addition of cooling sessions in the early nighttime had a positive effect on milk yield and welfare in Holstein cows during the semi-arid summer season. These findings could have significant implications for the management of dairy cows in similar climatic conditions.
Environmental Impacts in the Textile Sector: A Life Cycle Assessment Case Study of a Woolen Undershirt
Authors: Bianco Isabella , De Bona Alice , Zanetti Mariachiara , Panepinto Deborah
Published: July 2023

The textile industry, known for its significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, is increasingly active in exploring techniques and technologies to improve its environmental performance. The main tool to calculate environmental impacts is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, which is standardized and internationally recognized. Specific guidelines for the impact calculation of textile products are under development (Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) for the category of Apparel and Footwear). In this context, this study contributes to the knowledge in the textile sector through the development of a cradle-to-gate LCA of a woolen undershirt produced in Italy. This study shares robust and recent (2021) primary data for the phases of weaving, cutting, and sewing, obtained from an Italian company. Data from previous studies of the authors, as well as secondary data, are also used to complete the inventory. A further analysis is developed to include the use phase as well. The impact on climate change of one undershirt results in 11.7 kg CO2 eq, primarily due to the farming phase of sheep, which accounts for 88% of the total emissions. The impact on climate change of energy used in the wool transformation process has a relatively low impact (11%), also thanks to the partial use of electricity produced by photovoltaic panels, while materials (e.g., chemicals) and transportation have negligible contributions. The farming phase, despite relying on secondary data, is identified as the primary contributor for most of the other indicators. Additionally, it has been found that user habits play a key role in the impact related to one wearing of the undershirt. The findings suggest that further work is necessary in the textile sector and emphasize (i) the need for guidelines, enabling the inclusion of the use phase without compromising the comparability between different LCAs of similar textile products; (ii) the need for improved traceability practices in the textile sector, to enhance inventory data collection on the raw material production (wool fibers in the case under analysis).
Impact of COVID-19 on Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management System: A Scoping Review of Healthcare Workforce Management in COVID-19
Authors: Chimed-Ochir Odgerel , Amarsanaa Jargalmaa , Ghotbi Nader , Yumiya Yui , Kayano Ryoma , Van Trimpont Frank , Murray Virginia , Kubo Tatsuhiko
Published: July 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries faced a shortage as well as maldistribution of healthcare workers and a misalignment between healthcare needs and worker skills. In this scoping review, we have sought to identify the country-level responses to health workforce shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the advantages/best practices and disadvantages/lessons learned. We have reviewed 24 scientific papers in four electronic databases: Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and TRIP. The main strategies implemented by countries were financial coordination mechanisms, relaxing standards/rules, worker redeployment, recruitment of volunteers, fast-tracking medical students, and using other workforce resources such as the recruitment of inactive healthcare workers and returnees whose registration had lapsed within the preceding 1–2 years. These strategies demonstrated numerous advantages, such as establishing mutual support across nations and organizations, boosting motivation among healthcare workers, and creating a new staffing model for future pandemics. However, several important lessons were also learned during the implementation process. Managing volunteers, including ensuring their safety and allocating them to areas in need, required significant effort and high-level coordination, particularly in the absence of a comprehensive needs assessment.
Saving Energy in Biological Wastewater Treatment by Using Extremely Low-Frequency Electric Field—Pilot-Scale Study
Authors: Bartha Csaba , Tókos Attila , Jipa Monica , Caramitu Alina , Voina Andreea , Circiumaru Gabriela , Micu Dan-Doru , Lingvay Iosif
Published: July 2023

The results of a pilot-scale study on the influence of electric field use for stimulating the active sludge in the biological purification tank of a small capacity wastewater treatment plant (up to 600 m3/day) are presented. Through specific comparative chemical tests (DO, COD, N-NH4, and Pt) it was found that, by applying a sinusoidal electric field of 5 Vrms/m at 49.9 Hz on the active sludge suspension, the overall pollutant denitrification process speed is doubled compared with the reference case when no stimulation is used. Also, under identical operating conditions, the residual pollutant content of the biological treatment tank outlet water is reduced approximately three times for COD and approximately two times for N-NH4 and Pt compared to the reference tank. These findings lead to the conclusion that, by stimulating the active sludge microbial activity of the wastewater treatment plants by a sinusoidal electric field of 5 Vrms/m at 49.9 Hz, the time of the biological purification treatment can be reduced by approx. 50%. This leads to a corresponding decrease in energy consumption, which usually represents more than 30% of a wastewater treatment plant’s specific electricity consumption.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Local Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Polycrystalline and Single-Crystalline Ce2Pt6Al15
Authors: Ota Kyugo , Watabe Yuki , Haga Yoshinori , Iesari Fabio , Okajima Toshihiro , Matsumoto Yuji
Published: July 2023

Asymmetry, such as non-centrosymmetry in the crystal or chiral structure and local symmetry breaking, plays an important role in the discovery of new phenomena. The honeycomb structure is an example of an asymmetric structure. Ce2Pt6Al15 is a candidate for a frustrated system with honeycomb Ce-layers, which have been reported to show near the quantum critical point. However, the ground state of Ce2Pt6Al15 depends on the sample, and analysis of the crystal structure is difficult due to the presence of stacking disorder. We synthesized polycrystalline Ce2Pt6Al15 using arc melting method (AM-Ce2Pt6Al15) and single-crystalline Ce2Pt6Al15 using flux method (F-Ce2Pt6Al15). The prepared samples were characterized by electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), single and powder X-ray diffraction methods, measured magnetic properties and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The composition ratio of AM-Ce2Pt6Al15 was stoichiometric, although it contained a small amount (i.e., a few percent) of the impurity Ce2Pt9Al16. Meanwhile, the composition ratio of F-Ce2Pt6Al15 deviated from stoichiometry. The X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectrum of AM-Ce2Pt6Al15 at the Ce L3-edge was similar to that of CeF3, which possesses the Ce3+ configuration, indicating that the valence of Ce in Ce2Pt6Al15 is trivalent; this result is consistent with that for the magnetic susceptibility. To determine the precise structure, we analyzed the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of Ce L3- and Pt L3-edges for Ce2Pt6Al15, and found that the EXAFS spectra of Ce2Pt6Al15 can be explained not as a hexagonal Sc0.6Fe2Si4.9-type structure but, instead, as an orthorhombic structure with honeycomb structure.
Integrating Node Importance and Network Topological Properties for Link Prediction in Complex Network
Authors: Zhu Junxi , Dai Fang , Zhao Fengqun , Guo Wenyan
Published: July 2023

Link prediction is one of the most important and challenging tasks in complex network analysis, which aims to predict the existence of unknown links based on the known information in the network. As critical topological properties in the network, node’s degree and clustering coefficient are well-suited for describing the tightness of connection between nodes. The importance of node can affect the possibility of link existence to a certain extent. By analyzing the impact of different centrality on links, which concluded that the degree centrality and proximity centrality have the greatest influence on network link prediction. A link prediction algorithm combines importance of node and network topological properties, called DCCLP, is proposed in this paper, the symmetry of the adjacency matrix is considered in the DCCLP link prediction algorithm to further describe the structural similarity of network nodes. In the training phase of the DCCLP algorithm, the maximized AUC indicator in the training set as the objective, and the optimal parameters are estimated by utilizing the White Shark Optimization algorithm. Then the prediction accuracy of the DCCLP algorithm is evaluated in the test set. By experimenting on twenty-one networks with different scales, and comparing with existing algorithms, the experimental results show that the effectiveness and feasibility of DCCLP algorithm, and further illustrate the importance of the degree centrality of node pairs and proximity centrality of nodes to improve the prediction accuracy of link prediction.
Evaluation of Thermodynamic Parameters for Cu(II) Ions Biosorption on Algae Biomass and Derived Biochars
Authors: Ciobanu Alina Alexandra , Bulgariu Dumitru , Ionescu Ioana Alexandra , Puiu Diana Maria , Vasile Gabriela Geanina , Bulgariu Laura
Published: July 2023

The removal of metal ions by biosorption on inexpensive materials is still a challenge for environmental engineering research. In this study, marine green algae biomass (Ulva lactuca sp.) and the biochars obtained from this biomass, at 320 °C (BC-320) and 550 °C (BC-550), were used as biosorbents for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution. In addition to comparing the biosorption capacities, the determination of the thermodynamic parameters allows the choice of the most suitable material for the biosorption processes. The experimental results, obtained for Cu(II) ions biosorption on each biosorbent (algae biomass (AB), BC-320 and BC-550), at three different temperatures (10, 30 and 50 °C) were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, while pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusions models were used to model the kinetic data. The biosorption of Cu(II) ions is best described by the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second kinetic model, regardless of the type of biosorbent. Such behavior is characteristic for the retention of metal ions on low-cost materials, and is explained in the literature using the concepts of molecular symmetry. The maximum biosorption capacity (qmax, mg/g) depends on the temperature, but also on the type of biosorbent, and follow the order: BC-320 < AB < BC-550. Using the experimental isotherms, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0) for the biosorption of Cu(II) ions on each biosorbent were calculated. The analysis of the obtained values constitutes the main arguments in choosing BC-550 as the most effective biosorbent for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous media.
Effects of Lipopolysaccharide and Deoxynivalenol on the Survival, Antioxidant and Immune Response, and Histopathology of Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
Authors: Wen Zhengrong , Xu Xiaoli , Xiang Dan , Xu Junfeng , Yang Qiufeng , Wang Xiaofu , Liu Jiashou , Luo Mingzhong , Wei Wei
Published: July 2023

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the aquatic environment has been reported to cause diseases in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). In addition, deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the primary mycotoxins found in aquaculture. However, the potential synergistic toxic effects of LPS and DON on crayfish are yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, crayfish were exposed to LPS (1 mg kg−1), DON (3 mg kg−1), and their combination (1 mg kg−1 LPS + 3 mg kg−1 DON, L+D) for a duration of six days. Co-exposure to LPS and DON exhibited the lowest survival rate compared to the control or individual treatments with LPS or DON alone. In the initial stage of the experiment, the combined treatment of LPS and DON showed a more pronounced up-regulation of antioxidant and immune-related enzymes in the sera compared to the other treatment groups, with a fold change ranging from 1.3 to 15. In addition, the (L+D) treatment group showed a down-regulation of immune-related genes, as well as Toll pathway-related genes in the hepatopancreas compared to LPS or DON. Moreover, the (L+D) treatment group demonstrated a 100% incidence of histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas, which were significantly more severe compared to the other three groups. In conclusion, our study provides physiological and histopathological evidence that the co-exposure to LPS and DON exerted synergistic toxic effects on crayfish. The observed effects could potentially hinder the development of the crayfish aquaculture industry in China.
Kinetoplast Genome of Leishmania spp. Is under Strong Purifying Selection
Authors: Gerasimov Evgeny S. , Novozhilova Tatiana S. , Zimmer Sara L. , Yurchenko Vyacheslav
Published: July 2023

Instability is an intriguing characteristic of many protist genomes, and trypanosomatids are not an exception in this respect. Some regions of trypanosomatid genomes evolve fast. For instance, the trypanosomatid mitochondrial (kinetoplast) genome consists of fairly conserved maxicircle and minicircle molecules that can, nevertheless, possess high nucleotide substitution rates between closely related strains. Recent experiments have demonstrated that rapid laboratory evolution can result in the non-functionality of multiple genes of kinetoplast genomes due to the accumulation of mutations or loss of critical genomic components. An example of a loss of critical components is the reported loss of entire minicircle classes in Leishmania tarentolae during laboratory cultivation, which results in an inability to generate some correctly encoded genes. In the current work, we estimated the evolutionary rates of mitochondrial and nuclear genome regions of multiple natural Leishmania spp. We analyzed synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions and, rather unexpectedly, found that the coding regions of kinetoplast maxicircles are among the most variable regions of both genomes. In addition, we demonstrate that synonymous substitutions greatly predominate among maxicircle coding regions and that most maxicircle genes show signs of purifying selection. These results imply that maxicircles in natural Leishmania populations remain functional despite their high mutation rate.
Tungiasis in the Sanumás Amerindians in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil: Prevalence, Intensity and Morbidity
Authors: Santana Yago Ranniere Teixeira , Oliveira Lucas Felipe Carvalho , Lima Gabriela Mafra , Timbó Renata Velôzo , Pires Eliane Mateus , de Brito Amanda Ramos , Martins Ana Carolina Tardin , Magalhães Vivyanne Santiago , de Faria Ana Carolina Mota , Urdapilleta Ada Amalia Ayala , Roger Isabelle , de Andrade Rafael Rocha , Martins Luciana Pereira Freire , Pellegrini Marcos , de Carvalho Fabiola Christian Almeida , Araújo David Dias , Barroso Daniel Holanda , Garcia Carina Nogueira , Feldmeier Hermann , Gomes Ciro Martins
Published: July 2023

Background: Tungiasis is a disease associated with extreme poverty. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of tungiasis in six different settlements of the Sanumás indigenous community in a remote area in the Auaris region, Yanomami territory, Brazil. Methods: We conducted an observational study to detect clinical and epidemiological factors associated with tungiasis using a cross-sectional strategy and multivariate logistic regression. Soil analysis was performed by visual and microscopic methods. Results: We examined 555 persons, 45 of whom had active tungiasis; 18 cases were classified as mild, 16 as moderate and 11 as severe. The disease was significantly more prevalent in children than in adults (odds ratio (OR) 15.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.34–67.91; p < 0.001). Soil infestation was significantly related to the occurrence of human tungiasis (OR = 12.29; 95% CI = 3.75–45.88). The sex and GPS location of the houses were not related to the occurrence of tungiasis. Conclusions: We conclude that tungiasis is an important problem in the Sanumás community, especially for children. We suggest that interruption of the off-host transmission cycle, together with regular treatment [human and animal interventions], must be prioritized to achieve control of tungiasis in indigenous populations.
Effect of Pre-Treatment with a Recombinant Chicken Interleukin-17A on Vaccine Induced Immunity against a Very Virulent Marek’s Disease Virus
Authors: Boodhoo Nitish , Matsuyama-Kato Ayumi , Raj Sugandha , Fazel Fatemeh , St-Denis Myles , Sharif Shayan
Published: July 2023

The host response to pathogenic microbes can lead to expression of interleukin (IL)-17, which has antimicrobial and anti-viral activity. However, relatively little is known about the basic biological role of chicken IL-17A against avian viruses, particularly against Marek’s disease virus (MDV). We demonstrate that, following MDV infection, upregulation of IL-17A mRNA and an increase in the frequency of IL-17A+ T cells in the spleen occur compared to control chickens. To elaborate on the role of chIL-17A in MD, the full-length chIL-17A coding sequence was cloned into a pCDNA3.1-V5/HIS TOPO plasmid. The effect of treatment with pcDNA:chIL-17A plasmid in combination with a vaccine (HVT) and very virulent(vv)MDV challenge or vvMDV infection was assessed. In combination with HVT vaccination, chickens that were inoculated with the pcDNA:chIL-17A plasmid had reduced tumor incidence compared to chickens that received the empty vector control or that were vaccinated only (66.6% in the HVT + empty vector group and 73.33% in HVT group versus 53.3% in the HVT + pcDNA:chIL-17A). Further analysis demonstrated that the chickens that received the HVT vaccine and/or plasmid expressing IL-17A had lower MDV-Meq transcripts in the spleen. In conclusion, chIL-17A can influence the immunity conferred by HVT vaccination against MDV infection in chickens.
Expansion of Betatorquevirus and/or Gammatorquevirus in Patients with Severe Clinical Outcomes of the Liver Diseases
Authors: Zhang Xiaoan , Park William D. , Thijssen Marijn , Xu Yanjuan , Tse Long Ping Victor , Pourkarim Mahmoud Reza , Aurora Rajeev , Fan Xiaofeng
Published: July 2023

Anellovirus (AV) is a ubiquitous virus in the human population. Individuals can be infected with multiple AV genera and species to form a heterogeneous repertoire, termed the anellome. Using advanced methods, we examined the anellomes from 12 paired serum and liver samples, as well as 2701 subjects with different clinical diagnoses. Overall, anellomes are remarkably individualized, with significant among-group differences (Kruskal–Wallis test p = 6.6 × 10−162 for richness and p = 7.48 × 10−162 for Shannon entropy). High dissimilarity scores (beta diversity) were observed between patient groups, except for paired serum and liver samples. At the population level, the relative abundance of combinational AV genus Betatorquevirus (torque teno mini viruses, TTMV), and Gammatorquevirus (torque teno midi viruses, TTMDV) exhibited an exponential distribution with a low bound point at 32%. Defined by this value, the AV TTMV/TTMDV-expanded anellome was significantly enriched among patients with acute liver failure (31.7%) and liver transplantation (40.7%), compared with other patient groups (χ2 test: p = 4.1 × 10−8–3.2 × 10−3). Therefore, anellome heterogeneity may be predictive of clinical outcomes in certain diseases, such as liver disease. The consistency of anellome between paired serum and liver samples indicates that a liquid biopsy approach would be suitable for longitudinal studies to clarify the causality of the AV TTMV/TTMDV-expanded anellome in the outcomes of liver disease.
Meandering Flow Filter for Phosphorus Removal as a Component of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants—A Case Study
Authors: Zawadzka Beata , Siwiec Tadeusz , Marzec Michał , Jóźwiakowski Krzysztof , Listosz Agnieszka
Published: July 2023

Chemical phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment plants can be carried out by precipitation with iron or aluminum salts or by filtering wastewater through a bed of active sorptive material. This work aimed to investigate whether using a meander flow filter filled with the sorption material Rockfos® would improve phosphorus removal efficiency in a selected wastewater treatment plant. Tests were performed under laboratory conditions using a model of a meander flow filter and a similar filter under field conditions at full technical scale. This filter was the final element of a hybrid constructed wetland located in the village of Białka in the municipality of Dębowa Kłoda in southeastern Poland. A laboratory model of a phosphorus removal filter with vertical incomplete baffles forcing a meandering water flow was constructed to determine the hydraulic conditions of the flow. After one year of operation, the filter with horizontal wastewater flow operating at its full technical scale (without meanders) was modified by inserting appropriate baffles that were analogous to those in the laboratory model. The analysis of the hydraulic conditions in the laboratory model showed that, under the assumed conditions, wastewater flows through the filter layer in a laminar motion, so such filters can be modeled using the Kozeny–Carman formula. It was shown that, after approximately a year of operation in a filter operating at full technical scale, before modification, dead spaces formed, thus causing the channel and primarily surface flow of wastewater. The phosphorus removal efficiency during this test period averaged 9.4%. After introducing baffles and forcing meander flow in the filter chamber, the efficiency increased to 40.6%. The results indicate that meander flow filters can improve phosphorus removal efficiency in small wastewater treatment plants.