bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Living Labs: Pathways of Sustainability Transitions towards Innovative City Systems from a Circular Economy Perspective
Authors: Florez Ayala Diego Hernando , Alberton Anete , Ersoy Aksel
Published: August 2022

Urban living labs (ULLs) are progressive forms of interventions that aim to fulfil the sustainability ambitions of cities and communities. They provide opportunities to translate new ideas into practice. The increasing interest among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in understanding sustainability transitions (ST) has brought new forms of experimentation through which cities and communities can be governed. Recently, there has been increasing attention towards the concept of circular economy (CE). This term promises the creation of distinct city systems in which material flows can be managed efficiently. In this article, we explore how ULLs can become pathways of sustainability transition towards innovative city systems from a circular economy perspective. By adopting a series of systematic analyses, i.e., multiple correspondence analysis and content analysis, we demonstrate the main pathways of circular economy-oriented innovative city systems that have been used in the literature. As a result of this work, we identify the main pathways, namely knowledge production, policy making, co-creation, geographical embeddedness, urban transitions, networks of cooperation among institutions, culture change, and collaborative engagement.
Optimized Self-Adaptive Power Distribution for Microgrids in a Typical Tourism Water Village of Northern China under COVID-19 Background
Authors: Zhao Jian-Li , Zeng Si-Ming , Xu Wen-Tao , Du Xiao-Dong , He Yu-Ling
Published: August 2022

This work presents an improved self-adaptive power distribution approach for the microgrid in five modes under different pandemic conditions in a typical tourism water village in Northern China. Differently from the other studies, this work concentrates on satisfying the specific power supply requirements under the COVID-19 background, with the maximum value of the composite index as the object function. Composite index includes not only the economic factors, but also some compulsive factors to ensure the requested power supply of the residents/tourists. The improved particle swarm optimization method which employs the modified weighted factor and the elite strategy is utilized to optimize the power dispatching of the microgrid. Moreover, the impact of the pandemic has been fully considered by comparing the power dispatching before and after the pandemic. The case study in Baiyangdian Region confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method. With this method, the optimal power dispatching is determined under different modes.
Adoption of Agroforestry Practices in and around the Luki Biosphere Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Bandi Michel Mbumba , Mahimba Martin Bitijula , Mbe Mpie Paul Mafuka , M’vubu Alphonse Roger Ntoto , Khasa Damase P.
Published: August 2022

Despite the technical, socio-economic and environmental challenges, indigenous subsistence agroforestry, generally referred to as slash-and-burn agriculture or bush-fallow farming, is a common practice for local populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This study analyzed the proportion of adopters and non-adopters, together with other factors that influence farmers’ choices of adopting agroforestry or that discourage its adoption in the Luki Biosphere Reserve (LBR) area. Data were collected through a survey of 390 households using a structured questionnaire. A logistic regression model, with SPSS Statistics software was fitted to the data against a binary response (1 = adopt; 0 = not adopt). The proportion of adopters of agroforestry practices in the LBR area far exceeds (more than three-fold) that of non-adopters. Six factors exert a positive and significant (p-value = 5%) effect on peasant decisions to adopt agroforestry practices in LBR, including age (51 to 60 years old), marital status, education level, main activity, land tenure and farmers’ membership in a local association. Gender, other age categories, household size, number of years of agroforestry experience, number of assets, distance between residence and fields, and access to credit did not positively influence the adoption of these practices. The results of this study would help engage the indigenous community with different sectors and disseminate agroforestry as a sustainable practice appropriate to the real needs of local populations.
A Review of Life Prediction Methods for PEMFCs in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Tang Aihua , Yang Yuanhang , Yu Quanqing , Zhang Zhigang , Yang Lin
Published: August 2022

The proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has the advantage of high energy conversion efficiency, environmental friendliness, and zero carbon emissions. Therefore, as an attractive alternative energy, it is widely used in vehicles. Due to its high nonlinearity, strong time variation, and complex failure mechanisms, it is extremely difficult to predict PEMFC life in electric vehicles. The uncertainty of life predictions for the PEMFC limits its wide application. Since it is particularly important to accurately carry out PEMFC life predictions, significant research efforts are directed toward tackling this issue by adopting effective methods. In this paper, a number of PEMFC life prediction methods for electric vehicles are reviewed and summarized. The goal of this review is to render feasible and potential solutions for dealing with PEMFC life issues considering dynamic vehicle conditions. Based on this review, the reader can also easily understand the research status of PEMFC life prediction methods and this review lays a theoretical foundation for future research.
R&D Cooperation and Investments concerning Sustainable Business Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Polish SMEs
Authors: Lewandowska Anna , Cherniaiev Herman
Published: August 2022

The empirical literature provides strong evidence supporting the relation of various innovation activities, including business innovation. The literature, however, continues to be limited in the context of developing countries, especially considering different types of business innovations. The aim of the present research is to fill the gap in the literature concerning the impact of research and development (R&D) cooperation and various types of investments in innovation for the creation of sustainable business innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Particular emphasis in this study is placed on the differences in types of business innovations. The research is based on cross-sectional data (n = 406) collected by the CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview) method in a Polish peripheral region (Subcarpathian Voivodeship). To examine the relation between different innovation activities and the creation of business innovation, logistic regression was employed. The results show that the outputs of both R&D cooperation and investments are highly dependent on the innovation type. The outcomes suggest that R&D cooperation might be a driver of the implementation of development activities and organizational innovation, while the expenditures on machinery and equipment lead to a greater probability for the implementation of process innovation and development activities. We also found that expenditures on marketing activities and investments in the implementation of new solutions may have an impact on business innovation implementation.
Comparative Experimental Study of Sustainable Reinforced Portland Cement Concrete and Geopolymer Concrete Beams Using Rice Husk Ash
Authors: Thumrongvut Jaksada , Seangatith Sittichai , Phetchuay Chayakrit , Suksiripattanapong Cherdsak
Published: August 2022

The ordinary Portland cement (PC) manufacturing process emits toxic carbon dioxide into the environment. Minimizing cement consumption in the construction industry is a major scholarly priority. This paper studies the comparison of reinforced Portland cement concrete and geopolymer concrete beams, in which rice husk ash (RHA) is used as a partial replacement for cement. The study aims to determine the optimum mix proportion of Portland cement concrete with RHA (PC-RHA) and geopolymer concrete with RHA (GC-RHA) for compressive strength that meets the requirements for normal strength concrete of 18, 25, and 32 MPa and compares to ones of the control PC without RHA. Then, the load behaviors and the failure modes of the reinforced PCC beam and reinforced GC beam using RHA as partially PC (PC-RHA beam and GC-RHA beam) were investigated. The obtained experimental load capabilities were also compared to ones predicted by the equation for designing reinforced concrete beams developed by ACI Committee 318. According to the test results, the compressive strength of the PC-RHA and GC-RHA decreased when there was a higher proportion of RHA replacement in the concrete. In terms of the structural behavior, all the PCC, PC-RHA, and GC-RHA beam curves are bilinear up to the first crack load and before the yield load, then become nonlinear after the yield load of the beam specimens. The maximum crack width of the GC-RHA beam was less than that of the PC-RHA beam. Furthermore, the GC-RHA beam was more ductile than the PC-RHA beam. Finally, the ACI equation provides reliable predictions with a margin of error of 4 to 7%. This concludes that the experimental load capabilities of the PC-RHA beam and GC-RHA beam were consistent with the ACI design equation.
Green Behaviors and Green Buildings: A Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Public Housing Estates in Hong Kong
Authors: Khoo Chee Keong , Li Xin , Huang Jianxiang
Published: August 2022

A green building is believed to promote green behaviors from energy-saving to waste recycling. Green building certifications have attracted wide interest, and some were made mandatory for publicly funded developments in cities such as Hong Kong. Policymakers debate whether the city’s expanding public housing stock should be exempted from the green certification mandate for reasons of cost, while evidence of behavioral benefits in green residential buildings is thin, or non-existent for public housing estates. This paper describes a post-occupancy evaluation study on self-reported green behaviors in Hong Kong’s public housing estates. The study subjects are 400 occupants from two pairs of public rental housing estates with or without green certifications. A natural experiment was conducted, in which surveyed occupants were allocated to certified and uncertified estates via a random lottery, without significant differences in socioeconomic characteristics and propensity to green behaviors a priori. The results show that green-certified housing estates partially induced energy-saving behaviors, but not water saving or waste recycling, nor does it enhance satisfaction or green awareness. A certification alone is insufficient to induce behavioral changes, rather, efforts should be invested in conveying the green message, public education, and appropriate fiscal incentives.
Legal Challenges in Protecting the Rights of Cruise Ship Crew at the Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era
Authors: Yu Yanan , Lorenc Marcin , Shao Yude
Published: August 2022

The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the shipping industry, especially the cruise sector. During this period, the cruise crew, as a neglected subject, experienced great work, life and psychological pressures. However, many states, including China, do not pay enough attention to the legal protection of their rights. The legal literature on this issue is insufficient, and this paper attempts to fill the gap. This paper aims to give a legal suggestion for how to protect the legal rights of cruise crews in ways that are both responsible and effective in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. To achieve the goal, this paper adopts legal research methods to analyze the application of international conventions and Chinese laws and regulations. The paper discusses the legal limitations on the rights’ protection of cruise crews in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the research results are legal considerations and suggestions for the protection of the cruise crew. In addition to taking reasonable measures to reduce the impact of the epidemic on cruise crews, the legitimate rights and interests of all cruise crew individuals should be realized as much as possible under existing international conventions and domestic laws. It is important for states to further improve crew and labour legislation and strengthen international cooperation to deal with the impact of the global pandemics on the cruise.
Study on the Effect and Mechanism of Circular Economy Promotion Law on the Utilization Rate of Industrial Solid Waste in Resource-Based Cities
Authors: Lei Gaowen , Guo Sidai , Yuan Zihan
Published: August 2022

In recent decades, the impact of industrial solid waste (ISW) on the environment is arousing the government’s attention. Improving the comprehensive utilization rate of ISW not only reduces environmental pollution, but also promotes the recycling of resources and eases the pressure on resources. This study uses the panel data of 278 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2015 to establish a DID model then empirically analyze the impact of the Circular Economy Promotion Law (CEPL) on the comprehensive utilization rate of ISW in resource-based cities. It was found that implementation of the CEPL improved the comprehensive utilization rate of ISW in resource-based cities. Furthermore, the higher the city’s environmental regulation score, the more obvious the effect of the CEPL on the comprehensive utilization rate of ISW. This study also found that the impact of CEPL on the comprehensive utilization rate of ISW in resource-based cities will change due to variation of city’s type and city’s location. This study not only enriches the theoretical basis for the research on factors affecting ISW management, but also provides new ideas for transforming the ISW management model and realizing a “win-win” between the economy and the ecological environment.
Rainfall and Runoff Trend Analysis in the Wadi Mina Basin (Northern Algeria) Using Non-Parametric Tests and the ITA Method
Authors: Achite Mohammed , Caloiero Tommaso , Toubal Abderrezak Kamel
Published: August 2022

The aim of this paper is to analyze the temporal tendencies of monthly, seasonal, and annual rainfall and runoff in the Wadi Mina basin (north-western side of Africa) using data from five stations in the period from 1973–2012. With this aim, first, a trend analysis was performed using two non-parametric tests: the Theil–Sen estimator and the Mann–Kendall test. Then, to identify trends in the different rainfall and runoff values of the series, the Innovative Trend Analysis technique was further applied. The results of the application of the non-parametric tests on the rainfall data showed a general negative rainfall trend in the Wadi Mina basin for different timescales. Similarly, the results evidenced a general reduction in the runoff values, in particular in the Sidi Abdelkader Djillali and Oued Abtal stations, even though the results obtained for the Oued Abtal station are influenced by a dam. These results were further analyzed through Sen’s method, which enabled the trend identification of the different values (low, medium, and high) of the series.
Identifying the Real Income Disparity in Prefecture-Level Cities in China: Measurement of Subnational Purchasing Power Parity Based on the Stochastic Approach
Authors: Wang Chunyun , Yu Xiaoxi , Zhao Jiang
Published: August 2022

Common prosperity has become the consensus of the times on development. This study aims to establish a generalized framework of the multilateral index number system under the stochastic approach and further derive the Geary–Khamis (GK) system and the Rao system under the stochastic approach to measure subnational Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for quantifying the real income disparity, excluding the effect of prices in prefecture-level cities in China, accurately. The results reveal that: (1) The GK system and the Rao system under the stochastic approach have advantages in addressing information loss and reliability measures, and further improve the spatial price index theory; (2) The distribution of price levels in China is in line with the trend of decreasing economic levels from east to west, which may be related to the Penn effect; (3) Compared with nominal income, real income increased significantly, and the ratio of the highest to the lowest real income in China decreased from 2.62 to 2.02. Real income, excluding the effect of prices, shows a new characteristic of moving toward the north for the high-income agglomeration areas and toward the southwest for the low-income agglomeration areas. These findings are conducive to the adoption of regionally differentiated measures to promote the realization of common prosperity, which has significant practical relevance.
Multi-Disciplinary Computational Investigations on Asymmetrical Failure Factors of Disc Brakes for Various CFRP Materials: A Validated Approach
Authors: Raja Vijayanandh , Gnanasekaran Raj Kumar , Razak Kaladgi Abdul , Rajendran Parvathy , Khan Sher Afghan , Asif Mohammad
Published: August 2022

Finite element analyses (FEA) are flexible and advanced approaches, which are utilized to address difficult problems of aerospace materials that exhibit both structural symmetrical and structural asymmetrical characteristics. Frictional behavior effects are used as a crucial element in this multidisciplinary study, and other structural, thermal properties are computed using FEA. Primary lightweight materials such as glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), kevlar fiber reinforced polymer (KFRP), titanium alloy, tungsten carbide, steel alloys, and advanced lightweight materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC) mixer, based on aforesaid materials underwent comprehensive investigations on aircraft disc brake, two-wheeler disc brake, and ASTM general rotating test specimen (G-99). Standard boundary conditions, computational sensitivity tests, and theoretical validations were conducted because the working nature of FEA may impair output dependability. First, FEA calculations were performed on a standard rotating disc component with two separate material families at various rotational velocities such as 400 RPM, 500 RPM, 600 RPM, 800 RPM, and 10 N of external frictional force. Via tribological experiments, frictional force and deformation of FEA outcomes were validated; the experimental outcomes serve as important boundary conditions for real-time simulations. Second, verified FEA was extended to complicated real-time applications such as aircraft disc brakes and automobile disc brakes. This work confirms that composite materials possess superior properties to conventional alloys for aircraft and vehicle disc brakes.
A Quantum-Based Signcryption for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Networks
Authors: Ghosh Sagarika , Zaman Marzia , Plourde Bernard , Sampalli Srinivas
Published: August 2022

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are ubiquitous in industrial control processes, such as power grids, water supply systems, traffic control, oil and natural gas mining, space stations and nuclear plants. However, their security faces the threat of being compromised due to the increasing use of open-access networks. Furthermore, one of the research gaps involves the emergence of quantum computing, which has exposed a new type of risk to SCADA systems. Failure to secure SCADA systems can lead to catastrophic consequences. For example, a malicious attack can take control of the power supply to a city, shut down the water supply system, or cause malfunction of a nuclear reactor. The primary purpose of this paper is to identify the new type of attack based on quantum computing and design a novel security scheme to defend against traditional attacks as well as the quantum attack. The methodology of the proposed signcryption is built on the foundation of the classical Bennett and Brassard 1984 (BB84) cryptographic scheme and does not involve computationally expensive third-party validation. The proposed signcryption scheme provides both encryption and intrusion detection. In particular, it detects the man-in-the-middle attack that can lead to other types of attacks. We have simulated the proposed algorithm using the Quantum Information Toolkit in Python. Furthermore, we have validated and analyzed the proposed design through security verification tools, namely, Scyther and PRISM.
Enhancing Hot Electron Injection in Plasmonic Photodetectors through Roughened Interfaces
Authors: Xiao Long , Yan Shancheng , Chen Tianhong , Wang Junzhuan , Shi Yi
Published: August 2022

Ongoing efforts have been made to improve the photoresponsivity of plasmonic photodetectors. In this work, the photodetectors based on transparent conductive oxide (TCO)/Semiconductor/Metal configuration especially with a roughened interface were investigated numerically, and the effect of the roughness on the injection efficiency of hot electrons was analyzed. The simulated results indicate that a roughened structure alleviates effectively the momentum mismatch of hot electrons at the metal/semiconductor interface due to asymmetry factor, and greatly improves the injection efficiency as well as photoresponsivity. At the incidence wavelength of 1550 nm, the photoresponsivity increased by about 8 times. Meanwhile, the influence on the resonant wavelength shift is negligible where the roughness is nano-scale. Our work provides a valuable guidance for the theoretical and experimental research of plasmonic photodetectors.
Recent Advancements in Developments of Novel Fluorescent Probes: In Cellulo Recognitions of Alkaline Phosphatases
Authors: Dasnur Nanjappa Madhusudan , Pandith Anup , Sankaran Svetlana , Dorairaj Dorothy Priyanka , Reddy Anusha Anjaneya , Ramesh Hari Prasad Badubanahalli
Published: August 2022

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is one of the vital phospho-ester bond cleaving biocatalysts that has inevitable significance in cellular systems, viz., early-stage osteoblast differentiation, cell integrity in tissues, bone mineralization, cancer biomarker, liver dysfunction, cellular osmotic pressure, protein folding and many more. Variation from optimal levels of ALP in intra and extracellular fluids can cause severe diseases, including death. Due to these reasons, ALP is considered as a vital biomarker for various preclinical and medical diagnosis. Fluorescence image-based diagnosis is the most widely used method, owing to its simplicity, robustness, non-invasive properties and excellent spatio-temporal resolution (up to the nM/pM level), as compared to conventional analytical techniques, such as the electroanalytical method, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Most of the reviews reported for ALP’s recognition in the literature scarcely explain the structurally related, photophysical and biophysical parameters; and the sub-cellular localizations. Considering these facts, in order to enhance the opto-analytical parameters of fluorescence-based diagnostic materials at the cellular level, herein we have systematically documented recent developments in the opto-analytical capabilities of quencher-free probes for ALP, used in in vitro (biological buffers) to in cellulo conditions, along with in vivo models.
Business Intelligence’s Self-Service Tools Evaluation
Authors: Orcajo Hernández Jordina , Fonseca i Casas Pau
Published: August 2022

The software selection process in the context of a big company is not an easy task. In the Business Intelligence area, this decision is critical, since the resources needed to implement the tool are huge and imply the participation of all organization actors. We propose to adopt the systemic quality model to perform a neutral comparison between four business intelligence self-service tools. To assess the quality, we consider eight characteristics and eighty-two metrics. We built a methodology to evaluate self-service BI tools, adapting the systemic quality model. As an example, we evaluated four tools that were selected from all business intelligence platforms, following a rigorous methodology. Through the assessment, we obtained two tools with the maximum quality level. To obtain the differences between them, we were more restrictive increasing the level of satisfaction. Finally, we got a unique tool with the maximum quality level, while the other one was rejected according to the rules established in the methodology. The methodology works well for this type of software, helping in the detailed analysis and neutral selection of the final software to be used for the implementation.
Lung-Based, Exosome Inhibition Mediates Systemic Impacts Following Particulate Matter Exposure
Authors: Lopez Keegan , Camacho Alexandra , Jacquez Quiteria , Amistadi Mary Kay , Medina Sebastian , Zychowski Katherine
Published: August 2022

Particulate matter (PM) exposure is a global health issue that impacts both urban and rural communities. Residential communities in the Southwestern United States have expressed concerns regarding the health impacts of fugitive PM from rural, legacy mine-sites. In addition, the recent literature suggests that exosomes may play a role in driving toxicological phenotypes following inhaled exposures. In this study, we assessed exosome-driven mechanisms and systemic health impacts following inhaled dust exposure, using a rodent model. Using an exosome inhibitor, GW4869 (10 μM), we inhibited exosome generation in the lungs of mice via oropharyngeal aspiration. We then exposed mice to previously characterized inhaled particulate matter (PM) from a legacy mine-site and subsequently assessed downstream behavioral, cellular, and molecular biomarkers in lung, serum, and brain tissue. Results indicated that CCL-2 was significantly upregulated in the lung tissue and downregulated in the brain (p < 0.05) following PM exposure. Additional experiments revealed cerebrovascular barrier integrity deficits and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining in the mine-PM exposure group, mechanistically dependent on exosome inhibition. An increased stress and anxiety response, based on the open-field test, was noted in the mine-PM exposure group, and subsequently mitigated with GW4869 intervention. Exosome lipidomics revealed 240 and eight significantly altered positive-ion lipids and negative-ion lipids, respectively, across the three treatment groups. Generally, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids were significantly downregulated in the PM group, compared to FA. In conclusion, these data suggest that systemic, toxic impacts of inhaled PM may be mechanistically dependent on lung-derived, circulating exosomes, thereby driving a systemic, proinflammatory phenotype.
Recognition of Heavy Metals by Using Resorcin[4]arenes Soluble in Water
Authors: Sanabria Edilma , Esteso Miguel A. , Vargas Edgar F.
Published: August 2022

The complexing properties of two water-soluble resorcin[4]arenes (tetrasodium 5,11,17,23-tetrakissulfonatemethylen 2,8,14,20-tetra(butyl)resorcin[4]arene, Na4BRA, and tetrasodium 5,11,17,23-tetrakissulfonatemethylen-2,8,14,20-tetra(2-(methylthio)ethyl)resorcin[4]arene, Na4SRA) with polluting heavy metals such as Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ were studied by conductivity, and the findings were confirmed by using other techniques to try to apply this knowledge to removing them. The results indicate that Na4BRA is able to complex Cu2+ in a 1:1 ratio and Pb2+ in a 1:2 ratio, while Na4SRA complexes Hg2+ in a 1:1 ratio. On the contrary, no indications have been observed that either of the resorcin[4]arenes studied complexes the Cd2+ ions. The results suggest that the bonds established between the sulfur atoms located at the lower edge of the SRA4− and the solvent hydrogens could prevent the entry of the guest into the host cavity. However, in the case of Hg2+ ions, the entry is favoured by the interactions between the sulfur donor atoms present on the lower edge of Na4SRA and the Hg2+ ions. Therefore, it can be said that Na4BRA is selective for Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions and Na4SRA is selective for Hg2+ ions.
Application of an In Vitro Digestion Model for Wheat and Red Beetroot Bread to Assess the Bioaccessibility of Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A and Zearalenone and Betalains
Authors: Llorens Castelló Paula , Juan-García Ana , Cortés Juan Carlos Moltó , Mañes Vinuesa Jordi , Juan García Cristina
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, the bakery industry includes different bioactive ingredients to enrich the nutritional properties of its products, such as betalains from red beetroot (Beta vulgaris). However, cereal products are considered a major route of exposure to many mycotoxins, both individually and in combination, due to their daily consumption, if the cereals used contain these toxins. Only the fraction of the contaminant that is released from the food is bioaccessible and bioavailable to produce toxic effects. Foods with bioactive compounds vary widely in chemical structure and function, and some studies have demonstrated their protective effects against toxics. In this study the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of three legislated mycotoxins (AFB1, OTA and ZEN), individual and combined, in two breads, one with wheat flour and the other with wheat flour enriched with 20% Beta vulgaris, were evaluated. Bioaccessibility of these three mycotoxins from wheat bread and red beet bread enriched individually at 100 ng/g was similar between the breads: 16% and 14% for AFB1, 16% and 17% for OTA and 26% and 22% for ZEN, respectively. Whereas, when mycotoxins were co-present these values varied with a decreasing tendency: 9% and 15% for AFB1, 13% and 9% for OTA, 4% and 25% for ZEN in wheat bread and in red beet bread, respectively. These values reveal that the presence of other components and the co-presence of mycotoxins can affect the final bioavailability; however, it is necessary to assess this process with in vivo studies to complete the studies.
Investigation of Peptide Toxin Diversity in Ribbon Worms (Nemertea) Using a Transcriptomic Approach
Authors: Vlasenko Anna E. , Kuznetsov Vasiliy G. , Magarlamov Timur Yu.
Published: August 2022

Nemertea is a phylum of nonsegmented worms (supraphylum: Spiralia), also known as ribbon worms. The members of this phylum contain various toxins, including peptide toxins. Here, we provide a transcriptomic analysis of peptide toxins in 14 nemertean species, including Cephalothrix cf. simula, which was sequenced in the current study. The summarized data show that the number of toxin transcripts in the studied nemerteans varied from 12 to 82. The most represented groups of toxins were enzymes and ion channel inhibitors, which, in total, reached a proportion of 72% in some species, and the least represented were pore-forming toxins and neurotoxins, the total proportion of which did not exceed 18%. The study revealed that nemerteans possess a much greater variety of toxins than previously thought and showed that these animals are a promising object for the investigation of venom diversity and evolution, and in the search for new peptide toxins.
Is Core Angular Momentum Key to the Giant Dynamo?
Authors: Schröder Klaus-Peter , Konstantinova-Antova Renada
Published: August 2022

The pros and cons of core angular momentum dissipation into the convective envelopes of giants as a driver of giant activity is discussed in face of the observational evidence, which points to two ”magnetic strips“, in the HRD, where in the first, at the base of the RGB, activity of moderate mass stars is freshly started and rejuvenated in the second strip, ascending along the mid-AGB. It remains unclear, though, which depths the giant dynamo is operating. Both concentrations of active giants in the HRD are related to stellar evolution phases with core contraction and spin-up, and presumably the dissipation of angular momentum into the convective envelope above. At the same time, the latter has a small Rossby number by virtue of its increasing convective turn-over time—i.e., favourable conditions to run an alpha-omega dynamo. Since coronal X-ray emission appears to give an incomplete picture of stellar activity across the HR diagramme, we here focus on the observed chromospheric emissions across the giant branches and find good agreement with the magnetic field Zeeman-detections there. Stable evolution phases—solar-type main sequence stars with central hydrogen burning and moderate mass, central Helium burning K giants—by contrast demonstrate a decline in activity, apparently imposed by magnetic braking, as such stars are also slower rotators. In that sense, the observed picture of two magnetic activity strips across the HR diagramme could empirically be explained as an interplay of magnetic braking during the stable phase of core helium burning and supply by internal angular momentum during episodes of fast core contraction with core spin-up and angular momentum dredge-up, while meeting dynamo-friendly envelope conditions. At the same time, the sporadic external supply of angular momentum by the engulfment events of a planet, in the course of the evolutionary envelope expansion, may explain some cases of exceptional activity outside the here-described general picture.
Transient Luminous Events in the Lower Part of the Atmosphere Originated in the Peripheral Regions of a Thunderstorm
Authors: Chilingarian Ashot , Hovsepyan Gagik , Karapetyan Tigran , Sargsyan Balabek , Svechnikova Ekaterina
Published: August 2022

We present and discuss transient luminous events (TLEs) in the lower atmosphere, observed during large disturbances of the near-surface electric fields (NSEF) and coinciding with large enhancements of the particle fluxes (thunderstorm ground enhancements—TGEs). Despite large distances from the strongest electric field region, the maximum energy of TGE particles on 22 and 25 May 2018 reaches ≈40 MeV. Thus, the accelerating electric field reaches ≈2.0 keV/cm far from the zone of the strong lightning activity on the periphery of the storm. Light glows appearing simultaneously in the skies may be due to the local charge rearrangement generating a small illuminating discharge without initiating the lightning flash. This type of charge rearrangement does not lower the potential difference in the cloud, allowing the electron accelerator to operate and send particle fluxes in the direction of the earth’s surface.
On the Hilbert Space in Quantum Gravity
Authors: Spaniol Ednardo Paulo , Amorim Ronni Geraldo Gomes , Ulhoa Sergio Costa
Published: August 2022

This article deals with the fractional problem of Sturm–Liouville and the Hilbert space associated with the solutions of this differential equation. We apply a quantization procedure to Schwarzschild space–time and obtain a fractional differential equation. The Hilbert space for these solutions is established. We used equations arising from quantization for the FRW and Reissner–Nordstron metrics to build the respective Hilbert spaces.
Phenomenological Inflationary Model in Supersymmetric Quantum Cosmology
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Nephtalí , Ramírez-Romero Cupatitzio , Vázquez-Báez Víctor
Published: August 2022

We consider the effective evolution of a phenomenological model from FLRW supersymmetric quantum cosmology with a scalar field. The scalar field acts as a clock and inflaton. We examine a family of simple superpotentials that produce an inflation whose virtual effect on inhomogeneous fluctuations shows very good agreement with PLANCK observational evidence for the tensor-to-scalar ratio and the scalar spectral index.
Activity of Comets Constrains the Chemistry and Structure of the Protoplanetary Disk
Authors: Fulle Marco
Published: August 2022

Recent data of molecular clouds and protoplanetary disks constrain the composition and structure of the disk and planetesimals. Laboratory experiments suggest that dust accretion in disks stops at pebble sizes. Sublimation and recondensation of water ice at the disk water-snow line suggest that pebbles split into water-rich and water-poor ones. The same conclusion has been recently reached by models of cometary activity consistent with the structure of porous Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) and of porous dust collected by the Stardust and Rosetta missions. The observation of crystalline water ice in protoplanetary disks by the Herschel satellite, the erosion of comets, and the seasonal evolution of the nucleus color require that the two pebble families have a water-ice mass fraction close to 33% and 2%, respectively. Here, we show that the diversity of comets is thus due to random mixtures with different area fractions Ap and Ar of water-poor and water-rich pebbles, predicting most of the data observed in comets: why the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio in cometary water correlates to the ratio Ap/Ar, which pebbles dominate the activity of Dynamically New Comets (DNCs), what is the origin of cometary outbursts, why comets cannot be collisional products, and why the brightness evolution of DNCs during their first approach to the Sun is actually unpredictable.
Evaluation of Novel Guanidino-Containing Isonipecotamide Inhibitors of Blood Coagulation Factors against SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection
Authors: De Maio Flavio , Rullo Mariagrazia , de Candia Modesto , Purgatorio Rosa , Lopopolo Gianfranco , Santarelli Giulia , Palmieri Valentina , Papi Massimiliano , Elia Gabriella , De Candia Erica , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Altomare Cosimo
Published: August 2022

Coagulation factor Xa (fXa) and thrombin (thr) are widely expressed in pulmonary tissues, where they may catalyze, together with the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), the coronaviruses spike protein (SP) cleavage and activation, thus enhancing the SP binding to ACE2 and cell infection. In this study, we evaluate in vitro the ability of approved (i.e., dabigatran and rivaroxaban) and newly synthesized isonipecotamide-based reversible inhibitors of fXa/thr (cmpds 1–3) to hinder the SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of VERO cells. Nafamostat, which is a guanidine/amidine antithrombin and antiplasmin agent, disclosed as a covalent inhibitor of TMPRSS2, was also evaluated. While dabigatran and rivaroxaban at 100 μM concentration did not show any effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus preincubation with new guanidino-containing fXa-selective inhibitors 1 and 3 did decrease viral infectivity of VERO cells at subtoxic doses. When the cells were pre-incubated with 3, a reversible nanomolar inhibitor of fXa (Ki = 15 nM) showing the best in silico docking score toward TMPRSS2 (pdb 7MEQ), the SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was completely inhibited at 100 μM (p < 0.0001), where the cytopathic effect was just about 10%. The inhibitory effects of 3 on SARS-CoV-2 infection was evident (ca. 30%) at lower concentrations (3–50 μM). The covalent TMPRSS2 and the selective inhibitor nafamostat mesylate, although showing some effect (15–20% inhibition), did not achieve statistically significant activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the whole range of test concentrations (3–100 μM). These findings suggest that direct inhibitors of the main serine proteases of the blood coagulation cascade may have potential in SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery. Furthermore, they prove that basic amidino-containing fXa inhibitors with a higher docking score towards TMPRSS2 may be considered hits for optimizing novel small molecules protecting guest cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Ionophore Antibiotics Inhibit Type II Feline Coronavirus Proliferation In Vitro
Authors: Tanaka Yoshikazu , Tanabe Eri , Nonaka Yuki , Uemura Mitsuki , Tajima Tsuyoshi , Ochiai Kazuhiko
Published: August 2022

Feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) infect cats worldwide and cause severe systemic diseases, such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). FIP has a high mortality rate, and drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been ineffective for the treatment of FIP. Investigating host factors and the functions required for FCoV replication is necessary to develop effective drugs for the treatment of FIP. FCoV utilizes an endosomal trafficking system for cellular entry after binding between the viral spike (S) protein and its receptor. The cellular enzymes that cleave the S protein of FCoV to release the viral genome into the cytosol require an acidic pH optimized in the endosomes by regulating cellular ion concentrations. Ionophore antibiotics are compounds that form complexes with alkali ions to alter the endosomal pH conditions. This study shows that ionophore antibiotics, including valinomycin, salinomycin, and nigericin, inhibit FCoV proliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that ionophore antibiotics should be investigated further as potential broad-spectrum anti-FCoV agents.
Preparation of the RIPK3 Polyclonal Antibody and Its Application in Immunoassays of Nephropathogenic Infectious Bronchitis Virus-Infected Chickens
Authors: Tian Guanming , Shi Yan , Cao Xianhong , Chen Wei , Gu Yueming , Li Ning , Huang Cheng , Zhuang Yu , Li Guyue , Liu Ping , Hu Guoliang , Gao Xiaona , Guo Xiaoquan
Published: August 2022

Receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is a vital serine/threonine kinase in regulating the programmed destruction of infected cells to defend against RNA viruses. Although the role of RIPK3 in viruses in mice is well characterized, it remains unclear where in nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) in chickens. Here, we use a self-prepared polyclonal antibody to clarify the abundance of RIPK3 in tissues and define the contributions of RIPK3 in tissue damage caused by NIBV infection in chickens. Western blot analyses showed that RIPK3 polyclonal antibody can specifically recognize RIPK3 in the vital tissues of Hy-Line brown chicks and RIPK3 protein is abundantly expressed in the liver and kidney. Moreover, NIBV significantly upregulated the expression levels of RIPK3 in the trachea and kidney of chicks in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the activation of necroptosis in response to NIBV infection was demonstrated by the coimmunoprecipitation (CoIP) experiments through RIPK3 in the necrosome, which phosphorylates its downstream mixed-spectrum kinase structural domain-like protein (MLKL). Our findings offered preliminary insights into the key role of RIPK3 protein in studying the underlying mechanism of organ failure caused by NIBV infection.
Does Immunocastration Affect Behaviour and Body Lesions in Heavy Pigs?
Authors: Pesenti Rossi Gaia , Dalla Costa Emanuela , Filipe Joel Fernando Soares , Mazzola Silvia Michela , Motta Ambra , Borciani Marzia , Gastaldo Alessandro , Canali Elisabetta , Pilia Federica , Argenton Marco , Caniatti Mario , Pecile Alessandro , Minero Michela , Barbieri Sara
Published: August 2022

Immunocastration has been pointed out as an alternative to surgical castration; though, most of the scientific studies were performed in light pig production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of immunocastration on animal welfare in heavy pig production through the evaluation of behaviour and body lesions. A total of 188 commercial-hybrid pigs were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: surgical castration (SC) and immunocastration with Improvac® (IC). Data on behaviour, body lesions, and salivary testosterone levels were collected the day before each vaccination at 15, 22, 32, and 36 weeks of age. IC and SC pigs were slaughtered at 40 and 41 weeks of age, respectively; productive and carcass traits data were also collected. Considering productive performance, our results confirmed that IC pigs grew faster and presented a higher weight at slaughter. A critical period for pig welfare was observed before 32 weeks: testosterone concentration and body lesion score were significantly higher in IC pigs compared to SC pigs; active behaviours were significantly more frequent in IC at 15 weeks. Immunocastration may represent a suitable alternative to surgical castration with profitable productive performances, whereas the impairment of welfare during the period before the effective vaccination should be further investigated as a potential critical aspect in heavy pig production.
Comparison of Low- and High-Cost Infrared Thermal Imaging Devices for the Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Coe Aidan , Blackie Nicola
Published: August 2022

Lameness has a high economic cost to the U.K. dairy industry; accurate and early detection of lameness minimises this cost. Infrared thermal imaging (IRT) devices have shown promising results for use as a lameness detection aid in cattle when used in research settings; these devices are typically high-cost, limiting their adoption. This study analysed the effectiveness of low-cost IRT devices (LCDs) as lameness detection aids, by comparing both maximum environmentally adjusted temperature values and hindfeet temperature difference collected by an LCD to the mobility score of the cow; this test was repeated for data collected by a research-specification device. Data collection occurred during routine milking of 83 cattle; each cow’s mobility was scored afterwards. Significant differences were found between lame and sound cows with the LCD, upon analysis of both methods. There was no significant difference between the data captured by differing devices. The maximum sensitivity and specificity values for the LCD were calculated as 66.95 and 64.53, respectively, compared with 70.34 and 70.94, respectively, for the research-specification device; optimum threshold values for these were equivalent for both devices, suggesting IRT lameness identification is not device-dependent. It was concluded that a minimal difference in effectiveness between tested devices suggests that LCDs could be used as a lameness detection aid; consequently, there is potential for widespread adoption as on-farm detection aids.
Predictive Models of Dairy Cow Thermal State: A Review from a Technological Perspective
Authors: Neves Soraia F. , Silva Mónica C. F. , Miranda João M. , Stilwell George , Cortez Paulo P.
Published: August 2022

Dairy cattle are particularly sensitive to heat stress due to the higher metabolic rate needed for milk production. In recent decades, global warming and the increase in dairy production in warmer countries have stimulated the development of a wide range of environmental control systems for dairy farms. Despite their proven effectiveness, the associated energy and water consumption can compromise the viability of dairy farms in many regions, due to the cost and scarcity of these resources. To make these systems more efficient, they should be activated in time to prevent thermal stress and switched off when that risk no longer exists, which must consider environmental variables as well as the variables of the animals themselves. Nowadays, there is a wide range of sensors and equipment that support farm routine procedures, and it is possible to measure several variables that, with the aid of algorithms based on predictive models, would allow anticipating animals’ thermal states. This review summarizes three types of approaches as predictive models: bioclimatic indexes, machine learning, and mechanistic models. It also focuses on the application of the current knowledge as algorithms to be used in the management of diverse types of environmental control systems.