bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable, Smart and Muslim-Friendly Tourist Destinations
Authors: Cuesta-Valiño Pedro , Bolifa Fadoua , Núñez-Barriopedro Estela
Published: March 2020

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools are perfect for developing tourism. Several countries are making an effort to become smart and sustainable tourist destinations, making it easier for tourists to interact with their environment while at the same time improving the quality of life for local people. There are many studies of this process and the benefits it brings, although most of them approach the subject from a western traveler’s point of view. This article aims to study the benefits of being a smart and Muslim-friendly tourist destination. An exploratory study was therefore carried out, including a bibliographical review of over one hundred secondary sources. We analyze the Muslim-friendly online services provided by nine destinations, and one of our principal conclusions is that these online services are of the greatest importance for a destination to be truly Muslim-friendly. We also conclude that such services allow companies to design tailored proposals and promote them through digital channels aimed at Muslim people.
Factors Affecting the Popularity of Video Content on Live-Streaming Services: Focusing on V Live, the South Korean Live-Streaming Service
Authors: Ham Minjeong , Lee Sang Woo
Published: March 2020

Naver V Live, a South Korean live-streaming service, showcases video contents specific to the entertainment industry, such as K-pop and music. On V Live, K-pop stars and their fans can interact directly in a natural way, and V Live provides high-quality video content with novel topics. This study has identified key characteristics of video content that affect its popularity. A total of 620 video contents of five leading Star channels were classified on the basis of production company, type of video content, and whether it was live-streamed or not. The popularity of video content was measured by the number of comments, hearts, and views. To control potential bias, additional variables were set as control variables—such as the number of channel subscribers, mini-album sales, if the video content was previewed, and cumulative number of days since the video content was uploaded. For analysis, a hierarchical linear regression was conducted. The findings suggest future directions in video content planning.
Children’s and Mothers’ Achievement Goal Orientations and Self-Efficacy: Dyadic Contributions to Students’ Well-Being
Authors: Curelaru Versavia , Muntele-Hendreș Daniela , Diac Georgeta , Duca Diana-Sînziana
Published: March 2020

Starting from the basic idea that identifying predictive family factors for children’s well-being is among the levels of the psychology of sustainable human development, our study aimed to investigate the impact of mothers’ achievement goal orientations and parental self-efficacy on their children’s academic well-being, considering children’s own achievement goals as a mediator variable. The entire sample comprised 350 participants: 175 children (42.86% boys) and their respective mothers. Children were enrolled in the 4th grade (n = 85; Mage = 10.44, SD = 0.49), in the 8th grade (n = 62; Mage = 14.45, SD = 0.53), and in the 12th grade (n = 28; Mage = 18.39, SD = 0.62). The results indicated that mothers’ motivational orientations had a strong effect on their children’s corresponding motivational orientations. Mothers’ achievement goal orientations and parental self-efficacy had significant effects on children’s well-being, mediated by children’s goal orientations. Children’s well-being was positively predicted by mothers’ mastery and performance-approach goal orientations, with variations between age groups. The importance of the parental motivational orientations in the development of the children’s corresponding orientations and well-being suggests that changing academic adaptation might be possible by operating early interventions at the parents’ level. Further research is necessary to explore why performance-approach goals had a positive impact on well-being in this cultural context, as previous studies revealed that this type of goal orientation may be detrimental to well-being.
Community and Impact Based Early Warning System for Flood Risk Preparedness: The Experience of the Sirba River in Niger
Authors: Tarchiani Vieri , Massazza Giovanni , Rosso Maurizio , Tiepolo Maurizio , Pezzoli Alessandro , Housseini Ibrahim Mohamed , Katiellou Gaptia Lawan , Tamagnone Paolo , De Filippis Tiziana , Rocchi Leandro , Marchi Valentina , Rapisardi Elena
Published: March 2020

Floods have recently become a major hazard in West Africa (WA) in terms of both their magnitude and frequency. They affect livelihoods, infrastructure and production systems, hence impacting on Sustainable Development (SD). Early Warning Systems (EWS) for floods that properly address all four EWS components, while also being community and impact-based, do not yet exist in WA. Existing systems address only the main rivers, are conceived in a top-down manner and are hazard-centered. This study on the Sirba river in Niger aims to demonstrate that an operational community and impact-based EWS for floods can be set up by leveraging the existing tools, local stakeholders and knowledge. The main finding of the study is that bridging the gap between top-down and bottom-up approaches is possible by directly connecting the available technical capabilities with the local level through a participatory approach. This allows the beneficiaries to define the rules that will develop the whole system, strengthening their ability to understand the information and take action. Moreover, the integration of hydrological forecasts and observations with the community monitoring and preparedness system provides a lead time suitable for operational decision-making at national and local levels. The study points out the need for the commitment of governments to the transboundary sharing of flood information for EWS and SD.
Dockless E-Scooter: A Green Solution for Mobility? Comparative Case Study between Dockless E-Scooters, Displaced Transport, and Personal E-Scooters
Authors: Moreau Hélie , de Jamblinne de Meux Loïc , Zeller Vanessa , D’Ans Pierre , Ruwet Coline , Achten Wouter M.J.
Published: March 2020

This study applies a life cycle assessment (LCA) to the shared dockless standing e-scooter system that is established in Brussels. The results are given for four impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), particulate matter formation, mineral resource, and fossil resource scarcity. Regarding GWP, the use of the shared e-scooters in the current system causes 131 g of CO2-eq. per passenger-kilometer while the mode of transportation displaced has an impact of 110 g of CO2-eq. Thus, at present, the use of e-scooters shows a higher impact than the transportation modes they replace. The high results for the shared e-scooter, in terms of GWP, are mainly caused by the short lifespan of the shared e-scooter. Nevertheless, as the market further matures, the lifespan of e-scooters could increase and the impact per kilometer travelled could decrease accordingly. Regarding the use of the personal e-scooter, the LCA results show an impact of around 67 g of CO2-eq. This study quantifies the LC impacts of the current situation based on local, ‘real-life’ data. However, potential changes on soft mobility patterns induced by the use-oriented product-service system (PSS), such as a shared e-scooter system, could not be quantified.
The Potential for Integration of Wind and Tidal Power in New Zealand
Authors: Majdi Nasab Navid , Kilby Jeff , Bakhtiaryfard Leila
Published: March 2020

This research focuses on proposing and evaluating an optimized hybrid system of wind and tidal turbines operating as a renewable energy generating unit in New Zealand. Literature review indicates increasing worldwide investment in offshore renewable energy in recent years. Offshore energy shows a high potential as an alternative energy generation solution to that of fossil fuels. Using the capacities of wind and tidal power in renewable technologies would be a suitable alternative for fossil fuels and would help prevent their detrimental effects on the environment. It is a cost-effective procedure for the power generation sector to maximize these renewables as a hybrid system. At the design phase, turbine types appropriate to environmental conditions for an area with high wind speed and tidal flow need to be considered. When selecting which turbines should be used, horizontal or vertical axis, number and length of blades, and optimized rotational speed are all important to get maximum capacity from either the wind or tidal energy for the hybrid system. Comprehensive simulation models of the hybrid system are now being set up, using several available commercial software packages such as QBlade, Simulink, and RETScreen. Several different parameters will be required for these simulation models to run in order to test performance, capacity and efficiency of the proposed hybrid system. To decide which regions are suitable for the hybrid system, it will be necessary to analyze available wind and tide records from NIWA, and online databases such as GLOBAL ATLAS. This next phase of research will aim to create optimized scenarios for the hybrid model by considering the effect of wind and water speed on performance. After deciding which region and scenarios are suitable, it will also be necessary to evaluate the costs and returns of a hybrid system. This final phase will be performed using the RETScreen simulation model.
Mapping Different Worlds of Eco-Welfare States
Authors: Zimmermann Katharina , Graziano Paolo
Published: March 2020

Attention towards topics such as environmental pollution, climate change, or biodiversity has strongly increased in the last years. The struggles to balance market powers and ecological sustainability somehow evoke memories of the early days of European welfare states, when social protection emerged as a means to prevent industrial capitalism from disruptive social tensions due to excessive social inequalities. In fact, social and environmental crises are inseparably intertwined, as ecological destruction is likely to be followed by social deprivation, and a lack of social security can be a crucial barrier for ecologically sustainable action. Our paper seeks to provide a step towards such an integrated perspective by studying problem pressure and public interventions in the area of green welfare, that is, in social and environmental protection. By using available data from Eurostat and Environmental Performance Index (EPI) databases, we contrast environmental and social performances to detect links between the social and the ecological dimension in these areas and unearth different configurations of green welfare among European countries. Our findings suggest that there are different “worlds of eco-welfare states” which only partially overlap with the more conventional “world of welfare states” but show how the Nordic countries are in the relatively-better performing cluster.
Sustainable Welfare beyond Growth
Authors: Hirvilammi Tuuli , Koch Max
Published: March 2020

The history of welfare states is tightly linked to industrial capitalism and a mode of regulation where production and consumption patterns increased in parallel [...]
Applying the Open Government Principles to the University’s Strategic Planning: A Sound Practice
Authors: Moreno-Carmona Cristina , Feria-Domínguez José Manuel , Troncoso Alicia
Published: March 2020

This paper describes an innovative experience based on the citizen participation as a fundamental principle of the Open Government, regarding the strategic planning in higher education institutions. Such innovation lies on two main pillars: the stakeholders’ approach (versus the traditional product-service orientation) and a web platform based on UserVoice® and Wordpress® software. The web platform was designed not only for building up a consensual strategic plan in a medium-sized Spanish public university, but also to monitor and control it once implemented. During the participation stage, all the proposals were openly discussed and voted by the whole university community. One year later, the online platform for monitoring the Strategic Plan was re-launched in order to rate, comment and vote the values reached by the key performance indicators. The adoption of such technological tools turns into a sound practice of governance for sustainable strategic management, by encouraging the collaborative workflow, participation, reflection and learning. Moreover, it promotes the stakeholders’ identification with corporate goals and enhance their commitment to the university’s strategic plan.
Using a Citizen Science Approach with German Horse Owners to Study the Locomotion Behaviour of Horses on Pasture
Authors: Schmitz Anja , Tonn Bettina , Schöppner Ann-Kathrin , Isselstein Johannes
Published: March 2020

Engaging farmers as citizen scientists may be a cost-efficient way to answering applied research questions aimed at more sustainable land use. We used a citizen science approach with German horse farmers with a dual goal. Firstly, we tested the practicability of this approach for answering ‘real-life’ questions in variable agricultural land-use systems. Secondly, we were interested in the knowledge it can provide about locomotion of horses on pasture and the management factors influencing this behaviour. Out of 165 volunteers, we selected 40 participants to record locomotion of two horses on pasture and provide information on their horse husbandry and pasture management. We obtained complete records for three recording days per horse from 28 participants, resulting in a dataset on more individual horses than any other Global Positioning System study published in the last 30 years. Time spent walking was greatest for horses kept in box-stall stables, and walking distance decreased with increasing grazing time. This suggests that restrictions in pasture access may increase stress on grass swards through running and trampling, severely challenging sustainable pasture management. Our study, involving simple technology, clear instructions and rigorous quality assessment, demonstrates the potential of citizen science actively involving land managers in agricultural research.
Does Culture of Origin Have an Impact on Online Complaining Behaviors? The Perceptions of Asians and Non-Asians
Authors: Sann Raksmey , Lai Pei-Chun , Chang Hui-Chen
Published: March 2020

The main purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the online complaining behavior of Asian and non-Asian hotels guests who have posted negative hotel reviews on TripAdvisor to voice their dissatisfaction towards a select set of hotel service attributes. A qualitative content analysis of texts which relied on manual coding was used while examining 2020 online complaining reviews directed at 353 UK hotels and posted by visitors originating from 63 countries. The results from the word frequency analysis reveal that both Asian and non-Asian travelers tend to put more emphasis on Booking and Reviews when posting complaints online. Based on a manual qualitative content analysis, 11 different major online complaint categories and 65 sub-categories were identified. Among its important findings, results of this study show that non-Asian guests frequently make complaints which are longer and more detailed than Asian customers. Managerial implications and opportunities for future studies are also discussed.
Evaluation of Prioritized Natural Landscape Conservation Areas for National Park Planning in China
Authors: Du Ao , Xu Weihua , Xiao Yi , Cui Tong , Song Tianyu , Ouyang Zhiyun
Published: March 2020

Protecting representative natural ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and unique natural landscapes are the main considerations in China’s national park planning. Here, we mapped the distribution of China’s natural landscapes and evaluated their protection values for national park planning and construction. Grading evaluation methods combining standard comparison, inventory method, and expert consultation were used, and four levels of natural landscapes were identified. Furthermore, priority areas for national parks establishment were also proposed. Of all the landscapes evaluated, 76 were extremely important, 481 were important, 2070 were moderately important, and 1213 were slightly important. A total number of 67 priority areas for natural landscapes were identified with a total area of 1,218,000 km2. They comprised land and sea areas of 1,148,000 and 69,000 km2, respectively. We suggest strengthening natural landscape protection by establishing natural parks in priority areas. Our study will contribute to the effective protection of natural landscapes in China.
Social Exclusion and Convergence in the EU: An Assessment of the Europe 2020 Strategy
Authors: Lafuente Juan Ángel , Marco Amparo , Monfort Mercedes , Ordóñez Javier
Published: March 2020

Economic convergence has long been a declared objective of the EU and considered the fundamental mechanism for achieving socioeconomic cohesion. The recent economic crisis had an uneven impact across EU countries and brought a halt to the process of economic and social convergence. In response to this situation, the Europe 2020 strategy, launched in 2010, aimed to deliver social and territorial cohesion in the Member States. In this paper we evaluate the poverty and social exclusion pillar of the Europe 2020 strategy by analysing whether it has promoted convergence across the EU countries in the indicators devised to capture risk of poverty, severe material deprivation, and the number of persons living in households with very low work intensity. Our results for all three rates indicate that convergence occurs in heterogeneous clubs that do not follow a geographic east‒west or south‒north pattern. Convergence within each club, especially for the severe deprivation rate, takes place by means of a catching-up process, with Eastern European levels converging on the Western levels. Finally, not only is there club convergence, but there is no tendency for the clubs to convergence. Poverty and social cohesion indicators show a multi-speed Europe, casting doubt on the sustainability of the overall convergence process in the EU.
The Interaction Effect between ESG and Green Innovation and Its Impact on Firm Value from the Perspective of Information Disclosure
Authors: Zhang Fen , Qin Xiaonan , Liu Lina
Published: March 2020

Few studies have been conducted on whether the coexistence of green innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a favorable interaction effect on firm value. This interaction effect is of great significance for enterprises balancing resource allocation between two factors in the future. Meanwhile, information disclosure can reflect the efforts of enterprises in taking on CSR. Therefore, taking China’s listed companies as an example, this paper studies the interaction effect of CSR after being divided into the three different dimensions of environment, society, and governance (ESG) and green innovation on firm value. The quantile regression method can reflect the impact of CSR and green innovation on the firm value of different levels. The study finds that: (1) green innovation can promote the improvement of medium- and high-level firm value; (2) only the disclosure of environmental and social information can have a positive impact on firm value; (3) the interaction effect between green innovation and social disclosure on firm value is a substitution effect, which will gradually weaken with the increase of firm value. This paper proposes that relevant departments should guide green funds into enterprises with capital constraints to alleviate the issue of fund crowding into CSR and green innovation.
A Spatial-Based Integration Model for Regional Scale Solar Energy Technical Potential
Authors: Noorollahi Younes , Mohammadi Mohammad , Yousefi Hossein , Anvari-Moghaddam Amjad
Published: March 2020

One of the main objectives of human society in the present century is to achieve clean and sustainable energy through utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs). In this paper, the main purpose is to identify the locations that are suitable for solar energy in the Kurdistan province of Iran. Initially, solar-related data are collected, and suitable criterion and assessment methods are chosen according to the available data. Then, the theoretical potential of solar energy is assessed and the solar radiation map is prepared. Moreover, the technical potential of various solar technologies is evaluated in that study area. These technologies include concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) in power plant applications, and rooftop PV panels and solar water heaters in general applications. The results show that the Kurdistan province has the potential capacity for 691 MW of solar photovoltaic power plants and 645 MW of CSP plants. In the case of using solar water heaters, 283 million cubic meters of natural gas and 1.2 million liters of gasoline could be saved in fuel consumption. The savings in the application of domestic PV will be 10.2 MW in power generation.
Prospects of Electric Vehicles in the Developing Countries: A Literature Review
Authors: Rajper Sarmad Zaman , Albrecht Johan
Published: March 2020

Electric mobility offers a low cost of travel along with energy and harmful emissions savings. Nevertheless, a comprehensive literature review is missing for the prospects of electric vehicles in developing countries. Such an overview would be instrumental for policymakers to understand the barriers and opportunities related to different types of electric vehicles (EVs). Considering the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review was performed of the electronic databases Google Scholar and Web of Science for the years 2010–2020. The electric four-wheelers, hybrid electric vehicles and electric two-wheeler constituted the electric vehicles searched in the databases. Initially, 35 studies identified in the Web of Science that matched the criteria were studied. Later, 105 other relevant reports and articles related to barriers and opportunities were found by using Google Scholar and studied. Results reveal that electric four-wheelers are not a feasible option in developing countries due to their high purchase price. On the contrary, electric two-wheelers may be beneficial as they come with a lower purchase price.
Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Housing: Underpinning Housing Policy as Design for Values
Authors: Elsinga Marja , Hoekstra Joris , Sedighi Mohamad , Taebi Behnam
Published: March 2020

A perusal of the literature on housing debates reveals that the term ‘value’ is mostly applied to express the financial value of a house and is dealt with in economic literature. However, an alternative meaning of the word ‘value’ in the housing literature can be found in research into the values underlying housing preferences, applying research methods from the marketing literature. The explicit combination of moral values and housing policy and design is found neither in the academic housing nor in the philosophical literature. However, diving deeper into the housing debate reveals that there are a host of moral values already present throughout this debate that are often not explicitly articulated and explicated, such as inclusiveness, sustainability, autonomy, and security. The aim of this paper is to address the role of values in housing policy and design. By doing so, we apply the Design for Values approach (DfV). We argue that the DfV approach can help to make implicit moral values more explicit, which can improve the housing debate, housing policy-making, and housing design. The paper first explores which values are relevant for housing policy and design and operationalizes those values. Next, the paper describes key debates in housing such as: What is “adequate housing” in times of rapid urbanization and increasing house prices? We argue that by exploring the underlying values of these debates, stakeholders can create a better understanding of the current (lack of) fundamental discussions on housing issues
Assessment of the Health Effects of Heavy Metals Pollution of Agricultural Soils in the Iron Ore Mining Area of the Northern Piedmont of Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Wang Dandan , Xu Qinghai , Zheng Qingrong , Wu Liwei
Published: March 2020

We have measured the concentrations of toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, and Hg) in 29 samples from agricultural soils in an iron ore mining area in the northern piedmont of Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, China. The aim was to evaluate the potential health risks to local inhabitants based on the health risk assessment model derived from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The results show that the concentrations of the four heavy metals exceed their background values, especially in the case of Hg. The pollution level of the four heavy metals can be ordered as follows: Hg > Cd > Pb > As. The spatial distribution of the concentrations of the four heavy metals was uneven: pollution levels were lowest in the basin of the E River, and centered on the E River there was an increasing trend towards the Yukou River in the west and the Yangyan River in the east. In terms of the degree of pollution, this trend can be summarized as: Qingyang River > Yangyan River > Yukou River > E River. The main form of ingestion of the metals was via mouth and nose, and the risk to children is higher than for adults. Iron ore mining was the main cause of the increased concentrations of As and Cd, which represent a cancer risk for humans.
Finite Element Analysis of Geogrid-Stabilized Unpaved Roads
Authors: Leonardi Giovanni , Lo Bosco Dario , Palamara Rocco , Suraci Federica
Published: March 2020

The need to increase the durability of unpaved roads and the need to improve driver comfort have led to this research: to focus more attention on the use of reinforcements for this type of road. Unpaved roads are created by using an unbound granular base layer placed on compacted cohesive soils. When the subgrade is weak, due to its poor consistency and high compressibility, generally, a geosynthetic reinforcement (geogrid and/or geotextile) is placed over the subgrade, followed by a compacted granular fill layer. The use of geosynthetics can produce several benefits, such as draining, reinforcement, filtering, separation, and proofing. This paper aims to present a numerical investigation using 3-D Finite Element Modeling (FEM) to analyze the improvement, in terms of the rutting reduction of an unpaved road system, reinforced by a geogrid, under repeated traffic loads. 3-D FEM analysis was carried out on two unpaved road sections, one reinforced and the other unreinforced, with both subjected to an impulsive wheel loading. It can be concluded that a significant improvement in pavement behavior is obtained by placing a geogrid layer at the base–subgrade interface. In fact, the obtained results show that geogrid reinforcement can provide a relevant contribution to the reduction of permanent deformations.
Samothraki in Transition: A Report on a Real-World Lab to Promote the Sustainability of a Greek Island
Authors: Fischer-Kowalski Marina , Löw Markus , Noll Dominik , Petridis Panos , Skoulikidis Nikolaos
Published: March 2020

This is a case study on a small mountainous island in the Aegean Sea with the policy goal of preparing it to become member of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. While the local community opted for such an identity very early on, there are a number of obstacles to be overcome. The multidisciplinary research is based upon a sociometabolic approach and focuses on two issues: The transformation of agriculture, mainly herding of sheep and goats, and the shift to tourism. The degradation of the landscape caused by extensive roaming of goats and sheep constitute one of the major sustainability challenges of the island. We analyze farmers’ opportunities and describe new initiatives to get out of this deadlock. The impacts of the transition to tourism are addressed from an infrastructural perspective: A shift from traditional stone buildings to bricks and concrete, the establishment of new roads and ports, and the challenges to water supply and wastewater removal, also with reference to the quality and amounts of wastes generated that need to be dealt with. The island has so far escaped mass tourism and attracts mainly eco-tourists who value its remoteness and wilderness. We discuss how to serve this clientele best in the future, and increase local job opportunities and income while maintaining environmental quality. Finally, we reflect upon emerging new forms of local collaboration and the impact of our research efforts on a sustainability transition that might be on its way.
Understanding Interdependencies among Social Sustainability Evaluation Criteria in an Emerging Economy
Authors: Vafadarnikjoo Amin , Ahmadi Hadi Badri , Hazen Benjamin Thomas , Liou James J. H.
Published: March 2020

Organizations need to consider the triple bottom line (3BL) model of sustainability to maintain competitiveness in global markets. Of 3BL, environmental and economic sustainability pillars are more often discussed, as they are most directly related to a firm’s bottom line and regulatory compliance. Unfortunately, social sustainability receives relatively little attention even though it remains a significant threat to organizational sustainment, particularly in emerging economies. This study builds upon a social sustainability evaluation framework to investigate the interrelationships among social sustainability criteria in an effort to better understand how to improve social sustainability performance. A unique hybrid of interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and hesitant fuzzy matrix of cross impact multiplications applied to classification (HF-MICMAC) methodology is introduced and employed to determine the interrelationships (drivers and dependences) among social sustainability criteria. Then, a manufacturing company is used as the backdrop to test the efficacy of the expanded framework. The findings can aid industry decision-makers, especially in developing countries, to better understand and manage social issues, improve social dimension of sustainability, enhance the sustainability in operations and shift towards sustainable development.
Variability of Hordeum vulgare L. Cultivars in Yield, Antioxidant Potential, and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity
Authors: Kobus-Cisowska Joanna , Szulc Piotr , Szczepaniak Oskar , Dziedziński Marcin , Szymanowska Daria , Szymandera-Buszka Krystyna , Goryńska-Goldmann Elżbieta , Gazdecki Michał , Telichowska Aleksandra , Ligaj Marta
Published: March 2020

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an annual plant cultivated in spring or autumn. Currently, over 70% of the cultivated barley grains are utilized for preparing fodder, while the rest is used for the production of malt and cereals in the food industry. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant potential, and cholinesterase inhibitory effect of the aqueous extracts of juvenile barley leaves. It was found that the barley cultivars differed in their content of the determined phytochemicals as well as their antioxidant potential and cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. The water extracts of young barley leaves contained phenolic acids as well as quercetin, rutin, and kaempferitrin. The extracts showed a higher inhibitory effect on 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) than on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Based on the aqueous extracts analyzed, we found that winter cultivars were characterized by the highest iron-chelating activity. Furthermore, barley extracts showed a stronger inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase compared to butyrylcholinesterase. The results of the present work indicated that barley cultivars differed in their germination process. Among the tested samples, the highest cholinesterase inhibitory activity was shown by the Basic variety.
Spatio-Temporal Response of Vegetation Indices to Rainfall and Temperature in A Semiarid Region
Authors: Olmos-Trujillo Edith , González-Trinidad Julián , Júnez-Ferreira Hugo , Pacheco-Guerrero Anuard , Bautista-Capetillo Carlos , Avila-Sandoval Claudia , Galván-Tejada Eric
Published: March 2020

In this research, vegetation indices (VIs) were analyzed as indicators of the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation in a semi-arid region. For a better understanding of this dynamic, interactions between vegetation and climate should be studied more widely. To this end, the following methodology was proposed: (1) acquire the NDVI, EVI, SAVI, MSAVI, and NDMI by classification of vegetation and land cover categories in a monthly period from 2014 to 2018; (2) perform a geostatistical analysis of rainfall and temperature; and (3) assess the application of ordinary and uncertainty least squares linear regression models to experimental data from the response of vegetation indices to climatic variables through the BiDASys (bivariate data analysis system) program. The proposed methodology was tested in a semi-arid region of Zacatecas, Mexico. It was found that besides the high values in the indices that indicate good health, the climatic variables that have an impact on the study area should be considered given the close relationship with the vegetation. A better correlation of the NDMI and EVI with rainfall and temperature was found, and similarly, the relationship between VIs and climatic factors showed a general time lag effect. This methodology can be considered in management and conservation plans of natural ecosystems, in the context of climate change and sustainable development policies.
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems (2018–2019)
Authors: Herrera Melián José Alberto
Published: March 2020

An important part of the environmental degradation suffered by the planet is caused by the discharge of untreated or poorly treated wastewater. Industrial, urban, and agricultural wastewater contain many different types of pollutants such as biodegradable and nonbiodegradable organic matter, suspended solids, turbidity, nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides, pathogens, etc. All of these pose a threat to the environment and human health, so the selected treatment techniques must be adapted to their nature in order to optimize their removal. In addition to efficiency, wastewater treatment methods must be sustainable, not only from an environmental point of view, but also economically and ethically. As a result, no technological dependence should be generated in less developed countries or communities. Therefore, this Special Issue deals with improvements in various aspects of wastewater treatment including different aspects of water treatment such as the development of mathematical models, the application of life cycle techniques, or the experimental optimization of wastewater treatment methods. Thirteen articles were accepted covering some of the most relevant fields of wastewater treatment: activated sludge, nanoparticle treatment, constructed wetlands, energy–water nexus, nutrient recovery, eco-friendly sorbents, and reverse osmosis.
The Effect of Globalization on Economic Development Indicators: An Inter-Regional Approach
Authors: Martín Cervantes Pedro Antonio , Rueda López Nuria , Cruz Rambaud Salvador
Published: March 2020

Background: The analysis of the problems derived from globalization has become one of the most densely studied topics at the beginning of this millennium, as they can have a crucial impact on present and future sustainable development. This paper analyzes the differential patterns of globalization in four worldwide areas predefined by The World Bank (namely, High-, Upper-Middle-, Lower-Middle-, and Low-Income countries). The main objective of this work is to estimate the effect of globalization on some economic development indicators (specifically per capita income and public expenditure on health) in 217 countries over the period 2000–2016. Methods: Our empirical approach is based on the implementation of a novel econometric methodology: The so-called Toda–Yamamoto procedure, which has been used to analyze the possible causal relationships between the involved variables. We employ World Development Indicators, provided by The World Bank, and the KOF Globalization Index, elaborated by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute. Results: The results show that there is a causal relationship in the sense of Granger between globalization and public expenditure on health, except in High-Income countries. This can be interpreted both negatively and positively, confirming the double character of globalization, as indicated by Stiglitz.
History, Rats, Fleas, and Opossums: The Ascendency of Flea-Borne Typhus in the United States, 1910–1944
Authors: Anstead Gregory M.
Published: March 2020

Flea-borne typhus, due to Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis, is an infection causing fever, headache, rash, hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, and diverse organ manifestations. Although most cases are self-limited, 26%–28% have complications and up to one-third require intensive care. Flea-borne typhus was recognized as an illness similar to epidemic typhus, but having a milder course, in the Southeastern United States and TX from 1913 into the 1920s. Kenneth Maxcy of the US Public Health Service (USPHS) first described the illness in detail and proposed a rodent reservoir and an arthropod vector. Other investigators of the USPHS (Eugene Dyer, Adolph Rumreich, Lucius Badger, Elmer Ceder, William Workman, and George Brigham) determined that the brown and black rats were reservoirs and various species of fleas, especially the Oriental rat flea, were the vectors. The disease was recognized as a health concern in the Southern United States in the 1920s and an increasing number of cases were observed in the 1930s and 1940s, with about 42,000 cases reported between 1931–1946. Attempts to control the disease in the 1930s by fumigation and rat proofing and extermination were unsuccessful. The dramatic increase in the number of cases from 1930 through 1944 was due to: the diversification of Southern agriculture away from cotton; the displacement of the smaller black rat by the larger brown rat in many areas; poor housing conditions during the Great Depression and World War II; and shortages of effective rodenticides and insecticides during World War II.
Strain-Dependent Activity of Zika Virus and Exposure History in Serological Diagnostics
Authors: Barr Kelli L. , Schwarz Erika R. , Prakoso Dhani , Imtiaz Kehkashan , Pu Ruiyu , Morris J. Glenn , Khan Erum , Long Maureen T.
Published: March 2020

Zika virus (ZIKV) circulates as two separate lineages, with significant genetic variability between strains. Strain-dependent activity has been reported for dengue virus, herpes simplex virus and influenza. Strain-dependent activity of subject specimens to a virus could be an impediment to serological diagnosis and vaccine development. In order to determine whether ZIKV exhibits strain-dependent activity when exposed to antibodies, we measured the neutralizing properties of polyclonal serum and three monoclonal antibodies (ZKA185, 753(3)C10, and 4G2) against three strains of ZIKV (MR−766, PRVABC59, and R103454). Here, MR−766 was inhibited almost 60% less by ZKA185 than PRVABC59 and R103454 (p = 0.008). ZKA185 enhanced dengue 4 infection up to 50% (p = 0.0058). PRVABC59 was not inhibited by mAb 753(3)C10 while MR−766 and R103453 were inhibited up to 90% (p = 0.04 and 0.036, respectively). Patient serum, regardless of exposure history, neutralized MR−766 ~30%−40% better than PRVABC56 or R103454 (p = 0.005−0.00007). The most troubling finding was the significant neutralization of MR−766 by patients with no ZIKV exposure. We also evaluated ZIKV antibody cross reactivity with various flaviviruses and found that more patients developed cross-reactive antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus than the dengue viruses. The data here show that serological diagnosis of ZIKV is complicated and that qualitative neutralization assays cannot discriminate between flaviviruses.
When Left Is One and Right Is Double: An Experimental Investigation of Visual Allesthesia after Right Parietal Damage
Authors: Baumeler Denise , Born Sabine , Burra Nicolas , Ptak Radek
Published: March 2020

Illusory visual phenomena, such as palinopsia, polyopsia or allesthesia, are rare manifestations of posterior cortical damage. Symptoms are characterized by illusory perceptions, ranging from isolated stationary objects to scenes and moving persons. Such illusions may appear while the original object is still in view, or become manifest with a delay and last for minutes, hours or even days. Some authors have suggested a disinhibited cortical response underlying visual illusions, but experimental studies supporting this hypothesis are lacking. Here, we examined a rare patient who after focal right parietal injury consistently reported a second stimulus on the left when briefly shown a target in his right hemifield. The patient perceived the illusory stimulus as less intense, and therefore concluded that it must have a different shape than the original stimulus. A masking experiment revealed that the frequency of the illusion was inversely related to the visibility of the original stimulus, suggesting that it depended on early, feedforward visual processing. We propose that illusory perceptions reflect the interplay of two physiological processes: a fast and automatic activation of contralateral, homotopic visual cortex after unilateral stimulation, and the lack of top-down inhibition following damage to the posterior parietal cortex.
Judging Relative Onsets and Offsets of Audiovisual Events
Authors: Wen Puti , Opoku-Baah Collins , Park Minsun , Blake Randolph
Published: March 2020

This study assesses the fidelity with which people can make temporal order judgments (TOJ) between auditory and visual onsets and offsets. Using an adaptive staircase task administered to a large sample of young adults, we find that the ability to judge temporal order varies widely among people, with notable difficulty created when auditory events closely follow visual events. Those findings are interpretable within the context of an independent channels model. Visual onsets and offsets can be difficult to localize in time when they occur within the temporal neighborhood of sound onsets or offsets.
Pengembangan Ekonomi Melalui Sektor Pariwisata Tourism
Authors: Wibowo Sukarno , Rusmana Odang , Zuhelfa Zuhelfa
Published: March 2020

Tourism sector is one of the activities that have a strategic role in support international economic developmentin the era of globalization. Influence the development of the tourism industy for the development of the region in the vicinity of the attractions, so as to act as leading industries, the sectors that can boost the economy. The existence o fthe tourism sector will be able to create jobs that will boost the income of the people in the tourist areas  When associated with economic developrnent with a balanced growth, tourism can be expected to hold a decisive roleandcan be used a cacatalyst to develop ot her sectors of development. Meanwhile, the economic impact pariwista development can have positive or negative. Its positive impactis(1) create jobs; (2) increasing opportunities, (3) increase the income of the people in the tourist area around. While the negative impact on the environment tis the natural, built environment and cultural environment.
Pelatihan Pramusaji Kale Tortilla Eldorado The Family Club Bandung
Authors: Riyadi Heru , Sundayana Dendy
Published: March 2020

Human resources is one of the important assets of the company, though the presence of the high-tech equipment that is human resources which will operate. Therefore the interest of the company to maintain the performance of its employees, as management's assessment of the company. In creating a good performance, it is necessary to factor that can create the best performance. Training is a factor that can improve employee performance. Indication of the low performance of employees in Cafe the Family Club Eldorado Tortilla Bandung allegedly due to lack of effective implementation of the training program at the hotel. The low performance is caused by the waitress several factors which include lack of training implementation.Implementation of training greatly affect the performance of the waitress, this is evidenced by the results of the analysis are correlated between the effect of the training on the performance that is equal to 0.869 in the strong range. And the coefficient of determination of 71.4%, meaning that 71.4% of performance is determined by training. While 28.6% influenced by factors - other factors.In addressing this issue, needs to be improved with the implemented training to employees.
Venous Thrombotic Events in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: Incidence and Risk Factors
Authors: Isaacs Bradley , Gapud Eric J. , Antiochos Brendan , Seo Philip , Geetha Duvuru
Published: March 2020

Background

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). We assessed the frequency of VTE observed among patients with AAV evaluated at our center and identified risk factors.

Methods

Patients from the Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center cohort who were evaluated between 1998 and 2018 and had a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) were eligible for analysis. Baseline demographics and clinical and serologic data were extracted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with VTE in AAV.

Results

A total of 162 patients with AAV were identified, 105 (65%) with GPA; 22 (14%) of these patients had a recorded VTE with a median time to VTE of 1 month. The mean (SD) age in the VTE versus non-VTE groups was 54±20 versus 55±17 years (P=0.99), 64% versus 60% female (P=0.93), 82% versus 49% PR3-ANCA positive (P=0.01), with a total mean BMI of 33.3±5.7 versus 28.3±6.1 kg/m2, (P<0.001) respectively. The median Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS version 3) was 19 versus 14 (P=0.02). Univariate analyses identified PR3-ANCA, rapidly progressive GN (RPGN), and hypoalbuminemia. In multivariate analysis, the significant associations with VTE included PR3-ANCA (OR, 4.77; P=0.02), hypoalbuminemia (OR, 4.84; P=0.004), and BMI (OR, 1.18; P<0.001).

Conclusions

VTE is a surprisingly common complication of AAV. PR3-ANCA and hypoalbuminemia are risk factors for developing VTEs. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Podcast

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/K360/2020_04_30_KID0000572019.mp3