bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi against Multiple Life Stages of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae): Laboratory and Field Study
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Wakil Waqas , Piñero Jaime C. , Wu Shaohui , Toews Michael D. , Shapiro-Ilan David Ian
Published: August 2021

Fruit flies including Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) are considered major pests of orchard systems in Pakistan. This study evaluated the laboratory virulence, sub-lethal effects, horizontal transmission, greenhouse, and field-cage efficacy of locally isolated entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) against B. zonata and B. dorsalis. In virulence assays against third instars and adults, all 21 EPF isolates (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae) tested were pathogenic and caused varying levels of mortality to the fruit flies. Based on the initial screening, four isolates (B. bassiana WG-21 and WG-18 and M. anisopliae WG-07 and WG-02) were selected for further study. The isolate WG-18 was the most virulent against larvae and adults of B. zonata and B. dorsalis followed by WG-21, WG-02, and WG-07. In both species, adults were more susceptible than larvae to all isolates, and pupae were the least susceptible. Isolates WG-18 and WG-21 strongly decreased female fecundity and fertility, the highest adult and larval mortality, and longest developmental time of larvae and pupae. Fungal conidia were disseminated passively from infected to healthy adults and induced significant mortality, particularly from infected males to non-infected females. In greenhouse and field-cage experiments, WG-18 and WG-21 were the most effective isolates in reducing adult emergence when applied to larvae and pupae of both fruit fly species. Our results indicate that B. bassiana isolates WG-18 and WG-21 were the most virulent against multiple life stages of B. zonata and B. dorsalis, and also exerted the strongest sub-lethal effects.
MDR and Pre-XDR Clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing Strains: Assessment of Virulence and Host Cytokine Response in Mice Infectious Model
Authors: Fursov Mikhail V. , Shitikov Egor A. , Lagutkin Denis A. , Fursova Anastasiia D. , Ganina Elena A. , Kombarova Tatiana I. , Grishenko Natalia S. , Rudnitskaya Tatiana I. , Bespiatykh Dmitry A. , Kolupaeva Nadezhda V. , Firstova Viktoria V. , Domotenko Lubov V. , Panova Anna E. , Vinokurov Anatoliy S. , Gushchin Vladimir A. , Tkachuk Artem P. , Vasilyeva Irina A. , Potapov Vasiliy D. , Dyatlov Ivan A.
Published: August 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype associated with drug resistance is a growing public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was the assessment of virulence for C57BL/6 mice after infection by clinical M. tuberculosis strains 267/47 and 120/26, which belong to the modern sublineages B0/W148 and Central Asia outbreak of the Beijing genotype, respectively. The sublineages were identified by the analysis of the strains’ whole-genomes. The strains 267/47 and 120/26 were characterized as agents of pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, respectively. Both clinical strains were slow-growing in 7H9 broth compared to the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. The survival rates of C57BL/6 mice infected by 267/47, 120/26, and H37Rv on the 150th day postinfection were 10%, 40%, and 70%, respectively. Mycobacterial load in the lungs, spleen, and liver was higher and histopathological changes were more expressed for mice infected by the 267/47 strain compared to those infected by the 120/26 and H37Rv strains. The cytokine response in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice after infection with the 267/47, 120/26, and H37Rv strains was different. Notably, proinflammatory cytokine genes Il-1α, Il-6, Il-7, and Il-17, as well as anti-inflammatory genes Il-6 and Il-13, were downregulated after an infection caused by the 267/47 strain compared to those after infection with the H37Rv strain.
The Intestinal Bacterial Community and Functional Potential of Litopenaeus vannamei in the Coastal Areas of China
Authors: Cheng Yimeng , Ge Chaorong , Li Wei , Yao Huaiying
Published: August 2021

Intestinal bacteria are crucial for the healthy aquaculture of Litopenaeus vannamei, and the coastal areas of China are important areas for concentrated L. vannamei cultivation. In this study, we evaluated different compositions and structures, key roles, and functional potentials of the intestinal bacterial community of L. vannamei shrimp collected in 12 Chinese coastal cities and investigated the correlation between the intestinal bacteria and functional potentials. The dominant bacteria in the shrimp intestines included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, and the main potential functions were metabolism, genetic information processing, and environmental information processing. Although the composition and structure of the intestinal bacterial community, potential pathogenic bacteria, and spoilage organisms varied from region to region, the functional potentials were homeostatic and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with intestinal bacteria (at the family level) to different degrees. The correlation between intestinal bacteria and functional potentials further suggested that L. vannamei had sufficient functional redundancy to maintain its own health. These findings help us understand differences among the intestinal bacterial communities of L. vannamei cultivated in different regions and provide a basis for the disease management and healthy aquaculture of L. vannamei.
Mutational Landscape and Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with Host Cellular Components
Authors: Srivastava Mansi , Hall Dwight , Omoru Okiemute Beatrice , Gill Hunter Mathias , Smith Sarah , Janga Sarath Chandra
Published: August 2021

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its rapid evolution has led to a global health crisis. Increasing mutations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome have severely impacted the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines to combat the virus. However, the new SARS-CoV-2 variants and their evolutionary characteristics are not fully understood. Host cellular components such as the ACE2 receptor, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), microRNAs, small nuclear RNA (snRNA), 18s rRNA, and the 7SL RNA component of the signal recognition particle (SRP) interact with various structural and non-structural proteins of the SARS-CoV-2. Several of these viral proteins are currently being examined for designing antiviral therapeutics. In this review, we discuss current advances in our understanding of various host cellular components targeted by the virus during SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also summarize the mutations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome that directs the evolution of new viral strains. Considering coronaviruses are rapidly evolving in humans, this enables them to escape therapeutic therapies and vaccine-induced immunity. In order to understand the virus’s evolution, it is essential to study its mutational patterns and their impact on host cellular machinery. Finally, we present a comprehensive survey of currently available databases and tools to study viral–host interactions that stand as crucial resources for developing novel therapeutic strategies for combating SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Design, Synthesis, and Cytotoxicity Assessment of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-Terpyridine Platinum Conjugate: A Novel Chemoradiotherapeutic Agent with Flexible Linker
Authors: Khosravifarsani Meysam , Ait-Mohand Samia , Paquette Benoit , Sanche Léon , Guérin Brigitte
Published: August 2021

Maximum benefits of chemoradiation therapy with platinum-based compounds are expected if the radiation and the drug are localized simultaneously in cancer cells. To optimize this concomitant effect, we developed the novel chemoradiotherapeutic agent [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP by conjugating, via a short flexible alkyl chain spacer (C3), a terpyridine platinum (TP) moiety to a NOTA chelator complexed with copper-64 (64Cu). The decay of 64Cu produces numerous low-energy electrons, enabling the 64Cu-conjugate to deliver radiation energy close to TP, which intercalates into G-quadruplex DNA. Accordingly, the in vitro internalization kinetic and the cytotoxic activity of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP and its derivatives were investigated with colorectal cancer (HCT116) and normal human fibroblast (GM05757) cells. Radiolabeling by 64Cu results in a >55,000-fold increase of cytotoxic potential relative to [NatCu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP at 72 h post administration, indicating a large additive effect between 64Cu and the TP drug. The internalization and nucleus accumulation of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP in the HCT116 cells were, respectively, 3.1 and 6.0 times higher than that for GM05757 normal human fibroblasts, which is supportive of the higher efficiency of the [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP for HCT116 cancer cells. This work presents the first proof-of-concept study showing the potential use of the [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-C3-TP conjugate as a targeted chemoradiotherapeutic agent to treat colorectal cancer.
Walking with UAN.GO Exoskeleton: Training and Compliance in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient
Authors: Sesenna Gianluca , Calzolari Cecilia , Gruppi Maria Paola , Ciardi Gianluca
Published: August 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects myelin in the central nervous system. It is complex and unpredictable and occurs predominantly in young adults, causing increasing disability and a significantly lower quality of life. Recent studies investigated how rehabilitation training through the use of a robotic exoskeleton can influence walking recovery in patients with a serious neurological disease. Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the first approach of a multiple sclerosis patient to a robotic exoskeleton for the lower limbs, in order to assess the effectiveness of the protocol on walking ability, adaptability of the device, level of appreciation, variations in parameters related to walking, and fatigue perception. Methods: This study was conducted on a 71-year-old male diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis since 2012, with an EDSS score of 6. The patient underwent a cycle of 10 sessions of treatment with the exoskeleton for the lower limbs, the UAN.GO, lasting 1 h 30 min. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations were carried out with the 6 min walking test, the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Short Form-36 Health Survey, and a Likert scale for review. During each session, blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral saturation were monitored; in addition, the perception of fatigue by the Borg scale was studied. Result: A comparison between the initial and final evaluations showed improvements in the walked distance at 6 MWT (T0 = 53 m/T1 = 61 m). There was a positive trend in saturation and heart rate values collected during each session. Further improvements were found by the Borg scale (T0 = 15/T1 = 11). Discussion: The data collected in this case report show promising results regarding the treatment of multiple sclerosis patients with the UAN.GO exoskeleton, with benefits on both motor performance and vital parameters.
Metabolite Profiling of Dioscorea (Yam) Leaves to Identify Bioactive Compounds Reveals Their Potential as Renewable Resources
Authors: Kim Min-Ji , Son Su-Young , Jeon Su-Gyeong , Kim Jeong-Gu , Lee Choong-Hwan
Published: August 2021

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are cultivated and consumed as edible tubers, while their leaves are discarded as waste or burned with negative environmental impact. Herein, the metabolites of two yam species (Danma, DAN; Dunggeunma, DUN), harvested in June, July, and August, were profiled using GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated to stimulate the utilization of yam leaves as a by-product. We observed that the relative levels of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and saponins decreased linearly with prolonged harvest time, while fatty acid, phenanthrene, and flavonoid levels gradually increased. Furthermore, the leaf extracts obtained in August exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. To determine the antioxidant-contributing metabolites, OPLS-DA was performed for the leaf metabolites of DAN and DUN leaves harvested in August. Hydroxytyrosol-glucoside, apigenin-rhamnoside, and rutin were more abundant in DUN, while luteolin, phenanthrene derivatives, epicatechin, and kaempferide were relatively higher in DAN and their respective metabolites were positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. Moreover, secondary metabolites were more abundant in the leaves than in the roots, and consequently, the antioxidant activity of the former was also higher. Overall, the potential value of yam leaves as a renewable source of bioactive compounds is proposed.
Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Time Series for Slangbos Mapping in the Free State Province, South Africa
Authors: Urban Marcel , Schellenberg Konstantin , Morgenthal Theunis , Dubois Clémence , Hirner Andreas , Gessner Ursula , Mogonong Buster , Zhang Zhenyu , Baade Jussi , Collett Anneliza , Schmullius Christiane
Published: August 2021

Increasing woody cover and overgrazing in semi-arid ecosystems are known to be the major factors driving land degradation. This study focuses on mapping the distribution of the slangbos shrub (Seriphium plumosum) in a test region in the Free State Province of South Africa. The goal of this study is to monitor the slangbos encroachment on cultivated land by synergistically combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (Sentinel-1) and optical (Sentinel-2) Earth observation information. Both optical and radar satellite data are sensitive to different vegetation properties and surface scattering or reflection mechanisms caused by the specific sensor characteristics. We used a supervised random forest classification to predict slangbos encroachment for each individual crop year between 2015 and 2020. Training data were derived based on expert knowledge and in situ information from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). We found that the Sentinel-1 VH (cross-polarization) and Sentinel-2 SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index) time series information have the highest importance for the random forest classifier among all input parameters. The modelling results confirm the in situ observations that pastures are most affected by slangbos encroachment. The estimation of the model accuracy was accomplished via spatial cross-validation (SpCV) and resulted in a classification precision of around 80% for the slangbos class within each time step.
Real-Time and Offline Evaluation of Myoelectric Pattern Recognition for the Decoding of Hand Movements
Authors: Abbaspour Sara , Naber Autumn , Ortiz-Catalan Max , GholamHosseini Hamid , Lindén Maria
Published: August 2021

Pattern recognition algorithms have been widely used to map surface electromyographic signals to target movements as a source for prosthetic control. However, most investigations have been conducted offline by performing the analysis on pre-recorded datasets. While real-time data analysis (i.e., classification when new data becomes available, with limits on latency under 200–300 milliseconds) plays an important role in the control of prosthetics, less knowledge has been gained with respect to real-time performance. Recent literature has underscored the differences between offline classification accuracy, the most common performance metric, and the usability of upper limb prostheses. Therefore, a comparative offline and real-time performance analysis between common algorithms had yet to be performed. In this study, we investigated the offline and real-time performance of nine different classification algorithms, decoding ten individual hand and wrist movements. Surface myoelectric signals were recorded from fifteen able-bodied subjects while performing the ten movements. The offline decoding demonstrated that linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) significantly (p < 0.05) outperformed other classifiers, with an average classification accuracy of above 97%. On the other hand, the real-time investigation revealed that, in addition to the LDA and MLE, multilayer perceptron also outperformed the other algorithms and achieved a classification accuracy and completion rate of above 68% and 69%, respectively.
Lunar Surface Fault-Tolerant Soft-Landing Performance and Experiment for a Six-Legged Movable Repetitive Lander
Authors: Yin Ke , Zhou Songlin , Sun Qiao , Gao Feng
Published: August 2021

The cascading launch and cooperative work of lander and rover are the pivotal methods to achieve lunar zero-distance exploration. The separated design results in a heavy system mass that requires more launching costs and a limited exploration area that is restricted to the vicinity of the immovable lander. To solve this problem, we have designed a six-legged movable repetitive lander, called “HexaMRL”, which congenitally integrates the function of both the lander and rover. However, achieving a buffered landing after a failure of the integrated drive units (IDUs) in the harsh lunar environment is a great challenge. In this paper, we systematically analyze the fault-tolerant capacity of all possible landing configurations in which the number of remaining normal legs is more than two and design the landing algorithm to finish a fault-tolerant soft-landing for the stable configuration. A quasi-incentre stability optimization method is further proposed to increase the stability margin during supporting operations after landing. To verify the fault-tolerant landing performance on the moon, a series of experiments, including five-legged, four-legged and three-legged soft-landings with a vertical landing velocity of −1.9 m/s and a payload of 140 kg, are successfully carried out on a 5-DoF lunar gravity ground-testing platform. The HexaMRL with fault-tolerant landing capacity will greatly promote the development of a next-generation lunar prober.
Application of Simulated Arms with Real-Time Pressure Monitor in Casting and Splinting by Physiological Sensors
Authors: Kao Hsuan-Kai , Wu Yi-Chao , Lu Chi-Heng , Hua Zhong , Chen Mei-Chuan , Tuan Chiu-Ching
Published: August 2021

In the real condition, the small sensor found it difficult to detect the position of the pressure sore because of casting displacement clinically. The large sensor will detect the incorrect pressure value due to wrinkles without close to arm. Hence, we developed a simulated arm with physiological sensors combined with an APP and a cloud storage system to detect skin pressure in real time when applying a short arm cast or splint. The participants can apply a short arm cast or splint on the simulative arm and the pressure in the cast or splint could be immediately displaced on the mobile application. The difference of pressure values from six pressure detection points of the simulated arm between the intern and the attending physician with 20-year working experience were 22.8%, −7.3%, 25.0%, 8.6%, 38.2%, 49.6%, respectively. It showed that the difference of pressure values in two farthest points, such as radius stab and ulnar styloid, was maximal. The pressures on the skin surface of the short arm cast were within acceptable range. Doctors would obtain reliable reference data and instantly understand the tightness of the swathed cast which would enable them to adjust it at any time to avoid complications.
The Role of Resilience in Reducing Burnout: A Study with Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ferreira Pedro , Gomes Sofia
Published: August 2021

Although burnout is a widely studied topic, there is still much to learn about this symptom during a pandemic crisis like the one caused by COVID-19. Moreover, and according to the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, the relation between personal resources and burnout is still an understudied topic. The main goal of this research is to understand the influence of mental resilience on the three dimensions of burnout-emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal achievement-among healthcare workers when exposed to a pandemic situation. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the administration of an online survey to a sample of 196 healthcare workers (nurses and doctors) during the second wave of COVID-19 in Portugal. Hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares. The results show that during a pandemic situation, higher levels of resilience associated both with lower levels of emotional exhaustion (Emotional Exhaustion: −0.17; 95% Confidence Interval–CI: −0.38, 0.04) and depersonalization (Depersonalization: −0.17; 95% CI: −0.31, −0.03), and higher levels of personal achievement (Personal Achievement: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.61). Resilience should be considered an important asset for reducing levels of burnout when facing highly stressing situations. The main contribution of this research is related to the role of personal resources as an inhibitor of negative consequences of job strain, such as burnout. The findings add new knowledge to the topic of fighting (not just understanding) burnout in deeply stressful situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the importance of developing personal resources. Resilience skills may be developed, thus reducing the risk of burnout.
Impact of Low Volume Velocity-Controlled vs. Repetition to Failure Resistance Training Session on Measures of Explosive Performance in a Team of Adolescents Basketball Players
Authors: Kalmus Ott-Erik , Viru Mehis , Alvar Brent , Naclerio Fernando
Published: August 2021

This study examined the short-term effects (post 6 h and 24 h) of two equated (70% of 1 repetition maximum (1-RM)) low volume resistance exercise protocols: (i) velocity-controlled (VC) and (ii) repetition to failure (RTF) on upper and lower body performance in competitive adolescent male basketball players. Following a randomized, counterbalanced design, ten participants (age: 16 ± 0.5 years) completed either VC or RTF separated by 72 h. VC consisted of 4 sets of 5 explosive repetitions (≥90% of the maximum velocity). RTF involved 2 sets of 10-RM (with no velocity control). Measurements of 20-m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ) and medicine ball toss (MBT) were collected before (baseline), post 6 h and 24 h after either VC or RTF. Increases of CMJ post 6 h (VC, +6.7%; RTF, +2.4%) and MBT post 24 h (VC, +4.6%; RTF, +4.2%) were observed after both VC and RTF. Only VC potentiated CMJ after 24 h (+2.0 ± 2.3%). No other changes or differences between protocols were observed. Performing a low volume exercise protocol, either VC or RTF, induced similar potentiation effects on the vertical jump (post 6 h) and medicine ball toss (post 24 h) in adolescent basketball players. Only the VC protocol was still effective to potentiate CMJ performance after 24 h.
Prioritization of Watershed Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System
Authors: Kumar Devendra , Dhaloiya Arvind , Nain Ajeet Singh , Sharma Mahendra Paal , Singh Amandeep
Published: August 2021

Soil erosion is becoming a major concern at the watershed scale for the environment, natural resources, and sustainable resource management. Therefore, the estimation of soil loss through this phenomenon and the identification of critical soil erosion-prone areas are considered to be key tasks in the soil conservation programme for the design and implementation of best management practices for specific regions or areas. In the present study, revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) modelling is combined with remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) techniques and used to predict soil erosion and the prioritization of watersheds in Nainital district Uttarakhand, India. For the estimation of soil loss, different factors, namely, rainfall-runoff erosivity (R) factor, soil erodability (K) factor, slope length steepness (LS) factor, cover management (C) factor, and the erosion control practices (P) factor were computed. The data on various other aspects such as land use/land cover (LU/LC), the digital elevation model (DEM), slope, contours, drainage network, soil texture, organic matter, and rainfall were integrated to prepare a database for the RUSLE equation by employing ENVI & QGIS software. The results showed that a major portion (70.26%) of Nainital district is covered with forest, followed by area under fallow and agricultural land. Annual average soil loss ranged between 20 to 80 t ha−1 yr−1 in the study area. Out of 50 watersheds in the study area, 7 watersheds were given top priority for conserving natural resources, while 11 watersheds, mostly in the east-central part of Nainital, were kept under the next priority category. Only 4 watersheds of the total were given lowest priority. Moreover, it was concluded that major portions of Nainital district were in a severely prone category of soil erosion, and therefore required immediate action plans to check soil erosion and evade the possibility of landslides.
What Types of Government Support on Food SMEs Improve Innovation Performance?
Authors: Jeong Harry , Shin Kwangsoo , Kim Seunghyun , Kim Eungdo
Published: August 2021

Since small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in economic development, the government implements various supports. Nevertheless, SMEs have difficulties in gaining a competitive advantage in the market owing to lack of capital and capacity. Accordingly, SMEs try to secure a competitive advantage through innovation. Government support is necessary for the innovation of SMEs, and it is essential for food SMEs as well. Whether government support for firms can affect firm’s innovation is still a matter of debate. In particular, it is necessary to empirically investigate the relationship between government support and innovation for SMEs in latecomers to the food industry such as Korea. Therefore, this study conducted an empirical study on the factors that determine the innovation performance of food SMEs by government support. This study used a two-stage regression model. The government support does not unilaterally affect innovation performance, but rather, an endogeneity problem occurs through the interaction between them. This study examined the interrelationships between variables for a clear estimate of government support. Before two-stage regression, this study used the ordered logistic regression to determine the instrumental variables. Each instrumental variable was estimated for the seven types of government support that are normally implemented. The result suggests that the government certification support is effective in improving the innovation performance of food SMEs. This study is useful to establish innovation strategies for supporting food SMEs’ innovation in late-coming countries.
Psychological Needs, Physiological Needs and Regional Comparison Effects
Authors: Wu Xuepin , Han Jiru
Published: August 2021

This paper innovatively constructs a panel extended linear expenditure system (ELES) model including the theory of internal and external habit formation and analyzes the time effect of consumption habits and the regional differences of the comparison effects on rural residents in a variety of consumption expenditures from a temporal and spatial perspective. This research demonstrates the following. Firstly, overall, rural residents have least internal habits in terms of subsistence spending, followed by developmental spending and the most in enjoyment spending. Secondly, China’s rural residents consider the “actual use value” of commodities in “introverted” consumption expenditures; but in “export-oriented” consumption expenditures, besides the “actual use value” of the goods, they also seek to fulfill their “emotional demands”. Thirdly, there is the largest comparison effect on food and housing consumption expenditures for rural residents in coastal economic developed regions, and the smallest comparison effect on clothing, transportation, cultural and educational expenditures. It is the largest comparison effect on clothing and medical care expenditures for rural residents in underdeveloped regions of the central and western, and the smallest comparison effect on food and housing consumption expenditures.
Positive and Negative Impacts of COVID-19 in Digital Transformation
Authors: Subramaniam Radhakrishnan , Singh Satya P. , Padmanabhan Parasuraman , Gulyás Balázs , Palakkeel Prashobhan , Sreedharan Raja
Published: August 2021

This study was designed to research the impact of pandemic situations such as COVID-19 in digital transformation (DT). Our proposed study was designed to research whether COVID-19 is a driver of digital transformation and to look at the three most positive and negative DT disruptors. Our study suggests that COVID-19 is a driver of digital transformation, since 94 percent of respondents agreed that COVID-19 is a driver of DT. The second phase of our study shows that technology, automation, and collaboration (TAC) is the most positive significant factor which enables work from anywhere (WFA) (or work from home) arrangements and also leads to the third positive factor of a work-life balance (WLB). The top three negative factors are no work-life balance (NWL), social employment issues (SEI), and data security and technology issues (DST). The negative factors show a contradictory result since NWL is the most negative factor, even though WLB is the third most positive factor. While the pandemic situation is leading to a positive situation for economies and organizations at a micro level, the negative impacts, which will affect overall economic growth as well as social, health, and wealth wellbeing, need to be kept in mind. The motivation of this study was to research positive and negative effects of COVID-19 on DT, since COVID-19 is impacting everyone and everyday life, including businesses. Our study developed a unique framework to address both positive and negative adoption. Our study also highlights the need for organizations and the economy to establish mitigation plans, as the pandemic has already been disrupting the entire world for the past three quarters.
Places to Intervene in a Socio-Ecological System: A Blueprint for Transformational Change
Authors: Koskimäki Teemu
Published: August 2021

The scientific community and many intergovernmental organizations are now calling for transformational change to the prevailing socioeconomic systems, to solve global environmental problems, and to achieve sustainable development. Leverage point frameworks that could facilitate such transformative system change have been created and are in use, but major issues remain. Scholars use the leverage point term in multiple contradicting ways, often confusing it with system outcomes or specific interventions. Accordingly, the underlying structural causes of unsustainability have received insufficient consideration in the proposed actions for transformational change. In this work, I address these issues by clarifying the definition for leverage points and by integrating them into a new blueprint for transformational change, with clarified structure and clearly defined transformational change terminology. I then theoretically demonstrate how the nine phases of the blueprint could be applied to both plan and implement transformational change in a socio-ecological system. Although the blueprint is designed to be applied for socio-ecological systems at national and international scales, it could also be applied to plan and implement transformational change in various sub-systems.
Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market Waste: Safety and Nutritional Characterisation for Their Potential Re-Use in Livestock Nutrition
Authors: Tedesco Doriana Eurosia Angela , Scarioni Sveva , Tava Aldo , Panseri Sara , Zuorro Antonio
Published: August 2021

Compared to other food categories, fruits and vegetables are the most wasted. This leads to the squandering of economic, social, and environmental resources. The reallocation of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) into animal feed contributes to the sustainability of livestock production, reducing the impact of feed production for land use. In this study, the fruit and vegetable waste from the General Wholesale Market of Milan was considered. FVW samples were collected for one year and were analysed for safety parameters and nutritional, vitamin, and mineral composition. Data showed that dry matter (DM) was on average 10.82 ± 1.21% and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was on average 22.43 ± 4.52% DM. The presence of soluble sugars (30.51 ± 7.61% DM, on average) was also detected. However, the high moisture content of this waste makes it easily perishable, with detrimental effects on quality, storage, and transportation. A strategy was therefore proposed to reduce the water content of FVW by pressing. Overall, the results highlighted the significant nutritional value of FVW from the wholesale market and the need to develop appropriate technologies to maintain the food chain line safe.
Junction Management for Connected and Automated Vehicles: Intersection or Roundabout?
Authors: Wu Yuanyuan , Zhu Feng
Published: August 2021

The concept of signal-free management at road junctions is tailored for Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), in which the conventional signal control is replaced by various right-of-way assignment policies. First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) is the most commonly used policy. In most proposed strategies, although the traffic signals are replaced, the organization of vehicle trajectory remains the same as that of traffic lights. As a naturally signal-free strategy, roundabout has not received enough attention. A key motivation of this study is to theoretically compare the performance of signalized intersection (I-Signal), intersection using FCFS policy (I-FCFS), roundabout using the typical major-minor priority pattern (R-MM), and roundabout adopting FCFS policy (R-FCFS) under pure CAVs environment. Queueing theory is applied to derive the theoretical formulas of the capacity and average delay of each strategy. M/G/1 model is used to model the three signal-free strategies, while M/M/1/setup model is used to capture the red-and-green light switch nature of signal control. The critical safety time gaps are the main variables and are assumed to be generally distributed in the theoretical derivation. Analytically, I-Signal has the largest capacity benefiting from the ability to separate conflict points in groups, but in some cases it will have higher delay. Among the other three signal-free strategies, R-FCFS has the highest capacity and the least average control delay, indicating that the optimization of signal-free management of CAVs based on roundabout setting is worthy of further study.
Archaeogenetics and Landscape Dynamics in Sicily during the Holocene: A Review
Authors: Romano Valentino , Catalano Giulio , Bazan Giuseppe , Calì Francesco , Sineo Luca
Published: August 2021

The Mediterranean islands and their population history are of considerable importance to the interpretation of the population history of Europe as a whole. In this context, Sicily, because of its geographic position, represents a bridge between Africa, the Near East, and Europe that led to the stratification of settlements and admixture events. The genetic analysis of extant and ancient human samples has tried to reconstruct the population dynamics associated with the cultural and demographic changes that took place during the prehistory and history of Sicily. In turn, genetic, demographic and cultural changes need to be understood in the context of the environmental changes that took place over the Holocene. Based on this framework, this paper aims to discuss the cultural and demographic dimension of the island by reviewing archaeogenetic studies, and lastly, we discuss the ecological constraints related to human peopling in times of change in landscapes that occurred on the island in various periods. Finally, possible directions for future archaeogenetic studies of Sicily are discussed. Despite its long human history, Sicily is still one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The lessons we learn from the past use of landscape provide models for sustainable future management of the Mediterranean’s landscapes.
Supplementation of Carbon-Based Conductive Materials and Trace Metals to Improve Biogas Production from Apple Pomace
Authors: Claes Addam , Melchi Lucy , Uludag-Demirer Sibel , Demirer Goksel N.
Published: August 2021

Due to its high water and organic contents, management of apple pomace (AP) poses several waste management challenges on the apple juice and cider producing industries. Bioconversion of AP into biogas provides an excellent possibility to reduce the environmental challenge faced in the management of AP waste along with producing renewable energy in the form of methane. This study investigated the effect of carbon-based conductive materials (biochar and graphene) and trace metals supplementation to improve biogas production from AP. The results indicate that supplementation of biochar, trace metals, and graphene significantly improves the biogas production from AP. Trace metal and biochar supplementation at a COD concentration of 6000 mg/L resulted in 7.2% and 13.3% increases in the biogas production, respectively. When trace metals and biochar were supplemented together, the biogas production increased by 22.7%. This synergistic effect was also observed at the COD concentration of 12,000 mg/L. The improvement in the biogas formation was significantly higher for graphene supplemented reactors (27.8%). Moreover, biochar and trace metals supplementation also led to 19.6% and 23.0% increases in the methane yield relative to the reactor fed only with AP, respectively. These results suggest anaerobic digestion supplemented with carbon-based conductive materials and trace metals is a viable option for valorizing apple pomace.
Exploring the Connections between Backrooms, Inventory Record Inaccuracies, and Waste
Authors: Bixler Madison J. , Honhon Dorothée
Published: August 2021

This paper explores the impact of retail store backrooms on inventory record inaccuracies (IRI) and waste. A trend in the retail industry is operating in the absence of a backroom. Benefits of operating without a backroom can include more employee presence on the sales floor, quicker replenishment (or the elimination of traditional backroom to shelf replenishment entirely), lower on-hand inventory, and the reduction of waste in the form of time, labor, cashflow, and product obsolescence. By conducting a literature review of the published literature on retail backrooms, this paper explores two additional unstated benefits to retailers operating without a backroom; specifically, the reduction of IRI and waste—an angle that has been previously understudied in the current academic literature. The objectives of this paper include defining a link between the existence of a backroom and waste/IRI, presenting an opportunity for future research in this area of study, and providing practical advice for corporations that wish to operate with or without a backroom.
Web-Browsing Application Using Web Scraping Technology in Korean Network Separation Application
Authors: Jung Won-Chi , Kim Jinsu , Park Namje
Published: August 2021

Attackers’ intrusion into the Enterprise LAN is increasing every year, and the method is becoming more intelligent and crafty. Various security measures against external network intrusions, such as firewalls, are being studied and applied to protect against external attacks, but it is difficult to respond to increasing attacks. Most institutions block access from the external network for the safety of the internal network and allow access from the internal network to the external network through some restricted ports. In particular, restricted ports in subject to a variety of security techniques to block intrusion into the internal network, but in the process, access to the internal network is only applied by restricted ports, making it inefficient to handle internal requests. Although various studies have been conducted on network isolation to address these challenges, it is difficult to perform tasks efficiently as security functions, such as detecting whether request data is attacked or not, during actual application. The proposed technique is a network-blocking-based network separation technique that converts data from the external network connected to the Internet into symmetry data from which malicious code is removed through an agent and delivers it to the client of the internal network. We propose a technique to provide access.
Changes in Growth, Photosynthesis Performance, Pigments, and Toxin Contents of Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria after Exposure to Macroalgal Allelochemicals
Authors: Budzałek Gracjana , Śliwińska-Wilczewska Sylwia , Klin Marek , Wiśniewska Kinga , Latała Adam , Wiktor Józef Maria
Published: August 2021

Macroalgae can directly restrict the growth of various phytoplankton species by releasing allelopathic compounds; therefore, considerable attention should be paid to the allelopathic potential of these organisms against harmful and bloom-forming cyanobacteria. The main aim of this study was to demonstrate for the first time the allelopathic activity of Ulva intestinalis on the growth, the fluorescence parameters: the maximum PSII quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), the chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoid (Car) content, and the microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and phenol content of three bloom-forming cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon sp., Nodularia spumigena, and Nostoc sp. We found both negative and positive allelopathic effects of U. intestinalis on tested cyanobacteria. The study clearly showed that the addition of the filtrate of U. intestinalis significantly inhibited growth, decreased pigment content and Fv/Fm and ΦPSII values of N. spumigena and Nostoc sp., and stimulated Aphanizomenon sp. The addition of different concentrations of aqueous extract also stimulated the cyanobacterial growth. It was also shown that the addition of extract obtained from U. intestinalis caused a significant decrease in the MC-LR content in Nostoc sp. cells. Moreover, it the phenol content in N. spumigena cells was increased. On the other hand, the cell-specific phenol content for Aphanizomenon sp. decreased due to the addition of the filtrate. In this work, we demonstrated that the allelopathic effect of U. intestinalis depends on the target species’ identity as well as the type of allelopathic method used. The study of the allelopathic Baltic macroalgae may help to identify their possible role as a significant biological factor influencing harmful cyanobacterial blooms in brackish ecosystems.
The CMB, Preferred Reference System, and Dragging of Light in the Earth Frame
Authors: Consoli Maurizio , Pluchino Alessandro
Published: August 2021

The dominant CMB dipole anisotropy is a Doppler effect due to a particular motion of the solar system with a velocity of 370 km/s. Since this derives from peculiar motions and local inhomogeneities, one could meaningfully consider a fundamental frame of rest Σ associated with the Universe as a whole. From the group properties of Lorentz transformations, two observers, individually moving within Σ, would still be connected by the relativistic composition rules. However, the ultimate implications could be substantial. Physical interpretation is thus traditionally demanded in order to correlate some of the dragging of light observed in the laboratory with the direct CMB observations. Today, the small residuals—from those of Michelson–Morley to present experiments with optical resonators—are just considered instrumental artifacts. However, if the velocity of light in the interferometers is not the same parameter “c” of Lorentz transformations, nothing would prevent a non-zero dragging. Furthermore, the observable effects would be much smaller than what is classically expected and would most likely be of an irregular nature. We review an alternative reading of experiments that leads to remarkable correlations with the CMB observations. Notably, we explain the irregular 10−15 fractional frequency shift presently measured with optical resonators operating in vacuum and solid dielectrics. For integration times of about 1 s and a typical Central European latitude, we also predict daily variations of the Allan variance in the range (5÷12)·10−16.
Molecular Characterization of Human Papillomavirus Type 159 (HPV159)
Authors: Marković Iva , Hošnjak Lea , Seme Katja , Poljak Mario
Published: August 2021

Human papillomavirus type 159 (HPV159) was identified in an anal swab sample and preliminarily genetically characterized by our group in 2012. Here we present a detailed molecular in silico analysis that showed that the HPV159 viral genome is 7443 bp in length and divided into five early and two late genes, with conserved functional domains and motifs, and a non-coding long control region (LCR) with significant regulatory sequences that allow the virus to complete its life cycle and infect novel host cells. HPV159, clustering into the cutaneotropic Betapapillomavirus (Beta-PV) genus, is phylogenetically most similar to HPV9, forming an individual phylogenetic group in the viral species Beta-2. After testing a large representative collection of clinical samples with HPV159 type-specific RT-PCR, in addition to the anal canal from which the first HPV159 isolate was obtained, HPV159 was further detected in other muco-cutaneous (4/181, 2.2%), mucosal (22/764, 2.9%), and cutaneous (14/554, 2.5%) clinical samples, suggesting its extensive tissue tropism. However, because very low HPV159 viral loads were estimated in the majority of positive samples, it seemed that HPV159 mainly caused clinically insignificant infections of the skin and mucosa. Using newly developed, highly sensitive HPV159-specific nested PCRs, two additional HPV159 LCR viral variants were identified. Nevertheless, all HPV159 mutations were demonstrated outside important functional domains of the LCR, suggesting that the HPV159 viral variants were most probably not pathogenically different. This complete molecular characterization of HPV159 enhances our knowledge of the genome characteristics, tissue tropism, and phylogenetic diversity of Beta-PVs that infect humans.
Congenital Zika Infection and the Risk of Neurodevelopmental, Neurological, and Urinary Track Disorders in Early Childhood. A Systematic Review
Authors: Antoniou Evangelia , Orovou Eirini , Andronikidi Paraskevi Eva , Orovas Christos , Rigas Nikolaos , Palaska Ermioni , Sarella Angeliki , Iatrakis Georgios , Voyiatzaki Chrysa
Published: August 2021

It was late 2015 when Northeast Brazil noticed a worrying increase in neonates born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations. These abnormalities, characterized by an abnormally small head and often neurological impairment and later termed Congenital Zika Syndrome, describe the severity of neurodevelopmental and nephrological outcomes in early childhood, and the implication of microcephaly at birth. The purpose of the study was to describe the neurodevelopmental outcomes in children exposed to Zika virus during fetal life, with and without microcephaly at birth. The systematic review included research studies about the neurodevelopmental outcomes with and without microcephaly, as well as nephrological outcomes in early childhood. We searched PubMed, Crossref, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar publications and selected 19 research articles published from 2018 to 2021. Most studies have linked the severity of microcephaly in childbirth to the neurodevelopmental and urinary outcomes in early childhood. However, most children without microcephaly at birth develop typically, while others may be at risk for language impairment.